A Downsizing Story

My Curio Cabinet Filled with Pleasant Memories of Our Travels over the World Has to Go. Which item to Bring, Donate, Sell or Trash  may be easy to someone but not for the Downsizer as described in the following article. 
 Next month will be my one year after downsizing. But sometimes I missed my Garden, and other Items that had so much memories in my almost 90 years in Planet Earth. I feel very lucky to be able bring with me a few of the things I previously owned here at THD.  I have discussed items I have saved such as my indoor and outdoor plants as well as some of my antique furnitures, paintings and art collection in my previous blog just recently. Here's a story from my FB page that I can certainly identified with.

"When my mom was cleaning out her house over 23 years ago to sell it, I wasn't very sympathetic over her attachments to things. I would go over on weekends to help her, and we would go through things...things for a yard sale, things to donate, things to throw away. I would usually get upset over how long it was taking her to decide. For instance, we were going through kitchen cabinets, and she spent 20 minutes looking at a black iron kettle with a lid. Finally, I said, “Mom, at this rate it is going to take us another 2 years.”

She told me that her mother used to make meals in that kettle and leave them at the doorsteps of neighbors during the Depression. Mom would deliver them, and then they would reappear back on her porch with an apron or a wood carving; something in return for the meal. I realized that everything that my mom was going through was really a reliving of her life.

If you are reading this and are under the age of 60, you won't get it. You haven't lived long enough. Most of you have not had to move your parents into a nursing home, or broken up their home. You haven't lived long enough to realize that the hours you spend picking out the right cabinets, or the perfect tile will not be what matters in the later years. It will be the handmade toothbrush holder or a picture that you took on vacation.

So, if your parents are downsizing, and moving to smaller places, or selling a home, give your mom and even your dad a break. For those things that you don't understand why they can’t just pitch, and why you think you know what needs to be tossed or saved, give them a little time to make their decisions. They are saying goodbye to their past, and realizing that they are getting ready for their end of life, while you are just beginning your life.

As I have been going through things, it is amazing just how hard it is to get rid of objects. But, life goes on, and you realize they are just things, but sometimes things comfort us. So give your parents or grandparents a break. Listen to their stories, because in 40 years, when you are going through those boxes and the memories come back, it will be hard to get rid of those reminders of precious moments that make up a life well lived.

You just don't have a clue until it happens to you, and then you will remember how you rushed them, and it will make you sad, especially if they are already gone, and you can't say, 'I’m sorry...I just didn't understand until it was too late." Melissa Vaughan

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2023/06/a-major-decision-in-my-life-moving-to.html

Lastly, enjoy this recent photo of the Aurora Borealis ( Northern Lights) from Norway

and my beautiful red rose in my kitchen-my picture of the day

Santos Paintings and Framed Photos/Art Saved from Downsizing Move

n my previous three postings I listed and described the indoor plants, outdoor plants/garden decor and antique pieces and collectibles that I was able to bring in my apartment here at THD during my downsizing move last June.   

This posting is about the Acrylic and Charcoal Paintings of Jesse Santos💚 - The Napa Hut and the Nude Lady that I was able to bring and displayed in my apartment here at THD as well as my other framed personal photos.

Jesse Santos, was a well known Filipino Cartoonist and Artist. He was our former friend and neighbor in the Central Valley  (Ceres/Modesto )from 1969-1974. His short biography is describe as follows:

https://www.lambiek.net/artists/s/santos_jesse.htm

He also sold us a Charcoal Painting of Me and Macrine( RIP) as follows:

I also commissioned him to paint a Family Photo that was my surprised 25th wedding Anniversary Gift to Macrine in 1982 as follows:  

Family Portrait- Charcoal Painting by Jesse Santos, 1982

In this posting I am listing some of the Family Photos I was able to display here in my apartment. Due to limited wall space, more than two dozens of my personal photographs/arts/framed Prints are in storage and are not displayed in my apartment.  The above Santos Charcoal Painting is in storage.  

One of My several Collection of Oriental Arts- Pair of  Chinese Water Color Prints- Princess Fah-Yen-Fah, 1926.  I have another  dozen antique water color prints of oriental arts in storage.  For Details visit:

https://theintellectualmigrants.blogspot.com/2023/05/learning-market-values-of-david-e-art.html

One Day Trip to Ensenada, Mexico from San Diego, California 

Me, Former Governor of California Arnold S and My Youngest Daughter Ditas, 2006

My Wedding Photo- May 8. 1957, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines

One of my Four Nude Art Collection.

 https://theintellectualmigrants.blogspot.com/2020/04/my-collection-of-nudes-paintings.html

Outdoor Plants and Garden Decors Saved from Downsizing Move

I have numerous potted plants outdoors as well as garden decors, outdoor furnitures and statuaries in my former residence in Fair Oaks.  I was able to sell most of it during my Estate Sale and also during the whole month of Garage sales.  However, I was able to bring with me a few items.  Some are my cacti and succulent collections, jade plants and even a pineapple and garden statuaries/plaques. 

These plants and garden decors makes me feel at home and had ease the pains of my downsizing move last year. Here are some photos. The plants are now very happy in my long patio here at THD.

My Garden Rainbow Spot Light at Night in My Patio Here at THD

Finally, these are the first two items I sold at my Garden Sale In Fair Oaks at a Good Price, $200 each

Some Household Items Save from Downsizing Move

The other day, I posted my indoor plants that survived my downsizing move last year. Today's posting is on some of the old items ( furnitures and knick knacks), that I was able to bring with me here at THD.  These items make me feel at home and alleviates the pain and nostalgia of my downsizing move.  

When I decided to move here at THD from my single Residence home in Fair Oaks, CA last year, I had to get rid of more than half of my belongings including furnitures, household items hundred of potted plants and my numerous personal accumulations for more than 6 decades of my life here in the US.  My 2BR and 2Bath Apartment here at THD is about half the size of my 2200 sq. ft former home in Fair Oaks. 

However I was able to bring with me three old furnitures and other small items here at THD. Here are photos of my Victorian Dresser Set,  Side Table and a Secretary Desk with a Secret Compartment.  Are these antiques? I believe they are.

According to Wikipedia, An antique is an item perceived as having value because of its aesthetic or historical significance, and often defined as at least 100 years old, although the term is often used loosely to describe any object that is old.

I was also able to bring my wife's jewelry box in-laid with mother of pearl, a leather foot stool and a Wheel Picture Frame and a couple of Table Lamps. The Victorian Dresser, Side Table and  Secretary Desk with Secret Compartment, were purchased by Macrine( RIP) in 1960 in Chicago, Illinois.    

 Here are the photos.

Victorian Dresser with Stool

Secretary Desk with Secrete Compartment( hand carved) with lock 

Jewelry Box with In-laid Mother of Pearl and wine bottle decorative Cork stoppers

The Maple Mantle Clock-in the background some of miniature liquor bottles and decorative wine bottle cork stoppers

The Wheel Picture Frame Holder-with our Wedding Photo, May 8, 1957

The Leather Foot Stool-purchased by David E III in 1990

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2023/03/downsizing-is-not-for-faint-hearted.html

My Creation-Succulent and Cactus Terrarium

The Top Ten Tourist Destination in the Philippines

Photo Credit: Getty Images: Tagaytay and Taal Lake and Volcano

  Top 10 tourist destinations in the Philippines according to wanderwisdomtravel.com:

1. #BoracayIsland - Famous for its white sandy beaches and vibrant nightlife.

2. #Palawan - Known for its stunning landscapes, including the Puerto Princesa Underground River and El Nido's limestone cliffs.

3. #Manila - The capital city offers historical sites like Intramuros and cultural attractions such as Rizal Park.

4. #Cebu - Features historical landmarks, beautiful beaches, and diving spots like Malapascua Island.

5. #Bohol - Home to the Chocolate Hills, tarsier sanctuaries, and picturesque beaches.

6. #SiargaoIsland - Renowned for its surfing spots, such as Cloud 9, and pristine beaches.

7. #BanaueRiceTerraces - A UNESCO World Heritage Site, showcasing the ingenuity of the Ifugao people.

8. #DavaoCity - Offers attractions like Mount Apo, Philippine Eagle Center, and pristine beaches.

9. #Vigan - Known for its well-preserved Spanish colonial and Asian architecture.

10. #Batanes - Offers breathtaking landscapes, rolling hills, and unique stone houses.

https://wanderwisdom.com/travel-destinations/TOP-10-TOURIST-DESTINATION-IN-THE-PHILIPPINES

THE PHILIPPINES has 18 regions, 81 provinces, 145 cities, 1,489 municipalities, and 42,029 barangays. There are so many places to visit. Make a Good Choice, by asking People Knowledgeable about the Philippines and its tourist Attractions.

My Personal Choice: Marinduque Philippines, Heart of the Philippines and Location of Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort and Conference Center ( no longer in business since 2020). I have only been to #1 and #3 in the list above. I left the Philippines when I was 26 years old but after retirement in 2002, we built a retirement beach house in Marinduque.

Meanwhile, Here are two photos from nature you might be able to identify! 

Mountain Goddess. A temporary ice cave formed a vagina on Mt St Helens about 20 years ago. This photo has ever since been the subject of a great deal of humor and not much else, though seems to me it should've been much more often noted as further evidence of beauty in nature.

and Cambodia's Penis Plant

Recently, the government of Cambodia requested its citizens to not pluck the rare plant Nepenthes holdenii after a series of images went viral with women plucking and posing with the plant, due to its shape looking awfully similar to the phallic shape of the male genitalia when glanced upon from a certain angle.