Life got a bit hectic this past week. Somehow a little fire got lit under us and we made contact with a realtor and started visiting some properties in search of our next home.
We've been saying for years that we need to downsize, but in our heart of hearts it's not downsizing we're needing as much as leveling our living space. In other words, we feel we should look for a home we can grow old in and the tri-level we live in is not that. Anyway, with a bit of a flame lit, we made some steps in the direction of beginning to think about buying and selling homes. Knowing us, this will take a while, but then again... if the perfect house (for us) presented itself, who knows?!? It's with some excitement and trepidation we dipped our toes in that water.
And this weekend, we enjoyed having visitors (the daughter of a much older, deceased half-brother - who lost her mother recently, and her husband). Amongst discussion of the losses we've both had, there was lots of catching up on our families and family history. Heartaches were shared, as well as laughter. It was very good to connect after many years, even if I am finding myself emotionally whipped here on Sunday evening.
All that, and other activities, kept me from actually accomplishing much that was tangible last week. But that's okay. Another week's a comin'.
My probably-not-so-mysterious amigurumi gained an arm and about three quarters of a head, but ahead lies the scary part - the face. Meaning, the whole thing could be crocheted, stuffed and sewn together, but its success hinges on me being able to give it a cute face. 😟
Fearlessly, I will plug away on it. Trusting that all will end well.
And that's all, folks. Thanks for stopping by!
Glad you had a nice visit with your niece. I'm sure it was good for both of you. I'm looking forward to seeing the final figure.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Maureen! Haven't done a stitch on it since the weekend. Hopefully, I can finish it in the next day or two.
DeleteJust actually looking is a first step. I shudder to think if I had to move. I still have a long way to go in that decluttering thing! I did clean out my pantry and some of my desk this week so that was good:) I am glad you got to visit and sometimes in summer I find my project list grows shorter. The days are lazier.
ReplyDeleteI've got a long way to go still, too, in the decluttering. I keep wondering if I need to whittle down my crafts stuff. I wish I could see my way through that more clearly...
DeleteIt's good to look without pressure. You can still live comfortably in your present house, and that's great. Definitely beats waiting till there's no choice. I hope you enjoy peacefully moseying and looking and thinking.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Liz. I want to enjoy the process and take it as it comes.
DeleteWe did the same thing a little over five years ago, after living in our former home for thirty-five years. Our "fire" was a health crisis for my husband (he recovered from the crisis) and we realized that we needed a home in which we could grow old. We did not expect it to move so quickly, but we went from a first look at a possible home to sold-bought-moved in four months! I think you're wise to make choices and changes when it is not urgent! May God direct you step by step!
ReplyDeleteSo good of you to take time for your niece and her husband during a vulnerable time.
Cheryl, I went back and looked though your blog to find what you had written about this process. It was really encouraging to read about it. I'm prepared for this to take a long time still, but I know it will only take the right house for us to make the decision and get this done.
DeleteHow exciting looking for a new home, it will be out there for you and when you see it you will just know. I'm glad you enjoyed your nieces visit and how sad that she has had so many losses I'm sure she enjoyed her visit too. Good luck with the amigurumi faces are the hardest thing to do I always think, looking forward to seeing the finished result. Have a great week. xx
ReplyDeleteI think the visit was kind of therapeutic for both of us. We both seem to be really happy to have connected after many years.
DeleteAll the best with finding a new home and the releasing of the current home. I am sure that you niece was comforted by the visit. It is good to talk things over. Here's to a pleasant week and to finding a sweet, cute face for your project.
ReplyDeleteIt was amazing to spend time with this niece. I'm already looking forward to connecting with her in the future. Hopefully, it doesn't take another death in the family to make that happen. :^/
DeleteYou just got things settled down a bit and then your life takes you by the hand and swings you around like a square dancer! Between thinking about leaving a house you've spent your life in and going back into the grieving over losses....you must be emotionally drained! I'm so sorry....you need and deserve a real vacation!
ReplyDeleteI love your little "friend" and I totally understand the "fear of the face"! Good luck! I hope you have a relaxing week ahead. Hugs ~ Sam
LOL. You have a way with words, Sam. I imagine it looks like all that from your perspective (from the other side of the screen of someone reading my blog). Maybe it's because this is actually something WE can control (to whatever extent a person controls anything), it feels kind of energizing to me. Or at least it's something positive in a very hard year. We'll see if that feeling holds...
Deletewe keep talking about selling and 'leveling' to a rancher, but so far it is all talk. I keep thinking once our 2nd doses happen we will feel more inclined to start going to open houses, and having a realtor in and some people to clean the house and yarn for us before selling. Can't wait to see your project with what I am sure will be the perfect cute face!
ReplyDeleteSame here. We may talk about it for years more, for all I know, but moving the needle in the process is feeling good.
DeleteOh wow, most likely moving? A little bittersweet but exciting at the same time! I'd like o move again. We may think of it once the youngest is in college.
ReplyDeleteMoving has been the plan for some time so it doesn't feel bittersweet to me. It feels like it's been a long time coming. We're just finally running out of excuses for not getting it done already. I hope that doesn't change.
DeleteOoh I'm excited for your house searching. After all your decluttering and organising it sounds like you are in a better position to move without the hassle of all the extra stuff you had pre-sorting. Keep us posted.
ReplyDeleteLooking at smaller houses is a really mind-work. Imagining living in a smaller space, and with so many newer house designs being "open concept" it's hard to visualize life in a different space. It's a process, for sure.
DeleteWow - after the year you've had you've started house hunting too? You're certainly going to be busy! I hope you find just what you're looking for and the pieces fall into place just the way they should. Don't envy you the process but I know you'll like having less property to look after. Looking forward to seeing your completed project - I already know it's going to be cute!
ReplyDeleteWe put house-hunting on hold for the last year to deal with what we had to, so it actually feels really good to start thinking in this direction again. My attitude is "no hurries", "no pressure". Unless the right house for us presents itself early on, I suspect this may take a while.
DeleteOOHHH, A possible move is always a bit exciting and a lot terrifying. I would love to downsize our home but the thought of packing up 30 plus years of stuff scares the stuffings out of me. Even with all the decluttering we have done, we still own waaaay too much stuff to downsize. Looking forward to this coming YOP to see how your little guy turned out.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to spend some quality time with your niece, even if it was in painful circumstances. How exciting to start looking at a new home.
ReplyDeleteA possible move is always a bit stressful for sure but also exciting! Just the other day as I rummaged through one of my messy drawers I had the thought of how nice it is when you first move in to a new place and everything is organized haha!
ReplyDeleteBuying and selling homes is such a big step, just beginning to look must be difficult. Glad you've taken the first step. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Hi Becki :)) I really thought I'd commented on this post! :) Your project looks like it's really coming along! Very nice stitch work! Oh gosh...I will admit. I never. NEVER. EVER want to go through the home buying process again. I can't imagine selling my home either. I want to stay here until I'm 105 years old, toothless and waving my cane at youngsters in anger lol...I wish you all the best of luck finding your new place and selling the one you're in now!
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