BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 01:53 PM

That is really neat, SRS...what a treasure for him to have.

We just worked on the driveway again, for about an hour. My Rog did more than I, but we both picked up trash and bits and pieces from his work-related stuff and my sisters' leftovers. Then the light rain come promising more so we came inside, even though I LOVE the rain...the day is coolish, there's a slight breeze, the sky is dark and the rain is o soft it feels as though I am in the mountains.

I have to clear off my desk, today or I will get nothing done. IT is really distracting me. We are also going to muck out the kitchen, i.e. do dishes, clean off top of frig, scrub stove.

VTam...rest is good, esp. after the week you had.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 04:25 PM

I've made progress on one side of my desk today, and have set up the next batch of eBay stuff to list, based on that clean-up (unearthing a project).

V-Tam, I buy bananas when they're over-ripe and either make the banana bread right away or freeze them five at a time (that's the number I use in my recipe, though it calls for three) so they're ready for a quick batch.

I'm going to make some soup later, and need to pick up some veggies for it. I've rearranged my fridge, so I have room for a 10-pound bag of potatoes, though I think I'll make it 5-red and 5-Russet or Yukon gold. I re-listened to the Diane Rehm show from last week with Andrew Weil. Dr. Andrew Wiel discusses healthy lifestyles and what he'd like to see happen with true health care reform (teaching healthy eating and lifestyles).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 06:48 PM

Remember to peel the bananas before you freeze them!*bg* (We didn't one time. LOL)

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: maire-aine
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 11:10 PM

I got rid of a bunch of yard signs that have been taking up space in my garage. The cardboard I re-used, and the metal frames went to the recycling center. It seems like everybody puts up yard signs these days-- the landscaper & the painter, not to mention the political candidates.

My friend and I participated in the 150th anniversary of one of our local institutions, St. Patrick's Church in Detroit. We did the Communion hymn. It was kind of an honor to be asked to be part of it.

And (trying not to hurt myself, patting myself on the back) our trivia team won first place this afternoon at the pub quiz. And we found out that one of our team members is pregnant. Woo-hoo!

M

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 11:42 PM

Pregnancy is no trivial matter!

Kat, I mash the bananas and mold them into a plastic wrap lined Tupperware container. I end up with several of these frozen banana bricks in a gallon freezer bag or one of the big Rubbermaid plastic cannisters I have around here (my Dad had so much of this stuff that it filled a large moving box. I have a lifetime supply even after weeding out some.)

The soup is made, to go with lunches this week. Bread is made, and it'll be for breakfast tomorrow and then for sandwiches or French toast. I'm trying to plan ahead with more things so I can get dinner faster in the evening. The kitchen is clean, laundry is finished, and I'm taking tomorrow off to work on things around here that need work.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: maire-aine
Date: 21 Sep 09 - 09:04 AM

I'm having the water line, from the street into the house, replaced. The crew showed up at 9AM and started jack-hammering holes in the sidewalk and my basement. I saved some water into 2 big pots, just in case I need some. But they say I'll have the water back on by 6PM.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Penny S.
Date: 21 Sep 09 - 09:54 AM

I've been to the solicitors to sign the contracts, and have a completion date of October 5th. I'm going to have to live with the book boxes for a fortnight more. I'll have to move them around to get at the others behind and box them up.

There's a very odd thing about the books - there seem to be more than there were in the shelves.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Sep 09 - 11:57 AM

It's amazing how many books can be around the house, not on shelves, but in stacks. Then when you start organizing and putting them actually onto shelves, the discrepancy becomes apparent.

I bought a short stack of books and book-like material at Half Price Books yesterday. I should, to keep the clutter down, discard a similar amount of book-like stuff, but I don't have any in mind. So I guess the accretion is continuing. . .

Beautiful day, but slow metabolism-wise. Still working on those darned HRT meds.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 21 Sep 09 - 02:49 PM

I got up early did some ironing and last night's dishes after my shower. At work... WOOT! this is so great. I was up and down the stairs over and over again loading trolley with big mailing to libraries and pushing it from one end of building to the other. Did I mention this building is about length of football field.

I don't hurt very much either. Only the feet and they always hurt.

Going to do some more ironing tonight.

Nice tip about freezing bananas and even though we don't have very much space in our fridge freezer, quite tempted when bananas get too ripe for us to eat to freeze them and when I have enough make bread.

Hey! Think I will add that tip to the Love Food Hate Waste campaign. BTW. Last year, I won local LFHW competition with my recipe for recycling Christmas dinner into Boxing Day Pie. Lovely meal out at a very expensive restaurant. And I have been asked if I would agree to having my recipe added to the National Campaign website. Woohoo! Nearly famous.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: maire-aine
Date: 21 Sep 09 - 06:08 PM

I have water again, altho the pressure is still a bit low. Things were going along fine, they replaced the pipe into the house, and then a problem occurred. The pipe from the watermain to the sidewalk connection developed a leak. So the city water dept. had to come out and replace that pipe. Another hole, this time in the middle of the street. Of course, all the big yellow trucks and earth-movers entertained the n'hood children.

They'll patch the driveway tomorrow, but they suggest waiting until next spring to replace the concrete.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Sep 09 - 11:08 PM

Virginia, when I don't have enough bananas for a batch I mash what I have, put it in the freezer in my plastic-lined container and stick a note on top with the number in the box so far. You can accumulate them one at a time or any number, up to what you use for your batch. If you freeze fewer at a time then you can combine them for bread or use the lower number for other recipes (muffins, etc.) That sounds like a good idea, "Love Food Hate Waste." What is it?

I didn't get a day off today after all. I've worked extra time trying to get some things off of my desk in time for an early meeting tomorrow. Maybe later this week.

Mother Nature is killing us with kindness this year. It is raining again tonight (Flash flood watch overnight). My eggplants are a mess, they're just way too wet. My tomatoes aren't fruiting. Yech.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Tinker
Date: 21 Sep 09 - 11:48 PM

I actually made it into the first floor closet (former butler's pantry -- long since reformated) After 10 years here I haven't seen the floor for years. Three garbage bags are at the curb tonite and a large box of paper recycling is ready to go to the curb on Thursday. There's also a three and a half foot pile for the local learning center my days homeshooling my youngest.

Hopefully by the end of the week I'll get the rest of the stuff in there sorted.... but it feels good.

I need to get back in the yard, but all the rain this year did amazing things to the poison ivy crop and I've already spent one week on steroids and benedryl. I guess we may go for the large overgrown scary look this Halloween.....

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 22 Sep 09 - 03:11 PM

More ironing done this morning.

4 over ripe bananas mashed and frozen for next loaf baking day.

Old car now washed so clean inside and out.

Clutter in lounge cleared up except the NO GO area behind TheSilentOne's desk. Must be done first thing tomorrow, before the shelf/drawer unit arrives. Piece of furniture I ordered specifically for tidying the NO GO area.

Stilly - In the UK Love Food Hate Waste is part of the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle campaign.

There is website. Last year, the County council for which I work, had a contest for recipes in which you reduce food waste. I entered Boxing Day Pie which uses the leftovers from Christmas dinner. I won dinner out for 2. This year, the County Council contacted me to ask if I would be happy to let a nearby borough council have it for their LFHW cookbook and then later I was asked if it was okay to send it to the National LFHW. So I may be semi famous. Move over Nigella Lawson.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Sep 09 - 05:25 PM

After telling us about it, are you going to tell us how you made "Boxing Day Pie?"

I'm reading Andrew Weil's 8 Weeks to Optimum Health since I found it in the clearance rack at my local 1/2 price bookstore. It's only 3 years old, certainly current and at $2, a bargain. I've read and skimmed the first couple of chapters of testimonials and annecdotes, and taken a look at "the first week." It's simple enough, eat broccoli (we had some last night) and eat some wild salmon. He wants to displace the not as good foods with better ones. We already eat fairly healthy, but since I gained weight, partly due to a medication that I'm slowly stepping back from, I thought I'd see if I could also do a gradual improvement in my diet and health. I also have to teach my teenaged son something about good nutrition that he can take with him to college, and this is my last year that he'll for certain be under my roof consistently (he graduates this spring).

I mention it here because the task he assigns in the first week is to go through your pantry and cupboards and get rid of the foods with food colors, with more chemicals than "real" ingredients (aren't too many of either of those), to get rid of margarine and vegetable oils (except canola, and he suggests a specific type) and to switch to olive oil. I'm already there with most of the oils, but I did dump a pound of margarine from the freezer that was for baking. I'll stick with butter now (since it is twice the price of margarine, it means I'll think carefully before I start baking--this is a good thing--but it will also taste much better and not have transfats). He says get rid of the shortening, and right now I have one that is better than Crisco (some animal fat, and no transfats), but still shortening. I suppose substituting butter or oil for it is the skill to learn. I think Jane Brody (a foodie of the New York Times) had a formula of using 2/3 the amount of oil to replace shortening. He says get rid of all of the artificial sweeteners, though Splenda was coming on the market and he said "the jury is still out." I'm a Sweet 'n Low user going way back. Dropping that will be a challenge. I don't use sugar in my tea, but I do like it sweetened. I tried some honey this afternoon, and I suppose if I pay attention and buy local honey, that might help with my allergies.

So I'm decluttering my cupboards and fridge and diet. I tend to use whole wheat crackers, though I have a few of the "Ritz" knockoff variety. Those I think I'll just draw down and not replace because we only eat a few at a time. I can't afford to dump everything!

If I use more expensive oils and fats, it means I won't use it as often and I'll be more careful with it. He doesn't insist that you cut all meat and such, but hopes you'll eat more fish and vegetables. We'll see how this goes. I want to get to where I'm not tossing so many things that vanish in my fridge drawers (hence the reorganization earlier this month) and so that I'm planning a couple of days ahead at least to make meal time a little easier and earlier (again, discussed before).

Funny how when you start one project (changing my HRT) it spills over into other things. And it does suggest that maybe trying to merge the diet and declutter threads again for a while might not be a bad idea.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 07:30 AM

All ironing done. 2 loads of wash.

NO GO area cleared. Unit arrived a few minutes ago. Soon will start assembly.

BOXING DAY PIE

Ingredients
Leftover Quorn Roast or Turkey cut into cubes or thin strips
Parsnips & potatoes cut into small chunks
Leftover veg e.g. peas and carrots
Leftover gravy (vegetarian or turkey)
Leftover stuffing (meatless only)
Melted butter
Roast Chestnuts (optional)

1. Toss all the ingredients except the stuffing, butter and chestnuts
together in a baking dish. Make certain there is enough gravy to
make the sauce for the pie; this will help keep the underside of the
stuffing top moist.
2. Crumble the leftover stuffing over the top then drizzle the butter over the stuffing.
3. Bake at 180°C to 190°C until heated through and stuffing goes
crunchy and golden.
4. Serve with a few freshly roasted chestnuts and any leftover
cranberry or mint sauce.

The beauty of this dish is that you can prepare steps 1 & 2 when cleaning up on Christmas Day and it can be kept in the fridge for Boxing Day.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: maeve
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 09:34 AM

Your recipe sounds very good, VTam. Thank you for posting it here.

I've decluttered a song from the privacy of my notebook to the pages of Mudcat. That's a big deal to me.

m

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 10:42 AM

It's the first morning that really feels like fall. Not because we've had all of that rain, but because of that special combination of crisp cool temperature, the quality of light, the way the leaves are beginning to look on the trees, and because one of these days the cat will begin to curl up on my bed again. He doesn't sleep with people when it's warm out.

Looks like it's time to pull light blankets out of cupboards and give them an airing so the next time the bed linens are changed the blankets can be added to the bedding.

I'm working on an eBay shipment. I took it to the post office yesterday, but since it is an ordinary envelope I can't mail it with tracking, I'd have to do a more expensive delivery method. I'm going to have to put it in a padded envelope and ship it that way to get the cheap tracking and relatively inexpensive shipping cost. And having taken a look at Kat's holiday-oriented eBay listings, I need to see if I have any similar items to sell. I'm sure I do.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: maire-aine
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 12:58 PM

Caught up on the laundry today. While I was in the basement, I collected a lot of loose stuff and hung it on hooks on a pegboard. All of the posts about eating better got me planning to cook more from scratch. Last night I put some dried beans into water to soak, and they're baking now. (They've started smelling good, but they're not ready to eat yet.) Also made a bowl of mixed fruit with a lime-anise-mint sauce.

Minted Cantaloupe Medley

½ C sugar
¾ C water
2 T lime juice
1 t chopped fresh mint
½ t anise seed
dash of salt

5 C fresh cantaloupe, cut in chunks
4 C fresh peach or nectarine slices
2 C fresh blueberries

Combine sugar, water, lime juice, mint & anise seed in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil & let it boil for a minute, then turn down heat and let simmer for 10 minutes.

Place fruit in a bowl & strain syrup over fruit, to remove seeds. Cover & chill for 2 hours or more, or until ready to serve the same day. Makes 10 servings.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 01:20 PM

And a beautiful song it is, maeve!

I dumped a bunch of photos of stuff I've already sold or given away over the past year, while adding more of things I will list on ebay. Thanks, Maggie, for the motivation to get off my bum and get back to ebaying.:-)

When I came home from the eye doctor this morning, I saw a leaf stuff right next to the hinges of our storm door, out front. My eyes were dilated from the exam, so I couldn't see really clearly. As I reached up to see if the leaf was connected to a vine I hadn't seen before, I realised we have a A Katydid!

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 03:03 PM

I love Katydids. Miss those too. Not a lot of bugs here in England. Get the occasional daddy long legs (crane fly) and odd spider in the house. I saw more butterflies and moths this summer than ever before.

Ohh I want to see the song. Where is the song, maeve?


Unit built (what there was of it (2 drawer wraps and bottoms missing as well as the back to the unit). Email sent to the manufacturer.   

Having done to loads of wash and hung on line today, I now have more ironing to do. Not tonight, though. I am knackered.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 03:13 PM

THE SONG!

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Penny S.
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 03:45 PM

Took some books to Oxfam. Took some more out of a cupboard so I could put boxes in front of it and get at some of my music - theory books from a school system, so I could mug up on chords. No sign of them, and I can't remember seeing them in the decluttering. I don't want to have to buy them new. I can remember enough to get the major chords for each key, but I'm sunk on the minors.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 04:07 PM

Penny, if you google "minor chords for each key," there are a bunch of sites which come up...maybe you won't have to buy the books.:->

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Penny S.
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 04:55 PM

Thanks - I'll do that. The thing with the books is that they are work books, and explain why the chords are what they are in an easily learned way - I know I've forgotten, but I only used the major when I was using it before.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 07:03 PM

My dogs think katydids are delicious! The pit bull will chase off the catahoula if she gets to one first. In (translated) dog language, it looks like "Rawrrr! chomp chomp chomp   wagwagwagwagwagwagwag wiggle, sidle up, lick lick Sorry! I couldn't help myself!"

I swept out the old coastal hay in the dogs's kennel this afternoon and put in fresh hay. As I was fluffing and stuffing hay into the big plastic dog houses in there they were wiggling and crowding me, trying to push past to get into their houses. They just love it when I fill them with hay, but until now, it wouldn't have felt so good (too hot). Now they are in dog heaven, with nice days, cool nights, and soft and warm beds. I know a lot of dogs live in houses and sleep on furniture or dog beds, but these two aren't suffering. They have a cosy stall in the garage and they come and go at will, to run around or bark or pee or get a drink. Sleep in the sun when it's out. What more could they ask for?

I have a couple of things to take to the post office this evening. One is for eBay. . . and one isn't. . .

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 10:07 PM

I like that dog interpretation, SRS! Pretty funny. I wasn't letting anyone get near my katydid! She flew away when she got tired of my fussing around her with the camera and stuff. I was going to put her in a jar to show to Morgan at lunch time, but she'd had enough.

We are getting ready for some more major things. I am giving my daug. my grandma's trunk, so we will empty this weekend. Have to find a bedstead and/or a small bench to put at the foot of the bed to replace it, kind of. Also, ,oving my old computer out to the dining room so I can spend my evenings out there, near my Rog, entering books into my bookstore and doing ebay plus some mudcatting. I think it will work out better that way, separating my daytime writing and other work from those things which I would enjoy doing in the evening but don't do because I am tired of being in the office and I want to be nearer to Rog. We'll see how it goes.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Sep 09 - 02:02 PM

Kat, interesting you're talking about putting the computer in the dining room. I've been looking at the rooms as I'm using them and wondering if I want to move their functions. I am thinking about the space on the other side of the big kitchen counter, that has been used as a dining room. I'm tempted to turn it into more of a space where my son's computer and comfortable lamps and chairs could be, and putting the dining room stuff in the next room over, the den (it's like we have two living rooms here) on one end of the room. The two are connected, there is a step down into the den. But it might be a way to give the dining room table an easy way to be expanded if we have company, but putting it in the larger room where this is an easy task.

It's a thought.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: maeve
Date: 24 Sep 09 - 02:06 PM

VTam, thanks for asking about the song, and Kat, thanks for linking. It has sunk from sight already, so my head will remain it's usual size.

I re-potted two huge pots of clivia for some nice folks in an area retirement community. It took a while to unravel the roots and remove enough "pups" to allow the mature plants to remain comfortably in their slightly pot-bound preferred state. I've been told to keep the young plants. I'll drive the originals back home in a few minutes.

Continuing the battle of the uncluttered home, I attacked numerous piles of Things-Which-Get-in-Our-Way this morning.

m

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 24 Sep 09 - 04:11 PM

Maeve, the song was sweet, should revive the thread for Valentine's

I spent the day freezing in my seat and researching alternative funding for the applicants who have been rejected for the Essex Life Raft trust (pot of money dedicated to helping Essex attractions threatened with reductions in staff or hours of operation due to the economic downturn).

We don't just hand out rejection letters. we sign post these groups, organisations, etc to other sources. That is good.

I am brain tired though.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Sep 09 - 04:54 PM

This is some research I've been working on in conjunction with the 8-week health plan I'm working on. I wanted to see what they considered "inflammatory" foods, and he discusses it clearly here. I have come across the term "inflammation" in conjunction with diet several times, but never had a clear grasp of what they meant. I guess visualizing upset blood vessels isn't too far off!

I had a call from Moonglow this morning, she wasn't feeling good. I insisted she make an appointment at the campus health clinic, and they say that she is early into H1N1. Early enough that Tamiflu should do her a world of good, and they'll also follow the directions of her hematologist, with a precautionary antibiotic he recommends (she carries a letter with her with these instructions, ever since surgery to remove her spleen a couple of years ago).

Looks like I'll be on call to deliver chicken soup or health care services. Her boyfriend has been ill for a couple of days already, but keeping her distance and sleeping in the living room wasn't enough to avoid the bug. I'll get a flu shot at work tomorrow. Not the H1N1 shot, but at least the first flu shot.

MAG, I mailed a package to you yesterday.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: maire-aine
Date: 24 Sep 09 - 05:06 PM

I woke up this morning, with one side of my sinuses congested and the left side of my throat sore. I don't think it's the flu, tho. Just a garden-variety headcold. Am taking it easy today.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Sep 09 - 06:09 PM

Poor kid, the school clinic was ready to do the Rx antibiotic, but it is via IV and they couldn't get a vein. She must feel like a pin cushion. They're sending her to the ER to get the treatment.

I see a trip north in my immediate future.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Sep 09 - 10:25 PM

She's finally getting her IV and they say it will finish dripping in by about 10pm (taking ~ a hour). What a long day this has been! It's the kind of day when you want them at home so you can hover if needed, give them hot soup, run a bath if they think it would feel good, make a cup of tea, maybe settle them in the comfy chair in the living room with a quilt and let them fall asleep in front of the tv. . .

Those Mom instincts just don't go away, do they? :-)   

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Sep 09 - 11:08 AM

Okay, no more blow-by-blow accounts of the flu. Today is a spectacularly beautiful fall day, it's the day I wait for all summer, when it is comfortable yet crisp, clear, clean, and invigorating. The summer heat lethargy is broken at last.

I'm going to spend this evening going through the trunk in my office, seeing what can be listed on eBay. I need to finish the currency listings. There are a few of those now that are just old federal reserve bills, I've gotten rid of most of the silver certificates, etc.

Yesterday I took the dogs for a walk and wore some cotton work gloves that helped--I've been going through another cycle of dermatitis. Handling their leashes if they pull hurts, that's why the gloves. I also put on a good coating of lotion so the inside of the gloves would continue to keep some of that in contact with my skin. I think it was peeling tomatoes without gloves a few weeks ago that started this and I need to simply stay out of water, and soapy water in particular, to let this clear up. So much of my work this weekend will be with gloves of various sorts.

So I'm getting more exercise now that fabulous walking weather is here, and I'll be working on eBay stuff this weekend. What are the rest of you up to?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Sep 09 - 12:30 PM

Used to be I could find wonderful old cotton gloves at second hand stores. My sister and I used to coat our hands with Vicks Vaporub, the wear gloves to bed, to soften and relieve any chapping. Now, I can't stand to have anything on at night, unless the fingers are cut out. The cotton gloves available at drug stores are fairly shapeless and hard to keep on, imo. Are you getting plenty of water, SRS?

As noted, earlier, we will be moving one PC out of my office to the dining room so I can ebay, enter books, etc. in the evenings out near my Rog and away from my office where I spend most of my day. I hope it works out okay. It will be up to me. We will also be emptying my grandma's trunk in order to gift it to our daughter. I've had second thoughts, but only because it is handy storage and a guide for me when getting up at night; I don't like to turn on lights, so I feel my way along and am used to reaching out for it at the end of the bed. I will have to think of what else we can put there..maybe see if we can find a small bench or a bedstead with finials(?).:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 25 Sep 09 - 01:18 PM

I loved those old cotton gloves too. Wore my mom's until they fell dissolved. They were perfect when I had bouts of poison ivy and eczema on my hands.   

I think you can still get the good quality, well fitted ones for working with delicate documents and items in museums and archives. Conservation or researchers gloves.

I am practicing for the beer/birthday thingie http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=123188 this weekend.

So no work getting done.

Everybody keep well.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: maire-aine
Date: 25 Sep 09 - 02:22 PM

We are also having a beautiful autumn day. I'll probably go for a short walk later. My head feels like an over-inflated balloon but my throat feels a little better & temp is normal. I guess I'll live.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 02:18 PM

It's gorgeous here also. Had to rescue my damaged container of instant grits from the pit bull--I predict a stomach ache for that girl. I treated the ants and forgot the container on the porch. My bad.

Need to take allergy stuff and do some yard work. I've been in the house rescuing a friend who is locked out of his email (that is fixed) and his computer died. In New York City. Alas, it is something I need to go take a look at, but not an easy process. We'll think of a way to fix this. Long distance de-cluttering isn't easy.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 06:08 PM

Kewl pix, Maggie!

I am a bit disappointed today. We didn't get all of the stuff done that I'd envisioned, but we did get some. Rog moved my old computer but there is something wrong with it. It just keeps trying to boot, over and over. After several attempts to work around it in safe mode, etc. we gave up and hit F10 to do a whole system thing and it is taking forever. I don't know if it will work or not. Before we knew that, this morning, we had to go get a small flat monitor for it; then Rog took me to the new building the tv station is moving into. Our dog loved the approx. 15,000 square feet to run around in and I got to see the excesses of the idiots who spent a million to renovate. The manager spent over 50,000 on her office furniture, but there will be NO bonuses this year, again.

Anyway, we also went to Habitat for Humanity and picked me up an office chair for $15, for out in the dining room at the old PC or whatever one I wind up using out there. It's a very nice chair. They also had a beautiful wicker bench which would work well at the end of our bed, but it was $45, so we passed. They give senior discounts of 15% on Tues, so if it's still there I will get it then.

Speaking of the end of our bed. We opened the trunk I told my dau. she could have and it is full of artwork. I have NO idea of where to put it. A couple of pieces will get mailed to Night Owl. The others I just don't know, so we closed it up and I told our dau. she'd have to wait a bit, which is fine with her.

So, foiled a bit in getting up and running in the dining room and bedroom, I took a look at my desk where the old PC was. Messy with too many papers,all kinds of dust, etc.. So, I had Rog help me move the newer PC tower to the other side, moved the scanner to the right and will put the rest of the stuff on here tomorrow, though I have a question:

I realise I really like an uncluttered desk. What really bugs me the most are scraps of paper and larger pieces, printed out stuff that I want to have to hand for whatever reason. So...what can I use to keep them neatly out of sight on top of my desk? I have file holders and that never works. I am thinking something more solid, maybe that would hang on the side of my PC? Maybe I'm dreaming? Any thought, suggestions are welcome! Thanks!

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 01:32 AM

Kat, those bits of paper bother me also. I have a couple of notebooks that some of them go into (via three-hole punch) and I just got out a wire standing file thing for beside my desk that has 8 slots to hold papers or folders. I had some eBay stuff that I put in one of those heavy envelopes with expanding sides (one of the inch thick files) and it fits on top of the set of shelves beside my computer desk. It may get in the way on occasion, but can be moved around.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 11:56 AM

Lovely day today. I listened to a few morning news programs and now it's out to the garage to finish my thing for the wall. I may need to make one more trip to Home Depot for brackets to hold it in place (there aren't any studs in the area so it needs to have good anchors, which are okay because it is lightweight, or I need to put up something that reaches between studs and mount it that way.) I'm still debating about putting the modem and router in that closet. There are two electrical outlets in there and I could run a tap to make plugs convenient.

Once this is in place, the big job of rearranging a large room full of furniture comes into focus. I think if I move out as much as possible first and start with a blank slate would be the easiest way to do it.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: maire-aine
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 02:02 PM

I've been shredding a lot of bills/receipts/statements, etc. and I've filled a 20-gal. bag to take to the recycling center. If I stay at it again tonight (while I watch tv) I'll have a second bag full.

m

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 04:02 PM

Wow, whole lotta shredding goin' on!:-)

SRS, yea, I have used accordion files, in my filing cabinets. Maybe I'll get a small one of those like they have for coupons or something and keep it on the desk. right now, I am loving my empty desk!

We hauled an 1880s Renaissance Revival chair to the street yesterday with a free sign on it. It sat there all day. It was one my dau. tried to recover with no money...beautiful material, old stuffing and never finished. I'd offered it to her numerous times; she said she didn't want it. I didn't get any phone calls when I tried to sell it. Last night I asked Rog to put it in the car for Goodwill. It was gone when he went out. This morning we drove by her house and there it sat in her front yard!**bg**

We did the usual this morning...sweeping, litter boxes, scrubbing bathroom, soaking dishes, load of laundry. Went for a ride and to pick up a few things at the store. I may try to figure out how to cure my BIOS in the old PC or not. Have some paperwork to do for the hospital financial "consultant" and may try to get my office back in order...i.e. excavate the jewellery table...it's where all the desk stuff went.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 04:09 PM

I was looking in a trunk in my office that I thought was full of odds and ends, but it is in fact the trunk that has most of a 12-place setting china set from my great aunt's house. So I went looking in another trunk in the front room to see if that was where the odds and ends I had in mind are stored. I opened a box I haven't seen in over 25 years that had many of the other glass pieces I knew my friend packed up for me, but I thought had gone missing. Depression glass, ornate Japanese ceramics, crystal. [sigh] Tempting to pull it all out, but I stopped with just a few pieces. These will need to be washed and put up, but this isn't what I had in mind. The other trunks in there are a little harder to reach so I'll put aside the plan to list another antique gadget on eBay and finish my wiring and then my living room arrangement. Then I might have a better place to put some of the stuff in the trunk, or find the items I wanted to list.

Amazing how many old blankets, tea towels, bath towels and textiles are in all of these trunks. Also lots of embroidery and crochet and linen items. Lots to look through and and give to family or list.

My office is neater; I filed and shredded paper that was on the trunk and the shelf with the new file mentioned above. Laundry is washing, and I'm about ready to start on the wires. I'll do that next.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 28 Sep 09 - 12:26 AM

Well I must be getting better... Saturday saw me actually decluttering the front room of a single drawer TV table that had been there since before Christmas. It was full of old toys and things so Limpit and I got a couple of bin bags and just sorted through it all.. result was an empty TV table, a bag of rubbish and a bag of recycleable materials... and a big space in the front room. I have a little more sorting to do, and some major reorganisation but the improvement is already obvious!

No-one has freecycled the table yet... I put it outside in the garden where things are practically guaranteed to vanish in hours, so the garden is cluttered but that could be resolved with a trip to the tip later today.

So I have actually done something constructive this month!!! I am so proud of myself.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Penny S.
Date: 28 Sep 09 - 04:44 AM

I hauled my old vinyls out of the unit where they have been living and packed them in an old record case and a heavy duty carier bag ready for moving. The videos that had been living in the case now need new homes briefly - they are old OU programmes. Anyone know a really good way of recycling old videos? I've boxes full.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Sep 09 - 12:58 PM

I've always had a fondness for those old VCR tapes. And in some ways they're like the cassette tapes that much of our music was on for years. It is a durable form of data storage, so I haven't been quick to toss them all. I doubt the world will suddenly stop using CDs and DVDs, but don't feel particularly guilty about having a tall bookcase filled with them still.

I went through another trunk, to see if it had some of the things I had in mind to list, but it is a collection of personal letters from an uncle I never met and some family photos. And more blankets. Oy.

I'm stepping down my meds again this week, taking the reduced amount every 36 hours (I have a little chart to keep track). I suspect I'll be feeling it, so I am not planning to conquer the world this week or next, I'll let my system adapt to this lower level. This is a nuisance, but it is necessary.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: maire-aine
Date: 28 Sep 09 - 01:23 PM

We had a cold-front move thru MI last night, so it has been windy, rainy, and downright chilly. It looks like the rain will continue thru most of the day, so nothing will get done outdoors. I'm going to concentrate on cleaning/washing/polishing floors.

I've postponed my trip to PA until Spring. Better for me and my cousins there. Now I can plan on incorporating more music events in the trip.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Sep 09 - 02:41 PM

Maggie, I don't know why I didn't mention this earlier. For what you are going through there is no better book than Susan S. Weed's Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way. The menopause "bible" for 350,000 women who've chosen strong bones and healthy hearts without recourse to hormones. A treasure trove of accessible, reliable, non-drug remedies. You can see inside if you look at it at Amazon. That's where I learned about the tinctures I used.

I thought I was to have Morgan this afternoon, but Gary is home so I may try to finish the jewellery table and my desk this afternoon, though a new book I am reading is really tempting.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 28 Sep 09 - 03:37 PM

I have a rule at work and in my house that no small pieces of paper are allowed. I will tape them to a large sheet. Otherwise they fall out of files, etc. mg