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Downsizing The Family Home: What to Save, What to Let Go
by Marni Jameson - I borrowed this book from the library a super long time ago, and I don't remember why I chose it exactly. I'm guessing I saw it highlighted somewhere and thought it looked like a useful read, as we have been trying (unsuccessfully, it often seems) to reduce the amount of stuff in our house. Anyway, I started reading, but then got swamped with a lot of other (more entertaining) reading and this was set aside and eventually forgotten. We can renew library books and insane number of weeks. About a week ago I stumbled across the book, was shocked to think how long I'd had it without finishing it, and set about correcting my oversight.
Marni Jameson is a home and lifestyle columnist and knows a thing or two about home decorating and organizing a home for efficiency. But even she had a lot of questions when she was faced with the need to clean out, downsize, and sell her parents' home in order to help them move to an assisted living facility. In this book she invites readers along on her journey, telling her stories and dispensing the wisdom and advice she gathered on the way. The advice is down-to-earth practical and the tone is encouraging as she acknowledges the emotional ties that can make this job daunting. She shares the thoughts and recommendations of many experts that she consulted along the way, on everything from the psychological and emotional reasons we accumulate stuff in the first place to the practical how-to's of having an estate sale and determining prices. She also covers preparing the home for sale, safely shipping and storing household items, and how to make the tough choices as to what to keep.
My husband and I are not yet seniors, and not planning a downsize move in the near future, but our nest could empty fairly soon and retirement is coming ever closer. We see the wisdom of downsizing our collection of stuff for so many reasons, and we'd really prefer to do it ourselves and on our own terms rather than be forced to do it in a hurry because of an unexpected need to move, or leave the job to our children because of our failing health or unexpected passing. Hopefully I can put much of this book's advice to use and get motivated to work on downsizing now while we have time and energy on our side.
by Marni Jameson - I borrowed this book from the library a super long time ago, and I don't remember why I chose it exactly. I'm guessing I saw it highlighted somewhere and thought it looked like a useful read, as we have been trying (unsuccessfully, it often seems) to reduce the amount of stuff in our house. Anyway, I started reading, but then got swamped with a lot of other (more entertaining) reading and this was set aside and eventually forgotten. We can renew library books and insane number of weeks. About a week ago I stumbled across the book, was shocked to think how long I'd had it without finishing it, and set about correcting my oversight.Marni Jameson is a home and lifestyle columnist and knows a thing or two about home decorating and organizing a home for efficiency. But even she had a lot of questions when she was faced with the need to clean out, downsize, and sell her parents' home in order to help them move to an assisted living facility. In this book she invites readers along on her journey, telling her stories and dispensing the wisdom and advice she gathered on the way. The advice is down-to-earth practical and the tone is encouraging as she acknowledges the emotional ties that can make this job daunting. She shares the thoughts and recommendations of many experts that she consulted along the way, on everything from the psychological and emotional reasons we accumulate stuff in the first place to the practical how-to's of having an estate sale and determining prices. She also covers preparing the home for sale, safely shipping and storing household items, and how to make the tough choices as to what to keep.
My husband and I are not yet seniors, and not planning a downsize move in the near future, but our nest could empty fairly soon and retirement is coming ever closer. We see the wisdom of downsizing our collection of stuff for so many reasons, and we'd really prefer to do it ourselves and on our own terms rather than be forced to do it in a hurry because of an unexpected need to move, or leave the job to our children because of our failing health or unexpected passing. Hopefully I can put much of this book's advice to use and get motivated to work on downsizing now while we have time and energy on our side.
This is a book I've been meaning to read, for the 2019 Modern Mrs Darcy Reading Challenge.
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by Grace Hitchcock - This is the first in a fascinating new series of historical novels based on true crime stories. The setting is in Chicago during the World Fair of 1893. Winnifred Wylde has fairly earned her reputation for having an over-active imagination, but she is certain about what she witnessed at the fair - a young woman being kidnapped. She goes to her police inspector father for help, and he downplays her claim but does assign a detective to guard her - without her knowing it, or so he believes. Winnifred does notice that Detective Jude Thorpe is trailing her, and soon convinces him that they should work together to track down the suspect, whom they identify as a Mr. Holmes.
by Kimberley Woodhouse - Just started on this soon-to-be-released installment in the Daughters of the Mayflower series.
by L.M. Montgomery - Valency Stirling has felt unloved by most everyone, and stifled by her family for most of her life. When she reaches her twenty-ninth birthday, she decides to take some chances and try living life on her terms. This was an online book club choice, and I didn't get it finished, but am still working on it. Hopefully I'll do better with this month's pick, and future picks!
by C.S. Lewis
by Deanna Raybourn
by Anna Lee Huber
by Priscilla Shirer
by Stephanie Marie Thornton (ARC)
