Letting Go...

It really is hard to let go.  For 41 years we have collected, saved and squirreled things away. Now we have to get rid of 97% of it. Decisions, decisions...what will we keep what will we get rid of...Hmm. 

Angels...I have a lovely collection of angels, they are small and I don't have many (6) so they will go with us. You can never have too many riding along with you.

A few of my angels

Betsy Ross and Bi-Centennial Candle

 I also have small collections of Multi Holiday paraphernalia that I will take for seasonal changes.  Of course the small 4 ft. Christmas tree and some ornaments. Nothing too big, no room for it.  

Sewing supplies...My sewing machine of course, thread, scissors and whatever else I can pack into a small box.  My knitting circles and yarn and a favorite pattern or two, especially the templet to make the hand towels for the kitchen as gifts.

Computers and Cameras...What more do I need to say.

Just have to make the decision to pare down as necessary. I like my 4-in-1 printer, fax, copier and scanner, but will need to take the Epson Photo Printer for that professional touch as we plan to pursue our photography business on the road.    

West Coast Sunset

Art Supplies...I like to paint miniature landscapes, put small frames on them, then place them on little easels and sell them. So my paints, brushes and canvases all fit in a small two bottle wooden wine box. Imagine that!

Photos and Letters...I have been working on a project for several years "Love Letters from Franklin A Long Distance Love Story". I have been translating my father's hand written letters to the printed form.  I have all of his letters he wrote to my mother during WWII, including his proposal letter to her as he could not face her to ask her to marry him.  He was so scared she would say "no".  I am putting together a book with pictures that tells their story for each of their grand-kids and my brother and sister-in-law.  This will be a good project to work on when I am manning the gate at night while we are gate guarding down in south Texas next year. 

Kitchen...Still have to make some tough decisions there, but I can do it.  I do know that I will be bringing my Kitchen Aid mixer.  Some cast iron ware for cooking outside.  Baking sheets and mom's old electric griddle.  It has to be at least 56 years old and still going strong.  It makes the best bacon and home fries and let's not forget pancakes.  Of course there's the standard stuff, plates, plastic glasses, plastic ware for storage, flippers, tongs, prep knives, silverware, bake ware, microwave cookware and one nice table setting for those special occasions that just include the two of us and a few other items.  I plan to do a lot of my cooking outside our trailer as I love to cook outside. It seems to me the food tastes better.  I'm even going to try preparing food in a solar oven.  

Clothes...Jeans, T-shirts, shorts, 1 nice pair of pants each and a nice top or shirt.  Casual, casual, casual.

Tools...Bow saw, hoe, weed whacker, ladder, and tools to work on odd -n-ends. Sanders and scroll saw and a Miter box that was my great grandmothers.  I make frames. 

Paintings...I have several that I will bring, nothing too big but none the less treasured as they were painted by my mom.  The grans pictures.  I have a collage set that will be perfect in the trailer where I can change out pictures of the boys as they grow.  

A perfect place for the boy's pictures

My Mary Kay business...I have a carry case that will hold all of my Mary Kay products for purchase and it's not too large. So it will stow in a corner nicely.

For my impromptu office... I have a small desk organizer that looks like a mini roll top desk, I use it a lot as it is movable. 

For any space...Portable heaters and oscillating fan.

I will figure it out in time and then the fun really begins. Garage sales!

418 days and counting...