↓↓April 5, 2017: Doing the Limbo Rock!↓↓

LIMBO # 1:
"How low can I go?"  I just reduced my house another $20,000.  It is now priced $100,000 less than what the county appraised it for and I pay taxes on.  But, if I want to move to Portland before the extreme heat of a Houston summer, I have to make it more enticing to buyers.

Portland is beautiful in the summer time.  I don't want to miss it.  And I want to be with my family there.

LIMBO # 2:
I made my house a blank slate so buyers can imagine themselves living in it.  All my dolls and poodles have been stored away.  I even removed my pink quilt and put a gray bedspread on my bed.  It doesn't feel like my home anymore.

Plus, I have to keep the house super neat.  It's hard to sew without creating a mess.  I miss making things.  It's a big part of who I am and what makes me happy.  I did make my dog a raincoat over the weekend.  I had to clean up continually during the process.  Most of my things are packed up so I spent a lot of time looking for the fabrics, snaps, thread, etc. 

𝄞All around the limbo clock
Hey, let's do the limbo rock𝄞

November 29, 2016

After my last post I received several messages from friends about my plans to move to Portland, Oregon.

I am not moving for at least a few more months.  I have sooo many preparations to make.  Besides, the nice weather season has arrived in Houston.  This is the best time to live in Houston.  I hope to move before the weather gets too unbearably hot again.

I just have so much stuff!  I have to sort through it all and keep only some of my things.

This past weekend I've been weeding through my clothes.  I just love clothes.  I take such good care of them that they seem to last forever (or until they somehow get too small).  I took 2 bags and 1 box full of my clothes to Goodwill yesterday. 

For the clothes that are  just too good to give away I use thredup.com, an online reseller. They decide what items they'll keep and put on their website.  The other items they donate to charity.  They also decide the prices and do the shipping.  It used to be that the company would send out "clean out bags" with a prepaid label.  All I had to do was fill up the bags and drop them off at FedEx.  They made their money by keeping the lion's share of the items' selling prices.  Now they want $9.99 per bag plus their share of the selling price. The fee is deducted from the seller's portion of the sales price or if that doesn't cover the fee they charge you via paypal.  Their policy change is very disappointing, but it beats pressing everything, putting them on hangers and hauling them to a resale shop or even worse, holding a garage sale!

Sorry, I've gotten off topic.  Once I decide when to make the actually move I will be sure to share it promptly.

November 24, 2016

It's the sixth anniversary of the day my life was forever changed.  My husband of 10 years fainted in the bathroom and became instantly and permanently paralyzed.  I've already written about what the 2 of us went through during the months that followed.

I was aware that life as I had known it was over.  I've recovered from the shock of his accident and I've even gotten over the shock of his later behavior.

But, I'm still mourning the loss of how my life used to be.  I was married to my best friend.  My mother lived with us.  I was never lonely.  Of course we had our ups and downs but overall we were happy.

Now I miss the  lifestyle.  We had a good relationship.  We took short trips frequently, played cards with friends, had real conversations, faced life's problems together.  I had hoped I could have a similar life again.  It's been 6 years and I have been trying to rebuild my life.

I guess I'm lucky that I had those happy 10 years.  I still hope to make a happy life for myself.  I've learned that I have to be independent.  I enjoyed sharing the responsibility of home ownership with my husband.  It's difficult to do alone.

I'm ready to give up owning a home.  It's so expensive and I worry about flooding, property taxes, roof leaks, etc. etc.  My plan is to move to an independent senior living apartment in Portland, Oregon.  My rent will cover a 2 bedroom apartment, 2 meals per day, covered parking, maid service and some entertainment.  I will have to give up some privacy, a roomy house and 2 of my cats.  But, I will be in a group environment and no longer alone.  My son, daughter-in-law and 2 grandchildren will only be 6 miles away from my apartment.

The other residents are mostly 10 - 20 years older than me.  But the years go by quickly and I'll be the OLD one soon enough.

In my senior years I hope to more fully explore my hobbies, especially doll making, do more exercise, explore the Northwest, go on an Alaskan cruise, travel and spend lots of time with my grandchildren.  I would also enjoy a part time job so I will be part of mainstream society.

The future looks promising.

June 23, 2016: 20 years later

I just finished watching "Independence Day" on HBO.  I first saw this movie in 1996 when it had just come out.  Kevin wanted to go to the Almeda theater because it had the new stadium seating.

Kevin, his dad and I drove out to the Almeda theater.  We all loved science fiction.  The aliens were attacking earth.  The president's wife got fatally wounded.  The president acted like he really loved her and would miss her.

I realized at that moment that my husband would have been very happy if I died.  He didn't love me.  He wouldn't miss me.  It was quite a blow.  I knew my marriage was failing but the contrast with that portrayal of a happy marriage hurt me so much.  I cried from that moment on through the movie.  On the way home I sat in the back seat so I could cry.  When we got home, I got my car keys and drove to my friend, Susin's house.  I cried some more.  This was July 1996.

My husband told me he was looking for an apartment and would move out.  I told him that I would move out.  I knew I couldn't afford that big house.   I started looking.  He wanted to know the cost.  He said he could find cheaper apartments.  That was the last straw.  The next day I drove to my lawyer's office and signed the divorce papers.  They had already been drawn up but I hadn't been ready yet.

I served him the divorce papers myself.

I thought that I had found real love with Jim.  We were going to be married the rest of our lives.  Then he hurt me so badly, so much worse than my first husband had.

It's unbelievable to me that I still enjoy men's company.  I have a fence around my heart now.  I never want to get married again and chance more pain.  But, I don't want to be alone either.

Now,  I'm thinking of moving to Portland OR.  I'm flying out to visit Kevin there tomorrow.  I'll be looking at apartments, houses.  It will be a new life.  I have no one to share it with.  I can't afford to bring Bert with me.  It would necessitate a bigger place to live.

Another stage in life.  It may be the last new stage in my life.  I have no idea what the future holds.  Why bother thinking about the future?  Life can change totally at any moment.

2014/02/26: My Poodle Telephones!

This past weekend I finally got around to doing some crafting/sewing. 

I found 2 old-timey phones in the trash in my building.  Of course, I immediately thought of poodles!  These phones both are in working condition.

I had a couple of the fuzzy tubular scarves that I purchased at Goodwill.  These tubular scarves make crafting easy.  I removed the handset and cords from phone #1 and painted around the number buttons with white acrylic paint.  Opening up the pink tubular scarf, I inserted the first phone.  I folded under one end of the scarf, leaving about 6-8 inches of excess fur at the back of the phone.  I cut off the excess at the other end.  Then I glued and folded the scarf around the phone, cutting small holes for the number buttons and the cord openings.  I carefully glued around these openings.

I then took the handset and inserted it into the remaining portion of the scarf.  I took the excess on one end and pulled it into a rubber band, forming one ear.  On the other side I made a loose covering for the spiral cord.  I folded up and hand sewed the cord cover so it wouldn't be so bulky.  When I tuck back the cord it looks like another ear.

I inserted a piece of balsa wood into the bottom fur cover and glued it to the underside of the phone.  I glued a clothespin with its base to the wood and glued a large pink puff ball to the top of the clothes pin. Then I pulled the excess fabric over these pieces, taking a rubber band to tie the end of the clothespin to form the pouf of the tail and securing with a few stitches.

I added some doll eyes and lashes that I already had in my stash, used a button for the nose, glued in a felt tongue and tied a bow on an ear.
 I attached the handset to the phone base and plugged in the phone cord.

Now I just need to figure out how to make the phone bark instead of ring!

I decided my pink poodle phone needed a mate.  So I covered the phone #2 with a blue tubular scarf.  I took some photos as I worked on it.  This phone was a dark brown so I doubled the scarf over the phone to cover the dark color. 

The handset and cord were permanently inserted into this phone so I had to work around them.  I left the brown spiral cord uncovered and made both ears the same way by cutting off a piece of scarf. pulling the excess fur and gluing the fur onto the handset, folding it as necessary. 

I wrapped both end of the fur with rubber bands to form the ears. 

I made the tail from the excess fur on the back side of the phone - securing it with a rubber band and some stitches.

I cut out white felt ovals for the eyes (no more eyeballs in my stash) and sewed on black buttons with white thread for the pupils.  The nose is a button.  The tongue is red felt.

Aren't they just the perfect couple!

January 17, 2014

I'm happy to say that I survived the holidays very well.  But, I am also so happy that they are over.  There are just too too many memories associated with holidays.  It made it difficult for me to focus on the present.

I am pretty content with my current life.  It's been over a year now that I have had the house to myself.

I've spread out through the entire house.  At first, I wanted to keep a guest room set aside and ready for visitors.  I still have the bed in the room but today I am moving all my patterns and books down to that room.  This frees up a lot of storage space in my sewing room.  I moved most of the clothing that I've made onto a rolling rack that I placed in that room.  I hadn't realized how much I've made until I put it all in one spot.

I put one of the cats' litter boxes in the bathtub in the second, rarely used bathroom.  It's now their favorite spot.  I wish the cats would not get so enthusiastic with scratching the litter.  Then I wouldn't have to sweep it up so often.

Home maintenance is a necessary nuisance, though.  Maybe someday someone will pay big bucks for my property.  Then I can move back to a townhouse.  I sold my townhome in Bellaire for this house.  Originally, my son, ex-husband, my mother and I lived here together.  A big house was useful back then.

In the meantime, I am putting the house to good use.

Right now I am looking at all my pink poodles that I gathered in one corner of the family room.  It makes me smile just to look at them.  My real live pink poodle, Sweetsie is sleeping next to me on the sofa.

My home is a happy place to be!

June 2013: Working on the Laundry Room

My house has a huge laundry room.  It was part of the remodel done before I moved in.  Maybe it was part of the old garage.

It had counter tops made from old doors.  The counters were supported by wood posts on the floor.  There was one old rickety cabinet on the wall.  I added a couple of bookcases for storage.  But other than that it was very cumbersome to store anything.

I had Ian, my "handiest of men" take out the built in counters and cabinet.  I bought easy to assemble shelving units from Lowe's which will take their place.  Plus, I will put my Ikea counter in there under the window.  I hope to be able to use this space for flower arranging and painting crafts.

So far, Ian has floated the walls and primed them.  He removed the old carpet on the floor.  I've picked out some vinyl flooring for the room.

The room has space for an air conditioner.  I told Ian to go pick one up at Home Depot.  It will be easier for him to work in there.

I will post the after photos as soon as it's done.

Ian is a good handy man but he is doing all this work alone so it will take a while.  If anyone needs a recommendation for a handy man, I'll post his contact info after he finishes my laundry room ;)

February 5, 2013

I worked hard ALL day at the office today.  My old boss, Carole died on 11/24/2012.  Since then I've gotten a lot of her workload.  It still seems strange.  Carole wanted to do everything herself.  She found it hard to delegate.

Tuesdays are always my busiest days.  It's my first day back in the office since the past Thursday.  (I only work Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.)  This morning I had over 200 emails to sort through.  Not only do I get my own mail, I get Carole's and the department's also.

The department has gotten a new administrator, Altha.  She has been very pleasant to work with.  She is still learning about the department.

It's the evening now.  I should doing my "second" job - moving stuff around in the house - reorganizing.  I have to move everything out from the other part of my studio so it can be painted this weekend.  Tonight I'd rather just sit and watch TV.  But, I going to get a least a little bit accomplished before bedtime.

February 2, 2013

Today my bathroom is getting painted and repaired.  Jim's power wheelchair chipped off the paint on the cabinets and knocked a big hole in the door.

I'm moving everything around in the house.  All my sewing stuff is going into one of the bedrooms.  That room got painted 2 weeks ago.

Last weekend Mom's old bedroom and the hall were painted.  That will be my guest room.

Tomorrow Omar (my painter) will do part of my studio.  I'm moving all my non-sewing hobbies and desk into that room.  Maybe I'll be able to keep my stuff better organized by "segregating" it.

By moving all this around I will get my living room back.  If I put the house up for sale, it would look better with a living room instead of a sewing studio.  Right now I don't have much to furnish that room other than a big oriental rug and an armoire.

I'm not making any decisions about moving for a while.  That would be too much change too soon.  I had to paint the interior anyway so I decided to make the house more sell-able.

The good thing about owning a house is I can keep my 3 cats and I can enjoy the backyard birds at my all my bird feeders.  And I wouldn't have to move!

The bad thing is it's too big and there's so much work involved in home ownership.

I'm writing this during one of my "rest periods."  Now I have to go back to moving fabrics and assembling bookcases.

New Floor

Yesterday workmen started on my family room floor. They ripped out the carpet and pad, leveled the concrete floor and added a coat of water proofing. They put all the furniture into the dining room. We have a little tunnel to go through to get from the bedrooms to the kitchen.

We're having a hard wood floor installed - no more smelly carpet (the dog rolls around on it). It's supposed to be all finished when I get home from work today!

Bathroom Remodeling Still Going On!!

Today is the beginning of the fourth week of the work in my bathroom. The designer, Jeff said it would take one week. After I called several times, the owner, Dave said it would take 3 weeks. The first week they ripped out my walls, fixtures, etc. The second week they worked for a total of 3 hours. Finally the third week, they completed the tiling. The tiling was a lot of work.

So far, the tile is done, a couple of cabinets installed, some plumbing work and my walls painted. That leaves the counter and sink installation, grab bars, shower door, mirror, lights, medicine cabinet, all faucets and the toilet to be installed. The rest of the cabinets have to be put in, too.

Funny thing about the cabinets, they arrived green. So, they all had to be repainted.
The cabinets do not seem to be what causing the delay. The workers just don't come very often. Today 4 guys showed up at 8:15. I checked on them and they were all just standing around. When I returned home after errands at 11, they were all gone. I don't know, if they did any work at all.

Another point of annoyance: they help themselves to our tools. One day I found my bedside lamp with the shade removed in the bathroom. Another day our spotlight from the garage was being used. Dave asked if they could use Jim's big level. Do workmen not carry their own tools?

Do I have to call again for the workers to start up again? It seemed like the tile installation was the most difficult. I wish they would just show up and continue the work.

So, I will continue sleeping on the sofa. Today I woke up all stiff. At least Jim didn't turn on the Bloomburg News at 5 AM this morning. I've been so tired.

remodel

On Monday work began on remodeling my master bathroom. It's not much of a bathroom - pretty small. Since I'm not enlarging it, it will still just be a small master bathroom. We're removing the tub and getting a shower stall. New tiles, cabinets, light, fan and that's about it. Despite the limited remodeling, it still costs an awful lot of money.

I had to sleep on the sofa last night. The night before I slept in the bedroom and woke up coughing from the dust and smell. Plus, the cats thought that the plastic sheeting made a great toy.

I sure hope the remodel goes as smoothly as the contractor says it will. I guess I just have to keep sleeping on the sofa until the work is done.