Yesterday, as I cleaned disgusting things, in a rental property we own, I thought about how much I miss a couple former renters, not the one that left this mess.
I know – disgusting right? Memo to any mom out there raising young boys, it’s okay to teach them to wipe up after themselves or sit down. Jeez …
I digress.
Cleaning up someone else’s messes they’ve left behind is not as enjoyable as sitting on a beach watching the sunset on the seascape.
My thoughts knitted together, like the new hat I bought myself last fall – the one I wore the day we picked out our budget tree for Christmas.
I do miss both of our daughters. Our oldest has just bought her own home. And our youngest, she lived in that rental unit I was cleaning. She lived there for about 6 months and then she moved a few hours away.
Just like her sister, she’s not little anymore. I’m thankful for the fun memories of summer fishing trips with grandpa.
Our youngest, the one facing the other direction on the boat, moved to a place, she’s made her own. She took with her a log from our yard, a hammer, and some nails, to play Hammerschlagen.
As the spray cleaner worked on the messy stove, I thought about the summer she moved and last summer too and the road trips we took. Ah, the fun we had.
We even walked around our own quaint town to occupy our empty nest time.
The musical events I enjoyed.
The road trip we took to a very unusual place.
All the travels we take lead us back to our home-sweet-home.
While we munch on an occasional Chicago-style hot dog, rinsed down with a cold brew made in Wisconsin. It’s a fun place to enjoy our empty nesting life.
Even if we do have extreme temperatures here.
In the summer, my little dog and I welcome the morning light.
Listening to the local jump plane as it ascends into the sky.
And seeing the animals (birds) we normally don’t see in our fenced-in area in our back yard.
The cleaning was done, the toilet and the stove sparkly clean. Just in time for the next renters who will create their own story there, too.
For us today – it’s a chilly 25 degrees and humid and the sun is shining on the trees creating a beautiful frosty scene. We’ll bundle up and venture out for a walk. All the while we’ll be thinking that summer will come soon – to add to our treasured empty nest memories.
Post inspiration – Lens-Artists #85 Treasure Hunt. Check out Tina’s post here where she provides the list and the extra credit points. I think I got them all … you tell me!?
PS – Happy Sunday – I hope your day is filled with fun adventures and happy memories.
Nicely done! Reminds me of those scavenger hunts back in the day. Knocking on doors for random bits of this and that. Great choices for photo examples! Beautiful double rainbow pic.
Thank you! Yeah, scavenger hunts were always fun to me too. This challenge made me think of you – I bet you’d be able to find plenty of bonus photos that combine the items into one photo! 🙂
You’re welcome! I am planning to work on that soon – it looks like fun. And, right up my alley too. I don’t think I have all of them, but I will investigate and see what I find!
I bet the treasures you find will be fun to see!!
Nice post. We have not experienced that empty nest yet but there is a definite change with adults living in the house instead of children.
Thank you, Janet! Yes, when our youngest and her roommate came back and lived with us for a few months, it was definitely a change in life for all of us. While we miss the kids – it is nice that they’re making their lives on their own. We’re adjusting to the emptiness in our house just fine. 😉
I don’t have an empty nest (no children) but I have been a landlord. Tenants leave all sorts of surprises, don’t they? I have to say that I’m glad that we are out of that business. Fun pictures you shared (expect those of your rental 😳).
Oh, yes, tenants leave all sorts of surprises. This one moved very quickly to avoid eviction. The stuff he left behind was quite enlightening. We toy with the idea of parting with the rentals often. When they’re all full and no issues, it is hard to justify it. Then when we’re forced to deal with cleaning and the repairs, well … the conversations about getting out of the business do pop up! I’m sure we’ll be happy to be out of the business when we are out of it.
Wow Shelley, great job! I think you DID cover them all, and you wove them into a really sweet story so double extra credit for that! The thing I find about empty nesting is that the later visits home become ever so special for all of the participants. It’s not quite the same as living at home but the joy of the reunion almost makes up for it. Thanks for getting into the spirit of the challenge and then some!! (PS. LOVE rolling your eyes out loud. May have to steal that one!)
Thank you, Tina!! At first when I wrote the list down, I wasn’t sure I could do it. But the more I searched, the more fun it was. Very creative of you to take us on a fun treasure hunt!
You’re right when the kids come to visit, it is extra special for all of us!
I love that eye rolling sign too – feel free to steal it!! 🙂
Yes, DISGUSTING!! 🙂 🙂 The rest look nice! 😉
LOL – isn’t that what social media is all about – the shock factor! 😉 I enjoyed your take on the prompt too – that dog is adorable!!!
The trees here are starting to bud. Need new scenery like trees with leaves. The frozen tree was …. a burrrrrrr reminder. Great post … g
Your trees have gotten plenty of rain – maybe once the leaves burst open the rain will stop?
What a fun post, Shelley. Great photos and great moments. I love the one of Copper.
Thanks, Dan! That was a fun morning with Copper – the sunrise colors made him glow like the king of the yard. 🙂
It is raining again today and will for the next three days. g
Sigh … that’s just TOO much rain!! Did you know that you moved to the monsoon area of the states?
I enjoyed the photos. Does it really get up to 90 degrees in Wisconsin? And -25 degrees- my brain can’t even imagine what that feels like.
Thank you, Lisa! Yes, we do have the extremes in weather. We’ve had as low as -36 below and as high as 115 above. It’s quite the deal – I think it helps us transition between seasons?!
Looks like lots of good times.
janet
Thank you, Janet!!
I enjoyed the travelling and words but not the dunny 🙂
Thanks, Brian – yeah – the dunny wasn’t eye-appealing – it’s a good thing I didn’t share all the views of that! 😉
Shelley, I agree with that statement that mothers have to do a better job of teaching their sons. And more than just clean. But that is a perfect place to start. A man who picks up after himself, washes dishes, and is cognizant of ALL that housework entails, is a better man.
Hope you are doing well. Missed ya.
Hi Drew!!!!!!!!! I’ve missed you too. I hope you’re doing well. When I was going through my photos I saw my ugly shoes (that I still need to donate) and I thought of you. Not the ugly part, just about your shoe obsession!
Thanks for stopping by to share your thoughts. Thank you for agreeing about boys needing to learn how to clean up after themselves. A guy’s home/apartment that is kept clean helps the girls that visit feel comfortable. 🙂 PS – we raised two girls, and they needed to be taught how to clean too – it’s a life skill that parents need to take ownership of teaching. They certainly don’t learn it in school.
Haha. You still have those shoes?
There are life skills we need to teach all children. My parents always me clean up after myself. They also taught me to wash my underwear when I take a bath. Never had a problem with dirty laundry or running out of underwear like my friends. Sorry for if it was too much info.
Great connecting with you again
LOL – the shoes remind me of you! Also, I need to make it a blog worthing moment when I finally part with them. 😉
Your parents were wise to teach you life skills. LOL – the washing in the sink is a nice lesson.
Our french foreign exchange student did that technique. She seems to be doing quite well in life, her parents taught her well. My mom told me never to exit the house without clean underwear on – it wouldn’t be good to be caught with dirty undies in a car accident. Yikes! Thanks for sharing your secrets with us 🙂
Ditto to you!!
Unwanted shoes remind you of me. LOL. Moms seem to share the same undies and car accident wisdom. Did you do the same with your daughters?
LOL :-). Absolutely – it’s a tradition!! They do make sure clean undies are a priority.
LOL
Fun post–I love hearing about all your empty-nesting adventures!
Thank you, Rebecca!!
Thank you for sharing your precious memories with us, Shelley. These were the fun times. 🙂
Thank you, Amy, I’m glad you enjoyed the memories!
We used to have a sign in the bathroom that said “We Aim To Please. Your Aim Is Appreciated.”
LOL – I think we need to buy some of those signs and hang them in all of our rental units!
It is hard in the middle of the Winter to even fathom when the green will return, and the joys of Spring and Summer will be here again … I am reminded of this poem which puts it all into perspective:
“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” ~Anne Bradstreet
Yes, it is. That’s a great poem, thank you for sharing!!
Lovely pictures and fond memories always make for a great post.
HI ANITA!!! So nice to hear from you!! I’ve missed hearing from you. I’m so impressed that you’ve submitted your second book to the publisher!!! I also hope the storm predictions are wrong, stay safe and warm inside!
We got very blessed, storm fell below us, we got flurries. God is good.
Yes, blessings abound!!
Missed you
Here for love and smiles when you want to drop by
💋💋💋
Hope you’re well xx
Hi Fiery! Thanks for stopping by to say Hi. I missed you too – I hope you’re doing well and that your blogging break continues to feed your creative writing soul. I left a comment on your blog post, help me follow your links?! Hugs to you – xxoo
Thanks for sharing your trip down memory lane! I have never heard of Hammerschlagen. Is that a Wisconsin thing?
You’re welcome, thanks for reading. I don’t believe it’s just a Wisconsin thing. It’s German. It’s kind of fun to play. It takes some skill to hit the nail with the narrow edge of a hammer in one strike. I’m no master, but I have hit a few nails in my brief encounter with the game.
Eeeew, cleaning other people’s leavings. I’ve actually taught my boys to keep things clean, but their idea of clean is a lot different than mine. Don’t rent to them. Anyway, you really got me with that picture of fishing with grandpa. That could have been me and my brother sitting in that boat. Then we’d come home and have big fish frys – again Grandpa, that was his specialty. Thanks for the memories.
Aw, Geanie, I’m glad you enjoyed the photos.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Oh, yes, a fish fry was always part of the fishing excursions! PS – thanks too for training your guys on how to clean-up after themselves! 😉