Friday, July 17, 2020

A Locked Down & Clearing Out Weekly Link Round-Up





Thanks to some ill-advised non-action by the powers that be, Arizona has been ranking #1 in the world when it comes to COVID-19. It figures that we'd rank high on something no one wants to rank high on. Denis has been going to work, and that's about the only time anyone leaves this house.

I guess I've been in the house too long because I've actually started feeling as though I should be doing more... cleaning. Hold on. I'm feeling faint. Let me put my head between my knees for a minute.

All better now.

Before you think I've gone around the bend, I will hasten to assure you that most of my urge to clean has been centered on clearing out clutter. Even Denis has gotten into the act. Since he's no longer hoisting golf clubs and heavy luggage anymore (he's staying as far away from airline travelers as possible), he's gained a bit of weight. I need to work more on my own body. So we've decided to get a rather large piece of exercise equipment that will help us both with upper and lower body strength. But the question was-- where to put it?

We haven't used the dining room in a very long time. Very long. The only thing the dining room table has been used for is a dumping ground or something to decorate for the holidays, so we've decided to get rid of the dining room table and chairs. There were also two large video cabinets in there. Well, those cabinets have been emptied, and they will be going, too. We've also decided to get rid of some other pieces of furniture and equipment that are surplus to requirements, and several other things, so this means we'll be scheduling a pickup time with Goodwill.

I also realized that I hadn't touched anything on the upper four shelves here in the office closet for years, so all that stuff has come down for me to go through. Let me tell you, the recycle and garbage bins have been getting a workout! But... you never know what you're going to find when you're sorting and sifting. The photo shows a bright yellow plastic bag from the Murder & Mayhem Bookstore in Hay-on-Wye, the UK's famous "booktown." This mystery lover isn't about to throw away a keepsake that reminds her of the day she spent there! And as for that plastic container, I don't know if you can see the label on it, but it says "TO SCAN." I have a lot of old photos and other goodies that I want to scan to my computer.

Whew! I hope we get this pandemic situation under control soon. Casa Kittling may be sporting a severe minimalist look before much longer!

Enjoy the links!



►Books & Other Interesting Tidbits◄

►Channeling My Inner Indiana Jones◄

►Channeling My Inner Elly Mae Clampett◄

►Fascinating Folk◄

►The Happy Wanderer◄

►I ♥ Lists◄


That's all for this week! Don't forget to stop by next Friday when I'll be sharing a freshly selected batch of links for your surfing pleasure.

Stay safe! Stay healthy! And don't forget to curl up with a good book!


19 comments:

  1. Much to explore as always, thanks for sharing!

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  2. You know, Cathy, I really like the minimalist look. It's funny you'd be talking about clearing up clutter; I've been doing the same thing in my home office. There's still more here than I wish there were, but I've been making progress. When things are no longer useful/appealing/necessary/etc... it really is time to consider whether you still want them around. Now, I'm off to the York Guildhall, I think. Enjoy the weekend!

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  3. I'm a minimalist in home decor by nature, so I applaud your efforts and think you'll be happy with the result. I find it much more restful. Probably because I was the one (with my dear husband's help) to clear out my parents' house. My mother saved everything. My mother-in-law says that her will includes a clause that my husband and I are not allowed to 'clear out' her house. She says we would get rid of everything. We would - I itch to do so now - well, not right now, but one day. She has so much stuff that she never uses.

    Good luck with your new 'exercise' room! And please continue to take care, both of you!

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    1. I think I gave the wrong impression here. My house isn't really cluttered. The flat surfaces aren't covered with piles of stuff (except for our desks). The rooms aren't filled with furniture so that your toes are in constant danger. Everything I've cleared out has been neatly shelved or put in storage containers in a closet. Perhaps what I've been clearing out is "excess baggage" and not clutter.

      I hear you about clearing out loved ones' homes. My mother was a packrat. It took a lot of work to go through everything she'd accumulated. I had to clear out my grandparents' house that they'd lived in for sixty years to get it ready for sale. Both grandparents were packrats. I still remember the 106 single socks I found as I was going through all the cupboards and cubby holes. What's surprising me is that Denis got on board easily. (Probably because he realized that he has containers of computer cables he hasn't touched in a decade...)

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    2. Oh, I knew your house was cluttered with piles and stacks, Cathy. I meant that I thought you'd be happy with re-purposing a room and not having to fit your new equipment around your dining room stuff, etc. Yes, I think a lot of what you describe (the closet stuff) are things I could deal with as well. I have closed containers in closets on shelves that could be gone through and discarded or shredded. I keep thinking I'll do that. Maybe in the fall. 106 single socks? I get it. My Mom used to save and wash the paper cups she got at Dairy Queen or McDonalds - 'just in case'. LOL

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    3. Sigh. Too early. Knew your house was 'not' cluttered. Need more coffee. ;-)

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    4. Ah yes-- "Just in case"! My grandmother was good at that and also a champion at saving things "for best."

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  4. I'm still talking about clearing clutter, but haven't done much. I do have a trunk full of stuff to take to Goodwill, but delivering it has been a step too far. Had to put groceries on the back seat because the trunk was full. :(

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    1. I'm lucky-- once something like that gets put in the car, Denis is very very good about taking it to Goodwill quickly.

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  5. Lots of interesting links to explore, but I particularly enjoyed the one on Scottish crime writers. I'm very familiar with the work of Rankin, Mina, and McDermid, but only those three, so there's a lot to explore there. Looking forward to it.

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    1. I am soooooooo lucky to live in the same metro area as The Poisoned Pen Bookstore. I've met all three of the Scottish authors you listed.

      Off the top of my head, another Scottish crime writer you can try is Mark Douglas-Home who writes the Sea Detective mysteries. I've reviewed his books here on my blog.

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  6. All hail to Barbara Peters. Just watched her Facebook interview with hilarious David Rosenfelt, dog rescuer and author of the Andy Carpenter series.

    He and his spouse, DEbbie Meyers, now have 13 dogs in Maine.

    Great interview. Dry wit.

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    1. You would love his events at The Poisoned Pen. People bring their dogs, so there's a great interview to enjoy as well as dogs to pet.

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  7. I would love that. Don't rub it in that I"m thousands of miles away. Didn't even see one dog as I went to the grocery store, socially distanced, of course, and masked as were the guys in the store. But not the guys on the corner whom I know.

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  8. P.S. I went to Australian writer, Angela Savage's blog and heard two author discussions about books written mostly by Oz writers. I loved it. If anyone wants to listen (one watch one), just go to her website and you will find the links to two of them. For the third one which will air 6:30 p.m. there on Wed., July 22 (and will run 4:30 a.m. here Wed. morning), check it out and there is a link there to where you can sign up for the webinar.

    Could I just ignore all and listen to authors talk about their and other writers' books? Yes!

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  9. There are sensitivities around asking people to wear masks. The guys on the corner next to the store, I know the main guy. I will ask him the next time I see him -- or I may not as I realized when I got home that I had on a two-layer cotton scarf around my face and that I was susceptible to their germs. I hope my scarf protected me.

    By the way, bonobos rule! I love to read about them, their matriarchal society and their peaceful ways. I read an article about them years ago where it said that intimate relations initiated by female bonobos keep the peace! Oh, those risque monkeys!

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    1. I'm not about to take my life in my hands and ask anyone to wear a mask. Few people around here do, which is why I'm staying home and trying not to climb the walls.

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  10. I went out Monday night as I needed some food, basics and some treats. I found three men on the corner, one who works in a store there, and none were wearing masks. I was wearing a thick cotton scarf around my face.
    When I got home I realized the guy I know talked to me, answering my questions about what the store had, that he was very close to me. We can't freak out. First time I've been out in weeks.
    Chatted with the clerk in the grocery store. He had a mask and a plastic partition.

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