SELLING MEMORIES

This is my grandparents house. It's on the market for $134,500 in Peoria, Illinois. I am overwhelmed with nostalgia as so many of my good memories from childhood are wrapped up in this dwelling. This home is sited on a corner lot in a comfortably middle-class neighborhood.

SIGH-H-H

How many times in my life have I wished for contentment? How many days have I longed for simplicity? How many moments have I prayed for peace and quiet?

Right now life is simple and peaceful, and I am content. How many times will I have to process the niggling guilt I feel because I am not doing more?

DO YOU FEEL MY PAIN? I FEEL YOUR PAIN

Our very expensive and not-yet two-year old laptop is dead. As a door nail. Hm-m-m, why are door nails dead? I digress...

I'm very, very mad that our society feels much is so very disposable. Like electronics. We have to buy a new laptop soon, but for now we are getting by with our older desktop computer. Amazing that in most cases you can't fix a laptop. It's cheaper and expected that you just replace it every couple years or so. In which case, does anyone need a $179.00 battery that was used for a mere two weeks?

THE RESULTS: JE's PANTRY RENO

After the demolition, the spackling, the scraping, the sanding, the painting, the assembly...

taken with iPhone

The in-process view... No one remembered to take a "before."

Take my word for it, it was dark and cluttered and unappealing. JE was lobbying for someone to bail her out of the gloom and into the light. Mom to the rescue, along with a huge amount of help from her in-laws and some hands-on assembly by MA. Oh, and quite a few Dad dollars!