Monday, October 11, 2021

Monday, wonderful week, worked too hard, *SNORT*


 It was a lovely funeral and we were able to meet with so much family we had not seen in a long time. We did not see a single tear shed, as this man had lived a good long life and he was ready to go.  It was truly a celebration. 20 of his 26 grandchildren were able to attend. We had 59 of the 76 great grandchildren there.  It was quite the family procession.  Our eldest paid for a Piper to send dad off at the graveyard and everyone loved it.  We had a nice family dinner at the church after the funeral. lots of laughs.

It was expensive, meals, gas, hotel, splitting the cost of food and flowers. But worth every penny.

Hubs and I were the last to leave mom's. We stayed in a hotel until Wednesday night when his youngest sister flew home and then mom would be alone.  We stayed until Saturday. She did not want to go home with anyone and I think she just needs and wants to grieve alone for a while.  She was surrounded by lots of family for two weeks.

Our eldest and her cousin (also an eldest) got to mom's house the day after dad's passing.  Eldest was able to get much of the book work and legal things done for mom.  She spent hours on the phone making preparations,and dealing with SSI, retirement, banks.  She and this cousin also took it upon themselves to take one of the old sofas that dad had used to sleep and sit and pee(TMI) on for the last four years and try to clean it.  This cousin is a registered nurse and after cleaning they realized that it would have to be thrown away.  So they went out and bought mom a new sofa.  Daughter can certainly afford it.  They brought it home and mom liked it so much she insisted on getting the matching love seat.  So they got rid of the other very ugly 1990's sofa.  It changed the whole room.

This house was built by them in 1995.  It is still decorated in the seafoam green, peach and heavy drape flowery style of that era.  All things are old and dingy. Mom is a very neat house keepr, but 26 years of wear was certainly showing. I remembered how I felt after my mother passed in the bedroom she had occupied for 3 years. I wanted all those memories gone.  I stripped her room out and her bathroom within 24 hours.  My Sissie and her hubby helped. I just wanted no reminders of those hard years. As much as I missed my mother, I wanted to remember the good times and not the times stuck in those two rooms cleaning and trying to deal with her illness.

The new couches certainly helped, but the oversized peach drapes and dingy lamps and wallpaper were not helping the atmosphere at all.  After we took Hub's youngest sister and husband to the airport, I told Hub's to drive me to Lowes.  We took pictures of the peel and stick wallpaper and took it back to mom.  She loved it and we had to drive to three different Lowes to get enough to repaper the front hall. Hub's was my step and fetch as I climbed up and down the ladder.  His cousin who lives across the street came over and helped take down and put up a heavy mirror and also disconnection the doorbell for me. I had it almost all done by Wednesday evening.  Boy did it change the place!


This is the picture of the new paper.  Before it was a flowered beige,90's nightmare.  It had been up since the house was built. This really brightened up the room. You can see the supplies I borrowed from Hub's cousin's wife.  Her sewing machine, glue guns, whatever I needed.  They were so much help and I could call them over whenever I needed something. 


The sofa's were a light grey which goes great with the carpet.  I thought the wallpaper went well with the Japanese flower print on the sofas pillows.  This lamp was originally from mom's sister's place in the 1950's.  It was a horrid mottled green/yellow ceramic and the shade was 50 shades of old and dirty.  I spray painted the lamp, and the shade and actually tore off the old trim and also sprayed it and reattached .  Then added some gimp, which was $1.29 a yard.


Here is another view and another lamp I worked on.  The shade was always crooked and I bought new guts for this at Lowes and straightened it, added original trim that was repainted and more gimp.


I recovered Grandma Chandler's rocker.  It was very dirty.  Not the fabric I would have chosen, but mom picked it out.  I would have gone with a dark blue, or a copen blue.  We did pick up the blanket.  Anyway that was done, and she was thrilled.  This cost about $20.00.


 Hub's sister who is my age went with me to pick out new drapery material and I duplicated the valance that was there before that was a sad shiny peach color.  Mom still likes the heavy drape look and that is okay, besides they are coming back.  (Horror)


I changed up this valance as it was one of those big stuffed valances.  Then I had to make the sheers.  You all know that I hate, hate, hate making curtains, so this was a labor of love. I have not made pleated sheers for years ,like over 30 years, but the hardware was still there and I did not want to have to replace it. It takes a powerful machine to go through several layers of  pleat tape, but mom's old NECCHI was a work horse.  It would not hem or do anything on the sheers, but would go through all the pleat layers.  So I was running back and forth between two machines.  One that would pleat and one that would do sheer fabric.  Eldest daughter brought mom this throw when she came for the funeral.


All of mom's chair pads, were torn or the ruffles were ripped and they were misshapen and just needed replaced.  So I found this fabric that went well with the sofa pillows and made 8 new cushions for chairs.  Her house is the great room design, with all large rooms into one, so the decor has to flow.  This entire adventure took me 2.5 days.  I was very sore starting Thursday late afternoon as that ws 24 hours after I started wallpapering.  By Friday night I was a sweaty awful mess.  But The whole great room ties together and look so nice and modern.  She does not want to sell for about a year, but this does give that area of the house a fresh modern look which will help in the resale.  I am going to order her some new place mats and make her some new napkins for Christmas that match this decor.

She was so happy and I know she felt better about the house and her surroundings.  She could not wait to have her book club over, plus the price was right.  Free labor who can say no to that? I think all those years of taking care of dad in this area of the house are now left somewhat behind and it will help her mood.

Hubs and I drove home early Saturday morning, I was sore and very tired. I got some unexpected bad news on the way home about a Good friend of Lil sis's.  It is a terrible family tragedy and I cried most of the way home.  I am not a crier and this wiped me out.  I just went to bed when I got home and stayed in bed most of the day yesterday.  I am still in shock over this situation and will post about it tomorrow.

I KNOW Hub's is happy to be home as he was down in southern Idaho most of the last 3 weeks. He went and got a haircut this morning and also a flu shot.  I hope he does not get as sick this year as he did last year.  But at least I am prepared for it.

I need to clean up my shop today, but doubt if I do any sewing.  I did get all of our laundry done from the trip and I just need a day to recoup.

All in all it was a lovely week, with family and friends, good food, laughs, grand kids and good memories. I have to hold onto that.

Have a great and productive day staying positive while you are in the negative.

 

Kim

30 comments:

  1. I am so sorry to hear about your bad news but I want you to know, simply put, you did a good, good thing. The changes you made in your MIL's home surely will help cheer her up. But then, you have a giving nature and your talent is amazing in these kinds of circumstances.

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    1. Well thank you, I do grief better when I am kept busy and so does everyone else.

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  2. Kim, You are a blessing to your loved ones. I am so sorry for your loss. What a beautiful life you all celebrated. What a wonderful thing you did for your MIL. Prayers and love, my friend.

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    1. Thanks Billie. I feel like I am swimming through jello right now, and I need to get back with my program.

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  3. Sounds like a lovely send-off. That's a lot of changes in a short period. I am glad she liked it. Gee, it has been over 2 1/2 yr. since hubs passed and not much has changed here. That is wonderful everyone worked together with her to make changes.
    I am sorry you had more bad news.
    Glad you are home safe.

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    1. It is a sad time around here, but I am going to get myself back I think.

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  4. Such a wonderful way to help your MIL transition to her new life in her home.

    I talked the kids into flu shots yesterday, because Rite Aid was offering free scoops of ice cream with each shot. They were happy to go, in that case. ;-)

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    1. Hubs actually got through it okay this time. But I would take a shot for icecream.

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  5. So, there was an upside to her husband dying? New furniture, drapes, and wallpaper. You are a saint for doing all this for her. But, I suppose no one else could have managed that transformation. At least you had a support team! Don't rush to sew too hard so you can stay rested a bit.

    I went to a funeral where the family just kept pouring in. And, they were all redheads or strawberry blondes. There were over 150 of family in attendance.

    Everything looks so clean and fresh thanks to you. I know the family will not soon forget what you did.

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  6. You are so kind to do all of this work for her and encourage her.

    When my Dad died, Mom was ready to be alone 4d after the funeral. I was the last to leave and she said "I will do this alone". We each have our own drummer.

    Take good care. I hope you get some good rest to recover physically and work through your own grieving as well.

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    1. I am reeling right now with the second death and they say they come in threes!

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  7. I’ve followed you for some time but rarely comment. Today I must. I really wish I could know you in “real life.” You inspire me to be a better person. What a gift of love to your MIL. I’m praying God blessed you abundantly.

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    1. Well Carol I would love to know you in real life. I think my best buddy is Sluggy and I met her blogging. Thanks for the blessings as I really need them right now my friend.

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  8. You are a wonderful DIL! Thats just all I need to say!

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  9. thats so lovely to have such a close family & to refresh the house for her. The stick on wallpaper is a good idea too, will have to look into it

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    1. It was kind of a pain, but the thing I did not like about it was that I thought it was expensive.

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  10. You described a wonderful tribute both to hubs dad and mom, helping her have a home that she can remember love. I'm sorry you're dealing with a tragedy now though.

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  11. Happy to hear it was a nice send off for your FIL with all of the family there.

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  12. Such a kind labor of love for your mother in law. The room looks beautiful.
    I like the stick on wallpaper, it absolutel changes the room. So sorry you re dealing with sad news now. Thanks for mentioning why you cleared out the room your mom was in after she passed. My mom did the same when my dad passed, and I never understood why. Now I do. Take care of you, Kim!

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    1. It really does help some people. Others want everything to stay the same to grieve.

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  13. You made the house look so beautiful! You are a fantastic daughter-in-law! Your eldest was so kind to buy a new couch for her grandma. Cindy in the South

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  14. Hi Kim,
    I am a long time reader, first time commenter.
    I admire you so much: especially your work ethic and your closeness with your kids and grandkids. I am amazed by what you can accomplish in a day. What you have done for your MIL is so kind and generous. Everything looks so fresh and bright.

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    1. WELL THANK You. Now I need that work ethic in my own house. I think I left it at my mother in laws....

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  15. Wow mom, it looks great. You are so happy you weren't there for pee couch. Ugh! What a smell.

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