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

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Donuel
Date: 19 Nov 25 - 04:46 PM

I'm mowing the leaves and not blowing them into piles

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Nov 25 - 10:57 PM

Charmion, if you set a good example maybe they'll get the idea to participate in taking in their bins promptly? Congratulations on the handy handyman to finish a few things. Here, I need to find a carpenter and a painter for the next phase of work on the house. Take care of that cough.   

I heard about Canadian travel today from my daughter, she's planning for a conference in Montreal. And how to set your phone (use the password, turn off biometrics) so the TSA or whoever can't force you to open it.

The evening has been one for listening to Burns' PBS The American Revolution while puttering in the kitchen to declutter the fridge (there is a TV on the wall). Diced ham to freeze, pulled meat from a chicken carcass for soup, boiled some of the smaller sweet potatoes to cut up and add to a few other veggies for the dogs' meals.

It's too soon here for leaf mulching, most of the leaves are still in the trees, but a couple of days of wind and rain are expected to start overnight and will probably knock down most of the leaves.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Nov 25 - 09:50 AM

Tomatoes simmering after being blanched and peeled; these will probably be just plain sauce in the freezer.

Lovely heavy thunderstorm last night strew baldcypress leaves all over my new roof. I think by the weekend I'll have leaves to mulch since we have more wind and rain today (and assuming a flash flood doesn't actually materialize and wash them away.)

The donation bin in the laundry room is filling up so I'll load the contents into the SUV and drop them off at Goodwill, on a run that will also feature dropping off recycling.

I called the village today and left a message for code enforcement about a very large very dead oak that is going to drop a limb and kill someone or mangle a car one of these days. It is in the next block up the hill on my street and has bugged me for years, and as it continues to stand there it becomes more dangerous by the day. The people who own the house know its a problem but haven't acted. At this point, they shouldn't be given the choice to ignore it. I literally move to the other side of the street when I pass with the dogs, or when I'm driving by. I've removed dangerous trees in my yard even when they wouldn't hit someone in the street. Let's hope code enforcement doesn't decide my trees are too close to the road (20 years ago I planted good quality species that are long-lived and durable and not a problem. I think they're grandfathered in by now).

eBay for me this morning then PT for the ex this rainy afternoon, after some shopping. I let my fingers do the walking through a lot of sites and research before I found the extra soft toothbrush heads I want from Costco. I have a new electric toothbrush and the first test with the "medium" brush is like taking a chisel to the teeth - no way that's gonna help with anything.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 20 Nov 25 - 11:29 AM

My big rugs are back from the cleaners! Now the house finally looks like a proper middle-class home ready for winter.

My back yard is very small, and overgrown with shrubs that look weedy and tired even in high summer. There’s also a large silver maple with boughs hanging low enough to block access to anyone brave enough to walk around the house. Struggling in the shadow of the maple, a poor little ash tree clings to life against the back fence.

The deck behind the house is a wreck and the fence on the west side of the house stays vertical only out of habit, so I foresee lots of change in Spring. Marc the contractor builds decks — that’s his favourite kind of project — but I have yet to find a “tree guy”. I must also check with City Hall about the poor little ash tree, because it’s growing on an easement, and about the west side fence, which does not run all the way to the back (south side) lot line but stops at the end of the ramshackle deck. Am I allowed to extend the fence across the easement? I would like the neighbours’ children’s toys to stay on their property.

The cough was less insistent last night, possibly because I dosed myself with Neo-Citran, a vile-tasting potion that promises to reduce congestion. (It has an antihistamine in it.) Now willing to try anything short of eye of newt to get a decent night’s sleep, I will also check the active ingredients in Ny-Quil when I’m out shopping today. I have bronchitis, of course, but I’m pretty sure there’s no active bacterial infection down there — it’s just asthmatic crud — so a doctor can’t prescribe anything (especially antibiotics) that will do any better than the stuff I’m using now. I would like to ditch the Neo-Citran, however, because it’s loaded with acetominophen that I don’t need and is hard on the liver.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 20 Nov 25 - 09:19 PM

dupont:

That narcolepsy alarm sounds great to me. It might fly. In the last years there have been myriad "tickets" - mostly stop signs but various others. Is there some rule that people who are highly intelligent also have a tendency to be dense/ forgetful/stubborn... After numerous efforts over the years re his phone, it is now connected to a couple cords and firmly attached to shirt pocket... He did, however get caught using it recently; the fine was sufficient!!! Just Maybe, an alarm could prevent a more serious problem. I, of course, never heard of such a thing!

I have been spending far too much time on the political side of things, and forgetting to check on friends... My family is too scattered and we fail to communicate adequately. I feel like an orphan a lot of the time - Sure I could call - if I knew the right time... Anyway, Son Troy phoned a couple days ago to tell me my GD's third baby had gone into some kind of distress and was removed about a month prematurely and was in ICU .... no word after 3 days. He said he would let me know??? Anyway, this re-assuring mother told him that he was three weeks early and 6 pounds More concerned for GD! I Called Troy once already and he assures me he will let me know... Ally is in NYC and Troy on Whidbey! but his ex is on deck with her daughter! (She is pretty solid)

What with tha, politics and other things, I became kind of down and decided I needed yellow flowers. Not been a flower buyer generally, I checked grocery stores first. At the last hope, I looked on phone for hope. Ah, a garden shop in Valleyfield the place about 30 minutes away where I "always get lost" Lo and behold, the GPS and I did not communicate and I wandered unknown territory until a washroom was critical. Parked and went in a sort of automotive shop - saw the washroom!, went in, without ceremony, did what was necessary. When I came out a very nice young man who spoke English, helped me refind the place on my phone. Eventually ... A large building with lots of schlock and -- well, everyone wants red for Christmas???? Took my miserable self home! Once again I had seen more of Valleyfield...

today, I stayed in bed until - I NEED YELLOW FLOWERS!!! Ate BF and opened computer, considering the state of the world and the construction in Chateauguay.... Considered going to the city (Atwater Market would surely...! ... Too late now! Bridge traffic! Asked phone for a garden or flower place near by - Actually - a florist shop, very lovely with a real address five minutes away. Paid a fortune for a few yellow cut flowers and came home in better shape. The woman who helped me was very kind. I need kindness, I need to know how the baby is doing, and how the world is doing. But I can sit in my comfy chair and look at bright yellow - Gerbera, Lillies - just opening!!! and ???.


With flowers in car, I thought to stop by a market that has those packets of Asian food. As I arrived they were cleaning the the shelves - closing! So I bought all the packets they had and came home - flowers and food! - for the spirit and the body!

My eyes are getting tired! But I have yellow flowers!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Nov 25 - 11:29 PM

Flowers can make a huge difference in how you feel, that's a great self-care move, Dorothy. And the food. Phones have "do not disturb" settings, and apps that will go into that mode when they detect movement over a certain speed, or when they connect with Bluetooth in the car if it has it, etc. Has R explored that?

Over the past few weeks there have been lots of appointments, and days when it was easiest just to tell myself "one day at a time" and not worry about how busy the rest of the week looks. And to really appreciate days when I don't have to go anywhere, like tomorrow.

This afternoon I stopped on the way home from the PT appointment and picked up the veggies and a few other things for our Thanksgiving dinner, that we're going to do on Sunday the 30th (we rarely manage to land on an actual holiday date for our gatherings.) With a predicted break in the weather and a warm day tomorrow I may go out and put up some holiday lights. Better up early and not turned on yet than putting them up in cold yucky weather. (Lights can have the same cheering effect as flowers. And Dorothy, the flowers that just make my day are the light purple mums with a bright yellow center.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Nov 25 - 04:44 PM

I made myself a list for preparation for next week's holiday dinner, so today started with the biggest, messiest but most satisfying item: both dogs got baths. They cooperate but are never in love with the routine, though they like the towel drying and all of the praise and treats handed out after, followed by after-the-bath zoomies around the house and yard. Gobs of hair off of Pepper, and mostly just dirt washing down the drain off of Cookie with her short coat.

This leads directly to another item on the list, cleaning the bathrooms. Since two dogs did the classic nose-to-tail shake the hall bathroom is steamy and everything is ready to be wiped down, scrub the tub and wash the floor, etc.

Also on the list are to put up holiday lights, clear the dining table by moving the photo cube to the front room, dust and mop. I also have to clean a lot of woodwork and the surface of the fridge, spots that are always invisible until guests walk into the room.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Nov 25 - 08:58 AM

This morning I looked for the latest recipe thread but don't seem to have traced it and am not finding it in the last 365 days. I did find the stew thread, and remarked about today's soup, but will share this here:

I made an experimental bowl of pumpkin pie filling but baked it in a casserole, no crust. I started with the recipe that uses three eggs (good for protein) and next time I make it I'll use two. I cut the sugar down to 1/4 cup (from 3/4) and used stevia for the rest. Next time I'll try all stevia, and simply add more pumpkin to make up the volume that the sugar would have taken (usually you can use applesauce but other suggestions were pumpkin, so might as well!) It has an aftertaste if you eat it warm, but when chilled it tastes like normal pumpkin pie filling.

The next bout of rain is delayed (was supposed to be today) so I'll put up some of the holiday lights that I got out of the office closet yesterday. And that will give me a slot of open space in the closet to use for rearranging and dusting everything else in there.

Tire rotation appointment late this afternoon, not so urgent as putting snow tires on for Charmion and Dorothy (Keb, do you use snow tires?) but it means they'll check them for condition (nothing like having a nail in the tire that results in a slow leak - since the roof was put on I'll have to be careful about nails) and properly inflated.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: pattyClink
Date: 22 Nov 25 - 11:55 AM

Yes, that pumpkin-no-crust is a great thing to keep in the fridge, especially served with a squirt of whipped cream. And I'll argue the nutrition-per-gram-of-sugar is pretty high even if you kept the sugar. It's the cakes, cookies, and brownies that load on the sugar by the cupful.

Got one pot of soup done in my not-giant-pot, using a recipe not used in many years, and it all fit and worked well, just cut down a little bit on some of the meat and veg proportions. And got in supplies for more soups and stews.

Brilliant to do the dog-washing and bathrooms first, let's hope they can stay cleanish til the event!   I may try a similar plan today, washing some rocks on the porch and then moving on to window-washing before it gets any nippier. Haven't decided on lights, should I add some white or gold to go with the strings of green I used for St Pat's? Maybe I'll check ebay and etsy to see if there is a non-corporate-behemoth source for those.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Nov 25 - 03:35 PM

I've seen strings of holiday lights for sale at ACE hardware, a smaller friendlier corporation. Kohl's had some. There are probably even some at places like Aldi, where they have an aisle of seasonal stuff. Of course there is always the huge corporation Walmart, in a class with Home Depot for big businesses I avoid. Lowe's is slightly less obnoxious and they have lights also.

I seem to be coming late to the pumpkin pie without the crust trick. I posted on FB and several folks offered remarks about their versions of it.

Photos and packing things for eBay, these are the items that were sitting around the photo cube and will be set in the hall shelves waiting to be shipped (or if they languish, go on Freecycle or to Goodwill). This clearance is the stage prior to relocating the photo cube and putting leaves in the dining table. (I could stand to have better lighting over the table, but it only ever occurs to me when I'm getting ready to set it for family meals. I suppose I could reposition it in the middle of the room under the fan and light, but that might look odd.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Nov 25 - 10:57 AM

I'll note that Albertsons and Kroger have retained their DEI policies and good behavior in this environment, and they have a bit of seasonal decorating stuff in the stores right now.

Here in North Texas today and Tuesday look like the last of the warm fall days in the forecast, with a rainy patch tomorrow in between. I'll take out the string trimmer and tidy for the season and get the rest of the light stuff out and put them up by end of day Tuesday.

Also today I'll do more thinning and cleaning of e-waste from the office closet so I can take them with me to recycle when I am near the recycle bin at my old library during the week.

In years past I've made consumable gifts for my ex because he is notorious for buying himself things he needs and not making a list for us to choose from. My shopping list is underway for consumable holiday gift preparation to extend to other family members; I have a recipe for crispy pecans that I've worked on all year, and am ready to start making several batches to package and send. Winco sells pecan halves in bulk but the 2-pound bags at Costco are less expensive per pound. Today I'm working on my next batch of granola and am still experimenting, reducing the amount of peanuts and adding some pistachios. These are roasted and salted so I'll chop them and sprinkle them on at the after baking, like I do with raisins. I'll keep my eyes open for unsalted, and expect I'll have to pay the high price at Costco to get the ones I want.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Nov 25 - 09:43 PM

This afternoon I dug up the American Beautyberry shrub that was struggling in the spot where I'd planted it. I think I didn't water it enough in a yard with everything else xeriscape (low water needs). I've offered it on Freecycle, along with two Vitex seedlings because last spring someone asked if I had any more and I didn't, so I let these two grow in the pots where they were volunteers this year. I can't find those old messages but I noted in the offer of the shrub that I also have these two seedlings.

Today as I searched my phone for those texts I deleted a few old ones and somehow managed to delete every message in the phone. Every. Single. One. And since I didn't have it set to keep deleted messages for 30 days, they were gone. I finally thought to look at the Samsung app for what backups were there and I found the messages in the cloud and restored them. There is so much in there I really hate to loose.

A flurry of listings today has several more eBay boxes stacked on that hall shelf ready to ship. This evening I'll wash woodwork around the bathrooms and kitchen, then mop the bathroom floors.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Nov 25 - 11:41 AM

Bathrooms are coming along, and after washing woodwork I've decided I'll paint the little bit of white trim in the master bath. It really needs attention and there isn't much of it. Now where did I stash that satin enamel?

Also in the bathroom are very soft toothbrush heads that arrived yesterday for the new electric toothbrush. Much better; I can stand to use it. The "medium" head that came with it was terrible.

One of yesterday's eBay listings is on the porch ready to be picked up by the mail carrier. When researching this vintage Rubbermaid canister sale, other listings sold at $15 each, but only one at a time. I listed three for $45 and it seems these are in demand. There is always the question "why do they want these? Should I be holding onto them?" that runs through my head, and then I have to offer myself a virtual dope-slap and move on. My kids won't want them and I'm not using all of them (stuff from my father's house, so definitely vintage). They were holding random things in the pantry and I moved stuff to little baskets and freed them up.

Today someone has attempted to hijack my FB account; they tried in the wee hours and then again about an hour ago, when I got multiple emails giving the code that would allow the password change. I added another layer of protection to my account on general principles.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 25 Nov 25 - 10:07 AM

It’s almost the end of November, and I’m coming to terms with the fact that this latest bout of bronchitis has devoured three weeks of my life. I feel a bit better today, but better than what? I have yet to erupt into a coughing fit this morning, but then I haven’t done anything more energetic than rolling out of bed.

Over the last few days, I’ve been wrestling with the provincial authority responsible for helping people find a family doctor willing to take new patients. I’m sure the women (yes, all are women) I’ve been talking to are sensible, competent people in real life, but their employers have set them up for failure. Instead of talking naturally, they read from a script full of bafflegab about confidentiality of information, repeatedly asking for consent to processes that the citizen requesting service has implicitly consented to already by placing the initial call. They are apparently not allowed to abridge the script, cut to the chase, or say anything in their own words.

It’s obviously an arse-covering effort to manage the problem of demanding sensitive information from people without going to the trouble of building trust first. Of course, I react badly; I simply don’t believe the woman mouthing the words of the script understands what she’s saying (because she’s not allowed to rephrase in simpler terms), or that the Ministry of Health actually can guarantee confidentiality. I know the civil servants will try, but I also know that a data breach tomorrow could undo all the performative box-checking.

Bottom line: I need to find a family doctor, and I understand that I will be required to jump through hoops and pronounce ritual phrases before the creaking machinery will be put in motion.

At the end of this frustrating exchange, the woman goes into her peroration: “Please be advised that the Health Care Connect process can take anywhere from a month to a year to complete successfully. Therefore, you are encouraged to work on your own, calling doctors’ offices to request … “ Et cetera and et cetera. In other words, their much-vaunted referral system is woefully ineffective and they know it.

Way to work with the public. Not.

It’s after ten o’clock and I have to go to the drug store. Again.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: keberoxu
Date: 25 Nov 25 - 10:40 AM

So sorry for your bronchial ordeal, Charmion.
And the finding a doctor ordeal as well.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Nov 25 - 03:08 PM

Charmion, you had a lot of work done at the new house, so maybe adhesive off-gassing? Have you thought about air filters and are there air ducts that can be cleaned?

Dorothy, are you doing the US thanksgiving this year? What are you planning to prepare, or will you have things delivered? How is your kitchen holding up these days?

Everyone else, how is the week looking? For those who have an emotional tie to the fourth Thursday in November, are you getting together with friends or doing something on your own? Or delaying the event?

More bins sorted and dusted today and the bag headed to e-waste is filling. Old headphones, routers, modems, mouse pointers, etc. Few of these are even worth looking at eBay for comparable sales, they need to go to China to be broken apart and the wire and plastic reused for something else.

No responses so far to the offer of plants. This is the best time of year to do the planting, but perhaps the upcoming holiday is a distraction. I have more things to list on the free sites soon as I take them off of eBay for lack of interest.

The next batch of granola was finished last night, and it seems to be quite forgiving as far as running out of stuff and not wanting to run to the store late for one or two items. I'll be making my crispy pecan recipe as gifts this year but will wait until after Thursday to go to Costco for the pecans; I'm not making them right now so there is no need to thread that needle of crowded parking lot, crowded aisles, and long checkout lines. I also have no interest in Black Friday or all of the other named days coming up. Next week will be soon enough.

Cat sitting starts tomorrow, ends the day before my family event. I'm pretty flexible, but was clear that this is not the trip to let go longer than originally planned.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: pattyClink
Date: 26 Nov 25 - 05:09 PM

Taking a little break from the baking today. The pecan/apple pie is safely in a slow oven and I hope cooking it at 300 as per the old recipe will allow me to skip the pie collar routine, I'll check it past the halfway mark.

Then it's on to the roll-making, hoping I have not lost my touch!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: pattyClink
Date: 26 Nov 25 - 07:55 PM

The pie looks great and 300 was definitely the right temp. Last pan of rolls is in the oven. After its butter-bath, I'll relax with some dinner while everything gets cool enough to wrap up.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 26 Nov 25 - 08:31 PM

Stilly, I don’t have to look for any chemical sources for my frequent bouts of bronchitis. This condition has hit me so often over more than 50 years, and in such widely varied circumstances, that the cause just has to be something both natural and ubiquitous — the common cold virus.

It’s improving slowly; I just have wait it out.

I’ve given up all hope of singing in the community choir’s two holiday concerts, scheduled for the 7th and 9th of December, but I’ll be okay for the church choir — the congregation won’t mind if I duck into the sacristy to cough. Concerts are different; the audience has bought their tickets and the other performers deserve to not have their efforts ruined by my rebellious respiratory system.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Nov 25 - 09:52 AM

patty, where are the pie and rolls going to be eaten? Will you have Thanksgiving with friends? Today is Thursday and is a shadow of the holiday for us, businesses closed and a parade on TV but we'll do the prep on Saturday for Sunday's meal. I still make the dinner rolls even though I no longer eat wheat so I send the leftovers home with people (this recipe is very good, I don't have to offer twice!)

Out before dawn this morning to do the first cat feeding, and looking at houses in the neighborhoods I drove through to see if lights were on yet (nope). As a child I remember Mom being up before dawn to start all of the preparations for Thanksgiving, and we didn't eat at midday like a lot of folks do, we usually ate an early dinner, around 3pm, and that's my routine also.

This morning I switched both heat pumps over to the Heat side from Cool; they haven't run at all lately with the mild fall temperatures, but mornings are now chilly.

I've programmed the social media for the site I work for to give me a couple of quiet days, so some sewing is in order today. I've been meaning to make some new Pride face masks for a friend who also still wears the 3D masks in public places. He'll be here for our Thanksgiving.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: pattyClink
Date: 27 Nov 25 - 10:34 AM

The Legion post has a big gathering on Thanksgiving, it's great for couples and solos to have a big feast without making everything at home, and is handy for veterans who aren't up to cooking at all.

I remember mom-in-law getting up at 3 to put a bird in the oven, and otherwise knocking herself out for 3 days to put on a major feast alone. We would try to take some of the load, but she really preferred being the martyr. There is something deeply silly about having a big dinner before noon that someone has to work in the dark to prepare.

Well the flour has settled, and now it's time to give appreciation for what we may have. Health, friends, music, nature, what-have-you.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Nov 25 - 12:10 AM

More things were listed on eBay, and some of the old ones I'm tired of looking at, but now would be a foolish time to remove them because someone might be shopping for some of these nice glasses or collectible items as gifts. I need to keep going right now so gift type items can be shopped for with plenty of time for delivery. (I listed a cookie press today and when I looked at the recent sales a whole bunch of them were purchased today - people are clearly thinking about making the xmas cookies right now.)

This afternoon was nice so I unwrapped the string of lights from the juniper I decorated earlier in the week and set aside two of the four connected strings that had only half of the bulbs lighting. I put up a new set of two and added the two old working sets and the shrub is now a cheerful beacon at the front of the yard. I'll put up more in the next couple of days and enjoy them myself as well as cheer up the neighbors across the street.

This evening I've tried to sort out what is truly the stupidist "smart tv" that was ever produced. I've done Factory Reset - again - on the bedroom TV to try to get it to simply show broadcast television channels and set the aspect ratio properly. It keeps asking for permission to save information about what I view and where I click. No thanks. I think this device is history and I'll find a dumb TV to use with the Roku so I can use my exercise app, watch Netflix or Sling, or broadcast TV. It's like Vizio saved up all of the stupid things they could think of and put them in this one device. The rest of them work perfectly.

Cleaning and cooking tomorrow. That is all.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 28 Nov 25 - 11:20 AM

I went to church choir practice last night. The cough still erupts at the worst possible moments, but I can sing through almost my entire range if I take it gently. The Christmas music is accumulating in our official black choir folders, so the conductor was glad to see me back despite my convalescent state.

Today, I must shop. Ordinary groceries, for sure — I just ate the last avocado — but also the ingredients required for a small production run of fruitcake. The first Sunday of Advent is coming at us like the noon freight! Therefore, currants. Also raisins galore (two kinds), glacé cherries, chopped citron, chopped blanched almonds, and fresh oranges and lemons.

After more than a year and a half of keto and low-carb eating, I am quite out of the baking habit, and I parted with most of the required gear before the move. So I’ll buy just enough fruit, flour, sugar etc. to make three fruitcakes, one for each of The Brothers and one for me. I still have a 7-inch cheesecake pan that will do just fine for a fruitcake, and its loose bottom will make turn-out far easier than it ever was with loaf pans.

It’s cold and grey today, with a scrim of snow over roofs, vehicles and lawns. Most unappealing. I shall take a wallow-in bath to warm my bones.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Nov 25 - 02:44 PM

You've put your finger on the baking for the holidays problem I'm facing also. I have one small cookie recipe that I'm going to try to make with non-gluten flour and cut the sugar way back, adding stevia and figuring out what to add for the bulk that needs to replace the lost sugar but lets the cookie be crisp. Instead of other sweets I'm going savory and making several batches of the crispy pecans I've been experimenting with all year. A batch is in the oven now at the lowest possible setting (170^o) and will be turned every hour for four hours. It's quick enough to mix the flavoring ingredients (melted butter with a variety of dry spices) and turn the nuts in the skillet. With these the cook has to commit to the time for the turning or the nuts will scorch on the bottom.

I'm debating about pumpkin or banana bread. Non-gluten flour and adding applesauce to replace sugar will probably work. It may need some of the binder additives. But since those are usually gifts, I could use regular flour and make normal recipes and give them away. I gave away a lot of the little loaf pans so they'll have to bake in a big one and be offered as packs of slices from a loaf. They'll still taste good.

For our Sunday Thanksgiving I'm going to assemble a casserole of eggplant Parmesan ahead and bake it the day of. This gives the vegetarians in attendance something other than just eating side dishes around the the meal of turkey and lamb.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Nov 25 - 11:27 PM

A smaller "personal sized" eggplant was picked today to leave for the friend whose cats I'm taking care of until tomorrow, and larger eggplants are harvested to use in that holiday dish I'll make ahead of time. We have a thunderstorm overhead right now so those plants are happy and watered and the season will continue until the next hard freeze (there's a possibility of a freeze Sunday and Monday mornings, but I can put a frost blanket over the top to keep them alive and producing for another 10 days or more).

Today's batch of pecans are the best I've made so far; adding cumin to the spice mix made a big difference. Now to see if I can repeat that recipe several more times (I wrote it down as I worked).

One of two vintage cookie presses I've listed on eBay sold today. The box will await the mail carrier on the porch tomorrow.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Nov 25 - 01:27 AM

Winding down after a busy evening. The pumpkin pie is finished, the sweet potatoes have been boiled for making mashed tomorrow, and I assembled a pan of eggplant parmesan. In the morning I'll cut up the lamb, and I'm not fussing with the turkey breast, no brine this year, it's going into the convection oven and we'll see how it turns out.

The dining table is getting it's annual dusting and both leaves put in since we will have eight people at the table tomorrow. The four non-family folks are all retirees from the university library and most of them haven't seen each other in a while. Lots of catching up to do.

The dishwasher is running and I'm headed to bed.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 30 Nov 25 - 09:57 PM

It’s snowing in Ottawa. That is all.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Dec 25 - 12:16 AM

The dishwasher is running and many large pots, plates, and bowls were hand-washed and put away. The counters are clear and the stock from the turkey breast is refrigerated. Bones and other greasy by-products of cooking are in the trash. Tomorrow morning the bag will go down to the curb, but not before, because untended overnight it is liable to attract raccoons, coyotes, or wandering dogs.

The lamb was nice and the turkey breast was excellent when, with no prior prep or brining, was plopped into the convection oven and baked for two hours. The labor-intensive side dish of eggplant parm had a very special mozzarella cheese in it. Bel Gioioso is a brand from Wisconsin that comes closest to making mozzarella like the Italian makers, and I had two tubs of their Burrata to use. Each tub has two tennis ball-sized mozzarella balls. The label says "Fresh mozzarella cheese filled with shreds of mozzarella soaked in cream." The parm was very good.

After a year of low-carb and no sugar eating I find that the "regular" dessert full-octane recipes are too sweet. The neighbors across the street are not on a low-sugar diet so tomorrow I'll deliver a couple of dishes of the leftover desserts. He came over to say hello and catch up while I was digging up the sweet potatoes recently and I've been meaning to take them some mashed sweet potatoes, and I'll still do that, but later.

Charmion, enjoy your snowy evening!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Dec 25 - 10:34 AM

This morning is cold enough that if there were precipitation it would be an uncomfortable rain. Rain at 35 degrees feels so much worse than snow at 30 degrees.

After a colossal amount of work the meal remains that didn't head out the door in recycled restaurant carryout containers are neat in the fridge. Two bowls destined for across the street are ready. And the house is looking better than usual, a parting gift of the holiday to the host of such an event.

Lots of good stories yesterday, only one little dust-up (former co-workers who know each other too well) that blew over after a walk in the yard. A couple of trips out just to look at the yard; twice people came in and told me "you have a huge eggplant out there" with hands gesturing the size of a football. Another trip out to look at the array of fossils on a low stone wall, carried up from the creek bed over the years.

And the final sweet moment of the evening was spotting Pepper beside the open dishwasher quietly licking pan drippings off the steel kitchen tongs in the silverware rack.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: pattyClink
Date: 01 Dec 25 - 10:38 AM

Cool but good weather afternoons dictated that it was time for window-washing. Got the outside part done with hose, windshield scrubber and Prell.   Then moved indoors for a round of wiping down blinds and windexing the interiors. Now I can see where smudges remain outdoors, and windex them before putting the clean screens back up.

Which led to cleaning atop the fridge, cleaning the minisplit filter up there, and discovering it literally has mud in its interior. It's not a one-person or quick job to do an internal clean, so that will have to wait.

Now there'll be a little dithering about what's next, Things That Need Doing seem to be looming in all directions.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Dec 25 - 07:29 PM

patty, some of those small chores can trigger huge projects. Pace yourself!

I'm glad I connected with the across-the-street neighbors with those Thanksgiving desserts. They've had a rough couple of weeks with a water leak and the sewer line needing repair. A sweet respite of desserts delivered when they're feeling down from all of the upcoming work - on their dime - before the insurance company will pay to restore the house. Oy.

This afternoon I decluttered past work baggage. Rather than fuss with the burning barrel (usable now that we've had good rains) I shredded pages from two binders that kept track of hours on various tasks. I don't need those breadcrumbs to my past.

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

A hard freeze overnight put paid to the garden so I harvested the last of the eggplants and bell peppers this morning. I could have used freeze cloth and kept them going a while longer, but after a while you're tired of it and the plants aren't going to grow very fast right now. The next things to be planted in a month or two will be potatoes, and I might put in onion sets sometime soon. We're now in that time of bright cold weather, when it looks like working outside would be nice but the chill and a bit of a breeze make it uncomfortable.

I've been in the front room pulling out items I haven't looked at in ages to list on eBay. This first week or so of December are the best days to do this; there will be last minute shoppers as the month progresses, and I'll offer expedited shipping if they request. If I was really business-like I'd have had all of this ready to go in October.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Dec 25 - 11:42 AM

Another two-pound bag of pecan halves was coated with spices and butter in a skillet and is now baking in a slow oven for the next four hours. Several eggplants harvested after the freeze will go into the convection oven and be made into babaghanouj, and I need to start thinking about baking gift breads (nothing so involved as Charmion's fruitcake.)

Are you feeling better now, Charmion? Have the cough and other symptoms subsided?

One of the guests at our Nov. 30 Thanksgiving has informed me that she tests positive for COVID, though she thinks she was exposed the next day at a mammogram where she was close to the tech. But I've let everyone who was here know so they can mask up for a while and have the tests ready for just in case.

When the museum where my daughter works swapped the out Spathiphyllum for seasonal poinsettias she grabbed one for me. I've started with it on a bench near the back door but it is big and might need its own stand. I think I still have a stand around here somewhere.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 04 Dec 25 - 05:00 PM

Better, thanks, Stilly. The cough is retreating slowly but surely, and should be reduced to “not sick” state by next week. (For the record, the cough never goes away completely. When I catch a cold, it goes into its Mr Hyde phase — loud, convulsive, uncontrollable, and likely to produce quantities of green crud. In its Dr Jekyll phase, when I’m not sick, it’s a persistent dry scratch.)

Two large fruitcakes are baked and ready for their last dose of whisky before delivery to The Brothers. A third is under way, its fruit component macerating in whisky and the juice of an orange and a lemon. I’ll keep that one; it’ll last me till Easter.

Proper winter weather is now in full swing, with temperatures well below freezing at the warmest time of day and a wind from the northwest that will take the ears off you if you’re not careful.

I now have a doctor — oops, “primary care physician” — and consequently feel far more relaxed about the whole asthma-in-winter situation with my access to the dope that keeps me breathing now secured. Next week I’m off to the asthma specialist for my annual pulmonary function test — wheee! Such fun!

Again, the Ontario health care system pulled off the miracle feat of meeting basic maintenance requirements just in the nick of time, i.e., when my prescription refills were almost exhausted. I got lucky with this move: only three months to get rostered with a general practitioner (aka family doctor). When Edmund and I moved to Stratford, we went two and a half years without a doc.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Dec 25 - 12:34 AM

As tempting as it might be to learn how to make fruitcake, it wouldn't last until Easter at my house. I'm better off without the temptation. I'm glad you're feeling better - it probably helps when you're baking, to be able to smell what you're working on.

This afternoon I wrestled two clay Römertopf Dutch ovens bound for eBay into the right boxes for the job, or rather, boxes inside boxes. I have one of these roasters that I use when I remember it's there; chicken baked in those comes out tender and falling off the bone. Anyway, the boxes are given to me by the friend I cat sit for, from big insulated parcels of frozen cat food. Little dents are being made in the front room stash.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 05 Dec 25 - 11:51 AM

Stilly, a Römertopf is not a Dutch oven. You can’t use it with direct heat — on the stove-top or in the coals of a fire — where a Dutch oven is fully functional and sometimes at its best. Because it’s made of terra cotta, a Römertopf (“Roman pot” in German) must go into an enclosed baking oven.

I’m intrigued by differences between Canadian, British and American terms for common household things. The appliance I call a stove is usually a “cooker” in Britain and a “range” in the States. If I know that the house does not have a furnace for central heating, I might call the heat-producing thing in the kitchen a “cookstove” because there may well be a space heater that the householder calls a stove, often qualified as a “wood stove”. Recently, I’ve noticed texts by Americans that use the word “oven” to indicate the thing I call a stove or a cookstove.

But a Dutch oven? It takes a lot of reading and cooking to figure that out (if knowing the “why” of things is as important to you as it is to me). It ain’t a Dutch oven unless you can make bread in it outdoors, in a firepit with a heap of coals on the lid.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Dec 25 - 01:37 PM

Point taken, I was looking through listings and it came up as "Dutch Oven" on a recent one and I made note to look and see if that was a term being used much out there, as an alternative (so in the text it would say "clay baker, terra cotta roaster, Dutch oven")*. I usually call it a clay baker. I don't know if it could cook over coals. In my kitchen, the Dutch Oven is the elongated cast iron or stainless steel lidded large pot, though I do have a tall-sided cast iron skillet with a lid that might be considered a Dutch Oven.

*A shopping tip on eBay: if you search for something with alternative names and misspellings you sometimes find gems that don't come up in a search because of the misnaming. Particularly common for folks who list items with no description, just a title.

You can make bread in the terra cotta pots, they can be versatile. The thing about them for a lot of baking is that the terra cotta baker is soaked in water before it is put into a cold oven, to avoid shock.

I've pulled out a used VHS player to list today to diversify the listings; lately there has been more kitchen stuff. Since the players are no longer manufactured and there are people wanting to digitize their old cassette recordings, there is a market for these.

The holiday lights have been going up outside but I haven't done any decorating in the house. I keep that part modest the last few years, mostly around the mantle. This year I have a new set of up lights on the mantle, LED instead of halogen so there isn't a chance of fire if any artificial materials in garland were to stray close to the lights.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Dec 25 - 09:32 PM

After laboring over eBay listings today one of them already sold, it's all in how you describe and package it.

There are still garden things to be finished, and today I roasted the last of the eggplants. I have jars of tomato sauce to turn into marinara and freeze soon.

The lights in the yard are progressing, with lights around the pine on one side today, and I'll wrap the redbud near the front path tomorrow.