DISHES, DIGITAL CAMERAS AND HOMEMAKING TIPS

ONCE IN THE TRANQUILITY OF THE DINING ROOM, CARRIE FOUND MISS WINFIELD BUSILY UNPACKING DISHES AND WIPING THEM OFF. SOME OF THE OTHER GIRLS WERE HELPING HER. "OH, GOOD, CARRIE! YOUR'RE HERE! WE NEED YOU TO TELL US WHERE THE DISHES SHOULD BE PLACED IN THE CABINET," MISS WINFIELD SAID. "YOU DO KNOW HOW YOUR MOTHER HAD THESE ARRANGED, DON'T YOU?" from "The Fields of May"

On this sunny, but cold January day, I decided to quit putting off the inevitable. My china cabinets needed a thorough cleaning. This is a job I always dread. This curved glass cabinet was given to me by a friend and has become a valuable piece of my dining room furniture for the last 20 years, since I've rarely met a dish I didn't like!!!

Today, as usual, I started the cleaning by emptying the shelves one at a time. I wash the dishes, dust the shelf, and clean the glass inside and out. However, it's so full of dishes that in order not to forget which go where, I replace each shelf before emptying another. Still, each time I face the dilemma of getting them back exactly as they were. Finally today after about the third shelf, it dawned on me to use my digital camera to photograph the shelf and then use the picturea as a replacement guide! Voila! A new homemaking tip: USE YOUR DIGITAL CAMERA TO PHOTOGRAPH A SHELF OF DISHES!

CHINA CABINET TOUR:

This lovely dish is a modern carnival glass bowl. I have used it for really nice late summer flower arrangements. The vivid colors of marigolds, cosmos, lavendar, and zinnia really bring out the bowl's rainbow of color.

 An old platter with a delicate center bouquet and gold floral filigree border.





I love this interestingly shaped bowl/platter given to me last Christmas by my mother-in-law.

St. Paul's Reformed Church of Colon. I almost missed getting this nice commemorative photo plate. Not accustomed to spending more than $2/item at auctions, I let this slip through my fingers a few years ago at a sale. My husband was at the other end of the auction trying to purchase an antique frame for me. He requested I get this plate. I was so ashamed when I realized what he paid to "secure" the frame for me while I let the plate go in a stack for $3 or so. (I tend toward cheapness!) I approached the fella who bought the stack of dishes in which the plate was grouped and asked if he'd sell it to me. He said I could have it for free! Whew!! My husband wanted this because the old church is right across from the one we pastored. It is out in the country between Colon and Burr Oak and is no longer used except once a year for a reunion service. He displayed the plate on the shelf in his office at the church for years.

While I was cleaning, I decided to reconstruct a cake plate (wedding gift) that had lost its pedestal years ago. Thankfully I had saved both pieces. I got out my trusty glue that I discovered by way of my daughter-in-law and her cake plate crafts last year. Finally fixed after so many years! Hooray! Now my mom will work on repairing the tea cup I dropped after this whole cleaning job was done. It was "The Little Mother" teacup and saucer, one of a matching pair that sits on top of the cabinet. It was already broken, so when it slipped from my hands as I dusted, it shattered instantly.

Here's the silver and gold shelf minus some of the teapots, already in the dishwater. This is probably my favorite shelf as it sparkles when everything is in place. I keep my best teapot on this shelf with a 25th anniversary plate and salt and pepper shakers, crystal vases, and candle holders, and a gold-edged deviled egg plate.

Next week.....this cupboard gets cleaned! My husband's grandfather made this and we inherited it since my husband was the first grandchild. I don't know what I'd do without it, but it is HUGE and I have it filled to capacity. Probably a two to three day job instead of a few hours. DEFINITELY PHOTOGRAPHING THE SHELVES BEFORE REMOVING DISHES IN THIS ONE! Thanks for visiting my china cabinet. I'll post more when the other one gets cleaned. In it I keep my beloved transferware collection. Blessings, LORI

THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD

EMMA gave us all something to think about this Christmas. I've had this cute little church centerpiece for several years. The chamber of commerce gave it to Clint as a gift after he spoke at one of their holiday meetings quite some time ago. I've used it on the dining room table ever since.

This year, I moved the church to a side table and it was just at Emma's eye level. Suddenly when we lit it, she squealed excitedly, "Granny and Papa! There's a wedding in the church!" I got down on her level (what a neat concept!) and looked and sure enough---there are tiny plastic figures inside behind the yellow windows....a bride, a groom, the preacher, and some guests! None of us had ever noticed them before! I wonder how many other wonderful things we adults have missed as we hurried through the holiday season? I hope we all took some time to see things through the eyes of a child--took time to appreciate all the intricate details of the incredible Christmas story instead of just passing through another holiday season.

This last picture seemed appropriate to add because of the title of this post. Emma was enjoying the mirrors at the antique dressing table in the upstairs bathroom. Aren't all the mirror images interesting? Rhi took these very neat pictures--reminders to stop and reflect on the wonders all around us in 2013.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND GOD'S BLESSINGS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!