De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Oct 21 - 09:56 AM

Driving to and from airports is never a pleasant experience, even if you're in your home turf. Every time (which isn't often) I head to the local large airport it seems they're remodeling or building a brand new terminal, tangling the traffic flow. It's a crapshoot depending on if I'm picking up, dropping off, or flying out for a long or short time. The smaller Dallas airport (Love Field) has undergone growth as well; but there I've managed to always park at the same off-site parking lot (covered) and ride a shuttle (they need to keep the same spotted color scheme so I recognize them). There are a couple of routes I never take a certain times of day because the traffic is awful or you have the sun in your eyes (or rear-view mirror).

Offloading stuff today, in a route guaranteed to go past a couple of favorite stores and restaurants and see a couple of friends. I have extra irises (they're being thinned and replanted) to deliver to one friend and a couple of things to drop off at Goodwill and another friend who is just along the way on this route who I'll stop and say hello to.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Oct 21 - 01:21 PM

Beaver:

R has the plants in QC under control! I am waiting for 20 soap dishes to dry so I can fire/glaze/fire and take them to QC for Rita. Next week, I hope. Spend a week or so there and come back to Beaver. My son is expected for the week before Christmas in QC so I will make sure the house is as tidy as I can manage. My sons are both neatniks!

I am taking a bunch of stuff that Taun or Tenley might like, or not. But have not brought in the last couple bins from back shed. Pottery first and now RAIN! Tomorrow may be clear and a bit warmer.

And, no, I do not try to heat the outdoors! But the sun does make the back deck very nice in the afternoon. And does a solar gain thing - drapes in summer but they are away until ... oh, about May!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Oct 21 - 11:52 AM

Yesterday was long and interesting and a calorie binge for the record books. Oy. I need to not eat for the rest of the week.

The beauty of the day was in visiting with people. I saw several lovely gardens and picked up a few samples (seeds) along the way. The irises were delivered and I saw the area where they are planned to be planted - they will be an excellent addition to the yard (it's unusual to see a yard down here with no irises!) I also visited with a number of cats and small dogs who were very glad to meet a new friend. Mine also are also always glad to meet anyone I let in the door, but as big as they are, they are more like a hockey game out of control compared to the tiny dogs at the homes I visited.

I got some ideas for how to push more gardens into the turf area - I've tried it before, but it's time to try again, with plants more tolerant of shade.

Company is coming this weekend so it's time to start putting stuff away and clearing the table. I have a cheerful new blue checkered table cloth and a friend may bring along a few Halloween decorations that should be nicely contrasted on the table.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 28 Oct 21 - 11:22 AM

Beaver:

I, too, ate like a nut today and only managed to bring in firewood and go to the library for help in printing my election ballot as my printer decided to only print half pages. Spent ridiculous amount of time on FB, ending up going back to the library and sitting in the car using its internet for a couple hours. Managed to unsubscribe to a number of emails; I get over 100/day- too many! Stayed until the sun left and I started to sneeze.

Sunday I spent the day at the library parking lot using the internet for a 6 hour zoom meeting. Great meeting of Ontario Wildlife Rehabbers. I do not rehab but I am a concerned support person and this was important to me. It was recorded so I can look at it again to see what I may have missed; the sound quality was good. I had to go home for a bit to recharge computer at mid day.It is wonderful to see the individual members coalescing into a working group and gaining support of a couple upper echelon Ministry staff! This was the 3rd or 4th one I have attended. Nice to not have to drive 3 hours to get to it and people from northern Ontario were able to attend.

I think I skipped Monday! Sitting in the car listening intently was tiring.

Yesterday, after it stopped raining, I brought the baker's rack full of drying pottery into the LR, right next to the wood stove. Put it out in the sun this afternoon and back by wood stove tonight. Still not dry!

Two days of not doing much but eat so I hope to do more than bring in fire wood tomorrow. Maybe even throw some pots. And load kiln and bring an empty bin up from the shed for the stuff I am taking to QC, and see if I can empty another one. My brain has been cogitating on what bits are going where, in the de-cluttering endeavour. Progress is being made.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Oct 21 - 01:43 PM

This week we have entered a windy phase of autumn, and it has my allergies and sinuses all out of sorts. And in the past if I tried walking the dogs in cold or windy conditions the air flowing behind my glasses lenses had my eyes watering terribly before the walk ended. Now with the corrected vision from cataract surgery I don't need the glasses and am going to try wearing a pair of clear safety goggles that keep the wind from coming in at all. I'll be testing that this afternoon.

Keeping in mind Dorothy's wildlife interests, my neighbor up the block is continuing to feed dogfood to raccoons, and she counts 28 of them now. Merde! No wonder my dogs want to bark at the back fence every night. They hear that small heard shuffling up and down the wildlife trails over the creek bluff. I wish she would stop that. I wonder if the coyotes have cottoned to all of the food on the hoof back there yet?

Filing papers, preparing packages for shipping, and fussing with Amazon orders. One "subscription" was supposed to deliver 10 days ago but seems to be in limbo so I cancelled that and placed a new order for the same thing (different quantity) and we'll see if that works. Sometimes these subscriptions get a little out of control. Dog treats come in different sizes and trying for the optimal number of each bags has sometimes ended up with a glut of treats.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Oct 21 - 10:46 AM

After all of this wind I walked the dogs last night past a couple of houses with street-side pecan trees and picked up several pounds of nuts off the pavement. I took a plastic shopping bag on both walks just for this purpose.

Must hurry to finish cleaning in here for company this weekend. I've left it till kind of late.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Charmion
Date: 29 Oct 21 - 11:38 AM

It's windy and damp in Stratford, perfectly normal, and I won't get my car back until next week, dammit. I kinda knew that going in, but it's still a bit of a kick in the pants.

My new routine has achieved steady state, I think, with pool class three times a week, church on Sundays, choir practice and the (literal) heavy lifting that goes with it on Mondays, playing diddly tunes with my Mennonite friends every second Tuesday, and monthly meetings of a book club that has agreed to take me in. Yesterday, I spent the afternoon drinking riesling with a bunch of like-minded intellectuals while we discussed a book about the practices of those who say they are "spiritual, but not religious". It was great, and I'm very glad that I wasn't driving.

Energy levels are still good, so the diet is doing what it should. I'm not losing weight with any particular speed, but that's not my primary objective; I'm not all that fat, and a dose of cortisone in the wonky foot every few months is sustainable at present.

The accumulation of cat hair on the quilt has almost reached the limit of toleration, so laundry must happen, and I invited the in-laws to dinner tomorrow, so I must hit Sobey's for groceries. I'm thinking salmon with teeny potatoes and maybe baked squash. Also, more riesling; it was Edmund's favourite white wine, and there's still at least a dozen bottles in the basement.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Oct 21 - 12:21 PM

That sounds like a delightful dinner, Charmion! I pulled some of the monthly recipe cards out of a Martha Stewart Living magazine years ago as a reminder of a favorite classic dinner - the salmon, potatoes, and in this instance I think there was steamed asparagus. The potatoes I make all of the time - simmer a pan of small red or yellow potatoes until tender then slightly squash them so they crack a bit and have skin edges that crisp up when they are sautéed in butter in a small skillet. My kids call those "smashed potatoes."

I'm working on upping my game walking (increasing steps on my tracker) and hope to soon return to the gym. The COVID levels are again dropping (for now) in my county. Do I want to put on a swimming suit? I'm not there yet, but I can use the equipment rooms.

In the middle of the night last night, when I couldn't seem to stay asleep it finally dawned on me that I needed more covers so the winter quilt was put in place. No cat hair on it, but I owned cats for over 40 years (until a dozen years ago) and there is still some cat hair in crevices and long-ago-packed-boxes around here.

And this morning I moved the computer desk from the wall, crawled under, and nailed a long narrow piece of dark fabric over the side of the window to cover the gap between the wall and the blinds where the sun shines and blinds for a couple of hours in the morning. Yes it looks odd. What I'll eventually replace it with is some long narrow bell-pull type of thing that just looks decorative but blocks the light. It only needs to block a very narrow gap. Now to find that bell pull (you know the kind, like you see in the movies, maybe with a fat tassel on the end.) Or something else if I spot a likely opaque long item.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Charmion
Date: 29 Oct 21 - 07:58 PM

I no longer care that I don’t look like Elle MacPherson in a bathing suit! I have fifty-mission legs all covered with scars and varicosities, and the little pot belly that God gives women who survive menopause by more than fifteen years, and who the hell cares?

I’m just grateful that the Y pool is open again, and the kind of bathing suit that doesn’t rot on contact with the chemicals is actually comfortable and well made.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Oct 21 - 10:25 PM

You're right - I forget - at this age I'm invisible. It doesn't matter. :-/

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Oct 21 - 11:12 AM

Alice has turned up in a thread on Facebook - it sounds like she's thriving on a low-carb high-protein diet. I stepped on the scale this morning - and can see that too much pre-Halloween candy has crept into my diet.

Clearing out the forest floor, washing the bathroom counter and sink, emptying the kitchen sink, clearing the table, setting up for friends over for brunch today. High carb, of course. :-/ I do have a lot of fruit.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Charmion
Date: 31 Oct 21 - 11:55 AM

The salmon dinner with the in-laws was indeed delicious, and the wine I found in the basement — a 2017 Viognier from the south of France — was perfect.

As for the bathing suit thing, I decided a while ago that, since my dancing days are apparently done, I should swim as if no one is watching.

And now Thanksgiving is behind us, Christmas planning has begun. Elder Brother phoned yesterday to invite himself & SIL to Stratford for the holiday, which gives me the best of all possible reasons to not leave town myself. I really don’t like to travel at Christmas — the weather is too iffy, and too many other people are doing the same thing. On Christmas Eve, any service centre on Highway 401 could easily sub for the doorstep of Purgatory if not the Inferno itself.

Public observation of Remembrance Day is back this year, complete with veterans on parade with the local militia unit. I must dig out my woolly socks, flannel-lined trousers and ear-muffs for the occasion. Every year, I enjoy the thought of my dear old sergeant’s face if she could see me in a CF beret with beaver ear-muffs on top.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Oct 21 - 03:08 PM

Charmion, it sounds like your family has your back.

Dorothy will you be heading back to Dupont soon? Closing up Beaver for the winter?

The National Arbor Day folks are working with the electric provider in my region to offer up to two trees free. They're intended to offer shade to lower my energy costs, but I intend to plant them at the very back of the yard. They'll be small, the DBH of a pencil, and hopefully I can pot them for over the winter and get them established during the year next year. I had a note they should be arriving this week. I'm planning yard work this (I was going to start today, but I don't need trick-or-treaters possibly staggering around in a darkened newly dug bed on the way to a door that won't be opened if they try to knock.) The dogs and I will hunker down at the back of the house making it look like no one is home. And most years there aren't many trick-or-treaters.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Nov 21 - 09:54 AM

The prolific okra is no more - I cut down most of the stems for now, leaving the beefy bases to take out next time I'm dressed for chopping things out of the garden. Or I may use the reciprocating saw on them again (I took out the big dried-out sunflowers that way over the course of the last six weeks). And in the front yard there is a growing pile of irises liberated from a too-tight bed. I'll put some back and plant the rest somewhere else or give them away. I've tossed a number of irises into the way-back beyond the fence and a few grow the leaves, though I haven't seem them flower. Now that I've taken out some of the underbrush they might. I like it to have a kind of wild secret garden look back there. :)

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Charmion
Date: 02 Nov 21 - 11:32 AM

Tired today.

Mondays are choir practice, and choir practice now involves rather a lot of (literal) heavy lifting -- hauling the electronic keyboard and its stand downstairs, loading it into the car, unloading it at the church, hauling it in and setting it up, and then reverse the entire process when choir practice is over. I can do it by myself without injury, thanks to military training and many, many deadlifts at the gym, but it still takes a toll of energy. I ain't 23 no more.

Yesterday I decluttered the Glory Hole of a set of plain white porcelain dishes, complete with serving pieces, six matching Portmeirion coffee mugs, and a Bodum plunge pot. The basement clearance should be more obvious, but those shelves were pretty dense; at least now I can see everything. The dishes are going to Nephew No 3.

I also got the BIL to help me haul my enormous Victorian plate-glass mirror back into the bedroom, sliding it down the hall on a mat and tilting it precariously under the lintel of the door. The mirror is far too heavy and awkward to risk moving it by myself, and it had to come out for Rick the painter. It came from my great-grandparents' house in Montreal, and I think it might have originally belonged to an up-scale haberdashery: it's close to seven feet tall and framed in mahogany. With that in the house, I have absolutely no excuse for leaving the house, as I often do, with half my hair on end.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Nov 21 - 01:53 PM

Beaver:

I do not close up Beaver for the Winter; well, not this year though there will come a time, I suppose when it will be necessary. The last couple years: the wood shed so I can get at the wood! And the roof over the walkway to the studio so I can get in without carrying 5 gallon buckets of hot water to melt the ice. I do not Fill the buckets.

Buckets seem to have a way of finding other uses so I just realized I have no more empty buckets but I am taking veggies to Dupont in two buckets - tomorrow! I have soap dishes to take to Rita and will visit for a week or so - to recover from the drive, then I hope to get back.

I have triaged a quantity of things to take to Dupont and the car is full and will require another trip. MY son and his new partner(!) are hoping to be at Dupont the week before Christmas and want to be able to give him things (memory things) that he might want. And I asked him to bring the family photo albums to the visit so I can view them once more. He has had them about 5 years.

Two glaze firings completed. Some for the Shop and some for Rita. Will leave a box for Pat or Les top pick up if they want more pottery - mostly small $10 pieces which sell well. So today is rest and work as has become the necessary way of life.

It has been beautiful here and R has been getting pots done as he does not feel he must go home. We need to work on that, or I do so he does not feel pressured - and can get more done.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Nov 21 - 02:19 PM

Beaver:

I forgot about the raccoon issue! It is highly not recommended to feed ANY wildlife. Of course everyone feeds the birds?? I never do because it needs to be done regularly as they get used to being fed. Not that different from humans, you know! But raccoons particularly will get used to it and will come and bang on your door if you "forget"! Most people's neighbours take exception to having lots of wild life close by. And it not good for the wildlife to become dependent. If I can find a gentle article on the subject I will share a link.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Nov 21 - 06:45 PM

Dorothy, I thought we had resolved the raccoon feeding tendency in this neighbor a few years ago, but apparently not. And there are nutria pushing closer to our part of the creek.

Today we've had several hours of gentle rain - and it's into the cold time of year. Flip the switch and it's suddenly not summer, and we only get a week or two of autumn weather. It was nice to take a nap in the recliner in the sun room, dog tucked in beside me and listening to the rain outside the window.

Poking around the framed art and mirrors at Goodwill yesterday I was surprised at how many lovely large mirrors, most of them the large wall-mounted variety. In housewares found a lovely little 9" long Sheffield silver on copper plater with a little 3-part embossed seal. I can't find what the company or date is, but it might bring a few dollars on eBay. At Goodwill it cost .89.

I'm enjoying the large mirror I picked up to lean against the fireplace to hide the insulation-filled firebox. For exercise I practice dance steps in front of it while the dogs are eating.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: JennieG
Date: 02 Nov 21 - 09:18 PM

My parents had a mirror over their mantel in the living room, something pretty much de rigeur in those days. I think it had been a wedding present when they married in 1946.

One of my facebook groups posts about treasures they have found in op shops (Ozzies don't have thrift shops, we have op shops - op is short for 'opportunity') and mirrors, particularly those with Art Deco designs, have become popular in recent times. Some are very pretty indeed. Charmion, yours sounds wonderful!

These days we probably put the TV over the mantel, instead of a mirror.......

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Charmion
Date: 03 Nov 21 - 10:08 AM

The now-omnipresent TV over the mantel is one of the most repellent features of modern décor, in my admittedly arrogant opinion. The chimney breast is not only the most prominent bit of wall space in a room, it’s also fairly high, so it’s a terrible place for a television and optimal for a striking work of art. Or a big mirror in a fancy frame, if that’s how you roll.

First snow today. It probably won’t stay down for long, but it’s here, and winter with it. Time to break out the boots.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Nov 21 - 11:22 AM

My television sits on a sturdy old coffee table I inherited from a friend when she moved away. The drawer is full of coasters, card games, and small puzzles. The television sits at a height a bit below my seated height. I started with the television on a taller cabinet and found it wasn't as comfortable to watch as I hoped (though I could see it from around the room better.) This article has been updated since I first found in in 2011 (because, of course, I kept a copy of it in the drawer of the cabinet that I decided not to leave the TV on). TV Viewing Distance Guide More than just a matter of personal preference! When I bought my 42" plasma television in 2011 it was considered plenty large. The huge ones they sell now cost less than that one did.

The wall above the fireplace is stone and mortar and ugly as can be (they varnished the limestone - ugg) so I have a series of three up-lights (meant to be used inside a china cupboard to shine down on the cupboard contents) to give interesting shadows to the wall.

I find I do most of my exercising in the bedroom where I have a space for the yoga mats (on top of a Persian carpet - lots of padding) so I'm considering moving a larger television in there to run the videos I'm planning to use (or a streaming program if I subscribe.) But I'm not ready to buy any more televisions, there are plenty around the house. I'll just swap with another room. By exercising in my bedroom with the door closed I also don't have dogs trying to steal kisses any time I'm on the floor or down at a level near their faces. You should see me trying to put on socks and shoes when they're around.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Nov 21 - 09:59 PM

I'm working on the text I'll turn in for a course I've been taking, and it is the equivalent of writing a thesis then reducing it to the prospectus. I want the information in the longer document for my own use, but they just want the bullet points to know where I'm going with the information I've gleaned in the course. I've made a couple of new friends in there, so it has been worth the effort.

I finished another jigsaw puzzle today and would offer it to the friend who was over and placed a couple of pieced (before I asked that he not - I felt weird being so stingy, but it's an interesting meditative process and I seem to address each piece as I work - and usually only do a few at a time. A sort of cleansing the mental palate.) I could offer this puzzle to that friend next, but I was in their house recently and walked the narrow path from the door to the bathroom through the chaos that is the living room and I am 99.99% certain there isn't a clear level surface for puzzle-working in that dwelling. It would disappear into the abyss. I'd have to give him a correct sized piece of lumber also to work it on.

We had a couple of lovely days of rain and now I need to return to the garden to finish thinning irises. The weekend and early next week look like perfect weather to work in.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 04 Nov 21 - 10:14 PM

Well we have a wall above a fireplace made of irregular slabs of rustic slate, a sort of vertical crazy paving. Whoever did it, half a century ago now, did a really good job - then varnished it. Mrs Steve spent a whole day rubbing at the varnish and got it all off, which made a vast improvement. I can't remember what she used now but I'll ask her in the morning. I suppose your limestone might have a far rougher surface, making varnish removal impossible. Paint stripper...? In our other room the wall over the fireplace, in fact the whole fireplace, is clay brickwork with a sort of arch about five feet up. We just paint it with matt emulsion the same colour as the walls of the room. The colour we use is called buttermilk. It all looks fine to my untrained eye...

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: JennieG
Date: 04 Nov 21 - 11:16 PM

I have some irises here that you can dig up, Maggie.....a pale creamy colour, very pretty. They were planted just outside our back fence before we came here and seem to have thrived ever since, to the extent that they could probably do with some thinning-out.

Re the siting of the TV: We don't have a mantel in this house although our previous house did, and the TV wasn't over it as the viewing angle would have been quite wrong. The house was built pre-TV so things such as viewing angles and heights didn't need to be taken into account. The small apartment we rented in Toronto on our last visit to Canada had the TV way too high on the wall for viewing comfort; we managed, but a radio would have suited as well.

Ours is off more than it's on anyway. I cannot stand a 'background' TV, I much prefer background radio.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Nov 21 - 10:50 AM

Jennie, I've shipped bulbs and rhizomes to other Mudcatters. Janie in North Carolina has a handful of a double-daffodil that grows in areas around my yard. I delivered irises to a friend last week and have two more awaiting the time I get to the color they'd like. I'm in the white and some blue bed now, they're waiting for yellow. I should move some of the Louisiana irises to the front yard (they're all growing next to an old compost pile in the back). And I can send some of these extra irises to the back-back, beyond the fence. They might bloom now that more light is getting through.

I can see so much stuff to do around the house, projects I've allowed to pile up over the last six months when I was mostly working on garden and outdoor stuff. That said, I can also say that I'm feeling much better than when the gardening stuff started and tackling the house job should be easier than over the last couple of years. The thyroid has been addressed and is being treated, and I'm now up to daily exercises with that online program I signed up for this summer. My titanium knee is feeling good. I'm adding more walking and stretching as I work to reclaim the full range of motion akin to my earlier self. Losing weight would also be nice and is the next goal. #OneDayAtATime

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Charmion
Date: 05 Nov 21 - 11:15 AM

I thought I would watch TV when I found myself on my own, but I just don't, not even on my iPad. My entertainments of choice are reading and listening, or reading while listening. Music, audiobooks, podcasts ... My goodness, how I love podcasts: radio, but better, because episodes are stored on line and I can listen to them whenever I want to.

The television sits forlornly on its stand in the basement, waiting for me to acquire a stationary bicycle.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Nov 21 - 10:34 PM

I listen to the radio all of the time, and podcasts occasionally. There are a lot I've been meaning to look into. I listen to them streaming on the computer, but don't have them download. Maybe if they just sent the link.

Spent the evening visiting with friends and looking at a garden after dropping off some of my produce at the mutual aid fridge on my way. The last of the okra and some of my perked up peppers (they stay small when the weather is hot and grow large this time of year as it cools).

I have to make myself a checklist for all of the stuff I want to accomplish around here. Lately it seems like there is so much more to do around the house than occurred to me all during the warmer months. And I'm still looking at the garden—I brought home a couple of potted plants from the friends I was visiting this evening. She pots up the things that are extra in her garden and leaves them out front like door prizes. :) If Alice Flynn was still participating here I think she'd be doing the same thing. Giving plants as door prizes.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 06 Nov 21 - 10:24 PM

Dupont:

Made it back on Weds with enough energy left to partly unload car and cook. R did not make it home until Thurs and left this morning for "Saturday BF" and then heading to Ontario with bro to pick up 3 machines. Of course, they only got there about 9 pm Took the 6 hours for a 4 hour trip...??? Yep! That is how they operate. He may be back tomorrow night, with any luck.

So, I have done laundry and more L... and some cooking and grocery shopping and trip to library, finished unloading car, Rita's husband stopped by for soap dishes and a quantity of black felt I thought she might use for her booth when doing craft shows - a divesting of stuff for me! When I find out how suitable the soap dishes are, or not, I may try throwing some more while I am here.

RE fireplaces and TVs: I wonder if the varnish on SRS' limestone could be burned off with a propane burner. TV about a mantle would probably be good if one were in a reclining chair. Ours is on a solid cabinet in the TV room. I have a n aversion to TV and would not afflict it on our lovely 1902 mantle.

But speaking of rocks and bricks, I notice the lower line of bricks in the nice old fireplace are quite blackened; perhaps I will consider doing something about that as we now have the insert/ no fire in the actual fireplace. The lovely little -old- Jotul needed serious care and I called a highly recommended pro to put the inner workings back in place. The nice man told me to be more gentle putting wood in.

When I arrived, I found R has been heating the outdoors as he neglected to close the trapdoor to the attic! Done! I brought wood in today, from back porch. I have 3 cords out in the yard to get up onto the porch!! Not sure I can manage that but also not finding anyone I can hire...

So, I have a bunch of stuff to sort and re-home and want to to get the house as tidy as possible for when my son and Tenley arrive - before Christmas. I only want to stay here a max of two weeks and get back to Beaver for 2 or 3 weeks. Some cooperation from R would be nice; the bathroom sink that only had cold water when Taun was here 2 years ago is now totally un-installed ... And the hallway is in desperate need of de-cluttering!

I also have to re-distribute the plants R managed to keep alive - most of them! And do a feeding. There are still tomatoes on the potted tomato plants - in front of glass door in hall. And peppers on the two year old pepper plants. Only one basil survived, but a good healthy one.

Pat was happy with the pots I left for the Shop. With the holiday coming, it is too bad I did not get lots more made... Oh well.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Nov 21 - 12:55 PM

I would love to have a fireplace insert and a heatalator to warm the house, but I'm not convinced that this chimney is free of flaws. They run an interior stovepile through the chimney for a fireplace insert so I suppose the person doing that work would tell me about the shape of the chimney.

I have insulation sheets made into a box that I inserted into the fireplace and one across the front (the big pink planks of insulation you find next to the sheets of plywood at the Big Box stores). I have a large (4' x 5') wood-framed mirror sitting on the hearth and leaning against the front of the stonework to completely hide all of that. I used to have the television there; I don't remember why I decided to move it, because the hearth was a good height for the TV (harking back to the conversations a few days ago). I think it was because I was tired of having furniture all aligned toward the TV. I need to work on the setup in the den still.

This morning I finished a big hand-coding html project that has been hanging over my head for several months. Good to check that one off the work to-do list.

I'm going to make myself a list of the plants I've placed in the yard and add to it the plants people have given me and future additions. Learning the scientific names is the goal, and maybe a few little signs in the yard (like in a park or arboretum). Something some of my ambitious gardener friends have done to help them remember plant names or for people who visit and want to know. I had a professor with a web page for his yard - I don't think I'll go that far. :)

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Nov 21 - 04:44 PM

I've had trouble hearing my computer speakers because I used the speakers on my big monitor and the desk was in the middle of the room. There was nothing for the sound, coming out of the back of the monitor, to bounce off of and back to me. When I rearranged the office it got much better, but I had ordered a new set of Logitech speakers (with a big sub-woofer) and they arrived today. I don't have a speaker/headphone jack on the back of this computer so I have to plug it into the front port (more cables in view this way). I was thinking these were also WiFi, but no, just plug in. They work, and I'm going to donate an old set in the equipment closet to Goodwill (like my buying shoes program - if I bring in a new pair I need to get rid of one that is worn out or doesn't fit as well as I'd hoped.)

That closet has old hardware and tons of cables and I should get rid of a lot of it; then something comes along and I dive in to find exactly the right cable and am reassured that all of this is still useful. Well, it saved buying one cable again if I'd gotten rid of several dozen. Today I cleared some stuff when I drove a bag of e-waste equipment down to the semi-annual e-waste collection day at the museum where I volunteer. (I usually take this over to the e-waste bin in my old university library when I visit, but with COVID I have a big backlog).

The holidays are in view. Last night I made the first batch of pumpkin/sweet potato bread (with dates and walnuts), now four small frozen loaves awaiting distribution. I have cranberry pulp for future batches of cranberry bars (I froze the pulp) and I have sparkling cider for our holiday meal (hopefully in the house with several people, not in a parking lot in our individual cars like last year.)

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Donuel
Date: 09 Nov 21 - 07:01 AM

Today will reach 70 F so its ideal weather to linseed oil the fence and start pouring gallons of color into the soil. The car customization project is done except for the interior. Insulation of the bay windows went well. The futility room is now rrstored to a utility room. Demo of the second office wrap around desk is next.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Nov 21 - 10:15 AM

Tell us again why you would pour "gallons of color" onto the soil? What kind of color? It doesn't sound very good for the soil.

Volunteering this morning then home to work in this typical-colored soil. The other day I trimmed some salvia around the two new plantings (last year at this time I put in a transplanted eastern redbud and a newly-purchased American beautyberry) and put mulch out. When they lose their leaves I want them to still be conspicuous in the landscaping. I have a lot more of that work to do and several new plants to put in the garden from their pots.

The house needs work, but this burst of nice fall weather has distracted me from that work. The girls are out back hunkered down under the baldcypress trying to rid the backyard of one more squirrel. It keeps them busy and their catch rate is very low. Only two so far that I know of.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Nov 21 - 09:16 PM

Dupont:

Clearly, I need help with some chores. I could not find anyone because I don't know anyone. So I went into the volunteer office and asked them if they have a list of people who could do odd jobs for people. They do not but listened to my tale and said they would bring it up at their next meeting. Isabel asked me questions and made some suggestions and cheered me on. So when I got to the bakery, I asked the staff person - she lives here; maybe she would know... As I chatted with her, a woman was working on a laptop nearby and SHE said,
"I have phone numbers for you." So I went home and phoned:
On Thurs a man will come to help with wood and on Friday a woman who cleans houses will, at least, vacuum and we can talk about what else.

So, greatly cheered, I went to the edge of the edge of the city today and ordered new shelves for my china cabinet - expensive!!! but it will help. Then I asked R if we could divest ourselves of a large set of china, taking up most of the other cabinet. They are now half packed up. Tomorrow I am hoping I can find the energy to go to the mill and pick up the rest of my china cabinet treasures. I will offer my son and his partner whatever they want - if anything! I am ready to let go of a number of things - most of it, I think.

And the NP from the doctors office called to see how my lymph thing was - healing! - and gave me info on when and where to get booster!

Now, time for popcorn! I have found I sleep through the night better if I eat a batch of air popped corn.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Donuel
Date: 09 Nov 21 - 10:13 PM

The tall oranmental pear tree by the street has white flowers in the spring. Pouring a gallon of blue food coloring into holes near the trunk made by a pick axe should render results similar to the blue dyed orchids in the store. A second gallon early spring when the tree starts water uptake should do the trick. I do not know if red food coloring will make the forsythia orange but we will see.
Food color by the gallon for restaurants is super cheap. Soon the trees and bushes will slow their water uptake so I gotta week or two left. The cherry blossoms will also be changed with multiple colors next spring.

The car was coated in actual glass after polishing (ceramic coating) and a custom spoiler was added attached with alien tape (no screws) iconic chromed side badges were added. The glass is thin and will only last about 7 years. Seat covers are next.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Nov 21 - 10:36 AM

Okay, I know what you mean - I live a few blocks from a restaurant supply warehouse with a cash and carry for the public and they have gallon jugs of food coloring for things like snow cones.

Dorothy, good luck with the extra set of china. I'm going to pull out a bunch of mugs my Dad collected by I never use and list them on eBay; they're by a well-known potter in the Seattle area. I have a few pieces I use, but rarely the mugs. I'll offer them to the kids first.

Yesterday two small eastern redbud trees arrived in tall boxes with 1-gallon pots, all staked and protected. They're now standing outside the side door and I'll give them a little time to recover from the confinement in the box then repot them into larger 5-gallon pots and take a look at the roots. This is a program from the electricity provider to help people shade their houses. I'm planning to plant behind the back fence, but I might change my mind and put one nearer the house.

The state of the world is quite troubling in many regions; this morning I read about the power struggle happening between Belarus and Poland, with hundreds of refugees trapped camping near the border in freezing conditions with no amenities (Belarus trying to put pressure on the EU after sanctions were placed upon it); it's hard to envision that my planting a shade tree is going to have the butterfly effect to help others around the world, but it certainly behooves us to be the best global citizens we can be to not make matters worse. So I'll plant the tree. I grow food. I recycle. I try to use less plastic, or reuse what comes through the house to make it more efficient. I'd like to put solar panels on the roof and eventually drive a hybrid or electric vehicle. But all of these things also smack of privilege. There are no easy answers - I hope they make some progress in Scotland this week.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Charmion
Date: 10 Nov 21 - 04:11 PM

Stilly, your remarks about the butterfly effect and planting trees makes me think about an important lesson I learned at my dear old sergeant's knee.

That lesson is the difference between "span of control", "span of influence", and everything else in the world.

I am responsible only for what goes on within my span of control -- the things I can change. In my span of influence -- the things within the control of others who care what I think -- I am limited to speaking the truth, expressing gratitude when possible, and setting as good an example as I can. In the rest of the world, I can but hope for the best and be thankful for all good fortune that comes my way.

It's close to the ideal expressed in the Serenity Prayer, with a bit more nuance. It helps me keep my nose out of other people's business and my hands off their stuff, and ensures that I don't lose sleep over events beyond my reach, such as man's inhumanity to man and climate talks in Scotland.

In other news, the choir is just about ready to hire our Hot Prospect with the hope of mounting a concert next spring, possibly for Easter. Unfortunately, the rate of COVID infections has stopped declining in Ontario, although severe illness is now rare, so the pandemic isn't over yet and we can't plan with any degree of confidence. I spent the last few days writing and revising the contract we want our Hot Prospect to sign, and I must say that its conditional content -- statements such as "subject to permission from the Medical Officer of Health --is uncomfortably high.

I have lost nearly 25 pounds since 15 September 2020 -- that's all the lockdown flab gone -- and another size in trousers. My range of clothing options has thus expanded beyond the two pairs of LL Bean jeans I have been wearing since Labour Day. I have trousers in every size from 8 to 14, so shopping is not on the agenda at present. I have about another 20 pounds to go, but I'm in no hurry; I would have to buy some smaller shirts.

Tomorrow is Remembrance Day, and the weather forecast is very promising: clear and dry, and not cold. The wonky foot is working well at present, with active discomfort in only one spot, so I shall be on parade with the other old crocks and the local militia. When that's over and I have unkinked my back (an hour in ranks does that to me), I shall treat myself to a beer and a substantial hot lunch.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 10 Nov 21 - 06:38 PM

On 10 November, after an incredibly mild autumn, I picked a pound and a half of very decent cherry tomatoes from my greenhouse. Unprecedented. I've neither trained nor watered the plants for a month and the greenhouse is a disgraceful tomato jungle that I have to fight my way into. We ate the best-looking ones with cheese and wine, but the rest I made into Marcella's onion and butter sauce. Because the toms were on their skins, I whizzed the sauce at the end. But then I added it to some far more rubbly sauce I'd made yesterday from a batch of San Marzano that I'd got cheap. The spicy, sharp cherry toms, blended with the rather mild San Marzano sauce, made for an ideal blend. So that's four lots of onion and butter sauce in the freezer, to go with with spaghetti and Parmesan (or one of Marcella's variants). Winter might not seem so bad.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Donuel
Date: 10 Nov 21 - 06:59 PM

I like the beautiful analogy of the butterfly effect. With a little luck it may work. It could come from a very unlikely place or a deliberate program. Be proud of your efforts.

PS : right now beware of solar cell contracts.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 10 Nov 21 - 07:07 PM

Poor old butterflies get this pinned on them all the time. At least a hundred million leaves are fluttering down from trees all around my house, each one with a damn sight more flutter-power than even a Monarch butterfly. Gosh, reality is so magical...

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Nov 21 - 09:38 PM

Around here we pride ourselves on gardens that attract Monarch butterflies; I saw them earlier but didn't have many this fall, though I have friends who were awash with them. It averages out. Next year I'll try to do better.

After a quiet couple of months of summer heat my tomato plants are green again and producing fruit, all hard green beauties and as soon as it looks like a frost is imminent, I'll pick them and make a batch of green tomato relish. This is my personal favorite relish.

Thanks, Charmion, for the long view. It's easy to let the news weigh you down. I'll continue to try to live lightly on the planet.

Don, there are solar scammers out there everywhere. If I put solar panels on the roof it will be with the outright purchase and installation, and then selling power back to the local electric company.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Donuel
Date: 11 Nov 21 - 03:59 PM

I brought the fence grain out with a mixture of denatured alcohol and linseed oil today. Its not going to dry out and turn grey now. A brush worked better than a sprayer.
I have until Monday to herd the leaves to the curb for the vacuum truck.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 11 Nov 21 - 07:37 PM

We very rarely get stray Monarchs in the UK, nearly always in the south-west, where we live. About 20 years ago, one turned up in our friends' garden, right by the sea. I took a very fuzzy photo of it (way before the era of smartphones with amazing cameras...) and I sent it to our regional daily paper (the Western Morning News) and they printed it! We don't have the Monarch milkweed food plant here so the strays are doomed, but it's inspiring to think that they've made it all this way and can still flutter. The last Monarch I saw was in Madeira four years ago. I have a lovely photo of it. It was another stray, of course. Monarchs are amazing...

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 11 Nov 21 - 08:16 PM

Dupont:

My shelves are ready for pick up - tomorrow! The wood is on the deck!! Very nice young man; I will keep him in mind for other help. The cleaning woman comes tomorrow. I hope to pick up the shelves before she comes. The china is packed in numerous boxes and my friend who sells on E-bay is interested.

I have procrastinated re an appointment to get tires changed. Earliest was 29th! I will call my guy in Bancroft and see what he says. It means taking snow tires on trip but I can leave summer ones in shed there, In that case I can leave here on a clear day next week. It will be tight getting the dishes in the car!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 11 Nov 21 - 09:07 PM

Apologies for my email screw-ups, Maggie... You probably realise that any attempts by me to do clickies would be even more disastrous... :-(

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 12 Nov 21 - 07:14 AM

I’ve been doing the dad sponsored computer changes for the last few days and (new laptop if it comes aside) I’m nearly there now. The main job was the living room PC which performs a number of tasks. The old one was quite a bit newer than I remembered but (in spite of me being able to keep it up for 200+ days) it did have a problem with the system hard disk and has needed attention for a long while. I built a new PC for there and transferred bit at a time from the old one.

I’m now back in a reasonably good position, I hope. I can discard the oldest PC and the old living room one can serve as the spare.

One thing yet to do is the satellite tuner for mythtv. After another fight to compile the tbs drivers, I decided against installing the pcie card in the new build. I’ve instead opted for an external vbox which is reported to work well with myth. It’s on its way from the Czech Republic and I hope to get it next week.

Not much else happened here lately except the 3 of us had both Covid boosters and flu jabs this morning.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Nov 21 - 12:40 PM

Friends have managed to set up (through a government program) a home health visit every two weeks. They have been vaccinated and boosted, but he teaches in a college classroom setting and she has several health issues. So their boosters were delivered by this visiting nurse, as were their flu shots. This is part of the COVID response and isn't costing them. They decided on this approach to avoid her having to visit public waiting rooms to get her vaccines. It reminds me of how you do some of your family medical things, Jon.

You'll have to report back how the VBox works. I think there are several similar devices available over here; I tried to set up a local broadcast streaming service via my Amazon Fire Stick but after a couple of weeks of joining it ended when the cable companies were able to get them shut down. The Locast company said they were free but asked for donations (by interrupting broadcasts regularly) and since they were building up their network they made more than needed to cover the immediate costs - thereby being for-profit, and that's how the cable companies got them shut down. Moral of story - don't get too hooked on some of these devices and services, they don't always stick around forever.

Last year I grew cucumbers and made lots of pickles (dill, bread and butter, and fresh Kosher/dill) and relish and still have quite a bit in the pantry. (I was so busy with okra this year I didn't plant cucumbers.) We ate all of the dill spears, and I wanted more fresh pickles so I bought some fairly pricey organic cucumbers and this morning I packed four jars (with spices, garlic, and pickle crisp) then topped with the hot brine (apple cider vinegar, water, and pickling salt). They will cool for a while then into the fridge for a couple of weeks before I start eating. It says wait two days, but they are at the best starting a couple of weeks out. I love the smell of the spices and vinegar wafting through the house!

The lawns need mowing and I need to finish thinning iris. I have two small trees to plant, and I'll put metal fence post and chicken wire around the one in the back yard to protect it from being chomped by the dogs. Tomorrow and Sunday I have events on my calendar so I need to pace myself to get everything done.

I've misplaced or lost my pocket knife. It's time to order a spare, because every so often the knife goes missing for a while, usually to be found in a jacket pocket or an unused pack, etc. I've retraced my steps from when I remember last using it. I feel naked without it.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 12 Nov 21 - 01:08 PM

We've not always been happy with everything about our GP, SRS, but I've been very pleased with the way they worked out the vaccinations.

My first Covid one was a little odd in that, while I believed I was in one of the vulnerable groups, I thought I would be asked to call in (or make other arrangements) and didn't expect a chap calling round to do me. That came out of the blue but I was happy to accept the offer.

Even though my first dose came a month after my parents', they decided that from there on that we (let's say dad housebound, mum can get out with difficulty and me mobile but with my own problems) could all be done at home in one visit.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Charmion
Date: 13 Nov 21 - 11:26 AM

I got my flu jab yesterday and my arm still hurts. That's not usual for me; perhaps this year's bug is a little nastier than the common run.

My neighbour was out mowing his lawn this morning when the thermometer said 2 degrees Celsius. He's definitely an over-achiever. I will sweep the leaves off my patio and into the flowerbed sometime this week, but that's all the winter prep I intend to go in for.

I called Habitat for Humanity yesterday to schedule the removal of a large pine chest of drawers for which I have no continuing requirement. The house feels lighter already.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 13 Nov 21 - 03:16 PM

Booster tomorrow...

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Nov 21 - 10:24 AM

Last night I attended a potluck reception for the museum volunteers, and it was in the kind of house that is so well put-together and so beautifully decorated as to cause feelings of inadequacy the moment you step over the threshold. Lovely carpets (not a great idea in this house full of dogs) and furniture that looks like it came from Pier One (but higher end). Art on the walls, lovely kitchen and den and wet bar, etc. All of the bedrooms put together (we left our coats in one bedroom). Reminds me that this morning I need to sweep up the dogs' forest floor in the den.

We're back to warmer days (not hot - we're into the 70s and low 80s now) so I can still putter in the garden. If I mow this week I think the timing is such that the grass going dormant for the year will stay mowed for a while. The goal is to have the last mow out of the way so the yard looks good by Thanksgiving.