DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Dec 24 - 12:33 AM

Concert shoes? What makes them different than regular shoes?

This week I have several sewing projects to tackle. And to finally put the holiday letters in the mail. It was finished and has had time to rest; next I'll reread and trim out enough so I can design it with a couple of photos and keep it to two pages (the second side with enough room to write a note also at the bottom.)

I finished the final book in my Good Reads challenge today. It wasn't as robust a number goal as past years, but I got there with a couple of weeks to spare. And today I finished that next jigsaw puzzle (I listened to the book as I worked the puzzle, so it was a doubly entertaining afternoon.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2
From: Charmion
Date: 16 Dec 24 - 07:47 AM

Concert shoes are plain black and tolerable for extended periods of standing. They should also have flexible, grippy soles for graceful entrances to and exits from a variety of staging risers. Mine are lace-up Mephisto sneakers made of black suede with — for a wonder — no decorative doodads whatsoever. They were hard to find and frankly expensive, so they go back into the box between shows.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: keberoxu
Date: 16 Dec 24 - 08:49 AM

Yes, my concert shoes are Eccos, and they are plain slip-ons with wedge heels.
The heels aren't so comfortable for standing, but I need them
with the long dress so I don't step on it or something.

One more concert, on the 21st, and then it's done.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: pattyClink
Date: 16 Dec 24 - 10:02 AM

Been having fun ferreting out interesting Christmas songs for karaoke gatherings. We got through a creditable version of "Marvelous Toy" this week, and two of my buddies enjoyed Hanukkah In Santa Monica, even if the rest of the crowd didn't get it. Last night I discovered a rowdy 'Season's Upon Us' by the Dropkick Murphys, trying to learn that. And some great soul on Youtube has been uploading very obscure stuff such as "It's Too ___ing Early for Christmas" which I coulda used 3 weeks ago. I'm glad Charmion and keb are doing choral music at Christmas, though I know it can add to the busyness of the season. I kind of miss decades past, when real Christmas music was more important than buying stuff.

The bed project is finally done and dusted. The dresser and vanity got cleaned up (no small project), one drawer repaired, friction tape applied. All the furniture is now in place, with clothes moved in. Wonderful to have a clean furnished room that looks good and does what it's supposed to do. There is still a big mirror in poor shape that needs mounting or stowing away, not sure which yet, but the hard work is done and there is now floor space in the living room.

On to many other concerns!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Dec 24 - 11:33 AM

Charmion and Keb, understood. My equivalent to your concert shoes are my museum tour shoes. Something about the floors in museums, they are more dense, are harder to stand or walk on for an hour or more at a time (and think of the gallery assistants, standing all day!) I have a pair of the Propét orthopedic walking shoes to tour in. They stay on the closet shoe stand (I built of cedar slats for my shoes after looking at an expensive stand in an InFlight catalog).

Congratulations on setting up your bedroom, Patty! A question - you're doing xmas karaoke but you also study Gaelic and go to folk events, so some scholarship in approaching the music you follow. Do you play any instruments? Back when I attended some of Joe's Monday Zoom meetings I remember seeing you but don't remember if you accompanied yourself.

I didn't sleep well last night and finally realized that I was too warm. The temperature was 68^o this morning when I took trash to the curb. At 2am it was probably mid-50s and there I was with all of my blankets, so I tossed a couple back and dropped off finally.

One of the books on my Good Reads list, A Return to Common Sense, is coming off of it today. It's a primer on American government and an important read for people who didn't have Civics and Government and Social Studies classes coming up through school, but I did, and Rachel Maddow describes this stuff in detail every week. 60+ pages in I agree with McGowan's illustrations of how government works, but there is nothing new to me. I'll skim the other chapters and call that one finished. I've downloaded the next in the Louise Penny Gamache series, this audiobook will accompany sewing instead of a jigsaw puzzle. An important book I'm rereading is Timothy Snyder's On Tyranny.

Trash at the curb includes stuff cleaned out of the fridge. The next bag lining the trash can is a small plastic grocery carry-out bag (since I recycle so much I don't have much trash to go to the curb). I had a bunch of grocery bags stashed to eventually recycle but it seems they don't actually get recycled. So they've been stuffed into a box surrounding the whisky for my east coast friend whose municipality has banned the bags. Thing is, he only uses them one at a time to fit into his kitchen waste bin and they go into the trash in his building, they're not out blowing around on the street. So I am his supplier of kitchen waste bags. He'll be as happy with the packing as with the spirits.

It's so nice out I'm going to walk the dogs this morning, we haven't been out for a while. This is acknowledging Chapter 13 in Snyder's book. Practice Corporeal Politics. (Power wants your body softening in your chair and your emotions dissipating on the screen. Get outside. Put your body in unfamiliar places with unfamiliar people. Make new friends and march with them.) Also why I need to get back to the gym and do more volunteering with groups in the park. The next administration is going to be a marathon, not a sprint.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 16 Dec 24 - 05:22 PM

For a visit to a museum — any museum — I have learned not only to wear appropriately supportive shoes, but also to sit down at every opportunity. My back does not tolerate the slow mosey of most museum patrons and quickly starts to ache if I don’t either pick up the pace or halt altogether and take the load off. Consequently, I never go on popular days — I’d get myself chucked out for charging through the throngs of folks standing in the gangway while they discuss brushwork and lighting. No museum has ever had enough benches, incidentally.

According to my fancy Space Age bathroom scale, I have altered my body composition to less than 35% fat, and therefore can no longer be described as “over-fat”. I’m sure that’s great for heart health etc., but the skin on my thighs is a size too big and I have to wear a sweater and wool socks.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Thompson
Date: 16 Dec 24 - 05:55 PM

One of the (many) things they don't tell you about getting old is that you lose fat in odd places. Sitting on hard benches can be sore if you don't have the cosy padding of the youthful buttock. And my lifelong desire for a pair of Converse high-tops has receded somewhat on hearing that their extremely flat soles make them sore to walk in unless you put in orthoptic insoles.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 16 Dec 24 - 06:29 PM

Indeed, my bum bones are now too sharp for your typical church pew or plastic stacking chair. I’m not yet ready to travel with a personal cushion, however, so I guess vanity is not dead.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Dec 24 - 08:29 PM

A tip to all of you museum goers: if you ask, they will tell you where to find portable folding seats that you can take with you through the museum. (The photo is of what ours look like - your museum may vary.) When we do tours the seating carts have been rolled out for visitors, and when they do docent training we lug those around to each stop where the curators choose to teach about the new exhibits. One of my favorite New Yorker cartoons has two women seated on a bench in front of a large painting in a museum. The caption has one saying something like "this is my favorite painting" - clearly because of the seat.

A proposed Costco shopping expedition this evening was cancelled after we had a heavy thunderstorm wash over the top of us. Postponed until tomorrow. Over time I've sorted the kinds of things I buy at Costco: mostly frozen foods that keep versus the king-sized fresh produce packages, as well as things like canned tuna or bottles of oil. We were headed over to buy frozen fish and fruit. I rarely shop the home-goods aisles or clothes, etc. As Michael Pollan remarks about food choices, I shop around the outer edges of the store, where I find fresh meat, fish, cheese, eggs, dairy, or along the frozen aisle.

One holiday package sent in plenty of time to arrive before xmas. Now to get the kids to give me their lists. And to figure out what needs to be added to mine. AT&T sweetened the pot this year with $150 in gift cards for my shopping.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: keberoxu
Date: 16 Dec 24 - 09:01 PM

Museums as a topic, always reminds me of one of the most memorable traveling exhibits I ever traveled to see.

The painter was Claude Monet and there was painting after painting of the facade of a church in sunlight, and of haystacks.
All with brilliant sunlight and it looked like it was glowing. Such intensity in the Impressionist style.

I have forgotten what museum it was, but they thoughtfully provided,
not just benches, but cushioned islands out on the floor.
You could literally crash on one of those cushioned things
after being visually overwhelmed by too many glowing haystacks.
Literally one needed to rest one's eyes,
to say nothing of other anatomical areas.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Dec 24 - 11:42 AM

That exhibit sounds like quite a spectacle!

Many years ago when I was still an undergraduate I took AMTRAK from the Pacific NW cross country to visit some aunts in Baltimore and Connecticut. I paused on the way to spend a few days in Chicago area with a friend from school. I was killing time waiting for her to meet me and spent a couple of hours at the Art Institute in downtown Chicago, where they had a traveling exhibition of a triptych of three of Monet's huge Water Lily paintings. (I think it's the same that is on exhibit at the MoMA in NYC right now). As I recall I was travelling in layers including overalls and a heavy jacket and my large red backpack had to be checked at the cloak room. (There are times when you can look back and be embarrassed for your younger self for a lack of style, or at what might be considered the dismissal of it.)

A few items will go with me to hand over at lunch today when I meet my daughter, and chances are good that she'll have a bag of recycling to give to me. I tend to end up ahead, giving her more stuff. Then the first of a few holiday celebrations this afternoon. I have stuff in my freezer to pull out and make a batch of cranberry bars to give away (I'm not eating them myself but I hate to just throw out the ingredients). Tis the season for cranberries! I've made cranberry juice and put the solids in the freezer. They go in the bottom of a cake pan and have a cake mix and chopped nut topping added then bake and turned over. They are amazing, but talk about carbs.

I should offer up some of my garlic corms on the buy nothing page - it's the time to plant them. What else from the yard could go? I have some trees and shrubs in pots. I'll ask my daughter if she wants any and go from there.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: pattyClink
Date: 18 Dec 24 - 11:09 AM

A housekeeping day today, while planning a short trip to hunt for a car next week.   Lots to clean and tidy.

Ebay let me down by giving the seller many days to make several ridiculous offers, then agree to a refund just before it was time for them to step in. So now I am saddled with waiting for a return label and shipping the darn thing back by seller's arbitrary deadline of Jan 1, BEFORE I can get a refund, which I fully expect them to renege on. Tried to contact EBay, but instead of being allowed to add a message to the thread, you just get put back in a circle of clicks where 'good news! Time to ship your item back' is the dead end. As far as they are concerned, the problem is solved.   

I do play guitar. I set it aside for a few decades while working too much, but methodically started back in when I hit the road in retirement, collecting and chording one song at a time.

Picked up a banjo from Elderly in Michigan, but learning that got bogged down, long tiresome story. I hope to get back on that soon; some of the picking and fingering skills do transfer over.

And now there's room for a harp, but not time or money for a harp. Maybe some day!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Dec 24 - 12:15 PM

Patty, the good news is that eBay will have not given the money to the seller yet because you filed for a refund, so you will get the money back, it's part of their guarantee. The mailing label should be an email or download message, you should already have it there somewhere.

Several years ago I bought a stand up desk (it is the one with the crank handle that fits on either side, it doesn't have a motor) and after the big rearrange of the office and equipment I have all of the cables and equipment placed so I can raise it without risking anything pitching over the side. This accomplishes two things. Standing is better than sitting all day long, and I tend to take short breaks to walk around for a couple of minutes. I don't leave it up for more than an hour or two, but it's a good way to be a bit more active while I work. An ergonomic mat is part this setup.

This morning is chilly but I'll be doing yard work later. I make a run to Lowes where my online search found an LED puck light set (advertised as under cupboard lights) that I'll replace the existing up halogen lights on top of my mantle. Every year when I set up decorations I am careful around those and it finally dawned on me that there are LED versions of just about any kind of light you can think of. Amazon and eBay have a gazillion of them with obscure named companies from China but I want to actually look at them before buying.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Dec 24 - 11:55 PM

I ended up finishing my holiday letter instead of getting into the yard, partly because it didn't warm up after all. By the weekend it will be in the low 70s again. I stood in the next door neighbor's yard talking with him and his sister (who lives four doors up) while the ambulance workers loaded up the across-the-street neighbor and headed out to the hospital. That was enough fresh air for today. Now to get these letters in the mail.

The doldrums have settled in today, not sure why now in particular. The politics are looking progressively worse, but we've had a little time to accustom ourselves to the idea. Listening to Jamie Raskin this evening is hopeful - he feels we have a robust Constitution to protect Democratic institutions and people. I hope so!

As winter approaches I've rearranged some of the dog beds around the house, putting out the biggest one (the size purchased for the 70-pound Lab) with another one on top of it and doubled up the bed in my office closet (a bit of the princess and the pea scene here with piled up beds). They have various places around the house they sleep, depending on where I am or what the weather is doing. (If it is thundering the Blue Heeler sleeps in the hall bathroom tub. I have a rug in there also.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Dec 24 - 11:07 AM

Yesterday, while talking to the neighbor from up the street, I remarked on how amazing her hair was looking - full and wavy and white - and she said that since an illness last year and her hair started falling out she started taking biotin, and found shampoo and everything else with biotin. My goodness! I tried it for a while to see if it would help my nails, but it didn't make much difference, but this reminds me that I have dry gelatin in the cupboard that I can resume taking for my nails (a teaspoon dissolved in the bottom of a mug, then put the tea water over it and it doesn't affect the flavor). Maybe after I use what I have here I could try some - I've always had rather fine hair that isn't particularly full. (Gelatin is a collagen, and sometimes the biotin comes mixed with collagen.) For a while I seemed to get a boost from switching to more protein and fatty meats, but the nails still could be stronger and it never hurts to have fabulous hair. :)

So many things going on around the house and yard this autumn. No gift lists from family members yet. I always make a Puerto Rican dish for my ex as his holiday gift, and the kids usually have books or games or art supplies on their lists.

Charmion, did you ever sell that china on eBay? Patty, when you were doing sales there, did you specialize in something? (I have a few things that if I come across them at estate sales I have enough information to be able to list them - oddball stuff like chandeliers, and obsolete things like VHS players). I was answering questions for a friend this morning about how eBay calculates their final costs (they include the shipping price as part of your sale, then deduct their fee from the whole, not from just the item cost itself). My friend is selling found items from her upscale apartment building so isn't out any money for purchasing what she sells, but the extra amount still stings.

Better get moving, to drink my tea and address holiday letters.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: pattyClink
Date: 19 Dec 24 - 11:33 AM

When I sold stuff on Ebay, it was strictly clearing out the house to sell, which involved many rounds of donating while renovating the place, a few trips to the landfill, and a big moving sale. As I went I would pull out items to sell that needed to get to collectors or seekers rather than random garage sale people.

Hub had been acquiring vintage stereo components, and there were some collectible CD sets, coins, books, a few fossils, etc. One box was a stack of old Infoworlds, one with a cover story on this bright young fellow named Steve Jobs, lol.   

And of course in the depths of winter, the guys up north in their basement workshops would snap up newish tools pretty quick. Oh, and old garage door openers turned out to be in demand! Who knew?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Dec 24 - 01:35 PM

Sounds a lot like my approach; selling family stuff from estates over the years. "I am not a museum" is the thing I tell myself, and research and list items. Occasionally research shows me I should keep the object, but not often. People walking up the driveway for a garage sale are not the best audience for collectibles (or they want to buy them cheap to sell themselves).

The first batch of holiday letters are addressed and ready to go to the post office. I printed out 15 and have another 15 printing now. For this alone it was worth buying a color printer (it's an Eco tank so I don't spend a fortune on ink.) I missed the carrier this morning, but if I don't finish and mail the rest this afternoon he'll get some of them tomorrow. My locking box has an enclosed compartment for placing outgoing mail that isn't visible from the street. I love that a one-time $75 purchase of that box saves me $250 a year. (I got it at a considerable discount on eBay; every so often as I shop online the CapitalOne shopping extension pops up with a price savings, and moving from Amazon to eBay for that purchase saved about $15.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Dec 24 - 08:34 PM

Cards are mailed. Keeping in touch with distant friends is important and I have to hold up my end of it or people take me off their lists. And this year I've made a note on my address list - one person was removed and three more off next year if I don't hear back. I can only presume they don't want to stay in touch.

Today I explored the options on the Silver Sneakers program (my insurance pays for); it is best for going to gyms (no cost to me) but I was hoping they'd have online on-demand exercise sessions, but nope. I need to find someone else who goes to that gym and go at the same time to make the social aspect of it more appealing.

Deep funk has descended upon the household. Political turmoil is the prominent reason, disappointment that so many people weren't paying attention or believed the nonsense they were told. You'd think the day after the election would be the worst, followed by next month's inauguration, but it seems to be slowly blooming into a fetid cloud. And now we're all looking at a deep abyss of misery as rich folks try to reset the nation to suit themselves. Kind of takes the shine off of the holiday. Plus the cat-sitting gig feels like a death watch, one cat is just so ill and the instructions become increasingly complex. After this week she has one more trip planned that I agreed to feed them (scheduled last fall when he wasn't so far gone), but after that if the little guy hasn't been put out of his misery I may have to decline jobs until he is gone. Bleh. I'm poking around streaming sites for something new to watch as a distraction. Someone recommended Detectorists. Slow moving and charming. Really slow moving.

We have a date late next week for the family holiday gathering, and I'm thinking a late brunch. They all like blueberry muffins and pancakes and bacon and such. A veggie quiche and fresh fruit could round out the meal.

I've been trying a few of the supplements Dr. Amen recommended in his You, Happier brain health book. The combination of L-Theanine and Gaba made a difference this evening as far as the mood. (A doctor also told me about L-Theanine that she uses herself.)

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

Update on the black plastic utensils issue:

https://arstechnica.com/health/2024/12/journal-that-published-faulty-black-plastic-study-removed-from-science-index/

Tried using the blickifier but it just churns for a long time.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Dec 24 - 01:28 PM

Fixed the link. There was a lot of black plastic that got replaced this year, and a tea kettle as well, just in my family alone. Still, calling attention to the problems of using plastic in cooking was probably a worthy cause. Math errors. 'Who did the peer review on that?' is the next question. What other health issues are simmering away until someone notices and writes about them?

The removal from the Web of Science on December 16 came just a day after a correction was issued on the black plastic study. That study claimed to find a "high exposure potential" of toxic flame retardants in plastic household items, particularly kitchen utensils, that are made from recycled electronics. The findings sparked a firestorm of media coverage imploring people to immediately throw away any black plastic utensils in their kitchens.

However, the authors made a math error in their analysis that put their estimate of exposure to toxins from kitchen utensils off by an order of magnitude. Corrected, the article notes that the exposure potential from kitchen utensils is actually less than a tenth of the limit considered safe by the Environmental Protection Agency. Further, the study found flame retardant contamination in less than 10 percent of the 203 household products it examined—and only about 8 percent of 109 kitchen utensils.

Despite this, the correction notice on the article states that the error "does not affect the overall conclusion of the paper."

That scare had me looking beyond plastics at the surfaces on all of my cooking and baking pans, and deciding it is time to either change how I use them (line with parchment paper) or toss them if they're too far gone.

In my virtual world I started making lists in the new Bluesky environment, and the most important so far to me are critical thinkers in science and in politics/culture. I'll make a couple of other lists later (Tech and Writers, at least.)

A good-sized box left the house on Thursday after an eBay sale and I've started testing the promotion feature (of course it costs - but it seems the algorithms are set so your stuff is almost invisible if you don't pay them more.) The box I shipped wasn't promoted, none of my sales ever have been. But AI is making itself felt over there in eBayland.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 21 Dec 24 - 05:17 PM

I do not plan to part with any more of my kitchen traps. I have one of those black OXO tools, a broad flipper designed for fish, and it is so useful that anyone who wishes to separate me from it will have to prise it from my cold, dead fingers. I have survived many flaps of that sort over the years, and I expect to outlive plenty more before my time is out.

Stilly, you asked whether I have sold any of my excess china on EBay. I have not; with 12 place settings of Wedgwood going to my nephew, I don’t think I have to so I won’t bother.

More snow is due this evening, but I’m going to a concert in London anyway. I’m taking two others with me, so I will be extra prudent on the road.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Dec 24 - 10:44 PM

I remember you said you had a place to take some china, but I didn't make the connection between the two. I had a 12-place setting from my great grandmother's house and it took several months to list and sell all of it. But yours is the best outcome by far, keeping it in the family.

My museum tour today was with only one person, but a delightful conversation. (Last week's tour I had four Australians and even though we all speak English it was a struggle to make myself understood. They had little background in American history or local jargon to work with.) After this tour I thought I'd swing by Lowes to get the puck lights to replace the halogen puck lights. OMG. The area where that store is located (my closest store was out of stock) is so congested that the businesses along the highway are hard to reach because they were built when it was a rural backwater. I missed the exit and then missed the store and had to loop around; an easy trip took an extra 30 minutes. But I got my lights. I set them up with double-stick mounting tape and it took longer to get the tape residue off of my fingers than to assemble and place the lights.

I found a bag of xmas cookies on my doorknob when I got home today (from the nextdoor neighbors), and I have to do my part so will bake some of the cranberry bars (the cranberry pulp is thawing now) to deliver tomorrow. I'm not eating cookies because of flour and sugar, but will be able to use them for guests this week. And giving foods I don't eat seems a little contrary but will happen this year. Maybe next year I'll work out some recipe with fancy nuts.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Dec 24 - 04:18 PM

This morning I cleared out old forgotten things in Dog World in the corner of my den, from the bottom of a couple of bins in the antique trunk where the food lives. Toys, leashes, brushes, and collars, etc. Now that we know both dogs will eat the same food (as long as Pepper's fresh food is in a separate bowl) I have more room in that trunk. The spare food bin holds gear and packed around the bins are bottles of ear cleaner, enzyme cleaner for pee, etc. There were a couple of boxes of these things plus dog shirts and towels (for rainy days) on the bench; I mopped under the bench and moved the boxes to the low shelf under the library table nearby. I'll set the now-clear bench so people can sit on it next to the door, but for now, gifts can sit on it.

Several collars from past dogs were soaked in soapy water and are drying and can be reused as needed. As objects related to beloved pets the sting of loss has dissipated over time and now they're a gift to the current pack. I also have a few blinking colored lights for collars (when walking in the evening) and will refresh all of the batteries. I even tried on the dog saddlebags that my first two dogs used; remarkably they fit these two, though what I would put in them is a puzzle since we don't actually go far enough that they need to carry food and water. The other two dogs were very young when we got the packs and we used to go on long walks through the woods that no longer exist here. They carried bottles of water and bowls. Those former woods are houses and yards now.

The batch of cranberry bars is baking and will be gifted to neighbors this week. I'll make one or two types of cookies for my daughter to take with her after our holiday gathering. I have a recipe for an apple cake that I'll try with the Bob's Red Mill gluten free flour and I may try one of the cookie recipes with it also (I have a list of what kinds of baked goods need different amounts of the xanthan gum of psyllium husk to make dough stick together. The red gift bag from next door is full of cookies but one little chocolate melted thing looked good, just butter, nuts, and sugar, no flour, but alas, the first bite revealed an abundance of coconut. Darn.

I woke after a really weird dream this morning. Of a crowded train crossing and child darting across the tracks and being hit by the fast train. I think I was riding a horse when I witnessed it and called 911. Where on earth did that come from?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Dec 24 - 12:27 PM

Wading through crowds at the local high end grocery that usually has frozen wild caught salmon available in the off season bagged me about four pounds of sockeye. They'll thaw today, go in the brine overnight tomorrow and get smoked on Wednesday. Ready in time for gifting on Thursday.

Kitchen and dog items have been photographed to put on the buy nothing page. The Buy Nothing page has morphed itself into something else because they stopped being active with the named cause a while back. I have a few friends there or would go see if there is a real Buy Nothing group. And I have the Freecycle site also, though I usually offer the larger items over there.

How is the holiday season shaping up for everyone? Dorothy and Charmion, are you snowed in? If Linn checks in, similar question. Keb, how about you? Is your vehicle registration stuff all squared away, and do you drive in snow? Patty and I will probably deal with drifts of sunshine this week.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 23 Dec 24 - 01:32 PM

Nah, not snowed in, and not likely to be. The weather is warming again in southwestern Ontario and we'll have +5 degrees Celsius with rain by Christmas Day. That will make my trip to Windsor simpler (no requirement for snow boots), if just as messy on the highway.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Dec 24 - 07:12 PM

Gotta love Amazon. I had two items set to arrive on separate days so my son and partner could tell their boxes apart but see today that they'd have been better shipped together, then his gift would have at least been inside another box. I just saw the delivery photo on his porch, and there is the branded box of the kettle just sitting there with an address label slapped on the side. I texted and told him to act surprised.

Running around this afternoon to lesser visited places was still a struggle. Looks like everyone is trying to finish ahead of the traditional shopping zoo that is xmas eve. The cat care jobs runs through Saturday, and I have only one side trip tomorrow, to a quiet spot to pick up the cleaned Persian carpets. Gifts for the kids.

Now to finish picking up around here and get a few things wrapped.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: pattyClink
Date: 24 Dec 24 - 10:28 AM

Ready for a little peace this Christmas eve. Yesterday I ventured to El Paso to test-drive a car, and it was a long day filled with way too much frenetic holiday traffic. And smog. We have clear calm weather these days and starry nights, but I feel sorry for anyone having to live in Hel Paso, there were visible clouds of poison in the sky and you could feel it in your eyes, nose, mouth.

I have tried to stop referring to it as Hel (had a hellish field camp there one summer), but when I was headed home after 7 hours, to find my major escape route was blocked by deppities, and had to turn back and backtrack many miles, I've decided the name is still appropriate. The best part--a trailer of acid turned over but was intact, yet they were going to block this road all night because the response team wasn't even going to arrive for '4-6 hours'. Just a wee bit of over-reaction? Or Texas' clever plan to centralize emergency response so as to be many miles and hours from any potential disaster?

Las Cruces had a quieter mall (everyone crowding up Walmarts instead), blessedly got in and out with minimum fuss, just one construction detour.

Today I am packing up to spend a couple days with friends and a pool. I will consult with one who is a retired car dealer before proceeding with the car quest.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Dec 24 - 11:31 AM

Patty, have you ever taken time to walk around the ancient village of Old Mesilla when in the Las Cruces area? I make sure to have my camera in hand when I stop there, usually to eat (La Posta), then I always make time to stroll a bit. It's on a smaller scale than Old Town in Albuquerque. The Interwebs suggest that all of the agricultural land around town is growing pecan trees. I spent a lot of time working with US/Mexico topics when I was at the university library (a special web site was built that I added images to) - the Gadsden Purchase is a big part of Texas/Mexico history and that little town was smack in the middle of it. Also the US Civil War, if you can visualise that.

Thunderstorms here today, but I'm getting ready for company in a bit. The ex is coming over to help cut up the salmon in preparation for brining then smoking. Our daughter has participated in this work so knows the salmon she receives every year is a big deal (plus, 4 pounds of sockeye comes in at about $90 these days). Smoking it tomorrow, and the weather is supposed to cooperate (the smoker gets set on a couple of bricks a few feet away from the side door nearest the electrical outlet).

A conversation with an old friend last night (the kind of call that ends after 90 minutes but could have kept going) gave me some gluten-free baking tips. And while I've been using Bob's Red Mill products, she pointed me to King Arthur Flour. They have a handy blog about choosing the right flour. She said there is one that is great for using for gravy the same way you use regular flour. (She's allergic to corn so can't use cornstarch and said gravy with arrowroot is dreadful). Also, America's Test Kitchen has a lot of their gluten free tested recipes in a large cookbook (that arrived on the porch this morning, thank you Amazon!)

Better get moving. Safe travels, Charmion! Dorothy, I hope the family visit will or is going well. Sandra, others on the other side of the planet, don't get a sunburn during your patio celebrations (I always assume there will be lots of grilling for the holiday when it's full summer.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Dec 24 - 03:28 PM

The errand this morning reveals that the two antique Sarouk Persian carpets are clean but need work, they are frayed at the ends and need a reweave to keep them together, so I left them there. I'll put an IOU in each kid's gifts this year. The Persian (his first choice to describe where he's from - Iran) man who owns the shop has been in the states for years; he and his wife are set to celebrate xmas tomorrow and his wife placed an order for tamales for their meal. When in Texas . . .

Thunderstorms have been intermittent so I was able to take little treat bags to neighbors.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 24 Dec 24 - 03:54 PM

Stilly, I avoid sun & always have, I only found out recently the nasty headaches I got from sun & glare were migraines! Lucky me, most men & women of my generation have sun-damaged skin & skin cancers etc.

Today we're expecting 37C (80F) & I was planning to get on with stuff here, not go out, but a friend called last night - she's free until Jan 2 - gloating! - would I like to visit her library in that period?

Her teenage granddaughter who lives in Alice Springs in the centre of Australia has been visiting & caught covid, & having recovered is now visiting other friends for a few days. I've been wanting to go thru her library (I've been trying to locate a very rare songbook - The Yellowcake Songbook - which she does not have, surprisingly no one I know has it, but it is in the National Library) & perhaps we'll eat lunch in her small but shady courtyard & catch up.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Dec 24 - 11:28 AM

I hope all of you who have family activities or personal traditions had a great morning. A lot of theatrical movies have big attendance on xmas day, and it seems there are sometimes football games. I'm not into either of those, but I think I'll stream a couple of the holiday movie recommendations I read recently from Liz the Squeak.

The sockeye has brined and is now on plates in the fridge while the surfaces dry a bit to prepare it for smoking this afternoon (gifting it tomorrow). Red potatoes have been boiled until just soft enough to chop up and use in hash brown potatoes tomorrow. I have a couple of other things to prepare today for our holiday brunch midday tomorrow.

The house - oy. I'll be busy today, but I'm glad to say the new placement of the wooden love seat/bench is excellent. To keep the dogs off of it and out of gifts set there I'll turn it around so they can't jump up. My goal is to have it tidy and the table set with everything we'll need for tomorrow's meal so I can just concentrate on a bit of cooking and serving. My gift to myself this morning was not getting up as early as usual; the cats and dogs ate a little later than usual.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Dec 24 - 10:46 PM

The gluten free apple spice cake came out good, and I've started on a couple of other dishes for tomorrow. Food gifts are finished (smoked salmon and arroz con gandules).

We're doing this gathering a day after the official holiday, but it still has taken us kind of by surprise since the kids were so late to send lists and because it usually happens closer to the New Year. But getting together is the most important part of this.

On another note, this week I decided to take the leave-in conditioner out of my hair washing routine. I'm thinking there is something coconut in there that I'm not seeing on the label that is causing some extra itchiness on my neck, and I'm okay without it if I comb through my hair with the scrubber while in the shower. When you're allergic to the ingredients in so many products, less is more.

All of the year-end wrap up stuff is showing up everywhere - news stories, store clearances, personal care habits we should be minding. Car dealers offering specials to clear the lots (good news for you, Patty!) There are lots of offers on the FB free pages (including my offers) - nothing I can use in there so far. Mostly stuff like mine - excess storage, unused kitchen items, etc. I'll broaden my offer later in the week if I don't hear anything by tomorrow evening.

Subject: Jigsaw subthread
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 26 Dec 24 - 06:50 AM

We have a family tradition: one particular jigsaw shall be brought out and completed once every bank holiday. The offending jigsaw is of a Celestial Planisphere, much like the illustration at the head of Wikipedia's page for Star Chart, except that the background is black with odd illustrations (the magnitude scale, a picture of the Local Cluster and so on). This makes it, ahem, challenging to work out if there's a piece misplaced, especially since the black started wearing off in the places where there would be visual clues. (My usual trick is to turn the pieces over to check for correctness of fit, but I've often thought of getting a light table.)

This year, we were five pieces known missing (all in the sky part), and seven I couldn't place in the available holes, when a decree went out from Herself that the dining room table shall be cleared for Christmas Day dinner. Now Herself has started on a present of a world atlas jigsaw, which may or may not displace the Planisphere in the tradition in question.

We now return you to the main thread.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Dec 24 - 11:56 AM

Do you work the same puzzle every year?

I thought I'd mentioned that I intentionally left a lot of the grass and bush area on my current puzzle unfinished - maybe 30 pieces - and am going to offer to let the "kids" finish the puzzle for me. Something to keep them off of their cell phones?

Downpours this morning and I must go out to feed cats before my guests arrive. The storms are supposed to finish moving through this area about the time they have to leave their house. When you live in Texas you have maps in your head of the places and routes you never want to drive in this kind of rain (with flash flood warnings).

One batch of cookies, the recipe I keep forgetting and making but it isn't my favorite of two. I'll write something this year - Do The Other One (even though it makes a much larger batch). Muffins ready to blend and put in the oven as soon as I get back home.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 26 Dec 24 - 12:47 PM

> Do you work the same puzzle every year?

No: every bank holiday, of which there's plenty in the UK calendar. When one is approaching, the cry goes up: "Where's the Planisphere puzzle?" (The tradition dates back to when it was a Christmas present for Sir, and it took us a week or so to finish for the first time.)

Herself does puzzles repeatedly, to help keep her wetware oiled. The challenge with this little offender is doing it, background an' all, before the dining room table's needed for something else; it's one of the few puzzles I know of where the edges are best done last, and it's me wot usually ends up doing them.

Hope this helps.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Dec 24 - 01:36 PM

Dupont:

Well, here I am! Almost recovered from the marvellous visit! Taun choreographed this monumental "visit Grandma for Christmas" event. The four converged on Montreal by "bus, train and automobile" = Well -plane and automobile anyway, on Weds and Thurs. Visited Grandma on the afternoons of T,F,Sat - our designated Christmas. Robin and grandson Gareth (28) brought the boxes of pottery in from the garage on the Sat - whereupon all was revealed and sorted and choices made - 3 boxes left!!! in the car to Philly.

Then we had Christmas Dinner from our freezer - vegetable lasagna and a larger meat one and a wonderful chicken pie - all from The bakery. Dessert was the incredible Buche de Noel - strawberry sherbert and ice cream and lots of chocolate icing and just plain choc - R said it was 90% but that was just frills. (I LOVE 90%!)

The other eves they left for supper in the city but this night they stayed until 10 pm, then loaded their pottery into the car and left...

On the Thurs, they decorated! and the lights chosen for the stairwell might be there for years - they are so cheery - tiny, clear colours and a wonderful reminder that they were here!

Taun (61) and Fiancee(!) Tenley(52) - A Quaker wedding in Philly after they manage to remember to get a license!; Gareth(28) and fiancee Elise (on 1 June in Doylestown- eastern PA. And grandma is delighted that both unions have a very high chance of wonderful survival. Gareth and Elise have already been together for almost 10 years - through university and working for the same company. Two beautiful persons!      

Taun gifted me an -installed- door bell - I can see and talk to person on doorstep! My concern being a future when getting to the door might be difficult. --We are still trying to get the hearing aides to work well consistently! They are a distinct improvement most of the time. The phone rang while we were out and we managed to tell the med delivery person to put them in the mailbox! Some phone/hearing aid glitches to work out. If the phone is connected to hearing aids, the sound only comes to my ears - R could not hear! ...!!! Still in learning stage!

As for Robin and his snow tires - I throw up hands in - Oh WEll! I am only responsible for my own car! EXCEPT- if he gets taken off the road, I might have to go fetch him......!

So, Christmas Day Dinner was at Cousin Doug, and Ann and some other friends of Ann's. Doug told rob to come between 4 and 5; We got there after 5 and we started to eat about 7.... Arghhh! I nibbled, surrepticiously on a Clif Bar, reading a book for the first hour. After supper, I actually had a conversation, initiated be Ann's son James! He talked about how much he had enjoyed meeting my son at a previous family dinner. So we talked - my first conversation in that house; the hearing aids were moderately cooperative and James was kindly patient!

We came home before 10 pm and woke to a winter wonderland this morning! Still exhausted! And cheered by the lovely lights in the hall/stairs.

I can wait 'til tomorrow to go to dollar store of drawer liner: Decided to make buckwheat cakes yesterday for first time in ages, somewhow managed to spill the milk and eggs out of the bowl into an open drawer! Emptied the drawer of--- Everything, and started cleaning up the mess while the cakes cooked! Whatever was in it awaits the new liner and a re-organization! - of all those four drawers on better liner. What really needs to be there?

Taun messaged me this am that it had been a wonderful vacation for him - quality time with Gareth and Elise!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: keberoxu
Date: 26 Dec 24 - 06:39 PM

Dorothy, so glad your holiday was such a happy one.
And you got a doorbell in the bargain!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: pattyClink
Date: 26 Dec 24 - 08:30 PM

Yes, thanks for sharing the tale of your special Christmas gathering!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Dec 24 - 12:31 AM

Dorothy, I agree with the others, it is heartwarming to read your account of the visit! And a new doorbell in the process! That will be handy.

How was this week for people? Did Charmion complete the travel circuit and was a big load of china delivered to the nephew? MaJoC I took more time to look at your link - that would be a lovely puzzle to work. There are only a couple of the past ones I've finished that I'd consider doing again (except I donated them or sold them on eBay). The one I just started this evening is a village overlooking the Aegean sea.

Our family gathering was different; I'd baked enough for nibbling that they decided that would do for their eating here today because when they left they were headed to dinner with other family members. I didn't make pancakes or hash browns, but had a large ham steak that I cut up and fried for those who eat meat and for others there was smoky gouda and pecan cheese on crackers. Along with cookies, breads, and some fruit. Dorothy, your frozen foods sound like they were the perfect way to feed people (and lasagne is one of those foods that benefits from freezing and then being brought back to the table fully baked and bubbling with cheesy goodness.)

I left a jigsaw puzzle unfinished as an activity and it ended up just the core family group (my ex, our daughter, and me) prodding the last pieces into place. It was a quiet conversation and since COVID I've used this to do a mental cleansing of the palate when I'm working and need to decompress. That, or sewing or gardening.

We exchanged more cash this year than in the past because we had so little time to prepare (or order from the tardy wish lists). The younger people in particular found that appealing. "I hope this is your size" is always a clever note in a card with a $100 bill.

We usually watch a movie after a meal and opening gifts, but didn't have time this year. I'll choose something to stream this evening to honor that family tradition.