Making change a little easier with a thoughtful spring gift for empty nester Mom!
This Hagen Renaker cutie has sold out, but we have animal figurines, available here
photo via VintageToGoEasy
Here is her story:
Hi there,
I just wanted to send you a quick message about the story behind this purchase for your blog. :)
My mother's beloved dog of 17 years has just passed. Nell has been the most significant thing to come into my mother's life aside from marrying my father and having us, her three children (as self proclaimed by her). She is having a difficult time with the change as Nell has helped my mother through becoming an empty nester, when her mother passed away from cancer and adjusting to a job change. Nell provided a warmth to my parent's home that was truly needed and cherished for all 17 years she shared it with them. She was my mother's constant companion. Always ready to sit in the garden, hop in the car for a drive or stroll down the beach.
I still remember when I was having a particularly bleak time in University my grandmother gave me a small note card with a bird on it. It said "Spring is coming, this bird told me so. Love Grandma." written in her hand. I kept the note card and wanted to pass the sentiment on. Although it is a very difficult time right now, spring will come and with it new birds followed by flowers to remind us of the ones past and just how glorious they were.
Best,
L.
I just love getting heartfelt stories like this one! I can relate to so many parts of this story, especially with Nell. My family and I have had so many dogs since childhood, but the happiest dog I had as a companion lived for 17 years too and we did so many things together.
A nest in a nest for an empty nester!
This Hagen Renaker duo has sold out, but we have animal figurines, available here
photo via VintageToGoEasy
And I can relate to the note her grandmother gave her and how she wanted to pass the sentiment on. I have a few handwritten things from my grandma and great grandma and when I reread them, it brings back such memories. One is a birthday letter from my great grandma when I was a baby and a handwritten recipe for my grandma's favorite soup. Seeing their handwriting makes my heart sing too.
What a great way to cheer her mom up from passing a sentiment down from her mom!
This Hagen Renaker duo has sold out, but we have animal figurines, available here
photo via VintageToGoEasy
Saying Goodbye: It's getting much easier to let go of my miniature animal figurines, most of them were either Hagen Renaker or Red Ball. However, my doll house miniatures seem to be another story! I guess I'm conflicted because on some days I feel like throwing out all my hoard. Today is one of those days.
What I Learned:
1. Even though I wish I could throw out my hoard today, I think it might back fire on me because I've purged several times before and just like a bad diet, it returns with a vengeance and I end up with more stuff! Soon I think I will have the confidence I need to be able to live with what I have consistently. I think I am almost there!
Soon I think I will have finally believe with all my heart that my happiness doesn't depend on what I have, but who I am. That my happiness is not external, but internal and if I look within myself deeply enough I will find everything I've been looking for.
2. What then with my hoard? I think I'll have a big sale at the shops! And then after that, I don't really know.
3. My health has improved a lot! I think it's due to meditation because mediation has helped me find peace inside myself and my body gets so relaxed that it has time to heal itself with mindfulness and kindness. My sciatica episode took 2-3 weeks to heal this time. The first time it took 6 months and the last time it 2-3 months and that was with meditation too and now it only took 2-3 weeks. I am so thankful!
Even my allergies are better and my fatigue and other health issues. They are all either fading away or I don't even notice them anymore. Maybe it's happening with my attachment to my hoard too! Soon I can let it all go!
Although I am still slightly attached to this one!
Follow the white rabbit, Hagen Renaker retired and hard to find, available here
photo via VintageToGoEasy
Thank you Etsy buyer from VintageToGoEasy for taking the time to take share your heartfelt inspirational story! And reminding how much I love to see my loved ones handwriting from those alive and past, so much more special than an email to me.
I hope my feelings of wanted to let everything go stays with me and I can move on to a new chapter in my life. It would bring me a feeling of accomplishment and closure.
Everyday is such an adventure dehoarding on Etsy! I never know who I'll meet and I have met so many Etsy buyers who share their stories with me and every time I glean some insight about where my dehoarding journey is taking me.
My sciatica hip injury is healed! I'm still cautious how I sit, but can now sit on the seat of a car and can sit through most of a meal in a chair at the dining room table. I've been working on all the shops, mainly changing each listing from the last holiday to the next and it's time consuming, but I think it helps sales, so Pandora's box is on hold now.
Thank you Etsy for the best Hoarder Rehab ever! And for all the kind people I'm meeting who are helping me indirectly and directly in so many ways with my Hoarder Rehab!
Vintage Hagen Renaker Pekingese mother & puppy on sale, available here.
I've almost reached my goal of 170 items per shop. Next goal will be 175 per shop! I am happy and thankful to say so many items are finding new lives and homes daily!
Sales have picked up again and several high ticket items have found new lives and homes, so I am very grateful. Lots of photos of new items will need to be taken this weekend!
Click on the shop names to visit new hoard listed daily and/or weekly: HoarderRehab with 168 items, The Destiny of Things- 163 items, VintageToGoEasy - 172 items and JunkDrawerAndMore - 170 items.
Maybe you'll find something and give it new life and a new home! Thanks for looking!
Not Hagen Renaker, but cuteness overload! Available here
photo via The Destiny of Things
Related Stories:
3. Not Hagen Renaker, but I'd say more cute: Sweet Pink Mini Bunny Rabbit Porcelain Figurine: The Destiny of Things, Story 327
4. My Grandmother and Aunt collected "Red Ball" glass animal figurines: Red Ball Brand Glass Deer with Japan Sticker: The Destiny of Things, Story 297
"There are no limits, except for those that we impose on ourselves." ---Dr. Walter Bishop on Fringe.
Thank you readers from all over the world who continue to support my Hoarder
