Race Update and Dumpster Diving

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Thank you to all of you who wished me good luck on my race yesterday.  I am so happy with how it turned out! I not only met my goal time, but beat it by a little over 2 minutes (which is a lot in runner time!)

Cowtown Half Marathon 2014

Yep, I’m down there somewhere in the midst of those 5,000 people.  I think my favorite part of the whole race happened right after I crossed the finish line.  An older gentleman (probably 70 years +) came up, patted me on the back, and said, “I want to thank you young lady for pushing me through that last half mile! You were running so hard and I just kept tracking you and trying to keep up. Way to go!”

I and this older gentleman I’ve never met gave each other a high five and celebrated a great race finish together. So fun!  I’m going to take a little break from training for a bit, just run some here and there for recreation.  My husband would like a little time to exercise some himself! I’m shooting for maybe another long race in December.

Back to business . . . I wanted to show a few pictures of some treasures I found in a dumpster dive last week.  There is a thrift store next to our church (we’re in a strip shopping center), and last Sunday I noticed some things peeking out of their dumpster as I walked to my car after the service.

My oldest son was riding with me, while my younger two were going to ride home with my husband. I took a quick detour to the dumpster and found a pile of empty picture frames and hand-painted canvases! My son was pretty irritated with me because we were in a race to beat the other half of our family home (welcome to boy-land, everything is a competition!), but I couldn’t pass up what I saw.

DSC07174I grabbed four acrylic canvas paintings, all signed by Gwen Rose.  I have no idea who Miss Gwen is, but I love amateur original art.  I couldn’t bear to let these go to the dump!

This one is my favorite.

DSC07177The empty frames were a score too.  Empty frames fly out of my shop, I sold one a day after I took it up there. All profit!

DSC07172Empty frames are a hot decorating trend.  Just take a look on Pinterest and you will see tons of ideas. This is one of my favorites I saw.

interiors-designed.com

Not a huge score from the thrift store dumpster, but some great finds nonetheless.

I would love to hear about your best dumpster dive finds!

Mod Vintage Life

We Call It Junkin

Kathy

Monday 3rd of March 2014

Congrats on your run time! I absolutely love those paintings and frames! What a fabulous haul! I've been teaching myself to paint, so I am really drawn to those paintings! I would have crawled in that dumpster, too! Beautiful!

Kathryn Griffin @TheDedicatedHouse

Sunday 2nd of March 2014

What great finds!! Seriously! Thank you for sharing. You will be one of the features tomorrow at the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Pop on in tomorrow to check out your feature. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

Melanie

Monday 3rd of March 2014

Thank you Kathryn!

Ann Marie

Saturday 1st of March 2014

Melanie, what keen eye you have to discover those paintings and frames. I'm so glad you rescued them. Congrats, too, on your race. Ann Marie @ Iris Abbey

Dawn @ We Call It Junkin

Saturday 1st of March 2014

Congratulations on your race! And on your amazing find, too, I can't believe they were throwing those beautiful paintings away :( So glad you rescued them. Thank you for sharing this at my History & Home link party, take care. Dawn @ We Call It Junkin.com

Melanie

Saturday 1st of March 2014

Thank you Dawn. I agree, I'm no professional artist, but I definitely thought those paintings weren't worthy of the junk yard!

Connie

Friday 28th of February 2014

I recognize one of your house paintings, the brick with gingerbread trim, as Longwood Plantation outside Natchez, Mississippi. It is a National Historic Landmark built in 1860-61 and not fully completed because the Civil War began. You can find more on line about his beautiful home if you are interested. You found treasure for sure!

Melanie

Friday 28th of February 2014

Yes Connie, you're right! Wouldn't that has been sad to have that pretty canvas wind up in the dump? Thanks so much for stopping by.

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