I've been busy in my apartment.  It's about time, as I've put it off during the holidays and beyond and I need to get it done so I can live here in the spring and enjoy the deck off the back of the house and my yard.

The top picture is of my living room.  I have finally started to tape the sheetrock and it is looking and coming out better than I expected. 

The second picture, also my living room shows the gas heater keeping it toasty warm to work in.  Behind that heater I plan to put in a small stone mosaic tile in a very light beige and white stone mix.  I will probably need to find someone else to install it as I cannot figure out the edges.  They are indented and extended and not a straight line.  It's on a mesh which would make it difficult if not impossible to cut with a tile saw.  Perhaps it has to be installed on the wall and then cut after, I don't know and I've set a lot of tile in the past. 

Next is my small bath.  The tub is from the original house and I saved it as it has no rust stains in it.  I had all new plumbing and faucets though and when it is done again I will show pics with my Kohler sink etc.  I haven't decided what tile to put on the floor yet, but that's a ways away anyway.

Then there is my bedroom in the dark red.  That's what it was, but I think I will change the color and go with something light airy and breezy with soft colors to soothe this overtired body of mine.  There is another full bath (shower, no tub)  off this room which I haven't  only dreamed of getting to.  It's not sheetrocked yet, just insulated.

So there is where my free time is going.  As for art, I have actually done a little at a journal club run by my friends Marilyn Rock and Melanie Phillips.  When I finish the spread I will post pictures of that too. 

It's good to be back at the blog.  I miss being involved in the art right now, but this house has to take precident as it is income property for me and I am struggling to keep afloat like everyone else in this economy. 

Wishing  you all artfilled days ahead.

Peggy

No pics this time.  Just to keep myself writing.  I just got back to working on my downstairs apartment.  Looks like my daughter may need it in a few months.  Hope she comes to help me get it ready.

Funny how life is.  I finally am feeling a need to date again.  I don't think I need a man in my life but would like to share some time with one.  Most friends, as great as they are, have partners and don't have the freedom to just go and do something.  I do have the freedom and I am spontaneous.  I will drop and go at the first sign of something interesting.   I signed up for one month on a date site and it is certainly an experience.  After the month is up I think I'll go volunteer somewhere.  I think my chances are better.

I did what they tell you not to do and that was I gave out my email address.  I figured "what harm"  Can't tell where I live from that.  But he was a hacker and got into my email address book and sent out a virus.  He dissappeared from the date site immediately and when I looked up his screen name it was gone too.  Then I looked up the name I got out of the screen name and the man wasn't even the same guy.  He was a professor at a college in Mass.  I'm sure he wasn't even aware this jerk was using his name.  Oh well, live and learn.  The virus is gone and I am the wiser.  the funny part, if there is one, is that the next guy I thought was really cute and I would like to chat with told me he wanted to communicate via email and I had to deny him.  He said he was only going to be on the site for 2 more days before his contract ran out.  Of course with all that cuteness he had a dog in his lap.  A Sheltie.  How could I not like him? LOL  Well, now I don't know if he was legit or not.  I do have his email but refuse to write him.  Dang.  What to do.  I think I'll just stop looking and let someone find me. 

I am going to focus on fixing up the downstairs and will post pictures of that.  I don't know how much art I will get done in the next few months but will definately stay in the groove watching your blogs etc.  I do so enjoy seeing what you are all doing.  You motivate me to be creative and I really appreciate all that.  Such talent among you all, it's hard not to keep watching.  I hope you all have a wonderful new year and I'll be watching.

Peggy

OMG, I have finally gotten into my blog again.  It has taken me months literally to figure this thing out.  Happy 2012. 

I hope I have not lost you all in this endeavor, but probably have.  Come back.  I've missed you.

For the holidays I was busy making a lot of my gifts.  I put aside work  on my house till now.  The new year.  I will post pics as I make progress so you can see my "design" details.  Hope you will let me know what you think and maybe even give me some suggestions.

Since I wasn't planning on posting, but can now I will put up some pictures of what I made for gifts.  It seems I really enjoy making felt.  So I made these little felted purses to match bracelets I made for friends and family.  For the guys I didn't make things but purchased them.  They are much to hard to decide for.

Here goes.  Hope to be back on a regular basis this year and will be going back to all your blogs and checking out your new projects as well. 

Happy New Year to you all.

It's a little hard to see but this picture is the same or almost the same location as my header only after Irene. I took this just two days ago which is what a week and a half since the great storm?



I guess for some it was nothing but our little village has been sadly devastated. I know shortly it will be all cleaned up but the boat people cannot go through the lock system as there is one that is no longer working, Lock # 11 in the Mohawk to the West of us. Some of the people who were on their way to Canada are literally stuck between locks and cannot go anywhere. Possibly for the season as I have heard, but I'm somewhat certain they will find a solution to their dilema soon. The river is still very brown but the level is back down and still falling.

Now this little guy/girl I named Irene because she was found on the sidewalk up the street from me two days after the flood and encrusted in mud. Just a baby some have said they believe she/he must be only a few days or weeks old. I was trying to save her/him but it was too weak to even eat and was barely moving. He died the next day but I was so in love with this poor thing that I wanted to honor it's short life and journey through the storm. I have the shell and am planning on using it in one of my pieces of art or jewelry. I know, it sounds sick, and maybe it is sick but I couldn't see just throwing it away in the trash and believe me I wasn't going to bury it in the mud.

Call me crazy, sick or whatever, but it's name is Irene and her shell is precious to me. I will honor this little life in some form or fashion and imortalize it.

These photos are the result of the Tropical Storm Irene in upstate New York. The last one is the Cohoes Falls in Cohoes, N.Y. and this shows the mud associated with the raging waters that were about a mile from my home in Waterford, N.Y.

I live a block from where the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers merge together and where the Historic Erie Canal begins it's series of locks traveling throughout New York State along the Mohawk River. When the rains from Irene came they filled up all the creeks and rivers that run into the Mohawk and Hudson and when they met had nowhere to go but up. As a result I ended up with two feet of water inside the first floor apartment. My tenant lost about half of her possessions and had to move out, and I am faced with a total remake of my bottom floor apartment.

People do not understand why I did not have flood insurance and the answer to that is because I live in a "flood zone" the price is cost prohibitive, unless you are wealthy which I am not. Simply put, I cannot afford it. FEMA has taken my application, is sending an inspector and has told me that I do qualify for their assistance. so I will wait to see what develops there.

The reason I live in a flood zone is quite simple. Gary and I always wanted to have a place on the water. (Not literally like now, but at least close to water) The house was within our price range and I loved it.

I also have to mention that besides FEMA, the Red Cross has been a staple in our neighborhood, arriving every morning with cleaning supplies like mops, brooms, shovels, rakes, tarps, buckets,

bleach, gloves, masks. And, also lunch and dinner, served hot with Vitamin water and regular water, and snacks. I am so grateful and impressed with their response. There are several of my neighbors who are completely misplaced and out of a place to stay. Some, like myself are staying with family.

I have two daughters who have been putting me up and also working tirelessly to help me clean out what is left. so that I can rebuild. My neighbors who are also working can't believe how much they can do and how strong they are. I'm talking men who are making comments to me of their strength and ability. I am so proud. They also have friends who have volunteered and come down to help out. Also bringing food and supplies and working sooooo hard for hours.

How do you say "Thank you" at such a time so that they know how much their efforts mean to you. I don't feel that I can ever tell them enough. I am so grateful and will "pay it forward".

Thanks too for all the loving messages on Facebook to keep the spirits high.

Hope to be back in the crafting sometime down the road. Just don't know when. If I get response here and anyone is interested in updates, I'll let you know how our community is fairing.