De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021

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: 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: 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 - 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 - 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 - 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Charmion
Date: 25 Oct 21 - 10:14 PM

Backwoodsman, I had a similarly trepid experience in England: driving a rented Vauxhall Corsa from Heathrow to Bromyard on the M4. Massively unpleasant. I think my husband spent most of the trip with his eyes firmly shut.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Donuel
Date: 25 Oct 21 - 05:48 PM

Holy crap! The 401 scares me to death and I've driven NYC highways.
Canada will save time going west to Chicago if you survive.

Today I planted Muskaria bulbs and hedged everything except the vehicle shaped forsythia.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 25 Oct 21 - 12:54 PM

Aaahh, Highway 401! The scene of my first-ever attempt to drive safely on what, for a Brit, is the ‘wrong’ side of the road. Pearson Int’l Airport to my wife’s brother’s place in Burlington ON. Very much a “Bring me my brown trousers” moment! ;-)

By the time we hit the 403, I was beginning to get into my stride but, oh man, that first bit on the 401 - Ah yessss, ah remembaire eet well! :-)

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Charmion
Date: 25 Oct 21 - 11:29 AM

My car is in the shop for repair of the wound on its roof where the garage door ripped off the satellite antenna. I have rented a Chevrolet Spark for the interim. It is very small and painted grey so it is nearly invisible on the road. Worse, it has all the acceleration of a drugged snail. I will not be driving it on Highway 401 if I can possibly avoid it.

It is raining and chilly in Stratford today, and likely to remain so for at least a week. This is normal for late October, so I might as well get used to it; the alternative is snow. Which is definitely coming.

Aren't I a little ray of sunshine today?

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Oct 21 - 02:53 PM

Some weeks ago I ordered a velcro closing band that would hold my fitness tracker on my ankle. This is because when mowing or dog walking my hands don't swing back and forth as they do when you're walking with free hands. The fitness tracker relies on the movement to count steps, so I have been tucking my watch into my sock and hoping to not drop it out (short ankle socks) or run it through the laundry. The ordered band was cheap (they all were) and was a piece of crap.

This morning I pulled out a roll of industrial velcro (military, I think - it came from my ex who was in the Army and later has been known to shop at Army/Navy stores) and the remains of a t-shirt I disassembled after making t-shirt yarn for masks. I puttered with length and design and ended up with a tube of t-shirt fabric attached to the fuzzy strip of velcro and a piece of the hook part sewn onto one end. I slide the watch into the cotton and wrap this thing around my ankle. Comfortable and a much better design than the crap from Amazon. I'll write a suitably scathing review soon. :)

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Oct 21 - 01:13 PM

I'm going to have to put up a café curtain rod and hang a light-blocking drapery of some sort over the office window where there is a blind but the slight gap between the blind and the wall is all it takes to make an uncomfortable working setup. The gap in the morning offers too much backlight and glare at one point.

I'll poke around the sewing room for possible materials, I'm pretty sure no new purchases will be necessary.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Oct 21 - 02:04 AM

Yes, Mudcat being down for many hours does manifest in a feeling of withdrawal. I found myself saving things to post later in the various threads.

The new printer has been installed in an office that has gone through a major reorganization. The furniture was rearranged to accommodate the addition of one more device that has to sit where the USB cord can reach the old computer and the power cord can reach the power supply. It's also on the network (note to self: change the password, the serial number was really difficult to get to work in the system). I've test printed a past year's holiday letter, and it looks good. To look great I'll have to use a coated stock, and that's easily enough done (and there are lots of online paper suppliers who are far more affordable than the brick and mortar office supply stores).

Progress. Now (tomorrow is soon enough) to finish installing a couple of other devices that will contribute to this color printing initiative.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Oct 21 - 11:01 PM

The only plant color change I'm aware of is putting more acid in the soil to change the hydrangea flower color.

I'm taking a docent course at the museum where I also volunteer in the archives and for two years have processed slides in the collection of artist twin brothers, and there is an exhibit of their work up this autumn. There was a tour today offered by the curator of the exhibit, and I had a couple questions and a couple of remarks about the photos I've been looking at that were part of their artistic process. After scanning for a while I went on that tour, then I met with my docent mentor to go through the museum and look at the places were I'm planning tour stops. I also explained my interest in interpreting the building architect (Philip Johnson) and materials along with the art. We had a great session. It started in the library where I was sitting with my daughter when my mentor arrived.

The funny thing that happened is that we three spoke for a few minutes before going out to work on the tour, and mentor explained how course instructor was not happy that I wanted to go to this tour, because it isn't going to be anything I'll be covering in my beginner docent tour phase. The instructor seems to completely forget my familiarity with the material (or how helpful this information will be in entering metadata to do with the slides). My mentor mumbled under her breath "I'm not a real fan of X's" - and I watched as my daughter reached out and put her hand on the table in front of me, then as she pulled back mentor reached out and rested her hand on the same spot. The funny thing is, I knew exactly what that meant but I don't think I've ever done that before. Non-verbal communication is a wonderful thing. :)

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Donuel
Date: 21 Oct 21 - 05:59 PM

There are exercises designed to focus on core ligaments and cartilidge.
I'm winterizing the car. I polished and coated it in liquid ceramic glass which lasts 2 to 6 years and increasing tire pressures. Its time to apply the autumn coloring to the soil for the white blooming trees to turn blue and plant bulbs for daffodils and blue flowers. The Forsythia will get red dye in hopes of orange flowers. The last hedging went well. Real suburban chores included tree removal and trimming a massive schubbery with help from a ladder. Decluttering is becoming more extreme in preparation for all new floors in the entire house in April and May.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Charmion
Date: 21 Oct 21 - 01:13 PM

Salmonella in onions? Simple fix: cook ‘em.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Oct 21 - 10:30 AM

Here is the phthalates video I mentioned.

The next batch of videos are being moved, and I'll probably have to drag them into the correct folder when I finish. I clicked on the folder the others loaded into and got a duplicate drive number G:\G\G\ meaning it is putting them in their own sub-folder. Well, at least they'll be in the new drive.

My exercise app offers up lots of insights, mostly to do with working with the existing pain and reducing it through exercise (never acknowledging that the exercises themselves caused the pain of bursitis - now I skip the ones that have that effect) - but lately they've done some mind/body tips. Under the "one day at a time" rubric, they offer things to do to stay healthy. Breathe deeply at various times, meditate, eat healthy. The latest tip on eating was to add new vegetable or fruit colors into your diet. Good idea - so I've added beets and a yellow squash this week.

The latest food warning down here (maybe more than just Texas, but I heard it on the local news) is salmonella from Mexican onions. Oy. It's impossible to live without onions and I've been using the current batch safely for a week now (the bags are gone, no idea their source), so I am not going to throw out my onions (I bought two bags and shared a few to the local free fridge project). I'll make these last a while until we get the all clear on buying onions again.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Oct 21 - 10:59 PM

I'm moving videos from a backup to a new WD drive, and need to consider formatting a couple of large external drives that are old backups, or move some of the contents and then format them. This has been running for hours now and about 1/3 of the way down the list of folders I tagged to move. I used the USB plug on the front of the desktop, 2 or 3; I have an adaptor to the C-connector port that might speed it up. When I move the next set of folders I'll try that.

Computer drives and their contents are the virtual form of a Juggernaut - ready to roll over the top of you if you aren't careful (or to vanish into thin air if you're careless). I don't know if I can do anything with the malfunctioning drive, other than add it to the stash in the office closet that some day will be destroyed properly. Maybe epoxy them together into a large doorstop.

My order of laundry detergent sheets arrived today, and the fresh scent is pretty mild. Interestingly, today I watched a short video about phthalates, and how they're in many things and one thing is the "fragrance" listed on consumer products. So I'll check into what is in this product.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Charmion
Date: 20 Oct 21 - 02:37 PM

Not yet, Stilly. The funeral is on Saturday the 23rd, and my car goes to Signor Festoso on Monday the 25th. The Festoso treatment will be pricey, God knows, but I hate to think what the same project would cost at a fancy big-city joint. I visited the Enterprise car rental office to arrange a substitute car today. That won’t be cheap, either, but also could be worse.

Until then, I’m keeping the car out of the rain as much as I can.

I had another cortisone shot in my wonky foot this morning, and the rest of the day is about resting the foot while the cortisone does its job.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Oct 21 - 12:34 PM

Jon, I fixed that typo - I've used an HP for so long (the laser printer) it just jumped in there. :)

The eggplant slowed during the summer but is now producing more and a little larger. I think maybe they got too much shade from the okra in the next bed. The peppers don't mind the shade. And I'm harvesting basil a few plants a week from the bin where I tossed a handful of seeds this summer. I try to pick them before they bolt, but have been cutting off the seeds and dropping them back in the bin. I hang a few up in the laundry room to dry then run my hand down each stem to pull off the leaves into a plastic bag. I also sometimes put it green into a bag and directly into the freezer, but I'm okay with dried and I haven't saved it this way for a while.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 20 Oct 21 - 11:47 AM

I spotted the deliberate mistake above SRS (that's an Epson). That's a much better price than Epson's UK RRP. They list it at £649 including VAT.

On veg, I was surprised by the person who does a bit of weekly cleaning here. She told me that the abergine plants I gave her are doing really well and she's getting lots of small fruit. I can't understand hers starting fruiting so late. The ones I put in the greenhouse finished a while back.

Anyway, I gave her something else to take home today. I've got some basil plants growing on the kitchen windowsill so I let her have one. I must remember to get some pine nuts next grocery order as I want to make some pesto.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Oct 21 - 11:17 AM

Jon, it took a lot of comparing on this printer to get the least expensive of the higher-end models. Epson-8500 ecotank uses six colors (there was a less expensive Canon that also had six, slightly different, colors, but only a paper tray on the back and no duplex printing). And then to find one in stock - looking through Dell's offerings you see a high percentage of them faded out with the "currently out of stock" message at the bottom. That's your supply chain in action.

I think with this I will be less tempted to use the knock-off ink, but with the pricey little cartridges it becomes a personal challenge to get the cheap ones to work.

Before setting this up I must resolve a dead external drive problem (it has all of my videos on it - gah!) and copy (or rescue from the backup) to a new drive I bought for this purpose a couple of months ago. And there is the scanner for slides, still looking nice on the shelf but not installed. It seems all of this other work was simply waiting for the new printer to arrive. I also need to look at calibrating the monitors (there are two each on the two desktop computers).

In the garden I trimmed a half-dozen of the tall stems on the okra where they had completely exhausted production. No flower buds or tiny pods there after the last pod was cut. I expect this process to accelerate, but I have enjoyed watching the plants go through the entire life cycle. The poblanos have been tiny during the summer but now they're growing longer and heavier and as shiny as can be - such beautiful peppers! They'll keep this up till the first frost. There are small fruits on the tomatoes now also.

Digging ahead on the beds. We had rain last week, but it will require supplemental watering ahead of working on each bed. Last week wasn't enough by itself to set the fall digging season into motion.

Charmion, did you go to the funeral this week? Are you driving a loaner while your car is in the pricey repair shop? Dorothy, are you enjoying a fireplace or outdoor chiminea or other source of radiant heat? We still have the air conditioner setting on here, but a family member posted a photo of a pretty chiminea fireplace up in Seattle. I scrolled through some of LilyFestre's posts from earlier this month, she's posting beautiful fall color photos and some interesting farm-yard shots that involve dogs, sticks, and mud. And chickens on the porch, and her healthy beautiful self. Nice! Haven't heard a thing from WYSIWYG for a while now.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 20 Oct 21 - 07:26 AM

I don't remember posting this before so... I got a new 6 ink photo printer a month or so back. I went cheap though with an Epson XP-55. Ink jets don’t seem to fair that well with me (say 3 years before I gum one up) and my main use is just the odd 6x4 photo print and I don’t see I can justify the type you’ve got even though yours will be much cheaper on genuine ink supplies.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Oct 21 - 10:40 PM

Dorothy, please tell R that we are all pleased to see his great progress over the last couple of weeks! And moving forward!

The new ink jet fancy six-ink printer arrived today, but before setting it up I have a couple of other recent purchases to deploy. The new two-factor authentication device, a YubiKey 5C NFC device, is now set up on several accounts. There will be a couple more, but this is a good start. And the old key from 2016 is still working and was added to a couple of other accounts to serve as the backup. It doesn't have the functionality or the C-connector (USB) of the new one, that can be also passed near the phone for authentication (the NFC part of it). Between these and the phone authentication apps it's a simple matter to add extra security to accounts making it much more difficult for a hacker to take control of an account.

With nice weather the separate dog walks have progressed; the girls in the morning, the old Lab before dinner time. The girls want a faster pace, Zeke needs a more leisurely stroll, but even he manages a mile or so per walk. My fitness tracker is happy with these separate walks also.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 19 Oct 21 - 09:03 PM

Beaver:

When I suggested to R that I was coming back to QC this week to bring the plants inside, he said he could do it. So, here I shall remain a while longer. Sent off a bin full of fabricky stuff with friend Lesley who will re-home things. And a cracked rain barrel that Stu believes can be used. Next time they come by - a couple lawn chairs with torn seats will leave - Les believes she can re-seat them!

The glorious full moon is looking in the window - just above the trees to the east! A repeat of last nights show, after a glorious fall day that started with frost (minus 2C.). I weeded most of the bed of Sorrel, picking off the wonky leaves and leaving as compost and picking a bunch of smaller leaves for cooking.

Back yard still not cut as it does not get dry!

And Robin sent about 30 old machines to the scrapper today and a bunch to an auction! Clearing space so he can utilize the rest more effectively.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Charmion
Date: 19 Oct 21 - 12:39 PM

Last night, the Stratford Concert Choir had its first rehearsal since 9 March 2020. Sixty singers turned out, and it was not quite boffo but everyone had a good time and we made some genuinely good music.

The "not quite boffo" part was down to church architecture and aging ears in the Alto section. Our interim conductor lacks the parade-ground voice of his predecessor, so much of what he said was lost on those sitting in the side aisles of the church and under the balcony at the back.

So, microphones.

As choir president, I am apparently also a stage-hand and sound technician. The church piano is wretched, so we hauled in and set up an electronic keyboard before rehearsal, and afterwards struck the set and hauled it home again. (I have room for it, so it currently lives with me.) Next week, rinse and repeat. The church has a sound system, but the provided stand microphone turned out to be inadequate; our conductor needs the clip-on wireless kind. He hates clip-on wireless microphones, so I have to talk him into it. That's my job, too.

All of us, except the conductor, wore masks the whole time, so steamed-up spectacles was the norm. The mask thing is an iron requirement, along with two-metre spacing throughout the nave.

The requirement for two metres of space between singers is actually good for the choir; it forces independence on the lazy. All of us can hear the full effect, but not the singers next and behind us -- at least not clearly enough to depend on them to feed us the notes instead of finding them for ourselves.

I slept in this morning until nearly nine-thirty. I must have been whacked. Laundry today, and pool class just before supper.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 18 Oct 21 - 06:13 PM

ASSUME = making an ASS out of U & ME, & it my case it has more than once led to the Fool's Defence - Opps, sorry I didn't think ...

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Oct 21 - 11:14 AM

Damn. The death of the fully-vaccinated Colin Powell is a real eye-opener. And I question my assumptions that the friend who died of COVID last month hadn't been vaccinated, simply because it's what killed him. I don't know his family and haven't asked, but clearly the answer could be more involved than a simple "no." Note to self: #NeverAssume. I started going back to the gym in early summer, but stopped as COVID rates rose, and had recently been thinking I might try going back. This nipped that idea in the bud.

I'm still doing the home Hinge exercise program (for several weeks I've done six days a week, my next personal challenge is to get up to seven days a week and maintain that level) and I'm changing how I walk the dogs; I took the old Labrador retriever out for a walk before dinner last night, just the two of us, and interestingly, he didn't drag behind like he does when I walk all three dogs. He trotted along beside me and noticed any time my hand moved near the fanny pack where the treats are stashed. I think he simply prefers the one-on-one companionship of walking with me (he walked as the solo dog with his former owner, Susie, for his first three years). So the plan is to walk him before dinner and walk the girls in the morning. I didn't get up early this morning, so we'll take a walk before my lunch.

I know the source of some of the dog hair and displaced furniture - this morning the 2-year-old and the 14-year-old are wrassling (somewhat different than "wrestling," this involves lots of grunting and play growls) throughout the house. Apparently obstacles like chairs and table legs add excitement to the game.

Trash made it to the curb in time today and it includes a large amount of forest floor sweepings and air filters out of the heat pumps. Every year it's interesting to mark the change from cooling to heating - we're not there yet, but soon.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Charmion
Date: 17 Oct 21 - 04:49 PM

In Kingston, Ontario, when I was a student at Queen’s University, Stilly. I could make decent money driving an Amey’s Taxi — a good thing, since I didn’t have the skills or the patience to wait tables. I quit the cab business when I realized how many students were too lazy or fumble-fingered to type their own essays. I had a portable Olivetti that cost me DM80 at Canex (the Canadian Forces version of a PX), and it was work I could do indoors that never involved drunk people.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Oct 21 - 10:19 AM

I love that you drove a taxi, Charmion. Do tell!

Picking up around here this morning. Emptying the dishwasher, moving the stuff from the sink into it, etc. Laundry. Garden. And the forest floor in the den needs sweeping.

It's time to start trimming out some of the okra stems, but they're so woody they probably need tossing over the back fence to break down at their own rate. Woody things in the compost make it harder to turn (and turning the compost is something else I need to do.) I can toss the dried out sunflowers back there also.

For the most part, it'll be a day outside.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Oct 21 - 07:52 PM

The Saturday market at my favorite discount gourmet grocery was a good one - I've loaded up on several types of vegetables and picked up some items to take over for a donation to the community fridge. Lately I've just taken garden produce but now there are a few canned goods as well.

They also had huge chicken leg quarters three to a pack in the freezer section and I sealed each individually in Foodsaver bags. Most often now I cook just a breast or leg quarter, I rarely cook an entire bird. If I bring home rotisserie chicken from Costco it's knowing that I'm going to have to make it into a number of meals and then soup stock.

This evening I have a chicken breast baking and a large acorn squash halved on a baking sheet. I love to scoop the squash out of the skin with a spoon and eat it plain, nothing added. Cook it until it's caramelized and it's pretty sweet. I'll probably shred the chicken and mix it with sliced fried onions and poblano peppers and make fajitas. There are tortillas in the freezer. It's finally feeling like cooking weather, and I was really drawn to the veggies today. There are beets simmering on the stove and cauliflower and yellow squash in the fridge.

Tomorrow is a major laundry day, since I'm going to change the bedding and put a blanket on the bed and wash the light cover I've used during the summer. We've reached that time of year when the ceiling fan doesn't need to run at night and the window can be open so cool air comes in (summer hot air isn't welcome).

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 16 Oct 21 - 01:48 PM

Beaver:

Still here and still working through the process of divesting - as energy allows. Some yard work - about 15 minutes at a time. I need to bring the shed bins up to the back porch before snow falls - another couple weeks or so. Planning for colder weather and what must be where! And whether to spend on a heater going in the house as well as in the bathroom, so it is not quite so cold when I get back. The death of the electric blanket is unfortunate; I will encourage R to look at it when I get back to QC.

R, et al, have managed to sell four more large machines thus clearing room to move and organize the rest. But he is working more than full time doing it and only goes home every 3 or 4 days to water the plants.

I am watching the forecasts carefully to get back and bring plants inside before the cold comes. It is coming here on Sunday but the wood stove will keep me toasty. Started it this morning as the cool is setting in. And rain and more rain so the back yard is still not cut.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Charmion
Date: 16 Oct 21 - 12:06 PM

Revenue Canada don’t care about any vehicle that isn’t used to earn one’s living, and I don’t plan to go back to driving taxi. So … I’ll still keep the receipts, if only out of habit.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Oct 21 - 12:14 AM

We have all had mishaps like that and they do target the pocketbook. (My transition from the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder to the 2017 Pathfinder is a very expensive example.) A lot of people would drive around with the duct tape if the radio still worked, but on a new car it would be a constant reminder of that goof. Keep your receipts, maybe it's something that can reduce your taxes. :-/

I was going to post a rant here, but I've thought better of it. It has been a busy week.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Charmion
Date: 15 Oct 21 - 08:20 PM

That NPR piece is good. In fact, I have a funeral to go to next week.

I had a stupid accident with the car on Wednesday after pool class at the Y. I was backing into the garage when the door came down (don’t ask me how), smacked the roof of the car, and tore off the satellite antenna, leaving a ragged hole about three centimetres in diameter through which the female connector of a telecom wire waved at me sadly. I patched it with duct tape, the all-Canadian panacea, and ventured into the world of autobody repairs for the first time in years.

On the recommendation of the service manager at the VW dealership, I decided on Festoso Brothers, a three-bay independent operation on the blue-collar side of Stratford. The boss is a tiny, wizened Italian guy of great age who keeps meticulous notes in little coil-bound notebooks, each numbered and paginated. His best guess is about two grand and a week in the shop, and the patient’s details are on page 25 of Book 164. Surgery will begin on Monday, 25 October.

I’m so mad at myself I could just spit.

But I know how it happened. I pushed myself through the trip to Ottawa and the burial as if in a phased operation, moving from one objective to the next. I was still wound up like a dollar watch when I got off the train on Monday night, and the next day I was so tired I could barely eat. I was still half-stunned on Wednesday, but there was no food in the house and I was booked at the Y, so off I went. I’m just glad I didn’t run over some unsuspecting pedestrian or T-bone a farm truck.

It’ll take a while for my bank account to recover from paying both Signor Festoso and the funeral bills. Just as well; I need a time-out, and a No-Spend November will help.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Oct 21 - 10:58 AM

I'm waiting on the postal carrier to transport a puzzle in a box to some Mudcat friends, then I'll hook up the dogs and take the pack for a walk. The current puzzle I'm working is a busy cartoon of Times Square in New York City. Unlike Times Square when I lived in NY for a few years in the last century.

The plants in the window have been watered and fertilized and I'll use some liquid fertilizer in the outdoor potted plants (many of them will make it through the winter, some outside, some in the greenhouse. Hoping for no repeat of last year's hard freeze.) I have extras from cuttings and bits that fell off - I need to find places to share them.

This evening I'll be going to the memorial for my son's guitar teacher. It should be lovely to listen to (friends and students will be playing) and for those not able to attend, they have a Zoom connection (see the Michael Dailey thread). Remoted listening - what was once rare is now common, a gift from COVID-19 (which alas, is what took Michael from his friends and family and students.) Decades ago now National Public Radio ran a short series of personal essays called This I Believe, reviving an even older series of radio essays. The one called Always Go To The Funeral really stuck with me and I still share it every so often. It's important for the families.

Now to logon to Consumer Reports and do sewing machine research for a friend. I wish she'd called when she was trying to hem her dress; she's hoping people won't notice the uneven hem in the mother's dress at her daughter's wedding tomorrow. (Done by hand after the sewing machine failed.) I should look at fixing the existing machine before helping her replace it.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Oct 21 - 08:01 PM

We're still waiting on the rain, and I personally am hoping it washes all of the ragweed pollen out of the air because it is really kicking my butt. I'm on Sudafed and allergy eye drops.

The thrift store had lots of puzzles this time and I loaded up. Not bad to come home with 8 puzzles for $15, five of them 300 piece puzzles and three with more.

This morning I finally got back to walking the dogs before I fed them, and we all enjoyed the exercise. I don't know why it has been such a challenge to walk them in the mornings, now that it's cooler (though this week - humid). The pecan trees are starting to drop nuts and two of the dogs really like those. I roll the nut under my shoe to crack it and pick off the shell then hand out pieces. Cookie doesn't know this routine yet (last year was terrible for pecans). Back in the old days my pitbull Cinnamon used to crunch them shell and all. She and Poppy and Zeke would root around and I'd race to pick them up and get off most of the shell.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Oct 21 - 11:03 AM

Today is one for hopefully equal amounts of offload and pickup. A haircut will be welcome, and after that I'll head south on a route past my old university to visit a couple of stores and a thrift shop. Looking for the 8x8 pan still, but also looking for puzzles. I'm taking some back to donate to the thrift store, where I'd like to pick up 3 or 4 new-to-me ones. Shopping the Halal grocery for Basmati rice and fresh Iraqi bread. I'm out of pita and that doesn't bode well for the eggplants in my garden (babaghanouj).

A quart bag of okra is going to my hairdresser, she requested fresh, not pickled. I'm about at the end of all of that picking. A few more today and maybe fried okra with dinner, then it's time to let these puppies go completely to seed.

It looks like the rain missed us so far today. I have a list of people who will take some of the extra plants once I can dig them up.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Donuel
Date: 12 Oct 21 - 11:09 PM

I have my own 'fukit' mode to contend with but it was worse in the old migraine days.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Donuel
Date: 12 Oct 21 - 10:29 PM

More power to the energetic folks who are not suffering the survival mode or even worse the burn out mode when dealing with the pandemic.
Those who are most depressed will not even be posting here. There are days you may not even want to get out of bed which is an indiction of the darker side of this pandemic. I'm just saying don't be discouraged by the success of others in the more successful reactions to pandemic. It is not a personal failing. Its just a feeling.
"Every body has the right to go south a day or two"
quote: Billy Joel

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Oct 21 - 05:15 PM

That would be a wicked jigsaw puzzle, Don!

Backsliding today, doing some recreational shopping between needed errands. The $12 huge mum from Costco, for example. I got gas, I went in for a $2 slice of pizza for lunch, and around the corner here was the big cart of mums.

Dorothy, your friend will be able to decide which mower she wants to keep, the one she already had or the one you gave her, and pass along the other. Win/win!

A friend sent some bib aprons that he bought to use for printing a bar logo on but the cloth is treated so his ink won't stay. So he sent them to me to "tart up" for gifts here. I think I'll make a panel to attach to the top (the box arrived but I haven't opened it yet.) A combination of stitching in place and iron-on adhesive.

I'm looking at thrift stores for a replacement 8x8 pan since mine seems to have gone walkabout. I've looked every nook and cranny I can think of, no pan. I haven't found a new one but I have been sorely tempted by some other kitchen gear. Hence the recreational shopping, including stuff for the eBay stash.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Donuel
Date: 12 Oct 21 - 04:21 PM

Photo from Alberta The Empire of Light

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 12 Oct 21 - 04:09 PM

Beaver:

Divesting myself of items; took a big bunch to thrift shop last week, and have sorted through some more bins in shed, and outgrown clothes are being re-homed; not a chance I will lose another 20 pounds! Leslie stopped by today to pick up the electric lawn mower for our friends who have been borrowing hers! I do not have the energy to mow; Steve can do it with his various machines. And Les took some fabrics for Pat's projects. Pat is a hoarder so I depend on Lesley to determine what it is OK to pass along. A very nice down jacket needing a repair I will never do but Pat is dedicated to repairing clothing.

Opening a box of "archives" on Sunday, I pulled out a couple news clippings from 1982. They happened to be pertinent to the folks who had invited me to dinner! So I took them along and gave them a bit of personal history! Fun!

The roof ext on the studio is complete and wonderful! I look forward to a winter of not having to fight the ice and snow to get in the door! And Dan pointed out that I could sit under it - be dry outside in the rain. Quite enough space for two chairs. A mini porch!

Two boxes of Quaker booklets in the car to go to Montreal? But at this moment: they might be better received in Toronto. I'll think on it.

Did a laundry today to have clean bed sheets! Having put the "umbrella" clothes drying rack away for the winter, I hung things over the wood pile! They dried quickly in the sun. But talking about it with Lesley, I realized that the one I use indoors could easily be used outside as well. Good idea!

Gorgeous fall day! I finished the mugs that were in process but have not tried to throw anymore. Discovered a few days ago that the under the right arm lymph nodes are swollen - hence the discomfort>pain in right arm/shoulder/right side. A hot bath helped greatly and the heating pad also helps. Visiting the nurse practitioner tomorrow for some general consideration of this aging body.

My #2 son's good friend Jeff from grade 7-8 just informed Taun his mom (92) died. Taun phoned me - to tell me? or to tell me he and Tenley would like to come to Chateauguay for Christmas. Jeff may come also. That is a good plan so I can give Taun anything I may have that he would want. That has been on my mind. It will be nice to meet Tenley as well (I hope).

Still not sure when I will go back to Dupont. It is beautiful here.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Oct 21 - 10:00 PM

Another handful of old mechanical pencils and pens were in the secretary in my bedroom, and most of the pens are trashed. The pencils will probably be donated on my next trip up to the donation fridge.

The distribution process for pickled okra has begun - delivered to neighbors on both sides of me and I'll take some across the street tomorrow. These are the folks I have the most contact with and who live closest to the jungle that is my front yard garden. The recipients were very happy with the pickles.

During the summer I ordered an envelope of environmentally friendly sheets of laundry detergent, and have tested them intermittently while drawing down the bottle of liquid detergent. Now I'm using the sheets most of the time. They are more expensive than the jugs of detergent, but by buying a half-size bulk order it comes out about twice as expensive. It's going to last for a very long time, with just me in the house. One wonders at the exchange - a five-year supply of laundry detergent to save sending five large jugs to the dump.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness in a Pandemic: 2021
From: Thompson
Date: 11 Oct 21 - 07:58 AM

Horrors, no, they're still wearable. I just have to marry an octopus and have octopus babies.