Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Near Glass Casualties - the Fixins Plates

The day before the Glass Catastrophe, I cleaned out a lower cabinet as the initial phase of a kitchen purge. Inside that cabinet, behind a bunch of (you guessed it) CRAP we had hastily moved off counters in order to plaster and paint, I recovered some family tradition glass items. I like a pretty table, especially when I'm having folks over for noshing ... thankfully, I had safely stored these lovelies and they went unharmed, uncracked, unmolested and otherwise INTACT! See this stack of plates and saucers? This is 'the fixins' stack, used at every buffet, family gathering, friend nosh fest, or whenever Toni Cooks Mexican Food (which is pretty often!). To lose these would have been beyond catastrophic!! The white coats with the straight jackets would need to have been summoned! Kiss Me! This little vessel has been moved onto my studio desk top, to hold my calligraphy pen nibs. It's one of the treasures I found while purging in, on, and around it! This leaf plate is home to my tiny serving forks, and on the plate with the cut-out edge, I sometimes crisscross a stack of pretty cocktail napkins. Most often, though, this largest plate holds assorted olives. My male children and I SCARF us some serious olives -- but Double BB won't touch the thangs. Rings of red onion are served on the iridescent plate to the left. Usually, I lay sliced avocado on this small plate in front, as only two of us like that. The colors of my soul, I guess ... roses, creams, some glimmer and sheen, touches of green ... and blooming!

The thing about being the only woman in a house of men is NOT to lose those gentle touches. I doubt my guys notice the dishes, but they notice the FEELING of the dishes, a meal somehow elevated, a sense of occasion, a special touch. This is a woman's hand. And I've been obsessing the last 5 days about my hands, but that's another post for another day.

6 comments:

Cindy said...

They are all beautiful, just like you. I love different plates, I don't want all the same, too formal for me. i love eclectic even in my furniture. Have a great day. I have been obsessing over my hands with age spots lately....?Big hug!

Holly said...

So, here's what I know...even though the boys don't see the plates, as you say, they 'know' the plates. And, when the two of them are bonded to two women...those two women will love it when you begin to offer them those things to make homes of their own and a continuation of the traditions. And, that's a fab thing.

Alison said...

My favourite is the avocado plate. :-) I LOVE nice china. I agree with what Holly says about the boys 'knowing' your nice plates, without even realising that they are learning a finer appreciation of nice things!

Rebecca Lynch Photography said...

I like the plates and I agree with the other post. They see the plates and know them. You could test this out and the next time you have a get together trade a couple of the plates out for something else and I bet they would notice.

The guys are probably more traditional then you realize. Even though us kids are moved out of the parents house(although one has moved back in)we still have to open presents on Christmas morning. The one brother who you wouldn't have guessed would be so traditional insisted that we still open presents Christmas morning. The rest of us wanted to do it Christmas Eve, so that we didn't have to get up so early.

Anonymous said...

I love your plates! I think you just gave me the solution to a perplexing problem I have. My mother had two sets of china, one unattractive, incomplete set that was there while I was growing up, and another pretty set after my parents had moved away. After she passed, I picked the earlier one, for sentimental reasons, and my brother got the other one. My problem is, I don't have a set of my own, and I have three girls, so even if I did, you can't very well divide one set between them. However, I did keep a matching sugar bowl and butter dish of hers. I later discovered matching pieces at a neighborhood antique store. It turns out that they are an old Wedgewood pattern, and I have since purchased a pitcher and two bowls. I'm trying to expand the collection a little at a time. So, thanks to you, I'm thinking I can just collect beautiful, unmatched plates and things to go with them. That would be much easier to divide among my three daughters. Thanks, once again, for some awesome inspiration!

Veronica said...

hey is that the one plate I got you? where are all the mugs? oh please tell me nothing that I sent you got broke????'if so guess I am buying some more matching mugs one for you and one for me of all the styles.