Saying Goodbye

The brawny movers came today to take away my piano. 

I proclaimed 'Slava Ukraini' when they told me where they were originally from. They did an excellent job of getting the piano onto the dolly, 

out the front door and up onto the truck. 

I texted Jen3 when they left so she would be ready to receive them at her end. She sent me a picture of it in its new location.

I was kinda surprised at how emotional I felt after the guys left. Somehow it marked the end of a era. The piano had been a graduation gift from my mother 48 years ago. It didn't make it out of her house and with me until 6 years later when I bought my first home - then continuously over the next 42 years. I practiced on it in high school, played carols on it every Christmas, played tunes by the Carpenters, Elton John, Antonio Carlos Jobim, the Peanuts gang. I practiced piano parts for my vocal music class on it. Scooter practiced on it over the 10 years or so of his piano lessons.

Once out of the house, I moved the sofa over so it would be centred on the area rug for the first time. I also had to move the picture over to centre it above the sofa as well. 

Then I set up the new keyboard, organized my piano music a bit, and played for about an hour. It nice to not have to tune it - just turn on the power and go.

Even though I filled most of the space with the keyboard, it really does feel more spacious in the living room. Next, I'll have to do something about the flooring but that will have to wait until after the kitchen renovations.

I also finished knitting the neck warmer I started a two days ago. I used a ball of baby alpaca yarn I bought at Toft Farm in Dunchurch, England when I was on my UK knitting tour in 2011. The free pattern is Vent D'Est Vent D'Oest (VEVO) by Marie Adeline Boyer. I cast on the smaller size and knit Chart A according to the pattern and Chart B twice using a 4mm needle. It didn't use up the whole ball of yarn. I gave it a soak and have it pinned out to dry.

 It should be ready to wear tomorrow.