Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability

Subject: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 01:20 AM

Last month's thread.

I remarked a couple of days ago that December is the hardest month for most of us. Winter causes us to slow down (in the Northern Hemisphere) and the holiday treats are everywhere. This is the thread where you may need to come back often and congratulate yourself for avoiding hazards at work, in the marketplace, and your own impulses to create sugary treats this time of year.

Aim for savory, for protein, less sweet, fewer carbs. Think about the mature pleasure found in a good slice of cheese on a whole-grain cracker instead of the cloying sweetness of fudge or divinity. Have good quality fruits around to treat yourself to a few apple or orange slices instead of more peppermint bark. Get out the olives, pickles, pickled herring, and smoked salmon instead of the sugar cookies and candy canes.

I read an article in the Huffington Post today that gave some good tips about avoiding the holiday weight gain, so I've added it here to start this month's thread.

Kat and Michelle have asked that we recognize (or ask about) the time they spend with their Qi Gong and Yoga each day, to help inspire them to keep it up. They probably have the best chance of making it through the month without weight gain because they already have this as a routine, so keep it up and inspire the rest of us, you two!

I wrapped up the month of November with a wonderful visit with a dear friend, and I hope to keep up that kind of conversation with friends and loved ones during December. Along with sharing love with them, we need to (as is probably cliche as hell) love ourselves as well. That's where the discipline around junk food and the regular exercise are very important. You're doing it for yourself and for your loved ones.

Onward into the next month, and try to keep the clutter temporary (decorative) and good for the spirit.

SRS

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: Penny S.
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 04:15 AM

A bad start to the month, weight-wise. A jump upwards of over a pound. This is quite hard to explain. Yesterday I did a lot of walking, including in the footsteps of the pensions march from Charing Cross down Whitehall to the Houses of Parliament, then back along the Embankment, up to Covent Garden, and down to Kings College on the Strand, with some time later, a return to Charing Cross. I felt quite fit doing it, though when I got back on the train, and had to face a steep hill to where I had parked my car, I did not feel up to it and had to use the bus. I don't think the sitting on the train helped (I was lucky to find a seat, though). I didn't eat much, either. Certainly less in actual weight than the increase.

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: mouldy
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 06:36 AM

I have weigh-in tonight, after a fortnight that has probably wrecked any weight loss. I had stayed the same the last time, so I really hope that happens again. However, merely hanging around the house and not being able to do anything for the last couple of weeks will probably have taken its toll.
I did get to my belly dance class last night, so my waist got a good workout! I must get going on my tai chi again when the yard's sorted. I joined a class locally, but I didn't really enjoy it. I'll carry on with what I already know for now.

On the house front, the kitchen cupboards are getting doors, and the downstairs woodwork is coming together in general. My new big stove kettle came today (2.9 litres). This will be great when I need a big load of boiling water.

Okay, it was just an indulgence!

Andrea

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 07:37 AM

SRS--

Re: pedometer/walking: If you can feel it you probably got in plenty of steps, even if they weren't measured.

That was SO HELPFUL to see, because I was really hurting last night after some added walking. GREAT way to track it-- will discuss with PT. If I can get that much in every day, then it's progress.

Have new Rx for PT and have scheduled it. Got a good update on another exercise opportunity also.


I could use some reminders/encouragement to vary the exercise menu the way some of you vary food (which we are already doing so well). I need to
1. Mix it up
2. Schedule it
3. Focus on a balance of fun stuff, PT stuff, chore stuff
4. Indoor AND outdoor stuff

And I need to resume the search for the right shoes. I have about 5 txgiving pounds to give back to the turkey that gave them to me!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 10:17 AM

I was so tired yet awake last night - you know that feeling when the caffeine is keeping you up but your brain wants to sleep? I should probably stick to Solitaire at those times. :)

Susan, I can tell you what happens when you have the WRONG shoes! My new pair of walking shoes evidently has some kind of a lump under the insole area in the middle of the right foot. Wrong place for plantar fasciitis, but still painful. I limped more and more, it felt like a bruise, but I didn't remember hurting myself. I wore various shoes for a while, then one day I put these back on and the pain was instantly there. Those shoes are toast.

Andrea, that sounds like a good-sized cooking saucepan. I have several very large pots (12 and 14 quart) for canning. They are almost too much for my current electric coil stove top - I'm still mulling the answer to this puzzle and am getting close to buying an outdoor cooking stand (uses LP fuel) to heat water for canning.

I have a project I really want to do but I need to get it started before I name what it is, so I don't jinx it. Anyone working on any of those kinds of gifts for the holidays?

For exercise here I'm planning to walk the dogs in the afternoons while it's still light and warmer. If I'm not walking them in the morning for now I need a new routine because today I think I might have fed them breakfast twice - once on autopilot.

SRS

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 10:56 AM

Oh PHEW! I thought from the title that you were going to discontinue this thread! I've loved following it and enjoyed all the postings. Best wishes to all for 2012! "Keep a-troshing!" as they say here in Norfolk UK.

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 10:59 AM

A couple of spoonfulls of Dulce de Leche will do for me!

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 12:06 PM

Meditation followed by qi gong this morning. I really like the routine I am getting into. I actually crave the quiet time and the physical, as well as spiritual aspects, of qi gong. Good stuff, I am really feeling the physical effects. My feet hurt less whilst standing during the movements and it is easier to stand up from a sitting position. Best of all is the mental effect - that self-love SRS mentioned. Instead of a running, inner commentary beating myself up for doing nothing or not enough, I have thoughts of positive reinforcement.

One thing I also added is a visual reminder. At the bottom of my monitor, I have a "ticker tape" piece of paper taped on which says:

"LESS WEIGHT = EVERYTHING FEELING BETTER: Happy Knees, Feet, Shoulders, Arms, Kidneys, Heart, Lungs!"

It's a constant reminder as I am at the computer so much throughout the day.

One load of wash in. Now I am off to CDBaby to upload my brother's concert tracks and get him going with online sales. Yesterday, I worked a full day of PC and telephone time for both his stuff and mine, personal and business. Lots got done!

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 12:57 PM

SRS (fasciitis), yeah!!!

I will also be posting (it will look quite reptetitive/multiposting probably, so bite me) each time this month I make a trip up the stairs in excess of nightly up-for-bedtime trips, because it is on my PT list of home exercises.

Starting with ydy's recalled trips:

11/31 3
12/1 1

~S~

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 02:55 PM

11/31 3
12/1 3

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness November 2011
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 06:48 PM

Interesting post, mg. I copied it so I can look at it more closely when my brain is working better.

SRS: Wonderful to be able to meet with a traveling friend at the airport!

Andrea, it is hard when the end is in sight but not here yet!

Glazing on Tuesday was a lengthy process but it got done and the firing went ahead. Weds was an adventure day. I actually felt badly that R missed it. Having begun to feel the need for more honey (lots of cranberry sauce needs lots of honey) I was asking around where to get some. Finally, dunce that I am, I looked at the label on the old jar and googled it, found the address and mapped it. Aha.

So off I went - on the way to the country to check the kiln. It took 3 hours instead of one but was well worth it! Out a different hghwy to a different thrift shop where I managed to get two pairs of much needed running shoes for R.

Then onward, following directions which took me onto a lovely side road along a huge lake - after crossing a long bridge over this Lake of Two Mountains. It became very rural and I arrived at a farm with a Miellerie (honey shop). The woman in the nearby house told me she would phone her son and he would be here very soon. He arrived in a very few minutes and I purchased two large jars (2 kg each) - one of clover and one of buckwheat - and a piece of comb for a special treat. A lovely experience.

Then wended my way south, hoping I was getting back to the route to the country. A short stint on a major hghwy, then more water! I followed a side road, avoiding the route past the wasteland of box stores. Lovely old homes, cottages dating from the 1930s & 40s and a variety of domiciles, some dating from the early 1800s. Then across another long bridge and I was almost there. Rivers, lakes and canals all over the place! The last crossing was over the nearby Riviere des Anglais.

Well, the kiln was almost cool enough to unload so I opened it and had lunch, then unloaded - 34 out of 35 mugs were lovely. What a relief! The chore done, I wrote some more raccoon stuff and an essay on a view of prison sentences. I believe there is no such thing as a short prison term ---- except that we shall never feel safe if the man who attacked R last year gets out of jail. It is a conundrum for me. I sent it off to editor of Canadian Friend - to use or not. It was good to get those writings off my mind. Writing as therapy.

Today, I passed the raccoon stuff on to Raccoon Network members who are working on ways to effectively improve the PR of raccoons and protest a major "coon hunt" to be held in April - in the middle of birthing season, it would leave lots of infants o starve to death.

This morning I photographed the various mugs - seven different glaze combos - for marketing purposes. Then spent two hours trying to figure out how to download the pics until I finally found a customer support number and a nice woman who gave me the directions - now written down. They are not great pics but I managed to prepare a paper with little pics so the store can easily mark down what sells. Also edited pics of the gorge we visited last month and prepared a slide show for R to see tonight. Memories of a wonderful fall day.

I had meant to take the pots to the shop today but by the time I sorted out the picture problem, I had had it. Tomorrow - pots to shop and time at library. Then to the country for music and an open house on Sat at a marvellous B&B on the edge of Riviere des Anglais. The owner won every first in flower arrangement at the fair this summer! We also need to put the clay and glazes into that freezer which we decided to move into the studio - on wheels so it can be moved out of the way or near the kiln for added heat. The weather is getting seriously freezing this weekend. Then R needs to come back to the city to work.

The artist who did the driftwood violin sent me pics of a piano she constructed out of driftwood!!!!

--Moved by mudelf to current thread

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: mouldy
Date: 02 Dec 11 - 02:28 AM

SRS, the kettle isn't the sort you mean- it is the sort with a spout. However, I do have a very large jam pan (maslin pan) which comes in handy for boiling big stuff, and have been considering whether or not I need to get what we call a stock pot - a wide, and very deep, lidded pan. (I probably don't). However, it would perhaps boil more easily.

A driftwood violin and piano...real ones, or representations?

Half a pound off at the weigh-in. That's more than I'd hoped for! I am going to try and make a big effort this week. (If I ever get that cooker up and running, it will make a difference!)

Susan, you are doing great - your mind is in the right place, and you are looking for ways to keep active.

Andrea

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: GUEST,LilyFestre
Date: 02 Dec 11 - 08:05 AM

Yesterday was another busy day of running around doing errands. A tiny bit of stretching too...cat and cow and a few downward dogs. :)

This morning I am up early, showered, dressed, some laundry done and am about to begin my normal morning routine. Then it's off to a friend's house for a play date. She has 3 children, one who is just a few months older than Jeremiah so it should be fun (and busy). Afterwards, I'm off to visit my Tracy. :) I haven't seen her in a bit (although phone contact and mail contact has been active) and I'm really looking forward to that. And then after THAT, the baby and I are off to enjoy some of a nearby town's Dickens of A Christmas celebration that kicks off beginning later this afternoon! Tomorrow morning brings breakfast with Santa, a train wonderland at the school where I used to work and then a day of walking the town craft fair.

So...I'm not getting in much yoga these days but I am walking a LOT and am active around the house.

As far as staying away from holiday sweets and such, I just don't go near them. If they are given to me, I share them with others or toss them. I can't treat myself to one or I'll treat myself to all of it and it makes me feel gross anyway. I decided last year to try a little of the goodies. Mistake. HUGE mistake. It won't be happening again this year! I don't feel deprived and if I start to, I make myself a cup of coffee mixed with a pack of sugar free cocoa and that takes care of my sweet tooth or craving for something rich. Also, if we have it, I LOVE orange coffee. :) Zero calories in that too!

Gotta get started with my day.

Have fun everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Dec 11 - 11:10 AM

I get the water kettle part, never heard of the maslin pan, we seem to both have stock pot in common. :)

Cool and rainy today. Laundry, cutting up more peppers, and must fold laundry and wash dishes. I'll pull out boxes of holiday lights and see what I want to put out this weekend. It was warm last week, so of course I didn't get to it.

Dorothy, last night I picked up the name of one of the places you said you drove by, popped it into Google maps, and ended up eating up probably an hour just moving around your neck of the woods looking at lakes and rivers and the places people put some pretty remote houses. Very interesting up there.

SRS

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Dec 11 - 11:36 AM

Meditation and qi gong this morning and still 30 min. to go before my appointment! Prior to this, I would have been too nervous or anxious, wanting to make sure I had plenty of time to get ready for my appointment, that I would not have done this. Making sure that I need to post here has really helped me a lot this week. So that's five straight days of meditation and Chi gong to start off my mornings.

Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Dec 11 - 11:48 AM

Aw, thanks Andrea! And Advent is always so screwy!!!

11/31 3
12/1 3
12/2 1 front

~S~

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: Penny S.
Date: 02 Dec 11 - 11:55 AM

I hadn't heard of a maslin pan until I saw one in Lakeland (Kitchen and other household stuff suppliers) a couple of years back. It was what i called a preserving pan. I always use a very large saucepan.

Penny

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Dec 11 - 01:19 PM

I have a couple of huge pots that I use for processing jelly and things like tomatoes and peaches. We just refer to them as canning pots.

I forgot to mention that I went for two walks yesterday evening, taking them one at a time. They hadn't been out much this week so I figured I'd give them each a treat. One-on-one they're much better - I walked past numerous cats and no one barked her head off at them. Together they set each other off in a ruckus.

Laundry drying, dishwasher running (I usually only drain clean dishes in it, but once a month I try to run it to keep it going and from stale water settling in it.

Jed Marum is singing for the Friends of the Library program tonight - I'm really looking forward to this! My anti-procrastination exercises from last summer are helpful today - reminding myself that being early is better than being late and making sure I give enough time for all of the parts of getting ready. Dressing myself, picking up Susie, getting to my boss's house (she has a sprained ankle and had the week off from work) to pick her up, being at the library in time to help Jed set up. And then sitting back and watching it all unfold!

SRS

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Dec 11 - 02:42 PM

There is a fantastic interview of Dr. Andrew Weil, who teaches and practices integrative medicine, on NPR, right now. He's written a new book, Spontaneous Happiness, about combating depression with meditation, anti-inflammatory diet, and exercise including yoga, tai chi, etc. He's got solid scientific evidence for what he recommends.

The audio will be avaiable after 6pm Mudcat time HERE.

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Dec 11 - 12:22 PM

I've given my ecstatic review of the Jed Marum performance at the Friends of the Library meeting last night, and I can relax now. I was juggling several tasks related to that meeting and once it was set in motion I could get a few photos (I am still on the clock during these meetings) and watch the group thoroughly enjoy it. And we had a full house, a lot of people there I'd never seen before.

It's cold and rainy out so I'll mostly be doing indoor stuff, but I'll probably make a run past the gardens with the wheelbarrow to pick up the stuff I cut and pulled last week. It needs to go onto the compost in the back yard.

I'll have to use a stiff broom to dust out the channels between the tile in the hall then vacuum and put down the grout. I think I can finish this job over the course of a movie or two (which I'll be able to see across the room as I work.)

SRS

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: EBarnacle
Date: 03 Dec 11 - 01:43 PM

Mouldy, we have my grandmother's aluminum chainek [kettle] which is about the same size as yours.. The problem, of course, is that it is aluminum. Nice memory p[iece, tho.

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Dec 11 - 02:59 PM

Our huge pot is an old, FreeCycled-in speckled canner (dented) that we use as a spare slopsink to augment our single, stainless kitchen sink. Great for soaking dirty dishes, etc., to keep sink relatively empty till time to load dishwasher. The two big lids (for that canner plus the last one's lid) are hung in the porch, twisting in the wind, as a silent bird deterrent. Belly to belly they make a large disk that is eye candy for porch-sitters. (It warns momma birdies not to nest near the nearby BBQ that will soon cause them to abandon the nest.)

BTW the PT agrees that estimating and tracking activity level by resulting pain levels is sensible.

11/31 3
12/1 3
12/2 1 front
12/3 2 back
12/3 1

~S~

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Dec 11 - 03:23 PM

The story about aluminum causing Alzheimers has been debunked. Go ahead and cook in it. The non-stick coating on pans is probably less healthy than the aluminum.

Getting close to finishing a CD cover for Bobert, sent him another draft. I mopped the halls to get the film off of the grouted tile and I'm set to start on the last push to finish the hall. I need to do some shopping, but I'll leave that till the grout is down and drying.

SRS

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Dec 11 - 05:07 PM

11/31 3
12/1 3
12/2 1 front
12/3 2 back
12/3 1
12/3 at walking limit, all in house chores

===

BTW I see doc again in 2 weeks to confirm a Dx code on my last visit's printout-- I may now be OFF "morbid" hypertension and into "benign" hypertension-- as we discuss getting me off the HR-dropping med that is killing the fitness I had worked so hard to achieve before the dosage went thru the roof.

If I can drop or even significantly reduce the dosage on that med, I'm back in bidness in regular pooltime and the pT has given me back the legs to DO IT.

And I made a FAB haul on gym footwear yesterday!

~S~

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 03 Dec 11 - 07:35 PM

Totally lost the post I wrote Friday eve at the cafe. It just would not post so I copied it and --- then forgot to put it somewhere to keep. A few minutes ago I lost it after copying this:
From beautiful Whidbey Island, a new version of...
I LOVE LANGLEY
On the twelfth day of Christmas LANGLEY gave to me...
Twelve rainclouds dripping,
Eleven Ferries tooting,
Ten frogs a leaping,
Nine apples dangling,
Eight lattes steaming,
Seven salmon swimming,
Six truffles waiting,
Five golden slugs...
Four crawling crabs,
Three steamed clams,
Two waddling turkies,
And a heron in a fir tree!!!
~Sharen Heath post & pix
(With apologies to the Wild Card Company.)

Well, the pots made it to the shop and I have been duly compensated for my week's work - well, some 10 or so hours and several trips to the country. Last night R and I went togther to the Cafe - good music! Today we slept in - much needed and after a nice breakfast of French toast with the new honey, yogurt and apple/cranberry sauce,

Went to the open house at River's Edge B&B. (Riviere des Anglais just out the windows). Wonderful social event. Retired dairy farmer and wife have beautifully renovated a 125 year old house. He paints rather nice water colours and grows beautiful flowers in season. She sews and bakes. His paintings of flowers are very nice. I bought a dried flower pic, a card from a painting of fuchias, and shortbread. Picked up some local lore, such as the owner of that barn that's falling down (to our dismay) and other tidbits. Everyone knows the owners of the cabin so we have an "in" as soon as we mention that.

Which is where we went next to give them the rent cheque and pick up four cans of maple syrup from their sugar bush - behind the cabin. I suppose we shall get involved with the sugaring-off in March-April. Our rental included a promise of maple syrup! So a chat with them ensued - Deb just graduated with an MEd done totaly on line via U of British Columbia so they were there last month for that. Then we wended our way on to the city. And, hmm, I put the sheets in the wash so I better go put them in the dryer!!

We came back to the city so R could get some work done but after a nice meal about two hours ago, he is still reading the newspaper. I have made it quite clear I do not appreciate coming back here if he is not going to work. I could have gotten some organizing done out there. "It better not happen again!"

R dragged in someone's trash before supper (pots and dishes and some flatware) but after washing it, he decided it was not worth keeping so I will put it back out tomorrow so others less fortunate can pick at it before trash day on Tuesday. The flatware can go in the pile for the thrift shop. A run out there on Tuesday might be a thing to do if my potter friend is home for a visit.

OK, tomorrow I will try to set up a sewing space with adequate lighting. Now, to the dryer!

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 02:48 AM

I'm probably the only other Mudcatter on this thread who has actually BEEN to Langley. Whidbey Island is beautiful.

The tile is finished. It's really late, I'm bushed, but I finished the preliminary grout sponge-off a few minutes ago. Headed to bed now, and I'll sponge it again tomorrow. My floor is now finally "invisible" - the work is finished so people won't notice that it needs (needed) work.

SRS

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: mouldy
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 04:31 AM

My maslin/preserving pan came from an old car boot fair about 18 years ago. The pouring lip isn't quite as lippy as it once was, since I dropped it! It is heavy gauge aluminium, and has the original (pre 1971) price of 48/6 pencilled on it. That's £2.43 in new money. I paid £2. As I tend to make smaller quantities now, it doesn't get a lot of use (like Penny, a saucepan will do). However, it would be good for punch or mulled wine.

The electrician actually did turn up yesterday, and laid the new cable under the hallway floor, and the earth wire to the gas pipe. He says he'll be back on Monday. Hope the plumber comes, then between them they can get the cooker going. I would like to know when the decorator might get here, as that may affect when the appliances go back in. I also need to get a new bed for the new bedroom.

A trashy day, foodwise. People kept forcing chocolates into me!
The pork, stuffing and apple sauce roll I had at the village Christmas lights party didn't help (but it was nice!)

Andrea

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: EBarnacle
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 10:41 AM

SRS's comment about Alzheimer's is correct as far as it goes but ignores the association between aluminum and osteoporosis. The last I checked, it was accepted that trace Al from pots contributed to the problem by displacing calcium.

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 02:29 PM

Ah, well, it's always something.

My kitchen counter is improving daily. I had a few cups of ripened tomatoes (the ones from the frost episode several weeks ago) that I blanched, chopped, and froze. I also sliced and froze some jalapenos.

I'm baking a loaf of banana bread for my son later this evening, and I'll freeze it overnight. It goes into a priority mail box and in the mail from the freezer tomorrow morning and dropped off at the post office in time for the noon pickup. The last time I sent it the campus post office didn't deliver them on the Wednesday I was aiming for, he didn't get the box till the following Monday and they were moldy. So sad!

Laundry is folded and now I need to move things around to put up holiday ornaments. I've started taking the stuff from the mantle so I can dust and arrange some of my favorite glass pieces.

SRS

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 06:06 PM

I ran a damp mop over the tile to pick up the film that remained from last night and it's looking fabulous. There is a set of shelves I want to put there, but I'll paint them a new color first. I didn't want to place anything there over the ungrouted tiles. I found a few tiles in my dressing room that I forgot to grout so I'll sweep and vacuum in there and finish those later this evening. We're talking maybe six tiles total, a very quick job.

This is season with short overcast days and the need to plan for ways to get meaningful light exposure. I have an Ott lamp I need to remember to use more. I wouldn't say that I'm affected by S.A.D., but I recognize a mood shift with more indoor activity during cool weather. I think Susan has to get out the bright spectrum lights this time of year. Anyone else? Dorothy? As another hardened Northwesterner, you may also make some mental adjustments that people who move to the Northwest from somewhere sunnier aren't equipped with.

SRS

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: GUEST,Lilyfestre
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 07:05 PM

Today I cleaned out my car which was loaded from last week or so (nothing that needed to be in the fridge was left in the car). It took several trips and about an hour to put everything away. I also finished most of the Christmas cards and have boxed up all family Christmas gifts except for Jeremiah's. I just need to wrap the boxes now which won't take much time at all. YAY!!!

I also picked up all the toys on the living room floor, had a nice long shower and shaved my legs. I know that's not a big deal, but it's been awhile since I've had that much time to myself and I loved every second of it!!! :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 08:15 PM

I could sure use more light in this house. People in the NW mostly do not really adjust to the lack of light. I sure met a bunch who went elsewhere for the gloom season. I had lots of windows - facing south. And used yellow inside - walls, comforter....

But as we move toward the solstice (17 days reported my gardening friend just now on the phone), I need light here. The cabin also has - most of the south wall - windows! Lovely! But here... I shall keep an eye out for more lighting - and hope the other half of our electric gets fixed soon. But a long extension cord and something bright is sorely needed in the meantime.
A trip to the thrift shop on Tuesday might provide.

Thankful for the way the extra magnesium has perked me up.

Weather promises to be at or below freezing for the next couple weeks. I won't try to heat the studio but could spend some time at the cabin enjoying light and getting it better organized.

Did some better organizing in house today. After R cleaned up the mess left by "Mortimer", who found a choc bar on the coffee table and left bits of paper and also bits of the nice yellow rug that covers the top of the table. Then he decided he could do a better job of mouse catching. M had eaten part of a pineapple getting ripe on the Kitchen table. R cleaned it up, prepared the pineapple, putting M's share in the live trap. We now know we cn tell when a pineapple is ripe - M will eat it! He did not, however, go in the trap. A friend asked if we used rubber gloves to bait the trap. Maybe tonight I'll try that. I found a glass in a cupboard this morning with choc pieces in it and a paper saying "Mortimer's". I have actually gotten rather used to this critter. I asked R if he would actually take it out into the COLD ... ??? OK, I'll go wash the trap again and use gloves and some of its choc. MAybe tonight... but I doubt it.

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 11:09 PM

I have a pot of turkey and vegetables for turkey pot pie finished on the stove and a loaf of banana bread in the oven for mailing to my son. I've made headway in the kitchen and the front room, where I put an extra sheet and an old blanket over the futon so the dogs won't leave hair on the mattress or the mattress cover. They came in for a while when we had a thunder storm this evening. It's supposed to be down to snow and rain mixed tomorrow. Somehow we need to convince the weather folks that even Montreal isn't this cool yet!

SRS

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 12:48 PM

I sat up late last night and watched the Return of the King. Over the years since these films were finished I thought I'd seen it - I know I'd seen parts of it, but I hadn't actually watched it from beginning to end. So this morning I was very tired, but glad to have finally seen it all, and am tempted to reread the books now. Last time was probably 10 years ago.

The dogs are in the house this morning - I haven't set up their heater yet in the garage, and it's near freezing. They would be okay in their houses, but in cold weather they're not outside much, they don't come to the door often, so I miss seeing them. They're cozy on the futon in the front room, each on their own end and resting their heads on pillows. Kat, your new dog probably has a great coat for cold weather. How is she doing these days?

SRS

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: Penny S.
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 03:00 PM

I had a relapse on food yesterday. I cooked some minced beef, enough for three meagre portions, and ate one with half a pack of dauphinois potatoes from the freezer, and peas. Fine. But then instead of packing the rest away for the future, I ate it all. I suspect the advent of cold weather. It is under 60 degrees C in the house. It feels like snow outside, though the skies are clear. I have put the electric blanket on the bed.
Today someone came to collect my spin dryer, and I sent off a pocket microscope. Tomorrow, I send off a Victorian ammeter, and list a bakelite telephone. A knitting loom I have bought has not even been dispatched yet, several days after payment cleared.
I took a loomed hot water bottle cover into Oxfam, bought a blue agate and mother of pearl bracelet for £2.99 and turned it into two necklaces, using glass bugle beads I had by me, which I took back to Oxfam.

Penny

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 04:58 PM

SRS, our dog, Luna, is very very shaggy, right now! I was just checking to see how much the grooming salon would charge to give her a good bath. I used to do Merlee, as he was so good. He'd climb right in the the bathtub and I would use the detachable showerhead on him. Luna has shown no affinity for water other than to drink it. No matter how enticing, she would not get in the wading pool we bought for her, she runs from the garden hose, and she doesn't particularly like going out into the rain. With my wrist sprained and sore thumb, even with Roger's help, I don't think were ready to tackle it. She really does look like a ragamuffin right now; Morgan teases her about being Miss Shaggy Butt.

He came over yesterday and helped me vacuum out the couch and sweep. He also read aloud to me while I did some other cleaning things. Did the usual loads of laundry, Rog did the dishes, and after four hours Morgan went home. He and I had a lot of fun also, looking at Jacquie Lawson's virtual Advent calendar, and catching up on this year's to date. That led to YouTubewhere I found an old Disney Christmas poem with sing-along carols with the lyrics on the screen. Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and others all sang along with us. When Morgan left, he was singing over and over, " we wish you a Merry Christmas, etc." at the top of his lungs. He can be such a joy and makes me laugh.

This morning it was 22° out when we had to go to an early Coumadin clinic appointment, then to a session of hand/arm therapy picking up where we left off a month ago. I was relieved that he didn't think I'd gone back to square one, some improvement even showed up, so I think the qi gong has been helping, as well as my own regimen of rest, better posture, and using the other hand on the trackball, judiciously.

We came back to the house for a late breakfast and then went to the Goodwill store were I found a beautiful black Ralph Lauren turtleneck sweater, a couple of other nice long sleeved pullovers, and a nice roomy wool coat with a lining, so the wool won't make me itch, and it is long enough to cover my bum. I hadn't really had a good warm winter coat in quite a while as I hadn't gone out that much and, I could swear, our car used to be better at warming up. Maybe it's just me. Roger did change the thermostat which hasn't seemed to change things much, but he has a couple of other things up his sleeve. in the meantime, I won't be making any more early in the day appointments!

Penny, that's really neat the way you buy things at Oxfam, then redo them and take them back. The jewellery sounds beautiful. I've decided I need to wear some hematite so am off to the jewellery table to rework an old necklace.

While Roger and I were out, we also stopped at the health food store and bought a vial of lavender and some tiny brown glass bottles with stoppers in them. We also bought a sea sponge. I don't remember if it was you, Penny, who gave me the idea. For small Christmas present,I'm going to send a small glass jar with the tin lid, a small vial of lavender oil, and a note, to each person, which explains how a few drops of oil on the sponge in the jar will work as aromatherapy to aid in sleeping. It's a small thing, but I think my family will all appreciate it.

Speaking of Luna, if she leans on me any more I think my chair may fall over. LOL she has not had her run today and of course she keeps hearing her name since I'm using Dragon NaturallySpeaking to dictate this. I guess it's time to see how warm my new coat is. When I come back in, I hope to write the yearly holiday letter and get a start on cards.

Ho, ho, ho,

kat

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 06:14 PM

Would you believe?! SO I entered a phone number and pressed talk: A cheery male voice said, "Quinn's farm, come to our weekend sleigh ride....! Me: "Oh dear, I seem to have a wrong number.... I was trying to make an appointment for an oil change." "Oh, there is one digit difference. But come on out to our... We have a craft fair..." Oh, I'm a potter." "I think we already have a potter. I'll check. but bring some pots out and we can take them on consignment...."

So, I shall do that later this week after a trip to the country to fetch the pots - on a day that does not threaten icy roads. I will do it in conjunction with trip to thrift shop out that way. Cannot get oil change until 20th as they are busy putting on winter tires. Did that!!

Black beans in slow cooker for more of very useful black bean/salsa mix. We keep finding more ways to use it: on salad as a "dressing", with morning eggs for mexican breakfast with guacamole and yogurt (instead of sour cream), as soup, spread on toast. Good stuff!

Added lighting to LR and cleared a lot of chaff from the desk - now that I can see it. Room for sewing machine also.

As we come closer to the winter solstice (16 days), I am already looking forward to days getting longer! Rainy today with dropping temperature and dark about 4:30! That extra light in the LR sure makes a difference!

Our Raccoon Network is working on a video to get across message that raccoons are sentient beings that do not deserve to be torn apart by coon dogs. I am spending time thinking about where this needs to go and coming up with good words/captions as we all encourage our video person and look for ways to get more groups involved. Lots of time on-line reading others ideas. Looking for music and choosing pics.

My #1 son is 53 today! The same sweet guy he has been from birth. The unreality of time.

I am feeling ongoing improvement in physical energy/well-being and cheerfulness. I suspect the magnesium deficiency must have been long term and continues to be rectified by the small extra mag each day. I do see a dif if I forget for one day. Sure feels good!

Groceries and banking this morning.

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: Penny S.
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 06:08 AM

Dorothy, that does sound like a planned wrong number, doesn't it?

I turned on my computer for some reason, which I cannot remember, having checked ebay - loom still not sent - and poked around here.

There's a haematite and quartz crystal bracelet over at Oxfam, which I am thinking about. These bracelets are strung on elastic, which I think is insulting to real stone! I've run out of glass bugles, though, so may have to buy some more. I started using them when I realised that people would not pay enough to cover the price of liquid silver beads. Oxfam would not be able to charge enough for that. They get costume stuff that other stores have not sold, and they have a low price. My stuff has to be better, but not vastly more expensive, to make it worth while.

While I'm waiting for money to come in, it means I can give to appeals for various disasters to some extent. I'm running out of spare yarn, though, and the odd balls in the shop are not colours I fancy working with. Besides, I'm waiting for the loom to arrive to do things with some of what I have. I'm not very pleased with the seller.

Penny

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: freda underhill
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 06:36 AM

I'm glad this thread's here too. I read it regularly, even tho I don't post very often.

Tonight a neighbour and I went for our evening walk, delivering the local community newspaper.

Then we sat outside in the light of the summer evening, and had a Thai meal.

I've done a lot of cyber-sorting tonight!

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 10:57 AM

Penny, I hope you'll take some photos of some of these projects of yours. I like the "value added" approach to the charity donations.

Kat, does hematite mean something more to you than simply being an interesting metallic bead? I find it's chilly against the skin so this time of year would have to wear it with a turtleneck or sweater.

Dorothy, you do have the most interesting adventures in phoning and driving around the countryside! It's like reading a series of short stories when you go out looking for some resource in the community.

It's cold and clammy here. I asked Susie down for dinner tonight, but since she has finished her holiday decorating (and I have only gotten started and for the life of me I can't find the glass tree ball ornaments!) we've arranged that I'll take my turkey stew and pie crusts up to her house to eat there. My fireplace is blocked off and it keeps the house much warmer, but having candles burning in the enclosure did give the room a warmer look. That unfortunate fire with melted wax after the plank caught was enough to convince me only to burn candles in jars. That story is in one of the threads from probably January or February early this year. Poppy my hero called my attention to a fire in the middle of the night. It was in the fire place, but it shouldn't have been there.

I have to get more stuff up on eBay. You've been doing some interesting listings, Penny. I have things from family estates so it's a matter of what I am interested in researching, describing, photographing, packing, etc. And I understand totally the winter meals - that is also a battle I have here. The cold weather makes you want to eat more. I realized last week that my sometimes snack of chips and sour cream (with onion powder, garlic powder, and a little salt for the "California dip" result) can undo all of my good work. If I scoop it into a custard cup and make a few ounces, it is all eaten. But if I mix it up in the sour cream container and eat just a couple of chips with some scooped from the container then a couple of bites is plenty. So I'll look at ways I do my grazing through the day - what is the best way to make a couple of bites available and easy to fix without turning it into an entire meal.

My daughter came up with a list of books to choose from for her gifts this year. To do with ancient clothing, book binding, interesting subjects. eBay or Half.com, Amazon, ABEbooks, all will come into play. I might as well list some of my things while I'm poking around shopping.

SRS

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 11:37 AM

There's been some household stress, but last week I set my fone alarm for daily 11:30 home exercises per agreement with PT as to time of day, frequency, etc.

Today I was here and ready when it went off. I turned on the perky music, put the exercise instrux on the CardioGlide, and did 5 warmup stands plus 15 stands with rows. These may not increase till I get that med reduced/canceled at the next doc visit. More likely I will discuss with PT at Thursday appt (? which printed exercises can be combined in CardioGliding, and which I still need to do from the CardioGlide with the supplied resistance bands).

But despite a multi-tasky morning I DID IT and my knees are not too blown by it so I may do more later with resistance bands!

Now, back to FCing sister's furniture-- coaching her via email on the safe way to FC.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 12:09 PM

Lots of walking , yesterday and over the weekend.

This morning: meditation and qi gong. Loosened the sciatica a little, but both are still tight. Time for more stretching, rest, and tincture.

SRS, yes hematite can feel cold and is a metal, but once you have it against your skin, it generally warms up to your body temp. I need it next to my skin, so may warm it in my hands before putting it on.:-)

kat

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: Penny S.
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 01:00 PM

I always forget to take pictures!

The loom is on its way - predicted 13 to 16 days!

I used my bus pass (under threat, so I might as well make the most of it) to go to John Lewis to look for bugle beads. There weren't many, and what there was was expensive, so I went two towns along to Hobbycraft, where they had a lot of beads on sale. Not the bugles, but I've got some shaped rose quartz, carnelian, & snowflake obsidian, some smoky quartz chips and some glittery 4mm glass beads for spacing. I think I may do them with dangly bits on earring wires.

Then I got two buses back, both full of school children, so noisy, but I did get a seat. Some of them seem to travel a very long way. I left about 1:15, and got back about 5:15 (the bus stops almost outside home), and most of the time was spent on the buses. Timing of the shopping was critical as later buses get a bit far apart - I couldn't spend much time at Hobbycraft, which may well have been a good thing. I don't need to add to my wool stash.

I went to photograph the phone, but the batteries don't have enough power for the camera I intended to use, so that will have to wait. The market for these phones seems very odd. Some get bids, and some don't. Generally, the ones that don't have higher starting prices, but the ones that do can end up with prices as high. Odd.

On the buses, I read a "history" book from early last century that I picked up for 99 p at Oxfam. It was a hoot, lots of it completely made up fantasy, and errors! My reactions must have puzzled people, and I so wished I had someone to point things out to. The author owned up to having speculated about some things. I don't know why she thought that the Picts were small and brown, the Druids were found all over Europe and Asia, all the Celts were tall and blond, and why, in her interesting bibliography, she did not cite one Caesar, J, as chunks seemed to be from his works. (She did cite Tacitus, Plutarch and Suetonius..) She also cited Layomon's "Brut" with the origins of the British being Aeneas' son Brutus, and the battle with Gogmagog as a real past. In one place she described brass being made from copper and tin, and later this was correctly bronze. The Catuvellani were in one place the Caluvellani. Sandwich is described as near Rye, which it is if you are looking from California, but not if you are making your way across land. There is a full moon associated with a neap tide which damages the Roman ships. And that's omitting the way she suggests that the Druidesses calling on Belisama were responsible for the storms destroying Caesar's fleets.

I'm thinking of sending it to Michael Gove. His idea of history seems a bit out of date.

Penny

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 01:42 PM

What were you reading? 1066 And All That?

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 03:29 PM

The FreeCycle of my sister's first give-away furniture has evolved into a neat thing. The recipient:

Dear Birth Mother (2005)
Listen! RealAudio • MP3 at http://www.longhaulpro.org/pages/series/heartland.html#birth.

After waiting for Mr. Right (who has yet to arrive) – and after years of fertility treatments – Suzanne, a single woman in her forties, decided to adopt. She chose transracial adoption. We follow her through workshops designed to "teach white people to raise kids of color," baby-shopping trips with Mom at Target, a critical rendezvous with a young mother at a pancake house, and, finally, a magical night at a suburban restaurant chain. We followed Suzanne for several months as she waited to see if she would become a parent; she offered extraordinary access into her home, and really, into every aspect of her life. We first met Suzanne in 2004, and documented her last in vitro fertilization attempt in Long Haul's Babyquest. If you've listened to Dear Birth Mother, see a photo. (Warning: it will reveal the ending.). Winner of the 2005 Third Coast International Audio Festival Gold Award for best radio documentary, and recipient of an honorable mention in the 2006 Casey Medals for Meritorious Journalism Awards.

I've seen the current pix of child with birthsibs. Suzanne has maintained a great relationship with birthmom; the furniture is going to birthmom's large family, which is doing great as birthmom continues to move upwards in her life.

Happies!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: Penny S.
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 05:41 PM

Not 1066 and All That - not at all. They knew their stuff. This was "The Dawn of British History" by Alice Korkran (author of "Life of Lord Leighton" etc., published by Harrap in 1912. The cover has an attractive colour illustration of an Early Brit, tastefully draped in untreated furs, standing behind a heap of beakers, shells and tusks (or possibly horns - they are too small for elephants, and too big for walrus, but not like any cow horn I remember from the days before dehorning. I suspect too samll for aurochs, as well. He has a long spear and a gold armring, with a suspiciously neat beard and moustache.

I have just seen at the end that Patrick fought against the worship of Baal in Ireland. (Ireland is regarded as part of British history in this work of erudition, but this was probably common at the time.)

The frontispiece is of a set of elegant Druids in designer robes about to sacrifice a barely clad maiden at Stonehenge. (For a children's book of the date, her nipples, viewed in profile from over her head are extraordinarily prominent.)

The book ends with Germanus' "Hallelujah" victory over, apparently, the Picts and the Scots - I thought he was concerned with defeating the Pelagians. No mention of heresy here.

Which reminds me of a book called "Between the Forest and the Hills" about the period of the last of Romanised Britain, by Ann Lawrence. It is an amusing book - Romanised characters have names like Radius and Humurus, and it takes liberties, but the liberties are with what is now known, and would not require unlearning when studying the real situation. A difficult situation between the Romanised city folk and the incoming English is resolved by a stranger who teaches the townsfolk to sing Hallelujah - but it is perfectly obvious that what they are singing is rather more complex than what Germnanus would have taught. And rather later in date. Definitely Handel!

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: Penny S.
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 06:33 PM

Ann Lawrence is on line

Between the Forest and the Hills

I can't find Alice Corkran, though she was reviewed at the time as having an "enviable reputation as an author of entertaining and instructive juvenile literature" (New York Times)
You can see some of the pictures below.

Images of another copy of the book.

It looks like I've been slagging off someone serious. Ooops. I've posted a review on Amazon!

Penny

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 06:49 PM

Tummy is not happy. Something I ate for lunch, perhaps.

Kitchen is looking very good, lots of space on the peninsula. The living room is still a mix of activities. I pulled out the under-bed bag with all of my various throws and shawls and have spread them around various seating areas. They make the house a lot more cozy.

SRS

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: Jeri
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 08:02 PM

I have a mammogram on Friday, a neurologist appointment on the 22nd for a weird brain MRI (who woulda guessed?), after which I'll spend a 11 hours driving to and several hundred dollars of gas to and from visiting a friend because I'm expected to. That comes after the $100 worth of oil change, inspection and minor shit for my car and the forthcoming exhaust repair and rear strut replacement, AND being e-mail shunned by friends. I'm thinking that once I get the bill for the car, I might just have a major coronary event, facilitating the effing off and dying part. I also think I might be a little bit depressed... just a little.   

This is just me bitching and whining. I'll get over it. Thanks for reading. (Is it time for the "The Holidays Suck" thread yet?)

Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 11:00 PM

Spaw would probably say all they'll find in your brain is a broke-dick mamalucca like him. Ewww, I know.:-)

{{{{Lotsa hugs}}}} I tried to send you last year's JL calendar, but it came back and told me i'd tried to send an illegal file! Watch out for those guys in black suits; they may be on to us me!

luvyakat