Declutter and Fitness in early 2014

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 05 Mar 14 - 08:25 PM

Woven Stars quilt top is finished! Tomorrow I hope to finish the 15 remaining blocks for the next quilt and get the washing cut, if not on. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 05 Mar 14 - 08:01 PM

Still at mill: This am: Up, turn up heat in studio, BF, not warm enough yet, emails, not warm enough yet, some FB, warm enough, threw 6 largish bowls in scrumptious dark clay, lunch, car repaired while I did bit of groceries across the road & left them in cart while I fetched car, stopped at trade school but friend was not there ( who teaches the class that makes the sheds), long visit with farm market friends and picked up a loaf of zucchini bread for Bruno, short visit with Vanessa at cafe/youth project she coordinates. It just opened last week and looks terrific! The pastry chef is to write home about: I wanted one of each but settled on a choc/almond croissant of melt in the mouth quality. Had to tell her the kiln story; she is anxious to get back to potting; getting the cafe open was stressful.

Finally got back to mill about 4: phoned R and ascertained the house is not fit for me to go back to so I shall stay another night and go back to city after writer's group tomorrow. Will take some wonderful pastries to R. Turned the pots over and later, realizing the energy to trim is not in me, wrapped all in plastic 'til tomorrow when I hope to throw more and trim today's and the more before 5 pm. No excursions planned so I shall have the whole day to pot - as energy lasts. That is exciting! This has been my 7th good day in a row. I am trying to be very careful about where I go and what I breathe. I really did not realize how sick I was until Sunday when I felt terrific and - that is how I am meant to feel every day.

R reports: hot water is functional, heat is on upstairs and electric circuits are functioning properly, sink in process of going in powder room, washer and dryer are leaving and being replaced AND whole place looks like a construction site! I may be busy on Friday! I phoned a nearby friend last night who said I could bring the laundry over there! So sweet! Last spring when I was concerned about moving, she offered their truck. Another friend traded truck in on a car because he was tired of people wanting to borrow it.

Current temp:minus 4 F but going up to 19 tomorrow and above freezing on Fri and Sat!! then upper 20s for a few days. Spring may yet come! This aft was sunny and warm enough to feel hopeful. The sun room was marvellous until the sun dropped. When I look out and see bare ground instead of white stuff...

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Mar 14 - 02:22 PM

Handed off a large tile (says "marble," but may actually be something else) 14" square to my friend who it originally belonged to. "Oh, it is a beautiful piece!" he said as I handed it over. It'll go well with the table that needs it, and it's one less piece I have to worry about. I still have one that I can use as a centerpiece on occasion. These were saved from the 30-yard dumpster that I have referred to elsewhere.

I still have a package sitting in my sun room to ship to my brother, and I can either send it to him in California and he can take it to his beach house in Washington, or I can simply wait till he's in Washington and send it to him there. I think the time is about here for that trip so I hope to be minus one tripping hazard soon.

I've given some thought to this particular thread's length - I think starting a new one to mark the beginning of spring will keep us from having a slow-loading unwieldy thread.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Mar 14 - 10:27 PM

SRS, the plan is to find a reliable and trustworthy housemate who is fine with us being there only a week or so at a time per season. We have taken vacay til now as all or most of the 4 Sundays Hardi gets all at once, but will now be divvying it up into smaller chunks.

S/he will also have to enjoy the occasional MudGather and our visiting godkids (niece n neph). And maybe some wknd visits when we aren't there by fam members in need of a getaway. So chemistry will be important.

In exchange for hardly any rent, we will hope they'll stay on top of grass and snow removal (tiny yard--- machines supplied), but the main thing will be just not to leave the property unoccupied. Someone to call us if the house's systems break down is a huge favor they can do... like if a pipe breaks or the fridge craps out. They don't need to DO repairs, just let our chosen svc people in and report back to us on work quality.

So, interviews as to mutual expectations.

♥♡♥

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Mar 14 - 08:47 PM

I am not doing a very good job of keeping myself straight here!

We are generally at the mill weekends and mostly in the city during the week now. But today, in the midst of the chaos of the water heaters being installed, with the trap door to the cellar open and who knows what odours/molds... emanating, and the city house COLD! Everywhere! I absconded back to the mill where I can be warm and the air is safe with the air cleaner going 24/7. I cannot bear to lose the good health I have had for a precious six days.

On the way down, I stopped at the garage and made an appointment for very minor repairs tomorrow afternoon. May also check out the sheds at the trade school. Then, if the job is finished in the city, I shall go back - to hot water, a sink in the powder room, and a better washer and dryer in the laundry room. And a large pile of laundry! My first priority might be a nice hot bath and hold the laundry one more day!

On the phone this eve, R informs me he has fixed the electric on the second floor and may even be able to get the baseboard heat working up there also! Then I shall be able to work! Also helps that the weather is going above freezing for a few days, from Friday.

Here at the mill, the studio was up to 50 tonight which means I did not turn the heat down as low as I was supposed to. Also means I should be able to get it warm enough to work in the morning! 12 degrees warmer outside tonight than it was Monday when I could not get the studio above 44 with the heat on high. More insulation in the ceiling and walls on the agenda for this summer and another window and door on SW side for light and the eventual ramp so it is accessible. Also a deck out there so I can put a wheel outside in nice weather. But not until we have the new K in the city!!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 Mar 14 - 07:22 PM

SRS, I spent today sewing with 5 friends for the entire day. Today I worked on a quilt called the Layer Cake Lattice. I got maybe 2/3 of it finished.....it's all done in civil war reproduction fabrics. You saw a photo of the Woven Star quilt on FB....that is done except for the addition of the prairie points (which I hope to have pinned in place either tonight or tomorrow) and then the final border. I also signed up for a few things today: a jelly roll challenge, a Disappearing Nine Patch class (which I already know how to do but it will be fun to do with friends and a series of three classes to make a Swoon quilt. I am really enjoying my sewing so much! :)Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Mar 14 - 11:50 AM

We're on the warming phase after this latest cold spell. My garden looks more battered than usual - broccoli looks semi-wilted but it took all of the other cold stuff. It got way low this time, perhaps 9^o is too low for even cold-hardy plants.

Election day, and staff meeting day. It would be nice if we could vote on some staff policies at work (dream on).

Good news on the possible roomie, Susan. Will she be caretaker at the property when you're not there? Dorothy, how long will you be at the mill, are you still considering moving? Andrea, how is your house and garden doing? Did you have any flooding this winter? We haven't heard from Penny S. in ages, I wonder how her house is coming along? I heard about the storms and high tides/storm surge in the UK - is that all passed and is there a huge cleanup?

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Mar 14 - 10:52 AM

SRS: they are too far and he has really let go of that part of his life but I shall be sure to get the kiln in service just in case they make the trip!

The studio did not get above 44F in 4 hours so I gave up and turned the heat back down to keep it above freezing only. Did FB, phoned Geri and met her at the restaurant for a nice visit. Then packed up and came back to the city in time for International Folk Dancing which went OK. I did not have to wear my mask as the man who wears stinky stuff was not there. I left about 9 and came to the house where R was sitting shivering!

The heater had gone off and he did not think to turn up the oven and sit in the K! So we went out to eat, ending up at Tim Horton's for soup, sandwich, hot choc. Across from a hospital, at 10 pm - it was very busy! Came back to the house and reconfigured the heaters re available electric, made sire the heating pad was warming the bed, watched the news and got into a mostly cold bed! SO thankful for the heating pad. Maybe I will bite the bullet and buy an electric blanket but it is almost spring??? It's up to 6F this morning! supposed to get up to 0 for the weekend!

BIG NEWS! Bruno is here this morning!!!! Well, he was until he and R went off to another building to get something. Goal for today is the hot water heaters installed in the cellar and, possibly, a better washer and dryer which R has elsewhere. This washer overflows if we do a large load and the dryer switch sticks - R once dried sheets for 8 hours! They did not overheat but they were warm!

B has also promised to finish the apt in Ville St. Pierre (VSP) so we can move into it while he does the major job of ripping out the old K - right back to bare walls, to get rid of powder mill beetles - and puts in a new one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am lobbying for a sun room to be done at the same time. Those windows we took off the trailer? R has about a hundred more in a building he has sold, and from which he is removing everything useful the new owners do not want.

I am not keen on living in VSP - partly because it is a whole new part of the city to me - down by the railroads and the highway. Mostly because moving is such a pain although we shan't move a great deal but it is second floor (not so great), but bright with big windows facing east, new everything. Hopefully it will only be a few months. Parking is dicey, too. Yet another adventure. Nice that R will have staff do the heavy work. Move is a four letter word.

Here, I shall have to move plants from vulnerable parts of the yard. May be a good idea to finally buy a garden shed for the back corner - to store stuff during construction - and after. I do NOT want tools in the K cabinets!!!! The trade school has them for $1600. I need to check the size re fitting through the space between this house and the one next door.

Something akin to gentile living would be refreshing. We had it at the cabin and I have grieved greatly over leaving that beautiful place.

Maybe I can get upstairs warm enough to work. The circuit already quit once today. ELECTRIC will be part of the building project; not much point at present. OR maybe I shall just go upstairs and wrap up to keep warm and bury myself in a good book.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 04 Mar 14 - 10:51 AM

Laundry in, trash up to the head of the driveway for pickup, SCSI mouse found so my friend can do a job (he only asked for a keyboard last week...), dishes out of the sink and into the dishwasher...

And only two errands on the way to meeting a friend for lunch at a new Mexican restaurant in the Fox Run Mall area (not in the mall, across from the side of the mall).

I'm a margarita purist, but I may sample theirs anyway.

"Recovering" really isn't the right word, but I AM recovering from the intensity of Saturday's memorial for Tom. I think the most moving thing that happened that day was, as I was leaving, Cat who has been our server at the weekly session for the past two years or so, embraced me (again) and excitedly exclaimed, "I heard him! I heard him! I heard Tom talk and sing!" She hadn't known him before he lost his voice...

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Mar 14 - 10:47 AM

Ohio church friend has suggested a roomie YAY who is a semi-retired potter YAY who has an elderly dog in need of a midsized Dog World YAY!!! Have sent her pix I already had YAY and will meet her during April return YAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!

Lenten bizzies are off and running a day early... I was up a tad too early tdy, so started some lent-prep bulk cooking. So.... BTW it's the first AM the kitchen has been warm enhf for being IN it in weeks.... thank you Todd for 2 svc calls ydy. So.... Hardi comes down to say that one of our dearies has had a stroke. All stop..... nononooooooNO!!!! ... so I send him in off to the ER w message about how I can help family help his recovery (I discovered with another dearie, TBTG, that "I speak stroke"), because his communication center was hit hard (it has to be a top concern of him and fam), and my time with John taught me all about THAT. And prayer msgs of course and went back to loading that crockpot. And a nap.

♥♡♥

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Mar 14 - 08:20 PM

You've become a sewing dynamo! What's your next project?

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Mar 14 - 06:54 PM

I spent today organizing in my sewing room...very enjoyable way to spend the day!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Mar 14 - 06:27 PM

Dorothy, if they don't have to travel too far, or if they can do it only occasionally, it would be a wonderful gesture to give him time to work with you on some pots. To take home or to sell, or just to have the joy of doing this thing he loved. I'm glad the kiln went to you. Sometimes purchases are just like that, they seem meant to be. My sister bought a house in North Seattle that she saw during an open house. Later when she spoke to the owner and made her offer, I think the thing that most convinced the woman to sell to my sister was that they both loved the garden with the fruit trees and vines and my sister would keep it going, and make it better where she could.

No fasting today, but I am doing the routine of the large meal early in the day and making dinner small and fairly early. I have pumpkin bread baking (to use up some things that were around here) and will take a loaf to work tomorrow. I stayed home because it was just too cold to put the dogs even in the garage for the day. Overnight is supposed to be yucky but tomorrow is my late day at work and things will be clear for that drive, and the week will now get progressively warmer. (I heard on NPR just now that Washington, D.C. has just had its 25th weather event since last November. Weather that involves people changing their routines or businesses or schools closing, etc. It's a lot worse than we've had it here, but I think everyone has had it worse than what they're accustomed to.

eBay parcel shipped today, more underway for listing tonight or soon. And I'm still clearing out in the sun room and elsewhere, making better use of storage or discarding things that I never use (but kept because it was "perfectly good" or "I might use it some day.") Gotta get over that mindset.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 03 Mar 14 - 10:53 AM

Forgot to mention: -1F here this morning. Hoping for a high of 10! At least it is sunny!!

Now - check heat in studio, she says hopefully!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 03 Mar 14 - 10:24 AM

After a do nothing day on Saturday, I got up feeling GOOD! on Sunday. Not a grey day but a wonderfully sunny, and COLD one. I washed hair and dishes before breakfast - porridge. R stayed in bed, reading, until I was getting ready to leave for dancing. After a celery soup lunch, he announced he needed my help to unload the trailer. So, "it won't matter if I am a little late" and we unloaded about 20 LARGE - patio-door size - windows in heavy wooden frames. Yes! He needed help! only took about 10 min.

Then I dashed away to dance most of the afternoon to the wonderful Cajun music of Grouyan Gumbo. I felt so good - physically, mentally and a peace and joy in the spirit. It feels so GOOD to feel good!

However, as I did my computering in the morning - on line bill paying and deleted most emails, checked FB briefly to find an incredibly irrational - to me- post by my sil's sister - oh well - and an alert from Kijiji re a pottery kiln for sale. SO, I say to myself - "You already have four, don't even look at it!"

But of course I looked and did some research and -- So we drove an hour to the lovely home of a lovely French Canadian couple in their 70s. R always tries for a better price, being a died-in-the-wool-Scot. This time, he said, give the man the money and we'll figure out how to get this up the steps - from the beautiful basement up a beautiful finished wood staircase with a bend in it. They phoned a young neighbour who came over and he and R carried it out with no problems.

I felt a bittersweet delight in this event. The kiln is 31 years old and brand new. He had bought it when he was taking classes and enjoying it so much and set up a studio in his home but never got to use the kiln. It was still wearing some of the factory labels. They showed us one small pot - exquisite! - he had made and I feel a sadness that he never was able to pursue it completely.

Also, he bought it in 1983, the same year I bought my very much used, much loved, finally disintegrated in the NW, kiln. I remember the wonderful anticipation of awaiting the arrival of that kiln and our joy and trepidation as we studied how to use it and then got into it. The friend who fronted the money and in whose laundry room she and I installed it, is now a marvellous potter, thanks to her allowing me to set up in her family room for a few years!

So I remember all this and feel sad for this man who just gave up completely. We suspect health problems must have intervened and now their home is sold and they "had" to sell the kiln. This is another occasion in which my lack of comprehension of French has left me with lots of unanswered questions. In spite of my failure to communicate, they were quite clear about wanting to visit my studio. So we shall have to set this precious kiln up and start using it so, if they ever manage to visit, they cam see it getting the use he once dreamed of giving it.

So, I am excited, amazed, enthralled by the incident - I did not purchase a kiln, I rec'd a baton to carry on. So this morning, I turned the heat up in the studio so I can get some pots made and get ready for the next farm market, and in a month or so, to use the brand new kiln! Oh, the kiln - over $1000 new, was $200. I hope I can pass on my riches to the younger generations.

Now, I have had BF and the studio is warming, I shall delete emails, skip FB and get to it.

Also thinking of Linn as she sorts her way through joys and sorrows. What a wonderful event to celebrate the life of a much loved character!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Mar 14 - 07:07 PM

I hear occasional vehicles crunch and slither past on the street out front. I sit at a T in the road, and it is possible for cars that are supposed to stop the intersection to slither into my front yard instead. I built the berm and rock wall because of that possibility. Fingers crossed it is never put to a test. The street is a sheet of bumpy ice from freezing rain that might not thaw till Tuesday.

Sold an item on eBay that will ship tomorrow. Working on several more and tonight I'll turn on the Oscars in a couple of rooms and go back and forth and watch them while I work. I'm not good at sitting down for really long programs, especially if they have commercials. Right now I'm formatting old 100mb zip drives to list on eBay, then to the packing and describing. And clearing more in the sun room so I can work there.

I put pea soup in the crock pot this afternoon but it is a very slow cooker and everything was done but the peas were pellets. I put it in a dutch oven on the stove for 20 minutes where they could actually simmer and now they are mush. Dinner of hot soup and maybe salad or a toasted bagel. I got a lot of work done in the yard yesterday and was able to treat it as a fasting day: exercise plus fasting equals weight loss. I think the next couple of days will be too cold to for it. But I'm getting slowly back on track, 20 pounds to go.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 02 Mar 14 - 07:53 AM

I also just posted a link (in the Curmudgeon Memorial thread) to the article in this morning's Portsmouth (NH) Sunday Herald.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 02 Mar 14 - 07:37 AM

Emotionally drained (but in a good way) and moving a million miles an hour. Since there is NO quiet place in Portsmouth for conversation over food (at least that I can afford), an old friend from the Whittier (Reg. Voc Tech -- where Tom taught) Class of '84 joined me at the house after I picked up a pizza. I hoped that several hours of conversation and reminiscences would slow me down enough to sleep. But then after she left, I Facebooked for another hour or so catching up on friends' photos and comments on the memorial. I didn't have any trouble falling asleep, but I awoke at 4:30 this morning unable to get back to sleep.

I'm tired...but THIS Sunday (unlike last week) I AM going to the event at Nottingham's Blaisdell Library -- local historian Dennis Robinson's talk on "Treasures From the Isles of Shoals".

I've posted Dave Hallowell's WONDERFUL short video (shown at yesterday's memorial) "Tom Hall - A Musical Life" on the Curmudgeon Memorial thread. There should be a video of the entire proceedings (some pretty amazing music as well as tributes, stories, photographs) posted by Stephan Smith at YouTube within the next few days. I'm looking forward to watching it as I "missed" a lot of it because I was talking to people in the back, being hugged, etcet etcet.

My vocabulary is failing me (I sincerely hope my vocabulary and my badly chewed up brain are somewhere safe...where I can retrieve them someday), but it was an amazing afternoon.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Mar 14 - 08:41 PM

I was distracted and didn't walk the dogs - a neighbor walked up and she had a new baby in a tummy pack! I'd missed her entire pregnancy (hadn't seen her out walking) and now her son is 7 weeks old. Great to visit, and I sent her home with some cilantro and garlic.

I see one of my items on eBay has a bid, and I have a batch of things to list. This will create a little momentum for me.

Linn, I hope you'll report in when you're ready after the celebration of Tom's life - I suspect you've had a day of high emotions and will probably sleep like a log tonight.

Rain is supposed to start after midnight, but I did some hand watering this evening just to be sure that new things won't dry out in case we don't get the rain. I think it's about a 50% chance.

Several episodes of neat are on broadcast television this evening. I'll use it as motivation to clear out a bit in my eBay area while I work. But first - finish paying the bills.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 01 Mar 14 - 08:10 PM

Brownies with icing are quite tasty!
Wonderful crowd at the cafe last night; great music. COLD at mill when we arrived but it heated up OK and with help of whatever that thing is that I heat in the microwave, the bed/futon warmed up reasonably. Quiet day: went to library where R added to his book and magazine collection (Arghhhh). I borrowed two books. It did not get that warm today. No sun either. All the plants in the sun room survived and some are thriving. The fushia baskets are growing nicely but no buds yet. Two cuttings are actually rooting in a cup of water.

Had the yummy celery soup for lunch and I have computered most of aft - managing to get myself into a couple people's bad books; R and I agreed not to respond to irrational response from sil. Otherwise my comments have been well rec'd. I have not looked lately in the last hour; I was ordering heritage veg seeds in the hopes I will manage to have a beg garden. I may need a truck load of soil due to the tons of river rock that was dumped here to keep large trucks from sinking in. But maybe I can find a corner where there is enough soil. After the snow goes - in April, she says, hopefully! OK, maybe sooner.

Time for a meal.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Mar 14 - 06:46 PM

The wind picked up a little while ago, but I don't think the cold weather is due until after midnight. I finished weeding a couple of herb beds. I want the bed at the curb to fill up with oregano ground cover. I'm phasing the oregano out of the kitchen garden and instead putting in little zones of stuff - garlic, strawberries, chard, and for the time being, some onions and broccoli. Later on the basil will sprout after the onions are out. There is some lush cilantro in a corner that smells wonderful. I put some more onion sets in the bed where I put in thyme last weekend. I might as well get something else out of the bed while the slow growing herb spreads out. I also put some asparagus roots in a new bed out front.

I've changed out of the steel-toe boots, put away the wheelbarrow and gear, and I think now it's time to walk the dogs. They haven't been out of the yard in ages.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Mar 14 - 12:09 PM

Finished my tea (it's a fasting day), read some email. Now to put on the boots and head into the garden. Later, I have a shopping list. And I have to pay bills and do my income taxes.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Mar 14 - 12:59 AM

Do we want to keep going for another month, or start up a new thread? Quarterly isn't bad, this isn't super long.

March comes in like a lion - a frigid lion this year.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Feb 14 - 02:45 PM

Every time I think I've sorted through all of my old technogear, I find another place where I had stuff stashed. That's why I'm formatting old 100meg Zip disks (to sell on eBay). Now you can use inexpensive flash drives to hold tons more than the old zip drives. Just have to keep them in one place and label them.

I remember when I found my first flash drive - the technology was new, and that ~ 250meg drive cost about $50 (on sale) back in the late 1990s.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 28 Feb 14 - 01:59 PM

I think I just saved a friend's posterior (and justified my, uh, "archiving" of obsolete technology). He needed an old Mac SCSI keyboard to do a job and I said I'd check my pile (boxes, stacks...) of techno-crap. I thought I had one...not in the techno-crap boxes, but leaning against the bookcase (with a bunch o' stuff piled in front). Dug out the flashlight and peered...there they were. Extricated both of them without mishap. (Meaning nothing toppled over making a yet bigger mess requiring immediate clean up.)

I'll take both of them to him at today's session. I think they're both in good working shape, but I'll take both just in case there's a glitch with one of them.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Feb 14 - 01:24 PM

Dorothy, I read about "value added" frosting to do with some scones a few years ago - orange and cranberry scones got more orangey if you added some OJ to the icing (just powdered sugar and OJ, as I recall, and a speck of salt). I think you stumbled onto a good fix for otherwise non-exciting baked goods.

Yes, have been busy. Not on my own stuff, just work stuff, it seems. But Saturday is supposed to be a nice day before our next cool-down, so I'll get some beneficial nematodes and get the garden soil ready for planting in the next few weeks. They knock out the cut worms in particular, and kill some of the larval stages of pests that are now in the soil.

Allergies are in the background, threatening to burst forth as the season warms.

One room is beginning to look like a grown-up's living room. Now I have 8 more rooms in the house to make look grown-up. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 28 Feb 14 - 12:56 PM

nice to know everyone is busy! Hopefully well??

My third good day in a row, however, after R dashed away w/out BF this am, I rolled over and went back to sleep. Then stayed in bed until I felt like getting up - 10:40! Rarely do I do this but it was cold, even in bed and I was contemplating life.

5F and sunny - cold! Looking forward to 25 F tomorrow and light snow, then down to 18 and sunny on sunday but I get to dance to good music at Grouyan Gumbo concert in the afternoon.

Backwater Blues at the Cafe tonight so must be on time! I did not trim Weds pots yesterday and had to remoisten them this morning to trim today. Warm up there now! I already read and commented on a paper written for Sociology, on the occupy movement, by son of a dear friend in Ontario. This is the first day I have had the energy for this important task.

No hot water in sight and no plug for drain so sink is still draining into bucket. At least in the country, there is no sink and no running water and the hot water pot is on the stove. In other words, the system is in place! Now I shall heat water so I can wash hair, etc. Dishes can wait. And get things ready to go to country. Hope my plants have survived two weeks!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 27 Feb 14 - 10:35 PM

Rescue of "brownies"= cup of cocoa, cup of icing sugar and enough 35% cream to make a thick icing. R declared it delicious. The "brownies" were cocoa, rice flour, 1 egg, honey, veg oil, slivered blanched almonds - dry as dust and no flavour at all. A learning exp.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 27 Feb 14 - 08:04 PM

The brownies are edible - but only if you do not expect brownies! Back to the drawing board, so to speak.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 27 Feb 14 - 07:30 PM

Two good days in a row. And I figured out how to run an extension cord to the second floor and put another heater up there so yesterday I did a couple hours potting work. Of course, we are missing a heater downstairs. Oh well!

This morning's crisis was water running across the K floor. Fortunately R was still here - in bed as I was making BF. Almost two hours later, the drain from the sink was thoroughly cleaned out. He says it was 5 years overdue but I have been exceedingly careful not to have anything go down - with a fine strainer on the side I use. I did try to clean it a month ago with vinegar and baking soda but there was no hot water. That might have helped. It did do lots of gurgling and bubbling. I suspect it has been neglected about 10 years. It would be OK now but he seems to have flushed a part down the toilet so it drains into a bucket until that is replaced. Mathieu brought a piece but it was the wrong size. All this and no hot water as Bruno is still sick. I never had a blocked drain before - any place I lived. Of course I did 15 years without running water so no drain to get blocked!

So today, I got stuck on FB as there was considerable stuff needing special attention. Made celery/cauliflower soup for supper - whenever R gets home. And some brownies of unique composition; the jury is out; I had one and it seemed OK. Now for another.

Cold day and grey but no snow. Going to the country for the weekend; supposed to be just below freezing, maybe some snow and then sun on Sunday. That would be nice!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Feb 14 - 04:54 PM

Linn, the "talking cure" is just exactly that - talking to a few good friends can easily be as helpful as professional counselling.

I moved a few more things out of the living room or around the living room this morning. If I can keep from pushing piles into other rooms and actually put things away then I'm accomplishing a baseline of good space and unclutteredness that is my goal for this house. But one room out of 8 means I have a lot of work ahead of me. :-/

I think I need to revisit the hall pantry and see what else can be put in there or to see if there is stuff in there that I don't need to keep. Thing is, this time of year it's pretty quiet, but when the garden is going full-tilt I use all sorts of boxes and containers and storage that I don't want to lose sight of.

My kitchen garden is looking good this morning, and I'm going to work on highlighting a path into it and partitioning it a little bit to make it look more intentional. It's the patch outside the kitchen door with lots of herbs plus things like strawberries, onions, garlic, and Swiss chard. Broccoli is in there also right now. I talked with my kitchen guru yesterday to see if he has any requests - he likes the steady stream of zucchini and cucumbers. I'm going to relocate the cucumbers - I learned my lesson about just how far they spread and how much they climb last year.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Feb 14 - 03:31 PM

We stopped at the Goodwill nr Camp Ridgebury a few days before we took garaged stuff iver there, to pick up a set of dishes. While there we spotted a small recliner proportioned just like my favorite post surgery one.... small for a short lady who now has a lap? So we bought it to carry home in the freshly-emptied van and for the first time in years I have chairs that don't hurt both at home AND for vacay!!!

♥♡♥

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 25 Feb 14 - 02:59 PM

Phones are marvellous. I need to remember to use mine more often now that I finally have cheap LD.

Storage units are a wonderful thing! And they do seem to proliferate! I do think they also have ups and downs according to the economics of their immediate area. I had a personal relationship with the wonderful one on Whidbey and it sometimes had no openings and other times lots. Time of year might also make a dif.

Yesterday, I managed a en minute walk around the block. The wind was biting. Antihistamines gave me the break I needed from coughing!! Took one pre dawn to finish a night's sleep and now am back to herb tea, nasal wash to clear sinuses and moderate coughing. Oh, Joy!

First thing this am was a determination to get indoor/outdoor thermometer functioning. Walked to Canadian Tire (6 blocks) for batteries. Still no success. It occurred to me as I walked that I used to have so much to do I was always in a hurry and had to train myself to slow down. Now, I was walking for batteries because I needed SOMETHING TO DO! Stopped at a grocery en route and bought a couple things.

Checked studio and electric off so turned it on and then trurned it on again and re-adjusted what is and is not plugged in. Ready to scream!!! But that will not help. Suppose R comes home to night and finds a pottery wheel in the middle of the LR? There is room now.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 25 Feb 14 - 12:58 PM

Been getting a lot of the final details for Tom's memorial taken care of. Friends are being amazing.

I realize though that I need to get this accomplished so I can start getting on with some things...or maybe just stand in a daze for awhile. I feel "stuck", sometimes not able to get out of my own way. Yet when I read my lists I can see the mountains I have been moving.

Just got a major kerfuffle regarding leadership of "the legendary Friday night Press Room Celtic/folk sessions" sorted out...turns out it was a misunderstanding, a matter of semantics. Good, clearing, conversations all around and taught a lesson in the difference of a word's meaning in the writer's mind with the possible perception of that word by a casual reader. The misinterpretation was made in print two weeks ago and will be corrected in print this Thursday. The conversations cleared a little air and removed a weight that was dragging me down a bit.

Have been having some actual FUN -- went to an old friend's house concert Saturday night with Jeri. Brought back a lot of pleasant memories of the Sunday hoots at The Stone Church in Newmarket, NH in the early '80s. And Jeri and I went to see "Winter's Tale" and will probably see it again on Wednesday (and then go out for a repeat of the steak dinner we had a few weeks ago). Last night after some scheduling difficulties, I took the putanesca and some fresh grated Romano over to a friend's in Portsmouth, and she provided the salad, wine, and garlic bread. We had a delightful evening of conversation, dog petting and, yes, dinner.

Been spending a lot of time on the phone lately...me providing talking therapy for a friend who needs it and several of my friends providing the same service for me.

Plow guy brought his tractor with a front-end loader over Saturday night and dumped a LOT of snow (building up next to and in front of the deck and next to the house) over the hill, so there's now places to park (and places to put more snow...).

GOT to go spiffify the house a bit (if the phone will stop ringing) before the Thrivent rep comes to tell me about my inheritance from my mother's annuity.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Feb 14 - 10:18 AM

Drizzle today, excellent for the garden after I've planted things. I have a couple of more things to poke in, but may not get a chance until later in the week. And I need to cover the faucets one more time, a freeze is forecast later in the week.

I'm liking the look of the living room, but I need to work on the wall of shelves now. There is a mix of objects that is on display/stored any old which way. I could go back to a mix of books and stuff in there, and I could even move my cookbooks all in there and free up a set of shelves in the kitchen. They'd just be in the next room, I wouldn't forget where they were, but they're the messiest of my books, not meant for display, they're entirely utilitarian. Must think about this.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Feb 14 - 10:52 PM

Still working on freelance photos. That is a known payment so I need to finish this and then get back to eBay stuff, that is piling up.

I've been putting away more stuff in the living room. DVDs were stacked by the television instead of on their shelf, CDs on the cabinet instead of in their shelves, etc. With each new cleared surface the room looks more elegant. I moved things out that need work (I have to replace a couple of switches in my tall pole halogen torchiere lamps) and that don't really have a place to live yet - meaning they may not stay here at all.

I have slowly been taking things back to my friend who lost his house to foreclosure a couple of years ago. Last month it was a large framed photo of him with his late partner, and now I have a few decorative items that, if he wants, are his. If they have to go into his storage locker, no point in sending them over. He is paying back a loan he took against his 401K - when that is completely paid back in a few more months and he has his full salary (his employer withholds the loan until it is paid back to his retirement account), then an apartment in a bit higher price range will give him a chance to put more of his nice furniture and cooking stuff to use. But after that point, he needs to unload the rest of the stuff from the house. One of the biggest growth businesses in the US these days is storage lockers. I resolved when I moved into this house that I wouldn't use one any more (I did have to after my parents died, and after the divorce). I wonder if there is a way to invest in other people's bad habits? Are storage locker business stocks publicly traded? I'll have to check my mutual funds.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 24 Feb 14 - 05:10 PM

I keep my socks on too! The room is chilly but the table they use is heated from underneath where they keep the instruments warm. :)

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Feb 14 - 12:21 PM

My back is reminding me this morning that I'm out of shape as far as garden activities. The potato beds were a conditioner for the season (we used to go on a longish steep hike early in the spring to get into condition for the season ahead - it usually meant sore muscles for a few days). Yesterday was a fasting day in which I did all of that work, so hopefully I've kick-started weight loss for the year.

I slept like a log last night, and because I went to bed so early I woke before my alarm. I was up before the dogs again, and Cinnamon again didn't want to be nudged out the door. I set the washing on delayed start for a load of laundry and that has just finished drying. I'm all caught up on yard, garden, laundry, and trash today.

Good luck with the exam, Michelle. I always keep my socks on during doctor office visits, it seems to help because they keep those exam rooms too cold.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 24 Feb 14 - 11:18 AM

Hit bottom this morning. Even though I slept at least part of the night, I started coughing violently as soon as consciousness returned - my head hurt and everything else felt lousy. So I though ir time for a cough suppressant - just to get a break. had a small brekkie and, after checking the internet, put sage and ginger in a saucepan to simmer, green tea and juice of a lemon in the tea pot. Now they are finally together and I have high hopes. I have not been coughing a lot since getting up. But I only got up because I cough less sitting, even less standing! But too tired to stand.

Last night I walked briskly the few blocks to Pieter's where a full house enjoyed, enthusiastically, the Steven Barry Blues Band, a Montreal icon for over 30 years. An amazing venue, "Pieter's Bank" was built when banks were beautiful: domed ceiling, oak moldings, huge arched windows. He lives there and also has community events - performing and visual arts. Sometimes just a few friends for supper.

Pieter was delighted with the guest we brought, our round-the-corner neighbour, a guitar teacher, is the son of one of R's - and P's - longest friends.   So Jim got to meet a man who knew his grandfather as well as his dad and uncle.

Did not get to walk home as I had left before R and he brought my car so he and Jim would not be late. There was a piece on the news last night about "sitting disease"; I certainly have it! OK. I shall walk somewhere this afternoon. 19F with chance of flurries. Drink tea, finish novel and walk! before the flurries.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 24 Feb 14 - 10:47 AM

Hanging out in the gyn/onc office wearing a pretty but drafty gown waiting for one of my favorite oncologists!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Feb 14 - 11:11 PM

Long day today, and I'm headed to bed early again. I finished the beds for the potatoes and planted six of them (complete with a slurry of mackerel in the hole under each one) and I planted the thyme and some Swiss chard. I did a lot of puttering - including picking up dog droppings and moving the kitchen waste to the compost (under the dog droppings).

The onions I planted a couple of weeks ago are taking hold and I picked up another bunch to plant somewhere this week. I think perhaps around the thyme, that will take a while to fill that bed.

Tomorrow I have to work on the freelance photos a bit before I head to the office to finish editing the last two articles for a scholarly journal. My oatmeal is in the crockpot and will be ready in the morning, and I'm not sure what is for lunch, but I AM sure it will be a long week.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 23 Feb 14 - 05:16 PM

Convince oregano! Even in cold central Ontario, it took over the world, with no help at all! I have found that hard to grow plants at zone 4 are invasive weeds at zone 6 so suspect that it could work the opposite, that dif climes can make things harder to grow even though warmer. Gardening is a fascinating science requiring a great deal of In Tune with Nature!

I rounded out yesterday with two more shopping mini-excursions. Then stuck to the computer as the shopping used up physical energy. Cough got worse in late afternoon and most of night. Very tiring. I added a blog on baby animals/spring to wordpress and FB.

Woke up this morning realizing I had actually slept and felt well. This morning's porridge had a good amount of frozen small fruits added. Very nice change from the usual apples and cranberries. Another sunny day at 29F.

Today the cough has been episodic. There was a major group of students visiting Quaker meeting this morning and some stayed for potluck. Lots of good energy. I wore mask as the venue is toxic due to cleaning materials. Took it off to eat and coughed badly.

But I also coughed though most of the hour of worship even with mask on. A friend noted she had found a cough medicine that works and although I believe it is important to cough the stuff out of the system, maybe a rest would be good also. I'll call her.

I had not been to meeting in months and had lost touch. One younger Friend has moved close by and said he would call me and visit. I told him there is a potting wheel and his partner perked up significantly; she has taught pottery! So I may have two visitors! we talked about taking walks and my problem of needing a destination; he said he would choose a destination. I also noted that I thought of going to the Botanical Gardens -way in the east end - if I knew how to do it by bus. They knew. We never use transit. It would be a good thing to do on a decent day before warm weather.

We also talked about my archives and how the Quaker grapevine worked after we had a serious accident in Saskatchewan in 77. He was intrigued with how people connected before email!

Then off to the west end for some packets of ready to use Indian foods as we were almost out and romano cheese - one specific shop. Then, my route home went past Home Depot and we have several new flowering and foliage plants. Spring is not coming quickly enough!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 23 Feb 14 - 11:43 AM

Dishes, laundry and vacuuming completed this morning and soon will be on my way to sew with a new friend I met at the sleep study. Tomorrow brings a checkup with the gynecological oncologist. Thankfully this checkup is now down to twice a year. Hematology checkups are every ten weeks. Goals for this week include bagging up clothes that don't fit for now and to begin using my new membership at the Y. I'm getting over a nasty chest cold so it will be an ultra slow start but at least it's a start. :) They don't offer my beloved yoga but that's ok, I need to just start moving more than I currently am. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Feb 14 - 11:05 AM

It was early to bed last night and I woke up before the dogs this morning - that doesn't happen often! Cinnamon was not happy about being roused from the foot of the bed so early, poor dear. Supposed to be nice again today, and I've been working around the house this morning and will head out into the yards in a little while. My weekly organic gardening radio program is on right now (I have pointed out to him that he does this program at a time when lot of people should be out in the yard, not in the house listening to the radio!)

A load of laundry is going, and it looks like spring cleaning is beginning. I've put the mattress pad in (usually gets washed a couple of times a year) and pulled the duvet cover off of the down comforter. I'll put it back on and store it until next winter. It got quite a lot of use this year. I haven't used the clothesline for a while and I forgot to take the clothespins down last fall, so I'll probably pull that old batch down and toss them or see if any are still usable. They get kind of tattered out in the weather.

I've cleared off more stuff from the flat surfaces in the kitchen, trying to either recycle, shred, or file. I think I've spent as much time indoors as I can stand on this pretty day so I'll get my gear together and work on the potato beds and get some more herbs planted. I'm always trying to get rid of the lawn/turf and have a couple of beds that will be ground cover. Oregano is good, as is thyme, and it is the thyme I'll start with. I have a few bedding plants to put in, and I can simply transplant more oregano from the kitchen garden down to the curb garden. If I can convince this to spread onto the existing lawn and kill it off, I'll let it. :)

This is a fasting day, and this begins this year's push to reach my target weight. I gained back about five pounds during the winter (I haven't stepped on the scale, I can tell by how snug some of my trousers are) and need to take that off, making a total of 20 to lose this year. I lost 35 last year and wondered how the alternate day fasting would work once I reach my target weight. I think it would simply shift to a two days a week fasting to keep from adding on weight and continuing to try to eat as healthy as possible. For anyone dropping in now and not aware of the routine, this information from Dr. Michael Mosley on a UK program called Horizons gave me the information and inspiration to use this method of weight loss. It helps to get some good exercise every day along with the fasting.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Feb 14 - 10:51 AM

At Camp Ridgebury last week we decluttered refuse left by the sellers (whi h included an elliptical and weight bench-- good deal!). Of course we kept all the fitness stuff. From the bagged trash they left we filled a recycling bin and 4 boxes for Goodwill. There were 2 or 3 items we kept for the house. The rest of the trash was bagged in some of the bags I'd packed our stuff in when we used them to line the cardboard boxes going on the open trailer. We also recycled our cardboard boxes, as well as the 8 they left.

♥♡♥

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Feb 14 - 07:59 PM

I worked off of a list today, first spending a hour weeding and planting a few bedding plants (things that are fine if it freezes again). Showered and headed out in time to work at a freelance photo gig, then from there headed back to town and stopped in several stores for things on my list. I didn't get back out to the garden again after I got home, though I did water a little bit out front. The rest will be for tomorrow.

Tonight I'll download today's photos from the camera to sort and I plan to finish working on them in the next couple of days.

Also this evening are a few more chores that I won't necessarily finish but that benefit from slow and steady attention. I'm still putting away things that are sitting out on surfaces in the living room, and I'm trying to make the best use of the cupboard space that has opened up with the culling of stuff sent to the Goodwill.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 22 Feb 14 - 02:52 PM

Did the dishes, went out to take a walk but there is no place I want to walk to! So I walked up a block and down a block and cleaned the melting ice away from the front steps and chatted with a man from across the street who announced, "summer is coming!" I did not realize he was such an optimist! However, I can report that the buds on the lilac are swelling! It should not bloom before May but it is alive and well.

It is windy, like a wonderful spring day; a little harder and it could have blown me over. That was the determining factor in not walking further. I was blown over and rolled into the street in 1978 and it was somewhat traumatic. I love the wind, love to feel it and hear it but treat it with respect.

When I took out the compost, I could mostly walk on top of the snow but I sank a couple times - up to my knees. Not much sun out back.

Going to consider else on list of TTD. Mostly thinking of focussing on checking out more of the things I discovered in the archives. And enjoying the sun pouring in the front windows. And being warm enough!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 22 Feb 14 - 10:43 AM

Today is unique for February in Montreal - SUNNY! and 39F!!!! (Sunny at this time of year is usually COLD.) So - list of things to do - take out compost wile it is warm! Go to market for this and that.

We are in the city because when R showed up to head to cafe, he said he still has things that need to be done in a building where major renos start Monday. Although he sold the building, the new owners are permitting him to remove everything removable because they are gutting the building. SO, I said, let's come back and GET IT DONE!

I did nap from 4 until R came home at 6:15 and we set off. The furniture moving on Weds/disturbing of dust without wearing a respirator was un-utterably stupid. So I am back to the environmental cough - all night last night. Cough less sitting up but had terrible spells at the cafe and would go outside to cough then put on mask inside. Sometimes there are thing in the air there that exacerbate my coughing. But the music was good and I almost felt like dancing, but not quite.

R is much better but Bruno is very sick. What hot water??? A hot bath would be SO helpful...

So brekkie was nice French toast made with "Muesli" bread. And R is off to get things done and I am drinking green tea and getting ready - mentally and physically - to wash the dishes with the pot of hot water. Have not coughed since I got up. I may try to get the desk together. So nice to have sun pouring through the sheer drapes! Upstairs will be toasty. Hope I find the energy to get to the pottery. Step one: get dressed.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Feb 14 - 05:43 PM

Struggling through this day, two power naps so far. The eye-strain and mental anguish of close editing. Good thing it's Friday, but I have to work this evening (and the good thing there is that it's social, I'll be taking photos and talking to people after a day hunched over the computer.)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 21 Feb 14 - 01:47 PM

The day is grey and drismal. Temp about 35F. I suppose we shall go to the cafe and then the mill later but right now, I feel OK but not full of energy. Know I foolishly have dust allergy reaction but am taking what will help. Finished latest novel after brekkie; will not read another by this author; the ending was not the end of the story and left it all up in the air. Phooey!

Then I spent an hour on the phone with my dear rehab friend in NYS. Cannot visit this weekend either but we "solved all our problems on the phone"! Believe that...? Well, we talked about things and that helps clarify.

I finished that box of archives but did not throw out much more. There were so many interesting memory aids - letters, newspaper clippings... Last night I googled, then messaged a woman on FB. All these years later - maybe 20?- I find her even more interesting. I have a few more people I want to re-find, subjects to google. Found a pivotal letter from 1977 that could make a difference in how a family member feels. Will scan it and send to #1 son and wife to see what they think. In all, it was an enlightening and useful exercise. Now I am anxious to do the boxes that are at the mill.

Now I will move on to FB and see what is new there. I find I am using it with more discrimination and it is useful. Maybe a nap, too.