BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Dec 10 - 01:34 AM

Beautiful, Maryanne!

The new thread.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: maire-aine
Date: 01 Dec 10 - 12:53 AM

Finally got the tree up and decorated. Picture of Christmas tree on FB

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Dec 10 - 12:14 AM

I dug through a couple of boxes and found the little rotating motors that plug into the mini-lights I put on my crape myrtle limb. That little Santa is rotating beautifully, and I can add several more (I think they suggest 3 motors per string). It has to be something that you can tell is moving - a glass ball with no pattern, for example, is barely noticeable.

In the past I've mentioned the WatchdogNation approach to getting your bills taken care of (when you need to call customer service). Take them on one a day, or adopt a 15-minutes for the call plan, to make them more manageable.

I spent my first 15 minutes of bill-sorting this month with Sprint. It didn't result in much savings. I have to call back again tomorrow, and maybe that clerk will waive the activation fee. The woman this evening said that they're "educating customers" about how to set up these phones to avoid that fee. A polite way of saying she wouldn't waive it. No one told me that if I simply bought the phone at a store and activated it online that they'd waive the fee. So perhaps one last waiver? Next time we replace a phone we'll buy it at the store and take it home to activate. Someone could/should have said to do that and we'd have understood.

Tomorrow, the cable company. They're ugly customers, so I'm pacing myself.

I'll start a new thread tomorrow. Stay warm, everyone, and fingers crossed that we all traverse the December page of the calendar with ease and stay in the black in the process!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 01:28 PM

Flew right by and reached about 56,000 before the deadline! Novel is still not finished, though. Unedited first few paragraphs are in the nanowrimo thread. Thanks for asking!

Michelle, I think WW looks interesting, too. Sorry to see their giant fudge bars are now going to be 4 points instead of 1!!*sigh*

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 12:37 PM

Andrea, sounds like you have a few problems to solve there to do with ice and snow removal. I wonder if you can employ any salt or heating devices?

With the peppers I was wearing a pair of vinyl restaurant-style gloves, and though there was no hole in the thumb, I suspect the heat gradually traveled through micro pores or something. I transferred the frozen peppers into a bag this morning, and I'll do the next batch this evening. I need to run to the restaurant supply place a few blocks from me anyway, and I'll poke around to see what other types of gloves they carry.

My computer desk is completely clean, and I rearranged my plugs a bit more and straightened out the various cables that run from the USB hub behind my monitor. I used a twist tie to bundle the mp3, camera, and cell phone cables so they don't sprawl over the desk. It looks great!

Last night I dug through the laundry room basket of electrical gadgets (that cabinet is where I try to keep all of these things so I don't buy more when I still had some somewhere else. It kind of works.) I had one of those switches that you plug into the wall, then plug the device into the switch. That's on my decorated tree limb. I'm going to pull out those little motors you plug into tree lights and put a few ornaments to turning. For example, I have a lovely little crystal moon with a ceramic Santa on it that looks charming as it rotates.

December tomorrow. Oh, my. Kat, where do you stand on your novel word count?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: LilyFestre
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 12:31 PM

It's a cold, rainy, windy day here. I've been busy with dishes, laundry etc. I'm still working on how to figure out how to rearrange the living room so I can use my treadmill a bit more easily and still keep all the baby gear in the room. I've been lugging firewood in to keep the fire going too.

Weight Watchers has updated their program so I am reading about some changes and finding it very interesting.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 12:30 PM

Welcome to the more north country, eh, Andrea? I don't envy you that part of living in such an idyllic sounding village.:-) I loved Wyoming, but do not miss the snow and wind!

I finally felt well enough to get a few things done this morning when I got back from dropping Rog off at work. Put away a couple of toys, did a load of laundry which is drying now, folded another load and put it, and one already done, away. Moved a couple of chairs back to where they belonged since being used for Thanksgiving.

Changed the towels in the bathroom and freshened up in there, too.

Andrea, WW is saying this is the biggest change they've made in 13 years and that now it is "Power" foods, not Filling, as we have had for the past year, too. Here's a blurb about it:

Are Weight Watchers Power Foods the same as Filling Foods?
No, they are different. To put it simply, Filling Foods are(sic) were chosen based on their ability to fill you up, but Power Foods were chosen based on their impact on health as well as their ability to fill you up. If you make Power Foods the basis of your meals, you'll be eating nutrient-packed foods that keep you satisfied—and that's the best strategy for health and weight loss.

How did the two lists come about? For years, subscribers wanted an easy way to spot foods that kept them full the longest. So we created the Filling Foods list to meet this need. However, we soon began hearing from more subscribers who told us that they wanted a quick way to identify not only the foods that were the most filling, but also the healthiest choices — meaning the best foods you can eat, period. So, we started from scratch. We ranked foods within similar categories, such as milk, using a proprietary formula that rated their ability to be filling and their impact on health (via the food's content of sugar, sodium, saturated fat, total fat, and/or fiber).The highest ranked foods within each category became Weight Watchers Power Foods.

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: mouldy
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 02:36 AM

Are you using rubber gloves? Were they the disposible ones, and did they split?

The payment for the freezer still hasn't gone through, and I rang the company, who have the order on file at their end. They say it's awaiting authorisation. Well the original reason I rang them was because the payment page stalled and did nothing. Twice.

I'm just now going to ring the bank and see if they have anything pending.
Then I'm going to get up and start shovelling again. We only had a dusting overnight, but there are eastery winds off Scandinavia blowing right at the back of the house. There is also an ominous overhang on the front off the house, and I'm worried it may drop off in a big lump and hit a phone cable that's just in front of it.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 12:03 AM

Note to self: Double glove next time I work with hot peppers. My right thumb is feeling quite uncomfortably hot after cleaning and preparing a bunch of peppers to blanch before freezing. I was very careful not to touch my face with those gloves on.

I also sorted the buckets of green tomatoes, removing bad ones and those too small to use, and setting aside the rosy ones to ripen. I put a pan of fully ripe ones in the freezer to use later for juice and sauce. The kitchen is still sporting buckets and bins of veggies, but I'll finish distributing or cooking this week. Hopefully.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Nov 10 - 05:12 PM

Ironic, isn't it, to have to shift so much snow to move a freezer?

I'm going to have to do the Watchdog Nation rule of dedicating "15 minutes a day" to solve financial things on bills. I have a couple that need attention before the payments are due. One will be easy, one will be a pain in the ass. I think I'll do the easy one first.

I'm back on my healthier lower-carb eating routine today since I've finished most of the Thanksgiving leftovers. Fruits, veggies, healthy carbs.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: mouldy
Date: 29 Nov 10 - 04:24 PM

Kat, that sounds like the Discover Plan, which we started on in the new year - "Filling Foods"!

I shovelled the snow, and had some, admittedly deep and narrow, channels cut through. This evening most of the foot depth of snow has dropped off the outhouse roof into the yard, and it's even deeper than before, and along the length of the yard too. It was banked up against the back door, and one pile is definitely up to the dining room window height! Well I cleared a square away from there so I'll have somewhere to stand when I dig tomorrow. My back is starting to hang out the white flag, but I have got to do it. I feel so stiff!

I have a new freezer coming on Friday too. Firstly, they have got to hoist it over the unploughed snow at the side of the road, and then it's somehow got to make its way down the yard to the annexe, so I've GOT to clear it!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Nov 10 - 03:42 PM

Michelle, I didn't know about WgtWatchers changing until you mentioned it. Have just had a look and find I am going to have to start all over again with entering all the foods I eat by going over their labels. None of the foods I've created can be saved and converted to the new plan because they are now basing points on carbs, too, as well as fiber, fat, and whoozit! Aarrrggghhh!

I do see they have raised the daily points value and the week's extra and all fruits and veggies are now zero points. A quick look says it's probably a good way to go, but I don't like having to re-enter all of the info it took me so long to gather.

Think I'll go have a look at gnu's way, again.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Nov 10 - 02:35 PM

Budget DONE. Uck uck uck.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Nov 10 - 11:34 AM

Andrea, I just looked through your photos - what a treat! Thanks! And the expression on your cat's face speaks volumes.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: mouldy
Date: 29 Nov 10 - 03:16 AM

It's just after 8am, and I am about to gird the loins and deal with the latest pile of snow to drop from the roof and block the back door. We had another couple of inches last night as well. My car is gradually disappearing!
Got the asbestos panel off at last, and just have to saw through the nails which are holding the battens to the surround. Those of you on FB will be able to see it, because I'm so pleased with what I've uncovered that it is my new profile picture. (It's better looking than me too!)

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Nov 10 - 12:20 AM

I don't do WW so I'll just have to wait to see what all of you discover at your weigh-ins, etc.

I've about stuffed the software in this computer that I can, and I even did a little rudimentary check-out on the TV receiver on this. If I record things from the antenna I can only watch them on this computer, but I hope I can still stream in my own content and burn it to DVDs. The equipment is in place. I'd love to thin out the wall of VCR tapes in my front room.

I wrapped 3 strings of lights around that shapely tree limb in my front room, and hung a few interesting ornaments on it. Bright and simple. I'll wash the crystal on the mantle and add some of the tree ornaments to the various glasses and vases next. I have to trim the juniper next to my driveway because it is encroaching on the drive, and I'll make a greenery ornament for the door. I'll wait till next week to do that.

Michelle, I'm sure the magic of the holidays with a baby in the house is going to make everything look different to you. There will be the babyproof end of things, but also the sparkling magic that you can see through his eyes. I hope you take a few photos!

I've about finished my cuppa chamomile tea, so I'm off to bed. Tomorrow is the first day I'll actually see about doing some photos and web design with the new computer and upgraded software. Might be interesting.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: LilyFestre
Date: 28 Nov 10 - 10:48 PM

Well..........the hoop house is up but not yet covered. And as if by magic, another frame suitable for a hoop house arrived here. YES! Also a set of drawers I purchased at a yard sale some time ago has finally made it's way to the house. Currently it's sitting in my kitchen but I have a nice place for it in the hall underneath where we hang all our coats. I'm hoping it works there. The dresser has 3 drawers....fabulous for Pete's undies, socks and jammies, another drawer for bibs and Jeremiah's jammies and then...oh...I don't know...I'm sure I'll find SOMETHING. Also, a locking gun cabinet made it's way here....it will work nicely to hold my rifle and most of Pete's guns. I'm also on a kick about getting my treadmill out where it is more accessible in this room of baby land. I want to walk each day. I've been having hip and knee issues that actually feel worse when sit still and loads of relief when I'm walking. So...my living room may look goofy for awhile but so what? I don't care...I want functual not all Better Homes and Gardens. I mean...we live here and pretty is nice in as many places as I can make it happen but I only have so much room in the living room and that is where my treadmill is. I'm motivated to get this done....say by Tuesday. That's my plan Stan. And hey, for those of you who do WW, did you know they are switching the entire program up starting TOMORROW?!?!?!? I'm excited about it....change is good and in this instance, it will help me refocus. I'd like to stay awake until Midnight to read about the new changes on the sight but I doubt I'll make it that long.

Night Everybody.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Nov 10 - 10:35 PM

Pool 40 minutes muscle work, working in reps of 10 now instead of 3.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Nov 10 - 05:55 PM

Major budget due tomorrow, ofc computer FUBAR. Will do on LR puder, uck.

Major writing project due for class Thursday, so far no joy.

Got Sailboats room put back together after Ade's rug job last week. Got landing room set up for use, ditto. Got a few items moved to where they needed to be, for utility. Got casters onto re-purposed study desk for better utility. Got some major and minor attic room stuff done. Got some Band re-organization done. TBTG and Hardi on all.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Nov 10 - 04:56 PM

I had to re-order my to-do list. No mulching until the piles of branches were off of the lawn. And no stretching electrical cords to holiday lights until the mulching is finished. So, the branches are now out of the way, and I heaped into the compost the various garden plants that died with the freeze. Tomorrow afternoon I'll mulch, and then see about putting out the lights. I'm only doing one tree in the yard, and I'll do some lights on the porch, and those strings are ready to go.

I dug a hole in the oldest compost heap (it's ready to use, but I won't need it till spring) and pour in the contents of one of my driveway bins. That's where I drop the table scraps (veggie only) and let it break down so much that it doesn't interest the dogs. I rotate between one bin breaking down and one that I'm filling. It means I put a lot less trash at the curb and these good nutrients stay in the yard.

Tonight, peppers. Lots of peppers need to be cut up and put in the freezer. The laundry is about finished, so I can focus on the kitchen work and not have to go back and forth.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Nov 10 - 11:50 AM

Andrea, that sounds like such an adventure!

I loaded about as much software as I can on this computer and on my son's computer. I want his up and running when he comes home since he has to do an online final. If the productivity software on his computer is too old he can use my old computer that is more up to date.

Lovely windy day, and I need to sharpen the mower blade and get started mulching leaves. It won't be the last time; I always need to do it a couple of times at least. I don't own the source of the leaves, they just pool in my yard.

This will constitute my exercise for the weekend. I've had leftovers from Thanksgiving for several days, but now that I'm down to just the mashed potatoes I think if I keep the rest of the day healthy eating I can get back to my good pattern tomorrow.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: mouldy
Date: 28 Nov 10 - 03:07 AM

My back is only creaking a little from the digging. There was another light fall overnight, but that won't take much shifting. I have icicles to try and deal with, and just make sure they aren't over where I walk. That might be an impossible task.
I was ntalking to my neighbour yesterday, whose house supposedly dates from about 1760, and we came to the conclusion that if that dated stone on my house is genuine, it must have been a separate, much smaller building, as where my house is attached to his, it is built around an external stairway. The house, and the rest of the small terrace, as it stands now is c.1820.
The reason it's protected is that the terrace, and the one round the corner, were designed by an eminent architect of the time.
Steve also said that the exterior wall of my bathroom, where it adjoins his propert, is merely built into a rough stone dividing wall which is in a bit of a state. It is one which appears to be shared responsibility, and he says he's patched it up as best he can. I really am going to have to bite the bullet and get that work done!

Unless I find something else to do, I may try and sort the little room out a bit more today, and try to get some more screws out of the panel covering the fireplace.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Nov 10 - 12:11 AM

Did some general running around and in one stop, picked up what turned out to be a duplicate adapter for my good keyboard. But neither one works with the new computer. Darn. It works with Win7 on the other computer, so I'm not sure what the problem is. The adapter, probably. I don't know if I want to buy another keyboard, but I'll call the company next week and ask.

I still have more software to load and a few programs to download, for this setup to be complete (at least, the way I want. I'm sure for HP it was complete when they sent their extra goodies with Win7 Home, but they all went away when I upgraded to Win7 Ultimate.)

On the home front, I'm set to scrub the limestone and soap scum out of my showers now, and I am going to be finishing up some canning. Don't know if I'll be doing any canning (the green tomatoes) but that is a possibility. Lights are ready to go up tomorrow - I picked up a box of mixed color spare lights to go in the strings that I'll put in my mid-sized pine.

Keep up the work as needed on the novel, Kat, and give Morgan a big hug from me. I had 7-year-olds who were writers also, but still, it's a lot of work to plan to participate in a big writing project at that age.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Nov 10 - 11:36 PM

Correction, I made it well past the 50,000 word count, but the novel is not done. It'll probably be another 10-20,000 near as I can tell.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Nov 10 - 11:25 PM

Thanks, SRS, I DID and am done except for all of the rewriting, but that doesn't happen until next month! For now, I don't want to see it, read it, or hear about it. Phew, last night and today have been frenzied to say the least. (I couldn't sleep with what I think was food poisoning from Wednesday, so wrote in misery.**BG**)

I wanted to concentrate on it while Morgan was away, so I can have some time with him without feeling the pull of the novel. He also finished his, though he cut back his word count to a more manageable size considering all the travelling he's been doing and all.

Tomorrow I plan to do nothing at all, if I can help it. I hope I sleep tonight. Still feeling a bit queasy.

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Nov 10 - 12:38 PM

Keep on typing, Kat!

Stay warm, Andrea! The freeze we were expecting on Thursday night arrived last night. I looked out the kitchen window this morning to see all of the dark green wilted leaves on the plants that were perky and beautiful the day before. Today is already much warmer than yesterday, so I'll go out and cut out some of the dead stuff. Lilies, amaryllis, cannas, basil, eggplant, tomatoes, etc. All to the compost.

Yesterday I mailed a box to my son, a care package to boost him through finals. Other than that, the only shipping I'm doing during this month is to order fruitcakes for my brother and sister and the bakery will do the shipping. We sibs had "that conversation" this year amongst ourselves - since we all now have college kids, we'll send something to the kids as long as they're in college, but for the rest of it, cards will do, and we'll try to be better about calling more often.

I've continued to modify the old computer (I added a software program from work that can't be removed once it is in place, but it allows me to map directly to campus servers) and add productivity software to the new computer. I baked those oatmeal cookies last night and packed and put them in the freezer for later this month.

The next couple of days are wide open. There is a lot to do around here, but I'll see what suggests itself and go from there. I should get some more eBay stuff up, so maybe I'll poke around for good holiday shipping items.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: LilyFestre
Date: 27 Nov 10 - 12:02 PM

We celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday!!! Aside from the cooking, I spent time sweeping, dusting, doing up dishes from the cooking, cleared the table, got out my good linens, did laundry, cleaned the bathroom, did a little rearranging...loads of work really but it felt good to get some things done that I've been meaning to do. For examply, my piano is covered with family photos which needed dusting. There was a basket of Jeremiah's toys that I've been meaning to get upstairs for some time now but my arms always seemed full for each trip up there. I sorted out more of his clothes. Swept the stairs....yep...lots was done here yesterday...it looks amazing and feels wonderful.

We had a traditional Thanksgiving meal (turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, squash, corn (both from our garden), gravy (Pete makes THE best gravy EVER), pumpkin and apple pie. We have a TON of leftovers as no one ate until the point of bursting. My favorites this year were Mom's mashed potatoes (she makes THE BEST mashed potatoes EVER...how lucky am I to have THE BEST gravy & mashed potatoes in one meal?!!?) and the buttercup squash. I love that squash.....no butter, sugar, salt or anything else needed....just cut it up, boil it and mash it...OMG GOOD!!! In fact, it's what I just had for lunch! YUM.

I did manange to get the first turkey all picked apart and bones boiled. There is a LOT of broth so either later today or tomorrow, I'llbe chopping veggies for the soup. Then there's the other turkey to tend to from yesterday. I have a feeling I'll be sharing some turkey noodle or turkey rice soup with family and friends..there's just too much for our freezer. Besides.....it's lovely to share soup. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Nov 10 - 11:40 AM

Be sure to eat enough before starting work to fuel the physical work, Andrea, so you don't get blindsided by overhunger AFTERwards.

Go Andrea!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: mouldy
Date: 27 Nov 10 - 03:28 AM

Oh well, Northumberland was mentinoed on the news today with the police giving a "do not travel" warning. The clear skies forecast on the BBC website yesterday aren't here, although it froze last night and is not due to get much above all day! Instead they are now giving snow showers, and then a thunderstorm tomorrow! This to be followed by temperatures about 4C warmer. (I don't think they know!) We have a foot of snow in places,and the hills inland will be worse.

Anyway, today's exercise will be to find a shovel and clear the snow that has fallen off the roof and landed just outside the back door. It's blocking my way to the logs and coal. If I can't find or get at the shovel...well it's ideal snow for big snowballs and, therefore, snowmen! After I've been to the coffee morning (unless it's cancelled, like yesterday's school fair) I'll go take a box of more random stuff to the village charity shop. This snow is hampering the unpacking, as I am getting down just to stuff that needs to be swapped between outbuildings, or house and annexe.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Nov 10 - 11:20 PM

Hardi did a lot of projects here today (me second banana), then we went to a fave discount vendor in Wmsport for fabric and "parts." Found exactly what we/I wanted, plus casters of just the right sort to make my re-purposed study desk roll around as I prefer.

We then brought back Thai dinner with enough panaang sauce left over for the turkey we thawed ydy-- a nice tender turkey breast we had saved for his mom's annual visit, that she missed this October due to a health crisis.

So we dined out ydy as we now do, annually, to avoid the extra dishwashing and hoopla, and for "leftover turkey" we had the thawed breast to play with, along with some cran-orange relish I had made (low sugar).

The weird thing for us was watching the rest of the US culture eat itself sick, as if it's got to be done by right-- while we paid the same bucks for our dinner but ate about 1/3 of what everyone else in the room did. Weird!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Nov 10 - 11:11 PM

Less than 14,000 to go now. I will probably be AWOL for the next couple of days. **BG**

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Nov 10 - 10:36 PM

Didn't get much accomplished today. I shopped, brought in some beautiful lettuce for salads, to keep eating healthy. I picked up oats to finish those cookies, and finished that dough. Moved computer files.

Cleaned up the plate holders I found at the recycle place a couple of weeks back. They hold bowls up very well, but plates lean back a bit more than I hoped. It may have to do with how I position the hinges. I'll play with it. The hinges are nice and stiff, so the plates or whatever will stay put once they're in place.

Going to give the bathroom tiles a good scrub this evening. I ran out of the stuff last week and couldn't find the same brand, but I'll see if the cheap stuff and some elbow grease doesn't do the job. When it's cold, it's the season for nice hot soaks in the tub. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: mouldy
Date: 26 Nov 10 - 07:48 PM

Doc's appointment was cancelled as the doctor was stuck on the A1, the main road, and couldn't get to the surgery. I went as far as the village charity shop, 50 yards from my house, and donated a box of random stuff, and the Christmas tree that's too wide for the space in this living room. I also let them have a set of outdoor lights which I won't be able to use here. They set the tree up, and are on about having it on display. They were giving free cups of coffee, so that was as far as I got. There will be some more bits and bobs going tomorrow, as they will be open for a couple of hours.
The buses weren't running today, and the village schools were shut. We have 6-8 inches of snow,and it's broken the gutter off my back lobby. Just needs a new bracket. I hope the ones on the house hold up, as there's quite a weight of snow on them.

Tomorrow morning it's the church coffee morning, and I've a couple of fruit cakes to donate. Hope the path isn't too bad - it may only be across the road, but it's a sloping cobbled path the nearest way, and even steeper paving slabs from the bottom end. maybe the snow will give some traction!

Hopped onthe scales this morning - a couple of pounds more - must not sample my own baking!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Nov 10 - 07:42 PM

Closing in on 32,000.

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: maire-aine
Date: 26 Nov 10 - 03:03 PM

Did not go overboard on carbs yesterday (but the week isn't over). The dinner was very nice, with small servings of the usual things: salad, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans & turkey with gravy, and pumpkin pie for dessert. And the most wonderful thing about it was that it was FREE for seniors (62+), so I fit right in. I'm sure it brought in families with younger people too, so it's a good marketing event.

I put the tree together & brought down the boxes of ornaments; will decorate over the weekend. Re-arranged the furniture in the dining room & covered the buffet with a piece of oil-cloth, so I could put the plants on it (in front of the window) without damaging the finish worse than it already is.

Brought up the wreaths & mantle decorations, and put those up. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Not going anywhere near the malls today.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Nov 10 - 01:04 PM

Didn't freeze last night, so I could have left the garden alone, but that fate is still coming soon, so probably just as well. I have to declutter my kitchen and sun room of several buckets of tomatoes, peppers, and a couple of eggplants. I'll see if I can find people to can them, or maybe look into doing a batch of my own green tomato relish.

I have some bills to sort out. I wonder if the folks in call centers will be in a jolly mood today?

I'd love to get my keyboard plug converter, but I know the store where I would get it is jammed to the gills with shoppers and the drive over would be hellish, so I'll bide my time. I have a lot of leftover adapters from previous purchases, but none that work. And I have stray bits from this new computer that I need to go ahead and set up. Sensors for the receiver in the computer. I can start converting VCR tapes to burn to DVD one of these days (I'll get the large extra hard drive before I do much of that, because this work takes up a lot of space.)

Lovely day. I need to get out and enjoy it.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Nov 10 - 11:22 AM

Getting fabric today for LR curtains, for the color scheme the paint will be in.

Also some fabric for the cats' new LR bed-- the wicker antique wicker basket I brought down the other day.

That is, IF the parochial emergency that came on the AM's phone call does not eclipse our plans. Ah well, at least we agreed on fabric and got the measuring done-- I can get go it myself if need be.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: mouldy
Date: 26 Nov 10 - 01:28 AM

Well I'll get some exercise today with a quarter mile walk through snow to the doc's...and there's more forecast. At the moment we've 2-3 inches. I will probably walk on after the doc's to the farm shop where I can get coffee...and fresh meat and veg. Then it's a half mile walk back up the village to get home.

My sister in law was supposed to be coming across to her cottage in Embleton this weekend from the west side of Scotland, but I don't know if she will!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Nov 10 - 01:11 AM

Had enough carbs today to last for a week. I ended up deciding if I tried to do the duff or cake the oven timing would be off, so I was all set to mix up a batch of cookies, to have a few on a plate this evening and bake the rest later. I had the sugar, butter, etc for oatmeal cookies, and when I picked up the acrylic tub of oats - full of weevils. Ugg. Out into the compost it went, I packed away the cookie stuff to finish after a trip to the store tomorrow for more oats. I had a lot of trouble with weevils this year because it was so warm. I put flour in the freezer, and rice, but I didn't think to dig out the oatmeal and I haven't eaten any in months.

My feet are always so tired after an evening of cooking, but otherwise, it went great. The ham was very well received. It was a relatively simple meal, but a pretty table, and I packed up a lot of leftovers to send home with people.

Michelle, I have a lot of ornaments too, and several years ago I decided to pull out all of just one type of thing. So I did all Santa ornaments one year and nutcrackers another. Last year I pulled out the colored glass balls like tree ornaments and I put them in and around crystal pieces (vases, platters, bowls, candlesticks, anything of shiny clear or green glass) on the mantle, where I have up-lights that hit them all from underneath. Not sure about this year, I'll see what I'm in the mood for. Just lights, maybe. Isolating part of the collection really lets those pieces shine, and the next year, you can highlight more. Rotating your collection is like "shopping your closet" or in this case, packing boxes.

Motrin, here I come, then to bed to put my feet up.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Nov 10 - 11:11 PM

Thanks, Michelle. He turned seven on the 14th when they were away due to his dad's step-dad passing away a couple of days before that.

Your simple Christmas sounds wonderful and reminds me of the song, Simple Gifts. I've been doing more minimalist decorating as the years go by. This year, I think we will use the Norfolk Island pine which sits in the middle of the big picture window in the LR. I have tiny lights we can put on it and a few lightweight ornaments. Morgan and I will put a few other special things around the house, but not much.

I am past the 30,000 words mark, today. We had a nice day other than having to go out when it was too darn cold this evening to let the grand-dogs out to pee.

My brother did come over and the three of us had a good time. Rog's turkey was very good and, except for too thin of crust, the pie we cut into, today, was perfect. It was leftover crust from the deeper dish one which I am saving for Morgan, so I hope that one will have more crust on the bottom. I always roll it out too thin, it seems, but at least the pumpkin was deliciouso!

Talked with my boys back East and my dau., as well as my sisters in WY. Left a message for bet in Alaska...she was out to dinner at her son's. It's funny to go to facebook to find out where one's errant sibling might be that day. Did the same thing with Rog's. LOL...our son called earlier in the week as he expected to be snowed in with not great tires and no four-wheel drive. Good news, though, after a year on unemployment, he starts a brand-new job, in his field, on Monday! That is really something to be gratefull for!

All the food is put away. I am going to write a bit more and then help Rog with his shower and go to bed with a book I want to finish tonight.

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: LilyFestre
Date: 25 Nov 10 - 10:30 PM

So SRS, what did you decide for your pretty fruit dessert?

And Happy Birthday to Morgan!!! How old will he be?

Andrea....sounds like you are making some serious progress! My favorite thing set up first when I've moved is our bed and the bookshelves...something about having them up just says HOME to me (no matter how many other boxes I have about). :)

We've decided on minimal Christmas decorations this year. It was close to this time last year when we started digging around in the shed for Christmas gear and I thought I had pulled something. As you all know, I didn't pull anything, it was cancer. So...the sight of all that stuff up brings up too much for me right now. We'll have a small decorated tree and our family nativity. That's it. I have tons of Christmas stuff and normally like to get the entire house all decked out but last year's Christmas stuff remained up until May or so...I just didn't have the oomph to take care of it and then I got tired of looking at it. So....simple is the name of the game for Christmas this year. It will still be beautiful and the baby will love the lights on the tree. :)

I did get something else done today. We had a welcoming party for Jeremiah in the beginning of the month. For decorations, I had several photos mounted on 70+ 12x12 paper and hung around the hall. When it came time to take everything down, we were exhausted so instead of taking all the tape off the backs of the matting paper, I just put 2 of the mats back to back with all their tape still attached. Today I took all the tape off and slide the 12x12 photos into a top loading scrapbook...actually they took up 4 scrapbooks. I love to sit and look at them and now that they are in albums, it's MUCH easier than sifting through a box of mounted photos.

I did some laundry and also cleaned out Jeremiah's Pack and Play which lately has been a dumping ground for clean folded clothing waiting to make it's way upstairs to be put away. He's sitting so much better and soon will be crawling....I want him to be comfortable playin in there for a minute or two if there is something I must attend to.
    There are things that need to be done but my Ambien is kicking in, my eyes are feeling heavy and my fingers aren't cooperating like they should to type so I might as well call it a night.

Sweet dreams to you all,

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Nov 10 - 09:25 PM

Had to mess with my PC, again. Just testing to see if this goes through.

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Nov 10 - 04:25 PM

Overnight November arrived here in Fort Worth. I went out and got the paper and the wheelbarrow. Hauled two huge loads of the tomato vines I cut yesterday back to the compost. Picked the last couple of eggplants, and that is it, except for some basil, from the garden today. Finished stuffing the dogs' houses full of new hay (they love it!) It was beginning to drizzle when I came in.

Faucet covers will go on in a few minutes, but everything else is taken care of. I have candles in the fireplace that I'll light this evening - I get the effect of the fire without the smoke.

Rolls are rising, sweet potatoes are simmering. Dinner is going to be very late here this year, as the end of the line for my daughter and her friend who are coming to dinner. They've already been at both of his parents homes (anyone else watch the Vicar of Dibley, in particular, the episode where she eats so many xmas dinners?)

Still installing stuff on the computer. Got the printer linked up, the scanner, but I haven't set up the television receiver yet. I'm interested in using that to load stuff into the computer that I can burn to DVD, but I'll make sure everything works over this long weekend.

The house is beginning to smell good. Andrea, I love that you have enough book shelves now and are getting out the ornaments. I need to do that. I noticed some lights up in the neighborhood yesterday - good idea, now it's going to be cold work. I have to put lights up on my crape myrtle "tree."

Lucky Morgan, with his pumpkin pie for his birthday! My father used to request a banana cream pie. I'm dying to bake something special for today, so it might be a cranberry duff or a blueberry coffee cake. I want it to have pretty fruit, whatever I decide.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Nov 10 - 04:12 PM

Re-formatted LR today while Hardi sewed-- 1/4 study, 1/2 TV, 1/4 this puder corner. Moving twd public space and PAINTING.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Nov 10 - 02:23 PM

Andrea, that all sounds wonderful. I am so happy for you that you have the new place and are making such inroads in becoming part of the community and all. You are amazing.

We slept in until 830a. I had the cranberries cooked and cooling in a special dish I use only twice a year just for them. It is a light sort of turquoise green pottery pot with lid which a woman for whom my daughter babysat gave to my dau. years ago and which she gave to me. I love the deep red of the berries against the beautiful colours of the pot.

I made two pumpkin pies, though one will not be touched until Morgan next is over as I will put birthday candles on it for him. Rog put the turkey in earlier, has peeled the potatoes and has them in the pressure cooker which was his mom's. And, he has the cream cheese with chopped green olives and pimento ready to stuff the celery. We've told my brother it will be ready about 2p, but when we did the timer for the pies, it turned the oven off when it was done, which we just noticed, so lost about an hour's worth of cooking time! Might be a bit later than we thought.

Last night I used System restore to an earlier date and whatever was hanging my PC up seems to have been cleared. Phew!

It is bright, sunny, a little windy and very cold here, today. My "boyz" in New England called to say it was cold and cloudy there. They were on their way to their dad's for a few hours while my dau. will be with friends. I cannot believe how grown up they sound. Just 12 last May and their voices have changed. They are both in chorus!

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: mouldy
Date: 25 Nov 10 - 12:49 PM

The joiner (a very nice young (28) Scots lad called Chris) has been here all day and now gone. I have re-modelled shelves and my bigger TV is now up and running, and room for a few more books too. He has replaced a damaged spindle on the staircase, and put one in where I needed to stop Freya falling through the gap in the rails on the half-landing when she comes.

Ialso emptied some more ornaments from another box, and am sorting out some bits to go to the village charity shop tomorrow. However, I have my inaugural visit to the new doctors tomorrow too so that I can get my repeat script set up.

I did go back onto the scales yesterday, and they still give good news....maybe the batteries are going!

Baked some banana cake today. I will have to be careful I don't scoff that too quickly!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: LilyFestre
Date: 25 Nov 10 - 11:08 AM

HA! I had a feeling that 200th post would be from Leadfingers!!! Made me smile!!! :)

Meanwhile on the homefront, we've been doing minimal chores or clutter control as it's vacation time!!!! We are playing with the baby, doing things we love, puttering when the mood strikes, reading by the fire, enjoying wonderful cups of coffee and most importantly, each other!!!!!!

Due to the inclement weather and the desire to keep everyone safe, the actual Thanksgiving meal has been post-poned. We cooked a turkey on Tuesday for ourselves...a 21 pound bird that we have picked at ever since. Today the meat will be removed from the bones, the bones will be boiled for broth and then veggies added for soup. There will be LOADS of soup for the freezer and cold nights later this season or for lazy weekend afternoons on a snowy day. We'll make another turkey and all it's fixin's sometime soon..when the roads are not covered with freezing rain and snow. We're thankful for today and every other day...turkey or not. :)

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!!!

Michelle :)

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: Leadfingers
Date: 25 Nov 10 - 07:06 AM

200

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: mouldy
Date: 25 Nov 10 - 02:43 AM

Well the snow came last night, but there's only an inch or so...which has frozen.
Took some more cardboard boxes and packing paper to the tip yesterday afternoon, and bought a couple of new doormats while I was at it - there's a homewares store nearby. I also baked a couple of small fruit cakes for the church coffee morning on Saturday. I forgot that butter drips out of the cake pans, so ended up scrubbing the oven out late last night!

The joiner is (hopefully) coming this morning to remodel some shelves for me. I am beginning to think that I may actually have room for most of the books after all! I just need to sort some shelving out in the little cupboard in the room off my bedroom, which is my dressing table/computer/chill-out space....well it will be eventually!

Thanks for your kind thoughts too, folks.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Nov 2010 Declutter & Exercise reports
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Nov 10 - 01:22 AM

I'm loading up the new computer. Took a while to upgrade the operating system, and I can't use my good keyboard until I get a USB adapter for it (it's old enough that it has the old round plug on the end, so I need an adapter. I thought I had one, but I can't find it. Just tons of cables and other adapters.)

This is so fast compared to the other one. I knew the data was getting here faster than the processor could handle, and now it is just as quick as can be.

I'm downloading email from my online gmail accounts, and it take a while to first download, then to sort. I stopped deleting mail ages ago, though I do go through periodically and dump the commercial stuff. I need to learn to use the filters better, it would probably be faster.

Tomorrow will be busy. Yard work, dog stall work (sweep out the old hay and load it with new) and cooking. Tonight is for kicking back.

Have a good Thanksgiving, USians, and the rest of you who don't have the holiday, enjoy your Thursday!

SRS