This is what it feels like doing a big project in a small space--LOL!
Do you remember these sliding number puzzles? Classic. I wonder if they still make them? They used to be one of the favorite things to win at the kiddie carnivals they held in grade school.
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It was in the 90s and miserable again for another stretch last week.
Karma was happy to go out and chomp on her cat grass, though.
Then Friday, toward morning, we had a thunderstorm and the temps broke for the weekend. It was still raining in the morning a bit. As I took this picture of the puddle covered with rain drops...
...I noticed a fire off in the distance. It got bigger, thicker, and blacker before it finally went out. I even recorded the local news (normally never watch the news--if recorded I could FF through sports and political commercials), but they had nothing to report about a fire. I always hope everybody got out safely, you know?
I digress. As usual. ;)
What have I been doing since Thursday?
Moving books!
Slowly moving books.
The bottom three shelves of art & craft books in this bedroom bookcase...
...are now in the hallway bookcase.
No. They didn't fit on the same shelves, but that's okay.
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And that led to my rearranging the entryway bookcase. I moved all the art & craft magazines to the new bookcase on the top shelf.
I got cut off in mid-stream. My body, the current work supervisor, demanded there be no overtime. So I had to walk around stacks of books for the last couple days.
Oh, and that included in my bedroom, too, because the entryway reorganizing led to the oak bookcase (dedicated to books) I have in there.
I had to move everything off "Karma's chair" by the window, so now my desk is in the process of getting covered, too. Miss Karma apparently wanted her chair back and started biting the blinds during the night even though I had them open at the bottom for her--exactly like I do on "her side" of the craft table by the porch door. Geez Louise!!
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I also spent one entire morning and into the afternoon reorganizing my ink pad shelves that are up over my AC next to the window.
This is how it goes...from one area to the next...the chaos spreads. ;)
I wanted a complete list of what refills and ink pads we still needed...made my list...went online...and, horrors! I discovered that the Ancient Page ink pads have been discontinued. We have four of them with no refills!
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So, I spent a while online looking for somebody who still has them. All the bigger, popular websites were out or down to refill colors I don't need. I finally found a couple odd places that had all four of them--and I'll have to hope they still do by September when I can order them. Otherwise--what a waste! When they go dry they would have be tossed in the trash instead of being able to use them for years. I'll let you all know...even if this is only traumatic to crafters--LOL! ;)
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Karma obviously couldn't claim the stacks of books by laying on them (although she knocked the low stack over rubbing her head against it), so she laid next to them...
...all afternoon yesterday. Karma believes strongly in the acknowledgement of change.
Today.
Well, first thing is I do have to get those stacks of books out of the entryway and hallway because I need to call about my AC. It just hasn't been working right for quite a while and they are talking being back to the hot-hot 90s days again now this week. I didn't used to even have to run my AC on high. Now I run it on high all the time and it never gets chilly in here like it used to on high...or even very cool. And when I move around at all, even on a day I am not organizing, I get sticky and sweaty. Time for them to take a look at it. (Leah doesn't even want to come over anymore!) So that is what I am going to do right now. Not even going to organize those books--just get them up and off the floor. I'm still too sore to do much else with them right now.
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It may look like a total mess, but I am making headway and it is exciting! I can only actually work on it about every other day...sometimes every third day (which is happening with the books, no surprise).
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BTW--I've been catching up online, too! Whoohoo!
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Well, today's supposed to get up close to 90 and by Wednesday close to 100...better go move some books and make a phone call. See you Thursday! :):)
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"Rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only true gift is a portion of thyself."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
34 comments:
One of my earliest memories is one of those puzzles, with spades, diamonds clubs and hearts on, I would spend hours working it as a small child, and found it fascinating! thanks for jogging my memory. I hope your weather cools down soon.
I adore the pictures of Karma laying by the stacks of books, looks like she is reading the titles and daydreaming about them. So sorry to hear about your air conditioner, does it have a filter? Don't overdo all that organizing, just goes to show you that it's bad for your body! lol Organization=health risk! waving hi from the hills of North Carolina :)
I used to love those puzzles!!
That's the way it goes with organizing anything. You have to make a truly horrific mess before you can even begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel! Pace yourself and try not to over-do it! HUGS!!
I hate it when favorite products get discontinued!! SU does that all the time and it's irritating to me. They call it "progress" and "staying on trend". I think it's just greed, lol!
Have a cool week....thinking positively about your A/C!!!!
How about just picking up a book off the floor and reading it instead of killing yourself doing all this work?
Be sensible now! Karma is, I can tell she is.
You are getting a lot done over there!
Gives me hope that I can finally get all the things done that I need to.
Have a great week!!
I remember those games! They do still make them--my kids got some as prizes when they attended a birthday party this year.
Glad you're making headway with your organizing. I hope your weather cools down soon--it's hard to do work like that when it's hot.
Have a nice week!
i have looked for those slider puzzles...and at christmas time i saw some!! but they weren't made as good as the OLD ones...these were cheap and easily fell apart! i used to love those puzzles!
wow...rita!! you sure have been working hard at all that organizing & moving stuff around!
i sure hope they come about your A/C soon...and get it fixed...don't wanna be without that, if your temp's get as hot as they say!
take care! =) happy monday!
I remember those games! You can find them at Christmas time in the special gifts section in Target.
Karma is very resourceful!
YOu have rain? No fair!! I want some! lol Your fires look like our fires. Everything is on fire. Its been miserable around here with all the smoke.
The photos of your cat KILL ME! To funny!! So reminds me of our dog. He used to do that same thing only took up a lot more room doing lol.
You have been busy busy!!
I hear ya about the heat. Its 94 right now and supposed to be 97 *sigh* I used to think I lived in Montana but pretty sure I moved to California and forgot I did it lol
You have a wonderful rest of your day ok!
*huggles*
=0)
i hope they can switch out or repair your a/c! sounds like you're getting one more late blast of summer heat.
your comparison to the slide puzzle is perfect. :)
Hi Karma ~ Your Mom is quite busy and not being gentle with herself ~ organizing is just like that puzzle ~ you will get there ~ then you can create lots of art! ~ Carol (A Creative Harbor)
PS ~ I am going to copy your word verification symbol it is wonderful ~ Hope that is okay ~ ^_^
Oh my goodness! You are knee deep in organizing!
That puzzle sure brought back memories. Now I'm wondering if they still make them. Probably not.
Don't ya just hate it when they discontinue stuff. It never fails.
I cannot wait to see the final reorganization results. Your foreman is like mine... when it is time to quit, ya better quit!
Where do you get the No comments on Verification blog ~ couldn't copy yours ?
Lots of books and lots of organization. Looks like you've been busy figuring out where you want things. Good luck with the rest of the "mess". ;)
I loved playing with those sliding puzzle games. Used to drive me nuts, but I enjoyed doing them. LOL
Wow - I love the quotation from Emerson. When I start reorganizing, it always leads to more reorganizing.
Good thing Karma takes care of you.
Love,
Janie
Good luck with your moving and reorganising Rita - Dave
The heat is so 'draining' isn't it, both phsyically and mentally I find?
Tidying up magnifies the mess, I always discover.
Hope you get straight soon. Are the inks water soluble?
xxx
Book and ink collections - is there any better combination!!!!
Karma is too cool for her own good!
Take it easy Rita with all that heavy work - my husband has a saying that I have to repeat to myself every so often: "The ox is slow, but the earth is patient".
Busy busy! I do remember those puzzles well. I used to love them and could solve them in no time. It was the last three tiles that were the trickiest.
Golly, you and I are so alike when it comes to organization and clutter. I GET IT.
I don't buy stamp pads. I buy reinkers only and use sponges to apply the ink, if I need to. I mostly use my reinkers for other projects, though, like dyeing fabric and paper backgrounds. I feel for you, since Ancient Page ink has been in the mark-down bins at my LSS for at least two years. They don't seem to be very popular, even reduced.
We are also in the same heat cycle. I HATE it. The rain we had over the weekend only made it more muggy and unbearable. Hope you get the AC fixed soon.
Hope it cools down for you. Just looking at all those piles makes me feel tired.
I've been rearranging bookcases too! I love cleaning out, making more space (for more junk), and seeing neat book shelves. I chuckled, looking at the plastic puzzle. That was the pre-curser to the Rubik's cube, I guess. :-)
Wow, quite the mess you have there! It's always messiest before it's clean. I just made that up, lol.
Hopefully you got your a/c problem fixed. Assuming it's a wall unit. It might just need the filter cleaned, or it might have gone kaput. Not fun when it's that hot and the a/c doesn't work the way it should.
I remember those puzzels and yes I loved to do them but if I couldn't get it I would get pissed off and throw it across the room and if it broke get more upset becasue I broke it.........lol I am my father's daughter..........lol
Don't you just wish at times that you could just snap your fingers and the books would arranged how you want without all the effect......or is that just me....lol
I like re-arranging books, but I always find that they never fit into the shelves quite as well as they had before I took them out, and the mess gets even bigger in the end. Wouldn't want to be without my books, though. I love how organised your work area is, and I hope you'll get your refills!
Wow..brilliant post..so much to comment on! Love those puzzle squares..so cool..brings back memories! and Gosh i love that Karma..what a charmer..hope the new sleeping spot works out ha ha! Everything is looking fabulous.. good work! You have been super busy!!
Wishing you a beautiful rest of week!
Victoria
I love this post because I so identify with the book thing! It is getting to the point once again where I must organize book because the stacks around my desk are too high. Which means some books must go. I have 3 floor to ceiling cases and 1 1/2 case upstairs and one floor to ceiling regular and one floor to ceiling under the basement steps book case and they are all full. Reall, I think I can let go of a shelf or two (noooooooooooooooooooo says my inner voice! You might need them!) Yes, well. Anyways, it's always great to see someone in the same predicament. I totally love the analogy of that movearound thing from our child hoods! Perfect!
Dear Rita, I'm so glad--and relieved also--that in the midst of the rearrangement of all your craft supplies and books you are listening to your body and paying attention to its needs. Please continue to be gracious to yourself. Peace.
Wonder if it is something in the air- I have been on a huge reorganizing mood lately- but I am no where near finished yet. Perhaps one day I'll feel totally organized...
I used to love those slider puzzles too.
I hope they fix your air-con soon. It definitely needs attention...good luck!
Yes, I echo the other comments here....best to take it easy. A good idea to listen to your body and only do what you are able, when you are able. LOVE your ink pad shelves!
Karma cracks me up with her reaction to changes in the apartment. lol
Enjoy the rest of your week and try to stay cool, my friend.
Love and hugs,
Serena xo
I used to love those puzzles too! I think they still make them but haven't seen any for a little while. What is going on with North Dakota? My son is stationed in Minot and he sent me a text that said it was 102 yesterday!!! In Va. it's usually hotter but I guess we had our heat wave earlier. Hope it cools down for you. :-)
When it's so hot outdoors it's a perfect time to get caught up on projects indoors, isn't it? You've been really busy organizing everything - especially the books. That's a lot of work!
Your space where your art supplies are is wonderful. I would want to stay there all day creating if I had everything so beautifully organized like you do!
My Nook Color e-reader has a sliding tile puzzle on it that I enjoy once or twice a week. :) It can be set to any size (up to 20x20 or so) and even has "form the words" tiles (that's a bit trickier since you don't know what the words are!)
You can still buy them - including some in Braille.
http://www.nexusgadgets.com/shema-sliding-number-puzzle-in-wood-pr-16887.html
http://www.boingtoys.com/buy/think-4900/fifteen-puzzle/
http://www.sillyasstoys.com/fifteenpuzzle.aspx
(I don't know any of these vendors - so I am not recommending them per se')
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