Another two hours or so in the shed yesterday – it was very cold out there! We’ll do more tomorrow and I think that will do it, except for swabbing the floor. The dumpster is nearly full, in fact, we may have to do some additional dumping ourselves after the dumpster is taken away on Monday. I’m not sure everything will fit.
That shed was packed – much of it stuff that we couldn’t fit in our house and didn’t really need. That much is obvious. I did part with a couple of boxes of photos from earlier parts of my life – it was tempting to go through them but I already have way too many photos stashed in this house and the thought of more? No. Plus, they smelled musty. So I had to turn on the “Shirley” part of me – Shirley being my mom. My mom could be ruthless about these things. I know. Where did my Tiny Tears go? How about my Beatles albums? Or my Barbies? Or the piano that is now in my house but almost was sold out from under me (it was mine) because Mom and Dad were going to move and I was living in a studio apartment in Philadelphia and Mom didn’t want to take it with them to their new house? As sentimental as I am about many things, when it’s time to be ruthless with dumping stuff, I can do it.
Don, on the other hand, found lots of musty old souvenirs that he wants to keep but now that he’s smelled them, he’s not sure what to do.
I did find my glass paperweights. I remember chatting to one of you about them a while back – I was pretty sure they were in the shed, but had no idea where. Well, I dug them out of a big box.
Aren’t they pretty? I can’t remember who gave each one to me, but I know some of them were from my mom and dad. My favorite – and I panicked because I couldn’t find it, it ended up being in a different box – is this one:
It’s very, very heavy and the design is etched in the base. It was given to me by a family friend when I was a teenager who knew I was interested in them. That paperweight started my collection. It’s a modest collection, of course, but it means a lot to me and I’ve thought a lot about it over the years.
When we were in Chicago a few years back (during the Margaritaville tour) I saw some beautiful glass paperweights in The Art Institute of Chicago gift shop. I felt that little prick of “I want one of these” after so many years of them being off my radar, but I didn’t buy one. Then a couple years ago in Paris, I bought one from one of the museums.
I’d like some more, but only if they really capture me. For now, this little grouping is lovely. I’ll probably add the one I got in Paris.
They’re mesmerizing.
Come to think of it, this might be classified as my very first collection, other than the books and records I always purchased with my babysitting money. I was definitely around 14 or 15 when I started collecting them. I remember buying a book about paperweights. Same MO as now. I always buy a book – if there’s one available – to learn more about what I’m collecting.
There’s little available display space here, so I think they’re going to live right where you see them, on the tiger oak sideboard in the living room.
It went down to 18 degrees last night. Yikes. It will get warmer today and tonight, but we really felt the cold this morning. Too soon!
Stay safe.
Happy Thursday.
The paperweights are beautiful! I am always drawn to them in gift shops and museums. The only thing I collect is angel Christmas ornaments. Well, I could consider my yarn stash a collection I suppose. I have more than I will use in my lifetime!
I’m very happy for you to be reunited with all your treasures. They are a great reward for all your hard work.
Stay safe
Yes, it’s nice! We are very tired, but only a little more to go!
Stay safe, Marilyn.
And, are you going to re-stock the shed with the items now in the storage facility? ;-)
Some of them – the items that won’t be destroyed by mice! We’ll definitely downsize into a smaller storage space and save some money!
Stay safe, Petra.
I am thrilled to see your paperweight collection. It’s lovely. I have one, too…and mesmerizing is the perfect word. It’s what draws my eye to them, when ever I see them. I don’t actively add to my collection, now. But, every once in a while, one captures my eye, and my heart.
It must feel good to be almost done. And you found some lovely things in the process. As far as the musty things go, I usually take a picture. I still have the memory…but no odor. Stay safe! ;)
I’ll suggest that he take a picture or two. But he’s a sentimental guy, so I don’t know if he’ll go for that!
Stay safe, Donna.
Your paperweights are gorgeous. I’ve always been drawn to them when I see them in shops. I’d love to collect them, but I have absolutely nowhere to put them. No empty table tops in this house at all – they’re covered in plants and books!
Somehow I find a way to make some room!
Stay safe, Melanie.
Gosh, you ARE quite cold there in upstate NY; brrrr … you’ve got twenty degrees on us; in the wee hrs of Weds/yest, we were 38 degrees which is cold for us thin-skinned SoCalifornians.
What a beautiful surprise; paperweights. It’s a nice small collectible. They’re stunning and you captured all of that beauty and their color so wonderfully with your camera.
If I collect any more it will only be a few. Space is at a premium!
Stay safe, Vicki.
I have 4 paperweights that were passed down from my husband’s family. I love every one of them! You have some beauties to display.
We are supposed to reach 60* today. Crazy weather for crazy times. I am back to not being able to watch the news again. I don’t think this madness is ever going to end.
I can barely watch the news. I am so sick of these people. SO TIRED of their attempts to destroy our democracy.
Stay safe, Chris.
congratulations to you and don on getting so much work done (work that can be both physically and emotionally draining) and seeing that proverbial light at the end of the tunnel on a big project!
your paperweights are beautiful and shown to great advantage right where they’re at with that dark wood and sunlight. i think my favorite might be the one with millefiori (though it’s fascinating to me how real flowers can be sealed inside without the resin or liquid glass and heat somehow damaging their petals. i know i could learn about that from the internet, but not right now).
as for don’s musty-smelling re-finds, i bet the internet offers lots of possible cleaning and odor-removing ideas (if you need them, given he decides to keep those souvenirs).
i am a keeper of some family history and treasures, particularly photos of loved ones. the work you and don have accomplished is a great reminder for me to go through some bins and make sure everything is well-organized, safely packed, labelled, shared or displayed, etc.. … a very good project for the wintery evenings ahead. thanks for the inspiration!
hope you are taking it easy, doing things that you enjoy today.
usual around here (duh, huh?) except for a couple things. one, it’s supposed to reach 72 degrees here today. as much as i love rain (which is a lot … it’s 100% my favorite kind of weather), this weather is beautiful and i love being able to have windows open for a while to get some fresh air. :) and my back is still somehow messed up. had a change in medicine and added something over-the-counter that seems to help a bit more than the first prescription stuff did. i feel very, very, extremely old (like 162 instead of 62). i figure there’s a lesson or two in here for me to learn. in the meantime, i am moving quite slowly (it took five tries to pick up my phone off the floor this morning) and cussing more than i’d like to admit, but i am still getting stuff done and starting to sleep a bit better at night. :)
and we are one day closer to a vaccine. and one day closer to january 20, 2021. and one day closer to other wonderful things. hooray!
happy thursday, everyone. stay safe and well!
kathy in iowa
Oh, I know what to do with musty smell. But nothing works perfectly. There’s always some of it left, especially with paper products. I spent months trying to rid some books of that musty smell. Months. And it never really worked.
I wonder if we have that warm weather coming?
I’m so, so sorry about your back. I know all too well how annoying and debilitating that can feel. Go slow. Be patient. It just takes time.
Stay safe, Kathy.
Paperweights are lovely and a nice collection. I’m still collecting my flower frogs but have no where to display most of them. I’ve even downsized them and I still have too many. Can’t quite part with all of them just yet but it’s coming I fear. Hugs!
Don’t part with your frogs! They’re lovely and they don’t take up much space at all! Find a little vintage shelf to hang on the wall and group them there.
Stay safe, Linda.
I have a collection of embroidered tablecloths. Napkins, Pillowcases. My mom had the ability to make everything beautiful. I missed that gene. I have so many of her things, Don’t know what to do with them. So much for gracious living. Doug and I are living rather simply despite a house jammed with “things”. I polish the silver, have hung her paintings, stored her photographs. Who will care for them when I am gone? I don’t have a collection of my own….maybe seashells and sea glass and silver and turquoise jewelry. I feel the weight of all of it. It should give me joy, just makes me sad somehow. You r home has something interesting in every corner. Do you think your love of miniature and doll houses is a connection to your love of theater and stage?
Maybe. I don’t know. I loved them when I was little as well and I wasn’t yet in love with the theater.
I worry about my things, as well. All of my nephews? I don’t think they’ll be interested. I only have one niece who might be. So, the piano, grandma’s things….who will take them?
Stay safe, Maria.
Your paperweights are so lovely and I love how each is so distinct!
My daughter took me to the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass in Neenah, WI where she lives. They have a huge collection of paperweights there. Here is a glimpse if you have some free time: https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/bergstrom-mahler-museum-of-glass
Good work with the dumpster! Jealous!
Thanks, Ellen.
We’re awfully tired but it’s worth it in the end.
Stay safe!
You are so productive! I love the paperweights. I saw a beautiful exhibit of them at Flint Art Institute a few years ago. Stunning. You have some beauties.
Try putting paper documents (or maybe other things ) that are musty or damp in rice. It’s worth a shot.
Rice or baking soda or charcoal. But nothing really takes it away entirely!
Stay safe, Jeanie.
I have used cheap kitty litter to help get rid of a cigarette smell. I dumped some in a plastic grocery bag and laid my photos etc on top. This did help, but I left it for weeks.
I know that isn’t the same smell as musty , but it’d be worth a try.