More On Trash Day

VALERIE, JASON & THE TRASH MOBILE

Valerie & Jason just moved from a tiny apartment into a townhouse just down the street from me. Since I've been living in my Sunshine Palace for 4 years now, I already have a full collection of trash finds from previous Trash Day outings. So Trash Day '09 was all about filling up their new home. It was a success! Apart from the photos below, we got them a 2nd couch (the 1st was found at TD '08), a white patio table and 4 matching chairs, a garden table, breakfast table, 2 bar stools and a bike.

FOOSBALL TABLE
I found one of these last year and was really excited at first, but a week later realized I really didn't play foosball that often and it took up too much space. (This is an example of Finder's Remorse.) We found an even better one this year and Jason quickly reorganized the SUV to fit it in. He set it up in his backyard of fun and learned that there is no perfectly level area in his yard. This week this great find will make its way to CraigsList. (An example of Middleman Profiteering.)

SHABBY CHIC GARDEN BENCH

This is a photo of me waiting for my new garden bench to be loaded into the SUV. This bench now sits in my front yard and provides my friends a comfortable place to sit and drink wine while I garden.

BASKET CHAIR
In my opinion, this was our best find for this year's Trash Day. This is a basket chair exactly like the one my mother's friend, Phyllis, had when I was a child. My sisters and I loved that chair and argued over who could sit in it.


While we were loading this into the SUV, the owner came outside and asked if we would like the frame for the chair so the chair didn't even have to be screwed into the ceiling. This chair now sits in Valerie & Jason's backyard of fun.

I love stuff.

Especially Free Stuff.

This blog will chronicle my love affair with finding free stuff. Because there's a great story behind each and every piece.

AGED FLOWER POTS
I picked these up on the side of the road during Alexandria Trash Day, an annual day when City of Alexandria residents can put whatever household items they don't want on the side of the road and the City will collect it. This is my most favorite day ALL. YEAR. LONG. I take this day very seriously and collect trash from 5pm until nightfall on Friday and from 7am until the trash trucks start running n Saturday.

Collecting takes speed, strength and quick decision making as there are other collectors out there. In order to maximize my speed, I must have a trash partner and I do not partner with just anyone; most of my friends are novice trash collectors. For the last 3 years I have been caroused the neighborhood with Valerie, a fellow trash collector. She is also the owner of a SUV. Her husband, Jason, is our handy assistant and he's very strong so we allow him to join us.


Back to the pots now...These pots are perfectly aged. I was just reading an article in Martha Stewart Living on how to make your new ceramic pots look aged. These have been aged for me already. Several had potting soil already in them. Double score!