Have fun Thursday

[BookSaver]

Good morning, villagers ~

TaDas from yesterday:
* Finished processing the sewing group newsletter and took it to the post office
* Stuffed the trash and recycle bins totally full and took them to the curb
* Day 2 of Sweep the Floor habit
* Worked a bit on research project for me

Today is a Clear the Decks day. Almost all dailies are already done. I want to spend time decluttering and finding empty air before I pull out fabrics and holiday decorations.

I forgot to bring down a box of trash from the storage room, so that will be an easy and instant grab for a couple of cubic feet of air.

Previous dejunkings in the storage room have emptied it enough to install a couple small shelving units I bought awhile ago. Of course they need to be assembled first, but I like assembling shelves -- it's such an optimistic job.

Once the shelves are in place, I can move the file boxes of sewing group archives out of the dining room and office, up to long-term storage. I'm making a monthly card for 2013 to go through those boxes and see if anything can be tossed. We're legally required to keep most of it, but I'm hoping I can at least condense it.

Usually I have no problem making the decisions to toss stuff, but there are still 1 or 2 things that make me pause. Y'all may remember that I finally decided to start putting glass jars in the trash after I realized that it would take a lot of time and gas in the car to haul them to the nearest recycling place.

Now I'm looking at a box of old toner cartridges in my office. I know there's a place in The Big City that will recycle them, and that's the earth-friendly way to dispose of them. I think they even give a bit of store credit in exchange. However, once again, it's a store in a part of The City where I don't normally go. Would the use of gas in the car balance out the good of recycling the toner and plastic cases?

Scattered wrote:

ummm yes I drain grease down the sink with hot water of course... should I not?

Oh boy, you've been lucky. Monday night there was a story on the news about all the plumbers that do repairs after Thanksgiving, and clearing grease clogs is one of the most common problems. They said it is a myth that running hot water along with the grease will prevent it from solidifying. It just makes the clog start somewhere farther along in the pipe. Please drain the grease into a container that can be put in the trash.

Okay ~ Maybe something like the oilcloth tablecloths from VermontCountryStore.com?

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Back from the doctor. Ds is NOT TO GO BACK TO WORK for another 17 days. He's a bit in shock. His rent is covered for December but he'll be in trouble for January because even if he does go back on the 16th, he won't earn enough to cover the rent before the next cheque is due. Of course, he has his savings for Australia so now he's seeing that trip start to evaporate.

It is breaking my heart. I can do everything for him and it is tempting because he did absolutely nothing to bring this on himself. He is gainfully employed and has been at the hospital for 2.5 years but is still only a casual worker with no benefits so has always been one small setback away from disaster. I know a lot of you understand what that is like.

I could make this all go away with a wave of my hand but he has been so proud of how well he is doing, and life is about making hard choices and tough experiences, so I hate to take away the character development and growth that can come from this. I'm just thankful it is a non-life-threatening issue - he could have cancer or have been hit by a drunk driver and be in a coma. This will pass and life will return to normal for him. So bailing him out seems like I might be coddling him too much.

I'm just printing off the last 3 sides of the newsletter and then I need to figure out how to do the mailing labels. I only do them once a year so they are always a pain in a butt to do since I have to relearn the process. I'm counting the fact that the colour laser printer has enough toner to do this project as a blessing. I remember last year both the laser printers and the ink jet printer ran out of toner/ink.

[Harriet]

Grease - wow, I suppose I have been blessed because I use so little grease in cooking. I have definitely sent some down the drain and did not know it could be that bad an idea. In the past couple years we have used nothing but virgin coconut oil for frying, though, and although it is a solid, it melts at a low temp than others, very soft. Right now I have bacon grease in the frying pan - highly unusual but I was trying again to like the hormel no-nitrite bacon and it only comes the traditional way for frying. (not microwave) HRH and I both had a dickens of a time trying to cook it, though, so thick and curling.

OKay, if you watch ebay you may find exactly what you're looking for come up sometime. It's a marvel to me how obscure items I look for will pop up there. Tablecloths here have been working less and less to satisfaction. Cheap ones are prone to accident (an inadvertent tug on one spilling a child's cup, etc.). And both the grandchildren and my ddad really need a surface that can be wiped up repetitively.

I've been working on my hen's nest boxes. They have new straw and wooden nest eggs in them. They seemed slouchy as though they might fall, ever since HRH had to remove a support a snake was used as a hidey place. So I bolstered them up with a plastic recycled round container shaped like an ice cream quart only sturdier (candy had come in it, of all things). I tried planting-type plastic pots but I didn't have any tall enough and this seems fine.

[blessedw2]

hair dyed and blow dried
now - facing the fact I have to move my whole house into the 3 season room today as they are coming tomorrow to move the furniture for sanding down the floors and revarnishing them.

hello everyone

[Ivy]

Good Morning, Villagers!

I went to bed at 12:45 a.m. and got up at 6:30 a.m. Could not sleep! So now I'm dragging and sleepy. Will be taking a morning nap, for sure, I think.

I archived books on my Nook last night, to get them to a better manageable number on my Nook. I need to do more, too. Downloading free Nook books got out of hand.

I fed Bert & Ernie last night, need to put away 1 load. Wanted to catch up with laundry because of wind/rain storms coming.

It's time for a little snooze. I wrote a letter this morning.

Have a GR8 Day, Everybody! Waving hello to you all!

[ellyphant]

Hi, everyone!

One car inspected here and one more to go--but that one is not due 'til end of December. Stopped at grocery store for item they were out of last time. One lol in dryer. Supper planned...life is good!

blessed--I also need to color my hair. Good luck with the floors. That will be worth all the trouble of moving everything, I'm sure!

Interesting tablecloth talk! I just put my GM's Christmas tablecloth on small breakfast table. That and my carolers belonged to her. She has been gone for 19 years, but I know she would love that I still use many of her things. I have another of her tablecloths from the 50's or 60's. Good memories!

Angels, nutcrackers, and nativities are displayed, along with stockings, Christmas placemats, etc...The tree is the last piece of the puzzle. Still have not put it up. The first step is dragging it out of the basement, so here I go...

[Nancy]

Today watched my knitting show that was fun.
Breakfast was fun with a low I had ch. covered raisins!
Dgd helped me dust so she did the living room and I did the master bedroom. Dg wants cookie dough [it's done] made that up yesterday.

It's been busy for h's work this week things are busy more so than in Aug.

I too have been concerned in the amounts of sodium in prepared foods like soups etc. I've been skipping ham and most pork this fall. Except the bacon I got have not had much of it all year.

[blessedw2]

tothing: 1 hour of packing and putting away. I have a bunch of stuff on the dining room table and sooooo tempted to toss into one miscellaneous box. fighting against my natural SHE tendencies.

[Lilac]

I have spent all morning putting ornaments on the new tree. I really hate to put up the second tree but I have lighted churches and other things that won't work on the new tree with LED lights. Plus, I spend a lot of time downstairs and can enjoy it too.

I need to get a shower so I can go buy gas. I hate to wait until tomorrow because it is always busy Friday thru Sunday.

[ellyphant]

Tree is up from basement! I also folded and put away lol, ironed a shirt, peeled potatoes, and ate a Christmas cookie! Amazing what I can get done while avoiding something else...

DH's co-worker already gifted him with a plate of homemade cookies this week and we are going to a Christmas gathering this weekend. It seems early for all that.

Went to Wednesday night service last night at church. Planning to go more often. That gave me a wonderful mid-week boost.

Next up: color hair and read library book!