Mrs. Boland's Forks

Mrs. Boland was our "landlady" for five years and our friend for the rest of her life. An English lady, she taught us how to brew the proper pot of tea, the pleasure of a pot of tea in the afternoon,and how to baste an egg for breakfast.

When my parents married, they moved into an apartment. The building owned by Mrs. Boland and her husband "Charlie". Their apartment was across the hall from ours and she and my mother would visit daily. Often over a cup of tea. While we children would quietly play -- often under the watchful eye of "Charlie". (One of my playtime activities would be to braid the bullion fringe of the ottoman!)

Sometimes, for tea, we would have cake. Always served on a china plate, with a wee linen tea napkin. The cake would be eaten with a silver fork.

These forks, small forks. In a set of six that the English so prefer. Perfect for tea cake.
Fancy but not too fancy. With a good weight in the hand which is important in silver cutlery.

When Mrs. Boland passed away, "Charlie" gave my mother these forks as a memory of his wife and mother's dear friend. She never used them, but wrapped them in tissue and stuck them in a drawer.

When mother passed away, I found the package of forks and found this remembrance of my childhood. I remembered all the cups of cambric tea that I shared with mother and Mrs. Boland. I remember the cakes that we ate with these very forks.
Engraved with a "B" for Boland.

It's Sunday which means that it's time for Silver Sunday with Beth at The Gypsy Fish. Please join Beth to see what everyone's silver treasures will be this week.