BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion

Subject: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Feb 10 - 08:15 PM

The last evening of February and it feels like the first day of Spring (I found a daffodil open in the front yard yesterday), so it's a good time to start the next De-Clutter thread. Here's the last one.

I spent time in the garden today, putting in a plank to lengthen the area of a raised bed, mixing a few bags of topsoil and manure humus and such to mound in part of last year's bed where I'm beginning to transplant the strawberries. I put in three strawberry plants last year, figuring they'd die in the heat, but they didn't. They sent out lots of rhizomes instead so I have a sprawl of strawberries to relocated to another part of the garden. I won't move all of them, but enough so I can fill in behind the new plank.

The new old shelf is in the closet and is holding quite a few school and office supplies. Now I have to rearrange the spaces where they came from to move into the closet.

Another load of laundry goes in tonight, and some sweeping. The house isn't looking fabulous, I suppose there will be a burst of energy tomorrow morning.

I hope everyone gets a glimpse of spring soon. It will lighten your step and make the work go a little easier.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: maire-aine
Date: 28 Feb 10 - 08:57 PM

It got up to 40F (4.4C) today, but we've still got 6 inches of snow on the ground, so no gardening in Michigan for a while. I'm working on de-cluttering the horizontal surfaces (tables, desk & countertops) so the place doesn't look so bad. The diningroom table is clear, for now.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Mar 10 - 12:44 AM

I'm thinking of clearing the dining room table before I go to bed. We have most of the stacks of paper dealt with, so I can put them in the expandable file and set that aside. If the kitchen peninsula is clear and the dining table in the living room, and if the most conspicuous dust kittens have been tamed, that's probably as good as I can do.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Mar 10 - 02:57 AM

Dining room table clearance for me today too - I need it to stock up on cards for our forthcoming concert...

Trouble is, March appears to be coming in like a lamb and all this free range sunshine makes me wish I was out in a green place instead. Still, it means the dining room will be gorgeous this afternoon!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: freda underhill
Date: 01 Mar 10 - 06:55 AM

wow,what a beautiful start to the thread SrS. My dining table is covered with CDs - I'm halfway through sorting them.

I spent a bit of time yesterday moving furniture round. Don't know why but it helps clear out the place - and then pushing some of it back. Lots of dusting, polishing and grunting - feels good. I moved a bookshelf into my bedroom - and cleared away about 30 books to go to the second hand bookshop.

And the living room feels roomier without the shelf.

It has been soooo hot this Feb. Today is the first cool day in yonks. and it's raining, cleansing away all that heat :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: mouldy
Date: 01 Mar 10 - 07:58 AM

My dining table, which got cleared yesterday, is now covered with crystal candle holders, vases, staffordshire figures, and I'm painting a couple of bits of salt dough at the end nearest the window. Yep, I have started emptying cupboards so that furniture can be moved during decorating.

Peter started work this morning. One part of the dodgy-looking ceiling is stripped, and so far (hanging onto a big lump of wood) nothing has fallen! The electrician came to look at the work I need doing, and he will be working on Thursday.

still quite nippy today, but we've had some lovely sunshine. Clouded up a bit now. However, I don't think there's any rain forecast.
My daily paper said that it has been estimated that Spring is a month behind last year. However, that merely puts it back to where it's SUPPOSED to be!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Mar 10 - 04:41 PM

Andrea, I have a bunch of that stuff to put on my dining table also. I need to dust the shelves near the table and rearrange the objects on display there. And I need to find sturdy stands or racks to support some of the newer pieces that came out of trunks. My dining table is just about empty now, most of the papers have been filed.

I also finished clearing the kitchen peninsula and the dishes are finished. The floor is swept and mopped and I put the laundry away. While the house wasn't particularly uncluttered or maintaining a coherent interior design look, it was tidy at the points of contact that matter--the kitchen and baths and dining areas.

The girls came through just fine. The inspector took photos through the house rooms and popped a quick shot of the girls standing wagging in the door at him. No one barked, but Poppy did try to jump on him for kisses.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Mar 10 - 10:24 AM

This weather! On again off again--today it looks like spring, and will reach 65.

I have cleared the dining table and need to run some phone wire to the master bedroom to hook it into my phone grid and then I can take the phone that is on the dining table for convenience (I have the new phone there, with the Caller ID handset) and put it in my room. Once the table is clear, I'm going to do what Andrea suggests and fill it with crystal and glass to clean, then dust the shelves and arrange things. I have some shelves in my bedroom that perhaps need to house more of the non-glass stuff. Go for more cohesive zones and not commingle the antique toys, American Indian art and glass. Oh, and cameras. Though I have been gradually divesting myself of cameras, I still seem to have a collection.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 02 Mar 10 - 10:35 AM

Hard to get stuff accomplished with inadequate lighting due to power outage. Now the power's back and I can get back to work around the house. Packaged up a box for my sister and will get it to the post office on my way to work. One down. Maybe tomorrow another one -- to my mother, another to my sister, or the one to my brother. Christmas didn't exist this year, but I was gratified to find I actually mailed cards to my sister, mother and brother -- they didn't require letters. Now if I can just get this stuff packaged up and off the guest room bed!

Need to repack stuff to take to Goodwill so it doesn't break in transit or there. That might take awhile though -- I can't use the driveway and I'm not going to schlep heavy boxes up to the car parked near the road and through all that MUD! (I carry a hiking staff for stability.)

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Mar 10 - 11:08 AM

Linn, you're such a trooper to be posting to this thread at all. I think you'd be decluttering all of the plastic stuff that seems to come home after a hospital stay, let alone fooling with alternative lighting sources and heating the house.

On the subject of mud, I always notice that the consistency of mud after ice is unique (here, or in Washington state, or in other places where I have experienced snow and ice and then the mud after). There is something in the physics of the dirt particles. Something colloidal, perhaps. Do you know what I'm taking about? The consistency of mud after it has been frozen is different than the consistency after a simple rain the rest of the year.

Even if you haven't paid attention to that, keep your feet under you and the Goodwill can wait.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Mar 10 - 11:23 AM

Our Goodwill will send out a truck to pick up donations if we can't make it to the store, esp. big items.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: mouldy
Date: 02 Mar 10 - 12:58 PM

Several of the UK ones drop plastic sacks off from time to time for small items, which you leave by your property on the appointed day. I think those that deal in bigger items will pick them up if it's something they want. The YMCA shop seems to specialise in furniture.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Mar 10 - 01:07 AM

At the guitar lesson this evening my son and his teacher discussed how to approach a short job as background music at a faculty reception on campus next month. A co-worker asked if he'd like to come play for 15-20 minutes while a reception gets going. There will be modest pay, but what's nice is that he's building a resume now as a musician.

The house is a little better, but to counter that, the laundry is washed but needs folding and the dishwasher is empty but there is a sink full that needs to go into it. I have to run errands tomorrow so may not get much more done till evening.

It was clear today but not very warm. I hope some of the rest of you are getting relief from the snow, cold, wet, and bleh. Especially the bleh.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Mar 10 - 02:00 AM

Even though it is still very chilly with a slight wind, Morgan and I have bee outside a lot the past two days. He decided to rake old leaves which we just let lie then go over with the compost mower, but he had a blast and it does look better. He also put away the shovel for me and picked up a few things from around the yard. I have done nothing but laundry. It's been a busy week, already and more to go with appts. and stuff. Maybe on the weekend. I am appalled at how much dust there is on everything. It's been months and months since I dusted and it is bothering Rog's nose a lot. I need to get into the office and straighten it out. When I moved to the DR, it became the catch-all room. I can scarcely see my desk. So those are both goals for me this month.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 03 Mar 10 - 02:35 AM

oh dear... Yesterday during my perambulation into town at lunch, I picked up 5 bouquets of silk flowers (3 red rose, one pink daisy and assorted pinks, 1 deep purple frilly things) to clutter up my fairy making kit.

Only cost me £5.00 and the pulled off blossoms stuffed a very big carrier bag quite full. Now I need to get into some shops and look for giant round beads (tangled junk jewellery in clearance bins) to be heads and bodies of my fairies. I am using up my stock quick.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: mouldy
Date: 03 Mar 10 - 06:45 AM

I bought a large plastic tool box and some "hobby cases" from the local DIY store yesterday. The large toolbox is to be my sewing box, my old smaller one is now full of threads, and, when I can be bothered to raid the stacked up boxes in the loft, the hobby cases will help organise some of the smaller findings for my dolls.

Hopefully the plasterer will come later today to do the living room ceiling. The walls are all stripped, and hopefully the decorating proper of living and dining rooms will start tomorrow. The electrician will also be here tomorrow.

I have actually stirred myself to make (and finish) a salt dough model as a gift for somebody this week. It's a present for a lady who does pendulum dowsing, and I have found a broken down mineral necklace and a very fine (broken) gold chain to make a little pendulum for the model. I really hope she likes it!
Two more models to finish painting, and I will be up to date!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 03 Mar 10 - 07:31 PM

Andrea, I treasure the squid you made to adorn my walls -- the gift of a Secret Santa a few years back.

Today was my first real day off in what seems like months. All I really "had" to do was get my hair cut (as closed roads kept me from accomplishing that last Saturday), so planned to make some inroads in de-clutterification.

Sigh. Well, I de-cluttered the most recent "Vanity Fair" (or I will have after I finish reading about the Disney "inkers" in the '30s and '40s) and killed a container of Trader Joe's snack granola that was in a care package from my sister.

Had trouble getting out of bed this morning. I slept well, but, boy, could I have slept more!

I pulled out a sweater that needed a sleeve repair, and thought hard (but not too hard) about packing all the breakable stuff that's going to Goodwill so that it will get there in one piece when I'm going in that direction (either Dover or Portsmouth). Oh, I DID de-clutter my Yahoo mail box, at least.

When I got home from my hair stylist's (she's thinking about moving to Arizona -- I've been with her for almost 30 years and three locations!), all I wanted to do was take a nap. So I did. Just finished eating supper and, after I'm done here, I think I'll go read my way out of the day (with a glass of wine) and go back to sleep.

Maybe I can get something accomplished on Saturday, my next day off. I know I won't next Wednesday because that's when Tom gets his battery changed and that takes most of the day over at York Hospital in Maine (but DOES involve lobster rolls!).

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Mar 10 - 08:28 PM

Andrea, what is "pendulum dowsing?"

I ran by Fry's this afternoon and picked up a new surge protector. The old one takes a lot of space and had only four plugs. Which seemed enough at one time, and the monitor sat on top if it. I could turn off the computer, monitor, printer, and scanner at once with the master switch. But as you all probably know, four doesn't cut it now. There are extra hard drives, a powered USB port, a scanner, and speakers, and I was having to turn stuff on and off in the right order every time I turned powered the system up or down.

I put this 12-plug Belkin on the desktop where the drive enclosures used to sit, put all of the extra drives on a shelf that might originally have been meant for the scanner, and I generally rearranged all of these cables and wires. Two easy to reach switches and everything is on or off. The printer and scanner are on a separate power supply, because it really did seem like a lot of equipment to run out of one plug in the wall.

I also found Nero burning software on sale with two rebates bringing it down to $10. I bought the same thing just under 2 weeks ago and it was going to come out $50, after one rebate, so I bought a new box, and will take it back with the old receipt and use the new paperwork to get rebates for the software (since I hadn't sent in the other $20 one yet).

I dusted while I worked on the wires, and since I have that new metal shelf in the closet I reloacted printer paper into there that used to sit under my computer desk. I also found some papers that got buried. There was some paperwork from the old Earthlink modem mixed in, and maybe I should list that on eBay.

I also picked up another wireless handset to go with the one I bought last week. This is for my office and I have an old speaker phone to move to the sewing room, where I can use it to talk and work at the same time. I find I like having caller ID. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 03 Mar 10 - 09:53 PM

I had also hoped to find the ink cartridge for the printer...Rufus hid it, I'm sure. Sigh. Manana.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 12:47 AM

My ex brought home a set of ink cartridges for a printer because they were throwing them away at work and he wondered if I or any of my neighbors could use them. They're hp 11 and they're yours if you can use them. I don't have any hp printers now, nor do the neighbors.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 02:29 AM

Pendulum dowsing is a water finder who uses a pendulum, as far as I know, instead of thin rods, to point out where there is underground water. They walk over an area looking for water by watching which way the pendulum rotates, etc. or the rods point and cross. I had a friend whose father was one, then my friend. There really is something to it...uncanny, but accurate from the times I saw it being done.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 08:26 AM

HP 74XL -- and I just FOUND it! (Halleluyah.)

Tom's still trying to extricate himself from bed (I can't WAIT til the defib battery is changed) and I needed a cup of tea. Been reading "The Italian Lover" by Robert Hellenga since 6:30 and petting cats. Just turned the dryer on for a few minutes so the clothes that I should have removed yesterday will be a little warm.

Grabbed a flashlight for a look see and found it. One more thing off the list.

You can pendulum dowse for a lot of things -- including truth. I know people who use a pendulum to choose what film to watch.

Our water here at the house for the well was found by dowsing. (Tom's uncle did it.)

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 09:46 AM

We wish we had used a dower, pendulum or other wise, when we had our well dug- they found ledge at 60 ft, and drilled thru ledge all the way to 460 feet, when they gave up and did a "balloon angioplasty" otherwise known as "hydrofracting" which fortunately worked!

My downstairs is as tidy as it gets right now, but the upstairs is supposed to be COMPLETELY AND ABSOLUTELY FINISHED as of this afternoon!!!! Because they've still been sawing away, I haven't done anything about books in bookshelves, etc- sawdust is everywhere! But I hope to spend the next several days turning the upstairs into real useable space which means that soon I will have......



(drumroll, please.......)


AN OFFICE AGAIN!! Wheee!

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 10:22 AM

I hope to get back to removing books (some permanently -- I need to find a home for a collection of feminist/women's studies books) from the built-in bookcase in the bedroom. Then Tom (when he has some energy again) can repair the bookcase and I can refill it, preferably with some of the books that have been living on the floor.

This project has been hanging on for way too long, thanks to various impediments.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 11:15 AM

Congratulations on the nearly-complete office!

I know about dowsing in general, but never heard of it with a pendulum (does the type of pendulum material make a difference?). I suppose a stick is no more unlikely than something dangling on a string or a chain. I have friends who swear by it, and one friend whose father was apparently quite accomplished (with a stick).

Sunny warm day today. Finally! I'll try to move some more strawberries this afternoon and get a little more ready for planting soon. I went past my first garage sale of the spring season this morning, but didn't find anything useful for house or garden.

I've moved the long ugly phone cord and speaker phone out of my office and plugged in the charger for the second handset that operates from the base in the other room. I called a friend last night for a long talk and it sounded so good to not have a roar in the background.

Getting ready for a run to the post office to drop off several things that have malingered here for a while. And must send a transcript for one of the college applications.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: mouldy
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 12:40 PM

You can dowse with anything dangling from a string, (although pretty crystals are always appealing). The theorists say that it works through your subconscious mind (which already holds the answer to what you want to know) causing very slight twitches in your muscles, causing the pendulum to move.

HOWEVER

Here's a good one to try...
Establish what are the "yes" and "no" movements for you, and then, while holding the pendulum, get somebody else to ask a question mentally; a question with a definite yes or no answer, and which they already know the answer to (eg, am I sitting down). Then see what answer you get. I was in the pub last week, and my friend asked 9mentally) if it was her daughter's boyfriend's birthday, and got the answer "no". She then said it was wrong, and hadn't worked...until her daughter reminded her that Rob's birthday had actually been they day before!

I, too, went round to the PO this lunchtime, only to find it cordoned off by the police. There had been an armed robbery! In our little village!

The electrical work on the house is nearly done, and more wallpaper has been stripped. Goodo!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 11:57 PM

De-cluttered bank account, paid off another credit card (down to just one now!) and going through the mail. I've had this NetFlix film here forever that I've never gotten around to watching that I put in for the evening. Looks like the second murder is about to happen. . .

I need to do some eBay stuff. The boxes are piling up.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 02:49 AM

in the middle of decluttering a database, the many of the records (something like a bazillion) of which do not contain enough information for me to discover which hard files they belong. So since I do not have access to the back tables of SEAX (archives search for Essex Record Office) I have to submit my questionables to an archivist and hope they will take the time to provide the hard file number.

I know clear as mud. Anyway. The Arts Team was booked to clear all their junk from my file room, because we will need to put in more lateral file cupboards. As of yesterday PM, they (all but 1) suddenly had other things in their diaries for the morning. Hope I can herd them up in the afternoon and force them to do what they promised.

If not, I might start loading their junk onto trolley and dumping on their desks.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 03:55 AM

We had an unexpected bit of extra cash come in today, so we will finally be able to pack up several boxes of stuff I've been wanting to send to various friends which will help to declutter my desk in the old office and a tiny bit of a bookshelf.

We may also ask our friend, who is a is cleaning lady and used to do our floors every other week, if we can hire her for a few hours to do some really heavy-duty Spring cleaning of the floors, dusty stuff everywhere and a couple of walls which are yucky. Rog hasn't had the time or energy after work and I can only do so much. It will be a huge treat to have Barbara come in and would give us both such a lift.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 02:42 PM

That would be great, and such a help to have help with something like that, Kat! Sometimes that little bit of help is so useful in off-setting the labor that you can move on and do something else instead and feel the charge of getting ahead faster.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 05:18 PM

Yes, Maggie, and it's those one which take so much upper and lower body effort which I have a time with and, probably should not do too much. I am doing fine, but it does put even more of a stress on the heart. We will go over our budget this weekend and decide.

I did more laundry, today and put away some things I had out on my desk, from my new rolling cart. I love it!

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 05:45 PM

I was on the phone while I was working on that entry, and hit send without going over it. It shows. ;-)

Gorgeous day here today, making me think I need to get out the mower and give the front yard a quick once-over. I took a tree out over near the veggie garden and I'll be extending it some more. But before that, I need to tidy the potted plants, move tomato cages and fence stakes out of the way and curl up the soaker hoses. I printed out instructions for growing potatoes in our particular area, and that's something I want to start on time this year.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 11:48 PM

I did it! I got out the mower and I knocked down the weeds in the front yard. After about 45 minutes the weeds look like turf. :)

As the first on the block to mow, I know that now the neighbors on either side of me will feel obligated to mow as well. I had more weeds, but now it looks a little tidier (though I didn't get out the string trimmer yet). The back needs it also, but I have to scoop back there before I mow, and I need to prune a couple of shrubs and look for dog-toy-related hazards.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: JennieG
Date: 06 Mar 10 - 12:44 AM

Maggie, we go by the principle that if you mow it, it all looks the same.....weeds or no......

We have a buyer for our house, and have found one to buy. We're moving six hours away so it will be quite a move. This week we will really get seriously stuck into packing, sorting, donating and throwing out. The moving date looks like being Friday 7th May.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 06 Mar 10 - 08:35 AM

My BOOKS!!! I have my books back! I spent yesterday opening boxes and unpacking books and putting them in order (one whole bookcase for history, another for nature and spirituality, another for fiction, and one long 9' bookcase houses music books, maritime books, antique and art books- and then there's the miscellany bookshelves...). It was a reunion of old friends!

This coming week we do the finishing touches upstairs to get my office in shape and ready my daughter's room for her March break- it's hard to believe!

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Mar 10 - 12:08 PM

Whoo-Hoo, 2Ls!! Congrats!!

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Mar 10 - 02:46 PM

Isn't it luxurious, not only to have the books out, but to be able to use the space where the boxes used to sit? Congratulations!

I need to run a couple of more wires and then I think I'm finished with the phone work around here. And I need to go out in the yard an finish rounding up broken pots (didn't weather well over the winter) and unload them. I found a great idea in the Martha Stewart Living this month with stacking pots to come up with a rather attractive statueary like planting arrangement. If it works I'll post a photo, or see if I can find a link to her site, if they ran the photo.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 06 Mar 10 - 03:49 PM

Came in like a lamb here. Beautiful sunny day, wall to wall blue skies.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Mar 10 - 04:02 PM

I was planning to load the futon into my pickup today and take it over to the Goodwill and claim a very nice deduction on next year's tax form. It has a great mattress, one of the high-quality hand-made cotton filled ones, Japanese style. But before I'd moved it out, an email came via Craig's List asking about it. They live in the next town down. So after a couple of bogus answers from folks who wanted to run a scam with money orders, a mother and son from the Crowley came and looked, we moved it around so they could see how it goes into various shapes, and they carted it off. I lowered my price by $25. A donation price would have probably been near double, because you can't buy these cheaply, but I'd have gotten credit for a fraction of the donation, so I'm still ahead this way.

While its absence doesn't actually make an echo in the room, it feels less cluttered. It was a functional piece, and we did sit on it occasionally, but we have lots of other stuff to sit on around here. :)

That sets my weekend off to a good start!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: maeve
Date: 06 Mar 10 - 04:27 PM

I bought some pillowcases, a colander, and some hand tools for immediate use.

m

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Mar 10 - 01:55 AM

Maeve, I've bought the same kind of items at garage sales. Some of my best purchases.

This afternoon I visited both Lowes and Home Depot, and though my purchases were modest, I've made great progress here at the house. I bought switches and a light fixture, and put them in. First, I replaced the switch for the light over the sink. I think someone just mentioned a similar project, but a quick scan through and I didn't see it. Whoever you are, thanks for the reminder that I've wanted my over-sink light fixed forever. I knew it was the switch, I heard it burn out, but I was going to have an electrician out one of these days. That day never seemed to arrive. And then I decided I'd also replace the fixture over the dining table, so if my son has a migraine and wants the room fairly dark I can dim the light without completely turning it off (sometimes the nap doesn't completely knock out the headache, and he's hungry but can't stand light).

That dining light was a lot harder to put up than the kitchen switch was to replace, because the gang or junction or whatever you call the box in the ceiling was smaller than the more modern ones, and the perforated plate that came with the light was a pain in the ASS to fit over it. But I finally made it all fit and the light is up. And then I changed out the switch with a rheostat so it can be dimmed.

I can't completely express how nice it is to have that little halogen spotlight over the sink work area. I'll take the bulbs out of the old fixture from the dining room because those are the same lamps as the one over the sink. The dining room light is now a special faceted halogen bulb that is shaped like a regular incandescent bulb.

I've taken motrin for stiff muscles from yard work yesterday. I have to build up my stamina. :) It also helped with the stiff neck from the electrical work this evening.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 07 Mar 10 - 05:35 AM

Sigh.... I liked the old style declutter and health accountability combined threads better. Just easier to get it all done in one fell swoop, because often the decluttering involves exercise. Anyway....

Last night I watched Big Fish - Tim Burton film and made more fairies. Also did some walk/jog on the mini tramp. Not until I was out of breath, because the damned hip joints seized up. I hate rheumatoid arthritis.

This morning cleaned kitchen, boiled anya potatoes ready to saute tonight. Prepped pasta and garlic for Monday dinner. Later will prep other veg for next 2 evening meals. Listening to Nina Simone this morning. That woman ROCKS or JAZZES or something.   She is fantabulous!   Learning to perform See Line Woman and Feeling Good among others while I type this.

Today I will strip as much Fablon as I can off the drawers from caravan that we brought home yesterday. As the sun is out, I will take them out to back garden and have a go at the sticky residue with mineral spirit. Wish we could have taken the whole unit out, but it is built in. So will have to go and work on the other bits in situe on another weekend.

Yesterday I ordered 20 metres of wonderful green fabric to recover the van cushions and make new curtains, as well as make padded bolsters to go around the over bed shelves so when we bang head into them, it won't hurt so much. the fabric


I will set up sewing machine in spare room today in preparation for the job. Will finish the ironing and do 1 or 2 loads of clothes. Also another round on the mini tramp this morning (I better hurry because it is already after 10am).

Tomorrow I have flexi day and will have first assessment appointment with the NHS Health Trainer. As I will be in town, will buy loads of white heavy cotton thread, some sewing machine needles (in case I break the 2 I have left) and sew-on velcro strip. I am not fiddling with zippers.

Must pick up Mothering Sunday cards for TSO's mom and my own Mom and my Aunt Dot (the other mother- my mom's twin) because I can't get Mother's Day cards at the right time for the US observance. Some nice blank cards for upcoming birthdays. Also a stop at Maplin to buy a special lead for charging caravan battery in the house. We have probably left it too late and the thing is unrevivable. Also a solar powered trickle charger for the van. So this means I will be walking all over town centre tomorrow. Better take walking canes just in case the hips freeze up on me.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Mar 10 - 03:36 PM

I went shopping for birthday meal items, and to cooking this evening, I'll bread the chicken strips now and let them chill until time to cook. It helps the coating stay in place better anyway. These are my son's favorite dish. I have a mix cake to make also, and I think I'll make a bread of some sort to go with the meal, along with salad and a couple of veggies.

I have been rearranging furniture in the largest living room this afternoon. I want both a wider path through and more room around the dining table. We may use that table tonight, though I'll set up the smaller dining area table with snacks and use it for dessert, under the newly installed fixture. I may make deviled eggs just because I haven't made them in ages and they all like them. I would be able to place those on one of my newly discovered antique cake plates. I don't have the round cake pans to make the birthday cake to put it on one. I suppose I could make the cake as cupcakes and put them on one of the plates.

I need a nap. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Mar 10 - 03:59 PM

I'd need one, too, with that busy agenda!:-)

We brought stuff in yesterday, things we've both been wanting: a new dog bed for the "old man" with memory foam, no less, and Rog got the electric quesadilla maker he's been wanting. BUT, we dropped off two bags at Goodwill; threw out two horrible, icky old dog beds and got rid of a couple of empty boxes.

This morning Rog swept and did the litter boxes and trash, while I started more laundry. I also scrubbed the bathroom, a very thorough job, this time, with Rog's help. We have a floating shelf about the bathroom cabinet thing which sits over and above the toilet. I have a conch shell, an oil lamp and two candle holders up on the shelf, plus a small antique bottle filled with sea glass. He helped me get all of those down so I could wash off the year or more accumulation of dust while he cleaned off the shelf and the top of the medicine cabinet which sits over the sink, also VERY dusty! He bought me some kind of new bathroom cleaner which I used on the commode and sink which really did a sparkly job and I scrubbed the seat of the *throne* extra well, as Rog complained a bit about feeling the lotion I have on my backside when he sits down.LOL.

Then, I went to the bedroom and started sorting all of the clean laundry from 3-4 weeks ago, plus today's current crop which is in the dryer as I type. Rog did the hang-ups while I put away the drawer stuff.

Now, I need a nap so later gators...when I get up I will have a late lunch of soup and salad, then we are going to watch a movie called Sweet Land. It's been a good day, so far!

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Mar 10 - 04:04 PM

I posted this on the accountability thread:

Please cast your vote as to whether we should keep the threads separate or back to combined. I did it this month because I was missing the simple posting of goals, etc. They seemed to get lost, but if the majority prefers, I don't mind if we go back to the other way and let this one fall off. Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Mar 10 - 04:12 PM

I've never heard of a "quesadilla maker," electric or anything else. I wonder what it looks like? This is mine. :)

The challenge of cleaning bathrooms, especially soap residue, is always the compromise between how many toxic chemcials vs how much elbow grease. I'm glad you found one you like, and you're still breathing to tell us about it!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Mar 10 - 09:26 PM

Well, I wanted Simple Green, but they were out. I love the smell of it and it is not toxic. Vinegar is good for all kinds of cleaning and disinfects, too. As for soap residue in the tub/shower on the shelves, a bit of Comet and the high-powered shower strategically aimed does pretty good, esp. if you've got Morgan on the job, stepping in to scrub the stubborn spots.:-)

The quesadilla maker came from Target, from a supplier called the El Paso Chili Company. There is a pdf of the Manual which includes recipes. If you scroll down to page 6, you'll see a picture of it. We tried it this evening and it was really good!

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Alice
Date: 07 Mar 10 - 10:20 PM

Couldn't resist posting this.


I have a basement store room I've been avoiding for years.
Maybe this summer...

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 02:41 AM

Dining room still a mess, house still a mess... just mess everywhere.. but I don't care.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 02:46 AM

That link has some extra mudcat verbiage in it so it needs a little trimming. http://www.elpasochile.com/Quesadilla1.pdf

I use the large tortillas, maybe 9 - 10 inches across. Pre-heat the cast iron griddle to medium-high with a little oil and put the tortilla down on one half of the for a few seconds to warm it, then turn it over and quickly add jack cheese, sliced hatch chile, some seasoned shredded chicken, or sometimes just some Havarti cheese and chopped pecans. Whatever you want, really, with cheese to stick the whole thing together. Work fast. In the time it takes to put this on it's time to pick up the side you didn't put stuff on and fold the tortilla in half. I use restaurant style tongs for moving it around, and usually kind of press it together, then pick it up my the edge and turn it over so the other side browns a little. You end up with a half circle that you use a pizza cutter to slice in four wedges. Usually about six of these sections is enough for lunch (topped with some guacamole or sour cream). I will usually cook three or four tortillas this way and then put the extra quesadillas in a Tupperware in the fridge. They re-heat nicely on the same griddle.

I'm tired from all of that birthday dinner cooking tonight. It took longer than I expected it would. Moonglow made the deviled eggs (a snack, we haven't had them for a while. For the rest, I was just on my feet a lot. They're tuckered out now. Motrin, a hot shower, and off to bed.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: mouldy
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 12:00 PM

Well, apart from testing circuits, the electrician finished today: 7 new double power points, new outside security light, and new distribution box by the meter. It's almost been a partial re-wire!

Now I await the bill...

Peter has stripped more than half of the walls, and the living room ceiling has been re-plastered. I think I've got most of the paint and paper. It's this prep-work that is taking time.
I spent Friday afternoon carting stacks of books up to the previously emptied spare room. I have decided to do that last, when the rest has been finished.

I had Freya today, and she was surprisingly good, bearing in mind her roaming abilities were severely curtailed.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 02:58 PM

How old is Freya? Any hope you can get her to join you in this work, the way Morgan has helped Kat? Learning to do age appropriate chores and learning to be helpful is a good thing for small children.

Looks like heavy weather headed this way. I have been waiting for a chance to harvest the seed heads off of some flowers from last year. They toppled over in the snow and I didn't want the seeds in the turf, so I cut and moved it, hoping they would dry. I've moved them into the garage because I'm afraid I'd lose them with this fast thunderstorm.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: mouldy
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 04:01 PM

Freya's 15 months. She isn't walking yet, and seems intent on search and destroy missions!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 04:48 PM

A tad young. But maybe by the time she's three, picking up her toys can be a good game.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 03:08 AM

I found bribery helped a lot when it came to tidy up time... that and a toy plastic rake.

Managed to clear the table ready for cardmaking stuff. That's today's job. Can't do a great deal as I'm totally wiped after a busy weekend and a restless night.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 07:38 AM

Still picking away at the stuff upstairs, but the books are nearly done (we found 2 more boxes in the storage room that is becoming my office- and there are at least 4 more boxes in various storage areas elsewhere...).

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: mouldy
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 10:07 AM

I like the sound of the rake. If she makes as much mess as mine used to, it will be needed!


Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 12:05 PM

With mine, they could have used a toy front-end loader. ;-D

A little under the weather today. I'm hoping the upset stomach passes so I can get some errands run this afternoon.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: mouldy
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 01:42 PM

I saved some leftover white, embossed wallpaper from Ruth's bedroom for the downstairs loo. Not enough, however, so I've got to go and get a couple of rolls of a contrasting coloured pattern to make it look like a design feature, as there is no more of the one I had to be found anywhere - and I've looked online too!

Living room ceiling's getting painted tomorrow, and, hopefully, the loo finished. I keep thinking that this time next month, all going to plan, it'll be like living in a different house! Then it's just the garden to deal with...

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Penny S.
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 05:41 PM

I was sure I had posted something here. Tomorrow is moving day! and i am not ready. Thank goodness I don't hav e to leave the place ready for new people on the same day. My right arm has a burning pain from all the lifting (I hope) and i have run out of boxes.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 06:04 PM

Finding a way to pack the last few things in a house or apartment seems to be most difficult. Whatever it is (exclusive of cleaning supplies) it seems to be stuffed into any nook or cranny available in the truck or spare box, whatever. Last place I moved out of was the apartment we lived in for 2 1/2 years after the divorce. Amazing we spent that long there. It hardly registers in our personal history.

A lot of stuff stayed packed while we were there, so I loaded up things that were ready to go, and I moved it all myself (except the piano). My 13-year-old daughter helped, and put in a couple of really long days with dismantling and moving everything in a pickup and into the house where it was stored in a couple of rooms (the house had some remodel work going on). I remember how happy she was when I opened my wallet and handed her a $50 - a big bill for a kid that age, but her help was such a help, and I got off cheap.

Good luck with the cleanup. That always takes a while, and if moving made you tired, this can burn up a lot of time and calories also.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 05:29 PM

Neighbors are beginning to mow their yards. I pulled the weeds out of an agave in the back, but I'm going to have to go pull out a lot of old pots, set up garden stakes and posts, and in general pull all of the bits together to get ready for the garden.

Meanwhile, the kitchen is still looking pretty good after the cleanup for Sunday's dinner. I'll try to keep it that way.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 11:14 PM

I've been answering questions, one or two a day, over at a site called Mahalo.com. It's kind of strange--think of the hot button questions that some of our Mudcat folks ask but without the intensity (some of these folks seem to throw out controversial questions only to attract eyes to the site, and some of them don't argue their cases very well). Anyway, in amongst the goofy stuff are some real questions, some for very small change (this place offers "tips" for answers) and some that earn a few bucks. I treat it like mental floss, and answer longer ones if I have time and feel like it, shorter ones if I already know the answer and can be thorough enough to do the task the way they want.

They have pages they'd like developed, but I find they are fussy in the number of words and links and videos and such for the low pay, so I don't bother with them. Anyway, they now have a profit share component and I notice my share jumped a lot in the last couple of days. So I'm going to see if I can figure out what I answered that had this result.

It leads me to think that there's a reason Max hasn't had to ask for donations for a while. All of these ads floating around in here apparently add up. Substantially enough to cover the site expenses.

It takes a while over there to earn enough before you can collect any of it (I haven't reached that point yet), and they pay 75% of what you earn and keep 25% as their cut. I think they also ask for a tax form, but they do pay both U.S. and non-U.S. writers. I don't think you could do this enough to earn a living, so it is totally a hobby. But this is a heads up, in case anyone is interested. You vote on answers you like in the answers that a question generates, so if you see my name, give me a vote! :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Mar 10 - 11:28 AM

Talking to myself today.

Lovely day out, the rains seem to have passed. Must walk the dogs, and get moving in the yard.

The house is gradually looking better, but as it gets to gardening season, the housework will wait until evening, after I've finished outside and don't have the daylight to work with.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 11 Mar 10 - 09:16 PM

Got a package out to my sister and mother (stuff for both in the same box -- their apartments are next to each other), which cleared a bunch o' stuff off the guest room bed and ironing board. (Oh, gee. Maybe I just did myself in on excuses for not ironing...)

Then changed the sheets on the bed and did some laundry and still had time to go through a magazine (to de-clutter) before I had to do my regular morning stuff before heading to work. (Stopped at the post office on the way.)

After not having enough sleep the night before, I ended up waking up at 4:45 this morning and couldn't get back to sleep. Sigh. Didn't have to be to work until noon.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Mar 10 - 11:40 PM

I'm glad you said you didn't have to be there until noon, otherwise I was going to say something along the lines of "holey-moley, woman, slow down!:**bg** That's a lot to get done regardless.

My Rog is taking tomorrow off, instead of today for our anniversary. That way he will have a three day weekend. Anyway, we're tossing around ideas of what will do. If the weather is warm enough, we may clean up some junk from the back of the driveway and in the backyard and make a dump run. We may also get a bunch of stuff boxed up to go to our daughter in CT, a friend back East, and to another friend back East, plus a book to a friend in WY. I am pretty sure we will get that done over the weekend if we don't do it tomorrow. Getting the stuff boxed up and ready to go will also mean the old office will get some clean-up as some of the stuff is piled in there on my desk and shelves, esp. books, so that will be great, too.

I am going to try to get more stuff dusted this weekend, too. It's bad the way it is...I know it's bothering Rog's nose.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Mar 10 - 01:23 PM

I swung by an Estate Sale in the village this morning. And I left there with a chair, seven books, and the determination to keep going with my de-cluttering here to get rid of a lot of this stuff.

It was a really sad place, rather pathological. It looked like they had bought every decripit first edition they ever found, no covers and usually damaged, and any broken doll or piece of crystal or faux crystal they ever found, probably at garage sales. And it was piled all over. You could move around, it wasn't so dense, but it was just such a sad collection of stuff. There were tons of books, lots of them gardening and sewing, but I only had $20 with me so I didn't go deeply into them. I picked up a few classics, and I picked up a molded metal patio chair to match one I already have. The dogs can't chew these (not that they chew much any more anyway, but these are more durable than the old plastic chairs out back).

There was a lot of sewing stuff, in better shape, but tons of it, and I wasn't inspired to add to my own big collection. And they were asking too much for stuff. I suppose I could have negotiated, but I didn't feel like it. There will be more estate sales, and meanwhile, I need to clear out my own stuff.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: mouldy
Date: 12 Mar 10 - 02:25 PM

Took the first cut off my bit of lawn yesterday, pruned a few roses, and then decided to rip up a wire fence, now that I don't have a dog that takes short cuts over the flower bed. So in my usual tidy fashion, it is rolled up, still with stuff grown into it, and attached to a wooden gate. The whole just being dumped onto the yard.

However, Peter being off to a clergy reunion today instead of being here, and me not having anything planned, I went to Ikea and a local retail outlet and have managed to get all the blinds and curtains I need. WooHoo!

Plus it's been cold and damp today, so I didn't fancy gardening.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Mar 10 - 06:41 PM

Andrea, I did yard work also. And some pruning of things that haven't leafed out yet. I mowed the entire back yard, and it was tall and gooshy so it went slow and had many stalls of the engine. But it is finished and I also took the faucet cover off and reattached the garden hose on the hose reel. The mowing was a good workout, just what I needed to get me going.

I came in to sit down for a minute, get a drink, check my email, and I'm back into the yard to do a little more work until the light goes.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Mar 10 - 09:11 PM

We took some things back to Target for a refund, then looked for a dish drainer which will fit in our sink. Found one. That will eliminate a huge piece of clutter on the kitchen counter: a large drainer with mat under it. They are white, old, and scummy-looking no matter how much I scrub them. I *think* I will have Rog move his crock pot and rice cooker over to that side which will leave more prep room on the food side of the sinks (the right side in front of the food cupboards. We'll see how it works.

I also bought myself a new, funky little purse; though I don't carry one much, I thought I'd give it a try. We bought some extra, super-duper cleaner for the commode as it suffers from mineral build-up around the rim (the water is very hard here) and no scrubbing gets it all.

I brought two items out of the old office to box them up to send to Night Owl. Had to glue a bit of one, so it's drying now. I'll get to more boxing tomorrow.

I literally did not sleep last night, so a nap on the way to the store, plus about thirty minutes this afternoon helped, but I can tell it's about time for a shower and bed.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: maire-aine
Date: 12 Mar 10 - 11:28 PM

I got the sewing machine out & repaired some clothes, then took a few of the things to the cleaners.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Mar 10 - 12:05 AM

My lawn mowing has resulted in a stuffy nose. I think I forgot my Zyrtec last night. It's the season to take it daily.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 13 Mar 10 - 02:02 AM

Card making completed, another 30+ to add to the sale box, so now that stuff can be cleared from the dining room... if only I had the energy to actually do something about it!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 13 Mar 10 - 02:05 AM

Arghh!

I thought it was four o'clock when the leg cramp woke me. Got a couple potassium tabs and crawled back to bed but the brain kicked in. Just came downstairs to make some hot chocolate (which is what I seemed to want). Think now I'll drink it here and take some valerian, etc. (and a little white chestnut "to quiet the chattering brain") on the way back upstairs.

Just shy of two a.m. is way too early to consider being "up".

I was sooooo tired when I went to bed; I was asleep by 9 p.m. Had had a headache since I woke at 6:00 -- crazy day at work, then a very loud night at The Press Room. Left there very early because the headache was back (not that it had realy left) and worse -- I was on the road home before six p.m. (Session is over at 9.)

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 13 Mar 10 - 12:10 PM

Well, I DID get back to sleep, then had to get up (and wake up...) to pee, then Tom got up to pee and knocked over a pile o' stuff in the bedroom that I need to move someplace else, then the heavy cat (Rufus) sat on my shoulder for awhile and then the phone rang at quarter of 7.

Got laundry drying, another load for the washer waiting upstairs, just cut the buttons off and threw out a favorite shirt that is so old the fabric tears every time I touch it, and I'm about to duct tape Tom to his chair so we can sort out all of the accumulated paper pollution on and around his side of the table.

I'll let you know later how that works out...

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 13 Mar 10 - 12:19 PM

dull and grey and cold and I haven't even started complaining about what it is like outdoors.

Seriously... I have been so lazy.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: LilyFestre
Date: 13 Mar 10 - 12:22 PM

Mother Nature is being blustery today and stuff is flying about the yard...just saw the top of the portable chicken pen go flying...does that count as decluttering?

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 13 Mar 10 - 12:55 PM

well maybe not lazy... just tired... and





HUNGRY!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Mar 10 - 03:38 PM

Despite being really tired this morning, I managed to prop my eyes open and get with it after some breakfast. Wrapped two breakables to go to Night Owl, boxed and ready to go. Then, for another friend, I had a blast wrapping more breakables, putting them in small boxes, then putting those in a larger box. This was a thought-filled box, so I took my time. There were about nine items, or so, and I got them all in the same box!

To me, this counts as major decluttering as I've had the items sitting around, here and there, waiting for me to get them packed. Now I only have one major one to go...sending a lot of stuff to my dau. back East. That will feel wonderful, too! Hope are all feeling better.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Mar 10 - 03:59 PM

I pulled out the instructions and started learning how to clutter my new phones with stored phone numbers. :)

Gotta drop off recycling, pick up gardening stuff. The back yard looks so nice after yesterday's work. I must empty the back of the pickup before I make that run. Lots of things to get in the right order to be efficient. And I answered a question on that site I mentioned above. The goal a couple of us have been working toward is to ask good questions there, but also generate good content with answers, offering spot-on references and links to see if we can have the best of both worlds--good questions and answers and some revenue sharing along the way. I'll report back.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: maire-aine
Date: 13 Mar 10 - 04:40 PM

I had wanted to rake some leaves in the front yard, but it has been raining all day. The city won't start "yard waste" pickups until after April 1st, so I'll have to bag it up for a while anyway. I've been accumulating a pile of odds & ends on the front porch, so that stuff will go to the first church rummage sale I come across.

I've been cleaning out the refrigerator and using up as much as I can. I wouldn't let myself go to the market today, because I don't want to throw things out when I leave.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 13 Mar 10 - 04:43 PM

Right now I can't seem to get out of my own way, but...

Tom sorted through a bunch of papers on the table. There's still a lot to go and we'll have to work on the filing, but a bunch got thrown out, too.

Briefcase/messenger bag/laptop bag type stuff got up to the car so friends who want any of them can get them immediately (and the leftovers can go to Goodwill along with the two boxes in back full o' stuff).

A bunch of newspaper clippings and ephemera got put into clear plastic sleeves to add to the (24 and counting) 3-ring binders of Tom's and my (mostly musical) life.

Started going through the laundry basket that Tom's been sort of using instead of dresser drawers. I threw out some yellowed undershirts, etc. and FOUND where all of his socks have been hiding.

I still have to clean up what's been messed up in order to clean up. Sigh. That always happens, doesn't it?

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Mar 10 - 11:26 PM

I almost finished my shopping list today, with the exclusion of a few things I'll pick up at the feed store tomorrow. It was a rather complicated list, so I'm pleased with my progress. I still conserve gas by designing my shopping trips as loops so I can conserve gas. Today's trip, plotted on a map, would have kind of a pentagon shape, with a little twisty thing in one corner.

I must confess, I did some backsliding today. I picked up a couple of items at the place where I drop off my recycling. They are re-working the lot and will have (when they finish) an area where things can be dropped off that others might use. It's more informal now, but since I did so much research on chandeliers a couple of years ago (picked up two crystal c's at the curb in the next block and sold them for $250 on eBay) I decided it was worth the trouble to pick up a lovely brass and copper fixture. The wire to it was cut, so it needs that, but I think this one can be researched, boxed, and sold on eBay. Thing is, if it was from a house built 20 or 30 years ago, the brass and copper are heavier and more desirable than current fixtures being made.

As I was leaving the lot, I spied a wrought iron bench. The guy who works there was nearby, putting together the barrel of a portable smoker that someone dropped off (this guy can cook--I suggested that when they finish the lot he put in a little bistro using all of the cooking utensils he has salvaged. . . ). He helped pull some corrugated sheets and other stuff off, and it has secure legs and arms on a sound back, but it had these leather pads stretched across the support beams that were old and torn. You could use it without those, by putting planks down to support cushions. It has a couple of coats of paint, peeling. I stopped by at Home Depot and asked the paint guy what he'd recommend. Sandpaper, he thinks. I have one of those little circular sanders--looks like it's time to get some medium sandpaper and get started on this seat. Since I have dogs I'm not putting wooden furniture out there. They still sometimes chew on things. I'm on a roll--as of last fall, I have two metal chairs with molded frame legs (60s or 70s andneed to be painted) and now this. I'd love to have some all-weather or boat cushions to put on the bench if I have company. Wouldn't leave the dogs along with them or they'd sleep on it or tear them to pieces. :)

Tomorrow is the day to bathe the dogs and put on their flea and heartworm stuff. That ought to be fun. Let's hope it stays warm.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 14 Mar 10 - 08:04 AM

What was it about yesterday? I was exhausted all day (could it have been that I taught contra dancing all day Friday and then led a Family dance Friday night? Maybe!).

BUT- what a day to de-clutter! We now have 3 fully functional rooms upstairs- ALL the books are found and put away (I found my precious Elizabeth Goudge collection). My dear husband actually sat and let me help him go through ALL the 20+ years of accumulated clothes that have been in piles on the spare bed- now there are 3 trash bags of clothes to go away- 1 with perfectly good shirts, 1 with perfectly good pants, and one with amazingly bad shirts, pants, shoes (our local recycling center used to have a cloth recycling bin but no more. Wish I knew what to do with them, since we really don't need THAT many rags!). And of course, he only got rid of 10 Hawaiian shirts, which will be donated to the local morris team, but kept about 10 others, and about 10 other shirts & jackets that he may or may not ever wear again. And HE calls ME a "clothes tree" (I love thrift shop clothes, but I always bring a bag to donate when I go thrifting, so don't have the buildup that he does!).

Now we have Maggie's room all set for her arrival this afternoon (home for March break). Still have cds to shelve, and my office is almost fully functional except that I still need to get my file cabinet out of storage (across a field of snow that will hopefully melt over this rainy weekend). And there's still about 6 boxes of STUFF to be dealt with in one corner of the room.

All that's left is hanging pictures and sorting a few more piles! Oh, and curtains, as soon as I get my sewing machine back from rehab.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 10 - 11:51 AM

Congratulations on all of those finished rooms, Allison! Doesn't it feel wonderful?

I agree about the cloth recycling--rag pickers have gone away but the recycling of cloth rags does still happen. Go online and see if there is a thrift store in your area that does it. I think Goodwill has a rag contract with a company in this area.

Lovely day--how can it go so quickly from barely habitable out in the yard to everything being late going in? Now I hear of all of the things other gardeners have already planted.

I have another list today. I've been listening to my weekly gardening radio program (the Dirt Doctor has podcasts - http://www.dirtdoctor.com). In addition to plant stuff, I need to pick up new cord for my clothesline. I'm sure two full seasons in the sun is more than enough for the existing lines.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 10 - 03:56 PM

Well, I thought taking out the cactus would be fairly quick, but this has been a long tedious job. Once it is out I'm going to mow again then stake the area for the extended garden and put my planks up and such.

Back to the trenches.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Penny S.
Date: 14 Mar 10 - 05:16 PM

I couldn't sleep properly on Tuesday night, or Wednesday - kept waking up. Nice to be able to go down and make Ovaltine without bothering anyone. Spent two hours in the small hours doing unpacking on Thursday/Friday night. Bought some camomile tea for Saturday, which somehow did not get home, nor showed up on the supermarket's records. Waking up very early, and doing wardrobe sorting, which unfortunately resonated with my neighbour's matching built-in wardrobe the other side of the wall. So I don't have to bother about downstairs any more, but have sound permeable party walls either side. Double thickness brick, and not possible to soundproof as the unplastered brick walls are a design feature, and working to cover them would reduce the property value.

The place I initially started to buy has got new owners who have filled two skips (dumpsters) with stuff as they fit double glazing, rip out the kitchen, recover the extension roof - not buying it was the best thing I did last year. It is within sight of my new home, so I can catch up each dya on changes.

Today I re-assembled a bentwood coat rack I did for the first time yesterday - the holes for the screws were a little two wide, so I had to stick bits of cocktail stick into them so the screws gripped.

I also assembled a bench that I didn't really need but liked the look of in Lidl. It's bigger than it looked on the box, but tucks nicely next to the bathroom door, and will hold spare towels. There's a matching set of shelves in a crisscross pattern which will go on the brick wall for displaying nice things.

I'm having trouble undoing the bookshelves in the old place. They were held on a track system which was screwed to the wall. My Dad did some of them in 1976, the day I moved into the old place. And they are now stuck into the plugs. I've tried using WD40 to ease them, and it worked with some, but I think the rest will have to be hacksawed. Because the screws are flush in the track, I can't use pliers to grip them. I can't get the plugs out either.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 14 Mar 10 - 06:50 PM

Well, my last post -- right after I got home from work -- didn't seem to "take", so here goes again.

I worked this afternoon -- but, more importantly, I was able to check the water levels on the way home. It's looking as if I might not be able to get to work tomorrow morning over flooded roads. And if I do manage it, I might not be able to get home. If it looks iffy, I'll forego the day's pay and stay put. Water is across Rte. 4 in one place just up around the corner, and ready to spill over several more places on this side of Lee Traffic Circle. Rte. 152 will be in worse shape, I'm sure, plus there are two rivers that have a nasty habit of flooding over their bridges.

I might even get some de-cluttering done (provided we still have electricity -- it's windy, but nowhere near as bad as a few weeks ago when the wind snapped trees & utility poles & we were without power for four days).

I DID manage to get rid of some papers and go through some magazines before I went to work, though.

Since there's 4" of water between the deck & the woodpile, I loaded up the wheelbarrow (while standing on treacherous floating wood and mud footing) and parked it at the foot of the deck steps. Won't have to take my life in my own hands again until maybe tomorrow morning.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 14 Mar 10 - 06:52 PM

Oh, and our mailbox is down. Our driveway has several rivers raging downhill straight into our cellar and the wind is driving the rain under the flashing around the chimney, so there was a steady drip drip since yesterday evening.

Chicken pot pie about to come out of the oven -- comfort food!

(As the water still trickles down my neck.)

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 10 - 08:52 PM

While you're suffering with the cold and wet I spent a lovely afternoon working hard in the garden. The cactus is all boxed now, in 8 boxes and several bags. I'll go out to the curb at 7 tomorrow and meet the trash guys, because I'm afraid they won't take it. I'll toss the boxes into the truck. I also worked on the shape of my garden, filling in some low spots, weeding, cutting up branches, and did a lot of trimming. I have a lot more branches to finish this week before some start budding.

This evening is work in the house. I couldn't resist the nice weather, I had to go outside. I need to clean the fridge, do laundry, and maybe I'll finally get some stuff on eBay. Several of the boxes at the curb had been here in the house for eBay stuff, or just hadn't made it to recycling yet. The rest came from the village recycle bin.

I'll take a couple of days off this week. My son and daughter both have the week off, and I get Friday off. I'll make it a long weekend. Fingers crossed the weather stays like this.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 05:51 AM

Spring has sprung and I'm spring cleaning! Started with my wardrobe...so may clothes that are far too big for me have been bagged up ready for the charity shop. Net curtains have been washed this morning and are on the line drying. Windows to be washed this morning and we're baking bread this afternoon.

Sofa covers were washed the other week and the carpets were cleaned at the same time.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 08:30 AM

Dressed for work, but sopping wet. Will have to take dry shoes/socks with me -- if I can get there. Will find out when I head out what roads are closed. (Water was already over Rte. 4 in one spot when I came home yesterday.) All the alternative or connector roads are more prone to flooding than Rte. 4.

Just piled the wood that was left in the wheelbarrow on the deck, dumped the water out and waded to the woodpile to fill it up again with the day's worth -- I DON'T want Tom attempting to get any. The footing is absolutely treacherous. There's 4 inches of water on top of very unstable mud. Closer to the stack are pieces that aren't frozen in the driveway anymore -- they're floating and wobbly on top of almost liquid mud and water.

Argh!

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 09:35 AM

The mud stage always makes you nostalgic for the snow stage, doesn't it?

I have a swollen index finger after I picked up a couple of cactus spines. I'll put heat on this every so often and see if it will fester and release the spine. Meanwhile, this morning early I was dressed and gloved and out at the curb when the garbage truck started the rounds. They were surprised, but I told them I didn't want them getting clobbered by my cactus pads. One of the guys did get at least one spine--we could tell when he flinched. But all those boxes and bags are now history.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 12:54 PM

Decluttered a whole heap of old VHS recorded vids today. Not watched 'em in 20 years? not gonna watch 'em.... So that cleared up some space in the drawers to put other vids in, making space on the shelves for the DVDs that have been cluttering up the CD rack. Moved them over to the shelf and put the CDs away that were cluttering up the place. Looks a great deal neater now, and there is still space for more. Time to make another list of vids to replace with DVDs now that the shops are reducing their Christmas stock and clearing out ready for the summer intake.

It's like one of those sliding square puzzles... clear out one bit, move something into the space to clear out another bit... trouble is, I'm moving squares that are significantly bigger than the space I'm clearing... ho hum!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 02:37 PM

The yard looks nice, less busy, now that there is less visual static of so many cactus shapes. It makes my the remaining cactus look quite elegant. Less is more, as they say.

I have a lot of VHS tapes here also. I need to see if there is a satisfactory way to recycle them, not just fill the landfill.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 03:12 PM

hello mud declutterers....

After one very bad night and most of today ill with thudding pulse in ears and nausea... I came home feeling pretty good and....


drum roll please.....


stripped the contact paper (fablon) off of the 3 chest drawers brought home from caravan, folded and put away 2 lots of clothes, went through paper recycling teasing out the stuff not appropriate for paper recycling, neatened and packed up some kicthen thingies for the caravan, scrubbed the entire bathroom (except floor).

for my next trick(s)...

I will now put away all the fairy making paraphernalia and do a truck load of ironing and see if I can convince TSO to take the rubbish out.

p.s. I emptied all the waste baskets.

see you guys later....

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 04:32 PM

Sheesh, you all are AMBITIOUS!:-)

Cleared off my desk, got three more small packages ready to mail out.

Put the new sink-sized dish drainer in the sink. Got rid of the large drainer and mat. Moved Roger's cookery stuff...rice steamer, crockpot, coffemaker, etc. to a small rolling butcher block top thing which sits in a dusty corner between the stove and cupboard, thus getting them OFF the counter. Food which was on the rolling thing was put away in the cupboards. What a concept, eh?:-) So, now we have TWO larger spaces of freed-up counter space on which to prep or whatever. It looks so good and clear!

My next project will be to move an old, very heavy buffet to the old office, from our bedroom. Then will move my sanctum table and Morgan's to the east wall in our bedroom where it belongs. It feels as though my house, mind, and bod are all getting "it" together!

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 07:10 PM

Try hydrogen peroxide on the cactus spines -- little bubbles force them to the surface. Works on various thorns and stickers, too. Even splinters.

Yeah, our house (and life, I think) is like those little games with the numbered squares and one empty square. Unfortunately, most of the time we lack the empty square!

I brought 2 USPS Priority boxes down from the car and into the house -- hoping I can get another box or two in the post soon and clear off the guest room bed. Does that count?

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 09:03 PM

I've been using peroxide today, and it isn't going to make a difference on the spine--it's in there and is apparently going to make my finger big and fat before it decides to float out on a sea of puss.

Yuck.

Ran to the post office just in time to hand the scholarship application over to the folks to go out in today's mail.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 03:59 AM

Got to delutter my computer and run various virus scans as my email seems to be sending out spam emails to people I know and people I don't know! I'm considering getting rid of the email address but not sure how to do it!

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 04:15 AM

Linn, YES it counts!!!:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 07:44 PM

I filled a big plastic bag with all sorts of cardboard boxes and bits that had been collected for the off chance they're needed to pack things for eBay. I think I can live without all of this stuff, and it makes the room look a lot better.

My kitchen is looking tidy now, and I'm looking for ways to store some things I don't use often without losing complete sight of them, so I forget they're around to be used. Maybe I need to pin lists on the inside doors of cupboards?

Overcast today. Amazing how much the mood can shift with a gray day if you've had more than your usual share for a while.

I'm getting ready to add more shelves in the hall closet to organize the stuff I plan to store in there. I need to find screws long enough to go through the shelf supports and dry wall into the studs. I know I have some around here, somewhere. They're stored in a couple of areas, and then there are those 'catch-all' jars where things that came out of packaging and don't have a box or bin of their own go. Leftovers from appliance installation, etc. I've been sorting and filing some of that stuff (those electrical wiring screw caps, and the expanders for putting screws in sheet rock, and hooks and such, all in a little multi-drawer bin thing.)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 09:19 PM

Jeri and I are having lunch tomorrow at the Fish Shanty in Dover -- and afterwards I can drop several boxes o' stuff at Goodwill. Hope I don't acquire too much while I'm there (but I HAVE to look!).

And I can give Jeri the silver plate liqueur glasses I've been promising her. And a co-worker today said she'd look at the briefcases, etc. in my car -- she just didn't have time today.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Mar 10 - 01:49 AM

I had everything in place (carpenter's saw, drill, a couple of shelves that were used somewhere else and are available to cut down, and little boards for shelf supports) so this evening I put in a shelf in the back of the area where my modems and router are. This is not as deep as the router shelf, but it is a place to put wire and fittings for some of the work I need to do. I have about cleared a little rolling cart that this stuff used to sit on. Now where to put it? Anyway, for now, the cart, the extra monitor, the wiring stuff, are all neatly in the closet where there is still lots of room for other related stuff.

For an hour, though, at 9pm (central) I watched The Good Wife. Is anyone else watching this program? It is so phenomenally good compared to simply anything else on night-time television. For years. And tonight was very good. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Mar 10 - 01:59 AM

The only thing I watch consistently, now, is Desperate Housewives. It is so fun and well-done. Just a hoot!

Julianna Margulies is one of my fav. actresses, though, so I may try The Good Wife.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 17 Mar 10 - 03:50 AM

I used to watch Ugly Betty until they stopped showing it here in UK.

I love America Ferrera. Her mouth is almost exactly like Andie's (sans braces) Full lips and humongous infectious smile. Also there is something about her mannerisms in that , that are very Andie-esque.

I am quite smitten with Glee for the obvious reasons. Reminds me of the days chauffeuring Andie and Hilary (and a load of their friends) around to countless school and church choir related activities. Directing them in church youth choir. I would give anything to return to those days.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Mar 10 - 01:27 PM

I am pleased with the result of that new shelf. It started a little cascade of clearing, so the closet and hall look better. And I didn't spend a dime, it was put together from materials at hand. I have another shelf to put in later, that needs more comprehensive support (to hit a couple of studs). In loading the first shelf with small home wiring items I realized many of those will go away as soon as I finish the wiring. I have extras that can go back to Home Depot for a store credit.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Mar 10 - 08:09 PM

To the office for a while, and shopping today. I need to finish some work this evening, then look forward to a four day weekend--one of them I'll take as a vacation day, the rest is the weekend and our puny little Friday "spring break."

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Mar 10 - 09:37 PM

I did the dishes for the first time since we got the in-sink drainer. (Rog did them before, so there wasn't a huge stack.) I really am pleased with it. It was so nice to look around my kitchen and see clear and clean counters with no clutter, esp. the huge old drainer and mat.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Mar 10 - 03:19 AM

I was at a thrift store today and saw one of those quesadilla griddles. I can see how they would be appealing, and if you're using smaller tortillas, slap one in, spread stuff on it, put on another, and close the lid. Even embosses them where they need to be broken or cut appart. (But I didn't buy it--I have too many gadgets already).

Didn't finish some stuff for work tonight, spent time playing, so I'll have to get up in the morning and do it. But I've been making progress around here! I rearranged my laundry room this morning and am going to take a bunch of grocery and newspaper bags over to recycle tomorrow.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 18 Mar 10 - 03:36 AM

Maggie? What time is it there? Honey go to bed.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 18 Mar 10 - 03:50 AM

Couple of days at home to prepare for a concert - since January I've been taking longer to recover from busy weekends, so this time I'm easing myself in with as much preparation as possible. Means I'm decluttering the kitchen of a lot of chocolate, cream, flour, eggs and pastry (I make the refreshments and this term we're giving soloists some home-made chocolates as thank yous), but it also means that the boxes of wine and fizzy water cluttering the hall and dining room will soon be gone. I may even vacuum!

If only I could declutter Manitas who has taken the day off to recover from St Patricks day yesterday and is cluttering the sofa. What is it with this ability certain men have to always be standing just where I want to walk?

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Mar 10 - 11:33 AM

My time clock hasn't reset for the daylight savings time, and it is spring break, so the usual constraints haven't been in effect this week--I've been waking late so going to bed late. But thanks--I do need to get to that regular pattern before Monday or we'll all suffer that first couple of mornings of getting up for school. :)

Lovely day. Finishing some work for work, then will take the afternoon off.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Mar 10 - 04:27 PM

I pulled a box down from the office closet shelf and finally packed away all of the wrapped up strings of xmas lights that have been moved from here to there and back again to get them out of the way. I'm going to make more of a push this evening to add another shelf in the same closet as the last one, and then tidy the space and look around for other things that, assuming I need to keep them, should be stored in there.

I've been out weeding in the garden. Feels so nice to get the warm sunshine and look at all of the daffodils and grape hyacinth coming up.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Mar 10 - 06:13 PM

I dumped 124 email messages in my Bin. Also sent out an involved email I'd promised almost two weeks ago. Did a load of laundry and watered my houseplants. Also made a couple of important phone calls, one to my "aunt" (my dad's cousin) who is 91 yrs. old today. Tomorrow is my mom's birthday - she would be 94. My aunt always held mom in a special place in her heart as my mom made her the first b-day cake she'd ever had when she was 21. (Her mom was sent away when she was only 13, so she grew up with dad and bros. on a ranch.)

Rog and I have been noticing all of the dust and dirt and grime on our stuff and the walls. Everywhere there is a heat vent, the air has blown fine pet hair onto the walls, esp. in the bathroom. Next time we paint I am going to see if they have a paint with an anti-static element. I think we will be working on that this weekend and/or rent a controlled spot burner to use on the weeds out back before they begin to really grow. I can already see some green out there. Rog seems to have a bit more energy these days for this kind of heavy-duty cleaning, probably because he sees an improvement in my being able to help, too.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Mar 10 - 11:41 PM

It must be spring. I washed some windows!

I ended up working today after all. It took a while to finish the web page I was hoping to whip up in a hurry. So much for the extra day, though I can probably take Monday off instead.

Watching a couple of NetFlix movies to send them back, and since the one on now is one I've seen years ago I may not stay glued to every minute, I'll work and listen to it (it is the Donner version of Superman II, re-edited to reflect how the first director wanted it to look.)

I'll putter for a while. Maybe I'll rearrange some stuff in trunks after I finish that shelf (which is in the hall next to the DVD player, so I can listen and work at the same time. I'm so bad about treating movies like radio).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Penny S.
Date: 19 Mar 10 - 04:24 AM

Third attempt.

On the first one, IE closed without warning, losing my almost complete post.

On the second, I finished and hit submit, and it vanished without trace.

Now I'm writing in Notebad and going to copy across. If it gets lost, I'll just do it again.

This time, IE closed just as I hit post.

Three days ago, I managed to unscrew the book shelf screws, using a bent screwdriver designed for screws in odd corners. It gave enough leverage to get all but two screws undone. Those two were at the end of the track, which I used to lever them out. I now need some filler, which I have a tube of, but see below.

When I'd done that, I visited the new tenant downstairs, with some plug in mouse repellers, since her landlord isn't much bothered about her small visitors. He has been regaling her with interesting stories about his growing up in that flat, sharing a bedroom with his sister. This seemed odd to me, as I'd been there since '76, and there wasn't much of a window, given his age, for them to have been there. But I was a bit concerned, since if he had gone out of his way to rebuy (I'm sure they could not have owned it all that time with everyone I knew there being subtenants) his childhood home, it would change his statement that "I had driven him out of his home", even if I had done it inadvertently by sticking to my rights.

Two days ago, after a session in the public library with the old electoral rolls, I knew it wasn't true. (Interesting in its own right, since names suggest that early occupants in the '60s were retired couples, but later young people in starter homes.) This means that my hypothesis that the guy has Asperger's cannot be correct, since the condition precludes deviation from fact. Something else is going on.

After the library, I worked in the garage, organising the storage at the end better. I've put an old kitchen unit in there along with a set of shelves Dad made, and a chest of drawers from school - there were already two old office type cupboards.

Yesterday I had to wait in for an engineer to work on my dishwasher, and spent more time in the garage, emptying small boxes out of the large monitor boxes they had travelled in, and putting gardening stuff at the end. As I loaded the empty boxes for the trip to the dump, and new neighbour introduced herself, and commented at how tidy my garage looked. I had to explain that it only looked tidy, as I did not really know where things were - thinking of my tube of filler.

I then went up to the kitchen, to reallocate baking tins and saucepans, clearing cupboard space for plastic storage boxes. I have still got too much space full of food. Last year I bought some emergency stuff in case of swine flu closing things down. Then, when I had moved most of my larder, I was in the other place with no stores and the snow setting in. Some of it will have to live in boxes until it gets eaten.

When the engineer arrived, he had the wrong hose. I will have to spend another day in next week.

In the afternoon, I did some gardening. I planted out some primroses from the old garden, moved my mirrors (no nest behind them), and trimmed part of the Virginia creeper to allow space for climbers I'm going to plant. I'll have cuttings of my grandparents' Albertine rose and honeysuckle, which the people from their old house have agreed for me to have, and there are plants from a rootstock rose of a neighbour, which has clusters of small cream roses with a gorgeous musky scent - only for a week, but it's lovely.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 19 Mar 10 - 07:22 AM

Kitchen floor swept and washed this morning. Chocolate chip cookies baked and cooling ready for my best friend and her 2 kids arriving tomorrow morning, blimey we're going to have 6 children in the house, mind you her twins aren't crawling yet so we only have to field 4!!

Bedding all washed and hanging on the line drying. Veggies watered in the greenhouse. This weekend I must transplant some of them out of the seed trays as they are getting a bit big.

Might bake some bread this afternoon.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Mar 10 - 01:01 PM

You know, it can be really interesting reading, but at the same time, kind of puzzling when you click on a name down the list to read their entry but get the wrong author. I just read Penny's post and thought I was reading Khatt's. And was really interested to see all of these new things Khatt was doing. Then saw the error and had to go reread to recalibrate my understanding of Penny's move.

Odd, but interesting!

This is my spring break. I'm making headway around here. eBay and garden today.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 19 Mar 10 - 02:10 PM

Not a scrap of ironing left to do. The sewing jobs (save the caravan cushion cover fabric) are all prepped for doing the actual sewing which will be tomorrow with better light.

After they are done I will cut and seam up the cushion covers.

Also for tomorrow, try and figure out how to remove the sticky adhesive left from fablon (contact paper) on the little wood chest from caravan. Tried straight vinegar 3 times with no effect. Think I have to try the cola now. Or can I paint directly over the sticky stuff?

Also will take some junk to the recycling centre.

If I get time I will practice instruments and sing. Maybe.... somehow I don't feel much like singing lately.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Mar 10 - 10:45 PM

VTam, do you think an art eraser might work? Or, what about an SOS/Brillo pad or steel wool?

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: maeve
Date: 19 Mar 10 - 11:22 PM

Tamara- If the finish on the chest can withstand it, either http://www.ciao.co.uk/Goo_Gone__6645336
or Citra-Solve will remove the goo.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: maeve
Date: 19 Mar 10 - 11:28 PM

I've also had good success from Krud Kutter.

m

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Mar 10 - 01:13 AM

The first thing I would try is WD-40. It gets used like a lubricant but it is really first and foremost a cleaner. Great on things like crayon and the adhesive from the back of stickers. Spray a little on a corner and see what happens.

Kitchen is looking good, laundry folded, more in washing. Shopping taken care of, errands run. Nothing at the post office. We're hoving near the mail box to learn about college acceptance.

I didn't drink nearly as much caffiene today, and that helps. Night, all!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Penny S.
Date: 20 Mar 10 - 04:19 AM

I've had success with Sticky Stuff Remover - widely available, but try Lakeland - you're quite near Bluewater, aren't you, VTam? My Dad had stuck labels reminding him of things over his kitchen units and it took a bit of effort to remove them. It's a fine oily liquid smelling of citrus, and left a polished film on the wood.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 20 Mar 10 - 05:55 AM

Thanks for the advice all. The problem is the entire surface of chest top and 4 drawer fronts have been left tacky from really long term of fablon (contact paper) left in a caravan in hot and cold temperatures.

The paper itself came off very easily. But the sticky residue stayed. You can't see it, only feel it. It is so strong that if you press your palm flat on a drawer front you can lift the drawer without gripping it.

As I want to paint the chest white, I can't use anything that is oily, because that would mean I have to make certain every bit of oil is off. That is double the work in prepping to paint. As the body of the chest is built into the caravan (we would have to dismantle the bench/bed base to get it out), we are stuck with it. If it were not, I would just replace the whole unit with a used one from a caravan wrecker's yard.

I will try mineral spirits when I have some fine weather to take the drawers outside and work in garden. Don't want the smell in the flat.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: mouldy
Date: 20 Mar 10 - 06:47 AM

Celebratory mood engaged!

After yesterday's reflective mood, I am clicking my heels in the cliched manner - the suite has just gone from the garage!!!!!

Not only that, I managed to give Ian's golf clubs to one of the guys, who had been wanting some.

It was interesting watching them move the furniture - 2 heavy recliners and a large sofa - as they are actually a family firm of undertakers!

The living room is decorated and, apart from a few pictures to go up, is finished. The oak corner cupboard is being collected by the YMCA on Monday. (I have boxed up a lot of my precious Staffordshire figures and, if I can prove to myself that I can live happily without them, I will sell them). Now the garage is clearer I have somewhere to store them.
The downstairs loo is decorated and done, the study is a work in progress, and the carpet for there and the little bedroom are being laid on Thursday. I actually managed to find an off-cut of the carpet I have in the living/dining rooms and so the study will be done in the same. The study will be decorated, hopefully, by the end of Tuesday, the books will go back, and then it's kitchen, small bedroom and hall/stairs/landing to be done. I have made a start on the garden, and my mental target is June to get it on the market. The cottage across the road has just gone on sale, but the details weren't up online as of yesterday... It's smaller than mine, and has less garden, but it is about 400 years old at its base level (added a second floor at some later date), and is full of character.

I am feeling cautiously optimistic....

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: LilyFestre
Date: 20 Mar 10 - 08:30 AM

We spent yesterday morning cleaning up a bit...floors done, upstairs hallway done, general putting away of stuff....looks pretty good in here!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Mar 10 - 01:00 PM

My house was built in 1976.

It's cold and wintery here today, after a lovely day yesterday. I didn't mow yesterday, I was doing other stuff, so I'll have to wait till next week to do that. But in general the yard is looking spring-like and not too tattered after winter.

Laundry today, and I think some tub and tile cleaning is in order in the bathrooms. I realized that while my son may be heading to college in the fall and I'll probably give the house a good once over when it's just me here (sniff!), that I should let him enjoy the polished shiny tile now. Set a good example.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: mouldy
Date: 20 Mar 10 - 03:17 PM

Mine was 1903, with older hand made bricks from the barn that preceded it used on the interior faces of the walls. The plaster and the rest of the brickwork is that hard that I have to hang pictures on masonry nails!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Mar 10 - 06:33 PM

Ours was built in the early 50s, thank goodness it was before they started putting in narrow, horizontal windows so high no one could see out, or in, which I guess was the point, but I can't stand them. We were going to put on siding a few years ago, but found the wood was so good and solid, all it needed was paint.

Spring is in the air, here, even though it was COLD last night. Rog cleaned up his desk area, even vacuumed all of the pet hair and dust which had accumulated in the corners. He also took out the trash. We went to the hardware store and bought a new vent cover for the bathroom heat vent. I don't know why, but the white one we had just deteriorated very quickly with the finish wearing off and it looking really dirty and almost rusty. It isn't where we would drip water on it, so I think it just wasn't a very good product.

When we got back, Rog found my inside hose with sprayer for washing and watering the houseplants. Hooked it up to the sink and helped me get various plants moved to where I could wash them without getting the PC wet!;-) Anyway, it has been at least a couple of years, if not longer (so much of it is a blur) since I washed them. So...right now they are all sitting around looking very happy and sparkley, esp. since I promised them I'd not let it go so long 'til next time!

Then, Roger emptied one of the above the cupboards shelves so I could wash all of my special pieces. He also cleaned off the space. You can see some old, not very good pix of the shelves I mean and all of the stuff I have on them HERE. I got that first batched washed and drying when I got a kind of emergency/intervention phone call. That took about thirty minutes, then my brother dropped off a book I wanted returned, then my girlfriend called. In the meantime, Rog had fallen asleep, so the stuff sits on the counter until he helps me put it back. After that, we'll do the others, I hope today, but it's getting kind of late for it.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Alice
Date: 20 Mar 10 - 06:54 PM

I resigned from my job yesterday.

I'm not sure what I'll do next for income, but hopefully I can go back to something art or design related, maybe even be self-employed again and work from home.

I'm relieved that I won't be out of town working on the road most of the year now that I'm out of that job.

The job consumed my life 24/7, and now I hope to be able to actually spend time on my home and garden, organize inside and out.


Alice

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: mouldy
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 06:29 AM

That was a brave move. I hope you find what you are looking for.
I think it's quality over quantity that's important.

Andrea x

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: maeve
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 07:50 AM

Congratulations, Alice! I hope your wise decision will lead you to an healthy and interesting life.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 08:11 AM

Good for you, Alice!
Goethe may or may not have said it, but it's a great phrase:
"Whatever you can do or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it."

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 10:39 AM

Congratulations, Alice! It's a relief to know you won't be driving in that winter weather *up thar* and will be able to spend time in your home and garden. I am sure you will find the next steps and make your way to better days. It would be esp. neat if you can get back into your artwork, again!

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: SINSULL
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 10:52 AM

I tackled the sunroom yesterday and will finish it this week. Boxes of crap out the door for a yardsale or trash. I may actually be able to use that room again.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 03:19 PM

Good luck with the transition, Alice. While there may be trepidation, I bet there is also a huge feeling of relief.

I am staying in, it's cold outside--we had snow overnight. I'm staying close to the computer to listen to the health care debate and watch the vote, and working on online sales. A new listing on eBay got started this morning and I'll work my way through a stack of stuff in the sun room that I've been meaning to list for ages. Meanwhile, I went looking in the freezer for a chuck roast to thaw and fix for dinner, but seem to be out (only 1 lb chunks) so I pulled out a container with a couple of large chicken breasts.

I've also gone back and forth to that hall closet where I added a shelf. As I come across something that should logically go in there, I go ahead and put it away. I did rearrange the shelves, putting some boxes that I keep for the various proofs of purchase and UPC codes (you never know which portion of the box the next rebate is going to require, so I keep the entire thing). And I printed out several rebate forms to mail tomorrow. No point in buying these on sale if I'm not going to follow through.

I think I need some kind of aromatherapy going here. I'll make some bread along with the thawing/slow cooking chicken to make the house smell and feel perfect on this chilly day.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 04:57 PM

Well, we got a second batch from the high shelves down this morning and washed. Rog is cleaning out his work truck, lots of mucking to do! When he gets done, I'll have him put some of it back up. There are a couple of tins which will get sent on to friends. What we have done looks so clean and sparkly and my houseplants are so much better looking in the sunshine, now. Now I have to see if I can get Rog to help me tackle the filthy windows!

He also swept while I followed along with the mop and bucket. It's not perfect but the place is cleaner and fresher smelling. Morgan came over and helped a little bit..finished a little mopping and put some trash away, etc.

I will continue dusting small bits throughout this week.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 06:46 PM

While out shopping I went by Office Depot and picked up a package of plastic business card holder pages for a 3-ring binder. I have stacks of cards sitting around in drawers and on bookshelves and needed to organize them. Some went in the binder in the kitchen with the information about the house and occupants (business cards for our doctors, lists of phone numbers, an instruction sheet on how to operate the smoke detectors, etc.) I had taped quite a few in a spiral notebook and I'll leave those alone.

Bread is rising. I've decided to make a batch of raisin and nut filled biscuits to go with dinner--that has a mix of brown sugar and cinnamon in the middle, another great smelling combination for the general house aromatherapy at the end our our spring break.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 11:59 PM

Whew! About time! Health care available to millions more Americans soon. Some sooner than others, but at least it is on the way.

I did more eBay work this evening while I was watching the feed from C-SPAN online.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 12:30 AM

Yes! I heard the good news, too! This is an historic day!

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 01:16 AM

I have a few books (college test prep) up on eBay now, and a few other things in the pipeline. I'm close to earning enough Mahalo bucks to be able to cash in on that next month. But eBay is more consistent and less work than Mahalo.

Now to watch what happens as a result of this legislations. Insurance companies will look for every rule they can bend or cheaply break. Like if they drop you because of your health they are fined - $100 a day. Things like that will have to be fixed, because I'm sure they'll see that as peanuts.

Back to work tomorrow, though I may take the day and return on Tuesday, since I didn't take Friday off like I hoped to do.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: maire-aine
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 12:22 PM

I leave tomorrow evening, so I packed today. Will tidy up the bathroom and kitchen, so it's not such a mess when I get back. I gave away the vegetables & milk that I won't use up before I leave. I'll post when I get back on Easter Sunday night.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: mouldy
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 05:00 PM

The oak corner cupboard has gone to the YMCA, Peter has painted behind my bookshelves, and I have started to cart the books back into the study. I'm going to try and prune out a few more, but don't hold your breath!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 05:35 PM

Like I told Allison earlier his month, if you have the space and the leisure to set the books out in a row on the floor (I used the floor tiles and made an alphabet grid) and put them all there first before putting them back on the shelves you may be surprised at the repeats. I was able to do some serious weeding that way and probably got a couple hundred bucks from Half-Price Books for things I already had or will never read again.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: mouldy
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 04:21 AM

I'm getting them back into subject matter on the shelves. There are 7 shelves, about 8 feet long. It's just after 8am now, two thirds of the books are down (a few on the shelves) and I'm just going to get the steps out of the garage.

I've only got a couple of hours to work at it this morning, but I should get quite a bit done, as I pruned a lot of them out when I took them off a week or so ago. I can't lay them out on the floor too much, as I am sharing the 10 x 12 room with various objects, including a Peter!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: GUEST,LTS pretending to work
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 08:45 AM

Decluttered a whole heap of someone else's crap out of my desk today.. why do people keep putting stuff on my desk?

LTs

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 05:42 PM

I had an 'aha!' moment this morning, when I realized what I could do to give the kitchen a more airy look. You know those long expanses of empty counter space in Martha Stewart's kitchens at her various homes? With the occasional well-appointed work space? I wanted a bit more of the open space look, even in my small kitchen.

I moved the two baker's racks with cookbooks and cooking implements across the room, I moved a table from under the window to where the racks had been and I set up one wing of it to hold things set down in front of the microwave which I relocated to that table. I also left the toaster on that table (it had already been, but across the room. We rarely toasted bread from our seat at the table, so it made it kind of out of the way over there.)

This way I can see the pretty dining area wainscoting better, I could move the microwave off of the peninsula counter next to the sink, and I could set up the pretty wrought iron wine rack where the microwave used to sit. And move a few things around to make it look functional but not to have such heavy stuff taking up the counter. My Kitchenaid blender is back on the counter between the stove and the fridge. That was always the best spot for it, right by a plug and near the ingredients. Amazing thing is, these moves all probably took under 10 minutes total.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 01:26 AM

I found fresh* halibut at Central Market this evening, so I brought home nearly three pounds (at nearly $50 - I won't do that again soon!). I cut it into three strips and we used one for the two of us this evening. The rest is in the freezer and that means it's only about $15 a meal to have 2 portions. It was very very good!
*Fresh, as in, it flew here on a plane and is a couple of days old, at least. But beggars can't be choosers.

It was a delight working with all of that counter space this evening. I still have stuff that needs to find the best place to live, but I think the kitchen is finally looking efficient and attractive at the same time. You can see a lot of the antiques up on top of the cupboards and around the rooms (the kitchen and dining area are all one oblong space, with the peninsula counter acting as the logical cut off from kitchen to dining area.)

I also have a dining room table set up in one corner of the den/living area. There are two of those in the house also (living rooms); redundancy is the norm here. There are shelves there, and that's where a lot of the family crystal is on display. I try to use it every so often. I'll have to find another occasion soon (at least we can use the cut crystal glasses for sparking cider or for wine).

In the late morning I'm headed to the office to photograph an event at noon and will stick around to attend an evening lecture. I picked up two tickets weeks ago, hoping my son might want to join me, but no. One of the library directors said she missed getting a ticket, it's sold out (they're are free, but you have to get them through a regular university ticket outlet) so I will give her my extra one. This is to hear Jeffrey Toobin, who writes for The New Yorker and is regularly interviewed about the Supreme Court and other government topics.

Laundry folded and put away, trash taken out. Dogs still need a bath. Tomorrow morning, I think, before I shower and head to work.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 01:59 AM

SRS = the Martha Stewart of Mudcat!*smile*

I think we should tell Martha what we've been doing with these threads and she could interview you about it, Maggie! Maybe next time Guy throws pots and plays for her.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: mouldy
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 05:15 AM

That's one of my next tasks: de-cluttering the kitchen. I have a large kitchen with lots of working area, (apart from the hob, one stretch is about 13 feet long), but it tends to get filled with all sorts of crap that really could go into a cupboard, or be re-sited.A large butcher's block chopping , and knife block, board next to the hob is one example. If I shift the left-over soft drinks from Christmas to the garage I can move it right away and open the area up.

Peter starts work on the dining room today, then he'll probably get into the kitchen Friday or Monday. He's going to be late starting today cos he has to do a communion service at one of the local primary schools.
All the books went back yesterday, and my waist is aching from the twisting and lifting. The small pile of detritus in the middle of the room has to be dealt with, as does the small amount of stuff in the little bedroom, and then they'll be ready for the new carpets tomorrow.

Off to Snaith, about 4 miles away, now, to get my hair cut, and to go to the wonderful hardware shop run by a local undertaker (the one who looked after Ian)...the sort of shop that would sell you a couple of nails if that was all you needed! Got to get some curtain hooks.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 07:38 AM

Oo- Snaith has the best chippie I ever visited! Ah, the memories (it was a quick drive-by with Bill Sables and Sam Pirt, about 5 years ago).

Yes, the duplicate books- haven't done anything about them, yet. Nor the videos and dvds- they don't have a home yet.

BUT- I spent about 4 hours in the office yesterday organizing my disorganized files, receipts, etc. for taxes. And in the process I de-cluttered vast piles of stuff that had collected in cardboard boxes over the summer, and made the office a little more organized. Still MUCH to do on that front!

SRS, the very idea of uncluttered counters makes me weak in the knees. I always felt that Nature abhors an uncovered surface... let us know how long it lasts!

Kat, I second the vote- let's see if Guy will pass the word along to MS!

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 10:45 AM

That kitchen sounds luxurious in it's size, Andrea! Good luck clearing the stuff that needs storage elsewhere. Keeping it free of clutter--that is the trick, isn't it? I'd like to finally set a good example for my kids, before they're both so far away and out in their own lives that they don't notice that I finally got the house cleaned up. They should breathe a sigh of relief, that hopefully I won't leave the clutter and mess that my parents left me. But I'm not there yet. :-/

I listed a few things on eBay, and once again have a clear spot in my sun room for doing more of that.

I'm finally up to the total at Mahalo to request a payment (through tips earned and revenue sharing on answers you've posted--if they attract ads, like the ads here at Mudcat in the BS threads) then they split the proceeds, half to Mahalo, 1/4 to the person who asked the question, and 1/4 to the person who answered it. This is a real time waster, though, unless you can figure out the trick to answer a few of the threads likely to pull down more revenue.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: mouldy
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 02:37 PM

The "luxurious" size (around 11x13 feet) is because it's 2 smaller houses knocked into one....it's the old back-to-back sculleries opened up. It is single-storey, south facing, with a door to the yard, and has a lot of windows. It is therefore cold in winter and hot in summer!

Snaith chippie changed hands a year or so ago, but I think it is still as good. Unfortunately, WW keeps me away!

Got the dining room partially papered today (and the ceiling painted). Cleared most of the junk out of the 2 rooms that get the carpet tomorrow. We must be about halfway through the project now!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 05:41 PM

The place is going to look so good that you'll wonder why you didn't do it before, and you'll want to stay. ;-)

Happens every time.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Penny S.
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 05:42 PM

Some years ago, in haste, I made some new curtains just before I had a visitor. I didn't finish the hems, because of shrinking after washing. Some time later, I washed them, and then needed them up in a hurry, so I put them up quickly with only a few hooks. But life was full of other things, so they stayed like that! This week I have spent three days hemming. They are large windows with correspondingly wide curtains, two and a half fabric widths for each side, so I really had put it off for the tediousness of hemming across such a width. When potential buyers go round, they will see something better than I was living with!

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 06:48 PM

Tom went to Boston today for a post-op follow-up with Dr. Z, but, for a change, I didn't have to go with him.

Today was my first day off after a very hectic (but successful) weekend trunk show (sale) at work (during which I didn't get my usual day off). Long hours, frantic pace, adrenaline overload. And Monday wasn't much better.

Soooooo...I made a list last night and today got to do all the cleaning stuff I usually can't get done because Tom is around, plus the usual stuff that's been lying in wait for me to have time.

Mended tights (holes in toes), did handwashing, finished a book, had to run to the store to get laundry detergent, so went via post office and mailed a couple things. (Our mailbox needs to be reset -- the rain destroyed the half-barrel it was in.) Came home and did some laundry, made some soup for the freezer, baked a pistachio cake, did the dishes, played with the firewood getting some of it off the ground and a bit dryer. Addressed a couple birthday cards, hang in there cards and a sympathy card along with a rebate application to mail on my way to Dover. Swept. In my house, sweeping is a necessity before vacuuming. Vacuuming is exciting because the rugs change color. (Sigh.)

I had to return two items I bought last week at Goodwill which didn't fit, plus a pair of shoes for which I had no receipt. Took some more stuff over to donate, got my refund, and could get another $5.99 item in exchange for the shoes that didn't fit. Price had to be exact or less. And I lucked out -- found a nice pair of low winterish lace-up boots with a good tread on the sole and a bit of fur around the ankles.

Beat Tom home and had time to sweep down the stairs, too. Guess who else had an appointment with Dr. Z today? Sonny got a picture of Tom and Kendall and Jacqui, I think with Dr. Z. Sorry I missed the party!

Right now I'm going to take a glass of wine upstairs and change the bed (while the rugs are in the dryer).

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: mouldy
Date: 25 Mar 10 - 06:41 AM

I am so glad there is somebody else who "hems" curtains like me!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 25 Mar 10 - 10:28 AM

Okay, the picture was just of Tom, Kendall & Jacqui. (Sorry I missed it, but I sure got a lot done at home.)

Deep sigh -- first thing that happened this morning was I turned on my bedside lamp and the bulb blew. Stole the one from Tom's which woke him up. (Maybe that's why he's grumpy.) When I went to get dressed, I pulled on a pair of my black opaque tights -- and found a hole in the damned toe!!! After going through ALL of them yesterday morning and sewing up holes in the toes. Arghhh!

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Mar 10 - 04:57 PM

I missed taking the trash out, if that's any consolation, Linn. :-/

The dogs got decluttered of a little stink today at lunch. They'll have several hours of almost sunny not-too-windy weather to completely dry, or they can go in their dog houses. I had to put their heartworm stuff on, and this requires the dogs be clean. The old stuff (Revolution) went on the dirty dog, and a few days later they got a bath (or not). Now this new stuff (Advantage) is supposed to go on a clean dog. You can see the obvious problem. I have to regularly wash the dogs. Not that they don't need or deserve it, but sometimes the weather doesn't cooperate with washing outside dogs. I kept them in for a while to let it soak in, and they kept themselves occupied by licking about half of the surface of the kitchen floor, looking for any microscopic specks of food.

Meanwhile, I've been working on my office, preparing to design a couple of new print projects. I reorganized samples of past projects and got rid of old project notes I no longer need. I found things that had been separated that can now be put together again, and I found a couple of things in the mix that I don't need and that can go in eBay. I've identified duplicates of paper stuff to recycle, and I have several items that need to be 3-hold punched and filed in my notebook of completed newsletters.

Ever since the cat window seat moved out I've been reexamining the space along the wall next to the window. I may have one more move comping up, to get the optimum use of the space and yet making sure it actually looks nice.

Finally, I've been contemplating just what I need to try to push forward this year to make the yard look better, more like it is planned (and at the same time, so it looks like organic growth, a naturalistic design that hopefully doesn't require much maintenance or mowing). Dream on.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 25 Mar 10 - 10:26 PM

I hate all you people with big kitchens. I've had tiny kitchens for the last 20 years... and I'm bored with it!

Anyway... decluttered some fabric onto a quilt, which, due to some enforced "rest", I've managed to get to the actual quilting bit (it's just 5" squares sewn together and quilted by machine with a fancy stitch), it's bright yellow, red, orange and pink with a yellow gingham backing... very cheery!

I just hope the recipient (a small child with its first proper bed once daddy has finished building it) is happy with it. Then there's the purple & blue one and the green one for her siblings and my big green one to finish. Hopefully that'll make room in the cupboard for the new fabric I bought on Monday... a jelly roll of lovely neutral naturals in shades of light brown, cream, grey and slate blue. No idea what I'm going to do with it but I couldn't resist it!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 02:04 AM

Don't you hate it when you get ready to list something on eBay only to learn that it is an old, early model of something and there is barely any mention of it? It works perfectly, but it isn't USB, it's Ethernet. My cable is connected via Ethernet now, no big deal, but this seems to depreciate it.

I've had this great little modem for a while, and when I researched it, I ended up having to dig around in old forums. The wall wart that supports it is so heavy that the shipping will be higher than I'll probably get for it. Hmmm.

Tomorrow is Friday. It's a late night for me at work, but maybe I can get some yard work in early.

Take care, everyone. Don't overdo, this last weekend in March.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 02:39 AM

Morgan and I decluttered some of my garden bed, today. We both pulled up old, dead weeds, he clipped off dead stalks of old yarrow blooms and flax, I pulled some leaves off of a bunch of adorable crocus/i and, he pruned the rosebush, with my supervision.

Then we played improvised volley ball. There was a small stump of a weed which almost tripped me, so I asked him if he'd pull it up. It didn't want to come, so he poured water on the dirt to soften it, then began to dig. It turned out to be hilarious obviously not just some shallow rooted weed. The more he dug and pulled, the more root there was. Eventually, he was able to pull out about 2.5 feet in one direction, after cutting it free from wherever the rest of it went, then he started in on the other end. This kept going on with us both laughing so hard he couldn't do anything. When we found it was shooting off into two directions more, I convinced him to cut it off and we'd bury it, tomorrow. He wanted to call his dad because "he's the strongest person in this family" and he was sure he could pull it. We even tried putting a slip knot over with a piece of tubing and pulled only to have the tubing break. I got it on video, but my camera messed up and it's all blurry. Oh, well, it was the best decluttering I've done in ages.

The house continues with small things being done. I need homes for two tins, one for Ritz crackers shaped like a box of saltines and the other a *collectible* English toffee tin from the 50s. Anybody? Oh, and a Chinese big square one which still has a couple of bags of loose oolong tea, direct from China. If I read the research correctly, it is VERY expensive tea, but I have no idea how old it is. It's a neat tin.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 08:01 AM

I'd love those tins, but perhaps you'd rather not take the trouble to mail them...

I loved the image of you and Morgan pulling and pulling on the root- in some ways, that's what you're doing in your life, digging down deep to find the health within (which reminds me of a song Animaterra has sung, called Dig Down Deep-
"I'm digging way down down to the bottom of my soul,
I'm digging way down, way down deep (yes I am)
I'm digging way down down to the bottom of my soul,
Clear water's running through me"

I've de-cluttered some more clothes, and am taking a bag to the local charity thrift store. I asked them how they wanted to handle Hunt's 20 years of khakis and dress shirts, and they asked me to do it in installments! So, first installment, here I come!

Got my sewing machine back, so now I have to find affordable fabric that is good enough for curtains.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: GUEST,Penny S.(elsewhere)
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 09:03 AM

Last night there was a sudden squall - the neighbour's roofers were still up on the roof! I didn't notice until this morning that one of the mirrors I put on the end fence had fallen onto the rockery stone (aka urban conglomerate - broken concrete). Up betimes to pack it away and take it off to landfill. Mirror glass can't be recycled. Also got some sharp sand to re-bed some flagstones, as the way they tilt and jiggle is very unsafe.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 01:50 PM

That was some root, Kat!

Going to mow, I've let the yard dry as much as I can and still have time to finish before I have to shower and go for a late day at work today. I'll get a workout, the grass is weedy and moist.

I haven't finished describing the latest item (the modem) for eBay, but I'm rolling now and should be able to keep up the momentum. It's nice to move a few of these things out and have the cash in PayPal. And even though some of these sales are small, they build up the feedback. I'm a small player compared to some, but I do enjoy the process.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: mouldy
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 02:12 PM

I've got the dining room back! The study looks like magic (partly because I've not put all the loose odds and ends back yet)!

I haven't been much use recently because I caught a gastric bug from Freya, which made me feel "off" on wed and showed itself fully yesterday. I have eaten tonight, so we'll see how we go...literally!

The carpets got laid yesterday afternoon, and the ceiling of the kitchen is going to get a plaster skim on Easter Monday, when the plasterer is free. So, Peter starts on the spare room on monday, then it's the hall, stairs and landing before the kitchen. Got some seeds on to germinate in the kitchen, so weather permitting, and as soon as I feel able to, it's back to dig mode!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 02:31 PM

painted the 3 drawers brought home from caravan. they could do with another coat, but company is coming tomorrow so they have to go back to van.

tonight I will start sewing covers for cushions.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 02:44 PM

Virginia, I was going to post but I think I forgot to, about that sticky surface. One of the characteristics of primer paint is that it has glue in it, to stick to whatever surface you want your outer paint to look good on. While it's intended to make paint stick on a slick surface, I bet you could put primer over the sticky surface and end up with a paintable surface.

Did I post that already? I think this occurred to me when I was out driving and I intended to come back and post it, but lost track.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 02:53 PM

Ayup Maggie

I got cheapo Wilkinson's not water based paint so cleaning up is impossible. But the paint goes on really thick and it dried with no stickiness coming through. The drawers look pretty crap, but this is for an old well used caravan. I am not concerned having a perfect paint job as it is a little hand made chest of drawers. The white paint will make the inside look a little brighter.

I really ought to get on with sewing, but I will have to kneel on itchy rash covered legs to cut the fabric. I am stalling.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 07:15 PM

The front lawn is mowed now, and I swept and emptied the dog houses in the kennel so the dogs have fresh straw to go with their clean bodies. And I'm headed to the shower before going to work this evening at a Friends of the Library meeting.

This afternoon I roasted a chicken and it's in the fridge now to use over the weekend. I cleaned up the kitchen (it's so much easier to keep it clean if you do it frequently) so that when I come in late this evening I'll have a nice looking space to greet me. I've set up the VCR to catch the mystery I enjoy and would miss during the meeting, so I'm looking forward to kicking back and watching that when I get home. I think I'll throw a load of laundry in now while I'm on a roll.

The countdown is continuing, six days until we learn if my son was accepted at any of the big universities. Pins and needles. You'll have to pardon me if I gush when the day arrives. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 07:53 PM

I hope the third time is a charm when it comes to trying to post!

To SRS: You kicking back?? LOL...sure you won't be doing a zillion other things as well? Just teasing. Glad to hear, though, that you DO stop once in a while.:-)

Animaterra, the tins, all three, are yours! They are so lightweight, it will cost next to nothing to send them and I love they will go to a "good home." Thanks!

I am working on getting decent stills from the messed up video I did of Morgan and the Root. No promises, but I'll try. The video is almost worth it just to listen to...his comments are pretty dramatic and funny.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 12:51 AM

I'm not going to get to watch that mystery. For some reason the recording didn't start. I don't have instructions for this old player, I just hit enough buttons until it was programmed, but evidently it didn't take. Next time I'll set the one-time button on the front and do it that way. I think you can program it to start in several hours. Darn. I don't know if I'd seen that program before.

Well, a glass of wine, and my NetFlix movie will be okay.

Kat, that video sounds like it belongs on YouTube. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 07:02 AM

Maybe, SRS, just so any of you who wanted to could listen to it. I don't think there is any way to correct the visual.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 06:16 PM

Kat

You might be able to strips the sound and save as a WAV file, then do a montage of pictures from the video and edit them together with the WAV file.

Our flat is clean. 2 cushions are covered (well I have to do up the end of one) Only 6 more to go.

I had a bath with porridge oats and used Aveno cream for extra sensitive skin. Legs feel quite a bit better. Less itchy, though the bumps are still there and still red.

TSO is collecting his daughter and her partner from the station right now. They are going to Bletchley Park tomorrow, so will have whole flat to myself. Will finish the caravan cushion covers and work on a sweet dreams doll for a friend. I am thinking about soft poly fire filled dolly a bit bigger than my hand, made from velvet or upholstery fabric and decorated with sequins and beads. I have to fill it with positive juju. Was thinking of writing some positive things about the person I am making it for on handmade paper strips and putting inside stuffing along with some cloves and cinnamon cuz the recipient is a spicy kind of character. Think that will work?

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 07:33 PM

...soft poly fire filled...

I think it will work if you send along a fire extinguisher!**BG**

Actually sounds lovely, though if she is already spicy, you may want to balance it with something calming i.e. lavender, mint, or?

I thought of doing that with the video, but even taking stills from it, they still look terrible. I'll probably just put it up, in a few minutes, and you all can just close your eyes or listen while you declutter.:-) Tks!

Rog swept this morning. Morgan came over. I armed him with a spray bottle of cleaner and a damp sponge. He did a GREAT job of wiping down walls which are just his height, i.e. hard for us to reach down and do, plus the washing machine which was covered with his watercolours paints from being messy as well as other dirt, the back door by the knob which was black with dirt and hand-marks, and he even ran the mini-vac a bit. I did some laundry, still am, plus put stuff away from the kitchen to bathroom, etc. Then, he went home.

We went to the fabric store to get some real oilcloth without the fleece backing. One of my cats loves to sit under both tables and strip the fleece off, so it hangs off in strips and the vinyl then shreds, too. He is so bad about it..definitely compulsive, so I reckon real oilcloth will stop him in his tracks! It is not inexpensive these days..7.99 per yard, so I told Rog to consider it an early b-day present to me. I will clear off both tables and put it on tonight or in the morning. That will help a lot with the appearance of the pseudo-dining and kitchen area.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 08:48 PM

Sold and shipped a book on eBay, then I cleared off more of my eBay table in the sun room. I have been working at a computer hutch I put in there after my son's computer moved into his room, but I'll clear the table also so I can put out the blue sheet I use as background for photographs. I'd like to eventually put the hutch at the curb or in a garage sale. I was able to bag some books and things and set them on the floor; I didn't before because all it took was one of the cats deciding to puke or pee in a corner somewhere to hit and soak and destroy the value of something I had considered selling. For this reason I'm not getting any more cats, at least, not for a while.

The clothesline has been restrung and is ready to go, though it was too late today to dry anything and has been a bit too windy to be sure everything would stay put. I did hang a couple of items with extra pins just to christen it this afternoon.

I went shopping also, and I picked up a couple of pot roasts on sale. I'm using these now to make my own ground meat, I don't buy the store grind unless I know they ground it themselves. The pickup has bags of dirt and humus to mix together with amendments and put in the garden tomorrow. I was going to mow, but it was a little to late after I finished the clothesline. It takes a while to mow the back, and I don't want to finish in the dark.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: LilyFestre
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 09:32 PM

I did a few loads of laundry today and scrubbed the tub. Also, we finished our taxes today...YAY!!! I hate taxes!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Mar 10 - 03:02 AM

Michelle,

Getting the taxes out of the way is a big deal--I won't guess what yours look like, but there is so much mental baggage that comes with the process that it always feels good to finish them.

Mine were finished very early, because of the school applications. And we'll learn about those on Thursday. I'll let my son tell me what he hears and what his choices are, so we can arrange for him to visit any or all of the campuses. I won't be opening any more envelopes, he will. It's his show from here on out. (But I'm still sitting on pins and needles!)

Meanwhile, in the de-cluttering world, tonight I found a box of school supplies in the sun room that I was able to shelve or recycle. That's a couple of square feet of floor space opened up (and for some of us, that is a big deal, isn't it?)

I ran by Lowe's earlier and picked up a matching pendulum light fixture like the one I put in the dining area. I mounted it over the peninsula counter, and it was much easier this time. For now it is suspended using 2 of the 3 pipes that came in the box. It isn't centered because I made the counter wider after the electrician had measured to place that fixture. When he came back, after the counter guy did the installation, he did a double-take on the measurements. Thus, the light is closer to the busiest side of the counter. I'm sure my son is going to complain about bumping his head, but he'll just have to not lean way over the counter. It looks good. I didn't put on the rheostat switch yet, because I couldn't remember what color I needed. I picked up white and it's almond, so I'll exchange it tomorrow.

And now, to bed.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 28 Mar 10 - 03:50 AM

DEcluttering my purse later... need more batting for the other two quilts...

Front room got vacuumed, that just about wore me out! So not a lot done. And here it is nearly April, where did the year go?

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 28 Mar 10 - 06:12 AM

SRS - Pro'lly don't need to tell you that every year your son applies for federal financial aid that you will need to do your taxes early. Man what a PITA that last minute struggle to get them in before the deadline.

You are right about the spice Kat. I don't like the smell of lavender or fresh mint myself. Both make me feel a bit ill for different reasons. I've been told my someone who does aroma therapy why, but I can't remember.

I will ask my friend what she prefers in her sweet dreams doll.

You go Alice! I am envious.

Watch out everyone! SINS is mucking about with her hideobilea again. You may need to put chains on your mailboxes to prevent entry.

I am off work most of next week (using up annual leave before I lose it). Plan to do some patching of wall in lounge where storage heater once resided. Start planning the new kitchen lounge lay out. Hope to get new kitchen in summer 2011. This will include, knocking out half a wall, solid wood floor throughout and a move of the electric board. So will be long term job and need to look at the project management well in advance.

I will finish caravan cushion covers, put away sleeping bags and air bed from guest room today. Do one load of laundry. Right now I have a schload of breakfast dishes to wash. I sent TSO and guests off with a big cooked breakfast today so the kitchen is in a state.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Penny S.
Date: 28 Mar 10 - 08:30 AM

I've got a beastly cold and am confined to barracks. Out at the front I have a cubic metre builders'bag of spent mushroom compost, which has arrived sooner than I expected. I have to get it round the back. This involves a long trip round the houses to the back gate, but then the garden path is separated flags, and not suitable for a barrow. I think I will put the stuff into carryable bags and into the barrow, and then carry them across the garden to the flagged area to tip them out. alternatively, I wheel it through the house. I don't think so! This stuff I will dig into the clay subsoil which is on the surface to improve the texture and fertility.
It occurs to me that one characteristic of human beings until recently has been the creating of good soils in places where the soils had not been good. OK, sometimes we got it wrong, such as the over irrigating of lands around Mesopotamia, and more recently by doing things too big, and creating dust bowls. but the gardning side of things has been a positive, I would have thought.
I have started involving a local trader who is selling off display kitchens very cheap to put one into the old place. And, at last, the water heater firm has got me to the top of the list - their man had been beaten up in London. The kitchen guy had been involved in a very bad car accident. Worrying.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: mouldy
Date: 28 Mar 10 - 10:33 AM

The stomach bug has gone - I think - I have no energy, but I still have managed to drag the filing cabinet and the safe back into the study. I had to move them, as I am having Freya overnight before her usual Monday visit, and they were right in her play area. I am also having to hurriedly sort out the bags/piles of things that were moved into the living room during last week. There is also some stuff to go for the boot sale.

I was gutted yesterday - dragged myself creakily out of bed early to get up to go to York racecourse, only to find 22 miles later, there was no boot fair. That'll teach me not to check the website before I go, to see if had been cancelled! Well, weather permitting (and given this week's forecast: rain, hail, snow I am unsure), I am hoping to go do a table there next Saturday. Don't fancy sitting and shivering on a boggy field, though.

On a brighter note - I have frog spawn!

Hope the hail etc doesn't harm it if we get it, because it's very shallow. The wind's got up, and is quite chilly, despite the sun today.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Mar 10 - 03:23 PM

I started digging this morning, went back into the house to find my new gloves (bought last weekend) and couldn't find the bag. Looked all over. I remember putting them in the back of the pickup but I don't know where I set the bag.

I had to return that switch, so I walked over to the hardware section in Lowe's to see what they have for gloves. I asked a clerk, who walked me over to the gardening section. I had walked over to and had asked if they had gloves in hardware, and I frankly wonder what she was thinking? That I wouldn't really want THOSE gloves because I'm a woman? The only difference is that they're not decorated, and they're cheaper. I looked at the high-priced garden gloves and walked out, not bothering to try again to find them in hardware. I drove over to Home Depot and picked up a couple more pair in hardware for about 2/3 the price of the Lowe's gloves.

Now to the garden. I'll put in the switch this evening.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Mar 10 - 01:03 AM

Of course, as soon as I walked in with new gloves I found the others I bought last week.

Virginia, yes, I forgot to agree earlier, I have set up a file for myself to refer to each year with the information I'll have to fill out for that College Board stuff. Or FAFSA. Or both.

I am going to have an aching back tomorrow. It aches already now. I moved soil around today so I could see how it was going to work. I've been building up the low side of my garden so it is now the high side, and I'm working out a series of at least three shallow terraces.

I put in the dimmer switch and the room looks so nice with that hanging fixture. There's something about the light being lower and not washing over the entire room that makes it look more intimate, more warm.

This afternoon I hung some laundry on the line, and brought it in at dusk. Alas, this seems to be the breeding season for gnats who were out full strength at dusk on all of that almost dry laundry. I shook each piece as I took it down, and then put the lot in the dryer on air for a few minutes. Yuck.

Time for more motrin and I'm taking Jane Austen to bed. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Mar 10 - 02:48 PM

Overnight on eBay I sold two bulky books from the SAT series that we picked up last fall and winter for my son's tests. They weren't marked at all, were barely used. He reviewed the sample tests to get the feel of them before he took the actual tests. They were boxed up early and handed to the mail carrier and that's 7 pounds of paper out this afternoon!

My back is sore so I'll take it easy in the yard (and lifting books!) I've been doing a lot of less-rigorous rearranging lately, and have some more in mind. My kitchen/dining area is looking as good as it has ever looked and I need to expand the work outward from there.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 29 Mar 10 - 05:08 PM

I went on ebay and bought 2 more bits of clutter. A digital voice recorder and a long burgundy dress that I am going to use as the lining of my red patchwork, beaded, sequinned wild woman coat.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 29 Mar 10 - 05:13 PM

Been a bad day today, but I did declutter the purse yesterday so have finished one quilt today. I'm now working on the big green one, the brown patchwork cushion covers and have 2 more small quilts to piece up... then I've got the new jelly roll I got last Monday to play with... I've done mostly big blocks with wide borders or very small pieces (table runners, that sort of thing) so I'm looking forward with trepidation to doing a large project in small blocks.. it will take me forever I know, but I'll have something pretty for the cats to sit on in the meantime...

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Mar 10 - 10:40 AM

I tweaked the placement of my computer desk and a table this morning. I finally have easy access to the window and can fairly easily peek around the back of the computer to find all of the various plugs. I've been needing to get back to recording and digitizing some of my Dad's tapes, and now I can finally reach the plugs I'll need for that. The television is also at a bit better angle. The only drawback is that this placement puts my chair back over the gap in the floor tile, where it cracked and a piece lifted out. My chair wheel plops into it and makes moving out again a little tough. But worth that to make everything else work better.

Allergies are coming on, but the zyrtec I've been taking in the evening may be why I've had trouble getting to sleep this week. And my son reported a similar problem this morning--I had him start taking it last night to try to keep his stuffy nose at bay. I think we need to take the daily dose in the morning from now on.

Tomorrow is my hair appointment, and I'm going to go back to a shorter cut. The one I'm doing now looks good as far as the color, but the shape isn't staying put in any particular style I want. So I'll go back to my old perky cut for the summer.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Mar 10 - 04:07 PM

Here is an informative article on what documents we need to keep and for how long...looks as though I can get rid of a lot more files!

NYTimes

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 30 Mar 10 - 04:55 PM

one load laundry - check (TSO has promised to hang it up on drying rack for me tonight before bed)
kitchen sort of clean - check
grocery shopping - check
bedding in spare room put away - almost check (air bed has been put away and pillows and comforter in space bags - TSO has promised to help me vacuum the air out and put them back in wardrobe).

my friend Crow Sister is coming over on Thursday to practice some songs before we go to Blackmore in Exile folk on Thursday night.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Mar 10 - 05:12 PM

That's still an awful lot of paper she's recommending we keep. I do keep all of that, but it would be nice to trim out some of the files.

Busy day around here today, lots of distractions with utility workers (both phone and water dept) working around our end of the block. And a stray dog that has the dogs all excited and wanting to play, but it's outside the fence and their collars won't let them get up to the fence. So they have been a bit noisy.

I have been consulting with the neighbors about the gardens. The next door neighbor had a painter in and he cleaned his brush in her garden beside a small tree she has been hoping will start to grow. I wonder if Kilz lives up to it's namesake?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: mouldy
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 07:03 AM

I have found an oak console table on Ebay that will just be what I want. Trouble is, it's going to be a close-run thing between the finishing time and the time I OUGHT to be going out tonight for a session...Eric the Viking may have to be put on hold for half an hour (he's down from Orkney for a visit).

I reckon this table might go for quite a high price.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 03:13 PM

When you have that eBay race to the finish habit, you're hooked, aren't you? I try to end auctions at a time of day so the most people can participate in the auction. (I have to mail an item this week that I wasn't convinced had any value or would sell at all. It didn't go for a lot, but I have to figure out what to call it to ship it legally to China, of all places.)

Got my hair cut, and went back to an old style. The new one we were attempting just wasn't panning out as I had hoped. I also spent 90 minutes looking at myself in the mirror and realize I need to lose more weight. I think much of what I lost last fall has crept back over the winter. Now if my back would get better (I strained some muscles last weekend) so I could be more active, that would help!

I guess it's about time for a new thread. Any thoughts on keeping the accountability and de-cluttering separate, or do you like them better together?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 05:07 PM

Pajama Day!!! (At long last.)

All I've done today (besides lounge around in my nightgown) is finish a book, call my sister in Milwaukee, bake 2 loaves of zucchini bread, wash the dishes that Tom's left piling up, clean off the counters and the stove (ditto), do some laundry, trash some Yahoo email, and find another book around here to read (believe me, that's NOT a problem!).

I still have to fill out the form to become a NH registered "Ophthalmic Dispenser", attach the photo, and write out the check (for which my company will reimburse me when I get the certificate) and get it all in an envelope to mail tomorrow.

Oh,yeah, and dry and fold the clothes currently in the washer and get a load of sheets into the washer. Hope I can get another load done before the filter absolutely HAS to be changed. The water would have to be shut off down cellar and it's probably a bit damp down there right now -- when I came home from work last night, the water outside the back step was up past my ankles, well over my shoes and soaking the bottoms of my pants.

Hit an invisible wall of water across Rte. 4 last night on my way home and had all I could do to keep control of the car. Bunch of roads closed today, but Rte. 4 isn't one of them.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 05:12 PM

And here I'm fussing about gnats when I hang my laundry on the lines on our warm sunny days. Soon you too will have nice weather.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 07:32 PM

Although it just seems as if it's been raining forever, this spate has only been from Sunday night until this morning. It was cloudy all day today, but we didn't have any of the predicted scattered showers. Tomorrow we should see the sun...and the temps should rise into the 60s and then 70s by the weekend. While there have been scattered patches of grass greening up and buds on trees and bushes, I predict an explosion of green as soon as the sun comes out. (Maybe my poor crocuses will deign to open their blooms at long last.)

Well, didn't trust another load of wash until the filter is changed, and Tom won't head to the cellar to shut off the water until the sun comes out. But I DID do a few more enjoyable things, checking off a few projects off the long-term list -- fixed the clasp on a favorite bracelet, fixed the wires on a pair of Steve Burr earrings I haven't been able to wear for years, and made two pair of earrings that were just hanging around waiting for me to get my act together. I've still got way too many necklaces that need repairing, but at least I've gotten a start.

I feel very accomplished today while still feeling rested. Gotta take the folded laundry upstairs (how am I going to carry a glass of wine, too?!?) and call my mother. Then read for awhile before bed.

All in all, a very good day. (Despite my shoes from last night being still soaked. Sigh.)

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 10:15 PM

I have a lot of laundry to fold later.

This evening I mowed the back lawn, and I trimmed a shrub so I can get around it more easily with the mower and after I cut it up I didn't have too many twigs and branches so it all fit in the big plastic can. This is the second load of branches in the trash this week.

Tomorrow afternoon my son will play background music at a reception in my library, and on Saturday he will participate in a master class with a visiting guitarist. I'm looking forward to hearing it, and the building is an old art deco train station that has been restored, so the acoustics should be marvelous.

We'll have a college answer tomorrow also, I think. What a long wait this has been!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutterers March 2010 Like a Lion
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 11:44 AM

Started a new thread here. Happy spring cleaning!

SRS