DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 May 23 - 03:18 PM

It seemed prudent to wrap up the digging and mulching in the front beds before I developed heat stroke; that part of the yard is sheltered by the porch so there isn't a breeze to make work a little easier. I'll mow after 6pm when it cools a bit.

A celebration will be in order soon—six weeks shy of the one-year anniversary of his retirement the feds finally calculated what the ex's pension will be. So they will have also calculated my portion. I stayed home for nine years raising kids, I earned it, but talk about deferred payment (I went back to work in 1997)! Now to watch out for the appliances getting wind of this, though I think the aging tires on the SUV are still at the front of that line.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: pattyClink
Date: 23 May 23 - 08:18 PM

Build? As in expensive house, architect, and 2 year build process? Lol. Just for fun, I looked up Jim Walter Homes which would be the only thing in my price range. They closed in 2009, victims of the last time the financial industry stomped on the USA.

It's just a bad time. I just read there is a 'shortfall' of 3.8 million homes, which they blame on millenial household formation while building didn't keep up, but really it's just a function of a ton of people buying more than one unit, whether for second home or investment or AirBnBs. And many homes being neglected into slum status and abandonment, that's not helping.

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

"Investors" swoop in with cash and lowball bids to senior citizens then slap on some paint and tile and a cheap roof and call it prime real estate. Buyers often have to undo what has been done later. I was lucky, I found this house that had been a rental for years and bought from the original owner; several I looked at already had the investor touch and that was 20 years ago. It's much worse now.

I hadn't thought about those Jim Walters homes in a long time; friends out in West Texas were considering having them build a prefab house on their lot because they couldn't find a regular contractor to do the job for them. Years ago now Mudcatter maeve had a house fire and replaced it with a prefab yurt (with modern building materials, not tanned hides.) The photos I saw of those houses were lovely; perhaps she'll drop in and report how that has worked out.

Trimming around the front yard was done with the gas trimmer; it's more powerful than the electric one, and alas, killed a rough earth snake that was under some grass I was scraping off of the driveway pavement. A second snake got a glancing blow but will be fine. Tomorrow I'll mow, possibly both front and back, a really good workout.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 May 23 - 11:38 AM

Another morning with plans to work in the yard, and another morning rainstorm. I'll let it dry before I mow. Then there is a new bed to start and to move some cannas to it before they get too established in their temporary site. My arms are feeling the effect of several days of digging.

I'm going to add an extra reinforcing long screw to the new mailbox - I've been meaning to finish that before I forget about it. If I have an angle iron to attach under the outside in the middle I can do that, otherwise on the inside compartment I'll drill through the back and into the wall stud and add a long screw with a washer. As of now there is only one long screw in the stud, the rest are perched in drywall.

Ex and I are taking some old cans of paint and garden chemicals to the municipal drop off. I checked with next door to see if they have anything to go - not this time. It takes a village sometimes to responsibly get rid of hazardous products. Six cans various sizes and a bottle of what might have been gasoline stabilizer - the label dropped off and it's time for this mystery product to go away.

The donation bin in the laundry room has slowly accumulated castoffs, and I typically lift the lid and drop things in without looking so I don't know how much is there now. Time to check.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Donuel
Date: 25 May 23 - 09:22 AM

A new fridge and combo convection oven replacement have kept me busy with transfer chores. I have 5 planting jobs which are complicated with dry compact soil but shoveling is always hard with roots and such.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 May 23 - 12:02 PM

Don, do you water the area ahead of your digging project? If you don't have a convenient rainstorm, watering the day before makes the soil friable for working. That's my go-to trick here. That, and using a mattock (with an adze for chopping through roots) when need be.

The paint disposal was easy yesterday - since the ex didn't have a lot he drove over here and since what I had wasn't a lot it all fit in his trunk so he drove it to the disposal site himself. Most times we need the extra cargo space of my SUV so I drive over there to get his stuff. (You should have seen the extremely heavy Queen-sized latex mattress we stuffed in there. Sad to take it to the dump, but we didn't think anyone else would want a splendid but hard to transport mattress.)

The donation bin still has space, so no trip yet. I added a gooseneck lamp I never use and will probably add more of my culled too-big garments soon.

Tidying in preparation for a group of friends here for lunch this weekend. I have a discussion starter on the table - a notebook of my mother's that I may have mentioned already - it is a Midcentury Modern time capsule of sorts, articles and ideas she clipped, and the methods are as interesting as the content. For example, in 1964 she didn't have access to something so universal today as a photocopier (let alone a scanner) so transcribed information she wanted from books by typing it out onto several sheets of paper to save in the binder. Probably from library books. These are all library folks, so I'm sure they'll see any number of other things about the collection that interests them. That said, I have to figure out what to DO with this thing.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 May 23 - 11:48 PM

Today was spent running my own errands plus doing some shopping for a couple of friends. I found fruit on sale I couldn't resist - a box of 18 Ataulfo mangos for $4; even splitting the box with my ex that's a lot of mangoes to eat this week. I'm having friends over for lunch on Sunday so there will probably be fruit on the menu!

The garden is progressing, there are nice sized potatoes in that part of the garden (they pop out of the soil as they grow and you have to push soil or mulch over them to keep the sun off or they turn green, and that green part supposedly can make you ill.) The front yard is looking nice after all of the work, and tomorrow the back yard will get the same attention. I spent some time yesterday pulling out a type of grass called Foxtail Weed that has seed heads that can cause the dogs problems - several years ago Zeke needed surgery because he had a couple embedded in his foot. At the time I didn't know which type of grass was the culprit (there are lots of things growing wild in the back). Now I do and I noticed them so pulled them all out by hand and they're in the trash. No putting these in the compost where some might escape. I'll have to keep pulling these now that I know - there's a lot of it behind the back fence and will probably encroach from there.

I stopped at two Goodwill stores in search of sturdy arm chairs, the old library or courthouse type that are wooden and well-built. A friend's husband needs a chair that will let him stand by pushing himself up with the chair arms; he has a degenerative neurological disorder that is like Alzheimers but not, and he can't just stand up like one would do normally. I found no chairs, but there were a few other things that caught my eye, such as the perfect griddle for lefse and tortillas, a newer version of one I bought at Goodwill a few years ago, with a better non-stick finish. The old pan is in the donation bin.

Memorial Day weekend. Friends over on Sunday, but other than that, a quiet time spent at home (with a few trips to a neighborhood north of me, where I am feeding a friend's cats now through Sunday.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 28 May 23 - 03:40 PM

A hot, sunny Sunday, and I just made the season’s first jug of salted lemonade. Next time, the mint will be up enough to add a couple of sprigs.

Does anyone know how to nurse a potted cyclamen through the summer? Mine has been blooming consistently since Christmas, when it was given to me, but it’s down to two blossoms and some of the leaves are yellowing. According to Mr Google, that means I should let it dry out and go dormant.

Now, cyclamens like cool conditions. I wonder whether my very chilly basement would be a good spot for it to spend the summer. Thoughts?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 28 May 23 - 04:59 PM

Exactly what you said. In my experience, they survive but are never quite as good next time.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 May 23 - 05:45 PM

That also comports with the slim amount of info on my gardening guru's site. Cyclamen.

Guests were over for lunch and it happens one had a birthday today. I made a cake unaware of that, but because it was a holiday weekend. This was a picnic-like meal with with tuna sandwiches on homemade bread (custom mixed tuna depending on the amendments people wanted - pickles, celery, onion, lettuce, etc.) Fruit and corn on the cob on the side. I made a batch of my green tea with some of the lemon balm snipped from the back yard. I'm not drinking green tea these days but one of the guests went through the entire quart as iced tea.

In the process of decluttering there were some door prizes - things I've taken out of circulation as I reduce the amount of coconut sodium laureth sulfate (there are a number of these ingredients the pharmacist refers to as "the SLS group") in my daily routine. This time, unopened containers of toothpaste and shampoo. I like the Tom's of Maine toothpaste, but realized it had a fairly high amount of SLS. It has come off of my Amazon subscription list. I can still donate this stuff to the community fridge and pantry, but they relocated and I have to figure out what spot is closest to me now.

I make facemasks for this group still, and in particular the pride rainbow masks are the favorite of one gay man who finds they telegraph so much very well in some of his favorite shopping venues. We also talked about quilts and embroidery and trapunto projects. Health, gardening, shopping, jury duty (how difficult it is for disabled people to get into courthouses to serve on juries). These meals are happier and healthier now that we aren't rehashing how awful the dean was at the place were we all used to work—a good sign that we've moved on. That angst was definitely worth decluttering!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 May 23 - 07:41 PM

Sorting out my backup photos that load from my phone camera to OneDrive; I have inadvertently ended up with two Microsoft accounts and am hoping to stop paying for one and not have stuff I want go away, but trying to tell what is where isn't easy. So I'm filing my photos from the camera roll by year and will see if I can see the updated results from both "accounts." If so, one can just go away at the end of it's subscription. You can't rush these processes or they crash.

OneDrive is cheaper than a similar amount of paid space on Dropbox, but it isn't as easy to use as Dropbox. My Dropbox account is a free one and as long as I don't get too close to the space limit they don't keep pestering me to pay for the account. If I can get the OneDrive sorted out then I'll empty Dropbox and go back to using it for daily stuff and anything more than a few months old will be retrieved from OneDrive. I stopped backing up to Dropbox in March, but I miss it.

Probably as clear as mud, but the short reason for this is that if I want to find anything in OneDrive using a phone or tablet it eats up the battery and takes a long time to scroll back years in the Camera Roll. This way I can aim at where I think things are and search more easily. I'm moving 2018 now.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 29 May 23 - 09:12 PM

Finally, I defrosted and cleaned out the freezer. There’s enough vacuum-sealed lamb in there to last me to Christmas.

I have also finally got around to posting on Kijiji the summer tires (and their rims) from the blue Golf that I wrecked in January 22. They’ve been stacked up in the garage beside the freezer for more than a year.

Tomorrow, I’m taking the last unneeded bookcase to Habitat for Humanity. It’s small enough to fit into the boot of my car, and I can slide it in on an old Army poncho liner.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 May 23 - 11:32 AM

I have a 6'x8' tarp I bought cheap at Harbor Freight that lives in the back of the SUV for spreading out to cover the cargo area, but your poncho does double duty to wear in an emergency, so good choice! (My emergency plastic rain poncho was a buck at Home Depot and is in a box in the back.)

Going a bit nuts waiting on a federal agency to mail paperwork. Like the IRS, OPM is extremely understaffed and underfunded (the House took a swipe at the IRS with the debt ceiling hostage taking, but they don't mention the OPM, that I'm sure wasn't recently given adequate funding.) And paperwork comes via the US Post Office where DeJoy is still postmaster general. Problems brought on by Trump that Biden hasn't had time to fix yet, or his fixes have been attacked. One has to be patient to work for the government.

I'm making incremental progress in the garden, but today I have two volunteer gigs, pushing digging of beds to tomorrow. I'm ready with four trash bags of mulch picked up this weekend (using that above-mentioned tarp to cover the SUV cargo area.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 30 May 23 - 12:36 PM

No, Stilly; that olive-drab quilted thing in the back of my car is not a poncho — it’s a poncho *liner*. You can wrap it around yourself like a blanket, but it’s not a garment; it’s for insulation when you and your buddy make a hoochie (rudimentary shelter) out of two Army-issue ponchos and a tree. Since the Vietnam era, the lighter and snugglier US Army version, popularly known as a “woobie”, has been hugely popular with troops who use it as a security blanket. It’s wonderful for enduring a drafty house, but it’s not what I would call sturdy.

The Canadian version is not cosy, but it’s moisture- and abrasion-resistant. When moving something heavy and awkward, such as a bookcase, I spread the poncho liner over the floor of the car boot so it hangs well over the back bumper. This allows me to slide the bookcase on its back over the bottom lip of the boot and into the car, never taking its full weight.

In case of rain, I keep a scarlet golf umbrella on the cargo cover of the car. If I’m lucky, I’ll never again find myself struggling into the driver’s seat while wearing a drenched poncho.

BTW, you have a genius for making me grateful for Canada Post and the various organs of our provincial and federal governments: all you have to do is describe any interaction with officialdom. Y’know, that debt-ceiling thing your Congress does — that can’t happen here.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 May 23 - 01:03 PM

Interesting about that liner. I did an image search and found both the Canadian and US versions. I used to have a huge coated nylon tarp that I could use for a quick tent or to double up to use for other things - but the "coated" part should give you a clue - it never wore out but that lining aged and peeled and took on the typical vomit-smell that I finally couldn't stand to have around any more.

My cousin in Calgary came to the US last year for knee surgery because on the Canadian system that would have taken another couple of years to happen, but on other things, it sounds like an excellent setup. The GOP here take a swing at it because they don't want folks in the US getting any ideas about making medical care available to all. Your postal arrangement was a little puzzling, last time I was thee I had to go to a store in a mall to mail a package home, but it was an interesting conversation with the clerk. As I was paying I pulled out my coin purse and it turns out he collects American quarters, so was able to "sell" him several that he didn't have. (Back then it was just state quarters, now there are lots of people on the backside as well.)

That debt ceiling thing shouldn't happen here either. I think Biden should explore that part of Fourteenth Amendment and just dispense with the Congressional nonsense. It's there for a reason.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 30 May 23 - 06:05 PM

Yes, in Canada you have to wait ages for your knee replacement, but at least it doesn’t cost the earth and eventually they do get around to you. Things are iffier if you're one of the multitudes without a family doctor — or primary care provider, if that’s the correct term these days. I still say general practitioner, and people still know what I mean. But get hauled to hospital by ambulance and you’ll find out that urgent care is far more efficient, even if you have to do time on a gurney in a hallway.

When I travel south of the border, I’m struck by how many apparently middle-class people I see with medical issues that would either have been corrected or at least significantly improved if they lived in urban Canada. The best way of picking poor folks out of the crowd here is missing and broken teeth; dentists aren’t covered by provincial health plans. With doctor fees and hospital expenses largely off the table, middle-class families can afford all the routine dental maintenance and often extensive orthodonty. My crossed eye and snaggly front teeth mark me as a member of the pre-socialized medicine generation.

Canadian coin change can run as high as 15 percent American, depending on where you live and whether it’s a tourist-rich environment. Don’t try using US coins in Canadian vending machines and parking meters, though; odds are better than negligible that the machine will eat your money and give you nothing in return. Laundromat dryers used to be particularly sensitive that way.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 May 23 - 08:21 PM

Usually when I leave Canada I've used most of the cash I had and if (like the last trip) I take a cab to the airport then the cabbie gets an odd tip with lots of change (and probably a bit higher than usual.) In the 1980s I made many trips into Mexico and had some cash I held onto for future trips, then in 1994 they devalued and changed their currency and I don't think it's worth anything. So don't keep it if you can spend it before leaving the country. (When I worked at Organ Pipe Cactus Natl. Monument in Arizona my aunt and uncle from Calgary visited, and I rounded up all of the spare change and bills that we had collected in our various donation boxes and they bought it from us to take it off of our hands, because the bank wouldn't take it.)

Interesting interview on the NPR program Fresh Air today, looking into allergies and how gut and skin health are part of it (how we eat foods now that don't resemble the foods our gut flora evolved digesting.) Allergic: Our Irritated Bodies in a Changing World. I think it was released today. Dr. Theresa MacPhail is the author.

Medical anthropologist Theresa MacPhail, herself an allergy sufferer whose father died of a beesting, set out to understand why. In pursuit of answers, MacPhail studied the dangerous experiments of early immunologists as well as the mind-bending recent development of biologics and immunotherapies that are giving the most severely impacted patients hope. She scaled a roof with an air-quality controller who diligently counts pollen by hand for hours every day; met a mother who struggled to use WIC benefits for her daughter with severe food allergies; spoke with doctors at some of the finest allergy clinics in the world; and discussed the intersecting problems of climate change, pollution, and pollen with biologists who study seasonal respiratory allergies.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 May 23 - 12:18 PM

I didn't say in the last post, but I thought that book might be of particular interest to Dorothy.

New checks arrived, and with no parchment copy pages included they're slim, two books of checks attached side-by-side on a piece of paperboard and in a flat plastic envelope. Not the classic box of checks I've seen all my life. Apparently many people don't recognize what they are because the parcel says "Do not discard. Your order is enclosed." I thought I ordered 200, but it is 100. Still, at the rate I write checks, a lifetime supply. So many things one orders these days end up not being what you expected, even with vigilance when making the purchase.

There is a lot to do around here, I hope to cross a couple of things off of the list in the kitchen. One of the things to do today is make a batch of yogurt that I will in turn drain (fill cheesecloth and hang over kitchen sink for several hours) to use as yogurt cheese (it comes out more like cream cheese than lebne).

Nearly halfway through the year, one more month and it's the downhill slide. Were there things we wanted to do by now that we've finished (or have we forgotten what our plans were and just moved through space and time in a haphazard fashion?)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 31 May 23 - 06:07 PM

Beaver:

I pretty much missed most of the last week. Having gotten lots done, last Monday was a strange day and I ate oddly with no recollection of WHAT! Tuesday, I was wobbly, lacking equilibrium and commuting from bed to washroom ALL day! Today(Monday) I finally feel back to my normal and managed to get a glaze firing going. Essential test of newly mixed glaze in this firing; if it is OK, tomorrow will be another firing using it - TEAl.

Nice not to be walking wobbly today!

After several years of blown fuses and having to re-start glaze firings, I finally realized it could be the water pump that puts the electric load over the limit. So far... But I must be prepared and not run ANY water after the kiln is on high! I hope!

With the outdoor heat in the TOO HOT range, my outdoor time is limited. The studio gets hot from all that wonderful solar gain of the big bow window - even with a heavy white drape and a fan blowing outward in the small west window. So I got out there and did some glazing then brought the baker's rack into the LR to do the sponge ware - so I could sit, bug-free and cool. Loaded by 12:30!

I managed to go to the Hort. Club mtng on Thurs: Dandelions - jelly, salve... Mostly from on-line presentations and a member who had made this stuff and brought samples. My Auditory Processing difficulty: throughout most of it the only words I recognized were "dandelion flowers"! They posted the links on FB so I could find them and use closed captions - which she neglected to do. The high point was a new member who is new to the community, about my age and an experienced potter. Hoping we can get together soon.

Friday's Open Mike was better than usual but I still felt wobbly and queasy and left early. Saturday at the farmer's market I was asking for herb tea suggestions, to no avail; bought 4 lavender plugs and put them in lg yogurt containers with good soil until I can plant them somewhere. Waiting with great hope for the Dragon Flies now the weather is warm enough! I find I have a very few safe minutes to pull weeds before the biting bugs find me. This is ok because my shoulders complain if I do too much!

Chiropractor has actually helped a great deal!

Sunday: went to lunch at the Trust- big community event, chance to talk with wonderful friends. Volunteers have been developing a huge garden on the back parking lot to raise food for those who need it. Mulch and soil mountains were donated. I loaned my wheel barrow - best I could do.

Guess I forgot to send this. Now it is Thurs - two glaze firings, a visit from a special friend and too much heat for much else!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 May 23 - 08:44 PM

Dorothy, the summers down here are hotter longer but when you're not acclimated to it the summers in the north can be just as hard to get through. Today I finished weeding the rock patio extension in front of the porch (lots of grass and vines through the gravel now) and set up a couple of pots to grow flowers, others already had things growing. I paced myself with an hour around midday and an hour in early evening. With these beds I'm working my way around the house and am about 2/3 of the way across the front at this point.

Shredding finished and in the trash; the cross-cut shredder has a small capacity catcher and can get hot, so I went through the old checks over the course of the afternoon.

Fireflies in the yard these evenings at dusk and into the night; it makes the yard look magical.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 01 Jun 23 - 08:06 AM

Ah, shredding. I have a couple of over-ripe tax files that are more than ready to go.

Recently, I was reminded of a nasty right-wing agitator by the name of Grover Norquist, noted for saying he wanted to see the US government so small and weak that it could be drowned in a bathtub. That’s how I feel about the excess stuff in my house.

Tasks completed recently?

The horrible mouldy bathroom, an embarrassment from the day we moved in, is now sleekly beautiful, allergen-free, and fitted with an exhaust fan and enough towel rails.

The library is now manageable: seven loosely packed full-height bookcases. Another full-height bookcase, in the basement, is full of CDs, and one half-height bookcase in the study holds the household strategic reserve of stationery and computer-related doohickeys. This winter’s cull was the third phase of a process that began a few months after Edmund died; on 10 October 2020, this house contained seventeen full-height and four half-height bookcases, all of them crammed tight with books. Five excess bookcases were also successfully rehomed this spring.

Several large boxes of household gadgets, most related to cooking, went to the church rummage sale in April. My inventory of wooden spoons is down to the two I actually use. Edmund used to buy them at random, always choosing the ones with awkward handles, and I must have had more than a dozen. I no longer possess a roasting pan big enough for a twenty-pound turkey.

I defrosted and scrubbed out the freezer, a job that has needed doing for two years.

I think I have sold the set of VW Golf wheels that has been stacked in the garage since February 2022.

Next, I want to reduce that accumulation of CDs to music I actually listen to, and move them, and the bookcase in which they live, from the basement up two flights of stairs to the library. I’ll need help with that; a six-foot bookcase is way more than I can handle on my own.

I also want to rid the library windows of their heavy curtains and have them fitted with light-adjustable blinds. With the curtain tracks gone, I will finally be able to get that room painted.

That’s enough for now.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 01 Jun 23 - 08:10 AM

This year’s fireflies have yet to make their début on my lawn. I’m waiting …

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: pattyClink
Date: 01 Jun 23 - 08:49 AM

Wow, Charmion, what a lot of accomplishments!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Donuel
Date: 01 Jun 23 - 08:57 AM

Charmion is an inspiration. SRS sounds like a superhero.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 01 Jun 23 - 10:49 AM

I recently got rid of almost all of one collection (crow! crow!)

Admittedly it was one of my smallest - 27 of my 28 LPs went to The Record Shop, run by a bloke who loves LPs, the 28th needs copying before it can go & I just asked a couple of friends if they could do so. I got lotsa' money which I gave to my favourite charity!! It was also invisible (hidden in a cupboard) but all the other stuff that needs new homes is very visible (sigh)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jun 23 - 11:57 AM

The stacks of paper that seem to organically grow here sit back and laugh heartily when Don remarks on my progress. :) It's a running battle. There are notes I need to write down somewhere, then the scrap of paper can go . . .

I'm whittling down the food containers in the fridge; my freezers are both frost free now (though the little bar fridge that holds the overflow I think has a small glacier in the top I might take a look at.) Until a few years ago I had a huge midcentury Harvest Gold freezer that needed defrosting at least once a year. It always looked so new and amazing when I finished. When it died (or when the coils got so clogged with dog hair that I never thought to vacuum out) at about age 50 I replaced it. It was time, I did worry about it failing.

This week I picked up a new brand and type of tuna, this one a solid white albacore from Costco; I'm so accustomed to the shredded salty cheap stuff (Starkist, etc.) that this is a surprise. It's dense and you can actually tell it's part of a fish. Plus - I need to add some of my Nu Salt to the sandwich filling because the tuna I've eaten all of my life was apparently pretty salty. The diet adjustments are proceeding.

I need to offer a couple of plants to friends on Facebook, and if no one speaks up I'll put them on the freecycle or the FB buy nothing page. I dig up a few vitex trees each year (that sprouted in the flower beds) because someone usually wants one, and I also have some scarlet-blooming Salvia greggii that was extra.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Donuel
Date: 01 Jun 23 - 12:06 PM

I have 15 giant bins of clutter to take away. Some have value but I Might take a loss to have someone take it all and shorten the process.
Free recycling is attractive.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 01 Jun 23 - 08:41 PM

The tires and rims have gone to a VW fan in Woodstock, a town forty clicks south of Stratford. He paid the asking price, no low-balling or haggling. I’m very happy, not only with the nice lump of money, but also with the nice big empty spot on the garage floor.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 02 Jun 23 - 04:58 AM

Good onya!

Some time back to I reported to my Craft group that I'd found a home (or homes) for something - Can you see a space, said my wise friend

no ...

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 02 Jun 23 - 08:35 AM

Your friend is, indeed, wise. It doesn’t count until you have cleared space.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 02 Jun 23 - 10:11 AM

sniff ...

the LPs left a space in the cupboard, unfortunately I can't leave the door open to admire it.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jun 23 - 11:14 AM

A cubic foot cleared off the dining table is noticeable. A cubic foot of stuff out of my sewing studio would go unremarked. Tires have gotten very expensive, new ones for my SUV about $250 each, and that's just tires, not extra rims (I've read that in the US these inflated prices - pardon the pun - are not to do with scarcity). Nissan stopped fooling with inflating with Nitrogen like that was a special thing for tires, no one is popping for the extra service when tires are priced like luxury items.

I picked up a battery trimmer to try in the garden. I didn't till everything this year, so I have to contend with grass getting watered along with the crops and it grows tall fast. Ryobi costs about twice as much as the brands turning up in the initial search, but I like their tools and I already have two batteries. (The others seemed to have built-in batteries that, once they fail, may not be replaceable, and they need a recharge every time it runs down. I swap out batteries and keep working with Ryobi tools.)

Time to make more granola. That last batch was good and I was mixing it half and half with my raisin bran to give it more fibre and last longer. I used ziplock baggies to freeze it last time, this batch I'll look for a larger reusable container.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jun 23 - 01:16 PM

My mail usually arrives before 11am, but yesterday the alternate carrier didn't arrive until 2pm. The dogs barked when they heard her on the porch so I had to hurry to the truck to ask for my package because she hadn't knocked to get my signature. "Package?" Yes, the reason my plans for lunch and scanning were cancelled. She dug around and found it and I signed for it. Who knows when it would have made it back to the house if I hadn't caught her. Grumble grumble grumble. . . the post office needs to be treated better so their employees aren't stretched so thin. She'd never driven this route before.

The newest batch of granola is ok, but the last batch was better. I've kept notes on what went into each recipe. This time I lined the baking pan in the portable roaster oven with parchment but I realized it wasn't heating evenly and one corner was going to scorch so the whole paper was lifted onto a rimmed baking sheet and finished in the oven.

This morning I poked through jewelry drawers and boxes to cull things I never wear and find pieces I've forgotten about. Some items can go back into rotation - after last year's weight loss they fit better. And there is a set of 3 scarabs: I wore one on a chain but I didn't have pierced ears for the other two (ears were pierced 30 years, so you see how long ago that came into my collection). I filled a little bag with pieces that are missing pairs or parts because my daughter uses stuff like this in costumes.

I will note that there were a few pieces that went into the trash. Things that are turning green, an old watch that needed the battery changed way too often. And that tiny pair of turquoise earrings - probably the cheapest pair on display at the time the gift was purchased by someone who really should have known better - they have bad karma. Gone. Still hunting for a couple of specific pieces that must have been put someplace really "safe" that I can't think of right now. There are two newer watches with 10-year batteries that need to go on Freecycle since I wear the fitness tracker as my timepiece now.

Meanwhile out in the yard the new battery trimmer works well, much easier than grass shears. I'll get the rest of the garden planted and leave enough space between plants to trim the grass as needed. And figure out what configuration of sprinklers to set up on the timer this year.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 03 Jun 23 - 02:17 PM

Now that my three great-nieces are growing up, it’s time for me to pick over my jewellery for pieces that would suit them. In particular, I’m thinking of two gold pendants on very fine chains. Due to peripheral nerve damage, the thumb and first two fingers of my right hand can’t manage the clasps any more, so I haven’t worn them in years.

Brooches are currently unfashionable, according to the doyennes of the internet, so items that belonged to my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother can sit and marinate for a decade or two until the pendulum swings back.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jun 23 - 10:47 PM

One of the necklaces I put back into rotation is crystals on a velvet-covered wire, and it closes with a magnetic clasp. Strong enough for a few pieces of crystal. I hate to think you're not wearing favorites because they're difficult to fasten.

On Amazon I read reviews of some of the add-on magnetic clasps that aren't very strong (tiny magnets) but this one sounds good - 14K Gold Magnetic Necklace Clasps and Closures Double Lobster Clasp. One reviewer said long earrings were attracted to it, so she wears shorter earrings with it. Any of these attach once to each end of your necklace then the magnets do the work.

This one is smaller but it has more reviews. Neither of those is very expensive, they're plated or colored.

These two sold by different small businesses, but they look and sound identical. They are more expensive and with more gold. Small business 1:14K Yellow Gold Magnetic Clasp Converter 15.5mm Spring Ring by CRAFT WIRE. Small business 2: 79% of the reviews of this one are good.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 04 Jun 23 - 08:21 AM

Stilly, I had no idea such things exist. Thanks!

Nevertheless, the fact remains that I have a drawer full of jewellery that I don’t wear, and a bevy of young relatives who might enjoy it. The middle great-niece is approaching her sixteenth birthday, an excellent occasion for such gifts.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jun 23 - 08:13 PM

There was productivity in the garden today, starting with digging about 10 pounds of potatoes, in addition to five pounds I dug yesterday. I spent .69 cents for the five small seed potatoes that were planted in March, so this was a gardening win. I planted the rest of the squash started from seed and at the neighborhood nursery picked up two eggplant and a sweet banana pepper that are now tucked into the beds. A few of my plants from seed remain in pots until they're larger. I finished by moving sprinklers - always the last thing because I get a drenching in the process. I have two sprinklers in place but think one will take care of the area since it is on a tripod and can go over the top of the heat pump. These will soon be set up on the Orbit battery operated timer on the back yard faucet.

I came in because it looks like rain, but radar shows it forming just to the southwest of here and drifting southwest. Unless it starts backing up I fear no rain on my parched yard tonight. I'll run a sprinkler on the beds I just planted.

A silicone flap for the dog door is on order; they really knock the heck out of them (now that Cookie isn't a puppy and has stopped chewing on them). Too many flies are getting in lately past the crooked sides of the current one.

Garbage pickup tomorrow, and another bouffant pile of dog hair will travel by dustpan to the trashcan. #ExcitingWeekend

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Jun 23 - 01:15 PM

Hurry up and wait from the federal government: my ex finally got his pension and everything owed from when he retired; the answer I got back to an email query is that it typically takes 3 months for the adjacent accounts to be set up. Really? They have all of the information in front of them right now. Just do it.

Dog door flap is on order. The back patio is looking good and I've been keeping a large pan of water filled for the dogs - I should say, for the critters. Toads like to soak in it at night, but one of them has been so rude this week, twice leaving a big toad poop (full of undigested parts of Junebug wings) in the water when they depart.

The front porch lizards have taken umbrage at the weeding I did recently and they're not hanging out on the stack of concrete blocks that is usually a favorite sunning spot. Hopefully once the shrubs fill in again they'll be back—I do miss their inquiring gazes when I go out to check the mail.

In addition to digging potatoes this weekend I brought in most of the onions. I need to spread out the Swiss chard sprouts and give the advancing cucumber plants plenty of places to climb.

There is also a bit of attic work to finish, something best done in the morning before the sun has had time to turn it into an Easybake Oven.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Jun 23 - 10:34 PM

Two Timex watches were claimed on the FB Buy Nothing page for my area. My porch lizards will have a box to guard overnight - since I have appointments tomorrow I asked if she could come by before 11am. She asked about 7:30. I'm not an early riser, but I can put the box on the porch so it's there when she comes by. That frees up about a cubic inch in my dresser drawer. :)

eBay listings are getting posted, though one small tablet box needs to be reopened to see what the storage capacity is (there were two in this model, my money is on the lower capacity - it came as part of a fitness program box and had their app pre-installed.) These are bundled with all of the accoutrements such as screen protectors, cases, chargers, even the original boxes (I usually stash the boxes because I anticipate selling them after I upgrade down the line.) I'm testing reading my Kindle books on the new Samsung; the app tells me I can't buy Kindle products in the app but I never do anyway. If it works out well enough I might sell the newer Fire tablet. Trouble with those Amazon devices is that they limit what you can do with software and browsing, though they are great for reading on. Clearing out a few square inches of stuff today.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 05 Jun 23 - 11:49 PM

My success with the tires has me considering another sale: the Kamado Joe barbecue that was Edmund’s last extravagance. It’s designed for slow-cooking big food — brisket, whole birds, pork shoulder, stuff like that — and, if I ever cook like that again, it won’t be over charcoal.

I will have to do a full-dress photo session to get ready to market the kamado with all its gadgets. It's worth a lot of money — certainly enough to replace it with a modest grill that runs on natural gas. (I had an outside gas tap installed as part of the kitchen renovation five years ago.) A gas grill is just fine for the most ambitious cooking I get up to these days.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion
Date: 06 Jun 23 - 11:35 AM

I just registered and paid for the Getaway, an event by the Folklore Society of Greater Washington that used to attract significant numbers of Mudcats. I hope to meet PattyClink there, if she can make it.

The choir's annual general meeting was last night, so I now have two batches of minutes to write and a large stack of music to sort, count and log in. I'll be busy for a while.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Jun 23 - 11:57 AM

One of these years I'll make it to the Getaway. After I retired I was lining up my ducks, then COVID happened.

That big grill is a lot of work and you end up cooking way too much meat for one person, though charcoal cooking is delicious. I have a tiny tabletop clay brazier that was $10 at an estate sale. An image search shows Moroccan and Mexican versions that are great for one or two chicken breasts or steaks. There is also an LP grill the neighbors were going to discard that only needed new gas grill guts ($40 kit at your local Ace Hardware store). Last winter I replaced the gas line that Cookie chewed to pieces (another $40 at Lowe's). I use it maybe once a month in the summer for spatchcocked chickens. Anything else big goes in some kind of closed or open pan in the oven. The Romertopf clay baker, for example. (Do you still have yours?)

Watches have left the porch, and a lizard was sighted on the wall next to the water spigot. They're pouting.

This week it's back to the gym with better-timed activities (that put me in the right locale for the gym).

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Donuel
Date: 07 Jun 23 - 07:49 AM

I had a bunch of ideas about decorating our fence. I have been mounting similar colored polyester tapestries as the least labor-intensive method. So far... a cabin in the woods, Florence at yellow sunset, an impressionist painting, a bookcase tapestry in the carport, and a garden of delights painting. It's whimsical but not as tacky as it sounds, although I do use tacks.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Donuel
Date: 07 Jun 23 - 07:58 AM

Oh, and an undersea scene on the cover of the hot tub.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Jun 23 - 06:28 PM

Don, the background fence in the photos on this gardening page show how the owner painted metal panels with whatever color he liked. The neighbors only see bare metal unless they painted their sides.

Counting coups from shopping at Goodwill today - a nice Kenmore serger sewing machine. I'll test it and if it works then either use it myself or sell it on eBay. I've always wanted to play with one, to see how I would use it. I'll have to look up the manual and go to YouTube for how-to instructions.

A new declutter project ahead; in my office two 2-drawer file cabinets are placed about 18" apart with a 3x5 piece of good birch plywood on top serving as a desk. They hold files with mostly old college papers but also some of the legal stuff one holds onto forever. In the closet is a 2-drawer cabinet with files I should send to the kids. I'm going sort all of them then compress the materials into the two in the office. There is a welded rolling framework that the closet file sits on that I've offered to my ex. It was a hand-me-down from a friend who welded it for a deeper cabinet than I have. I think will work perfectly for the 4-drawer Hon I found last fall for the ex and being able to move these things is helpful.

I see shredding, burning, and donating in the future, though any burning waits until air quality is back to good. Even down here in North Texas the air is rather dense and an Orange Ozone day. I don't want to hear about any of you doing yard work or out walking around until these fires are out. Singers like Charmion and Keberoxu - wear your K-95 masks outside to keep your throats and lungs in good shape for upcoming performances.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Donuel
Date: 07 Jun 23 - 06:47 PM

I'm not projecting images to the neighbors. They are inside the fence with vegetation in front of the tapestries.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 07 Jun 23 - 08:50 PM

Dupont:

Ran out of internet at Beaver so I went to the library a few times but found they now turn it off soon after they close because a neighbour complained about people sitting in vehicles using it!

Then I went to Toronto on an adventure: Thinking I would go to hear a friend at the Tranzac club on Sunday aft, then go to my friend an hour away overnight and back to the pottery supplies and home. I left for To about 9:30 and somehow it took LONG to get there but I was still in plenty of time and found a parking lot but brain was so wrecked that I had to ask a couple women for help with the paying thing. Found a decent lunch, I thought. and went to the club.

Not having been connected to the outside world, I had no knowledge of the smoke problem; it was mild enough going down that I had car windows open and did not realize it was affecting me. A I sat, I started feeling like I could hardly breathe and went outside for a few minutes. Went back in and started to feel as though I was going to stop breathing. Left in distress and a woman came out with me, found a bench for me to sit, went back in and came out with dampened paper towels for the back of my neck. I went back inside feeling better and moistened a napkin and put it over nose and mouth - it helped greatly and I got through the rest of the event.

Left as soon as it was over, thanking the nice younger woman but not saying good by to my musician friend because I wanted to get to my friend for supper... Took forever to get out of To; supper was at 7. In the morning, I had to sit on edge of bed uptil the room stopped spinning - that's a first. But with very good directions from my friend - she is so pragmatic! - It was less than an hour to pottery supplier where we agreed the discrepancy in new bucket of glaze was a need for better sieve which had been rendered inoperable by my foolishness. One of the staff finally got it - just as I was saying -OK, enough of that! I managed to get lost getting home ----HOW many times have I done that route???? Forgot I had the book of maps in the car.... Stopped for help and a local lumber yard staff printed out directions. I got home!

Used the A/c all the way due to the smoke which was now pretty obvious and as soon as I got in the house I turned the air cleaner on full tilt. Picked up a 12" subway which sufficed for lunch and supper - LOTS of lettuce! Then I holed up with a book, and then another one until Weds am when I loaded the car and left, assured by friend Hannah that it was better in Chateauguay. Very light rain is now helping lower the smoke. Tues R reported not being able to see Mount Royal - that is the large hill in the middle of the city!

I remembered to put netting over the strawberry bed so I might have some when I go back - next week I hope. Did not net the blueberries but they are still a ways off I think. I hope this rain reaches Beaver as there has been none for a while.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Jun 23 - 11:05 PM

Too bad about those library neighbors complaining. Having access to WiFi is a necessity, not a luxury.

Dorothy, stay safe out there. Wear the K or N-95 mask when you go out. I have a friend in NY City who has COPD - I reminded him to do the same thing. The whole east coast appears to be sepia toned.

I didn't mow here today because it was an Ozone Action day, as it will be tomorrow. Maybe this will blow over by the weekend.

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

Stratford still smells alternately of lilacs and pig manure. According to Environment Canada, the thickest part of a major smoke plume is wafting south to the east of the Waterloo-Kitchener-Cambridge conurbation, so the bulk of it is passing over Toronto, Burlington and Hamilton. Nevertheless, my eyes are stinging today.

My brother reports that the haze is heavy in Ottawa and everything smells like ashtrays.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER * Health/Home Ecologic-Innovation *2023
From: Charmion's brother Andrew
Date: 08 Jun 23 - 08:45 AM

It smells more like a camp fire to me.