Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Dec 12 - 02:11 PM

Snow! Brrrr! It's in the 80s here already in Texas. Odd year, very dry again, we're back in drought.

Here's the next thread.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 30 Nov 12 - 10:59 PM

There is a great deal to be said for de-cluttering, however... Sometimes - A friend hung on to a tailgate for pick-up truck for years. Well, the truck was long gone and this pack rat decided to put the tail gate in the trash. A week later, a friend said, "Hey, Tom, that tail gate you have... " Would have fit his latest truck. Oh, well.

Friday: went to country and fed animals, did some work in studio and partly set up for craft show with help of a friend. Went to cafe and left early to get good rest.

Saturday I had a pain in gut which caused me to reach out for help. A couple friends helped me with the craft show. pain subsided - I had not been careful enough about what I put in and it clogged the twist in lower colon. Back to city after show.

Sunday - did laundry and some cooking, checked on upstairs and watered plants.
Monday, ate something for lunch that did me in. Dizzy and queasy. Did a couple errands and went home and collapsed. Only out of bed for 3 hours on Tuesday. Kind of limp ever since but laundry is done, dishes washed, we are fed.

Weds- visited friends who carried six boxes of pottery up to their 2nd floor flat, unwrapped, bought a bunch, repacked and carried them back down! That was a lot more fun than a craft show and less work! Took all afternoon. Then the snow started.

Thursday - Did not want to go out on fresh snow but had to move car so went to library and grocery store. And that is all! Still tired from Monday.

Today also. Two hour phone call with #2 son. Nice surprise. No arguments!

Animals are out of food because I have not been back to cabin; just too tired. Hope they are managing - holed up and keeping warm in this cold spell. Did not go to Cafe tonight due to R having to work on current crisis - still. And a memorial service tomorrow. Will have to go to cabin tomorrow or Sunday. Weather is to warm a bit and I am feeling like a very bad mom!

Another month has flown by.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: MAG
Date: 30 Nov 12 - 08:05 PM

you have a greenhouse?? how big? how much outside space needed?

how big a problem is mold?

MA, cutting up frozen tomato vines for compost

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Nov 12 - 02:10 PM

Is this a planned move? No landlord problems this time?

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: ranger1
Date: 30 Nov 12 - 02:07 PM

I have no choice but to declutter - I've just started the process of moving. It really is amazing how much useless stuff one acquires after 13 years in the same small space...

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Nov 12 - 08:47 AM

Working at the house today so I'll be able to walk the dogs at lunch. It's a warm but overcast day, so perhaps I'll get a little yard work done also.

I'll make another push to work on the buffet again this weekend, and I need to start on eBay stuff. I'll sort through and see what appears to be potential gifts and list that now. I'm sure I have some holiday themed mysteries in there. Books are easy to sell and ship.

Time for work in the greenhouse, and since it looks like it will be a warm weekend, I'll do some work around the outside of the greenhouse also. I need to stabilize the corners to help keep it level. Over the time the dirt, sand, and gravel I put down has settled and I need to shim it in a couple of places to level it so the doors open and close properly. I'm afraid that if it is not level and we have prolonged really cold weather it could crack.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: MAG
Date: 28 Nov 12 - 03:10 PM

I gave away all my xmas tree ornaments, because with a cat (THIS cat) any tree is not an option..

Now I have windows which would be perfect for hanging ornamnets sigh

this is why some of us just can't get rid of stuff.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 28 Nov 12 - 12:01 PM

Guess I'm not wearing my contacts today. I just did (and, I hope, recovered from) something really stupid. I was distracted, thinking about a gazillion things (always a big mistake), and screwed up something I've done almost every day since 1973. Instead of wetting my right RGP contact lens with the appropriate solution, I used the red-tipped (to warn against using IN the eye, fer-pete's-sake!) cleaning solution. Noticed RIGHT AWAY (oh, yes, I did!) and washed it out with saline. Washed the eye out again with a solution of rue, fennel in saline (which has healed every eye irritation I've ever had) and also threw in some lubricating eye drops for good measure. I'll take care of the eye over the course of the day and it should be okay by tomorrow. But my loss of attention at a crucial moment scares the bejaysus out of me. With Tom requiring as much help as he does, I CAN'T damage my body or get sick...

I'd been trying to finish a book, sort through some boxes in the bedroom, rearrange and sort a bunch of stuff in the guest room, pull out some stuff to store in the cellar for the time being, looking for the rest of the Christmas ornaments which aren't where they're supposed to be, getting dressed, and mentally planning some lists related to my reading lists (which I've kept since 1972), and mentally composing a note to a friend who is going through some of the same things I went through earlier this year, etcet etcet.

Lesson learned: when taking meds, putting in contacts, fixing something...PAY ATTENTION! Don't let your mind wander.

And always anticipate where you might get into trouble so you can avoid it. Gawd, I've been harping on that with Tom for years, especially since I broke my arm 5 years ago because I was rushing and tripped in my kitchen with no one around. And I've been extra careful especially while working in the yard and cleaning out the cellar because if I break something, Tom is not going to be able to do ANYTHING to help me...and he'll be in serious trouble, too, because he can't get along at home on his own.

Ach! Going to go back upstairs and rinse out my eye again and keep the eye drops with me for the rest of the day.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Nov 12 - 10:15 AM

Ouch, Linn! Take it easy!

I didn't do anything last night but eat dinner. I started to nod off over the computer so turned it off and went to bed. I'm shifting my work hours so an early night was a good thing. I'm going to be heading over early when I do go, though today I've dawdled because I had to do some shopping in stores that didn't open till 9am (CST). So I'm out the door now. I did set up and run the dishwasher this morning so I'll come home to a clean kitchen. It was a disaster area this morning.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 27 Nov 12 - 05:08 PM

And then I broke my toe...

Sigh. It's not the first time, so I know the drill. (Not much you can do about it except avoid kicking anything for awhile...and watch how you put your foot down.)

Had to schlep some heavy things down the stairs and a few more heavy things around outside and then do a bunch of other things before I could go upstairs and under-react.

Just at the point of slipping into nap mode, my sister called. After that I was awake enough I figured I'd better make the innards of a turkey/vegetable pot pie so I can freeze it until fowl fatigue goes away.

Should take some pictures of the Christmas stuff I'm looking for new homes for so I can post them at Facebook and hope someone coming to The Press Room Friday would like them.

Now it's almost time to make dinner (Thanksgiving redux cuz that's what Tom wants -- I was going to heat up the leftover spaghetti and meatballs...) and there are still boxes on the bed. Sigh.

Linn

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Nov 12 - 02:09 PM

We're sorting ornaments and discarding old stuff at work this week. I'll make a run for some replacements in a few minutes.

The house is a disaster area, but it will be remedied this evening. I was going to work on clearing up the buffet project but when the dental anesthesia wore off I felt like I'd been slugged in the jaw. Motrin and a nap, and then quiet work and to bed. Nothing that required any concentration.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 27 Nov 12 - 08:32 AM

Today I'm sorting Christmas gear and de-accessioning what we no longer use. It's all on the bed so I HAVE to do something with it all TODAY.

We don't entertain as we used to, and for the last few years, our tree is a lot smaller than we used to get. One year we tried just a ball of greens, but, no...we HAVE to have a tree and it's got to be real.

The main theme has been music since Tom and I got together, but I think even some of those ornaments will be passed on. That's what local friends and acquaintances are getting instead of cards this year -- an ornament. Gave the unicorn to a Rite Aid associate yesterday -- she's ALWAYS so cheerful and friendly, even when she's having a "retail" day.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: MAG
Date: 27 Nov 12 - 02:17 AM

emptied out a couple more boxes from the garage. Loving the turkey leftovers. pulled the last half dozen green tomatoes from the vines. actually may freeze here tonight.

I also went to the dentist; love that clean spiffy feeling -- also love the nitrous oxide -- I can just feel the tension melting out of me -- lovely stuff -- good thing it's not available on the open market

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Nov 12 - 07:00 PM

This afternoon I was decluttered of a couple of cavities on the right side. These are tiny little caries that a new type of camera can spot when they are very small.

I headed to the Container Store from there and found a sweater drying device (got the Bajer one that has a spring around the outer edge (like those windshield sun screens). And I'm looking at rearranging my closet so I picked up a hanging sweater bag that I can use for sweaters and handbags. I'll move the thing the t-shirts are in and put them on the shelves where the sweaters are now. I think.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 26 Nov 12 - 02:57 PM

What a lovely morning!

First off, as I was pulling out of the driveway I saw someone had stopped and was taking stuff from around the FREE sign -- turned out it was the custom-made (by Tom's ex-wife) 2-panel screens for our highly ideosyncratic windows. They were never actually used and have been stored in the cellar for 35 years, but were too good to just throw out. I KNEW someone could find a use for them!

Then I managed to get 2 bucks off on my Bausch & Lomb Simplus contact lens solution AND a 12-pack of Newcastle Brown for 10 bucks (cheaper than the grocery store) at Rite-Aid. I also gave a unicorn Christmas ornament to my favorite clerk there -- I'm trying to de-accession ornaments, too -- and she loved it.

Found some stuff I needed at the grocery store also on sale or on the markdown rack -- every little bit helps.

And, on my way home, there were 13-16 wild turkeys grazing and wandering in my neighbors' front yard. Sat in the car and watched them a bit, counted them, I think, four times. (That's why the range in enumeration.) As they left the yard single file, I counted 15, so maybe that's how many there were.

And in the mailbox was a package from my sister which included the mouthpiece for my clarinet. (The one I had is my father's Selmer and I didn't want to sell it along with the horn. My sister thought she had Dad's, but it turned out to be mine...and she didn't want it anyway.) So, now I can see if I can find a buyer for my circa 1958 Noblet clarinet of which Artie Barsamian said (when he repadded it some time ago), "It blows like a bitch" (that's a high compliment!).

Gotta make the turkey tetrazzini for dinner tonight and probably turkey pot pie filling to put in the freezer, but for now I'm going upstairs and goof off a bit.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Nov 12 - 11:49 AM

No success on the sweater rack, it seems that this sturdier variety is "online only." It has a cross piece under the mesh the sweater lies on, to keep it from sagging down to the countertop. I may head over to the Container Store near the mall at lunch, the traffic won't be too horrible. The purchase price isn't so bad where I found it but the various vendors have a high shipping price, considering the size and weight of the thing.

Putting the back on the buffet, and considering a second shelf.

The kitchen is looking great - I cleared off the island and filmed preparing a recipe for my son. It's unlisted on YouTube, there for him and a few friends to see. I set the camera on a tripod and showed the setup and prepared the chicken he likes - all only my torso and hands showing. :)

SRS (who had to rescue this via the back button, since it didn't take the first try.)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Nov 12 - 02:14 PM

I have a short shopping list and I think I can get to all of my stores without passing nearby a mall (thus avoiding any traffic jams).

I'm going to do a mix of online and local merchant shopping this year - I've gotten to where I bundle enough things in an Amazon order that I can get free shipping. They are charging tax now, but it looks like they only charge the state tax, not the local county or city part, so it is still a little less expensive, and I don't have to use the gas to drive to the store.

Laundry is about finished, and now that I've gone back to using that annoying little tweet on the dryer during the permanent press cycle, I can get things out in time to avoid having to do much ironing. I'm headed out to purchase a sweater dryer rack, that's something I've needed for ages. Now that I'm in the office more, I'm revamping the wardrobe to look a little more in place over there.

I've thrown out a couple of things that were so worn that I shouldn't even wear them at home, in case I forget and go somewhere to shop. A pair of gardening trousers that were patched and grubby, and some yard shoes that again, I have forgotten and worn off the property and been very embarrassed by. Sometimes it is best to retire them earlier rather than later. ;-D

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Nov 12 - 02:32 AM

I've been working on the buffet. The shelf I put in the bottom won't sit quite straight - I may give it another go, making a pattern this time and laying it out on the other part of the leftover plywood. Or I may just screw it down where it is. It won't be noticeable once I finish the doors - and those are what have to be absolutely straight. I looked at hinges today - I don't want to mortise each door (four total) to put on fancy hinges - I'll have to see what my options are. I have a router but I've never really used it. I need to teach myself, but I need practice before I start doing door hinges and such.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 24 Nov 12 - 07:15 PM

Tom and I have always been packrats..."Oh, this is too good to throw out...take to Goodwill...whatever. Might need it some time. Waste not, want not."

Despite the fact I was born in Upper Michigan and grew up around Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Tom has told me for over thirty years that I was born a Yankee...

We've had retail space over the years...I had a friend's antiquarian bookshop to sell some books and ephemera (but that was over 20 years ago), we both had space in an antique group shop in Northwood for awhile, and then, in the '90s mostly, Tom traded time for space at the Victory Antiques in Portsmouth, which turned into the Gold Bug Antiques in York, Maine and which is now Tangibles. So, yeah, some stuff was acquired for resale. Plus we've just reached the point where some things need to be de-accessioned.

I need to call the magazine guy in Manchester and the LP guy in Northwood and our friend Bjorn who pays best for antiques because he doesn't inventory his stock, but flips it as soon as he can. Tom and I need to exchange cubic footage for little green pieces of paper.

Besides the books and ephemera and related smalls, I've started to sell some vintage and just plain interesting jewelry locally, mostly to friends and acquaintances.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Nov 12 - 12:30 PM

Good work, Linn! I have a lot of stuff to get listed at eBay to both declutter and supplement the family coffers. If you held onto stuff because it might be worth something to someone, it's nice to finally find that someone.

I covered the eggplant last night, and this week I'll probably pick the rest of the batch and toss that plant into the compost. I need to prepare the bed for winter crops. I stored my potatoes and onions from last spring in peat moss and forgot about them so they're sprouting now - I have to plan to use them sooner next time - meaning I need to put the bins where I remember them.

I brought in the 3/4 inch birch plywood from the pickup and will bring in the circular saw so I can measure and cut shelves for the buffet thing I'm working on. I'll snap photos and post in flickr or facebook.

Laundry is in, I've been working on hand-washing in the back bathroom (letting sweaters dry flat on towels) and am in general getting set for the next couple of weeks with some special events coming up at work.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 24 Nov 12 - 12:05 PM

Profitable morning so far...

De-accessioned a couple opal rings to a friend earlier in the week in exchange for the wherewithall to pay Tom's health insurance for the month. Got that safely into the credit union this morning and, on the way home, stopped at a neighbor's to drop off the egg cartons I've been accumulating. They raise laying hens; I'd LOVE to buy their eggs, but, alas, they're twice what I pay in the store. They're definitely worth every penny, but I don't have as many pennies as we used to, and even pennies count.

She also took a Krups coffee grinder that I think we used twice. (I think we have three other small grinders plus a blender...and an antique wall-mounted hand grinder that we need to sell.) And three medieval-looking St. Nick statuettes and a couple papier-mache deer. More cubic footage.

Then I stopped at my up-the-hill neighbor and she took some interesting clothes that I'll never wear again off my hands.

At the last minute on Thanksgiving morning I whipped up a small batch of a spreadable black peppercorn/garlic cheese and Jeri, Tom and I made inroads before the bird. Yesterday I bought a new container of whipped cream cheese. I may have room in the fridge for two containers, but not for THREE. So...combined the leftover spread with the rest of the cream cheese in the opened container, added some more butter and seasoning and, voila! More pepper cheese, fewer containers.

After I throw together some sort of lunch that doesn't involve Thanksgiving leftovers, I have to strip the turkey carcass. (Turkey tetrazzini for supper on Monday!)

Oh, I also beat my Christmas letter into submission so I can get the Christmas cards I wrote out a couple weeks ago (to far-flung and elderly relatives) stamped (both holiday rubberstamped -- I have an image to uphold -- and postage stamped) and ready to mail.

Then I'm going to goof off.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Nov 12 - 01:53 AM

I used wood putty on the gaps in the veneer on the dining room buffet/dresser I'm refurbishing. The dried putty was sanded I and painted on the first coat of primer on top as a declaration of my intent to move forward with the project.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Nov 12 - 06:30 PM

Leftovers for dinner tonight, and Susie is coming down to join me.

The dogs have been decluttered of a couple of months worth of backyard dirt. It's getting to the time of year when they'll be inside more, so on this warmish day (before some forecast cool ones) I washed all three of them.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Nov 12 - 03:22 AM

Snow tires! Dorothy, though there might be one day a year when they would be handy here, I am glad to say that in general we don't need them. And I haven't owned chains in years, either.

Finishing this late, I was away from the computer all day today and tonight except for a couple of trips in to see if I wanted to record anything on the DVR. Good day, busy, but I realized I didn't call many people. I'll have to catch up with family this weekend.

The kitchen is clean and I ran the dishwasher, so I ended the day with the house livable.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 21 Nov 12 - 10:34 PM

Car maintenance on Friday/ two hours at Tim Horton's while waiting. Couple women there with some sort of "booties" on. They are made to be worn over running shoes to keep feet warm when biking! Bears investigation - cold feet!

Sunday was an US Thanksgiving afternoon at home of another one. Met two neat women, good conversation, went home tired. R even managed to get there for a few hours. He is still in crisis and in sleep deficit. Falls asleep in truck, in restaurants even! Sometimes in bed!

Snow tires on, new battery - I was having to use booster pack every time I tried to use the car! Wondered if they had done something when it was in the shop but it was fine after; until I left an interior light on from Friday to Sunday; that finished off the old battery!

Bisque firing yesterday and glaze today. Craft show on Saturday - need to do an "inventory". Glazing takes long time due to doing a few of this and a few of that. Very inefficient. Would like to do all of one glaze per kiln load. But will have to get more done. If I keep track of what I have, I will have a better idea what to throw and what glazes are needed.

Transition from country to city is progressing. Brought two printers in today and a few other things. One printer, bought at yard sale, has not been connected to computer yet so that needs to be done then I will take it back to the country. Lighting in LR is now adequate. Upstairs is warm enough to work there. Makes it nicer to go up for a bath also! All tools in order. Maybe I will produce tomorrow. Laundry is caught up. Energy level is better than most of the last two months.

Friday will be another car to the shop - for windshield washer pump - very needful as winter approaches! Then to country where I will turn up the heat and do the accumulated dishes. Maybe another glaze firing.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Nov 12 - 12:59 PM

Lovely day! I've been taking apart the piece of furniture that I want to modify into a buffet. It was well-made but treated poorly. I'm guessing it's from the 40s. It has old furniture screws on the back of the mirror frame (that had no mirror). I'm going to use that on the back to enclose the kneehole and put in a bottom and a shelf and cupboard doors. I'm going to use wood putty to fill in on the top gap in the veneer before sanding it (I was originally thinking I could mend the veneer with more veneer, but have decided to instead to smooth and paint. Then I'll top it with glass or a mirror.)

For exercise I'll be taking the dogs for a walk, and probably working in the garden some more.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Nov 12 - 02:26 AM

Did some clearing up around the house, cut up a lot of veggies for the freezer, and I put a batch of zucchini, onion, peppers, and garlic in to soak in salt and water overnight to make pickles tomorrow.

Told my 20-year-old son how I make gravy, then after looking through several fussy ones on YouTube, I told him to forget what I told him because I found one that will give him results closest to what I make but without the extra saucepan. I make some gravy and keep extra drippings to make more gravy for leftovers instead of making it all at once. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRgZXQYFYEk. He's going to roast a turkey breast and it sounds like have a few friends over. I hope it's fun - we so often to potlucks here that I'm sure that's what he'll have people do. I'd love to be the fly on that wall!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Nov 12 - 01:20 AM

Time off - six days in a row. Here's hoping I manage to pick up around here and get a few other chores done.

I have reached the point to finally pay off the last credit card this month. It only took two years after the child support stopped. (I lost 1/4 of my monthly income when my son graduated from high school.) I'm sure I'm not the only mom in the world who had to work to reach this point. Now I need to be a savings machine.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Nov 12 - 10:56 AM

I know, I know! But my zucchini season ended several months ago. I've discussed these pickles with Dean and am going to make this batch with poblano peppers instead of bell. Give them a little kick, but not so much as the cayenne pepper the recipe lists as optional.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: MAG
Date: 18 Nov 12 - 04:17 PM

buying zucchini? what a concept!

I discover I have a few items to drop at the Sally Ann even tho I got rid of TONS when I moved .. how fast is it supposed to pile up?? (at least for normal people )

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Nov 12 - 01:03 PM

Kat, is there something in the pizza you're allergic to?

I realized I need to start the pickles Monday night because I'll have Tuesday off. I'll be at work tomorrow and have an evening event, so no time to cook and process the pickles. I have consulted with my canning guru and I'm going to make this batch of zucchini bread and butter pickles with some of my home grown poblano peppers. They'll be a little bit hot, but not so hot as adding the cayenne pepper the recipe calls for (that I omitted last time.)

Off to the recycler drop-off of household stuff, and I have head to Home Depot to research a gate for the back yard. I need my wrought iron gate welded, one corner broke. But I've been thinking about re-doing this corner anyway, so now is the time.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Nov 12 - 12:37 PM

started a new med last night...no sleep, but may have been the once-per-year pizza. all bets are off for this day.;-<

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Nov 12 - 11:26 AM

Cooked up a storm yesterday, but didn't get the counter cleared enough to do the cranberry bars. That's today. I don't want to make them for the first time right before a family meal, I'll do a test run and take the results to work and see what they think. (They eat everything - especially cookies and bars.)

I picked up my zucchini but I forgot to get garlic, and then I'm set for bread and butter pickles this evening. I've been finishing designing a card for work so it's ready to go and I can take extra days off this week. A one day work week - now that's a treat, as long as I'm not too far behind when I get back to work!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 03:52 PM

I finally figured out how to make the link from the kitchen computer (that connects to the television/monitor on the wall) to the recorded television programs on my office computer. I've wanted to watch stuff I recorded in other parts of the house, but I had to figure out where Windows Media Center parked them, and then put them where they wouldn't fill up the C: drive. And then make the connection back to the kitchen. Mission accomplished! I'm now uploading a bunch of InDesign files to the office data storage area. Only 45 minutes left. . .

Dug out the ads for the week and I'll decide what is for dinner on Thursday. I'm leaning toward a ham this time, and doing a turkey in December. I think I might have room for a turkey if I move some things into the side-by-side freezer.

Also thinking about making more bread and butter pickles, for gifts this year. They are simply so fabulous when made with zucchini! I found some nice zucchini at the Mexican grocery this week, so will pull out the recipe, see how much I need, and see if they still have it in stock. I suppose I could check for organic zucchini at the high-end grocery also.

Spent time this morning hanging things up and putting stuff away. I could spend all day doing that!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 01:06 AM

What a very long week this has been! Tonight's meeting went well, despite parking nightmares on campus and the catering was really late. This was the big day for Homecoming (they moved it from Spring to Fall this year - good choice, except it messed with our meeting date.) We had to wait for the bulk of the food, so people nibbled sandwiches and cookies (our dessert bars went missing because of other campus activities) and people weren't hungry when the hors d'oeurve were finally was set out. But there was a Homecoming fireworks show and we had a great view from our top floor windows. So it balanced out. I have to go to work on Monday, but I'm taking Tuesday and Wednesday off. Looking forward to a few quiet days at home.

P.S. - I decluttered some old stainless steel silverware today - I had odd pieces, they don't match my big batch of stainless steel that came from my Dad's house that I use for family events. This stuff had been in the garage, waiting for a garage sale or a trip to Goodwill, but instead I took them to work and added them to the staff kitchen drawer of odd cutlery, etc. I took several coffee mugs in last year and they are mostly still there. I am glad to provide a few useful utensils at work because we don't have a budget to provide any of this stuff.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: MAG
Date: 16 Nov 12 - 05:51 AM

I tried Murphy's on an oil stain on my unfinished wooden floor -- didn't do it.

will try the lavendar idea, as I love lavendar.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Nov 12 - 12:13 AM

And if it doesn't work with any solvents you could always use a chisel to chip out the spot then fill it in with wood filler. Leave burning down the house as the last resort. ;-D

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: mg
Date: 15 Nov 12 - 11:24 PM

I was wondering about murphy's oil soap.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: freda underhill
Date: 15 Nov 12 - 11:19 PM

water soluble lavender oil, Linn, is both a disinfectant and will cleanse the area and replace yukky smell with lavender. You could douse a rag in it to rub into the exposed wood.

In Oz we can buy water soluble lavender oil for cleaning at the supermarket, its cheaper than the 100% pure oil. But both are equally effective cleaners.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Nov 12 - 10:59 PM

Linn, if you don't care what colour the floor is there, you could paint it with Kilz. They may even have one specific for oil.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 15 Nov 12 - 10:31 PM

Managed to throw some small pots yesterday. shoulders hurt badly while I was doing it. So I quit and came back to reading and interneting. Today, I spent the morning shopping at various food stores, sort of an interesting time of exploring what was available. then lunch and upstairs to check on pots. They were ready to trim but one of the heaters had self destructed and it was not warm enough to work comfortably.

Back to reading and dealing with internet/emails - interminably. Found a new potters group which is very interesting, Met a couple new people and finally have a handle on French butter dishes! Copied stuff to file so I can try making some and provide instructions to purchasers. They are not as simple as they look and at one point I commented that I would not try making them until I have seen one in real life! But by the end I think I've got it. Also on clayart, we discovered that milk in plastic bags is a Canadian phenomenon. That generated an interesting discussion! No sign of R since 7:30 this morning. He did get to bed by 10 last night after a decent meal and falling asleep on the sofa. This ongoing business crisis is impacting our lives seriously. May go on for another few weeks.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Jeri
Date: 15 Nov 12 - 08:00 PM

I don't think you get oil OUT. I used to get stains on my work clothes (when I worked with oily things) and always imagined if I soaked the whole thing, it would at least be the same color. Try some more pleasantly scented oil, and don't get too close to the stove. Or stop some kitty litter into it if the stain isn't a problem.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Nov 12 - 07:22 PM

While carrying out the not-exactly-a-coil of copper tubing that used to run between the underground oil tank (history) and the furnace, I managed to drip oil on the unfinished piece of wood at the head of the cellar stairs and on the plywood subflooring.

I've done a bit of scrubbing, and it left the stains somewhat diffused, but the oil odor is driving me nuts. (Tom doesn't notice it.) It was really a small amount of oil.

Anybody got any ideas as to what to use for further scrubbing?

The stain I can live with. The smell is really getting to me.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Nov 12 - 03:45 PM

My exercise today has been extricating heavy metal objects from the cellar and schlepping them upstairs, out the door, and into close vicinity to the back of the car. Think I've got enough stuff to make the trip to Harding Metals worthwhile.

Baked a batch of shortbread for a Scots friend who gave us a lovely 2-meal container of nicely spiced chicken curry. Finished it up last night for supper -- the perfect meal for me sleep deprived with an upset tum. It had just the right amount of heat to settle my stomach and, best of all, I didn't have to do anything but heat it up along with the leftover rice from the previous meal. Oh, and open a Bass Ale to split with Tom. That was about all I could handle yesterday.

Also baked a chocolate cake for Tom. His indulgence is cake and icecream. How he manages to keep his youthful figure, I haven't a clue. (Although he's been having the occasional problem buttoning his jeans.)

Got to find some time to spiffify the house sometime between now and Sunday -- and between then and now is taking the stuff to Harding, tomorrow's Press Room session, and Saturday's sea music singaround. And bring a couple more chairs upstairs. Steve Carrigan has a folk show on WSCA, a local (Portsmouth, NH) community radio station, and has wanted Tom on it since the beginning (earlier this year), but that was foiled by Tom breaking his ankle. Steve REALLY wants Tom on (we'll record the show here) in the first year of the show.

Onward.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Nov 12 - 12:46 PM

Food on my mind today. I was so tired last night I went to bed quite early, so early I forgot to put the tarp over my lonely eggplant, but it was fine. In addition to cooking and freezing lots of eggplants, and freezing peppers, I may see about canning something over the weekend. More bread-and-butter pickles with zucchini, and maybe some eggplant and pepper stuff that Dean makes that is quite delicious.

I've been reading Dan's thread about smoking cheese. I could smoke some salmon for Thanksgiving. I'll have to see what is available - probably frozen.

Networking today about Thanksgiving - my son doesn't fly home because the travel time and the visit would be right when he needs to finish schoolwork for the semester. I have a friend out there he could have the meal with, if he doesn't have other plans already. The first year he was able to stay in his dorm, but last year they had to clear out so he went to a town about 75 miles away with a friend. He's in a house now so I suppose he could cook his own meal.

Getting ready to send several large items to the Salvation Army; negotiating a new mattress (my ex bought one of these big latex ones but it had a flaw, so they sent another, said to keep the first. That also had a flaw, so they sent a third. One is on his bed, one is on my son's bed over there, and one is in the garage. I'll take that off his hands - the flaw is only visual.)

As for accountability, I'm getting more dog walks in lately, and will go out at lunch around the neighborhood.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Nov 12 - 10:09 PM

Looking forward to some days off next week, when I hope to get a jump on some of the work here. Not sure that I can take three days off in addition to the two we already get, but it is awfully tempting!

Shopping today, starting to pick up for the holiday. I need to decide what the main course will be. Possibly ham. I picked up one last year and it was a big hit. What are the rest of you (in the U.S.) doing for Thanksgiving?

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 14 Nov 12 - 02:58 PM

My psychology of needing a certain amount of uninterrupted time. Also transitioning to the city has been difficult. OK, here I am. R came in last night sometime after midnight and found food I had left, warmed it up and ate. That is a first. I will plan that in the future. HE left about 7 this morning (also yesterday morning) and I proceeded to Get Things Done. Having tried yesterday to clean up some badly greyed, stained, molded white cloths with 2 cups of bleach in a med wash - left soaking a long time - without much success, today I put them in small wash with 3 cups. By 9 am I had to move upstairs as my eyes started to sting. By 10, I was feeling sick upstairs. By this time, I had plugged in a second heater and carried 7-20 kg bags of clay upstairs, read some and checked emails.

I called R to see if he had breakfast yet and thought he said he had but he was too busy to talk. I went to post office for a stamp to mail a bill payment then drove to places he might be and tried to decide how to stay, usefully, out of the house until the chlorine dissipated. PArked nearby and went in and put stuff through rinse cycle again. Took food to car so I could eat and read. Went in and put stuff through a full wash cycle. Went out a while more.

Finally went in about 1pm and read while trying to get feet warm with heating pad. R came home for "breakfast" and now he has gone back off, feet are almost warm, upstairs in warm enough to work. The sun is pouring in the windows. Emails are done, etc. Here I go!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Nov 12 - 10:38 PM

Beautiful warm day yesterday so I pulled up the tomato jungle and piled in in the designated tomato area. There were a lot of tomatoes, missed before the frost but they will seed a new jungle next year. Maybe I will be pro-active enough to put the seedlings in an orderly fashion as they pop up. A couple plants went right up the clematis trellises. R really enjoyed this year's volunteer crop.

R had borrowed my vehicle and forgot he had I so I got it back about 6 pm. Then I went to the cabin to fill the feeder and get distilled water. Tony came in to eat before I even finished, made it clear I was not to bother him. He ate and then went up the ramp to the hammock and made himself at home. I left about 9, too early for the other 3 to appear generally; guess they were not hungry! I stayed long enough to have supper and then came back to the city "kicking and screaming". R came home about 4 am (he said as he left about 8 this morning). Not home yet.

Today I went off to market by way of driving a couple streets (trash day) and finding a couple needed pieces of plywood for my upstairs studio. Carried stuff up stairs. Brought the unfinished teapots from the cabin to finish them here. I got the area totally ready but - tomorrow.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Nov 12 - 09:37 PM

Nice surprise for a great kid!

I'm decluttering my C: drive in the computer - the Windows Media Center has been recording programs to that drive and it is filling up. I will watch or transfer to DVD a number of them and clear it out, but I wanted them on a different drive anyway. The M: drive has barely been used so far. It has over 3 hours to go, so I'll leave the computer on overnight.

The front room futon has now been dog-proofed (several layers of blankets over the mattress, topped with a polyester bed sheet that is too rough for anyone to want to use on their beds. Came from my Dad's house years ago and this is its highest calling.) If we have really cold or yucky weather they can come in and sleep there. I also moved the hay from the garage floor into their dog stall and am ready to start putting my truck in the garage again. Since the garden froze last night (all but one eggplant I covered) that activity will slow, once I tote all of the dead plants back to the compost pile.

I'll try to remember to haul the recycling to the bins tomorrow, but I'll have to do it before work because I need to dress up a bit and that means climbing into the pickup bed is out. :)

I've decided today is the last day for the ratty old gardening pants I've been wearing for a couple of summers now. Into the trash they go. I need to thin out stuff in my closet this weekend, and that will go to Goodwill.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - NOV````2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Nov 12 - 03:59 PM

That's neat, Linn.

I cleaned off my desk, put a lot of papers away, etc. Did some laundry, exercised the dogs and washed my hair!:-)

Tomorrow, Rog will pick Morgan up from school at early release instead of him staying for four more hours and we will have a special time together, for his 9th b-day. (Rog will have to go back to work.) We'll have a party on the weekend, I think. His parents aren't sure yet what they are doing. He doesn't know yet that we will b e getting him early!