and so I have sold the cottage
the place where I have lived the longest
where I have spent some of my best years
after a whirling roller coaster ride of a sale
each grandie takes a fairy house
to begin a village at their own home
family and friends help with the first steps
to move the things that I most want to keep
into a small space
(some of my grandies working hard)
then arrive at a daughter’s house
for a short stay
with olive the cat not the oil, in tow
while I await my new home
still to be in ann arbor
as I move to simplify my life
and live near what matters to me most
family, friends,
the natural beauty of a park, the water, a garden
and a town which is only a short walk away.
(not my new home, but pretty comfortable)
in what can best be described as a ‘math miracle”
there is room to spare after filling this small space
with only my favorite things.
interesting to consider how much space
we would each need
to store
only those things that we really want to keep.
the adventure continues
along a path that is never a straight course
but always exactly right where I need to be.
—
“all deep changes are preceded by chaos.”
-deepak chopra
wishing you much happiness at your new home ! be sure and boil up 9 oranges in water, put the water into a spritzer bottle and then spray the corners of the home to bring joy into your new life ! <3. Odd fairy trick from a rather odd fairy downunder x miss g.
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I will heed your advice, miss g )
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Here’s to a happy adventure Beth. May the joys you share with the world be multiplied for you in your new home.
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thanks so much, colleen –
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wishing you much happiness in your new home
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ty, duncan –
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Congratulations on your new home, Beth! And congratulations too on downsizing. My husband and I did that in 2017, and were surprised — as you are — to find that we were actually happier with less space and less stuff. I hope that in time your new place will be filled with as many happy memories as your beloved old cottage was.
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Thank you and I know it will)
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what a lovely post. I share the same values so I wish you every happiness and sure you will enjoy it near such lovely surrounding and those who treasure you even though I know it is a wrench to move away from places rich in memories. My thoughts are with you x
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Thank you, Peter. It is a bit bittersweet for that reason,but I am so ready)
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Wish you a smooth move and happiness in your new abode.
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Thank you Norah)
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My mom found it difficult to downsize so I think you are doing splendidly. It is relationships that really matter and not stuff.
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I’ve always been a bit of a minimalist and did not want to move anything that I didn’t really want or need,so pretty easy to put it back in the universe.)
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I am very happy for you, Beth. I know you are off on a great new adventure. You had a sweet time at the cottage and will experience new angles at the exciting new location to come, I am confident!
Keeping only your best-cherished and most-needed belongings is a wonderful start!
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Thanks, mark)
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The very best of luck to you.
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thanks, Daniel –
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❤ Such a great attitude you have! Sounds like a good move even though there's a sense of loss in letting go. I wish you much joy going forward with all your blessings.
https://meinthemiddlewrites.com/2019/04/29/atozchallenge-april-world-holidays-letter-y/
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thank you, that’s spot on
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Congrats!!
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thanks!
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Very stressful, but you’ll be able to relax one day in your new home Beth. 🙂 ❤
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so right, Ralph )
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All the best to you in your new space.
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Ty )
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your perspective on life helps to simplify things as well Beth.
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I hope so )
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Oh I am in almost the same place! Putting house up for sale soon after making some renovations then moving in with oldest and his family to ponder my next move. I’m only sad about this period of my life coming to an end…
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I totally get that. Bittersweet but a new level of freedom is coming)
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I need a .change but I’m not really looking forward to it if you know what I mean.
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yes, I understand –
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I’m conflicted. LOLOL Maybe it’s the use of the word “cottage.” I wish you all the best…love…light…joy…happiness…new adventures and a wonderful magical new home. Fairies will follow you wherever you go. They’re like that, you know. Once they love you, they stay near by. Moving in will be fun, finding places to put your things and making Olive happy. 🙂 Please keep the story going, so we can all move along with you and Olive. Hugs and have fun.
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Thank you for all of that, and you can be sure that you’ll hear the stories along the way )
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Oh, good. Looking forward to each episode. 🙂 ❤
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Wishing you a happy and great life in your new home.
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I appreciate that )
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Welcome
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Cheers to new adventures! All the best for you.
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thanks, kerbey
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The adventure continues….
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that’s it Sarah –
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Getting here late after a busy weekend, but good luck with your move and adventure!
You sound and look content.
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thanks, merril, I am )
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wishing relaxation
and joy in the move!
perhaps a big
tent 🙂
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I wish you and olive a smooth move xo
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We are both doing well in phase one )
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It sounds like a good choice, towards simplicity. ( I strife for that too). Wishing you a good and stress free move and a happy time in your new home!
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Thanks, Ute!
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New growth Beth. We’ll find a new setting for the fairies.
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Yes –
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Beth, do I understand correctly: It’s YOU who is moving?! You are only one of so many who do this right now (plus/minus a few months). What’s the matter?! We try to sell our house too but it won’t shift…. Situation in France must be so much different. It’s – some days – very demoralizing, others I just accept it, but it’s also funny as right now 3 of my online friends are ‘on the move’!! It’s such a stressful time too and all of us are going back to a ‘simpler life’, back to downsizing, to live in less space, I learned to do that with Hero Husband’s ‘time-limited’ mini rental in Switzerland (where he is working full-time, but still being a resident in France) – not a luxury place at all, washing up to be done by hand, the bathroom is full of living things, but it has a balcony and we were able to furnish it from ‘excess’ stuff from our house! Already THAT thought…. that we have enough stuff to fill another 2 piece/room apt. Had to buy a bed though…. 🙂
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Yes, I am the one and it is a yearning for less of everything and more of time spent on things important
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could you come help me to do the same…tomorrow? if not sooner!
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I’m in my way
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Congratulations on the sale and the move!
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Thanks!
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Wish you absolute joy ahead! Your post is so wise and inspiring.
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Thank you so much)
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Good for you Beth! Less stuff… more time with those you love doing the things you love! Bravo!
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Yes!
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May the chaos of today lead you to many blessings tomorrow, Beth. good luck with your move!
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thank you so much, I’m quite sure it will )
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All the best in your new home, Beth. Wishing you peace and happiness, and hope you feel settled in soon. Wonderful grandies!
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thanks, Jennie
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You’re very welcome, Beth!
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Wishing you every happiness in your new home, Beth.
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Thank you so much!
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Sitting alone amid dense bamboo
strumming my lute and whistling
deep in the forest no one else knows
until the bright moon looks down
– Bamboo Retreat (Wang Wei; 8th century)
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Yes, like that
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Wonderful, new adventure awaits. Best wishes, Beth.
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Thanks so much, Ted )
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Your heartfelt poem shares the struggles with changing locations. Downsizing is difficult, but I have found there is very little that I miss after I let it go. Embrace the change! It may be better than you hoped for. Love the photo!
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oh, yes I think it will be wonderful, and am ready for the change, always a bit bittersweet
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Wow! Good luck to you. Sounds hard to leave something that can be described as a cottage!
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Bittersweet but I have many wonderful memories there and am ready to move on to make more memories)
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Excellent attitude.
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😻
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Good luck!!!
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This is very beautiful and nice lovely words
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Beth, this is SO exciting! We’re really excited for you and wish you all the best on your closing tomorrow. 🙂 All the best, Terri & James
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Thanks so much to both of you!
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