Saturday, September 02, 2006

Almost but not quite

These lighter x's gotta go...

It's a bit of a let down when you think you are finished and then see that you are not. The lighter areas here, with the yellow background look insipid with the lower contrast x's and I shall have to remove them and fix that area.



Really wide quilts don't look so good on the blog. I have the second panel to go, and really have lost interest. I am listening to a very good book, The Master Butcher's Singing Club but still, it is so dull working on this piece that I took the whole day off yesterday, and dinked around with Photoshop. You can view my dinkin' here.

On the other hand, I have a new hobby that I thought I would tell you about. Since Dave has been retired for over a year, I am thinking about where we will eventually retire, as in move to, once I actually am ready to lighten my workload a bit. (Could I ever really retire? Nah.)

We first thought of Wisconsin, since we like the rolling hills, piney forests and the really clean rivers and lakes. We even went up and looked at some properties but it was a bit premature to pack up and move now. We saw some nice places, reasonably priced on the internet, which got me motivated and that is where my new hobby lies.

One can shop (as in: waste hours) so easily and see multiple pictures of homes, their rooms, bad decorating, backyards, piers, and boats, all on the many online multiple listing services. I have looked now in Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa and Tennessee and O MY what deals are out there for me to salivate over. The taxes we pay here in my lovely neck of the woods are so high and not to put too fine a point on it,we could be getting a LOT more for our money out in South Podunk.

Yes, "out there" we would be isolated. You say that like it's a bad thing. As long as there is UPS and broadband internet access, I think I could stand it. Yesterday I shopped North Carolina. O! What a beautiful group of properties I found there. Mountain views, gentle creeks, mild winters, and low low taxes. What's not to like?





11 comments:

  1. North Carolina has a very nice "package" for artists who relocate to NC. Low interest mortgages, studio space etc. You qualify as an artist and have a reputation--NC would be VERY interested in relocating you. Check it out.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous1:55 PM

    Do you quilt over your fused pieces to make sure they stay where you put them? I worry my fused pieces may come off some day

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous5:44 PM

    Hi Melody:
    Glad to hear you and Dave are cruising around for the ultimate "retirement" property. Don't forget, besides beauty and peace and calm, available health facilities and shopping etc. None of us want to get or feel old(er) but moving is such a HUGE chore, you don't want to make a habit of it! Take all things into consideration before making that giant leap!
    I'm a textile artist and have a BMW/Guzzi guy too and we've been in touch with Dave this past year - we will retire in a couple of years also and looking and planning ahead - it's something that takes a bit of time to see that both of the partners are served well by the choices! Wishing you both all the best and much happiness.....

    Leonie

    ReplyDelete
  4. Terry and I were wondering what tv show you were watching that featured North Carolina and got you started looking in that direction first. But the homes you saw were wonderful! I loved the "last one, I promise" with it's two master bedrooms, hint hint. Duke University is in NC...

    Sorry you don't like the lighter x's. I thought they were interesting and a departure from your usual way of solving design problems.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hey Melody,

    If you don't wish to move too far away.. I will have a very nice 3 bedroom ranch home with a nice deck (but a smaller property) for sale the end of the month in Rock Island!! Cannot imagine why you would want to live there, though.

    The taxes aren't great, though. Is this because it's Illinois? OH. MY. GOD. I just did the math!! With my MILs "senior discount" on the taxes.. she's paying almost $4000!! On a $150,000 house?!! That's what I pay for my home here in No.Cal! and most of mine is because of newer school bonds.

    Forget that idea. I won't sell to you even if you beg...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Instead.. think Nevada!! I think we'll be retiring to Carson City. Completely forget the Quad Cities offer.. they do not have broadband easily available.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Be sure to check on that broadband--not everywhere in South Podunk has it yet and may never unless we get a new "last mile" initiative.

    NC sounds cool! I'm in Missouri if you have any questions about that. Lower cost of living is one reason we're staying put.

    ReplyDelete
  8. If I could figure out a way to move our business and live in NC, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I lived in Raleigh for two years and loved it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous10:44 AM

    If you like the 4 seasons try Northeast TN or the western mountains of NC, especially around Asheville.
    Jennifer

    ReplyDelete
  10. Another thing that Podunk usually doesn't have going for it is a sewage system. Septic and dyes do NOT mix.

    (Even in large parts of Eastern Massachusetts this is an issue, believe it or not.)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love this piece, Melody. I'm so out of the blog reading thing lately, so I don't know if there's a story to go along with it, but I just had to let you know...
    YUMILICIOUS!!!!

    ReplyDelete

Hello,
So nice of you to drop by. I love your comments, and if you would really like a reply, please email me at fibermania at g mail dot com