De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Charmion
Date: 15 Mar 21 - 10:21 AM

No one came in the night to spirit away the beer fridge, so I am now waiting for the bin men to come for it. I won't believe it will go until it's gone.

The search for a protective underpad for my dining table continues, now on Amazon. For almost 30 years, I have been using a quilted thing made of flannel-backed plastic that my Dad bought back around 1982, and the deteriorating plastic is now approaching failure. But round mahogany dining tables 48 inches in diameter are apparently rare in this day and age.

What I really, really want is an elastic-edged baize cover wide enough to envelop both the tabletop and the deep apron supporting it, but such a thing seems not to exist, probably because 48 inches is big for a poker table. The elastic is desirable because the cats like to launch themselves onto the table at speed, and an unsecured cover will slide with a leaping cat and end up on the floor in a heap, with the cat and whatever else was on the table, including the fruit bowl.

First World problem number 748.6.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Mar 21 - 01:06 PM

I have a little oak table in my kitchen that is 42" across and since my ex stripped the finish off of the top (did he plan to do the whole table? I don't know, it never progressed) I now keep a clear plastic vinyl thing cut to size over the top of whatever tablecloth is on the table. I could also put the tablecloth on top of the plastic, but when the kids were small and spilling daily, I decided it was easier to wipe off the plastic than wash the cloths. Maybe I'll make the switch, I've done this out of habit for years.

This stuff comes on long rolls and is purchased by the yard, whatever thickness you prefer, in the fabric store. I never had much luck finding a small (or one I could cut down) padded cover to protect from hot stuff, etc. You can buy yardage of pre-quilted fabric (double sided print) with dacron polyfil type in it. I used some of that to make a fancy cover for my son's girlfriend's Kitchenaid stand mixer for xmas. Cut it to shape and finish the edge with bias tape. I suppose you could cut it out large enough to envelope that supporting apron then use elastic around the edge or buttons and loops or snaps or something to pull it into place below. Huge project.

Hmmm. Maybe I should make myself a padded cover for my table. I'd have to pick a solid color if I still want the table cloth on top to look okay. If I added elastic around the edge to let it tuck under the edge (this table has two wings so it folds fairly small when they're down) then I would be making something that looks like a gigantic shower cap when not on the table.

As you discard an unneeded fridge (your bin guys may take it back and put it to use in their office) the community fridge project I participate in has a call out for someone to service two of the three fridges, and is asking for tips. I shared my experience with dog hair on the coils - have they vacuumed underneath them lately? They're outside so there is probably dust and dried grass, not dog hair, but they don't cool if the coils are dusty.

So much for my advice for others. The dog hair around here right now would gag a Roomba. Time for the broom and dust pan and getting on working on my messy house.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Mrrzy
Date: 15 Mar 21 - 01:54 PM

Apparently the SPCA will take all my old tote bags. I was having trouble donating them.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Charmion
Date: 15 Mar 21 - 03:35 PM

Stilly, you’ve heard, I’m sure, of people who don’t cook? They can make tea and heat up soup that comes in a can, but they generally find ways to stay out of the kitchen entirely, such as marrying people who do cook. Or they spend most of their discretionary income on restaurants.

I cook, but I don’t sew. Every decade or so, I might replace a button or perhaps darn a moth-hole in a sweater, but that’s it. The very notion of me going out and buying baize by the metre and, y’know, cutting it to size and making a casing for elastic around the edge — well, that’s just not going to happen in this universe where the sky is usually some version of blue. Something from Amazon or one of its digital brethren will just have to do. Your mileage evidently varies.

In fact, the huge shower cap concept is about right; I have such a thing (purchased years ago from Amazon) for my inlaid mahogany tilt-top table, which is 40 inches in diameter and therefore much easier to, um, dress. But similar items intended to fit tables up to 48 inches don’t fit mine because of the apron. Phooey.

The last couple of weeks has been something of a shopping orgy conducted entirely on line. I think I need a Buy Nothing week, or two, or maybe four or five.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: JennieG
Date: 15 Mar 21 - 06:27 PM

Charmion - do you, perhaps, know of someone who could sew a shower cap for your table? It might be possible to organise a swap of some kind, e.g. the sewing for.....I don't know, something they were wanting/needing?

Do you have Fabricland in Stratford? They have all manner of sewing Stuff.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Mar 21 - 06:55 PM

My sister doesn't sew; maybe it's because she got tired of waiting for my mother and for me to finish using the sewing machine. :) Jennie, I chuckled when I remarked about the table cover looking like a huge shower cap, and it still looks silly with others in the group describe it, but it visually is exactly what we're all talking about.

There are seamstresses (seamsters? tailors? it isn't just women who sew, but for so long it has mostly been women that I don't know a gender-neutral term) who do this kind of thing for a living. If you decide to invent what you can't buy if it doesn't turn up. And check Etsy, they have some really unusual listings that might include custom table covers.

I think I pulled a muscle in my side when I was bending over painting on wood preservative yesterday on the next set of fence pickets. The weather is turning nice and I've spent time on YouTube learning how to install the cyclone fence gate. Now I need to figure out if I put in a double gate and lock it in a way that it will STAY locked and not just have someone push a double gate open. Otherwise I'll extend some fence and put a single gate against that.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: JennieG
Date: 15 Mar 21 - 07:39 PM

Perhaps a fitted sheet for the table would be a similar analogy? Although come to think of it - that would be more suited to a rectangle or square table, wouldn't it.

No, the table is round, so it's definitely a shower cap.

You are providing me with a chuckle to start the day!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Charmion
Date: 16 Mar 21 - 09:18 AM

Happy to help, Jennie.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 16 Mar 21 - 10:11 AM

Aren’t tables flat and wouldn’t a shower cap be for a dome? this was as close as I could find in my Amazon UK search but it would need a “shallowish” table with supports not running to the rim.

It was a lovely day yesterday and mum went out round the back again. While she was out there, I decided to do a little bit more grass cutting and had both mowers and the battery strimmer out. I took the petrol strimmer and the leaf blower out and started them up and all looks ok so I think that’s all the garden power tools OK to start the season.

I’ve yet to talk to mum who would make the decision on this but I’m wondering what to do about the patch of chippings at the front which has the bit where the car was parked. It needs quite a bit of attention and has often had weedkiller used on it. My inclination would be to let (or help it to) the lot grass over and have a paving stone path to the house – the only cars that would park there now would be family ones and visits (when we get out of Covid) only happen once or twice a year. I’m not sure mum would go along with that...

We are still making do with the old cooker and we now have another appliance to replace (or repair) as well. The washing machine has packed in. Mum and I had talked about a possible change recently anyway. A fair amount of bedding is going through these days and mum’s been complaining about difficulties in drying things. I’d said that I thought that a (probably 9/10kg) washer dryer would be the best move.

Maybe that will happen now. One day… The cost side is OK but as well as debating having people in to install while we (or were with the washer) making do, so many items at the online shops I look at are out of stock. I guess that’s the combination of Brexit and Covid for you?

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Charmion
Date: 16 Mar 21 - 01:03 PM

Aaaaand — there goes the fridge, on a forklift driven by a guy from the town works department. Good riddance.

Jon, that is indeed the class of article I’m looking for. Unfortunately, my table is an old-fashioned dining-room type that expands, so it has a four-inch ‘apron’ under the edge of the top with very little clearance between front surface of the apron and the outer edge of the top. Most elasticated table covers fit « up to » 48 inches, so they are very tight at fullest extent, and barely stretch over the edge of the top. Consequently, when the cat lands on the table, the elastic pops up over the edge and the whole thing, cat and all, heads for the floor.

So I want one that’s big enough to envelop the apron as well, thus reducing the tension and increasing the likelihood that the cover will stay on the table. Trouble is, this type of table cover doesn’t seem to come any bigger than 48 inches.

I am off to hunt and gather such delicacies as furnace filters and packing tape. What larks, eh?

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: mg
Date: 16 Mar 21 - 05:10 PM

i have been on a roll. i really don't have a lot of stuff, but after helping a handicapped brother declutter...i have done more. two large bags to thrift store, plus a smaller of napkins and condiments for their lunch box. I am admitting that I will never make lemon bars in my perfect glass pan. Today I pulled all canned goods on one rolling cart, marked the dates, threw away just a few..plan to eat some expired ones when the tsunami comes...and put the rest into the oven, which i never use, for storage. I rolled the round cart..made for instapots I think..over to my desk and put a lot of stuff that clutters the desk on it..including some chargers. Wow..what a difference. Have to find room for a bin of extra bedding that I had stored in a large, gifted, new suitcase that was just too heavy for me to ever use..gave to my sister...but that can be done. I lost a crucial piece to my vacuum ..it must have flown into the garbage..so I can't suck the air out of the bags they are in. Oh well.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 16 Mar 21 - 07:44 PM

Beaver!:

Heavy winds Thurs night resulted in power outage of 7 hours here (I get text notices). Larry checked Fri am and found no frozen pipes - no water spewing! And pulled the plug on the water pump - in case. After brief consideration, and a weather report for more winds, I pulled together a trip back. Arrived about 5 pm and turned on electric blanket!! and started wood stove a goin';, had a bite to eat - toast and cashew butter - and went to bed by 7.

Total exhaustion but glad I did it. Cold nights and below freezing days. After getting back up at 8 am - that's 13 hours! I went back to bed at 10am! At 1 pm I was almost ready to face the world. Cleared path to wood shed AGAIN! Threw a few pots - with well wedged clay! brought in some wood cooked a good meal and ate lots! Went back to bed at 8 pm.

Pots are trimmed but no more thrown. plenty of wood in, trip to grocery - not really dangerous here as barely anyone in store! Visit from Larry. Reading, resting and breaking up ice on walkway to studio so I have safe passage to load kiln. On schedule for tomorrow when temp is going up a few more degrees above freezing. Need to clear the shelves to make room for more fresh pots. (bakers rack on wheels.)

Stopped at Community Trust to give good donation, partly in thanks for Larry and Mike doing chimney - so I could come home! Otherwise, reading and computing. And resting. AND managed to get appointments for vaccine - 5 April and 26 July. Talked to R about staying here until after first shot. He is having to keep the 100+ plants alive. That will give me time to accomplish the pots on order and some more for the shop, rather than make another trip back and forth. Best to go back to hot-spot Quebec with at least one shot. Then it will be time to start seeds for both gardens - and that bag of soil should be out of the ice!

Only yesterday did the sun reach an angle that shines on the walkway - between 5 and 6 pm, then it is gone. Very helpful as the ice is at least 3 inches thick and I have not been able to break it. By Friday, I might be able to get to composter! In any case, I love being here.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Mar 21 - 12:03 AM

This morning I had an email that my ILL request was in, and this is the book I've been needing. Lots of descriptions, diagrams and the "exploded" view of sewing machines (the kind if a diagram used in patent applications). I scanned part of it but I'm not sure if the scanner was doing what I wanted it to do (this is an overhead variety called a "KIC" scanner). I'll open the files later. I have the book for a very long time so can work on the particular chapter I need.

I met friends for lunch; we ate at an outdoors table and talked for a long time, then I picked up the book. My retiree ID got me into the library and checked out my book, then I visited an old friend and gave masks to her and to another former co-worker (like so many of the guys with full faces and beards, he has a difficult time with masks fitting well). It's spring break and it was late enough in the afternoon that there weren't many people on campus.

Mary, it sounds like you made good progress, and Dorothy, it sounds like a good time of year to stay hunkered down and read a good book, but you're getting a lot done anyway. Good for both of you!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Mar 21 - 03:15 PM

Thinking about rearranging my office. And looking at the mass of cables and wires and cords. Maybe this is something I should go away from for a while and let the feeling pass.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Charmion
Date: 18 Mar 21 - 09:11 AM

Do it, Stilly. I have streamlined my computer set-up to the extent that I need only one power bar — and that’s really for surge-suppression — and all wires are off the floor. I can now whisk the dust mop or the vacuum cleaner around the desk without moving anything, and my neatnik soul is happy.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 18 Mar 21 - 10:06 AM

On the other hand, we've got messy tangled wire corners that I've never worked out how to deal with and prefer to sort of pretend they don't really exist...

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 18 Mar 21 - 10:07 AM

Beaver:

Have appointment for vaccine 5 April! R agreed that I stay here. I am happy to do so - as long as he cares for the plants! So I can focus on pottery. Weather is going above freezing and I have good access to studio. Gathering energy for a kiln firing - moving pots to the kiln room - tray by tray OR push the entire baker's rack...? When I decide, I shall do. Heavy weather yesterday = no energy. Went for groceries but stuff I wanted was not there. Ordered block of cheese and organic whipping cream from a special shop. Got home and had a sudden NEED for BOOKS so I went back to town (5 minutes) and went to thrift shop - gained 7 to read and one -expensive!- one for R. That will be his B-day gift. Then, I read two - one is tiny, the second not so tiny but fascinating novel. Now on third, also a novel, also intriguing. I wonder about the people who donate these interesting books! I also purchased a useful pot for a potted plant and a nifty small pot for a succulent, a beautiful blue/white dish towel (I am a sucker for blue/white or just cobalt blue.)

All safe places to visit. There have been no cases in this area but that does not mean someone might not bring it with them. Otherwise, I hacked at ice and brought in more wood. Hacking at ice does not do my shoulders any good. I realized that has impeded my potting energy. No more needs to be done. Later today I shall try for the groceries they did not have yesterday.

I ordered a full set of supplements as what I brought with me will not last. And will order one for R - same reason. The "cotton" socks that arrived as polyester are - after strong complaint - being replaced with no charge. I told them the polyester would be donated to a thrift shop. I hate to even give them away but I guess some people need socks, even polyester. In the process, I have received a full refund! AND they are replacing. This, Oakley, is making an effort! I am looking forward to seeing what the cotton ones are like.

Then, I thought to look at the "diabetic" socks I bought locally and just love. Polyester! I feel mortified. They are kind of fuzzy and not at all constricting and stay up nicely. I was going to get more! We learn by these things.

The sky is lifting and a glimmer of sun (10 am) and temp just above freezing. Maybe now I can feel inspired to go to pot!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Mar 21 - 10:56 AM

All of these wires and cords are connected to things peripheral to the computer, and I decided I need to organize upward this time. I have some smallish much-used and loved bookshelves (two 4-shelf "baker" racks and two 3-shelf cases, all folding and all in the kitchen) that are in use, so I ordered another 3-shelf one (Amazon) and next week it will arrive and be set on the desk against the wall and the various devices (battery backup, VHS, Canopis, scanner, other scanner, hard drive, etc.) will be placed on those and their cables running out the back or side of the shelves, giving me more desk space. Just as well I haven't hung art on that wall yet. I moved a troublesome hard drive (if I leave it plugged in and turn off the computer, the computer then won't start because somehow this drive becomes the reference point but there is no OS on it so it hangs.) It's the backup of work from work (photos, mostly) and one of these days I'll wipe it clean and use it for something else. I also moved a couple of small lamps, everything extra that sits and collects dust and has a cord was a problem. With those three things gone four wires were removed.

In my eBay work I often times need power supplies or cables for things, so I think the time has come to empty the extra wall warts and cables into a box to place in the eBay room. And do I really need all of those xmas lights that I have in the closet? The train set for under a tree that I didn't use often and I never have trees now? I think it's time to offer to one of the kids or the thrift store. Etc. I'm making those kinds of closet decisions. There are more papers for the burning barrel as well.

Dorothy, April seems a long time off, but it actually isn't, is it? My ex gets his first Pfizer vaccine today, the second in mid-April. This allows our little family, spread out as it is, to get together after the end of April, a time that can't arrive soon enough! I have until then to clean house so they can come in and we can share a meal.

We're due rain next week, so the week after that I've tentatively scheduled with my friend who does odd jobs and owns a tiller to return to till up the other side of the driveway. It was fallow last year after knee surgery. This will be my opportunity to reshape the soil over there and build raised beds that I'll keep in place. I need to mow before he tills to keep the amount of stuff we have to rake out to a minimum. My to-do list is growing for outdoor stuff.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Mar 21 - 12:37 AM

I killed time this evening trying to restore my Bluetooth on the big Dell, but even System Restore wouldn't revive it. So I'll figure out if it is a card and arrange to get under the hood to replace it. I didn't used to use the Bluetooth much, but I've started and find I don't want to give it up.

I'm looking forward to that new little bookshelf, but am not so excited for it to rob Peter to pay Paul. I could take everything off of one of the others here and put it in, but then I'd have to deal with all of the current contents sitting out in the way until the new one arrives.

I don't care for garage sales, but it is beginning to feel like time to start setting stuff aside for one.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 19 Mar 21 - 08:49 AM

Oddly enough (again…) I paired my phones with my desktop PC yesterday. I’m not sure that I’ve ever really used the PCs bluetooth but at least it’s there and working if I do want it.

None of the PC motherboards (all similar Gigabyte AM3+ boards) here have bluetooth support onboard but I’ve a USB dongle plugged in the back of mine. I’ve also got a combined WiFi and bluetooth one plugged into dad’s Lenovo laptop but that’s for a different reason. Bluetooth and Wifi are both built into the laptop but I was unable to get either of these to work properly under Linux.

The most common use for bluetooth here (and even that is rare) is between an Android device and an audio device. Both the Yamaha sound base under the tv and Pioneer amp can work that way.

Coming back to cables (of which there are many here…), I’ve just remembered I’ve got a job I ought to do. Largely as I ran the main Ethernet cables outside for ease of installation, I use link aggregation (or doubling up if you like). I noticed when looking at a switch the other week that one of the links is down (probably a broken cable). In one sense, it seems to be doing exactly what was intended (ie a single failed link won’t take things down) but I should restore the redundancy.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Mar 21 - 12:52 PM

I think I'm closer to a solution; I've done a system restore (didn't help, but now it wants me to reburn a disk that I burned several weeks ago), updated all of the Dell drivers (still doesn't work) and in the device list there is an "unknown device" that I'm pretty sure is the bluetooth/WiFi card. In the knowledge base I found some techniques to restore that include going back to Factory BIOS, to clearing the NVRAM cache (that remembers what all devices are installed for a quick startup), or opening the cover and removing the coin battery for a few seconds then restoring it. Anything that involves opening the computer involves moving the desk, disturbing the newly-settled dust (I dusted last month), and wouldn't you know that when I start fussing about how peripherals are arranged something needs work. Or maybe something needed work so I started thinking about moving peripherals?

I'll try the turn off, unplug, discharge power, and remove and reinstall the unknown device showing up in the device list.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 19 Mar 21 - 01:10 PM

I'm probably totally wrong but maybe if its a BIOS/Operating system type thing, you could try to enter the BIOS (often F2 or Del) and poke around for onboard peripherals. Maybe disabling some device that looks appropriate then rebooting, followed be a re-enable there might trigger something? You may also see if the "unknown device" remains while disabled.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Mar 21 - 04:35 PM

I think the Windows update corrupted the Bluetooth software. I turned the computer off, unplugged, pressed the start button for 10 seconds (this completely discharges the power), then restarted and looked for the device information and deleted the unknown one. Dell has a system to survey the computer to see what's missing and offered up the drivers for the WiFi/Bluetooth combo card. I then had to let Windows do it's big update again, but the Bluetooth stayed put this time. No dust disturbed.

I've taken the step to get my hair cut (finally!) and to set up a consultation as far as the cataracts. There are lots of ducks to line up for the surgery, the haircut, not so much. Short term and long term goals addressed in the same day.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Charmion
Date: 19 Mar 21 - 05:54 PM

Today I bought new brown leather walking shoes — in a men’s size seven, to accommodate the increasingly warped shape of my wonky foot. Once I got used to the idea, I was thrilled. Still am.

New Balance makes essentially the same shoes for both sexes, but their women’s shoes are proportionately narrower in the forefoot. So, once I found out which men’s size is equivalent to a women’s 8.5, I was amazed at how much more room there is in the toe box. This solution works only with lace-up styles, as other kinds of men’s shoes are too loose in the heel for me.

So now I shall walk downtown for dinner.

Stilly, your computer trials make me love my Mac more and more. I so don’t miss Windows.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 19 Mar 21 - 07:41 PM

I stick with PCs and don't (usually) miss Windows...

We've had another delivery of logs today which we'll get Jonathan (yep he has the same name as me) to stack at the weekend.

I think I might need to correct the way he's stacking things (A couple of rows in the shed I'm taking logs from collapsed and I'm taking logs off 3 layers because I fear the back row could come down on my head when I take logs from nearer the floor with the way it's leaning. That and the first row he started in the other shed is leaning) but that's maybe a minor detail. We should have a good store of logs for next year.

A first for this year: We had tea a bit early and I took mum's down the field for her to have outside. I wouldn't have guessed we'd be doing that before the clocks go forward at the end of the month but at about 4:30pm, conditions seemed perfect.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 19 Mar 21 - 07:55 PM

Mum really struggles with footwear with her arthritic misshapen feet. She did have an NHS pair made for her a few years back but they were heavy and didn't work out.

The best she has found are CosyFeet but I don't know their availability in other countries and don't think they run to walking shoes/boots.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Mar 21 - 08:21 PM

There's a popup in the middle of the Cosy Feet screen telling me they ship world wide! Good to know.

I am careful about my shoes since having bunion surgery a dozen years ago or more. No more heels, making sure they're not too snug. I occasionally still get narrow shoes, but mostly wear medium width.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: keberoxu
Date: 19 Mar 21 - 10:12 PM

As to CosyFeet, the site has multiple pages, try this one:

Cosy Feet USA

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Charmion
Date: 20 Mar 21 - 11:11 AM

CosyFeet ship to Canada, according to their website. I might just give 'em a whirl if (when?) I get desperate for something to put on my feet that isn't sneakers.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Mar 21 - 11:47 AM

Fourteen months after my last haircut I have my next appointment. In early April I'll get several inches cut off, my bangs trimmed, and decide if I want to return to the highlights I have done for a long time. Or something else. The entire world hasn't opened for business yet, but with the vaccine and the precautions they're hopefully still taking at the salon, I'll get my hair back under control. I'll still braid it, but without the long straggling section at the end.

I've researched the "how to make the gate stay locked" question to I advance with my double gate (details needed for construction so someone can't simply push it forward and open). This way I'll have an easier route back to the compost when I work on the garden to grow my own healthy food again. I do need to find some of the clamping hinge parts so I don't have to drill holes through the posts.

I'm resuming alternate-day fasting to drop the pounds I picked up during a sedentary winter. Add to this the hair and an appointment to discuss cataract surgery and I seem to be decluttering my body this spring.

The house hasn't been very tidy since Winter Storm "Uri" hit; I need to rearrange my pantry shelves to create a space for the new propane stove that is on my kitchen table and get the fuel bottles to run it. And I need to do a couple of more things in advance of the next power outage (more candles, charge batteries, etc.; and find a large power supply with a solar charger).

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Mar 21 - 09:14 PM

Work accomplished on the pantry shelves and I picked up a couple of one-pound bottles of propane to go with the new Coleman stove and all are parked in a cleared shelf. A large flattened box is on the floor under those wire shelves and I slid in various cases of canned goods, now easy to slide out when needed.

The really ugly compost enclosure that didn't do a thing to keep the dogs out of the contents was mostly disassembled this evening. Some of the rusty old chicken wire will leave with the trash, some of it is rolled up to be given another purpose later. And I bought a four-foot tall roll of chicken wire to try again. I am not in love with chicken wire, but the other fencing things would have been too easy for dogs to climb.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 20 Mar 21 - 09:27 PM

Beaver:

Due to staying here until the vaccine shot, I have time to pot!!! BUT trying to wedge the used clay was wearing out my shoulders and my patience. So, carefully looking at the weather forecast, I phoned the potter supply early Friday morning and put in an order for NEW clay! The glitch was that pick up is by appointment and the only time left was 4 pm! With a 3 hour trip back home... But I took a rest, had lunch and set off cross country - byways, not hiways!

Arriving at 3:25, I backed into parking area and phoned as required: "I'm early but no one else is here!" My order was beautifully loaded by a young woman who did not weigh much more than the clay! And a couple other staff came out to say "hi" and wish me well. I was back on the road by 3:35 and home just after 7, with a 40 minute stop at a terrific grocery store where I could - safely - obtain items not available in my other shopping spots.

Part way back I realized - WOW! there was no snow at all down there! It re-appeared as I drove north, but observed some glimmerings of spring! Still almost two feet on yard but I see one raised bed is starting to come out from under!

So, today, I threw 20Kg of the wonderful new clay into 12 large objects! Happiness!!! I did have to go back to bed for a mid morning rest and then lunch before getting started.

Today was a lovely warm day - exquisite! I had the studio door open due to solar gain! Warmer tomorrow so I look forward to more of the same and, hopefully, enough energy to unload the bisque firing -after throwing and trimming- wax bottoms and consider glazing options. Maybe even mix a needed glaze. My goal being to use all the new clay, fire, glaze, fire, etc. and have lots of pots done before 5 April! 14 days- well, maybe I can or at least come close. Nothing else to do but bring in firewood and not too much needed now!

Meanwhile, R actually commented that watering the plants took him half an hour! I told him that without me there, he has time! He has not yet eaten all the food I left for him. I am eating healthily and happy to have maintained my 15 pound loss. I am looking forward to the sorrel coming up out of the snow! Maybe even tomorrow!

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

The sunshine is piling up in deep drifts here, Dorothy! ;-)

I know it's spring when I wake up planning how to do some task or other out in the yard. I need to prune a bunch of stuff today and I'll be dragging some old fencing stuff out to the curb for trash pickup tomorrow. And I'll be using the two-pound sledge hammer to drive in the metal fence posts for the next compost challenge the dogs will take on.

My mower needs an oil change and I might have to change the spark plug; will consult the owner's manual.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Mar 21 - 01:06 AM

I didn't pound the fence posts yet or string out the chicken wire, but I did some preliminary work ahead of that. I figured that the easiest way to haul brush from the front to the back (where it probably won't go in the regular compost pile, but it still needs moving to the back) is with a tarp, so I found one for less than $4 at Harbor Freight that will be my dedicated brush-hauling tarp. There's no weight to it, just bulk, and I have a lot to trim this year.

Today I actually paced myself pretty well, doing some yard work then coming in to do some sewing or some picking up, then cycling back out to the yard some more. During the sewing stage I realized that despite having bought almost five yards of flannel last month that I'm almost out. That's the common fabric in all of my masks, and I go through it pretty quickly. Tomorrow will be a run to Joann's with a coupon and for efficiency, a couple of other stops on the way.

I also finally made myself sit down and just watch a movie, not do something else while it's on. Now to mail it back to NetFlix. I don't really get my money's worth from that, but my son watches it all of the time and we share the account (since I rent two DVDs at a time there can be two streaming accounts with it.) In a world with all of the trauma of COVID and post-Trump, it was nice to watch The Muppets.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Charmion
Date: 22 Mar 21 - 10:59 AM

Last night featured my second asthma attack in a week. It must be Spring.

The garden desperately needs attention, but leaf mold is a major allergen and the flower beds are full of it. I can probably risk picking up the deadfall branches the trees shed over the winter, however. It's a beautiful day in the neighbourhood!

I must also buy a bathing suit. Ordering on the internet isn't working -- two returns is all the pattern I need -- so I'll have to bite the bullet and go downtown. I just hope I don't have to go all the way to Kitchener or London.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Mar 21 - 11:19 AM

Ooooh, Charmion! Stay safe! Do you wear a facemask when you work in the yard? It used to be you could buy the N-95 construction masks at Home Depot; that's what I used to work in the attic dust and the downstairs room after the ceiling fell in. Now it's a crap shoot whether they still have any in stock.

I bought a bathing suit in preparation for returning to the gym after the knee surgery in February 2020. It still has the tags on it in my dresser drawer. So much for those plans! (I bought a 1-piece black Speedo, conservative cut around the legs, at Academy.)

Rain is in the forecast to day and it's good timing since I have a lot of in-the-house stuff to do. I did make one dash up the street a few houses; the trash company routinely changes the route when the days get longer so they switched from late afternoon pickup to early morning pickup. They'd been on my street already but were coming down the hill on the intersecting street so I dropped my trash next to the bag at the house kitty-corner from me that block (the street intersects with mine across the street from my house. I worry about someone slithering through the stop and landing on my front lawn). Note to self to now start putting out the trash the night before.

I just looked up kitty-corner, wondering about it. Turns out it's English mangling of quatre corner. Makes sense.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 22 Mar 21 - 01:48 PM

Beaver:

Very tired! I guess I was overly optimistic about how much I could do, not remembering all the intermediate tasks - cleaning pots that are to be glazed, wax bottoms. DONE! But only 7 got trimmed yesterday and none thrown. This am, I cleared some space in the "Wood shed" and put up two TV tables, brought all the glazes out of the studio and stacked them on table and on the swept floor. All the debris that fell off the wood while stacked, is now in a lined banana box bottom - the one I kept moving from place to place, not wanting to burn it but wondering what to do... Almost full of burnable debris that will go into the woodstove over the next while. Maybe by that time, I will be able to take the box to the back shed to await a new use. Still too much snow!

The woodshed is actually a solidly built roof over that end of the deck, open all four sides. It is largely empty of wood now, leaving adequate room to organize a glazing area.

The sorrel is coming up in a cleared raised bed! And I raked the debris from the comfrey. The nearby, original, sorrel is starting to look useful. The best news today was being able to get to the south rain barrel and get rain water for the studio. The iron water here is BAD for glazes so I keep it out of the studio generally, using rain water for throwing, etc. So I schlepped two small buckets. More later. I need to do a bunch of glaze related work: wash buckets, mix a batch of yellow, clear and translucent green, ORGANIZE!

The studio is really not big enough for all I am trying to do. The woodshed is a big help! I can run an extension cord over to use the drill for mixing glazes. A better table would help. I was able to get into the storage cabinet at front of house this am but the tables I thought were there, are not! Improvise.

Giving thoughtful consideration to vacuuming the studio with shop vac, wearing respirator and goggles. Now needing to weigh available space with tasks to be done. Glazing paramount as there is no more room for new work... Hmmmm!

Today is gorgeous and warm, and no bugs yet! Another factor to consider! And today I am in get out and push mode; work a bit, rest a bigger bit. And rain in a day or so... ... Do not try to vacuum; glaze like mad.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Mar 21 - 11:10 PM

Dorothy, I remember when you were first looking at that little property. I'm impressed how you've made it into quite an interesting and adaptable space.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Charmion
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 09:57 AM

I still feel rather iffy from both the wheezing and coughing and the drugs to control the wheezing and coughing. After a drug-free year, I'm back on Zenhale, a puffer that combines a steroid with a long-acting bronchodilator. The steroid is comparatively benign, but the bronchodilator makes me twitchy. I may have to give up coffee until I get used to it again. Not that I drink much coffee any more.

Not fair.

I talked to a landscaper yesterday and asked him for a quote on spring-cleaning the flower beds in the garden and some preventive lawn maintenance -- aerating, dethatching, over-seeding, stuff like that. He just sent me an email with a whole new take on my name -- Tonya. I guess a change is as good as a rest.

As Dorothy points out, this is the halcyon period of spring before the bugs appear. I had better get out and enjoy it while I can.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Mar 21 - 11:02 AM

Late yesterday a flat box arrived with a three-shelf folding bookcase. I've unpacked it and am now about to disturb some dust. I'll wear a mask to spare myself some sneezes.

I have a six inch deep stack of paper to put in the burning barrel today, so between dust in the house and smoke in the yard, the mask will be very handy.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 24 Mar 21 - 02:22 PM

Beaver:

I do love the improvements here. I wanted the realtor to come see it but she is always too busy. When everything is working, as it now is, it is cosy and comfortable. I really do prefer it to the big house in QC. Closer to nature.

A few days ago I finally figured out how to get a signal when a message comes in! So great! Expecting a message from a friend to meet in town so I will not have to check every few minutes!

Seriously wanting something dif to eat; considering take out of fish and sweet potato chips - when I get to town. Also need to pick up package at "post office" - bloomin' Shopper's Drug mart. I resent having to go into a bloomin' store instead of the post office. This is for 20 loaves of good bread which will go into the freezer. LOTS of bread!!! About 20 weeks worth! But not available locally. I could have done with 10 but wanted two dif sorts - 10 each is how it comes!

Today, a heavy, gonna rain day - the energy is not there. Read all morning. Did one tiny potting task and have decided I do not need to push myself. The kiln is loaded but for two tiny pieces I will use to test a couple iffy glazes. Tomorrow will do. Iffy = "What is that?" Keeping records is not my strong point. Walked around yesterday stirring glazes with a RED marker in my pocket! Made sense of most of them. Anyway, they are OK in the wood shed - with chunks of wood holding the lids down! Maybe tomorrow I will mix the two needed ones, if it is not windy.

I did vacuum the loose stuff in studio; the wand for the shop vac - after I found it! - was long enough to reach all the way in and with the vac outside, it did not blow anything around! Opened window and door and let the air settle for awhile.

The snow is going! I can get to the water barrel easily but not to the back sheds yet. Will soon be able to pull grass shoots out of the raised beds. The impending rain will do the job. The sorrel is coming up nicely.

Still 10 days before shot and I may stay a couple days after so I can go to the Bakery on the Thursday - on way back to Quebec. Hopefully with all the pots ordered by the woman in Quebec. Focus, Dorothy, Focus!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Mar 21 - 06:11 PM

It took three attempts to find the best position for this bookshelf. The job isn't finished, but it's much tidier and there is room for more equipment on the shelves. I moved the UPS onto the bottom shelf, along with a separate surge protector for things that don't need to have time to shut down after a power outage. There are still a lot of cables, but as I plugged in each device I made a little label that I taped to each cord near the plug identifying what it went to.

Two years' worth of receipts and papers went up in smoke in the burning barrel, and that is now disassembled, the ash in the compost and the barrel back in the greenhouse.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Charmion
Date: 24 Mar 21 - 08:44 PM

I took the tax stuff to the accountant today. When he’s done his magic and I’ve paid what we owe, that will be the end of my obligations to the government with respect to Edmund’s death. I’ll be able to close the estate account and make the bank happy.

Booya. Hoop-dee-doo.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Mar 21 - 05:21 PM

It is looking better in the office but I still need to find homes for a couple of things (not computer equipment).

I have feedback to consider since this morning's appointment to determine the type of lens to use for cataract surgery/lens replacement. It is several weeks away until after my ride to and from the surgery has completed his COVID vaccination regimen. One eye will respond well to the Medicare covered replacement lens, one will benefit from an upgrade to deal with astigmatism (meaning possibly not needing glasses for distance after all is finished). I'll probably still need glasses for close work. Wearing glasses after isn't a problem; not being able to see how much salt I'm putting on my food, or having to retrieve a flashlight and hand lens anytime I want to read small print while I'm wearing glasses will be nice to leave behind.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 25 Mar 21 - 10:52 PM

Beaver:

I am confused by the lens situation/cataracts. I had only the choice of ordinary or special. I paid extra for the special but no re-collection of the reasons! R told me to! I never had any info on any of it and the Dr. was NO HELP! But she told me after that my vision was 20/20 in each eye. And I only need the drug store glasses when print is too small. Why on earth do they print stuff so small that people with 20/20 cannot read it??

TODAY! Gorgeous! Much of the snow is gone and I see daffodil shoots peaking out and columbine up about 4 inches! And the sorrel is looking like a few more days to edible! Need rubber boots to get to the back sheds and still much snow back there in the shade. When I refer to this place as "down in the swamp" I am not kidding! The back area may be wet until July.

I threw pots today - 10kg. Have realized this is not a marathon. But I keep deviating from my list! Things are pretty organized now with areas for each operation. Glaze firing has gone off at good time tonight. The next batch to be bisqued is in the kiln room so all that heat will dry them well. Also did some hand laundry today and not much else - or so it seems.

Congratulations to Charmion on reaching this terrific goal!

The fish and chips was delicious but I could have eaten a second one. I wonder if there is any frozen fish with batter that would suffice. I bought frozen sweet potato chips and they were yummy- did them in the toaster oven.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Mar 21 - 12:10 AM

I won't get started on estates—they can be very messy; the way Charmian has worked through Edmund's business and personal papers and wishes at apparent lightning speed is quite remarkable.

Dorothy, it sounds like you had a good outcome on the surgery. The newest (and highest priced) thing is called PanOptix or PanOptix Toric, and have to do with removing the need for glasses at all. I have read that some of these way high-end lens fix-all-vision-problems implants can have visual halos in certain lighting, which may not be a bad thing, but might be distracting. I'm looking at the mid-range one that is called AlconToric for the left eye and the surgery will reduce my dependence on glasses.

No potting here; the clay I work with is in my yard's soil. My plans are underway for the garden and next week the heavy lifting of breaking up old compost piles to stir into the beds when my friend comes over to till them. We've had rain twice this week so my effort to keep the out-of-doors outside of the house is still a struggle as the dogs come and go. The lawn is still sparse so the mud is easily tracked in.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 26 Mar 21 - 07:34 AM

Things are moving with the kitchen appliances. The washer dryer came earlier in the week and the cooker is due on April 1st. We agreed on a halogen hob cooker.

Lights are playing up in the living room. They are fine with a standard on/off switch but have started flickering and flashing with the Lightwave dimmer that I’d like to return to using. I had a couple of spares of these dimmers but they all do the same. Maybe it’s the bulbs – I changed one recently which put 3 out of 4 of the bulbs onto the cheap Amazon ones I’d bought – perhaps that’s upset the balance of things things… Some better quality (and same maker as the dimmer) ones on order. I don't know where I go if that fails.

Wi-fi on the kitchen camera went from being a bit flaky at times to rarely working at all. That’s quite annoying as I use the motion detection on that to keep the kitchen lights on… I came up with a temporary fix using a spare wireless access point in client mode and connecting that to the camera’s Ethernet port.

I hope to have a bit tidier solution today but can’t do all I’d hoped. I’ve got a PoE (power over Ethernet) switch and a camera that uses poe coming today. The access point also takes poe so I thought I could do it all with just one power socket and power cable. Instead, I learned something about PoE. There is the proper “active” poe where the power requirements are negotiated between (say) the switch and the powered device. Then there is “passive” PoE where the device just takes what’s given even thought it may not be compatible with the standard “active” stuff. My access point is passive and not compatible with the switch. I’ll leave it with using 2 sockets. Maybe later in the year, I’ll see if I can get a wired Ethernet connection into the kitchen.

I’ve found which of the 4 (two pairs which both join midway on the run) cables is broken on the main wired route and should have a new outdoor cat 6 cable today to restore the complete run with redundancy.

Oh well, it seems to be the season for things electrical and electronic round here...

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Mar 21 - 10:59 AM

Jon, that's a lot of stuff I haven't had to think about - does your Internet/ethernet run through the power lines? (The "mains" you call them?) That would be nice. We have to run the Cat 5, or now Cat 6, for all Internet connections (unless it's WiFi), completely separate from the electrical part of the wiring.

I have one smart bulb that I've not yet decided on placement. It's the same brand as the smart bulb I have in my kitchen dining area so they can be installed on that one app. I tell Alexa to turn it on and off and don't need to lean way around the corner to reach that switch (put in the wrong place to begin with, and I'm not paying to rewire it). This second bulb is here as a spare since I haven't had a use for it so far. (I have Alexa in the phone but purposely haven't turned it on; I use an Echo dot in two rooms for the command to the bulb or listening to radio.)

I buy the LED fixtures now, some encased in bulbs, others with the bare diode inside the fixture that is put up in the hall, the laundry room, etc, in place of a dead fixture. I need a new one for the side porch where I used to use the stick halogen bulbs. Next iteration will be LEDs.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 26 Mar 21 - 11:25 AM

All the network cabling is Cat5/6. The only thing I've had running over the mains here was X10 home automation stuff but I replaced that several years ago.

In case there is some confusion here, Power over Ethernet puts power down the Ethernet cables. I'm using it for both the outdoor cameras.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Mar 21 - 11:22 AM

I'm looking at the house through different eyes now: the possibility that people can actually come in means I ought to put more stuff away and finish some of the rearranging of furniture I have in mind doing. And there are a bunch of boxes that need flattening and deposit in the village recycle bins. They fill so fast these days, I need to plan to go right after the dumpsters are emptied.

The front hall as become a bit of a spectacle with metal wire panels that can be assembled as a sort of dog play enclosure. I have a couple of them up to keep the dogs out of the carpeted front room and have set things on the chairs in front of the panels to keep the puppy from pushing past them. It all needs clearing out, and some of the boxes in that room need flattening and to be recycle bin bound. I have never yet managed the Swedish "death cleaning," I'm still working on the American "room to live in" cleaning.