Sorting Out

My mom passed away a year ago and we are still sorting through the things in her house.  Up until now, I have hated going over there by myself, so I always wait until I can get my daughter to go with, even if just for morale support.  But this week, because of her husband starting his new job and her work schedule, it was going to be impossible for her to go with me.  Now in the past, I'd just skip going this week.  But there is just too much to be done to do that.  I came home from work, ate dinner, and took the plunge to go over and look through things I'd looked through at the very beginning...when sorting was pretty overwhelming.  I figured I'd just be there for a couple hours before it got dark.  I found some treasures!

Last summer we had a couple garage sales and we sold lots of record albums.  I didn't think about the fact until recently that there was a record that the Red Cross made of me and my mom talking to my dad, who was stationed overseas.  It was for Christmas 1957.  We made the record and sent it to him, but they didn't have a record player over there and he couldn't listen to it until he came home.  Anyways when I remembered that record, I was afraid it had been sold or donated to the Goodwill with the leftover albums from last summer.  Imagine my surprise to find a stack of these:  Victor Talking Machine Orthophonic Recordings....with my own little record in the middle of the stack.  Also, I found several records that my mother and her uncle and my mother and her sister made.  What a wonderful find.  Now if I can find a record player!

Then there quite a few pairs of leather gloves.  I think my mom purchased them to make doll shoes.  If there are pairs, I might try to sell them on Etsy.

Look at this poor doll in her box of simple garments.  She was so homely I had to bring her home.  She needs some love.  :)

The next thing I found that was interesting was a bunch of letters my dad wrote to my mom while he was stationed in Korea in the late 1940's, although one is written to her before they got married.  They got engaged after dating for six weeks and she went home to Minnesota to plan the wedding.  Her family was convinced he wouldn't show up.  Some interesting reading, with promises of eternal love and faithfulness, although mostly he seemed to want hair oil and shampoo.  :)

There are quite a few little bisque dolls.  I would like to dress a few and make shadowboxes for my nieces to remember Grandma by.

All-in-all, it wasn't too bad.  Next time it won't be quite as hard if I have to go there by myself.

~Jane

Saturday - Catching Up

This has been a productive week, although I never seem to get as much done as I want to.  Work has been slow, so I've had a chance to work on my Tasha Tudor counted cross-stitch.  I finished the gray goose this week.  One of my co-workers said there is a vodka by the name of Gray Goose and it sounded like I'd finished the bottle when I announced I had finally finished the gray goose.  Guys!

Work on my mom's estate has been slow through session.  I had some paperwork to file with the IRS that I was stressing over.  When I actually took the time to check what it was, it turned out to be a lot of nothing at the moment.  Just signing a form and saying there was no activity yet.  There won't be any reportable activity until we actually sell the house.  A lot of stress, a visit to the local IRS office, and an hour spent on a call to the IRS to figure all that out.  But the ladies at the local office and on the phone were very helpful, pleasant, and informative and I really appreciated their help.

I had my husband bring the bench for the weight machine down from the attic.  I am  getting closer to actually having to start exercising.  I want to try to figure out how to adapt my routine from the gym to the exercise equipment I have at home.  That will take a little bit of research.

I sewed the buttons on my new nightgown and the Little Guy's sweater.  He's coming to spend the night tonight, so I'll get a picture of him wearing it.  I found the perfect flannel print for a baby quilt I need to make for one of Elsie's friends.  I did some minor mending on items to sell.  I knit some on the snowflake fingerless gloves I started a while back.  I have all the yarn now to make myself a pair, but want to finish this pair first. 

I need to get some things done before the Little Guy comes over this afternoon so I should get busy.  I'm in the middle of ironing a bunch of small luncheon cloths for the Etsy shop.  So, if you need small tablecloths that are really nice for table centers, check out Elsie's Etsy shop over the next week to see the new additions.  She'll also be adding some new aprons.

~Jane