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

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Apr 19 - 02:06 PM

Greg is adding shelves inside our custom cabinet, and I have a box of silverware and spatulas from PA soaking away their PA filth.

~Susan

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 27 Apr 19 - 04:06 PM

Aw. I don't think I've seen a lizard since I've lived here. I used to occasionally see the common lizard when I lived in N Wales and once in a while one would get into the porch and would need to be put somewhere safe but that's it. Brother in oz who keeps his door open has a I forget which of the larger pink or blue tongued lizards as a fairly regular visitor. I gather it likes cat food.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: LilyFestre
Date: 27 Apr 19 - 04:33 PM

Looking forward to seeing those photos Maggie! :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: LilyFestre
Date: 27 Apr 19 - 05:20 PM

This week has been super busy for me at work. We have monthly deadlines set by the Department of Health and since I missed almost a full work week while Pete was in the hospital, I have been working to get caught up. WHEW...I'm almost there!!!

On another work related note, I gave up my title and position of Champion Trainer this week for the Children's Program as I have elected to work exclusively with the adult population. To be honest, it's a relief and one less responsibility...I'm thankful to have passed that torch on!

Bare minimum was done at home this week. Dishes are done, laundry is caught up (thank you Pete). Jeremiah's size 8 clothing have been bagged up and have a home waiting for them. YAY.

We had sunshine, rainy, high winds and blue skies this week and this morning we had some snow...we are back to blue skies at the moment....loving all the additional sunshine!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Apr 19 - 07:09 PM

I was doing some cooking and mama lizard was quicker than I expected, so when I went out the last time she was resting on her laurels, the mulch was spread back over the ground. But I have some interesting photos.

I made a batch of my taco/nacho/burrito mix to use this week, and I've cleaned out a lot of stuff in the fridge revealing an inordinate number of apples, so I think I'll make a cobbler.

The soil is perfect in the garden this weekend so I'll be finished beds for planting and I'll get the bedding plants once the soil is ready - it's too easy to let plants die or get too pot-bound if I buy them ahead of time. It's late, but with a long growing season, that's not really a problem. Last year's pests are a problem, they were here the year before also (a form of stink bug that sucks the tomatoes dry),so I will be spreading mulch before I plant anything and drench the beds with spinosad (an organic bug killer) to hopefully take out the soil/larval stage of those bugs. And I always try to not plant too close together, so I can monitor bug activity. Maybe this year I'll manage it.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: LilyFestre
Date: 27 Apr 19 - 10:02 PM

Oh hey, I cleaned out the fridge too. I used bits of leftovers to make my famous WhatTheHeckIsIt Stew. It's always a surprise, never the same and Jeremiah loves it every single time...LOL.

Michelle

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Apr 19 - 11:12 AM

We had a rather unexpected thunderstorm around midnight and my informal rain gauge shows over 2" accumulation. So my gardening is delayed, though I think I'll see about transplanting some iris today while I can still tell what color some of them were.

My daughter is at a Society for Creative Anachronism campout this weekend and sent a photo of the pancakes she is making for her tentmates. She grew up eating pancakes (both regular and buttermilk) I made from a 1970s Better Homes and Gardens cookbook, with my own modification of thinning the batter (more like Swedish pancakes). A couple of years ago she texted, asking for the recipe, then proceeded to make a mound of pancakes for dinner for her housemates (and of course, posted it on Instagram). It's a much requested dish, apparently. And when you're camping out they taste even better. I hope, Michelle, that you're having Jeremiah start learning to cook the foods that he really likes to eat. That's a great starting point for his future adult life.

I took Poppy off of the medication she was on, the last dose yesterday morning, and she's still not eating, but she's perkier. I gave her more broccoli this morning to tempt her to eat something. She is a about 10 pounds overweight, so it won't hurt her to have a few days with broccoli and water, but I'm hoping once it wears off she'll be back to her normal crotchety self (eating her favorite food and ignoring the senior food.)

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Apr 19 - 01:43 PM

My outdoor trash can, a tall black Rubbermaid 55-gallon one, has finally split completely down one side. I'll tape a piece of printer paper on the side telling the trash guys to take the can this time. There were two here when I moved in. I have a couple of sellers identified from online searches, but one that I need to visit tomorrow to take a look doesn't have a very good web page. Rule of thumb, these come out roughly a dollar per gallon, so 44-gallon cans cost around that much. I'm hoping to find another 55-gallon. Do I want a can with wheels? When the wheels fail, I'll still be able to lug it to the curb.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Apr 19 - 02:15 PM

OH

The rolling purge is on with my closet. Images of four (garaged) bulging leaf bags full of clothing and linens are looming in my mind.

This means that as I fold laundry, I'm pitching worn out items too threadbare for Goodwill. It also means periodic forays into the hanging space, for items to send to GW.

Net gone today is about a large dresser drawer-sized batch.

~Susan

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: LilyFestre
Date: 28 Apr 19 - 09:17 PM

We spent this afternoon helping other members of our church and community pack 20,000 meals to be shipped around the world. It was a great collaborative effort with many jobs and many hands.

It was Jeremiah's first time working at such a large community event and he did GREAT!!!!! He loved it and I hope this fosters an interest in doing much more in the future.

Maggie, he is learning to do some cooking, not a whole lot as of yet but that will come. :)

I thought I'd be dragging after all the work from this afternoon but I am surprisingly fully energized. I truly had a great time!

Michelle

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Apr 19 - 10:10 PM

More fridge and cupboard organization this afternoon; the little Tupperware container of olive oil that I last used when I took it to work last summer is now rancid and disposed of (the Tupperware cleaned and ready for use). Same with a jar of oil that was used once for frying, a long long time ago, etc.. The compost bowl has been emptied twice this afternoon. I have a number of redundant items to send to Goodwill, though I'll leave them in the kitchen in a box for family to poke through tomorrow when they'll be here for dinner.

Poppy is still not feeling like eating, but is perkier, so maybe by tomorrow her appetite will begin to return. She was on the pills for a week, so it may take several days for the effects to dissipate. I'm not taking her for a walk for a couple of more days because she had trouble keeping up the last time. Based upon the last week, I can't recommend Prion for dog incontinence.

Tomorrow I'll join Susan in the closet and dresser purge, including the coat closet in the hall. There is stuff in there that no one ever wears.

And yes, eight is young to be doing much cooking, but I think we all had particular tasks about that age. I mixed the pancake batter on the weekend, and I made the baking powder biscuits that went with dinner. My siblings had different foods to prepare. I was 11 when we moved from that first house and I'd been doing that for quite a while by the time we moved. (And when it was summer and Mom was canning, it was all hands on deck to peel blanched fruit, etc.)

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Apr 19 - 10:37 PM

OH

Also GW'd in recent days-- loose headbands anod a hated pair of snow boots FINALLY replaced by the PA pair I LOVE.

~Susan

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Apr 19 - 11:25 AM

OH

Unpacked two more "1" boxes from sideboard: much needed food storage containers (now in DW), a basket for the table, a countertop appliance to store on the new custom cabinet shelves, bookends for the Library.

~Susan

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Apr 19 - 02:52 PM

Are there actually going to be any more "PA" entries? Or you're just distinguishing the stuff that has been in OH for a while versus the stuff that came from PA recently?

Picked up a new outside large trash can today, but have had no luck so far determining what my next small kitchen trash can (that lives on top of the dryer) will look like. I can't put it on the floor, because no matter what kind of security is involved, the dogs will figure it out or chew their way in, so it has to be small so it can be accessed easily in it's higher position.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Apr 19 - 09:55 PM

I'm just reminding myself I'm here, since part of my brain appears to still be in PA. Twenty-five years.... Still feels like I'm not done leaving the only home I ever knew.

~Susan

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Apr 19 - 10:50 PM

You know that meal you fix when you have family together for one of those (rarer and rarer) dinners when everyone can be there? I roasted a chicken with carrots and potatoes in the clay baker (so the meat is moist and falling off of the bones and nothing is under-cooked) and made an apple cobbler for dessert, and once the chicken was out of the oven I put in the baking sheet of baking powder biscuits. Lots of food stories, and I noticed my son paying attention when I spoke about my flour choice in making the biscuits—I usually add some whole wheat flour to give it a little richer flavor, but that can them more solid, and sometimes they don't rise as well. I wanted these to be spectacular so I used just white flour. He'll probably make biscuits himself and experiment.

The dishwasher is loaded and the cooking surfaces and table are cleaned.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Charmion
Date: 30 Apr 19 - 10:50 AM

I haven't posted here in a while, not because I don't love you all but because I'm not decluttering much any more. I have shed the stuff that really must go, and the clag that remains is dear to Himself, who would weep salt tears and raise holy Hell if I re-homed his collection of G.H. Henty novels.

I return to this thread today to report that the 2018 income taxes are paid, and Himself just headed downtown to the bank to cough up to Revenue Canada the Ontario Harmonized Sales Tax he collected in 2018. In consequence, all the money currently in our bank accounts belongs to us -- except, of course, for the HST owing on 2019 billings, and the 20 percent of untaxed net income the sensible person sets aside against next year's impositions.

In a way, I rather enjoy tax season. By government fiat, I am compelled to ransack the filing cabinet and sort out our obligations, and then carry through and pay what we owe. When we finish, we feel washed throughly, as the Reverend Dr. Isaac Watts would put it, and ready to face the profligacies of summer.

To celebrate, we're having the large, rickety deck removed from our back yard and replaced with a paved patio, the better to see what's going on with the foundation on that side of the house. God alone knows what's under that deck; not only a warren of rabbits, whose tracks we see all winter, but also random hosepipes and wiring for long-forgotten lighting arrangements. The deck also covers two basement windows, each lacking a proper window-well so it's a good thing we are on high ground here. The landscaping contractor is coming tomorrow with his buddy the carpenter to figure out a concept of operations.

Meanwhile, despite the really weird weather (it snowed yesterday in Perth County), I have plans to get the barbecue back into commission this weekend. I just hope I don't have to shake ice off the cover first.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Apr 19 - 12:13 PM

Charmion, that deck removal and subsequent paver installation should provide material for a few remarks this summer! Over on the Mother of All BS thread, probably 10 years ago or more, are descriptions of the Idaho house that Mike (Rapparee) moved into that had a deck, under which two large chest freezers (lift the lid and everything is in there somewhere type) were buried. It sounded like something that belongs on the Saturday night network real-life-mysteries program, but in the end no one was inside either one.

It's drizzling this morning, but yesterday my neighbors on each side mowed their front lawns, so I am determined I should mow mine today. I hope the cloud cover lightens so I can get to this soon. There is a lot of other stuff to do around here if I can't mow.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Apr 19 - 12:33 PM

OH

With Yano Becky, several more #1 boxes unpacked. Dog corner per blankets discarded.

We also sorted out the food storage cabinet, recycling a number of items and adding items brought from PA.

Then we investigated remaining #1 boxes. One was supposed to go home with son, and will be stowed for him in the garage. One is all dry goods to unpack into the pantry-- no spoilage noted.

All the boxes and bags preventing us from walking all the way around the table are squared away, and the table's produce baskets are refilled, including a pretty new one from PA.

~Susan

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 30 Apr 19 - 01:02 PM

Dupont:

I, too, just completed the income tax! and went on line to make payment and popped in for a moment before going to post office to mail the incomprehensible papers. I live in faith that the persons who slave over these papers will, as usual, tell me I done wrong and send me back an overpayment or ask for more - the later would be surprising. One advantage of a very low income!

Trip to Beaver told me that I have way too many dishes and bowls and next trip I shall cull the herd! R slept and read. Then drove home after about an hour packing the car, mainly with stuff for here. We have not yet reached the culling need.

Glad to be back. Happy that I left Magda happily potting in my studio and gaining confidence and competence. I love that the studio is being used. And I can trust her to keep things tidy. I hope warmer weather will encourage me to get some work done also.

The snow was mostly gone. BUT! the road up the hill had washed out and I have a few inches of sand and gravel across most of the front yard. Wondering what the Township will be doing to prevent a recurrence and how much of this I shall need to have removed. A sand path along the raised beds is not a bad idea! The raised beds saved the strawberries, blueberries, parsley/lettuce patch. And my three sweet cherry trees are now in the back of the car (in pots) happily budding out and ready to be planted in our sunny, drier, back yard. They survived the winter in BIG pots, nested in leaves up to their necks!

I did not use the computer since Friday. Some time I shall try to find out what to do about foxfire's new aberation. It used to let me copy and paste. Ephraim: please fix!

Some putting away yet to do but first to post office to mail the stupid tax forms. They could use major de-clutttering!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Apr 19 - 02:48 PM

Too many updates on this computer (operating systems) has led to a Windows Firewall that won't deploy. I installed the ZoneAlarm firewall to see if that makes Windows happier.

Good luck with the redisposition of sand and gravel, Dorothy. Keep what you can use and see if the county wants the rest back? You may need to put in an edge along your yard to keep that from happening.

Income taxes were taken care of ages ago, but the tax problem for this month is the property tax rate. They're going up fast around here, and I need to protest it this time. That's a pain-in-the-ass.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Apr 19 - 08:51 PM

OH

I'm starting to think about spelunking the garaged boxes for the dinner plates I packed. That will sure test my organizing system! If I can easily find them, yay. If not.... Who needs plates, really.

~Susan

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 May 19 - 12:18 PM

With property values soaring lately there is an industry around trying to buy people's homes for a song and then sell it for a fortune, or turn it into income-producing rental property. I had a call this morning and was very rude when she told me what she wanted. It turned up a moment later as scam on my Hiya app, if I'd let it ring a time or two more. I suggested she declutter her list of my name.

I've been watching various thrift stores for a pattern of plates that I'd like to have a few more of. I bought them thinking they turned up every so often, but they in fact don't. I have seven, and would like at least a couple more. Five of them are a tan color, two are a dark muted green. Same lunch-size stoneware plate pattern, Oneida by Seiko, China - and they aren't tied to Oneida or Seiko. There is always something here to eat on, and there are old Corelle plates around - I was aiming at these as being my "grown up" plates.

Shipped an eBay box this morning, now I really do need to list more items, I'm down to four that haven't had much interest to this point.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Charmion
Date: 01 May 19 - 03:51 PM

I find that I’m doing most of my clothes shopping on eBay these days. I have to do it on line anyway, as Stratford is innocent of shops that sell what I want to wear, so why not do it where the prices are usually lower and the choice much less predictable?

I just bought a green cashmere sweater for fifty bucks. Now I must go through the chest of drawers to make room for it — a good opportunity to shed the acrylic sweater I got for Christmas and never wear because it’s so loosely knit that the cats would ruin it immediately.

SRS, versions of that property scam flourish around here, too — and for similar reasons. Driving back from London the other day, I spotted signs along Highway 7 announcing “Jonny Buys Houses — Cash!” Yeah, said I to Himself, for ten cents on the dollar with immediate intent to flip. Wait till Jonny finds out that Perth County farmers are probably the sharpest wheeler-dealers this side of Wall Street.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 01 May 19 - 07:53 PM

Dupont:

Starting to unpack the "new" stuff, I wondered why I had bought that! Put a bag full aside for thrift shop and the next box is iffy. But went to thrift shop and found four salad plates that match a fav glass bowl. That's all!

Much foraging today, mostly for food stuffs but also checking out towel racks for bath and powder room. The later we will use for most washing up as it is on 2nd floor. Towel racks are expensive - by my thinking - so I looked for ideas. Still under consideration. I don't want them to look cheap but to BE cheap!

Trying a new ploy, I have all veggies chopped for stir fry but waiting 'til later to start cooking so the veggies are not quite so over cooked by the time R gets home. 10:30 last night! But I need to eat sooner so I will aim for 9 pm and eat if he is no home. I get too fussy if I wait too late. "My baby, she's a country girl. When she gets hungry, she gets mean and she gets evil. But she can't help it none, cuz she's a country girl." Major de-clutter is to eat sooner!

Even better would be to stop eating cookies!

WOW! R just phoned to say he would be leaving "soon"! I can start supper!! "Soon" means - "after I unload..." But soon!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 May 19 - 11:30 PM

I'm thinking that my old dog who is refusing food simply doesn't want chunks because she thinks they might be pills. I gave her canned food tonight and she still avoided the larger chunks. I'll put the rest in a grinder and add some rice tomorrow. I think I can bring her back around, but she is certainly being a picky customer.

Heavy weather predicted for the next two days. Ugg.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 May 19 - 12:53 PM

Still at a standoff with the dog, though she shows interest in the dogfood gravy. Grrrrr. She pooped out pretty quickly on a short walk yesterday, but I think shorter more frequent walks may compensate for the one long one that we usually do.

Thunderstorms overnight—again—means the yard and garden are quite squishy, even though the day itself is lovely. Maybe I can work on potted plants in the driveway.

Waiting on information and things to come in the mail this week, to do with the new vehicle. For example, the toll tag is connected with just one vehicle, so when you exchange vehicles, you need to take the old one off by calling the office during regular office hours, but everything else can be done online. So, waiting on the toll tag, waiting on new license plates, waiting on paperwork, and information on which bills to pay and how much.

I stopped by my discount grocery yesterday and found pints of blueberries on sale, so I've frozen them, two pints at a time, on a large baking sheet, then rolled the hard blue marbles into a gallon freezer bag. I use these often and am glad to have 2+ gallons for $10. One more tray to go and those are finished.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 May 19 - 04:42 PM

OH

We replaced my scooter batteries, so trips on it to the grocery store, with Newbie, are back on.

~Susan

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 May 19 - 06:58 PM

I had a visit to the endocrinologist yesterday for a 3 month check up. I am down 10 pounds, the A1C has dropped some, cholesterol is in range and so is my blood pressure! I have to remember to cut one of my pills in half on Sunday as my levels are slightly high but not high enough to cut the dosage to the next level down...never had a doctor do that before.

I had an increase in one of my insulins too. I use a Freestyle Libre which is a 14 day continuous glucose monitor. They download the info at the doctor's office and share the printout with me....very interesting to see the patterns. I am riding slightly above the level where they would like me...hence the increase in insulin. I'm seeing the results today...worked like a charm!

I purposefully arranged my client schedule so I would have almost client free days for the first few days of the month. This has given me some time to catch up on that missed paperwork and jump ahead to prepare for things that will be due later this month. So I spent today fussing with spreadsheets and treatment plans....they are complete but I was unable to do any printing or scanning as the copier is having issues. It should be fixed tomorrow so I can get it all printed out first thing in the morning.

I have also blocked out some time one day a week so that I can return to Weight Watchers. My supervisor is good with it, I'm still getting all my hours in and YAY for being able to do something good for ME!

Michelle

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

I have little excuse for all of the things I haven't gotten to or finished lately. I do have distractions. And as has been the pattern over the last two weeks, it is supposed to be stormy again today.

Good timing for this (via Huffington Post on Facebook).

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 May 19 - 02:17 PM

It took querying Google to get the complete answer, but I finally programmed the remote control device housed in the rear view mirror of my SUV to operate the garage door opener. I tried it with the last vehicle so equipped, but didn't realize there was another step - I had to push a button inside the lens of the garage ceiling opener motor to essentially tell it to pay attention to this signal. My garage door opener is quite old, but apparently even this old dog can learn a new trick.

Box mailed at my post office that has (again) a part of the building blocked off. Last month a car jumped the curb and hit the brick and concrete pillar out front. This month one jumped a different curb and hit the building itself. I met the brick guy looking at the damage as I left the post office, and asked for his card. He did a very good job on the first repair. He said he was really surprised to get another call about the same building. It has been here for about 20 years now and this never happened before. I need someone to look at the brick on my house, and I suppose this is as good a way as any to discover a tradesman.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 May 19 - 04:21 PM

Kitchen whipped and purses boxed, under the bed.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 May 19 - 11:00 AM

Funny that I mentioned brick work here in Mudcat (on my logged in Chrome browser) and my phone's Instagram account has just started scrolling an ad for local brick masons.

There are a couple of clear days ahead and my list is long.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 May 19 - 12:06 PM

Jeremiah had his guitar recital last night. He played his guitar while singing and I think he did a fantastic job! Video is on FB if anyone wants to see him. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 May 19 - 01:04 PM

I began to come out of the fog last night, but not enough to remember to refill my synthroid pill stick, so I'm up early to take one out of the fridge, refill the stick, refill the Rx, install the Rx app..... Eat brekky... Sends ked to John.... Take stock... And start to regain my independence. Again. :-)

It will be interesting to check dates and see how many days this last flip-flop (between PA/OH) ate up,.... Calendar: Mid-March thru May 4.... 7 weeks x 7 days, 49 days.

Later... Cooperative ham slicing followed by cooperative redo of dog corner. I did the nastiest and heaviest bits.... After writing to doc for more Tramadol, since I've found all on hand (not much).

Goal-- cleanish floor in there plus fresh carpet remnant on her raised sleeping plank-- cut to a lesser depth for easier human access and more doggeh floor space for food, water, and dog poop.

Return to Y is Monday. Via scooter. No idea where they'll let me park that! (Wrote Y contact). Tmrw we scooter-race to Y, to see if the smaller scooter will do it.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 May 19 - 02:36 PM

After all of the wind and rain it's a cleanup day in the yard. Trimming limbs in the way (I know, fall is better, but this is when it's happening), dragging an old bench to the curb (if no one wants it I'll cut it up for the trash on Sunday night) and general sorting out how the area is arranged beside the driveway door. You don't have to be indoors to rearrange the furniture!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 May 19 - 07:01 PM

Dupont:

wow! R actually noted concern for the "clutter" that has built up. He needs a second person to help, so maybe next week. He spent today de-cluttering the cellar - lots of stuff left behind included a huge amount of clean clothes for small persons - off to the thrift shop with that and more! It is wonderful that he loves cleaning up dirty places! I hate it!

He did tell the previous owner not to worry about what he left behind!

R noted that the house was still not in having-company-for-dinner condition! Oh, YAY! Hope for the future. It is OK for inviting a couple people in for tea. I almost bought coffee on Thurs but Mary did not have any. Maybe tomorrow. The coffee press awaits its first voyage. We could have folks for supper but not a house viewing - still need bureaus to put things away. And considerable fine tuning would be nice.

I cooked and looked for gardening gloves; by the time I thought it might be necessary to go buy some, it was too late. Then I found them carefully put away... Finding the correct homes for things is a chronic challenge! A waterproof spot on the back deck would be great for gardening stuffs: to be found. Less than an hour of yard work and I was way too tired and concerned for aches tomorrow. I will build up to it gradually. Hope!

I may ask R for help to pull out the heavy duty weed block fabric; it is well knitted in with couch grass. Although there are some impressive clumps of day lilies, iris, peonies(!) and ???, I have lots more to move from the mill to here. Need three big holes for the cherry trees! Also three cedars that we bought several years ago and never planted at the mill, have been surviving with pots buried in a deep pile of wood chips! Maybe tomorrow they can be transported to a new home!! The wood chips - very old - might make decent mulch; there is a huge amount down at the mill - it really was a wood mill! They made hockey sticks.

R was notably happy to get home before dark last night (8pm)! Me too! Dinner before 10 pm is a big bonus! I hope this idea will help him cut loose and come home sooner, more often!

Th plants I brought here from Beaver are burgeoning; I will take a few back for the garden club plant sale at the end of May.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 May 19 - 08:01 PM

Dorothy, I'm thoroughly enjoying the moving process into this new house! And one answer to the lost gardening gloves is to have them in several locations. I buy a ten-pack of nitrile coated gloves ($10/10 pair at Home Depot) and a pair are tucked into my garden apron, some are in the garage, in the greenhouse, in the area where dog stuff is kept, and the rest are stored over the dryer.

The mower gas can was refilled today and the back yard really needs attention. And this week I will finish the fence panel on the side where the new fence went in. I should take along the stiff-tonged rake and when I get to lumpy parts of the yard, give it a going-over to see if it's sticks or rocks or cones or whatever. Marking up the ground that way will make it easier to find the spots later if topsoil needs adding. There are tons of holes dug by dogs, those I can't seem to prevent, but these are around the perimeter and make mowing more difficult than it needs to be.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Donuel
Date: 04 May 19 - 08:03 PM

I painted the upper two levels and cleaned 2o years of dirt.
I still need to do some woodwork in semigloss but its primed.
The living room is Dali sky and Dali grey. Woof it takes alot of tape. Only half the furnishings remain.
It only cost a torn calf muscle and sore back but hydrotherapy is enough of a relief.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 May 19 - 06:54 AM

DP, it sounds like the anti-clutter party may have added a new devotee-- yay!

My antique woodstove holds my gardening necessities, behind the oven door. Perhaps you might create a pretty clay item for yours?

.

My garden task this week is peeling up the weed-blocking nylon tarp in the patio (to better arrange the outdoor kitchen on the pavers it covers), after Greg and I discuss weed control out there. He's taken over the lawn service's tasks-- and he has a good weed-whacker. Then friend Judy and I will choose plants to start planting the containers I left ready to go, before we went to PA to close that house.

I need a mixed flat for the top of the woodstove to discourage the dog from getting up there to notice that she could step over the fence to catch a cat.... Another for the granny cart plantings.... Another for the pots and windowbox.... One for the parrot cage....

~Susan

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 May 19 - 11:31 AM

Last night as I was dropping off to sleep I did a mental inventory of the places where water stands (and mosquitoes breed). This morning is dedicated to either removing the catchment or adding mosquito dunks to kill the little buggers.

Tomorrow is trash day, so this afternoon's sunshine (!) hours will see me move bundles of limbs to the curb, cutting up the decrepit bench (it is in a three-legged drunken sprawl, tilting back down there at the curb) and getting rid of the broken trash can.

I've moved a tall bucket to the back yard area near the fence posts I'm pulling out. There is leftover soil from earlier holes that I'll keep in the bucket so I can level the spots and go ahead and start burying my Invisible Fence wire. I started to do that yesterday then realized I was going through a mound of soil that needs scooping out of there to level the spot. The weeds are robust along that strip so I have to get control of the space. Once the line is buried so I can push the mower back there or use the weed-eater.

Yesterday's run to the recycle bins got rid of my stuff but also scored me some newspapers that were within reach. I use them in layers in the garden.

The old dog has trained me well; I've discovered that small (about a tablespoon each) dabs of the canned dog food, spaced out on an old tin pie plate, are just what she wants. Dog hors d'oeuvres. She isn't eating a lot, but she's eating. And I can give her this more often to get the volume of food up.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 May 19 - 02:48 PM

SRS, Amazon carries dunks as granules. Mine lasted all summer without renewed application. Broadcast like seed, and DONE. Not a bite all summer. Worth the shipping cost.

~Susan

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 May 19 - 04:32 PM

I buy mosquito dunks in the 36-pack at local feed stores to be sure they're fresh, though I have bought this size from Amazon. I get the dunks because they have the highest percentage of Bti per volume in the pack (versus loose granules sold in bottles). These break into pieces easily and one dunk can go in several trays under pots. And they need to be refreshed every 30 days to be effective. Lots of mosquito-borne stuff down here in this part of Texas, and another reason for being organic is so the native predators of mosquitoes (birds, bats, dragonflies, toads, lizards, whatever sees them eats them) is around to eat them.

I have tackled the wire in the back yard, buried a portion and I'm going to staple part of it to the new fence the neighbor put in. It'll wrap on this side of the fence posts, so I'll have to be careful with the weed trimmer (I'll staple high enough up that it's generally out of harm's way). I'll use a screwdriver to hold the coated wire in place, staple over it, then remove the screwdriver, leaving a gap for the wire to make sure the staple doesn't cut through it. While I was working around the wire I also filled in one of the fence post holes and knocked another concrete footer off of a dug-up post. I've started digging up the next post.

Laundry is hanging on the line and another load is finished and ready to go out.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 May 19 - 06:02 PM

Suit yourself, but I'm telling you that the product I got is still dissolving.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 May 19 - 09:07 PM

It's the same dunks and granules sold locally as sold at Amazon. Dirt Doctor "Library" information on Mosquito Dunks.

I also repel them with granulated garlic—sprinkled around the house (from the wall and out about 10 feet all around). You'll find more ideas in this list of suggestions. There used to be video linked on the site but the local television station took it down. Take the large (up to a gallon-size) warehouse club type of granulated garlic (Tones, etc.) and DON'T take off the sealed paper over the jar. Instead, use a sharp pencil or ballpoint pen and poke a bunch of large holes in that styro-paper top, turning it into an oversize garlic shaker. You can use that to sprinkle the garlic. You don't need to sprinkle it heavily; a gallon like this lasts me a couple of years worth of mosquito seasons around here. The yard will smell like an Italian restaurant for a couple of weeks, but even after you can't smell it, it's still repelling the bugs.

I managed to pull weeds and grass away from the new fence and used poultry fencing staples to tack my Invisible Fence wire to the bottom of the new fence, about 6-8 inches above the ground. Part of it is also buried, and I still have the last 10 feet or so to work on once I figure out how to move the chain link fence at the far end of the yard. But FINALLY! I can mow and trim down there. I knocked off two more concrete footers on dug-out fence posts, and started digging another one.

Laundry is off the line, I need to run the dishwasher, and I need to give myself a good scrub after all of this yard work. In the morning I'll cut up the ratty bench at the curb (giving it one more night of possibly being picked up). Moving forward.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 06 May 19 - 10:53 AM

Dupont:

No clothesline - will be a while! I used to have gloves and pruners everywhere, including under the driver's seat of car so I could grab them and get to it wherever! My extra gloves seem to have disappeared into the mists of chaos, along with my box of Marie Corelli books - they did not appear when R moved the boxes I though had been piled on top.

Boxes of books came from mill and went into basement where the plan now is to set up the (auction) ping pong table for sorting. I hope this will include culling! Apparently the basement will be the library - a nice room that could be a studio apt - or a library. Even has a washroom with shower.

We used my car yesterday and driving home with it full of moldy books... Not Too moldy but I could smell it and had windows open. Also brought a few pieces of hanging art - my Georgia O'Keeffe print is now on Den wall! A large round stained glass piece will go ... undecided.

The recycling bin was emptied today! Now I can start re-filling it for next week. Those darn flyers...! And R took some metal from the basement to go to a scrap metal yard. ("$5.00") But h may add to it when he gets to the city.

I have lots of clearing around plants but I ache from Saturday. Yesterday we went to a craft show on the reserve and talked to people; R had to buy a very small jar of jelly. Oy vey! And to the Farm Market near the Mill: had lunch, purchased nothing else, found out a friend had a brain op so after we picked up stuff at Mill, we went to see if Jesse were up to visitors. Had a great visit and were so happy to see her recovering just fine. The best I could understand: something was leaking in her brain and would build up pressure so she could not play music and other sorts of things. They opened a flap and removed the small mass. Not a tumour or cancer. She expects to be fine. She and Joe are homeschooling their 7 year old; he is learning Mandarin from a woman a few miles away. Of course, already fluent in French and English, as are both parents. I realized this morning that I was able to understand the auditory aspects of our lively conversation. That was a special de-clutter sort of thing as my brain often understands nothing and R has to tell me what was said, afterwards.   

Thusly, continues the moving into Dupont!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 May 19 - 05:58 PM

I can't remember what I had planned for the day, it all slipped into the background when I realized my oldest dog had died in her sleep overnight. I called the vet then took her over so they can send her to the communal crematory (I don't get ashes back). I'll take the other two dogs for a walk this evening. I should have known this was coming soon when she had to be pulled along a couple of times on our last walk (we don't have sidewalks so I pulled her to the edge of the street as traffic came by.) Ironic how you feel guilty for the little things like not knowing they're dying, and completely overlook the great life she had here for 14 years. She went her way - she was at home with her pack, sleeping in her favorite spot (that let her see both the front and back doors and hear me if I moved around down the hall in my room).

She kept up right until the last couple of weeks, and my next door neighbor said she happily gobbled down the daily dog treat he gives the dogs over the back fence every day. She was eating treats (raw egg, ham slices, dog treats), just not regular dog food. Other than the event noted, that last walk was a good one, when we went up to the park and they put their noses to the ground to snuffle along in the grass. I like to think of this as their "wild dog" stance, checking out the local environment.

The other dogs knew; I could tell the way they always sniffed at her. Tests would have shown what my home "Lab" (retriever) work already told us. At 14, I wasn't about to torture her with tests or anything but the most basic treatments.

Enough wallowing. I need to finish mowing the back yard. The exercise will be good for me.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 06 May 19 - 07:50 PM

Dupont:

The death of a dog friend can throw a monkey wrench into one's life. Mowing the lawn = good therapy.

I managed to clear some of the old plant debris, after thinking about needing an old sheet on which to gather it, I finally settled on a plastic bin for now. A sheet is so much easier than the wheel barrow - which I can hardly move. But I sorted a bunch of stuff in the search for sheet. So, two chores done! The tulips finally blooming are gorgeous - red w yellow and yellow w red. Many violets scattered in yard! Tons of hosta, day lilies, and two huge clumps of peonies to be awaited! And green leaves finally showing their stuff! The river is still full to the brim but no more ice or snow! Two boaters were out on Sunday. Hope they used life vests.

We delight in our new home, indoors and out.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 May 19 - 08:38 PM

I hope you post some photos of those flowers on Facebook, Dorothy! It sounds like that yard has exploded with life after the snow cleared!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 May 19 - 10:04 PM

SRS, it's enough that she knew but also stayed with you as long as she could. YOU DID GOOD. I'm so sorry it hurts so much.

I wish I'd known her.