Monday, July 25, 2022

Looking Back and Moving Forward

 Hello Everyone,

It's been weeks since I've posted, so I have a lot to get you caught up on what I've been doing.  For starters, I've been getting ready for my next Sew'n Wild Oaks retreat at the end of August.


My sister, Gail, was up for a few days and she volunteered to help in the kit-making process.  Here she is buried under a pile of project bag kits.


I had a bin of fabrics all selected and matched with a zipper.  They just needed vinyl, batting, directions and assembly.

We cut and assembled 79 kits which should be enough for the next two retreats.  I still have to make more for the final retreat in October.


The bags are easy to make and so useful for quilting supplies.  You can also fill them with smaller items that you don't want to get lost in your suitcase.  They are the perfect gift for anyone.  If you are interested in the directions for the project bag, you can download them HERE.


While we have been downsizing, we've run across unpacked boxes that belonged to my parents and Mr. Joe's parents. We ran across a section of newspaper from The Springfield Union newspaper.  Note the date.......this paper will be 86 years old tomorrow, July 26th.


We couldn't understand why this newspaper was important until we read the fine print. This is a picture of Mr. Joe's mother, Caroline Huntington taking her cow out for a leisurely stroll.  Our granddaughters wanted to re-create this image with Emily walking her steer, Rooster.  He wasn't having it!


It's hard to read the fine print, but it says the San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge was nearing completion.  Little did Mr. Joe's mom imagine that her son and family would be living a short 50 miles from this bridge decades after this picture was taken.  Oh, the memories of one's life. 


As I was going through a box, I found this little treasure.  A bottle of Golli Wogg perfume in the original box from France.  


Mr. Joe's grandmother was a cosmetics buyer for Steiger's Department Store in Springfield, MA beginning in the 1930's.  This must be a piece of her past.  Pitch it or sell it?  Our grandson, Jess suggested we download the Google app to our phones.  You can take pictures of an item, and Google will scour the Internet for information.  It is pretty amazing.  This little gem has sold at auction for over $1,000!  

We've tasked our DIL to sell treasures and all proceeds will go to painting the interior of the house and the installation of new flooring.

We've been packing and marking the passage of time.  We may spend an hour on a box.....if not longer.  We are not only reliving our life, but the lives of our parents and grandparents.  It's a process, a very slow process.  This coming weekend we will be moving up some of the furniture that I just can't part with.  The cabin is so full, soon we will be hanging things from the rafters.

You have probably been hearing about the Oak Fire, the largest fire burning out of control close to the southern entrance of Yosemite.  As we were driving up to Bear Valley to attend a concert on Friday, we saw the pyro cumulus cloud generated by the fire.  It may look like a thunderhead but believe me it's not. Every morning we wake up to an orange and smoke-filled sky.  Yosemite is a 2-hour drive from the cabin.  We aren't in any danger from this fire, unless it goes absolutely ballistic.   


So that is what I've been doing over the past three weeks.  The move is winding down while my business is ramping up.  I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my sample yardage for my next block of the month.  Shipping times, and the fabric-making process have been very slow.  Patience is not one of my virtues.

Soon,
Lynn

















14 comments:

  1. What a lovely newspaper to have in your hands. I always say, "What stories they could tell if only they could talk." The perfume bottle cracked me up. My mother has a salt & pepper shaker from years ago that could've been the perfume bottle's cousins! Have a grand time down Memory Lane. I think the way you set up the painting & flooring is a perfect win-win!

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    1. Our kids set up the painting and new flooring which gave us a firm deadline. We will hold onto the newspaper, but then what will our kids do with it when the time comes? So many decisions.

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  2. Lynn, Good to hear from you. I've been checking every couple of days and was starting to get worried.
    Going through memory boxes is never easy, so pull up a chair, and a cool beverage, and enjoy the process. Hugs, Sharon McD

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    1. Thank you, Sharon. I've been receiving emails wondering what was going on, and quilters were starting to worry. There is just so much going on in every corner of my life.

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    2. We are now going through the pictures, writings, love letters, etc. from my SIL’s mother. Its definitely interesting.

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  3. Who knew such a little project bag could be so useful?! I just love the photo of Joe's mom! What fun to find all the little surprises in each box! Your life is definitely full in more ways than one these days, Lynn....just remember to come up for air once in a while! Hugs, Candace

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    1. We came up for air when we went to the concert Friday night. I also come up for air every morning in the pool. I will not give up my 1-1/2 hours in the pool every day. I do this for my own mental and physical health.

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  4. What wonderful treasures. I also have a few boxes from my grandmother's house but I haven't been so diligent and going through them and getting them unpacked.

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    1. It's been fun to see what my in-law's thought was special. Some of their things are true treasures.....others not so much!

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  5. My goodness you are busy. It's nice you and Joe were able to get away for a little music therapy. The project bags are a hit, so cute. Love mine. and easy to make. The picture of Joes mom is darling. What a cutie pie she was. It's a great picture and if possible, frame it. We are in the same boat as you are. Keep or throw out. Our kids will more than likely throw out. Thanks for the update Lynn. We are all happy to hear all is well, just busy.

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  6. Such wonderful memorabilia. Treasures from the past. Joe's mom was so young in the picture. We don't think of our parents being so young and somewhat carefree. Thanks for sharing.

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  7. Well they say good things come to those that wait and your post sure proves that to be true! The expression on Gail's face is priceless and those kits look like they're ready to launch!! Glad you got to the Bear Creek concert - a well deserved break.
    You sure found some poignant treasures in those boxes, Lynn. Now about that perfume bottle...................

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    1. Paula here...I'm this "Anonymous"!

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  8. I so enjoyed your series on your grand kid’s efforts at the Fair! I spent 30 on 4-H staff, and many, many of the kiddos I worked with did 4-H and FFA together; such great training for life!

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