Getting Ready
By Morley Hunt
@Morleyhunt (21741)
Canada
February 28, 2016 5:05am CST
The last few weeks, some of my siblings and I have been hard at work, sorting through many of the treasures hidden in my parents home.
This has been the family home for almost 52 years. My mother was much more of a hoarder than any of us realized. She lived frugally and tended to be a very, non nonsense type of person.
We have decided that she had a comb fetish. Every where she went, she left a trail of combs. My oldest siste and I had a slight inkling while she was still living (combs left in our cars), but while clearing the house we find combs everywhere. It provides some comic relief while sorting through all of their personal possessions and a lot of garbage. Suddenly, you will hear a cry, "I found another one!"
Yesterday, was a big push day. Everyone in attendance took home items that were marked for distribution. The big item I was taking home was my mother's treadle sewing machine. This is the machine I learned to sew on. I hope to. Be able to get lots of use from this trusting machine over the next few months and years.
Today, I get to go back to do even more cleaning (not planned) because I forgot to bring my vacuum cleaner home, and my house needs a thorough vacuuming in preparation for a visit from @Platespinner.
16 people like this
16 responses
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
28 Feb 16
I remember how much stuff was in my parents home. We cleaned out the garage and started moving things from the attic to the garage, we had Antique dealers that we trusted to look at the stuff that we didn't want and it was amazing what they bought from us. The left overs became a yard sale and the leftovers from that went to Charity shops.
The combs made me smile. My mother who was a sewer could not say no to buttons, she had thousands.
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
28 Feb 16
My children would be really happy to see so many buttons, they like to play with buttons. My mom who was a tailor gave me some buttons as well, my children like to play with them.
Did you take a photo of those buttons? I am sure they are pretty and special, and some might not be found today. I'd love to see the picture if you have any. 
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
28 Feb 16
@kaka135 I'm not sure if I have a photo or not. My sister might. She kept all the buttons because she is a sewer and a quilter. I'll ask her. As children when we were sick and had to stay in bed, the trays and the button boxes would be given to us to play with while getting better. i did the same thing with my kids when they were under the weather. It was a tradition.
1 person likes this
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
1 Mar 16
@kaka135 We had a button can to play with when I was little. I loved the feel of those smooth buttons.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
28 Feb 16
It is amazing to find all the things one's parents collected over the years. It took me and my 4 siblings about 3 months to get my parents house cleaned out.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
29 Feb 16
In the last two weeks I have had some help, but I've been chipping away at it for our two months already.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
29 Feb 16
@Morleyhunt That doesn't surprise me. It's not easy and takes lots of time to empty a house.
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19701)
• India
28 Feb 16
@Morleyhunt It is a huge task sorting and arranging the things in the house.That old and trusted sewing machine will be very useful to you.Think about the memories that machine evokes.
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19701)
• India
29 Feb 16
@Morleyhunt Sorry about that.As it was your mother's and you learned sewing on it,I just thought it as having so many memories.Memories will always be a mixed bag.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
29 Feb 16
Not all the memories the machine evokes are good memories, but I enjoy the relaxation of sewing, so that will balance it out.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
28 Feb 16
Wow I bet that is a job. How unique..combs.
I bet there is treasures galore in that house.
Did your Mom pass recently? If so I am sorry for your loss Morley.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
29 Feb 16
@Morleyhunt I am sorry to know it Morley..sorry for your loss friend.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
29 Feb 16
My mother passed away November 29, 2015. In some ways it seems long ago, at other times, just yesterday.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23979)
• United Kingdom
28 Feb 16
I think that is the only way to do it when you are clearing out your parents house. Laugh at some of the things you find and it is less painful. It is a dreadful thing to have to do but I am glad you found it easier with all those combs you found!
1 person likes this
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
1 Mar 16
I did this seven years ago. My mom's big thing was shoes. She had grown up poor and to her the symbol of having enough was having more than one pair of shoes. I don't mean fancy ones either; just plain old comfortable tie shoes. We took piles of them to the Salvation Army.
Also, books. But that's normal. I have more books than anything else.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
1 Mar 16
I was surprised at the amount of clothing we had to donate. The shocker was the pasta. So much and so old.
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
28 Feb 16
That's a really nice sewing machine. I remember my mom used to have that kind of machine when I was young, but she has changed it to a more modern one. I still think this kind of sewing machine works really well, and hope you'll enjoy your sewing work with it. It'd be so wonderful to use something which it's used by your mom.
It's interesting to know your mom likes to collect combs. It'd be nice to take a picture of all the combs, and show it to us.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
29 Feb 16
Most things don't bother me....and then you find the unexpected and need to stop for a a moment and just remember.
@snowy22315 (208746)
• United States
28 Feb 16
My mother used to have an old sewing machine like that, she got from a relative. I am not sure what ever happened to it. I am sure my parents don't have it anymore.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54714)
• United States
3 Mar 16
My sister has my grandmas old Singer.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
28 Feb 16
Putting the house up for sale will be a giant step. Once it sells....then the real work begins. The easy stuff will already be gone.
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
12 Apr 16
I love the pictured machine. It looks so warm and inviting. I had a really good belly laugh about the combs and finding them everywhere.
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
13 Apr 16
We have the house virtually empty. The plan is to have a picnic there in Mother's Day. The. Anything left will be donated and we will have said goodbye.
