OMG. The trash pick. I thought it was going to be a total
wash, as the weather was 39 degrees and raining. Boo hiss. I missed last year’s -- wah wah oh the humanity. So, I steeled myself, dressed in about a dozen layers,
and waded into the fray. More or less. You know, because I have to Rescue the
Goods from Landfill.
Before I start, though, the best near-miss was a gorgeous
antiquey-looking globe on a floor stand. Timing is everything in this game. The woman who got it was jumping up
and down in glee. I congratulated her. It was fabulous. Shortly thereafter, I saw an SUV with someone standing very far out of the sunroof. That’s not
safe, I said to myself, before realizing that it was a Justin Bieber cutout. I
laughed, but it looked like an accident waiting to happen. Which really is part
of trash pick night. The driving? Not safe. Everyone is casing the curb, and
you have to be careful both when hopping out of the minivan to check a pile and
just generally when trying to decide whether to turn or go straight at the next
intersection.
Here in the first photo, we see a lovely oval planter
that I hoped would fit in the oval basket next to it (from a different house)
but it didn’t. The heartbreak of trashpicking. Between them, webbed swimming
gloves. Then 3 new water bottles, a cashmere scarf, a funky fleece hat, a super
cool aluminum Christmas tree, and a planter. And a desktop skeeball game, which
proved very popular with the kids.
As always, one of the first finds is the best, with a
concrete hedgehog. Ain’t he a beaut. Also a basket that I selected partially
for the $29.95 price tag still attached. I find the rabbit Beanie baby, cast iron
chick, and brass watering can cute.
Not the book haul of past years (I blame the rain), but
some excellent titles. And a puzzle and 3 sets of goggles. And a red Coach
belt.
(Don’t mind the garage wall.) OK, let’s talk about the
oak Crate and Barrel wine rack. I confess that friends gave us first dibs
before throwing it to the curb. The crazy lamp on the left was Boo’s pick –
she’s wanted that style of lamp for years. In true good neighbor fashion,
people had covered it in a clear plastic bag to protect it from the elements.
The strange bowl-on-a-stick makes a fine fern holder, according to the nice
woman who had just placed it on the curb. Next to it is a hydrangea, a
wastebasket holding a Build A Bear bunny, 4 wide-mouthed canning jars, a
candlestick, a picture frame, two watering cans for the school garden, and a (international sign
of hospitality) wooden pineapple puzzle. On the wine rack are two small rugs that
pretty much didn’t touch the ground as they were put to the curb. I was right
there. (I ran them through the wash today and they are lovely. Don't worry; I used the delicate setting.) And on them are two pairs of Justice jeans, a hot item for the tweenie
set.
This tub I grabbed as seen, with some bats, skates, a few
other sports items, and a giant spider for Halloween fun.
Some candle stuff. A cool leaf dish.
OK, and I’ve saved the best items for last. This Steiff
bear, paper tag still attached, was in a garbage bag. Now, I know it sounds
crazy, but when I picked up the bag, I knew something good was inside. There
were some other stuffed animals, Gund and stuff. But I had this weird vibe, and
I was right. Steiff goes for some big bucks, so he came home with me.
And lastly. An Eileen Fisher 100% cashmere sweater. Yup.
Not pictured: two black cashmere sweaters and a handmade Irish sweater size XXL
that I hope Oma will find a good home for. Many knitters are willing to unravel
and reuse quality wool. But this one? This one is mine. I washed it, and it fits perfectly!
Here are the two planters and hydrangea after fixing them
up.
