DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Donuel
Date: 09 Sep 23 - 10:11 AM

The Cochran report still finds the efficacy of masks inconclusive in slowing the spread of Covid.
For myself there is a scenario where masks are beneficial. It is your or someone else's violent sneeze.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 09 Sep 23 - 12:21 PM

Wearing a mask is a constant reminder of the threat -- not a bad thing in itself. People convalescing with COVID, or who have merely been in contact with the bug, should wear masks if only to remind them to wash their hands often and keep away from others until they are fully recovered, or they have tested negative throughout the incubation period.

More than a century of clinical experience has shown that masks inhibit the spread of all kinds of diseases, which is why medical personnel wear them when working over open wounds. As an asthmatic of long standing, I appreciate any effort or measure that reduces my exposure to the flipping COMMON COLD, which can reduce me to a quivering, barking wreck in two days flat.

So I'm on Team Mask.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Thompson
Date: 09 Sep 23 - 03:48 PM

I'm just getting better after a bout of Covid. I'm basically staying home, with my meals handed in the door of my room to me as I lie there with windows wide open. Today for the first time I made my own breakfast and our dinner, and fed the dog.
The second test, after a week - to be sure to be sure - had a very faint line, so I sighed and confined myself for a few days further. On Monday I'll try another test, and if that's clear I'll return to polite society. I've only been out for one very brief saunter with the dog in the last fortnight or so - been weak as water, and any walk would require a certain amount of crossing back and forth across the road to avoid breathing near other, vulnerable people.
I'd forgotten what a nasty dose it is. I was lucky only to be seriously ill - with a fever pushing 40C and feeling really miserable - for two, maybe three days, but the weakness that followed went on and on. And I was dopey; normally I can scoot through Wordle, but while Covid-ridden I failed it a few days running.
Keep safe out there…

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Sep 23 - 04:55 PM

Thompson, sorry to read about the recent COVID infection. It hasn't gone away. I made a lot of masks for friends and family during 2020 and 2021, and as a general thing I wear a mask in public places like the grocery store, the post office, etc. I try to dine in areas with few people and manage that by going in for a later lunch (haven't had dinner out since I can remember.) I also wear masks when I work in the yard if I'm kicking up dust (mowing, etc.). Might as well spare myself the sneezing that comes with the work.

Yesterday's high was very high for September (108^o), it broke records, but the day ended with a powerful thunderstorm passing through and between 1/4 and 1/2 inch falling. What a finale to the heat wave!

We had an impromptu bulky waste deposit happen this morning after that wind storm took out limbs in the box elder tree next door and they fell in my yard. The neighbors and I dragged them out to the curb, then we dragged a limb that fell on the very back of my yard last month, that probably accountable to "sudden limb drop" from the prolonged heat stressing trees so much. I'll take a saw out front later and cut shorter lengths and neaten the stack. The village will pick up bulky materials in our part of the village next week. Excellent timing for a storm.

My ex came by yesterday so I pulled the hard drives from those old towers and everything went into his trunk and off to the city recycle center. The disks will be disposed of next time someone collects that more sensitive data for destruction, probably Earth Day on my old campus (I take stuff to them every year.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Thompson
Date: 09 Sep 23 - 05:07 PM

Thanks, Stilly.
A thunderstorm warning has just dropped here too, for tonight and tomorrow. I'm thirsting for a nice bit of cool rain!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Thompson
Date: 09 Sep 23 - 05:11 PM

By the way, may I highly recommend the Norwegian meteorological body Yr? Much more accurate than most weather predictors - I gather they have access to more weather satellites, and you can set it to a nearby place.
There used to be a great forecaster called DarkSky, but Apple bought it and ruined it, damn them.
The other one I look at is windy.com, which is mostly, yes, winds.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Sep 23 - 06:37 PM

Earth is much like Windy, and I use both of them occasionally. The Norwegian one is in C not F, and the graphic is pretty simple - I think more trouble that it is worth. Perhaps for users north of the border who won't have to convert the predictions! But thanks for the suggestion! It's always interesting to poke around on those sites.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 09 Sep 23 - 07:45 PM

I’m quite happy with Environment Canada, thank you.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Sep 23 - 10:40 AM

I accomplished very little yesterday and was feeling blah about it so did a few standard chores before bed (ran the dishwasher, set up the clothes washer to run this morning). And the maiden voyage of the dryer this morning - so far it didn't heat when I set it on medium with "timed dry." And it wobbles. So must test different settings and figure out which corner has the leveling foot. I probably have 30 to 90 days to report any problems - must print out the warranty (for the warranty). Today is still hot, up to the high 90s, but starting Monday our week forecast shows all mid to high 80s. The plan with the dryer this morning is to run it long enough to be sure it works then pull the t-shirts out to put on hangers and finish drying outside. The towels and pants can stay in the dryer. With it set to use the drying sensors it is heating as it should; all settings may not be connected properly in the repair.

The big old chocolate Labrador has an appointment tomorrow at the vet. He is staggering around more than ever but he still loves his food and his life. He will get a much-needed nail trim and we'll see if it is time for pain meds to help with the arthritis. I'll need to stack boxes as steps to get him into the SUV and they say they'll help me with getting him out and putting him back in down at the office.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 10 Sep 23 - 01:32 PM

Thompson, I use the UK Met Office DataPoint for my weather forecasts and observations. It just supplies data in json and xml formats so some coding is needed to make it readable. I added a chart to the UK previous day’s regional extremes page today.

Tim got me an iPad Mini for my birthday (7th). I never expected to be an owner of an Apple product          (or expected a present like that). I spent much of yesterday getting it to share data with my other devices. Google help searches led me to believe the iPad probably wasn’ t going to sync calendars with baikal so I decided to try nextcloud which I thought might work with everything. Loads of hassle with nextcloud until I stumbled on something that prompted me to take another look at baikal. I found the error, fixed it and the ipads now sharing contacts, calenders and tasks with the rest.

Annoying though. If I’d found that last page first, things would have been fixed in 15 minutes.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Thompson
Date: 10 Sep 23 - 01:56 PM

I *think* you might be able to tweak yr.no to use f not c, but since we always use metric here I prefer it.
I just like it because it tends to be very, very accurate, much more than any other meteorology app I know.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Sep 23 - 07:07 PM

As the heat dissipates from our unwelcome intense heat dome I think energy will return. It's not that I felt unenergetic during the heat, it's that now that things are cooler I realize how much more I feel like can accomplish when it's possible to go outside and do things, not just duck back in as quickly as possible.

I've started making lists of things to round up or put on a wish list if I seriously take up quilting. I remember when Michelle (LilyFestre) started, maybe 10 years ago, by buying precut strips, then fat quarters, and going from there. I have tons of fabric in my stash and lots of scraps to approach from the use-up-what-I-already-have angle for crazy quilts, just to get the hang of it. But even when starting with scraps decisions must be made about the size of blocks, the batting to use, etc. So I'm watching videos and occasionally heading into the sewing studio to see if I already have the items under discussion and realizing I'll need to rearrange materials for a new use. This is a creative form of decluttering, putting extra fabric to a new use, and it's interesting to plan for.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Donuel
Date: 11 Sep 23 - 09:22 AM

My mother's last three paintings were self-portraits that were identical except they became progressively more blurry. That indicated to me that she like Monet and myself had Fuchs syndrome which presents with corneal fluid bubbles that make vision foggy with rainbows around light sources. Every morning around 6 to 7 AM the rainbows start, BUT because I was prompted by caters to get checked I have curative ointments that dry the eyes out back to clarity in ten minutes. It's too bad mom assumed it was just old age. Today transplants as small as 3 millimeters of fluid pump cells can cure Fuchs. I carry eye salt drops at all times just in case. I still need 250 mag glasses for close work and reading. While vision varies with fluid it does have moments where I don't need glasses or a remarkable telescopic quality appears.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 11 Sep 23 - 10:47 AM

First choir practice tonight, so seven file boxes of music are stacked near the garage door for an efficient exit. God forbid the house should catch fire while the gangway is so thoroughly blocked.

The swimming pool at the YMCA was supposed to open today, but no -- tomorrow at the earliest. Consequently, no pool class until Wednesday.


My hips feel stiff these days, so I downloaded a walking-challenge program to my phone yesterday in the hope that I will get off my butt more often. Summer is waning, so I don't have the excuse/reason of steamy heat to justify logging extra hours in the comfy chair.

The app is one of those couch-to-10K (steps, not kilometres) things. If it does what it says on the tin, and my rickety feet don't give trouble, I'll "do" Hadrian's Wall (145 km) on a treadmill at the Y gym over the winter.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Sep 23 - 10:48 AM

Funny you should mention magnification glasses - here they are OTC readers. My everyday glasses have no Rx on the top thanks to the cataract surgery, they have a bifocal bottom for everyday looking at things close. I didn't pay the really big bucks for cataract replacement lenses that are for near and distance.

With bifocals at the computer I'd be tipping my head back and getting a stiff neck. Years ago I learned that was what was happening at work and I got "office glasses" that gave me mid-range and close only, for the computer screen and the desktop. Now I can just use readers and I bought a couple of packs of them at Costco. I don't carry a pair everywhere, I trade glasses in places were I work around the house. I have a pair of readers in my handbag. The entire lens is a magnifier, you don't have to keep moving your head to see out of the bottom of the lens.

It rained this morning and is now 71 degrees. I'll still use ceiling fans for a while, but the heat pumps will finally get a break. I moved a couple of pots of seedlings outside—that were started indoors they but haven't thrived in window light. On the outside potting bench I have a dozen pots with cucumber and squash cotyledons on view and the shade cloth pulled back so they'll get full sun.

The plastic step stool is on the ground next to the SUV and I'm wearing gardening clothes for the prospect of picking up and rolling the Lab into through the liftback. We'd get too tangled up if I put him on a back passenger seat. I'll take the step stool with us, and lots of treats, just because. Every morning as I head into the den I wonder if he chose to follow Poppy's example, passing away in his favorite place to sleep, but he's hanging in there. He's eating and he seems to be a happy guy, so I need to keep him comfortable. (He's quite frisky this morning with the cooler temperatures.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Sep 23 - 01:19 PM

The old lab is in great shape for a dog that is 15 years eight months. He lost 10 pounds since last year (intentionally, I knew it would help his hips a bit; he's now down to his old "normal" weight) so loading him into the SUV wasn't as hard this time as last. There are a couple of ironic elements to the visit (of course!) - last week I tossed the contents of a 2-pound jar of brewer's yeast into the compost because it was about four years old and I hadn't used it much (to keep flies off - if they get it in their diets it helps repel pests). But it turns out he's a little anemic and the B vitamins would be beneficial, so I've ordered a new tub of it. And with all of this is the classic hit to the wallet - the refund check from the Home Warranty folks for fixing the dryer arrived today and it was $4 more than the vet bill.

Good luck with the steps, Charmion. I have an exercise app that I've set up to remind (nag) me every day that I should use it. I should probably set it to a different time, the one I've set so far hasn't been very effective because I'm usually in the middle of something when it goes off.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 11 Sep 23 - 02:01 PM

Beaver:

Boy, am I way behind but right now it is hot and I am in the sun. I stopped at library to check out an email from somthinbg called "shop" Finally figured out the source and phone Vita-save and let the sweet young woman have it with both barrels. Sent them a $500 order as I have shopped there for years... Then an email from "Shop" telling me to confirm it within 24 hours??? NEVER heard of "Shop"! Finally realized it was CONNECTED TO MY V-S ORDER, and phoned them. WHY!!!! In this day of scams, the last thing anyone needs is some ... MYSTERIOUS, UNKNOWN NONSENSE. After several scam sorts of phone calls, my credit card actually being scammed and having to get a new one.... I will go home and recover!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Sep 23 - 10:54 PM

Dorothy, I have an email that looks like it is legitimately from the US Post Office, telling me that the payment method saved for autopay (for my post office box) is about to expire and I should logon and change it. Except it has more than a year before it expires. I logged on directly to USPS (never follow an email link) and looked. There was an already expired debit card in there and the current credit card. This has me scratching my head - has the USPS been hacked? It's probably an error, but I'm not following their link.

It was lovely today, a high of 93. So much better than 103 or 110. There is rain in the forecast this week, with the suggestion that while the storms may not move over everyone at the same time, by the time they all pass through, everyone should get at least an inch of rain. Bring it on!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Sep 23 - 11:57 AM

More rain overnight and normal September temperatures this week. The yard is muddy because of the rain that is still soaking into the super dry soil, so lots of dog footprints through the den. I will be able to make the last push on removing the large root and finishing the fence. I might even be able to go into the attic in the mornings (I'll have to go take a look and see if I've found all of the holes at the edge of the soffit to fill with mortar to keep out mice and squirrels.)

I meant to do something productive last night but ended up watching YouTube videos by a guy who goes to sit with dogs in shelters and help get them adopted. They're always nice stories, though some of the dogs come in pretty rough.

There are more okra in the garden now and we could have six to eight weeks before a frost, or longer, so I hope to get some crops. The stuff that survived the heat is ready to produce now, if I give them a little space (pull out some of the weeds crowding them) and some organic fertilizer as a boost.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Sep 23 - 09:45 PM

The quilting tutorials I'm watching have come around to the organization of the sewing room - having the three most important stations in good proximity (sewing machine, cutting table, ironing board) and for everything else - it can involve a major declutter before deciding how to organize it. Will this be my project that finally evicts all of the storage containers that hold my mother's unfinished projects? There are a couple I thought about trying, but some I have no interest in. I think Freecycle will be the avenue out of the house for those (and I should have done this anyway.)

Meanwhile, I chipped away more of the huge tree root that blocks construction of my last fence panel, stopping when the reciprocating saw battery ran out. And the last of the pickets have been painted with wood preservative. I have a whole gallon and only needed to paint four pickets, but it is clear so can be used for other wood projects in the future and it keeps well.

With the weather shift coolers are put away (one was on the porch with water for the mail carrier, another next to the side door to take shopping for bringing home cold groceries). We're more closely duplicating the conditions people on the east coast have complained about - our temperatures are lower finally but the humidity shot up. I don't need the coolers but I still need the ceiling fan and the air conditioner to pull the moisture out of the house.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 05:43 PM

Beaver:

A gloriously beautiful day- breezy, sunny but ...sometimes it is sunny! And prob about 70F! and dropping. My idea of perfect!

Another cup of green tea seems to be needed so not quite perfect! I fact, it has been an sun then cloudy, then sun... More green tea needed.

I have been here a week and only just recovering from the drive. The car is unloaded and now most things have found temp homes until I feel up to sorting out the glaze materials I brought and those already here and make order of chaos.

De-cluttered a bag of small flower pots from Dupont to the Trust for seedlings.

My recent bread order from Dimpflemeiers included a 10 pound loaf of rye bread - I did not read carefully!!! I took it over to Community Trust and we decided it would be great for Sunday brunch - Diane could make French toast. I thought of D making French toast in the diddly elec frying pan and went to Canadian Tire for a real griddle.

On Sunday, arriving with bread and griddle: The back shed had burned in the night. No one was injured but the homeless sleeping in it were displaced and Diane went home in a state! Brunch was cancelled. Bread went in freezer with hope for next week.

I went back to 700 page novel.

Today, met with my two sister friends. Brenda wants to know who really wrote the Bible and ... WOW! Solid Irish Catholics and this left field Quaker bouncing around questions and ideas I never thought I would hear from them. I could view this as a really unique sort of de-cluttering?

Maybe tomorrow I can do some work in the studio.

May need a fire tonight. Steve did get this year's wood beautifully stacked in the shed while I was away. Pat picked up some pottery for the Carriage House.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 10:31 PM

So many things coming and going between Dupont and Beaver - and the communities where each of those houses are!

I hope all of Charmion's boxes were moved satisfactorily - no strains in the lifting or cramming into the car.

This afternoon I pulled from my craft storage a bin my sister sent me from my Mom's house and craft stuff from when the kids were younger. Mom had rug backing kits and crochet hook tools (for knotted yarn rugs). I met my daughter today and had her shop through the stuff. She took the more ornate large beads (they were originally hers) and some lovely crystals we bought in Arkansas many years ago, plus a few other items. And she gave me a tip - there is a local organization that accepts all sorts of donations that can be used by teachers for art projects and for building sets for theater programs. I can let them look at what my daughter doesn't need and what they don't want goes to Facebook or Freecycle.

I kept the bin with Mom's braided rug stuff - I watched her make those when I was a kid and always wanted to try, and it is another place where scrap fabric can go. There's a partial rug in there I can practice on.

This evening I went back to the craft storage shelves and pulled out old crayons, colored pencils, watercolor paints, and some ancient art pastel chalk that still works. Some of the chalk I had when I was a child! More for the Welman folks to consider. I'll take it over at one time, not piecemeal—I'll work on these shelves for the rest of the week. With this stuff the "keeping it for grandchildren" argument doesn't win when considering how old and how messy some of it is.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Thompson
Date: 14 Sep 23 - 02:33 AM

I did some wild spending the other week, buying a beautiful white glass and black steel Art Deco lampshade. The charity shop man gave it to me for €5 because there was a crack radiating through one of the panels. So I'm going to try the Japanese art of kintsugi - it doesn't need to be food safe, so I'll be using the simpler method of cleaning it, trailing glue along the seams and then scattering on gold mica powder. With any luck, this will look very nice with the light shining on it.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Sep 23 - 11:24 AM

Thompson (is that what you prefer we call you?), I watched a video of the process recently - so many steps! Good luck with that project!

Yesterday I attended a retirement reception that was held in a normally good-sized room but with so many people the ventilation wasn't up to the event and no one was wearing a mask. I consider this the bonafide first super-spreader event I've been to. The retiree usually wears masks in groups and if meeting someone else in a mask he pops one on, but he wasn't wearing a mask, so I stood back but I didn't put on my mask. The room contained a fair percentage of rich conservative white folks who may not have been vaccinated.

I've looked up the rug and crochet-like materials - that hobby is called latch hook, and it appears kits are still sold and people still do it, so I won't toss it as obsolete. I have bins full of tiny beads and glitter and I wonder if glitter is even allowed at schools now, it gets into everything. Something to ask about. The kids and I produced a lot of decorative egg holiday ornaments for the tree, made with glitter and beads and ribbon, but that ship has sailed as far as my interest in it. Those items are in another bin or two.

It's a lovely rainy morning and I can wear my new rain slicker (last used in May?) Soon I'll be able to turn over soil and weed parts of the garden where I want to put in cucumber and zucchini for fall crops. You can water with a bucket or a sprinkler all summer, but until it rains, the soil just isn't as easy to work.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 14 Sep 23 - 04:41 PM

I’ve had a play with maps since my last post here. I was going to try Google Maps but I managed to get my bank card locked during the sign up so I tried Leaflet. I’ve added some location maps to some of my weather forecast pages. I’ve also had a play around with a couple of the forecast pages. The hourly forecast one has changed quite a bit.

Nothing really to report from home but Tim’s daughter and partner in oz have had a disaster. Their house has burnt down. I believe it happened quickly and that they were fortunate to get out unscathed together with their two dogs. Their cat is thought to have perished in the blaze though.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Sep 23 - 08:55 PM

Jon, that's terrible news. Tim is a sibling? And why would your credit card be involved with Google maps? It's free AFAIK. Or have you found some special goodies they offer for a fee?

Patty, check in if you feel like it, or send an email and let us know how you're doing. Hopefully your weather is cooler and nice now, as it is here, not contributing to your discomfort.

Lifting a box of glass bottles (Topo Chico) today I pulled some stomach muscles, something I seem to do every year or two if I'm not careful. Goes back to a gymnastics injury in junior high school. I microwaved the sock-like bag of rice to apply heat and that has helped, but it means being careful for a little while to let things heal.

A bin today in the sewing studio revealed a BeDazzler (as seen on TV) for fastening beads with teeth onto garments. Kind of like using a tool to fasten grommets. Now most things are glued, but there might still be an application for this (pardon the pun!) I still have pearls and gemstone beads and materials for jewelry making that I plan to return to. I also still use beads in the context of sewing. I put a lot of bling on a red felt xmas stocking for my daughter-in-law that matches the one I had from childhood. My mom made them from a kit and I knew I had the felt and the sparkly stuff and it had to be made in a hurry. My daughter did the cutting out and sewing and I added the decor. I have another stocking to make for my son's partner who one of these days will be here for the holiday.

Cat sitting for the next few days, but nothing else on my calendar, so I plan to dig into the studio shelves more and see what else I can evict. I might also do some sewing machine rearrangement. The room used to be a bedroom and still has a double bed and a matching dresser pushed back into corners. I'd love to move those out, but we occasionally use the bed. I'll have to think about this.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 14 Sep 23 - 10:51 PM

Yes, Tim is one of my three brothers.

Google offer services for people to use their map system. I think their only free one is the static api which will allow you to embed maps with plain html. They want your card on sign up regardless of your intended usage. I thought my usage would be free but after a second look, I’m not so sure. The static api allows you to place tags on maps but it wasn’t clear to me that these tags could be used as clickable links. If I had to resort to their JavaScript api, their starting point is $5 per month. Also, I found I can’t resolve all the place names that turn up on my regional extremes page to lat/long coordinates through the met office data. I found a free service that meets my needs but, if I wanted to use Google’s geolocation api, prices start at $7 per month.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Thompson
Date: 15 Sep 23 - 09:59 AM

Stilly, yes, Thompson is a handy handle that keeps me reasonably private.
Nah, I'm not going to do all that, because it's not something that has to be food safe (except perhaps for any lost bats that might wander in to dangle from the lampshade); I'll just trail glue down the cracks, wipe it a bit then scatter goldy powder on it.
For the later turn of the conversation, I've never given a card to Google - why would I, I'm just using it for basic map information. When that "sign up" dialogue box comes up I press the Feck-Off button (it may be called something else or be a red blob); I do *sign in*, so I can use 3D etc, but that doesn't require a credit or debit card.
The only people I know who use a paid version (not dear, something like €200 a year, I think, and it's a professional tool so you could probably claim that off your tax) are bus drivers, truckers and delivery drivers, who use a version that warns them of the presence of low bridges. The bus driver who told me about this said it had saved him money because a lot of these are not well signposted. Before he'd signed up for it he once had to back a full-size coach slowly along for 3km (I think it was) along a narrow, twisty country road with one of these bridges, with a raging local car driver behind him.
There are other mapping apps; there are open-source ones like Brouter, which is useful for cycling because it'll map a quiet route away from cars; Apple Maps has a nice satellite and street view, though not as up-to-date as Google's - but I think maybe Google's is particularly regularly mapped in Ireland because their EU headquarters is here, so they might test out new methods.
I'm waiting for any of them to start using 360-degree cameras so it'd be possible to scoot around on video and see what's behind, to the side, etc. But maybe that's not technically possible or webbily feasible for a map app.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Sep 23 - 12:26 PM

Thompson, I contributed some local photos to Panoramio ages ago, then it was purchased by Google and incorporated as a layer, but that layer disappeared (2017). I am part of the local guides but haven't put photos up again. I visited bridges that cross Sycamore Creek in Fort Worth to post upstream and downstream photos from each bridge, down to the Trinity River. A couple of people using the maps emailed offering suggestions of more access points. I use G. Maps to navigate past traffic congestion and find new places, but so many times I drive past a wooded area or a large berm or wall and think "I'll have to look that up on Google Maps when I get home." I mostly forget until I sit down for some binge snooping. Now much of the Earth and Maps content is merged so either one works for the curious folks of the world. What do you have in YOUR backyard? ;-)

Rain again this morning; such a relief from a week ago today when we hit the last cringe-worthy high temperature of the season. I'm back from cat feeding and a productive trip along the boulevard I travel from my house to hers. Dollar Store shampoo without the SLS (a coconut allergen), a different Dollar Store clearance gardening gloves with a latex sticky hand surface (recommended for quilting when you're doing the machine quilting and pushing a lot of fabric through the domestic machine - better traction), and a fresh batch of Louisiana Fish Fry in a 12 ounce bag; the current 2-3 pound plastic jug expired a year ago Wednesday and while it tastes ok, there is more than half left. The new bag goes into a jar and the jug contents sprinkled into the garden. The recipe has 99.5% corn meal which is an excellent fertilizer. The garden will smell a little more Cajun than usual.

Another dive into the sewing studio; I'm finding this rediscovery of old projects fascinating—some I wanted to finish but forgot, many I'm completely over, etc. Lots of gifts that were never used - scarves, etc., that might see new life now. And gobs of batting and polyfill. When I finally put it all together it should add up to enough for several projects ahead. Must sort the iron-on sticky pieces from the regular old interfacing and all of the variations in between. I will also be moving furniture, I'm not sure how much or where yet. What I really need is to have my daughter clear the contents of the closet; it is packed with her long-forgotten stuff. I have a plan for that.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Sep 23 - 06:16 PM

Vaccination research shows that the COVID shot will be available here at the end of the month and I need to look into RSV - the shot is $350 out of pocket if my insurance doesn't pay. So I got the flu shot today.

This afternoon I opened a shoebox full of small cross-stitch kits and partially stitched projects and I found a stitching diagram of a larger project in my ex's handwriting, so I'll see if it is something he remembers or wants. He used to sew and do carpentry and and leatherwork when we first met. The rest is donatable, or since there are some uncompleted ones, maybe to Freecycle.

There continues to be a chance of rain this evening and tomorrow, and this afternoon my informal rain gauge, the trash can beside the driveway, had at least 1.5" of water in the bottom.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 16 Sep 23 - 10:44 AM

The Getaway organizers want everyone in attendance to prove inoculation and to test negative before and during the event.I emailed my Province of Ontario vaccination certificate to the registrar with a question: Are five anti-COVID jabs good enough, although the most recent was almost a year ago, or must I get jabbed again before attending? I ask this because the Ministry of Health has a new vaccine, developed to target the latest variant, and it won't be distributed until late October. I don't fancy getting jabbed twice if I don't have to.

Beautiful weather in Perth County this week, markedly less hot and definitely chilly at night. I switched the thermostat from Cool to Heat on Thursday, when I arose to personal gooseflesh and an indoor temperature of 17.5C. Within half an hour, both cats were ensconced in meatloaf position on top of floor vents.

My personal fitness program is going well so far -- extended walks every day, greatly encouraged by conditions outside. Also, my annual bout of autumnal hay-fever has subsided, so I can huff all that delicious fresh air without wheezing and sneezing. The tourists are still in town, however, supporting the theory that man remains vile even when every prospect pleases.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: keberoxu
Date: 16 Sep 23 - 11:17 AM

"Meatloaf position"! I love it!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Sep 23 - 11:38 AM

It is cool enough here to start walking the dogs again but Zeke will be staying home unless I decide to try to drag him in the wagon. I suspect he wouldn't stay down in the wagon and too high a center of gravity would make even a trip around the longish block near me precarious. We are weeks away from switching from cool to heat, but I'm almost to turning off the ceiling fan in the bedroom overnight. Or I need to get another light covering; it will be a negotiation for a few days before the fan is turned off.

Last night I did a COVID test since I'd been in a group of unmasked people on Wednesday. There are no symptoms, this was for an early warning since I'm giving a tour at the museum today. Negative, as expected.

My seedlings are looking good so it's time to start clearing the spots where they'll be planted for the fall, and I may put one or two each in large pots (I put in seeds for six cucumber and six calabash zucchini). It's also time to take the mower and the weedwacker out to trim around the scruffy front yard and bring in the wading pool with the little floating solar-powered fountain. The birdbaths are always out there, but the pool takes a little more maintenance.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Sep 23 - 10:40 PM

The day started out kind of glum, probably the approaching autumn. It has that effect sometimes, but I managed to get enough things finished today to generate some endorphins. The biggest accomplishment was the transfer of my ex's house landline to Google Voice. A couple of weeks ago we went to T-Mobile to port his AT&T phone and last week the house dial tone stopped. Google Voice won't port landlines, only cell phone lines, so T-Mobile was our chosen go-between.

Logging onto T-Mobile the first time is via their authentication activity in a cell phone, so today we used my retired cell phone with the new SIM card and were able to logon to generate the port-out-code to move the phone number over to Google Voice.

He paid $20 to Google, a one-time charge for the transfer, and in a couple of days all calls going to the house phone number will hit the Google spam filter that's pretty good. And because he shared his current phone's contact list with Google Voice (when he installed the app on the Samsung phone), Voice will only forward calls from people on his list. Whew.

A huge bouffant pile of dog hair went into the trash tonight. Tomorrow I turn my attention from the house to the yard and start trimming around the ragged edges of lawn and gardens. The pile of branches at the curb is still waiting pickup (bulky waste) so I'll add to the pile until it goes away.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Donuel
Date: 18 Sep 23 - 08:18 AM

Endomorphins ;^/ The sore person's friend

If you don't have a smallpox vaccination scar you are not one of my peers. A Florida public health official announced that the Covid booster is not safe. Florida is now the nation's hotbed of diseases including leprosy, Covid, Dengue, malaria and Florida man insanity.

I have personally seen only one case of leprosy. It's not pretty

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Sep 23 - 11:32 AM

The scar from my smallpox vaccination is no longer visible, but I remember getting it. We were all lined up in the hall at my elementary school in Seattle and it was administered to each of us in that efficient and public setting. The school also ran occasional TB tests; possibly to do with it still being in the population in the 1960s and someone in the school testing positive. The world has changed since then. There is a small bruise from my flu shot where he hit a capillary with the tiny needle.

This morning was the last of the cat sitting runs, and the drive was marked by passing a couple of odd vehicular incidents. One car stalled perpendicular across the right lane and up on the sidewalk on a viaduct; it looked like a broken axle. The other was people standing in the turn lane arguing with one crumpled vehicle behind another that appeared unmarked. This is often the case when small unibody plastic cars rear-end heavy metal pickup trucks.

It is time to start decluttering the yard. Long pants and work shoes and safety glasses and a hat are ready to go. Trimming, mowing, sweeping. Putting away the wading pool that graced the front yard during the heat (for birds and bugs). I have a lot of pine needles to rake and use as mulch, but raking them takes finesse since they're long and pokey and get into my shoes and socks.

A box was just taped together and will go into the SUV to hold all of the ejected craft stuff. This week I'll let my daughter shop it first, then take it to the teacher-use donation site. I think she's getting ready to move house, so may not be wanting to add more to her stash (though I can offer her some big boxes that might be very welcome.)

Autumn starts Saturday after a long difficult summer. My mood is better just looking at that date on the calendar.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Sep 23 - 06:41 PM

I started photographing an eBay listing and intended to plug the camera into the older computer with the newer Adobe software, but the file cabinet from the closet was sitting in the chair spot at that desk. So I wrestled cabinets for a while (without emptying the contents of the plywood plank desktop), transferred the files, and replugged equipment. Now I'll turn to the eBay stuff and I have a file cabinet ready to list on Freecycle.

Rugs are thudding around in the dryer after a slow ultra-handwash trip through the washer. This includes a braided rug I pulled from the craft room shelves. Mom made it decades ago and it may need to be re-stitched to reinforce it, but it's in good shape.

The high is 93^o today, so the summer heat hasn't completely drained from our atmosphere and the next few nights won't go below the mid-70s. That said, morning work in the yard in the 70s isn't bad.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Sep 23 - 12:42 PM

Yarn! I never use it, why do I have a bin of it? I kept a few partial skeins for those times I need it for a knot or two on something, I don't knit or crochet (though I know how to do both - at this point they don't interest me.) Paper - ancient - someone else can use it so it's all going into the daughter-shopping/donate box in the SUV. On the keep side, I found the rest of the braided yarn kit along with instructions. Low tech, high rewards with those.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 19 Sep 23 - 01:15 PM

I still have a couple of silk dress lengths -- large pieces of fabric from which to make dresses -- dating from the 1980s, and a swath of blue Chinese damask from the '50s that would once have made a wonderful jacket lining. Not so sure about that now -- its pattern (coolies and pagodas) would not please the modern taste.

But I don't wear dresses much any more, let alone dresses expensively tailored from fabric that must not go in the washing machine. What's more, I have no idea where I would find a dressmaker willing to take on such a project now. So the fabric remains at the bottom of the barrack box full of clothing that I have yet to face parting with, such as two wedding dresses (both mine) and my father's dressing gown.

Someone should draw up some Rules of Decluttering, starting with the Law of Tenure, to wit: The longer an item has been in your possession, the harder it is to part with.

Charmion's Corollary to the Law of Tenure: If an item is inherited, the difficulty of parting with it increases geometrically with every generation through which it has passed.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 19 Sep 23 - 02:04 PM

In re: Smallpox vaccination scars.

Like most southern Canadians of my age, I was vaccinated against smallpox as a toddler. At the age of 17, I was vaccinated again because I was going to France and had no documentary record of the original dose. In those days, a Canadian had to prove inoculation against smallpox after most foreign travel; only the United States, the United Kingdom and maybe the Nordic countries were exempt. Definitely not France.

Then I joined the armed forces and got vaccinated yet again, despite my fresh scar and the official record booklet that went with it. Each recruit was assumed to be an immunological tabula rasa, and we were inoculated against almost everything from mumps to yellow fever. Not cholera or plague, however, because the shots then available for those diseases gave only about six months of protection ( yellow fever was good for 10 years). Any deployment to a notorious hotbed (e.g., Congo) was always preceded by an extended visit to the warrant officer in the Preventive Medicine section.

So I once had three of those little round scars, two on the left shoulder and one on the right. Only the most recent, from 1974, is barely discernible now; the others have faded out of existence.

As for needle parades at school -- every year, from Grade One to Grade Six, with the entire school lined up for the village doctor and a nurse from the Carleton County public health office. It was a combined dose of typhoid, paratyphoid, tetanus and diphtheria (TABTD) and a separate needle for polio -- no oral vaccines on sugar cubes for us! The MMR vaccine -- targeting measles, mumps and rubella -- appeared well after I had survived all three diseases and left school. I've heard that, in Ontario, inoculation campaigns have even whooping cough and chicken pox on the run.

At age eight, when I was In Grade Four, I had whooping cough, rubella, and a full-blown case of red measles, all within a span of about eight months. No wonder I never really learned how to calculate with vulgar fractions.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Sep 23 - 06:07 PM

The Scottish wool lengths have left my SUV, but the old notions stayed (they're probably brittle). A bag of yarn was claimed along with the Bedazzler, scissors, needles (straight and sewing machine), paint brushes, and probably a few other gadgets. Back at home I realized I still had a part that is supposed to go in the Bedazzler box, so sent a note and will deliver it later in the week.

I have several garments like you describe, probably made in shops by seamstresses in the 1940s for mom, no labels. Probably from Japan or Hong Kong when she was over there as a WAC. Silk is hard to sew with (I think it unravels?) but I'll look into what can be done with it. I won't toss them (it is exactly as Charmion's Corollary describes).

This afternoon I took another dive - this time into felt. Why did I have so much? What was I doing with it? There are no artifacts here to remind me. I think there was a bunch given away at the university library when departments were having to clear out for life-safety construction projects (asbestos removal, fire sprinklers installed, etc. Everything was emptied out). Surplus items without barcodes could be discarded so were put out for anyone to claim, and I would have grabbed the fabric.

The last bin I touched had a length of velvet from Mom's house - I'll never use it. That might be one to sell, it's enough to make something nice for a small to medium-sized person (when the nap is directional it doesn't go as far). In our family that would be me, but I won't make anything for me like that. I think it also came from Hong Kong. Mom had some department store catalogs that she used for orders when she came back to the states.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 19 Sep 23 - 09:39 PM

I just pitched a great stack of Ordnance Survey maps of Wales and Michelin maps of France and Germany into the recycle box. The battlefield map of the Ypres salient is somehow still in the box …

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 20 Sep 23 - 05:44 AM

she who dies with the most (insert type of craft materials) wins!!

I recently found homes for 3 collections - books on historic costume (dancers who make & wear elaborate, historically accurate 19th century gowns), 18" dolls dressed using the books (musician who plays for the dancers), & teddy bears I made (her daughter - both do a lot of craft & have lotsa' stashes!) Books filled most of 2 large bookshelves which now contain almost all of my (un-filed) craft stuff!

Much of it was on a long heavy coffee table I'd found in the back lane years ago (it was fun getting it up the back stairs, fortunately a neighbour came along & she took one end!) more of it was under said table & in front of said table, almost blocking the view of the dolls in their cabinet. Half of what is left on the table is 5 big bags of yarn I bought for a friend who knits for charity, the rest will fit on an empty shelf!!!! Then I'll be able to see the dolls before they are eventually taken away. Unfortunately the cabinet will not be going with the dolls, but I know a charity that will take it.

One of my boxes of craft stuff is full of felt as I used to make & teach felt toys, I'll be using a piece or 2 in an embroidery project, but haven't used it for a long time (oops - do I really need a whole box?) Another stash is a wooden trunk full of yarn & padded coathangers. I knit covers for them for a charity shop ...

We have a charity that runs craft shops, where we take our unwanted stuff & buy someone else's unwanted stuff. Sometimes I take back stuff I've bought & when I pop off the twig my poor sister will take my stash there after my crafty friends take what they want to add to their stashes!

So many projects, so much to start or complete, then keep or gift, but I've recently made stuff for others (4 banners for Sydney Folk Festival) & some contributions to a 3 metre wallhanging - all the fun of creating something then it goes on it's way!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Sep 23 - 11:42 AM

Good work, Sandra!

The donation program for teachers art materials has a calendar that is booked out several weeks. As I was setting up an appointment and checking my own calendar the time I wanted closed, so I had to grab the next half-hour slot in early October. I sent an email listing some of the things that I have to be sure they accept them. The file cabinet may be one of those items, so I can package my donation materials and store them in the drawers. I just noticed the welded steel file cabinet rolling base a friend gave me - I'll add that to the donation stack. The program is looking for volunteers, so depending on how the drop-off goes, it might be a place to spend time. They're located next door (perilously close) to one of the best European bakeries in town, so I would have to be careful about the calorie intake in that neighborhood.

My short list for today has one item crossed off immediately - I don't need to water the garden. Last night around midnight storms rolled through and it looks like about 1.5" of rain. Nice!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Sep 23 - 07:37 PM

Scored a nice set of portable pet stairs at Goodwill today, and I'll see about setting up the recliner so Zeke can get into it again. I'll cover it with something waterproof and place it so the casters don't roll the chair while he moves in and out (I may have to remove them for the time being).

Several years ago I planted a Mexican plum tree in the backyard and this year it has decided to produce a crop. I've wondered about how to collect them without spending a lot of time picking them up individually, and today I chanced upon an ad for a device that rolls and the objects (nuts, acorns, balls, whatever, depending on the size you buy) are scooped up through the wires of the ball-shaped roller. I've ordered a Garden Weasel Nut Gatherer that arrives tomorrow. If I don't collect these they will sprout - I've had a few sprout in years past, but this year it's a big crop (relative to the small tree). I need to figure out what to do with the fruit. I was thinking this was one of those fruitless fruit trees, but it isn't.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Donuel
Date: 21 Sep 23 - 07:09 AM

I got the new booster at a grocery store. It's a zinger but not bad.

T have 6 crates of art supplies but I'm reluctant to donate them yet.
The 50 canvasses and framed pictures I saved to paint over, can go.
Procrastination won. That will clear a quarter of the basement.
My back is so much better, this fall will see a mass donation of tools and sundry junk. YAY

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Sep 23 - 10:59 AM

An environmentalist artist friend makes a point of picking up discarded canvases and useful-sized pieces of discarded plywood and MDF (usually out at the curb on trash day in his neighborhood) to use for his paintings. Your old canvases, used or not, can be put to use.

Lunch at a favorite Szechuan restaurant yesterday revealed that I can get lower-salt dishes if I ask. The flavor isn't as pronounced, but now that I'm used to not so much salt, it still tastes good. I suppose I could carry some of the Nu Salt with me if I want a bit more. I'm sure there is still plenty in the food just because of how ingredients are prepared, but it takes it out of the stratosphere. And this doubles the number of places we have on our very short list. I still have to skip the iced tea with the meal because caffeine picks up where salt leaves off on BP.

Some sewing kits (cross stitch) were picked up by a member of the local Buy Nothing FB group. For her nieces. I could have sold them on eBay but it wasn't worth the work to list them. It is depressing to see the gobs of notions, old thread spools, zippers, hooks and eyes, small devices, bric-a-brac, all from estates that are offered in lots on eBay. (They should throw out the thread and elastic, they're too brittle to use, and there can only be a small number prop departments looking for ancient sewing stuff for films and TV shows.) People are buying them so they aren't going to waste but I think I can discard a lot of that now and not have it featured in photos of an estate sale here. (People do estate sales now when they're downsizing to move to smaller houses or apartments, so it isn't just because people are deceased that these sales happen.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Sep 23 - 03:12 PM

I'm debating about moving an antique dresser from the sewing studio; it's part of a matching set with a bed and side table. When I look on eBay for Victorian wooden dressers there are a lot of them listed, but when looking at the completed sales the only thing moving out there are the doll furniture dressers and the salesman samples of big pieces. On the FB Marketplace there are quite a few local listings and the prices are modest. I emptied the upper drawers but the largest bottom drawer is a cache of stuff that the previous room user may want to look through. I'll box it up later. The closet in that room is packed with stuff in storage for that same tenant and also needs to go away.

Coming from one of those drawers is a clunky silver dresser set (mirror, brush, comb) given us by our pediatrician when the first child was born. It was never used and I see they sell on eBay, but do I want to bother? Possibly. One photo and it's listed. There is no emotional tie to this like there are to some other relics of babyhood.

Last evening and this morning I made two runs up to my friend's house to feed her cats during a quick trip out of town, and more of her butterfly chrysalises decided it was time to become butterflies. I released one at sunset yesterday and this morning the two in the enclosure were still drying and firming the wings, so she let them out at noon when she got home. The entertainment value of this is right up there with picking your first tomato of the season or the first big squash in the spring.

Going through my sewing supplies I've decided to discard the small rotary cutter inherited from my Mom's craft stuff. This one is a little scary to use, too easy to get fingers close to the blade when the guard retracts but doesn't completely keep you from contact. I'm replacing with a $10 Dritz cutter that reviewers say has a great pressure sensitive guard.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Sep 23 - 03:35 PM

Yesterday I got the COVID vaccination and am feeling a bit achy and moody today. But the mood could be because the calendar says Autumn and the thermostat says 98^o. The high is supposed to be 103. The next 10 days will be back in the low to mid 90s.

Some of our members are headed to the Getaway this week (it happens next weekend) - have a good time, all who attend! I hope there are a few fall colors along the way to add to the enjoyment of the trip.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 24 Sep 23 - 04:41 PM

Beaver:

Still not getting much done. And, since a meeting last Thurs, mostly fits of depression and tears. Of course, we all know the difficulties in obtaining health care so I went to the meeting for "seniors" on health care. There were speakers from a number of different "health care" providers. The room seemed to be non-toxic; the sound system was.. strong ... I did not understand one word of any speaker. That is not an exaggeration- not even "the". The only answer I get is - a hearing aid! But I heard the blah blah blah quite well.

This has happened before - I understood one speaker and not the other. But... NONE! Each person was known to me and in a conversation I would have no problem understanding. I am totally traumatized, trying to convince myself it doesn't matter. But, to be told I need a hearing aid when I can hear quite adequately --- AND do not want MORE noise!

Google: material on APD, caused in my case by chemical exposure in 2000. And person after person telling me ...hearing aid. The local "Dr of Audiology" virtually pushed me out of her office when she realized I would not buy a hearing aid. The best article is specific to professional audiologists - long! So far I see causes but have not gotten to "cures" ...

Still pots to be glazed and fired, pots to be trimmed; but I need to get out of bed and into the studio before the solar gain makes it unbearable. Frost a few nights last week. Planning to go back to QC on Sat - Thanksgiving and a visitor from BC. Yard work needs to be done there - by the Mohawks - if I can get the energy to phone. I am managing to eat well - good soups from the local soup makers!