Cleanup

Tomorrow is the Neighborhood Cleanup in this area. So, folks put out their old furniture and big trash, large yard debris, the day before, and the salvagers pick most of it up. I like to think of them as urban beachcombers.



I'd been 'walking' Moby when our next door neighbor started making her pile, which inspired me to get ours done. When she put out this table I snagged it.



She didn't care, as long as it disappeared. I also snagged some large rocks that were left by her house's Previous owners. I'd been eyeing those rocks, but didn't want to be pushy. When she offered them, I admitted as much.

So, three really nice tables in a weekend, for considerably less than the prices asked of a single, none as useful, table at several consignment stores in town. Score.

Nearly everything in our pile of unwanted mostlyIkeashit was cleared, save the ancient wire fencing cleared from beneath Hedge and a few lengths of pvc pipe. Rather impressive, really. Even that might be gone by morning. And we have a table and lovely rocks.

The lamp on it was also a yard sale item, one of a pair.


I love that this will all be re-used, recycled, create income for the industrious, instead of simply dumped.

One trait of my father's that I share, admit to, and appreciate. He was always scrounging, never short of a bit of wood or a tool for a project or repair. If asked, he would probably have thought I mocked him for that, only going to show that he didn't listen to me. I genuinely admired that in him, a sharp eye for something potentially useful, without being a hoarder - as he used what he found and was perfectly able to clear away the excess.

We were poor, but not because we were wasteful or lacking resourcefulness or flexibility. I never minded hand-me-downs. I loved the salvaged bicycle that I got to paint - or would have if my mother hadn't gotten lilac paint instead of dark purple. The one aspect of himself that he harped on that he assumed I hated him for was the one real shining aspect of him I did like. And yes, I'm sure I told him that, but he never listened nor believed me so I stopped talking to him. Self fulfilling curse.