As a child,
I got twenty five cents a week for my allowance. This was a lot of money to me.
I had to do chores around the house to claim it. The worst one was ironing. It was tedious and boring. But I did it.
Didn't want to lose my rights to that quarter. I would take my earnings down to
the local Five and Dime Store and have a field day there. I didn't spend my
hard earned money on candy or frivolous things. No sir-ee. Each week I would buy another figurine to put
on my dresser top. These weren't just any little statuettes.They were religious collectibles. This was influenced by
the fact that I was determined to grow up and become a nun, like my name sake.
That is until I discovered boys and they discovered me. But in the meantime my
dresser was a shrine, adorned with praying hands, Mary and Jesus, angels,
saints, and the like. It was the beginning of my foray into acquiring collectible
treasures of all kinds. Throughout the years... cats, gnomes, seashells, christmas
ornaments, cows, clowns, frogs, and books became the objects of my affection. But,
a decade or so, ago... I got tired of accumulating things, it was costly, so I gave up the hobby,
selling many of the things on eBay. Although I admit, I still enjoy a quick run through
Goodwill and Thrift Stores to see how far a quarter will go, these days. What
do you collect and did you start as a child like I did?
17 comments:
I don't remember collecting much of anything as a child but do now. My biggest collection is of roosters which decorate my kitchen. I have collected crosses, snowmen, hearts, bells, trivets, and spoons. I had to put away some of them as I got tired of dusting them. I haven't sold any of mine but they are stored away. Like you I still look in thrift stores and have collected more. I have cut back though. This old house can only hold so much, but 25 cents doesn't buy much at all anymore.
ha! i was going to be a nun too. sister mary bernadette. i think a lot of future nuns were lost to puberty!
I think that's hilarious - until you discovered boys and they discovered you! (They're such bad influences, aren't they?)
I collected postcards first. Then in later years, I collected Avon figurines -- the pretty girls with the stinky perfume in them. But when my apt became too cluttered, I passed them on to a thrift shop. Now I try not to collect anything; still have too much stuff. But I'm pretty sure that I have a collection of shoes ..... and books ..... and magazines ..... and yeah, Xmas Santa/Snowmen salt and pepper shakers.
Amazing how that discovery of boys and girls side track those plans in life. BUT it was admirable one begins life frugally.
I collected stamps as a boy, most of the collection was stolen when I thought no one would look in the attic of a house we rented out. HA!
This motor home prevents too much collecting, but I still love yard sales.
I bet 25 cents bought a lot too back then! I used to collect Dopey things (Dopey from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves). Like you, I got tired of accumulating so I phased out what I had and just kept a few of my favorites.
betty
I have no long term collections. I have some postcards from trips, some spoons, glassware, some autographs and lots of books. I do like snowmen also, saw some just yesterday that I may end up with...ha. Have a great day, Sheila
I too was destined to be a Nun until I discovered boys, I would have been Sister Mary Margaret!
Back in my day, I was rich if I had 25 cents! I'm not much of a collector, but I sure liked your story. The Church obviously lost out to the boys!
Your dresser top treasures are adorable! That was a cute post.
I'm a mega collector. My miniatures hobby definitely started in childhood, as did dolls. I love wooden Santas, colored glass in almost every color imaginable, collector of cranberry glass, books, cut glass objects, and on and on. Too too much, really
What state are you in? Are your parents in New England? Susan
I only got into collecting as a grown up. There was cat pictures, cat figurines, Avon bottles and then down to just the girls which I still have packed away. Beer cans, I'll have to write about that and I don't drink beer. Now I'm kind of in to pins shaped like animals.
Oh gosh, what memories this has unleased! Except for the occasional horse figurine, I wasn't much of a collector.
Instead, I remember saving my quarters (must have been the going wage at that time!) to buy a German Shepard puppy from the Sears catalogue!
PS - So glad Sears quit that practice!
Oops ... I meant to write,
'unleashed'!
I think that is so sweet, Taryterre, to collect religious treasures at such a young age. They must have looked so pretty on your dresser. I never collected much as a young child because I didn't get an allowance, and when I did get a bit of money, I would hurry down to the corner store and buy some penny candy.
Right now, I do have a few collections.....mermaids, Christmas snow globes, and FAIRIES!
I would have loved to seen your collection as a young girl.
love,
~Sheri
You would have loved going to St. Mary's grade school where I attended grade school. The nuns gave out those religious statues as prizes for everything from the spelling bee to being the fire monitor. The church must have gotten them for a great price & purchased them by the thousands. By 5th grade I had a big box full of assorted saints, Jesus in several forms & enough Virgin Mary's to form her own army. I would have gladly given them to you & you could have used your allowance for some of the other great stuff at the 5 & Dime. I must be one of the few Irish Catholic girls to not dream of becoming a nun. Maybe I knew that I got into too much trouble to even be considered worthy of entering the convent. I did love going to Woolworth's on Saturday & getting some great stuff for a 25 cent. I bought books of paper dolls, coloring books where you painted with water & it magically changed into colors, candy necklaces, Archie & Veronica comics & little bowls of goldfish. I did collect postcards & autographs briefly. As an adult I have collected roosters, teacups, Belleek china, Olde World Christmas ornaments, cranberry glass & vintage quilts.
Thanks for a great post with lots of good memories.
We had a five and dime when I was a kid too. We always called it "the ten cents store." The chore I hated most was making a bed. I actually rather enjoyed ironing and still do, although I only do it when I have to. I hum or sing or listen to music or have the tv on when I'm ironing.
Good memories.
:-)
BTW...I sent you a "regular" email to your email that appears on your profile so watch for it. Hopefully it didn't go into your junk mail.
Kay
I was a stamp and post card collector when I was in elementary school and now I still have my post cards, though I don't keep up as much as I did. My collection now is snow globes. I don't often buy them, but I usually get a new one when I'm traveling. My newest is from my trip to Norway this summer.
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