DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Sep 23 - 02:29 PM

Patty, we missed hearing about the skin cancer. Reminds me I've been meaning to see a dermatologist "just because," and at my age, hopefully head off anything they might see that I don't detect yet. I hope the one excision gets the whole thing! Are you in Utah now?

Dog baths postponed until today, I'll begin soon. Materials accumulated for the activity (towels, leash, squirt bottle with dilute shampoo) haven't caused alarm so far. Not that they are alarmed, but none of them are fond of that first squirt with the hose. I have to get everyone into the yard and cover the dog door or they'll dash into the house soaking wet and shake off in there. I'll take a bag of treats out with me, to lessen their unhappiness.

This morning I awoke thinking I needed to start trimming in the corner of the yard where my outdoor potting bench sits; as a result, I've worked on cleaning the kitchen. Oh, well. I may still get to that corner, the day is young.

Oh, and Patty, my pool shoes arrived today, they fit, and are in my gym bag. Thanks for that tip!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Sep 23 - 06:33 PM

When I was a teen I had several large moles that the dermatologist removed just on general principles. Over the years I've had a couple more removed, but I haven't had that type of mole so much as the usual age spots that still probably need a check. Mississippi is probably as miserable as Texas is this time of year. We're not much closer than Maryland, but if you feel the urge to get out of town and want to drive over for a few days, let me know, you'd be welcome (I have three dogs who are friendly but hairy, so there is an allergy warning to issue.)

I did get to the corner to trim the grass and worked my way down the driveway as far as the extension cord would let me move. The swept up trimmings and some old tomato limbs that had been stacked out front have been tipped into the compost. When I finish my glass of iced tea the dogs are next on my list of things-to-do.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Sep 23 - 10:33 PM

The dogs are washed and there is a pleasant scent of fresh damp dog in the house this evening. I washed Cookie first because though small and the easiest coat to clean, I knew she'd be hard to catch later. Pepper loves the continual banter about how pretty she is and how shiny she'll be and what a good girl she is - and offers kisses any time I get my cheek close. Zeke is now deaf, so he can't hear the talk, so I had to keep getting his attention and offering pats and kisses next to his ear. Maybe he can hear me a little bit if I tell him he's a good dog right into his ear canal.

I offered treats every time I finished washing someone (so I could grab the next collar for another bath) and they love to be bribed. I used to wash the dogs more often until the vet said they really don't need it. My pitbull would hop into the tub when I asked her to.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Sep 23 - 11:16 AM

Welcome to the week of overheated birthdays. The triple-digits are dug-in here and despite a tease of "rain" that was actually a visual representation of humidity for today, there are good reasons world-wide for not actually lighting that many candles.

As hot as the afternoons still are, the quality of light changes noticeably this time of year and the mornings are cooler and after dusk becomes tolerable. I've started a several-day job of trimming the tall mostly-dead grass around the front yard and piling bulky waste, with a head start in today's trash by stuffing the can with a couple of clunky metal items (trash pickup is only deferred for Thanksgiving and xmas holidays.)

I hope in a couple of weeks to have small plants to transplant into beds and then in October harvest a few squash and cucumbers. I waited too long, but I may still get something. I've enjoyed fresh pickles all summer made from early summer cucumbers.

Sears has sent me a reminder every day that tomorrow they will arrive to fix my dryer. Clearly they're as excited about the prospect as I am! And a reminder myself to pay the home warranty bill. This year I will have recouped about half the cost of it with the dryer repair, better than the usual no-participation from other insurance policies (no claims means another year of pure profit for those companies. Legalized gambling in all of its complexity.)

Jon, if you've finished with your svg charts, what is your next project? Do you have a record of where all of your files and accounts are? Passwords? I keep meaning to tidy my records and discard the documents from old accounts that no longer exist. My daughter knows where all of this is kept, but knowing where and sorting are two huge different things.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Sep 23 - 04:14 PM

Small password books can too easily go missing. I helped a friend replace hers in the past - tedious! I have printouts from new sites that are usually screenshots of the account with the information to logon in place (from the screen shot or handwritten) and those are kept in two 3-ring binders. I can go back and easily update passwords and add notes without running out of space on the alphabet page in a little book. Big, but hard to lose. Not taking them anywhere either.

Today has been one for puttering and researching. I've identified the replacement LED light for my upright freezer (it simply shows that it is on and plugged in) and downloaded the manual and schematic. I also browsed through some sewing videos on YouTube, things I'm thinking about trying. And the kitchen is on its way to being much cleaner, with a goal to clear the counters, the peninsula, and the breakfast table.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Sep 23 - 02:45 PM

Thanks, Dorothy!

I am held hostage by the Sears scheduling system. The tech told me last week that he is not able to see his full day's appointments in the morning so it isn't until midday (coming up soon) that he can notify customers when he will be there. So I have waited here this morning when I could have been out at my volunteer gig.

The kitchen is looking better and I've been clearing around the little dining table. In the corner beside the table is a bin for paper recycling, but I've stopped putting mail in it, I'll stick with paperboard and corrugated cardboard. Those seem to be what interest the recyclers the most. I have some jars to fill with things that have been in the freezer (to kill any eggs that might have come along from the store) - beans, flour, pasta, dog biscuits, it all goes in there for a while. All of this happens because there is storage in the Hoosier Kitchen next to the small dining table, as well as my upright freezer. If I ever redesigned this kitchen I'd move the peninsula and extend the cabinets and counters, etc. For now, I use a piece of antique furniture for a lot of useful storage.

I'm waiting till later in the month to get the flu and COVID boosters. And don't confuse this thread for MOAB. :)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Sep 23 - 06:29 PM

The Sears tech texted at 3:30 to say he was overbooked, and would come tomorrow. I. Don't. Think. So. He already killed one day. Put me down for Friday.

No pear trees, but I have some little oaks and a redbud tree in pots here that I've struggled to keep alive this summer. I lost a couple, and all are crisp around the edges. Two are destined to go to other yards but they didn't want to try to keep them alive until a good time to plant.

More progress in the kitchen but the six things I put on my little list today went totally undone because of the cancellation (and subsequent trip out - that I cancelled). I've changed the date to tomorrow to try again. Saves a postit note.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Sep 23 - 09:24 PM

Yesterday I identified a spot on the soffit where mice or squirrels or anything else can get in through a gap on top of the brick wall (due to settling of the house as the foundation shifts). I'll mix some mortar and drag the stepladder over and fill those crevices to keep them out, but far enough up and back so that when we've had some rain the mortar won't mess up the soffit as the house shifts again. I've also started using a battery-operated transfer pump to empty water out of a rain barrel that I've never completely set up the way it needs to be—it sits in front of a bay window where the splash off of it has rotted a bottom piece of wood. That needs replacing and a repair under the window casing. These are two of a lot of small repairs to perform this fall, but I will wait until the daytime temperatures are better. It looks like next week we'll be closer to "normal."

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Sep 23 - 10:04 PM

Do you use any of DaveRo's Mudcat tools? There are threads about them.

I made batch of birthday cinnamon rolls this morning and took some for dessert at lunch with my daughter and ex; sent some home with the ex and took some to neighbors. Giving most of them away means I won't eat them all by myself, but most of my calories today did come from rolls.

This evening I pulled a couple of painted tin bread boxes from the top of cabinets to dust and clean (the one over the top stove needed more work, it has been there for years.) I'll send photos to the kids to see if they're interested in one or both. I have to keep doing this to involve the kids in the decluttering of family antiques.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Sep 23 - 12:31 PM

We're at the last of the "heat dome" this week, the forecast from the weekend on includes a chance of precipitation and much cooler temperatures. But yesterday and today ERCOT asks us to not use as much power in the afternoon and early evening, so helping a friend set up a new computer in the second floor of his townhouse was a sweaty job.

Before setup we decluttered a couple of towers and some small devices that were in the kneehole of his desk (in my SUV now, headed to the city recycle center soon). The most recent computer and monitor are set aside for "just in case," the rest can go. We bailed out paper and a gazillion old plugs and extension cords (a couple of cords I should have cut in two right there - they are fire hazards). I made a list and back home last night rounded up a new mouse pad, a couple of newer power strips, and a headphone and mic thing I bought for my laptop but never used. And since during yesterday's setup we misplaced the cable and power cord for his external hard drive, I have the same model here so found a spare power supply (12V - 1.5Amp) and a USB cable - mini-B plug Type-A receptacle - from the stash in my closet. He came over this morning to pick them up since I have the dryer repair this morning. I think you could say we have both decluttered. The power strips would have gone on Freecycle or Facebook. (I've updated 2 of my power strips to have USB charging ports, retiring the others.)

There are clunks and tinny bumps coming from the laundry room as the service tech reassembles the dryer, rounding out a busy week of appointments. The dogs are in the yard and it's in the mid-90s, so they're ok. It's this afternoon's 108 that no one needs to be outside for. This afternoon we'll stay home and putter. I want to do some sewing.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Sep 23 - 07:52 PM

Dorothy, down here in the states now you can buy hearing aids without going through a doctor or getting a prescription. They cost a lot less than the ones the doctors push as well. My mom had certain frequencies she couldn't hear (she is convinced it was due to some flying during WWII in very noisy troop transport airplanes). It wasn't the volume of what she was hearing, it was the ability to distinguish what it means.

The noise of a nearby thunderstorm has upset one of the dogs, but no rain so far and it has moved east into the next county. I did a little yard work, trimming small limbs into the trash can and lopping the Mexican plum branch that was tangled with the Internet line from the pole behind the house. When this house was built the only line back there was the phone, but that is long gone. Same wooden pole though.

More sorting in the sewing studio, and I can see that some of the fabric in there was grabbed at work during an office purge but I'll never use it. I think one rayon piece might have served as a tree skirt one year. I have a half-dozen large lidded bins empty right now, but they'll be given a task soon enough. The dresser in there is also empty.

I washed all of the bedding today, down to the stretchy sided mattress pad, the light blanket, and the pillows. The dog hair is accumulating in the den so I'll sweep and vacuum this evening before sending it out in tomorrow's trash. And tomorrow I must take the mower to the front yard before the code enforcement guy comes by complaining about a few tall weeds (most of the lawn is still brown.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Sep 23 - 03:14 PM

Allergies are kicking my backside today, and it has me thinking of trying the pill splitter to take a small dose of Sudafed (I'm avoiding it in general because of the BP rise from it).

Another item, this time a phone from the ex's house, offered in the buy-nothing group. Someone is picking it up soon.

I took a quick survey of the front yard this afternoon; there's a lot of yard work to be done out there, and several modest repairs. Another week in the mid-90s then I should be able to get out there and do the jobs without heat stroke.

My mom had hearing aids, and when she was in the hospital near the end didn't wear them because she was afraid they'd both be broken. One fell on the floor and was crushed under a nurse's shoe and after that she never used the other one. They can be a nuisance because they are so small and so expensive.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Sep 23 - 10:23 PM

It's finally cool enough to start walking the dogs in the mornings (I am not an early riser, so we're talking about mid-morning). Walking is considered a weight-bearing exercise and my poor fitness tracker is feeling neglected this summer; these walks will help with bone density and tracker steps.

I started raking pine needles at the curb today and need to keep it up—I want to leave an area around the base of at least one tree that is bare except for needles. And elsewhere I'll mow the tallest weeds to tidy the front. The weeds in the garden will come out via hand tools and newly-cleared areas covered with some of the bagged mulch I picked up a while back. In the house it is still a broom and vacuum operation to control the dog hair.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Sep 23 - 04:21 PM

The yard is overgrown where the lawn isn't dead, and I was going to start some work this morning—that is, I was until I found the code enforcement tag on my door saying I needed to mow the lawn. These guys try my patience. He gave me until Oct. 6 to mow, so I'm not going to mow for a while, I'm going to let him stew. And when I do work out there, it will be evenings and weekends so he doesn't get the satisfaction of seeing me do the work. #FirstWorldAggravation

I've pulled two large vintage fabric items out of the sewing studio that will never be used. A futon cover and something that might have been used as a tree skirt around a xmas tree are headed to Goodwill. Pieces usable by me are being organized by type, and some need attention first (one in the laundry now).

Finally getting a few eBay listings up.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Sep 23 - 12:03 PM

I did some shopping for friends yesterday and brought home relatively little for myself (fresh veggies). Yesterday when I went through the sewing studio to for yardage I found a blouse tossed in there when I couldn't fit into it. Now it fits, so it's in the laundry awaiting freshening up.

Going through shelves in the bathroom I pulled a bottle of Tyrolean pine oil that smells wonderful but makes a deadly slippery bath if used that way so I haven't finished the very old bottle. The smell is still strong so I looked up uses. It seems setting it in a room (how?) works as an air freshener. I take the lids off of jar candles and use them that way (they don't need to burn to smell good), but an oil? I suppose there are small bottles I can use to mix it with some water? Any ideas? I also have some really concentrated mint my neighbor gave me that might be used that way. She puts it on her neck to help with headaches, but I'm not sure I'd enjoy that.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Sep 23 - 08:13 PM

Good luck with the ficus, Dorothy. In their native environment they grow quite large.

This afternoon I sat down at the sewing machine to cobble together more kitchen scrub rags (a sandwich of one part old terry cloth washcloth and two layers of old t-shirt). It is stitched around the outer edge, turned right-side out, then zigzagged around the outside edge and stitched across to turn it into a more solid absorbent rag for cleaning. I also mended the armpit of a favorite t-shirt and did some machine darning on holes in dish towels that Cookie tore up in her puppy days. All is now in the laundry waiting to be put back into service.

Finally getting to bake my autumnal loaves of pumpkin bread. I've rounded up the ingredients and will have it ready for lunch for friends here this weekend. It's still pretty warm for baking, but I'm tired of not doing much for so long.

I haven't been to the gym in ages, not feeling motivated. I have several things to do tomorrow that take me in that direction so I will make a point to stop in. I have started looking around for other smaller gyms that are close to the house, and I'll save the distant one for when I want to swim.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Sep 23 - 11:41 AM

This morning I took apart a clunky pin cushion, the Mother's Day gift I remember making in 1st or 2nd grade. Mom sent the can (standard tuna-sized) from home, and I don't remember if she had to supply anything else. It was filled with sand topped with some kind of spongy padding fiber (to catch pins) topped with red acetate and "MOM" written in black marker. A can-height band of wide masking tape anchored the red edges, itself carefully hidden by fat yarn wrapped around the can over a layer of paste. (Elementary school paste was delicious and not like the Elmer's milk glue). A blue protective felt base went last (my teacher really did think of everything!) The can has a permanent painted label for Pacific Pearl Fancy Dungeness crab, packed by a company belonging to Ivar Haglund. How appropriate. I thought it would be a tuna can, but this is even better. All other materials tossed, the can is a postcard from my mother in 1960. It is possible to waste a lot of time looking into how that label is painted on the can, but I think they printed the flat steel then assembled the cans.

With this small token from the Eisenhower or Kennedy-era stowed on view beside other kitchen antiques, I have moved on to deaccessioned craft items and assembled three sets of glitter to list on the Buy Nothing page. A little glitter goes a long way and with duplicates of several colors it's my prerogative to parcel it into smaller sets.

It's muggy today and there is ragweed in the air. With no rain in sight I'm struggling with the allergies and the heat. Bleh. Will we get a fall, or go straight to cold? Fall here is usually only about a week at the most; in my youth I was spoiled in the Pacific Northwest with autumn lasting most of September and October. And fancy crab in a can that cost 33 cents.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Sep 23 - 08:08 PM

Yes and yes. I took a photo of the pincushion and glitter gets everywhere. That's why I confined it to a few projects and worked over a rimmed baking sheet and haven't done anything with it for years.

Two of the glitter vials were so old they don't even have zip codes on the addresses, they're pre-1963 and my mom must have picked them up for 29 cents each at Woolworth, "America's Christmas Store." Those kinds of things sell on eBay, so those were set aside. The others will be offered soon on the buy nothing page.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Sep 23 - 11:49 PM

That was interesting. I listed the two vials of glitter and they sold within hours. I asked $12 for the two, because another sale of Woolworth glitter (last summer) had four containers for $20. eBay changed some forms and the post office changed some pricing, so I had to go in and double check my shipping form (eBay had added an extra zero to a measurement, making a 4" dimension 40", and a different price bracket). Fixed that. I asked her what she does with them - that won't change the sale, but I'm interested if there is a Woolworth ephemera collecting thing out there. I loved Woolworth when I was a kid, and I walked past one on my way to and from high school. (Kress was very similar - both of them had interesting basements and they always smelled like fresh popped popcorn.)

In the meantime, on the Buy Nothing page someone offered two large boxes of sewing patterns. Sizes are way too big for me, but not for my daughter and all of the costumes she makes (and she can adjust patterns up or down with tailoring skills, so a size 20 skirt can be adjusted to size 12 if you know what you're doing.) I got my dibs in and will pick up the hoard of commercial patterns (many apparently never used) that I'll hand off to her. Two office file drawer sized boxes. In this world of oddball sales and donation, it has been a good day. A plus - her dad will go with me because the pattern lady lives near our favorite discount grocery. So we'll pick up the boxes, go shop for produce, then see our daughter when the boxes are dropped off. For these these two retirees, that describes a pretty good day! (And maybe I should put all of the glitter together in one offer because someone else like me will have a use for all of it.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Sep 23 - 08:56 PM

I picked up the patterns, some really nice styles in there, all filed neatly in two boxes. She had blouses, skirts, pants, dresses, jackets, coats, and outfit sets; there must have been 50 patterns in there. When we met my daughter we transferred them to a bag for her to carry with her back into her museum after we all had lunch. I'll use the boxes to organize the craft donations I'll hand over next week. Nothing going to waste.

We discussed the scraps my daughter generates in her sewing; she has been tossing them but will now box them and give them to me. I know - sounds like more clutter - but I intend to pick out what I want and make the rest available to quilters. I'm a go-between on that.

This weekend I have to do yard work to get ahead of the tall grass and weeds in gardens. I have guests coming for lunch on Sunday so I'll spend the next couple of evenings cleaning and dusting.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Sep 23 - 11:30 AM

We have an ozone action day today so they want less driving, no gas powered mowers, etc. I'll get out the electric weed whacker and get started, wearing a cloth mask while I work.

Another eBay parcel has sold, picked up this morning on the porch by the mail carrier. This one served as a cautionary listing - buying something on deep discount to sell on eBay doesn't always work. I will break even after fees are collected, so I didn't lose money. Meanwhile, the rest of the glitter will be collected via "porch pickup" by someone in the Buy Nothing group. Heaven help her with that much glitter in her house.

A note about my homemade granola: I decided this morning that I'm tired of having to floss sesame seeds out from between my teeth, but I like a robust mix of seeds and nuts, so I did some searching of other recipes and I'll switch to unsalted pepitas (small pumpkin seeds). They're small but still, 10x larger than sesame seed.

Cleaning day along with yard day. I'll pace myself since it's still high 90s out there. When I come in to cool off I'll pickup around here, sweep, etc.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Oct 23 - 10:44 AM

Progress yesterday: the front was mowed and part of it was trimmed. I'm not good at taking out a broom to sweep grass off of the driveway at the same time (I hate blowers and it's a waste of water to hose it off). If it sits there for a day it dries and is much easier to sweep away. I'll go out this afternoon and take care of that. The glitter left the porch in the evening and I'm next looking at antique table cloths, runners, pillow covers, etc. The double damask tablecloths can sell on eBay but the rest is small linen and cotton pieces are fussy and there is a nominal return for the work to list them.

The kitchen is clean and the table is set for lunch. I'm working on cooking/baking several things this morning to be ready by noon. One of the friends coming over is involved in a slow-motion declutter of his old electronic equipment. So far I've helped him move out towers, a CRT monitor, large TV, printers, hard drives, and other gadgets. Today he is bringing another batch that my ex (who resides in FW) will take over to the Fort Worth recycle station (it is on FW property adjacent to our village and named for our village, but we can't use it - go figure!). I cleaned the ancient stainless steel dutch oven that sits on the patio with dog water and will send them into the yard once company arrives (they love company but they could knock over one disabled friend). That pot washed up in the creek one day and while I haven't used it for cooking it works for the dogs.

This reminds me I haven't gone down to walk the creek for a long time; I usually go to find fossils.

This weekend I moved furniture in the sewing studio and am trying a new arrangement of the small table that has served to hold some of the regularly used small tools between the two sewing machines. Being able to find what I need when I need it is the key to this working.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Oct 23 - 10:26 PM

and to the misguided woman who told me repeatedly that I needed a hearing aid and that hearing loss is a precursor of Alzheimers - she's nuts, she's out of line, and she's practicing medicine without a license. You are fully entitled to ignore her bullshit.

Lunch with friends today with an eclectic menu. My autumnal pumpkin bread was baked this morning for dessert. With it we had lentil soup (Egyptian - very simple with water, onion, lentils, and a couple of spices) and the main course was macaroni and cheese. Comfort food. Acting like it's autumn even if it was in the 90s today. Good conversation - our lunch usually lasts for about three hours. I cleaned the kitchen, swept a couple of rooms, cleaned in the bathroom, so when everyone leaves the house looks good.

With the arrival of October I need to set aside my lazy September ways and get back to the gym and to more consistent volunteering. It simply has to cool off now, and let normal activities resume.

One of the channels that plays lots of older detective mystery shows has restarted Law and Order: Criminal Intent. I turned it on today, and it dawns on me that I never realized what a depressed thread runs through that particular program. I suspect my viewing of police procedurals won't include this one as much this autumn.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Oct 23 - 02:02 PM

Looking at the calendar, we're a month out from Daylight Savings Time to switch over to Standard Time. We're four weeks from Halloween, and US Thanksgiving is on November 24th, pretty early (on the fourth Thursday each year the date can range from the 22nd to 28th). Those who make holiday fruit cake, or who sew or otherwise manufacture gifts will be getting started. (The craft supplies stores have xmas stuff in stock at least by July for the very organized customers.) eBay listings of gift-type items need to be put up from now on.

It's too soon (at least it is this far south) to move pots for the winter, and those I do move will be things I can live with in the house, since winters in the greenhouse haven't been successful lately. That hard long freeze in 2021 killed off several favorite plants; had they been in the house they'd have been cold, but not dead. In the garden it is time to start tidying for next year, mulching some beds for winter crops, strewing seeds for wildflowers.

This is the calendar telling me these things; the 94^o day says nothing of this.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Oct 23 - 07:21 PM

I've let my fingers do the walking through the Lowe's website to track down the manufactured cedar siding that I need to replace a rotten piece (after I remove the rain barrel that has created a splash zone causing the damage.) They also have a box of mortar mix to use to fill the gaps in the brickwork under the soffit. I'll pick up materials tomorrow and get going on this work before critters decide to move indoors.

As the old Lab continues to slow down, after breakfast I started him on the combination of pain pills recommended by the vet to help with his hip discomfort. So far he's slept even more of the day than usual. I think the recommended dose of Tramadol is too much, so I'll try halving it tomorrow (and won't give him the second dose tonight.) The non-steroidal osteoarthritis one he gets just in the morning. This decline adds a somber note to the season.