On Black Friday you won't find us at the malls,
or in fact in any store except for, perhaps, the market
Because I've run out of milk or eggs
Instead, you'll find me in the kitchen
On a ladder
Getting into the nether reaches of the upmost cabinets
Where for 11 months of the year
Our Christmas China is stored
No our Black Friday tradition is the getting out
And the washing up of the Christmas china
For we use it for almost all meals from the first Sunday in Advent
through Christmas night dinner.
I suppose, it really should be called "Advent" China!
It's mid 80's Royal Doulton china
The first 8 plates, cups and saucers
bought by us at the Royal Doulton seconds shop
in Stoke-on-Trent on a fall trip to England.
Hand carried by me on the plane back.
The cost?
$8 US
for all 24 pieces!
And from the time I got home I could kick myself
for at that price -- $1 per plate, cup and saucer
For not getting at least 12 or even 24!
But I didn't!
And so slowly, I added the other 4 plates, cups and saucers
At a price per piece that far exceed the cost of the entire original eight.
And the Royal Doulton was so pricey that when I decided that I really needed
dessert/ salad plates,
I chose Lenox Holiday
which I found at Marshall's/T J Maxx/Home Goods
after Christmas
for very little.
Because the holly pattern works well with the plaid,
They're both red and green!
At first eight, then four more
And finally, friend Shirley Ann (who was busy putting her set of Christmas china together)
said that she liked to have doubles of those dessert/salad plates
And so I was on the quest for 12 more!
But the set is complete --
For 12 with doubles of the salad/dessert
A wee English holly and ivy creamer and sugar
And a mug -- Husband Jim does not like morning coffee out of a cup and saucer!
The pattern has stood the test of time
For I still adore it as much as I did 26 years ago
(And sometimes I can be china finicky)
We like our traditions at Linderhof
And the Christmas china is made up of both memories and traditions!
4 comments:
What a sweet post! I love you mixed the Lennox with the RD plaid - too much plaid works against one another. Well done.
I love your celebrate Advent using them daily - that's a wonderful tradition.
I too am china finicky, and completely understand why you have held on to this gorgeous set! (And the price you paid back then in England just makes me giggle!)
Happy Christmas Season!
Your china is beautiful and I understand the feeling (all too well) of not buying enough when the opportunity presented itself. Hmmm, there was something else I wanted to say but can't remember...shoot! Memory is a terrible servant these days!
Martha,
I'm with you. . .NO Black Friday Shopping none on this side of the Prairie, either!
"Mr. Ed" & I did take a short Road Trip and enjoyed a Christmas In The Country @ Oxford, KS. today. Some Home Tours, a Craft Fair in their High School, Chicken & Noodle Dinner at the United Methodist Church by their Fellow Christian Athlete Group! It was a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of the "City" life On Crooked Creektt.
Your Advent China is beautiful!!! Looking forward to your Advent Season post from Lines @ Linderhof!!!
Fondly,
Pat
Christmas began making its way home at our house today, too! I love expressing it as a way to observe Advent...perfect! I've started pulling assorted patterns together for upcoming luncheons, dinners, parties, etc. Beatrice Emaline is two now...and old enough to begin to be excited about Christmas, so many decorations that have been put away for a number of years will be on display this year. So exciting. China snob...I think not!...an advocate of fine china and the art of gracious entertaining. I agree...I think that we both had much more fun as we stayed away from the Black Friday madness. Thanks for inviting us for a peek. Cherry Kay
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