DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Aug 25 - 09:37 AM

Patty, I'm fighting that battle with my new battery trimmer. The string that came in the replacement cartridges, supposedly heavy duty, wasn't much better than the lightweight stuff. I always rewind my existing cartridges, but haven't found a string I like yet to use.

The house smells amazing this evening. Brine from making fresh pickles (now in the fridge), the pecans still baking (until I head to bed in a few minutes, when they come out, close enough to the full four hours), and an umami effect from having just baked an eggplant (the babaghanouj won't be made until tomorrow; that's one set of dishes too many for today.)

Some may recall that early in the year I was fussing about the computer mouse, and realized a lot of the problem was my hands starting to show the PMR. Now that the medication has kicked in I've been researching that mouse and realize the things I want to adjust simply aren't available on this model. After lots of research I've ordered a new one, an early birthday present to myself. Something practical. I'm trying to not shop for electronics as much at Amazon so went again with Best Buy. It's my theory that Best Buy has better inventory control than Amazon does for electronics.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Aug 25 - 10:50 AM

The last one was posted this morning since Mudcat was down for a little while last night.

I will note that I have the remainder of a roll of trimmer string from the last couple of trimmers that I'm still using and, like you, am stopping every few feet to get it to extrude properly. I'll use up what I have before I buy more.

The pecans were tasted before being put in jars this morning and think I've hit on the best recipe. And smart me - I wrote it down as I worked last night so in theory it is reproduceable. They've all been good, but these are better.

Ms Argiope on the front door seems to have consumed another suitor in the last 48 hours. She positioned her web closer to the security door again and has managed to attach her web to part of the "do not disturb" postit note I put on the outside glass of the door, near her. So it is pulled up away from the glass and isn't readable. When I open the door it relaxes toward the glass. Time for a second note, placed lower? "Keep your voice down and be careful what written materials you leave on the door, this spider can read"?

Rounding up craft and office supply donations today and tomorrow to drop off Thursday. Dropping off garden produce to takers who aren't tired of it yet. I have to pick up a couple of hot peppers to start making pickled okra because mine didn't produce any fruits. The garden seems to be largely in charge of activities this summer.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 25 Aug 25 - 11:31 PM

Dupont:

Gearing up for another trip to Beaver for the long weekend - with Robin so it will only be the weekend. Lv Friday and to get there in time for John's 7-11 cafe - a sort of whoever shows up but there are often some interesting musiicians. I am still have a very hard time with this new computer. My last came to Apple help resulted in them sending me a bunch of ideas - most of this Are out of my realm of understanding.

much happening on the holiday weekend - fair markets, loggers games and a friend's home concert on Sunday.

Still recovering from Saturday's big event - the one that used to be at the Rennie's wonderful farm with lots of old time stuff and wonderfully organized, was held at the fairgrounds - not a nice venue at all - in comparison. The whole feeling was different; I shan't bother next year. Interesting, and unpleasant was the heat - 35C - and an unpleasant surprise that my friend's soaps which usually don't bother me stank to high heaven and I could not stop for a chat. My friend Geri would not go near it! The music was loud and not very country. The booths were mainly machinery sorts of stuff - almost no crafts and not of any interest. I have enough crocheted dish clothes! I ended up sitting in an antique rocking chair at a friend's booth - R bought it for our LR - now we have to make a space for it! Possibilities!

That day totally exhausted me so yesterday was mostly in bed and today   fell asleep reading, then switched to computer. OOPS! have not checked emails... Someone real might even send me one!

And, I have no idea what "dodder" is?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Aug 25 - 12:08 AM

Dodder from Wikipedia. It's a parasitic plant (lots of species of them) and lots of host plants.

Sounds like that rocking chair got a good trial run before you took it home.

Running some produce to a friend tomorrow on the way to lunch with my daughter. She'll also get some produce. Both of them have art supplies to add to my Thursday donation for teachers.

This evening I'll do some photographing of eBay stuff. I'm trying to finish the computer work earlier in the evenings so I can read or sew or do other stuff away from screens. Last night I ironed a bunch of fabric scraps that had filled two of my laundry zipper bags (for delicates). I was wondering where they got to then realized I'd never emptied them from a few weeks ago. It was nice to listen to the radio and iron.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 26 Aug 25 - 05:37 PM

In fact, everything is packed, and the truck is due tomorrow morning between nine and ten. The cats have been successfully moved to the cattery near Ottawa (yay brothers!), and are booked to stay until 17 September, when the floors and painting will be finished and the furniture in place.

More tomorrow, when the cleaners have been in.

ch

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Aug 25 - 06:48 PM

You're making my head spin with the speed at which this is happening! I have a sense, though, that having paced yourself for several years to clear out the unused and duplicate items made a huge difference in how quickly you've been able to manage this now. Props to you!

More teacher donations picked up today, produce dropped off, and a bit of shopping. Chicken prices have gone way up. It's good that I've always cooked from scratch, and it will continue to be a virtue as tariffs and cross-border nonsense churns through the marketplace. And next year I may expand the garden.

I'm closer to being ready to install Win11. Before I do that I'll have to clear the physical desktop and put tags on each cable to ID what it goes to, because I'm pretty sure all of that is going to be fussed with.

More photos today.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Aug 25 - 12:00 AM

New mouse arrived and installed. It's like running the Enterprise after spending ages in the Shuttlecraft. It does a lot of stuff I don't need (or won't remember it can do) but there may be a feature that removes the need for the transfer cable between the new and old computer. I've done enough for now, I'll sleep on it and in the morning when I'm fresh I'll turn on both and see what is up. (I wasted so much time trying to get the cursor of the last one to land on the things I wanted it to land on. Time I can't get back, but I'll enjoy the dexterity of this one.)

The documentation in the box required a magnifying glass to make it out, and I ended up going to the website for the info anyway. Once I decide what customizations to leave in place I'll print the diagrams for those as well as general information.

Granola fixings are mostly measured out and tomorrow I'll stir it all together and make a fresh batch, and I got the peppers I need for pickled okra. I'm getting enough per day now that I can make some by the weekend.

I've found a few more things here for donation, including items not claimed on the local buy nothing page. Another pass through the sewing studio (I need to revisit the sewing patterns) and I have some embroidery and rug hooking kits from my mom's house that I'll never use - they can use them as is or be repurposed.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 27 Aug 25 - 09:14 AM

I saw the hand physio today https://sydneyhandtherapy.com.au/services/ & she used an angle measuring gadget to see how my pinkie was going & was pleased.

I won't need to wear the splint so much & have 2 new exercises to do & will see her again in a fortnight.

this is the exercise I've been doing https://www.nth.nhs.uk/resources/hand-therapy-trigger-finger/
One new exercise involves squeezing play doh, & I need to buy some tomorrow! The other is tenting, putting 4 fingertips on the table & moving them back & forward. 3 fingertips work perfectly ...

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Aug 25 - 11:46 AM

That's excellent news, Sandra! It's remarkably distracting to have fingers or hands in general not work the way we're accustomed to.

An explosion of dog hair this week proves what I've always thought - brushing them just makes the problem worse. But there isn't another answer. Brush the dog and vacuum the house for the time-being.

Once the cleaners have been in are you locking the door and leaving, Charmion? Where will you stay for the next three weeks?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 27 Aug 25 - 12:03 PM

Just this morning I was wondering what would be left to do tomorrow besides handing in the wifi router. Ha! I should have known better.

The movers arrived bang on time at 0900 hr and worked almost frantically for about two and a half hours, almost finishing the clearance of the second floor. Hmmm; this will take longer than I expected, and longer than the buyers will like. (They are pushing hard.) Nancy the cleaner is due just about now, and she can start upstairs.

But the ground floor is still chock-a-bloc, and the basement, and the garage.

Closing deadline is tomorrow at 1800 hr. I will need all the time I can get. (Paging Dr Parkinson!)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Aug 25 - 01:36 PM

Jobs like that seem to go slow, until they don't, and it all ends at a gallop. I bet they're staging stuff on the ground floor so they can pack it tightly in the truck, and once they have figured out what order to load everything it will all slide in quickly.

You don't own your router?

Cleared out a few program not being used in the old computer, pivoted to go pick okra and spray Neem on the damned stinkbugs cavorting on tomatoes, and am back in now a bit sweaty but ready to finish the job of connecting the computers via the new mouse.

The sewing machine is out of the shipping container and ready to go to the teachers tomorrow. That thing was well-packed. Now to put away all of the packing stuff for another sale.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Aug 25 - 06:05 PM

I used the transfer cable to move updates from the Microsoft Update Calendar to the old HP computer, but got only one to work. A search resulted in information about how to create a USB drive to load data for the newest 22H2 version; I fear everything else on that drive is now toast. Something is happening and I'll watch and wait. The result (hopefully) will be an off-line computer up-to-date enough to install the new mouse and allow files to be moved between two computers with the mouse. Faster than setting up the cable.

I'll vacuum the SUV before packing the donation items. Then I need to vacuum the house to clear the dog hair conflagration. Trash day tomorrow and I've tossed a bunch of toiletries that were ancient and forgotten under the sink. No point in emptying old plastic bottles to recycle, it's all going to the dump.

Granola is baking. I overloaded the baking sheet, but with high sides of parchment paper (stapled at the corners) I can do a 1.5 batch recipe at once.

Charmion, did you set aside a glass and bottle of that wine you were going to pack for a celebration of this job getting finished?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 27 Aug 25 - 07:58 PM

I am now lounging luxuriously in my friend Ruth’s sitting room, full of salmon and roasted cauliflower and pinot grigio.

The house is empty and clean, well ahead of the deadline.

When the truck was pulling away, the boss cleaner informed me that the movers had neglected to pack the kitchen cutlery, and the microwave — sans turntable — had also been left behind. So the microwave and the cutlery have been added to the contents of my car. I’ll just rattle down the road out of Perth County.

Tomorrow, I have some legal stuff to tend to, and I must hand in my post box keys. Yes, Stilly, I don’t own my modem; renting is the norm in Canada.

Despite the efficiency and good will of the various professionals engaged, this whole experience has been exhausting beyond belief.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: keberoxu
Date: 27 Aug 25 - 08:27 PM

Exhaustion, I have no doubt,
but Charmion should also feel satisfied with all that is accomplished.
Brava!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Aug 25 - 05:19 AM

Have someplace to go tomorrow so you're planning to get up early? Then this is the place to live! See by my time stamp (an hour ahead of my CDT zone) that we have once again had a skunk event and I am up way before dawn. I woke to a skunk spray smell and realized I'd better check. Just one dog this time, the intrepid Cookie, and it was a glancing blow. AND she hadn't brought it into the house yet. Whew.

I had tomorrow (now today) intended to deaccession a 3x5 rug that protected the floor carpet in the back of the SUV (new one put in place yesterday). It was rolled up in the trash can, but since Cookie is spending the night in the yard or garage, it is now folded as a dog-sized mat in the dog stall. She didn't get the full hit this time and has been sprayed with Skunk Odor Remover so the smell is neutralized, but after sunup both dogs will get baths. Right now the spiders are working the space overnight and I don't need to be doing 3am baths. (I toured the yard for carcasses with the flashlight and found two more very large popcorn-shaped spiders working zones around the clothesline and dog kennel). The back porch spider has stayed above the fray and is still tending her web, tonight moved conveniently a bit to the side in the corner.

I've wound down now so am going back to bed. I'll spray my shorts leg before putting these in the laundry because Cookie bopped me with her skunked face before I started spraying her.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Donuel
Date: 28 Aug 25 - 08:02 AM

An update on the availability of a Covid booster vaccine is in a state of confusion and unknowns, according to npr.
What is known is that it is still for immunosuppressed people over 65 and elders over 75.
RFK has not recommended vaccines for children under 2 or pregnant women and may advise against all Covid vaccines. There is blowback from the Pediatric Association and Obstetrics. The CDC is no longer a reliable central source of information due to MAGAism..

------------

Eating fermented foods is good for your body. Coffee or chocolate are fortunately fermented foods so if you hate kimchi or saurkraut, you are in luck.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 28 Aug 25 - 10:46 AM

USB drives: if it's a flash drive, Stilly, you may be right about it being borked. Flash drives have a longer mean time to first failure than spinning rust, but said first failure is more often fatal. That's the trouble with relying on things which are reliable .... once you do, they aren't.

Treat it as read-only, and you may be able to recover things it hasn't eaten. Apologies if I've got this round my neck as usual. I've got a size 16 in mouths.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Aug 25 - 10:50 AM

I saw my pharmacist yesterday and using speculative math he guesses as early as the first week in September they might see some doses delivered to the store.

Not how I intended to spend the day so far, but this morning I dressed in gardening stuff and gave Cookie a bath out in the yard. Pepper's bath can wait till I'm back home from running around (and to the list of stops I'll add the pet store for new collars).

I checked out the garage carefully last night, but it seems there was no skunk activity inside. The vacuum cleaner is still out there after starting cleaning the SUV.

Is the house officially handed over, Charmion?

MaJoC, thanks for the tip. I hadn't plugged it in again yet to see what is on it. I suspect Windows wiped it before loading the OS.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Aug 25 - 02:28 PM

My home is located in a spot convenient to the highway - until it isn't. As I left for an appointment 5 minutes away I realized the freeway westbound was a parking lot because of an accident near the highway entrance. So onto the frontage road and finally to the parallel road to head west, but just as the light changed to let me escape the neighborhood, the rail road bars came down for a long freight train and I had to again turn around and get to a bridge across the tracks. Past the high school out for lunch. 30 minutes later I was too late for my appointment. Ugg. At least I was next to the pet store for new collars and got gas or the trip would have been a total waste.

The score today is 50/50 for the things I planned and the things that fell through. I think I need a nap.

The SUV is looking good and I'll finish that vacuuming this afternoon.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 28 Aug 25 - 02:44 PM

On my last day in Stratford, a classic heavy lake-effect squall rolled into town and dumped lots and lots of water on us while I was trotting around doing my last errands. Fortunately I was wearing a Marmot rain jacket, but I don’t have rain pants so I returned to Ruth’s house in dripping jeans.

The house money has landed, so I paid off my bloated credit card bill.

Tomorrow promises to be as wet as today. Okay, that’s just my luck. Let’s hope that the 401 between Kitchener and the entry to 407 is not totally choked … But who am I kidding? The Friday before Labour Day is always mad. Wish me luck!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion's brother Andrew
Date: 28 Aug 25 - 03:22 PM

Nous vous attendons !

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Aug 25 - 04:09 PM

Enjoy those air miles!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion's brother Andrew
Date: 29 Aug 25 - 07:37 AM

Bonne route!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 30 Aug 25 - 08:55 AM

I arrived bang on time at Brother Andrew’s house yesterday (in the shank of rush hour), and slept soundly for what feels like the first time in weeks. It’s raining in Ottawa and a bit chilly, just as well because I have no particular place to go until this afternoon when I should run out to the cattery with food for Watson and Isobel and, incidentally, to check up on my furry house-mates.

Other than that, nothing to report but another tactical bound completed.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: keberoxu
Date: 30 Aug 25 - 09:22 AM

Well done, Charmion!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Aug 25 - 01:21 PM

Indeed! I believe we were collectively holding our breaths until we heard from you at the next stop in this relocation journey.

Heavy rain here today, but a two-run cat gig came up and I've been navigating roads with ponded water. Since I was out I stopped for dog food for the fussy one, and back here, had to go pick okra. Everything else can wait a day, but not okra. Another trip in an hour with a couple of stops and I'm in for the long weekend.

As I described on the Win10 thread, while trying to install the new mouse to work on the old computer I found a way to upgrade it (even offline). And out of curiosity plugged in the ethernet cable and after six years mute, it connects! The upgrade obviously repaired the dodgy setting that refused to connect after three repairs. I don't want this computer online all of the time so got a WiFi adapter that I can plug in when I want to tie into the home network (the ethernet cable was a tripping hazard). It results in two extra older computers that can't be updated to Win11. Oh, well.

Last night I purged a lot of old stuff on the sunroom potting table and adjacent rolling restaurant kitchen cart, and hope to compress the contents so I can retire the cart. Tossed dozens of old seed packets in a large IKEA sock sorter, ancient bottles of dried up stuff, and a gazillion sprinkler and hose accouterments. The cart will go into the garage. The sorter, a water transfer pump, and more are on a growing stack I'll offer first to my daughter, then to the buy nothing group.

Since I'm sure my friend will never read this, I'll note that the little kitty is failing pretty fast now. He's to the point of getting subcutaneous saline twice a week to help clear his kidneys, on lots of medications, and is now refusing most food, even with the application of an appetite stimulant. The fridge has more than a half-dozen plastic covered plates of food he didn't finish and lots of cans she tried to tempt him with. He's not in pain and he still enjoys cuddling, so no judgement here.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 31 Aug 25 - 09:27 AM

Sitting on Brother Andrew’s sofa after another sound sleep, deep into my second cup of coffee, I realize that I’m recovering from months of low- to high-grade anxiety. I have little to do next week, as I don’t take possession of the new house until 8 September, so I can fart about with stupid stuff like updating my bus pass and ordering new cheques — while acknowledging that only Olde Phartes still use cheques. (They’re handy for major money moves like paying the contractor who just repaired your foundation.)

Once east of Toronto and heading through Frontenac County on the 401, I was struck by how different the landscape is from the inter-lakes region of southwest Ontario. The massed trees are darker and greyer, due to the prevalence of conifers in the mix and the lack of broadleaf hardwoods like walnut, chestnut, hickory, sycamore and the larger species of oak. The rocks and soil are greyer, too, and the fields are stony — Frontenac is a salient of Canadian Shield that extends to Lake Ontario, separating the Ottawa Valley from the rest of the province.

It’s not the smiling, fertile countryside of Wellington and Perth counties, where the farmers are millionaires despite being deep in perpetual debt, but it’s home.

Incidentally, now that I’m back on my native heath, my hay-fever is backing off. When I got up today, my nose wasn’t even itchy, let alone dripping, and I’m not coughing so badly.

Off to a good start, then.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 31 Aug 25 - 09:39 AM

bye-bye hay fever!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion's brother Andrew
Date: 31 Aug 25 - 11:25 AM

That "salient" goes by the name (to geologists) of "the Frontenac Arch"; it's unusual enough to have been deemed a UNESCO Biosphere_Reserve.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion's brother Andrew
Date: 31 Aug 25 - 11:28 AM

Sandra in Sydney, don't get too far out in front. It's a good idea to wait until the first snow to bid farewell to seasonal allergies around here.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Aug 25 - 11:33 AM

I love your description of the changing soil, rock, and forest types as you traveled. Recognizing the landscapes and smells you imprinted on years ago is the visceral part of going home again. Whether you can do the Thomas Wolfe part of the move is a separate issue.

The utility cart was offloaded and moved out and stuff is on the work surface or bottom shelf of the potting bench, with some free space for working on the bench. Interesting that without the cart there the view from the kitchen is clear into the sunroom, making the whole area feel larger and more open.

Time to start pickled okra. I have the ingredients and may get five or six jars from what I have picked now. This is another small batch product, make it while the pods are their freshest.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Aug 25 - 04:43 PM

There will be quite a haul going out to the curb in the trash tomorrow (few holidays off for those folks - this one they'll be working). I've accomplished a lot (not a lot by Charmion standards, but a lot for around here on a typical weekend). Next week is our quarterly bulky waste and I have some limbs to trim for that larger trash pickup.

The hot water bath is almost boiling, the brine and jars are ready, and the assembly of pickled okra is about to begin. These will be gifts for friends and neighbors, I'm not a huge fan of it myself. This is much easier now that I've cleared equipment off of the counters on both sides of the stove.

Tomorrow I start tapering the prednisone, down by one milligram, and tomorrow are Labor Day protest events - I have to pace myself to be able to protest and not bring back the PMR.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Sep 25 - 01:06 AM

The jars of okra are lovely and now labeled. They need to sit for a few weeks before the flavor is mature, then will be given to the usual folks who like them.

I'm wondering if Mary G got herself moved to the new place in Centralia? A new month may mean a new lease? And how did the move go? Is the car still running?

Today's holiday was a day for self-care, but I am working on letters for my representatives. Since we had a couple of intense rainstorms today I think not going to the Labor Day march was probably a good idea.

Meanwhile, I'm trying to sort out my cucumbers - they're bitter, and it seems to have to do with the amount of water they're getting. I thought they were too wet, but apparently not. And they don't like competition (I have four vines on the same general area). I may need to remove a couple and see if that helps.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Sep 25 - 01:42 PM

This morning I did a surgical thinning in the cucumbers, removing two of the four vining plants. One of them offered a parting gift of the largest cuke to date, a big honker tucked in behind a low wall of stones that edge the garden. The dead vines wilt very quickly and I'll cut and pull them out. It seems proximity to other plants is also part of the bitter taste problem, and they've intertwined. Who knows if pruning this late in the season will help. Adding calcium to the tomatoes helped the blossom end rot within a couple of weeks, so I have my fingers crossed.

This is the week between my daughter's and my birthdays, so it's a kind of lazy time and we'll plan to do a celebratory lunch soon. Charmion also has a birthday coming up - anything special going on? Choosing paint colors for the new bedrooms? Window coverings for the front of the house? Or do you have a plan to actually pamper yourself after the huge amount of work you've accomplished this summer?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 02 Sep 25 - 05:34 PM

Brother Andrew and SIL No 1 are taking me out for dinner at a fish place on my birthday, which is the day after tomorrow. But apart from that I’m all business this week.

Today I dealt with the bank and Bell Canada, which is the better (for me, at least) internet provider here. I also tried to straighten out my account with the company that manages the bus pass system for OC Transpo, the local public transit outfit, but failed because I could not persuade their website to cooperate with my iPad, even via Chrome instead of Apple’s native Safari browser.

So I gave up, having had enough bureaucracy for one day.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Mary G
Date: 02 Sep 25 - 09:50 PM

I won't be moving until towards the end of september. my sister and her grandson came down and moved my more important papers etc. I have a carload (not a great car so I am hoping for best) of rolling carts etc. ready to go. I got super smart and thought why don't I mail a bunch of boxes --i can have post office hold for seven days or long if i pay more. that frees up so much logistical anguish. I tutor six days a week and that complicates the move so much, especially since i have to have internet the second i finally move, but like people suggested there are probably internet sites available in centralia. i have seen a similar apartment but not this one but agent says it is nicer than first, although a bit more expensive. Everything is packed other than the flotsam and jetsam. I am looking forward to it all except the computer stuff.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Sep 25 - 10:49 PM

I've never thought of having the post office hold onto boxes. How did you stumble onto that? Are they General Delivery?

This evening there are two jars of fresh pickles cooling on the counter, made from the variety that aren't giving a bitter flavor. A bunch of old cucumbers were chopped into pieces and composted, and still lots in the fridge. Tomorrow I need to pull out all of the bowls of tomatoes and make more sauce, clearing at least one shelf-worth of space.

Blood work this afternoon with a phlebotomist with a magic touch, no nasty prick when she started. I'll go back there again. I asked her about her history, she started in 1991 "back when we were still learning about AIDS." She has had a lot of practice. The next needle I confront will be the new COVID vaccine. Soon, I hope, before they are banned by the two administration idiots practicing medicine without a license.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 03 Sep 25 - 12:45 PM

To the bank again this morning for a draft with which to pay the movers — way too much for any other payment method available to me right now — and then to the post office to send it off to London (Ontario) by express post. “When would it get to London?” I asked the sweet young thing behind the counter. “Which London?” she asked in reply, quick as a flash. Ah, said I to myself, I’m back in the big city.

Then I went to the community centre around the corner from my new house and paid for a full-access pass good for a year. With the 20 percent veterans’ discount, it costs about the same as the YMCA in Stratford. I’ll have to retrieve my workout wear and at least one towel before I can start using the facilities, but I don’t want to put it off too long. It’s far easier to break a good habit than a bad one.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion's brother Andrew
Date: 04 Sep 25 - 09:21 AM

Charmion, you may borrow one of my OG 107 towels till you have access to yours again. ;)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Sep 25 - 10:47 AM

Sounds good - so Charmion doesn't have to throw in the towel as far as continuing her fitness activities! (And happy birthday!)

Headed out with a sharp shovel and pruners to dig out seedlings along the fence line and in the dog kennel. They're looking pretty ratty out there and are some of them too robust to knock down with the string trimmer.

Most of August I was making my half-size recipe of bread pudding (four servings). It was my treat to myself instead of having a glass of Scotch. Now to get past the bread pudding and to a lower calorie count in general. I've been low-carb all along, but I'd like to lose the five pounds I gained when the PMR started. Letters to the two state senators went out in today's mail, I still have to write to the congressman and I'll call each office (the fools in DC are going to let private companies run AI pre-approvals or decline Medicare procedures - and keep the savings. How could that possibly do anything but get people killed?) You see that it is a delicate balance to stay politically engaged but not set off the blood pressure and PMR.

Now to the garden.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: keberoxu
Date: 04 Sep 25 - 02:18 PM

Happy Birthday, Charmion!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Sep 25 - 03:55 PM

Another roofer confronted this afternoon across the street (the same company from last week where a shouting match ensued). I called Pearlie and asked about the ladder leaning on the front of her house, she said her husband had told them to go look (he has dementia, does not remember he's not supposed to say yes to anyone at the front door who is soliciting). The truck and folks came back as we spoke and since Pearlie is in a wheelchair and can't easily get to the door I put her on speakerphone and we spoke to the roofing pitch woman, who agreed to put their house on their "no soliciting" list. I think we need to make a sign to go on the front door as well. (I initially called about the ladder because I was afraid John might have gone on the roof himself!)

Seedlings pulled and cut in the back yard, only one puncture wound on some wrought iron that has a spur out of sight. Good thing I got my tetanus shot a couple of months ago. (I recently read an account of the death of Brooklyn Bridge designer John Roebling from tetanus - it was slow and dreadful.) Anyway, that was hot sweaty work but is checked off of my to-do list. I sprayed some blossoms on the tomato plants to see if a few more will set fruit. Last time I sprayed it started raining heavily moments later, so no fruit from that episode. I'm about ready to make more pickled okra. This may be the extent of my canning for this year.

Today I'll make another pass through the email and unsubscribe more political sites. The redundancy is clear, I don't need the repeated Trump crime family news.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Sep 25 - 07:29 PM

I kind of felt like a bag lady at a late lunch today, digging through my bag (and SUV console) for stashed bills to pull together a couple hundred to hand my daughter for her birthday gift. Her favorite boots tore in an odd spot and the boot repair place told her there wasn't a way to repair that (except glue, but it wouldn't last long). Dawned on me that this would be a practical gift, so when she looked up the company and style from when she bought them a few years ago on her phone, I dug around for cash. PayPal wasn't cooperating to transfer funds, but the old green spends just as well.

We are due for some weather this weekend. Suits me fine, to stay in and enjoy the rain. I may need the downtime because this afternoon I got both my seasonal flu shot and the newest COVID booster.

The Shark vacuum needs its occasional complete cleanout and soaking the foam filters inside. Then I'm going to tackle the front room, rearrange eBay items, dog beds, and flatten many more boxes. An early start on "fall cleaning," if there is such a thing. A gift to myself in my goal to eventually move bedroom furniture out of the sewing studio.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Sep 25 - 11:22 AM

Last night I emptied the fridge of several containers of ripe non-perfect tomatoes to blanch, trim, peel, and puree. I'll make more marinara today to freeze.

For my birthday weekend I opened a bottle of red wine, but half of it has gone into jars in the freezer to use for cooking. A couple of glasses were nice, but an isolated event and I'm going to continue with a dry autumn on general principles. Some of that freezer wine will be spooned into today's sauce; coming from the freezer it has a sorbet consistency, easy to scoop without thawing.

The vaccinations were gentle this time, I have only a slight tenderness at the injection sites, no general body aches, etc.

I'm continuing to make headway as I clear surfaces through the kitchen dining area and the den. We had rain this week so I have to mop up a few muddy footprints.

This week coming up will see Charmion with the keys to the new house, right? Attacking the floors and then moving in. I hope it all goes smoothly! Dorothy, where are you these days? In town or at Beaver? Patty, what is growing in your yard, and did the water line/pump/septic/whatever systems all get sorted out? (Head's up - in the fall the tarantulas go walkabout, so give them a wide berth and they'll continue to be beneficial critters on your property.) Sandra, how are your hand/wrist/fingers?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Donuel
Date: 07 Sep 25 - 12:38 PM

I got the new variant Covid vaccine and flu shot today at Safeway.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Sep 25 - 01:18 PM

The Albertson's pharmacy I go to is in a store that for many years was a Winn Dixie, and before that, it was a Safeway. You can tell by how the building is clad with tumbled river rocks, a feature of those Safeway stores built in the 1960s and 70s. (I've always wondered if they cut each pebble in half to apply to a mortar base, instead of studding a thick base with the whole stones?)

I forgot to mention earlier that when going through the refrigerated tomatoes I found a half-dozen that are good-looking, smaller than tennis balls, for salads. I've boiled some eggs and baked a chicken breast to make a couple of chef's salads this week.

Today looks like it will stay overcast and cool, a good time to take the trimmer out to edge my way around the front yard and driveway, preparing to mow tomorrow.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: pattyClink
Date: 07 Sep 25 - 01:19 PM

Happy Birthday!

Had not considered freezing excess wine for cooking, I still have some left from a big party. Will have to try it, a bit of white wine slurpee would go well when sauteeing chicken or fish. Now if it were rose, I'd just go ahead and drink the 'frose' as they call it.   

Have had several more sessions in the yard of goathead digging, probably well over a thousand plants dug up by now, surely a result of last years out-of-hand proliferation.

But, at last the season has turned and the rampant-growth of the summer abruptly ceased, I wonder if these weeds are going by length of day rather than temperature. So now it's down to a couple of patrols weekly, and at better temperatures for working. It'll be interesting to see if the normal harmless desert plants I've been trying to spare will stay and return next year once the goathead competition is gone, and once I stopped letting the neighbor regrade so much of the yard for projects. The pigweed may take longer to beat back, but I'll be ready with acid next time.

The water and sewer are all working well right now; the gate opening motor failed but the neighbor knew how to fix it. Wish there were more reliable units than the ones commonly sold now. When he moves away, I'll either have to learn a very complex system accessed by crawling through a fence and unscrewing (not unlatching) the panel cover, or turn it off and live with manual opening.

Working hard on calorie counting and dropping a few pounds; gradually doing more scratch cooking as needed. Yesterday I stopped at a whole foods co-op and got stocked up on herbs and spices from the bulk jars. Insanely less expensive and fresher than the stuff in grocery stores. Lately people are frugaling out by stocking up on beans and rice, but overlooking the overcharging in the spice aisle.   

Also found that the little grocery in the neighboring town is back in good shape with its influx of energetic student workers, so was able to stock up there without dealing with a big chain store.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Donuel
Date: 07 Sep 25 - 02:24 PM

Rats. Our youngest got Covid probably at work, according to a Covid test. I might avoid the hot tub and his room for a week or so.
If you were never vaccinated or infected, it could take 2 weeks to become an effective vaccine.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Sep 25 - 02:35 PM

Sorry to see that, Don. My youngest got Covid a couple of months ago (for the first time) and even with the vaccinations he still had a very sore throat (that "razor blade" variety.) Can you get Paxlovid for him?

YouTube is there for those jobs the neighbor can't help with (or at least figuring out which professional to call to have things fixed if it doesn't show you how to do it yourself.)

I picked more okra, a cucumber, and a few grape tomatoes this afternoon, then clipped all of the seed pods on the Texas Star Hibiscus. Last week I threw out all of the old seeds collected in years past because while I recognize what they are, most were fairly old. These are bagged and dated. The mature dried okra pods have the year on each with a Sharpie (they keep for a long time). A stink bug hitched a ride into the house in the produce tub, but was incapacitated and flicked into Ms. Argiope's web. I just took a peek - she is enjoying Sunday brunch.

When I reread all of the spider antics it makes me think I need to get out more.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Sep 25 - 11:53 AM

Cat sitting this week means I'll get out more. The spider is doing well on her own, seems to have in the last 24 hours caught a small dragonfly (or damselfly) and some sort of flying beetle this morning. She's looking pretty gravid right now, having dated and consumed, by my count, four males so far.

Charmion is getting an absolute fresh start this week, so it will be interesting to see where furniture and possessions go and how much more she decides to unload upon arrival at the new house. There is always problem solving in any home, but the nature of what is shared will probably change. And will there be any new hobbies or use of spaces?

Looks like a lovely week ahead, highs in the mid-90s, into the low-60s overnight. Yard work is in my near future, but so is eBay. I've shipped a couple of items recently, and eBay tells me that my 90-day total is $195. Must keep plugging along clearing out that front room.