So many people hate clowns. They are scary, no doubt. But this guy has a certain dignity -- an irony and self-awareness -- that I trust. He's well made, too. And he's a bottle with a stopper-head!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Lots of Furniture
You aren't supposed to drop off big pieces of furniture at the Gift House. And Joan Reed, the director of volunteers, hates it when people do this after-hours, so they can't get caught. But I've seen lots of furniture come and go in a matter of seconds. You never know what somebody else might like. In any case, there are some lounge chairs down there right now, if you need one.
ASIAN CONDIMENT TRAY!
This is practical, all-purpose and super mysterious. What fabulous Asian country produced it? There are containers for liquids,sauces and powders. I hope it won't be gone by Friday, when the Gift House opens!
Friday, June 25, 2010
"Barrel" Ice Bucket
It's fascinating how ice buckets have to look like something other than an ice bucket. Lots of these -- barrels that are ice buckets -- come into the Gift House. So far I haven't brought one home.
PRETEND YOU WENT TO CAMBRIDGE
Here is a commemorative plate for graduates of Trinity College in Cambridge, England. Why not pretend for a second that you went there? I buried this plate in the stacks of china. See if you can find it.
AS FOLK AS IT GETS
I love the idea that somebody toiled away on this needlepoint, probably while watching TV or a Little League game, and here it is, dumped at the Gift house, beautifully framed and flawed. It is brown and orange and so lovely. Doesn't anybody want this for their wall?
Thursday, June 24, 2010
JAMES BEARD'S CLASSIC COOKBOOK
I am a sucker for old cookbooks, if you haven't noticed. This classic James Beard book, published in 1949, wandered into the Gift House and I have been enchanted with it since. Sturdy, inspiring, full of charm and amazing illustrations. Pheasant, partridge, goose, quail, wild duck, squab (whatever that is) -- the recipes are all here. Curious about its value, I found others online at the usual used book sites, and they aren't too expensive -- $4.99 and up -- which means a few of my cooking friends will be getting copies for Christmas this year. Do you like old books? It's a buyer's market for them in the digitial era.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
HUGH HEFNER
Hugh Hefner has never been to the Gift House, as far as I know. But somebody left behind this hilarious relic from the sexual liberation Stone Age. Black and metallic.
CHINOISSERIE LAMP
I won't lie to you. We get lots of really ugly lamps in the Gift House. Sometimes I think about starting an ugly lamp museum. Light fixtures are just weird anyway. But this lamp is pretty darn nice! I think it just needs a nice home and maybe a new shade.
MIELE VACUUM CLEANER
These are a zillion dollars new, in case you've been living in a cave for the last 15 years. The attachments were included. But it didn't last long. About one hour and it was nabbed.
COMPUTER DESK
Doesn't somebody need this for their dorm room in September?
It has been sitting on the deck of the Gift House since last Friday.
Friday, June 18, 2010
GIANT COOKER
This has been in the Gift House for a week!
I can't believe nobody has come to take this magnificent piece of ancient kitchen history. It still works!
FASCINATING TAXIDERMY
Folks, it doesn't get more fascinating than a lamp with two dead, stuffed quail inside. The maker's mark indicates the place of origin: Texas. Down at the Gift House, when we discovered this, there were a few jokes about how many people Dick Cheney had to kill in order to bag these two birds.
The lamp was taken almost immediately. One of our dump regulars nabbed it -- and was overjoyed!
The Chafing Dish
Does anybody use these anymore? They are handy when you're having a bash.
Loads of them at the Gift House. Come and get 'em!
Friday, June 11, 2010
THE MOST VULGAR CLOCK
It's hard to believe my luck when I stumbled upon this clock in the Gift House. Every hour the clock tolls with a new . . . sound. You know. It breaks wind -- with very true-to-life eruptions.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
LET HER WORRY FOR YOU
This doll arrived yesterday at the Gift House. What a face. She's almost a foot tall and seems to be full of worries. Maybe she's warding off evil spirits.
COFFEE, LIKE IN OLD EUROPE
We have every kind of coffee making device now. Percolators, presses, drip amd espresso. Carafes and thermoses of every size and color.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
SUMMER HOURS OF THE GIFT HOUSE
The summer hours are in effect as of Monday, June 7. We will be open Friday through Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteers please be on the look-out for the new schedule.
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