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!