What about in the purse you did take?

Good luck!

Look in the kitchen cabinets and drawers.

On top of a door frame.

On the floor behind the cabinet.

In a book case or on a book shelf.

In a pocket inside a 3-ring binder, the one sitting on top of the locked cabinet.

In a dresser drawer in the bedroom, you know, the sock drawer.

Behind a picture frame, the one hanging on the wall.

Inside a wind-up clock case, the same place where you store the clock winding key.

On your key ring??

In your key holder, the one you keep in your pocket all the time along with the house and car key.

In a drawer of the sewing machine cabinet.

In a pill bottle sitting with all the other medications.

Somewhere near one of your craft projects.

Have you tried opening the cabinets? Maybe they are not locked!!

I found lost house keys once in a pocket of a pair of pants I had put in the laundry basket.

Don't panic. A locksmith can come over, open the locks, and make new keys for you, might cost $100-$200.

Please update us too. Did you find them? Able to handle the situation?

Hardly slept last night! Drawers are still locked. I am checking all the places I think I might have put them and double checking. Thanks for all the ideas, I'm checking where everyone suggests.

They are oak 2 drawer file cabinets I got from Staples at least 10 years ago. The nearest Staples is 2 hours away. I'll be going that way on Friday when I head to my mother's house. She is very ill and in rehab. Maybe I can stop in there and look at their cabinet keys. My cabinets used 2 different keys.

So upset with myself. But will keep looking.

Thanks again for all the suggestions.

I don't remember if you have kitties at your house. Those varmints will knock stuff off tables and play with it until they can't get to it, maybe under a sofa.

I certainly hope you find them. I don't quite understand the urgency and panic, though. Is there something in the cabinets that you need right away? If so, and if you don't find the keys in sufficient time to meet that urgency, then disassemble the cabinet. If it's put together with screws, unscrew them. If it's heavily glued, you may have to cut into it and probably destroy it. But if it's that critical that you get in, it may be worth it to you.

My mom volunteers in a thrift shop. They are always finding odd stuff in the pockets of clothing, mostly jackets. They call the donor who always say they have been looking everywhere for that! One time they found a bag of jewelry. The owner was ecstatic. Anyway, this is to say, could you have put them in the pocket of some clothing?

I found a check book in my linen closet where I keep he towels and sheets.

Change section of your wallet?

Maybe hubby already has them.

Trying to keep levity here, along the lines of Ded's story, my DH lost a jacket. it was a thin wind breaker.

Month later we brought a cooler up from the basement. It was in there! We both gasped. Either of us remembered putting it in there, and why would we?

I understand your panic. You are worried about your mother and this is just one more thing that you don't need right now.

Everyone here should take a vow to not change hiding places. Or if you do immediately, and I stress immediately, record on a calendar, your IPhone etc. where the place is.

Have you asked DH if he may have "helped" and picked them up before you left home? Happens at our house, makes me doubt my sanity.

Pray to St Anthony

Yes!

Tony, Tony, turn around

Something's lost that must be found!

I understand you panic and hope you find them soon.... I have a kitty that carries things off. He got up on my bathroom vanity once and got one of my rings out of the ring holder, my most expensive Tiffany diamond ring. I instantly got sick to my stomach when I saw it missing... I knew he was a "player" and had surely taken it to just play with it, sure enough I found it under my bed, first place I looked... lesson learned!. Still missing one of my favorite earrings but it's a cheap one.... Anyway, I have a smart phone and I use the "notes" app a LOT..... you might want to think about that if you have a smart phone. It stores each note separately, indefinitely, till you delete them. It comes in handy making notes for various things, even things I need to pick up at the store....

That's exactly why I write things down just like this and take it with me. This has happened way to many times to me. Memory isn't like it use to be. Hope you find them soon!!

Be like big bird and walk backward in your mind. LOL or maybe pull out the ouija board. I hope you find them. I still, for the life of me, can't remember where I left my grandmothers ring or my daughter's baby afghan. These have been missing for over 20 years now and I still wonder at times where they are.

I lost my earring when I was putting up insulation on Sunday and I said out loud, I really wish I could find my earring. Looked down and there it was. My point? Just ask for help!

;)

Did you look in the trash cans? Maybe you tossed something that you had in your hand along with the key.

Did you hide it in a shoe?

I agree with others, let your mind relax. You are in a panic, and if you are like me, looking in places where they key just would not be!

By the way, if you find my house and car keys while you are looking, please let me know because I'm very worried about where they are!

When I'm expecting workmen in the house I've hidden opiate meds in the pocket of a robe hanging in my closet, knowing I will wear the robe soon and discover the pills.

You might go through the motions of packing up to leave. It might jog your memory. Have you looked in the area where you store your suitcases? In some travel item you didn't take with you? In your car?

I suppose you might need to get into these files to prepare your tax returns.

Yep, tax return papers are in there.

No cats to hide stuff..

Will be starting to search that room again in a bit. Just got home from laundromat and picked up mail from post office and 2 stores too. Have a headache and I never get headaches.

I'm so grateful for all the ideas and support from all of you. Definitely praying to St. Francis and will even do the Tony, Tony turn around!

Kathy G in MI

THE KT ROCKS!!!!!!!!!

I kept rereading all the posts and going over each of them in my mind, even going to look in suggested places. Did not find car keys for Socks, nor were my keys in a cooler. I've been praying to St. Francis right along, but I think it was due to 2 posts that led me to them!

Cassandra's Tony, Tony turn around.

AND rereading Blfenton's post! We have NO junk drawers here. My kitchen has 2 drawers, one 31" wide and the other 11" wide. The large one holds cooking utensils, measuring spoons, chip clips, etc, you get the idea. The 11" one holds the silverware. When I first read B's post I just thought, well I don't have a junk drawer,.

BUT, the more I thought about it, and reread posts, I went and checked the large drawer. Nope, not there. Then said what the h3ll, I'll look in the silverware drawer. Well lo and behold, there they were.

I cannot begin to tell all of you how much all of your suggestions helped. I am too stressed right now and this just made me feel like just crawling into a hole and crying.

Chloecat, I asked for help from the KT and got just what I needed.

Now I can get my taxes done and head 3 hours to my mothers and take care of what needs to be done there. She is in rehab right now, my brother cancelled his Florida trip for March so I could stay longer in Florida. Friday he heads for Florida and I will take over and do what has to be done!

Thank you so much dear friends, Kathy G in MI

Yay! Glad you found them, one less stressor in your life.

Whew!

Hallelujah! And thanks be, good going. Write your self an email next time you hide something.

Kathy, best wishes to your mother and have a safe trip.

I'm so happy that you found your keys; this has been a fun thread to read!

So glad you found them. This has turned into practically a reference thread, worthy of a 'sticky', for those of us who will lose stuff in the future.

I promise I will send my self an email. Write a note on my iPod. Tell all 4 of my kids and spouses. Maybe even the 7 grands too. But, I won't tell DH about all this drama! He'll just tease me!

Maybe I'll post it on the KT too. Can all ways count on you folks.

Kathy G in MI

That's a great idea, post it - or a hint you will recognize - here and we'll remind you.

I've been anxious right along with you. There probably is nothing I dislike more than looking for something lost. I all but tore my office apart on my way downtown a couple of weeks ago looking for my car fob, in front of DH and one of his friends. I never lose keys. I did that day.

I'm so glad you have your file keys and everything is OK again. Make sure you are feeling your most efficient when you start those taxes, and drive carefully to your Mom's...

Glad you found your keys, but I don't think you should broadcast that you've been eating with your fingers since your return. LOL

Oh I'm so glad you found your keys!

I'm in the same situation as you in that I'm taking care of my mom .She has Alzheimers and we are looking for care for her. She's just moved back home after living with me for 5 weeks after a fall. I know how stressful this care-giver business can be and how, as a result, your own mind can stop working.

All the best to you both.

Thanks for telling me Kathy that the Tony Tony prayer worked! I did not grow up saying it but learned it later from Italian friends. And after living for 2 years in Rome I know what deep, familiar affection Italians have for their dear St. Antonio. I swear this prayer always works for me! I love being a Catholic; there's a helper saint for every possible cause.

Prayers for your mom. Glad you found your keys.

Use the notepad on your phone.

Glad you found your keys Kathy. st. Anthony always came through for me. I did the same thing a few times when we went to Florida. Sending prayers for your mom.

I'm glad you resolved your problem.

Sheet metal or wooden file cabinets are easy to break into. I don't remember the last time I heard of a residential robbery where papers were stolen, do you? Maybe just leave it unlocked next time and put any real valuables somewhere else, like a safe deposit box.

Ok. Can I piggy back on this thread? Two days ago I took the trail camera off the fence post to bring in the house to download the pictures off of it. The reason I didn't take the card out and leave the camera hanging is because I knew I'd loose the card. So anyway, I remember I had it on the way to the chicken house because I had a parade of chickens walking with me ( she has treats!!) The next day when I remembered I hadn't down loaded the pictures.......no camera. Not in the kitchen, pulled the chairs out from the table to be sure it wasn't on one of them. Not in the breezeway. Not in the garage. Back out to the chicken house because it must be there. Nope. Well, maybe I spaced off and took it to the barn with me and set it down and forgot it. Nope. So maybe it was in the chicken house and I over looked it. Nope. It must be in the breeze way. Maybe I set it on the washer or something. Nada. Well, obviously I took it to the garage with me. And hid it where? HAS to be in the barn. Even with the hyperactive kitten out here, she wouldn't be able to hide it from me. Not there. Now it's Tuesday night and I still haven't found it.

Oh dear Imhappy, check the silverware drawer, it worked for me! But really, did it have a strap on it and you hung it up along the way, somewhere?

Brushworks, I don't have a smart phone. I have a dumb Tracfone, $30.

Snidely, yep, I have a safe deposit box, from now on I will make sure all papers go there and leave the darn file cabinet unlocked!

Tomorrow call to get the taxes done, yeah!

Kathy G in MI

Imhappy, how utterly frustrating. You need to interrogate those chickens! Seriously, mentally retrace what you did, or even physically do it. You've put the camera down somewhere. (My keys have a yellow fob, ok?)

Kathy, good news. I know the feeling of relief. We can laugh, but losing things is stressful, more so to those who have other things going on as well.

I have promised myself to be more thoughtful and careful.

Imhappy, did someone else possibly put the camera back on the post without telling you? Hope you find it soon.

imhappy, I've done that with my eyeglasses. I have found them in odd spots. In a chair that was against a wall with the dining table pushed up (how did they fall there?!) or on a step ladder in the garage, for example. It's amazing how that happens. Did you check the fridge and inside of cabinets, like where you keep the treats?

Another place to keep reminder notes is in your phone contacts. Create a contact name of your choice then add information about your item in notes or address section or etc. You can even make a fake phone number with clues for yourself by making words from corresponding letters on your phone pad matching the number's letters.

I need a really red faced emoticon. The camera. Inside the breezeway by the door that goes to the kitchen is a stool. I lay my gloves there and other small things that I will take with me outside. I walk past that stool every time I go into or out of the kitchen. 20 times a day times 2. This morning as I'm putting my boots on I look down and there's the camera. It's dark green. The stool is old, old, old, and the wood top is weathered to dark gray. The camera was NOT there until this morning. Really! I would have seen it. It's the size of a hard cover book. There's a thread on here somewhere about stuff like that that disappears and then reappears.

The chickens think anything I carry is treats. Their treats are in the chicken house. Horse treats in the barn. Dog treats in the breezeway.

That happens here too!

IM HAPPPY, so glad you found it! See everyone, the KT really can help, just not physically!

CHISUE. Can't believe it, but it took til this morning for me to "get" your comment about eating with my fingers!!! LOL! It's been a few rough days, for sure.

Kathy G in MI

Glad you found the keys kathyg. I hope your mom feels better soon. Safe travels to Florida.

Glad you found your camer Imhappy. I do the same thing. Mostly with my phone. I carry it somewhere, lay it down and walk away. Then I can't find it. I've gone a couple days without because I don't have a landline to call someone to call my cell, haha. I have to wait til someone calls me and hope I hear it.