BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: maire-aine
Date: 08 May 10 - 10:27 PM

I transplanted two African violets that I picked up at the grocery store a couple weeks ago. They had been in "quarantine" until now so I didn't bring any critters into the house. I moved a night-stand from the guest bedroom to the diningroom for the new plants. I was running out of room on the other tables, and it was in the way upstairs. I'm getting ready to transplant my tomato seedlings into bigger pots, but it's still too early to put them out. My dad never planted his outside until Memorial Day weekend (end of May). And even that can be cold.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 May 10 - 08:37 PM

Just walked to and back from Morgan's house; got my mother's day present early...some marigolds and pansies. Very pretty! Came back and cleaned off the cat feeding table and cleaned out their water and food servers and filled them. This is really feeling good.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 May 10 - 07:53 PM

Ah, that's another lovely one by Frost. Thanks for posting it.

SRS, I think I know what I am seeing. Do you have a mirror that is framed in blue and is the safe, etc. showing up in the mirror? Otherwise, I still don't get it. I don't even see any blue in the upper corner. What I see appears to be the top shelf at the back with containers on it, with the safe etc. on lower shelves which are framed with blue boards which look like a window or door frame. It looks kewl whatever and I have NOT been smokin anything from Bobert's.**bg**

I guess I finally got some decent sleep for the first time in about a month and a half. I've done more today than in ages. Got up from a short nap just now, went to the bathroom, looked at the glass-doored shelves over the commode and the medicine chest above the sink and went into a cleansing frenzy, tossing out a bunch of out-of-date etc. stuff, consolidating several almost empty bottles of lotion into one (I do this anyway, but they were adding up. I use a funnel,)scrubbing the shelves and wiping down the contents. Have not been well/energetic enough to do that in I don't know how long, so this is a Good Day. Now, we are going for a short walk!

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Eiseley
Date: 08 May 10 - 07:26 PM

The woody vine is a trumpet vine---it's just starting to get a bit of sprouting around the tips. It's one of the latest to green up. You could also see a blue spruce in the background. There are also two maples in front and a black walnut in the side yard. I'll send photos later in the season when everything is leafed out. Right now things are just starting. There's a golden hue everywhere.

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leafs a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
-Robert Frost

Back to the dishes.

Eiseley

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 May 10 - 05:58 PM

Duh! Of course, I used the same blue on those shelf-fronts. I looked at the photo and saw the little bit of blue in the upper left corner and wasn't even looking at the middle of it. I stood in the dressing room and photographed into the closet. Not very big, but it is walk in. Probably could set a cot in there if needed during really heavy weather.

Eiseley, looks like a fir tree of some sort in the front yard. Is that woody vine behind the swing a wisteria? They've already bloomed and finished down here.

Front lawn mowed. Must go vote, then work in the house. Michelle, I use big t-shirts to sleep in most of the year. When it's cold I add a pair of flannel pants.



SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: LilyFestre
Date: 08 May 10 - 05:15 PM

I spent 2 hours working in our room. One dresser has been completely emtpied and organized. All my winter clothes have been taken out of the closet, organized and bagged according to categories...still have to tag the bags. All my clothes that were in the closet and too big have been folded and set aside for an upcoming yard sale. YAY! I have a huge pile of t-shirts that I never wear and I guess I had been saving them for outside play in the garden but seriously....just how many of those kinds of shirts does a body need?

I made a dent today and it feels GREAT!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 May 10 - 04:58 PM

Eiseley, me, too! That is lovely...so peaceful and inviting.

SRS, I must be looking at that with crossed eyes. Did you take the photo from the back of the closet or the front? It looks like the blue frames the shelves the safe is on, along with the other stuff. I don't see how it can be a door. I know I'm not looking at it right...or it's like an optical illusion. I'm really not that dense.:-)

Our son mowed the front grass for us, yesterday. I just swept the kitchen. We ran errands today and will clean more tomorrow. I hope to get some posies for the front stoop planters, tomorrow.

Part of the errands included getting printer paper and ink cartridges. I finally feel able to get to work on the second edit of my second novel, so I am going to print it out. Not really decluttering, probably the opposite UNLESS I clear off my desk in the office and use it for the editing which I may do as it would be nice to have some flat space to work on.

I am also going to get some of that ticky-tack stuff..it looks like clay, but is an adhesive. You can roll it into small balls, stick it on the back of pix or things you want to put on a shelf, safely, and it will keep them from being knocked off. I am going to move the cat knickknacks I have on my desk, in front of the screen, to the top of the half wall my desk sits against. So the kitties will look down on me in typical cat fashion and the clutter will be less. I did a kind of neat re-purpose a couple of weeks ago. I was going to sell a personal-sized sugar and creamer set on ebay, but they sat on my desk and I started using them. Paper clips go in the sugar bowl, my lip gloss and small rolled up notes stick up out of the creamer, right at my fingertips. I'll take a picture when I get it all set-up better. One of the cat statues is an angel with wings, made to sit on the edge of a shelf with a hind leg hanging down. It's made of terra cotta and I love it.

I have done some walking each of the past three days and qi gong two of them.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Eiseley
Date: 08 May 10 - 04:24 PM

I've been sweeping off the porch today, and planting pansies in the porch boxes. I also did a bit more in the basement but that's enough for down there today. I wish you could all come over and enjoy a cup of tea and a swing in the porch swing.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 May 10 - 11:16 AM

Kat, that tiny amount of blue in that photo is the doorway into the closet. When I was painting the bathroom yellow and the bedroom blue (I know, these aren't Martha Stewart's colors, and I'm planning to gradually repaint) I fell in love with that yellow and blue combination where they intersected in my dressing room next to that closet. The dressing room (fancy name for a wide hallway with a built in cabinet and big mirror) is a little bit toned down version of the yellow, but since I bought it I wanted to use the brighter paint somewhere, so I put it in the closet. :)

This morning was the first time to approach the kitchen medicine cupboard with the lazy susans and it works fine. I can see much more of what is in there, and have arranged it by medicine to treat stuff (colds, flu) in one area, general aids (antacids, tylenol, motrin), vitamins, and the bottom shelf nearest the sink are the few everyday bottles. The back corner of the bottom shelf is skin stuff--me and my poison ivy treatments, and the usual things like isopropyl alcohol and hydrogen peroxide. There are a few things I dumped as out of date (but I'd done this last year so there wasn't much of that) and some that I don't use (the pet meds were in that cupboard also, and we don't have cats any more.) The dog meds moved to the trunk of other dog stuff next to the back door.

I propped a broom across my computer chair last night to remind myself to sweep the room again after an empty wine glass took a header off of the desk when I was setting up the camera for the shot I shared last night. Strap got away from me; at least the glass was empty. Amazing how far a glass can shatter when it falls onto a hard tile floor. I'm washing that under-desk rug and a few others along with it today, so even this task spawned another.

Today I'll thin down my oregano to a smaller patch (I have a couple of neighbors who want some of what I dig out) and bring more in to dry. And I'm going to poke seeds into the ground in the garden around the things I planted last week. Onions, flowers, whatever.

But first, before it gets hot, I'll mow.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: LilyFestre
Date: 08 May 10 - 10:23 AM

I like the totes! For me, it's not so much the clothes that are too small, but rather the ones that are too big. I guess I keep them because in my heart, I think I will always be a bigger person. It would be nice to be confident enough to know that while I may never be small, I will never again need the larger sizes that I have. In the meantime, they are taking up valuable space in our closet. I am going to take some before and after photos of this process and will post them when everything is done.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 08 May 10 - 06:36 AM

You could try putting an ad in the paper - safe breaker wanted....? You could get some interesting answers!

Sewing has started slowly... the car did get cleaned out though and biscuits delivered to the church jumble sale where I DID NOT BUY ANY BOOKS which is a miracle for me... I did buy a lovely green velvet scarf though, well it's chilly out there today and it was a long walk back to the car...

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 May 10 - 12:10 AM

Is that a door frame or window frame around the safe shelf area? The blue frame, I mean? Interesting.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 May 10 - 11:42 PM

Michelle,

I went to Lowes, I think, or Home Depot, and bought their large 33 gallon containers that I could see through. I sorted all of the clothes in my closet that I couldn't fit into, and those that were worth keeping I arranged by size, and put in those storage boxes and then stored them in my closet on the top shelves. Each has a sheet of paper in plain sight with the size printed on it, for future reference. Here they are, in my closet. One of these days I'll get down into those smaller sizes, but for now, they're out of my way and not making me feel guilty about not wearing them now. :)

That safe is prominent in the photo, but I don't notice it any more when I go in the closet. They couldn't give me the combination when I bought the house and it seems to be firmly attached, so I'm kind of stuck with it. One of these days I'll have a locksmith crack it open or remove it. It's the storage I was trying to illustrate in this photo.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: LilyFestre
Date: 07 May 10 - 09:50 PM

I need to set a goal for myself. My closet is a disaster area. It is too full because I have clothes in multiple sizes. Some are far too big and just need to go. My drawers are the same way. So....I need somewhere to report daily and I'm going to try and do that here. My goal is to have my closet and drawers (in our room) in shape by next Saturday.

I can only do bits and pieces at a time as I get tired fairly easily but I think this is an attainable goal!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 May 10 - 06:37 PM

Wow! Liz was up with a flourish today! Good work!

I stopped by a couple of garage sales this morning and did minimal shopping. I think I spent all of $4.70. I picked up two lazy susans for organizing the cupboard to the right of the sink that has medicine and vitamins. There was a vinyl covered wire rack in there, but it meant digging around still, so I'm going to see if I can set these lazy susans on two shelves and organize by type (though size would be easier, it would be less logical during a search).

I also picked up four sturdy unused thick plastic plates to add to my kitchen queen (also called a Hoosier Kitchen) collection of plates for when we have a lot of guests come over. I never have enough china, so I pull out all sorts of plastic plates. Last year I saw a Martha Stewart Living in which they had something like this set up on a sun porch for impromptu picnics. This tall cabinet is in the house, but still, with the napkins, paper and plastic cups, place mats, plastic cutlery, etc, it's all in one place, making set up easy.

I need to mow, I need to do laundry and hang out some to dry, and I need to keep an eye on one of the dogs who is limping and not putting one back foot down. No blood or bones apparently broken, so I'm not racing to the vet with her until I've had a couple of days to observe. I'd be willing to bet Poppy (the catahoula) was trying to jump over something and pulled a muscle or twisted something and it will heal on it's own without the pain of a several hundred dollar vet bill. If she seems to get worse, or not improve after the weekend, then I'll take her in.

It's finally hot and muggy enough here to turn on the air conditioning. I was really hoping I could get through May before I had to do that. I'll wait till the weekend at least--I'm here on my own this afternoon and I don't complain like the son does (he also doesn't pay the electric bill).

The kitchen is looking pretty good. I've been drying oregano, and this evening I need to check out some that I put in the freezer a few days ago. A woman at the garden center said that's how she dries hers. I wonder if this is how she does it? I spread it out on a plastic tray and popped it, uncovered, into the big freezer.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 07 May 10 - 03:28 PM

Today I cleaned the kitchen surfaces, baked chocolate chip cookies, sorted camping gear, ironed a weeks' worth of shirts and trousers, put some grey clothes into a black dye run (they were looking particularly washed out), filled the dishwasher, vacuumed the sitting room, hosed down 2 groundsheets, folded and put away 3 bits of tent, re-vacuumed (Catherine - your forest gets everywhere!), arranged quilt patches for the next project ready to sew and sorted through a crate of crud. Tomorrow is vacuuming out the car (more forest), putting the seats back in it and then an afternoon of sewing squares together! If all goes well, this next quilt (blues and purples) will be ready next weekend.

Weight is not going anywhere in particular, which is annoying because it should be going down - but I see by the state of my feet and ankles that I'm retaining water again... how can I have water retention AND dry skin? It's just not fair!

So... I'm off to bed now, instead of choir practice... I'm knackered!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 May 10 - 01:32 PM

It doesn't show up as a huge change, but was having a terrible morning and decided I needed to get busy, so I scraped some old cat upchuck off the top of a half wall. I'm not telling how long it's been there, dried and covered with a cloth. At the time, I could not get to it without help and we were all in major physical/mental funks. It sure felt good to clean it up and is a major accomplishment, for me.

Seems I've been doing laundry every day this week. It's even folded and in the basket! Also cleared off my desk, again.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 07 May 10 - 08:20 AM

Concert tonight, so taking it easy- I'm only digging dirt this morning to put in the new raised bed boxes Hunt made yesterday.

And I did some major sorting and filing in the office yesterday- it's been hanging over me. A bit more yet to do, but the worst is over.

Dog gone- the cats and she didn't get along, plus her former owners had second thoughts and wanted her back. We're happy with the decision and have stopped the doggy search- makes for a calmer household all around.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 07 May 10 - 06:18 AM

Morning work out done this morning. Kitchen floor and hall way swept and washed. Lemon cake in oven baking, chocolate chip cup cakes to be baked later. Washing on line drying....hopefully the rain will hold off til it's all dry.

Looking forward to spending the day with my sister in law to be tomorrow, horse riding is on cards! Harry is going to have his first riding lesson too.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 May 10 - 01:14 AM

The kitchen is clean, but ants have come in. Those tiny little ones that wander all over and don't seem interested in food. They congregate under moist cloths or sponges.

Lots of work and running today. Here's hoping tomorrow is quiet!

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Eiseley
Date: 06 May 10 - 11:58 PM

It was a snowy day, but the hole in the garden that the boys tried to dig to China was begging to be filled. So I threw in the last of the sprouting potatoes and shoveled in the detritus from the compost pile and began to fill the rest of the hole with topsoil. It started to snow again as I worked, and the huge flakes drifted down to add their tiny bit of moisture to the soil. Then I got cold and had to go in, but at least half of the dirt is back in, and all the potatoes and compost are covered up.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: maire-aine
Date: 06 May 10 - 10:48 PM

I got the last of the grass cut, and now it's time to start over in the front again. I'll do that tomorrow if it doesn't rain. All the hostas (that were dug up for the driveway) have been planted out by the back fence. They should fill in nicely out there.

It's still too early to plant seeds. There is still frost in the overnight forecast, so I'll wait at least one more week.

I have a line on a part-time job. A friend is retiring at the end of June and her boss is looking for someone to help around the office. I'll know more next week. It would probably be good for me to have a little discipline in my life. Since my time is (nearly) unlimited, I take my sweet time in getting things done.

M

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: mouldy
Date: 06 May 10 - 12:47 PM

Today was another day when the hall didn't get emptied, but Peter isn't coming until Monday. However I have 2 spare bedrooms to get up and running for tomorrow night, so I really have to start to move some stuff tomorrow. I did get the lawn mowed this afternoon, though.

It has got cold in the house while I have been away in Iceland, and I've had to re-light the stove. I think I may have to put the heating on morning and evening too! I hope it'll work, cos the system is full of air yet again! (It's due for a service). Coming down with a cols while I was away hasn't helped my nesh-ness

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 May 10 - 10:18 AM

The pile, on the rear porch, that I had hoped to photograph as a record of work done, is diminishing. (But it's still a big pile of stuff from various quarters all having been moved and re-allocated.) Some will surely go to the trash, but for now all items are "fair game" to use in various sitting areas about the place, that can be left to weather and get a tad more use.

The remaining pile is a good illustration of chaos, and the areas now receiving them are a good example of "order out of chaos." I'm already thinking how glad I will be, NEXT spring, to find all these areas waiting for us, already mostly prepared. :~) And from all he new vantage points I can see plants to prune. So I close my eyes! :~)

Yesterday's "big" project (it was, for me, in my weakness) was a pair of iron chairs under a shady tree that adjoins the now-closed pop-up camper. (It will open in a few weeks for sleepouts plus pre-vacay cleaning/shakedown.) The chairs are in full shade from about noon till dark, and offer lovely views. Under these is an old (free) green rug to make a no-mow zone around them, for Hardi's convenience. I must turn them to face away from the road-- or keep seeing the 80' fenceline that needs to be bought and installed to make the screen from the busy road. :~)


I hope to take the camera out before long, to capture the work and the new views, but the busy weekend of services looms. I'm glad to know, after some of the more arduous tasks (a rough mem. svc tonight for example), that these places of rest will be waiting, looking so inviting.

Our friend Ed will be released from ortho rehab in a few weeks-- he'll be so surprised to see all this, and so pleased to see the third chair in each spot. There are camp chairs for times when there are more peeps, but we feel three is our more usual "family chat" size. The recuperating (broken leg) outdoor cat agrees-- she feels that each of these 3rd chairs is hers, whether it holds a lap for her or not! :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 May 10 - 11:40 PM

Exactly!

I have a lot of inherited stuff here at the house, and one reason it has been slow to go is because some of it represents people I never met, but I know about, and don't want to forget who they were. Sometimes I simply use the object as the mnemonic device to remember the story I was told about the person who owned it. But I'm getting better, there don't need to be so many reminders. Less is sometimes more, and the decluttering is working.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Eiseley
Date: 05 May 10 - 10:59 PM

Thank you for sharing that. I certainly hope I am less attached to things than to people, though there are many areas for improvement. I liked what it said at the very end of the article---how sometimes just telling the story relating to an object was enough for the woman to be able to throw the article away.

I read a wonderful book some time ago about a man's quest to rescue Yiddish books from destruction. People would call him up and ask him to take their books because their children did not value them and they were getting too old to read them. When he arrived, the people wanted to talk about the books, to share their stories. He soon learned that the pick-up crew had to go in teams---one person to listen to the stories, the other people to cart the books off the premises.

I think both stories, the one SRS shared and the Yiddish book one illuminate a key point: we need to share stories, and objects can be that catalyst for those stories. SO, I will try to include a greater effort to share stories as I declutter, thus helping break a sentimental connection with an object and making with a real person at the same time.

Thank you again, Stilly River Sage.

Eiseley

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 May 10 - 05:54 PM

Stuff is a major part of what these threads are about. Are any of us as bad as the video clip illustration?

Scary.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 May 10 - 01:06 AM

Somehow I seem to have gotten into poison ivy very early in the season. Four spots clustered above my knee, and a spot on my forearm. I don't know how--I can't find any in the yard and I haven't been into the woods. I'll look around. Maybe something left over on a tool from last year?

I have a couple of trays of oregano drying. I put one of them into the freezer. A worker at the garden center near hear says she freezes hers rather than just drying. Will see if it works.

Kitchen is clean, laundry is folded. I had a few little brushes (for scrubbing veggies, scrubbing finger nails, etc.) that had mildewed in a bowl. Put them in another bowl with water and Clorox and they look great now. Cleaned the stove. Ready for tomorrow.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 May 10 - 01:05 PM

We're still weeks from planting in dirt-- very cold nights here.

Found two used garden hoses to extend waterline to the container garden, plus hose reel. Made a deal with thrift-shop prop. to spot me a wide bamboo (or faux) roll=up shade to keep some of the rain off the porch recliners. He threw in a hopsacking-covered cushion for one of my needs-cushion-chairs, gratis. I think he is the same salvager who helped us de-junk after the 2000 fire-- remembers us and the house, so that must be why. He sold me my scooter, too. Nice man.

A good haul.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 May 10 - 12:13 PM

This morning I finished planting the bedding plants I picked up yesterday and last weekend. I've used all of the bags of stuff (top soil, humus, mulch, compost, etc., some left from last year) and have "shopped" my collection of gardening tools and supplies to save money by using what I already have here first. This includes one of those ultra-basic tools, the "weeder," simply a ~18" long steel and wood tool with a "V" notch in the end for digging out weeds. I've had that thing around forever, but forget to use it. It was absolutely perfect for loosening the weeds along the edge of the old garden and digging out the weeds in a crack down the driveway.

The dogs got baths yesterday and got their prevention stuff for fleas and heartworms. Today they greeted me in the garage, wagging up to the gate with a little puff of shampoo smell on their coats. :)

I've changed the background of my Twitter feed to show the early days of the garden this year.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 May 10 - 06:28 PM

Heavy thunderstorm overhead, I'll turn off the computer in a minute. I stopped by the garden center this evening and picked up a few puny samples of what they had left. I should have gotten some of these at the other nursery on Saturday, but I try not to pick up more than I think I can plant right away, so I held off on some purchases.

Laundry is in. No line drying today. After cleaning my kitchen cupboard that had some kind of beetles from the beans, I'm gradually bringing in new supplies, and making sure they're air tight. The sink is all cleaned out because I brought in an arm-full of fresh oregano. I rinsed it in the sink then laid it out on a small bath towel on the kitchen counter. When that counter isn't cluttered up I can do things like this. I stage the herbs--as they dry I move them into a more compressed space. It takes a lot of herb to fill a small jar, so what I'm processing this week will fill a jar that costs a dollar over at the grocery. I can enjoy this because it is fresh and home grown, but it isn't without work and bother. :) I picked up some flat cardboard boxes that the canned goods come on at the grocery store, so I can dig up some chunks of herb, root and all, and give them to neighbors. It's a great ground cover even if you're not cooking with it.

After this rain I'll have to go apply my second batch of beneficial nematodes. And I'll have to plant a few new ones I mentioned above.

This is all slow stuff, compared to folks who are remodeling and moving. Keep us up to date on your progress!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 03 May 10 - 03:10 PM

got some exercise walking about Rochester and up that bloody great hill from the pub to the B&B. Did not eat much this weekend and did not drink much either unless you count all the water.

when I got back all the fluff and string is still al over the carpet, so did not magically clean itself up while I was away.

got some great fabric to add to my Mojo coat.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 May 10 - 02:02 PM

I took all of my packages to the PO this morning and mailed them off, by myself. It just felt as though I could and should. First time I've driven alone in several weeks, and then it was only for a short run, AND the first time I've taken packages to the PO and collected our mail, alone, since last Fall, that I remember. I did great, too. Things are definitely getting better!

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 03 May 10 - 09:18 AM

Had a fantastic time camping in our forest on Mayday. The rain held off until 7:30pm and a great time was had by all.

Tent has now dried out. It took a while as it is huge and we had to get creative with hanging it on the washing line in the garden. The black box full of cooking equipment etc was brought home and has been washed and sorted ready to go back for the next lot of people who are holding a camp there next month. I've got a massive pile of washing to do but I'm holding off until the weather brightens up hopefully in the week so it can all dry outside on the line.

Paul has fitted the new taps in the bathroom and new shower has been installed too.

I'm down another 2lbs too this week which is probably down to lugging camping stuff. Had a big compliment from someone I haven't seen for 3 and a half years. She walked up to me on Saturday and said really quite loudly "Hello how are you? My God you are skinny!!". Made me smile!

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 May 10 - 12:36 AM

Wow, that's wonderful, SRS!!! Lotta work there!

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 May 10 - 12:21 AM

Great stuff from all of you. I'm exhausted and pushing to post this before I head to bed. I worked all day in the garden--all weekend, actually. It looked like this this afternoon, and this this evening. It was a lot of work to build those raised beds, but I beveled the sides, didn't put in boards or rocks. Mulched throughout, even in the drainage paths (hoping to make them less slippery but still able to drain).

SRS

P.S. - great, calm looking dog, Allison! Congratulations!

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 May 10 - 09:55 PM

They will..she looks like a sweetie! I finally got going. Have your package, one to my sister, one to Kendall, and one to another friend all ready to go. Rog will take them for me, tomorrow.

So, I decluttered my desk of those packages which also entailed writing a couple of notes and letters. we did our usual weekend cleaning, shopping, etc. MOrgan came over and redeemed his IOU from us for last weekend's work when we didn't have any cash. He liked that so much he asked if we had anything else he do to earn some more, so he got another couple of bucks for "high point" vacuuming. We had blast.

MAG, it is GREAT to hear from you. Be proud of your courageous self!!!

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 02 May 10 - 07:46 PM

She is beautiful, Alison. Enjoy!

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 02 May 10 - 07:38 PM

I'm here! Thanks Kat, and take your time! It's been quite a time; Hunt is getting new hearing aids and has a few doctor appts coming up; I always try to go with him on these forays.

It was a glorious May day weekend, with lots of morris dancing, and last night we had a gig at the local elementary school auction. At the auction we de-cluttered some prints I've been dragging around for years. And brought home a basket of herb plants, a back scratcher, and a gift certificate! Not bad!

Of course, on the way home from the morris, we stopped at one yard sale and brought home a box of wood screws, two pillowcases, a toaster oven (ours died this week) and an oversized tea cup with no saucer (we have a tradition in our village of monthly teas, and I'm always looking for proper china tea cups in extra-large sizes...).

This afternoon we have also added one more addition to the household: we have found Jazzy , a lovely lady, who fits all of the requirements. Now we just hope that with time, the cats will accept her. They haven't come down from their upstairs hideout all day!

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Eiseley
Date: 02 May 10 - 06:41 PM

Well, there's always book art.

And if you don't want to spend the time to make trinkets like that, you can always donate the books to the thrift store where people who WANT to spend the time can find them.

Good luck!

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Sorcha
Date: 02 May 10 - 04:07 PM

I need to ask a question. WHAT do I do with a full set, plus almanac volume of Encyclopedia Americana 1982? They are outdated, and pretty worthless. I can't just BIN them--they are BOOKS!

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: maeve
Date: 02 May 10 - 03:44 PM

MAG- Thanks for taking time from your decision making to keep us informed. You are in a great adventure!

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 May 10 - 12:48 PM

Current program:

Daily~~ putter outdoor projects and brekky tea on the porch with Faulkner
M, W, F~~ Free weights with trainer
T, Th, Su~~ Aquatics with audiobooks (African history is current)
Rec. Scootering~~ Weekly

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: MAG
Date: 02 May 10 - 10:53 AM

I'm still around; still on my self-appointed vacation, going through every single thing I own hoping to relocate.

You wouldn't believe how much stuff I've given or thrown away, and the house still looks like the proverbial tornado, maybe because so much stuff is out in the open in plastic tubs.

I keep the yard looking as nice as I can, as i will be putting the house on the market as soon as I figure out what I'm doing next.

I'm following threads but not posting much.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 May 10 - 10:55 PM

My exercise today was all the heavy manual type and I can feel it now. I must have lifted about 1000 pounds (40 pounds at a time) of dirt and humus bags (I picked up one batch and went back for more, and I dug up backyard dirt and compost). Time for a soak in a hot tub.

Tomorrow I'll finish filling in a couple of areas and get my bedding plants in the ground. I'm going to thin out the oregano (giving chunks of it away, and moving some to other parts of the yard) and transplant a few of the basil that are coming up as volunteers this year, along with some coriander seed I put in last year that didn't sprout till now.

This evening I think I can do a little more work around the house before I crash. I didn't eat dinner, wasn't hungry, but now I could use a bite of something. I'll try not to put on the calories I burned off today!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 May 10 - 10:35 PM

My weight is up this week. ARG. Oh well. Tomorrow is another day.

I walked to church (about half a mile) but got a ride back to the car...legs still a bit achy. I was glad to even a little walk!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: Eiseley
Date: 01 May 10 - 08:17 PM

I cleaned out where the old piano had been (it is now at the home of one of my coworkers) and completely organized the china cupboard! Tonight I have the last performance of Brahms Requiem (I'm an alto), and then I can start working on another project.

I'm still working on keeping the counter surface clean.

Off to the performing arts center!

Eiseley

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 May 10 - 06:13 PM

The weeping wound scabbed over, so I was up and at 'em, this morning, even after no sleep. Went to the store with Rog and spent an hour walking around, pushing the cart and getting several things which have been on the list for when we had a little extra cash. The walking felt good after a week of basically legs up.

I get Morgan every afternoon starting on Monday as his dad has been called back to work. As long as I don't have to keep my legs up too much, I should be upping the activity with him around.:-)

This is the only time I've been able to say I lost 2.6 pounds last week doing basically nothing except lying around and watching the salt. The family situation is still very stressful, but seems to be moving in the right direction.

I raked a few leaves from around my sweet-peas and clematis. My redbud is almost done blooming...a high wind and temps down to the low thirties took the wind out of its sails. My baskets of gold, flax, and columbine which were planted last year are all blooming despite the chilling weather.

2Ls, if you read this...the tins really will be on their way to you this coming week! My apologies for the delay. Oh, and I have to pay our POB rent..it was locked on us this morning because I forgot!*bg* Did declutter the bills, yesterday...paid and filed...that felt good!

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: gnu
Date: 01 May 10 - 06:10 PM

I was thrilled last week when I scubbed Mum's floors. I weigh myself on her scales when I scrub and I was down three pounds. I have been struggling to get my weight down from the "stall" I have had. Celebrated several days later with a big order of Chinese food from my fav. First time in well over a year.

Yesterday, I was scrubbing again. Three pounds back on... NO WAY. Weighed myself again... lost 2 from last week... again... gained 3 from last week.

Changed the batteries... down one pound from last week. But, the take-out was good.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2010 Declutter & Accountability
From: maire-aine
Date: 01 May 10 - 05:45 PM

A loud thunderstorm rolled through about 7am and woke me up. I've got a lot of yard work to do, but not today. I have some very dense hostas along the edge of the driveway. When they re-did the driveway, they dug into that dirt, so I need to dig them up and replant them. They need to be divided anyway. But that's going to be a full day's job.

Yesterday, I tried my hand at making icecream-- dark chocolate with just a hint of Guinness. Oh, it was so good.

Maryanne