Where I Leave With Dog Poop on My Boots and Come Home With Two New Shirts

by Katy on November 9, 2011 · 18 comments

I spent yesterday puttering around the house. I did some dishes, did some writing, hung some clothes, answered some e-mails. I was neither productive nor was I non-productive. And by early afternoon, I was annoying even to myself, so I made the choice to get out of the house. I decided to combine the whole getting-out-of-the-house thing with getting dog poop off the bottom of my nice boots.

Hmm . . . I guess a bit of back story is in order.

I own a pair of fantastic (Were $37.50 on clearance) Keen brand boots, that are not only warm and stylish, (okay, maybe not New York stylish, but they are definitely Portland stylish) but the very deep tread was filled with super nasty dog poop. So, they’ve been sitting on my front porch for at least two weeks. Every time I pass them by, I am both disgusted and filled with the guilt of an unfinished task. However, I really didn’t want to scrub them down with hot water in the basement utility sink, (which is my normal dog poop removal method) as the backs of the boots are boiled wool and absorbent.

I decided that if I took a walk wearing the boots I could get most of the dog poop to come off the boots. So walk the neighborhood I did.

I walked north-south, and then I walked east-west.

And every now and then I scraped the bottom of that boot against the sidewalk curb and then stomped across someone’s lawn. (Sorry neighbors.) I wished for a puddle so I could moisten the poop from the crevices, but it was an oddly dry day and puddles were in short supply.

My walk was less fun than I’m making it sound here, as I was irritated and annoyed throughout the process.

And then . . . I came across a small box of free clothing. And lo and behold, found two rather nice T-shirts. One, a Banana Republic* black V-neck T, and the other an Old Navy* long sleeve black T-shirt with cute embellishments on the sleeves. Looking brand new and in my size!

And suddenly, my just-for-the-pupose-of-removing-dog-poop-from-my-boot walk seemed a whole lot brighter.

You just never know what your day will bring you.

* I’m not so picky about Big Box Fashion when it’s sourced from a free box.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”

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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }

Dogs or Dollars November 9, 2011 at 10:32 am

You are bound to have a new wardrobe in no time.

Thanks Dog Poo. 😉

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Diedra B November 9, 2011 at 11:08 am

well, I needed a smile

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Madeline November 9, 2011 at 11:15 am

Poop removal AND free clothes! A great day!!!!!!

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Megyn @Minimalist Mommi November 9, 2011 at 11:29 am

Isn’t it nice when things like that happen? Maybe you need to step in more dog poo and more free things will pop up 😉

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Carolyn November 9, 2011 at 11:54 am

God, karma, or whatever you believe in works in mysterious ways.

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Jo November 9, 2011 at 2:02 pm

Maybe you can avoid calling them by the Big Box name and just call them your Dog Poo shirts if anyone asks 🙂

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Robin November 9, 2011 at 2:53 pm

Ahahahaha!!!!

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Renee November 9, 2011 at 2:05 pm

So….did you get it off you boots?

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Katy November 9, 2011 at 8:10 pm

Mostly. 😉

Katy

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Lucy November 9, 2011 at 6:08 pm

Karma or something for sure.

Around here poop of some sort on the boots is the norm, so much so that walking it off is the norm. For “good” footwear that needs the soles to be cleaned, nothing beats a hoof pick, made for cleaning out horses’ hooves. They are about a buck for the basic model, maybe $3 for one with an attached brush, and pefect for the job.

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Jenni November 9, 2011 at 8:18 pm

All’s well that ends well. I love free, good, stuff!

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Susan November 10, 2011 at 4:30 am

Hilarious!

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A. Marie November 10, 2011 at 5:26 am

Believe it or not, Katy, my late mother-in-law used to say that whenever she dreamed about poop, it was a sure sign that money was coming in some form or other. I think she would have enjoyed this story as much as I have.

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reese November 10, 2011 at 7:00 am

I loathe stepping in dog poo (Ok. I know most people don’t jump for joy over stepping in it either). But it just SUCKS.

So, now that the suckage has lessened a tad, can we see a pic of the shirts? 🙂

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Laura's Last Ditch--Adventures in Thrift Land November 10, 2011 at 7:21 am

Sounds fun! This time of year when I go on a walk, I tend to find rejected pumpkins that I can cook up. Shirts, not so often!

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Kay November 11, 2011 at 5:59 am

wow!! KEENS for $37.50, I’m still speechless..(except for, sorry about the poo..)

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Katy November 11, 2011 at 9:23 am

I know! They were super on clearance from 6PM.com. I read about the sale on http://frugallivingnw.com

Katy

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Monica Ray November 12, 2011 at 8:48 am

You are such a clever writer Katy, I love it!

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