DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: JennieG
Date: 15 Feb 23 - 07:47 PM

I have noticed of late that the current fashion is for white sneakers/lace up walking shoes/whatever you call them, and while I applaud that on one hand....comfort, etc....in Oz's hot summers all I can think of is "sweaty feet, erk!"

Following a twice-fractured foot (a Jones fracture, yes, it is a thing) I need to be careful what my feet are clad in. None of those mesh fabric type sneakers/runners for me, no; my shoes need to be proper supportive leather. I can wear sandals in summer (thank goodness for that) so long as they are not high or flimsy.

So I look at pretty sparkly strappy sandals, and sigh......

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 16 Feb 23 - 06:04 AM

speaking of flat feet, one of Australia's best source singers, Duke Tritton, applied to join the army in 1914. He was told his flat feet ruled him out. He was astounded as he'd spent years carrying his swag (possessions wrapped in a blanket) walking around the state looking for work, & probably spent most of his time in any job on his feet! He must have had the same condition as Stilly.

I look at pretty floral sandals & sigh.

solid shoes & socks in hot (or any) weather - nah! The last 2 winters have been very mild & I've worn my sandals all year long, but than I live near Sydney's harbour & spend much of my time in the inner suburbs, which are much warmer that Sydney's western suburbs, some of which get frost.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 16 Feb 23 - 06:10 AM

Stilly, Propét shoes are available here, but of course they cost more in $AUD
I can check them out

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Feb 23 - 04:30 PM

Sandra, I was looking at the listings on Amazon and eBay for the Propét styles. My first pair was on clearance at DSW (a big US shoe store chain). It's unusual that I wear narrow sizes any more (they're not out there that often). I first tried a 9 narrow and it fit like a glove and was so comfortable to walk in. They are like most shoe companies and retire designs regularly, but if you're looking for comfort and not worried about the current color of the year, you can find them discontinued at a savings. And Walmart sells them in the store. I rarely buy shoes without trying them on first and I don't by from Zappos online, etc. But when there is a documented style that works and I can reproduce that purchase online, I'm good. They're true to the size—you don't need to go larger or smaller than your normal size for a better fit.

Damn but it's cold here today. I led a tour at the museum where I volunteer, then scanned slides, and when it came time to leave and head for the gym, that wind hit me and I was ready to head for home.

I'm researching how to make my own soap and my own tincture of green soap with olive oil. It involves lye. A friend once told me that it's worth the risk of second degree burns to make a good bar of soap. I will report back later.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 16 Feb 23 - 05:51 PM

I'll get the results of my x-rays on Monday & find out what I need. One thing he mentioned was that I probably need extra support for my right ankle -OMG! worse case options - eek -

I shall get on with heading to the train & ignore doom scrolling.

sandra

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Feb 23 - 09:21 PM

Sandra, good luck with your x-ray results. I do specialized exercises to keep my hips strong, and do the Essentrics stretching for a full-body level of fitness. Foot surgery can make a big difference (I got the bunion fixed before it became too pronounced, so they didn't need to break the bone) but feet take a longer time to heal, if it comes to that.

Initial soap-making research shows that it is best done in warm-weather (for good ventilation) and there are lots of types of soap to consider. How to Make Green Soap: An Excursion Through Time
This Ancient Soap Making Recipe Hasn’t Changed Much. Many of the soaps use "vegetable glycerin" that contains coconut oil, and though it can be substituted for others, the process involves candy thermometers and careful measuring. I buy olive oil soap at the Halal market and it's much cheaper than the soap you can see on the link. I often get the Aleppo soap (you'll see hand-cut bars through the linked listings - it's brown or green, often embossed with the company information on the top of the bar) and the Nablus variety (usually light colored in white wrappers). I'm not sure where the green bars come from. The Halal market offerings vary from one month to the next but sticking with this is probably my best bet. So, nothing much changes, but this summer I may try making some soap.

At Goodwill today I dropped off a light-weight wood unit for DVDs or books and a couple of bags of hardware and clothes.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 17 Feb 23 - 07:37 AM

OMG indeed, Sandra.

Whenever I lace up my sensible walking shoes, I can hear my mother tsking “ I told you so.”

I can still wear Mephisto cork-soled sandals in summer, but I can’t walk much in them. For any jaunt farther than the mailbox, it’s socks and shoes such as I would not have been caught dead in when I was in high school.

Pain is a great manager of expectations.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Feb 23 - 12:31 PM

In 2021 while on vacation in Italy my daughter completely ruptured her Achille's tendon, and after a surgical repair is really picky about her footgear and ankle support. And because she wears a larger shoe size than average for women, "One size fits all" doesn't work so well and finding socks that aren't just men's socks sometimes requires hunting around. Socks for xmas means she can toss the worn out ones. We discussed this very subject earlier this week before she left for Japan where they will walk up paths on forested hillsides to view ancient temples. Gotta have good shoes.

Today is starting out calmer but cool, and the rest of the week is supposed to have more of the off-putting windchill that makes outdoor excursions unpleasant. It's not like Canadian windchill of minus 0 proportions, but it's that it looks like it should be good walking around weather and when you step out the door the wind whips your body heat away from your head and neck and any exposed parts of your torso and you need to go back inside for the hat and scarf and gloves.

I need to do a return trip to the attic where there is enough airflow that I hope the sun shining on the roof compensates for the movement of air through the space. I need to finish some of the projects I've started and my next batch of Attic Dek panels arrived yesterday (purchased from NewEgg but drop shipped from Walmart - which, when I search, lists a price way higher than I paid, so I am truly puzzled.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: keberoxu
Date: 17 Feb 23 - 03:28 PM

Whoa, Nelly!
Western Massachusetts has had a week of weather
with daytime temps in the 50's and 50's Fahrenheit.
Today actually started out in that range.

I don't know what the temperature is now, but . . .
it's SNOWING.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 17 Feb 23 - 04:19 PM

Here, too, Keb. And we had sleet last night.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 17 Feb 23 - 05:10 PM

The first load of books — five boxes, each 1.5 cubic feet — is packed up and stacked by the garage door.

I applied literally every body mechanics technique I know, but carrying those boxes downstairs was still a serious challenge to my poor ol’ back. Nothing went *spungggg* in my sacro-iliac region, however, so I have reason to hope.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 17 Feb 23 - 05:39 PM

... five boxes, each 1.5 cubic feet ... an excellent piece of downsizing while taking care of your back!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Feb 23 - 07:18 PM

Next time carry the books in small batches to the box and fill it near the garage door. The extra steps will be good if you use a tracker. Alternately you could stack them near the door and wait to fill the boxes once they're in your car. Over time there are tricks one learns when there isn't an extra person or a guy around to help lift stuff. These include using lot loaders to put heavy stuff in the car and then the part at home: while the heavy box is still in the car open it and carry the parts in piecemeal. Reverse that operation with the books.

Someone who lives nearby claimed the bag of light bulbs offered via the Buy Nothing Facebook page. It hasn't been a good week for gardening so I haven't gone to retrieve any wood chips yet through the offer I responded to, but I'll see about getting some tomorrow.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion's brother Andrew
Date: 18 Feb 23 - 12:28 PM

Is a "guy" not a "person," Stilly? ;)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Feb 23 - 02:26 PM

I tried to fix that but Mudcat is giving out error messages today. It is trimmed down from a remark about losing her guy who helped load and unload stuff and I thought perhaps that was too much information. This might not go through either.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Feb 23 - 11:52 AM

I have started one of those monthly bone-building medications that is taken on an empty stomach and for an hour you have to stay upright, not lie down or even recline, until it is out of your stomach. I used to go walking with a friend who was taking a weekly version of this and we would walk for that hour after she took her pill. I worked out a few chores to do (while the kitchen timer was set). I have finally reprogramed both thermostats in the house closer to the actual temperature I'd like; it was set as if I was leaving five days a week for an 8-hour work day, but it meant I pushed it up every morning because the house was cold. I've set it at 68 for the daytime, we'll see if that works (I have tended to push it to 70 when the morning is cool, but that 2^o can add up to a few dollars more on the monthly bill). I also started working on some of the eBay stuff that has been around for ages needing listing. (Mudcat is broken right now so try to post single paragraphs and they should go through.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: keberoxu
Date: 20 Feb 23 - 10:07 AM

Re: comfortable shoes
Ecco is, like Propét, a manufacturer of shoes
that are both sensible and stylish.
They run a little expensive, though.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 20 Feb 23 - 10:50 AM

Stilly, I'm very, very careful.

That said, my packing method has benefits that outweigh the risk. First, I need to keep the garage door free of clutter -- it's dark, cramped, and in the kitchen -- and the library has both plenty of space and lots of natural light. Done right and within limits, carrying heavy things is good exercise; I have worked with personal trainers who used a wide variety of expensive fitness equipment to mimic the precise tasks involved in packing and moving boxes of books. Form is critical.

Also, I stop before I get tired.

Lent begins this week, and each day is brighter and longer than its predecessor, except when it's pitching down rain. I heard a robin (of all things) the other day, and the cardinals resident in the hedge are already whistling their "Hey, ladies!" song. It's just the mid-winter thaw -- plenty of foul-weather potential left in the season -- but very enjoyable.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Feb 23 - 12:18 PM

Dorothy, I've had questions to answer in this ADHD research, and one had to do with Daniel Amen's materials that you remarked on. This morning I searched Daniel Amen and came across the linked Daily Beast article. There are a number of the popular medical folks who have lectured on PBS who have later turned up to have flawed data or a business model that does more selling than curing. I'm looking into exercises that might be useful in staying focused. (The WebMD blurb about Amen sounds like it was written by Amen's PR staff). I think his work with Pastor Rick Warren and Mark Hyman, MD, and Mehmet Oz, MD, is the scariest part to warn me away. People lost weight, but I suspect they also lost their souls, or their pocketbooks came out a lot lighter around the four of them. Amen has a 30-day program and when looking for reviews of it went down that rabbit hole. He identifies "seven types" that he justifies with his expensive brain scans. All said, I suspect we're looking at a modern form of Phrenology from the inside out. I'm still working on this and will try to avoid over-sharing.

Today is a modestly popular federal holiday, so the trash was picked up and except for the post office and banks pretty much everything else is open for business. Mattress sales abound. While some of you are due for Winter Storm Olive it's overcast and humid 80s for the first half of the week, so time for some yard work. The weeds and winter grass need to be mowed in the front. Amazon knows no holidays and will be delivering an 8 ounce jar of my favorite seasoning salt (there are a few dishes where it is a great shortcut) and I've tossed the ancient contents of the 2+ pound jar that I bought in 2017. I can use that shaker jar in the garden, so there is still some good that comes from that huge purchase (putting diatomaceous earth in it to dispense on ant hills and such).

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 20 Feb 23 - 04:12 PM

I now have coordinating instructions from the Canadian War Museum bookshop, so the transfer of my fifty-year accumulation of books about military matters will happen on Friday morning at 1100 hours.

Eight boxes are packed, stacked by the back door, and ready to go. I’m pretty sure the car’s load limit is ten to a dozen; I have to be able to see out the back windows. If I ask him nicely, Neil across the street will probably help me load up on Wednesday.

My fuel bill for the outbound trip will be a stinker.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 20 Feb 23 - 04:38 PM

congratulations for finding the perfect home for your specialised collection.

Extra congratulations for the sensible movement of heavy stuff.

Inspired by you, I've finally just now emailed a friend for advice about finding a good home for s specialised collection I have.

sandra

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 20 Feb 23 - 07:11 PM

Dupont:

Back from PA in good shape. I did most of the driving and am fine. We are glad we went. The Amish Mennonite funeral was interesting. I was surprised by attendance of soon-to-be-former DIL and their #2 son, on their own. SIL was glad we came. The only other members of her plentiful family who spoke to me were her two sons who gave wonderful presentations about my bro as their father. One other very dear friend of SIL surprised me by coming and giving me a hug and a nice chat. Political differences...

Time with #2 son was good; he took us to lunch and we went back to our "home" and he spent about 8 hours with R and I, telling me a bunch of stuff I did/did not that upset him. R did a wonderful job of mediating; he has known my son for 50 years and explained very clearly that son's "engineer mind" thought it was explaining things to me but only another engineer might have understood - more or less! I am exonerated but missed out on spending a great deal more time with the grands because of the lack of clear communication. Water over the dam/spilt milk...   

On Sat, we, with son and his partner, had a last visit with SIL to give her more support before we left. Son did some computer help for her. We did not, however, manage to find the Parshall history book or the older family photos. Son has designated himself our family archivist.

Then we headed north until time to sleep. On Sunday, we had brunch near Albany with friends, went to see a building somewhere in upper NYS that had interest to R, then booted it on home, arriving at 7 pm and I went to bed!! Spent today deleting emails as I never opened computer for four days!

Laundry caught up today, folded and ready to go upstairs.

Surprised by what SRS found on Amen. I only saw his excellent ADHD materials, and Change your Brain Change Your Life.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Feb 23 - 08:57 PM

Dorothy, I think there are some areas where Amen's work is more sound. The advice about healthy foods and exercises and deep breathing are helpful. The brain scan, not as much. And frankly, he's judged by the company he keeps.

It sounds like a good trip to PA, and I hope the discussion with your son wasn't too troubling. I think something like that with my mother would have fallen on deaf ears for some of the issues we had when we were kids. The number one thing we hated and she ignored was her lifetime of heavy smoking. I suspect most reasonable parents wonder about the things their children harbor about their childhood, and I'm sure I'll hear about that one of these days. I know there are things I wish I'd done differently, or that I had done right at first and didn't have to learn from mistakes. I suspect that some of what we're learning now about ADHD might skew how we view past events.

Charmion, the reason I bought an SUV is because I couldn't afford a truck - even used pickups down here in Texas are expensive, they're so popular. So with three rows of seats and the third row always down I have a pretty good cargo area and when I'm moving a lot of stuff I lower the middle seats and sometimes push the front passenger seat forward and down. If I didn't feel like I had a lot of bulky stuff to move around fairly regularly having a smaller vehicle would be more practical. If I lived someplace that had really good and reliable transit I'd be tempted to not have a vehicle at all, to rent when needed and otherwise ride bus or train or cab. When I lived in New York City it was so easy to take trains instead of driving anywhere. I left my little pickup parked in Connecticut at my great aunt's house and if I needed it for a longer trip I took the train or bus up to her house.

Did I mention earlier that I have a daffodil blooming in the yard? And suddenly the weed grass is growing so I'll need to mow it this week while it's still warm out there. Spring comes quickly here, though we still might have some hard freezes, so to paraphrase Aesop, one daffodil does not spring make.

Good luck with your research, Sandra! Keep us posted on the progress.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 21 Feb 23 - 09:10 AM

Stilly, in my opinion an SUV is a better buy than a pick-up truck simply because its cargo area has a roof! It’s also more stable on the road and safer in a collision.

But that’s not enough to tempt me to own one — I’m just too stingy to buy the fuel required to run it.

Preparing for my trip to Ottawa makes me wonder how my life got so complicated. I have a long list of people to be told I’m going away, and chores to do in order to ensure that I don’t return to domestic unpleasantness.

Once upon a time, I could just toss some clean underpants in a haversack and lock the door on my way out. Those were the days!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Feb 23 - 12:15 PM

Yes - I am anchored here by the dogs, so when I do have to go anywhere overnight I make arrangements with my ex to feed them. For a very long trip and I'd have to double up and pay someone to come over to give him a break, and ask him to spend the night here occasionally so they have more attention. I'm cat sitting for a friend this week and her cats protest her absence by inappropriate urination - she has a shower curtain (!) she is going to spread out over the top of her bed after the last trip. When I had cats I left out a lot of food and extra water and made sure the boxes were clean and that was it.

I had a camper shell over the back of the truck, so anything I hauled had to fit in the back. I wasn't interested in removing the shell to transport really large stuff. I do miss it, but the last truck had only 2 airbags and the cab didn't have extra reinforcement (the small back door and the main doors on each side met in the middle, there was no steel support beam for them to close against, so the top could have crumpled in a roll-over.) It would have easily held all of your boxes of books in a single layer on the bed of the pickup, and that vehicle was a gas hog. The SUV is better, partly because there is so much plastic in the skin of it. I always try to make trips efficient with planning a route that lets me make a loop of stops instead of heading out for single tasks. I'm due to buy gas after a loop that takes me to the gym, the store, the pharmacy, and my friend's house to feed her cats. The local run for wood chips is under a mile and probably will be separate.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 21 Feb 23 - 09:22 PM

Dupont:

If nothing changes, I am off to Beaver tomorrow with a bunch of pots to fire and glaze and fire again. Thought about holding off for warmer weather but impending storm - Thurs - could affect the electric and the studio freezing would mean a bunch of lost pots (frozen greenware is not good!) and clay - worse yet! If I am there, I can bring these things into the house where the wood stove keeps me warm.

Leaving R with a pot of cauliflower soup and fresh batch of apple sauce. ARGHH! Excuse me While I put black beans on to cook ... There are none! Too bad! There are a number of prepared meals in glass in the freezer. He can make an effort! lots of bread and cheese, peanut butter...

Feeling that I weathered this trip pretty well. Good feeling! Tomorrow is only 5 hours.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Feb 23 - 11:55 PM

People who want to collect parts of this shattered Koons sculpture probably have a clutter problem.

I was interested to see that the managing of clutter was in a question on an Executive Function survey I took earlier this week.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Feb 23 - 01:37 PM

There was a heavy thunderstorm at dawn today so the garden I've started digging will be muddy, and the mulch I've started picking up at a neighbor's house is heavier for now. I'm putting down a deep layer of wood chips around the raised beds and when that's finished then I'll dig the beds themselves. It's better to do now while it's cooler and the soil has moisture. Once it's hot the soil outside the garden is like digging concrete but the weeds continue to grow if they're there.

I spoke with the handyman friend who does lots work in my neighborhood; I think soon he'll be taking down a large hackberry in the backyard. My aim is to remove it before it falls and breaks things. This morning Antonio was actually next door talking with them about work they need doing and I walked over to say hello. Since he'll be taking out two trees there I should do this other one at the same time. It can keep the cost down if he's already set up for the job.

This week I finally turned my attention to eBay again. I was sorry to see that they now have to report even fairly modest earnings to the IRS - it used to be you could make as much as $40,000 before that happened, now it's down to $600. Sales don't take into account what things cost, just what you sell them for, so it looks like more paperwork will be needed to keep that all in order.

I turned on one of the Hoarder programs this morning - oy. Those serve as confirmation that it isn't what is going on here (as I continue to thin out stuff from family estates) but there is one room that on its own wafts of over-collecting—my eBay room.

Better get moving.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 22 Feb 23 - 02:47 PM

Twelve boxes packed and ready at the door from the kitchen into the garage. Neil-across-the-street is coming at five o'clock to help me load the car.

My back is fine, if a bit tired.

It's snowing today in Stratford, and there will be more tomorrow in the Ottawa Valley. Traction won't be an issue with 18 cubic feet of books in the car, but I wonder: can a VW Golf GTI waddle? If so, that's how I'll make my progress across the province.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: keberoxu
Date: 22 Feb 23 - 03:12 PM

If your car waddles like a duck, then . . . ?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 23 Feb 23 - 09:02 AM

If the car waddles like a duck, then the other motorists will laugh and the Ontario Provincial Police highway patrol will be like tsk, tsk, tsk.

I'm good with that. A chat with the cops could be a nice break in the day. It gets lonely out there on the Seven.

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

I had a short pallet of porcelain floor tile in the back of my pickup and was entering a green light intersection when a city vehicle ran the light from my left. I simultaneously leaned on the horn and stood on the brake - I couldn't stop but I at least slowed enough that I missed hitting the pickup. Both driver and passenger looked startled but they probably didn't know how close they came to being killed. Don't overlook the start and stop times when you're transporting a heavy load, books included.

Finally, after years of not finding a satisfactory battery, I have ordered a replacement for my 10-year-old Vaio. It's the backup computer here, it lives in the kitchen, and is always plugged in because of the old dead battery. With a new one it will either be more useful here or will be eligible to be sold (though removing the content from a hard drive in a laptop is a big fuss - maybe keep the drive and tell the buyer they must install their own HD and OS?)

We're back to cool weather - and the temperature wouldn't be a problem except it's the wind that makes it not good for continuing the outdoor work I started this week. This isn't your snow and ice, this is just inconvenience to a fair-weather gardener, who has daffodils in the garden and henbit in the lawn.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Feb 23 - 09:49 PM

I've had to switch a medication I've taken for years. A compounded bioidentical HRT that was taken by mouth will via a lotion. This is so it doesn't mess up a bone-building medication taken for a while.

After a trial use I've figured out that the lotion base has a coconut ingredient (the pharmacist abbreviates a group of coconut ingredients to "SLS") resulting in scalp & hands breaking out. It sounds like it won't be possible to completely eliminate that coconut, so I'm removing it everywhere else to lessen the impact. My kitchen handsoap is a mix of Tincture of Greensoap and Dawn dish soap, where greensoap has vegetable glycerin from coconut. Instead, I'll be using a Middle Eastern bar soap from Laurel (a relative of bay laurel) grated into boiling water to dissolve it. I've grated half a bar into about 4 ounces of water to test, dispensing from a squirt bottle.

Today my handyman friend was here and we talked about the tree removal. Expen$ive, but it does need to be done before the tree falls and breaks something. That will happen soon. I might be able to tackle one of the trees and a couple of limbs before all of this happens to reduce the quote; I'll look at that over the weekend.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Donuel
Date: 24 Feb 23 - 07:29 AM

Architecture that automatically eliminates clutter is Frank Loyd Wright's homes that I have seen. I kinda like some Victorian clutter. There are no Wrights or wrongs when it comes to some clutter.
Roman clutter was quite grand.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Feb 23 - 11:05 AM

Clutter that is hoarded and collapses to crush the homeowner is onerous.

A couple of aha! moments this morning: when I work in the attic I have a few lights up there but it's not easy. These days they make strings of bright LED lights that can be put along the length of the house and turned on with a single switch yet use very little power. I've measured the distances down the middle of the house to set that in motion.

I've also concluded that the way to remove the smaller tree in the back yard is by dragging the extension cord and using the electric reciprocating saw with one if its long wood-cutting blades. The DBH (except it's DAH - diameter ankle high, not breast high) is only about 8 inches. Doable by taking out a wedge in 1/3 of the tree then cutting through from the back.

It's cold and overcast today, so after placing a couple of online orders I'll head into the sewing studio and consider how to assemble a project for a friend.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 24 Feb 23 - 01:02 PM

Beaver:

Darn! Missed out on suggesting I meet Charmion in Madoc for lunch!

Made it here on Weds. Have not done much. Still recovering from too much driving! Did go through a cabinet and took all the warm clothes I could part with over to the warming centre, along with some cash. Stayed home yesterday expecting freezing rain which happened as I thought about going the the horticulture meeting; stayed home.

Back deck is daunting- frozen snow again! A foot to two feet. I cleared a path on top so I can bring in stove wood without injury. To get to the studio will take more effort. Waiting for a bit warmer weather - tomorrow? And may go to warming centre to see if anyone wants to make a few dollars!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 24 Feb 23 - 01:14 PM

Beaver:

SIGH! checked emails; a very dear friend died this am. I am bereft allover again. In 1968, this sweet 18 year old took this newcomer to Montreal under his wing and helped me find a place to live and took me to the Yellow Door to interview for "office assistant". He set my whole life on a special track. I knew this was coming and am glad he is out of pain. I wanted more chances to talk with this beautiful person whom I saw through 3 marriages and many changes until he reached his goal of becoming a rabbi. His retirement was short. DARN!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: leeneia
Date: 24 Feb 23 - 02:20 PM

My condolences, Dorothy. It's so hard to lose a good friend.
======
Back on Feb 4th, you wrote "This 1902 house seriously needs new windows... The breezes!!!"

Years ago, my father went to a government seminar on the maintenance of church buildings, and he learned that you should caulk windows, but most of the cold comes right through the glass. The best thing to do about that is to put up heavy drapes.

This doesn't have to be a major project. Get the spring-loaded rods that pop into the window frame (no screws or nails.) Do you have fabric stores? Look for heavy fabric on sale. Or go to the thrift store and buy drapes or bedspreads. Sew a header at the top and fold the bottom edge so it rests on the windowsill and makes a pocket for cold air to flow into and stop. Think of the cold air as cold water, flowing down the glass and onto the floor.

When the bitter cold is over, take them down and store for next time.
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Stilly, I learned something about cutting down a tree from a man who did it for a living. When a tree is being cut down, it will fall on its heaviest side, so matter where you cut the wedge. Examine your tree and see if it has bigger branches on one side. That's where it will go. Makes sense to me.

Fortunately 8 inches isn't very big.

I like your idea about LED lights. I have them in my kitchen now, and I'm so glad.
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Donuel, I like your comment about some clutter. I've seen anti-clutter videos where the house ends up looking as sterile and pragmatic as an operating room. I would find that hard to take.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 24 Feb 23 - 02:29 PM

I like a bit of clutter — but only a bit. What’s a coffee table for, if not holding the stacks of books that one is half-finished reading?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 24 Feb 23 - 03:58 PM

Speaking of books, the Friends of the Canadian War Museum are now the proud owners of 18 cubic feet of books that no longer belong to me.

My poor little car needed its tires reinflated — no lie! And, with the load aboard, its fuel efficiency was awful: 7 litres per 100 kilometres, when usually it manages about 4.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Feb 23 - 06:34 PM

leenia, I spent a few years cutting down trees as a summer seasonal forester and fire fighter. I have that well under control.

I'm looking forward to the lights - I bought a string of 5 approx. 75watt (1000LM) bulbs on a 50' string. And the line itself works like an extension cord so I could plug something else into the end of it if needed. They will serve to light the central corridor/highest point through the unfinished attic. Sunday will warm up for better attic work again. I have a string of sparkling LED lights on my front porch that are festive but not very bright; this attic set is a construction-type of light string. When I moved in here we were still using incandescent and portable fluorescent were a thing. Halogen would be too risky, they get too hot. The lights up there haven't been updated in a really long time, and they're all plugged into portable sockets.

Good work on redistributing the books! You're lucky the tires were just low and none went flat! And I agree about the interesting objects that sit around a room - to have all of them gone would be unnatural in my world. I just hope to have a few clear surfaces to work on at the end of the day, and not have to turn sideways to enter a room.

Dorothy, I'm sorry to read about your friend. I lost one like that about 20 years ago, and it took a lot of processing to sort my reaction to his suicide. But he made a huge impact on the directions I have traveled. Still does today.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 24 Feb 23 - 07:59 PM

Charmion, some people use emojis (not me!) I like drawings, so picture
a GOLD STAR + A PAT ON THE BACK (hand patting smiling person) + HAPPY DANCING (Snoopy & Woodstock)

well done, & the only costs were your time (not your back), a bit of air & some extra fuel!

sandra

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 25 Feb 23 - 08:13 AM

Awww, gee thanks, Sandra!

But this was only the library project’s first tactical bound, as they say at HQ. I have emptied three bookcases, but still have three more to clear and their contents to dispose of, and then the six bookcases themselves to re-home.

I will have to hire a couple of large guys to move the six bookcases downstairs and out to the garage, where they can be more easily loaded up and hauled away. But that will be a job for the summer.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 25 Feb 23 - 09:13 AM

it's a good start

I've started an email to someone who might like some of my craft stuff - 3 large boxes which were taken from the top of my wardrobes, all that's left is a shoebox with birthday cards in it! The empty boxes are on a chair & the contents are all over my bed - bummer cos it's time to go to bed ...

Next email to go will hopefully find a home for 2 shelves of more craft stuff.

Both collections are things I no longer make, & I have lots more crafty stuff I'm working on.

sandra - shutting down & heading for the mess

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Feb 23 - 11:27 AM

Sandra, a friend of mine in NY City used the bed surface when he started sorting the contents of his large bedroom closet, and I think he has slept on the sofa in the living room for a quite a while since he hasn't finished that job.

Charmion, I would have a difficult time letting bookshelves leave the house. There are so many things (that clutter we speak of daily) that can live on shelves when books aren't present. (Of course at my house, both happens - books at the back of the shelf and small interesting objects positioned on the front edge - a great way to insure that you will rarely dust for having to move all of the small objects.) I did manage to donate a DVD/book case recently, but no small objects could rest on that and it wasn't terribly stable for larger things.

I haven't made pancakes in ages but last week I found buttermilk on sale so this morning made a full-sized batch (enough to feed me and both kids when they were big). The cakes I ate were probably half of the day's calorie allowance, but they were good! I'll wrap the rest in plastic two at a time and freeze them for future meals. These are very thin and flexible, Scandinavian style like I grew up with, much like crepes, so sometimes a smear of jelly or sprinkle of cinnamon sugar and rolled they make a great lunch or dessert. (I am not fond of restaurant pancakes because they're stiff and thick and dry.)

Another cold overcast day here. I hear the postal carrier on the porch (confirmed by the barking blue heeler, who has him on her radar six days a week) so I may make a trip to the attic with the new lights even though it'll be cold up there. Gotta love how fast Amazon is - you can have an impulse and act on it soon enough with their next day delivery that there is follow-through on some of these ideas.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 25 Feb 23 - 12:24 PM

Stilly, I am not letting myself accumulate either books or small interesting objects any more. Those days and those habits are over for me.

Disposing of the excess bookcases makes it official.

It also makes more room for a person playing the digital piano to push back her chair, and for the instrument cases currently stacked under the window to stand out of the way, but handy.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Feb 23 - 10:30 PM

Interesting small objects are still arriving here. There is a lovely wooden bowl with a lid that was turned by Mudcatter Bill D; I sent him a chunk of the vitex wood from my yard and some months later this delicate bowl arrived in the mail. It was made from a portion of that block, and sits in a place of honor on one of the bookshelves behind me in my office. Along with interesting small frames with photos of the kids and any number of objects I was given by them over the years. Having children does add to the stuff you keep.

Today I set out small-ended screwdrivers and a bowl and carefully opened the laptop and replaced the dead battery with a new one with a two year warranty (300-500 recharges). The process involved only one trip to YouTube to see how to open the Sony computer, and opening it was easier than closing it, but it is now finished and fully charged. I'll have to use it enough this week to draw down then recharge the battery several times to get it conditioned properly.

An Amazon box was deposited on the porch with the new lights for the attic - but too late in the day to head up to do that job. It was dark by the time I got home from the gym and shopping, so this is for Sunday.

I've started a project for the NY friend who sleeps on his sofa - sewing specialized masks. A visit to Joann Crafts/Fabric today has me good to go on that for an extra layer of fabric in addition to some the friend had delivered here. (Joann's always get me with the "buy 3 get 2 free" thread offerings). While there I noticed an expensive plastic multi-tier storage "system" that they charge $82.99/$42 for (I found it at Goodwill for $5). I'm thinking my daughter will find a good use for this.

It's always something.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 26 Feb 23 - 10:23 AM

It’s snowing heavily in Ottawa today, and the temperature is rising steadily to -4°C. Sunny in eastern Ontario tomorrow, but sleety west of Toronto. So it goes.

If the stars align correctly and the traffic and weather cooperate, Dorothy and I will hook up for an early lunch at Tim Horton’s in Madoc, where Highway 7 crosses the 62 to Bancroft.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Feb 23 - 11:07 AM

Beaver:

Feeling uplifted by friends of all sorts and by my successful trip to PA, accomplishing something I seriously doubted I was capable has renewed me amazingly. And then to be able to do the 5 hour trip here, where I have continued the R&R until today when the snow took a break, and the cold also, while I carried pots from house and studio to the kiln room, having warmed the kiln. Bisque firing under way. Have a bunch of bisqued ware I can glaze during my next burst of energy so they can be fired tomorrow. May need a couple more glaze firings then take stuff back to Dupont to fill two requests for bowls.

Of course, little by little, I first made paths through the 15 inches of frozen snow - to the wood shed, then to the studio, then the kiln room. For most of it, I just took off the top layer of loose snow and had a firm base of 10-12 inches of frozen snow. Around the door to kiln room, I had to use the iron wedge to break a couple inches of ice so I could even open the door.   

leeneia: I know you are correct about the heavy drapes and I have tons of very heavy fabric on hand and rods. Maybe your suggestion will motivate me to do the job. I am careful to catch as much solar gain as possible.

SRS: My weight never went below 160, not adequate to fit this elegant size 16 dress. However, I would have been terrible overdressed at the Amish Mennonite church in Lancaster Co! And since I could only find one pair of slacks - no skirts fit- and one really decent blouse which could have been viewed as "hippy" AND no other woman had on slacks! Other than the family (baptists) every woman wore a tidy white blouse, black skirt and a white cappa. Oh well, I was that woman from Ontario!

A moment ago the sun was out big time, now more flurries! BUT only one degree below freezing!!!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Feb 23 - 04:45 PM

I found that spot on Google Earth - I hope you are able to cross paths for lunch!

The laptop battery is replaced, but I haven't figured out how to get the screen to power up when the computer doesn't have a power cord plugged in when the machine is on. What's the point of the battery otherwise? I know it's on because the keyboard lights are on, but that's not much use by itself.

Stew is slowly coming together this afternoon after I browned meat and set it to simmer in the crock pot. I'll add ingredients as the afternoon progresses. The house smells great.