Swapping around

I am a natural packrat. I hate cleaning and getting rid of, but at the same time, I love giving things away. You can image that my closet presents a real dilemma.
In 1997 we added on to our old country bungalow in part to get a big-enough closet. Were we ever success! It’s so big that in nine years, I’ve barely cleaned it. I just keep hanging things up and meaning to get to it. Of course, I’ve lost track of lots of things I love.
The closet has been looming on my mind, but the packrat part of me was winning. I say that my closet is my scrapbook—“Oh, look! I remember the night I wore this!” “Yes, that went to the open house.”
Last Saturday I saw a notice in the “Apalachee Tortoise,” a Tallahassee community newspaper, announcing a clothing swaparama. Instead of just donating clothes to who-knows-what-end, come and trade. They are going to have volunteers giving a workshop on rejuvenating old clothes—your own or someone else’s.
This was just the kick-started I needed. Monday morning I lit into the closet. Thought it would take about an hour. Ha! But I finished. Bob got in on the act. Now we have a clean and mostly empty closet. Need I add, that I found some old friends who are staying?
Now the back of the Cherokee is loaded with our usable but extra clothes. I’m ready to roll south for the trade. I’m hoping I’ll leave off and not take more on, but you never can tell.
Here the link to the Tallahassee swap http://www.clothingreconstructionworkshop.com/ .
This is one with more general information about Swap-o-ramas all over the countryhttp://www.gaiatreehouse.com/events.htm .


And here’ a reason I love the country town part of our life—a recent visitor at my back door.
Oh, dear. It's supposed to be a picture of a woodpecker, but blogger (or my computer) is not cooperating. I'll try to post it later.