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, January 30, 2014

Ironing Out Some Issues

Tuesday I did a little thrifting and found a few things.  First being this neat old wooden ironing board.

Which brings to mind how things used to be made versus how they are made now.  

This ironing board, which might even be handmade, is well made, heavy duty and loaded with charm.  Some people don't see the "charm" in old things like I do - but you do, RIGHT?


 The top is straight and smooth.  
But, at some point, it was wobbly or loos, so it was patched on the bottom with two pieces of wood.


And, while the legs are still strong and supportive, at one time one was broken.
So it was fixed too.  With yards and yards of heavy duty wire, around and around and around it until it was strong and sturdy once more.


Lots and lots of wire.


Even though it is old, it has been patched and it has a fixed leg - 
it still has years and years of usefulness left in it.

And, it has oodles of character.  

Pride in craftmanship, pride in ownership - people used to have it. 

Now we throw things away and buy new.  We drove behind Goodwill the other night and there were 47 TV's lined up along the wall with a FREE sign on them.  Goodwill doesn't even think the older TV's are worth selling even though they obviously still work.  We have five TV's and only two are flat screens.  

Okay there's my muse of the day - use what you have and appreciate it.  

More thrift finds later.  

*I don't iron.  

* I will never iron.

*This will be an impromptu table at shows or when we need an extra buffet.

*I repeat.  NO IRONING.

:D


16 comments:

  1. It really does say a lot for the way things have changed when you see the repairs made on your board. And I'm one of the few odd ones who doesn't mind ironing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the ironing board and so understand why you like it. It has so much charm and character. I avoid ironing whenever possible but I have 2 old delightful wood ironing boards. I cherish them. Have a great day! Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am so happy to know that you DO NOT iron! We non-ironers need to stick together. Now if they only made clothes that did not wrinkle when I leave them in the dryer for four hours after the dryer has turned off, I'd be all set.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I don't mind ironing, actually. It's the washing of the laundry and then the putting away after that I can't stand! But that ironing board was a great find.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I too appreciate things that were not thrown out because they needed a repair...or two

    ReplyDelete
  6. I worked in the dry cleaning industry for 10 years, so I USED to be big into ironing. Now I just spritz what can be spritzed and shake it out. I do have an old wood ironing board on stand-by for the few items that do require a touch up. I believe I have 3 or more, so that does make a "collection".

    ReplyDelete
  7. I wish we lived in the same area. I have one in much better condition that you could have. I just can't get excited about an ironing board, even though it is old, wooden and kind of cool.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have a couple of those one I had santa painted on it. I do still iron I love the crisp shirts.
    Cathy

    ReplyDelete
  9. I don't iron either, but it's kind of against the rules, since I'm a guy. (Just kidding! Don't hurt me!) Those repairs give that ironing board so much character. I am so glad that you found it and will give it a good home. Goodwills here won't take old TV's or computer monitors. Some older TV's won't work in today's digital broadcast world.

    ReplyDelete
  10. momsav8:17 PM

    I had one of those many years ago. I used it for extra table space during get-togethers. Now, only if i have to, i iron on a towel on the counter. I don't mind hand washing dishes, but i hate ironing!

    ReplyDelete
  11. We really have become a disposable society. Even it your tv goes out you have a heck of time finding a repairman for it. I actually don't mind ironing..mindless and once you iron an item it is so fresh and pressed! Gratification with an iron!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I probably walked by that thing five times with no interest. Now that you've bought it and have taken such alluring photos of it, I WANT IT. Human psychology is ridiculous.

    My SIL told me that I would HAVE to start ironing once I had kids. She said I wouldn't be able to avoid buying SOME kids' clothes that need ironing, YET I HAVE. She's also the person who told me that I would have to get over my OCD need to have a shower every day once I had kids but I have yet to miss a shower since having my now three-year-old twins so you can see how she wildly underestimates my determination on certain matters.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love the ironing board and don't mind ironing. How else would my husband look presentable for work? LOL Heck I even iron stuff I sell sometime! I have my husband's grandmother's ironing board and it too has been repaired. She gave it to me before she died when I told her I'd like it. My husband got old photos and we both got exactly what we wanted!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. My iron is for crafting purposes only. Decal transfers, quilting squares, etc. My 9-year old daughter didn't even know the name for it last time I had it out!

    ReplyDelete
  15. You are so right about things breaking and being thrown away now. Love the ironing board but no ironing for me either. Oh and you are right, you can't GIVE AWAY old TV's!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I am a complete SUCKER for those Great old wooden ironing boards - when the price is right (and that often involves Curb picking!!!), they ALWAYS come home with me! I have urethaned the tops of several of them - Perfect space-saving Buffet/Serving Tables (Great when you are baking and need a little extra counter space to cool cookies in the kitchen**), drying tables for crafts, or Extra easy portable tables with charm for sales ;-) Friends have seen mine, and now request them, so they have become Xmas gifts too!

    ReplyDelete

I love my comments. I'd love to respond to everyone, but if you don't have an email address tied to your ID, please sign your name so I will know who you are! It makes it nice to know who is saying what. Now, leave a comment! Please? ;o)

I Can See You!



Look at my Visitors!

Fellow Junk Followers