It's the end of the year...WHAT????

OK, so I've been MIA for a VERY long time.

These last 8 months have just ZOOMED by...it just seems like yesterday that Honey and I got married.

...well it's just one blog post away anyway.  hahaha

I am my own entertainment.

A lot has happened in the time since the wedding.  Big changes, little changes, change in general.

More Ikea furniture - we are actually having a build-a-thon over the New Year with what we hope are the final pieces.  I sure hope so, I've become hooked on Ikea's "Chocolate Overload" cake and really need to have a piece when we go.  It's bad enough we have to stop by the cafe for some meatballs.  Very bad for our waistlines, but oh so good in the moment.

Just for the record, Honey has done most of the building - so credit where credit is due.  I keep teasing him that I'm going to rent him out for Ikea assembly by the hour.

Anyway, we're still settling into the Chaos and I'm still trying to rearrange my things, get rid of a lot of my things, find homes for what is left of my things.  Most of it is sitting at the warehouse where I work.  Boss has generously let us store stuff here while we get things settled.  More on what I'm doing later as I do more of it.  I promise there will be photos.

I hope to blog more about my organizing attempts in the New Year. With all the new organizing I hope to be crafting much more so stay tuned for stuff I make.

I'm looking forward to a creative year in 2015.  I think 2014 was the year of "barely making anything" and that hurts my inner creative bits.  Oooh!  I started dancing again, so you'll probably read more about that.  I promise no photos of that hot mess.  Trust me, it's a mess but I do it anyway because I like it.

See you on the other side, and I hope you all have a very Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year!

CKP ver 1.15

AKA the Cunning Knitting Plan in between 1.1 and 1.2.

Marine Life sock #1 has just been completed.  Sock #2 is ready for me to take it off the dpns and pop it onto my size 1 baby circs.

Defiinitely has helped having the second set of dpns to keep the socks in check while working one heel then the other.

I have decided to exchange the size 2 baby circs for a size 1 like I originally wanted to get.

The most ironic thing about this whole CKP business?

I knitted the heels one immediately after the other and they were done COMPLETELY different.  Something clicked in my brain between heel #1 and heel #2 and the pattern made sense.

Did I redo heel #1?  Of course not.  As usual, they look the same, even though my wrap and turns on the short row/increases for turning the heel were done quite a bit different for each sock.  The end result was the same - the heels got turned.

Knitter's husband won't know, and Knitter has never made socks***, so I'M the ONLY ONE who knows EXACTLY where and what is different and I'm not tellin'.

And there will be NO PHOTOS detailing the differences.  You guys only get a photo of the completed pair.

Stay tuned for that, it's coming up soon.

*** Update: Apparently Knitter has made socks waaaaaaaay back in the day, but hasn't made any since - and knowing me, I read "never made any" instead of "I have and don't like it".  My guess is that the fun went out of it since she HAD to make them and not because she WANTED to make them...that would  take the fun out of anything in a hurry.

Cunning Plans Can Change, Right?

I was just on the interwebs impatiently trying to find out where the hell my new tiny circ and mini dpns had gone off to when I took a really good look at my order.

(insert long, all-capitalized string of the nastiest four letter words you can think of here...and then do it again)

I SWEAR I was paying attention and ordered both the baby circ and the mini dpns in a size ONE.

There must have been a blip in the space-time continuum because I clicked on size ONE and somehow ordered size TWO.

Whatever.  At least the mini dpns are a size ONE like they should be...

Alrighty then...

So after a few seconds of waving both middle fingers at the screen, I figured oh well.  My chaotic little back and forth and this and that - which will soon be a bit better once the extra mini dpns arrive - has been working.  So much for that particular cunning knitting plan though.

Time for Cunning Knitting Plan (CKP), Revision 1.2: I'll be keeping the mini dpns and sending back the size 2 mini circs - IF they ever get here.

If they don't, I don't think the Chaos has the R&D resources for CKP Rev 1.3.

Sock #2 begins

Yesterday morning about halfway down my train commute, I finished the foot of the first Marine Life sock.  All 8" of it.

Last night I started the toe of the second so I could have it off the dpn's and onto the mini-circular for the commute this morning. **

Good thing too.  I definitely needed something to distract me.

Today is the San Francisco Giants ticker tape parade down Market Street.  They expect 1 million people to show up.

They told them to take the train.

The people listened.

The bus to the train was full - and so was the train.

Too bad my mp3 player ran out of juice, I could have benefitted from some music on the way in today.

** I'm trying something new this time with the socks.  Going to do the heels at the same time so that they both match.  I still have issues with heels, so if I screw up again, at least I'll do the same on both socks and no one will know but me (I have no issues with leaving mistakes).  BTW, I usually don't realize I screwed up until I've cast off the first sock.  Then I can't remember what I did to mess up when I do the second sock.

Room Redeco, Step 1 - Yarn Stash Wrangling

After several false starts and just plain ignoring it, the yarny organization portion of the closet re-do in Spencer's room is almost complete.  Only thing left to do is to go through all my needles and notions and knitterly what-nots.  Most of those are going in a special box on the shelf, directly above the hanging thing.  The rest will go in organizers I hope to make and hang off the side of the hanging thing which has some very handy dandy pockets and straps along both sides.  First I need to see what I have.

Here is a photo as promised.  This is all of my yarn.  Yes, ALL of my yarn.  If it doesn't fit in this hanging thing, it does not stay or come into the apartment.  If you are a non-knitter, you will think, "Wow, that is a LOT of yarn!"  If you are a knitter, you'll think, "Oh that poor thing, she's STARVING herself, absolutely STARVING herself!"

I have plenty of stash, seriously, I do.  At the rate I knit, this should probably last me about 5 years.  A different way to look at it is: one sweater (that's the denim yarn on the bottom shelf, yes I found it!), a dozen or so cotton cloths, 11 definite pairs of socks, 5 shawls/wraps, 1 scarf, and what could be either 6 wraps or 6 pairs of socks.  Oh, and half a T.A.R.D.I.S.

Whether you are a knitter or a non-knitter, you are thinking, "Wow, that's a shitload of knitting."

(Some of you are thinking, "What the heck is a T.A.R.D.I.S."  Google is your friend.  Watch the Doctor and learn my friends.)

Anyway, yes, it is a LOT of knitting - especially for me because I knit when the spirit moves me, and it takes me a long time to finish something. Most of the time I start something, get pretty far in it, then decide to take it apart and make it into something else.  It's just the way I knit - and I enjoy the hell out of it.

By the way, not included in the hanging stash is the sweater I already have on needles and a shawl I'm also working on...the sweater lives in my project bag next to Chair and the shawl occasionally travels with me.

Next up is the sewing stash.  It's a bit too heavy for a hanging stash keeper, so I'm going to have to come up with something else.  I have been looking at various web pages about organizing such things as fabric, patterns, and thread.  I have shelf space, various nice boxes, and a creative mind.

Onward and upward.

And so it begins?

I have made a few decisions on what to do with Spencer's room.

First I thought about going to a smaller space, then decided against that because I didn't want to pack to move, didn't want to pay to move, and didn't want to be bothered with moving in general.

So now his room becomes a craft/storage/bedroom room.

It's still partially his room, only I'm arranging it the way "I" want it to look.  His part is the bed.  Oh and he has a bit of the closet still, but not very much.

I've decided to store all my decorations and craft supplies in the closet.  I know the craft supplies will fit, but I'm not so sure about the holiday decorations.

Here's my plan:

Each craft and holiday is designated a certain amount of space.  It does not increase. 

First up: knitting/crocheting and all things yarny.

I hit Ikea yesterday and bought this and this for my knitting.  So far so good.  I had already thinned out a LOT of my knitting stash, so things are fitting perfectly just where they need to be.  I have a sneaking suspicion that there is another box of yarn lurking somewhere and that will throw my whole plan into chaos, but I'll cross that bridge when I find that box.  I have another shelf of the hanging thingy available so things just might fit.

Photo proof available soon.

I had the idea for the knitting in my head and it needed to come out and come into being NOW, so had to get that out of my system.  Now I can get back to concentrating on stripping the bed, washing everything, getting new sheets, and dealing with the corner of boxes that Spencer left behind.  Then I can move the bed to the wall I've always wanted it to be against, and start moving things in and out once I've given the room a thorough vacuum and cleaning.

The Chaos will truly be Chaos until the dust settles.

Is the sky falling?

It just might be.

Why?

Because I'm taking a day off from work - during the week - when I'm supposed to be working.

ummm...isn't that what a day off usually means?!?

Anyway...

I need a break. I need some culture. I need some inspiration. I need some peace. I need to do something cool. I need to get out.

Ms Cow has finally convinced me to take her here - we're going on Thursday.

And if she behaves herself, maybe I'll buy her this.

We are both very excited! If we're lucky, we'll hit a docent guided tour. If not, well, I'm sure we'll manage. We have ALL day.

Oh yeah, and I've posted TWICE in one day. Yeah, the sky just might be falling. Just hope it waits until Friday. We've got plans.

Can't Blog now, watching Olympics

My days are filled with doing not much - I just don't feel like it. I am managing to get some stuff done from little bursts of energy or the urge to clean or organize something. Alas, nothing big enough to tackle the start of my Spring Cleaning jag that I mentioned a while back. There is supposedly rain starting tomorrow, so we'll see if that gets me in the mood I need to dive into the kitchen deep cleaning scenario. I'm getting close...I can feel it!

In the meantime, it's time for dinner and then...oh crap...it's either Bones or Olympics. We'll have to see what the Olympics offers tonight. I'm not into the ice skating anymore, so if that is on tonight, it's Bones until 9pm then we'll see what the Olympics has to offer.

Last night was exciting with the downhill and the half pipe and the speed skating.

Oh yeah, and I'm supposed to be knitting on Spencer's beanie while I'm watching. Pah. Have not even touched it in weeks. I don't even remember where I put it. Very hard to knit on it when he comes home from school in a sweat (he rides his bikebikebike to BART). Like he'll be wearing it!

More Cunning Plans...

OK, so I end up taking a 4 hour nap today. 4 hours! Totally did not see that coming, but I went to rest for a few moments and....4 hours later... Anyway, my body obviously needed it cos I was OUT!

While running here and there in the car, I loaded up on mega size containers of laundry detergent, rice, and some other staples. Stopped in at shops I wouldn't normally go to on the bus and picked up several other small crafting items necessary for the Kublacon Master Plan. Decided I should make the bus effort every so often cos that store has some things the other usual craft store doesn't.

On the way from one store to another, I stopped over at an old favorite charity shop. Mainly to see if they were still open. They are...and even better yet, they have free pick up! All is not lost with the two chairs after all. Best part is...if you have a big item for them to pick up, they will take smaller boxed items as well. Booyah!

Bottom line, I've got some work to do. I think I'm going to blitz the rest of the boxes in the living room over the next week and then see what I've got for donation. Give them a call and go from there. Might need to wait a bit to call and finish going thru everything. I'll have to see how much I get after this first pass and if I'm will to live with all the donations sitting in my living room for a few weeks.

Dude...you've been living with the damn boxes in there for a very long time, but at least the donation boxes will GO AWAY with minimal effort once you call. ALL AT ONCE!!

Oh. Right. D'oh!

:)

Got any cheese with that whine?

As a matter of fact, no, I don't.

And that's why I'm a whiny cranky pants today.

This whole weekend was just one shopping fail after another.

Saturday we biked over to the farmer's market for some of our favorite chipotle cheddar cheese. The vendor wasn't there, so...no cheese for us...one week. We head off to Safeway for some stuff and Spencer pops into McCallou's looking for a beanie - he comes out with 2. Grr.

Yesterday, I talked Antonella into running off with me to the Ashby BART flea market. We were on the hunt for interesting beads and bead findings. Neither one of the two vendors who sell things like that and are usually at the flea market were there. Not many vendors were, but that's beside the point.

Antonella consoled herself with two cool rings and a pair of very pretty earrings.

I got nuttin'. Grrr.

We went off to downtown Berkeley for lunch and a stab at getting some more dice beads. At least the pizza was most excellent.

Like I was telling her on the way home. Once I get it in my mind that I am going out for a specific item, I get very disappointed when I don't get it and no matter what I look at, nothing seems appealing. And when I have an entire weekend of not getting, well...crankiness ensues.

I am in a rainy mood. The weather dudes say that more is on the way.

Bring it.

Cunning Plan

Latest news from the Chaos...I've been sorting stuff!

I know, wonders never cease.

I have had a plan in my head for a long time about where I would put stuff that I'm keeping. I would sort thru a box or two...either recycle, toss or give away whatever and then move to the next box. That sounds like a good plan, right?

Well, the only problem with that is that the stuff I'm keeping does not have a home - yet. So things are added to other boxes in no particular rhyme or reason and I end up taking two steps forward and one step back. Sometimes two.

I get rid of one box here, one box there and the next thing you know I'm creating another box of stuff that will eventually need to be sorted thru again and so on and so on.

Well, enter the latest cunning plan. As I was sorting, I started putting the things I'm keeping in their actual "future homes". It was working, but not so much.

A few days after I started that, I decided to "map" out my storage plans. I spent about an hour or so thinking, listing things and then drawing out an actual "map" of the final homes for all my precious stuff.

Let me tell you, it's the best thing I've ever done as far as all this organizing stuff goes.

I have also been keeping myself concentrated on ONE AREA AT A TIME until it's all sorted out. That has been the hardest thing to do as far as all this organizing stuff goes. Every storage place and area in the Chaos is a hodge podge of anything and everything. There is no organization. And yes, I have higher concentrations of some things in some places, but there is a little bit of everything all over the place. Sigh.

Mapping example: I have two units of metal shelving in my bedroom. Glamorous I know, but I needed heavy duty shelves and they were the most affordable best bet at the time. One unit has been designated as the new "crafting stuff" home. So now as I am sorting thru stuff from each shelf, one at a time, from the top down even, I only put back on that shelf the "craft" stuff. If it's not tossed, recycled, or given away, I check my map, see where it is supposed to live and go take it there.

Sometimes things get tight in the "new" home, but when that happens, the items are put into a bag, basket, or box and left as close to the new home as possible. The box or bag is also marked as "already sorted and waiting for space in the permanent home".

So far, this has been really working for me. I have been sorting a shelf per day since the weekend, so the first unit is almost done. YAY!!!!!!!!!

So far, I have tossed and recycled quite a bit of stuff, so the whole moving it to it's new home has been kept to a bare minimum. Which is good, cos the more stuff I get rid of the better off I'll be.

As I move from area to area getting rid of more and more stuff, it should become easier to put things in their new homes.

Having that "map" is the best thing ever. I have it taped up on the mirrored wall in my hallway. It really really helps!

Next up is the second metal shelving unit in the bedroom. I am starting with the storage areas in the apartment. Closets, cabinets and shelving units. As I go thru all the storage areas and get things started in the "new home" scenario, it will get much much easier to go thru the boxes all around here and get things put away properly.

My goal of having things more organized for Xmas is looking like it just might happen after all.

And that is a good gift to give to those of us who live here in the Chaos.

Today's guest bloggers are....

...Hi everyone, today we have guest bloggers...Cow and Honey...Ms Cow and I are recovering from our afternoon at the SF Bead & Design Show yesterday (no photos). Lots of ideas swirling round in our brains. I think my crafting Mojo is actually coming back. Yay!!!

Anyway, on to Cow and Honey...

Helo evribody. Martin has been nagging me to rite a blogpost so I am gowing to rite about howe to get to sea Ms Cow.

Mi firts plan was to desine and bild a bote with sales, and sale acros the see to Ms Cow. Martin was desining the outside of the bote, and i was desining the inside, with places for us to slepe, and hav cow parteys, and a baffrum, but no baff, cos cows dont do baffs. But martins screen broke, and he dusent hav a bote desining program on the old puter. He sed that we can use pensil and paper, but he makes to meny mistaiks and we wud need lots and lots of paper.

Then wen he was cleening owt the kichen he left the model plane a frend had maid on the cher with me and I cud hav a gud luk at it. It is a very fast plane with lots of supersonix so I thort i cud lern to fly and then i cud sea Ms Cow very very cwikly. But Donna sed plane luks just like a target drone and the er forse wud shute it down! Thats not fare!!! I cud paent it blak and wite so theyd nowe it was me but Martin sed they use radar and that dusent sea colors.

But now i hav a new plan! We saw a syense program on the tely, and they torked abowt cwontums. cwontums is wen a partykul is in 2 places at wons, but there very clos together. And they had a pussy cat that was alive and ded at the sam time, but i didnt undestand that bit. Cows ar much cleverer than partykuls, so I cud be here with Martin, and with Ms Cow and Donna at the sam time!! I just need grat big laser and a wite cote, so peepl nowe im a syentist.

Ok, this post now has two authors... Don't you just love these science shows that over-simplify everything? I've tried explaining that the distance between the places a particle might be is governed by its mass, not how clever it is; and that a particle doesn't get to choose where it might be, so there's no guarantee that all Cow's particles would end up in the same two places; and the pussy cat idea shows that one of the two Cows might be alive, and the other one dead! I'm making some headway with that one, because the thought of a dead Cow as well as an alive one would definitely upset Ms Cow. I'll concede on the white coat though, Ms Cow will indeed think he looks clever as well as handsome in a white coat...

Cow is currently conferring with Sidney the woolly dalek, which really concerns me, because with Sidney anything including lasers will involve exterminating things, since that's what daleks do, even cuddly woolly ones. If you hear in the news that the north of England has been reduced to a smoking ruin, you'll know that Cow's career as a quantum physicist has been less than totally successful. And I only made one mistake when we were designing his boat; serves him right for constantly demanding we make it bigger!

NOTE: Cow refuses to use spell check. Honey says that Cow complains that the red squiggly lines are very annoying. D'oh. Maybe we can get Ms Cow to convince him that he really needs to use spell check...