There Is Beauty In Purpose

There Is Beauty In Purpose
Glacier National Park In Spring

Thursday, April 21, 2011

What Finds Us....

Spring is here and we find ourselves finding things that were either forgotten or simply placed in the back of our minds until needed.  We forget exactly where the tulips will come up or where we put the hedge trimmer, but we ultimately find them.  But what happens when something finds us?

I was recently volunteering at the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store that I have previously blogged about.  A donor gave us a strange object that no one had ever seen before and put it out on the floor for sale for a very reasonable sum.  When I arrived at the store I walked around to see what was new; you have to as the items change often.  I came upon this "strange thing" that was marked as a "carpenters table", I knew it wasn't.  I told the manager what it really was and asked how long we had had it.  There are very specific rules for volunteers wishing to purchase and item.  Needless to say the "carpenters table" came home with me.  It is really a wallpaper layers table, it folds up into a long cue stick looking self contained box....the best part is the 6 foot rules that accompanies it.


Now, why did it find me?   Later that day, my man and I were at our favorite adult beverage establishment and ran into two friends who live a mile down the road.  They know I love old, interesting and/or RE:Purposed things.  They had a story to tell; they came upon a strange object in their attic.  A long cue stick like box with a 6 foot ruler in it and they wanted to know what it was....I thought they may have donated it and I bought theirs....turns out they have one too!  I believe everything happens for a reason, a purpose.  This is a picture of the table, maybe you have one in your attic.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Habitats and Change

As I have previously posted, I volunteerr for the Habitat for Humanity Retail store called ReStore.  They are located all around the nation and they are a great resource for building material, fixtures, cabinetry and furniture at a fraction of the retail cost.  Anyone from a RE:Purposer to a General Contractor are welcome.  We are having our official Grand Opening this weekend and everything in the store is 25% off.  If you are anywhere near Cromwell Connecticut, please come join us.  I know I will be spending money for whatever my next RE:Purposing project may be...and all of the proceeds going to a worthy cause makes it all the more worthwhile.http://www.habitatmiddlesex.org/

This is my mom in 1958, great nostalgiac shot, to be RE:Purposed as wall art in our 50's inspired den.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

About Purpose...Be A Mentor

Truth be told, not a big fan of kids, they are loud, messy, unruly and basically unmannered.  Oh wait, that's parents at a midget hockey game.  I was thinking how easy and difficult it was to RE:Purpose som things, old paint, rust, uncopperative wood rot, etc.  But how difficult would it be to find Purpose with a child you have never met.  So I contacted the person in charge of the program(he happens to be my elementary school principal, not a small time back) and he was delighted to hear from me...I guess word of my indifference to kids never caught up to him.  I had to go through an application process and background check, interview and then played the waiting game.  Just when I had given up, they must have found out that I do not have a ready supply of Goldfish in my house, they called.  I have been assigned to a second grade girl of minority status who attends one of the two city elementary schools I did.  She needs to work on her social skills and shyness, while coping with latent agressiveness.  I got my mentor package today with all of the do's and dont's...it seems a big dowith a child of this nature (frankly I relate) is a project with craftiness, color, paint, using ones hands and end results are encouraged.....I feel Purpose in the making.....http://www.mentoring.org/