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.

Saturday, September 22, 2007

I did my first Hospitality Event for PTSA on Thursday. I had slim pickings of Volunteers and only a few of them promised to bring things in on the Big Day. I made a few phone calls to people and they made calls to other people and the word spread and thankfully, I ended up with a good amount of food. But, nearly everyone that was on my list that said they would bring things - didn't. Pretty darn disheartening. One lady that is also on the PTSA said she loved to bake and would bring a ton of stuff, so I decided between her and the 60 muffins I baked, we wouldn't need any more desserts. Well, she never came. But, then Friday morning she called to apologize - she had gotten unexpectedly ill and had been in out of it the last few days. But, to make up for it, she had taked dozens of doughnuts, dozens of muffins, gallons or Orange Juice and Milk along with plates, cups and napkins and dropped it off at the school. So, the teacher's got Breakfast out of the deal. She really went above and beyond the call of duty. But, I really appreciated it. And, the teachers ate good for two days!

On to the Junkin'. These are some finds from the past week -my favorites.
I found this very old tin mixed in amongst the fruit cake, butter cookie and popcorn tins at the Super Cheap Thrift. It says Beautibox on the bottom and the portrait of the woman says Betty Cunningham under it. I'm wondering if she was the "celebrity spokesmodel" for Beautibox. Looks like it's from the 1920's or so to me. It was 45¢.
I found this tablecloth after a particulary disheartening yard sailing morning. Found it at the thrift for $1.00. It is in perfect condition. Love it!

I went to a Thursday sale this week and ofund a few old goodies and a few things with promise.These crystals are plastic, but still very pretty. There are 38 of them and I only paid 50¢ for the lot of them. I'm trying to think of an idea for them. I know I can always hang them on the Christmas Tree, but I'd like to think of something more clever. Ideas?
This all came from the same sale too. Two vintage hooked potholder/trivets for 15¢ each, a giant tablecloth sized crocheted doily for 25¢, 50 fabulous old clothespins with great patina for 50¢ and a set of pillowcase/tablecloth transfers for 15¢. I never got a decent picture of it, but I also got a wonderful old scrollwork shelf for $1.00.
This old minnow bucket was 50¢. I am totally not a fisherman/outdoorswoman (and that is putting it mildly) but I loved the old minnow bucket for it's asthetic value - red, chippy, metal. Looks good on the old red stool too, eh?

Yesterday at one thrift, I spotted a nice stack of old sheet music. I love the old graphics. I know some people cut them up for crafting, but I just like them as they are - I have no use for them though! I asked how much and the ladies had a conference in the back and came out - "This one's a quarter, this one's 50¢, this ones $1.00, etc." I figured it would be one price for each one, or better yet the pile for a certain amount. I picked out about 10 of the best ones that were 25¢ each and told the grumpy old dude at the check out the ladies had decided on a quarter each. "Well, that's too much, I'm chargin' ya a dollar for the pile", he said. Now, that's more like it! I asked The Bean to go get the rest of them so I could play "Let's Make A Deal" with the grumpy old dude, but the rest of the music was gone. I think the ladies in the back had taken it back to buy. One of them plays piano at the Nursing Home and I overheard her saying how much the "eldery" would enjoy music from their time. At least I got the ones I wanted.

And, now I will leave you with the sweet romantic lyrics of "A Huggin' and A Chalk'" from 1946.

"I gotta gal that's mighty sweet, with big blue eyes and tiny feet.
Her name is Rosabelle and she tips the scale at three oh three, Oh!
Gee, ain't it grand to have a gal so big and fat that when you go around to hug 'er You don't know where you're at -
Have to take a piece of chalk in your hand and hug a chalk mark to see where you began.
One day I was a huggin' and a chalkin' and a huggin' and a chalkin' my way around, when I met another fella with some chalk in his hand, comin' round the other way of the mountain.
No body ever said I'm weak, My bones don't ache and my joints don't creak,
But I grow absolutely limp every time I kiss my baby blimp, Oh!
Gee ain't it grand to have a gal so big and fat that when you go around to hug 'er You don't know where you're at.
Have to take a piece of chalk in your hand and hug a chalk mark to see where you began.
A huggin' and a chalkin', a huggin' and a chalkin'."


Oh, it just brings tears to your eyes, it's so sweet. Hurumph!

8 comments:

  1. Anonymous4:13 PM

    I love the old dude telling you that those prices were too much! Hooray for him! Wonder how much the old ladies paid for theirs?

    Libby

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  2. You are the best PTSA mother ever. What would it be like if you weren't the leader??? Those teachers would go hungry I'm telling you.

    Looooooove the old minnow bucket. Open that lid and put some foliage in that bad boy.

    I wish our thrift would price by the seat of their pants. If something doesn't have a sticker then it goes back to the pricing hags who will mark it double just b/c they think you are switching tags.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hmmmm...you know what, I'd put the crystals in a glass jar, maybe mixed with some fall colored stones and a yellow, orange or green colored candle and rap it with raffia for a cute little display.

    You are a great Pta mother!

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  4. Wow, some great Finds there, I love Thrifting & Yard Saling too :)
    Great Blog :)

    Angie
    www.scrapnmomsmoments.blogspot.com

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  5. The minnow bucket is so cool! It looks perfect on your stool. :)

    If you are interested in selling about 15 of those plastic crystals drop me a line! When I saw them I had a fabulous idea for a bachlorette party favor. (My sister's party is coming up on 11/1) I was thinking something along the lines of Diamonds are a girls best friend. :)

    xoxoxo

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  6. I love your old minnow bucket! I collect them too, cuz I love anything galvanize and love the designs on these fun buckets! Too fun!

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  7. As soon as I saw the plastic crystals I thought Pollyanna! In the movie she takes the prisms off of the lamps and such, and hangs them in the windows for the light to show through. I am not sure if plastic would work the same way, but it would be worth a try to string a few of them up for the bathroom or kitchen window maybe,

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  8. Such a cute tablecloth!

    I have used those crystals on a feather tree, but other than that, I have no brilliant ideas. LOL

    ReplyDelete

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