Monday, Starting over maybe?

 Here is a picture of my sweetie at the Panama Canal.  He was so happy.  We had so much fun.  I do have to say it was a great way to end a life.  Good times, good food, good friends. Who could ask for more?

Boy do I mis him. I am racked with guilt, and remorse and sadness, but I am also blessed with such great memories, laughter, and more joys than I deserve.

I opened the shop back up last week, and I am trying to work, but it is hard still. I start to blog, and then I get distracted, or I can't seem to think of anything to say.  Yes, note that on the calendar. There was a day when Kim could not think of anything to say!!!!

Bridal dresses are coming in, in droves and I am starting to answer the phone again. I put everyone off until February. The house is almost finished.  Lil sis is out caulking the floor trim as I type.

Sissie will be leaving the 11th and my Aunt is here from Minnesota until the 15th of March, (or the ids).

Sissie has gone through this house like a white tornado. My closet is decluttered and organized.  I have a new makeup table in place of a bookcase. We bought a beautiful antique Birdseye maple table that looks really nice with the bedroom furniture. We flip flopped the spare room and the shop and I now have a lot more room and new flooring. Trying to pick pins out of carpet is a nightmare.

 

This window does not get the full hot sun as the bedroom window did. This room is also about 50 square feet bigger.

I have three times the hanging space so I can attempt to be more organized. I am still not done tweaking the shop as I have not worked in it enough to know where I really want things, but eventually it will be perfect, or almost perfect.

 I also always had my cloffice in this room, so there was no hanging place for company clothes when they came. We took the doors off and Sissie organized much of my sewing paraphernalia into these baskets, and it looks so nice. Now I can blog and sew in the same room. 

I love the new linoleum floor; it sweeps up and mops without streaking.  Love it, Love it!  Linda what do you think?  Can't wait to get your opinion.... Inquiring minds must know.

Last night I had the kids down for a ham dinner and I had Nate and Signe' finally get the grandfather clock wrapped and taken to the garage. I think Nate got a little carried away with the wrapping. 

When my grandfather could no longer drive at 94, his car was sold,
and he purchased this clock for over $8000.00. He said it kept him company as he would wind it every day. When he passed it went to mother and then to Signe'.  But they had no room for it in their new house, so it came back to me. I really have no room for it, plus Joel always took care of it.  

I have a cousin who lives in Montana. He is going to come and get it and it will stay in the family.  This cousin was a 25-year Navy man and never had children. He is gruff, grizzly, mountain man and my girls loved him to distraction from the moment they laid eyes on him.  They were all little and they called him Uncle Vigo, as he looks like Vigo Mortenson.  No matter how grouchy and stern he was, they loved him more.  He called immediately after I got home and said he would come in early for the girls and to help with anything I needed. They so needed his support and what is funny is that the grandbabies love him too. I don't think he quite knows how to handle this.  He had Kelsa asleep in his arms for much of the funeral dinner.  He is such a blessing to this family. He will become the grandfather figure for them, and I am so grateful.

We were able to paint Auntie's room and I hung the handmade quilt Jethelyn bought me in Hawaii, behind the bed. 

  My sisters went with me to a thrift store so we could buy a Hollywood frame.  The old footboard was just too big for the room. Lil sis found these brand-new lamps for $12.00 and it was 1/2 price day, so we got both for $12.00.

This window gets full hot sun.  I bought a new light and heat window shade for the room, to help with that problem. It is a nice little sanctuary for Auntie.  She is so happy here.  It was 57 and sunny one day and the weather in her area of Minnesota was 21 below, with the wind chill factor.  She will be 88 this Saturday and we are having a party Friday as Sissie flies out Saturday. 

The new hardwood floors. We can't put any rugs down for another few days. I had the piano placed facing out.  (This is how Joel always wanted it) It allows the pianist to see the string group they are accompanying.  And actually, I like it better now that I have tried it. I am playing much more now as it brings me comfort.

Kelsa is here today. She is a pistol. 

Look at how the entryway was done.  This man took every kind of wood he could find and made this design in memory of Joel. He would be able to identify every species.  

All the trim on these rooms was very badly done. It had to be sanded, cleaned with a special cleaner, holes filled, then sanded again, and then two coats of paint. After it is placed, it has to be filled, sanded and repainted in some places.  SO much work. But a little every day and it will be done.

 

I still have not picked out a floor for the kitchen, as I wanted to see what samples would look like next to the wood floors.  So, we are still in this mess. It is a work in progress.  I want a high-grade hospital linoleum.  As I am a messy cook and drop a lot of stuff. I have had tile and hated it, also hated pergo, and laminate, so lino it is.

I have 8 brides scheduled already this month and I have a dress to get out before Thursday.  Had a bride here this morning and have one coming in at 4:30 today.  The season has started.

Finances are a mess here and we still have no death certificates.  I have to wait to see where everything lands. 

I am still saving a penny a day and all my change.  I also started saving, 5 dollars bills for my trip to Hawaii with two of my daughters in April.  Jethelyn was taking her dad to Hawaii, so she changed the ticket, and I am going. So far, I have saved $120.00 in 5's.

I had so many plans for the new year, and they are all up in the air right now. But it will hit even keel in a few months, and I will be able to see the way ahead.

I am going to try and get back to regular posting.  I really need to just get a schedule again. It is just so hard. I miss Joel so much. Grief is a monster.

I pray everyday for Hilogene, and SAM.  I just hate that they are suffering.

Thanks so much for all of your support and caring it really does help, when people say they are thinking of me. That sounds so self obsorbed, which I hate, but it helps. 

Trying to stay emotionally afloat.

Kim