Inheritance

I got the rest of my "inheritance" today.

Mom's plants and old pots.

My parents told me when I was growing up that the only inheritance they could give us is our education. All of us finished our studies and we all managed on our own to go to grad school too. 

We weren't Nepo baby rich. We got by through Dad and Mom's hardwork. Mom retired when I was born, but she helped manage Dad's law office and did some trading (buy and sell of office supplies). We had a comfortable life and that's enough when you live simply.

Dad didn't keep a lot of earthly items. I only found his neckties and a couple of tie clips. His clothes and shoes were gone when I cleared the childhood home. His treasure? His law books and documents. I sent useful law books to his Alma Mater and just kept a few key ones. Old law documents have been shredded. I asked a lawyer what I should do with it and he said we can just shred it since the courts and notarized docs are also kept by the justice system.

Mom's treasure. Her garden and craft materials. I finished sorting the craft materials last October and have been working to rescue her plants for two years now. It's a lot of work, but I know Mom loved her garden (sometimes more than me, haha). She had been passing potter plants to me since we got home and I know she wanted me to continue her work. 

I know Mom has been watching me. I've only so far been unsuccessful with all her orchids, but most of her ornamental plants have recovered from neglect. The boys got some more plants and empty pots today and I'm happy I have more gardening work to do. I'll do my best to save the plants Mom left. The huge, huge flowering tree beside my childhood home is definitely one remembrance of Mom's epic green thumb.

#BeKind #StaySafe

Found Mama Lola's Froggy!

We finally wiped out all the boxes from my childhood home. I put all the kitchen stuff last since it's easier to sort. I got help from Ally Canita and her team since I won't be able to physically work on it.

Getting help is probably one of the best decisions I made to manage clearing out my childhood home. With help from Anabelle, Ana Ginalyn, and Rowel, I managed to decide on what to keep, donate and throw. Yasss!

One of the most important things I found was my Mama Lola's black froggy. She had it in her cabinet eversince I could remember. I was fascinated by it and hoped it would someday pass on to me. 

It stayed in her cabinet until we cleared the house one last time and I finally found it today! I washed it immediately and will place it on my dresser so I'd be reminded of Mama Lola. She's one of the strongest, most resilient women I know.

Mama Lola, thanks for sending the black froggy to me!

#BeKind #StaySafe

Mom's Quilting Homework

I spent the fast week sorting Mom's sewing materials. Oh boy, just like her collection of beads, I should have expected she'd leave a huge collection of fabric. 

My Mom didn't really buy fabric. She'd get scraps from my aunt's dress making shop. My tita used to export to Japan, so the scraps were really nice and perfect for quilting. 

Sorting through the boxes was like going through a field with landlines. I had to be careful because there were a lot of random pins, especially for the unfinished projects she left.

And that's what surprised me. Mom left at least 50 unfinished projects. I didn't count anymore since I filled up four boxes with unfinished projects. I'm surprised my Mom didn't finish the projects because she told me I should finish projects before moving on to a new one. 

I also sorted fabric she already cut. She also drew lines on it too, so it'd be easier to piece together. I'm trying to figure out what she was trying to make. I'll try to do what she didn't finish. 

One thing that will be hard for me to finish are the clothes she was making for Sto. Nino. I don't really make clothes, but I'm willing to try. 

The washing and ironing continues!

#BeKind #StaySafe