Did anyone use the "fine" china yesterday

[minnie mum]

LOL..I don't even own fine china but my mom is a whole nutter story She insists on setting the table with this ancient china and her good silverware that comes out of a wooden box. Does anyone else do this?

We always use our fine china, crystal, and silverware for all holidays and special occasions. Guess this makes me a "nutter"?

My china has come down to me from my grandmother (so I guess it qualifies as "ancient", but I prefer to call it antique) and brings back wonderful memories of dinners past every time I use it. As for the silverware- it is stored in a box for a reason: it protects the silver from scratches and other damage, and helps to reduce the amount of tarnishing. BTW- the more you use your silverware, the less polishing it requires.

And yes, it all requires hand washing. We have developed a tradition in our family- the ladies do the cooking and food prep, and the men folk do the washing and clean up. It's great to sit back after the big meal with a nice cup of tea and watch the guys bantering back and forth as they work. And they always do a great job.

 

[alex9179]

Trip, that pattern is wonderful! Does it have the maker's mark and pattern name on the back?

I didn't register for china when we got married. However, I have since become a bit obsessed with pretty dishes and have 3 antique styles that I collect (had to limit myself!) as well as a couple of stoneware colors and a Corelle pattern. Most were bought at deep discounts.
We use the antiques periodically throughout the year and always bring them out when we have guests for dinner. For me, it adds something extra special to the dining experience. I'm a sucker for pretty things, though! I'll even do centerpieces, cloth napkins, crystal glasses, etc. The kids love it!

 

[honeydiane1953]

I didn't even want fine china till nine yrs ago. I bought a set and although we didn't host I AWAYS use the good stuff on Thanksgiving. Now Christmas prob will eat barbeque on paper. I am obsessed with china. It's a passion. I also have bought a set for my only granddaughter! I did not buy silver but a great set of stainless. Why I bought the crystal who knows. That's one purchase was a what was I thinking??

 

[dimimi]

We were given china for our wedding, so we use it for every holiday. It is nice to be able to make the dinner special. If I didn't have the china though, I wouldn't buy it!

 

[bettymae1121]

I'll be hosting Christmas and I'll be using my "fine" china for that. It's my mom's wedding set so it's old and a bit dated (without being antique) and not worth anything. But it's white with silver trim and looks pretty nice with the red table cloth. One of these days I'll buy my own fine set, but since we only use it once or twice a year, it's pretty low down on the "someday we'll buy that" list.

 

[trip]

LOVE those!! Our family has a huge platter just like it but I didn't know it must have come from a set somewhere along the line. We live in a super-small condo right now so my sister has "custody" of all the seasonal place-settings and serving pieces; doing up the table is a mandatory part of every festive meal. There's tons of Christmas stuff but we'd all go nuts for those turkey dishes!

We have the large platter also.

Trip, that pattern is wonderful! Does it have the maker's mark and pattern name on the back?

I didn't register for china when we got married. However, I have since become a bit obsessed with pretty dishes and have 3 antique styles that I collect (had to limit myself!) as well as a couple of stoneware colors and a Corelle pattern. Most were bought at deep discounts.
We use the antiques periodically throughout the year and always bring them out when we have guests for dinner. For me, it adds something extra special to the dining experience. I'm a sucker for pretty things, though! I'll even do centerpieces, cloth napkins, crystal glasses, etc. The kids love it!

It's called Barnyard King by Johnson Brother's.

 

[disykat]

I'll be hosting Christmas and I'll be using my "fine" china for that. It's my mom's wedding set so it's old and a bit dated (without being antique) and not worth anything. But it's white with silver trim and looks pretty nice with the red table cloth. One of these days I'll buy my own fine set, but since we only use it once or twice a year, it's pretty low down on the "someday we'll buy that" list.

My grandma's china is opalescent with a silver rim, and my mom's is bone with a silver trim, so I got "china stone" that is bone with a grey rim. It all goes with ANYTHING.

 

[HannaBelle]

We do not host. My in laws live about 30 minutes away and my parents are 20 minutes away an both prefer to host. Neither family uses the china or silver. We use disposable since each group routinely has 16+ people at holiday meals. We had 23 at my in laws this Thanksgiving. I am not even sure they have that many plates total.

Growing up, my mother had 3 sets of dishes. Everyday, Sunday dinner/special occasion and fine china...I absolutely hated having to get them out and wash them in preparation of a meal.

Much to my mother in laws dismay, I did not register for china. I have been married 21 years and still don't want any! Ironically, we have inherited my paternal grandmothers china and my husbands paternal grandmothers china. Both sets are in boxes. Not sure what do with them, but I don't feel comfortable selling them or giving them away.

 

[Granny square]

We do. My grandparents owned a pottery many years ago so it is special to us. I don't mind washing dishes so it isn't a big deal to use good dishes. At home we use real dishes all the time. Paper plates are for picnics for us.

25 of us on Thursday

 

[luvgoing2disney]

We used paper products this year, but it was because this Thanksgiving was a little different. I lost my mom rather suddenly two months ago, but nothing gave her more joy than having the immediate and extended family at her home for every holiday. My dad, who is 92, wanted to continue the tradition so I and my wife organized the day and had is as close to what mom usually did as possible. Even though we straighned up dad's house after the meal, it just made it easier for us to clean up using the paper products that were disposable. We had more time together and it was just a fun day to give thanks and being together. Mama must have smiled seeing us at her house, using her decorations, and having a grand time---even if not using the good stuff.

 

[RangerPooh]

We did! DH and I never registered for China when we got married as I inherited my grandmothers service for 8. Not my style, but very pretty. My grandmothers service is typically saved as overflow and we use my moms as hers is service for 10 and I have that too. Hers is definitely my taste. Plus when DH and I bought a beautiful china hutch at an estate sale last month it came with a complete set of China from the mid 30s. So now I own 2 sets of China, plus keep my moms safe, and my other grandmother has asked if I'm interested in her set. Good thing I've got daughters to pass this down too

So yes, we broke out the china and nice silverware to eat from, plus wine glasses. But don't let this fool you. My in laws still had their pop cans on the table, lol.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Yes, but I also use mine every single day.

My grandmother told me,"If you don't use the China, the second wife will!"

Hysterical.

 

[doodle]

Yes, we did! China, crystal and silver. I must have a screw loose, because I enjoy hand washing it all. However, I would not want to do it every day!

 

[Rylee]

I always use the fine china, silver and crystal on holidays and special occasions. It's just another way of adding a special touch to our celebration, like decorating or serving certain foods.

Also, the job of setting the table has always been assigned to the youngest child actually old enough to do it. Learning how to set a proper place setting certainly does not rank high on my list of valued priorities, however, I don't want my children to grow up completely ignorant, either. Plus, when others arrive and comment on how beautiful the table looks, it gives them a little sense of pride.

 

[DVCJones]

Yes!!! I have fond memories of my mother using all her good stuff for the holidays. It makes it feel more special to me. While I did not register for fine china, I did inherit a beautiful set that I always loved. I also have my grandmother's silver, but I didn't use it because it needs to be polished. When I got married, we registered for some top quality stainless silverware from Reed & Barton. I had already had my grandmother's silver and knew I didn't want to polish another set.

 

[aprilchem]

I didn't. We didn't register for china because we thought we were going to inherit a set from DH's great-grandmother, but then his parents sold it on EBay. They didn't need money; they are very rich and have no concept of things having sentimental value. DH was so sad; if we'd known they were going to do it we would have bid on it and tried to buy it but of course they didn't tell us until they were shipping it off to the winning bidder.

 

[ronandannette]

Yes, but I also use mine every single day.

My grandmother told me,"If you don't use the China, the second wife will!"

Hysterical.

Good memories...my DGM only HAD good china (Royal Albert American Beauty):
http://images.replacements.com/imag...ackground_dinner_plate_P0000084749S0205T2.jpg

There weren't any other dishes of any kind in her cupboard. She had full place setting for 16 and all the serving pieces. She set the table with it for every meal. On the occasions when there were more than 16 of us the "extras" ate off the side plates and soup bowls. During our growing up years none of us kids were aware they were anything special...we just thought of them as "Grandma's rose plates". (Bear in mind this was a farm-wife from a modest background living in VERY frugal circumstances - I wonder now where she even got them and why they would have been such a priority??)

She never owned a dishwasher and even with being hand-washed every day there were only one cup and a soup bowl missing when they "passed down" upon her death. (Oddly, they went to one of my boy-cousins who never married and lives with his own elderly mother to this day - I must remember to ask him if they ever get any use anymore.) I miss you Grandma; thanks again for the memory Handbag!

 

[mumto3girls]

I did not host Thanksgiving, but I always use nice dishes when I host a holiday. For Christmas I use nicer Christmas plates that I have purchased or received as gifts over the years--I think I have 16 place setting or so. I usually have more than 20 for dinner so the kids use salad/dessert plates. We do buffet style as places the tables are scarce.

When I host Easter or Mother's Day I use a set that my DH bought at an estate sale a few years ago. He followed a sign for one on a whim and there were very few people there with a lot of old dishes and glassware. He bought a huge set of china for very little money. I didn't have china and although it is not exactly what I would have chosen, I like it and enjoy using it a few times per year.

I am supposed to inherit a huge set from my mom and some point. Her dad sent it to her mom when he was in Belgium during WWII. I love it and will happily use it when the time comes.

I don't have silver, but my everyday is nice and I have added pieces over the years so it works for holidays. Sometimes I have to supplement with plastic when we have our big Christmas crowd. My mom has the box OP mentioned. She hated polishing it!

 

[RangerPooh]

I always use the fine china, silver and crystal on holidays and special occasions. It's just another way of adding a special touch to our celebration, like decorating or serving certain foods. Also, the job of setting the table has always been assigned to the youngest child actually old enough to do it. Learning how to set a proper place setting certainly does not rank high on my list of valued priorities, however, I don't want my children to grow up completely ignorant, either. Plus, when others arrive and comment on how beautiful the table looks, it gives them a little sense of pride.

My oldest DD (8) had this task and took full pride in it. I can recall the sane pride myself do it was nice to see her do it . Interestingly she was the one who took it upon herself to package and put away all the leftovers!

 

[suzannen]

I use my china, silver and crystal every special holiday. I have several sets including my mother's and my aunt's (they both had the same pattern). I used their china this Thanksgiving. My aunt passed away 10 years ago, and even though my mother is still alive, she is in a facility suffering from dementia and hasn't recognized me for years. I also used the silver from my MIL who passed away 3 years ago. When I pull out and touch their "treasures," it gives me great joy and brings back such wonderful memories of holidays shared with them. I feel them smiling over my table and my family and makes me thankful to have them.