Tag Archives: reorganizing

Lost in the Photo Mines: My Mid‑Summer Report from the Tagging Front

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A grid of small photo thumbnails from my digital photo library, showing a mix of desert landscapes with red rock formations, blue skies, and close‑up shots of colorful flowers and plants.

Checking In on My Mid‑Summer Projects

I’ve been plugging along, blogging my little heart out, sharing whatever thoughts drift through my head, and since we’re smack in the middle of summer, I figured it was a good time to stop and take stock. Have I made any progress on the projects I’ve been yammering about?

Six Months Deep Into the Great Photo Tagging Project

The biggest one, of course, is the Great Photo Tagging Project — and yes, I’m still at it. I may skip a day here and there, but I always come back like a determined little homing pigeon. I started this madness in March, which means I’ve been working on it for almost six months now. (Six months at the end of August, but who’s counting? Oh right… me.)

To keep myself from getting lost in the digital swamp, I’ve learned the magic trick: keep a log. My photos are organized by month and year, and each page holds 20 pictures. So if a month has 40 photos, that’s two pages to tag. Simple math, but it keeps me from wandering off into the weeds.

I started with the newest photos first, and any time I add a picture, I tag it right away. My once‑humble 10,000‑photo library has now ballooned to 11,700, and I’m currently working on April 2017 — a month in which I apparently lived with my camera glued to my face, because I added 149 photos.

The WordPress Tagging Surprise That Changed Everything

But then I discovered something the other day that made me want to flop onto the floor like a fainting Victorian heroine. I was searching for a photo I knew I had tagged… and it wasn’t coming up. After much stumbling, muttering, and clicking around like a confused raccoon, I finally found it.

That’s when I realized the problem: WordPress only searches the file name, not the tags I’ve been adding inside the media editor.

Which means — brace yourself — if I tagged a photo but didn’t also put that tag in the actual file name, WordPress won’t find it. The tag might as well be written on a sticky note taped to my monitor. Completely useless.

So here’s the rule I learned the hard way: I can add tags to the file name if I separate them with commas, and that’s the only way WordPress will recognize them in a search. All those beautiful, carefully chosen tags I added the “normal” way? WordPress politely ignores them like a cat ignoring a $40 toy in favor of the cardboard box.

Which means that once I finish tagging all 15 years, 180 months, and 11,700 photos… I’ll need to go back and refine the file names so the tags actually work. Because if the tag isn’t in the file name, WordPress pretends it doesn’t exist.

Now, WordPress updates constantly, so maybe someday they’ll give us a better filtering system. Or maybe I’ll get better at tagging. Either way, I’m not giving up. Even with my bungling, I can see a major improvement in my organization.

Tips for Anyone Tackling Their Own Photo Library Cleanup

So that’s my mid‑summer update. If I’ve inspired anyone else to tackle their photo library, I hope you’re having better luck than I am — or at least learning from my mistakes.

 

 

 

Here are a few tips I’ve picked up along the way:

  1. Put commas between tags in your file name.
  2. Make sure your tags match your file names. Add a general tag and a specific one (example: waterfall, Niagara Falls or birds, gulls).
  3. Track your progress. It keeps the overwhelm monster at bay.
  4. Take breaks. It took years to create the mess; it’ll take time to fix it.

Share your progress — and any tips — in the comments. I’d love to know if I’m the only Dummkopf lost in a photo‑archaeology dig, or if there are other brave souls out there with dust-covered digital archives of their own.

Sea lion holding a fish in its mouth near the water’s edge.

 

AARP Says 30 Days to declutter… My Kitchen Strongly Disagrees

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The Kitchen Declutter project begins. Doesn't look too bad if you don't open the cabinet doors

Making Peace With a Slow Declutter

I knew I’d never complete the AARP decluttering challenge in the 30 days they promised. So far, the only room that moved at their suggested pace was the bathroom. The kitchen? That beast took me two full weeks. It’s technically “finished” now only because I’m assigning the cupboards that open into the dining room to the dining room. They really belong to the kitchen, but at this point I’ll take any help I can get.

The Cookbook Situation (Yes, It’s a Situation)

I’ve sold a few things on Facebook Marketplace and listed all my old cookbooks there as well. Right now, they’re just piled up waiting for a buyer. I have this funny quirk: I cannot throw out books. I may end up giving these cookbooks away, but tossing them in the trash? Absolutely not. It would feel like throwing out my own child.

The Hall Closet/Pantry: My Biggest Victory So Far

The biggest project so far was the hall closet/pantry. I’ve reorganized it as much as I can for now. I’m still debating a few items, so I’m letting things settle to see if the current setup works for me. I bought new canisters for flour, sugar, and other staples so I can actually see what I have — no more half‑open bags lurking in the shadows. These should keep everything fresher, too.

Remember what that closet looked like when I started? Look at it now. I’m genuinely proud.

Before. Is it a closet or a pantry. I don’t think it knows

After- A pantry reorganized and cleaned out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Banner and Balboa’s “Help”

Banner and Balboa gave the newly organized pantry — which has always been off‑limits — their full approval. Of course, that may be because they managed to sneak in and “help” while the door was open. They’ve both protested now that the door is closed again. I’ll admit I’m not as worried if they manage to get in these days, since I no longer have nails and tools scattered all over the floor.

The Spice Cabinet: A Whole Other Adventure

The other big project wasn’t the mugs so much as the spices. Whew. What a mess. I did some serious purging because most of the one‑offs were expired anyway — things I bought for one recipe and never made again. Here’s the before and after of the spices. Much better.

Before, A crowded and confused spice cabinet. A bit disorganized but functional

 

 

After. Still full but all organized by spice and type

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next Up: The Bedroom and Closets

The next part of the decluttering project heads to the bedroom, closets, and personal spaces. My bedroom is a mixed bag. I’ve already cleaned out one nightstand, but I have a huge cabinet that holds my winter coats and photography paraphernalia. One closet is pretty organized but full — it holds all my luggage, and it gets pulled out often because the HVAC unit is in the back and needs yearly service.

The second closet is… a nightmare. I’ve had good intentions, but I always get overwhelmed. I’m not sure how far I’ll get. I can feel my momentum and enthusiasm slowly dying, but I can say this: a start has been made. If I can maintain what I’ve already done, I can always pick the project back up.

But I say this firmly: No, AARP. This is not a 30‑day project unless you’re doing a superficial clean‑out.

And Now… The Grand Finale

Press onward, intrepid declutterer — the closet awaits, and it isn’t going to clean itself.
Behold… the beast I’m tackling next.

 

 

 

Declutter Adventure: Week 3

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The Start of the Kitchen declutter adventure

Falling Behind the AARP Timetable (And That’s Okay)

Well… I’m not keeping up with AARP’s decluttering timetable. The kitchen turned out to be a much bigger challenge than I expected. You’d think a tiny kitchen would be easy, but I forgot one crucial detail: the hall closet, which has slowly evolved into my pantry over the years.

And then there are the cabinets added during the 2014 kitchen refresh — the ones under the counter between the kitchen and dining room. I needed storage space desperately back then, and boy, did I fill it.

The Hall Pantry: A Time Capsule from 2006

I started with the hall pantry/closet. What a mess. I pulled out things that have been sitting untouched since I moved in back in 2006. Some of it went straight onto Facebook Marketplace. If it doesn’t sell, it’s getting tossed. No guilt, no hesitation.

I didn’t think to take a “before” picture of that frightening closet, but here’s what it looked like after my first 30 minutes. It’s still pretty bad, but progress is progress. I’m determined to get that space cleaned out if nothing else. Honestly, I may need two weeks for this part alone.

The Mug Situation (A Partial Victory)

The mug collection is trimmed down… a little. There are still more mugs than any single person needs, but I just couldn’t part with all of them. Still, they’re better organized, and that counts.

New Organizers Incoming

Speaking of organization, I ordered some new organizers from Amazon — including a fresh set of canisters for flour, sugar, etc. They should arrive by Monday. Once those are in place, I think I’ll finally feel like I’m making progress.

A Little Cooking Validation from Quora

In the middle of all this decluttering, I had a fun moment of validation. Someone on Quora asked how to keep chicken breasts tender, and the top answer was exactly what I’ve been saying for years on my blog:

Use a cast‑iron pan.

It’s always nice when the universe confirms you’re on the right track. And yes — my cast‑iron pans have a permanent home in the kitchen. They’re not going anywhere.

A Condo Meeting Twist: Yard Sale Opportunity

We had a condo meeting Wednesday night. They’re planning a “Community Day” to socialize and meet neighbors. I asked if we could add a yard sale to the event — and they loved the idea. So now it’s a combined Community Day + Yard Sale.

Maybe I can unload some of my clutter there too.

The Long Game: Maintaining Momentum

If I can maintain the areas I’ve decluttered over the next year, I think I can do a spring clean each year and slowly weed out the unnecessary items. I can’t even imagine tackling the storage unit with its boxes of ornaments and photo props. Just thinking about it gives me nightmares. But I’ll get there eventually.

At least you can see my countertops now. Next post, I’ll share the finished kitchen pics.

Banner and Balboa’s Review

Banner and Balboa love the empty spaces. They think I’ve created new real estate just for them.

All I want for Christmas

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Sigh! I’m beginning to understand a bit about the aging process.

oldlady

All I want right now is to get my home back in order and cleaned up. It seems like forever that I’ve been living in boxes. First the kitchen and now the furniture that I need moved.

 

buddyandtree 007 copy

And it’s mainly because I can’t do this by myself. I used to be able to move this furniture alone but now I can’t get it to budge! So I am at the mercy of other people’s schedules.

I can see how someone, particularly the elderly, could become hoarders! No strength or energy to throw stuff out!

The kitchen still isn’t finished.

blog pics 001 copy

I’m still waiting for the electrician to install the microwave range hood. That would get one big box out of the way. Then I’m waiting for my neighbor to help me move the sideboard and hutch.

buddyandtree 006 copy

 

I emptied that out to make it easier and lighter to move but I haven’t connected with him since he said he’d help. So that means I have all those boxes sitting here.

There’s an armoire on it’s way. It’s a Saunders so I know that means it will have to be put together. I hate putting together furniture. My knees and back hurt so much it makes it very hard but the ones that were already assembled were terribly expensive. To make room for the armoire I need to clean out the book case and move it to another corner. I used to be able to move this book case by myself. Now I don’t know if I still can or not. I sure hope so!

buddyandtree 008 copy

 

Then there’s an old rickety book case in that corner that needs to be cleaned off and thrown out. It’s sitting where I want to put the book case that’s where the armoire is going to go.

It’s like a puzzle.

It makes me tired just thinking about it but everything is at a standstill until either my electrician gets here or my neighbor. Until one of them makes me some room I am stuck and I hate being dependent on someone else. I hope one of them gets here before the armoire otherwise I have no idea where that box will go!

In the meantime I am living surrounded by boxes, dust and cat hair. I may not be the best housekeeper but I’ve never lived this long surrounded by such chaos, not even when I’ve just moved.

I mean it when I say all I want for Christmas is a clean and organized home.