Day 4884: German Fox collects Shoes? & Switzerland Recycling.

   

"That Artist": ink sketch, watercolor, junk collage.

                                                                       

  

Want music?

    Click: Corine Bailey Rae, Like a Star.

2GN2S

Fox in Germany discovered with 100 shoes!

Shoes: Serena Williams has a collection, so does Drake. Imelda Marcos was legendary for owning some 3,000 pairs of them. But in Germany, there’s one passionate collector that has run afoul of neighbors and attracted public attention for amassing over a100 shoes.

 

According to the BBC and Deutsche Welle, residents in a Berlin suburb had been complaining about footwear disappearing from their yard, sometimes just one single shoe, sometimes a pair. Someone, or something, had been prowling the area and stealing them.

The culprit, it turned out, was a fox, shamelessly caught  with a pair of blue flip flops in its mouth, according to the daily Tagesspiegel. Christian Meyer, a local resident who took the damning photo, also uncovered the fox’s colourful shoe haul, which included slippers, sandals and running shoes. Meyer’s own missing shoes, however, were nowhere to be found. 

In Switzerland, many recycling centers have added “give shelves” — open racks where people can leave clean, usable items for others to take freely. It’s a small change with big impact: tools, dishes, books, or toys that might have ended up in landfills now find second lives in other homes.

There are no forms, registrations, or checks. If something’s in good shape, it can be placed on the shelf — and if you spot something useful, you’re welcome to take it. From fondue sets to lamps, the shelves reflect Swiss thrift, dignity, and quiet community care.

These spaces are intentionally designed to feel welcoming and non-judgmental. Some centers even include signs reminding visitors that “taking is part of giving.” In winter, the shelves often overflow with warm coats, while summer brings tents, tools, and even bicycles.

By reducing unnecessary waste and encouraging reuse, Switzerland’s give shelves also quietly shift public habits. Instead of buying new or throwing away, people check the shelf first. And unlike donation bins, the process is immediate — no transport, no waiting.

This reuse model fits Switzerland’s broader recycling ethos but adds a human layer to it — transforming waste stations into informal swap hubs. For low-income families, students, or anyone hit by sudden need, these shelves offer quiet support. And for others, they’re simply a feel-good reason to drop off one extra pan or pick up a needed umbrella.

 

  

 

A 5+ minute video, Ladybug,  here

 

  

 

Just because ...

Red Avadavet, male .jpg

 

Wednesday's Smiles ... 

 

Hoping you feel all the good things in your day.