Upscale is the name of the Game

I have been living on Arnot now for almost four years. Four wonderful years of gardening and getting my groove back. It does turn out my groove is not getting something back, it is carrying on an old family tradition which I have a clear passion for.

My father (bless his heart in heaven) was his own unique person with his own way of doing things; which most of the time made my mother cringe in her lady of the manor shoes.

He had a great time converting things into more usable ways, or making things out of scrap metal or whatever else was at his disposal. He built stuff from nothing and was so proud of himself when it did work.

One of his favorite past times was loading what people just leave behind in the rental houses once they move and seeing what he can salvage. I must admit people can leave strange and very useful expensive trinkets behind.

It seems I am cut from the same cloth, in my own strange way. I have a wonderful time restoring throw away bottles, wood and plastic bottles thus far into usable products for my house.

Not withstanding that I have been expanding my garden souly from plants or cuttings from my walks around the neighborhood. Especially when people move out and the property is not leased out directly. I make a point of salvaging cutlings for propagation from those plants before they wilt. (you can't exactly dig out the whole plant).

I have been also taking the time to give my old flower pots that are some as old as I am a new lease on life. It is amazing what a little sanding paper, some plaster of paris and color spray can do. I used plaster of paris because I had some in the garage.

A friend's mom was clearing out her garage and out buildings, which is a very good way to get stunning stuff for free. When a woman decides to throw out shit, she does so in a very peculiar way when it is stuff that does not interest her. The message is just everything must go.

I have finally decided to keep my mouth shut and just load the stuff. It is not my responsibility to show to someone what they are letting go or what they should think about maybe twice. I am the cleaning lady who makes all the stuff disappear.

If you have children, you know how they can ruin a set of perfectly good glasses. Also you will know you are never that lucky to get the same pattern or painted glasses again. I have been cleaning peanutbutter glass containers for a while now for glasses; even getting three sizes for your specific thirst. If the kids break one it is a two for one deal, you feed them the peanutbutter to get the glass bottle.

It seems I may be aging more like my father as I would have liked to admit. I always called him exentric; luckily I had a good master growing up on revamping, upscaling and breathing new life into old things. One thing though I am very strict about, I don't hoard. That which is not my style or I want to keep for in case - goes.

I am already the official plant lady on the corner; I do not want to add anything else to that title.