Another mom's junk is, invariably, my treasure
Our next-door neighbors are expecting their third boy in a couple months. Making way for baby, they have been putting out stuff on the curb almost every day. ("We're too busy to have a yard sale," Mrs. Neighbor told me.)
The first day, I eyed the table they put at the end of their driveway. I thought it would be perfect for my son because he's learning how to use crayons. It turned out to be an end table -- a little too tall -- but would he know the difference? It's not like he watches those home decorating shows. If the height turns out to be a problem, maybe I can get my husband to cut the legs down.
Yes, apparently I am that cheap. But I tell myself it's recycling and I'm just doing my part to save the planet.
The next day, it was an Elmo activity toy-play-table-thingy that probably makes a lot of noise, including that Elmo laugh.
Last night, it was my husband who did the treasure hunting.
"Come here," he said as soon as he came home.
He led me outside to the street, where light shone down from heaven upon a blue toddler drum set, waiting idly to be banged upon. I squealed because we had been thinking about giving our son a drum set for his next birthday. Now here was one headed for the landfill but wishing for a home, and my husband and I were happy to be the drum set adoption agency.
My husband told me it was my turn to take the haul from the neighbors'.
Without hesitating, I went to their door.
Mr. Neighbor greeted me with, "Yes, help yourself to anything you want."
Because that's how transparent I am. Hi, just your crazy neighbor asking for your stuff again.
"We also have a nice twin bed," he said.
"Oh, that's so nice!" I told him. "Our son's not ready for a bed yet, though." I'll take a flat-screen TV, though, I thought.
If any of our other neighbors were looking out their windows right then, they would have been treated to the sight of me awkwardly hefting a tiny drum set across the lawn and through our doorway.
My husband, who was now inside our home to watch our boy, inspected the drum set as one of our new treasures.
"Maybe we should just tell the neighbors to start putting their stuff in our yard."
The first day, I eyed the table they put at the end of their driveway. I thought it would be perfect for my son because he's learning how to use crayons. It turned out to be an end table -- a little too tall -- but would he know the difference? It's not like he watches those home decorating shows. If the height turns out to be a problem, maybe I can get my husband to cut the legs down.
Yes, apparently I am that cheap. But I tell myself it's recycling and I'm just doing my part to save the planet.
The next day, it was an Elmo activity toy-play-table-thingy that probably makes a lot of noise, including that Elmo laugh.
Last night, it was my husband who did the treasure hunting.
"Come here," he said as soon as he came home.
He led me outside to the street, where light shone down from heaven upon a blue toddler drum set, waiting idly to be banged upon. I squealed because we had been thinking about giving our son a drum set for his next birthday. Now here was one headed for the landfill but wishing for a home, and my husband and I were happy to be the drum set adoption agency.
My husband told me it was my turn to take the haul from the neighbors'.
Without hesitating, I went to their door.
Mr. Neighbor greeted me with, "Yes, help yourself to anything you want."
Because that's how transparent I am. Hi, just your crazy neighbor asking for your stuff again.
"We also have a nice twin bed," he said.
"Oh, that's so nice!" I told him. "Our son's not ready for a bed yet, though." I'll take a flat-screen TV, though, I thought.
If any of our other neighbors were looking out their windows right then, they would have been treated to the sight of me awkwardly hefting a tiny drum set across the lawn and through our doorway.
My husband, who was now inside our home to watch our boy, inspected the drum set as one of our new treasures.
"Maybe we should just tell the neighbors to start putting their stuff in our yard."
posted by Holly at 3:37 PM
5 Comments:
You should go ahead and take the twin bed-- if all goes according to plan *nudge nudge wink wink* you'll be needing that crib again before Fly is ready to give it up!!!
I would but there's no room for us to store a bed right now!
You are so eco-friendly and cool. I love it.
Haha, when is that neighbor gonna catch on and just start asking you first BEFORE they haul the stuff out to the curb.
Nice Holly :) I liked the "flat screen tv" part.
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