First off, Scout is much calmer, much more the girl I usually see every day. Thank goodness.

Part of that is due to getting used to this new space, to seeing me leave and come back (Mom isn’t going to abandon me) and, ta-dah! some more rugs. I had some coaching sessions in the morning yesterday and a note session with the cast and the director, after which I ran back here, walked Scout, gave her some food, and took off for Target.

I was at my most efficient because I wanted to get back before rush hour and an impending storm. Target. Trader Joe’s. Back in a little over an hour. There was no time to explore other options; my schedule is full, and this break in the day was an unexpected gift. The rest of the week involves lots of run-throughs and my presence will be required.

After thinking and worrying and studying the whole thing, I decided two long, inexpensive runners would do the trick in the long hallway. That way I could use the green mats which had previously been scattered up and down the hallway in the kitchen. And maybe a rug for in front of/under the dining room table – the area where Scout likes to explore, then slip and fall down. Budget is always a concern for us, as it is for most everyone, so I wanted to get rugs that we could use at home, if necessary. Remember, we have hardwood floors at home and they are becoming more slippery for Scout as she ages, so I can see the runners being used in the kitchen.

I’m happy to say that Dame Scout is a much happier doggie. In fact, she is going to be your tour guide:

I was going to get a solid color, but there was nothing available that I liked. However, a little aqua in a sort of Pennsylvania Dutch Hex pattern is very sweet. Do you agree, Scout?

Sans Scout.

A green mat trail to the water dish.

The Wall. This is the not-so-pretty solution to a forbidden, slippery area of the room. That red rug will work perfectly just inside our kitchen door.

Take that, Scout the Explorer!

The flowers from TJ’s are in a plastic pitcher found in the cupboards. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

This rug was already here. And you can see a glimpse of the one in front of the sofa, supplied by company management. And Scout’s quilt, of course. She fell asleep on the quilt last night.

Excuse Scout while she dines.

See? Happier. More secure. Worth it.

There are about 6 more rugs than I would prefer in this space but Miss Scout’s safety and security is the most important thing here in Hartford. Once I realized she was adjusting to her new pathways, my shoulders dropped.

Then I got that feeling I get when I’ve settled into a new space. Same feeling I had when I moved into a tiny studio apartment in Philadelphia as I was just about to start graduate school. There was only one window – a small one at that – in that space. It looked out onto a back alley. But when I got my things in there and turned on the lamps and everything was in place, I had my own little shelter, my own little nest. That feeling has repeated itself in my life whenever I’ve moved into a new space, whether it was a studio apartment (and there were many), a bedroom in a house, a dorm room, a rental house, a hotel suite, our little cottage, or temporary company housing. If I can add little or big touches that make the space more personal, regardless of the size or location, then I’m a happy camper.

Now it feels like our little haven away from home. Now we’re back to the good part of our adventure.

New post up on Just Let Me Finish This Page.

Happy Wednesday.

If it isn’t the cold, it’s my sinuses. Never ending. Can you tell I’m frustrated? Still coughing, mostly in the evening. Don, bless him, was on the receiving end of another mini-meltdown last night, partly due to my coughing, but also due to my worry over Scout sliding on these laminate floors.

The apartments used to be carpeted, but no longer, so I’ve scattered the mats I brought with me and the additional mats I bought about two weeks ago. There are two 4 x 6 throw rugs here as well. But Scout, back in her pacing, stressed mode last night, kept going to the parts of the floor that weren’t covered, where she would slip and fall.

I ended up keeping her in the carpeted bedroom with me all night. She wasn’t allowed to roam as she usually does. Today? Rehearsal and then another trip to Target to look for more mats. What the heck I’m going to do with all of them when I’m out of here remains a mystery, but I have to make it as safe as I can for my girl.

Anyway, we’re in. I think other pets have been in this space. There might have been a cat, as I’ve seen a few white hairs and they are not Scout’s. I’m allergic to cats. Scout is obsessed by cats. The apartment had been cleaned, of course, but I did some additional vacuuming. Hopefully, Scout will begin to relax a bit today. Fingers crossed.

I already have more gray hairs than I did when I came to Hartford a little over two weeks ago.

I’ve already made some changes in the apartment, which I will take photos of later, but here’s some photos I took yesterday afternoon:

You remember the kitchen layout, right? This is the same layout as my previous apartment, only flipped. I’ve since switched out that task lamp (which I brought with me, I’ve learned there are never enough lights here) with the one in the bedroom, also brought from home. The flowers are still going strong after buying them two weeks ago at Trader Joe’s. By the way, that’s a Keurig up there on the fridge. I may…someday…try it. But the three little coffees that management left are flavored coffees and I’m not a real fan.

Dining area. Natural finds on the table, an oak leaf and a pine cone. Scout’s vintage cream colored quilt is now on the floor beneath the table, functioning as a rug. Would I like to see a lovely length of laminate floor instead? Yes. But she keeps going back there and slipping, so quilt as rug it is. I’ll take a picture at some point.

Why these sinks are so small is another mystery. Darko, the Artistic Director and the Director of Hamlet, was talking about them the other day. He can’t figure out why they are so small. None of us can.

Love the pendant lights and the tall windows.

The bedroom is tinier than last year’s and the door is right by the bed, which is annoying. Ah well. It has a nice walk in closet and a dresser with lots of drawers and there’s room for Scout to stretch out and move around during the night. That’s good. My back is adjusting yet again to another mattress, but bless company management’s heart, I asked for the mattress I had last year and they tracked it to this apartment. Unfortunately, the apartment I had last year (and one I truly loved) has been made into a smoking apartment. Yuck. And somehow along the way, the mattress moved down three floors to this apartment. So here I am. I’m grateful, because I know I can handle this mattress and once I get used to it, I’ll be okay. But I’m a little sore this morning.

My cluttered desk, which I’ve since moved over to the left. And a bowl of miso soup.

I hung the quilt I made several years ago. You’ll notice the sofa is purple…it’s like they were made for each other. That quilt on the floor is now opened up and under the dining room table. I asked for permission before I hung the quilt because the walls looked freshly painted. I didn’t want to do anything without checking it out first. But Samantha (the company manager) said it was fine. I do like seeing it there.

My girl, exhausted.

More on the adventures of Scout and Claudia tomorrow. In the meantime, I have to write up my notes from Sunday’s run-through and get ready for rehearsal.

Happy Tuesday.