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 16, 2014

Some Friday Junk

I really haven't been thrifting much at all as of late.  I did go to that auction last week and to the Largest Yard Sale the weekend before, but I haven't been to any thrift stores or regular yard sales in a long time.  Today I needed to run out to the booth and straighten up plus pull a few tings to take with me on Sunday.  Once again today turned out to be cool in the high 50's and a sprinkle of rain every so often.  The Seniors graduated last night and they had to wear coats.  Really weird weather for around here in May, that's for sure.  MIND YOU I am not complaining! I like it cool....

So, I left my house at the early, early hour of 12:30 and headed to the booth.  I managed to go to seven yard sales along the way.  Two were busts that left me empty handed. One netted me a microwave steamer like I already own and LOVE and have always wanted a second one for veggies when I make rice.  BORING, I know.  But I was happy to find it and only pay one buck for it plus it was NEW and unused.  Hola!  

I found some good stuff at the other sales.  
(That old mailbox is always there - not a purchase.)

At one sale I spotted all these old Wilton Cake Decorating Yearbooks in a box under the table.  I asked how much and was told ten cents each, so I didn't bother sorting, I just grabbed them all.  They are fun to look through and them I will put them on ebay.  I really want to get a bite of  that pink one on top.  Delish!

As I was leaving that sale, I spotted a box of clothes at the end of the driveway and I dug in them.  I never look at or buy clothes at yard sales, but I saw a vintage baby outfit, so I went digging.  
Adorable little baby bunnies hopping out of a hat.  Had to have!

Then I dug some more and found an old housecoat/smock, a red patchwork apron, an embroidered tea towel (there's an anthropomorphic teacup on the other side) and the longest biggest apron I have ever seen. I think the big apron is like they wore on Little House on the Prairie - down to the bottom of their dress and all the way around to keep them clean.  

As I dug, I spotted GINGHAM. 

I pulled out three GINGHAM aprons - all with Chicken Scratch embroidery which fits into my specific apron collecting rules so I GET TO KEEP THEM.  They need a good soak first.  The lavender one has flowers printed on the gingham, which I have never seen.  So, I trudged back in to the garage to see how much these eight items were going to cost and she said, "Eh, looks like about fifty cents worth to me."  I gave her a dollar because I am generous like that.  ;)

As I was leaving the sale, a truck drove past and HONK HONK HONKED at me.  I figure I looked like a crazy yard sale lady with my giant pile of books and big bag of clothes.  In my defense, I spent a grand total of $4.20 to everything I bought.  It ended up being Amy that runs the Barn Sale.  She would never call me a crazy Yard Sale lady behind my back - she would say it to my face and pat me on the back like a proud Mama Bear!  

At a different sale, I spotted this vest hanging on a rack.  The material is so adorable.  The lady at the sale told me that she paid WAY TOO MUCH for it at a Librarian convention.  She was the Librarian for K-2 for 35 years.  She was so happy that I bought the vest.  I did not have the heart to tell her that I would be cutting it up and using it as a mat in a frame.  She would have ripped it out of my hands!  But really, isn't it CUTE?

I got this old silhouette at the sale with the cheap clothes and cake books.  It's really sweet, but I think the silvering is really just aluminum foil.  It needs to be taken apart and maybe just replaced with white paper. It's the first one I've ever found, so I won't complain about it's condition.  Oh, and those vintage glitter speckled PINK candles?  Well, now, those are JUST TOO FREAKING WONDERFUL.  

From the cake decorating sale - Vintage Indian cake set.  

Vintage birthday candles, some cake picks, a basketball cake set and some vintage stripey candles round out the cake decorations for the day.  I love vintage cake things, so I was happy to find all that I did and for the grand total of one dime.  The giant bright pink ball of yarn was also ten cents.  It was in skein form, but I turned it into a ball.  The tin is from the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.  I have a tin form the coronation and one from the Silver Jubilee, so I had been wishing I could find one from the Diamond - and - I did!  I'm not a Royalty type person, but I do kind of dig the Queen and her sensible shoes and giant patent leather handbag.

The little cubby thing looked like a project and something that I could use.  Like I need another project!  Gah!  The little red stool is great for displays and props.  A wee embroidery hoop (I have been using those for a project too...), a miniature tackle box, a miniature Tupperwear pie carrier and an old tin baby cup.  

The Baby cup has different circus images around it - a horse and carriage. 
A drumming clown.

A funny fat elephant.

One of my blog readers (Hey Buckaroo) recently sent me a photo of a collection of baby cups.  I told her I had a couple but not a collection.  So, I thought it was funny when I found this one today.  The non-collection grows!

As for the ten cent cake decorations - they had to go in the BIG JAR where I keep them.  It sits on the floor in the corner of the kitchen.  Sometimes The Breadman vacuums for me and every.single time he BANGS the vacuum into that jar and says, "sorry" and keeps on going.  Those BANGS had lead to a huge hairline crack in the jar.  
Today when I went to add the newest ones to the jar, it exploded!  Not from too many cute cake decorations, but from all the vacuum BANGING. So, my ten cent addition will cost me $20.00 for a new jar.  Hey! Maybe I'll find one at a yard sale!  WOOT!

I'll be back with a rundown of the Block Street Party  - thanks for all your NICE words!  You all make me feel like I CAN DO THIS!  

9 comments:

  1. You made so many scores I can't begin to say my fav! Sad about the jar but you will find another one, cause you have good Karma like that!! Fun post, makes me want to visit a thrift or yard sale today!!
    hugs, Linda

    ReplyDelete
  2. You crack me up, Shara! I'm pretty sure you meant to say Holla and not Hola ;-)

    Love all the cake decorations, especially those pink sparkly candles. I have an old bread box full of stuff like that. I really need to go through it.

    Have an awesome weekend, you crazy yard sale lady!

    Erica

    ReplyDelete
  3. LOVE that silhouette!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Are you telling me you cannot shop another big jar within your own stash? You cannot,must not, WILL NOT purchase a NEW jar. I might bring bad juju to you.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Digging the baby cup. I have a couple of tin ones and love the graphics on the sides. Have one with a witch which I love. Would love to see that collection of baby cups that Buckaroo has.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wait, did you say the Breadman vacuums? Do men do that? I'll have to have my husband read this post! Good luck at the sale. Hope you sell everything and come home with an empty car!

    ReplyDelete
  7. You're my favorite crazy yard sale lady! Good luck today at the Block Street Sale. look forward to hearing about it. My favorite thing about the Queen is her awesome hats! She came here for Derby a few years ago and out-hatted everyone! That's something for the Derby! You know you'll find another jar better than the one that broke for like $2 somewhere. You never spend $20 on anything!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Doesn't matter what time you get out, the good junk finds YOU. Love the cubby and the stool. Sorry about the jar -- I will be on the lookout for one for you! That cake decorating sale was custom made for you! They might as well have hung out a sign that said "Shara's Sale!"

    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