DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Oct 23 - 10:49 AM

Last night I reversed myself and gave the dog just 1 Tramadol for his second dose of the day, and he was much happier, up and around, not in a sleepy stupor. So reduce the hard stuff and keep him on the same amount of the non-loopy stuff.

I have an appointment this week to take donated items over to the project that collects them for teachers, so I need to tidy the containers and boxes and resend the email asking what they want and don't want. I've already deaccessioned the glitter, but there is still a matter of small beads that they may or may not want. And a file cabinet that counts as furniture so I should probably file the form they have for furniture. Getting that file out of the hall will make walking that space easier. I don't always turn on the light in the evenings and it's hard enough avoiding tripping on a dark dog, let alone a dark dog lying next to the bulk of a file cabinet.

I've been reading more books on my 10.1" Samsung tablet and note that it is using more power than before the whole syncing photos to OneDrive process started, so have tried to figure out what setting in causing the power drain. These things check in with the mothership way more often than they need to. I hope Jon has figured out the device he mentioned recently.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Oct 23 - 03:17 PM

Diving into the sewing studio this afternoon has resulted in a growing stack of school project stuff that was tucked away between the bed and the wall. This includes lots of sheets of heavy duty poster board, some pieces of matte board brought home from the university library (rescued from the recycle bin following the end of exhibits when it was all tossed). Also, my shelves are now clear of some yardage purchased years ago for projects that were never made and that will never be made. I can't imagine using that fabric for anything else now.

My ex came by and picked up an old computer tower and monitor to take to the recycle center (a friend brought them when he was here Sunday). Already in the trunk of the car was an old Packard Bell tower—so old that he didn't bother to remove the hard drive. I asked why - turns out it was a DOS machine, didn't even use Windows. Really really old and really heavy. (Probably should have asked if a computer museum wanted it.) Will we make enough progress with this decluttering that our children will thank us? It's certainly more than either of my parents ever did in their retirement years.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Oct 23 - 11:21 PM

I have resisted Apple products for years. At work there were some Apple workstations but it was always a matter of learning where to click to make things work. They were contrary to the Windows setup. It didn't seem to be worth the trouble.

As far as tablets go, stepping up from the Amazon Fire tablet to the Samsung tablet has been a huge improvement in my ability to load the kind of content I want to see. And now that I have Samsung equipment in place with the accompanying Samsung accounts, any future new equipment should be easier to deploy.

In the sewing studio furniture has been moved enough to create a space to move easily from either sewing machine to the ironing board. Endorphins have been generated. :-) The shelves in the 5x6 cubby are reachable, as are the drawers in the two dressers in the room. It may not get much better.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Oct 23 - 11:53 AM

The former setup in the sewing studio allowed me to reach a small table equidistant from both machines. The new setup still needs a small table between them to hold tools. I have books filling one of the cubbies that I can move into a little antique side table where the weight would stabilize it some. Until this week it stood under the window with a radio and potted plant (and it looks like the "before" version). On top a black rectangular heavy duty disposable tray will corral presser feet, seam ripper, bodkin, bobbins, etc.

I'll note here that every time there were receptions in the university library the caterers dumped all of the heavy duty black plastic trays into a large trash can in our little service kitchen. We'd rescue those platters to use some to use for our own in-house department events and the rest were taken home. I have several under potted plants on the sunroom plant stands. A couple are stored for use during larger family meals and at least this one is in use in the sewing studio. It has always bothered me that the way to keep university events more affordable was to throw away so much plastic instead of using durable materials they would wash and reuse.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Oct 23 - 11:39 PM

The next door neighbor's tree dropped branches tonight in a huge thunderstorm. So much rain that when looking out the front door I couldn't see past the curb about 25' away. The limbs took down my clothesline and on one end pulled the newly installed galvanized fence post crooked. Fixable, no insurance needed, but it was a lot of wood that blew over the fence. It's a big box elder that has lived much longer than they normally do around here.

It's a busy day tomorrow and it looks like I'll be starting early - the neighbors will be here to collect the branches.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Oct 23 - 11:25 AM

The huge box elder next door is smaller by several good sized upper limbs after last night's heavy rain, hail, and wind gusts. The one hitting the clothesline also put a deep bend in a top rail of the dog kennel. They feel bad about the mess, but my old hackberry nearly took out their garden shed one year, so these things happen. I've stuffed the trash can at the curb full of a few of the big old sunflowers that all toppled last night. The wood will probably wait until December to go to bulky waste, though Abby ZurSchmiede on Facebook (Harpgirl on Mudcat) has been experimenting with hugulkulture beds and now would be a good time to try it with all of this extra around. The premise is to construct a raised bed over a bottom layer of cut up limbs and rotting wood. She has a galvanized frame around hers, but you could also simply bevel the sides. Keep it to a size so you can reach into it without having to step in it.

Temperatures are cooler, humidity is close to 100%. After 3-4" of rain the yard is gumbo. My plans for the day have changed somewhat.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Oct 23 - 12:00 AM

It is eight or nine years since I made a long drive anywhere, and when I roadtrip I am a user of paper maps. Google maps is in my phone and I consult it for traffic in town, but I'm not a fan of bossy navigation devices. That said, it's good that you made the trip however you chose to navigate; the synergy of trips to events like the Getaway end up being greater than the sum of their parts. Cliche, yes, but there is a lot to think about after a trip, and that is the value of it.

This evening a friend and I went to hear a talk by LeVar Burton, actor/writer/host/podcaster/activist who fortuitously happens to be here during Banned Books Week. That led to some interesting parts of his remarks. Dinner before the lecture was at a New Jersey style deli and probably two days worth of sodium, but so good! My friend took the most beautiful photo of his half of the sandwich (we shared the full-size hoagy) and the light was perfect when he took photographed his sandwich. I'll put it on Instagram later. :)

Late tomorrow afternoon is my appointment to drop off craft stuff at the donation place, so before I head out I have time to add to the boxes. As it is I'm offloading the filing cabinet, clearing several cubic feet of space in my hall. This was a busy week with a few unexpected twists, but in general very productive.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Oct 23 - 11:12 AM

After several of us picked up pieces of the next door exploded box elder, it seems that just a (long) block away there was much more drama. We can count ourselves lucky that messed up tree crown was the worst of it. A line of tree service trucks were lined up on the other side of the creek to shred downed trees as they were removed, and in the block beyond that the sagging power lines were fortunately intact at the intersection where they were boring to install a new wooden telephone pole after the previous one snapped.

The UPSP's Informed Delivery tells me that the long-awaited letter regarding the retirement pension has finally landed at the post office. Once I have that in hand I'll file the official change of address and declutter myself of that $250 a year expense. They misspelled my name on the address, so I'm hoping I don't have to jump through hoops to fix that.

In a less pleasant decluttering, my gastroenterologist's office sent a text saying five years is up. Enough about that (but if you're of an age, do it. It can save your life - my cousin's husband put it off way too long and ended up with an involved surgery that did save his life.)

Now to load the SUV with craft donations then into the sewing studio to see if there is anything more to evict before this afternoon's appointment.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Oct 23 - 11:06 AM

Craft donations dropped, and calf muscle pulled in the process. Hoping it isn't a tear. My heel was wedged against the parking bumper behind my SUV when I leaned into the compartment and Zing! went something in my calf. Now I'm limping and hoping it will heal. I still need to exercise, but will be very cautious about what moves I do.

59^o this morning when I walked into the back with the dogs before their breakfast (I find this short trip before meals saves me some of the droppings cleanup behind the old Labrador retriever.) Highs in the low-70s today, low-80's tomorrow, before next week heats up to mid-80s. It still doesn't feel very fall-like.

Before heading to the donation appointment yesterday I did one more dive into my mother's craft stuff in a couple of drawers and pulled out a handful of items I will never use (or didn't know what they are for). In a couple of instances I split the difference, keeping one or two items I might use and sending the rest to their next jobs. I had a specialized sewing measurement curved ruler that I hadn't used in 50 years, I'm not likely to now. If I need help adjusting a pattern, I can ask my daughter to do it. :)

Today I need to spend time in the garden.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Oct 23 - 10:32 AM

While clearing in the sewing studio I found Mom's favorite tablecloth used for special meals during my childhood. It has a white field with a red rose print and spent several days soaking in non-chlorine bleach but a few stains had set over the years. My next move is to carefully treat the spots.

The pulled muscle is still tender but much improved. I must resist the impulse to overdo for the time being so I don't aggravate it before it heals completely.

The forest floor is on full display in my den. The proliferation of tree limbs knocked down through the yard contributed a lot of chew material for the dogs and I've evicted several branches dragged in through the dog door. Tomorrow is trash day so I'll sweep and vacuum to send a lot of it out (for the time being.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Oct 23 - 12:00 PM

Since Saturday I have had symptoms of a head cold; COVID tests on successive days are negative, and in hindsight I caught it from the friend I met last Thursday. I assumed the cough was because he quit smoking recently, and I don't think he'd had many other symptoms himself at that point.

I pulled a box of herbal tea bags out of the tea cart; it's a "throat coat" variety with slippery elm and it does feel good. Celestial Seasonings used to make one, but this is from Traditional Medicinals. Years ago I gave some of this to a friend whose husband was a music producer and they loved it enough to keep it in stock in the house for when performers came through the studio. I can claim responsibility for Dionne Warwick falling for this stuff. (He worked with Burt Bacharach and his ilk for years.) Turning this into a musical thread.

The sewing room clear out has progressed well. To test the storage system for starting this quilting project I spent 30 minutes last night sorting the big bin of scraps from the last couple of years of mask making. They were three layer masks, a colorful front, a light color liner and a flannel inside, so a bin for each. I also cut up a lot of t-shirts to make the stretchy non-raveling yarn for the ties, and I dropped all of the seam edges and such in the bin. They're beautiful colors but I think I'll see if there are fiber artists who can use them.

Handling the scraps from masks has been like visiting old friends because I chose a lot of patterns to reflect interests and ideas. In the early days of COVID before we could go out I dug into my stash and even took apart some garments I never wore to make into masks. Small patterns so a number of them would be recognizable on the face of each mask will also be effective in crumb quilts.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Oct 23 - 02:39 PM

I'm sorry you fell - though I'd have paid money to see that roll, Charmion! It sounds impressive. I'm glad someone saw the bruise just to be sure it isn't anything more.

My haircut tomorrow has been postponed so my quiet week at home continues. I missed a docent training today, but I can get caught up next week. The neti pot is deployed a couple of times a day to sooth the sinuses. It sometimes used to smart to use table salt in the water; I switched to using pickling salt and it feels great (Pickling salt doesn't have additives to keep it from clumping and no iodine, etc.)

This afternoon I'll poke around in the garden to work the soil for planting my zucchini and cucumbers started from seed. It won't be too vigorous because this soil was worked once in the spring and will be pliable after the big rain last week. I hate to miss taking advantage of good weather, but the fence will wait another week.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Oct 23 - 11:43 AM

I'm to the point when this cold could manifest a sinus infection or bronchitis, so will see my GP's nurse practitioner today. Call from your car when you arrive, they send someone out to swab for COVID and flu tests and when they're sure it isn't one of those you can go in. Efficiencies like this might have seemed rude before COVID. In addition to possible antibiotics, I'll ask for a cough syrup Rx. Last night when I dug around the pantry looking for a bottle I decluttered two - one was 9 years old, the other, 11. I don't catch colds often.

Meanwhile I finished the first sort of a bin of scrap fabric, but there are more containers and bags with scraps so I'll round them up to see what's inside. To offload what I don't need I looked at the scraps offered on eBay—I bypassed the ones selling individual fat quarters or by X number of pieces, I'll mimic the sellers who list by the pound. Keywords in the title will be something along the lines of "Quilt fabric lot scraps, squares, strips, string, crumb." It's time for another eBay adventure.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Oct 23 - 11:52 PM

Like Charmion's bruises have bloomed since she fell - this cold has continued to grow since I caught it. I may have to sleep in the recliner tonight to stay upright enough to breathe.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Oct 23 - 06:46 PM

Dorothy, it sounds like time to let some professionals start the hearing exams, and if you can schedule a specialist, get their input. Guessing and diagnosing it yourself can only go so far. And you can scare yourself.

Explosive coughs today, the kind that jolt you out of sleep. Drinking lots of fluids. A friend stopped by today and left me with a fresh box of Puff's super soft super strong tissues. They'll get put to use!

Still finding and removing interesting stuff in the sewing studio, and today I added one thing - a small electric bobbin winder. The winder on my oldest machine stops winding thread at about half-full on the bobbin so I have to change them more often than I like. I haven't been able to trick it into filling more without messing up the tension. This one should give me more thread while at the same time not overfilling because then they can jam. (For any lurkers who sew, the device is called a Sidewinder by Simplicity. There is a DeLuxe version that has a more involved setup, but the basic original does the job for me.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Oct 23 - 12:17 PM

Agreed - bronchitis is horrible. Wednesday's appointment with the PA got the strong decongestant and so far there is mostly clear in the cough and sneeze; if by this afternoon things have gone pear-shaped she'll prescribe the antibiotic before the weekend. I've had bronchitis a time or two, it's terrible, but taking a course of antibiotics invariably results in a yeast infection, so I wait until it is really necessary to take them, they're not my early go-to treatment. The knee surgeries resulted in my system being awash with antibiotics and for the second one I had several doses of Fluconazole at the ready. Meanwhile, the neti pot has helped soothe and clear sinuses.

Errands have piled up this week; I have to go out today because the dog food is running low and I have to do laundry because I'm down to the last pair of underwear. The weather has been gorgeous and I really resent this cold for taking me out of commission for work I could have been doing outside. I know how I caught it, and I won't make that mistake again.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Oct 23 - 06:54 PM

Two stops for errands this afternoon, and while I found the mortar mix I need to block holes into the attic near a soffit in back (and a hole between stones on the front of the house), I didn't find the cedar plank I need. I'll let my fingers do the walking on Google to hunt around for one. Chances are I'll have to find something larger and rip it to the right size, 1"x10"x36" to replace a spot of siding that came off (there are three panels on that area and I'll replace all so they're uniform).

Health-wise I turned a corner today; I woke up coughing and took the Rx but realized by mid-afternoon I didn't need more, though a dose at bedtime might prevent a tickle from creeping up on me if I remove the extra pillows. A good night's sleep would be most welcome after this horrible week. It's years since I've had a cold or flu. Nothing much since I retired. I'll keep wearing the masks.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Oct 23 - 12:05 PM

Here I am thinking about my garden still and Dorothy is getting her firewood for the winter and all of you in those northern tiers are getting out the flannel and the comfy slippers.

I've decided to plant all of the cucumbers and zucchini in fairly close proximity in a bed next to the house, so when cold weather passes through (sometimes just an hour or two before dawn is cold enough to do damage) I can cover the plants with a tarp to keep them alive. When they're spread out around the yard it's a lot more work. Our first hard frost is probably more than a month away.

I'll use the tiller to turn over those planting areas today. The plants are more than ready to be transplanted, they're already putting out blooms.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Oct 23 - 01:07 AM

The law recently changed in the US; you don't need a doctor's prescription to get hearing aids now. People can shop around. My brother told me about going to an audiologist because people kept telling him he was missing too much and making noises he couldn't hear but they could - when the audiologist learned that he didn't plan to buy hearing aids from them they pretty much threw up their hands (he shops for just about everything at Costco).

My sewing studio got more work today, with things grouped, logically (I hope) in drawers and labels added. Now I'm hunting for the extra label tape. It's somewhere around here (I thought it was in the drawer in the kitchen, but no, so I'm trying to figure what other logical places it might be.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Oct 23 - 10:58 AM

Whew! "The Box" - a large corrugated box I've had sitting out to gather things that are going to my son was finally packed and closed for shipping next week. That'll free some table space in the den. 24 pounds of food, things from his room, and useful stuff we've talked about. Two more of the same size boxes should be arriving today or tomorrow from the company where I buy dog food. Lately the brick and mortar store itself has been out of the variety best for the girls so I had to subscribe and mail order two bags at a time to get free shipping. We'll be set for a couple of months and the boxes go to recycling.

Doing laundry today after the head cold has cleared, and this is a good occasion to open new toothbrushes. Trash day tomorrow will see some more stuff evicted from the sewing studio and I need to go through the den and clear out the forest floor the dogs have again created.

In the sewing studio I've created a place for oddball fabric and ribbons, small amounts of stuff that sometimes come in handy but where to put it? Small things too good to throw away, but only useful if you can find them again. I emptied my childhood sewing basket where a lot of this stuff used to live, and now it's in boxes in a drawer.

Talking to a friend I described the upcoming process of backing up the computer then upgrading to Windows 11, and we concluded that the amount of fuss to get everything back the way you like it in the new OS is the virtual equivalent of rearranging all of the furniture in the house. Big job ahead. I guess that would be a recluttering job.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Oct 23 - 11:29 AM

I'm with you on that, Charmion, though it means not seeing family for extended periods and they're doing the traveling. The recent cold was just a cold, something I haven't had in ages, but it was tough week (and still treating the aftereffects). Like you, I always seemed to come down with something after a flight. The cloth masks I still wear can hang around my neck when not on my face, so it's easy to keep track of if I'm out running errands, no losing it in the parking lot.

The large box was dropped off at the UPS store this morning and the spot where it sat all summer looks empty now. Outside I finished clearing an area in the side bed and planting the cucumbers and zucchinis I started from seed last month. They're mulched well and I need to finish clearing the rest of the bed, which if I do this every 6 to 12 months is pretty easy, but if I wait several years like the last time everything is a lot harder to clear. It felt good doing the work and I wish I hadn't lost a week of good weather. But whatever, it is taken care of now.

Next, filing the growing stack of usual mail announcements that I hold onto, then tackling mortar repairs and the side fence.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Oct 23 - 10:39 AM

I've always figured that if I ever took a cruise I'd pack enough emergency granola bars and other durable snacks to get me through avoiding people at the point when visiting the dining room means coming down with some norovirus or other.

The other kid has a claim on the flattened very large empty boxes I've kept tucked away in the sunroom; they're preparing to move house (again). That's the kind of job when you're usually glad to see free boxes come your way.

Lows at night in the high 40s this week which is fairly normal, but the afternoon highs are expected in the high 80s. It isn't a typical October. Even though it isn't as dreadful as July, August, or September, it is bound to be another record-breaking month in the scheme of Climate Change.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Oct 23 - 11:25 PM

I found the Resealer Beer Bottle Opener a couple of years ago that is helpful when opening bottles of sparkling cider or wine that you may want to consume over a couple of days. The rubber underside and graduated rim let you slide it over a bottle top and keep the sparkle in place.

You're welcome!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Oct 23 - 10:51 AM

That sounds like a good way to hand off stuff you can't use, Senoufou. On the few occasions I've held garage sales I realized that success depends on who passes by in the street and pulls over to walk up your driveway; that would be a much smaller number than at your community boot sale. It's why eBay ends up a better place for smaller obscure stuff than garage sales. A wider audience and they pay for shipping.

I had several very large boxes and several merely big boxes flattened in the SUV yesterday, and my daughter claimed the largest of the batch. The rest will go into the garage until possibly needed for shipping. In exchange, she handed over an ancient ink jet printer that I handed to her father last night, and he in turn will drop it at the city recycle center. We're an efficient small family.

After the dry heat of the summer the fall is cooler and things are coming back to life, but there is a feeling of churn in the air as the seasons change. It's time to start setting up for cold weather, move things in advance of whenever the first frost may come (it has been as early as Halloween and as late as early December.) I've secured one door in the greenhouse that had hung open much of the summer and need to clear shelves for anything I attempt to overwinter. There is still a lot of growth so it's too soon for harvests unless it is things like eggplant, peppers, or tomatoes that are picked as they grow large or ripen. Sweet potatoes stay put until after the frost.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Oct 23 - 12:26 AM

A tour of some of my usual shopping stops after my bi-monthly haircut today had me at Goodwill looking at a variety of antique sewing machines. A woman asked a question about some of those being appropriate for a child learning to sew - I think they need work before they're going to be usable. I wasn't moving through like I usually do and I was *that* close to snagging a high end Janome sewing machine with lots of fancy computer stitches, but that woman got there first. I hope she bought it - for $26 it was a great buy. Like I need more sewing machines . . . but that one - what a huge step up from my old rotary and cam machines. That one needed a lot of cleaning up, but I think it was possible. Moving on.

I cleaned the kitchen this evening, with a lot of stuff run through the dishwasher. Sink mats, plates that hold sponges and soap pump bottles, the small dish drainer, etc. It'll be nice to enter the kitchen tomorrow morning and have it all looking shiny and neat as I fix my morning cuppa tea.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Oct 23 - 11:10 PM

A friend and I made the shopping rounds this afternoon, in particular loading up on frozen fish at Costco. We're finally into cooking season and fish is on the menu. I have my eyes open for stuff leading up to Thanksgiving, and am keeping in mind that last year's fresh turkey was so large that the oven air didn't circulate well and it took forever. I'll do turkey again, but it will be smaller. Much of the rest of the stuff can be accumulated in the next few weeks - root vegetables, pumpkin, etc.

I have no idea who will be in town over the holidays so I will proceed as if there will be guests so I don't have so much last minute stuff to do.

Dorothy, today at Costco as I walked through the lobby to rejoin my friend (after a trip to the loo) a woman pushing another in a wheelchair sneezed - she didn't sneeze into the crook of her elbow, she just let it fly into the open air beside her. I was so glad to be wearing my 3-layer mask. If I'd given it a thought I'd have told her to cover her sneezes in the future.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Oct 23 - 01:10 PM

My cat sitting gig this week is ending a day early - just as well because I have things to do that are easier when I don't have to stop what I'm doing and head out three times a day to feed and medicate cats.

One of the dogs is annoyingly persistent in barking at the mail carrier's truck each time it passes the house in the course of delivering to this neighborhood. It was helpful today because on the first pass I received no mail so she didn't see the package I wanted her to take. The dog barked when she was parked at the corner across the street for that last stop in the neighborhood and I carried my box over to her. I think I'll make a magnetic red flag I can stick to the front of the mailbox for those times I have something for them to pick up. The box on the porch wall came with an attached tiny little plastic flag on the upper right side that is barely visible from the street.

Mowing today, digging, and sewing. And more kitchen cleaning.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Oct 23 - 12:08 PM

I sat down with cloth scraps last night to see how it goes to piece things together, and it looks like I tossed some of the smaller ones that would have worked, but will still manage with what I have because the new blocks can be cut and reassembled. So I'm learning.

This morning has been a push to clear fridge contents into smaller containers and process stuff waiting for attention. The beets were simmered until soft several days ago and have finally been peeled and diced. All of the tomatoes I blanched, peeled, and simmered yesterday were run through the food mill and now await the step of making Italian-style sauce. All year I've been using sauce I made and froze last fall but I'm down to the last jar, so this is a combination of purchased fruits and a few overripe small ones from the garden (not enough to do much with by themselves and too weird to slice for salads.)

The aftereffects of that cold are still with me, but I'm carefully managing them with the neti pot and decongestants. My taste and smell are still a bit reduced because of it. This seems to be a fairly aggressive head cold making the rounds, according to my hairdresser, who because she talks to so many people in the course of a week has a pretty good sense of what is going on in the surrounding community. Seriously, it's the same as the barbershop conversations. Lots of anecdotal information is shared. :)

Garden work today (watering this morning) and some chopping/prying/sawing to finish removing the big root in the way of finishing the fence in the backyard.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 02 Sep 23 - 07:06 PM

I'm reminded of a school friend washing her dogs. One was a Great Dane & stood patiently in the wheelbarrow, lifting it's leg up as required. It's amazing what images emerge from the depths - & I can't even remember her name, or her other dog!!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 Sep 23 - 10:08 AM

happy actual birth-day!

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: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 Sep 23 - 05:00 PM

I hope you took a photo of the pincushion beforehand! What a little treasure.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 14 Oct 23 - 07:19 PM

Dorothy wrote - I have had my hearing "tested" 3 times in different places. The "audiologists" are in the business of selling hearing aids and each tells me "slight hearing loss". I hear quite adequately; can hear a whisper with no trouble in a quiet room. This business of not being able to discriminate words with background disturbance, is common. It sells lots of hearing aids and some people tell me it helps - in noisy venues.

I've lost some hearing in both ears, not enough to need hearing aids - yet. When I do need aids I'll be taking advice from a friend who is an advocate for a national Hearing organization, I won't be visiting shops that advertise "Free hearing tests" - they often have someone at the door touting!

I recently received junk mail (a letter!) from an old, long established Oz company recently taken over by an American multinational company (can't remember the names.) I don't like junk mail - so looked up the company name & found a site where everyone except one poster had horror stories. They buy address lists (hmmm, I wonder what list I was on) & according to every poster, except the one satisfied customer) push & push expensive products. My favourite post started "I'm an audiologist & accompanied my grandmother ... " Audiologist reported watching employees "testing" customers, while pushing the expensive products, & not pleased with the tests & "advice" their grandmother received, took her away without saying her/his occupation. Lucky grandmother to have an audiologist in the family. I sent the letter back with my usual inscription UNSOLICITED JUNK MAIL RETURN TO SENDER - such letters need to be paid for by the receiver, but I do wonder how many scammers (oops legit businesses - snigger, snigger) do pay.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Steve Shaw
Date: 25 Sep 23 - 08:35 PM

I've had hearing aids for eleven years. I didn't know I had hearing loss though I had struggled in noisy places to hear anyone talking to me. I'd gone to the audiologist to discuss my tinnitus, which is when I found out about the loss of my high frequencies. Fair to say, they're not perfect and they limit my ability to zone in on what I want to listen to and sideline the other stuff. I had to give up playing music in sessions because I lost the ability to latch on and focus on other musicians and often found myself all at sea. My hearing aids are free on the NHS, as are the batteries for them and replacements when things go wrong, as they do. You can elect to pay for hearing aids and that gives you choices. The received wisdom is that the free NHS aids are "last year's models" but they work a treat for me.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 29 Sep 23 - 12:40 PM

Glitter sold loose, e.g. In small plastic vials, is banned in the EU from next month. Much of it is a mixture of plastic and aluminium and it takes over a thousand years to degrade in the environment. It comes under the category of microplastics once it gets into waterways, which it frequently does.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 30 Sep 23 - 07:22 PM

I do absolutely everything on my iPad mini. I'm no techie and I don't need to do complex things on computers. My massive and ancient Sony Vaio laptop sits in the other room, lonely and redundant.

For years we've had a Canton soundbase for our telly. The telly sits on top and it's completely unobtrusive, unlike those long sound bars. The sound quality is impeccable.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 03 Oct 23 - 06:14 PM

It's perfectly possible to hate Apple yet love your iPhone and iPad. In fact, that's me to a tee.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Oct 23 - 05:55 PM

You've got nowt to lose with the free NHS hearing aids, Jon, honest. They are not bog-standard, you can connect them to your phone via Bluetooth, they are set up for your particular hearing loss, if they go bust they are replaced for free and the batteries and tubes are free forever. If you don't like 'em you can put 'em in a drawer and shop around for the private three-grand jobs, or just not bother. I've had free NHS aids now for eleven years. They're, well, not great maybe, but they're a massive improvement on not having them. Go for it!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Oct 23 - 06:05 PM

Mrs Steve and I had our jabs yesterday. Flu in left arm, covid in right arm. Flu, nothing to report. Covid, slight shoulder ache for me (nothing to trouble me), slightly more achey for Mrs Steve. There's a lot of covid around here at the moment but I'm not worried. We've both had it just the once, both mildly, in July 2022. I find it odd that all our supermarkets have done away with their trolley and hand sterilisers at the entrances. I take my own. I'm still not going to be wearing a mask any time soon. Masks are rare hereabouts these days.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 17 Oct 23 - 07:37 PM

We both had our jabs on Saturday, flu in left arm, covid-19 in right arm. No problem with the flu but the covid gave us both a slightly tender upper arm but nothing else. Masks are rare hereabouts. Oddly, all the big shops have now removed their hand/trolley sanitation points at the entrance. I think that's a shame, as that cleaning protects us from a lot more than just covid-19. I always have a little tube of sanitiser about my person and I smear some of it on the trolley handle too.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 17 Oct 23 - 08:07 PM

We "had to finish off" a bottle of Aperol that was "cluttering up the fridge" on Sunday, so we used it with a somewhat bog-standard bottle of Prosecco that someone had given us to make a very large Aperol spritz each in some oversize wine glasses that I'd foolishly bought (for the purpose to hand) a few months ago. It was very nice. There wasn't much Prosecco left in the bottle. It's a shame that half-bottles of Prosecco are such bad value, but a little while ago I found some 20cl bottles in Tesco ("Tesco Finest") at 4 for 3 which cost nine quid for the four, not the cheapest of cheap but pretty good for such a nice drop.

Aperol spritz is so damned tasty...

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 17 Oct 23 - 09:04 PM

Mrs Steve won't let me drink wine on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays (I make do with two small cans of Peroni - any more and I'm bloated!), otherwise no excuses needed for a tipple...

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 18 Oct 23 - 04:35 AM

A bottle resealer would be redundant in our household-of-two for reasons I won't go into ;-) though I can definitely see its merits ...

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 29 Aug 23 - 10:46 AM

Dupont:

Came back here on Tuesday, with a stop for muffins at the Hidden Gold Mine. Trying to bring the house back to a Dorothy state from the chaos of the Robin state. Every single piece of cutlery was in the sink and had to be washed, washed again harder! and then again. We agreed this would not happen again! The dishes were in a controlled state. I guess a month is too long to stay away!

Robin was still coughing badly - I washed bedding twice to avoid re-distributing whatever germs... Then decided things were improved sufficiently. His bro is also coughing and has been to clinic but no meds? R finished his anti-biotic, is coughing less but still exhausted. His cough is similar to the one I still have after ?? years from the mold at the Mill - not surprising as he got it from cleaning a dreadful building. It is in the lungs and, I believe, may never go away completely. Sometimes I do not cough for a few hours or a day or two and think all is well, then it starts again - the plague of my life. A part of me is glad he now realizes what I have gone through.

So! Basically, I came back for the Chateauguay Valley Antique Association (event). Spent a wonderful weekend of visits with people, sold enough pots to make it a "success", listened to live Country music, had a tent for the first time and... It POURED rain on Sat - a couple times! Rita (next door) and I provided shelter for all who could fit! Met a whole bunch of Rita and Dan's family - they were having a family event later. Interesting genetics! Terrific positive energy!

This is my fav event of the year - Such a wonderful community of people volunteering and selling stuff/junk/treasures. The auction took 2 days this year and R was there for most of it! Came away with a whole bunch of stuff - some for re-sale and some just because he was "helping the auctioneer" get a bid and ended up being the only bid! A beautiful Victorian love seat and chair that I am trying to figure a place for them - if only he would get rid of the UGLY ones ...

Wore a jacket all day Sunday! I never put that warm layer away! Was glad I thought to grab this light jacket on the way out the door from Beaver! This weather is just fine for me - cool, damp, sometimes sunny.

So, inch by inch, I regain energy, find us food, cook very little, weeded the gardens a little, watched a squirrel sit on the porch railing to groom then went into the large pot of cherry tomato plants to eat one and left the rest... Last eve, I opened back door to go pick in the garden and startled to two rabbits, apologized and went out later to pick the few new cherry tomatoes. We had about a quart each of Sat and Sunday, took them to event and gave most of them to Rita and family, who declared them delicious. (I do not eat raw tomatoes.) We have a pumpkin (not watermelon) slowly turning orange; guess I will make pumpkin pies.

Got a new credit card, sent to local bank after someone got the number and tried to buy stuff where I NEVER would. I got two phone calls which I immediately hung up and phoned VISA to tell them and was told everything was fine. An hour later, card was declined at two separate stores. Phoned VISA and... All is well.

Big happening was a young woman stopping to look at pottery and mentioning that her... was a potter - Kingsport, Newfoundland! "You are related to Ruth... !!!!???" (My friend who died suddenly in October - a total trauma.) We both started to cry and share our pain of loss, and I was able to find out how the widower and son are doing! Then, the "cousin" of one of Canada's top potters bought a bowl!

Then I sat and dealt with renewed grief. Ruth choked (I did not ask) a few hours after I saw her, and Fred, vibrantly alive at a folk music event. I was so elated to see her and thinking how wonderful it would be to visit now that we were "post Covid). BOOM!

I have a small pic of her on my bureau to which I say, "Good morning, Ruth!". Erin has it on her wall to greet in the morning. A more beautiful human than Ruth - equal perhaps but not more... She was the epitome of loving, sharing, giving, helping, caring...