Kitchen Yeah!

Yes, it's done - Bob the Builder has done a great job in fitting the new microwave and hood into the current scheme of the kitchen. 

This is what I started with - ugh! First order of business - get new appliances especially the fridge.  It was running and running, so annoying.  The stove didn't work too well.  I finally gave up when baking a cake took twice as long as it should have.

So the new appliances arrived.  Thanks to my neighbor, Julie, she had done some homework and shared it with me.  That' when I found out that the microwave hood didn't fit.

It was too large compared to the space.  Oh well, Plan B into action.  Bob the 'all around fix it guy' was back in business after an extended shoulder injury.  Just in time, and of course there  was a list of lots of other items.

So here it is.  As he said, 'it was a bit crazy making the cabinet smaller and it became insane when the doors couldn't be made smaller'. I give him a lot of credit, especially while we were shopping in Lowes together to come up with a "fix".

Two brains, lots of patience on Bob's part, some stain, okay a couple of stains to match, and Plan B happened- voila doors with a black mesh sreen. 

Don't think a decorator could have done better!

Glad to have appliances that work and my electric bill went down $14 in the first month!

My Studio

Last week was like a train rushing through the night.  There was no stopping the steady stream as I readied by home for a week long guest.  I had been pulling apart the studio to get it in better shape.  It's been the last room that I've worked on and it doubles as a guest room.  Still no decorating, just needing the structure of the room in place - it doesn't feel workable yet.  I looked at the calendar, Leslie will be here in two days.

The consignment / antique place down the street closed down.  I was hoping to find a table and upholstered chairs.  Oh hum, to find another place is now back on the list. 

Give me a deadline and the creative spirit moves me.  With no shop to go to, that got me thinking about the current items in the room.  You may have seen the decorating show - redesign.  It's great as it looks around and makes a solution out of what you already have.  So I get the measuring tape, make a few more sketches, and found a new idea.  If I take the shelving unit from my former home and place it on top of the credenza, possible 3/4 of an inch to the ceiling - it will fit?

I moved all the other 'stuff' out and prepared the room for her arrival.  We had a great time even though I needed to work a good portion of her visit.  Leslie said that I better give her a project so she helped out one afternoon.  We dismantled this shelving and very carefully put it in its new place.  Oh my goodness - it was barely 1/3 inch!  Before long the shelves were refilled and the room looked bigger.  What a difference, Again, thank you Leslie!

This past Sunday after Leslie's departure, I kept looking at the space.  Got out my list, need some additional shelving - put that on Bob's list to do; move the dresser into the closet - that's me; empty and organize the scrap yarn stash - that's me again.  The other closet, it is going to wait.

Before I knew it, I had emptied the closet and moved the dresser into.  Then I got to the stashes of yarn. I was able to consolidate bags and boxes into a organized rainbow of colors.  Until I dumped it out and repack it, I didn't think I had that much!

Bob, handy man, will be back in a few days to add some shelving.  He just finished downsizing one of my kitchen cabinets so  my new microwave could be installed.  Now I feel pretty good.  The studio is taking shape, it's a bit peaceful.  Last night as I was taking in the success and I could hear the whistle of last train run by - isn't life just grand?

Recycling Police

Every so often my social justice thermometer begins to ring like a fire bell.  Ding, Ding, Ding I can hear it, and I ask where is the focus people?

Today was one of those days.

 I have been in touch with our Town sanitation department incharge of town-wide recycling.  This past summer we switched from the blue 14 gallon bucket to inline recycling and received a large rolling recycling container.  Actually this is quite exciting as we, us taxpayers, will begin to save some serious amounts of money.  It's an easy equation, recycle and pick up is free; regular trash and we have to pay to have it hauled away.  With talking with the town today, our recycling tonnage is up 35% since August.  Back to the matter at hand.

In order to participate in this program, the Town had to supply to each of the residents/taxpayers a trash collection device like this pretty blue one.  Actually they offered three sizes, 95 gallon, 65 gallon, and 35 gallon.  Though this naive one, yours truly, couldn't tell the difference.  My community doesn't use trash containers, we have 12 yard dumpsters.

Fast forward - I receive a device and I assumed it is a 95 gallon one.   It's enormous, I couldn't fill it if my life depended on it.  We are suppose to put it out every other week.   The first collection day came by and I forgot. The second one, I was away, then finally at the third pickup (six weeks later) , the container is still not filled, but I put it out.  I'm now also noticing that I will not be able to get the car in the garage with this device in there.  I've torn apart the place, how to reorganize it, nope, not enough room.

So I called the Town, asked them if I could get a 65 gallon one instead as it is way too large and occupies too much space.  She explains that I have a 65 gallon one - geez louise - I then asked for a 35 gallon one.  The long and short of it, you have to get on a list, yadda, yadda, yadda.

Now it is October and the device is not switched out.  So I've been on the phone these last two days.  Nice folks at the sanitation department.  First I find out that I'm not on the list, so I'm put on the list - I'm #126!  There are 125 of my neighbors, actually 15 in my community, that are still waiting for a different size container. 

What comes out of these conversations, is that the 'recycling police' of the Town sanitation department needs to determine if these 125 people ahead of me are worthy of a smaller container?  Of the 12,000 plus households in Town - only 125 opps 126 folks (only 1%) are requesting a smaller size. I think to myself - are you kidding?

 I continued to break down the supervisor's logic and point why in the bigger picture these arguments don't hold trash.  His responses were genuine.  His comments indicate that  there were certain assumptions made by the Town and those assumptions that didn't take into account all type of living arrangements located here.  He began with if the Town gave some one a smaller one, then the Town would have to do it for someone else.  Yeah?  I'm confused, don't we want all to recycle?  I asked him how many more individuals have called in the last several weeks.  He indicated that not many.  (I feel like I'm doing skit from the three stooges)   Therefore, the solution is simple, take care of these few individuals and be done with it.  Mind me, I heard a laundry list of why we can't do things. 

I promised that I would attend the next Town Council meeting and speak out about this matter.  Later this week, I would be meeting with my neighbors and this item will be on the agenda. 

Before we hung up, he finally agreed that he would discussing this next week when his supervisor returns and would call me with their decision.  I thanked him, and with a little laugh, said that I'll be talking with him most likely before he calls me. 

Did we lose some perspective?

Crown Ridge - Reserve Fund

If you have lived in a condominium association or known of someone that has lived in one, there is the common fee.  The common fee is collected from each of the unit owners to pay for the common expenses and to set aside money for future major repairs and replacements.

The future major repars and replacements is referred to in condo lingo as the Reserve Fund.  Finally, throughout the country, condominium accounting and finances have received more attention.  It's about time.  The Reserve Fund is, in my opinion, the most important part of the condominium financial ownership equation. In the last two years, the Federal government got on track to say to condo associations, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae won't be underwriting your home mortgage unless the association is saving at least 10% and has some type of reserve funding and savings balance.

When I moved here, I volunteered to do the study for the reserve fund.  My previous experience at my first condo and my professional training in the speciality of condo accounting allows me to do the calculations with ease.  I knew when I purchased that their reserve fund was in very bad shape.

The board approved that I do the study.  During the first year I couldn't get them off the ground.  So at the next unit owner's meeting, I spoke up for the second time.  I had reworked the numbers and handed out a sheet at the meeting (not to the pleasure of the board).  Oh well, I thought to myself, maybe it will motivate them.  It did in one way, as several of my neighbors volunteered to help out.  Community involvement is crucial!

Fast forward - the group met once and we all learned from each other.  As this past spring and summer went by, I collected information.  Received another 'nod' (finally) to go forward with the change in format of the budget. Barbara & I began a inventory of the windows and doors (another big conflict in the association).  It's really amazing as we learned lots about each of the units/buildings in our community.

Last week I completed a packet on the Reserve Fund.  It was given to the Board just as they received the first draft of the budget for next year.  I was thorough, attempting to include all repairs and replacements that the Association is responsible for.  In our case, that's just about everything someone could imagine.  Looking up costs, some of it science and some of it estimated, the back up of the data is daunting.  In the end, using several samples from others, why invent the wheel, I laid out a scenerio to look at.

The news is not good - is it doable one should ask?  Yes it is doable, though it will take serious backbone, dedication, and discipline of how the common fee is calculated and subsequently how the common fee is spent.  One thing that was said at the meeting by one member, "oh we are only having a 3% increase this year".  Wow, this person hasn't seen the results, but they must have the magic crystal ball. 

Stay tuned - while I'm not on the board - I am hosting, at my home, the board and those interested the budget work session for our association.  I've got my work cut out for me in preparing for the meeting. 

PS  I just recieved the "budget" worksheet from the board, time to get to work :)

It is Fall already? It's time for the PLAN...

I guess it is. Something about going to the other side of Labor Day weekend kinda puts an end to the summer season.  Some feel saddened by it's end, me on the other hand, love the changes in the season.  I can smell the autumn in the air.

This last week it has been just wonderful here in CT. The weather has been warm in the days and cool in the night. Sleeping at it's best. It is also when I get a new surge of energy. 

Time to look back at the Plan for this year.   Take a moment to pull out your Plan.  How did you do?  What does it look like?  Did of my post of throwing out 50 things help?

Here's a few successful ones.   
Garden - planted a great patio herb garden. I have been enjoying fresh herbs all summer long.  Learned that pansies don't last well in containers and planting mini bells in the garden do well.  My large fern in the front garden is just a bit too big.  A little later in the season, I'll dig it up and move it.  The water hyacinth, while the bloom doesn't last long, it is a beauty.

Garage - I've been able to consolidate down the bit's and pieces and have labeled the boxes for future reference!  Wow it is great.  I've actually made some space there.  Now there are a few boxes on the floor with various plasticware containers in them that don't fit in the kitchen. Again, time to resort them into using on a regular basis vs. use for picnic and big party events.

Office - All but one box is scanned.  All shredding is up-to-date. Thanks to my nephew Spencer. We can now recyle the junk mail so my older study guides will get tossed out.  The lighting challenge has been addressed with the electricians.  I may have an expandable plan to set into action. 

Guest Room - nothing is better than having guests visit.  Since the guest room also doubles as my creative studio, I have had a chance to spiff it up. It will be a work in progress.

Lately I have found some 'guest' items to make them feel right at home.  Heck, I wasn't even here for my last guest, Pat's visit.  The card Pat left for me on my kitchen counter said it well "Every time a heart is touched by kindness, another flower blooms".

You can have extra tooth brushes on hand, small size toiletries, soap, towels, etc. I purchased a bunch of them at the Dollar Store or Big Lots.  All of them were supplied in a basket and waiting on a table in the room.  I supplied a small electric strip so my guests could plug in their techy gadgets.  As hostess, I wish my guests to feel right at home. Something I learned growing up. I wise person said, "..it's not the size of your home that matters, it's the love the guest feels.  Second guess their needs and wants, don't make them ask". 

That statement inspired a Bonus in my current year Plan.  I've developed Guest Info pages; like you'd find in a hotel.   It lists the how and what of the household like mechanicals and appliances, take out menus, alarm systems, how to operate the remotes, phone numbers for the house, cell numbers, emergency numbers.  Computer related information like 'guest passwords', etc. and let us not forget what  Ms. KC needs <meow>!

Overall, like many of us, our Plan is longer than we anticipate. Just spending time reviewing my Plan, I feel great.   I love my bonus above, I love what has been accomplished, and it has inspired me to think about what I need to schedule for this new season.  How about you?  Are you re-inspired? 

New Stove, Fridge, a work in progress

Since I moved in, I have struggled with the ever-running fridge and a stove which burners were hot or cold and not inbetween and an oven that really couldn't calibrate the temp.

 I did well with it, trying my best to cook on top.  I love to cook.  Heck baked potatoes would take 1-1/2 hrs at 350F? 

My neighbor, Jules and I have discussed at length various solutions to our kitchens.  She has the same one but just the opposite layout.  She even tried to get a new fridge awhile ago, but ran into broken delivery promises.

A couple of weeks ago, a P.C. Richard & Son opened down the street.  She's on the ball!  Bless this woman as she goes about checking prices and models and styles, etc.  She then makes an expedition to the new store, physically inspects the goods and buys.  I recieved a phone call to come on over after the install.  I was so impressed.  What a difference it made to our older style kitchens.  She's so kind that she gave me a copy of her receipt. 

I'm no fool - so I go down the next day and buy the same ones.  What is missing?  Did you guess the new range hood?  If you did, it's not missing, it is just not installed.  Later this week, the electrician will be stoping by to install the new microwave/hood and do a bunch of other small electrical repairs.

Wow - the kitchen looks so much better.  I'm considering changing out the counter tops for something updated and add the same material to the wall between the cabinets and counter.  While it isn't my dream kitchen, my electric bill will decrease, it feels newer, my cake baking won't be so challenged and I'll live with it for a few more years.

It Bloomed!

Wow - look what I found this morning as I did my early gardening!

It's a Water Hyacinth.  I found this perennial plant  Bob's Vegetable Stand in Wethersfield at the beginning of the season.  They had explained that I need to put it into a big bucket of water and let it sit.  A month an a half has gone by, nothing happened except for happy yellow jackets that loved the water.  This moring to my surprise, it bloomed.

This plant is considered a very agressive pest and clogs water ways.  While it is a perennial, it will not survive the winter up here in the north.  It is native to South America, and is illegal to transport or have them in Texas.  Florida has had them for decades and if left unchecked, like the Kudzu, the hyacinth will choke out and kill waterways.

In the mean time, I'm going to enjoy the blooms until the frost get's here and may continue to keep this water plant in my garden for summers to come.

Home Garden

Finally today I had a few minutes to finish planting the herbs and flowers in my container garden. 

This year's planting of basil, basil, thyme, purple sage, chives, parsley flat & curly, balm lemon, and savory and more basil.  So far all is healthy and growing well. 

When I stoped at Bob's Fruit Stand, in Wethersfield (next town over) they were having a sale. I was able to pick up some annuals, called mini bells and a plant with blue flowers.  So much for my flora knowledge at this time.   More pictures as the plants grow!

 Two summers ago, the large grass fern in the picture on the left was only 2 ft high when I planted it.  It is now over 4ft high.  The mound of green in front of the fern is Savannah's plant.  This year it was so beautiful and it too has grown.

My evergreen wreath,  by my door, is decorated with American Flags.  You can also see the "new" walkway that was installed earlier this spring.  Seems like the outside is getting better!

Looking forward to my herbs and watching my garden grow.

Second Year Ends

Time flies ....  on the 18th it had been two years since I moved my office to its current location.

That little mention slipped by my calendar when all of a sudden, during my master mind meeting, I remembered.  It was a quite moment, I took a long breath and smiled.  Thinking back all that has transpired in only 24 months.

Camp Aunt Patty, babysitting the St. Louis gang for some eight days, KC coming to live with me, receiving the FOCL award, assisting with my parents' health challenges, sold my first home, finally making it to lace retreat, lots of 'firsts' once again, YELOF spa days, setting up my white Christmas tree, continue to raise the $$'s for the Friends, taking a few days in Florida and at Hunter, summer concerts, yoga and so many more.  I'm so thankful for each and every event.

How about you?  Go back 24 months, what has transpired in your life, have you given thanks?

Enjoy your day.....  it's is the present!

Black Cats

Do you know the Myths of the Black Cat?

Here's a great article Debunking the Myths ... of the Black Cat

Ms KC has now enjoyed a full year here.  She's still getting used to "new" things around the house.  Some times it seems she gets a memory lapse or is it the owner whose memory lapses?

Either way, it's been fun to have a cat back in the house.  The link above will take you to the Connecticut Humane Society.  It's a great organization and provides a safe temporary home for animals that can no longer stay with their families.  For the "unadoptables", the cats and dogs get to live at the sanctuary.  It is a non-put-down shelter.  If you are considering adding a pet to your home, consider adoption from a shelter as an option.  There are so many great pets that would love to come home with  you.

A Week Later - The Plan

It's been a week from writing the Plan.  How are you doing with your Plan?  Committed it to paper yet?  My Plan continues to grow as I unload from my brain and get it to paper. 

I've scored big in the way of my "studio".  The studio / 2nd bedroom is my lost child of my home.  While I haven't yet lived here two years, I walk by it at least twice a day. Other than some overnight guests, it's not working for me. 

It's a great room with two large windows that streams in lots of light.  Has the some electrical outlets, though I'd like a few more, has cable, has two large closets, and is quite generous in size - some 15' by 11'.  So over the weekend inbetween work, the Sheep and Wool show, Friends of Library stuff, I took time to measure out the room and begin to look at what I want it to be. 

What first came to mind, is that in my last home, my 'studio' was generally packed away into cabinets and closets throughout the house.  It was terribly efficient in that it was all put away, though inefficient when putting it all together.  Now I have this space and I'm not sure what I'd like to do.

I measured the room and looked around my current furnishings and what I found is that two bookcases from the office could really work well in the studio.  Actually the matching third bookcase is in the studio right now.  That means the ricky old shelving unit could be reworked into some needed shelving in one of the closets.  I know, that leaves some books in the office possibly without a shelf.

Now that I started this project, time to break it down into smaller tasks or it will become overwhelming and nothing will get done.  So first - organize the unfinished projects! 

I began to gather up and set out my unfinished projects.  Anyone that enjoys the creative process generally has more than one project on hand. LOL!!!  I'll admit to that!  I found and agreed to some 21 crochet projects that are in the midst of almost done!  I get started because I like the design, or it poses a different stitch I'd like to learn, or it is just different.  Often times these projects get put aside as an event will come up and I choose to make an item for that event. You can watch the progress at my Creative Sources blog.

By organizing these projects, I feel somewhat accomplished.  I'll be leaving for retreat in a few days and I'm packing some of my projects to take with me so they will be completed when I return.

During our demonstration of lace making at the Sheep and Wool festival, I took one of my projects and just about completed it.  Later on in the weekend I added the balance of the edging and the tassels.  KC wasn't really excited about it (she doesn't like change) though by this morning, she was enjoying her little blanket!

I encourage you, take some moments for yourself and set up your Plan!

Condo Annual Meeting - #2

It's been a heck of a night and I'm a bit cranky after being at the condo annual meeting.

A couple of weeks ago the envelope arrives from the mangement company notifying me when the condo annual meeting will be.  The notice was wrong - I wasn't sure if the Day of the week was correct or the Date was correct.  So in another day or so, a second mailing was sent out correcting the last. 

There were the minutes - be it me to remember what was said a year ago.  Then there was a budget.  Oh my goodness, could they make the numbers any smaller?  They have a surplus of over $15K and they want to have over a 9% increase.  Just watch me crank the numbers!

Going back a year ago at my first meeting, I spoke up right away.  LOL like you'd think I'd just be a quiet bystander?  I knew that this association was in trouble when I requested financial information and couldn't get it at the time of purchase.  Lucky for me, I did get some information from my current neighbor.  So at the meeting, I spoke, eloquently, about the need for a reserve study.  After all my experience with my old condo and those condo associations that were my clients, I still am the go-to knowledge lady.  If you are not aware of how the association works, simply put, the association collects money on a rateable basis from the members based on a budget.  A portion is used for current expenses like electric, snow plowing, etc. - called the Operating Budget.  The other portion is to be put aside for big repairs and replacements like roofs, pavement, siding, etc. - called the Fund for Major Repairs & Replacements(FMRR). 

I spoke to our lack of and the immediate need to develop a FMRR plan.  With my experience, I offered to prepare the plan for the board saving our neighbors thousands of dollars.  Days go by, weeks go by, and some time in February I get some information that I promptly put together a sample chart to begin the discussion.  So I send it back to the designated board member and days go by, weeks go by, months go by....... and here I am today ready to give them a public lashing in the most diplomatic way. :) :)

I reworked the 2010 numbers in a concise and tell all schedule.  It shows 'us' in a much better light and then I had the 'balls' to hand it out at the meeting!  There are five board members and this one board member, I'll call her Miss P.  She is still cranky, defensive, makes tons of excuses, speaks in platitudes and generalizations that have nothing to do with our present situation.   I dislike embarrassing an individual in public, but I could not get her to shut up.  My other next door neighbor is on the board and she was funny giving me a wink and a shoulder shrug during Miss P's rant.  She goes on and on about having no more time and won't do the FMRR or work on it for the association.  I think she needs some seriously loving and a big glass of wine.

I finally get Miss P on point.   Oh, Oh, we are going to set up a committee - I get to chair it (deja vue) - you -know-who isn't the happy camper.  I gave a brief explanation  to my gathered neighbors of what we (committee) needs to do for our community.  Then low and behold  five of my neighbors are willing to work with me on this project.  There hasn't been five volunteers ever in this association at any one time!  Even more funny - Miss P wants a report in the middle of March?  She should ask for one about April 10th!

I was prepared for this meeting and sometimes I surprise me!  A couple of folks had a quick chance to read the one pager I handed out and said they were impressed with the organization of the information.  That's a sign of a good schedule!  Yahoo!

Stay tuned, I'm sure there will be some more crankies to come my way.  We will have an FMRR schedule and a plan to solidify the financial condition of our community.

Great Shopping and a Christmas Gift!

Ho Ho Ho!  Merry Christmas.  I know we haven't finished Thanksgiving dinner yet, by the way, yum yum!

A little while ago, I need to return an item to Macy's.  If you know me, I really dislike shopping.  So just before the expiration of the return period, I got it returned.  That lead me by the winter coat area.  Last winter I got away without replacing my winter coat.  I've had it awhile, it is showing wear.  It's a great coat, black, boiled wool JG Hook - classic lines.

So I'm going through the racks, more and more of the same - geez, where are the 'classic coats'? Until I turn around and on the end of a rack, this lone coat calls out to me.  With one look and touch, I fell in love.  It was so soft and with great texture - it was made from Alpaca!  It was so ridulously priced at almost $500.  When did winter coats get that expensive?  Though it was a sale  40%, and if you put it on your Macy's card - another 15%, and if you don't have a Macy's card and open one on the spot, then you'll get another 20%!  Do the Math - 40 + 15 + 20 = 75%  Now the coat will cost $187 - such a deal and I took it home.

So you say - what does the dishes have to do with the coat?  (it's a story and a half as I take a long breath)   It is easy - the new Macy's card gave me a 20% off anything I could charge for that day and the next. Hmmmm.  So I go and get a new pair of gloves for my new coat.  Then up to housewares - there must be something I can use and get this great discount.

Bottom line - I was looking through the fine china.  My china that I got right after college has served me well.  I've used it and used it on a daily basis, and it is now showing all the good lovin it has had.  Several pieces have just broke as the chips have finally become cracks.  While getting china was very low on my list of things, it would be nice to set a great table with dishes without chips and cracks even if it only for me.

So I mixed to patterns - Macy's Hotel brand and Lenox's Tin Can Alley.  Two plates from Hotel and two plates and the bowl from Leneox.  Actually they look great together and the sales clerk was liking the mixing of the two patterns. Neither pattern had enough of the right size plates.   I'm keeping my cup and saucer from my first set.  Now get this, the patterns were on sale, and if you purchase them and charge them on your Macy's card, and of course it is in the discount period - voila!  I have purchased eight placesettings for a net $49 per place setting - yes - bone china!

If you want to give me a Christmas Gift that I would really love - how about sponsoring a place setting?  Mom and Dad have laid claim to two of the place settings.  Thank you Momming and Daddy!

New Furnace - chicken soup

If the last couple of weeks and this past weekend were not busy enough - the company I hired to do my furnace, air conditioning, water heater, air purifier, humidifier began work today. Oh yeah and lets not forget the gas line to the fireplace!

They were here today to bring in some of the equipment and take more measurements. I am having them put my water heater in a basin so that if it leaks in the future, it will shut off and will pump the water out so it won't go all over the floor.

It's a classy group of guys. This is the same company I used for the mechanicals in my old condo. Not only is it the same company, it is that same team of guys! To start off just right, the owner, Ugo Sr., brought me lunch from Il Panino Restaurant. Great chicken soup, bread of course, and chicken cutlets with mushrooms and macaroni! They only do breakfast and lunch and the food is the best home cooking on the Avenue.

How better to start the process of changing all my mechanicals! Yum Yum

Anniversay Coming Up

A year ago I was awaiting the closing on my former home and finally being able to move my personal belongings to my new home. In the midst of it all, packing my office for a children sitting stay in St. Louis, an election, and assorted other items in my life.

So a year has passed, the St. Louis trip was great to stay with my nieces and nephew. The move meant I would have furniture in my home. The election - we all know what happened.

When I moved, I promised myself that within a year, I'd be unpacked and better functioning than at my former home. Now, with only a few days to the 1st, I'm a bit frantic with cleaning up the last of the bits and pieces I haven't done yet. A couple of weeks ago, I unpacked the last box when the sideboard arrived for the dining area. That was a great relief. There are now a few items in the garage that need to be cleaned up. Do garages ever stay clean? I hope so as I'd like to get my car back into it. The last couple of client files of older papers need to be scanned, some straightening out of a couple of closets, especially the basement storage. I need to get the studio in better order - it's been a work in progress between guest visits and lace demonstrating events and life in general. It doesn't look much different from a year ago.

Wish me luck - I know I'll make it by the 1st!

Have you called the school lately?

I heard this the other day and wanted to share it. From a school in Queensland, Australia, you can here this phone tree. No I didn't call the school, yet it is really funny.

When I did my TA work during my MBA, I had some 80 students reporting to me for accounting work class. It was my task to instruct and re-instruct them in the daily lecture by the professor. Unfortunately I was surprised how ill equiped most of them were to take on life and it's challenges. Maybe this video could explain?

Listen up - it is funny and sad in some instances.

Before and After

So the sideboard arrived yesterday! That meant to move stuff around, empty the last of the two boxes that were brought over here last November 1st.

They have been patiently waiting to be unpacked. Mostly serving dishes and assorted non-every-day glasses and the such. It's been an issue to me, though short-term, I disquised them with a lace sheer panel I recieved last summer in order not to make it look so bad! In the past week I found my linens and gathered them all together to sort through them to see which were keepers or which were ready for the rag bag.

I have looked high and low, and finally with the decision back to this sideboard I saw last fall.

So this morning, Bob the handy guy came by with his truck and we were off to the store to pick it up. We unpacked it, inspected for any damage and it was just wonderful. In a few minutes, back to my place and we brought it in.

But there was another task at hand. When I found the sideboard, I found some lined drapes - lol - another task - I needed to hang a different rod. Currently there is a traverse rod that won't work with these. Bob with his battery operated screwdriver, a few measurements later, and wow it was up. I took down the very nice pink draperies, they need to be dry cleaned and stored for now, and wow what a difference in the room. Now some paint would be nice to really spice it up.

So here I be - finally the last box unpacked, it feels pretty good. Of course I'm done for right now, or am I? It is always a good question.

For this week, I'm going to enjoy another project completed. As I've been told, 'it will all come together'!

Heating .... It's becoming that time

Hope you have been enjoying the cooler weather we have had over the last couple of days. Pretty soon it will be the time to switch on your heating systems. Hopefully all of you have had your annual tune-up, and don't forget to put your airconditioner cover on!

I sometimes need to remind myself that it all falls into place sooner or later. This time last year I still owned my other condo. Now a year later, I've settled in here and lately have been thinking about decorating and making additional home improvements. But what to do first? Oh my goodness - there is so much. I made a list the other day outlining each floor. Don't get me wrong, it's looks fine, though I would like to get some color and architectual style into the place.

Then the phone rings - it's my heating contractor and wants to know if I want to have my furnace (a hydro / hot air system ) very inefficient and 22 years old, replaced? No problem, I don't know what I should do, and this really isn't the fun decorating stuff I refered to before. My system isn't the best as it uses the hot water to be the heat source for the heating. So I invite Ugo Digrazia over. Let me tell you about this guy. Off the boat from Italy, he's a hand shake kind of guy with more integrity than I have ever met in a contractor. He's an older fellow, has a great crew - funny thing is that I met his crew when they replaced my old furnace/air conditioner. Last year when this furnace blew up and he fixed it, his crew was still with him.

He looks, pokes around, upstairs and back down stairs, a few times over. We discuss the part about furnace, air conditioner, humidifier, the water heater and that there isn't a shut off and a drain if the heater breaks - no problem he says he'll take care of that too, and hook up the dehumidifer so that I do not have to dump a bucket of water. Then we discuss installing gas logs in the fireplace. As I told him, it's not for a heating source in as much as it is "for the romance". He laughed and winked with that Ugo twinkle in his eye. I would like to sit back and watch the fire for a bit - just relax for an hour or so on a cold winter night. Ok this is truly a luxury - but heck, it might not be as big a deal as most folks think. MOre on this later.

So with a little thinking, and I need to crunch some numbers - then of course there is the cost - a little ouch, yet it costs enough for the furnace to get me the full $1500 tax credit - COOL! For those you that are curious - he's suggesting a Carrier.

Anyway - While it is boring to replace the furnace - I surely don't wish to be out of heat, and I'd rather have efficient heat. PS it would take these items of the to-do-list.

Falls into place - WOW

Sometimes it just falls into place. Windows of Opportunity are everywhere. Even when you are not looking for the proverbial "IT" somehow the karma out there just honed in on you.

Back when I moved into my place, I had the dilemma of not enough storage in the kitchen/dining area. So I tried this and that, gave up on the third idea though the "this" still seemed to be good. Couldn't decide - and pressed the "hold button". Before you know it, the winter came and went, spring flew by and then the rains and more rain. Just recently, I came into a small used cabinet. Pretty solid, top that can be used as a serving area or just for show. What is best is that it is deep enough to place my largest platters into it! Viola! WOW

I'm somewhat relieved that was done. Now with a little more PMA I stopped at one of the stores on the Tpke to see if any other 'decorating diva' was on the loose and could assist me to finish the corner of the dining area. Oh my goodness the "this" (sideboard pictured) is still at the store. I remeasured it especially the inside dimensions (as I don't need as deep a cabinet now) and will be checking out the space. It's 16.9 cubic feet of heavenly storage and I could finally get the last two boxes of my stuff made useable. How exciting is this!

Ok I'm a bit carried away on it. Let me sleep on it for a week or so. The new sale is beginning Oct 4th and it could go on sale! WOW

KC - a forever home

It's been four and a half months since KC moved in - formerly known as Adios. Her first month was a really me getting used to having four padded paws about the house and for her, that she needed to relax, unwind, and realize she could become a cat once again.

Since then, she's been left with a sitter that came in each day(thanks Jules). When I returned home, of course I woke her from one of her many naps and she kinda acknowleged my arrival. Nice? It was a day later that she began to follow me around and meow for hours. Ahh I guess she did miss me or it was a lecture?

Overnight guests (nieces and newphews) were here and that meant she didn't get to stay in the midday napping room. Though she did to seem quite well and it looked like either she was releved that the kids left or was wondering where I hid them as she went room to room looking. It was a good lesson for her to interact (though only a bit) with other people.

I've begun to learn the different meows that she makes, like the dish is empty, I want food, the scared meow, and when are you going to stop working, that one is more like a demand! Though when she purrs - it is grand. She has just begun a 'talking' sound. It's this noise that my old cat did it when he was excited to see the chipmunks. By the way - she snores, wakes me up, like a freight train!

This week we had to go to the Vet to discuss some food issues. Very tramatic to put her in the box and drive over to the office. I heard meows that I never hear before, she was panting and scared. She may be remembering the trip to and from the shelter? Once to the office, she calmed down, allowed the tech and the vet to do anything they wanted without a peep. What a good good ole girl!

Having a nine year old cat has it's challenges. Now that she arrived here and is enjoying the good life, she's put on weight - a good thing. Yet there is too much of a good thing LOL! and she needs to lose a pound and a half. When she got here she was only about nine pounds and you could see all her ribs. Now - with living here, she weighed in at a solid fourteen pounds! So here's the plan - This week we are trying to see if feeding her less kibble to deal with the digestion (or lack thereof) has helped, next week the teaspoon of wet food will be changed with ID wet food and the week after that, the dry food will be changed to 'diet' dry food.

So life here is just lovely. Miss KC hangs out with me and seems to enjoy her new home (me too!). While the beginning was a bit rough - the trust building stage - I would recommend to anyone, please consider adopting an older pet. They need loving forever homes too.