An introduction to my “trashy” side!

Wow, I’m excited. Who knew my “trashy” habits could make it possible for me to share my slightly twisted views with other like-minded folks? As a matter of fact, I never knew there were other’s like me! I’m a happy girl!

So, a brief introduction. I’m technically middle-age, have 6 kids, if you count the steps, ex-steps and my 3 dear daughters. I am currently unemployed (not counting the temp jobs and transcription I do for the city). I grew up with a single mom who was great with her finances. I don’t think she’s ever been late with a payment. However, all I ever heard growing up was “we can’t afford that” with no further explanation. As a result, I’ve always had a hard time managing my finances. I am finally getting better at it, after 12 plus years of sobriety (a whole ‘nother story). We have a small farm where we raise market lambs for 4-H, pigs for our daughter’s 4-H project and our freezer, eggs, mini-rex rabbits and garden/orchard produce. I’m so proud of our new trashy greenhouse, built with mainly “scavaged” windows and framing (tho we did buy cedar fencing for the siding.

I have always looked at things with a “hmmm…what could I do with it?” sort of attitude. That old plastic milk crate… could it be a nest box for my hens? The plastic “boxes” that the old lettuce that I was given for our pigs…could that be a mini-greenhouse? The thin cement slabs that were used as part of a dock…bet those would be great as the floor for the chain-link dog kennel.

I am a scavenger… my favorite hat ever was found in a ditch (with water in it) alongside the road I walked every couple days for exercise.  I spotted a slightly different shade of green than the old moss growing in the water, straddled the ditch and bravely reached in.  I took my treasure home and washed it.  It was the perfect hat-the brim was rolled just right, the color was a wonderful sage green and the leather at the back cradled my ponytail perfectly.  When my mom asked me where I got the hat, she almost choked when I told her. I almost cried when it fell apart a few years later.  I have so many bungee cords, plastic containers, etc that I  have scrounged from the side of the road.  My “tool” holder in the garden is a newspaper box that laid alongside the road for two weeks.  I figured after that much time, no one was gonna claim it.  This last winter, I was pretty peeved at my husband when he wouldn’t cross 4 lanes of traffic on an interstate to retrieve a gas can.  I mean, it was only rush hour in Portland, Oregon, it wasn’t like there was a lot of traffic!

I also reuse things, such as tinfoil from bread, plastic containers and plastic bags.  I have a habit of saving hay rope from my animals hay, feed bags from grain and juice jugs.  I don’t hoard them, and they don’t take up a huge space, but if I need a rope or a trash bag, I can grab one from the cupboard and use it.  I have helped clear out old houses in exchange for what I can “scavage”… Milk crates to store canning jars in, old step-stools, pet carriers, etc.  It’s kinda like the new stuff they call “picking”, except I don’t pay for it.

I also am somewhat trashy when it comes to animals, cages, etc.  If someone doesn’t want an animal and wants to give it away, I’ll take it and find it a good home.  Of course, if it comes with a cage, I’ll sell the cage and give the animal away with it.  The last rabbit I was given came with 2 full bags of feed and one partial bag, 2 water bottles and no cage. I kept the rabbit a week til I found a home for him.  I gave the rabbit away, selling the lady a cage I had been given 6 months ago for $10.  I gave her a water bottle and the partial bag of feed.  I kept the two other bags for my mini-rex rabbits, and the extra water bottle.  My husband said I’m like an old-fashioned horse trader… Maybe so, but it works out in the end, the animals find a good home and I don’t cheat anyone.

I love finding ways to save money and do it by re-using or recycling.  Keep’s my life interesting…More “trashy” stuff to follow!