Spanish Market, Storms, House News...
It's a 2-day blog over in Trishtown. With the added benefit of Photo Phunday!
We've got storm-fu, we've got full moon-fu, we've got...uh, we've got THE GIRLS!!
Trish says 5 stars, check it out.
1 Comments | Link to This | Back to top
Shelter, Vernacular Architecture, and New Careers
Bear with me here. First thing and Second thing, seemingly unrelated, come together in Distant Ideas Collide. I'll all make sense, you'll see.
Here’s the first thing. I’ve always loved buildings, spaces, places. Love the crooks of trees, attics, though no fondness for basements. The cellar I did not mind so much, though it imparted a sense of trepidation. The Poetics of Space by Gaston Bachelard pretty much explains why we generally regard basements as creepy, not to mention the horror movies whose directors probably had to read this book in art school too, thank you very much. Actually, not.
The bulk of my work is about place. Built or natural, architectural or landscape, it’s about place. Nothing makes me happier than nesting—including re-decorating, scrounging garage sales for stuff for the new place, settling in, planting my own stuff out in the yard, making a space mine, and making it better than it ever was. I had a landlady--even though the lease said "no painting" --she told me to do whatever I wanted to. I rented 3 different places from her and I painted them all!
We humans are still as territorial as most of our animal cousins, we’ve just developed massively complicated rules and approaches to the problem of territory and shelter.
Here’s the second thing. We, as a gallery, purchased an incredibly expensive ad in a publication to come out next year. I weighed the options and it seems like a worthwhile investment. These folks called me up recently and asked if I knew about their calendar. Ha. Of course I want to do that! But it’s the same price as a page ($1300, yes, thirteen hundred). Whoa! Want to do it, but double the incredibly expensive price? When we’ve made all of $190 since we’ve been here? I asked my husband. He left the decision to me. Arguuuuh.
So I contemplated. It was really more me wanting to be in a calendar than it’s going to get us any more publicity.....so I decided it was pride, and not a sound decision. I said no.
And-- here’s where these two seemingly distant ideas collide.....
My husband suggested to me, and has been encouraging me to look into.....getting certified to sell real estate here. I love places and spaces. I love the potential of fixer-uppers, and would be happy dealing with that difficult market. Plus, I could probably work at it part-time. And it costs somewhat less than a calendar page to go through all the classes and the tests that it takes to become certified in this state. I can complete everything in less than a year and faster yet if I am truly motivated. It’s 3 years less time and hella cheaper to become certified in selling real estate than it does to become an interior decorator.
I know. That gave me pause as well. You can be certified to sell real estate--no price limit--in the millions even, after one year of school. But you can't decorate a damn thing, or pick out lights and paint without a four-year degree. Go figure. Me? I think there's more money in flipping. And I know all, all about paint. That was my first $40,000 educational experience.
So here I am, thinking about going back to school. I believe my sister accused me, maybe 20 years ago, of being a “professional student.” That may be the only thing she’s ever been right about! (Now if that does not get her to call me she’s clearly not reading this!)
1 Comments | Link to This | Back to top
My New Kitchen Stove!
Oh yeah! Get on over to Trishtown where there's a picture of it.
If everything keeps rolling along smoothly as it has on the house deal we'll close sometime next week. ;-) And as eager as my husband has been to get in there he will be traveling to Pennsylvania to pick up the stove.
Sounds crazy but really, it's not.
3 Comments | Link to This | Back to top
Time, Pain, and Lost Love
In the middle of the day Missy ran in--in the halloween cat posture and jumped up on the desk—such as she did when Maggie was here.
I haven’t seen Maggie since the day her owners took her back, and though I miss her incredibly, I thought that for the best. If she’s gone from my life, then be gone, and let me get on with mine. Of course I hoped to see her...but why? To wrench my heart open again?
But today—four days later—she runs in here to say “hi” and she’s yipping and yelping and wiggling and licking me on my face—I have to escort her back to her family on the road---twice!! She likes it here better! But we can’t keep her—it was so sweet she remembered me and so sad she had to go, again...I cried. I did. I know better, I do, but we just fell in love with her.
Ah, and time that passes always makes these pains more distant, just like a scar heals. This one is so fresh I'm still bleeding. It's better if I don't see her. Whenever she comes around the wound is ripped open again and I have to heal all over from the start. It's too hard, it's just too hard, it's just way, way too hard.
Some wounds of the heart heal more quickly than others, and in some of these matters, there is no healing at all. Which is why, I suppose, we have great works of art, literature, and music. Our sadness and hardship must be expunged somehow, in order to make way for the joyous probability of hope, of friendship, and of love, once again.
Here’s to you, Maggie.
You've both enhanced my heart and damaged it irrepairably. You have changed me forever.
So much power in a pup.
3 Comments | Link to This | Back to top
Board Meeting
I attended the High Road Artisan's board meeting tonight and boy did I learn a lot. Not only that, I'd be a board member right now if I weren't from Truchas. "Too many members from Truchas." (too many artists up here too, but you've already heard THAT story)Hey--THEY asked ME! In any case I'm sort of happy and sad. Sad that I'm not a board member. And happy that I'm not a board member. Cause I actually think I'd be a good board member. But then, look at all those hours I get to keep for myself and all the communal meeting grief I do not have to go through.
Funny how life is a lot like being a board member. The ups and downs of it all. Sometimes you don't even have to decide; you're offered the fish and just before you can decide to eat it or not, some dog comes along and snaps it back. Rendering the entire scenario meaningless. Well, as far as you're concerned anyhow. Who knows what sort of meaning the board gets out of all that. A show of power and control I suppose. But then, there they sit, whining about needing new, fresh, energetic blood. What sense is there to that?
I believe "WHATEVER" is the most appropriate expression for this situation, right here, right now. Either that or "DUH!"
BTW, we are not getting the stove for $200. Much too much drama and incorect behaviour on part of sellers for my husband. I probably would have taken it anyhow, after much grousing. But, he has a point. And he's made the husbandly decision so we're going with that.
I'll get this and more up on TTown soon. New New Mexico saying I heard today. You've heard of Carpé Diem? Here it's Carpé Manaña.
1 Comments | Link to This | Back to top
Beautiful Morning
On to today's chores: many paintings to paint on, a new canvas to gesso (for my trout painting, more on that later—it’s part of an exciting marketing plan we folks in Truchas are cooking up and it’s not quite ready for prime-time yet—just mark your calenders now for July/August 2008) a necklace to finish up, drawings for another couple paintings to be done, a plant to repot, stuff to get to the museum.....and if it seems there’s not going to be traffic late this afternoon (most traffic is mid-day) then I may ride down & get my New Mexico license plate for the bike.
1 Comments | Link to This | Back to top
House Stuff
We've got the title insurance commitment, we've got a homeowner's/builder's insurance commitment, we'll need a survey--no problem there, just have the title co. get it scheduled--we've got a loan commitment. That's all we need. As soon as our down-payment funds arrive (mine should be here Friday or Monday, and that'll do the trick if Leonardo's have not arrived by then) we can close.
Woo Hoo!
4 Comments | Link to This | Back to top
Motorcycle Ride This Morning
I’m going to have more fun riding here than I have anywhere, ever. It’s just so incredibly awesome, and you don’t have to wear a helmet here. I do of course, I would not feel right without one, but then that’s me. Want to keep my head in one piece, you never know when something can happen.
The only other real news is another new “Panoramic” painting is started and looking good, and I’m going through back and forth with title company, insurance company, RE broker, etc. All that stuff you have to get done. Insurance might be a bit tricky. Appraisal happens tomorrow so we’ll know what the place is actually worth soon.
2 Comments | Link to This | Back to top
Maggie's Mom
Maggie's Dog Mom and Human Mom came by today and took her home. Turns out she did live just up the road--at the cousin's place, after all. Of course I am heartbroken but the cats are joyful! Maggie's Human Mom said "well, if she follows me home..." And of course she did. But I suppose we can visit her and it's likely she'll come trotting down the road again!
We will pick out a pup of our own but maybe we'll wait a bit until the new house is ready and there's more room for cats & dogs to co-exist. That is, of course, unless we find any other stray pups we take a shine to in the meantime ;-)
4 Comments | Link to This | Back to top
Moral Dilemna
What would you do?
Here's the situation:
We found a great looking wood stove advertised on Craigs List for $100. We said “Way!” and asked if it was still available. The advertiser responded that someone was coming to look at it and she promised to hold it for him. If he did not buy it--it would be available to us.
He did not buy it.
However, her husband said “What? You put that on sale for $100? That’s at least a $500 stove. So she tells me it is still available, but for $200, she’s so sorry, her mistake.
#1. We knew it was a great deal.
#2. She should have agreed with her husband on the price first off, but that’s an uncontrollable factor for us.
#3. They advertised it at $100 and that is what we promised to buy it for.
#4. It’s at least shitty (but probably not illegal?) to raise the price DURING a deal.
#5. Even so, it’s probably a deal at $200 (wood stoves go from killer deals to as much as you want to spend, but what we’re looking for averages $400 to $800. Obviously we’d rather spend $100 or $200!
What do we do? The right thing and walk away now and spend more later for the sake of principle? Take it for a raised price and encourage shoddy business practice?
The thing is—we don’t need it right now. But we will need it very soon (and wood stoves only go up in price the closer to winter you get). And it can start in the new place where the wood stove goes (pipes are there, stove is missing) and later be moved to hubby’s shop. Or just go in the shop. Whatever. We’ll need at least one, ultimately two plus a couple fireplaces which won’t be built for months, and even at the raised price it’s a decent deal. Need I say we're on a rather tight budget.
I just don’t want to encourage people to be sleazy like this—an advertised price is an advertised price. But—pride goeth before a fall—and we can make our point now and pay $400 more later.
So, you see, it’s a quandry. Economically, it still makes sense. Morally, it raises both our hackles.
I know my husband won’t want a thing to do with a deal that changes horses mid-course. I can bet you about a hundred million on that one and be safe.
Our Bottom Line, ultimately, has more to do with belief systems than asset management. Which is, quite obviously, not always to our economic benefit.
Oh, yeah, and then there's taking Maggie to the vet for shots, etc. We have no idea how old she is. I guess I have to go look up puppy aging, how to train, all that. I really need to learn how to train her—she’s young and incredibly smart. After 2 days she knows her name we gave her and responds to it.
She’s got those sharp little needle puppy teeth, though not all of them, there are a few spaces where more will be showing up soon, and she is in the chew, chew, chew phase of puppyhood. I’ve had cats all my life, I can tell you how old a kitten is by just looking. Puppies? I’m lost. Let me go look up some puppy info & I’ll get back to you. My best (wild) guess is that she’s around 5 or 6 months old.
6 Comments | Link to This | Back to top
Recap of Maggie Outing
Yep, it's over already ;-) And it's 3:30 and we just finished breakfast. OK, she's just a baby!
Read all about it over at Trishtown.
0 Comments | Link to This | Back to top
Taking Maggie Out
Our first adventure out with the puppy today--we'll take her with us and pick up a harness & leash. Don't know what we're up to yet but headed toward Dixon at least to pick up today's New York Times (yes, we have to travel for it!) We haven't figured out yet how to go out for breakfast with the pup. We may begin having Sunday breakfast at home for the time being.
Abandoned animals are a huge issue here. There are 13 animal rescue places in the area--population maybe 80,000 in the entire area-- (I don't think that even counts Taos) and there are only 2 million people in the entire state!
4 Comments | Link to This | Back to top
Back Online
Have been offline for a day and a half due to weather & other factors...back online and there's a new post over at Trishtown.
ytrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr (a message from Miscevil-walking across the keyboard)
2 Comments | Link to This | Back to top
Museum Show Update
0 Comments | Link to This | Back to top
House News & Maggie Update
All righty then, there is house news, and boy is it good. Ha, ha, it's kind of funny too.
And then there is an update on Maggie Mae, Uh Oh! I mean the "lost puppy" over there on Trishtown. And please click on "blog," all the blog stuff is under blog. Just in case that wasn't clear ;-)
The reason I haven't been including a hot-link in all my posts is because they're getting flagged as spam and being delayed for review. Who needs that? I'll get a link to Trishtown up in my blog list for y'all's convenience.
2 Comments | Link to This | Back to top
Pup Pix
3 Comments | Link to This | Back to top
Pup Update.
0 Comments | Link to This | Back to top
Found Puppy
Followed a friend of ours on her morning walk. When she stopped to chat, pup stayed. And stayed, and stayed. I had to walk to library this afternoon. Pup came. Pup got into schoolyard, I walked off, thinking, good, maybe some kid will recognize it. Pup heard my footsteps leaving, raced to the end of the fence, wriggled under, and came back home with me.
Missy has spiked his nose three times now, I think he gets it that he cannot come in. I put "Found Puppy" sign on fence, hope someone comes to claim him. Will walk up the road later, knowing he'll (or she'll) follow, hoping it will recognize it's home & stay. Sheesh. It's kind of cute, but honestly, we can't have a dog here, not until the new place.
My husband won't even look at it. I gave it water, it's hot out there.
Speaking of new place- we're still waiting to initial that newest batch of papers, but you knew that.
2 Comments | Link to This | Back to top
The Bank Signed
0 Comments | Link to This | Back to top
The Bank Signed
4 Comments | Link to This | Back to top
House Photos!
Thanks to everyone for the Anniversary wishes!
As promised, the house photos are up on Trishtown, hie thee on over! I've added a new page for them so just look for the button on the home page.
New Art Venture photos are up as well.
Enjoy!
3 Comments | Link to This | Back to top
Terrific Tuesday
Just spoke with our RE agent, things are rolling along as they are supposed to. We may have to get an extension as the bank made us a week late on things but apparently banks roll a bit slowly in these matters. She said that should be no problem. So I need to make a phone call to liquidate some assets that will go toward the down payment & rennovations.
I'll get some photos posted up at Trishtown today--including some more of that "painting throughout the process" and some of the new house. I may make a new section just for that ‘cause once we get going it’ll be a whole renovation project. We’re going to have our own version of Extreme Makeover right here in Truchas!
Sunday we went to the Folk Art Festival in Santa Fe--it was fun but way hot down there. Lots of really amazing stuff, talented people. My problem, as ususal, is that I have far too elegant taste. Everything I liked was about $800 to $1200. We did pick up a tiger mask from Haiti, and Leonardo got some little beaded flags of South Africa from there. We stopped at the Tusuque flea market on the way home and I picked up a string of beautiful coral beads which I’ll fashion into a new necklace today...or at least get started on it.
We’re closing early today to go into Taos for our anniversary dinner at Doc Martin’s Restaruant. Three years today!
6 Comments | Link to This | Back to top
Another Bunny
Another bunny had to be set free this morning. Missy brought it in & gave it to Wiz who cornered it under the Bear on Wheels--while she went back out. Leonardo managed to get the laundry basket over the bunny and I slid a drawing board underneath. We picked it up and carried him out to the field, whereupon removing the basket the little thing scampered quickly to freedom.
In house news there is nothing new. We are waiting on yet more paperwork—I believe we’ll be waiting on a lot of paperwork these next few weeks. I did take a bunch of photos of the outside & the awesome view which I’ll try to get posted up on Trishtown later today.
A big massive thunderstorm is cracking and flashing and rolling in quickly.
But I’m in the middle of Monument Valley right now, it’s coming along famously, so back to it.
3 Comments | Link to This | Back to top
Thanks!
Thank you all for your well wishes.
It'll be a while before we close, but we could not have done it without your prayers, I think.
Thank you all so much!!
Bless You and Keep you, and we willl help you with whaever you require. Just ask and our prayers are with you.
The gift shall come around.
Be Blessed and Secure.
3 Comments | Link to This | Back to top
We Have a Contract!
We're in ESCROW. We have a CONTRACT. We signed the bank's counter offer.
We are BUYING this place. We TOASTED the champagne.
Today was also our new show's opening--and we got congratulations and well-wishes from all the local gallery owners, as well as hugs, (and some from the evanglical church folks as well) both for the show but mostly for buying in. They actually like us up here! Even the church folk. And you know what? We kinda like them too. We won't be going to church, but we will be visiting.
So Woo Hoo! PARTY PEOPLE! Let's celebrate! And then come and stay in the guest room!
7 Comments | Link to This | Back to top
Created with ShoutPost
