And I am back!
Oh it is so good to have internet again. Hello Everyone!!!!
Well, we made it alive and surprisingly, very little damage found so far. So I will count that as a huge blessing. We pulled into town last Wednesday. Boy that was a drive. We actually didn't have a whole lot of bad weather either. We hit a little the first day starting in Toledo and through the Chicago area. I don't even recall where we stayed the first night. Somewhere in Illinois. The second day was great, just cold and windy. I think we stayed in Kearney, Nebraska that night. Then we were going to make it into and stay the night in Wyoming, but we were only 3 hours from my parents place in Salt Lake City, so we pushed through and hit a nice snow storm that made the trip an extra 4 hours instead of three. We were all so beat as we had driving probably 13 hours that day, maybe more. But then rested all day Monday. I got together with my best friend from middle school and did lunch, a little shopping, stopped by the cemetery to put flowers on my baby's headstone for valentines and just relaxed. It was wonderful. We pulled out early the next morning (Valentine's Day) and stopped in Boise to do some lunch with my Sister-in-law and her family and continued on through to Pendleton, OR. OH MY GOODNESS. The pass that you have to get through just before Pendleton was AWFUL! The road was SOOOOO icy, the winds were quick and the snow coming hard. And that pass? Well it was a 6% downgrade slope. We did okay, but my father-in-law had the trailer with all my equipment behind him. It was awful. But we made it through it and slept well that night. HA!
Finally, Wednesday morning we pulled into Washougal, Washington where we are renting a house. The weather was simply beautiful all the way until we were about 10 miles out. Hahaha, figures. It hasn't stopped raining since. LOL.
We got the trailer unloaded and then I took my husband to see the Dream House. The girls were LOVING it and even he agreed it was almost perfect for us. We even went back on Thursday to look at it once more. In the end however, we both agreed, neither one of us felt good about it. Once we decided to NOT buy the Dream House, we were both filled with a peace that confirmed we made the right choice. It is nice to know that we made the decision and didn't just let it "slip through our fingers." At least this way there won't be any regrets or anything.
So for now, I am here in this house that is about 1,000 sq feet less than what we had before. It has only 3 bedrooms and the two older girls are now sharing a room. That has been interesting.
I am trying to fit my 1,000 sq ft studio into a living room that is 13 x 19. That has been fun.... NOT! I have absolutely no workflow in this room. It has been a challenge to figure out how to set up my tables, trying to decide which equipment I need and what can be stored for a year or more, and then trying to figure out how to make it work and be functional. I still have a lot of figuring to do. It isn't fun. It is actually quite overwhelming, particularly when you add the fact that I have the rest of the house to unpack and had to get the girls into school, start a new routine, etc. etc.
I have been trying to take pictures every now and then, but my camera lens isn't wide enough to get a good shot. So here is what I have.
First, the "living room/studio" was the dumping ground.
Before the movers came, we put down cardboard and then plywood to help protect the carpet (it was a light creamy color.) My exercise machine didn't fit in the room we were planning to put it so it had to go in the studio. That might not be a bad thing though, other than I really needed the space.
Another shot of all the crap I have to work my way through.
We have begun working on getting the tables together.
The one for the rolling mill and vise are up and ready for equipment. This table used to be at the end of my big table.
Take a good look. This will never be this empty or clean again..... or at least, not until we move again. LOL.
See? I have already put it to good use and it holds all my crap until I can fine places for it all.
The mill and vise have been attached, but of course, the surface just holds more of my crap until I can get it all sorted out.
In my metals studio, I had one of these racks, I also had another one in my other classroom where I taught wire and beading classes. They were both filled then and I have even less storage space here. I can't wait to get this stuff all organized and looking nicer than this mess.
I still have to figure out the lighting too. There is one light in the room, because that is supposed to be the "dining room." Well, it is crapola. So I am on the lookout for some good task lighting for the bench. I still don't know where I am going to do my soldering. I need to find a good spot for my hydraulic press too.
I am hoping to have things set up in a couple of weeks so I can start getting some classes on the schedule. Of course, I need to get my name out there in the area so I can get some students. I will also be teaching at the end of March in Canada at the Fraser Valley Bead Show. Registration started today and apparently my classes are filling quickly. I like that. I will be teaching 5 classes.
Okay, it has been a long day of unpacking and cleaning. We actually got to use our dining room table tonight and the girls bathroom is just about done. We are finally starting to see some progress.
Good night all.
Well, we made it alive and surprisingly, very little damage found so far. So I will count that as a huge blessing. We pulled into town last Wednesday. Boy that was a drive. We actually didn't have a whole lot of bad weather either. We hit a little the first day starting in Toledo and through the Chicago area. I don't even recall where we stayed the first night. Somewhere in Illinois. The second day was great, just cold and windy. I think we stayed in Kearney, Nebraska that night. Then we were going to make it into and stay the night in Wyoming, but we were only 3 hours from my parents place in Salt Lake City, so we pushed through and hit a nice snow storm that made the trip an extra 4 hours instead of three. We were all so beat as we had driving probably 13 hours that day, maybe more. But then rested all day Monday. I got together with my best friend from middle school and did lunch, a little shopping, stopped by the cemetery to put flowers on my baby's headstone for valentines and just relaxed. It was wonderful. We pulled out early the next morning (Valentine's Day) and stopped in Boise to do some lunch with my Sister-in-law and her family and continued on through to Pendleton, OR. OH MY GOODNESS. The pass that you have to get through just before Pendleton was AWFUL! The road was SOOOOO icy, the winds were quick and the snow coming hard. And that pass? Well it was a 6% downgrade slope. We did okay, but my father-in-law had the trailer with all my equipment behind him. It was awful. But we made it through it and slept well that night. HA!
Finally, Wednesday morning we pulled into Washougal, Washington where we are renting a house. The weather was simply beautiful all the way until we were about 10 miles out. Hahaha, figures. It hasn't stopped raining since. LOL.
We got the trailer unloaded and then I took my husband to see the Dream House. The girls were LOVING it and even he agreed it was almost perfect for us. We even went back on Thursday to look at it once more. In the end however, we both agreed, neither one of us felt good about it. Once we decided to NOT buy the Dream House, we were both filled with a peace that confirmed we made the right choice. It is nice to know that we made the decision and didn't just let it "slip through our fingers." At least this way there won't be any regrets or anything.
So for now, I am here in this house that is about 1,000 sq feet less than what we had before. It has only 3 bedrooms and the two older girls are now sharing a room. That has been interesting.
I am trying to fit my 1,000 sq ft studio into a living room that is 13 x 19. That has been fun.... NOT! I have absolutely no workflow in this room. It has been a challenge to figure out how to set up my tables, trying to decide which equipment I need and what can be stored for a year or more, and then trying to figure out how to make it work and be functional. I still have a lot of figuring to do. It isn't fun. It is actually quite overwhelming, particularly when you add the fact that I have the rest of the house to unpack and had to get the girls into school, start a new routine, etc. etc.
I have been trying to take pictures every now and then, but my camera lens isn't wide enough to get a good shot. So here is what I have.
First, the "living room/studio" was the dumping ground.
Before the movers came, we put down cardboard and then plywood to help protect the carpet (it was a light creamy color.) My exercise machine didn't fit in the room we were planning to put it so it had to go in the studio. That might not be a bad thing though, other than I really needed the space.
Another shot of all the crap I have to work my way through.
We have begun working on getting the tables together.
The one for the rolling mill and vise are up and ready for equipment. This table used to be at the end of my big table.
Take a good look. This will never be this empty or clean again..... or at least, not until we move again. LOL.
See? I have already put it to good use and it holds all my crap until I can fine places for it all.
The mill and vise have been attached, but of course, the surface just holds more of my crap until I can get it all sorted out.
In my metals studio, I had one of these racks, I also had another one in my other classroom where I taught wire and beading classes. They were both filled then and I have even less storage space here. I can't wait to get this stuff all organized and looking nicer than this mess.
I still have to figure out the lighting too. There is one light in the room, because that is supposed to be the "dining room." Well, it is crapola. So I am on the lookout for some good task lighting for the bench. I still don't know where I am going to do my soldering. I need to find a good spot for my hydraulic press too.
I am hoping to have things set up in a couple of weeks so I can start getting some classes on the schedule. Of course, I need to get my name out there in the area so I can get some students. I will also be teaching at the end of March in Canada at the Fraser Valley Bead Show. Registration started today and apparently my classes are filling quickly. I like that. I will be teaching 5 classes.
Okay, it has been a long day of unpacking and cleaning. We actually got to use our dining room table tonight and the girls bathroom is just about done. We are finally starting to see some progress.
Good night all.
Posted by Melissa Muir at February 21, 2012 11:16 PM 
Categories: Random Thoughts, Personal, General Announcements
Tags: Studio Tour
Categories: Random Thoughts, Personal, General Announcements
Tags: Studio Tour
Happy you have arrived safely. I sympathize with you making the trip over the pass into Pendleton. I did it with my late husband in a loaded tractor-trailer a few years back. He waited til dark to go over so I could see the lights from the traffic winding down the mountain. YES! It was scarey AND beautiful!
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Hi Penny, Thank you. We made the trip over the pass as night was falling. I wish we could have seen the traffic on the road, but the visibility was so low we could only see maybe two to three semi's ahead of us. So I am afraid I didn't see any of the beauty on that one. But I am pretty sure that won't be the only time that we make the trip on the pass.
Melissa
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You have my sympathy. I have moved 18 times in my married life staying at the last move 30 years. My chests became rickety since I soon just moved them without unpacking the drawers. I thoroughly enjoy your blog.
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Oh Peggy, that just stinks. We figured in the 15 years that we have been married this was our 8th move.
I am glad you are enjoying the blog. Let me know if there is ever anything you would like to see or learn about. I am always looking for suggestions.
Melissa
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Welcome back!
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It is good to be back Duane!
Melissa
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Congrats on the move! So looking forward to meeting you at the fvbs and seeing some of your fabulous work in person. Good luck on your setup
Pat Doyle
(a friend and student of Barrie)!
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Thank you Pat. It has been an adventure. Hopefully I will be able to find some of my pieces to bring with me. LOL. I hate moving. I am so sick of boxes. HA! See you in a month.
Melissa
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Best wishes to you in your new (temporary) home! Wishing you and your family happiness and success! It will all come together and how great that you will be teaching classes at the Canadian event! A great way to start things off! You will do great! Blessinngs, Anita
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Thank you Anita. I am pretty excited about the classes up in Canada. It should be a good adventure.
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So happy to see you have arrived safely !
My husband and I have been talking about downsizing.....I cringe when I look at my shop and wonder what I would do in a smaller house.
I know you didn't ask for suggestions and you are a really smart girl, so I hesitate to advise you...but...
Have you ever thought about adding a shelf under your tables about halfway or less from the floor to the top?
It would almost double your surface area to store things in your already existing space. You'd have to buy more wood but it might be worth it.
Anyways good luck getting settled and looking forward to your next post...wish I lived there so I could take your classes..
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Thanks Michelle. I have thought about that, and I actually store quite a bit of stuff under my tables, it just hasn't made it there yet.
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The photos of your move, both packing and now unloading, actually make me shudder. And chills. Best of luck and remember to breath. Deeply and often.
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LOL, don't they though Randy? The past two days I have hardly done any unpacking. I did some yesterday in the morning, but I was done by 10:30 am. I took a nice long nap yesterday, watched a couple of movies with my girls and just enjoyed having the internet back. I should have been back at it today, but I slacked off again.
Melissa
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Hi Melissa...looks like things are progressing. It will all come together. I Saturday I was driving to The Strand for the OJMAG meeting. I passed up the sign that said Norton. sniff sniff!
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Oh Marilyn,
I can't tell you how much I miss it there right now. One nice thing though, a neighbor from across the street came over and brought us cookies tonight. That was nice. But I am really missing everyone back there right now.
Melissa
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I am so fatiqued after reading about all the driving and work you are doing to put your studio back together and getting your family all situated! Time for a nap for me and YOU!! Good luck - you will be back creating in no time!! Best wishes, JoAnn
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haha JoAnn. I took a nice long one yesterday and another one today. It was lovely. I could have slept longer if I hadn't had to be up to get my little one off the school bus. I can't wait to get this place set back up and start working on jewelry again. Thanks!
Melissa
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Good to see you're back, Melissa!
Having to downsize everything sucks. Your dilemma reminds me of how I had to give away almost all my beloved fish and their tanks, and even now I have to tell my kids that this-or-that "got lost in war" LOL.
Nevertheless - to have the chance to redecorate a new home can be fun, too. I bet you will make the best of it! And hey - considering your career of moving, their will be more new homes in your future.. bigger... brighter... maybe it's not a bad idea to just let some boxes sit there, packed!
I wish you all the strength you need, many more nice new acquaintances and friends, and peace in the girls´ new shared room!
Jutta
ps: It made me giggle when you called your rack a "wrack" in the caption - that typo kinda tells a bit about your state of nerve costume these days! LOL
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Thanks Jutta.
You know, I read through my blogs all the time before I post them to check for spelling errors and I still end up with a couple of them. UGH! But yes, it does speak volumes to the stress.
Melissa
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