DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Nov 23 - 10:57 AM

Those beads and findings will be the last to go, but they haven't had much use for a while. Good move with the bear materials!

The barrels I have here came from a friend's house; he worked at a place that did general magnaplate work on restoring industrial equipment (redoing finishes and sending back - I went on a tour, and the most interesting was a huge chrome-plated disk that was a proprietary tool for extruding Cherrios cereal. No photos and non-disclosure form signed.) The barrels had the non-dangerous materials like baking soda and other everyday products in huge volume. Black barrels and blue barrels (a little different, but also plastic with bung holes only on the top).

One barrel in the greenhouse has an old fashioned Lever pump handle, and I use a battery operated pump on the one that was just emptied. And I have two that are squared on the sides that lie on top of cinder blocks and are stacked and I use those to water my outdoor potting table where I start seeds. I envision my daughter catching on to the usefulness of these and getting a couple. I had more, and gave them to a friend who lives out in the West Texas desert.

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

I spent ~3 hours this evening at my daughter's almost ex-house, helping with some of the nitty gritty cleaning before they are completely moved out. Two of the four bathrooms in the house are now in shiny clean shape, and I tackled some of the grime in the kitchen (the area where the fridge stood took several passes with various cleaners, and the stove and microwave had built up splatters that are gone). They've been in the house for almost seven years, so the landlord should be painting and putting in new toilet seats and replacing or refreshing the carpets.

I brought back a small desk that I'll put on the Buy Nothing page for my part of town; one less thing they need to move. Their Ikea bookshelves were too large for any to slide into the SUV.

There is an account of my trip to the Nissan dealer on my Facebook page; I went in for an oil change and tire rotation and they were making a concerted effort to convince me to sell my used vehicle to them. After the planned on work and the free inspection stuff I got a text with the quote on various things that need doing (thousands of dollars) - this is based upon mileage and not based on actual problems. As I was scrolling through that list and declining all of the expensive stuff, the phone rang and it was the sales department at Nissan offering a lowball price for my SUV (because they now know it's in good shape) and I should buy a new vehicle. Except out of curiosity I ran a query through Edmunds Car Guide a few weeks ago and a local Auto Nation dealer offered $8000 more. I wouldn't use it as a trade-in for their terrible offer.

I told this sales woman that I thought their approach stunk and take me off the list for soliciting purchasing my vehicle. But round two was paying the bill for the oil change - when the Service department representative started to go through a litany of things I need to do regarding the current status (based upon what I had already declined). So many places do this - you can't just pay and go, you have to fight off the sales folks. After the first couple of visual aids (the tools to measure brake health and tire tread depth) I told her to let me pay and give me the printout and stop the sales pitch. My statement to end the BS: "I have to pee and I have somewhere else to be." I'm really tired of businesses that think they see you coming, and you'll roll over and let them have their way. I'm looking for a mechanic to do some of this work as needed, not the dealer.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Nov 23 - 05:14 PM

Insult added to injury - I headed out to my morning volunteer gardening gig and was a few blocks from the house, ready to head onto the freeway, when I saw the low tire pressure warning. I circled back to the house and used the little battery compressor to fill them. The Nissan folks neglected to check and properly inflate my tires, and the cold weather often is when it shows up as low pressure. I am so disappointed with that whole experience.

Three hours planting a seasonal bed at the Botanic Garden was a good start to the day, followed by two hours of scanning at the museum. When I'm scanning I'm way past where visitors are allowed, but the Botanic Garden episode was an opportunity to observe the visitors. Kids all noticed the three of us planting, and their teachers paused to ask questions. But there was a lot of older adult foot traffic, and aside from one "thank you for everything you do" (so common it is meaningless, but it works as a "hello") most strolled past and didn't try to make eye contact. I wasn't out there to talk to them, but I tend to look up as they pass, and an occasional "good morning!" is always a nice acknowledgement of the work. As a visitor I always look to see if the landscapers, maintenance people, etc., are making eye contact and offer a greeting.

Just now Nissan made the mistake of texting and asking me to answer a survey about yesterday's visit. I told them I was disappointed at the stunts they pulled.

The busy part of my week is over, now to do some puttering around the house until next Tuesday's volunteering. I will probably head over to a party at friends' in Arlington tomorrow evening because it will be several hours after the Texas Ranger's World Series celebration parade a few miles away. Driving there earlier in the day will be gridlock.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Nov 23 - 11:02 AM

Yes, Don, I'm remembering now - a couple of commercial oil change places would come in with some other suggested repair or update. I rarely bit, except if it seemed incredibly practical. This reminds me I need to top off the coolant and change the air filter.

It must be fall now, I'm feeling the full impulse needed to do the furniture and equipment moving in the office - the willingness to take the art off of the walls and move things that require dismantling and reassembly. Laundry is in and I've been decanting various containers in the kitchen. I'm ready to till and plant garlic (taking some of the really old kraft bags out of the pantry clears a fair amount of space.) The work at the Botanic Garden was part of the inspiration; they pulled out a little tiller just like mine to work the bed before we planted a seasonal garden. Something I've been doing more in the last year.

It's too early here for leaves down, and the lawn is still growing. I did some digging in the sweet potato pots, there was one very large potato between the two pots. Next I'll dig around in the garden and see if anything from last summer is harvestable. I've pulled out the bonsai okra and some of the peppers that were hit by frost. If this year represents a new norm then I have to be prepared to plant really early, harvest what I can by early July, then write off the garden until September. I started too late to get a fall crop on some things, others are still producing.

I'm watching the mail to see if things are forwarded as requested. So far nothing has arrived with the conspicuous yellow forwarding tag, and I haven't seen anything in my Informed Delivery messages to show me redirected mail coming to the house. It's my one small rebellion this year, taking an expensive annual bill off of the balance sheet. Now to see if it worked as planned.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Nov 23 - 06:57 PM

A trip to the discount grocery has us loaded up with produce for now (for me and the dogs) and produce that keeps for later (onions, potatoes, carrots, beets). Some to cut up and freeze (bell peppers). And they have skinless boneless chicken thighs in stock again at half-price. I love those for making teriyaki chicken.

Zeke proved to be consistent in refusing calabash squash; he didn't want it raw last week, so I steamed some this morning but after giving him a bite after one chew he spit it out. Broccoli for him while the girls finish off the rest of the squash.

Cleaning this evening.

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

The COVID resurgence for vintage sewing machines has passed; since new machines were unavailable in the volume needed to supply everyone who wanted to make PPE, the vintage machines saw a resurgence. But I've been looking at replacing one of my older machines with a newly manufactured one and see that the used market has subsided. I need to move out a couple of the older ones before I consider bringing in a new one. I didn't pay much for them but I won't make anything selling them (especially as heavy as they are - the shipping is the killer on these transactions). They will be sold for parts or repair.

I also need to identify projects I've planned to do that haven't been done and either get them going or clear out the stuff I'm not using. I was looking for sewing machines on estate sale listings this week and what I see are people with way too much stuff that their families have to sort later.

Beautiful weather this week. I've done some work on the yard and need to cross a few more outdoor projects off the list before it's cold again.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Nov 23 - 11:26 AM

As an elementary-school-aged kid I managed to ditch the Sunday morning church stuff (when we convinced Mom that we didn't need Sunday school to do arts and crafts). A friend used to complain if I mentioned mowing the lawn on Sunday mornings (the noise) but I figure if people are religious they're in church and won't hear my mower. It works for me to get out into the park and museum world during the week for my contemplative moments.

Yesterday I did a lot of cooking and cleaning in the kitchen, resulting in meals for the week and much less clutter in the fridge. Finally admitting that the jar of pickles or relish or salsa is too old to use and tossing into the compost helps clear out the jars.

This morning was the first conversation with my handyman about replacing the patio cover behind the house. It will probably be a simple framework, with 4x4 posts sunk in concrete all around the patio (the current one stands on the patio and reinforcements for the posts were sunk into the concrete.) Coming up with something custom to fit the house. The current one is crumbling and only marginally safe; I fear a big windstorm taking out one side and collapsing the whole thing.

Moving office furniture today. More dog walking. Digging in the garden to plant garlic, and making a quick pass through the dead crop plants to lop them off and tote them (via wheelbarrow) to the compost.

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

I worked up a sweat weeding and then planting garlic (to be harvested next May), and I took out the dead big stuff in the garden (tomatoes and peppers). And damned if the code enforcement guy didn't put another caution tag on my door saying to mow the grass. What is it with this guy, that he figures he'll beat me to the yard work I have planned? But the grass isn't too tall, so perhaps he has confused the weeds in the garden with tall grass in the lawn. I need to speak to him face-to-face one of these days. Figure out what the heck he thinks he's doing. This yard is never going to conform to the standard monoculture turf and tidy edge gardens. How dull.

Dinner was wonderful this evening, a piece of tilapia (floured and sauteed in butter) with two sides, one of a plate of the babaghanouj I made yesterday and pita, and a bowl of the chicken stew I also made yesterday. The stew was the little bit that didn't fit into the large container for the rest.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Nov 23 - 09:53 AM

A craft epiphany this morning - something I daresay neither of my parents encountered (there was no evidence): I have too many things going on at once, with the setup for projects I need to work on for a while. Before I start another one (quilting) I need to wrap up a few other things. When I think back to the archaeological digs one reads about, when a slim metal shard reminds us that women had just a few scarce needles for their thread and sewing, when every trade bead was precious, I know we are well beyond those days. The problem is too much, not too little. Organizing the sewing studio was an excellent start. Now I need to expand the organizing to the rest of the house. As I research the heavy duty sewing machines out there I realize that this is enough of a commitment that I need to use this as a reward for myself for finishing or donating stuff I'm not using any more. And it gives me a lot to look forward to for motivation purposes.

I decluttered stuff in the pantry shelves yesterday as I moved garlic that is too pulpy to cook with into the garden to see if it will grow. Chances are it will, and the transformation from old clove to new bulb will happen in the soil over the winter and spring. And if it doesn't, no big deal. I'll have plenty that was already sprouting (because I didn't harvest all of it in the spring, I left it to grow much larger after another year.)

The next garden task is to use the trimmer to scalp the grass from beds and prepare for planting some winter crops. Some are cold hardy (broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes, etc.) if you put the floating row cover over the top in particularly cold weather. And because I have that stuff now I need to keep in mind the placement of crops so covering them is easy.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Nov 23 - 12:33 AM

I finished rearranging the older computer and equipment that I use with it this evening, but am not satisfied with the setup. Plus the printers are lumps on relatively short cables and on a stand that is in the way. But that stand can be lowered by about 5" so I'll move the printers and lower the stand tomorrow. (I picked it up at the curb a dozen years ago, it has been very handy for a freebee). Too bad the fitness tracker doesn't register the extent of this kind of movement, I feel like I just spent three hours in the gym. A lot of dust was removed and the floor in the corner was mopped.

A large tree dropped into the creek two lots downstream from mine, and the city folks are going to try to get it out before rain starts later this week to avoid flooding (it could wash up against the bridge and form a dam). The next door neighbor spoke to the city folks, they say the city owns the creek so tend to trees that fall in it. If that one hadn't just fallen in I wouldn't be as worried about my tree ready to fall in.

I finished trimming the tall grass in the gardens where I had tomatoes, peppers, squash and eggplant. Now just the eggplant stands on that side of the driveway. Between that and the computer I got a great upper body workout today.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Nov 23 - 05:24 PM

I fought off shards of sunshine this morning at the Botanic Garden where I spent three hours repotting trees into larger deeper containers. Also (alas) fought off bits of grit in my eyes (one at a time, but one each) from the fine compost/mulch we were using. After that I shifted tasks and used a shovel to shift soil instead of getting close with a scoop. I retrieved eyedrops from the SUV for relief, and made a note to myself: in addition to gloves and a bottle of water I'll add safety glasses to my growing BG volunteer kit. This afternoon I'm feeling the exercise in my arms and shoulders.

In daylight I can see the shifts needed to make the office flow better. I previously used a 3-shelf folding bookcase sitting on the desk next to the wall to stack equipment that is attached to the computer (scanners and VHS players for converting old videos). Taking it up instead of spreading it out. I tried to add another (missing it's lower shelf) but that is too much. Instead, the one without the lower shelf is best for the job and the first one will now sit in front of the window and should be the answer to keeping the smallest dog away from the windowsill if I open the blinds occasionally. I don't want them in here scratching the sill and barking, but I do like to let in the light sometimes. I couldn't keep cats out of any window now matter how much I tried, but I can block the dogs.

The next 2 1/2 weeks have lots and lots of cat sitting runs. I'll be going to the gym again, including checking out a new gym that opened nearby - I like the one I go to and when I'm in that part of town will still head over. It seems that Silver Sneakers will let me join more than one gym, so I'm going to give the new one a try. My goal is not to have a lot of classes or personal trainers, but for no fuss to use the equipment I prefer when I want to use it. I like access to a pool but I think the pool at the nearby place is quite small, so probably stick to my regular gym for that.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Nov 23 - 10:36 AM

We now have the rain but without the cold of Perth County. The Tarrant County version has very slick roads (road grime) after a couple of dry weeks.

It took elbow grease and WD-40 to shorten the legs on that metal stand, considering it was only eight screws, but it is short enough now that I can tuck the printers (one on the shelf and one on top) under the most active computer desk. And by rearranging the equipment for the older computer I can now work on that desktop and open either of the files under it, if needed. (I'd forgotten that the legal file has a locking upper drawer. I suppose I should empty it enough so if I have something to lock away there is free space.)

The last step was putting art back on the walls, now accomplished, and I'm looking at the empty portable shelves in front of the window. I may move the contents of a small end table onto the top shelf and move the end table out of here. It ends up an even swap - the new book shelf for this piece, and the result is better use of floor space AND access to the window sans a dog problem.

Also a note, when I turned the files and plywood desktop 90^o to the original position I brought in the level and needed to shim the side closest to the front wall. There is one 5-gallon paint stick on the file cabinet under the plywood to level the desktop. The space isn't equally lopsided, it took five 1-gallon paint sticks under the tall bookcase on the other side of the room (again by the front wall) to level it. Thank dawg for Home Depot and Lowe's free paint stir sticks!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Nov 23 - 04:53 PM

The older workhorse quad core stopped communicating with the Internet but had a whole bunch of really good free-standing expensive software. Worth more than the computer itself at that point, so I replaced the computer instead of reinstalling Windows and destroying all of the software (I had no disks for it, it came from work when we could have personal copies at home also.) It works well for things that also don't need an Internet connection, like scanning. I have a transfer cable to move contents from that to the new computer.

For years there was just one printer, the black toner laser jet, but with the addition of a high-rez photo scanner, the ink jet photo-quality printer came along. There is logic to the accumulation! (There is also a 10-year-old small WiFi laptop in the kitchen that is the emergency backup computer.)

I may also move an extra computer chair out of the office, though where it will live I'm not sure. There are times when someone joins me in there so it won't go away completely.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Nov 23 - 02:45 PM

I assembled an unranked list of sewing machines that do the things I need for regular sewing and additional features for some quilting activity, with links to each company and prices (some are on Amazon at deep discounts - making me wonder why there is such a difference and if there is any support if you buy off of the Big A.) A friend who has quilted for years recommended a couple of them and others I stumbled upon via reviews. Some were left off the list as way too expensive and fancy. I don't need a machine so complex that it's difficult to simply sit down and sew after going through basic tutorials. She's going to look at my list and offer suggestions as to why some features are better than others. After using an 80-year-old straight stitch machine for years any of these features are going to be magical, so the super-high end stuff of the eye-wateringly-priced machines will never be missed.

I've also found a place that I would trust as far as getting work done on the old rotary machine. I've done a lot of basic stuff, but even with manuals can only go so far when replacement parts haven't been fabricated for 50 years or more.

This weekend should be good for work on the fence, giving the area a little time to dry after yesterday's rain. We are finally in fall temperatures in the mid-60s and low-70s for the next 10 days. With the cooler weather I've gotten out a couple of the cushy dog beds and given Cookie a strict scold about not shredding them. I doubt she'll cooperate, I'll have to figure ways to cover them to keep them intact. Trouble is, you go for a week or two and think you're home free, then she goes on a tear and eviscerates and scatters bed stuffing around the den.

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

One dog bed already back in the front room out of circulation after Cookie tore out stuffing twice. Damn predictable dog. Perhaps I'll find a cover to protect the fuzzy material the bed is made of and try again.

My quilting friend offered helpful insight and my list is now shorter. I'll check in at the sewing machine business next week and see what they have that I can touch and test.

The front lawn got mowed this afternoon and I'll do the back tomorrow. Usually by now the weather is so cool that the turf is dormant, but not this year.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Nov 23 - 10:03 AM

This morning saw the removal of the summer programmable watering system (for up to four hoses) off of the back yard spigot and replaced with a simple splitter for running one or the other or both. The final shift before a heavy freeze is to remove that and put a styrofoam faucet cover and some other insulating stuff over the spigot (that is probably weeks away). And before heading out I took the new can of WD-40 with its much more convenient spray setup (I guarded and used that little red tube on the old can forever; I should have ditched it ages ago!) and got the rollers under the back sliding glass door loosened up and flowing. A friend commented last week that all I needed to do for a full-body workout was open and close that door a couple of times a day.

Yesterday the old heavy White Series 77 rotary sewing machine went into the shop for a tune up and two small repairs. And I spent a couple of hours comparing the new machines. I'm not ready to buy one yet, I have things to do here to be ready for that big change (because once that device is in the house I'll ignore everything else!) Machines have come a long way in the last 82 years. I have an even older White in a table that has a knee operation instead of foot; later I'll take it in for rewiring and a new foot and then list it on eBay. I think I can adapt the table to fit the machine I'm keeping.

I've decided it is time to remove the mess in the front corner of the house that was at one time intended to be an asparagus bed. The weedy Carolina snailseed vines have overrun it and I haven't been able to harvest any of the asparagus in a couple of years. It's a green tangle that needs to be completely dug up. Doing it this time of year means any asparagus roots I find I might be able to transplant for use next year. To someplace less compromised by the intense native vine. This job will require the spade fork and full-size mattock (and the wheelbarrow to catch all of the vines and roots).

Family have been slow to offer up their dates for our movable feast known as Thanksgiving. The long weekend has four days, we don't need to do it on Thursday, but I do need to load up on some of the basics. Must gently prod again today for an answer.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Nov 23 - 07:06 PM

There was a lot more asparagus in that bed than I thought (covered over with vines and grass), but it is all dug up and awaiting transplant to someplace easier to tend; I have a couple of spots in mind. I put some crinum lilies in the old spot; they're easier to weed than huge asparagus ferns are. They've been in a bucket all summer awaiting a time when I could get out and work and plant them without overheating. I have some light pink crinum lilies in a different bed, these are a more orange color, if I recall correctly the description from the friend who gave them to me.

The fridge is cleaned out, all shelves and drawers washed. (I didn't organize the freezer side.) I emptied a half-dozen or more old jars of pickles and preserves and tossed a bunch in the compost. And I picked up a 13.5 pound frozen turkey with no additional brine injected. I was going to do breasts, but when I was in a grocery store today I stumbled upon these and it will work. Now to load up on the root vegetables and other ingredients that go in a Thanksgiving dinner. This year I'll make more breads and veggies, less meat.

Tomorrow I have a tour at the museum where I volunteer, and maybe after a trip to the gym. With the gardening I get good exercise, primarily upper-body, so the gym offers a chance to keep the knees limber.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Nov 23 - 08:10 PM

Sometimes I think the way those links fail has to do with how the backup populates the server it's running on when it starts up. But Mudcat is limping right now, we do need to help Max do something about it.

In the days we've been offline I decided which sewing machine I want and I'll go buy it before Thanksgiving. I'm using this weekend to finish some things I need to do before I have the full distraction of that machine in the house.

I've finished the food shopping for the holiday meal (we'll probably cook it on Sunday instead of Thursday due to family schedules) and the back lawn was mowed today. My nextdoor neighbors usually have family over and are in their yard and mine won't be a distraction of tall grass next to their well-trimmed area. I have to go with the bucket and scoop to remove walking hazards if anyone wants to go outside while they're here.

Yesterday I started dusting in my bedroom and then the den, and I'll work my way through the house tomorrow so that is all finished. The next job is to wash dog beds and small rugs before sweeping and mopping. I'm putting things away and tossing stuff into the recycle bin. By the time cooking begins I hope to stage it better, not all cooked on the one day. The meal itself will be less meat and more other stuff this year, since there will be two vegetarians (out of the probably five or six of us here).

How are our lurkers doing? Jon? Jennie? Sandra? Patty?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Nov 23 - 10:49 AM

Feeling virtuous this morning after finishing cleaning the fridge door. Last week I did the shelves, but this morning realized the molded plastic shelves on the door (with raised front edges) were a disarray and needing a scrub, so they're done now. Years-old items tossed, and I put all of the bottled sauces on one shelf, etc. Also shifted two up into slightly better positions. I may yet tackle the freezer just to say that job is completed.

A small table will be offered on the Buy Nothing page today and I'm continuing to clean. First up this morning comes washing the throws that are draped over the couch. They're very dusty.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Nov 23 - 09:40 PM

Plugging along this week, not making as much progress as I'd like, but I'm still moving forward. I picked up the new sewing machine today but it's not likely to be opened until tomorrow or the next day.

The SUV key fob has been AWOL a couple of times this week, giving a misaligned signal (not starting the car until I get out and get back in) and not always unlocking the car. I have a sleeve of inexpensive button style batteries that seem to be underperforming (the fob wasn't responding when I changed to one of these batteries) so I put the old battery back in with enough juice to get to Lowe's and buy some name brand batteries. The cheap ones have their use, but this isn't one of them.

Planning for the holiday meal and I'm going to set up a couple of crock pots around the kitchen so I don't have to juggle so much on the stovetop. Is anyone else doing a Thanksgiving meal this week?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 01 Nov 23 - 05:09 AM

this afternoon friends collected 2 large unwanted craft collections.

I used to make mohair bears (a collection already downsized, but not yet moved out!) & naturally had more mohair than anyone who is not a professional bear maker could ever use. I also used to make beaded earrings & necklaces & had a similar sized collection of beads & fittings etc, both collections have gone! Most of the mohair was in a gi-normous zipped plastic bag that had contained a large quilt/doona, the rest in a large gift box, half that size. Half the beading stuff was in a small shopping trolley, the other in a large reusable bag from my local supermarket, I didn't realise they came from Bulgaria!.

well done me (pats self on shoulder) & well done to my friends.

sandra

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Thompson
Date: 26 Oct 23 - 05:15 AM

Dorothy Parshall, two tips with Apple helplines:
1) Find the time when the best techies for your purpose are online. Here in Ireland that's around 9am to 10am our time, when the helpers tend to be Irish or Scottish and reliably tech but (usually) able to explain without patronising. I've had some spectacular good luck with Arabs and Indians too, mind!
2) Always give the agent your phone number first thing, so they can call you back if the call drops.

And in general talking to helplines, I find it's better if I ask the person their name and write it down - doesn't matter whether they're using their real name or not - and use it in conversation the way I would with anyone else I'm talking to. "So, John, I need to press the little button at the bottom - the 'home' button, is it?" sounds much better, and makes both sides feel human. If apps are restarting or anything and there's a bit of a pause, it's nice to say "Where are you? Oh, X place? What's the weather like there today?" etc - human conversation.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Thompson
Date: 31 Oct 23 - 06:45 PM

Charmion, a good way of shifting a recurring sinus infection that isn't bad enough for antibiotics is NeilMed (not sure about the studylycaps, maybe it's Neilmed). This is a squashy plastic bottle and a collection of sachets of saline powder. You fill the bottle with warm water up to the mark indicated, pour in a sachet of saline powder and give it a shake with your thumb over the hole in the top, then you squirt the warm water into each nostril alternately. It just washes out the sinuses and the saline shrinks back the mucous membranes.
Very relieving, and better than most of the spray bottles because it's warm, and because there's more of it. You have to keep doing it every day - part of the morning routine preferably, because if you do it at night, the remaining liquid drools out onto the pillow. If you do it for long enough - nearly a month, usually - the sinus demon says "Curses, this is too rainy for me" and gets out. It's a big help at hayfever time.
Another help at hayfever time is to find the most local honey you can get, and take a teaspoon of it every day. Local is best, they say, because the local bees will have fed on the weeds whose pollen your sinus demon loves, and by some magic of transference, eating the honey nourished on these weeds helps to quieten down the allergies.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Thompson
Date: 01 Nov 23 - 01:49 AM

Ah, rain barrels: why has no one invented a hose connector that can be used by the standard water butt tap? Or why don't the butts have a tap that will fit the standare hose connector?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 31 Oct 23 - 08:59 PM

I'm very prone to sinus attacks, always on the right side. It's been my misfortune for the last three years to have suffered from frequent bouts of cellulitis, so I've been on big doses of antibiotics a lot (I'm now on a prophylactic low dose of Penicillin V for a whole year!). I can tell you that the antibiotics do not stave off, nor cure, sinus attacks. I suppose that means that they're caused by viruses.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 25 Oct 23 - 09:08 PM

Dupont:

Rain and more rain with occasional dry for a while days. Have managed to get most of fall work done. Still some large bits for R to do; nothing frost will harm but make room on deck before we get fire wood, which is beginning to feel like a myth. I shall insist we bring a small amount back from Beaver on the weekend. The cold is coming.

Lengthy conversation with engineer son, Sunday, elicited: He has APD as well and always had - "Why do you think I didn't go to classes?" I didn't know he didn't! So an I-phone is in my future, possibility of Airpods if needed. But, I do not think eliminating noise is safe - we need to be aware of what and who is nearby.

Long conversation with Apple help on Mon, trip to Apple store on Tues where the woman "helping" never understood my problem/concern/need... Another call to Apple help today to try to connect Mac to TV. Nice person tried hard but finally realized an upgrade was needed - Call back when it is done! BUT - before he got away he answered some questions about Iphone; I clarified with son by text and we agreed I will go tomorrow for a phone. Apparently it can listen and convert speech to text. That would work if I am talking to someone in a noisy place. I suppose it would have limitations - perhaps less than I have? A rather expensive "we'll see how it works" but I can return it after the weekend if the help is not adequate.

Looking forward to the long weekend with lots of travel for the sake of two separate music events, kind of en route- performers I once hung out with and have not seen in 40 years. We will get to Beaver Sat night and leave Monday - hopefully getting a couple errands done, maybe even a Covid booster.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Oct 23 - 08:39 PM

Dupont:
Spent early part of day planning weekend. Then off to Apple -Hi ho hi ho!! In the middle of transferring data from phone and computer to new phone...! Needed the password for the computer; I never use it so it did not make it onto the wonderful new list of passwords I made last week. Have to go back tomorrow - but now I have the password but the whole computer is topsy turvy. I have an appointment with a tech - and Hope! Really want it done for the weekend as there will be many opps to try it out.

Otherwise there is food to eat and all is well - as long as I remember to take Pau d'Arco, and eat choc and keep face hydrated so eyes are happy.

Robin brought last of plants in this am!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 31 Oct 23 - 05:19 PM

Dupont:

Arrived home about 3:30 am this morning, having learned a hard lesson: Decide ahead of time and make arrangements where/when you are sleeping. Tired after the concert and a long day exploring very rural Ontario, the phone was no help at all and we wandered for about two hours until I found an energy reserve, about 2:15 and said, "OK, it is only an hour home; I can do that." I did. R slept. We happily crawled into bed. There were still two items on the to-do list -- some other time!

If we had driven straight home after the concert, we could have been home by 1 am! These things happen when one/two is/are way over tired! If is had not been so cold, we could have slept in the car.

We woke up to a couple inches of snow on Monday! BUT the road was clear!!! Mostly R did a whole bunch of getting ready for winter tasks before we left AND we loaded some of our good dry firewood into the car - since R has not yet gotten any for Dupont. We backed up to the woodshed,onto the snow covered yard - almost level but not quite! Then - Hey - this car is front wheel drive! (I was thinking of that.) That load on the rear took some pushing, maneuvering, and gravel - some of what washed into the yard in the spring run off! BUT ---WE did it!!

Well, the 30th of October will be remembered! Not least for the concert by a friend of over 40 years - but not seen in almost 40 years. We had a good chat, partly about his lifelong "bestie" whom we had seen on Saturday night - on a better organized trip! We drove from Dupont to the fascinating venue via more rural explorations. The site, near Picton is a very retired - in places falling down - air force base. Efforts are being made to turn it into a cultural centre; the concert venue was very beautifully restored - "Sergeant's Mess".

My recovery from the event of 14 Sept is complete - with very good info from a knowledgeable sound person: "Yes P.A. systems can be set in such a way as to be difficult to understand. There are settings of frequencies that can be altered to make comprehension easier, but if not set correctly, can make voices sound off." I do wonder if anyone else had a problem with that day.(And if some fool told them they had a haring loss!) R found the sound systems in the Sergeant's Mess a bit "muddy". But the combo of lyrics and instrument make it virtually impossible for me, tho I enjoy the instruments - generally... depending...!!

Tomorrow snow tires and general maintenance!

The phone has been close to an ordeal and is not completely set up. But I am hanging in - hoping for the "listen live" feature to be helpful. The vibration is stronger and the ring and other notification sounds are a definite improvement. Still lots to figure out.

Supper tonight... Still a figment of my imagination!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 05 Nov 23 - 07:40 PM

Dupont:

I seem to be in a holding pattern this week: Recovery from weekend, groceries, minimal cooking, final outdoor bit and pieces -almost! Trip for more pastries on Friday, then about five hours in resto with Geri, chatting and trying out the "live listen" feature; it wrote out what we were each saying but some of the words were way off!

I tried out Face Time with #1 son who them shouted at me about my "hearing loss" and frequencies and on and on. Most unpleasant encounter I recall having with him. He is adamant that I need a hearing aid. Geri is also - I found out Fri! But this was the first time I found her voice dim. R listens to me without much feedback.

Hearing vs comprehending - very different. I detest loud noise so do not want anything louder. Still looking at APD and its effects and not yet sure about anything. Not wanting to spend more money on sound altering equipment! Frequencies and the fact that a sound system may be altered ... and if people do not speak directly into the mike... These all make a difference. Most of the time I have no problem hearing at all. A conundrum and the jury is still out - regardless of being browbeaten by my son. I thought he would be delighted that I Face Timed him.

Anyway, the dishes are up to date and there is cooked food in the frig and R might be home tonight --- or not. I have a small struggling fire in the wood stove - the wood we brought is not really dry enough. I need to bring in some kindling from the brush pile. Manana.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Nov 23 - 12:00 PM

Yesterday, it took about 8 gremlins to get me through: two women at the local library helped me print my ballot (to vote on-line in the state of Washington); one stayed on after the end of her shift to meet the goal! Then - my new phone not working at all like the old one - a call to a nice woman in Louisiana (Apple Help - I should have it on speed dial!) enabled me to get pics of said ballot onto an email. Soon, a new email informed that ballot had been received!! YAY! I voted!!
After lunch -at 4PM - I set out to go to a tribute to Leonard Cohen: Totally lost in Montreal, I stopped at a mall where two young fellows managed to pull up a map on that darn phone. This helped me head in a more correct direction but the map disappeared and I was closer but still lost.
I pulled into a side street, stopped the car and got out, intending to go to a shop for help...BUT a young man wearing a motorcycle helmet offered help: looked at his phone, told me to wait while he fetched his cycle, came back and led me to my destination!!!!! "There it is, right across the street. park here! You're welcome!" And he was gone.
It was a great eve! A great day! (It took 34 minutes to get home! I was lost for about 2 hours due to failing to write down explicit directions at home.) All we need are gremlins! Lots of them!!

So, I need more help with this Iphone which is currently more of a hazard than a help. Other than that, preparing -mentally- to deal with snow tomorrow. Hoping my energy level this afternoon will allow trip to produce store. And damp mop the floors (no carpets). The sewing room and pottery (here) are closed indefinitely - until I feel the right spurt of energy.

The woman I sat next to last night told me she loves her hearing aids, "get them, you'll love them!" I suspect they were a new part of her life. She gave me the name and location of her provider; in the same building as the CNIB- so opthamology (sp?) as well, a recently evolving concern. There was very little down time so I never found out why she was so enthusiastic. "Get them; You'll love them!" R commented -to me only - that he doubted that. Also wonder why he said that. She gave me the name of her brother who lives here in Chateauguay. But not her own! I will check out her bro, a reporter for the local paper.

At the end of the evening as the device came along to accept our payments, she passed it to the man across from her, commenting on how handy husbands are! At about the same time I was offering my card to R! (R paid.) Last weekend, I paid the tickets, he the meals; about even. I was surprised by her remark.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: keberoxu
Date: 18 Nov 23 - 04:44 PM

We're back!
THis thread didn't like it when I clicked on the number of posts,
but it responded the right way
when I clicked on the "d" next to the number of posts.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Nov 23 - 11:27 AM

The threads seem to be rearranged by who posted right now; if you open the whole thing from the title on the left, it's in order. Otherwise, the appearance is unusual.

Sweeping and mopping today and I'll gradually replace clean rugs on the scrubbed floors. Meanwhile I'm drying rugs a couple at a time; they clog up the lint filter fast, despite shaking them out before putting in the washer.

The morning is cool and Zeke is having trouble standing on his own. Once he's up, he hobbles around like usual. I fear his legs will give out before his heart or goofy Lab attitude. It's always difficult losing them at the holidays, but it's also hard on them to keep them around longer than they're happy. So far, he's happy, but rough days ahead. I can boost him up several times a day if he needs help for the time being. As a 70-pound dog I can't carry him more than just the lifting distance from the ground into the back of the SUV.

The afternoon is for taking a friend to a colonoscopy. Best to have it before Thanksgiving because they restrict your diet for a few days prior to the procedure (and the awful prep). Think of the misery of not being able to eat Thanksgiving because of the upcoming exam!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Nov 23 - 12:46 AM

The cleaning continues and has gone much deeper than originally intended. I looked at the shelves behind the trunk with dog food and realized there is a lot of dog stuff there I no longer use and don't need to keep. I ended up moving what I'll keep to boxes under a table (with a shelf between the legs) and removed the small bookshelf. Clears out the doorway and I've had better access to the tile floor that needs a good scrub on that side of the room. Muddy dog feet go in and out of the dog door many times a day.

I still have to clear the dining table and put in the leaves.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 22 Nov 23 - 10:09 AM

Glum, chilly and wet in Stratford — bog-standard for November. I am spending way too much time at my desk working on a grant application for the choir, but the outside world is not at all tempting anyway.

The dominance of American content in the news and entertainment media makes this time of the year particularly bleak in Ontario. It’s just the inevitable slide into winter; get your snow tires on and clean the furnace. The most festive thing on this month’s agenda was detailing the car, which looks and smells brand new all over again.

I have decided to visit the Ottawa-based wing of the kin group at Christmas, and to spare myself the strain and risk of driving (a full day of highway — no mere bagatelle). So I’m booked on the train, where I expect to spend Christmas Day in a post-Midnight Mass doze. The cheapest possible fares are still available on both the 25th and 1 January — who knew? For the record, I am compulsively stingy about fares, always booking the cheapest possible seats by rail or air. In first class the toilets are no better than in steerage, and I would be just as cramped and bored. We all get there at the same time.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Nov 23 - 11:04 AM

Charmion, I pulled up Google maps to look at your holiday trip - at that time of year that's a long drive - the train looks like a great answer. Is there a train station in Stratford or do you have to travel to the depot elsewhere? When I look at this map and see how you and Dorothy are situated I find it astonishing that you two found a way to meet in the middle at one point. (Dorothy has been quiet for a couple of days on Facebook - I hope all is well!) While on the map examining that part of Canada I tried searching for the approximate location of Three Pines. Google has no sense of whimsy or humor.

When traveling by train or plane I always make sure to have a few durable snacks in my bag. My mom took an Amtrak trip across the US and one memorable part was when she had to break her trip and stay in a hotel for a couple of days to get over food poisoning from something served on the train. I'm real picky about the food I eat on trains for that reason. Get by with something you brought yourself if need be.

Recycling, Goodwill, there will be runs today to discharge unwanted materials to the world. It's clear and bright so by this afternoon the lawn will be dry and it will be a good time to mow the front (being careful to avoid the electric cord that runs to the holiday lights down at the bottom of the driveway). The turkey is in the fridge to defrost. Preparations are proceeding.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Nov 23 - 08:39 PM

All runs completed successfully, with a bonus of lunch with my daughter. Books taken to Half Price Books added up to more than the one I bought, so that's a win. Goodwill has one more box to go with a bunch already stacked at the donation door, and village recycling drove me nuts as usual - the bins fill too fast when thoughtless people drop their large boxes into the bins without flattening them.

I unplugged the cord to the holiday lights down by the driveway in order to mow the front yard, then set them back up. I'm hoping that is the last mow of the season, but as warm as it has been I might be mowing into December.

No Thanksgiving feast tomorrow, that's for Saturday, but the ex is coming over for brunch just to acknowledge the date. I'm still working around here cleaning; this evening I'll be moving the electronics and after that can rearrange the sofa and a bookshelf and start a sequence of cleaning then moving things into the space. That'll give me the opportunity to turn the dining table and put in the leaves and start getting it ready to set.

Zeke is 15 today, so I'll give the dogs a treat with peanut butter later to have their own little party. Maybe smear it on some apple slices.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Nov 23 - 11:27 AM

Guerilla decluttering tactics this week: I've shifted the dresser from in front of the closet door in the sewing studio and pulled out some of my daughter's stored stuff (this was her room, then the guest room, so personal things were packed up). It needs to be emptied enough so I can at least walk into the space. This long narrow closet is packed full. She'll be here for our family dinner tomorrow and I found a couple of things she asked about but she is also going to get to poke through a few other boxes and say yes or no to keeping them (and if she wants to keep them, to take them with her after the meal.) When you have a costume designer in the family everything can be a possible part of something else, so all of this stuff has been waiting for it's 15 minutes of fame in some convention, contest, or historically-based event.

This was a break from the cleaning in the den; there is plenty more to do in there. It was trash day today so a lot of the dust and dog hair I've swept up this week exited the building. The Goodwill bin contents were donated so is ready to accept any of the still usable stuff my daughter decides to part with. It's about a 30 gallon capacity (to visualize the volume) so if I could get that much out of the closet I could walk in a couple of feet. Yup. It's that full.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 24 Nov 23 - 04:15 PM

I'm procrastinating on the minutes of the choir board meeting, which I can barely look at without going all grey in the head. There's also an executive meeting to document, and the weekly newsletter to write, and I don't wanna do any of it.

But I will. Sigh.

It snowed this morning, so this is the day when I really must put the snow-brush in the car. The buttons are coming off my boiled wool coat, just in time for winter, so I took it to the tailor shop. Sure, anyone else would just do the job herself, but my fingertips have lost so much sensation that handling a needle is really difficult; also, I can barely see to thread it. Plus I just plain hate sewing, which I think I'm allowed. If not now, when?

Stilly, there is, indeed, a train station in Stratford; we're on the main line from Toronto to Windsor. This town used to be a support hub for the Grand Trunk Railway, and the wreckage of the locomotive shop is still cluttering about two acres of prime commercial land.

Since you like poring over Ontario travel routes on Google Maps, take a look at the stretch of Highway 7 that connects the city of Peterborough and the town of Perth. Near the half-way point, you'll see the village of Madoc, lying south of Highway 7 and north of Moira Lake, bisected by Highway 62. Where 7 and 62 meet, just a tick north of Madoc, Tim Horton's sits on the northwest corner and McDonald's on the northeast corner.

Take a look at what else is there -- not much, right? An Ultramar gas station and an Ontario Provincial Police station. The rest is nuttin' but rocks, trees, bush, and highway.

So if someone wants to meet you at the Tim's by Madoc, there's not much chance of confusion. And Dorothy's car was probably the only Prius in Hastings County that day.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Nov 23 - 05:49 PM

I remember looking up Madoc when you two were planning to meet. I also like looking at the map at a scale so I can see all of the tarns/lakes formed by the glacial moraines during various ice ages. We had some places like that in the Western Washington area that were visited by glaciers, but nothing like north of the border. Damn, but Canada is BIG.

I've moved a large mirror and am about to move the television. I have a lot of wires to reposition, and it seems I don't have any long pieces of coaxial cable here (to run to the TV from the antenna outlet on the wall). Hmmmm. I might have left a piece up in the attic after that work last spring. After that I can move the low table the TV was on, a bookshelf, and the sofa (revealing more dust as I go. I'm wearing a COVID mask as I work.)

Cranberry sauce will be made this evening and I'll peel and cut some of the root vegetables for baking tomorrow. Crock pots will be deployed.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 25 Nov 23 - 09:26 AM

“Damn, but Canada is BIG.”

That’s a central fact of our lives.

Perhaps the greatest social divide in this country is the difference in world view between people who grew up in cities, with all their conveniences and problems, and those accustomed to life in the sparsely settled — or unsettled — regions north of the Trans-Canada Highway. It’s hard for a Torontonian, for example, to grasp the sheer rage of a guy from the bush when he’s told that his pickup truck is a luxury the planet can’t afford.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Nov 23 - 11:44 AM

And even as indigenous areas are carved out, they are so far removed from those cities they might as well be on Mars.

It would, of course, be the morning of the big meal when I picked up a dog bed and realized it has quite a puddle in the middle of it. Of you know what. [sigh] Covers quick in the washer, foam "memory pads" in the tub to soak in the shampoo I use when bathing the dogs. And I'll squeeze them out enough and move them somewhere else to dry before people start arriving. And mop that spot in the den, again.

At least the friend I've been cat sitting for has decided to come home mid-afternoon today, no dinner run to cut into our dinner. Usually it's three trips a day, but I compressed two this morning. One cat gets a medicine that must be administered an hour before or after meals (when other medications are mixed in). So he gets the first med, then while waiting for time to pass I do some of my exercise videos I can stream on the phone. Win/win. When the fitness app asks what other exercise I've gotten in the past 24 hours I have to choose "Other" since housework and moving bookcases aren't on the list they offer. Case in point: I relocated the shelf with four linear feet of old vinyl albums from the kitchen to the den. Meaning I had to shift all of those albums from that bottom shelf to stacks in the other room and then move the shelf, then put them back on the shelf; there's no moving the shelf with that dead weight. So - picking up vinyl albums 2X counts as a workout!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Nov 23 - 08:41 PM

The annual Thanksgiving workout has concluded and there are leftovers but I managed to send quite a bit home with guests. The dishwasher is running and the laundry basket has a heap of napkins, dust cloths and dish towels. No one seemed to notice all of the changes as far as furniture placement, but I've had things in these positions before so I suppose it isn't anything to remark on. I'm glad to have so much dust out of here.

Tomorrow - the new sewing machine awaits!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Nov 23 - 12:18 PM

Dog beds, part two. They soaked and kind of rinsed in the tub, but are still wet and heavy. Transferring them to the washer was a bit drippy and took a couple of tries to equally distribute them—they're now running on ultra hand wash with the most amount of water in the tub and I'm hoping the spin cycle simply dries them and doesn't shred them.

The day after a big event is so nice in the house, when surfaces are clear and floors are swept and mopped and rooms are tidy. Not all rooms, but some rooms. My daughter brought stuff to me to redistribute; some to the village recycling and some to Goodwill (in a closed box - should I look or just hand it over?) I didn't get to cooking the roasted vegetables yesterday, so now have a bin full of stuff I'll be using in the next weeks. I bought Brussels sprouts for my daughter, but I'm not a huge fan. My best bet is to meet her for lunch this week and hand them over.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 26 Nov 23 - 02:30 PM

Hand it over, Stilly. You know you should.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Nov 23 - 09:32 PM

Beaver:

I have resigned myself to the fact that my life is now owned and run by Apple. The Live Listen worked nicely during our Thanksgiving Facetime session - two sons, one grandson and respective partners at Troy's home. I asserted: "I will call you at 10 and YOU can figure out how to turn it on (answer it?)!" All engineers except Julie, who is a smart cookie, had a great laugh over my struggle with Apple. Actually Troy is not an engineer but a retired Air traffic controller- close enough!

But telling them about my recent trip to Madoc -- yep - that Madoc! I considered gas before I left; there is no gas between B-croft and Madoc. I overestimated the gas in the tank; underestimated the distance, and realized I was not going to make it - even to Eldorado, just a bit north of Madoc! I made it through the zillion km of "nowhere at all" and every time I saw signs of life I thought -I should stop there... Finally, I did.

"Do you have any gas I can buy?" He checked 3 cans - Empty! He thought a moment and said - just leave your car here and we'll take a can to MADOC! - 15 km.

I was concerned about the woman who was waiting in Eldorado to sell me a bunch of her "Table Soups"(on FB)- my way of trying to eat well. I had told her I would be there in half an hour--- I now realize that although I can get to Madoc in 50 minutes it was now near an hour! She phoned while we were acquiring gas. And Sir Galahad said - well we can stop in Eldorado on the way back!

We did that. Michelle met a neighbour- Jeff, who makes his own soup! I got my dozen packets of soups and Jeff deposited me back at my car - "Just do something nice for someone and have a Merry Christmas!"

As for "the only Prius": There was a Tesla charging at the gas station!

I once had a poster: "I'm TIRED of these learning experience!!!"

Did I mention that I DID manage to change the time on the Prius - good youtube!

I bring in firewood and not much else, groceries, visits, bought R two nice flannel shirts and a pair of jeans at a thrift shop and a nice Land's End jacket for me and a winter coat at two more Tshops. It was so nice the day I left Dupont, I left my winter coat behind! Thankful for thrift shops!

Had Covid shot #6 on Weds and my shoulder/upper arm still uncomfortable - disconcerting but I can bring in wood. House is toasty; snow expected tonight; had one day of freezing rain- a go nowhere day!

Yep! An inch or so of snow on back deck, then "drizzle" expected tonight and temp hovering at freezing all day tomorrow. A go nowhere day. Books to read and plenty of good soup - and other healthy foods. Not breaking anything - in my bod- is what matters!

Charmion's trip to Ottawa is wisely done! Enough energy to enjoy being there, in addition to not dealing with inclement weather. I watch the weather to plan trips back and forth. May stay here until mid December - already renewed books from QC library that were due on 2.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 27 Nov 23 - 08:35 AM

First snow accumulation in Stratford. Game on!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Nov 23 - 12:24 PM

No snow here, but I didn't cover the tomato, pepper, and eggplant last night so the light freeze ended this growing season. I picked a flat of tomatoes and eggplant and a few peppers this morning and they'll get used (the tomatoes will still ripen, none of the produce froze, it just killed the foliage.)

I have a plan to share a generous plate of leftovers with a new friend who probably didn't go anywhere for the holiday; I'll check with her first than pack up a cross-section of our meal to deliver. Since we cooked on Saturday these are still very fresh.

Lots of errands, and I meant to add a couple of things to my list; why is it that I clearly think of a thing to do when I get up in the morning but by the time I'm in the office I can't think of what I wanted to write down on my list?

There may have been previous mention of finding the kids' sleeping bags in my son's closet; he wants his extra-long LLBean bag but the older White Stag bag that was my daughter's is apparently the same vintage she already has, so it is staying here. Instead of donation, it will visit the commercial laundromat for a wash and dry (the instructions say not to wash in top-loading agitator machines - that would be mine.) I'll keep it in case of another power outage when it would be easier to set up in the closet on a sleeping pad pallet than the mummy bag I used last time (down-filled and narrow) from my mountaineering days. I'm not worried about a used bag, no cooties from the kids, but it hasn't been used for many years so does need laundering. (In Feb. 2021 when I slept three nights in the closet with the dogs my low thyroid hadn't been diagnosed so moving around was difficult. Were I to do that today, with thyroid topped off and 45 pounds lighter, it would be much easier, whatever the sleeping bag.)

Must get moving, and I think this thread needs some attention, there are a lot of duplicate posts that confuse reading down the list of contributors.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 27 Nov 23 - 02:09 PM

Beaver:

Snow, Snow, Glorious Snow! So beautiful coming down and flying around ... Not goin' nowhere today. But enjoying looking out the window. Cleared the back deck and brought in only two large chunks of wood as there is no room for more.

I am realizing/thinking that both eyes and hearing are fading. Back to wearing drug store glasses for some of reading. ... Maybe the clutter will "disappear"! (As I look around to see what else I can un-home!)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Nov 23 - 06:36 PM

On a hunch I messaged a woman I met through our local buy nothing FB group; she isn't very mobile and ended up not going anywhere for Thanksgiving. I asked if I could take over some leftovers from Saturday and she happily agreed. I just returned from dropping off several restaurant takeout containers (we keep them for this kind of use) with turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, rolls, pie, cranberry sauce, and gravy. Pie and ice cream for dessert. Even sending over generous portions I still have a lot of leftovers.

I need to go to Costco but by the time I was returning from that run it was too advanced into the afternoon - that place gets crowded as people stop in after school or work. I need to go right before closing or right when they open, maybe tomorrow. (Costco sells the big bags of baking soda that I use in the laundry - who knew that I'd ever use a 13 pound bag, but I did, so I'm back for more.) Plus, I tend to avoid shopping on these big shopping days just out of contrariness.

Looking at the first paragraph - the reason for the trip was not to get rid of extra leftovers. I hoped to offer an array of foods to a new friend who doesn't cook these days (inability to stand for extended periods - not because she can't cook). And to express the annual surprise at the excess of food that happens over this holiday.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion's brother Andrew
Date: 27 Nov 23 - 06:45 PM

Charmion, I doubt that it will last long.