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, May 22, 2017

Junk I Have Bought Lately

Hey guys.  I'm tired and I am grouchy.  I am getting ready for the Junk Ranch in FIFTEEN days which is NO time at all.  I am disorganized to say the least this time.  The garage is packed and I have no room to move things about and get organized.  Every time there is a Junk Ranch and I try to get ready I SWEAR that next time I will be organized.  But, here we go again.  Part of my lack of space is just because I bought it doesn't mean it can go to the booth or the Junk Ranch right away.  I still find a good amount of vintage Christmas that has to wait for the fall.  And I am still hoping to get another small booth, so I am hoarding things back for that since you never know if or when it will happen.  

I am also completely stressed about getting my things there and back.  We are currently without the pickup, so The Breadman is driving the big 14 foot box truck back and forth every day.  He is going to let me load that truck and take everything out in one big load instead of the four carloads that it usually takes me. That will be awesome.  Then when we tear down, we can just load the truck without having to do math to pack the car.  It all sounds great.  But I worry that that the truck will break down or there will be some issue and I will either not be able to get it all there or worse yet - get it all there and then have no way to get it home!  Of course I will sell a lot of it, but there is a certain amount that just has to come back home.  Fingers crossed, knock wood, throw some salt over your shoulder and a little praying and hopefully it will all work out and it will be fine.  (I won't even talk about the torrential rain, winds and flooding we have had the past month.)  OYE VEY.

So, here is a taste of a few things I have bought lately.  




I was at the Salvation Army and this was wheeled out on to the floor just as I was leaving.  A vintage egg crate!  I have never seen one of these thrifting!  I was surprised to see it there and even more surprised that it was only $4!  Whoop!


Also at the same SA on the same day - a nice old candy jar.  Funny thing is, it was full of cotton balls and the tag said, "Cotton balls $1.00".  How could they not see the candy jar and just market the cotton balls?  I mean, lucky for me, of course.  When I checked out, the guy picked it up and said, "Cotton balls.  Huh!"  In case you couldn't guess, I threw the cotton balls away pronto.  


On my way in a hurry on a rainy day with only a few minutes to stop at a thrift that rarely produces anything good or really anything at all.  Grabbed this old Redmon picnic basket and ran!  $5.00!  I love these baskets, but I pretty much sell any that I find nowadays.  I think I have about 25?  


Bragging time!  The Bean stopped by Goodwill and found a roll of tickets and an old glass flower frog.  "You like these things, right?"  Uh, yep.  Thanks Bean!



A vintage ceramic deer.  He will be a floral wreath around his neck and head to the Junk Ranch.  (Every thing I showed today will go to the JR!).


This old stoneware bowl is neat, but hard to photograph.  It is made to look like it has a gingham edged napkin in it.  I think it might be from an old deli for potato salad or something along those lines.  It's the only thing I am tempted to keep because, well GINGHAM and I am always worried to take many breakables for fear of breaking something cool.  

Time to go to bed then get up and start working on pricing again.  I know, it's not like a real job.  But, it's still darn hard work and it wears me down.  But, it is also THE BEST FUN EVER.  I am weird.  

Thanks as always for coming her whether I have a funny story, junk to share or just need to whine. You guys ROCK!

Thursday, May 11, 2017

One Fantastic Find

Hello there!  Anyone still come here looking for me?  Yes, I know you do.  Every night I sit here in front of the computer trying to come up with a post.  I love showing my stuff that I buy, and honestly, I have been on a buying frenzy as of late.  But, I pretty much price it and take it straight to the booth or put it with the Junk Ranch stash.  Yes, it is Junk Ranch crunch time.  June 9-10 with set up on the 7th and 8th, which means loading on the 6th.  I feel disorganized, but I always feel that way.  I know my layout and my theme and I have it all drawn out, but I just feel nervous and restless until I can actually get it done.  I have decided to do half of my booth in an Americana/Patriotic/ red, white and blue theme.  Lots of State souvenir plates and glasses, anything red, anything white, anything blue, anything a combo of those colors, old flags, things with names that fit in (Ben Franklin shopping baskets, books about history, etc.  I keep finding more and more unique things and I think that my booth will be great.  But, who know if people will buy any of it.  It's a crap shoot!  It's not like it's 4th of July - It's just an overall Americana feel plus my usual ephemera and random vintage crap-ola.  The other day I said, "I need a theme.  Not just so much random  junk!  Then I realized, that is my theme.  Random Junk.  I should change my name to Random Junk.

So, what about that title - One Fantastic Find?  Ready for it?  I saw something for sale on a Facebook group a few weeks ago.  I never buy or sell on there and I rarely ever look.  But, I have been looking lately for some globes or blowmolds for the Junk Ranch.  Anyway, something caught my eye, but it was $50.00.  Too rich for my cheap blood.  But, it dropped to $30.00 a few days ago, so I contacted the seller and she told me $25.00.  S-O-L-D!

What is it you ask?


Is it a beautiful suitcase?  

Well, yes it is. But, it is sooooo much more!


It opens up to hold a picnic set.  

But, wait.  There's more!


Then it turns into a PICNIC TABLE.  

I can't even.




There are plates, cups and bowls for a roadside picnic.  

Plus silverware!

But, not typical plastic picnic cutlery.


  Bakelite silverware!

BAKELITE!

RED Bakelite!

(The ad did not show the bakelite, so that was one happy, happy surprise!)




Can you even???

I think it's worth at minimum about $125 or so, NOT including the Bakelite silverware.  So, I am very happy that I decided to buy it. 

I have no need for it.  
I have no use for it.  
But, I love the damn thing! 
 It will be hard to sell.  
But, I will TRY to sell it.  
Hopefully.
I'm 60/40 in favor of selling it.
Maybe 50/50.  
Definitely 40/60.

:)

Have you bought or sold anything super fabulous lately?

PS.  I'll be back soon.  

PINKY SWEAR.

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