Feng Shui

I live in a perpetual state of organized chaos. Most of the time when I try to "organize" I end up loosing something. This means that I tried to find a place to put said thing, and wherever I put it made perfectly logical sense at the time. However, it does not make sense whenever I go looking for it again, therefore I can't find it. When you live this way, stuff tends to pile up. Especially if you are also a professional procrastinator.

Ken and I had a rough weekend. There has been a lot of stress in the house. and I really couldn't put my finger on why. Then Sunday night, as I tried to get to sleep, it dawned on me: if I controlled the chaos in the house I could control the chaos in our minds. If your place of comfort and sanctuary is always a mess, then it has to mess something up psychologically. Unless you're perfectly fine with it that way. For us (especially my OCD husband), it wasn't working. I was trying to ignore the mess. I didn't think it bothered me, but deep down, it did. For example, by the front door there were clothes that needed to go to the cleaners, a socket kit, containers of unused motor oil, stuff to go to Goodwill, a radiator (in a box), and lots of dust bunnies. It was visual chaos as soon as we walked in the door.

So yesterday I gave up my whole day to clean and put stuff away. Put stuff where it goes! Where I will remember where it is! Because it's where it always goes (except for the radiator), I was just too lazy to put it away in the first place! And I did. I took stuff to the cleaners, and I organized. I matted, framed, and hung a poster on the wall that had been sitting on an easel in an awkward location for a year. I also hung a mirror on the wall that had been in an odd spot. I cleaned out my closet and gave a lot of my old office clothes away (good riddance!).

Now when I walk in the house, it's instant calm. The entire visual aesthetic of the house is so much nicer. All I had to do was put stuff away. In its right place. And it worked. It's amazing what de-cluttering can do. Home feels so much better.

time after time

Some days I just sort of float along in my own little world. Always have. I've been this way since I was a kid. My Mom would send me to clean my room and I'd end up reading all the magazines I was supposed to be putting away, or playing with the toys on the floor. Hours later my room would still be a disaster.

I would love to be able to get up at 6am and be all ready to go say hello to the world. I could eat a nice breakfast, workout, walk my dogs, maybe go ride my horse. It would be so nice. I could get so much done. In theory anyway.

Instead I just kind of float along until it's time to make dinner. I feel like I'm getting more focused. Maybe that's why I've always sucked at time management. Lack of focus. I'm always off daydreaming in some distant land. It makes life hard sometimes, but that's ok. I'm getting there.

What do I daydream about? All sorts of stuff. And then sometimes I go and do the things I daydream about.

Like taking my horse for "nature walks" like a giant dog. We discovered a network of trails that lead to a huge field by our barn. Man, he was stoked.



Now we just have to go ride out there. I have a lot of courage issues with riding. Maybe if I daydream about it enough, I can make it a reality. I mean, it's worked for me so far.

I'll call him lucky

I bought this guy after St. Patrick's Day. I figured if shamrock plants were going to be on sale, that would be the appropriate time. I've always wanted one. The fact that it came in purple was a huge bonus! I got a green one too, but it's not doing too well for some reason. Also, my wisteria bloomed and it made me swoon with joy. I didn't get pictures except for with my phone. Epic fail!

I am working insane amounts right now. I forgot how much giving tours 5 days a week SUCKS. Despite that, I seem to be making great amounts of progress on art. Yay!!! It's riding that's suffered this time. I haven't been on my horse in almost 2 weeks. :( The other day I was out there and the owner's daughter showed me that there are trails behind our place!!! My barn is tiny and in a totally urban area, but apparently there are trails!!! That lead to a field!!!!! OMG!!!! Urban trail rider I shall be. Someday.

And a question...
How do you guys organize your photos on your computers? At the moment, I have everything in folders by date uploaded. Except that I've been doing it this way for like 4 years now and it takes a lot to remember where anything is. Also, prior to this I organized things by what they were pictures of, but it totally didn't work. Everything older than 4 years ago was in folders that way, and anything newer is by date. Confusing? Yes. Is there a better way?