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

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Aug 19 - 11:19 AM

I missed seeing Lilyfestre's remarks until this morning—I feel like I've been on a tiny vacation just reading it! That sounds like a wonderful week away. In a month that included deer, turkey, and wheel bearings you still came out on top!

I'm maintaining the frugal stance this month, though I did some opportunistic shopping yesterday. I had an appointment in the next town over so I stopped in the Halal grocery for a package of their freshly made Iraqi bread and a couple of things for a friend (a standing order for when I'm over there and I'm paid back). I freeze the large loaves (12" or more across) and they'll go into a dozen meals over the next few weeks.

The new stud finder arrived; it has a "deep scan" feature I wanted to use on the newly-textured wall but it seems similarly challenged as the old one. I may have to return this and try the higher-price device I've read about in reviews. I finished painting hall trim and scrubbed that tile floor and have removed the plastic blocking that route through the house. The dogs were giddy at being able to go in there again.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Aug 19 - 12:54 PM

Dupont:

Wow! Long time missing! I had nothing to say and then I went to Beaver for a week and could not find the stick (for internet); remembered the obvious place where it was (here) after I got there, of course. So I went to the library and that did not work and Timmy's- same. Finally, on Sunday I went to The Muse Cafe. By now, I could not even collect email so phoned provider on Whidbey and nice Thomas helped me get a new password and explained a couple things, including "close your browser and reopen it". YAY!!!! But the 500+ emails took all the energy available. The stick is back in the computer case!

Came back on Tuesday and have been regaining a sense of order. I was delighted when arrived at Beaver to find that the folks who stayed there left no trace of their presence - other than a lovely note of thanks!!! I realized how little space there was for additional people but they managed, and enjoyed themselves. Bobby agreed to do a gig at The Muse in the fall.

The new "woodshed" is a beautifully built - ten by ten - structure - a roof with a sheet of plexiglass in the centre for light, on the deck, not blocking the view from the BR window. When we no longer heat with wood, it will be a nice shady area, when no bugs. Dan had to clear the deck of the remaining firewood to work on it so my job for the week was throwing about 2 face cord of wood back onto the deck and stacking it. Then I stretched out the large, heavy - once was a Tempo cover - out and cut in in half, folded each half and stacked on deck; I could not lift the whole thing. Brought the entrance section of said Tempo over and put it in the tool shed until next trip. That section has two heavy zippers so it will be the "front door" where I go in and bring wood to the house. I will roll it up enough that it does not freeze to the deck. Using grommets and heavy hooks to put it in place and also the other three sides - cut out of those other two pieces. The hope is that I shall be able to access the wood when I arrive after snow/rain and freeze-up!

I phoned to order 4 more cord and was asked to phone back 23 August. I am hoping my history will ensure that I DO get the wood. It is late to be ordering but I had to see how much I needed.

I also did some organizing in back-back shed and in house, mowed some of the foot high (or more) grass in front, weeded the raised beds, and left it in better shape than when I arrived. There were a few raspberries and blueberries (not ripe) on the bushes planted last year. Packed up pottery and loaded it into car, thankful for a dolly to get it the distance. A couple hundred feet from screened house on edge of swamp to the car. Mowed a path first!

Spent one early evening in the screen house, with book but mostly just felt the peace of the place, the quiet time of day, a few flying critters.

Dan agreed to bring a weed-eater to do the really tall areas - a lot!! I will ask him to leave the pink flowers - About 3x100 feet - for the flying critters and some daisies and brown-eyed Susan. The deer had feasted on the strawberry plants; they may profit from their new start. I hope.

Back to Dupont, R had done a decent job of keeping it all together. OF course the sheets needed laundering do that was first task. Still no beds in the two guestrooms and the futon frame is still in the front yard. "What if Taun texts that they are coming?" I can only hope the weekend will bring some forward motion!

I went out and purchased a 7cf freezer yesterday, to be delivered Friday. The amount of food from the Farm (Jardin de la Resistance) is overwhelming and I MUST freeze most of this week's. Good thing I only signed up for every other week. I have pretty well missed the local strawberry season. But may freeze some blueberries.

R managed to keep the house and yard plants alive - except one baby mock orange which may not survive. There may be one at the mill and maybe even a couple in the city; I am loathe to go there in this heat. We finally had much needed rain last night.

I did not go back and read earlier posts. I would love to see what folks have been up to but I have sneezles and wheezles, a stuffy head, runny nose, and my eyes are affected. Cannot remember the last time, or if ever, I have had these symptoms. Sniffing Eucalyptus clears head. Chlorpheniramine maleate has had no effect, so not allergies. It started at Beaver so it is not this house. Today is a rest day.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Aug 19 - 03:23 PM

Dorothy, you put us all to shame with your industriousness!

I spent the last hour in the shady part of the yard (it's about 100 today, so that's the only place to work) pruning out ligustrum or privet, an invasive shrub in this area. It seems to have really taken off lately, and there are a couple of varieties. The larger one (glossy privet) looks like a beneficial native (evergreen sumac), so I'll double-check to be sure I really want to take it out. I used pruning sheers today, tomorrow I'll take the battery-operated reciprocating saw and cut off all of the plant bases (that are now tripping hazards). I also cut down what I think is a Chinaberry; attractive but invasive, and a pain in the ass as far as all of the berries it drops.

I also hooked up my battery-operated irrigation management thing on the back of the house. I use it to connect to series of hoses to run sprinklers in two parts of the yard, running before dawn so it isn't conspicuous. The area under the faucet was full of tough grass and lemon balm, and I carried the weeds (I like lemon balm but only need so much) to the patch of ground above the creek and spread it around, hoping some of it will seed back there. I also moved some bricks, though one had a toad under it so I carefully replaced it.

My stud finder is supposedly on the way, so maybe tonight or tomorrow I can start putting the office back together.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Aug 19 - 07:07 PM

Dupont:

Freezer arrived this afternoon. It rained lots!!!! Nice breezy day! On phone with Hannah 2 hours! How to kill an afternoon! Killed the am on internet. Still need a pick to increase garden and I am loathe to buy another one; keep hoping R will bring one from city house.

Firm words this am re need for guest space got the futon frame out of the front yard into the TV room but in two pieces. Maybe tomorrow. I helped get it upstairs but cannot put it together. Now for two more beds in designated guest rooms. Maybe tomorrow? Summer is almost over and no guests in sight - yet, but son said he might surprise me.

Spent all my energy last week at Beaver; not recovered yet.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Aug 19 - 09:54 AM

The new stud-finder is no more accurate than that old one or the one I returned during the week. I'm going to have to figure out where studs are the old fashioned way - start from a known point (a junction box on the wall attached to a stud) and measure, then test by pounding in a slim nail to see if I hit wood.

Dorothy, once that house is set up we'll all have to come visit and test those guest bedrooms!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Aug 19 - 10:55 PM

I've used bits of blue painter's tape to mark each spot where I am getting what looks like a response to a stud (the plaster is thick enough there are many false positives) and when I step back and look at the wall there are three distinct lines of tape in the spots on the wall. I'll still have to test with a fine nail to see if wood is where I think it is. Tomorrow I'll see about putting up the supports.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 11 Aug 19 - 05:13 PM

Dupont:

Once this house is set up, I would love to have you visit. "Set up" will never quite reach some of the high middle class standards of the dedicated homemaker!

Saturday, I asked for ONE HOUR to go to the lumberyard and get the wood needed to hold mattresses on the now arranged bed frames. I have no idea why it took four hours to get to the - get in the truck and go - point. We did get the wood and each bed is now ready for a mattress. The twin has a mattress which will look much better with a mattress cover - which it will have.

This Sunday am, I set out for the Linen Chest with better directions and much determination. And a list. Started with a look at returned mattresses and saw two possibles, asked the clerk in charge for a salesclerk and a very nice man came and sold me a good double mattress!

Then, thinking I could find the rest on my list, I set off without him. Had to ask the clerk to get him back (they are on commission) but he was already helping someone else so she got me a nice woman who was very helpful. A fizzy water machine (R drinks gallons), two australian lamb's wool mattress covers ( one each), A lovely down filled pillow for the sofa. I remind myself that the lamb's wool cushions are less harmful to the animals! But it was SO hugable!

Two small concrete planters with a wonderful rabbit face on each. Big enough for 4 inch pots. And a riverstone door mat - some sort of fiber backing with river stones well glued to it, to clean dirt off feet at the back door. Call it an experiment! It seems a good idea - if the stones stick. And it is a distinct improvement over the old rubber one which is wet on top as well as keeping the decking wet! Not a good idea. I moved it to the foot of the steps - on stones and grass/weeds.

Stopped for groceries on the way home and threw the frozen meat into new freezer! Then moved the freezer into the kitchen, sadly, as that is not where we want it but it is where there is space. It did not fit in the closet. R wishes I had bought a smaller one. Maybe I do too. I shall have to fill it very well. I covered it with a beautiful red Guatamalan weaving. The new carbonation thingy sits on the microwave next to the water jug.

This has been my month to spend a fortune.

This week was rainy and cooler, delicious nights for sleeping. Lots of negative ions with the wind blowing the trees almost constantly. I finally feel alive again. If I had a pick I might even be able to get some more flower/herb bed space. Maybe tomorrow.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Aug 19 - 10:20 PM

I've turned a corner as far as restoring my office; there are two tall bookcase cabinets in place and today I finished installing brackets for boards on the other side of the room. I'm not arranging it the same way for various reasons, and so far this is only a sketch. There is a lot of dusty stuff in the front room and in the den that was boxed or just stacked as it was rescued from the office before the rest of ceiling demolition. There is still a lot of work ahead. I just finished moving that bookshelf built to hold paperbacks into the office and it will hold the cassette tapes that were in cardboard flats before.

A box for Goodwill was buried under some other items in the sun room; I'll add more then take it over and make a run to the recycle bin at the same time.

Tomorrow is supposed to hit 105^o so I'll get up early to get some exercise with the dogs. We're all getting cabin fever from these wretchedly hot days, with several weeks more to come.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Aug 19 - 10:11 AM

Susan, you've been quiet lately. How is your back and is your exercise routine moving forward?

Are there any lurkers who have progress to report?

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Charmion
Date: 12 Aug 19 - 10:39 AM

Himself and I have just returned from a holiday up the highway in Goderich, where the Celtic Roots Festival and its associated music school are held. We left in a flurry last Monday morning shortly after dawn and invested a week and rather a lot of money in learning diddly tunes (me) and hanging out till all hours singing in the pub (him).

I am very glad to be back at home with the cats and the garden. My wretched feet, which swelled almost beyond recognition as soon as we left home, have returned to their normal dimensions, and my digestion has almost settled down after wrestling with too much restaurant food.

The cats have almost finished re-establishing dominion over my lap, but Watson still feels the need to interrupt whatever I happen to be doing to rub his head all over me (bonk, bonk) and purr in my ear while digging his claws into my upper back. And here he comes now ...

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 12 Aug 19 - 10:51 AM

No progress here. I’ve had problems with the sore on my back…

I did sort a problem with the HomeSeer (which largely replaced my own stuff in April) set up the other day. The Raspberry Pi locked up and I was forced to unplug/replug. I think that step led to the corrupt SD card. Hours of troubleshooting and trying to fix disk before concluding my only way out was a clean install on the Pi and a hope I could restore from backups. At least that bit went very smoothly.

I’m not sure we have anything completely dependent on HA and a number of lights are usually operated via remote control but the study light was interesting. That uses an RGBW (chosen as we wanted both daylight for reading and warm for white for tv on the computer from the central light) and has a momentary mains switch for override. I couldn’t remember/work out its operation and, rather than searching for instructions online, wound up leaving the room lit up in pink from late evening to the following late afternoon when I finally restored things.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Aug 19 - 03:33 PM

SRS, I'm not quiet, I just can't open the damn thread most days at times when I can post. Back, appts galore past and future, ouch. YMCA, meeting Thursday and fam is attending for support. My file ready for lawyers. My rehab not possible without Y as the home exercises, but weekly PT and walking continue, ouch.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Aug 19 - 01:40 PM

I've emptied lots of boxes as I dig my way through the stuff in the front room that was piled in there after the ceiling collapse. Something new is a dedicated bookcase for all of the cassettes (it's 6' x 4' and it's going to be packed full; the cassettes are stacked in the most efficient way to fill the shelves top to bottom).

I haven't started moving the computer stuff in yet, I want a little more time to look at the possible setup of the desk surfaces and their relationship to electrical outlets.

I'm going to have to get one of those vinyl floor mats to put over the tile area where I repaired two tiles; it is prime real estate in there, that's why the broken ones took such a battering. Hopefully a chair mat over the top will help keep it all in place and avoid dips the chair wheels always get stuck in.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Aug 19 - 05:33 PM

Pulling books from the front room shelves now, only the ones I want in my office. I'll think about what to do about the gaps - there are other things that can stay on those shelves. There is no order to speak of, just broad categories of how I'm storing them. I'm fussing with two storage units right now that have been handy but are in the way and may go to Goodwill. Or live somewhere behind my desk or under the window. Maybe plants could sit on top of them.

This is work done in spurts because I need to think about what belongs and what doesn't, and what will be the most ergonomic work space for my standing/sitting desk.

I do have too much stuff.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Aug 19 - 08:09 PM

I'm very excited to report that I found a fabulous orthopedic professor's teaching videos late last night on exactly what ails me, that my local intake doc was totally unprepared to explain to me last week. (This prof also works clinically, and is near my son in Toledo in case I don't love local care options.)

I screenshotted all relevant slides and included two very powerful ones in my Y presentation. These slides illustrate exactly how I got hurt, and the physics behind the precise way I need to use the Y,

Yano Becky learned how my clean laundry is stowed, today, and focused on kitchen and general prep for my son and DIL who arrive tmrw night for Thursday's meeting.

Greg and I reduced four boxes to two and he took out the empties.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Aug 19 - 08:37 PM

I have a huge stack of empty boxes ready to flatten. I was able to push a few into the bins today but they were chock full; they should be empty by now so I could make a trip this evening before dark.

There are a gazillion old cassettes around here and an equal number of 3.5" floppy disks. I'm set for converting the cassettes I'm keeping, but for the floppies I have no drives to read them. I may have to get a small USB-connected drive for examining at those. The office is slowly looking like a space I can work in, but there is still a lot of stuff to get rid of instead of putting back.

Facebook is broken for now, not letting me follow up on all of my own posts and things I shared, which is particularly annoying. I've reported it with a couple of screenshots.

Rain in the forecast overnight, which will be wonderful if we actually get some. Meanwhile it's so hot right now that the region broke a power usage record again today so I'll load my washer and program it to run at about 4am, and won't run the dishwasher until bedtime, to spread out the usage. I also have to turn off all of the computer equipment and get it moved into my office, once I'm satisfied the desks are in the best positions.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Aug 19 - 08:55 PM

Dupont:

Cleared most of the largish hall closet of boxes, pottery and wrapping materials and put it all in car to go to mill and then to the sale next weekend - the CVAA event which I love and usually manage to peddle some pots. Leftovers will come back here to be displayed in the closet which has a small window and adequate light. Wrapping materials: some can be eliminated, some saved in a different closet for future sales.

Twin bed is dressed and ready with a lovely quilt for the soon cool nights. The room lacks wall pieces and I will consult with R. The bedding sets a pale yellow palette. I am delighted to be able to use an antique spread that I never could bear to get rid of! It looks as good as new. I have no idea when/where/how it joined my household!

Put two plain white drapes on two doors and pinned them to length until decide if they will stay there. They are only to keep the sun out so may take them down in cooler winter when I want all the solar gain I can get!

Must bring a few bed pillows from Mill tomorrow when I drop off pottery, etc.

R did not even notice the freezer was in the Kitchen - behind the table, sort off. So we are content and I am starting to fill it with fall produce.

Had a lovely walk, and social time today on Ile St. Bernard, with a walking group. We walked awhile, sat by the River a while then had lunch up by the Cafe. Getting to know a fine bunch of local women. I have never done this sort of thing before. I was either too busy or did not find a group, or even a few. Actually on Whidbey, I walked the dogs on Useless Bay off leash beach and chatted with other dog folks I met on the beach, but that was sporadic. With this I may even build some relationships.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Aug 19 - 02:46 PM

Facebook is still broken so my screen is decluttered of most conversations; I'm reporting it to them every day, trying a different kind of report each time to see if something finally works.

Rearranging shelves today for the placement of stuff in my Dad's collection. I was going to put the books down low, but that makes too many things I use more often that are in baskets and bins are up out of sight.

The old computer and it's monitor and equipment have been moved into the restored office, the rest will follow later tonight. I have backup drives all over that I have to sort out and use one to backup the new machine.

I have to dust the blades of the fan in the living room; I realized it's turning the wrong direction for this time of year so I'll reverse it. I had the bedroom fan pushing air up also and when I turned it to pushing air down I couldn't sleep for the breeze on my feet and hips making them ache. I just want a faint amount of air movement when I'm trying to sleep (and I prefer this in a warm room - I absolutely can't sleep with the cold air from the air conditioner blowing on my feet or legs. It causes a sort of "restless leg" situation.)

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Charmion
Date: 16 Aug 19 - 09:11 AM

Good luck with Facebook, Stilly. I do not understand how it works, and never have; I know that its primary purpose is to shove advertising under my nose, and that helps me endure its vagueries.

We had ceiling fans in our Ottawa house and I loved them. I wish we had them here and maybe we will, once the bank account recovers from all the masonry that has been taking place over the summer. Cleaning them was a major production involving stepladders, buckets of soapy water and rather a lot of swearing.

Speaking of the bank account, we are currently deep in the red, and I have to write two more cheques that will put us completely out to sea. Legal Aid and the Public Prosecution Service owe us money -- oh, how they owe us money! -- and we will just have to tread water until the ship comes in. When it does, Rodney the HVAC Guy gets the next lump of out-going capital. So no ceiling fans this summer, and the bedroom is still painted purple. I've been hating that purple paint for two years now, but I fear I'm getting used to it.

Last week, we went to Goderich for a week of diddly tunes and restaurant food; consequently, my fingers blistered and my feet swelled up like rugby balls. After five days at home, the feet are back to normal and have actually stopped hurting, and the fingers have new calluses. So, progress.

Remembering Stilly's occasional references to "intermittent fasting", I did some googling and reading of scholarly-ish articles on the subject. Since we moved to Stratford, I have put on about fifteen very unwanted pounds that just won't go away and, rather than buy new trousers, I decided on Monday to give this intermittent fasting thing a whirl. This morning, I weigh four and a half pounds less than I did on Tuesday -- the result, I'm sure, of eating far less salt than I was getting in Goderich, and the disappearance of the bloat in my feet. Fast days are all about vegetables and tea, and no fun at all. Himself, fortunately, does not make waves about what I eat or don't, except that he still doesn't get it that I no longer want to eat bacon first thing in the morning.

I despair of my vanity with respect to ankles and the apparent thickness thereof. I used to have the kind of feet that looked good in cute shoes, but injuries and arthritis have put cute shoes firmly into the rear-view mirror. Sneakers with orthotic insoles are now an everyday reality, but the vanity persists. I believe Mr Ecclesiastes had something to say on that subject, and it wasn't kind. I can't say I wasn't warned.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Aug 19 - 09:36 AM

Charmion, Linn has joined us in that modified fasting; she is reporting a general trend downward also. Eat Fast and Live Longer is a British program kind of like the PBS science shows we get here (and I saw it first when PBS broadcast it one summer). The method I adopt starts about 38 minutes into the program, the alternating days and when the calories are low on the alternate days (or, as people sometimes choose, just two days a week). I think Linn is able to do periods, like from noon to 7pm for her eating, and the long period of time (from 7pm to noon) is helping her. It seem to have lost the knack of waiting until noon to eat, I think it had to do with the Prednisone I was on for 18 months that had to be taken in the morning with food. I'm almost a year out from that but still really feel it if I don't eat something early.

I tend to eat very small meals, or have one modest meal and then fruit or veggies later in the day. I need protein for this to work.

My ceiling reconstruction was pretty radical, but nowhere as involved or expensive as your patio. Other than enjoying new paint, my office is restored and there isn't any new space or feature (other than pretty paint) it's the same ol' house. I am also saving again for the thing that I originally intended to work on this summer - replacing more fence around the yard. The south side looks good (I am still pulling out fence posts inside the yard along the path of the old fence) but the north side is falling down.

Subject: RE: wysiwyg update
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Aug 19 - 10:00 AM

I heard from Susan (wysiwyg) via Facebook messenger yesterday; the site has been up and down so often that she couldn't get through and wanted to share the following:

The Mudcat won't take my post today, but pls share for me there:

We won at the Y meeting today.... but since they are closing the pools for maintenance, Saturday, for two weeks.... And then when they reopen Sept 2 we're MIL-bound.... I'll be in the water tomorrow.... But then doing I don't know what, until about Sept. 10.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Aug 19 - 05:33 PM

I've moved one of the two desktops into an "L" position and so far it looks like none of the cables pulled out. I then went through the tech packaging that was stored flat in the closet and discarded almost all of it. This dated from when the way to save money on the new version of a security or other software was to show that you'd previously purchased the program by sending a part of the box or cover of the manual in for a rebate. I haven't done that for a while so I think that business model has gone by the wayside, and those packages all went into the recycle bag.

Stuff that I regularly use that doesn't need to be on the desktop needs to be within reach or in sight, something I'm going to be fiddling with for a while.

I put a shade up over the single-glazed window in the office and am really impressed with how well it insulates. I've mentioned it before, this one is a linen color that filters out at least 60% of the light. Lowe's Allen + Roth Light FIltering Cordless Cellular Shade. Highly recommended, though with the provision that I no longer own cats. I'm sure they would tangle with this kind of window covering, and in the past the blinds usually lost.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Aug 19 - 04:00 PM

Office: emptying boxes of contents that are either going on a shelf designated for them or into the "figure it out later" box in the kitchen (that is for cassette tapes that don't have labels but appear to have been used.) There is a stack of paper on the dining table that all needs sorting and filing, it's mostly mail that arrived during the last two months and waited for easy access to file cabinets.

Clumps of insulation still turn up in boxes that were hit by collapsing ceiling and moved into the front room without unpacking to remove all of the debris.

Many of the books on my shelves in here are those I've wanted to read that were stacked wherever. Now they're in sight, and the one closest to hand is A. H. Jessup's Beyond The Cascade. I wish I'd read it in his lifetime.

Frugal August isn't as frugal as I'd hoped, as I continue the reconstruction of my office, but food-wise I've made progress drawing down the freezer contents. My shopping for fruit and vegetables has been for things I mean to eat, not process or freeze. This includes two cases (one a week) of largish mangoes (9 to the box) for $5.99 a case. They're incredibly sweet and juicy and a fresh mango each morning for breakfast has been marvelous (and I shared these with a friend, no way I could eat 18 mangoes in two weeks!)

I have had to take decongestants when working with some of these dusty boxes, but otherwise, there is a good health factor in the picking up and moving lots of boxes, a sort of impromptu weight training.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: LilyFestre
Date: 17 Aug 19 - 08:25 PM

I had the entire day to myself today. I cleaned out one of the cupboards, reorganized, cleaned out the fridge, did up the dishes, did some laundry, organized lunch materials as Jeremiah is starting the 4th grade this week (how did THAT happen?) and made ham, homemade mashed potatoes and green beans...from the garden...for dinner.

I had not been doing such a great job with weight loss due to vacation, etc. and last week I finally got my head on straight and am back at it...tracking everything that I eat and when I weighed in, I was down 7 pounds. YAY. Now if I can keep that momentum going.....

Besides work, that's about all that's been going on around here. Work, sleep, work sleep, etc.

Michelle

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Aug 19 - 10:04 PM

Michelle, I found the school district to an 800-pound gorilla you have to tolerate at times, but having them back in school helps make the weekdays more organized. That sounds like a great dinner - I always love cooking with stuff from my garden, though this year the output has been sparce.

More boxes have been emptied and some has gone to the trash or the Goodwill bin and I'll make another trip to the recycle bin soon. Leftovers for lunch and dinner this weekend.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Aug 19 - 08:44 AM

My home Y took 7 months to grant what another nearby Y just granted with 3 emails in one day, so I do have a pool for next week. Unfortunately, ALL the Y's pools here are closing for at least a week's maintenance, but I have whittled the downtime to just a week lacking cardio, because I added more PT during the Y closure for strength work.

On land, I've graduated to chair dancing, which I overdid a tad last night when we found the second GREAT band here, but what a great problem to have!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: LilyFestre
Date: 18 Aug 19 - 02:29 PM

It's another much needed and wanted day at home for us today. I have more laundry going and today I cleared off my Nana's hutch which had become a very dusty catch all spot. Jeremiah brought down 2 bags of things from his room to take to Goodwill and I have another 2 or 3 bags sitting on top of the freezer.

Pete had a HUGE haul from the garden this morning...patty pan squash, summer squash, zucchini, cucumbers, green beans, yellow wax beans and rattlesnake beans (which are new to me and I can't wait to try). Pete made grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch while I made a cucumber, tomato and fresh basil salad with olive oil and balsamic vinegar....can't get much better than that! Well, at least in my book!

As far as the school year goes, it is somewhat more organized but considering Jeremiah took part in a regular summer program, there isn't too much change. It actually will be a little bit easier as he will be able to take the bus home which will save me about 30 extra miles per day (and it will save Pete that much mileage as well....60 miles a day to transport to and from). I am looking forward to a little less running although soccer season will be starting before long.....

There is an upcoming festival I am thinking about attending called the Funky Frets Ukulele Festival....I think it sounds like fun! We shall see!

I'm off to do some blogging. You guys have a great week!

Michelle

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Aug 19 - 10:41 PM

The ukulele festival sounds like a lot of fun!

This afternoon I pulled a box yellow cake from the freezer and used some leftover cranberry pulp from making cranberry juice for a rich pan of cranberry bars (I posted a link to the recipe on Facebook, though my account is acting up and I can't see much of what I posted). Their fabulous smell gave a lift to the afternoon. They're cut and spaced out a bit and are (all but two) in the freezer (and I had to test a couple!)

Since so many books left the house in June it meant that I put up one less bookshelf in the restored office, and the remaining shelves have plenty of space for things that used to live in other smaller compartments and shelf units. This evening I've put several small pieces into the SUV to take to Goodwill tomorrow. I have another box of books filling up as I move them back (or not).

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Aug 19 - 07:03 AM

SRS, be good at Goodwill! No buying until your space is restored and pretty!

Heading off to an adventure-- I love visiting new pools!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Aug 19 - 05:48 PM

I dropped off the shelving and storage units and didn't go into the store itself. And then on the way home instead of stopping somewhere to buy a sandwich I thought about what I could make at home that would be equally appealing so when I got back here I cut a chicken breast into pieces and made breaded chicken strips. That mid-afternoon treat was my big meal for the evening so I'll have just a salad later.

The cranberry bars were frozen overnight are now repacked in airtight containers. I have some sweet potatoes in the oven that have been here for a few days and need to be used. Most of the papers are filed or shredded, with only a few needing attention still.

The shelving that wasn't re-installed in the office (brackets and boards) needs to be moved into the garage lumber area. This will clear out the hall next to the office, and from there, I can start moving eBay stuff into the dining room and set up on the now-emptied table.

Buried under the papers on the table was a DVD I picked up a couple of months ago, one of Jane Fonda's low-impact exercise videos. It's time to start with that and see if my knee will tolerate the moves.

#Progress #FrugalAugust

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Charmion
Date: 20 Aug 19 - 10:06 AM

The fur-bearing carpet in the sitting room must be vacuumed TODAY. And after that bit of light resistance training, I shall go to the gym.

I have completed my first week of intermittent fasting with a loss of five pounds. Now, that was almost certainly bloat, but I'm glad to see the back of it.

It's interesting how conditioned we are to fear even the slightest pang of hunger. Himself still expresses concern that I don't eat breakfast, although I have repeatedly told him that I am not hungry until mid-morning at the earliest. But I am reluctant to set about any task more demanding than loading the washing machine on an empty stomach *for fear that I will be hungry*! I am learning to wait for an actual hunger pang before eating, and it really does slow me down.

On the other hand, I have noticed that I feel weak and unwilling when I am thirsty. Half-way downtown, after only about three-quarters of a mile, I am pushing my legs to pick up my feet -- unless I have brought a water bottle. A couple of swigs and I'm ready to go again.

Both obvious, and weird. Weird that at my advanced age I'm finally noticing. Duh.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Aug 19 - 11:26 AM

I haven't continued to participate in the summer diet thing my insurance company pushed, but the first episode did have some interesting tidbits. They talked about levels of hunger - when you're not hungry at all, when you're looking for something to nibble on but nothing much looks good, when anything in the fridge as leftovers looks edible, and when your blood sugar is all bonkers and you end up eating way too much too fast.

They suggest you plan to eat when you get to the "leftovers look good" stage. And I can go back and follow-up on those weekly episodes. It just happened that that program started when the ceiling fell in and I had other things on my mind.

The shelving stuff is in the garage now and I had an overnight eBay sale (something listed for a very long time, since I haven't put up anything new since probably May). Good timing as I'm preparing to start listing again this week. With the shelving out of the hall I can transit more easily with boxes I need to take to the dining table for photographing, describing, and packing. My sunroom is too crowded right now for the activity that usually happens in there. It's the last casualty of the move out of the office and I'm slowly making inroads there.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 21 Aug 19 - 04:24 AM

I guess this one can go here… Today’s poor attempt at troubleshooting.

Mum asks me “what’s this beeping?” As there was a warning light on the burglar alarm remote and the sound initially seemed clearest above the entry to the attic where the main panel is located, I assumed these were related.

Anyway, replace battery reported as low by the system and clear errors on remote. System OK but still a bleep. I restart my own program that connects the alarm to the HA. System OK on HA too but still this beep. I curse and get the step ladder out to go up to the attic. I open the access to the attic and, strange, the sound is no louder…

Another walk around and I find the offending item. It was a small travel alarm mum keeps by her bedside. Apparently, she even knew she’d dropped the damn thing this morning…

I’m starting too see a funny side to it but at first, I wasn’t sure whether the biggest quite angry “GRRR” should go to mum for not realising what she’d done or to me for hastily jumping to the wrong cause.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Charmion
Date: 21 Aug 19 - 09:27 AM

That entire episode belongs in the Aw Fuck It file, Jon Freeman. My life is full of crap like that, from rustling noises in the walls to mysterious pinging generated by any (or all) of our expensive digital devices. You and your Mum have my sympathy.

I have one of those little electric travel alarms, too. If you pick it up the wrong way or knock it over, or even look at it crooked, you activate the alarm function and find yourself chasing pings under the bed at zero dark thirty. Okay, it's not as irritating as looking in the dark (because your spouse is still asleep, you hope) for the spot where the cat just horked, but it's close.

Speaking of rustling in the walls, our house almost certainly harbours at least one nest of mice, but the rodents seem to be keeping prudently away from spaces occupied by the cats -- i.e., the entire interior of the house. No one has seen any sign of mice, neither droppings in the cutlery drawer nor gnawed pasta packets in the pantry nor tiny corpses on the carpet, but Watson and Isobel (the resident cats) spend long periods sitting patiently on the basement floor with all their senses tightly focussed on a particular stretch of skirting board.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 21 Aug 19 - 11:22 AM

My parents’ previous house in North Wales could be one for strange noises, some of which were probably due to the place being fairly exposed. I don’t know if you’ve ever walked a lonely path and had that eerie feeling you are being followed but I suppose this place was similar in a sense. The sense being that once in a while, if alone in there, you could get the feeling you were not alone. It was a (flawed but…) lovely property though.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Aug 19 - 12:41 PM

Has anyone else noticed that there is such verisimilitude in modern radio and television HD broadcasts that the beeps used as background noise seem like they might actually be in your house instead? And driving - how often do I need to turn off the radio to be sure the siren or odd noise isn't in the car or an approaching fire truck?

The smoke detectors are wired together, so if one goes off in my office (for example), those in all of the bedrooms and the hall go off also. That's good for a fire at night. But when the batteries need changing these buggers are difficult, the 9v batteries don't want to fit back into the pocket, etc.

This morning I evicted some old mystery meat (probably trimmed turkey) from the big deep freeze, and pulled some Food Saver sealed packages to use for soup (three-years old turkey legs and thighs). Trash day tomorrow, so I'll put a bag in the big plastic can instead of leaving the bag itself on the ground. The likelyhood of coyotes, raccoons, and foxes is lower since the landowner across the road "cleaned up" that area by tearing out the trees and underbrush (but leaving trash), but there are still occasional stray dogs and cats.

Does anyone else harbor visions of someday writing about those great old jobs years ago (in parks and forests, for me) and have these bits of paper and notebooks and such that float around as part of that project? I finally decided to give one shelf in the newly revived office to my publications and a box where journals and all of those odd bits and pieces can be accumulated from around the house and stashed. But I'm also being ruthless in throwing out the paper that, while it says something to me, will be meaningless to my children and they would toss it when the time comes. So I'm doing it now. Since I can't burn the papers right now I have a growing file for after a good rain, and the rest will go in the trash with the old turkey.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 21 Aug 19 - 01:22 PM

Our smoke detectors are linked too and it’s quite a racket if they go off if you test them. Still, we worried about people not hearing stand alone ones going off. Ours have sealed batteries with a supposed 10 year life.

The closest I’d come to your last question are:

My mother sometimes thinks of writing about life in a very rural borders part of Shropshire (England) from her birth in 1935. There are some sheets of A4 around somewhere and her efforts are probably saved on her PC but that’s as far as it goes.

My father (who has lent one or two cards to one or two others for books) has sometimes considered doing something with his collection of North Norfolk (Mostly West Runton and again England) post cards. That one has never got off the ground. I have expressed willingness to scan for him but would not understand what he wants to achieve. On the other hand, I suspect his ability to plan a proper project like that went a fair while ago. There is one relic from the last attempt, a digital “Dictaphone” that we got him as we felt it might help get ideas down but I don’t think it was used and there is no paperwork.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Aug 19 - 08:07 PM

This afternoon I thawed two pieces of Food Saver sealed cod from 2014 that were as good as the day I froze them. I'm out of store-bought tartar sauce so I used an online recipe and mixed up some ingredients in the fridge (capers seems to be the secret ingredient) to have with it and was pleased with the results. I thawed a much more recent whole-grain baguette that I cut into slices cross-wise and toasted to use with hummus that I need to thaw.

Maps. I'm a hoarder, to be sure, but I decided again to act as if my kids were going through the box and tossed about 3/4 of them. I kept a few of places I might actually drive to, and as out-of-date documents they are placeholders until I get a newer one at each state welcome station. Sometimes I had to figure out who was governor (the old Texas map with Rick Perry, for example, is gone). I have a small cloth bag of maps now in the new SUV; I had a bag of more current maps in the old SUV but I think I left it unlocked in the driveway one day and someone grabbed it, perhaps thinking it was a purse? This looking at stuff through my children's eyes seems to be a good exercise.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Charmion
Date: 22 Aug 19 - 09:49 AM

I stopped accumulating maps when we bought a GPS for the car. Now we travel with a road atlas and the GPS -- the GPS to provide turn-by-turn guidance, and the road atlas for route-planning. In Canada, where we have relatively inexpensive phone service (relative to the cost of roaming charges in the States, that is), we dispense with the road atlas in favour of an iPad and Google Maps. We haven't been lost, or even late, in years, and we have almost stopped arguing about turns and directions.

Ditching the maps was a painful process. I am a map geek; I love maps. But two file boxes of maps dating back to Germany in 1978 is way too hoard-y for me; they went into the recycling box without a backward glance. Outdated road atlases are a bit more of a challenge, so I let them ripen for a couple of years before I set 'em loose.

Stilly, you mentioned your Food Saver yesterday -- how coincidental. I just bought one; I can't think why it took me so long. I look forward to a significant reduction in the amount of food-wrapping material we need to keep, and better freezer results.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Aug 19 - 11:57 AM

I buy replacement bags on Amazon for much less than the name brand, but still sturdy enough plastic to do the job. I tend to use the smaller bags (cut your own) more, so I tend to alternate my purchases: These rolls of the 8" bags last quite a while and I alternate that purchase with this two-pack of large and small. I read a lot of reviews before settling on these two products; they aren't all as heavy duty to stand up to the melting and shuffling around they can get in the freezer.

I was at Goodwill one day and spotted a holder and cutter for the rolls of bags but it's not big enough to hold the entire roll. I make my own roll and put it in there because it is a handy way to cut new bags. I found it for $2, I wouldn't spend $34 for it. (Expect to have to experiment on size and waste some plastic along the way.) I'm also looking at parts like gaskets and teflon strips as my aging sealer begins to need some TLC to get the bags to seal.

Sharpie on the bag wherever is good enough to let you know what's in it, no need for that white spot to write on.

As a Mountaineer member (in Western Washington State) in high school and college, who took the basic climbing course then taught in it for several years (including map and compass), I will never completely give up my paper map, and I find GPS to be terribly annoying. I "drive ahead" in my mind, having looked at the map and sometimes, if it's a complex route, made a few notes of cross streets, turns, landmarks, and can quickly glance at that. I use the phone map for the big picture for progress (the blue spot that shows me where I am does help) but it is as much distraction as it is a tool.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 22 Aug 19 - 03:10 PM

Dupont:

Did a quick look at the posts for the last 8 days. Seemed longer! So many ideas and reminders! I went to Beaver for 5 days and the resident scale informed I have gained back the tediously lost 15 pounds. DARN! I went to four movies - a fest at a near-by lake that was incredibly fun. But the trip - all day on that Thurs, from here, and then a movie and 40 min home, then errands on Friday, then movie - again 40 min each way, and two on Sat plus going north to the Garlic Fest. I was plumb wore out and rested until it was time to drive back on Tuesday.

Well, I did manage to collect 3 more boxes of pottery and a table for this weekend's sale. Sat in the screen house all one aft and relaxed; it was cooler out there on the swamp's edge. And found a fellow to whom I owed for last winter's snow removal; I wanted to be sure he would do it this winter! And left money for the fellow who is bringing this year's fire wood. Remember: where I live it is OK to come home ans find a note on the K counter, and then say, "You know that box on the counter? I'll put the money in there in case I am not here." I do love this way of life.

So on Tuesday, Drove the 5 hours back to here. Not much else other than meal preps and minimal shopping. Again today; internet and no energy; lovely breezy day with all windows open so I have even skipped the usual opening and closing of windows and drapes.

Yesterday, I did go to the monthly lunch for our area group. I had instigated it being held at a nearby community oriented bistro. The org had added on musicians - Nancy White whom I have always avoided as I do not usually care for female voices. Well, Nancy White has a marvellous voice!!! And she played such a variety of music, from Joanie Mitchell to blues, jazz... And a local elec bass player accompanied her. The women enjoyed her tremendously! She may get more gigs and the bistro may get some repeat business. Don't we love when we manage something like this!

R worked the whole time I was away; not even time to put the futon back together so the TV/sewing room is still unusable for me; he has watched the news but that is all one can do after a ten hour work day.

I am flat broke as the month ends; but all the bills are paid. Hoping to sell some pottery this weekend at the Chateauguay Valley Antique Association event, A very fun event and R is definitely on board to help me get stuff there tomorrow! Geri will help on the weekend and packing up And I shall be exhausted next week. This could be the last time for this relatively easy event. Lots of local music - all day - mostly country.

And R will be going to the Sat auction (at the CVAA) BUT is making good noises about not buying too much this time!!! only minimal clutter has gotten into the house. The single guest room is ready (without wall pieces yet) and the double awaits the mattress; once again I am furious with Linen Chest as I was told it would arrive yesterday, when I received phone call that it would come on Sat. NO, we will not be here on Sat! Then, I was told Thurs. How do you argue with stupid? So, I am stuck with next Thurs. Was planning to go back to Beaver - well not on Thursday. Also waiting to hear if a friend who needs a bed for that weekend is actually going to take us up on it.

I have been concerned all summer that my son (and two grandsons) (PA) would surprise me but finally got him on phone yesterday; waiting weeks for passport renewal because ...????? It is supposed to take 2 weeks and it has been six. I can only wonder if it is his complexion. So there went the summer and no visit. The positive is that the van broke down and are we ever glad it did not happen on the way to Canada! My gentle, honest, Quakerly son (56) is not a terrorist! The world just gets crazier by the day, and in Canada also.

Oh, one movie was The Woman Who Loves Giraffes. Monumental Canadian documentary with Giraffes, and historic women's issues over the last 60 years. Ended with views of the Women's March on W as the credits rolled. I understand it is available on I Tunes.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Aug 19 - 10:41 PM

Writers used to keep extra copies of their published works in order to send tear sheets in as examples of their work when pitching articles to editors. Now with scanners and PDFs they can be shared digitally. Over time some of mine are dated so this week I did a major thinning of those documents and sent at least a linear foot of magazines and brochures to the recycle bin. The contractor's bag was bulging, mostly with paper and cardboard, collected around the house this week. I've compressed my published stuff down to a single shelf.

The yard is dry as tinder now, it needs to be mowed, but since it isn't growing it won't get any worse. I'll get around to it one of these days. There's a possibility of rain over the weekend, but the ten-day outlook is more promising, with a projected high of 87^o on the 31st. One of these days I have to thin the iris beds and I have a list of people who would like some. That has to wait until cooler weather and after a good soaking rain. I did a one-off cat feeding chore for a friend tonight and stopped for some ceviche on the way home so no cooking was required for dinner. It's too hot to cook.

Dorothy, you have been productive. I had to delay my planned fence work due to the ceiling, but at least these projects are all on one property, not scattered all over the Province.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Aug 19 - 10:42 PM

A couple of programs were added into the new computer that I'd had installed in the old one to increase functionality. I'm researching how to reduce the size of some of the video files I have, from media center recordings to mp4. It's always something to figure out with these various program.

I'm still organizing the shelves and have located projects that were buried in with other stuff. And still finding occasional clumps of insulation. I seem to have a lot of plastic baskets, probably purchase at a $1 store years ago. I've tossed more paper from publishing projects into recycling.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: LilyFestre
Date: 24 Aug 19 - 04:18 PM

I spent half this day working in our closet clearing out 18 thirteen gallon bags. I wish I could say that I'm done, but I am not. Sure feels good though to get it out!

Michelle

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Aug 19 - 09:23 PM

My exercise program has unexpectedly dropped me back in my teenage years-- chair dancing so hard it hurts, and pool dancing so long that I freeze.

I like it. These hips haven't moved this
since.... Way too long.

I don't even care what it looks like.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Aug 19 - 11:45 PM

It does feel good to clear out like that, Michelle. Did it all go to a thrift store or other donation? And Susan, you remind me that I need to go join the gym that I selected before it too, closes, like the first one I selected but never joined did. :-/

Small consignment jobs from various friends will keep me coming and going this week and next, with jury duty at least one day next week. It's probably just as well, I've stayed cooped up here too much this month. It was so hot I didn't feel like going out but the heat broke yesterday with a scant rain and today with a deluge.

I spent the rainy afternoon polishing the silver flatware my mother gave me when I got married; I've put it back into the silver-cloth-lined cabinet and will give it to whichever child of mine ties the knot first. It's still in pretty good condition, all things considered, and I'm using a new modern but less expensive stainless now.

Progress in the office, slowly but steadily.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: LilyFestre
Date: 25 Aug 19 - 09:11 AM

Stilly,

   There were 19 bags in total, one is going to a friend and all the other will be donated to a thrift shop. :)

    The temperatures have dropped here. This morning was in the mid 40s. The air is crisp and I am loving it. We likely will return to the more summer temperatures but for now, this is wonderful. My co-worker and I have made a plan to go for daily walks on our lunch break once the temperatures are 70 or below. I'm looking forward to it. In the meantime, Jeremiah and I are dancing to a playlist/videos that I put on the big screen. I also have a very large bright orange yoga ball that I am doing some floor work with. I was down .2 this week which I will gladly take. Last week I lost 7 pounds and normally that means the follow week the scale will go up a little bit as my body tries to readjust.

Have a great week everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Aug 19 - 01:41 PM

A major test of the new office is if I can use the computers in the way I planned, and the setup seems to be working. The old HP is set up on a desk adjacent to the new computer desk, and they're each processing programs that could only be viewed in the software they were recorded in. They're being converted to mp4 so they'll play virtually anywhere. I started a thread to post remarks on how to use and where to find some of the software.

I have several friends headed out of town who need mail taken in, plants watered, animals fed, and more, so the rest of August and much of September have lots of calendar entries for those jobs. And I'm still aiming at starting listing again on eBay this month; I'm almost there (as I've probably said several times before).

Heavy rain, over two inches, last night has given the lawn a new lease on life so I'm going to have to go out and mow this week, but I can also declutter my garden of some of the weeds and transplant a few things.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Aug 19 - 04:06 PM

Dupont:
We seem to be into fall weather. Nice that it is comfortable; not sure I am mentally ready for winter -- but the choice is not mine! I am still waiting for the pick to make it here and now the weather is conducive to using it - to dig some more flower bed area and move the poor rhubarb that is somewhere in a mess of weeds tight up against the garage wall. It needs room to grow! Of course, it will need much manure and care and will not produce for a few seasons but we have a monster one at Beaver. And it is not producing now; barely hanging on!

This morning I potted a few geraniums and stuck a couple more cuttings in the sand bowl. I have a work area on the back deck but can only work in shade so all projects must be planned according to the movement of the sun. Thankful for the mature trees! My 3 agave babes are finally starting to grow!

All the boxes of pottery are now on back deck, covered with heavy plastic. We need to consider where to put them long term: some on display? Where? When and how to plan an open house in Nov/Dec. On the weekend I only unpacked about half the boxes- onto 3 card tables and a small shelf unit. A newish glaze was popular; when I get more pots made, I shall use it some more. A woman bought a cylinder/vase, 6-8 inches tall, to drink out of? OK! An interesting concept and easy to make a few more. The infinite shapes and sizes plus the infinite glaze combos...!!! Never ending. And challenging to know what to do, so I basically just do what I feel like, with some guidance from the public.

A film company has requested we remove anything from front yards that is modern as they are filming on the street on Weds re early 1900s. I have one pile of mulch to move this eve - before mosquitoes! and two large objects on front steps that R needs to wrestle out of sight. And put my car in back yard on Weds.

The weekend was slightly profitable but a great deal of enjoyment. More a social event than the business of pottery! I gave away a couple and sold a dozen or so. One of the joys of this event was the man (I slightly recognized) coming along "for my annual butter dish"! He uses one, keeps a spare in case, and gives them away to someone he thinks needs one! Sunday supper for Geri, R and me at the Thai resto took about a third of the take! Good meal though! Ah, the joy of finally getting G to eat there rather than the boring place!!!

Laundry today and a pot of soup to use the various "excess" veggies - when my next bit of energy surfaces. The weekend effectively de-clutttered my energy.

The useless bed R dragged home, left this am, thanks to the film company! But the futon frame is not back together so the sewing room is still not usable. (too much CLUTTER!) But he had a restful day yesterday, de-cluttering some of his exhaustion.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Aug 19 - 12:54 PM

Do you know anything about the type of production that will be filming? Only outdoors, or do they also have a location for interior shots? Does this happen often? Will they park horses with carriages or antique automobiles on your street? Will you be able to watch? (Some of these projects are often slow moving like watching paint dry)

I am sad to report that most of the horizontal surfaces in the house have reached the point where they're cluttered with stuff that now needs to be organized, put away, or discarded. We have a rainy indoors day today so I'm moving things around and trying to compress some of it and pack way the rest. And yes, things are being added to the Goodwill bin.