Hopalong Hollow....

Hopalong Hollow, where the Blueberries grow sweet, and the moss feels soft beneath your feet.

Sunday, March 20, 2016

When one job becomes DOZENS

Ever notice how one job leads to another until things are completely out of control? That's what happened to me 2 weeks  ago, when I decided to Spring Clean the studio. It all began innocently enough; until I decided that the antique kitchen cupboard housing many art supplies and chocolate/beeswax molds would be more useful in the Edwardian style bathroom. So I remove every single item and dragged the cupboard to the loo. 
And refilled with toiletries.

 Okay, so now, where do I put all those art supplies and molds?
Well, I'll just empty and exchange the current dresser in bathroom and drag IT to the studio.
  The drawers held a lot of supplies, but I was still left with a stack of Chocolate molds to contend with.
  Eyeing the stair landing with the little green cupboard, I thought, Ideal! I will place them  in the green cupboard which is posing as a doll hospital...
  but then where will I put all my broken doll parts? Okay, just stuff em in a basket.
 That's settled.
But I still have a dozen or more molds.... hmmmm.
 I think I really need some shelves in the studio. JAMES!!!!! 
Now, how can we put up shelves when that blasted pine armoire is in the way... I will just have to move the Armoire to the guest room.

 Dang, it won't fit in the guest room unless I completely rearrange the furniture IN the GUEST ROOM... after all, it is a very small, tight room.
Everything has to fit like a puzzle.
  Well, that is much nicer and cleaner.
James built me shelves that reach within 15" of the 10 foot ceiling, but they needed a table to sit upon. Hence, I must move the very long, old printers table, to support the shelves.
.
That gave me more than enough room for the remaining molds. 

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I'll need another chair in here; let's get the old secretary chair out of the barn, sand it, stain it, oil the gears and replace the wheels? Thanks again James!
 
Now, where will I put my sewing machine which WAS sitting on the pine table?  I know, I'll just take that little night stand out of the guest room, and move it to the studio, after all, it doesn't fit in the guest room anymore , what with the pine armoire taking up half a wall.
Good grief!
 And that's not the half of it. I won't even mention all the sorting ,sifting, shining, dusting,re-arranging and "boxing for the Goodwill" that went on.
A job that was to take 2 days, took 12.
 And all because of a little Spring Cleaning.

46 comments:

  1. Innocently, indeed! Guilty pleasures (rearranging furniture) can get us into trouble every time. I used to rearrange furniture all the time--even swapping rooms--but now I've acquired pieces that must stay put because they won't fit anywhere else. So I've greatly enjoyed seeing your rearrangements and glimpses of your charming farmhouse. You should sell tickets to tour your house when people come to your garden shop! Your collections are amazing.

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    1. Cathy, No kidding! Aside from moving furniture around, each room that I "borrowed from" had to be thoroughly cleaned and re-organized,every drawer, every closet. I am tired, but it was worth it.

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  2. Holy cow! I can relate. It's like opening a can of worms.

    Jobs well done though. It all looks lovely.

    Have a wonderful spring ~ FlowerLady

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    1. Lorraine, When I do the same job outside in the 12 garden beds, I WILL be opening a can of worms!

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  3. So many sweet treasures. I know what you mean about one thing leading to another. That happens even here in the little mouse-house. You have so many beautiful cupboards to play with. :) Deb

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    1. Hey Deb, Even a tiny house can present a challenge, more so, I think.

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  4. Sounds a lot like those little hand held puzzles with squares numbered from 1 to 9 with one open space. You, the puzzler, have to move them around here and there until you have them all lined up in the right numerical order. Except in this case the things that are being moved are big and heavy. It makes for a different kind of experience.

    You'll know better next time, won't you?

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    1. Vic, Nope, I won't know better, this happens to me all the time!

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  5. Wooooh!! ((I think I will be sore in the morning from just looking at all the moving and changing you have done))!! Hee!
    What fun to get a new look and spring clean and organize!!
    Everything looks splendid and delightful to the eye!!! :-) Wow you have managed some "Mighty Girl" feats!!Thankfully you are NOT A.A.D.D. (as I am) Hee hee! I will clean a drawer~move furniture~go get something downstairs~start another project~ while looking for a tool~ make a mess~come back upstairs waaaay later, and wonder "who ransacked and robbed me"?? Some how I do mange to get things done eventually!! Hee! It's amazing what "doing" creative determination will do!!
    Well done and beautiful, your energy is inspiring dearest Miss Jeri!!
    XX OO Linnie Lou

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    1. Thanks Linnie, I can relate. I do the same thing;get sidetracked into another job whilst still in the middle of job 1. The thing is, I make myself finish each job, OR ELSE!

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  6. I love it! Glad I'm not the only one who gets caught in the snowball of moving/rearranging furnature:)

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    1. I think I got it from my mother. It seems she was always rearranging the furniture!

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  7. Hi Jeri,

    I had to rest a minute before I could comment! Lordy, you have been one busy lady!! I was thinking about rearranging our little bedroom, but I might need to think about that for a few more days while I recover from your experience with moving things around and cleaning. Please tell me it's all been worth it. I'm a BIG pack rat and so most of the time whenever I start one thing, I wander off to another because I suddenly find something I forgot I had and it sparks my interest. You stuck with it, it sounds like. And that James - how wonderful that he makes just the right things for you. I have a husband like that too. Aren't we lucky? By the way, today is our 51st wedding anniversary. As I say that, it's hard to believe that we're much older than 51, much less having been married that long.

    Okay, I'm going to re-read your post and hopefully get the energy to tackle that small bedroom.

    Love from Diane in North Carolina

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    1. Diane, First of all, CONGRATULATIONS on a long and fruitful life together!
      Yes, it was worth all the hard work and time. I feel refreshed going into each room now, knowing where everything is placed and knowing that I don't have to do this again for another year!

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  8. Dear Jeri I so get this because it often happens here too. All I can say is everything looks beautiful and I am sure you are feeling quite satisfied! Hope you have a lovely week. Hugs!

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    1. Deborah, I guess half of us do the same thing. However, I have a friend who hasn't moved her furniture in 10 years; I can't fathom it... I just gotta move stuff around!

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  9. Jeri, you have been one busy bee! It's wonderful to see all of your beautiful furniture and your lovely collections. I know you feel a great sense of accomplishment after all of your rearranging! It's the best way to spring clean in my experience. Now, go put your feet up! ♥

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    1. Oh Martha, I would love to put my feet up....but now I have to make some needlefelting figures for a show next month. At least I have a nice clean studio to work in.

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  10. I used to work in an art gallery where if you moved one thing then it became a huge undertaking. Just like dominoes it began a chain reaction. You have so many lovely things!
    Happy Spring!

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    1. It's true; just in moving the bed, I had to rearrange all the pictures on the wall, that were above the headboard. AND ON AND ON IT WENT!

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  11. I remember your cleaning from a couple of years ago and it was so thorough. I'm glad to know this happens to others. Enjoy it while it lasts.

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    1. Donna Ye gads! I do this every couple years, I must be a glutton for punishment.Oh, it won't last.

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  12. Oh my, I'm in similar condition. We should perhaps swap things back and forth! My husband is having trouble grasping this feminine conundrum, which has gotten him involved in "freshening the paint" this time.

    But where would we be without the occasional swapping of stuff and spring cleaning (even sometimes when it isn't spring!)???

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    1. Sharyn, maybe it's some kind of nesting instinct, we just can't help it. I do wish men would get the same urge sometimes. Just think if they went on a 12 day cleaning binge!

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  13. OK....I think I may have to reconsider spring cleaning. I am glad you did yours though, because I enjoy seeing all the different pic's of your home and your wonderful collections. Thanks!

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    1. Wendy, indeed, things could get ugly. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel and you will be pleased when you reach the end.

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  14. We call these avalanche projects in our home. One time we put in a dishwasher. (I say we... it was my husband). In the end it involved taking the old wall right back to the double brick outerwall and removing the entire countertop. I did enjoy the tour of your home in this post! ;) -Jenn

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    1. Jenn, thank goodness my "avalanche" did not include anything so drastic as removing a wall. However, that has been know to happen around here. Last year, when we renovated the kitchen, and were nearly finished with the job, we discovered that the entire floor had to be removed and all the floor joists replaced. Now, elephants could dance on that floor and it would not even wobble!

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  15. Ahhhhh, but doesn't it feel good to have it done...and breathe new life into old rooms. I love rearranging...makes things feel new again....well, new-old. Happy spring!!!

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    1. True Bev, it is refreshing, just like Spring.. new beginning in an old room.

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  16. JERI.....YOU, you have a story right here. THIS IS A STORY!!!!!!! Oh my, I had to chuckle with every stage of having to move a piece of furniture! This was a brilliant stroke of storytelling, not to mention, quite the reality ordeal!!! I know you'll find a solution, and so far, it's looking cozy and WONDERFUL!

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    1. Anita, I too, had to laugh while reliving the entire dizzy experience... Glad it's over with. Geez, now I have to look forward to cleaning a dozen garden beds..

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  17. My goodness Jeri, what an adventure! I'm now counting my blessings that there really does seem to be only one way for me to fit all my belongings into my little apartment.

    What I do need to think about is seriously considering some sort of clearing out. But...where to start! xo

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    1. Frances, you do have an advantage with a small space , it's not as tempting to redesign. However, my guest room is really small and I rearranged the entire thing anyway... It was amazing that the room seemed a bit larger after I moved the furniture, even though I added the armoire.

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  18. Ok, now I am really tired... Job well done, Jeri.. I thought I was doing well with my spring cleaning.. You are way ahead of me with the furniture moving.. I moved it out enough to clean and it was placed back right where it was.. James has really done a beautiful job on the shelves...
    I love your chocolate and wax molds... Where on earth did you find them? And your tiny perfume bottles...
    I am looking forward to seeing your creations for the fiber show.
    Have a great day, and happy spring!

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    1. Penny, I collected those chocolate molds for years, as well as the perfume bottles. Antique stores and EBAY!

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  19. Your spring cleaning makes me feel better.... in a complicated sort of way. ha ha ha, ~ but it all looks fabulous! Thanks for the smile. :))))))

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    1. Melody, Hey, I have a feeling you are just like me when it comes to Spring Cleaning!

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  20. Phew, Jeri love, I am exhausted just reading about your excursion
    into spring cleaning, but what a treasure trove is your domain....
    Love you and miss you with blessings.....

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    1. Mary, Mary! miss you too, Maybe we will see you this summer, we will be in Lebanon next month and in Franklin in June... I will email you.

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  21. Oh how beautiful your collections are! You have a lovely way of organizing and showing them. Hope all is well with the critters, and I do hope you have some doves this year!

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    1. Debra, I saw 2 doves at the feeders this week, I hope they tell all their friends! The Dovecote awaits.

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  22. I really had to smile as I read this most wonderful post, all the while admiring all of your beautiful collections. KInd of like upsetting the apple cart, right. I always fear what will happen when I move one piece out of a space...starts a chain reaction like dominoes set up in a row and one falling down.

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    1. Yeah, all it takes is one piece of furniture to get the ball rolling down the hill.

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  23. Jeri your post is hilarious, thank you. I'm still smiling to myself.
    Your home is beautiful.

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    1. Maxine,I felt pretty funny when I wrote it.... realizing how ridiculous the whole thing was.

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