Catching On To The Ins and Outs of Nursing Homes

What Adult Children Can Expect When Their Parent is In A Nursing Home  

It's been awhile since my dad has been placed in a Nursing Home and I'm catching on to the ins and outs of long term care. In fact this is the second home my dad has been in so I am building up comparative experiences.

Keep Cool In Nursing Homes

Yesterday was Father's day and the weather outside was HOT, MUGGY and OPPRESSIVE. Dad, however was wearing an over the neck long sleeve sweater on top of a golf shirt circa 1962. I stopped by the lobby water cooler and served myself ice water before strolling to the back of the facility where dad holds court in his corner of the long hall.

On the way to dad I stopped off in the snack closet and brought him a soft cookie. He already had his "Sippy cup" filled with apple juice.

Count The Moments in Dementia Care

I brought him a colorful Father's Day card which he really liked, a sure sign of his deteriorating Dementia as he has NEVER liked any of my cards in the past. I actually was delighted that he liked my card. It could have been a Christmas card, but he liked it !

They say that when you take care of  frail elderly with Dementia you need to focus on the joyful moments. Small things matter, like offering a cool beverage or a favorite cookie when visiting.

Peddling Into Neighbors Rooms

Dad must be getting back to himself after a recent fall as he now has been peddling around in his wheelchair using his feet. I'm not sure if that is safe or not, but he is enjoying the mobility and the opportunity to "stroll" into someone else's room.  And dad isn't the only one scooting around as his neighboring residents have found there way into his room. One lovely woman likes to "borrow"his T.V. control and hide it. Nothing to worry about....it's not so unusual and the aides know who the kleptomaniacs are.

I'm catching on to Nursing Home life, I put a big sticker on his T.V. controls with his name on it and I've learned not to sweat the small stuff ( or the big stuff).

Here are some Nursing Home pointers:

1. Make sure everything that belongs to your loved one is labeled.
2. Less is better.....keep excess clothing and belongings at  your house or in a box in the resident's closet.
3. Focus on sharing joyful moments in time.
4. Simple gifts like offering a snack or cold drink go a long way,
5. It's hot in Nursing Homes (in all seasons)....visitors should dress in layers.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Moving To A Nursing Home: What Kind Of Clothing To Bring

Packing Up Mom or Dad's Clothing For A Long Term Residence (Nursing Home) 

How do you know what to bring to a Nursing home when you are moving a loved one from their family home to their new residence? I guess one might think that the answer depends on whether you live in a warm climate or a cold climate? On the contrary,  the answer is almost the same for a variety of climates because elderly frail patients or "residents" as we say, have their own thermostats which may defy the real world.

Dad Still Thought He Lived In Florida, But There Was Snow on The Ground

When I brought my dad up from Florida to the Northeast a few years earlier,  I needed to buy him a winter coat, boots and warmer clothing such as sweaters and flannel pajamas. But dad  had dementia and was convinced he was STILL living in Florida !  In his apartment, before he was moved to a Nursing home, he preferred to crank up the heat and dress in tropical clothing, a short sleeved golf shirt and Bermuda shorts. He had a closet filled with pastel colored summer clothing which he was very attached to. While I was wearing a scarf and several layers of clothing, dad was in beachwear.

Bringing Favorite Outfits to Nursing Home

When dad's dementia advanced further,  he was no longer able to dress himself or to "dress for success".  He needed help with his clothing and now dressed for comfort (jogging pants and a zip up light weight sweat suit jacket, worn out golf shirt).  I brought his favorite outfits to the Nursing home and relied on his aides to help him with dressing.

Do Need Boots in a Nursing Home?

As I packed him up for the Nursing home, I wondered if he would need a winter jacket in the Nursing home....after all where is he going?  Or did he need his boots, gloves?  I wasn't sure if he would be cold or hot in his new environment? Would he need pajamas or would he be wearing the Johnnie gowns you see in hospitals? You will see below my answers and tips on these questions.

 TIPS FOR WHAT TYPES OF CLOTHING TO BRING TO A NURSING HOME

1. Most Nursing homes are kept very warm.....so short sleeves or -shirts are fine.

2. Many older people are cold no matter what the temperature is so sweaters and light weight type jackets are needed.

3. Residents do leave the Nursing home to go to outside doctor appointments so you need jackets, boots etc on hand.

4. Clothes get soiled very easily so don't give everything away when you are making the transition.

5. Even couch potatoes who don't usually do very much in the way of activities or socializing may change their ways in the Nursing home environment and may want to dress up every now and then.


6. Loosely fitting clothing is often needed when medical conditions warrant catheters, IV's etc.

7. Be sure all clothing is labeled. You can use a permanent laundry marker. Or the facility may have a laundry department which places labels on clothing.

8. Unless you are willing to say goodbye to family heirlooms such as handmade or special blankets don't bring these items in because  frequent laundering may damage them.

9. Pajamas are personal preference, but Johnnie gowns are always available.

10,  Bring sneakers or safe shoes to the Nursing home.

11.  Keep extra clothing as back up in your home and bring in when needed.

12. Bring a gift of a new sweater or article of clothing every now and then.



 C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Tips When Looking at Nursing Homes For Mom or Dad Even When You Are Not Looking For One

I Never Wanted dad In A Nursing Home....But He is There. 

Well I finally got to the point where dad has been transitioned to a Nursing home. I cried the entire weekend he was admitted, but I gotta tell you..he's doing better with other people around.

He was taken to the Nursing home directly from a near by hospital ER after he fell and banged up his face pretty badly. The decision was made at that point to have him in a long term facility because he was falling too much at home.

 I had already looked into Nursing homes a fews years back and had a heads up on the selection process and was lucky that one of my top choices had an available bed.

6 Tips When Looking at Nursing Homes For Mom or Dad 


1. Even if you think your loved one will not be going to a Nursing home, I would still go visit Nursing homes and become familiar with ones in your area.

2. Choose the best Nursing home which is closest to your home or work, so you can conveniently visit.

3. Fill out applications and have on file, because it's often tough to get into a better Nursing home,

4. Stop agonizing about placing your mom or dad "in a home", if you choose wisely you may actually be improving their quality of life.

5. Don't assume you know whether mom or dad would like a single or double room if given the choice. Sometimes older people want a roommate because they are frightened to be alone or they want company.

6. Even if mom or dad did not eat or engage in activities at home, they are apt to behave very differently in a new setting. The bottom line, is as well as we think we know our loved ones, you will find out that there are a lot of  unexpected and positive changes that may happen.

Read more articles on this topic: http://cdiannezweig.blogspot.com/search/label/older%20adults


C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Packing Up Mom (or Dad) For A Smaller Apartment: Describing Types of Parents

Helping Mom and Dad Live Safely in A Smaller Apartment  
The art of moving forward lies in understanding what to leave behind.-Seth Godin

I can really weigh in on the topic of packing up mom (or dad) for a smaller apartment because as they say, "been there, done that". My experience with family members and parents of friends is that

you can divide older parents into three categories: (1) Absolute Clutterbugs (2) Minimalists (3) Flexible Flyers (don't know too many in this group).  Those in the Clutterbug category of course present the most challenge because these folks generally have great difficulty with what I'll call spacial matters. These overzealous collectors want to take everything they have previously owned and cram their stuff into smaller quarters. They have no concept of SPACE. They stack tables on top of tables, have six lamps in a room, shove boxes under tables etc. No amount of reasoning is going to help to convince a borderline hoarder to give up their belongings.

So How Do You Help Convince A Parent to Downsize 

You can try to suggest to an older parent that they have too much stuff and that they need to thin out their load....but those words generally do not penetrate. Many parents in their eighties and nineties want to be surrounded by the objects and furnishings they built a lifetime around. You can try to liquidate items behind their back, but that will backfire if your parent(s) are still quite alert and engaged in the world around them.

Use SAFETY As A Way To Encourage De-Cluttering

What sometimes works is to frame the conversation around
SAFETY.  Try saying..."the doctor (nurse, social worker, aide) is worried that your living room has too many pieces of furniture and that your walker (wheel chair, cane, etc.) will not have an easy path to the bathroom, kitchen, bedroom etc." Or you might say... "many people trip over rugs, boxes, clutter and your doctor (nurse, aide etc) wants to be sure you do not break a hip, so lets clear this room out a bit. Rooms cluttered with lots small ineffective lights, fragile items, suitcases etc. can be all be viewed in terms of safety risks. You may have a little luck getting through to a stubborn parent by playing the catastrophe card. Good luc

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Downsizing Advice For Older Adults: Label Plastic Storage Boxes With Color Coded Labels

Making Your Parent's Move More Colorful: Using Color Coded Labels For Plastic Storage Boxes

Help!!! I am addicted to clear
plastic storage boxes. In fact I think the obsession has spread to my entire family. Recently I joked that the family crest should be a Sterilite plastic container. Today I wanted to remind my readers that when they use plastic boxes for family moves, be sure to label your boxes, preferably with a color coded system to indicate where the boxes will be going once they reach their destination. For example, green=bedroom or yellow=kitchen. I found variety packs of labels in colors at Walmart.

Use Colored Masking Tape To Mark Boxes Fragile

You also should label which boxes have glass items. To mark fragile boxes, I found masking tape in colors also at Walmart. I suggest writing  GLASS GLASS GLASS across the tape and adding this tape (along with the label of contents) to each box both on the top and across the side. You can also cut up index cards in a variety of colors to usse as labels. In this case, you can use Scotch tape to fasten the labels to your boxes.

If you are moving an older adult to an Assisted Living or smaller apartment (or college kids), you may want to also use plastic boxes that can slide under a bed or easily fit into a closet to give you extra storage capacity.

Read more about this topc in my section Caring For Aging Parents: Vintage Mom and Dad

Also visit my site I Antique Online.com and check out Estate Mavens: Help With Estate Liquidation

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Moving An Older Parent: Getting Through The Meltdown Phase

Emotional Fallout When Moving An Older Parent

If you thought moving your older parent(s) was going to be easy as 1, 2, 3, you are living in a cave! Besides the demands of the actual move....packing up decades of tschotskes, there is the emotional avalanche which comes with the whole process. Did I mention mood swings? Moving is a big deal for everyone...but for someone in their late eighties or beyond a move can shake the emotional tree like an unwanted storm. So be prepared for a bit of a roller coaster ride as you begin to help your older parent make a significant change.

When Older Adults change Their Mind About Moving

There will be somedays when your mom or dad announces that they have changed their mind and they are not moving. Or you may find that your loved one channels Gandhi and decides to advance a peaceful yet defiant protest, refusing to sign any importqant paperwork involved in a planned mood.

When Older Adults Are Ambibvalent About Moving

My advice would be to be gentle with mom and or dad and to let some of these storms pass. There will be a lot of ambivalence about moving and confused emotions. Leave some breathing time for an older adult to have their tantrums and meltdowns. Let the dust settle (no pun intended). Ask any adult child who has been through the moving ordeal with an older parent......it all works out and often for the better.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Downsizing: What To Do With Old Computers and Electronics

Recycling Old Computers And Electronics When You Are  Cleaning Up

Finally, the decision was made to unload the growing mound of old computers and stereos that were taking up a great deal of space in our basement. The "tower" of electronics had to go but where and how? There was a flurry of hope for discarding all this clunky stuff when a Super Goodwill store openedup in our town this summer. But Goodwill is picky and they said nah!  I got a few "no's" from others as well and then learned about the Electronic Recyle Program at Best Buy  and with the help of my son and his friend our stash of outdated computers etc. found a new home.

First Step Before You Trash A Computer Is Destroying The Hard Drive 

In the pile were computer towers, monitors, keyboards, old speakers, broken stereos and outdated electronics of all kinds. My son alerted me that before anyone handed over any
computers, that the hard drives needed to be destroyed. You got to be kidding, ....I had no clue we needed to do that. Nor do I have any idea where to find the hard drives. He did and along with a couple of hammers, my son, his friend and my husband they went outside and smashed the hard drives.

After the whacking party,  my son and his friend loaded years and years of saved electronics to the back of my car and drove it to Best Buy. It was a fabulous feeling....all this plastic and metal junk gone...finally.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Moving Older Parents: Get All Your Duct Tape In A Row:Tips On Using Boxes To Move Elderly Parents

Tips About Boxes When Moving Mom And Dad 

I didn't start out being an expert on the topic of moving seniors, but I confess, I have become the go to person on this topic.  Not only do I have personal experience on the matter of moving, but  as editor of I Antique Online.com, I manage many group forums on this topic.

Helping Older Adults Downsize: Tips On Moving

If you follow my blogs (or rambles) you have probably already read some of my tales on older adults downsizing. Today I want to discuss BOXES.
When you get ready for the big day (it will come)...transitioning to a smaller apartment or to a Assisted Living facility or other type of residence, you almost always are going to be
taking belongings in both suitcases and boxes.

If you follow my blogs you know I adore     plastic boxes for moves in an assortment of sizes to use both for the move and to keep later for additional storage under a bed, in a closet or in a storage space. Another favorite type of box of mine are FREE empty cardboard boxes from a nearby Liquor store. These boxes which held bottles are very sturdy and small enough to be easy to handle. These can get dumped later!

Cardboard Liquor Boxes

Liquor boxes usually come with cardboard partitions inside. You want to have some with the partitions and some boxes without. The boxes with compartments are great for packing glassware, vases and other items that need a "cushion". The empty boxes work great for books, cleaning supplies and other odds and ends.

Tips On Marking And Securing Boxes When Moving

Now on the subject of TAPE and MARKING BOXES Do not be a fool, use good packing tape to fortify the bottoms of boxes and to seal when the boxes are packed. But my most important tip is to mark the box both on the top of the box and on one or more sides. Since
most movers stack boxes, it is so much easier to figure out what is inside when you can read your labels on one or more sides of the box!


C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Why Mother's Day Is So Much Work: Confessions of A Baby Boomer Mom

Boomers Unite: Spilling The Beans About Celebrating Mother's Day 

Now that Mother's Day is over, I can share with my readers what they already know.....Mother's Day is a lot of work!  I have talked with many moms with 20 and 30 something aged children and I hear lots of similar stories. First there is the pre-Mother's Day planning. This is the phase when your children are figuring out how to squeeze in a weekend visit with mom and still leave plenty of time   to return to their own apartments to catch up on their chores such as laundry or shopping.  Many "kids" resolve this dilemma by carting their laundry to mom's house. There is something to be said about spending quality time with mom on Mother's Day while folding a month's worth of towels.

Mother's Day Is A Juggling Act

When chores are not the issue, there is often "the juggling act factor" which can get complicated when you are trying to get sibs together for Mother's Day...many of our kids struggle with how to be in three different places at the very same time. Tell me I'm not the only one who is exhausted from trying to get everyone in the same place at the same time?

Visiting Mom For Mother's Day: Time For Negotiations 

Once our kids get the time logistics squared away there are prractical issues like who is paying for what.  This "money" phase generally requires some degree of negotiation. In a nutshell, it comes down to "mom....if you want me to visit...I'll need you to

pay for my bus or train ride".  Smart kids get their parents to pay for both the coming and the going. Smarter parents agree to pay for just one way and that is the return trip (back to their apartments).

Planning Your Mother's Day Weekend Meals: Use A Spread Sheet

Once all the details are ironed out, and everyone is in the comforts of the family home, meals are the next big matter to determine. This require a
lot of attention to what the prevailing diet is for each of your children ( also applies to adult children). If you have three or four or more kids, you may find that by using a spread sheet you   will have better control on the situation. Afterall it is not easy figuring out who is gluten free and vegan; who is lactose intolerant but would accept a soy cheese pizza if they had too, who is Paleo on weekdays but not on the weekend; who is allergic to lobster; who despises mayonaise or spicy mustard or ketchup etc.

With any luck meals are under control and gifts are shared. And that my friends is a topic worthy of another blog post. So readers tell us about your Mother's Day..... was it a lot of work? Come ohn...you are among your baby boomer bloggers...spill the beans.  

Photos taken by C.Dianne Zweig at Antiques on The Famington, Collinsville, CT

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Is Manischewitz Downsizing Their Passover Desserts: Honey They Shrunk My Macaroons And Mandel Cuts

Oy Vey: Manischewitz Is Downsizing Their Mandel Cuts and Macaroons 

You've heard about downsizing a home, but have you read much about downsizing Passover? Imagine my surprise Monday evening when I opened a box of Kosher for Passover Manischewitz Mandel Cuts ( biscotti like cookies)  and found that these favorite desserts of mine had shrunk in size. Then, I opened up a container of Macaroons and oy vey, these delights also were smaller than I have ever remembered.

Be Careful About Dipping Your Downsized Mandel Cut Cookies In Hot Tea

After I poured my guests a cup of tea, I took my seat at the table, but I was still ruminating about the  downsized look of my Passover desserts. Truthfully,  I was consumed with laughter and nearly fell off my chair when I had to point out to my friends that they should be careful about dipping the Mandel cuts into the hot tea, because there wasn't much of a cookie to hold onto! 

How Small Is Small For These Passover Manischewitz Cookies ?
 After calming down from my shock after seeing these itsy bitsy cookies, I sprung out of my chair, and wondered aloud... just how small exactly had these Passover goodies gotten ?   My dear friend Larry and I decided we needed to set the record straight and get a scientific answer.

Measuring Passover Mandel Cut Cookies With A Ruler 

So Larry and I decided to reach for a ruler in a nearby kitchen drawer to capture the exact dimensions of these miniscule but tasty products. Larry carefully held the ruler close up to these downsized sweets, while I focused in on their petit presence. The news is not good, our ruler measured just about two inches long.

Downsized Passover Macaroons: The News Is Not Good

And don't get me started on the Macaroons. Yes, we also photographed these dwarfed desserts as well. I'm embarassed to report that these babies came in measuring about one inch in diameter.  I know times are bad and every business is taking a hit. But next year if this downsizing contines I'll need a magnifying glass to serve dessert.

 QUESTION FOR MY READERS 
Does anyone have any vintage (past season) Macaroons or Mandel Cuts hanging around that they could measure so we can keep tabs on the severity of this matter?

As usual, I ask my readers to leave comments, schmooze and enjoy your holidays.

Teacup image with tea courtesy of  http://teawithfriends.blogspot.com/2010/10/pink-glass-discoveries-old-and-new.html

Other photos taken by C. Dianne Zweig

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

The Story of The Junk Life Cycle

How Old Receipts, Memorabilia and Paper Junk Lives On

This is how the JUNK LIFE CYCLE works. You save decades of folders, envelopes, shoe boxes, suitcases and shoppings bags filled with old receipts, invoices, statements, photographs and memorabilia. To get them out of your way, initially you hide all this paper junk into old desk drawers, bureaus, cupboards and closets. If you are lucky enough to own your own home, you eventually transfer all this stuff  into larger boxes which find their way into an attic, basement or garage.

Liquidating Saved Receipts and Old Papers 

Next, you call upon your adult children, grandchildren and perhaps even great-grandchildren to come visit and look through the boxes and bags of stuff you have saved in the basement, garage and attic. Unable to part with too much at this stage, you cut a deal with family members to take all this paper junk back to their own homes.

Now the folders, cartons, bags filled with old papers, photographs, memorabilia end up in a new house, landing first in closets, empty desk drawers and spare bedrooms. Eventually however, the piles and collections will get re-located to a new basement, attic or garage so that "in the future" additional sifting and purging might occur.

Waiting For A Rainy Day To Unload Saved Papers 

The day of liquidation never really comes. But the stuff does get shuffled again and again when a new keeper of the old papers wants to downsize to a smaller place and unload the load.

How The Junk Story Ends

One more time, all the stuff once in closets and desk drawers, comes out of the basement, attic and garage and finds its way into the hands of a new generation of  hoarders who are happy to take custody of the paper STUFF and pack away into more drawers, corners and hiding places before transferring all this junk down to a basement or stuffing into an attic or garage.      
Readers if this sounds familiar or you wish to add your experiences to this blog, pleae feel free to leave a comment. 

Photographs taken by C. Dianne Zweig at Stratford Antique Center in Stratford, CT and Seymour Antique Center, Seymour, CT

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Should You Take Freebies From A Friend's Loved One's Estate?

Addicted To Rummaging Through Boxes at Estate Liquidations

This weekend I relapsed and agreed to rummage through the contents of a large box of STUFF my friends brought back from a family member's Florida estate. This relative traveled all over the world and liked to collect things from every country she visited.  The "box" was in my friend's  basement with my name scribbled on it "FOR
DIANNE". My first feelings and thoughts upon seeing "the box" was a mixture of nervous anticipation and  s u s p i c i o n. Why is there a huge box with my name on it? O.K.....they got my number...they knew that I could not pass up a possible "mother load". But what exactly was in this box, I wondered to myself?

Unwrapping The Contents of Famile Estates

I peaked into the box and saw that everything was wrapped

very carefully in heavy mover paper. Perhaps there really is something worthwhile in "the  box"... at least I was hoping. So I started to unwrap a few items at the top of the box and decided that it would be far better to wait until I got home to do a more careful unwrapping job. The box was very large and very heavy, so I figured that the "good stuff" must be in the middle or towards the bottom of the box.

Is The Good Stuff Packed Into The Middle or Bottom Of The Box ?

Stay with me.....because the box was large and heavy and  I was delighted when my friend offered to ask his son to put this HEAVY BOX into my car. While opening my car trunk, my friend said...oh there are two bags in the garage you should also take. Sure I said, throw the bags in the trunk.

Stop The Blog: The Suspense Is Just Too Much

I got home and in freezing cold weather (in the dark), I started to poke through the bags and "THE BOX".  S T O P  T H E   B L O G

Readers tell me what you think was in the box and the bags........also have you ever been invited to take home freebies from a friend's family member's estate? What were your experiences?



C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Let It Go...Let It Go...Let All Your Junk Go

"Let It Go".......Getting Rid Of Stuff We Hang Onto

"Let it go", "let it go"....oh I'm not speaking about the lyrics to Idina Menzel's song from Disney's "Frozen"....I'm talking about LET IT GO....of all the stuff  that all of us hang onto. At least that is what I thought about when I first heard this song.

What's Stuffed In Your Drawers And Cupboards That Your Can Let Go Of ?

I thought about the plastic bags of socks I have stuffed into my drawers. I'm talking about so many T-shirts accumulated over the years that I could truly cut them
into strips and make enough rag rugs to last a century.  I'm talking about closets filled with so many old blankets that the entire town could sleep over in a power outage.

De-Junking Your Junk 

I'm not done yet. Let it go...let it go.....how about purging spices in my kitchen closet that have no fragrance whatsoever. Or isn't it time to toss the containers of Matzah meal that should have been let go five Passover's ago?  While I am on that subject......when you have lived in the same house for so many decades.....you probably have to go no further than your very own kitchen to find all the collectibles you could ever want!

Set Yourself  Free...Let It Go...Let It Go

Moses commanded by G-d said to Pharaoh..."let my people go"..... and I say to you.....you will be set free if "you let it go" .......if you let all your old socks, old T-shirts, old blankets go......LET IT GO...LET IT GO!

Readers please share your confessions about what you need to let go of......junk stuff that is!

 Photos taken at Never Say Goodbye Antiques, Middletown, CT

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Rules About Junking Mom and Dad's Stuff

Sifting Through Mom's and Dad's Accumulated Piles of Stuff 

Antique Dealers Are Waiting For Your Junk

I get really antsy when I hear about making "piles".  Often what is in the "garbage" pile is not exactly garabage! At times I want to leap out of my chair and go rescue some of the things that I hear people throwing out. No, no, please readers, do not be so quick to unload that which you think is "garbage".  

Did you know that a lot of antique dealers regularly replenish their inventory by combing through the piles of "junk" that end up at the dump?

Are You Trashing Treasures?

 I have created a beginning list of items to hold onto and not toss. Over and over again I hear of people who trash some wonderful treasures because they do not think anyone would want them.
Please readers add to this list.  

 Do Not Throw It Out Because:

1. You never liked mom's 1960ish tablecloth with big bold flowers...STOP
2. You are are not a smoker and have no use for an artist signed ashtray from the Mid Century..STOP.
3. You can't see who would want old advertising coffee tins with nuts and bolts in them...STOP
4. You never liked the way grandma smelled so you want to toss out an old talc tin...STOP.
5. You are afraid your grandchildren will get into an old jar of marbles so you want to toss them..STOP
6. You have no use for 1930s magazines stuffed into an old trunk...STOP

7. You never liked mom's souvenir tumblers....STOP
8. You can't stand dad's 1950s barware collection.
9. You have no use for grandma's sewing notions.
10. You see no reason to save grandpa's tools.

That's enough for now. Readers feel free to add to this list.

 Read More: 
 http://cdiannezweig.blogspot.com/2013/01/helping-mom-and-dad-price-collectibles.html

Visit:  http://iantiqueonline.ning.com/group/estatemavenshelpwithestateliquidation

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Downsizing Your Home: Delay Tactics We Use To Hold Onto Stuff

Do You Save Old Things In Hiding Places To Avoid Parting With Your Collections?  

How can I be writing about downsizing a home when I am one of the biggest savers on the planet.
Besides collections of  this and that, I also am a bookaholic. I suppose I should be proud of my extensive collection of books since I hated reading in grade school. But it really is time to unload some of my "diet books" and "cookbooks" . I can't even believe I bought a book about how to convert every recipe by cooking with TOFU.

Are Your Closets Stuffed With Home Decorating Magazines? 

Oh and before I forget, I also buy way too many magazines and have stacks of  "Country Living", "Martha Stewart Living" and the once popular Mary Engelbreit "Home" piled up in one of my bedroom closets. I won't even go into the
discussion of how many old ski jackets I have hanging around or turtleneck tops I keep stored in plastic boxes. The turtlenecks went out in style for me when I no longer needed to keep my neck WARM because my hormones took over than job!

Why do we buy so much and save so much? Some people like ME....have what I call delay tactics which result in moving saved stuff around  instead of dumping old stuff.

Ways To Delay Dumping Stuff You Own That Needs To Be Gotten Rid Of

1. Open up an antique booth and move some of your collection to a new space (cheap storage).

2. Hide your old clothes that you don't wear anymore in plastic boxes instead of giving to others.

3. Bury boxes of children's toys in places in your home that you can't get to.

4. Schelp ridicuous memorabilia and junk (i.e. rusty road sign

your kid came home with in High School) up to your attic and hope the A/C mechanic doesn't kill himself when he is up there.

5. Pretend to be cleaning out stuff when in truth you are just organizing stuff to accomodate more stuff.

6. Keeping multiple refrigerators and freezers so that you can buy six loaves on bread and freeze and then decide the bread is too old to use.

Readers please add your delay tactics to this list on how you hold onto to stuff instead of throwing out.  








C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Common Excuses We Use To Save Old Or Outdated Vintage Stuff

Are You A Saver of Old Vintage Stuff? 

Do you save the winter time to organize your clutter? If the answer is is not exactly "yes",  then we are in the same club. I tell myself in the warmer months that I'll have plenty of indoor time during the winter months to straighten out

my piles of STUFF. I convince myself to save the big clean out projects for a nice snowy day.

Are You In The Mood To Visit Your Basement ?

Every now and then, I actually venture down to my basement and take a looky around and think.....I'm not in the mood today, maybe next week. And as you might imagine, weeks creep by and I'm back to Spring time and the last thing I want to do is stay indoors and clean out my basement when the weather is warm and the birds are chirping.

Common Excuses We Use To Save Old Or Outdated Vintage Stuff

I have developed a list of the common excuses we use why we do not throw out clutter that accumulates in our basment. Please feel free to add to this list.

1. You never know when you might need birthday plates with fire engines on them.

2. Graduation paper cups.....2011 can become 2014 or 2021very easily.

3. You might need children's boots in case some stray children show up at your door and want to build a snowman in your front yard.

4. In case your GPS fails you can choose one of the 768 tattered and torn maps you are saving.

5. They may call a Retro day at the beach this summer and your boom box radio will be fabulous!

6. It might be fun to have a Halloween picnic this summer and set the table with black and orange plastic forks and knives from a 1982 Halloween fest.

7. You can re-gift all the coffee mugs that your kids gave you that say Happy 40th, 50th, 60th etc. birthday. You can give them back to your kids!

8. Harvesting old jigsaw puzzle down in the basement is not such a bad idea...  you may one day find the missing pieces in your kitchen drawer,

READERS, please add to this list!!!!!!!!!!

Airplane and puzzle  photos are courtesy of House of Young http://houseofyoung.bigcartel.com/products 

Elephant image courtesy of Chock-A-Block on Etsy.com http://www.etsy.com/shop/ChockaBlock?ref=l2-shopheader-name

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists