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De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: wysiwyg Date: 22 May 19 - 07:31 PM Response sent to MCOT. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 22 May 19 - 07:55 PM Dupont: The "new"/old cabinet which is now ours is quite nice even though painted. We are at the point of a big need for a strong body to help R carry things upstairs .... Beautiful "new" blonde oak chest of drawers and elegant roll top desk and the heavy pine piece for the Sewing/TV room... All cluttering the first floor! Would love them in place and in use! In this lifetime! The only new-from-a-store piece of furniture is the mattress. I am hoping for another bed frame soon so I can get another mattress so I can have overnight guests! (Big music fest on the canal in mid June!) R says he has several "wow" bed frames... The beautiful blond desk is to replace the dark oak, needing repair roll-top desk about which I commented mildly, "That is a really ugly desk." We are fortunate to be surrounded with good thrift shops! The big question is when will R divest us of the not-going-to-be-used pieces. Went to a "seniors' lunch" today - first ever. Met a couple interesting women and am hoping one might join our English tutoring group - another yankee who has lived in Canada since '81. It was a marvellous mix of skin colours; only one male. Lively group and the noise, of 25 people talking, wore me out; the afternoon has been no energy at all. The 3 baby cherry trees are well planted; I put a tomato cage and netting around each lest there be nibblers. They are leafing out nicely! Hope to go down to Mill tomorrow to fetch more mulch (sorry SRS!), visit Geri and do some clean up in studio. Still need someone with a rototiller to make me more garden beds before I can bring more perennials. Last week's plantings look very healthy; the deep purple iris are in full bloom. My indoor tomato plants have numerous new fruit! Want to go to Beaver but R cannot and seems to want me to stay here. I need to get back to help Magda with pottery but, even though this is a weekend of events up there, it really is too soon to spend that much energy again. Maybe next week. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 22 May 19 - 08:08 PM I nearly burned out the little electric weed wacker this afternoon as I attacked the perimeter of the largest garden, then got rid of the grass growing out of cracks in the driveway. All three bags of mulch have been used or stacked up, so tomorrow I'll make that trip again (and I'm glad you have that steady supply, Dorothy. My city park supply is resupplied regularly and should be getting some more soon since it's pretty low). My gas trimmer is difficult to start, I may have to take it in for more work, or redo the fuel lines. There are some US Post Office boxes that I've had for a long time that aren't usable now (some of the Zone B boxes; zone A is still in use and I use them a lot, but these others didn't work out so well and were discontinued.) I've flattened them completely, laid them in a line, and covered them with mulch. I also used some long pieces of cardboard I'd kept from the box the mower came in and other boxes that were the right shape for this application. It'll make room in my sun room box storage area. I've walked past the same dead bug or dirt chunk on the floor for the last couple of days - it's time to attack the dust and specks and vacuum the living room carpet. And since Poppy's passing, I think the time has come to steam clean the carpets. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Donuel Date: 23 May 19 - 09:59 AM I found the ideal adhesive to repair large specialty hot tub umbrellas is '5 Second Fix' tm Its better than super glue or gorilla glue. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 23 May 19 - 04:43 PM Day two, and second run made for mulch. They'd moved it around so I couldn't fill my bags with the cedar-rich mix I found yesterday, but it will still work. With so much wet weather this is full of fungus (mycorrhizae). I looked into Don's recommended "5 second fix" - it seems to have mixed reviews: Does 5 Second Fix Belong in Your Toolbox? The reviews seem to land generally at 2.5 stars out of five on the various sites. This sounds like the same stuff the dentist uses to stick new half crowns onto the tooth. That new desk sounds like a nice substitute for the old ugly one, Dorothy. Good luck in evicting all of the ugly furniture! How has your week gone, Susan? And what is this "parrot cage" you keep referring to? Do you or did you ever have a parrot, or is it simply an ornamental piece? |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: wysiwyg Date: 23 May 19 - 07:44 PM SRS, our week... Yucky fam thing going on, but gardening = sanity. The parrot cage was a curb find, the summer before last, and until this year I wasn't sure exactly where it should live. (It's in the photo album, shown in its semipermanent spot. It's temporarily not in that spot, as we Lasagna the square of lousy soil it occupies.) Next year it will house annuals, but this year its shape just softens the boxy lines of the rest of the patio. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Charmion Date: 24 May 19 - 09:46 AM I wrote a discursive post yesterday on everything under my particular sun, and then Stratford was hit by a line squall that -- among other things -- knocked out the hydro. That dropped my clever musings straight down the memory hole where they probably belonged. Steve the Garden Guy showed up the other day to talk about tidying up our flower beds and pruning our trees. Talking to Steve is a bit tiring because he is a non-stop bundle of energetic nerve, but it's good to know he's on our case. God knows, we are the world's worst weeders, really not to be trusted with any task more complex than mowing the lawn. Steve was recommended to me by Soprano Ruth, a recent widow with wicked arthritis. Ruth lives in a large ramshackle house surrounded by what looks like forty acres of garden and, without Steve, she would be trapped in a jungle. I look forward to a neater summer than we had last year. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: wysiwyg Date: 24 May 19 - 11:34 AM Charmin has a Garden Guy, we have a Lawndude, lol. The AM here: Bumpy AM coffee chat, but included great shared vision of: . ballot box by china cabinet for overflow dog food, rice bag . coat tree in kennel closet for quick-grab winter and rain gear . ballot box in kennel closet for quick-grab winter boots . underbed coat storage space planned is reallocated for linen storage such as space-bagged winter comforter to add when needed for a few months. Then my round of room-circulating to better utilize PA items brought: . Swapped 2 chairside baskets and changed locay of some items in them . Found orajel and caused its containing cabinet to be better ordered . Assessed how our home storage/unpacking is coming along, in light of coffee chat decisions about garage items that can come in. Here's our 5-minutes-to-tidy bedroom. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 24 May 19 - 11:41 AM I've created a set of beds in my front yard that over time I've simplified for the sake of mowing. And I realize that if/when I ever sell this house or my estate sells it the next owners will probably go back to one large lawn with a few trees (assuming at least my trees would stay. It was a bare stretch of Bermuda grass and a few straggly shrubs against the house when I moved in). That's up to them. For now, I like my park-like layout, but I am keeping in mind how to mow around anything I change. It's the time of year when ants try to move in with me, so I'll be spritzing Diatomaceous earth around the edges of counters. I peeled a banana this morning, and it seems that slight crack in the skin was enough to invite in a dozen or more ants. Weirdest thing I've ever seen. The dogs don't mind ants, so they got that one. The door-prize Vinca on the front porch doesn't like to be ignored, and I expect to be at the plant nursery today later and I'll find a replacement. Or pick up a pack of Portulaca seeds and put them in that pot. They do just fine getting watered only occasionally. Two dog beds are once again in the washer, some of Poppy's favorites. They are probably okay but since I'm planning to tuck them away for a while I want them clean. The carpet in the dining area is about to be vacuumed, then folded back each way and dirt swept out from under, then shampooed. Big job for this evening. I want to leave the dogs in the yard while I do it and late evening and after dark it will be cooler for them. I may donate a couple to Goodwill (after they've been washed). |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 24 May 19 - 09:52 PM I've finished scalping most of the long garden area beside the driveway and have emptied the three bags of mulch onto a large piece of cardboard. Friday night isn't the time to head to the park alone to get more mulch, so I'll retrieve two batches tomorrow. And I picked up bedding plants and some flowers today with my gift certificate. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: wysiwyg Date: 25 May 19 - 07:20 AM We picked up plant material ydy for the disappearing of the ugly patio gate-- sales are underway. Next year I'll probably wait until Memorial Day for even better prices. We also picked up seeds to fill the patio's cracks, to deprive those areas' habitual weedbeds of light for their jungle growth. I'm pleased that after so many summer visits here-- random months apparently adding up to two complete seasonal cycles-- my body seems to know this sometimes-Floridian climate. A bunch of garaged PA stuff probably comes in this week, and Greg found an outlet for the PA garage freezer. So the grocery budget will resume bulk meat buys next month. I've already stocked it with Costco bread. Time to start stocking the GF bread there also. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 25 May 19 - 10:52 AM As I prepare to plant my belated garden the freezer needs more drawing down. Except for fresh greens, milk, and eggs, I'll be eating almost exclusively out of the freezer for a few weeks. And though it doesn't look like much yet, the garden is taking shape. The steam cleaning is imminent in the front room; as I was vacuuming the carpet I stopped to do some filter cleaning in that vacuum. I'll finish vacuuming today (the foam rubber filter is almost dry) then steam clean this evening. Vacuuming is a MUST - no point in running all of that dirt through the steam cleaner. Heading out to walk the dogs. We have to do it early in the day now, it's too warm in the evenings, especially for the old lab. He comes home and pants for hours otherwise. P.S. I picked up a small electronic scale (countertop, for food) at Goodwill yesterday. It needed batteries, but once installed, it only works briefly. You have to reinstall the batteries to turn it on each time. This will go back to Goodwill soon. I have a little plastic imprecise spring scale I was trying to replace, but it doesn't need batteries, so it's still in business. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 25 May 19 - 07:59 PM Dupont: For short times, I am working at removing grass and other weeds from between the stones in the - someday - lovely walking path in back yard. A sharp, pointed hoe edge is working well. Today de-cluttered bank account as we toured the yard sales in Chateauguay. R bought tools... I wonder at the incredible variety he manages to find and, "don't you already have ten of those?" "Maybe." We did pick up a few useful things, including a very nice new faucet for the bathroom sink ($7!) and two old fashioned stand lamps which will replace the more modern ones in TV room ($5 each!). Arrived home, out of money and needing food! As R unpacked a woman saw the old clock on the front steps and stopped to see if we were having a yard sale! (Maybe next time! Only permitted on three specified weekends a year.) Such lovely energy she had, we invited her in and had a great visit - mutual friends, exchanged info... The only clutter is still those things needing to be moved to their home spots. Maybe this week??? Driving around, I saw more than one front yard that was mostly plantings/mulch, stones - my goal for here! A dump truck load of mulch would be a good start! |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: wysiwyg Date: 26 May 19 - 12:13 PM AM plan (was a bit bumpy in commubication): House Project Priorities-- 1. Fit out back end of kennel closet w existing, removable storage for easy plumbing/electrical access, for winter boots, coats etc. For this, spelunk coat tree, ballot box, plastic drawer unit. Preclean for what Yano will clean further on Tuesday. Set items in place as cleaned. 2. Cut bedboard from old twin base plywood, leaving enough plywood for a planned kitchen cabinet customization. The board will improve support on my side of our bed (similar to what we had in PA). 3. Leaving the cabinet project plywood in its current place (pending a Brandon day) between fridge and freezer will facilitate freezer access, now that the freezer's running. 3. Improve garage ventilation around appliances, by cracking a window and aiming a fan for draft. Spelunk fan and run cord to overhead outlet. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 26 May 19 - 01:05 PM Every year I have to improve garage ventilation also. The dogs don't spend time out there now, though the fenced-off kennel/stall is still there (maybe the diagram will hold it's shape and give a simple diagram of the garage) ________~~______ |___|____________| /___|____________| |___|____________| |_______________| |_______________| |_______________| |_______________| front The stall is built to surround that back door of the garage, and there are still two large plastic dog houses in there, one will bedding in case one of them decides to seek shelter there (on the occasion they are accidentally locked out of the house, for example). I also have a couple of stacks of large boxes in there since the dogs don't need the space. The rest of the garage is for the vehicle and around the sides, storage, mower, work bench, etc. When I open the window over the workbench (squiggles at top) and the garage door is opened about 2", the garage stays much cooler. And I work out there sometimes in the summer, so it isn't just for the dogs. That side door has a dog flap, so there is always some flow there also. The corral is put together with two pre-fab fence panels. One was cut in half and attached to a stud on the unfinished wall, and the full-length one is attached and reinforced at a 90o angle so it is parallel to the garage wall and ends at the step up at the back of the garage. There is a 2x4" piece of lumber half-way down this that supports the fence (it's screwed into the top cross-member of the panel and is about 3' high - when I clean in there I have to work around it.) There are two hinges attached to the end of the long fence panel and the remaining 1/2 panel has been reinforced with two 2x4' pieces and has two castors screwed onto the base. There is a gate latch on it, and I've built a frame out from the window wall beside the workbench to let the gate latch onto. It isn't solid wood, it's like a big slot and a folded (four-sided) kennel is tucked down into that slot. It keeps the dogs in the kennel if I need them to stay. Before I built that last bit that the gate latches to I just kept boxes stacked there to block them from entering the garage. Poppy used to push over the boxes to go chase mice. Ah, the good old days! She usually pushed over my smoker in the process, but it still works. The girls observed the unspoken rule of "we won't dash out of the kennel when the garage door opens," but for a period of time after the Labrador retriever Zeke arrived I was mostly parking the truck on the driveway, and if I opened the garage door he would race around the gate and out to meet me. Our routine became me stopping, opening a door to let him hop in and ride into the garage, then I would close the door and let him out of the pickup. I finally built the final solid part of the kennel to prevent him from doing that. I know this sounds confusing, but if any part of that construction story is helpful to Susan, that's why I shared it. It's somewhat overcast today, so more garden work. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: wysiwyg Date: 26 May 19 - 01:59 PM Thanks SRS, I'll take a look! I just unpacked another small PA stash and got this little partial timeline of critters: PET and SVC DOG PA LICENSE/VAC RECORDS Liver Dalmation RUBY was 7 on 1-27-05 Shep mix svc dog FAULKNER was 1.5, on 1-27-05 Ruby, 2006 Faulkner, 2006 Faulkner, 3, 6-21-07 Yellow lab/dane Sadie was 2 on 4 -24 -09 Sadie, 2011 Faulkner, 2011 Marcellus cat, 2012 Faulkner, 2012 Faulkner, feb 2013 Faulkner July 2013 Svc dog Newbie, 2, 12 28 -16 We saved all those tags-- jewelry project! Recycling the envelopes. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: LilyFestre Date: 26 May 19 - 03:52 PM Just a brief update.... I'm down 16.8 pounds now. Five bags of Jeremiah's clothes have been washed, bagged and are in the car to be delivered to their new family on Wednesday. The living room has been cleaned and dusted. The pellet stove has been cleaned out and is ready for next season. The top has been washed down and now houses 8 battery powered candles that are flickering nicely in that dark corner. We, as a family, went furniture shopping yesterday. We have narrowed down our choices to 2 sofas. We were initially thinking a couch, a love seat, 2 ottomans and a straight back upholstered chair but after much measuring and day dreaming, I think I would prefer a couch and 2 recliners. It is not the style that I wanted but so far, we haven't found that style in something that is uber comfy which is what we want....so....I may have to compromise on this point as I'd much rather be comfortable than pretty which is SO obvious if you were ever to meet me in person. In addition, Pete is looking at a new to him truck. Also, I had a turkey fly into my car last week which did substantial damage...all fixable in the days ahead. On the same day the turkey flew into my car, we had to take Jeremiah to the Emergency Department. He had been playing outside in his dirt pile of trucks and such when the wind kicked up dirt and debris into his eye. Although I flushed it several times, it didn't appear as it was helping and he was in pain. At the hospital, they numbed his eye, used a q-tip to look up under his eyelid after applying special eye drops and using a light that would clearly show scratches or foreign objects. They also flushed his eye. Thankfully, everything is ok. We don't know what was in his eye and the ED doctor stated that it's likely it came out when I was flushing water in his eye...we'll never know. No scratching or permanent damage. I went on a bus trip to Rochester last weekend for the Lilac Festival with my mom...we always have a good time together and I completely enjoyed the day! We are planning a Mother Daughter trip in September...it is my late birthday and early Christmas gift combined. We are headed to the ocean, somewhere I've been wanting to go now for years but Pete hasn't had the desire to go...I can't wait! I SO much prefer our together adventures than gifts! We are also currently signed up to make ceramic Christmas trees and another class to make a basket. On Tuesday I go for my annual cancer check up. I have the tumor markers drawn twice a year and the big exam once a year at this point. I wish I could say it isn't nerve wracking anymore but I'm just not quite there yet. I have tomorrow off which I will most likely spend either puttering or sitting at the car dealership with Pete to purchase his truck (if they are open). Happy Memorial Day Everyone! Michelle PS. Plans are in the works to get the kayaks out on the water now that Jeremiah can swim...I imagine it won't be long until he has a yak of his own! |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 26 May 19 - 05:57 PM Michelle: Also, I had a turkey fly into my car last week which did substantial damage I'd love to read the insurance report on that one! Did the bird die, and was any of it edible, or are they out of season right now? Susan, I think there is a collection of those kinds of tags in the tool and oddball stuff drawer in the kitchen. My tomatoes are nearly ready to be planted, and I've taken a lot of cardboard and mulch to the surrounding portions of the garden. I had the 4" pots soaking in water with compost tea to give them an extra boost. The potatoes that were planted late are sprouting. Herbs everywhere, and some need harvesting before roots get either dug out or transplanted. Once they're planted and mulched I'll mow the back, and finish in time to go feed my friend's cats again. Kicking back this evening to watch a movie, after I pull something out of the freezer for tomorrow to grill outside for a holiday dinner. Michelle, I sent you three PDF files via Messenger, they are the most recent publications from Consumer Reports to do with buying used vehicles. You may already have them, but since I was thinking about it I sent them along. I found a vehicle that, while not on the "best buy" list, isn't on the "avoid" list, and generally has a good reputation. Good luck with the search. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 27 May 19 - 11:40 AM The last run up to a friend's house to feed her cats included swinging past the free compost bunker maintained by the city. It's lower than usual, but still has plenty for what I needed. I've brought in 14 contractor-sized bags so far, each filled about 2/3 full. Each contractor bag contains as much as probably 2 of the commercial bags sold at Home Depot, Lowes, etc. ($2.79/bag). Today the peppers get planted, and hopefully room made for some flowers I want to add to the permanent landscaping area in the front yard. I picked up things that should reseed themselves. It's also time to finish removing another fence post in the back yard. I'm not sure what I'll do with all of them once they're out, possibly offer to a friend who builds fences, or put them on Freecycle. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: wysiwyg Date: 27 May 19 - 12:29 PM SRS, we used to have a garage area for dog use but took it down when we started parking in there. Ours was made of ag panel sections, attached to screw eyes, about 5' square. I miss it. Maybe someday there will be room for a dog door entry, but that awaits replacing that door (it's rotting and patched to last 2 more years). To ventilated the garage in light of neighborhood security and weather patterns, two solutions look feasible-- adding either a louvered vent above the garage door (bye bye basketball hoop), or an awning over the window by the appliances. The awning is preferable but pricey. We'll probably discuss a home-made, rigid wooden one made like an indoor valence box. After I sit and contemplate that window's existing curb appeal. We're also exploring a worm bin for composting to reduce plastic trash bag use. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 27 May 19 - 01:00 PM Dupont: Clutter at this point is caused by things needing to be moved to other places: books to basement and furniture upstairs. Robin needs a helper and does not seem to be able to "Go to the gas station and ask the nice man if h knows anyone who needs a couple hours work". If I were strong enough... but I no longer am. It is becoming a stressor for both of us. Found someone taking out a white picket fence about two blocks away. R asked about it and was told to take ALL of it. As soon as he has time, we will have a surfeit of white picket fence! Will use metal posts to install it. Not fencing in, or out, anything, just for pretty but may grow clematis on some - need stronger supports for those sections. Mostly the front yard is shady. A great place for spring bulbs and other shade lovers. R de-cluttered trees in back of grape vines. I had a fit as he removed habitat and critter food; that is SO suburban; this is not suburban, this is country! Intransigent, he said he would buy the critters grapes! "Yeah, poisoned ones from Chile!" (pesticides) Although I do throw bits into the yard that could/should go into compost, I generally do NOT feed wildlings lest they develop dependency. The good side was that it made it easier for him to remove trash that had been thrown behind the garage over the years. He happily decluttered; I, furiously, declared him NOT environmental. I am also insisting the brush be piled behind the row of lovely sugar maples (not burned) so the critters can use it for habitat as it returns to the earth. White and lilac Lilacs are in full bloom - maybe 20 feet tall! I will cut some back after bloom but the screen between us and east neighbour is nice. The front and back "lawns" are dandelions and violets, with some grass! Pile of stuff ready to go to thrift shop next trip. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 27 May 19 - 03:13 PM The fifth of ten metal fence posts is down, the concrete footer from the fourth one is knocked off, broken, and stuffed into the newest hole then filled with the original soil. I'm not leaving any holes standing there waiting for someone or something to trip into. Now I'm waiting for another rainstorm to soak the area to dig the next one. I have a stack of metal posts next to the cut up fence that I'm going to mostly discard in two weeks during bulky waste, but some will be used for edging in the garden. Dorothy, do your neighbors have any recommendations for a local handyman to help move stuff? I have a friend here who is on speed dial of probably every house on both sides of my street. If something needs doing - "maybe Antonio could do it." Everyone needs an Antonio in the neighborhood. He makes a living this way, through referrals only. It's hot and very humid, so my outdoor tasks are brief, then I come back in to cool. I saw a canopy that is 25% off today (via coupon) at Harbor Freight - tempting to pick one up and put it up over the garden so I can work on it longer at a time. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 27 May 19 - 11:57 PM I finished digging the next veggie bed at dusk and planted the various types of peppers. This gardening is hot work, but it is going in late . There's lots of mulch in place to hopefully keep these plants happy. Spinosad in the watering water tomorrow, as I attempt to stamp out the stinkbug infestation I had for the last two years. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: wysiwyg Date: 28 May 19 - 12:54 PM W Yano Becky Cleaned ballot box and plastic drawers, set to dry in sun. Unpacked two large boxes. Kitchen items brought in. Shred boxed for mulch. Misc #1 box sorted for house or garage. Its big empty box retained. Garage items set w hardware in garage. Paper folded for lasagna. Packing peanuts added to bag of same for future gardening. New secateurs found, yay, and set in gardeners drawer. Coat rack de-goumed. That completes the storage items for the winter boits/jackets going into the back of the kennel closet. In my closet, the upper rod now has my heavier dress wear-- and half of the PA lightweight 3-season business-wear is hanging on the lower rod. There is room for all the rest-- just need more of the extra wide, non-slip hangers. I DID estimate right on how much clothing to keep! I DID plan enough storage space for it! |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 28 May 19 - 02:49 PM Good job, Susan! I had to look up secateurs - one of my most-often used tools, as it happens, and I have several around here. My gardening apron is one of the .99 cent nail aprons from Home Depot, and I keep gloves and the pruners in one side and my phone goes in the other. Cleared out some stuff today since a friend was coming over to use the computer (with web cam, for a job interview). Sent him home with some extra goodies from the freezer. Looks like a thunderstorm is headed this way so good thing he finished before the interference of weather OR the barking of Pepper, who does not like thunderstorms. Also cleared out some particularly noxious spam here (above the line) lately. Maybe the trolls are starting summer vacation by posting more crap. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: wysiwyg Date: 28 May 19 - 05:21 PM "Secateurs" appeared in a book I read as a lil yoot. I grew up thinking everyone called them that. It's funny when Lawndude Brandon doesn't know that word and tries to teach me his word. ;-) Post-Yano, the first of two loads of unpacked dishes ran in the DW and the 2nd is running now. We each have up a glass pan that just doesn't work here, to the GW box. We spent an hour reviewing costs and options for mulching out the big tree ring that I once mulched out by myself with no helpers. Two.5 yards, 35 bags minimum. Shore is purty when it's fresh. Then we spelunked the garage boxes for aquatic items, many of which I brought from PA to donate to my Y. A few went into my keep sack. The rest came in, after being ferried, to wash and donate... They're in the washer. Also ferried was a wash tub full of toiletries, after I'd removed and recycled broken items. Two Coleman zip closets were investigated. These are about 30 x 40 and meant to stand in a van or truck's back end, camping. One was full of wet and moldy ruined items which were ruthlessly discarded. That zip bag was set to bake under the camper as a potential underbed closet. The other, empty, was set in the patio to wash, for same. Then we worked together to set four old, round bed risers (that I'd saved after their prior use pre-move), under my nightstand. This replaced a cardboard box that never quite worked to make the nightstand high enough, and freed up the draw sheet covering the box. It needs further work (one riser's base hangs up with the concrete pier acting as a bed riser). Also freed up, in this stint of creating garage space-- an old schoolteachers' metal wastebasket which a late friend had painted out in giant ladybugs on a green background. I've used it for 4 years, upside down, behind the mailbox, for packages to stay off wet soil. But now our big PA mailbox has been set there instead. So I allocated it, right side up, to the Camp Kitchen. Greg will probably drill it for drainage, and when I find a more rainproof trash can at Goodwill, it will be repurposed again. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 29 May 19 - 11:24 AM It is interesting how, if you give them consideration, lots of things can be repurposed. There were a number of items left behind at this house by the previous owners that I've integrated into my activity areas—the two cast iron firewood stands are a case in point. Both have had cedar planks added and been turned into outdoors tables, one used as a potting bench. This morning as as humid as physically possibly without it actually raining. The dogs and I enjoyed a visit with a neighbor up the street—we were both out doing things ahead of the thunderstorms headed this way. Susan, did you get hit by the complex that went through Ohio and Pennsylvania? I have a friend who was originally from Xenia, where a huge tornado famously destroyed much of the town. She told me that as a high school student working on a school play in the auditorium they all sought cover and were safe, but she foolishly crawled back through the stage area debris later to retrieve her purse. She's lucky she got out alive. I have some yard work to do, like that neighbor, ahead of the rain. Better get to it. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 29 May 19 - 06:47 PM Beaver! So nice to be here on a - finally! - lovely day! Dropped off stuff at thrift shop; visited library and changed read for unread; groceries; two separate visits with friends; weeding and thinking; finally got tires changed! And another unexpected visit with friend as I waited. Bills paid. Daffies blooming beautifully in Astri memorial garden and lovely freckled violets. Assessing what survived: many raspberry of one type but only a few of the other; blueberries burgeoning; tons of parsley, lettuce has sprouted from last year! Beans planted last trip? No sign but some seeds above ground - re-buried. Bisque firing for Magda cooling; we started it this am. Sat in the screen house reading for a while! Now to cook some good food. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: wysiwyg Date: 29 May 19 - 07:52 PM SRS, the tornadoes missed us but the area was hit pretty hard. I spent a lovely afternoon today rambling with Judy. We toured only briefly through the edge of affected area. Greg and I put the parrot cage back up when I got back. Leveling risers for it became simple once I spotted the cage's pullout droppings tray, which we used to adjust the risers to approximate level. The mulch, etc. under the cage worked well to "disappear" the ground irregularities, and I was pleased to see that the height is still ok relative to the neighbor's fence. The light wasn't right for pix, so I'll post a pic of the cage on risers later, in the patio album, where I'll describe the project more fully. Church abuse correspondence today. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: LilyFestre Date: 29 May 19 - 08:53 PM Crazy two days here. I had my annual cancer check up along with the bi-annual tumor marker check and am thrilled to share that all is well! Did some grocery shopping on the way home and got Jeremiah home just in time for us to get all the groceries inside and the dog out before the thunder started to roll along with warnings of hail and tornadoes. There was a touchdown in Ulster, PA...not too far from here...blew down a few buildings. Today I got to work and Pete called saying he thought the cellulitis was back so I drove home and off to the ER we went (after calling the doctor). He has been admitted to the hospital...white blood cell count is rising and lactic acid is rising at a very fast rate. He's got lots of saline running and 2 antibiotics by IV. The smallish red spot from this morning now takes up most of his lower leg...lots of swelling...looking and feeling like plastic. They aren't sure of the cause. We won't know much more until 24 hours passes. He has a temperature, the chills and exhaustion. Then the weather...tornado warnings in the area. The schools held the children until the threat passed. One touched down along Rte. 660 between Mansfield and Wellsboro, PA knocked down a shed where 8 people were taking shelter. I have a must attend event tomorrow morning and then I'm headed to the hospital for the day. I'm thankful for laptops so I can work while Pete sleeps. I'd stay at the office but I can't concentrate knowing that Pete is in the hospital AND my supervisor is great about it all. Goodnight. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 29 May 19 - 09:07 PM In this day and age telecommuting is a reasonable and practical way to take care of a lot of what we do for work. Seeing clients, working a service desk or other hands-on jobs, no, but other parts of the day, it is nice to work from home. I work about 10 hours a week, all from home, as a contractor for a regional website. I've never been to their office in the next county. I hope you can figure out the source of the cellulitis; congratulations on your continued good health as a cancer survivor! Susan, I look forward the photos of this very large-sounding parrot cage. I suspect you're describing something like is in use by birds down at my neighborhood garden center. They have several large birds in the store. We were under a tornado warning today, the bulk of the storm passed to the north of me, but I heard from a former co-worker at the university that they had to head to the interior halls for shelter. I put several potted flowers into one bed that gets a full half-day of sun, after moving a birdbath that had achieved quite a drunken tilt while standing in that bed. It now resides beside that garden on a concrete square that might help keep it level. I can return to the garden center and use the rest of the gift card because I've identified the rest of the things I need and can plant now. More veggies and some flowers. Others will start from seed. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: LilyFestre Date: 29 May 19 - 09:35 PM While the bulk of my job can be completed online from just about anywhere, they like us in the office and do not often approve hours for work done elsewhere. However, in circumstances like I currently have, it is sometimes is approved. Frankly, whether I get paid for it or not, I have such a huge caseload that I will likely get some work done while Pete sleeps. It gives me something to do, takes my mind off the immediate while being close enough to offer love, support, a second set of ears and a sharp mind to take in details that he may miss due to medication fog. Jeremiah is being a super duper helper while Pete is away and is handling this unplanned situation quite well. He is one incredible kid. <3 Michelle |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: wysiwyg Date: 30 May 19 - 09:51 AM (Parrot Cage) PLANT STAND My original thought, when I saw this at the curb, was "there's my free greenhouse". That would need more plastic than I care to generate, so now it's a garden feature, plant stand, and more. Foto and plan: http://bit.ly/2HKEg8o Those really long links force the page to the edge of the monitor, meaning readers have to scroll sideways to read page content. Hence the bitly link. ---mudelf |
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Subject: Bitly Mudelf From: wysiwyg Date: 30 May 19 - 02:10 PM I have no idea how to do that, pls PM lesson if possible and I will try. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 30 May 19 - 05:31 PM Reducing link size is something anyone can do. I have a couple of websites I use - Bitly and TinyURL. And if you post with a site like Hootsuite they have a link-shortener called Ow.ly. You can set up a free account at Bitly and keep track of everything you've shortened (useful if you want to go back and find something later) or on TinyURL, just drop it into the text box and it produces both the link itself and a preview link if (I think) someone wants to mouse over it and see what the link is to. I haven't used the preview. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 30 May 19 - 10:20 PM Michelle, how is Pete doing after another day at the hospital? Are they any closer to identifying why this has recurred? Is it a physical contact thing (bumping into something that has the germs on it) or idiopathic (no known cause)? MaryG, after France and thereabouts, what will your next trip be? Are you going to be one of those retirees who is always on the move? Charmion, did you take all of your toxic materials to the dump's special collection day? I fall through the cracks in my town - they don't participate in the county collection site and I'm not a citizen of the nearest large city that has a site. I have to borrow my ex's water bill to take things to the collection center (and that city had the nerve to give the site we can't use the name of our village!) I made a couple of stops today that needed doing after lunch with a friend from work, then at Goodwill I was on my way to the register and noticed a lovely cotton print 3/4 sleeve blouse that will work nicely over the top of pastel knit tops. That is a summer look that works well here - air conditioning is cranked so low that you need that extra layer to be comfortable when you go to public buildings this time of year. It's a print with large flowers and enough colors that will go with all of my knit tops. I thinned out the hangers in the closet and laundry room recently, and there may be something I can pull for donation when I add this to the closet. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: wysiwyg Date: 31 May 19 - 05:00 PM SRS, given the vision and device issues I'm dealing with, I don't foresee being able to try that method anytime soon. Other ideas? I know that a lot of the pasted links' characters are unnecessary, but I'm not sure where to chop them off. I suppose one option if I have new pix to reference would be just to say so and paste the shortened album link again. Other ideas? |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: wysiwyg Date: 31 May 19 - 05:56 PM AM wakies in the Patio resulted in a fone call to sked an appt, which led to setting up my voicemail finally, which I managed on my own. Then after brekky we practiced VM, and I discovered that the app Greg uses hides messages if you save them there, so you can no longer access them via regular VM. I didn't try the obverse, yet. Over coffee, we discussed the day and a question brewing in my mind about the church abuse incident, and then I went to finish the letter portion of my writing assignment. Towards the end of the planned hour, a sense of urgency and clarity came, so I easily knocked out the other 10 pages of the project. Somewhere in there I got and answered an email from the disability rights lawyoo advising us on the church thingie. As I was about to distribute that and take a legs-up break, Larry the Grab Bar guy arrived to add the one I'd requested to make the recently installed bedside steps safer. Greg worked with him on placement. Larry and I joked as usual but it left a bad taste-- sexist stuff. Microagressions on top of K. Next I whipped dishes and used,my new hangers to put away a basket of hangables which, tbtg did fit in the closet. The new grab bar and its placement were perfect for the tight working space. I ran a podcast w Sally Yates, which I moved to the LR to finish, where I folded clean items there-- tbtg no more hangables except one! That one is going to be a test hanging (sounds grim!). It's going to go inside a clear bag, into overflow space where the unused hanger supply lives, in the kennel closet, because the winter stuff is in the back of that, and it's a Christmas vest. I may also hang a slim farmer bag in there, if I find that the best isn't disturbed, in my way, or dirtied up over the dog bed. Tonight, blues bar! |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: wysiwyg Date: 01 Jun 19 - 10:13 AM Today's plan is to set up the next Goodwill box to catch items, finish putting away the folded laundry, and start dealing with items left lying around during that quick writing assignment. An important visitor is coming Friday for her first tour of the Library, and theres a lot of remedial work to do in there around our TV chairs in there, too. There is also an OCR scanner to find a place for, in there. Greg gets the real fun today, hoping to avoid another plumbers' visit. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 01 Jun 19 - 10:23 AM Yesterday my local NPR station played a program called Brains and Losses that looked at the specific problem of what older people are or aren't thinking when they fall victim to financial scams. Part of it seems to be brain development. So as I thought about my ability and that of friends and family to avoid that kind of thing, I remembered a relative who did fall for a pitch (from an insurance company that "manages investments" but takes a cut every time they touch the money - that couple lost a substantial percentage of their retirement savings before another relative stepped in to put it back someplace safe.) And realized that as long as I pay hefty monthly interest on credit cards I've also set myself up for a different sort of fleecing. That considered, I picked up a handful of documents and headed down to my credit union and consolidated that card debt. When the loan officer asked what brought me in, I told her about the radio program she noted where to find it. She said they see that kind of scam too often. I may also refinance the new vehicle, I would save only $10 or so a month, but over the course of five years, that adds up. Cleaning this morning in preparation for friends coming over for lunch. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: wysiwyg Date: 01 Jun 19 - 01:59 PM Laundry folded. Two rolls of select-size paper towels distributed (and large-sheet towels stowed w cleaning supplies). Hemi walker modified as chair assist. Will allocate to patio because then, one wooden walking stick can be added to scooter until I snag a folding GW cane. Next, tried to find cleaners' bag to hang up my Xmas vest, in Newbieland. May add garment bag, also, and use its hook in the closet differently, (like for belts or trousers). No clnrs bags found, but other used-twice bag found. I left the red vest color peeking thru and used my birthday clothespole to boost it up. That pole can live there by that kennel closet. The wet items from the bathroom vanity leak are sorted, trash discarded, washables in washer, other items set to dry, and Chore bucket soaking in vinegar. I note again how much more work is actually done-- "small stuff" assumed to be "women's work"-- than the planned work laid out this AM..... Next we drilled a ceramic planter so its plants will actually drain, without removing them to drill. So first I emptied a PA basket of its stuff (sorted some), bcuz if that planter were to crack it would need the basket's plastic liner to sit into. Planter drilled, no cracks, and set in place outside the front door in front of the raised impatiens planter. A work in progress. All these front door plants will come back inside, when it gets cold enough... Around Oct. 1, maybe. The plastic tray is set to receive the drilled planter, and there's a wicker kitchen plant stand with aluminum cups to catch the impatiens, and perhaps an amaryllis. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 02 Jun 19 - 03:59 PM The time has come to replace the nine-year-old computer. Last night we had thunder and lightning, the power was off for hours, but flickered as it went out (I was asleep at 2am when it was apparently restored so I don't know if there was flickering then also) Not too many lights left on but oddly, a television and radio in one room turned on by themselves. The router also seems to have melted down to a primordial unaddressable URL, completely losing it's program and no longer responding to wired and wireless attempts to reach it. They were both plugged into power supply batteries that should have protected them. One trip to Fry's and the new router connects to the phone and the laptop but the big HP will have nothing to do with it. I've hit the final "Diagnostics Policy Service is not running" message and I can't fix it. In the past I could. So, scrambling all day, tripping over the smaller dog (whose anniversary it is today so I really should be making much of her, not saying "I'm going to trip over you if you keep doing that" she settles in beside wherever I'm standing or sitting.) I really really dislike having to set up a new computer. For all of the novelty of the new device, everything that I use is stored in the other one. That is now effectively offline. I suppose I can use a cable to drag stuff over when a new one arrives. It's humid and soggy and not really like the late Spring in Texas this year. We really do need to get things in gear and clean up our collective acts asap. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: mg Date: 03 Jun 19 - 03:42 AM i am pretty happy with a lower end lenovo from amazon. ideapad 320 |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Jon Freeman Date: 03 Jun 19 - 04:44 AM SRS, How were the network cables connected to the devices? ie. Does the incoming line go through a surge protector,perhaps on the UPS? (I don't do that here btw because I get a noticeable speed drop on a slowish ADSL line if I go through the UPS in my room but network parts would be vulnerable if something happened to the phone line) As for the PC. I know it's due replacement but would it be worth fitting a network card? Under£10 UK prices. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 03 Jun 19 - 12:35 PM Jon, how do you use the network card? Right now this computer is a self-contained, non-communicating machine. I'm not sure if there is a way to get around the absence of the "Diagnostic policy" error. Mary, the computer at my house has done a lot of heavy lifting and even in retirement will continue to do so as it has numerous devices attached. External hard drives for music, photography, videos, and work files (I kept copies of everything I worked on, though most of them are now donated to Special Collections at work). I have a printer, a scanner, a Canopus for the VHS, a two-monitor desktop setup, and cables for all sorts of things are on a USB hub—such as cameras, phone, tablet, and the charger for my fitness tracker. And lots of software that operates best in a multi-core environment (any Adobe products, for example, are real processor hogs). I didn't dismiss laptops outright—I thought about a powerful laptop on a docking station that would give me the ability to attach all of the USB stuff and monitors, but I have things I want to add to the computer (that I can find on sale and do for myself cheaper than Dell can add them in now). And possibly a couple of things out of the old computer into this one (the Hauppauge receiver, for example, because I use my computer like a DVR; the old computer can't download the program to update the channel list so there would be no metadata with anything I record on there from here out.) In the end, laptops are more expensive and harder to work on, so it's another desktop. It was a weekend of pleasure, visiting with old friends at lunch, and work, doing all of the computer stuff. And more work ahead. This morning a bright spot was the return letter from the tax appraisal office; they've been racing to raise our property values (and taxes) before the state puts a cap on all of that. My market value last year went up more than $20,000, and this year it went up a whopping $37,000. Lasts year I filed an online protest and because those hearings are nerve-wracking and I was still working, when they dropped $3000 from the market value (an automated response) I accepted it. This year the automated response cut the increase in half, but I have the time and energy so sent in the paperwork and was prepared to go to a hearing in a couple of weeks. This morning a letter arrive agreeing to leave the market value at last year's price (I asked they do that, or use the square foot rate of a house nearby that makes it even lower). The good thing about this is that this year my tax rate will be frozen, and at the lower level. Last night I realized I'd forgotten to take my allergy stuff for a couple of days (as I lay in bed with a stuffy nose). I took the medication and spent time making my brain wind down until it kicked in and I could breathe (all of this computer and financial stuff can keep one awake) visualizing how today I would finally work on my new fence pickets (paint on the wood preservative) and cut up the old fence for bulky waste (it must be at the curb by next Monday so town officials can drive through and decide what size and type of truck to request to pick it all up). This is my task for the day. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Jon Freeman Date: 03 Jun 19 - 01:06 PM Hi SRS. I’ll start off by saying I’m making the possibly incorrect assumption that it’s just the network port on you motherboard gone. And it’s just something I might try. I can not advise on the Widow diagnostics or absence of. If you did want to fit one, the first thing you would need to do is confirm what slots you have free on the motherboard. They might be PCI or PCI Express. Then you want a network card (PCI-e type shown) Fitting should be easy. Unplug the power and open the case. Touch yourself on something metal to discharge any static in you. The holes in the case for the slots will be covered by blanking plates and there will be some sort of screws or clamping mechanism but you will figure that out. Fit the new card that’s it inside. You will want to move the network cable to this new socket and might like to try to disable the onboard network slot by looking around in the BIOS so you only show the one network card. Configuration varies from system to system and I don’t know Win 10 well enough but if you are using DHCP (assign IP address automatically, commonly by the router), things might “just work”. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 03 Jun 19 - 01:50 PM Jon, if you google "Diagnostics Policy Service is not running" you'll find instructions to go to the command prompt and type in a directory to take you to the long list of functions in the computer that start right away, are delayed start, are automatic or manually started, etc. I've had to reset that a couple of times, and it refuses to even see my request to refresh the setting or approach it as an administrator. And as far as space inside—this computer has just about every slot or port filled with some card or drive or other. Three or four years ago I bought a 256g SSD and cloned the C: drive onto it and plugged it into the motherboard. To put it inside the computer so full of stuff I literally pushed the card into the middle of the wires and anchored it in place with the zip tie. There isn't any extra space in this box of air. There is a lot of redundancy in there and I think there is a deceased large-capacity drive in there also. And I have to figure out which of these external drives hold what files; they've been in place for ages and are all covered with dust and old post-it notes stuck on suggesting the letter drive it might be. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Jon Freeman Date: 03 Jun 19 - 02:00 PM Oh... I guess a USB wi-fi dongle could be an alternative but I think you prefer this one hard wired. Oh and, I've just a search and found these |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 03 Jun 19 - 03:06 PM I like Anker products, I have a number of their devices here. And if the computer would talk to the rest of the world, that would be an excellent option. In for a cool-down after applying the rest of the can of wood preservative to my fence pickets. I'm a little over half-way through this task and will pick up more preservative next trip out. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: wysiwyg Date: 04 Jun 19 - 07:58 AM The writing assignment (and some complicated politics that needed wise navigation afterwards) led to a larger role in the volunteer thing here, that I'm very pleased about. A big part of what's good about it is that the space to track the projects that will follow is already organized. It's also a great use of my skills. Tbtg I set clear boundaries around it when I was approached to be spokeswoman for a coalition of orgs I'm so passsionate about. The leaders I'll liaise with are the BOMB. On the health and fitness front, today is a fresh start w PT. It will be good to have their guidance for a change. Apparently if you don't kill yourself with self-directed rehab work-- every PT I've had tells me "DO LESS, SLOW DOWN"-- Medicare has your back. No copay? REALLY? Come weekly as long as it takes? On the home front, Yano Becky will work miracles today. Now if Brandon is over whatever kept him home sick, we can get the grounds in order too. I'm behind on watering the patio garden, so off to do that. ~S~ |
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