When I was 16, my mother went to San Francisco for a few weeks to learn Ultrasound. While she was there, she purchased this lapis, intending to set it in a ring someday. At age 19, I took it to a jeweler and had it set for her in 14kt gold. To my knowledge, she never wore it, even though she was thrilled to receive it as a Christmas gift.
I have seen it in her jewelry box for years. Full circle moment: it is now my ring, and I have been wearing it here and there, just feeling that connection with her. Most of the jewelry I inherited from her is hard to wear. I treasure these items, but I know I would not be able to own them without her death.
Change of subject.
This chicken recipe from The Crockpot Lady, served alongside a chopped kale and cabbage salad, buttery rice on the side, was a fantastic meal this week. And yes, I am still texting "chow call" photos to my peeps at home. Bubbie told me it tasted like Christmas - the recipe does call for allspice and cinnamon.
The Goodwill I shop at is so small, but when it comes to the book section, its the place to go! Plus, the lady who works there is so nice. It makes for an enjoyable half an hour, picking up new books to read. My goal lately is to carve out more time reading, less time scrolling.
I would also love to start a new cross stitch project and I am inspired by the pretty projects posted by an old friend. I am hoping she may share her patterns with me because sketching them out from a photo is challenging!
The evolution of Mom's yard the past few months:
{photos courtesy of nosy neighbor across the street}
Overgrown and neglected yard.
The executor hired a yard crew to mow, remove trash, and cut the oleanders way back - it really needed this.
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100+ year old tree, as seen from Mom's driveway before.
Some 20 feet up is the remains of a wire clothesline.
Disaster struck when a storm blew through just as the executor was going to list the house for sale - my mother would have been devastated at the damage to her home and the loss of this tree.
Tree removed, repairs to garage and house being made, yard to be re-sodded.
Tree crisis managed - now will the house sell?
As I told my sister, its like its all still hanging over our heads and we won't truly be able to move on until the estate is settled, once and for all.
Gina
5 comments:
I am going to have to try that chicken recipe tomorrow; it sounds delicious! Your ring is beautiful. Hopefully once the repairs are done the house will sell quickly.
There are web sites where you can upload a picture and it will convert it to a cross stitch for you. On my phone I use the cross stitch editor app. On the computer you can use - pic2pat.com, Flosscross, or stitchfiddle. Plus, there are amazing cross stitch groups on FB for more inspo.
Wendy in HTX
I wonder why your mom never wore that ring. That’s the thing about losing people, you never get the opportunity to ask them things that you’re curious about. It really is lovely, so I do hope that you will wear it. I find that now that I don’t go into work every day, and rarely dress up, that I don’t wear jewelry much at all anymore except for a necklace and some earrings. The chicken recipe sounds wonderful. My crockpot is small, so a whole chicken wouldn’t fit, but this does sound wonderful. I am a big fan of jerk chicken
I have several of my mom's old jewelry pieces, but they harken back to another era. They're beautiful, but not pieces I could wear on a daily basis. However, every now and then I take them, look at them, get a whiff of her Chanel No. 5, that still clings to them after all these years and feel a little bit closer.
What a terrible storm! Really enjoy your stories of decluttering & purging, you are transforming your life & home into a cozy & calm place that reflects you.
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