Moving on up

I've always enjoyed this tune from an era of pride and hope that blossomed in the 1970s.  

Moving on up!

It's not like we're enjoying a long-overdue respect or a nouveau riche lifestyle and relocating to a deluxe apartment in the sky.  It's more like we are planning to move and that I agreed to tackle my "discomfort with heights". 

That's right.  I don't like high places.  I rarely go out onto our balcony.  When I do, I hold the railing tightly if I look over the sides.   Also, we recently discovered a wasp's nest nearby! 


For our next habitation, one of the young folk convinced me to consider an apartment with a nicer (higher) view in addition to living in a well-managed, affordable and secure building.  Okay, okay!

It has only been two years since the last move yet once again I am reviewing the top 10 tips for downsizing.  I like to plan well in advance, especially when it comes to clearing out the clutter, the things we accumulate throughout our lives.

It's curious and daunting what objects - or animals - make their way into your home, demanding your time, money and space.  

I love planning projects, making task lists and logistical checklists.  I like getting creative with floor plans, taking measurements, cutting out scaled-down, two-dimensional paper shapes of furniture and placing them in various arrangements. The kids thought I was being obsessive last time but it sure helped when we moved into le petit apartement and made everything fit into place.

My evil plan of pushing one or two birds out of the nest last time didn't work. One wasn't quite ready and another ended up moving back in.  So here we are again, still in our cozy, crowded apartment of four humans and two cats.  

Benefits of moving often:

1. You get to review your collection of people, animals and things;
2. You can offload extra furniture and kitchen supplies to your grown children for when they move out.  When they move out...;
3. You discover interesting things at the back of the fridge, cupboard, pantry; 
4. You finally locate that article of clothing, important document or much-loved book that went missing!
5. You get to move into a new home with a fresh coat of paint;
6. You plan ahead for a positive change in your life and a change of scenery. This sure helps one get through a long, dark winter!

It's not like you're losing connection to a community by pulling up roots.  With the positive influences of technology, email and social networking, you can still keep in touch with old neighbours and friends.  Well, maybe not the annoying old bigot next door... 

Links of interest:

• Apartment Therapy:  http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ 
• Smart space-saving solutions for a small apartment:  https://www.ikeafamilylive.com/en/home-story/space-saving-solutions-40#photo-142 
• Top 10 tips for downsizing:  http://www.styleathome.com/homes/real-estate/top-10-tips-for-downsizing/a/308
• Moving Out! A Young Adult's Guide to Living on Your Own:  http://www.amazon.com/Moving-Young-Adults-Guide-Living/dp/1897508956   
• Do you have others to offer?  Please copy and paste in the comments box below. 

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You may also want to visit the blog for The Year of the Rabbit, a novel about fate, family and forgiveness.  
 
Thanks for dropping by.

T

Winding down the week

What a lovely treat to sip an award-winning Pinot-Gris on a Friday night after a long week of vacationing. 

It's even lovelier when a gentleman delivers it right to your door! 

Last weekend at one of the regional garlic festivals, I happened upon a tasty Pinot Gris 2011.  The nice gentleman at the counter informed me that it was an award winner.  I enjoyed the sample he provided.  I also discovered the concept of home wine delivery.  I nearly peed my pants. 

You mean I don't have to lug a bottle home from the store?!  In that case, I'll take two of these and one of those.  Where do I sign up?

Joking aside, I thought it was wonderfully convenient to have the wine delivered to one's door.  It's an interesting twist to traveling hundreds of miles for visits to various wineries and estates.  The other option though provides ample opportunity to see new places, meet new people and join in on a wine and food pairing dinner.

Making my list and checking it twice:

I dug up the requests readers made after I posted my "Wining for a little help..." entry in June.  If you missed out on this opportunity, be sure to send me an email or add a comment below.  Get your request in by August 31st.  
 
Thanks for dropping by.  Wishing you a weekend filled with good food, good cheer and great company.

T

A few pictures to paint a few hundred words

Ah, vacation.

I feel guilty for not posting in this blog for almost a month.  I have been around and have been getting around town this past week during a wonderful vacation break. 

Choosing to stay close to home, I still got out to festivals, Ottawa area parks, to visit with family and friends and to celebrate a milestone birthday.  And there's more to come!

Below are just a few photographs documenting where I have been as I savour these last few weeks of summer weather when the temperatures are bearable.  I haven't gotten much writing done during this time.  I hope these pictures can paint a few hundred words.

Visit my WordPress blog where I have been sharing photographs of a near-obsessive desire to visit as many Ottawa area parks as I can in one week.  I don't think I can do it by myself.  Perhaps you have been attempting it too?

There are so many beautiful places in our city that one can access by foot, bicycle or public transit.  It sometimes helps when you have friends with cars. 

Until next time, enjoy! 

T