Monday, November 6, 2006

the giving tree

I am so smitten with this idea. Jennifer of The Felt Mouse occasionally fills a carob tree in her neighborhood with miscellaneous delightful treasures in hopes that someone will discover and take. Just imagine what fodder for her imagination finding a little sparkly thing in a tree would be for the little child who spots it. And if she found a little sparkly thing once in a tree, wouldn't she look for others elsewhere?

It reminds me of how once I found a peso in the bottom of my Easter basket, underneath the plastic grass and toys and gifts. It was worth more to me than any other little gift the basket offered. The funny thing about it is that no one knows how the peso found its way into my basket. Every year following, the first thing I did with my Easter basket, to my parents' horror, was to dump it all out and scrounge around the plastic grass looking for another hidden treasure.

What I like too about this idea of a giving tree is that it moves me not only to look for treasures everywhere but also to leave a trail of them for others. We never really know how the bits and pieces of good and happiness that we leave in our wake might effect another.

What treasures will you find today? And what will you leave for others?

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is a wonderful thing to give and receive. I've several time left little artworks, vintage postcards or some sort of inspiration in library books. So it puts a smile or warm someones thought upon finding them. It's nice to read about others kind acts. I wish there were more people like that.

Anonymous said...

Oh, what a nice idea! You have inspired me to do something sneakily nice this week :)

Anonymous said...

This is such a sweet idea. I also love that you enjoyed the magic of the peso more than the candy on Easter.

Vanessa said...

Love your blog. What an inspiration. The "Giving Tree" has always been my son"s favorite book. Maybe I can get one started in the school yard.

Anonymous said...

Ohhh What a cool idea!! I think if I were to do something like this..I would find that I would be camped out at the window all day!! ...waiting to see the faces!! Does that take any magic away? Ohh..that would be sooo funn!

What a cool idea!!!

ohh..reminds me of when I was about 8 and my sister 5...we were walking through a parking lot with my parents...when my sister spied a "treasure"..as she exclaimed and ran toward it....with the look of "it is alll mine"!!on her face....her excitement quickly turned to disappointment when she found the sparkly metallic treasure was nothing more than a fish head...from the nearby fish market!!...To this day we bring up her "treasure story".

I know fish heads and disappointments were not the topic here...lol...sorry about that!!

Thanks for your daily sunshine Amy!!

xoxo Jenny

christine ann haynes said...

What an incredibly enchanting idea! I love it so terribly much!!

Hugs Hugs to You!!

Saucy said...

I love that idea Amy. You know I just adore RAKS. I can't wait until spring to spread a little treasure in the trees.

The best part about it, it's not only a random act but a random recipient also!

Jennifer W. said...

I was worried that people would think I was a bit off with this idea, so it's nice to hear some encouragement that others will be on the lookout for tiny treasures to hide and seek!

The little knited acorn was gone before the end of the day. I hope it made somebody happy!

Anonymous said...

When I was little there was a tree in our neighborhood that would always have little pieces of paper with notes written on them tied to its branches. I don't know what those papers said (couldn't read back then!) but it felt like the most magical tree.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful idea. Makes me think of the Pippi story where she, Annika, and Tommy go on a treasure hunt and find all sorts of treasures in unexpected places.