Garbage I Have Loved

I haven't written for a long time about garbage I have loved. And found on the roadside. I am like a foster mother for dead furniture. Matt's told me no more, but quite frankly, when he told me that my ears weren't working.

Here's a sneaky peek at one of two repro Bentwood chairs I found, amidst a goldmine of garbage.

I'm in the middle of giving them a makeover. Oh how I love this pink paint. Subtle. And yet, not so. Because it very softly whispers - I am pink! I AM PINK!

I'll show you more over the weekend.

If you have the desire, you can cast back in time to when I compulsively looted some roadside trash and scored some ace finds. I still think about those times. Those were the days my friends, we thought they'd never end.

Welcome Back Garbage (Straight Into The Garage)

When I went walking last night I realised it was council garbage pick-up. For those in Victoria, it's known as hard rubbish. To me, it's known as treasure (amidst a whole lotta trash). This, we could say, was some kind of epiphany. I could walk and junk at the same time. Oh the joy! The utter joy!

I did the rounds, found a whole lotta skateboards (grip tape peeling off) and a Super Soaker that I thought I'd come back for later.

I continued went over to inspect some rubbish, then realised there was a ute creeping up behind me and the driver perused each garbage pile after me. I left a lot there. Saw a cute telephone table thingie and thought that could be interesting. But kept going.

Down another street I spied a small wooden dolly highchair, picked it up, then looked down to realise it's leg was broken. My mantra is if it needs fixing in a major way, don't take it. Because if you know us, it will probably not get fixed. HMPH! So I tossed it back to where it came from. Went walking, trying to think where the good loot was. Well there wasn't any more junk to be looted, so I went the long way home and put the smalls into bed.

Once that was done, I told Matt I was going out a-lootin' again. And I did. Some more junk tossed streetwards, the Super Soaker and whole cache of skateboards had been snaffled. I drove further and there was the lonely telephone table. I have great plans for her.

Roadside Thrills

After the unfortunate cat incident from last week, it was heart-quickening to see another pile of junk in the same street. I had to drop the Doctor off to pre-school, take Tiny to the real doctor, and then I drove back past ye olde pile-o-junk to take my pickings. Everything was as it should be. No tails protruding from boxes. Phew.

Today I scored this cute little beauty case, smells totes musty, but it's in awesome condition.

And this little card table that I think we might make into an outdoor table.

The beauty of finding such.. finds is that if we don't like them, we can just put them back out on the street and someone else might dig them. I don't need a receipt to return them, and that's always a bonus.

Have you scored any roadside thrills lately?

Waving A Very Magical Wand: Day 18

She was right. I did succumb. I did go back and make the purchase. It wasn't until 4pm, but I gave in to the lacy daydreams, and the stitches of time long ago. Crankypants was still manning the shop but I went in. I bought that booty load of doilies and beautiful embroidery, and boy oh boy, I am so pleased I did. I've been going through the box over and over - it's all so beautiful. One woman's handiwork is this woman's treasure. How could anyone just give this up to the op-shops? I will never know, but I am so glad they did.

Today I'm doing some work 'things' so I am out all day and the smalls are staying with my kind sister who has volunteered to babysit for me. I'm particularly excited because I have two hours break - so my lover (read: my husband) and I are going on a lunch date. We've not been on a date in yonks, so I can't wait to dazzle him with my charm and wit (or really just eat a sandwich together and loll about in the sunshine).

Back to something interesting. Here are just part of the loot I scored.

And in case you ever wonder, I do give back to the looting fairies. I just put a whole bunch of stuff out on the street for council collection tomorrow. I hope someone gets into it and finds some treasure.

One Might Think That One Might Give It A Rest

But one doesn't, does one?

Not even in the teeming rain, when I was thinking - sheesh, this might turn into hail - even when my windscreen wipers were going into overtime did I think, nah - I won't pull over. No siree.

Sensei says junking requires pure dedication. Sensei says even if you get rained on, even if the neighbours are staring, you still go junking if you want to hit the goods. Sensei says sometimes gloves are required.

But not today.

Coming home from one of life's most mundane shopping trips (bras, why can I never find a pretty/nursing bra in my size?) I took a couple of detours. I always go the back streets, and this is where I yield most goodies.

So today's prize may not look like much to you. But it is. Those coathangers are gold. I am mad for a vintage coathanger. One day I'll show you my most prized one. That box is going to house some of my collections. And that hat. That hat was worn by a high court judge (not that you care, but it's part of my little community), onceuponatimethankyouverymuch. Everything that has a story is worth getting out of the car in the rain and getting soaked for. Even when you're in a white top and you could consider getting down to your local pub for the wet t-shirt competition afterwards. Even then.

The Doctor's Appointments

The Doctor starts pre-school next week. Oh man, he is soooo ready for it, but am I?

He's so ultra excited - whenever we talk pre-school his ears prick up and he raves about the friends he is going to make. The games he's going to play. The white buses he'll look at (he remembers them from orientation day). So sweet.

Me...? I'm feeling a little nervous. I think he's going to be fine. I think he's going to soar in fact. But me. Well I've been home with him for the whole of his life. What am I going to be without my trusty sidekick?

It would be like Laurel without Hardy.

The Two Ronnies minus One Ronnie (remember this scene from Extras?).

Itchy without Scratchy.

Posh without Becks.

Ginger without Fred.

Bangers without mash.

Tea without a biscuit.

Chocolate without a cavity. Ok - scratch that one.
A flower without a petal.

I know by now you're getting my story. I'm going to feel a little lost until we hit our stride again. For now we're enjoying our Summer days. Catch ups in the park with friends. Painting in the afternoons. Evening swims. Cuddles a-go-go. It's love.

I promised I'd post about another find from Sunday. So here it is. The Doctor's own little chair. Perhaps he might like to pop it in his waiting room. It needs a little love - maybe some new upholstery, a little tinkering, but for the most part, it's just dandy.

We also found a totem tennis thing (or as the Doctor likes to call it 'toe tap tennis') which I had wanted since pre-Christmas, so that was a total SCORE - even if I do always lose.