We've had a lot going on around here lately. We've been getting my parents' house ready to sell. My dad passed away in 2009 and my mom has been living in a memory care facility since mid-January. There was still a mortgage on the house, so it was necessary to sell their home. In order to do so, we held an estate sale on June 15th and 16th. Getting ready for the estate sale was a big job. Our family needed to go through my parents' belongings in the home to determine what should be sold and what should be kept. Of course, family history items/heirlooms such as photos, etc. were kept.
We hired an estate sale company to run the estate sale. They set everything up, advertised, priced the items for sale, and then when the estate sale was done, they cleared the house and put all of the items that didn't sell in the garage for donation.
I thought that we had gone through all the places that would have family history items before the sale began. But, on the first day of the estate sale, one of my friends was at the sale and found some family history items, including photos! She texted me and told me what she found and sent pictures of the items. She held onto them until I got there. The one closet we didn't really go through before the sale was in the den/office. It was packed with office supplies. That's where my friend found the family history items. And in that closet I also found my dad's canvas painting apron!
My dad was an artist. We kept all of his paintings. They were not included in the estate sale, of course.
It's really fun to see the different colors of paint on my dad's apron.
I'm so grateful to my friend for finding the family history items, which led me to find my dad's canvas painting apron.
Thanks for stopping by!
Jana
© 2018 Copyright by Jana Iverson Last, All Rights Reserved
His apron captured his colors, and he wore that art. How wonderful to have.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's so wonderful to have this special heirloom. Thank you!
DeleteClose call! So glad your friend attended the sale.
ReplyDeleteYes it was a very close call! Whew! So glad my friend went to the sale too. :)
DeleteThat's quite a story, Jana! We had a similar experience with my Dad's fountain pen. I can understand your relief to be able to save such a special keepsake.
ReplyDeleteOh wow! I'm glad you were able to save your Dad's fountain pen. :)
DeleteHappy to hear your friend not only "saved" the apron for you but also other family history items and photos.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad too Cathy! I would be so sad to have those precious items lost. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteJust when you think you've been through everything! Glad your friend came to the rescue and the apron is safe at home where it belongs.
ReplyDeleteI know, right?! So scary! I'm so glad she came to the rescue too. :)
DeleteWhew. That apron is a treasure, the sort of intimate item that was part of your dad's personality and profession. Interestingly, one of the items I chose to keep when it was my turn in the round-robin of selecting his personal mementos was his cooking apron. He made me breakfast every morning of my life and liked to wear an apron. Now I wear it too and it reminds me of him every time.
ReplyDeleteOh, your dad's cooking apron sounds like such a wonderful treasure. What fun memories it holds for you!
DeleteThank Goodness your friend found those! I have a jar of buttons that is a keepsake from my paternal Grandma and also my maternal grandfather had a jar of buttons. I combined them and have added my own.
ReplyDeleteI know! I'm so grateful to my friend. A jar of buttons. What a fun treasure!
DeleteLucky your friend was on the ball and sensitive to the value of what would otherwise just have looked like a pile of junk. Remember to store the apron with a copy of it's origin story and this story as well, as it is these special stories that give it value, so that when the next generation find it they will understand why it's been kept so carefully. A wonderful story.
ReplyDeleteOh, these are such great ideas and such wonderful advice. Thank you so much!
DeleteGood suggestion! I'll have to remember it. I have my grandmother's painting smock and my mother's "nursery school teacher" smock.
ReplyDeleteThose are wonderful treasures too! :)
DeleteSo happy you were able to retrieve it. Those estate sales are emotional to get through - I'm glad it's all taken care of.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Debi! I'm glad the estate sale is behind us now.
DeleteSo personally used - that's the best kind of heirlooms!
ReplyDeleteSo true! Thank you Laura!
DeleteI feel for you Jana. When we had to let go of my parents' house, we never were able to locate my father's car keys, on which he kept his wedding band. (My sister drove them to the airport, so we doubt he took them with him.) We were careful too, but still, I wonder what we missed. I'm glad you'll have this apron to cherish.
ReplyDeleteOh no! I'm so sorry you weren't able to find your father's wedding band! That's super sad. :(
DeleteSo glad your friend notified you!
ReplyDeleteI'm so very glad too. Thanks for stopping by Amanda!
DeleteWhat a treasure, Jana. Will you ever use it, do you think, or save it as an heirloom/keepsake? So glad your friend found the items in the closet and alerted you to them. Close call!
ReplyDeleteIt really was a close call for sure. I'm so glad my friend alerted me. Thank you Nancy! I'm not sure what I'll do with it yet. I don't think I'll use it. Most likely I'll keep it as an heirloom. :)
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