Calling all Divers

Who needs a flea market when you can go dumpster diving with me? If you're ever in the Plano area and see some CRAZY woman out toting around unusual objects, chances are, it's me. Like I said in a prior post, I love to walk. I don't seek out treasures on trash day but have periodically found them.

Here are some of my fun finds:
I found this slide over by Glendale School when we lived on 15th Street.


I found this chair when some neighbors had moved out and pitched everything (moves are the best time to find treasures). I had FULL intentions on painting it and making it look cute which hasn't happened yet.

I found one of those plastic turtle sandboxes. We used it as a shaving cream pit last summer. I gave it to my mom who now uses it as a sandbox.

I found a hula hoop which was pretty warped, but Karson still had a good time with it. We eventually had to toss it.

This big blue bin was a super find to house all of our balls and outdoor gear.

I found one of those HUGE Honeywell air humidifiers. It looked like it was in good shape. I loaded it in my arms and hoisted it home--in the rain--only to find that it didn't work. SHOCKING, I know, but I still wanted to see.

I had to save the BEST find for last. This week I found a box turtle. It wasn't in the trash piles but a neighbors yard. I guess it had been washed up with the rain. I didn't want to lug him/her (who knows) around for my entire walk, so I left. I was thinking...seriously, how far could it move in 30 minutes??? Turtles are QUICK little suckers (they've been given a bad wrap on their speediness). When I retured to the neighbors house, he/she was gone. Before I started snooping around the property, I knocked on the door. When no one answered, I turned around and noticed the turtle had buried itself in the mulch under a shrub. When I tried pulling it out, he/she started swinging its arms and poking its head out. Aaahhhh! I had about a 1/2 mile to carry this thing and didn't want to drop it. Finally, I got it out of the mulch and toted it home. The kids had spent the night with their uncle Andrew so I had to find a way to contain my mini-Carl Lewis until they arrived. Our lovely recycle bin became his temporary home.

I knew the turtle would especially tickle Karson. She lost her pet snail "Snaily" on Friday. She accidentally cracked the shell and told me she threw it in the trash. I fished it out and put it outside. I don't think it died but am certain it was relieved to FREE from the mason jar. I explained to Karson that we could not keep the turtle because it's not happy being with people. There is no telling how many others have possessed this thing. I imagine he/she has spent most of its life being trapped in boxes. Karson understood and we let it go on to the next capturer =). The turtle moved quickly and got out of the yard. SO, for those of you living in Plano, you may soon find a box turtle roaming around your property. Give him a big hug from his friends on Plainfield Court.