Of Linens and Laundry

We use real napkins . . . for every meal.     My mother always did and I do too!

Whether it is just for us . . . 

breakfast room table set for lunch -- our napkin by our plate.   We can tell which napkin is ours because of the napkin ring it's in.

Or when we have company . . .

A fresh napkin for each guest (and us) -- most always  old damask.

A napkin in a silver napkin ring is always at each place!

Ours, we use more than once -- actually for a whole week for when I clean on Monday, I trade out napkins.

Guests, get new ones (and we do, too!).

We've had quite a bit of company in the last few weeks . . .

And so today, I spent in the laundry room ironing . . .

I don't usually have this many napkins to iron but we've been gone and have had a lot of company!

Stacks of napkins!     On the dining room table ready to be put away.    The dinner napkins are stored in the Victorian armoire in the dining room.

The armoire, holds napkins as well as plates and lots and lots of glasses!

In the drawer in the bottom.

In an ideal world, I would have enough drawer space so that all the napkins are in one layer.   In a 1920s house, there is no perfect world and thus, they are layered!

It's perfect for napkin storage.    I've prefer white napkins -- damask or Irish linen.   And I look for them at Estate Sales although as full as the drawer is, I ought to stop!      There are some blue ones, too and the ones on the left are from Williams Sonoma and the "patina" of the fabric after numerous washings and ironings is soft and "comfortable".    I have other blue ones as well as some red ones which are perfect for Christmas or Valentine's.     Some red ones in the back (they look like they're polka dotted) were a gift from a dear friend.    The "olive drab" ones on the right were as well.    Friends know I love napkins!

The tea napkins get a drawer to themselves.

the Waterford and china and silver serving pieces are stored in this cabinet.

In the Asian cabinet in the dining room.

They have their own drawer as well.

The smaller drawers are perfect for the tea napkins.

White for tea, of course.   And two sets of wee napkins that are edged and embroidered.  

China, silver, crystal and napkins

The drawer in the cabinet which holds the tea napkins.    There is a bigger, deeper drawer in the cabinet which holds my tea cloths.     I have several sets and I'm sure they were "bridge sets" for they seem to come with bridge table sized tablecloth and 4 napkins.     But I use them all for tea!

We've been gone (hence the big pile of napkins to be ironed today) and I made dinner the easy way.    A rack of smoked ribs from the market (they are very good by the way), baked sweet potatoes and coleslaw.

Broccoli "slaw" with my grandmother's dressing -- if she knew that I dressed broccoli "slaw" with her dressing would cause her to roll over in her grave!

Not my regular coleslaw but slaw made from the broccoli slaw mix.    Dressed with my grandmother's dressing of equal amounts of oil, vinegar and sugar.   Put the vinegar and sugar in a saucepan and heat until boiling and the sugar is dissolved.    Add oil and bring to boil again.    I add a 1/2 t. of dry mustard, a good palmful of celery seed (I adore celery seed so am always generous with it) and salt and pepper.

It's a colorful slaw and although not quite the same as "real" coleslaw, it was a good addition to a BBQ rib dinner.