A Sentimental Staging

When it was time this past August to prepare my parents house to be photographed and put on the market to

sell,I first had to connect what I was feeling with what needed to be done.

They are both gone now and as of November of last year, my brother and I are navigating how that feels.

I didn’t want to be at the point where this needed to be done

and regardless of  how old I am,

in my heart I am still a young girl, twirling my baton out in the yard at the ranch, leading some imaginary band somewhere.

In that memory, mother is inside cooking supper and Daddy is pulling up in the driveway

after making a round on the ranch.

My little brother is playing with his trucks on the patio or ‘working in his barn’.

But this house - this house in town- is just down the street from our house, and it is where

they lived later in life after moving into town.

My memories of this house are just as important.

It is in this house that I really saw my mother’s design ability in action, and what I watched her do clicked within me. 

 

It is in this house ,that I really learned about design.

I learned about the beauty of Saltillo tile, and blue and white, and books, and flea

market treasures , and plants, and the comfort of chintz fabric on a couch (there is no softer couch).

I learned about white and white spray paint and white milk glass and white wicker

and white bedding.

So for this day of photos in my parents’ vacant, last house I did everything I could to make it right.

 This is what I did.

*I hired two yard men , and we worked hard.

The kind of hard that I watched my mother do in her yard with a smile on her face.

The kind of hard that happens when you are working as hard as the wonderful people who are helping you.

She taught me that too.

My father's roses were trimmed and the lawn was mowed.

We pulled up the last of his zinnias, and I put them in the back of Hauler 2 to take home to my garden once again.

I brought my wrought iron bench and some of my potted plants to place around their yard to fill in those empty spaces.

*I hired my father’s housekeeper who helped me so much when he was ill,

and we worked hard.

My mother’s beloved Saltillo tile floors were spotless and shining.

* With my husband and daughter’s help, I loaded Hauler 2 with things

that remind me of my mother:

blue and white, flowers, books, white wicker, blue and white pillows, brass trays, and fresh flowers.

*I did exactly what she taught me. I used what I had -to do what was needed.

And lastly, right before the photographer arrived, I sprayed her favorite perfume in every room of the

house:  Clinique Aromatics Elixer.

And then I knew I was done.

*****

Want my posts delivered directly to your inbox?
Just enter your e-mail address.

Enter your email address:


Delivered by FeedBurner