De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Charmion
Date: 22 Jul 19 - 09:52 AM

On Saturday, Himself and I spent a rather frantic hour adjusting drainpipes to conduct the off-fall of water from the roof into the middle of the yard. The weather report ominously warned of a ferocious storm system bound directly for Stratford, and I did not want a repeat of last Monday's near wash-out around the air-conditioner.

So now we have six feet of drainpipe attached to the end of the down-spout and propped up at the proximal end on a stack of patio stones. At the distal end, a plastic accordion extension reaches out into the bald patch where we used to have lawn, before the landscaper's Bobcat entered our lives. It looks like hell and it's definitely a tripping hazard, but it puts the water where it won't do any harm and might actually do some good. And it's temporary -- only until the new air-conditioner goes in ELSEWHERE and we can put a rain barrel in that spot. Or maybe two.

On Saturday afternoon, we drove to Chatham (two hours down the 401) for a family gathering

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 21 Jul 19 - 10:46 PM

Dupont:

house in city: Still for sale; the best furniture is still there for showings.

We went to Mill yesterday and picked up futon with frame - frame is still in yard; going to be tricky to get upstairs!, bureau- now in BR, air conditioner - now, gratefully in BR. Hospital bed set up and looks dreadful - will probably disappear. Pew is now in hall and looks great.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Jul 19 - 09:49 PM

One corner of the front flower bed is weeded and some salvia I bought a couple of weeks ago are planted. Mulch applied all around it. This was my "lick and a promise" to the yard since it has been so neglected over the four weeks since the ceiling mess began. I also mixed some of my organic foliar feeding mix of compost tea, Hasta grow, Murphy Oil Soap and a healthy dollop of spinosad and treated a few plants that are laboring under the assault of pests. There are more to plant soon, in part of the bed soon to be abandoned by the potatoes.

This evening I finished pulling up the last of the plastic - on further consideration, it doesn't make sense to try to leave it on the floor till last because I have to paint all of that baseboard area it covers. It's all in a huge heavy duty contractor's bag at the curb for trash pickup tomorrow.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Jul 19 - 01:03 PM

Clearing up some email issues and sending information to a friend for whom a Flickr account was set up years ago but he lost the info. Now he wants an account and maybe he can get in and start from there.

My to-do list is too long and so much stuff needs to go out of here that I'll call this a free-for-all day and just keep moving and see what happens by the time I come to rest this evening.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Jul 19 - 12:51 PM

SRS, here's the late Mary Giacomini, if you could linkify her into my last post... Misty eyes/mind, so only though of it after I submitted.

https://mudcat.org/photos/photo_page.cfm?file_name_sent=giac

---

Linked. And goodness, I thought all of these were lost forever.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Jul 19 - 12:44 PM

I was able to find my sowing date for the groundcover mentioned upthread-- peat pellets arrive any day, then BOOM. I also found two low-impact items to give good color in the spring, in that bed and a front bed, using seed tape along the siding and seed mat fitted around foundation plants.

The spine thing sure threw me for a loop, but I WILL have "them flars" as dear Giac used to call them, dammit!

I hope that back rehab allows me to get back to starting my own perennials for these beds, next year, if Brandon is still gardening for us.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Jul 19 - 07:50 PM

I climbed into the attic and retrieved the bag closest to the stairs and redistributed the insulation into the nearest repaired area (near the stairs) so I could use the bag for trash. I have most of the plastic pulled carefully from around all of the doors, windows, and the pony wall and much of it is crusted with the plaster texture slurry they sprayed.

I'm not ready to push further into the space yet (using the decking material) but I am ready to open things up more in the rest of the house. The tile floor is still covered with plastic so I'm not letting the dogs in yet but air circulates now.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Jul 19 - 06:49 PM

Anyone know how early I should sow creeping thyme for Oct. 1 planting?

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Jul 19 - 02:03 PM

It's an Active Rest Day here-- indoor, AC edition for the heat warning.

Greg just ran an extension cord for a lamp we unpacked this week, for a dimmer overnight LR light. I stowed clean laundry, amid other chores, and ran a hot wash of new red undies with formerly-white undies that will come out pale peach.

Four large K boxes reduced to 1 to sort/purge later. (Some of the items need space cleared/sorted first.) A big batch of silverware, etc to run thru the DW. A few items for Yano to clean.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Jul 19 - 09:42 AM

I'm starting to peel off the plastic layers in places—this requires using a sharp knife to score the edge of the paint on the tape and slowly pull it away. I still have touch-up in both rooms, but then, if you're seeking perfection no paint job would ever be completely finished. Once this area is open I have to put the insulation back in place or both air conditioners will be working overtime. My electric bill is half-again higher than usual for last month. Getting the units tuned up last week will help with that.

It's time to start picking grapes. They're very late this year, over two full weeks past the average ripe date.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Jul 19 - 09:20 PM

Yes, SRS, it is the trick, and the previous owners here saved every drop of every color that had ever been used here including colors from 4 layers of paint under the coat here when we moved in. Subtle hint-- don't stockpile that stuff!!!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Jul 19 - 09:04 PM

The second paint coat in the office still didn't get all of the little white spots showing through so I went over with a brush and kind of stippled and swirled to get it into the recesses. The hall had only one full-height long wall (and that has two doors), doors at each end, and the other side is a half-wall. I painted the whole space with a brush because there was so much prep going around the edges it seemed I was almost done when I finished outlining all of the corners and edges. It took some hunting around but I located the can of enamel that I'll use on the baseboard trim around both spaces. I also found some more rollers and handles I'd completely forgotten about. I could have used some of the primer from before and bought one less gallon. Now how to store everything so it's organized and I remember to go find it when I decide to do more painting. That's the trick, isn't it?

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Jul 19 - 10:34 AM

Charmion, hopefully you can find something off the shelf that can be put on and will dissuade any burglars. The houses in my neighborhood (this one included) were built with decorative iron or aluminum bars. After I had a burglary here in 2005 I completed the set but putting up new ones fabricated to match the existing bars; these went up over the three-across bay window (part of new construction). I also put up decorative security doors into the house. If it's a standard-sized window, the prefab pieces are remarkably affordable.

It's shocking how much all of these purchases add up to at the end of a month-long period of repair. But you will enjoy that new deck, and I will enjoy my restored office. At least it all adds up to something you can use and be aware of.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Charmion
Date: 19 Jul 19 - 10:14 AM

We need a Spend Nothing month, too. The patio project cleaned out our ready-use capital reserves, and I'm not touching the tax-free savings or Himself's business savings, which is where we sock away money to pay the taxes. I don't ever want to find myself out of pocket at tax time, having lived through that low-grade but unremitting misery long ago.

That said, the patio needed doing. It probably could have waited, but the old deck had that unmistakable whiff of active rot AND there were those basement windows and their drainage issues.

But, of course, one completed capital project leads (as the night followeth the day) to the next. The basement windows, no longer hidden by the deck or half-submerged under rampant foliage, are about as energy-efficient as wet Kleenex and an invitation to burglars.

Also, the air-conditioner. Maybe that can wait till next spring, but ... probably not.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Jul 19 - 09:42 AM

Sounds like you're "ramping up," Susan!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Jul 19 - 06:24 PM

Been in lost/fone purdah.

Brandon is measuring for my first ramp here. It should facilitate coming out of the garage and 5" down into the patio, and back up.

From that I can ferry things I should not be lifting, and sit to tend pots. When he works the bugs out using up scrap wood, he'll build another out the front door.

Both of these doorways have interim step platforms I created to reduce the 7" steps to 4", but it's time to ramp. These step platforms consist of decorative block laid in a pattern, under a doormat, pulled 1.5" away from the siding to provide space for a drip hose or outdoor extension cord. In all these situations, the ramp will butt up to these block platforms, not cover them.

When THOSE bugs are worked out, the third ramp can be planned, going out the back door and along the front gate towards the woodstove garden anchoring one end of the patio. That one has some complicated angles.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Jul 19 - 03:33 PM

Aha! The electrician was able to come over today, and though he may not be able to finish, the first things being worked on are the light fixtures in the office and hall, so my work will be easier tonight. I put off painting when I heard they had time this afternoon. If he can get the circuit breaker (ground fault) problem fixed that will be wonderful - the old wiring was such that any plugs around water all went into a ground fault breaker in the box (they hadn't developed the individual breaker plugs). My bathrooms now have the modern test buttons, but since the box on the wall by the patio has failed, none of them work and I can't use any plugs in my bathrooms or dressing room. The electrician said they used to be able wire up to eight different plugs at a time into those old circuit breakers, so the wires running to it are from all over the house.

While out getting paint I made a very small declutter but swinging by my optometrist's office and dropping off an old pair of glasses and some empty glasses cases. I don't have enough in the box yet to take over to Goodwill. I picked up the hall paint color at the same time I got the extra quart of sage. I resisted stopping for a Diet Pepsi on the way home - even though the fountain drinks don't have aspartame, they probably still aren't good for you. I have some canned lemonade I made up (it has sugar, yes, but this is pretty darned tart lemonade!) I've been reading Dr. Amen's latest book, and he says many snack foods aren't good for the brain.

I'm aiming at having August be a "Spend Nothing" month. I can use the time to finish up all of the projects planned and paid for and that still need work. I also still have LilyFestre's "Twelve Days of Cleaning" thing I printed last year on my fridge, and after the explosion of dust that hit this house in the last three weeks, I need to work my way through and wash or dust or clean everything.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Jul 19 - 10:59 AM

The paint roller nap wasn't robust enough to cover the texture in the office so I'll get another quart to add to my remaining paint in the gallon can and get a heavier nap to use on the second coat in there, and hopefully I'll only have to use one coat in the hall.

Fish is smoking all day today, batches for several people.

I feel so ready to toss out lots of stuff as that office goes back together. #MaximumDeclutter

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Jul 19 - 02:54 PM

Thrilled that the generally-toxic local FB group apparently has at least has a few ppl interested enough in the planet to take our used bubble wrap off our hands, and empty boxes, too.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Jul 19 - 11:26 AM

Too bad about your helper, but it sounds like nothing was going to stop those boxes from being processed!

This week there has been a lot of discussion about the "Amazon Prime Day" (that lasts about 2 days because it's around the world) and other stores are joining in to serve those customers who want to avoid Amazon. Macy's is one, and today I impulsively did bought the flatware set I've been mulling over for a couple of years. My mother's silver plate Oneida has served long and well, but looks pretty battered by now. Amazon limited purchase to five place settings but Macy's let me buy eight and competes with free standard shipping. So it gets here a few days from now instead of tomorrow, but no problem. I'll keep the nice pieces from Mom's set and see if Replacements.com wants any of the others, or else it's Goodwill. The nice remaining pieces will serve as a reminder, and that's enough. I got it for about half the list price (it's Dansk five piece Classic Fjord II, one that didn't have creases or crevices, very clean lines).

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Jul 19 - 11:01 AM

Yes, SRS, enjoy your mile in my shoes!

To top it off, Becky informed us-- too late for a sub-- that she can't come today. Fortunately, as you indicate, I had already started on the smaller boxes Brandon had set onto the big, targeted boxes, and dispatched most of their contents.

And before she called, I had converted the LR to Sort Mode, which means trash and recycle baskets all over the floor. But I have already made that LR front door open-able.

So Greg will have a few of "his" treasured items to de-grunge and set in their destined spots, and I'm running many smaller items through the DW. And I'll knock off when my back starts talking trash at me, which is easy because there was room left for one of those big boxes which is now a catch-all for kitchen minutiae that don't go in the DW.

I find that by the time I've seen an item three times, I know exactly what to do with it, which is occasionally Goodwill.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Jul 19 - 08:52 AM

Susan, I have learned over the last three weeks that sometimes work is thrust upon you! Because of the accident of misunderstanding you'll probably dispatch those boxes sooner than planned and will 1) discover missing treasure and 2) have more space wherever they came from.

I'm kind of to the point you reached when you started integrating the PA stuff into the OH house: I have stuff from here moved out of it's location and now I have the gift of an empty room to figure out where I want it to go this time. And this unavoidable project arrived suddenly.

Good luck with that!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Jul 19 - 08:48 AM

Last week, instead of bringing in the TWO boxes I'd requested, Brandon misunderstood and carried in.... EIGHT, which are taking up so much space that the front door won't fully open. So today Yano Becky will help unpack the two biggies blocking that door.

Yuck!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jul 19 - 01:43 PM

Dorothy, I am astonished at all of the moving and sorting you're doing in conjunction with all of these properties. Is the old house in town (that had so many problems) completely gone at this point, nothing more to move out, etc.?

Charmion, I agree: as annoying as it is to have this project grow exponentially to include a new air conditioner, it's better to do it now instead of once it dies. And I think you'll find that the replacement of a 30+ year old unit will provide you with an energy efficient and more versatile system.

Here, the attic duct is sound and the louvered vent that serves the office is back in place (and the newly painted ceiling now has a few dirty finger prints on it.) While they were at it they checked both heat pumps and added Freon to one and replaced a capacitor in the other (a capacitor went out last summer in the smaller unit, so this was dumb luck to catch it before it completely died). I went up to take a measurement between the roof trusses and ordered the 24" decking panels. They should arrive Saturday, and I can begin restoring the attic insulation and have an area for safely storing a few lightweight things that seem to be most logically stored in the attic. Flattened boxes, the xmas tree stand, etc.

I had a conversation with a friend about how she is being priced out of her apartment because the property taxes keep forcing up rent. We talked about housing for single women of a certain age and concluded that sharing houses makes sense. I certainly have space, and while we didn't discuss it as something we would actually do, it is a thought exercise in how to divide and share. Clear enough stuff out of the garage so two vehicles can fit, set up another office space, etc. It's worth considering at some point, and I've known that particular friend for a long time. She'd love having a huge yard to get her hands on, for one, and the creek and the (now somewhat damaged by being bulldozed) woods across the road. And she likes dogs. :)

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Jul 19 - 01:01 PM

Be strong, DP!!!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 15 Jul 19 - 11:02 AM

Dupont:

some progress: A bizarre piece of ??? - formerly a Chopard display piece with revolving platform inside glass or plexiglass box set on a beautiful, four foot tall, wood cabinet??? Google Chopard (I had no idea!) watches from $1000 upwards of $65,000! No wonder this is beautiful - but is there any use for it?? Now tucked into the den at one end of fireplace until R decides ... The den looks fine. It is a conversation piece. He may put a mineral on display. Hearth, free of boxes, is home to large aloe vera and a couple garden books for Bowser's front paws. Also a large glass cylinder (foot tall,8inch D.) for an as yet undetermined plant. White stones in bottom for starters.

However, moving it to that spot freed a nice spot for the lovely mahogany cabinet with glass door - for special books in guest "wing". Also tucked in - a space at end of stairs to basement about 2 feet wide and 6 feet deep - a dead space unless used creatively - We have. Another dead space, between stairs and wall can hold a bookshelf I saw yesterday at one of R's buildings. Books can be reached from the steps.

At said building, we acquired a single mattress and -useless- boxspring, an interesting cabinet (from Pier One!) that looks antique and perfectly fits a space in den. Also a tall wood pedestal suitable only for holding a, preferably unbreakable, item on display. Maybe a large plant. Placement as yet undecided.

Also a short pew that can fit in hallway - place to sit to put on boots - after the hospital bed - NO! but he cannot move it out without help- "But you got it in!". Why don't I want it in guest room instead of the nice brass bed??? Then we had discussion of my FEAR of STUFF and wanting the house to maintain beautiful character!

As I wrote that: what if we need a hospital bed downstairs sometime in the future? Maybe I need to re-capitulate? But I like this brass bed...

On the subject of stuff: I caught him measuring the attic door this am and he announced that two, specific, pieces of furniture would fit up there. WHY?????? Nature abhors a vacuum - and so does R, apparently.

All boxes of books are downstairs but now we are dealing with humidity down there. Or, rather, what to do about it. It built up when the electric went off overnight and sump pumps... Water on floor absorbed by concrete... Will we have a generator before the next time???? All I can do is remind - but not too often. (There are four at the "shop"; one is functional and was needed elsewhere. MAYBE another could be repaired...)

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Charmion
Date: 15 Jul 19 - 10:39 AM

The lads are at work again on the patio, and today we will have back steps.

As is so often the case in projects like this, one damn thing leads to another. The original problem was a basement window with no window-well outside and unmistakable signs of water damage on the wall inside, and digging out window-wells is part of the patio project. The problematic window is -- of course-- the one where all the utility cables and the air-conditioner ducts enter the house, and the air-conditioner is in exactly the wrong place, much too close to the window. So the air-conditioner must be moved.

Enter the HVAC contractor, for the landscaping crew are not licensed to so much as touch the air-conditioner.

Dating from 1988, our machine has soldiered on some five to ten years beyond the normal service life for such equipment. In fact, it takes a kind of refrigerant that is now banned in new installations and costs a bomb, so no HVAC company around here stocks it. Rodney the HVAC Guy says he and the landscapers can move our dinosaur, but they might not be able to avoid damaging its elderly copper tubing. Consequently, we have decided to add "replace air-conditioner" to the patio project. What's another three thousand dollars to plutocrats like us?

Besides, I'd rather do it with a plan than have the thing die in the middle of a heat wave when we're out of town for a week.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jul 19 - 01:03 PM

The ceiling and walls in the office have a coat of primer now, and it used the entire gallon. The hall comes next, after a cool down, and should require approximately a half-gallon. The part so far is the roller, the brush work to fill in crevices and corners comes next, after the walls are dry.

I'll paint the ceilings later today, and be ready for the A/C vent to be reinstalled in the office. I have a box in the sunroom for things that I come across still that will go to Goodwill. The leaded glass light cover from the hall, a couple of things pulled out of the pantry, it's slowly filling. The recycling bag (that lives in the sunroom) was emptied a couple of days ago. Some of the "normal" sunroom items are lined along the cabinets in the kitchen. This causes a tripping hazard in there, but makes the sunroom more navigable during the construction process.

Charmion, I should have realized it was the "down" position of the desk that was the problem. I also find mine just a little taller than I like, and my chair doesn't raise enough to compensate. I've thought about putting an under-desk tray in for the keyboard, but the steel supports of the desk itself are in the way.

My afternoon yesterday was taken up attending a funeral service, after which an old friend followed me home to poke around in the yard, so I didn't get back to the chipping project. Today is a painting day, so probably tomorrow morning I'll do more trimming and get started with the chipper.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Jul 19 - 12:42 PM

I chose a purple-toned thyme for the ground cover, to go with yellow flowers along the white siding that backs the bed. We'll germinate the plants in a huge tray we recently acquired via curb find, for which there is a patio table.

By the time they're ready to go in the ground, I can get that bed filled for them, and I've chosen a partial sun place for that tray near plants I water daily-- I do like watching sprouts do their thing-- I think full sun might burn them at this time of year. The seed company I used to start perennials last time has about an 88% germination rate according to my records. Peat pellets on hand will likely be involved as well.

NEXT summer I plan to germinate fall perennials indoors, but we need an electrician visit first for the designated area.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Jul 19 - 08:45 AM

Brandon has now entirely cleaned up a pesky garden bed I'd had to let run wild this season, so now it can be replenished with soil and shredded paper, and replanted.

It can be fed by a drip hose, so I'm thinking to seed it asap with hardy perennials that will root now and come up bigtime next year. I wonder what groundcover I'll choose to start with?

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Charmion
Date: 13 Jul 19 - 02:02 PM

SRS, the desk was too high at its lowest height; it was a standing desk, not a sit-to-stand desk. With my office chair set at the correct height for typing all day (back flat, feet flat on the floor), my hands were at least six inches too high for work. With my arthritic feet and lower back, standing all day is not an option.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Jul 19 - 12:23 PM

Good work with the desk, Charmion. I'm having time visualizing why you needed to cut off legs, though. Can't you just elevate it to the point you want and leave it there?

My hands smell wonderful after pulling out dead and dying limbs from the huge rosemary shrub growing at the street edge of the front yard. I'll run those through the chipper later. This is the first of several areas needing a good clear out of branches. Turning it into useful mulch always makes it worth doing.

The new fan blade arms have arrived. They look like a better quality of metal than the originals. I'll repair this and purchase a new fixture for the hall and I'm ready for the electrician to arrive. He said late next week.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Charmion
Date: 12 Jul 19 - 10:07 PM

I finally have a desk with a keyboard shelf at the correct height. It has taken only about seven years, plus an intervention by a friendly neighbourhood ironworker.

I bought a two-part desk from the Best Buy website, very impressed by the carefully detailed photographs of the gas-assisted riser desktop. The bottom was a very standard-looking rack stand: two legs, flat feet, brackets to bolt the top onto.

So it came by Purolator and I put it together. Imagine my disgust when I realized that the sit-to-stand desk definitely would not accommodate half of its declared function, as only a candidate for the National Basketball Association could possibly type on it.

I thought about it for a couple of days. Then I put a notice on the local Connect Facebook page asking for anybody with metalwork experience and equipment who would cut six inches out of the legs. A guy called Mike pinged me back. He builds structural steel for a living. He thought he could handle it, and indeed he did.

Mike's services were not cheap, as he had to pay his buddy a hundred bucks for use of the buddy's machine shop for an hour, but for the first time since I quit the government I have a computer desk that I can type on without hitching my shoulders up around my ears.

Meanwhile, construction continues on the patio project. Today we had laying of stone, and indeed it looks very, very nice. The garden around it looks like a dustbowl, but the patio looks very, very nice. And our chequing account is a great deal thinner than it was on Monday.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jul 19 - 04:20 PM

Sad, that. Mmario seemed like an all-round good guy, someone with such a good heart that he should have had an equally strong heart.

I mowed the front yard before it got too hot, but it still needs a lot of work. I paused in my mowing to trim a bunch of recently sprouted branches out of my way, but I have to do a lot more trimming and picking up. Since cash has been drained off by house projects and computer projects, I think this would be a good chore to put on the top of my "No Spend" list. And maybe it's time for another no-spend month. It would give me a big bang for the work, and I have a chipper to use for a lot of the branches to make mulch for the yard.

The logging and "clean up" operation across the road from me apparently will be finished with the contractor chipping up the wood. I'll watch to see what goes into the chipper and may well take the wheelbarrow over and bring back a lot of loads of wood chips.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Jul 19 - 02:18 PM

I forgot to report on a super-happy data thing here that was set in motion around the time of our move. I gave our miracle-working PA tech all my hardware then, except the notebook puder in active use, and he kindly fetched ALL the lurking data off of them. Two tower PCs, two old externals, and a corrupted backup of the laptop hard drive our former housemate took out of my laptop, which the next housemate, Tyler, stole.

(About 25 years of work product and family stuff, total!)

That tech was kind enough to discount his fee as our goodbye gift.

And then we moved and we're still unpacking. So the resulting external device lurked, unused, at my desk here until last week, when I wanted to update an aquatic fitness handout. I FOUND it despite not being sure which place to look, updated it, and saved it to the notebook, BOOM.

ALL my music files are also present, including all the gospel and spirituals out dear brother Mmario had agreed to curate upon my demise. We sure never thought about him going first!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jul 19 - 09:44 AM

Dragging and dropping the contents of drives on the old computer onto a new expansion drive to use for moving it all over to the new computer. A new internal drive will go into the expansion SATA slot this evening (it's on the mail somewhere right now). That expansion drive will then be used as the backup drive.

I have a comparison program for getting rid of duplicate files and I ran it on the old computer a while back; it's time to run that on the contents of this expansion drive so I'm not dropping all sorts of extra junk into the new drive.

Meanwhile, it's mowing this morning, then it's time to apply primer, though I need to pick up a few extras I forgot yesterday.

An important declutter move yesterday was to take apart the clump of things on my SUV key. I received the electronic key and a black dongle that had four buttons that the salesman tested on the lot and we determined it was a remote control for the tailgate. And I added a TILE device that is connected to my phone to help me keep track of the keys. The trouble with that black dongle is that if I nudge it in my office the tailgate rises, so sometimes I go out to the garage and find it up; perhaps I leaned on it last night when I was doing dishes. The last straw was when it popped up at the gas station as I (probably) fastened my seatbelt. I looked back and there it was, wide open. The dongle is now attached to a small carabiner on my handbag strap.

Finally, there are tomatoes simmering on the stove to make sauce. They got a little wrinkly over time but will still cook up just fine. Better to sauce them than toss them!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Jul 19 - 11:03 AM

The yard is too wet to work in right now and it's too soon to start painting on the primer, so today is dedicated to emptying the sunroom and replacing things in an organized manner. This has needed doing for a long time.

I'll also double-check the measurements for the Attic Dek panels and order a set so I can get started on the insulation restoration over the office and hall.

And my final consideration - what kind of rodent control to add to the attic sometime soon. There was ample evidence of their presence, and including running around behind the books in the front room shelves.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Jul 19 - 09:46 PM

I splurged on Brandon time today. My spine issues have complicated the repotting of huge baskets into huger pots, and I'm just not up to the amount of watering those root-bound baskets required. Neither is Greg.

They weren't bought to hang-- I had set them atop huge pots, for instant gratification. And I'd repotted so many of them into the pots when it was cooler.
But weather usually here in August arrived mid-May, and we lost several gorgeous and expensive baskets when I ran out of gas to water them.

So we did ALL the remaining potting today, and then some. And after a week recovering, they should bust out in flars all over again, in pots with enough soil and moisture-retaining material in each pot-- that on the worst days, daily watering will more than suffice, and when the heat breaks for a day or two we can actually skip a day now and then.

I want my %\\=/ flowers, dammit, and I shall have them.

We trashed the tomato plant no one likes, too! And put its soil to good use. He also pinched off a lot of dead stuff, all around, and added petunias on hand to fill in void spaces.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Jul 19 - 09:32 PM

I enjoy reading of your progress in the house, Dorothy. Will you eventually clear out everything at the mill and let that place go? Do you still have kiln-type stuff there? Will you set up a potting room at the new house?

I tried Home Depot for fan repair parts and found a clerk who was helpful. The generic sets of fan blade arms are about $20, but they are proportioned wrong. He said Hunter sells the replacements online, and though it took a little while to figure out how that search system works, I think I ordered a set for about $35.

I picked up two gallons of primer on sale and this evening poked around the in the garage for my various painting materials. I need rollers and pan liners. I should have picked up paint chips for the wall colors. Next time.

There was an unexpected gully-washer of a rain storm this evening, lasting for more than an hour. The humidity is probably slowing the drying of my textured walls and ceilings, but I should be able to start painting by Friday.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 10 Jul 19 - 07:47 PM

Dupont:

Beginning to wonder WHEN I will get back to Beaver. I miss being there but things are progressing - slowly - here.

Sorry to hear about the spine, Susan! Just one more thing!

I may have forgotten to mention the attic. R took a notion to put up a ladder that was underfoot in his "office", tied it so it would not slide and went up and opened trap door to attic! Large, well kept with a real floor, the old water cistern - tin with wood surround - and a "chimney" to let heat go out!!! He has left it open and the house cools better at night! We are planning to have Dan make us a stairs like the one at Beaver, that can be raised and hooked to the ceiling. Young guests will love the attic - another sleeping space!

Picked up some things from the Mill yesterday - quilts, food stuffs, clothes. Cleared a bureau we will bring on the truck for our BR. Lovely antique in light wood to coordinate. Lunch with Geri, books from library and checked out two thrift shops. Foraging for bedside tables now! Stopping at local shop daily!

Went to Linen Chest today, big sale, to try to get two mattresses but the prices were twice what I paid a few months ago. Bought some very nice sheets for guests and a marvelous huge huggable pillow filled with Australian wool; on sale for $35 (from $75, it was the only one). I view it as a terrific bargain because it is a total delight. Not a bed pillow - the size of four of those! A comfort pillow for cuddling, to sink into! Almost as good as a Bernese Mountain dog!

We plan to bring the futon with nice wood frame from the mill for the TV room, and guests - VERY comfie!

I also bought a weighted "blanket", with removable, washable cover. Expensive but might be good for R ; He likes heavy covers, I can't stand them, but this might work; I can get out from under if it is too much. Helpful for some folks with symptoms of autism. I'll ask him first; ($140!) If it increases serotonin and reduces his stress, it is worth it.

A couple small sofa pillows, good for the small of the back, in off- white with removable covers, were $5 each. An expensive day. And Dan is working on our wood shed at Beaver and fixing the roof!

Still 31C here and I have feet in pan of water. Helps.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Jul 19 - 11:35 AM

The house is just as awkward with plastic up keeping dogs out of the work area while the mud and texture dries, but it's a relief to be near the point of starting the next stage. Primer is on sale at a local hardware store and I'll need at least two gallons. I deferred my jury duty that was to start Friday (moved ahead by six weeks) so I can start painting on Friday and work over the weekend. This will allow the next two contractors (electric and A/C) to come in and make their repairs early next week.

I've also found replacement blades for the fan, so should be able to repair the one I have instead of replacing it. I dismantled the fan to the point that I could remove a blade and arm and I'll take them with me to the store. For a change I think I'll turn the blades over and let the lighter wood color show for a while.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Jul 19 - 08:57 PM

He works on a handshake, gives a quote, negotiates when to come, the crew of five was here for about seven hours, and they earned their fee. He doesn't have a business card or a website, he uses his phone number for all contact and works via reference and word-of-mouth. When I described my neighbor, he didn't remember, but when I told him my neighbor's name is Cecil and he probably doesn't know too many of those, then he remembered and described where that job was.

I'll keep that number handy!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Jul 19 - 06:24 PM

SRS, sounds like you got a great crew!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Jul 19 - 06:16 PM

The house is mine again, with the warning "Don't touch the walls!" for the next day or two. The access to that part of the house is barricaded to keep dogs and dog hair out.

Since the dogs were relegated to the back yard for the day I waited until the hottest part of the afternoon and gave them each a bath with a hose and my veterinary shampoo from a plastic condiment bottle. Pepper first, and while she wasn't thrilled during, when I let her off of the leash she did that classic tear around the yard in large concentric circles like she was attached to a string. She chased and jumped around Zeke and was ecstatic with how cool she felt! Zeke is an old hand at these backyard baths; he trotted around a bit but spent more time rolling on the grass trying to undo the bath.

Now I need a shower. It's almost to the point where the water in the system is warm enough to do one of my outdoor patio showers, but I'll use the tub for now. And throw everything in the laundry. Between wall texturing and dog washing I can hardly stand myself. :-)

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Jul 19 - 03:42 PM

So I've figured out a schedule - the question "do you want paint" wasn't did I want them to paint, but do I want the walls fixed for new paint (after the damage of sheet rock work). So, once I decide on the color, I'll paint. It takes a couple of days for the texture to dry enough to paint. They'll leave the plastic down on the floor so I can paint without worrying about dripping. I'm still lining up my electrician and AC guy for their part of this job.

I will be able to take down MY plastic sheeting for passage through the hall and air circulation, will get a package of Attic Dek panels, and start the work of putting insulation back in the attic over this area. These are concurrent activities, basically arranged so any attic work is in the early morning when it's cooler. I may get the insulation into place before I finish the painting. Being a hot climate and all.

I hear a compressor running out in the driveway, so I think the texture is being applied.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Jul 19 - 11:37 AM

I'm popping my head in regularly to see how it goes, but I can hear their progress through the entire house. The dogs are better outside, they wouldn't enjoy this racket (though I'm sure they can hear a fair amount through the glass door - they're sitting there looking into the house.)

I'm sorry about the spine status, Susan. I hope you can keep doing what you have been able to and maintain a level of mobility.

Flies coming in because the door is propped open. I could go in and offer cold water, whatever, but I think I'd just be underfoot. This is a family operation, the father and his two sons plus his two nephews. They're working here today because the mud they put up in a house yesterday is still drying and the 7,000sf house they'll put texture in is on hold while the owners decide what type they want. I got lucky that this job could fall between those cracks.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Jul 19 - 10:48 AM

Very bad spine image seen today with doc. Not going to improve.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 09 Jul 19 - 09:05 AM

Good luck with all this, SRS. We only had one small ceiling go here (my fault, slipped with a spanner doing some plumbing and foot went through kitchen ceiling) and that was messy enough, although there was a bit of water involved too.

The new ceiling was an improvement though. The old one had some marks presumably caused by past problems. And we no longer felt constrained by the holes for downlighters (I think fitted for mum when she first moved in but never a good solution). We changed to one central fitting with 6 (LED for a few years) spots which provide a much better spread of lighting where you want it in that particular work area.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Jul 19 - 08:33 AM

Up early to get to the ATM for cash to pay contractor (yes, after the job), and park in my across-the-street neighbor's driveway to be out of the way of contractors in case I need to come and go. I told them to park in the driveway since it's closest to the door they'll use.

Still have a couple of bags of insulation to haul up to the attic to clear the hall, then I'll try out Dorothy's wet-towel-and-hot-iron trick on the last of the wallpaper.

One of the dogs woke me early this morning with some vigorous scratching while leaning up against a door in the hall. It was like a crisp knock on the door, and tells me that today is the day the dogs are getting a bath. I'll be nearby but I won't be participating in the sheet rock work, so I should have time.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Jul 19 - 11:31 PM

Now you tell me about the towel and iron! I have the worst of it, narrow and high areas finished, but that might help speed the rest tomorrow morning. Thanks!

I should have a mineral room also. A lot of the items sitting on the edges of shelves are various rocks and crystals I've picked up over the years.