April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 08 Apr 13 - 03:38 PM

Got Tom's PMFF correspondence, etc. taken care of.

And got a substantial amount of the interior of the turnaround raked and fallen branches picked up. A few other things other than the dark gold crocuses are trying to surface. Daffodils in the rockery on the bank are almost ready to open.

Should be able to herd together a load of metal to take to Harding Metals to convert to small pieces of green paper.

What a gorgeous day out! Have a few other in and out tasks to accomplish. Then make kedgeree for supper tonight.

Linn

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Apr 13 - 03:31 PM

eBay box out the door since I'm working at home today. I put a note on my mailbox so the carrier knows to ring the bell.

I got a workout yesterday in the garden; now I'm ready to plant more bedding plants or seeds and I need to pick up some mulch.

Time spent researching Art's computer - there is wide array of options to choose from. I'm enjoying the process, but it is time consuming. I had to call Toshiba this morning to figure out how to get the search results I wanted from their site.

Linn, is there any opportunity to hire someone to come in for a half-day every couple of weeks and establish a baseline of neatness/kitchen scrubbing/bathroom cleaning - whatever - that will make it a little easier for you? I have to think really hard if I'm going to have someone come in to do something, but like with the plumber, if the work you really need done is taken care of, it makes life easier. Just a thought!

We haven't heard a peep out of Kat for a while. Are you feeling better?

SRS

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 08 Apr 13 - 01:42 PM

Was not only in a better mood on Saturday, but had energy and wasn't bogged down with "do I have a fatal disease because I have no energy and just want a nap"-type thoughts. Didn't have to go anywhere and didn't expect anyone. Seemed to get things done without even trying, including rearranging glassware from the boxes from the old hutch, to swapping positions for small glasses and wine glasses between the jelly cupboard and the built-in cupboard. Will have to grab a stepstool to put the "good" wineglasses away. Tom "helped" by breaking one of the utility wine glasses last week...

Wrapped some up to go to Goodwill or Savers, too.

Electric toothbrush bit the dust. Looked for a new one this morning, but didn't buy anything. Why, exactly, do drugstores carry a dozen different charging kinds and maybe another 8 battery-operated ones, but only have replacement brushes for 2? I am NOT going to buy one and have trouble getting brushes for it!

Tom and I had a PMFF board meeting yesterday afternoon, but I ended up going alone and including Tom via cell on speakerphone. That didn't work as well as we'd hoped, so I have to help Tom compose an email of his comments today. He'd gotten all set to go to the meeting and got as far as the steps off the deck and decided his ankle would make it too painful to navigate, so I had to get him back into the house and make sure he had everything while I went to the meeting.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed again as so much needs to be done today, although I've checked a bunch off the list. Tom needs me to do PMFF biz and I REALLY need to start raking the leaves off the hostas and crocuses and other spring bulbs in the turnaround. Hand pulled leaves off the bright gold crocuses yesterday, but that's something that needs to be done NOW.

Start the caregivers class tomorrow, appointment to get taxes done on Wednesday.

Linn

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 07 Apr 13 - 10:27 PM

Awwww....I SO want to see Brucie in concert!!!! LUCKY DUCK!

Yoga was soft and stretchy tonight...still sweaty but so sweet. I think I fell asleep during savasana...I'm not sure if I was lost in thought or dreaming. Either way, it was heavenly.

Michelle

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 07 Apr 13 - 08:39 PM

The plus side of moving is that some stuff might be found surplus and disposed of although I did a great deal of that prior to last move.

My vision of bulbs coming up was that they would be too random for holes. One of my fav garden tools was a "japanese hoe" which made it very easy to scrape weeds off at the soil surface. Very easy when they are small.

BIG news is that we finally have electric at the saw mill!!! As of today, I can plug in the modem and have internet and sit in the car and use computer - the interior is still too dirty and cold. I am here due to the latest crisis:
Wednesday I thought I was going to have a quiet day at the cabin but shortly after R left for the saw mill, my cell phone rang (that is good news as it often does not work at the cabin. Anyhow, he had been stopped by the department of transport and both truck and trailer impounded!

Doing things in a timely manner is a terrific way to avoid clutter. I drove down and picked up him and the plywood he was taking to the mill for the electrician. Then I was down there without even a book! So I went to the thrift shop and the grocery store for provisions.

The trailer had a license plate registered to "a dead man" so apparently when a friend gave R the trailer he had not properly registered it. That was really a cruncher. That took a great deal of discussion and phone calls to Quebec City.

Well, it is now Sunday and they have had the requisite repairs, his driver's license is reinstated (a ticket had not been paid) - we had to drive to Montreal for that on Thursday but that was Ok because I had arranged to pick up a musician at the train at 4:30 and bring him out to the country. we stopped in St. I for the music and Allan played in the open mike.

Do stop at stop signs, pay tickets, register vehicles appropriately, on time. And more. The property manager had been "too busy" to register the truck and once it was impounded, it could not be registered until it was cleared - 5 pm on Friday. So we may have to drive back to Montreal tomorrow. So most of four days were shot and I have gotten nothing of my own stuff done, except this computer stuff. R has put in many hours on the electric. That is good.

Today, Jeri, Beer and R and I got to hear a marvellous Bruce Murdoch concert. He was in fine form with new songs and old songs! A real treat. Pierre Lachance opened and did a couple Murdoch songs as well, also beautifully.

E-Bay defeated me by the time I may have registered for it. I just give stuff to the thrift shop. This week a few things, including a pair of in-line skates R found somewhere. Unfortunately, the little green library had a $2/bag book sale and R bought 3 bags and I one - just to have a few on hand in case I run out and the library is closed. Sale is every saturday in April and they promised more books next week, she says with horror! I suggested we need to turn one of the buildings at the mill into a library. I shall be culling some books as I box them for this next move.

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Apr 13 - 04:41 PM

This afternoon I decided to stop walking around the cooler by the back door that I was given over the holidays. I still hadn't found a home for it - the other one (okay for temporary holding if I defrost the freezer) is out in the garage. I found an office chair that is up on a shelf that can go in the Salvation Army stack and the new cooler is up in that spot. I also have one of the old printers the kids discarded to go. It works, just needs ink. And I'd better find the power cord and USB cable, but those are all interchangeable.

SRS

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 07 Apr 13 - 04:14 PM

I'm off to Day 7 of the Yoga Challenge!

Michelle

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Apr 13 - 01:06 PM

I have some back stretch exercises a friend sent (photocopies). I'll try that to day before I go out. Thanks!

Beneficial nematodes have been watered in. Last year's batch is still working, so these are boosting the effectiveness. Cut worms killed my garden in 2012 spring, but this year my friend who turned over the garden and weeded saw them only in one area, so I treated it more heavily. And I haven't planted there yet.

Generalized decluttering: this evening I'm going to pull a bunch of paperback novels and put them in one large wholesale lot on eBay. It may take a day or two to prepare - I type in the name of each novel. And if I find any that seem to sell well I'll sell them separately. Pretty soon the Earthday activities will kick in on campus and I can take the VCR tapes to recycle. I have a bag of clothes to add to the Salvation Army pickup, culled from my closet. As my wardrobe has to change for work I need to pull out things like knit tops that I don't wear around the house but that I won't be wearing at work either. I have way too many of them, so the least favorites are in the bag. Those I'm keeping for casual wear will be arranged neatly so I can tell what I have.

SRS

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 07 Apr 13 - 09:51 AM

Maggie,

   When it's gardening time around here, my yoga teacher teaches class specifically to help people stretch out their backs....do you do anything like that? They really do help.

Michelle

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Apr 13 - 12:53 AM

My back is feeling better after a couple of aspirin and application of a hot pad. I mowed half of the back yard and got about 1/3 of the garden shaped (raised beds, beveled) and planted. Tomorrow I should finish it - assuming I can still stand up or walk. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 06 Apr 13 - 10:30 PM

Yesterday: Walk and fun at a playground with Jeremiah

Today: 60 Minutes of hip openers at yoga and a walk

Hip openers are painful while in the process but the after is amazing...it's almost like my hips are drunk...all loosey goosey. YUM.

Michelle

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Apr 13 - 06:20 PM

Yee Ha! Another eBay box is going to leave the house on Monday. I sold a DISH DVR from several years ago. I'd had the membership for about five years, and it got too expensive, so I dropped it but the boxes were mine to keep. I realized recently that I could unload them and clear out one shelf in a cupboard. One went very quickly, and this one was ready to sell when I got a message from eBay that the sale had been cancelled and I should wait seven days to hear from DISH. Fuck Dish. They have nothing to do or say about my selling something I own, and there is no copyright infringement in calling something by its name. I relisted it for a 3-day sale without the name and it didn't sell, but there were others for auction with the name, so I again listed with the name and it has sold. Dish wouldn't have so much interest in their older equipment if they weren't gouging on the new stuff.

Meanwhile, I'm pacing myself in the garden - this is my springtime conditioning period - I am not in shape yet and I need to lose weight. This post is during a rest break. I don't have any intention of overdoing, and am working up to a much better level of fitness with all of the yard work and dog walking.

So that's my fitness and declutter story for today!

SRS

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Apr 13 - 01:03 PM

This isn't a political thread - a non sequitur post was deleted.

Laundry is in, next I'm headed into the yard. This morning I searched a little more for computers for Art, we're getting close to being able to make a decision and ship to his son.

This week on PBS they replayed Food, Inc.. The link is to a discussion about it on Now on PBS. It might be available streaming online from PBS, or you can find it at NetFlix, etc. Rather than start a new thread, I thought I'd bring this up as far as the diet component we include with our fitness side of these threads. I've never seen it all of the way through, but always came in and saw big chunks of it. I still didn't catch it from the beginning, but it reminded me of something I've thought about myself - pacing yourself on eating by simply fasting every so often (looks pretty difficult) or having a day of modest eating every so often. This documentary film in fact puts forward a plan for a modified fasting day every other day, in which you would eat a meal of fruit or veggies in the middle of the day and the rest of the time drink water or tea. They say black tea, but I think herbal and green would also be good. On the regular days you eat your normal foods.

Has anyone seen this and/or tried that approach to eating? A plus in this is that it lowers some of the hormones that contribute to cancer growth (which is I think my top reason for thinking this is something worth trying).

SRS

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Apr 13 - 01:24 AM

It's the weekend - garden, here I come.

Rags, those photos are stunning as always. You have a great environment, a great long lens, and patience. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 05 Apr 13 - 08:41 PM

Replacing the nut would cost more than the guitar is worth. So I'll put it on Craig's List for $25 and see if there are any takers. If it doesn't sell, it goes to Goodwill or Savers. Cubic footage.

Paid some bills, so I should feel accomplished.

Went to the Press Room session, left early but developed a raging headache on my way to the car. Hope I'm not coming down with something.

Should have brought home something that I didn't have to fix for Tom's supper, but heated up leftover meatloaf and mashed potatoes for him as he wanted. Almost had an argument over that, not sure what about, exactly. I think he's tired, too.

I feel as if everyone's making demands on me in one way or another. I think it's time for bed. At least Tom has clean sheets even if I don't.

G'night.

Linn

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!
From: ranger1
Date: 05 Apr 13 - 02:28 PM

The yucky virus I've been battling with all week finally won. I feel bad about calling in sick during my first week back from seasonal layoff, but better today than tomorrow, when I have an advertised nature program scheduled. I did get some work-related stuff done at home today, though. I have high speed internet here at home, at work, we're still on dial-up. Had about 11 mb worth of photos that needed to be sent out and it would have taken my boss forever to send them from the park, so I took care of it this AM from home.

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 05 Apr 13 - 01:45 PM

Wasps like to live in unsavory stuff, SRS. Lucky you didn't get blood poisoning. Most likely to get stung when the weather is changing and the wasps are a bit logy. I got stung on the hand once in the middle of the night -- the wasp was in the toilet paper roll, of all things. And another time at dusk when I put my hand on the car door handle.

Just put a guitar into the car so I can have a friend look at it and give me an idea of its value. It's missing the nut. I bought it REAL cheap with the intent of selling it for some sort of profit. (The case is worth more than what I paid for it.) I've tried Googling it, but there's not a lot of info out there.

Did some laundry and will now declutter the bank account by paying some bills.

Other than that, I feel as if I can't get out of my own way today.

Yesterday, getting Tom to and from his cardiologist wore me out. Wore him out, too, but he got some really good exercise out of it. Made it all the way in, etc. using his walker. He needed a wheelchair to get back to the car, though. (And somebody else navigated it for me, while I got the car open and in an accessible position.)

There's so much I should be doing but I just don't seem to have any energy the past couple days.

Linn

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: ragdall
Date: 04 Apr 13 - 10:07 PM

SRS,
Spring is indeed reaching the north. Swans, geese and ducks have arrived in the thousands, http://www.flickr.com/photos/diffuse/8611187935/ Robins are greedily gobbling fallen berries, http://www.flickr.com/photos/diffuse/8617700943/ and my house is rising again from behind high snowbanks, http://www.flickr.com/photos/diffuse/8619924787/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/diffuse/8621072114/ In less than six weeks we should begin to see leaf buds and green grass sprouting again.
rags

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 04 Apr 13 - 09:38 PM

Wow..I need to ramp up the exercise...

I also would like step by step instructions of how to sell on ebay if SRS or anyone feels like telling us.

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 Apr 13 - 09:01 PM

Day 4 of the Yoga Challenge complete! Today we did standing balances held for long periods of time. Hard on the arches of the feet. Leg and arm muscles were still trembling when I left. I am feeling strong!

Michelle

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Apr 13 - 02:58 PM

This morning I padded into the kitchen to put on the tea kettle and had a painful surprise- there was a wasp hidden on the patterned tile that I stepped on. Hurt like a sonofabitch. Yes, Microsoft, that is how that is spelled.

I'm limping after putting on a baking soda poultice then washing with peroxide and putting on some antibiotic ointment. The last sting in the yard a few years ago led to an infection (from the stinger, the doctor supposes).

Tomorrow is Friday, correct? I have a meeting, so I can't take the day off. I just blocked off Monday as vacation day, hopefully nothing will come up. There is a thing on Saturday, but I think people who are covering it can take their own photos. I need some uninterrupted time in the yard and garden!

SRS

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 Apr 13 - 12:47 PM

Tumor markers are in and all is well!!!! :) My thanks for your continued love and support! :)

In other news, I've been busy cleaning today so I can play tomorrow! :)

Yoga later tonight. BRING IT! ;)

Michelle

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Charmion
Date: 04 Apr 13 - 09:58 AM

Ruth my voice coach talked me off the roof yesterday and convinced me to go through with the choir performance, holding my nose the whole time if necessary, and then quit and never look back.

In other news, we are departing on an extended road trip holiday soon, so for the next couple of weeks I shall be squaring away the house for our absence and lining up projects for when we get back. High on this list will be dealing with boxes of stuff that I inherited from my parents and have yet to either integrate into our lifestyle or move along elsewhere.

What, for example, should one do with photo slides, when one does not possess a slide projector, and very few of the pictures are of family, friends, or anything personal? Thanks to my packrat mother, I have hundreds of commercially prepared slides of various tourist attractions. I'm thinking landfill. Opinions?

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: ranger1
Date: 03 Apr 13 - 11:08 PM

Way to go, Michelle!

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Apr 13 - 08:59 PM

One hour of sun salutations. I believe she was trying to kill us this evening. LOL Another night of dripping sweat all over my mat. I worked for every single calorie burned this evening. I am most happy to say I did the entire class without breaks in the middle of things when they were feeling uncomfortable.

Michelle

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: ranger1
Date: 03 Apr 13 - 07:37 PM

Charmion, if you're not enjoying making music, run like hell. Music is supposed to make us happy and bring us up, not make us irritable.

In other news, I got a major decluttering project at work completed that has been irking the living daylights out of me for a year. My predecessor and his partner in chaos had a bad habit of shoving everything in the back room of HQ, a building that is technically the manager's quarters. There was no rhyme or reason to any of it and things were piled so high and so deep that there was stuff in there that Andy, my boss, hadn't seen in four or five years. One of those items was the GPS unit that we needed for a project ASAP (I started back yesterday from seasonal layoff). I figured since it obviously wasn't in one of the top layers, that I might as well organize while I was at it. It was in the back corner buried three layers deep and two wide and at the bottom of the back pile. I also convinced Andy to buy several storage totes to put spare uniforms in, as they take up a full quarter of the space in there. Once in the storage totes, they can be stored in the attic. Another large part of the items in that back room belong out in the interpretive ranger's office on the porch. I also recommended purchasing several cheap tackle or tool boxes to put together kits for the various programs we do. They can then be stacked neatly, as well as being labeled and easily found when they are needed. I'm so good at work, why can't I be better at home?

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Apr 13 - 03:56 PM

HOORAY!! The dumpster was just delivered...2 days early and we can still keep it for the time agreed upon!

Michelle

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Apr 13 - 03:41 PM

Charmion, I think if you're not enjoying the activity, there is no reason to stay. On the other hand, if you give them notice that your last performance will be that particular concert, then would there be a going away party? A small ceremonial departure that wishes everyone well would be good for all.

I need that kind of cleanup around here, Michelle. I have a bunch of pots sitting on the patio by the sun room door that needs weeding or tossing. And oddball stuff that needs putting away.

Susan, I was thinking of your most recent "Mudwimmins" query.

We haven't heard from Kat for a while - I hope the recovery is steady and noticeable. And I hope Morgan is having a good spring - has he been over to visit?

SRS

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Apr 13 - 02:28 PM

Spent some time in the barn this afternoon. I just love the smell of fresh hay and new animals.....their antics are something I could watch all day long. :) Got some photos of this year's garden area too...always fun to take a few photos now when it's empty, then full of young seedlings and more as they grow. I also took some photos of the hoophouse where we have been growing lettuce and parsley all winter long. We had some other things in there but we ate them. HA! ;)

Tonight I am going to try the late yoga class!

Either tomorrow or Friday a large dumpster is being delivered to be filled with seasonal ick and things that just need to GO already (not suitable for yard sale or donation). I'm always excited to clear up the mess that winter leaves behind and to make our yard family friendly for warmer weather. :)

The sun is shining but the wind is quite cold today....it's a GORGEOUS day to be outside...and bonus? It leaves our faces cold and pink which I love. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Charmion
Date: 03 Apr 13 - 02:10 PM

Back from the gym -- dead beat. Singing lesson this afternoon at 3:30; better have some energy back by then.

The inestimable Ms Pinch, my personal trainer (hark at me! A personal trainer!) put me through the usual hour of purgatory today, but this time after the hour of cardio instead of before. (The gym staff were summoned to a meeting at the time usuall appointed for our hour of power.) I dragged my tail the whole time, and poor Pinch feared that I would plotz. Note to file: don't leave it all on the elliptical machine.

I have decided to quit the choir I have been irritably singing with for several years now. The guys in the back row won't shut up when the conductor is giving direction, and the repertoire doesn't do anything for me. Worse, for the up-coming performance we have to wear ostensibly War of 1812 costumes, an idea I just loathe. The performance is 13 April, and my whole being is saying No.

Question for the committee: Would I be a Bad Person if I handed in my bonnet and resigned now? They have plenty of women and don't actually need me.

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Apr 13 - 12:23 PM

SRS, A while back in a dedicated thread Susan asked about what people are doing for personal improvement.

It's lost in space (low thyroid levels no doubt)-- what thread? I think I do not have it Traced.

~S~

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Apr 13 - 11:45 AM

I have a bunch of books and I've listed samples on eBay a few people look, but I think they're really best for a specialty used book store that has mystery paperback novels. So I'm going to box them as a wholesale lot and list it that way.

It's April, coming up on time for Earth Day, and there is an event on campus that will recycle stuff like VCR tapes. I held onto a box I packed back in January (I could have shipped it and paid to have it recycled, totalling about $45), and I'll pull out more from my shelves before the environmental activities start up and see if I can't haul a whole bunch of these over there. The tape itself isn't recyclable, but the cases are. I'm not getting rid of all of them, but the lion's share that I can reproduce with downloads or disks from NetFlix can leave the house.

SRS

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Apr 13 - 08:49 AM

Had my port flushed and accessed yesterday. It had been about 11 weeks since the last time that happened...should have had it flushed at about the 8 week mark but things kept coming up, etc. I am happy to report that it flushed just fine and the blood return flowed perfectly!!! HOORAY! :) Now we wait for the tumor marker results.

I will say that one of my levels was very low (18, instead of in the 30-100 range) and when we were going over results, I told them I thought this particular one was very low as I've been feeling really sluggish...everything just seems like an effort lately. Sure enough, I was right! A new script has been called into the pharmacy and soon I should be feeling better! :) HOORAY! It's getting to be spring time outside and who wants to be lacking energy then? Tis a busy time of year around here!

Today we are adding to our family....twin calves! :)

Later Gators!

Michelle

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Apr 13 - 12:33 AM

The kitchen is cleaned up but I have a basket of laundry that didn't get folded and I haven't seen the surface of the small kitchen table for weeks.

For the last week I had a small table beside my office desk so I could work on the laptop and the desktop computers at the same time. The desk the laptop usually sits on has been a bit cleared because of this. I'm going to clear and dust before I put the laptop back on it's side of the room.

SRS

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 02 Apr 13 - 07:32 PM

I've got the further documentation together to hand deliver tomorrow after I have a good catch-up lunch with a friend in Portsmouth whom I haven't seen except on Facebook for waaaay too long.

Of course, I have to put Tom's lunch together before I leave.

Been pulling more stuff out since I moved the jelly cupboard, going through it and either filing it appropriately or, better still, throwing it out. Lots of rubberstamp catalogs from the '80s and graphic design magazines that are long outdated. The occasional piece is suitable for the library sale, but a lot of very heavy stock photo catalogs, etc. went out in today's trash.

Discovered that getting the bathtub plumbing sorted out (or maybe it was the new shutoffs) also gave me normal pressure again in the bathroom sink. Wow. Amazing what happens when you get something attended to professionally!

I woke up much too early this morning so really wasn't particularly ambitious, but got Tom attended to, emptied the dishwasher and did several loads of laundry. Getting the trash to the road was a major workout, too.

Did some more research on cellulitis and foot pain caused by poor circulation, so maybe I can do some little daily things that will help Tom get more mobile and avoid recurring cellulitis.

Tried to nap a bit mid-day before making lunch. Not sure how successful that was, but it made the cats happy.

Linn

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 02 Apr 13 - 03:07 PM

I am eating chia seeds and also green coffee with rasberry ketone pills..see if it will shake this stubborn weight off.

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Apr 13 - 02:41 PM

Wow! The place will feel like new!

More final touches today, I'm off to the printer in a few minutes.

A while back in a dedicated thread Susan asked about what people are doing for personal improvement. Not to bring that entire discussion here, but this is so small, it doesn't merit a thread. A few weeks ago I went back to brewing a cup of tea in the evening in a cup that I'd dissolved a pack of gelatin in. It doesn't change the flavor of the tea at all but does wonders for my fingernails. Now I'm trying to remember to do that at least once a week, better twice a week. I don't think daily gelatin is called for, but I want some in there to keep my nails healthy.

I'd accidentally trimmed my big toe nails too short a number of weeks ago, and as some of you probably know, that can lead to an ingrown nail or at least an annoying nail until it grows out. Years ago a nurse friend showed me a trick - take a cotton ball and spin off a little bit to make a thick thread. You use your nail file or something narrow and sharp and tuck the thread down into the groove beside the nail and let the thread wrap under the top of the nail. You can trim it so it barely shows, but that thread in there keeps the nail from digging into the skin/nail bed as it grows out. I did that and am almost at the point where I'll be able to trim my nail straight across and have no more painful spot on each big toe.

Yeah, I know. Possibly too much information, but I suspect some little tricks (another one being Alice using muslin on her face instead of a wash cloth) are good to share because they might just help someone else.

SRS

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Charmion
Date: 02 Apr 13 - 09:31 AM

The locksmith came and repaired the rattling doorknobs, non-latching latches and the back-door deadbolt lock that was literally hanging off the door, begging any passing burglar to apply his favourite jemmy.

Fifteen minutes of skilled work was all it took to do away with a five-year irritant.

For our next trick, the garage door guy comes this afternoon.

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 Apr 13 - 08:37 AM

Good Morning!!!

   I've been to yoga already this morning! Forty five minutes of stretchy bliss!!! HOORAY! Now I'm off to have my tumor marker levels checked.

Have a great day everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Apr 13 - 10:49 PM

Huge project almost finished today. The proof copy is at work with one of the folks working on this exhibit (the 84-page booklet is a list of all of the citations for faculty and staff authors last year). I didn't have to compile it, but I had to massage the data into a published document. I'll proof it tomorrow and take it back to the printer. Since we're doing a digital document it won't take long. This was my biggest publication to date, and thought it was a lot of work, I learned a great deal. That's what I liked about it.

So, my lawn needs mowing, the poop needs scooping, garden needs planting, the house needs cleaning. The evenings this week will be put to good use. I was at a community meeting tonight so though I may put in a load of laundry, I'm not going to try to accomplish anything else. I have a book I want to finish reading. That's enough.

SRS

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Apr 13 - 08:45 PM

(Of course you CUT HOLES for the bulbs to poke up through)!!!! I guess I thought that was a given! Silliness!

Jeepers yourself!

Michelle

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Apr 13 - 08:35 PM

DP, sorry you have to decamp.

Charmion, you can find old threads in this series by the links at the top and bottom of each one, or by a filter search on CLUT. We discuss fitness/activity level stuff here too.

mg, AFAIK silver marks are usually like this: one is the maker's stamp, one is the quality stamp, and then sometimes there is a company logo stamped.

===

OK. The report from today's PT/Doc visits.

PT: She was back to the deep and painful work today of pulling adhesion tissue off my bones. It's like digging thru flesh to find creeping, tough spaghetti strands trying to climb thru my muscles to attach to my pelvic and hip bones. She plucks these like bass violin strings, and I provide the soundtrack (screamed/tearful cuss words mostly). My "job" while she does this is to lay still and relax into her relentlessly pushing hand.....

Hardi learned how to do some of the stretching of the shallower adhesions today from my PT. (We can do those at home for the tissue closer to the surface, i.e. from pubis towards navel.) For the deeper/snakier strands going hip to hip, which also are trying to adhere to hip bones, she prefers to do those herself just once per week. But the ones we do (which she also does) can also be done on the Friday before Monday PT.


The Doc: She agreed with the dosage adjustment I'd made in my thyroid meds, prescribed accordingly, and agreed that we should monitor closely. So I am happy to go back again in 6 weeks (she is on a 3-week rotation sked so that works great). I do not have to be my own doctor any more (but she does like patients to be partners). The anemia numbers are sliding down towards illness-- but not as fast as I thought. Questions about why the thyroid issue is peaking (when sunshine should send it the other way) remain for the next visit and pre-visit testing. In this slide I'd gained 10 pounds with very few extra calories, which I am sure will melt right back off again. She OKd the workout sked the PT had issued, and all 3 of us agree that it is to be phased in, not accomplished overnight.

More iron-- canned greens with fresh stuff, curried, like Saag Paneer. Twice a week.


So-- bottom line, I get to resume ramp walks tomorrow and phase in the rest as the improved thyroid function prompts.

She also agreed that she is now well up enough on all my health history that I can file the older stuff in office storage, which means I can take about half of the Life Binder's contents out to make room for new stuff that will accumulate. Buh-bye reminders of missed diagnoses, hello new woman's life!

~Susan

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Apr 13 - 08:34 PM

SINSULL, I think you'll have to get out there and weed before the bulbs come up. I find that if I weed (wear gloves) right after a freeze that the weeds come out easier than when they get going for spring and put out more roots.

Finished a big project today. I need to proof it in the morning and probably make some corrections, but it's ready to go. Now I can get on with other stuff around here.

Today was my first in about 10 days of not taking the heavy duty decongestant this morning. I may take something mild this evening, I can still feel a tickle.

SRS

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 01 Apr 13 - 08:10 PM

Jeeper's. Do not put down black plastic where bulbs are hoping to come up! Maybe you could just scrape the weed tops off if the bulbs are not poking out yet.

I am still waiting for the snow to leave in the city. In the country, it is not generally planting time for most things until mid May. I see a spot down at the saw mill where I can put a garden and will start working on that the next warm day that I can.

Landlord has given notice. We need to vacate the cabin by 30 June. Hence, the living space R has been planning for the mill will be our temporary home as there is still no money for buying even a cheap place. We will be focussing on moving stuff to the mill. Have already taken quite a bit this week.

Went on Thurs to pick up glaze materials. Then straight down to cabin. Made up some test glazes without needing the new bag of Superpax. This was good because when I looked at what I had bought, it was the WRONG thing. I phoned and they are mailing me, no charge for the mailing, the Superpax.

Anyway, I have been at the cabin since Thursday aft. Went to the St. I. Cafe on Thurs eve. and in Ormstown on Fri eve. R came down with a load of stuff for the saw mill on Thurs eve and went to unload it on Fri. Went to auction on Sat and: About 11 am - "There isn't anything here we need, we may as well leave." At 2 pm, we went back to the saw mill for the truck and trailer. My car was full. After loading the trailer: beautiful queen bed, 3 boxes of bedding, a 60 inch TV, sofa, etc, we drove back to the mill and left it in the yard and went for supper, phoning a friend to join us who phoned another so we had a nice social meal and went home to bed.

Sunday: Unloaded at the saw mill after cleaning up the yard at the cabin. Then looked at R's plans for a mini living space there and for my pottery to be - with lots of windows and possibly a deck and wheel chair ramp. I firmly believe EVERY place needs to be accessible. And since we have a surfeit of wood left over from the saw mill's previous life... as a saw mill. So far, it will be a storage place for R's excess from the city and, majorly, will be a factory for our friend who makes amazing wooden doors and windows. And whatever other enterprises who can rent some of the thousands of square feet of space. Hopefully, the electric will be hooked up in the next couple weeks!   R has been collecting doors and windows for a while. There is a trailer for staff who need to overnight.

Somewhere in this weekend, we made trips to pick up an upscale, second hand propane stove and later a matching frig from the same place. We did not have enough money for both the first trip (not realizing there was also a matching frig available until we got there) and I was not smart enough to go to an ATM - which would have saved a second two hour trip. $600 for both was too good to pass up! It was not the ideal frig for us but....It was there and cheap and looks good. For the mini K at the mill. At least for now.

Today, the folks came to finish off the syrup season and helped R put in the trailer a very heavy antique cupboard he had stored in the shed!!! Then I cleaned up the straw that had gotten scattered in there. One bale covers a huge area! I bagged it for the garden to be and left the landlord's shed fairly clean. R went off to the mill and may return any hour now!

Sounds as though we cluttered more than not but it actually has filled a lot of gaps which needed filling and that de-clutters the mind.

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Apr 13 - 07:54 PM

60 minutes of pretty intensive yoga! I can't say I enjoyed all of it tonight but I am glad I did it and feel amazing!

Michelle

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: GUEST,Charmion's brother Andrew
Date: 01 Apr 13 - 04:04 PM

I'd rather be out cycling, so I am.

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Apr 13 - 12:51 PM

No. Weeds are persistent little buggers. Pull them out, lay out the black plastic and then the mulch.

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Apr 13 - 12:46 PM

Maybe dunb gardening question: The weeds are already up. If I cover them with mulch will they die off and let the bulbs survive?

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Apr 13 - 11:19 AM

Charmion, welcome to the group. There are several years' worth of discussions, one month at a time. If you're looking for a published bit of inspiration, I used Don Aslett's Clutter's Last Stand. He started out as a house and business cleaner, and wrote a book about cleaning tips with one chapter on de-cluttering. He received a huge response to that chapter so expanded from there. You'll find that he's quite philosophical about why and how we hold onto too much stuff. And this one typically ends up in used book stores, so you can probably find an edition of it for a few dollars.

The last push on a publishing project today, then I get on with life as I know it. My kitchen is looking pretty good. As I waited for my tea water to heat yesterday I cleared the counter. It didn't take long to put things away (in other rooms) and wash dishes.

SRS

Subject: RE: April 2013 Showers wash away clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Apr 13 - 10:04 AM

Welcome Charmion!!!!

We did an intense clean up yesterday so today things look good...so good in fact that it inspires me to do more! YAY!

Today begins the Annual Yoga Challenge. The Challenge is to do 30 days of yoga (at a minimum as there are 2-3 available classes daily). I hope to do at least 5 days of yoga a week, more if I can get myself out of bed for the 6:15am class. We shall see. I am excited about it!

Tomorrow I go for my tumor marker check up....so hopefully tomorrow morning will be one of those days when I CAN get my rear out of bed and to the early yoga class as time will not allow for the other classes in the day.

I'm down 3 pounds this week....hooray!



Michelle

PS. There are yellow crocus tops peeking out this morning (that's a first)!!!