tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post4928749198077757814..comments2023-12-27T22:26:20.552-05:00Comments on synch-ro-ni-zing: dishesRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-85841579435411997632009-10-09T07:12:23.847-04:002009-10-09T07:12:23.847-04:00Hi, Oliag! That makes me happy you like the commen...Hi, <b>Oliag</b>! That makes me happy you like the comments too. I know some people must think I'm strange to answer each one individually, but to me what people write here, and the directions they go, is part of why this is interesting to me.<br /><br />You'll create new memories with new items that you love. Your grandchildren will form their own vision of you, partly through the things you touch frequently.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-55224431958135653002009-10-03T12:12:48.904-04:002009-10-03T12:12:48.904-04:00Dear Ruth - I always enjoy your comments as much a...Dear Ruth - I always enjoy your comments as much as your post! This has all been such a lovely read and as usual has gotten me thinking...<br /><br />My parents were both among the youngest of large families so they inherited little...by the time it got to me I received one brown transferware platter from one grandmother and one cut glass vase from the other...both have since broken...Though these plates have broken my memories of meals at their tables remain intact and it is that that I hope to hand down to my grandchildren...<br /><br />That being said I have to say I am a great lover of dishes...especially of bowls and platters...and altho my urge for "the hunt" has also dwindled it has been fun:) I love your collection and would eat eggs from those eggcups daily if possible...<br /><br />PS Would love to be in that Provence pic!GailOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09556665956317683667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-4490451568820817222009-09-29T19:08:41.876-04:002009-09-29T19:08:41.876-04:00Claudia, just the words grandmother, great-grandmo...<b>Claudia</b>, just the words grandmother, great-grandmothers and great-aunts are so beautiful! They too got fragile over time, and how we treasure them.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-90080369015449751122009-09-28T07:39:33.340-04:002009-09-28T07:39:33.340-04:00I cherish the china, linen and silverware I've...I cherish the china, linen and silverware I've come to inherit from my grandmother, great-grandmothers and great-aunts. I use them on special ocasions and I believe that even though they are old and delicate they play an important role in family life. They shouldn't be stashed away as if in a museum. I'm careful with them and hope I'll pass them on one day, with their own little bit of family history. <br /><br />You've got beautiful china, Ruth!Claudiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07168756659741926721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-83125094109556751512009-09-28T04:47:09.956-04:002009-09-28T04:47:09.956-04:00Hi, Patty! You are artistic, you could make plates...Hi, <b>Patty</b>! You are artistic, you could make plates. I've always thought it would be a great project to design and make dishes. Don has a kiln, but he has not set it up, nor do we have a wheel, but he would like to try his hand at throwing pottery. I would like to try it too. <br /><br />Glad you like the Ireland stuff too.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-67607175619880530872009-09-27T20:54:27.786-04:002009-09-27T20:54:27.786-04:00lovely, lovely and lovely!
I am a fan of china and...lovely, lovely and lovely!<br />I am a fan of china and find such delight in odd pieces ... your special butter dish looks like you might almost be able to see sunlight thru it if you hold it up to a window<br />Some of my favorite plates are enamel with daisies on them, I've had them since the 70's and they are not very nicked up even ... bowls are also a fav thing to eat out <br />I am so happy to have found your blog and have Jeanie to thank!<br />I'm off to see more Ireland posts :) ~*~ Patty~*~Magpie's Nesthttp://www.bitze.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-43981766797027812942009-09-27T08:28:23.662-04:002009-09-27T08:28:23.662-04:00Sidney, did you see I linked to your Philippines R...<b>Sidney</b>, did you see I linked to your Philippines Railway post? :)Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-16439701979788217282009-09-27T08:26:15.244-04:002009-09-27T08:26:15.244-04:00Oh oh oh, I love your writing, Oh. There I said it...<b>Oh</b> oh oh, I love your writing, <b>Oh</b>. There I said it again.<br /><br />You could bring your linen tablecloth smile over and sit by the butter dish. But you wouldn't need that smile at my house. <br /><br />Books on how you live would be perfect, unique, just for you and your loved ones. Brilliant.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-14716776766180470582009-09-27T08:17:58.561-04:002009-09-27T08:17:58.561-04:00Gemma, that's the word: sacred. Sacred because...<b>Gemma</b>, that's the word: sacred. Sacred because we make them that way, not because they were manufactured. We give them our attention, our love, because we are going to give someone some of the same through them.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-8828978822478422642009-09-27T08:13:40.922-04:002009-09-27T08:13:40.922-04:00Oh thank you, Linda for that: "give us bread,...Oh thank you, <b>Linda</b> for that: "give us bread, but give us roses." And your story! That's fantastic, exactly why the dishes matter. It is how we ascribe worth to our guests. Not that it is the only way, or that if we use foam or paper we are not ascribing them worth. But the message you communicated through your extra effort was heard loud and clear: after Allison, they needed some heaven, and you had the means and notion to create it. I love it.<br /><br />I look forward to your rich stories always.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-4016602427284058252009-09-27T08:09:48.734-04:002009-09-27T08:09:48.734-04:00Haha, Barry, you go right on focusing on the food,...Haha, <b>Barry</b>, you go right on focusing on the food, be my guest.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-88984094377332819492009-09-27T08:08:21.434-04:002009-09-27T08:08:21.434-04:00I love it when you are chatty Cathy. Ohh, you get ...I love it when you are chatty <b>Cathy</b>. Ohh, you get to host Yaya from Greece. With friends at our table last night we discussed various cultures (mostly Germany and Turkey) and how differently they perceive hosting. I am convinced that our loss of ethnicity in the U.S. is why we've also lost focus on hospitality. Those sensibilities are handed down and modeled by the older generations, and we are very far removed from our Swedes and Germans in my family. But still my parents were very hospitable. The U.S. is a strange place. I would love to listen to Yaya talk about being hospitable in Greece. I hope she speaks English so you can hear her stories. I'm sure she'll love your spinach pie. Oh I love spanikopita.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-58091806874967173602009-09-27T08:03:34.628-04:002009-09-27T08:03:34.628-04:00C.M., I have too many cookbooks. I love them all, ...<b>C.M.</b>, I have too many cookbooks. I love them all, and I turn to them for certain things, but I do not use them the way my imagination tells me to use them. Our nesting instinct comes alive now as we head into winter. Have to store up some fat!Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-81843109723808257292009-09-27T06:38:27.849-04:002009-09-27T06:38:27.849-04:00Susie, now you have raised another thought, that o...<b>Susie</b>, now you have raised another thought, that of adopting someone else's memories in those teapots. I wonder what stories they have to tell?<br /><br />Having our family's old dishes out for holiday meals does so many things. It connects us with them, and also gives our children continuity and rhythm.<br /><br />I know, that Provence photo is lovely. I always have trouble cutting open pumpkins that big! Yikes. And rauf's image just makes me want to meet the woman who created that wall storage.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-60279310812011284212009-09-27T06:17:56.085-04:002009-09-27T06:17:56.085-04:00Thank you, Deborah, I'm glad you came over.
A...Thank you, <b>Deborah</b>, I'm glad you came over.<br /><br />And I just read your post about your friend, and I am very touched. Thank you.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-53235313722185352772009-09-27T03:31:50.725-04:002009-09-27T03:31:50.725-04:00You really have beautiful dishes!
Interesting ima...You really have beautiful dishes!<br /><br />Interesting images from around the world!Sidneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02495108366627361182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-9646840623391081512009-09-26T19:52:26.360-04:002009-09-26T19:52:26.360-04:00oh! oh oh oh oh oh! Ruth! This is lovely. First yo...oh! oh oh oh oh oh! Ruth! This is lovely. First your special things and I am mad about that butter dish. Just lovely.<br /><br />And then, the book? Right up my alley. Thanks for sharing that. I'm inspired. Our family lives all over the US map. I am thinking about making "books" about the way we live and sending them off to siblings, cousins, etc.<br /><br />Oh, but your pictures, I love them!Ohhttp://westcobich.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-5551046140891211392009-09-26T15:41:32.352-04:002009-09-26T15:41:32.352-04:00LORING! whoop whoop whoop ngah ngah ngah !
Such w...<b>LORING</b>! whoop whoop whoop ngah ngah ngah !<br /><br />Such was my life every day at 3:30 after school, just before Popeye.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-77571807194842792452009-09-26T15:39:34.692-04:002009-09-26T15:39:34.692-04:00Christina my dear. I know you understand, you of a...<b>Christina</b> my dear. I know you understand, you of anyone. You take such joy in everything around you, and you instill joy and love into all of it. That is what this is about.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-73920526486787357972009-09-26T15:37:38.522-04:002009-09-26T15:37:38.522-04:00Hi, Julie, I'm glad you're here.
Be sure...Hi, <b>Julie</b>, I'm glad you're here. <br /><br />Be sure to use those cups and saucers so when they divide them they will remember them, and you in them.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-24253667471705055042009-09-26T15:32:10.952-04:002009-09-26T15:32:10.952-04:00Your china is sacred. So is mine,
some coming from...Your china is sacred. So is mine,<br />some coming from a couple of generations. I daresay all the others who make food for their families have pottery and wares that are equally priceless.gmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04879507440579599549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-56663957404195212522009-09-26T15:30:59.824-04:002009-09-26T15:30:59.824-04:00Caroldiane, how wonderfully sweet you are, wouldn&...<b>Caroldiane</b>, how wonderfully sweet you are, wouldn't it be fun to break out all the stops and put on a feast? For this reason alone I would love a big kitchen like we had in our last house where no matter what party we had everyone ended up around the huge kitchen island. But our friends who are coming this evening prefer our little farm kitchen and eating at our little red kitchen table.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-70008609108550854762009-09-26T15:25:42.881-04:002009-09-26T15:25:42.881-04:00Anet, oh thanks! The butter dish has an iridescent...<b>Anet</b>, oh thanks! The butter dish has an iridescent glaze that is characteristic of Belleek, I hope you can see it.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-64900988678394528422009-09-26T15:24:07.205-04:002009-09-26T15:24:07.205-04:00California Girl, remember the Hunts and the silver...<b>California Girl</b>, remember the Hunts and the silver slide in 1980? That was crazy. But you're right, there is little value now, unless you use it. Did you know that aluminum was once like gold? I think one of the Louis's once had a priceless set of aluminum flatware. Diamonds are only valuable because of the market. <br /><br />I have some little silver serving spoons that are very valuable to me because of the craftsmanship.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-68464551309378413532009-09-26T09:48:16.038-04:002009-09-26T09:48:16.038-04:00Ruth,
In your own way you've restated somethi...Ruth,<br /><br />In your own way you've restated something dear to me. The women of the labor movement and the textile mills strikes in the early part of this century knew, in the words of the song, "Hearts starve as well as bodies... give us bread, but give us roses". It's still true.<br /><br />The dishes are the roses that accompany bread, and there is no time, no place not to put them to use. Every day is a special occasion, after all, and a bit of beauty can restore even the most worn and weary humanity.<br /><br />Early in my blogging career I told the story of feeding "my" work crew after tropical storm Allison destoyed the house. Here is just a snippet from that post, the most relevant to what I understand you to be saying:<br /><br /><i>In the beginning, one of my jobs was to go to a barbeque restaurant outside the flood zone and bring home a hot dinner to the work crew. The food was great; the ambience wasn’t. One evening, I was struck by a thought ~ ”Who in the world needs styrofoam plates in the middle of hell?” The next day, I pulled out my good china and served dinner as though nothing had happened.<br /><br />In the midst of the chaos and filth, the porcelain gleamed. Looking at the plates, one fellow walked outside, washed up with the hose and put on a clean tee-shirt. Paper-towel napkins were folded, instead of being dropped in a pile next to the food. Ice chests and chairs were pulled together, and everyone sat down to eat, instead of balancing their styrofoam containers on window ledges or sawhorses. As silverware clinked and rattled against porcelain, we ate, and talked, and felt just a bit more human. I didn’t think of it then, but later Oppenheim’s phrase came to mind, and took on meaning. Bread, AND roses...</i><br /><br />Thank you for such a wonderful post. I told jeanie recently I thought I might tell some of my "dish stories". Perhaps I willshoreacreshttp://shoreacres.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com