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.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Nut & Honey

It's been a week since I blogged.  Hmmm.  You would think I would have lots to report.  But, I got nuthin.  I know I promised a story about something that I witnessed - something warm and fuzzy.  But, I have been encouraged to write it down and submit it to be "hopefully" published.  Once I get it on paper and mailed off, I will share it.  It's a good story.  I promise.

Last week it was cold.  And the week before that too.  Plus we had a couple of minor snowfalls.  The pipes at my Mom's house froze, then burst.  She has actually been without running water for two weeks.  The plumber was there Saturday, Sunday and again today, but they are up and running now.  They have been hauling water from my Grandmother's vacant house and rationing it out.  I feel terrible for them - they have run out of clean dishes, clean clothes - clean everything.  And, the plumber went in and out and in and out a million times and tracked mud from one end of the house to the other.  My Mom said she has the rest of her life to clean it up.  And, it just might take her that long.  Hopefully, it will not happen again. For now, she can flush to the toilet over and over again - just to do for fun, just because she can.

I've been sorting junk and putting junk on ebay all week.  Most of it is selling - some just for the minimum bid of $9.99, but that is okay by me.  It's all stuff that has been around here forever and it needs to GO.  I did sell a Hudson Bay Wool Trapper Blanket that I have had in my stash, but wasn't sure if I wanted to let it go or not.  Those neat old blankets are hard to find.  But, I decided it was time to let it go, so I listed it and it sold for $96.00, which is not bad!  I still have a Pendleton Trader blanket that is worth a bout double that - but I don't plan on selling that one.  All of the auctions that ended tonight are going to different people in different areas of Texas.  Weird, huh?

I sold another sock monkey too.  I consistently get good prices for sock monkeys because I give them stories - a history - something to reel in the buyer.  I think it is sort of silly that people read the story and get reeled in, but hey, it works.  Mostly the stories are true - dug out of a box, rescued from the free pile, etc.  I always give them a name too.  This week it was Moe the Monkey that is going to Ohio to cheer up a friend of the buyer. 

I filled up the booth again and pulled a bunch of stuff this weekend.  I am starting to figure out what sells and what doesn't.  Cookie cutters - check, pottery - check, 1980's toys - check, 1950's canister sets - check and anything toadstool - check.  As for NOT selling - vintage Fisher Price toys, ashtrays, matches and kids books.  Live and learn.

I haven't been thrifting at all in forever.  The thrifts are empty and boring right now, so I don't even bother going.  It is about time for a Super Cheap Thrift run.  Maybe Thursday I will have to hit it.  They had an ad in the paper saying that they will not accept donations this month because they have too much stuff.  Yippee.  Bring on the stuff!  :D

I had a phone call tonight and they wanted me to do a "short survey" on The Bean's Vaccination Record.  THIRTY FIVE minutes later, the guy was still asking me questions.  Helllooooo....that is too long to carry out a survey PLUS The Bean is 15 years old.  Do I remember the date he got his Measles Vaccination?  Uh, no, I do not.  His shot record in in our Safety Deposit box and I do not have a photographic memory like Marilu Henner, so I am unable to help you anymore.  *Click*  I felt bad for the poor guy doing the survey, he sounded like he had the flu, blowing his nose, coughing and hacking.  "Ahnd he taked like dis" so I was trying to be nice. 

Let's see if I can find a picture for this random post.

How about a pretty sunset?  You can't go wrong with a pretty sunset.

Maybe I'll be back with an exciting thrift score or a good story later in the week.  Or, maybe I will just jawjack about nothing in particular again.

You can't WAIT, can you?  :D

*You do remember the old Honey Nut Cheerio commercial don't you?  What do you want for breakfast?  "Nuttin' honey".  (Nut & Honey). 

5 comments:

  1. OMG Girly - send some of your motivation up this way, will ya?!! KUDOS on getting all that stuff listed and to the shop! I was going to tell you about APRON THRIFT GIRL's 1/24/11 post
    http://apronthriftgirl.typepad.com/apron_thrift_girl/

    in which she is posing a challenge (for anyone interested), to help raise motivation for the month of February, but YOU obviously don't need it!!.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You have been busy! I am still working on my organization and trying to find and group my stuff to sell!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Cute post! Made me chuckle! Glad your mom got her water back!! Have a great day!!!

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  4. Melissa6:48 PM

    I always enjoy your blog. I like the way you write. Congrats on Ebay I need to get busy and sell some things, I just keep putting it off...for like years!
    Waiting to hear your story. :0)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh Shara, I feel for your Mom. At my Mom's in Minnesota her pipes froze while she was in the nursing home and my sister was supposed to be taking care of the house. What a mess! Then we had everyting turned off so after she died I went to pack up all the good stuff and had to go to the gas station tp ah, use the facilities! Having water is truly unappreciated is my view. Congratulations on getting stuff listed on ebay - doesn't it feel good to see stuff go? And yes, some of us are waiting for your next post because we love to hear what you've found! We're getting snow tonight! Keep warm!

    ReplyDelete

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