BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Penny S.
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 05:49 PM

Bad news. The surveyor looked the place over, and decided it was over priced, due, basically to failings in maintenance. The vendor disputes this and will not reduce the price. I am not going to pay what he asks as I will have a lot more work to do to satisfy the lenders.

I'm giving the agent a week. If the sale fails, he is going to dump the vendor.

I'm practically in a state of hoping he doesn't shift now.

I don't like this game. (Bluebottle voice, Goons fans.) Why is it that if you sell any other thing than a house, it has to be fit for purpose.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maeve
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 02:51 PM

Finished removing most of the lath and plaster on the wall we've opened up. This morning we filled the van with chairs, cushions, tiles, books, ...all kinds of useful but not needed things to the local swap shop.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 12:46 PM

I just started another month--with spring cleaning in mind. Great minds think alike!

March de-clutter.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 12:32 PM

I was supposed to be sorting the loft today... as it's now 5.30pm (and still light, Spring is on its way!), I guess that'll happen another day, and thus, another month now.


LTS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 01:37 AM

I set up an event on Facebook today, and as I worked through it I realized I need to set up an entity there for our library and I'd be the administrator. Oy. More work, but it won't look like it's little ol' me inviting library deans and directors of area universities to our lecture next week.

I've picked up around the house this evening, put some donation items into a box that were scattered around. The trick will be to follow through and take them somewhere tomorrow so they're out of the way.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 12:49 AM

More like almost a YEAR, Maryanne!**BG**

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maire-aine
Date: 27 Feb 09 - 11:36 PM

Like Kat, I have a few reservations about Facebook too. I do have a LinkedIn page, but that's mostly business. I get invitations from people to join this group and that, and they all mean that you have to set up a page on each site. The latest was something called "Flixter", I think. It all seems a bit too much. I mean, these de-cluttering threads have been going on for how long now? since last June, right? Each post is like another little tidbit to learn about each other, and the pace is just about right. Some of this Facebook stuff is, like, too much information too soon.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Feb 09 - 08:34 PM

No good feeling guilty over adding new treasures! One must treat oneself now and then, you know, esp. if one has been making space for new things. And, they are not going into storage never to be seen or used!:-)

I took photos of some of my mom's old bottles to put on ebay this weekend, I hope. I also have more patterns, but I think I will bunch them according to style and size rather than list them individually. Maybe no one sews any more? I've had a few looks on each but no bids. And, the teletype roll I put in has one bid, one watcher, someone who also sells them, though theirs are more historical AND I don't think they will get what they've started out the bidding at, but we'll see.

Taxes...*mutter*...*mutter*...must do something this weekend!

Maggie, thanks for the call and advice re' facebook. I haven't had time for it, today, but I remain leery and unconvinced at the moment.:-) Who'd a thunk it? ME, a Luddite??!!

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maire-aine
Date: 27 Feb 09 - 07:43 PM

I was out running errands most of the day, so I wasn't without the 'cat, really. I took all my paperwork to the nice lady that does my taxes. She saves me more that her fee, so better she does it than me. And besides, I really begrudge the time I spend when I do them myself.

After I left her office, I took my cuckoo clock to the repair shop. It's about a half-hour away, but they're really the best around here for that sort of thing. But after lunch, I found myself RE-cluttering, you might say. I stopped at a big antiques "mall" and found a teacup/saucer with heather flowers that I just had to have, and 3 water goblets that were so cheap (half their usual price) that I had to buy them. Now I don't have to worry about breaking them.

Sort of out-of-my-way going home, I stopped at another shop with multiple dealers, and found 3 pieces of Wade Irish Porcelain (search this phrase on ebay, and there are always some for auction). I had told myself "no more", but these were kind of special-- a pitcher, a large tankard with a harp-shaped handle, and a little urn-shaped vase (about the size of an eggcup) for small flowers. But-- an here's the good part-- I did NOT go to the big antiques SHOW nearby.

Will try to restrain myself in the future,

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Feb 09 - 07:22 PM

We came throught that transition easily. Max didn't have to de-clutter, he just moved the entire thing. ;)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Feb 09 - 10:31 AM

I've dumbed down about every setting I can find in Facebook. I don't join most of the groups, I don't accept invitations for this and that cause. The only thing that seems to arrive there is an invitation to add a new friend, who has specifically invited me. Sometimes I see an email about someone making a remark, but most of that is suppressed. I don't want to see those things in my email.

I took a look around the house this morning, and I see a general settling of things of once-open surfaces. Not necessarily stacked wide and deep, but now there. So I'll plan clear up and hope to report on is the general surface survey and dusting project late today when Mudcat has moved, and I have found it. This is one reason for sticking with Facebook, Max will post the new network address. We can put it in the group page as well when it turns up.

This morning I turned on the new laptop from work. Even new, they take a little while to set up, to put in helper programs, but it is a little strange with two computers in front of me at once. And of course, looking at one screen and typing on the wrong keyboard. Or moving the wrong mouse. [Slaps forehead!]

Looks like rain today, and we need it. But I was hoping for weather that would let me work in the yard this weekend. We'll have to see if it clears up in time for yard work or mowing. Maybe I should mow at lunchtime today. It needs it!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maeve
Date: 27 Feb 09 - 05:59 AM

Not I, SRS. My connection makes it inaccessible, and I'm underwhelmed by its tendency to sent out email invitations to everyone on your contact list, as it has done to two of my friends who have joined.

See you at the groups you and katlaughing have set up, and I'll also be checking the "faelte folk" site John set up.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Feb 09 - 11:37 PM

Between the group we set up and the Facebook list (there are several hundred Mudcatters over there now) I think we'll manage to survive for a day or two as Max moves things. Kat is in the process of getting signed up at Facebook--who else is on there?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Feb 09 - 04:55 PM

Always be sure to sign your name when you're a guest, Morgan, so one of the Joe Clones doesn't delete shred you! :)

I didn't know you spent time in Tuscany, Maeve! I envy her the space and time and money she seemed to have to do all of that work. And I love the poetry of how she describes it.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maeve
Date: 26 Feb 09 - 04:23 PM

Hi, Morgan. You did a good job helping shred paper. I like your typing.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: GUEST,MORGAN
Date: 26 Feb 09 - 03:34 PM

I Helped MAMA shred paper. she heklped me type txis x
d
seewf ic an ' t spellyet

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maeve
Date: 26 Feb 09 - 03:07 PM

Yes kat, thanks. I enjoyed the book, though our respective ideas of what low budget projects cost may differ. Her writing invoked memories of my time in Tuscany.

I'll be content with a big stainless sink set on a higher-than-usual counter and cupboards.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Feb 09 - 02:59 PM

Maeve, have you read Under the Tuscan Sun? She describes finding an ancient carved stone sink on one of the terraces of the property around the house she restored. They were able to reuse it after many years of being discarded and buried. (The movie made from the book is cute, but the book is much better, on many levels).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Feb 09 - 01:03 AM

Wow, Maggie, that sounds like a productive day at the office! I don't know how the patterns will sell. ebay's look it up said the average was $16, if I remember right, but that sounds kind of high. When I looked through some sample listings, there were a few that went for several dollars. Most of what I have are from the 60s and 70s with a few 50s. I may bunch some of them together after I see how well these ones do. It cheaper for someone to buy them there than to buy them new AND some of the styles seem to be coming around a bit.

maeve, that sounds exciting and lovely! I remember the OLD house we lived in in New England, so I can visualise what you describe so well. Sounds as though you have some lovely treasures and have done a LOT of work!

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Feb 09 - 08:10 PM

How well do those old patterns sell? I probably have quite a lot of them.

Today I picked up my new glasses. They messed up. When I look at the screen the left eye (my dominant eye) is fuzzy--my old glasses are better than these. And on the new set the lenses are equally thick--that is the clue to the problem. My left lens is always thicker. When I moved them back and forth I see that they used the Rx for the right eye on both sides. Darn. I wonder if I have to wait another week to get the corrected pair?

Busy day away from the house, but I did a lot of de-cluttering at my office. I consulted with the Dean and we decided that there isn't a reason why we need to keep the working pages from back issues of newsletters. No loss to our Special Collections. So I bailed out the bottom drawer (so far) of a four-drawer file in which three drawers aren't being used well. I was able to put a bunch of hanging file folders back in the supply cupboard, dump many pounds of of paper into the recycle bin, and I packed two boxes full of envelopes of photos (that had been sitting on the floor) into the newly emptied drawer.

I have more of this to do, but that was a good start. The trouble is, I am in the business of creating paper stuff. And we keep back copies. So my office, more than a lot of the others, has to stockpile boxes and files. I don't keep the entire overage, I have a system to store them, but I have to revisit it every so often. I have to order more magazine files soon, because I have a bunch stacked cross-ways on one shelf. Anyway, it looks much better.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maeve
Date: 25 Feb 09 - 05:57 PM

We removed one side of a wall in the house; saved the square nails and original split-board lathing for reuse. We removed a chair and a footstool, china, pottery, glassware, pillows, camping gear, magazines, books, burned-out air cleaner, stereo componants (repaired and ready for someone who needs them)... a van full.

I rearranged everyday pottery and glassware for easier use. We figured out where to move the antique enameled wall cabinet and how to use the cherry cupboards in its place. We'll allow room to replace the horrible sink and pressboard cupboard when we find the right replacements.

We know where the big antique library bookcase will go after the wall is gone. We now have access to windows in that room.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Feb 09 - 03:55 PM

Yes, that's a good idea, Maggie.

I got rid of several mirror boxes in my LR along with the wrapping paper I got from the moving company AND sent off the stained glass piece I sold on ebay this morning. Two layers of bubble wrap along with several layers of papers inside of tight boxes. Should do all right. I also put up one more sewing pattern on ebay and scanned in ten more for photos. I'll put them on ebay later today or tomorrow.

Morgan has been off bike riding with his dad today and yesterday; see how much I get done!?:-)

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Feb 09 - 10:44 AM

If the 'cat is down on Friday, maybe a little longer, the Google group may come in handy. Just in time for the weekend and some work that is in relation to payday.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 11:47 PM

Slow and steady, Maggie, you'll get there. And, the ebay will come together when you are ready. Heck, look at all you did on there before I even got started. You inspired me and I hope I can keep up the momentum.:-)

If I am sans-Morgan, tomorrow, I'll click through the irs, again. Thanks!

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 11:39 PM

Kat, I had to click through several pages to finally get to the tax forms. Keep clicking on the link that looks like it goes where you want to end up and you'll eventually get there! You have to set up a logon routine to the secure site, and then it's a little easier if you go back through.

Once you get going on eBay, if you can keep going, that's the way to do it. Every time lately I get close to listing something, there is still something else in the way to move first. :-/

I haven't seen those particular sweet rolls down here, Maryanne, but in this part of Texas there are lots of Czechs, and they make kolaches. They are similar, though not as sweet outside, I would guess. And some of them have sausage links inside instead of fruit filling. I have some friends who were down here visiting from the Seattle area a number of years back, and knowing of the husband's Czech heritage, when we were out driving around looking at the Texas countryside I stopped in a little town with a wonderful bakery, and they were amazed to find a nice array to choose from.

Big, busy day tomorrow. Lots on my plate but I don't think I'll be able to move it all off in one fell swoop.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maire-aine
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 05:13 PM

I spent part of the afternoon working in the guest bedroom. This is where I dropped all of the bags & boxes that I brought home from the office when I retired. I found a 3-shelf metal bookshelf in the basement, so I cleaned it up and brought it upstairs, and stocked it with the manuals that were in the boxes. If I decide to go back to work, I'll need them.

Had to make a trip to my favorite bakery for a jelly donut, paczki we call them around here), it being Fat Tuesday and all.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 04:59 PM

Finished up what I was supposed to do with bill paying, yesterday, then decided to get more stuff on ebay. Put another evening purse on, plus a couple of sewing patterns...vintage 60s ones. I was surprised to see they seem to sell for more than I expected.

In the process of listing some patterns, I went through a box of them, probably about 40 all together and sorted them by size and age. As I get them scanned in, I will continue to list them. That is one box done and out the door!

Maggie, I went to the IRS and clicked through to the fillable forms but every time I clicked on 'pick them out' it wanted me to go off their site and that only took me to some FAQs about the whole thing. I couldn't find where to sign up, etc. Maybe I'll try after a nap.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: GUEST,MAG at work
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 02:57 PM

Decluttered more yard trash into the bin yesterday; it's full until next weekend.

There is room to move around in the spare room now, so I can store the vac and the rug shampooer in there.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 10:49 AM

Some of you are moving some awfully big stuff in your de-cluttering efforts! Here's to maintaining healthy backs, un-smashed fingers, and un-barked shins!

We're entering allergy season in North Texas. I'm sneezing. I still have a stiff neck (I'll call about the glasses today). I need to regroup for the weekend (payday - direct deposit on Sunday, if not on Saturday). It's a mix of stuff (but then, it always is! It's just different stuff right now).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: GUEST,Lilyfestre
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 07:26 AM

We are continuing on with the construction at our house. It's been needed for some time but with the deadline of a baby coming, getting things done has become more urgent. Today we are getting new flooring in the kitchen, hallway and nursery (2 day job so it won't happen ALL today).   We opted to move every single thing out of these spaces ourselves to save some cash. Our hallway has 2 seven foot tall bookcases that are loaded not to mention racks of CDs and videos...soo the hall was a big job in itself. The kitchen had a few free standing cupboards that needed to be moved, a freezer and fridge too....table, chairs etc. As we've been moving these things around, it has been prime time for both of us to really take a look at what's here. Do we need this. Nope. Nope. Nope. The shifting of things has been almost enjoyable (a little rushed though) and letting go of some of the STUFF has been wonderful. I'm liking the empty spaces I'm finding. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: mouldy
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 06:03 AM

Removed about three quarters of the combined ivy/honeysuckle/jasmine from the retainer wall on the "terrace", aka the patio that's slightly raised up at the bottom of the garden. Sounds like I was wrecking a beautiful thing, but the honeysuckle was choked by the other two and the jasmine hardly ever flowered - just grew like mad all over everything else, and rooted wherever it touched the ground!
But Peter never arrived with his trailer, as he had some problem crop up with something in his ordination training, from what I've heard. So I have this mountain of greenery to deal with. I'm going out there shortly to get at the rest.
I'd dump it myself today, but the agreement on the courtesy car I have for the day while mine's being fixed says clearly "no garden refuse". Bugger!
Ah well, maybe tomorrow. Anyway the car they gave me (V50) isn't as big as my V70, and it's actually clean, whereas mine is covered in bird muck (from the local roosting tree in next door's garden) and although it has a boot liner in it, which does keep the back end sort of clean-ish, I don't really bother about my car getting filthy - it has work to do! It does sometimes resemble a mobile skip, and looks very scruffy when it goes down to the Volvo dealership (it's still under warranty).

Have heard back from the surveyor, and the work to be done may not require the boarding, if the underlying floor is sound. There's some stuff that can be painted on. My idea of removing just the top few inches, rather than the whole floor, could also be viable. Suddenly I am starting to feel a bit more positive!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: CamiSu
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 01:22 AM

Ah. The stuff I don't know from not having TV...

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 06:14 PM

I started out to declutter bills this morning, then ran into a snag, so decided to get a special mirror box and packing paper at the movers. Got Morgan to ride shotgun and we went to town. Paid one bill, got the box and paper, headed home. Took a short walk in the rain...we love rain and Morgan loves umbrellas. Then my brother called with car problems. I have been gone from about 11a to now, 4p here, helping him out, buying lunch for the three of us,then taking Morgan home, watching Guy and Ben Wolff on Martha during the ONE half-hour out of the whole day that I was home, then had to go help my bro, again. Tonight, we have called in the big guns. Rog will help tow or push the car one block to the mechanic's and we will take my bro home after. Phew! Guy and Ben were great!!

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 05:31 PM

Cracking the code on using InDesign today and being careful not to lean over the keyboard and look at the screen too intently for too long.

Dishes were all cleared up at lunch. Laundry needs folding, will do that tonight when Antiques Roadshow is on.

I'll have to find at least one de-cluttering thing that I can do this evening, to feel like I'm making progress. For all that the sun room has more space, the stuff seems to have oozed back into the rest of the house.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: MAG
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 12:22 PM

I heard that song at a song circle in Portland some time ago, CamiSu. I've also heard it at Folklife in Seattle.

A Seattle singer-songwriter by the name of Graham, I believe.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 10:56 AM

Grrrr! I set up my computer with the Guest account so my son can print in the morning before going to school (his printer needs ink, I'll get it one of these days). Damned thing reverted over to some awful one-desktop display, changed image, size, moved all of my icons, and first thing I had to restore it to my usual two-monitor display. I took the guest account out. I don't need to fool with that nonsense every morning.

Took recycling by several places this weekend and finished this morning with plastic bags to the grocery store recycle bin.

I need to de-clutter some paperwork around here.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 09:27 AM

Maire-aine - do you turn your mattress regularly? Some can get 'accustomed to your shape' to paraphrase a song from 'My Fair Lady'... and they stop providing adequate support.

You can rotate it along any axis, just so long as you do it regularly, say, every 6 months or so.

I have so many things to do and so little enthusiasm to do it today. So I've elected to have a 'TV' day, and in about an hour, I have to take Limpit to her piano lesson.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maire-aine
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 09:11 AM

I finally got the computer & printer back out of my bedroom & into the music/computer room. There are still 4 boxes of books under the cardtable, but they're not in the way. Now I can tidy up the bedroom again.

I've been having discomfort along my sciatic nerve on the right side, and I think my mattress is causing it. The mattress is only 2 years old, so I shouldn't have to replace it yet. Anyway, I slept in the guest room last night (Little One was confused) and it feels a little better.

The baked beans turned out great, but it sure made a lot. Can they be frozen after they're cooked?

There is a whole lot of laundry to be done, so that's the chore of the day. Snow still covering the garden, so yard work is at least a month away.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: CamiSu
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 08:23 AM

Mag-

Did you hear the Rude Girls do it? They were at a folk fest in Ferrisburg, VT AGES ago. I was actually standing behind them cause it was a tent venue and I was working it.

CamiSu

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: mouldy
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 04:56 AM

After a bit of a lull after Peter reclaimed his trailer, I am getting out this morning to start hacking at the garden. Peter has promised his trailer for this afternoon, so let's see how the back holds out. I aggravated it a bit on Friday when I tripped over my accordion case while rushing out to pay the coalman.

I still have to contact EFDSS about the piano, but my daughter is desperate to let me have her digital, at least for the time being.
Need to contact the surveyor, because I want to know if we can hack just a few inches out of the floors and build it up, instead of merely laying membranes and boarding it, which would mess with levels between rooms. The true fix is to totally remove the concrete floor to its full depth and re-lay, but he said if I was planning to move it would be too much expense.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: CamiSu
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 01:04 AM

I am so impressed with what everyone has done! WISH I had done a tenth of it. I did manage (with my neighbor's help ) to get the range hood over the range (!) It has been in the woodshed or barn for YEARS! Allen (neighbor) has also moved all the shelves and the stuff on them to the middle of the basement so we can insulate the outside wall. I have just barely managed to get the set done for "Grease" and all that stuff comes back at the end of the show. But I did manage to get three bins of metal recycling to the recycling center, and three bags of trash to the dump. (usually it takes me about a month to 6 weeks to gather a bag of trash--I am WAY below the norm-- but this was paint cans that were empty of nearly so, stuff that had accumulate over the last 15 years and so on) But I really need to sort out David's stuff and give it away or sell it or what ever. My Turkish AFS student wore one of his shirts to the semiformal at a neighboring school. He looked great!

Now I need to go to bed. My neighbors nephew-in-law is coming in the morning to look at the kitchen. Perhaps he can build cabinets faster than I have done. 21 years here an the same old ugly stuff. Ironic that the cook in the family is not here to see it happen.

CamiSu

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: GUEST,MAG
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 08:50 PM

well, I decluttered my wallet of some bucks going to see Marley's Ghost this afternoon.

They sang, among lots of other things, "I can see your aura, and it's ugly." I must have been the only one in the audience who had heard it before. They cracked up.

Needed a lift; it was nice. I can feel virtuous because I spent the entire morning working on this place.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 06:16 PM

A local computer company? What do they sell?

One thing you could consider is buying online and purchasing an extended warranty from someplace like Square Trade that deals with a lot of different folks.

The sun room is more tidy now, I've been out for a few groceries and now it's time to shift gears and get ready for the week. Start laundry, make a loaf of bread, think about dinner. Finish up a couple of things I started so I don't have stuff sitting around till next weekend. Going through the pantry was useful, I can plan what I need to use more or less of for a little while.

Nice afternoon. I'll have time to take the dogs for a walk before dark.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: GUEST,MAG
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 04:06 PM

I can't be sure yet about no critters; I checked but not real thoroughly; nothing worse than trapping a critter and making it feel threatened.

Possums are supposed to be hibernating now so I may be OK there, except we have had this warm spell.

I don't think coons come inside. The cat food was not all gone so that is a good sign.

AVG tells me they won't support Windows '98 after April 6, so I have to get serious about this upgrade. A friend recommended a local company she says gave her good service.

Have toget the den cleaned up for servicepeople. sigh.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 01:37 PM

mag, what's the verdict on the house? If the computer was still there for logging on, one presumes it wasn't a burglary. Any critters get inside?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 01:21 PM

My house looks like a disaster and probably will for some time to come. We go in slow stages...moving boxes around, clearing the bookshelves for painting which won't happen for another month or so because I have to wait for Rog's days off and lucky to get him to energise for one of them. And, that's in between the stuff I have to do..edit, play with Morgan (who doesn't start preschool until next week, I had it wrong!), etc., etc. Right now, I hate the way everything looks...so jumbled and messy and Rog even got his sweeping done without a word from me, today! Oh well...slogging on...kat

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maire-aine
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 12:29 PM

Hi, Maggie. Your last post reminded me of this "Cathy" comic from many years ago saved on my fridge:
Monday: Vowed to slow down my crazy pace and reconnect with the simple joys of life.
Tuesday: Spent day trying to clean off the patio to make room for a chair.
Wednesday: Spent day trying to clean out the garage to make room for the junk from the patio.
Thursday: Spent day trying to clean the basement to make room for the junk form the garage.
96 hours into my new simple life, and the only activity I've eliminated is sitting down.

We got about 3 inches of snow yesterday, but I haven't run the snowblower yet. I don't have to be anywhere else until Tuesday night, so I may just leave it there for a while.

One of my Secret Santa gifts was a 14 Bean mix so I'm using it to make baked bean. I soaked the beans last night and mixed up the sugar/molasses sauce this morning. They're halfway thru the 5 hour baking, and the house smells delicious.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 11:48 AM

Wow! Wonder if we can thank you new President for that efficiency and *transparency*!? Just kidding. Thanks for keeping us up on the process, Maggie and good luck with your shelves.

MAG, hope everything is okay this morning?

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 11:27 AM

Now that Kat has de-cluttered behind me (I had two browsers open at once last night and put message A on screen B. . .) I'm back to report a little more progress.

You know those Chinese puzzles we often refer to, 36 squares, 35 tiles? I seem to have opened one of those again. That pantry in the sun room has stuff stacked in there that can stay just as happily on some shelves in the garage. But I had to move stuff in the garage to reach those shelves. So I had to move the pickup out of the garage to move stuff to reach the shelves. :)

I've discovered that some of the valuable real estate on those lower pantry shelves is taken up by empty plastic containers stored side by side. I'll nest them in a stack on top and all of my new canning jars will go down below. I'll also arrange the rest of my jars by size and if they're full or not. (I canned jelly last summer because my son had complained that the strawberry from the store had chunks of fruit. He is now the happy user of two cases of jelly, strawberry in one and mustang grape in the other.)

Next month is our street's turn (once a quarter) for bulky waste pickup, so I should spend some time out in the yard dragging branches so they're ready to put in place for the big truck. I'd prefer to use a chipper and make my own mulch, but renting one is expensive (comes out about $200 per day from Home Depot, for a tow-able machine that handles up to six inch limbs). Decisions, decisions. Maybe a couple of neighbors would want to go in on renting it with me.

In my email this morning I find that the IRS accepted my taxes filed on Friday night.

Dear Free File Taxpayer:

Congratulations, the IRS has accepted your federal return.

Now that your return has been accepted, in 72 hours, you will be able to track your refund at
Where's My Refund? on the IRS Web site.

You will need to enter your Social Security number, filing status and amount of your expected refund.

The IRS issues refunds every Friday, so if you check Where's My Refund and do not get an expected refund date,
wait until the next Friday to check again. You can also call [phone] for refund status, but wait at least
4 weeks from the day you e-filed.

Good news!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: GUEST,mag
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 02:43 AM

I got home from the monthly dance and discovered the back door open.

I can't believe I would have left it that way.

Now I'm paranoid that coons and possums are lurking under the bed.

Not to mention how it got that way.

Ack!

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Feb 09 - 11:03 PM

This evening I started to work on the sun room, and for some reason I had to get something out of the cupboard above the dishwasher. That's where I keep the Rx stuff for people and pets. And I started looking at the expiration dates. It has been a while. Quite a few OTC things went in the trash, and their bottles and caps went into the recycle bin. So, I haven't done much more on the sun room, but I made more space (and removed one plastic tub) from the drug cupboard.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Feb 09 - 06:45 PM

All of my recycling stuff was delivered to the various places. I went past the Goodwill trailer a little before 5pm and the attendant had left early, so I'll try again tomorrow. This evening I can find a few more things to add to the big black plastic trash bag full of clothing.

In the past I've sold clothes on eBay, but it is an iffy venture. I have a few nice items to sell, but that bag for the Goodwill has a lot of things that are best dealt with locally. They're in good shape, but it's just too much work to describe, pack, list, then sell them for next to nothing.

Now I have a path trough the middle of the sun room now and will work on the pantry shelves this evening. And I should be able to set up the seed stuff.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Feb 09 - 04:44 PM

No sooner asked than answered! Found the photos! Right under our noses; where we had looked several time. This time I dug a little deeper! Also decluttered two bins into one. Found my fav. cassette tapes which have been missing which I can now load into my HD. Found a variety of other *treaures*, too, including an exquisite evening purse to sell on ebay.:-)

Of course the house looks like a disaster with more bins sitting around to be gone through and done with.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Feb 09 - 03:39 PM

Thanks for letting us learn the ropes from your experience, Maggie. I hope to get to the taxes tomorrow. we are still looking for a lost bin of photographs, old ones from when I was a kid, so we just went through the caravan (travel trailer) and didn't find them, but did find a pillow I need. We also went through the old panel van we use for storage. No photos, but we did find some more books to sell, plus a few other things which I can file/use/shred. So, a little decluttering from storage adds to temporary clutter inside.

Now, we are headed to the closets to find those photos! Any spare thoughts/energy/visalizatins of them *popping out* at us greatly appreciated.:-) They got put away "safely" either when I got so sick or when our daughter moved out and we moved bedrooms, painted, and moved again. *sigh*

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Feb 09 - 03:29 PM

Okay, some real de-cluttering is getting done this afternoon. It is clear but it isn't warming up outside. If I can't garden, I'll do the next best thing, put seeds to start in my window. But I have to reach the window. My sunroom is packed full of flattened boxes and boxes of stuff to eBay and things to file. . . you probably know the scenario.

Unpacking the room means things are on counters in the kitchen and on the floor near the door, etc. I'll pull out enough that I can document and donate today, or that I can take by the recycle center. This evening I'll repack some of the shipping boxes and I also have to redo the pantry shelving in that room (it's a six-shelf chrome-wire rolling unit). If I can get that sorted out I'll move some of this stuff off of the sun room floor. It'll make eBay easier and it need to get back to it.

The taxes didn't take the first time, a note came this morning--the note said something about the employer's address on the W-2 form, so I rearranged the address and sent it back. Once the IRS accepts it the processing can be pretty quick. Fingers crossed that two times are the charm.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Feb 09 - 11:38 AM

I have the pressure of filling out the federal FAFSA stuff for my daughter who is in college. I had to resubmit the forms just now--IRS rejected it, probably because I used the wrong line for the university box mailing address. There was a note that it was how I had filled out the W-2 form document that is filed with the package. The rest seemed to be in order. If this doesn't take, for some reason, I can print the pages and mail them in.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: GUEST,MAG
Date: 21 Feb 09 - 10:59 AM

You guys make me tired; I can't even think about taxes yet. It takes me forever to get the paperwork together. If I were better organized, it wouldn't be the extreme anxiety thing it is.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Feb 09 - 10:17 AM

Here's the weekend, so of course they're predicting wind and rain. [sigh] I want to do some work in the garden after I return from taking my recycling out to the collection site.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Feb 09 - 12:53 AM

This doesn't cover state filings, but if you do that on paper, it's still free. Divide and conquer.

You'll get the IRS cash back sooner this way, even if you have to do it in a couple of different filings between the entities. It prints out your forms easily, etc.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Feb 09 - 12:35 AM

That's great, Maggie, thanks! I figured they still pointed people to the sites like H&R Block who may do it for free, but want your money for state, etc. THANKS!

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Feb 09 - 12:22 AM

Kat, there is a FreeFile feature available through the IRS this year. I just used it. FINALLY, they have a setup for folks who do the math on paper then want to file free to the IRS. There isn't an income limit.

I did it on paper, I went to the site, it wasn't difficult to set up, I filled in the forms (click "do the math" fairly often and you don't even have to fill in that much stuff.) Easy peasy, and I'll learn in a couple of days whether the IRS accepts it or not. In addition to this year's tax info, it wants your adjusted gross income from last year (as a double blind for checking if you're really you, along with the usual info). You can fill in the bank info for direct deposit, you set up a pin number to substitute for your signature. You fill in your forms, including your W-2.

Now that is a BIG ITEM off of my "to do" and de-clutter list. I can get all of this paper off of my dining room table and computer desk. The weekend is MINE!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Feb 09 - 08:27 PM

Recycle center must have changed their hours. It was closed when I went by, but I did drop off newspaper and cardboard behind city hall in their recycle bins (I take recycling to the Fort Worth site that my village doesn't collect).

Finished a dinner of leftover pot roast, and now I have the tax pages spread out on the dining room table. I'm going back and forth to the computer to look up tax pages and instructions. I hope to finish them tonight.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Feb 09 - 04:33 PM

I remember how fast those couple of hours went when the kids were in pre-school and half-day Kindergarten. Barely time to get started on anything before you have to stop again.

I wonder if I can make a run this afternoon and get some of this recycling out of here. It would be nice to have a little less to do tomorrow.

Since it's Friday I will probably include a little time to pamper myself. I decided a while back that if I don't make the time, that it never gets done. I suppose this shows the sad state of affairs (pun intended!) of my social life, but Friday is the first evening I have to myself after my work week and the week with my son here, and the household tends to revolve around his school schedule. He spends Friday and Saturday nights with his Dad. I can kick back, put in a movie, and do a pedicure or whatever. Makes me feel a little more put together for the upcoming week.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Feb 09 - 03:24 PM

Liz, I know that's what will happen, but today and yesterday I was really firm with him and stuck to his "go home time" that he and I agreed to. (He usually begs to stay longer, which just warms Mama's heart, so...:-) And, when I have a set schedule, I seem to do better. I knew I had to get him this morning for science class at 10a, so, before that, I listed two handbags on ebay, paid our mortgage, and washed my hair, and put in a load of laundry. After his class, we went out for lunch, then went to the grocery store. I dropped him off after that, at home, so here I am getting ready to finish the laundry and pay some more bills. Oh, and we also went to the post office, before his class, and mailed off two necklaces and two bracelets! Ah...feels good!

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maire-aine
Date: 20 Feb 09 - 03:20 PM

Most of the main floor is back to normal after the painting. I spent most of the day working in the music/computer room. I still have 5 boxes of books and zero shelf space. That means I need to go through everything, to decide whether I want to keep it or not.

I'm not quite ready to move the computer back in there (from my bedroom), but maybe one more day should do it.

I have to be at an 8am meeting in the morning, and it will last until mid-afternoon. I hope I can get away a little early. There is snow in the forecast for tomorrow (5" - 8" worst case), and I'd like to go home before it gets too deep.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: GUEST,MAG at work
Date: 20 Feb 09 - 11:06 AM

I started a bagful of stuff to drop by the charity box at St Vincen'ts thrift shop. (I'm not Catholic, but they are now the best thrift shop in town, since Humane Society shut down, AND they have a giveaway box. Stuff has to be in pretty bad shape by the time I qit wearing it.)

Bird feed stuff I gave to a friend at work; now that I have cats again I quit feeding the birds. (not fair.)

Saw *The Reader* last night; boy was that depressing.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Feb 09 - 10:34 AM

I'm fighting this stiff neck, trying to keep it from getting worse, so I'm staggering my screen time and getting up to walk around. I scooped the yard yesterday afternoon in preparation for the first mow of the spring this weekend. The weeds are robust. So my list of things to do is growing, now that the yard is coming back to life, and the gardening always calls louder than house cleaning and de-cluttering does.

My son came *that* close this morning to asking where I put his guitar strings (we bought a pack of 20 sets for the electric a great price several months back). I knew that they had always been in his control, so I suggested they were lost in the clutter on his computer desk, and he did find them. He didn't quite come out with "what did you do with. . ." line because I think he had that nagging feeling that it would backfire and I'd nail him when they turned up. :) But I think I do need to clear more space in the cabinets by his computer and see if I can actually get him to use it. I'll move a chair that looks nice to sit on there but in fact is only used to pile up school books (in front of the cabinet).

It's a weekend for mowing and clearing out donations and recycling. Then we'll see what else needs work.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 20 Feb 09 - 05:05 AM

Don't be so sure of that Kat, you use the time to prepare for clearing and before you know it the little darling is back home again... I thought I'd have lots of spare time when I went to part time working and Limpit went to secondary school (high school), but I'm still hard pushed to find time to do everything I should!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Feb 09 - 12:59 AM

I wouldn't just trust those to earthlink, Maggie! That one of the sprinkler is priceless and the others are close seconds! Thanks for posting them.

I know what you mean about Spring Fever. I cannot wait to get started on some projects. Morgan will start two half days in preschool next week, so I hope to have more uninterrupted time.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maire-aine
Date: 19 Feb 09 - 10:45 PM

What a cutie!

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Feb 09 - 10:32 PM

Awwww. . .

I changed my account with Earthlink, but they didn't (yet) take away my web pages. I found a few links I should probably de-clutter.

Will you love me and keep me? was taken shortly after my American Staffordshire Terrier Cinnamon arrived.

The answer is "yes!!!"

I'll protect the yard from the sprinkler

and my favorite

and we'll get her a companion.

I think I won't de-clutter those. I'll leave them there as long as Earthink doesn't care. Considering how un-bashful Cinnamon is, I guess I could retitle those pages using the song from the musical Flower Drum Song: "I Enjoy Being a Girl." ;-)
SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Feb 09 - 10:22 PM

Just as well I posted that IRS link! I was able to use it now to go get the Schedule A local tax page information I needed.

I walked through the house this afternoon thinking I need to clear out. Not like 12 months ago, perhaps, but stuff has gradually built up again. Donations, recycling, projects. They need to be donated, recycled, or finished. Another sign that spring is here--the spring cleaning urge is growing.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Feb 09 - 03:51 PM

Oh, yes, I've found the forms online, before, but filled them in by hand and then scanned and saved on the PC. I'll try filling them out on the PC this time and go the way you suggest. Thanks>;_)

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Feb 09 - 12:34 PM

You don't need to scan them to PDF, the government has all of the forms as PDF files. Haven't you had occasion yet to visit that site? It changed a little from last year, instead of scrolling down a long list, now you enter the form you want in the line and it brings the possible versions up.

The main site is, of course, www.irs.gov. From there you can go to http://www.irs.gov/app/picklist/list/formsInstructions.html and enter a form number. You'll need Form 8283 for all of the non-cash donations you made this year, for example. When you put your cursor over the parts that you would fill out, you can type in your answers. If you save the file on your computer you can still fill it in (you probably need an up-to-date version of Adobe Reader to use it). It isn't a spread sheet, it won't do math, it will just let you enter text and numbers. But it gives you a very nice looking form of your statement to send in.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Feb 09 - 10:46 AM

I have hard copies, but hadn't thought about NOT having them scanned and saved on the PC, too. Thanks!

The fed. filing is free, but not the state. Like you, I don't like that I don't see the numbers and how they are generated by the programs online. So...at least it will declutter my mind.:-)

I will be sending off two necklaces and two bracelets this Saturday, so that's four projects off my table. Haven't heard a thing from the winner of my ebay auction he's got seven days, but still, it'd be nice to hear from him and be paid besides get it out of the house and on its way.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Feb 09 - 10:38 AM

You can file free if you fit the criteria the IRS has negotiated with the various providers. Did you look through all of them? There are usually several options to consider.

You can fill out the online IRS forms so they all have a nice clear typed appearance. Those PDF forms are addressable (save them, then fill them in, before you print them out). Be sure to save them somewhere safe, and not on the computer. My stolen computer (in 2005) contained completely filled out tax returns and there wasn't a safeguard to keep anyone from them. I won't make that mistake again, and four years out, I hope that hard drive is long-since dead somewhere.

I might be able to file free this year, but I haven't approached any of the software yet. I don't like how some of them calculate the information and make you fill everything in online before moving forward. I like to do the math myself and see what's up before I approach the programs.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Feb 09 - 12:20 AM

I got depressed doing our taxes online; it would have cost more to have them done than we'd get back. So, now, I have to gather the forms, myself, and sit down with the numbers, etc. Hope to do that this weekend.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 10:56 PM

I'm doing my taxes. I have to dig out numbers, so came in to see if I could find them online (credit card purchases). One bank had some categorized, the other didn't, so back to the files I go.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 06:30 PM

Got rid of a bag of old school uniform from a school Limpit left 2 years ago, tonight... her computer area is now clean and clear and clutter-free, ready for the return of her computer from its exile in the front room - where it was put as a punishment for her being a right git one morning and having to be frogmarched to school.

She helped clear up part of her room today and that meant a whole other bag of recycleable papers and 2 smaller bags of other rubbish, left the premises. And we did it in an hour! She's one of these people that need constant encouragement (or 'nagging' as she calls it) to get horrid tasks done.

As a result of that tidy up, the spare shelves and the bookcase that were clogging the hall (from the corner of the living room I de-clogged last weekend) have been moved to the loft and Limpits' room respectively, and I'm gearing up for a major loft sort, weekend after next. Hopefully that will stop the cat peeing in the hall as well.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 01:19 PM

In the February 2009 Martha Stewart Living she talked about the things she carries on her travels. Okay, there are some really high-dollar wallets and bags that can be replaced with modestly priced durable items, but she made a good point for those who used to travel like me--I ended up with something for every possible weather condition, down to the shoes--it made for bulky luggage. I've gotten better at it over the years.

I have to take my recycling over to the collection center, and I have items piling up on that love seat that need to go to the Goodwill. Looks like it's time to start up the donor lists for next year's taxes. I evicted quite a few of these things when I was doing my closet a while back.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 01:10 PM

MAG, check your email. I am reaping the bennies of your recycling. Got the box! Thanks!!

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: GUEST,MAG at work
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 12:15 PM

I haven't got much doen what ith being ut of town over the weekend.

I do have lots of yard trash to get into the can TONIGHT; trash day tomorrow.

I have a pile of recycling to take home and put in recycling (catalogs; I get a ton of 'em).

I have offered clothes to a friend; there' so much crap I don't think I can wait until spring and have a sale.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maire-aine
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 11:57 AM

I took 5 bags of newspapers & a whole bunch of cardboard boxes to the recycling center this morning. They had piled up on the front porch over the winter, and this is the first day that it was nice enough to move them out. Maybe this means spring is on the way.

M

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 07:46 PM

Thanks--

AND I can load and unload all these things mySELF.

===

I started this when I was driving across to Chicago on a regular basis to take respite-care of Hardi's ailing Dad. There was this one motel halfway along, where I'd stop overnight-- I forget how I found it, but it had a pool three steps away from my fave room, and the path to the parked car was also a VERY short distance, on the flat-- so I started using the car as a closet and ONLY unpacking what I needed when I needed it.

Over several years' trips, what I needed started to miniaturize, and I got very good at packing so that I could find ANYthing I might need, and get ONLY that item. Bop out to get an item, just like going into the next room in my house, really.

Now I make sure I can ALWAYS travel like that-- not necessarily with the flat terrain, but the division of things into small kits and bags that, themselves, fit into larger bins or bags. I CONTAINERIZE everything..... Easily toted in large loads or easily rifled for small needs.

And so I no longer bring it all into the room where I am staying. The van is my spare room! It's also set up to sleep in as needed, of course, in warmish weather or for winter road emergencies.


But the BEST de-clut these days is the musical one, and it's entirely thanks to our dear Olddude for sending me a notebook. No more autoharp and plethora of playing furniture to play it the odd way I do-- all that stays now at CHURCH, and all I need, traveling, is my vocal cords and my notebook.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 07:38 PM

Cross-posted, Susan. CONGRATULATIONS!! I travel with three must-have pillows and have to take along my own sheets whenever we are out overnight, so I can relate. I cannot sleep just anywhere, no matter the pillows, though. Wish I could, it'd make things easier.:-)Good for you!!!

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 07:33 PM

Good for you, Maggie, for taking care of yourself and your eyes. That's important. I have a pair of old glasses, two prescriptions back, which i use for some reading and jewellery making. The ones I use for the computer, I use all of the time, the next to the newest rx. I only wear the new rx, new almost two years ago, to drive and watch tv.

I sent off three books, today, so the pile goes down, slowly, but down.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 07:33 PM

This is a VERY big deal because it increases my range, mobility-wise-- dramatically. And it is a BIG de-clutter in that it reduced the stuff routinely on board in the van as well as stuff in the house.

It used to be that I had to drag a big, soft duffel for overnights, that held 12-- yes, 12-- pillows of various sizes. With these I could let go and sleep deeply just about anywhere, and recover from the arduous hurts of being in the Wrong Chairs too long at meetings, or in the car. People helped me lug it, at first. Eventually I took over the lugging. By last year I could strap it onto my back and lug it that way, myself. It was always worth the effort. But it took up so much room in the van... and it meant I could not easily travel without the van.

In the last year this huge duffel became a smart-looking, wheeled, airline-roll-on bag with miniaturized pillows. Today I added a matching rolling bag that contains the equivalent of a sleeping bag for 2 on a king bed, as Hardi and I often have wished we had in a lightweight, compact form. It contains sheets and a sheet blanket to layer over someone's carefully-linened bedding, so that I can roll it out, pop in, and leave the hostess with a fresh bed ready for the next guest, too, as I like to do.

These two bags, together, still take about half the space the one big pillow-duffel took, and they can be easily wheeled behind me or left in the van if they are not needed. And they are small enough to fit into Hardi's car if we go touring in THAT.

The pillow bag, being the more-essential of the pair, also holds lightweight jammies, toiletries, etc. My purse holds any necessary meds for the few days I'm usually away. More meds are usually safely stored in the van's glovebox.

A third, small shoulder bag-- they came as a set-- now holds the great ToughBook that just came my way, and its accessories, including the 2GB flash key of things to give away on my travels and the print matter for whatever workshop I may be leading (or marketing) out there.


I am OUT, OUT, OUT! All I need now is a GPS.......

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maire-aine
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 05:59 PM

Last night I invited a friend for supper and made beef & broccoli stir-fry, with some rice. I turned out great. I don't often cook a big meal, except once in a while (just to prove I still know how). We had oranges for dessert, and coffee with amaretto to finish it off. When he when home, I just left the dishes in the sink and went to bed.

Had a doctor's appointment this morning, so I tackled the dirty dishes afterwards. Then I took a bunch of dishes out of one of the cupboards, boxed them up and took them down to the basement. I don't think I'll get rid of them. Maybe in a year or 2 I'll rotate them back up to the kitchen and put them out.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 04:07 PM

So, the eye doctor isn't giving me Office Glasses this time, she is giving me Computer Glasses. Single focus, arm's length away, and as she tested a sample set I saw what I could do in the interim until the new glasses are finished (seems it will take a week, but at least they didn't cost much). I picked up a pair of 1.25 magnification cheap reading glasses at a pharmacy on the way home and have propped them on my nose over my regular glasses (not the old office glasses). It means the magnification for reading is straight out, not down like in bifocals. So I'm keeping my head at the right angle. I'm sure it looks very strange, but it will get me through the next week and it is worth $10 for the cheap glasses to get rid of the sore neck.

Busy evening, but maybe by tomorrow I can start working on eBay stuff again.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 11:45 AM

Throw a load of laundry into the washer and take a nap. You can listen to the machine work as it creates a nurturing "heartbeat" of activity in the house. Maybe it will help. ;)

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: GUEST,LTS pretending to do housework
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 11:26 AM

Failing miserably again today.. I plead migraine. Tomorrow might be better.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 11:18 AM

Just so you de-clutter the old photos after you've finished the work!

Welcome to the group--a loose association of folks who are trying to stop tripping over the stuff in their houses and offices.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: saulgoldie
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 11:03 AM

I haven't read all the decluttering posts. But this is part of my strategy. I often feel like after several hours of work, I haven't made any progress. So I take pictures of before, and later, and after so I can see visibly that progress IS being made. Kind of like those weight loss before and after pics. Right now, I have to take some "before" pics. I'm slow getting out of the gate. But I WILL get on down the field, for sure.

Saul

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 10:31 AM

I've rearranged my office furniture, repositioned my monitors, and I must conclude from my ongoing stiff neck that I need new glasses. I must be tipping my head back too much now. The first time I encountered this problem several years ago I went home with "office glasses," a set with close and mid-range lenses, but no distance (these aren't for walking around, just for computer work). I haven't updated these over the last couple of eye exams. I guess it's time to bite the bullet. I'll recycle one pair of frames for another pair of office lenses and get a new pair of frames for my walking-around glasses.

Bummer. This isn't going to be cheap (even with insurance).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 Feb 09 - 05:05 PM

Day off today, visiting friends, grocery shopping and a doctors appointment... tomorrow we begin again.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Feb 09 - 12:49 AM

HeyaSis, glad you found us! Isn't -6F a heat wave for up there this time of year? Don't you have the ice festival thing coming up soon?:-)

Yeah, SRS, I did get one bid, exactly. Oh well, it's better than it not selling at all. Once I deduct the ebay listing fee, etc. it'll come down a bit, but I'll keep at it. I've mostly got small stuff which may not bring in a lot, but skipy inspires me with all of his clothing sales he does on there.

We didn't do much else today except watched the ends of two movies, so we can send them on their way. Guess that's some kind of decluttering. Oh, Rog did a major mucking out of his work truck. LOTS of cold weather and electronic gear. He did a good job.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 11:11 PM

Oh, and welcome, bet! As Maryanne says, we sometimes measure progress in very small steps. But progress toward de-cluttering sometimes starts from one clear counter top or dresser drawer.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 11:08 PM

From Alaska to Texas there is quite a span of growing regions, according to the USDA folks! And just because I'm looking at onions now doesn't mean we won't get zapped with cold weather again. I pulled the faucet cover off the back spigot to fill the dog dishes (easier than carrying the bucket). I have it near the door in case we have a turn back to cold.

Kat, I see you have a bid! Great! I hope you do have that last minute flurry of bidders!

I found another couple of programs that I hadn't downloaded into the new configuration. Yahoo Messenger and AIM. I don't use them often, but they're handy sometimes.

Laundry is folded and put away. Dishes are soaking in the sink (and tonight's pot roast was fabulous! The meat was falling apart, the veggies perfect, and near the end of cooking I tipped a good portion of merlot into the juice and it made for a very pleasing sauce.)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maire-aine
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 09:35 PM

Welcome, bet. We measure progress in small increments here, so feel good about anything you accomplish.

Today was the 15th anniversary of out trivia quiz, and we had 26 five-person teams-- our team won first place.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: bet
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 08:47 PM

I'm really late in finding this thread. Hope you don't mind if I jump in. Stilly River Sage, I just had a good laugh at your thread, not at you, yesterday my daughter, grandson and I shoveled snow off the deck and driveway. No way am I putting out onions yet. It's about -6F here in inter Alaska but we do have daylight now and it's 4:44. I can't say that I have decluttered any thing yet but the computer area is going to GET IT! I had already thought about it before I read the threads above it took me forever to find all my income tax stuff this year. Next year I'm going to have things organized. And that means boxes in the garage unloaded.
bet

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 08:09 PM

I hauled out some soaker hose to lay down in the garden next to the back door. I finished turning over the soil and I shoveled on a bunch of compost. I'll probably scatter more over before I am finished. Onion sets picked up today will be planted this week, and seeds for several other things.

The kitchen is looking good, as are several parts of the house. Others need attention. Laundry is finished, bread is baked. It's time to pull out the mower and get it ready for the year, and see if I can get the tiller to run. House and garden once again merge, demanding equal time and attention.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 07:24 PM

Mopped the floors and put away the craft clutter. Also finished the laundry. I now have 4 watchers, no bids, 75 views and it ends in about 5 hours. C'mon bidding frenzy!

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 09:50 AM

Made a start on that cupboard under the sink, fixed a cat flap, put up a wall lamp, made a new cat bed and sorted the bins... now I have to go and finish something else. It never ends does it? Haven't done the computer table yet though.. it's on my 'to do list' OK?!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: mouldy
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 08:31 AM

Now the car smells like something died in it - there's a soggy carpet front and back on the passenger side. Not bad for a car that's less than 3 years old! A friend seems to think a heater hose may have gone.

There's always something to distract me from the house!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Penny S.
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 07:42 AM

Cleared a lot of accumulated stuff from the sofa yesterday, and the table, so that we could have a sit up special meal. But paperwork is still stacked up on a chair to be gone through. Tomorrow, I think.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: mouldy
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 02:37 AM

I decided that with a house move on the cards I would lose my old upright piano, which I love (but mainly for its walnut case). It would be a pain to shift, and cost extra.
My daughter has offered me her digital one, which has had to go and live in her cold garage for reasons of space, and which she doesn't have time to play. This is good (from my point of view). Also, the EFDSS have been asking if people have old, usable pianos to donate. I don't play very well, but my girls aren't bad, and I want my grandchildren to be able to have a hands-on with one.

I have been wondering whether to bite the bullet and get the floors excavated out after all, otherwise I am going to have a problem with floor levels. My daughter says to just put it on the market, warts and all! I'll have a word with the surveyor, and see what he thinks. It won't be done until at least April, anyway.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 12:47 AM

Our Clementine/Valentine lunch went well, it was no problem to clear up the kitchen and dining area quickly--when it's in good shape to begin with, clearing up is easy. But no forward progress on de-clutter today. Or grout.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 06:51 PM

I finally have TWO watchers of my glass on ebay and 57 views. It ends in a day or two; I hope they get into a bidding frenzy!:-)

I have counted it a good declutter day this week if I get one book entered into my bookstore online and I have managed to do that, at elast. NOW I have to figure out where to shelve them until they sell!:-)

Now that St. Vday is over, I can put away all of those crafts and that will clear some. I hope to go through more books in the LR tomorrow. Today I did a week's worth of dishes while Rog swept and took out the trash and I did laundry.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maire-aine
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 06:40 PM

Things are getting back to normal, but I'm taking it very slowly. I've wiped down almost everything, but the wood furniture needs a coat of polish. The pull-down stairway to the attic was painted shut, so I ran a knife around the edge and got that open. I'll work on cleaning up the kitchen tomorrow.

It snowed today (but only about 2") so I stayed inside. But I need to go grocery shopping tomorrow.

Eventually I've got to go thru all the books (in the boxes and on the shelves) to decide whether it's to be read, to be kept, or to be given away/sold. That could take a while.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: GUEST,LTS pretending to do housework
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 04:33 PM

Decluttered the cellar of a couple of bags of waterlogged crap and fixed that shelf in the kitchen. Didn't get to sort all the stuff there but at least the shelf is done.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 12:00 PM

I need to get back to eBay tonight.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 01:10 AM

The kitchen is clean, dishes all draining. The big peninsula counter is clear and the toaster has even been scrubbed so the brushed steel looks new.

Tomorrow I'm doing lunch for the kids as a delayed wake for the lost kitty. I wasn't sure if my daughter would remember the suggestion we do this, but she called today with a menu request. I guess it's on. A friend also recently lost both a long-term bunny and a cat (alas, killed by a neighbor dog), so he's invited. Burgers grilled out in the driveway.

Maybe I'll get some grout done in the morning. This evening I've been catching up on my NetFlix.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: GUEST,MAG at work
Date: 13 Feb 09 - 11:14 AM

Now that it's a bit light when I get home from work, it is easier to do some tidying and moving stuff around in my spare room.

Sometimes I feel like I'm just playing Rubik's Cube wit the stuff, but really, some stuff does go out.

The depressing thing is that I've remembered a lot of what is in here is boxes I was stockpiling for what I thought was an upcoming move that never happened. I'm hanging on to them just in case.

STLL have not found the missing clothes; one thing I know was stored was a very nice blue suit and if I don't find it soon, it won't fit. There just aren't any places left to look.

I found a whole box of 2X sweaters which I can sort of wear now, but not next year unless I backslide.

I do not intend to backslide.

Portland this weekend; not much will get done, but then I am off Thursday for the holiday (President's Day, for those not in the U.S.A.).

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: mouldy
Date: 13 Feb 09 - 05:49 AM

Well this morning I am losing an item from my living room, but it's merely moving house, as it's actually going back home to Jane's.

Hardly clutter, though - it's one of Geoff's banjos!

I'm decluttering some old bits of broken and unwanted jewellery off to the jewellers this afternoon, and see if he'll give me a few quid for them. Better that than festering unloved in a box!
Peter has just been and taken his trailer, so the garden overhaul will be (happily) put off for a bit.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 10:42 PM

Sounds nice!

It took me a while to find the last bit I needed to finish my taxes. I know, I wanted to do them in January, but I'm doing them now. Anyway, I couldn't find last year's return. That's always my starting point--what forms did I fill out last year, and do I need them again this year? I forgot, in my efficiency, that I had moved my taxes to a more "logical" place. A file cabinet in my office (versus the cabinet in the living room where all of my bills get paid, over in one corner out of the way). But now I'm set. I'm impressed with all of the donations I generated over the year, nearly $2000 in cloths, objects, books, journals, and such. I have documents for all of it.

Have I gushed here yet about how much I'm enjoying my old-fashioned IBM Selectric keyboard, made for computers? (Unicomp out of Kentucky makes them.) It is a bit louder than any I've used for a long time, but the brain and the fingers work so well together with this thing, it is worth the $78 (including shipping) to get it here. More expensive than my last keyboard (about $35) but a lot less than some of the fancy gaming boards (they go up to $200 and more). I'll keep my Microsoft keyboard (not bad, all things considered, and better than most if you're a touch typist) as a spare, and I'll find a logical place to put it. That'll help clear a little of the stuff off of that work desk across the room.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maire-aine
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 07:50 PM

I went out an re-stocked my cleaning supplies, and while I was at it it bought a cheap DVD starring George Clooney and a cheap bottle of wine to go with it. So tomorrow I'll have an incentive to work hard and then relax.

Cheers,
M

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 07:01 PM

Working tomorrow but Saturday I think will be the 'sort the kitchen' day... I intend to replace the shelf that fell down about 3 weeks ago, sort out the cupboard under the sink and see exactly how many plastic pots don't have lids, then chuck out the ones that don't!

It can only improve things...

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 04:48 PM

This house had the most glum drab brown inside the cabinets when I moved in. If you have to take down and wash all of the kitchen stuff, it sounds like a good time to evaluate the collection, and how you arrange it, and maybe repaper the shelves or paint the insides of the cabinets. Takes off her Martha Stewart hat. . .

I think I need to make another pass through the books in here. Or at least rearrange some of the boxes on the shelves dedicated to my Dad's music. I'm looking more directly at those shelves now that I moved my desk. And I need to start scanning and transcribing a lot of the paper in his files. I'd still keep the paper, for posterity, but I could pack it way more efficiently and access the data more easily if it is on disks or a hard drive.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maire-aine
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 03:46 PM

Ahhhh! It's finished. The painting is finished and the last guy just left. It really does look great, and I'm glad I had it done, but I don't think I'll do this big of a project again. The walls are creamy white and the trim is a slightly whiter white, and it is very pretty, and clean!

I couldn't catch Little One to put her in the guestroom, so I kept her in my bedroom. She's been remarkably calm about this whole experience.

I went out for lunch about 1pm and got back about 2:30pm. They had mopped up the wood floors and put most of the furniture back about where it came from. One of the guys helped me carry the last few boxes of books upstairs.

But I feel worn out just looking at everything that still needs to be done. The floor needs to be washed again and polished. And there is still a thick coat of white plaster dust on most of the furniture. I'm going to be dusting all summer. I'll have to decide where I'm going to re-hang the pictures and put them back up. And all the knick-knacks have to be taken out of the boxes and put back up, maybe.

Everything in the kitchen (which is mostly open shelves) will need to be washed, or at least dusted, and that floor scrubbed. Once that's done, I can turn my attention to the music/computer room. I've still got to shelve all of those books so that I can use the center of the room. I need to get my laptop out of my bedroom. Whew! And by the time I finish this, it will be time to start cleaning up the yard.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 10:17 AM

I was so tired last night that I didn't try to drag this thread back to the top. I think all of my cleaning stirred up dust, and I spent the evening sneezing. After early to bed I feel more like my old self--I was afraid I was catching a bug. I'll use the neti pot this morning to keep things clear.

My office is always in a state of flux; today it is easier to sit at my desk. There are objects sitting around that might look really interesting if I find just the right place to put them. I partially blocked the window, and there is one USB cord that is going to be a tripping hazard if I don't reposition my flatbed scanner. I want to have more access to the window and I need to be able to see the release lever for the ornamental bars over the window, so there is more work to do.

I've collected some interesting little lamps over the years--a lava lamp with blood-red corpuscles in a clear fluid, and a couple of LED lamps. I lately have been able to use one of these at a time, but I plan to arrange them so I can pick and choose to use any or all of them if I feel like it. They'll be on that work desk I need to clear up.

The other de-clutter job, long overdue, was organizing my shoulder pack (in lieu of a pocketbook). Ever since I was stuck in a black subway tunnel in New York City I've always carried a small flashlight. I won't get rid of that, though I might find a smaller LED type to replace it. I don't need a calculator because my phone has that function. I weeded out a few cough drops, an extra chapstick, etc., I put two pairs of glasses (sun and office) in one glasses case. The compact folding umbrella will stay. It's streamlined and lighter now. I like wearing a smaller fanny pack, and when I wear a one carry fewer items, but there are times when I often have to carry the rest in something else (I usually end up wearing the fanny pack AND carrying the shoulder pack).

To borrow from the credit card commercial, "What's in your pocketbook?"

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Penny S.
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 05:47 PM

A very small job today after a day supply teaching, and trying to find resources I had husbanded over the years, and others hadn't since I left.
I took a plastic tub that had accumulated some odds and sods in the living room and distributed them to proper homes, then used the box the collect stuff belonging to a friend which I can put out of the way in the spare room. He declutters his place by leaving things here!

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maire-aine
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 04:37 PM

My one painter guy just finished; his partner was sick. He sanded all of the walls & he cleaned up pretty well, but there is still fine white dust everywhere. He'll be back tomorrow, and hopefully finish most of the painting.

It's been raining most of the day, and the snow in the back yard is almost gone. Now I'm beginning to think about yard work, altho the actual doing of it is still 2 months away. The snow may be going, but the ground is still frozen.

M

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 04:30 PM

I've had a stiff neck because of twisting to watch the television in my office. It is just enough of an angle that I'm feeling the same kind of discomfort I experienced when I was wearing bifocals to work on the computer (and tipping my head back to see the screen through the bottom of the lens). This awkward position works against you, so I rearranged my office this morning. And in the process I cleared a lot of clutter from my computer desk. Much of it went into the trash, but a fair amount is over on my work desk--how many times have I cleared this thing off now? I'll be filing a lot of the stuff that is on it this time.

I sorted out the data CDs from work (backup files, etc.) from the home CDs (photos, writing) and from music. I sorted out the zip disks (I'll probably delete a lot of their duplicated contents and have them for storage) and there are still quite a few floppy disks around also. All are in their own baskets and neatly shelved. I cleared off some of the book shelves on the wall (where I keep a lot of music CDs, cassette tapes, and music books along with recording and playback equipment). I found some great CDs I'd forgotten I had.

There's more room in here now, and I'm not rolling my chair into that cracked tile (I still need to fix that).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maire-aine
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 08:41 AM

The temp has been mild overnight, and it's raining a little now, so all the snow has disappeared from the front yard (the sunny side). Lots of snow still in the back.

The painter got here at 8am. All the trim is done, so today they'll sand the walls, vacuum as much dust as they can, and paint the walls. Hopefully he'll finish today, but his partner is under the weather, so he's by himself.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: mouldy
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 04:19 AM

While I was out in Scunthorpe yesterday, killing 5+ hours while my friend's husband got his cataract done, the trailer fairy (aka Peter) came and removed all the stuff I lobbed out at the weekend, and then parked it up again so's I can carry on and fill it again. What a gent! It'll be the garden rubbish next, I think.

On the other hand, as a clergyman, it might be part of his "helping widows and orphans" remit! ;-)

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Feb 09 - 11:48 PM

Wow, that's a lot of books. I was lucky Morgan and I pushed one box of books down the hallway to the office, today.:-) It was heavy.

I have been and will be having him for 4-6+ hours each day this week, so my house is pleasantly cluttered with art projects for now. We made Valentines today and will do more, tomorrow.

It as too funny today when Morgan looked around and said he saw "hair" and that he would vacuum. I said, okay, but he didn't have much time as his dad was on the way to get him. He put his hands on his hips and said, "Man, we gotta get this house cleaned up!" Made me laugh!

I hope I can do some things this weekend. I have a ton of books to get listed online. Sold the one I had on ebay, but only one bidder for the minimum. The good news is biblio says overall sales for their indie booksellers have gone up this Jan. compared to last.

In the meantime the new novel needs my editing and keeps getting shoved to the side.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Feb 09 - 11:03 PM

Sixteen boxes. That's pretty heavy! Amazing the workout you'll get moving all of those books around. :)

Tomorrow is going to require some cleanup in the yard. High winds and thunderstorms raced through the area tonight. Darned Catahoula got herself into the truck portion (versus the dog portion) of the garage again tonight. I heard her out there barking and after the rain slowed I went and let her out through the gate she must have pushed past. Damned dog is a sweetheart, but she is such an airhead.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maire-aine
Date: 10 Feb 09 - 04:02 PM

I've brought 16 boxes of books upstairs (about half) and I'm putting them on the bookshelves. The guys tell me that they may finish by the end of day tomorrow. Then I'll wash/polish the floor before I move the furniture back. It's not as warm as yesterday, but I'm still able to open the windows for a while. The trim paint is oil-based, and smells kind of strong.

The snow is slowly disappearing. Some of the heather/winter heath plants have emerged from under the snowpack. If it stays nice for a while, they may begin to bloom.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Feb 09 - 11:02 AM

I'm finally up and running to do some web design, and I was able to de-clutter some words from a friend's web page that was causing some confusion to his clients.

I have a fresh copy of my ex's water bill to put in the truck so I can take recycling over to the facility near here. I live in a little village completely surrounded by Fort Worth. I can take my household recycling over even without the water bill, but sometimes I take over other things, and for those I need to show that I'm a resident. Ha! Anyway, I'll be taking some stuff over there next weekend. No one turned me away with the old bill, but just on general principles I don't want it to be more than two or three months old.

It's very wet and warm here today, getting ready for some thunderstorms. I think this wouldn't be good painting weather, but nothing wrong with tiling under these circumstances. I need to do my grout tonight, then assess the remainder of tile to be cut and placed.

I'm about halfway through digging up my garden outside the kitchen door, and next weekend I'll put some compost in there, I'll bail out the coastal hay in the dogs' stall and put it on top, and get the dogs some new hay. I love getting a couple of different uses out of the hay. It is an excellent mulch for a couple of months.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: GUEST,LTS pretending to work
Date: 10 Feb 09 - 08:21 AM

Stilly - the travel is an hour each way (8 miles, door to door, the joys of public transport) and during busy times can take longer. To make it worthwhile, I need to be at work for more than 3 hours but to get home in time to take Limpit to her piano lesson, I would have been at work for as long as it takes me to get there and back.

We discovered the beautiful Victorian panel doors under hardboard and beading that had turned them into nasty 1970's flush doors. They're still good, solid doors and the panels are much more interesting than the plain ones were. If only the previous occupants had been as forgiving with the plasterwork.

I did manage to shuffle the books around, didn't manage to discard any duplicates but I do have a whole half shelf to spare, which I daresay will be filled by summertime. I'm still fairly wiped by the flu I had last week, I was dozing by 3.00pm and I'm trying hard here at work to resist that temptation.

I'm still stunned at the accumulated 6 bags of rubbish/recycling that we've generated in the last 10 days... I never knew I had that much crap!

LTS

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maire-aine
Date: 10 Feb 09 - 07:48 AM

Little One came into bed with me last night, so she's not angry with me. And I got her into the bedroom this morning. Even though she spends 75% of the day in there, she's not happy being stuck in there.

The painters are going to start with trim today.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 11:41 PM

Cats and wet paint--you might want to think twice about letting her loose in the house. I have a cat close to the color you describe, but even then, grooming paint from fur isn't fun.

I've resolved to try to get more sleep. I've been dragging the last couple of days, and there has been a bug going around. I'll let some of the chores wait overnight. And tomorrow I have a meeting at the office, I want to be well-rested and running on all cylinders. I spent the day today getting software set up so I can hit the ground running--we may be rethinking our publications and going to all web instead of sending out print editions. That's fine with me, I'd like to just do the work when I want to and not wait for two other offices (publications and the print shop) to finish with it (late, as usual) for it to finally be available. I have software and settings all in place. Let's see if the new and improved computer (de-cluttered, of course!) is up to the task.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maire-aine
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 04:12 PM

The guys are starting to wrap up for the day. The put up the drywall in the diningroom & mud-ed it. They've been smoothing out the rough places/cracks in the livingroom, too. They carried my 3 bookcases upstairs for me, so I've been loading them with books. There are still a dozen boxes of books in the living room, but they'll stay there until the guys are done. I'm not sure which ones are coming upstairs and which are staying downstairs. I don't want to lug them upstairs if I'm going to turn around and get rid of them.

Little One has been under the bed all day, but I took some food in for her and she ate it. Once the guys leave, I'll let her out. I just hope I'll be able to catch her in the morning. She's going to be a very unhappy kitty for a while.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 03:05 PM

I'd love it if we found neat old boards, but I think, this being an early 50s house, it's probably not to be. Though we did find hardwood flooring in the LR under some very ugly carpet.

I relisted my glass piece and dropped the starting bid down. I already have one watcher, so I hope this time round it sells.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 12:06 PM

My father's house had that kind of acoustical tile you describe, and when the woman who bought the house was getting ready to put in a cathedral ceiling she tore that stuff down, only to find some beautiful rough boards as the ceiling. She decided to keep those and it made the place look so much warmer. If Dad had only known!

That paint job sounds lovely. My painter is also a contractor and has done a lot of drywall, and he's the one who remodeled in the house and built my new garage. I have picture rails around my living room and I love them, but the living room has elegant wood paneling (more like picture frames, not the ubiquitous 1970s embossed wood paneling that seemed to go hand in hand with shag rugs). When I bought this house I'd driven past it many times--it was on my list as the right size and price, but the outside was so ugly. The sellers slapped on paint that was an awful color. Who knew the inside had such buried treasure? I painted the house finally a couple of years ago and it looks much better. :)

I'm moving slow today, with sore muscles and a few tender spots on my hands. I didn't wear gloves the whole time I did the tile, and thinset and grout are hard on skin.

Good news (knock wood) is that I think I've managed to get rid of the setting that was messing up my computer monitors. I had too many monitor settings possible, too many drivers, so a competing program that kept trying to install itself. I disabled the non-functioning settings and it loaded first try today.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 11:03 AM

That sounds lovely, Maryanne. Our kitchen and DR have that kind of ceiling and I'd love to see it go!

Maggie, you have been busy!

I have another box of books to list in my bookstore. I managed to go through the first shelf, yesterday, of the bookshelves in the LR, with Rog's input. Some of them were his books, so I had to find out if he wanted to get rid of them or not. It was hard, at first, but once I got started it was easier.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maire-aine
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 10:36 AM

Well, the painters are working downstairs, and I'm hiding out upstairs in my bedroom. Some previous owner had put up acoustic panels on the diningroom ceiling, and I've never liked them. I told the painter that I wanted them removed & to do whatever was needed to fix it. So, they pulled the panels down, and there wasn't any ceiling at all, just the bare wood structure. So they're bringing in drywall and building me a new ceiling. They're also taking down a "picture molding" that goes all around the main floor; I've always hated it, because it always looked dirty. I've got Little One safely stowed in the guest bedroom (really her room), so I don't have to worry about her getting out. I'm just having them paint the whole place creamy white, keeping it simple. Fortunately, the weather is mild today, so I can turn the heat off while they're going in and out.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 10:28 AM

Why the long travel time--is there still snow and ice? Or something else?

Mudcat auction is a good place for a few duplicates if they're something you think Mudcatters can help with. I have a couple I need to list there.

This is one of those weeks when I need to go to work to rest up from my days off. I'm stiff and sore from all of the tile work. I'll wash off the grout again this morning then leave the rest for another day.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 03:49 AM

I was supposed to go to work today but life has conspired against me again and now it's too late... even leaving this instant I'd be at work for as long as I was travelling, to get home in time to take Limpit to her piano lesson.

SO... it's shifting the books upstairs today. Hopefully that will leave me with half an empty shelf for future purchases.

I may even decide I can part with a few duplicate copies... although that is rather like putting aside old friends... I may need some help with this guys!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 09:25 PM

I didn't make enough grout to even finish the dressing room. I didn't feel like making a huge batch of it, I wanted to see how far that would go. But I'm getting there.

Chicken and rice cooking, after defrosting my frost-free freezer in the fridge. It took THREE tries to find chicken stock in the freezer. First two I pulled out were turkey. I guess I should label them. :-/   The first one was so old I decided not to use or keep it, but the second one was from the one I brined a couple of months ago, so I put it back and dug in again. Browned chicken tenders, canned mushrooms, browned pasta and rice, all cooked together in a big dutch oven in the soup stock--a great quick meal. Veggies on the side.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 06:00 PM

This is the guy tossed across the road. That left-hand caterpiller has a black object dropping away from it--that is the ingots of poop that run through it really fast. You'll know they're around if you pay attention to the soil in the garden and spot the poop. The critter itself blends in so well it's hard to see.

Off to shop, then see what else I can get done around here this evening.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 04:30 PM

I tossed the guy across the road into the woods.

Sorry, Maggie, but I can't help but say that's a fine way to treat your neighbours!**bg**

Laundry and more, today. Rog got me some boxes for the LR books, so I am about to go dig in. I think I'd better put on a bandanna as the dust is terrible on them!

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: MAG
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 02:57 PM

A bit chilly to be outside, but trashcan is half full and every last rose is pruned until spring. (gotta see how much died back from December's deep freeze.)

More done inside since giving up and coming in: more of the spare room boxed up, vacuumed floor. More papers into the file box.

2 loads laundry so far.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 02:53 PM

I'm breaking the tile job into a couple of sections. I doubled the amount of thinset I made (it's curing right now) and will put down tiles until I run out, then decide if it is worth cutting more tiles or if I want to move onto another chore. If I finish cutting the tile I can then put the wet saw out in the garage, which would be good. I've left it in the hall next to the freezer forever, but I'd like to have that tripping hazard and dust collector gone.

Moonglow's room got a little more tweaking this morning. I rearranged some books in her big cabinet and emptied a cubbie. Now I need to find a box to fill with the contents of a couple of other cubbies, lable, and put into the now empty one. The Chinese puzzle, in real life. I'll photograph the contents of the cubbies I pack up and tape prints to the box so she can see what is in there.

I must do a little shopping, make bread, the usual. I'm drawing down the freezer this time of year, getting set for the growing season. I already dug up part of the veggie garden this morning, and found what I was looking for--the pupa of the tobacco hornworm that devoured some of my plants last summer. The sphinx moth they become is an important pollinator, but that is only if the thing they pollinate hasn't been eaten to a nubbin by the caterpillar stage! I tossed the guy across the road into the woods. Come back when you can fly. . .

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: GUEST,LTS pretending to do housework
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 02:33 PM

Spent the day filling the bookshelves that Manitas bought yesterday - and it's a vast improvement! That whole corner looks so much lighter and less tatty... there are two holes left to fill but I've already made a whole lot more space upstairs for the books there to expand to fit. Plus I reclaimed a quarter of a shelf in the dining room for future craft book purchases.

Limpit and I cleared two of her boxes and we've generated a bag of rubbish and two bags of recycling between us. We also have a small bag of animals to pass on to a little chap fast approaching his second birthday... hope he likes frogs!

Been a bit of a productive weekend all round really, in spite of feeling generally mangled this week.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: mouldy
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 01:13 PM

I slung a lot of stuff out of the garage units this morning, although you'd never guess, as it's now largely stacked on or around the (now empty) units! It's amazing how much "might come in useful/I paid for it so I'm not throwing it out" rubbish my dear departed other half hung onto, including left over bits of coving, wooden beading and battens and lengths of bath sealing plastic strip. And this after my son in law had a good go through it all about 18 months ago!

Looks like I will be buying a new drill - I had forgotten the old one wasn't working, until I found it on the shelf with the plug removed.

I just need to get what I'm keeping into some sort of storage, and then I can rip the units out.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 01:01 AM

I underestimated how much I needed so tomorrow I'll mix another batch of thinset and stick the last three pieces down in the dressing room. I did the doorway pieces and several others. I'll cut some tiles for the hall before I make the batch and I'll stick those down also. I've been meaning to get back to this literally for years.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 11:49 PM

I'm spending a few minutes catching up while my small container of thinset cures a little. I'll "butter" the backs of all of the bits of tile I've been cutting this afternoon and evening. I cut tile for the dressing room and a couple of doorways that had a piece of cut tile left to lay down. I had to get out the undercut saw, a simple device but one that does tire you, with those short little moves as you cut a tiny little piece of wood at the bottom of a door or corner where a tile needs to slide under. I'd left a few cuts to do when I put down the trowel ages ago.

I still have to cut tiles for the hall, but I figured I'll stick down what I've cut for now just to get them out of the way, finally. More tomorrow, maybe.

I also bathed the dogs today. They're soft and sweet smelling right now. Of course as soon as you let them out the door they roll on the lawn and drag themselves along the chain link of their kennel fence to put back some of the smell that went down the drain.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: mouldy
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 04:46 PM

I have decided to take the very old kitchen units from before the current lot (aka the workbenches) out of the garage and get rid of a million spanners, wrenches, nuts, bolts, screws, cans of old paint, etc. I'll keep a select few tools and bits, and get a proper tool container for them. This will make sure there is room for the 3 piece suite to go, while I decide what to do with it.
I hardly think I need half the old gear that has been hung on to. We even used to have an arc welder, but that went to my son in law after the last clear out. My daughter says she'll give me a hand to do it.

Knowing I have GOT to empty my kitchen out has made me think of what I am going to throw out, rather than what I am going to keep.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 12:38 PM

Yesterday I did some cleaning around the house that is on a small scale but still noticeable.

The ill kitty spent a lot of time in Moonglow's room, and it is now being de-cluttered to be used as a guest room. I'm going to pack up some of the little things on display in several cabinet shelves--several years ago I built a cabinet with square cubbies, five cubbies wide and six tall. The ones at eye height were used for display, those are the ones I'm packing. Her desk was piled high with all sorts of clutter. I've put some of those clothes into the dresser and moved some stuffed toys and big pillows around. It was heaped high, but now this will go on top of the shelving, onto the bed, or into the cubbies.

I still need to run some cables to that room. A phone line and a co-axial port, though it won't be attached to anything yet. Eventually I may put an antenna on the roof that could run into the bedrooms. My plan with room wiring is to have cables available for us or future buyers, so I may also run a data port there, though I'll leave the line curled up in the attic, labeled as to where it goes but not attached. If I decide to run a computer line in there, it could be done fairly easily.

In my room I have a lovely bentwood library chair with a tie-on seat cushion that the calico used to always sleep on. It needed hand-washing, and then I ran it on spin only in the washer. Much improved. And I found other things around the house that needed attention, like a few containers in the kitchen that catch scraps for the compost, and bedroom trash cans. A few minutes with some bleach and they look like new. I need to wash some windows also. It's beginning to look like spring cleaning, isn't it?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 06:38 AM

Took three TVs to the tip yesterday. Geoff has been rewiring the roof aerial and had to go into the cupboard unde the stairs in Maddie's room. Couldn't believe the ammount of stuff in there (most of it predates her)There wasn't time to sort it properly but with half term coming up I think I know what we'll be doing.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: mouldy
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 05:15 AM

SRS - it means the units have to come out. Ideally the floor should be completely torn up and relaid, but the surveyor says that as I intend to move the expense (several 1000s of quids) would be too much. He is going to send me a report, specifying certain products to use, and basically there will be a membrane laid on the existing floor in the kitchen and dining room, as it's sound, and then board laid on top of that, followed by new fancy flooring, after the units are back. Also the walls where the damp shows are to be taken back to brick and specialist plasters used. We will have to find a way of grading in the height differences in floors between the dining and living areas, and also the dining room and the hall. The kitchen is 15' x 13' approx, with units/appliances around 3 sides. It's a lot of storage to store!

I can see a few knock-on jobs!

However Peter, my "man who does" has left a large trailer for me to declutter into, which he will then take to the tip for me when it's full. All he asks is that I do garden declutter separately. I am going to ask him to get the window out and remove my sofa for me when he comes to do the kitchen in the spring. Then there will be more space to store the units. I was going to get rid of my suite anyway, as it's far too big and brown (it was Ian's choice). By then I should have room for it in the garage, prior to selling it.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: GUEST,LTS pretending to do housework
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 04:24 AM

Decluttered the coffee table earlier... it's amazing the amount of catalogues and out of date newspapers and community magazines that build up. I've been trying to avoid knocking a whole pile of stuff off the table for weeks now... turns out I can recycle it all - including the leaflet from the council about recycling!

Manitas is just about to leave on a book case hunt. I've decided on 3 matching shelves to replace 3 mismatched items so that will instigate a good clear out. The shelves that are being removed will be put elsewhere with one lot going into the loft to hold sewing magazines that I don't really want to throw away but refer to so infrequently, it's pointless storing them in a 'prime location'.

Limpit does not look pleased at the prospect as it's mostly her stuff!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 12:59 AM

Yikes. Will it continue if he goes to college? Good luck with that. I am sure, as resourceful as oyu are, you will figure it out.

I remember your saying that about ebay; I think I will list it again. Thanks.

Wonder if Morgan would like Texas.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 12:32 AM

Sometimes the second time around is the lucky one at eBay. It takes a little while for buyers to discover unique items.

I've finished folding and putting away laundry. I have errands tomorrow also (recycling, picking up mulch, etc.). I could use some child labor to help. :)

I realized today that tomorrow is a month from my son's birthday. And one year from that birthday he turns 18. At the end of the school year the child support ends. I have to sit down now and look at my finances and be sure I have everything in place for losing that much income (almost 1/3 of what we live on) when he graduates. I'll probably have to find a part-time job next year, or go back to freelance writing.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 11:30 PM

I had kind of a blah day. Did a little bit of laundry, went out to get lunch and brought it back. Haven't done a thing around here to declutter, today. Had to do bills this morning. My glass piece didn't sell on ebay, so I have to decide whether to relist it and if I should drop the initial bid price. I think I probably will. I had 65 hits on it.

We have a lot of clutter to clean up, tomorrow, as well as errands to run, i.e. grocery store, etc. I have the sewing table out and ready for my dau. to take this weekend, so that will help. I think I will ask Rog to bring in boxes, finally, so I can start going through the books in the LR, empty that wall for painting and box up the books I want to keep. The rest will come to the office to be put online in my bookstore at biblio.

Bright spot was picking up Morgan to go get dog and cat food and go to Walgreen's. He insisted on carrying both bags of pet food, one on each shoulder. He was so darn cute! Carried them all the way out to the car, too!

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 10:46 PM

I have the extra cat box soaking, before putting it out in the garage to store. And when I'm out in the garage tomorrow I'm going to look for the cut tiles that are left over from doing floors in the bedrooms and office. It won't take many of them to finish the dressing room, and it is way past time to finish that. And one of these days I'll buy some more of the same pattern and put them down in the closet also.

The kitchen is cleaned up tonight and ready to go for the weekend. I've pushed the fridge away from the wall and will empty it and try one more time to defrost the freezer and finally clear the drain. I'll have to use a squirt bottle with hot water, I think.

I've been finishing up some work for work this evening, getting it out of the way. My new IBM Selectric-style keyboard is on order and is supposed to arrive Tuesday. I'll be a typing fiend after that. :)

My desktop isn't completely stable, but I can set the proper profile after I turn it on and it's okay until the next time I turn it off and on. I may finally find a way to get Windows to recognize that profile and remember to load it.

The next couple of days are supposed to be nice, up to about 75, so I may be working outside some also.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 01:47 PM

I need to try once again to de-clutter the ice in my freezer. The drain is plugged so as it "defrosts" itself the water pools in the bottom of the freezer section.

That's a big job for that fellow. When you say the kitchen "completely removed," does that mean knock it off the house, or mean take out all appliances and cabinets and pull up the flooring?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: mouldy
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 09:57 AM

The surveyor has been.

Good news: the yard doesn't have to be excavated.
Bad news: even to do a belt and braces job on the problem, I have to have my kitchen completely removed, and have a membrane fitted under boards to both kitchen and dining room, as well as a load of remedial plastering.

My "man who does" was here at the time, fitting some lights, and I think he's going to do the job. It would be good if he could get on with the bulk of it for the 3-4 weeks I am in New Zealand, then he can stack the kitchen in the living room.

Looks like the kitchen de-clutter had better start soon!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: mouldy
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 04:03 AM

Well the surveyor's coming in a couple of hours, so let's just say it now bye-bye kitchen flooring - especially when my friend's husband comes to drag it out from under the appliances. It's a 15' x 13' kitchen, so that's a lot of lino!

Seriously though, He'll need to get behind the dishwasher for a look because there's a big damp bit where the water riser and stop valve is.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 12:26 AM

Yes, I will Maggie. I was in a hurry to get them up, today. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maire-aine
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 12:17 AM

I took 2 big bags of books to the library today, then did some grocery shopping. It's been beautiful here, but still VERY cold. But, it's suppposed to warm up tomorrow. The forecast is for temps to reach the 40's all next week. I've got a lot of newspapers/magazines to drop off at the recycling center, so I'll try to do that tomorrow.

The painters are supposed to come on Monday, so I can't do much de-cluttering until after they're done.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 11:42 PM

Kat, I see that your jewelry pieces are close enough that you'll not only have to crop the photos to isolate each piece, you'll have to Photoshop them to erase the stuff you don't want in each shot.

MAG, I've been clearing out some of the now-extra cat stuff around the house. We're down to one box, one food bowl. I still keep an extra water dish in the bathroom (if the dogs come in for the night they know it's there). There are barf stains on the floor and window sill I'll have to slowly soak out, scrub off, or paint over. The one still here is known for peeing on the carpet, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. He has also hit long curtains.

Our dinner tonight wasn't particularly diet-like--chicken strips, baked potato, broccoli. But it was a de-clutter kind of meal. I found a plastic bag of the chicken tenders fairly badly freezer burned. I thawed and moistened them, then floured and dipped them in egg and bread crumbs, and turned them into one of my son's favorite foods. They taste just as good as "normal" if you disguise the surface damage. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: MAG
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 11:21 PM

Took a sick-of-work day and decluttered all housecleaning supplies into a new ($!) large bucket and trashed the various liquid-soaked cardboard containers they were in. Yes, I was careful to keep bleach and ammonia separate.

Washed more peed on shirts; stains won't come out; got new stain removal stuff and will try again. Found wool jackets (2) in a closet which are almost too big. Still looking for the missing box of size 18s.

Had just a 1 lb. bag of carrot nibs for lunch: 200 calories.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 04:23 PM

Sort of virtual and physical decluttering. I've scanned in all of the photos I have of my jewellery, mostly rabbit-themes for one particular client, AND have started a new membership and album at My Opera for StonePeople Designs. I wish I had separate pix for them all. I do have a sheet of thumbnails. I think I'll take it in for prints and then scan those in. Anyway, this is something which has been on my mind for a LONG time so it feels good!

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 02:40 PM

Maybe you can find a taker in a freecycle environment, or list them for a nominal price on eBay and see if a collector wants them for the price of shipping and packaging. What kind of rocks or minerals are they?

Usual chores today, but I need to soon get back to my eBay activities. For space and for ca$h both. Things have gotten piled up in there and need some tidying. The delay has been due to not having the html editor and some of the programs in place for preparing auctions. Now the programs are in place but they're so radically different than the previous versions that I'm struggling with the learning curve right now.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Penny S.
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 02:04 PM

I'll have to pick that up at my sister's, or maybe at school tomorrow - if open. If it's shut I probably won't be at my sister's either. No broadband - will get it when I am at the new place.

Liz, have you tried inhaling? Vicks, or Olbas, or what I grew up with, Friar's Balsam? Or just the steam?

Penny

Heck, I just thought of something I needed to declutter before I wrote the above, and have forgotten it.

Oh yes, years back I "rescued" some geological specimens found under the stage at school when it was demolished. The labels clearly identified them as the property of the local grammar school. I had them in my classroom for years, using them occasionally as the curriculum allowed, until the Head demanded I got rid of them. On leaving school, I offered them back to the grammar - no takers.

I can't be doing with trashing that sort of thing. Every collection is a small bit of damage which cannot be replaced - in a way, worse than collecting flowers - if common ones. A bit of a problem.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 12:47 PM

Wish I could de-clutter the snot from my sinuses... not a happy bunny and it's taken me all day to muster up energy just to answer my emails.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 12:04 PM

"That's all your house is, a pile of stuff with a cover on it." Great stuff! They played this clip on the Mark Twain awards last night, where George Carlin was the recipient. How much better would it have been if it wasn't a 90-minute eulogy, but a fun-loving roast of the living performer. He was great.

Yesterday I was on campus all day, covering a speaker at a technology event. Beforehand I took time to drop a bug in the ear of one of the Office of IT guys about my huge crash. He knows I have the skills to keep this system up and running, and that I uninstalled it properly. It will at least have them paying more attention to that software. But I also described a problem I've had with my video card (dual head--so I can run two separate monitors as an enlarged desktop, they're a large work surface, not a clone like you might use at an information desk when the person on the other side of the desk sees the same thing you're looking at.) I realized as he spoke that I probably had competing chipsets (one on the motherboard, the other on the video card installed on the back). I sat down this morning when I was fresh (I don't try to fix things like this in the evening when I'm tired). I also had a fuzzy monitor on one side.

I think I've fixed it. It took several tries and some pretty absurd appearance along the way, but right now it is lovely. I saved this setup with a name that is clear so if I have to go back and fix it later I can click on it and that should put everything the way it belongs.

De-cluttering my computer virtual desktop--a very worthwhile task!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: mouldy
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 04:27 AM

Ah, but the removing from the garden will be the stuff I DON'T want! I'm going to try and pot any other stuff as far as possible.
Anyway, with the way of the world at the moment, I could still be here 3 years hence!

...and the surveyor is coming around midday tomorrow.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 12:25 AM

LMAO, thanks for the link, SRS!

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 11:19 PM

Penny S., Here is something you should watch. ;-)

Mouldy, our (Mudcat) Janie had a big dig for lots of her plants when she moved from a house she had lived in for years, and Bobert moved hundreds of plants when he went from West Virginia to Virginia. Good luck!

I was out and around campus today, not much time at home. I attended a special event (I always try to latch onto at least one "big idea" with this kind of special speaker program, and I was able to do that) that I'll turn it into an article for the next library newsletter.

My kitchen is cleaned up this evening and that's about as much as I'll get done for today. My hands are dry (cracked) and I need to use a good lotion (and rubber gloves) if I'm going to keep up this work. By the weekend I'll have finished the floor in the bedroom closet and I'll hopefully finish my taxes. These are the current and on-going things I've been working on.

I'm bushed (and it has nothing to do with Dubya moving back to Dallas!)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: MAG
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 09:00 PM

One box of craft stuff I found is going back to the teacher I got it from, originally. She doesn't want it, but says she knows someone who does.

Two other boxes of stuff can go to the sorority who do crafts at my job; they are doing scrapcraft in April for Earth Day.

I found more size 24s which go into my yard sale.

(Where ARE those 18s?)

I found a pair of black jeans on sale for $8, size 18, and they are a nice brand, so I went ahead and got them.

Trash pickup tomorrow; can't wait to get out there and fill it up again.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 03:54 PM

Good for you, Andrea!

Penny, good news! Congrats!

I asked my Rog about the savings with the small appliances. Remember he is chief engineer at a tv station...they have humongous utility bills. He says the few small things we have would not make much difference in our bill. I think you're right, Maggie, about that woman's testing. I haven't done anything different and our bill is going down, monthly, as we hit warmer weather.:-) Still, I'd prefer using less regardless.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: mouldy
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 03:44 PM

I eventually put all the clothes etc back into my wardrobes and drawers a couple of days ago, chased out all the dust too, and so far so good - it's a lovely place to be. I also put some lighter curtains up, which adds to it.
I have been in contact with a structural surveyor today, and hopefully he will be coming on Friday to have a look at my damp kitchen. I may have to get the floor covering off and out tomorrow, snow permitting. I had intended to do it soon, but he's in my area on Friday, and it will need to come up so he can get a proper look at the floor. I just hope that he doesn't find anything too dreadful that needs doing!

I had another Bowen treatment on my back this afternoon, and spent most of the time ruminating about what I could remove from the garden.

I am determined that this house will go on sale this year, credit crunch or not!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: freda underhill
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 06:05 AM

Tonight I've had a wonderful declutter of...




my email. and lots of joyful exploring at the same time.

re my house, there are a few cracks here and there, and my granddaughter noted a tiny spider in my room. but as Mr Cohen sang last week ... There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in...

This saturday I'm having a session at my place, this ensuring a further beautifying of my space during the day!

have been scrubbing out the inner spaces of my being with flower remedies - aahh. now THAT's a declutter :-)

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Penny S.
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 04:08 AM

Decluttering has now become a different thing - I am in the process of buying a new home, which has rooms for clutter! And a bigger garage, I think. I'll need to up the process before moving. It's got a place for the stuff I keep in the loft but can't get at. Hooray.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 03:10 AM

It seems impossible to buy a piece of electrical equipment these days that does not have an illuminated display or some memory function that requires power 24/7, or has an off button that doesn't put it on 'standby' complete with light to show it's ready to go 'on' in a flick. I recently bought a digital radio/CD player. Does that need a permanent display? It has no recording facility, neither is it an alarm clock but it does brighten my kitchen at night and makes a pretty purple glow with the red light that shows the boiler is on...

We're just all too used to having equipment ready and waiting without even the touch of a button... what could you possibly do in those extra 2 mins that a computer startup from scratch takes, over the energy used in leaving it on standby?

There should be more individually switched extension sockets (4 sockets, 4 switches) available... we have 3 in our house and they aren't enough.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 12:49 AM

Her bill went way down, but of course, there could be seasonal things also. She started in March (cold) and kept track until June or July (warmer, but maybe not needing A/C where she was--I forget where that was). The first bill was around $200? The last one was something over $60. I can't believe it was all appliance ready lights, but I know if you turn off your computer completely, etc, there is a savings. I have, in my office, the computer, printer, scanner, modem, router (my son would riot if those were off when he wanted them--clearly they'd need to be on a circuit he could turn on without getting everything else), a entertainment system (CD, radio, LP), a television, a converter box for the television. It adds up.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 12:39 AM

I guess I do, come to think of it...have more energy, I mean.:-) And, I do make lists, sometimes I don't list all of the small, usual things I do, but I do value them as time well-spent.

Sounds as though you've found some neat solutions to cookbook display, etc.

What kind of savings did she have, did she say?

We have a windup wall clock which I keep going through old-fashioned "wind-up" power and microwave and stove ones in the kitchen, plus a clock radio, there and in the bedroom. I think the microwave insists on being reprogrammed every time it loses power, but I could unplug the clock radios and let them run on battery at night, but then again, I might forget to plug them back and run the batteries down.I'll have to think about this, more. I think we'd lose programming on the tv/dvd/sound system things, too. I put the computer on "hibernate" if I am going to be away from it for more than a few minutes throughout the day and at night. Now, you've got me thinking.

When I am able, I may get one of these: Click Here. I like the idea of it running on solar, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 12:30 AM

Kat, for someone who claims to be "low on energy," you've been quite active. If you make yourself a "to do" list and cross things off (including the everyday stuff you always do) I think you'll see you've been quite busy. Success breeds success.

I worked in the closet some more. Since I've removed a lot I can now see everything I have. There is a soft throw rug on the floor in there (concrete is cold under bare feet), and one under my computer desk (so feet don't get cold on the tile) and a couple of small rugs from the back doorway that the dogs muddied with footprints. They're all in the laundry, and I'll completely vacuum and mop the closet floor before I put it back in again. Next comes the dressing room.

This evening I had a brainstorm for kitchen arrangement. It started with reversing the base of my phone and hanging it up on the wall, clearing space on top of the baker's rack. I then moved some small appliances and shuffled some extra glass storage bowls and baking dishes between a cupboard and rack and end up with the top shelf empty. I moved Mom's old cookbooks from the front room and Julia Child is back where she belongs!

I rarely watch Oprah, but a teaser today got my attention for a topic on saving money. One of the women interviewed has turned off all of the appliances to save big on her electric bill (I think it was everything with a ready light or a clock). A unused toaster isn't going to use any power, but the microwave with the clock will. I have been thinking for a long time that I'm tired of all of these little green and red lights around the house. I rearranged a power strip in the kitchen so the microwave now needs to be powered up before use. I have a clock on the wall, and one on the stove, I don't also need a microwave clock. This weekend I'll see about setting a few more power strips where I can easily turn off the equipment (I'm thinking television, VCR, DVD, converter box--the question is, does it all need to be reprogrammed? I may need to leave a couple of things on to save time setting things up for recording, etc.)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 09:48 PM

I love that video, Maggie, thanks. I wish more people would "get" it.

Morgan came over and helped me move some stuff around. We moved a tall boy that was my dad's from the office to the bedroom. Moved a small table which I use for my meditation sanctum into the office corner and Morgan moved his little one in next to it. (I will use it more if it is in here, which I've determined I need to do!) He was so cute, as soon as we set them up, we had to light the incense and candles and do our "thing."

We moved the library truck out into the hall for the moment. It will go where the treadmill is when I get it out of the dining room area. Also able to move a chair from the sanctum out to the kitchen table as I can use my office chair on rollers for the meditation corner now.

Emptied the top of my mom's sewing cabinet as my dau. is taking it and also two prints which I have on the wall right now. Her husband is on notice, he's to come take them.:-)

Also did some laundry, sweeping, and listed a Booksellers' Preview Edition of a cat autobiography on ebay. So far, I've had about 45 lookers at the glass piece, but no watchers or bids. Maybe at the last minute.

I don't think I posted what Morgan and I did, yesterday. We had to go to the bead store in downtown GJ, so we also went by the Sally Army and dropped off a load of stuff which has been in our car for over a year. It had all been in the back of our mini-van, out of the way. 2-3 bags of clothing, sheets, and linen, a printer which works, coats, and a set of music books. They were just like the ones my mom used to have, in fact they may have been her copies. I can't remember. Anyway, they are something I never would have thought I would give away, but with no piano they really weren't getting used. So, it felt perfectly okay and right to be passing them on!

I am starting in on the low point of my yearly cycle, a good time to release, empty out and await the high point and new beginnings/changes after my birthday. It feels so good.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 04:44 PM

Seems a good time to post again a link to this interesting little video: The Story of Stuff.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: GUEST,MAG at work
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 12:42 PM

Little things you miss about the cat will keep hitting you for awhile, SRS. thinsg she used to do she's not there to do anymore, little accomodations you made for her.

Be gentle with yourself; the grieving process just takes time.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 12:10 AM

The closet is looking better. Not completely finished, but much better. I'll do a little ironing tonight also.

My bathroom looks great still, and I'll enjoy a hot bath later. Too bad my kitty who always came to sit on the edge of the tub (sometimes draping her tail into the water) for a visit isn't here. :-( She loved to "groom" anyone who had wet hair. I can't tell you how many times I found one or the other of my kids curled up on a bed after a bath when they had laid down so she could nuzzle their damp hair. I'd find them asleep and that cat still nudging their heads.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maire-aine
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 08:03 PM

Well, I'm still boxing things up to get ready for the painters. I never realized how much stuff I have around the house. A lot of it is just plain junk, but I don't want to throw it out. Most of it is not worth trying to re-sell. Once the painting is done, and I put the stuff back, whatever is left over will go to the thrift shop or the first church rummage sale that comes along.

M

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: MAG
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 03:59 PM

I discover rit works to go through some of the crap on my table/desk while I'm waiting for 'puter to open ... just now I got though about 1/4 of it. amazing how long some of those papers had been sitting there. Straight into recycling.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 03:57 PM

Went through one bin we brought in AND FOUND PRO PHOTOS I'd had taken of all of the rabbit-centric jewellery I made for a client in WY. Whoo-Hoo!! I'd been wondering where those were for the past seven years!!! Now, I can put more examples on my website!

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 03:52 PM

Failed again... but I did manage to get Limpit to declutter a whole heap of videos she doesn't watch... they'll go to the Charity shops later in the week.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 12:44 PM

So far I evicted some unused handbags, shoes, tops, and pants from the closet. It isn't organized in an end-use fashion yet. I have the current season tops in most of the eye-level and lower shelves, shirts, skirts and pants are hanging. I put the plastic bins on the very top shelves, but some years back I put in a row of shelves under the top ones that run all around the closet a couple of inches above the upper hanging rods. Those have a few inches of space and will be for folded garments like shorts and I should take all of my cardigans off of hangers and place them folded on the shelves.

I still need to cull some shirts, I need to iron a bunch of things so they're actually ready to wear and not just occupying space (because when they're wrinkled I don't wear them, and I don't always have time to iron when I'm dressing.)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: freda underhill
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 01:31 AM

Yesterday I went through a shelf in the kitchen cupboard that has creams, headache pills, medicines and various lotions it in. I chucked out a whole lot of things that were out of date or almost used up, and organised the ones that were left (medical of the left, cosmetic on the right).

That was a small but satisfying start to the beginning of this decluttering month!

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 01:21 AM

I'm going to bed late and you're up early. Have a great snow day, Liz! We're both staring at cookbook shelves. I picked up some brackets and a board to put one up, but I'm not happy with how it will look in the place I'm putting it, so will go back to the drawing board before I put any holes in the wall.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 01:06 AM

Looks like I'll have an enforced day off today... 6" of snow, still falling and the wind is getting up.... the UK isn't ready for this weather!

Today's project should be clearing the dining room then. A while back the shelf in the kitchen that holds the cookbooks fell down (minimal water damage as only half a dozen fell in the sink), and I've not had the opportunity to fix it yet. Today could be that day.

So.. all the cook books are in the dining room, along with the Christmas decorations which need to go into the loft. That's today's job. Clearing the computer area is going to have to wait because if Manitas can't get to work, he can work from home up here.

But first, I'll have a little play in the snow... :D

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 12:27 AM

Wow! Such great stuff people have to report today! And new de-clutterers! Kat, what a great outcome, finding stuff to sell. But do keep looking for that photo, it will bug you until it turns up.

MAG, I'm sorry you have a neighbor like that. There's an old guy up the street who is the nastiest piece of work, at least, he is when his wife isn't there. He lives next door to a charming family with a dog who always loves to see me walk my dogs. He knows I have treats in my fanny pack and so barks when we pass because we stop and give him a treat. I was out walking the dogs yesterday and kept looking for Benji, but this guy was out in his driveway and got real aggressive, shouting at me about my dogs and "what are you looking at?" It didn't do to remind him I've been walking past his house for years (and have been exposed to his rudeness before) or that we were looking for Benji. I finally just told him he was an old putz, a real piece of work, and after he shouted not to let my dogs near his yard I assured him that I'd be sure to throw dog poop on his lawn if they made any available. What an old turd. The neighbors know about this Jekyll and Hyde behavior. He would never say a word if his wife was home.

Anyway. I should have started this comment with a sneeze--I've been working in my closet and there is some dust back there under things that haven't been moved in ages. I ran by Lowe's and Home Depot for several things, including clear plastic storage containers. I can't afford to discard good clothes now because I can't fit into them now--if I lose 20 pounds I'll still love to wear these clothes. A while back I got rid of the iffy stuff, these are nice clothes. I've put all of one size pants and shorts in each container, and put a card inside that I can read through the plastic that tells me what size and type of item are in there. Each box goes out of the way on the upper shelf. Pants are finished and I also finished sweaters. It is winter, but I don't wear all of these down here. Some I save for travel to colder climates, so I'm packing those in a clear box. The rest will go on shelves.

I just started shoes. I have a quite few, though I did de-clutter a lot a year ago. It isn't a good sign if they can mildew in the closet--one box of them wasn't in great shape, old ones I never wear, so I tossed them. I'll make sure there is better ventilation.

My plan in the closet is to arrange things so I have a few outfits ready to go. I was flipping channels the other day (we had two snow days or I'd never have seen it) and there was an organizer on Rachel Ray (I thought she just cooked?). She made a point of arranging several outfits ready to go, complete with accessories like jewelry and belts, etc. I won't go that far, but I'll have things arranged by type, color, and fabric so I can mix and match a number of standard tops and pants or skirts for some nice looks.

I've vacuummed and if I were really diligent I'd go ahead and finish tiling the floor. The bedroom is done but the dressing room needs cut tiles along the outer edges and I haven't tiled the closet yet. It will look so much better when I finish.

I never make plans for tax return money because if I do something else comes along and costs more than it should have and I can't follow through with my original plan without going into debt. I'm sure I'm not alone in experiencing this phenomenon. I'm trying to say it in a font so light that the appliances and vehicle don't catch wind that it is tax time.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: MAG
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 08:37 PM

I actually kept going and went through several more boxes of stuff, looking for size 20 pants (fruitlessly -- what did I do, go straight from size 14 to size 22??)

Another small basket of stuff into recycling, and a bunch more gardening stuff into a box.

I haven't been able to do seedlings since my cat took over the gardening window -- he thought the extra dirt was exclusively for his bebefit. And the box was fine.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 07:34 PM

Been going through issues of American Film and other film magazines from the '80s -- I think I've got someone who wants to buy them.

Last week I quickly sorted through the paperback cookbooks on the bottom shelf of the kitchen bookcase -- culled most of them. They're going to a friend who is obsessed with cookbooks. So are the ones culled from the rest of the shelf today. As a matter of fact, I was too busy today sorting through the pile of catalogs, etcet etcet that have been building up beside my chair at the table to take stuff over to her. But I threw out most of the pile! (That means, I guess, that I'm making progress.)

Just Freecycled a flour sifter...it's a small step, but I suggested to Tom that when this 2 week project at the test factory is over, he concentrate on eliminating everything he doesn't use or need from the kitchen area. I'd REALLY like to get the clutter off the countertops, but I can't do it without his input or it would probably end in tears (or divorce).

I think he's a little perturbed with me for bagging as much stuff for trash as I did today -- he'll have to schlep in up the loooooooong icy driveway to the road for collection on Wednesday.

Just because I haven't been posting lately doesn't mean I haven't been de-cluttering!

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: MAG
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 07:34 PM

d ]k]]bage can ful up to the tippy top, and still more brambles to go.

I discover I'm still mad at the neighbot who whacked down a huge honeysuckle awhile back (which he insisted was mine impinging on his property; I know it has been straddling the old fence since I moved in) and smashed most of the back of my yard. grrr! He didn't even offer to help clean up the mess which smashed several bushes, giving rise to the brambles.

Fortunately my other neighbors are nice.

His MaCain/Palin yard sign confirmed my opinion he is a high-handed jerk.

grrr!

OK, OK, look forward, not back.

Got through one box of clothes, sorting out what I can wear, whatis too big and can go into the yard sale pile.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 05:28 PM

It is not the mess around my pc that is vexing me. It is the mess inside. I need to make more folders, need to use better naming conventions for documents and files. I need to delete, delete, delete from my Outlook inbox and sub folders.

Nope... sorry.... I can't do it. SO much Mudcat and so little time.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 05:15 PM

I need to find all of my mom's old black and white photos which are packed away somewhere. They got moved when my dau. and grandson moved in and moved out and I haven't been able to find them since. So...today I talked Rog into going out to the shed to look through the bins there. Ugh...mouse droppings, but at least only on the outside of the bins. So, 20 bins or so later, nada, BUT we did find about two bins worth to bring in the house to use or sell. Then we moved to the cargo van also serving as a storage shed. No pix but more lost and found and to sell, so I've some work cut out for me in the coming week, getting stuff photographed and listed. And, I still need to find those pix. I want to use one of them for the cover of my new book.

As to decluttering, this was a HUGE effort on Rog's part and now we have more stuff to sell, give away, etc. plus we identified MORE that we need to go through and get rid of. He keeps stating the obvious, i.e. we need to get out there and go through and get rid of a bunch of stuff. Now, he knows just what it will take and why I cannot do it alone. Maybe he'll finally take some time off.

Otherwise, I have loaded three new books to my biblio bookstore and more to do this week. That will help to declutter my desk and office, though I need to figure out something besides a box to hold my inventory. Oh, and we found scads more books in the shed to be sold when we get low or have the time! Sheesh!

One neat thing, Banjo Bonnie had sent me a beautiful cat mama statue with two baby kittens wrapped in a blanket years ago, actually eleven years ago because it was just after my twin grandsons were born and the cat has red hair. Anyway, I had not been able to find it since we moved here seven years ago. Today, we found her!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Pistachio
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 03:16 PM

I've helped my daughter as she departs our address for her new home. Having had a mad 8 - 10 weeks assisting with the complete redecoration and transformation of her 3 bed' terraced house in Hull, moving hell, highwater and various goods and chattels it is the start of a new era. .. and less arguments!
I've found all the local recycling depots and the DIY stores - Verity is just 10 miles from here - and I'm amazed at the amount of time I have 'found' to help her on her way and am delighted with the end result. I do wonder how long it will take her to unpack (and learn not use the 'floordrobe') but I'm happy she's got her TV licence and is now legal and comfortable to spend the night there, with the companionship of TV.

My husband is away this week so maybe I'll be able to progress the movement of my son and his posessions up to the vacated attic room so finally I can get the 'spare'(office) room back and move all our office and its' equipment into my sons current room - then there WILL be space by the computer and I'll not need to keep a filing cabinet in my bedroom or a photocopier on my landing and maybe I can have a clear space in my bedroom? Phew!
Just wondering about redecorating some of the spaces as I reveal them? Oh, progress - and projects... wish me luck.
If you can do it then I'm sure I can too. ...NB must order a new shed for the garden and clear (throw) out what's been in the conservatory for far too long. Don't worry I'll be recycling all that I possibly can,. Better get started.... and I'd better get back to the accounts and outstanding office chores too.
Happy February H.x

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Rapparee
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 02:24 PM

I'm going to try to send out the Christmas presents.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Will Fly
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 12:44 PM

Oh dear - I use my laptop on my knee, so the bits in front of me, the bits that I can reach are ... well, better not go there. But if I can find a way of decluttering this area, then I will do so.

Doesn't seem easy.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 12:14 PM

Just as well, a splash of hot oil in the wrong place on an antique crystal tray - ash or otherwise - might cause it to crack and break. Seen it happen to a perfectly lovely cut glass bowl. It was between the cooker and the serving counter where kitchen paper had been laid out to receive the banana fritters that were to be served in it, a small splash of hot oil and it cracked from stem to stern as it were....

If it weren't for the space restriction by my stove top, I'd have an oval pyrex plate there for that very purpose. It goes under a gravy boat but being oval, it would fit in the small space by the stove, if it weren't for the wretched George Foreman grill in the way.

Not a lot of real progress today... but I have decluttered Limpit's MP3 of all the music she didn't want and I'm pleased to relate that it was the pop music that went, not the folkie stuff!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 11:34 AM

Hey, getting anything out of Limpit's room is cause for celebration! Try to avoid letting her take new stuff in at the same rate.

These are certainly vigorous reports! I wish you could bottle some of that efficiency (I detect one clue from LilyF--doing the work and reporting back occasionally gets more done than writing about it every day. . .)

I enjoyed how shiny the bathroom was this morning. I'll work on the dressing room today, and the adjoining closet. That could get to be big, an explosion of clothes. I'll take them out of the closet and arrange them by size and color, and see what I have to work with. I don't enjoy trying on clothes, but I suppose I should do that also.

It's too beautiful outside to not spend some time out there, but I won't project how much I might get done. Too much stuff on my "to do" list to get done today.

Yesterday I did a little strategic shopping. I'd been using saucers to set an oil can and for cooking spoons, but I don't have enough saucers from my dinnerware to do that without having to stop and wash them before I use them on the table. So I picked up a couple of cheap crystal pieces, a little plate and a bowl (I think they're actually intended to put candles on) to leave near the stove. They'll look lovely when not in use. I have some old pieces, crystal from my great aunt's estate, but most of the flat pieces that size are ashtrays, and I don't like the look of using ash trays next to the stove, even if they are clean and are antiques.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 11:14 AM

Decluttered some bulky cardboard saved for the purpose to insulate/darken several rooms' windows. One project 6 months overdue at least.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 10:59 AM

2 bags of rubbish gone and I can't see where from (alright, the majority of the non-recycleables came from Limpit's room), but I can see the calendar now... and close the door.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: MAG
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 10:39 AM

The area around my 'puter is one of the messiest in my house.

This is a challebge indeed.

I need to get the rest of this den into some kind of order so I'll have room to work.

Bags of med stuff, stray papers, you name it.

mid-40's temperature predicted today, so I want to do more yard clean up -- keep that trash can filled. I pay a lot for the service; gotta get my money's worth.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maire-aine
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 09:10 AM

My laptop & printer are temporarily set up in my bedroom until the painting is done, so there isn't too much around them to tidy up. I'm still boxing up breakable stuff in the livingroom.

M

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 08:22 AM

Good to hear the work progresses... I would love to swap out some of our small shelves for bigger ones, but I don't think Manitas would approve... he seems to like the small, pointless bookshelves blocking the window...

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 08:11 AM

We have a 3 bedroom home, two bedrooms of those rooms are finished. One is a bedroom and the other has been a bedroom and is now my office/library. The third bedroom has never been finished. No sheet rock on the walls, nothing on the floor but plywood. We have been using it as cold storage for our potatoes (couple hundred pounds from this summer). It has also been a room to store things, old construction stuff, windows, racks of out of season clothing, furniture....basically my point is that this room was FULL. It had one outlet and that was it. In the last week, this room has been emptied, cleaned and wired for more outlets and a thermostat. There are 10 sheets of 4 x 8 sheet rock ready to go up, already carried upstairs into the room.
    I've also been busy in the mudroom, cleaning and painting the walls. This required taking everything off metal shelving and reorganizing....just a few short sentences to describe a multi-day event.
    Then I moved all the furniture in the living room and painted the walls. In the hallway, I took everything off our 2 seven-foot bookcases, gave them a good cleaning, removed 79 books and priced them for our annual yard sale, repaired 3 of the shelves and reorganized that!
    Our bedroom closet now contains only clothes that fit us (got rid of 5 more bags of too big things....RidgePlucker had to get rid of some things too).
    So...I haven't been posting but I'm keeping busy and downsizing in some major ways. What is all of this stuff? Where did it come from? Why do I need to keep it? ARG.

Michelle who is enjoying the progress and work of it all.

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 03:33 AM

I'm ahead of the game on the computer cleanup, Liz, I moved and dusted and cleared and repaired this desk and machine for most of January after the crash on Dec. 26. But I'll make a point of keeping it clear.

I am considering repositioning the computer desk because I get a stiff neck when I watch the television. The reason for this setup is a broken tile on the floor--it cracked with the settling of the house and part of it popped out. My computer chair was getting stuck and I couldn't chip the rest of the tile out to replace it. So I turned the desk around to avoid that gap. Hence the shift in television watching and the stiff neck. I have to figure out how to fix that tile.

Today I decided to clean in general since I have been clearing the room where my late kitty spent a lot of time (tile floors and a plastic under the bedspread meant the vomit did less damage.) That room is being set up for human inhabitants again. I moved out the litter box and have been sweeping up what got tracked around. The litter box has been in a couple of different rooms on this end of the house, so while sweeping those places I decided I needed to sweep then mop then scrub and wash whole rooms. The master bath is finished.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: maeve
Date: 31 Jan 09 - 08:22 PM

Oh goody; Rapaire is going to give us all money. That should keep us motivated (hee hehehe hee.)

Good challenge, Liz.
maeve

Subject: RE: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Rapparee
Date: 31 Jan 09 - 07:24 PM

I'm reminded of the preacher who said, "Keep the faith, brethren! Yes, you put the money in the collection plate and you can keep the faith!"

Subject: BS: February Declutter - keep the faith!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 31 Jan 09 - 06:49 PM

OK... it's nearly Feb 1st in the UK, so I'm starting this one off a bit differently.

Your task this month, should you choose to accept it, is to remove/recycle/repair/replace/restore/revamp the area around your computer. Yes... the bits you can see in front of you, those bits you can reach by stretching out your arms and rotating and those other bits under the table that you otherwise wouldn't think about.

Good luck guys... and let's be careful out there!

LTS