Slumlords Beware!

Yeah! Something to be glad about. Richmond Slumlord Watch!

Two years ago I took pictures of empty commercial buildings on West Grace Street near my home and submitted them to Vacant Richmond. That blog provided a place for you to search for and locate all vacant properties in the city. However, they were not able to keep on top of the current state of all the properties and their landlords/owners' involvement, so they closed down the site.


Now I find that RSW has taken up the cause, spurred on by the already existing Baltimore Slumlord Watch. Though they may not be a comprehensive catalog of the properties, they do highlight particular properties and supply the info on the owners and the property's status. I love that they are covering this issue as it is a big one for this city. Many of the city blocks near my apartment seem almost 60-70% empty. Perhaps there are tenants living in the apartments above but the businesses below are empty. We truly don't need more retail operations being built in the downtown area as there are enough empty storefronts to last a long time. In fact, even though some are questionably painted, at least they're trying.

Where I Live

Sorry, I've been absent for awhile. I hope to write more soon. In the mean time, here are some pretty pictures to look at.

I can't believe this is actually where I live! Isn't it amazing that sometimes you can look at small sections of your house and just love it...however, looking at the whole room (the Big Picture) can still make you cringe? These pictures make my place look downright adorable! Which I guess it is, sometimes.


1. Salt & Pepper from Vegas, 2. Birthday tea bowls, 3. The Dentist bobblehead, 4. Wee Wonderful, 5. My parents in love, 6. My colors, 7. Finally!, 8. Jessie and her steed!, 9. new stool

Small Spaces Time

The new Oct/Nov issue of ReadyMade magazine is really promising. It is the Small Spaces issue. I perused it this weekend at the bookstore.

Don't you love how big box bookstores have comfy chairs for you to sit on while you read as much as you feel comfortably reading before you actually walk out of their store empty-handed? I do. Thanks-a-million, Books-A-Million!

When you buy the magazine, definitely check out the Julie Brabac's gorgeous A-frame house in New Hampshire on page 51 and also featured on the cover. Besides that actual home, this issue also includes shelters and spaces constructed from old grain bins, shipping containers, and wooden crates and palettes.

Check here for more of their on-line content.

Status Report

Nothing much new going on at my personal shelter except some much needed cleaning and decluttering.

• I tackled the kitchen this weekend, including cleaning the inside of the refrigerator. Uggh!
  
  If you can, don't ever put off cleaning under the vegetable crisper. I had forgotten that my refrigerator back wall was curved. This means that anything that dropped onto the bottom shelf could then roll (or ooze!) down under the vegetable crisper bins. NOT pretty. I also wiped down the drawer fronts and cabinet doors. Yay, me!
  
  
• I have almost completed getting rid of the stacks of unneeded and unused magazines and textbooks (that the school will not take back!) that have been under my for months.
  
  
• Two loads of laundry were dealt with, including one of winter sweaters since that time has come for warmth in clothing. I also got the bathroom mat in this wash though I first soaked it and agitated it in the tub twice before throwing it in with clothes. GOOD call is all I will say about that.
  

So, progress has been made. Not as much as I would like, but, something is something, right?

A Year Late

Last weekend I was watching a Mad Men episode (Season 2, Episode #8, "A Night to Remember") on DVD for the first time. I'm watching the second scene; which takes place in Peggy's sister's house, and I notice that Peggy is sitting down in a platform rocking chair. One that is very similar to my own beloved chair!



See? I can hardly believe it.

Mad Men Mine

I consider mine the more streamlined version because hers has those curvy arms and mine are more modern and angular.

Now, I wish I had seen this episode last year when it first aired. It then wouldn't be so strange if I tried to pick the prop master or set decorator's brain about what they know about these particular chairs. However, a year later, I am still going to try. So, Amy Wells, you should expect an email from me!

By the way, if anyone can get me a clearer* screen capture of this chair, I would be very grateful!

* Yes, I DID set my camera up on a tripod in front of the TV to get this shot. I then had to queue up the DVD four separate times to take pictures of that chair. I'm so sad when it comes to technology...and so obsessive when it comes to my platform rocker.