Monday, September 20, 2021

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! 

10 comments:

  1. Clutter and hoarding are different! How good of you to help your friend...at least she is trying to get rid of some stuff with your help. Hope you had a great birthday! Your supervisor is awfully cute!

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  2. I must admit that I laughed out loud at your last sentence. We got rid of so much stuff when we moved out of our house last summer and yet this one is FULL already. How? Although it's not "hoarder full" thank goodness. I've discovered that, except for yarn, less is more. Bless you for helping your friend so much. I only had to do that once, after a lady from church passed on. I walked into her apartment and almost had a heart attack. I had just retired from my job and the minister asked me if I could possibly clean it out as her family lived far away and didn't want anything. Oh. My. Gosh. Apparently she was a closet drinker. I found 29 empty gallon size vodka bottles! I took them to the church dumpster and always wondered if anyone saw them in there and wondered. HAAAAAA! My car reeked of vodka for days. That wasn't all I found, and it was sure an interesting experience for me.
    On another subject, I sure like all of your decorations. I got rid of most of mine when we moved out of the house but that's okay. I don't need much.
    Wishing you a wonderful Tuesday my friend.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  3. My heart goes out to your friend, it must be so difficult and a reason behind the hoarding. Sadly until this is addressed not a lot will change. You are a wonderful friend trying to help.

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  4. OMG!!!!
    Here I thought the house next to me was a disaster... YIKES!! Maybe it has cured your husband of saying anything about your things!! LOL!Your home looks lovely all decked out for Fall!! So pretty!! Thanks so much for stopping by!!The weather here has started to cool down, thankfully!!
    Hugs,
    Deb

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  5. Love what you did with the corn stalks on the porch . . . very creative :)

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  6. What a lovely yard and it just screams fall! I love it 😊

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  7. Me again! Loved seeing how pretty your home looks all decorated!! I did enjoy my alone time and was able to get the Dining Room done in 2 days instead of 3 because of no interruptions! I bet you could use some alone time with all you have going on there...Thanks for always taking the time to visit!! I so appreciate it as i know how busy you are!!
    Hugs,
    Deb

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  8. Love the decorations! Fall is my favorite time for them. I'm sad about your hoarder friend. It is a sickness and it sounds like her daughter is enabling her. I can't imagine living among all that stuff. You are a good person to try to help.

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  9. Me again!! Thanks so much for stopping by!! I laughed when I read your comment about the air conditioners!! We still have the bedroom in but it will be coming out this week....Still in the 70's but not warm enough to put it on at night because it is going down to the 50's at night. I am finally finished decorating for Fall and Halloween...I do love the way the house looks in Fall.....Now we just need the weather to have it actually feel like Fall!!
    Hugs,
    Debbie

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Miss Merry