Trash to Treasure

I guess I'm turning into quite the redneck hillbilly. Seriously, I've never been one to dig through the trash before unless I accidentally threw something away. In all respect, I still wouldn't consider myself a Dumpster Diver by any means. I see those people at the dump site all the time. I am not one of them. The only time I'll pick something up is when it's sitting next to the bin, or right on top. If it's yucky in any way, shape, or form — forget it.

We don't have trash service at our house. I believe we can get it, but it's hard for the trucks to make it up our hill in winter. Most everyone here keeps their trash in the garage and then takes it to a site, where it's picked up by trucks and taken to the county dump. So, about once a week we load our bins up and go to the dump site, usually on our way shopping or something. 

We've seen entire families digging through the trash. It's pretty sad. Rick saw a girl standing in one of the bins and she held up a dirty, old shirt to see if it would fit her. It's heartbreaking. People don't make much money here, and times are hard for a lot of them. Then there are the people digging through looking for copper or other things that they can sell. In all honesty, those people creep me out. I hate going to the dump when people are digging through trash because sometimes they barely even wait for you to finish tossing your stuff out, more or less drive away. That's creepy. However, every now and then I come across something sitting next to the bins. I do what every wife would do — make my husband get it for me. I mean, seriously. How can anyone resist a big, wooden moose with bluebirds on his antlers?

Or a hard copy of Love You Forever that was in perfect condition?

Or these cute little fairy tale books?

Or even this Santa mug that's absolutely huge?

Or this little, wooden sleigh that just happens to hold my Burger King reindeer?

Or a desk organizer that you can fill with pens, pencils, markers, and rulers?

So, yeah, I guess I have become quite the redneck collecting my treasures. Even so, I haven't actually gotten INTO any of the dumpsters yet. Give me time, I guess. The other day we stopped at the dump to get rid of our trash when we found that little bear up on top. The fairy tale books were next to it. In the bin were all kinds of toys, some in perfect condition. Ironically, we were on our way to the Salvation Army to drop off some of the boys' clothes that no longer fit. We grabbed a few of the things from the bin, including a Fisher-Price farm and one of those popcorn popper walkers, and took them in with the boys' clothes. I guess people cleared out their kids' stuff after Christmas and just left stuff at the dump site. One time there was a box next to a bin with a full set of Encylopedia Britannica in it. I really wanted to get that, but had to leave it behind because we already have a set. I'm sure someone snagged them. I guess it really is true when they say ...

One man's trash ... another man's treasure!