Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 20 Jan 16 - 09:22 PM

Beaver:
GEtting ready to depart tomorrow. I was at the point of reneging but one of our fav groups is playing at the Cafe on Saturday so... Unfortunately my pottery student has no time to work so she will have to wait until February when I go back for Geri's house concert. Plants are in the bathroom and I have looked around for what might freeze and needs to be put under the sink. Now I am feeling mentally ready to go. Will leave about 10 am so I can get there and warm it up!

Wrote a letter to the editor re the Student Art Show and sent it to two papers. Response from one, "Great letter!" So I guess it will go. Had a long talk with volunteer coordinator about resigning and putting my energy into something more socially useful than an art gallery - the board has decided not to do any more student shows. I consider this the most important show. We talked about some other things also. I will not leave them in a lurch but I did cancel one day in mid Feb to give myself more time to travel and be there for the house concert. I signed up for a different day. Could I de-clutter myself of being hyper-responsible?

Started to make a healthy lunch and remembered it was Weds so turned off stove and dashed off to meet my antique dealing friends to de-clutter my car of all the boxes I collected for them. Good, short, visit. Then returned a "shower rod", the second one that did not work so I just got a refund. Will get another one later. Stopped for good bread at one store and more at another. Then home to do lunch. Brought in a lot of stove wood.

Then I ate 5 large choc chip cookies, first in 2 or 3 weeks. Phooey. Have not lost an ounce! Hour conversation with friend de-clutering herself of abusive husband; fortunate to have a super supportive family.

Supper: delicious sweet potato, sliced and nuked with lots of ginger and some apples with cinnamon. apple slices and brie for dessert. Soon I shall load up the stove with wood and go to bed to de-clutter the tiredness! .

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Jan 16 - 12:10 AM

I also thought the autonomous gardener was a good move.

It is more difficult to lose weight in cold weather - if you can keep from gaining that is probably the easiest strategy.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Jan 16 - 07:18 PM

The weekend is here, as is a huge winter storm. I hope all of our northern and eastern US and Canada participants stay safe and warm. There may be activities around the house that are rewarding while staying indoors and avoiding the harsh weather. And cooking! Do lots of hearty cooking.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 22 Jan 16 - 11:39 PM

Mill:
Got here in good time, turned up heat, lamented the frozen plants in the sun room; have not yet removed them. Spent a couple hours with GEri and settled into computer and book for evening.

Late morning today; tunred up heat in studio, hoping to get some work done. Then turned it down as needed to go fetch good meat and stopped for visit with potter. Looked through two bins of fabric and sorted some from one in the other to take back to Beaver. Will take sewing machine this time. Healthy lunch/supper, made choc covered ginger for Robin and went off to music. Maybe tomorrow, I can spend time making pots and de-clutter the sunroom of dead plants - maybe. Kind of sad as they had been blooming beautifully.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jan 16 - 09:21 AM

There are several of us who can describe the issues that come with collecting fabric - where even the ugliest piece can be "used for something" and is kept. :)

I decided this morning was the time to turn over the foam topper on my very heavy latex mattress. This mattress is one of three that was ordered by a friend - the first one arrived and had a flaw (cosmetic, but since it was expensive, that wasn't acceptable). They said don't return the first one, and the sent another, also with a flaw. He ended up with three of these. Two went to use in his house, the third was in the garage for a while, but I finally asked for it and after much heaving and dragging we moved it into my house. And when it leaves it will be worn out and cut into pieces because it weighs a ton. Anyway, each of these comes with a 4" foam topper to help give it a more normal mattress feel and the right height, and they need to be turned every so often. Finished.

The birds are finally hanging out on and under the feeders at the side of the driveway so I'm filling them every couple of days. I see a lot of the large seeds and nuts from one mix I bought are too big for most of the birds (and squirrels haven't discovered it yet - once they do, there goes the big stuff). A bag of the black oil sunflower seeds is probably all I need to keep most of these guys happy. I have a gift certificate for my favorite feed store and have compiled a list of items so I can use the certificate all at once. It says they will run a store credit, but in fact, I found last time I had one of these they prefer you use it all at once. Dog stuff, garden stuff, bird stuff ought to take care of it.

This week I programmed my battery backup for the computer and last night was the first test - I set it to turn itself off on early Saturday morning and turn itself back on a few hours later. It worked, and the software has the computer resume all of it's activities so every screen that was open is there again when you turn the computer back on. Good job!

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 12:12 PM

Bread rising, laundry is in. Decluttering some virtual stuff I've needed to work on for a while.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Jan 16 - 05:22 PM

Beaver: But sitting in Tim Horton's due to lack of signal.

Good weekend of good music and visits. Not much else - Dishes washed! So, on Monday, I announced BF out - so there would be no mess and I could get on the road. And so it came to pass. Arrived back about 3:30, cleared ashes from stove, got a fire going, checked Bathroom for heat - YAY! the new outlet did work and the room was above freezing! The house was about 32F! Af. violets and poinsettia did not like it that cold but others were fine. Nothing froze under the sinks. Thanks to "Acme" for the idea!

Dashed off to a meeting at A Place for the Arts - pretty good meeting - major issue of communication was well addressed and today there were excellent emails letting us know what is happening! - De-cluttering an issue that was weighing on me.

Unloaded car, found temp spots for everything. Picked up formica for Hoosier cabinet's counter, started removing the ceramic tiles, de-cluttered the hair on my head at Gary's - a couple months overdue! Brought in LOTS of wood and cleared deck of soft ice and snow, twice. Scotch mist and sometimes rain and sleet. Yicky but just at freezing/not freezing point. Colder tonight. Almost 5:30 and still light!

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Jan 16 - 08:06 PM

Dorothy, you're using the thermostatic plugs? They are a great way to keep unattended areas from freezing and not running an expensive space heater all of the time. I have one going in the greenhouse right now. For those who aren't aware, you can buy these cube-type plugs that you plug your heater into and if the temperature gets to 39^o it lets the current flow to the heater and turns off when the area reaches 50^o. They're meant for well houses, barns, greenhouses, etc.

I'm finishing up a barter arrangement this week, doing some video work in exchange for dance lessons. And I've been researching the possibilities of writing a few freelance articles, but for work. The topics are to do with work currently going on and new developments in the building. We would queue up with other freelancers to sell the idea, but may have a boost up by being members of these professional organizations. The key word is "writing." Something I want to get back to.

Time to start planting the garden, and I think I'll rent a tiller this year. Last summer we had so much rain that it made the soil very compacted. I need to loosen it up, and in places where I chose not to plant last summer, give it a good working over.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 27 Jan 16 - 04:08 PM

I need to start reading and posting here again.

But not today. I wrote an incredibly long email summation of the past few weeks and I'm about written out.

Linn

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jan 16 - 05:11 PM

You're always busy with something - we look forward to what you have to share!

Daffodils are poking up, the green, not the flowers yet, but there is a particularly early patch of white iris on a south-facing slope of campus that are blooming happily now. It's hardly like we had a winter here.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: LilyFestre
Date: 27 Jan 16 - 11:54 PM

I have been having more energy lately which feels SO GOOD and as a result I am getting some things done around here that have been annoying me for some time. I sold one of our couches that was just taking up too much space and not being used, did some rearranging of furniture in the living room and also was able to move something out of our dining room that really should have never been there in the first place (antique sewing table). I organized Jeremiah's school books as we have been given several from a friend who is retiring after many years of teaching and she is sharing her books....now the current ones are easily accessible with the ones to be used in the future within easy reach. I organized 4 boxes of CDs that belonged to my Nana so that they are easily accessible and neat. :) I've been cooking a bit lately too....I roasted a turkey and made homemade potpie, soup, turkey sandwiches, etc. Today I made banana bread. I am in charge of snacks for church on Sunday so I'll be baking for that on Saturday. I think I'm going to make mini blueberry muffins with a crumble top and fill a beautiful bowl with fresh strawberries. :) I'm also thinking of making dark chocolate orange oatmeal cookies too....we shall see.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 28 Jan 16 - 01:23 PM

Beaver: watching snow fall! (now at library)

Adding to what I wrote at home (below): Planting a garden! Daffodils showing!? Ah well. The outlet I am using goes on at 35 and off at 45. Worked well and no one but you (acme) knows about them - including the local hardware store where they know almost everything. They do require a GFI outlet which I only have in the Bathroom; maybe someday we can have one in the studio! And I guess Michelle is also reacting to the increasing day length and hope of spring!

Written earlier:
DE-cluttering ice and snow from back deck is on-going. As more and more falls both from the sky and off the roof, I consider the need for a woodshed of some sort for next year – one the snow can, at least, be pushed off. Better still, eaves trough and heating cables for roof and trough to avoid the current problem of ice build up. True de-cluttering! Bringing in wood also ongoing!

Wonderful neighbour stopped by yesterday to check on lack of hot water. He did everything I had done but this morning I have hot water again! Super yay!

Sorted through archive box – one of several – and threw away some but found treasures. A file folder from the papers of my early pottery teacher/dear friend yielded the 1977 invoice for the wheel I now have! Most of the rest went toward heating the house. Next trip I can bring a couple more boxes of papers; there is room in this plastic bin for lots more – consolidate and de-clutter. Even found a good storage spot for it.

Found I could put a card table over the pottery wheel in the BR and use it for sewing space, move it to a different spot to use wheel. Sewing machine is set up and projects lining up for completion. The bin of fabrics is not in the way but has not yet found a good home. In warmer weather I can re-organize the kiln room for better storage opps.

Made room for more books by burning a torn poster (I really liked it but…) and put another on the wall. And moved screen-making materials to a better spot. That cleared about 3 feet of shelf space! Can bring another box of books next trip.

Little by little! I seem to have more energy and inclination – the lengthening of days? Hope of spring? Above freezing predicted for the weekend days? The house meets my low standard for someone dropping in – a place to sit without needing to move a bunch of stuff!

Movie last night at A Place for the Arts(P4A) – Midnight in Paris was delightful- my 2nd viewing but still could not process any of the dialogue (APD in a nuisance). I realized and Colleen noted afterwards, as we chatted, that I could get a DVD from library and use closed captions. They could do that at P4A and offered last time but it does hinder full appreciation of the wonderful photography – and several of the audience were photographers.

Need to get more aggressive about talking with people, esp those who might be able to do something and form a pushy group, to do something about the pitiful library here. A major topic in four dif conversations yesterday! I am currently reading a history of the Bracebridge, ON library, a Carnegie library. We need a Carnegie! The subject greatly clutters my mind as I have already run out of books to read and borrowed several from the "Little Green Library" in Quebec while I was there. On list: talk to librarian at LGL.

No signal last couple days and spent time in Timmy's or library to deal with emails. So I can spend the least amount of time elsewhere – this is written at home and emails are ready to fly away.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: GUEST,#
Date: 28 Jan 16 - 05:59 PM

Dorothy, does your library do inter-library loans?

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 29 Jan 16 - 05:51 PM

Tim Horton's - and getting uncomfortable after 3 hours!

Guest#: only on books over a year old! I am trying to start a movement for a new library.

Started sorting papers again this morning but it was a box of personal mail from pottery teacher so I put them aside for Robin to take a look at; he has better reading skills for hand written stuff.

More wood and snow moving. It gets easier as I get stronger.

Anyone have thoughts on th effect of calcium chloride on vegetation and ground water? There are cubes I can throw on the roof to melt the ice build up. Would be useful.

Arranged to interview former mayor, to write his story; talked with glass artist repairing a piece for us. Consulted with Kitchen guy about doing the formica top for the Hoosier cabinet. He is to call on Monday. I have all the old tiles off! Did a number of small things today. Feel progress. Couple more ideas for letters to editor - library, environmental sensitivity.

Sassy red squirrel was back yesterday. VERY sassy but left when I got up, via utility room. R did a good job on walls but the ceiling is a sieve. I shall have a better look tomorrow; maybe I can do something - hard for me to work over my head but my arms and shoulders seem to be getting stronger.

Still have hot water! I hardly know what to do! Finally realized I CAN take a bath. Maybe the shower even works. Ever notice that the more we do, the more we find that needs doing?

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jan 16 - 07:35 PM

I walked around the entire yard today and have a long mental list of things to do. I need to put it to paper and prioritize. It looks like there isn't much more winter for us, it hit 78^o today. There are branches to pick up, limbs to cut, saplings to encourage (with adequate light - need to do some thinning). I need trees growing at the back of the lot so I don't lose any more of the bank. At least the neighbor across the creek stopped pushing dirt into his side - the result was more washing away on my side. His wife died, and apparently she owned the property. Her children have inherited and it is now experiencing benign neglect, which is good for all of us. I have been throwing cactus chunks and iris rhizomes back there for several years and now before the grass grows in it is a lovely collection of round and pointed shapes, prickly pear and iris leaves.

The list is going to be my template for activities next month. I will have a few items on a shopping list, but I'll give it another month of the No Spend Challenge - I've barely made a dent on some of the stuff in the freezer. I need to make some lentil soup and some tomato sauce this weekend, and put some of my diced, sauteed, and frozen eggplant into it for richness. And I have breaded and fried eggplant slices for making Parmesan when I want.

This was a lazy week as far as laundry, I did the laundry last week but most of it is still unfolded in the laundry baskets. With longer days and warmer weather, I'll perk up to do more of these things in a timelier fashion.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jan 16 - 12:50 PM

I decided to make it a more formal list, of things I'd like to accomplish this year. It'll hang on the fridge in plain view of anyone who passes through, so feedback may be a part of the process.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 30 Jan 16 - 07:56 PM

Tim Horton's Again!

Signal brought in morning emails and quit!

Went into the COLD K this am and felt a gale blowing through - again. Looked up! The cover on the "door" to the attic was open about 6 inches! MAnaged with a long stick to put the light weight cover back into place. This afternoon I prevailed upon a tall younger person to stop by; he put a heavier piece of wood on top of the other. No more gale! When it helps to be only 4 minutes from town.

Long talk with chair of Library board reveals that any effort toward better library must be VERY tactfully done. Other than that, I seemed to get some little things accomplished and feel closer to getting some sewing and potting done - the foundation is taking time.

I like the idea of a formal list on the fridge. But rather than overwhelm R with a long lis, I only set one or two priorities at a time. I can hide a list somewhere! As for "walking around the yard! Maybe in April.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Jan 16 - 11:29 AM

A short term item, not on the list, is to mow the lawn today. This kind of chore or project doesn't go on this list because it's so frequent, like laundry or cooking dinner.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: GUEST,#
Date: 31 Jan 16 - 07:11 PM

"Anyone have thoughts on th effect of calcium chloride on vegetation and ground water?"

http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/wmb/was/salt-reduction-initiative/impacts.htm

That will I think answer your question.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Jan 16 - 08:02 PM

I was going to rent a tiller for a half-day and work on the garden patch, but my across-the-street neighbor suggested calling a mutual friend to come till it for me - the neighbor sold his tiller to the friend, and tomorrow the friend will bring his tiller and do the work for the same cost of renting and doing it myself.

I know it seems awfully early to be doing this, but cold weather crops need to go in. Last year's rain compacted the soil to the point where digging is difficult. The tiller he will use is large and will work deep - I'm going to be raking out Bermuda rhizomes as fast as I can tomorrow. And I hope the neighborhood birds are attracted to come eat grubs and bugs.

Subject: RE: More 'Clutter's Last Stand' & fitness Oct/Dec 2015
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 01 Feb 16 - 06:09 AM

It took downloading and deleting a few versions, but I finally found an owner's manual that looks like the correct one for a small used kitchen appliance I found a couple of weeks ago. Pre-Internet you just had to guess how to use appliances properly if they came from a garage sale, thrift store, etc. But now there is
Manualbirds, where I have found numerous sets of instructions over the years. I'm pretty certain I've also uploaded to their library. The information is downloadable as PDF.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: GUEST,#
Date: 01 Feb 16 - 10:46 AM

Acme, I expect you know this stuff, but it never hurts to check.

http://forum.vpaaz.org/forum/topics/bermuda-grass-anatomy-and

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 01 Feb 16 - 12:12 PM

Beaver:
A semi sunny day and just about or above the freezing point. I moved the modem to a dif window and then another dif window. It is now working, whether due to wheather or change of window...???

Yesterday, I made the worst piece of sewing of my life - a pot holder that looks like ... Need a different way. So fed up, I read all day, with breaks to move ???!!! yep - snow and wood!! Like a spring day at 35F! Wrote a blog for the art gallery - show being hung today. Artist loved it.

Today- decided - a while back - the wood ashes need to go into something, esp after researching - 50 feet from well, and from ground water. Took a couple gallons of HOT water - oh, it quit again but I managed to get the reset switch to reset and keeping record on its own calendar; it only takes 2 hours for the water to get HOT! So out to where there was a big, fancy, empty compost bin stuck in the snow. Now it is unstuck and at the end of the walkway in front of studio - handy to house, easy to get to. I had been dumping the ashes there so I put the bin over the pile of ashes and added the compost that had been building up. I know it is still in the ground water area but it is the best I can do and still be able to access it. The current snow is as high as my boots and we have a bit of a storm warning for this week. Also took some copper piping out behind the back/back shed.

My research on Cal chloride elicited similar info to the good article Guest offered (thank you). So No to that. But found an ice melter that will not hurt paws so I will check it out at the pet store. If it is suitable, I will try putting it in little bags and throw it up on the roof. Almost all the snow is off side that most needs heating cables - so I sat here wondering if there is anyone who could install before the next storm.

Man came this morning to take the Hoosier counter and formica, saying he could do it on Weds. Will be nice to have that completed and re-consider the K organization - still in flux.

Just downloaded a free kindle copy of Diet for a small planet; I have a hard copy somewhere... Just want to check out memory of combining foods to complete proteins as I lean towards less animal protein.

MAYBE I can get out to pot today. It is already 50F in the studio.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: GUEST,#
Date: 01 Feb 16 - 01:44 PM

"Just downloaded a free kindle copy of Diet for a small planet"

About ten years after the book came out the first time back in the 1960s(?) the author had reconsidered the mixing/matching of complementary proteins and decided (due to scientific evidence new after the book had first come out) that the proteins didn't have to be eaten in the same meal but rather in the same 24-hour period. I ecpect the Kindle book will reflect that change from the original.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Feb 16 - 03:22 PM

Bruce, Bermuda grass is a horrible plant. The worst weed in the garden. It's dormant right now, and it has deep roots. The rhizomes that run along the surface are apparently the worst part, but I think the whole thing can probably sprout. That said, it seems insane to till it all in, but that is indeed what we did. Why? Because till it or not, it will still end up in the garden, and the soil got such a soaking last year that it compacted to the point where it was difficult to work in. As the tiller made repeated passes my neighbor and I raked out chunks of root, and I took four heaping wheelbarrows full back to the compost. I'll be raking out there when I work in the garden for weeks to come.

I paid the friend with the tiller, and because the neighbor would never accept pay for helping on something like this, I sent him home with some frozen breaded fried eggplant from the garden. I know his wife used to cook eggplant that way when I gave them in the past, but she doesn't cook as much now so I give them the cooked vegetable. [And both of these people are friends, but I refer to friend and neighbor to help tell them apart here. :) ]

This afternoon I'll start working on some of the raised beds, blocking out where they'll go so I can establish paths, etc. With all of this manual labor I'll sleep well tonight.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Feb 16 - 03:34 PM

Also - my favorite web site for owners manuals is http://www.manualsonline.com/. And as guest mentioned, I've also scanned and uploaded manuals to the site. These sites are a great public service - they help keep older equipment in use longer, and used safely. And they put out of business those folks on eBay who sell owners manuals for a small ransom.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 01 Feb 16 - 08:32 PM

Beaver:
Good info , Guest. Never figured out how to download book - maybe tomorrow. Spent 1.5 hour on phone with health consultant/friend. She is amazing in her ever-increasing knowledge. Gave me a couple suggestions for helping friend with probable budding dementia. So, no pots made. But all the ice is off the back door mat and more wood brought in. Chickpeas in slow cooker in prep for potluck tomorrow. Lentil stew for supper - the red lentils are so quick to cook, the veggies were just a bit crisp.

All that fresh air and exercise, ready for bed but trying to hang on a bit longer. Still have hot water! I might get used to it - then it will quit again? R will be back in March to remedy the situation.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Feb 16 - 09:43 AM

Beaver:

So nice to wake up early feeling good and the sun coming onto the west hill! And have a signal!

Started more chick peas and the distiller and had BF and wrote emails and studied a couple health articles and a few environmental ones, gone through emails and ready to fetch groceries for potluck recipe and check pet store for ice melter.

I cleared almost 2000 emails, last week, from that department into files and need to remind self to go through them to sort into tighter files by subject and delete the debris.

A sunny day, even just at the freezing point feels wonderful.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Feb 16 - 03:36 PM

Beaver:
I see warnings of nasty weather tonight. Promise I shall plan to be home before the freezing rain begins.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Feb 16 - 11:07 PM

Beaver:
Safely back home though, I admit, conversations kept me busy and it was snowing a bit as I left the party, but slowly down the mile long hill and home.

Never got to pot due to concern re buzzing noise which turned out to be the alarm for the septic pump but it has not repeated.

R reports that he is starting to get rid of things!!!!!! Feeling overwhelmed with stuff, he is giving it away--- "T don't need this, you can have it. You like it?You can have it. He has a long way to go but this is an amazing revelation! What de-clutters his life, also de-clutters mine!

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Feb 16 - 09:48 PM

It looks like everyone is hunkered down for the winter, Dorothy! Once the days are warmer and longer, the urge to spring clean may bring out some of the stash people have been tripping over all winter.

We have a few chilly days here and the forecast for a week shows only up to the low 60s. The solar gain will keep the greenhouse a good temperature for starting plants in small pots, ready to plant in mid-March or later. It isn't quite garage sale weather, that's when real temptation to stop and shop comes along for me. I did see an estate sale sign on my way to work this morning, the car was tempted to drive itself over there but I held the wheel firmly and passed it by.

I finished my income taxes and have filed away most of the paperwork I pulled out for that. No joy in mudville, I got a puny few dollars back, but it's better than having to pay more out of pocket. There is a lot more paper to file, something to do while the weather is still cool. Once it's nice, it's difficult to make myself stay indoors.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 05 Feb 16 - 03:48 PM

Beaver/Art Gallery:

Long day. Thankful for FB ad the 10 people who visited.Was able to pass info re distiller on to a man who was very grateful. He was considering spending $16,000 for a drilled well!

Threw 11 bowls yesterday; not quite the full loaf of clay and blew a couple. The last one was a sign to stop - I was tired. Had to carry everything back into the house due to COLD last night. MAYBE I will be able to trim them this evening. Energy???

I did start to work through clayart files in Word. All today's emails deleted - petitions signed...

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Feb 16 - 10:41 AM

The paper declutter has been productive, but not complete. Bills paid, taxes submitted (electronically) and accepted, paper shredded. Horizontal surfaces need a going over to clear up paper that may no longer have a purpose.

Bird feeders arranged along the garden that was tilled earlier in the week have had the desired effect. This morning I watched doves and smaller birds active at both the feeders and foraging across the newly tilled garden soil. I need to reduce the number of insect pests and birds are a great natural way to start that process. Mornings doves, sparrows, and finches, included gold finches. I'll sneak around the house with my camera later to see if I can get a few shots with a long lens.

As to my activities this weekend, ♫ I've got a little list. ♫

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 06 Feb 16 - 05:32 PM

Beaver/Ar Gallery:

The hot water was still hot this am BUT in mid-stream, it QUIT! Call to R and he knows what is wrong but it is complicated. After I get home again, maybe he can walk me through it OR maybe I will just do without until March. Not a big deal.

Pluses: Great opening for the new show last night; lots of good networking, including a possible venue for selling some pots. The pres who reamed me out for my emails of suggestions a few weeks ago... Was all lovey dovey with thanks for the "beautiful blog" I wrote for this show and referred to me as "our new blogger". HAH! "No, I am not your new blogger but I will try to write a few..." Not to clutter my life with someone else's expectations.

Phone call this am from a woman who is interested in working with a group towards a new library was uplifting; we know each other from the 28 years she worked at this library and are totally on the same page. We will continue this project in March after the new librarian is on board. We each know others to add to our group. A good step forward!

And signed up another Gallery visitor for possible Library advocate.

Snowing and lovely. Still light at 5:30!

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 07 Feb 16 - 02:31 PM

Beaver:

hot water fix was not that complicated but very foreign to me so, insisting R tell me one step at a time - he has trouble with that! - I managed. The hot is working; the heater is still heating it. I have a very slight leak at the joint I unscrewed but I will call R later- after I trim the pots in the now warm enough studio.

De-cluttered my life of four bags of trash/recycling - about 4 months worth - with a trip to the dump. I do not want to do that again. I had to drive past the dog pound where the sweetest dog ever spent a month and then was shot and left in the dump - because the SOB who offered to care for her, did not. 1991 and the pain is still ...

Thinking that the brain is what needs to be de-cluttered the most. Yesterday's move forward re the library moved my thoughts from "How can I..." to a wonderful sense of "WE can work on this!" Then I feel better about my "socially useless" volunteering at the Gallery because it will also give me opportunities to network re the library. I feel lighter today - at least my mind does!

Gearing up for trip to Quebec on Thursday - organizing 3 weeks of supplements, putting stuff into a bag, planning... - no snow for that day predicted but a very cold week ahead so careful to collect everything into bathroom and will plug in two heaters this time, just in case. Last time I missed a cantaloupe and a pineapple; they froze but were fine when I got back - still frozen! Maybe I'll take the new Af. Violet with me; it is still lovely.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 08 Feb 16 - 08:35 AM

A productive weekend in the garden followed by back spasms on Monday morning seems par for the course in the early spring (faux spring?). The insulated cover came off of one faucet so I could do some watering with a hose that is out of storage and back in use.

The industrial-sized dustmop made a circuit of the house and the easiest way to be sure I got all of the dust out of it was to run the vacuum over it. So I emptied a full vacuum tank of dog hair into today's trash and the house looks much better, no more dusty hair tufts (surely not "dust kittens" when formed by dog hair?)

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Feb 16 - 12:56 PM

Beaver:
Have not lost any weight but I am stronger. A couple days ago, "I don't FEEL like bringing in wood - but it has to be done." Once I started, I felt my strength and it was like the Sorcerer's Apprentice - I just brought in more and more 'til there was no reasonable place to put more! I felt SO good. so today, having used most of that, I did it again. So wonderful to feel stronger!

Gearing up throw more pots when the studio gets warm. The 11 from a few days ago are rimmed and drying in the LR!

Need to block Sassy Rad's access! Should have been done in the summer. He was running rampant this am - in the K. A couple days ago he knocked things off high places. OK, I can close the Bathroom door and block the crack under the door at night. Duh! New thought!: A good screen door on the utility room can block critter and permit air flow. Of course, fixing the ceiling...! Major job; will happen in the summer. OR the hole he comes in from the outdoors.. . Maybe...

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: GUEST,#
Date: 08 Feb 16 - 11:32 PM

Red squirrels can get through a hole the size of a quarter. Good luck.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Feb 16 - 09:25 PM

Beaver:
Yep,GOOD luck is what I need.Sassy is somewhere; I have no idea where. I hear noises from over there and - over there and....

Well, add to that, the leak I produced when I "fixed" the hot water. So I turned it off, returning to cold only. Then I turned it on this am to add a bit warm to the laundry water and did two loads, then turned it off again. Unfortunately, I neglected to take the thing out of the sink - that then blocked the drain and flooded the K! Dried the floor and the counter, then realized the water had run into the drawers and one cabinet. Cabinet not a big deal but added all the towels in the drawer to the clothes line and everything else on the counter to dry out. In between, I watched the snow fall and fall and fall.... ALL day.

Never got up to even 30F in the studio so I kept yesterday's pots covered to be trimmed tomorrow - hopefully. Have to because I am leaving for Quebec on Thursday.

Coming to terms with/getting used to Firefox since I keep getting told Safari is not up to snuff. At least now I can sign change.org petitions = the only reason I upgraded computer - or tried to. LONG session with Apple tech yesterday; informed computer is too old to upgrade anymore... "So why did I go to the trouble of..." Supervisor called in: suggested Foxfire instead of Safari? I did not bother asking why it would work but S would not. And ticked with sites that tell me Safari is "unsupported". Why do they do that to people. My son told me this computer would last the rest of my life - either he was optimistic about the computer or pessimistic about how long I might last!

Other than that: Good that I brought in lots of wood yesterday as there is a few inches of snow out there - to be cleared tomorrow in time for my 10 am interview with former mayor. FB, deleting emails and reading fill the day - which will soon end for me.

And other people are starting gardens! Enjoy!

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Feb 16 - 09:30 PM

Found a wonderful Jesse Winchester youtube - just posted a few days ago but from 2008. Over an hour long; I listened to the whole thing. And sent it to friends. Excellent quality; almost as good as being there.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 10 Feb 16 - 09:33 AM

Some tasks can only be performed during regular business hours, so I'm home tackling that list today. And while I'm at it, scanning and decluttering the computer, before doing another backup.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: LilyFestre
Date: 10 Feb 16 - 05:03 PM

Hello Friends,

   Long time, no post. Just a few things today:

1. I have now lost 10% of my body weight plus an additional 5 pounds.

2. I am going for a tumor marker test tomorrow. I've been having some issues with my belly so I'm a little more anxious about this check up than normal. Bleeding belly button and a pulling sensation behind my belly button have me concerned. I went to my local PCP and she feels I have an infection and gave me some meds. The bleeding has stopped, the pulling has not.

3. After my test, my mom and I will be headed downstate to bury my Nana. She was cremated in November and we have been waiting for a significant date to bury her.

My house is looking better daily. :)
I have done a really great job of sticking to the No Spend Challenge with the exception of a trip to the Salvation Army on Monday where I purchase a handmade flannel lap quilt (for Jeremiah's bed) and a hand knit afghan that matches our couch perfectly...the stitching is beautiful and it has long fringes on the ends which I love......both for $8.00. Hooray for Sally's!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: LilyFestre
Date: 11 Feb 16 - 12:08 AM

Change of plans. Spent this evening at the ER with Jeremiah who was throwing up blood. We are all home now and think it was a one time thing.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Feb 16 - 12:12 AM

When you don't shop very often those trips stand out. I've also adopted a form of that no spend challenge, in order to make myself draw down the contents of my freezer. Tonight I thawed some spaghetti sauce and pulled out a few pre-breaded and fried slices of eggplant and assembled eggplant Parmesan for dinner (I have a brick of mozarella in the fridge).

Congratulations on the weight loss - and I hope this is just "shrinking pains," so to speak. There can be consequences of rapid weight loss, but you've been working on this slow and steady, so hopefully it is nothing. I remember reading that people who go in for gastric bypass often end up having their gallbladders removed first because they get messed up by the body chemistry with so little food going through.

And as a complete aside, did you know that we each have highly individualized flora in our belly buttons? And that scientists know more about the surface of the moon than they do about that belly button flora (I made that up, but it sounds about right according to the rest of what I heard in that news segment a while back). ;-)

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Feb 16 - 12:13 AM

Cross-posted. I hope he's better quickly!

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: GUEST,MAG on library 'puter
Date: 11 Feb 16 - 03:49 PM

finally, a year after my knee replacement, it is reqsonably functional.
i can finally last at the gym for more than 15 minutes.
one would think that w/ all this time at home, the place would neat as a pin, but noooo

all the bulbs are coming up, and the scented viburnum is in full bloom. result of the warm spell here in Portland. (OR)
i keep TELLING them ...

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Feb 16 - 08:39 PM

Good to hear from you, MAG! I'm glad you're up and moving comfortably. Our other Maryanne has had hip problems recently but is also on the mend.

I found a daffodil ready to open this evening.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 11 Feb 16 - 09:19 PM

Mill
Got pots trimmed, lots of wood in, house battened down for my sojourn in Quebec. Left early this morning, arrived, offloaded car, went to library, supper with Geri at resto, emails deleted,petitions signed, Foxfire and I getting used to each other. Now time for bed on this COLD clear night.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Feb 16 - 11:28 AM

Survived the week - an accomplishment in itself!

It looks like the garden is taking the lead in weekend work as the weather continues fair. I have to shovel compost from a couple of piles in the back yard and distribute it in the tilled garden spot, in preparation for planting next month. We could still find ourselves at the mercy of cold weather or snow, so the work now is such that survives such a snap. The potatoes are in as are onions, which do fine in snow.

I recently had the thought that it might be nice to finish the lion's share of this "decluttering" at some point in time. Could I manage to go through everything and use or redistribute it over the course of the rest of the year? And then enjoy living in an organized house? I don't know. What do the rest of you think? Do you see an end to this, if you shift gear from clearing space at a puttering pace, vs emptying the contents of a room and only putting back the things you really think you can use?

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Feb 16 - 04:51 PM

Several loaves of banana bread are in the oven, still using supplies retrieved from the freezer, nothing purchased new to make it. Though I did just finish off my walnuts with this recipe.

I switched out a bird feeder in the yard since one of them they empty very fast, mostly by dropping the contents on the ground. I have a feeder I found at a friends house as we packed up during his move out (after foreclosure). I've never tried this one, its for the nyger seed that the finches favor. They're active on the other feeders but I haven't seen anyone try this one yet today.

I'm strongly considering the "empty a room" exercise later this evening, using the sun room as the starting point. Tons of stuff would go to recycling, in that case.