End of an Era

Today the cousins moved out of Mom and Dad's house and the new people moved in.  Yesterday I was at the lawyers to tidy up the last few things and stopped at the house to give some stuff to my cousin.  It was SO HARD and emotional to drive out of that driveway for the last time!!

Where Did All the Junk Come From???

Still on our clean up campaign.  I've been sorting my canning jars...couldn't believe how many jars I have, but then realized that I got some from my Mother-in-Law when she passed away then from my Aunt then even more from my Mom...plus all the ones I've been collecting over the years as well.  Years ago I did a LOT of canning but now that it's just the two of us we don't use that much.  I packed up some of each size of jar plus some old jars that were used when I was a little girl helping my Mom can cherries, pears or fish that I just couldn't part with! Today we took a load of stuff up the recycling depot which included at least 4 boxes of jars and a whole lot of other stuff that B's been getting rid of.  There's still lots of jars in my canning room so I put out the word to the Mom's group at our church that I've got lots of jars if any of them are interested in canning.  I hate to recycle them if someone can use the them, but whatever I can't give away will definitely get recycled!

Happy Anniversary

It was 49 years ago yesterday that we exchanged wedding vows.  WOW where has the time gone????  So how did we spend the day? Well, B took the truck in for service then went to his Men's Group which meets every Thursday then got a ride back to the truck and waited and waited and waited for them to finish it.  I went to the lawyers with my sister and cousin to sign all the papers to finish up the sale of Mom and Dad's place.  Sure lots of papers to sign!  Then we decided to go for Dim Sum.  I really appreciate it when I can go for Dim Sum because B doesn't care for it and I never know what to order, so I only get to go when I'm with others.  Even though we were nostalgic about selling the family home and ending that era of our lives, it was nice spending time with my sister and cousin. Came home did more packing and dejunking then later in the evening B and I went out for Greek food.  Tried a new place.  It wasn't fancy but the food sure tasted good!  Happy Anniversary Love!!!...next year's the BIG one!!!

Goodbye Auntie Anne

In July my aunt passed away and today they had a get together for her.  They had a lovely display of pictures depicting her life and there was a fairly large, nicely decorated bird house on the display table.  Found out later that a neighbour had built my aunt the birdhouse but she thought it was too pretty to put outside so kept it on her dresser.  When my cousin and uncle were contemplating which urn or container to keep my aunt's ashes in, my cousin spied the bird house so with a little reto-fit, Auntie Anne was with us at the service!!! 

It was good to see my uncles and cousins again, but one of my uncles in particular wasn't looking too good and it made me wonder whose service we'd be going to next.  It was one year ago today we had the celebration of life bar-b-cue for my Mom.

On a happier note, Friday we went to our friends' son's wedding.  The service was a great mixture of seriousness and humour.  Because both the bride and groom like soccer, the Pastor likened communication to a soccer ball being kicked back and forth verses a football...he even had them gently kick the soccer ball back and forth then the football.  He then presented them with a miniature soccer ball and a miniature football so they'd always have a visual reminder!!

I Can See the Floor!

Tuesday a guy from an antique store came down to see what we had to sell.  It was weird...things I thought he'd want, he didn't want but my old baby bathtub that was chipped and leaking he bought, then he spied a small gas drum and a homemade wooden box and the old fire grate we used to use in the upstairs fireplace, but wasn't interested in antique dressers or books or old 78, 45 or 33 1/3 records...whatever???  He did get a bunch of stuff and loaded it into his van.

Yesterday a lady from a daycare came and I gave her a bunch of my old pre-school stuff and craft stuff I had used when the grandkids were smaller.  The plastic doll house we'd picked up for free one Christmas now has a new home.  Now I can actually see the floor in my craft room!!!

Getting my Grandkid Fix

Today our daughter and 3 of the grandkids came for a visit and to help me pack and de-junk.  They went out and picked some blackberries then came in and helped me clean out the big desk.  We had stuff flying all over the place...recycling, give-away pile, pile that Grandma has to check out, shredding pile and even a pile for the things they thought they'd like to keep themselves. 

They pitched in and helped make lunch and even washed the dishes for me, then I asked R if she could get on her hands and knees and reach into the corner of the cupboard and pull out the pots and whatever else was stuck back there...she's sure a lot more bendable and agile than I am and she found all sorts of things to which I remarked, "oh, is that where that got to...thought I had one of those!"

I had a set of Grand Diplome Cooking School books.  Asked R if she'd like them.  Told her the recipes didn't look that easy but she said they looked so neat and she REALLY likes to cook and wants to read them....she even thought it was neat when she saw the page where they show how to de-bone a chicken even though she didn't think she'd ever de-bone a chicken!!  You never know!

We were saying we cleaned out the attic the other day and W said he'd never ever seen our attic.  Papa heard that and went and got the ladder so they all had a chance to go up and see the attic.  I even took a picture and emailed it to them so they could show their brother who wasn't here today!!

C was also happy that she had "treasures" to take home.  As they were leaving my daughter said she wasn't sure if they helped or made more of a mess because now there was stuff all over the desk and surrounding area and the kitchen and dining room had all sorts of stuff piled up everywhere.  After supper it didn't take me long to tidy up and shred a bunch of the papers we'd found....so things are looking better!  Thanks Gang!!!!

Grandkids are Great!!

We've been busy de-junking.  Cleaned out the attic the other day.  Found all kinds of "treasures" many of the papers especially, dated back to when we were first living in the house...and that was 48 years ago!!! I was very ruthless and a lot of stuff ended up in the garbage or shredded...but I JUST had to keep a few things!

The past two days our son has been over to help my husband clean up outside, so it was my job to watch the grandkids...aged 4 and 10.  They are such a delight!!!!  We played trucks, and lego and even played on the IPAD, then yesterday we made heart shaped waffles for lunch.

New/Old Furniture

Our house is now listed for sale on the internet.  I've been busy making applesauce and jam.  There's never enough room in my kitchen when doing this so lots of stuff gets put onto the dining room table.  Imagine my horror when I went online and saw that the realtor (the man, of course) had taken pictures while I had been busy with the other realtor (the lady) AND he posted the picture of my dining room table laden with canning and jam making equipment!!

Yesterday we met with the owners of the place we're buying.  The furniture they have is about 11 years old but looks really nice and certainly suits the house so we not only had a delightful visit with them but plan to buy a lot of their furniture.  We're happy to get it and they're happy not to have to get rid of it.  They're planning on living in their motorhome full time and can only fit so much stuff in their rig!!!  It's so nice when people can help one another out!!!