PretTea Pieces

My love of fine china and pottery grew from a young age observing my grandmother care for her china collection passed down from her mother. The beautiful white porcelain collection with dainty rose sprays, embossed with scrolls and trimmed in gold, was surely used to grace a queens table in my young imagination.

Through the years, the "good china" was taken down from the top shelf of my grandma's cupboard for special occasions such as Christmas and was only ever hand washed as there were no automatic dishwashers back then (even when they became available, granny's house was old and not plumbed for such a convenience). Using the good china made the event more special and I didn't mind doing the dishes on such occasions, reverently washing and drying each piece and then using the step stool to place them back on the secluded upper shelf to stay safe.

While I felt a sense of satisfaction after carefully placing the spotless china away, I also was a bit sad that the special occasion had come to an end. I felt a sense of let-down because we had to go back to our normal routine.

I believe my grandmother knew my feelings as she left the china collection in my safekeeping, knowing that I would care for it and use it frequently and continue to care for each piece just as she cared for it many years ago. I store "Granny's good china" in my china hutch along with other pieces that I have collected and that Granny left for me. While I continue to use the collection, unfortunately a long distance move broke four saucers and I regret not packing them more carefully. I have found a popular manufacturer that can replace the pieces, but I still feel bad about the loss-they won't be from my grandma's collection. I certainly learned a hard lesson about protecting keepsakes.

On the bright side of all this I realize that my grandmother's memory lives on every time I set my table with her china. I think back to my childhood and remember my grandma's kitchen, the meals she would prepare, my parents and grandad and my sister all sitting down for Christmas or Easter dinner. My sister and I have created new traditions for our families and I hope to share my recollections with my grandchildren someday over tea or Christmas dinner and to one day pass Granny's china collection on to my daughter for her to create family memories.