My days right now seem to be spent going from one thing to another, so many details needing tending to as I work to wrap up my brother's affairs - in addition to minding my own home duties. It seems this describes pretty much every day right now. It has become the norm to go from room to room, heading into a task only to find myself sidetracked by another task, and at some point being confronted by some unfinished task I left on table or counter hours earlier.
I know these days will eventually pass and the job of settling my brother's estate will draw down to something that doesn't require so much attention (or just thinking about) on nearly a daily basis as it seems to right now. But for the moment, and with our having just wrapped up this kind of work pertaining to my mother-in-law's estate, it sometimes feels a bit mind-numbing to find ourselves here again - only this time, I'm in the decision-making seat instead of Hubs.
In the midst of so much distraction, I'm finding the simple 52 Tags challenge a nice reprieve from all the gear turning that goes on in my noggin' right now. The gears slow down to a welcome pace as I sew, and before I know it, I've experienced a peaceful hour or two doing a simple, repetitive thing like hand-stitching that doesn't require much brain power.
So, one more time, I finished a tag in the #52Tags Challenge hosted by Anne Brook
Tag 3's theme is "Scrappy".
These scraps:
I confess, I got tired of stitching on all the little folded pieces of fabric, and decided to finish it up with some random strips of fabric hanging vertically, then sewed on three old buttons and called it day.
If you're interested in seeing other tags from this challenge, pictures are found on Instagram. It's fun to see the different interpretations of the challenge. And I'm inspired to consider how to take more interesting pictures of these tags. ;^)
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There was a little stitching on my Linens & Threads sampler. And also a bit of crochet happened. The chevron blanket is growing slowly, but surely. It will be done one day, too.
This morning we watched church online, spent an hour zooming with our small group, and in just a little bit I'm planning on visiting friends, Jack and Ruth (Ruth is the elderly lady I used to help care for - before COVID), taking some banana bread I made yesterday. Then I'll settle back in at home on this snowy day with some crocheting and maybe watching an episode of The Waltons. And at some point, catching up with my blogging buddies. 😉
I hope you all have a good week.
The tag is awesome. I need to go and look at some others. Thanks for the link to do that. I am sad to hear you are having to do so much on your brother's estate. After just getting your MIL done, this must feel like a slap in the face. Know my prayers are with you during this time.
ReplyDeleteIt's just a little hard to wrap one's mind around again so soon. The good thing, though, is since we just went through this so recently, it's all familiar. And Hub is a huge help - having been the executor for his mother's estate. That said, some days my mind is a bit numbed by all the details in these early weeks.
DeleteIt is amazing how much life and detail you can bring to these wee gift tags, they look to be fun projects. I hope this week is a little easier.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Liz. I think it will several more weeks to maybe 2 months before things get easier - in terms of being distracted by all there is to do. It's kind of mind-boggling what is involved in wrapping up a person's personal affairs. Thankfully, my brother's estate is fairly simple, compared to say... my MIL's. These two experiences back-to-back provide a real life lesson on simplifying one's life before it's too late. When I'm back in the groove of decluttering I think I'm going to re-read The Swedish Art of Death Cleaning.
DeleteI know for sure if my husband wasn’t around I would be able to really live with so much less and could do the Swedish Death Clean (except on my fibre items). The ‘just in case’ feeling has really left my body but very deeply set in my husband, maybe from his father’s death when he was in his early teens he clings on to the most random of items. My dad is the same with jars full of rusty screws and clutter so I hope they live forever or read the book.
DeleteThat's partly why I did the Great Winnowing a year ago, to simplify things a bit for my son.
ReplyDeleteIt's surprising how much you need to do for even a comparatively simple estate.
When dealing with MIL's things, at least one of our sons said, "You're not going to do this to us, are you?" Of course, one doesn't have control over when they draw their last breath, so who knows what state we'll be leaving things in, but I'm nudged again into thinking about minimizing our belongings. Now, I only need to find the time to do it. Soon, I hope.
DeleteYour tag is so delightful! What a great way to use every last scrap!
ReplyDeleteI stuffed a bunch of mine into a decorative amigurumi, but they still seem to multiply in the dark of night!
Using scraps as stuffing is a great idea! I'm using a smallish box of fabric scraps I saved of my MIL's, thinking I'll whittle it down. But I have to admit, I think they multiply between making these tags. It will be interesting to see if making 52 tags actually makes a dent in my fabric scrap stash.
DeleteYour tag is lovely, I had a look at the others on Instagram so much creativity going on. I hope things get easier for you, thank goodness we have our craft projects to help focus our minds a little.
ReplyDeleteCrafting really is a gift. It's wonderful to have handwork to do when we have all the time we could possibly want, and it's also a gift that, in small doses, can help bring welcome focus in times of distraction.
DeleteI'm so sorry you are having to go through this with your brother's things/estate. I don't think some realize what it is like to not only grieve the loss of someone but to have to go through their personal effects which bring it up again and again. It's like reliving the event over and over. I have always been the one to do that sort of thing and it is grueling and painful. My heart goes out to you but someday it will be done and you can sit and actually take the time to remember your brother the way you want without the "tasks" of death hanging over your head. I still have some items of Jim's that are around that I have yet to deal with but it is much easier now.
ReplyDeleteYour tag is so pretty and what a great way to utilize scraps. Glad to hear you are making "all the things"! Hugs ~ Sam
You're right, Sam. Before sorting through MIL's things this summer, and now my brother's, I certainly never considered the added dimension that the task of sorting everything a person owns brings to losing someone. And bringing things to our home to sort (because it's more comfortable here, and items are safer here) means it's also taking up physical and visual space and I'm surrounded by it all 24-7. Also, even just getting started on the legal aspect of settling his estate was slowed down due to two holiday weekends, then the backlog all the deaths over those long holiday weekends brought. It's no wonder I've hit something of a wall in terms of focus, as well as mental and emotional energy. It's probably good to process this verbally - even if it's just in the comment section of my blog. Thanks, friend.
DeleteBecki, I am so very sorry for your great and sudden loss!! I know it must have been . . . and still is . . . devastating. I have never lost a sibling, but I know from others that it hurts terribly. My mom lost her sister in June, and the wound is still fresh.
ReplyDeleteAnd then no time to nurse your wounds before having to deal with all of the physical, material aspects of death. Sigh.
I am praying for our Lord's comfort and strength for you!! {{{gentle hugs}}}
Thank you, Cheryl. Your words are sweet and your prayers help to comfort.
DeleteOh, the Waltons. Now this is a good idea!
ReplyDeleteYes, settling estates is taxing and through in the other...well, that is why I have taken the month of January to fill my cup and renew my soul. I will be back in Feb. I totally understand.
I had disappeared for most of the month of December (first, I was going to just take a break for a week or so, but the break turned into life upended). I finally decided that part of getting my cup filled was coming back to blogging and having something normal in my life. I find it interesting that in a year that was anything but normal for any of us, blogging has been the thing that's helped maintain some normalcy for me. :)
DeleteHope everything goes smoothly with your brother's estate.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Stef.
DeleteSumming up the bits and pieces of a life that is gone is time consuming for sure, but it is also a sad time because it can stir up so many memories. Be kind to yourself as you go through this process yet again.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Elaine.
DeleteYour tags look so lovely, I'm really tempted to have a go myself. Have you ever tried ATCs? Take good care of yourself, please.
ReplyDeleteIt's been some time, but I do remember coming across ATC's and thinking they looked kind of fascinating.
DeleteAll you can do is just what you can - the rest can wait for tomorrow, or the next day, or the next. Taking some time for yourself to do things you enjoy is good too. You know, from dealing with your MIL's estate, that it will all be dealt with eventually. Doing the tag challenge is good and picking up your crochet hook is soothing (or at least it is if the pattern isn't too difficult). Take time to take care of you.
ReplyDeleteYou make it sound so easy. :) I will say, though... this week has been better. Tasks have come at me slower, and yet every day has had important things to do. Yes, it will all get done in due time. I think it didn't help that Hubs had cataract surgery in the mix of all of this. He's doing great, but it was yet another distraction in the mix. I didn't even think to mention that when writing these recent posts. It was just one more thing!
DeleteI certainly didn't mean to make it sound easy because I know not one bit of it is - there are moments of good and moments of really bad and all you can do it motor through them as best you can. Sorry about DH having cataract surgery in the middle of it all - I'm facing that too and must say it's a cause for much dread despite my desire to be able to see. I hope he's doing well!
DeleteI was sort of teasing, friend. Hubs was thrilled right after cataract surgery. He could see really well by the next day. A couple of weeks later now he's not seeing so well up close. His distance vision is good (he was nearsighted before). I think he feels a tad discouraged, but also impatient for the required time to pass before he can be fitted for glasses to help him see close-up and at the computer. Or he may be able to tweak the new lenses. I will say, the place he had it done made it so easy. They even came and got him for less than we would have paid for gas for me to drive him. The timing wasn't great with all that we have going on, but it was really just a week of slight inconvenience - three days to do both eyes and have a check-up, then 7 days of wearing protective goggly-things at night and some goggles during the day so he wouldn't bump his eyes accidentally. He's still using the eye drops, but not for much longer.
DeleteGod bless you! It's pretty overwhelming to be a person's executor! God be with you!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Elizabeth.
DeleteI am glad you have found some solace in your 52tags projects. They don't look simple to me, but small projects that can be finished quickly and make you enjoy your daily accomplishments. As if Covid hasn't been hard enough for the two of you to be dealing yet again for a loved one's estate is mind-numbing indeed. Take care dear Becki.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words, Mary-Anne. ❤
DeleteBecki, your tags are so nice! You are really showing off your creativity I look forward to seeing what you come up with next. I would probably have to have a long think before I could even get started. Enjoy!💖
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan. Seeing others' tags I don't feel all that creative. Hoping doing this challenge sparks more creativity, though!
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