Reorganizing can clear one's head

I don't know about you, but I'm a creative person. Which means - I'm kind of a messy and cluttered person.

Sometimes this makes me nuts. And like most messy people, I look at the mess and think 'I've got to DO something about this!' 

And then I procrastinate. It sounds like too much work. Pain and suffering. Ugh! Not having it.

Not today!

So the mess continues to make me crazy.

Until I lose it and decide to REALLY do something. 

Here is what was making me crazy:

So pretty!

This is where most of my tatting and other hobby materials exist. Mind you, I live in a flat with limited storage - and this is the one and only hall I have. And it's the thing you have to pass to come in.

Obviously MUCH has been dumped in these shelves. And not just tatting - work things, sewing and knitting/crochet tools, and a ton of miscellaneous junk.

(I'm not going to discuss my Pez dispensers now. I collect them because they amuse me. Sue me.)

A couple of those boxes on lower shelves were full of tatting thread and other supplies. 

So.... I finally got off my arse and went to work.

Corralling the thread

First I took charge of my thread - which was WAY outta control! I sorted it by brand, size, and color combination. Some time ago I got these nice boxes from Handy Hands and they are now a big help. I labeled all the boxes on the ends. The crochet sized balls went into other containers.

Then I looked at the beads and findings. Most were dumped into a big plastic container but there were a bunch in other locations. I didn't need everything so I contacted a friend who is a beader and have shipped her a box full. She should be happy!

A tiny selection of the beads

I put all the UFOs together.(Be honest - we all have UFOs.) I found I have a ton of tatting bags so I put those together too. Then I got all my shuttles in one box and found another to put tatting tools like picot gauges and crochet hooks. 

I never need to buy any crochet hooks again. And probably not any shuttles either. It will be a very long time until I need to get thread. 

And I sorted through all the miscellaneous stuff, giving some away and throwing out an ginormous amount of trash and junk.

Tidy!

Ta-da! SO MUCH BETTER! I freed up two whole shelves and several big containers! 

More importantly - I can FIND things when I need them. 

And I feel a big weight off. Whew!

Now onto the Pez collection....

I'm a city gal now

Yes folks, I have exited Hooterville.

I now live in town. It's an area of Hotlanta much like Greenwich Village - hip, sort of bohemian, easy access to everything. I am a happy camper.

It was a tough move - the movers were still at my place at 10 pm on Thursday night. And I was at work bright and early Friday morning! I still have boxes to unpack, but I'm getting there.

Theo is getting used to being a cool city cat.

The cats are adjusting. They were traumatized for a few days, but they seem to feel better now, and play with each other or spend time gazing out the many windows.

My living space is looking better. Still need to paint and hang pictures, but it's comfy! (BTW - that big overstuffed chair is a recliner!)

And oh what a view I have - sunsets every night. This one was on Sunday evening.

And soon I'll be tatting again....
 

And then some other stuff happened....

Dear Friends

Just so you'll know, I haven't fallen in a hole, I haven't died, I haven't forgotten how to tat.

But I have been VERY busy.

Saturday was a year since Chez Crazy burnt down. And it's taken much of the year to recover. Some things have not recovered - but I am well.

 We have chosen NOT to rebuild the house. As Moe is in his last year of high school and I've been commuting into Hotlanta for lo these many years, I've decided to use the opportunity to move into a condo in town after he graduates. For now, we're living in a little rental home near the site of the old Chez Crazy (AKA the Ash Heap).

I worked for a LONG time to get the final list to the insurance company on the contents of the home. I have to tell you, this is not for the faint of heart. Think about listing by name every SINGLE item in your home, the brand name, when you bought it, what you paid for it, where it was located. Ugh. Fortunately I had enough sense to hire a Property Adjuster to help me - they were able to help build the claim and work with the insurance company to get the maximum value for me.

We have some bare minimum furnishings in the home, just enough for us. I don't know what I'll need when I move to a condo - I'll get those things then.

But we DID get some kitties! Moe begged and begged, he was missing kitties so bad.

This is Lucy.

And this is Theo.

They were fostered together and play nicely. They are very close in age, but not litter mates. They sleep with me. And Moe is happy.

Larry is happy living in Florida. Curly is out on his own in an apartment nearby, selling mobile phones. Moe is doing whatever seniors in high school do. I'm happy in my job. And DH....

Oh dear.

That's where this gets complicated.

After 28 years of marriage, DH and I divorced. It's quite complicated - but the end of any marriage is. DH The Ex and I remain on very good terms; I'm even on good terms with my MIL. He's not a bad man, and I wish him no ill. But I could no longer be married to him. And frankly, the fire made divorcing him easier for me.

Funny how things happen, isn't it?

Anyhow, I'm moving on with my next phase of my life. I haven't tatted much, though I did teach at Tat Days 2014. I'm doing a bit of photography. And I'm looking into dating (which is SO weird!).....

So folks, I'll be back, just on an occasional basis. Wish me well, won't you?
 

What's up at Chez Crazy

Sorry I've been absent lately. Things have been busy at Chez Crazy.

Moe turned 17. How is that possible? He was a baby just the other day.

He used to look like Cindy Lou-Who's brother.

Little Moe, who used to be so cute and sweet, is now almost 6 feet tall. He wears size 13 men's shoes. He is LARGE.

Moe had specific requests for his birthday gifts. These were his specified needs:

• A replacement mp3 player for his crappy broken mp3 player - does not need to be an Apple product.
• 2 cans of Spam.

"If I get these, I'm good!" he told me. What's a mother to do?

Of course he got these little things, plus a few more things which he was very pleased with. What a good boy!

The big news at Chez Crazy is related to me. After many months of on-again, off-again job hunting, I have finally landed a terrific job! I start Monday working at an international business consulting firm. I'll be supporting their internal Accounting functions (I'm an IT geek). The pay is really outstanding - I feel like I've won the lottery! And bonus - some international travel! Probably a week per year in London, maybe other places. Woo-hoo!!!

Many at my old office are sad to see me go. And I've been there for some time - 7.5 years is really a long time in the IT world. So I'm being thrown a little party today and having a big going-away luncheon tomorrow. It's really nice to know that you've been appreciated.

Want to see a few things Larry's come up with? His Superheros have rock bands!

Blue...

And Red.

I don't know who won his battle of the bands.

I leave you with my little sugar maple in my front yard. If you look carefully at the top, you'll see a wren puffed up on a branch.

Changes in progress.

Tuesday I did a bit of pampering for myelf - I got a pedicure.

This was my first pedicure since the Toe Nail Incident.  As you can see, I only have a tiny toe nail on my left big toe.  Like the color?  I don't do reds, as the clash with my skin tones. Gah, my feet are so dumpy!

And we are painting.  Curly's old room is being stripped and fixed up as the new guest room.  I've bribed Larry with money and groceries so that he will paint.  The room was an ugly green - Curly's choice.  And mercy, it was filthy! He had scarred up the walls something fierce.  Anyone know how to get gum out of carpet?

I'm painting the walls a soothing blue, this Behr Clear Water, with white trim.  Much better. Calm and restful.

Curly has an appointment with his therapist this afternoon, and DH and I are going.  Once again, we will try and convince him to go to the hospital.  Wish us luck....

And this evening I'm doing something fun for ME.  At an old favorite bar (known from way back in my theater days), I'm meeting a bunch of local bloggers.  I've never met any of this group, but it should be a good time.  We're meeting because this blogger is making a tour around the country and will be joining us.  I'm looking forward to it...