“What are you possibly going to do with that?”
A question I hear every time Jamie and I junk shop together and I pick up something weird.
This was one of those things.
Stainless steel mess hall tray. 12 bucks
You know how in prison movies they use these things to hit each other in the face? Well I can see why that hurts….This thing is solid, and heavy. Not aluminum, not by a long shot.
Of course I have a plan for it.
But first, I need to put self-adhesive felt pads under it.
Just to be sure that it doesn’t scratch anything.
Now it goes on the kitchen counter to coral all the crap we take out of our pockets every night……..
Crap like this;
“Have you seen my wallet?”
In the tray.
“Have you seen my sunglasses?”
In the tray.
“Do you have any change?”
In the ………well. I think y’all get the idea.
(I have to give credit to my brother Ben, for this idea. He’s been using an old mess-hall tray as a “Pocket Crap Organizer” like this for years. ………..But he doesn’t have a blog)
THE CAVENDER DIARY 
We have some of those somewhere… I used to have the children use it after they broke a plate.
My tray came off my ship when I was in the navy. That one is better. It is like Andy Dufresne used it in Shawshank prison.
Hi there!
Just found your blog and absolutely LOVE your home & your style. What an inspiration & lots of great tips. I´ve been longing for some new inspirational blogs out there & feel so happy I stumbled upon yours(actually when i was searching the web for som Nate Berkus + Target inspiration).
I´ll stick around from now on:-)!
Kind regards, Tina from Sweden
This is so funny! My husband and I own a seafood restaurant in Cowpens, SC. The Wagon Wheel Fish Camp. We serve on these! We actually had one customer refuse to eat on it because he had been eating on them for 12 years (in prison)! Love your blog!
Great story, Christine!
“But he doesn’t have a blog.” Made me laugh…as you usually do. Ok, so I was an elementary school teacher (forEVer) and in my building we used plastic trays like this for serving lunch. When they ditched them (which was so sad) I claimed one to use for a desk drawer (pencils, erasers, white out tape (back in the day) paper clips, etc.) and there was even one in pink! About 25 years old, it is. And I love it. This is very cool, and a great idea. I would love one!
Great find … an organizer today , maybe a weapon tomorrow!
Maybe? It’s the first thing I’m grabbing to defend myself in a fight…..(works as a shield too)
BRILLIANT!
I want to go junk shopping with you. We would have a blast…;)
Great idea and really useful, but I would use it to make tv dinners for the freezer and then be able to have a yummy meal preprepared. But then again it couldn’t go in the microwave and the oven requires some forward planning. OK, your idea is better.
I wouldn’t want to handle that steel tray after it came out of a hot oven either……Just use it for sorting jewelry on a dresser 🙂
Is it wrong that I’m already looking forward to seeking what Canvender-y comes up with for Christmas?
So are we Andrew!!!!! We’re already working on stuff……stay tuned!