DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Oct 25 - 11:19 AM

It was, for about 10 years. My choice to live next to the creek, but when the power company comes through an area and takes down trees that threaten the power lines they never think to go down the right-of-way behind our houses.

After yesterday's outage I forgot to reprogram the new string of lights on the porch so they were merrily sparking when I just checked the mail. I may set them to Halloween colors for a couple of days then turn them off the actual night (when I make sure the front of the house is dark and not inviting to trick-or-treaters who drive the dogs nuts.)

I'm using this week to step down from a long-term habit. Ages ago I bought several cases of large dark chocolate bars at the discount grocery, and I have finally run out. I used to have a piece of it in the morning with my tea, and I do understand that while it was lower-carb dark chocolate (low on sugar) it was a source of caffeine. So as I approach my high-protein dry November I'm also letting go of the chocolate.

Today the first roofer is supposed to come by to look and give me an estimate; I think the man must get a lot of spam calls or just be very cautious, I had to explain what I wanted and how I know him before he agreed he is the roofer and will come over. I worry about businesses like his in the current administration with their hate-immigrants policies.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 29 Oct 25 - 10:16 AM

Stilly, remind me — how is Texas not a third-world country? Yet again, you have a power-distribution crisis worthy of the Dominican Republic!

I now have rubber curb ramps to help the car over the four-inch step from the driveway to the garage. What’s more, today is garbage day, and the last of the moving débris — flattened cardboard boxes — is out for collection with the paper for recycling. That leaves the garage clear of clag and ready for winter parking. Oh, frabjous day!

But my relationship with Marc the contractor is not over. I still need shelves in the study, and better cabinets in the kitchen.

The weather remains sunny and bright (if chilly) today, but that will end tomorrow with the arrival of the cold rain that makes autumn in Ottawa a mixed blessing. At least we won’t have to shovel it.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Oct 25 - 11:41 AM

The power is out again, same 40 houses that usually get hit on this side of the street. At the moment I have lots of battery stuff going—the boom box from my sewing room has batteries to fall back on, my Stanley portable power thing is running the laptop, and the hall battery backup has the modem and router plugged in for WiFi. It looks like further repairs are being performed after the weekend outage and predict we'll be powered up again by 1pm. Fingers crossed - there is a weather alert on the radio now for a wind storm coming through the area later today.

My several bowls of the accumulated ripe garden tomatoes were blanched, simmered, and pureed into sauce last night while a fresh batch of pecans baked slowly. It looks like another morning of photographing eBay stuff, and when the power is back I'll process photos and start the listing. I also need to call a roofer and get that process started.

Have fun this week, patty, with your various events. Does anyone else have holiday activity around the Day of the Dead/Halloween/Samhain this week?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Oct 25 - 06:43 PM

Silly stuff—I see your cat furball and raise you a lizard stowaway.

Another week, another trip to take the ex to the doctor following his attack of what we think is sciatica. My departure from the house was delayed; I'd moved about 50 feet down the street when a large anole popped out of the engine compartment and stood on the windshield wiper, then ducked back under the hood. I backed up to the driveway, popped the hood, and as he tried to scramble up the windshield I grabbed him and released into the rockery by the side door.

A separate chuckle at the pharmacy on the way home, where we were in the drive-thru lane and wondering if the driver in the vehicle in front of us was going to be able reach the security drawer from the pickup window without opening their car door. When the meds were dispensed, the pharmacy tech leaned over in such a way that her arm extended through and beyond the open slot, handing the driver their bag of medication. We both burst out laughing, this was not what we expected. It was like something out of Monty Python.

patty, clean out your vinegar sprayer if you won't use it for a while. The vinegar will eat any rubber gaskets that might in in the device. Empty and rinse well. (And in the dormant season, consider spreading corn gluten meal to reduce germination in the spring. More details can follow in an email.)

This morning I've decided I can't live with those pecans after all, but I have enough for another batch (and enough time this evening to bake them for four hours). The last batch was tipped into the compost bin.

Photos for eBay were taken and will be processed for listings this evening. I need to take advantage of seasonal shopping. For local shopping I'm going to head over to my discount grocery and pick up items to leave at the mutual aid fridge nearest to me. Food aid is going to start being critical next week for several reasons.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: pattyClink
Date: 27 Oct 25 - 03:23 PM

Regrettably, it came down to the 8th inning and the goathead weeds pulled ahead so much they won the game for this year. I had cleared time for a big push after the next rains, but the wheelbarrow tire went flat---why on earth do they even sell barrows with pneumatic tires in thorn, spine, and burr country like this? Tried working without the barrow but winds were so high it was tough dragging bag and box around and extra work to keep the weeds from blowing out. Took a trip to town with wheel and axle in hand, thought I secured the only suitable replacement, but no, when set on barrow handles, the spacing was 1/2" too wide for the old bolts. (also can't believe there are no 'standard' wheels on such an ancient design).

Tried to drill new holes but had no bit wide enough and wallowing did not work on the center part of the run. Got a spade bit when next in town, only to find the new holes created a new problem. Kind neighbor jumped in and cut a bit off of the axle holders and put things back in order with the new no-air wheel.

Then it rained again. Another couple sessions of weeding and a walk around the grounds convinced me that it had become hopeless. Had I known my guest was coming, I might have chosen an area to clear, but I was not given notice til I was otherwise occupied.   It's okay, I put her close to the house, and luckily she has no pet to protect.

It's Halloween week, will spend time at some fun events, a field trip, and other projects instead of stressing over the vegetation. Hopefully winter winds will blow a lot of the seeds away, if not I'll consider the shag-dragging solution. My vinegar sprayer is mounted on a handcart ready to attack in the spring. I suppose I should rinse out the handle and hose before calling it a day.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 27 Oct 25 - 03:00 PM

I have had a brisk few days. The filing cabinet left the building on Saturday, gone to a newly immigrated Syrian family with a small business, and the too-tall bookcases departed today, three to an ex-Marine (another recent immigrant, I guess), and the last two to an old military colleague of my brothers. After garbage day, I can probably start parking in the garage.

Sunday dinner was Norwegian lamb and cabbage (fårikål) for the family, with the table fully expanded — both leaves — for the first time since before we moved to Stratford more than eight years ago.

Since even the cheeriest day needs a dash of the opposite (to make us count our blessings), about 30 minutes before the guests were due I discovered that someone had coughed up a large hairball on one of the dining room chairs. It wasn’t recent, either, so clean-up was no mere wipe with a paper towel. Ah, cats — such a good thing for them that they’re cute.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Oct 25 - 01:32 PM

Dorothy, it sounds like you're doing things on your own terms. More power to you!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 27 Oct 25 - 12:57 PM

Dupont:

Energy level remains too low for trip to Beaver. no sign of improvement. Appt with Dr tomorrow afternoon. In the meantime, I am trying to get my life in better order for whoever is left to deal with my piles of paper and clothing and unsold pottery., etc.!! My happy thought is the friend who took the cream of the fabrics!

Son Taun took photo of all my passwords last year but with the death of computer in June and ... I need to make a new list.... Arghhh! Just want to leave stuffs to folks who will make good use, like the crew at the Jardin de la Resistance; a bale of clothing would suit the farm work and some for special events.

OK, so I am a little sad but not a lot. I have had enough of the insanity of this world but I shall try and play it out to the end - as positively and usefully as possible. I am hoping the Dr will be able to clue me on on how this might play out. Last night
/early this am, I was feeling so low in energy, I was wondering "how many more minutes?" and woke R to come to bed so he would be close by. I needed a hug!!!

I pulled myself out of bed about 10 am and folded or hung a pile of R's shirts - just to tidy up. Yesterday, I did a laundry and put nicer sheets on the bed - flannel is all we use now. Trying to get the house closer to clean and tidy; friends from CN are visiting briefly this coming weekend; they are also very special - Jeff and Taun met in grade 7! apparently I was an "other mother" for Jeff in his teens. Missing from our lives for many years, Taun found him and -only change - we are all older! When R and I went to CN for the wedding of the son of a close friend of 50 years - we stayed with Jeff and found out he had gone into wood working because of that friend; Jeff's dad had been one of Robin's closest friends and ! the reason Taun ate his veggies at Jeff's house - Jeff's Dad would not eat overcooked veggies!!! and neither will Taun! Mother's are supposed to know these things???

So, I keep on making small stabs at cleaning up and doing important things -auto reg paid, now auto insurance and whatever...

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Oct 25 - 10:41 AM

patty, did you clear out a lot of the goatheads? Is that where your guests will park? Good luck with those comings and goings.

Monday with a vengeance and I'm hitting the ground running by planning for the next two to three weeks. Since autumn is here I can't dawdle when scheduling that roof work, but I have an almost eight-day cat sitting gig coming up and a couple of can't-miss appointments. I need to be here the entire time to supervise or answer questions, so can't be gone intermittently for hours as the top of the house is replaced.

Indoors I've looked at the sorry state of the plant area in my sunroom. It is reduced to several pothos, spider plants, some vining succulents, two aloe veras, a tired orchid, and one remaining xmas cactus sprouted off of one of the old ones that finally gave up. I need to rehome some of these and see if I can find a couple of other types of plants that will survive modest amounts of attention. This morning the orchid is getting a soak in water with an orchid-specific fertilizer to see if it will consider blooming again.

Outside things have perked up after installing the new string of LED bulbs. They are a happy upgrade in a season when pretty lights can improve moods. The length is the same as before, but the simple remote of the past is now a pad with many choices and 128 "modes." I played with them a bit and settled on a pulsing twinkle, much like the old string would perform. This gives me color choices to use for holidays and seasons.

I changed my mind about trashing the old plastic trash can. The lid is going, but the can itself can be offered on the buy nothing group (there are a couple of gardeners who might want it for something) or it can be tossed into the recycle bin at the village. Why send plastic to the dump when it can be reused or recycled, even as tattered as it is.

Last night I made a batch of my crispy pecans except I forgot which recipe I was making and baked them at 300 for an hour instead of 170 for four hours. They're a bit brown, but I can live with them. (They got the granola treatment.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Oct 25 - 03:18 PM

Excellent call on that RV consignment shop, Patty! They think they see you coming.

The electric chipper in the greenhouse is cleaned and ready to deliver to my daughter for her friend. I've also evicted an ancient plastic (rubberneck style) can and lid crumbling from time in the heat and sun. For a long time it held mulch made by the chipper, but I keep the current lot of free city mulch in burlap bags in the garage. This thing is going in the trash tomorrow with a note on it for the trash collectors to take the can.

Today starts the next four weeks at a lower Prednisone dose as I continue to taper, and I'm also making an effort to have higher protein in the diet and a dry November. I won't make it more complicated with NaNoWriMo or anything. :)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: pattyClink
Date: 26 Oct 25 - 02:17 PM

So sorry to hear about that outage, I can't believe these automated systems are really that much cheaper and I know they are not as efficient when things go wrong. But sounds like you were prepared as one could be.

Splendid weather here, but as usual April and October get way too busy, just when you want to be left alone to enjoy the weather and/or hunker down for cold weather. The calendar gets crowded enough with festivals and holidays, I wish they would leave the online gatherings for nasty weather!

Had a hectic week detailing the RV again and hauling it off for consignment, only to find the place was a racket, insisting on doing work in their service shop, on a unit in perfectly good condition. Noped right out of there, but back to square one. Will discuss a new   plan with a retired dealer.

But the snowbirds have started arriving, one is due in a few hours for some yard camping, so rushing about trying to get yard and house decent.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Oct 25 - 11:53 AM

Power finally came back on this morning after we made various attempts to get the attention of Oncor folks in the neighborhood. I posted remarks on the automated system last night (the AI bot said "I don't understand your question" but I hoped a human might read it anyway) about the line fuse/breaker on a pole a couple of hundred yards from here. It's always the last thing for them to restore, though this time that wasn't enough. When they reconnected it this morning nothing happened. There was lots of communication between our houses as we shared what we knew. The neighbor with the generator is the one who told Oncor (she spotted them at that switch) that the other neighbor had seen sparks, sending them on the door to door search to find the problem and it was an open transformer that had sparked. Quite a granular process of repair this time.

The sink is full of dishes and the kitchen table is loaded with small appliances that were plugged and unplugged into the power strip I used with the line run from the next door generator. I'll go refill my garage gas can (used for yard power tools or for their generator - I get the gas with no ethanol). There was enough warm water in the hot water tank last night that I could take a quick shower since I couldn't stand myself. Now for laundry and to recharge various devices. This time of year was comfortable enough, not like February 2021 when it was four days of sleeping in the closet with the dogs.

Now to figure out about roofers. I'll call a couple of them tomorrow. What a busy end of the month.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Oct 25 - 12:04 PM

The weekend is not getting an auspicious start; last night the power went out after a high wind (so far only rumored to be a tornado) hit this side of town. Trees toppled like Jenga blocks (next door lost an immense hackberry, but it nicely tipped in the direction of the creek, resting on their steel fence (but it doesn't look bent). No houses or durable out buildings hit. Plastic portable buildings are a bit scattered but will probably reassemble when the tree roots are removed. Interesting that I've started looking at getting the roof replaced. My patio cover lost a plank last night, I may end up having it replaced also.

Our mutual handyman friend has already been over to look at the downed tree job as we operate with their generator starting this morning. (I got a new heavier gauge 100' cord to use just for this purpose; the last one was ok but had been purchased for yard work, not connection to a generator).

Recently several of my power backup devices were fully charged, though I missed the electric Coleman lantern, so Last night in the kitchen I read a book by a dim little light on the Stanley FatMax until I went to bed and read with a flashlight perched on my shoulder - just like so much of my childhood reading.

This is written via phone hotspot on the laptop plugged into the power strip that I now keep next to the kitchen window on a folding bookshelf (the type that Charmion just purchased and set up for all of her books). Last spring during an outage I found myself again retrieving a power strip to use here so decided to keep a dedicated power strip in the kitchen for generator use. Two or three times a year it gets plugged into the generator, the rest of the time it's where I keep a few small appliances plugged in.

Not going anywhere for a while, I'd have to disconnect the garage door opener and manually lift it. I have fully charged camera batteries so I can use the time to take photos of some of my eBay listings that will go up soon. Or clean house. There's a lot of dust and clutter to address, should I choose.

Yesterday I mailed my ballot for the Nov. 4 election. That's probably the most important thing of this entire post.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Oct 25 - 07:05 PM

It sounds like when you finish installing and supporting those bookshelves they'll have a built-in look.

A woman posted to a local Freecycle group that she had a huge 3-section entertainment center with a rosewood veneer, needing a pickup and at least two other people to move. Nice and asking people to write and tell her how they would use it and she'd decide and let the winner know later in the week. My note to her as a moderator suggested that she edit her offer, that when giving away an obsolete relic she needs to let go and not vet responses, no one is going to write one for her. She agreed and trimmed it. You can only expect the bare minimum from most responses on those sites, especially since many are typed on phones with misspellings and bad grammar.

I delivered seven individual meals (frozen pizza quarters) to the ex, have checked his mail, and while he doesn't think he's doing better, I can see him puttering around more without being aware he's doing it. He also is having difficulties with his printer (finding the ink). Maybe I can solve that problem.

A file with information from various roofers is assembled and I'll make a couple of calls tomorrow to start the roof estimate process. Watching the bank for when the initial payments for the work to hit checking, then have some wiggle room as far as buying shingles.

The weekend is here, and again, as a retired person that shouldn't make a difference but it does.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 24 Oct 25 - 05:27 PM

All nine bookcase sections fit neatly in the bunker, with room for one more (but that’s the absolute limit). The filing cabinet is attracting the usual FB Marketplace traffic — “Is this available?” “Will you help me load it in my truck?” Of course, my ad says “Bring a friend”. I’m not doing my back for some fool who won’t — as Mick would say — “read for comprehension”.

Satisfied that today’s Sturm und Drang are completed, the cats are lounging in my lap. I am settled in the comfy chair with my feet up. All in all, it’s been an excellent Friday.

Tomorrow, I’ll post the IKEA bookcases. The sooner they’re off the property, the better.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Oct 25 - 02:39 PM

In late July I contacted my insurance company about the hail damage that occurred during a storm this spring. The adjustor said he didn't think it needed a new roof, overriding an appraisal by a local roofer that said it did. I assumed that was the end of it, but I got a call today from the adjustor saying the company overruled him and they are going to pay for a new roof. How odd is that? Anyway, the garden is finished so I don't need to worry about shingles landing in the cucumbers, but it does mean a lot of work to get appraisals and plan a time to do it. At least it isn't so hot now.

Roofs cost a lot more after COVID, apparently. The adjustor said prior to then a roof that might be $10 or $12,000 is now easily $20,000. I guess Trump immigration policies in his first term hit this industry; now they're making it even more difficult.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Oct 25 - 11:25 AM

All of this deciding and selling and buying and moving and remodeling in much less than a year is impressive!

This morning I consulted with my disabled friend who filed for disability status to receive financial assistance. She lives a mile from the courthouse and was going to go there in her electric wheelchair; walking more than a block or two is too much. I was going to meet her at the courthouse, but after consulting the attorney it seems that the wheelchair might convey to the judge that she is too independent. Mind-boggling. So I'll pick her up and drop her at the courthouse then park, and she'll hobble in with a cane. I'm there as window dressing, to show she needs help. Like a wheelchair doesn't already convey that?

And a bonus for the week I'll be cat sitting - the one that bit me needs to be seen by the vet, but the vet will do a house call and they'll catch her (regardless of who catches her, she'll be pissed off for the next couple of weeks). I wonder if they use a dart gun? ;-)

We had an incredibly noisy thunderstorm at 3am that jolted me awake. It did wash away some of the grass and more rain due today may finish the job. The air smells marvelous this morning.

It looks like I can pay $30 to Microsoft to extend my Win10 for a year. It would be free if I sync my browsers and accounts but that would mess up my system and I don't use it as my default browser. It's worth $30 to avoid that mess (and I have several computers to extend that offer to).

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 24 Oct 25 - 10:36 AM

Five more sections of folding bookcase are sitting on the front porch even as I type. In return for lunch at the pub (my offer; he calls it bait), Brother Andrew has kindly agreed to come over to help unbox and install them. We will then deploy the too-tall IKEA Billy bookcases in the garage so I can photograph them for listing on Kijiji and FB Marketplace. If my cunning plans continue to work out, I will be able to park the car in the garage by Hallowe'en.

Vandalism is no longer an important feature of Hallowe'en around here, at least not in the city, but I still don't want the car out there and vulnerable when people with lowered inhibitions might be inclined to hell around in the street.

I now also have a two-drawer lateral filing cabinet that is excess to requirements. I literally can't find anywhere to stash it but the guest room closet, so I packed the active files (not much, actually) and their hanging folders into plastic boxes currently stacked in the study closet. When he has a gap in his schedule, contractor Marc Durocher has agreed to install some sturdy shelves in said closet, and thus solve my study files problem.

I also shredded a tall stack of papers dealing with the sale of the Old St. Patrick Street house, renovations in Stratford, the origins of our tax-free savings accounts (now very different), and the membership of the Stratford Concert Choir. That felt good.

Speaking of completed projects, Tosh sent in his bill the other day with a note to say how much he likes me. I paid it promptly (as one does) with gratitude for his willingness -- indeed, eagerness -- to take on jobs such as garbage removal that were never part of the contract. I guess he really does like me.

Having paid October's credit card bill, I calculated the complete cost of the hardwood flooring project: Cdn$16,636.15. Not counting coordination services by Jeff the realtor and SIL No. 1, and heaving and hauling by everybody. It's a good thing the buyers in Stratford threw so much cash at me; between the move, the paint and the hardwood, a fair amount of it is gone.

Verily, verily, my Dad said unto me: A house is a hole in the ground into which you shovel money.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Oct 25 - 10:03 PM

The chipper will be cleaned up (it's very dusty) and delivered to my daughter. Turns out one of her fellow tiny house neighbors thinks he can use it.

I spent time this evening trimming grass along the street and in the driveway, hoping that if it rains overnight the bits will wash away. Tomorrow heavier showers are forecast. The new string does work better, not breaking off a often. Also, out of curiosity, I started digging up sweet potatoes this evening and came up with several pounds. Not beautiful, but edible.

I picked up two fresh pizzas at Aldi in the refrigerated produce section and delivered them to the ex; as it happens his side-by-side freezer isn't an easy place to freeze these (even cut into quarters) so we cut one quarter out for a meal tonight and the rest came here with me to cut and freeze and I'll take them back over. I see that they have fresh pizzas on cauliflower crusts, which would be good if I wasn't trying to avoid the carbs right now.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Oct 25 - 04:02 PM

This morning I distributed okra to three of the neighbors who have been regular recipients all summer; we're nearing the end of the season so this may be the last big offering. My tomatoes are producing a little bit again, I picked several today.

In my greenhouse there is an electric chipper that can process up to about 1" diameter branches, but I haven't used it in ages. The free mulch is easy to collect and using this chipper is slow and noisy. Lately limbs have either gone over the back fence to rot in the woods there or into the trash to leave the premises. I'll put it up on Freecycle with the instructions and I have a couple of spare blades for it. That's a bulky thing to hand off to the next gardener. Before offering it I'll ask my daughter if they can use it.

Running errands this afternoon for the ex with sciatica who still isn't up to driving.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 23 Oct 25 - 10:48 AM

Tired and hitting me with occasional twinges, but okay. No heroics today.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Oct 25 - 11:48 PM

Amazon has been struggling to get caught up after the crash a couple of days ago. I had messages about a two parcels that seemed to be swirling around the drain for a couple of days before finally launching and getting delivered.

Congratulations on getting so many books unloaded. And your back is still intact?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 22 Oct 25 - 10:27 PM

Today, I unpacked the last 22 cubic feet of books. Music and reference books went into the big Victorian bookcase in the study; atlases, art books, comics, graphic novels, and ancient bound volumes of “Punch” are in the even bigger Victorian bookcase in the sitting room, and everything else is stacked on the six-foot folding work table in the storage area of the basement.

So far, only four of the nine sections of folding bookcase I ordered (and paid for) have arrived. I was expecting six yesterday but only one was delivered, leading me to spend an hour I’ll never get back to find out from Amazon where the hell the other five are. It would appear that they never left the “third-party” vendor’s warehouse, so I should wait. Okay. I’m accustomed to waiting, but my toe is tapping.

Without all those boxes of books, the dining room is airy and spacious.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Oct 25 - 09:30 PM

Stepping up today to help my disabled friend prepare for the social security disability hearing in the first week of November. Her attorney sent a link to a video to view in preparation, and urged his clients to practice the questions with a friend who has also seen the video. We spent over 90 minutes discussing the list of questions they sent to her, and I was able to help her see things that she might have not thought about. It's a demoralizing process to have to speak of your physical difficulties in a court of law, but the judge needs to know why shopping is difficult, why she needs help with showering, what steps she must take just to trim her toenails, cook, or do laundry. I'll be there to offer moral support, at least. Dressed in dark clothes, my wallet and phone in my pocket, with no purse, no jewelry, etc., very Puritan in appearance.

Today the stone pine is minus the second low limb (cut up and in the trash bin), plus some branches that needed cleaning up after brief trims in the past. I also cut out a number of tall stalks on the okra that have no leaves, flowers, or pods.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Oct 25 - 11:53 AM

A new string of LED lights has arrived and I'll swap them out with the older string along the roofline of the front porch. The old string can still be used, now on the patio in back.

My insurance company used to offer a little phone app exercise program that I did at least several times a week, but they dropped it with the new benefit year. Some years ago my sister convinced me to try Essentrics and I pay a few dollars a month (in an annual bill) and decided I'd better get back to that one (it's a matter of finding a routine time to do the longer exercises). I always feel better after. The added weight from Prednisone makes the exercise more essential because it puts more pressure on the knee replacement hardware. Next week I'm tapering down one more mg and hopefully will reach a point where the steroids have less impact on eating.

The okra is nearing the end in the garden but the eggplants are perking along happily. I have to take the trimmer out and edge everything and then mow strategically; I have some groundcover I'm trying to let get established enough that it comes back thicker every year, but that means mowing it occasionally to spread the seeds around. This is that time. And the second of two limbs on the stone pine needs to be cut off today and disassembled to fit in the trash can.

The slim trowel I left on the pony wall next to the front door was used this morning to clear off the web in the corner then to tuck the deceased Ms. Argiope into the pot beside the bright yellow mums I put out last week. She had a robust life for a spider, dying of old age instead of a snack for a bird or bat or lizard. (There was a larger one beside the front walk who just vanished, still in her prime - I think she was a meal.)

Once a naturalist, always a naturalist. :)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 22 Oct 25 - 11:45 AM

> Doesn't she remember anything from what we learning about
> handling food during COVID?

Perhaps she assumed that everyone washes all food items in bleach.

The tea lady at one place of work used to use domestic bog-standard* bleach as washing-up liquid. I stopped her grabbing and washing up my coffee mug in this by cultivating in her mind the idea that I was cultivating the patina of coffee in my mug.

* This is not a euphemism.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Oct 25 - 02:20 PM

This morning I made a lot of work for myself. Various websites are running slow, probably still to do with the AWS glitches, but I thought I'd clear the cache on my browser. I was sure I told it to leave the cookies alone, but they went also, killing all of my logon cookies. That is a lot of hoops and authentications to go through to set up the most frequently used ones. And I'm going to have to do this again soon when I upgrade to Win11.

I'm heading out to shop soon for the ex who is going to need at least a few days for this sciatica to clear up. He is underweight enough that I'll be planning some meals with our daughter and will deliver them regularly to be sure he gets lots of calories (and will make his favorite Puerto Rican dishes to be sure he eats them). I stopped to shop for myself yesterday on the way home from dropping him off and found myself in the unusual situation of scolding another shopper. She was pawing through all of the broccoli, then cilantro, waving it around then putting it back. "Don't handle everything like that! Pick up what you want and don't touch it all!" I don't know if she spoke English, but I'm sure my tone, expression and gesturing got through. This store doesn't wrap produce in plastic, it's there in the cases it arrived in from the farm distributors - that is a good thing. Doesn't she remember anything from what we learning about handling food during COVID?

Mostly today I'm out of sorts because of the horrible damage being done to the White House. Why did no one step up and tell him to keep his grubby little orange hands off of a national architectural treasure? (Watch him bag up pieces from the demolition and sell them as souvenirs.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 21 Oct 25 - 09:10 AM

Tosh finally showed up this morning, four days and 45 minutes later than promised. The garage is cleared of trash (for now), the three excess cases of hardwood have gone back to Home Depot, and the sum of Cdn$405 has been returned to me.

The small rugs went to the cleaners yesterday in the pouring rain, and I made arrangements for the big rugs to be picked up for cleaning on Thursday.

I am now ensconced in the crowded waiting area at the VW dealer, waiting for my car to go through its semi-annual service routine, wheel change and all. Between the car and the carpets, this will be another expensive week of no-fun spending.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 21 Oct 25 - 04:24 AM

Destructive winds, storms and record heat to blast south-east Australia in wild weather ... Wednesday will also mark Sydney's seventh day this month above 30C, the most for October, while the mean maximum this month is running at well above 27C — more than 5C above average and on target to pass the previous record of 26.2C from 1988 ... (38C = 100F & 25 = 77F)

My place is still chaotic with a new larger fridge in the kitchen & displaced stuff in my bedroom. My vintage 1970s rectangular shopping trolley sat beside the fridge holding spare hand towels, carry bags + vacuum heads etc & now sits in my bedroom until I donate it. My much larger stair climbing personal trolley that I use every day sits next to it & caught the cord of my small CD player on it's way to my bedroom TWICE - oops, down it fell - & the lid came off when it fell again. My favourite CD was inside & I don't know whether it is damaged, but a techy friend will put back the lid & check it out soon. If the CD is damaged I can get a copy from the friend who put it out, many years ago!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Oct 25 - 11:45 PM

A word to the wise - if you have a slouchy sofa that doesn't offer comfortable support, ditch it. My ex has such a sofa and it finally got him; sciatica hit a few days ago and today I spent the afternoon transporting him from his doctor to the imaging lab for x-rays then to the pharmacy for the prescriptions. I've sent a note to the kids that we need to pitch in for a good recliner for him for his xmas gift. Today I took the walker that was provided with my first knee replacement surgery (and not used much then or with the second surgery). He has it at the house, along with two prescriptions to reduce the inflammation. We also stopped to pick up dinner for him, and I got one that was full of calories because he is underweight. (Macaroni and cheese is comfort food - and when you get it from a French restaurant it has sharp cheese, basil, and extra chicken with a croissant on the side.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 20 Oct 25 - 04:31 PM

Studded tires have been verboten in Ontario since the late ‘70s, and I imagine other North American jurisdictions did the same at about the same time for the same reasons — steel-belted “four-season” radial tires came on the market, and governments were tired of seeing their asphalt torn up every year. In Ottawa and colder regions, “four-season” radial tires are actually three-season tires because they harden too much at temperatures way below freezing, causing skids. Snow tires have a grippy tread even in deep cold.

Rain all day, sometimes heavy, and cooler temperatures in the offing. October has finally showed up.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Oct 25 - 12:28 PM

That's one thing I don't miss about living in a northern state - putting on the snow tires every winter. It used to be studded tires, I don't know if those are even legal these days. All-season radials have replaced them in a lot of instances. I make a point of rotating the tires every 5000 miles or so, and the Discount Tire store will do the rotation for free when you bought the tires there. I'm probably due for that soon.

The first of two lower limbs has been trimmed from the Italian stone pine beside the street. The pieces fit into the roughneck trash can, and while it was heavy it wasn't too much to lift. One more limb to go for Thursday. Better this piecemeal approach in nice weather than waiting to cut it down in December for our next bulky pickup.

I went into the DNA/genealogical site I have used intermittently and stopped its pernicious autorenewal. They don't give much warning and give no refunds if they grab the $300 they charge a year. I took an offer last year of about $40 for the year but of course they keep your card information for automatic full-price renewal unless you cancel. Except that they're pretty efficient with family information, their practices are stinky. (When I joined they listed it as a monthly rate, but then they grab the full year cost from your credit card. When I tried to call their lines were busy so I poked around and read the fine print and saw what they were doing. This was right after a St. Patrick's Day special and I figure the lines were busy because so many people were calling to complain. Live and learn.)

The weather is finally cool enough that I have the master bathroom window open a crack, and as late in the year as it is, still have only the sheet and a light cotton blanket on the bed. Last night is the first time in ages that cotton blanket wasn't tossed to the side. I stopped using the ceiling fan at night last week. Funny weather we're having.

AWS, the web hosting arm of Amazon, has been wonky all day, so various sites aren't working. eBay seems to be hosted somewhere else so I'll work on those listings today, before a late afternoon trip taking my ex to his doctor and then running a couple of other errands.

How is everyone doing as fall proceeds (or spring, in the case of Sandra)? Mary, have you settled in and found a few stores and services you like? Keb, when does the nosy neighbor make the move to the other part of the facility (as mentioned in another thread)?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 20 Oct 25 - 09:22 AM

Dinner last night with Nephew No 1’s family, including his autistic BIL who drives me nuts with constant random chatter, mostly about himself. I departed as soon as I decently could, pleading an early start but actually craving a quiet sit with the cat.

Nothing heard from Tosh. His trash connection is a dumpster contractor who tips him off to imminent removal of half-full skips around town, thus allowing Tosh to avoid dumping fees. (I would prefer just to pay the damnable fees and get the garage cleared in a timely fashion.) I’m far more interested in getting the excess hardwood returned to Home Depot, however. Trash clearance is a surprisingly popular service around here.

Today I must haul the smaller rugs to the cleaners. They are rolled up and propped against the stack of winter tires in the garage, and the tires have to be in the back of the car before 0800 hr tomorrow. At 0830, said car is due at the shop for its semi-annual service and change of wheels. Sometimes I think my life is one long game of Jenga — this block has to go before that block or the whole thing collapses.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Oct 25 - 06:19 PM

patty, we're all working to declutter the US of a despot. Important work. Congratulations to your IRL friend, I understand exactly what she's encountered. Making your time count, and having an impact is something we all calculate. I have a local Democratic state senator (the one who was locked in the Texas House chambers because she wouldn't agree to having a state trooper dog her steps) but the rest are GOP. They get the sharp side of my pen in my missives to them. Sometimes I use my blog to post open letters that I'm sending to them, in case anyone else needs to use the text. Copy and paste is just fine with me.

On the home front, Ms. Argiope is nearing the end, shrinking and listless. I don't think tossing her a beetle would cheer her; if she is discoverable after she dies I'll bury her in one of the potted plants out front. She has led a robust life with several egg sacs produced and quite a personality for spider. (Who knew that spiders are sensitive to sound? My blue heeler sets her on edge regularly.) I'm a naturalist so I understand, but am also a little sad.

There are nearly a dozen completed jigsaw puzzles on the sunroom table now that I've finished the latest. I feared a piece was missing but retraced my steps to the kitchen and back and found it on the door mat entering the room. The pieces were slick and tended to stick to my bare forearms if I lean on the table, so that one went walkabout with me. An eBay search of sold puzzles, in lots (more than 1) shows people tend to buy those that are by the same company. White Mountain, Buffalo Games, Ravensburger, Milton Bradley. I don't have a lot of each of those (just the Exploding Kittens ones) so may list them according to how difficult I found them or the number of pieces. There aren't a lot of the Exploding Kittens puzzles listed so if I lump too many together people who have already worked some in my listing may not be interested. I'll think of something. I'd like to put them all in one box and send them off.

My ex just called, describing something that sounds a lot like sciatica. Tomorrow I'll be driving him to his doctor or to a minor emergency clinic, whichever will see him soonest. And then we'll figure out a way to grocery shop with him or I'll take him home and shop for him. I think the problem is the saggy cushions on the couch in his living room.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: pattyClink
Date: 19 Oct 25 - 01:49 PM

I don't know what the future holds. Maybe this was a turning point, I hope so. Trumpers really are a minority. We don't have to turn them around. We just need for maybe 20% of the people who skipped voting in '24 to show up this next time, and they will. Some because they see the tyranny and refuse to accept it, some because this economy is not working except for the greedy grifters. And more than a few magats will no-show next time, angered or embarrassed by some idiotic thing their hero did.   

Well I digress, shoulda posted in the political thread.

Working hard today on cleaning, with the help of a robovac I caught on a great sale. My brain just doesn't do well programming enough vacuuming and mopping into the week. Maybe I can set robo to do one room a day or something. Picking stuff off the floor so it can work is a pretty great way to deal with clutter more often.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: pattyClink
Date: 19 Oct 25 - 01:48 PM

I was inspired by SRS and also an 'in real life' friend who has been protesting nonstop for months, even skipped some trips. She is going to just stop after this one for a while. She is burned out and can't keep planning her days and months around the protests. Life is too short to do way more than your share of being a good citizen.

Anyway, kudos and respect for everyone who was out there early and often. You have sent out many ripples, you'll never know how many people you drew into being involved. You did not let the republic go down without a whimper.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Oct 25 - 11:53 AM

I concur about the heartening photos of the marches across the US. There was a fast shower followed a half hour later by a thunderstorm that doused the large crowd in Fort Worth, but people stayed through the downpour. This crowd was almost double that of the first No Kings march. This is shared secondhand - I was finding the preparations for the event stressful enough that I decided to participate online instead and listened intermittently to the speakers in D.C., New York, Atlanta, Kansas City, Chicago, and San Francisco. Indivisible counts viewers in the day's participants.

Until the recurrence of the PMR the typical stress of preparing to march wouldn't have been remarkable, but I am trying to avoid prolonged exposure, both external and internal. Preparation for the march, getting there and staying safe is one part; ironically, beating up on myself for not going this time could be just as unhealthy. It was with mixed feelings that I listened online until enough of the speakers got through my internal chatter and reminded me again that there are many ways to support this cause. My PMR recovery also depends on me not beating up on myself too much.

One answer is to be more spontaneous. I have a few signs and several message shirts ready and can sign up at the last minute to go if it feels good. In the meantime I can amplify the messages of others on social media (recognizing this is preaching to the converted). For the rest of the time, I have signs in the yard and wear message shirts during the week. They get noticed. I still write to my elected representatives and donate to a few of the well-run causes. I feel like this went full-circle in analyzing the stress involved in the process and landed in a healthier place. The bottom line is I want to finish the Prednisone and stay off of it.

One side-effect of the donations is that groups sell their lists and others try really hard to get my attention by sending durable items. I'll be giving away several 2026 calendars because I can't use them all; the political message postcards are sent to my representatives.

Meanwhile, I worked in the yard after that rain. A weed spreading in a corner in the back was dug up and bagged for trash (I don't want seeds spreading from the compost). I'm set to spend some time this afternoon with the string trimmer up and down the driveway and along the curb at the street. I downloaded another audio book to accompany my jigsaw puzzles (I enjoyed McCullough's storytelling so much that I got another - John Adams.)

I recently read a remark about how to maintain the dishwasher, and several folks talked about removing and cleaning a filter. Filter? I dug out the booklet - no filter, other than just picking up any accumulated chunks on one spot near the drain. I'm glad I didn't have a 20+ year buildup of something to clean now.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: pattyClink
Date: 18 Oct 25 - 10:51 PM

The No Kings protest was pretty darn pleasant. With speakers and musicians presiding from a gazebo, a shady park, great weather, and a stream of supporters driving by, it was a 'walk in the park' and resembled the town picnic in The Music Man quite a bit. The police calmly parked across the road, I suspect to nab drive-by trouble-makers or coal-rollers more than anything else. Shortage of costumed animals, but some folks dressed as cacti, and plenty of other creative efforts at signs and apparel.

And turns out there is a local branch of Raging Grannies, which led a few songs, with help from a tall fellow with a large cue card with the chorus for the audience to use. But they did not do "Hey Mr. Tangerine Man".

This evening, have been seeing posted pics and videos of the large and peaceful demonstrations all across the land, very heartening. A group in Chicago marched a giant Constitution Preamble through downtown. Lots of flags, so good to see the US flag reclaimed from rightwing haters.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: pattyClink
Date: 17 Oct 25 - 03:02 PM

I am hoping to attend a No Kings gathering right after tomorrow's open mic. Do not have time or materials to craft a sign, but I just ran across the Raging Grannies NM clip of "Hey Mr. Tangerine Man". I may chord it and print off a few copies, so I could lead a group singingif it seems like a good idea.
Hey Mr. Tangerine Man

Otherwise, I'll just show up and be counted. I noticed the artsy town still has its contingent of maga jerks who did a vigil for Charlie Kirk. So probably our worst outcome would be if they do an angry drive-by. Oh well, free speech for all.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Oct 25 - 01:16 PM

I turned off my alarm for this morning and I can't remember the last time I slept this late, but it was a good reset.

Tomorrow is the No Kings day and is an economic blackout. I am probably not the only person taking care of some shopping today to be in position to spend nothing tomorrow (I'm almost out of dog food.) For the event itself I have my pack ready, camera battery charged, the sign is just about finished, and the main obstacle is finding an easy way to carry a water bottle. I think it will be a combination of fanny pack worn in front for a few small things and a small backpack for the water bottle and a few first aid supplies. It looks like the governor is sending state National Guard to Austin, not ultra-conservative counties like the one I live in. I hope a lot of people take a tip from Portland, OR, and wear costumes (only trouble is it's still hot for wearing those).

Last night I confirmed (unintentionally) what someone remarked on a while ago; if you take vitamins near bedtime they can keep you awake. I'd forgotten to take mine, with the result it took a long time to nod off (and possibly why I overslept this morning).

The jigsaw puzzle image I'm working now has enough stucco and stone walls and cobblestones on the street to be slow going, and during much of it I was listening to an audio book about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. Now that it's finished I miss it, and am thinking it is the soothing story-telling of David McCullough that I miss as much as the story itself. I'll look around for another of his books, and I'm thinking John Adams is a good starting point, if the library has an unabridged audiobook of it. (His books were long, but I want the whole thing.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Oct 25 - 11:05 PM

How will Tosh dispose of all of those packing materials? Does he have a connection with movers?

It took about 30 minutes to clean the string of LED bulbs and they look better, but when I swapped the two replacement bulbs into the string they were a lot brighter than the rest. These don't burn out, they just fade until they're exhausted. Buying replacement bulbs isn't a cost-effective way to refresh the string, it looks like I need to buy a new string. The newer strings have more features in the remote control settings.

After cat sitting ended I have a couple of days with no appointments, and so many possible things to do.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 16 Oct 25 - 01:14 PM

Pickled fish is a food group. I’ll eat pickled herring any old way I can get it, though my favourite form is the rollmop: a herring fillet wrapped around a hunk of kosher dill pickle. Fortunately, Ottawa has substantial Jewish, Polish, Baltic, and Dutch communities, so every supermarket stocks it.

Tosh showed up this morning at ten past seven in an ancient one-ton van that he stuffed end to end, roof to floor, with flattened cardboard, bundled paper, and wood offcuts. Yet another stack of flattened boxes remains in the garage, plus the leftover hardwood, so he promised to return tomorrow for Round Two. I’ll expect him when I see him.

The burglar alarm technician just left, and the house is once again wired up against bad guys. The zebra blinds for the bedrooms and the enormous south-facing back window will be installed tomorrow afternoon. And the rest of the bookcases from Amazon have been shipped, so I should expect them early next week. That means hieing myself out to IKEA for several more shelving braces, as the three that arrived on Tuesday have an unnerving sideways wobble. But all of this activity means that I may well get those books unpacked before Hallowe’en.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Oct 25 - 10:50 PM

I should have offered up my own foodways - while I don't eat sushi, I love pickled herring (think of it as the Norwegian ceviche, but it lasts a lot longer). I prefer it in wine sauce, not cream.

Lately my mood has been iffy at times, low at others, and this evening came the realization that I can work on feeling better though actions. I picked up some strings of lights today and will go through the existing ones I stash every year for the holiday and be ready to put these up ahead of the holidays (keeping it simple - wrapping the trunks of trees in the front yard). I have a string of sparkling LED lights on the porch roofline that have grown dim over time; before replacing them I'll clean all of the bulbs and sockets, hoping for an extended run. Lights help my mood, and I hope to cheer the neighbors as well.

The wording and art for my sign for the October 18 No Kings rally are worked out and I'll make it tomorrow, ready for marching on Saturday, rain or shine, to boost my mood and that of my community members. Predictions are that nationwide the turnout will be epic. It won't make any difference to the Orange one, but perhaps the sycophants who have let him get away with this crap will feel some pressure.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 14 Oct 25 - 11:45 PM

I gave up cooking chickens a long time ago when cleaning the oven became too much! Then I used an electric frypan for some years, finally just bought supermarket cooked chickens & eventually took the frypan to a charity shop.

I love reading all the lovely things you cooks, gardeners & canners create, but I'm the daughter of a bad cook, plus I'm lazy & would rather read or do crafty stuff than slave over a hot kitchen! I had a collection of cooking books from my younger days, but they eventually went to charity shops as they were taking up space & collecting dust.

I only kept my 1960's edition of the famous Commonsence cookery book, 1st ed 1914 it must be a family heirloom!

If I have a cooked evening meal it's soupy-stew - fill saucepan with yummy veggies, start them boiling & look in chest freezer for protein. Sometimes I have a plan, other times I just forage & bring out what takes my attention - crumbed fish, pieces of supermarket chicken, chicken schnitzel, lamb (yum!), vegiburgers ... Microwave the protein & serve beside or in the soup - yum! Soup is flavoured with a commercial sauce or chutney/pickles made by friends!

Sometime I just have my normal "dessert" - plain yohurt & fruit if I've had a big salad & sandwiches for lunch.

sandra

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Oct 25 - 11:21 PM

I think I know the bookshelves you mean; I bought one a few years ago to fit a specific area in my office and I have several others (three shelves) and a couple of taller four-shelf baker's racks (that wouldn't stack).

I don't think you could pay me enough to try tripe, and there are a number of other sweetmeats and gland foods that are not on my menu. (Means there's more for people who like them.) I remember oxtail from years ago, it was good in soup or stew, but I've never cooked with that bony meat myself.

Recently I made the executive decision to stop buying whole chickens because it's difficult to cook them evenly even when spatchcocked. Back in the day when whole chickens were all you could buy (without a premium price) it was a matter of taking it home and cutting it up, but that hasn't been necessary for decades. I go with the parts, and for comfort food pieces can bake or stew or whatever just as well as the entire bird. Now having the entire bird means some kind of operation to cook it intact.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 14 Oct 25 - 10:00 PM

Today I made a truly excellent mushroom soup and bought an oxtail against the (inevitable) wintry day when oxtail is just what the doctor would order, if one had a doctor.

Nowadays, oxtail costs serious money. The man loading the next cooler over blamed “those foodies” for driving up the price of what used to be poor people’s fare. The packets he was setting out contained honeycomb tripe — again, stupidly expensive by the standards of one who used to eat tripe because it was the cheapest non-mackerel animal protein to be had. (You know you have achieved serious capability as a cook when you can make an appetising meal of tripe and onions.)

Tosh finished the stairs today, and they are, indeed, a thing of beauty and a joy to behold. Now that sawdust has ceased to be a component of the indoor environment, I can get the rugs cleaned and start hanging pictures.

I bought three folding bookcases from Amazon and, much to my delight, they fit in the bunker! Each one has three hinged shelves, and they stack. So I ordered six more (at no small cost), and therefore can plan the unpacking of those twelve boxes of books cluttering up the dining room.

Again, still, it’s weirdly warm in Ottawa. The trees should be all red and orange by now, but no — nothing doing. The middle of October and no killing frost in sight.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Oct 25 - 08:12 PM

I almost posted about considering a wood (or bamboo) clothes drying rack. I don't have clotheslines in the bathroom, like you, but this could live in the hall bathroom and be set up periodically in the bathtub. Since my dogs consider that tub theirs (during thunderstorms) I wouldn't leave it there permanently. And I'm reminded that I have a couple of pop-up mesh screens that I use for drying sweaters that would also work for the chamois (or many other hand-wash things), so maybe this isn't needed at all.

On Oct. 8 I mentioned our lunch and talking to the restaurant owner about okra and eggplant. Since then my daughter expressed her love for pickled okra so I used almost a gallon of it to make a batch for her, then gave the okra rejects to the next door neighbor (ecstatic to get that much, and she'll trim off any sub-standard bits). I had only about a pound fresh today so I bagged those and picked three of the eggplants, along with a wonderful cookbook that I've bought hardcover used copies of and given to friends and family over the years. I keep a couple of spare copies on hand in case an occasion arises to share the book, and this was such an occasion.

We walked in with a bag and the owner greeted us - "what's in the bag?" - "Stuff." Ah! I handed over okra and eggplants, and then pulled out the book. My daughter had suggested that "they have a lot of recipes already, they're a restaurant," but I said I'd use it to point out the recipes I like and if there was interest, I'd give them the book. He glommed onto the book and it was interesting from there. We placed our lunch order, and a few minutes later I looked over to the counter to see the owner seated reading through the cookbook. A few minutes later he had his phone out and had sent a photo and was discussing it. And then he was holding it up to show and talking through the passthrough window in Turkish to the guy who is cooking today. And more reading. It seems there are a number of recipes in there that they are developing, and the book serves as much for ideas as for actual recipes. And - lunch was on the house. :)

For October 14, it doesn't feel at all like fall. The leaves are starting to drop and turn, they aren't fooled by the warmth, but it's till quite warm for a lot of otherwise pleasant autumn outdoor activities. We have rain forecast on Saturday, not good since that is the date of the huge No Kings march; maybe it will hold off till later in the day or overnight.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 14 Oct 25 - 05:18 PM

I've just checked my envelope of booklets -
Chest freezer - 2024
washing machine - 2024
electric stove - 2021
vacuum - 2020
water heater - 2013 (replaced 1999 heater)
microwave - 2020

my 2015 clothes drier died a couple of years ago but I kept it as it is my bathroom bench! The booklet lives on the top so my executor knows it's condition. I wash twice a week, open the window wide & put stuff on the airer or the lines above the bath & use my 18" fan to help them dry. In summer they are usually dry before I go to bed, on colder days the fan goes all day & night. According to my engineer friend it uses less electricity than a dryer would.

My 4 windows are locked open about 6" as my bit of Sydney is close to the harbour & doesn't get very cold, so I've never had a heater - track pants over my winter tights & thermal tops & woolly cardigans keep me warm in our version of winter.

wikipedia Climate of Sydney - The lowest recorded minimum at Observatory Hill (ie Sydney Harbour) was 2.1 °C (35.8 °F) on 22 June 1932, while the coldest in the Sydney metropolitan area was -8 °C (18 °F), in Richmond. (ie. western suburbs) The lowest recorded maximum temperature at Observatory Hill was 7.7 °C (45.9 °F).

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Oct 25 - 12:04 PM

The oldest built-in appliance in this house is the dishwasher, purchased by the former long-term renters (I met them and discussed the history of the house before I made my low-ball offer). They had the cost deducted from their rent, and I doubt it is particularly high-end but it is durable. I didn't use it for a long time except for draining clean dishes. Now I use it several times a week, and expect it will be the next to go (as I also keep my eye on the 23-year-old water heater). The microwave oven also has standing as a venerable and vulnerable appliance; it came from my Dad's house after he died in 1997. At the bottom of the back inside it is a bit rusty for some reason, it was that way when I carried it home from his kitchen and it hasn't gotten any worse. It was in storage for a while so it hasn't had constant use for 30+ years. The only repair was to change the lightbulb (that involved taking the cabinet cover off).

Cleaning the windows in the SUV again, and with the new chamois I'm learning that it isn't just a matter to wipe with it, that piece of leather needs particular care to work properly. I've brought it into the house to give a first wash and let hang dry, apparently leaving a little bit of the soap in it with each wash. Odd. Moisten it to get the supple texture back before cleaning the glass. Learning something new with this ancient technology.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 14 Oct 25 - 09:06 AM

I moved some furniture around yesterday without hurting myself. Hurrah for me!

Tosh the carpenter promised to come on Saturday, but I saw neither hide nor hair of him all weekend. He does lively work, but I would not describe him as reliable. Marc Durocher (the other carpenter) called him “a bit strange”, and now I know what that means.

New appliances are always a bit of a crapshoot. On the one hand, they actually work, as in perform their intended function, but, on the other hand, everything around them must be adjusted in a dozen small ways. My dishwasher was never properly anchored in its space, so it rocks forward alarmingly when I pull out the racks. The refrigerator is much too big, occupying what feels like half the kitchen. The range hood is a disaster waiting to happen. But somehow I’m getting used to all this dysfunction, much as I hate it, because I dread the renewed upheaval that would come with the renovation that kitchen desperately needs.

When something — probably the dishwasher — breaks, my hand will be forced. But I’d like to get the books unpacked and solve the garage problem first!