One is that the NJ budget passed, and includes the senior property tax relief, so mid July I'll be getting some of it. That will help with the insurance costs of the car and house.
Another is that Gary reminded me his container green beans are ready to pick. He loves to grow but not eat vegetables.
So yesterday I had a salad of steamed green beans and bell peppers with celery bits and scallion I'd grown. I threw in apricot, I'm definitely getting a taste for fruit in green salads, and added watermelon my other neighbor gave me. And sardines for brain stamina.
I'm continuing with my little basket, for calm, and it's now big enough to hold its own supplies
I looked around to decided what things are not worth carrying back because I rarely use them, and ended up with several groups of Freecycle items, most of which are claimed and will be picked up.
The cast iron baking pan is surplus to my requirements. I have three skillets which I can and do bake in. Likewise the other tools, I don't use them.
The violent storms yesterday stopped things but I expect the Freecycle items to be picked up today. I noticed that most of them are things people unloaded on me years ago. Very few were my choice.
And Gary's being very helpful about the car, which will be in the shop sometime today. I'll probably be without it a couple of weeks, between their getting insurance approval and doing the work. I could get a rental but my driving nerves are not up to a strange car.
So I may use this period as a test for being without a car, and see how it goes. I'll learn Uber, with whom I have an account I haven't used yet. And I'll see how to consolidate local errands.
I'm grateful to you all for your kind comments and encouragement. This is a trying time, but I have help.
Happy day everyone, let's hope July is good. I don't feel very celebratory about this year's Independence Day, I admit. But, day by day does it.
I deliberately didn't comment, although I understand what stress you must have suffered. I think you would do well to stick to Uber or other ride companies, which can be cheaper. Do you have Didi? Your method of ridding the kitchen of unnecessary pots and pans is not one I would recommend, but hey, it has worked for you, even though the method was not one you would choose. Take care, because we all care.
ReplyDeleteWe don't have Didi, I think. But yes it was a dramatic way of tidying out the kitchen!
DeleteToday is Dudo and Moose’s birthday. Let’s celebrate that this month. I get so much satisfaction from your winnowing. We shouldn’t have much to winnow having just winnowed and moved 8 months ago, but I still find things. I haven’t found a Freecycle, so I give things to friends and acquaintances or I place them alongside the dumpster and their gone in minutes. The component to the right of the food processor looks like a toilet.
ReplyDeleteNow that you mention it, it does. It's the vegetable chopper part.
DeleteI'd rather celebrate the cats birthday than anything right now.
I can't imagine many people will be feeling entirely festive on Independence Day this year. Nonetheless, I hope it passes peacefully.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping the Senate doesn't pass the ugly bill.
DeleteNot an easy time. Hope all goes well with the repairs, insurance, etc.. No fun navigating those things, but glad you have helpers surrounding you. Take care.
ReplyDeleteYes, the neighbor friends are a blessing.
DeleteOh, the sweet wee basket!
ReplyDeleteIt's coming along. I need to make more cordage.
DeleteSince I fell behind in blog reading, I didn’t know about the accident, so backtracked on older posts. I could identify with how a distraction resulted in the damages as a I had a similar incident a few years ago, when my car hit the side wall of the garage door here. Glad to read you were not hurt because things can be repaired in time, but people not so easily. It’s Lso good to have caring and helpful neighbors.
ReplyDeleteYes, I guess anyone can do this. I'm still shook up though.
DeleteThat basket you're weaving is lovely. I tried make a pine needle basket but got frustrated with it and left it. Maybe I'll try again one day.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you feel rattled by the accident because you don't trust yourself now. Like when I realize I'm not 100% sure what road I'm on because I've been daydreaming and then I think, I'm old, except I remember doing it when I was a young women too.
Yes, that's about it. I'm very unsure now.
DeleteI absolutely love how you're taking this opportunity to step back and do an assessment of things you need and things you don't. Not necessarily the way you'd have done it if you could have chosen, but you're doing it. And you're reminding me that I have dozens of cookbooks that I haven't cracked open in years and years. Time to let them go!
ReplyDeleteIt's a roundabout way of organizing the kitchen! People love cookbooks. Should be easy to pass them on.
DeleteI'm glad you're finding something of interest in that book. I think I mentioned before that I'm an organizational book junkie and have read more on the subject than I can count. This one is by far the best.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you have Uber to fall back on so at least you aren't totally stranded whilst your car gets repaired. I know the day is coming for me when I'll have to rely on them too because I won't be able to keep a car.
The way I feel about driving just now, I'd be happy to be a passenger.
DeleteThis book has actual useful concepts beyond just organizing ,which a lot of decluttering seems to end up being about. And she's so honest.
I’ve missed some stuff, but you seem to be prevailing. Good for you.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're right.
DeleteI think you will love Uber. It's so convenient! I always find your winnowing posts inspiring. I think when we move (someday) we'll winnow quite a bit.
ReplyDeleteIt helps if you don't have deep attachments to objects, when you come to winnow.
DeleteI'm trying to look on Uber as a new adventure rather than a grim necessity.
You have such wonderful people around you. They are a true blessing.
ReplyDeleteGood to test out other transportation and the purging is a wonderful thing. When I first started I was more hesitant about letting things go, but as I have been doing it now for the past three years...well, it got a lot easier quickly and it really does feel wonderful. Leah sells on Facebook Marketplace and we've donated to local charities. I think it's a brilliant idea to "winnow" things down (love that phrase) while this unexpected opportunity has arisen. ;) *hugs*
I'd like to have less to put back in the kitchen when eventually I get back in it in a repaired condition.
DeleteAdapt and cope with things that happen - whether it’s external or internal changes! That’s kind of become my daily mantra. Being creative now means how can I deal with whatever it may be. You’ve got ways to fix meals…and certainly are creative there!! I like throwing berries and banana slices into salads. Who made the rule that greens went into one kind and fruits into another, anyway!
ReplyDeleteThe grasses sway and adapt to wind. The rugged tree standing firm will be toppled. I'm hoping to copy grass.
DeleteI just read back a couple of posts I am so sorry you had the accident.
ReplyDeleteBut you seem to be strong and dealing with it the best as you can.
Cathy
With help from neighbors and support from friends all over. That helps a lot.
DeleteOh, Liz, I'm sorry about the turmoil. I don't know what else to say, but please know that my thoughts are with you as you make decisions about all the details related to this situation.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I'm not alone, so there's that.
DeleteYou've got this! Your can-do spirit will carry you through and like you mentioned, you have some help. Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteThat's great encouragement, thank you.
DeleteWinnowing can be comforting (I guess it depends on personality) - a silver lining to having to empty the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteIt adds an element of control to a chaotic situation, so that's a good thing for me right now.
DeleteI'm glad you got a good state budget! In Ohio we are trying to inflect as much pain as possible on residents. This is real - it includes the state grabbing any unclaimed funds of Ohio residents and giving them to the billionaires who own the Cleveland Browns to build a multi million dollar stadium outside of Cleveland where no one wants to travel to a stadium. Because we don't care if healthcare or libraries or public schools or food banks or public services get funded as long as a family of billionaires get tax breaks and a free privately owned football stadium.
ReplyDeleteThat's heartbreaking to live through.
DeleteI just now read what happened. I kind of thought it was something like that by what you had said earlier. Winnowing is a good activity for you when your a bit rattled.
ReplyDeleteYes, winnowing and making cordage. Simple soothing activity.
DeleteSimple and soothing is for the best. After my accident I had PTSD symptoms...
ReplyDeleteThe last meme has it right: just breathe.
ReplyDeleteI hear you on July 4. I have a feeling that the accident will stick with you for a long while -- at least any of my mishaps like that have with me. Just hang in -- you have a marvelous attitude about it all. And I think it's great that Gary grows and shares his veg!
ReplyDeleteExcellent to get rid of stuff you don't use. Glad you don't have to go through the HOA. Happy July!
ReplyDeleteI'm also in the middle of a kitchen utensil reassessment, after emptying drawers for cleaning and then taking a good look at the entire collection. Some odds and ends amongst some quite nice things. Freecycle is as much work as eBay here, but I'm considering putting a box at the end of my driveway with a "$1 each" sign and a coffee can. Even if desperately under-utensiled people walked off with most of the them, I might end up with ten dollars for a bale of hay. My personal economic system is based on the Hay Standard.
ReplyDelete(Take it easy on yourself, Liz. Your body has been through a lot lately, as well as your mind. Time is a great healer, as someone once said.)