Category Archives: Education

Spotlight: Mission Thrift

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Hello again my beloveds! In addition to witnessing both a spectacular sunrise and delightful sunset (on the same day even!) this week, we had the unique experience of seeing the behind the scenes workings of our local thrift store. Now — ya’ll know I love a good thrift store find — so I was more than happy to sacrifice my one and only sleep in day to volunteer at our local thrift store.

The hubby and I have been looking for ways to get involved in our community and “get connected” since we moved, so when we heard our new church had made a connection with the Mission Thrift Store in town, the hubby declared: “Oh no… thrift store?! I guess we are going on Saturday morning?” He knows me well. Being the new kids on the block, we arrived at the front door to the store (of course, I knew where it was!) locked and sealed. As I chased the hubby around the back, trying to keep up with his faster-than-most-normal-people pace. We were greeted by two other volunteers from our local church and a host of others ready for the shift.

Our Local Mission Thrift store Photo via missionthrift.com

This particular location is quite large, occupying about three storefronts with numerous donations arriving in a steady stream of boxes and black garbage bags. We learned that donations are becoming harder and harder to sort out. The stores have to be very particular. Few electronics, safety checks, non smoker donations only, dirty or soiled or too much of a good thing isn’t accepted at the door. Once inside, the goods are piled high in bins, bags, shelving units, boxes, racks and whatever other nook and cranny you can find. The goods were everywhere!

The hubby’s muscles were put to work in sorting drop offs, and I went to clothing (which was a good thing because housewares are a weakness!). Clothes are sorted and re-sorted for quality control, sizing, pricing and whether or not the item is seasonal. Nothing is wasted, but not all your donations can be used. Our consumer society has made an abundance of “waste” and I am reminded again of how much “stuff” we really have. Even with the bulk of thrift stores and donation centres we have around us, there simply is too much stuff — and so the staff have to be picky. Many textiles are sent off to be recycled, which I suppose is still better than ending up in the landfill, but it did make me think about what I put in my own donation boxes.

If you look up the Mission Thrift store website, you’ll discover that most of its stores are volunteer driven. We met several on Saturday, including a young man doing his community hours and a few grey haired ladies filling in their free time meeting and greeting. Apparently, there is one lady whose sole job was washing dishes. I hope my hubby didn’t add to her duties, because I discovered him chit-chatting in the break room on more than one tour through! Think of her, next time you see that shining display of teacups on the shelf!!

Photo via Ludmila Schnaider

Our time there was all too short, but I wanted to give you a little spotlight on this Canadian company and its roots. Unlike similar thrift stores, Mission thrift is not for profit. According to their website:

“100% of Mission Thrift’s net proceeds go to support the joint ministries of BFM Foundation Canada and Bible League Canada. The funds are used to support our local community and provide programs that encourage literacy, empower women and provide a safe place for children to learn and grow.”

missionthriftstore.com

And so my muse this week has my mind muddled with contradictions… on one hand I am reminded of how much we are blessed. The hoarded back rooms gave me an all too clear reality check of things. Things we don’t need, things we crave and fall out of fashion or style and then are no longer worthy of our keeping. Having said that, we went home with several items we snatched up before they even hit the shelves. Are we hypocrites or good and frugal thrifters? The other thought is volunteering. Do we do it enough? We were told the store is struggling to find people (especially of the next generation) who are willing to give of their time. Have we not been called to serve? Are we too busy? Have we taught our children the benefits of working without pay? Much to contemplate.

I am considering going back — to help, I mean. Since I have been granted this season of unemployment since moving, I seem to have time on my hands at the moment. There are only so many boxes one can organize at home. Perhaps I can sort somebody else’s junk for a change. Even if I don’t get a chance to volunteer, my money will support their charity for sure! Even if it is just to appreciate some super clean tea cups lovingly washed by hand.

The Least of These (Part 1)

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We’re back! We are living out of boxes and in a little bit of chaos… but very slowly things are progressing towards routine. It’s a slower pace out here in the country so we’re allowed to take our time, right? I’m happy to be back at mittonmusings.com and wanted to share our first experience here at Itsnotta Farm.

We’d picked up the keys and had our first few walkabouts. I have big plans for a lot of spaces on the property, but I knew I wanted to get going on the unfinished basement first before anything got moved in. It’s a big space. It takes up the main part of the house, but is a little damp and dark and gets a bit wet in the spring… but I was determined to clean it up before all our junk got in. I thought it would take a couple of days work. I was wrong. It took much longer than I anticipated. It was also a good thing I don’t have an issue with spiders. I met a few along the way.

The Least of These

I started out doing my research. What would I need for such a reno? What was my prep? I was tempted to go full hog and paint the ceiling black for a cool “club vibe” like the videos I was seeing. I determined that was way more work than I wanted to take on. It did, however, convince me to buy a paint sprayer. A little splurge, but we are hoping we’ll use it for other projects coming up. (Read chicken coop and barn!). Then on to learning about paint and prep. I don’t think the basement had been taken on in 50-plus years… so I had my work cut out for me. Concrete walls. Crazy half-wall step thing. Chips, bumps, lumps and a whole lotta spiders. And then there was this:

What was this?

Not exactly sure, but I suspect rusty residue from previous pipes, a fireplace or an old oil furnace. There are two “windows”. I really wish they were closed in with a glass block or something to let in a little natural light, but it really is the cellar. Heaven forbid anyone or any thing gets locked in there… there is no escape. Anyway, for those of you looking for reno tips: talk to the people that know. I was confused about all the products: concrete, epoxy, stain blockers etc. but the lovely lady at Home Depot convinced me: concrete masonry paint for the walls because it was a vertical space. I chose white. The part epoxy paint (epoxy = plastic) that sticks better on the horizontal floor. Slate grey to hide imperfections. Perfect. Load up the cart! I also bought a wire brush and a stain blocker for those porous stained spots.

And then the work. Scraping. Oh so much scraping and chipping away at 50-plus years of layers. Climbing under shelving and behind the laundry sink. And I am not a little lady. It was probably pretty humorous seeing me tucked under the shelving with a brush in my hand getting those hard-to-reach spots while trying to avoid leg cramps!

No escaping!

At this point, perhaps you, like others around me, are asking why on earth would I want to start with such a seemingly unnecessary project? After all… it is just an unfinished basement that floods a few times a year and no guest will likely ever see. Why spend the effort on the floor that will only ever see dirty laundry and cat litter? I suppose I wanted it “clean” and protected and to look a bit more finished than it was. Moving in time was the perfect opportunity to attempt it as the basement was empty of junk. A little like people. Many of us who are rough on the edges need someone to come alongside us and brave the cobwebs to help seal the stains and beautify us. The Bible tells us that we are to care for the basic needs of “the least of these”. Everything and everyone should be worthy of a little “pretty-ing up”. At least every 50 years or so!

Support poles and floor, like us, needed fresh coats of paint after 50-plus years!

And often, the perfect time to take on such a project is when it’s empty. We need the most encouragement and uplifting when we are drained of all our stuff and have reached the point when everything has been scraped away and we can start the climb back up from the basement. Guests may never see the dirty laundry, but the very least of these still deserve some effort! And the rewards are abundant! Trust me! The daddy long-leg spiders were worth the exposure — come back next week for the final before and after reveals of our century home cellar and a little more inspirational chat about how we can be the light in someone else’s dark world!

Spring Planting

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Happy Spring! It certainly doesn’t feel like it around here – with sub-zero temperatures and five feet of snow on the lawn, but the calendar tells us Spring has arrived!

By now we should have started some seeds indoors… but it hasn’t happened yet. The cold weather and my poor results from attempts last year have deterred me from being adventurous with my seed selections this year. Buying small plants and seedlings is easier. Let the professionals start the hard and delicate part of planting seeds. Then, I will just carry on from there. I don’t have a hothouse for tomatoes or peppers. My soil is not ideal for some of the more particular crops. And I’m too impatient for Lufas or teeny seeds like daisies and other flowers. I’m excited to try – last year we geared up in February for the first fruits. Failure makes me cautious. You’ve heard me say that growing is God’s miracle, we just plant the seed! I should just leave Him to His job.

Photo by Nikola Jovanovic on Unsplash

I watched a cute little YouTube clip from a kid’s object lesson on this topic. I love how Nature is so good at teaching even the most straightforward lessons. Jesus used them often to help His students learn. I’ll link the video in case you need a Sunday school lesson…

Seeds are dormant, hard little creatures that sit around waiting to die… protectors the “Bible mom” calls them. Keeping everything safe until just the right time at just the right moment to bloom, explode and display all their blessings. Plants and seedlings, on the other hand, are vulnerable and out there. They start out delicate. And if they get good care… well, they can become the mighty oak!

Unfortunately, last year my seedlings didn’t grow well. I let the protectors down and the producers just didn’t catch and flourish into the big plants they were intended to be. The few my mom got did pretty well at her house… she got some fruit. I guess her conditions were better.

And so it is with us. We need to be in the right conditions to flourish and grow. We need to be in a good church body with good teaching. We need to be mentored, encouraged and coaxed to grow. We need to feel confident enough to break down that hard protective shell of seed and sprout into seedlings and vulnerable plants. We need to be watered and fed and protected from the outside when we lose our shells.

And we need to be that protector for others. Those of us that are parents are all too familiar with this. We raise our kids, giving them all the attention and allowances we can. Eventually, they sprout and produce their own fruit. (Eek… am I heading to grandma zone??) But it’s true! Time waits for no one. We have limited chances to do our best. Still… it’s never too late! Even sickly seedlings can pick up with a bit of sunlight, a little water and some good food. They may never be the strongest in the garden, but the fruit is possible!

Photo via Jenni Haikonen

So let’s learn from spring buds, shall we? Encourage. Help grow. Seek it for yourself. Plant yourself in good soil. Break down your hard seed shell and bloom!

Here’s that kid’s video clip. May have to look up the “Bible Mom” again. Seems like a nice lady! 🙂 Bible Mom Lesson