First of all...thanks for the kind comments and messages and notes and etc. about me staying in Bloggerville! I was just way in over my head in my life. For two years, every since Terry's stroke, I've tried to get up on top of things and it felt like everything was just snowballing and getting larger. The more time went by, the more I realized that I was now going to take on more responsibility, and I couldn't even get on top of what was original there much less take on more!!
Finally I got realistic and decided...okay...the garage is never going to be organized or dejunked. Okay...the food room will stay filled with outdated food. Okay...what ever is on the top shelf in the garage is gone forever as I'm not going to make that climb much less bend into space that is mouse-size. My strength is not going to allow me to heft boxes. On and on. So I eliminated those two major things...forever. The garage and the food room.
Set up my plan of being realistic and decided to tackle everything in house as far as dejunk etc. I know you are thinking...
wait a minute!! hasn't she been saying this for 2 years??? it's still not done??? What does the woman do with her time that she STILL hasn't got that done??? I mean, really how much junk does she have???
In my defense. I actually like things neat, tidy, categorized and room to breathe. The Viking, that I love so much, believes in practicality and use of all space. He does not care a twit about
like things with
like. He just likes it put away in the most efficient use of space. Translation of term-
most efficient use of space: any space, be it box or shelf or drawer or bucket etc., is packed from top to bottom/side to side/front to back. nothing is related and every inch is packed so tight that it resembles one of the bags from those old trash compactors. Maybe visually you can imagine cars smashed together on a truck. got it?
Admittedly I stack save. I have stacks of papers that might make a great quote in a lesson or for this very blog or an object for a lesson. I used to save objects/clothing etc. for future plays. What plays? I have no clue! I got rid of most of that but still had a few things left. From Alaska, in the 80's maybe? I would be excellent at accumulating costumes for future plays! Books! did I mention books? I cherish books. over the years I've parted with so many and have tried to curtail purchasing. I do read what I buy. Mostly. I think!
So there were my two worlds of opposition, united in our one life, that is aiming at forever!! Never the twain shall meet? Agree? Ah, sweet mystery of life!
So acknowledging that all of this was true and a new workload was now on my less than fragile shoulders (as I mentioned early on in this rambling). I had a plan and would work it. After I had my cataract surgery and after our daughter came to visit us.
She had been busy doing her photography and traveling and it's winter and she is from Florida and knowing it would seem cold and she would be tired....I told her...
there are several movies that I want to see and if they aren't good ones we can get some on TV, I'm sure. We can just relax and enjoy visiting.
Now came the big shock...
Momma, this is a working vay-cay! I came to work not sit around.
She came with the intention to scrub and polish and have rug and furniture cleaned. I about fell over!
She understood that my life was changing and wanted to help me get on course. She asked what was I especially needing to be done. I told her that I needed to sort and mail the Christmas houses that were in the garage.
It ended up that we worked for 6 solid days for 8 hours a day. The garage (excerpt for my Nordic's Man-Tools) was handled, all sorts of in house stuff and yes, the entire food storage was gone through!
The tally ended up being ( at least what I remember) Toyota truck, small but perfect for what we hauled around....4 runs to the dump...5 runs to Value Village...3 large boxes filled with Christmas houses mailed to KS, UT, NV..... 2 sacks given to costumer with local high-school drama dept...outdoor Christmas lights given locally...lighted Christmas garlands given locally (not yet delivered!)...box of books for children shared locally...box of
stuff for my young BFF Lydia and her brothers...so much stuff just flew out of here. 4 small boats and
old blue the air-mattress that was used at McCall- buckets for the beach and just on and on and on. Kites and balls and beach towels- just oodles of stuff that had served it's purpose and was so wonderful and made such fantastic memories but that is not going to happen in that way again.
We flew through cupboards/drawers in the kitchen/dining/closets/chests/end tables/back bedroom.
Whirling dervish! My daughter is small/strong/ fast paced and hurricane force when doing a clean-out! I'm of the thinking about it and sorting each piece and making a decision. That is what I would do, in say, my office. on the desk. She?--if it looks messy/taking up space in a stack..one fell swoop with her arm and the entire heap would be in the trash! Did I mention that my daughter is also beautiful/sweet/a peacemaker/loves people/and filleted a 267 pound halibut when she was a deck hand on a Charter Boat in Homer.
I'm doing the office on my own! If we hadn't run out of time, I have no doubt that it would have been done. My darling daughter was sort of like being with one of those intervention folks and at times acted liked I was a hoarder of certain items! Insulting comment! Even said I had a Quilt fetish! Humph! Speaking of that, she did take my Grandmothers worn out quilt. So what does that say about her? yes, it is true that she is going to display it.
I know that the Lord answered my prayers in a way I had not even asked for. I felt relatively at peace with my new approach, I planned it would take a year, but He provided my angel daughter and she did things that I knew were impossible. Hmmmm...a scripture...With God all things are possible...and also Prophets say.... the Lord answers our prayers by sending other people.
She had come here a few months ago and she wanted to do things then but we both got sick, I mean in the bed sick, and she came back to finish what she never started that time. Once we went into the garage to dig out the Christmas houses the dye was cast and the entire plan changed of what she came to do. No cleaning. just dejunk/organize in all sorts of areas! I've never felt more blessed with such kindness from someone I love so much!!
I can breathe. I feel free. I have hope. I will keep on and get the rest done and am eager to do so. My life is manageable again!! Gee, I just feel so happy! So thankful! So blessed!
May as well share some pictures. Probably way to many but just peek at them when time permits!
I'm having cataract surgery on my left eye this week so I don't know when I can type etc. again. shouldn't be a big deal. just a couple of days. Don't you think? They'll tell me. So I'll blog when I can.
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Cody used to be Terry's HT companion and they really love each other. He had his wedding reception and Terry was down for the count that day so we stayed home. Cody brought his sweet bride over so we could see her gown!
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| Her bed was ready! |
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| I even shared the last of my Christmas chocolates gift. Now that is love!! |
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| greeting her Daddy |
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| greeting her brother |
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| Honey Belle oranges for her Momma. only in FL. |
Garage/Christmas houses
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| visiting after a day of hard work |
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| Playing Five Crowns |
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| My most favorite picture of all! |
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| Kip keeping score |
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| talk about Poker faces! |
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| Jeanee trying to hold 13 cards! |
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| her solution |
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| checking to make sure her Dad has the right Old Spice to wear |
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| Vintage jump suit my Mother made- #1 |
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| #2 |
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| #3 (she is going to do a photo shoot in them!) |
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| Starting to load up for a Value Village run |
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| Battery died in truck. she is counseling the men that came to help!! |
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| the climber gal! |
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| We had so much family fun with this pile of stuff! |
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| wondering if she is smiling inside? |
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| putting more stuff away! |
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| Look how neat it's looking. totes/boxes all sorted and labeled |
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| photographer took her picture. his advertising in Homer Theater. age 16. she didn't want it. just a pic of a pic! |
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| Churchy-man. ready for the preaching! |
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| costumes from My Turn on Earth! |
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| bloomers for above. Jenny D. do you remember these???? |
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| sorting stacks |
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| more stacks! |
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| etc. etc. |
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| Us paring down & neighborhood Cedar tree being pared! |
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| so sad it's gone!! |
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| one of dump runs! |
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| same thing! |
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| October leaves finally left in January! |
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| Appreciative Dad!!! |
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| Thank you so much, honey! |
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| I don't know how you did all of this!!! It looks wonderful! |
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| Looking at Homer Pictures |
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| Listening to stories that she knows by heart! |
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| More familiar tales. |
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| Taking time to text |
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| making requested sour dough waffles |
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| eating her request! |
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| Last game of Five Crowns |
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her secret power foods to fuel her amazon prowess... avocado/eggs/Nutella type butter/Almond Roca
A few years ago I was gifted a Bucky. A water bottle shaped cushion, buckwheat husk filled, that you can heat or keep cool. We've enjoyed and used it for years. Every night after working so hard Jeanee would snuggle in bed with that warmer. I found one in heart shape and ordered one for her. Also I picked up 2 jars of Nutella at Costco and will mail it to her. I know. I know. not sensible and practical and etc. but she deserves her own Red Heart Bucky and over-sized Nutella from her Mother. After all she can't hear my prayers of thankfulness for coming to my rescue and going above and beyond the call of duty!! I may even put in some Almond Roca!!
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