It’s been a busy week, mostly an excellent one. Not to be maudlin, but it was lovely to have a reason to get up in the morning and wonderful to have a 5-year-old companion. Sharky was full of snuggles and conversation, as well as plans (schemes?) of what he wanted to do, eat, play, etc. Yet from 9-4 he was at Lego Camp, so my Granny Nannying was only part time! Admittedly, the drive to and from the Rec Center was sometimes tricky; there were a number of closed roads, different every day; we also had to come by a major freeway where approximately 1,000 semi-trucks were getting on or off. I made Sharky’s lunch and snack every day, filled his water bottle and made sure that his clothes were clean, his hair was combed, and his teeth were brushed. And I loved it all!
Yesterday after work Younger Daughter brought Anders over for a visit with his cousin. Look at that head of curls! The two boys are a bit too far apart in age to play but they did drag out boxes of toys and dump them in my family room. I didn’t necessarily enjoy that, but Sharky picked most of them up. He can be a very good helper! He’s expected to clean up his things and put away his own laundry at home, so I give him responsibilities here as well. He seems to like being entrusted with small tasks.
Have I mentioned my water issues? A couple days ago my expandable hose exploded in my face while I was watering my plants; I said a few swear words, trying to turn off the spigot with the water spraying all over me. Today I tangled with the sprinkler and managed to drench my shirt and face. Is it my lack of spatial awareness? Incidentally, I don’t usually water this time of year, but TruGreen fertilized thus I needed to. We’re expecting a HEAT WAVE. Don’t laugh, 90 degrees is hot for us since most Western Washingtonians don’t have central air conditioning. As for Mari, she is eating some, although not normally, wants to be near me every second and has done her business in the litter box, a positive sign. (no photo)
Whether it’s positive or negative or neither, the stagers are working in my parents’ house; they aren’t finished yet and haven’t even started in the basement. I stopped by (snuck in) to take a look around. When I shared my photos with my daughters, OD exclaimed, “Now I want this house even more!” We laughed about how mom would have criticized some of the choices for artwork; she also would have hated the dining room table. And she would have rolled her eyes over the cookbook in the kitchen. Still, we agreed that she would have concluded, “What do I care from up at the cemetery, let someone else enjoy it.”
The house has beautiful and classic bones.
As you can tell, Mom and Dad loved wood, so they would never have bought a table like this. It looks quite chic though.
This was my parents’ bedroom. Their bed was always in a different spot which in some weird way makes me feel better.
This used to be my bedroom until I moved out; my parents almost immediately turned it into a den/TV room. I guess they didn’t want me back! 🙂
My late brothers shared this room until they got old enough to move downstairs where there were two other bedrooms. Then it became my youngest brother’s. He’s nearly 15 years younger than I am, so I changed many diapers in this room.
Rebel Homemaker, ha! My mother was a traditional cook with a bunch of handwritten and stained recipes and an ancient Betty Crocker cookbook. But this is no longer mom’s kitchen. So, why can I still picture her standing at that counter making us salads and cutting up fruit for the many lunches we shared? Before his illness and death, it would have been Dad; he was excellent in the kitchen and made the best salads. I miss them both so much.
Someone is very proud of himself for catching TWO pinks. (chum salmon) Thankfully, John knows better than to ask me along because I would have to tell him, like I did my late husband when he suggested jeeping in the snow, fishing, golfing or backpacking, “FIND A FRIEND.” 🙂
Watching: Nothing at the moment, I’m too tired!
Reading: The latest Kate Ellis mystery (not great literature but absorbing) and “The Names.” Although I’m having trouble keeping track of the three realities, the writing is high quality and absorbing, so that’s a definite plus.
On the agenda: More Granny Nannying next week, a possible lake day at a friend’s (have I mentioned that it’s hot?), Book Club and time with John. The staging at my parents’ house will be finished by the end of the weekend and photos taken on Tuesday. Then, it will go on the market, and we’ll see what happens. It could sell right away, or it could sit for weeks or months; it’s impossible to predict since the housing market isn’t as robust as it was a year or two ago. After all the house stress, I’m finally at peace with what we’ve accomplished and where we are; this has been a type of grieving process, and I’ve reached the point where I’m mostly feeling OK about letting go.
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