Here's a photo tour of how I do mine(since it's easy to show). I have a huge single file under my photos files that is labeled 'conifer collection'. This contains the several dozen genus/species I collect/grow and has individual folders leading to individual cultivars. Once in the cultivar folder, I have simply the name and then year(with special details in parenthesis). This will allow me to have a lengthy chronological sequence of pictures I can refer back to. While it's time consuming, the Winter here are horrendously dreary, and thus I am allowed plenty of time to work on it. The entire 'Conifer Collection' folder with it's 3,000 photos and 1,400 folders still fits onto a single DVD which I backup twice a year onto a disc. Someday, I'll be glad to share them with whoever asks, once I make proper corrections and have 3-4 years of growth on 99% of my plants to show people. -Will

Scrumbling!! Also known as Freeform knitting and crochet. You can make wearables out of it or throws or tea cozies or dolls... it's artistic, and you can't go wrong because you make it up as you go. Basically, you take an armload of yarn bits that sortof go together and do a few rows of stitches, then add a color and do something else, add a color and try some lace or bobbles, add a color, turn it sideways and do some rows of crochet. Add a color, turn it again, and try one of those funky crochet flowers, etc. Add a bead or two. It looks REALLY cool, especially with the different textures of yarn and all the colors. Plus you can try a bit of edging or a leaf or two from Knitting on the Edge, or whatever you've been dying to try and haven't figured out a whole project to do it in yet. If you're like me, you end up with a lot of the same complementary colors, so for once, having a bunch of scraps and half skeins is great. Here is a book on it: Freeform Knitting and Crochet by Jenny Dowde I got the book at my library, and it has really great color pictures in it of all the projects: scarf, a couple of little handbags, attached collar for a coat, a neato vest. In the back there are instructions and suggestions for different elements to make to add to the 'scrumble' - a fan, different little flowers, a leaf or two, attached strips. There's crochet stitches too - tassels, bobbles, and lots of ideas. It's kinda fun to NOT know where you're going with it, and just play with shapes and colors and textures and see where you end up. Test and idea. There's no wrong size, no 'what row am I on?'. And if there isn't a "wrong", you don't have to rip it! Here is a link that might be useful: Scrumbling

Wow! I'm in good company! I'm probably most like TimberFrame4us. In our new kitchen, I've devoted TWO deep 33" drawers to the plastic containers AND the glass ones are in two 30" drawers in the baking area (along w/mixing bowls, casserole dishes, & soup tureens...by shape) as I can bake in them as well as use them for storage. The glass ones are all Pyrex; but in the plastic, I have a selection of Tupperware, Rubbermaid, and those disposable ones (Ziploc, Glad, etc.) in all sorts of shapes & sizes...rectangular, square, round and little condiment sizes, kiddie snack size, all the way to those big rectangular (great for Christmas cookies). Like Zelmar, I did get rid of all those "misc containers" when I packed up the kitchen for the remodel (a year ago...wow!) I use the disposable ones when I go places so I don't have to worry about getting my containers back. I have noticed that probably 75% of the others have not been used since we moved back into the kitchen...hmmmm...I guess that's telling me something! Time to get ruthless and get rid of (or maybe pack away for awhile) all those I don't use....I bet I can free up one drawer... As to the lids, I took one of the long rectangular Rubbermaid containers and stored all the small-to-medium sized lids. The larger lids that didn't fit sit underneath or stand next to their "mates".

Everyone, thanks for these useful ideas and insights. You guys are really creative. Pretty much every bit of my jewelry is costume; I only have one nice ring and it's already in the safety deposit box across town. So no theft worries. I'd be sad to lose my costume stuff, but none of it is irreplaceable. Les, your suggestions are just so spot-on re my style: would you please come out to visit and just redo my entire house while you're here? (Bring me some Frango Mints, too?) I hadn't even known those plain, mirrored jewelry cabinets existed. What a great idea. Anyone seen one with Art Nouveau or Lloyd Wright -style detailing? (: (well, a girl can dream...) Igloo, if I see any antique silverware boxes out here in the sticks, I'll emulate you. Love that idea too. You guys are great!