Declutter & Exercise - May 2012

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Penny S.
Date: 18 May 12 - 06:16 AM

That's the sort of thing. Made of six rows of hairpin crochet sort of folded over down the arms, as if it were a rectangle with a triangle folded over for each sleeve. I can't post a piccie as someone bought the the turquoise one in Oxfam - don't know why I didn't take a photo on my phone as well as sketching it out on my PDA. The rows are to be joined with chains of crochet, and the whole edged with a wide band of double crochet. (I think that is single crochet across the pond. The stictch I'm thinking of is made by pulling througn the stitch below and then pulling through the two loops on the hook again before doing the next stitch.)

Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 18 May 12 - 06:57 AM

Re: ironing. I do as little as absolutely possible, but when things come out of the dryer --especially cotton or blend blouses -- they still need a little touchup on collars and button line. Usually they have to wait until I want to wear them -- I don't do multi-item ironing.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 May 12 - 12:04 PM

Thanks to thyroid meds, I have been able to resume participation in a particular women's church group I have loved since we arrived here in '94, which was the very first group to welcome me as their new priest's wife. Also thanks to the meds (and TBTG an old puder chose to work today to run my scanner!!!)-- a Church School project long on hold has been resumed, that may involve that same group-- it's so neat when something integrates across the whole church organization and invites missional outreach-- circularity around the community/organization has wonderful synergy I've learned to respect as the movement of the Spirit, as our more Pentecostal ecumenical partners call it. This project may come up for discussion after tomorrow evening's service, as the Canon Rector directs-- after a day off scootering/riding bike/taking pictures!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 May 12 - 12:06 PM

Spent a little time in the garden this morning, watering and planning this evening's work. The sooner I get the digging/weeding done the easier it will be. The summer heat bakes the soil to a hard clay. I need to move a piece of steel edging from one side of the yard to another and transplant some of the things I pulled out of the front. Might as well recycle as much as possible.

In the house I've continued to "shop my cupboards" and am eating out of the garden. I'm eating the steel-cut oats (they're very good!) that I've had in my freezer for a while (kill any bug eggs that might have traveled with them) and there is fresh zucchini and chard for this weekend. I thinned the onions, picking the big ones crowding small ones to see if the small ones will grow more. These will dry some then go in a bin of peat moss.

I can report that since I've avoided coconut this week my hands are already feeling better. Not only the dry skin and rought spots, but the inflammation that has been present (fingers kind of stiff, almost arthritic). This month I also started taking some probiotics. Healthy gut flora can't hurt and will probably help.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Penny S.
Date: 18 May 12 - 05:17 PM

I had a really bad night last night, awake much of the time - not with thoughts racing or feeling bad about anything, just awake, awake, awake. I read. I made camomile tea. I put a wash load in the washing machine. I thought it was near enough morning to get up, but it wasn't - disceptive twilight is now quite early.

I dozed for much of the morning, but had to get into town to collect my new glasses. No time for breakfast, just a cup of tea. I ate lunch (shepherd's pie and loads of veggies) at the cafe attached to the church, and met the mother of a couple of past pupils and heard a lot about the family's life. Just a bowl of cherries, she said, but most of them were the sort that sends the whole bowl to the compost heap. The son had been taken hostage in Tehran, but was released when he explained he had ot get home to his sick father, haing picked up enough Farsi and Arabic. Nice lad with an open face, I can imagine it. The rest was local stuff, but neighbours worse than mine. I couldn't follow all of it.

After the swimming lesson, I dumped the cut juniper at the council recycling plant, and bought some terracotta pots to replace plastic, and a planter tower for the strawberry runners. Also some willow trellis to obscure the veggie patch in the view from the study and allow one of the climbers somewhere to climb. Choice of jasmine, rose, passion flower and honeysuckle.

Then I came home and slept again. Off to do more of it now.

Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 May 12 - 09:46 PM

I was going to garden this evening but decided to make tomorrow a messy in the dirt day and do some indoor stuff for now. A gravy boat and saucer are now listed on eBay, and my kitchen is cleaned up. If I have a box the right size I may list some of the bowls or plates also. So far I've moved about half of a large set of antique china - of a sort that isn't really good for eating off of (semi-vitreous). People collect it still, though. I've put out pieces in order to attract attention to the set, but I have have exhausted the supply of two people who collect it! The set was all on my kitchen table but this evening I consolidated it into a spot on the kitchen peninsula counter and took up the denim-blue sheet (I use as a background to photograph auction items) from the table. It's an eating table again - nice!

Still no guy to pick up the tree limbs that he cut apart last Saturday. He is evidently waiting until the neighbor gets back home to do the work so he can be paid at the same time. Means the branches dry out and the job gets harder and there will be dry leaves all over the place for a while.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 May 12 - 12:10 AM

Dinner tonight included zucchini from my garden. I picked up around the house more, enough that I may invite a retired co-worker over to lunch soon. I think she doesn't get out much.

Load of laundry in, dishes washed. That's it for now. This weekend should be nice, up to about 90, so I'll have to get up early to do some of the yard work.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 19 May 12 - 01:07 AM

Today was a day well lived.....completely amazing.

Michelle with deep sense of renewal and focus on what is important and what just is not. :)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 19 May 12 - 01:13 AM

Today was a day well lived.
A day to inspire and to be inspired.
A day that leaves me longing for more.
Amazing, exhausting and amazing.
Huh. I said that twice, didn't I?
Meant every word of it!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 19 May 12 - 07:37 AM

Well, I got the May basket pansies in a terracotta pot to go with the earlier pansies brought to Tom in rehab. I've got an odd-shaped drawer 2-drawer file cabinet (little thing, but not for 3x5s) that I moved out of "Thee Room" and decided to hang onto...but took it to the cellar.

Took a bunch o' bags o' stuff to Goodwill...to lighten up the car so I could pick up what was left of that beerobilia I'd given to a friend to sell. Ah well. I made a couple bucks out of it.

Still need to catch up with the friend who is taking the multi-colored and textured paper in the back of the car. And the friend who is taking the rest of the box of K-cups we can't use.

Can't put big things in the car unless I'm making a special trip -- Tom's wheelchair takes up the entire back.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 19 May 12 - 04:22 PM

I made my first quilt today. The only thing left is to add the border and binding. Great fun!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 May 12 - 05:39 PM

Laundry finished and I've been puttering around the house and garden. I'm going to mow after it cools down a bit.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 19 May 12 - 11:48 PM

Here is a link to a few recent photos including: A quilt I made today, yesterday's Relay For Life, the glucose implant sensor and Jeremiah.

Photos

Enjoy!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 May 12 - 11:56 PM

A bit stiff and sore this evening - I mowed the front and dug up a big chunk of thyme to move to the front garden. I'm going to put more of it in a bed down near the curb - I didn't realize just how tough this plant is!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 May 12 - 07:41 PM

I've changed my mind, I don't think this is pulled muscles. Am taking the right meds now.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 20 May 12 - 08:33 PM

You ok, Maggie?

Dishes are done here,laundry going, some unpacking of Relay gear has happened (mostly the thank you gifts I was given and the cooler has been emptied and readied for next time).

With the new endocrinologist, I now have to test my blood sugar 4 times daily and am taking multiple shots of insulin....so today I spent some time getting my meds ready for the week as well as all diabetic supplies filled and the to go bag is ready.

My nana was was at death's door last week has been moved to a nursing home and has been doing well. I was not able to see her today but reports are that she is not doing well. I will be packing a bag just in case I get another middle of the night call so I can grab it and go.

We ran some errands today too.

That about covers it.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 20 May 12 - 09:27 PM

Susan's wonderful- finally - diagnosis and progress is so exciting! Congratulations on your new life!

I came to the country on Wednesday, I think, and have been here ever since. R was going to come down Weds night but did not make it 'til Thursday. I get little bits of stuff done, feed the squirrels and did triage stuff to get rid of - a good sized pile and being added to.

Squirrel friend came with on Friday with friend, truck, very large squirrel cage. She will be back with squirrels-to-be-released. This is a lovely woods for them. We off-loaded cage and had tea, then she was off to get back for the next feeding.

We are in a long weekend - Victoria Day, I think. So Tuesday I can arrange for new window for car, she says hopefully. (The car is from the USA.) I will email my friendly service manager so he can get back to me early on. The window? We went to an auction on Saturday - after doing about 20 yard sales in Ormstown's semi annual yard sale weekend. Yes we accumulated a good bit more STUFF! Mostly useful. Including three good toilets. Unfortunately, we put them in my car and not well-battened down so when I turned a corner, they tilted.... I went round the next corner slowly but had the window not been all the way open.... So three for $4 will turn out to be ????

Un-needed were an ancient radio $100! R already has a couple.)Some sort of saw $90! (and a couple of these also!) and an ancient iron crib $20 only. Crib may become a garden bed for the country so not too useless. All else were useful objects.   

As we drove around, my allergy reaction, much better on Friday, worsened severely. There was an unpleasant odour in the air. We suspect chemicals. It improved after we stopped at the auction - up on a breezy hill and away from whatever smelled. After transporting 3 loads each with truck and car (only a few minutes each way) and then picking up the toilets and the saw, we went into town for a meal and were in bed before 9 pm.

Today, I went to see if I could pick up a cupboard at Adrien/Beer"s but no fit in my car so I had a visit and then bought stripper for the two bureaus we bought yesterday. Managed to brave the mosquitoes long enough to get one half done. Good stripper! Fierce mosquitoes!

My weight has become critical. I no longer have slacks that fit with any comfort and am reduced to full/loose dresses. Constantly trying to think of things to do to get moving. The mosquitoes are now a problem but I walked a ways in the middle of the road just to do something. And just went to start a hot bath to try to detox some after yesterday's exposure to whatever it was. I have not been so sedentary since that four years after I was poisoned when I could barely do anything. Toxins in bod make it almost impossible to lose weight but I shall have to make much more of an effort.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 May 12 - 10:31 PM

I seem to get a bladder infection as a result of these long drives to Arizona and back. The pain comes on fast, this time this morning I thought I was stiff and sore after yesterdays digging. Cipro, Rx pain pills, and an early night will help.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 May 12 - 09:01 AM

Long post last night disappeared. WTF?

Thanks, DP. What do you think might work for you to be less sed?

===

Pool last night-- 35 smokinmg minutes AJ 170-200 BPM. Side kicks, Ai Chi, stretches. Working towards a full side split.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 21 May 12 - 09:58 AM

cyclist just went by. I wish - but it is so long since... Well, we bought a small bike at the auction maybe... That would keep the bugs away. They are so fierce and so MANY!

Got up at 6:30 am thinking to beat the bugs and went out to work on stripping. Lasted about five minutes before running for house. So I came in and thought I'd feed the critters but they said it was too early so I fed me and then did little forays outside - collected fresh maple twigs for the guys, pile of stuff to outgoing stash, started the distiller for another gallon of water, took out garbage and ascertained the studio is warm enough and probably un-buggy enough to pot, or at least get some clay ready - when allergy abates enough to have energy. The only trips outside need to be fast! We did not find out until after we rented that it is notorious for mosquitoes.

Sorted some stuff in BR and look forward to having a cupboard in which to put the sorted piles. Changed the sheets last night after bath and now there is more laundry - to take to the city to wash. Maybe tonight.

The spirit is willing but between the allergy and the bugs I am not getting much done in the way of physical exercise. I will get desperate at some point and take a walk down the middle of the road.

R went off Sunday am to go to church and do some necessary stuff with bro. No ETA. I doubt he will be back today. Today is a holiday but stores are open and it would be good if they/HE could get some work done around the parental home. Empty for three years, or more, now. I will be glad if he gets at least the hole in the roof... (Bro is good at "WE need to do..." but it usually ends up with R doing it. )

I can see how I became so sedentary. Kind of just gave up because there was nothing to do. Even gave up dancing. It is hard to get going again. I seem to go into a do nothing but computer/read-while-eating fog. The clothes not fitting has bludgeoned me out of the fog. The bugs are a challenge. The frame for the screened tent are in the city. NEXT trip...

OK, off computer and try again ...

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 May 12 - 10:52 AM

I can see how I became so sedentary. Kind of just gave up because there was nothing to do. Even gave up dancing. It is hard to get going again. I seem to go into a do nothing but computer/read-while-eating fog. The clothes not fitting has bludgeoned me out of the fog. The bugs are a challenge. The frame for the screened tent are in the city. NEXT trip...

What about shadow dancing?

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 May 12 - 11:02 AM

I know that as I lose weight I have more energy, and as I have more energy it is easier to lose weight. This infection has slowed some of my activity, but since I didn't eat dinner last night I probably won't gain while this thing is treated.

Evening is when the mosquitoes are so bad around here, Dorothy. I need to finish what I'm doing in full daylight or they eat me alive. The nice thing about going out after dark is that the mosquitoes aren't such a problem any more but the fireflies are out. We have them in our neighborhood I'm sure because the creek and the woods are here. They look lovely glowing on and off over the lawns and hedges.

SRS (drinking lots of fluid and taking it easy for a couple of days)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Penny S.
Date: 21 May 12 - 03:07 PM

After some very tired days making up on sleep, I got busy today again. More carpet tiles. I took the wooden bath panel off and sanded the old varnish off. I also filled a triple layer flower basket with the runners from the strawberries which have been living in flower pots. And took off the plastic hooks from some gadgets which take five coat hangers and replaced them with S-hooks - the plastic stretches so they don't work. This sort of thing

And because I have had a week of lower weight, I allowed myself a breakfast from the local cafe.

Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 May 12 - 08:18 PM

I didn't do much work today, just slept on and off, but I wanted to get something done so turned to an annoying little task I never get to: washing windows. I took the glass out of the security door in front and washed both sides - it looks much better. I washed the back sliding glass door that had lots of muddy paw prints and nose prints. As I finished Zeke poked his nose on it and licked the glass. [sigh] Gotta love those dogs!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: ranger1
Date: 22 May 12 - 12:27 AM

I finally cleared out under the futon. Now all that needs to happen is a good vacuuming, and I'll have half of the living room in shape. Unfortunately, it's not a contiguous half. Have also decided that come payday, a trip to Staples will be in order. Maybe if we have a real file cabinet, we can keep the paper clutter contained and organized. And the new TV stand and cube storage unit are still repelling clutter two months after being installed!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 May 12 - 12:57 AM

Good job! I just wrote a paragraph and the connection failed and lost it. Not a kind of decluttering I appreciate. It sounds like you need a weekend to unpack then rearrange that room.

I am feeling better this evening, off of the heavy pain stuff. Pain is information, and with this kind of thing I don't want to mask symptoms since it can get much worse.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 22 May 12 - 07:57 AM

Yesterday I did basic chores around the house, took my Singer to the repair shop, made another stop and then back home. Since my sewing machine is old...I've been looking at other machines. It's not that my machine is just old, it's worn out and likely will cost more to fix than it's worth. So...I've been looking at sewing machines and even had the chance to sample a few different ones last Saturday when my machine gave out during a Jelly Roll Challenge. I used a Singer Featherweight and a new Brother that has all the bells and whistles. I fell in love with the Featherweight...the look, feel and sound = perfection!

Anyway, I was chatting on Facebook about this and how much I loved the Featherweight and that I was going to check into one when someone I met at the Jelly Roll Challenge sent me a note and said she had an extra one! I met her an hour later, checked over the machine and this morning I am taking it to a man who specializes in the Featherweight 221 who lives less than 5 miles away (which is incredible since I live in the middle of nowhere). I'm also going to pick up some border fabric for the quilt I made last Saturday and maybe a little bit extra for my stash! I'm looking forward to it!

Maggie, I hope you are feeling better today. I understand the desire to be able to feel some of what is going on but you've had the meds only a day or so....use them if you are in pain. If you still have intense pain tomorrow, give the doc a return call. In the meantime, take it easy. XOXOX

Michelle

PS. Kudos to keeping the tv stand and cube decluttered!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 May 12 - 10:30 AM

On the books for today is two band gigs, a pool visit, I've been declutting kitchen stuff, and I woke up feeling like crap-- but I had gotten a full night's sleep. Ydy felt the same but short and bad sleep. Ydy was draggy all day, today ready to pop now that I am fully awake.

Lesson learned: it's the sleep, now, to add to the thyroid regime.

My second thyroid book had an interesting section about eating with thyroid meds-- to stop mini-meals.... hm. Have to do a tad more research before I change that because it HAD been working.... (not a help request, just saying)

A church project is gathering steam so I went ahead and sought a few items via FC which I will also advertise in the parish newsletter.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 May 12 - 10:43 AM

Michelle - thanks! I did use the codeine stuff on the first couple of days, but I was reminded of a coworker who ended up with a kidney infection and it moved up and got much worse. She was in the hospital for a month and nearly died before it was all over. So yesterday though I was feeling twinges and occasional spasms of pain I took aspirin and that was pretty good. I figure if there are any symptoms of it not continuing to clear I'm to the doctor or ER in a heartbeat.

I tried to call a neighbor yesterday but her business card numbers didn't work - she telecommutes now so a new person has one number and her cell phone's message site is full. I'll walk up later - I didn't feel like it yesterday. I'm looking at refinancing the house from 5.5 (30 years) down to 3.25 (15 years, at almost the same cost to me as now), same bank, streamlined, no closing costs. They want to keep their people so they offer this, and I qualify. She works for them. By calling the branch I made sure that she does work for them (!) and they gave me her cell number. Never hurts to check. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 22 May 12 - 08:35 PM

Tomorrow I've actually got a day off with no medical appointments!

Maybe I can get some more stuff done around here. Most of the stuff I decluttered a couple weeks ago is out on the deck and now needs to be washed before it goes to Goodwill. Also hope to get a bit more yard work done. It'll probably be too wet to mow, but I can cut some of the woody stuff that's coming up in the wrong places and continue to rake out leaf mulch from the beds. Maybe get some of the volunteers back into a bed...

Little by little...

I also need to plant nasturtiums and salad fixin's in the deck planters and maybe get some cherry tomato plants.

I still need to try out the new Oreck handheld vac I bought a few weeks ago (and order some more bags online).

But mostly, I really hope I can just lounge in bed with a book for awhile tomorrow morning and then watch a movie in the evening. Gawd I need the R&R!

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 22 May 12 - 09:46 PM

Congratulations, Michelle on your Featherweight. I love mine.

Shadow dancing? I love International Folk Dancing but it is hard to find here. There will be dances on Mount royal during the summer so I need to look into the parking and the walk to Beaver Lake soon and try to get myself moving and doing.

Well, still here in the country. Forgot today is no longer a holiday and I could have done something about car window. Pouring rain off and on all day. When I decided to go to city, I realized I have no dry place for the car in the city and plastic on the window - very easy to break in. So here I still am.

R spent Sunday with bro and came back yesterday afternoon. Unloaded a bunch more stuff - free and from yard sales. Oh dear! I think this is right out of hand! I mentioned that he brings it home faster than I take it to thrift shop. I suggested a psychiatrist. He thinks I'm kidding.

Then he informed me he had gotten me a free exer-cycle but he had to drive back to get it. Is it still "free" if you drive an hour each way to get it? But we drove back the scenic route and I realized the wonderful park along the canal is only 20 minutes away - a beautiful place to walk!

The cycle went to the city where I can rearrange the LR and ride it while I watch TV.

Some of the stuff is raccoon toys so that will mostly go to our rehabber friend. Books will be sorted but never let go, I fear. We need a large barn!

I managed a bit more of the stripping but the bugs here are ALL DAY and ALL NIGHT! WE are thoroughly in the woods - very damp and darkish - a green environment with grey highlights, small patches of blue.

I am working on eating less. Sometimes I try to go to bed before I get hungry again! I am doing better but I know how careful I must be to lose and I am not there yet. Another de-tox bath today, hopeful. If I do one each day, maybe it will help. That is as difficult as eating less - I hate sitting in the tub for near an hour even though I read part of the time.

With any luck, the plants I bought last week will still be alive and I can plant them tomorrow. Before I rearrange the LR.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 May 12 - 01:18 AM

I harvested a bunch (but not all) of the onions this evening and put in a couple of my homegrown bedding plants in their place. I need to do some weeding and build up the soil in a couple of other areas before I plant more.

Tomatoes are starting to turn a bit yellowish on the bottom, that stage they get to just before the pink starts to appear - time to get the bacon and be ready to bake a loaf of bread. Soon will be time for the rite of summer - the homemade bread and homegrown tomato BLT!

Kat, are you feeling any better this week? I hope that iron infusion is beginning to take effect.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 23 May 12 - 02:27 PM

Today the dishes are done, the laundry is going, furniture has been moved and cleaned underneath and I now have a new sewing center that will allow me to be in the same area as my family instead of holed up in my office. I am most happy about this! I also found a very handy spot to hang my mats and cutting templates so that they will be within reach of where I am sewing. The only thing left to do on that project is to figure out what to do with the coat tree that I needed to move. Hmmm.

I'll be picking up toys in the next few minutes, folding some clothes and getting ready for my quilting class.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 May 12 - 04:10 PM

The kitchen, living room, and car got a little ignored while I ran around doing stuff with the new thyroid meds and having fun. So yesterday and today were catch-up.

Today I decluttered some pending work for my health, transcribing the round of blood tests into a forum where other thyroid patients share their experiences and lessons learned.

Also decluttered some estate and health details-- the estate stuff had overrun the nice pocket envelope the bank had given me for my copies, when I added all the tax and other stuff to it. I got a cheap zip-binder and dividers and now it is my LIFE binder, with a section for thyroid, estate, and couple-fun stuff in there now and other keys areas of my life will get added there such as workout logs, etc. that have been accumulating-- stuff I need to refer to as I get things working for ME.

The landlord has had a crew here all week and some of last week, finishing work started outside late last fall. It's been hilarious to see Faulkner NOT bark, but just silently patrol and check my face for worries. "OK... Mommie's got this one," and then he flops out asleep. His favorite part was when the lifter-bucket deposited three Mennonite men in traditional garb, right outside the LR picture window, and me not dressed yet-- hey, they start earlier than we do. TBTG for Hardi's rollup shade, which I dropped when they happened to turn away for a moment!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 23 May 12 - 05:38 PM

I'm really looking forward sometime to not being tired...

I took a nap this afternoon and then finished a mystery I was reading (one book down...), but I can't help feeling I just wasted part of a day off.

Woke up much later than usual this morning (7:45 -- where was my feline alarm clock?) and despite giving myself time to read my way into the day before making scrambled eggs with cream cheese for Tom and me, and then packaging up some stuff to send to my sister, by late morning I still felt as if I were trying to wake up.

Did my errands -- post office, credit union, grocery store. Even splurged and got a hanging pot of bright magenta petunias for the deck (and the two tomato plants I wanted) came home barely able to keep my eyes open. The visiting nurse had already been to see Tom, so I made leftover curry for lunch, then gave in to my sleepiness.

Tried calling my sister (no answer) and took a nap.

After finishing the book, I came back downstairs and scrubbed a couple things and bagged them and put them in the car to take to Goodwill on Friday. Didn't have the energy, though, to finish the job.

Tom and I nearly came to blows this morning about putting in the window for the screen door. The screen is torn and a bad design (it was a cheap door) in the first place, and I can't seem to figure out how to put the window back in (so I can hold the door open with my tush and keep the door from slamming me in the back of the ankles each time I come in the house). Each time Tom tries to explain it to me (keep in mind he can't see well and there's no light for me just inside the door) it seems it's always upside down... After this last attempt I just gave up. I'm not touching it again -- EVER. It's not important enough to be such an irritant. And I'm REALLY short on patience...still. Tom says he can do it when he can stand again.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: ragdall
Date: 23 May 12 - 07:52 PM

I freaked out about the waterlogged boards I couldn't remove and phoned a contractor for a price to remove everything, repair floor and walls if necessary, install a fibreglass shower and a give a time frame for completion. His wife took the message and promised a call back that evening. It's been about a week, no call back.   

My son was in town on the weekend. He removed the yucky board for me and also removed most of the caulking where floor walls meet.

I haven't tried the Dremel grout removal tool yet because I discovered that all the tiles on the lower part of the walls are loose. The 25 year old adhesive had dried out and let go. The grout was holding the tiles together in sheets. As soon as I released one tile, many others fell off with it. Most of the grout crumbled off the tiles in the process.

All (I hope) loose tiles and accompanying grout have been removed from the bottom four feet all the way around. Many tiles broke. I'm scraping the old glue off the walls in hopes of leaving a clean, dry, somewhat rough, surface for the mortar to bond to. My husband has begun cleaning old glue and bits of grout from the intact tiles. When I'm satisfied that the walls are sound, I'll work on cleaning tiles too. There is rather a lot of them.

There is one place where the wall is bulging out. I'll see if I can figure out how to use a wood plane to make it flush with the rest of the wall. If that doesn't work I'll have to try to cut out that piece and replace it.   I hope my efforts won't cause more tiles to fall off. I only have about a week to get this done.

Next, I'll try to remove the old one inch square floor tiles. I wonder what nasty surprises lurk there?

rags

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 May 12 - 12:31 AM

Sometimes, Rags, it pays to hire a carpenter to come in and do this -especially when it keeps getting bigger. They are usually a lot faster than we are at the same job. Just a thought.

Susan, I'm impressed at how Faulkner does with his service dog job. I could use some good dog service here (to fill in the hole in the back, to not jump when I walk out the door, etc.) I'm glad they're glad to see me, but must all of my shirts have dog prints? :)

I've filed and sorted papers this evening, pulling together the documents needed to complete a refinance application. A neighbor works at the bank where my current mortgage is and I can do a streamlined one without an appraisal, etc. Most of the paper was turned in this afternoon except for these few documents. From a 30-year mortgage at 5.5% to a 15-year at 3.0%. My monthly payments will go up by about $70 but the costs overall come down tremendously.

This evening I've been going through the kitchen and processing food. Cleaned and cut up some Swiss Chard, it is uncooked in a container in the fridge for tomorrow; the stems were cut up and given to the dogs with their dinner tonight. I bought a box of fresh mushrooms the other day and sliced them and sauteed with butter and red wine, and they're in a container in the fridge to use with things this week. I baked a chicken, ate a little, the rest is for leftovers this week. Ate the asparagus I've been collecting for a few days until I had enough for a meal. I brought in my first pink tomato today, a cherry tomato, and there are others showing signs of preparing to ripen soon. Time to get the bacon and the night before our ceremony to officially welcome summer, I'll make a loaf of bread. Gotta have fresh bread, thick bacon, and home grown tomatoes for the first BLT of summer!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 May 12 - 12:04 PM

Watered some in the front last night with a sprinkler (I can only water that way on Wednesdays and Saturday), and this morning I went around with a hose (I can hand-water any time). I also sprayed spinosad on the non-flowering plants in the yard that are being munched by bugs. It kills honeybees, so there should be none of it near the plants that attract bees.

Last night I was trying to figure out where some important papers had gotten to, that I hadn't seen in a long time, and then I remember the other antique desk in the house, the one in my bedroom. Ah ha! and all of my papers are now in order. This mortgage person doesn't know about flood insurance and didn't ask for those forms, but I have them ready for her anyway because I've done this a couple of times before. Certificate of Elevation, survey, and cover of flood insurance policy. All ready to go.

Linn, I hope you and Tom sort out the screen door. I have screens for my front security door but since there is a gap at the bottom and I never figured out how to attach the little steel extension that goes down there to cover the gap, just about anything can go under the door and into the house. I did wash that window glass the other day and I'm enjoying the result every time I go out front.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 May 12 - 10:23 PM

Took the dogs for a walk up to Susie's house so I could check the mail, and while I was there I let them loose in the back. Zeke loved it and was into the pool several times. My two barked frantically at some Jack Russell terriers on the other side of the fence so I had to put them back on the leash and not let them tear the fence apart. Oy.

After waiting all afternoon the tree guy didn't come - again. I begin to notice a pattern here, and I think I'll start cutting and dragging branches, a few a day, out to the front. I told the nextdoor neighbor I was taking the dogs out and to call me if the guy arrived, but my walk wasn't disturbed.

If I'm smart I'll spend some more time filing papers this evening. I got a start yesterday, but there is some left. I set up a file for keeping all of the refinance papers. I probably don't need to keep all of the old original and refinance papers, do you think? I am probably going to shred most of those old files, keeping just a few pages that show exactly what I paid, where I borrowed, etc.

So glad tomorrow is Friday. And Moonglow is coming down for a visit! I will have her dad and brother over for dinner so we can all hang out a little. I've been harvesting garden stuff and she can take some back - turns out she was never here when I dug up the potatoes (she didn't realize I grew them last year till she found my bin full of them last winter). So I'll wait for her and let her dig some potatoes so she can see how it looks. I find non-gardeners are uniformly impressed with this kind of thing. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Penny S.
Date: 25 May 12 - 11:43 AM

Not my decluttering, but someone else's, and it's left me feeling down.

I had to deliver post back to my old block of flats, and found what the people who bought the place had done to the garden patch by the front door. Everything had been taken out and the area covered with bark chips. The sage bush, the lavender and the rosemary. All the scented carnations. The rambler rose I had brought on from cuttings (fortunately, another clone has taken well at the new place). And, worst of all, the rose which I had brought on to have the most buds this year that it has ever had, and which I would have thought was a selling point. Gone.

I wish I had dug up the carnations.

The guy I spoke to had wanted to show me the inside - where they had taken out the kitchen that had cost me so much to put in for the sale (I never used it), the immersion heater and tank that cost me again, and the bathroom tiles which I had put up myself, and which the lady downstairs would have liked had she bought it. I'm not going back again. I feel I was cheated by the estate agent into selling to builders at a low price after all the work I had had done, when they knew I wanted to sell to people who would live there. And the guys were so proud of all the work they had done. (I'm glad I swapped the cookers so I have the one I was used to in that place.) I didn't go in.

Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 25 May 12 - 12:40 PM

(((((Hugs Penny))))))))

We've had something similar happen and it just plain stinks. I won't go back either, I prefer to remember things the way they were.

Busy day here, dishes, laundry, floors, cleaning out the car, packing, organizing the nursery, vacuuming, cleaning the upstairs hall on my hands and knees after sweeping, finding the kitchen table, picking up toys and clean sheets on the bed. Whew.

Tomorrow I shall play!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 May 12 - 01:05 PM

I have that thought sometimes also, Penny - all of these plants and beds I have worked so hard on in the bed - sometime in the future, will someone cut the trees, rip the beds and turn it back into lawn? You have to enjoy it while you're there, but it sounds like you would have done better if the agent didn't meddle and let you sell it to who you wanted.

So, last week I had a very productive Saturday out in the yard and that work ground to a halt Sunday morning when the bladder infection hit. I'm up to another weekend and am pretty close to feeling up to work, but I'll pace myself carefully. I want to finish a bed by the front porch, that's where I stopped. And I'll get ready to do another bed at the curb. I have an acquaintance a couple of blocks away, just a little older than me who retired recently and she's out doing much the same thing in her yard, putting in interesting beds and reducing the amount of grass. We'll have to put our heads together occasionally when it comes to buying stuff - perhaps we can order a load of mulch and have half delivered at each place.

My eBay sale hasn't attracted much attention - I'll run it once more with a lower starting price, and I'll list a different set of dishes. I have a charismatic tureen that may well sell, but the rest of it is simple plates and bowls. I may pack the rest and offer at a lowball price just to get it out of the house. Start it at a penny. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 25 May 12 - 02:01 PM

Maggie,

   What's your name on eBay?

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 May 12 - 03:28 PM

Check your facebook messages, I'll send it.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 May 12 - 09:55 PM

Pewl 20 hot minutes

Estate moving along, owwwwchies

Picked up two van seats (needed one) ydy; one I'll keep as an occasional third seat RECLINES and this should fit under the cot-- will try it tomorrow. The other will be a confy seat up in the attic that is so hard to get furniture into.

Also picked up bulletin board materoals for a church project, from the same wonderful FC donor-- we have been blessed by him so many times-- he's active at HIS church, good dude.

I'm passing on his huge pile of laminated counters, tho they match my office-- he gave me a tiny piece to guesstimate the job with, and way too much adapting would needed around the existing built-ins so NOPE.

Picked up the first page of a boatload of old labs, going in the endocrinology section of my Life Binder. The rest due to print for me for Tuesday pickup.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 May 12 - 01:45 AM

I have papers to shred soon, old contract stuff from a mortgage or two back. I'll keep the essential info just to remember who was the lender when, but a lot can go.

Decluttered the garden of potatoes this evening - my daughter was down to visit so I let her have the honors, after showing her how to dig them (not tough) - mainly, don't accidentally clobber them with your digging tool. She enjoyed it after missing this activity last year. She'll have to come back soon for our rites-of-summer BLT. The first big tomato goes into a sandwich made of homemade bread, homegrown tomato, good lettuce and mayo and thick-sliced bacon (making it worth our while!)

It's nice to be more or less back to normal speed now. I can pick up this weekend where I stopped on Sunday morning. I mowed part of the back yard this evening and I'll finish that, then move to the flower beds out front.

I relisted an eBay item (the gravy boat and saucer) just to keep something in play and will list another couple of auctions this weekend. I'll do more china, but I'll also find something else, books, or something on the table back there waiting to be listed.

I think the thing I'm most looking forward to this summer is the refinance on the house - I'm glad I made that move. If you looked at the interest amounts on older mortgages with higher interest rates or looked at higher overall house prices, it seems huge, like double the house price or more. But the interest on this loan will be less than $20,000 - that seems so remarkable for a home mortgage. And it is one of those that if I make an extra payment a year I can knock off several years of this puppy. It would be nice to have the house paid for by the time retirement rolls around.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 May 12 - 12:00 PM

Three day weekend is here and my list of stuff to do is long. I've lingered over my tea, now to hit the garden (on the shady side of the house).

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 May 12 - 12:39 PM

Estate matters have led to financial planning (I never thought I'd have $$ to plan), which leads to a retrospective budget analysis that I think will not be a lot of fun to actually DO. But that is the Next Big Office Task, and thanks to the intern who helped one day awhile back I do at least have all the data in one place staring me in the face.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 May 12 - 02:16 PM

My hands are broken out again, I'm eliminating another possible food source of irritation. Will report probably next month.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 May 12 - 07:42 PM

Well, yes, I know it is the holiday weekend but I was doing a project for work that I wanted to finish and put away (part two of this project will involve a lot of rifling through files, but this was one long relatively easy transcription). The evening is cooler so I'll head into the yard for a bit. And walk the dogs.

Linens changed, one load of laundry finished. Dishes finished. Headed over to Big Lots to get a pair of rubber garden shoes to try them out. Susie swears by them for comfort.

SRS