March 1, 2012 - Getting Organized & Chicken Butts




All winter long, I keep my seeds in a large plastic canister with a tight fitting lid. I store them a cool place to hopefully keep them viable season after season. Now it's time to sort out the jumble and organize the packets into my index tabbed seed box for the upcoming seed planting marathon. I really need a separate box for all the big seeds, such as beans, peas & corn, which are a bit bulky for the indexed box. Dang, I was cleaning out a closet the other day, and threw away a perfect sized decorated box with lid! I didn't even think about using it for seed storage.


Being in an organizational mood, I pulled a big plastic storage box off the closet shelf and started sorting things out...keep or donate. There were several old paintings I had done way back when, probably 35 years ago or more. Most went into the Goodwill box, but when I came across the "Chicken Butts" I hesitated. I always loved that whimsical little painting! I called my youngest daughter and asked if she wanted it, as the colors would be perfect in her kitchen. Then I emailed her a picture. Just as I had decided a couldn't part with it, and it wouldn't look too bad on my kitchen wall over the telephone, Amy called back and said "I WANT it!" Now we both want it. I decided to give it to her, but if she ever decides she doesn't want it after all, I want it back!


"Chicken Butts"

So many things in that box. So many memories. How could I ever part with.......


Dear Grandma and Gandpa . This is for evre thing you have dun for me. I love you gise very very very very much an more love


......from granddaughter Alicia, who is now nearly 18 years old, written when she was in the first grade.



34 comments:

  1. "Guess what? Chicken Butt!" Ha, that reminds me of my childhood. Love it! And what a sweet note from your Granddaughter!

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    1. 1st. Man, didn't I tell you just yesterday that it was fun to go back to your childhood?

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  2. I need to get some tips from u I can't keep anything alive lol

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    1. Scentsy, stick around....I have a few failures every year too!

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  3. I love that painting! It would be hanging in my kitchen too.

    That's it for your seeds? I knew I should have sent you more, LOL. I should post a picture of mine, about ten times what you have, going back over ten years...

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    1. Ed, that box is bigger than it looks. It's a photo box, and it's packed full of just the seeds I have planned to plant in this year's garden. There are still a few packets left in the canister. You already sent me so many seeds, now I have to enlarge my garden! I am so ready to plant them, too. Hey, I dare you to post a picture of yours.

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  4. I have two seed boxes right now which are smaller than yours. And one does have all those big seeds. I have way way too many beans seeds in there. And lots of peas and corn and fava beans.

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    1. Daphne, I also have two pint jars nearly filled with dry beans, harvested from seeds you sent me a couple of years ago. No way would they fit in the box!

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  5. You did that painting? It's very good; no wonder your daughter wants it. Clucking hens, content in their togetherness, business ends forward.

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    1. Dianefaith, I used to do a lot of painting. There are photos of a few of them here. When people began asking me to paint what "they" wanted, and I could no longer paint what "I" wanted, the enjoyment just wasn't there any more, so I packed away the brushes and never painted again.

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  6. I love the "Chicken Butts". I also have a few memories from grandkids that I could never part with. When I read or look at them my heart swells with love.

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    1. Teresa, I have so many mementos from the grandchildren (and children) I cannot part with. They are all packed away in a couple of storage containers, so every once in a while I have to open up one and go through it....and smile a lot.

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  7. how sweet! love the chicken butts!

    i'm in the mood for some decluttering too. there are many new things i want but i won't allow myself to get until i get rid of some of the things i don't need. that hoarders show put a fear in me!=)

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    1. Me too, Kelli. Every time I watch it, I clean house! I'm still working on getting rid of the paperwork on my genealogy project. I think I've emptied about three large binders and an entire filing cabinet so far, but there's still a long way to go. At least my "hoard" is all neatly packed in boxes or contained in binders, and placed neatly in a spare closet. It's not like we have to climb over it to get in the front door, LOL!

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  8. Great idea with the photo box. You might be able to fit the big seeds easier if you split them up into two boxes. I divide mine by planting time, cool season and hot season crops. It helps me spend less time reading the seed packs over and over to determine what gets planted.
    I think you've inspired me to start some spring cleaning too.

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    1. Anywhere, I pre-plan my planting times and have them on a spreadsheet. So that I don't forget, I also enter them in my Microsoft Works Calendar. When it's time to plant a reminder pops up to let me know.

      My big seeds won't be in the box for long. Only the beans I'll be planting at the end of April are in there, the majority are still in the canister or stored in canning jars. Another box of seeds would be another box to find room for!

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  9. Love the Chicken Butts!! I keep my seeds in Chinese food containers and organize them by type. Then I put them all in a bigger plastic storage container with a lid. They stay pretty well organized that way. I only lost one packet last year!

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  10. Robin, how much Chinese take out do you eat? LOL! Ours comes in little white cardboard boxes, and I happen to have a refrigerator full today....last night's dinner at our favorite restaurant didn't disappoint.

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    1. We don't eat it very often. "The Italian" had 3 big kitchen pack moving boxes full of storage containers when I cleaned out his house! I'm not kidding! I threw a lot of them out when he was out of town on business. He was so upset with me. Ha, how many storage containers does a single Italian need anyway??

      I will have to do a post and show you the nice plastic food containers the Chinese food comes in. The only thing that is in the boxes is the rice.

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    2. When I grocery shop, I always look at the containers the food comes in, especially deli or bakery. I could care less about the food, it's the container I want. I have 3 of the cupcake containers now, I just keep freezing the cupcakes for (possibly) a future family party. I tried to buy just the containers, but they wouldn't sell them. I'd sure like another half dozen or so.

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  11. I love the header photo AG, It is hard to think the outside was once so lush and colorful isn't it? . Also love the chickens butts, and the adorable note from your grand-daughter.

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    1. Thanks, Kelly...it sure doesn't look like that now! The Chicken Butts just walked out the door with my daughter :-(

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  12. Awwww, sweet post! And I agree with those peas and beans and corn - the ruin my garden binder's girlish figure LOL!

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    1. Erin, they're a bit like my figure....they give the seed box a couple of love handles!

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  13. I love going to my daughters' houses and seeing my "treasures" hanging on their walls or in places of honor throughout their homes. I keep my keepsakes in old suitcases...each child has their own...someday, I'll just hand them their case.

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    1. Lynda, my children all have my paintings hanging on their walls. Most of my favorites have found their way to the kids' houses. Amy just called and said the Chicken Butts were perfect in her kitchen, so it looks like I lost another one. John just left with three more small paintings I had in the "donate" box. I'm happy they enjoy them.

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  14. That chicken butt painting would look good in my kitchen too. Just saying. ;D

    That note was precious.

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    1. Kitsap, it looks nice over Amy's pantry door, too. Darn!

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  15. Oh my gosh, Granny, that is the most amazing painting I have ever seen! I definitely would want to hang it in my kitchen, too. :D

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    1. LOL, Prairie Cat...I don't consider it "amazing", but I do think it's cute.

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  16. My seed box looks worse! I need to organize also.

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    1. Meems, I need a bigger seed box. Ace Hardware is having a seed sale ;-)

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