Friday, March 6, 2009

Plunder, Scrounge, and Rummage

My sister likes to plunder. Her husband likes to scrounge. I like to rummage. That’s when we make discoveries – or hope to.

Have you ever visited a shop or a store or a junk place with only curiosity at your side? My mother had some words she liked to use which come back to me now and again. I find them funny, comforting and useful. For example, she was a great one for going to the “cloth store”. When I was growing up, the cloth store could be any number of places. Sometimes it was actually a fabric store where you would find fabric on bolts or rolls. Sometimes it was a mill end store where you had to have luck on your side to find anything worthwhile. My mother would know the clerks or talk to the owner and she would get some kind of scoop as to when the new stuff would be put out. She’d make sure to return when she could get a good deal and the best selection.

When I was old enough to choose to go with her or stay home on my own, she would ask me if I wanted to go along. I would ask, “What are you going after?” And she would answer, “I don’t know. I’m just rummaging.” Rummaging - that’s a word that resonates with me. Sometimes I would find her rummaging in a sewing closet or a box of trims. She knew where stuff was. She just had to put her hands on it.

Rummage. When I rummage, I am in search of something, but I often don’t know what until I find it. At the end of last year, as the holidays were winding down, I decided there was no time like the present to go through all of my teddy bear making supplies with the intent to straighten, clean, purge, and organize. It took me a while but I can say that no shelf, space, drawer or basket escaped my scrutiny. When it was all done, I felt lighter. How long will this loveliness last - perhaps until the next good search gets underway?

It must be the sunny days, warmer temperature, or the promise of Spring that has me feeling as if I am running around with a butterfly net trying to catch all the ideas that are fluttering around. I find myself looking for just the right fabric for a new project that has popped into my brain. And how does one find a particular mohair fabric amongst all the choices in baskets and drawers? I have to rummage. I rummage and things get a bit tossed. Oh well. There’ll be time to straighten that up later.

I’m doing my best to keep this family tradition alive and well.

1 comment:

  1. Hi Ginger...Hope you are having a great weekend! Rummaging is a great word...one I use often around here! I did the cleaning and straightening in January...and I agree with you...I feel a lot lighter. Now, for the garage...I think "mess" is the word of choice there!!

    Take care,
    Hugs, Nancy

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