Is it weird that I pick up dead bugs? The guy in the parking lot thought so the other day as I almost tripped him to save this dead butterfly:
And then Brett found this in his truck yesterday, a dead dragonfly that I’d carefully wrapped up after finding him under a bench:
But seriously….the wings! Only about 2.5 inches long and such detail. I want to cut little tiny pieces of glass to fit all those little stained-glass windows.
I pick up little trinkets and treasures wherever I go. Feathers, shells, prickly things I can’t identify:
Treasures found and gifted:
Sometimes I find things in my path, like in the knothole of a tree, that I swear Boo Radley could have put there himself.
Speaking of To Kill a Mockingbird, I have Go Set a Watchman sitting here on a table but I just can’t bring myself to open it. I don’t know if I’ll ever read it.
We watched the TKAM movie a few months back and it was just as wonderful as I remembered it. I think one of the most beautiful parts of the TKAM movie…the beginning credits where the hands open the box of treasures and the child’s hand coloring:
And just because I like to make lists, here’s an inventory of things Jem and Scout found in the tree:
1. Chewing gum: Two pieces of chewing gum, wrappers removed. Fresh. Wrigley’s Double-Mint.
2. Pennies: 2 Indian head pennies dated 1906 and 1900. Found in a purple velvet ring box covered in shiny foil gum wrappers. They would be worth about $50 today.
“I don’t know, Scout. But these are important to somebody…”
“How’s that, Jem…?”
“Well, Indian-heads — well, they come from the Indians.
They’re real strong magic, they make you have good luck.
Not like fried chicken when you’re not lookin’ for it,
but things like long life ‘n’ good health, ‘n’ passin’ six-weeks test…
these are real valuable to somebody. I’m gonna put ’em in my trunk.” (Chapter 4)
3. String: A ball of grey twine. I’ve imagined it as the hardware store kind, used to tie up packages and newspapers.
4. Dolls: Two dolls whittled out of soap. The boy with unruly hair hanging down, wearing shorts. The girl with bangs, wearing a crude dress.
5. Gum: An entire pack this time. No more information other than that.
6. A medal: An old tarnished medal that would have been given out to spelling bee winners in Maycomb County elementary school. Atticus couldn’t recall the name of anyone he knew who had ever won one of those contests. Neither can I now that I think about it.
7. Pocketwatch: An old, broken pocket watch on a chain. The credits showed an old Ingersoll Yankee pocket watch. The minute and hour hand missing but “penciled” hands marking the time 1:53. (the Yankee watch was first manufactured in 1896 and was so successful that Ingersoll had to open up new plants just to keep up with production.)
8. Aluminum Knife: Found with the pocket watch.
And then there were no more gifts…the hole in the tree was filled up with cement.
The first thing I can read after 3 hour long eye appointment is the blog post from Ashley. I too pick up strange items. Good thing my mom doesn’t do my laundry, she would think I was a tomboy again. You are why I continue to pick up & collect “found” items. Be it travel or the store I will look. Sometimes I find a penny from heaven & wonder who it’s from. Dragon fly wings, butterflies, feathers, & even crushed bottle caps, you may find some in my pocket or in my tray in the laundry room. It’s me. Where did I learn it was okay to collect “found” items? I do believe Ashley said it was okay several years ago in her blog. I started immediately & haven’t stopped. Thank you, Ashley. You inspire me every day. Hugs.
At the very least, you need to print out that dragonfly wing photo & color the windows in yourself!!
I’ve had Go set a Watchman on my nightstand since the day I came out. I am so afraid to read it and I may never.
*it
I preordered Go Set A Watchman back in February. It arrived on the publication date. I put it on my shelf and pass by it every day. I understand what you mean. I’m not sure it was ever meant to be read. And for now, I’m okay with that.
I think we share a passion for beautiful dead insect wings. My kids just found me dragonfly wings and they’ll soon be added to my shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/EzraandMoses
I just finished reading Go Set A Watchman. If you loved the first book and it’s characters, this one will break your heart.
Totally agree. I read it and immediately decided to pretend it didn’t exist. Not that it was a terrible book or anything – but I really preferred the characters and plot in To Kill a Mockingbird. That one’s a masterpiece in my mind . . . Go Set a Watchman isn’t.
My husband rolls his eyes when I stoop to pick up my treasures…but my grand boys who are now 17 and 14 still deliver me wonderful finds. The latest was a sycamore seed…and is beautiful!
“A Traverse City bookstore is offering refunds to its customers who bought the newly released Harper Lee novel “Go Set a Watchman,” because it feels the volume is “not a sequel or a prequel to ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’ Neither is it a new book.”
http://www.freep.com/story/money/business/michigan/2015/08/04/harper-lee-return-policy/31105525/S/
I won’t be buying Watchman. As was said in TKAM, some things are best left alone. After all, it is a sin to kill a mockingbird.
I love the treasures. I agree with the coloring the dragonfly wing. There are such vibrant colors in pens these days. Ashley, maybe you should do a coloring book?
Also, I looked at your picture of treasures. My eyes were drawn to the center where I saw two owls. We adults have to fight to keep the imagination of our childhood. I fear too many on putting a lid on imagination.
I have had Go Set A Watchman & also not yet read it! So glad I’m not the only one!
Our dog, Ruby, has an taste for cicadas so I find their wings all over the house. Although it feels ghoulish I have to save their wings because they’re so beautiful. I always look down when I walk because I fell about ten years ago breaking my right leg and left ankle. I’m deathly afraid of falling again. I don’t miss a thing on the side walk.
I refuse to let anyone take Atticus away from me, and from what I hear, that is what the new book will do.