Dear Reader Column 10-21-05

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Dear Reader,

My grandmother's china cabinet was delivered to me yesterday. It traveled all the way from Wisconsin--I live in Florida. Grandma gave it to my mother and my mother passed it on to me.

When I was growing up, every Sunday we'd drive to Grandma and Grandpa Hale's house for noon dinner. I say noon dinner, because in the Midwest where I grew up, the noon meal was lunch and the evening meal was supper. In our house, the term dinner was reserved for special occasions. And going to Grandma's for Sunday dinner always felt like a special occasion to me.

My grandma wasn't a gourmet cook. But her recipe box was filled with make-you-feel-good dishes. And boy, did they make me feel good. Tummy warming soups, hamburger casseroles, cookies, poppy seed cake, berry pie (the berries were from her patch), and on Sunday, roast beef with homemade gravy. And Grandma never minded a bit if you soaked up the left over gravy on your plate, with a slice of her homemade bread.

The china cabinet means a lot to me, because on Sunday we always used the best dishes. And those were the dishes in Grandma's china cabinet. I knew every dish in it by heart, because I always helped set the table. The pink water glasses; the crystal cut sugar bowl with the silver spoon; the cream colored plates; cups and saucers; the gravy boat; and the potatoes, corn, and coleslaw--each had a special serving bowl, too.

But my favorite thing in the china cabinet was the red and green ivy Christmas glasses. There are only two of those glasses left, but they'll look great in Grandma's china cabinet, and I remember exactly where to put them.

I'd love to show you the china cabinet, go to:
http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/china.html

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
www.DearReader.com

Comments

[Lucy Tew]

I too remember my Grandmother having a very similar china cabinet. Thanks for the reminder of my childhood. Lucy

[Ines]

Suzanne:
My mother also had a China cabinet, which we called a China closet, but she got modern and changed it for a "licorera", which I still have and will pass on to one of my girls. Sorry I can't send a picture.
It does bring back memories.
Ines

[Ines]

Suzanne:
My mother also had a China cabinet, which we called a China closet, but she got modern and changed it for a "licorera", which I still have and will pass on to one of my girls. Sorry I can't send a picture.
It does bring back memories.
Ines

[Linda]

I see you also have some depression glass in the cabinet.
Do you collect it? I do and it brings back memories of my grand mother and mom. Thanks!

[Linda]

I see you also have some depression glass in the cabinet.
Do you collect it? I do and it brings back memories of my grand mother and mom. Thanks!