Just a month left

 

I wonder why I'm not drawn to go to the beach one more time this summer before I move out west. I could certainly do so. I've sat in the sand and enjoyed the interaction with salty waves many times, enjoying the connection with all the waters that flow around our earth.

But no, I can let the rest of humanity have their sunburns, sandy toes, and damp bathing suits. I am happy enough with drinking lots of water. That's become my connection with all the earth's many-times-recycled waters. You can remind me I said this today if I ever complain about the dryness of Colorado!

Making blueberry pancakes the other day...with frozen blueberries. I'd drop a few onto each pancake after the batter was poured in the pan. So I got lovely blueberry stains on my fingernails!

I do prefer the smaller ones to the great big grandmother size pancakes.

A view of the cooking layout for my new apartment in Durango. It's not much different than the one I now have, though a bit older and smaller. Which actually is close to describing myself, except I'm not much smaller!

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Reminder: Drop over to see Art in Bloom - Alchemy of Clay blog which has some photos each day for this year's display of art with floral arrangements at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts 

Relief and working

 It's like the drain which has been stuck has finally been released.

The manager emailed that I can move in on the date we wanted to (last week of July) and she said that I can sign the lease on that day and pay the rent starting that day! So Durango it is!

Whoo hoo!

I notified all my family and friends (and now you!) that I'm moving to Durango!

I'm so relieved that they figured things out so well! (Finally!)

And now I've got a zillion boxes half full, trying to figure out how books and silverware and dishes and clothes and pottery will all go together to be stacked in a little U-Haul truck in a bit over a month.

And having a real address to forward mail and so forth, I can actually give my notice here at the present apartment...a bit more than 30 days. But I know someone will move into this place quickly. The present management also won't charge me for the remaining month on my lease, because of the demand. I waited a year to get this apartment, and just the same for the one in Durango. Having some housing for low-income seniors is a premium need everywhere.

Hey real-estate people who've been building MacMansions teetering on the highest slopes of the mountains...there are a zillion people turning 70 and 80 who need a place to live. We survived lots and saved and paid our social security, and now there's not much money left to match the life left (with or without medical needs!)

And I'm working again...moving throughout the apartment with different tasks about half completed. There's a packed tupperware tub on the bed, ready to be put on the floor in the dining area. But first I need to vacuum that carpet. I just moved the table out to the middle of the floor so I can start stacking boxes and tubs over at the wall in the dining area. And the passthrough needs to be cleared off, with all that stuff to pack, then clean the passthrough well. It's not been touched for quite a while. So it should be the first thing to do.

But I've also only packed some books that remain...there are pottery books to give to the studio where I used to work. And some for the library, and perhaps some for a "little library." So it's time to get going back to work!

So what has gone down the drain (which was plugged up?) My anxiety while waiting for this manager and all her "rules." There's about a handful of anxiety still left, since I haven't signed a lease yet...and we do have over 1700 miles to drive pulling the car behind the truck and stay overnight in motels. Tai will fly here and has a couple of friends who will help load the truck. 

Also I feel the relief across my shoulders and neck...things are going to work out. Right now the google mail app keeps telling me its "update failed." So I will copy and paste this again if need be...hope that works!

Signing off for today. Will post some words and images probably from the internet every day if I don't do my usual coffee and blog reading! Who am I kidding. Coffee and blogs get my blood going in the morning!

Sharing with Thankful Thursday

Inside my apartment

I haven't shared much about the inside of my house. Here's my favorite TV-watching perch.

 Looking through to the kitchen and front door beyond...

Kitchen is unfortunately the first thing people see when they come in. I have a lot of trouble keeping dishes washed...and put away.

So this is where I isolate, and no wonder I spend a great deal of time on the computer! And looking out windows at birds. I saw a chipmunk today, a robin, a hummingbird, and a wren. Life is good.

Today's quote:

That's the terrible hypnotism of war, the brute mass-impulse, the pride and national spirit, the instinctive simplicity of men that makes them worship what is their own above everything else. I've thrilled and shouted with patriotic pride, like everyone else. Music and flags and men marching in step have bewitched me, as they do all of us. And then I've gone home and sworn to root this evil instinct out of my soul. God help -- let's love the world, love humanity -- not just our own country! -Christopher Morley, writer (5 May 1890-1957)

If you had as many photos...

Well, I'm certain the professional photographers who share their beautiful work on blogs, do have more photos than I do.
But I'm going to be sharing some old ones for a while. At least till the weather is better and I can hunt down some nice scenes, by myself of course. Nobody else in the car till the virus thing is over and gone.

 This is my office space. That door leads only to a 3 foot square balcony, but the whole space in front of it has to be kept clear according to fire regulations.  I keep the old flat screen monitor and sometimes hook it up if I am watching a movie...but it's really not better than the laptop itself.

 At times it's been so cold when I get up (because I've turned the heat down at night) that I use the little tower heater as well as the larger wall unit, at least until the room is warm and toasty.

 My two windows can have a much better view of the mountains and the valley, if it's not completely fogged in.

I've already taken the large planter outside - the gardenia had started to push out lots of new growth leaves, so I thought, as long as there's no frost, it might do better on the front porch.

So these show you just a bit of my living environment.