Oh Chris - once again you made me giggle! I take out all the ingredients before I start, then move them aside or put them away as I use them - as a memory tool! Otherwise, I have no idea which one I have added or not. Tell him he's missing the dry mustard, lemon juice & brown sugar - adds a new dimension to chili.
My husband is the opposite of Jay - he has to dig through layers on desk or workbench to find things (I no longer let him pile on things the kitchen or dining room table.) I got him a tabletop desk organizer for his birthday - no idea what's in it, but his "stuff" is piled around it - a little ADD. I'm a "touch it and toss or file" person myself - I need things put away because clutter makes me anxious.
Sue

@artscaping I think if my mother would have had a cleaning service come in, she would have been like Jay; she was obsessive in cleaning and organization. I keep a clean house, sometimes tidy. I have a little tile that says "Creative minds are rarely tidy", that's my excuse and I am sticking to it! Seriously, the organization helps keep me in line, although I do blur that line often ;))

Making meatloaf is when you will see my attention to ideas at its best. The fridge is raided, along with the cupboards, as each creation is different.Everything is set onto the counter, and moved from one side to the other as used. I also clean up as I go, so there is less at the end.
Ginger

@artscaping- You make me laugh! My mother was the antiseptic queen. And to get back at her, (gone now for over 20+yrs), I'm not. After my first lung cancer surgery, I began watching cooking shows. In one show, Caprial's I cooked everything that she made and gained the weight that it carried too. After a while, still watching the show I did start dieting, but remember being this prepared too. lol, I believe that it's called "mise en place." (the preparation of dishes and ingredients before the beginning of service.)

By the way, the show was out of Portland, OR where my son lives. During one of my visits, we went there (not cheap! lol). I got to meet Caprial and told her my story.

@artscaping What your husband does is basically, "mise en place", or "everything in its place" which is what professional chefs do. It really does make things easier. Chefs take it a step further and have each ingredient measured in little bowls.

I would say the bottom painting is the more recent one. Are you going to have a big reveal?

When my cleaning woman is coming (I sure hope I can get her back once we have both been vaccinated) I always clear the clutter before she comes. I expect her to clean, she wouldn't know how to disposition things though.

Regarding needlework, I used to do crewel and needlepoint, I have been a sewer, but I had to do it when I was watching TV. Now with my close up vision failing, I can't do that anymore. I have a whole bunch of Elsa Williams kits that I never got to.
JK