Sunday, October 13, 2013

Staying busy

We have been busy with a lot of different things.  Mostly, we have been divesting ourselves of a lot of "stuff" that we no longer need. Going through chests and cabinets, sorting out the clothes to go to Good Will. Opening boxes and deciding what to sell at a garage sale.  We still have a long way to go on the fifty or so boxes that we packed up after my wife's parents died, but some progress is being made.

The good news is that the parents' house sold as did the car. I also sold my old rowing shell and have put my first sail boat up for sale as well.  I have the great desire to get rid of a lot of superfluous things that I don't foresee we will use or need again. And somehow, I'm not feeling sad about it nor am I wanting to hold onto things that I no longer need.

We are painting the interior of the house, going room by room and changing the colors.  We are also renovating the mudroom, putting down new tile, new countertops, lights and sink.  After the downstairs is done, hopefully by Thanksgiving, we will tackle the upstairs where the original bathrooms will be renovated to make them more modern, yet still in keeping with the traditional look of the house.  I think that this will be our last renovation---hopefully. Thankfully, none are as daunting as the kitchen redo.

The renovation work will keep us busy for a while.  I plan to go on the boat when I can.  In December, we plan to take some time to go cruising.  There won't be anything to really keep us around over the holidays.  It seems that it will be better to spend time on the boat and make some new memories rather than thinking about who we have lost over the past year.

I hope that each of you has had a good weekend. We did manage to have a dinner and movie date, going to see the movie, "Captain Phillips", which was one of the best that I've seen in a while. I read the book about the Somalian pirates hijacking the Maersk Alabama but have to say that the movie was better than the book.

I'm off to go cook some dinner for a tired wife.

12 comments:

  1. All I can say is- I am SO jealous of your renovations. SO JEALOUS!

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  2. I second Ms.. Moon. I need to find the time to do some clearing out too. The good news is that I WANT to. Its good for the soul in more ways than one, to purge.

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  3. I understand the remodeling bug. Darlene and I have decided to get everything done before we retire. We like our house so we want to stay in it and get the updating started. Tomorrow they begin ripping out he old crumbling driveway and it will be poured new. In two weeks they begin putting new siding on the house and in three weeks I pick up the wood to replace the floors in the kitchen and family room. I enjoy working with wood, even doing the floors. I am doing them myself along with replacing the trim.

    It keeps everyone so busy and as we are emptying rooms to work on we get rid of what isn't required any longer. It has been good for us to clean out he clutter as we go along.

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  4. i really want to see that movie...maybe it will be at our dollar theatre soon enough...doesnt it feel good to cleanse your house of all the stuff...i am about ready to do some more here...have fun with the reno-- it can make life feel a bit out of whack, but def nice when its done...

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  5. I have realized how little I really need when stuff is let go to float on to someone who hopefully needs it more and I don't miss it. Free up my life...
    Taking out a bag here and there is a good way to clear it out slowly.
    A friend of mine has problems with too much stuff and the inability to get rid of anything.

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  6. Gosh My Mom needs me to go through things at her house. I am not looking forward to it. Though it is something to do during the chilly winter months.

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  7. It sounds like you and C are starting a new phase in your life's journey. That is so healthy, Syd. I have found, although I am MUCH older than you two, that getting rid of all the "stuff" that was cluttering up my life has really freed me and I suspect it will do the same for you.

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  8. I love the idea of you and C making new memories and traditions. It sounds like you are lightening up all the way around.

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  9. How smart to realize the need for new memories. When my parents died, we tried to keep it the same which just made the blaring fact that they were gone all the more obvious. Sounds like instead, you have new exciting things to look forward to.

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  10. it appears you've had a rough time of it lately, i'm sorry for your loss...

    i think everyone gets to a stage in one's life where the 'clutter' of things need to make space for... well, space, and that letting go of yesterday's belongings is just the thing to do it, and one can do it with relief rather than sadness.

    nice to see you again Syd, thinking about you!

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  11. Decluttering sounds good! And thanks for the heads-up on the film.

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  12. Your Christmas plans sound just right.

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Let me know what you think. I like reading what you have to say.