It Has Been A Year Since We Lost Jezebel

I woke up at 4:40 this morning thinking about Jezebel and that awful day when they called in the soul of the night to ask if we were willing to let her go.  Until we got the call, we thought she was coming home later in the day.   I don't want to spend more time than I have to thinking of her death.  Her spirit was so brilliant and her heart so loving that those memories can't be dimmed for any length of time by the grief that came with losing her.  I cried a few tears, then got up, thankful that today was scheduled to be a very busy one.

The second and third (and last) moving vans were scheduled to take our stuff back home to Oklahoma.

The driver, Ken, drove the first van several weeks ago and we hit it off.  He and his helper arrived in town early and stayed with us Monday and Tuesday nights.  The muscle men were supposed to arrive at 7:30.  They arrived at 8:10, which was about an hour sooner than we thought they'd actually appear.  They were the same guys who loaded the last truck and other than having faulty time pieces (both times), they are hard workers, good at their job and we feel lucky to have their help. 

Evelyn adores Ken.  When she spotted him outside, her head shot up and she started whimpering, something I've only seen her do with Husband.   Ken is a dog person away from his own five dogs so he appreciated the attention and kisses. 

Ken brought the 40 footer, again.

His helper also had a large truck, half full so we had a truck and a half to fill.  We also had a dumpster delivered and will have it for a couple of weeks. 

We kept some cruddy furniture in the den and master bedroom that will go in the dumpster a few days before we leave. 

The men went through the house like locusts.  Here are some assorted before and after pictures.

Parlor before - we used this as a staging area.

Parlor after.

Dining before - we staged boxes in there, primarily.

Dining after.

Back Bedroom, before loading.

Back bedroom, after.

Front Bedroom, after.

Den, after.

Breakfast area, after.

Sewing room, before (but I'd cleared out a lot in the previous weeks)

Sewing Room, after.

My sewing room is empty except for my sewing machine, two printers, the head of my longarm, and some sewing stuff that will go in the car with me. I left out some so I could do some sewing during the next two weeks before we head home.

Sitting Room, after.

Hallway, after.

All the bedrooms except for ours are empty.  The parlor and the dining room are now empty. 

Both of us are so relieved to have that done.  Living amid all that clutter for a few weeks is enough to drive someone mad. 

The girls had to stay out on the deck most of the day because the front door was open.  They did a lot of barking and wore themselves out.  I was able to bring them in a few times and Evelyn would beam while watching Ken.  Pearl was exhausted and snoozed. 

Both of us are pretty sore.  We are thankful that for Thanksgiving, we don't have to get up early.  And that that is just the beginning of what we have to be thankful for.  Like my kids, our health, Husband's good job, our home in Oklahoma, our girls:

I know that a lot of families are struggling and know several who are experiencing their first Thanksgiving without a particular loved one.  I offer up a special prayer for their emotional and spiritual comfort.  

Happy Quilting and have a Safe, Blessed Thanksgiving,

Penny, Evelyn and Pearl