DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 31 Oct 23 - 10:59 PM

Different antibiotics are used for various treatments so your low dose for cellulitis isn't what would be used if a sinus infection took hold. Infections aren't caused by viruses, they are bacterial, or are a bacterial side effect of a virus. What treats bronchitis probably isn't what will treat cellulitis.

I fought off sinus infection and bronchitis for a week or more after the recent head cold by using guaifenesin and the neti pot to keep the congestion from building up too much and causing an infection.

After the work to put the floating row cover over my plants I don't think it actually froze last night. It did the night before, enough to knock out really tender stuff, so what I covered were the larger plants (eggplant, pepper, tomato) that I want to harvest later this fall. The hit or miss effect of the almost-freeze two nights ago is kind of interesting, what got hit and what didn't.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Oct 23 - 07:20 PM

The pot Thompson describes is a product from a company that also produces the Neti pots. This is the one I use. I usually do use tap water, but I see from WebMD that I should be using the water that was already boiled and cooled from my electric kettle. Warm in the microwave if it needs it. They're easy to wash, and easy to use once you are accustomed to it. I use about 1 teaspoon of a mix of Pickling salt (no additives) and baking soda. A bit more salt to soda in that mix, maybe 60/40%.

This is a post for reflecting on the controlled movement of water. I also finally emptied the rain barrel (it has two holes in the top, nowhere else) by taking a 10' hose, pushing it all the way to the bottom, then a bucket of water and a pitcher to pour water into the other end held high enough to build up good suction when it was laid down on the lawn. The siphon got down to the last couple of inches in a 55 gallon barrel. For tonight it is lying on its side in an inconspicuous area and tomorrow I'll put it in the backyard. It's close enough to twilight that parents with tiny trick or treaters will be hitting the street on this mild clear evening. I don't want to be out front in view, having to decline offering treats. That said, I've always liked this particular cartoon, being another Margaret. :)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Oct 23 - 01:23 PM

Today is the official last day of my PO box rental; this post office building was constructed in 2000 and I was probably one of the earliest customers. I'll miss having to run over every so often and pry contents out of the next-to-smallest box - NOT. When the annual rent increased to $248I began the already described transition to the mail at home in a locking box. The PO address mail will now forward for 18 months (I paid for an extra 6 months just for the heck of it.) I'll think of a suitable ceremony. Maybe I'll apply the sticky numbers that came with it to the box, but it is mounted under the house numbers in view on the porch.

The heat is officially on in the house. This morning was just too chilly to sit in my office when it showed 62^o in here. I'm puttering around, swapping sandals for slippers, setting out a few lap quilts, and turning off switches for dusk-to-dawn lights that would possibly invite trick-or-treaters to the house.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Oct 23 - 12:05 PM

What the heck. Beat our post counters. 1000.

I've just scrolled through the Mudcat dropdown menus looking to any that are defunct due to the current disk error problems Max is working on. It was an interesting look at the early days of Mudcat, if anyone has a few minutes to take a look.

Making headway around the house this morning with laundry washed and dried and veggies steamed for the dogs and me for the next couple of days (broccoli). The Lab turned his nose up at raw zucchini, but I have a bet with myself that he'll still eat it cooked, so I'll steam some of that later today.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Oct 23 - 11:33 AM

Today I'll shift contents of the greenhouse, get the water barrel filled and the heater in place and seal the doorway on the north end, then move in two volunteer tomato plants and my small Texas Star Hibiscus in pots. The hibiscus is usually grown in the ground but with the heat this summer I started some in pots. They didn't grow huge or bloom but they did grow. I may also see if I can pot a couple of smaller things for the winter. Peppers. In the front yard it is usually sufficient to pull pots from that patio onto the porch to protect them. I'll take the battery trimmer out to the veggie garden and get the grass out of the way of some of the other crops then put down the floating row cover for the overnight hours for Tuesday and Wednesday nights (holding it down with a combination of pegs and bricks.)

My across the street neighbor has been taken to the hospital in an ambulance this morning. I was going to take over some fried eggplant for her soon (I just picked one and have a couple more almost ready to pick.) Her husband is at home so I'll make the whole eggplant parmesan dish and take it (I'm careful adding too many ingredients for her because of the past episodes of diverticulitis.)

I haven't turned on the heat yet but we're close to that event. The quilt on the bed and the ceiling heater in the bathroom for my shower last night are enough so far. Can I make it to November 1? That would probably be a new record.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Oct 23 - 07:57 PM

Essential shopping today on a cold damp day that followed a day that was very warm and humid. The heat is on/the heat is off. That's autumn in Texas. When I made the bed today I added a quilt to the sheet and thermal blanket. The layering begins.

In the yard this week I'll put down the floating row cover that keeps the plants underneath a few degrees warmer on those nights that just dip to freezing. Tuesday and Wednesday look like the nights that could clobber my garden.

Vacuuming, sweeping, dusting, and laundry today. Making the indoors more welcoming as the outside becomes surly. Rain is forecast for all night so I'll wait till morning and leave the trash bag at the curb. The bag out overnight could be torn by dogs or raccoons.

Time to start getting out the warmer dog beds, but also time to once again try to keep Cookie from tearing them to pieces.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Oct 23 - 09:21 PM

When I do the cat sitting one of the runs is simply to give a cat medication that must be taken at least an hour before or after food with his other medications. So today I went up late and gave him the medication then spent an hour doing my Essentrics exercises before feeding all of them dinner. Having a set time and nothing else to do does help me stay on task for the exercises.

We have a couple of days of rain ahead, so after tomorrow's cat run I'll be at home and perhaps I'll finally start doing some of the projects in the sewing studio. I may do another hour of exercises - I find them helpful for increased flexibility.

My daughter and her wife and their roommates are finishing a move to a new property, and if I play my cards right, I can give them any number of things from here that will be helpful in their new rural home. Not just plants for the garden, but extra gardening tools (and if it were helpful, at some point they could dismantle and move the greenhouse - especially if I ever think about moving from here).

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Oct 23 - 11:43 PM

Dorothy, I hope you were able to conclude your data transfer issues and get a phone set up at Apple. I have a friend who visits regularly (she's planning her 90th birthday party for next May and may stay here or do a party at my house) who has on occasion needed to be taken to the Apple Store for some technical problem. There is a Jack In the Box restaurant nearby where I go wait while they tussle with her phone and tablet.

As an Android user, I think I found enough things to turn off in my Samsung tablet to stop the battery from draining too quickly. When I first started using it the battery strength was stunning, and I'm sure the various apps and Samsung proprietary programs as they were turned on became too active for my taste. I don't need it to check in with the Mothership as often as it has been doing.

The backyard lawn nearest the house got a mow today, so the rain in the next couple of days won't make going out a problem for the oldest dog. He's a Lab, he doesn't really care, what he likes is to be towel dried when he comes back in, but I want that area to be inviting and easy to walk through. We're already getting weather alerts about rain passing through the region tonight.

Today I received an email from the congressman who represents my district, and it included a letter that was never actually mailed to me on Sept. 25. It offers answers to everything I've had questions about a pension I get a portion of. Who knows how long I would have waited for this answer if I didn't ask for help. #MischiefManaged

Today I've made appointments for various things; my mammogram, the SUV oil change, and for the girls to get their shots and checkups at the vet. The dogs all got their heartworm medication (once a month) today. I inspected the garden today and am ready to protect it if we get cold weather (possibly on Monday through Wednesday in the overnight hours). My tarps are ready.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Oct 23 - 11:39 AM

Good tips, John. I get their name, but it doesn't always occur to me to give them my number right away. I don't talk to Apple tech support (I'm an Android and Windows user) but there are enough times I have to call for appointments, etc., that those are just good things to do when calling a help line.

Rain rain rain last night; the creek stayed in its banks but someone up the street apparently lost a tree over power lines. I'm sitting at my kitchen table with a power line from the next door generator (they bought one a while back and didn't realize how much capacity it had until the big freeze of 2021, so now if the power is expected to be out for more than a few hours, they have me run my long power cable over.) The electric kettle and the small fridge next to kitchen table are plugged in. I opened the big fridge once and will leave it closed the rest of the day, and won't touch the big freezer. Since the computer and Wifi are all off I'm for the first time using my phone to be a tethered (Bluetooth) device to my tablet. I have a little Anker Bluetooth keyboard also in use and can reach the outside world. Data will be higher on the phone plan this month. (The tablet doesn't have adblock so Mudcat is a busy place with all of the Google ads - I will research this when the power is back and see if I can add something to this tablet browser.) We expect power to be restored by dinnertime. If not, I'll move things around and plug in the big fridge and the freezer.

Many people upgraded their emergency setup after that outage and freeze. I have a propane stove I can use (or I can plug the microwave into the power strip) for dinner, and I have a portable power device the size of a modest toaster oven for everything from jumping the SUV battery to running a lamp, radio, and charging USB devices. The phone is plugged into that as I work. I carry a 6700 mAh power pack in my handbag, good for several phone or tablet charges. I've always tried to be prepared for emergencies (years ago I took a mountaineering class and they taught about the 10 essentials - the gear that would keep you safe in an emergency. I still apply those skills to life in general). When I lived in NY City I carried a pack back and forth to work so if the power went out in the subway I had a book to read, a water bottle, and a flashlight; I made use of them several times. These days it depends on charging small computers everywhere. I'm leaving in a little while and will have to disconnect the garage door opener so I can lift the door by myself, then reconnect it for when the power returns. I guess the test when I get back home is if the door opens or not when I push the button on the remote control.

With the power distractions this morning I missed getting trash to the curb in time; it is full of the shreds from sorting and filing that I finished yesterday. I fear my rain barrel has refilled itself with the several inches of rain overnight, but my work clearing the area in the side bed where I'll plant garlic won't have been undone by the weather. I'm not opening the fridge again, that delicious peach cobbler will have to wait until dinner (it can be a great breakfast). Tonight I start a long weekend of cat sitting for my friend and at least I won't have to worry about watering her potted plants. She has caterpillars in an enclosure on her porch and I have rue and dill growing here if I need to replenish their food supply. Word salad to finish this post (where there is an autocorrect setting I have to adjust in my MS SwiftKey app - it's being bossy this morning.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Oct 23 - 10:46 PM

It sounds like a good choice, Dorothy. That conversation to text feature or app was demonstrated recently by Senator Fetterman of Pennsylvania; since his stroke he has trouble with hearing in certain spaces or with background noise.

John Fetterman addresses using closed captioning on campaign trail after stroke

John Fetterman is using 'assistive technology' in the Senate as he continues to struggle with auditory processing issues after his stroke - the Daily Mail also has "REVEALED" in the headline, as if this is a shocking detail. It makes perfect sense he would do this.

I saw something within the last week about this but I'm not finding that recent story right now.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Oct 23 - 05:03 PM

Some peaches purchased recently weren't ripening well as they aged so after using the apple peeler on them they were cut up and simmered with peach cobbler stuff and are now in the oven. It'll be good that way, if not the way I've eaten peaches and nectarines all summer (with yogurt and granola on top).

Filing has continued and a lot has gone through the shredder. Since getting rid of the extra filing cabinet it all goes in the large plastic hanging file (the one to grab if the house is flooding or burning down), but some of that can be shifted over to one of the remaining files. Or I'll just stop saving statements (I get a few bills via email, but not all of them. I want paper copies of some things.)

Outside I'm preparing to move a rain barrel that I haven't used much and is in the way of a siding repair. I started emptying it with a little battery operated transfer pump and when it's low enough then I can tip it on it's side and empty the rest. A 55-gallon barrel is too heavy to tip full without smashing things around it or hurting myself.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Oct 23 - 11:22 PM

A day of mostly rain, and a reminder that the next clear day I have to finish a few outdoor repairs while the temperatures are mild.

The buildup of papers needing filing has been cut in half, and I think it's time to start a spreadsheet to keep track of some of these donation requests. Donate once a year and they send out reminders for your renewal way before that year is up. The running list in a bullet journal isn't enough for keeping track.

This afternoon I got the RSV vaccination and was reminded that there are others I should look up. I don't remember when my last tetanus shot was, meaning it is probably due again. The pharmacist says 7 to 10 years. While at the pharmacy I disposed of the decade-old bottle of Rx cough syrup in their handy disposal bin.

I'm not drinking caffeine any more so the cup of decaf tea in the morning is just habit, but once it is in hand I sit down at the computer to check in on the world. I need to shift my morning routine and after feeding the dogs do my exercises, then get the tea.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Oct 23 - 11:49 AM

Over on Facebook we're reading about Bat Goddess's struggle to replace a dead refrigerator/freezer, emptying the old one and preparing for the removal and new delivery later this week. That means a removal of things in the path to the door. It was a relief to finally get my new upright freezer when the old one (50 years) started to fail; it may have been my fault because I hadn't vacuumed under it and the compressor may simply have needed the dog hair removed, but at that age I always worried it might fail.

After a wonderful rainy night I'll let the grass dry enough to mow the back. Meanwhile, I'm killing time waiting till the recycle bins behind city hall are emptied today after driving past on Sunday and finding them stuffed full. Then I'll clean the SUV and stuff the any back seat cloth shopping bags into a couple of the largest bags and move out some of the summer survival materials (extra bottles of water, mostly). It may be time to take the folding chairs out of the vehicle as well, I haven't needed them for a long time, but they bring back memories of enabling tailgate visits with my daughter and friends during the 2020 COVID shutdown.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Oct 23 - 02:40 PM

As we get older the size of meals we eat has to shrink unless we are content to expand. I've been tracking my calcium intake for years using MyFitnessPal and have my daily calorie intake set at 1200. It doesn't take much to meet that level.

Drizzle today, and when it lets up I plan to dig an area to plant garlic for next year (it is planted in the fall for harvest around April-May). I'll be using the mattock to clear off the weeds on the surface since it was all dug very efficiently last year and again for planting in the spring. Garlic kept in a cool dry place can last for a really long time so some of these bulbs to plant go back two or three years and are still viable.

The fridge is more orderly as I continue to downsize some containers and finish the contents of others. I'm not sure how I manage to occasionally end up with the fridge stuffed full of mostly produce but it had happened recently. My eyes are larger than my crisper bins when I shop bargains at the discount grocery.

I've learned a lot in the last few days as I practice sewing scraps together for assembling a "crumb block" for quilting. I'm figuring out how to make sure there aren't gaps or overly large pieces in the blocks. There's a lot of trimming and reattaching. This is the getting-my-feet-wet part of learning a new activity. As I work I've listened to a 1961 murder mystery by Lawrence Block; I find myself second guessing what were legitimate clues in 1961 compared to what I know about forensics today (as much as the viewer of police procedurals and dramadeys like Bones can reasonably assume is accurate - even if it all happens in "TV time.") I'm mulling a red herring as I get to the last 90 minutes of the book.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Oct 23 - 10:55 AM

Three and a half pints of Italian style tomato sauce are in the freezer and the house still smells good from all of that cooking.

It got too hot too early to do the yard work, but I'll head out in a few minutes for some of that. Next week is forecast to be cooler and rainy. There's something about washing the car and bringing on rain, (if I worked I'd wash it weekly), but I do need to wash it (especially to wash the windows inside). I also need to take it in to have the oil changed and they will run it through the car wash free, so win/win if I make an appointment this week. Recycling needs to be dropped off recycling at the village bins and then I should vacuum the SUV insides. I'm considering swapping for a truck later this year, but only if this is clean and ready so I can get top dollar. And if I find a used truck with only a few miles so it has a long life. At this point it is a question of if an extended cab truck has enough bed room to make it worth the swap or if I can fit more long stuff in the SUV.

Before heading out to work I have a favorite pair of jeans with a rip under the back pocket that needs mending. I bought them used at a thrift store so I don't know where they were before, but it is unusual that mending under both back pockets has been needed. They're my yard pants, but in case I need to go somewhere during the course of a project, the holes need fixing. I've already had the experience of ripped pants in Home Depot; not something I wish to repeat.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Donuel
Date: 07 Nov 23 - 04:57 PM

I am big on chicken stews. I add a bit of vinegar, lots of Mumbo sauce and a couple of tablespoons of diced pineapple. Instant spicy sweet and sour. Plus egg noodles for the carb addicts.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Donuel
Date: 07 Nov 23 - 04:40 PM

I have an undecorated 7-foot-tall Christmas tree in the living room, but its a sword fern topped by a Boston fern. Maybe the real Christmas tree will go in the kitchen this year.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Donuel
Date: 04 Nov 23 - 10:37 AM

Good on you Maggie. Jiffy Oil Change has the same BS rigamarole.
I'm back from the market and now I will mulch mow the rest of the leaves and do other yard projects today. I don't use any barrels anymore since it drowned a chipmunk.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 09 Nov 23 - 04:41 PM

The paint stick is my favourite bookcase shim, Stilly. My library/music room contains seven bookcases, all but one shimmed with a paint stick (the four-litre length) in the middle of the front bottom edge. I'm not sure it's possible to keep house without a basket of shims and a bouquet of paint sticks.

I can't imagine housing and maintaining so much legacy computer hardware, but then I'm not only a neat freak but also allergic to extra anything except, perhaps, Wedgwood bone china. Instead of several printers, I have a plethora of coffee cups and no fewer than six teapots.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 08 Nov 23 - 10:43 PM

Thunder and lightning now. A Perth County Particular with ice rain. So glad I’m tucked up under two cats.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 08 Nov 23 - 03:24 PM

It’s sleeting in Stratford — winter’s first blast. Nasty.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 06 Nov 23 - 08:41 AM

I had my sixth anti-COVID shot yesterday at the drug store, and I have to say that hypodermic injection technique has really improved around here over the last few years. The pharmacist who did the honours sneaked that needle into and out of my skin with such skill that I felt only the faint sting of the serum as it elbowed its way into the muscle tissue.

Practice makes perfect, I guess.

All Souls’ Day is 2 November, and St James’s had its annual memorial service last night. The congregation was unusually focussed, and for the first time I saw a bunch of Anglicans enter into that special Zen state that develops from fully united, and invested, group singing. The hymn was “Abide With Me”. In the throes of the last stanza, I saw why hymn-singing is so critical to Christian worship — they were experiencing genuine uplift.

Meanwhile, I was carrying the alto line and concentrating on not coughing. It’s leaf-mould season.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 03 Nov 23 - 11:08 PM

I spent possibly the last shirtsleeves day of the year raking and bagging leaves, and cutting back perennials. Except the rose bush, which decided to start blooming again just before Thanksgiving. Gorgeous day, but by late afternoon the wind was accelerating and the sky had gone grey. The next week is supposed to be wet and chilly.

Stilly, you’ve reminded me that it’s time to have the wheels changed on the car. I’ve been remembering and forgetting to do that for at least a month now, but it’s time — we had our first sprinkle of snow on Wednesday.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 30 Oct 23 - 04:07 PM

First forecast of flurries today, but so far only rain. It's chilly and raw, and the trees have dropped more than half their leaves. After so much unseasonably warm weather, it's a bit of a surprise but oddly reassuring to be putting on a warmth layer under the waterproofs.

No more decluttering here at the moment except for another outward bound bag of clothing that I will never wear again. I'm considering the purchase of blinds for the music room and adapting the heavy curtains that I bought for it when it was a bedroom so they can hang from a sturdy wooden or metal rod, leaving the top of the centre windows -- a big ornamental transom -- uncovered. I suspect that project will cost a whack, but then so did the curtains. That room also still needs painting; it's the one with the puce-and-aubergine colour scheme.

A friend came over for supper last night. Watson the cat put on a tremendous display of lap-lolling and shoulder-climbing between courses, purring loudly and generally making the occasion all about *him*. My friend (a dog person) was impressed by this behaviour, unaware that most of it was designed to persuade me to undertake our usual evening routine in the comfy chair in front of the telly. Cats are so normative.