What do you (did you) collect. I collect books, and on occasion, frogs. Frogs

remind me of the joy of discovering nature as a kid. There used to be these tiny little road toads that would come out in the summer. They were so cute. I remember carrying them to the frog pond to help them on their way (which I think was a mistake, but hey - it's the thought that counts).

I've read every one, too, and most of them more than once. I never bought any of them either. I get them as gifts, from the book swap, the library's cast offs, etc. Just before I sat down at the computer again just now I was boxing up a lot of them that had been accumulating in piles in this room and my bedroom. I'm going to have to go to some near by office building and ask for donations of empty copy paper boxes nobody wants (I use them to store damn near everything).

I also collect wicker baskets. I never intended to... I just somehow fell into it. I only get ones that have an interesting shape, weave, color combination or especially interesting material (grape vine, tree bark, etc.). Then I have to collect crap to put in them since I can't stand an empty basket. I use a lot of spanish moss or pine cones, but sometimes I can't find something interesting to put in an empty basket and end up filling it with another basket. I have them all over the house. I think I started collecting them because I hate a blank corner... like a corner formed where the end table meets the side of the sofa but the table is shorter so it forms an irritating blank corner. I also hate a decorative table or chair with nothing under it, so I use baskets to fill those empty spots, too.

I also use wicker nick-knacks on the walls, like, I have several big wicker fans, a couple of wicker broad brimmed hats with dried flowers around the band and interesting wicker things like an old fashioned carpet beater and a wicker thing that is some kind of a scoop (though I can't think what the heck it was used for). I hate blank wall space as much as I hate a blank corner, but I have plenty of my dad's photography that I decorate the walls with.

a lot until 3 years ago so I was always getting rid of books I liked until then. Which I hated because there were books in there I wanted to keep. Now I have two full bookcases and books on the floor. I need another bookcase or I have to sell some books.