Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Floundering


I'm knee deep in a huge project at work that involves some
late nights and weekends and keeps me on call 'round the clock.
Fortunately I'm able to work remotely so I'm not stuck at the office
for so long but it's left me kind of floundering, not wanting to start
any projects.  So I move around from a little unpacking, a little
cleaning up in the garden, and a little organizing

I put three boxes of stuff over on the neighborhood "free" table
this weekend and it all went like hotcakes, including a new griddle, the hot
plate from my temporary kitchen, a half dozen Cafe Fanny cafe au lait bowls,
cookie cutters, some old mixing bowls and a few small pots and pans.
An elderly woman scored a brand-new aubergine Staub kettle.  Seeing her
makes me feel guilty I ever spent so much hard-earned money on something
to heat water...and then never used it.   I hope she loves it. 


I've also been tinkering with what goes on the kitchen counters and
shelves.  I'm back and forth over having them be spare and decorative or
completely utilitarian.  A little mix of both is how I'm liking them right now.


A little shelf above the dishwasher was to be for a few drinking glasses
and/or mugs but I love playing with little vignettes so this what's going
on here right now.  I still can't decide what to do with the shelves:  paint
them white, light gray or stain them to match the unpainted bin drawers?

So maybe I'm also procrastinating a little bit.



My little garden was trashed by the porch project and after seeing
Loi's garden on his blog, I want to start from scratch.  I was out raking
over the weekend and rediscovered this in the corner of the gardne
 that I don't believe I've ever shown you.  Any idea what it is?  

I'll reply in the comments to the first person that gets it right.

This work project continues through May 1st so please don't expect a
lot from me for a little bit.  I'll be back soon.

98 comments:

  1. Is is the place where you put the oil in for an oil furnace?

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  2. I know what it is, but I cheated...

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  3. Hmmmmm...is it a mini-cistern?

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  4. Your sewer pump out valve for the City?

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  5. PS- was happy to see the glass reamer displayed atop your shelving. Buried somewhere in my cupboards is my grandmother's reamer. Thanks for sparking the idea of how to incorporate this into a beautiful vignette! I figure the reamer to be at least seventy years old?

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    1. I posted that photo on Instagram yesterday and that juicer yielded a lot of similar responses. It seems to have brought back a lot of memories for everyone. As many gadgets there are in today's world, I think that's the best juicer going. It's my favorite.
      Many of them are depression glass so 70-80 years is a good guess.

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    2. That actually caught my eye as well! I picked one up about 2 years ago at a consignment store and I'm so glad I did. Simplicity at it's finest. I really love how you're tinkering with these shelves. And now I have read down further to see what that is!

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  6. I know what you mean about a work project, I'm up to my neck with an atrophied brain right now.
    Is it for coal or garbage?

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    1. Ding, ding, ding. You're right, Amelia; it's a garbage can. It's Edwardian era. It's only about a foot deep. People used to put their food scraps in there and I've read post by locals that say pig farmers used to pick up the scraps for feed. I'm not sure if that was the case in Cambridge. It's amazing how small it is.

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    2. Thanks for the chuckles….in 1950 my family moved into an old house on the South Shore of Mass. Pump and woodstove in the kitchen, three-holer in the basement….talk about a reno job!
      In the back yard we had one of these containers and yes, I bet somebody farmed pigs someplace in cambridge back in the first half of the 20th century. What's amazing to me is how much food we consume these days…and how much waste there is when food is packaged in bulk and so much is not eaten because we all are so used to eating something different for every meal. Yes, sir, life was harder in some ways and easier in others pre-computer!!! Thanks for the memory.

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    3. We moved into a house in Westwood, MA in 1971. We had one of those doohickies in our backyard. Ours was painted green. A little truck used to come around the back and pick up the kitchen scraps for recycling. They no longer do it which is a shame. I now live in VA and I compost my own kitchen scraps.

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  7. We had one growing up and always thought it was for composting. We never used it.

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    1. Where did you grow up, Tracy? This one was made in Somerville but I've found other people throughout the northeast with similar ones.

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    2. I grew up about 20 miles southwest of Boston. I had to call my mom tonight to verify what it was. She said that a farmer (pigs and cows) used to come by and collect scraps that people would put in there. I always remember thinking it was so small to be of any use!

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  8. I had one of these in the house that I grew up in. As I remember, it is for garbage that wouldn't have otherwise been burned. Inside it had a galvanized liner with a handle like a bucket so that it could be emptied. The foot pedal opened the lid for hands free dumping.

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    1. That makes sense. A neighber around the corner from me found a few old tintypes in his. Mine has a few bricks in it but I was afraid to dig any deeper.

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  9. We had one when I grew up in Omaha, NE. It was for garbage; I, myself, put garbage into it. I don't remember how it was emptied; perhaps the garbage man came & emptied it. My older brothers may remember more, I'll ask them next time I talk with them.

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  10. Well...I've wondered where you were. I had visions of you trapped under your beautiful black cabinet and your kitties nibbling on your fingers.
    Then I saw your Instagram posts and I breathed a sigh of relief.
    I love the mix of vignettes and functional. (Is that twine around the black cat?)
    I vote for staining to match the bin drawers and
    I could really use one of those garbage cans with a pedal in my yard!
    (Perfect for cleaning up after my dogs.)

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    1. Actually, there is such a thing for doggy do. I have one in my yard, and my husband just bought us a second one because we fill them up so fast. You dig a deep hole with a pole digger, fill it with rocks, and then this contraption that looks just like yours, but is plastic with a flip lid just like that, and it fits in a broader hole above the deep narrow one. You put the doggy do in there add water and some enzyme tablets, and it's like a doggy septic tank! I've love that nice metal lid, and if I ever found one I'd use it in place of the cheap plastic one we have. =)

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  11. Good luck with your project and finding time for yourself! Happy Spring and love your kitchen styling play. Maybe just keep it a revolving gallery on the shelves! xo Nancy

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  12. can people from across Mass Ave drop things off too? Or is it only for you guys?

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    1. I don't think there are any rules. I would say it's for everyone.

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    2. You don't mean the DPW one, do you? Can you tell us where it is?

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    3. No, it's a just table just inside someone's front yard. It's on Pearl Street across from Lopez Street so it gets a lot of traffic back and forth to the T.

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    4. I've been assuming that you're talking about the exchange at the DPW yard, but maybe not. Can I ask where this table is?

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  13. Love that juicer, too!
    My Ma used it every morning, without fail-as a kid I just did not appreciate her enough.

    Hope work abates soon so you get to finish inside before tackling those gardens.

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  14. Thank Heavens you are still alive and posting..........SERIOUS withdrawal going on here!!!!! GOOD LUCK with work.........take a deep breath!!!!!! Spring and Summer are headed your way and there will be lots of time for projects!!!!

    All the best!!!!! Rob

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  15. I like the mix of decorative and utilitarian.
    I thought that looked like a tortilla press but since that does not make a lick of sense, I just read the comments for the answer.

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    Replies
    1. Haha, Kerry. A Victorian outdoor tortilla press! There's a theme for a party.

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  16. Steve, Now I am getting the smart one of the fam involved...the contractor for the past 40 years....he says "the what is this ?" Garbage collection. Many older cities had them in the past. I'm just saying....

    Missed you. Stoopid work!!!! karen

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  17. Here you are. I thought you went to California with Shelley.

    Shelves are entrancing.

    I would be very happy staring at them while waiting for my espresso to drip.

    Don't be a stranger, you hear?

    xo J

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  18. Yup, it's for garbage. We had one in my house growing up in Fairhaven, MA. A guy would come around with a can once a week and empty it. Apparently, he had pig farm. We also, had another guy that would come around with a large two wheel push cart collecting rags. I can remembering him calling out "Rags!" pushing the cart early in the morning.

    Geez, in thinking about it, you would have thought it was the 1800's not the 1960's.

    Regarding your busy schedule, it's terrible how work get's in the way of fun!

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  19. I had one in Walpole, Mass where I grew up. The garbage collectors came every week and emptied the bucket; you always knew by the odor that they had arried -- I don't know how they did it, especially on hot days. We had problems with racoons getting into the can; they learned how to step on the lever to get to the garbage!

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    1. When I was researching them, I found a few people also from Walpole that said they had them and that pig farmers would pick up scraps to feed their pigs. But I would bet this was aside from a regular city pickup. Funny about the raccoons! They're so smart.

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  20. I have no idea what that is in your garden, but I like what looks like its foot press. If you have children in your neighborhood, for goodness sakes, don't show them this unless you want to entertain them all summer!

    Regarding your shelves, I like their current state. Warm wood set against the lovely white subway. And don't stress about how to use them. Most other elements in your kitchen are stationary and fixed--you can't change out your appliances, flooring, cabinets, tile, and lighting. Let your shelving displays go from utilitarian to decorative and back again--because you can. I love open shelving. Low commitment. Best wishes.

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  21. I didn't know what the contraption was....but I love the way your kitchen is looking. I started a new job...so I've been away a lot too. As for finishing the shelves.....you know I love painted wood but in this case....I think they should be stained to match your wooden drawers. I love those drawers surrounded by the painted cabinets.

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    1. Nita,
      I saw your post about the furniture at the store you're working at. It looks great and I hope your new job goes well!

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  22. It's the entrance of an UFO (Tommyknockers/Stephen King).
    Miriam

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  23. Its for garbage! And someone had to pick it up weekly! Our garbage man always had a pipe in his mouth - probably the only way to survive the stench. I grew up "out in the country" - now a booming suburb with all the farms long gone - not far from Boston and these vessels were very common. Love the blog - I have an 1858 Greek Revival in Virginia that was my heart's dream for years. Getting ready to do over 2 more bathrooms and the kitchen and I come to you for inspiration - thanks!

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    1. Thank you so much; good luck with your renovation!

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  24. I wish there was another picture for context clue! JK. I would still have no idea. But I will copy everyone else and say either garbage or a fuel or feed line for a utility service??

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  25. Hi my friend! Sorry you are so swamped! The vignettes look great. I grew up with one of those in the yard. It's still in the middle of my parents yard, covered by a flower pot. I too am crazy until after the one room challenge is over, with balancing work, that, and two upcoming giveaways. High Point was amazing as usual. Talk to you soon. Hang in there!

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    1. No reason to be sorry. I'm happy to be busy; just feel bad I have no blogging material or time to keep things moving. I've had no time to read blog either but I did see some of you great pics from High Point.

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  26. great to hear from my you, steve. the shelf over the dishwasher is perfection. Unexpected things like the prop, and especially the art, are my faves for a kitchen. Makes it more like a cozy room, I think. And, hey, I live all the way down in south carolina, and my next-door-neighbor's home has a garbage storage space, just like yours.

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  27. At the tail end of the kitchen renovation, work intervened. It had to happen ... glad it did after your kitchen was functional.

    You must figure out a way to feature the garbage thingy in your garden!

    Speaking of garden, I clicked over and saw Loi's garden ... gorgeous, but it looks like major work to maintain (like hundreds of roses aren't ... but we're not talking about me, now are we.) Anyway, the lawn, the meatball shrubs, the ever-evolving containers ... I like the look, but I picture someone out there weekly with cuticle scissors manicuring the shrubs. Not a big fan of formal. I used to volunteer to help maintain the formal garden at James Monroe's Law Office here in Fredericksburg, which was formal and manicured, and the slightest little problem magnifies under those circumstances.

    I love the eclectic mix of stuff on your shelves. Finishing the shelves? How about a couple of coats of Watco oil on them to bring out the natural color? Painting them white may look like your items on them are levitating. Staining them to match the drawers seems too matchy matchy.

    I wish SuSu commenting above here had contact info. It would have been nice to make the acquaintance of another Virginia old house owner/renovator.

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    1. Yeah, I would go so formal but I would like some formal structure--a framework--that stays during the winter. I don't have a ton of time to be shaping on a regular basis.

      Maybe Susu will come back and see your note and contact you.

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  28. Hey Steve - The vignettes look awesome. I want that mini propeller and pond boat for Maine!!! Let me know when you put those on the free table. And thanks for mentioning our gardens - ciao!

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  29. Looking great!! Love the mix of decorative and functional. I vote for painting the shelves light grey or white.

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  30. Hi, Steve,

    That teapot clock is a real hoot! The teapot looks like the real thing, so there must be an interesting story there somewhere (and good luck with your project!).

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    1. Mark,
      Isn't that quirky? It's actually a reproduction. I can't think of the name of the company that makes them at the moment.

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  31. The vignettes are wonderful, and you will have fun with them. Your blend of old, new, practical and decorative is so interesting and harmonious.

    I'm sure the shelves would look good painted, but I love them as they are, reflecting the old bin drawers.

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  32. Love the mix on your shelves. I so envy that you are almost done. (Wolf double ovens now not ready until 2015. Yes, I said 2015. I'm giving up and having another cabinet built for the Miele ovens.) Love the idea of the FREE TABLE in the Republic of Cambridge. I think you need to turn THE THING in your garden into a planter!

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    1. 2015; you're kidding! That's crazy! I was toying with the idea of getting white Viking appliances and was put off by the four-month lead time.

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  33. The metal thing in the ground is for garbage. My grandma had one of those. It was in the day that the garbage men came into the yard and picked it up. Sweet memory.

    I love the vignettes.
    `Rachel

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  34. It's definitely a swill pail. I have one myself. A separate city truck would pick it up when I was just a tyke. You know when the rag and bone man still made his rounds but calling out when he passed and you could get free ice off the Hood milk truck! Love the vignettes you're experimenting with while you're busy working. I have found that you can be more stagey the farther up a shelf is. Utilitarian within arm's reach always seems to make more sense and keeps things from looking too staged. Enjoy getting in touch with your new kitchen.

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    1. Michele,
      I had to look up rag-and-bone man. I didn't know what that was. Very interesting. I grew up in the country so we burned our trash and threw all the scraps in the garden for compost.

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  35. Always enjoy your blog. We had exact garbage can at summer"camp" an hour North of Boston
    & the local pig farmer made the rounds weekly

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  36. I love the vignettes you've shared. Your kitchen has turned out so well.
    Karen

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  37. that's a city folk spittoon. if those are the prizes for the correct answer i will chose the sailboat

    welcome back steve, missed you!
    debra

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  38. Maybe it is a lid to a buried propane tank?

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  39. We had one of these in our yard in CT, where I grew up in the 1950s-60s. We put the kitchen scraps in there, and the rest of the trash went in a bigger can. The trash collectors walked all the way up our driveway, about 100 ft., and carried the trash cans on their shoulders back out to the street to dump them in their truck. Then brought the cans back up to the garage. I never really knew why the kitchen scraps were separate.

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  40. In the 1950's in Brooklyn NY my next door neighbor had 2 of these at the front curb.
    Very simply, in a time when there was not as many disposable items, products were not wrapped in 10 levels of plastic and there was garbage picked up 3 times a week they were the garbage pals!
    Daily You step on the small handle on the right and drop in the garbage. When the sanitation workers arrive they pull up on the handle, the entire top opens and an interior pail (is or was still inside ) was removed and the contents dumped in the garbage truck

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  41. Hi Steve. What a cool thing to have in your yard and what a great story. I'd never heard of such a thing. I love your shelves, and I vote for staining them to match the wood drawers. Love the contrast against the white tile. Your vignettes are great!
    Claudia

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  42. Trash bin! We have one in our backyard. :)

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  43. It's probably good to have a break from the blog, no? But glad to see you back, as I too was a tad worried. How fun to see your shelves in action. Love the story you tell with the little portrait, ship, and propeller. I see many others loved the wood shelves, as do I. I think staining them to match is a lovely idea. Hope the extra work is manageable.
    Camille

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  44. P.S. I wish we could dump all of our garbage into the ground under a lid operated by foot pedal. Our three large plastic bins (garbage, recycling, compost) are such an eyesore and they take up so much space! The Edwardians had the right idea.
    Camille

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  45. It is where they used to keep their compost (kitchen scraps).

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  46. As comment 70... I should have realized someone already got it :)

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  47. It's for garbage - I think! My husband had one in his yard growing up in Woburn!

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  48. OMG! I see dusty miller in that gorgeous garden!! I think a white and green theme around your house would be elegant!

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  49. My 1929 colonial in Needham, MA had a bucket like yours recessed in the ground near the back door. There was an inner bucket that pulled out. A man came once a week to pick up food scraps put in the bucket to feed his pigs. The bucket in the ground got dug up and disappeared when I put an addition on my house in 1976 but I still have the liner and use it as a waste basket in the laundry room.
    Your shelfies look great!

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  50. For garbage? No kidding! Hey Staub Kettle guy: Can an elderly woman even LIFT it? Just wondering. Kept me up all night worrying.

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    1. Elderly but big boned. I was wondering the same thing. Maybe she's going to sell it on ebay?

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  51. I'm glad you are healthy, you had me wondering a bit. When the project is over you can give us a new cocktail recipe. Spring has hit Umbria.
    Natalie

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  52. The house I grew up in in Connecticut had one of those garbage cans in the circle of grass in the middle of the driveway. We used it for "wet" garbage, i.e., food scraps; the "dry" garbage went into cans just inside the cellar door, and the garbage men picked up both on their rounds (in an open truck!). In the early 1970s my husband and I lived in a house in Newton Center that had one outside the kitchen door, but we didn't use it.
    Love your kitchen.

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  53. I think staining your shelves the color of your drawers would be fabulous, but I am sure whatever you decide will be wonderful!

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  54. Your kitchen shelves are so cool...with the silver and art. I loved reading all the comments here today.

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  55. I like your little collections mixing the useful with the fanciful. I would paint the shelves a shiny black for contrast. The glossy surface would make cleaning a breeze in the kitchen.

    Why didn't you donate any of your excess to charity for the tax deduction? We do this all the time. A lot of charities will pick up donations for free too.

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    1. Katie,
      I have donated things, especially furniture, to local charities that come to the house to pick things up. The wait time can be a month or more. By "donating" things to the free table, I feel they're going directly to people in my neighborhood that can use them.

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  56. I remember them as a garbage container.

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  57. Love the way you did your shelving, in particular the little portraits. It really creates personality there and I love the gilded frame. Good luck with your project! Get back to blogging soon!

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  58. HEY!
    I had one of those in my back yard in Watertown!!!
    I thought it was cool, but took it out when I landscaped.
    A good plant for a wall of green with minimal maintenence is Emerald Green arborvitae.
    Just needs a trimming once a year to keep it at the height you want, and in the spring, just tye up and branches that the snow bent. I used it in Watertown, and again in Lexington.

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  59. Just stopping by to say Happy Easter! Hope yours was beautiful! xo

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  60. I'm quite liking your natural timber shelves. In fact it all looks great!

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  61. Garbage.....funny the opening is quite small....guess they did not have as much garbage back then:) Love your styling there buster....of course I am never worried about you in that department! Hope you had a Happy Easter.

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  62. These were also used in New Haven, Connecticut until the late 1950s.

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  63. Went over to European Antiques. What an incredible place! Took lots of pics and may put them into a post. Hope your project is going well. Thanks for the tip on that cute shop!

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  64. Hi Steve --- we're missing you! Hope your project is going well . Remember to breathe. I hope coming home to your adorable house helps restore you.
    Karen.

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  65. Hi Steve, Been awhile, kitchen is looking so good! Floundering or not, sometimes thats the calm before the energy storm. My grandparents had a garbage pail just like that set in the ground outside the kitchen door. I bought their house and it ended up being MY garbage pail!! lol.

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