Almost Autumn

 

I know that the first day of Autumn is a few days away. But I was down to one grandchild today and the weather forecast is rain (finally) so today was the day. We went to one of the farms where we purchase sweet corn and picked up some corn stalks. Between my gigantic hanging baskets and the stalks, it's like an enclosed porch. 

My mailbox cover is still September apples. My October cover is more Halloween than harvest. I usually pick up a bale of straw (a real bale, not a craft store bale) but gosh the prices have soared. And I don't really need one. 

Several windows have the silk flower fall wreaths. I only thought to include one in a photo. We had a lot of fall weddings and used them around wooden pumpkins with flower arrangements. I spotted the pillows on an early morning masked trip into our Walmart. Of course i was the only customer (or cashier) with a mask. 

There used to be a great craft show in a neighboring county. They had acres of woods with paths and crafters had "deeds" to small properties. Most constructed semi-permanent primitive sheds or cabins to sell their wares. There were several food concessions in replica buildings and picnic tables everywhere. Live music and wandering entertainers.  The empty fields served as parking lots (with tractors and wagons back and forth to your car) and a "show" - maybe antique cars or tractors or a Civil War or Native American camp out. Well, it turned out the organizers had a 20 year lease. Lease was up and owners did not want to renew. The crafters had to remove all the buildings and no more crafts like these nifty pumpkins and sunflowers planted in my lily bed. 

Here is one of my supervisors wearing grampa's hat.  I think these tin flowers came from the craft show, too. The flowers in the bicycle basket were pretty sparse so I stuck some of my silk leaves in there too. 

We are expecting the delivery of some very expensive mums. I believe that two different grandchildren's elementary schools had mum sales. I am also expecting some cookie dough from at least one other school and I am a little confused on quantities of what I ordered. 

I returned to my hoarder friend's apartment. She has secured a new apartment in a senior living complex. I am unclear as to what the rules are there or what kind of supervision there might be. Another friend had come and spent a day finishing the bedroom project I started. She had someone she knows come and help her start with the living room. All I could see was that they took piles of papers and stuff and, without any sorting, put it all into a zillion shopping totes, like ones they sell by cash registers. They are on the floor and all the furniture. 

I went to the kitchen.  I spent 8 hours and emptied and washed all her upper cupboards and all but one lower cabinet. i had a constant sink of dirty dishes soaking while I put the cupboard contents on a table and made her sort trash, keep and Goodwill.  Then I would wash a load and start another shelf. We made two trips to Goodwill with my SUV loaded with donations each time. I packed at least 6 files boxes of dishes, glasses, mugs and 2 frying pans and one pot. (her choice). We filled trash bags.  I found five nonoperational crock pots, and unearthed a huge 1990's computer monitor in a corner along with the tower. 

I had a pretty big birthday on Saturday and asked my husband for a trip to the landfill. He graciously humored me and drove his new truck over and helped me load her old mattress, box springs, the computer, the crock pots and the trash bags. I had asked her to pick out anything else that could go, but she was too tired. She was actually "too tired" to answer the door and just told us to come in and watched.  My husband took a glance at the kitchen and couldn't believe I had spent 8 straight hours attempting anything in there. Neither could I. 

She is to the point now where she has decided to just let stuff sit and make the landlord clear it out. I am sure they will sue her. Her children are no help at all. They are whining about helping her move. I really think she needs serious help. I am hoping the complex where she is moving might provide some supervision. I have a feeling if she does not change, they will move her to a nursing home. 

We are both the same age. I have discussed this with the mutual friend that is also trying to help. We both feel this is so far beyond us. I should mention that while we are trying to dispose of tons of stuff. (Literally tons), her daughter took her garage sale shopping this weekend. 

My husband is still shell shocked and traumatized from stepping in the apartment on Saturday. The good news is that I have not heard one word about my clutter, LOL!