Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Oct 16 - 09:57 PM

Too many winter jackets? Leave one in the car as a spare or just in case you meet someone who needs one. That's one less to worry about.

Agreed about the journey of discovery - simply clearing out the HHR and in the garage, sorting the contents of the green plastic bin that used to ride in the back of my pickup, I've culled some things and restored others to useful places. I got a call and visited the dealer this evening - they had a couple of more forms to sign, so they can transfer title to the old car. Good riddance!

I have an enamel 5-quart pot that is new to me this year; tonight I made the BEST batch of chicken noodle soup in it. Sauteed two chicken breasts, then added oil and sauteed onions till tender. I added carrots to soften, then diced potatoes, oregano, salt and pepper. I had a defrosted jar of chicken stock with a healthy dollop of chicken fat, and then added mushrooms (bought fresh, sliced, sauteed, and frozen) and egg noodles. Thinned it with some hot water; when it was done I ate a small bowl. Wonderful. This will be great for lunches this week and weekend.

In the garden I'm starting to see tomatoes emerge and the eggplants are looking happy. I'll start making things with eggplants soon, plus I plan to bread and fry and take some to my neighbor across the street who loves this but doesn't cook much any more.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 12 Oct 16 - 09:26 PM

Beaver:

Did some more sorting and organizing today. Tomorrow may rain, but today was the BEST! I now have five empty bins as a result of sorting and letting go. But have too many winter jackets! And no closet space SO need to make hard choices.

Having the house and shed more orderly is a great incentive and feels terrific!

Hmmm, I probably need to take the empty bins to the mill so I can sort stuff into them and bring them back full. As I sort, I find things that have been unseen for several years. Some treasures, some which are parts of other things and some can be let go. I am on a journey of discovery and letting go...

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Oct 16 - 09:25 PM

I am finding that the new vehicle is a good choice as far as the insurance company is concerned as well - the little lemon HHR I was driving cost more than the pickup I drove before, yet this 2012 SUV costs $35 less a month to insure. It's safer and costs less because of it.

Yesterday I took the dogs for a walk around the neighborhood and we visited some of our favorite trees. The pecans haven't started dropping much yet, but in a couple of more weeks we should find plenty to both munch and pick up for home consumption. (The dogs eat them shell and all).

We all enjoy this time of year.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 11 Oct 16 - 08:42 PM

Beaver:

Well, I finally found my fav winter jacket - not in a bin but in a large plastic bag with lots of other stuff - mostly really wet because there was a hole in the bag and it was in the back/back shed before the roof was fixed. Everything is salvageable and I spent time laying wet fabrics out on the grass, in the sun. Sorted through the plastic bins and ended up with two more empty bins! About half are back in the shed, labelled! The rest need more attention, hoping for a non rainy day tomorrow. A pile to wash, a pile to get rid of, a pile to take to Quebec, a pile to maybe get rid of. Did a little plant work. Hope for a few more nice days before the snow.

The ginger shoot is almost 8 inches - VERY slow!

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 10 Oct 16 - 10:01 PM

Beaver:
Congratulations on new vehicle, Acme!

I actually have stuff in the house in Montreal - not much but enough for when I am there and stuff at the mill - still quite a bit as I gradually get Beaver sorted and organized. This weekend was great. R finally arrived just after 5 pm - the PS sent him in several wrong directions! We jsut had time for him to change clothes and we headed off to Thanksgiving Dinner at the Tea Room. After rushing to get there, we were 20 minutes early and had time to stop at the Old Hastings Mercantile where Lillian was delighted to see me and bought a bunch of pots I just happened to have in the car! She told me what she needed and on Sunday I took a few more for her. YAY! Now there is room in the pottery storage for all the pots But I need to make more - for my son and for Lillian!

R brought 3 pieces of furniture. One has greatly de-cluttered the BR!!!!! The other two took thought re placement and will be waiting for the next trip to be fully functional. This is a very small house! The ladder to the trap door for the sleeping loft will take up a certain space so furniture has to be planned around that. Agreed: things in one area can be moved into the "new" cabinet and two pieces jettisoned to make room for the china cabinet. The elegant antique sewing machine is basically "up for sale" as it offers almost no storage - just a marvellous piece of work. I googling it to find out how to get the machine into the cabinet, we found one for sale on Ebay - sold for $350 in the US. It has a temp space in the BR, where a smaller piece which is also "on its way out" has been moved to a bit crowded area until I decide how to let it go. Unique but battered.

I am delighting in the new arrangements and future arranging. The back shed also was re-organized, making room for more storage and the woodpile is now well covered with the shell that huge Tempo that collapsed under the snow in Montreal a few years ago. AND I finally have hung a lovely pastel, a lake scene, on the BR wall, a nice view to wake up to! (The artist gave it to me for my birthday in1988.)

Dan stopped by on Sunday and he and R conferred on indoor jobs that Dan agreed to do when I am away and he has time. I am delighted that R finds Dan competent and is willing to let him do some of the work so R can enjoy his time here without feeling he has to DO stuff. #1 is insulating the ceiling in the utility room and making it squirrel proof! GREAT de-clutter! The the sleeping loft: closing it to fur-balls and reducing heat loss! THEN........

So, I look up at the lovely lake and am happy to be moving along on the de-clutter route!

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Oct 16 - 08:29 PM

Today I ran errands and count myself as ahead of things at the house because I managed to clear off the kitchen counter. :)

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Rumncoke
Date: 08 Oct 16 - 02:10 PM

Wow - my husband is decorating the front room - painting the walls a lovely fresh green and there is talk of carpet tiles.

I am selling off some of my knitting machines, two punchcard Knitmasters, and they want two more, electronic ones. For money!!

They also want natural fibre yarn, so I am selling them cotton and cashmere, and will add more as I find it. Pity they don't want acrylics but a couple of sacks of yarn out of the house isn't bad.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Oct 16 - 09:45 PM

Big trade-off today; decluttered a lemon automobile that required way more repairs than reasonable for a vehicle of it's age and mileage. I discovered it was on a list of vehicles to avoid (Consumer Reports - Buyers Guide). I've researched vehicles for several weeks anyway, and when I learned today that the extent of front end repairs added up to nearly $2000, I headed across the street to the used car lot of the dealership and picked out an SUV that isn't on the avoid list and is several years newer with lower mileage. I broke even on the lemon - they paid off the loan, and I am now driving a better and larger vehicle. Room for more of the stuff I haul around (I won't have to ask friends with pickups to make a run to the hardware store for me).

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Oct 16 - 11:10 PM

Any of the analog to digital work takes a while because the originals have to play in real time. I'm not there yet as far as my LPs, but I did all of my Dad's LPs (to cassette tape, at the time) many years ago.

I tend to try vinegar for things - Windex probably has ammonia, so you're looking at acid vs alkaline. But using ammonia certainly is cheaper and a different strength than what is in Windex (a derivative product that is going to cost a lot more and have less punch).

Dorothy, are you finished at the mill, or do you still have stuff over there also?

Fighting with the bank, Wells Fargo didn't complete one transfer I set into motion on Sept 30 and today charged an overdraft fee because of their failure to complete my transfer. I didn't print the confirmation number, but perhaps I can browbeat them later. ;-) I have one last set of automatic withdrawals happening any minute now; once they register I'll call my public radio folks and change the bank they get that from, and then be ready to abandon Wells Fucking Fargo. Good riddance!

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: pattyClink
Date: 04 Oct 16 - 08:54 PM

Hi Declutterers, delurking as requested. I have indeed been following along, and glad to see all the progress being made.

I've been attacking the 'stuff' on a few different fronts. Lots of trash cleared out of garage and shop, but lots more sorting/purging to go. Have passed on or trashed several pieces of furniture. The Ebay machine is cranked up again for the fall/winter selling season, so far so good. Tried the Amazon scanning app route on a stack of books, but the fees are so heinous I took the listings down after literally losing money on the first sale.

Sorting memorabilia for scanning. And, the most fun aspect, I'm 'ripping' all the old LPs to digital, a few a day, whilst doing paperwork and other to-dos. I'm not breaking and titling them now, that is so time consuming. Just want to get them ripped and the covers photographed for reference, and a few of them are saleable. The editing work can be done later while I'm on the road. Anyway, it's nice to hear music I haven't heard in a while.

Still enjoying having a few rooms pretty minimalistic after empting/painting them, although it's hard to keep them that way while actually living in them and getting things done. Still, much better and less stressful to have some clear space.

Any and all advice on cleaning laminate floors welcome, my new ones are lovely but damp mopping isn't quite enough. I've been advised to use Windex but that seems drastic.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 03 Oct 16 - 09:55 PM

Mill:
The music was great and I managed one glaze firing which came out fine but took 5 hours longer! We cannot figure out why; usually elements wearing out make it slow down over a period of months but this happened between one firing and the next. Still contemplating! In any case, my energy level has not been adequate, mainly due to heavy weather. R and I had a nice weekend with the music events and doing things around the vicinity. Finally --- got him to remove from LR the cabinet to go to Beaver (so I can organize BR!) and he found and brought into LR the replacements; temporarily - for who knows how long! - the beautiful bamboo cabinets I had bought for the bathR we still do not have. They are too large for Beaver; I would love to have had them there. In any case, it is nice to see them out of the dreadful storage area. They are so beautiful!

After R left, I found the bed frame I want him to take to Beaver (too big for my car). And had a chat with Fritz about getting the place better organized. Also had words with R about that before he left. Both a lack of clear communication and R's lack of .... I'm not sure what. He designated an area for F then filled it with stuff. We are each frustrated. Progress needs to be made. F will extricate the Bed frames for me so R can bring them to Beaver on Friday.

My car, as I leave tomorrow, will be loaded with stuff that will be useful at Beaver OR will eventually be sorted so some can find new homes. Clearing space here for R's SOMEDAY wood working area.

I finally sat him down and explained, "You don't want to hear this but.... I no longer find "maybe next year" reasonable. I am no longer feeling that next year will be happening for me....." Perhaps recognizing that one's age -almost 80- is a psychological factor in viewing life and time factors is also a sort of de-cluttering factor. I have a sense of wanting/needing things to happen ASAP so I have time left to enjoy, for example, a home that is as nice as I can make it. It is great to know I am going back to the improvements Dan has made for me - better storage areas, a place where I can sort and organize and discard the chaff.

As for the stove wood! Remember that this is my main heat source! I am SO happy that it is well done and I am taking a heavy duty cover back with me - the skin of the Tempo that collapsed a few years ago will keep the wood well protected through the winter.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Oct 16 - 01:55 PM

Last winter I did some sewing and beading work on my dining room table, so I set up the small television on the buffet. It has an Amazon Fire Stick to play movies that I get through Amazon and Netflix. I moved that setup back into the sewing room and decluttered the work table and am ready to enjoy finishing a lot of forgotten sewing and craft projects.

This month I'm decluttering my "Too Big to Fail" commercial bank. I've planned this for years, but the kids were in college and had accounts linked to mine. They are on their own and now I'm ditching Wells Fargo. We were one of the victims of that unsolicited credit card account nonsense - they sent one to my son shortly after we visited a branch to take care of unrelated business. At the time we thought it was a fluke and the card was never used.

I picked up a few items at the local Goodwill that should yield a profit when sold on eBay, and I found a skirt that I'm going to modify (add a channel and drawstring in the waistline because the elastic is not stretchy any more). It's one of those that is printed Indian muslin that you handwash then twist and leave in position to dry.

I've reclaimed my hall bathroom after weeks of one of the dogs needing to stay in there on my work days following foot surgery (he could only go into the yard briefly on a leash a few times a day). It let the other dogs have access to the dog door flap when he was confined. My next job in that bathroom is to peel up the linoleum, scrape off the adhesive, and put down ceramic tile.

Dorothy, your firewood preparations sound good. It would be nice to have a season here for using the fireplace, but I have mine blocked off year round, it lets in too much cold air in the winter and heat and humidity in the summer. Perhaps I'll set up an outdoor fireplace. I set up a temporary one last year in the back, but it sends smoke directly toward the back door, so it needs a new position before it is made into a permanent fixture.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 27 Sep 16 - 05:27 PM

Beaver:

The very small Quaker meeting in Montreal is welcoming these Congolese Quakers who have come to us after 7 years in a refugee camp in Kenya! Getting them outfitted for a Montreal winter - 3 youngsters! And helping them find their place in a foreign land! At least they speak French!

By tomorrow afternoon, Dan will have completed de-cluttering the back/back shed - new leak-free roof and a floor we won't fall through! Then I can place the plastic bins in there for organized/labelled storage that I can access easily. This work is greatly de-cluttering my finances but also my mind! The whole place looks much better and is much more useful. Even the outhouse is suitable for storage and has a window so we can look at the beaver pond when using it. Using it will help keep clutter from the septic system. It is now ready for interior paint -white! when I return from Quebec - and have a warm enough day.

The last firewood arrived today; I will have that to stack when I get back. I feel ready for winter! THAT alone de-clutters the brain! I still need to do a little more re plants and clay but have a couple more weeks to arrange it - before the interior of house freezes when I am away. Was a lovely day today. Parsley (lots!) is drying in the studio; it gets VERY hot - 80-90 with solar gain. Basil in the house. I cleared the ornamental annuals out of the raised strawberry bed; the strawberry plants are doing their own cluttering - wonderfully! - the red verbena was beautiful all summer but now is compost. Lantana died in first frost; verbena still healthy! Canna and dahlias pulled.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Sep 16 - 09:15 PM

I bet they were thrilled, Dorothy, to have such a windfall, and when they have friends or family visit and remark on the furniture, it will become a story about a great welcome and friendship extended to them in their new home.

An eclectic dinner tonight - I had a few okra ready to eat and I took a piece of salmon out of the freezer to bake. The okra was rolled in flour and seasoned cornmeal, then fried in shallow oil. Not the healthiest vegetable, but during the season fried okra is a favorite delicacy. I picked a few this evening as I did some work in the garden - I fear the sweet potatoes have once again attracted mice or rats; I cut out a bunch of the vines this evening near the okra, poblano peppers, and eggplant, then spritzed some garlic and hot pepper "tea" around the bed. I have a Vietnamese neighbor who said sweet potato leaves are a popular vegetable, but for now I'm cutting and removing, not preparing to eat them.

Today was rainy and cooler, I think fall is finally arriving. With some weight loss and the cooler weather I expect soon the moment when it's a clear, crisp fall day and I have tons of energy - something always missing during the hot Texas summers. Every year I think I've acclimated, and every fall I realize I never did. The house is incredibly improved, clutter-wise, from a few years ago when these threads started. This process is slow because I generally sell (if I can) or donate the surplus as I identfy it. And sometimes I find great things that I forgot about and now want to keep and put on display.

Every so often I offer a "shout out" to the lurkers; the mudcat logged-on only policy in the BS section means fewer responses, but I know Donuel has been clearing out, as have PattyClink, and MAG. Are any of you reading along, and how is it going? And LilyFestre, BatGoddess, and others, what's up these days at hour houses?

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Sep 16 - 05:17 PM

Beaver:

Email from R yesterday: "Well, today i took the immigrant Congolese parents home via 3810 top floor and offered them various furniture items if they would like them. I expected an "either" this - or "maybe this" - but it was like a feeding frenzy occurred and they wanted everything I offered. Now they have two new sofas, two big easy chairs, a recliner chair, two armchairs, a rocking chair, a round table with four rolling chairs, a side table, a microwave, a bicycle, a scooter, and happy kids! I delivered it all to Lasalle in two trips and helped them move it all inside their basement apartment." A great way to de-clutter a bunch of stuff, unneeded but too good to throw out, and helped out the new immigrants! So glad that R is de-cluttering! It helps his state of mind, and mine as well.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 23 Sep 16 - 01:10 PM

Beaver:

Most of the de-cluttering is from the list - north side painted by Dan, and the shed reinforced in prep for a non-leaking roof, and siding going on the sheds, the yard trimmed, pallets piled behind a shed, .... My wallet will also be de-cluttered by the joy of all this guy has accomplished, and continues on Monday, wildly clutters my whole self.

Small fire in the wood stove this morning. My huge deck extension is almost full of wood and now we start de-cluttering it! three frosty nights ahead; I will cover the veggie's until final harvest on Weds before I leave to go back to Quebec for a week.

Now I need to open a window as I did not pay enough heed and it is too warm! The amaryllis I bought a couple weeks ago is blooming - a huge gorgeous flower - I shall have to post it on FB.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 19 Sep 16 - 09:11 PM

Beaver:

YAY for sagging jeans (Acme) and Michelle's good news (on FB)!

And for my new entry with the patio blocks finally in place and the pallet on which they spent the summer out of the front yard, the little cedar planted near the stream, the high places (on the house) mostly painted and the siding started on the dreadful looking sheds. So nice to come home to! And another cord of wood to stack and my share of screws yet to put in the new siding - physical things to keep me moving and feeling as though I am DOING something! The rest of the garden survived that frosty night and there were five yummy strawberries for me tonight! The person doing the work even took my folding chair from the front yard to the back so the front looked supper tidy. I brought it back so I could eat supper out front where it was cool.

The BR in Montreal came together at the 11th hour after poor R spent two full days loading the 12 machines to go to Michigan, painful de-cluttering. Eleven more leave this week. But the house.... The BR looks pretty good. Our friend is staying 9 days and will de-clutter the compost bin which has tried to self destruct. If he cannot get it back together, I shall purchase another one. The compost to go on the flower beds in the back yard. A wonderful helpful thing he will do competently! YAY again!

A realtor knocked on the door Saturday and I quickly informed her the "house is not for sale"; as I turned back into the chaos of the LR, I wanted to run after her and beg her to "sell it at any price!!!" Thank heavens for Beaver, my Haven.

My eyes started to hurt tonight and I changed from CFL to LED bulb; seems to help, though I suspect the good old bulbs are better.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Sep 16 - 08:43 PM

That house does sound like the runner-up for the film Money Pit.. Maybe it is time to let someone take on the challenge, before you kill yourself falling through the kitchen floor into the basement. I'm glad that everything at the Beaver house seems to be falling in to place.

I mowed the front yard this morning then had friends over for lunch and a long visit; there was enough time left in the afternoon for a nap and then I pulled weeds out of the bed beside the kitchen door. I still have more work to do, but for this weekend I hope to clear out the weeds and grass so the cilantro seeds that fell in that area last spring will seed and give me a good crop over the winter. As I worked out there I realized my jeans were sagging a bit, something they haven't done for a while. I've gone back to the alternate day fasting this fall.

I have weeded out at least 3/4 of the VHS tapes from a shelf in the hall (most of them were recordings that are now easily available online), and this weekend I've started digitizing some of the films that don't seem to be available on DVD or streaming. Or at a reasonable price. This is a slow process, to play them in real time to AVI and then process the file into an mp4 format.

The oddball things I listed on eBay are selling, so I need to list more stuff. I wish people were better about posting feedback; I'd guess that only 1 in 5 ever post feedback.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 17 Sep 16 - 03:59 PM

Montreal:
Ice on Windshield on Thursday am. I had seen neighbour out in his yard Weds eve and took that as a frost warning. Threw tarp over garden. Harvested a shopping bag of lovely lettuce in the morning but left the parsley and carrots with hope! Trip to Montreal/time to stop at Lowe's/time to think. Decided the small trailer, still at the mill, would be a great showroom. Need to nudge R until he gets it to Beaver. Saves need to construct one!

Work at Beaver is in good hands and will begin on Monday. I will go back on Tuesday, maybe Monday. Here in Montreal, I had forgotten how dreadful this house is: tried to bake and remembered the oven does not work - used the toaster oven. Washing machine still dysfunctional due to frozen pipes -WHAT Year! So, triaging laundry to go to Beaver - the one spot where everything functions - so far!

A friend is coming to stay upstairs for a few days - and then sporadically while daughter attends McGill U. Tomorrow!!!! And R still needs to take stuff out of BR. Yesterday, he made a good start but had to dash away to load machines on a transport. He would be done by 4 and then go to music at Cafe and we would come back this am and finish??????? Now - 4 pm, the next day and he is still loading. De-clutter? a realtor stopped by earlier today looking to see if people would sell their house I told her "no" but as I turned back to the LR (????? full of stuff) I was tempted to run after her and beg her to sell it! Let someone buy it who has time to do the much needed rehab!

I threw out dead plants - from not getting watered. Sad for the one I had rescued that was doing so nicely... Went to the Mill last night, after the music, and this am I boxed a bunch of mustache cups R bought at an auction; my friends with antique shop can sell them on Ebay. Cleared a whole shelf in the K. Collected some money and left more pottery at a shop. Will de-clutter this place of numerous window panes, in metal frames, useful for Beaver gardens. But as fast as I clear a bit....

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Sep 16 - 07:09 PM

Handing off the Secret Santa mantle this year - and I pulled notes from several previous years together to mail to the new titular Santa. Only a few ounces of paper, but lots of joy in the process!

I alphabetized my DVD collection and they're in the old VHS shelves for now (they were on my dining room table). I can either leave them there or return them to the top shelf of the cabinet in the den where they used to live. If I don't return them, I have to figure out where that cabinet would be best situated, and what goes on the top shelf.

I know it's only September, but I've started accumulating a few things for xmas. There may be a few things already in the house that would be good gifts, so I need to keep my eyes open as I go through shelves and trunks.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Sep 16 - 10:53 PM

We have a few days of rain ahead, and my garden needs it to shift into the fall growing season. And once the soil is moist, I can pull (or use the mattock to dig out) encroaching weeds.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Sep 16 - 08:58 PM

Beaver:
De-cluttering means finding someone to help with chores. I went out this am, set up the skil saw, cut two pieces of siding to fit shed ---Could not carry one to the shed, well not easily enough for it to be worth the expenditure of energy! While going about errands, asked folks for referrals of possible helpers. One is stopping by tomorrow and he is highly recommended so HOPE! The original friend phoned, at least! He is too busy right now but I am happy to have him on my side! A possible for future tasks.

So tomorrow I can focus on the tasks I CAN do! Harvest parsley and get ready to go to Quebec for a few days. And make 100 or so small tumblers for the Yellow Door 50th. Maybe...

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 12 Sep 16 - 07:15 PM

BeaverL

When the sun goes behind the hill at 6:30, is that de-cluttering???? It is definitely a warning that I need to get ready for what is to come. Today I cut most of the basil crop. It looks like enough for the next ten years! And had some yummy fresh lettuce for my salad.

Designed a show case for pottery to go outdoors on the road side of the house. I think I have it down so I can actually construct it myself. Hoping to get the guts to start tomorrow morning.... As I wrote that, I realized I had made a math error! New list of materials ...!! One of the things that causes me great discouragement recently is the brain disfunction that leads to this sort of error. And no one to bounce it off - well, here!

OK, so the wood is stacked up to date - two cord this week - and well covered. And a note to Ryan, in the money jar, to stop at 12 cord. I hope we are close as the deck is getting full but room for 3 more cord if needed. No, I have NOT kept track! I an secure in trusting Ryan.

Have a call in to friend who may help with some of other chores - roof and siding for sheds, cutting grass/weeds, painting upper parts of house - because I do not care to go up that high on ladder. A friend just emailed me two more possibles if this one does not work. That will take care of winter ready chores.

Meanwhile, I do sorting and organizing as energy and inclination arises. Time to get out winter garb!

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Sep 16 - 07:02 PM

I pulled a frozen casserole and have it in the oven for dinner tonight and lunches this week. Eggplant and chicken Parmesan. I'm not getting much eggplant from the garden this year, so I'll have to rely on the freezer for last year's surplus.

I have a bunch of bedding plants to put into the garden and have cleared a space for most of them. They've been languishing in pots for too long. Maybe I'll have Swiss chard this fall and winter. A VHS tape being digitized, and as soon as this finishes the tape goes into the recycle bin and I run to the store. Overlapping tasks today, nothing very pressing, but when I finish with these plants, I'll conclude planting everything I started growing last spring and it will be time to clear out space and set up for the next season of bedding plants. I'll try to plan better next time - like ordering my seeds this fall, not waiting till winter or spring.

More VHS tapes to the e-waste bin tomorrow, and I am considering painting that case they've been in and assigning it to a place in the den to hold all of my DVDs and CDs. The next batch of obsolete media. . .

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Sep 16 - 12:20 PM

Several mornings this week I carried a grocery bag of VHS tapes to work and deposited them in the e-waste bin. It stands waist high and was about half full before they emptied it. I have a stack next to my computer of tapes I recorded off of television years ago that I may need to convert to digital myself. Not everything is available streaming or via DVD, so these tapes will be checked against what is available online before they also go into the recycle bin.

I have a lot of DVDs from over the years and as I go through the VHS tapes am finding many I already updated to disc. I made a list of the DVDs this morning to compare those VHS tapes against.

It's a rainy out, nice for working in the house. Cooking shows playing, partly because it also feels like it needs to be a no-news day.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Sep 16 - 12:54 PM

Beaver:

Something de-cluttered most of my energy this week. But little things were sorted and organized, small changes making a difference. Stacked the firewood from Saturday's delivery last evening - it was dry and I was functioning. Cooked new batch of roasted cauliflower (two heads). Read a lot, thought a lot. Neighbour came by to help me decide what to do about leaking shed roof; tarp, as it is in too bad shape to replace metal roof. Have to get help for this. And someone to de-clutter "grass"/weeds while it is still dry enough.

Need to find better ways of selling pottery. I think my mind has become too cluttered - need some lists.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Sep 16 - 12:22 PM

I spent a few hours on Saturday getting ready to mow the back yard, mostly by trimming and weeding around the shrubs and trees that have grown large and play host to tall grass I can never reach with the mower and is difficult to hit with the trimmer without mangling the shrubs. The lawn was mowed and I went around with the bucket to police the dog droppings - that's the best way to keep the fly population down back there. Still more pruning needs doing, as lots of limbs have grown into the way in paths and up against the house. Maybe later today. The mowing is regular work, the trimming might be construed as decluttering. (The trimmings are piled and once dry go through a small chipper and are used in the garden as hardwood mulch).

A while back I decided it was time to recycle VHS tapes - then promptly forgot about it. This weekend I packed some bags with home-recorded tapes, with plans to carry one or two in each day to drop off in a e-wast bin at work. These aren't home movies, these are television programs captured that are now available via streaming or DVD. I have a good-sized shelf I can use for something else once these are out of the house.

It is soon time to defrost the big freezer again, so I can rearrange and see what all I've accumulated over the spring and summer, and be ready for the final fall crops that (fingers crossed!) will come like gangbusters once the weather cools.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Sep 16 - 09:33 PM

Beaver:
R claims he told me the lock was changed two months ago - In two months, he never thought to give me a new key! ARGHHHHHHH! The old lock was iffy and I am glad it was de-cluttered but .... I tried to sit down - the door mat was wet! YICK!

Thurs was spent clearing up as much as possible - washing dishes, foraging for decent food....

Ah well, Thurs we went to a CD launch for the Bombadils - in Montreal. R went down to the cafe to hear them again on Friday and took a friend. Fri I drove back here and Sat sold a few pots at MAynooth MAdness - LEFT early due to Dreadful noise of alleged music at twice any reasonable decibels. Would like to lay criminal charges for physical assault. I was so wrecked by the noise it took me twice as long to pack up and I was in bed by 8 pm - after an apple and cheese for supper. Will de-clutter that event from next year's agenda.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Aug 16 - 09:13 PM

The room recently I cleared out revealed quite a few things I'd been looking for or completely forgotten were stored in there. The final room that really needs attention is the guest room/craft room. I probably won't get there until cool weather sets in.

Dorothy - the lock was changed and you didn't know about it? Did something happen at the house, or did someone lose their keys and ID together in a bad place?

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Donuel
Date: 31 Aug 16 - 08:08 PM

2 rooms decluttered and 2 to go. Intermittent help is crucial.

Also the lost item makes for excellent motivation.
I can't find a cello neck. Not a small item.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 31 Aug 16 - 07:57 PM

Montreal:

What a week! De-cluttering: Fritz took the front off the kiln box and seemed to shake something tight. The kiln which was missing on two of 8 elements seems to be OK ---but too late to catch up with glaze firings. NExt time I get back; about 3 loads waiting to be fired..

The house here is in sore need of de-cluttering - no place to sleep, no clean dishes no place to sit.... And when I arrived with frozen food and in a hurry, the lock was changed and I had to pace until R arrived to let me in. I dumped stuff and dashed off to visit a friends, daughter and mom - whose mind is being sadly de-cluttered of memory. Also a son/brother who will send me a link to a company that offers to help people retrain brain to hear consonants; that would be helpful.

THEN, it took an hour to negotiate the rush hour streets of Montreal to get back to the this house - so bad I wish I had the energy to go back to the mill - where I was since last WEds - sold a bunch of pots at the "antique everything event, tried to organize a bit in the storage area. looked for specific items - to no avail. But the living space was tidy when I left this morning.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Aug 16 - 09:29 PM

I had a couple of friends over for lunch today and it was remarkably easy to clear a few things off of the central counter, off of the kitchen table, and cook and have our meal. In the past it sometimes involved moving a lot of stuff and mixing up stacks of stuff (my typical organizational setup).

A dozen more items listed on eBay yesterday, and it was much easier to work in a room where the possibility of tripping or slipping has been removed.

My yard needs attention, but I'll try to pace myself and do some of it each afternoon after I get after work. It rained hard yesterday morning so mowing will be easier after it dries more.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 21 Aug 16 - 09:49 PM

Beaver:

Finally, a good day! The weather was perfect - not too hot, low humidity, nice breeze and I finally managed to trim those 8 plates!!!! And did lots of other things. Put in a couple hours in the am and about 4 in the late aft. All outdoors. All wood is stacked, until next load. I am happily tired.

Yesterday a small group went on an organized tour of 5 area gardens - mainly veggie with some flowers interspersed. Great fun, lots of ideas, a great variety of styles, each was unique, And I arrived home exhausted!

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Aug 16 - 11:09 PM

Michelle - most moms I know really missed the kids for about 30 minutes on the first day of school - then enjoyed the time to work on things that have been set aside during the summer. Welcome to the club! It's part of the cycle of life, the school year and summer vacation. You've really moved into quilting as a hobby - is this something you'll do more of this year? We've all come so far from the day they put Jeremiah in your arms.

My sun room is in transition. I cleared out everything portable, swept, organized packing materials and boxes, and put some in recycling. I've moved all of the stuff out of the kitchen and the dining area, but there are still boxes (of items to list) in the hall. I need to be organized to take care of my eBay listings - I want to finally clear out the last of some estate stuff and think about specializing in some of the vintage items I can find at area garage and estate sales.

Since I use the door into the sun room to enter and exit the house a bonus of this work is that it should be more welcoming.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: LilyFestre
Date: 20 Aug 16 - 06:19 PM

Hi Guys!

   I've been away for far too long but to be honest, not much has been happening on the decluttering front. However, school will be starting this week which means I might actually have some time to myself to CLEAN and HOE OUT!!!! I am looking forward to it!!!! The downstairs of my house isn't TOO bad although there are lots of things to be packed up and given away or sold. Upstairs, particularly my sewing room and bedroom are a DISASTER area! I really don't like to shut myself in a room upstairs when I know Jeremiah is downstairs. If I bring him upstairs into the room I'm working in, nothing gets done. So that leaves the time when Pete is home and let's be honest, when he's home, I don't get much done. We like to spend our time together! Soooo......it looks like this might actually be the time where I can make some serious headway and have something worthwhile to report.

I have spent a good chunk of this summer taking care of my mom who had surgery in July. It's been a long road and I underestimated just how hard it is to manage two households at once. Live and learn, right? Her house is in MUCH better order than mine and so I've been working to keep it that way for her. I hope to get my house as organized and decluttered as hers eventually but it's going to take some work.

Anyway, I haven't read through all the back posts...time is pretty short these days...but I hope you are all well and have been busy this summer making your lives and homes exactly how they make you most happy.

Much love to all,

Michelle who can't believe Jeremiah is headed into the first grade already! How did that happen?? XOXOX

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Aug 16 - 11:13 PM

I'm clearing out my sun room to reorganize. That means there is stuff stacked in the kitchen by the dishwasher, by the kitchen table, and in the hall outside my office. And I'm not finished emptying. I'm seeing a pattern - the shipping stuff is the bulk of the clutter. I need to decide to compress, move to the garage, or discard a percentage of it.

I heard a tip from someone at work about cooking beans with a finger-sized piece of ginger root. It is supposed to remove all of the gassy properties. The trick is to take the root out the moment you take the pot off the stove or it will take on that flavor. I haven't tried this yet. Has anyone else heard of it?

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 19 Aug 16 - 11:02 PM

Beaver:

Dolly is ready for kiln; waiting for a second human to help move kiln onto dolly. Plates not trimmed but screen door is almost done. Swing is in a nice spot with a small patio stone and a rubbery support under each leg to keep in off the wet ground and stable. Painted some more of the east side of house tonight - after the sun was elsewhere and in the cool of the evening. Lost the light by 8:30! Stacked two Face cord of wood in last couple days = an hour each. Very good exercise! Many little things getting done/organized. Four more yellow tomatoes ripened! Woodchucks seem to have moved on by squirrel came to visit today - in BR! Phooey.Much yet to be done to exclude critters from house.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 15 Aug 16 - 10:26 PM

Beaver:

Getting things accomplished little by little. Screen door is now painted ready for new screening and molding. New kiln is in kiln room but I still need to make a new dolly for it - in the am. Plates (8) were thrown yesterday and will be trimmed tomorrow. Ten mugs trimmed and have handles. Oregano harvested and drying on a nylon netting. chores lined up for tomorrow early am - before it gets too hot. Made a support for a tall geranium using thin copper tubing - twisting it into a tall cone. Looks neat!

Splurged and bought a 3 seater swing with canopy for the back yard. A lovely place to sit tonight when it was not SO hot and watch the sun go down, and read.

I am delighting in the very tiny but clear growth of the sprouts on the ginger. Still keeping them in a bowl of water so I can see the progress.

The screening is keeping the crows out of the strawberries. The windows I put around the garden has kept the woodchucks out of the other raised bed and I actually have some lettuce, parsley and possibly some carrots if frost holds off long enough. The basil is growing very well as it seems that woodchucks do not like it!

Re skin problem: Long ago, my dog of the time, had sebacious gland cysts. A vet operated -$180 in 1981. By the time the hair grew back so had the cysts. Vitamins A &D cleared them up completely and she had beautiful shining fur - at 14. Poor dog, no one wanted to pet her while she had those dreadful looking cysts.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Aug 16 - 06:23 PM

I was going through a jewelry box and dug out an necklace I made right after Katlaughing died. I had intended to send her a large round bead of rutilated quartz (much like this one, about 3/4 inch in diameter). I have several of the beads, and I used one for myself as a reminder of Kat. This has been a good week to wear it; enough said.

One dog to the vet yesterday for emergency surgery - she has a bunch of skin surface lesions on her abdomen and she evidently scraped a couple of them that had gotten very large and they were bleeding - everywhere. I bandaged her overnight and first thing in the morning we were at the vet. It could have been worse, it turned out they were all pretty easy to remove or cauterize, but with three incisions and staples, I now have her wearing a t-shirt (she hates the cone) to keep her from licking. One of the other dogs has a dew claw that is enlarged and inflamed and I'd already scheduled him for surgery for that next week. Ouch!

We're in the "low 100s" this month, so it's day to day, keeping the plants in the yard alive, managing the air conditioning to try to keep the bill down, ditto with the water.

I have more eBay items to list, but no energy when it's this hot. I envy those of you who have those wooden decks outside your houses - and weather that lets you enjoy them.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 11 Aug 16 - 12:40 PM

Beaver:
Only working in the cool of the am - by 10 am it is too hot in the shade! So 3 hours plus a bit in the early eve on the shady side of the house. A notice in the newspaper offering a place to cool off!

So, in my window, I am actually getting lots of little things done. Opted for duct tape to repair a down vest. prepared a nifty OLD screen door for painting, taking off old moldings and screening and sanded it, now painted two coats on one side, tomorrow the other side! Then new screening and molding and the hope that R will help me hang it on front door. Another is OK for back door but hanging doors is a two person job. By the time they are hung, it will be time to put them back in the shed until next summer/June! But it is a move forward.

I delight in finding things long stored and organizing little things where I can then find them! Sewing projects continue to pile up... I keep hoping for a rush of sewing energy.

I bought fiberglass screening and put it over the raised beds to reduce depredations thereof, after I caught the murder of crows leaving the strawberry bed as I arrived the other day! Constantly pulling comfrey - so invasive and WAY too much. I gave some small plants to a woman with a garden business, with warning! She told me Saturday of her amazement at how fast it grows; I re-warned her! She says she will keep it in pots; it may break the pots in one season. Might be worse than bamboo!

The perimeter of the back yard is a delight of goldenrod, Joe Pye Weed and cat tails! Then alders about 20 feet tall. But NO shade on west side. And No tree - except the WEED Manitoba Maple will grow fast enough to create shade in the next few years. OK, I am thinking 80! But I could plant shade for the next owners. Will consult with my tree provider.

Now, what else can I accomplish today....

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Aug 16 - 10:29 PM

Beaver:
Too bad I no longer have that Great Pyrenees - for fur. No dogs/no fur. Willy does not bother the pepper plants or the larger tomato plants. Next year the cherry tomatoes will be in the raised beds and those will have protection. Too late for much more to happen this year. If we get another month frost free, it will be a bonus - AND a result of climate change. Fall is in the air and, although it was quite warm this afternoon, a cool night is in progress. Hot is predicted rest of week. But our hot is 90F! I am useless when it gets above 75! Good thing I live in the north!

Moved the remainder of last year's wood onto deck, finished those last 7 boards, pulled weeds in various places, put up an outdoor thermometer - and realized it is only in Celsius, sorted a pile of papers and organized categories, mended down jacket to stop the flurry of feathers, phoned helpful neighbour re the kiln project; I am having a visual perception problem and could not figure out how to wire the receptacle; Larry did it is short order; later I plugged in the new kiln and ascertained that it seems to work just fine!!! Did some organizing in the kiln room/toolroom. Inch by inch...

Have a great rhubarb crop; too bad I don't like rhubarb; emailed a rhubarb loving friend hoping she will re-home at least one patch! Cleared a pile of kindling to better site and planted a lovage in it's place, next to a patio stone to hold rain barrel. the last lovage I had, years ago, grew into a HUGE plant about 6 feet tall. Great disguise for the rain barrel.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Aug 16 - 10:00 PM

So I've been growing those all along and didn't know it! :)

mg, I'm so sorry about your phone hassles. Once you get the one you intended, then you have to spend time (it took me weeks) to finally get everything set up and/or disabled so it works the way you want. There is a lot of "bloat ware" on the company phones that you need to disable or delete if it will let you. Good luck with that.

The back yard is partly mowed and trimmed, the part closest to the house and as far back as the greenhouse. I find it is pleasant to look at it now.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: maeve
Date: 08 Aug 16 - 09:55 PM

mg- Yes, indeed. I agree.

Acme-
courgette=zucchini squash
marrow= the same grown very large.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: mg
Date: 08 Aug 16 - 09:14 PM

I am on a mission to spare people from dealing with customer service at verizon. except for dell, i have never seen anything like it at all. the people meant well, but their hands were tied. oh you have the wrong department...i must have gone through 12 reps in a matter of days. after establishing with technical support i had a defective phone, you would think they would just send me a return mailing and be done. no..days and days have gone by. someone was sending me one and we got disconnected. more reps. one said there is one in your account. i said i can't get into my account. finally they figured it was locked. so then the dumber than dumb ones sent me a text to the phone that did not work to unlock the phone. i said can you email me. no..i would lose my job. they said go to the nearest verizon store and they will mail it for you. it is in the next state and i don't have a car but i got there. they said they could not mail it because it was the different kind of store.

if i can save 10 people from buying anything from verizon, i will feel good. i have to use verizon towers but i am now waiting for a phone from jitterbug/aarp. nothing but verizon really works here although some phones do work...i am waiting for my seventh phone in a few months. my brother in law is dying. no one can reach me. if you have any way to use any other carrier, i recommend it. this has been so beyond bad they should use it as a lesson in an mba class. i think someone could blow them out of the water if they had decent towers and decent service. since jitterbug uses verizon towers i will let you know how their service is..i will say it is 8 days since i ordered a phone from them and it has not arrived but the customer phone service was good. ANYTHING BUT VERIZON.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Aug 16 - 12:23 AM

While you're at it, tell us what "courgettes" and "marrows" are. :)

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Rumncoke
Date: 07 Aug 16 - 10:16 PM

I've had courgettes hide under the leaves and grow into marrows some years. I made marrow and ginger jam - actually more like marmalade, and great on toast.

If you want it I can look for the recipe.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Aug 16 - 07:40 PM

I finally mowed my front lawn - it really needed it - and I finally put all of the dishes from the sink into the dishwasher to run. This week I just couldn't make myself wash dishes by hand, so I suppose my brain was telling me to run the machine for this month.

We're in the low 100s now every day. But the air is dryer, so it is actually easier to put in short spurts of work in 103^o weather than it is in 90^o weather with high humidity. And I think it has reach that time of summer for evening showers on the patio now the city water is so warm through the tap.

I picked up several things more to put on eBay. Something to do this evening, perhaps. My garden isn't producing much now, but this afternoon I mouse-proofed a bit and put gobs of dog hair (bagged after brushing the pooches) into the peppers, eggplant, and sweet potato beds, and then followed behind with a homemade mix called "garlic pepper tea." I added a little orange oil to the mix because I read the ingredients of a "mole scram" product, and garlic and orange oil are two of them. I don't have castor bean (just as well) but I do have orange oil. Put a couple of bulb's worth of garlic and a couple of jalapeno peppers into a blender with a couple of cups of water and make a slurry. Pour through a sieve to remove solids, and I filled the jar up to 1 quart. My organic gardening guru puts this much "tea" into a gallon container and fills that to the top with water, and then uses only 1/4 cup of that per gallon in a sprayer. I don't want to fool with that gallon jug so I'll be careful and use less of this more concentrated mix.

A little bit of this goes a long way, a few teaspoons of it into a pint squirt bottle and I squirted it onto the ground under the garden plants and on the little spot where I noticed rodent digging in the garden wall. Must be careful not to spritz myself with this stuff.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 07 Aug 16 - 07:23 PM

Beaver:

Caught willy woodchuck enjoying the cherry tomatoes; put cage around them. Kiln still on deck but today I bought the stuff to make a way to plug it in so in the morning: finish last 7 boards, move kiln into kiln room and plug it in to see how it functions - if it functions!! Make some pots if there is time before the heat hits again.

The last two days have been quite nice - feels like fall! Glad the firewood is tacked down from reliable person! Yesterday was a mainly have fun day. Today, mostly on computer deleting and sending emails and researching a few things. Roasted large batch of sunflower seeds, and made cheese out of numerous containers of sour milk, thus de-cluttering the frig! Freezing the whey for baking projects. It was cool enough to use the stove and oven! Heat returning tomorrow. Checked out tents for over the firewood. And tickets for Seattle but would prefer to drive - 41 hours each way. If R can get away.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Aug 16 - 09:23 PM

Beaver:
Kiln still on deck but the new deck extension (about 10x18) is almost finished - 7 more boards to go! Looks great! Working in the early am before the sun gets there worked well. Maybe tomorrow I can work on the kiln situation.

I am giving The woodchucks - yes,two! - veggie scraps. They enjoy the cauliflower leaves and even weeds I pull and leave at their door! I can watch out the window as they pull things into their home to nibble! My "garden" has been decimated but the tomatoes and peppers are intact and will produce something before frost. R brought a bunch of window glass this last trip and tonight I placed them all around the raised beds; they are about 6 inches taller than the beds - Maybe??? Harvested oregano tonight - my very best crop! The shoots on the ginger root seem to be growing VERY slowly. I am still grieving to loss of the elegant mullein.

I can work outside from six am (if I get up!) to 8:30 and 7:30 pm until 8:30. The heat is dreadful; kind neighbour came by today and offered me a space in their walk out basement to sit and read. But today I got the brilliant idea of a fan blowing over an ice pack plus a wet wash cloth on my head. Worked Very well.

I managed numerous errands today - in air conditioned places: calendars in the bookstore - the owner was enthusiastic!, the Times sold 6 already and I suggested they could print another 100 at their leisure; there are about 130 being marketed at present. Picked up my new USdollar credit card at the bank. Some pottery to the Art Gallery and viewed the new exhibit - by the Algonquin First Nations folks, including a genuine birch bark canoe!

Looked for some real food - unpolluted with chemicals - futile. Fed up and wondering how far I would have to drive to get better produce and meat. When the weather turns cold - in a month or so! - I will be able to bring meat from the good butcher in Quebec. Bought frozen fish and was too tired to cook it so had a big bowl of broccoli for supper and some cheese.

Did two loads of laundry this am and hung them on my wonderful umbrella dryer! They dried quickly in the heat and are put away. Still need to make bed. Can only move around for short stints due to the heat but it is cooling now. Soon to bed so I can get up early and get a few things done before the heat; my day in the Gallery tomorrow and the opening reception in the eve - air conditioned!

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Aug 16 - 06:04 PM

Beaver:

Calendar is on the market - beautiful! Proceeds to local Hospice. Rough week physically. Finally realized that I had the first ever outdoor allergy and took a pill and started feeling better - with head de-cluttered! Craft show de-cluttered a number of pots and helped the wallet. Sales of calendar helping to pay the designer and, hopefully, soon the printing. Hospice will be able to sell lots at their many fund raising events. Phew! OK, so it was not well thought out. I just wanted to DO it but did not think beyond having it - to celebrate the artist and his upcoming show at the Gallery.

Robin helped me set up and take down booth, thankfully; We treated ourselves to good suppers both days. There certainly would not have been any otherwise! But now the dishes are washed, the "new" small freezer is in the utility room, the deck is finally ready for me to screw down the boards and will look great - and useful when it is loaded with 10 face cord of stove wood - ordered so I better get busy with the electric drill - early tomorrow morning before it is too hot to breath. And the booth next to mine used plastic "lattice" which we will purchase to put on the deck to protect the beautiful boards from the wear and tear of stove wood.

Major trash run, with truck, to land fill site - carpets cost $10 and we decided 'twould be far better to spend $10 and de-clutter! And a bunch of other dead building materials - so nice to see them gone!

Unfortunately, R took my lovely scythe to my beautiful tall mullein, the one I just stood and admired the other day! The one I was looking forward to seeing in full bloom! IT"S NOT A WEED! It's an herb. And it is gone..... I went out and put the stalk in a bucket of water. I am bereft. R is chastised.

New task, after a small meeting today, to seek info re what is happening at the old uranium mine site and think on forming a local environmental working group.

The house bills are paid. The plan for steps to sleeping loft allows a large, specific piece of storage furniture in LR. Hoping for that and another piece for the BR for R's next trip so I can do some serious organizing. Bins are in back/back shed so I can go through them, organize and decide to get rid of some more stuff.

Arghh! I just looked out the window and I still have a kiln on the deck - covered with tarp. Tomorrow!