And now we have finished the 23rd week of this year. It hardly seems possible that this much time has passed, especially since most of us non-essential people have spent it in a virtual prison. I am unsure of what the rest of the summer year will bring but I have a feeling a lot of isolation will continue. So as I have done I will continue to jot down my daily joys so I can reread them at the end of the year, even though the joys are getting smaller and smaller. I am really missing meeting up with friends, live music, theater, people watching, and eating in restaurants.
Wednesday: Lots more sorting and finding and hauling and trashing___lather, rinse and repeat.
We think Mom wins the award for best packer ever. Her house always looked very neat and tidy, but what lies beneath the surface is unbelievable. Meanwhile my sister and I are finding damask napkins, cotton napkins, cocktail napkins, linen napkins, Battenburg lace napkins, hand loomed napkins, cross stitched napkins, and embroidered napkins, just to name a few. I think my joys for the day are that we have all of her silver trays in order, all of her crystal and barware are sorted by type, all sheet sets are matched and tied by sets with ribbon. The living room is now in some sort of order, all blankets, comforters, coverlets, quilts and throws are in one place. Baskets by the millions are all together, and the really nice Christmas items are bunched. Once we get the rest of the things we dumped in the living room completely ordered we can bring all the junk I sorted from the sewing room into it__maybe. Drawers and drawers of fabric anyone?
Thursday: I finally have no more stitches__yay and only one more visit. Double yay! As a plus, Isuited up with mask and gloves stopped by Aldi on the way home from the doc and scored 2 sets of solar powered uplights for some shrubbery ambiance in the front yard.
Friday: One of Mom's sitters has 3 kids and no washer and dryer. When she was sitting we had told her it was fine with us if she brought her laundry and did it there. In the blink of an eye she lost a job and laundry facilities. After Mom died she called to see if she could buy them. She was so good to Mom that it was a no brainer for us to tell her she could just have them. It took a while for her to find a truck, but her husband finally got one and picked them up . Woo hoo! Double joy! She can do her laundry in her own home and we have 2 more things gone.
I have one more huge joy. I was pulling into the driveway after meeting T's husband to get the w/d when I saw a couple of my darling swimming neighbors out for a walk. I had an old conga drum that I was ready to get rid of, and already had their Mom's permission to give it to them. They were as thrilled to get it as I was to get rid of it. About 10 minutes after they left, I got a few videos of the girls playing it. It made my heart happy.
Saturday: TheHub and I ran some errands, found gorgeous begonias and impatiens, and a gorgeous bright green ligustrium for the front of the house. After working in the yard for a while we showered, dressed and went to another neighbor's safe distance get together. I really do like visiting with them.
Sunday: We managed to knock out some more work in the backyard. It is not joyful for me because I hate yard work, but the after effect was really joyous. Later we grilled dinner then started season 2 of The Man in the High Castle.
Monday: More work at Mom's = one day closer to having it all organized and ready for an estate sale. That gives a certain amount of joy, but all the stuff that still has to be sorted through kind of negates some of the joy. And as a small joy, I was not feeling like cooking (translation: I forgot to take anything out of the freezer) and stared wistfully hoping something would leap out of the freezer fully thawed. ( not really because that would mean the freezer was on the fritz, which would be a major problem) While I was looking I saw a box of chili lime chicken burgers from Trader Joe's. Whoo hoo! Easy to cook without thawing! Saved by the trader!
Tuesday: Went to Mom's again today to do a little cleaning/sorting and got stuck there when a fierce storm came through. While I was waiting it out I started sifting through Dad's old junk drawer. I found about 30 tie tacks, 15 or so tie clips and his college ring. We had not seen it in years and I was so happy to find it. Also, I heard my cousin was released from the hospital and that is a huge joy.
I wish each and every one of you a chance to find the joy in each day! Now on to week 24!
Wednesday: Lots more sorting and finding and hauling and trashing___lather, rinse and repeat.
We think Mom wins the award for best packer ever. Her house always looked very neat and tidy, but what lies beneath the surface is unbelievable. Meanwhile my sister and I are finding damask napkins, cotton napkins, cocktail napkins, linen napkins, Battenburg lace napkins, hand loomed napkins, cross stitched napkins, and embroidered napkins, just to name a few. I think my joys for the day are that we have all of her silver trays in order, all of her crystal and barware are sorted by type, all sheet sets are matched and tied by sets with ribbon. The living room is now in some sort of order, all blankets, comforters, coverlets, quilts and throws are in one place. Baskets by the millions are all together, and the really nice Christmas items are bunched. Once we get the rest of the things we dumped in the living room completely ordered we can bring all the junk I sorted from the sewing room into it__maybe. Drawers and drawers of fabric anyone?
Thursday: I finally have no more stitches__yay and only one more visit. Double yay! As a plus, I
Friday: One of Mom's sitters has 3 kids and no washer and dryer. When she was sitting we had told her it was fine with us if she brought her laundry and did it there. In the blink of an eye she lost a job and laundry facilities. After Mom died she called to see if she could buy them. She was so good to Mom that it was a no brainer for us to tell her she could just have them. It took a while for her to find a truck, but her husband finally got one and picked them up . Woo hoo! Double joy! She can do her laundry in her own home and we have 2 more things gone.
I have one more huge joy. I was pulling into the driveway after meeting T's husband to get the w/d when I saw a couple of my darling swimming neighbors out for a walk. I had an old conga drum that I was ready to get rid of, and already had their Mom's permission to give it to them. They were as thrilled to get it as I was to get rid of it. About 10 minutes after they left, I got a few videos of the girls playing it. It made my heart happy.
Saturday: TheHub and I ran some errands, found gorgeous begonias and impatiens, and a gorgeous bright green ligustrium for the front of the house. After working in the yard for a while we showered, dressed and went to another neighbor's safe distance get together. I really do like visiting with them.
Sunday: We managed to knock out some more work in the backyard. It is not joyful for me because I hate yard work, but the after effect was really joyous. Later we grilled dinner then started season 2 of The Man in the High Castle.
Monday: More work at Mom's = one day closer to having it all organized and ready for an estate sale. That gives a certain amount of joy, but all the stuff that still has to be sorted through kind of negates some of the joy. And as a small joy, I was not feeling like cooking (translation: I forgot to take anything out of the freezer) and stared wistfully hoping something would leap out of the freezer fully thawed. ( not really because that would mean the freezer was on the fritz, which would be a major problem) While I was looking I saw a box of chili lime chicken burgers from Trader Joe's. Whoo hoo! Easy to cook without thawing! Saved by the trader!
Tuesday: Went to Mom's again today to do a little cleaning/sorting and got stuck there when a fierce storm came through. While I was waiting it out I started sifting through Dad's old junk drawer. I found about 30 tie tacks, 15 or so tie clips and his college ring. We had not seen it in years and I was so happy to find it. Also, I heard my cousin was released from the hospital and that is a huge joy.
I wish each and every one of you a chance to find the joy in each day! Now on to week 24!
I'm glad you are finding joy. I need to do the same.
ReplyDeleteIt is out there, sometimes in very small obscure places, but it is there. Honestly there are days I have to look long and hard for it, but I always find something.
DeleteSorting through stuff can be interesting, but I found it to be a chore when we sold my father's house. We were really lucky in finding an estate sale company that encouraged us to take the personal stuff, but then just leave everything else in place -- including flour in containers etc etc. They then sorted through everything. They didn't sell the flour, of course, but they did donate some of the canned goods to an animal rescue operation (and got a tax credit for it -- who would have thought?). Anyway, glad you're finding some joy!
ReplyDeleteMom had dementia and had a horrible habit of putting things in unusual places. We are having to go through every single thing, but it is interesting when we find things in the oddest places possible.
DeleteI think mom had a napkin addiction.lol
ReplyDeleteHey, I should buy your mom's house(once you've cleaned it out of course). Then we could hang out together all the time. ;-)
It's going to be for sale pretty soon. Probably not as temperate as you want, but if we could get Kim to buy the house next door and you move to Mom's, two minutes away, it could be fun.
DeleteIt sounds like your mom had great taste in linens. Estate sales are tough, especially when the buyers start haggling over prices.
ReplyDeleteYour project to find joy in everyday is certainly not being made easy this year, but perhaps that is the lesson (for all of us). Take care and stay well!
Mom had pretty good taste all around. We mainly want to get rid of stuff and except for a few things are not really concerned with the prices, plus we are breaking it down into 2 sales. One for things, the other for furniture.
DeleteSounds like you are very organized regarding the sale. Glad you found your dad's ring. Estate sales can be very emotional. My sisters lost it a few times watching our parent's things walk away with strangers. It sounds like yours will be a really nice sale. Good luck! :-)
DeleteWe are truly not emotionally attached to Mom's things. The few things we want we are keeping and the rest are just items. I think the truly hard part will be when we finally sell the house.
DeleteStitches? I missed something. Glad your Mom's house is progressing. So sweet of you to give your Mom's caregiver that WD set, I am sure it likely was the best gift you could ever give to that family. And the congo drum to the kids :) I am not sure their Mom will love you though lol
ReplyDeleteThe stitches sent alarm bells ringing here too. Did I forget (more than possible) or does that relate the the 'minor medical procedure' you mentioned in passing a while back.
DeleteIt was just a little minor procedure, but sometimes even annoying little things require some stitches.
DeleteCheapchick, the Mom's had given me permission before the girls even knew I was giving it to them. I found a bunch of boas and sequined vests that Mom had for a singing group she was in. Next week they get the gift of dress-up junk (if Mom says it's ok)
DeleteWe still have boxes of mom's things in Lil sis's basement. Oh the joy!
ReplyDeleteWe are trying to truly get rid of anything anyone in the family does not want.
DeleteYour Friday joys made my heart sing!
ReplyDeleteSeeing the girls play on the drum just thrilled me! Giving the W/D was a great way to get rid of some larger items.
DeleteStitches? I think I missed something here.
ReplyDeleteJust a minor irritant that needed to be fixed.
DeleteHooray for joys. I hope that you/I/we continue to find them.
ReplyDeleteThey are there, even if they are tiny joys. All we have to do is look.
DeleteI love the fact that you continue to find the daily joys, even if you have to really search for them, some days. That was so kind of you and your sister to bless the sitter with the w/d. I had to smile when I read about your mom's napkins. I have a small collection of napkins, myself - some from my mothers, some that I sewed! LOL. Have you got to the table covers? I have ones my mother and I bought, ones that we sewed, ones my mother and grandmother crocheted! Oh, my daughter is going to have fun, clearing out the cupboards, one day! :D
ReplyDeleteI know at some point and time your daughter will be shaking her head wondering why you kept all of the napkins!
DeleteI love that you gave her the washer and dryer. Kind heart.
ReplyDeleteShe needed it and we didn't!
DeleteIt was so nice of you and your family to bless your Mom's sitter with a washer and dryer. It was a generous thing to do. Great find at Aldi! You just never know what you'll discover there.
ReplyDeleteAldi sometimes has a wonderland Aisle of Shame!
DeleteWhile I agree that it would be nice to reminisce about the places you visited and the shows you attended at the end of the year, I think that the exercise of finding the joys in every day is very meaningful, especially this year. People have already written off 2020 as a total wash. We are ready to call it quits and start again. But you are demonstrating that there is indeed joy in living day to day, especially during difficult times. I love it.
ReplyDeleteI am calling 2020 a difficult year, but I see good things all the time, either on TV, in the news and even in my small life, and trust me, my life has gotten small.
DeleteI think your estate sale will give someone great joy in purchasing your mom's things. And yes it was good of you to give that family the washer and dryer. I couldn't imagine having 3 kids and no washing machine at least - the dryer I can and do live without.
ReplyDeleteShe just had so many beautiful things. I hope someone somewhere really does get things they want/need.
ReplyDeleteI love reading about the joys in your life, Anne. I wish I could come to your estate sale. I would definitely be looking at all your Mom's napkins. They are some of the first things I look at at a yard sale or estate sale. How sweet of you to give the washer/dryer to one of your Mom's sitters. She was definitely blessed by that and will continue to be for years to come. What a joy it is to be able to wash and dry laundry in your own home.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine having a 5 person household and no w/d. She was so good to Mm and it was a small thing in return for all she did.
DeleteThat was an enormous gift to her--washer and dryer. When is the estate sale? I would like to attend since I need furniture and kitchen things. You can email me at pparsimony@yahoo.com. I cannot locate your email. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteNo idea when it will be. We are not selling the furniture as part of the first sale though., just the closets and cabinets. The furniture will be after that.
DeleteOkay, let me know when the first one is scheduled.
DeleteSo nice of you to give the caregiver the washer and dryer. She’ll find a new job in no time. She should check out care dot com.
ReplyDeleteI don't think she wants to work right now, but she is an excellent caregiver
DeleteI can hardly imagine going through my parents belongings, what a huge task and sentimental. I guess i'll have to do it someday
ReplyDeleteAs soon as we get Mom's taken care f I am going to start ridding my home of excess. I don't want my kids to have to do all of this.
DeleteHappiness is all i see now, i was herpes sicker for 6 years but i thank God for directing my footsteps to Dr Emu, he gave me instructions and i followed and in 2 weeks i was completely cured using his medicine, I am now Herpes Negative Contact Dr Emu for more information, He also has other cure to other ailment, HIV AIDS, CANCER, DIABETES, HEART DISEASE, HEPATITIS B/C And also restore broken relationships such as Ex HUSBAND, Ex WIFE, BROKEN MARRIAGES, Any kind of Problem in any relationship can be restore back in 24hours, Just Email: emutemple@gmail.comWhatsapp or call: +2347012841542
ReplyDelete