Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Packing Up the Treasures






















Grandma Johnson's china cabinet gets emptied out.


Scott had an offer of help to move heavy objects this week, so it was time to get prepared. I took Emil and Everett with me to the old house yesterday afternoon; they packed up treasures of their own, while I carefully wrapped up old dishes that once belonged to my grandmothers, my great-grandmother, my great-aunts and my great-great aunt.

There are a few other items that didn't require padding: two antique flashlights, one that Grandpa Benson (his birthday today) gave me; a tiny carved set of three wooden cooking utensils that were made by my great-great-great grandfather for my great-grandmother; a brass and enamel bell.

I also made a pile of things to drop off at the recycling centre in hopes that someone else can use them: glass teacups that came from a garage sale with a punch bowl we never used; most of the Christmas mugs (keeping only my one favourite); flower vases that don't get used because I have too many. Now I just need to unpack the boxes so I can get back over there, pack the giveaways into them and haul them to town.

7 comments:

  1. that can be so hard---I helped my mom make choices about things before she got too ill, and while in some ways it was satisfying, thinking about it now makes me cry

    ReplyDelete
  2. It wasn't hard because these all belong to me now; I don't have to part with anything. YET. Gimme another 20 years ... or worse, stick my sons or my sisters with having to find new homes for everything if I get pinged off unexpectedly. It's not bad when there are family members who want the stuff. Fortunately we are a pretty good-sized family.

    ReplyDelete
  3. You've got a lot of lovely treasures. Good luck with the move.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for you comment. Guess my guy has too much free time on his hands. I'm also pleased as punch to just stay put and enjoy the solitude. DH on the other hand wants to be entertained. Too bad he's not the least bit interested in housework, that would worked the boredom out of him.

    ReplyDelete
  5. It sounds like he lets you do all the "work" to prepare for the entertaining! No wonder he has energy and you don't.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love that cupboard and your lovely things, Kay.

    My mother in law has a cupboard like that and we just painted it white and put it in her bathroom. It looks great.

    I have one of those flower heads too. It came from my grandma. It's seen better days, but I love it.

    It must be fun taking all your favourite things over to the new place.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Do you mean the lady head vase?
    They are collectibles, you know. I got this one from Aunt Jean, my great-aunt. It has eyelashes and earrings.

    ReplyDelete

Leave a message here or email me at stubblejumperscafe@gmail.com, home of the snow and land of the wheat!