Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Sep 18 - 11:47 AM

Charmion, neighbors two doors up the street are the divorced and remaining family of a man who after the divorce and in a different house had a young girlfriend who had a friend of hers move in with them. Turns out the girls may have been lovers and this irked the guy, who killed his girlfriend and packed her into a trunk that was on his back porch. I don't know many more details than that, except that he'll stay in prison the rest of his life.

Two parcels ready to go this morning, not eBay related for once. There is a backlog of things needing photography, description, and packing to go on eBay, and I did some clearing of the table where I do that work. Two days out from record-breaking rain the yard is still fairly inhospitable, but I did pull weeds out of the asparagus bed this morning after walking over to that side of the house to talk to the guys putting in a new fence next door. I'll be working on a new connecting piece from my yard once they finish.

The guest room is ready for company later this week, now the rest of the house needs some tidying.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 24 Sep 18 - 12:08 PM

Beaver:

The "new " bookcase now matches the walls, pale yellow, and blends in. Looks SO much better but not yet full of stuff as I want it to look decent even then, so choosing its contents requires thought. I have considered a curtain on it if all else fails.

The dryer weather is helping to de-clutter the bowls of moisture so they can be fired, hopefully at the very beg of October so they are ready by end of that week. Looking for a ride for them to Montreal so I don't have to drive.... Hope...

Now to get some mugs made. Seeking energy! The day is young...

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Sep 18 - 10:44 PM

OH:

I am REALLY liking the structure provided by the schedule the cleaning agency finally has me on. Tuesdays Brittney? Monday cooking!!! I canlt wait to disciver how he rest of the week sorts itself out now that these pieces are in place. After 24 years of chaos, this works.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Sep 18 - 11:57 PM

My daughter is looking for some sea shells for a costume design project. Now if I could just find the ones that are in a basket around here somewhere. . . I found several other sources of shells around the house but not the size and type she asked for. If I don't find them by the time she needs them I know they'll turn up in plain sight shortly afterwards.

We're still seeing cloudy humid weather here but eventually there will be a few clear autumn days. The fence is progressing next door.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Sep 18 - 08:56 AM

OH:

The sound system we passed along to our nephew was a big hit. In a matter of minutes it went from "there's no room in the garage for 3 boxes!" (SIL) to BIL (musician) cleaning out garage to make THEIR garage the home of the garage band. The garage was looking very roomy by the time Judy and I arrived to drop it off! ;-)

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Sep 18 - 10:28 AM

It sounds like you provided both inspiration and motivation to get that other garage cleared out. I worked on mine many months ago and my aim is to keep it free of clutter. That's much easier than trying to clear it out after years of buildup.

Dog walk this morning, finally, before breakfast. There's no standing around much because the mosquitoes are wretched after all of the rain (I need to make the rounds again with my mosquito dunks). We stopped by next door to say hello to the fence contractor friend, and I looked at the planks being used - they are wide western red cedar slats that will last a long time. I'll use the same thing to replace the front facing part of my fence in my yard to tie it together.

Indoors, I'm clearing out a backlog of items that need to be mailed out. Two more parcels can probably go out tomorrow. I'll be meeting my daughter for lunch so I have a list going of the various other stops to make while I'm out there. My goal is to spend less on gas after having to commute for the last six years (telecommuting is so much easier on the mileage!)

We're almost into cooking weather; right now it's cooler out but very humid so I'm having to push the house air conditioning a little cooler than I prefer to dry the air. Soon that won't be necessary. I'm going to make a pot of lentil soup this evening to enjoy for the rest of the week.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Sep 18 - 01:40 PM

Corrected version of previous post submitted as power died.

SRS, it sounded to me like nephew lost the battle to play in a different garage-- good end run by his dad.
.

OH:

Helpful passerby Glenn showed Brittney and I how to un-ratchet the clothing bin from the trailer, which now awaits me in the LR. We also unloaded a set of plastic drawers for a side table switch I'm working on, and reloaded the dog crate that rode in Judy's van Saturday (I ferried it via scooter). Also ferried Greg's two milk crates to the front door, for which there is now sewing room space. Scooter ferrying is MUCH more fun than furniture dollies!

Brittney lifted banker's boxes in the garage to get them all in one place while I setup a sorting station out there, and she tended the recycle box that resulted from me sorting into four category-boxes and emptying one 1st-wave banker's box. All boxes to be sorted are now by the sorting table-- I made a mistake and had her stack them in the scooter path, but I can go around the table to drive that in/out.

Four boxes left to rough-sort-- perfect to finish out there before meeting Greg in October. Looks like 2 program-boxes will result plus 3rd already out there, for further sorting out there if warm, or in LL if too chilly. Creating a binderized draft program guide = good indoor post-move project.

The TV stand is now in the LL closet, and the giant Rector's Library box is now stowed our of the way in the SR, with room for those milk crates I ferried.

Brittney's going to the store for me for rice, after she washes the big frying pan-- my back is done.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Sep 18 - 06:11 PM

OH:

After some major lifting (mine) throughout the day, the TV stand is now tucked into the LL closet, with a folding rocker tucked in beside it that may be replaced by Greg's other favorite camping chair-- his zero-grav recliner.

The chairside cube from the Sewing Room has been emptied of its recorded music and added to a musicians' books tower in the LL, where a pile of unpacked Saturday night service players' binders were taking up floor space. A folding chair is tucked beside the tower and adjoining shelf. Binders are stowed and room for Greg's to arrive in October.

The chairside SR cube was replaced by a low set of plastic drawers from PA, to hold my toiletries basket and fone charger. (This will stay there until Greg takes over that room.)

The big gray plastic bin finally came off the trailer today-- my rest of summer clothes, all perfectly dry as hoped. Summer's are long here, and I look forward to having a few pieces different from the few clothes I've kept here and worn to rags. Time to purge as I put them away.

That bin will play a big role in the January move; a 2nd small indoors-only scooter in PA will probably fit in there, disassembled, on the hitch-mounted platform behind the van.

I began negotiations with the PA landlord family yesterday regarding leaving the house unoccupied for 60-90 days before we complete moving out. Greg and I are agreed that we will most probably need to do that in March-- not January. So lists have been made about essentials to throw into the van Jan. 1 to get his resting period underway ASAP. When he wakes up he can organize His Garage, into which bis weights and woodshop will go along with all the last of the PA stuff for slow and gentle incorporation into the house.

How we're moving-- Pods as such are not readily available in our PA market, but U-Pack is. For about the same cost as a rented Penske truck, they bring you a 'pup' trailer to fill up-- those shorter trailers you see being pulled by semi's in twos or threes-- 28' available space and you only pay for space actually used. (You install a supplied bulkhead behind your stuff. The driver fills the leftover space with commercial freight.) We will carry fragile items in the van, the lawn tractor and snowblower on the trailer, and let them drive the pup trailer. That gives us a cushy overnight stop along what is now a very tiresome route.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Sep 18 - 07:02 PM

Two job applications filed this week so far. Two lunch dates made with friends and family (one date got changed because the business is closed for repairs to the AC system after so much rain over the weekend). Poked my head around the corner to see the progress on the fence; I predict that by Friday the new posts will be stable enough (fence pipes in concrete) that they'll start on this last side. Too bad it's stretching so far down toward the creek, I've enjoyed an expansive view of the greenbelt.

The sun is finally coming out and this evening I'll take my soapy spray out and hit the bugs on the vegetables. I'll add some spinosad to the soap and perhaps kill a few stink bugs.

I have realized that if I try to leave reading till the end of the day then I don't do it; I'm tired and I opt to go to sleep. So I need to pick a time earlier and make that a habit. I bought a couple of new books for the Amazon Fire tablet (the Kindle app) and I'll start with those.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Sep 18 - 03:25 PM

OH, garage:

The rice/chix livery stew is warming for an early supper.

I just spent another very productive garage hour-plus: another banker's box DONE (and recycle box filled).

I also slightly rearranged garage obstacles to improve scooter parking/charging, and redid the scooter's snap-hook hanging system for ferrying bagged groceries on its back. Found two empty cloth store bags out here to hang on it, and now it's all ready for the next trip-- hardware, tomorrow maybe.

I found another "fun" job for Brittney in here next week-- vacuuming 2 area rugs out here and then hanging them on an adjoining fence to rinse themselves in the rain (or air). The following week, she can lay them in the garage work zone for my bare feets.

I see some areas in here I can consolidate/straighten up on my next box-sorting day.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Sep 18 - 06:37 PM

Beaver:
Emails to friends seeking therapist for son needing to move toward divorce. Really nice response from one who now has a LIFE having left behind the albatross. I take delight in her new life. Hope son can soon have the same.

It is taking energy.

I threw about 20 mugs a couple days ago; still not dry enough to trim and place handles! RAIN!

Little by little, still sorting things here, finding better spots for things. Would like it to be a bit better when/if R comes for Thanksgiving. It is mostly pretty good but needs finer tuning. Realized I have been missing out on a storage unit - the vanagon that has not moved in two years! A better place to triage the stuff to go to "new house" than my car which is now full of that stuff! Maybe tomorrow if it is clear. The battery is dead so R would have to get it working, register it and phone insurance before moving it! I was tired of paying uselessly for those latter!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Sep 18 - 06:54 PM

A pot of lentil soup is now in containers in the fridge and the house smells wonderful. I steamed some broccoli and took a look in the produce bins in the fridge where there is some I need to use soon (and the dogs will get lucky tonight).

I disturbed dust in the front room where a large trunk holds some damask lengths that I'll unfold and see if any are as long as what my sister needs for her dining room table. I'm also thinking something from that trunk might be useful to my niece who, with her husband, bought a large house last summer and they're getting set up to stay there for a while as they start their family.

Added more to the Goodwill donation bin, clearing the dining table to measure the fabric and to cut up the stack of jeans from Freecycle. It also turns out that my ex is working on an art project and was looking for some of the rivets that are on jeans, so I'll give him the leftover seams so he can pick those out. I'm really curious about that art project!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Sep 18 - 07:18 PM

Beaver:

Lentil soup sounds like a great idea!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Sep 18 - 02:54 PM

I waded into my son's closet and pulled out one of two stacking bins and redistributed the contents. Some to bookshelves, some to the other bin in the closet, some to the trash, and some to the donation bin. I'll pack up a few items and send them to him soon via a relative who will be visiting during a bucket-list road trip.

The bin is now washed out and ready for more craft cloth. I don't expect it to be holding this for long, I need to move forward with the projects this fabric is intended for. But I needed a way to contain a stash of materials as I work with them.

It will be no surprise to anyone that I'm listening to a full day of testimony in the Senate hearings to do with Kavanaugh and Dr. Blasey Ford. I think this will open the floodgates as far as sexual assault victims telling their stories, because the difference between the Anita Hill and the Christine Ford testimony is that Hill was battered and abused by the hearing itself; even though the GOP is hosting this meeting also, they realized they couldn't behave like they did in 1991. Victims may be able to begin the talking cure if they've kept it bottled up. I have radios on around the house so I can do this work and not miss a word.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Sep 18 - 06:06 PM

OH:

The plumbing crew replaced the sewer line, and presented me with a lsndscaping-worthy boulder and interestinhlt-shaped concrete slab, delivered by Bobcat bucket to locations of my choice. I also was able to pick 4 daffodil bulbs out of the dirt as they excavated. Rain broke out so tmrw they finish the backfill and the restoration of the bulb bed.

I got half a banker's box emptied between photo shots for Greg.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Sep 18 - 07:39 PM

A box of family antique table linens is ready to go via visiting family to another family member. The table is cleared, temporarily, so I could roll them out to compare patterns (linen damask table cloths).

It has been lovely weather all day so the dogs will get a walk, now that the hearings are over and the rehash is underway.

I have to do some editing tonight, so any other hobby stuff will happen only if I finish the paper I need to copy edit.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Sep 18 - 08:03 AM

OH:

The plumbers will return today to finish backfilling the sewer line trench. I was able to nab several daffodil bulbs to toss in as they fill.

They also carefully deconstructed a partly planted peony. It started life here as an end-of-season rescue from the garden center's discard list. It's never bloomed, though it did attempt to bud this year; it's still in a large pot I had nestled, for safekeeping, into what had been planned as a rock garden whose time I missed due to the Tyler stuff. I'll have the plumbers save me a wheelbarrow full of soil, which I'll amend next week for transplanting the baby peony into its much larger (rock-garden-free) bed.

So I hope to be decluttered of a couple of yards of soil by dinnertime, and to enjoy the crew's help to put some heavy retaining blocks back around the bulb bed (which will declutter my driveway). They built shovel time into the bid and have been delightful to work with.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 28 Sep 18 - 09:48 AM

I am tired today and therefore have decided to do not much of anything at all. I may take a little stroll downtown, should the spirit move me, but otherwise may spend the day pootering around.

Antique table linen is a bit of a challenge, and I envy Stilly her extended family where she can find new custodians for her own stash. I have at least four Irish linen damask tablecloths, ranging in size from modest to very large indeed, and when I am dead they will probably become trash. They all belonged to my grandmother, who was married in 1907, and I'm pretty sure she made the largest one -- embellished with drawn work and white-on-white embroidery -- for her trousseau, with assistance from her mother and sister. I once tried to iron it myself with a steam iron on a normal ironing board, achieving dismal results, so every time it is used means explaining the concept of "linen tablecloth" to a confused counter clerk at the cleaners', and a laundry bill of unpredictable size.

Meanwhile, the linen gets trotted out once or twice a year to blasé acceptance from my family and wondering remarks from in-laws and other guests. I believe the younger generation considers it "retro", along with the (real) silver cutlery that does NOT go in the dishwasher.

A big box of heirloom linens went to the church variety sale this spring, and I wondered (idly) where it went. Then one day I was in the big antiques market that operates in an old warehouse on the edge of town, and the centrepiece of one stall was a display of my granny's embroidered linen guest towels. God knows who would buy it; when was the last time you saw a linen guest towel in actual use?

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Sep 18 - 11:23 AM

I need to give a lot of these things to my daughter who uses all sorts of fabrics in costumes she makes. There is a novelty factor of having old Irish linen dish cloths that someone took the time to mend/darn at some point. They were very frugal back in the day.

I have running to do today, a nice departure from several days at home. I need to schedule myself enough outside activity so I keep track of days of the week, etc. Once I land another job this will cease to be an issue.

This morning is a bit slow-moving, I was up late finishing some copyediting (deadlines are best when they're not looming). Today or next week I'll meet with the editor, and I'm looking for several more essays for this journal issue.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: KarenH
Date: 28 Sep 18 - 11:54 AM

Cleaned out all the 'screen wipes', which, sadly, never come in dry-up proof packages and are therefore mostly useless when you have taken opened the pack and used one. Thinking of returning to spit and polish.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Sep 18 - 12:14 PM

Karen, I use single-pack lens wipes and occasionally one has dried out due to packaging failure-- they work fine if moistened with tap water.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 28 Sep 18 - 03:42 PM

I use the tail of my shirt. Am I a slut, or what?

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 28 Sep 18 - 06:27 PM

Beaver:
Screen wipes? I am neurotic about only using the appropriate spray and special cloth, carefully kept in original plastic bag.

Peony? Forgive me for my neurosis about peonies! I understand they need LOTS of nutrients in their new hole as they hate to be moved and intend to stay in same place for YEARS. Of course, this neurosis has to do with the one I rescued in 1989. Walking around newly purchased property, I found a unique leaf, about 6 inches high, in the tall grass of the long untended yard. "Hmmm, that looks like a peony!" It took about 3 years of careful nurturing before it thanked me with a lovely bloom. In the ten years of my tenure, it grew into a large enough and strong enough plant to survive. When I visited the old homestead last month, I was delighted to see it still holding its own and treasured by the newest owner. I take such pleasure from this!

My self- appointed pottery goal has been met and pots are now drying. I hope to have them ready for Hannah in time to get them to Montreal before Thanksgiving, even if I must drive them there myself. (I have a notice on the local "FB rideshare" in case anyone is going that way for Thanksgiving. This would greatly de-clutter my life! Shipping pottery is both expensive and iffy.)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Sep 18 - 10:57 PM

I had a list for all of the things I needed to do today and actually got to all of them. I picked up two political signs for my yard (it is at an intersection so I can put them facing two directions) and three small bumper stickers (I ended up giving away one sign and two stickers, I'll go back for more next week). I dropped off shells for my daughter (got a kiss!) and from there met friends for lunch and we went to an event on campus celebrating the completion of a new science building (over the top of the parking lot that we all used for a couple of decades.) And I did some shopping on the way home.

Tomorrow there is some cooking that needs doing and I'll be ready for whenever family finally arrives. It's better to have stuff ready and keep the prep quick, reheating or adding something new to the existing items. My freezer is full so I need to stop shopping for some of these things, but it's irresistible to buy two large roasting hens frozen for $5 (today's bargain). I have to saute some of my eggplants and have them ready for my favorite pork, tomato, onion and eggplant casserole. I'll cook them ahead and freeze - the dish bakes for a long time so adding the frozen quarters when there is an hour left in the baking works well.

Today I wore the new pair of sneakers all day and my feet survived - I try to buy the kinds of shoes that don't require much breaking in because ever since the bunion surgery I am careful about the shoes I buy. My closet has more shoes than usual, so it may be time again to send Goodwill the ones I never wear. And I have another new pair I haven't started wearing yet (they're more for this season than summer, when I bought them.) One bonus stop this afternoon at Goodwill, where I found two items that can go in my sunroom eBay stash and I HAVE to start listing more of these things. I have a $5 birthday coupon at that shoe store with no minimum purchase so I'll swing buy and purchase a pair of socks. You can never have too many socks.

It was lovely last night, when I woke up and was uncomfortable and realized that I was cold - I pulled the second light blanket over me and it felt wonderful! There is such a difference between sleeping in a room that is air conditioned and sleeping in a room that is cool because it is cool outside. I'll put away the light summer blanket that's over my thermal blanket and use one of the slightly heavier ones that has been stored in the closet for the last five or six months. (Once it gets really cold I'll use the quilt over the thermal blanket, and if it gets effing-cold then I get out the down comforter.)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 29 Sep 18 - 08:42 PM

Beaver:

Amazing the difference doing a bunch of small things can make. I did not feel as though I was making great progress but a lot of areas look better. It was not a good day for outdoors, sporadic showers precluded that. I picked up some nice veggies at the Farm market and socialized there and elsewhere, arriving home to cook a nice lunch. The cabbage needed a chain saw to cut it up so I took off enough for a meal and enough more to make it fit in a large saucepan and cooked the lot for tomorrow and tomorrow... Must remember to grow my own next year!

Heavy frost likely tonight. Fire in stove and is not making the house hot, just keeping it comfortable, which is what I prefer but a sign of the plummeting outdoor temp.

R phoned last night to tell me he could get here "tomorrow". "But the long weekend is next week." "Oh, is it?" So, hopefully he will arrive next week. He is seriously ready for a break.

Maybe tomorrow I can move the stuff from my car into the van - for storage! The mugs I threw the other day are still drying - slowly! So I brought them into the house, near the wood stove, in hopes of getting them dry so I can fire. (In this few minutes the heat went from ok to HOT! I closed the stove down!! WHEW!) That should help the drying.

Now, if Someone would just let me know they are driving to Quebec later this week. I am at the point of accepting that Hannah might not get her bowls by Thanksgiving; I do not feel like driving 10 hours this week!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Sep 18 - 11:44 PM

We had another heavy rainstorm mid-afternoon (I do live in North Texas, not the tropics, but you wouldn't know it by this weather) so it's more indoors activity. I crossed four of five cooking chores off of today's list. A big one for tomorrow will come after I clean up the kitchen in the morning.

Dog beds and rugs have been washed, there's one last bed to find something to counter-balance it in the washer; I think the dog bed in the hall outside my bedroom will be the one (that's where Pepper settles in in the morning, waiting for me to leave my room).

Three books arrived today from Bat Goddess, Lawrence Block novels with a burglar as protagonist (I think). He is prolific, and I've read three of his series characters, but not this one.

Tomorrow is the 30th day after I retired, so at this point I can work part time in any school or .edu setting without a penalty on my retirement. Full time I would have to wait a full year, but I don't think I want to work in a school full-time. Several people have suggested that substitute teaching is a good option, and I'll look into it.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Sep 18 - 01:25 AM

I took the hard drive out of my old HP desktop. I bought it in 2005 so it is very slow, but it had Win7 in it before I retired it. And my current machine isn't that much newer, purchased in 2000, but with lots of upgrades (so many that not another thing can be crammed inside it).

Too bad HP stopped making most of their desktops. I custom ordered machines in the past. Next one will probably be a Dell and I'll customize it myself.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Sep 18 - 11:38 AM

There is a growing stack of items for family in the Northwest that will be transported to them by a visiting relative, whenever they arrive. It dawned on me that this is my best bet to save on postage for some time to come, so I'm digging out things that can go to them and I may even include xmas gifts.

Lovely fall day out - finally! Branch trimming, mowing, weeding ahead.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Sep 18 - 01:25 PM

OH:

Funny how, now that it suddenly feels like real Fall weather, I suddenly want to garden. I have a lot of decluts to do out there, but I should take note that Fall gardening really should be where I focus most of my future efforts, and research/plan accordingly.

One declut is the several daffodil bulbs I salvaged. Master Gardener Judy affirms my plan to chill them, and then force them in January (when Greg takes up residence here).

I took a closer look at the potted peony they so carefully deconstructed, which i mentioned had started life here as an end-of-season rescue from the garden center's discard pile. Its in a 6" pot with no bottom, inside an 18" diameter shrub pot with drainage and intact bottom, which was filled with well-amended soil. With another gardening friend's brainstorming, I found another disability-friendly solution for wintering that until its bed is ready-- in the garage, but inside an old plastic bin I was about to recycle, full of mulch, and set in the warm corner of the garage after the nights get a little colder. (Judy concurs, and reminds me to water that monthly.)

Coming next week to audition for Head Gardener (the skilled member of the young crew) is Brandon, who is Judy's best helper. We'll develop rapport while he helps unload a few heavy items from the trailer, neatens up yard waste, and loads the year's deadwood into the trailer for me to take to the city's free-mulch dump. The following week he'll move a small bush to the spot now collecting the deadwood, start reshaping beds, and relocate some iris bulbs that didn't do well. (Half the bulb bed was excavated and needs to settle before planting, but half remains as it was.)

I'll cover the wheelbarrow-load of soil, which is now in a low concrete-mixing trough. I'll amend that in the spring for fall bulb planting in the reshaped bulb bed. In the fall, Brandon can plant the baby peony into its much larger bed.

Judy is interested in a little patch to mini-garden. I want white hydrangeas. Perhaps she'd like to plant around those.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Sep 18 - 07:27 PM

I put off gardening and it got hot again this afternoon. Maybe I'll get some done in the morning. I finished the last of the weekend cooking I planned and have some prepared foods ready for the freezer for future meals.

I'll take a look at the recycle bins down at city hall and see if I can cram in the trash-bag full that I've accumulated. I also have the hard drive-free old HP computer that I think I'll take by Goodwill. It was a great one, but it is more than a dozen years old. Someone might buy it and put in a new motherboard and get all of the drivers for the drives and devices. This is a good time to donate it because it was stored in the guest room.

Family visit will probably happen next weekend. The house is looking pretty good now but can look better. Hopefully my next few days will be productive in that direction.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Oct 18 - 11:54 AM

OH:

I'm contemplating a seed order for air conditioned summer sowing, for outdoor fall plantings, heavy on weed-suppressing ground covers.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Oct 18 - 12:56 PM

I was too late arriving at Goodwill so will take it over today. And will keep an eye on the new fence that is slowly going in - I'm going to have to modify the chain link fence to remove a portion of it or there will be a 2' swath of weeds between the new wooden fence where there never was one before. It used to be just my chain link (also called "cyclone" fence) that divided the yards, but again, it was too close in on my side of the property line. I'll put in a new post up against the new wood one and rework the end of the chain and take out the upper posts.

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.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 - 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: 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: 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.