Moving Right Along - 2

Well,  it has been a bit since my last post, but I have been up to my neck in packing boxes. Fortunately, I have friends helping with this formidable task. One of the questions that I have been asked a lot is about my gardens. Won’t I miss them??? Yes and no. It was getting to be far too much work. I’m planning to take some of my irises and a few other favorite perennials, and then I’ll let friends and neighbors take what they want.

True story . . . one of my friends moved a few years ago. She, too, had beautiful irises and other plantings. She told the new owners that if they decided that they didn’t want the plants in the garden, they should call her and she would come back and remove them. The owner assured her that he would do that. Not long after, she drove by her old home and found that everything had been mowed down. So, I have no illusions about my gardens, and frankly, that is okay with me. I’ll take some special plants to my soon to be new home and that will be fine with me.

My brother had purchased these gorgeous peach irises for my mom about a zillion years ago for Mother’s Day.

When I sold the house where my aunts had lived, I brought home these pretty irises.

These two-toned irises have bloomed in the same spot my entire life.

And, of course, I’ll transplant a few of these blue flag irises.

I’ll bring along a few other favorites perennials, but not too many.

I’m going to try to find a few moments to paint a few of my shepherd hooks to display some hanging baskets. For me, gardening up is the way to go! I’ll have plants on the deck and near the front door, but all and all, it will be a simpler more manageable display. 

Weymouth always has a Memorial Day parade, but not this year. Instead, there will be something very special happening. At 11:00 at the RalphTalbot Amphitheater next to Town Hall, there will be the unveiling of five statues representing soldiers from our town who received the Medal of Honor. There is nowhere in the entire United States that has shared this distinction of having five Medal of Honor recipients. There are five elementary schools named in honor of these men. There will be speeches and the US Coast Guard Band will perform. I would definitely be there if a friend wasn’t coming to help me with my mountain of boxes. You can be sure that I will drive over and take photos of the statues later in the afternoon.

Have a good week.

Moving Right Along . . .

 For fun, I am documenting my moving experience. Packing up or disposing of seventy years worth of ‘stuff’ is a daunting task, but fortunately I have friends helping me. So, how has it being going? I would say it is going well. My china and glassware are all safely packed. There are stacks of boxes everywhere: some packed and some empty and waiting.

A friend came with his friend on Wednesday to cart away a very large bookcase that my dad had built for me many, many years ago. It will have a new home at a food pantry. My dad would be pleased about that. Today they came back for another bookcase. I imagine you can guess what I’m now dealing with . . . a zillion books. Some quilting books I have left on the back table at guild meetings along with two shopping bags full of fabric. Don’t worry; I still have enough fabric to last a lifetime. Other  books will be donated. Don’t worry; I will still have a bookcase full of favorite quilting and crafting books which I am keeping. 

Yesterday I put out on the sidewalk two aluminum frame chairs and one ancient, red chaise lounge still in good working order. It could not have been more than ten or fifteen minutes before a woman stopped. She appeared to hesitate. I came walking up the hill after putting some trash in a friend’s barrel. When I got closer, she asked if I knew whether these items were free, and I assured that they were. She said that her family enjoys camping and that these pieces would be great. Three more items gone . . . 

The men who do my mowing also happily left with items from the garage: crowbars, two sledge hammers, two large pick axes, and two old coal shovels. After the closing, they will help me move my gardening tools, garden decorations, bags of fertilizers and other such things to my new home. 

Whenever we have a rain-free day, it is my intention to put items out on the sidewalk. I almost forgot; someone also took the puppy gates that I put out this morning and some neighbors are taking my picnic table. So, all things considered, I am making progress. Now if only I could just get some sleep!!!

One last thing . . . too worn out to cook the other evening I picked up some Chinese food, and you are not going to believe this. There were four fortune cookies: two for Emma and me to share the first evening and two saved for the next night’s leftovers. When I broke open the fourth cookie, this is what I saw. . . 

In case it is unclear, it reads “A positive change in your living situation is on the horizon this month.”

Now that is downright spooky cool and, yes, I’m going to frame it!!!

Keep smiling.

Once Every Seventy Years . . .

 In my previous post I spoke of being crazy busy in a very good way. I had been on a fun, four-day quilting retreat in Sturbridge with members of the Herring Run Quilt Guild. That was not the only reason I was and continue to be so busy. While away, my realtor informed me that my offer on a new home had been accepted. WOW!!!!!!!

As some of you know, my parents brought me to the home that I live in as a baby. I love my neighbors, my gardens, my sunporch, and my large backyard. Friends, however, have been encouraging me to move to a one level home. 

My friend Kathy L. lives with her husband in a 55+ community in South Weymouth. Her home is absolutely lovely. She has let me know whenever a home has gone on the market, and I’ve always made up some excuse not to go check it out.

Well, a one level home recently came on the market and she “dragged” me to the open house two weeks ago. I went reluctantly, and as God is my witness, when I walked in I knew that this was the perfect home for me. It’s gorgeous and offers everything that I could possibly want including a sunroom, deck, a garden area, and a fenced in yard for Emma. Oh, it also has more closets and cabinets than I could ever imagine.

I’ve decided that the guest bedroom which is fourteen by fourteen will become my dream quilting, cross stitching, and wool applique studio.

The only downside is trying to go through seventy years of “stuff.” I am incredibly blessed to have friends who have been helping me pack, a daunting but exciting task.

Yesterday was bittersweet as I had the family piano hauled off. No one wants pianos anymore. It had belonged to my Aunt Mildred and was over one hundred years old. She was an excellent pianist. I haven’t played it much in recent years, and I couldn’t see trying to fit it into my new home. 

So, while I may not be showing any new creative work for a while, do stick around for this amazing adventure. My home is filled with boxes, and I pass papers on June 6.

I’m now totally convinced that everyone should move at least once in seventy years. Wish me luck!!!

Crazy Busy Times

 It has been crazy busy around here lately . . . nothing bad . . . all good. I went on a four day quilt retreat with sixty members of the Herring Run Quilt Guild, and though I have no finishes to show, I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the projects on which other ladies were working. 

AND look what Sue Hart was working on . . . WOW!!!

Here’s one of my favorites blocks.

I forget how many years Sue said she has been working on this hand applique masterpiece, but it will be spectacular when finished.

Yes, the ballroom was filled with eager beaver quilters. And coincidentally, when we went to dinner one night, we spotted a beaver dam in the stream beside one of the restaurants.

 

Finally, have you ever seen an automatic pancake maker? It was the first time seeing one for me. :-)

I got a kick out of seeing the pancakes moving slowly down the conveyor belt, and I did enjoy my “Smarter Hot Breakfast Experience.” Gee, do you think that I could get one for my kitchen?

Have a great week. :-)