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

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Dec 20 - 04:38 PM

More often than not when I have a work area I use surge protectors for plugging in items. I have one set up in the sewing room because there are two sewing machines, two lamps, and a television on one side of the room. In my computer room I have Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) that use batteries so everything can be turned off after saving, etc, if the power goes out while I'm working. Even the power strips around here have on-off switches that will pop if there is a surge.

You can buy surge protectors everywhere - from Lowes and Home Depot to Office Depot, Big Lots, or even the grocery store, to say nothing of regular hardware stores. Clearly they are a fact of life all around now.

Don, I've been shopping around through more painted/printed shower curtains since your earlier post. I've found some lovely tree views, but then this one blew me away when I took a look at it.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Dec 20 - 02:09 PM

Hah! Snow flakes gave me a great reason to cover the remaining wood. I had stacked enough that it could ALL be covered! And brought in a couple arm fulls of small stuff. Now, to arrange for candles and fetch flashlight from car. Our phones function for that also.

This little heater in TV room is pitiful. Cannot feel any heat sitting in front of it - 2 feet away! The BR did get warm with the other. YAY!    Guess it is time to cook something.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Dec 20 - 12:15 PM

That multi-thingy with a switch that goes off instead of blowing the whole house.

I have to admit that I do not even know where the electric panel is in this house, due to my fear of the cellar air quality.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Dec 20 - 12:11 PM

Dupont:

If I had a nickel of each extension cord I have bought!

I came back on to assure y'all that I am using heavy duty ext cords. Now hoping the outlet in the addition will take the load. I am choosing judiciously what gets plugged in where. The internet is fine. The whole upstairs is dark! So big ext#1 is plugged into the addition hall and goes through the den and upstairs - one wrap around the banister to hold it - then one of those fancy, multi things plugged into it and another heavy duty one to TV room. plugged in small heater. When I go to watch TV - soon - I shall turn off larger heater and plug in TV. Time to text R and add to his stress? Maybe wait until he gets home? If it were not for the covid, I could spend the shed money on getting my brother to come up from PA. He is top notch - and expensive! But I am his big sister. OH well.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Dec 20 - 11:56 AM

Dorothy, when it gets that cold I pull out the down comforter to replace all but the thermal blanket and that takes care of the problem. And wear socks with my flannel pajamas. Maybe a trip to Amazon to order a comforter (once the Internet is up again)?

I saw that the UK gave the first COVID-19 vaccine to a 90-year-old woman, and the experiment begins. (Her name was Maggie - that's a good sign!) Maybe in a few months there will be flights between the UK and the US and I can order my veterinary heartworm medication. I bought six months of it here and it nearly broke the bank. Big vet bills around the holidays tends to be traditional here for some reason, so I shouldn't be surprised.

I've recovered an extension cord from use in the sunroom when I realized the radio that was plugged into it could reach the plug on the wall easily. There is a basket in the laundry room where I keep all of the "regular" extension cords (the really thick long ones hang on a bungee cord on the side of the pantry shelves), and I've been low on cords. I didn't want to buy more because the moment you do you find the others around the house. Murphy's Law has an important corollary about that.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Dec 20 - 11:44 AM

Dupont:

This wonderful OLD house does have a deficit in the electric dept. I eventually got warm enough to sleep, after R phoned at 1:30 am to tell me he better sleep in town. YES! So I took the little heater from the TV room and plugged it in, in place of the two heating pads, on an extension cord from the hallway. That got the room almost to 60 by this morning!

Today, thinking to improve things, I pulled the portable AC/heater out of closet and plugged it in to the extension - as it had been in the summer. Came downstairs and had no internet. Rearranged items in LR and have internet. Getting warm while I figure out how to plug in the heater. TV room is blown also. OK! internet was top priority! Now for the heat. I keep re-warming my tea to have something warm to hold, and drink.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 07 Dec 20 - 07:53 PM

WOW! I went immediately to the laundry room - before I could forget - and found TWO heating pads! Now if I can find places to plug them in - safely - in this OLD house.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 07 Dec 20 - 07:50 PM

Dupont:


Roasted cauliflower soup sounds interesting, C! The pour art looks interesting also! We love cheddar/cauliflower soup but a change might be interesting. The man who told me 10 years ago he did not mind eating the same thing every day, does! Today's BF was left over porridge mixed with two eggs and fried in minimal olive oil. Having found I love sweet potato FFries, I have compromised by cutting it one thin and frying it, also in minimal olive oil. Very yummy, we think.

And now! I just put an apricot cake in the oven. First cake effort in years. R bought me a jar of additive free apricots from Greece. He has nudged me to do something. I dearly hope this effort is far superior to the two dif batches of muffins - one batch = hockey pucks, the second have no flavour in spite of wonderful blueberries. This time, I used unbleached flour instead of WhWh. It has been in the freezer...

I brought in a good bit of wood yesterday - maybe 1/8 and a few armloads late this aft. My back said it needed a rest. Changed the bed, load of laundry. Keeping the fire going as the furnace has decided to take a break. There is heat in the cellar, a heating pad on the bed and a small electric heater in the TV room. The den is fine! The distiller has been running and that generates heat. I am not sure about the oven; this peculiar stove has ...peculiarities! I could look it up on line! There might even be a way to get it to speak English!!


And THIS has reminded me there is another heating pad that I could put at the foot of the bed. It was cool this am.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Charmion
Date: 07 Dec 20 - 07:30 PM

Breaking news: roasted cauliflower soup is da bomb. Recipe from the New York Times.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Dec 20 - 06:40 PM

When I lived at the Mexican border I would buy some of the interesting liqueurs for gifts and put them in the mail. You're not supposed to mail alcohol, but it's really fortunate that the other big seller in the same stores in Mexico are bottles of Mexican vanilla. So when the postmaster rattled my box and said she could hear liquid, I told her I was mailing vanilla, and she couldn't argue it or open the box to look.

I did some cooking this afternoon as I cleared a couple of fridge leftovers at lunch and created something else that is now itself a leftover. I was planning to make spaghetti sauce but it turned out the sausages I grabbed from the freezer were bratwurst, so I had to add a lot of seasoning to give it the smell of Italian sausage. Not perfect, but not bad. And I'm still using up some of the gluten-free pasta I still have from my PMR days.

The dogs and I took a nice walk through the neighborhood and I spent time in the yard watering recent plantings. It's a really lovely day out, and the rest of the week is forecast to be the same or warmer, in the low 70s.

My kitchen table has reached the point where it is loaded with stuff except for a space carved out next to my chair where I can put a plate, a glass, my phone, and the TV remote. I think it's time to clear up in there. Mostly it's boxes that are in the process of being filled for shipping. And one eBay box went out the door today.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Charmion
Date: 07 Dec 20 - 08:50 AM

The last rugs came back from the cleaners on Saturday, and the house is as squared away as I can make it at present. A large chest of drawers is still in rehab, a new underpad for the sitting room carpet is still in the mail, and the guest room needs curtains; time will fix the first two, and it will be months before I can have visitors anyway. Also, the guest room even more desperately needs a paint job -- it still has its original decor of putty grey and briefcase brown walls, all pocked with nail holes.

Much to my surprise, I came down with a mad urge to cook yesterday. I emptied the veg drawer from which a cauliflower and most of a head of celery had been radiating guilt, and made a batch of chicken stock in the Instant Pot. Today, I will roast the cauliflower and turn it into soup. I must go out for cat food, so I might as well also hunt and gather the ingredients of a batch of fruitcake: one each for The Brother-In-Law, my old college buddy in Toronto, and Elder Brother in Ottawa. Fortunately, fruitcake travels well by mail.

My next challenge is figuring out how to send bottled cherry liqueur to The Brothers in Ottawa. Wrapped in bubble-pack and stuffed among styrofoam peanuts in a large box? Actually, that just might work.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Donuel
Date: 07 Dec 20 - 06:30 AM

Its 'fractalforums.org'

Subject: RE: De-clutter
From: Donuel
Date: 07 Dec 20 - 06:08 AM

Messier than making digital fractals. I discovered by accident that even an elephant is a fractal object. Change one parameter and everthing changes. Fractal forums.com has lots of free fractal programs. Here is a beginner trying out his free program
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz4uv9GcX4U

My messy planned painting will try to create a fabric design on a long dress.

Your technique is hundreds of years old and was used in the inner leaves of many fine books.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Dec 20 - 10:04 PM

That looks like the paint on top of the medium in water before doing paper marbling. I suspect there are cognates between the marbled end papers and your "pour art" results?

Subject: RE: clutter & witness: House, job, life 2020
From: Donuel
Date: 06 Dec 20 - 06:27 PM

I ordered art supplies for a sizeable pour art project with a twist using masking and layers that include acrylic and metalic powdered pigment in the clothing portion. Here are examples of pour art
paintings

My twist is adding a measure of control and a clear depiction of a figure against a background by masking and layering.
I have never seen one like my mental image before. Nature will have an equal hand in its creation. I began using pour technique 45 years ago.
It sure is prettier than Jackson Pollack.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Dec 20 - 10:03 PM

Sometimes we concentrate on the project so much we lose track of how it might best be used. It sounds like there are more details to work out regarding your potting shed.

The dogs and I had a nice walk today, into a small open area that is a park, back out and around a couple of more blocks. At home dinner was a combination of leftovers and new. I made that quiche and though the Swiss cheese kind of clumped up it was still pretty good, made in a bundt pan without a crust so it's a simple custard. There were a few spinach leaves submerged in it also. I've been clearing surfaces in the kitchen so it was nice to cook with plenty of space and not moving things out of the way first.

Research for a sewing project today and photos from my son to assist (making a quilted cover for a Kitchenaid mixer he gave his girlfriend). I needed the bowl dimensions. The fabric is already front and back with batting and quilted, I just need to make the item out of it.

Sharing this cartoon (linked from Instagram) for your consideration. Along with these things, running the dishwasher, washer, and dryer result in clean dishes or clothes, but they also give the house a pulse or a heartbeat when they're running. If I'm feeling particularly blue, I make a point of running one of them.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 05 Dec 20 - 06:16 PM

Dupont:

New load of two Face cords of wood now in back yard waiting to be stacked on deck. Not today. Letting the world dry out from last rain. But I re-organized the closet in the TV/sewing room. The room is less cluttered, more conducive, she says hopefully, to taking out projects one at a time. The ironing board is still in place with a pile of ironing to be done - not essential and not in the way. The reorganized pantry cabinet has made R happy that it is his for tools, etc that he does need to go to cellar for. Celebrated by him spending an hour sorting through all those metal thingies that accumulate, washing out the plastic bins and, finally, finding 3 screws to put the back/shelf on the "new" washstand. The shelf holding, instead of a candle or oil lamp, our current best Af violet. Looks terrific.

After much looking on line and talking to a couple friends re my perceived need to pot, I have, for now, given up on a shed. Then, this am, R tells me he actually has a trailer suitable for moving a shed! Maybe in the early spring, after he gets the trailer into actually usable condition and determined what size it will accommodate, I will look at this again.

However, have not given up on the idea of potting here completely...

Now that 6 more boxes of books have gone to the basement "library-to-be" so I can get at the Christmas box, I am bringing out bits and pieces as the spirit moves me. Moving wood will be a daily task until completed - before the precipitation begins again.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Dec 20 - 09:47 AM

Benjamin Franklin apparently invented a library chair that is hinged and folds over the top of itself to become a step ladder. Clever, and typical of the great man. I started down a Google rabbit hole of looking for chairs like that for sale online and they are legion. Some of them are quite beautiful. Not that I am shopping or need any more chairs here now, but someone in our group might find one of these useful and have a local builder or furniture store with them in stock.

The furniture I need to pay attention to now is the sofa, that I haven't covered with the dog-resistant ugly cover this year. I lieu of that access have a number of thick dog beds on the floor (and am not letting them into the one carpeted room). I redid the seat on the leather chair (now covered with upholstery samples) so I'm not letting the lab up on that either unless it's covered. It all depends on whether they stay on the floor or start demanding access to furniture in cold weather. Negotiations are ongoing.

My phone weather app Weather Underground let me program the conditions I want in place for walking the dogs. Temperature, wind conditions, daylight, etc, and it tells me if the next day has those conditions. I need to pay attention to that more and get out walking. It was handy to remind me about walking times morning and evening during the heat of the summer, now it tells me the warmest part of the day during winter months.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Dec 20 - 12:35 PM

I'm nine months out from my knee replacement surgery and the front of the knee is still numb, so anything that involves kneeling is done carefully and often with a cushion. It takes time for the full healing to happen, and I have a follow-up appointment for the one-year anniversary and will be interested to see how much longer it will be healing and changing. And how much longer I need a megadose of antibiotics before I go for a dental cleaning, etc.

I think we've reached a point in this crisis of COVID-19 that staying home as much as possible is the only way to survive. I wasn't out a lot, but now curbside pickup will replace going into most stores. Don't go into any building where there are people not wearing masks properly.

I put up a new set of LED lights on the front porch last night, and have been testing the solid versus flowing and flickering pattern. I swear, some of those could bring on seizures. More lights in a shrub at the front of the yard will go in this afternoon. I had two strings of lights that I used to put on the front porch that aren't ready for retirement so I may find a way to repurpose them. I don't know if I have enough extension cords to run them out in the yard, but I may think of something else. Draping them on the decorative bars on the windows maybe.

I've been planning to make a quiche and was thinking about how to get broccoli that I usually like to add, but this time I think I'll sprinkle it with the smallest poblano peppers that got picked at the end of the season and need to be used or frozen. These are the inch or shorter ones that you would never see in the store, the size of small jalapenos but not so hot. I just spent several minutes removing the tops and seeds and cutting them in half. These are little bite-sized peppers that should be wonderful in the eggy custard.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 04 Dec 20 - 10:09 AM

Thanks Charmion.

For one reason or other, I didn't have much time out of bed in hospital and it was only in the last week of my stay that I started to be able to walk round the ward (twice a day) with the frame.

I think that coming from a practically bed bound state for much of my stay as well as the effects of the surgery, I've done quite well (/been fortunate) to progress as much as I have so far in the time I've been home. I am walking freely round the house and going for a daily walk down the field with the help of a walking stick.

I still need to build up strength (and also want to gain far better mobility in terms of bending down) and I expect this to take time but the way things look at the moment I'd think being ready for the next growing season and the bits I do out there is very achievable.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Charmion
Date: 04 Dec 20 - 07:21 AM

I have a round mahogany dining table that I bought from a neighbour when I was married to Mr Wrong, back about 1992. The pedestal and leaves fit neatly into the car, but not the expandable top, so we picked it up and carried it home, a distance of four long city blocks. News flash: mahogany is heavy.

Jon Freeman, I’m glad to hear of your recovery. That thing with your back must have been really nasty, to require a special bed and visits from a nurse for dressing changes. I hope you can take the winter to regain strength; come spring, that garden of yours will need all you can muster!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 03 Dec 20 - 04:22 PM

Our living room is sort of repurposed at the moment. It always has been divided into two areas with one half with the settee, comfortable chairs and the tv. The other half has become my living/sleeping area and accommodates a hospital bed.

As things stand, I think we will look to restoring things early in the new year. The bed was particularly useful to me as I found raising it helped me get out and lowering back in without assistance but I don’t need that now. I also think it’s been good for the community nurses changing my dressings but I’m healing up quite well and there is only a little left to be dressed.

The change back will involve a fair bit of organisation as my room has become a “dumping ground”. I’ll also have a bed and mattress to deal with. Not the hospital one. That is a NHS loan and someone should collect when I no longer need it. But in between mum and I discussing how we would organise my return and agreeing my room wasn’t the best situation and the hospital OTs deciding the best plan was to organise the hospital bed, I had ordered a new bed and mattress.

I’ll keep the new mattress and the council will dispose of my own mattress for a reasonable fee (which covers up to 4 items so we can get rid of a couple of other items too with that) but I’ll keep my old bed to which I fitted casters to raise the height and store more underneath a few years ago. I’ll treat it to new slats though (and see them on sale at Amazon) as a couple of them are warped.

That will leave me with a brand new (self assembly) single bed in its box in my shed. I’ll try to find out if anyone wants it on a free but collect basis.

--
Thinking tables btw. I love the old one in the living room. It's a simple country/rural made oak job that I think saw service with my mum's grandmother.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Donuel
Date: 03 Dec 20 - 03:10 PM

Timetodownsize the dining table. I'll just take a leaf out. Then I will Oxy the carpet stairs and hall with the scrubbing shampooer.

Today I canceled the air duct cleaning crew tommorrow for another season when we are not at a peak infection rate. Its at 13 now.
I'll wait until its 3 or less.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Dec 20 - 02:38 PM

Visualizing how things in the living room could be moved or repurposed has been an interesting thought exercise this morning, after reading about all of this shifting of shelves for storage. I think it generated a few endorphins with the anticipation of change.

I took a look in the freezer, organized some of the meats in the baskets on the bottom couple of shelves, but didn't tackle the whole thing. In the fridge there is stock for making chicken soup, or I could freeze it and make lentil soup now (I prefer that with water, not stock). The oven is pre-heating for a collection of things to go in; acorn squash, halved, a lone Russet potato, a piece of chicken and a piece of halibut. Fish is for lunch today, with the potato, and the others are for later meals. But cooking them all at once is more efficient (only the chicken or fish would be good candidates for the toaster oven).

Time to make a list.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Charmion
Date: 03 Dec 20 - 12:50 PM

And the bookcase is in its new, much better spot, the chest of drawers has gone to its new home, and my sitting room is back to rights. Ronnie and Timmy, the muscly gents, were wonderfully efficient, and they charged me only $250 for the entire evolution. Nothing damaged, nobody hurt — money well spent.

The sitting room rug is still with the cleaners, so the space looks a bit austere. The cats don’t care, but I do; a sitting room without a rug isn’t cosy.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Charmion
Date: 03 Dec 20 - 09:51 AM

“Standard” transmission ain’t standard any more, so I prefer to call it “manual”.

In fact, I still drive a Volkswagen even after the cheatin’ diesel affair (which affected us) because they are the only builders of semi-affordable cars that put manual transmissions in their top-of-the-line models. I refuse to pony up for an Audi, a Beemer or a Merc, or anything built (and priced) as a sports car, so that leaves the Golf. Fortunately, it’s well designed for what I want a car for, and does not attract the wrong kind of attention.

Back in the 90s, I drove a 1986 “classic” diesel Golf. It was white, and I kept it in pretty good nick, and I habitually drove it anywhere between 10 and 20 kph above the speed limit. I had an interesting conversation one day with a highway cop (Ontario Provincial Police) who told me that, in that car, I could probably bomb down the 401 at Mach 3 and get away with it. “Hmm. Volks diesel, middle-aged lady driver. Nothin’ doin’ there.”

The movers are on their way. Hurrah!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Donuel
Date: 03 Dec 20 - 08:19 AM

I've only driven all the VW's.
Standard trans once got me off RR tracks and is good for roll starts.

I showed the cheapest possible murals and curtains earlier but you get what you pay for.
The pricey Nat. Geo collection of wall murals captured my attention for 2 hours. The resolution is photographic and the scenes are as you might expect, anyplace in the world.
https://www.magicmurals.com/the-trevi-fountain.html

https://www.magicmurals.com/autumn-birch.html
https://www.magicmurals.com/notre-dame-cathedral.html

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Dec 20 - 12:38 AM

I envy you the standard transmission. It hasn't been available the last few vehicles I've bought (used - I tried the few standard transmissions on the lot and was underwhelmed.) Do you have to mash the clutch all the way to the floor now to shift? I've run into that a couple of times - weird, or broken.

I finally realized that the popular YouTube yoga program a couple of friends have been doing is free, so I've "subscribed" and am going to do the beginner basics and see how I like it. I used to go to a class at the dance studio but that hasn't been viable for a long time now.

I have a stack of stuff to do tomorrow. It's probably stuff I was going to do yesterday and put off to today; I think I need to start making a list again to keep track of what I'm doing to get that sense of accomplishment when something is crossed off. And to be sure I'm moving forward.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Charmion
Date: 02 Dec 20 - 07:35 PM

The Sportwagen can corner at 30 mph, but it swings wide and feels sluggish. I’m glad you like yours, and just as glad I’m rid of mine.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Donuel
Date: 02 Dec 20 - 07:25 PM

I love the golf sports wagon. It can corner at 30 mph. If you want more there is always the GTI.

I made 4 foot tall outdoor ornaments out of prism board that rainbows in the sun. Bell, tree, globe, star. They did well in the rain and wind. The sun colors are intense. I got them in bulk years ago.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Dec 20 - 07:08 PM

Dupont:

Well not as exciting as Charmion's news but I did re-organize and large lower cupboard and part of an upper one, resulting in a bag full of recycling! And room for better organization - like that box of glass bottles that were on the DR floor! I am so pleased - and pleased to have the energy today!

Still working on the shed situation: the man who offered to come build one this weekend also offered 10% off. But Robin has not been paying attention and was to go look at the second hand one today but had no time. And did not know where I was planning to place it - I did show him... The man is waiting word, as am I.

But the cupboards are sorted!! The laundry put away, the den is warm and supper is ready.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Charmion
Date: 02 Dec 20 - 04:51 PM

I now own only one car, and my relationship with the insurance broker has stabilized. What a relief.

The new ride is a blue 2021 VW Golf with most of the available bells and whistles, the notable exception being an automatic transmission. Instead, it has a nippy six-speed manual gearbox that I like much better, not least because car thieves hate them. Unlike the 2017 Golf Sportwagen I traded in, which cornered like a chesterfield, it handles like a sports car.

I have also leapt through the last estate hurdle at the bank, and now have access to what remains of Edmund’s practice funds. That means I can pay his HST and income tax, and I might get a coffee with whatever’s left.

This afternoon, the chiropodist finally gave up on treating my wonky foot with a laser device (snake oil, in my opinion), and started injecting cortisone into the inflamed spot where the plantar plate ligament attaches to the bone. It feels better already.

Tomorrow at ten, two large muscly gents are coming to move the big, awkward Victorian bookcase downstairs, and haul a substantial tallboy chest of drawers to my brother-in-law’s house. That’s the last transfer of furniture.

To crown the week, the last four rugs will come back from the cleaners on Friday. Hoop-dee-doo, I can hardly wait.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Dec 20 - 10:59 AM

Dupont:

WOW! I just re-organized the hall closet and made space! Don't really need two halves of a banana box at all, never mind taking up two spaces! I found a couple things and feel well rewarded for the few minutes work.

R went to look at a shed, second hand, today; it looks nice but the question is whether it can be moved as a whole piece or must be de-constructed. If the latter, it may not be worth the effort. It is not insulated but is wired with convenience outlets. Otherwise I am preparing to convert a spare room into a studio, at least until spring; a place to throw then package up and take to Beaver to fire and glaze and fire.

I did a chat with a man who builds on site and was on the cusp of commitment when it dawned on me that I was preparing to spend about 25% of my annual income on a shed that was really not what I wanted. Felt badly telling him I was not going ahead. That is when the distancing of chatting on computer is a bonus. I will get over it.

Have done 3 loads of laundry, which finally got folded this morning and piled and placed in the direction of destination. Asked R to clear the non-stairwell area of books do I can get to the Christmas box - sitting there since last year! Everything piled in front, NOT by me.

Tried another batch of muffins from internet - to use sour milk. Certainly not doing that again. Looked for another one and saving it for next try. Even full of blueberries, these are barely "OK".

Brought in a good batch of firewood Monday and called a place for more - NONE! Left message at another; no response. Will try one more. Every phone call is a stressor for me, even if I am sure they speak English, I may not be able to understand. The guy Monday insisted I speak French and I managed the two necessary sentences. And recognized the concept that there is none.

The feeble looking parsley plant in the front window produces enough that I can put a sprig on R's plate when I remember. I cut a couple ahead and have them in a jar on the back of the stove - even then I forget! Maybe I could bring in another plant; they are still doing ok outside. Maybe not after the next few days.

I am already taking cuttings off the tomato plants I - idiotically- started in the early fall. Have planted a couple in large pots. Continue to prune cuttings off the old plants. Some of them and some of the pepper plants I brought in, have died but there are still peppers coming along on others and a couple tiny yellow tomatoes. I just like growing things! A cutting from overgrown aloe vera is taking off, so I shall start a few more. Excess can go to the Shop. The young spider plants I took there are adding a bit of life to the array of goods.

Two cabinets in the pantry may get attention today. The clutter on the pantry counter is at the point of "AGHHH!". Energy is recovering from trip here. What else can I manage????

Re throwing away letters: I regret the book I could have written, had I not tossed letters from my mother in '77. I recently found a couple that missed the dustbin; they mention my son Taun fondly so, the next time they surface, I will send them to him.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Dec 20 - 10:40 PM

I did a lot of running around today, but most of it was outside connections on doorsteps or walkways, in two instances delivering face masks. I did curbside pickup for my dog food and only went into two businesses where I need to do my own shopping. That's pretty much it for the week. The dog food store doesn't do a good job of making people wear masks, so I did curbside pickup. A couple of people in the grocery store needed reminding about masks, and one guy needed shaming. Maybe people will decide just to wear the masks correctly instead of having people fuss at them.

When I was at the discount grocery I loaded up with various essentials; pasta, bag of flour, several bags of rolls, condiments, canned items. I drove those by the community fridge that I have started participating in. This photo has a few items in view that I donated, so must have been taken pretty soon after I left. Food goes very quickly here (it's a screen grab from the Funkytown Fridge Instagram account).

This month I don't need an advent calendar because I'm not counting down till xmas, though I'll be careful to mail family boxes early. I'm counting down till January 20. That's when xmas and thanksgiving and a new year all converge, when we ultimately declutter the White House.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Dec 20 - 10:07 AM

This may be the day for me to follow Charmion's lead and get out the burning barrel, that I left in easy reach when I cleaned the greenhouse last weekend.

I had to scramble to find a few flat rate Priority mailing envelopes (I had to swap Express envelopes for some I had my mask patterns stored in) and will order more. The post office doesn't charge for Priority boxes and envelopes, but they will take a few days to arrive. I have a couple of small flat rate boxes that will also do the trick.

Today I'll try the curbside pickup for my dog food at Tractor Supply. They have too many customers who simply don't wear masks or who do it improperly, and I'm tired of arguing with their willful stupidity. I called to inquire about the process, they say it takes about an hour. I do go into Joann's to get fabric because it's too difficult to order online.

There was a hard frost this morning that got all the way up to the house. Now is the time to consider any work that trees need, and bulky waste pickup is in about 10 days, so I'll take the battery-operated reciprocating saw out and trim a few limbs.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Charmion
Date: 30 Nov 20 - 10:13 AM

Okay. I'll take that as permission granted; let the conflagrations begin.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Nov 20 - 10:11 AM

Oh dear. The "old letters" question. I'm horrible about keeping them also, there are several bins around, though in recent years I have gotten better at tossing the cards with little or no message once I'm sure I have the address.

As a writer, I keep thinking that one day some of those letters will serve as reminders of things I want to flesh out. Most likely fiction that is loosely based upon events lived through. I should probably go through those bins and start tossing also.

I use a 20 gallon Behrens "composter" that was made as a burning barrel but is labeled composter because not all communities allow burning. I wait until after a rain (such as we had this weekend) then I put a couple of bricks in the bottom to support the paper placed in a vertical position and propped on each side (bookends) with more bricks. It burns better this way. And there is a water bucket and shovel sitting next to it. Always burn with the lid on. The resulting ash is tossed into the compost heap and I don't have to clean the fireplace.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Charmion's brother Andrew
Date: 30 Nov 20 - 10:06 AM

Dear Sister: that is why there is such a thing as a "fireside." The papers sound as if they would be useful as tinder.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Charmion
Date: 30 Nov 20 - 09:06 AM

Opinions, please, fellow Clutter-Busters:

Last night, I celebrated the first Sunday in Advent with a bonfire of "classified waste" -- by which I mean documents I don't need any more that contain information I don't want blowing down the street on garbage day. It occurred to me that I should be burning the folders full of old family letters as well.

I'm 66 years old, after all, and not a figure of international fame, so my personal papers are hardly the stuff of history as yet unwritten. And Edmund had/has no more profile than I do.

Edmund tossed every postcard and personal letter he ever received into an ancient valise, and now they're sitting in the bottom drawer of the filing cabinet waiting for SOMEBODY to make a decision. I could foist them onto his siblings, but that would be very unfair. Likewise, I don't like the idea that whoever settles my estate will have to paw through four drawers of folders before he or she considers that duty done.

So: I think I should spend some time this winter burning old letters. Agreed?

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Nov 20 - 09:24 PM

Absolutely fill up at half a tank down. Not only do you avoid "running on fumes," you actually get better mileage because there is less space in the tank for fumes. That seems to make a difference (I listened to Car Talk on National Public Radio for years. When to fill up and when to get an oil change were pieces of advice frequently discussed.)

I have one meal left from the Thanksgiving leftovers; I'm trying to not have so many things going at once in the fridge so I can avoid throwing out food. Especially since I've started participating in stocking the Community Fridge. That spot is drawn down quickly. Peppers I put in this morning were gone this evening when I stopped by to add a few more. I have some that I need to cut up and freeze that I won't leave there (they aren't perfect, but they're perfectly good to slice and freeze, cutting off the spots something nibbled on in the garden).

In this time of COVID - having a modest steady income is good as long as something doesn't rock the boat. Illness. A large repair. Accident of some sort. So many people are in such a difficult position, not just trying to stay afloat, and as good as the rice and lentils are in that community food exchange point, having protein, having extra ingredients also helps. Spices. Salsa. Flour for baking. I'm thinking that next trip up I'll leave a few printed recipes in the dry goods side also. To help those who don't know how to cook but who can follow simple instructions; maybe even put a QR code to the videos I made for my kids, teaching them cooking basics while they were away at college. Whatever can help. Coming up isn't a Winter of Discontent. It is a Winter of Desolation. I suspect we haven't seen anything yet.

Because of that, self-care is all the more important. I have bread rising, almost ready to put in the oven, not only fresh bread but the smell of fresh bread will help lift spirits here. Put up those xmas lights and decorations if they make you feel good because we need every ounce of inspiration we can find right now.

Take care.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: JennieG
Date: 29 Nov 20 - 08:25 PM

'Black Friday' concept has spread across the Pacific Ocean to Oz, also. We are not happy.

Still......I suppose after a year in which many businesses were closed for months and some will never re-open, those left are taking the chance to separate fools and their money at every opportunity.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 29 Nov 20 - 05:13 PM

Dupont:

Arrived about 2:30 and have unloaded car and put most things away. And started supper, though it will wait until R gets home...Whenever. He was home by 7:30 last night, when I phoned, thinking I might be home; assured me he would not be so early tonight. I may fall asleep. There are only a few dishes in the sink. Watered a bunch of almost too dry plants, and snipped another geranium cutting.

Saturday aft, I took the new pots to the shop, including some polka dot - cookie cutter - ceramic bunnies with gold cords for hanging on tree? or wherever. They look cute!

Left Beaver in good order with sheets changed and dishes washed. Pottery stuff everywhere but that's OK.

I need to make a check list for by the front door lest I forget an essential in the getting-ready-to-leave mode. I was afraid
I had missed "close bathroom door" last time and texted neighbour to check as she passed by. She kindly did and it was fine but my brain is no longer "sharp as a tack".

Today, I gravely miscalculated gas consumption and need for washroom - both! Got off highway, thinking I would not make it to next service centre, and miscalculated where I was re civilization - read that GAS Station! As both became desperate, I stopped where there were a lot of houses and parked cars - nobody home anywhere! But across the street, I saw a dog - loose! As I crossed over toward it, it stayed inside its "fence"! and appeared to have a human. Very kind human let me use washroom and looked at my dash info and assured me I could manage the few km to the promised gas station. He did not have any -hoped for- gas for lawnmower as he had put it in his car! I made it and then life looked better. Note to self: Fill up the tank! (Remembering a former mudcatter who admonished me, as I set off across CA, "Always refill when it is only half empty!") I just hate stopping!

Now, relaxing with fire in stove!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Nov 20 - 10:26 AM

We're to the time of year when the programming of the thermostat kicks in and the house has cooled enough overnight that it warms up at about the time I used to get up when I was going to work. I never reprogrammed it, and now it has been helpful for these few mornings when I'm getting up early to go feed a friend's cats. I find the covers too much and wake up kicking them off and get up. (BTW: my friend lives alone and is careful about self-isolating because she leaves to visit her elderly parents. I wear the mask the entire time I'm in her house, to protect both of us.) Since the heat is now coming on it also reminds me that it's time to get out another blanket. I have a thermal blanket and a quilt on the bed now, with a knit lap throw over the bottom half of the bed. I can go with these layers except that they slide around. Better to put on another blanket. If it gets really cold, then I swap out for the down comforter.

Last night I cleaned up the kitchen and ran the dishwasher at bedtime. I am reminded of my next door neighbor, who moved a couple of years ago. I would visit (as in drop in, sometimes unannounced) and the house was always spotless. It occurs to me that it is probably just as easy to keep a house clean by putting things away as you use them as it is to let stuff pile up and clean every so often. Discuss.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 27 Nov 20 - 06:34 PM

Beaver:

After a full week here, today I managed to glaze and load the kiln, now firing, as I meant to do last Saturday! Energy came in fits and starts and snuck up on me when not expecting it. Worked in the studio with changing to studio clothes - not two messy, used a damp clothe to clean off bits and put it in laundry.

Needed a meal of mainly veggies and the food stores were too busy so I went to M&M and bought a chicken stir fry kit. Too much meat and not enough veggies; I ate all the veggies and saved much of the chicken for tomorrow. Maybe I will try a grocery later this eve. In the meantime, I had the meal I needed. - at a price! But I really needed it.

I find the Canadian use of "Black Friday" contemptible. It has nothing to do with us - just another marketing ploy - and people fall for it.

Charmion: Rest and relax and new activities will come to you!

I am off to the Thrift Warehouse tomorrow to get another light for the studio here. The lack of adequate lighting stymied me when I thought I might go do something in the eve - or maybe just an excuse. Maybe just a clip on; something I can do alone. I have done quite a bit in the LR but felt a bit of throwing energy a couple evenings. I seem to be needing more light these days. My eyes are OK...

The death affected me far more than I expected; it is complicated - the web of people affected/involved. Unique; I doubt I shall have this sort again. HOPE!

I will go back to Dupont on Sunday - a non-snow day! None of our favs at the Bakery so no need to plan to get there on Sat. Will take new pots to the shop tomorrow and load the car. And a bag to Thrift shop!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Nov 20 - 12:34 PM

If it wasn't a COVID-19 climate around the world I'd suggest visiting your local parks or museums to volunteer, or explore the tutoring programs for K-12 kids. I did both of those up until early this year, when it all came to a crashing halt. Now I'm looking at volunteering in an outdoor situation in the botanical garden. Last year I hobbled painfully on those tasks, but the new knee is ready to go for some leaf-raking or tulip-planting activities.

Today my backyard greenhouse needs to be put into order, the vents covered, and potted plants moved in because our first freeze is expected over the weekend. This is as late as I ever remember a first freeze. We usually can plan on early to mid-November, and last year's mid-October hit was a true disappointment, but this has been remarkable. How do you plant your winter crops when the summer crops are still happily producing?

The faucets need to have the freeze covers put on, and I need to change the washer in the back faucet, it has had a slow leak forever (drips only, but they add up.)

Shopping - I am one who never goes to a store on "Black Friday" ever if I can possibly avoid it. (I need dogfood soon, but think I can wait till next week's "senior shopping" hour at Tractor Supply.) There are movements that celebrate small business days and homemade crafts days and such, I don't pay attention to any of them. I did most of my small item shopping in October and my closet is stashed with bags to wrap and pack and ship soon. It's all small stuff this year, there isn't really anything big most people need.

Thanksgiving dog story: those roasted vegetables I made last night were probably my favorite part of the meal. I have enough for another meal or two for me, and since it was a holiday I decided to give the dogs a treat. They usually get some kind of cut up, often cooked, vegetable on top of their dry food for the extra moisture and fiber, so each got a chunk of roasted carrot. The dog food bins live in an antique trunk, so I fill the bowls on top of the bins, collect them, close the trunk, and set the bowls on top of the trunk while dogs bark or dance around behind me. Since the two big dogs have been getting an antihistamine because they were itching so much this fall, I stuffed the Benadryl into Zeke's and Pepper's carrots, dropped them on top of the bowls, then proceeded with our meal ritual.

Zeke first, he sits and shakes hands, then I put his food down. I put down Pepper's bowl and she gives me a kiss on the cheek, then I put down Cookie's bowl and she gives me a nose boop on the cheek. They are to wait until I tell them "eat" and they dive into their bowls, and beforehand they leave each other's food alone, though Cookie always checks out Zeke's bowl to see what's for dinner before moving away. This time she went in for the kill and I wasn't fast enough to block her before she snatched and swallowed-whole that cooked carrot off of the top of his dish! She doesn't seem the worse for the dose, though she did take a long evening nap. Clearly these carrots are irresistible and will become something they get for special occasions - though I will distribute differently!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Charmion
Date: 27 Nov 20 - 11:14 AM

Bugs in late November. Grim.

The Black Friday phenomenon has invaded Canada to the extent that both my email and real mail boxes are jammed with advertising for things I could never imagine buying under any circumstances, let alone now. Are Americans really shopping till they drop?

For the first time in months, perhaps years, I have no obligations and no deadlines. I hardly know what to do with myself.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Nov 20 - 08:36 PM

Our movable feast was good; the chicken came out of the oven just before my ex arrived with the pie (he somehow managed to scoop out half of the pumpkin pie and replace it with half of an apple pie because we always have one of each every year since the kids have different favorites.) I've kept a few black-bottomed restaurant takeout containers for this kind of occasion, and had a rotisserie chicken box from Costco, so I cut the chicken down the middle and boxed half. The vegetables were cut up and roasted in olive oil and black pepper with sprigs of rosemary, this was in lieu of several other side dishes. Veggies went into another takeout container, and my offering finished with a brown paper bag of hot dinner rolls. It was warm enough today that we could have eaten here outside but at dusk the mosquitoes and gnats would have been uninvited guests.

The kitchen is cleaned up, and that's about as much as will be accomplished this evening.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Nov 20 - 04:41 PM

Beaver:

Still doing more thinking than doing. Snow is melting today but still LOTS.

Donuel! Snowy day in July before I paint trees! Someone nearby has had an amazing scene hanging on a garage for at least 20 years; I am amazed that it is still there and still vibrant; I look forward to seeing the HUGE flowers, clearly an super enlarged pic, professionally printed on something super durable! I sometimes think of stopping to see if they remember where they got it. More than 20 Ontario winters and facing mostly south???!!! However, an already printed shower curtain is a fine idea. Beaver has a rainbow painted on the north wall, by friends using scaffolding.

Charmion! What a wonderful sense of completion!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Charmion
Date: 26 Nov 20 - 02:55 PM

Big news: I shipped off the Afghanistan book to the client today. The feeling of release has yet to set in, as neither the author nor the publisher have provided any feedback.

I can now move on to my next self-appointed task: sorting Edmund’s work files. The highest priority there is identifying all material related to his last project for Innocence Canada, and sending it to their office in Toronto. The rest are mostly if not all Legal Aid cases, and my responsibility there is just to stash them somewhere clean, dry and secure for a year (I think). The Glory Hole will be perfectly adequate for that.

The Stratford Christmas dinner will take place at my house because I have the least portable elements of the feast, to wit: the goose, the pudding, and the custard. The Elizabeth Street contingent may bring a ham (!) as well as the veg and the wine. I foresee a general digestion alert in the aftermath of all that.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Nov 20 - 01:38 PM

Aren't you guys talented! Don, I never thought about looking for a printed curtain like that but soon I'll have a couple of those on my xmas lists! It is possible to become the maven of fancy shower curtains with so many to choose from! And the 3D printing is an established art form now, Jon, I'm not surprised it caught your attention. I'm glad you're recovering from the surgery. I have a standing desk that I need to remember to occasionally put in the up position just because. I got it when I had not yet been diagnosed with PMR and thought it might help. Right now I'm sewing lots of masks, making them high-end as far as fabric, design, top-stitching, etc. I'll post photos later (that is the next step in a blog I'm reviving). And Dorothy has been making her amazing pots in front of us for years so sometimes we forget about all of her artistry!

I came into the computer to check the television guide, but I'll probably just put a movie in to play as I spend the next few hours in the kitchen. Chicken this year, a turkey is too big for just two of us trading off food, and dinner rolls. I'll roast some vegetables, and he's making pies to bring over to share. Last summer I made a couple of pints of pickled okra and this afternoon I took one jar and some of my recently made cucumber relish to my next door neighbor. They live a bit dangerously - they're going to her son's house for dinner with his family. I think they're trying to maintain a "bubble," but with teenaged grandkids, that may not really be happening. I hope they stay safe.

All of you stay safe also, and to those in the U.S., have a great Thanksgiving!