This was buried as a “Postscript” section in one of my posts from 2020 (Curating a Home Library) and I thought it deserved it’s own post.
I enjoy browsing charity thrift stores for treasures but I’ve come across some very strange items over the years. I wonder when I see these items: 1) Why did anyone originally own this item; 2) Why did someone donate this item; or 3) Who is going to buy this item?
During the height of the COVID pandemic in Colorado, when most retail stores were closed, Colorado considered thrift stores as “essential” stores and let them stay open. John and I, all masked up, would visit thrift stores as something to do and to work on putting together our home library.
Here are my top 5 favorite “curious” finds that gave us a chuckle (and I promise you I did not buy any of them):
Number 5: If you need a lamp and a place to store your leftover yarn, would this not be the perfect solution?
Yes it’s – YARN LAMP!
Number 4: Patriotic pants – they defy any further comment (but my apologies to you if you happen own these…)
My husband John is graciously modeling them
Number 3: Donated photo frames with family photos still in them.
I could not believe how many donated photo frames I came across with family pictures still in them at various thrift stores, like the example below. Wouldn’t you perhaps remove your family photos before donating?!?!?
It would be funny to buy the frame and keep the photo displayed and confuse people…
Number 2: An outfit for a very adventurous and crafty person.
Though it was on display way before Halloween, I think this was supposed to be a suggested Halloween outfit (hopefully as you would get a lot of stares should you select it for a cocktail party…)
Interesting use of pom-poms!
And Number 1 is…
Something that you absolutely cannot imagine living without…
A cattle leg (yes real cattle leg) with hoof attached Barometer!
Yes, now you can remember the favorite steer you raised on your farm and know the current barometric pressure!
It’s nearly 5 years later since the original post sharing this find and it still remains the number one most “curious” thing we’ve discovered at a thrift shop!
My regret is I did not buy the Cattle Leg Barometer and put it away as the ultimate future “White Elephant” Christmas gift! (Could you imagine the look on someone’s face when they opened their gift!)
tierneycreates 
I’ve volunteered in charity thrift shops for years and agree there are some very odd things that come in. Thanks for sharing your finds!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for your volunteer work, us thrifters appreciate it 🙂
Oh I can imagine the things you have seen 🙂
LikeLike
Hahahahaha! I remember that pom pom top and the odd photo. Forgot about the stars and stripes pants, though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You should never forget those pants, perhaps you can find them at a local Oregon thrift shop 😉
LikeLike
I just saw a guy wearing stars and stripes shorts just like those pants and I thought…just what you did about the pants! But the cattle leg, well, that is truly a world class entry into the thrift shop oddities hall of fame!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading and I will NEVER forget the cattle leg! That was a masterpiece of…(trying not to make a judgement)…curiosity!
LikeLiked by 1 person
John in his stars/stripes pants, you in your pom pom top, busting some moves in the light of that yarn lamp – I can see that! LOL. But the unknown family framed photo – the idea of hanging them to confuse people is hilarious! And maybe that lovely barometer could be added in the Colorado room – or maybe not! My daughter sends me not-to-be missed items for sale on FB Marketplace; she finds some odd ones!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my goodness, you nearly made me spit out my tea laughing while I am finally at my laptop catching up on comments and hopefully posts 🙂
Darn it we should have purchases the proper outfits to wear if you ever visit here someday! We will show you around in those outfits – ha!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh your daughter sounds very fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmmm – how about those ‘tats’ on the mannequin? (#2) Kinda makes the whole outfit complete IMHO!
LikeLiked by 1 person
OH my goodness thanks for the laugh, you are awesome 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
…you are, too!
LikeLike
There are no words! Thanks for re-posting this, I have seen some odd stuff, but these are the pinnacle of oddment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are and glad you enjoyed the post 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my. Any of these would make a wonderful White Elephant gift, but that barometer leg. Ewwwww
I volunteered in a boutique created for unhoused women and we got some doozies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know! I am glad I we had gloves on when we briefly held it for the photo (which was difficult to take, keeping the phone still enough to take the photo while laughing!) Oh I can imagine some of the donated things you saw but that is awesome your volunteered 🙂
LikeLike
It’s so good to laugh!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d probably be mad enough to wear those trousers (for a dare) lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
That would be fun! I would not judge you unless you were also carrying around the cattle leg 😉
LikeLike
I kind of want a barometer for the house… but not that one. That’s wild.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! Sorry I did not pick it up for you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That leg is horrendous! I use old coffee jars for leftover yarn. One day in a charity shop near me…
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is, isn’t it? Ha! Thanks for stopping by and seeing the curiosities. No judgement on the old coffee jars…but if you put them in a lamp…ha 😉
LikeLike
Wow! Those are some amazing finds for sure! I love thrifting and finding weird old things too 🙂 The cow leg barometer would definitely be the very best of all white elephant Christmas gifts 🙂 The right crowd would be fighting over it!
I used to have plans for a swap-meet type of business called Instant Ancestors, where I would buy up all of the old pictures of people from the past and then sell them to people so they could pretend to be related. For an extra $10 I would make up a wild backstory for the person 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Imagine a white elephany give exchange battle for the hoof/leg – ha! Instant Ancestors – that is so cool and sounds fin! It would be fun to make backstories for those photos!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It would!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just came from Priorhouse and saw an example of your talents. I love thrift stores. It’s like shopping in a grab bag, you never know what you’ll find!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks so much I really appreciate that 🙂
Thrift stores can be such a magical place (and you are helping keep stuff out of landfills and supporting a charity organization in many cases!)
LikeLiked by 1 person