Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Jul 18 - 06:46 PM

Ohio:

Cataloguing continues bit today I whizzed up brochure copy for a map of the stacks. Also this brief summary of Topic areas now included:

LIBERATION LIBRARY TOPICS IN FIVE BOOKSHELVES AND A TOWER
As of July 7, 2018, shelves have been added and reorganized into these general sections, each comprising a number of Topic Kits:

1. Leadership Development, Classism, Colonialism
2. Heritages
3. Life
4. Adultism and Alliance
5. US Racism, White Supremacy, Black Liberation
6. Music (music continued in Living Room and elsewhere)

>S<

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Jul 18 - 07:25 PM

Beaver:
Another load of laundry- flannel sheet set from a yard sale that stink of fabric softener or toxic detergent. Still smell after washing so I will leave them on the line for a few days - until rain threatens or the sun rids them of the vile odour.

Fly-in Breakfast at the airport today. Wonderful annual event. About 50 planes fly in from around Ontario and then out again. Neighbour was glad I told her about it as "the planes were coming with a vengeance..." On deck was a local internet provider; they will come out this week to see if they can help. It would run about $60 for unlimited; the "stick" is costing 70 to 90/month for next to nothing. The catch is that this is only for one venue; I would still need to use the stick for other two. It would cost more but I would be able to do more. The jury is still out.

Finally have energy back but it is too warm for outdoor work, even in studio, and back is still hurting. Tomorrow...

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Jul 18 - 10:26 PM

After several days off in a row I've managed to push the eBay listings up to where I like them to be, taken stuff to Goodwill, cleared out the fridge, and restocked fresh produce. I put four quarts of fresh blueberries into the freezer on a tray and are now like blue marbles for one of my favorite desserts - vanilla yogurt with frozen blueberries stirred in. It's almost like a sorbet that way, not very sweet, but just enough, and a great source of calcium.

Today was also cooking for the week and preparing veggies for the dogs. I had some broccoli for me that turned out to have aphids - they can't be washed out, but the dogs won't care. They already had some cooked carrots, so they're set. I have a couple of dishes, my crustless quiche, and some soup from things that needed to be used from the freezer. If I don't cook ahead I'm apt to pick up something on the way home that has more calories and sodium than is healthy, that's just the nature of fast food.

Kicking back with a cup of chamomile tea, marveling at the fact that North Texas seems to be a cool spot in the nation this weekend. I think we topped out at 92, while LA was burning up, as high as 117. Oy.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Jul 18 - 10:31 AM

Beaver:

Inspired by Maggie's rush of energy - but I have none! Love the frozen blueberries in yogurt idea.

Another load of laundry this am, off the bed this time. Drying in lovely breeze. The polluted ones are still on the line also.

Pain in back reached high point last night and after a mini panic, I managed to get a comfrey compress on it; immediate relief! Wanted to use weed eater this am while it was still cool, but it self destructed in first two seconds. Trip to hardware later. Looking around for another chore I could manage, I am resigned to resting a while. I need to find a schedule that coordinates energy with the heat/cool of the day. Each day being different...

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Jul 18 - 07:30 PM

Ohio:

It's ridiculous how much I love office supplies. Since I didn't know I'd need all my cash for a plumber, I splurged on a 12-pack of colorful magazine files to keep those handfuls of wobbly, newsprint journals from flopping around and getting torn. Got a great price though. They arrived just before the plumber arrived, and fortunately the plumbing bill wasn't too bad. Ten minutes to put them together and 20 more to fill them up-- and I just LOVE having them! They make great bookends to divide topics that have to share a shelf, too.

[S]

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Jul 18 - 09:11 PM

I have a couple of chores that I can do piecemeal - trimming around the edge of the garden, and experimenting with a hand vac and grabbing up some of the worst of the garden pests. It works but imperfectly, but it is an inexpensive device and it is an experiment. If I have to drag the long electric cord from storage each time they'll never get done, so I figured out that if I set up the cord in the garage, it's long enough to drag the working end out to the garden. Open the door, trim the grass around the chard, etc., and put it away again. Out of sight, out of possible rain or hit by the sprinkler. Sprinkler more than weather, though that may be reversed this week.

Yesterday I made the mistake of drinking ice tea with dinner and the combo of caffeine and bursitis kept me from getting to sleep easily. I feel an early night coming on this evening, and if I'm lucky I'll listen to rain on the roof as storms drift through the area. The only tea is chamomile.

It takes people a little while to discover things listed on eBay; there are a few watchers (I wonder if eBay has a service where you can send those folks a note saying "this isn't an auction, the price isn't changing, go ahead and buy it before someone else beats you to it!") The eBay listings aren't so representative of energy as they are of heat avoidance.

Susan, I also have a long-running relationship with office supplies. Over the years we had them as school supplies for the kids, and now that they're long out of school, I regularly encounter caches of materials that if I think I won't use them any time soon, I usually donate to Goodwill. I sell some things online if they're old and collectible (yes, there are office supplies in that category). I find myself thinking "if someone is doing the stage set for a 1980s television program, and they want current items, these would work, so they're listed accordingly. I don't know that any of these things have wound up on stage or screen, but who knows? Someone collects them.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Jul 18 - 10:29 PM

Acme, our PA office supply store buys out similar stores going out of business. I won't say they're both antiques as we might think of them, but I have two VERY nice (and heavy!!!) 3-hole punches that are definitely not what you'd find now at Staples. (One almost looks steampunk.) The new ones all punch too close to the edge of the page. And rip in the binder, right away.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 10 Jul 18 - 10:06 AM

Long-running relationship with office supplies -- hahahaha! I have a single-hole punch, a table-type paper-cutter and a pair of huge shears, all inherited from my long-dead father. I regret having disposed of his typewriter some years ago -- reluctantly, and only because years had passed since I could find any replacement ribbons -- because now typewriters are collectors' items and the Internet has made it possible to find the one weirdo in North America who has begun producing typewriter ribbons again ... !

Yes. I, too, have a long-running relationship with office supplies. It's definitely a thing.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Jul 18 - 11:06 AM

One of my most treasured Christmas gifts: a LAMINATOR! OMG I'd always wanted one and there it was!!! Mine-- not the parish's. I use it all the time.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Jul 18 - 09:36 PM

My father was a retired librarian (and folk singer and ethno-musicologist) who wouldn't be comfortable at home in his retirement without many of the accouterments of a typical library office, so I inherited his paper cutter, some of his filing cabinets and materials, and because he was the first audio-visual resource librarian at his college, many of his machines and tape editing materials. And where his collection falls short, it seems interesting stuff is turning up these days at thrift stores. I picked up a robust three-hold punch that I use often, and other things are part of my office setup in the sunroom where my eBay processing takes place. Postal scales, for example. Good rulers. I'll stop here before I catalog it all.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Jul 18 - 10:01 PM

Lol, if I had a flat space open for it I'd have to have a paper cutter here. I feel deprived but honestly there is no place either to store one or use one, even hung on a wall. I pray they have one at the senior center!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Jul 18 - 09:14 AM

Ohio:

The night's sleep was divided by a very long, productive waking time where I created a backup access to my research work in case emergency precludes finishing it, topped off with a nifty 1-pager of search sources in the order I use them. And a save on a database with info missed from the project owner's initial assignment to me-- more cases to add to the project.

The 1-pager will make batch research efficient but comprehensive, and serve as a pastable template to start each case's research, with links to each DB I use right there in the page. Since I use various computers, no more need to save a folder of bookmarks everywhere I go!

Today-- cleaner attacks office in LL and laundry machines.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Jul 18 - 01:58 PM

Ohio (cleaner day):

All recycling gathered. LL dog bed laundry running after I removed dog corner goum from the washer from ydy's wash of plumbing leak nasty towels. Lamp in LL swapped in for floor fluorescent light. Did a round of research before notebook froze for its next restart. Turned printer sideways, for less crowded spacing to get to desk.

LL should be nice after clng-- lots of floor space already cleared. Messy rug in there leaving temporarily too-- needs to be cut into 4 mats.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Jul 18 - 04:16 PM

Ohio:

Brittney broke the agency's "no ladders/stools" protocol to reach down the two HEAVY US Indigenous and Latinx/La Raza boxes for me!!! Those last two Topic Kits are now shelved!!! Whew!

While she cleaned floor and cubbies in the LL, I annotated the remaining journals that had turned up in a LR shelf-swap a few weeks ago-- so those are now shelved too, in their magazine files.

We also ran a straying extension cord behind two bookcases, so the whole floor is now clear and clean. Newbie's dog bedding is just coming out of the dryer. We are open for business!

÷S÷

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 12 Jul 18 - 09:09 AM

It's a beautiful day in Perth County, so I went for a three-mile walk this morning instead of lounging around reading the paper. It's near the peak of tourist season and Stratford is looking wonderful: gardens bursting with colour, shops groaning with delectable stuff to buy, even the ducks, geese and swans generating large quantities of cuteness on every hand. Truly, it's a Magic Kingdom when it tries -- and in tourist season, it's all hands to the pumps.

Himself set off to bail court this morning in his lawyerly grey suit livened up with a mauve shirt and a purple tie, all topped off with a white Panama hat with a scarlet band perched on his crown of silver curls. If he's not Stratford's most sharp-dressed man, I'd like to know who is.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jul 18 - 10:34 AM

What a lovely image - I can see himself in that suit, hat, and hair out walking past the ducks, geese and swans. :) Sounds like something out of Colette (I'm thinking of technicolor like MGM's Gigi with the gentlemen in the park).

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Jul 18 - 11:32 AM

Ohio:

Finished research project-- one document left to email, from another computer I'll visit this afternoon.

It was researching for family of 53 persons in the Dayton area who died during an interaction with police. The databases I used turned up more cases to include in the project, but I'm taking a break first.

When I "finish", I'll summarize what types of interactions were involved. Several who died were bystanders mowed down in police chases, so I'll be looking at neighborhood characteristics-- what types lead police to exercise obviously inadequate safety precautions.

It was really sad to see so many without obituaries. I did find grave records for most of those, but the photos of their markers show no family names or inscriptions. :-( The circumstances of the deaths are sad, but this part.... people shouldn't be disposable like that.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 12 Jul 18 - 08:25 PM

Beaver:
Thoughts arising: I, too, regret the demise of my Dad's ancient Royal typewriter after too many moves! And office supplies - all of the fore-mentioned. Postal scales are used for weighing clay: one pound = mug, etc... As for the very long electrical cords: I just leave it out there so I can pick up where I left off (the joy of being in the boonies) but roll it up when leaving for extended times and hand it on a large hook outside the tool shed. Anything to conserve my bits of energy.

Tourists: Life in cottage country one of the main routes to Algonquin Park. It sometimes feel as though it would be better to stay home until Labour Day! Getting through the 3 blocks of downtown Bancroft... City folks would laugh!

Kilns: yesterday's attempt at bisque firing resulted in not quite as high as I wanted but they look fit to glaze! A good look at "new kiln" elicits a need to put it in the car and take it to Toronto for help!

Bridge over brook is in process. It will have slight arch - enough to look interesting but not so much as to make it hard for me to navigate, with a hand rail on west side - which I shall surely need. Stained grey, it will be almost invisible. I shall need to cut the "weeds"; most people would refer to weeds but they are food for bees, etc and we have actually seen a couple monarchs here lately! So I shall make a path to the bridge but leave most uncut. The front looks nice with short grass around raised beds. Also considering energy- mine! So, still need paths to library and back sheds, outhouse and decks.

But, most of all, need a kiln that functions! Tomorrow...

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Jul 18 - 01:29 AM

Ohio:

God help me: I just turned my LL recliner to face outward towards the bookcases and door, and suddenly I've got the full view of this Liberation Library monster I've been creating, really for the first time. It needs more magazine files. Any idiot could see that.

So of course I just ordered another 12-pack because they're cheaper per unit that way than a 6-pack now and another one next week.

I had 3 lightweight plastic ones that are brittle and breaking, that I'll retire into my personal files space, and four very heavy plastic but ugly ones, ditto. And several Topic Kits where a few loose journals are better corralled, with books or videos to fill out the magazine file snugly. They stand with more stability when they're full.

It won't be long before I have to order the much wider (matching cardboard) magazine files to contain each Kit's books and films. I know I'm moving in that direction.... God help me!

+S+

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Jul 18 - 11:06 AM

Beaver:

Talking with staff at the pottery supply yesterday renewed my guts; I opened the control panels on each recalcitrant kiln this am and ordered parts - to replace elements and connectors on one and help for kiln sitter on other. Conferred on reason two elements not working on kiln2 and sent pics of corroded connections. Awaiting further info.

Yay for me! And yay for Thomas support! I feel so much better. About that bit of life anyway! All this before BF! 11am already! And dreadfully hot - must be the humidity as it is allegedly only 23C, about 75F. Already up to 71 inside but does not seem so hot as it is not humid - yet! Not doing much outside today.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Jul 18 - 12:19 PM

Go DP!!! (Girl power!)

Ohio:

Awaiting lawn crew for special instructions, so have to stay home. :-( Bummed: urgent and very brief errand downtown.

Very full chix crockpot going.

LL photo shoot prep and LL ofc hsehold mgmt progress:

Furniture/dogbed/etc. tweaked for easy bookcase access.

Misc bills (due and paid) moved to designated LL ofc cubbies.

Other misc LL 'to-sort' stacks and boxes assigned cubbies. Two project cubbies plus one personal health mgmt cubby assigned and filled.

Stray workstation cords/cables re-run, in prep for tying cables. (Not yet-- photo shoot will require moving desk slightly.)

Art planning in LL. Chair doze listening for mowers-- none.

SURJ mentor updated.

Several OFUA files saved off email.

LL trash cans lined and locations settled.
.


Kitchen cleared of groceris to stow; reusable bags assigned to scooter and car, and stowed for next shoppings.

? ?
\ /
/ \
\ /
..S..

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jul 18 - 10:54 AM

Decluttering AT&T of the profit that comes from my having a cell phone account with them. My son is my guinea pig, in that he switched to TING last summer, and I researched it, then asked him again how he likes it. I've ordered their SIM card and will cut my phone bill by about $40 a month. This works because the last phone I bought, while it came with the usual AT&T bloatware, was purchased over Amazon and was unlocked. If I had a standard AT&T issue phone I'd have to go through several steps to unlock it first.

The kitchen table is cleared off. The counters are on their way to being cleared. I have a bag of stuff to take to recycling bins, and I brought home a box from work to use to package an eBay item. Once that is prepared for listing, there will be a little bit of clear space in the sunroom.

I'm debating about participation in that "passing books along" thread, but it might not be economically rational, since I'd be paying to send extra books to people who requested them and probably not getting very many books back in return. There are many places locally I can take the books I don't want and sell or donate them. I'll save that site for special books.

Good luck with the kiln repairs, Dorothy. Today I'm in the process of keeping my computer's HP printer in service by replacing the toner cartridge - it seems the HP-branded cartridges are now "clearance priced" ($206 down from $270) but I always spend about $60 for a knockoff. That electronic store isn't carrying those now, so I'm researching knockoff cartridges online. Why should I stop using my perfectly good old printer because they want to sell new printers?

It's a hot week coming up. Any hose dragging or running the trimmer needs to happen today before the worst of it hits (it's never cool here in the summer, but sometimes it is less hot, if you can understand that distinction.)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 14 Jul 18 - 07:48 PM

Beaver:

RE heat: I DO get the distinction. For me anything over 75 is TOO HOT!

Neighbour stopped in for visit on Fri and is coming tomorrow with some sort of device to determine how the electric is or is not flowing in Kiln2! I am prepared - mentally - to work on Kiln1 when parts arrive!

Today I went to yard sales, farm market, visit with long time but rarely seen friends, and an interment at a local cemetery of friend long not seen. Best part was seeing her wonderful ex who was such a joy when they were neighbours; He has not aged a day in 20 years! He just does not have as much energy - must be at least 90! What a role model!

Yard sale: 4 very nice bed pillows! One garden canopy for $20! And a Michael Dumas Owl print. Since I cannot find the fabric for the poles I have, this seemed a real de-clutter. I hope to put it up over the kiln area on back deck for shade. Maybe early tomorrow morning.

Strangely, today it did not seem super hot anywhere until I got out of the car at home and -WHEW! In spite of breeze all day, I melted; put a wet wash cloth on my head and read. About 6 pm went out and did some weeding. Worried about lack of rain but tiny beets and carrots seem to be fine. Lots of animal depredation - woodchuck? rabbits? It was on today's agenda to build covers for beds but the heat defeated that. I have a plan but will have to wait for Monday to get supplies. EARLY!

Cooler now but the bugs are vicious and I don't want to bring any more inside!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: LilyFestre
Date: 14 Jul 18 - 08:54 PM

We are home from vacation.....we had such a wonderful time!

My car is decluttered of almost all vacation items (which have been put away and second load of laundry is in the washer).

My mom joined us for a few days which was particularly nice! She left some items behind...some intentional, some not so much...and those will stay in the car until tomorrow.

I did NOT bring home another coffee mug....I wanted to....but did not. I collect tack pins so I have 2 more to add to my travelling hat and 2 magnets...and one t-shirt for Jeremiah. I am all proud of myself as we visited several souvenir shops on one of our days being out and about....I love tacky vacation stuff...it's just FUN (none of it is necessary I know...LOL) but I didn't bring home anything more than the 2 pins and 2 magnets as a remembrance of our trip. I took lots of photos, all of which can be seen on Facebook if anyone has any interest.

I'm glad to be home and tomorrow I will be even more happy as all my fur babies will be home too.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jul 18 - 10:42 PM

I enjoyed seeing the photos on facebook, Michelle! It looked like a good length of time to be gone, so you weren't tired of the travel (well, maybe the last few miles home?) Vacations are refreshing, and they help you see your world through new eyes for a little while when you get home.

Today was mostly online work and filing, despite the slightly cooler temperatures and a few things that need doing outside. The rest of the week is supposed to be awful.

Truth be told, I have to do the kind of office work Susan has been doing, but the focus is to organize my father's music collection. Getting rid of extra stuff that won't contribute to the project has been part of my eBay activity - things I've listed include vintage equipment and materials I won't need. But I'm not to the actual sorting yet.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jul 18 - 10:30 AM

Early morning chores are the only way to at least stay even with the yard work in hot weather; I didn't get ahead by taking the trimmer out on that cord plugged into the garage (there is more that still needs doing), but I cleared out tall grass and weeds that were threatening to encroach on the chard and basil, so I'll continue to have a crop. And the windshield washer fluid is filled (though I think there is a leak in the lines and that's on my list of things to check next trip to the service department.)

eBay continues to have watchers but no recent sales to those folks. It goes in cycles, so perhaps after the first of the month there will be some movement. During nice weather, unless it's super hot like down here, there are many pleasanter things to be doing than playing on the computer.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Jul 18 - 01:27 PM

Ohio:

Wanting to go from 2 hours of weekly cleaning to 3 to facilitate unpacking-mess help, it turns out that to keep my same schedule and cleaner, the only option for now is to go to 4 hours, not 3, because the agency schedules everyone for 2 hour slots plus 1/2 hour travel.

The Area Agency on Aging happily authorized that at no cost to us!

To keep that trash-day schedule and cleaner; Brittney's 2nd slot for me means adding a second day. Here's how I hope it will shake put (I used to manage a clng svc):

Tuesday: (me)
Prep bath, make grocery list, choose garage project

Wednesday: (Brittney, prep for Thursday)
Trash gathered and out
Dust/cln woodwork of fingermarks - rotate 1 rm moving stuff and/or bed change help
Bathroom incl wall, woodwork
Garage - carry unpacked stuff in to dust and place on K table
(I go get groceries)


Thurs (Brittney, prep for company)
Recycling 3 bags (K, LL), bring back trash can
Vacuum - rotate 1 rm moving stuff or help bring in larger garage items
Kitchen incl put away groceries if requested
Patio trash
(I do errands/wash & replace dog linens)

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 15 Jul 18 - 09:21 PM

Beaver:

In the cool of last eve, I managed to place screening over the gardens! The critters have been well fed! Today was too hot for anything but Larry came and checked out kiln2 (in the shade!) I have better info to ask about tomorrow. Tonight I started moving the old wood pile to make room for this year's wood. This will take a while! I judge at least a full bush cord to be moved. Some weeding done and some watering by the 3/4 bucketful! Hoping for a bit of rain tomorrow. Otherwise, I kept cool by reading most of day.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Vashta Nerada
Date: 16 Jul 18 - 09:31 AM

Decluttering my work computer by moving a backup copy of projects I worked on (mostly just to have a record of the photos I took) via a portable hard drive. Once it finishes loading into the home computer I'll take it back for the rest of the data. I do this every so often. I also need to move around the various home videos I've converted to AVI and then to VOB and mp4. Digital heavy lifting.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Jul 18 - 11:10 PM

Ohio:

My big whup today was taking a chair out of the guest room closet and putting two huge (stacked) bins IN the closet. I also put away the clean laundry in the two laundry hampers that had languished on the guest room floor.

Since the whole room is a mere 9×9 feet with a bed and a big recliner in it, I'd gotten used to zero walk space in there. It feels and looks quite spacious now-- but more importantly, it's finally clear enough for a good vacuuming job. This is the room Tyler had trashed the worst, and it will finally get its turn for a good cleaning, Wednesday!!!

+S+

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 17 Jul 18 - 09:03 AM

Beaver:

Wonderful storm yesterday! Watered the gardens!! Bit cooler today and predicted more so for the next few. Continue to get many small things done in short spurts. They add up!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Jul 18 - 05:32 PM

Ohio:

My 12-pack of magazine files just arrived and have been put into use-- sure enough, I only have two left! :-)

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Jul 18 - 10:01 PM

Ported the number from AT&T and lost WiFi calling in the process; apparently only T-Mobile branded phones can use that feature. I don't use it often, but I'll set up Skype or something like that to take the place.

Right now it's so hot that everything is done slowly and deliberately. Today it hit 107, Saturday is supposed to hit 109. I'm carrying a parasol-like umbrella around with me and that helps. Going to work early avoids some of the hot travel but it puts us outside travelling home during the worst heat of the day. Ugg. Keeping an eye on the garden and making sure the dogs have plenty of water (they can come in and out through the dog door, which I purchased a couple of years ago for use during really hot weather - the dogs insist it needs to stay in place year-round.)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Jul 18 - 10:49 PM

Ohio:

My cleaning plan worked beautifully and prepared the way to unpack two items to adorn my big, wide dresser-- a prayer shawl from my 2012 surgical complications which has our bedroom's colors in it, and a big treasure chest Hardi gave me years ago.

÷S÷

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Jul 18 - 11:00 PM

Susan, it's beginning to sound like you found another Winchester House in Ohio.

Paperwork after the phone work. And general hanging out. There are two dogs asleep on the cool tile floor in my office, and I'll bet money that the third is in her favorite spot on the tile in the hall nearby. There's not much else to do when the outside temperature is still over 100.

A portable high-capacity hard drive arrived so I can do some backup work that needs doing.

I need to go pick stuff in the garden in the morning before it gets too warm. Most of my garden work needs to happen now, because the next week is still super hot out there.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 19 Jul 18 - 11:30 AM

The same storm system that watered Dorothy's garden hit us in Stratford, in three squall lines spaced over the afternoon and evening on Monday. It was GREAT! Knocked back the stifling humidity, and we've had lovely cool evenings this week.

My elder brother and his wife are visiting us this week, taking in the local sights (such as they are) and the Stratford Festival, which is (of course) all about The Theatah and Culture with a capital C. I'm having a hard time keeping my tidying impulses under control as they strew newspapers and novels around the sitting room and leave damp towels where damp towels should never be left.

I might be on the brink of curmudgeon-dom. God forbid.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 19 Jul 18 - 04:40 PM

Beaver:
Managed to put up canopy on back deck on Tues, so I have shade to work on kiln. Took about two hours and was a lot of exercise! Now I need to screw the legs down. Then, Change kiln elements and check it out.

Weds was a day of talking with a couple friends on phone to sort out life-things, unclutter the brain, sort wheat from chaff. And reading mindless novels helps too!

Today:
Fetched the Michael Dumas racoon print from out on Baptiste Lake, read newspaper and flyers; Checked with a few people re internet service; found out it is not so great yet! Realized it was a busy Thurs and went shopping before it got worse on Friday. Bought a rain barrel on sale for north downspout; have one - not installed - for south one; Thinking another one for east would be good; the eavestroughs for east are in the shed if Dan has time to install them. This would make easy watering for each of the raised beds! Might get more done in the cool of the evening. Beautiful breezy day!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Jul 18 - 08:22 PM

Scuttling from one spot of shade to another, parasol in hand to stay a little cooler; right now there is very little movement as we go one hot day to the next. We broke at record today at 108^o. A bowl of potato chips, a glass of wine is dinner. Not much alcohol because of the dehydrating effect.

My washer has a delay setting so it ran during the early hours, and I wish I'd had time to hang the clothes on the line because they would dry quickly, but they went into the box of hot air in my laundry room. At least it was still early.

Dorothy, once you're out of the house you're selling and moved into the house you're buying, will you have a special name for that venue, or will it simply be another house in town?

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Jul 18 - 03:26 PM

Ohio:

The 22 cases to research were done ydy, and I'm taking a break before diving into either older cases (which are harder and more frustrating), a small group of unidentified victims (I lack the connections for now for the necessary nonversations), or other cities' longer lists (awaiting a faster loaner laptop).

But giving that project my after-brekky time each day has formed a great new habit-- morning time is now firmly desktime. So bill-paying which has been chaotically unpredictable was the natural activity today, this first day without cases to research.

I'll use desktime for financial time, and cataloguing time, but not every day during vacay-- Hardi arrives Monday or Tuesday for FUN-time. I have to be here mid-day for the cleaner Wednesdays and Thursdays, so I'll finish off the unfinished cataloguing then!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Jul 18 - 05:05 PM

PS "nonversation" is not a typo.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Jul 18 - 07:41 PM

The second part of setting up the phone with the new phone company is to adjust the APN (access point name) settings to the new company. The phone and text worked, but not the Internet. Now it's up and running. Whew!

I'm looking at stacks of paperwork needing attention this weekend, and anything outdoors that needs attention I'll go out very early to take care of. Tomorrow is supposed to be the hottest of this streak.

Two eBay items sold this week. They're small, but it all adds up. The best of the two sales was three aqua colored Luminarc 500ml glasses that I bought for .89 each. The box went for $23 plus priority shipping. And when I compared Priority services, I was able to use the Zone A box and save $2 out of the shipping she paid. So - I sold about $3 of glasses for $25. But they're collectible, it's not like she was hit with a high price, I was lucky to spot and grab them at Goodwill, and my sale came in a little under what some of the others were selling per-piece. This doesn't happen often, but it's what I aim for.

Now to feed dogs then get to the paperwork.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Jul 18 - 03:13 PM

Of course it's probably the hottest day of the summer, but it was time to start picking grapes on the vines in the tree across the road from my house. I spent about 90 minutes out there, drank a couple of quart tankards of water, and came back with about 15 pounds of grapes to run through the steam juicer (in progress) for making grape jelly.

I keep a stash of a rarely-used items in a corner behind the Hoosier kitchen/kitchen queen in the far end of my kitchen, and when it's time for the juicing I pull a stool out of there that is the perfect height to support the gallon jar I decant the hot juice into. I hunted around the house for my other juicing season device, an oscillating fan on a stand that keeps the kitchen comfortable. I think this time I'll see if it will also fit behind the kitchen queen. (This fan was a garage sale find for $3, and I had to do a little repair, but it's a champ at this task.)

At work I found a good archival box in the recycling bin and also a large Container Store bag. I brought them home, not sure what the box will be used for yet, but the goal with the Container Store bag is to fill it soon and take it to the Goodwill. I usually take things in bags, but was out of the large ones.

Must go check on the juice.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Jul 18 - 06:54 PM

Ohio:

The after-brekey desktime habit tried loudly to call me, but I'm determined not to resume cataloguing until Wednesday and Thursday during cleaner-time-- and the only other thing waitin in there is sorting some small boxes of misx stuff.... Nope! Call again tomorrow! :-)

~s~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 21 Jul 18 - 08:04 PM

Beaver:
Still working up to repairing the kiln! I think I have gathered the necessary tools but still need the energy at a time of day that it is in the shade!

Very little accomplished here this week. At the moment, I am giving serious consideration to de-cluttering my head of a great deal of hair - back to very short. I used to do it myself all the time. -? I think it was the pain in shoulder that stopped me. Maybe tonight.... ???? It won't matter if I get half way through and need to finish tomorrow.

Dan finished the bridge today. It looks great! my wallet? not so great! I almost called it off but really wanted it. Now I wonder why and what use I will get of it. Hope R appreciates it. It is built to last! No pic going on FB as I am not sure it is legal. No one can see it from the road; Have to be out back to get a view!

No name yet for new house. Maybe when we are actually able to move in.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Jul 18 - 11:16 PM

Illegal bridge building! Dorothy! What will you be up to next?

I had my first okra from the garden this evening, rolled in fishfry and fried in shallow oil. Mmmm! I sprayed soap on the plants last week and it got rid of a major part of the aphid problem so the flowers are blooming and producing finally; there's one plant that needs more attention. And I think the garden is too wet, the eggplant are suffering from it so I'm going to relocate the sprinkler heads. I already reduced the frequency on watering from every two days to three.

There are five quarts of grape juice tucked away in the door of the fridge, and maybe next weekend I'll start the jelly making. I have a lot left from last summer so I may take up a friend's suggestion and sell some of it on eBay (there is a "cottage law" here so you can sell foods prepared in a home kitchen, as long as they meet certain categories.) Market it as the year of 2017 jelly (since the 2018 crop isn't officially in yet).

I didn't mention earlier that there is a problem with both ants and ticks, so after picking I went straight to the back yard and used my patio shower, undressing and showering back there, then putting all of the clothes into the washer. They'll wash overnight when there is less power demand. Any bugs will die in the laundry.

The fan is tucked behind the kitchen queen with the stool and a few other items. The kitchen is clean - the juicing process takes a lot of large pots.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Jul 18 - 10:57 AM

This morning I decided I was tired of looking at the small plastic dog house and a large plastic covered cat litter pan beside the garage, so they're both down at the curb. Trash day is tomorrow, but I predict these will be gone before noon. If not, I'll tuck them into the SUV and take them to Goodwill before the trash pickup.

I'm on my way to accumulating items for that Container Store shopping bag. I'd love to make a run this afternoon and drop it off while I'm working on a couple of other things.

Cooking this morning, to get a jump on meals for the week. And darn, but I had to toss a couple of pounds of chicken that thawed on the counter but were left out hours longer by mistake. No point in risking cooking it now. I have another one in the freezer and I'll be more careful defrosting this time. I have bread and milk that need using, so bread pudding is on the menu, and squash and eggplant that need cooking, so my squash casserole and breaded fried eggplant for Parmesan. The patties freeze beautifully and I can assemble Parmesan later, but I also assemble a few in Pyrex single-serving containers and freeze those.

Laundry is ready to hang on the line. I need to use what energy I have now, because when it hits 109^o again this afternoon, I'll stick to the shadows and barely move.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: LilyFestre
Date: 22 Jul 18 - 03:04 PM

Not much to post here. This was the first week back to work after our vacation. I'm happy to say that it went much smoother than anticipated.

I went to yoga this week. It's the first time in a long time and I felt it for 2 days after....it was a good kind of pain though....it let's me know I was working some dormant muscles.

On the declutter front, the kitchen microwave has been tossed. It's needed to go for some time. I have a new to me microwave in storage in the mudroom. It will have to be wiped down but should work beautifully. It belonged to my grandparents. It belonged to my grandparents and was given to me when the house was sold.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Jul 18 - 03:47 PM

Ohio:

Thoroughly enjoyed taking a weekend off from decluttering and research. During my break a volunteer came forward to help with the last batch.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Jul 18 - 09:56 PM

Dog house and litter box are gone, as anticipated. Two bags of trash at the curb - I rarely have more than one, and that only every couple of weeks, but I cleaned out the fridge and emptied paper shredders and such. Didn't make it to Goodwill; in fact I did very little that involved going out. I did cook this evening because I had garden produce I wanted to use; the eggplants are now breaded and fried and in both the freezer and in a pan baked and ready for the week. I made individual portions for the freezer. I also cooked up three of the zucchini and yellow squash in a casserole I usually make. I really hate it when I wait too long and end up tossing the garden produce. Tomorrow I'll seed and slice jalapenos to freeze, though as small as they are, sometimes I simply wash them and freeze them whole and seed and slice them later when I need them.

It's day to day here to see if the garden survives this heat. Some of my potted plants I have no idea about - if they're too hot or too wet trying to keep them alive.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 23 Jul 18 - 09:18 AM

I have finally recovered from a week of house guests. They're nice people -- in fact, family! -- but I'm more than a bit of an introvert and home is the only place where I can indulge that part of my personality, so any intrusion in that space, however welcome, is kinda disturbing. The weekend was largely about reading, interspersed with grocery shopping and cooking, while Perth County enjoyed some welcome rain.

Today I return to normal programming, with a gym workout and several loads of laundry, plus work on the Afghanistan book. I have almost reached the end of the main text, with only the Epilogue to go before I hit the appendices, which are mostly lists of jargon and abbreviations. I am eager to finish this project, as it reminds me too vividly of the tension that pervaded the operational headquarters where I worked throughout Canada's involvement in the Afghan insurgency. Sometimes I regret having read so much about the United States in Viet Nam; I rather resent the "same shit, different day" feeling I had while our task forces were deployed in Afghanistan, and I am having all over again as I work on this book.