BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Oct 10 - 02:59 PM

I am always leaving a tissue somewhere in the bedclothes or a pocket. What a mess. It clings to the clothes. And I do check pockets.

Laundry drying and a second load in. Still have to empty the car of Getaway debris. The dishes are calling me as are the bills.

I will all get done. Next I have to get the trash and recyclables out.
Heat is on and an ice cream truck is going by. Wonder what he's thinking.

I am amazed at your progress kat. Early summer you were going down a flight of stairs and walking a few feet back and forth and considering that a triumph. Keep it up lady.

Thank you all for the quilt advice. I think I am going to take Maeve up on her offer to supervise. This quilt cost $500 in the early 80s and has been in storage since. It is an engagement gift for my niece - has been since it was purchased. I would hate to ruin it.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: LilyFestre
Date: 10 Oct 10 - 02:12 PM

Laundry going. Dishes done. Fridge partially cleaned out. Canning jars washed and boiling. Applesauce warming....soon to be put in jars. Baby gear taken out of car, both diaper bags cleaned out and working to reload for tomorrow's early 2 hour trip to the oncologist.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Oct 10 - 01:36 PM

I did one of those drawers a month or two ago, SRS. Good luck!:-)

Two loads of wash going. Morgan spent the night and was quite good..didn't wake me until 730a and that was from a d-e-e-p, finally restful sleep. Oh,w ell, it was fun. I got the laundry going and we watched Fred Astaire dance videos while Rog made breakfast.

We dropped him off at home around 10a, then we went back to the wildlife trail we'd walked on a week before our dog died. That was his last *outing*. Anyway, we walked down the trail even farther this time and I didn't have to have any help. Still had to stop a couple of times coming back up, but not for lack of breath...more because the muscles in my legs were saying "you want me to what?!!" Ah, it felt GOOD, though! So, about 20-30 minutes of good, steep hiking and now I am just about to sweep the house out. There's not near as much to sweep any more without the dog's hair, but *someone* left a paper towel in his pocket and there are dry bits of it all over the floor from when I pulled the clothes out of the drier. (I do not do pockets. Never have.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Oct 10 - 12:34 PM

I'm trying to maintain

Perhaps a strategy I have been using as I organize my studies might be of use to others.

Instead of looking back in this thread each month, to see when I cleared a space and cleaned it to my satisfaction, to see how long it stayed that way before it needed to be re-decluttered or re-cleaned-- I'm going to set a post-it note form now on, on top of the surfaces where the newer keep-clean&clear habits are focused, dated unobtrusively.

:~) And I do not need a blog to do THAT. Just a pencil.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Oct 10 - 11:29 AM

I cleaned my truck before the trip in August, and I'm trying to maintain a tidy level for now. That trip added about 3,000 miles to my mileage, and I received a coupon for a complimentary oil change at the Chevy dealer up the road, so I'll take care of that and keep the engine de-cluttered of grit.

This morning I've been listening to my gardening guru on the radio, and I didn't want to just play on the computer during the program so I tackled two drawers in the kitchen. The bottom drawer in one tier was full of all of the sheets, pamphlets and books that came with products, instructions, warranties, repair guides, etc. I've emptied that into a box that I'll use to organize and file them. I think that will go in the pantry shelving. After reaching back behind where the drawer rests and pulling out some more plastic and paper, and dusting inside the bottom of the cabinet (and giving myself a sneezing fit) I've folded and rolled all of my dish towels and put them in rows in that drawer. Also all of the kitchen wash cloths (you know the ones - we all probably have a variation on this practice - I bought packs of several dozen wash cloths at Sam's Club and used them damp at mealtime for the kids when they were little. And I still use them for mealtime and lots of things.)

The other drawer is the odds-and-ends tool drawer. I'm sure you also know what that looks like. There is a silverware holder for screwdrivers and files and such, but there is also a tangle of measuring tapes, key chains, spare flashlight bulbs, lengths of string, rope, etc. Every time I paw through the mess I tangle it more.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: LilyFestre
Date: 10 Oct 10 - 02:28 AM

Decluttering wise, I cleaned out my car. The back seat was not visible when I started...several sets of baby clothes, a beautiful baby blanket, clean diapers and wipes pretty much too up the entire back seat. So....all that stuff was brought into the house and run through the washing machine. I'll sort out a set of clothes to live in the car tomorrow. Also, I have a basket in the car, kind of long and deep which is perfect for holding some extra diapers, a box of wipes and maybe a toy or two that fits nicely on the floor in front of Jeremiah's car seat. I did dishes and more laundry, swept and mopped the bathroom floor.

Accountibilty wise, we went for a walk today...blue skies, warm sun, nippy wind.....beautiful fall day. I also spent some time raking leaves today. We have a large yard so I only did a small section....mostly where I walk from the car to the house and in front of the flower bed. More tomorrow.......leaves are great compos for the garden and the hens have already started shuffling through, helping to make piles. Thanks girls! :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Oct 10 - 02:09 AM

After folding the laundry this evening, which included several new tops and a new pair of jeans, I decided it was time to sort the shelves in my closet. Too many of the shirts in there don't fit or are the wrong season.

I pulled them out a stack at a time (usually three stacks to each shelf) and sorted into piles that fit and looked good, fit or not but are too old to wear most public places, and a size too small but look good. The discards are in a bag in the sun room, waiting to go to Goodwill. The good ones are back on the shelves, which are less crowded, and arranged by type (sweater or shirt) and by color. It looks good for a few minutes, anyway. I figure since I am making a serious attempt to diet, I should leave these good ones that are too snug nearby to see if they can go back onto the shelves if I lose the weight.

I still have some scruffy shirts, but these that were discarded were the shirts that were originally dressier (nice necklines, no printing on the shirts, etc.) that are just too old to wear to work and not the right type for working in the yard. I kept all of my thermal tops, they go under sweat shirts when it gets cold, so who cares what they look like. :)

A bit too much black in the closet these days. I'll have to get some bright colors next time I visit the thrift store. I'm also going to look at my vests and decide which will make the best patterns and make myself a couple. That's one thing I like to have a variety of, because down here sometimes a vest is just enough when a sweater is too heavy. It's harder to find nice looking dressier yet simple vests at the thrift store. Lots of over-decorated things, especially holiday themed.

I also cleaned the kitchen and dining room paper clutter (mail, notes to myself, magazines, catalogs, coupons, etc.) off of the kitchen counter and table, and opened my antique secretary and organized the inside. Tossed a lot of dried up pens. Found my extra keys for the pickup.

The girls came in and indicated that they'd like to spend the night indoors, but they're a bit stinky -- I think they've been in the compost. Dog baths tomorrow.

Off to bed, and to read a little more Harry Potter.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 10:58 PM

I soaked the garments in water for several days, swishing them a couple of times a day and changing the water when it picked up much color.

After that stopped pulling any of the discoloration out I dissolved a couple of tablespoons of an oxyclean type oxy bleach in the tub and again soaked and swished the cloth. This was for a day or two, depending on if it looked like it was doing any more good.

My washer has an ultra handwash setting, and when I decided to wash the garments I put it in with the soap, more oxy bleach, and set it to presoak and it washed on cool or cold.

If it is a delicate quilt, I wouldn't even do it in the washer on that setting, I'd wash it by hand in the bathtub.

Day 1 of the full-octane diet. I mowed the front lawn, that was a good workout for the exercise portion of the plan. I'll give it a day or two then step on the scale. Sometimes I find when I start a diet phase and switch eating that I stop storing water and it looks like I lost a lot to begin with. When weight loss slows, that's kind of depressing. So I'll give my system a day to get accustomed to the change and then weigh in. I haven't done this often, but enough to know what to expect.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: maeve
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 08:55 PM

"Washing agents like Orvus Paste (also known as Orvus Quilt Soap) or Mountain Mist Ensure, available in quilt and sewing stores, are gentler on fibers and can be used when washing by hand or by machine."

http://www.quilthistory.com/cleaning.htm

http://www.mountainmistlp.com/quilt-washing.htm

Sins- Let me know if you could use a hand with the quilt.

Maeve

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 08:33 PM

I'll bet Spaw knows how, Sins. He went on one day about how much he loves using bluing to keep whites white. Also, I think there is a powder cleaner called "Biz" which is supposed to help. SRS was soaking old, yellowed hankies in plain water for a week, I think it was, then in bleach water. She talked about it in last month's thread.

We cleaned up the driveway this morning...Roger only did it under duress. He's been having major problems with idiots at work, so we had to go in for about an hour. We still have trash cans that are full and piled up stuff beside them, but the driveway is now clear, again. When we came home from the grocery store after cleaning it up, there were a neighbours little red hen scratching in the leaf piles AND two half-grown kittens playing. Amazing what shows up now there's no dog in the backyard.

Morgan is over for the night. We went in the backyard and he helped me pick up a bunch of stuff which Rog had left out by the shed. Stupid stuff, some of which needs to go to the dump. We got it somewhat sorted and somewhat put away, so it's ready go when we finally do go to the dump. AND, I found the big trimmers which have been missing. Now, we can trim some small tree limbs and such.

Oh, and we burned some old prayer flags which were falling off the big old tree. Morgan ran in with them in his hands. He knows I don't like them to touch the ground, so he caught them. They are from about six years ago. We put up a new set for each year we've been in this house. Anyway, burning them was a way to honour them, then we placed the ashes, well wetted, at the foot of the weeping willow where they had been hanging.

Also decluttered another book requested. Yesterday I added two more items to my shop and also joined stumbleupon and twitter, then posted on both with links to my brother's stuff and mine. It seems to bring a lot more "views" to the shop.

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 05:06 PM

I got some much needed sleep and had eggs and English muffins for breakfast. So i guess I go back to the "Plan" tomorrow. Me and Scarlet O'Hara.
Thanks Jeri and for those who PM'd me.
Anyone have a sure fire method for removing yellowing from a very expensive hand made quilt? It is white on white.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 02:56 PM

Alice, I love that image! If you haven't already, why don't you post a link to the Creative Commons license that you can claim for that image? http://creativecommons.org/image/

My neighbor had a very close call last week, and I'm so grateful his wife took him to the hospital quickly. I've started a new thread to discuss the TIA (a kind of passing warning stroke) he experienced, and hope that his example is useful for all of us.

Every morning I've eaten the standard Scarsdale breakfast, 1 slice of whole wheat toast, no spread, and a fresh in season fruit (pears and apples so far). Lunch and dinner were modified or off the chart yesterday, but today is the first day to have the entire day without having to eat food supplied by others. Here's hoping I can get back into some of my good pants and tops sooner rather than later! I'm headed out to mow the lawn, that will be my main aerobic exercise today, though I'll also take the dogs for a walk. Allergies are bad, so I'll add sudafed to my regular zyrtec routine.

The ex stopped by to drop off something and took at look at our son's room here. I've made progress, though he says he hasn't had time to touch the equivalent room over at his house. Maybe this will inspire him to de-clutter. In these instances, we're organizing rather than tossing unless it is clearly trash. Taking control of the kid-portions of our houses. He also saw the crape myrtle limb, agreed it looks very interesting, and had the same thought I do about standing it in a pot of gravel. Great minds think alike!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Alice
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 02:26 PM

De-cluttered the desk Ryan used and am using it today to get some watercolor paper cut to print size and to package some things. It is now my "shipping" counter.

Went on youtube and danced to some Zumba workouts.

Did some more images for etsy for transfers to tees and other light fabrics like dishtowels, etc., for do-it-yourself gifts.

Came up with another use for my old typewriter transfer image (the first one is blank paper, the second one had Keep Calm and Blog On typed on the paper, this one says It was a dark and stormy night...).

CLICK

It is getting very cold at night, and I have to make sure I have all the winterizing chores done.

A.

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 09:53 AM

The basket-weavey (I think--not lawn jewelry) peacock wasn't a codpiece, as he was a girlie at the time. "Clampiece" maybe... maybe not.

SINS, there have been things that happened involving my work. I didn't witness them, but heard detailed accounts from those who did. One incident had me not sleeping much for a week, and my mind was still taking excursions into imagination hell for months after. Sometimes you need to think about horrific things, but when it doesn't do any good, no. Being too busy with now to dwell on things you can't do anything about helps.

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: mouldy
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 05:47 AM

I would love to be able to reply to queries about a garden ornament with, "It's a codpiece!" Mind you, knowing me, it wouldn't surprise anybody!

I'm just taking a break from another major tidy up - my buyers are coming this afternoon, and bringing parents with them. I find this a bit more daunting, because being of the same generation, I know what they will be looking at...and it won't be the pretty log fire!

Tomorrow I start in earnest by sorting out what clothes I will live in for the next few weeks, and bagging them up. Once the spare bed has gone dumpwards mid week, I will form a "removers - please do not crate up" pile in that room. I then have to clean off all my garden tools and sort the shed (again). From what I can gather, the new people have ideas of making it into a gym....good luck, I say! I have a sneaky feeling that this house was well within their budget (2 incomes, no kids) and that they have cash to do stuff with it.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 12:26 AM

Update:
I did declutter a few horrors that had taken up residence in my home - in particular, the teal blue and gold peacock which can be seen on the Getaway pictures. Big Mick wore it as an amulet or cod piece, we're not sure, in the Mummers Play. But I have acquired a large red lobster lawn ornament. I am rather fond of it. Now where to tuck it.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 12:04 AM

Thanks, Mary!

Susan, we understand there are problems you're working through. But people have tried to politely ask you to take them where they belong. Several have suggested these these household and weigh-loss discussions aren't the suitable venue for some of the long and rather confounding lists and abbreviations and such that you post. By standing in the middle of the room and telling us that Mudcat allows you to behave in a boorish manner isn't inspiring.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 12:04 AM

Soon one morning, Death come creeping in the room.
Soon one morning Death come creeping in the room, Allaluiah
Soon one morning Death come creeping in the room.
Oh my lord, oh my lord
What shall I do
To be saved?

A young man of 24 doused himself with gasoline and set himself on fire a week ago in Portland - Longfellow Square. Two of my co-workers witnessed it. Since then this spiritual has been going through my head.
I am trying to leave it all here. Say a prayer for David Parker who is in a burn center in Boston and for all the people whose lives have been permanently changed by sharing in his grief.

I have been trying to declutter this since it happened, I am not sure why I can't let go of it. I suffer from depression and understand how a person can wonder whether a can of gasoline and a match will actually cause feeling. I can't understand how anyone so young could be in such despair.

SINS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: mg
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 10:52 PM

Oh dear. I personally am fascinated by home repair issues etc. but I made a separate thread if anyone is interested. Oh I misread it..but home repairs do run through the other issues mentioned and everything in life is entertwined. I called it Frugal rural living or something like that.   mg

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: LilyFestre
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 09:19 PM

Per RidgePlucker, "Some people just don't get SHUT UP when it's been presented to them in a nice way."

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: LilyFestre
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 09:03 PM

I think this is just a matter of someone who wants to do things her own way no matter asked how nicely or how politely it has been shown to actually be in the best interest of the poster and others who might benefit from such a thread.

It's similar to having a post about child care and have someone ramble on about how they fixed their car. Ummmm.....ok. There's a spot for it, but not on this thread..let me show you where that might work better.

So from where I sit, it's a power struggle kind of thing, someone digging in their heels and not budging because she doesn't want to.

To me, it would make perfect sense to have a thread about strokebrain or a detailed thread about fixing up a space to rent or even another for theology study...that way it would attract others having the same interests.

Anyway...that's just me.

I'm sure there will be hate mail to follow so I'll leave for now too. I do check my PMs and would be happy to chat with several of you that way but this is now month 2, if not more, of someone insisting things be her way instead of taking gentle prods and kind thoughts of still posting decluttering stuff here and starting threads for the other things elsewhere where they may garner the attention and suggestions that might come from interested parties who have been there before. *shrug*

I'll skip this thread for a bit. If you need me, feel free to send a PM. Sorry Maggie....it's just a power control drama and that's not what I come here for.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 08:27 PM

SRS,

Thank you for your civil and well-meant post.

And I will reply here the same as I have already said-- at Mudcat the policy is that people decide for themselves what to read and what to post. It is not designed for people to vote on favorite threads and eliminate unpoular posts.

If people are uncomfortable, that is not a reason to try to control me, and I am no more amenable to efforts to control me than 99% of the rest of the ruggedly independent folkies in this place-- just as I do not try to control posts about other people's many financial and spiritual interests.

If people want to post here, they will (and have been.) If a campaign about it is going on in the background about it, then I think that is a sad waste of time.

Sometimes I, also, do not repsond to PMs.


That is my last word in response to this frequent rolling of eyes and years of religion-based harrassment. Let's move on.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 07:54 PM

Susan,

I've heard from several people through PM over the weeks, and we've tried to be politic about this, but you keep hijacking these de-cluttering threads with way too much personal stuff that doesn't belong here. Religious tracts and stroke and drug discourse in particular.

At this point, no one else is going to be posting because the reason for the thread is lost. Please start a thread to do with coping with strokes, or religious life, and let the stories play out over there. You won't have the time constraints of a month at a time, and the people who find it who are experiencing the same thing as you will appreciate finding all of that in one place, not scattered over 12 months of the year. It's too much information and much too long entries for this forum (says someone who can post some pretty lengthy posts on her own - I realize this is possibly the pot calling the kettle black).

This is simply the wrong audience for the bulk of the content you've been posting lately. If you start your own thread you'll find a better fit. Whether Presbytera women or stroke survivors. (My neighbor across the street had a stroke this week - I am not unsympathetic - it just needs a different outlet).

Keep reading here, submit the actual declutter tidbits and freecycle coups counting is always welcome. I'm not sending a PM, I decided to keep it a simple request in the thread, upfront so those readers who have been uncomfortable about the content might consider posting again. We have some exciting de-cluttering and moving projects going on, in addition to building new homes. I want to hear about this.

Thanks, and peace be with you.

Maggie (Stilly River Sage)

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: LilyFestre
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 07:24 PM

Our power was out last night and until late today, thanks to the gas drilling people who knicked the underground power lines. Did they bother to tell anyone or call the electic company? Of course not. We are SO not impressed with them but that's neither here nor there. As we live in the valley of a mountaintop (yes, really...top of the mountain with a dip), things echo....and today it was the electric company folks who are also NOT impressed with the carelessness of the gas drilling people. The word *dumbass* was used more than once. I thought it was funny. ;)

I kind of enjoyed being without power this morning as it was quiet here, my husband stayed home to fuss with any fuse issues/blown fuses due to the power problems (multiple BOOMS last night...from transformers maybe...we weren't sure...but it went on all night). I wrote some letters by hand (still hard to do as I have lingering pain/neuropathy in my hands) that were long overdue...felt good. I did some picking up but not much as I had no running water to wash with.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 05:38 PM

It was a close call, keeping the kitchen picked up enough to keep it clean, after we got all that caned food from Pat & Brian. The last of what we are keeping has now been put away and the rest of the kitchen is still cleanable, TBTG, YAY!

I just declined storing 3 times as much roma tomatoes/swiss chard as we could possibly freeze/actually use, and passed the overflow it on to a friend who appreciated it enough to pick it up. Gave him the pruned basil leaves (and brought in the summer porch-plants for the west-drenched, winter windowsill, too. We do not need to "hoard" food, YAY!

The week's local ad-paper ads reflect some of the appliances they left with us-- a great help in pricing an ad to run Monday-- since we have checked around and no one in need has claimed them. If they do not sell promptly (we're taking best offers), I'll FreeCycle 'em before winter makes the driveway impassable for pickup. That washing machine does not even get onto my porch until it has a new owner's name on it, YAY!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 01:13 PM

This post is about decluttering and tracking my own progress, tho it will seem to others like something else. It is particularly directed to a friend in this thread who knows who she is. (I place it here, not in PMs, because it's in these decluttering threads I so often look back to see how much time has elapsed or been lost as I progress toward goals.)

RE: My Old Testament studies this year.

Specifically, when hubby and I led the NTier's multi-parish EfM group (circa 2000), it was his role to guide the students' Scripture studies-- and mine to see to their leadership development, acting as discussion facilitator for topical theological reflections. Thus, my time to prep for weekly class meetings involved crafting the formats for the meetings, and thus I never had time THEN to READ the more academic material the students were studying in depth at their own paces.

At the time, the group discussions reflected a pretty good understanding, on my part, of the Scripture I'd been hearing from the pew, the studies I had done on my own previous to rejoining ECUSA when hubby and I married, and studies that had come with professional employment at a publisher here of various Christian study materials. I felt no need, in our EfM group then, to delve more deeply.

Since then (strokebrain), I have felt pulled strongly to dive into the OT. This began in Feb. 2010 with a personal issue. I had a good friend (far superior to me in Bible learning-- his verse-memorization background); he recommended some applicable OT passages, and I was hooked.

By summer vacation (July 2010) I was deeply into the Daily Office lectionary habit, keeping up with the lectionary at week's end pretty well despite the heavy schedule of a health-challenged NTier Presbytera. It started to occur to me that I had lost touch with some of the EfM discussion insights, and the EfM OT material itself was calling: "Find me, use me, dwell with Me."

By the end of vacation I was supplementing my own daily reading and journaling with the old, found EfM material. (Vacation was a lovely way to focus on the material! Long, sunny days in the dappled shade....)


As the lectionary continues to unfold in the coming year, I plan to complete my study of the 2000 edition of the EfM OT material. Sure enough, all those 2000-era insights are coming back to me with good recall, with the 2000 book open in front of me. I love this particularly as one of that group's more inspiring members is no longer with us: Edith V, who never stopped her book-larnin' until Alzheimer's closed her mind and sent her home to meet the God who had Called her. She is still inspiring and encouraging me to this day.


Doing this study in this way is a complicated application of the skills my chaotic childhood built in me-- the reception of not-connected, out-of-order schoolbook information, with the brain as the integrator seeking insight and finding connections. At the moment, on a study desk (my old autoharp stand) about 12" deep by 40" wide, I'm juggling:
<> 700 pages of EfM in two binders,
<> the lectionary readings,
<> several Bible translations,
<> and a number of supplemental texts--

.... for several hours each morning sitting in full sunlight.


So this is a useful place for me to notate progress through this "little" SDL "curriculum" I seem to be crafting.


EfM partly began, at the University of the South (AKA Sewanee), as an ed program for future clergy spouses in residence with their seminarian spouses preparing for ordination. It is the "Perfect Presbytera Bible Study," as far as I can tell. In that vein, I seem to be picking up formation for another future Diocesan role with clergy spouses which has long been dear to my heart, and for which I had not been well prepared previously.

The whole point of EfM's structural design is that one inhales it at one's own pace. And it works, even for me, and even with strokebrain.


I hope (but do not expect) that no confusion is created (or fed) in these threads, about where my EfM-studies-tracking fits in our group of declutterers.

With strokebrain, I often need to go over written material many times till it sticks. If I land in a formalized ed track (as I may next year), these studies will serve me well as a first-go thru the OT, if nothing else. They already serve me well as a Presbytera-- my first vocation.

And we Presbytera-women have no dean. There is nowhere else to receive and organize this information, or I would not be doing it here.


Today-- 10/08/2010-- post Clonidine, despite a nasty head-cold-- I completed Genesis, Patriarchs, Exodus/Sinai, and the theological survey of same, TBTG. An outcome was the production of a really nifty 1-page summary and annotated genealogy up to and covering the Patriarchs, to help me and others keep those people straight, with due attention to the women's point of view of it all as well.

That MAY be a lucrative product I have just drafted... we'll just have to see! :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 10:55 AM

I think Jacqui and I should open a shop and call it Hideobilia. There has to be a market for this stuff. After all - we bought it.
heh heh
At least I could declutter my house.
Tonight Kendall and Jacqui are performing at a local festival and I am an invited guest. Another Sea Festival in the offing. We'll see. There aren't enough hours in the day for all I need to do. My full time job is getting in the way of my life.
LOL

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 10:43 AM

Give yourself some time, Andrea. This is a MAJOR change for you and I'll bet you do just fine with all of the activity of moving, emptying boxes, etc. I am so happy for you!

I have not explored all of this website, but it looks quite interesting and, I think, has some things in common with us: Whole Woman.

Saw Morgan for the first time since Tuesday...took him to school this morning as he is feeling better. Have a load of wash in now. I spent yesterday doing more research and prep work for Etsy. The stories of women who have made a go of it, some after losing their day jobs, are inspiring. I am committed to making a go of it, in no small part due to Alice's mentoring. Thanks, Alice! Here I go to do more in my store.

Oh, had a great *touch base* session with the therapist yesterday; he's a brilliant practitioner.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: mouldy
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 04:45 AM

I'm working at de-cluttering the store cupboards, as they won't take food into storage. The lady next door is going to take what's left in the freezer (and also look after my plants till I can come and get them). So healthy eating will probably not be in evidence for the next couple of weeks! I am off shortly to sign the last 23 years of my life away at the solicitors' office. Scary.

I already know that the church are planning a send-off evening at a local pub next Friday, and I have already been asked what I want as a gift from the PCC (I've asked for a good quality spark guard: the Rector said my requested damp proof course was a bit beyond their means!) Then the local DCC is, apparently planning something and I am requested to be out next Friday for a "meal"...with lots of tissues!

I suspect I may start and get back on track once I have moved, as I feel I will be lumping boxes about and trying to organise heat etc.
The main problem is the fish and chip shop round the corner, the coffee shop down the road and the 3 pubs which do food....

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Oct 10 - 11:54 PM

New garments checked out, tags removed, and in the laundry. As all of us know, those dressing room mirrors are brutally honest. Most of these things bought today can be worn for a while when weight comes off, so they're not a write-off.

Tomorrow is a long day of lectures, and intense socializing in between. I'll be ready with my camera and notepad, and hopefully everyone will be wearing a name tag. :) I'll make a point of heading into the stairwell a couple of times and climbing the flights from the basement to my office on the sixth floor. I have been walking the dogs more (missed tonight, I wasn't home, but I might take an early walk with them before work.)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Oct 10 - 10:31 PM

Good for you, SRS, and much success to you.

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Oct 10 - 09:32 PM

I was at the thrift store today, looking for something I could use to dress up for the lectures tomorrow. I found something (a nice black silk jacket), and spent less than $30 (this includes several tops and a pair of jeans), not the $80 or so for the dress I found online. But OMG - I must start a diet this very evening. I have reached my highest pregnancy weight - without being pregnant.

There is no one else here who is going to interfere with a diet these days, no one else I have to cook a "regular" set of meals for, so I might as well get started. The one I use, at least to start, is the Scarsdale Diet. It helps me get off of the carbs in a hurry.

Tomorrow I'll be working at a conference so of course the food won't be what I need, but I can at least make my breakfast the right one and be picky at lunch.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: maire-aine
Date: 07 Oct 10 - 07:01 PM

Went for a walk this afternoon; it was short, but better than nothing. It has been the most gorgeous autumn day in Michigan.

David Kessler was on the Doctor Oz show today. They (Oz, Kessler & 2 others) were talking about chickens & how they're fed antibiotics for the flimsiest of reasons. There might be something on Oz's website.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Oct 10 - 06:32 PM

This week I worked on decluttering the 90-day pill sorter, now that a brain free of Clonidine can (hopefully) be trusted to do it safely. Yikes, tho, the mail-order pharmacy had us on automatic refills, where they send them along on a schedule, whether we order it or not....

Three of my current daily-meds scrips are little round white pills, and two more are also little round white pills that I take as needed.

Apparently last night I took a powerful pain reliever instead of a powerful heart medication, because I was expecting the heart med in the mail-- and not the pain med. So I dumped the order that came, right into the sorter. And the scary part is.... if the heart med had not arrived today, making me think they had double-shipped it, I'd not have even known for at least the two weeks of bedtime pills I had set up from that mega-sorter.

Some folks will say I should not use the mega-sorter and should keep the pills in their original bottles. That would be great except that the print on the bottles is too small to read and I have to re-label them, so that would just have moved the problem along that way.

Of course now that I finally figured out what that particular little round pill was, I called the pharmacy and canceled all the automatic refills-- going back to having them come only when we order them.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 07 Oct 10 - 06:20 PM

I love Newman's Own Balsamic Viagrette too. Dried cranberries add a nice tang too. Alice is sitting on my hand so...
Don't know how I managewd to gain four pounds ove Getaway. Suspect the salt in the junk food on the way home.
Tomorrow..

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Oct 10 - 04:49 PM

Sautéed the smoked chicken breasts and used part of one, along with some sliced onions and my garden's green peppers, to make a couple of fajitas for lunch. Soup on the side. Mmmmmm! Those were on my homemade tortillas from the freezer.

Moved the small wire shelf up onto the window seat to see how it looks there. It might be very good - but can be easily moved if I think of a better place. On the other plant stand in the same window I have some African violets and I a pretty vine I started from some cuttings off of the mother plant. I went for years with few plants because it was hard to keep the cats from either digging in the dirt or eating the leaves. I haven't filled the house with plants, but I am slowly building my collection.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: LilyFestre
Date: 07 Oct 10 - 04:35 PM

Accountability: Down 4.2 pounds this week. YAY.

Dishes and laundry are both going right now. I went to Sam's Club to stock up on a few things we get there every month. Had a nice salad while I was out....I am finding that I LOVE a few raisins in a tossed salad along with some walnuts. That little bit of sweetness goes a long way for me. I almost always have fat free Italian dressing (because it counts as 0 points) or some kind of balsamic dressing (Love Newman's own) and I like the combination of the zing of the dressing with the raisins.

I have no idea what's for dinner tonight. I'm not hungry and really don't feel much like cooking today.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Oct 10 - 12:18 PM

Note to mg-- my email's broken, pls see PM

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Oct 10 - 10:47 AM

I put the salmon and chicken in the fridge late last night then headed to bed - and awoke to the house looking like a smallish tornado had passed through. Mostly cosmetic, there were many surfaces with a light layer of stuff. While my tea brewed this morning I finished folding laundry and put the various stacks away, and then I washed the dishes. Looks better.

Busy weekend coming up. May not have much to report.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Oct 10 - 09:44 AM

Sounds like a great soup, SRS. Our best turkey soup ever was turkey, black beans, and mushrooms.

I am still processing the fact that I no longer have to take the Clonidine. Now that it is leaving my system and key functions return, it's clearer how really bad it was. I'm very grateful to the friends who stuck with me and rode out September. They know who they are.

I'm also grateful that the discussion about it with the doc resulted in a communications agreement so that a longterm med trial like that never goes that badly again.... mostly this involved my being more of a PIA and him listening even better than he already did. And I do have a voice recorder I can take to appts to preserve and review his sometimes very fast, rapid-fire way of communicating instructions.

He's a young doc, and sometimes I have to pull geezer rank to slow things down to genius speed instead of warp-drive speed. Hardi sez when he sits in on my appts that it's like being caught between two tornadoes, the way our brains link and go into short=hand mode.

One way I can handle that phenomenon is to sit in the waiting room for a few minutes after the appt to see if any lingering questions come up. So they don't hit me at bedtime after I rush home to resume the afternoon's ministry commitments.

Today begins the next drug. AMs only.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Oct 10 - 12:35 AM

Whether we follow Mary's prescription or not, I suspect each of us doesn't really follow the best dietary suggestions or we wouldn't all be battling the Bulge and the health issues that go with it. Despite what we might think. I know if I cut out the glass of wine in the evening I'd lose some weight (though some wine is good for you - it does have carb calories). Portion size is also something I have to rethink.

I ordered David Kessler's The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite after I heard him interviewed several times. I've been re-reading the Harry Potter books in preparation for the next film release, but maybe I'll slip a few Kessler chapters in between the Potter books.

This evening I was preparing to smoke the salmon (it's on it's third pan of chips in the Little Chief smoker now) and decided to use up some of the stuff that has been in the freezer plenty long enough. The answer is, of course, soup! Part of an onion and some black beans I cooked last week, and from the freezer a little ground turkey, some bagged green beans, a small tub of turkey stock, a pint of frozen blanched tomatoes from last fall, etc. This tastes wonderful! The turkey stock was from a bird I brined, so it is very fragrant and rather sweet. I gave this soup an accent by using some thyme along with balsamic vinegar and I added a handful of semolina "pepitas" (a Mexican pasta that works like orzo). It is kind of sweet and savory at the same time. Very good! Despite the kind of rough beginnings, it's a sophisticated tasting soup.

Speaking of food, Chicago chef Rick Bayless (who has 4 restaurants that specialize in Mexican food) will be speaking at my university next week. I got tickets as soon as they went online (they're free, but you have to order them through the ticket software you would use for paid tickets). I was hoping Moonglow, and maybe my friend Dean might want to go, so I ordered three tickets. Then the others said they couldn't make it. Today at the print shop I saw them printing out promotional items for the Bayless talk, and mentioned I had tickets. The woman I was speaking to said she didn't get any, and when I offered extras, said they probably wouldn't make it anyway. I was on my way out the door when another print shop friend caught up and asked if he could please please please have my extra tickets! :) I went back in, logged onto my email account and printed up the two extras. I earned some great brownie points with that move! (He's another organic gardener as well as a damn fine cook, and I'm sure one of these days we'll all get together in a kitchen and create organic culinary mayhem that tastes wonderful).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: mg
Date: 06 Oct 10 - 10:28 PM

I don't want to clog up a thread here, but this is life and death for some people. It is related to so much heart disease, it is diabetes frankly. They figure 80% of overweight people have it. You absolutely must get your insulin levels checked, and they will refuse to do it so pay forit yourself. Cure is simple...no carbs (by which I mean those starches and sugars..not green vegetables) to very few to a fair amount, depending on age, metabolism, number of pancreatic cells killed from too many carbs already. Dr. Robert Thompson is on Amazon and has several books out. If this did nothing else but keep people off so many multiple drugs it is worthwhile. But this knowledge is out there, Sanford University was leading the charge...COuld save many lives and disabilities and reform health care in this country. mg

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Oct 10 - 09:05 PM

I've been looking at the facebook page of a fellow I follow on Twitter. Learned a lot about the things you can link together.

I have several partially completed projects I might get to this evening. I have to smoke salmon and I think I have enough time still, and will finish it in the oven.

Today I was at the office and away from the computer, but after I got back to the house I took a long nap that helped with some allergy grogginess. Not much else to report.

Mary, I thought your information about generalized metabolic reactions to food was very interesting. I've heard bits and pieces of this discussion on various National Public Radio discussions with health people and organic gardening people and have a couple of books that may touch on some of this -- I'll have to read them sooner rather than later. :)

I've been looking at dresses online at Lane Bryant. I wish I didn't have to look at Lane Bryant, but who knows when I'll finally lose the weight and they have a couple of black dresses that could be dressed up or down for a variety of occasions. I've realized that my closet no longer has a black dress that I can fit comfortably into. [sigh]

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Oct 10 - 07:42 PM

Just as I left to get him, I found out Morgan has been home with a tummy ache today. (Probably something he ate at the b-day party!) So, I did some more etsy and email work, then figured out how to add my etsy shop to my FB page. It's pretty slick. I also made a new Treasury at Etsy: Blue Moon, Stars, and Lovers. It's a lot of fun and good research to make a Treasury.

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: maire-aine
Date: 06 Oct 10 - 05:51 PM

I patched all of the plaster holes in the kitchen & some nail holes in the woodwork around the windows. Will wait until tomorrow to paint, because the light is better in the morning.

This will not help my "accountability", but I won a box of Oberweis chocolates (from droping my business card in their bowl). But I promise to only eat one per day.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: LilyFestre
Date: 06 Oct 10 - 05:13 PM

Had myself a nice little nap until a low flying helicopter went over and the dogs went bezerk. Thankfully, Jeremiah slept through it for an extra 20 minutes or so. In the meantime, I swept the living room and hallway. Vaccuumed in the living room and got half the dusting done before I heard that sweet little voice asking to come downstairs for a drink and a snack. :) I also wiped down his Baby Einstein activity center/hoppy. My piano NEEDS to be dusted but at the moment it is covered with lots of framed photos (which also need to be dusted) and it will have to wait until Daddy comes home so I can have some uninterrupted free hands time. :) Shepard's Pie for dinner.

Michelle

Subject: Kid's Post-Nest Exit Plans
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Oct 10 - 04:01 PM

He ran out of time sorting at the house, so I will finish his de-cluttering when I get home!

You're in my thoughts as well, Alice. ! ! ! G O A L I C E ! ! !

We had two boys nest-exit at once, and then 2 years later the third (a daughter) left. They all had in common exactly what you said above.

Because of being a ministry family (always potentially about to move suddenly), we lucked into an approach that turned out to be just right for each of their 3 very different personalities.

That is, they packed up the stuff that mattered most. We agreed to store it as long as we had this big ole house, but because they packed it in UPS-size boxes/weights, we also knew we could ship it when need/request arose.


And then we packed up the rest. We labeled boxes clearly as to which they'd packed (and knew that cared about), and which we packed (and thought they MIGHT someday care about). It turned out that they did want the stuff they'd packed, sooner rather than later.

BUT-- they also, each, developed a deep desire to see and sort the rest of the stuff, as they got a little older and had a little more distance from the home-memories. In some cases they came back to sort that stuff, and in others we shipped it for them to sort where they were.

But it meant so much to them that we had held onto it ALL till that time.


To this day, there are a few items we hain't shipped, that they are not quite ready to take charge of. Mike, for instance, is in a hot career-development mode that has meant a number of quick moves. The things he will want later-- for his own kids-- are still here, not in his frequent-moves apartment. Monica has not yet decided how she feels about some things, so I have the dollhouse Hardi made her that she was SURE she would never want-- but she just had her third daughter, so.... it's neatly boxed, waiting. Dave's cut glass decanters are still decor in his room, which we otherwise totally re-decorated. He and his wife sleep there when they visit; someday he will probably take them home.


Now, we do not have to pay for storing their stuff-- we just kept the huge but cheap rental house because WE liked it (and no other housing was available at the time). But if we had to rent a locker or storage pod to hold onto it, you know, I think we would. Because it means so much to them to have "last say" before something is gone forever. And there are quite a few things they prize now, that they first thought we should pitch.


If you have to pitch things, please at least consider photo-recording all of it for them. It's easy to ship a CD-ful of JPEGs in a card.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Alice
Date: 06 Oct 10 - 03:03 PM

Thank you. Tears here but good future thoughts, too.

He ran out of time sorting at the house, so I will finish his de-cluttering when I get home!


A.

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Oct 10 - 02:41 PM

Forgot to say, Alice, I have been thinking of you all day as you take Ryan to fly off to LA. I know that transition to an "empty" nest can bring mixed emotions.

{{{{{ALICE}}}}}}

luvyakat

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Oct 10 - 02:36 PM

Thanks, mg, but my doc is well-attuned to that (as am I). The nutrition side is well in hand.

~Susan