Getting rid of 45 years accumulation

Mary Lynn and I have talked about it since I retired over 6 years ago.  We knew we needed to eventually move into a home we could manage a little easier.  That is, smaller, or 'no' yard, little, or no steps, etc.  We still want a place that we can have the family over and have enough room. 
But right now, it's downsizing our possessions so that we can fit into a smaller place.  This has been a real job and we've only been at it for a little less than two weeks.  The boys have been great.  A lot of help.  The yard sale was a success, and what didn't sell was sent to Cedar Lake Lodge.

Now we have my Coke and Derby collectibles.  Coke on the left, Derby on the right.  Brian gets all my Coke stuff and Kevin gets all my Derby stuff.  They may not want it, but they've got it! Mark got all my coins, but he got them a few years ago.
Today I sold all my old LP albums.  I don't listen to them anymore, so it wasn't hard to do.  I took them to Half Price Books, and got a whopping $20 for about 130 albums.  I took about 60 golf clubs and 5 bags down to Shawnee GC for the First Tee program.  I've taken one carload of scrap lumber over to the Louisville Sanitation collection Center, plus a TV and 2 old VCR's.  Garbage day was yesterday, and we had a full can since the first time in I can't remember when.  Tomorrow I'm taking a load of hazardous material to the HazMat Collection Center on Grade Lane.  Things like oil based paint, yard chemicals, etc.  I'll still need to take another load to the Sanitation collection Center.
But, all in all, we're getting there.  The basement actually has some storage space now, and we need to move some things from the upstairs to the basement to reduce the 'cluttered' look.  We're hoping to have the house on the market on September 2nd, Tuesday.  Of course, that's if we can get done the rest of the things we need to do.  I need to get the grass cut, and weed around the walkway out back.  The weather is not cooperating at all.  It's just been miserably hot to try and do anything outdoors.  I'm just going to have to suck it up and get those things done.  Mary Lynn has been like Superwoman!  Or, the Energizer Bunny.  She just keeps going and going.  She puts me to shame.  I've done a lot, but she's done twice as much as I have. 

My Sweet Rosiepie is 10 years old!

Unbelievable!  It just seems like a couple of years ago I saw that little girl for the first time just minutes after she was born.  She was alert and awake and looked up at me.  I told her then she was the sweetest thing I've ever seen, and she still is.

 





Here's the birthday girl!  What a cutie!  My first grandchild is now 10 years old.  This little girl has stolen my heart.  Well, little girl is not exactly right, she is a little lady.  So mature for her age. 

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She got a lot of nice presents for her birthday.  Of course, Jilly was just as excited opening them as Erin was.  Here, she is looking through the book we made for her of our vacation to Pensacola.  Erin and Jilly.  Both of them are my sweet girls.

Vacation in 'Florida

Wow!  What a great week!  I won't lie.  I wasn't looking forward to it several weeks ago.  But, with a little Doctor visit, and some new medication, I found I was sleeping better and feeling better, and actually was glad to see the week finally get here.  I had nice time, but the best time was watching the girls, Erin and Jillian, having a great time.

Here Erin and Daddy do a little Body Surfing.  Erin and Jilly loved the waves.

They played hard, but also knew how to relax.  We had two roof covered porches to sit on and one open deck on the roof.  It was a nice relaxing place to sit and watch the ocean with a nice cool breeze.  Looks like Jilly knows how to relax.

And, the best ending ever to this trip, the biggest hug I ever got from Jillian and Erin.  I sure do love those girls.