Spring Declutter & Exercise MAY 2013

Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise MAY 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 30 May 13 - 02:50 PM

It's hot. Last weekend there was snow not that far from us (we had rain) and today it's in the 80s F. and supposed to be in the 90s F. tomorrow.

Brought up a couple more large pots from the cellar and got them outside but not filled or planted (more herbs). Went outside with good intentions, clipper in one hand and lopper in the other. Headed up the driveway with the ultimate intention of getting the mail. Consolidated some downed branches to be easier for my neighbor to pick up for a bonfire and cut some low hemlock branches that, I think, are shading out the ladyslippers that used to bloom there. Also managed to get some of the low hanging branches at the head of the driveway -- neat trick, trying to pull the branch low enough to try to cut it (one-handed) with the lopper. Got the lowest, at least.

Oh, I can, indeed, set up the ironing board and iron the blouse I want to wear tomorrow. And found some more stuff to de-accession...and may be able to foist it off in a few minutes to my neighbor.

Linn

Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise MAY 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 May 13 - 09:42 PM

I did some weeding, I cleaned up in the kitchen, I am preparing to cook a late dinner using some of my zucchini and canned tomatoes. I explored the garden and I see some nice-sized potatoes under the mulch. I picked a handful of strawberries, now that the snails have been eliminated (thank you, Sluggo!)

Linn, I heard a story about aging and funding tonight on The News Hour. They spoke about how a daughter/caregiver was able to get $500 a month, a pittance, but still, she was paid for a few hours of work with her mother every month (her mother lives with her). You might want to check that out.

SRS

Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise MAY 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 30 May 13 - 10:33 PM

If life gives you shit - let it be from goats! Such wonderful garden projects, Linn.

R having gone off early to work on various what-evers, I came to the cabin to deal with animals. With a stop at a greenhouse for a few perennials (expensive!) and a long chat with the staff about environmental sensitivity. I went into the greenhouse and started coughing non-stop. Recovered when I left.

After lunch and a hot bath, recuperating on computer, I decided to move the squirrels outside. Made the outdoor cage accessible and came in to figure out how to entrap the girls to move them. Ended up with two AWOL critters running around the cabin. After a long and fruitless effort, I put the cage out on the porch, opened the door and eventually herded them out side. Worse than herding cats!

Now it was after 5 pm so I went down to the mill to check on raccoons. Mom had not retrieved her progeny. SO I fed them some and brought them to the cabin, with a stop at the library to return books and pay fines, and chat with librarian. She told me there is a local woman who has a business card stating she is a "de-clutterer". She helps mostly older people ... de-clutter! What a diplomat she must be. The library had de-cluttered 40 boxes of their "books for sale" by taking them to a place in Montreal that distributes them in book poor areas. Now I am wondering what to do with the bag of novels that I have accumulated.

So, I fed kits and fed kits and... Put the fed ones in a cat carrier lest I feed the same ones twice, then the lot back in the cage. Some people can tell raccoons apart. Not me. They have only just now stopped complaining vociferously, poor little orphans want their real mother; she must have come to a bad end.   

Oh, my! noises under the house - the skunk or the ground hog? At least I don't have to feed whatever it is.

Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise MAY 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 May 13 - 12:30 AM

Are you sure it isn't the mother raccoon under the house?

My back yard pack were doing their "possum on the top of the fence" bark just now, but the flashlight shows that whoever was there had the good sense to climb down and go around.

Tomorrow evening I'm planning to mow the front. It's a "fruit day" as my co-workers call it - and on those days when I'm not eating as many calories, when I get the extra exercise it does seem to help the pounds drop off. And I'm looking forward to the weekend with a variety of pursuits, health and hearth-wise. I have to finish weeding the big vegetable garden, and list more eBay stuff. Several end in the next couple of days and I want to keep a steady stream of items listed.

SRS

Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise MAY 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 31 May 13 - 09:22 AM

I wish all the shit in my life were from goats!

Stilly, that program (or at least NH's version) is what we've been working on since January. Spouses are specifically EXCLUDED from being paid as caregivers, but they didn't bother to tell us that until a few weeks ago. Also holders of Living Wills or Medical Powers of Attorney. That's the whole bureaucratic process that has wrung me through the wringer. They're still pointing fingers at each other and not giving me all the information (or even correct information). I can't seem to get any two of them to agree on ANYTHING. There may be some benefit (not financial) to the program (which we've basically qualified for), but I'm going to come out of it with PTSD.

Meanwhile, I'll be navigating on a sleep deficit today. Around 4 a.m. the cats flushed a flying squirrel. Earlier, I'd heard some squeaking, but I got back to sleep. At 4 I had a cat run across my head. Grabbed the flashlight and discovered Rufus sitting on top of the bolster pillow staring at the peak of the ceiling where, at the top of a post, was a flying squirrel. Sabine was sitting on the bed, also staring. I sat up to watch the show, since I couldn't actually DO anything. Then the wide-eyed little fur-for-brains glided down to the bed...and Sabine (in her youth, AKA "Sheena, Queen of the Jungle and Great Huntress") grabbed it firmly in her mouth. Instead of dragging it off elsewhere, she looked as if she were going to eviscerate it smack in the middle of the bed. I put the kibosh on that and when she put it down, I grabbed some paper towels, wrapped them around the squirrel (which wasn't moving; don't know if it was dead), and marched it downstairs, out the back door and flung it off the deck. This was all just before dawn, but I live in a neighborhood where I CAN stand on the deck starkers and no one will notice. Went back upstairs and tried unsuccessfully to fall back to sleep. Read for a bit, and just as dawn was starting to be visible, tried again to fall asleep. Sort of did. Not well.

Never a dull moment...

Linn

Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise MAY 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 May 13 - 10:31 AM

Exciting middle of the night doings at your house, Linn! I'm sorry that news article didn't give you a new lead as far as solving this nonsense the bureaucrats have dreamed up.

I decided to plug in the earphones today and tune out the office. I'm sitting in the middle of the public area and there are so many distractions. It's going to be a long summer!

SRS

Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise MAY 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 May 13 - 08:08 PM

Here is the new thread.