Monday, September 17, 2012

rolling up the rug

I hope you don't mind seeing an old favorite picture of Crow and company but at the moment all of my art supplies are packed up in cardboard boxes again. We've been a little too busy packing and doing odd improvements (curtains!) in the new place for me to have found any time to draw these past few weeks. No matter how much practice I've had, or maybe because of it, I really don't enjoy moving. If I add up all the abodes where I've abided and divide them by years, it looks as though I should have attached wheels to the furniture ages ago. In truth, there have been a few memorable places we've inhabited for up to seven years and a few forgettable ones that didn't make the grade beyond a year or so. At least this way one never has time to get tired of the view.

We're not entirely sure which category our new apartment will fall into but we'll have a better idea by the end of the week. Moving day is Thursday. When we finally got the keys, nearly three months after signing the lease, we walked in and discovered it's actually somewhat smaller than we'd remembered. How much smaller, you may ask? Well, I'm keeping my fingers crossed our stuff fits and we can still close the door. Really, the kitchen is so tiny it has a ¾ size stove and fridge that pretty much fill up the space. It's going to be like cooking in a ship's galley. The rest we'll sort out one way or another. I'll have a little studio space in front of one of the windows in our L-shaped living room - a spot that's actually nicer than the area I set up here. We already know where to tell the movers to put the big stuff but I have a feeling we're going to be shifting other pieces around the way you play one of those frustrating puzzle box games. It should be fun so long as we're not in divorce proceedings before the bookcases have been arranged to our mutual satisfaction. When I come to think of it, moving is actually a very good test of a relationship and something people should probably do more often than is usual.

Hopefully, most friends who've known us for any length of time have been wise enough to write our current address in pencil when updating their little black books.  For years my email and blog have been the easiest ways to find me and that remains true. We may love the new apartment for all the other reasons we liked it to start off with, but even if it turns out not to be the best place, there will always be another. So long as we're together and laughing is the important thing.

By some magical process of his own design, Crow will still have his own gracious lodgings close to mine - a place where I'm always welcome to share his brandy and fruitcake while he regales me with stories. There may even be some I write down and draw for you.

23 comments:

  1. You certainly are an old hand at moving. My family moved a lot in my youth but since marrying I've lived in only four places. We renovated and added to this current place, a real test of a marriage, and it is much loved so I often say that you can carry me out of this one!

    I'm happy to hear Crow will still be nearby and look forward to more of his tales. All the best of luck and an intact marriage during this move!

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    1. I can well understand just staying somewhere, especially if it's a nice a place as your home and garden in North Vancouver. I'm really looking forward to transcribing for Crow again soon.

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  2. May you always have much togetherness and laughter dear Susan :)

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  3. Ah, yes; rolling up the rug, not to dance, but to move. A moving experience is in store onThursday. I do hope it goes well.

    Blessings and Bear hugs.

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    1. Doing so for dancing would be much better.
      Thanks for your good wishes.

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  4. I wish you strength and serenity for your move.

    Like you, I've moved pretty frequently - and I hate it. Still, there always seems to be good reasons for doing so and I'm actually planning to move once more next year. But - if all goes well - I'll be buying my new place, which will, hopefully, increase the odds enormously for me staying there for years and years

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    1. Your good wishes were much appreciated.

      How exciting that you're planning to buy a place of your own. I'll keep my fingers crossed it really does go well.

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  5. Much rest after the move, much laughter and good times in the new house!

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    1. I've certainly needed the rest in between bouts of now unusual activity. Many thanks!

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  6. Good luck on the move. I know they are huge pains in the bacside

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  7. Something people should do *more* often? I see that the water that turns Canucks nice also turns them quite mad. That said, bonne chance.

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  8. kudos to anyone who can get such great results from watercolours - my few attempts just end up as sodden greys

    Have you ever done illustrations for a book? you should do

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    1. I'm delighted you like my artwork. No books save for one I wrote and drew years ago. I may do another.

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  9. I've tried to count every move I've made since childhood and I came with 15 times. Five of those times with children. Ugh.

    Best luck with the move. I will try to picture in your new studio nook and I am very happy for you that you like it better than the old space.

    I love that painting, by the way. I can't decide which I like best of your animals, the frogs or the turtles.

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    1. That's a lot of moving. You have my retrospective sympathy particularly for the ones done with children.

      Many, many thanks. The new studio nook is starting to look very comfortable but there's been much else besides drawing to be done first.

      I do like that particular turtle :-)

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  10. i don't have your philosophical grace about moving, o sagacious one. i hope my last move will be into Miramichi House in a few years, then stay till i'm so old someone else will have to do all of the work if they want me somewhere else. there are some quite large trees (for Alberta) that Crow might enjoy visiting too, and a lovely big fireplace he can sit by to sip his brandy and nibble his fruitcake. .... but i'm procrastinating.... should be repairing and re-tiling hole above the bathtub that the plumber left.

    i hope you're moved in and comfy, and into final negotiations regarding location of bookshelves and various other sundry essentials. you didn't have to move in stormy weather, i hope?

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  11. what i logged on to say, then forgot, was that one of the things about William Morris that i like the best is his attitude towards rugs. he is quoted to say something to the effect that no rug should be so big or so heavy that it can't easily be rolled up and moved out of the way to make room for dancing. he was a genius in so many ways! :0)

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    1. Oh I only sound philosophical and graceful on the blog :-) I love your Miramichi House and look forward to hearing about and seeing pictures of all you do there. I'm sure Crow would find a visit most enjoyable.

      Yes, William Morris was my kind of guy too.

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  12. No one writes about moving better than you, and for good reason! I'm excited about the latest move, having been surprised by the news when I came over to catch up.

    The drawing is wondrous; I love it indeed.

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    1. I wish I hadn't had quite so much practice, Lydia. This new one seems like a very nice place - our last was too big and too noisy what with a large and transient student population.

      I'm delighted you like the picture.

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