NJ, I could picture that canoe scene. I will say that one of the advantages of having a drought is the relative absence of mosquitoes. My daughter and SIL have been amazed at how few they have had. They are already planning on screening in their back porch, though.
I never realized how many types of mosquitoes there are and that some do not sting but are pollinators. It is a joy to learn things like this from the experts that work in our state or national parks.
Morning…hot and dry on repeat around here! Pollens are horrid but air conditioning is a blessing!
It has been so dry around here that mosquitoes haven’t been an issue for us. But boy oh boy the flies are crazy this time of year…and wasps! We have hummingbirds hanging around still so we have a pheromone thingy hanging on a close by tree to attract the bees away from the feeders. I suppose with beauty the unlovely intrudes…kind of like life for us all at times…
That was my Bible verse for this week, Psalm 57:11, if I remember correctly. I may have gotten a few words wrong but that is the gist of it. It went right along with what I saw.
We hit 99° yesterday
Then a big storm hit and took it down to 74°
I am having a day of troubles. Feeling, more than ever, overwhelmed. Telling God I am waiting on His Providence. Also asking if it is staring me in the face and I have not recognized it.
I’ve dealt with houses after a dead five times. It’s very hard, time consuming, confusing, and better if you have a dumpster.
Sometimes it’s helpful to enlist someone who didn’t know the deceased–they’re aren’t sentimentally attached to any of the possessions.
Case in point: I flew south to help empty out my brother’s mother-in-law’s apartment. She already had left her big house and pared down her possesssions.
But still, so difficult emotionally for her children.
I went through the apartment myself, packing things up, throwing things in the dumpster, blithely and non-emotionally sealing boxes and stacking them beside the door.
While there, the phone rang. When I answered, it was the LA Opera Society thanking her for her donation and asking if she wanted to renew.
I spoke as gently as I could to that cheerful young woman.
“I’m sorry, E has died.”
As the woman’s voice switched to appropriate words, I said,
“Thank you, but I want to tell you something.
The opera gave her such pleasure the last three years of her life. It was always important to her, particularly culturally, and she took her two grandchildren, her only grandchildren, to the opera every season. She taught them to love the music, and that was only possible because of people like you.
“So, our family thanks you for the wonderful memories you enabled her to share with her darling children–the joy of her life.”
The woman began to cry (!), sniffed with, “Thank you for telling us.”
Michelle – When my mother-in-law, who had been living with us, died, I was the one to go through her things to decide what might be worth keeping or not worth keeping. Hubby knew that I would be sensitive but rational, while he would have been too sentimental.
Good idea about the dumpster! Those can be rented, and are a great help. Much easier than making umpteen trips to the dump.
(For those who might not know, the dumpsters are delivered and then picked up again on an agreed upon date. Easy peasy.)
Good morning all.
NJ, I could picture that canoe scene. I will say that one of the advantages of having a drought is the relative absence of mosquitoes. My daughter and SIL have been amazed at how few they have had. They are already planning on screening in their back porch, though.
I never realized how many types of mosquitoes there are and that some do not sting but are pollinators. It is a joy to learn things like this from the experts that work in our state or national parks.
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Morning…hot and dry on repeat around here! Pollens are horrid but air conditioning is a blessing!
It has been so dry around here that mosquitoes haven’t been an issue for us. But boy oh boy the flies are crazy this time of year…and wasps! We have hummingbirds hanging around still so we have a pheromone thingy hanging on a close by tree to attract the bees away from the feeders. I suppose with beauty the unlovely intrudes…kind of like life for us all at times…
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Been to the house or horror or a hoarder today. Is there a difference? So much work.
The Baylor and Auburn game is on. Of course we a pulling for Baylor where son attended.
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Wow! A big rain shower and the sun was shining bright the whole time. I sat outside in awe.
“Be exalted, O God, above the heVens; let your glory be over all the earth
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That was my Bible verse for this week, Psalm 57:11, if I remember correctly. I may have gotten a few words wrong but that is the gist of it. It went right along with what I saw.
We hit 99° yesterday
Then a big storm hit and took it down to 74°
I am having a day of troubles. Feeling, more than ever, overwhelmed. Telling God I am waiting on His Providence. Also asking if it is staring me in the face and I have not recognized it.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I’ve dealt with houses after a dead five times. It’s very hard, time consuming, confusing, and better if you have a dumpster.
Sometimes it’s helpful to enlist someone who didn’t know the deceased–they’re aren’t sentimentally attached to any of the possessions.
Case in point: I flew south to help empty out my brother’s mother-in-law’s apartment. She already had left her big house and pared down her possesssions.
But still, so difficult emotionally for her children.
I went through the apartment myself, packing things up, throwing things in the dumpster, blithely and non-emotionally sealing boxes and stacking them beside the door.
While there, the phone rang. When I answered, it was the LA Opera Society thanking her for her donation and asking if she wanted to renew.
I spoke as gently as I could to that cheerful young woman.
“I’m sorry, E has died.”
As the woman’s voice switched to appropriate words, I said,
“Thank you, but I want to tell you something.
The opera gave her such pleasure the last three years of her life. It was always important to her, particularly culturally, and she took her two grandchildren, her only grandchildren, to the opera every season. She taught them to love the music, and that was only possible because of people like you.
“So, our family thanks you for the wonderful memories you enabled her to share with her darling children–the joy of her life.”
The woman began to cry (!), sniffed with, “Thank you for telling us.”
And we hung up the phone.
E really did love the opera.
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However, there was the other incident.
I took great satisfaction while carrying the bathroom scale to the dumpster and flinging it in.
It landed with a resounding “thump.”
Later that night at dinner, my sister-in-law’s brother asked, “Has anyone seen Mom’s scale? I thought I’d take it.”
While everyone (except me) said no, I sat quietly.
They shrugged.
This is my confession.
Happy labor day. Cry your eyes out, Janice. Much has ended for you and this has to be tough.
Sorry I’m not closer to help.
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Michelle – When my mother-in-law, who had been living with us, died, I was the one to go through her things to decide what might be worth keeping or not worth keeping. Hubby knew that I would be sensitive but rational, while he would have been too sentimental.
Good idea about the dumpster! Those can be rented, and are a great help. Much easier than making umpteen trips to the dump.
(For those who might not know, the dumpsters are delivered and then picked up again on an agreed upon date. Easy peasy.)
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Or, as Chickadee would say, “easy peazy lemon squeezy.” 🙂
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