FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 29 Jan 22 - 06:12 PM

I have been feeling an urge to watch TV lately, so I toted it out of the basement and parked it opposite the comfy chair. The cats enjoy TV. I hope they like “Station Eleven”.

St James’s Stratford is doing Evensong tomorrow with proper music — but only four choristers (one of them being me) and no congregation in the church; it’s to be live-streamed. We had keep-your-distance rehearsal this morning and it should be boffo, or as boffo as brass-and-class Anglican liturgy gets when performed by a quartet. Proper singing, even in a mask, really gets my endorphins pumping.

The insurance company is fussing over how much to pay me and making a real dog’s breakfast of the transaction. Now they say they made a mistake (that would be *another* mistake) in offering what it said on the bill of sale because that sum included extended warranties. Ummmm, I had to replace the warranties as well as the car … It is indeed true that insurance companies are deeply committed to gathering money in, not paying it out.

Beautiful sunshine in Stratford today, and almost no wind. Cold, but not Army cold.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jan 22 - 09:49 PM

My ex had a multi-part exchange with his insurance company to get his roof replaced recently. It involved taking it to the next level and bringing in a second opinion because they were only willing at first to offer a few hundred dollars and hope he'd take it and go away. He went through the various protest steps and finally got the new roof. Customer Service hacks. This may help. Back in the day when everything was done by mail and certified letters offered gravitas, there was a book called Super Threats: How to Sound Like a Lawyer and Get Your Rights on Your Own that I used successfully a few times. It's beyond old at this point, published in 1977 before the Internet, before email, before much of life as we know it. But still, the advice about keeping records, registering what you can, keeping notes, taking names, it's all still helpful.

In under an hour the computer backup will be finished and I'll see what I can do to restore the desktop. I'll finish the contract work I do every Saturday to have it out of the way first. Not really looking forward to this. I think I'll do my exercises before I get started, to give myself an energy boost.

I figured out that I can join the online site for the exercise program I'm going to start, then logon to the Fire Stick app to keep the price lower. If I join with the app itself, it's $5 more a month (Amazon takes a 25% cut).

Stay warm, all of you in the path of the snow bomb.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jan 22 - 05:25 PM

The new computer setup is still a mess, not logging on to email yet (and I can't get it to load all of my settings, but I may find a way to move them from the old computer where it is still installed though unused for 2 years). But I'm slowly adding in things and now with my security suite and Malwarebytes in place, I can move forward.

I have been sewing this weekend, finishing masks I started ages ago. I have a couple of gifts to make once these are out of the way. This is a good activity to alternate with the computer restoration.

And one last observation about the computer - thank dawg I had Chrome synched. It made getting into these sites a lot easier.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Donuel
Date: 30 Jan 22 - 05:41 PM

I spent 6 more hours of hard work and finished the rest of the room doubling the space. I set up the new organic tv. Like a living being it will degrade over time but its prime of life will offer an image superior to any competition. The wow factor was achieved.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Jan 22 - 10:02 AM

The virtual insides of my big Dell look like a storage shed with a few things on the shelves but no organization to them to speak of. There's a lot of stuff piled up outside waiting to come in. And I'm struggling with Gmail and Thunderbird. Google insists on making it difficult to use these two things together.

The "coldest weather of the season" is headed this way mid-week. Even some snow in the forecast. I'll finish my shopping for fresh produce tomorrow and have everything ready to go. Hopefully no repeat of last February's freeze. We are better prepared this time around, even if the state electrical grid is the same ol' same ol'.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 31 Jan 22 - 12:57 PM

I’m having a visitor tomorrow, so I must clean today. The clouds of cat hair are downright reprehensible.

But first — a visit to the dentist! Whee! My favourite!

In other news, the insurance company has capitulated and will pay what it promised. I’m to receive another lump of dough by Interac e-transfer, probably over night.

Money is always nice.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion's brother Andrew
Date: 31 Jan 22 - 03:14 PM

"Money is always nice."

Money may not have been what you hoped for, but at least it will help you get what you want.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Feb 22 - 10:25 AM

2022 seems to be picking up where 2020 left off; every time I open Mudcat I see a new obit thread for some fine musician who should have lived a lot longer. :-( This is not the kind of "decluttering" we want, planet.

I woke wondering maybe if I'm developing a bit of a bladder infection so first thing this morning I steam juiced some cranberries (from bags in the freezer) to make myself juice to mix a strong batch of cranapple juice. That usually nips it in the bud. And I can use the pulp for baking later.

Appointments this week, today and tomorrow, before the snow arrives overnight Wednesday. There is some cosmic good luck in that timing! The battery for the Canon camera is charged—I love getting photos of the yard and dogs in the snow. Hopefully without the shut down we had last year. I did manage to get some extra mileage out of last year's storm. Since I didn't have much interesting to write about in my holiday letter I extracted portions of the journal I kept during the storm and added a few photos. People were very interested in the photo of the dogs in the closet with me. :)

Steam juicer has finished, cranapple is mixed. Onward into the day.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 01 Feb 22 - 12:15 PM

The last lump of insurance dough has landed, plumping my bank account to a satisfying degree. My visitor came early and has gone home to receive a visitor of her own. I somehow never got the vacuum cleaner and out so the house was just as dirty this morning as it was yesterday, and she either did not notice or was too polite to notice the clumps of cat hair plastered to the grille of the cold-air return.

We had tea and a lovely chat. Her visitor is coming to Stratford to recover from a broken ankle, and we made plans for her to bolt over here for more tea and chat when she needs less demanding company.

I'm not sure Norma Waterson would have been entirely enthusiastic about living a lot longer, Stilly. She was 85, a pretty respectable age at which to pop one's clogs. My grandmother lived to be 98, and she regretted remaining on this side of the sod for at least the last five years of that -- she said so, and I believed her. Blind, deaf and too weak to play the piano any more, she was bored out of her mind most of the time. As for poor Tony, he had MS and death could well have been a relief and a release. We can enjoy their music for the rest of *our* lives, which is lucky for us and good for them, as we can thus hear them as they would like to be remembered.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 01 Feb 22 - 01:08 PM

She was only 82, Charmion.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 01 Feb 22 - 01:19 PM

Okay, Steve, 82. Also a very respectable age.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Donuel
Date: 01 Feb 22 - 03:09 PM

Whether you are rich or poor its good to get money, but when talking Amazon money,, you're talking obscenities.

One more room to go then all the crap will be concentrated in the basement where the paid purge happens.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Feb 22 - 09:12 PM

I should have extended that remark to past the musical contingent; there seem to be a lot of big names passing away, it has the feel of 2020 again. Here's a Hollywood list as one example. There's a meme out there that says "I didn't realize that 2020 was a trilogy."

It was a busy day, as tomorrow will be, then it'll be weather enforced puttering around the house. The cold weather warning is from Arizona to the far NE of New England, taking in a LOT of territory. I volunteer at a local museum two days a week, and started back up this morning, though they're telling everyone to stay home due to inclement weather on Thursday. I'll be back next week.

Later, Costco was bustling, but is so large that it wasn't too crowded. I know my trip was less expensive than it might have been because I stopped and got a hamburger for lunch before going shopping. The shopping cart fills up in a hurry when you're hungry.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Feb 22 - 11:59 AM

I forgot to roll past the village recycle bins yesterday, but this morning I'm glad that the flattened boxes are still in the back of the SUV. A few will come back into the house to be taped around the outside of the wire kennel, creating a warm cave for one or two of the dogs. I forgot about doing that last year during the big freeze, but it dawned on me this morning as I looked at the large glass doors on the north end of the den. They also have nice dog beds in the den, but I may move them into my office where there is only one external wall and a separate heat pump to keep that room warmer. And come to think of it, if I had to camp out again, the office would be much roomier than the closet but still possible to keep warm. I could build a blanket fort. :)

Lunch today with my daughter, and I think the meal that appeals to me most today involves lots of carbs. A cheesy chicken pasta dish from our favorite French café.

Winter storm warning goes into effect at 6pm today.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Feb 22 - 01:05 PM

BEAVER!

On Monday, realized I had the energy, weather report was good, so I packed up and left Tues am with a very easy trip. Home at 4:30 to a freshly cleared Driveway! (I had texted ahead!) AND no water - frozen somewhere - probably under the floor. Larry came over and we talked about it. Later I remembered vaguely this happening a couple years ago. Pots of snow on wood stove suffice. Phoned R and we reached mutual - that is probable reason. Nothing for it unless it thaws itself. Above freezing today, and yesterday, but that might not be adequate. I can live with it.

However, when I went to go on computer, a small cord is missing. I NEVER... but have searched all possible places. For lack of an 8 inch connector cord, I came out in the snow - wet snow! - to the library, to connect with the world, sitting in car as library is not open AND
I would not go inside if it were.

The house is well provisioned, no water spewing anywhere, only food in the frig froze! Electric is working. Electric blanket warmed bed last night! Cold spell starting tonight so, I dug a path through about two feet of light snow to wood and replenished supply and a path to studio to turn down electric heater which I could not access before I left - cost extra to keep it warmer than necessary but not too bad.

May not go anywhere tomorrow as this wet snow will freeze into a mess by morning. Only one degree above freezing at the moment. Must get home before the freeze starts!

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Feb 22 - 07:28 PM

The cold rain has started here, the beginning of the descent in to a cold slippery world for the rest of the week. I got home before much rain started, the plants that needed bringing in are in. It won't be anything like Dorothy's white world, but we'll all be chilly. There are lots of weather closures showing up on websites and news programs. An occasional snow day is nice, as long as it doesn't come with the extended power outage.

I need to go get the bag of lava sand and have it handy for the porch and walks. It does track into the house, but it's what I have around here.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Feb 22 - 10:53 AM

The next door folks give the dogs a treat in the morning, but since there was ice forming overnight I got a text asking if I could keep the dogs in till it was full light (because one of them barks until she gets her treat, though I've reduced the amount of barking by zapping her with a training collar occasionally). I was up a couple of times during the night to take them out (since they usually have free access to the yard via the dog door). Cookie had to be dragged out, she doesn't like that cold, but got lots of praise when she finally pooped and we could all go in again. We all went out to the fence this morning after a text was sent telling them the dog door was again uncovered. I wanted to be sure he got back to the house ok (they have a large concrete patio are behind their house and it's iced over.)

Cookie outgrew her dog jacket since last year and I'm not driving to Petco for a new one in the ice so I'll widen the front leg openings and put a little more Velcro on so it will meet under her tummy. She hated this thing when I first tried to put it on her last year at this time, but once in it she happily wore it for five days straight. Now she loves the idea of a jacket.

Today is a day for long socks, fleece sweat pants, a t-shirt layered under a big baggy sweatshirt, and static electricity like crazy. The house has two heating zones, so in the interest of conserving electricity I'll have the heat up only in the office and let the rest of the house cool down to 62 before the heat comes on over there (it's programmed that way anyway, from when I left the house to go to work, before retirement. I never changed it.)

Baking day today, it seems. And maybe pot roast or a stew.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 03 Feb 22 - 12:49 PM

It’s been snowing for days in Stratford, but the temperature’s dropping now so we can shovel out with confidence that we’ve had our limit. For the moment. I think Neil-across-the-street disapproves of my shovelling technique — or maybe (probably) he’s just gallant. I caught him in the act of clearing my footpath this morning, and yesterday he was working on the driveway when I reminded him that I’m a paid-up customer of Nick’s Snow Removal.

The Fitbit app on my iPad informs me that I have lost 30 pounds since September 2020. No wonder my wonky foot doesn’t hurt so much these days.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 03 Feb 22 - 02:17 PM

Beaver:

Waiting for the drive to be plowed. Maybe I will try to drive out after lunch; try being the operative word! The road is clear.

Shoveled out and got to library, went through emails and a bit of FB. Chilly in the car and I don't want to run the engine more, so home to the wood stove! And a good book. Hoping Steve cleared drive but ... I will park on the road. It is clear and sanded.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Feb 22 - 12:09 AM

I used a saucepan instead of a Dutch oven to make a small batch of pot roast this evening. It took long enough that I ate something else for dinner and this will be for lunch or dinner tomorrow and another couple of meals. My goal is to have way more vegetables in there than meat and I still run out of vege before the meat is gone. I LOVE the potatoes and carrots cooked in this broth.

It stayed below freezing all day, as it will tomorrow. Tomorrow morning is apparently the part of this cold snap that will be hardest on the power grid. Fingers crossed we stay powered up.

Today I continued to work on the organization of my computer files and programs. It's slow going, but looks like it will work when I finish. I'm trying to keep the data on the D: drive and just have the programs installed on the much smaller C: drive. Programs don't seem to give you the option of where to install them like they used to. Win11 reared it's head and said it is time to install. I don't think so.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 04 Feb 22 - 08:55 AM

Another plumbing crisis this morning: water spurting out from under the water softener in the least accessible corner of the basement. The plumber is due sometime this morning, so no pool class for me today. And my next water bill will be a doozy.

This is the third major leak in those aged copper pipes in the four and a half years I’ve lived in this house. They’re original equipment, so they date from 1974, when world copper prices went stratospheric after the Pinochet coup in Chile. I rather think it’s time for a systemic approach to this problem.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Donuel
Date: 04 Feb 22 - 09:17 AM

PVC pipe is toxic to make (in southern states) but there is nothing safer, better, stronger or cheaper.

Besides garbage day there is little challenge today except for a 40 degree plunge in temps tonight. I set up two laser star makers for the ceiling. It has fictional stationary and moving stars with a cresent moon and various colored nebulas. I used to have am accurate mini planatarium but the lasers stars have more impact.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 04 Feb 22 - 09:50 AM

Aaaaand … this time it’s the water softener, which has died. Bloody hell. Reggie the plumber says a new one, installed, will run me about $1,400.

Well. Ain’t that a kick in the slats?

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Feb 22 - 10:40 AM

When it rains, it pours - or, the devices are in cahoots. The water softener sussed the news that the insurance company coughed up the rest of the cash from the car. Devious things, these machines in our lives.

I had another night of getting up in the wee hours to pull on outdoor clothes and take the dogs out. Normally they have full access through the dog door, but the ice is still out there and the 80-year-old next door doesn't need to have the dogs out in the yard barking at 6am to get their over-the-fence daily treat. (As soon as they see their kitchen light on, Pepper starts making noise, though I zapped her earlier this week to stop it for a while.) I let them out after 8am and texted that the dogs were available for their treats. I walked out again, to be sure my neighbor got back into his house ok. I've also sprinkled lava sand on the front walk here and will probably shovel ice in the back on the patio. If I put sand down back there the dogs track it in like crazy. Getting out the back glass sliding door is difficult with the iced up track. I have to lift the door up a bit before it will slide. This isn't the time of year to have that door go off the track completely so I'm very careful.

There seems to have been an explosion of paper around here so tackling that is job one today.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Feb 22 - 03:19 PM

Beaver:

Is the water softener really necessary?

Drive is plowed. No point in going anywhere at -17C. But I came out to library to use the internet. Steve told me something about a whole lot of complaints about Trudeau, and the trucks are still in Ottawa? Hope to find some news.

Oh, and in Toronto as well. This is not good.

Well, the wood is in, the sun is shining, the bills are paid, and water is on the stove. Now I can go home and continue the book.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 04 Feb 22 - 06:17 PM

Oh, yes, the water softener is necessary.

Stratford water is liquid limestone. Without the softener, the entire plumbing system of the house would eventually block up with limescale, and all water-heating appliances would be doomed. Also, detergents and soaps do not work properly in hard water.

I drove out to Millbank this afternoon to order a TV console from the Mennonite furniture factory there. Millbank is way out in the country, deep in redneck territory, and I saw many protest signs on the way, including even an American Confederate flag hanging off a beat-up truck in the bustling metropolis of Gad’s Hill. Colour me disappointed in my neighbours, who should damned well know better.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Feb 22 - 11:37 AM

I did a Google search on Mennonite furniture makers in that town; they have some nice pieces (and must contract with a web content producer to put up their site?) How long from order to delivery? Will you pick it up? I don't suppose it comes to town in a horse-drawn wagon?

Mail was held up for two days, some of it delivered in the village yesterday, but upon checking with "Informed Delivery" I see they still had mine at the depot in a holding pattern. Hopefully today the mail carrier will crunch through the remaining ice on my street and bring it by. I put sand on the walk yesterday.

It was another night of the dogs in with the door flap covered, so I was up before dawn to take them out then re-cover the door. This morning their treat will be late because my neighbor was going out for coffee with an old friend and will be home any minute. I've had the cover on this morning, but at about 10am all three dogs rattled into my office and made it clear they all needed something, and as we went back through the house they were glad to see me remove the door. Now they're out in the slush and sunshine and can come and go as they wish. I'll be mopping the muddy den floor every day this week, I'm sure.

Meanwhile, my computer setup has two browsers with the extended desktop, but since the rebuild Browser #1 kept turning itself off after 60 seconds of no activity. So, for example, studying my paper notes to solve Wordle this morning had it going off too soon. Tweak the mouse and it's back, but the shutoff is annoying. I researched the sleeping browser and decided it is way too early in this rebuild to start playing with the RegEdit stuff, so found a troubleshooter to try. It reset the sleep time and I went back and put it where I want, but in the process it seems to have fixed the sleeping browser problem. Whew.

I've ordered items for the exercise program I am going to begin (Essentrics) - I have the donut cushion (meant for hemorrhoid sufferers) that is good under your hip for leg lefts (my sister swears by it) and ordered two pair of yoga pants. The pants I have here seem to have shrunk since I bought them 2 years ago . . . I was wearing yoga pants under my fleece pants during the freeze so they aren't just for exercise.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 05 Feb 22 - 04:41 PM

The Mennonites of Millbank Family Furniture are not Old Order folks in buttonless clothes, but modern Canadians who happen to belong to a communitarian sect of Anabaptists. I’m sure they do their own website, if only because it’s very basic — the kind a business has when they know their customers go on line for reconnaissance and won’t buy until they see the goods in real life.

The TV stand I ordered will come to Stratford by truck, probably around Easter. It’s to be built of quarter-sawn oak that will weigh far more than I can hoist by myself even if it would fit in the car, which I rather doubt.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Feb 22 - 11:31 PM

I thought buttons were standard but zippers were forbidden. My great aunts (on my father's side) had a summer house in Amish country in central Pennsylvania (very near Mudcat Central, as a matter of fact) and I would see the black horse-drawn family carriages roll past the house.

Loading email into the new computer setup is still problematic - is it going to the C: or the D: drive? There are tons of messages in several well-established accounts. And today I realized that after years of not allowing download of messages, Yahoo seems to have set up POP email access without an annual charge. That one predates gmail by several years. At one time Yahoo had a lot of my activity with not only email but also photo albums (sold off and eventually ending up as Flickr, I think). The history of the Internet is written in Yahoo, one of the first big indexes (as compared to a search engine) way back when.

After an evening of laundry and picking up the bedroom is back to the pre-deep freeze setting, with the bed made, flannel PJs through the laundry, and things generally back to normal. But as predicted earlier, the muddy prints stretch through the house. First mop of the week will be before bed this evening.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Feb 22 - 10:40 AM

Nix the Yahoo mail, it turns out they still want cash to download into a computer program. I forget about it for years at a time, but it can work as a backup email if some account insists on an email account in order to get a discount.

My attention can once again turn to the outdoors since it will warm up into the 70s by midweek. I have a list of garden chores to start, with the first being to trim the dry canes from around the asparagus. There are still pieces of ice around, but yesterday afternoon I took a straight-ended shovel and noisily scraped the ice off of the paths up to the doors.

The jigsaw puzzle* of the African Veldt with an astonishing number of biomes around the edge (tropical additions for color) is coming along. I might manage to finish it this week.




*Try to avoid these same-shaped puzzle pieces in the future. They're murder to assemble.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 06 Feb 22 - 10:55 AM

Mennonite rules vary by congregation; some are very restrictive and others hardly at all. Any time I go to Canadian Tire or Zehr's supermarket, I see Mennonite women in bonnet, apron, and dress down to the ankles charging through the aisles with loaded carts and packing their booty into minivans (usually black) in the parking lot. My favourite garden centre employs packs of teenage Mennonite girls who pair the uniform t-shirt (scarlet!) and shorts (very short!) with a little white pleated cap that looks just like a muffin-tin liner pinned over their up-done hair. At the other end of the spectrum, at the doctor's recently I saw an elderly gent so pious that his coat and waistcoat (black) were hooked together in front, eschewing buttons; only heaven knows how his trouser flies work.

Amish mileage probably varies.

Perth County joke: What goes clop, clop, bang bang, clop, clop, clop? A drive-by shooting in Millbank.

I woke up this morning with a nasty, suspicious stiffness across my lower back from hip to hip and no idea what caused it. My tentative plan to haul the vacuum cleaner downstairs to de-fur the parlour has moved to the Pending file in favour of a long walk. The weather is beautiful: brilliant sunshine, very light breeze, not too cold.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 06 Feb 22 - 12:42 PM

Beaver:

Sorry to hear about the water problem; I have never encountered that one. Of course, I am still working on melting snow; washed a few needfuls and a very few dishes/cutlery. All those years off the grid did me well in knowing how little water I really need! Just keep bringing in pans of snow, melting on wood stove and decanting into a wash basin and use as necessary, ensuring that very little is necessary.

Spent a good part of my life in Amish/Mennonite territory in PA. A wide variety of beliefs and ways of doing things. The one I like best is the phone in the barn with an answering machine - lest it interfere with family life! Good people but many are very conservative, VERY! Akin to Quakers in their pacifism, but a world apart in some other thinking.

Meanwhile, out by the library, I will check into emails and FB. At home, reading some archival materials of the last 50 years and wondering if this or that person might be interested. Also trying to pass on a stack of good Quaker pamphlets to people who might appreciate them. And bringing in wood and white water!

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Feb 22 - 12:25 PM

It will warm up to about 70 by midweek so I'll make a point of walking the dogs and doing some gardening (the asparagus needs attention if I want a crop).

Last night I realized that Pepper had a puncture wound on her neck, and her Invisible Fence collar might have been involved (it had the long prongs on for now). It could also be that the noisy squabble she and Cookie had in the yard a couple of nights ago resulted in a bite that the collar is aggravating. I've taken the usual steps of temporarily removing the collar, cleansing the spot, and adding the pet antibiotic (Panalog). I'll watch and clean and if she needs to see the doctor, try to make that call by tomorrow so I can get in later this week. COVID really shut down the ability to get in to see the regular vet because they're not taking walk-ins (they used to have an extra charge for that, but far cheaper than the emergency vet costs). Pets, like children, have any number of injuries over the years that can be tended successfully at home. I think this is one of those. (As for the dogs, it's the classic case of they can't live with each other and can't live without each other.) Meanwhile, I think my order of heartworm medications has arrived in the mail today. I had to order from Australia because my UK site has closed down. Buying the same products from outside the US costs about 1/3 to 1/2 of the US amount from the vet, but again, COVID. I had to buy from the vet for the last 18 months and it costs a small fortune. The foreign sales weren't going because of no flights. Australia seems to have recovered quicker (and the vet actually told me about this place).

I have a trip to the northeastern section of the county this week for my haircut, so on my way home (I live in the southwestern section of the county) I'll make my usual loop of favorite shops to pick up my next bottle of olive oil, get the Middle Eastern soap I like (also olive oil), etc. I worked over there for 20+ years and that is still where some of my favorite stores are, but COVID has restricted the number of trips I make. The shopping list is growing.   

Since I made cranberry juice last week I had pulp in the fridge to use or freeze, so I made a batch of cranberry bars. Less sugar in the batter was better because the last batch was too sweet (it has to do with the cake mix you use as your dry ingredient). And I roasted chopped walnuts to add. A portion of the batch is in the freezer and I'll share the rest to neighbors. Did I mention that my fat pants are a little snug? I have to give most of these away or burst the seams.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 07 Feb 22 - 03:52 PM

My back is all seized up again, and very uncomfortable. I went to the physio clinic this morning -- thank God he had a cancellation -- and getting into and out of the car was a double dose of misery; any movement that involves both leaning forward and twisting at the waist sets up a roar. Just getting dressed is a challenge!

First choir practice of the new term tonight, and I'm not sure how I'm going to sing in this state. (Yes, proper singing requires lower back muscles.) I'm bumming a ride, though. Driving is just too awkward right now.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Donuel
Date: 07 Feb 22 - 05:42 PM

I've had a lower right backache since last spring. I water massage in the shower since the hot tub is outside. My barkolounger reliner lazy boy has intense massage and heat so I combine it with an Amazon movie now and then.
I restored all the kitchen cabinates and sink with soft scrub and magic erasers. They are the original almond color now instead of a grimey yellow. New floors in the spring.

I hear Canada has had demonstrations by the pandemic weary and have caused some trouble taking over food kitchens for the homeless since restaurants won't let them in without vax cards and masks.
We see no need for hoarding food but the freezer is full.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Feb 22 - 11:57 PM

So sorry to read about your aches and pains, and especially when you have the new car to drive (if you could only get in and out.) I am finding that even just 15 minutes of exercise a days helps with some of my morning achiness, but I'm also finding that some stretch moves trigger the upper abdominal hernia to be more of a problem - it may be from damage during early-teen gymnastics or decades later pregnancy, and getting worse now. Our bodies are maps of our earlier activities.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Feb 22 - 08:51 PM

Dupont:

Surprise! I had thought to stay until next Tuesday but a long phone call with a long missing friend shook lose a lot of thoughts (good). So, this am as I was going about the usual "routines", I suddenly decided I needed to leave. It was 11:30 and I was on the road just after noon. Here at 5 pm. Still light! off loaded, wrote longish email to friend. Actually the death of Bill Staines whom we both loved and who was our original connection, shook loose a need to connect.

I only forgot one thing. Still looking for what has happened to that connection cord; I don't need it here but it has to be somewhere!

Left Beaver is good order; house here is in good order. Two other phone calls yesterday - spent about 4 hours total on phone! But one was from a friend of 40 years whose wife died 4 years ago. I had not known until I couldn't reach them and called a brother. Oops. I was matron of honour at the wedding and I had been pretty good at staying in touch... So Ralph is still in the process of healing; writing poetry and songs to honour her. He is not a musician so this will be interesting. He is a highly intelligent, very conservative, minister, who used to design trails in a provincial park, with his first degree! Maybe he can also write music!

Maybe tomorrow I can throw a few pots...

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 09 Feb 22 - 08:26 AM

Day Four of the latest back spasm is … not quite as bad as Day One. Choir practice on Day Two was just awful, every deep breath a stab in the sacroiliac. Day Three featured a slight improvement, thanks to Physio Guy and his magic acupuncture kit, and I’m hoping for a better day today. Pool class at 9:30 — if I can climb into the car, I’m going.

I turned out the pantry yesterday, dumping stuff with way too much seniority that I knew darned well I would never use. The dehydrated whole milk from circa 2010, the curry powder from the earliest days of Stephen Harper’s first ministry … out to the green (municipal compost) bin. I don’t know how long dehydrated milk takes to go rancid, and I’m not willing to find out the hard way.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Feb 22 - 11:36 AM

Dupont:

We can have a good laugh over, "maybe tomorrow I can throw a few pots." Maybe today I can stay awake, barely, and watch TV, or go back to bed for awhile.

Driving the 401 yesterday, there were signs of spring that I did not see a week ago! The willows have a tinge of spring colour. The temp is up to freezing today, was 2 above yesterday! And we can still manage to park in the yard in spite of the last snow - about 8 inches. It takes determination and a lifetime of dealing with Snow. The snowblower is not yet repaired but at least the carburetor is back in the same vicinity. We could get lots more before, and even into, April.

Robin dragged in a huge light fixture - suitable for a large office... For the upstairs BR/office. Both feet (mine) are dug in. There are beautiful light fixtures in the Mill.

R kept the plants alive and did not complain at the new tiny yellow rose bush that I could not resist. Some of the Kalanchoe are blooming and the white lantana is opening. I am hoping some of the Af violets will bloom before the horticultural Society plant sale; people like to see the colour. I do too. I have started putting in labels when I know where that leaf came from; I cut strips from the sides of yogurt containers for labeling - after months of thinking of purchasing commercial ones! Duh!!

Maybe, later, I will shovel off the back deck...

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 10 Feb 22 - 10:04 AM

The back is much better today, just in time for my monthly trip to the allergist in Kitchener. Filthy weather, though; snowing and sleeting and generally borderline dangerous.

The new water softener was installed yesterday, and Reggie the plumber is so fed up with his employer’s new management that he’s transferring his flag to the competition. I’m equally fed up, so I’ll follow. What good is a new management that doesn’t pass messages or return calls, and always treats you as if you’re calling for the very first time?

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Feb 22 - 10:38 AM

Following the help is a time-honored practice - I did that this month with the dental hygienist I always see at the dentist's office. When the good dentist retired and the indifferent one took over, it was time to move on. I followed the person I see the most in these transactions.

Binged yesterday on ice cream I haven't had for ages. But maybe that is the last for a while - now it's warming and it's time to get more outside exercise. We also could still have freezes or snow (we've had snow in March), but I would like to decree that I've had enough of that and it should be spring soon and I need to get moving.

I see by Informed Delivery a postcard coming from one of our august membership - interesting, she must have read my mind, because I've been thinking I need to ship some pickled okra that direction. (The funny thing about Informed Delivery is that you can read the postcard before it arrives because the message is usually on the address side, opposite the art.)

There are lines at the gas station lately, and I haven't had time. Today I do have time so I'll queue at Costco to fill up. And hope this resolves itself quickly.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 10 Feb 22 - 03:29 PM

Dupont:

Energy started to flow about 7 pm and I made a big pot of veg stew - yummie. It was still hot when R came home (10:30) and declared it very good. Prior to the stew I simply was on the computer. Ordered some packaged "Indian" about a dozen, at 2.99 they go nicely over rice with some yogurt on top. I try to keep rice ready in frig. Time to do another batch and some black beans with salsa; both mainstays.

I came back from Beaver with enough black beans to fill one of those gallon jars, of which I used to have one for each item we used, of that ilk! And a huge quantity of buckwheat flour at half the price it is here; from the bulk food store there. Two such in cottage country and none, that I have found, in Chateauguay; I have asked. There is one in the city - probably more than one! - st the famous Atwater Market. R goes to the market for cheeses. If I don't get back to Beaver soon enough, he could manage. Well, I need to find an effective way to store my goodies!   

Just came back from groceries. Cooked a nice BF this am; yesterday's porridge was inadequate. I have some almond flour I could throw in to improve the protein. Bought pineapple for buckwheat cakes. I am clearly not inspired to cook much! But a new batch of brownies is in order; the previous lasted about a month! I'll wait until the weather cools off again and do a stint with the oven.

Today is in the plus range and has rained some. The huge icecycles came crashing down this am! February thaw is messy but de-clutters considerably, making room for the next onslaught - in a couple days.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Feb 22 - 09:25 PM

Today's trip to Costco earlier in the day allowed me to pull up to a pump with no wait. It's not that there are lines at all gas stations, it's that there are lines at Costco because their gas is high quality but less expensive than "normal" stations. This is one of the most obvious sources of inflation.

Dorothy, I see storage containers of all sorts at the Goodwill stores I visit. Glass jars with lids, ceramic pots with the gasket and spring hinge thing, Tupperware, Rubbermaid, and more. Over the years I've brought home some good ones to swap out for other containers of dubious plastic (weeding out anything old enough to have BPA).

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Feb 22 - 01:50 PM

Here in the states my particular insurance company set it up so networked pharmacies could let us present our insurance card to buy 8 tests a month directly, without filing for reimbursement. This is a non-prescription use, so it's very rare. But no pharmacy I've tried so far is willing to take the card, they all say "corporate won't let us do it" and that we should buy the tests and file the paperwork. But that' against the spirit of the whole thing. I've posted a couple of Tweets, I probably need to add more hashtags and put it on Instagram also.

Meanwhile, I need to take my little garden tiller in to have the fuel lines changed (they leak). I can do this but it takes me so long and with an indifferent result. Must do it before the repair shop gets busy. I guess today is one for trying to fix things. (It's lovely out and about 70^o.)

I ordered another pair of the really comfortable shoes I found a while back; I first found them in clearance at DSW, and I'd bought another pair on Amazon for about $60 for them; I was looking through my past Amazon purchases and saw that the same type from before was down to the last one and on sale for $38. Got 'em. These are my "walking around the museum with its really hard floors" shoes.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 11 Feb 22 - 05:48 PM

I haven't seen any sign of fuel shortages around here, but the prices are nuts -- approaching Cdn$1.50 per litre. (No, I don't know how much that is per gallon.) The last time I paid that much for gasoline, I was at Heathrow Airport.

Meanwhile, in another part of the forest, the premier of Ontario has declared a state of emergency over the truck protests, not just the occupation of Ottawa, but also blockades at the international bridges in Windsor and Sarnia. In Stratford, fresh food prices are stratospheric -- $2.49 a pound for apples! -- but I haven't seen any empty shelves, although certain items are inexplicably absent. One day it's lemons, another day it's store-brand laundry detergent.

It's been a hair under freezing and snowing heavily all day, but not for much longer. The forecast low for tonight is -19C and tomorrow's forecast high is only -7C, which means the air pressure is rising and the precipitation will go away. But the colder, drier weather will freeze the wet snow into lumps and bumps all over town, with a lovely slippery apron at the mouth of every scraped-out driveway. I plan to hike downtown tomorrow for a pub lunch with the bubble (BIL, SIL, and their lodger), so I'll need the hiking stick, the wool socks, the lined jeans and Edmund's army-issue fur hat, an outfit that makes me look like the Mad Trapper of Rat River. But I don't care -- no bad weather, only inadequate gear.

My back still hurts, but I'm now at the stage where exercise is the most important treatment. I went to pool class today and gave it my best, noting which parts, and which movements, still hurt the most. If I don't do anything nutty like fall down, walking is probably the best thing I can do for it now.

I actually dusted yesterday, and scrubbed all three toilets. Things are looking up.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Feb 22 - 07:10 PM

My small engine repair shop has closed! It was a one-man operation and it appears that he has retired. It looked so forlorn and empty, and a search online shows he thanked customers for nearly 40 years of business. I found another place that is a larger business, a mile or so closer in the other direction, and dropped off the equipment that needs work. Terrible parking lot, like the first place. They both seem to require backing into traffic. I'll have to approach from the side when I return to pick up stuff (Google maps shows they've taken over the next door building and I can park on the side of that place easily).

The main reason these tools have the fuel line problems is because of the ethanol in the gasoline. While at the shop I asked and was told about a place on the far west side of the county that sells non-ethanol gas. It's worth the trip and even the expense to keep the equipment running longer.

With the ice you describe, Charmion, I think I'd be tempted to wear a safety helmet while out walking. I lost a great aunt who slipped on ice and hit her head. (The news reported last week that comedian Bob Saget died of that kind of injury, though his heart was a ticking time bomb with a 95% blockage on one side.)

Dogs are demanding their dinner. I must do as requested or they'll be a royal pain. They're right on time - 6pm is dinner time for them. They started this at about 5:59pm.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Feb 22 - 10:15 AM

Welcome to Texas - the high yesterday was in the 70s with beautiful sunshine; today is an overcast high of 47 (two degrees from now) and a low overnight at 29. I was all set for shirt sleeves again but have put on another layer, and no yard work today. And I hear a brisk breeze through the woods across the road (they take on a life of their own in active weather).

I'm still working with the Essentrics DVDs I picked up to sample that program and in particular after yesterday's stretch felt really great. And I see that when she does the hip extension moves she adds in the IT Band stretches, just what I needed before.

Laundry done yesterday, dishes running this morning. A requests for masks came in, and I have some web content to work on. Time for a cuppa tea and to get to work.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 12 Feb 22 - 03:43 PM

Dupont:

ho ho: Today we have Charmion's weather of yesterday. But, after spending about half of yesterday on internet and phone trying to find my fav salsa, I went out early this am in hopes of getting to the large store while it was underpopulated - two phone calls to their office "No we don't" but finally found it on their shopping site - do not ask for the explicit item! Just "Salsa" and go through the $%^&*( choices! But a woman inside: no we cannot have someone bring it to you; you need a cart; Do you have a small one (Theirs are huge!) She kindly fetched me a small cart and directed me to the correct aisle where there was plenty! Put 9 jars in the cart and went back, looking helpless - the perks of looking OLD! She took me to a cash and helped me through it and I bundled up my salsa and came home - before the rain...!!!!!

Then I vacuumed first floor carpets and part way up the steps. R will need to take the vac upstairs so I can do up there.

Containers!! YEP! I have a few very nice ones at Beaver that I was thinking of taking back to a thrift shop. DUHHH! Next trip. In the meantime: found space in a drawer for a whole bunch of packets of "Indian" that already arrived.(Used part of one for lunch - hot!) And have yet to find a good space for 6 jars of salsa. I purchase herbs/spices at the bulk food in Bancroft, in small plastic bags - but larger than the jar in the cabinet so, tired of half full bags on top of things, I decided a beautiful pottery jar in the LR would do just fine. Because it is special, maybe I will remember!?! Maybe one of the none mouse proof drawers (DR) would hide the rest of the salsa! Flour and black beans are still homeless on K table...

Spent a long time responding to an email from special friend. Giving strong consideration to damp mopping the wood floors. Have I mentioned how much I love my new sink!!

Cooked rice without burning it! Just to have it on hand to go with black bean/salsa/corn mix or the veggie stew. Could consider making a new batch of brownies too. And bake a couple acorn squash at same time. And start a fire in stove now that temp is going back down.

DRISMAL out there!!

Oh darn - reading a post above- Reminder!! Still have not found the mysteriously missing cable. DO something!

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Feb 22 - 10:14 AM

When I bake chicken or a chicken part (like the large leg quarter I baked last week) I retain the drippings with the meat to use later for soup or sauce. With one leg quarter (skin and bone and a little leftover meat) yesterday I decided to make a personal-sized batch of soup. I used a slow cooker (a base with a 1 quart cast iron enamel pot) so the chicken and drippings went into that with a little boiling water and sat for a couple of hours to cook into broth. I had the rest of an onion, part of a carrot, a little bit of celery that I gradually added. Egg noodles in with the diced potato and slow-cooked (very low simmer) some more; it was nice. There was just a little bit of chicken, it was mostly broth and vege.

It's the day I usually change the bedding, empty trash cans, generally get ready for the work week. Even retired it's still something I do on Sundays. Also on the list I need to vacuum the floor mats in the SUV and around the outside of the house I need to sweep up the lava sand I put down for the recent ice. If I make the move outside to sweep I may also start dragging the stacked dried garden dead plants back to the compost. It all depends on how warm the day; it's mostly sunny out there right now. Next week I should get the little tiller and weed whacker back, so from then on can decide when is a good time to turn over the soil for the next garden. It's a personal goal to get the garden equipment to the head of the repair line, in and out of the shop quickly. (Dorothy - I'm sure R does his own machine repairs; I have done so in the past but find I am the slowest repair person on the planet. It's done more efficiently and quickly if I pay an expert to do it.)

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Feb 22 - 08:53 PM

Dupont:

Progress re sink: I managed to heat the formica off the wood backing - this was the cut out from the original sink. The R cut a piece to fill in the place where it had gotten badly messed up when he took out the old sink. Heat from the iron - I saw it on a This Old House youtube. Now, the sink is again in place and next time he will put a new plywood on the floor of the cabinet and the linoleum THEN I can put stuff back in!!

COLD outside so I put a fire in stove. Now ready to sleep... OH that project required a trip to the dollar store for glue so I did have an outing. It was sunny! Tried to sweep back deck but the sawdust sticks to the wood; maybe it will get drier.