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Thursday, March 3, 2011

Cottage Cheese Containers

My parents were fairly thrifty people probably because they lived through the Great Depression and its aftermath. As with most others who lived during this time, they amassed a large collection of stuff to re-use, just in case. I know because I found their stash of stuff when it came time to sort through the farmhouse. Some of those things were cottage cheese containers, shoe boxes, corks, wrapping paper, spools, etc. They did it for economic reasons because going green hadn't even been thought of yet. As a kid, I thought re-using stuff was embarrassing but guess what?

I'm starting to wonder if I could have a problem with "just in case"! It all began when I read that quilters were re-using clean fruit and salad to-go containers for sorting quilting supplies and blocks. (Our version of cottage cheese containers.) That's about when I started looking at containers a little differently and realized potential quilting containers are everywhere!

One evening my husband and I even debated whether we should use the divided or undivided clear plastic containers for our to-go food from the grocery store salad bar. The dilemma: Quilt blocks cannot lay flat in a divided container so you should choose an undivided container. However if you choose an undivided container, your salad will get all mixed together and certain ingredients will touch each other! Help. Just so you know, we settled on divided containers. I guess food still wins over quilting!

This blogpost is just a little light hearted poke at our own tendency to save stuff. They probably aren't the same things our parents saved but I wonder if my kids will find ceiling high stacks of clear plastic to-go food containers.

I can just hear them say, "What in the world was Mom thinking?!?"

6 comments:

FlourishingPalms said...

Great ideas, I think! I tend to look at the food containers in the same way. I've been watching my grandson for a couple weeks, and eyeing and saving his baby food containers! They're small, rectangle-shaped ones with plastic, snap-on lids. Several of them will probably fly home with me in a suitcase to appear later in my sewing room.

Valentina said...

LOL
This is so great, Mayleen! I am so happy your mom's containers found a home with your quilting bits! You are right, I too have fresh eyes when it comes containers. :)

Merilyn said...

I had a quiet little laugh to myself, because I see all sort of boxes, containers etc as useful items for my sewing room, to hold sewing tools, bits of fabric etc, as well. I think it's a good thing!!!

Anonymous said...

Mom was thinking QUITS ! and you go girl.....

Barb said...

so funny. I save containers, then forget to use them, get have to many of them....It's a great way to store these pieces!

Micaela said...

I better not be finding to go containers in your closet, Mom:P