Got Crap?

Yep! I got crap. But after a lesson from Mama this morning, Rick sees a little more value in all of the crap I pile all over the place.

I don't know what it was that made me look closely at my cabinet tops last week, but once I did, all I could see was the cobwebs and dust fuzz clinging to grease covered CRAP! I had room in the dishwasher for a couple of extra dishes, so I figured I would just pull them down and wash them a few at the time. Nice plan in theory, but...

Once I pulled down the first few items (actually, I had to pry a few loose from the layers of grease, dust, and smoke particles that had them clinging tightly to the top of the cabinet), I realized I would need a couple of gallons of 409 grease cutter, a scraper and several pounds of hot wash clothes.

Before I knew it, my counter top was covered with dishes, vases, glasses, etc. Each took a turn in the dishwasher and/or the sink. I climbed up and down for a few hours trying to remove the gunk!

Finally, with everything spic and span, I asked Rick to pass me the CRAP so I could get it re-displayed. He agreed to help without rolling his eyes.

As he handed me each individual piece of crap, I told him where it came from. The history made them seem less crappy.

The dishes were Granny's. I stacked a berry bowl inside of a soup bowl and sat them upright in a plate stand. The cream and sugar on the left were also hers. I can't tell you how many times I ate out of these bowls over the years! The little fish in the middle was hers, too. It's a salt shaker. One of the back fins is broken off, but it's too cute to toss...are you listening Miss red.neck.chic?

All of these goodies showed up in one of the many boxes shipped to us from Tony's parents in Australia. I just love these dishes with their textured leaves and beautifully painted flowers. The cake plate and serving spatula are too pretty to be used by a klutz like me! Can you see the packing tape holding the two together? The yellow condiment dish carries on the textured leaf motif. Love them!

The quilted heart and the Holly Hobby egg were gifts from my Aunt Mollie. She gave me the egg when my age was still in single digits! The heart was made from a quilt that was made by my great grandmother. The quilt was damaged beyond repair. This was a wonderful way of keeping the art of the quilt alive. This means so much more to me now that I am a quilter and know how much work goes into making one. The decanters were given to Tony and me by my Aunt Katie when we got married. The crystal is beautiful, but the wine inside had turned to vinegar. They are all shined up and empty this time! The Victorian vase came from my great GREAT grandmother on my dad's side. Inside the vase is a list of women who have owned it...including me. I was thrilled when Rick said he wanted to be the next name on the list. You got it, Babe!

Next week, I'll work on the cabinet tops on the left side of the kitchen...maybe!

NOTE: There are no incriminating photos of the dust, cobwebs or vinegar wine! Thank heavens!!