As I mentioned in my last post, we got back from our “vacation” in Florida late Friday night.  I put vacation in quotes because it wasn’t really a vacation in the sense that we think of vacations.

My entire family—brother, sisters, their husbands and wife, all my nieces and nephews—all gathered for my parent’s memorial service last weekend.  My dad passed away in February and my mom in April.  It took this long for everyone to be able to be together, and that was the most beautiful thing, that we were all together to celebrate my parent’s life!  So, even though it was a sad weekend because they weren’t with us in body, they were with us in spirit.  I know it made them happy that we were all together.

My sisters and I also had the job of going through their home and either donating or taking things that we wanted to keep with us.  We donated bags and bags of basic items, but those special things that had memories for us got saved.

My mom loved music, and while planning my parent’s memorial mass, we couldn’t remember if my mom’s favorite song was Ave Maria or Amazing Grace, so we had both at their mass.  Afterwards, I found a little music box, that plays a song as you wind the crank, in my mom’s dresser.  I thought it was cute, so took it home with me not knowing the song it played.  When I got home I took the time to listen to its tune—it played Ave Maria.  Okay, Mom, I get it, Ave Maria was your favorite. ❤ ❤ ❤

There were a few sets of items that needed to be divided up because the memories were so dear.  For instance, a set of porcelain ducks and bunnies, four total—two of each, my sister and I each took a duck, and my other sister took the set of bunnies.  My mom couldn’t part with the bunnies either; she inherited them when my grandmother passed, so she had all four pieces.  These were Easter table decorations from when I was quite young; the ducks were at our house and the bunnies were at my grandparent’s house.

My little duck will be residing in this display cabinet.  He will hang out with the two Kitchen Fairies, which were gifts to my mom from my daughter.

My mom’s two squirrels (the larger squirrels) are visiting us at the moment.  They will travel around visiting other family members throughout the years (my brother’s creative idea!).  They even made a new squirrel friend at our house.  Hmm, wonder where they will go next.

 It was a full weekend finding the perfect spot for our new mementos.  Being surrounded by some of my parent’s things is like a warm hug from them both; everywhere I look are memories of them.

I felt since I was bringing in so much new, I had to get rid of some of the old, so we went through our stuff and donated what we no longer wanted or needed.

As far as dolly related working goes, this is all I managed to get done over the past couple of weeks—five sweaters knitted!  I will get them blocked today . . . at least.  Don’t they look a mess right off the needles?  Thank goodness for blocking.

Well, I’d better get started with my day.  I need to go to the post office and collect two weeks worth of mail, yikes.  As for dolly things, hopefully, I’ll be able to do more than block those sweaters.

Have a great day everyone!  Thanks for reading.

Oh, I have a new doll on the way!  I can’t wait to introduce her to you!