Fun Monday - Quirky
Written on Monday, January 12, 2009 by Carrie
This week's hostess is my lovely Mom, Jan over at The Prytz Family blog and she is asking everyone: What is the quirkiest thing in your home that you will never give away?
I don't have a lot of quirky going on in my home, unless you take into consideration the other people I live with, those are some quirky people.
And, I don't really have a problem getting rid of things. I am not a pack-rat or a hoarder, if I don't have a use for it someone else sure as heck will. By the way did you know I am uninvited to my own garage sales? I tend to give things away and I don't supervise my stuff either, I figure if someone is going to drag their butt out of bed at the crack of dawn to steal some of my junk I have laying in my driveway, well then more power to them, they must need a heck of a lot more than I do. Sadly, I am alone in my opinions and observations.
So, the task at hand, OK I do have a piece of furniture I have refused to get rid of for years. It is my home office desk. Not so quirky, right? But wait for it, it used to be my kitchen table. It was given to me and my husband by my parents (hi Mom) as a housewarming gift, to be honest I don't even know if we were married yet or not, but we needed furniture and my Mom worked out This End Up. We were also gifted 6 chairs and a bench for table seating. I have since gotten rid of the chairs (after reupholstering twice) and relocated the bench to the end of our bed in the master bedroom.
So now everyday I sit with my kitchen table/home office desk which I refuse to get rid of because 1) I have found no desk equal to the size, sturdiness and comfort of this table; 2) I would miss the "designs" my daughter as a toddler "thoughtfully" etched with a fork into the wood, against the grain and then filled in with black marker; 3) There are still food crumbs in the seams/cracks that are impossible to remove and therefore embarrassing if someone else were to see; and lastly 4) That big old massive oak desk/table has a lot of sentimentality that I would never give up.
Thats a great story and a perfect desk. I hear you on the scratch marks and magic marker, I have a table like that. Everytime you look at it, you think of the memories it stores.
Initially it doesn't seem too quirky, but you're right, it is. I didn't know you still had it! I think we gave it to you when you moved to Corona, but who knows.
I love it! I have an antique kitchen table that I got from an antique store many years ago that I can't part with. I used it as a desk too! Now I have a new desk/hutch, but I still have that dang table!
I have my first table, legs removed, in my garage. The legs didn't survive the move so well, but I still have the table top! No plans to get rid of it either.
Actually, you just gave me a great idea! Thanks!
Lots and lots off great memories in that piece of furniture!! I love how even your Mom didn't know you still had it!
that's lots OF great memories, sorry for the typo!
I love that it has those scratches and marks. Imagine how much more important those will be in a few years.
Well hello there Jan's daughter! Your mum is very sweet! As for your garage sales sweetie, you have just met someone else with the same opinion. I am forever giving stuff away and I don't even bother with the sales anymore much to the chagrin of everyone else around here who think a little pocket money might not go astray! I just can't resist the look of a kids face begging their mama for one barbie and the mama looking sad, Oh here take the whole box, its on the house! Now I just give it to friends and goodwill! Its so much easier!
First off, I had no idea Jan was your mother. Secondly, I didn't realise how short you are (unless of course that's not you at the computer).
What a great question--I'm trying to think of a suitable answer.
Maybe some of my great grandmother's costume jewelry--not too fashionable but sentimentally valuable.
Great table/desk and I can absolutely see why you keep it. :) All those memories. :)
Actually, the massive table seems rather nice. My husband and I have a desk that belonged to my MIL. Fortunately, his sister told us not to refinish the desk because that would ruin the value. The scratches on your remind me of toothmarks on our window sill. The marks are from our son when he was a baby.
Nothing suits like a big old sturdy table as a command/work center. You have one that fits the bill--with precious memories as well. We all spend so much time at our computers it's just good to have everything all together. I can envision this table with bench seating as well--perfect.
Why should you get rid of it, it looks nice, is comfortable and full of souvenirs !
I like your desk, and the story that goes with it! And I hear you, about not being a pack rat. My mom and I are both the same way. I (affectionately) refer to it as the "slash-and-burn" method of housekeeping: if you haven't used/worn/read it in the last 6 months, it's outta here! But there are some things that just belong, year in and year out. Great story!
When I first saw the photo of your desk, I wondered how it was quirky. Your story makes it quirky and I LOVE it! The fork scratches are the best.
Sorry it took so long for me to make it over here, but I am glad I made it. I loved reading your other posts as well.