Thursday, June 08, 2006

Yard Sale, Yard Sale, Yard Sale! Everything Must Go!

Multi-family yard sale Saturday 9-5 on the block of Norwood between Bryant and Summer. Baby clothes (boy), toys, motorcycle helmet, computers for parts, women's clothes (S-M), household items, books, and much more.

***

In preparation for this weekend's yard sale, I put on gloves and tackled a job that has probably never been done before in this rented residence--cleared out the basement.

3 broken fans, 2 broken chairs, 20 cans of paint, and 10 water-damaged empty boxes--out they went. There's also a couch I can't move, and a variety of "house" stuff the landlord must deal with. It's filthy and dark and still too full.

But my yard sale stuff is on the porch, the trash is full, too, and I feel righteous.


***

Further notes of a frugal nature:

* T@rget brand Magic-Eraser is not as good as the Mr. Clean original.

* Dandelion greens are practically the most nutritious food ever, and are so delicious boiled with carrot, cooked in garlicky olive oil, and served with pine nuts.

***
I harvested comfrey for drying today, and put up a batch of mineral vinegar--apple cider vinegar with dandelion and comfrey leaves in it. In six weeks, tablespoon of this stuff will deliver more calcium than a glass of milk.

Righteous, indeed.

On Being Broke and Rich

Money has been scarce around the Poet's Garrett lately. While the situation is improving, thank the goddess, I have had plenty of time to both suffer and enjoy living without money.

Things got quieter. I stopped cable service, watched less crap and more of my own choosing: movies I hadn't seen in a while, borrowed from friends or the library. Yoga.

More openness in the head. What to do? Take a walk--no, a longer walk. Make dinner slowly. Read more. Clean something different. Research something you are wondering about. Writing practice.

Getting rid of stuff feels like getting money. I don't know why this should be, but I feel an almost giddy joy when I let go of something I don't need or use. And making a meal from just what ou have on hand is a pretty cool challenge if you have cupboards like mine.

Learning is free. I have been researching: herbs, flowers, nutrition, sewing patterns, Buffalo trivia, Alice Notley.


***
I'll be in the DC area in mid-July. Will you?

***

Here are two plants in my garden which I identified through online research. Very proud of myself.

Lunaria, aka Money Plant, Honesty Plant. In the fall, the plant puts of papery-coin-like pods--very lovely.










And this crazy thing is Comfrey! I had no idea. What an abundance of this powerful plant I have! Need any?