You may have been wondering where I've been? I've been watching a dream of mine just fade away. See the for sale sign? That's my dream studio that will never be built.
The utility lines have been marked so that construction can begin on two new section 8 houses, one on each side of my house. Construction starts next week.
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I've kept both lots clean for years waiting for a chance to buy one and have an addition put onto my house to be used as a studio. I've called the city time after time after time asking to buy one of the lots. For nearly 15 years I've waited. Each time I was told I had to wait until it went up for auction then go bid on it. Well, neither lot went up for auction. The city gave the lots to a construction company providing they build low income houses. We already have many, many low income houses sitting empty on this block. Actually, the west end is full of empty, newly constructed, low income houses. Why would the city want two more sitting empty?
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I did call to ask to buy one of the lots but was told neither can be sold as a lot. Both lots must have a section 8 house built on it. I can't buy one for adding onto my own house. Needless to say, I've been pretty bummed out watching my dreams fade away.
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Sometimes fate knows best though. Too many years have gone by and I've gotten too old for a new studio. Heck, I can't afford to fix up my house so I really can't afford payments on an addition anyway. Although I had dreams of retiring from working the long hours and just creating art for the fun of it.... it's time to let go of the dream. I always say.... use what you have.... so now it's time I follow my own advice and use what I have. I can still create. Just not in a big studio with a big payment to worry about.
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So back to the business of quilting.....
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This one is on the machine. I should have it finished sometime this morning.
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1 comment:
Anita, in these times you are much better off not having a big payment for a lot and new addition. You can still do beautiful work right where you are. It's hard to see a dream die, but what I would miss is those two empty lots to either side of me. You just never know what the new neighbors could be like. And empty houses can be an invitation to vandalism, break-ins, clandestine parties and meth labs. Empty lots are better by far. And, as soon as you can start collecting your rockin' chair money (as a friend calls Soc. Sec.) you can take more time to work on your own things. Chin up, woman.
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