Three Days...

Grieving for Tag.  ohboy.  ~sigh~  I'm gonna tell you...it is tough being without him.
  

I will be okay. Eventually.

Having things to keep busy with helps keep my mind occupied. The perfect distraction...there are just 3 more days until 'load the truck and leave Wisconsin' day!  I have a lot packed, but there is much more to do.  

I spent Wednesday and Thursday of this week in Eau Claire visiting family and friends.  It was a nice time...although, as always, it was not nearly enough time.

Keep an eye on Facebook to see how my trip is going and (hopefully) photos of what I've seen along the way to my new home in Colorado.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

The Countdown Continues...

Can you believe it?  There are just 11 days more until 'load the truck and leave Wisconsin' Day!  whew!  I still have much to do, but I am slowly checking off items on my list.  Today's to-do list includes packing up the sewing and work tables. Naomi Janome has already donned her cover and is sitting in a box.  I am hoping that I'll be set up in my new apartment, ready to sew, within 3 weeks.  

In the meantime, I have more packing to do.  There are still some people to see before I go...and, I need to take a drive up the highway to say good-bye to family and friends.  

Tag hasn't wanted to lay in the big easy chair with me much...course, it's been warm.  But, today, with the air conditioning on, he wanted to come up.  So, what you see here is exactly what is happening...he is all snuggled in, right up tight to my leg and sleeping soundly...while I am checking out emails and blogs.  

I am working on the big project...slowly but surely it is getting done.

And, I will have another very special project to show you before I move.  


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Eyelet and Seersucker...

This weekend is all about packing.  Not the most exciting thing to be doing, but it will feel good to get a bunch of boxes packed and ready to go.  Moving day is in 30 days!  

Lindy (my almost birthday twin) commissioned me to make a ringbearer pillow for her daughter's wedding. The wedding is in Virginia...Issa is wearing eyelet and Jack, the groom, is wearing a blue seersucker suit.  Lindy gave me her thoughts on it and this is what I came up with.  It was a fun project to work on.

Off to get some boxes packed!  

Have a great day!




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

My Big News...

I hadn't mentioned this previously, but I had planned to go to Eau Claire this weekend.  However, you know how life is...it happens. I ended up staying home because Tag had a few bad days.  He is fine. For now.  I increased his Tramadol again because he was feeling too much pain.  He tries to be my stoic brown boy, but a few little things told me that the pain was too much for him.  He is doing well on the increased dosage...let us hope that it helps for a good while, yet.  He's still eating, drinking, pooping, peeing, enjoying his little walks, and generally being himself.

So.  To move on.  I have some big news to share...I can tell you all now because I shared the news with me Mum and sister, Julie, yesterday.  Finally.  With all that me Mum (who has Parkinson's Disease) has going on, I had really wanted to tell her in person. That was the primary purpose for my visit to Eau Claire this weekend.  But, I just couldn't put if off any longer, so I FaceTimed 
with them yesterday and gave them the news.  (Sisters Joyce and Jill have known for a bit...and have encouraged and supported me in this.) 
      
In six weeks, I am embarking upon a new adventure.,,a new chapter in my life...a long-thought out step in my life's plan...

I am moving to Colorado!  My sisters and I have talked about this for years...that we would all move to Colorado when we retired. You may remember that my baby sister, Jill, is already out there. She jumped the gun and moved out there before she retired.  But, that's all good for her.

I dislike the winter season here so much...and dread it more every year.  Where I am moving, the winters are nothing in comparison. And, the humidity is much, much less than it is here in Wisconsin. Canon (pronounced canyon) City is my destination.  Here and here are links if you wish to get a look at that area.   

It took me a very long time to decide that it would be okay to leave my sons and grandchildren.  And, of course, my friends.  There are so many emotions that I am dealing with throughout this entire process...but, the overriding one is excitement.  There is a little thing called technology...and oh, how I love it!  With FaceTime, I will be able to have 'face-to-face' conversations with many members of my family and several of my friends.

There is so much to do in the next 6 weeks.  I have slowly been going through my belongings, and this apartment is filling up with packed boxes.  (I so want to live a more simplistic and decluttered life.)  I have the moving truck reserved.  Jill, who is in charge of finding a place for me to live, has a line on a suitable apartment. Things are starting to move at a faster pace...gathering momentum toward to my next adventure...     

What about Tag.  Yes, what about him.  I was planning, of course, that he would be with me on this new adventure.  It looks now like that won't be happening.  I am very emotional about this, and not at all ready to lay that all out here.     

Well, that is it.  My big news.  

 

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

The Next Chapter...

So.

As you know, I am retiring...

only 26 more days to work.

I am very excited about that!

What else do I have planned?

Well, I am moving.

 Yup.

 Back to my hometown.

Eau Claire.

You may remember that I

went there for a short visit

just over a month ago.

I had a purpose in going

at the time I did.

I needed to see how things were

going with me Mum.

I needed to decide if what I

had in mind was a good idea.

Yes, it was.

And, is.

The plan:

I am moving back to Eau Claire, 

the town I grew up in...

about 3 hours north of  Madison.

I am excited about this...

I will be with my friends

and family members that 

I have missed being near.

(I moved here 23 years ago

to be near my then teen-aged sons

who had moved here

to live with their Dad.)

I am going home.

I am happy about that.

Yet, there is sadness, too.

I'll be leaving my sons 

and grandchildren behind.

And, my wonderful friends.

But, right now,

this is what I need to do.

I feel very strongly about it.

Me Mum is going to be 83.

She has Parkinson's Disease.

She is doing okay, but it is apparent

that she is declining/aging.

I hope to help her have

a peaceful life.

My plan is to move at the end

of August when my lease expires.

 I am looking forward

to starting this next chapter.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Full Circle...

Just a quick update.

I found a place to live.

It's where I lived before I moved to where I live now.

I'm okay with that.

It's not my 'forever' place.

On the sewing front...been working on my wonky stars...only 25 left to do! 

Otherwise, just packing and getting ready for a huge garage sale.

Hope all is well with you all.  Missing you.  Back to normal by Labor Day.  (I hope.)



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

Displaced...

Well...all good things do end.  {sigh}

We are being displaced by a family member ( landlord's mother) so we need to move out of this house.

Julie is going north to live with our Mom.   Long story...but me Mum needs someone to live with her.

I have my job with the state, so need to stay in this area.  For now.  So...I am looking for a place to live.  Must be out by September 1.

Say prayers that I find somewhere good.  Fast.  Please and thank you.

I definitely need to declutter...we will have a huge garage sale very soon.
In the meantime...I do need my creative outlet...so have done a little quilting and sewing!

Kelley's quilt - as posted a few posts ago - is now finished!!!  And, of course, I am in love with it!!!  Thank you, Kelley!! 

I am publishing this post with my phone...hope it all works okay!
Will post again soon.

The Plan...

Is that the 4 J's (that's me and my 3 sisters) retire and end up together in Colorado.  

I was originally planning to retire early and move out there with Jill and her guy, Tim.  But, thinking about leaving the grandchildren and me Mum was making me too sad, so I opted to stay here.  For now.  

I have a good and close relationship with each of my sisters.  Jill and I are a lot alike, though...we share similar personality traits.  We talk on the phone several times a week...and though we don't visit each other often, being only a few hours apart has always made it possible to travel to see each other if we wanted or needed to.  When she moves in 47 days, that will no longer be possible.  Oh, we'll continue to talk on the phone (almost) daily...and they'll come to visit once a year, but it just won't be the same.  Knowing that she's not a few hours away up the road.  Ya know?  

We had a great time together this weekend.  We ate a LOT.  Too much.  Did a bit of shopping.  I opened a few early birthday gifts.  We watched a movie.  I didn't take any photos.  Not sure why.  She left a bit ago.  I know we'll talk many times before she actually moves, but this is the last time I'll see her.

Julie is already out there in Colorado, though she is about 4 hours from where Jill & Tim will live.  

I am very happy for Jill...but very sad for myself.

Baby Sister Comes to Visit...

My baby sister is coming today for an overnight visit.

She lives 154 miles from me.

She's moving in 47 days...

1100 miles away.

Cannot even fathom how much I will miss her.

We'll make the most of this weekend together.

ALL Moved...YAY!!

FINALLY, I am back online! A bit too efficient, AT&T switched my service a week early, so I had no phone and no internet access this entire past week...what a drag that was!

Sunday was moving day and things went smoothly, though one is never quite as ready as one thinks...and now I am here at my place in the country! Ohhhhh, I am loving it! I have a wee bit of experience of being in the country (friends and family)...but I gotta tell you, LIVING out here is going to be the best! AND, today I got my SSI (satellite speed internet) hooked up. Life is great!


Here's how the field of green (gold) looked earlier today. The first crop of hay is all cut and raked into huge rows!

Already tonight, they're baling...HUGE square bales of hay! I'll have to get out there and take a photo tomorrow.

Packing and MOVING!

It's been a busy time for me as I am packing to move! In 11 more days, I will go from city living...an apartment in the midst of a vast neighborhood of apartments...to living in a house in the country. What could be better than that? My rug hooking business will spread out and take up as much space as I want it to in the basement.

My dogs will have room to run (safely in a fenced yard). Tag and I will be able to resume scooter training! I will definitely post photos to show our progress...injuries and all!

There will be no more traffic noise, no more horns honking in the middle of the night, no more shootings or knifings or sirens and police stand-offs. I won't awaken to people yelling outside of my window...I won't be fearful of dogs running amuk.

I will look out my window and see - instead of big apartment buildings and parking lots full of cars - fields of green (or gold).

I will be able to play my music as loudly as I like (and I do like it LOUD!).

So I ask again, what could be better than living in the country?

This is my friend, Kim, who has been helping me so much with moving...YAY, we're almost done! Without her, I definitely could not be doing this. She is my rock! Most importantly, she totally gets me (poor thing). Here's a great example of what a good friend she is...she went to the Backstreet Boys concert with me 9 years ago.

Here is my latest rug, completed in March of this year...entitled Tag E. Butt. Not my design, but I did make it my own.