Pembroke Resurfaces Again!

Back in the 70s, I feel in love with an Aynsley pattern

Pembroke

Alas, I had neither the funds nor the dining room for such fine dishes

And so I lusted after them from afar.

We did buy china eventually but it was Wedgwood not Aysnley

Runnymead Dark Blue

A small set bought on a trip to England

I was giddy to finally have china!

Time passes, kids grow up, and like fine things, too.

Daughter Sarah lusted after my Wedgwood

And when she got engaged, we gifted her with it

Thus I went from three

(Royal Dolton Tartan, Wedgwood Runnymeade and Grandmother's Noritake)

to two

(the Tartan and Grandmother's china)

Then friend Shirley Ann and I went to a small, out of the way, flea market

in El Dorado Springs

There on a shelf in the back was a set of Pembroke

(the china I had always wanted)

for $30!!!

It was January -- I had just done my January clean

and couldn't imagine bringing more "stuff" home!

So I left it.

Later that week, I realized how dumb I was.

It was a pattern I wanted and it was only $30

for the whole set!!!

I called up friend Shirley Ann and asked her if she wanted to go back to El Dorado the next day --

she would!

We arrive at the flea market, I flew back to the booth with the china and it was still there!

So it came home with me!

It was a mostly set for eight

It was the newer Pembroke -- made in 2000

It does set a pretty table

I added the tea pot, cream pitcher and sugar bowl

And a coffee pot

(Ebay is wonderful!)

Today at an Estate Sale, on a shelf . . . 

There were eight -- yes, count them -- eight!

Cream soups and saucers

For a very reasonable price

(but alas -- not $30! -- no, they were more than $30 but still a bargain)

And I also found a great tray at the Estate Sale

When I serve after dinner coffee (whether in china or silver), it's nice to bring the

coffee service to the table on a tray -- a manageable tray -- and the one

seems perfect!

The difference between a cream soup and a tea cup

The soup is much larger and I see things other than soups being served from the cup

Individual cobblers

 (filling cooked and warm and topped with a piece of pie pastry baked on a sheet pan)

chocolate mousse, individual floating islands

I was so excited when I found them that my hands were shaking.

You rarely see it in antique shops or flea markets

It looks right at home on the Aynsley shelf in the china cabinet!