This Old House

After 40 plus years, my parents are moving.

Sorry, shoulda had you sit down first.

We stopped in on our way home to see the new place for the first time but I didn't take any pictures as they still have boxes and plastic wrap over the carpet so it wouldn't have done the place justice. However, some of us then made a trip over to the old homestead.

Some of you have been to Ye Olde House on the Hill and may have fond memories of hanging out on the porch swing ("that is NOT a roller coaster. Be gentle. GENTLE!"), or sliding down the now lily covered hill (which my Dad used to have to mow) on the Twister tarp ("what are you DOING!?") or coloring with sidewalk chalk all over the corner lot ("Girls, we need rain. Can you go draw, please?").

This is the porch swing where my bestie and I used to snooker my little brother into being a "patient". Once we had his consent and he was prone, we'd tie him to the swing with a jump rope so he wouldn't fall off and then would proceed to "operate" on him with our Fisher Price doctors' kits. Being extremely ticklish, I was always surprised that he'd consented more than once...

This was the Storage of Christmas Stuff room in our attic. I never thought I'd see the day that it was empty. There are crayon scribbles on the ceiling behind the cameraman and Carrie asked me if I'd done it. "Seeing as it says 'Jack B wrote this', what do YOU think?"

My parents' eat-in kitchen. Looks forlorn without the full view of mom's baskets on the walls and fun things in the cubbies. Also looks naked without the fridge and stove, haha.

The living room, with PaPa's vacuuming triangles if you look close. I always loved the French doors.

This was my bedroom, my gorgeous floor. When I lived here, it was covered in hideous (not an exaggeration) wallpaper showing large avocado, sunset orange, and yellow flowers. When I was small, second grade maybe, my parents redid it for me in Holly Hobbie wallpaper with soft blue trim. That lasted until about my junior year of high school when I'd worn my parents down with my begging and pleading to paint it Bermuda blue. AND they let me do a mural featuring a dragon on the smallest wall. Once I moved out, my mom papered it and had a very restful seaside theme going, featuring shells from the ocean and adorable stuffed crabs we'd picked up in our travels. 

And that would be Carrie helping unwallpaper during one of her visits when she was small. The bed fit between those windows and she saw a peely part so she "helped."

So send your good vibes to my parents as they downsize and, most importantly, enjoy only one flight of stairs in their new home instead of four. 

I shudder to think what Shenanigans this old house would report if these walls could talk.

Tino through the XRay

Care Bear joined the Girl Scouts this school year. They meet once a month after school and also do one fun monthly outing. For November, the girls met up at a local hospital for a tour of the X-ray section and were told to bring one stuffed animal or favorite lovey from home. Of course, steadfast Tino got to go with Carrie. Tino is a rainbowy Beanie Baby whom Carrie has had for years and years. She says she got to see his beans!

When they were finished, the girls were in the cafeteria having cookies and punch. And they were all in the tie dyed Tshirts they'd made at their first meeting. AND they were wearing the soft, blue surgical hats that look like poufy chef hats almost. Tooooo funny to see a whole troop of girls in matching garb, munching away. She had a wonderful time.

She's also very much looking forward to their camping trip in May. That oughta be hilarious!

Taking it easy today. We did church and it's break time now. Dada even got to mow, for what's hopefully the last time of 2011. Triskal is enjoying it completely; rolling around like fresh cut grass is the best thing ever for Newfoundland fuzz. Silly girl.

Happy weekend, and happiest of birthdays to Grandmama! oxoxoxoxoxoo!