Junk drawer

Well, my next baby step went well this week.  The irritating junk drawer!  Here are before and after pictures.

Victory!

I am so happy!  Despite a long hot day at work, I came home, visited with my husband and daughter, and then after dinner dishes ORGANIZED!  I switched the two cupboards I mentioned in yesterday's post (pots and pans, storage dishes and large serving bowls) and it works!  Of course I had to wipe them out, sort the junk out (you know, the containers without lids, etc.), but it totally works!  Wish I'd taken a before picture, but, even my husband loves it!

I feel like I'm really going to get this all done - one baby step at a time!
Of course this is my granddaughter doing her baby step thing, but, she's way cuter than I am!

Hot weather and organizing

Today I dried multiple loads of wash on my clothesline (and sorted and folded and put them), sorted through a stack of papers (and threw half of it away), washed the siding on the back of my house, and half of the other side (I need another hose to finish, as one is too short), finished a book I started reading a couple of days ago and visited with my youngest daughter.  I rearranged the furniture in my living room last night before I went to bed.  Why all this hard work?  I really wanted to go see my granddaughter this weekend, but, my husband has a nasty cold, so, I kept really busy.  My organizing projects got a nice little boost with a book I'm also reading called "One Year to an Organized Life" by Regina Leeds.  Being the impatient sort, I of course skimmed through sections of the book without reading the whole introduction, then had to go back and read it when she lost me partway through a chapter (which all made sense after reading the beginning).  Every organization book I read gives me a nudge in the right direction.  Partway through the kitchen chapter a light  went on in the brain and I realized that the reason two of my cupboards never seem to work, no matter how I organize them, is that they need to have the contents switched from one to the other.  It made so much sense, I couldn't believe it.  The cupboards, about 11 years ago, when we remodeled, made perfect sense to me, the way I organized them.  But, they have been a messy problem ever since.  I had it in my head that they were where they should be, even though it didn't really work.  My aha moment was when I realized how much more sense it made moving my pots and pans to the corner cupboard right next to the stove.  After all, they were only a couple of cupboards over, etc., etc., so every time I read in any book that you store things where they are used, I thought I had them there..  The corner cupboard is more open and taller, so I will actually be able to put the lids on the pans and see what I'm reaching for, with its two curved shelves.  What is currently stored in that handy corner cupboard?  My storage containers and lids, a few extra serving bowls, etc.  Not the best use of the space.  Don't even get me started about the other corner cupboard which is overloaded with not one set of good china, but, probably, counting the special Christmas china, three sets of good china, several different sets of everyday china, bowls, platters, etc.  This book recommends keeping your favorite stuff and gifting the rest, either to family or charity.  Because, the reality is, we don't really use most of it - ever.  Another thought for another day.  But, the hard part is of course parting with the pretty things.  As for the picture?  My gorgeous granddaughter, who I miss! 

Work work work work work.............................................................

Okay, I know that the hot weather makes me grumpy.  But, what is it with people?  You work hard, do more than you have to do (alot more), help wherever and whenever your help is needed.  Did I mention covering four positions one day last week?  Then, something goes not as planned and someone quickly tries to make it your fault (it wasn't my fault by the way), and gets all surprised, when (surprise!) you tell them that a) it was their job to do it correctly in the first place, b) you followed the schedule they had (supposedly) reviewed and c) if you are going to get blamed for anything that doesn't work out when you help out (surprise!) perhaps they shouldn't ask you to cover for them.  Of course, what they want you to do is take the blame so they are blameless, and still have you help whenever they can get someone to free you up to do that.
Did I mention the hot weather makes me grumpy?!

My project

Well, although life has been throwing some painful curve balls my way, I'm still moving forward with my playroom project.  Now, the biggest change right now, is I've swapped off which room I'm planning on using.  Downstairs is a room I use as a sitting room, with a large hutch and tons of sewing projects.  Trouble is, as I've been trying to use it for the rest of my stuff from the upstairs bedroom, there isn't enough room for everything.  I don't want the room that Quinn plays in to have mixed uses - it's for her and any brothers, sisters or cousins that join her for play at some point.  So after some hard thinking (after all, I've gotten rid of tons of stuff already, organized even more) I decided that the downstairs sitting room might be better for a playroom in the long run.  It has three windows, has nice carpet that I may or may not keep in there, and the walls were done not that long ago, so except for the usual minor filling in here and there, it will be easy to repaint.  Right now, it is a deep rose, but, I want a minty green for the upper walls and chalkboard paint on at least part of the lower walls.  There's a newer ceiling fan with light, and is bright and airy.  I think the storage in the upstairs bedroom will be better suited for my sewing stuff.  The hutch takes up all of one wall in the downstairs sitting room.  I won't get rid of it because a) it was given to me by a dear friend who has since passed away and b) I love displaying my collections in the upper glass doored part.  My husband will look it over and help me decide if it stays put or gets moved (I have no idea exactly where - it weighs a ton and is huge).  On the plus side, the lower doors could be child proofed until Quinn is older, and/or she could keep her toys in the bottom half.  The upper half is more problematic, but, we have time to think it through.
However, with some planning, I think this room will be perfect for the child(ren).  Will add some before and after pictures as soon as I have some good ones.

Weekend

Visited Quinn and family this Saturday.  I love how she makes me feel with her giggles and smiles.

My own mother, who I am not close to physically or emotionally is having some medical problems.  She won't live closer to any of us (or with us), because she prefers Texas and being near her sister and brother.  Which makes it hard, when my aunt contacted one of my three siblings to tell him that he needs to "come and stay with your mother and take care of her".  He lives in Georgia and is working on a degree.  I have two sisters - one in Kansas, one in Florida, and I am in Pennsylvania.  We all work and/or go to school and I am sure they are as busy as I am.

Although I am an RN, my mom doesn't like to discuss her "personal" medical needs.  That includes medications.  She doesn't want me knowing her "business".  So, I had to be sneaky, telling my brother what questions to ask, etc.  For whatever reason, she feels he will be more knowledgeable about all things medical, although that isn't really his area of training.  Well, it only took a few minutes for him to discover an alarming amount of medications that interact with each other, that she is taking, prescribed by different doctors (he was emailing me as he looked into things).  So now she has an appointment this week to visit one doctor with all her medications.  I think a good medical workup and review of her medications will help alot.  We are also looking into caregivers who can be there more than the 3 days a week she now has someone come in.  In a perfect world, we would all be closer, geographically at least, and able to take a more hands on approach.  We handled things, and will continue to, as best we can.

On a more cheerful note, here is my grandbaby, yesterday:  My extended family may not be close, but, I hope my immediate family and I will always be.

Easter Bunny!

Some pictures just say it all.  Here is my granddaughter with her first Easter picture.