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.

Friday, May 17, 2013

It was a "Magpie Ethel" Kind of Day

Every week, I see Laurie's post over at Magpie Ethel and wonder how on earth she finds so much fabulous stuff every,single.weekend.  I have longed to have my very own "Magpie Ethel" Day.  Guess what?  TODAY WAS THE DAY!

First stop of the day - the one and only Church Sale that is ever in my town - always the weekend before school gets out for the summer.  Prices are still 5¢, 10¢, etc.  I can always find some good tings there.  Today, someone had donated a plethora of vintage Easter items.  Vintage Easter rates right up there with vintage Christmas and is actually harder for me to find.  After the Church Sale, I went to three more yard sales then I stopped at one more sale which would provide to be one great sale for me.  Lots of vintage being pulled out by the box load from the house and sheds.  The lady having the sale didn't really know what all she had - it was her Mother's house and she was cleaning it out.  Nothing was priced, so I gathered up an armload to get a feel for pricing.  She quoted a fair and inexpensive price, so I started my "pile".  As I shopped, we visited more and realized that our paths had crossed in the past.  She also realized that I knew what things were and that I appreciated them.  So, she started giving me even better prices.  :)  

After I loaded up the car, I went home to change since it had gotten into the 80's and was super humid.  I picked up the boys and bribed them with a trip for pizza if I could just stop at another (neighborhood) sale.  I left off the "neighborhood" part.  Ha.  I found a bit more there and then we went for our pizza.  Dirty and sweaty.    

Are you ready to see the whole Enchilada?

Are you sure?????

 Boom!
 Vintage Easter including two old sawdust stuffed bunnies, some plastic springy toys, a spun cotton bird nd two big chenille chicks.
Two German paper mache eggs, a pompom bunny, chalkware bunny head and squeaky chick.

 Old Starex metal bottle opener, sweet crocheted dress potholder, two silver baby forks and a baby spoon. That teddy bear is an old baby powder bottle.  The lady said her Mom used it on her as a baby, then she used it to powder her dolls bottoms.  "Don't you want to keep it" I asked.  "Nope."

 Donkey Party Game, old metal Chinese Checker game, Cribbage board, tiny Hearts card game, Car Bingo card (more on that later), Bingo Game and Flash Cards.
Old wooden toy tools, Pipe Cleaner Art kit, a Japan Angel, plastic elephant, a new silver tree and some plastic poinsettias.  The poinsettias were inside a big glass ball that I had plans for, but when I picked up the box to carry it, the glass ball crushed.  

Kewpie Doll, Tupperware cookie cutter set, lime green wicker purse, neat old basket purse and a non-working West Germany cuckoo clock of sorts.

Big old tin and an assortment of old dolls.  Don't say they are creepy - they are sweet!

 Lots of old Little Golden Books and other vintage books.
 Pottery!  Woot!  Love them all.  Plus an old street map book of Los Angeles from the 1960's/
Love this little fat pottery pot most of all.

 Pefumes from Paris - la la la - Jadeite ashtray full of a dozen pearl necklaces with old rhinestone clasps.  The necklaces were in one of those old tins you can see in the back.   There are some pretty ones in there.

Three old confectionery tins, a china cat, a box of over 100 old clothespins, an old red transistor radio and a bunch of old cookbooks.

 Like a LOT of old cookbooks.  I love looking at these old books and reading the old recipes.
Four vintage chalkware fish in perfect condition.  They usually have broken fins when I find them.


Here's that Find-a Car Bingo.  You look for different colors and models of cars while you are riding in the car.  I need a two tone Studebaker to win!

Two of my favorites - the tiny Hearts game and German wooden guy.

Always happy to find some of these eggs.  

 They are NOT creepy!
Crocheted potholder dress, two pieces of needlework and a tablecloth.

 A dandelion tablecloth to be exact.  Achoo!

What a day!

And, guess what, guess what, guess what?  

She's bringing out even MORE tomorrow and has promised to keep the Christmas back for ME.

*Thud*

Hope I live through another exciting day!


16 comments:

  1. You.were.not.kidding. What a great haul! Love everything but really like the big Easter bunnies, lime green purse and dandelion tablecloth. Can't wait to hear what you get tomorrow!

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  2. your junkin mojo is picking up steam.

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  3. So happy for you! These are the kinds of days we junkers live for! It's all great, but I think I like the pottery and books the best!
    Can't wait to see what you get when she brings out the Christmas.
    I had some good luck today too. Church Sales rock!
    Erica :)

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  4. Holy cow! I'm not sure I can survive two Magpies. I am most envious (of all things) of that amazing roadside Bingo game. Yay for you, Shara!

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  5. I think I would be dreaming tonight about that Christmas she was holding back!!!! Crazy good day!!! Don'tcha love a car full of good vintage stuff...
    I think my favorites are the bingo and the chalkware bunny head.
    Good luck on round two!

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  6. Holy Cannoli. You had a GREAT day. I love everything you bought. THANK YOU again for the tip on the sale! You are truly one of the most generous junkers it's been my good fortune to cyber-meet!

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  7. I love it when I find other kindred spirits out there who love junk as much as I do. I'm a new follower to your blog. Love your finds and your blog.

    Danielle

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  8. YAH!!!!!!!
    Ohhh, HOW FUN FOR YOU! (and I'm 'sure' The Boys secretly loved the neighborhood sale!)
    Nice grab on those chalkware fishies ;-)!

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  9. Wow! Amazing! And how fun! Did you know "Circus Boy" was a TV show, starring Mickey Dolenz? No, I'm not that old; just know my Monkees trivia.

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  10. This is just like a Magpie Ethel score! Wow! I'm in love with all of it and especially the little pottery pieces! I can't wait to see what else you get from her! SCORE!

    hugs,
    Linda

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  11. I thought of you when I found a paper mache' Easter egg yesterday - so of course you go and find two!! I think my favorites are the brown basket purse and all the pearl necklaces. I have been pulling out lots of 60's faux pearls I inherited from my Mom and wearing to work - they are fun and I've been getting lots of compliments.

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  12. A great collection of wonderful Vintage Treasures!

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  13. I am so often in awe of your wonderful finds that it tickles me to think that you're wanting a "Magpie Ethel Day" while I'm wanting a "Monkeybox Day."

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  14. Wow, you really hit the jackpot! Love it all!

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  15. Me too Eddie me too!!!!

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