FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: keberoxu
Date: 13 Mar 22 - 09:17 PM

I saw on the Mudcat Facebook page that
Wysiwyg is doing some online fund-raising.


...could not remember how to spell wysiwyg for a moment there ...

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Mar 22 - 10:16 PM

Help Susan Hinton get a Power Chair is the post that she put up. Better over here on Mudcat where more people know her. I'll look for the thread about "where is WYSIWYG" and add it there also.

While Mudcat was off there was other stuff going on in the world that needed attention. Today I finished preparing a couple of boxes to send out tomorrow, things on my "to-do" list for a while. My income tax files are on the kitchen table ready to begin and hopefully file this week.

Beside the front corner of the garage the hole is ready for concrete and the gate support post, I'll put that in tomorrow. From there I can plan the gate closing post and short stretch of fence from that post over to the property line. I should be able to finish the project this week. One more fence post to put in, a concrete curb across the gate opening (to keep dog-like critters from digging under it), and a dozen pickets. Th e dogs will have a great view of the driveway from that gate and I'm sure enjoy discovering it.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Mar 22 - 05:14 PM

A friend will be staying a couple of days; the original plan was she'd stay with her daughter and spend Friday with me and my ex, but as is typical with this friend, her family's plans change. People had COVID the last time she tried (we didn't see her then); this time it's upper bronchial. Ugg. Anyway, I'll be making the bed in the guest room and scrambling to sweep and dust and put stuff away around here. When company is coming is when you can suddenly see your house through someone else's eyes. And this one right now is messy. Fingers crossed she doesn't bring the daughter's cold to us here.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Mar 22 - 09:20 PM

I was looking for the top of my pan-shaped food mill for the last couple of days, and finally realized I'd put it away with the other food mill (that screws onto the edge of the counter and has a lot of parts). Duh. I had them both out last week and wasn't paying attention when I put the big one in the box, except that there are so many parts and I don't want to lose any. I thought I was losing my mind that I couldn't find that thing until now.

I'm still trying to sort the seeds from the frozen tomatoes for making some sauce, and processing cold tomatoes didn't work to separate them. This summer I'm going to make a lot more sauce at the time I'm first processing tomatoes, that's when it works best.

Since I was downtown today I made a trip over to my favorite discount gourmet warehouse and they had a batch of dessert hand pies in the freezer (along with produce and yogurt I load up on there). These pies are just chocolate; the last ones were chocolate hazelnut and were amazing, and worth the trip. I am reducing my driving by making loops, so this was one of those, a three-legged trip out. (That will be blown out of the water when my friend arrives and needs to be ferried all around town for a couple of days. I'll go back to the plan next week.)

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Mar 22 - 12:06 AM

Well I've managed to declutter my freezer of 8 1-pint plastic restaurant containers ("poor man's Tupperware") of chopped tomatoes from last summer. There will be a fair amount of juice and some sauce on the side. Cooking the tomatoes then hitting them with the stick blender before spooning through the food mill is what it took to get the start of the sauce. It needs to cook till thickened some more, then I'll add the seasoning.

The sink is full of the pans and food mill, soaking, and I'll wash it up tomorrow. If my friend likes onion soup then I'll make some of that for lunch or dinner while she's here, thereby removing a frozen baguette that I can slice and toast for the croutons for the soup. More out of the freezer—meals this time of year are about drawing down existing supplies of preserved stuff (and of eating fresh as well - it's a juggling act.) This sauce is in lieu of buying a jar or two, and I can use it on ravioli and flat bread (for homemade pizza) from the freezer. There are fewer take-out meals when thoughts turn to finishing last year's crops in time to fill it with this year's produce excess.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 16 Mar 22 - 12:46 PM

Be sure to buy plum toms, not just chopped, Jon, and ones with salt or anything else added are best avoided, I've found. I'm not keen on Napolina ones (not quite the Italian company you might think!). Cirio are OK (and I use their passata quite a lot), but they are no better than the Waitrose ones and are more expensive. All a matter of taste! Whatever else, I've noticed that prices of such stuff are seriously on the up...

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Mar 22 - 02:18 PM

Though we talk about food here, this isn't a recipe thread, and you should probably continue the discussion over to the food threads. I've moved a couple of them over now just to revive that thread. You were building up quite a head of steam. ;)

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Mar 22 - 04:03 PM

The house still needs a good sweep and a couple of floors need mopping; I'll do that after I finish a web page fix that I'm addressing. When it rains it pours - my quiet week has suddenly filled up with things that must be done now. This is spring break around here, so the museums fill up with families out doing things during their week off. I took the rest of the week off to stay out from underfoot. I should be able to finish making the sauce (cooking up the sofrito part then adding it to the thickened tomato sauce) and have it ready for tomorrow. My fridge is embarrassingly full for a house where just one person lives. It's a lot of things that keep well and others that are coming out of the freezer to use.

Though wait - it isn't just me. I'm giving the dogs more produce mixed with their dry kibble. There is a five-pound bag of carrots to roast (a few at a time) that I enjoy but I also give to them, and they get the tough ends from the asparagus, etc. One of the dogs is on a diet so he's getting more veg, less dry (also because he needs less protein in his food).

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 16 Mar 22 - 06:19 PM

Dupont:

That was a long hiatus! Not that I have managed to do much. I did try walking to the river and back (about 400 yards), times 2 and that worked for 3 days then my gut protested vigorously - I suspect the stew in which I used a jar of commercial spaghetti sauce. Won't do that again! So I only walked about 50 feet back and forth by the house - just in case!

Today, a gorgeous day! I walked down to the boat launch and sat on a bench by the river and then walked back. YAY! Enough snow gone that I could get to the bench. The ice is decluttering but slowly - about 10 inch thick chunks all higeldy, pigeldy (!) across the river. Open water down river! Sat on the front steps with the sun full on and ate a salad and read. And, just now another walk to the bench. This time I did not need to stop 3 times to rest on the way up the very minor hill.

Yesterday, in an effort to do something useful, I cleaned the oak bannister with Murphy's oil soap. Some of it looks better. And it is no longer tacky. It did not help my interminably achey right shoulder!

BIG social event on Sunday - Farmer's Market! And R took the day off so we could go together and visit with friends (with masks). And BF in a small resto. Big purchase: beets, turnips and mushrooms from the coop (farm). My second event since the Covid hit.

The previous one put me in collapse for a couple days: I went to a play in the city on 5 March. R was working so it was up to me to get there, to be supportive of my friend who was in it and heavily involved. I studied the map of that part of the city over and over to be sure I knew how to get there and see where there was parking.

Right! I got there just fine! YAY for me! And parked right outside the theatre, on the street! and looked for kiosk to pay. Asking people whom I knew were Francophones in that part of the city! No help. By the time I found the obscure door to the theatre, I was exhausted from walking around in the slush - fell once. (later realized I had pulled a muscle in my neck - a few days healing)

Inside, I lamented loudly: "How can I pay for parking???" A nice woman asked me my parking spot number and paid on her phone and I gave her cash. YAY! Then... I could not pay for a ticket! There was no way to pay except on line??? Stunned and confused, "But Justine told me I could get a ticket at the door!" A woman led me through halls, up and down steps until we found Justine, who greeted me effusively and thanked me for coming and Gabrielle led me through some more labyrinth to the theatre and carefully got me seated - I was shaking with exhaustion.

But that was not enough: R texted me that he was there! and I told Gabrielle, who was nearby. He also had no way to pay and had to tell them, "But Justine told my girlfriend..." And G brought him in one minute before the show started.

It was wonderful: excellent musicians and singing and acting -100% in French! I understood two words and R understood "about 15%" but the spirit was beautiful. The words did not matter. And when Justine came to thank us for coming, we were able to be very enthusiastic about how terrific it was!! We went for a bite to eat at the Atwater Market(lovely sort of spanokapita) and I dropped him back at work. Three days to recover. But I DID it!! And I am so glad I did; it was vitally important to me to be supportive of Justine.

NOW: the upshot is that I must find out how to be able to pay with my phone. I felt SO incompetent! And VERY OLD!

The walks are already helping. I need to vacuum. But laundry is OK, dishes are ok, groceries are fine, and I find little things to organize better and other things to recycle.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 17 Mar 22 - 10:50 AM

I heard a redwing blackbird outside the doc's office in Kitchener when I went for my needle last week. Since that infallible sign of spring, we've had four days of snow and wind and two days of thaw. A neighbour reported seeing and hearing robins yesterday. I'm planning to walk downtown today for a beer with the BIL & SIL, so I hope to spot one myself.

The house is a little less grimy since I finally hauled the vacuum cleaner downstairs for a go at the parlour rug. The garden is a mess as the snow comes off, but all my mould allergies are going gangbusters so it will have to wait.

The first daffs are sprouting ... !

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Donuel
Date: 17 Mar 22 - 03:10 PM

A few daffodils and jack in the pulpits are blooming. I did a living room makeover with an illuminated remote controled coffee table, a powerful led room light, moon mirror, a music quilt 'tapestry', and an earth and a moon pillow.
Added red food color to the forsythia which has just begun to bloom.
I'm hoping for an orange forsythia.
I cut down a huge pink flowering bush to replace with red azelea. I'm on the lookout for a red rhododendrom.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Apr 22 - 09:43 PM

Almost a month of posts have vanished, making it difficult to keep up with what people have been doing. The BS section of Mudcat is non-essential, but there's a family connection of sorts. And it's a place where I edit myself to try to make what I'm sharing interesting. So it is a loss, to have those entries gone.

I wish I had something interesting to add this evening, but I've spent the time completing my income taxes. I owed a tiny amount this year.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Apr 22 - 05:13 PM

It was a pleasant surprise after sending in my taxes to find an automated email from the IRS rejecting the first attempt, saying I hadn't taken the correct standard deduction. When I plugged in the larger number the tables were turned and they will be sending a modest refund. Possibly. I thought so last year but they whittled it down to almost nothing after catching a math error.

In the new gap of weeks since mid-March I have started an exercise program and this weekend rearranged my bedroom to give more space and to put down a free piece of carpet I found in my "purchase nothing" group on Facebook. I will head out soon to pick up a non-skid mat to put under it because it sits on tile and can slide.

I finished putting in a new gate and am considering how to put shade cloth over the new potting bench that I've assigned to a three-sided area created when I finished the gate project. It gets merciless midday sun so some shade cloth attached to the fence to pull over the bench is the plan.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 12 Apr 22 - 05:14 PM

Dupont:

LONG hiatus! I must have mentioned the ransacking of our stuff stored at the mill, that we discovered the first time we went to the Farm market. Since then, police and then a second episode resulting in the arrest of two guys carrying stuff (kept as evidence; we don't know what.) This time the neighbour took photos! Two trips to collect stuff off the floor; they emptied almost every box. There were a LOT of boxes. I am still exhausted from the most recent Sunday; Geri helped. Happy to find some very special things still intact! - esp cut glass bowls! And six boxes of the newspapers from when I was the local reporter! Hope I find time/energy to look through them.


Weather is improving and crocuses in east yard are blooming and some in my mound out front. Daffies taking their time! Bought lawn seed for special "eco-grass" that only needs to be cut twice a season. Hope it works! And wildflower seeds that I was told would come up this year and prob bloom. I will broadcast seed tomorrow before the next rain and try to rake some of the lawn - not to remove anything but to turn leaves over so seeds fall to the soil. Maybe if they are under the leaves, critters may not eat them - or will...!

Sorting through stuffs bought up from mill and divesting myself of as much as possible(?). Have made a fair amount of pottery and have packed what has dried in bubble wrap and boxed to go to Beaver for firing. Triaging other stuffs to take for Leslie to dispense as she sees fit - keep or give to thrift shops...

Finally divested my self of 12 years of pent up anger/frustration at some of R's behaviours; brilliant but no sense at all sometimes (him). I tried to let it go but could not and it kept infringing. Now I feel lighter than air. He kind of gets the message that things need to be talked about- at the time. I kept it in, not wanting to upset him... Totally dumb! I acknowledged this/took some responsibility of being dumb. Things are considerably better. Will be even better after we go to Beaver and, with any luck, regain running water so I can spend time there and give him Space.

I still need to go to Mill with him to see if we can find my books; People have moved stuff around and I am totally in disarray over things that I have not seen in 7 years. I packed so carefully! I suspect my things are in an area I have not been able to access in several years. Things have been added haphazardly, things I cannot move alone. Will put this off for warmer weather- that place is cold and dank in mid-summer! But, at 85, I am feeling a compunction to get my stuff together - and jettison what no longer feels necessary. Like a foot high stack of OLD dress patterns! And OLD tax returns!

Yesterday, the next door neighbour caught me and we had a "conversation" in "Franglais" (French/English). She explained to me the property line, indicating we have our bins on her property. So, this am, R and I moved them to our side. And he noted the Stuff I have been asking to be rid of for a couple years. "It looks terrible; like no one cares!" Still did not move them... ...

The house itself is in pretty good shape. I also lightened a carpet several shades by vacuuming!

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 13 Apr 22 - 04:11 AM

I fitted the replacement bullet camera for round the back. My installation there is a touch unusual as I want the camera roughly in line with our small gate into the field. I might just about get away with mounting near the edge of the house wall but a floodlight occupies the position I’d choose. My solution has been to fix a cranked tv pole mount to the wall and fix the camera (which is supposed to be wall mounted) to that. The base of the new camera was bigger than that of the old one and I ordered a new piece of sheet steel for mounting but when I took the old camera down, I found that drilling 4 new holes in the existing plate was all I needed.

The new camera has zoom (but on pan/tilt) so here are a couple of views from earlier this slightly dull morning max zoom and min zoom. It will spend most of it’s time near min zoom but to get a bit closer to the bird feeders and the bench where mum likes to sit when she gets out might be nice.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Donuel
Date: 13 Apr 22 - 07:57 AM

I am midway through a 'painting' of an underwater ancient shallow sea.
Instead of using paint I am using pounds of solid opal complete with Asian carved and polished plants and opal creatures from Australia, Africa and Mexico. On the upper right hand corner an island emerges from the sea with a palm tree and butter fly so far. I am carving a wave crashing on shore with color changing crystal opal today. The whole thing is about a foot wide and nine inches tall. The base is ocean floor opal and the other side is a display of various types of colorful opals big and small. Overall it is a serene sculpture of aqua and earth tones that could adorn any shelf or mantlepiece. Opals were formed under shallow seas millions of years ago. The idea for this piece came 15 years ago when I acquired the enormous piece of thick opal that looks like the sea that no one else wanted.
I use a mask, dremel and water to keep the dust down. I sold a cello to afford the opals over time which were much cheaper 15 years go.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Apr 22 - 10:24 AM

Don, I can visualize what you're talking about - are you mounting these pieces on a piece of wood or other solid backing?

Jon, is the camera a way to keep track that mum is safe when she's back there, or is it mostly for bird watching?

In my bedroom I've moved more furniture and picked up one of the rubber mats that goes under a runner carpet to keep it from slipping so the new carpeted workout area doesn't accidentally slide during exercises.

Attention must turn to out-of-doors; mowing, digging garden beds, and weeding. Inside, the small heat pump unit has been shifted over to its air conditioner phase because of the high humidity this week. I must dust all of the ceiling fans before they turn on and fling their blade dust accumulations into each room. And I'm on full-strength allergy meds now that pollen is flying.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 13 Apr 22 - 11:11 AM

SRS, I put a camera there for security but I do also use it to make sure mum is OK when she goes round the back. I also later fitted another camera that points down our narrow path to the small gate to the field. That one was put there purely to watch mum. I haven't got the shorter side of the house that runs by my work shed covered but I can follow most of the rest of her journey from the porch to the field.

Mum quite likes looking at what's happening down down the field when she's on her computer too.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Donuel
Date: 13 Apr 22 - 04:56 PM

Its like a jig saw puzzle but the picture is in your head.
It is ALL opal including the gorgeous sea. I'm using 6000 adhesive which can be removed with about 20 lbs of pressure. The front is now done with a masterful sea bed base of opal matrix which required steel epoxy. There are 25 fish and coral made of opal but the sea looks open with depth. The display of more valuable gems will be on the back.
Some opals are 30% water. Water and carbon are the ingrediants of life.

Its 80 out so I better do some yard work....

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Apr 22 - 09:22 PM

My bedroom ceiling fixture (lights and fan) flickered out yesterday, and a little testing convinces me that it is the switch. I have another iffy switch in the dressing room (only acts up occasionally) so today I picked up two replacements. I'll turn off the breaker and replace them in the morning.

While moving the mirrored dresser I forgot there was a TV aerial perched on top of the mirror frame and it came down with a clonk! onto the TV on the dresser itself. (This is the setup for my exercises). The TV is now blinking on and off, and after tests, I think it is actually the Fire Stick plugged into it that is acting up, not the TV. Cheaper if it needs to be replaced, but still a bother. There are other similar episodes around the house, things that need repair or replacement. The devices seem to be testing the pocketbook - repair or replace or live without.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Apr 22 - 11:58 AM

Friday morning and the house looks like it was picked up and shaken. So much to do, where to start? Paper is always a problem, so I've headed to the office closet and pulled out an old spiral notebook from graduate school, pulled out the dozen pages of book notes, and will use this in the kitchen to transcribe all of the scribbles on paper that seemed necessary to keep for some reason. I've used these kinds of notebooks in the past (there are two or three still around I occasionally refer to.)

Most of my grad school stuff is long gone, but notebooks that had few pages used and can be reassigned are still there, hence the adoption of one for my kitchen stuff. I tape in business cards, cut out pieces of fliers, whatever. Keep notes on when dogs need pills. Write down addresses and phone numbers. Much of what my phone is used for now, but in paper form.

On Facebook I posted the account of trespassers in the yard this week, an odd couple who I suspect have worked out some scams to play in their interactions with people. They got cash out of my next door neighbor, me, I just let the dogs bark at them until they finished a shower behind the fence near the garage (using the hose from next door). Overall, the dogs did what they are supposed to - they barked at strangers in the yard. The strangers ignored them, but it got my attention. Now if Cookie would just stop hunting my lizards.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 15 Apr 22 - 06:23 PM

I started clearing the garden of winter debris this week, so now I have a waist-high heap of deadfall branches off my (too) many maple trees and two huge bags of dead leaves swept, scraped and scooped off the patio. It’s still too early to clear the beds — that’s a task to undertake in May. At present, the cold wind howling in the chimney has me convinced to keep the furnace running for a while yet.

I’ve had three asthma flares since the snow melted, so I keep the dope kit handy and limit garden efforts to an hour or so at a time. Asthma notwithstanding, I’m singing well these days and I get out to the Y for pool class three mornings a week.

The next challenge is deodorizing the green Bokhara carpet in the parlour, which Watson has pissed on again. The air has a very slight pong and I’m expecting a dinner guest on Sunday. I’ve heard good things about Nature’s Miracle; any opinions, Stilly?

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Apr 22 - 10:06 PM

Yes - my first choice of enzyme odor treatment is Nature's Miracle. I've mostly used the Skunk Odor Remover, but the one for cat or dog pee is also effective. I have a bottle under the sink for just in case, and the skunk odor remover also. Better to have it handy (especially the skunk stuff) because they usually get skunked after hours when the pet store is closed. Nature's Miracle also produce a very good clumping cat litter (I had to go to Walmart to find it.)

This afternoon I replaced light switches in the master bedroom and dressing room. One was just funky, the other was out completely. The house was built in the 1970s, I guess switches do wear out. Better a $2 switch on each than an $80+ fixture. The bedroom one is the lighted ceiling fan, and I'd need an electrician to take care of that.

I ran the lawnmower for a few minutes with the bag set to catch grass. I poured the contents of that bag over the compost heap, and tomorrow I'll move a second compost enclosure and mow more to put lawn clippings in the bottom before emptying the kitchen compost buckets there. And then I can start digging in the garden because I'll have a place for all of the grass and weeds.

This is an alcohol free month, but with dinner tonight I had a Mexican dark beer. Bought yesterday and planned to go with nachos because I thought it was suitable to celebrate the completion my taxes. (And the fact that I got them right and they're depositing my refund next week!)

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 16 Apr 22 - 10:33 AM

Dupont:

Lovely wind storm yesterday afternoon! I slept through most of it and, as I regained consciousness, thought maybe I should move the car away from the trees. When I opened the front door, ... It did not hit the car!! But it took R some time this am to saw it up for removal from across the front flower bed - missed the daffies and crushed a small clump of crocuses. A large chunk of the tree had come down - a mostly hollow 12 inch D. at base and about 20 feet long. Lots of wood for the wood stove! Waiting for it to dry. I will park car further away!

Yesterday, I loaded the wheelbarrow with raked up stuff and took it to the woods. R finally put some junk into the trash bin. SO hard for him to let go of pure unadulterated JUNK! I have broadcast eco grass seed and a small patch of white clover; threw buckwheat seed on back raised bed. It may produce before time to plant veggies. If not, good for soil. I have ordered plants from our friends farm - Jardin de la Resistance! Starting some squash seeds in the house. Threw some lettuce seed on front bed. Very casual gardening!


I am still sorting through the stuff we brought back from the mill. Papers are hard... Trying to find space is hard. Need the filing cabinet OR would that result in just putting all the papers back in ...? Very old letters from #2 son and some others - people I failed to respond and lost... Darn!

Donuel: Project sounds amazing!

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 16 Apr 22 - 12:46 PM

I filed my taxes (such a penitential job) on Thursday, and I owe. That’s because almost all my income is pensions, of which I get no fewer than four that together add up to a comfortable competence (as Anthony Trollope would put it). The withheld income tax on each pension is calculated as if the others don’t exist, so this year I must pony up lots and lots.

On the whole, I don’t mind that state of affairs and I think I’ll leave it be. The alternative is wasting hours of my life that I’ll never get back to contact the appropriate gummint minions — four of them, mind you — to have more tax deducted at source.

Off to Canadian Tire to buy Nature’s Miracle spray. I moved the second litter box to the ground floor in the hope that Watson assaulted the carpet only because he just could not face the stairs.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Donuel
Date: 16 Apr 22 - 01:31 PM

Project opal is done. i am depressed it is not fine art but as a shelf knick nack it is better than arts and craft junk. I miss the fun of building an opal world with surprises such as a butterfly opal waving above a nearby island suspended by a cat whisker. i am happy i made a great contrast in distance perspective using only 2 inches of depth much like a painting of an ocean floor close up stretching all the way to distant islands. Thats what pandemic time can do.

This pandemic is as though we all learned what its like to live in antarctica for years. Instead of being part of a herd stuck in traffic going from A to B there are long silences inside. I remember thinking how some opals resemble miniature nebulas, a remarkable sky or a forever nightime display of stars... Now its back to rearranging the food and display cabinates.

The big diversion trip of the day will be going to the fabric store.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Apr 22 - 02:32 PM

I think you're correct about COVID isolation being like living in Antarctica. The days blurred together, I read a lot of books (or listened to audiobooks) and sewed a lot. The creative time was not only appreciated it was necessary to keep one from going nuts. The recovery period from knee surgery did skew things at the beginning. And as to the art, maybe you're the Grandma Moses of applique bas relief.

I was able to print out a form for Social Security and drop it into a mail slot at the Social Security office to change my withholding. I think setting withholding for the state pension was a matter of putting a signed form in the mail. I'll have to explore this topic later this year when the second pension share (après divorce) comes into play. I did some searching, it appears to be taxable. Of course it is.

The compost enclosure has been relocated by reusing one of the posts from the former position and rotating the whole thing so the old pile is directly beside the black plastic expandable compost bin. I pound in those metal fence posts intended for chicken wire to keep this upright, and will make a chicken wire cover to put over the top to keep the dogs out. More precisely, to keep Cookie out. Now to head out to mow with the catcher bag so I can fill the bottom of that bin with clippings.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Donuel
Date: 16 Apr 22 - 04:48 PM

That reminds me I should apply for Social Security.
Bas relief applique, I like that. I dream of Angor Watt carvings.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Apr 22 - 11:20 PM

I didn't finish mowing the back, there might be about 10% left, but I did what I needed as far as dumping several mower bags full of lawn clippings into the various compost enclosures. The new bin got several bags, then I emptied one of the stinky kitchen waste buckets; the other bucket went over the top of the pile I built last year that needs to have a hiatus and break down. Clippings on top of that also. With all of this I came pretty close to getting enough steps for the day on my fitness tracker. Tomorrow I'll finish mowing the back and move to the front.

The forest floor was swept away today and I see clumps of dog hair on the dogs telling me they're getting ready to blow their coats. Soon there will be so much hair I'll be able to knit another dog.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 17 Apr 22 - 08:20 AM

I took another run at the clothes hanging in the boxroom yesterday and picked out a substantial pile of coats and sweaters that are in perfect condition but now much too big for me. I’ll have to keep them until the fall, however; Goodwill won’t want them until there’s frost in the forecast. Another pile is stashed in the car until Monday, when the dry cleaners will return to duty after their Easter break.

With any luck, by fall I will also be ready to let go of some more of Edmund’s clothes, and start on his array of hats — so far I have rehomed only one, an Army-issue fur number that the BIL accepted at a particularly chilly point in February. If only I knew more men with large heads!

Review of a fashion article posted on Facebook tells me that my 25-year-old tweed jacket is out of fashion. Again. It makes me look old, apparently. How much do I care? Not enough to ditch the tweed jacket, which is just the thing for a cold Easter morning with snow on the ground and a forecast high of 4 Celsius.

I’m roasting a leg of lamb this afternoon to share with a friend from pool class, who lived in France for 25 years and likes it as much as I do. She’s bringing wine and, I hope, a hearty appetite.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Apr 22 - 09:57 AM

Charmion, you remind me that I have a number of sweaters that I never wear that should be re-homed. If I bag them now they'll be ready to donate in the fall. I was efficient a couple of years ago when I thinned out a lot of too-small pants (alas, I have gone the other direction on the scale over the last few years). I have a few nice pairs that are in a size I think I might reach, but none of the single digit sizes are in the house now.

Jon, just now I was looking at the receipt for my two switches, and I admit to turning them over with puzzlement because of extra screws on the side (four total on each). I picked them up in the simple switch area (the last two) but it turns out they belonged in the bin of three-way switches. Since they operate in one place and no other switches feed into the same fixture it doesn't matter that they're three-way switches, right? Like using a regular lightbulb in a three-way lamp? They'll just turn on and off like they need to. Overkill, perhaps, but no harm done? (The light switch for the main bedroom fan/light fixture actually had a third wire, I assumed it was a ground, and I don't remember if the electrician ran an extra wire when he installed it.) I know the UK and the US probably wire things a bit differently (for one, we can't use our house wiring for radio or TV reception). I compared the switches carefully and just switched out the wires from the old ones to the same spot on the new ones, making sure not to put in the switch upside down.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 17 Apr 22 - 10:39 AM

SRS, I’m not sure what you mean by a three way switch. In UK domestic lighting, we have one way and two way switches, the latter allowing the light to be switched from 2 points. Adding switching points in between is possible and the switch used to do that is, as far as I know, usually referred to as an intermediate switch. This page explains things UK wise and says an intermediate switch could be used as a one way switch.

An annoyance with UK lighting wiring btw is that (unless they have changed with more modern houses) is that they don’t usually run a neutral wire to the switch. This limits the choices when looking to use home automation switches like z-wave ones.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Apr 22 - 11:18 AM

It looks like our three-way is your two-way. I've mulled over this - I'm not going to worry that there is anything wrong with how this switch works - when I thought about the light bulbs. You know the ones that you turn on the lamp and it's dim, then not so dim, then bright, then off - those are called three-way switches. If you put in a standard bulb it means you have to click through a couple of settings on the lamp before the light turns on, but it works just fine. I think that's the same thing here - it doesn't matter if something else is not wired in, it's just on and off.

I sent you a note via PM asking about html code.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Apr 22 - 11:54 PM

Three strips of thick sliced bacon, a few slices of Swiss cheese, a dab of mozzarella, two cups of milk in the carton, and I decided to use that with a few more ingredients in a no-crust quiche. I submerged broccoli in it for some extra color, and made it in a bundt pan. Helpful decluttering and a number of items into the trash for tomorrow's pickup. Leftovers for this week.

Gardening amendments are on the short shopping list for this week. I can't put off digging the garden beds any longer. I was hoping for rain today, but that chance diminished as the day progressed so tomorrow I'll water the area then till it after it soaks in a bit.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 18 Apr 22 - 06:10 AM

"...but now much too big for me..."

Alas, a problem I have never endured...

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Apr 22 - 11:23 AM

Following Charmion's example, I bagged several sweaters that I bought on sale but never wear, that are too fussy or not my style any more, and as a closet bonus pulled a handful of t-shirts that are too small and, were I to lose that much weight, I still wouldn't wear. There are quite a few others in play that should probably also go, but it's a start. I need to aim at the "less is more" aspect of the closet, when everything I see is something I wear and I can mix and match it. It is a lot better than it used to be (I'd guess 10 years ago now I did a huge purge, and have struggled to avoid letting it get that bad again.)

I looked in the hall closet to see if there was anything in there needing thinning, but I'm less likely to remove an odd-fitting garment because on several occasions visitors to the house (who come in many sizes) have needed to borrow a jacket or windbreaker. A bonus for myself—I noticed my NPS uniform green windbreaker stashed behind a hanging shoe caddy that I keep filled with wool hats and mittens. In the past I removed the official patch from the shoulder so I can wear it as civilian gear now. I've been needing one this spring.

It is a kitchen luxury to have the new back yard compost pile in place and the two buckets from outside the kitchen door emptied into it. I can again easily empty the 2-quart stainless steel scrap bowl that sits in the corner of my kitchen counter. When the outside buckets were nearing capacity I tended to let that bowl heap before emptying it. It can attract fruit flies that way.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 18 Apr 22 - 11:56 AM

Dupont:

Re life during pandemic (still ongoing): I fell into months of muttering "nothing matters anymore". Lower than a snake's belly. When I finally found the energy to throw a few pots, that ended and I am managing bits and pieces. The onset of something akin to spring has helped. Unfortunately, my energy level quickly dips so I spend a lot of time resting.

I no longer have any idea how much I weigh; will find out when we get to Beaver - hopefully Friday or Saturday. R cannot back out as my 2nd booster is on Tuesday - in Bancroft. And, if he wants some time alone here, he needs to ensure I have running water there.

Yesterday I managed to clear two bookshelf units so I could change their positions, hoping for more effective use of TV room - getting room for the file cabinet to fit in the corner so I can replace all the darn paper - all I cannot bear to part with, that is. Dust and a bit of mildew are involved in most of stuff from the mill. I come close to just putting handfuls in the fire bin but then I find a few notes from friends or a really interesting article. SIGHHH!

This am, I have started putting stuff back on the shelves - after getting R to remove the huge fern we wintered for the neighbours to the first floor and cleaning up the major debris from it. One clean alcove! With the stuffed raccoon back on its pedestal to greet folks coming up the stairs. Hopefully the plant will go home in a week or so!

I have taken to opening the BR window and keeping the door closed so I have a safe place from dust.

R is also de-cluttering and it is making him happy - taking huge machines to the scrap yard and clearing properties of stuff so they are salable! A major declutter!! I have been begging for it all the 12 years we have been co-habiting. He is finally realizing... He will be 75 on Monday...

Back to it!

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Apr 22 - 12:50 PM

Dorothy, I took a look in my attic recently and see areas where I can tidy it for future work I do or for whenever I prepare to sell and move. It isn't damp like the mill, it is dry and dusty, but it is still hard on things stored there for a long time. For starters I dragged down a huge plastic xmas tree stand that hasn't been used in a dozen years. I think it is bound for Goodwill, unless I figure a way to plant something in it in the garden. ;-)

Regarding papers that are moldy and sentimental, I would suggest doing a scan (using a flatbed scanner or one of the overhead Bookeye scanners if your library has one) then saving the PDFs someplace secure and go ahead and burn those papers. Who is going to want them after you? If they're moldy, a library probably can't add them to the collection. AND - the bonus - if you scan any print documents as searchable PDFs you can find things quickly in that file.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Apr 22 - 11:16 AM

Charmion, did the enzyme cat pee treatment work?

Confession time: I had two cats in the apartment before moving here. They decided to repeatedly hit the carpet in one corner of the living room. Before moving out I pulled back the carpet, cut out the foam pad across the diagonal, then treated the concrete and the rug before putting down a new fitted piece of carpet mat (I'd picked up a remnant). I placed a large box over it to keep the cats away until we moved out. That at least solved the problem for human noses until the rent deposit was returned.

More clothes (pants and shirts) out of the closet today and I returned my stacked folded t-shirts to stacks by color. The rest of the clothes need attention - it'll soon be time to do a load of laundry - so I'll work on re-setting the clothesline posts today. Digging them out and adding more concrete to the existing footers should do the job. And new cross members to attach the lines (I have pieces left from the last fence project.) This is officially a declutter project in that it will use all existing materials.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 19 Apr 22 - 11:53 AM

Dupont:

Declutter for today: 4-5 inches of "sno-rain" wet and heavy! It's ok. Careful driving is in order at just above freezing.

SRS: I have been stalled by the mold! I dare not go through any more. I consider copying a couple special pieces that have surfaced. The printer needs attention. I wonder about putting piles of papers in the oven - it exhausts to outside. A googled site suggests placing papers in an open container to fit in a large closed container of charcoal/unscented kitty litter/baking soda ... Another, very well done, showed how to prepare a large bin for record album covers and using a small ozone generator, with a tube running into the bin. Ozone is unhealthy to all living things!

I will try baking soda for small amounts and take a good look at the whole picture. Not all the papers are smelly.

Meanwhile, there are other matters needing attention!

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Apr 22 - 12:14 PM

Dorothy, put the pages in an air-tight ziplock bag and freeze them for a while (at least 3 days). Be sure to keep it sealed once it comes out (so condensation doesn't enter). That's what archivists do when working to restore library or archives materials that have water damage. Baking would make them incredibly brittle and dark.

Archiving Documents with Mold

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 19 Apr 22 - 12:28 PM

All human-detectable evidence of cat pee has faded, thank God, and both cats have approved the litter box that I moved to the ground floor.

It blocks the original back door to the house, but that entry is literally the only available niche big enough for a litter box. Fortunately, that door is not the only alternative to the front door; there’s also a door to the garage immediately opposite and a retro-fit patio door at the other end of the galley kitchen. If somebody chucks a Molotov cocktail in at the window, I can still escape safely.

It’s snowing in Stratford. Bleah.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 20 Apr 22 - 06:57 PM

Dupont:

SRS! that sounds great. There is room in the freezer! And we are going to Beaver on Friday - til Tues. I have a plan!!! TY!

R did watch the youtube on using ozone AND declared is reasonable science. We do have an ozonator for a reason neither of us can remember!

Laundered bedding yesterday and asked R to help with fitted sheet - Darn thick mattress is unwieldy and too much of a struggle.

In the meantime, I have put a metal baskets of papers where ever I can find space on rads in areas I don't frequent. There are still two boxes of mixed china in the car - R needs to bring them in for me.

Lots of stuff put aside to leave permanently - going to Bancroft. And other stuff to take - never can remember what clothes I have there.

Pain in side/back has become worse; a call to the Dr. office elicits - vacation 'til Tuesday. I will go there for booster on Tuesday; the chances of talking to someone??? The nice receptionist could not even tell me they were on vacation! She put me through to voice mail which said not to leave a message. I am running out of ideas for self-care.

SO, must remember to phone for appointment to get tires changed on Mon or Tues; it was on today's "list"...! (The tires are at Beaver.) Other things did get done. I had moments of thinking to make pots but when I stood up to go do it, the energy was gone.

Snow gone! Hoping some of the seeds I threw on the ground a few days ago will have sprouted when I return. Parsley is starting to appear from last year's seeds.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Donuel
Date: 20 Apr 22 - 09:41 PM

The best time to mow the yard is usually tommorrow.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Apr 22 - 12:09 AM

I concur - I've managed to put off mowing that way for weeks at a time. :)

For the first time in 20 years I've lived here the boundaries and utility easements are correct. Two years ago the buyer next door scheduled a new fence to be put up on the west side of the yard and I asked them to use the survey to determine the placement because I knew the existing one was about 3 feet too close to my house (fault of the previous owner of my house, long story, goofy guy). I got back the rest of my yard.

The utility easement cuts across the long pie-shaped back yard about 2/3 of the way back, though a previous phone line installation ended up being laid all around the outside of the fence and coming back into the yard next door (where the wire was intended). Those neighbors are putting in Uverse fiber optic and the tech who spoke to them yesterday was going to go out and around the fence again, on top of the now-useless copper phone line. (There is another ancient line that SW Bell put down that jogs from the back of my house, around the garage, and into the next yard. I should find it and pull it out.)

I had a copy of my survey in hand and caught the service crew today and saved them a lot of digging - the line went straight across where the easement is and followed that line through the neighbor's yard. (Yes, Keberoxu, the dogs stayed in the house.) It may seem an odd placement, but we live near a year-round creek and the village won't place easements in the way of floodwater. This means that were I to sell my house tomorrow I wouldn't have to put up a new fence or pay someone to come in and put the utilities where they belong. (The previous owners rented out the house for 10 years so didn't have to disclose this kind of stuff. I would have to.)

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Senoufou
Date: 21 Apr 22 - 02:18 AM

My trusty gardener finally mowed both lawns back and front yesterday. I summoned some energy and trimmed all round the edges with my long-handled shears.
There's going to be a rent-a-table-for-a-fiver jumble sale soon at our village hall. I'm considering turning out my wardrobes and drawers and getting together a collection to sell. I seem to wear just the same half-dozen sets of clothes nowadays, and never use the posh ones, so someone might like to buy them.
My neighbour is having central heating installed next week. She's a real hoarder, and has had to declutter big-time to leave enough space around the house for radiators and pipes. To get a 1000 litre oil tank into her garden, she's also having to move about twenty (!) large tubs of flowers. She's very worried, it will be like drawing teeth I expect.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 21 Apr 22 - 03:54 AM

Well after another period of no use, I found another little job for the 3d printer today. Dad had an accident with one of his coin boxes the other day and the drawers and the coins all spilled out onto the floor. I think he dropped it but the box should have a bar to at least stop the draws falling out. He's lost that and with his handling, even if he only tilted it, it would only be a matter of time before a shelf or two slid out...

I've made him a a new bar.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Apr 22 - 06:55 PM

I go to a couple of Goodwill stores a week, mostly with a list from family of items they're looking for. I was sidetracked today when I spotted a Russel Wright Iroquois parsley green bowl. And then some starburst saucers. I just realized I never looked for the main thing I was there for! Bowl and four saucers, .89 each. It's a win!

Heightened pressure now for clearing up stuff around the house because guests are coming for lunch on Sunday. It would also be nice to have the yard looking tidy. A day for each?

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 21 Apr 22 - 08:21 PM

Dupont:

Car is mostly loaded for tomorrow's exit! I am very happy to be going home. And hopeful that R can fix the water situation. With any luck, the water will have thawed and the pump will be functional. Worst case: new pump. Hope they have one in town!

I tried to get an appointment to get tires changed but they are a week and a half behind! A couple service places have closed. They need to hire another staff... Bit slow on that! Maybe the son and gal are still getting their bearings after death of main man last summer. I shall have to bring the tires back here and find someplace.

Also need appointment for regular maintenance - CALL Tomorrow, Dorothy!!

Turned heat down. Away five days. Watered plants.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 22 Apr 22 - 06:39 AM

Something I might get round to this weekend is putting the tap timers back outside and reconnecting the pump in the field and then checking things are working. There shouldn't be much to do but there is usually the odd joint and tap to fix on the plastic pipework. I also ought to do some mowing but haven't got the energy so will leave that a few more days.

Potatoes (a few Aran Pilot I put in tubs a week or two back and Nicola Alan planted for us on Tuesday) are in and I've got tomatoes and aubergines growing on the windowsills to be planted early May. So we are at least off to a start with some of our bits of garden produce.