Sharing Some Of My Favorite Things...

Hi there! I hope all of you are having a very happy start to this spring season! 

As soon as I start to see the first signs that spring is on it's way, I dig out 

 my Easter decorations  and start by decorating this little Easter tree that my 3  babies and I always decorated every year since they were little. 

Such sweet memories of decorating the Easter tree, dying eggs and hanging plastic eggs outside on our trees in the front yard! I wouldn't trade those memories for anything in the world!! 

Austin and I still dye eggs and after he leaves my nest, no doubt, you will find me dying them alone until I get some new little hands in my kitchen to help me!! <3

 I thrive on such traditions!!

They make my heart happy <3

Speaking of things that make me have a happy heart,  let me share a few of my favorite things with you...

~ My Dishes~

I am madly in love with collecting beautiful dishes!! 

Each one of my collections is special to me, I don't think I can pick a favorite. 

I'll show you what I mean... 

~My Wedding China~

1989

This was my very first dish collection! I chose this pattern when I was newly engaged to Anthony.  I couldn't wait to make my first little "Home Sweet Home" and  serve suppers on my beautiful dishes. I couldn't cook a thing back then, so in the beginning, these plates  had some pretty bad tasting meals on them! Thankfully, I finally did learn to cook and was able to serve some of my family's favorites on them in the years to come.  


Years later, when my babies were little, I was given this set of special China that once belonged to a sweet lady in my home congregation.  

When I was a younger bride, money was very tight. I came home to my little humble but happy home and on my front porch was a huge basket full of these dishes all wrapped up in tissue paper with a sweet note.  She was  passing them from her home, to mine. <3   
I couldn't believe my special gift!! 

It turned out that my mother had a matching set of these and decided to give me her collection as well, so this turned out to be my largest and most used set of dishes because I have more of them. A bigger crowd can be served on these.  I love the story behind these classic black and white dishes! 

What a special gift!  
Thank you to Mrs. Angie Hall and my sweet Mama! 


~My Depression Glass Collection~
"Pink Dogwood"

I LOVE these dishes and the story of Depression Glass!  

These were originally my mother-in-law's collection. She decided that she wanted to sell them and when Anthony heard they were up for sale, he bought them for me so that I could add them to my collections! <3

In case you don't know the story of Depression Glass, let me fill you in...

During the Great Depression in the late 1920's-1930's, it was a rare thing for housewives to actually shop for China or tableware.  They were barely surviving during this time, so things like buying dishes was unheard of!  
Manufacturers found a way to produce cheaply made glassware for very little costs and decided to have promotional giveaways in which housewives could purchase a box of Quaker Oats or laundry soap and open up the box to find a piece of yellow, pink, blue or green glassware.  Then, she might go have her car filled with gasoline and the attendant would give her another piece of glassware to add to her collection.  The giveaways were promotional items given  to encourage women to eventually go out and purchase the remainder of their sets. 

So... my Depression Glass really has  some history behind it! 
I would love to know who all owned it before me!  It's so much fun to look for pieces and to imagine the dinners once served from these plates over the last 85 years or so!! 


~My Everyday Dishes~
RED...

I got these for a super bargain!
I used coupons and Kohl's cash along with them being on sale and  paid just under $7.00 TOTAL  for the set of 8 plates!! 

If you didn't know this about me already, I will tell you, 
 I love couponing and bargains!! 


Speaking of  bargains, my latest addition to my dish collection...

I found these blue jewels at a yard sale last weekend for $26!! 
The set included 15 plates, one small bowl and 6 cups and saucers!

~ <3 ~

I'm in love with these!! 

I realize that I may have a bit of an obsession with dishes.  

Just a tiny one... ;)

As soon as I got home from the yard sales, I washed these beautiful dishes and couldn't wait to "play" with them by setting a springtime table just for fun! 

I decided to use only white and blue for this table setting. 
I don't own a white tablecloth large enough for my dining room table, so I ironed a white flat bed sheet that I only use for a tablecloth.  Then, I added my new blue dishes, using the small  bowl filled with eggs from my fridge as a centerpiece.  By the way... these tea glasses were also a yard sale purchase along with the silver flatware.  On our work travels, years ago, we stopped at a yard sale in Kentucky and found the silver in the original wooden case for $12.00!! 

I told you, I am a bargain hunter! ;)

I thought it turned out to be a very simple, but pretty spring table setting.

Whenever I set a table for "sit down company", I always use this book from Southern Living called "Cooking For Company" to help me remember the proper way to set out my silverware.

Here on page 3 is this simple instruction sheet that I follow...

I never remember which fork is for salad!  (It's the smaller one) ;)

Here's a sample of a little less formal version of a proper place setting...

One more favorite of mine, that I always use, is cloth napkins!  

They are washable, softer, more durable and less expensive than paper ones.

They are for sure near the top of my favorites list!

 

If you don't yard sale or antique, I highly recommend you give it a try!  

You might just find some of your favorites out there for a very good price!

Happy Hunting!!



~ <3~

Psalms 34:3 "O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together." (KJV)