'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Sep 15 - 09:13 AM

Oh my!

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 06 Sep 15 - 07:10 PM

Beaver:

Oh my! Just bought another almost brand new kiln for $200. I am hoping it is for my student who thinks she wants her own studio at her home. We stopped by the auction house just to see what was there - Oscar, the auctioneer was! But the first thing we saw, sitting outside, was the kiln. We wen inside to talk with Oscar, whom I have known for many years, and negotiated a price for he kiln; this included the tossing of a coin! Then R took interest in an old wooden canoe with new canvas but otherwise needing considerable work. He bought it. When I noted the number of canoes he already has (four)- "and when was the last time you used one" - Oscar noted the number of kilns I have (four).... Two de-cluttered wallets. Oscar was delighted with pics of the bow window we bought there for $15, now installed in the studio and looking terrific. (Installation was not cheap!)

We put in bids for two plates hand-painted with raccoons. They will go on the wall - if we get them.

Lest you think this is not a disease: yard sales were the main cause of R taking 12 hours for the 5 hour trip from Quebec to Beaver yesterday. We even have a lovely old wooden cradle - for kindling? Magazines? Books?

A new friend I talked with yesterday about de-cluttering, sent me this suggested book: Marie Kondo: The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up. So far, there is very little extraneous here. We now have a small fridge!!!! And a hot plate. A new front door; the old one will leave.

Oh, and we stopped at the Thrift Warehouse: a wonderful feather bed, a heater for studio, a good exercycle I can put in a corner of the studio, or even the BR; I tried it out and really liked it. Also 3 sandwich plates and two small glass bowls. .... Oh my!

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Sep 15 - 06:44 PM

We processed 85 pounds of meat sale bulk packages into single servings Thursday-Saturday, some of it precooked. Ouchies!

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 03:27 PM

Multi-tasking on chores around the house. I should mow the lawn, maybe this evening. It's trying to rain, there were few drops earlier. Friends are coming over for dinner tomorrow so at some point vacuuming will tackle the dog hair, just in case we have to stay inside instead of eating on the back patio.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 12:33 PM

Acme, usually yes a fall prep for MIL visit has coincided with decluts. This year tho and future years it involves moving and that is a different type and level of decluts.

I'll get back from Ohio while it's much balmier there than will n. central PA.... I am saving two PA projects for that time-- painting the insides of the darkly cavernous kitchen island is one.... a motion-LED light would make it bright if it were white enamel. The other is cubbies in the LR with dusty paper and ofc stuff, because some of those cubbies are moving to Ohio in the spring.

The winter project will be purging old files in the way I've described before, creating binders (guess where those came from) of old work product relevant to workshops I teach now. There will be copious bags of trash created with that project as I finish closing my PA home office. That room can then house accumulating boxes of upstairs stuff and room sized rugs, as I pack that zone for our eventual Big Move.

~Susan

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 11:09 AM

Autumn is approaching for some, for others it is already in the rear view mirror. What are you doing to prepare for the cool seasons? Does decluttering have a role in your arrangements?

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 05:11 PM

I finished a few errands, left a large bag of stuff at the thrift store donation center, and inside found a case and a half of jelly jars for $3.99. I give away a lot every year and get only a fraction back. Recycling has been dropped at the village bins, gas tank filled, and after a quick afternoon snack am headed in the other direction to pick up some bags of playground sand and mortar to work on a project to create a platform for a small barbecue grill. I have all of the bricks and the grates, but they need to be assembled.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 01:31 PM

Posting before someone drops in to post a round number. :)

We had peonies in the yard when I was a kid, and my mother moved them to the new house when she retired and relocated. Now my sister has them. A lovely deep red bloom. What I really miss from that yard are the sword ferns - huge and happy in all of the mossy shady dampness of that back yard.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 12:54 PM

DP what a great peony story!

Ours has never been in bloom since we bought the house-- at a time I could SEE it. I was told that it was fairly new. Last summer, I was told it had produced one flower. This year the blooms were dried, shriveled remnants-- the hot thing there being bloomS (plural). They looked like they might have been white or palest pink. I'll watch for next year's color before choosing what to add near it. More peony? Bulbs? I have no idea and it will be fun to wonder!

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 11:26 AM

A friend moved her hairdresser shop to a new location and yesterday was my first visit. She has a lovely large hutch to store and display products and tools - found at the local Goodwill! She told me which one - they apparently have a good furniture selection. I. Am. Sunk. ;-)

Today the kitchen shelves will get rearranged. The goal in the kitchen is to have some of the things now stored out of sight in view so I remember to use them. Begging the question "what should go in the cupboards?"

Some plants in the garden transplanted into pots for now (to give to friends - a native hibiscus has lots of seedlings around the base). The garden needs weeding, and some bedding plants need to be put in place for the fall and winter season. Swiss chard survives much of the cold weather here, thriving and providing greens all winter.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 11:04 AM

Art Gallery:

Really "cluttered" my life this week with two days at Gallery and a half day at Place for the Arts - and NO time to make pottery in this gorgeous weather!

The other night I dragged all the pieces of varathaned wood outside and slept inside but last night they were all installed and I slept in the studio. The floor - mahogany underlay - looks great! R is bringing the carpet tonight and love seat, throw rugs, and...??? Also a small fridge; the old one was declared dead. I think I will stick with small; after all, I have dealt with a cooler all summer.

Today, another Magnificent Morning a la Bill Staines, my friends are putting two windows in the K - not huge but bigger than the just tiny one that is there - and may be able to get started on the K cabinetry. We have a plan! The cooperative weather is incredible! HOT weekend but only 30% chance of rain on Sat. I will be at the Maynooth Market which, this week, will be part of the annual Maynooth Madness - music, games, events all over the village. Maybe I will de-clutter the pottery inventory!

My peony story (hope this is not a reprise). When I moved to a "farm" (100A of bush and old apple trees) I found a tiny peony leaf in the front "lawn". After several years of clearing around it and mulching and talking nicely to it, it thanked me by producing a gorgeous flower - single pink with gold centre. It may have been 20 years or more since that poor dear had any attention but it persevered! It just needed help with the de-cluttering!

Depending on how far the new K goes today, I suspect we will be eating out a great deal on the weekend. De-cluttering the pocket book greatly. Still no stove. Second hand propane stoves do not seem to exist up here anymore.

Yesterday I was wearing a pair of closed shoes, after sandals all summer. My feet really hurt - until I realized - Maybe I need to trim my toenails! Yep! De-cluttering takes many forms!

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Sep 15 - 09:34 PM

There were some bins of costume items at my dance studio this evening - sad story - the woman who used to dance has an advanced stage of ovarian cancer and asked my instructor to give these away. But said instructor gave some and sold others - to donate proceeds to cancer research. I bought two scarves, thinking of Mom and Michelle. One made it, one didn't. I'll keep one and give one to my daughter for xmas. They're really lovely.

The kitchen sink is emptied, now there are bills to pay. The same ol' same ol' beginning of the month. If I have energy when I finish the bills I'll think about rearranging some of the stuff on shelves in the kitchen.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Sep 15 - 03:12 PM

WhooHOOO!!!

Thrift shops for a Hollywood bed frame... great deal on bed frame at first stop. Plus oval wicker-framed mirror and 4 large flat hearts made from woven cornstalk. Plus large pillow to raise height of recliner seat overdue for fresh padding. Wicker and hearts to Ohio garden.

Next stop bldrs supply for Surveyor stakes. Cheap fix for old free cycled wishing well for conversion from flat plywood crap to board n batten look. 72 cents each and long enough to also stake the well into grass. Goes to Ohio garden this trip-- the top third is a planter box. This goes where I had hoped to put in a spirea next to the driveway-- until we paid big bucks to rotorooter the drain running under that spot.... oh THAT'S whyseller took out that shrub. Sane height/scale as planned shrub and since that section is kiddos garden, a wishing well makes sense. Every drop of water a wish for a greener planet.

Next on to other thrift shop for the garden ornaments they'd held for me.... and the wicker wash stand I'd driven away from last week. They still had it. Good price negotiation. Matches other thrifty wicker already in Ohio. All wicker slated for patio where song circles will go. Wash stand plantable. Ohio piece now beside DR table is wide plant stand.... slated for a window box spot in patio.

Almost drove off without dog house. Dog houses had waked me up last night-- one for Ohio badly needed. Lots of room on trailer this time. Not only great price but great sz for current small dog plus FutureDog to share. They crammed all this in back of non-van hybrid and no the hatch did not close-- slow drive home on flat roads no problem.

The garden ornaments included some on stakes and some small statuary to lurk in kiddo garden. Most of the metal stakes will rust thru soon but there's those surveyor's stakes that can be painted with positive slogans.

SCORE.SCORE.SCORE!

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Sep 15 - 01:11 PM

DP, yes, and it's a young peony with milk blight from being in an area with too much damp and too little sun. It's going where it should have gone-- a few feet into the sunshine. And if it croaks, that spot will get replanted. Where it's coming out from will get a holly matching the row of hollies across the front of the house, probably.

Second bin packed. Sure felt odd shoving two life-size dolls down into it... like a horrific Forensic Files. They're going to live in the garden after I waterproof them a bit.

So I'm on track to start loading this weekend, which will free the downstairs-- and my time to prep the downstairs for the nice young man who needed a few bucks between jobs, to unleash his admitted ocd upon this old dustbin.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 01 Sep 15 - 10:40 PM

Dorothy, be careful with those fumes. You may also be feeling the effects of gases and minute particulates in the air from the fires in the west. They're noticeable here now, and they've been travelling east longer than they've been travelling south. I'm impressed with the work you've finished at the new place, but don't let it make you sick.

The evenings aren't cool here yet, but the day's aren't as hot, down by about 5 degrees (you notice the difference between 100^o and 95^o) and by the end of the month it will be down into the low 90s during the day. Much easier on the garden and getting a fall crop.

I cleared out a portable bookcase (it folds flat) in my son's room, put things in his closet and in the recycle bin (about half and half). I'm thinking about rearranging the shelves in the kitchen again, and this matches another set of shelves that is already in there. If anyone comes to visit, my son's old room is also the guest room and it is getting roomier by the day! It's time for another run to the village recycle bins and to the local thrift store donation station.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 01 Sep 15 - 07:50 PM

Beaver:

So happy to have a good floor in Bath. Seems a bit strange still that the toilet no longer rocks!

Yesterday my good neighbour with truck helped me retrieve "new" chest of drawers from the Thrift warehouse! I spent most of the afternoon filling it with our clothes. We also moved the armoire - also from T.W.- into the BR - now that the floor has been painted - light Quaker grey. So for half a day, that end of the BR looked ever so nice. However, in prep for the new LR floor, stuff has been moved into the BR. I am kind of pooped now but the plan for the morrow is to varathane the 4x8 sheets of flooring, which Tammie delivered to the studio today. Not sure how, but I shall be able to put some of LR floor and maybe even do some outdoors. they need to be dry so they can be installed on Thursday because R is HOPEFULLY bringing sofa and love seat on Friday.

I will be sleeping in the studio on a lounge chair to avoid the odours. Also hope to finish bit of painting in the LR so it is done before flooring! The large LR window now has a curtain rod and light drape - to keep the heat out; soon it will be closed at night to keep the heat in! I shall actually be working on a heavier drape for winter. I picked up a marvellous 4 yds of heavy tapestry like fabric at a thrift shop yesterday; each side is different and beautiful. Maybe...

Aside from the major de-cluttering of my bank accounts for all this labour and materials - hence, I will do the varathaneing! - I have made an interesting and not happy discovery:

Over the last couple months, the laprinol and spirolina, and the freahs air up here, have affected my health incredibly - I feel better, have more energy AND, in the last couple weeks was confused by blurred vision - it turned out that I no longer needed glasses as much as usual - putting them on blurred my vision! I also have not needed my protective mask the last few weeks - in hardware stores, e.g. BUT, in the last few days, this all changed. Sunday I was terribly bothered when I went in certain shops. Then I noticed I needed glasses again. Today, I could not hear the little doorbell at the art gallery and did not understand Tammie on the phone. So, by mid-day, I realized, with fascination and dismay, that the paint fumes have re-cluttered my brain - hence, my setting up a sleeping space outside this toxic house. This is a major learning experience which I shall share with my wonderful health consultant, Connie.

Susan! I suppose you are aware that when moving a peony, it is best to dig a deep hole and put lots of nutritious soil/manure in the bottom. They hate to be moved and so it is best to prepare the hole for a long term stay.   Or so I have been led to understand.

The sun dropped behind the west hill about 7 pm tonight, a harbinger of yet to come! A beautiful cooling eve; the only sound is my tinnitus.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Sep 15 - 02:21 PM

Lol we have a cross-species fix here too. There's a tiny house rodent that eats infant mice, is much slower-reproducing, and prefers cat-free environs. We all voted to let em stay. The mouser loves to catch and display then but they don't taste good enough to eat... so they serve as mute periodic memos on the rodent situation.

THAT reminds me-- it's that time of year to invite the mousers into the unheated storage rooms though-- I'll have to remind HardI it's time to let the cat hair back into his weight room, which connects with the prey zone.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 31 Aug 15 - 09:45 AM

Yes, indeed!

Ants in the master bathroom on the sink this morning. Same thing happened last year. I have a couple of bait stations set up, with sugar and borax. It takes a few days but it does eventually kill them off. You have to start as soon as you see them. Diatomaceous Earth drives them off quickly, but they emerge someplace else. Last week there was an ant attack on the kitchen countertop where I had opened a can of tuna, a different type of ant (not attracted to the sugar water). The last couple of years have been wretched with all of the ants. The only plus about it is that these annoying little ants seem to annoy the fire ants right out of the yard.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: MAG
Date: 31 Aug 15 - 02:21 AM

ah. rain. blessed, blessed rain.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 30 Aug 15 - 10:04 PM

Last night we had a heavy downpour for at least an hour, accumulating about two inches in containers that were sitting in the yard. One of these days I need to buy a rain gauge.

The refrigerator has been cleared of some old items and stocked with good stuff to take for lunch during the week. There is a casserole dish of bread pudding for breakfasts and stuff for sandwiches. I cook from scratch and used quite a few items from last year's garden that are still in freezer. Canning and freezing of this year's crop has been slow, the garden didn't produce well so far, but fingers are crossed that autumn has excellent yields.

I did tomato cage work today also - propping up eggplant, peppers, and putting several in place for cucumbers to climb on now that they're growing quickly. Before locking the gate I made a couple of runs with the wheelbarrow, toting cut up dried out sunflowers and branches from pruning. Those branches will go through a small chipper to be mulch in next spring's garden.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Aug 15 - 12:03 PM

At a local resale shop I found garden ornaments and tomato cages for the next trip to Ohio for gardening projects.

ONe brand new cage will go to support the peony bush I;m movingm ilater years' growth.

The other 8 tomato cages will make two low, conical towers (in scale with the property). These are in place of hugely expensive towers I've seen there, made from greenwood wound into a cone.... what I will do is train the ubiquitous vine that grows there, onto these towers.

As each season's growth dies and dries, they will accumulate to form a base for vines I'll plant later, when I move them to their eventual, non-symmetrical planned locations; for now one each will go in front of two weathered (gray) lattice panels that front the patio and frame the driveway's end/patio's start.

As they'll be nakedly unsightly at the start, spraypaint will be involved to make them all match to a white finish. After that it's up to Mother Nature to color them!

~S~

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Aug 15 - 03:43 PM

The batch of beans was made and spooned into single-serving jars for the freezer, with a little left for dinner tonight. A loaf of bread is cooling, way up out of reach of any canines who wander through the room. I think the headache was in fact from allergies, not Scotch. The level of crud in the air is high (we're also getting particulates from the fires to the northwest) and it's as humid as hell today. Sudafed and motrin did the trick. Now to scratch more off of The List.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Aug 15 - 10:43 AM

That bathroom is fine for Spiderman!

I have a combination list on the kitchen counter, tasks to work on and shopping. Overnight I soaked a batch of beans and they're simmering now. Our weather is still hot, but about 10 degrees lower than a couple of weeks ago, noticeable in the amount of energy I feel.

On a recent trip to World Market I found inexpensive wooden spoons and scrapers ($1.99 each for wood, $7 to $10 for bamboo) and picked out a set. My current wooden spoons have been used for many years and are intact, but I've read that they should be swapped out every so often. Now the old ones are in a storage drawer for kitchen gadgets and the new ones are upright in a small pitcher on the counter. Before I left for work yesterday I loaded and ran the dishwasher, so I'm starting today with a kitchen ready to work in. A small gift to my weekend self. Perhaps I shouldn't have had that second Scotch last night because I also started today with a small headache - some Friday nights cry out for kicking back after a week that feels longer than usual! :)

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: Rumncoke
Date: 28 Aug 15 - 06:10 PM

Now all I can think of is:

I do wish the bathroom had a floor
Though it has a nice window and door
All the getting around
without touching the ground
Is getting to be such a bore.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Aug 15 - 02:20 PM

Packing pillows worked great.

First bin for Sept. trip packed and ready to load. Items listed on fone memo app checked off and list of contents emailed to facilitate unpacking

~S~

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Aug 15 - 10:03 PM

I found the can of paint I've been looking for that will be used on my patio cover. I have to remove and replace the plank on one side, and can use the old warped plank by cutting into shorter sections to replace a couple of seats on one side of it. I'll wash down the cover with water and a little bleach to remove dirt and any mildew before I start painting. I'll start that this weekend.

Last week I installed Kaspersky on the main computer and my phone and I have a couple of other computers in the house to install it on (the pack covers 5 devices for 1 year). Virtual organization work.

It has been very dry here so I've carefully watered my vegetable garden since planting for the fall. I need to weed around the sprinklers or the grass will deflect the water. I also need to trim a tree that is growing up against the roof line, and have a bunch of branches to run through the little electric chipper. As you can tell, I'm not doing a very good job of turning my attention to decluttering in the house yet.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 27 Aug 15 - 07:53 PM

Beaver:
Thus proving once again: "You can teach an old dog anything it is willing to learn."

Am was a time of re-grouping here, then spent aft at Place for the Arts; good conversation and learning about stuff. Eve: cleared over 100 emails. need to empty trash! Waiting for friends to arrive so I can go to open mike.

Hoping tomorrow will be a day of painting walls and BR floor so I can start putting some furniture in here and start flooring the LR with the same inexpensive and attractive stuff as the Bathroom.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 26 Aug 15 - 11:16 PM

Dog sitting concludes tomorrow, and in the 10 days I've been feeding my friend's dogs I've trained them to sit and wait until I tell them to eat. This means they are much calmer at meal time. The great thing is that when they do the trick they get to eat so they're more inclined to co-operate each time we do it. Win/win! She loves that my dogs do this (and we have a calmer routine than what exists with her dogs now, but she'll get there) and it is a "value added" aspect to dog sitting. That and repairing the fence. :-/

Thinking about doing more painting soon, and maybe some tile.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Aug 15 - 10:19 PM

Beaver Haven:
SO nice to be back! I feel much better.

This am, in Montreal, I puled weeds before bf on a beautiful cool morning. R & I had BF and were talking about matters and, finally, he went out the door to go to work - BUT! He exclaimed, and I went to see - the house next door was being renovated? Just done about 5 years ago! The new owner explained that his heating bill for 50 days last winter was over $1000; he is having the windows and doors replaced; they were single pane, not replaced during the reno. SO, we have three lovely doors - etched glass inserts with lovely tree and moon - for our plan to put them between LR and BR for light flow. We may use the third for the front door. All are the correct size. We also collected all the old window panes for future project. May not be de-cluttering but sure will reduce the de-cluttering of bank accounts. The man next door was delighted also! He believes strongly in recycling.

Arriving at Beaver, I was thrilled by the work done - bathroom floor looks terrific; will do the same in the LR. And wonderful to be able to sit on toilet without feeling I am going to fall through the floor! One does have to not mind the visible screws that hold the flooring firmly in place - and make it possible to remove it if needful. It is quarter inch mahogany - inexpensive and beautiful with satin finish varathane on it. NOW, the bathroom looks habitable. What a difference a floor makes!

The studio looks great with its bow window, a door and two more windows - needs two more. Tomorrow, I shall consult re costs and WHEN CAN YOU COME BACK! My friends have gone off to help someone prepare a space for home schooling project - book shelves! Cannot argue with that! But now I am antsy to get the house in better shape before winter sets in. Cool enough for a small fire in stove tonight but I shall go to bed instead - a three quilt night again.

I sent pics to R and he is "impressed". He will send the pic of bow window to the women who sold us the shed for $100 (The cost is up to about $3000 now! Definitely de-cluttered our finances! A nice pottery studio - for days that are warm enough for minimal heat. Lots of solar gain from that window on sunny days!.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: Rumncoke
Date: 26 Aug 15 - 04:31 AM

After a year of lower dose Thyroxine, reduced from 200 micrograms to 175, I notice that I am losing again.
I know that I must have gained at first, just from my waist measurement, but the low carb regime is having an effect again.
It is not so much a diet as a way of eating, and the only one which controls my weight.
On 'normal' diets with lots of 'healthy' carbohydrate I put on weight uncontrollably, exercise will not stop the gain and reducing diets counting calories are no help as I go into hibernation.

I had lost 14 inches off my waist, and am back to 2 or 3 inches of that now.
I carry all my weight around my middle as a 'bay window' effect, so when I say my waist sucks - it really does.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 25 Aug 15 - 09:51 PM

Dorothy, I still have some clothes in a bin in my closet that are too small now but would fit at a reasonable weight for my age. I don't ever expect to fit into the same size or kind of clothes I could wear at 25, but maybe the clothes I wore at 45. :)

The days are still hot but it is noticeable that it gets dark earlier now. Kids going back to school this week (congratulations on successfully launching your son into his K-12 days, Michelle!) The baldcypress in the front yard always turns brown and starts dropping leaves now, I don't water it much so it is one of the first trees to turn as fall approaches.

A couple of plate racks arrived from Amazon: they will work, but they aren't as sturdy as the sort sold at the Container Store, but they don't have this particular type of plate rack. Beggars can't be choosers, I'll use these. I still have some outdoor work to do this year, painting my patio cover, gardening, but my attention is once again shifting to more indoor projects.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 25 Aug 15 - 10:37 AM

Mill:

Good plans not happening. Lovely cool night and beautiful morning but not much energy. So, it will be a day of do little things, rest, do little things...

First little thing was go through a recently discovered plastic bin of too small clothes. The intention was to prepare to give them all away since I have given up hope of ever fitting them again. Still holding at 160.

OK, I shall never be an 11 or 12 again but just maybe I could lose enough to be a 14, she thinks hopefully. There are some really neat clothes in there! SO, realistically, I put most back in the bin and saved out a few pieces to alter; a couple need only a 5 pound loss... Hope may help... On a pair of comfy cotton slacks I made in the 80's, the elastic had been taken in considerably; I let it out and I can wear them comfortably again!

What if I suddenly lose weight for some reason? After I give away all these very good clothes? Not ready to give them up yet. Final analysis.

Think I'll go check out the flower bed.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 25 Aug 15 - 09:45 AM

I am taking a break from all household chores today and am spending the day in my sewing room. Pete and I took Jeremiah to his first day of kindergarten and I'm feeling very introspective...not a boo : ok sadness but a heaviness. I want to be alone for now. Maybe some reorganizing will happen in here today but I'm not counting on it.

Michelle

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Aug 15 - 09:40 AM

No. I see the reverse.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 25 Aug 15 - 09:08 AM

Have any of you ever noticed how, when you visit a friend's home, you can see all of the things that need work (but it isn't mentioned because that kind of thing doesn't need to be mentioned, unless they bring it up) but the similar kinds of projects at your house are invisible to you. Until you are expecting guests who don't know you and your clutter, when it all becomes painfully obvious, and it is equally obvious that there isn't time to clear it all out?

Just an observation. :)

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Aug 15 - 11:11 PM

We're still in the mid- to upper-90s now, with an occasional spike up (I think it hit 105^o on Sunday). My energy level has dropped, as the summer progresses this is typical. The first cool fall day will bring a jolt of energy to my system.

The lamps look great and I'm glad to restore them to use for $20 instead of having to replace them for a lot more. I will get some LED bulbs one of these days, and they're liable to cost at least as much as the switches, but are also worth it.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 24 Aug 15 - 10:20 PM

Mill:

Fri: must have done something in the am but all I remember is spending most of the aft with student re glazing and getting her started on glazing her own pots - her first glaze session. I was having trouble with the heat and had to keep coming back to the AC LR! But managed to load the kiln after she left and turned it on Saturday am. with window and door open, there is no fuming problem!

Anyway we were off to the Chateauguay Valley Antique Association annual wingding! Flea market, antiques, crafts, auction, antique cars, tractors, ---Everything! Out in the middle of nowhere on an old farm - Barn, replica of school house, general store, etc. People come from distances for the event - well run and delightful. I sold pots. Sat eve, both R and I went to bed EARLY! And he ws just having fun! Sunday, Geri helped me pack pots and R fetched car and loaded it. Hefting boxes of pots is exercise of a sort - very tiring sort! Then we three went to supper in restaurant. Then for ice cream cones across the street - frozen yogurt for us and, now we were four, sat outside at a table in the gathering, breezy, evening. Thankfully, the weekend was not terribly hot.

But today was. I cleaned the K, washed the dishes, made soup for lunch. R was googling geology re gold mine in Montana and finally left for the city about 4 pm. HAving not gotten any work done in the studio, I decided to stay over. Went to thrift shop and bought a couple needful items, a couple books as library was not open and I was out, and a good pair of black jeans for R. Then to grocery for broccoli and had a good supper. Ordered supplements on line. Wrote emails to help Sarah connect with our friend in san Diego county re a project. Then FB.... And now... Soon bed!

Supposed to rain tonight and cooler tomorrow so maybe I can get some work done in studio.

Subject: Packing tip-- filled 'bubblewrap"
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Aug 15 - 02:21 PM

My next Ohio trip comes very soon and the packlist includes a lot of very small items to go into a waterproof plastic barrel.

I'll foto each layer as they build up in the barrel, for quick finding at the unpacking end, cuz many items are doodads that go with items already there.... for example that shaver's charger?

I'll be putting each item into a Ziploc, with lots of air left in, to form a filled 'packing pillow.'

Fragile items will first be tissue-wrapped, but all these filled packing pillows will keep cords from tangling, small parts from getting lost, and odd shapes from interlocking and/or breaking.

At the unpacking end, the gently used ziplocs will be used to straighten out hardware that accumulates there, and a shelf placed there last week is waiting for the sorted-out hardware and the gently used ziploc for ongoing hardware containerizing. I have plastic containers there to hold the stock of ziploc.

A pretty tablecloth covers said shelf to keep dust out. It doubles as a room divider and landing zone for purse, keys, and outbox on one side and puder projects /hardware dept on the kitchen side where my laptop and printer adjoin.

The shelf is also a place-holder for the slightly larger oak sideboard that will retire to Ohio when Hardi does. Then the shelf will become cubbies for hardware in the garage, wall mounted, or a garden shelf.

~Susan

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 24 Aug 15 - 09:34 AM

Shipping an eBay package this morning after a quick sale, meaning I probably didn't list it as high as I could, but it's sold and gone, and that's the primary goal.

I started organizing a storage closet this weekend, a project that may take several attempts to accomplish. Storage shelving is being tested and returned to the store if it doesn't fit right.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Aug 15 - 10:03 PM

Two matching brass lamps purchased at a neighborhood garage sale finally died. They were kind of wonky when I got them, shifting from dim to bright and back to dim all by themselves (probably the reason they sold them in the first place). I found replacements today for the 3-way touch controls for $9 each and just finished the wiring. I like these lamps and didn't want to replace them. I may put new felt on the bottoms before I put them back into service.

Time also for a shoe swap (as an aside - I think somewhere in my childhood we visited or camped at a lake Shuswap . . .) There are a couple of pair in such bad shape that if I forget and wear them around town it's embarrassing to be caught in them. So tattered that they only should be used in the yard, and probably simply tossed and be done with.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 22 Aug 15 - 10:05 AM

Adventures in dog-sitting: the damned fence slats are holding on by a thread and periodically one drops out of the fence like a gape-toothed grin. Another one did it overnight. My friend paid a little extra so I would keep the pool filled (there is a leak that needs fixing as soon as she gets home) and to dead-head the roses, but that effort will instead turn to picking up a box of deck screws and attaching the slats that are propped and strengthen the ones that are almost ready to go. And I may consult by phone later today and simply negotiate a fee to fix that fence for her. She keeps putting it off because it involves hiring someone to come do a big job. I've built fences before, she sees my fence all of the time. We can probably knock the whole thing off in a couple of weekends if she says yes - and we'll work it at a pace she's comfortable with. I can always use the extra cash and she can't use her back yard with peace of mind the way it is right now. The littlest renegade in her pack is a King Charles Cavalier spaniel who is exactly one fence slat wide from side-to-side and who doesn't come when she's called.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 21 Aug 15 - 07:48 PM

Dog droppings (and cat droppings, when I had cats) all go into the very large compost pile at the back of my yard. Each pile (the yard is large, there is room) is around for about three years before it is used. I start a new one every January, and it gathers garden weeeds and lawn trimmings, vegetable kitchen waste (composted in a small bin first) mixed with dog waste. And no, for the millionth time (anticipating the old wive's tale about it being different) it is NOT a hazard in the garden. The waste of dogs or cats or other predators breaks down just fine in compost. I don't put meat in because it is too difficult to keep the dogs out of the compost if its in there.

Items are listed on eBay now - there is a pent up supply of things needing to be photographed, described, packaged, and listed. It's also time to see if I can finish filling the box by the back door and make another run to the thrift store donation station.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 21 Aug 15 - 01:49 PM

good for you. i think management of animal waste is a huge problem. so much goes into landfill..and it is not inert...think of the diseases etc. that could be let loose..think of the toxic mess...likewise baby diapers etc...we need to be burning some of this stuff and safely (far far away from food growth) composting some.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Aug 15 - 01:07 PM

Back in PA. The cheap kiddie pool peeps are using for iced party buffets, these days, also make *great* no-fuss kitty litter pans for vacay use. This saves the petsitter having to scoop. Just pour more litter onto wet or stinky spots,every few days, and one vacay plus 2 cats equalled one 5 gal bucket of emptied litter-pool.

This could easily have held enough for more than 2 cats to share... like 12 or so. Easily emptied with dustpan as scoop, contents will go to fill another groundhog hole out back or fill in a future in the grass.... grass grows right into such a filled spot and as the spot settles with rain, over time, more can be added. Under the grass, it self-compost and self-fertilizes.

Over the 20+ years we've lived on this farm I bet we've filled at least 500 buckets worth of used clay litter with the 'tootsie rolls' added. Grass flourishes wherever we have done this.

I plan a similar self-composting program for dog waste in Ohio, with mulch regularly layered onto stinkeriferous material in non-veg garden beds I'll put into flowers eventually.

~Susan

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 20 Aug 15 - 10:13 PM

Mill:

I de-cluttered my body of serious exhaustion with a couple hours of bed rest, rather than food shopping; I did think about it and decided it could wait. Did prep and loaded car to come here, arriving in good order, feeling much better. A light supper and soon to bed.

R did a major de-clutter yesterday: the papers of the last 4-5 years which were all over the place- anywhere I could stash them! - are now sorted and placed, with important ones found - finally! We have re-gained shelf space.

Thankful for the AC here! The room is comfortable.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 20 Aug 15 - 05:27 PM

I canned peaches today and had fun teaching Jeremiah about it. He helped to peel the skins off after I had blanched them and had them in ice water. He's a curious bug and I am thrilled that he takes an interest in cooking. :)

The mess from canning is all cleaned up and the quart jars are sitting on towels with the lids popping. Music to my ears.


Michelle

PS. Jeremiah starts kindergarten in 5 more days. Can't believe it.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 20 Aug 15 - 02:13 PM

I emptied the contents from that antique trunk and I'd like to put these on display, but to do so means rearranging the display spaces and putting something else away. It's also getting close to time to rearrange some large pieces of furniture. Fall must be in the air, the summer heat doesn't inspire interest in moving large objects around the house.

Updating the computer today, syncing devices, clearing out extra files, moving images. Virtual decluttering.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 20 Aug 15 - 01:24 PM

City:
susan is collecting nifty treasures!
SRS needs to start a movement to stop useless toxic spraying! What a horror! What it does to people's health is a known.

Our heat wave is diminishing. I just dashed out to move car before a ticket! Not as bad as yesterday. The heat precluded my painting on Tuesday am. I just did what was necessary and left about 10 am, grateful for AC in car! Took a tiny detour to visit a shop in the village of Ormsby. Had a lovely chat with the owners and, just before I moved on, Lillian asked if I still pot. She would like some pottery for their wonderful shop!

I got to city about 6, after shopping for supper. The AC was not on so we ate out - in an AC restaurant. By the time we got home again, the house was tolerable. I had offloaded the car and did two loads of laundry before R got home.

Weds, I went off to the mill and offloaded a few things, watered plants, visited the municipal office for a renewed reno permit, dropped book at library, indulged in a large ice cream cone before going to the Market to set up - slowly. Lots of people for this 10th anniversary event but only two sales. The organizer, my best customer, bought a large bowl "for potatoes"; fortunately I did not tell him it would help if he cut back ...! A young girl, maybe 12, was attracted by a heart shaped bowl and got her mom to come look. They went away and she came back and examined almost every piece! Then asked if I had anything for $10 or $5. I gave her the bowl for $10. How could I not?! This event was only $10 so I did socializing and made $40! And did not die of the heat. I just kept telling myself, "You can do this." With the help of a brownie, I repacked and a couple youngsters helped fold the card tables.

I wended my way back to the city where the house was JUST cool enough to endure. I brought cooked corn from the market; it was still hot after over an hour! I quickly cooked a chicken breast and made two salads. Late in the evening, we opened the back door to let in the cooler night air - and, hopefully, no cats! The AC does the BR well, the BR and LR not so great. More than that - forget it! This am, the outdoor air cooled the K and we had BF in a tolerable environment.

I really do not know how people survive in the heat. Some of you will laugh! It is 81 in Montreal right now - 1 pm. Tomorrow it is to drop to 77. That is still too hot. I was going to do some food shopping... I'll think about that.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Aug 15 - 10:28 AM

Another parkway score, same neighbor-- it's a heart that hangs on a wall? So what, right? It's big, 40" acoss-- so what, right? It's made of interlocking sticks of lumpy, textured driftwood and SO belongs in a garden, after coating with weatherstain. THAT's what! ;-)

The sept. trip has a lot dof spray painting and garden installations on hand.

Subject: RE: 'Clutter's Last Stand' +fitness July thru Sep 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Aug 15 - 11:30 PM

Ouch!