Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Jan 18 - 03:59 AM

Acme, I don't know and won't be talking with my friend for several weeks, but I bet Google can find it.

....

Apologies if this has been run before, but it describes several things I've found helpful in our downsized little Ohio house:

5 Things People With Tidy Homes Don’t Do:
http://thenester.com/2016/03/5-things-people-with-tidy-homes-dont-do.html

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Jan 18 - 09:41 PM

The head cold symptoms are decreasing so I got some exercise today climbing stairs at work and walking the dogs when I got home. Paper is still on most horizontal surfaces, but I managed to clear my computer desk. There is micro glitter on my desk and keyboard because I finished the holiday cards and mailed them on Monday. Not in time for the holiday, but at least people will hear from me!

I need to make a push to clear out old containers in the fridge (condiments rarely used that are now way past shelf date, etc.) but that can wait till the weekend. And I need to move buckets of compost slurry from the side of the house back to dump into the big compost pile. The dearly departed pitbull illustrated perfectly the term "dogged" in her pursuit of food, even digging deep into the compost. The other two have a typical dog-like interest, but I can police dog poop from the yard into a bucket, cover it over with water for a few minutes then pour that dog-dropping tea over the compost and they have no more interest in eating anything in there. It didn't always work with the pitbull.

Susan, that fitness program sounds organic and welcoming. Does it have a name? I'd like to look at the program and see if they are affiliated anywhere else.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Jan 18 - 05:02 PM

OH:

Let's see... I left PA Saturday in subzero/windchill hell, and had some road budget hiccups causing my planned overnight stop to come an hour earlier than planned, at a cushier known motel where I was forced to sleep in and take Newbie to the inside-hallways on site Mexican restaurant for further svc dog training. They remembered me and fed/watered her as well.

When I got back on the road I drove thru the Sharon Pipeline section of 80, which is totally owned by the semi's needing to change lanes fast and dangerous to "swing" the hills surrounding that areas multiple, intersecting truck routes. The wind had gone but it had left the ditches full of tipped-over and broken semi's. I was grateful for that inner voice insisting I not push thru the Pipeline to reach my planned motel!!!

Having NOT put away everything in the Ohio house to welcome myself back with a tidied magazine layout, I had zero confusion upon entry-- and feel like I never left. The first night I could have sworn Hardi was right here with me-- he must have been praying while missing me again. Newbie likewise settled right in, first night. It has usually taken me several days to adjust my mind.

So I've had a very productive few days here. Hardi loaded what I'd packed in such a way that I had only one small bag, my heavy purse, and the dog to unload upon arrival thru the frozen slush blocking the front door. I'd left a lot more food in the freezer and pantry than remembered-- dinner on hand and brekky to thaw. No need to shop thru icy roads.

The next morning (Monday), I found the snowboots here, got the garage unlocked, moved the jam-packed car into it, and brought one more bag in (meds). And slept a bunch more.

Ydy (Tuesday), was given to haircut (goodbye old styles), doc appt prep (paperwork), dog meds refill picked up, two bags' essential groceries-- no room in still-loaded car! Jammed to ceiling! And phone calls to restart sociopolitical stuff from the fall. I planted the paperwhites I'd left myself in the fridge, using up gravel I'd also left-- in pretty glass tumblers I'd found in November in the garage..... more napping....

Tdy was the actual doc appt (they OKd Newbie coming next time), MY meds picked up, and a toenail trim for Newbie at the enormous kennel where they know her, on sight, by name. Then before my new cold's fever could catch me, I 'girl-power'-unloaded 2/3 of the car into garage space cleared in November, and was able to catch the 12-year-old neighbor getting off the bus for muscling the cargo over the next few days, during the anticipated Friday snowstorm. I brought in one strategic armload.

That leaves tomorrow (Thursday) to fill the car back up w groceries and dog food, bringing in only what must come in, tmrw-- a lot can sit in the car for me to bring in gradually, in my snow boots.

Till then, the thaw and sunshine between snowstorms here has shown me a good look at my thriving, sleeping gardens.


I can mostly only skim the thread to see everyone's great progress: GogogoGO!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Jan 18 - 04:27 PM

Charmion,

A good friend on mine found a Baltimore, Maryland gym program that has some neat features i can see spreading thru the US retired-folks marketplace. Maybe Canada has these here and there, too.

As I understand her reportage thru my own envy, the first signup period includes physical-therapy-level trainers to assess what FITNESS workouts-- not PT routines-- are possible as the new member's gentle and DOABLE starting point. It's a 60 or 90-day program with many incentives to come 2-4 days/week and form the habit.

Then, there's a huge discount on a second, ongoing membership on the other side of the facility-- which looks more like most gyms most folks start with and then fail to keep up with.... group work, classes, self-led rotation thru strength/cardiovascular machines-- the whole candy shop with staff to facilitate machine use... and the option to get back with your 1st trainer anytime you want their tweaking.

The idea is that max help at startup can train we brilliant retirees to have fun NOT hurting ourselves.

My friend and her much-more-challenged roommate are having a ball now, having graduated to that 2nd level's harder machines and colder pools.

And this theory of fitness marketing seems to be percolating into the Ohio Y near the house we hope to get into fulltime (before we 'decrep' our way into more restrictive levels of senior living).

Now the big advantage there, cost-wise, is that Y memberships are adjusted for income. Yeah baby! The local Y pool is great (I have used it every Ohio vacay), they have a great basement full of strength machines plus main level cardio with windows and... wait for it....

The brand NEW facility-- blocks from our little house-- breaks ground this fall. Walk, walker, bike, and/or scooter range! Pension benefits include part of membership fee! :-)

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: LilyFestre
Date: 09 Jan 18 - 06:58 PM

No extra decluttering this week but I did join the YMCA and went walking on the treadmill last night. :)

Michelle

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

I signed up for a year of personal training at the Goodlife Fitness gym here, at no little cost. While I sign on the dotted line and mentally add the price to our burgeoning monthly budget, I mentally castigate myself for lacking the willpower to do the workouts on my own, like the wiry seniors and buff young people I see routinely on the gym floor. But then I tell myself -- sternly -- that the trainer not only prevents me from hurting myself, as I have done in the past, but also ensures that I get my arse to the gym in the first place, and that I do the exercises I don't like as well as the ones I don't mind. (I can't honestly say that I like any of them.)

So much of the fitness industry's rhetoric is about finding something you love to do, or find amusing ("fun"!), but when I'm honest I have to admit that the activity I like best is sitting and reading, followed closely by doing the New York Times crossword puzzle. In third place is cooking. None of these pass-times does a darn thing for my cardiac efficiency or the capability of my waning musculature. Damn it.

It has just finished snowing after two days of accumulation, and the temperature is hovering around the freezing point. Rain is in the forecast for tomorrow and Thursday, which means that the highway from Stratford to Kitchener will be quite unpleasant when I set out on my monthly pilgrimage to the doctor for my dose of the magic anti-asthma drug. The GPS always directs me to the county road that parallels the highway a few kilometers to the north, but in foul weather that is a terrible idea; the last time I took it going east, the wake from a west-bound farm truck doing no more than the speed limit literally covered my windshield with slush. The heavier highway traffic will have cleared most of the crud off the asphalt by the time I leave home, so the extra driving time the highway route requires will pay for itself in stress reduction.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Jan 18 - 08:47 PM

Several items on eBay sold this weekend; it seems that when they are forced to stay indoors people shop online. I need to get more stuff listed while it's still cold outside. It's nice to send these things to a new home and see the shrinking pile of boxes on my bench in the sunroom.

After two weeks close to home I did some running around today; a trip to the airport, personal errands, and shopping. My fitness routine will start up again next week with returning to exercise classes (hopefully the coughing will have cleared up). I visited a favorite thrift store and found an item for eBay and one for me.

I have done some more paper filing and while organizing my computer desk I dug out the previous set of speakers to replace the poor results I get from the built-in monitor speakers. That about does me in for the day, this cold hasn't completely lifted yet.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 07 Jan 18 - 12:54 PM

Montreal:

65F sounds heavenly! Forecast is for 32F at least one day soon. I need to check on snow conditions - and icy road conditions, in hopes of getting back to Beaver SOON! Before the snows start again. Emailed next door neighbour to, please, check the bathroom. If pipes break, pump could pump until it burns out - gallons of water flooding the house.... A major clutter I would prefer not to have.

Brunch yesterday ended up at a buffet: it was warm and we spent almost 2 hours eating and eating. At $12.99/each, it was well worth it and yummy. I only ingested veggies and protein until 2 small cake squares for dessert. The house was still cold but we ingested enough calories to cope. I ingested enough to go to bed with a book, after falling asleep downstairs with coat and hat on - ah warmth! And was able to cook porridge for BF this am; the house still 52F!

I have had to accept that plants at the mill and some at Beaver are probably history (category of brain de-clutter).

It is supposed to be warming today but no sign of it yet in here. Guess I need to go back upstairs with my book - or wrap in a quilt.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Jan 18 - 11:22 AM

There seems to have been an explosion of paper over the course of the last week. It's the usual transition from one year to the next, but my having been out of sorts for several days meant I didn't attend to it. Today it greeted me in all of it's glory around my office. Looks like it's a day of shredding and filing.

Charmion, that door sounds like a smallish nightmare - does it end up looking like a normal doorway after all of those shims were put in?

Congratulations on the recertification, Michelle! (And the drawers!)

Stay warm, everyone!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Jan 18 - 08:40 PM

Today warmed to about 65^o so I wrapped up the two strings woven through the juniper and cut a length of cardboard to use for wrapping the two strings of different types of lights that were on the front porch. The wreath that I'd completely forgotten is now also put away and I've disassembled the macrame basket that used to have lights wrapped around the hemp cords and blinked various patterns or glowed and dimmed until two of the colors stopped working completely. Now that set is in the electronics recycle bag. I found some new lights on sale a Walgreens and have added them to the basket to assemble next year.

Picked up a steam humidifier that will live under the bathroom cabinet when not in use. I cleared some of the towels out of there a few weeks ago so there's room.

For the holidays this year my ex gave me a kind of a joke (but practical) gift - for years I've had several dozen old terrycloth wash cloths that were used at the table when the kids were little. I still pull them out but they're tattered, and mostly I use them for cleaning surfaces in the kitchen. He gave me a box filled with new terrycloth washcloths. They're already in the bin in the kitchen, ready for use. The others are in a ragbag right now, and as they get too stained, will be tossed into the trash.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 06 Jan 18 - 11:55 AM

Montreal:
Bitterly cold. Going out for BF --- well lunch. Well, if it is lunch, there is soup ready that I made yesterday! I would, however, like a room that is at least 60F, not the 49 it was when I came down a short while ago. The BR is warm! May be where I spend the day.

Yes, Maggie, I do wish for this house to be sold. The one in Bancroft is so much better but too far for R. I suspect even that might be cool at minus 35C! But over 49F!

Charmion- ah yes, the joys of an old, poorly built house. We know it well! Congratulations on one more nasty job completed.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jan 18 - 10:30 PM

We've made a neat arrangement w a Mudcatter to take our old vinyl, and maybe auction off some of it to benefit Mudcat. My end on that today was researching best practices (and best shipping boxes), so that he and Hardi can work out the transfer while I'm in NoWiFiLand (sporadic access online) thru March 1. Hardi's next step is figuring how many boxes he'll need.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jan 18 - 10:26 AM

Thanks, Acme; hope you're feeling better too.

We're in the same weather LF just described.

Yesterday AM Newbie-Dog manifested that her cold and drafty corner was beyond her ability to stay warm, so we added layers under her at bedtime and into her corner she went... but I wasn't sure she'd handle the dropping temp and faster dropping wind chill so I came back down due to not falling asleep and added much more, thinking that if she used it instead of taking it apart to shred I'd spend some time today putting in a small chair to really get her off that drafty floor-- the one I can't stand to stand on myself.

Making the too-small seat big enough without making it all too big for the tight space where it will have to fit .... I had enough cheap quilts I'm not married to, and she's busy now making it her smells and lumps.

Later it will go into her corner for use tonight (and next winter), and the pretty and thick rug I folded for her will cover the bare, cold tile at the foot of the chair so that she has a cool-off spot, cuz she likes to alternate. The rug available hapoens to be GORGEOUS, and the chair is an old boudoir chair given to us years ago. I think using these for Her Highness's palace boudoir makes sense! The flounced are safe from chewing now that the crappies qhilt has gone on top to use and discard.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 05 Jan 18 - 09:47 AM

The new patio door was installed in the dining-room yesterday with maximum strain on a crew of three carpenters. The outside temperature at noon was about -13C and never clambered any higher than that, so the house was thoroughly chilled by the time they finished.

Everything went fairly swimmingly until the original garden door was extracted and the new door -- carefully measured not once, not twice, but four times -- DID NOT FIT. Close examination revealed that the two-by-four framing timbers were set in crooked, so the opening did not have four 90-degree angles, but instead was a parallelogram wider at the top than the bottom. Much agony ensued.

Every installation job of this type involves extensive shimming, so the shop materials brought for the job included one great big box of long, skinny wedges of wood used to square up the new door (or window, or cabinet) from side to side, and another great big box of thin, flat shingle-like pieces to be stacked on the sill-plate to bring the door to a certain height -- usually about an inch -- above the level of the interior floor. By the time they had finished, both boxes were empty and the crew chief had sent back for more.

To set the new door into the irregular opening, the carpenters had to left it into the frame, add shims, add more shims, take out some shims, put in more shims, check the level, and then take the whole thing apart and start again -- at least six times. They all went for lunch at about 2:00 p.m., then came back and resumed the attack. I offered tea and biscuits at 4:30, but they had finally achieved the correct degree of plumb-ness and level-ness and could not stop until the job was finished.

The entire job was supposed to take "a couple of hours". The crew arrived at about 9:15 a.m. and the last guy left at about 6:30 p.m., sweeping up plaster dust as he went.

We now have only the tiler to go, and I'm not sure if the kitchen contractor even knows where he is, let alone when he is prepared to tackle our backsplash and the holes in our floor. That will be the last major messy and expensive thing we do to this house for a long, long time.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jan 18 - 08:33 PM

I've wondered how it is for you and Max and some of our regular New England participants. On NPR this evening someone described seeing a man on skis being pulled down the street by a pickup - in South Carolina.

Susan, I hope your bug clears up enough so you can comfortably make your trip. There's nothing worse than trying to travel when all you want to do is curl up somewhere warm and take a nap.

Holiday ornaments are down, the lights are still in the yard until it warms enough to retrieve them comfortably. Photo cube is set up on the dining room table and I'll be using it for the next batch of eBay items. It's a cloth device that allows light to diffuse and give clear photos uncluttered with background objects or shadows. It folds down to about the size of a stack of dinner plates when compressed.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 Jan 18 - 06:26 PM

I currently have 5 bags of books and 4 bags of clothes decluttered from Jeremiah's room.

I had a stressful recertification exam at work (which allows me to run assessments) and it was making me twitchy nervous so instead of doing the assessment right away I dumped two desk drawers that have been getting on my nerves right onto the top of my desk. I puttered, sorted and organized and ended up with some spectacular looking drawers and THEN I took the assessment. I passed on the first try (it will let you try different versions only so many times and then you are blocked for the year of administering that particular assessment).   Hooray for decluttering relaxation!   

I have an impressive collection of pens, post-its, paper clips and clasps.......all very neatly organized with all the other things that make my office run like a well oiled piece of machinery! :)

It's bitter cold here, many schools are already closed for tomorrow. Temperatures are predicted to be -20 to -30 with the windchill. Stay warm everyone!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jan 18 - 01:35 PM

Dorothy, it sounds like time to declutter yourselves of that house to someone who will come in and completely redo the insides. Clearly you're not going to be the ones to handle that. The smaller projects have sounded great, but that big one is too much!

A shower helped clear my head this morning as a sinus infection runs its course. It's sunny today so when it gets above freezing I'll walk over to the sheltered spot in the yard next to the greenhouse and stand for a few minutes with my face in the sun. That always feels therapeutic! No doubt I'll have dogs for company, they also enjoy that sunny nook (they're the ones who use it most of the time.)

Many rest areas along major highways have free WiFi connections. They may be slow, but they're there. My old phones were kind of clunky for connecting, but smart phones of the newest generations (in the last five years or so) are much better at finding and connecting.

I sent a note to Patty about some of my favorite spots to visit in South and west Texas.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Jan 18 - 12:35 PM

Separate post due to fone screen limits... leaving PA Saturday for OH without wifi and on ridiculously slow data plan. Will try to keep up as conditions permit, maybe via fone memo app composition but batch-posting at odd wifi hotspot opportunities. Lot of measuring on this trip planned but budget precludes garden purchases for spring planting.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Jan 18 - 12:31 PM

CLUTTER-BUSTERS

I like it!

We are truly that amazing group of women and men. I for one cannot begin to calculate the sheer volume of gone goods we might have amassed-- it would be fun some time to estimate and add up our respective cubic yards of goners!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 03 Jan 18 - 12:19 PM

(Have not used computer since 23 December.)
Montreal:
The following is a note I wrote to friends about our craze life:

"Since John gave me near half a day of COLD labour for which I am beyond grateful, I have spent a week in Montreal - to spend time with Robin, who was away for most of that time, and the house was beyond terrible. We managed to get back to Bancroft in time for the Christmas Dinner at the Legion and a quiet week of recuperation for him, which was not enough time. We came safely back to Montreal on First, to frozen pipes and a 34F house. Put on as many little electric heaters as the circuits would hold and went to supper. It was almost up to 40 when we returned.

I was going to leave on Tuesday - enough is too much! - but it was snowing when we went out for BF - after sleeping with ALL my clothes on, including my coat. I called Harvest Moon (in Bancroft) while we were at BF, to see what it was doing there: "If you are safe there, stay there!" said Arlene. Darn!

By late afternoon, the house was about 58. (It warmed up outside.) How could he have lived here since 1982... But he had only been camping out - work has been his life and I am in the way in a sense. He is glad to have me but this house has never been a priority ....... He is trying ---VERY!

Last night, he got enough heat in the upstairs BR for a comfortable night! There is actually some baseboard heat up there! The LR is still 59! I sit with a cube heater on my feet and read or watch TV or use computer, with a throw on my legs ... Resigned to being here until Saturday when we will be between snows, or so the forecasts say. Is it really only Wednesday? I feel like I have been here at least a week!

I intend to stay in Bancroft for an extended period. At least there I can be warm - throw another log on the fire! Here, I feel like setting the house on fire. Robin did that as he was thawing the pipes; he "found" the rat's nest under floor of the kitchen counter. Arghhh!

The saga of the battery continues: Car would not start after Christmas - at -30. R warmed up the old battery in the K sink full of HOT water and boosted the NEW one. He believes there is a bad connection somewhere but he is not looking for it in this cold. He bought a booster pack. (I used to have a really good one but he needed it somewhere else and...)

How can someone so brilliant be so dumb, so totally disorganized. I wonder how he has managed to live 70 years with so little attention to self care or comfort. He cheerfully agrees!

Gee, I was thinking I might go to the Atwater Market (about 6 blocks away) but R went out ... - Oh! He has not taken my car... but he will need it to get to his truck (elsewhere!), with the battery for it which someone caused to go dead after being told to be sure and close the door or the battery will run down... He brought the battery here yesterday for TLC ... It was a new battery...

Then he came down from upstairs where he had been texting, etc in the warm BR! Now he has gone off ----but he forgot the battery for the truck!

So, here I sit... I delight in Charmion's new kitchen!!! And in mrzzy's success! and whoever I have missed... May we each have a de-cluttering new year! And stay warm! or cool, as the case may be.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: pattyClink
Date: 03 Jan 18 - 11:05 AM

It is definitely a prime time for selling things. I sent off a good many tools, gadgets, and stereo components to guys snowed in on the Great Plains and upper Midwest last year. I could just picture them down in the basement workshop, bored by not being able to get out and do much.

I'm in the Rio Grande Valley where the weather has been nasty, palm fronds are blowing off the trees, constant cold rain and drizzle, but at least not below pipe-freezing threshold. I know everyone else is suffering worse, except for those in the far Southwest. Will shove off towards Arizona in a couple days when the hard freezes let up.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jan 18 - 10:48 AM

People seems to do more shopping over the holiday break. I had a number of small items ship yesterday and more today. No going outside in this cold, might as well check out eBay, apparently! I have quite a few decommissioned but functional electronic items to list and now seems a really good time to do it since I'm not going out in the cold, especially with this new year sinus infection. First bill of the year was a co-pay at the doctor's office.

Patty, you had a great year with everything you managed to do. I'd love to hear where you're traveling (and I hope you're staying warm right now - there aren't many places in the U.S. this week that are comfortable for mobile dwellings!)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: pattyClink
Date: 02 Jan 18 - 08:57 PM

2017 was a good year, I managed to clear out my house and sell it. Had an epic moving sale which went very well, aside from all the other hauling-off and selling and donating. Did keep a group of things in storage that are worth keeping. My goal for 2018 is going to be to organize and thin that herd too, but can't work at it daily since I'm roaming around the country, seeing the sights.   As far as my little house on wheels, still a bit too much stuff, but mostly there is a place for everything and everything is stowed away, at least on travel days.

Anyway, Happy New Year, clutter-busters. Hope everyone is able to simplify or optimize or whatever your personal goal may be.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Jan 18 - 11:50 AM

PA:

I was supposed to leave for Ohio this AM, but lingering crud-bugs have held me up. I'm hoping the antibiotics get me underway by Friday!

I've been "enjoying" a premature opportunity to bid farewell to more PA items as I focus on what to truck out in May. I always did like pre-grieving inevitable goodbyes; this round seems to be about furniture-repurposing projects I'd have loved to have done, that we will definitely never be able to do.

It turns out that it's enough for me that I've enjoyed finding out/planning how to have done them. (There are only so many clear-coated antiques I can put in my garden-- and the Ohio house can't possibly hold more pieces than I've already planned.) So, more to leave for the parish yard sale.

One item that was hard to decide about was a much-loved antique rocker my SIL gave me 30 years ago. She had wanted it back at one point so she got first refusal. It's a reddish-stained oak, someone's homemade craftsman knockoff of a well-known type. (I can tell because it's not quite square.) She and I decided together to avoid the Californy shipping hassle and donate it to the church. Afyer we decided that, at first I envisioned it in one particular church location... but I have some fabric that's almost a dead match for some church hangings, and it will be a lovely addition to the Chapel that houses the Columbarium, for folks to set a spell with the memories of loved ones inurned there. I'll add a donors' plaque and a rug to go under it, to keep it in the Chapel and out of the yard sale. There's an almost-matching companion chair we're also leaving, to pair with it, that also sees occasional duty for bishops' visits. (We've talked for YEARS about a non-pew sitting spot in there!!!)

In a recent spelunking of an upstairs closet, I found some of the priscilla curtains I've loved so much here in this old house that are no longer available; some of the downstairs priscillas may be too old to wash once more, but I think the found ones can replace any that do fall apart. They are spead out around in two adjoining rooms, so the color doesn't have to match perfectly. One set is ivory and one is white. (A tan dye job should make them all work well enough.) As long as I have enough intact for the living room, that works!

I was able to fill out a truck-sized packing list after several relaxed chats with Hardi, about priorities-- we love those long drives where we dream about retirement dates we still can't plan. I'm wondering if our final move will happen while we still have two cars to deal with, in which case a pod would be better than a last truckload.... or whether by then we'll be down to one vehicle. (I do like the idea of a pod we can take our time UNloading, but I'm sure keeping em ain't cheap.)


Wishing all a good year with house-happiness,

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 02:47 PM

Great minds think alike - bed linens changed, and for a while the down comforter is in place. I didn't use it at all last year. We still have a big family event - probably tomorrow - it'll be our xmas and new year rolled into one. I have to keep cleaning and clearing, wrapping, and putting things away. I don't have many decorations out this year, I do need to make two xmas stockings (we've used temporary ones for a couple of years for repeat visitors - that writing is on the wall.) The goal is to have things ready for the event and afterward be able to put away the few ornaments and the house is finished with the holidays. I'll turn off the dusk-to-dawn sensors for the outside lights after the family event, then take the lights in when it warms up a little.

The big box stores put storage containers on sale this time of year but I've managed to declutter enough that I disaccessioned several of those bins, stacked for now in a little-used closet. No more buying bins. I'm not ready to get rid of them, they help when it comes to sorting (whatever - fabric, crafting items, paper, etc.). I have to sort the craft room soon, but for now I'll use the bins to stash things piled on the bed so I have two guest rooms.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 12:52 PM

Thanks for maintaining this thread, Acme. All through this tumultuous year, I have found it a useful place to pound out my dread and frustration, and to brag when I have accomplished a mission, however trivial.

I refuse to believe that neatness is trivial, but some of the steps I take to get there sure can look that way.

I have a tentative taker for the Wedgwood majolica, thank God; Himself's sister-in-law nibbled gently at the bait and may be convinced to take ten fruit nappies and a frankly gorgeous 12-inch serving bowl off my hands. The rest, I think, can be safely consigned to the church bazaar in the Spring.

It's New Year's Eve and a Sunday, and so it is washday. I like to start the new year with clean towels and a clean bed.

Not too much to ask.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 11:23 AM

What a year - people with new jobs, people with new houses, people with remodeled houses, people with improved health, and much more.

I propose to let this thread continue - a while back I took the year out of the title to this end - but one issue that sometimes arises as threads get longer is that they are slow to load on portable devices. If several people have this problem, let me know and I can reconsider. In the meantime, if you open the main Mudcat page and see this thread in the list, if you click on the number to the right of the thread title that will open it chronologically from the beginning but with only 50 posts and links to the rest of the pages. You can click on that last link to get to the current page. OR, you can click on that little blue ^d next to the number and that will open the thread at the most recent post and read in descending order.

I have a few articles that I return to for inspiration, and The Tyranny of the Heirloom from the New York Times is at the top of the list. I love the philosophy espoused in Don Aslett's Clutter's Last Stand (I linked to the author and his many books on cleaning and decluttering).

A friend of mine lives in a small (~1000sf) house that recently needed to be completely emptied in order to take up the warped wood floors and replace the sub floors. Much went into the small 1-car garage, the rest was packed up and moved to storage until the job was complete. My friend now has a new lease on his house - he is setting up each room with just as much furniture and decorating as it needs and is donating the unneeded furnishings and decor. It's difficult to let go under normal circumstances, but taking a fresh look at everything has helped him make the house look roomier and made rooms (like his largest bedroom that serves as his office and art studio) an efficient space, and he will no longer be tripping over possessions in order to get into the room and try to use it.

I continue to move items into my sun room where I list eBay items from. The bench beside the door is stacked with boxes ready to ship. I'd like to use the bench for sitting, but right now it's higher purpose is to help me clear these things from the house and make a little income in the process. The proceeds in my PayPal account pay a couple of bills a month and I use it for things like paying online postage and making donations to charitable organizations. The goal is to not have to transfer bank money into PayPal, but always the opposite.

It feels like we're entering darker times, when charities will be strained because of new tax legislation in the U.S. affecting the deductible nature of donations. Take care of yourselves, and if you have the ability, please continue supporting good organizations if even if you can't deduct the donation.

To close on a positive up note (this is a music site, after all!) you might enjoy this story from Weekend Edition Sunday on National Public Radio. Twitter Wants To Help You Welcome 2018 With One Climactic Musical Moment. It started with Phil Collins recommending the timing of one of his songs so the drums hit right at midnight. What a great idea - the Guy Lombardo "Auld Lang Syne" is as hackneyed as they come. Looks like a good thread topic. . .

Onward into 2018.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Dec 17 - 12:09 PM

Charmion, you can also check and see if Replacments.com has any of it and wants to buy more.

This morning I was going to make spritz (cookies) for the kids since my son arrives soon and the whole family will get together this weekend. But instead, I'll have him help me make them. We (the parental units) concluded recently that after several years of cooking Puerto Rican favorite dishes together at the holidays that we've managed to pass that baton. They will continue to be part of holiday meals, but we don't need as big a production to teach everyone. We'll find other dishes to teach them, and it dawned on me this morning that their favorite cookie is a good one to do now.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 29 Dec 17 - 10:02 AM

The electric mixer is whirring away in the kitchen as Himself makes cookies to take to his brother's family in Toronto tomorrow -- not that his brother is not up to generating his own cookie supply. In fact, we will almost certainly come home with a box of his fudge, reciprocity being the Only Way To Go.

The design and construction of the new kitchen, dining room and loo have decluttered our capital funds of a stunning sum, well north of twice as much as I expected, but I have to confess that it's money well spent. Now we have to knuckle under and deal with problems in the rest of the house -- starting with a paint job (Himself's office is still Pepto-Bismol pink). Also, a humidifier added to the furnace would make my sinuses much happier. How much will that cost, I wonder? Should I think of a number and double it?

On the decluttering front, I have decided that my mother-in-law's prized Wedgwood majolica (bright green, raised designs of vines and grape leaves) must find a new home. The dear lady died almost eight years ago and the settlement of her estate landed us with what remained of her fine china. Over seven years of possession, I have never used it. Not once. When I removed it from the china cabinet in the dining room, suddenly there was enough space for everything we do use. The True Sign ... Sigh.

I shall canvass the nieces, but I'm fairly sure that I'll get no takers -- the younger generation wisely prefers crockery that will go into the dishwasher without complaint. EBay, then.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Dec 17 - 12:09 AM

After an hour of tossing ice chunks into a bucket and mopping up water draining into a cake pan, the freezer is once again defrosted and organized. And I did (finally!) find the ham hocks. The compost pile will grow some this weekend if it warms enough to go out and do a little work around the yard. I have two 5-gallon lidded buckets next to the side door for kitchen waste, and this latest project uncovered some very elderly garden produce. The dog who was the worst about getting into the compost is the one that we lost last week, so I can start putting more stuff directly into the pile, not having to leave it in the intermediate bucket to break down until she'd leave it alone in the pile.

Calendars for the new year are in place. I forsee a lot of exciting changes coming in this next year. I hope everyone has a lot to report as January rolls around.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Dec 17 - 07:16 PM

Some of the things I wanted to do over this break rely on nice weather, and it has been anything but. Not like the deep snow and icebox temperatures of the northern tier and New England, but still, off-putting as far as yard work for Texas. On the other hand, I could pack the contents of my upright freezer in cardboard boxes and set them on the table on the back porch and they'll stay frozen for the brief time it takes to defrost. As I prepare to cook for company, I find walls of icy buildup in my way, and I didn't defrost this fall.

I gave some of the freezer contents to a friend when I realized dietary shifts would mean those foods will go uneaten by me. I might as well pass them along and make space. And I know there are some ham hocks in there somewhere - it's split pea soup weather and if I buy more, the ones I already have will meet them at the door as I bring in the groceries.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Dec 17 - 03:01 PM

Sounds good, Mrrzy! (And I've reconsidered the socks - anyone else is going to have the same problem I did, so they're headed for the trash.)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Mrrzy
Date: 26 Dec 17 - 12:25 PM

Well, I thought I wasn't a hoarder any more... I decluttered massively, moved, and I had the impression I was keeping the house uncluttered except for my room, where I had a thin line between things that I could walk to get from the door to the side of my bed that wasn't completely covered in piles of things.

Note - I am not a *slob* - those piles included nothing food-related.

So I finally decided to re-declutter my room and got a friend to help.

Many hours later we had decluttered the living room that I had thought was fine.

Many, many hours later, we had decluttered the kitchen, which I had also thought was fine.

We finally got to my room and I couldn't let them touch anything, as they would do it "wrong" - I know *that* sounds familiar!

So a couple of *days* later, in my room is a floor, chairs, and a bed, all with nothing on them but a husband (one of those chairbacks/arms pillows things) and some folded balnkets... even the card table towering with craft things and papers has been cleared, folded up and put away.

Sigh. You can't take the hoarder out of the person as fast as you think you can.

But right now I have an uncluttered house!

Well, not counting bags of stuff that has come back from Santa Claus and which will need to find places to live.

Success! And right at the end of the new year! I am happy! But... I wonder how long it will last.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Dec 17 - 09:57 AM

We got together for breakfast yesterday, but our holiday and gift giving will wait a few days.

Fitness continues in the form of dog walking. I hear the nails of my two remaining dogs clatter on the pavement and know the time is here to trim those - I did Cinnamon's nails a couple of weeks ago and she tolerated it, but she was in a weakened state. It'll be interesting if I can get near the feet on these two (I hate to have to pay someone to do this, but these feet can be destructive with such long nails).

Decluttering - sometimes it's piecemeal, like this morning when I decided to toss all of the socks that won't stay put in some shoes, but creep slowly down under my foot and drive me nuts. I've experimented with the brands in the sock drawer and decided to cull close to a dozen pair this morning.

Now to approach The List - things to work on over the long holiday break. It looks like another cold day of rain, so the choices will come from the indoor side of the page.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 24 Dec 17 - 01:29 PM

The kitchen project is finished except for the ceramic tile --
backsplashes and the repair of several gaps in the floor tile. The last element, a great big wall rack for flat things (pans, lids, skewers, aprons, griddles) was installed on Thursday, barely in time for the dinner party à quatre we staged on Thursday evening. Thank God, the new kitchen range performed perfectly.

Two batches of fruitcake have gone down-range, and Christmas dinner should happen without incident -- that is, if I get the pudding made correctly.

The Brother and his wife arrived last night from Ottawa, and are now lounging around reading. Himself is out shopping for the last food items either of us can think of that we might require. I have a batch of bread rising.

The holiday is successfully under way.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Dec 17 - 10:34 AM

December 24: The day's objective is to have the house looking good for family visitors overnight tonight and coming up next weekend.

During that work I will endeavor to actually put things in the donate bin, the recycle bin, or where it belongs and consider disposal later. None of the old poke stuff here and here to have it out of sight and loose track of it.

We won't exchange gifts till around the first of the year because it's harder to get the whole family together when we don't all live in the same place.

Have a great holiday, everyone, whatever you celebrate. Us, we're an eclectic bunch of atheists who get together and exchange gifts to celebrate family. We're glad to have the shortest day of the year behind us. The weather has finally caught up with the season here and it's darned wet, cold, and windy out. But this gives us more incentive to cook and bake. We will try to not pack on too many calories that have to be decluttered next year.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 23 Dec 17 - 07:25 PM

Montreal:

I did check on flooding, a major issue up here. The big problem is the extra time/distance for R to travel. Somehow 15 minutes is a lot better than 30. Anything closer is prohibitively expensive. My hopes dangle!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: LilyFestre
Date: 23 Dec 17 - 05:12 PM

Well.............change in plans here. The bedroom switch will be happening but not today. I finished wrapping all the gifts for my boys but still need to wrap things for my mom, thankfully, that won't take long.

I cleaned out all of Jeremiah's books that I had set aside for homeschooling. My niece is homeschooling her boys beyond kindergarten (which is when I homeschooled Jeremiah) and I no longer have a need for the 1-3rd grade books. I kept some science books and one practice book for math but the rest is bagged up and ready to go. I've been meaning to do this for some time. It took me about half an hour and it's one of those things that feels so good to have completed!

We are having some unexpected company for Christmas so instead of the bedroom switch, we are going to do a bit of deep cleaning and general cleaning of surfaces...nothing crazy and truth be told, it needs to be done anyway.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 22 Dec 17 - 09:23 PM

Montreal:

We were meant to leave for Beaver today but R still has stuff needing doing. Grrr. However, the weather is not good and freezing rain is predicted for tomorrow... And R needs to go north again - stress me out until he is safely home! Maybe we can leave on Sunday; the traffic can't be too bad???

I have been de-cluttering emails by unsubscribing to numerous ones. I doubt it is a one-step process; I need to look before I delete in case it can be unsubscribed.

walking better and better balance; just set up a small trampoline so I can bounce while folding on to a doorway. Hope to move from bouncing to minor jumping.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Dec 17 - 08:54 PM

Thanks! And I concur about the rest needed before the break really begins. I took a half-day off from work and about the only thing I really accomplished this afternoon was taking a nap.

Our holiday is delayed this year until all parties arrive, probably after Jan. 1, though we'll do a big breakfast for anyone who is here on Monday. It's disappointing that the nice warm weather petered out with the work week, leaving cold rainy conditions for the weekend of crowds and final chores. But the delay in our celebration means I don't need to finish up this weekend - I can let things calm down a little and finish during the week next week.

Now, to get the fuzzy slippers, warm robe, and watch a movie with the dogs. I hope each of you has a great holiday season, and in case a Grinch pays a visit, a good backup plan.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: LilyFestre
Date: 22 Dec 17 - 08:14 PM

Christmas break has started for me! I did some puttering around the house today and just enjoyed my boys. :) We both are in need of this break and did some considerable relaxing today. :)

Tomorrow begins the big switch of the bedroom and my office. It is my hope to have enough done that he can sleep in his new room tomorrow. :) Also, I found a home for my enlarger which makes me most happy.

I'm sorry to hear about your dog Maggie....they are family and part of us.....much love to you.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Dec 17 - 10:44 AM

The house is in a flood zone. While it has never flooded and it is only the yard that gets the water when the creek rises, if water should ever get close enough to the house to come in, it would end up under that flooring. The concrete is actually probably less expensive than having the wood flooring put in. This house is on a concrete slab, so it's simply adding to the existing slab. It should cost about $1000. The house would be less dated and much easier to move things around and live in. Especially in this world of more and more ADA features in homes.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: mg
Date: 22 Dec 17 - 12:16 AM

I am confused by cement idea. If you plan to sell not sure it is an asset. What about just having a carpenter just put in risers and have higher wooden floor..even just carpeted plywood. Or a ramp of some sort. Agree that a drop is a nuisance and falling hazard for some.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Dec 17 - 11:57 PM

I think there will be a lot of sewing here next week. Using some materials awaiting assembly, but other new items will have to enter the picture also.

Today I was thinking out loud, discussing the pleasure of filling in one recessed room with six inches of concrete to get rid of the sunken den. It's as annoying as hell when it comes to moving furniture. But if I did fill that in, I'd have to take apart the hearth to fill the space completely. That could add up to a large project, depending on how it attaches to the stones on the wall. Oy. For a few minutes today, I had it all worked out. I'll get there eventually.

Subject: Truck loading brainstorming
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Dec 17 - 12:26 PM

PA:

Now that I know that I'm driving a truckload of furniture to Ohio in May, I'm trying to wrap my head around what to take and how to prep for it.

Whatever I take, I have to remove an Ohio item occupying the space where it will go, or put the delivered items in the garage. And I like where the Ohio items are-- I use them!

All I really know I'm taking is the 2-piece china cabinet, my corner desk/cubbies, my antique dresser, and the white bookcase. That's not even a full trailer load, much less a truckload. There are three chairs I could take (2 pink and 1 striped). OTOH I can visualize putting those in the garage without a strain. Maybe I'm not focusing enough on boxes. I could take all my archived papers and the music books because I know those will go up into overhead garage space.

Artwork-- I could take a bunch of large

artwork that would not travel well on an open trailer.

White cube from guest room. Germination supplies and equipment. Maybe the brown LR shelves to go straight into the guest room. The side table by the front door. Cookbooks-- ours and the ones we're giving Dave. The large file cabinet that will live in the garden. My summer clothes.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Dec 17 - 09:46 PM

Whoa, Dorothy! I hope you get that new house - but I wonder at the location and if it is flood prone? Are you exchanging one difficult house for another?

Mission accomplished on the mattress transfer this evening. My friend delayed getting the box spring because of yesterday's rain, so has only the mattress but sent of photo of the made bed on the floor. He's mighty tired of sleeping on an air mattress! It took four different parties to make this happen but one man's clutter is another man's comfortable bed.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Vashta Nerada
Date: 20 Dec 17 - 11:57 AM

I need to make my front room back into a reading room, it has been a dog room for too long. I should also put the television in there, it doesn't need to be the centerpiece of the den (like it is now) because it rarely gets used. Better to put it in a cozy room for occasional enjoyment. What I really want is to level the den with concrete (it's a six inch step down) so I can move the piano in there. Then the front room would be easier to use.

I have tons of books I haven't looked at in ages, but letting them go - that's difficult. At least at this point they're mostly contained in just a couple of areas. Okay, several areas. But there's only one stack that is waiting to be read or filed.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 20 Dec 17 - 11:56 AM

Montreal:

Today I sorted and re-organized our clothes. Found a blouse that fills the bill! OK, I've had it for years; made it back in the 90s. But it is what I need - full, comfortable, covers tummy etc., and looks good. With any luck I will find the pattern at Beaver and make a couple more, from some of the fabric, of which I have about a ton. But I cleaned up the clothing area and am, at least for now, inspired to make a couple nice shirts. That is better than the day I did an entire mall trying to find one like that - and it was there all along - under that other stuff. Also found needles and hooks so may be inspired to start a hat tomorrow.

Great to read about Charmion's amazing progress! She will truly be "home for Christmas". And now I realize the town of Perth is not in the county of Perth.

Maggie, you gave that dog a good life! I have lost a few in my life and know that each one hurts - then we usually end up with another one of equal value, more or less.

The LR here is still fairly clear; just a few bits of non-functional heaters, etc and a bag for the thrift shop and... Well there are places to sit. The desk still resembles an old "Shoe" cartoon: "Oh, that's not a sofa, that's a pile of papers that looks like a sofa." Not my papers. And while I was at Beaver, an 18 inch wooden hippo climbed onto the buffet here; huge but rather interesting. Oh, well. I started to clear the top of a cabinet but had to quit before I finished - dust inhalation. Got back out of bed for an allergy pill and -yep! Here I thought I was getting "sick".

After driving all day Friday to get here, including about 45 minutes in a nasty snow storm, I then drove the hour to the cafe, and back. Tired! Saturday, R and I went to the Laurentians, where you can barely see the once beautiful hills for the houses, condos, etc. He needed to do some work on the two airbnbs. After an interminable and traumatic (snowy, windy roads, steep hills) trip, I sat in a not warm enough house and read. I used the sofa cushions to keep warm! Then had something akin to a panic attack as we drove down a super steep hill, with a ravine at the bottom. Crawled into bed about 1 am. Never again. R needs to de-clutter his life, and mine, of that situation.

Quaker meeting and potluck helped the mind, and the frig! Time spent going to see a house for sale - I like it. I especially like that the yard backs up to a very large nature preserve. Then we paid a short visit to Isle St. Bernard so R could see it. Great place; I would love to live 5 minutes away. I would love to be out of this dreadful house.

I am perceiving that is is hard on R when I am at Beaver. If he can find a way to buy us a decent house, I would want to be here for him most of the time. Hopefully, I will still be able to spend time with my friends in Ontario. I can see that 5 hour drive becoming more and more difficult but R loves it there also. ... Pipe dream?

I must de-clutter my life of even thinking about a friend of almost 50 years, but not seen for many years. I would drive myself crazy trying to deal with her. Sad. Hans Selye would refer to my re-action as altruistic self-centredness. My natural inclination to want to "make it better" has no chance of succeeding. Wonder Woman I am not. Not easy to let go. Cannot accept that she is not worth the effort but self-care needs to prevail...

R has been in Laurentians since Monday! So much for spending time together! Tonight (he will be back) an end of Chanukah meal at a friend's and tomorrow a pre-Christmas one with other friends.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Dec 17 - 08:47 AM

PA:

I've lost track of the total book-box count, but three previously-packed boxes are in my car now for delivery to library book sale and a homeschooler. I'm liking how neither Hardi nor I feel the faintest regret or desire to open taped boxes for one more look! Begone and buh-bye!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Dec 17 - 12:44 AM

Has anyone noticed that about now the stores like Home Depot start clearing out the holiday ornaments and start putting out and running sales for the huge plastic boxes with lids for storing all of the stuff we've set aside now we have new stuff, the stuff we've accumulated, and the stuff we've perhaps even organized? It's the harbinger of clutter.