Autumn in the North Cemetery.

Sixty miles west of Boston, Massachusetts there is the small New England town of Sturbridge. Located at the junction of I-90 (The Mass Pike), and I-84 it has become known as the "Crossroads of New England". The town was first settled over 300 years ago, and like other small New England towns it has grown just enough over the years to be in a difficult place today. How do we embrace the future without forgetting how we got to our present? How do we attract the right kind of growth, and maintain who we are? And, what about our culture out here in Central Massachusetts?



These pages will cause one to think about how to protect what we have, our future direction, and how to move on in the very best way.


Those thoughts, and other ramblings, will hopefully inspire more thought, conversation, action, and occasionally a smile...

...seems to be working so far

Monday, August 15, 2011

Small Town Entertainment Is Where You Find It

Route 148 in Fiskdale can be a bit trying at times with the high traffic volume at certain times of the day, the speeders at any time of the day, and the people that empty the trash from their cars onto our road on any given day.  Then, there are the positive things about living on a state highway.  I'll try to think of more than just one, but for now,  the neatest thing we have going for us is if there is something in your house that you would like to dispose of, then just place it at the end of your driveway on Route 148, and within 30 minutes it will be gone.

It's like magic, in fact, it may just be magic.

I've done this several times, and until yesterday I always had placed a hand painted sign proclaiming "FREE" beside the item.  Yesterday, I just placed the metal bakers rack leaning up against the trash bin without a sign, then I drove up town to the Red Box for a movie, and when I returned, it was gone.

Magic.  This is so cool.  The ultimate in recycling, re-purposing, and reusing items.  Obviously it looked useful to someone, and it was in good shape, so off it went to parts unknown.  I have done this a few times with various items, and all have vaporized within a very short time.  Being free kinda hastens the magic along, I think.  I have stopped at yard sales and spent $5 on a little wooden bookcase that I repainted and now holds books, DVD's and CD's.  If I have a need, and I see something I can re-purpose I'll spend the $5, and re-purpose an item, but when something is free it tugs at the Yankee in each of us, and actually  makes us stop the car, and claim the item in the name of frugality.

A frugal person visited me yesterday.  Thank you.

The headboard.
 Now, in the next few weeks we are going to replace some old circa 1930's bedroom furniture.  A couple of bureaus, and a full size bed with head, and foot board.  One drawer front is missing from one of the bureaus (long story, and my fault), but otherwise I am sure it will move.  After all, it is free.  I'll put it out on the side lawn under a tent, and this time I will place  a couple "FREE" signs around it.  If you would like to claim it before the set goes on display on the lawn, drop me a line, otherwise stop by with a stop watch on the day I put it out, and see if any time records are broken for the least time an item sits on the lawn.

We're a small town, we get our entertainment where we can.


1 comment:

  1. I would be very interested in the bed. please feel free to contact me @ kbourdeau@gmail.com. thanks.

    ReplyDelete



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