Saturday-10:30am: Soul Dream

Saturday already.

We've had sun and we've had rain. 

Back when I could still have the windows open...giving Karma a good chin scratch. 

Oops!  Somebody walking by.   

A couple of packages came.  One was some new jersey sheets...which Karma enjoyed both on my bed and climbing inside the big heavy plastic bag to snooze. 

A big box came that held two big cheap pillows.  I need pillows to help hold things on my lap (including Karma) and my old set of cheap pillows was down to one lumpy one.  Karma has been enjoying this big box for going on a week.  

I put one of the old jersey sheets inside and she's been one happy cat. 

When the sun has been out the maintenance man has been painting the yellow lines in the parking lot. 

Dagan was over Wednesday after work for a little bit.  He found out how to fix the pacemaker machine (a switch got flipped) and sent off his test over the phone.  It got hot enough during the day and hasn't cooled off as much at night and has been humid and sticky...so have had to have the place closed up since Tuesday night, I think it was.  

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Thursday I went over to spend some time with this little man.  He was sleeping when I arrived, so Leah and I did some sketching and planning.    

We want to sew a sturdy tote to hold diaper changing supplies that Leah can keep downstairs so that she and Dagan don't have to run up and down the stairs every time Ian needs a change.  Want little pouches all around the outside to slide in diapers and such--but space in the center to hold the liners and wash cloth holder.  I'll take pictures when it is actually constructed so that makes more sense--LOL!  

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Since I was having a good day...after Ian woke up and was fed we took off for a quick trip to JoAnn's. 

Ian was sleeping quietly all wrapped up on mom's chest for most of the trip.  But at the very end when I was going quickly through patterns...he woke up... 

...and let us know he wanted to go home.  Settled right down as soon as we headed for the registers--LOL!

The sky looked so pretty through the windshield (that's why it is blue on the top) that I snapped this picture while Leah was getting Ian buckled in. 

I stayed over at their place until after 9pm.  (Could barely walk yesterday after all that--LOL!)  But we got some brown duck cloth, brown heavy-duty thread. some black thread for another stroller accessory project we're planning to make, white cotton belting to make handles for the wash cloth holder that will go in the middle of the diaper tote (kind of heavy and awkward to lift one-handed and we have a velcro idea)...

...and I got some heavy duty iron on interfacing to heft up the red leather fauxdori covers. 

I plan to use the narrow roll along the spines where they really needs some support because the rubber bands squish the leather...and then iron some over the entire backside of the covers.  :)

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I took this last night.  Sticky warm. 

Supposed to be cooler tonight--in the 60s.  But if it is still so awful humid I won't open the place up.  I'm already stiff and sore--LOL!  No need to add to it with all that dampness, right?  Especially since I'm moving around better today.  ;)

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I am so very grateful to each and every one of you who have left comments, sent emails, or even mentioned me on your blog (Iggy that was so sweet!) in support of me getting in to North Sky senior apartments.  I can't tell you how much every good thought or prayer means to me.  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!

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Tammy (talented artist/sculpter) sent me an email: 

"I know you are in your new apartment already.  Write to me and tell me how much you like it and be very very specific."

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I have always heard you are supposed to imagine whatever it is you truly desire as if it is already true...and in detail.  So...I thought on it for a couple days and wrote her back.  she said I should "post that some place so you can remind yourself daily!"  I am going to make a copy and read it every so often, but I thought I would share it with you, too.

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I love the new place.  I only had the choice of first or second floor (third has vaulted ceilings too expensive for my allowed amount) and I was lucky enough to get on to second floor.  I like the spaciousness of being able to look out over the land a little to see the sky instead of looking out at garages or another building.  And second floor is perfect.  The heat rises, so it's not as hot as third in the summer nor as cold as first in the winter.  People aren't walking by and able to look in my windows, so I can have the blinds open all day.  And facing south is just perfect!  I get more sun in the winter and less in the summer.  But there's plenty enough light for plants to grow well all year round.

Oh, and having the little den--OMG!!  It's not that large, but I have a little art & craft room!!  It's such a special place...and soon Ian will be able to paint and cut and glue at the big table.  I've never had all the art and craft supplies corralled in one space before.  Every time I walk in to that room it just makes me smile!  And I am so happy that I have my table by the window like I had gotten so used to at the old apartment.  I love going in to sit and write every morning there at the table.  But now I sit facing the window in a center chair instead of an end chair.  There's tons of construction going on around us because of the new hospital they are building across the road.

It is so wonderful to be able to go down to get my mail and there's furniture in the lobby!  I can sit down and sort through my mail if I want to.  And whenever I want to I can wander down to the library or the community room to write letters or read.  Sounds like such a small thing, but it is nice to be able to get out of the apartment, but only be an elevator ride away from home (my bathroom issues--LOL!).  And I can chat with people in neutral areas.  Getting to know a couple of ladies--little by little.  

The people are generally so nice here.  Most of them are older than I am, but it reminds me of when I lived and worked at Lee Square (senior building) before I moved up here to Fargo/Moorhead.  (One lady still calls me every year after New Year's and I left in 1999--we were like a big extended family.)  So it is not unfamiliar to me and I know how to deal with seniors.  It's funny that I'll be one of the residents now, though.  :)  My dearest friend Ruby was ten years older than I am.  Age has nothing to do with who I am friends with.  It is who they are, not how old they are.  I believe I will meet somebody I really click with enough to visit each other's apartments eventually.  Leah and Dagan have remarked about how much more social I am here. 

It's such a nicer place for little Ian to come visit, too!!  Safer.  No fire alarms being pulled for fun or firebugs in the hallways.  Clean hallways and elevator.  A whole complex filled with grandmas and grandpas--LOL! 

I am so glad that I purged and downsized before I moved.  Even got rid of my desk and file cabinet!  I haven't used the desk since college and after Dagan took the desk computer that died away and I have only had a laptop.  Really freed up a lot of room.  Karma misses the porch, I think, but has adjusted well and likes the extra space.  I am using a stationary bike in the fitness center downstairs--very briefly--three times a week.  Doctor says start out with five minutes.  I want to work up to being able to bike over to Dagan and Leah's...even if I can only manage to do it a couple times a year I would feel like I had really accomplished something I never thought I'd be able to do again.  Glad I kept my mountain bike all these years.  :)  

I love it here!  I won't have to move again until I can't live alone anymore or they take me out feet first.  There's a walking path being built, too.  The trees will grow.  I am slowly doing my own brightly colored art pieces for the walls.  I am saving up for another recliner--a good one.  Even thinking I might decide to get a love seat with a recliner built in now that I have more room in the living room.  Need a spot where both Karma or Ian can snuggle right up next to me, you know?

There is just such a different atmosphere here.  I love it!  I can be as much a part of this community as I want to be.  But it feels like a community...and I don't feel so isolated.  Even though I don't have people over to my home yet--I chat in the hallways...smile more...am out of my apartment more often.  It is good.  It is very good.  All the people praying and sending all that positive energy worked!!  And I am so grateful that sometimes it will hit me unexpectedly and I'll be wiping away tears and just grinning like a fool.  :) :) 

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Some of you may think that visualization is really weird or strange...but I am putting this out to the Universe with heartfelt prayer and positive thought.  I really do want a nice place for Ian to visit Gramma Rita.  Thanks for all the support.  I pray this dream will come true within these next couple years as the buildings go up and I'll keep you informed.  :):)

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Hugs!!

Have a special, memorable weekend!!

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"Dare to visualize a world in which your most treasured dreams have become true."

Ralph Marston