I did my part today

I rescued things. Saved some space in the landfill. Added to my growing inventory of potential projects.

I justified my junking habit by concealing it in Earth Day. It worked for me.

Urbandale is a gold mine. You should see my garage. And sweet Joel, you didn't say a thing. You didn't even grit your teeth. Thank you.

Here's the rundown:

• 2 old white painted windows, couldn't help it, but I need to stop with the windows for awhile
• chest of drawers, probably 1930's, in very rough shape, but beautiful lines and no mouse droppings
• Singer sewing machine and table, I'm thinking 1940's
• Underwood typewriter, currently diassembling it for parts; I think I need a degree in engineering to extract the myriad pieces
• peach crate complete with vintage labels
• train case
• Adirondack rocking loveseat, in serious need of TLC, but going to be awfully cute on the flagstone half-patio it's inspired me to carve out by the front porch
• rolling metal cart
• bed posts, which are going to be holding up something cool one of these days, I just know it, maybe something to do with my salvaged chair springs
• metal portable file box
• corkboard, TONS of corkboard
• metal planter
• rusty old white wire hanging basket
• HUGE discarded artist canvas, perfect for a huge collage, and since it was free, I feel total freedom in collaging it...I'm thinking some sort of funky family tree
• shutters, shutters and more shutters, good for noteholders
• frames, big and small, no glass
• large shadow box with handle and hinges
• Scandinavian butcher block, since my kitchen is taking on this Scandinavian thing now...after all, I AM Norwegian. By marriage.
• tramp art frame (why someone would toss out something like this, I just don't know, but THANK YOU!)
• rails from a Jenny Lind crib, solely for the spindles
• an ungodly blue and white Home Interiors nightmare of a picture frame, flanked in, yes, SHUTTERS, that I think only needs a piece of my found corkboard and lots and lots of creative painting to become an adorable message center

Thank God we have a big garage.

Not big enough for Joel's lack of patience for my junking habit, but I'm actually working on my projects, so I can hold off his disdain for a few more days. I hope.

I stocked up on all grades of steel wool, dusted off my canister of Durham's Water Putty, whipped out the Dremel, and I'm ready to go. The next few days promise to be very nice, weather-wise, so I've got to set aside a few minutes here and there for some fun.

Clive? You're up next weekend. But only if I clear out this round of creativity!

And is this weird? We still have the crib in which our three little ones each slept for a few years of their little lives. I have a VERY difficult time parting with baby things. I can do it, it just takes time (and a baby who needs it more than I do). OH! I forgot to mention...during our Spring Cleanup here in West Des Moines, we actually DID put many baby things out on the curb. BIG things, like those portable high chairs, the Little Tikes art desk, a major safety gate, etc. And we were fortunate enough to know that these things were going to a family who would really appreciate them. They drove up when Joel was in the process of dragging things out to the curb, and he helped them load up some things into their car. They were very thankful, and it warms my heart to think about it. I hope those things make their little one happy. But most of all, isn't it nice when you can share a human bond with total strangers in this day and age? It's a small moment, but a very memorable one.

In all honesty, though, I'd rather share so many of those that they WOULD seem common and I might not remember them so easily.

OK, back to the crib (which I obviously still have in the basement). I saw LOTS of cribs out there on the curbs of Greater Des Moines, but it got me to thinking. What about using the box spring as some sort of picture hanger? You know, slip mementos between the springs? I don't know. Deep down I know it's just an excuse wrapped in junker jibberish. But maybe it would be cool? Who knows?

P.S. Comets won last night, 3-0, against a team in South Des Moines. I witnessed stunning teamwork, graceful footwork, and plenty of pullbacks. One of the Comets is ADDICTED to pullbacks, but we Sideline Moms gently remind her to JUST DRIBBLE!!!! It's getting more and more entertaining to watch these girls play soccer together after all these years. Things are going to change next year, decisions will need to be made as to which direction each girl wants to take, but hopefully most of the team will stick together just a bit longer.