Community Chat

[Othereeeen]

About fine china, porcelain, and utensils.....

USE THEM!!!

I do!!!

I have enough of my own and my Mom's and Grandmothers that I do not, at 67,  have enough life left to live and still be able to use/break it all....!!

I woke up one day and said WHY am I buying imported junk when I have fine china, cups, bowls, dessert plates, pretty serving ware and delicate glasses gathering dust in TWO china cabinets!!

"A HA!!!" I cried, opening the creaky door of the ancient cabinet....and from that day on, I began to use it for daily use!! 

SO WHAT if you can't "put it in the dishwasher"....so hand wash it. Who cares? You DO have the time. Spend five less minutes on moronic social media and do somethign pretty and special for YOU.

I use it and am NOT particularly careful with any of it and have not broken or chipped ONE piece yet. And what if I do? There's a LOT more where it came from...!!!

And...it's pretty (Limoges with gold rims and Gorham with a pretty blue pattern and silver rims). I deserve to use them. They are not the clunky junky stuff sold today... stamped made in "You Know Where Safe for Microwave, Oven, Dishwasher, Use as a Boat Anchor"  or whatever other silly disclaimer decorates the bottom.

OUT with the imported junk and IN with the pretty stuff.

I deserve it!!!

And, one day, I heard one of the gold rimmed dishes say to a pretty blue bowl, as they dried in the dish rack in the sink beside some common plastic cups:

"Can you BELEIVE how good it feels to be taken out of that cramped old china cabinet and be used again!!!!  And on just  a regular day?!?!?

I feel YOUNG again!!!! Like I just came out of the kiln!! ...

Can't wait to see what we'll serve to her tomorrow!!!"

[KBEANS]

@Othereeeen  BEAUTIFULLY SAID!

People use all your things. Wear all your clothes...Don't wait for an occasion. 

When I cleaned out my Uncle's place; I can't tell you how many boxes he had from wonderful stores with unworn, designer name clothing with tags on them...and they were dry rotted! 

What a shame!  Unused appliances, glassware and beautiful China.

Jewelry that was never worn. You name it; it was there.

People use all your stuff! Don't save it for an occasion that may never come. 

This way you'll never have to worry about who will take it, who wants it, or who doesn't.

If you don't use your thingsn your just as guilty as those you point fingers at.

[AuntMame]

MakeUpMaidN, You should post the desk for sale on your local Nextdoor and Craig's List sites. I often seen rolltop desks for sale on our NextDoor--and they do sell. 

I've always wanted a rolltop desk, but they're not practical for today's electronics-burdened home offices. I suspect that's why younger people aren't interested in them. Many couples both work from home these days and one needs desks with large surfaces for the electronics and all their cables. Cables do not hang off the back of rolltop desks very well. 

I've thought about adding a rolltop desk to my home office--for handling daily mail and bills, and writing out thank-you and condolence notes--who hand-writes any correspondence these days? But alas, there's no room. 

I'm facing a similar predicament. I have a rocking chair that's been in our family for nearly 200 years. When I was growing up it was the beloved chair in grandma's kitchen that all the grandkids had to rock in when they visited. Doubt anyone will want it when I die. 

[Sooner]

Nobody should feel obligated to give their space to stuff other people wanted.  If you don't want it, just get rid of it without feeling guilty.  You deserve your space and not living in a storage building or a museum!

It's sad that people are burdened. . . and so many use that word.

[mimomof4]

I went through this last summer.

When I asked my mother in law about photos and possibly selling them and other heirloom items she FREAKED out.  Instead she wanted to keep every single photo that came in front of her.  At that point I stopped asking her.  

In her home we found soo many cool items - certificate of citizenship from my husband's great grandmother.  My husband's grandmothers high school diploma.  There is was a painting of a relative when he was a child.  At one point I tried to contact a historical society from the grandmother's birth area but coudn't get anywhere.  My husband and I are the least emotional of the kids and were the only ones cleaning out the house.  We simply turned off our emotions and pitched or donated items to charity.

I figure that any items donated and sold were benefiting others.  I took items I had room for and would use.  I cound't take something that would just sit around and collect dust.

[wagirl]

@JoyFilled Warrior ---I was going to recommend that you take photos of the things you love but can't keep---I did that with so many things I ended up donating that meant alot to me----and I look back at the pics and it isn't as painful. Had alot of clothing that my kids had when they were babies and in their young years--had an antique rocker my mom gave me when I was pregnant with #1 child---even took pics of the new lighting fixtures that were in my house  after some remodeling that I LOVED-- I sold the house in prep for my divorce---

[Jk9]

I had an aunt that was a crafter.  She made all kinds of little things for her sisters (like crocheted bag holders, Kleenex box covers, etc.)  She also hand quilted beautiful full size quilts.  All of her sisters had many quilts from her that they revered and kept stored away, although they used some of the "plainer" ones.   My sisters and I got sevral of my aunt's quilts when our mother died and we have kept them safe thinking of keeping them in the family.  I offered my son two quilts recently and he said "what color are they" and "take a pic" so I can see if I want them.  Then it hit me, his values are so different than my generation.  So, I got out the quilts and I am enjoying them while I am alive.  

We are now using the "good" china and Waterford crystal on a daily basis.  I too have a gorgeous roll top desk that I hope one of my grandsons will want but if not, it can be sold or donated as I have enjoyed it myself.  

[haddon9]

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@occasionalrain wrote:

Now spending is on experiences, travel, but I believe, in future there will be a return to gracious living.

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I feel the same way.  I believe that many pieces of china, silver, crystal & antiques may become popular again at some point....who knows when that will be?

I have a full set (service for 12) of china made in occupied Japan.  It was my mother's and I just don't know what to do with it since DD doesn't want it. 

I also have four crystal bowls that belonged to my grandmother and they are over 100 years old.  DD said she might consider them.  I still have a lot to go through that belonged to my mother.