Newton’s town dump features a Swap Shop. You can find all manner of things there: cocktail glasses, lacrosse sticks, sweaters, baskets, small appliances. When we go to drop off items, the goal is to come away with less stuff than we give away. It can be a challenge.
This week we left behind: a stack of empty frames (all curb finds — easy); two big plastic bins (they were just hogging space in the garage — easy); a few duplicative kitchen tools (they were challenging the efficiency of drawers — good call); a butterfly house (we were never gonna hang it).
But! I came home with a 1,000 piece puzzle (saves me between $19 and $29 for the next fix), a beautiful glass bowl for the garden, a metal thing that I “planted” as structure for morning glories (see above), some vintage paper Santas mounted on wood (I know. I know), and a decorative wall candleholder.
The product below was the idea for the morning glories:
A portion of a dead tree provides support in another pot. That’s the root at top.
Immediately after writing the latest hand-wringing post, I got up to find that a framed picture of Danny had fallen over, taking with it the three puzzle pieces that had been leaning on it. One puzzle piece landed on the floor.
Hello Dan.
The piece that hit the deck was the lanky guy with a viewing device. A scout? A bird-watcher? Someone who can see farther than the naked eye for sure. Someone who can scan the horizon or examine distant treetops.
I took the sign to mean that Dan wants me to keep looking ahead, to enlarge the frame, to consider a wider perspective. This has a way of also meaning: go easy on yourself.
Thank you to everyone who liked that post or who left a comment (I did end up password protecting it, BTW). I didn’t offer replies, but I see and appreciate each and every one of you.
I love traveling through these days with you, Dee. Simple things through someone else’s eyes. How generous to share. Thank you!
Hi Sue. Nice to see you.
That puzzle piece is big…
Yes. Hand painted and made out of wood.
My mom totally believed and taught her children that the dead do communicate with the living .. you just have to listen and look. Seems that’s what you’re doing .. I remember you sharing your sister messaging you here and there now and again. With Danny’s help and the help of all those that love you living and dead I think how you’re sharing your days here is amazing. It probably is too soon to say this but I think you should write a book. You have an amazing talent for putting feelings into words. I know .. probably too soon. Sending big hugs!
Thanks Tina for this and for reminding me of those several times I got messages unequivocally from Noreen.
I sometimes hesitate to comment here, fearing I’ll display my distasteful Eaton know-it-all-ness trait. Because we, and certainly I, do not know it all, and you are in uncharted territory, I hold back, which I still think is the right thing to do. That said, I can’t stop myself today!
I love how you are hearing Danny in his messages to you. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but he keeps telling you that it’s not your fault. Look up. He loves you. He is a very wise soul.
I don’t get know-it-allness from you. At all. Just so you know. And thanks for affirming the positive message here.
Dee~ Those visits are everything, I think. What a comfort to be able to see (hear…whatever) the messages to you. Those wooden puzzle pieces are really something – never seen anything like ’em. Danny had great taste in which ones to save!
It feels like each piece could tell a story.
Dee~ Good writing prompts perhaps? 🙂
Absolutely. Individually or taken together.
It makes me happy to know that you have a dump swap in your town, that such things still exist … my mom used to take my daughters to the Shelter Island dump when we visited each summer … it was always a highlight of the week-long trip …
As for the puzzle pieces, I am fascinated … I have a wooden Shelter Island Ferry puzzle which includes a lighthouse piece … the idea of going to a shop where you can pick out individual pieces is, well, fascinating (ha!)
Liz A
Yeah these dump swap shops are great fun. This was the second (?) open weekend this season so it was abuzz with new volunteers. I couldn’t tell who was more thrilled to be bustling about — the newbies or the experienced ones giving them the lay of the land. All seniors, of course.