BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Alice
Date: 17 May 10 - 07:57 PM

Should have mentioned this blog has been my way of easing back into work in spite of anxiety and panic attacks. I'm gradually getting there!

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 May 10 - 11:38 PM

Good for you, Alice! It's good to see you getting back more into your artwork and making it available in such a lovely presentation. I love the look of fine letterpress. Good luck on your collaboration with the printer.

Got a humongous amount of dishes done, today, as I played Pirates with Morgan. I was the ship's bottle-washer and chandler, selling all manner of things a proper pirate might need. We had so much fun. The dishes took a wee bit longer, but the washing was done happily. He wants to do it again, tomorrow.:-)

We will also start on shredding papers, tomorrow, and I've a couple of spaces I want to get cleaned up, dusted and all, including my sanctum. Oh, and laundry, as usual.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 May 10 - 12:23 AM

Kat, you need to get some DNA to clone and patent this kid. I want one.

Alice, I ignored blogs for a long time, but with the sophisticated templates and the templates that can be customized, there is some real potential. Add cloud computing to that, when you can store lots of stuff "out there," it makes reaching the world at large a matter of understanding metadata and keywords. And design, yes, but there is more involved that is easier than it used to be. And that is exactly what my tour guide friend needs. But talking him into learning to Twitter and send phone photos - that will be one big gab fest. ;-D

Dishes are finished, laundry is drying. I'm off to bed.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Eiseley
Date: 18 May 10 - 12:23 AM

I washed the dishes and cleaned the counter until it sparkled. The boys are in bed, my afghan is nearly all put together (now I just need to weave in the ends and then block it), but that's about all I have energy for tonight. I think I talked to about 850 school children today, and about the same amount tomorrow. It's quite wearying to be "on" so much.

Goodnight, friends.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 May 10 - 05:58 AM

Kitchen dishes finally caught up after several weeks of more than fulltime work took me out of it. Spent ydy being professionally lazy but housewifely responsible. MUST maintain the balance-- or know the reason why!

The best-- In so many ways Hardi and I are more on the same page for the rhythms of this crazy ministry life.

TBTG for my home office. And the cushy rug Hardi and a friend put under my feet. Yummy reminder of Provision and a multi-sensual reminder of Marriage Vision! :~)

Sleepover trip to H'burg planned for Friday aftn - Sat. aftn, in a slick guest apartment we have stayed in often enough that I know what I left for dinner, in the freezer. (Yet another extension of this Brick House.) Destination: R&R, work/scootering a charity walkathon along the river with friends and colleagues in need of our presence. . Dogs set to go in the kennel we built last year-- this life is WORKING, at long LAST!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 18 May 10 - 10:13 AM

Things are settling down here. Everything unpacked. Invites from all the local restaurants with coupons. They have eagerly awaited our arrival. Too expensive to order lunch every day but nice to have an assortment for a treat.
Tomorrow morning one restauarant is supplying a free breakfast buffet to welcome us.
Meantime, it has finally sunk in that it is at least a quarter mile from my desk to anywhere else I need to be - printers, cafe, rest rooms...my doctor will be thrilled.
This morning I had my gym orientation and made an appointment for a one on one with a trainer - we get two free sessions each. I may finally have a handle on daily exercise. I hurt just from the intro - LOL
Have been up and down the stairs twice and it is only 10AM. Ah well.
Back to work.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 May 10 - 10:49 AM

After an indolent day of housechores, it's back to a major work push. This is "grant-writing-hell mode," where the word processor (and web work) call loudly... at any hour as the ideas ovulate.... so the best one can do is put on the pretty bathrobe, gather nutrition and pets, and ride the work/nap rhythm till the deadline is met. TBTG for good movies on the DVR ydy to pace those housechores. I got a lot done-- and the BTW nightgowns are getting loose again.

That reminds me-- stereotypes. Hardi and I both assumed I was "afraid" to be seen naked. It turns out I just prefer deep, velvety darkness, because I have unusually vivid night vision in the dark. The cure? Cheap sunglasses. Maybe that is what ZZ Top meant! :~)

I got so much done this past week (painlessly, one tiny bit at a time as I passed by clutter on the way OUT) that Hardi has begun vacuuming. TBTG he has learned to do it when I can't hear it. No, I don't care how he does it-- the SOUND makes me as nuts as it makes the dog! :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 May 10 - 02:22 PM

That lack-of-segue gave me a severe case of whiplash. Sunglasses?

Drawing down frozen stuff still getting ready for summer crops in a couple of months. Beans and rice today, and the jar will get washed and stored for some other small portion (holds about 12 ounces, used to have a local brand of picante sauce). I'll take out some spaghetti sauce for tonight.

Didn't cut up limbs in back yet, it's too wet back there this morning, after another heavy rain last night. But I have been working in the house, clearing up the dining room table (the big one in the living room) to put away more of the college application and paperwork. They keep sending stuff in the mail.

Kitchen is clean, garden is looking good.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Alice
Date: 18 May 10 - 02:28 PM

I'm curious about how other towns deal with the branches pruned from residential trees and shrubs. Our town used to have us pile the branches in the alley near the trash cans and twice a summer they would remove them.
Now they no longer pick up branches and home owners have to find a way to dispose of them. General question to all, what is done in your town?

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 May 10 - 02:29 PM

No lack of segue: if one prefers dark, one can simply create deeper darkness. (You just didn't follow my train of thought.)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: mouldy
Date: 18 May 10 - 04:05 PM

Stopped hurting now.(The 15 mile bike ride with #1 daughter on Saturday afternoon didn't help. However, I went to a Health and Healing fair on Sunday afternoon, and treated myself to some Indian massage).

I have started to liberate some random clutter from underneath the stairs, and I am planning to get the table under the gazebo cleared of the defunct sundae dishes, gardening equipment, windbreaks from last year's camping, dust sheets, etc.
The stairs and landing are nearly papered, and I dare say the first paint will be going in the hall tomorrow. I have sent for details on 2 properties in Northumberland, and am starting to feel like I am getting some degree of control on what is going to happen over the Summer months. There will be still plenty to do after all the decorating is done, but they are smaller jobs, and much of it is more clearing out and organising.

...and I lost a pound and a half last week, so I am about back where I was before I went to Iceland and ate a lot of bread!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 May 10 - 07:34 PM

This evening I gave myself an hour to see how many of those limbs and trees I could get out of my neighbor's yard. The answer is, all of them. Plus I cut down the other trees at the fence line. I took them off with tall stumps (~ 4') so they would topple into my yard. Tomorrow when the neighbor comes over with his chainsaw (we decided today was too wet for that work) I'll take out those posts as close to the ground as possible. And I'll take the string trimmer over and clear her side and my side of the fence, so it is a nice clean look.

This was all in an hour, but my shoulders and elbows can sure feel it. I took a lightweight bow saw (21") and a standard pair of loppers out. I cut what I could with the loppers and tossed the segments over, then cut the boles into 3 - 4' pieces and tossed them over also. Good steady motion, not quite breathing hard, but I think this declutter definitely also counts for the accountability portion of the thread!

Must drive to work tomorrow to take care of some stuff, and I'll make sure to park way south of campus and walk up to the library. I easily get a mile round trip that way. And climbing the stairs there is something I should do several times a day. This is the time of year the metabolism is in gear to burn energy and lose weight, so I need to take advantage of it. I sure didn't do anything productive to keep the weight off last winter.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Pistachio
Date: 18 May 10 - 08:26 PM

I've been away from the 'cat' for ages (and no real reason) but on my return I set myself a task (collating paperwork and enveloping, labelling and adding postage stamps) and have just read this entire thread. Wow.
Way back, I meant to keep up with the accountability - but failed to post. I have been busy tho' and found a fantastic book 'the complete idiots guide to organising your life'. The phrase to remember is "don't put it down, put it away"...and with that in mind I've transformed a load of clutter and kept up with current tasks. It seems I need a day a week to catch/clear up - but it's something I know that bothers/affects so many others that I don't beat myself up. I want to say well done to all of you - and I hope to draw from your inspiration. Photos, poems, comments, encouragement, care and above all love...it all helps. Thank you. Hazel.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 18 May 10 - 08:55 PM

Hey Hazel. Now sell it all and come the Getaway in October, then on to Maine. Micca will be here. We can get some serious playing in. Even a trip to the Press Room.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: maire-aine
Date: 18 May 10 - 10:24 PM

On Sunday, our Irish session musicians group (I counted 15 of us) went busking at Eastern Market for Flower Day. The market is the big farmers' market in Detroit & flower day (they're not usually open on Sundays) is kind of their big "beginning of summer" even. They sell plants, flats of flowers & garden decorations, and they get around 150,000 people that day. Anyway, we collected money for a breast cancer treatment program. A little bit of sunburn & a sore shoulder, but we had a good time.

Last week I went down to the Social Security office, and signed up for benefits. My birthday is the last of June.

Rained last night, so the grass was still too wet to cut. Will try to cut at least the backyard tomorrow.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 May 10 - 12:38 AM

Maryanne, you have a lot going on your plate. Good luck with getting all of that retirement stuff worked out easily.

Hazel, you've been a positive influence already. That saying, "don't put it down, put it away," is a good one. So before answering this thread, I went in and filed all of the papers I've been dropping on top of my filing cabinet this week. It took about 10 minutes, I shredded a couple of things, and the items left on top now are action items, they require a call or a response. The rest could be filed. Thank you, and keep checking in on us!

Mary, can I ask who you work for? It's nice to be welcomed to the neighborhood like that -- and it's nice to know that there are places around to stop in if you decide you want a lunch for a special occasion or to take a client out. Here on my campus they put in a "club" on campus for faculty and staff, decorated to the hilt with gorgeous glass by our premier glass artist in the region who teaches on our campus. It really is a nice change to go in there and feel pampered, after much of the food service (Aramark) or fast food offered on campus. Enjoy the new digs, and all that the neighborhood offers!

So, papers filed, dishes done, and laundry is in drying.

My son has 2 weeks of school left (he's graduating), and we're down to only two uniform shirts that fit him. We're doing laundry every day or two--whatever it takes. He actually looks pretty good in the style he chose to wear to school, so we might buy a couple to take with him to university, but for now, we're coasting on fumes. And washing and putting things away as often as we need to.

Planning ahead - French toast for breakfast tomorrow. And that's it, I'm done for the evening. I go in to the office tomorrow, and have to do some de-cluttering (of paperwork) there. Catch you later!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 19 May 10 - 03:32 AM

Last night I did a 2 mile brisk walk an hours body pump class followed by a 2 mile jog home. Did the jog in 12 minutes!

At the moment the living room is filled with ripped wrapping paper. It's Harry's 3rd birthday today and he's unwrapped all but one of his presents. His main present (bicyle) is at nana's where we'll have a party tomorrow.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 19 May 10 - 08:31 AM

Official Weigh In and I lost another three pounds. Can't wait to see what exercise does for my program.

SRS - I PM'd you the company name. Can't be too careful with some information. They are amazing to their employees. Two industrial refrigerators filled with water, fruit juices, V8, soft drinks. Fresh fruit twice a week. Bonuses for maintaining weight, cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose levels. Catered company lunches; semi-annual dompany parties at the best places in town. Last year it was held on an island and we had a choice of ferry or sailing ship for transportation. Now we have a gym with showers. Interesting people all just a little quirky with many interests outside work. The company matches donations raised in marathons and walks for your favorite charity as well as having an ongoing fund raising program with matching funds for three charities chosen by employees.
Jacqui mentione to me last winter that the Preble Street Women's Center was short of socks. I asked HR if I could put a box out to collect socks. The next day the owner of the company had HR purchase a couple of hundred dollars in socks and left them at my desk for Jacqui to deliver. No fan fare. No press release. And no one from the company followed up. Jacqui delivered them. I was on the original Giving Committee. In the first year, we raised and matched $10,000 with auctions, raffles, donation bins, etc. In December we worked with a local woman who runs a women's program in Haiti and helped her get supplies to her clients - thousands raised. This year we have matching funds of up to $30,000 and are on target to get them.

They hire based on qualifications. Young old black white fat skinny Asian Caucasian Hindu. It is a great place to work. And I am very lucky to have found it.

Thread drift over.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: gnu
Date: 19 May 10 - 11:30 AM

Same loss for me SINS this past week.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 May 10 - 11:35 AM

Ani,


MEGA-WIN COINCIDES WITH BIRTHDAY!

Each slo-mo line below is a major accomplishment on its own:


I decluttered several professional tasks

to permit (and in conjunction with) a vacationally-oriented overnight stop this weekend

in Harrisburg

where I will scooter for two charities

with mah honeh

while doggehs use secure home kennel we built last fall.


Later today I will unload mostly-declutted van of a few remaining cluts,

visit new non-parochial friends,

and fix something at church

then have B'day dinner out with Greg

pack van together for H'burg lvg room to load scooter Thu eve

and measure van for

newly FC'd-in mattress materials

for conjoint boondocking

which materials we will clean upon our return.


Then we can load van with garden dirt (next payday)

together

unload dirt then to set up earthboxes

and clean van for conjoint boondocking

because

Hardi and I each shrank enough in the last two years that

Hardi and I now fit into smaller beds

and enjoy but no longer need kingsize beds!


TBTG,

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 19 May 10 - 11:36 AM

gOOD FOR YOU, GNU. i AM IMPRESSED AT HOW YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP LOSING. uSUALLY i LAST SIX WEEKS AND GIVE UP. hOPE THE NEW GYM WILL KEEP ME ON TRACK. hOW DO YOU DO IT?
sins
oH cRAP! dAMN CAPSLOCK!

Subject: RE: BS: Tip Declutter & Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 May 10 - 01:16 PM

Some cluts sit till their use becomes clear. Some of them get clear possible-use-sparkles...- but the real recipient and the way to give them "right"-- THAT can take time to manifest.

This week a lot of items are moving out of the "gotta go" section of the LR. (I established the section there because at that time it was where I sat most, and I knew I'd see the items often enough to keep tugging at me. "I gotta go! Who? How? WHEN?")

===

<> A personal gift was re-opened; items useful to a relative were allocated to his family's Christmas box (other items are waiting), and the personal part of it stays in my office till I'm ready to pass that part on to him, too. I keep the contents that I can use now, and the pretty box as a display to recall times with the gift's givers, who I see seldom.

<> A set of scooter parts went to live where the scooter lives. I do not use them, myself; they are easily removed and a place to stow them has been identified, along with policies for lending the scooter in today's risk-mgmt world.

<> A basket from FC is now holding a precious item Hardi will deliver to the landlord's family. One of their young men taught me a valuable lesson and did me a small kindness a few months ago. His sheepskin pelt (I harvested it in the late 80's) is carefully folded for safe display to the fellow's squeamish mom. A care-instrux flyer I handwrote (like a gift card) is stuck in where she can see how to take good care of it for him, till he gets home from kollidge for a visit. Or she can mail it to him, or-- whatever they decide makes the most sense, including re-gifting if they prefer. They will now what to do with a yummy pelt. The basket itself "originally" came from a major re-gifter who moved back to the UK. (We may have gotten a pie in it once, LOL.) This crazy, re-gifting community! :~) The care instrux are on a piece of parchment paper a church committee pal gave me last week as a sample for a planned project. "It's never failed me yet, this paper," she said, and it gives a real nice handfeel with the sheepskin, too, as well as being a pretty golden creamy color.

<> A HUGE Gateway box waiting for my MIL awaits her Oct. visit and instrux. It holds a PILE of Hardi's dau's stuff the dau might someday use with her babies, at the MIL's house. MIL will fly here for the annual visit, look thru the box, and then we'll ship the box home to her per her instrux.

<> When the box ships, that will remove the "gotta go" section, because the top of it has the right size to use for it. ANd that is where the sheepskin basket will sit till Hardi pays the rent or the landlord comes to look at an overdue faucet, LOL.

<> A gift a Mudcatter declined left 3 days later, to a charity sale we support.

====

It's all connected, this ecology of life in the mountains here. It's part of the Appalachians (tho the locals forgot). But it is, and we can see it in the people anyway, and learn from it, TBTG.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: gnu
Date: 19 May 10 - 03:19 PM

SINS... typical...

6AM two heaping tbsp yoghurt (Activa with the beasties good for the guts) and one or two heaping tbsp 2% cottage cheese and two mouthfuls of skim milk.

8AM 1/4 serving of mini-wheats and 1/4 serving of Honey Nut Cheerios or an egg "McMuffin" (never two days in a row) or fruit salad.

10AM repeat 6AM.

12PM whatever I want, but only half a "normal but smallish" meal.

2PM repeat 12PM with the other half.

4PM PM and 6PM half of whatever I want. Sometimes, at 4PM, I have a LARGE bowl of butterscotch ripple ice cream and skip 6PM.

9PM Sommat like leftovers... last night, it was a toasted (white whole wheat) roast beef sandwich SLATHERED with Miracle Whip with hot water for my drink.

So, you get the idea. Eat every two hours and try to mix it up. Doesn't matter what you eat, just eat "half" or less each time. All the better if you can eat a "balanced" meal. Health Canada has great advice and there are lots of others including diabetes type eating.

At least twice a week, I make one of those meals just a tin of Del Monte French Style Geen Beans or a half a tin of corn or a tin of sardines or whatever, and I eat it over one hour. And at least twice a week, I eat a "whole meal" at 12PM and then just drink water until 4PM.

I identified what I had to cut back on. Salt... no. Nuts... no (I avert my eyes when I pass the nuts in the shops because if I have them in the house, the fat is back). Weekly, I treat myself, but don't repeat the treat for at least a month... I pig out on old cheddar mac & cheese... I pig out on lasagna... I pig out on baked spuds with enough margerine to grease an entire pig... in other words, I treat myself to comfort food weekly but I don't eat the same treat in one month.

As for the frustration of slow progress, that has been my biggest challenge. As I was a jock, it was more frustration with becoming older and not being able to admit that I just can't exercise the weight off whenever I feel like it. I finally had to accept the fact that it took 30 years to put it on and that three years to take it off is acceptale to me now. Closing on 70 pounds now, so I may bring this puppy in before schedule and under budget. If I don't, I don't. Someday I will. I ain't a young jock anymore.

Sorry for the long rambling post.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 19 May 10 - 03:31 PM

Don't apologize. I guess I am doing about the same with three meals and two snacks but the meals are less than half what I used to eat and exclude whites - bread, rice, potato, anything starchy - but unlimited fruits and vegetables all fresh. Fiber One makes a fat free cottage cheese loaded with fiber that equals 4 Weight Watchers points for an entire pound. That makes for a huge lunch with strawberries and pineapple. About once a week I treat myself to a tiny bag of chips or a sandwich on a roll. But no wine or alcohol because it triggers starch cravings. I am losing weight. Whether my sugar and cholesterol are also dropping - I have to wait until my next follow up in August.
70 lbs! I can only dream. Thank you for sharing.
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: gnu
Date: 19 May 10 - 03:49 PM

No alcohol? Screw that. I'd rather be fat than sober.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 19 May 10 - 03:51 PM

Me too. But I'd rather be alive. It is temporary. A daily glass of red wine is actually recommended.

And a shot or two of JD once in a while won't hurt. LOL

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 19 May 10 - 05:07 PM

I have a serious decison ahead of me and need some input. I have promised Severn a piece of Maine hideobilia - something to brighten his day. It has to be shipped so fragile and big and bulky are out. Rules out that nasty lobster trap coffee table and the lobster lamp. I am not ready to part with the inflatable moose butmaybe the anatomically correct sheep. There is the hideous musical fountain from hell with the smiling lions and fat cherubs but it weighs forty pounds. Decisions Decisions.

maybe I should just hit the yard sales Saturday and see what turns up...but I would prefer to get rid of some of this crap.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: jacqui.c
Date: 19 May 10 - 05:11 PM

What about the shell clock? - The one with the aquarium scene in it.

Let me know if you're up for playing on Saturday.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Art Thieme
Date: 19 May 10 - 05:22 PM

(smile)
They're going after the creature from the Black Studies Program!!

Art--1963
(Azizi, it's just a joke ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 May 10 - 05:43 PM

LOL! You lot are a hoot!

Send 'im the sheep, Sins!

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: gnu
Date: 19 May 10 - 06:35 PM

I vote for "the anatomically correct sheep". Soft wooly buddy to snuggle up with at night.

That what you meant, right? Wooly bugger?

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 19 May 10 - 06:38 PM

That clock has a different destination. It is a piece of wood cut to be New Zealand with a clock in the center and all sorts of shells and crap and lobster claws glued on. Really hideous. about 2'x3'. But not for Severn.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 May 10 - 10:13 AM

The van WAS empty for about 5 minutes ydy, but came home re-loaded by one of the "delivery" recipients. I'm taking some of it to sell to the local "Sanford and Sons" place-- for a potting table I want-- but the bulk of it already went to the parish-- 3-1/2 boxes of canning jars for the soup supper sales, one of which is tonight!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 May 10 - 11:54 AM

My pickup still has that load of mulch, but I think this evening I'll be able to drop it on the lawn beside the drive to wait until I have a use for it. I've started marking the boundaries of my Keyhole Garden.

Dishes in the sink to be washed at noon today, and dinner stuff lined up. I'm thinking about making a loaf of French bread. The store was out, and the stuff at the store isn't really very good, just handy. I did a little shopping for items that will let me start working more diligently on a diet. It has been several weeks since my Rx HRT changed, I know I have more energy, and now I need to make use of it. Gotta lose this spare tire.

Gnu, that "Activia" stuff is over-hyped. Any active yogurt is going to have the same cultures in it. Don't waste your money on the expensive stuff.

My son's last AP test is this afternoon. Finals are next week. He graduates on June 2. Time is flying! I told him I'm going to have some chores for him to do once school is out. Now that ought to inspire him to get his summer job back, if nothing else does! ;-D

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 20 May 10 - 11:59 AM

Forgive my ignorance - Stilly, what is a keyhole garden? Sounds like something Alice and the White Rabbit might frequent.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 May 10 - 01:09 PM

We're all about repurposing and living cheap. A day came not long ago when I realized that if I got a million bucks, I'd still live cheap. I WORK better, cheap. Oh I'd take the money, but it would not go to very many "things."

With that in mind, we did not buy a chimenea or a fire ring. We have a box of cinders the township gives away each year for icy rural driveways-- you go to the township road crew's pile and take what you need (via low, local taxes). This binfull is 3 years old and the bin is cracked. It can safely be moved once more and then the bin needs to be "trashed" (repurposed for gardening). Next year's cinders will go in some metal boxes that came our way-- one for the front porch and one for the back porch.

So the current cinders will be spread for a fire ring, on top of which will go an old smoker Hardi has been using to torch shredded financials. Last night it gave us a lovely settin' fire (with the little fire-tending door left open like a tiuny fireplace opening).

A downed treetrunk was hauled to this area years ago awaiting sitters (singers) at campfires. (Little Hawk, remember?)

The new fire ring will go where the grass is already kilt from a camper left sitting there for 3 years that now sit elsewhere. With enough campfire action, it will stay kilt enough, like a campground ring stays kilt if used often enough. I am sure the cinders will help keep it kilt, too, as well as making a mow ring for Hardi's lawn tractor.

===

3 CD racks going unused-- leave today. I got them free but I can sell them and I will. I see a table materializing in their place. The table is all picked out and I have enough surplus merch to barter for it.

===

The Band will host an anniversary party here in July. The doors are open for Getaway travelers to enjoy the new yard spaces with us as well. All are welcome, who know the way here. Others are invited to PM for direx.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: GUEST,Eiseley
Date: 20 May 10 - 04:47 PM

Rejoice with me: I finished putting together the afghan I found last weekend. It's blocking right now. Then yesterday I was able to find good homes for the wringer/washer and the heavy woodburning stove that have been sitting on the parking pad for some years now. When I parked the car last night after work, there was so much more space! It was wonderful.

Eiseley

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 May 10 - 05:54 PM

Congrats, Eiseley!

As usual "Thanks to Morgan the Grandson," TTMTG?, he and I have shredded a whole box of receipts from 2001 and 2002. Nothing feels better than clearing out that kind of stuff. There is something so satisfying about the actual shredding process.:-)

Other than that, we have played on our musical instruments since he got home from kindergarten.:-) I'll take him while I can; next week is end of school and then he goes to all-day recreational and sports camps. I'll probably get him one or two afternoons or on Fridays, plus as always on the weekends. I may have to get a life, again.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: maire-aine
Date: 20 May 10 - 06:09 PM

It finally dried out long enough for me to cut the front/side/back grass. I wanted to get it done early, because I knew my next-door neighbors were bringing home their new baby this afternoon, so I wanted to be quiet. It's a little girl. I haven't seen her yet, just from a distance when they drove up.

Made a pot of vegetable soup-- just canned tomatoes & frozen mixed veggies with some pasta shells-- but it's the easiest way for me to get my vegetables. I find it hard to cook just the right portion size for only myself, and if I cook too much, the leftovers just sit in the fridge until I throw them out.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 May 10 - 07:24 PM

Keyhole garden video on YouTube shows where they really make a difference. I'm using old rocks, not making it as tall, and am making more of a garden feature. Some of the American versions I've seen are downright ugly, you have to poke around to find interesting examples if you Google the term. You'll find, for example, that Sunset Magazine has some far-removed fancy layouts (I'm not going to post a lot of links, but is a Google Image search on the gardens.

I am putting in a raised bed, built in this style, and intended to include a compost in the middle. I have a big yard compost at the back of the back yard, but I would also like on in a spot like this that I can work and turn and simply scoop onto the garden when it has finished working. Probably in the spring, so the accumulation may mean I occasionally have to tote some of it to the back compost. Anyway, this is an experiment but I like the idea, and it will be in the place of a bottom terrace in the side garden.

Didn't wash those dishes, but I did remember to call Sears and schedule a repair on my fridge ice maker. I've had that on my list of things to do for a while. I need to do this while the fridge is under the extended warranty that I bought last November.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 May 10 - 01:06 AM

I haven't used my dishwasher in a while and I noticed a few days ago that the water in the bottom of it was looking kind of gnarly. So the dishwasher is running. The washer is also running, because as the school year winds down my son seems to have lost all but two of his uniform shirts, so I'm doing laundry frequently to keep up with the school's uniform code. I won't miss that.

New homework asignment has arisen: he must do a scrapbook. Since both of us think scrap booking is highly overrated and rather silly, this will be a struggle to complete. There's nothing in the house that will work, so I guess we'll head down to the craft store this weekend.

I sprayed the garden with BT this evening. It was dark, but that's okay. My gardening guru says BT breaks down fairly quickly in sunshine, so evening application is best. This will give it overnight to get any caterpillars that are contemplating chomping on my garden.

I set up the camera to download a bunch of photos into the computer. I usually use Windows Explorer and choose the ones I want and put them where I want. I have no idea what this is doing now, except I THINK it is putting them in a folder according the the metadata, arranged by date they were taken. So what's downloading is repeat stuff, a lot of it. I'm still trying to figure out if I actually really LIKE this camera--my other one was much easier and less fussy, but this one can sure do the closeups, when I get the settings right. I have to finish the graduation announcement and get it to the print shop tomorrow (I finally got my son to model the cap and gown yesterday. They sent him home with a cord that reflects his scholarship, so it was nice to have that round his neck also).

Catching up on my NetFlix movies tonight. I've had a couple here for at least two weeks. I may have them drop me back to 1 movie at a time, or just online viewing for a while. At least my son watches enough stuff downloaded from there that it is getting some use.

That's my report. Not much physical activity today, just a little weeding. I have been eating more fruits and veggies. The camera seems to be hanging at photo 82. Hmmm. I may have to cancel this download.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 21 May 10 - 03:51 AM

A major miracle has happened this year... I have finished 4 sewing projects - trouble is, only one of them was one I had hanging over from last year... They're all quilts, 2 big ones, 2 little ones. The last one (check the photos on facebook, for some reason they won't load here), the earthy colours one - the fabric was only purchased at Easter, so I've done remarkably well to have finished it so soon! Chest infections and colds have their uses.

Been feeling poorly again (see above) so haven't done anything towards accountability. Have decluttered some fabric into a sensible container and am presently working on the computer room, whilst binding a booklet for church and texting a friend who is going through a really, really rough time (anyone so inclined, a &^%* reducing candle or a mention in prayers for Alex would be greatly appreciated - can't say what the problem is but it's a biggie and could have major league knock-on effects for a lot of people), deleting some of the 165 emails in my in-box and trying to find out why the printer makes a noise like a chainsaw. I bet it's a paper clip somewhere, or a tiny bit of plastic, but it's a pain in the arse and makes the printer go screwy.

Ah well, must away and do something constructive... or at least something on my list of things to do today!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 21 May 10 - 03:56 AM

Oh and "Don't put it down, put it away" - this has to be our new house motto... if only I could persuade the child to do so, life might be less crunchy underfoot.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: mouldy
Date: 21 May 10 - 05:04 AM

I hope you feel better soon, Liz. Well done on all the sewing! I have lost count of all the projects I have abandoned over the years: I think I am too impatient.

Kat, your young man has a real "old" head on his shoulders. He's a treasure! You are so lucky! The tasks don't seem so when somebody makes them fun.

You are all impressing me with your activity! I haven't done that much over the last week, although I did eventually finish the salt dough figure that had been causing the box of paints to hang around on the table for absolutely AGES....but now the hall is being decorated, all the coats etc are piled up on it now. Peter got a lot of painting done yesterday while I was off meeting family in Whitby for the day (life's hard, ain't it?). However he's not coming today, so things are still where they have been put and the study is resuming its previous dumping ground status. When he's finished, and I can get at the loft access a bit more easily, I can get some more stuff away.

One achievement this week has been to get the printer to work wirelessly again, and so it has been moved to where I wanted it. In the next couple of weeks I am going to have to start doing boot fairs. I have too much stuff to cope with on my own, so I may have to do two smaller lots. In past years I have done them with my friend (who has moved 250 miles away) or my daughter (whose husband works weekends, and is therefore Freya-laden).

My sister in law firmly told me to lay off the heavy gardening yesterday, when she found out about my wedged vertebra. Well that ain't going to happen, as there's never an able body available when I want anything doing! Between us we're a right pair - she suffers from vertigo, and my shoulders and back are not what they used to be!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 21 May 10 - 06:34 AM

I haven't abandoned the projects, it's just that something new came along and distracted me... they're all there, waiting to be worked on. I have a bag of big cross stitch pieces that occasionaly comes out and I put in a few stitches here and there.. it gets to a certain point and I think 'a few solid day's work and this will be finished' and then it happens. So it takes me an average of 6 years to do one A4 sized picture - slow but sure gets there in the end!

That's why it's such a miracle these quilts got finished... the major reason is that they're for other people and there's a deadline (before the children grow out of their beds!) so that helps... but to have finished in less than a month, a quilt for myself, is nothing short of incredible!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 21 May 10 - 08:14 AM

Lizzie,
When my sister-in-law told me she was pregnant and the baby was a girl, I started an afghan for her. It was an elaborate 3-D rose pattern . Each row was a different stitch including some popcorns. It took forever to complete a square and the color grew monotonous. Molly got her afghan for her 16th birthday. Sixteen years to complete a single project. Must be a record.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: gnu
Date: 21 May 10 - 08:24 AM

Great vid SRS. Thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 May 10 - 10:41 AM

The van has indeed been emptied sufficiently to escape to H'burg for a 36-hour fling with Hardi!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 21 May 10 - 12:56 PM

There's a half knitted blanket somewhere in the house, that I started when my first cat was expecting kittens, for her to line her nest with... That cat has been dead and dust for 16 years... blankie still not finished.

Then there's the little green dress I started to make for Limpit who reached her 14th birthday 2 months ago and is a sturdy size 12... rather than the 12months that the dress is... Just got the buttons to sew on...

LTS

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 May 10 - 12:57 PM

We need to do some scrapbook work next week, and I've never done that. That said, I'm sure a big aspect of it is space to work, so I'm going to finish filing the university application stuff, and put the items that I was organizing back onto the shelves, so we have that large dining room table ready to stage the book. It will happen next week.

Good work, both Liz and Eiseley, on those projects you've finished. Eiseley rescued one and finished putting it together. Afghan rescue without leaving the country. :)

SRS