Thursday, June 25, 2015

WINDOW RANT!!!!!




 ALLOW me to RANT a little....


Well here it is ..coming up JULY and nothing has been done about my window. Despite calls all the way to the district manager .... ZIP.. Almost two weeks ago she promised me that the window was already ordered and ready to install next week. Now you know why I don't believe a word they tell me. So this has been on going since MAY 4th. Meanwhile mother nature and SUMMER decided to rear it's ugly head.I placed the small room air conditioner halfway in the window any way I could and PRAYED it would not fall out. My place faces EAST and boy does it get hot so not putting the AC in was not an option. Then we got storms...one after the other. Towels to the rescue. High winds hitting the window forced me to duct tape the plexiglass down best I could.I had to use a lid from a plastic tub to reinforce it.  It's a real mess.The  heat from the sun coming in kept making the duct tape not stick. Got GORILLA tape and used it. Finally success.


I place towels around it where the rain might come in and I wait. All this for a little tiny nick in the window that "management" said it needs to be replaced. OKAY.. WHEN??? I have lived in so many different places and adapted to so many things and this is just another one I tell myself.. OH WELL... Soon I won't need the air conditioner and will take down the tape and shut the window. I am not going anywhere. I waited a long time for this place and am not going to let RAIN, or a flooded carpet make me leave it.Tomorrow is another day.. WHEW.. thanks I needed that...

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

FATHER'S DAY!

                     To all those Fathers out there in blogland.. this is for you...


 

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

AFTERMATH...

If you follow me on Facebook you might know what happened with the flooding situation. I posted some things on there and then deleted them. I was reminded by a friend of mine that it might seem I was COMPLAINING too much and should be putting that someplace else. I was shocked at the statement but then started to think what others might think also so I deleted it all. 
 
The guy carried most everything off the floor of my closet..only a small portion of the floor was wet.


YES, the owner of the apt. building did pay expenses for the 3 day clean up. It was not a clean up for certain it was a DRY OUT. The machines ran in my apt for 3 days and nights BLOWING air and sucking out the humidity. When the man came back on Monday morning I was more than ready to see him. I confronted him by telling him he LIED to me. He lied saying it would be warm in that room. It was 100 degrees for three days. There was NO staying in the bathroom or the bedroom at all! GET IN and GET OUT. The noise was like jet engines..you could not hear yourself think. Thank GOD I could close the door and block some of it out. I can only imagine what the guy upstairs thought. HEAT rises and I am sure his apt was HOT up there too. 
 
The hose drains all the moisture out so the sink was totally unusable.

 So I decided since these machines were totally doing their job I would shower in there at least once ANYWAY.. it so happened that it was over 80 in the rest of the place and humid outside. MISERABLE. My asthma went nuts. The spray they put on to kill any germs was pretty powerful because of the heat in there. Neighbors told me they would have left. I had no place to run to so I had to stay. I was very grateful the whole thing was not worse. Could have been SEWER water but it was not. Clear warm water with a little soap in it. 


NO they did not clean my carpets.. all they did was dry it out. I did vacuum in there after it was over with. That caused dust and dirt to blow up again and so allergies went crazy  and have not stopped since. Time for MEDS.. 
I highly recommend using the plastic tubs in a closet..it saved me a lot. Easy to move and free from any moisture.Now I am waiting for the electric bill for 4 large machines running for three days and nights on my bill. It did not seem like the district manager was too thrilled to pay anything on that bill. We will see when I get it. 


I did put my AC in the window MYSELF..with good ole duct tape and some prayers. It works and maybe SOMEDAY I will get a new window..it's only been six weeks so far. Maintenance man here said he would put the AC back in when they replace the window. He chuckled when he saw ALL that tape on the window. I told him I had to have some way to hold it in there. I used NO screws etc. Scary ..you might say that. GOD is good .. the weather cooled off a lot so I have not needed it lately. Isn't that the way it goes? Taking it one day at a time now..

P. S.  Got another message yesterday.. Another new manager for us here, this one has 20 years experience. I sure hope it works out. She is the 4th manager in less than a year. 

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

FLOODED

 MY STORY...

GRANTED it is not as bad as those who have severe flooding and loss of life and homes. I am truly grateful for that. I send my heartfelt prayers to them. Yesterday morning it all came to a standstill when things started backing up all over the bathroom. It's not as horrible as some things are, it was the entire shower the man upstairs took down into my bathtub and out onto the floor into my bedroom and my closet. My tiny one bedroom apt looks like a disaster zone. I went into survival mode. Mopping and sopping whatever I could. I asked for a wet vac and got one too late. He used it but barely scratched the surface of the problem. The maintenance guy was OVER-RUN when the manager called and said 3 other apartments were having troubles too ..all of us on the same floor.
 
THANK GOD for my drying racks.. they sure have come in handy.

So beyond his capability he called the manager back and she came to inspect, yep we needed PROFESSIONALS.. IN came the ROTO ROOTER guy and he worked non stop for 4 hours and still had problems with drainage so he called in backup. Two guys came to help him who had already worked their shifts under a house laying pipes he said. They stayed until 10PM...it was an all day job. They took very little breaks we could tell and offered them cold drinks. I had so many people coming in and out of my apartment that I just left the door wide open and let them walk in and out. Neighbors upset, wondering if we could use the water at all. NOPE not all day long. Very humid situation even with the darn blower. I removed half my clothes from the closet because today the smell is there. EW. Nobody wants clothes that smell like old water.. it smelled  nice like his shower gel.. nice yesterday, even the water was warm. I was yelling for him to turn it off but he didn't hear me. Who would half way through anyway. WHY today it smells worse I have no idea as I had BRAND NEW carpet. Yes indeed new carpet. I was so crushed.
It looks like I am moving again,something I hate. Chaos!!
 Now before you yell at me, NO I cannot afford renters insurance right now, I have a small income and no room for it. So some of this mess is just my own fault. The price of the insurance or eating, sometimes you gotta do what you have to do. Life is like that sometimes...well it is for me. I will start over, this time getting rid of even MORE stuff I don't need anymore. TUBS are wonderful they are waterproof up to a certain level and this helped soo much. I very highly suggest the nice velvet covered hangers that held my clothes,that got removed from my closet so easily.I also found out that those memory foam bath rugs hold a ton of water and wring out and dry much faster than a towel. I will be looking for others to add to my supplies as it worked better than anything I used on the carpet. Starting over again for the second time in the same place. Maybe I will find some new things that are helpful again.

 ANY and all suggestions about the carpet smell are appreciated, not sure they will clean it or not. Maybe if I insist. I just want my AC in the window soon please.., YES I still have none.. stupid window and their 2 estimates that have to be okay'd by the higher ups. Taking forever and the poor managers hands are tied and she cannot do anything. Sleeping is miserable and hard with my asthma at full blast. I am writing this at 3 AM since there is no rest anyway. Sitting with a fan on me I will get by..one day at a time.

Sunday, May 24, 2015

DILEMMA SOLVED...

Around our place a person comes and posts some papers on your door if they need to let you know new rules etc. Well I heard her SLAP the papers on the door so I go out and see what it is all about.

LOW AND BEHOLD.....

The new manager here made a BIG BIG mistake and so the district manager had to let us all know that WE DID NOT have to pay the money for putting in our A/C units. WOW talk about a reversal. A whole lot of tenants were thrilled at this news.Seems you only PAY for help putting it in IF you do not go and get the plexiglass to fill in the windows YOURSELF.{ OKAY, this is not interesting to others I know but it sure was a load off my mind. It's the day to day things that add up and get on your nerves sometimes. I am new to how things work here still and having to learn what goes and what doesn't. }          



I ask about decorating my patio, "Sure do whatever you want out there." Ahhhh well within reason of course. No BBQ stuff and NO umbrella stuff. Can I trust what she says to be true? Will some other person in charge change the rule.. probably. Just

the way it is around here. Some already dug up the rocks around each of their patio and planted flowers in there. That's a lot of rocks!! I dreamed I had a birdbath on my patio the other night..I guess I was dreaming of this one I had in our old yard. I took the flowers out and turned it back into a place where the birds could have some fun. I don't think this place here is a good place to have a birdbath, the hawks might use it to drink out of and capture some snacks of smaller birds...Yikes. That would be a horrible sight. So I will just make do with what I have right now and maybe add some things here and there as the summer goes by. I tried sitting out there the other day and it was SO HOT with no shade I could not stay long.

For those who read this blog and know me, you might remember HELL HOUSE. Well it still stands today abandoned but bought by our local college. Eventually it will be torn down and something will be built on that spot. I am sure the neighbors cannot wait. AS for our old home. Sad to say it looks so bad I just GASP when I saw it recently. Seems those who bought it did some improvements but the outside looks horrible. This paint was applied almost TWO YEARS ago and then just left. They never finished any of it. The porch was full of junk, furniture and the back area by the garage full of garbage and trash. No wonder the neighbors are in an uproar.
She was a grand ole place when we lived there, yes we miss the old days a whole lot when life was good.
Guess I will wrap this up as I am getting too sentimental here. 


                                    


 



 

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

WONDERING..

I sit here wondering what to do with a current situation I am dealing with. It's summer it seems here in my little apartment. Hot Hot..with the morning sun blazing through the large patio doors.I placed my mother's crystal angels on the door and watched the sun make dancing rainbows all over my living room wall. I love seeing it but boy is it HOT with the sun coming in. So I chose the cool and  closed the blinds and the drapes and shut out the light. Seems one of my windows in the bedroom was broken when I moved in last year and I had no idea that it had LOST the seal. It was a thermal pane window and I didn't know much about those. So this year, new manager it had to be replaced. They measured it and ordered another one but still has not been delivered. My dilemma was that window is the one and only one my air conditioner sits in. So NO air conditioning right now. I admit several times I sat the thing on the window sill let it run to try to cool off at least one room. It sort of worked. You just can't put it in and out. It is a slider window and you have to put a plexiglass panel at the top of it. THERE are RULES here now. I got notice that now the maintenance will put it in for you for $150!! Are you kidding?? That was my first thought. It takes all of 30 minutes if you KNOW what you are doing. The guy here does. So the new management says you can put it in yourself or have someone else do it, but be aware in the fall you will have to TAKE IT OUT. Well, that was like someone dropped an atomic bomb here. People have lived here 15 -20 years and NEVER took them out. So there is a major revolt here in the complex. Twenty four apartments and all the tenants are upset. Would be so much easier if the windows were not sliders. Darn!
Austrian crystal angels and one BEE!
Magic rainbows!


To find someone to put the AC unit in and out each season will take some doing. I will learn how to do it myself..I just need a few lessons I think.
When there is a problem you solve it, that is what I was taught to do. What if you are unable to do it somehow? Wondering what the consequences are if you do not remove it from your window at the end of the season? Guess we all will find out when the new "memo" comes out in the fall.  At least I am on the ground floor, that's a big relief to me, if it falls out it won't have far to go! ;-)

HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!

Monday, May 4, 2015

FLY AWAY DEAR ONE....

It was sunny out and I sat and watched the clouds drift by in the sky. You came into my mind. Oh how I would
miss you. I will miss your wisdom and humor and advice. I prayed that soon you would not be in pain.
When I started my blogging 10 years ago, you helped me in so many ways. I had no idea what I was doing.
I do know that we all got pretty close and became a sort of "Family" of bloggers. This was BEFORE Facebook, so mostly
we kept in touch daily from our blogs. You were my close friend.... but more like a "Sis" to me. You sent me encouragement
and support when life dealt me so many hard blows. Your phone calls and gifts were so very special. I will cherish them
forever.

This morning you left us here in this place and we grieve for the loss but do know in our hearts..

 "When you come to the edge of all that you know, you must believe one of two things: there will be earth upon which to stand, or you will be given wings to fly."  FLY AWAY DEAR BETH MARIE...


   

  UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN....

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

PRAYER REQUEST

Please say a prayer for our dear friend Beth Marie..Every prayer will surely be appreciated by her family.

Friday, April 3, 2015

HAPPY EASTER

         HOPING YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL EASTER      
                                        HOLIDAY!

Friday, March 6, 2015

ICY SUNRISE

THANKS to a good friend of mine I am able to take photos again. This camera takes much clearer photos than my old one did. This morning I rose to this spectacular sunrise on ICY SNOW..When you think that this exact same scenario may never happen again.. I decided to capture it. 




When the sun got higher
Daylight Savings time starts Sunday morning.
I am ready for it. Come on SPRING!!!



Monday, February 9, 2015

GOODWILL HUNTING.. REALLY I DID

I went GOODWILL hunting for new things for my apartment. Sometimes people get rid of really good items or even NEW ones. On my budget this place is a real Godsend for many things. I decided my new bathroom was WAY too small so I needed a new look that would make it look bigger. I had a lot of dark towels and such that made it small. I changed my look to more of a beach style, lighter and brighter.  The very next week look what I found.. it started the ball rolling, from there I got shells, new towels and then I found ....several beach items that really helped set the tone.  Great prices and just what I wanted.. how lucky can you get.  It's a work in progress..I keep adding things. Another trip to the GOODWILL again and I might just get it all finished.. I won't stop looking there, you NEVER know what you will find!! ONE MAN'S TRASH IS ANOTHER MAN'S TREASURE!!

                                                   
This was marked down because the back had a small hole in it. $2.99
This was $1.99
Made a nightlight out of this. $1.99





Monday, February 2, 2015

GROUNDHOG SNOW STORM 2015

HE saw his shadow.. yeah right... they already decided before he was pulled from his nice cozy bed. All the snow that is here today is it any wonder we will see another 6 weeks of winter?  The storm lasted 24 hours. Non-stop wind and heavy snow that kept accumulating  at least 18 inches in places without the drifts.  By 2 AM on Groundhog day it had finally let up and the snow plow guys came and cleared off the sidewalks. So glad I don't have to do it all. It was enough to keep up with my own patio spot. 
I recall that back in the fall I saw at least three woolly worms and they indicated that at the back end of winter we would be in for some heavy snow. They were so right! I have been really spoiled this winter so far I guess it was time to bring the cold in.
We expect some more later this week, but not as bad as this storm was. Hope where ever you are you are staying warm and safe this winter. 
SPRING IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER...

Saturday, January 17, 2015

2015 ..ORGANIZING ONE THING AT A TIME..

I am starting out 2015 organizing and trying to find SPACE. I never thought moving would be such a jumble. I haven't any idea how I am going to do it all but I guess I have the whole year to figure it out. I started in the kitchen. The garbage disposal went out and had to be replaced so all that stuff under there had to be MOVED out. Better now than if a leak occurs I guess.That all done I moved to the shelves and the drawers next. Progress and some things tossed out helped too. The shelves were a real problem but I managed to use every little space I could. Works for me..{note to self, don't buy any more of anything!! ;-) } 


A wise friend told me, "Whatever you buy and bring into your new place, you better have a place in mind where you will store it." So right she was. I got THREE Christmas trees of all sizes I had to find room for. I didn't buy them all at the same time, and I am still trying to find room for them.Tip: Don't wrap them up and throw them up on a shelf, they will find their way off the shelf in the middle of the night.. BOOM!! HA! Scared the beeeegeeeez out of me!!                                                 


 It got cold out and I looked for winter gear. WHAT?? I could not find any hats, scarves etc. even though I knew I had them. What I did find was only LEFT HANDED gloves,.. all of them. HOW odd. The right ones had just been placed away someplace in that maze of a closet. A disorganized mess. Yes I am still hunting the right ones, and still wondering HOW they got separated. Very ODD. 

MY winter will be full of hunting items and trying to label boxes and tubs..at least it keeps me busy on the many very cold days. My advice...when you think of moving please LABEL the heck out of your boxes..something I should have done better. 

HOPE YOU ALL ARE STAYING WELL AND WARM.. 


Monday, December 29, 2014

THE YEAR ENDS

I sit here and think of all the things that have happened in 2014 and just shake my head in disbelief. 

JANUARY we had the coldest POLAR VORTEX  winter we have ever had. It was brutal. I shoveled so much snow I just got so sick of it. Heavy, wet and cold all winter  long. I seemed to never catch up and never get warm enough. Glad it ended.
I ended up in an ambulance, for the first time in my life in late Jan., headed to the ER with my head so dizzy I could not stand up. I stayed 24 hours in the hospital and they found I had 
"Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo 
Sounds bad but it just is plain VERTIGO. I was remarkably healthy otherwise. I had many comments on how amazing my blood tests were.

FEBRUARY and MARCH  Came in with more health problems for family members and a loss of a child that we all were shocked over. I had my eyes tested and the Dr. told me I had Glaucoma..which later in the year was found to NOT BE TRUE. I was so relieved. 
APRIL  We still were having SNOW here in Michigan.. it just would not STOP Easter came and it was cold one day and warm the next. Mother nature just could not decide. 
MAY  Came in with another illness only this time my sister had kidney problems. They went from bad to worse and in 
JUNE  She landed in the hospital in another town for 10 days and one in ICU nearly dying. Very scary times and she still is using the drugs and has improved a lot, but is not stable yet.
JULY while Sis was ill, I received a call I had been waiting a long time for. A new apartment was available. I spent most of the month moving from one place to another in the heat of the summer.                                   

AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER,NOVEMBER and DECEMBER
I have been busy adjusting to my new place to live and gathering furnishings and celebrating the fall and winter here in a new town. Riding the bus to town, meeting neighbors, learning how to gather supplies and find places for all the stuff I have in such small surroundings. I purchased in December a painting that I thought was something I could look at for a long time. I love the waves and the ocean and always have. It will never be far from me.  So much happened this year with friends and family, I pray every day and night that several will be cured completely and permanently. I hope 2015 brings us all good health and happiness. 




Thursday, December 4, 2014

DECEMBER UPDATE

SO December rolled in and NO SNOW, we have green grass and warm temps and it seems more like November weather. I like it one way and not in another. Reminds me of my winters in California. If we had some frosty mornings there it is all we could ask for.  Will it snow by Christmas, who knows. We just wait and see. In my new apartment it is really different because it is warm inside. Luckily, heat is free here so I am enjoying a nice break this year. 
                                                                


 I went on a search in many places for a 4 foot tree with NO LIGHTS. I had no luck.
I am still looking for it. Seems all the ones they have already have lights and cost way more than I want to pay. Whatever happened to simple. Well I bought a smaller one and I guess it will do for this year. I got rid of so many of our old things that I have not much left so am starting a new collection. I can't wait until after Christmas ornament sales. Know I will get some real gems. I went on a search through so many boxes looking for the stockings that my mother knitted back in the 60's. She took to knitting really easy I was told by the neighbor lady who taught her. I sure am glad that I found them.   These two were used just as decorations. 
One was really large, I don't remember why she made it that big but it sure has held up well all these years. The lady who taught mom made all us kids our own stockings and boy did we use them too. 
Starting my baking late this year, not sure what kind of cookies I will be making but I will be making them. Hope the neighbors help me eat them.  ;-)
WELL WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING ...
HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON.



                                                                    

Saturday, November 15, 2014

WINTER COMES EARLY..

Winter came in early November this year. We are grateful it didn't arrive as early as last year. The yard crews came and blew the remaining leaves around while the snowflakes fell. People were moving in and out of apartments here frantic to get done before the next big storm hit.I try to think of where I stored my Thanksgiving things and all my Christmas ornaments I saved.I didn't have as many as I thought I had sooo it's start all over again this year.  I bought a small 2 foot table tree but changed my mind and decided a larger one was needed since my living room space was large. I have made many trips to our local thrift store looking for items for the holidays. I am AMAZED at what people get rid of. I bought two plates to hang on the wall and was surprised that when I looked them up on line they were collectibles and worth way more than what I paid for them even without their certificates.
 
This one is called Silent Night

This one is called I'll be home for Christmas.

I think I have a moonlight sleigh ride theme going on. They look nice on the wall anyway. I will be checking again there soon. 

Thanksgiving is only days away and still not sure just what I will be doing, baking or making for dinner. Diet dictates strict guidelines but maybe just ONE day will be okay. Who knows I might even bake a pie this year too!
HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING!





Sunday, October 26, 2014

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Getting in the mood for the holiday here. Halloween was
always a favorite of mine in school. We would have
a whole school party in grade school and have cake
walks and fishing booths and a parade through the whole school.
I think they still do some of those things now too. As things got scary
out there in the real world, schools decided to have parties
like we did in the “olden” days and all the kids now either
have parties at school during hours or after and even
churches have parties here. The parties consist of cars in the
parking lot and each party has goodies in the trunk of their
car. YEP, almost like tailgating. Kids go to each car and pick up
their treats and when they are done maybe have a game or two
indoors or out depending on the weather.
Here in Michigan it is often cold, rainy, or snowing.This year it will be pretty chilly, some parts of the state may even have snow flurries..YES I said it!!

It amazes me at the talent and creativity that people have when carving a pumpkin for Halloween. This particular one just blew my mind. Such a neat design. The most creative I ever got was drilling holes in one and putting lights inside. This year I am still getting settled in my new place but have my fall decoration hung up in a place of honor in my apt. In our old home we had it on the front door of our house. It still looks pretty good despite being packed away for 4 years. I managed to buy some candy in case I get a trick or treaters here, I am not quite sure what our complex does for the holiday, but there are several families and quite a few children here. 
Did I keep some for me?? Uhh YES I did.. candy corn...my favorite, but those PEEPS ghosts and pumpkins are running a close second. However you celebrate, if you do, have a fun,safe holiday! 

Monday, September 29, 2014

REMEMBER WHEN

I smiled the biggest  watching a neighbor teach his daughter how to ride a small two-wheeler. The bike never had training wheels and a small boy neighbor could ride it easily. She could not. So dad got his chance to run around holding the back of the bike and running along beside her. They did all this on the GRASS..no cement or paved street, smart dad. I remember falling on that street. OUCH…oh how I wish I had a video of that moment. There is no feeling in the world like the wind rushing through your hair as you ride as fast as you can and feel like you have wings for the first time. Wife came out and filmed a lot of her riding attempts. She just had to keep peddling. She tried another part of the complex that was flatter. MUCH better results. In less than two hours she was riding like a pro. BIG smile on her face. Neighbors came outside and applauded her efforts. I yelled..”Good JOB..DAD too!” I swear his face lit up like a Christmas tree all twinkly. It was a sunny Sunday afternoon at the end of September 2014. I had to think, I hope she remembers where and when she was when she learned, I remember where and how but not WHEN.  I hope her mom NEVER loses that video. A whole new world is ahead of her. Today she went to school, no doubt, with stories of her success. Can’t wait to see if she still rides well after school.. Stay tuned. 
OH DEAR Blog Readers….the smells from my kitchen this morning brought tears to my eyes. I used my oven to bake my mother’s recipe for BANANA BREAD.. OH how the whole place smells like home and MOM making  it over and over again. She loved it so. She never needed the recipe almost up to the day she left. She made it so many times it was in her memory bank.  ALWAYS the end piece with lots of butter on it, that was her favorite. HOT HOT out of the oven would make her just ooooh and ahhhh.  Making it this time for my sister’s birthday. I omitted the pineapple this time and made it plain. Can you smell it??? YUMMM!! Haven’t had this in ages. Last time I made bread it was in the microwave for lack of an oven. Well it was edible, but just not the same. It cracked on top just like MOM made it. So happy it came out good. Recipe link is above.
DSCN6522Got to say the fall here in Michigan this past week has been spectacular. The leaves changing very quick but the temps have been mild and cool at night. NO rain, just nice..it does feel like October instead of September though. I fear the winter will be early this year again. Still looking for the wooly worm and his prediction but the black squirrels here are  busy storing nuts from the nearby trees like crazy. That alone is scary. I shudder thinking about last winter, but at least know this year there will be way way less shoveling for me here in my new place. 
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Wednesday, September 24, 2014

APARTMENT LIFE

Nothing like moving into a new place to live and having to learn a whole new way to do things. I sure don't mind, but I just never know when I am breaking a rule or two..

... DON'T FLUSH at night! Around my building I have NEVER heard a person flush a toilet at night. IS that weird?? Granted I have only been here a short while, but so far the rule has stuck. Everyone has their own schedules and lives to lead, but common courtesy is NOT to flush in the middle of the night. I have heard showers run in the middle of the night but NO FLUSHING...just plain strange.

...ALWAYS ASK before you make changes in your apartment walls. Some places, I have been told, do not allow nails or any type of puncturing of their wall surfaces. I got lucky.. it was pretty lax here but I haven't pushed my luck just yet. Starting over I don't have a whole lot to add to the walls. I made a trip to the local GOODWILL store and bought some small snack plates I thought were charming. Very appropriate for the season. I thought how neat to look at them all the time. So I hung them up. Tiny nails and plate hangers. Guess that didn't break any rules. As you can see the walls are WHITE and boring and I have no earthly idea how I am going to decorate them so far. I guess I will know when the time comes though. (The plates, by the way, were collectibles and ended up being worth at least 10 times what I paid for them. I was very happy when I looked them up on EBay. I love a bargain!)
Sure miss all the stuff Mom had at our house that I could not keep. We decorated for every holiday. It's fun though finding all the things that make a place your own. Looking forward to the holidays and already got my turkey.. well not edible anyway. This bird was handmade by a local artisan in 1979. I will be using it as a centerpiece this year on my table. 
Next will be finding new things for Christmas, stores already have their decorations up, should be easy to do. Apartment life is a work in progress right now. Never know what you will do or find next. I also hung this up on my wall so I could see it every day..it says what I think about where I am right now. It's something I do every day.
HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A HAPPY WEEK!!