alone

Yesterday Tanner and I made delicious smoothies (bananas, blueberries, and vanilla yogurt) while we waited for the carpet man to fix a section of our carpet. This took a long time and also included many games of Call of Duty for Tanner and a lengthy phone call to USAA for me. Once the afternoon was almost over we were finally ready to venture outside. It was very windy again but we got through it. We went to the nearby thrift store and scored a Where's Waldo? puzzle and a collection of traditional small wooden puzzles. We explored Anna's Used Furniture and then made our way down to the Old Port. On our way we found out that Obama was in Portland for the night along with Snoop Dogg and the Boston Bruins. What a night, Portland.
I did my application follow-ups and have an interview next Wednesday. We poked around a couple other stores and Tanner finally got himself a gyroscope. I took him to Roma's (which he loved) and he got Luca's signature pear and bleu cheese. We met some really wonderful shop owner's.

We're still looking for furniture- kitchen chairs and a couch, mostly. We have our mattress and we're waiting for a frame and headboard for when we can spend the money on it. Tanner picked up a small and very inexpensive ($10) nightstand we saw at Goodwill yesterday. It's a little wobbly but he'll sturdy it up when he gets back.
We also found a possible TV stand and desk at the thrift store yesterday but we're holding out to see if we can find something better. Tanner will look for a stand and kitchen chairs when he's home. (We've already accepted that our chairs will all be mismatched but I think we're kind of excited about it, really.)

Tanner left for home today and will be back next Friday. I did some errands after and then watched some shows online. Tomorrow I hope to do something more interesting; if it doesn't rain I might head down to the beach with my camera and walk around for a bit. I was also thinking about driving down to Old Orchard Beach but I'll have to think about the gas. I'll probably end up reading a lot of Harry Potter and watching movies but I'll still dream of bigger things.

The weather was beautiful today, too.

we finally have internet

Wow, the past week has been just a little crazy! Friday was the last day before Spring Break at the high school and so subbing was a little strange, especially for the art classes, because there weren't any new projects to start and no one wanted to work anyways. Tanner got into Saranac Lake in the evening and we spent Saturday with my family. Sunday we packed our cars like Tetris and then had dinner with my dad. Monday morning we were off! We took the ferry at Cumberland Head and the water was so choppy.

             

                                                 


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
That was when we realized how windy it was. Then Tanner started to have some car troubles and just before we left New Hampshire we had pulled off the interstate because he thought one of his tires popped. We were already running late for our appointment at the apartment so I had to leave him while he called AAA to get towed. It was very nerve wracking not knowing what was happening with him and trying not to be late, even though I already was. He didn't get into Portland until almost 7 that night. Instead of making our first meal together we went out to a pub and brewery and had a great dinner. 


The next few days were incredibly windy and cold, it even snowed a little on Tuesday. We did lots of grown up errands and didn't really have time to explore much of our new area. We bought a mattress, a huge TV, lots of Dollar Tree items, we made a trip to Home Depot and several journeys to Hannafords. We spent most of yesterday waiting for the Time Warner Cable installer to come so we did the rest of our unpacking and Tanner played some video games while we waited. After he left we made another trip to Best Buy and then went out to dinner for Chinese. 


Today we will finally be going down to the Old Port so I can do some job hunting and Tanner can see what it's like. But first we are waiting (we seem to do so much of that these days) for the carpet guy to come and nail down a section near the side door. In the meantime, I think I will make smoothies with my new stick blender.


Pictures of the apartment will be coming soon!

another beautiful day in the adirondacks

Today I:

:: spent some quality time at the studio with Melissa catching up on life. The next time I come home will be for the dance recital and I can't wait to see the wonderful dances (and costumes!) she has planned.

:: packed so much more that I don't quite know what to do with myself since all I really have left are my clothes.

:: watched another great episode of Wild Russia on Animal Planet. Russia is so beautiful (and a little scary).

:: caught up on errands-- a wonderful feeling to experience especially right before leaving.

:: experienced another day of wonderful warmth.

a new show

Last weekend I watched the premiere of Frozen Planet on the discovery Channel. I'm a sucker for their nature and animal show (especially Shark Week, much to the dismay of everyone I interact with during this time). Like every DC show, Frozen Planet is incredibly informative and just pulls you in by the intensely clear cinematography and of course, the narration.

in the sun

The last three days have been so beautiful, hovering around 75 degrees. I can't get over how wonderful this weather and how happy it makes me. Just feeling the warmth from the sun through my clothes as I walk the short distance to my car or the house is enough to lift my mood. It's great to drive with my windows open and not need to wear a jacket or mittens. This weekend will cool off a little (mid 50s) and Portland should be about the same because of the sea breeze but this will definitely carry me over until summer really begins. 
The last few mornings as I drove to work I would see mist hovering above Lake Flower and the bits of ice that were still intact while the sun quickly rose over the mountains. It was so incredible I wish I had my camera with me (and time to stop for some pictures). All of the ice is melted now and this afternoon the water was so blue and sparkly, I couldn't believe it wasn't a hot July day.
I've also been working the last three days with two of them being early morning calls. I'm so tired but I've had really good days. I've mostly been working with Special Education students or those who need extra attention learning and applying material. I've had a lot of the same kids and I've gotten to know them to the point where I know how to balance all of the crazy things that are happening in my classroom. I love helping the kids focus and actually get work done, especially I can help them figure something out. It's such a great feeling. I'm really getting attached to these kids and I think I'll be a little sad to leave them. Even kids I had a few weeks ago remember me and one kids said hi to me yesterday at the end of the day. And he wasn't the "teacher's pet" kind, either.
However, I still want to leave. I need to do a little more packing before Tanner gets here on Friday. Just the other day I finished my apartment shopping, so I feel more prepared now that I have everything.  I also need to finish a few books and a blanket and a new project I just thought of and haven't started yet. I've got plenty of time.

spring is here!

Today was a gorgeous spring tease in the Adirondacks. So lovely. It ended up being about 75 degrees (not the predicted 68) and so very clear and sunny. I was so happy to be wearing a skirt and no jacket or scarf! I was actually a little chilled in the shade but that quickly changed.
Peter and I went over to Lake Placid and had a late lunch before walking down to the park that overlooks Mirror Lake. It was so strange to see ice still covering the lake.
We then drove around the lake and back to Saranac Lake and ate sundaes from McDonald's while we sat on a bench at the boat launch. The sun was shining off the water and we even saw a boat go up and down the lake a few times (a few minutes later I drove by the lake again and saw the boat had picked up a water skier). It was so beautiful I had to take some pictures with my phone.

 There was still a bit of ice near where we were sitting and some of the chunks were quite thick in places. Before we left we each bent down to the water and dipped our hands in to test the temperature. It wasn't as cold as I thought it would be but I definitely would not want to put more than a few fingers in. As we were doing this the boat went by again and this time closer and much faster producing huge waves that jumped up the banks to our feet. It was so delightful! 

The rest of the week looks to be about the same and I can't wait to wear more skirts and dresses and bask in the Adirondack sunlight before leaving.

piggies

While weeding through my favorited blogs, I discovered (or re-discovered) Crafty Little Gnome and scrolled down the page. I then found these adorable pigs and like the post said, it put a smile on my face. Oh, how they remind me of my cats..

happy moments

- I began packing things from my closet and even got started on my clothes and shoes.
- And while doing so I watched Disney's Peter Pan. 
- I joined three new groups on Flickr and added some pictures. One of those groups is dedicated to Portland, Maine.
- I found two Energy Star light bulbs to bring with me (electricity is going to be our downfall).
- I got my black and white pictures back. Most of the roll is from Portland.

This is my favorite picture from the roll.

This is Wharf Street. It feels very European to me.

This was the view from our hotel room looking onto Market Street. We were right in the middle of the Old Port.

This is the end of Market Street. When leaving the hotel and turning immediately to the left, you find this.  

crafty

Here is my finished pastel rug made from assorted old sheets and thrift store fabrics.

I loosely based it off this tutorial I found about a year ago, before I knew how to crochet. My rug is much smaller than hers and I cut my fabric strips to about 2 inches wide instead of 4 which she recommended. Overall I'm very pleased with it. It's incredibly soft and squishy with socked feet and just as lovely without.

I'll leave you with a drawing of a blue heron by my grandfather (on a take out box).

packing away

Today I:

::started packing. Books, movies, curtains, blankets, sheets, towels, pictures, bathroom supplies, kitchen supplies. Looking around my room I feel like very little is packed but I know I made a dent in today's packing. Really the biggest thing is my clothes (I have very few good size bags so I usually have to stuff things in totes) which I can't do for almost a week.

::got my own phone line. Wow, I feel like a grown up. Phone plans are expensive. I also talk too much.

::finished crocheting my fabric rug! It's a little turn-y up-y on the sides but I'm hoping gravity will take care of that. It looks so good and I can't wait to see it on our newly finished hard wood floors in Portland!

::realized I have four books to read before I leave in...12 days. Wow. Not full books, only partial, but still. I can't seem to get through the last 100 pages of Lolita.

I feel mostly productive but still a little overwhelmed by what I have left to do.
But for now I'll watch Harry Potter and be a kid again.

a few notes

On the right side of the blog is a list of blogs I recommend (SouleMama is a wonderful website about a Maine family's simple farm life, House of Humble is a blog about an Australian couple's search for a simpler life, and TJW is Tanner's musical blog). Below that is a feed of my three most recent pictures from my Flickr account. Each link opens in a new window.
Also, clicking on pictures within a post with enlarge them (without taking you to a new window).

That's it!

finally!

We have the apartment! The owner received my check on Monday and we are all set to move in on Monday March 26th (2pm). I can't wait!! Now I have lots of packing to do and an assortment of kitchen/bathroom things to buy. If only I had a job lined up, everything would be perfect. But we have an apartment and Tanner has a job already so we're off to a good start.
I'm now on a (mad) dash to finish whatever projects I've started or been wanting to start before I leave. I'm in the process of crocheting a pastel-ish rug from old fabric. I can't wait until it's finished and I'm already planning on putting it in the kitchen in front of the sink. Just a little bit bigger..
I'm also more than halfway done with the blanket I've been crocheting for over a month. Blue, cranberry, brown, and cream. It looks great if it weren't bunchy and then loose...and then bunchy again. I'm trying to cut myself a little slack-it's my first blanket. Hopefully that will be done by the end of the week as well. And then there's a variety of wool ponchos half done, scarves that need to be started and curtains that need to be measured out. All in due time.

On a different note, here are my two favorite pictures from Winter Carnival this year.

Uncle Sam.

Men in Black.

hello there!

I finally got my blog set up and working the way I like it, mostly! This is a huge accomplishment for me right now.

Almost everything is ready with the apartment, I'm just waiting for a return phone call from the owner when we'll discuss the prorated amount for March and hopefully a parking discount. And then I'll have an apartment! Two weeks from Saturday I'll be moving in. Holy shit!

Here's a picture of the bay looking south towards South Portland. It was a little rainy but it cleared up pretty quickly.