Begonias and dusty miller plants take root in a pair of outgrown children's boots |
SIMPLY LIVING
April 1, 2013
April 1, 2013
If the shoe fits, wear it.
But what if it doesn’t?
What if your kids have outgrown their shoes or if that
designer pair of heels simply hurts too much to wear? What about your favorite sneakers with the
worn out soles and dime-size holes or the snow boots that made sense when you
lived in Massachusetts but haven’t touched ground in years?
Well…the closet is always an option. But even after the door is closed, you’ll
still know you added to the mound of unused items in your already cluttered
house.
If the shoes are still usable, you could donate them to a
thrift shop – that’s a worthy thing to do. And for really
old, worn out pairs, the trashcan sits ready. But don’t rush to discard those tired treads! Other options – equally as worthy as donating
to a thrift shop – also exists.
I have two suggestions that promise a great deal of
satisfaction especially if you’re a gardener or a person who enjoys watching
birds.
Gardeners
Take out
that pair of unwanted shoes, boots, sneakers or clogs and pour a light mixture
of potting soil in the space where your foot normally goes. Then, take a young start of a favorite plant
and push it into the soil. Succulents
work especially well as “shoe-ins” as do small flowering plants like impatiens,
begonias or low-growing herbs like thyme or oregano.
Succulents work especially well in planters made from refashioned high heels |
After giving them a good watering, place your
new planter in a spot where all can enjoy their repurposed glory. It always makes me smile when I look out at
some of my favorite “shoe-ins” made out of sneakers our grandchildren outgrew,
laced-up shoes I no longer wear or worn out boots my kids left behind when they
moved away.
A pair of outgrown kid's sneakers finds new life as a container for impatien plants |
Birdwatchers
Nesting
season is upon us. As one who has
watched baby birds hatch, develop and eventually fly off on their own, I can
attest to the deep pleasure derived from observing this most exciting and endearing
of wildlife encounters. But enticing
birds to build nests in a place where they can be easily observed isn’t always
as simple as it sounds. In addition to
costing money, most store-bought birdhouses require time and effort to set
up. There’s hardware to purchase and
install, tall posts to erect or chains to hang.
Even when mounted, birdhouses require a seasonal cleaning that involves
taking them down and, after emptying out the detritus, climbing up a ladder to
reattach.
A Carolina wren feeds its babies in a repurposed shoe nest |
A boot-nest is so much simpler. The only necessary items needed are one (free)
unwanted boot, lace-up sneaker or shoe, a screwdriver (or hammer if a nail is
used instead of a screw) and a tree, fence or wall upon which to attach the
refashioned footwear. Using one screw (or
nail), secure the boot-nest to the surface with toe pointing down. If the footwear has a tongue, pull it outward
to make the available nest space as roomy as possible.
Before long, birds will stop by to check it out the new
fixture. Most likely, Carolina wrens
will be the first to take up residence.
These feisty, tawny-colored flyers with a white stripe above each eye
are curious and inventive nesters. When
wrens settle upon a location, the male and female birds work together to build
a nest of tightly woven fibers. In less
than a day, a bowl-shaped nest will be “shoehorned” in, transforming an
unwanted piece of footwear into a cozy shelter for a clutch of baby birds.
Some people say, “If the shoe fits, wear it,” but I prefer
the adage, “If the shoe doesn’t fit, find a new use for it!”
Imagination and creativity go a long way to turning the
unwanted into the welcome.
I just found this great image online, an apt way to end this post |
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