Thursday, September 28, 2017

no promises...

Contemplating another long overdue project.  Not sure if I really ready want to tackle this mess as I am a bit out of practice when it comes to something so overwhelming.  Vote in the comments if you think I should.  I could use some encouragement... It would certainly make for a good time lapse video.  70,76,64,0,B

34 comments:

JB said...

That looks like a good winter long project.

bob r said...

draw a grid, attack one section at a time.....

Joel White said...


if not now, when?????

Janet said...



If you can live with it, forget it. It's yours -- do it when you feel like it.

I do have a saying for myself when it comes to projects like these: "Hard by the yard, cinch by the inch."

David Johnson said...

Do it when you have nothing else too do

Gene Adcock said...

Way back in the back of that picture is a cactus
Tall and green. Don't remember a story about that. Does it have a name?

Billy ray said...

John I think it would probably bother you moore than any of us if you didn't and it would make a good video. My vote is yes and it will look good.

Larry G said...

I like the grid idea... parcel it out so you can do a bit at a time and know
you're making progress... without getting overwhelmed and letting it dominate everything...

Maybe time to think about turning it into a proper workshop if it's no longer a greenhouse?

Grandmama Sarah said...

What about having a GI party? See how many of us might be able to show up. There would be something gratifying to be able to labor with you at The Field Lab!

Margery Billd said...

I know you are an expert cleaner, John. I like all the comments. I need to take them to heart myself. I already know this though. The urge hits me every now and then and then I really go to town, filling 3 big garbage cans or so with some trips to the thrift store for donations too. This is life for many of us Americans.

intermittent marathonian 00 said...

Go with the flow It's hard for me to get motivated to do that kind of work; but one sometimes finds useful forgotten stuff.

Dani said...

Yup. Tidy place, tidy mind - headspace (and working space) for more productive projects in future ;)

D. B. Day IV said...

John,

I remember checking this site day after day and watching the incremental progress on the handmade trusses.

Just look up at the trusses and say, "this is nothing."

You SOOOO got this.

And if you find the willpower and motivation, ask God to help you. After all, "cleanliness is next to Godliness." Interesting discussion of this here:
https://bible.org/seriespage/15-cleanliness-next-godliness-acts-932-1023

And if none of that works, don't allow yourself another drop of alcohol until it's done. That might speed up the process!!!

Dani said...

And who knows what useful stuff you'll find that you've forgotten about... ;)

Rita B. said...

My vote is get in there and get after it. Slow and sure. Looks like a lot of trips to the dump unless you can burn some of it. Beware of any unwanted critters who may have moved in.

Stuart said...

Go for the permanent fix, shelves and old file cabinets. Then, as the shelves are build, stuff will find a permanent home. Old file cabinets, with labels, make great storage for stuff, without mud dauber nests.

Larry G said...

Often curious about the status and use of the shipping containers which if they had some shelving would be good places to store equipment if they have sufficient access and lighting.

I'd bet if many of us commenters posted pictures of our own "messes" - you'd fee much better but we'd feel worse! ;-)

I know very few people who are truly organized and tidy.... just saying...

many folks are just good at "hiding" their stuff!

Steve said...

Ok, this will be epic because I learned this from one of you post. Did you forget about;

Tom Sachs Bullet # II.

Unknown said...

Judging by your past performances I'd say you can have the interior under control in less than a weekend ... maybe one long day. You just need to hit the on switch.

Unknown said...

.... with help, 3 or 4 days. ;-)

96Trees said...

Is this stuff you use? Do you spend too much time looking for stuff here? If so then it's a good project to do.

Larry G said...

storage is a conundrum... you got stuff you need - everyday, then every week, then month.. then once in a blue-moon (but when you need it - you need it!).

so you want to segregate such that you can easily get to the stuff you use more often and deep-store stuff you don't use much...

probably is... as John well knows.. once you get this stuff out - the trick is to put it back when you're finished...

nothing is ever simple.. you get the stuff together you think you need ..then you have to keep going to get more stuff... and when you finish - all that stuff has come from myriad different places and needs to go back ...

failing to do this - results in not finding what you know you have "somewhere" and then actually having to go out and buy another...

how do I know this? Been there... Done that... Sympathize with others with the same affliction... "neat" people are to be admired - and reviled.. ;p

Stuart said...

Yep, you never know when one can use stuff. Recently used some toggle bolts, been dragging them around the country for at least 40 years. For those of us living in the boonies, a good supply of stuff saves lots of lost time going to the store. Stuff always reminds me of Carlin.

Steve said...

Divide it into 4 sections. One section a week. The whole 30 plan works and won't overwhelm you.

Janet said...

The problem is not cleaning and organizing -- the problem is keeping it that way.

I seem to remember we have been through this before with you . . . .

I especially sympathize. Sometimes when "organized" there is still a problem finding things. Sigh . . .

Janet said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rita B. said...

Hello to beautiful Benita and Bob. They must stay.

Miquel said...

You should. Period.

Unknown said...

Like I tell my grandchildren, start with the big items. Once they're stowed, it won't seem so daunting and you're not tripping over it. You can handle the smaller items just fine.
My problem has always been with that last bit of odds & ends at the end. What to do?

Good luck,
CC

David Holloway said...

Clean it John

Unknown said...

Garage Sale ....but you are short on Neighbors !

AI4MS said...

I got in trouble in New York visiting the Museum of Modern Art through an 'exhibit' that closely resembled the posted picture. I learned it had no price, once exhibited it would be destroyed, but visitors like myself had to pay and be restrained from the art space. Thank you for exhibiting your art. I would like to walk through it sometime if you choose to keep it.

Unknown said...

You owe nobody any explanation or let anyone have any expectation of you John. Out there you have a lifetime to do whatever you want to when you want to. So I'd say whenever....whatever.

ssssssnake1 said...

you need to position a soft chair to figure out where ,how , and why to move stuff. Because it will end up the same as it was. Warm cup coffie clears the mind.