Junk Stalker

That's me... I admit it. I am a stalker of old junk, discards and rejects. Sometimes it's warranted, even before the stuff makes its way to a trash pile. 

This was one of those occasions.

Exhibit A - What... you wouldn't have stalked this?

Ain't it a beaut? I saw it amongst a bunch of junk up against the side of a house I pass each day going in and out of my neighborhood. I thought to myself [with a certain little light igniting inside], why is that stuff outside and sitting up against the wall? [excitement building] Are they moving? [wonder in my eyes] or could it be... [gleefully rubbing my hands together...] "did they just clean out the garage or the house?" [heart beating quickly] Because you know what that means, right? That stuff was likely going to the road! Yes! 

My eyes went wide at the thought of it. It wasn't yet bulk trash day and I figured just maybe they'd done some work but couldn't put the stuff out for a couple of days. I noticed the junk because of "Exhibit A" there in the pile, silently trying to get my attention and begging me to look beyond the grime, that embarrassing topper and the surrounding company - and I saw the potential there beneath it.

Aside from the fact that it looks like a little cart with some sort of awkward plank attached to the top, I thought that if for nothing else, I might salvage that little ladder part. One could always use a little ladder, right? So I tucked the sight of this into my storehouse of salvage memories (which is thankfully far more secure than a lot of my other memories - except the childhood ones, of course - but that's a story for another day) and I drove on and waited for trash day, craning my neck each time I drove by to make sure the pile was still intact, breathing a little sigh of relief each time it was. I had this fear that another junk stalker might snag it first. 

Now you know I'm delusional, right?

On trash day's eve I got my son, who was home for a visit, to go on a junk adventure with me to see if the people had put the pile of junk to the road. He surprised me and gladly obliged. He had been interested in the stories of my finds and I think he was curious about actually going out and really getting something from someone's trash. 

Sure enough, I called it! This little beauty was lying there half buried among the rest of the unwanted items, which included a bunch of huge mirrors that I ended up having to leave behind due to space considerations. However, I got a bonus I hadn't seen when everything was waiting in the side yard pre-trash day pile.

The base was broken, but so what...

...look at that color and those cool rusty hooks!

And so this turquoise gem came home with me as well. The best part of our junk adventure was having Cael help me with the somewhat embarrassing (the homeowner came out while we were dissecting her trash.) and dirty work of scouring the pile and getting the stuff in the car! 

It's always more fun and less embarrassing to excavate with a junk buddy.

Once I got it home, the plywood was removed (it had been screwed into the handles, leaving holes -which I never filled - typical). I got to cleaning the cart, and wow, was it filthy.

It makes me feel good to see the half-clean side against the still dirty side and to document the work that went into my finds. Unfortunately, cleaning wasn't enough for this. It needed to be refinished or painted. At the time, my go-to paint was a very dark brown. 

So it got a few coats of that and looked pretty spiffy, all in all, like a dark wood. Like a proper little cart.

My vision was to have casters on the legs and make it a rolling cart. The holes are already there at the bottom of the legs, but I was never able to find the kind of wheels I wanted with a small enough prong to fit. So, until I come across some, my little "cart" remains immobile.

Here's how it looked during the first stage of it's new life at my house.  But with all the aqua painting going on, the brown got a little dejected. It had begun to feel like an outcast again, even here in its new home.

Yes, life and aqua paint got in the way,

 and this tray table once again took on a new life and a new colorful outlook.

As is often the case when painting things like this with legs (which includes chairs), I had to paint it a few times to find the color that looked right. On this one, I ended up finally using the last of the aqua mix I created for the tables on the frame and legs and one of my other aqua colors on the tray area, just for a little interest. 

I considered painting a lighter aqua design over the paint on the tray section, but these decisions take time. Much time. I'm no artist, so I would have to come across just the right design and work up the nerve to mess with it. I'm in no hurry, and I kinda like it like it as is too.

Turns out the aqua room is even more aqua-filled than pictures previously let on.

And do you notice anything else? 

I removed the ladder-shelf-thingamajig. Don't the legs looks long and graceful now? I thought the ladder-shelf looked odd attached, so it has been removed and painted its first obligatory wrong color of paint. It will eventually be repainted (probably a bunch of times before I get it right) and who knows what kind of a life it will be living in the near future. 

And, no, I didn't fill in the holes where the ladder thingy had been attached either. I know. I need to work on that.

There you have it. The result of junk-stalking the neighbors trash. 

It is a nice addition that looks meant for my house, don't you think? Just wait 'til it gets a set of wheels!

So tell me...have you ever stalked the junk before it got to the trash pile?

I'll be at:
Knick of Time Tuesday @ Knick of Time
Be Inspired @ Elizabeth & Co.
Craft & Tell @ Cherished Bliss
Show Me What You've Got @ Our Delightful Home
Metamorphosis Monday @ BNOTP
Motivate Me Monday @ Keeping It Simple
Craft-O-Maniac Monday @ Craft-O-Maniac
The More The Merrier @ DIYHSH
Manic Monday @ Serendipity And Spice
Open House Sunday @ Mod Vintage Life
Mop it Up Monday @ ISBMTF
Nifty Thrifty Sunday @ Nifty Thrifty Things
Sunday Show Off @ Twigg Studios
Say G' Day @ Natasha in Oz
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous
Get Schooled Saturday @ Too Much Time
Show & Tell Saturday @ Be Different Act Normal
Simple & Sweet Fridays @ Rooted in Thyme
Furniture Feature Friday @ Miss Mustard Seed
What Have You Redone @ Redoux

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Inspiration Friday @ At The Picket Fence
Fridays Unfolded @ Stuff & Nonsense
Vintage Inspiration @ Common Ground
Treasure Hunt Thursday @ FMFPTY
Live Laugh @ Live Laugh Rowe
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Creative Things Thursday @ The Vintage Farmhouse
Time Travel Thursday @ The Brambleberry Cottage
Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here
Wednesdays Adorned From Above @ Adorned From Above
What's It Wednesday @ Ivy & Elephants
Terrific Tuesdays @ Adventures of a DIY Mom
All Star Block Party @ New House New Home New Life
Primp Your Stuff Wednesday @ Primp
Your Whims Wednesday @ My Girlish Whims
Share The Love @ Very Merry Vintage Style
Share It @ The Winthrop Chronicles
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style