Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Oct 18 - 06:44 PM

Sorry, corrected post.

OH:

After a fabulously creative and productive morning (writing for my new volunteer gig), a frustrating afternoon... chasing required retirement paperwork! It twists and turns through various mazes of understaffed and poorly-articulated channels.... for important stuff!!! Today it involved details required for rearranging post-January healthcare plans, once a better deal suddenly revealed itself. Party A needs form 4444 but wants form 3333 from B before B can have what it wants from A. And repeat in reverse.

So-- Gawwgggghhhh! Retirement ain't for sissies! I never knew 'growing old together' would put so much administrivia in OUR laps! What a great partnership dance we did though to cut thru the crap. I guess that's what I decluttered today-- crap.

Our new personal motto is, "We WILL f|}•ing get this DONE!"
 
Tonight my new personal schedule calls for picking up all around the house, loading the dishwasher, loading the washing machine, and general prep for Brittney tmrw (9am-1pm), and Head Gardener Brandon about 5:30.

I hope to declutter my brain--soon!-- blasting some good Girl Power music. This Calls for Loud.

My boss on the volunteer gig just surprise-called-- we'd not met-- and she's a blast! (Talk about Girl Power!) My first draft on the first piece -- passed with flying colors. Whoo-hoo!!! It sets the format and slant for the next, more-complicated pieces.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 15 Oct 18 - 04:55 PM

Mill:

Hanging out here to see if my sailboat friends want a ride from wherever they decide to stop back to their vehicle in NYS. I told them I could give them a ride to the border - will not cross it but I can get them to a point where they can easily take a bus.

An afternoon on the St. Lawrence on a 22 foot boat is a great way to de-clutter every speck of energy. Saturday's wonderful boat ride started out with me wondering if I was about to de-clutter my life totally. After a few minutes, I realized the boat was not going to turn over and dump us into the very cold water! I questioned the lack of life jackets and was handed one which I clutched to me for the next several hours. Actually, it was only about 3-4 hours from pick up until we found a dock where I could get off - just as the sun set (7pm)! We were elated to find this spot, at a park/boat launch site, with a nice outhouse with composting toilet! The water was much less wavy once we were off the river and in the (new) Beauharnois Canal - big enough for ships.

Although I had phoned R at 6 to ask him to start down - about an hour from the city - it took him more than an hour to get organized with a functional vehicle. After a couple of "where are you exactly" phone calls, he finally found us just before 9pm. What to me what an obvious traffic signal, was to him " a light". (at the beginning of the very long draw bridge.) What was obvious to me was not at all so to him.

We went to the mill for the night and he drove me to my car in the am after a good BF. I hung on to life until about 3 - tea with Geri and a visit to a new art show - then succumbed to a long nap and then bed with book until almost 10. Better today.

Incredibly interesting to see the area from the river - "Ah, that's what that darn bridge looks like!" The one which often clutters a trip by being up for an ship, adding 30 minutes or more to a trip of 40 minutes. And looking at the "other side" of the areas I had traveled by car a couple days earlier. I was greatly wishing I could have gone further - to see the other side of Ile St. Bernard and the canal along the Mohawk reserve. I hope I can do that next summer. (mini "bucket list"?) Is is "clutter" to add on things that one would like to do?

I cluttered my life by offering them a ride as I am ready to go back to Beaver and they have 'til Weds to motor on down the river. Cold as it is - hit freezing last night - I would think they would want to be off the water sooner.

R continues to de-clutter the house; I am staying out of the way. Real estate agent wants to bring prospective buyers but was finally convinced it needed to look better first.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Oct 18 - 03:35 PM

Portions of this area are subject to as much as six additional inches of rain during this current event of rain coming through the region over the next two days. I just tipped the dog tank that had two inches from the last two days. I took the mattock out to the back yard to sketch a small drain trench to move water from standing next to the chimney - it seeps in under it in really heavy rains.

Printer paper has been organized and moved to the lower bookshelf. The paper with packaging that identifies it as bright white or card stock, etc, is in place also and that was sorted. Legal is all in one stack. And there is a mix of standard-sized paper that came out of various packages over the years that will be used without regard to weight or brightness unless I'm working on a special project.

The second work area is piled high and needs tackling next. There are projects, dated materials, and library books in that tangle of stuff, so I have to get to it.

I think I got all of the journals but now I can look for other books that can be taken to the used bookstore or listed at Amazon. I'm determined to clear more shelf space of things I never use.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Oct 18 - 10:52 PM

SRS, a gardening friend of mine brings home all manner of folks' discarded paper, which she runs thru her small landscaping shredder for mulch.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Oct 18 - 07:29 PM

The garage boxes are too small for the roaster oven, but I have several other very large boxes flattened behind a cabinet and I'll check those out tonight. The roaster has a few scratches and a couple of spots where the paint has pulled off, but in all it's beautiful and in great barely-used condition. The external scratches usually are from how it was stored, not how it was used. (That's why I got the same thing in a stainless finish, not painted.)

The journals have been deposited in the recycle bin, along the latest batch of plastic and glass. I actually pulled a handful of newspapers out of the city recycle bin that I can use here at the house and in the garden because I don't get a newspaper any more. I used to sometimes pick them up on campus from a "Newspapers in Education" stand, but I'm rarely on campus these days.

It turned clear briefly. My next door neighbor mowed this afternoon and I should have also, but by the time I was ready to go out, it began to look like rain any minute. It takes a couple of hours to do the whole lawn, so maybe in a day or two. And I still need to dig the hole for the fence post.

Now to more indoor work.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Oct 18 - 12:27 PM

I'm looking at the Silver Sneaker's program but don't really find weight lifting and such very interesting, so I'll search for low-impact exercise, yoga, etc. I have a request out to a friend who is already using the program and I hope to join her in some of her workouts to see what she likes.

Today I have been carefully cleaning up a lovely roaster oven picked up at Goodwill. I don't know how the previous owner was using it but you're not supposed to cook in anything but the removable pan. I have the interior portion and the removal pan soaking with vinegar right now to remove limestone scale. Maybe someone used it like a double boiler? I'll have it listed this afternoon after it's photographed, described, packed, and ready to go out the door.

I have some scholarly journals that I haven't read in years, no one will want them, and they're all available online now, so they'll make a trip to the recycle bin this afternoon. This clears out more space for things that are sitting out in the office. And I finally put my computer on a stand actually meant for computers (it has wheels that lock) so I can move my home-made wooden box out of here. I forget why I first made it - possibly for an early computer? - but for many years it served as a box for step exercise while I watched television. It may return to that, or it may go out to the garage for a while.

Next week I'll be on campus for an event so I'll take a printer toner cartridge and a bunch of electronic waste and batteries to the recycle bin (that I used to oversee and report if it needed emptying). I still haven't found a good place to recycle a bunch of hard drives. One of these days I'll unload a dozen or so of those.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: LilyFestre
Date: 13 Oct 18 - 06:22 PM

Today I swapped things out in my kitchen and dining room so that the fall decorations are in order...it looks so pretty!

Jeremiah bagged up a large garbage bag with toys he no longer plays with and a few more pieces of clothes from my closet....so that's good.

My body has recovered from this week's yoga...woo baby.....I was SORE. I'm going again next week....as someone once told me (Thank you Hardi) Damn it....I CAN do this!   

I can and I will. I am persistent if nothing else.

Little by little.

Step by step.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Oct 18 - 12:51 PM

Thunderstorms again today and for much of the week ahead. This is the soggiest year I remember in a long time. I waded into the garden to pick okra that I didn't get yesterday either. It slows growing in the rain but doesn't stop.

I have to work on some spots of the ceiling that have been affected by the shifting foundation, but I'll wait till a friend can come help. My fence project starting with the new post is on hold, I had hoped to dig the hole today but it would fill with water and be difficult to work with (though some methods of putting in fence posts involve filling the hole with water, letting it sink in, then adding the dry concrete around the post, and the moisture is pulled back into the concrete.)

eBay it is, then.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Oct 18 - 09:03 AM

Mill

R is busy in the city, doing his usual work plus trying to make the house more saleable: one of the original doors stripped and looking pretty good; well, much better; they were never meant to be unpainted but they are wonderfully interesting doors. It will be in the LR so prospective buyers can see. He may get to changing them out so they can do the second one then put both in place rather than the icky one there now. Two doors because it was a duplex and now it is not, though it could be redone...

Plan last night was to work like a fiend "tidying up" as two prospects coming today and another tomorrow. So I stayed here, waiting to hear how my friend is making out coming down the river. Thanks to a local sailing friend (it would have greatly d-cluttered my life if I had asked him first!) we have two good possible stops about 15 minutes away.

While waiting, I have a list of chores: bought a new shovel and can finish the planting; bought ingredients - vinegar, epsom salt and dish soap - to mix in effort to kill the sprouting Giant Hogweed/Wild Parsnip , if it chooses not to rain today, collect materials (from studio) for new glaze - a black that I can mix with the white to make a grey for Hannah. Take materials to Beaver as having some here and some there is a great clutter!

Chilly day but not very windy, so far. Heavy wind from the west (prevailing) might make docking on the east shore iffy.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Oct 18 - 03:36 PM

OH:

SRS, yes on structure, which some call 'discipline'. I set up a new personal sked that has already borne fruit-- a new volunteer opportunity that could equally well have applied to paycheck work. I knew when I was OPEN-- instead of organizing around THEIR sked.


Today is supposed to be Fun/Explore day (to stay in step w Greg's longtime day-off rhythm).

There being no friend fun available tdy, I set up an Arepas-tasting jaunt for tmrw aft, and leaf peeping for next wk. Then I started a pork/chix livers crockpot, and gave some free consultation time to SURJ NEO.

Next I suited up to catch potential after-school helpers; I towed 16' of ag panel around the corner and into the garage with my scooter, and hand-moved it into the patio. (It was in the driveway. The entry to the patio is blocked by landscape supply items the plumbers had moved).

The ag panel, in all its still-S-curved glory, is now in the patio awaiting hoisting and installation. I need to drill for one more eyelet screw first, and stretch the panel full length, then hoist it with nylon strapping I spotted in the garage, and clip it to the eyelets at each end plus-- across the bottom-- to the existing panel. Tmrw probably- I already dropped it on my foot twice for today. :-(

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Oct 18 - 11:07 AM

I figure that since the family visit started with the water off, anything after that would be much better, and it was. Laundry today, and a trip to Home Depot to begin the fence process. It may rain this weekend so if I can at least get the corner post in it will have time to set up until the next clear day.

The retirement paperwork is finished, now to figure out where my next job will be. I find that when I'm home every day I'm not as efficient on those days as if they're the weekend and I know I have only that time to do certain tasks. Getting the hang of this retirement business requires learning discipline - it doesn't come naturally.

I dropped off donations at the thrift store yesterday but discovered they wouldn't accept returns from another store in the system. That has never been the case before, but apparently a new computer system is being put in to connect the stores. I live near the corporate office so I'll call, but I really don't want to drive clear over to that other store, it was on one of my more distant trips last week (and I have 2 weeks to take these electronic items back if they don't work.) This is the eBay portion of my day. And something I need to do is list a bunch more stuff, especially seasonal items.

For those of you in the US, you might want to check out the USPS site and look at their "Informed Delivery" option. They're promoting it right there at the top of the page and there is a link on the top right side. Since mail is automated scanned in the sorting process they decided to make the images available to recipients. I had to set up a second account for the house, my regular account is tied to my PO box. It doesn't really matter for the house unless I'm away, but now it is set up. The PO box one is helpful because I don't go there everyday.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 11 Oct 18 - 10:40 PM

Mill:

Came down from Beaver last Friday to spend some time with R as he did not have time for the trip. We managed to meet at the Cafe on Friday eve - great music!, have a nice BF on Sat and embark on a DAY! He needed to help someone de-clutter her life - and clutter his! I sat in truck and read. We visited with friend from West Coast for a couple hours, sitting at a table in the Market. We may have helped him de-clutter a bit by explaining that as executor he is not compelled to physically clear the house! Then we visited with Hannah and Rafael as she/they admired the totally white bowls I had produced at her behest, and good conversation also! She bought 5 and now wants me to make grey. Oy vey! She has a 40 year collection of "dorothy bowls" so it is interesting when she pulls out a pile and relates them to my potting history.

Back to the mill for the night and a nice BF, then to Geri's to install a light fixture in her K. It took 5 hours! Geri and I chatted as R focused; we could see his brain working as he solved the problems of missing pieces. The light in the K, after about 30 years of not enough, was monumental! She told me later that she spent the evening cleaning the K of dirt she had not been able to see! R referred to it as "a fun day". I took him to supper at a new Thai restaurant - lovely place, terrific meal, I hope it survives in this small Quebec town.

Monday, we went into the city and worked on the house there, clearing some stuff. R is working hard at trying to make it look better, more sale-able. He still seems to have faith that all will work out. We dug up a carload of plants from the back yard and most of them are planted, at least for the winter, here at the mill. My mill shovel is missing so I did that with a bent trowel. I feel happy that this has been accomplished as I did not want to lose ALL the plants.

Tomorrow I shall purchase yet another shovel and finish planting the last few. I also will make a stab at digging up the small giant hogweed or wild parsnip plants which are suddenly abundant here. If I had not had those posters made up, I would not have recognized these vicious little beasts.

I had meant to go back to Beaver on Weds but a friend from PA emailed that she is coming down the St Lawrence this weekend in a small sailboat sans mast, motoring at 7-9 knots. I spent the last two days exploring to find a place where I could get on board and visit for a few hours as we go along the canal/river/St Lawrence Seaway. After a frustrating day in Valleyfield, where almost no one seemed to speak English, I have messaged a sailing friend who lives near by for HELP!

After assessing the available wardrobe, I used the thrift shop in Valleyfield to add another pair of slacks and a very warm jacket so I don't freeze on the water. The weekend will be quite cool. The clothes are airing out near the heater to get rid of the stench of detergent/fabric softener - toxins the people seem to insist on using.

Aside from frustration of language barrier, I added a wonderful map of Valleyfield to the map collection, and a far better knowledge of the geography of that water-logged town: two rivers, myriad islands,and two canals - the "old" and the "new" Beauharnois Canals, and another one "over there". I have been, idly, wondering what all that water was about! It is rather nice to have a clue, thanks to a man who pulled out a map and showed it all to me! And gave me the map! We endured each others inadequate language skills. He was the closest to a tourist info that I could find; I think it was a taxi dispatch office.

I drove around the town for almost 2 hours, thinking that surely somewhere around all these parks and water there must be an info kiosk. I finally stopped at an insurance office - it had parking!!! The nice women - one spoke English - looked on line and gave me a phone number, said it was at the city hall but I had already been by that a couple times and there was NO parking within (my) walking distance. So I stopped for much needed food, and phoned - French only. Time to go home!

A last ditch effort: explored a road that went along the river. I'll bet some of the houses along there have docks; I was tempted, but too tired, to knock on a door and ask. Maybe if my French were up to it.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: LilyFestre
Date: 11 Oct 18 - 07:49 PM

Charmion,

   "But you know that, and I know you know that. I'm just exercising my self-arrogated right to squeak in indignation."

LOLOLOLOLOL I LOVE IT!!!

Some decluttering of our bedroom has happened in the last week, more clothes to Sally's and clothes that I wear are actually on a hanger where they belong!   Today I cleared the top off a table that has been gathering "I'll Look at it Later Mail" which has been needing my attention for about a month. I spent some more time in my sewing room and did quite a bit of rearranging....it's starting to look pretty darn good in there! :)

I cleaned out my car today so I have room to take all my gear to the upcoming quilting retreat. :) I'm happy about that.

I've started the LIVESTRONG Program and was surprised to find out what my baselines were. I chest pressed 150 pounds and a leg press of 260. Not bad considering I have a desk job and haven't been very active lately. I also went to yoga this week, lots of down dogs and long plank holds...my shoulders and biceps are crabby with me two days later.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Oct 18 - 04:58 PM

OH:

Spent some more time today on further space planning-- "my" kitchen is about to become a two-cooks kitchen.

Went outside after, apparently not in time to catch yesterday's young helpers. Scootered Newbie through likely blocks, looking for them, and nope-- but found other possible prospects at the park's hoops court.

While awaiting the two from yesterday, I used the scooter to ferry a heavy (wet over-filled) planter-basket-- a repurpose bike basket I'll use as a window box-- and the potted peony; these went around the corner lot and into the garage. This leaves just the REALLY farm bell to unload, with a hand truck, after I pull the trailer around to the garage side of the lot.

Then I nipped some weed vines off the fence the boys were to extend higher. I got one eyelet screw in before driver battery died-- fresh one charging for 3 more to hang the fence panel. I could almost install the fence myself tmrw-- Tuesday latest w/Brittney if not, or if no help tmrw. I texted one boy's dad to ask abt tmrw.

Very nippy here today but with warm sun between the breezes.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Oct 18 - 01:11 PM

I've found something else I should have sent in the boxes. Oh, well. In the house I need to work on the shelves in the closet to make room for printer paper (I have a lot of it, bought in bulk for savings), and I need to start working on the fence now that I'm not entertaining a houseguest.

It's beginning to feel like stew or pot roast weather.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Oct 18 - 09:35 AM

I have waved goodbye to the departing relative and several packed boxes, all headed west when the sun will be in the east, and hopefully arriving at the next stop before the sun is in drivers' eyes. One needs a strategy for how to drive through the Texas Sierra Blanca checkpoint when driving a pickup truck with a canopy. I'm sure there will be no delay as they pass through, but having things positioned so an investigation is easy is always prudent.

Anticipating this visit I brought in several boxes and didn't break down others because I wasn't sure what I'd need this week, but now I can tidy the sun room and flatten and store the corrugated clutter. Last spring I inherited a dozen large boxes that are almost completely filled with the dissolvable cornstarch packing peanuts, and I've drawn down three so far. I have a roaster oven to list on eBay (just in time for Thanksgiving!) and another one will be handy for that. They're stored out of the way in the garage and represent a tidy savings toward my eBay shipping costs.

Today is our first nice-feeling fall day. It has been cooling here finally, but was still packed with summery humidity—until now. I did a little weeding in the garden yesterday afternoon, but this really feels like good yard work weather. And it's time to get out another blanket, leave a couple of sweaters handy, and more than that, it's finally time to start cooking again!

A second cuppa tea and the dogs have gone back to sleep now that the early morning departure is over. They enjoyed having company here, especially an extra human who likes to talk to dogs.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Oct 18 - 12:09 AM

Out of town visitor at the house has kept me occupied this week, but sticking with the decluttering category, several boxes of items from here are leaving with him; one more (a mantle clock) would be going also if for some odd reason the pendulum hadn't gone missing from it. I suspect my ex; he didn't like this clock - it made a ticking noise. New Flash - clocks often do that. I'll have to hunt around and wonder where he must have put it a couple of decades ago when the clock was still in use.

The boxes that are leaving were open on the dining table for a while as I added items as I came across them. They're taped closed and packed in the pickup ready to head out, and my dining room table looks almost usable again.

We had more heavy rain this week. This anomalous amount of rainfall is really getting tiresome. The plumbing work was accomplished on Monday before it started, and since the hole was dug, the pipe revealed, and everything was ready to work on, the low end of the appraisal was charged. Now if there was only an easy remedy for the allergies that are starting up again. Mildew or mold, perhaps? I picked up some of the Costco Flonase knockoff this week (I have previously bought it at Sam's Club, but I toured Costco with a member and am comparing services.) I don't shop at any of those warehouse stores very often any more, but the considerable savings at their gas pump might be an incentive.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Oct 18 - 10:42 AM

OH:

Brittney is here and the standing written task page has been reviewed-- and she missed a biggie already (cln bowls put away IN REACH--redirected). Missed notations for 3 wks svc now entered in folder. She sez she can't clean w vinegar. ????

1 lg trash bag and 1 sm bag packed for Goodwill-- she will take. Net: 2-3 small cotton rag rugs saved for dog corner pee pads. Two milk crates freed up. Yellow curtains and coord items, pink roses twin sheets, blue floral Sailboats bedspread-- bye bye, gone.

Request for PA optometrist records found, addressed, and added to mailbox.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Oct 18 - 04:29 PM

Don, I'd keep the horse!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Donuel
Date: 08 Oct 18 - 04:01 PM

Its time for my eye drops when I only see Clearing Out the Horse.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 08 Oct 18 - 01:19 PM

OMG! Stilly, if you can't haul stuff in a legally licensed, safely driven vehicle in your state without expecting to be pulled over and searched, there's something dreadfully wrong in your state.

But you know that, and I know you know that. I'm just exercising my self-arrogated right to squeak in indignation.

I'm tired today, my head aches, and my eyes are watering and itchy, which probably means that autumnal allergens are filling the air. I went to bed last night with ambitions related to floor-washing and laundry, but the floors will have to wait. Laundry takes precedence, and those trips up and down the stairs will eat up any extra energy I might generate today.

Tomorrow is another day; I shall rise to fight again.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Oct 18 - 03:36 PM

The opportunity for the high-priced "24-hour" plumbers came and went. I called last night and the switchboard arranged to have the tech call first, then they would come out. When the tech called he hemmed and hawed and said that if he couldn't fix it the job would cost me twice because he'd have to come out again in the morning with the more experienced plumber who doesn't work the nights. So they aren't really a 24-hour plumber if the guy won't come out. I called back this morning and cancelled the Sunday morning service call - it costs a lot more to do it on the weekend and we'd decided to live with buckets of water for the time being and then went over to my ex's house so visiting house guest could take a shower. The opportunity to charge the high price evaporated when it got closer to the regular priced service being available.

We're negotiating the coming and going of family heirlooms now. Things went to a niece back east and there is still a sewing machine and table in the pickup for my daughter, sent by my sister. And I will in turn send things to my sister and son via this same pickup truck returning to their neck of the woods soon. Meanwhile, work was done in a New England state that involved the purchase of several tools and items that came in boxes with lots of Styrofoam. It apparently costs the moon to discard some of this up there so it was stuffed into five large trash bags and has been in the back of a pickup. This trash has now visited 17 states, with five more in view (because there is room in the truck and because it can go in regular trash at no extra charge in a rural western county), though we think I can borrow the ex's water bill and get into the trash and recycle facility of the next town over and discard it there. Convoluted but interesting. Especially since driving a pickup truck with a camper shell through far West Texas means you can be pulled over - "probable cause" for transporting undocumented aliens or drugs. It happened to me a while back. So - get the bagged stuff out of the truck, it looks less suspicious.

Fingers crossed it doesn't rain overnight or tomorrow morning, even though the garden could use it. The plumbing leak is under a downspout.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Oct 18 - 11:15 PM

Oh no!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Oct 18 - 10:15 PM

The standard materials available to my friend via the hardware stores in the area weren't sufficient, and my house guest is on the road, due to arrive in another hour or two. The on-call plumber has been called and I'm waiting for a response from the tech to let me know he's on the way. The hole is dug, the pipe cleared and cleaned and the latest patch is still there in place to be removed and replaced with something that comes from a regular plumber's bag of tricks. The service charge is $40 higher than normal business hours and the repair is on top of that. Hopefully we're not looking at a complicated repair.

I have pans and buckets of water here until the line is restored. There's nothing like camping out in your own house.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Oct 18 - 06:41 PM

The plumbing job is underway, with what seems to be the usual hiccough along the way. The line is old 3/4" flexible copper tubing, in rather battered shape, not readily adjusting to a patch of straight copper. It's Saturday and the hardware stores aren't open 24 hours.

Fingers crossed. Otherwise, I'll have to call a plumber and see what magic they can work.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Oct 18 - 01:24 PM

OH:

In the process of explaining a storage solution to Greg, I figured we have over 125 running board feet of shelving here, mounted at over-door height and all accessible via reacher/grabbber.

Does anyone here use a pole to get clothes off high clothes rods? I know where to GET them--are they hard to use?

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Oct 18 - 10:55 AM

Humid as can be here today and the front yard is downright soggy. Houseguest paused the night in the Atlanta area, there are a couple of stops to make on the way, but arrival is either very late tonight or sometime tomorrow. In time for the front yard mud event.

I've worked out where I'll put the fence post to complete the work of joining the neighbor's new fence to my own after the new one was offset by a couple of feet to match the actual property line. I have a spare fencepost to use (dug up after moving the fence on the other side of the house when the new garage was built.)

I'll cut up the last batch of branches off of a trimmed limb and put it with the trash for tomorrow. Yesterday I cut out two lantana plants that had been in one bed that were taking over too much and they're crammed into the bin to go to the curb. I knew they would grow too large, and thought if I kept them trimmed way back it wouldn't be too bad, but I didn't. I found several plantings of various small red lilies (spider lilies, schoolhouse lilies, etc.) under one of the plants. Nice surprise!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Donuel
Date: 05 Oct 18 - 10:39 PM

Speaking of plants and 'river Sage' I have encountered many remarkable scented Sage. They come in apple, lemon, pineapple, cinnamon and more. It has sparked an interest in the science of common scents and flavor. How they evolved into being has got to be a story worth telling. To me they are more vivid than scented geraniums.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Oct 18 - 08:26 PM

The peony was the telling clue in last night's Pie in the Sky mystery. ;-) Fussy plants.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Oct 18 - 03:05 PM

Most of my garden albums at FB are public-- here's the potted peony thread.

Potted Peony Facebook thread

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Oct 18 - 01:27 PM

OH:

For the potted peony's wintering-over bin, I picked up the first bag of there to pack it into the bin-- a 1$ bag of compost to empty into the bottom. I'll top off with mulch, and when Ms. Peony comes out in the spring, I'll have compost and mulch all set to mix with the leftover clay soil.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Oct 18 - 12:05 PM

It's an annual here also, seeding itself easily. There are people who grow a similar-looking and botanically-related Brugmansia (Richard Bridge in the UK, for one) who keep it in pots and over-winter in a greenhouse. I sent him some of the seeds from my datura but he wasn't successful growing them in his soil and climate.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 05 Oct 18 - 11:41 AM

Datura grows here as an annual. I think I'll plant some next spring; it looks so uninhibited.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Oct 18 - 11:38 AM

The weekend will offer the interesting mix of plumbing repairs concurrent with house guests. I have a roaster chicken thawing now and I'll bake it this evening so I have something ready to use for meals tomorrow in case I don't have full use of water for a while. I'm also going to make a batch of bread pudding (great for breakfast) and bake a couple of sweet potatoes (also a very nice breakfast).

I've piled up a number of items in the Goodwill bin, so a run is in order. I handed over the HP computer cabinet (sans hard drive) earlier in the week, and at that time I picked up a couple of items in the electronics section of the store and have two weeks to determine if they work or not. The radio doesn't but I have to find the right bulb for the lamp to see if it works.

My postal carrier came by just now and as we visited for a minute she realized that one of the plants I'd trimmed and added to a pile is the "moon plant" or sacred datura, something she has wanted to grow herself (and admired my plant when it was at a majestic peak with dozens of flowers in boom at a time). I grabbed a sandwich bag and scissors (those suckers are sharp!) and trimmed a few of the seed heads for her. The rest of the plant will go into a trash bag and to the curb. I don't put it in the compost because I don't want any sprouting back there where the dogs might eat it. I think Cinnamon got into seedlings one time and was acting a little odd until it wore off. (Mostly it caused her nausea.)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Oct 18 - 10:10 PM

OH:

Evening newscasts via Bluetooth has proved a reliable and productive habit to keep-- a million things straightened, stowed, prepped, planned-- out of just the genuine instinct for order. Keeps the small house organized and functional, just like policing the camper each night before bed always did.

It just makes the next day go so much better and, with no TV to encourage hypnotized stillness, I find myself just spontaneously waking thru chores that, in themselves, would be a screaming bore. BUT, by putting the main focus on the radio, it's a snap. And LOTS of walking. So daytime walking is fun and self care. Evening is for order.

Probably the bulk of it tonight was putting away the rest of the clean laundry and sheets in various targeted destinations. The two most visible results- the king sheet supply was overgrown, so I transferred a yummy, soft top sheet to the Draw Sheet bin. I turned its worn out, fitted mate into a finally-big-enough doggie dust sheet, for the wicker loveseat that Newbie usually paws to bareness. (An existing twin flat sheet I covered will go back to Goodwill-land, next time I change her bed.) It will be nice to see that slopppy loveseat finally looking neat, functional, and softly blue, in the morning.

Only after stowing all those sheets and other laundry can I now start to plan the space allocation for the catch-all linen closet, and get the needed lumber to add several new shelves, on the cleats Greg put in for me during vacay. Brittney and I may start on that, Tuesday, if funds permit.

I have a pretty good handle on how much linen will come from PA, to include in space allocation.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Oct 18 - 01:52 PM

The water bill arrived today and was huge - at least 3x normal. I figured out where - the sewer line work last November resulted in a couple of breaks in the water line, and one of them has failed. There was a dead plant standing in water right at that spot. The friend who did the sewer work owes me a concrete path repair still so I'll see if he can come over this weekend and do both.

The front yard is mowed and I'll take the trimmer out later. It's cool-down time for a while first. I took a look at the fence work - it has stopped right now and they need to replace the piece facing the street and where there is a gate. This is my cue to plan my couple of sections of fence on that side.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Oct 18 - 01:38 PM

Corrected post to replace ppst just previous.

OH:

Look ma, it's a planning day!

BEDROOM CLOSET PLAN

A persistent functional challenge has been raising our bed to its PA height for underbed storage. When it's raised, I can't sit on the side of the bed to take meds or get dressed, and I've loved being able to dress in my BR for the first time in 20+ years!

So I rethought how to do that differently while still maintaining sufficient traffic clearance for both of us, to the closet which is on my side of the bed.

A simultaneous challenge has been gun safe placement, in the same room best suited to secure (and access) the contents.

The solution to both challenges began to take shape one night while I sat on the side of the bed, appreciating the handsome curtains we prefer instead of ceiling-height sliding closet doors. There's a jog in the wall beside the closet.... the closet's built-in center divider is set well back IN the closet for hooks.... *what if we brought the curtain rod forward about 12 inches!*

I was going to give up half of my closet, and swap sides with Greg, to put the gun safe into my side! NOOOOO!!!

With the new plan, we each retain our existing BR closets which, as desired, can be further modified w add in-closet plywood/hook storage.

What I did to make this plan:
. Relocated the planned gun safe locay to the center of the closet opening, with its back inside the present closet-- up against the built-in closet divider;
. Relocated bedside commode to sit on;
. Relocated laundry hamper beside commode;
. Included my PA step to get into bed on my side, which I'll tuck just under the edge of the bed frame;
. We'll add our respective plastic drawers-- my present PA bathroom rolling tower, on my side, will tuck behind the curtain without blocking access to clothes. Greg's similar black DR-storage drawers can go in on his side, but he may prefer a different configuration; he also has a low, black shelf in his PA closet. Mine will hold bedtime meds and toiletries.

Anticipated costs almost nil-- a 2nd wood dowel curtain rod and brackets for the closet valance, which were planned anyway, and 2 Command hooks for the side of the gun safe, to anchor curtain-swagbacks he'll sew from fabric on hand. Perhaps wall hooks above the drawer units and/or over the gun safe; perhaps storage baskets or other high storage on top of the gun safe, up to the ceiling.

Thank you Uncle Bob!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Oct 18 - 11:55 AM

SRS, are you mulching with shredded paper?

A friend is doing that with her lasagna gardening. She doesn't shred though-- uses a small chipper she bought herself.

No big work planned here today (sick/resting), but my decor eye just spotted a GREAT place for a storage item Greg built which I had thought he would have to give away.

The LR, open-concept to kitchen, is approximately square. One wall is mostly a picture window, in front of which is a round dinette table with 2 chairs-- the table expands to oval for 4-6, with a leaf stored right in the table.

The chairs and loveseat are arranged in a semicircle facing the window, for a "conversation pit". Tiny side tables preclude the need for a central coffee table, but there's a wicker one easily grabbed.

This leaves 4 corners for storage furniture.
Clockwise (to the left of the dinette), one corner has had a tower for radio and books, and a floor lamp behind it that washes the light, up.

To the right of the dinette is the front door. That corner has a sideboard, as a landing pad and low divider to the open-concept kitchen. (Also can be sat on, and also can be Germination Station.)

The 3rd corner, diagonal to the book/radio tower, has a loveseat dbl recliner with floor lamp behind, for reading. Behind the recliner has been a go-corner-- items on their way back to PA. I also keep folding chairs back there, and I have a small, country-cute, low mini-toybox to go there after Greg repairs its lid. I store doggie dust sheets in it.

It's the 4th corner, diagonally across from the front door corner, where I suddenly saw that jelly cabinet Greg had built for church office storage. At present, the wicker loveseat is there, diagonally, as part of the conversation pit.... which is a tad back of the ideal conversation placement. But moved FORWARD, it (or another recliner) will make just enough space for that much-loved piece!

Continuing clockwise around the room is the corner I first described-- with the radio/book tower? As seen from the rooms entry point, the tall jelly cabinet and radio/book tower appear at the far end of the room, balancing each other. I see the sculpture on top of the jelly cupboard already.

These two pieces-- the backlit towers-- will "frame" the two faux windows on the back wall. Catters who came to our MudGathers will recall these from the old MudDorm.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Oct 18 - 11:01 AM

I forgot to mention that I finally completed a daffodil and iris transplant project this fall. I had photos of a two-color daffodil that mudcatter Janie liked and asked for a few bulbs, and at a local friends house we were comparing garden photos last spring and she asked about the dusky yellow little irises that are all over my yard. I never thought anything about them, but she doesn't have any that color, so last month I pulled up a large clump (that had actually started colonizing a portion of a concrete walk, making them very easy to dislodge) and delivered them to her house during an evening event there.

I still have a few corms and bulbs and seeds around here for if people ask me for samples, but this year's requests were all fulfilled.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Oct 18 - 10:35 AM

Good move, Michelle! I've just joined the "Silver Sneaker" organization or program or whatever it is that my university is a part of. It gives you access to facilities and programs for free once you're retired - and it might be for anyone over 50? I haven't used it yet, I just signed up yesterday.

The next bin full of small branches is at the curb along with the large dog food bag that every two or three weeks I use to put trash in. I shredded more file contents since I found several folders with rebate and purchase information from computers more than a dozen years ago and long gone. I need to mow the lawn this morning but first I had to have the trash ready since they'll be here any time. I'll finish drinking my morning cuppa tea before I mow. It will be much easier without that cactus obstacle that always had tall grass growing out from under it where the mower couldn't reach. There's still one branch to cut up and I'll do that in time for Monday's trash pickup.

Dog towels (the ones that get laid on the floor in front of the dog door on wet days) are in for a long heavy duty wash this morning. There will be more things like that happening today and tomorrow as I prepare for guests who will spend a few days.

I have to finish paying the bills and for the first time in ages I paid a couple of things by check. That's as rare as hen's teeth. If I renew AARP online it costs $20 more than if I pay by check. I think because the online offer includes a "free gift."

Time to mow and then consider putting up a fence panel in front. They seem to have finished all but putting up gates on the new fence next door.

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

OH:

Now that the small but very heavy TV in the Liberation Library has been moved onto the TV stand , the closet section it had occupied can be cleaned out. I've been storing much-loved sets of curtains in there, pending house decor decisions, because they coordinate with the paint in that room but could also have been used elsewhere. Now that decor xhoices have been made, its time to pass them into the Goodwill stream, mostly. I'll save a few scraps for the textile swatch memory book I'm making. And I'll save a set for the two garage windows-- no reason it can't be pretty out there!

I'm hoping the two file cabinets I measured will fit in the former TV space, but I know for sure that one will; I can move that one by myself and have a lot more room in the Liberation Library for visitors. The other one in the garage will only come in if it will fit (to hold office supplies).

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Oct 18 - 09:30 PM

I've added more stuff to the stack that goes to family in the Pacific Northwest via visiting family here as part of a long road trip. A pickup is involved, so I can send quite a bit back. This will be my focus for the next couple of days when I'm working in the house. Declutter via palming it off on the kids and siblings. :)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 Oct 18 - 09:28 PM

I spent a few hours on Sunday afternoon going through my fabric and reorganizing. I have an upcoming quilting retreat this fall and another scheduled for the spring. I think my goal for the winter will be to separate out all the fabric I know I won't use (much of it was given to me) and take it to the spring retreat where I can sell it or share with someone else. I'm not even close to being done reorganizing that room but it did make a dent.

On the fitness front, I'm trying something new. There is a LiveStrong program that offers 12 weeks of personal training, 2 hours at a shot, twice a week. I will go for the interview and initial screening (6 minute walk to check heart rate, measurements, weight, flexibility and current strength limits) on Thursday. It's offered to cancer survivors at no cost and includes child care too....I hope I can follow through with this, I think it holds a lot of potential for several good things. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Oct 18 - 09:06 PM

OH:

Brittney folded one hamper full of clean laundry and I have put that laundry away. A second large hamper-batch is now folded for putting away tomorrow. A third batch for further attention tmrw is in the washer-- the soiled bedding from the bed change.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Oct 18 - 07:18 PM

OH:

Slept very poorly, so I had a short nap after Brittney arrived. Then we re-constructed the foam camping mattresses that have been rotaing as well as trying to scoot off the foot end of the bed, and changed the sheets plus several pillowcases.

I made a new leg pillow case, and the linens went to the wash.

I moved the old analog TV to the TV stand (ouch but it was over her lifting limit). She unpacked the new cable box, but more co-ax is needed to see if the digital-to-analog converter will work (or if Greg has to bring me our smaller TV during our late-October weekend). The DVD player is now re-connected through that converter and is working-- TBTG Tyler hadnt taken that.

Picking up more election signs plus a garden outing w Judy were followed by an overdue movie review of the first film dated by person of color. I can post that at FB for her shortly-- scene by scene synopsis plus keywords/discussion Q's-- much more detail than IMDb, and geared for a discussion facilitator.

I just gave the bed a quick test, and it's wonderful. We'll have to hitch it back into position weekly, but we did put non-slip pads between the two foam layers-- which may at least help it stop separating sideways.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Oct 18 - 05:36 PM

I had a LOT of company out in front along the street today because the next door neighbor has two guys building a new fence, three guys trimming his trees, and electricians and plumbers coming and going inside the house. So instead of joining the racket I worked on the opposite side of the yard by the driveway where a cactus has gotten large and is in the way when I mow. At one time I had a landscaping plan over there that would include some agave, yucca, a couple of desert willows and a pathway of rocks. I couldn't keep the Bermuda grass out of everything so I gave up and ended up later pulling all of it and putting in the vegetable garden. Everything was gone except the cactus at the bottom of the slope.

I've intended to take it out for a while anyway. I toted three wheelbarrows full of pads to the property behind my back fence (also my property, but too close to the creek to place a fence) and another three or four across the road into the woods where they will look lovely if they take root over there. There are a few already taking root in the back, the ones today will probably have time to take hold before we have such heavy rain again that that area floods.

That cactus has been there for 16 years so is about 18" at the base. I don't have a saw long enough to take the whole thing off at ground level so I sawed off slabs of the main trunk and will finish it another day. I also trimmed the vitex limbs stacked nearby that I'm meaning to compress and put in the trash for pickup on Thursday. I still have to take the loppers and do more cutting on those. In all, though, it was a couple of hours well-spent and will make it much easier to mow out there. I think the next-door tree guys will finish today so I'll mow tomorrow.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Oct 18 - 11:07 AM

Big push today in the yard. Being retired doesn't mean the lawn mows itself. There's a list of things to do later on when I make the run over to Goodwill, and a separate list for tomorrow when I have a couple of appointments. These days I wish I could pay for services with produce (I take garden goodies to my hairdresser when stuff is in season).

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Oct 18 - 12:11 AM

OH:

I set up a new personal schedule to coordinate a better structure around Brittney's weekly assistance; today was packed with small chores I could easily do on my own that pave the way for her work tomorrow. In the other days of the week I mapped put health and self care times. I've been needing this structure for so long!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 01 Oct 18 - 07:13 PM

Beaver:

Load of laundry done today; still drying some in the house as the sun did not last long enough!

Kiln is loaded ready to turn on at 7 pm - for the "off peak" rate. With any luck - weather dependent - I shall be able to glaze tomorrow and fire tomorrow night. Still no transport to Montreal. R can take it back with him after Thanksgiving but that means Hannah will not have it for T dinner. I emailed her a warning. She has two BIG piles of my bowls already! Just not plain white!

Brought in some sage and some comfrey for drying.

Made a comment at the public meeting re proposed, and prob will pass, aggregate quarry, yesterday. After three years, some are still complaining that they do not have enough info; I believe they would only be satisfied if the info said what they want it to say --no quarry.They also complain about not having their say: letters to editor? phone calls to Township, to County?? to the company involved? What do they want really? Oh, yeah, their way!

We went to the info eve last year; we were the last to leave; I suspect the info providers were as worn out as I was. I just sat while my resident geologist/scientist (R) asked every possible question at each info station; he declares it will not affect us and we are very close. I am sorry people insist on continuing to be upset. Neighbour Larry finally commented to the effect that two years after it starts, no one will even notice it is there.

My comments began with the hope that we would respect each others differences but I am feeling rather fed-up with all the whining. Determined not to say so! I will refrain from another letter to editor as I do believe it unnecessary. The research has been done by numerous agencies. The country is ready to approve or the mtng would not have been held. This is not a foreign company but local residents of the second and third generation, a highly respected local company, an asset to the community for 69 years or more.

Pottery firing. Brain thinking...

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Oct 18 - 05:02 PM

I took a closer look at the fenceline and the part I'm going to have to do. I'll have to start that right a way to be ready when they finish, or there will be a gap out there.