Tuesday-10:30am

And a good Tuesday morning to you!

Been unpacking and unpacking.  Could finally see the tabletop for a while.  All cleared off except for Leah's tool box. 

Empty boxes accumulating in the pantry. 

Everything is not where it will end up later on, but things are getting unpacked, anyways. 

Some of the things on the shelves in the bathroom will end up under the sink once I get the crate I want for the middle cupboard. 

I know you can't see but the pen case is full again--and the triple dresser and tall dresser on this side of the room.  There were still boxes to unpack... 

...here and there--but I could finally see the floor and get into my closet to rearrange all the clothes--Tada!  That shorter dresser is done, too. 

Yesterday I worked on the curio cabinet and nightstand. 

Have to take lots of breaks. 

Here's my trusty red cup for the T-Stands For Tuesday gals. 

Karma has been quite relaxed now that she's gotten used to her IMAX CatTV. 

She doesn't run out of the room anymore or look panic-stricken when somebody walks or rides by on a bicycle.  She keeps an eye on them, but she's much calmer.  In fact, I was absolutely amazed that she sat by the window and watched a couple guys play Frisbee catch!!  

I just knew she'd love that big window once she got used to it.  :)

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What I didn't know was that after losing a quarter of her body weight that she actually could jump up on the glass folding table and chew on the rose leaves!  So the roses got moved over on top of a bookcase next to Baby Phil.

They're still looking really good, too!  Despite being chomped on by Miss Karma.  Luckily she just likes the greens and not the petals.  But I moved the little lost rose up there, too, to be on the safe side.

Another spot I thought she'd enjoy--the top of the curio cabinet under the bedroom window.  I was finally finished in the bedroom and lifted her up there.  She settled right in.  (Don't let my body pillow scare you--LOL!)  I still haven't found my bedspread, other sheets, and comforters--all the rest of the bedding must be out in the garage.

Oil lamps and oil candles refilled and on top of the short dresser.  (Yes, I need to keep a stool in here to reach the upper clothes in my closet--LOL!)

Only one old tetra left in the bowl now--pale and listless.  The other one was floating yesterday.  Not expecting this final survivor to last much longer. 

Karma watching the Frizbee guys. 

My beautiful angels back up to watch over me.  

(Thanks, Lynnette!) 

The nightstand is filled with candles and stuff again. 

I figured Karma would enjoy this spot now that it is finally open and free of boxes!  I had to raise the blinds though or she tries to bite her way through them.  

Karma prefers the blinds to be in spy mode.  Now that could become a problem.  I don't want teeth marks in these new blinds.  But I don't want my bedroom blinds open several inches all the time...hummm....have to think on that.

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Of course, all this unpacking means that there are a lot of empty boxes and bags of packing paper cluttering up the place--LOL!  But Dagan is coming in the next day or two to haul them to the garage for me. 

And Leah and Ian are coming by for a visit today!!  It is so nice that I am closer, my home is cool & not sticky, they don't have to climb three flights of stairs to get here, and my place is more Ian friendly already.  Ahhhh!

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Meanwhile, I have the washer going (mostly just rags I used to pack with) and the dishwasher.  Basically going to be an R&R day after getting all of that done the last few days.  Saving my few spoons for Mr. Ian.  ;)

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I know this move has been taking forever and I have little else to talk about because little else is going on.  I have been quite the boring snail--LOL!  Thanks for sticking with me, for all your good thoughts & prayers, and for listening to this endless moving talk.  I know I sound like a broken record, but I am just sooooo happy here--and it gets better and better as boxes get unpacked.  I love it more and more.  So does Karma.  

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I am getting antsy to be doing something more every single day than pack and unpack (since May!)...but it will still be a while before we get the studio together.  That is the biggest project of all because we aren't sure where anything will go.  Can hardly wait till that is all organized and done, too!   Whoohoo!  Can life get any better?!  

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May you be happy as a pig in mud this fine day!  :):)

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"If things go wrong, don't go with them." 

Roger Babson

Saturday-10am

Good Morning!

These were the roses several days ago. 

I had moved them over on to Ian's shelves in the corner. 

Most of them have opened wide. :)

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Had to show you this! 

I didn't know what beautiful screen saver photos... 

...that Chromecast uses! 

Gorgeous nature shots--wow! 

Kind of a wonderful added perk.  :)

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Well, I behaved and didn't do any unpacking for days so that I could go shopping with Leah and Ian on Wednesday.  And I was having a really decent day for walking so got to the Natural Pet Store, Target, and Bed, Bath and Beyond!  Have a new silverware holder... 

...and a holder for the utensil drawer. 

A stack of lazy susans... 

...for all these spices we need to organize.  

(My old reluctant lazy susans are from the 70s and 80s.) 

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Got a second set of basket wall shelves for the pantry...

...an iron & ironing board wall holder... 

...and one of those new, light floor mops that has a sprayer.

This one is made by Rubbermaid.  Will be easy for both Caroline and I to use.  :)  Lot more floor to scrub here. 

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My red Hamilton Beach toaster quit working last week--and, yes, I hadn't had it all that long.  I had a Cuisinart toaster that lasted for maybe 15 years before that--so I got another Cuisinart.  

And an ice cube bin for the freezer. 

It's the little things like that you always need when you move.

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Since I did so well shopping on Wednesday and it has turned out I no longer needed to save up for parts for the TV computer or for a small dining room set and I no longer have to pay rent on a washer and dryer or pay for a land line...well, I asked Leah if she'd like to make a trip over to Slumberland on Thursday.  I wanted to find out if I qualified for the no money down payment plan first...and I did!  (I don't own charge cards.)  I had always planned to look at a power recliner or power love seat.  A love seat won't fit in the new apartment.  So, as long as I was looking at power recliners I decided to be practical and look at the power lift chairs.  (My degenerative spine is not going to get any better.)

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I had looked online before we went and one of the chairs I was interested in wasn't even up here in Fargo yet.  The girl said it might take another month or so, but she'll call me.  (In the meantime we can go snoop around at other furniture stores, too, because if I qualified there I should qualify at the other stores.)  Being 5'1" you really have to sit in them to know how they will work for you.  When they have those kind of built in pillows for your head--well, they hit me on the top of my head and push my face into my chest--LOL!  At least with a power recliner I don't have to worry about being able to get out of it and I can buy a regular sized chair instead of what Dagan calls my "baby chairs"--LOL!  Just have to find one that is comfortable and has a flatter back to it.  :)

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So, I am excited!  How long have I wanted to have TWO really-comfortable-for-a-length-of-time places to sit in my apartment?!  Never seemed to work out.  Looking forward to having a new chair!  I probably spend more time in my chair than I do in my bed--LOL!

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These are the roses a couple days ago.  I moved them away from the window as Leah said direct sunlight probably wasn't good for them.  Karma can't jump up on that glass folding table, so this works...when Ian isn't here--LOL!

They are just starting to get dry around some of the outside edges of the petals. 

I realized that I have not had roses last long enough to actually dry out.  The flower heads just flop over before they ever get a chance for petals to dry.  They made it a week yesterday and still look like this last picture.  So they have lasted longer already.  By a week I am usually lucky if I might still have a semi-droopy one or two roses left.  They're still stunning and still smell.  ;) 

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Miss Karma doesn't run out of the room when people go by on the pathway anymore.  (She still does when the yardwork guys come around with mowers and weed whippers.)  But she's much more relaxed by the patio door now, as you can see.  She even has her back to it--LOL!  

NOt sure how she'll feel when it cools down this fall and I actually open the glass door, though--ROFL!

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Oh, and she hasn't been sick again!!  
Knock on wood.  
So relieved.
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I was finally able to putter and unpack some more by last night and got the desk put together again!! 

Well, basically.  Some things might be moved about, but things are unpacked.  I am going to start in the bedroom today.  Three dressers, a night stand, and my pen box to fill in there--so a lot of boxes to empty.  Haven't been able to unpack for a week, so it feels good.  I just have to watch I don't overdo it.  So tempting!  Gets exciting to see things coming together.  But I found one of my digital timers last night and will use it to limit myself.  I promise!  :)

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Going to leave you with a video I got from Dagan and Leah of Mr. Ian with a new toy.  He squeals like this when he's excited and happy.

Have a great weekend!!  :):)
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"There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy."
Ralph H. Blum

Tuesday-10:15am

Good Morning!

The sky shots are a bit more limited in range here, but I love them just the same.

Hard to tell here, but in the afternoon on a sunny day the buildings light up for a while and I can get blinding afternoon sun bouncing off windows across the way...even hits the back kitchen wall--LOL!   

One of Miss Karma's favorite new places to snooze is in the other room now that the table has been moved out. 

It's quieter and a little more private in there. 

I forgot to mention that, now that I am using Chromecast, all the tons of wires and cables are gone.  And Dagan even took home his modem and the TV computer, keyboard, and mouse.  So much emptier.  I have been just fine so far with the new system, too.  :)

You could have knocked me over with a feather!  Totally shocked!!  On Saturday FedEx came with a box of 28 roses from McFamily!!  

Absolutely stunning! 

Immediately thought of them as flaming roses with all the shades of yellow, orange and red.

One was broken off so I temporarily put it in a bowl. 

When they came over later Leah cut all the ends for me (was too sore to stand and do that when they arrived) and put the broken one in a bud vase...here next to my red thermal mug for T Stands For Tuesday over at Elizabeth's.  ;)  

After all Dagan and Leah have done for me already...well, this brought tears to this old Swede's eyes, I can tell you. 

They explained to me that they watch Shark Tank and saw this guy whose company Bouqs sold flowers supposed to shipped directly from the equator, grown on the side of a volcano, and the roses were $40 a dozen (they sent 14 each instead of 12)--and for $10 more you could get two dozen-no additional costs, if you order them six days ahead of time.  (They do also have next day delivery starting at $50.)  Supposedly they will last 2-3 weeks.  (Oh, and he didn't win the Sharks over, BTW--but he won McFamily over enough to try them.)  So, Dagan and Leah decided to send me Happy New Apartment roses.  (I was so glad they hadn't spent a fortune on them!) 

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I have to say that they do not look, feel, or smell like the roses Dagan and Leah have sent me before from the local shop.  These have thicker petals, firmer stems, brilliant color, and you can smell them!  The roses I have gotten for years from Dagan and Leah barely even have a scent when you stick your nose right in them.  I'll let you know how these last, but they are absolutely gorgeous in person!

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I have felt so loved lately!  

Just blows me away.

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Dagan and Leah hung a couple of my door angels--over the den door...

...and the bathroom door. 

I haven't found my bedroom door angel yet because I haven't unpacked in there at all yet.

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My magnetic blackboard is up next to the pantry over the door buzzer. 

The little whiteboard and my letter/keys/purse rack are up right next to the door.  Little things like that make it feel more like my home. 

They straightened out the rug by the desk, too. 

Since Saturday Karma and I have been on total R&R. 

Leah, Ian and I plan to go shopping this week to Bed, Bath & Beyond and to Target so I need to recover enough to do so--which means no unpacking for me until after we go shopping.  ;)

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Karma's getting more comfortable by the sliding glass door. 

Loves to lie in the sun in the mornings. 

I knew she'd like it once she got used to her new IMAX CatTV--LOL! 

The roses are opening more. 

Karma has even learned how to bravely get behind the blinds...until somebody comes down the pathway...then she darts away. 

But...the bad news...

Last night I was up till 3am with Miss Karma.  She had a terrible upset stomach and was crying and throwing up over and over for a couple hours.  There had been no barfing since we moved.  I wondered if it was recently finding the rest of her other dry foods and something had gone bad?  One had a really strong smell--so I threw it out this morning.  In fact, I plan to throw out everything I didn't have with her since we moved and just buy more of those. ??  I guess I need a trip to the Natural Pet Store, too.  

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Anyways, I stayed with her (and cleaned up behind her) until she was done throwing up and she finally came up in my chair and let me comb her for a very long time (one of her favorite things in the world).  When she was relaxed and purring and hadn't thrown up for an hour we finally went to bed.  I am keeping a close eye on her and praying it isn't anything besides old food that might have gotten too hot in the move.  This wasn't just a tiny bit of barfing.  Karma was feeling really miserable.  But she's doing okay today and I checked all over and there wasn't any more surprises that I could find anywhere.  I hope she's okay.

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 I plan on going shopping with Leah tomorrow if I feel up to all the walking.  I've been slowly feeling better on R&R, thank goodness.  I was kind of worried I had pushed it over the brink, but lucked out.  It is hard to judge a lot of the time.  Feeling better every day, though.  Whew!  And the roses are stunning...the sun is shining...Karma is apparently feeling better so far this morning...and the unpacking will patiently wait until after we go shopping.  

Have a happy, happy Tuesday!!  :) :)

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"It is the sweet, simple things in life which are the real ones after all." 

Laura Ingalls Wilder