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72 Comments

  1. Gay Van Beek
    May 31, 2017 @ 10:52 am

    You are SO entertaining~~! Always love your posts.

    Reply

    • devon
      May 31, 2017 @ 12:33 pm

      BEST POST EVER*!!! Oh my i can’t stop laughing………and nodding in total agreement about every point and emotion you experience! Goodbye cruel world………been there, while furiously texting the play by play to siblings. Hang in there, might be the biggest challenge of your life so far, but you can do this!!
      Wish so much you would come do the Atlanta C.F.!!

      *P.S. Just kidding, all your posts are the best and I love seeing each one in my mailbox……….:):)

      Reply

  2. Penny
    May 31, 2017 @ 10:52 am

    the sink!!! the sink is AWESOME!

    Reply

    • Eliesa @ Pinterest Addict
      May 31, 2017 @ 11:40 am

      That was EXACTLY what I thought, the entire time I read the post… OMG. I would redo my entire kitchen – again – to have that sink.

      Reply

      • Holly
        June 22, 2017 @ 11:35 pm

        Curious as to how it was refurbished. I have a 1908 sink languishing in my basement but it’s completely crazed.

        Reply

    • Rebecca
      May 31, 2017 @ 12:20 pm

      VEB showed a photo of one of those sinks forever ago and it forced me to scrap my entire design and spend a (not) small fortune on finding one and having it refurbished.
      http://victoriaelizabethbarnes.com/giving-up-a-repurposed-kitchen-design/

      Reply

    • Rosalind Murray-Kendall
      May 31, 2017 @ 6:39 pm

      Haaaaa! Just you wait till it’s a resthome you are trying to find for them … my mother and all her opinions has just shifted into one and truly, NOTHING is going to make her happy. And your heartstrings will cut you clean in half as, after all, this is your Mother/Father and therefore, also, your soul mates. Good luck with it all!

      Reply

  3. Roberta
    May 31, 2017 @ 10:52 am

    PLEASE WRITE A BOOK.

    Reply

    • rebecca
      February 3, 2018 @ 10:38 am

      i second this motion.

      Reply

  4. Rosemary
    May 31, 2017 @ 10:58 am

    Best line for story of my life… “with the people who are MOST LIKE YOURSELF and yet UTTERLY INTOLERABLE “

    Reply

    • Kiki
      June 2, 2017 @ 12:47 pm

      … and there I was, thinking she was talking about Hero Husband and me…. LOL

      Reply

  5. Sindy
    May 31, 2017 @ 10:59 am

    Move to Tybee Island, Ga a few cottage reno’s are still around~ it’s a beautiful little beach town~ why we even have a place there I just updated a bit~! Full of Great neighbors and fun historical stuff to do in Tybee and Savannah! And yes, while I can’t go much in the summer we do rent it out~! For a little slice of heaven~ check it out~ https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/12309023?preview_for_ml

    And I have a WONDERFUL realtor~!

    Reply

  6. Deborah
    May 31, 2017 @ 11:01 am

    Victoria, I feel your pain! Going through much of the same thing with my parents. I might need to borrow your dart gun.

    Reply

  7. Harriet
    May 31, 2017 @ 11:03 am

    You are tres hilarious! When I told my husband that “the crazy blogger I love” is going to be at the Country Living show, he knew who I was talking about! I can’t make the June dates but working on seeing you in September.

    Reply

  8. Roechster
    May 31, 2017 @ 11:09 am

    I love your writing. I JUST LOVE your writing!

    Reply

  9. Sharon
    May 31, 2017 @ 11:13 am

    One of my all time favorite posts! 😀
    Best line:

    ” My mother would help us hide the body, and then she would make us snacks.”

    Reply

    • Sue Fiorentini
      May 31, 2017 @ 11:28 am

      This was my Mom too. I used to say if I was an axe murder my Mom would come to my defense and say they must of deserved it! It’s nice to have that unconditional love. She died from cancer when I was just 29 , enjoy your Mom!

      Reply

  10. Laurie
    May 31, 2017 @ 11:14 am

    You are going to kill me because I’m going to say something practical. I’m so sorry.

    My Mom already lives in a little beach-side town and is very happy. However, when you are talking about their retirement years, the home they want to live the rest of their life in, it needs to be someplace where there is great geriatric medicine available. A good hospital and good docs. It might be a lot different on the East Coast, but on the West Coast, the good medical care is an hour away over a mountain pass. This means my Mom who is already “living the dream” has to find a condo in town and give up the beach living in a few years.

    Just wanted to throw that out there while you all are still looking. Get the place close to the hospitals. It will also be easier to bring in daily nursing care when needed.

    Reply

  11. Pat Coletta
    May 31, 2017 @ 11:17 am

    This was exactly what I needed this morning. I laughed out loud I can SO relate. My heart goes out to you for being there to support your parents. Best if luck in finding the right place. I also like the vintage sink with orange cabinets. Too bad it’s squeezed in between beach Mc mansions.

    Reply

  12. Jayne Z
    May 31, 2017 @ 11:18 am

    Cats are much easier to live with!

    Reply

  13. Ann
    May 31, 2017 @ 11:18 am

    My father keeps stopping over at the house you visited (sans work apparel) and picking out finished rooms for my m0ther. My husband is ok with her coming there, I am not! Since she has no useful skills, I keep chiding (badgering) her to learn things now while my father is living because after he’s gone, I will be too impatient to help. IE: Mom: “Do you know what to do with Bok Choy? ” Me: “Mom, that is what the internet is for, you google Bok Choy, all the recipes appear right before your eyes.” Mom: “I think you put it in broth. I don’t go on that facebook.” Me: #%*#*& WTX?

    Reply

  14. Ellen Shook
    May 31, 2017 @ 11:20 am

    That last little yellow cottage is calling my name! LOUDLY!

    As one who is at least as old as your parents, and having had various sets of in-laws and out-laws over the years, I can attest that these family visits with ALL the sibs and significant others are vastly overrated and probably should be avoided at all costs. It will also save your parents money to have just one guest room. That way only one couple at a time can visit. Things are far more enjoyable that way, trust me.

    Reply

    • Barbara H.
      May 31, 2017 @ 11:44 am

      Oh yes, Ellen, I think you are onto something and have hit the nail on the head! Of course, I am an introvert who is slowly moving into my hermitage phase. No children or husband of my own but visiting with other family members can degenerate into childhood patterns quickly.

      Reply

  15. Lisa Smith
    May 31, 2017 @ 11:22 am

    Dear VEB,

    I have always wondered about something. Is Victoria Elizabeth actually your name or a nom de plume? It suits you almost too perfectly. Did you, as a neonate, somehow bend your parents to your already impressive will to give you the only conceivable name that would do you justice? Enquiring minds, etc. . .

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      May 31, 2017 @ 11:36 am

      It’s real… my father named me after the queens of England.
      Paul would say it explains a lot.
      xoxo!!

      Reply

      • Joy
        May 31, 2017 @ 11:49 am

        You have a most impressive name. We named our daughter Catherine Anne Bradford, after multiple queens of England, plus Catherine the Great, of course.

        Reply

  16. Ralna Cunningham
    May 31, 2017 @ 11:23 am

    The right beach town might be in Panama. Only a plane ride away. Dollar currency, very friendly to American retirees, good healthcare. Maybe rent to get a feel for locations. Hmm beach? or cloud forest?

    Reply

  17. Lisa
    May 31, 2017 @ 11:25 am

    The last little yellow house IS. TO. DIE. FOR.

    Reply

  18. Samantha
    May 31, 2017 @ 11:26 am

    This entire post is a masterpiece. Does your family appreciate your genius?

    Reply

  19. Lisa Marks
    May 31, 2017 @ 11:30 am

    Hmm… For the right treasure I think I might wrestle you for it. LOL. Looking forward to this weekend!

    Reply

  20. Maryanne
    May 31, 2017 @ 11:46 am

    HAHAHA!! My hubs and I just spent 7 MONTHS trying to help his dad and step-mom find a new home near to us in NC. (They alternate between PA and FL, but wanted something in between). OH THE HORROR!!!! So. Many. Houses. They finally bid on two houses (after 7 months, remember), one of which the seller (miraculously) accepted their (lowball) offer, but after the inspection revealed the flooring needed to be replaced in ONE ROOM, they withdrew their offer, lost a ton of money, and decided to keep looking for a house that needed ZERO repairs. Their second (lowball) offer on a different house was immediately rejected and someone else bought it. Then they decided not to move here. So my work is done for now. But I get it. You are in that place of awfulness. I hope they find something they love soon!!

    Reply

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