Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Ireland Trip Update

YEAH YEAH YEAH!!!  I now have a roommate and not only is she my sister but a very dear friend too!!!  I initiated her into quilt retreats a while back on a road trip to Alberta to the Western Retreat.  She liked it but wanted to stay closer to home so we've been going to local quilt retreats a few times a year and she LOVES them!  NOW she's coming with me to IRELAND and taking in their International Quilt Show there!  WOW WEE!!!

It's not too late to have your own Irish quilting experience.

I received this notice from my girlfriend, Dale Anne Potter, of an upcoming trip June 5th-14th, 2013 to IRELAND and it also includes the International Quilt Show of Ireland!!! 


Here are the links etc.

http://daleannepotter.com/ireland/ OR http://www.iqfoi.com/tours/daleanne_potter.html     This is for a total cost based on double occupancy of $2,535 US (insurance and flight extra).   Now CQing friends don't fret I've not forgotten my trip to Australia/New Zealand, it's just that I can't go for that time length without first retiring.  My travel agent suggested going in April/May so it is being delayed to 2014 when I'm finally free of my job.  The above trip is only 2-3 weeks vacation time which will include visiting with my Irish girlfriend in Toronto afterwards!  YEAH two trips at once.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Move is Done!!!

Well I’m totally finished with 209 and handed over the keys last night too.  I’m kinda ticked as Betty on her checkout list just noted G for good and she did note that closets and drapes washed and painting needed throughout.  There were bits and pieces of arborite edging that had fallen off but I had kept the strips so she noted they had to be reglued by maintenance.  BUT nothing about a totally cleaned apartment, even though I mentioned twice that I had washed all shelves, fans, bathroom and floors.  And naturally I CAN’T write anything but my signature on the form. (sticking out my tongue)  Kind of annoying considering the dirt/grime that was not cleaned in the apartment I moved into.

BUT she did ask twice if my hallway lights are fixed yet and I said no and it’s getting darker and darker upon entering.  Hopefully soon that will be repaired so I can have hallway entrance lights again.

OK NOW I think I’ll work on my kitchen - get the cupboard boxes unloaded as they are bugging me.  Would be nice to have a useable kitchen table and my freezer out of the living room!  LOL!

Also I set up my sewing machine last night as I have to finish off the last border on the charity Nickel quilt I finished off at the retreat last weekend.  It took ages but looks pretty spiffy!!!

Monday, October 22, 2012

I've Had It!!!

You know I've been pushing myself just about two months now, if not purging, then packing, moving and now cleaning trying to get 209 ready for my checkout report and hand over the keys - I had hoped for the 24th.  That is before I left for my extended quilting retreat.  And who knows maybe the new tenants would like an extra week to move in provided they were willing to reimburse me some rent.

Well today I got the bathroom cleaned up - fan included - and all the drapes washed and rehung - looks spiffy if I say so myself!  So I contacted the new tenants to see if they were interested in my option.  You know what she said, "Oh no I can't afford to pay extra who's going to pay mine, but if you are out early you let Betty know and if you give it to us we'll take it!" HUH!
I borrowed money to pay for the second apartment cause I knew I could not move in one day and I did not get any breaks from my not having my apt until Lilian finally moved out 2 days late and it took the painters longer than a day or two to paint and they want me to GIVE them the week for nothing!!!  And I've yet to clean 508's fan and closets and I had to clean the bathroom and the kitchen cupboards grime myself before I could use them, whereas they are getting a cleaned apartment.   Yes the landlords did give me new floors and drapes (which were in need) and the new appliances.
 
Oh well now I won't push tomorrow to finish it totally, I'll do what I can and finish off the rest on Monday night and get my checkout report and hand over the keys on the 30th.  Heck I still have to UNPACK 508 which is a total disarray of boxes etc which were just dumped as things were moved in.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Moving Saga - It's CLOSE!

OH MY my poor body does not know what has hit it with all this purging, packing, moving, cleaning business!!! 

TODAY, I did totally clean inside, outside and from behind both the stove and fridge - YEAH!!!  It wasn't as bad as I had thought so that is very good and even washed the kitchen floor, BUT I did not get the bathroom done.  OH well I did take up two more loads and even found two boxes of old recipes in the closet which went straight out the trash along with the bag of garbage too.  I only have weird odd things like the ironing board, mirror, corner table and naturally all cleaning supplies (still need them here though) to take up.  I do have two cupboards of cake decorating items to sort through and take some to the potential buyers interested in this and the rest to take pics of and post on Kiji one of these days. 

YEP that baby is just about all empty - waiting for the final vaccum and the washing of floors!!!  It's been a long painful journey with only me doing 75% of it myself and after work hours too.  YEAH!!!

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Moving Saga

OK I definitely am seeing the light at the end of this annoying tunnel of work!!! 

So this morning I started by dropping off another two boxes at Valu Village before opening up for the Aurora Quilters at the church then rushing home and moving some more stuff before my much appreciated helpers arrived.

Today with much THANKS to Angela and Bruce my three ceiling fans have been removed and the original light fixtures (I cleaned them first) restored to the ceilings.  Now Angela and Bruce both thought that they'd have time to do the reverse in my new apartment but much to Bruce's dismay he had to run out for some supplies that were needed before doing the restoring part.  So for sure the fans are out and he'll come down another day and put them into my new apartment.  I OWE him big time for filling in on the crunch!

Then after they left some three hours later, but mucho more knowledgeable of what is required for the next setup, I went and hauled another load upstairs and then three more boxes to Valu Village before closing up the Church after the quilters gathering.  Then did some banking for the Quilters before heading back to the apartment to haul another load upstairs along with my AC and golf clubs up to the new locker and lo and behold they all fit in there nicely and some room to spare.  I think I'll set up some shelving in there so my binders can go upwards instead of wasting space, then maybe my luggage can also go in there!!!  Would be nice.

Now the moving saga is not enough, no Rose Anne has to take on house/cat sitting too BUT thankfully that makes me STOP by supper so I can go and feed McDuff and then put my feet up and relax some for a change.  I'm hoping he'll come and cuddle some today as yesterday he was a bit standoffish.

So tomorrow will be hopefully the last of the hauling upstairs and starting on the cleaning.  I'm not sure that I'll get out of there for the 24th, but then the caretaker said they won't be painting in there before the end of the month (hasn't been painted in 17 years - YIKES) so guess I can finish up the 29th/30th if need too.  BUT I'm hoping not to!  I need to get into my new apartment and start unpacking as it's way too MESSY!!!  Guess I'm darned lucky that they painted my suite before I moved in!!!  PHEW!!!

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Moving Update

SHEESH when is this move ever going to end???  I still have to do a thorough cleaning of my old apartment and here I'm not totally out of it.  Today I brought up another three loads on the dolly and brought bedroom items to the living room for tomorrow's hauling up.  Then I took down the caretaker washed living room drapes and hung the brand spanking new ones up and took those older ones into the bedroom for a fuller coverage and hopefully less light coming in from the street lamps and sunrises!!!  I KNOW my ankles and knees do not like step ladders - LOL!

Now I'm back to working OT each evening and totally drained by 9:30 so this will be short so I can put my feet up.  Since the beginning of September when I started the purging, then the packing and now the moving and cleaning, I've dropped a good 10 pounds and I'm still not finished the work - one more week to go!!!

I'm thinking by the weekend I'll be cleared out, then the cleaning!!!  UGH!  I'm not moving again - and who knows maybe will recheck and downsize more yet!!!

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Moving Update

Well so much for getting myself all moved up this weekend!  

Before I could unload the kitchen stuff I hauled up Friday I had to SCRUB the grime off the cupboards with a wood cleaner - that took me 6 hours with a few breaks in between and a trip for more wood cleaner as my 3/4 bottle was a gonner.  The caretaker said she had washed them down when I noted with disgust the condition of them, but later on when I scraped my nail over it there was a groove in what was still there - not good.  Yes it was a chore but now I have nice clean cupboards.  Eventually I'll oil them down.

I also brought up all the sewing bins and put them into the sewing room closet and sort of rearranged things so I can work in there one of these days!  I still have to dismantle and rearrange the plastic towers so they are ready for Harold to anchor that counter top on top of and then I'll have a nifty cutting area smack dab in the middle of that nice room.

Then Today I started with the shelf liners and that too was a chore with the space restrictions but eventually I got to unload the cart and go down for another load and even went down for the food stuff too but I'm too tired to unload that so it'll be tomorrow's job.  There's still LOTS downstairs that has to come up - hopefully tomorrow will make a BIG dent in that.  Plus I have to clean the ceiling fans so my nephew doesn't choke when disconnecting them to move them upstairs either Monday or Tuesday.  Then it's clean that apt up - UGH!!!

Friday, October 12, 2012

Moving Update

Yeppers I'm still not all moved in but hopefully this weekend, except for the ceiling fans which my nephew will come next week to do, I should have all my "stuff" in my new apartment - maybe not put away - but all under one roof so to speak.  It was funny yesterday as I cooked myself supper but had no utensils - they were downstairs - GRRR!!!

Anyways I came home today to find my new bathroom and kitchen flooring was installed and I just LOVE IT!!!  I told Betty that it was probably what I would have chosen if I had the option.  Yep I walked through the door and just smiled - and even after setting up my 1970's table and chairs it's still LOVELY!  So here are the before and after pictures.
Old flooring - lifting up in places
LOVELY new flooring

Mucho better than the turquoise 1" tiles

Tuesday, October 09, 2012

1st Day - New Place

OK maybe I was just too sore and tired to notice anything BUT I can tell you it was AWESOME to sleep undisturbed by moving furniture or running from above me at 2:00 am - which she claimed was "normal" noises!!!  Sure this place has different noises that I'll have to get used to but it is awesome - especially the view from my living and sewing rooms windows.  
Eastward
Straight ahead
Westward
The bedroom faces the backlane which might prove to be noisy from time to time but then I had faced the bus lane before so I think that noise I seem to not be so disturbed about.  Time will tell and I have earplugs!!!

Now the chore to move the rest of my stuff up this week and start unpacking this mess!  I have no idea when I'll accomplish this feat but guess a little at a time.  Next week I have to work on clean up 209 and getting it ready for the checkout report before handing over the keys.  At least I did not have to do it all in one day - like my previous move - totally INSANE!!!

I was going to upload all my premoving and moving pictures but decided not to.  I'll upload pics of the finished rooms whenever that will be - BUT here's the general layout.
Entrance
Kitchen from the living room
Living room from kitchen
Bedroom entrance
Bedroom looking out
Sewing room entrance
Sewing room looking out
Sewing room added storage
Yep it all looks lovely without my "stuff" in there and yes I've gained more floor space than the old apt which was a long rectangular layout compared to this square compact layout.  But I don't seem to have the hallway storage that I had - oh well maybe can't keep as much stuff eh?

Moving DAY - Monday - Day 3

First off thank you Amanda for lending Justin's time and muscles for my move, it worked very well with Dwayne's help too.  And thank you Margo for all your help in putting my COTTONS all back into the two cupboards - one less chore for me to do eventually.

The guys arrived 9:00 am sharp - WOW that's awesome - and we got right to work.  They carted stuff out and up (moved up three floors - now no one is above me to disturb me when I'm relaxing) and I worked on removing the doors/shelves on my three huge entertainment units - which Justin asked me afterwards if I was thinking of downsizing my furniture.  Ha Ha Ha those units were from my long time ago $2,400 649 jackpot winnings.   Maybe someday when I have to downsize to a seniors unit that would happen but not just yet.  

I kinda felt bad as I was running from suite to suite when questions arose and missed removing my drawers from my dressers - those guys didn't bother to load them on the cart either and I freaked seeing them cart them out.  I truly meant to do that and just forgot.  I said SORRY but they said it was OK!  SHEESH!!!  But they did complain about my huge units and even marked them trying to get around the corners a bit but not damaged, so a furniture marker should correct that.  BUT nothing got broken and they even carted up half of the packed boxes before they had to leave noonish.  See the Bombers were playing and they are football fans and I was not going to impose on that - good thing too as I heard it was a good game and the Bombers won.  So off they went and I continued even after Margo left to haul more up until I WILTED!!!

Talk about a laugh though, I had garbaged my old shower curtains cause I bought new ones for up here and when I started to get the shower ready realized I'd bought the "STALL" one and it did not fit period!!!  OH NO MY HOT SHOWER WAS A NO NO!!!  My poor aching muscles!!!  And to boot Shaw had disconnected my phone already bad enough I had disconnected the computer and brought it up but no phone too!!!

Monday, October 08, 2012

Moving - Sunday - Day # 2

OK I've decided I just DO NOT like this work work work business involved with moving!!!  Today I had a sluggish morning after yesterday's busyness and it was after lunch before I started serious stuff.  First off I armed myself with steel wool and a screwdriver and checked the new apartment for any holes.  I don't think there are any per se but one was a bit loose so I just packed it solid just in case (oops I forgot to check behind the stove and fridge - tomorrow I guess).  Then I took up a couple of loads and set up some things then came downstairs and seriously started packing up so the furniture could be moved.  Now there definitely is no room to move around in the living room nor kitchen.  I packed up a box of jars for my sisters as they still do their own preserves and a box of cookbooks etc for a friend's daughter plus another box for the Church's garage sale (will drop that off Tuesday).  I only have the one end table that I sit near to pack up and then I think that's it for Monday's move.  

Then after I get some semblance of order upstairs and the floor installed I can maybe work on moving my bathroom and kitchen upstairs and put away.  I only have one week or so to somehow unpack the important stuff and then come and clean out the old suit before I head off for a much deserved quilt retreat end of the month.  The rest of the boxes will just have to wait - I need to escape and be catered to for a few days!!!

Saturday, October 06, 2012

MOVING Day #1

With heartfelt thanks to Margo who once again came over for a few hours and between the two us we got the hallway and sewing room cleared of boxes and the books and Christmas decorations boxes from the bedroom.  We worked like clockwork and she's a slave driver too.  After the first load where the two of us went up together and Margo helped me unload the shopping cart she went back down and started loading up while I unloaded the other items.  We worked like this till 1:30 when I heated up pizza and we relaxed just long enough to eat then up to drop off the last load before she had to leave.

I can tell you that her eyes sparkled with approval as she looked around the new place and  said she can see I'll be really pleased with it once it's all settled and boxes cleared away.  Now to ensure all has it's own spot and stays that way!  Yes it's not perfect, but it is clean (except for the exhaust fan) and a very pleasing layout.  I've a new air purifier going and hopefully it'll clean the air of cooking and paint smells soon too.

I continued to unload the last two loads then vacuuming the floors and window slides and finding that I can't open my living room windows.  So much for using the RIGHT window cleaners who know our windows and how to put them in etc!  The slider was put in last and thus locked in place by the middle panel.  Oh well I need them back to wash my out going apt windows so he can go up that same day and just correct that slip.  LOL!  I have the shopping cart filled up once more and my large suit case full of bedding and blankets to take up but I'm tired so am listening to my audio book while writing this for a brief rest.

Guess tomorrow will be a full day again as I need to box up my computer and chair sewing stuff before Monday!

Tuesday, October 02, 2012

Moving Update

Well I'm sitting here close to tears and wondering what the HELL possessed me to do this move!

See the painters have been in that suite for two days and two primer coats and they still have not covered the previous colours and the door frames are messed up too.  NOR has the apartment been cleaned at all - it's a mess - the only thing done was the bathroom floor scrubbed.  AND not only that but the huge living room windows are installed incorrectly and not closing properly so the window cleaners have to be called in to set that right.  When I checked out the apartment, Lilian did tell me that the apt drapes were in the closet, but dang you should see the state of them - bedroom ones were washed and in horrible state.  OH and it's a good thing the kitchen floor is being replaced as it's lifting up and close to the doorway.  I hate to see what condition the locker is in after seeing what the cupboards in the suite are like.

I think if it's not looked after I'll have to call for some cleaners to come in and scrub the place before Monday!!!  I know someone who does this as a job so will have to give her a call and see what she'd charge and if she can do it by Saturday.  I know I don't have it in me to do both apartments.

I PRAY that I can somehow manage to have a presentable apartment to move into over the weekend.  I should have taken my camera up, I didn't even measure anything, just didn't have the heart to do anything as it is.  I did email the Landlord and tell him I'm not happy especially since I had paid for both suites for October and I can't even move boxes into that suite as yet.

Hats From a Life Lived


Most of the following is extracted from emails sent by Colette Balcaen or Roberta York on the above project.

The hats came from a woman named Anastazja Urbanik who immigrated to Canada from Poland (going to France to South America and finally to Canada) and lived to be 94 years old.  During her life she collected many hats that were all special to her, so she kept them all. 

When she passed away, most of the hats went to Colette who wrote in the first proposal for this work:   

“As a tribute to her life, I decided to use her hats for my new art project. Since I generally work with fabrics to create installations, and that many of my pieces are the product of people collaborating with me, I thought that it would be great if I could donate a hat to each individual (artist or artisan) who might like to transform it to express their life situation as an immigrant or as a person in a minority because of gender, a person with a mental illness or whatever difference in society.”

Since this time, thirty-eight artists have taken at least one hat to transform.  This transformation is unique to each artist.  While each hat speaks to something from the life of the original owner - it will change with the new one.  Each artist undertakes to make it represent something from their own life, some event, feeling, opinion, belief, or life experience which speaks to or for them as an individual. 

As Colette wrote in her introduction to the piece: 

“When all the hats are completed, they will be ready to be installed in a gallery as an installation. Some hats will be suspended from the ceiling, from varied heights with fishing line, and some will be placed on surfaces, so that viewers visiting the exhibition would be able to appreciate the hats. A number of varied mirrors (floor-length or hand-held) would be available for people to visualise themselves in the world of someone else - the creator of the piece. The goal of this experience is to enable people to interact with the hats, to reflect about other people’s life experiences, and probably entice people to discuss, enjoy and appreciate uniqueness of individuals in our society. We plan on making further contacts for this exhibition, so that it may be able to travel to other areas in the province and even, possibly, other places in Canada.”

We feel that the context of this installation will touch many people and make many aware of all the differences in our society. It is a celebration/manifestation of our mosaic Manitoban / Canadian society.

Thank you so very much for being part of this very special project.  Please remember that you can contact us any time.

Colette Balcaen             Roberta York

So each ARTIST has taken one or more of the hats from the collection left to Colette and agreed to transform the hat into something representative of that artist’s life or experience.  The term “transform” is wide-ranging and the format of the transformation is the decision of each individual artist.  

Well Monday, Oct. 1st, we had our own small Ravenesque group’s unveiling of some of our hats which were left behind with Colette afterwards.

First to show was Dianne Johnson who had three hats and all are so different:  “Those were the Days” is a cowboy style hat decorated with various pictures of all her horses from years past; the second “Puttin' on the Glitz” is a fun piece that’s more a decoration than a hat; and her last piece "Buttoned Down Winter Wedding" is a lovely white hat actually decorated with wedding dress finery. 

Then I showed my hat which was very basic and I think utilitarian which I then dressed up slightly.  This piece “Poppies Aloft” was inspired from my love of poppies and my Ukrainian heritage (used as headdresses with various coloured ribbons for the female dancers).  I hand needle felted the poppies, buds and leaves then stitched into place on the black twill hatband.  As was pointed out to me, this hat portrays the hardships Ukrainians endured and yet the joy and beauty they cherished in their culture/heritage.
Then came Val Wilson with her dressed up “Milady” but her’s is actually attached to the mannequin’s head form and has quite the statement in itself even with my added décor in one of my pictures.
added chandelier reflections above
Roberta's added room decor behind

Then there is Pat Findlay with her bowler type hat transformed into “Life in a Goldfish Bowl” and quite realistic like too.  I really wanted her to model it but it is not meant to be a hat now at all.
We did not get to see Roberta York’s creation as her's is not finished.  Guess that means I truly HAVE to visit whichever gallery this display will be featured at and see all the creations!  From the above plans it will be something to see alright!  Yes I will post the whereabouts as soon as I hear and those able to can check it out too.

Again thank you Colette Balcaen for bringing in these hats and dreaming up such a display and also Roberta York for helping to organize the artists and artisans drive to pull it off.  Much appreciated ladies.