Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Dec 18 - 01:33 PM

I got a jump on the new year and started a new De-Clutter thread for 2019 here.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Dec 18 - 10:23 PM

Nope. It is a stomach virus. Eating dinner was a mistake. Hopefully this clears up in 24-48 hours.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Dec 18 - 02:52 PM

I think I somehow pulled muscles last night or this morning. I've done this many times before, and the trouble is, for a while it mimics the onset of a stomach virus. Having been out shopping and such this week I suppose I could have come in contact with someone with a bug. Not a good time of year for this, whichever it happens to be.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Dec 18 - 09:49 PM

Most of the shopping and planning is finished for next week, and now I need to finish cleaning around the house. Today was nice, lunch with friends then wandering through a Halal grocery store looking at tea and olive oil and flat bread. The woman who makes the bread had a huge batch of dough going today, but she can only make a few at a time in the barrel oven, so probably had a long day today. I brought several bags and they're in the freezer for next week.

Cleaning and some sewing this weekend. Gift wrapping, baking, laundry. My plate is full.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Dec 18 - 06:54 PM

Two batches of cookies done, and this year is the BIG SPRITZ EXPERIMENT. I have two recipes and one of them the kids prefer but I don't remember which. So I'm making both and they can tell me which is which and I'll write as much ON the recipe itself. One is in a book that came with my cookie press, the other is on a card in my small wooden childhood recipe box.

Annual holiday letters are almost all ready to go to the post office. I have a few extras and I'm sure I missed someone so I'll go back through the list. After the post office I'll swing by Goodwill and donate the bin contents.

I made a couple of small videos with the camera set on a tripod and the dogs in the yard to avoid interruptions; those videos were intended to offer tips like how to cream the butter and sugar before adding the dry ingredients. I missed adding the leavening to one batch so when I discovered it I pulled the dough out of the can and mixed in a proportionate amount of leavening. They aren't my best batch ever. Also, I tried some butter-flavored Crisco and I don't like that as well as using butter. It costs about the same, so in future I'll stick with butter. The videos will be edited and added to the family YouTube channel for my son and daughter as cookie making tips.

My smoker is restored to good working order and the old element is in the e-waste bag. I'm not sure they can do anything with it, but who knows? Most electrical things (except light bulbs) that get discarded these days go in that bin.

When I head out in a few minutes I'll look around to see if I need to retrieve anything that blew around the yard in the high winds today. We've been under a wind advisory all day.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Dec 18 - 05:55 PM

PA:

Another delightfully decadent day NOT decluttering!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Dec 18 - 10:35 AM

Maybe it's because I got up a little earlier than I have recently and the sun is as bright as can be, but I've gone through some of the stuff in my sunroom and reassigned it to the Goodwill bin. Occasionally I picked up items to sell on eBay that I didn't really know enough about, and it turns out they were total non-starters. So they're gone. Cut my losses and move on.

Baking today in earnest. I started some last week but those have been given away and consumed by visitors. And if I'm going to do any more shopping I need to do it now so I don't get stuck in crowded stores and long lines (though that is less daunting than it used to be, because my time is my own if I have to wait.)

I dashed out to the curb this morning with several tied-together grocery bags filled with stuff for the trash. Some of it came out of the laundry room after that clean up, things that are worn out and not reusable and I've held onto for "just in case" for too long.

I have some electronic waste stuff and an old printer cartridge that I can drop off in the e-waste bin on campus tomorrow when I meet a friend for lunch. I'll put it in the car before I forget about it.

The new element arrived for the smoker and I'll let the day warm up a little before I spend time poking around in the bottom of the smoker getting it to plug into the power slot. Is the old element e-waste? Hmmm.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 20 Dec 18 - 09:35 AM

I made it back to the gym yesterday, and I'm going again today. Yay me.

Over eight days of bronchitis, I lost a hair over seven pounds. I dearly don't want them back, but this is no way to run a reducing plan. I hardly stirred hand or foot the whole time, so I wonder where the energy went; was it all burned up by the leukocytes labouring away to kill off the infection? That's a lot of calories.

One brother's Christmas parcel has been mailed, and I have purchased a Canada Post pre-paid shipping box for the other, which will go out this afternoon, God willing. Himself has accepted the responsibility of acquiring and wrapping Christmas prezzies for his siblings (for the first time since we got married), so I'm off the hook for that. Christmas dinner is planned, though Himself keeps moving the goalposts: "Could we have maybe some gravlax for a forspeise?" (If we have gravlax, that means I made gravlax. There is no gravlax in the freezer. The gravlax proposal is a non-starter.) Besides, I can eat only so much, and there's already both a duck and a Christmas pud on the menu.

I'm still coughing, but no longer with the ugly stridor of "status asthmaticus". So the drugs are working, and all I have to do (the worst five words in the English language) is hork up the rest of the gunk out of my poor, suffering lungs. Onward and upward.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Dec 18 - 10:09 PM

There's enough dust in the house and pollen in the air that I'm feeling it more this evening. I think time to get out the neti pot along with the Sudafed.

The annual letter is ready to mail, though when I had it printed she didn't quite understand my request and it ended up on card stock and not a simple lighter matte finish paper. I picked up some larger envelopes and will fold each in half and mail like cards instead of folding smaller and putting in cards. Maybe I should insert the card inside the letter! (I did finally find them.)

Today I went over to the large gym that is nearest me that participates in the Silver Sneakers program. The personal trainer who does the new customer intake wasn't there today so I'll stop in again tomorrow or Friday.

Now, I have a cup of hot decaff spice tea, a book, and three dogs who would like to cuddle. Time to head to the sofa and enjoy some good company.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Dec 18 - 05:50 PM

PA:

Another delightfully decadent day NOT decluttering!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 19 Dec 18 - 03:54 PM

Beaver:

Kiln loaded and cooking!

Wood brought in. Well, half of it. Now I'll go do the other half, while the sun still shines - sort of. At least it is above freezing - for another hour or so?

Load of laundry done and mostly dry - in house. A nice set of flannel sheets from thrift shopping yesterday; must wash out the stinky detergent/fabric softener before I can tolerate them. May there, please, come a time when people refuse to buy toxic cleaning materials!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Dec 18 - 11:43 AM

The house still smells smokey from last night's oven cleaning, and there wasn't that much in there to turn to ash. Yesterday I brought in the heating element from my smoker to measure it and order a new one; I doubt that contributed to the smell but have put it out in the garage again on general principles.

Several small rugs are in the dryer right now as I prepare for today's cleaning of halls and entry ways. I have a fair number of halls here, actually, two T-shaped sets of halls, and the pantry shelf sits in one, so in theory I should probably organize that. Who knows what I'll discover that was long considered lost. :-)

Tomorrow is bathrooms.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Dec 18 - 09:58 PM

This afternoon I finished scanning a second of two cookie recipe books I have that came with my various cookie presses. The PDF files have been sent to the kids, the next generation of cookie makers. They also have cookie presses in their possession.

In preparation for cleaning the kitchen tomorrow the oven is running it's self-cleaning cycle all evening, and tonight I'm working on a deep cleaning of the laundry room. As small as it is, it needs a fair amount of attention. And then there are the cupboards and shelves. Several plastic things that were saved because "they might be useful" are now in the recycle bin. One owner's manual needs to be looked up (a reciprocating saw found at Goodwill operates, but does it operate correctly?) And I suppose all of the various dust rags and such stashed in there should be inventoried and extra ones discarded.

I need to remember to put Eucerin lotion on my hands and wear vinyl gloves; all of this cleaning and the cold weather add up to the winter nicks and dings and cracked callouses near my thumbnails.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 18 Dec 18 - 09:04 PM

Beaver:

That ice removal decluttered two days worth of energy. Hoping tomorrow will be an improvement! Did not even bring in wood today so tomorrow am it will not be optional!

I did manage to get R to renew the books from the Montreal library which I brought with me thinking to be back there before they were due. He just happened to be in a library when I phoned - his escape when bro becomes trop!

Cough is mostly gone. I have a better handle on causes - eating, breathing...!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Dec 18 - 12:21 PM

Ceiling fans aren't as bad as the dust bunnies that catch onto a textured ceiling as the cold air return drags the dirty air across it. Anyway an angled Swiffer on a pole does the fan blades just dandy.


PA:

It's extraordinary how much better I'm sleeping since I took decluttering and packing off my to-do list!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Dec 18 - 12:19 PM

When visiting my ex spouse's house people are treated to the demonstration of how the heavy steel garage door finally lifts with a machine opener, not a strong back. I nearly killed myself a couple of times opening that thing when I lived there. He put that opener in early this year.

This morning I tackled one of the jobs that goes a long time before being addressed, but I am trying to do some deep cleaning this month. I took down the vinyl shower curtain in the master bath, loosely rolled the top portion and left the soap-begrimed lower part spread on the bottom of the tub, then ran in hot water and added chlorine bleach. The entire curtain was actually submerged in the water, but I wanted to be sure the lower end got the full treatment. The rubber mat also spent a little time in there. Later today the counters and the floor and the sink and loo will all get a good scrub. As will the hall bathroom. The rest of the tub walls are fine because every time I get out of the shower I use a towel to wipe down the tiles. My gift to myself when it comes to this kind of cleaning.

My holiday letter is almost finished and I sure wish I could find all of those boxes of various holiday cards. I organized them so well last year I can't find them now. We all know what will happen. As soon as I buy a new box or send the letter on fancy paper, they will turn up.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 18 Dec 18 - 11:43 AM

In fact, I feel so much better that I learned how to reprogram the remote control for the garage door opener. Like a totally 21st-century person, I climbed up a stepladder and photographed the machine with my phone, then took the serial number from the photograph and Googled for a user manual. Bingo!

Following the instructions thus acquired, I then climbed the ladder again and did the business in 10 seconds (push one button, push another button, look for a little red light to flash). Then I put the ladder away.

Mind you, all this was made possible through an off-hand question to the guy behind the counter at the dry cleaners' yesterday, who also repairs cellphones (small town). It took only a little more than a year for me to realize that a guy who fixes cellphones might be sufficiently gadget-oriented to give me a hint.

I feel kinda silly, but then I remind myself that I never even considered buying a garage door opener until 2013, when (a) we had some money to spare for about the very first time in our lives, and (b) I had fallen once too often on the icy driveway while heaving open the door by hand, and begun to worry about breaking a hip.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 18 Dec 18 - 07:39 AM

Yes, Stilly, the gym is boring. Audiobooks make it tolerable. Long, complicated ones. Churchill's biography of the Duke of Marlborough got me through at least a hundred miles' worth of treadmill.

The bronchitis is beginning to recede, but I'm not sleeping properly yet, or eating much. I have lost seven pounds since I got sick last Tuesday. Not that I want them back, but ...

We are not entertaining this Christmas, so I flatly refuse to do any decorating beyond maybe a wreath on the front door. Neighbourhood standards be blowed.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Dec 18 - 08:05 PM

Another headachy day - the dust of cleaning this last few days really clobbered me. The last batch of curtains is in the wash and was taken down very carefully.

With all of this extra laundry and heavy-duty stuff going through, I realized the dryer was taking a long time so went out to the vent and cleared out a buildup of soggy lint. It's drying much faster now.

I'm getting a shot in one knee for arthritis, and this last one left quite a colorful bruise, but at least I'm back in motion for all of the holiday activities ahead. I've put off mowing the front yard for way too long, but tomorrow I'll take a rake to scoop all of the oak leaves in the gutter up onto the lawn and I'll mulch it into the turf. This kind of activity is easier when the knee is back in working condition. (I was hoping a rainstorm would wash away the leaves, but so far, no such luck.)

I need to start going to the gym. I think once I get myself in the door it'll be easier, but in my past experience gyms are boring places. I'll pick a good book and take my earphones and at least do the treadmill.

P.S. http://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-pens-gel-ballpoint-rollerball-felt-fountain.html

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Dec 18 - 09:14 PM

Of course! My nose has been particularly runny and stuffy today. And part of the "deep cleaning" involves taking down curtains to wash, which is another way to stir up dust that has built up over a long time. In two of the rooms there were floor-to-ceiling two-panel curtains made from yardage picked up and hemmed all around with a top tube to run a thick dowel through. And two other rooms have extra-long beautiful plush thick beach towels, bought on sale at Penny's years ago. When paired they make great curtains for kids rooms. In this case, I moved one set into my office after I realized there was a peeping tom out there (several years ago and the dogs chased him off, but he knocked over the nearby bird bath as he skulked.) The towel curtains cover the mini-blinds and block the view inside completely.

Smoked salmon has been packaged in ~ 12 oz vacuum sealed packages and some was left here and some packed in a simple ziplock bag to eat now. My ex likes this in particular because we can adjust the amount of salt in the brine, and this batch came out perfect. The kids love this stuff and it's a regular request on their xmas lists. I suppose it would be a good move to teach each of them how to make it and let them get their own smokers. My smoker needs a new heating element, and I found one online for $17. I'll be back in business soon, maybe in time for my son's visit. That is a major role these days, sharing recipes they like from childhood. This one has some technical elements they need to see happen. My Dad always had a smoker, so this is a family tradition.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 16 Dec 18 - 09:39 AM

Beaver:

For starters: The dust! Oh yeah! If I have to declutter dust, esp that sort, I must wear a mask or I will get the symptoms of a serious cold/flu, whatever. Now, I am beginning to get a message that my chronic cough is related not only to dust and toxins such as plastics, petroleum products, cleaning materials and fragrances of most sorts, it also seems to be connected to what I eat. A few eves ago, I had such a coughing fit while talking on phone that I had to hang up, twice. I was choking and gagging. The worst in recent memory.

Remembering a time 60 years ago when I kept a vial of honey in my pocket for alleviating coughing, I tried a tiny bit of honey. I have not been coughing much since then; 1/8 teaspoon or even a bit in my water/ACV drink seems to soothe the throat which I was finally suspecting as the cause - that "tickle". Wary of using too much as sugar is not in my diet at all, except what occurs naturally in foods or the 10 gm 85% choc that I allow myself - 1/d!

I went up to the "hotel" Friday eve for the Christmas Carol sing along and, after a few minutes, I had to put on my mask - then I stopped coughing.

I resisted buying two more plants at the grocery friday! Convinced myself that the two red Kalanchoe will soon bloom. I am having such success with dividing (AF) and rooting cuttings (geranium and spider) that there is no room here for more. They are for the "new" house which is seeming almost a mirage but hope is not gone.

Yesterday I managed to clear the bulk of the ice from the walkway - about 2 hours, in two sessions with long rest time in between. Then I put safe melter on the half inch remaining. Will check it this am and add more if necessary. Sanded the rest so I can now safely - if careful - negotiate that route.

Decluttered myself of 3 panels of 40's vintage drapes; took off the metal thingys and opened the pleats to make it possible to hang on a inch dowel to hide open shelving at Community Trust. Ready to deliver on Tuesday; will also purchase the dowel and some sort of way to affix it. Maybe another volunteer can install it. Having 3 separate panels will assist in accessing the materials on the shelves.

This means that the "thaw" (just above freezing for two days!) enabled me to feel like going to the back shed through a foot of snow - still! But I failed to take the shovel and could only get the door open enough for me and the fabrics to sidle out. Found 3 more pieces of fabric to bring to house: a summer dress length for when I finally find a suitable pattern. A search through half a dozen, or more, large bins did not turn up the box of patterns. They may be in the morass at the mill. That requires a warm, dry day in the future. I am becoming quite determined, with the help of pep talk from a friend and the hours wasted looking for suitable ready made. At least I have NO inclination to even Look at new fabrics!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Dec 18 - 12:19 AM

Worst job of clearing out any room? Climbing up on the step ladder and dusting the ceiling fan. That's a special weird kind of dust up there.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Dec 18 - 04:19 PM

I had a rough cold last year at this time, something to avoid repeating for all of the reasons you describe. I had to take the recliner away from the Labrador retriever and put fresh blankets over it an sleep there myself for a couple of nights.

More volunteering today then lunch with my daughter. The salmon I took with me was some I purchased earlier in the week before the smoking project came along. I ate some, but she got most of it because I'm kind of over the smokey smell right now. My smoker is a tall aluminum box box on a square base with three wire racks. A whole salmon wouldn't fit in it whole, it is filleted then cut into segments and brined then dried and finally put on the oiled smoker racks.

Time to finish the annual letter and mail it so it arrives before the holiday. Last night I edited out a bunch of it because I started it in November before Thanksgiving and stuff has changed. Usually less is more, and I'll add a couple of photos of the dogs or the kids. :)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 15 Dec 18 - 09:48 AM

I really, really want a smoker that's long enough to take a salmon. I'm never sure what food is my absolute favourite, but smoked salmon is always near the top of the short list.

The bronchitis is now in its fifth day and doing very well, thank you -- me, not so much. I saw the doctor on Thursday and obtained the antibiotic prescription that will keep me out of the hospital, but the bronchial constriction has not let up. I cough with a nasty stridor that I fear can be heard out in the street, and I haven't had a decent night's sleep since Monday.

Driving is out of the question. The cough is convulsive and uncontrollable, and as serious an impairment as a skinful of whisky. Besides, where could I go in this condition?

So I'm bored, as well as sick and exhausted. It sucks to be me right now.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Dec 18 - 09:58 PM

Salmon is still smoking out on the porch and I'm back from an afternoon of volunteering at a local toy program that serves the entire county. I used to do this kind of volunteering years ago and now that I'm retired, I can return to it. There's a growing list of things that need to be finished sooner rather than later, and many of them contribute to the cluttering activity that's pretty continually in the background.

Last night I dug out a piece of the clear thick flexible plastic that gets used (in my house) as a table covering (the table cloth might be on top or underneath, depending on the activity) and cut it to fit the tall table in the kitchen. And that is where we working on cutting up the salmon and making the brine. I found a couple of other useful items in the cupboard where the plastic was stored and I probably need to find a new place to keep them if I want to find them again.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Dec 18 - 08:04 PM

I have used eBay for years and I get so annoyed when they make changes to listings without my permission. I have a higher-dollar item listed and twice now they've changed it to "best offer," but my price is in the mid-range when compared to the sold listings. I am not interested in a low-ball offer, like I got this evening. So twice I've gone in to revise my listing back to "buy it now" and nothing else.

I'm starting using Michelle's 12 days of cleaning this evening (the list was under a box in the kitchen so I'm starting a day later than I planned). The first room is to dust the entire master bedroom, vacuum, wash the drapes and linens, etc. Doable.

One gift box shipped this evening so my son can make xmas cookies with his girlfriend in time for the holidays. He won't be here until probably closer to or after New Year's this year. I think they'll enjoy the process of using the cookie press, coloring the dough, adding color or sprinkles, etc. The cookie press is actually for her but I don't have her address so he'll deliver it for me. This was his suggestion when we were talking about the other cookie press I sent to a Mudcatter who lost hers in the Butte County fires (Camp Fire) this fall. The girlfriend apparently cooks and bakes (and last year he gave her a Kitchenaid stand mixer - so he is paying attention to her cooking interests.)

Using up stuff from the fridge and freezer tonight, a batch of lasagna with layers of eggplant. I don't have lasagna and I'm still avoiding gluten in general so I'm going to make it with dry pasta layers, using layers of spaghetti instead of the wide noodles. In theory it will all come out good once it's baked and look more like spaghetti.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Dec 18 - 06:05 PM

PA:

I've been looking around to see what needs to happen next in the purging and packing, and I've come to the surprising conclusion that there's not actually much I need to do before the planned March removal, as far as my own stuff. 

There are things I *could* pack, but knowing the disorder that will create, I've decided just to focus on people here while we can, and avoid disorder at what is always a hard time of year for me (see Jane's fmi). Disorder in March will not trigger me.

So, instead I have a good plan now for my "packing time" here this month. One more round on my closets, and TBTG it's clothing on them, and not clutter. Each will be a self-contained, hour-long event resulting in a bag to load for Goodwill. 

Other than that, it's mostly visual: touring thru areas not yet purged just to LOOK and list items to keep, and think about where they will go in Ohio.

That particularly includes areas Greg is likely to totally purge in March, which he has not been able to start on while working. In those areas, I want to see (now) if there are items that I'd want to keep instead of trash, and separate those out now to streamline the March process. We'd need to look at those areas together, which will have many benefits. If we just look at one room at a time, together, that will help so much with Ohio space planning!

I've gotten so much more done, on my own, in the last several years, than I had realized. And now, we're down to the stuff we need to do together-- not for his muscles, but to share the decisions. Most of that needs him to be NOT WORKING-- so, March, after a good rest!

I get to just enjoy the last holiday season in this house! And have fun dates with my honey.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 12 Dec 18 - 11:04 AM

Beaver:

Wonderful find, Mary! Great donation! It is worthwhile to talk with folks so they can tell you what you did - that you have forgotten! Your future looks interesting. I am reminded this am of the book Guests of My Life by Elizabeth Watson (circa 1970?). She starts by telling us that the things we are most worried about are often not the things that happen: Her 20ish daughter/best friend was planning a trip to Europe - big worry! She was killed in an automobile collision as she drove the family home from a wedding. Wonderful book!

Also realized this am that I cannot fight my body; it needs rest when it needs it. It works when it can do so. So the pots thrown on Sunday are ready to trim but the body is not ready to do that. I will go wrap them better and wait for body to feel like doing the job. OR the mind? (body/mind togetherness)

Meanwhile, I am getting small things done and enduring the heavy weather. The "mainly sunny" prediction for today has not yet occurred. Happily only a couple cm of snow have dumped. And the woodpile is accessible, the house is warm and my aching shoulder is below whimpering level. Have re-lost a couple pounds. No news from Montreal, except that R did make it back down that dreadful hill.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 12 Dec 18 - 10:39 AM

My life has come to a grinding halt because I have come down with bronchitis. Again.

It's not too bad right now, but we're only at Day Two. By tonight or tomorrow morning, I will know whether I will recover quickly, like a normal person, or suffer through Christmas with the asthmatic's long-lasting version of a lung affliction.

I sang in a performance of Handel's "Messiah" on Saturday night, and the alto to my left hacked through the whole thing; at times, I thought she would derail the soprano soloist. I should have been more worried about myself; the soprano soloist could not have been derailed by a bomb on the tracks, and here I am with another fucking dose of fucking bronchitis!

Two batches of fruitcake are baked, soused with brandy, and wrapped for travel and storage. Only the most minimal Christmas shopping has been done, however: books for The Brothers.

The house is comparatively neat, and Himself washed the kitchen floor the other day. (Hurrah!) I will consider myself a net contributor to the greater good today if I manage to get the laundry done and change the bed. Leaving the house is out of the question; the cough is so disgustingly raucous that even the politest person in Creation could not pretend to ignore it.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Dec 18 - 01:46 AM

Win/win!

I dragged the rest of the limbs from the back yard out to the curb and trimmed some shrubs as well to add to the pile. There are also a few big chunks from the fence I took down. My neighbor came home from the hospital where her husband spent a few days and was hurrying to get her bushes pruned for the pickup so I helped and we added hers to my stack because it was closer and saves the truck an extra stop. She'd had a pot roast in the oven all day and offered dinner - another win/win. (Husband is back home feeling much better after kidney stone complications.)

I see the knee doctor tomorrow, probably start getting the series of three shots that provide more buffer between the bones in the joint. All of those years of climbing mountains for work and pleasure are catching up to me.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: mg
Date: 10 Dec 18 - 01:23 AM

found the passport through a miracle and will give 50 to a friend's orphanage contact in Guatemala. had given up. mentioned to a lady who works at mcdonalds i had lost it..she said didn't you have it when you went to ireland. i said yes..she said didn't you have a clear plastic pouch..i said no..pouch is silk...but i remembered i did. i went home, took all junk off coat hooks..moved rack and there it was on floor. couldn't believe it. well, guess some little girls in guatamala will get some new sandals for christmas...

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Dec 18 - 09:32 PM

Retiring is a complex process, as I am learning. Good luck, Mary, and I hope the passport turns up soon.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: mg
Date: 09 Dec 18 - 09:12 PM

I am retiring..not by choice..they are closing my office..on the 31st. planning a trip to france and spain, pyranees...in march. plan to live in flannel and fake crocs. I am missing my passport. I shall not distress over it. I will calmly tomorrow fill out paperwork to get a replacement. and probably pay one hundred fifty dollars. but i have resolved not to beat myself up over it. i know exactly where it should be..in this hanging clear pocket thing. not there. looked in all pockets, purses etc. i have promised fifty dollars to charity if i find it.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Dec 18 - 07:45 PM

SRS, it was delightful! I was not able to collect that information though-- sorry.

link

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Dec 18 - 07:01 PM

Makes me tired just reading all of that, Dorothy!

I started carrying limbs from last summer's tree trimming out to the curb. I missed the last bulky waste, I don't remember why (probably weather). They won't pick it up tomorrow but they'll note that there is stuff to be picked up, so I can drag more limbs out tomorrow. Today I started on the small stuff, tomorrow I'll take the bow saw out and cut the too-long pieces into the appropriate size they want at the curb.

I'll also take out some of the old fence pieces, but in the process I'll cut some to the right size and set them at the side of the garden where the existing planks supporting the raised bed are about rotted, and they can go to the curb. Looks like tomorrow will be busy out-of-doors.

A couple of more of my eBay parcels are listed, and my fitness tracker actually noticed a dog walk today. Meals were gluten-free and gut healthy, and the dogs were pleased to have broccoli on top of their dog food. It was a productive and healthy day. When I do the walking activity with my hands full (like carrying branches, or holding the dog leashes) I have started wrapping the tracker around my ankle far enough down my sock so it stays put. That picks up the movement that the device is meant to get when I swing my arms walking.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Dec 18 - 02:27 PM

Beaver:

Snowed a couple inches yesterday but light and easy to remove. Afternoon sun seemed to loosen some of the frozen snow and I was able to clear a good amount of the tarp to get to the next row of wood. this makes me feel less concerned as I brought in a good amount of wood. Today I cleared a bit more ice on walkway to make trip to studio less challenging.

Two potted tomato plants are doing better in the bow window of the studio than they did all summer outside! They are being well watered and fertilized.

R has delayed house purchase to mid January. Conundrum: stay here and keep plants watered; or go back and forth again? Renew books due in Montreal on 18th? Hope R can come here for a few days at Christmas? He needs to be showing house...

Material goods are not the only clutter in our lives! failing to do things in a timely manner, having far too many things to do may be more serious clutter. I have been looking forward to being settled in the "new" house and was hoping to have the plants into their new home before hard winter. Not being able to do so feels like a major clutter; need to change mindset. Hans Selye said, It is not the stress that hurts us; it is how we handle it/respond to it.

OK: I am tired of driving back and forth (that makes three of us!)so I shall stay here. It is less complicated and more energy efficient. And when there is an above freezing day (14th) I may be able to de-clutter the back deck so I can get pottery safely to the kiln room and, hence, de-clutter the studio.

Threw four large bowls this morning in hopes of one for Joanne/pies; I do have a serious problem about not producing as promised. Hope one will be perfect! My first really good day since arrival. It took a toll on shoulder so resting and hoping to go out later to throw promised mugs for Mary. Ah! but she will not get them until January! Oh well. She can sell them in the new year.

R has agreed (today) to try to get here for Christmas as I told him I don't want to make another trip before then; I want to be here for the community Christmas Dinner (24th) to see "Everybody". And a potluck with special folks on 22nd. He just left a voice mail that he made it up a hill in the Laurentians - the scariest hill - in winter - that I have ever experienced; I refuse to go there ever again, in winter! Now, to hear that he made it down safely!!

In the meantime, he is still trying to sell the house in M. And misting the wee orchid I left there for TLC. He will have to bring it here when he comes - our pet orchid! Talk about clutter! I suggested he think of it as a baby raccoon. At least it doesn't climb the bookshelves! Maybe some day it will bloom for us!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Dec 18 - 11:37 AM

I have decided that today I need to (once again) clear off the second workspace in my office. And possibly rearrange some of the books I leave there. Instead of pulling out a notebook I use almost daily from a shelf with some things in front of it, give it it's own place in the clear. But not blocking other stuff.

Rain is over, weather is warming. Hurrah!

I hope the party went well, Susan.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Dec 18 - 10:03 PM

Several more boxes ready and listed on eBay, and a batch of holiday cookies stored in a decorative can. There will be more, after I buy a new bottle of vanilla. I managed to save the spritz by adding almond to the mix, but the vanilla seems to have lost potency (it was a brand I've never seen before) and I tossed the rest.

It's a moist cold day and the insulating curtains are drawn for now. They really do help. The sun room doesn't have them, but the north side of the house does, and that's where they're most needed. Towels on the floor again in front of the dog door to slow the spread of mud.

I've listed things today that would be good gifts. Tomorrow, other stuff, mostly because it's now in the way of my work space.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 08 Dec 18 - 12:50 PM

From Remembrance Day to Easter, I live in flannel shirts from LL Bean, and flannel-lined jeans. I often wonder what my mother would say if she could see me now, as my wardrobe looks very like what my brothers wore when we were children. Flannel keeps my fragile skin from going completely nuts in the sere cold of winter.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Dec 18 - 11:33 AM

SRS, I'll try to remember to inquire. I can easily do it quite casually from an update on flannel travel towels and Greg's flannel liturgical stole. Because.... flannel is yummy anywhere!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Dec 18 - 11:00 AM

A Mudcat Secret Santa story: Years ago MMario was who I was sending to, and my children collaborated with me on a gift, a homemade lap comforter and they decided the back side of it should be corduroy, with the top side flannel. I think they decided the much-washed corduroy is as soft as flannel. So we went with it, and since he does all of those fairs, it was supposed to travel. I wonder if it has worked out that way?

We've had rain for several days now, and the house is generally chilly. Time to distribute the lap comforters around to various seating and work areas. [done]

Sinuses still revolting at the weather change. Time for the neti pot.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Dec 18 - 04:59 AM

Charmion! You DO understand!!! Right down to the peppermints!!!

PA:

My body swears it's still in PA but the upside of that is that it's insisting delightfully that I keep my routine and schedule! That is HUGE.

AFAIK MMario is attending the Retirement Shindig (his term) tonight, and possibly staying over with us. It's been years, but the Ohio house is 20 minutes from a RenFaire.... so maybe now that our weekends will be our own....

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 07 Dec 18 - 06:56 PM

Beaver:

Crisis of frozen tarp on wood pile is solved by dear Michael stopping by and applying brute force to the ice. My right arm would have quit, or been very painful and useless, had I used it that way. Now I can access wood and have filled the indoor spots for now. Will be careful to place tarp in such a way that this does not happen again! I was hoping for a thaw but not going to happen; going as low as minus 22C at night soon. It was already minus 10C at 4:15 as the sun had sunk behind the hill. BUT, we did have sun All day!!!

Other than that, I have accomplished very little as the wood problem caused me to feel old and useless and rather discouraged. Tomorrow will be better. We do need to get propane heat into this house before next winter. Major de-clutter of work, but also wallet!!

No word on progress in Montreal.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 07 Dec 18 - 09:52 AM

Those sinus afflictions are very debilitating, aren't they, Stilly? When I'm hit with one, I feel as if I have taken leave of the top twenty percent of my IQ and the best part of my personality.

Susan, I know what you mean about those long drives. The last time I did the Ottawa-Stratford haul -- all day on the autoroute, doing top speed in the circus parade of 18-wheelers -- I came home safe but exhausted, rattled, and determined never to do it on my own again. It was the effort of keeping my attention focussed all day, not missing the slightest thing for fear of my life, with no one to talk to, hand me peppermints, and take the lid off the water bottle.

On the fitness front, I have been using my new fat-detecting FitBit scale for two weeks now, and in that time I have apparently lost exactly one pound but knocked two points off my body-fat percentage. I'm not sure I believe it, but any motivation will do as long as it keeps me going forward.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Dec 18 - 02:04 AM

Staggering around with a sinus headache today, but this evening I finished another eBay listing. A pretty leather handbag that I just never use any more.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Dec 18 - 08:57 PM

For for knowing when the hoarding is starting to take over: when there is ANYTHING entering that does not have a designated spot!

Yay! You know where your line is!!!
.

PA:

NEVER DOING THIS DRIVE ALONE AGAIN.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 05 Dec 18 - 06:26 PM

Beaver:

LOVE your list, Charmion! I shall share it with R. However, he seems to strongly believe in having his home be a museum. The problem from the time we moved to the M house has been: no room for real furniture because of the butter churn, coal stove, water pump - now topped by a colourful parrot, antique sewing machine cabinet without machine...... All in the not very large LR. Still! My useful antique desk has been moved to another building to make room! I am promised space for it in "new" house.

Today has been a recovery day: car to mechanic; will return tomorrow for muffler; visit with friends, attempts to de-clutter deck of ice and snow, managed to get into studio and water plants, picked two tomatoes and a small pepper!, only managed to extricate two chunks of wood from under tarp which is frozen to deck. Tomorrow: buckets of hot water will be necessary! The temp only got up to 0C/32F. Did a load of laundry, drying in house- humidity! Did banking on line and cleared emails. Still need to find calendar and enter important info.

Thinking of son on 59th b-day - on Whidbey with his daughters and 3 grands visiting for his, and his wife's on 10th! Maybe I will phone.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Dec 18 - 11:15 AM

"The house is not a museum" is the mantra I've used for years as I research and sell things on eBay. I let the experience with the item be educational but rarely do I decide I need to keep it after the research. The one recent exception to not bringing in new furniture is that tall table in the kitchen. It landed there and seems to be a perfect fit and it gets used daily, mostly as a staging area for projects.

I've avoided stairs for a while since my knee was pronounced arthritic, but this just isn't going to fly. There are too many things I want to do that the knee will just have to accommodate. The next visit to the knee guy is next week and I will initiate the three shot sequence to see if I can't resume more of my activities, including dance. The single steroid shot isn't up to the task.

I have running around to do today but find that some businesses might be closed due to the Bush 41 funeral and national day of mourning.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 05 Dec 18 - 10:06 AM

I have house rules for keeping down clutter. Here they are:

1. No stacks of books on the floor. If we don't have shelf space for it, we can't keep it.

2. One filing cabinet. If a document cannot find a place in the four-drawer legal-size filing cabinet in the study, dispose of it appropriately (burn, shred or recycle), or dispose of old papers until it does.

3. Acquire no household item, whether it is furniture, clothing, china, glassware, tools, or cooking equipment, that increases the contents of the house. Anything that comes in the door must be something we have an immediate use for and space to store.

4. Dispose of all unwanted items quickly: to the church bazaar (annual, for good stuff), or the Goodwill, if serviceable; or to the trash if not. Harden the heart and make it go away.

5. Don't have "collections" -- stuff accumulated just because it's an example of a certain kind of stuff. The house is a home, not a museum.

These are iron rules that give rise to angst and argument, but on the whole even Himself the merry shopper accepts that we have to live by them. We both have enough experience with packrat friends and relatives to know that the slippery slope to household chaos begins with stepping over or around that thing we can't quite deal with right now and somehow never get around to.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 05 Dec 18 - 08:19 AM

Beaver:

Montreal also had that rain and there was very little snow when I left this morning. Bancroft, however...!! The house was 38F. Outdoor temp -10C at 5 pm today. A foot or more of snow on the deck that I was not up to moving so I could get to the studio - which was 58F! as the house is now, at 9 pm. Guess I need to put more logs in the stove. The plants in the bathroom are happy and some are back to their regular spots. I suspect those in the studio will be desperately thirsty.

SRS: that fence project seems like major exercise - stretching and bending, and more!

My exercise in Montreal consisted mainly of going up and down the stairs many times a day - unaccustomed! But the new house has stairs so it is good to know I can do it. I spent 3 hours walking around a mall yesterday. When I finally found a blouse I almost liked, it was so poorly made, I just quit. Realized that in 3 hours I could make one out of good fabric in a style I like - if I can just find the pattern!

The trip to mall was mainly something to do rather than sit in the house reading or watching TV. It was too wet to go outside much.   

So goals for this week: choose some fabrics from my collection and pack up machine and necessary sewing stuffs, try to find box of patterns, failing that -take the blouse I fancy to Montreal and try the pattern books again. The "new" K table there is suitable for cutting. I have no such space here.

Here, I have a few pots to make and firings to do. And a decision to make re taking clay to mill, or not.   

I left R much good cooked food in frig and some nice cheeses. Planning to go back, with plants next Weds or Thurs when the weather is only just below freezing. I will box them and warm car before putting them in, then take them to the mill and put heat on in sunroom for them. This musical house business sure makes life complicated. I hope it is soon over. The "new" house will enable us to stop using the mill as an overnight, a nice de-clutter! I will continue to use the studio down there but it is only about 45 minutes away rather than 90.

As for knowing when the hoarding is starting to take over: when there is ANYTHING entering that does not have a designated spot! No boxes taking root in Kitchen, no bags of books that cannot be immediately shelved, no tools in the K or any place other than the tool room/cellar/garage... NO excuses. I literally cannot cope with it and I believe R has finally heard me. The "new" house is much too lovely to be treated like that.

As for pics: I'll work on it.