BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Sep 09 - 05:02 PM

I have a notebook that kind of incorporates that policy, Mary. I try to tape any notes or cards I'll want to refer back to into a spiral notebook in the kitchen (I also have one for work in my office). I can scribble notes on the page next to the card, etc.

That doesn't explain the rest of the paper, though.

Kat, I'll look into that book. There's also one I've been meaning to pick up by Christiane Northrup. I have her Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom but she has a later one on menopause.

I have a few more tomatoes finally growing in my garden so I'll be paying some attention to it again. I think the eggplant took too big a hit from all of that rain--every day, torrential rains, for two weeks. September and October are still good gardening months down here. Today at lunch I made a batch of guacamole and froze it; I'm tempted to start the seeds growing in water, but there is no way to plant them outside later and have them thrive or survive our winters. That would be lovely, to grow my own avocados. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Sep 09 - 06:10 PM

I went to Office Max and bought a spiral bound bunch of index cards, BUT that's not going to do what I want, plus it's not recycled paper. I tear any paper up which I don't need anymore, into four pieces and put them in a desk drawer until I need to make a note of something. Those scraps are what wind up on the desk. Eventually I transfer the info on them or throw them away when I use the info, so I don't need anything huge. I am thinking something along the lines of the checkholder which better restaurants bring to your table for your credit card, etc. to pay. It's not exactly the right size, but I could put the day's scraps in one and check it, while it would keep the neat look on my desk. I didn't see anything like that at office max, so will look online.

Northrup's books are excellent, too, SRS.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: vectis
Date: 29 Sep 09 - 07:24 AM

I have finally made it into the kids rooms (28 & 29 now) and started sending their books (they have taken all the ones they want ) to charity shops. So much wall is appearing that the rooms are now twice the size I thought they were and I have space for my stuff in the study again.
Ah! Bliss...

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Sep 09 - 12:29 PM

Last week I picked up an address book, one that is about 8" x 5" that has room for enough information and for making changes. For years I used a Rolodex, but that's out of date. I will start this address book by simply printing out the labels I have in a file on the computer onto address labels and sticking them into this book, and I'll handwrite in changes. I've been in limbo for a while with an address system, but I don't want to have to turn on the computer every time I want to address a card. This should take care of some of the scraps of paper sitting around.

I'm into the last of the old currency at eBay (some of this isn't pretty, but it is old. Let's see what happens.) It isn't taking up much space but it does add dollars to my PayPal account. Has any of you set up their PayPal debit card for drawing down your accounts? How do you like it?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Penny S.
Date: 29 Sep 09 - 12:45 PM

I cleared out the fridge, which I had intended to do on Saturday, so there was more to go out to compost. I didn't do it on Saturday because my troublous neighbour was working out the back then, and as he used to watch me from his kitchen and has accused me of harassment by implication I avoid the kitchen when he's there. And I certainly wouldn't have taken the next step to the compost bin with him out there.

I shovelled compost out from the bin into a garden tote to take to my new home. Oddly, there was no sign of the ants anywhere. I had to push the newer compost down from the top, but I'm leaving that for a couple of days to allow any wildlife to evacuate. I think the mouse ws about.

Incidentally, I had been using the supposed recycling plastic compost bags to collect kitchen waste, but it looks as if some from last year have not decomposed as advertised. I now use paper ones anyway, but it may be worth recording that.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 29 Sep 09 - 02:10 PM

WOOT! All the filing (upstairs and down in the tomb) done for September.

Been up and down and back and forth both yesterday and today. Grocery shopping for the week done as well.

I am kicking back now.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Sep 09 - 04:45 PM

Penny, I'm sorry you've had a troublesome neighbor. I've experienced a couple over the years--they can take the charm out of an otherwise sunny place, can't they?

I've pulled out a smallish top round roast and have it braising this afternoon. It was still mostly frozen when I started, but that isn't an impediment when it has a long time to cook. Before I pick up my son to go to his guitar lesson I'll put it in a crock pot with the veggies I want to cook with it. I've been trying to give him an early dinner on school nights; this is my attempt to help him organize his time for homework so he isn't getting to bed really late. Last night he fooled around and then started an essay at midnight. I objected to that, and will have to put the pressure on to start the homework early and play later. He has to pace himself better in this senior year.

Meanwhile, I'm trying to pick up the pace in some of my work. I've been fooling with a set of web pages forever, and am finally putting the CSS code in a table side by side so I can see where the differences are. I can't get them to quite completely agree with each other.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: MAG
Date: 29 Sep 09 - 11:45 PM

I'm so relieved to see that other people have stuff they haven't looked at for years.

I am feeling very self-negative about two bags full of paper that just sat here near my desk for longer than I am willingto admit.

I gave up on shredding everything; it took forever. Now I just set it our with recycling as close to truck arrival as possible.

Making slow progress; some progress also with insomnia; my team finally acknowledges needing a C-PAP does not explain why I cannot fall asleep in the first place.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Penny S.
Date: 30 Sep 09 - 03:25 AM

Someone was spotted at our flats going through the bins, under the unwrapped baby nappies (diapers) looking for bank information. I had a bag of paper taken by someone who wasn't the council, which led to my changing my bank accounts and other things. I wouldn't risk not shredding. At the moment it's a bind because I do it upstairs - the machine being noisy and otherwise over the sleeping shift workers. Soon I'll be able to do it while watching TV.

Today I have to contact utilities about taking over the new address.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Sep 09 - 12:01 PM

If you have a burn barrel, you might want to consider pouring the contents in and burning them instead of shredding. Some areas don't allow burning, but I've also set up papers in a rack in the fireplace and burned them there. But whatever you do, don't put them at the curb, even at the dump they can go awry. It's just too risky.

My next door neighbor and I have decided to be good influences on each other and are going to go for a walk at lunchtime. We'll begin slow, and I'll let her hold the leash of the pit bull (who is much better behaved, despite the bad rap they get as a breed). We're both on diets (as I learned when I found a bin of biscotti on my porch yesterday, and called to inquire about it. She said it would be good to take to the office for my co-workers. She is retired so doesn't have an easy place to send it like that, and doesn't want to throw out perfectly good chocolate cookies. . . )

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Penny S.
Date: 30 Sep 09 - 04:34 PM

Today I rang the utilities and sorted out about next Monday. I collected yet more boxes from shops for the rest of the books. I took a bag of books into Oxfam. I've had an email from them saying they've raised £3.40 from the sale of donations and reclaimed 87p from HMRC. Is this worth all my visits? What are they doing with the good stuff? I know some of it is good. If it has gone to other shops, does it still claim Gift Aid?
Tomorrow I have a teaching day.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: maire-aine
Date: 30 Sep 09 - 07:13 PM

Went to the dentist in the morning, and got a mammagram in the afternoon (ow). Did some laundry this afternoon, and went thru some cupboards in the basement. They mostly contain overflow kitchen gadgets and baking equipment. Didn't really throw anything out, but I did consolidate a lot of things into a single, smaller box. Re-arranged some of the stuff and freed up some more shelf space.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: MAG
Date: 30 Sep 09 - 08:23 PM

OK OK; the bag I have ready to put out tomorrow I will save for Sunday and shred.

You have no idea hpw many years of records have been sitting here forever.

MA

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: maire-aine
Date: 30 Sep 09 - 11:36 PM

Brought the planter of herbs in from outside for overnight. The TV weather guy said there'd be a hard frost overnight. Welcome to October.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Spring into Fall: Sept. 2009 declutter
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Oct 09 - 12:40 AM

It's October--do we want a joint progress report thread? Let's see if we can get a name that supports both. I set one up here.

SRS