What is a monkeybox?

When I was a little girl, we had a pet monkey named Amanda. My Dad worked in the produce business, so each night he brought home that days culls in a big box - spotty cucumbers, pithy apples, limp celery, moldy oranges and the like. We called it a monkeybox. It was really just trash, but my Mom would take each piece of fruit and trim it, pare it and cut it up to make a beautiful fruit platter for Amanda. Even though it was deemed trash by one, it still had life left in it and was good for the purpose we needed it. That's how I live my life - thrifting, yard saling, looking for another's trash to be my treasure.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Thrifty Thursday

This morning I had a feeling that I needed to go to the Super Cheap Thrift.  It's only open a few hours a week, so when it is open, I do like to go.  Thursdays are preferred day to shop as the Volunteer ladies are very nice and seem to like me and the fact that I bring in my own bag for my purchases.   When I got there, the pickings were slim and the store was pretty bare.  I did find a few things as usual, and decided to buy a few other things just because I couldn't find a real treasure.  When I checked out, my total came to only $3.55.  "Why so little?" I asked.  "Everything is half off today."  "Oh", I said.  Then it hit me.  Did I miss anything?  Did I buy everything I wanted?  I couldn't go back because the CLOSED sign was already up and I couldn't go back to look.  I think I got everything I would have bought regardless of price.  But, sheesh.  You just never know what I might have missed! 

Some of the following things are from the Super Cheap Thrift, others are from a hurried thrift trip yesterday after I fluffed the Booth.  (Full report on that next Wednesday when I get my first check!)  The Breadman can't seem to understand why I take a carload of stuff to the Flea market, then still have to go to the Thrift looking more yet MORE junk.  It's a vicious cycle! 

These three things are from the thrift on Wednesday.  They have really odd pricing.  The little shoe was 27¢, the single shaker was 34¢.  More on the Match Holder down below.
The little shoe says "Here's a Birthday slipper filled with love and happiness for you."  Too cute and perfect for my Vintage Birthday Collection/Display.
This white pottery match holder was in the markdown section for 50¢.  It is old and in perfect condition.  This particular thrift has a markdown policy coded by colors.  Once a certain color (yesterday it was Green) has been on the floor for one week, it starts being marked down 25% the first week, 50% the second week and 75% the third week.  The fourth week it goes to the 50¢ area - not matter what it is - I have seen desks and beds in there for 50¢.  Anyway, I don't how this great old Match Holder sat there all that time and no one noticed it, but I am glad that I did!  And for only 50¢!
This paper maiche Halloween cat mask was 55¢.  I don't think it is especially old or especially new - maybe 1970's?  Great for my Halloween decor.
This plate was found at a different thrift yesterday (where I donated more stuff before I took stuff to sell before I bought more stuff to sell.  A vicious, vicious circle, I tell ya!)  Anyway - this plate was made in Austria about 1910.  I assumed it was some royal building or something, buy upon closer inspection, it is the Courthouse in Topeka, Kansas - Birthplace of ME.  I've been to that Courthouse many times.  I thought this was an excellent find for $1.00.  (That flyer is for a 160 mile yard sale coming up close to me in two weeks.  It is about an hour to the beginning of it, down a huge mountain.  I really, really, really want to go and it is on my birthday weekend, so I really should get to go.  But, not sure if I will go.  But, can you imagine???  160 miles!  WOW!)
Another old star Colander.  This one is smaller than the huge one I got last week.  I have tons of Garden tomatoes in both of them right now.  Scrumptious!
From the Super Cheap Thrift - Dragon Dominoes.  Great old Dominoes with a neat old box.  Darn those ladies and their masking tape - the box got a bit scuffed up.  They ended up only costing 25¢, so I can overlook the damage.  Besides, I already have another box just like it.  (Surprise)
A sweet baby Planter.  it's a sickness, I cannot pass up a vintage Baby Planter.  They are just too ding dang cute.  I have most of them in the Booth, but they haven't sold yet.  We'll see.  Also, two brand new books - 50¢ each. 
A nice heavy white pottery bowl.   I put it with my white pottery collection.  I think it will look great full of pink Shiny Brites.  Or wooden blocks.
Not really why I, a mother of a nearly 15 (COUGH COUGH) year old needed to buy these two big bags of old wooden blocks.  But, I always looked for them when The Bean was little and rarely ever found them.  I did end up with a nice collection of them for him when he was little.  I suppose I can add these to them for the....................grandkids.  Eh gads. 

So, there you have it - nothing completely fabulous, but good finds none the less.  I'd rather have found some vintage Christmas or a stash of tablecloths.  But, they can't all be gems. 

Hope you find some good JUNK this weekend!

10 comments:

  1. Hey Shara! In all my shopping at fleas and thrifts I've never left completely emptyhanded until recently when they all got so expensive! Wish I had someplace like the Super Cheap Thrift. Love the bday shoe and maybe you can do something crafty with those blocks since I HOPE you don't get grandkids anytime soon what with him being ONLY 15!

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  2. You did get some very good buys! I love the old baby planters also but they don't seem to be that popular. Oh well. Love the white bowl and the blocks!!!

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  3. Anonymous12:41 PM

    Those blocks! I had those as a kid. Looking at them, I know exactly how they feel - the weight, the paint, the roughness at each end. I loved those blocks. Good find! Jessica

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  4. Michaelle in KY12:48 PM

    Great finds at the Super Cheap Thrift. I love the baby planter and the shoe. Speaking of the yard sale, I think you should get to go. I'm heading out next week for the 127 Yard Sale (World's Longest). It runs from Michigan to Alabama. Have you ever been to this?

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  5. You are my best junking friend ( in my mind!). We have soooo much in common. For years, my husband was a Breadman also. Now, he is a Chipman. I think you got the deal of the year on those books. I have been scouring the GW for them, I hear they are excellent. I always look forward to your posts. Also, I hope things are well with your grandmother. Bless you. ~Karol

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  6. Score on those books!! They are hot, hot, hot right now. Everyone at my work has been passing them around and reading them. They are sort of violent, but well written mysteries. And there are only three, the author mysteriously died after the third one was written...

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  7. That kitty mask is making me feel pretty giddy! I'm already on the hunt for unusual things for my Halloween decor this year. I can't wait to see that mask in your spooky decor!

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  8. GREAT FINDS AS USUAL! THE GIRL WIHT THE DRAGON TATOO IS A SLOW START, BUT A GOOD BOOK:)

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  9. Such great prices at the thrift store. My local Goodwill will only go to $99 cents. Such great fins. I too collect baby themed planters. Actually, what don't I collect? Have a great day.

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  10. It seems we look for the same things. I'm glad I don't have to share garage sales and thrift stores with you.(LOL) Seriously, I really wish we had thrift stores like the Super Thrift in our area. All of our thrift stores in the area seam to thing everything they sell is an antique.

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