Going to Grandma's

This weekend Bryan and I went down to Jackson, MS, to help with settling my Grandfather's estate.  He has recently moved in with my mother, and he's started giving away his "stuff" as it were.  We have been blessed to be given several things that hold sentimental value for me along with some more practical things - mostly from the tool shop - for Bryan.

Friday afternoon, we hit the road.  7 hours later, we arrived in Jackson.  I packed up my great grandmother, Pearl Caine's, green depression glass dishes along with some other serving dishes, and we loaded them into the truck.  It's a full service for 12+ complete with dinner, salad, dessert, demitasse cups and saucers, glasses, sherbet, a few serving pieces, and the list goes on!  I see a get together of sorts in the very near future to get those out (I'll post a better picture when they are out of the boxes and cleaned up)!

Earlier this year, we got my great grandmother Johnson's dressing cabinet which will be going into the NURSERY when we finally get around to decorating it.  It has a lovely stained glass window in front of some shelves along with 5 shallow drawers on one side.  Perfect for storing baby's things. I'm tempted to try to change out the hardware, but I don't want to do anything to damage this piece.  It's so beautiful!  See?

I was also able to pick up a few pieces of linens - table cloths and napkins, a bread bowl liner, etc.  They have been in storage for a long time and need a good cleaning, so I'll have to figure out the best way to wash antique linens - dry cleaner maybe?  They are cotton, so they may do OK on a delicate wash cycle.  I just don't want to risk it!

Anyway, a few more odds and ends, a parts washer, sand blaster, and metal band saw rounded out our load in the truck.  When we got home, we were all very tired.  It was all in all a great trip, but I'm glad we won't be driving that far again for a while.  Little Guy was getting restless by the time we pulled in the driveway.  He kept pushing against the side of my stomach really hard.  It didn't hurt, but it was definitely uncomfortable.  I can't believe I'm only 12 weeks away from having him here!  How exciting!

Setting Goals

This year, I'm attempting to simplify the way I "do life."  I have a tendency to go overboard and make things more complicated than they need to be or over analyze otherwise simple tasks.  This year, things will be different!  I will look at things at face value and not be too hard on myself when not EVERYTHING goes as planned.  I will enjoy the little things and not get worked up over them.

A great friend of mine posts on her blog a list of goals for each month along with an update of how the last month's goals played out.  I think I'd like to do the same thing, although I'm nervous that I won't be able to complete the goals.  That, however, would be over analyzing, so I'm not going to think about that!!  OK, so here we go!

Goals for January 2013

1. Send Thank You Notes for all Christmas presents.
2. Pick up new furniture from the Insyde Outsyde Shop and do any refinishing work.
3. Get estimates for a built-in cabinet by the fireplace, fireplace repair/brick, and backsplash brick installation.
4. Hang family photos and artwork back on the walls. (as opposed to in stacks on the floor)
5. Plan meals for each week and stick to the schedule.
6. Stick to the New Testament Bible reading plan that friends from Sunday School are doing (we're reading through Mark right now).
7. Get registries set up for Little Guy.

OK, I think seven is respectable.  We'll see how it goes and reassess next month.  I feel a sense of accomplishment just getting these together.  Maybe I can harness that feeling and be super productive!  Here I go!!!

DK