I’m still pecking away at going through Granny’s house. I knew she was a packrat, but we’ve all been shocked by the things she kept for us to discover after she was gone.
Granny was one of the most creative people I’ve ever met. She was certainly the queen of crochet, but there were many other crafts she enjoyed making.
She looked at every little thing as a possible creative venture.
One year she used large orange containers that held washing detergent to make halloween pumpkins for all the grandkids. I would have never looked at the container and thought pumpkin, but she did.
I remember her teaching me how to decoupage pictures onto pieces of wood left over from Pap’s various building projects.
We spent hours looking for the perfect scenes from magazines and greeting cards. I’ve found several of our old creations. Such a simple cheap thing to do, but still pretty with the wood showing around the pictures.
Last weekend I found the framed piece at the top of this post.
The frame is cheap, the print is from gift wrapping for a baby shower. I’m sure she made it for my sister n law Kim or for me. Might be we gave it back to her after our babies got older. Then again knowing Granny she might have just framed it because she liked it and thought it was pretty in the pink frame.
Many things from Granny’s house have been shared with family members and many things have been donated. But we’ve kept every little thing Granny made, putting it all in one bedroom so that her family can go through it together and take home what they like best.
The pile of stuff is falling off both sides of the bed and creeping towards the walls and the door. The amount of things in the room is a testament to Granny’s creative nature.
Tipper
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Tipper, I loved reading this post you wrote about your mother’s creativity! My mother was and “is”(!), so dear to me too, and I especially enjoy your more recent mentions of “Granny” and your relating to her in your life — it pulls me from my view of ‘a Granny’, into ‘mother and daughter! … and the more you share, the more I can relate to.
I smiled throughout this post, with you sharing the different types of handicrafts Granny did! I looked at the framed picture, and thought I recognized that wrapping paper (oops! I’m showing my age). It really DOES make a sweet picture for a nursery (it would be “interesting”, to follow who’s wall it decorated, . . .I hope that you will continue to share bits from Granny’s interests and talents — the things that kept her busy!
Still smiling as I type — I’m enjoying (and “have enjoyed” , in videos) the “treasures” you pick out to share, from a hard afternoon’s work, cleanin’-out her house.
Ah that framed wrapping paper is so cute!! Its a bitter-sweet time to go through our loved ones belongings after they pass away. I found letters my grandmother saved that my late brother had written to her way back in 1981, Old letters are my favorite things to find.
Hi Tipper and Acorns. I enjoyed the video. It is so nice that you are getting things ready to share with the family. Sadly, not every family does that. I love y’all
♥️♥️Oh how sad Miss Cathy. I cannot imagine how difficult it has been to loose your husband and mother so close together. I have lost my dad, mom, middle sister, youngest brother and my oldest brother. It seems only yesterday, but I know it’s been much longer. I’m so grateful I still have my middle brother and two baby sisters in my life and it does make it better to know they are still living. We live in different states, but with communication being as it is, FaceTime and cell phones, these days I so glad I can call and speak with them, at least, not all of them have FaceTime, it’s always a joy to hear them and talk whenever we want. The day may come, and we know this, even that will be impossible, but what we have now gives me some peace. I’m grateful God has given us this time with at least part of my mom and dad’s big brood of children and thankful for all the past times together with the entire family. My heart goes out to you Cathy and very grateful for you to have your sister too. I’ll pray for you to get through these tough times ahead and pray God will give His peace and mercies to you and her to be able to move on with all your beautiful memories and love you have known. God bless you and keep you always. Prayers up for the other prayer request. Thank you for all the Acorns out there too. Love, blessings and so much more to all of you. South Mississippi Jennifer. I’m 79 and love the Lord. Today, tomorrow and always. Pray for me also, I suffered a rare type of heart attack on September 18, 2026. It’s called a Takotsubo Syndrome. I’m doing better and should have a good recovery. Amen Jesus was there for sure.
Sorry about the heart attack! Glad you are doing better. I will pray for you!
That just was the sweetest story about your mom Tipper. I always wanted to meet your mom and sit down and have a long conversation and hear about her whole life history. I know she had a lot of interesting things to talk about and had so many interests and was so talented. I always dreamed of meeting her one day!! Now I’m sure I will someday in heaven. God bless you, Tipper. Love, Esme’♥️
What a darling treasure to find. Granny was creative! As we go through the tasks of clearing loved ones possessions, it comes with sorrow and joy. Of course family has things that they will keep, and there are things that are given to close friends. In trying to let go of items, I try to keep in mind how much joy my loved one brought me and hope that the item will bring joy to someone else or help someone in need. It is the often the little things like this picture that have a story that brings to mind something you haven’t thought of in years that bring a smile or a tear or make you think to try and remember a time or circumstances.
What a sweet, sweet story! I adore the picture. I know for your family it’s been like finding little treasures everywhere and boy, do they mean more now than ever.
Prayers for everyone mentioned. God bless you all.
Your mama was so much fun! I would have loved to do crafts with her. Making the pumpkins from orange laundry detergent bottles was a great idea. When my daughter was in Kindergarten, I saved cereal boxes for the kids in her class. I cut them off halfway in the back and in the front, except for two tall bunny ears. We covered them with construction paper, drew faces, and made them into Easter baskets with big bunny faces…adding handles that I crocheted on the sides. All the home room moms helped fill them with Easter grass, candies and squirt guns—that would be a no no now—but the kids loved them. I enjoy helping my grandchildren make homemade cards and taking them to the mailbox for sweet surprises to send to friends or family. I save lids of all kinds for throwaway paint holders… and we always save Christmas or any occasion cards. The pictures can be used to make new cards, gift tags or Christmas ornaments. Crafting is just so rewarding, especially when sharing with children.
Such sweet treasures from Granny !
Congratulations to Corie & Katie !
Love & prayers for all !
Granny was God’s blessing to your entire family, Tipper.
Carolyn ❤️
My mom and Granny would have been great friends! Mama was creative like her and she loved to go to auctions and buy old ragged quilts or a piece of old linen or lace and turn them into something beautiful. She was especially adept at sewing and she loved to make throw pillows or quilts, many of them out of scraps, some even winning blue ribbons at the fair. Daddy had a little country store and she’d make ole timey bonnets to sell in the store. They sold like hotcakes! She never let moss grow under her feet. Even at night when she was watching TV, she’d have some project in her lap. She lap quilted my sister and I a beautiful heirloom quilt while watching TV in the evenings and embroidered her name in the corner. It’s one of my most treasured heirlooms. God bless, Granny!
Once again, another sweet moment with Granny that reminds me of my own grandmother. Every year, my grandparents got beautiful complimentary calendars with Currier and Ives prints from their insurance company. Grandma would pick a few favorites, and Grandpa would make her a wooden frame and even get some glass; then they’d frame the prints and hang them throughout the house. The framed prints looked rather “fancy,” but cost them a few pennies.
That is just the sweetest picture. I love that Granny framed it and you realize the beauty in it. Many would have tossed it to the side. Granny and Pap’s house is looking so lovely in all the videos the girls are doing there. What a special place— a treasure filled with a lifetime of memories. You are doing such a wonderful job of sorting through it all carefully and thoughtfully. Your parents would be so proud, Tipper!
If you can move around freely in your home, and no pile of anything blocks your line of sight, you’re not a “hoarder.” You still remain merely a “collector.” 😉
Tipper, the little wall hanging your mother made was simply sweet and very creative. You can sample her sweet attitude just looking at the tender baby scenes in that decoupage. The idea of keeping all her creations and letting her people sift through them is a wonderful and kind gesture. I miss your mother very much myself. She was absolutely lovely, kind, creative and a fine lady. She was an ambassador of Appalachia and was the quintessential lady of the hills!!! God bless you all as you go through Granny’s lifetime of memories and possessions. I’m sure the memories and thoughts swell your heart and eyes. It’s a difficult thing to do and my thoughts and heart are with you. Also I loved Randy’s share about Sunday dinners… God bless you, Norman. Perhaps try a warm salt water rinse for the throat… my prayers are with you all.
It’s a bittersweet thing to do going through our loved one’s material possessions when they have passed on to eternity. I wasn’t about to do that with my mom’s things after she passed due to a sibling dispute after her passing, which thankfully after 10 years has ended and we are a family again. I’m thankful for all the things I do have that my mom gave to me over the years before she passed and cherish them. I had to remind myself during the difficult years that it’s all just stuff and what’s important is the memories of my mom and dad. All the material things we keep that belong to our loved ones will one day pass away, but memories kept in our hearts and minds will be there as long as we continue to keep those memories alive by telling the family stories, writing them down so future generations will know who they were and what their lives were like. When my mother in-law passed earlier this year (Feb 2026) we found more treasures than we could have imagined. Pictures, cards, letters, and more dishes than I’d even seen use in the 52 years I knew her, along with what knots that we never saw sitting out. She really knew how to organize and pack a closet, because it was actually overwhelming to go through. I made a point to call her two remaining sisters to ask what they wanted, then asked the nieces that were closest to her what they wanted. It was difficult since they lived in other states, but we did our best to find what they wanted. We took many things mentioned that other of her extended family might want to the funeral so they could have something of hers. After the funeral the rest of of us, her immediate families went through to get what we wanted and the rest was either sold or donated. We cried a lot, laughed at some things and even pondered at a few items wondering what story was never told to us about a few items that has now been lost forever. Bittersweet.
My husband passed away from unexpected complications of Parkinson’s disease on July 4th. I’ve not been able to sort through any of his things yet because I’m just not ready. Unfortunately, on July 26th (my birthday) my mom and sister was going to pick up my birthday gift and an impaired driver ran a stop sign. This accident resulted in the immediate death of my mother and her little Boston Terrier dog. It was a miracle my sister wasn’t also killed in the car wreck. They lived across the street from me. In 22 days my life took such a sudden change. When my sister was finally discharged from the hospital she said she could never come back and live in the house alone so she moved to another town in an apartment. My siblings decided we needed to sell moms house instead of letting it sit empty. After the realtor put the sign in the yard it sold in 8 hours! I had the horrible task of sorting thru and cleaning out the house and selling or donating all of moms belongings. As heart wrenching as this last couple of months has been, it was also healing and rewarding seeing the treasures that mom has kept all these years. The new owners have not yet moved in the house but I think I am ready to see new life in the house again. Mom always turned on her night light when she was going to bed at night and looking over at the dark house at night has been so difficult for me. I now go to the cemetery several times a day and visit her and my husband’s graves. I have finally gotten grass growing on their graves instead of looking at bare dirt. My heart is broken and will never heal from losing my husband and my mother. They passed 22 days apart at the exact minute of the day! It was 10:00 in the morning for both of them. I get such pleasure watching you and Matt side by side each day because it reminds me so much of the relationship my husband and I had. May God continue to bless your beautiful family and keep all of you together and healthy.
Cathy, God bless you! I just can’t imagine what you’ve been through. I pray comfort and peace for you!
Cathy, I know others get tired of hearing me saying this, my daughter was killed in an ATV accident, she lived 8 days after the accident. She was in a coma and her doctors didn’t want us to speak or touch her. For all purposes she was dead. My wife died suddenly from a blood clot during heart surgery. I have never came close to getting over either one and don’t think I ever will until I close my eyes for the final time on earth. A sudden unexpected death sure brings this home “you are never more than one heart beat or one breath from eternity.” As you wrote seeing Matt and Tipper and their children and now grandchildren enjoying doing simple everyday things together brings back so many memories of how it once was for me and my wife, children and grandchildren. Between dating and marriage we were together 50 years. If I am not careful, I will sometimes cry, and even get angry when I see a husband and wife so happy when being together. I will pray for you.
I’m so sorry to read of your sorrow, Cathy. I cannot imagine what you’ve been through. I am praying for you today.
Cathy, May God comfort and bless you as you get through this difficult time in your life.
Cathy, I am sorry for your losses and what you are going through. May God wrap his arms around you.
God bless you, Cathy! I am so very sorry for your terrible losses. I will be praying for you as you continue to go through this. ❤️
God bless you Cathy
Reading your post brought me to imagine all the treasures Granny created. I would love to see a picture of the bedroom piled with her creations! Her creativity would be an inspiration to many of us!
That little framed picture is adorable! Maybe more so since I have babies on the brain. Granny was very creative and talented!
My grandmother lost my grandfather two years ago, and decided this summer to move to an assisted living community. But he was a packrat! My mom and uncle have been elbow deep in all the stuff Pa saved over their 55 years living in that house. They got her moved in last weekend, but they have hired an estate sale company to come take care of all the things. It makes me so sad, but they just don’t have time. Pa was a conductor for Rock Island and then Santa Fe railroads. He collected things he thought were interesting from all over the US. He especially loved plants and would bring home saplings, shoots, and runners of all sorts of things which he planted in their yard. They had the most beautiful yard and every plant had a story.
Love seeing all the little treasures you’ve found from Granny’s. It’s like walking down memory lane isn’t it? Enjoy the cooler weather. Blessings
Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without. I like that saying
Good morning!!!
Probably very few of us do not have sentimental items from family and friends. Looking at those items help keep the memories and stories of the owners alive.
Of course, many add to it with the items they like to collect. It is VERY EASY to accumulate too many things. But, it is LOTS OF FUN!!!!
Granny was so talented and enjoyed her creative side. Thank you for sharing.
One of the things that touched me most when I cleaned out my folk’s house in the bottom of the green metal tackle box Momma kept “important “ papers in was the hospital bill from when I was born. $94 dollars after insurance paid the other $154. (1961)
Like you, we’ve gone through my dad’s stuff and there are a lot of treasures he left behind. After our family took what they wanted some of it was donated to organizations that could use it, some was sold in a yard sale or to resale shops. Truthfully, if I could, I would have made a memorial room and put everything there, but that’s not possible. I’m glad our kids and grandchildren wanted the items they took. It makes me really happy that our grandson’s wear his clothes and are proud to do it. We still have a lot more stuff to go through, but that will happen next early spring. I sure do miss my dad.
Please pray for me, my throat has been sore and hurting since the 13th and 14th last month, the first time it ever bothered me like this was actually about a year ago, somewhere around the time I found out my brother had cancer, anyways I’ve seen several doctors, back at that time, man was told it’s not cancer , and the pain went away, but like I said it started on the 13th again, I made arrangements to see my doctor, and the community helping place transportation gave the driver the wrong information and I missed my appointment, and now this week the doctor’s office is closed, God help in Jesus name , please take this suffering from me, heal Me oh Lord and make me well in your name, please help Amen
I’m so sorry Norman. I will keep praying for you. God bless you!!
thank you very much
I am praying for you to be healed, Norman. Throat pain makes everything so difficult!
thank you Meg, God bless you
My husband and I just prayed for you Norman. God bless you.
thank you very much
Norman, I pray the Lord heals your pain.
thank you Brenda
Norman, Praying for you. Please call your doctor to get the next available appointment available and call the transportation service to get rescheduled to take you to your appointment so you can get seen about your throat. I know this hurts. I think I would call the transportation service the day before my appointment too to confirm they have the correct address and don’t make a second mistake. Will be praying you get rescheduled and all goes to plan this time so you can get better.
thank you Lynn
I am afraid when I am gone, my 3 boys will find out if they don’t already know, I was a packrat! I like to keep and hold on to things that remind me of my love ones that have gone on. Much of it probably only has sentimental valve to me but no money valve.
Debbie I read your comment late yesterday about your grandmother’s fried chicken. There were not many Saturday mornings when two chickens would not get their necks wrung by my maternal granddaddy. Grandmother would then fry them for their midday Sunday dinner. After Sunday morning church some of their children would always come by and eat with them. These chickens for eating were kept in an above ground wire bottom and sides coop and fed nothing but corn and water. He would not just pick two out of the ones running loose, known today as free range chickens. Watch free range chickens and you will soon see why they had the nickname of “barnyard buzzards.”Grandmother would batter and fry them in a cast iron skillet and lard they had rendered from their 500 lb hog they would kill each year around Thanksgiving. They would have 5 gallon lard cans of lard and everything was cooked using it. Any cold leftover chicken would have white specks on it from the lard. The great fear was scorching the lard when rendering it. Everything cooked using it would have a scorched taste if it got scorched. How many remember these Sunday dinners being covered by a white cloth and left out all afternoon before eating again before the going to the Sunday night church service, not much put in a refrigerator.