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.
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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.
Oh my gosh!! The minute I saw the photo of Ezra and the captain, I immediately thought the same thing! Skipper!!! The exact same facial expression and pose LOL. Ahhh....I empathize so completely with your struggle. While I did not have my hoarding...er...collecting...tendencies enable by my job/profession, I still have a healthy hoard. And, like you, suddenly what seemed so easy years back seems impossible and overwhelming now...both emotionally and physically. I learned of Swedish death cleaning many years ago having stumbled across the term in a book I was reading. It makes sense...and I do fret over what my son will do when he's left to deal with "this." Being an only child, he'll be on his own and "this" type of thing isn't his forte. Also, he does not regard my "treasures" in the same light as I do. ;-). I'm glad you're keeping up your efforts. It may be going much slower than you would like them to but you're sticking with it. That's more than I can say for myself. Heck, I can't even claim to have started. Yes the rain has been wretched...and the winds horrendous. Our area really got hit hard with the rain...and more on the way tonight?? Your lilacs are beautiful. Mine did extremely poorly this year. I could not even get a decent bouquet from my regular ones, although I did from my Miss Kim's. My lupines are about done for already... I absolutely love that photo of you and Lynn. Your closeness is apparent.
ReplyDeleteWell, your collections are incredible! Your primitives - stitching - papermache' - Halloween - Christmas - that would be an estate sale dream. Yes, Lynn and I have always been close. Our whole family is. However, she was like my "little mama." The first night I was home from hospital, my mom said she got up to give me a bottle and Lynn already was doing it. She was only 11...by 4 days. We only had 3 of 7 lilacs bloom. Normally, we have way more. I plan to keep up with "this" thanks for your encouragement.
DeleteHow adorable that both Ezra and Lauren were able to steer the boat. What a wonderful memory they will both have. So sorry to hear about you and your sister...sounds like mine in a different way, but we dont talk like we used to. Maybe once the sale of mom's house is over she may see things differently, but I have my doubts. I have not head about Swedish Death cleaning....it makes sense. I myself have been doing my own cleaning after seeing what my mom left us. She was a major hoarder. Even my daughter commented yesterday that this is a lot of stuff when I took her to mom's house. We had a tornado early yesterday morning 2 miles from us. We lost power and internet for 12 hours. Thankfully it came back on. Our Irises are still blooming but the Lilacs have stopped. We are way behind in our Spring blooming season. My Hydrangeas are just leafing out. Hope you are able to continue cleaning. Have a great weekend my Wisconsin friend. Janice
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ezra's face shows how much he was concentrating on steering. My sisters - all of us - talk quite a bit. I just am able to "face" things head on better. I like to "deal" with my problems. I hope to stay mobile enough to keep up. I may choose to go back to selling in my studio/shop area next year rather than selling other's stuff to pay rent in my storefront in Hatley. Only time will tell. But, doing this keeps me moving. Oh boy about the tornado. I am glad you only lost power. Even though that was an inconvenience. Have a great weekend.
DeleteThis is a wonderful post. I love seeing all of the family photos and yes skipper in the making. Have a nice day today.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteI can feel your frustration and hopelessness in your words as you were/are trying to purge. Receiving a picture like that can change everything!
ReplyDeleteYes on both. Thanks. I'm taking the lesson with me each day now.
DeleteWhat a fabulous post. Your photos are beautiful, dear friend.
ReplyDeleteThanks! The sky was particularly pretty in the one.
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