Love American Pickers

We, as a family, LOVE American Pickers TV show.  We have downloaded the first season on AppleTV.  We could spend hours just watching show after show.  I love how Mike & Frank tell the history of the items that they find.  I think they should auction off a spot for someone to pick with them..wouldn't that be cool?!  I'm practicing....

 My Princess has started calling me a Singapore Picker.  We live near a condo that people seem to be always getting rid of things...it sits by the dumpster until there is room for the item.  What a shame to fill the landfill with good useable furniture.

A month or so ago, I had been eyeballing a bench.  Well, it's more the size of a couch but made of wood, no cushions or cloth.  One slat in the seat needs a little repair..so did I "pick it"? Of course, I did.  I asked the gentleman that "mans" the dumpster area what they were going to do with it.  He said they were going to throw it away as soon as it would fit in the dumpster.  What?! I asked if I could have it, he said sure.  So the kids & I went home.  Little Prince didn't want to be a part of our "pickin", so he stayed home.  We laid down the seats in the Toyota Picnic & drove back down there.  We had to ask garbage man to get up.. Princess & I wiggled & wrangled it until we got it in the car.  We were both giddy with excitement.
My Prince has already advised me how to repair it.  I have been looking for cushions to go on this bench, I don't want to pay a fortune for it.  So I'm still looking.  If I get really crafty, I could sew some myself.  

So then a couple of weeks after "picking" this one up..I came across another one...about 15 miles away in another part of town.  It's identical.  Yes, I picked it, too.  So now I have 2 that need cushions!

I have been shopping Salvation Army stores here.  (They are a bit proud of their things or they like to keep them, because I think they are overpriced on most things).  I have bought some vases & plates that I have glued & spray painted for tiered fruit stands. (I use wax paper for the fruit to sit on, since it's not food safe).  I need to figure out how to post pictures....