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

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 03 Nov 25 - 09:06 PM

Dupont:
Hoping I am in the correct place.

The water distiller did not start yesterday so, in a panic - the water in Chat is NG! - I looked on Market place and found one just down in Valleyfield - He would put it on the front porch and a jar for the money! I managed to get the GPS operating and went off first thing this am - with only a Clif Bar for BF. Found the house and the distiller and then proceeded to try to get out. This time, I could not manipulate the GPS and ended up in an obscure community on the other side of the river. I wandered around this interesting area, past a marvellous old stone mill and another peculiar building and gradually oriented myself to get back into V - the place I "always get lost"! Seriously hungry, I went to a Subway - $18.95 for a 12 inch subway!? I have not had one in a few years and will not again! It did not even satisfy the hunger. I came home by usual route, stopping for a few groceries en route.

I also stopped in an office of the auto insurance company to try to pay for next year but could only use a debit card which did not work so I climbed the interminable staircase for naught! Tomorrow I will sort it out at the bank! All these modern INCONveniences are very often beyond me .

Big pot of veggie/chicken meal on stove - ready now. I was feeling needy again and had a piece of apple crisp from the bakery. ... then a second piece! Not too sweet! And it made me feel better. The still did its thing and I now have sufficient water. R took the other one to town and it started fine! I have used it for numerous years and never a problem !?! I have another one at Beaver - never a problem. Now I have a spare! But also a concern for the man who gave up this brand new still when he should be using it to have good water.   

Now, I have to take my pills at the "old" time. I actually got complaints from my body last night when they were "overdue"! This too shall pass!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Nov 25 - 09:44 AM

Dorothy, sometimes all it takes to get a device to start working again is to replace it.

There is a bag of pantry type quick foods in easy-open containers in the car, ready to drop off at the community fridge cupboard. Beans, pasta, also evaporated milk and cooking oil. Sometime later today.

I notice roadside panhandlers trying to offer something in exchange for cash. A guy with a squeegee (but no water, just a spray bottle), and last night, a guy with a rag and a can of Armorall, wanting to polish the tires. Desperate times call for innovative marketing. I usually offer a bottle of water and a $5, declining services offered. (If I had clean windows and tires I'd have to wash the SUV.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 04 Nov 25 - 10:43 AM

Bright and sunny today in Ottawa. Whatever ails me continues, and the side-effects of the asthma drugs (which keep the cough down) don't help; I'm twitchy until at least noon. I had a bronchospasm last night while minding my own business in the comfy chair in front of the TV, so I'll not let up on the dope for a while.

I'm scheduled for a flu shot this afternoon, and I'll take it however sneezly I feel, or seem to the person behind the needle. They're usually very nosy about one's health at such moments, not least (I think) because a person with a cold will blame his or her wretchedness on the serum or the injector. I don't expect to enjoy the experience, but I won't say nuthin' to nobody.

Lately, pharmacy staff are delivering such preventive medical services in Ontario. During the pandemic, the needle was always wielded by an actual pharmacist, if not an MD or RN, but lately the function has been taken over by support staff. I don't much care who does it as long as their hands are steady and they do the entire procedure from hand-washing to needle disposition where I can see what they're up to.

I must make a list before I sally forth. I don't remember details as I used to, and I'm fated to forget the one important thing I promised myself I would do if it's not on a list and the list isn't in my pocket.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Nov 25 - 03:33 PM

There's a humorous bit by Melani Sanders over on Instagram called "The I Just Don't Care Anymore Club." She aims it at pre through post menopausal women and has struck a chord with a lot of women. One she read recently was "I don't care if I wrote the same item on the shopping list more than once." That's me - I can sometimes look down the list and find several repeats and feel sheepish about it, but so what?

The appointment this morning carried the most weight of the week's appointments as far as lifelong consequences, my friend had to go to that hearing under certain circumstances - not too independent, so I drove her there instead of her headed down in her wheelchair. Her attorney assured her she did well, and I hope so, I sat outside the room and conversed with the federal guard who is probably into his third pay period without a check. At one point he before they went in he asked her about her work history, and why she left. On one job she said she'd been a temp and it ended, but he reminded her "it was painful to do so you had to leave." It didn't quite register at the moment so when I had her attention I asked her attorney "is that pretty much the best answer for any of that job history?" and and he said yes, so she understood that when she had difficulties and left jobs she has to tell the judge why, and it was the maneuverability and pain. My contribution to the hearing.

I've spent so much time in the car lately I started dialing around through the Sirius channels and have saved a couple more in the radio links. Reminding myself I have to call for the annual "don't renew it it's too expensive" call in which they offer to continue the introductory rate. If they don't, I will bail and just listen to regular radio.

Roofer comes over this afternoon as we plan to purchase the shingles for the job. I don't write huge checks very often, but this will be one of those times, and even though the money came from the insurance company it still hurts to write one that large.

Groceries were left at the mutual aid pantry; it was empty and these won't go far, but every bit helps.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Nov 25 - 10:30 AM

Another eBay parcel on the porch waiting for the mail carrier to pick it up. A large check will soon declutter a chunk of the insurance money for the roof (partial payment to cover shingles); the last time I put on a roof I paid for it myself, it was easy. This time we have to go by insurance company rules making it complicated. I need to figure out what forms to send them when it's finished.

The ex is having trouble finding a comfortable chair while he recovers from this sciatica/injury, and I'm thinking the wooden rocking chair we got when our daughter was born might solve the problem. I'm going to load it up and take it over for him to try out. Otherwise he can come to the house and try various chairs and see if anything works. PT is today so he'll be able to ask questions about chairs. I'll drive him over, but they can also set up home PT and that might save me some driving in the future. And we need to figure out how to get that sofa out of his house, he can't use it now and shouldn't be tempted in the future.

Yesterday when the roofer was here I pointed out the crumbling bat house on the top front of the garage, and said that if someone could unscrew that while they're up on a ladder that would be a huge favor. It never attracted bats, just wasps. I put it up 15 years ago, but am not so thrilled about going up on that ladder again. I do still use ladders regularly, just not that far up any more. I have to go rearrange some pots and get the hoses and sprinklers out of harm's way.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 05 Nov 25 - 03:59 PM

> I can sometimes look down the list and find several
> repeats

No need to feel sheepish*. You've got said item(s) more than zero times, so you're ahead of the game.

* I know: we'll call him Shaun.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Nov 25 - 10:28 PM

Charmion, how are you feeling today? Getting past the asthma symptoms? Dorothy, did your chicken soup perform wonders to make you feel great and energetic? patty, has your guest headed down the road, or is the visit open-ended? I thought of you yesterday when I passed a northern license plate snowbird with their fifth-wheeler headed south.

One of several jigsaw puzzles was listed on eBay today, mostly because I had a shipping box that fit that puzzle box perfectly. There are several others I'll sell two or three at a time.

This was the last of three days incredibly stuffed with appointments. The next four days still have lots of cat stuff, but I'll avoid adding any other calendar events.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: pattyClink
Date: 06 Nov 25 - 10:26 AM

Nothing fit to say in public, SRS, so I sent you a pm update, but your mudcat handle says 'inactive', does a message still get through?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 06 Nov 25 - 10:42 AM

Today I'm marginally better; no bronchospasm since Tuesday afternoon. I cried off Wednesday night choir practice -- that's the community choir -- and that was good for me and better for everyone else, as the cold effects (yes, it's a cold, not just allergies) came roaring in full force. Lotsa sneezing, coughing, snorting, all of it fairly disgusting. I'm not sure about church choir practice tonight; that depends on the wetness of the cold and the frequency of the cough.

What I really hate is the trembly twitchiness that comes partly from the virus and partly from the stimulants (bronchodilators) in the asthma medication. I still have stuff to do on ladders, and I don't feel safe on ladders right now. So what's a brother for? Andrew's coming over this afternoon to help me heave a wrapped and rolled-up rug on top of a two-span set of IKEA Sten shelving.

Ottawa is the home station of a regional grocery chain called Farm Boy that has excellent low-carb soup by the litre and the cheese department of the gods. In Stratford, the nearest Farm Boy was in Kitchener, 40 km down Highway 7/8 and accessible by one of the scariest on-off ramps in the region. Here, the nearest Farm Boy is ten minutes down Bank Street in a shopping plaza well away from road construction and concentrations of commuter traffic. That alone is almost worth the move.

The garage is now fully winter functional, with the curb ramps in place and a door-opener that can be activated from outside either from a keypad on the door frame or a remote control in the car. That means efficient conditions for the snow-removal guys, a minimum of ice-scraping by me, and the car stowed where mischievous or larcenous eyes won't easily find it.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Nov 25 - 01:35 PM

If you click on the PM next to my account here it should be fine. An old version of the account, where the words were run-on is inactive. I can't login to that one.

Today I had a brief episode of twitchiness, but not from a cold, it came from calling the insurance adjustor to ask questions about how I document the work that is done on the house after the roof. He said their big concern is the roof, and I told him I'm comfortable with my roofer, he accepts the appraised cost of the company to do the work, so we won't be going back for another check. But the small stuff - and how to show any work was done - I'll consider that after the roof is finished. (If you don't spend all of the money, they want the rest back; if you go over you can ask for a supplemental check but they need to approve it. Best to work with what was offered.)

This morning I ascended to the attic to see how it looks ahead of work; it is strewn with lots of playing-card-sized chips of the silver reflective coating I had sprayed on ages ago, all knocked off by the impact of hail in the late spring storm. But yesterday I was in the guest room and I noticed a strange dustiness on the outside wall and I have to figure out if I have ants or termites taking up residence. Something else to deal with after next week, but not delay because they can do a lot of damage. That's the side where the outside faucet lives, a conduit they use.

The Love Of Quilting program on my PBS station offered an interesting project for scraps today; often they're into high-end stuff on fancy machines doing embroidery or long-arm quilting, and I'm not going there. This one is doable and I might try some of the scrap squares I've already created for it. Now I need to make the time to get back into my sewing studio.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 06 Nov 25 - 08:53 PM

Dupont:

Still looking for the energy for the five hour trip. It has already started snowing at Beaver! I will not drive in that.

Today is my dad's birthday; he died at 58 in 1962. Today, I recognize that his expectation that I would marry - that was the thing back then! He was so careful about letting me live my own life - expectations ??? He carefully did not tell me that he did not really like my "fiance"; he wanted me to make my own decisions. I would never have married a man my father was not 100% for! Failure to communicate may be our greatest human problem; my dogs did better. Hence- 65 years of tears. A DT clone is the simplest way to describe my ex. And my two sons not appreciating that I have only contempt for the father they love; they know he is a diagnosed psychopath, that he beat up on two wives - they saw it, were there. My small consolation- the boys would never strike a woman, or anyone unless someone was endangered. The PTSD does not go away.

Weather was at freezing today. Traffic in town is a mess due to idiotic mis-management. Getting across the bridge has gone from 30 minutes to an hour or two. R only comes home every 2-3 days. The Main Street is so bad I don't even like to go shopping. So, we live on the outer edge of town and I decided to go to a town 20 minutes away today. Got some of what I wanted at one store. Will explore the other two another time. No pumpernickel bread, R's current fav. And the good cheese is much more expensive than at the upscale cheese store here - but on that main road ... may be in the late morning ... And maybe the produce store will have the bread.   

The current full moon - (past now) - was amazing. I want in the kitchen and the back porch was so bright, I went out to see if a neighbour had a flood light! Apparently it was special.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Nov 25 - 11:07 PM

Today was snakebit as far as all trips to the cat house; each one had a train in the way that needed to be detoured around. The train on the last trip after dark meant I had to detour onto the deserted road that is a mile of old industrial businesses, chain link fences around yards of heavy equipment, and at the north end grain elevators on the left and a couple of shuttered warehouses on the right. There is also a rail switching yard at the north end of this stretch of road with a tall hump of a bridge that crosses it, where the street is distinctive for its old brick pavement.

As I approached the base of the bridge a flashlight shone at me from the side of the street and a tall man and medium height woman stepped into the road, waving and shouting to me that someone had shot at them in the area to the right and they needed to get into my car. The woman walked to the passenger door behind me and pounded on the glass. And on about a half-second's reflection I realized they were a couple of con artists, said no, and drove quickly out of there. I looked to the right as I passed the drive they'd come out of and there was no one, nothing but a parked delivery van. When I pulled up at my friend's house about five minutes later I called 911 and described what happened.

An English major dialing 911 should probably offer a pedant alert at the beginning of the call. She said to let her ask questions, so I answered and described the pair and what they did and that I thought they were being deceptive, they may have wanted to steal a car. "And where exactly on South Main did this happen" - right near the bridge over the rail switching yards. The operator was trying to get more granular information and asked about the trestle. "No, it wasn't a trestle, it was a bridge for cars across the rail yard" (there is a railroad trestle at the south end of that stretch of road at the entrance to a traffic circle). It took a couple of back and forths to realize that she didn't understand the difference between the two and I did and my being perfectly clear wasn't helping her. I pulled up the map on my phone as we spoke and gave her the building number.

Three more days of this, but hopefully no more excitement.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 07 Nov 25 - 10:08 AM

Dupont:

Geez. SRS! Glad you had the wit to get out of there! Life in the Wild West does not sound good to me!

Here is QC, R came home from work at 11ish last night, admitted to falling asleep driving home, That is my scary! I have thought of it as a definite possibility. NOW...! Will he make more of an effort to get home earlier. A few years ago, I expressed concern with how he was driving - in broad daylight!- and he woke up... He was about to run into the rear of the next car! Darn!!!! How can we address this situation? It can only get worse? I know he needs to eat more regularly and drink more water. He gets busy... Bro put alerts "Drink" on R's phone but that is not enough. ?????????

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Nov 25 - 11:32 AM

How far is the drive from work to home? Can Robin ride with someone else? That is scary.

When I posted the story about the events last night I was more interested in the difficulties of the 911 call, but I guess that's the English major in me. ;) Two full days left of this gig and then hopefully along break (or at least until Thanksgiving and hopefully a shorter trip.) I drove past that spot this morning in daylight and it looked the same; last night I was at the bottom end (by the trestle) on my way home and saw no activity in the road. I wonder if that duo managed to stop another vehicle and get the ride or steal a car.

Any time now I can schedule the 5000 mile tire rotation, and I figure since we're approaching cool weather I'll do it before the time when the low air light comes on (usually on the first occasion it drops below freezing). I'll ask them to be sure they're properly inflated.

Since cold weather is arriving in a few days I'll pick the rest of the tomatoes and see about covering the eggplants and peppers. They're perking along and after a couple of cold nights it will warm up again for a while. I may be able to keep them going until December.

I'm pushing more eBay things into my listings, and watching a couple that have languished that can go to Freecycle or Buy Nothing or Goodwill. I'm reading another book by Adam Minter called Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale and the second chapter about decluttering gives huge numbers as far as what Americans throw away; only about 3% is donated. Statistics regarding the size of the operation at Goodwill Industries are staggering. I don't know how he might round up statistics regarding the amount that comes and goes through donation groups, but they are growing.

Charmion, other than working on the kitchen in the new house, do you find you've retained enough stuff (and not too much)? I know you had bookshelves that didn't fit so have swapped them out, but otherwise, did all of the decluttering of the past couple of years pay off and result in a perfect amount of the household stuff?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 07 Nov 25 - 03:46 PM

Nothing’s perfect in this fallen world, Stilly, but I came close. When the kitchen is fitted with cabinets that use the space efficiently, I will have room for everything. In particular, the library is down to manageable size so I actually have room to acquire a few more books if any keepers come my way.

The cold is much improved. I’m still a bit snuffly and the cough, of course, is firmly in residence, but I don’t feel like crap on a cracker any more.

But I’m not letting up on the asthma drugs yet. That would be stupid.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 07 Nov 25 - 07:03 PM

Dupont:

Just woke up to fact have not heard from "Maeve" since January!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Nov 25 - 08:33 PM

Drawing down fridge contents this evening, so far by making a batch of marinara. Next I'll make a batch of babaghanouj. Meal-wise it was a high calorie day, but most of it was fat and protein.

It's time to sweep and organize the greenhouse, and I am going to make a point of using it this fall and winter. That involves having a tub of soil to use, filling the water barrel, priming (after lubricating) the pump in the barrel, and moving the wheelbarrow out of the way. I'll also move stuff off of the potting bench out front beside the garage and have it ready for small plants in a couple of months. There's an almost empty shelf in the garage for the sprinklers that are sitting in the greenhouse and some around the front, side, and back near the faucets. (There's also a box that I think was a tradesman's case on that shelf that I must put on the Buy Nothing page.)

Gotta lug all of the cut okra to the back of the back yard, some for compost, most to go on the vacant wooded area beyond the fence. And I'll be taking down the tomatoes. There are pots to move before the roofing happens also, so I'll be outside a lot tomorrow before the cold front arrives.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Nov 25 - 11:30 PM

The roof work is lining up and may happen on Tuesday, but as I look at my bank online the checks he deposited haven't shown up yet.

I mowed in back enough that it looks much better. Sprinklers are put up and the hoses are coiled and out of the way. I started trimming around the driveway but stopped as it was getting dark. The dogs drag toys into the yard and the mower clobbered a hard plastic chew toy of a color that made it invisible on the ground. I've promised the girls to get them another soon.

More tomatoes have been blanched and simmered and will soon become sauce. I typically use only vegetables because I have a couple of vegetarian friends who dine here regularly, but this next small batch will have Italian sausage.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Nov 25 - 10:21 AM

The final cat trip is later this morning and I'll take along my gas can and shopping list. Time to refill the 5-gallon can (I decant it into a smaller can to use for the mower, tiller, and trimmer, and more often lately, for the generator next door during power outages).

When my friend returns from her trips she looks at the notes (a sheet for each day with medication times and food types and weights) - and peppers me with texts. Rather than spend an hour answering questions via text and messenger, I'm going to type out a narrative and see if that answers her questions. The money is good but the level of fussiness is extreme.

It's lovely today but overnight will drop below freezing, so the last hurrah for some things, others can be covered to protect or moved into the greenhouse. I started that work yesterday. It's in time to remove a few things that could be casualties of the general chaos of roofing activity.

The ex is struggling with pain management. The gabapentin causes brain fog, so he's trying staggering acetaminophen and ibuprofen right now, and will call the doctor tomorrow. I will probably be making a pharmacy run. We're going to have to step up the medical end of things and see if there is an answer to the soft tissue pain. And it's time to have the hard talk with our daughter about being present more and picking up the threads of his treatment.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion's brother Andrew
Date: 09 Nov 25 - 10:40 AM

Dorothy, I think Stilly's idea of R travelling with someone else is the better option but, if he is to continue to drive, he might try technological support such as a narcolepsy detector/alarm
(please excuse the link to Amazon, but it seems a useful point of departure).

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Donuel
Date: 09 Nov 25 - 10:56 AM

Gabapentin sucks. I hit the curb and burst a tire on gabapentin.
I would like a tiller I wouldn't need to rent. I wonder if okra would grow well in my zone. I might try making marinara in the blender.
I will try one more time to establish poppies in the backyard. There is a large perimeter that is just boring ivy and Chinese lanterns.

I am feeling more ambitious by taking B12 pills daily.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 09 Nov 25 - 05:36 PM

Today we had the first snow of the winter, as usual just in time for Remembrance Day, and the not-Christmas cactus is in full bloom. I think it likes its north-facing window.

On Friday, I had a visit from my Stratford friend Alden, who is in town staying with her sister. Poor thing; the sister keeps a spartan table where dessert never makes an appearance, so she ordered the most indulgently calorific thing on the menu at the neighbourhood pub. She was dreading supper, due to feature the BIL’s famous chili — full of beans that she can’t digest. It doesn’t occur to her to tell her family that beans give her belly-ache. Or to provide herself with a private stash of whisky and chocolate.

Note to file: Always have a private stash of whisky and chocolate, especially when visiting.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Nov 25 - 11:43 PM

So many questions. (And an observation - I'd never heard of that narcolepsy alarm, but it sounds very practical and life-saving.)

Marinara in the blender? At some point, maybe, but mostly it needs a lot of simmering on the stove to get the right flavor and needs reducing on the stove (not thickened with flour), then puree a bit (I like a little texture in my sauce). What about B12 do you find helps you feel more ambitious? I take a daily B12 and just feel normal (the GP said mine was low so I take a modest OTC brand). Okra likes heat, enough water, and full sun. And be careful how much you plant, if it grows huge like it does here, three to five plants provide enough for a large family and a few of their friends. The Honda tiller I have was a hand-me-down, is quite small, but does the job.

Our first frost is expected overnight so I've picked the rest of the tomatoes and covered the eggplant with a frost blanket and added my favorite quilt to the bed today.

The greenhouse has been swept and rearranged and quite a bit of stuff into the trash. Tons of mouse droppings so I wore a facemask, and with as many wasps as live out there (mud dauber ocarinas plastered all around, and a couple of paper wasps nests) spiders aren't a problem (wasps prey on them). I disturbed several lizards and a large katydid that is liable to end up lizard dinner soon. If I put plants in there this winter I'll set up the oil radiator heater and a thermal plug that turns it on below about 35^o. In the garage is where spiders are more likely to be an issue and I worked some in there also. A bunch of tools were returned to the rack in the greenhouse making room for the cart once in the sunroom that was evicted to the garage. It is now hosting several plants I don't want to lose in the frost.

Since my friend with the cats just got back to town I called to remind her that tonight is the freeze, but one of her cars (long story) is in the garage and the battery was dead, leaving no room to put all of her plants in there. "Call AAA." Oh, right! So they arrived, she has a corroded battery post to repair later but the car is no longer in the way.

Tomorrow is a blank on the calendar, the rest of the week is booked, starting with the roof on Tuesday. I have a pair of noise cancelling headphones that I'll use if I'm working in the house (there is a lot of yard work to do to keep me from listening to the racket all day - last time I was in the house when they worked and ended up curled in fetal position by the time they left.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Nov 25 - 11:14 AM

Our county is under a burn ban (winds and low humidity) so I shredded an inch stack of old health insurance statements and they're at the curb in the trash. The burn barrel lives in the greenhouse and yesterday when I was clearing things out I was reminded of these papers. The cart I put into the garage last night can move into the greenhouse today; that's where it used to live when this greenhouse and cart belonged to a late friend of mine, so it will have gone full circle.

The tomatoes and sweet potato vines wilted in last night's freeze but I'm glad to see that there are a number of other plants that tolerate that temperature. The almond verbena is new in my yard, transplanted last spring, and I know they tend to die back to the roots each year, but not so far. Same with the bush winter honeysuckle (also new).

Tomorrow is still a question mark for the roof because the credit union hasn't cleared the first check. Tomorrow is a holiday so we may have to wait till Wednesday or Thursday, but we are getting closer to rain (forecast on the weekend.) I've rescheduled a Wednesday appoint that takes me out of town for several hours because I suspect the roofing job will have to happen then.

It's a lovely day, clear and feels like autumn. Our high today is in the mid-50s, and warming into the 70s tomorrow. Wednesday looks just about perfect, sunny and predicted high of 79.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Nov 25 - 09:54 PM

Putting on the roof is a matter of trust, going both directions. I'm using a roofer I've known for years so was ok giving him the advance check to cover the cost of materials. I've been watching the bank account and that check still hasn't cleared, but he has decided he can trust me and said he's ready to do the job tomorrow (a bank holiday).

I'll park next door at about 6:30am to be out of the driveway well before their 7am arrival. I have to take my ex to an appointment tomorrow so will be able to leave from next door; the street in front of the house will probably have the vehicles of the various workers plus the truck that will bring the trailer for hauling away old shingles. And the noise cancelling earphones are fully charged for the day. Last time I replaced the roof it took just one day, but it was during summer with longer light.

Tomorrow will be perfect weather for the job, a high of 73, but I spy soup-weather on the horizon. As I put jars of marinara in the freezer today I checked out my supply of frozen stock and will probably make soup this week.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Nov 25 - 09:12 AM

Me again, after I nearly accidentally accepted delivery of the large package that turns out is a garden shed kit for next door. When the driver saw me come outdoors at about 6:45am he unloaded the electric lift from the back of the lowboy loaded with building materials and picked up the box. I realized what it was and pointed him next door and proceeded to get their attention (they're early risers but she was in the shower and he didn't have his hearing aids in yet.) I was waiting for shingles. The delivery driver told me they're easy to spot, they're wrapped in bright pink.

The roofers have arrived and I have to say that with the size of the crew and the amount of work the price of the job is a bargain. (It's a family affair, Angel has three sons and I think two of them are working here today.)

It's a bit chilly still, I'll wait until the sun is over the woods across the street before I head out to do my garden puttering. There's a lot to keep me busy and out of the noisy drum of a house. Right now it sounds like a noisy hailstorm as they use shovels to scrape up the old shingles, but when they start the electric hammers it is a mindless persistent clatter.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Nov 25 - 10:45 PM

The last verse of this blow-by-blow account. When the roof comes off, including tar paper down to the wood, it fragments into little pieces everywhere. At the end strong magnets get a lot of the nails but not bits of shingle and paper. Despite tarps over them several plants were squashed and the iris bed was trampled, but I've been meaning to thin them this fall so now will be a good time. There was a small Philips antenna on the side of the house at the roofline that was probably 12-15 years old and the support for it broke. It currently dangles by it's coaxial cable on the side of the house, still happily picking up TV signals but looks odd. I'm shopping for a new one the roofer will install for me soon. The new roof looks excellent. And great news - the bat house that I put on the garage that only attracted wasps is now going for a ride in the trailer with roofing scraps. No point in giving it away, it's pretty rough now.

The dogs were good, not happy to be shut in all day, and once Cookie shot out into the back and Pepper followed. I could see the wheels turning when I ordered them back into the house, but they went back in on voice command only and were given treats. This happened when I was exiting the house to work on the garden - I dismantled much of the now-dead tomato hedge, pulled up a couple of the huge okra roots, and dug sweet potatoes out of the Smart Pot.

Meanwhile indoors I deployed a trick learned yesterday when scrolling through social media; I have four panels of thermal drapes on a long rod over the sliding glass door, and she showed how to fold the ends of the curtains so they overlap and when put on the rod they look like one drape and move together. Why didn't I think of that?

Tomorrow we'll wrap up the math part and the final payment, and I turn in the documentation of the work. I have a bit more to spend on a couple of minor repairs to other things and this will be over.

Early to bed, I am exhausted.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: pattyClink
Date: 12 Nov 25 - 11:05 AM

Trying to get my house in order after a conference trip, and acquisition of some new minerals. Important to make notes on each one, and on people met and locations learned about.

Tomorrow's field trip starts before dawn, so I have to have a strong heavy nylon backpack loaded tonight with collecting wrap and plastic bags, a berry clamshell for small delicates, sharpened chisels, tp & pack-it-out ziplocs, etc.

Resuming some health habits after holidays blew them up. Today i'll make a grocery list so I can make veggie soup, etc.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 12 Nov 25 - 02:16 PM

Today I’m nursing my late-stage cold, feeling crappy and glad to stay home and out of the dank, clammy normal November weather. The cough is loud, rough, and verging on uncontrollable. I don’t feel good about the prospect of choir practice.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Nov 25 - 04:57 PM

You wouldn't want to share that cold with others, so enjoy a cozy evening at home with the cats and a good book.

Have fun on the field trip, and resuming health habits is a good move. I'm concentrating on eating a lower carb diet to drop the pounds gained from the Prednisone, and will continue to avoid the stressful news.

The roofer was paid the final check today, and he helped me with the wording I need when filing my papers with the insurance company. Often times these companies do the whole repair job, not just the roof. If I'd hired him to do all of the work on their list (including some non-roof things) then he would have brought in other contractors. I'm being the contractor and hiring that other work myself, so I have to make the numbers work and get the bits done that are most important to me, and ignore others they said might need work.

A new antenna was ordered from Best Buy (instead of Amazon or Home Depot, though I use their websites for research) and the roofer will return with a tall ladder to install it on the same spot as before. I don't expect them to pay for it, it was old. The new one will be higher-end and might offer some interesting choices of more channels.

Pampering myself this evening with a chicken breast cut into pieces to bread and fry (using non-gluten materials). I'm also going to be making a batch of the Puerto Rican rice to take over to the ex, because he needs more calories. This may be a day for three runs of the dishwasher.

America's Test Kitchen is making lentil soup right now - mmmm! Maybe one more thing on the list for this evening. It reheats beautifully.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Nov 25 - 08:12 AM

I'm rarely an early riser, but after 10 days of up-before-dawn departures from the house to feed cats, and up early to greet roofers, I thought I'd give getting up early a try for a while. It does have some advantages (and I'm here in solidarity with patty as she prepares to go hike and collect rocks this morning.) Mostly I planned to use the time to shred some more and put it out for trash pickup.

Today is more decluttering, and now that the roof is finished I can post offers on my Freecycle group and not have to worry about people encountering a street full of equipment and pickups. There are some larger items today that will contribute real square footage of space if they leave.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: pattyClink
Date: 13 Nov 25 - 09:24 PM

It was a pretty splendid but difficult day. We hiked an hour in and out, from ridge down to stream and back, maybe 2.5 miles. I struggled to keep up with men in better condition with longer legs, a few thousand feet higher up than I am used to. Slowed them down a bit on the way up, having to stop here and there.

But, great weather, great day to be out, golden cottonwoods following the streams, etc. Went in a few old mines, not very far. Harvested a few good rocks, and a bucket of shiny chalcopyrite which may make a lot of good thumbnails and micro-mounts, and got some black stuff which may test out for silver, or may not. A nice change of pace to spend the day with prospectors-for-fun. I would go back at my own pace to fish through the tailings pile we did not get to at my leisure, but apparently black bears and mountain lions are a thing up there, so it was good to go with armed companions.

The older one was good enough to point out landmarks the casual tourist would never hear about--he had worked for the Forest Service and also at the historic NAN ranch, close to where SRS' kin lived.

NAN ranch

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Nov 25 - 10:29 PM

Chalcopyrite is so pretty, a more interesting color than regular iron pyrite. And an interesting site to look into, thanks for the link!

Lots of shopping today, and some of that meat is getting very expensive. It will be mainly tilapia, chicken, and pork for the foreseeable future, though I bought several beef steaks in the last-chance bin today 1/2 price and had a coupon. As soon as I got home those were cut into portions and into the seal-a-meal bags and frozen. Chicken breasts on a baking sheet and waxed paper and into the freezer and those will go into a larger Ziplock bag (they get eaten quickly enough they don't need to be vacuum sealed). The salmon from Costco is already frozen and sealed, and it's going up again also, about $13 a pound now.

Two plants taken to friends at one stop, an interesting well-built but odd lidded box taken to my daughter at another stop (I talked her into taking it, figuring if she couldn't use it one of her fellow property owners might find a use for it). The antenna arrived ahead of schedule but I need to assemble it so next week is soon enough for the roofer to put it up for me.

There's still a lot to accomplish this week, so tomorrow will also be busy.

How are you feeling today, Charmion? And Dorothy, have you done more walking and cooking and such or is it now too chilly for walks so indoors season for the time being?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 13 Nov 25 - 10:53 PM

I feel better today — thanks for asking, Stilly — not least because I’ve been dosing myself repeatedly with my steroid inhaler. The cough is both loud and persistent, but not quite so uncontrollable. I went to church choir practice — I’m cantor on Sunday — and everything worked, if not at full force.

This house is feeling more and more like home. I haven’t finished putting up pictures yet and the kitchen is still wretched, but I can list the changes I want to make on one small sheet of paper. All I gotta do is find the right people to execute all these projects … starting with replacing the cracked toilet in the, um, “powder room” (I prefer to call it the ground floor loo).

Edmund’s favourite sister phoned yesterday to check up on me — I just love that woman — and asked “So, do you feel happier there?” I have to say that I do. Ottawa isn’t any kind of Promised Land, but it’s where I belong. The house needs work, but whose house doesn’t need work?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Nov 25 - 10:17 AM

Charmion, have you considered pampering yourself in that ground floor loo by getting a bidet, with a warm seat and water? Just what makes the room comfortable in the cold months. (I'll send the specs on the ones the kids gave me if you're interested. Most useful xmas gift I've ever received!)

Is Edmund's family in the area? Do you see them often?

Each morning since the roof installation I police the grounds around the house for tiny pieces of plastic, tar paper, wrapper, shingle, and nails. Most of the nails and plastic disks come from when the tar paper was torn up, and there will be stray ones turning up for a long time.

I noticed from a recent FB photo of Charmion's garage that she backs her car in, something I always do here. My house is near a T intersection so backing into the street takes extra care. Backing up the driveway into the garage takes attention because my 75' drive is curved but I placed a large pale pot as landmark to steer past if it's dark. I learned this in the US Forest Service where we served as an emergency agency (fires mostly, but human safety issues could call us out) having trucks fueled and parked facing the compound was the best way to depart. I'm guessing this is also a military practice that became habit?

Today is another PT run for the ex then we'll come back here and cook Puerto Rican rice and take it and him back home after. I'm still working on getting calories into him. Perhaps we'll work on a project also and assemble my new antenna.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 14 Nov 25 - 11:10 AM

Parking nose-out is, indeed, a military practice that stuck. It’s taught and enforced in the service not only for faster get-away but also (in fact, primarily) because it’s safer. The world outside the garage is a target-rich environment full of things that move without regard to my intentions. As such, it’s not something I want to back into.

Mind you, backing into the garage is not a task for the unskilled. Getting over the curb ramps requires a shot of power just as the car’s arse end clears the door. If the wheels are not perfectly aligned, I have a split second to adjust before clobbering Edmund’s bicycle or the compost bin. Yet another reason (as if I need one) to be sober behind the wheel.

I have been honked at in parking lots by louts who can’t tolerate a 10-second wait for me to back into a slot. Each time that happens, I think “You’re why I do this.”

My ground-floor loo is just barely big enough to accommodate a pedestal sink and the throne itself. Adding a bidet, even the toilet-seat kind, would incur other requirements, such as towels and space to wrestle with layers of clothing. I’ve reached my somewhat advanced age without feeling the need for a bidet, so I think I’m okay in that department. I am, however, considering the purchase of an electric kettle, now that I’m living with an electric range that takes forever to boil the traditional stove-top model. As a Canadian of largely British heritage, I usually prefer to seek comfort in the form of hot beverages.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Nov 25 - 12:52 PM

100% concur with every point about parking - they are also the reasons I do it. To make this method easier I also I head for easier spots distant enough from the building entrance to not be in huge demand, and if it's night, I park under street lights and next to a shopping cart caddy to avoid leaving the car unattended for long when parking the cart. I can always use the steps walking to and from the door.

Ingredients assembled for the rice recipe, and a heads-up delivered that this is how I'd like to spend the afternoon, so he's ok with it.

Weekend coming up, the first in three weeks that is my own, no coming or going required. The rain that was forecast for now has been pushed a few days down the calendar. Both heat pumps are still in the cooling mode, meaning they're not doing anything right now with the average temperature below what usually turns them on, and not so cold overnight to need heat. Last year I didn't mark in my journal when I switched from cooling, but this is very late in the season to not have the heat on yet.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Nov 25 - 08:28 AM

The rice was successful, to the point that the crust of rice on the bottom of the pan (pegao) formed properly. I took him home with the pan so he could put rice in another container and chip out the baked-on delicacy (if you look up "Puerto Rican pegao" you'll see that it is a thing.)

I'm in the process of tracking down a leg of lamb that will be part of our Thanksgiving; Costco has experienced shortages but there was to be a truck in overnight and I'll call this morning to see if any arrived. I'll do a turkey breast, not the entire bird, and the lamb. We do what we can to celebrate with family and keep them interested in coming back by offering not just traditional foods but favorite foods.

The new antenna is assembled. I could put it in the attic but it will be more effective on the edge of the roof - there are plastic parts that spell "planned obsolescence" that I'm not happy about, but I don't know if any of them are more sturdy these days.

The PT seems to be helping the ex with the leg pain, but what really helped was getting the gabapentin out of his system and just using OTC anti-inflammatories. The brain fog is lifting. It is a goal to stay healthy and recover from injuries, but also to not have them inflicted by our health care professionals.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Nov 25 - 10:33 AM

Putting on my contractor hat as I figure out what the next projects are that the insurance cash can perform that fall within the parameters of what the adjustor identified. I think it will involve a carpenter and a painter. And maybe a gutter company.

The new antenna has a base that attaches to the roof or edge but it didn't come with any screws to actually fasten it to the house (or in the attic, were that my choice). I'll have to see what was holding up the previous one and maybe reuse those screws or get a new set.

One more pass through the file case in the office closet (a lidded plastic box with hanging files for important stuff that can be grabbed to take if a hasty exit from the house is necessary). The last two trash collections have removed wads of shredded paper and tomorrow will have more, probably the last time for a while.

In the sewing studio I'm looking at a shasiko project, a combination of quilting scraps and hand stitching. I saw it on Love of Quilting recently.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: pattyClink
Date: 16 Nov 25 - 10:54 AM

That's a good idea to have a 'bug-out' file box. I have one of those I used when traveling, need to rearrange things so it holds the most key items. Even if I never have to bug out because there's not enough tinder for a fire to sweep through, when I keel over my executor could start with that box to know what to do.

Well done chipping away at the shredding! I have lots of that to do and it has to be broken into little sessions so the motor doesn't overheat. Too many decisions deferred years ago amount to clutter today.

Another fun excursion popped up this week and another musical evening. It's been great, but boy I need to concentrate on chores for a while.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Nov 25 - 12:29 PM

patty, when you attend social trips and musical evenings you keep yourself happier and healthier for approaching everything else you need to do. Next week I have a couple of social things to look forward to, a good break from the past few weeks. The next batch of shredding is records from the knee replacement surgeries; I'll keep just enough paper to offer information about who and when the surgeries were done, but the rest is clutter. As you note, the goal is to not burn out the shredder—these few sessions removed about 1.5" of paper, giving more room and lightening the weight of my bug-out file.

In the garden yesterday I encountered a very large unknown-to-me spider on the base of one of the okra plants that had been cut and pulled up last week, in the pile of stuff awaiting transport to the compost pile. Loaded onto the wheelbarrow, the spider traveled to the back and the big okra roots went flying over the back fence onto the rough wooded area that I use for brush (in order to make it less attractive to trespassers hiking through our yards along the creek.) I looked her up; she's a relative of the big Argiope that lived on the front porch all summer, and as big as this one was, she had to have spent months in the okra and I never saw her. Considering how many lizards and toads live in that area, she's either not good tasting or is adept and avoiding predators. I'll have to look for her progeny next year, since there are probably egg sacs in the area. Banded Argiope (Argiope trifasciata) has less striking coloring as the Yellow Garden Spider (A. aurantia) and is a bit creepy when first observed.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: pattyClink
Date: 16 Nov 25 - 04:15 PM

That is an alarming-looking arachnid!! Reminds me of a giant 'wolf spider' I saw once. Well, I am glad you have a new spider to observe after Madame Argiope departed.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Nov 25 - 08:06 PM

That spider is now in the far back of the yard, there wasn't any place in the garden to leave her when I was clearing plants, so she traveled on a big chunk of okra root and stem to the wooded part of the yard.

I got out the tall ladder and climbed up to remove the the antenna head from where it was dangling on the coaxial cable. Instead of waiting for the roofer to come and struggle with installing it on the old spot (edge of the roof) I went to the attic and attached it inside in the same general area. Since it is on the truss it didn't need much reinforcement to keep it in place, and since the last antenna already had an amplifier I didn't even have to put the new one on, it is plugged into the old one. Works fine.

I did two things before setup: I located the broadcast towers on a map and used Google Earth to draw a compass line between the house and the towers (109^o) then got my old Silva Ranger compass (used for forestry work and mountaineering) and set the declination for this part of North Texas (+ 3 ^o - it was about + 18 ^o in the place I used to work and climb). (More info) I was then able to point the antenna to get the best coverage. Works perfectly. Everything I was wearing goes into the laundry now, there's a lot of dust up there.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Nov 25 - 11:05 AM

Another 1/2" of paper was shredded and added to the trash bag this morning, after an interesting tour through knee replacement documents and past tax protests folders.

A canvas tote bag is loaded with about 20 pounds of e-waste, the latest addition is the broken off HD antenna from last week. I have an event to attend tomorrow that will take me to the library where there is a large bin for such materials (I used to be the employee to call and have it emptied when it was full).

The new antenna has a sturdy plastic base with holes so that the steel pipe that supports the antenna can be adjusted to vertical whether installed on a vertical wall or flat or sloped roof. One screw goes through and it pivots to the correct position then a second screw is inserted through one in a row of holes to anchor the best position. I had the first screw in and pushed the pole out of the way but at one point it tipped forward and delivered a robust clunk on my cheekbone. This morning I see I have a 1/4" round dark bruise.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 17 Nov 25 - 03:59 PM

I partially sympathise about shredding old paperwork, or otherwise disposing of it, but it bumps up against the hoarding instinct I may have mentioned somewhere hereabouts before. To the point: We had, erm, Discussions recently with Thames Water* over the fact that our bill was estimated, as a result of which they deigned to inform us that the meter reading we phoned in was the same as in 2021, and that they collectively had known that the meter had been broken for five years. We couldn't trace that ourselves, as Darling Daughter† had gone off on one about having to declutter our paperwork once we go castors-up, and Herself made the mistake of listening and downsizing as instructed.

Only when making up the front-room fire a few weeks later did I discover some of the old bills piled at the side with the newspapers, waiting to be used as tinder. Happily, by then we didn't need the hard-copy evidence.

* That's right: that shower.

† Fondly known as Baggage, for reasons which need not detain us here.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Nov 25 - 09:28 AM

a few weeks later did I discover some of the old bills piled at the side with the newspapers, waiting to be used as tinder. Happily, by then we didn't need the hard-copy evidence.

Yes - knowing what is actually useful now versus what is simply old information. I've shredded a lot of that lately so I don't keep revisiting accounts down memory lane.

Taking a deep dive into the office closet, the spot where that file box lives. I'll be taking some e-waste to recycle today and plan to top the tote bag with excess from there; I have several bins full of cables and computer peripherals and power supplies that sometimes I use (e.g., something that arrived here from Goodwill without a power supply gets one from this bin). But not all of them will be put to use, and they can go to e-waste. At the very minimum, they can all be dusted and rearranged neatly in their labeled bins.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: pattyClink
Date: 18 Nov 25 - 10:04 AM

It doesn't hurt to packrat old papers,for perhaps the 7 years they used to say the IRS could audit you for, keep home improvement records til you sell the place, etc.

A few times we wound up in class-action lawsuits over fraudulent business. A couple yielded trivial amounts, but one clawed back thousands of dollars for us. But you had to have the old records and document it.

Perhaps the key is to mark a box of old stuff "destroy in 2028" or whatever and then actually do it.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Nov 25 - 10:39 AM

I have a separate accordion 12-month file folder that monthly bills and receipts go into. I have an envelope in the kitchen for the paper receipts from stores from my wallet, and at the end of the month it goes into its space in the file. I have a couple of alternating annual folders like that, so when I need one for 2026 I'll be bundling up the receipts from 2024 and storing them in a large manila envelope. Those usually stick around for 5-7 years before they go in the burn pile, achieving the seven year retention you mention. Same with my IRS forms and documents. The papers in the larger file are account information, utilities, city, IRS, retirement, insurance receipts that come in the mail, folders to do with policies, refunds, rebates, and even a few contests (Consumer Reports sends out one I sometimes return; I've never won the car they say is the prize, but what the heck.)

The tendency to leave breadcrumbs to the past, to something I might want to recreate (journal entry, holiday letter, story, non-fiction or fiction, etc.) but I rarely ever use it. The impulse remains. It doesn't help that I spent decades working in a library and special collection archive that was there to retain documents.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Nov 25 - 08:23 PM

One of the closet bins was tipped out and the contents thinned; I generally keep all adapters and cables for computer drives, a few USB cables for various devices, but about 1/3 of the contents were duplicate cables and are now in the library bin along with other discarded electronic devices. Several more bins to go; I'll be in town again next week so will make it a goal to take the rest of the e-waste on that trip.

This morning I dug most of the rest* of the sweet potatoes, I'm guessing at least 40 pounds, making a total of 50 pounds harvested this year. Several of these were the size and shape of an American football.

The library reception this afternoon was nice, a lot of friends—colleagues and professors (who are now friends) present. The acoustics in the room are terrible; it had me thinking I need hearing aids, but when I asked a couple of other folks if it was me or the room, they admitted they couldn't make out much of it. Good thing there is an associated website and I can poke around at leisure.



*I tried to get all of the rest, but the grass is tall enough in the beds and the vines spread around that it is likely I missed a few small ones.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 19 Nov 25 - 03:53 PM

Again, I coughed half the night and got up feeling as if I hadn't slept at all. I have now spent more than half the day on the sofa in my nightie, usually under the cat. I really must go to choir practice tonight, so I’ll have to get dressed eventually.

At the same time I can recover the recycle bins, although the neighbours here are far less fussy about that than they were in Stratford. I guess once you’ve decided that a stack of tires beside your door is okay, what’s a trash bin or three between friends?

I now have shelves in the study closet, so the file boxes are off the floor, and the curb ramps in front of the garage door are spiked into the asphalt. Marc the contractor’s dad, an old-style Franco-Ontarien named André, came by to do the deeds for a small consideration, paid in cash of course. He could not resist scolding me for not having a plastic mat under the desk chair to protect the hardwood floor, even when I pointed out that the chair (with me on it) has been rolling back and forth for six weeks without so much as a scratch. “Better get one anyway. Just to be sure.” He also solemnly warned me about travel to the States. “You don’t wanna go there for a few years yet.”

I read in the New York Times that Canadian visits to the USA have declined nearly 80 percent from this time last year, and are still dropping. I guess André Durocher has his finger on the pulse of the nation.