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Australia
I ran away from teaching to the country to grow veggies. There are also some chooks and a pair of troublesome goats who were so much trouble they had to go! My simple green life isn't always as simple or as green as I'd like...but I keep trying!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Trash or treasure

One person's trash is another person's treasure

Isn't that the truth!
I may have mentioned that my mum has gone into an aged care facility and my sisters and I have been busy clearing her house.  It was a surprisingly simple task as she has always been house proud and the queen of decluttering. 
Why oh why, didn't I inherit the cleaning and decluttering genes instead of the big bum gene?  *sigh*
Anyway, as part of the process the whole extended family has had the opportunity to choose from the household items.  I found it interesting which items were highly sought after and which have been left to take to the op-shop.

Here are my treasures.  


The look and feel of these large jars conjure memories of Saturday mornings 
in Mum's kitchen, cooking up a storm with the sisters.

The peg tin!
Once again, the feel of the edge of the tin in fingers and its weight are evocative of my childhood.


This is also a sentimental object as it is an old tin that once held infant formula.  
The infant was Tyrone, a cousin and the tin is about 60 years old.  
I know certain family members in Kalgoorlie will love this one.

 


I also chose this mirror which used to belong to my grandmother, the vase from mum's wedding crystal and a couple of glass items. 


Then there was the shed...Dad's shovel, the drill and bit (destined as art somewhere), his hedge clippers and other bits n pieces.

But best of all.....  I got the dunny door!
It has hardly been used, because we all used to sit on the throne with the door open, enjoying the view out over the garden.  I will post about it at a later date and show you what I will use it for. 
I don't understand why no-one fought me for it!

22 comments:

  1. I am interested in kowing what where the highly sort after items??

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  2. Hazel it's great that you are able to retrieve and use these things that are important to you. They will stay with you for a long time and keep all the memories together.

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  3. Hope all goes well for your Mum in her new home. I totally empathise with your selection Hazel. Mum lives with us now but when she left the family home to come here ten years ago she had to get rid of a lot of stuff. One thing I wouldn't let go and now it's mine -- the cane 'dirty clothes' basket. Ah childhood memories of when I stood on tiptoe to drop my clothes in. Now it's waist high -- and I'm a shortie!

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  4. Just as well I'm not your sister..I would have!No greater treasure than an old dunny door!

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  5. You should have poped in when you were in town!
    Glad to hear you got the dunny door after all!
    I hope using your mum and dad's old things brings a happy smile to your face.

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  6. Very wise choices Hazel. Their value will never diminish.

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  7. Lovely to have these little treasures.I remember having to go through my mother in laws things. The mixing bowls, rolling pin sifter linen and her blankets are where I find comfort and memories. I love the infant formula tin, that's great, and what a lovely mirror.

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  8. These are special treasures. I wonder if your Mum would be surprised by the things that you treasured the most? As mothers I don't think we really know what our kids would think were special to them from their childhood. Makes me wonder what my kids would want to keep from their childhood!

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  9. I really like the clothes peg tin. Not sure about the dunny door choice. Don't think I'd have fought you for it but I look forward to seeing what you do.

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  10. Oh, a dunny door...and not only that, it is your childhood dunny door.....I would have grabbed it too....My nana had a wash house, a painted white corrogated iron washhouse, with cement sinks..and a door that I wish to goodness I had ripped off the hinges when her house was sold...actually, I wish I could have picked up the whole thing...sinks and all...
    I think your peg bucket is indeed very lovely...what a great piece that is....I have my nanas and will post about it now you have shown me yours... :)
    I do hope the move has been a good one for your mum...its such a huge transition for the elderly at a time in their life when they least want it...when my children are older, I will pursue my options for becoming an aged carer,,I am such a nana already, I think I will be really good at it! I do so love nana's......thanks for sharing your beautiful family treasures....and memories...

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  11. ps, I got the big boob gene...I am hoping beyond hope it does not get passed onto my girls...

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  12. Old things have such a wonderful realism to them that I find lacking in many modern items. Like I would love using that hand drill.

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  13. What a great selection of treasured memory items. I love your choices, especially (and weirdly) the dunny door - perhaps because of the story that goes with it :)
    Mo

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  14. LOL! The Dunny door, congrats on that, the very thought is making me grin!! Love the mirror, looks like you have some lovely memories in your treasures.

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  15. You got the dunny door? Excellent!


    Does it get any better than that?

    I think not.

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  16. A gorgeous, warm, sentimental post almost too precious to read. Thank you for sharing those memories.

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  17. Plenty of treasures there Missy, especially the mirror. Quite a heart warming post, at least some of your mum's possessions are definitely going to a good home :)

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  18. If i ask a most probably silly question "whats a dunny?"

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  19. Just googled it so was your dunny dinkum? what a great name for a toilet. I cant wait to see this door.

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  20. A rusty old glaxo tin full of memories (and pegs)

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  21. Some lovely sentiments there Hazel. Your post has got me wondering what my kids will treasure most amongst my posessions when I'm gone... Maybe be it will be a gardening tool of some sort.
    I still treasure (and use very often) an Army blanket that my Dad was issued in WW2. I keep it in the back of my car. It's still in near-perfect condition.

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  22. lovely memories I too would love a dunny door. My daughter has one on her shed and I love it, I love rustic things hanging on them too.

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