BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011

Subject: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jun 11 - 07:48 PM

Today didn't slip past me, but I was out taking care of work that kept me away from the computer. Here is the May 2011 thread.

My wall is finished. I probably should have sprayed it a bit with water, the mortar is cracked in places as it dried, but it will do. Once it has flowers all over, the wall will age gracefully. A large tarantula moved in as I was working on the mortar, a large velvety and brown spider that moved over to a crack and made him or herself at home. I love it that the wildlife see possibilities here. I need to finish shoveling the dirt that is piled in front of it - that will go on top and in other places around the yard that need a little leveling. But this is a major project I've fussed about for literally years, and now that the bulk of the work is finished I can set about decorating it with flowers. Xeriscape, as usual, but still, with flowers.

The dogs have been washed and I put peroxide on a couple of hot spots on Cinnamon. I'll begin giving her an antihistamine (the vet recommends Zyrtec, so I get the knock-off brand at Sam's club- a year's supply for under $20).

eBay box mailed, and I'm going to list the tiller on Craig's list tomorrow. No point in listing when I'm not going to be home to show it. Today was payday, so the timing is excellent.

I hope people who have been under the weather revive and take a run at the projects they're wanting to do. If I can finally build that darned wall, I can do anything. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: Penny S.
Date: 02 Jun 11 - 05:32 AM

Yesterday I went on a "Health Walk" organised by the local authority. They are weekly, for an hour, on public footpaths around the village. For those across the pond, the UK is networked with old paths which were originally for workers to go from their cottages to their places of work, or people to go to the church. They go through woods and across fields, and the land owners are required to keep them usable as they are defined as "rights of way". Round here, they seem to do this really well, with cleared lines across the crops. (Back thirty five years ago, I did find a stile (wooden structure for crossing fence, owned by the local authority) covered with barbed wire, while parts of the hedges were smoothed down to allow the hunt to jump them.)

Anyway, the walk set off along paved village estate paths, then through a publicly owned meadow, a cut down through a wood by a loud alsatian in the garden of a larger house, across a field of ripening rape (the stuff oil comes from - canola?) with poppies, like an Impressionist painting, past a car breakers' yard, and up through another wood to the open land belonging to the village. The pace was easy, and i felt better after it. I'll be going on more of these. There's another one at the next village as well.

I think it's run on the principle that money spent on organising these (one leader, and two others to make sure no-one drops behind un-noticed) is minimal, and it helps to save money on health issues later.

I then set off for the cherry farm, and remembered I had to sort out the insurance for the flats, so did that, bought cherries, bean and pea plants. Back at home, I put more soil in the raised bed for the legumes, dug out some compost from the bin and mixed it in with the soil, topped it off with some bought "topsoil". In my book, topsoil does not come with included black plastic. It was much more like a compost as it had no mineral component. Anyway, I planted out the dwarf runner beans, and some peas, and then watered everything. I had managed to kill the seeds I tried myself for these plants by allowing them to overheat. This morning I put in some seeds directly for the climbing runner beans.

The cherries are "Early Rivers" and they are much sweeter than last years, which were late - these are really early. I suppose eating cherries counts as a healthy activity!

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Jun 11 - 08:55 AM

Last year's cold tub in Dog World will be this year's cold tub-- on the front porch right in the middle of my sales biz, which is a FR effort for ministry travel expenses. We hope to open the sale Saturday, and each week it's open will feature different items. This week (if we can be ready) it's a brand new AC and some bed rails to make a twin a toddler-friendly space, a wheelchair, and misc.

Funds raised go not only to my own ministry travels but others on Commissions on which I serve, and local parishioners traveling for ministry ed. It will be administered by someone else.

Upcoming weeks when I can fit them into my own travel sched will include furniture, knick-knackery, linens...

The pedometer, now that summer busy-ness has kicked in, will be spot-checking.

Ydy both halves of the flesh explored Lambs Creek. I was able to load the scooter myself for the first time. Riding time 45 minutes, a good limit for the first half of the month.

Another activity ydy was hustling up some water containers for a friend's surprise visit, and a photo visit with his daughter.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jun 11 - 12:25 PM

This time of year I rinse my dishes in a big tub of water, then I scoop it into buckets and go out several times a day to pour the water on the plants that need them. It really is astonishing how much water we let run down the drain simply to rinse off our fingers or brush our teeth. So I have a bucket in the sink to catch that barely used water, and it goes to the garden. One of these days I'll rig a line through the window out to a cistern of some sort, to save a few steps.

I sent gnu information about the food strainer/grinder I use (borrow) for canning my tomatoes and making juice and sauce. It's getting to be that time of year again. I need to declutter the sun room so I have room to work for food storage activity. (I had some peaches for breakfast this morning that I canned last summer. Mmmm!)

I need to make a list again of things to do, and I need to start addressing the work/play yes/no dialog I find going on, now that I've been reading this procrastination book. "It feels good to be on time" vs "I can take just one more look at facebook before I leave." Etc. I need to lose weight, so I need to manage my evening meal better so it's earlier in the day. I'm good at putting it off until after the sun sets, and having that second glass of wine that means I'm layering on calories instead of burning them when I go to bed.

To this end, I'm going to clear the kitchen counter and pull out my prettiest tea making cups, equipment, pots, and find some herbal teas to substitute for evening wine sipping. Perhaps the reward of using a pretty cup and little pot will distract me from the anticipated enjoyment aspects of a glass of wine. I'm pretty sure it is the calories, the sugars, not the alcohol that is my habit. So I need to switch from calories to no calories, and still have something to sip in the evening. I'm also going to have to find a way to make myself stop what I'm doing and come in and eat earlier.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 02 Jun 11 - 12:39 PM

It is a shame to have to stop when there is good daylight and you have the energy. Could you make up something ahead of time in slow cooker, or a big salad with some protein, eat outside and get right back to work for a few hours? mg

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jun 11 - 12:43 PM

You're right, and I have begun to manage it occasionally. I walk the dogs at 7pm with a friend, and she always eats before the walk. I've been trying to do that more often, and it needs to become habit.

I think I need to fix it ahead or have components so I can eat a light meal in the evening then resume work. Sandwich, salad, whatever. I should make lunch my biggest meal, and dinner less of a calorie source.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: Penny S.
Date: 02 Jun 11 - 01:04 PM

I've been thinking about the water issue - we're well below usual rainfall for the time of year, and we aren't on the wet side of Britain. No hosepipe ban, yet. The trouble is that all my water pipes are on the front of the building, with nowhere to run waste water to catch it - I don't own the frontage. And, apart from the downstairs loo, the water is on the two upper floors, and it would be difficult to carry water down. The problem there is the cold water that runs through before the hot - I really ought to catch it somehow. The taps (faucets) aren't a style that a hose would fit on easily. I could, if I could get it into them, use plastic camping containers, I suppose.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: Penny S.
Date: 02 Jun 11 - 01:11 PM

And I haven't done much today - that healthy walk took it out of me a bit. Chased a new cat out of the garden. Paid the windowcleaner - who did not do the ground floor at the back. Picked about 6 strawberries.

I have eaten enough out of the cupboards in the utility room that I have been able to move the bottled fruit and marmalade out of one of the cupboards, into which I have been able to put some of the laundry stuff, so making the place look just a bit tidier. But not much.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Jun 11 - 04:20 PM

The LR is full of boxes to put in the car to go to the country. The shed is "almost" empty. One good truckload would do it - if the truck did not need an exhaust system. I know today is Thurs because I had to park on the other side. I was going to make an extra car trip but it is nice and cool so I thought I would get some tomatoes planted, Did five yesterday and three container ones today. Then I could not find the rest of the carefully saved egg shells. I'll search some more later. I sat down for lunch and got involved in raccoon sites.

Added to previous comments on a newspaper site: A man was arrested in Toronto for beating on mom and kits with a stick or shovel. The comment section was an opportunity to do some education. Received an email this am from a woman near To. who was delighted to read my blog and I am delighted to meet her. Makes the effort worth while and, hopefully, I gave some of he others food for thought. "I challenge you to read my blog...."

After rush hour, I shall bring the car around and load it for tomorrow. Hmmm It's cool and I have time... I could walk to the library. GOOD idea. Maybe I'll remember where I put the eggshells.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jun 11 - 08:23 PM

Something today reminded me of this interview with Peter Walsh on the Nate Berkus Show.

"If you declutter your home it will save you 40% of the time you spend cleaning." That's a keeper!

A coworker has been diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer. She's going through radiation and chemo now, and is not eating much. A friend tells me she loves pumpkin bread, without the nuts, so I picked up a can of pumpkin and will dig out the oldest recipe that I have - the one with lots of oil. My friend thinks the extra calories in this instance might be helpful. I also have a lower fat recipe, so I'll copy that one also.

I need to pick up around here. It's building up again, all of the level surfaces are collecting things. Nothing new there, is it?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jun 11 - 10:47 PM

Walk accomplished, we won't see Susie and Zeke for a few days because they're headed out of town for the weekend. It has been very good for me to have someone to walk with; I haven't talked to another person so often about so many things for a very long time!

I searched for the receipt from getting the tiller fixed, but didn't find it. I do have an owners manual (found and saved the PDF on the Internet) and the parts list (same source). I am writing the description tonight and will call the repair shop in the morning to see if they can look it up and tell me what they know about it. And they might even have a suggestion about selling it.

I found my pumpkin bread recipes so will scan them and send both to a co-worker who asked about them. I have taken this to the office in the past as a holiday gift, so she knows what one of the recipes tastes like. I'll time my baking so that this is very fresh next time I head to campus and can deliver it. The woman going through radiation and chemo is working half-days as long as she feels up to it.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Jun 11 - 12:41 AM

SRS,

   Chemo often leaves a horrible taste in one's mouth for a week or longer. I found that really sour things (sour patch kids, lemons, etc) helped. Maybe your friend might like a box of sour patch kids to go with that pumpkin roll. Just a thought. If she can tolerate yogurt, Chobani Greek yogurt is great (raspberry and lemon are both tart)...15 grams of protein in a small cup....great for getting protein in when you don't feel like eating much.

My goal for this month is to have my office cleaned out (it's MUCH more organized now)....all yard sale items to be priced and a new paint color decided upon. I'd also like to have the front porch cleaned off and turned back into a place of respite instead of winter storage/gear/feed bags and buckets. We also have a fire pit that I'm anxious to get in place and a pool to open for the season.

   Any kind of formal exercise is probably out for now as I've injured my foot...something on the top of my foot to the outer edge. I have no idea what I've done but it hurts like heck. If it's still this painful on Monday, I'll be in touch with my doctor. If it goes away on it's own AND the weather stays as cool as it was today, I'm hoping to go to Zumba. That's great fun! Informal exercise hopefully will include hiking a few trails, taking a day on the weekend to walk the local Rails to Trails, fishing and....wait for it....KAYAKING!!!! I wasn't able to kayak at all last summer...I was far too weak after the chemo but I think I'm up for it now!! HOORAY!!!! Jeremiah will be joining me! He has a special life jacket with straps that go between his legs and attack to the top part, a piece to keep his face up out of the water and a handle for a quick grab out of the water. I am sooo excited to take him out!!!!
    Also this month, there are a ton of Relay For Life activities going on, an ovarian cancer walk, parades to walk in, etc. and can't forget the gardening!!! I have 4 cancer/endocrinology appointments this month as well.
   Oh...and one last thing, I have a little boy who is walking more and more, who loves to climb and can crawl like the wind!!!!

Busy, busy, busy, oh so happily busy!!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jun 11 - 03:49 PM

This morning I glanced at a To-Do list I stuck to the fridge last year; most of the big ones were still open. I'm happy to announce that all of the items on that old list were finished. In the last 12 months I cleared and extended the garden, did a lot of compost tasks, I got all of the concrete, mortar, stone and rock building work done on both the front wall and the keyhole garden. I also had phone wiring listed, but since I don't have a wired phone any more, that isn't necessary. I will make a new list and make a note of completing some data wiring to two rooms (uses a different jack), a modification of the old plan. Whew!

I mowed the front lawn early this morning and did a little watering and transplanting. I have more transplanting and weeding, but I'll pace myself and save most of it for evening.

It's hot but breezy out, and I was in the shady part of the back yard with the dogs this afternoon when the grandkids from next door came out into that yard. We had quite a pleasant conversation over the back fence.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Jun 11 - 04:09 PM

Survivor Shirt? Check.
Teal Beads? Check.
Teal Bracelets? Check.
Survivor Bracelet? Check.
Teal Ribbon? Check.
Camera? Check.
Viking Helmet? Check.

Look out Relay For Life, HERE I COME!!! WOOOO HOOOO!!!

**************HAPPY DANCE********************

I'm figuring a couple miles on my feet tonight at the very least.

Be well Everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jun 11 - 05:27 PM

Busy weekend to begin an exciting summer, Michelle - sounds like you'll have a great year! I like the description earlier of the baby life jacket for on the water. He should enjoy that!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Jun 11 - 06:24 PM

Pedometer: 3425 yesterday.

May numbers averaged 2500 steps per day with a high of 4000+, so June's goal is to average 3400.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Jun 11 - 07:51 PM

Wed. and today - hour exercise with Morgan at the cardio-pulmonary rehab classes. The OTs were great, helping him with each station. He went like crazy and we all wished we could bottle some of his energy.

It's been a very busy week and next week looks the same. He will start summer school, we think, on the 13th? Don't know for how long, but I'll still have him half days.

I continue to lose weight.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Jun 11 - 09:13 PM

Today's action was porch re-arranging with Hardi, and later, a scooter trip towards Ansonia, where I learned that I MUST bring the dog I thought we should bring tonight, and did not bring. But TBTG I had brought my cell phone, shoes, slippers (warm hands), and warm shirt. I'll have to rethink what needs to be standard on board for these trips away from the van, when also away from amenities. A scooter is not like a horse that can think, for itself, about getting you out of the trouble you steer it into. (Not like Dipper, at all.)

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Jun 11 - 11:21 PM

Relay was FABULOUS!!!!!!

I got 2 tattoos, walked a few miles, made new friends, passed on something special to a total stranger and spent time reflecting.

If you have never been to a Relay For Life event, I HIGHLY recommend it, especially from dusk on. There's nothing like it.

Time to call it a night. I volunteered to help work an early shift at a chicken BBQ fundraiser (for the Relay For Life) and then on to some yard sales!!

Night Everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jun 11 - 01:37 AM

Laundry is underway, kitchen is cleaner, but not finished. More weeds have been pulled from the berm, and tomorrow I'll make a push to try to finish it. Bills have been paid, and I've updated contact information in anticipation of phasing out the house phone. I've reached the point where it seems silly to have another number beyond the one I carry in my pocket.

No response so far on my Craig's List ad for the tiller. I'll see about running one on eBay (I'll see if these things sell on eBay first) or else I'll load it in the truck and take it to the shop I called today. He said he buys them at the wholesale price, probably half of what I want in my original ads. If I can't get rid of it, I'll do that.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: Penny S.
Date: 04 Jun 11 - 03:19 AM

Yesterday I finally got round to some correspondence I had been putting off in the morning, had a snooze and went out shopping. Bought some more cherries, but ended up with far too many to eat immediately, as the bag broke as I got into the car, so the people gave me a new bag of two pounds, while I still had the rest of the first lot.

So I squashed them all into a preserving jar and went through the bottling process.

The supermarket had had some reduced full cream milk and cream, so I used the hot water to heat that to make real clotted cream with the scalded taste overnight - it is odd how much the volume reduces doing that. This morning I skimmed it, and, having been reminded by reading a thread somewhere about Devon cream and junket, put rennet in the warm skimmed milk, with sugar and rosewater. Though the rennet is well past its use by date, it has worked. This probably does not count as healthy! Even with my strawberries. I'll have to make some scones for the cream. (I gather scones are the same sort of thing as American biscuits. Plain flour, baking powder, butter, water, handle very gently, bake and eat warm.)

Before all that, I scraped out as much as I could of the bottom layer of my compost bin, using a hoe, jammed the upper layer down into the resulting space and filled the top with vinca and geraniums. I now need to scrape out the comfrey slurry from the water tank and put it on top of it. The bin design is a bit flawed as there is only one place to access the compost, and some of it will be sitting at the back for years. It looks lovely stuff, though. Though there were some odd things in it - an old bread plastic bag, for example. I must have been a little careless on one of my trips with kitchen waste. No sign of the mice, or the frog. I suspect Weasley, with his friend Douglas (the ginger cat), may have limited the mouse population.

I also realised that I need not have the hammock frame covered with an unsightly tarpaulin if I remove the cloth part, and it looks a lot better. This is a folding hammock, which conveniently shuts up to about six and a half foot high, and is very awkward to move. A mistaken purchase, I think.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jun 11 - 11:39 AM

Your process with cream is a mystery to me, but interesting! As far as scones/biscuits, scones are a richer, sweeter version of what we call baking powder biscuits. I make my biscuits with water, not milk, and though I tend to use butter now they're often (usually) made with shortening.

I've been adjusting the rope lines on the clothes line, and will next hang a load that washed last night. Had a good over-the-back-fence chat with the next door neighbor - when you have great neighbors, those are a special kind of conversation, aren't they? Anyway, more laundry to wash, and I need to finish moving the dirt in front of the berm. I delayed putting out my soaker hoses this year because I wanted to move one stone wall first, and now that I have a clear path around that corner of the house, I'll arrange them and get them going.

There are several partially set up or ready to do projects here that I probably should list on my fridge, and check next year to see if I completed them. :) Things I already have the materials for so there is no more expense, just the performance of the job.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 Jun 11 - 02:00 PM

SRS,

Have you listed your tiller on FB? Sometimes people will buy a used item (of that size and price range) more readily if they know you.

The Chicken BBQ was a hit, packed up lots of dinners and sold even more halves of chicken. I have to say, it was DELICIOUS!!!! I bought 2 extra halves of chicken so we have some for dinner tomorrow night too! YUMMY!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Jun 11 - 07:07 PM

We got at it in the yard this morning. Rog mowed the front & side yards, then weed whacked. I finally got out in the driveway to tie up my sweetpeas. That terrible dust bowl day we had a couple of weeks ago laid them low and they just didn't bounce back. They look great otherwise, very full and almost ready to bloom. I couldn't find the string, so I used some old yarn I've had for years, saffron coloured, so it looks quite colourful already. I deadheaded all annuals and watered them and the perennial garden, and also picked up trash and pulled a few weeds before Rog came round with the whacker.

Then came the big job. There is a "volunteer" Russian Olive tree which came up several years ago, in the driveway, snug up against the picket fence. I've been wanting him to cut it down for ages, but we've only trimmed it now and then. It was blocking some light for my redbud tree. So, today, Rog went to work and lopped off all of its branches, some quite substantial ones and I can't believe how much sunlight comes through there now! I kind of feel badly, trees are such a precious commodity out here and ROs don't require any care, but I think I will grow used to it looking so nude. We will keep it trimmed back. We also have a row of them at the back of our property line, so it wasn't the only one. I was able to help by dragging all of the branches part way to the backyard where Rog stacked them, way back. We have a good-sized fenced in what must've been a veggie garden, which became our sort of compost spot. Huge ruts from irrigation, we think, and not manageable until we have more time, cash, and desire, but in the meantime all branches, christmas trees, etc. get added to the pile. It's not what you would call a real compost heap, but if we ever woodchip it all or whatever, we could get some mulch, plus we know there are small critters and birds who like its "wildness."

We came in just at lunch as it was really starting to get hot. Ate lunch, then I started sorting through the two boxes of papers I pulled to get rid of from the filing cabinet. There is an office paper recycling thing parked at the grocery store parking lot, so when I am done shredding sensitive stuff and removing all the staples, we'll take it over. How do you like my one-finger typing? I sprained my right wrist and have a splint on and, in tearing up papers, I messed up my left index finger, it is on ice at the moment! **bg**

Do any of you remember Bartles & James wine coolers? For the first time in about twenty years I wanted a cool, alcoholic drink. Margarita wine cooler sounded really good. Both liquor stores said they don't make them any more and they had no alternatives. I found a b&j website 2011 and they do still make them, but they are only available back East! I am past wanting one now as I am cooled off, but I did find a recipe and will try it out this summer. I just don't drink, but every once in a while a margarita or amaretto sour sounds really good.:-)

















b&

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jun 11 - 10:36 PM

That was a big job, Kat! Sometimes coming in from a hot day a cold beer has that same attraction for me. So much better than a coke or something else sweet.

I finally finished removing the pile of dirt at the curb. The last few buckets got moved this evening, and there are little piles of dirt in flower beds waiting to be worked in tomorrow. A couple of them needed to be higher, so that load of topsoil from next door was the gift that kept on giving, once I had enough behind the retaining wall.

Shopping today, picking up essentials. It seems every two or three months I run out of everything at once. Salt, soy milk, flour, etc.

Some of the laundry is finished, and what I really need to tackle (still!) is the paper around here.

I'm turning off the computer to see if when it reboots I can reset the Malwarebytes program. First thing it did, upon installation, was block (without confirmation) a page I use all of the time. I need to get it unblocked or get rid of the "professional" version (14-day trial) of this program. I usually use the free version.

Grrrr.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Jun 11 - 11:27 PM

SRS, I hope you really celebrate your wall accomplishments! It must feel so good to see all those things done on last year's list!

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jun 11 - 09:35 AM

Ydy's yard sale met all of my goals except one-- it wasn't hot enough to sell the AC, so I held firm. LOTs of traffic, and that means getting the word out on summer repeats, free. Lots of tweaks to setup done (and planned), and therefore lots of walking. Should have worn pedometer; est 5,000 based on how beat I was, plus TOO many trips up and down the hardest stairs on the property-- ouchies. Made some money for the min-trav-fund, too. Hours I set (and permanentized on the signage) were perfect.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Jun 11 - 11:26 AM

There's a patch of a weed grass in the garden to pull out today, and I have to finish transplanting a few things. It's so hot I have to be careful when I do it. Last year I let the volunteer tomatoes grow where they wanted, and it became such a thatch I couldn't walk between the plants. I'm trying to avoid that this time round by moving the volunteers that are in the wrong places.

Another load of laundry to hang, and I need to address paper still. I have used newspaper under mulch in the garden, and I'll continue that, but I still have too much, so it's a trip to the recycle bin this week.

Pulled some shoes out of my closet that I don't wear any more. They were cute, and comfortable to stand in, but not comfortable to walk in (an important distinction!) I'm not weeding clothes right now because I am now making a concerted effort at weight loss, so I'd like to shrink myself into wearing them. I'll accumulate some Goodwill stuff for this week also.

I'll clear my desktop now, then head out for a while in the garden. I've already set up sprinklers, but mostly have been in the kitchen emptying and cleaning canisters for stuff. I had some quinoa that was pretty old, and I decided to try keeping my sea salt in a mason jar (we'll see what happens to the lid).

Just had a call from a friend in Arizona with a laundry list of things she needs help with. I'll put a few links in an email to her to get her started, and finish up on that next week. Gotta go hang up my laundry in the yard and get moving.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jun 11 - 11:58 AM

There's a new housecleaning plan in the offing. In retrospect, I can see now that the yd-sale prep piloted it. I'm delegating all the things I detest about cleaning (and can not presently do by myself) to hubby, and doing the queenly things I LIKE to do, while we both listen to music. I know it seems like a no-brainer but it only took 18 years to get there, for us both, to meet in the middle.

It might make this too-huge house manageable for the first time since we moved into it in '94. The best part-- when he tires of it, or is too busy due to work crises, I now have the funds to pay Adrian to take Hardi's role!

In the cleaning, that is. :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 05 Jun 11 - 02:44 PM

What happened to Mudcat yesterday? If anyone has an alternate link to some site where one could find out what's going on, please post it if you would.

Enjoying reading everyone's posts, and wishing I was in a pastoral countryside with functional paths around town. We are in suburban sprawl hell here, not even sidewalks.

Decluttering definitely took a long holiday for Memorial Day, but we are revving back up, though hindered by blistering heat. Shoulda cleared out the garage while it was pleasant.

I got a shredder to help with the massive paperwork purge underway. I did not realize these things need oil almost constantly? I'm dabbing 5W20 on sheets of paper and feeding them through, they say every bin change, which seems a bit extreme. Can I do it less often, can I get away with 5W20 or should I buy some mineral oil (hell will freeze over before I guy Shredder Oil), and does having oily paper make it bad for the recycle bin?


Signed up for more electronic delivery of financial stuff, can't wait for that to slow the flood of mail. But meanwhile, you buy a few clothes online and you get catalogs every blessed 2 weeks, as if a person who just bought clothes is anxious to buy more the next day. Aaarrggghhhh.   Is it hopeless to try to contact the offenders and get them to stop?

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: Penny S.
Date: 05 Jun 11 - 04:05 PM

The Devon cream thing started because there is a move to have "Devon Cream Tea" a protected description, because there are people who serve cream teas with squirty stuff from cans, instead of proper clotted cream. The proper stuff was originally made using fresh milk direct from the cow, heated overnight over a waterbath. In my youth you could buy it in markets from huge bowls, with a lovely crust on it. Apparently, Cornwall and Devon are the only place not in the Levant where this is done, and it is suggested that the people were taught to do it by Lebanese sailors who came for the tin trade. Cream made in Cornwall is available around the UK, but does not have the proper old scalded taste. So I imitate the original process. Very rarely.

I was wrong about the scones - it's milk. When did I post it? Was it one of my late nights? Some versions use buttermilk - probably originally the stuff from butter making, not the commercial stuff. with cooking, it's sometimes hard to know what other people are going to know or use the same name for.

How do you pronounce scones? Over here there is a division between scone rhyming with stone, and scone rhyming with on. There is a national difference between Scotland and England, and a class difference. Apparently there are people who regard those who use the "other" pronunciation as being "wrong". I use the Scottish "on" version.

There is another right way, wrong way argument about how to eat the cream tea scones - does it go butter, jam, cream, or butter, cream, jam? It may depend on whether you're in Cornwall or Devon.

Today I set off for the garden with a long list of tasks, each of which depended on carrying out the previous one, and designed to end up with the summer bulbs given me by a friend's mother planted in the pot currently containing Solomon's seal from my mother's collection. I managed to top up the potato bags, lift some primulas, and remove ivy from the fence behind the shaded site for the Solomon's Seal before it started raining. Which is good, but left the garden with a heap of ivy and forsythia prunings. I saw the mouse, and the frog jumped away when I was lifting the primulas. Glad to see him - though I don't know if he is the same one I saw struggling with the frost.

Instead, I finished putting up a bookshelf rack, and added three shelves, stacking them with more books out of boxes, so I have a pile of boxes for the dump tomorrow, plus the last of the wardrobe unit. I also put all my photographs and those from Dad's into one of the Ikea boxes I got on my last trip. I've put the boxes against the wall under the shelves and stacked some other stuff on them pro tem. It's looking much more like a room now. There's still more shelving to go, but I don't expect I have enough brackets, and they aren't made any more.

Had a little snooze in the sfternoon, after salmon salad lunch.

It stopped raining, and I went out to top up the organic-not-harmful-to-anything-but-slugs slug stuff, and the beer in the slug trap. Do you have slugs and snails in your arid areas? I also pulled the forsythia bush into a more vertical position and roped it to a hook in the fence, as it had slumped over and was overwhelming a peony (sp?). I hope it manages to get used to the new position. A couple of robins came in succession to use the birdbath.

I picked some more strawberries, and noticed that the Albertine rose from my grandparents' home has really taken off and is ready to be planted out from its pot. It needs to go where there is sun as it is susceptible to mildew, which has hit another of my rescue roses which I put in the shade.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 05 Jun 11 - 04:07 PM

Several mile walk on the Rails to Trails today. It was hot but we were all sunscreened up and there was a lovely breeze. The whole family went. What a great way to celebrate National Cancer Survivor's Day!!!!

Yard sale plans in progress here. I have committed to a date and time with a friend. I can't wait to get the stuff OUT OF HERE!!!!

I'd say a third of the baby clothes part of the yard sale pile have been rewashed, folded, priced and repacked.

And today....well, it was a turtle hunting expedition! We saw deer, peepers, turkeys, a heron, turkey buzzards and turtle eggs that have been recently laid but no turtles. All the more reason to do it again!

I love getting outside with my guys....makes my heart soar.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Jun 11 - 04:30 PM

How wonderful, Michelle.:-)

patty, you can always check mudcat on facebook...max usually posts something there, I think, if there are problems going on. Also, I have never heard of oiling a shredder. Have had mine for years and never done so and it works fine. As to the catalogues, if you go to their websites, there is usually an "opt-out" choice, but may take some looking to find. I usually tell them when I order to NOT send any catalogues and NOT put me on their list. Most of the time that seems to work. If, I didn't do that, I will call them and tell them to stop which they will do, but not until after telling me it could take a couple of mailings for it to take effect. Good luck!

Penny, love your descriptions of the local traditions, flora and fauna!

Rog mowed and weed-whacked our backyard, today. Huge, tall weeds and grass. Morgan came over and helped me sort our recyclables into separate bins by the back gate, then came in and helped shred more papers.

It is in the 90s now, so we are inside, blinds drawn, swamp cooler on. I think I will try to talk Rog into helping me move some books and get the library truck out of the house into storage.Otherwise I will shred more papers, lie down and read, maybe even snooze a bit.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Jun 11 - 04:43 PM

I'm in for a cool down, I'll go back and read the posts this evening. I have untangled and positioned most of my soaker hoses in new places this year. There is mulch in a few beds I weeded, and I need to dump a load of weeds on the compost. Then I'm going to go get some planting stuff for the wall garden. (That is Clementine's Wall, by the way, named for the kitty buried in front of that area, next to the little pine tree.)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 05 Jun 11 - 07:35 PM

I love this list site: www.tadalist.com

It's a fast, easy, free way to create a ta-da list or a grocery list or a list of what you want to take to the next festival...love it!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Jun 11 - 07:37 PM

I've roughly weeded and shaped the berm, and in a few minutes I'll head over to Home Depot to get a couple of bags of humus and some bedding plants to put in the end near the wall.

Lots to do to get ready for a meeting tomorrow morning, so I'll make that trip quick, but I want some closure on that work that I've been pondering for literally years.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 05 Jun 11 - 08:18 PM

***CHEERING FOR SRS********

I bet it feels SOOOOO GOOD to have finished it! Can't wait to see the flowers you add!

YAY!!! You inspire me!!! XOXOX

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 05 Jun 11 - 10:31 PM

Thanks for all the feedback, kat. I will start contacting the junk mailers. As for mudcat news on facebook, I've been avoiding facebook, but should have realized that would be the backup plan, so many people are on it.

I have loaded lots of stuff in the car to go to various destinations tomorrow. It doesn't look any more cleared out around here than before, but I think that's because a lot of the stuff leaving was closeted, and because the carpet didn't used to have bits of paper shreds in it.

An old mandolin is leaving, too. I'm keeping the one with the better tone and losing the one with the nut that needs replacing. I'm just going to pass it to a musician tomorrow, because she'll know someone who knows someone who can use a starter mandolin that needs a minor bit of work done. High time it gets some use!

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jun 11 - 10:38 PM

Saqdie had her firt ponying trip with the scooter today, and had a RIOT!

Penny, I am sure it's "scongs." :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Jun 11 - 12:14 AM

There is a google linkup for mudcat also - you'll see it occasionally in one of the random boxes on the main forum page if you're signed in when you visit.

I was hoping to find portulaca (a rose-like succulent, excellent for xeriscape) but had to settle for zinnias. I wasn't going to a second place. I also had 4 ornamental sweet potatoes to plant so they can drape over the wall. I had already done some of my soil preparation, mixing in my compost with the soil as I filled in behind the wall. I picked up a couple of bags of humus, and after spreading that, I planted, then used the rest of a bag of free mulch to mulch the bed. I mixed a couple of gallons of molasses (dissolved in a cup of water, then poured into the mix, plus an organic liquid fertilizer and some "Garrett Juice," a compost tea concoction available at feed stores around here. Also added a little plant wash (a kind of good-for-many things soap that helps with mildew, insects, etc.) The sprinkler ran for about 30 minutes over the spot. Tomorrow I'll see if it is still there, or if the neighborhood feral cats decided to visit. I suppose that is more detail than necessary, but if any strangers visit the thread and wonder how organic gardeners plant a bed, this is it. :

And speaking of bed, I'm off to bed. That was a lot of work today.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: Penny S.
Date: 06 Jun 11 - 12:03 PM

Tkanks, kat. However, it isn't right to describe my accounts of anything on the west of this island as local. They're all Celts (and earlier peoples), and Kent is full of incomers (has been since the incomers were Celts themselves!) I know we're little, but the divisions are many.

Penny (having a lazy day after taking old units to the dump and getting a new stock of cherries.)

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Jun 11 - 03:43 PM

I must be decluttered enough to be functional-- in one afternoon, I assembled displays for two Convention tables and cleared an old laptop to give away. Everything was right where I thought it would be, no fuss.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Jun 11 - 06:37 PM

Well, darn. I've lost a small electronic item that I know I had in my hand last Tuesday. Trouble is, I set it down somewhere in my cluttered house and now I can't find it. Right now I might be looking at the case, just sitting there in plain sight amongst all of the other items sitting around. Time to get serious about picking up and putting stuff away.

It's so hot out today that I'm saving my yard work and dog walking for later. I guess I can keep putting things away until it's cool enough to go out.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 06 Jun 11 - 08:33 PM

Dishes done, sink empty, 3 loads of laundry done (only 1 load left hanging on the line...oh I LOVE hanging laundry on the line!!!), salads made for the next few days (temps are supposed to get in the upper 90s...UGH...so I cooked ahead), chicken roasted, baby toys picked up, high chair wiped down, coupons clipped, bed made, baby on schedule, floors swept, rugs vacuumed and list made for festival gear needed for this weekend! And I got in a short walk. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 06 Jun 11 - 08:34 PM

And one last thing (the biggest thing really), I cleaned out the fridge!!! Scrubbed it all down inside....MUCH better!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Jun 11 - 11:58 PM

Good job, Michelle! I also love hanging the laundry on the line - it takes me straight back to my early childhood in Seattle when Mom would hang the clothes and we would play nearby (or between the lines - I'm sure we heard about that!) I listen to the world around me as I hang the clothes, and I feel the moisture already evaporating and cooling the air between the parallel lines of laundry.

Dinner tonight was a chef's salad, and I included a home grown tomato. Wonderful - there's simply nothing to match them. I sauteed a chicken breast while my dogs raced around the back with Zeke (might as well let them get accustomed to his visits, since he'll spend 2 weeks here in July). After that adventure I came in to make my wonderful salad.

I've made progress with my desk. Papers put away or in a place waiting to be filed. No mp3 player still.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: Penny S.
Date: 07 Jun 11 - 02:19 AM

Did manage another shelf support yesterday, and seem to have emptied all the book boxes, though there are a couple of free standing piles that need homes. Also a couple of book cases with two layers of books.

What is now daunting is the number of boxes with other stuff in, without anywhere to put it.

Today I have to dig a few foxgloves up to give to a friend with a wildlife site. And comfrey to go in the compost.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Jun 11 - 10:15 AM

I noticed today that the barn out back (not ours) is getting taken over with climbing weeds. I LOVE looking a them but it looks like the wonderful sound old traditional barn is eventually going to be pulled apart by them.... hoping to catch owner/our landlord... he has one summer left of kids-at-home, so..... but it's not my declut!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Jun 11 - 12:45 PM

... spent a delightful and powerful morning with Sadie (sorry Faulkner-- she's maturing nicely into a peaceful age), up in the landing room that adjoins the whole upstairs. Lovely-- laptopping away for Convention display pages in the room next to the AC-- a nice cool place to work in the hot summer, since the AC easily handles the space when the dividing door is open.

In all, a lot more convenient that laptopping up in the sleeping attic ever was. I think I also see a clean, harmonious, less cat-haired, semi-private space for the Rector to meet with penitents, up there; there is a series of doors dividing this rather odd house to keep some things private while others are public.....

Even without refrigeration it is a well-equipped kitchen up there, still, with only a little clearing up to do to make it really nice again.

So good to be getting back on schedule, and back into the structure that was working so well!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise + Declutter = power-June 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Jun 11 - 04:12 PM

Supposed to hit 101 here today. The object becomes not increasing the garden, but simply keeping what is out there alive.

Co-worker is ill frp, chemo and radiation, and her uterine problem wasn't addressed surgically. When the doctor saw her cervical cancer he closed her up, so the uterine problem is also still giving her pain. She likes pumpkin bread, and amazingly, this lady is trying to go to work 1/2 days as long as she can (a month and a half more of treatments to go). I'm making small loaves of pumpkin bread and will take them over tomorrow for her to eat, and extras to freeze. I hope this helps her eat, she has lost so much weight.

When not doing this stuff, I'll keep picking up around here. There's plenty of that left to do!

SRS