BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Apr 09 - 01:42 AM

I started a new thread for the summer. Let's see how we do (and no swine flu!)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Apr 09 - 12:38 AM

Yikes, keep the hands washed!

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Apr 09 - 12:23 AM

"any" instances, not "and" instances, on that last paragraph.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Apr 09 - 11:02 PM

Do you find that your best "writing" occurs in the shower, where you don't have pen and paper handy? That's always difficult--do you get out and write it down, or simply hope to remember. . .

The beer glasses fit in the cupboard without all of the moving, but I've been thinking about moving this freezer, so I've been shifting things and just took some measurements. Right now where it is in the kitchen it doesn't look great, but it is next to a plug and there is space. One of the casters has tilted, so I stuck a piece of wood under that corner to level it. The good thing is that with the freezer and an old video game (in a big MDF case) are out of the hall. When I first set up my pantry shelves they were in that spot, and I moved them back to that position--it is slim compared to the freezer, and the hall looks much better.

Meanwhile--I suspect that Fort Worth will be big news in the news tomorrow. The entire school district is shutting down for about 10 days because of the swine flu. We've had rain off and on for several days, a lot has been falling this evening. It kind of feels like a "when it rains, it pours" sort of news night. We live in the FWISD, but my son goes to the Crowley ISD, and they haven't had and instances of the flu. The Fort Worth schools that actually have the illness are on our side of town, so who knows what will happen.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Apr 09 - 07:54 PM

Sounds like good plans, Maggie.

I have been doing a good job the past few days in keeping things picked up...paper plates left over from supper, mail which needs to be sorted and put away, laundry not just washed and dried, but also put away. All usual, smallish things, but keeping up with them helps the place to look neater even with all of the extra decluttering we need to do. Over the past two weeks it had all piled up.

I decluttered my mind a bit, today. Wrote a synopsis of my novel to send out to agents. Been thinking about it, writing it in my head, so it feels good to get it down on paper, so to speak.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Apr 09 - 06:30 PM

I visited a friend's house today and was thrilled to see the progress he has made in clearing out clutter and in general cleaning since his roommates moved out. This 50s bungalow looks like it has Frank Lloyd Wright touches. When I commented about that recently he said there are three or four houses in town of this type by this architect who had worked for Wright. His story is long and involved, but he is pushing his way through clutter, not all of his own making, to a light at the end of the tunnel. The kitchen and the front room looked wonderful. He has a great bar in the corner of the living room and is weeding out extra stuff, so I inherited a beautiful set of four Italian beer glasses. I love beer, but have only a couple of tall beer glasses, so these are a welcome addition. If not the same style, they serve the same purpose.

In my work here I know that when I bring in something new I need to DO SOMETHING WITH IT soon or it becomes more of the problem. So, as any de-clutterer knows, sometimes you have to start in another room to get a run at the task you want to work on. In this case, I'm moving some books to the shelves over my computer desk after removing some of the little standing around things (office supplies) that don't need to take up valuable shelf real estate. With books up there and removed to another partially empty shelf, I will be emptying a small wooden book case under my window to move into the kitchen. I have an idea for moving my cookbooks out of the kitchen queen (mine is white but is very similar in doors and drawers) so they're all in plain sight. The rest of my glassware is in the kitchen queen, the reason I'm making this move. After re-positioning a few pieces in the room I might make this bookcase work, and I might possibly finally move the upright freezer in there (it would make cooking much easier if the freezer was closer by).

All of this inspired by four beer glasses. But heck, whatever it takes to get things moving again!

Looks like rain so I'll walk the dogs and get them back before the heavens open. Another bit of de-cluttering I did today was to take the extra Cadbury dark chocolate easter egg packets to school for the students. If I eat all of those I won't be able to fit into my jeans. They were good, but they are too tempting, so they're out of here. That's one less container in the freezer (where else to you put chocolate when you hope it will be around for a while and eaten only occasionally, but you actually find yourself visiting it several times a day?)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Apr 09 - 12:29 PM

I was wearing a broad brimmed hat, that hot afternoon, but it was an accumulation from a couple of days that seems to have gotten me. Typically I wear a scarf over the back of my neck and this first major outing of the season it just didn't occur to me. My bad!

Easter nailed us in the chocolate category to push the weight issue over the top for me, but it has been a more sedentary winter in general. I've been making a point to eat healthier, and hope the gardening does it's usual weight-loss thing.

Typing today. Not particularly energetic, but necessary for the bottom line!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Apr 09 - 11:29 AM

I was going to say out here even when it's cloudy we have to be very careful about sunburn, but I thought maybe since you're at a lower altitude it wouldn't have been as much of a problem and also that you knew better.:-) (Sorry...I know it's not pleasant. Hope you have some aloe gel handy. It really does help, esp. if it's kept cooled in the frig.) Maybe your bod just wants you to rest for awhile?

MAG, that must feel so great...wearing clothes you'd packed away ten years ago! Congrats!

I have been able to do more housework today, including laundry. I think it is helping to stay ahead of the terrible munchies brought on by temporary meds. So far, my weight has stayed the same, at least. We'll see when I go to the doc tomorrow, but i am going to do a bit more today to compensate for eating. At least some of the cravings are for healthy things like carrots and strawberries. can't get enough of either one!

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Apr 09 - 10:47 AM

Sticker shock this morning on my mortgage payment for next year--it went up significantly, primarily because last fall the county valued my house as going way up in value. Like I could actually get that much if I sold it today? Ha! Trouble is, much of this financial meltdown has happened after those statements went out and I wasn't paying attention to how much it would go up. Too late to protest now. Looks like Wells Fargo and the county have decided to absorb that latest "incentive" on their own, I didn't have to lift a finger to spend it.

I'm reaching a point again where I'm tired of stuff that is around that needs to be filed; it was too difficult to reach in and grab the file and papers I needed for this latest search. Other stuff was in the way. Old records need to be moved to the lower drawer (different mortgage company--I refinanced a couple of years ago), etc. Nearly killed myself tripping on an old pair of shoes in the way, plus other annoyances. I think it's mostly I'm irritated at myself for getting so sunburned over the weekend and my allergies are acting up, so I don't feel good and everything else seems set in place just to make things more difficult. Bleh!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maeve
Date: 28 Apr 09 - 08:02 AM

Joy to you, Michelle.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Penny S.
Date: 28 Apr 09 - 05:25 AM

SRS, I had that eyeopener last time, suddenly realising how hollow the house was. But where this one disappeared was a brick wall, not plasterboard. I have spent £60 ish on one gizmo that generates a current variation round the cables into the cavities - it said I needed two, but it's in the kitchen, and the rest of the rooms and the landing each have a sonic ultrasound generator to repel them. I can't set traps at the moment because of going away.

Still no droppings.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 09:26 PM

Sorry, Sorcha, I've never had to deal with that much of a clothes overflow. If he's grown out of them, maybe he's just very sensitive to the extra weight, and he doesn't want to acknowledge the fact. Nothing will make him give them up, because it will be like admitting his weakness. Maybe you could box them up by size, and if he's able to lose weight and get back into any of them, you could get rid of the larger sizes as he shrinks. I didn't take control of my weight until the doctor accused me of being diabetic. I guess this is a thread creep from "accountability", but it's a theory.

In the meanwhile, I dug lilies of the valley out of my raspberry patch. Don't get me wrong-- I love lily of the valley-- but not with my berries. The berry plants are around the edge, so I planted some sunflower seeds in the center. There is a metal trellis overhead that I can tie them up.

Some months ago, I won a door prize at an antique show, which was a $50 gift certificate to a very nice Italian restaurant nearby. So tonight, my friend and I went out for dinner. Delicious, and I won't need to eat for the rest of the week.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: MAG
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 09:03 PM

Well, actually, I am wearing stuff I packed awway 10 years ago ...

Maybe Ridgeplucker has intentions of using those again someday ...

We can all dream ...

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 09:00 PM

Okay. There's nothing else for it, Sorcha.

Compost them.

:)

I dropped off a couple of containers of recycling this evening, so I can get into the sun room a little more easily. We picked up gyros on the way home because I didn't feel like cooking, but I have dishes from today to do. No swine flu here, just "to-much-to-do" flu.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 08:31 PM

LOLOLOL....not that they aren't GOOD suggestions...but they won't work for ME. He doesn't mind piles,He keeps them everywhere!!!

HE does the painting....and I already DO that with socks and t shirts...it's the old 'dress' clothes, 'Western style' shirts in 2 sizes to small, 'leisure suits'...(remember those?) 'suits' that are too small....I can and DO get rid of the uniform stuff he can't wear anymore...but Leisure Suits?????

Size 32 shirts when he now wears size 40???? Aaarrggghhh. I may just end up doing it myself. And he has about a million t shirts that still fit....if I get rid of the wrong ones....SAVE ME!


And DON'T talk to me about the garage....which I'm forbidden to touch!

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 07:20 PM

On the pretense that you're going to paint the room and the closet, make him empty out EVERYTHING. While it's out, organize it and make him try it all on before it goes back. What do you want to bet he'll get real tired of looking at it after a while and keep just the best stuff?

My sunburn has settled into a real uncomfortable singe on the back of my neck. I used some Noxema and that helped for a while, but I have to remember from now on to get out my bandanna to wear draped behind my ballcap. I thought my broad brim would be enough the other day when I was in the park, but it wasn't. Anyway, this has been just annoying enough that I've been out of sorts today.

Meanwhile, I just distracted myself big time. All it takes is something like news of new mummies found in Egypt (this link to Google News) and a current version of Google Earth and you can be off to the deserts of Egypt in the click of a mouse. Finding the different ancient pyramids in the Fayoum Oasis area (several spellings) and ancient cities--oy! One can easily get lost there. AT LEAST I didn't bring home any souvenirs to have to find someplace to store! To find this one, you need to ask Google Earth to take you to Illahun, Egypt. Fayoum (the city) is to the west of this spot.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: LilyFestre
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 06:21 PM

Sorch,

Do you do his laundry? I have asked RidgePlucker to go through his socks many times...some have holes and just need to go. The thing is, he works a lot and is busy. So as the offending socks come up in the wash, I just toss them. If he has noticed, he hasn't said a word. I've done the same thing with t-shirts.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 05:38 PM

OK, all you Gurus of De clutter....HOW do you get a MAN to sort his clothes and get RID of stuff? He has so many clothes that it won't all fit in his closet and dresser.

He has BAGS of stuff that he never wears, can't wear, etc.....Yes, I'm 'tempted' to do it myself...but that could cause WAR......HELP!

I'm TIRED of his dressing table, kitchen table, every flat surface in the house covered with HIS CLOTHES!

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: LilyFestre
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 05:30 PM

I am SO excited!!!! Today I returned all the pink things I had purchased 2 months ago as this baby is definitely a boy!!! Our adoption agent had told us to hold onto both the boy and girl items until we had a definitive answer. It's nice to have that stuff out of the nursery!!!!! I was very proud of myself for staying organized and on top of all this as I had receipts for everything (excluding gifts) which means I got cash back instead of gift cards. YAY!! Also, the diaper bag is packed and in the car as are a list of phone numbers of people to call, etc. Toiletries are in the car too for an overnight or more if needed. Tonight...if it cools off, I'll be packing a few outfits for us too. Man. Excited isn't even the word!!!! The birth mother has asked me to be in the delivery room with her. I am beyond honored.

Michelle who jumps every time the phone rings!

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 03:04 PM

Ha! I was going to put in a link, but the Search isn't working. I'd forgotten about the Fly Lady. Spaw and Karenspaw discovered her several years ago and were faithfully trying to follow her email suggestions. I tried it for a few weeks but gave up...it just wasn't doable at the time. I remember him being really excited about things like how to really get a stainless steel sink clean and other neat tips ideas. Not sure it lasted too long for them, either, but I do seem to remember they thought there were some good ideas, etc.

Daughter never showed up, yesterday. By the time they were done with their own house and grocery shopping, etc. I could tell she wasn't enthused and she's miserable to be around then, so I told her we'd pass. Rog and I got all of the laundry put away and I went to bed feeling as though we'd started our reclamation project.:-)

This morning I did the dishes immediately after eating breakfast, when I knew I'd have the energy. I took it slow and got them done. Feels good.

Had Morgan for a couple of hours this a.m., then he went off to school. Now for some rest.:-)

Michelle, you must be so excited!

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 02:23 PM

Ah-Ha! There is another place online where people are talking de-cluttering. I found a reference to it in the first in a series on DIY house cleaning in the local paper (here). Someone called the Fly Lady. It's a bit odd, kind of all over the place, but I've posted the link so you can take a look.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: MAG
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 02:15 PM

day off; one more bucketful of weeds in between errands.

We may actually get rain this afternoon, so that may be it outside for me, today, also.

Oh; one more bag of charity stuff done; not dropped off yet.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 12:38 PM

Penny,

The way we visualize houses and the way mice experience them are vastly different. Cavities for insulation, spaces between studs, all of those are wide open corridors to small creatures.

Rain rain rain today. I delayed turning on the computer because right after getting home from dropping my son at school the heavens opened with a very noisy thunderstorm. My work in the yard will be curtailed this week, we're due wet weather much of the next few days.

Guess that means I need to get moving in the house. . .

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Penny S.
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 04:26 AM

Last week I intended to go to Dad's place to continue there, but had to deal with a bees' nest in the bathroom wall. I wish they wouldn't do that - it really goes against the grain to eradicate a threatened species, but I can't be doing with not using the loo.

Today, I had booked my time to go down again, but last night a small dark thing scuttled out of my bedroom and across the landing, and disappeared. I'm having to devote the day to checking all of upstairs, and then down, and getting humane traps and one of those electronic gizmos to ensure the little thing goes somewhere else. I can't work out where it has gone, nor yet where it has been - no droppings, no shredded materials, except a tiny quantity in the seat of a folding stool in the spare bedroom. I'm getting everything off the floor, all the boxes ready for moving and so on, and those full of cans and pouches of food ready for when I don't go out... a bit of a panic purchaser I've been over the weekend. And I was running down all the food stocks for ease of moving.

I know that mice can squeeze through anywhere a pencil can go, but this one squeezed through nowhere - I blocked all the holes in the plasterwork last time, when I found bite marks in the soap in the airing cupboard, and droppings in the linens. That one got in through the loft - though how it got up to the third storey I don't know. And I really don't want to have to get into the loft, in case there are still bees up there!

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 03:33 AM

Have helped my sister declutter some of her workboxes... don't tell Manitas but the results of the declutter are going to be in the post to us at home tomorrow!

Ssshhhhhhhhhh!!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 12:28 AM

[sigh] Editing and proof reading are always best done at the same time. :)

Life is so much easier with a washer back in the picture!

Dishes are finished, laundry is finished, dry, folded, put away.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Apr 09 - 10:17 PM

Back on the air again!

Michelle, That time will drag and fly at the same time, I suspect!

My neighbors 2 doors up the street deserve kudos for the work they're doing on their back yard. There is a rather dysfunctional son (in and out of jail) who is a packrat extraordinaire. His mother has been making inroads every time he's out of the picture. There's a big pile of stuff bagged and boxed out at the curb for tomorrow's trash. The view of the back of their yard was so bad that the neighbors beyond them put up a sold fence to block the view. Prior to this we could see quite a way up along the creek. I'd love the view to look like something other than a junk yard. At one time it was very pretty and park-like.

The kitchen is cleaned up here and I put the big box for the neighbors is in the pickup camper shell, until they get home next weekend. It's in the way in the house (we'll cut a door and windows for the grandkids before I take it over).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: LilyFestre
Date: 26 Apr 09 - 05:18 PM

As the arrival date of our Wee One gets closer and closer, I keep emptying boxes of baby stuff. Today we assembled the stroller and installed the car seat! The Dr. says that baby will be here within 2 weeks if not sooner!!!! *HAPPY DANCE* :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Apr 09 - 02:14 PM

It looks like it will rain this afternoon, but so far it feels pretty good working out there. The clouds keep me from burning or getting too warm. I'm putting in this veggie bed in stages, and when I get to the end of this segment I'll shift gears and work on the garage some. It needs it. Then I can clear some of the sun room stuff out to the garage. It's that giant Chinese puzzle, still on display! One good thing I can do is sweep up the hay from the dogs' area and put it down as mulch in the new garden.

Meanwhile, bread is rising and I've pulled a few things out of the freezer for dinner. I have to draw it down steadily for two reasons: I want to have room for the garden stuff this year, and I want it empty enough that I can completely clear it out and defrost it before another season.

Oh, and I need to make that Goodwill run.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 26 Apr 09 - 09:45 AM

Took 2 bags of books to the library used book sale. We had rain all afternoon & overnight, with lots of thunder & lightening. I'm just glad we still have power. Since I was pretty much stuck at home, I did manage to get the diningroom table cleared off and the laundry is caught up.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Apr 09 - 02:20 AM

Cross-posted with Kat. I'm sure Morgan loves those visits as much as you do.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Apr 09 - 12:13 AM

Cleared up the loveseat (again!) and have more clothes for the Goodwill and listing as IRS donations. I'll drop them off tomorrow. I've also moved a table from the window that will clear the view out to the patio and yard.

Harry Potter movies have been playing on the network television channel on the weekends, but I hate to wait for the commercials to finish, so I've put on the DVD. Chamber of Secrets this evening. I can fold a lot of laundry and pick up a lot of clutter during the duration of one of those movies! The laptop is in the livingroom and I can watch and browse between tidying inspirations.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Apr 09 - 12:10 AM

Hahaha! I like that!

Morgan came over for the first since Easter. SO, after a game or two of UNO, he helped me empty some trash; picked up a few things in the LR; and played on my computer while I went through a few pieces of paper on my desk. After two hours I had to send him home as I got fatigued easily, but it is a start. Tomorrow his mom will come help Rog with the floors and I may be well enough to do the dishes. I also did a load of wash this morning. I rode along to the grocery store, but wisely waited out in the car while Rog shopped. It was good to get out. Oh, and Morgan watered outside for me. I sure did miss him...he brings so much life to our home.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Apr 09 - 09:26 PM

Okay. Reality check time. The Saturday night CBS mysteries are on. CSI: Miami has a murder in a big rich house. In this house there is not a speck of dust, and there is a pen on the floor. Clearly a clue.

Flash forward to a house in Fort Worth. A pen on the floor? Certainly. Probably several, if you poke around under things. Lots of other stuff also.

The thing about these programs that isn't real isn't the surreal photography and the swifty DNA and microscopic detecting, it's the clean houses.

Ha! Busted!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: MAG
Date: 25 Apr 09 - 08:24 PM

OK, it's the start of my weekend and I need to do the ol' list, whether I follow it or not.

More bramble starts, natch.

I keep finding more quackgrass, and it is starting to go to seed already. (in addition to spreading underground. Hate the stuff.)

We need rain badly, and I'm going to have to water if it doesn't rain tonight; it does look promising. Water is going up again, natch, and although I try to plant mstly indigenous drough resistant stuff, I still have flowers and trees that need water.

More 2x clothing to bag up and give away.

More crap in the spare room to go through.

@#$%^ file cabinet still not gone through.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Apr 09 - 08:16 PM

Time to get some picking up done around here. I was outside all day. The garage could use some help, but so could the house. I think the house wins this evening. Time to pull the truck into the garage and call it a day on the gardening. It's really windy out, so after a while I was wearing a hat to keep my hair out of my face and had the chap stick out. No need for such preparation for house work!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Apr 09 - 11:51 PM

Unfortunately, we're all too used to them. Around here there are the fire ants--if you accidentally stand on a bed, it only takes a few seconds until they nail you. If you walk through tall grass the chiggers work more slowly, taking a few hours to appear as bright red welts (itch like hell) and if you're really unlucky you come into contact with the poison ivy. Three days later you're in itching hell with that stuff. And the slower it takes effect, the longer it torments you.

I have all three on the property. I'm careful out there.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: MAG
Date: 24 Apr 09 - 03:54 PM

Fire ants; ick. I still have scars on my legs from an encounter 20 years ago. They are NASTY.

My sympathy.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Apr 09 - 02:36 PM

Wow, Kat! That is impressive (that she said yes!)

Lawn is mowed and I disturbed a lot of fire ants and a few grasshoppers. Dogs didn't get any katydids yet, it's a little early in the season. The birds follow me as I mow, picking up bugs, and later on the dogs will watch the birds and chase them off when they start seeing katydids--apparently very tasty. To birds and dogs.

I love it--mowing the lawn, bringing in laundry from the line. It's the time of year when we can live outdoors a lot more.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Apr 09 - 12:26 PM

I went through the house this morning with a trash bag and picked up detritus from the past two weeks of no housework, blowing noses, using paper plates, etc. At least that looks a little better. I also broke down and asked our dau. to come over this weekend to help Rog with all of the cleaning we've neither one been able to do...dishes, floors, general scrubbing AND she said yes!:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Apr 09 - 10:40 AM

I wonder if you put a layer of rock down on the drive (is it concrete?), covered it with some cardboard, and drive over that spot. A few comings and goings to work, the grocery, whatever, and you might have some great lavasand for the flower beds!

I've started the spring cleaning that occurs when the air conditioner gets turned on. I have some blankets to wash, line dry, and pack away (I may fluff in the dryer also), and while I'm at it, it's a good time to mend the few with loose blanket binding. There are also some small rugs needing washing. I keep a small door-mat rug on a loveseat near the back door because the dogs occasionally hop up on the loveseat with wet feet. Last time that happened was when the old washer was on the fritz. The old trick of turning over the mat didn't work--I found muddy prints on the underside also! I'd already turned it once. :) The new machine isn't getting the elegant stuff to start out with, it's just picking up where the old one died.

I work late today, so I'll mow before I head over. It's nice to wake up on Saturday morning and have part of that heavy work for the weekend already finished. I'm going to a wildflower event in the afternoon, and I'll probably spend the morning digging and planting. The weather and the work week have conspired against me the last couple of weeks.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: MAG
Date: 23 Apr 09 - 08:20 PM

Well the person who said she wanted the red rock has not picked it up yet.

Someone else wants the 2-part bird bath which my cats keep knocking over. (not fair to attract birds anymore.)

I don't have any way to crush the red rock; when I first moved in I raked it out of a bed the previous owner had rocked over. not that it slowed down the weeds any. Now that plot doesn't get any sun, due to the growth of the neighbor's tree (not the tree hater); maybe I should rerock it over.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 23 Apr 09 - 05:15 PM

I cleaned the stovetop today, and picked up a lot of stuff that was laying around the livingroom floor. At least the place looks a little tidier.

M

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Apr 09 - 03:14 PM

Sounds like your neighbour could use one of these, Maggie. I've been thinking about getting one.

Oh, and no snow here...we're in the Banana Belt of Colorado...hardly ever get snow and almost never when they have it on the eastern slope.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Apr 09 - 10:02 AM

"box all of our paper stuff" -- that's a mouthful! What kind of paper stuff? Bills, deeds, warranties, tax returns, or clippings, coupons, magazines, etc? Some of it you have to file carefully, other types you feel (after a while) like you want to mulch it all somewhere, the heck with what goodies are in the stack. If you don't remember what it is now, you won't miss it. (I wish I could get myself to actually practice this revolutionary cleaning idea!)

I don't meditate, per say, but I'm a writer, so I've perfected the "stare out of the window" approach to clearing my mind and trying to get on with what it is I'm suppose to be doing. ;-D

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: LilyFestre
Date: 23 Apr 09 - 07:11 AM

With the home study complete, I have been taking the last few days off (even went away for a yoga retreat). I'm home now and have enjoyed puttering along at my own speed. Today my mission is to clean out this big basket and box of all our paper stuff and get is organized a bit more so I can find things quickly when I need them. To this end, I got myself a filing cabinet, hanging files, attached some wheels and I'm ready to sort, organize and toss.
    If I have any energy or desire left after that, I'm hoping to work in my office, a long rectangular room where I hope to set aside 4 or 5 feet to set up a meditation space for myself.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 11:20 PM

Out walking the dogs this evening I passed a neighbor, seated in a plastic chair working her way along her hedge with a pair of hand trimmers. She apparently doesn't walk well, and her husband is in the early stages of dementia. She trims and he'll come out and sweep up the leaves. I think I'll be walking up there to see if she needs any help with anything. We'll have to agree to not discuss politics--she had the McCain yard sign, I the Obama. :)

Someone will have to tell me what I did with my vases back when I was working on that cupboard. I was a little too diligent (or my new location wasn't as obvious as I thought) and now I can't find them. The dog leash snapped off a big un-bloomed iris this evening, and I thought I'd see if I could get the flowers to bloom in the house. The yard has a gazillion of them, but you hate to lose them when they're such big happy and charismatic flowers!

Today we turned on the air conditioning. It's a good thing that I have the clothes line out back, because it really does help offset the electric bill. (I say this knowing full well that Kat is probably buried still from that last snow storm. . . )

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maeve
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 09:23 PM

The arm continues to heal thanks, Maggie. Therapy has begun and is quite effective. Every task I try using the injured arm hurts, so I'm selective about when I use it. No "heavy" tasks.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 05:33 PM

That lava rock is a great soil amendment when it's ground up.

It's amazing how much old paper you can discard when you're doing anything other than try to compose an article that just won't come together. More old stuff is in the recycle bin.

The wading pool is out for the first time this spring for the dogs. The Am. Staff terrier loves to lie down in it for a couple of minutes to cool off. The catahoula will only approach it for a drink.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: GUEST,MAG
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 04:26 PM

Got rid of a small garbage can of red rock (lava rock) on Freecycle today.