Thimbleanna

Oink!

Really?  I popped by to check in, and it’s been two (TWO!) months since my last post.  I feel like I should have started with “Forgive Me Father, it’s been two months … “.  I think that’s the longest break I’ve had in my eleven years of blogging and it makes me so sad.  I’d like to promise (at least to myself) that it won’t happen again, but, for the foreseeable future, it will probably, certainly be spotty posting.  We’re dog-sitting our cute little Winston this week, and he definitely disapproves too!

Thimbleanna: Winston

The year is speeding by and I feel like I’m missing most of it.  I do have a good excuse though — MyDadLovesMeBestSister and I have started cleaning out MeMum’s house and it’s been a LOT of work.  Mummy has been living with us for a year and a half now and we decided that it just doesn’t make any sense to keep her house any more.  Empty houses are very sad — they need families and people living in them to keep them happy.  ;-(  We started going through things in early spring, but it’s taking forever, mostly because a) we both work full-time, and b) it’s a big house stuffed full.  Mummy loved collecting pretty things (downsizing was NEVER in her plan) and it’s been fun and hard and sad all at once to go through everything.  There have been lots of tears (and smiles) and we still have lots to do.  We’ve found lots of gems too — this is one of my favorites discovered last weekend —

Thimbleanna: Rocket

All this sorting really makes you think about stuff.  What to DO with all of it???  I can hardly bear to part with any of it — especially things that have been handed down through the family.  It’s hard though because, at least for now, the grandkids don’t seem to be interested in any of it.  I’d like to be able to save them from this same fate when my time comes, but will I be able to???  Maybe I’ll just keep it all in hopes they’ll change their minds as they, um, mature LOL.  Oh, the dilemma …

Anyway, in happier news, I have been sewing a little here and there.  I made a new little top for FinallyAGirl last weekend.

Thimbleanna: Piggies

I noticed in quilt market reports that there was a new Korean fabric company at market this year and when I saw this adorable little piggy print, I knew I had to have it.  I also loved the sweet little wildflower print in pink, gray and mustard and had to have that too.  The little piggies kill me though — I might have to make myself a top out of this fabric.  I probably won’t put an Oink! label on my shirt though LOL.

Thimbleanna: Piggies

SweetiePie reports that the piggies fit just right and that they look cute with a little pair of denim shorts. Just what I was hoping for!
Have a Happy Father’s Day Weekend!
XOXO,
Anna

17 thoughts on “Oink!”

  1. I can sympathize! Cleaning a house, which usually represent a life time, gives one lots to think about. Love your little top. It’s adorable. Hugs!

  2. Oh that little top is gorgeous – love the fabric!!

    And I love the little card you found. We found all the letters my mum ever wrote to my dad when they were dating…mum told me I wasn’t allowed to read them till she was gone. My dad had a good look at a few of them. Been busy here too – my dad is so frail now that he is bed ridden so I have been home a lot. But heading off to the south of France for a week on Tuesday – some sun is much needed!

  3. And for your penance…….
    I’ve been MIA a lot too this year. We are trying to get rid of ‘stuff.’ A birthday with a big fat zero is the motivator. Lots of shredding going on and trips to the charity shops. I keep thinking I should just dust off those Waterford Crystal glasses and use them every day – wouldn’t that feel special? The daughters aren’t interested and I would, but then I’d have to be so careful (hand) washing them. I do realize people have real problems, I have them too. I just need to do it and pretend my name is Lady Muck and the OC is the butler! Your piggies are adorable, especially the ‘oink’ touch!

  4. it is hard to go through things – but in the end if you want to keep something keep it and then down the road your family might want some of the things and they might not – just the way it is. One of my daughters wants everything the other could care less about almost all of it – makes it very well known what few things she wants.

  5. I know what you are going through. I have done that with my parents, and now starting to do the same. I haven’t posted on my blog since the end of last year. It got me to thinking that probably my son would not like to clean out our house. It is sad and happy going through things. What to keep what to give or throw away. What to save for our son. I have been the keeper of family records. Need to up my ancestry account. I just hate getting rid of things, especially family related. Oh well, I keep moving along.
    It is good to get in some sewing, it helps to take you mind off things. That OINK top is so adorable. Don’t forget to breath and take care of yourself.

  6. We moved across the country last year and that was the motivation to clear out stuff. You pay by the pound for what they move for you. We still have quite a bit of “stuff”, but certainly less than we had and we found out that the stuff the kids might want is stuff we still use. Very little is meaningful to them of our past except the stories we tell.

  7. Don’t tell me about ‘stuff’… having moved my mum twice and now we’re clearing out to downsize our own house I know just how long it takes. Especially once you start finding things to read… the note is so cute! And those little piggies are adorable. Who wouldn’t want a top like that!

  8. I understand the difficulty with your mom’s house. My mom just accepted an offer for her house and will be moving to assisted living later this summer. I’ll go out to help with the move. She has been cleaning out and donating for a few months now but I still expect it will be hard and a lot of work, though likely to stir up a lot of good memories too.

  9. This little piggie went to market, this little piggie stayed home… so many cute little piggies!

    You have my heart with downsizing your mom’s house. My sister is living with my mom since she can’t live by herself anymore. Her house sounds like your mom’s, and it’s so hard convincing her that she would be better off without some of the stuff (like old newspapers). But she’s happy and healthy, which is what matters.

  10. You’ve been busy. I can’t imagine cleaning out a house FULL of memories. I loved that note! You are good to begin the job and maybe see a special family living in it someday in the future, beginning new memories there.

    Oh, I do love the piggy fabric and top you made.

  11. LOVE! the fabrics AND the note! I hear you so much on this….it is just plain hard, loosing parents and figuring out what to do with their stuff. It is so strange that the young kids don’t need/want hand me down stuff…when I was young married I would have taken a bed…
    Great post and yes post when you can…you are missed by me. When do your kids leave Utah?

  12. Oh no, I know exactly how it feels to clear one’s childhood home! So many memories and so much stuff! I’m a hoarder at heart and it is very difficult for me to throw things out. Luckily hubby is the exact opposite so we balance each other out. Good luck with that mammoth task, thank God for sisters, eh? And what about that note you wrote! Surly you can’t throw that out, can you??? That oink top is the cutest and and I’m sure your little princess looks adorable.
    PS: I’ve been very remiss in blogging too and I’m starting to wonder if it might be time to stop altogether! I think the best years of blogging are over as so many of my favourites have stopped blogging. I blame Instagram!

  13. did you get to see the rocket go to outer space? my dad would have set the alarm for me, too … i have the envelope with my stereo warranty from 50 years ago because it is the only remaining piece of paper that has my name written on it by him, and how could i bring myself to let it go?

    give Auntie MeMum a hug for me, and your sister, too … you are doing a hard thing – i’ve been there and done that (my own sister wouldn’t speak to me for five years after we went through my mom’s stuff) – you two need each other…

  14. Anna! I just saw that note you wrote to MYDLM! i KNOW that since you can’t part with poorly written books offering tainted marriage advice from the 1970’s – that you most certainly will find a way to preserve the important/precious findings you’ve come across. thanks for sharing that with us, it warmed my heart. i’m sort of like the grinch – so i need that now and again. and thanks for showing us what you made with that piggy fabric! i bought it from you before for fussy cutting but now i had to go and buy it to make a little romper or something for my unborn grandchildren hope chest – since my grandson would look ridiculous in that getup. okay… well…. you rock. have a great day!
    :waves madly

    1. okay so i got all confused and called your dad MYLMB and hen i typed it wrong…. sorry, it’s early and i’m old…

  15. At least you got rid of all those quilting magazines and I know have a three ring binder of inspiration I’ve torn from many of the pages ;)
    I love your sweet index note to your dad. I’m glad that I keep all of the notes from my kids

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