Junk Day

by Cooper on 5/5/2010 6:43:29 AMComment on this

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa. Jefferson is one of those nice little center-of-the-country towns where the city officials think of spring cleaning as an event. In fact, it IS an event. Let me explain.

Once a week in the spring, the good citizens of Jefferson are allowed to bring all their junk, that the garbage truck guys won't normally pick up, to the curb. You know, that appliance you replaced, the sofa that's seen better days, a car trunk lid from a 1997 Audi (don't ask), but you get the picture.

That car trunk lid, a dishwasher, a coat rack, a television, an end table and a washing machine were our contribution to the game. And here's where it gets interesting. The washing machine? It still works, all though not as good as the one that came with the house we bought last August. And the tv? You can still get a picture, but my husband balked when the Celtics were wearing blue uniforms :) So everyone puts their "stuff" out on the curb, and then the "browsing" begins. We actually put a sign "Yep, still works" on top of the washing machine. By the time the actual pick up crew got to our house the next morning, all that remained for them to pick up was the dishwasher and the coat rack. "Now where on earth is she going with this", you're asking? Getting there.

Early the next morning, out on my run, on East Vest Street, there on someone's "curb pile" were two stretcher frames. The kind you wrap canvas around and paint on. Nice, solid stretcher frames. Unusual dimensions, 16" x 42", but too good to throw away. What's that old saying? "One man's trash is another man's treasure"? Yep, I went from runner mode to shopper mode, just like that.

Ironically, I had a piece of leftover canvas, that wouldn't fit any of the stretcher sizes I normally use, just laying there waiting. The younger Cooper is home from college---said, "Hey, Mom, panoramic". Ok. And it is. I had this great photo reference from the recent trip to Minneapolis that just wouldn't fit a normal canvas---Wow. Junk day. Isn't it great? And besides, now we don't have a trunk lid leaning on the wall of the basement shop anymore. Hopefully, some one is putting that to good use, too. Have a lovely day.

Oh, and that "panoramic view" canvas? The paint is flying onto it. I should be able to post something colorful for you soon!

Later, Cooper