With Mom’s recent move back to Michigan (see Moving Mom series in this blog), the need for shopping has reached a new dimension.  Was it just a week ago that we were arriving home from the road trip from Florida to Michigan?

Mom left most of her furniture in Florida as requested by the buyers of her home.  Good for them and less to contend with for her. Now starts the tricky part – from two bedroom house with large lanai to one bedroom apartment with a “pie” (think alcove making more of a great room). Where to place her sofa, love-seat, computer, desk, TV and then what to buy?  The first day we set out was cold with a steady rain. What we found out immediately?  Mom LOVES the heated seats in my Tucson.

We started by checking consignment stores for a small but contemporary drop leaf table, large living room table for her ginormous lamp and if possible a “statement ” piece, (something really striking).  Less likely would be finding the right dresser and matching nightstand in consignment. A bed she will buy brand new and she’s already on task for that.  She located the bedding online she fell in love with and it’s making it’s in transit, even as I write this.

The first shop we visited yielded a single treasure (the “statement piece”)  but felt almost too easy. Mom wasn’t ready to “pull the trigger” – not just yet.  But we were both struck by it’s uniqueness. As days ensued, visiting numerous stores not finding anything else that compared to it, we kept talking about it. We even agreed on where to place it, clearly it left an impression on us.  Tomorrow we’ll go back, praying that it’s still there in that huge warehouse hopefully undiscovered and waiting for Mom.

Yesterday was another day of furniture shopping – in the snow (seriously – welcome back to Michigan Mom!) We’ve had no luck finding tables in consignment.  At a major retail furniture chain, we’d spotted a table that could work (later on Amazon I found something better which she’s since ordered) but did find a matching dresser and nightstand that she likes.  However, there’s at least one other furniture retailer that we’ve yet to visit making sure we’ve checked their selection. Decision – paused for now.

When not shopping this week, we’ve been moving in those things from the truckload Spence drove back in February, items we crammed into Mom’s car and a number of items from the POD which was delivered Thursday. (Sister, brother-in-law, nephew and a buddy unloading the remainder of the POD today as Spence and I are off to the wedding of dear friends)

Got her new phones, a LAN line, high speed internet and HD cable set up, pairing her Kindle to her new home network.  She looked so happy sitting on the apartment floor able to check emails on her own computer for the first time in nearly two weeks, seeing her HD TV with a picture – knowing both had arrived intact.  (other than the missing power cord to the printer which is bound to show up – a casualty of the hectic last boxes packed)

If you enjoyed this piece, stay tuned as there’s more to come on Settling Mom, including (fingers crossed) our consignment find….with pictures to follow.