So, to sum up, J and I are living in the small house next door to my sister. We officially moved in over the past weekend. We're going to be here for at least a few months. I'd like to stay forever, if I could, but the woman we are housesitting for may be able to move back in when she undergoes enough physical therapy. Of course she should: this is her house. I am really enjoying living here, however. No rent and we don't have to pay for utilities until January. Whoo!
About 75% of our stuff is moved in, and the remaining quarter is still at our old apartment. Shucks. My least favorite part of moving is the final cleanup of the old place, the space I'm tired of looking at and dealing with, and having to sort through the remaining crap that needs to either be moved, trashed, or donated. We have until the end of this month to finish with it, but I really want it to be done sooner than later.
Moving. I have moved twice in the past three months. Getting a bit old. Makes me want to minimize to nothing but a backpack. Maybe I still will.
I did do a good deal of moving on my bicycle this past Friday. I had taken that day off from work in order to attend the annual Weavers Guild Fiber Fair at the Textile Center in Saint Paul, but instead I decided to do some moving and not spend a bunch of money at the fair. Wise choice, I think. (My stash is still not diminishing, anyway.) I loaded up my bike rack bag/panniers, filled my big backpack to the brim, and carried a shoulder bag around my neck. I also tied some shirts and a sweater around my waist.
It was a beautiful, sunny fall day and I had no issues with my bike-move. I rode south on Bryant Ave in Mpls to the Greenway, rode that to the light-rail trail, and took that into the West Bank, my old neighborhood . From there I rode through the U of M campus and across the commuter bridge to the East Bank, rode to 15th Ave SE and took that to Como Ave, and went east on Como to Eustis...and a few short minutes later, I was in my sister's driveway:
Yes...Lauderdale. Lauderdale, Ramsey County, MN. Bordering Saint Paul, Minneapolis, Roseville, and Falcon Heights. I lived in Lauderdale from 2009 to 2010, then the West Bank till last August, then J's apartment in the Wedge area in Mpls, and now...back to Lauderdale. Right next door to the house I lived in before with my sister and her partner. It's bikeable, there are buses nearby...the only person with a car between the 4 of us is J, 'cause he works like 30 miles north of here...
Lauderdale is a strange, amazing place. I will devote an entire entry to Lauderdale and its history.
Don't worry, I will eventually devote an entry to pizza.
I also want to write about the apartments/dwellings I have known and loved and hated in my time.
Here is a photo of my new home:
Built 1928. This is the rear of the house. This is the only door we use, as the front one is pretty much sealed. This view faces the backyard. My sister's house is on the left.
Backyard, facing away from the rear of the house. That's the garage. There is a large garden space in front of the garage.
Moose, who came with the house. He's a gentle giant.
Lilac, also part of the bargain! She is a very pretty (and chubby) kitty.
On an animal note, the four cats are learning to coexist. There is a fair amount of hissing and snarling, but hopefully it will lessen over the next few weeks...hopefully.
George is not well. Over the past week or so he has become ill with an upper-respiratory infection and he is losing weight and some of his hair. He's getting old. I worry about his kidneys, too, because he's drinking a lot of water. Just a few weeks ago, he seemed just fine, but now...not so much. I do not want to take him to the vet, however. I have always had negative experiences with taking rats to the vet for an illness, even great vets who specialize in small animals. It just may be George's time.
(Update, later in the day: we took George to an emergency vet because I became paranoid that he couldn't pee due to a blockage and was in pain. The vet's X-ray showed no blockage, but he does have an upper respiratory infection.)
(Update, later in the day: we took George to an emergency vet because I became paranoid that he couldn't pee due to a blockage and was in pain. The vet's X-ray showed no blockage, but he does have an upper respiratory infection.)
It's hard to tell from this photo, but George is really blissed out on J's lap getting a little massage.
Yarny stuff...
I finished one Monkey sock the week before last (I think) and just started the second one yesterday. No pics till I finish them both.
I have another pair of socks on the needles that is just stashy stripes and I am not liking 'em. They're ugly.
Maybe I can just "put them away" and tuck 'em into a basement corner forever...?
I am still going to knit Roam as soon as I finish the second Monkey sock. My current thrift store cardigan zippered hoodie is falling apart, and Roam will be the perfect replacement.
The yarn I will be using came my way via a very recent visit to the discount loft at A Depth of Field yarn shop on the West Bank in Mpls. (I don't mind that store, but my sister has had some major 'tude from there...) I found exactly 8 skeins of Brown Sheep Nature Spun Worsted in olive green on sale, which is the perfect yardage for Roam in my size. The total for all of 'em was $28. WOW. Yes, I love Peace Fleece and I like blue more than green, but I cannot beat a deal like this Nature Spun.
I have decided to knit Oona's Hoodie by Veronik Avery with the Patience Blue Peace Fleece that I have not even ordered yet.
I think this will look delightful in blue.
All right. I should close up shop here. I need to get dinner started for my hungry hungry manimal who is hopefully on his way home. And what shall dinner be? I think hashbrowns. And sandwiches.
Do widzenia.
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