Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Jan 18 - 03:03 PM

Ohio:

Now that Hardi's retirement clock is finally audibly ticking, its time to start actually re-purposing some stuff in the house to see if things'll actually work the way I envisioned when we furnished the little house as a camp.

What style do I actually LIKE? Thats easy-- Frank Lloyd Wright mansion with supermodern simplicity. I wish! How do we actually live within an accessible footprint we can afford? Answer: real stuff with memory stories, in a Crazy Quilt design proportioned to the footprint. Not a fan of matchy-matchy or contemporary furniture. If we could afford it, I still wouldn't buy that stuff.

There've been some indications of this direction. There are two mirrored "faux windows" on nails the sellers had left. On the day I opened the house with a few pieces of furniture now 4 years ago, I hung quilted placemats as faux valances everyone loved. Since then... the house looks more colorful than those placemats... which I've loved but am tired of looking at.

Now, I have a pile of colorful fashion scarves, which look great draped there instead. They "go"-- but don't match--and I can swap them around anytime I pull one off to wear.

Living here so much of the year has caused many well-loved "first-looks" to evolve just like that.

Today's "lets just check" project will involve some sweat equity:

Measuring the bigger, newer, and bluer rug currently in my office here, I find that yes, it will replace a smaller green LR one as planned (which will then be available as a front door and/or kitchen door mat).

The bigger/bluer rug will have ongoing traffic wear at one corner... which happily turns out to be diagonally opposite to the least-wearing corner, for periodic rotation. All these can be cleaned periodically (out in the patio).

The LR area it will cover extends from abt where the smaller green rug is now, across to near the dining table that is also in the LR. In other words-- again happily-- it won't get a lot of food spills! It will be under recliners in 3 corners to help prevent shifting. A LOT of the existing (stained) beige wall-to-wall carpeting will be covered, and left in place for now.

When finances permit, that old beige carpet and padding will be replaced by laminate flooring, but I much prefer removable rugs to wall-to-wall carpeting. (We might even just keep the existing asphalt tile under the padding, which is a faux cork pattern I like and am about to live with in my office.)

I'm hoping to swap out these rugs myself with zero paid labor, because altho furniture coming in May will sit on it, every spare penny is going towards consumer debt payoff.

After I try getting that rug out from under the library shelving, I'll know if I need to call upon BIL an hour and a half away.

Wish me luck!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: LilyFestre
Date: 28 Jan 18 - 12:37 PM

The upcoming week promises to be a challenging one (several of my charts are being audited) so I am decluttering the fridge today and making all kinds of food so I don't have to worry about prepping and cooking after what will likely be an exhausting week. I have a pot roast in the crock pot, cheesy vegetable soup will soon be simmering and I have a bunch of summer squash to use up so I'm making Zoodles to go with some spaghetti sauce and meatballs, maybe some sausage.

Tonight our church is having a Singspiration that I am looking forward to. Pete will play his guitar and I will be playing my ukulele. It's going to be a fun evening with a great group of people!

No real decluttering going on here this week....I imagine next week, after a good long sleep and the audit behind me, I may just take a weekday off to have the house to myself and work on the things I think need the most attention. For now, I'll settled for pre-packed lunches and breakfasts and my clothes all lined up to go so I can hit the ground running tomorrow morning. :)

I love my job, even though this past week and upcoming week are somewhat stressful! :) I just wish I had a little more free time and energy to complete all the things I THINK I should have already done! *shrug* :)

Have a great week everyone!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 27 Jan 18 - 01:14 PM

Beaver, via A Place for the Arts:

Thinking the library might be crowded on a Saturday (am I hopeful?), using the modem here instead of the free wifi there. Get to say hello to a few folks who wander in, bagged a payment for bottle of supplements I left for a local artist some months ago! In the spring, I shall go look at his painting ($600) that I would love to have. Might have the money by May. Amazingly quiet in here for a saturday. Not many tourists in town in January!

Yesterday was the anniversary of the broken ankle. I am careful, very careful not to hurry or make any sudden moves. Every step with mindfulness! So happy to be able to walk normally - only in the last few weeks. Most of my life I moved full tilt ahead. I do not want anything else to break!

I managed to un-lose that couple pounds, some of it anyway. Discovered these wonderful cookies ... Today is a new beginning! Maybe tomorrow will be also.

Thankful for the exercise of bringing in wood! Did a bunch this am and then covered well in case of rain. Still waiting for the spirit to move me in the sewing dept. Maybe today?

Days ARE getting longer! We are having another thawing day. Unusual number of thaw days in January.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jan 18 - 10:56 AM

This morning I bagged the slender strips of frozen poblano peppers that I picked up last week to add to the freezer. They first go in on large baking sheets and when they're bagged it's possible to pull out as many as I want instead of breaking a piece from a large brick of peppers. To be efficient I need to now remember that those peppers are in there. In the past I've printed out a list of the freezer contents and left it on the front as a reminder. Since I recently defrosted and organized this is possible again.

The postal carrier just stopped by and I handed over an eBay parcel. I made enough in sales this month to pay a couple of smaller monthly bills, and I use the PayPal account to pay for any personal shipping and some online purchases. It may not be as charismatic as Bitcoin, but it does the job. I'm set up to do some more eBay listings today.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Jan 18 - 03:19 PM

Ohio:

"Why do we give away furniture?"

"Because that's where you'll find some good stuff you've been missing!"

;-) Of course, the real reason is because it helps someone, like the mom getting custody back, whose daughter's room that sweet little dresser will grace. Bye, dresser. I loved you! Have a great new life!

But I can't hekp being tickled to teclsim these items long stored in the camper, thst i cannuse now:

. THREE ultra-lightweight, woven cotton nighties with eyelet trim
. One knit, heavy cotton nightie suitable for stomach flu
. One sexy, black satin nightie
. One satin peignoir belt like the one I use to hold my jeans up-- was just wishing for a 2nd!!!
. One filmy leisure "bra" someone snuck in there (and I'm sure I know who).
. A satin twin sheet with lace trim to use for a sewing project.
. A red plaid print, longsleeved knit nightgown for cold winters (so now I have two!)

~S~

Subject: Tidy or Organized?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Jan 18 - 11:03 AM

Ohio:

The 'tidiness' cycle vs being 'organized'?

For a number of health and other reasons, this little house can be untidy-looking pretty quick. (For instance, when we're no longer paying utilities on two houses, I look forward to occasional, inexpensive kid help in the living areas).

But despite some tidying up on the docket for today, there's a small project I've been itching to do. Since I woke up knowing exactly how to go about it (finally), I started by looking for tools and hardware-- some of which got relocated to the garage, right at the end of the Fall visit here.

I was thrilled to find that I'd been smart when I sent stuff to the garage: my little cordless screwdriver and bit case were in a kitchen drawer, right where I expected to find them. Good! There was even a long drywall screw in the bit case, where odd screws left from previous projects are often found.

But-- better-- right next to them in the drawer was a loose handful of the ubiquitous drywall screws every project here seems to use.... the shorter ones best for this project, even!

So I think that tidiness is nice for many reasons, but that being organized is actually more important.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Jan 18 - 10:50 AM

It's an unexpected day off for me today after hurrying around to clean the glass on my SUV at the gas station last night and tripping over the hose in the tank. It was a slow-motion unceremonious toppling over that wrenched one ankle and this morning I can also feel it in that hip and in the opposite knee. I have a very long walk from my car to my building at work and didn't want to get half-way there and find I couldn't walk further on it. Step just wrong and it really smarts, but I have plenty of low-impact declutter activities around here for today and the weekend.

Charmion, I weed out extra old cables every so often and used to donate them to Goodwill, which has an e-waste recycling component to the company. These days I take expired devices and extra cables to work where we have a large rolling gray bin for e-waste, including batteries. The university has a contract with a company that collects this (bins in several buildings, I lobbied hard to get one in my building!), including things we bring in from home, and the company refurbishes and reuses things that can be fixed. The rest is stripped and recycled as wire, plastic, glass, etc. I took in a lot of VHS tapes, but now I find that people still buy even the used ones as "blanks" on eBay. And many of the small cables and devices - sell them as working, or for repair or parts. I can even illustrate why those old bits are sold there:

Last week my dozen-year-old HP laserjet printer was acting up, and I printed the self-diagnostic sheet. I never look at those, but this time I skimmed the list and realized this printer has a DIMM slot that I'd never put any memory in. Typically if I print something like a PDF or article with photos it takes it a minute of humming before the output between each sheet. I found the right card on eBay for $6.64, including shipping. New, sealed in it's anti-static container. This little 64MB SDRAM card is not the largest available, but it will considerably speed up any printing I do. As long as there are people like me keeping old devices up and running, we will need parts for them.

Dorothy, I also love those out-door chores, as long is it isn't so cold or windy that my eyes do nothing but tear up and make my face chapped. A northern climate in winter would be difficult for me these days. I don't remember if I mentioned recently trimming out all of last year's asparagus shoots, but the garden looks tidier and I'll be able to spot the new ones as they emerge. There's more to do out there but I typically use my right foot on the shovel or spade fork and that's the ankle I twisted, so that will wait a few days.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 25 Jan 18 - 02:06 PM

Beaver (via library!)

Charmion: Stratford must have a place for such things. Maybe phone a couple smaller computer places? A couple years ago I bought a CD from Apple to upgrade computer then gave it to small computer outfit; Patricia said she could use it. I am considering giving her all the odds and sods of cables, etc. If she is willing!

Yep, Maggie! minus 20C this am and choc chip cookies... I also seem to need the house a few degrees warmer - 70F rather than 66. If I keep that in mind, I may not ingest so much sugar.

Oddly, I am happier doing wood and snow than getting into the sewing. Love the fresh air! Due for above freezing weekend, then snow. So nice to have the option of a warm home!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: mg
Date: 25 Jan 18 - 02:04 PM

Many thrift stores take them. Or if you feel like it, they can sometimes bring in a few bucks on ebay. Feng shui people say they store bad energy in a house.

I am down to almost nothing but i am finally admitting i will never ever learn one song from my fiddle book so i am donating it and a few cds to rainycamp auction..camp this weekend.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 25 Jan 18 - 09:09 AM

Okay, fellow declutterers, please consider the problem of electronic debris for a minute.

I found a beer box full of cables, connectors, docking stations and other computer-related doohickeys last night. Each item is carefully packaged in a zip-lock bag, so I must have decided once upon a time that this stuff was worth keeping; today, not so much.

Sell? Freecycle? Trash?

Opinions?

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jan 18 - 09:34 PM

The cold weather really torqued up my appetite - I keep track on MyFitnessApp and while I'm doing okay on calcium and sodium (most days), the calories are over the top several days a week. As it warms up I'll get back to my old self; there's no point in beating up on yourself when your metabolism is responding to the weather.

My energy is gradually returning after that virus hit a couple of weeks ago. The garden got some attention last weekend, and yesterday I worked my way through the entire house with a broom to chase the dog hair out of corners and crevices. Losing a dog this winter didn't affect the amount of hair - the pitbull had a simple short coat and didn't shed at all compared to the lab and the blue heeler.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 24 Jan 18 - 06:26 PM

Beaver:
23 January
3 inches of beautiful snow followed by freezing rain last night and today - thawing in the 30'sF. I have cleared the back deck and the wood pile area, tried to put the wood covering in a useful manner to avoid trouble when the next snow comes. Had to go out the back door and around to the front as the snow and freezing rain precluded opening the front screen door; OK now. cleared front and around car. R removed the back screen door in Dec. Snow is melting well. Road seems to be plowed up the hill but not from here out to the more main road (peculiar). I could get out but no reason; tonight's meeting (horticultural society and for once I had prepared for the "competition", a nice succulent/moss affair) canceled. I have lots of wood inside in prep for --whatever comes next. And plenty of food.

Wrote a letter to editor and was concerned about sending it. Went out to car to peruse road and decided to see if modem would work outside. It did! So emails were sent and received. Came in and dealt with new ones and went out and sent new batch! Great! It has been SO frustrating to be out of touch, having to drive somewhere to get a signal. So, I can sit in house and write, go out and send - maybe - as long as it is not precipitating! On a sunny day, the car would be warmish; we have only seen the sun for short periods about once a week since - I don't remember when!

In Montreal, R reports a flat screen TV which has been sitting around for a couple years - in the box! is now installed and working in the - warm! - BR. "Richie did it". Richie may be on the Spectrum; no social skills but smart. Now R can fall asleep watching TV and wake up to the news. Arghhh! Not if I am there. He talked about putting the other one in LR. Yep, when one did not work, he bought another one. Now we know why de-cluttering that house is ....

Well, life is cosy here and a nice veggie stew is on the stove burbling. 2pm - brunch! Cannot believe I accomplished all that on a handful of delicious German cookies. None left so I can get back on track after a "way out there" day yesterday.   

Today:
Have found that sometimes I get a signal outdoors; it was warmer yesterday and I was able to send off emails. Today - Brry -10C. So I came to Foodland. What a misnomer! There is very little in here that I consider food due to chemicals,....

Happy that eating everything in sight plus working really hard on snow and wood - I may have lost a couple pounds - enough to encourage a better effort.

Did a bit of straightening up in studio today and have a couple small sewing projects lined up, and machine on table. That's a start.
1

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Jan 18 - 04:00 PM

All clean laundry plus one plastic closet drawer-- in dresser. Almost exactly as planned!


L lower: gardening/grub shirts

(playtime and pretty nighties all fit with other items in R lower)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Jan 18 - 02:45 PM

Go CHARMION!!!

Ohio:

It's official as of last night's parish annual meeting: Hardi is now contemplating an actual date to retire, and will announce it when he's ready.

This modifies so many of my Ohio plans! For one thing, it changes a lot of the May truckload contents, and that means getting a jump on my clothing storage here.

The timing is excellent-- all my laundry is done and folded. I've got a good sense now of getting dressed in my actual bedroom-- not possible in the 2-story PA house, where I've been dressing in the cold, small bathroom for 23 years.

Here's my new clothing storage plan:

Narrow 3-drawer antique dresser-- that will sit either in the LR as it does in PA, or preferably in the alcove outside the master BR. This will hold accessories for going out, and emergency off-season basic outfits because the master BR closet may not hold all seasons' items-- they may need to rotate via garage storage. (I have zippered wardrobes to keep them fresh, which successfully housed camping linens for 2+ years.)

Low, wide BR dresser-- dailywear for housework/gardening/errands, which can be folded; undies and nighties for all occasions. This will free up closet rod space.

The closet presently has an upper and a lower rod, with deep shelf between and another shelf in thrre up at ceiling height. No doors-- curtains (as I prefer). I'm only using the lower, now, and it's jam packed-- because the upper is too high for me (and therefore suited to some offseason storage).

Until last September, there was no BR dresser. All my stuff was in a tiny alcove dresser (4 child-sz drawers)... in plastic drawers on the low closet shelf... and on the low closet rod.

In September, the housemates who departed left a dresser I'll replace, in May, with one currently holding kingbed linens in PA. But altho the drawer depths are a tad different, no reason I can't train myself to use it NOW the same way I'll use it when #1Son/DIL unload MY dresser! Cuz my closet's making me NUTS, I have more here now than fits in there, and madame likes leisurely boudoir dressing so much!

So-- since life in Ohio facilitates female friendships, as well of course as social stuff w Hardi, I do stuff here with friends at least twice a week. And since the grocery, etc are a short scooter-ride away, I'm shopping every few days instead of twice a month. That means I want my dresser to facilitate OUT more than staying IN.

TMI:

Current dresser configuration is a bit different; instead of deep, wide drawers, it has shallower drawers; narrow ones on the left and 2x wider ones on the right.

L top: panties and socks

R top: bras and eventually slips/shapewear


L middle: shirts, flat

R middle: shorts, jeans


L lower: playtime and pretty nighties

R lower: cotton nighties, loungewear. Roll heavier loungewear and stack nighties.

......

Now that I know the dresser layout that will best support our Ohio lifestyle, I can start the switch, and transform the closet a little at a time.

Yaaaaay!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 23 Jan 18 - 11:58 AM

Today, I took screwdriver in hand and proceeded to remove the ugly, ill-fitting Venetian blinds from the study and guest room windows.

I'm on a roll.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: billybob
Date: 23 Jan 18 - 07:26 AM

Yes Acme there are some very heavy boxes that may have to be unloaded in situ. One is full of brass candle sticks, horse brasses and a Victorian fireplace set that belonged to my grandmother. I have thought I might polish it and put it in our fireplace.Luckily the loft is in the eves of the house so there is a door from my bedroom. no ladders!When the weather gets better I shall get Bill to tackle the garage, we did empty it 2 years ago but it has accumulated lots of "stuff" again. Bills idea of throwing away is stage 1 from house to garage stage 2 when garage is full, local tip, or hire a skip.Out of sight out of mind!
My father never threw anything away, when he died at 91 he still had all his railway season tickets from when he commuted daily to London and all his old cheque books!I have all his RAF ties and cap and his medals , I think it is time to get them framed and give them to my son.
So this weekend I shall venture into the loft and see what I can find, somewhere in the box of framed things is an original copy of the Times of London telling of the death of Lord Nelson at the battle of Trafalgar and mother kept all the Newspapers for George VI Coronation and the abdication of Edward the VIII.There is also a huge book that celebrated Queen Victoria's Coronation. I am looking forward to seeing what I can find not sure how much will be disposed of though ?

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Jan 18 - 09:42 PM

billybob, good start! And though 12 more boxes doesn't sound like a lot compared to the housefuls some of us are looking at, that family material is probably densely-packed heavy lifting.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: billybob
Date: 22 Jan 18 - 08:35 AM

Been reading your posts for many months, I think I did pop in a thought a few months back, so as it is a new year here I am. Two years ago my mother died, she moved in with us 6 years ago and after settling her in a lovely room serrounded by her precious bits and bobs , everything else went into big boxes and into the loft. Putting the Christmas decorations away I looked at mum's boxes and thought the time is here to start going through everything. I started with a box full of discs that Father had transferred all the families home films and photos onto. Thousands of slide photos (which are in boxes in a blankèt box in one of my bedrooms) and years of family history. We spent a happy evening with my daughter and grandchildren yesterday watching them , how lovely to watch the children watch and listen to the voices of their great grandparents, Bunny had told me recently she couldnt remember Nanny's voice.
So one box out of the loft,and kept, about 12 to go!Lots of paintings and certificates in frames.Suitcases full of books that can go to the hospice bookshop after I have looked through them. Now I have joined this group I have no excuse, time to begin?

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Jan 18 - 06:17 AM

Yay DP!

Ohio:

PTSD after an oral surgeon visit years ago (people died in that chair) = no dentists for 30 years. Great teeth genes (no significant cavities), but gum issues.

Finally found great PA dentist/practice who can work w that-- a week b4 getting on the road. Made March appt for major gum job.

Oops! Not in time for two particular teeth-- may lose 'em b4 appt. Joy of living in 2 places! Not worth 7 hour drive for teeth past saving!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 21 Jan 18 - 04:03 PM

Beaver:

YAY!!!!! I did it! I did it! I actually vacuumed the whole (little) house and then left to come to the grocery store that offers free wifi! Dual purpose: escape the dust and use the internet. Also did a load of heavy clothes this am that are hanging in the house - much nicer in this weather. The jan Thaw has been wonderful, enabled me to go out to back-back shed and find hepa filter for shop vac and clean it. It is due to end in a couple more days and dump a new load of white stuff.

Feeling caught up. Well, still no sewing... But feeling stronger each day and was able to go out last night to hear wonderful Bobby Dove. Now back is tired of sitting here so I shall go home to finish one of the 3 "seven day" books on the pile. And think about the next thing to complete. One bag went to thrift shop this week, another is started.

I was doing a good job of eating good stuff, not bad stuff. But spent the aft nibbling cookies and cashews. Home for veggies and chicken.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Jan 18 - 12:18 PM

Yesterday I did several loads of laundry - I used more bulky clothes during the cold spell but I didn't like doing chores that brought me in contact with moisture, it just makes you feel colder. There were a number of mid-layer garments (shirts or sweaters) that are now back in the closet, no longer lying on the trunk or chair in my room in case I decide I need something to take the chill off. The bedroom looks like it's had a makeover.

I need to do another donation run since the bin in the laundry room is filling. I find this a particularly useful way to clear stuff out of the house. Once I've decided an item will be donated it stays there, out of sight (the lid is opaque, the sides translucent), until I notice through the sides that the bin has filled up.

The discount grocery I visit had a good selection in the produce warehouse yesterday; I was out of poblano peppers in the freezer, they had nice salad greens, and I loaded up on several fruits. The trick now is to use these fresh items fast enough that they don't become compost contributions due to neglect.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Jan 18 - 03:24 PM

The U.S. Federal government non-essential employees are not going back to work until the House and Senate agree on several bills. The Post Office is self-funded so our mail will continue to arrive and shipping will be possible. The main thing that will be put on hold is the IRS - and I've prepared to file my taxes early. That will have to wait till a budget is approved. If any of our participants are U.S. federal employees they will have some free time to work on these projects (and here's hoping there is back pay at the end of these days of political turmoil.)

Thank goodness the cold temperatures have moved out of the region; I've had yard work waiting on good weather and my improved health. Today I'll start out by trimming out all of the dead asparagus fronds and moving some soil into the depressed area where the fill is settling in over the new sewer line.

I hope some of our lurkers will drop in and tell us what they're up to. New blood is always welcome!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Jan 18 - 01:46 AM

My work this week has been technology-driven; an outage in the neighborhood that the Internet cable company didn't recognize as an outage meant that I went and bought a new modem because the customer service office person did their test and said it was my modem. My router was blinking out lately so I got both. Only to learn the problem was the cold contracting the lines so much that a fitting at the pole in the yard next to mine pulled apart. But since I have the new equipment, it's in for now. I like the router interface a lot more than on previous models and the modem is just another modem, same protocol (Docsis 3.0) - amazing how devices with no moving parts can wear out, but apparently the connections inside are made of very thin wires or printed circuits and they burn out after a while. I'd had the previous modem long enough that it was due to die one of these days.

Paper inventory and organization improved for a while there, but got out of control again during the week. Round two this weekend.

I also liked your song, Bob. Are you a lurker here or did you come across a good song and go looking for a place to park it?

Subject: Artwork Planning
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Jan 18 - 05:56 PM

Ohio:

One of my designated hats to wear in Ohio is to be the "Merge" team/decorator. And I shop the PA house for decor. (Google that TV progran.)

When we married/blended kids/started in another rectory, my tastes kinda got squished under his tastes plus the house's rental limitations. Here-- I get to make us a home, and finally blend beautifully what we both love into this house made just for us.

I'm thinking about artwork today. Nothing of real value-- framed prints and posters mostly.

I'd been picturing two particular favorites together in the LR on one wall-- love the wall color and assumed they'd harmonize on that color. WRONG!!

These two look hideous together! But the frame sizes kinda work here and we have other pieces in that size to pull from. That Renoir print that looks awful here needs to live either in the loo, my office, or our bedroom over the dresser. And with that realization, I can suddenly see our whole artwork plan. Here it is.

Each Ohio room has one large potential art wall, with room for two big pieces and several smaller ones set among the bigger ones. Each room also has a small area for an arrangement of 2-3 smalls. Many of the rooms have already have nails in the right places-- eerily superb.

We will have to rotate pieces within each room seasonally, to enjoy all the ones we love-- but I was worried that we had more than the house can hold. They can stay right in their assigned rooms-- one set, up on the wall, and the alternate-season set, slid behind furniture-- won't need to go into the garage at
all!!!

All I'll need to do is label each item when I pack, to go into the parallel room here. The wall colors differ some-- but all go together well. I'm ready now to bring it all down in May.

Exceptions-- Hardi's gold-framed degrees and certificates I've been worrying about can be treated that way in either his sewing room or on the wall on his side of our bed. Family photos now in the PA DR can go above our headboard.

Sculptures/3D items-- the sellers of this place left, of all things, 3 pretty cube-cubbies that hang on the wall. Add a sculpture on top, a small knick-knack inside-- boom! Interest and texture and shape variety, scattered between framed items. (Hardi has a woodshop to duplicate more!)

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Jan 18 - 05:10 PM

Auntie Soup is happily exhausted from joyous, spontaneous playtime with brilliant 2-year-old Gavin (and modeling nonviolent discipline for daddy)-- fun!

It had been a long time since the last folkbaby sat in my lap... and aside from the fun of finally meeting my helper's son, it was a good chance to gauge my current fitness for childcare (and the house's fitness too.) I had lots of fun and creative things readily avsilable to hold happy interest. Not toys. Real THINGS hed never seen.

Potential housemate issues with his daddy were identified, named, and worked out. However, Tyler needs to stay in Dayton for work, and I need the jazz room as a daily setting spot-- but it would also be fine if something changed and he used that room. (Of course, it's still a guest room, and he'd be a guest.)

I was definitely right that past housemate issues have arisen largely from not physically being here for an actual trial period, when each of the previous incumbents moved in.

S~

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

Beaver:
Since I obtained the new modem, I have rarely been able to use it here. The old one could be put up in a window to catch a signal but this plugs into the computer. Useful in Montreal but not here! I am seeking a new system and a friend suggested a local company which tells me that in a few months there might be service on my road. Very local! When I asked where they were located, I had just driven past it on the way to and fro mechanic. She told me she also goes to Pete! (about 6 minutes away.) I have been taking vehicles to Pete for 32 years, but not the years I lived away. I missed him then.

Happy to come home to a warm bathroom - where all the pipes are warmed by a small electric heater. When it was SO cold, I asked a neighbour to check- just in case. If the pipes broke, the pump would spew water until it burned out! So, Sue happily informed me that all was well!! However, the door to the studio had blown open due to heavy winds. All the plants and clay... Oh well.

Car did not wake up on Saturday after minus 26 C night. Neighbour Larry came to rescue but could not start it; But he did leave it to charge from his car for about 15 min while we had a cup of tea. He doubted it would help and went home. After a bit, I went out to close the hood. He had disconnected one of the terminals. So, I put it back on with a "why not give it a try" attitude and -it started right off. I was able to do errands after leaving a second voice mail to friends canceling the first one - a request to send out an email to the group to try for a ride to a Celebration of Life on Sunday! I got through the next few days, and am still, doing errands then disconnecting overnight. The mechanic thinks he fixed it but the nature of electrical problems has me still disconnecting so I can get running the next day. The day Larry charged it, we found their were small lights on even when the key was not in the ignition!

I emailed #2 son a request for a phone consult re my concern that this car may be reaching the end. I could have made payments on a new one for several months for what I have spent on it the last three. Well, having written that - maybe that is not too bad, if this run of repairs does not continue.

I came back to Beaver on 9th after having to wait out snow storms in Montreal. SO glad to be back: warm house, friends, fresh air and the exercise of bringing in the fire wood. The latter is wonderful exercise and I really detest "made up exercise". I also clear snow off back deck almost daily. There was quite a bit when I arrived; wonderful neighbour had cleared driveway! Then we had rain which uncluttered a great deal, but not all. But two above freezing days were welcome. Each one is a gift. I am hoping the next couple - on the weekend- will warm the studio enough for me to feel inclined to pot, which I have not done since early October.

Trying to get back to a modified Keto diet. A friend lost 25 pounds with NO wheat, dairy or sugar! What a challenge! She looks terrific. I have trouble with the no dairy but I am beginning to see that cheese causes me to cough; of course, it builds up mucous and my throat is constantly tickled into coughing.

Being here has many advantages. The nature of the uncluttered house, in which I can stay organized while keeping warm; the uplifting views, the sense of being home, the freedom to run to town (4-5 minutes, going into shops where I know staff and they know me. This is a generally friendly community where folks smile and greet each other even if they do not know who!

I finally gave up and took the computer to the library on Tuesday and shall do so again, maybe tomorrow. The air made me cough but I put on my mask and stopped. I love to go out on the back deck and just breathe in the wonderful air.

I am still lobbying gently for a better house in Quebec so I can spend more time with R. He has eaten up the food I left for him. I do not intend to go back there until the weather warms. He is not home much but it has been about 48F in the house. No fun getting up in the morning!

I have still not gotten into sewing. Waiting for .... I hope to surprise myself by just starting. I did not have to put Christmas things away because we never got them out! R was so tired we did almost nothing.

So, while I have finally managed to get in here: This am I managed to do the ironing for the last ten years, more or less. Not a lot but finally done and put away! Came to A Place for the Arts to use my modem. warm and friendly. Just about freezing today. Wonder what tomorrow will be!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Jan 18 - 04:13 PM

Ohio:

The trash processes here are about halfway between easiest and worst. Two big bins. Robotic arms pick up the bins weekly, into mega-trucks too big for our little streets. One is for recycling.

They distrubuted guidelines as rules when they transitioned from 'human-handles/sorts one small bin' to this robotic approach.... they threatened that if you recycled stuff not on the list of authorized items, they'd leave the whole bin curbside, not emptied. Not ticketing us, but massively inconveniencing us.

While I was away, apparently citizen pushback occurred. Now its pretty much, "Just NO styrofoam, people!" They adapted to US-- because WE are their source for income-producing material. In kindness to them and the longevity of their sorting/processing machinery, I do disassemble boxes thst process as misc paper-- not only large cereal boxes but tiny raisins boxes.

Never once have they left anyone's bin, in this big little neighborhood, un-emptied. Hmpf! :-)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Senoufou
Date: 18 Jan 18 - 10:25 AM

By the way, loved that McCalmans' song Bob!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Senoufou
Date: 18 Jan 18 - 10:15 AM

The thing is, most of the vegetables will be peeled first and then cooked. The fruit will be well washed before eating. Meat will be cooked. I can see that, say, bread will need to have some sort of cover, as it may not be heated before eating. Similarly ham or tongue.

Our milk came in glass bottles which one later washed for the milkman to collect. They were refilled at the dairy.

But decades ago, we had a nice compost heap where the peelings went.
We never became ill from food poisoning. In fact, I'd say we were healthier in those days than people are nowadays.

I'm so tempted to do what has been suggested on 'green' websites, and after passing through the checkout, unwrapping/removing all the plastic junk and leaving it for the supermarket to deal with! It amounts to absolute piles and piles from a single visit.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 18 Jan 18 - 09:41 AM

Yes, the amount of plastic packaging is mad. On the other hand, that awful plastic film keeps fruit, veg, meat and baked goods clean, and easier to handle at the check-out counter as long as the cashier can be prevented from flinging one's carefully bagged fragile comestibles. If our society insists on marketing food as if apples and animal parts were widgets made of stainless steel, then plastic film is essential to the maintenance of even the pretense of food safety.

People talk a lot about food poisoning and fret noisily about botulism and E.Coli contamination, but the actual incidence of food-borne disease has declined radically in industrialized nations over the last century. That's mostly attributable to public health inspections, vigorous prosecutions when negligence is found, and widespread use of impermeable food packaging.

There is such a thing as biodegradable plastic film; I've seen it in several Ontario grocery chains. I have a nasty, sneaking feeling, however, that it is more expensive than the bog-standard kind, and I know from messy experience that it is not as strong.

The Ottawa "solid waste" (i.e., garbage) system is so complex that the city distributes leaflets and calendars to every single municipal address to ensure that people know what is collected and when. I suspect that every household that manages its garbage competently has a member who has accepted the role of Garbage Guru, and spends anywhere up to an hour a week rounding up and sorting debris.

The collection and composting of animal waste -- everything from chicken bones to dog droppings -- was one of the city's most debated programs, second only to the construction of a multi-billion-dollar light rail system that includes a tunnel under most of downtown.

In Stratford, garbage is a little simpler, but not much. We have plenty of raccoons in this neighbourhood and a large community of crows, so I am just as particular about garbage management in this leafy small-town suburb as I was in the big city.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: ketchdana
Date: 18 Jan 18 - 01:46 AM

"Let's recycle" sung by the McCalmans. Fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a01x9PXN5dI

..Bob

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Senoufou
Date: 17 Jan 18 - 01:12 PM

It's interesting to hear about rubbish collection and removal in other places.
We have three wheelie bins and all have strict rules about what can and can't go in them:-

   - a brown one for garden waste, no sticks or branches over a certain diameter, no stones or lumps of wood.
   - a black one for recyclables such as glass bottles, tins, plastic containers (milk, cooking oil, ice-cream tubs etc), paper and cardboard
   - a green one for landfill stuff

We have many urban foxes, rats, mice and feral cats etc which used to get their noses into the old large plastic sacks, and spread the rubbish far and wide. Now they can't do that.
The bins can weigh quite a bit and I have to get my trusty husband to trundle the correct one out the front for me. But they have inbuilt wheels, so it isn't as hard as it sounds.

Does anyone on here get furious (as I do!) about the totally MAD amount of plastic used for wrapping up food in supermarkets? Even onions, potatoes and nuts are sealed in plastic. Meat can have two or three layers if one includes the outer tray. No wonder the oceans are awash with the stuff.
In the early fifties, I can remember that NOTHING was wrapped like this. One bought vegetables loose from the greengrocer, and meat at the butcher's was cut in front of you, then wrapped in white paper, as were loaves of bread. Our metal 'dustbin' was only for ashes from the coal fire!
There's a move afoot recently to reduce all this pollution. It can't come soon enough for me!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Jan 18 - 12:54 PM

(Ohio)

And I'm transferring duplicate kitchen stuff to Ohio every time I come down from PA-- because if it works well enough to have been kept or recently acquired, I'd rather not take a chance on a worn-out Goodwill item. And from my Ohio stash I was able to give a few items to a friend lvg a domestic hot mess, because I knew I had a parallel item to bring down on my next trip-- and a backup item already here to use til then.

It's good to have enough gear on hand for group cooking, or to be able to leave dirty items soaking when sick or all hell has broken loose.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Jan 18 - 09:39 PM

This year we exchanged a lot of kitchen equipment at xmas, and the items that work but were insufficient to the task are now in a drawer where they can be called upon if spares are needed, or, more likely, the next time someone needs a donation of kitchen equipment.

The larger city around our village has very strict trash collection rules; it must be in the correct bin (black for trash, blue for recycling) and the correct stuff must be in each bin. They write tickets if it isn't correct (after random checks or complaints from the collection truck folks). Here in our village it's a crap shoot as to what people will do about trash - I have a couple of cans, but when the guys collect the trash from cans they don't usually put them back on the curb or lawn, they often are dropped on the concrete driveway or at the curb in the street. They can get knocked over, blown away, run over, etc. If I don't have much it goes in a small bag in one of the cans, and waits near the garage until I have more that makes it enough to bother putting out for collection. I recycle and have a compost pile, so there isn't much trash. They collect it two times a week and I put it out about once every other week.

I put that kitchen waste in a heavy bag (a "contractor bag" that can be used for collecting building waste on a work site) in a trash bin, but by morning when I looked out they hadn't picked it up yet but would be by soon so I left the bag at the curb and put the bin up by the garage. Dogs and coyotes don't usually bother trash during daylight hours.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Senoufou
Date: 16 Jan 18 - 01:52 PM

A 'variety sale'! What a good idea Charmion.

We have lots of car-boot sales round here during Spring and Summer, and table-top sales in village halls when it's cold outside.
We're planning on doing a garage sale on our front drive (and inside the garage of course) at Easter. It's much easier than carting stuff away from the house to a car-boot sale.

We have a Facebook page for our village now, and we can also advertise it in the Parish magazine. I have lots of kitchen equipment I no longer use, garden tools, planter tubs and pots, odd pieces of furniture, rugs, excess Christmas decorations, arty crafty stuff, no end of clutter.
We love doing it because everyone natters away, it's like a party. And many of them bring their lovely dogs (who all know us) My husband offers orange squash in paper cups and I do small cakes.
At our last house many years ago we did one and made £250 - not bad.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 16 Jan 18 - 10:01 AM

As usual, Eliza Senoufou comes up with the mot juste -- a fye-out. I feel as if I have been fying out our lives for the last year, and I'm damn' well ready to be done with it. Himself is so ready to be done with it that he now automatically digs in his heels at every new proposal to disembarrass ourselves further.

I keep thinking I have finally unpacked the final box from the move, only to find another lurking on a shelf or in a corner, pretending to be something else.

Yesterday it was a large carton that once held a vacuum cleaner, sitting on a shelf in the garage. At first I thought it was empty, kept against the day when the vacuum cleaner might require repair, but then it occurred to me that it might contain framed pictures or other ornaments that we had no room for and had therefore stashed in the basement of our house in Ottawa. (We both inherited many framed items from our deceased parents, and acquired many more over the years -- and then got married and multiplied the problem.) So I hauled it into the house and pried it open, and what do you think I found?

No, not a forgotten Rembrandt, or even a neglected set of dishes. It was a dead vacuum cleaner, the wreckage of the Hoover central vac we gave up on in Ottawa when the manufacturer went bankrupt and we could no longer get parts. Dang! How did that escape my decluttering efforts before the move? This enquiring mind really wants to know.

So out it goes to the landfill next garbage day, at the cost of two City of Stratford garbage tickets.

As for the excess art, our new church has a potential solution. In Spring, St. James's holds its annual "variety sale" -- what we Anglicans used to call a rummage sale. People like us abound in this prosperous town, one of Canada's top retirement destinations (honest, we didn't know until we got here!), so Stratford basements abound in decorative items that have not found display space. So an enterprising member of the congregation, who just happens to be a retired curator, collects paintings, graphics and objets de vertu and organizes them for sale to the benefit of the parish, which has a handsome Victorian church complete with ring of bells to support, not to speak of its real work in the community, and needs every penny it can scrape up.

Now all I have to do is persuade Himself that we can contribute a significant stack of framed items. Wish me luck with that.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Senoufou
Date: 15 Jan 18 - 12:03 PM

Acme, that's fascinating! The word is pretty generally used round here.
It's also encountered in that song, "Martin said to his man, "Fye man! Fye!" Which I think means "Clear off"!" (much the same thing)

I notice you put your rubbish in a sack for the bin men. We have very robust polypropylene wheelie bins, (three different colours, recycle, landfill and garden waste). Foxes and cats can't get into them as they're too high and shut firmly.

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

Senoufou, after going through several pages of search results I finally found a link to the 1895 A Glossary of East Anglia in Google Books by Walter Rye.

Fye. To clean or purify. To fye out the pond; to fye up the corn [Spur.]. See Fie.

[skipping back a few pages. . . ]

Fie, or Fye. To cleanse out a ditch, a pond, or any other receptacle of mud or filth.

Learn something new every day!

I added a couple more things to the large trash bag (it has a simple square knot holding it closed, easy to untie, and when the trash guys come by, easy to pick up). Things I thought better of and decided I would never use.

The weather is nice this morning but supposed to be snowing and bitterly cold by overnight. I'd best finish up any outdoor chores early and play on the computer later.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Senoufou
Date: 15 Jan 18 - 03:53 AM

We spent a happy weekend turning out all our wardrobes, cupboards and drawers, and sorting out all the clothes we no longer need or wear, and all the tins of food that are in date but not likely to be eaten.

The clothes were sorted into those my husband can take to Africa on his next trip and those we can take to a Charity Shop.
The tins all went to the supermarket Food Bank crate.

It was amazing how much dust gets into wardrobes and drawers, so we had a good old go with a damp duster and some polish.

Here in Norfolk, this is called a 'fye-out'!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 11:38 PM

It sounds like you kept the best memories, Michelle, and there's a lot that could be added to that book, all good stuff. ❤

Today I did the work on the compost, wheel-barrowing two five-gallon kitchen waste buckets back to the pile that has a heavy-duty plastic frame holding in the contents (to keep the dogs out of anything that still smells tempting). I also did a deep purge in the fridge; sauces past shelf dates, crystallized jelly, ancient pickles, things that were in plain sight and totally forgotten. This evening I went through the side-by-side freezer for oddball frozen things that will never get used (like ancient chicken backs, frost-burned veggies, old plastic bags of frozen herbs, etc.), and that's my last thing this evening because I'm putting a heavy duty contractor bag out at the curb tomorrow with all of the things that can't go in the compost. (When I took a bucket of the veggies to the compost I heard something rustling around in the brush behind the fence. This will probably give the wildlife something to poach out of the bin when the dogs aren't looking.)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: LilyFestre
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 08:09 PM

So it's been a busy day here. In addition to the stuff I posted previously, I got all the Christmas things put away. The tree has been down since the day after Christmas as it was getting droopy despite daily fresh water.....guess that's what happens when you get your tree early and have very dry heat!!! Anyway....the nativities are all packed up until next year and the garlands, Santa items, angels, etc. I love Christmas and all the decorations but I equally love when it's all put away and all the surfaces are empty (for the time being..LOL).

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: LilyFestre
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 02:08 PM

Today I am working on one of the bookshelves that is 7 feet tall. I have only attempted to get through 2 shelves. One of those shelves was full of medical paperwork for when I was going through chemo. Tomorrow I celebrate 8 years of being cancer free and I have decided that I don't need that paperwork anymore. Looking through it makes me cry and there is no earthly reason why I need all that. I kept a few select books that were helpful, the book that Maggie made me (a treasured item), the video I made of my journey, a copy of the speech I have given when asked to be the speaker at a few Relays for Life, a Relay for Life calendar that has my and Jeremiah's photo in it along with a favorite quote and a book published by Georgia Ovarian Cancer Alliance that has my written story and photo. I did keep (and it has been tucked away for years now and NOT on the bookshelf) all the cards full of love that I received during that time.

I have also removed several books that just aren't being used here and I'd much rather have the space than the books. One shelf is binders of neatly organized and divided into categories.

It doesn't sound like much but it took some time and I dusted as I went through. Also, I have all my favorite books together on one spot.   Looks and feels good.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: LilyFestre
Date: 13 Jan 18 - 08:47 PM

Basic picking up happened in spurts here today but far better was the hours of ukulele playing, some with Jeremiah playing along on his guitar (I think it's SO cool that he can play along...his collection of chords is becoming impressive) and then a few more hours of reading (Currently reading "Endurance" by Scott Kelly....I'm am freakishly attracted to all things related the International Space Station) and just plain old family time.

It was a good day to do lots of nothing more than hang out in jeans, a t-shirt and slippers, doing whatever the heart dictated. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Jan 18 - 07:56 PM

OH:

With expeditious kid help, the car is now unloaded (mostly into the house), and I have opened and rough-sorted boxes' contents towards their destination rooms. Along with groceries awaiting their pantry destinations, these all flow towards their spots as I pass them, and in this one-story house it's easy to keep moving; this morning I felt terminally un-tidy-able (and ooky from antibiotics), but already it's looking sane here.

I think "selectively tidy" may be different from "serially tidy" which this place really is. It's a rhythm reflecting that real ppl live in houses, living organically messy lives. It's all good. I guess actually I'm doing both-- there's that curtain dividing off the BR areas from the public mtg spaces..

I would also observe that decluttering is different for retired folks. Those of you still employed with paychecks have different challenges than those faced with retired/partly creaky schedules and bones-- we have time but not always capacity. I hoped the lessons I'd learned 10 years ago would serve me well, now. ... but AFGO. ;-)

One ginormous box left, too big/busted to tote-- but a smaller box, for fetching some of contents at a time, is ready and waiting for a warmer spell.

And I'm sorry-- but it was hilarious seeing how 4" of snow are a big deal here. Decrepit I may be, but I guess me and Newbie are northern-hardened, cuz it was not so bad to deal with after the driveway was plowed by the mow/blow/snow service. I shoveled to the garage, being old enough to have set the shovel handy before the brief blizzard.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Jan 18 - 09:57 AM

Today I can see progress from my work yesterday, but it has reached the point where I must go outside (it has been very cold here again lately) to muck about with the compost (empty bins at the side of the house into the pile in the back of the yard) and haul a large bag of glass and plastic and a large basket of paper over to the city recycle bins. That way I make room for myself to finish emptying out the fridge and to continue emptying paper out of my office.

It is also the day to flatten boxes. That act alone will free up many cubic feet of space. I'll pick a few that fit specific eBay projects now and flatten the rest. I have a place to store them flat, but I can't reach it till I flatten everything in the path.

Dorothy, where do you find yourself today? Last week you were in Montreal hoping to get out to Beaver soon. Did you manage that, and is there water (no burst pipes), heat, and a wifi signal?

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Jan 18 - 01:04 AM

I also have three days off, and after a week of not doing much due to recovering from a virus, and the virus itself the week before, I have a lot of catching up to do. And the week before that the weather didn't help, it was so cold, so I'm way behind on a whole bunch of chores.

Yesterday the temperature was in the 50s, this morning it was again in the mid-20s and enough wind to make the walk into my building at work really painful. Last year I think we had one really cold day all winter.

This evening I've sorted a lot of paper, shredding some and recycling most. I've also filed some as I've uncovered notes for several projects that were buried in the stacks. Some have been moved to the appropriate part of the house (shopping lists on the kitchen counter, notes for eBay in the sunroom, etc.) The rest will wait till tomorrow, when I start again.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: LilyFestre
Date: 12 Jan 18 - 07:44 PM

Three full bags of children's books, 2 bags of children's clothing and a bag of shoes delivered to Goodwill today. Two bags of clothes in especially excellent condition delivered to a co-worker with 2 nephews in need. The smile on my coworker's face was priceless. <3

I have a 3 day weekend ahead.....as usual, I have lots of things I want to get done but I'll just wait and see where the day directs me. :)

I put in a very full week and am happy to be home with Oatie snoring on the couch and Jeremiah upstairs playing "The Fight Song" on his guitar and singing his little heart out.

*Big, happy, contented sigh*

Have a great week everybody!

Michelle

PS. The temperature at 6:30am was 52 degrees, by 1:30 it was 62 degrees.....and predictions for tomorrow say 12. LOL   Craziness! Like the moon phases, I think these extreme weather swings have a very large effect on behavior.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Jan 18 - 09:44 PM

I'm selectively tidy - some rooms are in much better shape consistently than others. I can fix a meal at the spur of the moment and not worry about the cleanliness of the kitchen and work surfaces or materials, but you're liable to find dust in a number of other rooms that are somewhat neglected.

If I have a tax refund this year it is tentatively going to cover the cost of the ceramic tiles I want to put down in the hall bathroom. The trouble with tax-time is that if there is a refund, some major appliance gets it into it's tiny machine brain to die or need a major repair, messing up any plans. I'm thinking it might be time to actually sign up for one of those home shield insurance accounts - most of the appliances in the house are upwards of 15+ years old.

There were some great sized and shaped boxes in the recycle bin at work today that came home with me, though right now the state of the sunroom is such that boxes seem the last thing I need to stock up on. It's the variety of sizes and shapes that I try to keep in stock. This weekend I'll flatten and store them in a cabinet I use to organize them by size.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Jan 18 - 07:41 PM

Lol, Charmion; that kind of gym is also designed with exactly the motivation you're blaming yourself for not having, but yes I agree that if you're generally tidy you're probably head and shoulders above many of us on that account!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 11 Jan 18 - 09:20 AM

Hi, Susan wysiwyg: I have been on the gym routine for many years now, and Himself is less than a year out of the army and very fit and well, so we don't need either the assessment service you describe, or the specialized facilities -- which is a good thing, since Stratford has nothing of that sort. In fact, I doubt that we would find anything like that outside a hospital or rehab centre, where admission would require a doctor's referral.

The habits in question are well formed, but my attitudes remain unreconstructed. Way down in the heart of me, I am just as lazy as ever, and my child self continues to whine and complain at the requirement to get off my arse, pack my gym bag, assume the habiliments of the great outdoors (in January, a significant barrier), and actually GO TO THE EFFING GYM. When I get there, I play all manner of tricks on myself to complete my self-appointed tasks: row just 5,000 metres and you can quit; keep trotting until the treadmill counter says you have worked off your breakfast; etc., etc. I am way too old to learn to love what I have to do at the gym, so I have to make do with the knowledge that it is good for me, which -- as you know -- is not always enough to overcome the frailty of a slothful soul.

That said, I can at least say I am a "tidy person" as described in the article you referred us to. I do all those five things, so I guess I could be worse.