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

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jun 19 - 11:24 AM

We survived the windstorm, but at one point last night when I was darting out into the rain to rescue newly-potted flowers on the front porch patio, I saw bags of trash floating down the overflowing gutter. Today is trash day and someone put it out the night before. #BigMistake

It's time to seriously consider cutting down at least two of the trees in this yard. One has to be removed by a crew authorized to work next to power lines. Last night that tree near the lines could have taken out the power and my garage had it fallen. That will be a major hit on the pocketbook.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jun 19 - 10:12 PM

I opened the old computer to look at the Hauppauge TV receiver card, and in the end closed it up again. Too many things I might want to use are tied into that card - it has easy to reach audio ports on the front, it has ports on the back, and it used to have a setup for an infrared sensor for the remote control. I got rid of that part of it a long time ago, but I will leave well-enough alone for now. I can scan channels (FCC has mandated several be changed lately to better use the frequencies) and can watch on that set, even record, it just won't record any metadata with the program (I'd have to enter it).

I moved it to the stand below the second desk, giving me some open desktop to work on. The little monitor hooked up to it is painfully tiny so I've ordered a larger one (Costco). I'll swap the current smaller monitor I have on the new computer to the old computer because it has speakers, and use the new one beside my older large monitor (that also has speakers). The little monitor goes back into the closet for emergency use. I can also put away the speakers that are hooked to the old computer.

We have a huge windstorm blowing through right now, and the rain will follow soon. It seems a prudent time to turn off the electronic equipment and read a book. Another Sunday night in June, another heavy thunderstorm. [sigh]

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jun 19 - 12:57 AM

The gym I've put off joining seems to have closed, so I'll have to find another one to vacillate about joining.

Big bag of clothes dropped off at Goodwill today. And at the hardward store I picked up a handful of rubber washers to fix the things for the yard that need new washers. Yesterday I stopped at a local nursery to look at their watering cans (before coming home and reordering the watering can I want - from Walmart - my annual purchase from that troubling operation) - I'll be taking a new watering wand back to the nursery, it seems to be redundant now that I've figured out what was actually wrong with the others.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Jun 19 - 09:01 AM

SUMMER?

Well, the music I just posted about, and gardening, and we're hoping family skeds work out to see them July 5 for picnic in our patio plus First Friday stuff here, incl fireworks.

For me, it's going to be a time of putting my wellness first, even above Anti-Racism work.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Jun 19 - 11:20 PM

There is progress in the office, and I hooked up one of the external hard drives that didn't always work correctly on the other machine, but now I can see my archive from many years of work at the university. I still pull photos out of there (usually for obituaries these days). I have a scan running on it right now.

Laundry is set to run overnight and in the morning I'll dry sheets on the line and the thermal blanket in the dryer, then put away for a few months. We're to ceiling fan, sheet, and a very light cotton blanket for occasional use season.

What are all of you doing to celebrate summer? I'm still fussing with my garden watering; I picked up a wand for watering, then realized I have one (so that will be returned) and I ordered the same watering can, but from Walmart. It still needs to be shipped, but if it leaks I can take it back to the store, maybe get an exchange through the store. What are the odds they all leak at the spout?

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Jun 19 - 03:10 PM

SRS, goodonya re wand!

PS to the above, another fun thing this summer will be the half dozen new GW hats, for which I have ordered hooky-clippy thingies to hang them on a rod. I saw those thingies at the non-GW store where I got a few of the hats. As I finish adding bands, etc. to each hat, I'll hang them up.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Jun 19 - 02:59 PM

My fabulous doc approved my PT-oriented exercise plan today, which may be helpful in decisions my Y will make about letting me leave necessary equipment there.

One of the really cool things about the plan is the way the active, diverse, and abundant music scene here will require using my Rollator quite a bit over the summer.
This is good, since I suspect its my last chance to get my independence back. Between concerts and planned garden/museum tours with Judy, it should be a strength-building summer.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Jun 19 - 11:54 PM

I zipped some winter blankets and lap robes into an under-bed plastic case today also. And - the best news - I finally found the wand for my vacuum cleaner! It was, as I predicted, in plain sight, discovered on a stack of plastic zipper bags that sit on top of a trunk.

My galvanized watering can arrived, and it's going back tomorrow. They soldered the rose onto the spout so it can't be screwed and it leaks. When I shopped I looked at this close up and could see threads, but soldering is something new, apparently, according to the reviews I found today. There's no way to unscrew it and line it with Teflon tape or anything comparable. I'll get a refund and I'll look around locally. I may have to order the same one but ship it to a local store, so if another one is a dud, it's easier to return locally.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Jun 19 - 10:05 PM

We had a chat today planning the next rounds of stuff to unpack from the garage, and decided to set a few other boxes in a Yano section for those weeks when there aren't big jobs needed inside the house.

The next item is a big bag of heavy winter bedding, most of which will store under our bed in a zippered case I described earlier, and Greg cleaned out that case today and put it under the bed, ready to go.

I resumed aquatic rehab today.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Jun 19 - 11:57 AM

I stopped by the thrift store and thirty dollars later had three pair of capri pants and a half-dozen t-shirts. I didn't find the ones I hoped for, the unisex large t-shirts with no message, I think I need to stop by Michael's for those (they sell good shirts for silk screeners). A modest stack of shirts and pants is waiting to head back to the thrift store, this time for their rag bin.

It has taken a long time for the Texas weather to feel like summer, and now we have it on high - a heat advisory today and probably again tomorrow. This is largely due to the humidity still in the air after so much rain. The actual temperature is mid-high 90s, the heat index is at least 10 degrees higher.

I've purchased several heavy-duty plastic watering cans over the last few years, and there is always a weak point the fails. If the "rose" cracks, I can simply poor out of the spout, but on the can I bought last year, I picked it up full of water and the whole top of it cracked around 3/4 of the rim. I could still use the lower handle, but that's not as convenient. I researched these and ordered one of the Behren's 2.5 gallon galvanized cans. Home Depot has a 2 gallon can the same price as the 2.5 one on Amazon, so Amazon it is. I try to use local vendors, but Home Depot as a Big Box store isn't really "local." I will visit the nearby nursery and check out the watering hose wands. The two I have here right now leave me as wet as the plants I'm watering.

Making progress organizing office shelves, with a lot of work still to do.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 19 Jun 19 - 01:11 PM

Dupont:

Managed almost 30 minutes with the monster shears - on lilac, volunteer trees, clearing around an almost hidden wiegelia (sp), and pulled the bittersweet off the back deck railing, swept the debris - and discovered rotten boards!

I DID it!

Will try for another session later, when the sun is elsewhere.

Friend who spent a couple days at Beaver, brought the mail back to Montreal! New driver's license and insurance bill for new car. Nice to have before crossing border. She says they had a great time, mosquitoes not included!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Jun 19 - 07:51 PM

Those jars were picked up at 6pm by the brother of the woman who claimed them; this way there weren't any extra trips back and forth. I have a couple of extra empty square feet in the pantry to rearrange. I'm not to the point where I can move everything off of the cart that slides into the former-closet (shelves at the back and on one side, and this tall set of steel wire shelves stores in the pantry, pulled out when I need something.) And by the end of the day, I was no longer in that group. I joined when I was driving past there every day, but yesterday with my offer they saw my location and booted me. The trouble is, the group set up last year to "serve" this area is "retired." I'll try to find the next closest group, but so far, no luck. Google "Buy Nothing Project" for more information.

I've also decided to discard quite a few of the various branded shirts from my past employer, plus event shirts, and replace them with some good-condition thrift store shirts. This will upgrade my admittedly-casual everyday wardrobe. The shirts from work are ready for the rag bag. The thrift store I like has many rows of t-shirts, and some really great stuff for reasonable prices. I'll replace them with a interesting messages or blank shirts. Usually we read about clothing discards and shopping from LilyFestre, clearing her closet, but mostly moving out clothes that Jeremiah has outgrown. I don't do enough of it here.

I think I read on Facebook that Michelle was going to play her fiddle with a local group. How did that go? And is Jeremiah to the point yet where he plays publicly?

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Jun 19 - 05:15 PM

Legacy of Emma.....


I was sore enough on waking-- evidence of good pool work ydy while awaiting the %\\%=%/ PT-- to limit activities tdy to Active Rest. My back's reaction to putting away the hard end of the clean laundry just now agrees, after active work earlier w Yano Becky. We work as a team-- I don't just 'decree and watch.' Today it was the trash barrel full of pots and pans, which have just finished drying in the dishwasher. (Ew, PA dirty!!!)

I hope weather cooperates with Y resumption on Thursday. The research on aquatic application of exercises found online is about to pay off to replicate yesterday's workout (and then some.) I need to print and laminate a few to introduce, from the many harvested, to add to my waterproof poolside binder.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Jun 19 - 10:48 PM

I'm sorry about that, Susan. Dorothy, it's good to get to know your neighbors! I met a young woman in the next block who has moved in with her mother. I used to speak to her father regularly when I first moved here because he was a dog walker like me, but he passed away in 2002. The introduction was easy:

"Is that Emma?"
"Yes!"
"I remember when your father used to walk her."

Instant joy in meeting someone who knew her father.

I rearranged some shelves in the office, but am not satisfied I've used the space as well as can be. I'm preparing to start taking things off of the old computer to add to the new one, so I'll need some counter space in here, that's why the rearranging first. Also the installation of software that I'll need once I make the move. And I'm still researching some of the moving/sharing possibilities with software.

Two cases (out of four I was originally given) of quart canning jars and lids are now listed on a Facebook "Buy Nothing" group dedicated to not buying things if they can be offered up by group members. I have used a few, and I'll keep an extra case but I'm thinning the supply by half. And the items culled last week that no one wanted over the weekend are headed to Goodwill. I had an early taker on the jars, a group member who describes herself as a stay-home mom working on crafting projects for sale in her area. Whatever works!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Jun 19 - 08:30 PM

PT blew me off today. Too angry to describe. Did get some good out if it anyway.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 17 Jun 19 - 08:29 PM

Dupont:

Managed to remove weeds from between pavers in front walk - mostly. And swept walk and steps to reduce amount coming into house. De-cluttered some of lilac but it is hard work holding two foot long heavy clippers! Try some more tomorrow. Mosquitoes not helpful! Sorted piles of books and decided we need a special place for animal books - lots of them!

Neighbour came over and showed me around her BIG yard. Lots of grape vines, pear tree, cherry tree and two huge Linden - good herbal tea. She used to have bees and showed me her honey house, but it became too much work. Still has big veg garden. We managed with her English augmented with a little French.

Very low energy today.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Jun 19 - 01:21 AM

More rain today and some of the invitees to our afternoon picnic (turned into cooking hot dogs in a skillet on the stove due to dangerous thunderstorms) was shy several people; it was fun but we didn't stick around long.

I'll be working on scrubbing that den floor this week, and tackling more of the vegetable garden after that rain.

Michelle, we're all hoping that this time is the charm with the cellulitis! And a lazy day of reading sounds perfect.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 16 Jun 19 - 05:35 PM

Dupont:

Major de-clutter today as R mowed the lawn!! He left clumps of daisies! Then went out to cut 4 inch in diameter lilac that fell over. The lilacs need major work but not today!

TUB ART: the pic is on canvas - photo reproduced on canvas. Looks pretty durable.

Yesterday afternoon at Memorial for friend: I realize I am the oldest, longest term close friend of family. R also but not as close. I left with the sense that I am important to the progeny for my very long connection to the parents (51 years), now both gone. Had good chats with 2 grandsons, elucidating one on some of Opa's influence on the community. I am carrying knowledge of some of their heritage for them. WOW! The great grand son was present - 7 months old. Oma got to meet him before she died. The daughter Hannah remembers meeting me when she was 8! She has an amazing memory. This is not clutter or de-clutter, just life. Or, maybe, sorting it in my mind.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: LilyFestre
Date: 16 Jun 19 - 04:21 PM

Pete has been home from the hospital for about two weeks now and is doing well. He has almost finished his at home medications and then we wait. Last time it took about 2 1/2 weeks for the cellulitis to reappear. We are hopeful that this time it will stay away. If not, he will have to go to a larger regional hospital that has an infectious unit as the doctors are unable to pinpoint where this is coming from.

Pete purchased a new to us truck last weekend and it has come in most handy as trucks often do. However, a few weeks back, a turkey flew into my car and it was in the shop all last week so Pete chauffeured me to and from work as well as running Jeremiah and well as his own travelling to and from work....it's been a long tiring week but Team Lawrence pulled together and got it done!

I spent yesterday morning at the annual Laurel Festival with my Mom, walking around The Green/park in the center of town looking at arts and crafts. We both got a henna tattoo which was fun and I found a painting that I fell in love with at first sight. It came home with me. :) I'm pretty picking anymore about what kinds of things come home because honestly, we already have more than enough and secondly, I'm a tightwad...if it doesn't speak to me without hesitation, I will admire the item and move on.

I DID see one other piece of art that was absolutely stunning but with an $800.00 price tag, I simply couldn't justify it.

Afterwards, my mom joined us for a picnic at one of our local state parks for a picnic. She and I visited, did a little reading and watched Pete and Jeremiah do some fishing.

We had plans to attend the Billtown Blues Fest today for the Gospel Blues event but it rained hard all night and has been raining all day. It is an outside event, rain or shine. If the rain was just off and on, we'd go but that isn't the way it worked out. We decided that it was a perfect day to stay in for a lazy day at home. I've been reading for hours, laundry is going, a large chunk of the piled up laundry in our bedroom has been put away and one 33 gallon garbage bag has been filled with clothes for either Sally's or Goodwill...wherever I drive by first, dishes are done, a pot roast is in the crock pot...perfect for this cool day, we've all dozed a bit, had some popcorn and have just been enjoying each other.

Michelle

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Jun 19 - 02:09 PM

My loop to explore is a health loop with pesky symptoms. I really love that my doc uses a messaging system... I can observe symptoms, play with variables, and report. He responds by ordering lab work without an office visit. Then if results indicate an office visit, it's worth the copay to go in, because he will collaborate on a treatment plan. Everyone wins.

We've started dividing some of the patio plants to dress up other areas. Don't tell Greg, but he's becoming a gardener. ;-)

~Susan

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Jun 19 - 11:25 AM

Slow progress on cleaning the floor tiles in the den, but what has been scrubbed looks much better.

They say you should have your home's entrance staged to look welcoming, but most people come in the side door through my sun room, that is out of control. Before guests arrive this afternoon I'll organize the boxes (I took a bunch out to use in the garden but I don't think I've tucked newer ones back into those slots).

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jun 19 - 11:03 AM

I've used enzymes on the rugs before, and I could have this time, but since it seemed to be a never-ending supply of dirt, I decided to get rid of this and I'll start over. That's a good idea, having a roll of carpet and using some at a time.

Potato salad will be finished this morning (the potatoes were boiled and cubed and the vinegar and sugar sprinkled yesterday). We all agree that potato salad that was made ahead a day or two is the best. This is for tomorrow's family picnic, and while we all like it, oldest child adores this, so it's an extra mom-pheromone sent out to lure a child home for a visit.

The rice cooker - I hadn't thought of that. When it finishes it stays on a warm setting so if the oats aren't completely done I could let them sit for a while. Steel-cut oats are a lot more solid than the rolled oats that cook anywhere anyhow.

Cleaning the kitchen and doing dishes to prepare for tomorrow. The list is growing - not just mop floor and mow lawns but clear out fridge and dig up the garlic so I can mow that part of the garden. And making it a fasting day (the exercise today will pay off on a fasting day).

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Jun 19 - 08:19 AM

OATS. A rice cooker also works for other grains, and its inner bowl is easily soaked and washed.

DOG RUGS. Boy, howdy! We hold one at a time in reserve to whack off fresh dog pieces as needed, because ewwww. Febreze can extend their life. So can enzymes. Then BYE.

TUB ART. You might want to seal that art to prolong its life, via decoupaging it to a foamcore base, and/or using Mortite to seal the frame's crevices.

HERE, I'm stuck in a bit of a loop to explore my way out of.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jun 19 - 12:05 AM

That reminds me, Dorothy, that I have some of the acrylic frames that work for postcards and some for larger images - in the past I've used those in the bathroom and occasionally exchanged the images. I should pull some out and see what I can fill them with. My hall bathroom could use some bright spots of color.

I'm enjoying the descriptions of your move into the new house!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 14 Jun 19 - 10:56 PM

Dupont:

I really do not mind walking across the hall for clean clothes. We so love this new home that we are happy to wait for the right piece of furniture. Meanwhile, I am making do quite successfully.

Getting rid of the dog rug was a terrific de-clutter! We do sometimes expend time and energy trying to resurrect a dead... rug!

First tank of gas today: it seems to have cost about $5/100km(60 miles) this week, at the price of gas in Canada. If I am doing the math correctly, there is a noteworthy saving but I will wait for further info to determine the extent.

After no TV since we started getting into new home, tonight R is at it, watching the news. We seemed to be managing so well without.

Boxes are getting emptied and appropriate furniture comes along. Today R hung a huge (about 4x6) sort of photo on the bathroom wall. I had a fit when he brought it home and it stayed in the back room (I meant it to be gotten rid of) until I realized it would nicely break up, and coordinate with the blank green wall over the bath tub. Looks great! A swinging pedestrian bridge over an abyss with hazy trees, softly green. So much nicer than that GREEN wall. It should survive a good while and, at $10, no loss when it dies - but we might miss it! Little by little...

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jun 19 - 11:29 AM

I made the executive decision this morning to discard the area rug I've spent so much time cleaning. Last night I washed again, then rinsed, and every single time I emptied the collection bucket it was as full of dirt as the previous time, after three washes the rinse still looked that way. My dogs love it, but I don't. I'll get them a smaller rug to loll around on.

The rug rolled up into a narrow roll but leaving it at the curb on top of the fence it wouldn't stay that way, some idiot would drive by and want to take a look and unroll it. So I tiled it shut and I used a Sharpie to write "NO you don't want this dog rug" on the side exposed to the street. If I was driving by I'd stop and take a photo and post it to Instagram. (I already posted it myself.) As I shifted it into position on the trash pile it gave off a gentle whiff of dog pee.

That rug was also a source of dust, so maybe cleaning will be a little easier.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Charmion
Date: 14 Jun 19 - 09:44 AM

After two weeks of illness, the house is filthy. I DO NOT CARE.

The sun is shining, it's deliciously cool and fresh, and I'm going out for a walk. Twice around the wide spot in the river we call a lake -- about 8 km (five miles in the old money).

See y'all later.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Jun 19 - 06:29 PM

After about 45 minutes they were good but not completely creamy. It works, but my crock pot does the best job overnight (start with boiling water) and I don't have to keep stepping over to see if the water boiled away.

The fence on the SW side of the house is finished. It took about four hours this afternoon and I got a bit of sun in the process, but it looks good. I cut the old panel into several pieces and they're on the shrinking stack at the curb. I guess the village will send the trash truck around tomorrow; it's after 5pm now.

I have a lot more fence to replace on the other side of the house, but doing it a section (8 foot panel) at a time comes in under $100 so I can pace the work.

Getting ready to have people over, so I'd better turn my energy to some indoor work now.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Charmion
Date: 13 Jun 19 - 12:25 PM

Double boiler is the best method for steel-cut oats if you don’t have either an AGA cooker (not likely!) or an Instant Pot. Be prepared to wait at least half an hour, or even an hour if you like them really creamy. Soaking overnight reduces the time requirement and improves the texture.

Microwaved steel-cut oats is a waste of good food, in my admittedly arrogant opinion.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Jun 19 - 10:27 AM

It's one of those days with a multi-pronged dirt and clutter offensive underway.

I have that large area rug upside down now because I cleaned the back side earlier in the week. When I pulled it half up over itself (so it's half-folded long-ways wrong-sides together) there was a whole bunch more fine dirt on the floor underneath that had dropped out of the rug as I worked on it upside down.

That has been swept up, furniture nearby moved and swept and mopped under, then the area where the rug usually lays has been mopped. Next I'll pull it out flat wrong-side down again and pull the other half up over the top and do the same thing, sweep up the dirt then mop the floor. Then I'll turn the whole thing right-side-up and shampoo it and rise it one more time. Whew!

Not for the squeamish: I can tell from the smell of the mop water that there had been some puddled dog piddle on the floor under the rug.

Meanwhile, when I went to empty the dishwasher this morning everything was cloudy. I suppose one of those fancy rinses would help, but for now I'm running the dishwasher with a hefty dollop of white vinegar poured in for both wash cycles.

Meanwhile, I'm running a test in the kitchen to see if I can make a batch of steel-cut oats in a double boiler. The goal is to have the cooked oats without half of them stuck to the pan. It looks like it'll work, but it isn't a quick process. I suppose the microwave would work, but so many things turn out rubbery when cooked in there. I usually make oatmeal overnight in a small crock pot, it's wonderful and creamy, but I forgot to set it up last night.

Once I finish this fiddling, it's out to put up the fence panel before noon.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jun 19 - 11:57 AM

Charmion, that last essay is declutter poetry at its best! I'm just sorry you have to drive so far for the minor emergency clinic. My father always loved the way his voice sounded in that last stage of recovery from a cold or bronchitis - not the coughing part, but the rich and somewhat deeper sound that resonated for a little while before returning to normal.

Dorothy, I hope you get to move your clothing into your room soon; I think I'd be living out of laundry baskets to make it clear to the partner that more clothing storage needs to arrive soon.

Good work marrying the best parts of the vacuum cleaner, Susan. That's a goal of mine when I visit thrift stores these days, making things I have at home work better (though sometimes a newer version in good working order turns up for a few dollars, at which time I trade it out.)

I'm reading Mary Garvey posts around Mudcat: our decluttered and retired mg is now out travelling. The World! France and Spain, then recently the Mystic, CT, Seaport for the music festival. You go girl! I saw that our occasional visitor pattyClink was also in Connecticut. Another declutter success story!

I had help to move a heavy table from the back patio (thanks to his reminder that if I took off the top that just sets in place it is much lighter) to beside the side door, and moved the potting bench to under the windows. There isn't seating out there now, so there is a work space. And the back patio is airy now, so I lugged a redwood coffee table thing from the front porch to the back patio where it can serve the seating that is still there.

I've lugged the 2x4 crossmembers for the final fence panel to where I'll put them up on the SW side of the house. I'll replace hardware in place the posts with some I like better from rest of the fence when it came down, and I'll move the pickets over there and have the drill and screws ready for this afternoon. The bulky waste stack is still at the curb (shrinking - people have taken some away to use elsewhere) so I'll carry the latest batch of cut-up fencing over and add to the stack.

This is one of my two sanctioned watering days (using an automated system - one can water by hand whenever one wants) and I may go ahead and set up my electronic watering thing on the tap and program it to water the small (so far) vegetable garden.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Charmion
Date: 12 Jun 19 - 09:13 AM

Emerging from the latest bout of bronchitis, I am finally energetic enough to Get Stuff Done. Yesterday, I finally added the accumulation of new CDs to our iTunes library, the better to play them on our space-age stereo that talks to the computer by Wifi. I also finally sorted out the Glory Hole in order to move the accumulation of excess art away from the window, where old water streaks on the concrete wall tell a story of damp due to drainage issues.

But most important was the expedition to the Kitchener-Waterloo Urgent Care Clinic to see a doctor. It's a round trip of more than 80 kilometres, with a guaranteed wait of hours, plural, in a room crowded with people just as sick as I, if not sicker, and contagious at that. If I go alone, I have to be strong enough to drive all the way there and back -- no minor consideration. Himself is eager to be chauffeur, but his time is not all his own; KW is most efficient first thing in the morning, exactly when bail court kicks off.

I was slowly recovering on my own, without antibiotics or Prednisone, but on Sunday I got an email from the choir director asking me to join the party going to Kingston next week to sing at St. George's Cathedral -- not enough capable altos had volunteered. I was coughing up hockey pucks at the time and sleeping badly if at all, but I'm a sucker for a flat-up appeal so I had to get rid of the plague faster than Mother Nature could manage without chemical assistance. Hence, a visit to Civilian Sick Parade was in order.

I made the trip successfully, got the dope (lots of dope), and attended rehearsal despite the continuing coughing fits and chest discomfort. Much to my surprise, I could actually sing, and quite well if a bit weakly. The acoustic in the old Presbyterian church where we were practising made the cough sound like the corps guns at Vimy, but I felt better after than I had in a couple of weeks.

The sun is shining in Perth County today and the air is like wine -- one of those June days that makes poets wax poetic. The magnolias are finished blooming, but the lilacs are still in full flush and the aroma wafts bewitchingly about. Best of all, the wind is blowing the agricultural effluvia away from Stratford for once, so our noses are avoiding that fact of life today.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 11 Jun 19 - 04:36 PM

Dupont:

Last English class until fall! It was exhausting trying to help a Congolese man add some vocabulary to his repertoire! I must remember in future to write down the words with which we struggle so he can remember them better. De-cluttered energy! I was too tired to go foraging but we shan't go hungry!

Tripped to Mill yesterday and picked up a few useful things; I am loathe to put anything in my new car! I shall get over this in a year or two! Will put some construction grade plastic bags in the boot for emergencies. Returned books to library down there.

R sorted excess T-shirts - some to trash! (Rags) All his clothes are put away! Today I will finish mine, although "my" bureau is still in his office. The BR has his bureau and the blonde oak roll top - I put some clothes in the drawers of that. May put the rest into the big bureau in the sewing room. It seems more efficient to keep his in the BR so he will know where they are and be more amenable to changing appropriately. And I can put things back in and close the drawers he left open!

Spent 35 min on phone sorting out why I do not get e-bills from CT. I hope! Had a nice customer service man who listened and agreed with my comments about the paucity of communication! "How on earth does anyone...???" Sometimes IT people are not the best communicators; clearly their brains are not the same as us mere mortals.

Black bean soup made. R had to fend for himself last night as I was out like a light by 10 pm and he was home "before midnight". The soup would have been better than... I have no idea what he ate! Goal: always have soup in frig!

Red Flag: A man who was working on a friend's home called "too tired to come today". At 9 am, he had the wit to phone for ambulance and by 11 am he had a stent installed - 100% blockage... plus a couple others around 60%. Makes me think/wonder/be aware.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Jun 19 - 02:27 PM

I'm VERY pleased to report that the "closet-busting" pile of PA linens is now stowed, after several weeks of looming at me from a LR easy chair! Only a few very-worn, stained, or odd-colored items were rejected to trash, GW, or Becky-will (her term). In the weeks this pile awaited my administrative genius, Greg and I had a number of creative-space-planning sessions.

Also during this waiting time, Newbie bonded with her floor pillow and learned that that chair that still smells like hers-- isn't.

In other Yano action, we put our plastic-less trash system in place today. No more plastic tall kitchen liners-- dry trash emptied from dry trashcan and the 8 chairside wastebaskets into a leaf bag, with recyclables taken out of baskets as found.

By prearrangement, friend Judy returned the surplus lightweight vacuum she'd tried (before signing herself up for her own Yano after a bad fall and injury). The vacs were twins, so I combined the two vacs' best parts/cords to result in one to keep. The rest went home, also by prearrangement, with Yano Becky, including some compatible attachments off another, long-gone vac-- after a tutorial on periodically cleaning the internal filter she's been leaving filthy.

~Susan

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

Dorothy, I'm finding that my five-years-newer Pathfinder gets better mileage than the older one, but I have also realized that the body skin is almost completely made of plastic! It weighs less. I'm not sure if this is a good thing.

I bought a new mower earlier this year and with the back and the middle row of seats down I was able to fit the huge box in (well, the guy who works at Northern Tool and a nice man from the parking lot muscled it into the SUV. I can't say I participated in that one.) When I got it home I pulled the box open while it was in the SUV and pulled things out one at a time, the removed the box. Today my ex needs my assistance because he bought an electric mower that comes in a huge box and it won't fit in his Corolla, so we'll meet early this afternoon at the store and I'll transport it home for him.

The large area rug in the dining part of my den was flipped over and last night I used the rug shampooer on the canvas back of it. I'll have to re-glue some of the edging that was knocked loose (it's probably glued on anyway - I have fabric glue here) and let it dry for a couple of more days. I didn't do a "rinse" pass over that side and I'm still considering it. Once it's turned over I'll shampoo the nap side again and rinse that. I think it has more life in it.

There is a growing stack of donation items from the kitchen, things I look at every day but never use. I'll run that over to Goodwill later this week.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 10 Jun 19 - 09:10 PM

Dupont:

Major furniture moving Friday! Changed position of bed and find the room "bigger" and still need another small piece of furniture- which will, no doubt, appear. R is on a mission to get house into more organized condition. TV/sewing room is midway in transformation; also needs another piece.

Meanwhile, totally exhausted in every aspect, I have managed to move piles of clothes into bureaus, boxes of dishes in antique glass front cupboard, and more. R even brought home an electric lawn mower to de-clutter the foot high grass! When he has time!

I slowly get "used to" my precious new car. The gas saving might be equal to the difference in payments between the Yaris that I did not buy and the beautiful vanilla Prius, she says hopefully!

It is wonderful to see boxes empty and piles of clothes and fabrics, and more, disappear into drawers and cupboards!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Jun 19 - 02:15 PM

The wknd here centered on the training I co-lead after Friday's meeting to plan it's specifics this time around. These usually knock out several more days to prep and recover-- more each year. Yesterday was pretty nap-oroented, but I made a good dent in laundry and I'll do more tonight.

Today, after brekky and planning the day, I set the accumulated dishes to soak and then reviewed the AiChi video and to articulate it with my AC class segment plan. The Sova version, of course, is faithful to muscle groups, in contrast with the Konno version I'd been using off YouTube. I need my aquatic PT book back from Christine at the Y to see more about my own hip and glute program, before my aquatic PT appt next week.

Then I finished whipping dishes and set 2 pans of taters to roast.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Jun 19 - 12:50 PM

The paywall may make reading this impossible (I have a Chrome extension called "JustRead" that sometimes gets around paywalls) but here's what passed over yesterday; we seem to have received a glancing blow compared to what hit Dallas County. https://www.dallasnews.com/news/weather/2019/06/09/strong-storms-dallas-fort-worth-sunday-could-produce-hail-damaging-winds

Although the cause of the collapse has not been confirmed, powerful wind gusts up to about 70 mph were reported in the city and caused significant damage throughout the area. Close to 280,000 customers were without power in Dallas County alone, about a quarter of the Oncor customers there. About 46,000 customers had been without power in Denton, Collin and Tarrant counties in the evening.

Oncor estimated some customers could be without power for several days and had requested aid from other parts of the country to help restore service.

That shared, today is amazing, clear, much cooler, not humid. I need to go mow the back yard while it feels like this.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Jun 19 - 10:47 PM

Last weekend the power was off for a prolonged period, and we had a repeat this weekend. I have the new computer talking to the battery backup now so it knows when to turn it off next time this happens.

Since the house was muggy I spent the afternoon working out in the yard and I managed to carry all of the cut-up fence panels down to the curb for this week's bulky waste pickup. One of the dogs had been running into the space behind the panels where they were lined up against the side of the garage. She created quite a muddy little path, but it'll fill up with grass and weeds again soon enough.

While the power was off I headed over to McDonald's and had dinner and worked on their wifi. This was something I try to get done by Sunday evenings (contract work), and my neighbor called to tell me the power was finally back on so I could come home again. :)

What a difference a week makes. From last Sunday's crash, equipment is replaced and the computer is gradually being built up with the materials I need. Not everything is installed yet.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Jun 19 - 01:19 PM

Charmion, I have a recliner for the times when coughing at night is a problem and stacked up pillows don't work (they end up pushed aside and then I wake up again coughing). This is the chair my Labrador retriever has claimed as his own, so I have to be pretty miserable to evict him to use it myself.

If you want to use the cloud with your PC you can sign up for a OneDrive account. Windows would be happy to help you set it up, and if you're using a more recent (like, from the last dozen years) version of MS Office, it probably tried to set you up with such an account when it was installed on your computer.

This morning, armed with a cup of strong tea, I sat down at the new device and addressed the new router and set up the house network the way I wanted. Almost. Still can't change the admin name from admin, but everything else is set up using more secure settings than the default that was achieved through the phone app. And now, if a service person or guest-who-isn't-like-family comes by and needs online, I can open that guest account with the phone and broadcast the name so they can logon. I've shared my logon information with the next door neighbor, she sometimes has trouble with their system and from her kitchen table she can pick up my system.

I am glad to say that the newer Dell computers have set up with a much quieter power supply fan. When my kids had their computer here at the house during their school years that was a problem - noise, and on occasion they had to be replaced.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Charmion
Date: 08 Jun 19 - 09:34 AM

The recent revelation that Apple will soon abandon iTunes has me thinking about replacing our seven-year-old desktop computer, a Windows model with massive hard-disk capacity made largely redundant by cloud storage services. I have always admired Apple design — yes, I know they are expensive, but so is replacing our hardware every few years — and I am tempted, finally, to buy an iMac and leave Windows behind. While decluttering the bank account of too much money, I would also lose that clunky tower and its tangle of dust-trapping cables.

I have been sick for a week — bronchitis again — and am now in the olfactory shutdown phase of respiratory hell. Himself, always a bad sleeper, is even more disturbed than I am by the loud bouts of coughing that punctuate my night. Decamping to the guest room does not help, as he can be rousted from sleep by a sparrow stamping on the eavestrough.

In this state, I fall asleep randomly and have the attention span of a gnat; consequently, no housework has been done since last Sunday. Outside is a different story; Steve the Garden Guy appeared the other day and wrought wondrous things in a few hours of frenetic work with spade and clippers.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Jun 19 - 07:02 PM

It hasn't been a full week since the computer/equipment crash, but today the new Dell is set up and I'm slowly modifying how things look, taking out bloat-ware they factory installed, and adding software for the basic things like my Mozilla Thunderbird (email) and Quicken. I put the Canon camera software in just now, and later I'll install the scanner. Some of the software from these devices is a form of Adobe-light.

I spoke to a library computer friend yesterday about moving files, she says a SATA cable is the fastest - I have a cable but looked them up online (I've used both SATA and eSATA over the years) and then dug around in my basket labeled "Cables / All Types" and it was there. There's too much stuff in the other computer to load into the new one as it stands, but I will be adding another internal drive; the question is, do I want to move the existing drive (several years old but working well) into the new computer and go through the struggle of "claiming" all of the files to use in the new domain. The thing I need to research next is changing the registration in the Adobe software, that would be very helpful.

Anyway, I'll look at how to open the hood on the new computer -- the SATA cable works by plugging into the mother board of each computer.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Jun 19 - 09:12 AM

DP, I'm prepping for using my house for a meeting today, on that same "still moving in" premise. It's never failed me in the 4+ years of getting all the way here. What ppl seem to remember is the warm conversations here. That was also true of MudGathers we hosted.
.

The result of yesterday's lifting wasn't muscle pain, so that amount of time and work was within limits. My vertebrae, however, were showing first-wakies signs of stress-- more likely from the several scootering times than the careful lifts.

Today I have things to do without the distraction of pain, and no driving, etc to do, so I took anti-inflammatories early, plus a tramadol.

So far, I moved the LL chairs out of TV position to restore Library mode for my 11am meeting here. DR table and kitchen sink are neatened up for same. A few LR pickups are still needed, and a beverage run later.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 06 Jun 19 - 10:08 PM

Dupont:

It takes a great deal of energy to buy a new car. The "budget" is going to be very tight for the next 6 years - but car maintenance costs should be low for at least the next 3 (warranty), and gas costs somewhat lowered. A vanilla Prius (hybrid) will be my ride, and I hope THIS car lasts me the rest of my life; I thought the Scion would but only almost 15 years and the engine can cease at any time. I really loved this car.

It is a major de-clutter: 1) to have the security of a reliable vehicle; 2) to give the Scion to Robin et al on the premise that they have the skills and knowledge to keep it running, even change the engine and, in the city, it is ok if it quits - not when I am 20 miles from anywhere Ontario!; 3) feeling slightly less guilty about my long trips back and forth with a more fuel efficient vehicle.

Next week I start picking up food box from the farm, every two weeks, so we will have produce and I will figure out how to use it whether or not they are my preferred. Paid in advance; slightly reduced food costs and reduced gasoline...

Now to figure out how to peddle the pottery, effectively - that is, with least energy output (mine) and max reduction of inventory.

R still working on, and stressed by, that project. Furniture still not moved upstairs. The house is moderately tidy; i.e., I would not mind showing someone the house on the premise "we are still moving in". It is moderately/tolerable clean. Or, I have gotten used to it? NAH! I want it better organized!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Jun 19 - 07:47 PM

Second desktop is cleared and dusted, though the contents are stuffed in various nooks and crannies. All of the attached equipment is going to be moved from the current location and the second desk pushed into that area (the equipment is sitting on stands now). A broom is on hand to excavate the various dust puppies rolling around the room.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Jun 19 - 12:48 PM

Best of luck, SRS.

After two days of wrestling w PT admin and insurance, I booked two aquatic PT appointments for a tuneup of my pool routine, and for setting current limits.

Today I spent an hour moving 250 pounds of hardscape via scooter, neatening up sewer dig pieces in prep for Lawndude work later today in that area. It was about 20 lifts of varying degrees of weight (5-60lbs) and how situated. I used PT directionality prescribed Tuesday for all lifts, and rested in between. Counts as 1/2 hour PT. One chunk of sharp-edged concrete scraped/cut my leg, but the only one I dropped on my toes was about 20 pounds... and it landed just right. (I was wearing my panic button in case I tipped the scooter, etc.)

A cotton shoelace can lift at least 60 pounds.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Jun 19 - 12:42 PM

It's moving day - rearranging the office furniture and supplies in order to have a computer setup that allows me to use the old computer, the new computer, and the many peripherals that will be wired to it. The new computer has WiFi, but the devices don't, so far.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Jun 19 - 09:15 PM

Filing, recycling, shredding, and donating this afternoon. That is all.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jun 19 - 06:58 PM

The fence pickets are finished being treated with wood preservative and are now laying on a plastic tarp in the garage, but it looks like rain is on the way so this afternoon isn't the time to start the job. Once I take down the old panel I must finish the job quickly (with the dogs locked in the house during the work). The wood preservative is probably the most tedious part, but it makes sense to paint every plank now on all sides instead of putting it up and then being able to paint only the exposed parts.

Other than the fence, it feels like a waiting game right now. The practical thing to do would be to clear out the office and redo everything for when the new computer arrives, but I need to do that when I slowly take the external drives and devices off of the old computer to add them onto the new one. I suppose this is the time to do it if I want to reorganize the room, or move my office to a new room. Or just clean up my office!

Dell has sent me the delivery date, giving urgency to make a plan and act on it. For the moment, though, I have other things to do as well. I dug at the base of the next fencepost in the back yard, this is number six of 10. It tips, but it's heavy, so I'll probably have to use the sledge hammer and chisel and knock off a few pounds of concrete before I can pull it out of the hole. I weeded some of the vegetable garden, and added mulch to an area I'd missed. Muggy as Hell out there and it certainly doesn't feel like summer in Texas.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Jun 19 - 06:39 PM

Dupont:

Back to this home on Saturday, hoping for folk dancing on Sunday - Rain! Cancelled! Phooey! Left Beaver in good shape. R had not been here since I left - working LATE and sleeping at City house. Plants survived neglect. Have been mostly resting up from the drive. Texting instructions to Magda re pottery - why have I done "this" the same way for 40 years? She wondered about doing it differently and, on second thought - sure you can! Also texting to find out where Bobby will be in near future: Yeah! Got it ...finally! I think it is this next Sunday! We can do that!

English class today was exhausting. Four students including a young man with little affect - could not tell if he understood anything. The 3 women would give him hints in French!I did not "hear that". Next week is last class until September; I shall welcome the summer hiatus to be able to spend a bit more time at Beaver. Any year now, R will get someone to help carry the heavy furniture upstairs and I can put things away and get better organized. He slept 11 hours Saturday night,having not arrived home until about 9:30.

So, dishes done, two loads of laundry complete, and put away as well as possible, including washing a couple pillows, one more to go. The feather or down ones were washed in a feather proof case and I have only one. House needs to be vacuumed but that takes planning: do it with mask on and then air out house while going somewhere else until dust settles.

Maybe tomorrow as I need to take car in for mysterious loss of oil - 3 qts in last month does not bode well. Never before; I bought it new in 2005. I would love a new car; will not buy a used one unless push comes to shove as I have spent way too much on them in my life. I have not saved enough for a down payment and I doubt this car is worth even $1000! Worst of all: A beautiful new car would soon look just as bad; they do not wear well when used as trucks! Well, let's hope it is not too serious!

Kitchen is pretty well organized but I will be re-organizing as I get used to the flow. Not all the space is full and not totally well utilized. Some things might yet leave. There is a constant outward flow of "I don't need..." I take some things to a thrift shop and bring a few - hopefully less and more useful - home.

Cool and windy, rainy. Not good for outdoor work so I have not yet planted the things I brought back from Beaver. But they are getting watered.