Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jun 18 - 08:15 PM

Susan and I are playing tag team here - what is everyone else up to? There is probably someone out there who hasn't made a peep in ages who has managed to completely empty a house and restore order to their living space and still have craft activities available.

I re-homed a huge zucchini (as in easily 3-4 pounds) to a friend at work. Her Italian Long Island NY family has traditional recipes for these huge zucchinis and when I have one that gets away from me I take it to her. She beamed and told me about slicing it very thin, frying in oil with garlic, and adding it to a pasta dish. Has me thinking of a number of new ways I can use the ones still here at the house! How about thinly sauteed zucchini in pasta with pesto? Mmmmm.

Emptying audio book files from the phone and adding new books to listen to. Only a few electrons moved in that transaction. I need to go find stuff of substance to put away or rearrange. Perhaps tonight I'll put the DVDs in the new storage cabinet meant for DVDs and I'll find books or something else for the heavy cabinet where they are shelved now.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Jun 18 - 10:38 PM

Acme, perhaps the writing bug may bite us and fictitious reports from the missing may suddenly appear. ;-)

Or another approach-- I always thought (at the worst of my thyroid-disease-caused chairbound phase) that we clutter-challenged folk should organize a Slobs House Walk Tour. To show off what usually evokes shame and self-blame. I had one hoarding friend who'd just laugh and laugh at that image (I think usefully).

So in that vein we could write brochure blurbs. I'd start with today's duct tape decor workshop...
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Ohio:

I took a quick look through the 1-1/3 bankers box of remaining journals today, which were down to several groups easily dispersed into their respective LL categories, and did the harder job of choosing articles from 4 or 5 of the harder-to-categorize issues. (For those I have to actually skim the whole issue and choose one of several excellent articles to highlight-- and therefore determine the best Topic placement.)

So that task in the LL looks like one more stint to polish it off, and then it's back to cataloguing remaining Topic Kits.

Newbie quickly learned where it was best to curl up near me as I tossed the individual issues across the room to the piles that accumulated! No rug in there yet, on asphalt tile floor-- nice journal toss/slides slapping across the floor made for initial startles, but we got a rhythm going!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 13 Jun 18 - 08:51 AM

The only decluttering I'm doing at present is the tangle of inept editing in a certain book that I'm being paid handsomely to square away. I would like to declutter myself of about 20 pounds, but that's hard to do when (a) your feet hurt and (b) you're supposed to spend at least six hours of your day at your desk.

Yesterday, the nice man from Tim's Tree Service showed up to assess the six scraggly trees I have selected for removal from our garden. Three of them are Eastern Red Cedars, two are White Cedars, and one is a dogwood with a Manitoba maple sprouting up in the middle of it. All of them started life as cute little ornamentals and grew far too large for their spot on the property. Tim's Tree Service is a busy concern; we won't get a lick of their attention for at least 10 weeks, unless somebody higher up the list cancels.

I posted three photos on Facebook in the hope that somebody out there can identify a mystery plant in our flowerbed. It looks like a member of the mint family, but that doesn't narrow the field much. It's occupying space that I would like to use for culinary herbs, and I don't want to find out too late that it's something I would regret consigning to the composter.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: pattyClink
Date: 13 Jun 18 - 09:23 PM

Greetings from the road, where the more I simplify, the more things get complicated. Dealing with an infected toe on the road has been a little challenging, between tracking down urgent cares and doing empsom salt soaks and bandages and crap.

Purchasing a new vehicle has been a perfectly hideous experience. The new-to-me one is now in use, but seems to have a drawback for every benefit, and driving me nuts learning to use it. It moves the seat way back every time I stop, and resets the mirrors to face the ground every time I back up, etc. But it runs and is newer, so let me be grateful for that before I tackle the Rockies.

I seem to carry hot weather, rain, and bugs with me wherever I go, even into the northern plains. Have had more ticks this month than in the rest of my life. Met lots of great people, lots of great landscapes, but merely existing and tracking down the next campground is keeping me busy. Because suddenly EVERYONE in the Midwest reserves a campsite EVERY weekend. I may wind up parked at a casino Saturnday night. Who knows.

Kudos to all who are getting their ducks in a row, I'm just trying not to get bit on my ass by any ducks!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: pattyClink
Date: 13 Jun 18 - 09:32 PM

As far as okra, you can try the traditional skillet saute-ing with cornmeal, but I think it's awfully hard to do just right. Better to add it to a ratatouille. Or cook it with stewed tomatoes and drained cooked veggies. Not as slimy as if you try to cook it by itself, I don't know if it's the acid or what.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Jun 18 - 09:42 PM

Patty, walk-in (non-reservable) campsites at state parks don't usually fill up before Thursday afternoons, if you can adjust your travel dates to start your weekends on Thursday mornings.

Sympathies on the car issues! I'm driving a loaner thru late July, and whole I'm grateful my DIL lent it to me.... oy!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Jun 18 - 10:15 PM

Patty, check the owners manual for the programming of those features. You should be able to do a reset, though it may involve turning the key to different ignition positions, pushing buttons, and oddball things. I do that with my vehicles because they seem to come set to unlock all of the doors as soon as the engine is turned off. No thanks, I want to unlock the door myself, or doors, depending on circumstances. (If you don't have the manual, one of the online manual sites should have a free PDF copy to download.) The manual with my Nissan Pathfinder is the size of a modest dictionary and I still occasionally find new things that I didn't realize it can do because I skimmed through to find the essentials first.

Okra is an African vegetable and I find the African recipes offer remedies for the slimy consistency. For example, my Middle Eastern cookbook includes North African countries and describes soaking okra in vinegar to remove that consistency. The way I most often fix it is to moisten it and roll it in a mix of seasoned cornmeal (like the fish fry mixes) then into shallow oil.

We had our first "there's someone at the door" test with Pepper in the mix, and we had a suitably attentive crew who barked at the door and came into my office to bark at me to tell me someone was at the door. A guy trying to convince me to change my Internet service. I told him he needs a license to peddle in the village. The iron and glass security door was never opened so I didn't have to worry about catching dogs by the collars when I opened the solid wood door.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Jun 18 - 03:57 PM

Ohio:

Red flag on lawn crew member Ronnie, who offered odd jobs-- at least on indoor work. When I requested DL or state ID for an indoor job assembling a bookcase, I got this reply:

". If that requires me to give you my driver's license I think you need to find somebody else to put your bookcase together have a good day"

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jun 18 - 09:17 PM

Asking for quotes, checking with the Better Business Bureau if this is a small business, asking for identification, they're all part of the process of doing business.

A co-worker is retiring in a couple of weeks, though tomorrow is his last full day since he's taking time off and will come back on the 29th to sign out. The office clearing process has taken a couple of weeks; last week I was carrying a pot he gave me when I tripped on a raised piece of concrete near the building. Alas, it was a pretty pot. Other items have come my way, packed away in the pack when on campus to avoid further disaster. I've watched the clearing out process of drawers and shelves, the shredding and dusting, and think I have a house where I can go home and practice the same skills. Tomorrow is a reception and I look forward to some old friends coming back for the occasion.

At home on the dog front, Pepper is firm in her understanding of the expectations at meal time. She wiggles and gets in the way but doesn't encroach on the others' food, she gives a robust kiss on the chin when I ask for a kiss (Poppy gives a kiss, Zeke shakes paw, and Pepper also gives a kiss). When I tell them to eat she dives in headfirst. She's also good at waiting for the little bit I keep in my hand for after so no one goes to the slowest eater's bowl. Invisible Fence and table manners mastery in under two weeks - she's a smart girl and we're making progress. More and more she gives the other two dogs welcoming kisses, something our pitbull Cinnamon always did. Some people have said kisses are a sign in insecurity, but I really think in this dog and in the pit, it was the simple joy of greeting loved ones. It's good that the other two old dogs are getting that kind of attention again.

It's Thursday before a regular weekend. I don't have a compressed week this summer so it's just two off. If this evening I put in a load of laundry, do a little puttering here now, I'll have more time to work on my bigger projects on Saturday and Sunday. I do miss the long weekends, despite the four tough long days at the office.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Jun 18 - 08:31 AM

Asking for quotes, checking with the Better Business Bureau if this is a small business, asking for identification, they're all part of the process of doing business. No shit. The new piece is requiring it of $10-20/hour day laborers, including minors. Until Cincinnati began emanating it's opioid epicenter this far (2 hours), it was more than enough to know the parents.

Ohio:

House/garage tasks ydy:
. Unpiled bookcase parts and access to next boxes (to unpack in garage)
. Unpacked box of glassware that had become semipermanent counter presence since gomorrafying arrival April 29
. Ran glassware thru DW
. Numerous items, sorted Weds, distributed from small boxes left at waist height on K table-- a plastic one emptied and soaked clean
. Empty water bottles gathered
. Canned soup stowed
. Four pretty and new pastel seersucker shirts hung up
. Decision made about counter by fridge and placement of appliances, until wiring safely fixed
. Researched Essential Sauce simple recipes to begin making for everyday flavor options.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 15 Jun 18 - 12:44 PM

Montreal:

The chaos of my life - in brief: Kiln not right; moved second kiln up to shed; woke up next am with excruciating pain in back - at waist level; texted neighbour Sue who came with good cheer, a salve, and an anti-inflammation tea - marvellous! A do-nothing day - pain was ok if I stayed in bed in one position! I used a lot of comfrey poultices -However, by Sunday the immediate area itched; too much comfrey is possible! It was almost totally better by then. I continue to sip the tea; I find it helpful and comforting: ginger (chopped), cayenne 1/2t, turmeric 1/2t and 1/2 lemon to qt hot water; more spices to taste.

Finally back to kiln on Friday: The kiln overfired; inattention on my part to a warning signal. Packed the car with salvageable and drove to mill. Four firings and all is well. Rested, read, glazed, rested, fired, and met Geri at resto.   

Tuesday: drove to Montreal with pots. R had "made the house somewhat civilized" but did not vaccuum???? He, and others, are BUSY redoing roof on parental home; major job including a monster vaccuum to take out all old insulation and raccoon poop. On fourth day of that and more than a week so far. Coming home at 9 pm or later. Took the roof off sunroom and put a leaky tarp over it, rained hard, ceiling fell... Some people realize that half baked measures... Not my circus!

I went off to Canadian Tire on Weds and bought a shop vac and did the second floor, staircase, and LR - YES- with mask on. Sat downstairs reading; kept mask on and air cleaner on high waiting for dust to settle.

Thurs: did the rest of downstairs. Took allergy pill. Shopped for food and special stuff for family due to arrive today: Son, DIL, GD and partner and GGD!

Fri am: up early, set out food, thinking I would fetch Ali et al at 10am but decided to go fetch son and DIL at 8+am as I was early enough and awake enough and the traffic report said it would take 22 minutes; it lied but I told them I was coming about the same time I got message that Ali could not!

Driving; no texting but phoned son (blue tooth) to tell him I was on the way. Picked them up w/out problem and brought them "home"; stopped at convenience store for coffee! (no coffee at our house) They did not want food - "too early" They had taken a "red eye".

Ali did not realize she needed a passport for 4 month old Zayda. We were disconsolate as this was a well planned trip so son could visit me, pick up pottery AND get to see Zayda, et al.

Ah! They can come by car with only a birth certificate - Go figure! So they have rented a car and are en route. Troy and Julie are now resting at their airbnb, walking distance to the famous Atwater Market. I have put away uneaten food and hope it will get eaten before stale. So I sit here, having noticed uncaught cobwebs--oh well. The stress of the last couple weeks... Troy and Julie declared the pottery beautiful. Now I can curl up in a ball and be relieved!!! close to tears of relief!

And the plane tickets - Ouch! non-refundable.

Have not seen Troy and J since fall of 2010; They look good. They are wonderful! They saw Taun in NY, in March before he moved into his condo but he was already happy, just from having made the decision to buy it! Both my sons are happy! I am joyous.

R did his laundry and finally brought it home so I folded put it away. Nothing "needs" to be done until T&J phone for a ride, or not.

Maggie's dogs! Such creatures! The friend on Whidbey who took my Aussie posted pics recently of him at the end of life, with one of her dog pack snuggled up to him - "right to the end". "just a dog"???

"Until mankind can extend the circle of his compassion to include all living things, he will never, himself, know peace” -Albert Schweitzer

Charmion: maybe you could check the online Richter's Herb Farm catalog for your mystery herb. If it has a square stem, it is a mint of some sort; if not, not.

Need to do something about the lack of coffee; maybe Julie can help.

Doing pretty well with that special BF; managing to eat mostly veggies and protein. Might eat a muffin... No great desire to do so.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Vashta Nerada
Date: 15 Jun 18 - 02:00 PM

I thought I answered this, maybe on facebook - the flower is all wrong for a mint. There are a few other plants with square stems.

Dorothy, watch your back! And I'm so sorry about the air travel complications and non-refundable tickets. Such a blow. You can get hastened passports, but you need to drive to the large nearby city that handles it and it still takes a day or so and an extra fee (less than losing all of the ticket cost). A friend had to do that earlier this year for travel to Mexico.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: LilyFestre
Date: 15 Jun 18 - 08:41 PM

Jeremiah and I spent last weekend going through all his clothes both the hanging items and all the drawers in his dresser. We got rid of several bags of clothes and also went through the books in his room (he has many more downstairs). Today I delivered 5 of those bags of little boy clothes to a co-worker who has 2 nephews that will greatly appreciate everything. I love sharing clothes with her as she always brings me a photo of a favorite item and then the boys draw thank you notes...makes my heart happy!

I have started to declutter my car as by this time next week I will have a new to me car! I am excited about that as it's just in time for our upcoming vacation! YAY! It's amazing to me just how much stuff I cart around all the time. Recently I cleaned out my workbag so I could wash it and I think I had enough pens to last me about 3 years. LOL I am forever sticking pens in there so I am sure to have a working pen available for my clients when I'm out and about. Anyway.....my goal is to have the car completely cleaned out by this weekend. I'll be selling my Subaru outright and want it to be as presentable as possible.

Happy Friday Everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Jun 18 - 10:42 AM

Bread dough is in the machine kneading, and when that stage is complete I'll put it in a bread pan to rise. Baking bread in order to have the optimum ingredients for our "Welcome Summer" BLTs - a ceremony my daughter and I perform every year once I have enough vine ripe homegrown tomatoes.

Dog Bath Day today also. And I'll water and put out beneficial nematodes because there are way too many dog ticks around and they need to be banished from the yard and from dogs. And me. They hop off dogs when I brush them. Ick.

If I get enough stuff around here out of the way today, I may go attend a tour at my daughter's workplace before we all head back to the house to eat. It's also her dad's mixed birthday/father's day celebration. I hope he can tolerate the mayo and bacon this one time. He's pretty picky about his diet. I have some tilapia in the fridge ready to cook if he prefers that.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Jun 18 - 02:00 PM

Ohio:

Five weeks till Hardi arrives for vacay-- I'm getting ready and can't wait to see him (and see how much stronger I may have gotten).

Yesterday the house alarm did an odd thing. I'll call the provider to inquire.

Five hours sleep last night with murdering-me nightmares, fun. An hour to snack and watch a real (TV) murder (nailed the whole premeditation in the first 5 minutes!), with a power bar (short calories ydy), then 3 more hours lovely, cold sleep.

Planned for today-- fold/stow/wash laundry; start organizing for Weds. substitute cleaner, who will:
. Clean sideboard w flax soap so I can wax and cover it (Horde damage to top);
. Help remove extra kitchen rug to LL (2nd pr of hands to pull out from under sideboard);
. Help remake mattress and re-dress bed (add 4" foam to rotated king camper mattress)
. If time left, help carry in bookcase parts (to assemble next week with Brittney).

Just made first trip out to garage thru rising heat/humidity. Also carried out glass-pack box emptied recently.

Net: camper king linens brought in to wash for use Weds. (washer going now), and my nearly-Horde-emptied pink toolbox for needed screws left in it. And found screwdriver! And safety glasses! Will use toolbox to containerize my cordless drill/driver they kindly left, plus misc hardware awaiting kitchen-table sorting-- one box from last Weds. is holding all the misc hardware the Horde left. Some mine; some they'd acquired.

Before sitting, I added a screw needed for the 4th clothes-hook I'd installed in the BR last week.

Hoping Judy accepts my dinner invite for her last day tdy, at the local garden center that's abruptly closing tmrw so its owners can retire. She needs that job, is older than I, and has been killing her bones to complete the two weeks notice employees were given, in hopes of a nice severance bonus. Hard use of a master gardener!

I don't know how much more I can get done today and still be able to do dinner later-- and I offered to drive or deliver so she can start meds right away. Most days the multiple posts here reflect how I'm surprising myself with being able to tackle more each day; I've only miscalculated once so badly that I needed the good drugs myself! ;-)

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Jun 18 - 02:47 PM

Dogs washed, quick trip to the vet to purchase three $24 Rx tick repellent collars (good for three months), now loads of dog bedding going into the laundry on gentle but for maximum washing, extra presoak and rinse. Into the dryer, and then I'm vacuuming the whole front room carpet before I run the steam cleaner over it as well, and vacuum the rest of the house. This morning after washing the dogs I found a tick on me so tiny I had to go get my glasses to be sure that's what it was. Trying to dig in right at the line of my underwire; the spot is red but it didn't actually connect. I need a tick collar also.

The bread is out and cooling on a high place and I've pulled out a little desk organizer for paper and pens that is now out of dog reach on the kitchen counter. I found a second ballpoint pen chewed up, this time she took it outside to demolish it. Dog proofing is something I'm accustomed to because of Zeke (he's a food dog, always) but this new one has different targets.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Jun 18 - 03:50 PM

Ohio:

Laundry continues processing. Called alarm co.-- issue diagnosed and fixed.

Polished off a couple dozen newsprint-quality journals w annotations and categorizations, then filed half of what I'd annotated. Only a few go into Topic Kits already catalogued, YAY! Two thirds of one bankers box to go, all heavier paper and likely to be batch-handled, YAY! And once THAT is done, cataloguing can continue.

Journal categorization is also freeing up both floor space and shelf space, which will facilitate all those Wednesday goals w cleaner.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: LilyFestre
Date: 16 Jun 18 - 09:21 PM

Speaking of dogs, ours has been to the vet to get updated shots and all requirements for boarding while we are on vacation. :) It's one more thing off the To Do List. We have never gone on a real family vacation.....it's getting closer and we, as a family, are starting to get pretty excited. I had ordered a roof carrier for the car and that came in. Boarding reservations have been made and negotiations are in process for someone to come care for the farm animals while we are away.

I have 3 days off before we actually leave and I am hoping to get something done around here...I feel like I could use a good 2 weeks...but since that isn't in the picture, I'll do what I can when I can.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Jun 18 - 06:34 AM

Ohio:

Journal sorting done! Possible future tweaks, but ready to catalog.

An interesting challenge was the Artists' journal, with articles about so many aspects of life as an artist. I filed some with Class topics (working class, raised poor, etc.), some with world change, some with youth....

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Jun 18 - 11:07 AM

We're not even to the official summer yet and heat fatigue is already settling in. We've had several days over 100^o. Chores I've intended to do outdoors are deferred until either I can't stand it any more and go out, or until we get a little rain and overcast so it's easier to work out there.

Enjoy your vacation, Michelle! Having everything taken care of at home and with pets and livestock lets you relax and enjoy the trip.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: LilyFestre
Date: 17 Jun 18 - 12:45 PM

Oh Maggie.....I don't know how you stand the heat there.

Yesterday was an annual festival in my hometown and they always have a 2 hour parade. I marched in it for the first 18 years of my life, avoided it like the plague when I lived there as an adult but now we all go because Jeremiah loves the parade. It's ok I suppose...just not my thing. Anyway, we went yesterday and we were there for about 5 hours with the parking, craft fair, visiting old friend (love that part), the actual parade and then getting out of town....it was 92 degrees outside. Ick. Just ICK. I hate the heat. I used to live in Atlanta and the heat there was manageable because I was inside most of the time and EVERYWHERE had AC. However, you often talk about gardening and I just don't know how you stand it. It was the second key factor in us not following Pete's lab to Texas. I suppose you adjust after a time but ugh.....

The fridge has been cleaned out this morning, dishes are done, Jeremiah *helped* make a breakfast in honor of Pete for Father's Day (he actually did a great job!), the car is almost cleaned out and now I'm on to getting things ready for the work week. Laundry is going too, floors are swept......neverending. :) I'm happy to be home and be puttering. I thought we'd go fishing later today but Pete and I are tired and need today to recoup....so we'll go out for milkshakes later (there's a place nearby that makes THE best coffee milkshakes) and plan a full day of picnic and fishing activity for next week. The following week, we are joining a bunch of people to go to the races. I am not a racing fan, I don't understand the fascination of watching cars go around and around and I don't like the noise...however...I haven't not been in a very LONG time (I think I was 8 the last time I went) and the race track bathrooms were super disgusting....you had to squat over a board with a hole in it....I'm SURE things have changed in the last 40 years...LOL....and my entire family wants to go so I'm going to be a sport and give it a try. I'll be taking earplugs and a book for just in case.....anyway...we'll going to roll all that into a Father's Day celebration for Pete. He's such a fantastic Dad to Jeremiah....his patience and sense of humor, not to mention love...well...he's just an amazing Daddy...he just IS!

Happy Father's Day Peoples!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Jun 18 - 04:01 PM

Ohio:

Back to bed for two chilly and weird hours with car nightmares. Weird! But hopefully that will prevent the sked-slipping nap later!

Dinner out w friend Judy later to transition her head out of her garden center schedule. I believe she plans a brief farewell visit before dinner, to bid them farewell as they close up shop today.

My plan is to enjoy fruit at home to make the planned 6-7pm meat/taters supper work for me.

The week's folded laundry is stowed, including king sheets, etc in a bin designated for Wednesday's mattress transition. The current plan is a pieced mattress under the thin but whole king mattress, with its current quilted layers and mattress pad on top. Hardi's side gets an extra (soft) top layer and mine gets a firm extra layer. I'll save an added foam layer to add to my side as needed, later, to compensate for the inevitable foam compression. (I want our innerspring PA bed!!!)

Check/debit register is caught up.

Bedroom loose trash is gathered.

BR portapotti supplies are containerized.

I unscrewed a BR light bulb in a 2-bulb lamp, to reduce heat produced.

A crockpot of rice is cooking.

A trip out to the garage netted a sprinkling of BTI, where unevaporated recent rain has been left for skeeters.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Jun 18 - 04:52 PM

Michelle, you made that whole race experience sound wretched. Better tuck some toilet paper in your pocket while you're at it. If you should chance on a time-warp place, you know it'll be out of TP next to the hole. And yes, you do kind of adapt - last time I was in Seattle for a "heat wave" we were fine (except my mom put us in a guest room in her upstairs with no fans or A/C; we dragged our bedding downstairs and slept in her office/library for the rest of the stay.) Living with it all summer in Texas, though, even Texans get really tired of it.

Adding to the clutter, but in a good way - I finally ordered a dress form mannequin. After reading reviews I shopped Amazon and eBay and found an adjustable dress form to use for photographing and sewing. I think I could even take it off of the base and put the torso in my photo cube for photography of short things or beads. It's a black cloth covered one, so it should display beadwork nicely (should I ever actually get around to doing the beading I am set up for.) My daughter and I texted back and forth about the uses and materials; some of these are extremely flimsy and the reviews at Amazon were scathing. (I borrowed one of my daughter's dress forms for a while, but she uses them all of the time with her costume design work. I couldn't get away with forgetting to return it.)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Jun 18 - 11:01 PM

Ohio:

I actually bought one more bookcase and I can't wait til it comes. Judy has agreed to let me practice the Library tour on her so I can confirm the logic of the layout before finalizing it. This afternoon I cobbled up a neat borrowing process lending itself well to reshelving upon the return of items and volunteer help with maintenance.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Jun 18 - 02:37 PM

Ohio:

ALL journals now FILED w the appropriate kits! Shelves VERY full. Can now start to tackle finishing the cataloguing.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Jun 18 - 10:38 PM

I took some cooked zucchini across the street to those neighbors and learned that this kind of squash is something she still cooks (sliced and fried) so next time I'll take a whole one (these are generally larger than what you see in the grocery store - they grow fast and get away from me.) New next door neighbors have apparently moved in so silently, even with their dogs, that I thought they were still working on the house. Perhaps they like fresh vegetables. :)

As I walked out there I noticed the area over where the new sewer line went in is contracting as the weather dries out the soil, so I need to fill it in with more dirt that can be moved from other parts of the yard (piled up while they worked, smoothed imperfectly by the little earth mover.) If I dig up some of the stray Salvia greggi plants coming up along the dig site I'll have some plants to declutter later in the fall to friends and family. There may be heavy weather this week that will expand the soil, and on another front, we will learn how new blue heeler mix Pepper responds to thunder and lightning. Blue heeler mix Poppy doesn't like it and usually spends the night on a rug in my room.

I emptied the DVDs from the top shelf of a heavy pine cabinet and recycled all of the empty egg cartons that were used to elevate the back row. Now I need to figure out what can go on that shelf. It can be large and heavy, this is a very sturdy cabinet (the lower shelf holds almost all of my LPs.) The DVDs look good in the lighter taller cabinet next to the shelves with the electronics and I'm more likely to watch them when I can see them.

The dining room table is almost cleared again; the clothes that were on it are in the closet awaiting the arrival of the dressmaker form, or have been stacked in the sunroom. The next setup on that table will be for sewing.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 19 Jun 18 - 08:52 AM

I'll make a trip to Goodwill this week; it's time to empty the basket that's occupying study space that would be better left unoccupied.

I went to Manitoulin Island last weekend to sing in a concert (Fauré Requiem and other formal repertoire), and came home exhausted. Yesterday was a dead loss; I went to the gym in the morning and spent the rest of the day sitting around and trying to stay awake. No editing was done, leaving twice as much to do today.

My hands are changing, and not in good ways. On Friday, I started to put on my wedding band, but it stuck fast above the first knuckle. It fit perfectly last week, but now, not at all. The middle finger of that hand has also developed swollen knuckles, and now both fingers are locked up when I wake in the morning.

That's my fretting hand. Not good news.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 19 Jun 18 - 10:20 AM

Montreal:

Visiting family is exhausting! R and I - plumb wore out. He managed to get to supper last night and after eating fell asleep on the sofa. We opted out of a couple events. They had an airbnb two BR apt near the canal and the Market. Suppers all at their place and cooked by them. GD et al, solved the passport problem by renting a car and driving up so that has been great! It helped greatly for the family to have a car and not need me as taxi! And they will be able to use the tickets at a later date - this happens to many new parents! Zayda will soon have her own passport!

Son and wife loaded pottery into their carry-ons, well wrapped in bubble wrap - all they could fit - 12 plates, 6 bowls and a couple matching small pieces. Great de-clutter for me - both physically and mentally ---YAY!!!! Mission accomplished. GREAT relief! And they are thrilled to pieces! So I am also. A box for other GD can go to NY in the car and be mailed to San Diego. Another YAY!

Now I have sorted the rest to go to various places: things to go to mill today after I deliver folks to airport. Others to go to Beaver. Hoping R will go back with me on Thurs (or Friday?) for a few days. HA! I just realized: if we are only going for a few days, I can wait 'til next week to go to mill - and rest here until we can leave! Smart move. I want to re-glaze and re-fire the pots that were not up to snuff - advice from a pottery tech person!

Last night was an event for Son, his wife, and GD and I as we went through the 3 photo albums I have: that's your great grandfather ... and your great great grandfather... And bits and pieces of commentary on what kind of folks they were... And how sad his grand dad was to die and leave him (son was not yet 3 and has little conscious memory but wife feels it was a blow to him; they were very close).

And Son's disclosure of his DNA results: NO Cherokee - as we have always believed was great great gm. Apparently it is very common for folks to think they do when they do not - family myths. A shocking sort of de-clutter!

And I got to hear about and see (pic) a marvellous wood table my son concocted out of maple cut on their property - neat! I always knew he was artistic. That and the incredibly beautiful pond he constructed in their yard. So like his granddad Parshall. (He is just the age my dad was when he died of cancer; seems incredibly healthy. Hope!)

So, to the airport today and then do some put-off errands and collapse in a sad heap. It has been too short and when shall I see them again! It is a long and expensive trip to/from Whidbey Island. I expect Ali and family will be back; they love Montreal, and Brooklyn is not so far.

Charmion: I hope you enjoyed Manitoulin! I wonder if you have heard the song "Manitoulin" by David Campbell. It often runs through my mind. It is beautiful and so is the Island.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Jun 18 - 01:55 PM

Charmion, ouchies! :-( Kudos though on that Requiem-- the Faure is my favorite to hear and to sing. IMO it's performed too seldom, in favor of heavier, showier vocal extravaganzas. There's a delicacy of tone and stucture in the Faure, gently holding such beautiful melody-- sweet but not saccharine.
.
.
Ohio:

I had to forego an important lunch due to digestive issues, so I used the no-lunch time to remove and baste the 2nd of 2 collars on the 4 seersucker shirts I bought recently, while hearing Congress on CSPAN.

The hearing went on a lunch break, so rather than hear the Trump rally that followed, I loaded the DW and put away the clean glassware I'd unpacked last week (all of which survived the trip and the DW). Nice to see the cabinet shelf categories working out and filling up-- one side is mugs below, with barware above; the other side is everyday plastics, with better glassware above. There's room on both sides for more to be found and unpacked-- the best of the rest for company use.

The cabinets are mounted unusually high and I'm short, so eye level placement for everyday items is more sessentiak than ever. But I live the extra canister height available.

Another category I can unpack when I come across it is china platters and serving bowls, into the lower china cabinet shelves. It's dark under there--needs motion light and mirror. I'm hoping to leave most of the upper, glassed display space for cheery decor amid silver servingware. Horizontal surfaces for decor here elsewhere are in short supply now, and will remain so.

(This is the unpacking stage-- 6 weeks behind schedule-- when I'll rely heavily on my March planning memories and the specific box labeling I did then-- now that daily shocks of Hordedom seem reduced to a manageable level.)

I hope to make the last 2 new shirts wearable when the hearing resumes. Two colors are spring/summery and two more fall-suited. I should put 2 away... but not until more PA shirts are here. It's so rare to find seersucker in my size, I wish I could get more.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Jun 18 - 04:36 PM

Ohio:

Third shirt done (poorly and with mounting tendon pain). Rx: tramadol and gentle, alternate activity using the arm. Result, a two-topic box of LL books opened and sorted to get a quick look at needed shelf space (these were low-priority topics). Other boxes also awaiting shelf assembly were slid over a few inches to estimate furniture placement around the coming corner desk-- awful tight there!

Hm.... no desk space for one smaller darling shelf... will need clever placement! Perhaps under the window now occupied by cardboard office supply items that are headed for a different spot. Was really hoping closer to desk. Have base to raise it, with a horizontal cubby below. ... hm.... what Library topic(s)? Best measure before planning that far!

Also cleared a LR corner where a floor lamp needed to resume its former spot, and took that lamp out of the LL to put it back in its spot. Missing floor pillow found, and stored on display with its twin.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Jun 18 - 08:58 PM

Ohio:

Dinner is staying down, tbtg. Before I took the tramadol (and got goofy), I made sure to thaw some hamburger patties, which I fried up later and sauced with an open can of tomato soup that needed to be used up. First I bloomed chili powder in the pan. When the soup had reduced enough I added frozen peas/carrots and some canned sweet potatoes. I served half over cold rice to cool it, and the rest will get black beans and cheese added to make a second supper tomorrow.

While that all cooked, I finally emptied the Horde's bin of spices-- mine and theirs. I threw out a few icky ones and kept a nice glass jar, after emptying it, to refill later from bulk supplies.

The lower spice shelf is now alphabetized with single-flavor jars, and the shelf above that is alphabetized with spice mixes-- adobe, chili powder, curry powder, 5-spice, etc. This way, it all fits. It's very different from our PA setup-- shoe boxes always overflowing A-M and N-Z spices. With more shoebox of bulk above these. When our 2nd fridge comes, a lot of the bigger bulk packs can go in there, like they do in PA. (Hardi and I have different ethnic cooming capabilities, so between us we have a huge variety of herbs and spices at all times!)

Then I cleared out a drawer in the sideboard, putting all the cordless drill stuff from that back into my pink toolbox. I think those drawers will be a great place to keep some of our overflow herbs and spices, just steps from the cooking zone and active-use spice cabinet.

I repurposed the lidless, heavy plastic Tupperware bin to be a dogwater bin. Takes less floor space because it's a rectangle replacing a big square Tupperware item that does have a lid (AND a lower cabinet to live in).

The toolbox went near its old kitchen spot, but between the wall and an HVAC register. I use that register to cool hot items down for the fridge, and sometimes I want them raised up-- the toolbox will make a handy shelf right there without obstructing the walkway to the back door.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Jun 18 - 12:41 PM

Ohio:

Thinking especially of Hardi today. At 2pm, Senior Helpers' substitute cleaner will help me rebuild our 2nd-honeymoon kingbed, from the plywood base, up.

My AM back-stressing (strength-building) segment was removing intruder-hiding obstacles on his side of the bed; stripping the layers of linens I'd added on top of Horde body fluids and crumbs (for washing later); washing and air-drying the rug under the pee bucket; stowing the million pillows to use later in re-dressing the bed; stowing the pee bucket; untangling wires on his side of the bed so no one trips; assembling clean linens and draw sheet; creating and placing soft barriers to keep his bedside items from falling behind his nightstand cube.... and all that is done.

At 2pm (second wind for spine), I'll help the helper sort the rest of the padding to be stripped; stand the king foam up against my dresser; carry 2 camper foam pieces and sleeping bag in from the garage when we take out the kitchen trash/recycling; put those camper foam pieces on the plywood slabs and add padding to level that layer; add the king foam back on top of that; add overpadding to build height; customize Hardi's side with addl soft padding for his hips; customize my side with addl firm padding for my spine; add a cotton-batting layer joining both sides and mattress pad; add bottom sheet.

Then after a tuna melt supper, with my back's 3rd wind-- and probably tramadol by then if not sooner-- I'll add the pillows, top sheet, and blanket layer.

And fall in, still thinking of him as we count down the weeks till our next honeymoon! (That's when I'll add our freshly dry-cleaned honeymoon comforter.) :-)

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Jun 18 - 04:28 PM

Ohio:

It worked exactly as laid out except that a 2nd king mattress pad turned up in the layers, which was used to marry the newly added pieces into a solid king layer. Wash is going.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Jun 18 - 06:21 PM

eBay is changing how they do things again - I have been able to give partial refunds using PayPal, and I'll keep that up - eBay wants me to offer free returns (after 30 days, not the 14 that was the status till now) so I can do that. They'll cut the profit out for small operations like mine, so I'll continue to require returns to be paid by the buyer. But I have to go work on all of my listings to put the 30 days in place (or they'll what? Close my listings? They do that kind of thing occasionally).

This afternoon I moved a cabinet from the den to the kitchen dining area. It reduces the amount of light, which I don't like, but it helps organize some of the stuff in the kitchen. I may be able to move things enough that this cabinet goes from in front of the window to over on the windowless side of the room. I had to offload about half of the LPs (that will continue to live there) to lift one end up six inches into the kitchen. Darned "sunken den" mentality of the 70s! The DVDs used to live on the top shelf of that piece, but now it is a mix of large cookbooks and a stack of magazines waiting to be read. Or recycled. It's that 35 tiles with 36 spaces kind of board game.

I'm glad to read that everyone is busy, recycling or decluttering or not.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Jun 18 - 07:06 PM

Ohio:

First tryout with pillows:

It's a lot softer than anticipated. Given that I started the tryout with a sore back, I'm not sure if the pain now is older strain now being felt, or having too much chest pillowing (now adjusted). It's soft enough that I had trouble getting back out of it, so I'll need to learn a new trick to do it without either totally waking up or peeing the bed.

If it's still too soft by July 24, we'll have to replace a layer with a new rug pad. I also don't love how high it is now, because I can't sit on the side of it to get dressed.

Whatever it's future holds, it's done now-- I made my bed so I'll lie in it.

???

But it was great to have Brandi's help, and I suppose if it's too injurious, Brittney will be available to help make another try, like adding a board between the foam layers on my side.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Vashta Nerada
Date: 21 Jun 18 - 09:30 AM

Perhaps a tad TMI, Susan, in some of the more recent posts?

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 21 Jun 18 - 11:18 AM

Montreal:

WOW! Took pottery to be re-fired down to the Mill yesterday and a few other items, clearing it from here. Today, Robin loaded boxes of books from the staircase into my car to go to Beaver, to his library! We will be leaving any hour now - with laundry - for a long weekend of fresh air and art galleries. I can now fold up the futon in the cave. Yesterday, I vacuumed a missed area and installed the portable AC for downstairs.

I wait... IF we leave by noon we might be able to do a boat tour of Thousand Islands. OR we could hear a friend's music if we get to the spot, en route, by 6:30.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Jun 18 - 01:14 PM

VN, I just roll how I roll! ;-) (Of course you're free to read or skip my posts.)


Ohio:

A key daily task at this house is ensuring hydration. At this time in my life, I need a steady, low humidity, and we bought a small enough house (and efficient enough HVAC and windows) to do it without a huge cost or carbon footprint. So I get pretty thirsty.

I tried and didn't like several varieties of re-usable chairside water bottles. The best have been re-purposed 1/2 gallon vinegar bottles, which I reluctantly purchase when gallons aren't available. The water here needs a touch of acidity anyway, so they're re-labeled and set by the sink, full, for the chlorination to air out. Then they're distributed in the evening when I walk through to set lights and alarms, and check locks.

Lately I've had trouble finding laundry ammonia in gallons to reduce the plastic purchasing for that department. I was SURE that the accumulating 1/2 gallon jugs couldn't be re-purposed for potable water... surely I'd taste a trace of ammonia?!?

Turns out.... no! Not if it's rinsed first and filled with vinegar for a day or two. Rinsed again, and filled-- great drinking water. And the labels are easily-removed sleeves-- even better.

Only after long re-use are theseveral various jugs recycled-- usually once their cap is lost. But they're also great for freezing stock, once or twice, cap or no.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Jun 18 - 05:34 PM

Ohio:

Cold and rainy day here, so no scootering dog for exercise and mutual mental health. So it was either nap my routine all to hell... or scoot furniture around in the LL to see if it all really fits.

Adjusting my mental map to realize I must shrink all walls to subtract a 3x3' square from the middle of the room.... tight... but... fits.

Hardi will not like it at all, at first. I didn't instantly adjust from a 5000 square foot house for two to three weeks in an 8x12' camper for three (including bunks), either. But once again, I'll remind him that this little house IS small enough to comfortably afford. Bigger than the little camper. Bigger than the later (8x20') camper. Bigger than a singlewide trailer. Big enough to live FROM it, not be holed up 24/7 IN it. (And he gets total say in another room.)

No, this room won't do for him at all-- until the newer and slightly smaller TV is showing a hockey game to go with the popcorn, or until he needs desk space because his sewing project has temporarily filled his room. :-) (And here, we're close to LIVE NHL hockey!)

The puder desk is now facing the center of the room (and door), which feels much safer--I would see an intruder. There will be a smaller corner desk behind it for household management, and it will get a mirror for it so I can see the doorway in it.

I'm now sitting in a little recliner facing the deep closet that will hold that little TV, with my back to the desk area. From here the visible shelves do not loom too close. The outlets are right where I want them. The only HVAC register is not blowing right on me. It's going to work!

That puder desk is on wheels and will have no rug under it-- for a roomier den area, it can be pushed back 12-18"-- and I will run the cords to facilitate that.

But I LIKE that it's not big enough to feel like staying in it all day, in front of a TV!!!

Right outside the door are bath and laundry-- "Never miss a line of a film nor movie again." A storage closet in PA is moving here to sit next to the stackable laundry-- the obvious spot for the bar fridge and hot air popcorn popper.

People LIVE in rooms half this size. We have more rooms and all the outdoors.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Jun 18 - 09:20 PM

Ohio:

About 6 loads of laundry since last night are now folded and some already stowed. My dresser continues to amaze me with its ability to swallow up more and more nice things! What a difference to be able to sit in front of the open drawers, to fit things thoughtfully, with no back strain.

I tried our dear old MudDorm cubes at the foot of the bed for a bench, and unfortunately they just don't work-- too big literally and visually. Too hard and too invisible in the dark. So I raised the feet of the round shower stool GCCOA had replaced for me, and it's perfect. Its PA twin also can go there on Greg's side. The white top shows in the dark, and the round shape makes them look even smaller than they are. Because the tops are slippery plastic, and small, they also won't attract clutter.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Vashta Nerada
Date: 22 Jun 18 - 04:39 PM

Decluttered a monthly donation for a program I never attend any more. I need to go through my email and unsubscribe the sites that I never visit or read their stuff any more. I'm thinking about having an email account just for bills and financial transactions. I have one where all of that takes place, but everything else in the world seems to be subscribed through there as well, and with email accounts, well, they are an embarrassment of riches. I think I have at least six that are in regular use. Also, I keep a notebook of pages from each site I have an account and logon information. It's quite a bulky book, so maybe I should go through there and see what I never use and lose it.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Jun 18 - 09:30 AM

VN, I've been decluttering email, too-- unsubscribing from PA events and so many orgs and groups because really, my future life in that regard is already in Ohio. I'll hear enough about the PA stuff I really care about, via other means.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Jun 18 - 09:40 AM

8 tries w blickifier later:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/josephcoughlin/2018/06/21/want-to-downsize-in-retirement-problem-one-millennials-dont-want-your-stuff/#360d1162739c

---

Fixed

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jun 18 - 10:05 AM

I was going to get up and work around the office but this glued me to my seat for 23 minutes. Worth. Every. Minute. :)

The day is supposed to be very hot, but the morning is overcast and about 99% humidity. Wretched out there, but I'll wade into it to do some gardening basics. I won't do laundry right now, it won't dry on the line in this humidity; if it clears out later I'll run the whites and hang out the sheets.

My dress form arrived yesterday, has yet to be un-boxed. Once it is I'm sure I'll be totally distracted so I'd best do some of the other stuff that needs doing first.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Jun 18 - 07:35 PM

Thanks, elf!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jun 18 - 11:42 PM

The day became every bit oppressively hot as predicted. I took a shower after working in the garden this morning and I need another one so I can sleep tonight. It's the time of year when changing out night shirts and sheets happens more than once a week because I really dislike air conditioning and keep the house as warm as I can stand at night. The thermostat is programmable and I usually set it at about 79^o or 80^o overnight, with the ceiling fan going. Years ago (in a different house) I found that my hips ached and I had to wear socks to bed when the A/C was too low. Now I have the furniture positioned so the ceiling vent doesn't hit me directly. This is the most difficult time of year as far as getting a good night's sleep. I prefer winter when it's cold and I keep the room cool and pile on blankets, but cooling the house with A/C and piling on blankets isn't the same. I want to be acclimated to the outside so I don't keep the indoors too cold.

A neighbor was out walking his three-legged dog Rosie (she chased one too many UPS trucks in her youth) and we spoke in the front yard while my dogs watched out the glass and metal security door. New dog Pepper barked, the other two just looked on. That was okay, Pepper has a job to do and she wasn't crazy, just made her presence known. We will cultivate a friendship with Rosy now that we've met in person with her human Larry. I walk past her yard and she barks, but now we'll walk up the driveway and offer a treat (and my dogs will get a treat as well). The same thing happens at Ozzy's house. After that, acknowledging the progress we've made in three weeks, tonight we tried a mellow everyone sitting on the carpet in the front room. Pepper occasionally growls, she hasn't completely mastered sharing her human, but in that short time she has come a long way.

Most of my progress today was digital as I worked on some computer projects when I came in to cool down. The garden does look better after a combination of using the mattock near the plants and the weed wacker along the beds outer edges. I expect it to be hot again so more digital work tomorrow.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Jun 18 - 02:05 PM

Ohio:

Another Topic Kit catalogued in the LL.

I'm probably going to have to wait a month until Hardi is here to assemble the big bookcase I brought to match the one already here. However, I seriously need to confirm that I have enough shelf space for items on hand. It's just too many planning-type things to hold in my mind-- so I'm going to mock it out.

That 2nd bookcase's back is in the LL-- I brought it in to measure its wall space. I have loads of blue tape on hand. So, right on that back, I'm going to mark off the shelf placements and use sticky notes to lay out the category placements I'm hoping can live there together, by measuring any already-shelved topics I want to move and any boxed items waiting to be shelved. When I have that backing piece laid out, I'll take a picture in case the labels get dislodged in bookcase assembly.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Jun 18 - 04:21 PM

Ohio:

WhooHOO!

Finally worked my way through boxes to capture the CORNER DESK dimensions-- that limits all the office corner dimensions that look so tight between the essential bookcases.

But ALL the cubbies and cubes WILL FIT where I first wanted them! And more! I could add more stackables in several areas!

Also the closet half I thought would hold one file cabinet can be made to fit TWO-- taking a big gray, low cabinet out of the crowded center of the room, to be replaced with a much smaller footprint custom printer stand Hardi can whiz up-- for which I have milk crates till then.

WhooHOO!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jun 18 - 04:27 PM

Purged old financial documents from a file and they're burning in the barrel in the back yard (next to a tub of water if extinguishing becomes necessary). I have a cross-cut shredder now, but this was a bunch of pages, the kind of thing I bought the small burning barrel for.

It only took three weeks of not being able to tune into old Columbo episodes to realize that I probably needed to rescan the TVs - an Internet check confirms the relocation of the signal in the end of May. Duh. There are several sets that need attention, including the receiver in my computer.

I was going to drive to Dallas today but find it's too hot and I have things I must do today that have a time limit (due tomorrow). Melting down already in June, not waiting till August for the dog days of summer - this is depressing.

The time has come to start my summer routine of making a large jar of iced tea for the fridge. It involves a couple of sprigs of lemon balm from the yard and nine cents worth (three bags) of green tea ($3/100 at the Big Lots) and I like it just as well as any commercial product out there.

This morning Zeke was intent on getting his breakfast, but I needed to close my eyes for a few minutes because I made the mistake of reading the news on my phone without putting on my glasses. That makes it harder to focus for a while. So I sat leaned back in a rocking chair and Zeke got pushy and wiggly and managed to knock over a 200+ year old tall case clock, knocking off the bonnet and breaking the glass on the face. I rescued the wooden works (dangling by their cords inside the cabinet) and put it back together. I'll have to replace the glass and refit the lead bell inside the works. Nothing like a hungry dog to demolish an expensive family heirloom. Lots of glass cleanup and though I swept and vacuumed I fully expect, in the next two to four weeks, to walk into the room and see a large piece of glass sitting on the floor right in the open, somehow completely missed in the cleaning. Darned clock ran for 10 minutes after all of this.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: LilyFestre
Date: 24 Jun 18 - 05:10 PM

I've started the summer beverage switch too. I have iced tea (either Lipton or a black tea), lemonade, iced coffee, beer, wine, water, milk and Hugs for Jeremiah. Hydration is the name of the game!

Not much news here....still waiting on paperwork for my new car. The fridge has been cleaned out, some larger toys have been cleaned up and are ready to deliver to their new home, games are packed for our vacation, folks to watch the property and feed the pig/birds has been secured, got 2 new work outfits yesterday, dishes are done, lunches are prepped for the next few days, I have chicken marinating for kabobs later this week and just taking a break. I feel a nap coming on. :) I love Sunday afternoons!

Michelle