It's Christmas Eve Eve and I am starting my celebrating.

What follows is just a lot of this and that, things that have happened today that really have put me in a celebratory mood for this Christmas and the joy of all the gifts with which I have been blessed.

I was chatting with my dear friend C today about the holiday, family, her grandson, and blurted out, totally unexpectedly, "I wish I could still believe in Santa Claus".  As the words poured out of my mouth I felt in my heart how true they are, I do so long and wish to believe in magic and miracles and wondrous things.  Well, to some degree I do still believe in miracles and wondrous things. I really do and that pleases me a lot.

This year I have treated myself to 2 wonderful Christmas presents.  One is my so delightful, new roommate, Lemon, the 10 yo, female, ASH/Russian Blue mix, who has filled my days and nights with joy and delight.  She is such a treasure.  I am so happy and blessed that she picked me at the shelter and has made herself quite at home here.  Over time I will bore you all with anecdotes a pictures.  She is a sweetie, quite beautiful, and seems to be so happy living with me.  YEAH!!!!!

My other gift to me was to sign up to stream Starz on Amazon Prime.  I was trying to wait until all this season's episodes of Outlander had aired, then sign up and binge watch them all in one month.  But I decided I could splurge for the $8.99 a month for 2 months.  In addition to keeping up with Outlander I've been binging on Black Sails, enjoying it much.

I was a bit disappointed in last week's episode, but my passion for the stories and this series has been totally revived this week.  Brianna and Roger are re-united and it is charming.  I am a romantic.  I love, LOVE, romance, "true love", the meeting and melding of soul mates.  And, to be honest, I don't object to the titillating, physical expressions of same. 

At 72, half way to 73, I am amused that all of this still delights me and makes me smile.  Smile?  It makes be grin from ear to ear!.  And I am pleased with that.  I think it is great to still believe in the possibility of miracles.  And the possibility, if for only a "period of time" of the joy of romance and love.  And I am so grateful that in my life I have experienced both.  Perhaps that is why I still believe and still delight in them.

I received the most glorious Christmas gift today.  It was actually delivered by USPS yesterday, but I didn't notice it until I opened my door this morning.  It is a gift from my extraordinary nephew, his glorious wife, and their three fabulous children.  Since my brother has moved near them in Seattle I've gone to visit a few times and each is 10,000% better than the previous.  I am amazed, and blessed, and so honored, they all seem to really, really like me!!!!!  Which is great, because I really, REALLY like and love them.

So, back tot he gift. There are some to be understood premises.  I am a scotch drinker and am most partial to single malt.  I like my scotch straight.  My nephew will join me in drinking Scotch, pours my portions with a very heavy hand, and takes his "on the rocks".  Of an evening, he and I will consume far more than any 2 adults should and end in animated debates/discussions/recollections. Inevitably I am more "effected" than him as I am consuming way more alcohol.  I stumble off to bed and wake thinking, "hmmm, should I be embarrassed?" and am always pleased to be told all is okay and the kids really enjoy the "show" we put on.

So, that is the background for this oh, so, "just the perfect" gift for me.  It is a set of 2 lovely rocks tumblers.  And with it a set of 8 "rock" cubes.  These can be chilled in the freezer, added to the glass of whatever, and will not dilute it (God Forbid!).  And there is a charming velvet bag to carry these "rocks" in, for "road trips"!  It is such a perfect gift for me.  But, I do pause...I can't say I mind being "eccentric Aunt Isabelle", but I'm not sure I'm just as comfortable with being "Aunt Isabelle the sot!".

Lap Quilts

I have completed and gifted two lap quilts.  Both went to the daughters of my nephew.  Fabrics were selected especially for their color choices and artist of preference.  I used a variation of the "Highlights" pattern.  For each there is one large featured panel and then 2 or three sides high "highlighted" smaller squares.  Selecting the fabrics, planning the layout and then making them was an absolute delight.  And I have enough of both fabric selections to do another, and maybe even 2 more of each.  When completed these will also gifts, who is yet unknown.

Here is the Monet inspired quilt.  The large panel is fabric printed with Monet's Bridge Over Lily Pond.  The center of the surrounding, highlighting, squares are sections from another piece of fabric with more from the same painting. Most of the frames around the squares are Monet inspired prints as is the backing fabric

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The other is a Frida Kahla inspired quilt. The main panel and the centers of the highlight squares are from fabric with motif's from her paintings.  The borders and backing were selected to coordinate and enhance the Kahla prints.

I was taken by surprise at how yummy this turned out.

When I was in Seattle recently I went to Trader Joe's with my lovely, niece-in-law. Among our purchases we got a prepared meal for our lunch, pasta with asparagus and brie.  It was really nice. 

When I go home I decided to try my own variation on that and it came out quite good, smooth, creamy, delicate flavor. 

I don't measure when I cook and my timing is, do it for as long as it needs, the specifics here are my best guesstimate of what I did.

First thing was to get the pasta water onto boil.  And heat the oven to 350.  While that was working  I coarsely chopped 6 or 8 garlic cloves, these were sauteed in olive oil  in my largest skillet.  I used about 1/3 of a bunch of asparagus, snapped off the woody ends and chopped into about 1 1/2 inch chunks.  These were added to the skillet to saute with the garlic.

When the water was at a rolling boil I added about 1/2 pound of linguine and a very small pinch of salt.  When it returned to boil I set the time for 8 minutes, wanting it to be a few minutes shy of al dente.

While the pasta cooked I cut 5 or 6  Campari tomatoes into quarters and add to the skillet.  I also added about 1 cup of sliced Baby Bella mushrooms.

This simmered until the pasta timer went off. and then I reduced the heat to as low as it would go.  I added 2 cups of the pasta water to the skillet and thoroughly mixed it in.  Then all of the pasta was added and again, thoroughly mixed. 

I left the pan on low heat while I sliced a wedge of brie as thin as possible.  The slices were spread over the pasta. The pan was then placed in the oven for about 20 minutes, until all the cheese was melted and oozy.  The pasta finished cooking during this time. 

After removing from then oven added a generous sprinkling of fresh ground black pepper and gave it one final toss to incorporate all ingredients and coat all the the pasta with the cheesy sauce.  It was delicate and yummy.

Wish I paid more attention in history classes

I am, like so many, very troubled by the current events.  And not just those in our country, but throughout the world.  There seems to be a major movement towards conservative nationalism everywhere.  I find this very frightening for all who don't fit the mold of those in power.  I fear for the next few decades.

I loved history class when in school and did retain quite a bit, but am feeling like not quite enough.  My sense is that the saying "history repeats itself" is based on centuries of facts.  My sense is the world has been here before with extreme and dire consequences and not so extreme and dire consequences. My sense is the world has moved from those deadly and destructive places to places of tolerance and acceptance.  My sense is that, despite the repetition of two steps back, three steps forward, history shows a slow and bumpy progression towards a more equitable, accepting, caring place.  

But, that is just my sense.  I wish I paid more attention to the cycles of history to know, is this just my persistent optimism or is there a basis in historical fact?

If I don't have this to hold onto, I have little basis for hope for the future, and that is just too despairing.  So, fact or hope, I am placing the current events into a continuum spanning many, many years and praying and believing that just as we have sunk so low, we will rise to a better place than where we started.

Found other things to stimulate my mind

With downsizing on the "way back" burner, I'm looking to get back to living my life in the present.  Our local Community College, Northern Essex, like so many institutions of higher learning, has a program for seniors. These are more forums than courses, facilitated by volunteer seniors and very affordable.  The program here is CoOL, College of Older Learners, 😄.  

I've enrolled in two of the offerings.  The second one, which I will be attending starts in a month or so and is for writing memoirs.  My first class has started.  I couldn't resist!  There was no description or course summary, simply the title, "Marijuana".  Who wouldn't sign up?!?!?

With the changing legal status and the availability of more information I have been seriously considering trying marijuana for both sleep and and arthritis inflammation and pain.  

I knew almost nothing at all, had some idea that there was TH...something which is the part that would get one high and some other letters for the medicine part that wouldn't get one high.  I'd had a lengthy conversation with the guy in a hardware store who had been using a topical rub for his arthritic knees and sang its' praises.  I knew of a friend of a friend of a friend who had gotten some oil to take subliminally, but heard nothing more.

So this course seemed like a convenient place to start. It is quite interesting; it feels like both a step back in time (a small group of aging hippies sharing pot stories) and a source of good information. We get homework.  Part of this week's assignment is to look into medical uses of marijuana.  So that's what I've been up to.

I've learned that the 2 parts are 1) THC (give you a buzz or more) and 2) CBD, provides pain relief and other medical uses.

At the class, I learned that brewing some "street" weed in a cup of tea or adding it to butter would provide some soothing effect.  Ingesting it takes longer to happen, but also lasts longer.

So, immediately upon leaving the class I contacted one of my girls and begged a bit of weed.  I added just a pinch to my evening decaffeinated Earl Grey tea two evenings in a row.  I wasn't aware of feeling anything but, once I went to bed, when I fell asleep I slept soundly and through the night.  I woke a few times as usual to relieve my bladder, but immediately went back into a deep, restful sleep.  

Instead of waking around 3:30 AM, I slept until 6:30.  When I did wake,it was not just that I was no longer asleep, I was rested and ready to get into the day.

This led me to seek out some CBD that I wouldn't have to smoke.  My daughters' found a store near me in Haverhill that had a selection of what I wanted.  They called to verify it and had a lengthy conversation with the proprietor about me, what I wanted and why.  When I showed up a few hours later, the proprietor was not just expecting me, but welcomed me, spent a long time explaining things and just unbelievably helpful.

After learning about options, I opted on two purchases.  One is a topical, roll-on for pain.  She had me try it in the store and not long after applying it the pain in my foot was gone.  And it stayed gone for many, many hours!

My other purchase was a small vial of CBD oil which I am taking subliminally.   It was recommended that I start with a small amount, taking it at two different times each day and gradually increase the amount until I am feeling generally well.  When that level is reached, decrease the dosage until I notice the difference.  That will give me the best and smallest dosage for me.

The CBD is in an olive oil base and I had a bit of reprehension about how it would go down, no problem.  It is administered with an eye-dropper, squirted under the tongue, held for a short time, then swallowed.  I don't taste anything nor do I have any oily, grease feeling in my mouth.

So, as I write this I have 2 doses, last night and this morning.  Again I had a great night's sleep and today just feels better.  My biggest source of pain has been my bruised, abused, injured, deformed, flat, arthritic feet. So far today they are not really bothering me at all and I have done some errands and still have shoes on!

So, I will continue experimenting with this and gain other information for my fellow CoOL learners.  And, as I get new insights and info I shall share it here.

Deciding where I go from here

The second offer on my condo has been withdrawn.  And I have taken it off the market until the issue that caused this is resolved.  Something else also came up, was not an issue in the potential sale, but a surprise; my furnace is no longer safe to run.  Found this out when I was going to have it serviced.  The prospective buyer and I had reached a satisfactory agreement about this.  

Now that there won't be a sale my number one priority is getting the furnace replaced.   I don't feel it is safe to run it and am pretty sure I am going to want heat come November and after.  With the aid of my wonderful plumber (Burke & Sons, Groveland, MA) and MassSaves I will get a high efficiency furnace for less than simply replacing what I now have would cost.  While I continue to live here, I will get the benefit of lower heating costs and this will add to the value when I look to sell again.

The problem that could not be settled has to do with significant structural work needed and involves the Condo Association.  Reaching a satisfactory commitment to how this would be resolved simply did not happen within a time frame acceptable to the buyer.  I don't fault the buyer, extraordinary patience was given with delays and extensions.  It just was not getting resolved.

So, I find myself not selling and not moving for I don't know how long.  The scope of the structural work required needs to be defined.  Who is responsible for paying for what needs to be determined, that is the really big problem.  And then it is a matter of waiting for the selected contractor to be available to do the work, a 2 to 3 day job, probably Spring at the earliest.

So, I am here, in my home for the rest of the fall and all of winter and then who knows how long.  But, right now it doesn't feel like my home.  For purposes of staging I took down so much art and decor that pleased me so that it presented as very neutral hotel rooms.  I also put away a lot of stuff, including some furniture to enhance the spaciousness of the rooms.

These changes have been a real impediment to my living in my space as I like.  And, always having to have it "ready to show" effected what I did, when I did it, etc.  I don't want to continue to not live in my home as if I am a temporary guest any more.

But, if I may be putting it back on the market come Spring, I don't want to just put everything back where it was knowing in not that many months I will have to put it all away again.  

So, I have to decide what to put where and what not to put anywhere. This is feeling very overwhelming.  I think mainly because these past weeks trying to reach agreeable sale terms has been very stressful.  I know I am exhausted.  I feel like I was dealing with something of major importance relating to the sale everyday.  

So, my immediate plan is to not do a whole lot of anything.  With the stress of this potential sale over, no surprise I have gotten ill.  I will use this present time to rest, get well, to sew, quilt, embroider and not be concerned with keeping things in "showplace order".  

I have been working on a few different quilt projects, some of which are surprise gifts.  Once they have been given (early November) I will post pictures, am quite excited about all of them.  This creative outlet has been the balm to my sanity during all this and will, I am sure, be the activity that sustains me over the next months.

Word is out

I moved into my present home in Nov 1999. I moved in with my daughters and our two cats, Muffin and KoKo.  By the end of that year we had added JoJo and SouSou to the family.  So for these past 19 years this home has always had cats in attendance.

Living on the edge of a state forest I have enjoyed the assorted bird and wildlife that wanders by.  I've become comfortable with the variety of insects that can wiggle through the tiny holes in screens and want to stay.  Mostly I capture them and send them on their way.  If they we offering to chip into the mortgage payment I might be more welcoming!

I am also used to field mice looking to take up residence in the crawl space.  Not at all welcoming there.  Think they are a bit like rabbits and would soon have an army in possession of that space.  So, not quite so kindly, I have an exterminator lay bait traps.  Mostly the mice have been gracious enough to partake of the bait and wander elsewhere to end their lives.

Only once in these years did I have a field mouse inside the house.  And I am pretty certain it hopped in when I would leave one of the doors ajar so the cats could come and go as they pleased.  I became aware of it when, while watching TV, I thought, oh, how cute, all of them are playing with the same toy!  Then "the toy" squeaked and I recalled, they don't have any toys that make "that noise".  Checked it out, sure enough they were tormenting a mouse.  Was able to capture it and set it free, far from my doors.  That was over 10 years ago.

I have now been without any cats for over a week.  Yesterday morning I came into the kitchen as usual, turned on the lights, and went to make a coffee.  I glanced at my sink and there sitting upright, looking a little confused and concerned was a field mouse.  In the sink!  

Now, I happen to think they are really the cutest little things.  Big pink ears, big pink nose and tail.  This one was a brownish grey, hence the color "mousey brown".  He just sat frozen watching me.  I put a glass over him, slide some paper under it and took him outside and set him free.

As I was waiting for my coffee I thought, well, the word has gotten out to the natural world, no more cats in this abode.  What they never realized is, mine were never mousers.  Rather, if they found a mouse, or any other critter, they would have wanted me to adopt it also!!!!

SouSou - Dec 2000 to Aug 2018

This teeny, tiny princess' life ended today.  This has been coming since she was ill in the Spring with urinary tract bleeding.  She recovered really well from that and up until a few weeks ago was doing okay, okay for an 18 year old "the whole world exists to cater to me" princess.  Over these past few weeks I've watched her decline a bit each day.  I did some online research to get info on how to know "when it is time".  Each day I've thought we are getting close, yesterday I almost took her to the emergency vet, but talked myself out of it.  This morning I made the decision and the vet affairmed I called it correctly.

She was failing, but in no distress or pain, but failing.  So we had a bittersweet parting.

This little girl, at her heaviest, weighed 5.5 lbs!  A very tiny bundle of fir. She looked much larger, 7 -8 lbs, but that was just her lush coat.  The last few summers she's had a lion cut and looked like an overgrown rat.  But, having no fir during those hot months keep her more comfortable and playful.

She was the darling of all the cats and lived for them to pay attention and tend to her. She seldom had to groom herself, she always got the others to do that for her.  KoKo washed and washed her every night.  Muffin would sleep next to her to keep her cozy.  JoJo would wrap his paws around her to hold her tight to keep her safe. And those nights when she wasn't surrounded by one, two, or all three, she snuggled up under my chin, with her paws and head resting on my arm.  

She was not a lap sitter, but she loved to cuddle.  She was very stingy with her kisses, which only made them all the more sweet when she would deign to bestow one on you.  She was the social hostess.  Came to meet guests and was more than a bit insistent that they admire and pet her.  She had a great fondness for repairmen and would sit with them watching as they did their work and ran their power tools.  She also liked watching Garfield and Animal Planet shows on TV.

My sweet little girl, who will control my life now?  Who will drag the upstairs water dish into the middle of the hall where I almost trip on it to let me know it needed refilling?  Who will stand on my chest at 4:00 AM squawking and demanding breakfast?   Who will sit outside the bathroom complaining when I have been so rude as to close the door?  Who will pull at my arm and demand her share of the daily yogurt?  I will so dearly miss your demands and your company.

I find myself for the first time in 19 years cat-less.  I won't miss the litter box duty, nor the surprises of who threw up where, nor the coating of cat hair on just about everything.  But I will so very much miss  the sweetness of affection, the clown-fulness of play, and the ever present companionship.

Things are looking up!

When I first put my condo on the market, my dear friend J asked if I had buried St. Joseph.  This was something I had heard about but was not overly familiar with.

Seems there is a belief and a tradition, if you are selling your home you bury a statue of St. Joseph and pray for a sale and doing so will help the process.

To this end, quite some time back I decided I would do it.  First step was to get the statue.  Turns out, just down the road from my favorite sewing/quilt shop is a lovely religious stuff store.  

I went in a bit hesitantly and started searching for a St. Joseph statue.  Imagine my surprise when I came upon on full show case filled with St. Joseph Home Seller Kits!!!!

The box has a very nice resin statue about 5" high and instructions for what and how to do things and " the prayer".

For condo owners, who may not have a yard in which to bury their statue, it is suggested he be placed in a potted plant, one that will be moving with you.

This is what I did.  And, as those of you who have been reading along know, things started off quite fast and furious, lots of action, showings.  Then, a potential sale fell through.  And it was really, really, quiet, for a while.

I can't recall the exact date but some where during the falling apart and lull, I decided that I needed to re-pot 2 of the house plants that I had put on my deck, they were in huge, unattractive, plastic pots.  I had two really nice ceramic pots that would work.  So, one morning I went out and quickly re-potted the 2 plants.  I took the plastic pots along with some other "stuff" and put it all in the dumpster.
 
A few days after the re-potting I realized, uh oh, I might have thrown away St. Joseph.   I wasn't home when the thought came to me, but, when I got home, I poked around the soil in the plant I had selected for him and, nope, he wasn't there.

I really can't recall when I did this, but there is a part of me that is wondering, was it before the potential sale fell apart and was I the cause? 

So, no St. Joseph in my plant, potential sale not happening, and not much interest in my home.  After considerable pondering and calculating on my part, my realtor and I discussed dropping the price a bit and adjusting how it would be presented.   A decision was reached and the listing was revised.  This was on a Friday, I think maybe two Friday's back.   

I am very fortunate that my daughters visit rather often.  And I am very deliberate, when I know one of them is coming by to collect all the trash and have it waiting for them to cart to the dumpster for me.  The Saturday after publishing the revised listing I decided I needed to get the trash to the dumpster and would be doing it myself.  It is not that this is hard or far away, I've just enjoyed being so lovingly spoiled by my girls.  On this day I put on my "big-girl" pants and took my own trash to the dumpster.  

After  I put it in I just happened to look down.  On the ground I saw a small pile of potting soil with gravel and rocks.  This looked like the remains from one of my plants.  I remembered that when I threw out the plastic pots one of them had fallen over.  I looked a bit closer at this soil and, well, there he was, St. Joseph!!!!  He never got into the dumpster!  All this time he has been patiently waiting for me to come find him!

Delightedly I picked him up, brushed him off a bit and apologized profusely.  We went back home and as a way to atone for my carelessness, St. Joseph got a nice, warm bubble bath in the kitchen sink.  I gently cleaned out all the folds and crevices.  Then I sat him on the deck rail in the sun to dry.  After a bit, I once again, and with great reverence buried him, this time in a different plant.  

To recap, the listing was amended on Friday.  St. Joseph was found and re-buried on Saturday.  There was an open house on Sunday.  

Since that open house there has pretty much been at least one showing every day.   For now that is all I will say, but there has been a lot of new interest and between the price adjustment and restoration of St. Joseph I think we are back on track and on our way.

JoJo - Dec 2000 to Aug 2018

JoJo hasn't come home. He went out early (4:00 AM) as is his habit, but did not return within 20 or so minutes as he usually does. It's now 4:00 PM so I am pretty certain something happened and he won't/can't come home. I've walked around and called for him, nothing. He is usually such a good fellow, when I call he is at the door walking in within 5 or 10 minutes. So, his not responding pretty much has me thinking he can't.

He had a major health issue in the Spring and hasn't been all that well since. These last few days he's been a coming to breakfast late or not at all, eating one or two bites at most. The litter box had showed he was still pooping and peeing, OMG, was he peeing. But aside from that all he's been doing is sleeping, not even wanting to snuggle with me or be petted or brushed.

So, I think his time was coming to an end and now it has ended.

Both of my remaining cats had health issues this Spring, I thought it would be better if JoJo passed first, he was far more dependent and interactive with SouSou than she with him. She pretty much has always wanted to be and acts like she was an only cat, the others (and me) are here simply to take care of her. So, at least JoJo won't be grieving and lonely.

I will really miss him. Not the huge amounts of black and brown hair he's been dropping in huge clumps this past week. Not the, "I really am trying, but just can't seem to get my whole butt into the litter box, at least I got half in" messes. Not the running through and rolling in the wet mulch outside and leaving a trail of it all through the house. Well, I might even miss those things a bit.

What I will miss, is him sitting on the table next to my TV chair so patiently, waiting and staring me down so I would put him on my lap and brush or pet him, endlessly. I will miss him walking back and forth on the desk every morning, sharing my cereal and milk even though not invited. I will miss him sitting on my hand when I am using the mouse to stop that motion and get me to scratch his chin and ears. I will miss his daily work routine, every morning carrying a feather teaser downstairs and bringing it up to bed each evening. And when each task was accomplished announcing it very loudly. I will miss his racing to beat me upstairs at bed time, beating me onto the bed, claiming his space and then looking at me like, well what is taking you so long?

Eighteen years, that is how long he has been with me. I think he was probably only about 5 weeks old when I got him. And living with me in this house has been his whole life. He loved to go out and patrol his estate. And he was so good, whenever I called him, within minutes he would be at the door coming in. So, if he is not back home, it is because he cannot be.

I hope wherever it is that cats go he is now with his long missed, best buddy, Muffin and and his other friend, Muffin's sister, KoKo. I like to think they are all together cleaning and sleeping and purring and being content and that they remember their time here as having been pretty good.

Well, JoJo, you didn't let me get to know you until Muffin passed and when KoKo was gone you really showed and shared all the sweetness and love you had. It was a long time waiting for, but I treasured every day and will cherish every memory, thank you my big, handsome, boy.

I hate living in this in-between state

My home is still on the market.  I reduced the price, that did make for a seemingly successful Open House, but not much activity since.  

I am given to understand that this time of the summer is slow, lots of folks vacationing.  So, that might be part of the reason.  The other factors are those two things which deem my place a "hard sell".  Owner maintenance responsibility is higher than most condos and my specific condo fee is also high.

So, how to get folks beyond that and buy.  My realtor has suggested adding cash back at closing.  I have heard of this, but did not understand what it was and why.  Well, it is a way for the buyer to get a mortgage for what they need, but walk away from the closing with some cash.  My concern was that, as the seller I would be paying a commission on the higher (but not to me) selling price.  Turns out that isn't so, commission is based on net, after cash back to buyer.  So this is just another way to lower the price and put some cash in the buyers hands at the same time.

So, we will try this.  

I think, when I first started this, hearing from so many folks that my place was so attractive and would sell in a minute set me up to not think it might take time.  The two financial issues (unit maintenance and condo fee) do make it a harder than most to sell and that seems to mean it will take more time to find the right buyer.  

So, for me I have to get comfortable with living in an in-between state and not be discouraged.

My realtor and I have agreed that I can make it a bit easier on myself physically by not having to "hide" my cats' litter boxes.  My two cats, like me, are senior citizens, and though everything is working, it isn't working like it used to.  

JoJo, my big, handsome boy makes every effort to use the litter box, but these past six months or so only gets his bum to the edge, not fully inside.  So that means some stuff is in the box, some on pads I have layered around it.  Not a big deal to keep clean and sanitary when I have this all set up in middle of the guest room; a real difficult task when things are "hidden" under the eaves.  

All the bending and lifting to keep up with this certainly exasperated my sciatica issues.  So, from now on, I will leave it all where I can reach it without harm to me and the realtor will help potential buyers to be kindly as to why the middle of the guest room looks like a nursing home for frail senior cats, which, in fact, it is.

Just having this chore off my "be ready for a showing" list has me relieved and less bothered by this taking more time than I would like.  

I'm also giving myself permission to leave my many "in progress" quilting, embroidery, design things up and around.  It won't really be a lot of clutter, will let me be able to go from "station-to-station" to work on each project a little bit regularly and all that might distract buyers in that I have a lot of "hobbies".

It feels much better to be reclaiming a bit of my space and it feels like, in doing so, I could wait this out.  I might even consider entertaining once this brutal heat is over!