The burning questions have been, should I take it or leave it? Moving from a 4-bedroom house to a much smaller 2-bedroom house means I've had to make some difficult decisions.
I did not want to hold onto stuff I don't really have much use for. Neither did I want to crowd my new home. 'Minimize,' I said to myself!
Not easy when there's so much history in many of the pieces of furniture I have. I could have made quite a few pennies with what I don't need, but I did not feel like strangers coming in at odd hours. Plus, there's always the danger of criminals posing as buyers, so, no thank you to that!
I decided to pay it forward, so I carefully thought who would appreciate what.
My housekeeper's family home burned down about two years ago, and they're still trying to rebuild, so she was the recipient of much linen and kitchenware, plus bedroom furniture. Friends who lost everything in the 2022 mudslides need furniture; their insurer at the time did not deliver as promised, so they need it more than anyone else I know. Plus, they appreciate old stuff; some of the pieces could qualify as antiques!
These two chairs are beautiful and have a special place in my heart, but, no space if I want to take my current set with recliners.
These only need the right kind of upholstery, and they will look really snazzy again.
So, a sad no!
Apologies for the fuzzy image, but that's what it looked like through eyes that suddenly started tearing; it belonged to my parents-in-law. Both sons live too far!
So, another sad no!
Not parting with this, I will need these items. Sadly, I will have to say goodbye to my darling Poe. But, the new owners will keep him, and he loves my staff who give him a lot of attention. I will come and visit as they want me to help them with the BnB for a while.
A definite yes!
Don't ask me how he managed to get up on this display cabinet, as it's really high and there was nothing he could climb on to jump from! And he didn't knock over any of the glass-framed portraits! He is such a scaredy cat, and is still being terrorised by the brown cat!
Another yes to the cabinet, but a sad no to Poe, I cannot have pets where I'm moving.
More history I'm giving away to someone who loves having tea in style. Odds, but that is quite accepted these days.
A very sad no, I had to be harsh with myself. She will truly treasure this.
I'm keeping all other original paintings, many are gifts from our talented friend Peter Wink, and some done a his wife, Cheryl, our very own 
Just some of his paintings, I am also taking the sculptures, but did not take photos of them, they were a given!
So these were all the yeses!
My favourite trees, one by Peter, another by my late uncle, and the one in the middle, a 1927 painting from my in-laws' home, by an unknown artist.
@artywink's Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.A commercial piece, but I love the words. They became more real after I lost my darling, and the kids fled the nest!
My late uncle's work, and the round frame were made by Mom's other brother, who is 'the last man standing', as he puts it!
Another definite yes is a beautiful mosaic mirror made by my sister-in-law.
These are all my favourites, but don't think they're the only paintings I'm taking with me, plus framed family photos. I think I may run out of wall space, and will have to do another hard reset, as painful as it may be!
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