BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: LilyFestre
Date: 13 May 10 - 03:30 PM

Sins...WAY TO GO!!! I'm pretty sure I found those 10 pounds!!! Damn steroids.

Spent all day working upstairs in our bedroom. The closet is ALMOST finished, just need to go through the 2 dressers that are in there and figure out what to do with a giant laundry basket full of hangers no longer needed. I also did some dusting in the bedroom, moved a big pile of blankets into Veronica's room to be sorted in June.
   Apparently I have a thing for stuff that begins with the letter B. I have too many blankets (can you really have too many blankets?), bags (Oh come on.....seriously? You can have too many of those too?), bras (multiple sizes, colors and styles) and bowls (multiple sizes, colors and styles of those too)!
    I did a good job sorting out the bags and put a good amount of them in the yard sale pile (please Lord don't let our baby get here until after the yard sale as I am using the nursery to store, tag and bag stuff until then).
    I tossed all bras that looked icky (we used to have hard water making all things that are white look dingy or with orange stains) or uncomfortable. Damn them straight to hell!   Life is TOO SHORT to wear uncomfortable bras no matter how perky they make things out to be!!!!!
    I watched from the upstairs window as 2 folks carrying bibles came to the door and knocked. I decided I was too scary looking to open the door. Besides, I have a church I'm happy with but they don't seem to get that as they keep coming back periodically.
    I have a heavy container of STUFF on our bed that Pete will move tonight. I decided I could keep one tub of miscellaneous stuff but that was it. It WILL be sorted when I do the blankets next month. If I find a use for some of it by then, I'll keep it, otherwise, HELLLLOOOOO Yard Sale!
    It's time for a break, some water, a phone call to a friend, shower and then yoga. :) :) :) It has been a productive day!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: gnu
Date: 13 May 10 - 03:42 PM

SINS... good on ya!

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Eiseley
Date: 13 May 10 - 05:11 PM

Mais oui, c'est moi!

A Mexican woman comes by on Saturdays with homemade talames for sale. After a lunch of three of them I'll go dig up some day lilies to transplant to the front yard and replace them with herbs. I'm trying to slowly build up a xeriscape garden in the very front, using only plants that I can plant and forget about. So far I have the smaller area well established (though it can use more sedum) and the larger area started. A friend dug out a lilac bush and the trunk and root part look like the club a troll would use. I just dug a trench in the larger part of the very front where I will lie it lengthwise as kind of a garden structural texture.

Wonderful decluttering work everyone!

Eiseley

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 May 10 - 07:04 PM

Lucky you, to have a tamale lady! There are folks who make the rounds here, and I wish I knew where they are. There is a laundromat where they come sometimes, but I don't want to hang out in a laundry for lunch.

This afternoon I poked around in the soil next to my back door for a few minutes. I think I mentioned cleaning out the other side of this doorway, where I have potted plants and bags of stuff, and today I decided to weed the bed on the other side of the step, then use up the last of a bag of mulch. I have some bright red verbena next to the step, and beyond that are some tall perennial Texas star hibiscus that seem to be growing quite a lot of stems this year.

It seems also today I've been practicing eye-strain exercises, working through the clear-as-mud technical instructions for a remote signage system we have going at work. I think once I figure it out I need to write and post some clear instructions. I'm not the only one using this system.

I started the announcement card for my son for his high school graduation. They charge too much for the standard cards on fancy paper. I design my own and I put a toddler photo on the front and a photo of the same kid in the cap and gown inside, and include the text that goes in the expensive announcements. I'll have about 25 printed at the work print shop. What is the point of making an announcement if they can't see what the finished product looks like?

The cap and gown came home yesterday, so I'll get a few photos, finish the card, then send this to the campus print shop tomorrow. I should be able to pick it up on Monday or Tuesday and get it mailed out soon.

Rushing to the finish line, we are. . .

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 May 10 - 08:22 PM

I don't want to hang out in a laundry for lunch.

Easy-peasy.

"Yo quiero tamales, por favor. [insert telephone number]

Put it up in the laundromat.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 May 10 - 12:05 AM

Yo mama, Susan! You guys must live dangerously in Pennsylvania! I get approached often enough without asking for someone's tamales and posting my phone number! :D

There is a little rock house a couple of miles north of here that is a small bakery that sells tortillas part of the year and tamales part of the year. I can go ask them. And on the other side of the creek from me, about 2 blocks over, is a neighborhood of small modest older homes (built as housing for what was an army camp and is now the armory nearby). Lots of Mexican families in there. I have the names and phone numbers of a couple of folks I talk with regularly, I'm sure if they don't make them, they'll know who does.

Gotta finish readying that book and write that review. And I see my son has finally left his barely functioning mp3 player on my desk (only after borrowing my identical player--I probably will never see it again) to return under warranty. He wore his out.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: ragdall
Date: 14 May 10 - 04:47 AM

katlaughing,
Thank you for the suggestion. I don't own a shop vac, but I do have an upright Dirt Devil that I'm not very fond of. The feeders hang on a clothesline above my lawn so there will be no topsoil to pick up. I have to wait for the lawn to be dry before I try it, though.

VirginiaTam,
Thank you for the artificial turf idea. That might be handy on my deck if I can find a way to hang the feeders there.

Stilly River Sage,
   I have lots of seed weeds coming up in the flower bed under my window feeder. Unfortunately only the seeds that the birds don't like get tossed over the edge so the plants won't bear anything of use to me. I have feeders up all year close to the house because I like to try to photograph the birds that come to visit. 2010 Backyard Birds

rags

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 May 10 - 05:40 AM

WOW! Those are incredible photos, ragdall, and such beautiful birds. Are you a professional photographer? Thanks so much for sharing. I *wish* we had such a variety and as many birds when we put out our feeders in the winter.

Eisely, your house is the kind I just love...lots of beautiful character. I love the archway alcove with the wonderful piano, the floors, windows, etc. Really a wonderful looking home.

Our son continues decluttering the huge backyard. He's now hauled away over 40 wheelbarrow's full of old sticks, leaves, etc. and dumped them in an old garden area at the very back where we've dumped what compost we've had over the years. That is a large space in itself which we may some day turn over, but it will take a lot. Next we are going to look at the budget and decided whether we can handle getting an irrigation pump and grass seed and he will plant it for us. I could finally have a pleasing backyard!

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 May 10 - 08:07 AM

One of the best things about this crazy ministry life is that any professional responsibilities involved (beyond "crisis ministry") are always paced in the context of the cycle of the church seasons.

That means that I can declut the inbox (and use the outbox) to keep priorities straight in such a way that the focus remains where it should.

While I'm less-here (busy being "more-there,") I'll keep all you declut-pals in mind. I wish you all sunny days full of energy and productive work. I may even get some of mine done-- I picked up the almost-brand-new windows yesterday as well as a load of basketry, and I get to keep whatever I like and put the rest in the parish's annual yard sale. This FreeCycle thing-- you can really make it work for you! :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Eiseley
Date: 14 May 10 - 08:45 AM

Oh Ragdall, what wonderful photos! Absolutely beautiful---thank you for sharing them with us. Here is a link to one of my favorite poems--about bird watching and, well, just see what you think. Here it is.

Eiseley

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 14 May 10 - 08:55 AM

Amazing photos, ragdoll. Northern Flicker is my favorite. Beautiful.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 14 May 10 - 08:57 AM

Washing done and on line drying....hopefully, although it does look a bit grey outside, it might rain.

Kitchen floor swept and washed this morning. Another 2 black bags full of clothing has gone to the charity shop yesterday. We calculated that I have lost 27% of my body weight! I've got some saggy skin in places that hasn't gone back so easily but I'm toning up well now, with a bit of luck the skin will go back in place if not will have to consider a tummy tuck!!!

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 May 10 - 10:34 AM

Great photos! I am afraid mine are scattered all over the place, but I've been sneaking up on birds and bugs for a while now also. I don't have so many flickers and such, though. I recently shot through the screen door (hence the hazy image) to get a cardinal attacking my strawberries. He and his friend Mr. Mockingbird. That's why I put up my bird feeders again. To distract them. :) I think I've put several in photobucket, but here's one from last winter in my Picasa pages Ducks on a frozen pond.

Susan, I'm about to the point where I will join Freecycle again. I'm impressed with just how many things you've managed to pick up to build up the dog area and outside seating. I have a few things to donate, and a couple of things to look for.

Gotta go mow before the heavy weather gets here.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 May 10 - 11:31 AM

Quilt blocking slowed down, due to being knackered and a shopping trip... the small ones are all done though, they need to go into their 4s for the big blocks.

Meanwhile, I've re-packed 2 tents (see, told you I was stressed) and now have a dining room to excavate... time for a walk I think!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 May 10 - 01:04 PM

SRS, the secret has been to know what sorts of things (size, shape) I want, and be patient while they accumulate. I have space that can be used till critical mass is reached, and beyond that I have just a few email tricks to keep me from getting drowned. Details if requested.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 May 10 - 01:59 PM

I've done Freecycle before, and have also tamed it. Between getting a digest (once a day) or if I want them as they happen, sending them to a free a account that is just for freecycle.

I finished my mowing and was sweeping in the drizzle. As I finished the last dust pan full of leaves and grass the heavens opened. I just looked at the radar--all I wanted was my garden watered, but it looks like we have a huge front coming over the top of us. Let's hope it doesn't scour the beds. I transplanted some of my basil so they grow in more of a pattern (they're all volunteer from seed today) and I did some foliar feeding and spraying this morning. It doesn't really matter that it is raining now, the impact of foliar feeding comes soon after the spray lands on the leaves.

Thunder coming. I guess I'd better shut down the computer.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 May 10 - 03:11 PM

Oh yes, SRS, I started with that-- but there are a few tricks up my sleeve beyond that.

In unpacking the week's pickups, I count:

Fishing box of "junk please remove": 4 good bait-fishing rods, 4 shorties light enough for kids, a brand-new reel still in plastic, a coupla odd parts, a pair of 2-pc willow-branch rods (or maybe it's dried bamboo) that are VERY nice, a foldable flagpole for my scooter, and $1.85 in coins mixed in with mud, mouse-eaten insulation, and reel installation instrux in the chewed-up box the reel came in.

Baskets to Keep ("We're moving pls take it AWAY!"): Four hangworthy wicker baskets, a big desk-trashcan-size with handles, three 'hang-on-milady's-arm" type to gather or display flowers or decoriana, a matched pair of whitewashed, deep rectangles (large raw-materials inbox, tiny-for-digitized-output outbox), a matched pair of capacious, deep rectangles with handles (mag size and one sz larger).

One "Can you use this" old laptop I may pass on (VERY old) in a GREAT new carrycase I will KEEP for the nicer laptop olddude sent me...

A referral to someone who may be a GREAT petsitter for vacay... who the donors paid to load all this up! Yes! He took things out of my hands to load them for me!

A round, diassembleable table with legs, hole, and lightweight, portable umbrella stand-- all light enough to go camping (or visiting), and seat 6 who bring their own chairs.... needs a coat of paint.

===

Misc to go straight to yard sale, such as a small humidifier...

Yet to be determined-- keep or sell or donate-- several more misc baskets I cannot immediately allocate, plus a few older baskets the new lot will replace that can go to the yard sale.

===

Local fishing folks will help evaluate all the fishing gear before I disperse it-- Hardi's a flycaster, not a bait dangler.

And Hardi LIKES the wishing well, now looking pretty good on a sunny day (as-is & moldy) when yer driving our road at 55+ m.p.h.-- to which I will staple on a few lightweight 49-cent surveyors' stakes (think mini-picket-fence pickets), and paint. The well, not Hardi. :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 May 10 - 06:09 PM

It seems I keep starting out recent reports with "for the first time in ages/years/etc" and now I have another:

THE junk drawer in the kitchen, the one with screwdrivers, nails, screws, washers, screws, ceiling hooks, rubber bands, etc. has been cleaned out. Where previously one couldn't find a nail without scraping their knuckles on some other sharp object, couldn't find anything without an archaeologist's kit, or had the entire contents fall out when they finally grasped that hidden object, there is now order and ease.

Thanks to Morgan for the inspiration! I sent him in the house to get the electrical tape as we were cobbling together a home-made shuttlecock for badminton. (He hit the real one up on the roof the other day and the wind blew it away.) I could hear him huffing in complete frustration because he couldn't get THAT drawer shut and he muttered, "Why don't you ever clean this out!?"

Then he decided the package tape would work, brought it out and we've decided that a small Styrofoam cup with a small hole in the bottom, the end cap for one of the net poles shoved in the hole, then taped in to stay (with a cross bar of twigs wedged in tightly inside the cup against the cap to keep it from pushing through) works better than the smaller, more lightweight "official" shuttlecock. Had a blast with it.

I cannot wait to ask Rog to hand me a screwdriver, tonight.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: LilyFestre
Date: 14 May 10 - 06:57 PM

Susan,

   My Relay For Life Team will make several themed baskets that will be up for auction during the event. If you are in need for a home for the bait fisherman gear, I bet it would be nothing to make up a little basket from those rods....just a thought. Pete is going to make up a fly fishing basket with a hand wrapped graphite rod (that he built) and flies that he has tied!   Just a thought!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 May 10 - 07:39 PM

I've picked up those hard plastic Rubbermaid-type drawer organizers you see at garage sales (slots for forks, knives, teaspoons, soup spoons, salad forks, etc.) and used them successfully in my kitchen tool drawer (I know you called it the "junk" drawer, but really, all of that stuff is there because we perceive a USE out of it again one day. Not exactly a treasure drawer, but at least a rat's nest of useful stuff.) Good job, Morgan!

I also have a couple of those organizers in my tool cabinet out on the work bench in the garage, and one on the bench top itself. I think there is also one on the sliding keyboard try in my daughter's old computer desk, the one my sewing machine is sitting on top of.

Poppy is doing much better today. Tomorrow morning we'll all head over to City Hall for annual shot clinic, and I'll make sure they approach her from the healthy side or she'll yelp the place down. Another thing off of my list. (I have a list of things to do on my fridge that I put there in February or March, but hadn't looked at for a while. I was able to cross a couple off today!)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: GUEST,Eiseley
Date: 15 May 10 - 01:08 PM

I did a silly thing: there was a swap-your-junk-for-other-peoople's-treasures gig over at the church. I took a whole trunkful of stuff, including the heavy-duty-but-too-plastic-for-my-yard garden chairs. Everything was taken. My silliness is that I exchanged it all for a bag of knitted afghan strips that just have to be attached together for the piece to be done. The squares are all beautiful solid colors with a knit-one, slip-one pattern---lovely. I spent about an hour this morning planning the layout and beginning the first joining. It will be so pretty to put out on the porch swing---but it will take some work. My plan is to do it quickly so it doesn't malinger in the bag for years and years.

Eiseley

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 May 10 - 01:32 PM

Eiseley, sometimes ending up with less clutter but one treasure in place of it is a good thing, don't you think? You'll treasure the space!

I was poking through the cabinet of remnants and pieces of fabric for things that never got made, and I have a couple to choose from to make short curtains for my office window. I'll poke around a little more. If I make a lining in them they'll last longer, but this window has a nice shade tree outside it now (one I planted when I moved in) so the lining is mostly to keep the fabric from being translucent when I'm working in here at night. I can still lower the mini-blinds, but I'd like to have the split of blinds above, curtain below.

The dogs got their shots today. It's sometimes higher math to do this right. I got their regular inoculations, but I skipped rabies, because they only need it every three years (according to the serum instructions). The trick is, some vets give a certificate for only a year, as does this vet who runs the shot clinic. I think that next times my dogs need their heartworm test I'll take advantage of my vet's offer of a free rabies shot. And I think they might license for 3 years.

I leave one dog in the truck and walk one through the fire hall to pay, then take the first one to the truck and take the other dog in for the shot. Last year Poppy walked through, this year Cinnamon did. And Cinnamon is such a character. My knees are bruised because she was wagging so hard at all of the other dogs. She was smiling, and offering licks when she could get close enough to the other dogs in line with us. She's so funny! Poppy is all protective and while she would like to meet them, she also doesn't want them near me. I think. So we're finished for another year.

Today is weeding and housework. And some sewing. Not bad.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: ragdall
Date: 15 May 10 - 10:11 PM

katlaughing,
It's wonderful that your son is willing and able to help you so much. It sounds as if you'll soon have a gorgeous backyard.
No, I'm far from being a professional photographer, but thank you for asking. I just use a good quality "point and shoot" camera, usually on the "automatic" setting. I take my camera to places that it can find the subjects and it does the rest.

Eiseley,
Your favorite poems--about bird watching is lovely. The poet must know both elderly people and birds very well.
The poem reminded me of when I got my elderly dad interested in feeding and watching the birds in his garden. I supplied him with a feeder, a field guide and a supply of white millet and sunflower seed. It certainly brightened his days, as my birds now brighten mine.

SINSULL,
Thank you. Flickers fascinate me, too. I think I have more photos of Flickers than any other species.

I vacuumed up a large quantity of sunflower seeds from my lawn today. When I watered two days ago, I'd pulled the clothesline to move the feeders far away from the house to keep them from getting soaked by the water. I noticed today that the lawn under them is now covered with seeds too. :-(

I looked online for seed catchers. At $20 each, plus shipping, I won't be buying any but I did see instructions for making one so I may have a go at that next week. I really would like to make the yard much less attractive to any rodents who live on the ground.

Or maybe I'll work on tidying inside the house? Why is it that it's so much easier and faster to clutter than to declutter?

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: ragdall
Date: 15 May 10 - 10:15 PM

Eiseley,
There was nothing silly about your exchange at the church. You freed up a great deal of space and came home with something which will be very useful and beautiful, once it's finished.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Eiseley
Date: 15 May 10 - 10:54 PM

Ragdall: Now if you could only add some animation to those photos you could have flickering flickers on Flickr.

Thank you, folks, for your kind words about this lovely afghan that is shaping up quite nicely. Maybe it's really possible to turn over a new leaf and actually finish a project. I have several on the burners right now. It's a little bit like books---I have never been able or seen the need to read just one at a time, though I admire those who do. It's probably just different ways of organizing. My question is, do people who read only one book at a time need only one bookmark?

Eiseley

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 May 10 - 11:10 PM

I picked up a big batch of free mulch this evening. Two weeks ago the vault over in a city park where they store it was empty, but tonight there was no one around and lots of mulch. I quit after a little weeding, it was still too squishy in the garden this evening.

I did recycle, then clean out all of my recycling containers and washed down the step. I have a mat I used to keep in front of the sink that got left on the porch a while back. I brought it in again, but may get one more. I like something in front of the sink (it is a hard floor) but having a good shoe scraping mat pays off also.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 May 10 - 04:15 AM

House is relatively tidy, I need to look out for a decent backing for my earth tones quilt and I'm all caught up with the TV.. today I'm going elephant spotting around London - lots of fibreglass elephants about 4ft high have been decorated by various people/organisations and dotted around the city. I'm going to pootle round London this afternoon seeing how many I can spot.

I may even take in an evening service and a small gin and tonic....

There went the accountability....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 May 10 - 10:38 AM

Photos can appear to animate (circulate to music you choose) at OneTrueMedia.com. Like the old flipbooks. Free photo-montage web service a couple of us are using.

===

TBTG, the accumulated Scripture/study resources make a nice "store" from which I can "shoplift" items to disperse to my new sitting areas:

Ancient items falling apart go into water-resistant carry-bags so that every area has, waiting, material for "Ew, my office is too hot today" alternatives.

I just stocked one stash for the porch--- and another for the "summer" sleeping attic-- which, OH JOY, it will be warm enough to sleep in TONIGHT! That will serve (like a quick overnight stop at a faraway vacay home) as a "what needs to be done up here" occasion to prep for the longer summer use.

(That "attic" [old MudDorm to you newbians] functions like a studio apartment, with office corner, etc..)

The ancient laptop I FC'd-in last week is sitting in the attic stairway now, to be evaluated up there tonight (or whenever.) All I need up there is a text/word processor, and I was told it does do that.

I always say, if the sheets REALLY need changed-- go sleep in another bed that already has clean ones! :~)

===

Animaterra: TBTG I slipped the sucker punch on what my "priorities" "ought" to be-- and stuck with MINE!!! (mic'd: "She wins, the crowd's going crazy....")

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: mouldy
Date: 16 May 10 - 01:39 PM

Tomorrow I have 3 beds to get stripped and changed. Could have done it today, but I went out to a fair, and I am out to a concert tonight. My outing today resulted in Moroccan lantern #3 - a hanging one, which has replaced 2 very tatty candle lanterns under the gazebo.
This week I will have to sort out all my coats that are currently hanging in the hall, and really be ruthless...there are enough to clothe a large family! I mean, I only wear them one at a time!

Haven't done much more in the garden - stuffed up my neck and shoulders hauling at hop-vine roots last Wednesday, and they're still not right. The headache's about gone, though.

I should think that by the end of this week I will be down to door varnishing and finishing off other odd jobs, such as the guttering (fingers crossed). Then there will be a month or so of really organising the stuff I'm keeping, followed by marketing the house. (There is still some sorting out of a water feature on the patio, but my son in law has promised to help....don't hold your breath!)

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: gnu
Date: 16 May 10 - 01:47 PM

rags... your pics NEVER cease to amaze me.

That "juggler" is a stunning pic!

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 May 10 - 02:25 PM

Andrea, I know about that pacing yourself based upon injuries. I had to postpone some of the heavy mulch and dirt lifting for a while earlier this spring. Today I've been clearing along my back fence. I got into poison ivy by accident late last month, and I wanted to be sure none of it had crept back in. Plus, if I can keep the brush and weeds behind the fence, I'm likely to lose less wildlife to the dogs.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 May 10 - 05:21 PM

Rog, our son, Colin, and I went out to the old panel van in which we moved back West in 1993 and which has been parked for several years, in the backyard, with clutter stored in it, almost to the ceiling. Colin is the perfect, dispassionate, strong, and willing young'un to help us go through it all! My Rog would just chuck it ALL and Colin probably would, too, but they both understand my emotional attachment. More importantly, Colin has a kid's way of convincing mom she needs to let go of certain items, whereas with Rog and I, I'd wind up resenting it and thinking he just doesn't care, which is NOT true. Anyway...the van is now nearly empty with only two plastic bins and four antique floor lamps which need to be rewired, then sold. There are two bins of things Colin will take to Goodwill, if no one claims them this evening. We put them and four laminated shelves out by the mailbox with free signs on them. Usually things disappear that way.

Tomorrow morning, Colin and I plan to do the same to the stuff which is in my caravan in which he and his cats ares staying. The stuff left over from that will go to the old van. That will give him and his cats a tad bit more room until he moves out, plus he can get his houseplants from his ex-girlfriend's thus cutting one last tie he doesn't need to that relationship. It all feels so good. I do have some bins we brought in to go through. One is all papers which need to be shredded. Morgan will love that. Two of them go to my brother as they include some of his books and other things.

This is stuff Rog and I have been wanting to do forever; he's never had the energy after work and after cleaning house, etc. with me to tackle them with just me to help out in small ways. I've often wished there were someone we could ask to help or hire, but the kids were all too busy with their own work and families. I can see the hidden blessings in Colin's breakup, not just in a selfish way, but also as he is doing so well...working his plan and feeling better in all ways since the beginning of this month.

Major decluttering frees up my mind, too!**bg**

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 May 10 - 12:07 AM

Kat, that sounds like a great day, and it allowed all of you do deal with issues of space and stuff in your own way.

My feet are aching after a day of working in the yard. I cleared along the back fence, and I took out a lot of smaller limbs (that I could get with the loppers or the bow saw). And I took out a couple of small hackberries along the back fence. (The fence is built too far into my property, so though it was on the outer edge of the fence, they're still my trees. Next time we need a new fence, we'll split the cost of the survey and the fence and get it put in the right place. The mistake was made by the original owner of this house.) I let that neighbor know that I won't leave those down trees long on her "back 40" (the property behind her privacy fence) because I'm cutting a lot of this up for the bulky waste pickup. Early June is our part of town's turn (it's quarterly). I'll have a lot to go out there this time.

I was about ready to wrap up that work by mowing the lawn, ready to kick back, when I got a call from the ex. He needed to help our son make a Puerto Rican dish for his Spanish class tomorrow (and of course, said son didn't mention it till mid-afternoon on Sunday. Son wanted to make a fried banana dish called tostones, but they wouldn't have been very good served a day after they were cooked, and cold. When fresh they're kind of like a super french fry). Instead, they chose a couple of dessert like things - fried battered finger bananas and a crispy coconut and sugar topping. The coconut was grated before they came over here, but when they got cooking I'll spare the details. They came to my house to cook because I had the cast iron skillets needed, plus various ingredients. It seems that the ex doesn't cook much these days. I also had a little deep fryer that made the bananas a lot easier, but there was considerable cleanup after everything was made. Now to take it to school tomorrow morning.

My aching feet are telling me it's time to put them up on a mattress and call it a night.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 May 10 - 02:27 AM

Oh don't talk to me about aching feet!!!

Didn't go around elephant spotting (Google 'Elephant Parade' - about 260 elephant sculptures decorated and placed around London), but to the British Museum for their Italian Renaissance Drawings exhibition instead. Must have walked about a mile around the gallery... it was exquisite! Then pootled off to church, getting soaked to the skin in a rainstorm on the way (which took the dye out of my green scarf and transferred it to my favourite white shirt in blotches. I am not a happy bunny...), bumping into one elephant on the way, and then another different one on the way home - so did manage to see a couple after all. So that's 5 down, 253 to go...    Still, I walked a fair distance, judging by the way my legs feel, so that should help.

Today, I should manage to piece the quilt together, if I concentrate on it and don't sew the wrong bits again... I may even get the next three planned, if not cut. They're similar colours and just simple squares so I can work on them simultaneously.

Enjoy the day all.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 17 May 10 - 03:54 AM

Before the big rain storm hit yesterday I did a 4 mile walk and an hours spinning class. We had some bills to pay at the hotel for the reception so did that before working in the garden. Veggie patch has been extended, the rocks removed and new compost added. George and Amelia planted some runner beans and Harry transplanted the sprouts.

The new ceiling is up on the upstairs landing.....where the attic hatch was left a big hole so the whole lot came down we now have a lovely smooth ceiling. Bath pannel has been sanded down, undercoated and glossed ready to be put back on tonight.

Just about to get the kids ready to go out for a walk this morning to the sorting office to pick up some parcels, I think they are all for Harry's birthdya on Wednesday, can't believe he's going to be 3.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 17 May 10 - 10:36 AM

We moved!
I am in my shiny new cubicle with a new phone and less space. But I have windows all around me and the restaurant across the street has a huge sign in their window welcoming us.
Best of all, there are three flights of ten steps between the first and second floor. I have to use them up and down at least twice a day. If I never get to the Employees Gym I will still get more exercise.
Wednesday is weigh-in although we didn't get enough participants to continue on site Weight Watchers. I will weigh myself and join the local one if I can't stay on track. Or maybe I will go on line.
My fish, Bluebs, is deliriously happy to be back in his tank on my desk.
All is well.
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 May 10 - 11:46 AM

Way to go, MariGold!

Didn't have to wait until this morning to do the rest. After Colin ate and gave his back a rest, he emptied the caravan while I sat and sorted, slightly. There wasn't a lot of trash, so most of it just went to the van; even then, the van still has tons of room we will NOT fill up, again...I promised! He then gave the caravan a good cleaning, sweeping, dusting, and mopping. He also got a table out of his rented storage space and set it up in there. It looks nice, his cats are happy, and it's a little bit more comfortable, though NOT too comfy.

In between, the cleanings, Rog and I took Morgan to the skate park. He looked so darn cute with his helmet and scruffy-looking skateboard under his arm. He really is a beginner which is fine as far as I am concerned. So, he scooted round, watched the big kids, thought he might go down a slope than decided it was a bit more than he was ready for...even with Papa's help. So, we took the dog for a walk and bought Morgan some real Mexican ice cream from a fellow pushing an ice cream cart throughout the park. That is rich stuff...lots of cream and butter came through in the taste...yummy!

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 May 10 - 12:28 PM

I'm working at home and have my ear out for the trash guys. I'll walk the large plastic can down with gloves on and ask them to tip it into the truck carefully--under the brush are the last chunks of the cactus I got rid of.

Before starting work this morning I spent about 20 minutes cutting up brush from yesterday's lumbering, and took two modest stacks to the curb (each one was a full armload, but I piled them separately, so I know they'll be easy to pick up and toss in the truck.) I stacked up more back there and left them ready for the Thursday pickup. I wish my village would invest in a heavy duty chipper and bring it around for a modest price so we could chip our branches. It would be the best use of all of this. Tomorrow my neighbor across the street is going to bring over his saw and we'll lop some of the bigger limbs and take down the tall stumps I left. There are several trees I need to take down out there. Maybe we'll get the whole lot. He likes to help, and we do favors for each other across the street all of the time. I think he figures he probably owes me (I give them lots of produce every summer) so this will be a good payback. :)

I have blisters today, from yesterday's chopping. No surprise. One other (but less vigorous) thing I took care of in the yard was to dig up some of the garlic. The stuff growing in the shade isn't worth harvesting, the bulbs are so small. But those in the sun next to the drive and in the oregano were huge. I got one the size of a hardball. I gave them moderate cleaning then gathered it together in a couple of bunches and they're hanging in my laundry room to dry.

I took a look at the tree with the mustang grapes yesterday. I can see lots of grapes from the road. Hard and green right now, but give them 2 or 3 weeks. Now I wonder if I can beat the birds to them? Will I make a supply to take to school next fall for my son? We'll have to see.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 May 10 - 01:31 PM

We opened the attic room last night. How delightful to find that all those miscellaneous trips up the steep stairs to "stock" it at the end of last summer has paid off. A mouse chewed up a candle, but that was the only serious attrition. So far I have not found a nest or chewed bedding. A nice surprise was the glass-encased snack department. I knew I had left one but did not recall the details, but it was all right there along with water and a spare supply of bedtime BP meds. And it was nice and DARK for solid sleeping. There was even a charger for the bedtime-stories MP3 player-- I thought I had removed it but it was right there waiting.

The sloped ceilings make it just like being in our camper. AWAY. But without paying for dog boarding! :~)

The home office will go into summer hibernation-prep this week.

A gate for better upstairs kitteh-mgmt has been fashioned-- Hardi gave me his Friday as surprise early-b-day gift, to help out with little chores waiting for that second pair of hands.

It was a bumpy re-entry to the downstairs, but my backporch prayer bag also was waiting for me when I managed to get out back for a bit. I need to go back to bed! The last month has been an intense worktime-- I need the downtime to balance it.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: gnu
Date: 17 May 10 - 01:50 PM

SINS. Windows... can't beat em. And, "My fish, Bluebs, is deliriously happy to be back in his tank on my desk." Ah, well maybe I shouldn't ask.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 May 10 - 03:03 PM

;-D I wondered about the fish's whereabouts also. . .

Looks like rain. I'll have to put off trimming the branches until tomorrow. Trash guys missed a few houses on our end of the block. I'm watching for them to help with the trash because I don't want them to tangle with those cactus pads.

Susan, I wonder that you have a whole floor in your house that you only visit part of the year. How big is that house? My great aunt in Connecticut had one that didn't really look so large from outside (partly because mature trees in the area kind of concealed the height) but she had the ground floor, the second floor with four bedrooms, and a not-quite-finished third floor with four more bedrooms (used for storage). And the attic on top of that. Plus a full basement. A lot of house, when you come right down to it. (There was a maid's room and washroom on the back of the kitchen on the first floor, and my aunt slept in there the last few years so she didn't have to climb stairs. A grand total of 9 bedrooms.)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Alice
Date: 17 May 10 - 03:20 PM

Well, I feel like I am gradually coming out from the dark cave... still unemployed, but have started working on a project to develop my own designs for letterpress printed wedding invitations, birth announcements, etc. I have the domain name of myletterpress, com, but still have about 40 designs to do and 180 layouts to create from them before I can upload and start the site.

A mando player I met through music, who is a printer here in town, suggested the idea that I do the design site and he do the letterpress printing. I've worked with him before.

I'm just getting started, but here is a blog about it with a few designs:


My Letterpress


The car is on the fritz and at the mechanic, lots of work in the yard needs to be done, and no money is coming in... I feel like I should be outside because it is sunny, cleaning the raspberry brambles, but I still have those 40 more designs and 180 layouts to create.

Alice

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 17 May 10 - 03:40 PM

I took Bluebs (named by fellow employees with a nod to mine) home in a plastic jug. He has been on a counter in the kitchen and he was not happy. Sat on the bottom of the jug looking grumpy. Jostled to my house and jostled back, poured back into his bowl - he immediately started swimming around and doing his fish dance - lots of wiggles and swirls - begging for a treat - dried worms.

I have new cubicle mates and they are not used to me chatting with the fish. He resonds to my voice and needs company. Plus, like my cats, it took no time at all to figure out how to get a treat.

He has more than doubled his size since December - I must be doing something right.

Bright blue Betta with white tips on his dangly bits. Very handsome.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: gnu
Date: 17 May 10 - 03:44 PM

SINS... ahhh... I understand. I was just concerned that you might have seen him smiling at you ans waving or wagging his tail.

Now, as for the "... with white tips on his dangly bits. Very handsome." I am NOT gonna ask and I don't wanna know.

Subject: The Brick House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 May 10 - 05:19 PM

Susan, I wonder that you have a whole floor in your house that you only visit part of the year. How big is that house?

We rented this big ole house when we had 3 teens who needed space. They moved out, but we still liked the house, and were too busy to move. And then the Mudcatters started visiting.

The house has, at various times, been a 5 BR single fam dwelling, a 2-family dwelling-- even a 3-fam for a time. Many people living in the community now have loved here and told me what it was like when they lived here. The lady who delivers our mail (and whose father Hardi buried last year) grew up in the house working the farm as a teenager, and told me how some of the layout has flexed over time.

Her people are close to our landlord's people. They live down the road on the big dairy farm they started after they moved off this farm. They win the county fair's dairy prizes most every year.... Hardi buried our landlord's dad too, not so long after we moved here. He warn't in our church, but he knew Hardi, and that's how it works here.... you get close if you're solid.

Anyway-- this property (diff owner) was originally the HQ property for dairy farming on this road; we surmise from the amount of space and the numbers we have slept here that it was planned to be able to sleep and feed 35 or so workers in bunks at peak seasons, plus a second farmworkers' house across the creek. That house is also owned now by our landlord, but has a different tenant every few years.

The landlord's fam bought this property when the property's widowed matriarch eventually sold out to stay in FL fulltime, because their barn had burnt and they needed a good barn for hay and dry cows. The house, tho, has been a rental ever since-- their own house is 1/4 mile up the road and I see the green silos from my front porch. We've become good friend over the years, swapping favors like county folk will do. Bruce made a man outta my kid (let him milk cows in all weather, fun job), and we've had the pleasure of Bruce's kids doing a chore or two here as well, esp. vacay pet-feeding. They also own a number of smaller properties that can be rented or used to help pay farm helpers-- our house they call The Brick House.

Anyhoo-- the attic was built over a laundry room and downstairs studio apartment-- an addition to the main house. At one time the attic was a 16' x 16' dorm-type bedroom. With faded wallpaper when we moved in (1994). The side walls are 4' high and then it slopes up from there to be normal room height in the middle-- much more headroom that the average attic. All new drywall and wiring now, over an old pine plank floor (2x6's).

It was this attic that mostly burned in our Dec. 2000 fire. We were lucky the nextdoor tenants saw it break out and threw creek water on it in a bucket brigade-- smoke filled the maion house but the fire narrowly missed coming in because the addition was added onto a brick wall of the original house. There is still smoke stain on the door casing above the door that opens between them, where you can see how it poured up and into the kitchen on its way up the staircase to the bedrooms.

We came home to find the fire trucks just packing up. It was about 2 weeks after I had stopped managing the local Red Cross-- I knew these fire volunteers well. I had often been on fire scenes they were running, to aid disaster victims-- then suddenly WE were the victims ourselves. It was pretty surreal to joke with the fire chief as people here always do.... but that's how this place runs. Ya gotta laugh when it's tough.

At that time we had one kid still here, and the attic stored empty moving boxes, Christmas stuff, unused furniture, and other seasonal stuff. The floor below (mostly unheated) we've used at various times as an office, a playroom, an adult ed classroom, a music room, a spare bedroom.... it's Hardi's weight room right now.

The attic portion was rebuilt so well after the fire that I took one look and saw usable space. We started hosting Catters before the work was all done, in fact, and the first Gather we hosted found me sitting amid burnt rubble, on the now-nice back porch, in an afghan.

The attic soon had a number of accumulated beds and linens. This is mostly described in the MudDorm thread. We planned at the outset to use it as camp-type overflow sleeping space. We furnished it with free or thrift-shop items that could mostly be left behind when we eventually move (for either the next tenant or the parish thrift shop to pick up).

Mudcatter Hesperis almost moved into it as a studio apartment, but did not make it across the border from Canadia.

Later Hardi and I decided that since the rebuilt attic had the only decent wiring in the house, we should try cooling it for the humid nights that periodically last an entire summer here-- I can't stand humidity. We discovered much to our joy that the wiring up there and its miniscule (new) window DID stand a trailer-sized AC. The night we went to WalMart to get it we installed it and, that night, made a king bed out of two twin beds.

Over the several years since it has been increasingly a place of refuge. There are a few photos of the old MudDorm layout (and colors) in a YouTube montage:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocjMckTtZ1Y


The total spaces of this house basically amount to three different one-floor-living spaces, so we use them that way. Each floor has some kitchen and loo capability. The kids' rooms have also been re-purposed a number of times.

Now if I could just build a high deck off that attic room, it could help keep the building from tipping over the rest of the way AND I'd have a brekky balcony up there! :~)

The main house (all brick) was built in the 1800's out of clay dug out when the farmworkers' property got a pond. The clay was molded and fired at a brickmill that used to be just up the road. The family that built it (the builders, not the farmers) still work in the area as contractors, and I learned about the bricks when they came to fix a loo one day.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 May 10 - 05:21 PM

Other threads:
Fire in Praise's Home         
Praise & Hardi Country Houseparty

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 May 10 - 06:29 PM

Interesting. Fire is scary--you're lucky it worked out so well.

Thunder and lightning all around now, heavy rain. I'll wait to go pick up my son after the storm lets up.

I have a box ready to go to the Office Depot folks, though I just found a couple of bits that need to go in. I'll open the bottom side (that doesn't have the packing lable) and add them in. The ear buds to the dead mp3 player. I wonder if they want the cable also? Probably ought to stick it in also, though a spare would be nice. Anyway, we'll get the cash back on the purchase, though I'd rather they replace the player--I got it for 1/2 price and it was a phenomnal deal. I haven't seen it that low since (Office Depot probably learned their lesson. . .)

Oh--the reason I opened this thread- a new recycling place (to get rid of and to pick up, so beware): http://www.ecofreek.com/. I've only taken a cursory glance at it, but maybe some of the rest of you have experience with it you can share, or want to take it out for a spin?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 May 10 - 06:38 PM

I forgot to ask - Alice, are you going to run your business through that blog? And if you do, will you pay a fee, versus those of us who just post garden news or do our ranting in public now on free versions of the blog? I have a friend who is so desperately in need of something more than just the web page he is running now.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: ragdall
Date: 17 May 10 - 06:41 PM

SRS,
I love your ducks, their reflections and the warm lighting. I wonder what they think about being able to walk on water? I also wonder how birds' feet can take so much cold without it seeming to harm them?

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Alice
Date: 17 May 10 - 07:28 PM

No, I haven't created the ordering web site yet, just have the domain parked, but linking a site to a blog, twitter, facebook, etc., helps get traffic (eventually).