Farmhouse Friday - Week 23 The Lord Works in Mysterious Ways

 

Good Friday Morning!  

The top picture is of me (my 18th birthday/graduation party) and my sister Lynn.  We both made our dresses.  She is 11 years older than and I am 11 years older than her daughter, my niece Jessi.  

Last week's Farmhouse Friday post, Daisy g from:  Maple Hill 101 left a comment about Swedish Death Cleaning.  Honestly, I never heard of it.  So, I googled it.  "A thoughtful decluttering process where you gradually clear out unnecessary possessions while you are alive to spare your loved ones."  Well, I've been doing this for a year already, since being diagnosed with my muscle wasting disease.  

I come from a long line of hoarders.  I do estate sales for my job....yes, I do.  However, just like Sam from Cheers was an alcoholic bartender, I'm a hoarding estate sale specialist.  It's no secret, I sometimes buy out an estate, sometimes we do a sale and sometimes I buy what is left after the sale.   I've gone to too many auctions over the years and bought row after row of $1 boxes.  I'd pick out 1 or 2 things I wanted and sell the rest - it was the BEST!  I MISS those days!  

Anyway, back to the Lord works in mysterious ways.  I'm a story teller, I can't help it.  My sister Lynn messaged me yesterday, while I was elbow deep in yet again another box of some other old lady's sewing stuff I just had to have and I was short with her.  She messaged and said "this is a sleepy kind of day isn't it?"  (Poke the bear...poke, poke)  I messaged "No, I'm outside doing my Swedish Death Cleaning."  She comes back with "what is that?"  (Poke, poke....)  I said "Google it!"  She comes back with "I'm almost afraid to..."  I wanted to say, but I did not...."you should be!"  Truthfully, she messaged me when I was just feeling defeated about how I can hardly do "this" anymore for myself.  I spent decades doing "this" for others and I wish I had the old Dicky Bird, the stong one, that did "this" for just 1 week.  

Well, after several messages back and forth (I'll spare you all the details) about stewardship of what God's given you....my messenger "beeps" from our brother Frank.  That top picture comes up....(o.k. Lord, I get it!  I'll stop now).  Frank says, "I was looking at old picutures" and sent it to both of us.  I love my sister Lynn, we share many of the same "issues."  I fight my battles and she her's.  She is going to hate that I wrote this, but it was part of a lesson for us both.  On to more Swedish Death Cleaning.  

I did find money in a bag of my "stash."  

We had a ton of rain here this week.  This 3.5 is from 1 day.

Here are some photos from our boat ride in Waupaca, WI.

Both Ezra and Lauren we able to steer the boat.  

My friend, Lori U., said "he looks like the Skipper from Gilligan's Island."  He does!!!  Sorry, Gen X moment.  

Last of the Lilacs.  Is there a sweeter scent?  The air was full of it.  The Iris are almost done too.  Now on to Peonies and Lupines.  I enjoy all my flowers!  

Have a great weekend.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.