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

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Donuel
Date: 27 Aug 20 - 05:28 PM

No symptoms but my wife was tested at NIH anyway. A bad Uber ride would make the swab test moot. Quarantine remains the smart choice.
The pool is covered and the hot tub cleaned. An abundance of caution has worked so far at home but not for the nation which is nuttier than squirrel poop
.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Aug 20 - 04:52 PM

I'm hearing a storm surge was "unsurvivable" but we haven't heard the size or range of that parsed yet. Lots of news coverage and drone images of flooding, trees down, roofs ripped off. Louisiana took the brunt of it.

The new fabric is washed, dried, ironed, edge threads trimmed. Life continues as usual, such as COVID-19 allows here, and this atheist recognizes that "there but for the grace of god . . . " we could be in that mess. I got a call about going in for COVID testing, I don't think I've been exposed but I guess they are calling people because they want a range of testing done. A spit test.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: mg
Date: 27 Aug 20 - 04:11 PM

storm looks like it has really declined in force. some terrible leaks and fires. read up on cajun navy being prepared to rescue but it sounds like good luck for once.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 27 Aug 20 - 01:25 PM

Dupont:

SRS: When I make a big pot of stew or soup, those are not "leftovers", those are "planned overs"! I endeavour to leave R some when I am leaving for a few days. This time, staying longer than I thought, I was going to give him something else last night but he came home too late so - more planned over stew.

Staying longer because I have a goal to cut the "grass" before I leave. Dis a fair chunk yesterday but, this am, I fooled with other tasks and ---DARN! it is dripping out there. So I went to the Telus/Koodo kiosk to try to find out why I could not send pics to computer. Nice lad decided it was the computer so I need to call Apple Help again! He did readjust the weather feature. When I first got this new phone, I was delighted that it told me the weather wherever I was. But after my son messed with it - being helpful he thought - I only get it for here. Does not help at all when I am there (Beaver). So, next trip I shall see if we won.

Piles of laundry completed, most to go back to Beaver. Curio cabinet has dried and is in its new home. Need R to order new shelves as the originals died a sudden death in a storage unit on Whidbey when a friend moved the wrong thing - holding them in place - a resounding crash! "Oh dear" said my friend. Or maybe that was me. It was done. Oh well. I won't try to order them as I cannot be trusted with numbers. But, more because he is in the city where thing like this can be ordered.

The sudden change in the weather has changed the daily "exercise"! No more opening windows and drapes at night to let the cool in! Now all windows are closed, and make sure drapes are open to enable solar gain. Time to pull out the air cleaner. The best part is that my energy level is MUCH better; excess heat is seriously debilitating. But the tomato plants are not happy.

Maybe I can even get some sewing done... I brought back some vintage drapery fabric in hopes of heavy drapes for LR/DR that will help keep warmth inside.

The fellow who was going to cut the high "grass" at Beaver, did so! Well, most of it, so I could walk around without something wrapping around my feet to trip me. The frogs and friends may not be happy but there is plenty of area for them. Steve said they were "everywhere!" I am encountering the same here. And a 3-4 foot snake that escaped into a flower bed.

At Beaver, I walked into the LR as a 2-3 foot snake went onto the hearth and behind the cradle we use for kindling. "ROBIN!" He calmly found it was still behind cradle, opened the back doors and gently encouraged its departure, onto the back deck where it went down between the floor boards - at a spot where I had disturbed it's sunbathing earlier in the week. It prob came in under the screen door during the night when the inside door was open.

Hope everyone is safe from teh impending storm.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Aug 20 - 10:43 PM

I think eBay is still the best place. And check first to see if there is too much lead in them, that makes them harder to sell.

Cleared out some leftovers in the fridge, made a new set of leftovers for meals for the next few days.

I've drawn down a fair amount of fabric from my stash and was needing to look into the seasonal stuff and more flannel and denim for the filter layer. I also picked up some fat quarters to experiment with color and design-wise for more masks. At my doctor's visit today I handed over a handful of the "ADA masks" I am making (they don't need to be tied after the first time the t-shirt yarn is adjusted to the right length.) The doctor said last visit that he has a big nose and the disposable masks don't work well; he tried on the Adult size of the 3-D mask and it fits but he really could use the next size up. It really helps to see people try these on when they have specific fit issues.

Wind is picking up and it is high humidity now, as the storms begin to push ashore. It probably won't do much up here, but we're in the proximity for this part of it.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Donuel
Date: 26 Aug 20 - 03:40 PM

I'm closing the pool early to avoid storms and leaf problems. So far I emptied 4 ft of water for the next step.

Is anything better than Ebay for selling die cast vintage toys & stuff nowadays??

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Aug 20 - 02:16 PM

In person trips this week were the vet on Monday and today the knee doctor (mostly to discuss my bursitis). Still having some bladder capacity after that visit, I made the executive decision to stop in at Joann for fabric. You just can't get what you want very easily online. I'm set for those seasonal requests now and have backed up the supply of flannel and denim for the filter layer of the masks I make. My stash is somewhat restored - I doubt I'll ever manage to draw it all down at this point, but I'm finally working with new stuff.

Hurricanes headed for the Gulf Coast this evening, so mandatory evacuation traffic is headed to various inland population centers. The next few days are good ones to stay home and stay safe. Sew and listen to audiobooks.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Aug 20 - 03:04 PM

Always look at the journal label when the renewal documents start coming around. I couldn't remember if it was The New Yorker or Smithsonian, but last year I remember getting an offer for my renewal and two free gifts when I'd rather renew for three years. I finally called the subscription office and they found an offer that gave me 33 months for 33 dollars. Backtracking I see the same offer is coming now but I pulled out the receipt and have two more years on my subscription. I think they'd save a lot of money if they weren't mailing out all of these renewal forms unnecessarily. And these things sit around gathering dust until I finally get around to doing something with them.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Aug 20 - 05:38 PM

On the kitchen counter there was a pile of papers that required some sort of attention, such as the "get a $5 gift card for writing an Amazon review," and a photocopied page from a book I've been meaning to pick up next time I'm at the university library, except right now only enrolled students and faculty can get in there. I finally got smart and looked on Bookfinder.com, a used book store has a good clean copy for $6 that includes shipping, so it is ordered (the round trip would cost me that much in gas, under the old higher-gas prices). And with each of these items checked off the sheet is put in the circular file, recycle edition. Those examples are representative, I've tackled a half-dozen or more now, written, ordered, filed, tracked down. I can't say how long this slowly growing stack has been moved from one counter to another. I have to go through the files and cull old bills and such, but with as hot and dry as it has been, the burning barrel won't come out until after a good soaking rain.

This is a sub-set of the "clear off kitchen horizontal surfaces" project. The small kitchen table now has a fresh table cloth and I'm working on the tall table in the middle of the kitchen proper. The kitchen queen tall cabinet has quite a few things piled on that counter, and if I can clear it also the kitchen will really look good. The house is looking much better than "normal," and as I'm said many times over the last few months, it would be wonderful if friends and family could come in to enjoy the changes.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 23 Aug 20 - 11:12 AM

Dupont:

About 10 days ago: it was a Friday morning at BF, R decided that, the current crisis being well resolved (!!!), he could go to Beaver. I left after BF and he, eventually, arrived Sat aft. Back to Dupont yesterday aft (me) and late last night (him, by way of a couple more garage sales... and a visit to a friend). I was here by 5:30 after driving straight through from my stop at the bakery for goodies. About 4 hours, flat out. Unloaded part of car - cooler, laundry - lots! We left Beaver is good working order: septic system repaired and hole re-filled - not with soil but with layers of styro-foam topped with plywood, some soil, and a row of pressure-treated 4x4s to protect it all! BR back together, a new element in water heater, and a bunch of smaller things checked off the list! We left that home in good shape, including clean bedding and the electric blanket back in place, ready for the cooler weather to come. Clean chimney and fire laid in stove, ready for a match.

R's trip to Beaver was slightly eventful: brakes sprung a leak about 70 miles away and the friend he had visited took him to find brake fluid. Because he was so late - by the time he called me - I rushed down to the bakery (an hour) to pick up an order before closing. He arrived and I followed him to Beaver. He was all over the road - terrifying! - as he was on the left coming up to the crest of a hill, repeatedly; I stayed well behind! Not knowing if it were the vehicle or him falling asleep, I kept blowing my horn; he never heard it. Sunday, we took the truck to my mechanic of almost 40 years and got it back on Friday! (R said "Pete needs a sign!" Me: "He has more business than he can handle, why bother with a sign!" Truck was well repaired and his trip back to Dupont was fine - except for too many yard sales and a visit so he did not get home until about 10pm, by which time I was asleep.

Having carefully checked the weather and noted only 10% chance of
rain, we did not cover my cherished "curio cabinet" being brought here on back of truck, on top of a mattress. Add to that several bags of books acquired en route! I woke at 6:15 am and heard rain --- RAIN! Threw on clothes, grabbed a handy (serendipitous!!), very large piece of heavy plastic and rushed out to cover the already wet back of truck. R is currently down in his library drying out books. It rained almost an inch.

The fertilizer I put on the tomatoes and a few other plants seemed to have made a difference; they seem much healthier than 2 weeks ago. It rained enough to keep them and the geraniums alive. Watered houseplants - in sore need- and trimmed some. (I am really still asleep!)

I have put aside a couple items - to leave - replaced by more useful yard sale purchases. Washed the pottery I brought back last trip and had a bite to eat - trying to get back on track as I had too many "little" treats the last few days.

While R did his fix-it jobs- and read and rested - I pulled more weeds until my body refused to do any more. Got stung by one of those underground bees and read while my hand throbbed and R suggested an antihistamine, which helped. There are still more seeds and the soil from the septic hole can be transferred to the nearby raised bed with a helping of wood ash.

His friend gave him a couple unique tomatoes and we saved the seeds: black Russian and a zebra sort. I am already thinking next spring and am saving cuttings from this year's plantings and will start the seeds and see how I make out with them through the winter in the spare room. Also brought back a planting shelf unit with lights that can go in that room - a Plant Room! (It will get to be a bath room someday, hope.) The pepper plants are producing. I will feed them in thanks.
And start doing laundry...

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Aug 20 - 01:25 AM

Who are "they?" What is happening, something you're seeing?

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: mg
Date: 22 Aug 20 - 07:18 PM

well, the steamer was left outside and was gone within the hour so I hope someone is able to fix it.

and if anyone is thinking of coming to Portland...be very aware. It is a dangerous city..yeah, right, just a few blocks. Wrong...they are now making house calls.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Aug 20 - 05:55 PM

Mary, there isn't a tinkerer of your acquaintance who could take a look at it? It is disappointing - I'm still not completely convinced that the 50-year-old freezer was dying, now that I know the fridge suffered the assault of brown and black fluff (similar to but denser than Charmion's current task). The freezer is gone now and the new one is on a warranty and is Energy Star, etc. But I understand the dismay. It always is a good idea to go online and find the owner's manual and see what it says about problem solving. If you can't find the paper that came with it, just google the brand and model and it should appear. They all do nowadays.

Jon, that shed looks great, lots of usable counter space, room to walk around easily, and the long planks stored up above out of the way. I find that once everything is clear and in view I'm much more likely to do some work that I'd have otherwise put off. An organized shed or garage is inspiring.

Today I used some small scraps of xmas holiday fabric and made a few masks in advance of that season. I started because I was thinking about how to cheer up a friend; her husband is declining from a neurological condition that has dementia-like symptoms, and he is no longer able to carry on much of a conversation. She loves the holidays and does a lot of decorating, and she expressed an interest in holiday-themed face masks since we'll likely still be wearing them then. The masks are a small thing, but are a reminder that a friend is thinking about her. We all need those little touchstones at times.

There are projects that I would like some new materials for, but I can do them with things I have here, they just won't look the same. This COVID-19 era means that delaying the purchase of something isn't procrastinating, it is prudently putting it off going out for as long as possible and maybe it will be safer next week or the week after. And making do in the meantime.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: mg
Date: 22 Aug 20 - 04:38 PM

i am setting out a beautiful polti vaparetto steam cleaner for free. it breaks my heart. it just quit working. i tried customer rep. i am dismal at fixing things but i suspect it only has a minor glitch. hopefully someone can fix and use it. of course i said it was not working. it had all these little brushes etc. that i never even got to use.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Charmion
Date: 22 Aug 20 - 03:23 PM

That’s a Cadillac shed, Jon Freeman — it’s even got windows! And electricity, if I’m not mistaken. You could sit out the Apocalypse in that, if you brought a fat enough book.

I have spent most of the day (so far) cleaning, and I’m here to tell you that two cats can shed an ASTOUNDING amount of grey fluff.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 22 Aug 20 - 11:16 AM

Well that’s stage one of my shed done. The next step is to find someone to fix the doors so they open and close easily. I’ve still got some storage boxes of bits (,eg. plumbing fittings and some other oddments) to sort out as well as my work bench dray but these can be done later.

This is the shed now. I’m not sure that it looks like much but I’m quite pleased with my efforts especially considering the sate I’d let the shed and some of the tools get into before I started.

That and I’ve improved a couple of things and even after moving some stuff out from my room in the house, I’ve still got some shelf and storage box space over.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Aug 20 - 10:10 AM

Though I did read the online newspapers this morning, I am attempting a news-free day as far as radio and television. The last week has been particularly rough. Next week will be horrid.

I'm reading a very old book - Sinclair Lewis' It Can't Happen Here. It's like he went on a acid trip in 1935 and landed in the summer of 2020 long enough to look around and report back. But of course he was looking at the rise of Fascism in Europe, the book was written when Mussolini and Hitler were still alive and prior to the opening volleys of WWII. Even a few years after it was published it must have felt remarkable. Particularly interesting is that there is a main character with the surname of Jessup. :) I'm only to page 70, no spoilers, please.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Donuel
Date: 21 Aug 20 - 05:04 PM

An Uber ride seems riskier.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Donuel
Date: 21 Aug 20 - 05:01 PM

Under the heading of life and possibly fitness, mid week flying coast to coast in a time of pandemic is much like the most cheesy low budget pandemic movie you have seen on late nite TV. Empty airports, planes that seat 200 with only 20 passengers and few venues for food. You can walk directly to the check in counter since you are always first in line. In a twillight zone twist I expected to hear "there's room for one more dear".   
The eerie quiet is most disquieting as well as no temperature or contact data taking. There are mandatory mask wearing rules. At the airport hotel you have the pick of any room on any floor. The TV is always tuned to Telemundo for the cleaning staff. It gave the feeling there were maybe 20 people in the whole place. Little 'SANITIZED' signs were everywhere but gave little confidence.

The chosen route was DC to Columbus then on to Portland. Other rejected routes involved hot spots in the southwest. Mask wearing is easy but gloves have to come off after an hour or two. Changing clothes is not reccomended in the bathrooms so 'creativity' is key.
Social distancing is not an issue and you probably won't see any Walking Dead.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Charmion
Date: 21 Aug 20 - 01:29 PM

My birthday is imminent, and I recently told my brother that I neither need nor want anything, so NO SHOPPING. He seemed a bit non-plussed, but I don't travel or do anything new and different, and I can get any book I want (pretty near) on the Kobo (e-reader) with the added advantage that it won't gather dust, so ... !

I think I would like a Roomba (robot vacuum cleaner), however; cleaning is a chore that needs mechanical assistance if ever there was one. When I said as much to Himself, he griped that I could buy it whenever I want and it's hardly a birthday thing. We have different ideas of what birthday thing might constitute.

As for the U.S. post office, I am full of sympathy and more than a little exasperation. I ordered some underwear from an American company back in May and I'm still waiting; first, they were busy making masks, and that was okay, but at least two weeks ago they sent me an email to say that my parcel was in the mail and ... crickets. Good thing I;m not going anywhere near the gym yet.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Aug 20 - 12:40 PM

I'm going to have to rethink some of my eBay packages for a while. As inconvenient as it is to have to take parcels elsewhere, Mr. DeJoy has so tangled the post office right now that parcels aren't arriving at the speed people expect. I'll continue to mail personal parcels that aren't perishable through the post office.

I'm drawing down some of the stuff in the freezer, and back in April and May I had managed to fill it pretty well because of the preparations for no shopping for a long time. I still don't shop often, but I can get what I need now, so the surplus is going into use. The thing that takes me out is needing produce, salads, etc. I have frozen vegetables, but fresh is nicer when I can get it.

Now everyone in the family has had a birthday (or will soon) during the COVID-19 period. We do what we can to celebrate, but mostly activities are deferred. We've jokingly speculated about a family Zoom meeting for Thanksgiving and Xmas. That doesn't seem so outlandish any more.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Aug 20 - 01:57 PM

The smartphone doesn't weigh any more with all of the apps installed, but it certainly is more a complicated little computer with everything in place. I am disassembling the built-up software on my old phone, and it's a slow process. I could do the quick "factory reset" but I want to be sure the things I need are out and in the new phone before giving the contents the deep six. #VirtualDecluttering

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Aug 20 - 10:27 AM

I need to watch This Old House and The New Yankee Workshop more often to find the examples that would work as starter learning projects. There is a television program just about routers also, but I haven't seen it in ages.

I owe the next door neighbors a lawn mowing, they've trimmed the side of my yard so often. But when everyone is home all of the time now it's hard to do it as a surprise when they're away for an afternoon or a day if they're not going for any of those outings now. I'm thinking I did some kind of mental reset regarding heat after the surgery this spring; I just don't tolerate it as well as in the past, but I expect this will cycle away by next year. I'll do the lawns the next cool day we have.

Back to the pants topic - Kohl's has "Senior shopping" for exactly one hour, from 9-10am on Wednesday. I see a handful of types of Cropped/Capri style pants in the website, so I suppose tomorrow is the day to try a visit. Maybe a new bra while I'm at it. I love shopping thrift stores but the factor of taking time to browse works against them these days. I feel like I'm leaving a lot of treasures on the rack, but it would be foolhardy to spend much time in there.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 18 Aug 20 - 07:02 AM

Re-reading SRS… I think I’ve more dived on things I could love to have a play with in my previous post.

Looking at things a different way, My mini lathe (bought to do one particular task but I can’t remember what and figuring I might find other uses for it) would be my most likely candidate as a tool. I think one way I might have got into learning more on that would have been to try a Stirling engine project which could have led on to steam and might have got me started on learning a few techniques.

Things counting against me is that I think material (at least brass) costs are high for one thing and for another, I’m very poor at settling down just to learn things…

It doesn’t happen often (much less than once a year now) but what suits me is thinking of something that I figure I can do at least mostly with the tools and knowledge I have (maybe adding little bits of both) and seeing what I can can come up with out of my head.

My (modified/second build of) “windmill” is probably my best example. There are attempts at metal work, stepper motor control and other bits of programming (eg. you can get direction and speed of rotation and start/stop it using an Android app) in there.

Back to you router and it being unused, maybe you have a slight touch of me there? I mean maybe you need some idea to come along first and then think “I’ve got a router and that’s just what I would need for that”?

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Aug 20 - 11:19 PM

It took me a while to edit and crop and edit some more, but I finished a short set of information and tips for caring for these homemade face masks I've been making. I decided it was time because I kept finding myself having to explain these things about care and adjustment of the mask ties every time I handed one over. I can fit six of these statements on a single sheet of printer paper. They'll be tucked into the bag with the mask(s).

I've cleared a fair amount of sewing stuff off of the dining table (again). And have made a number of prototypes of the 3D mask; it won't be the main one I make, but it is a viable style to offer, in particular to people who feel their noses are large enough that masks won't ride well on their faces.

Back to regular clearing up.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 17 Aug 20 - 10:50 AM

I’m not going to be doing that in the foreseeable future SRS but the idea is a good one and actually quite topical for me recently in another way.

Brother in Queensland took an interest in 3D printing. He had one which I think he bought fully assembled and he’s just gone on to putting his own delta type together. We had some email exchanges on the subject and his progress while he was doing this as well as some talk on more general tools, his possible workshop (as well as my tidying up here), etc.

I’d think there’s a fair amount one could look at if circumstances were right. Cnc lathes, mills and routers come to mind as do laser cutters and engravers

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Aug 20 - 10:17 AM

I rely on the dogs for their noise; enough of my neighbors have guns that if the need presents itself, I'll let them know and try to stay out of the line of fire. You're out there in the open, so good luck with that, Michelle.

I suppose if I look at particular manufacturers whose sizes I know fit, that is a starting point, but there is a recent meme out there pointing out all of the different pants that are all labeled "size 12" (I hover between 12 and 14 at this point) that it might take a couple of tries. (See if this Instagram link works. I just added it for this topic.) I've always bought a couple of colors in tops I like, but I suppose now I can expand that practice and buy several. All of my somewhat dressier "work clothes" are sitting there unused right now because I'm not even dressing to go volunteer at the museums with the COVID-19 activity going full-tilt in Texas.

Jon, if you're like me, you have some "aspirational" tools in that workroom of yours. I found one on sale when the Sears near me closed and moved back in 2002 - a router that I've never really learned to use. Still in its box. I suppose I should make that the top of my list and start finding projects just so I can practice. Anyone else have tools they want to learn to use?

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: LilyFestre
Date: 16 Aug 20 - 11:35 PM

I'm pretty basic when it comes to clothes. I tend to find a few things that I love and buy them in multiple colors. Black slacks for work and a short sleeved ribbed mock turtleneck keeps me going all fall and winter. Spring is off white or khaki capris and a cotton top...easy care, lots of colors. I order my clothes from online...keeps it simple.

School will be starting soon here which means I will be working at home more than I will be in the office. Typically I enjoy being in the office but there seems to be a lot of drama there lately so I'm just as happy to work from home.

Pete begins his 6 month testing for his thyroid cancer. It's quite the process and will take place over several days. I am thankful for FMLA so I can take these days off to be with him.

I have taken up target shooting. We had an unwelcome visitor at the house that thankfully our dog scared away but it was a wake up call for me. I am getting very familiar and good with my 9mm and I added a Glock 44 22LR (pistol) to the mix this weekend.

Jeremiah continues to grow at an incredible rate.....I am going to be in trouble as soon as he decides he likes the girls!! He's a handsome young man if I do say so myself!

I hope all is well with everyone and that you are staying healthy and safe!

Love to all,

Michelle

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Aug 20 - 04:19 PM

Jon, I suspect that once the room is in shape you'll be drawn into it and think of things you want to work on there.

Charmion, the garden transformation sounds amazing. Right now keeping things alive in the extreme dry heat is a big challenge. One tree lost some leaves after getting to dry, but this is what they do and I think it will recover (it's in a pot, awaiting transplant in the fall). I've been spraying aphids off of the okra and today I took some metal fence posts, a roll of chicken wire, and a piece of wire edge fencing and built a kind of support for the various cucumber plants that are just now putting out the climbing tendrils and starting to grow flowers. Those are the plants I'm holding out hopes for this autumn.

I'm finishing up some of the fitted design masks; I saw a video this morning that is the first one that I found to be a bad example of construction and technique. I looked at the remarks and am pretty sure that any critical remarks have been removed; no experienced person doing this much sewing would use some of her techniques. (No iron, for starters). I didn't leave remarks to test my theory, but know that there are a lot of crappy two-layer poor-fabric-choice masks out there thanks to this woman. Too bad.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 16 Aug 20 - 12:30 PM

I’ve been glad of the rain (in North Norfolk, UK) today too. We had several hours of very heavy rain and I think we could do with more of the same. It’s mostly been hot and dry here for months and when we have had the cooler days with rain forecast, the rain hasn’t really amounted to much – a few light showers when I’ve felt the ground needs a good soaking.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Charmion
Date: 16 Aug 20 - 11:45 AM

It is raining in Stratford, praise be to whoever.

Helena the Garden Goddess — tall, robust, tanned and Dutch — descended on us on Thursday with two cubic metres of mulch, a truckload of Tri-Mix soil amendment, and a crew of well-trained high-school girls, each with her own pick and shovel, who almost literally whipped the property into shape in three hours flat. They double-dug and raked, weeded and planted, and then laid a thick coat of mulch over the whole achievement. We now have a low hedge of box, rather a lot of hydrangeas, three Roses of Sharon, a flowering dogwood and something called a weeping pine, plus at least a dozen heucherae and three dwarf cypresses, where before was wreckage and bald dirt.

Now all I have to do is keep it all hydrated until the autumnal rains set in. Since the Garden Nymphs drove off in a cloud of sweat and diesel exhaust, I have been hauling hoses and lawn sprinklers about, and I badly need a day off.

I hope it rains all week.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 16 Aug 20 - 11:22 AM

We were shopping entirely online before the lockdown. The difficulty we experienced came largely as a result of an increase in people doing their grocery shopping online. We struggled and often failed to manage to book on line delivery slots for the first 2 – 3 months but neighbours helped us out. This situation has not returned to normal but has eased somewhat and I expect to be able to book a slot from one or other of two supermarkets each week.

As for clothing, I’m simple. For the main items, I have 6 fleece jackets (for cooler weather than it has been for most of the past few months), 8 t shirts and 6 pairs of trousers. All of each item is the same make and style but the colours vary. 2 of each item are kept back for “best wear” and the rest is “general wear”. I think I need to replace 2 pairs of trousers (same again will do) fairly soon but everything else on that list should be good for at least another 12 months.

Back to my shed. I noticed the board my tool chest stands on was badly warped and has to be replaced. I used the same cheap industrial shelving units for the lathe and the tool chest and I see all the boards/shelves have warped to some degree but the others can stay as they are. They are not as badly distorted and don’t carry the same sort of weight (my mini lathe would be 90+ lbs and the tool chest around 70lbs before adding tools) . I think the 18mm water resistant mdf board I’ve used/have on order should do better that what was there before for the tops.

There have been a few unplanned expenses in this project although the others I hope are just improvements. I’m adding 4 shelves (should be with me Monday). I’ve done some electrical work – I still need to use an extension cable to get power out there but I can now just plug in at a central point and the lighting is better. And I’ve replaced some of the crates which allowed smaller things to fall through with storage boxes – I initially ordered 5 but figured I could double that and hope that doing so may help towards relieving some clutter in my bed/living room. There are things that could go out / perhaps even belong there if I can make the space.

All this for an 8x10 workspace which I don’t anticipate getting an awful lot of use… but I think/hope it will be worth it.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Aug 20 - 05:01 PM

As hot as it is, I have been tired of having just two pair of Capri-length or knee-length pants, and finally dove into the closet looking for the pair of Gloria Vanderbilt capri pants I've worn for several summers. Nowhere in sight, but I did find a dressier pair that I had for wearing to work. Well, now they're summer around-the-house pants. Summer pants inventory just increased by 50%. Though I really do wonder where I put that other pair? I looked in another closet, in the linen cupboard, in case I might have decided to store clothes in there. It will turn up eventually (probably November) and then I'll hang them in the closet with the rest of my trousers.

I don't order clothes online, I usually poke around the thrift store, to start, but I haven't been out to those places for ages. I like Academy for this kind of thing, and Kohl's has some nice discounted stuff, but I haven't been into Kohl's often (just a couple of times to return Amazon packages, since they have some kind of arrangement). The goal is to keep these clothes going until it gets to be safer to shop. My being tired of two pairs of pants really doesn't matter since it isn't like I'm going to the office in the same clothes every day. I have enough fabric, I suppose I could use one of these pair as a pattern to make more.

How are all of you handling the reduced access to shopping?

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Aug 20 - 10:26 AM

My dad's estate required a 30-yard dumpster to organize. I knew why he kept a lot of things, but it never dawned on him that it wasn't necessary. Some things, like boxes to electronic equipment in the house (including the packing materials) ended up being handy, but a lot of it wasn't and into the dumpster it went.

Pepper just shot through the house, taking a corner too close to the case of Topo Chico and sent a bottle breaking across the dining room floor. As much as I've mopped, swept, and peered into corners with a flashlight, there will be shards remaining. Another box is now on top of the bottles. Also regarding Pepper, her training collar must be charged every other day. It wasn't working this morning when it really should have, to keep her from incessantly barking for treats at the neighbor early in the morning. It is getting better, but isn't resolved yet. We'd hate to have to go cold turkey on any treats for any of the dogs, they do enjoy the once a day encounter over the back fence.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Charmion
Date: 14 Aug 20 - 09:43 AM

I don't put any paper on my desk unless I have to do something with it -- pay a bill, for example. Otherwise, it goes into the trash or the filing cabinet. Addresses and phone numbers are added to the contacts list on the phone, which works because I share an Apple account (and its cloud storage) with Himself. We stopped losing contact information in 2014, when the iPhone came into our lives.

Himself occasionally dumps paper on my desk, usually because he can't be arsed to file it. I have decided that this behaviour is tolerable because it could be worse: at least he's not tossing tax bills.

Donuel's futility room sounds familiar, from the yellow paint on cinder block to the dog-poop brown linoleum and the lighting by Jerry Rig Inc. My Dad's basement was like that, including the clutter; his included 30 years' worth of LPs in mildewed cardboard boxes and a stash of bayonets under the workbench. I ended up hiring a dumpster and clearing it like a disaster zone, starting at the stairs in front and ruthlessly plowing to the coal-hole door at the back. That was a formative experience.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Aug 20 - 09:15 AM

You sound like a candidate for the "one thing at a time" approach, even if it is just one thing a day. Pick it up and do whatever needs done. Trash, donate, repair, or put away somewhere else.

I find paper has encroached on my office desktop again so it is all in a stack and when I leave the room I'll take it with me and put it were it belongs, whether shredded, filed, or into the recycle bin. Some things need first to be noted in the spiral notebook that lives under the printer (like new addresses).

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Donuel
Date: 13 Aug 20 - 06:54 PM

Futility: a definition - What chu gonna do about it. You can't stop this clutter ^uck. You couldn't stop me with Muller, you can't stop me with impeachment, you couldn't stop me in the courts, I still keep spic kids behind barb wire, I still haven't given you my tax returns- you ain't gonna get those either, I released my criminal pals from jail, I won't allow the post office to deliver voting by mail, so whATCHU GONNA DO ABOUT IT?

The futility room has a water heater, tub sink, exposed ducts and sewer pipe, folding long table and two closets. Besides art supplies there are the things no one is to see. Racist electric skeletons singing dixie, Halloween stand up Trump, fire suit with helmet and visor, stuff that stopped working and piled on the table 3 feet high ranging from rock slicers to violin varnish. Blocking entry to the closet of infamous flammables is an electric folding bike. The floor bears evidence of a previous flood on dog poop brown colored linoleum and the walls are a canary yellow painted cinder block.
The flouresent lighting was engineered by Jerry Rig with extension cords. The futility begins with the question of where to start.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Aug 20 - 05:04 PM

Whew! I need a nap after reading all of that, Dorothy!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Aug 20 - 03:01 PM

Dupont:

Went alone to Beaver due to crisis #2345673456... Left on Thurs and picked up goodies at the Hidden Gold Mine Bakery. Had a nice few days of good clean air - it is qualitatively different - delicious! Had social distance visits with two - separate- neighbours! And visited one of the art galleries. Sorted papers and trashed some, organized a lot. Went through fabrics and picked a pile to bring back. Found things! WEEDED the raised beds until I could do no more. Cleared around the raspberries, blueberries and Good King Henry. The strawberry beds need to be cleaned out and re-started; they ARE that bad and one has a wasp nest in it so...!!! Stopped at the farm store and bought some fertilizer for the potted plants here; the tomats are looking forlorn, worn out from producing fruit!

Texted the fellow who kept the drive open last winter, "I really want to pay you!" He came by and was duly paid, and contracted to cut the field around the house; some of the greenery is taller than I! I had trouble walking around for fear of being caught and tripped! Hopefully when I go back it will be walkable. I had wanted to collect comfrey to feed the plants. Sue, next door, was excited about Steve cutting the field; she wants the green stuff for her compost. She will rake it up - at least some of it! I will make sure she gets comfrey when I get back. It is prolific!

Left on Monday; Brought home frozen muffins (peach/cinnamon) and scones in cooler; added a frozen chicken and 2 liter jug of apple cider. Put the cooler on the floor in the front to get max cool air. When I unloaded everything was still frozen! Put the cider back in freezer, and the goodies, and thawed the chicken which I roasted last evening, with carrots and potatoes. - to be ready when R came home; He phoned about 11 to tell me he was not coming home and might not tonight either. I was so fed up, I watched episodes of Heartland until 3 am - and ate chips and humus.

Considered going back to beaver and just staying. SO tired of these crises. But - I am a maid to all these house plants! R gets tired of being janitor when I am at Beaver. And the garden here is producing - not much, but some. One nice zuke went into the latest stew. The long drought really kept progress from being made.   

Woke up feeling like.... Day 52 and I messed up "diet". Very late BF of toast/tahini and a poached egg, on top, did not help. Now it is mid aft and a salad is on my mind. Went to the produce store last night just before closing; almost no one in the place so I refilled the fridge. And there is a lovely pepper on the plant on back deck. Lots of small ones on the seedlings. And a fair number of tomatoes on the six pots of patio tomatoes - Italian or "peach". R is enjoying them.

Going to the store, there was a nice round patio table and four chairs on the curb. I hoped for R to come home with the truck... Oh well. I could have collected the chairs but not the table. We have no such and it would have been nice. People really are de-cluttering. They may have upgraded...

The heat is not as bad and I have managed a few small tasks and feel hopeful of getting more accomplished with the sewing stuffs I brought back. Super negative side, I seem to have left my list of passwords at Beaver! ALL of them, except for the Apple TV, which is in a notebook. I thought the list was in there also and cannot visualize where I might have left it - at Beaver for sure - but have not totally ransacked the car yet. I need to think of it before the sun hits that area. Two small boxes of pottery in there also, dif from any I had here. Need to bring it in and wash it as it sat in the screen house for a year!

Fall is on the way and while many mourn the end of summer, fall is my fav time of year.

No new sign of bedbugs!!!!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Aug 20 - 02:53 PM

Please! Tell us about the "futility room."

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Donuel
Date: 13 Aug 20 - 05:18 AM

The family media room is done except for some wiring and hanging a 10 mirror.
That leaves the futility room, basement and spare office to go.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 12 Aug 20 - 06:52 PM

Thanks SRS. I think I'll start enjoying it when I start to see things taking shape.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Charmion
Date: 12 Aug 20 - 12:21 PM

While tidying the Glory Hole (basement storage area) yesterday, I saw that we have been accumulating not nearly useful enough kitchen gadgets again.

Some items are the result of an on-line order I made with a company that I thought -- from the name and address -- was Quebecois, but turned out to be Chinese, and not quite clear on the concept of shipping precisely what was ordered, no more and no less. Consequently, I ended up with nineteen (count 'em -- 19!) pairs of silicone-tipped tongs that slightly less than six inches long -- probably designed for serving from a buffet, but utterly useless for cooking. Deluded into believing that the tongs were 15 inches long, I had ordered two pairs, plus a few other items that I doubt that I will ever see.

But -- 19 pairs of useless tongs. Plus a plastic egg separator I have never used, a balloon whisk (gift of a relative) that won't fit into the drawer that already accommodates the whisk I have been using since 1995, three oyster knives (flat-end screwdriver works better), several novelty tea infusers, many water-bottles and take-away coffee cups, and a cutlery organizer that does not fit any drawer in this house.

Geez. It never ends.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Aug 20 - 09:51 AM

Jon, yes! Organizing what you have so you can use it when you need to is rewarding and is a good reason for self-congratulation. I hope you enjoy the process! I occasionally have to rearrange the stuff on my garage workbench for the same reason.

Mary, I have a stack of soap slivers on a soap dish in the bathroom and I occasionally stick them to each other to form one larger more usable chunk. And sometimes I give up and toss them all. Good for you for actually using them!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 12 Aug 20 - 05:45 AM

My attention has turned to my shed which has been a mess for a few years. I’ve made sure the mini lathe, bench drill and bench grinder are all working and cleaned up a few rusty items. I’ve also changed the board the lathe rests on on the bench as the old one had warped quite badly.

I’ve got 4 shelves on order which I can fit 2 by the work bench and drill and 2 by the lathe and will hold tools and other bits relevant to these machines/areas and should make more space for the main shelving to hold the rest – I think items to store have increased since the shed was last tidied up.

I’m also waiting for 2 led light panels which should improve things in there. I think I’ll leave the main clearing up and sorting until these other 2 bits are done.

I did consider trying to fit a small vertical mill in there, something which (I could get one in) would involve a complete revision of the left side of the small amount of space I have to play with but I decided I can’t justify or afford that and that it would be going far beyond the scope of the project.

The shed is unlikely to get much use but I’d like it fit for use as/if required. It used to be that I could quickly lay my hands on anything kept in there and the shed was pretty much “ready to go” if anything cropped up. As it stands about the only things I’d find easily are fasteners and even that involved wading over junk on the floor. And say using the vice or drill would involve moving one pile of things to another spot….

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: mg
Date: 12 Aug 20 - 02:57 AM

I am using up my extensive sliver of soap collection. Using them to wash out clothes in the sink mainly.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Aug 20 - 12:02 PM

The once every six weeks or so Costco run is (apparently) for the heaviest objects I could find in the grocery section of the store. Cases of sparkling water, bags of flour and baking soda, and I needed mayo so ended up with a larger-than-life jar of Hellmann's. I can't go to the gym, I might as well go to Costco. Senior shopping is until 10am.

I've been reading about lots of people decluttering. It's ironic that our houses are looking better than ever and we can't have anyone over to enjoy the improved space. People can look through the doorway to see the sunroom, but that's about it. How is everyone else doing in this endeavor? Have you made any big changes to what room things are arranged in, etc? Taken up any old hobbies and pulled out those materials, or put away any current projects as not necessary at this time?

Any lurkers out there want to check in? We'd love to hear from you!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Aug 20 - 08:17 PM

I spent the afternoon aligning four sheets of pages printed from a PDF into two parts of a 3-D mask, and it comes with concentric lines for seven different sizes. I selected four of the sizes so far and taped and cut out pieces then made cardboard templates from each of them. This is the next phase of mask making, for people who have a larger nose and dislike the way standard masks fit. I'll make one in my size this evening, step by step with the video from the woman who designed the mask. She doesn't have print instructions, and while the general routine is understood, there are still steps that can't be neglected, so I'll follow along and write them out myself.

She has a great tip about using "pony beads," plastic or acrylic children's beads with a large hole to allow adjustable ear pieces and. Lots of good stuff in this video. The masks are evolving as people figure out ways to make them easier to wear and in some instances, easier to sew.

Trash day tomorrow so time to round up everything. Also to put more recycling stuff in the car to drop off. I'm trying to not let there be spillover from the front room and I don't need to save any more packing materials so when boxes or padded envelopes come now they are filed in trash or recycling. Small stuff, but it adds up quickly.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Aug 20 - 07:24 PM

I pulled up some of the photos I have of things to list on eBay, but I haven't found where I stacked all of those things (now somewhere in the front room). So I'll shoot some new photos for the things that are near the top and go from there. I have new eBay listings and am aiming at one a day this month.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Aug 20 - 03:38 PM

One step forward, two steps back this week.

I got the replacement bulbs for the bathroom fixture, then realized that while I did want to switch to LED, I needed T8 not T12. Back to the store where people aren't good about wearing their masks. I'll go early this time.

Dogs. One seems to have a sting on her nose, I'm watching that spot, and one may have anal gland issues. Which to the vet first? I need more heartworm meds. I'll take care of that stuff next week.

I ordered groceries to be delivered to save one trip into a store, but there's always something you can't get that requires a trip or a different order (and to meet a minimum purchase). This staying home isn't always an easy process. And it's a lot more expensive. Since I'm headed to a grocery store pharmacy next week for my singles shot, I'll pick up the missing items then. When I'm there early during senior shopping.

The groceries arrive this afternoon and I'll put the dogs in the yard before that happens. The scrum at the door isn't pretty when things are delivered.

In the garden this morning I decluttered the okra of a whole bunch of aphids under the leaves. They've been growing way slower than normal, and I finally realized why. I headed out with a plastic container with soapy water and a paper towel and gave the big leaves a once-under and with each pass it came back green and buggy. I'll use the soapy spray every three days and see if that helps now.