Free Spirit

I've always liked hunting.  Some say it isn't for them.  I like the attire, the search and even the weather.  Living in SoCal, so the garb is very comfortable. 

The specific type of hunting I enjoy is the "bargain hunt!"  I enjoy the comfortable shoes, the over the shoulder sleek handbag, (for ambidextrous maneuvers), the search.  The "capture and kill" comes in another verbage.  Capture the moment of the killer deal!! 

Oh wait, I wasn't going to be writing of the thrift shop, second hand, "new to you" finds this time.  I was going to go on about on- line finds.  Craig's list and such.  Train back on track.

On occasional weekends I may find myself searching for something specific or possibly something that I didn't yet know I want.  I check a few places on craig's list.  Garden, Furniture, and "Free."  I may check other places too but for the "deal," these are my go to's.

I've acquired some gorgous free garden rocks on CL.  You haul (and we did) (okay, "he" did).  It took a few trips over a few days but it was a win/ win.  Giver didn't want them in their front yard and we wanted them in our backyard.  We still talk about this achievement at times.  Some items I've found in the free section of note lately:

• peanut oil- 3 gallons, used to cook turkey in...location...near the harbor
• dirt- You haul
• goldfish- Bring containers.  This seemed like a nice way to help out some fishies, but I wasn't about to drive to Van Nuys.
• Free chickens- Barred Rocks and Silver Laced Wyandotes.  (I never knew that there are so many types of chickens.)  Since we live in the burbs, this wasn't really appealing anyway.
• Palettes- We've used some a while back to make birdhouses.  There's a guy on CL that I see who makes patio furniture...repurpose!!
• Toilet- um, I guess this'd be good if one were very broke and so was their toilet.

The free list goes on.  It's quite entertaining and interesting.

Some of the item's I've given away on the free list are:

• trash compacter
• shell garden bordering (hideous)
• aluminum cans (once when we were moving and we didn't want to move them as well).  Received calls ons this one for days.
• Bed
• Futon
• Desk*

The desk* donation last year came with a great perk.  After listing it on line, curb alerting and un curb alerting, I received a phone call from a sweet lady.  The desk was a large corner unit with printer stand and computer hutch.  I also had a picture posted so folks could see what it looks like.  She politely asked me if it would fit in a Honda... (Civic). Goodness, long story, short...after our telephone bonding (not bondage), hubby and I delivered the corner desk to her near beach residence.  It wasn't far, anyway and she had such a nice voice.  She offered us wine and cheese and whether we'd like to watch sunset from her balcony (just kidding, she didn't...but she would have...had she know us longer).  We talked for about an hour during the desk drop.  It was very nice conversation full of fun, learning a little bit about each other. I've since learned from my Sacramento sibling that everyone from Oroville is nice.  With that being said, minus a few details from Hallmark...we have since become good friends.  Who would think that you could meet somebody on Craig's list and become friends, good friends?  Well, you obviously haven't meet Stella Raven.  She's the spirit!!