Photoessay #953 - China cabinets

I have 3 china cabinets. Ridiculous for myself who really has a hard time with 'things'. Some people get a lot of joy and satisfaction with things. They collect, tend and display. But my interest always lies with thinking and ideas. I don't know what to do with all of this stuff. Don't 'have a feel' for it.

My late mother-in-law, Lanaya, was tremendously talented with things; decorating, arranging. House Beautiful was always her interest and goal. Somewhere I have a great picture of her as a teen poring over that very magazine with rapt interest.

Needless to say, all of the china cabinets belonged to her. She often would come into my house and say "You know what you need raight there? A mirror!" And before I knew it, a mirror would appear and she would come in and install it. And the place always would look better for it. Some people might take issue with that amount of interference. Not I, as I didn't have the slightest idea what to do, in fact would never think of it.

She also loved buying clothes for her son. I remember my husband moaning (in jest). "I'm 40 years old and my mother still dresses me!" I would reply "And it's a darn good thing too". As we collectively HATE HATE to shop.

The first china cabinet, she gave to me shortly after we were married 33 years ago. I had a lot of pretty dishes and other things and nowhere to put them. I believe she found this china cabinet on it's side at some garage or estate sale. It was on it's side and it was being used as a chicken coop. No lie. That's the story anyway. My father in law fixed it all up for me and I've had it ever since. In 1976, brides often picked out patterns and the guests would buy a piece. Lanaya took me to pick out a pattern (Blue Tower) and, through the years, often got me matching pieces. This cabinet contains, the Blue Tower dishes, some inexpensive crystal, some blue depression glass that a friend bought me and other special pieces.

The corner cupboard was my in-laws special most valued piece. The owned many antiques plus they bought and sold antiques and collectibles as a retirement business. I'm not sure who had it, maybe Jim's mom but I believe it dates from the 1840s. It's full of this and that, some valuable pieces and some not in my living room. It will eventually house the 'duck dishes' of my mom's. When I was about 12 years old, I said I wanted them, so now I will have them. Truly, though, I need another set of decorative dishes like a hole in the head.

Obscured in the picture is the Lincoln letter which is displayed on the second shelf in the middle.

The last one was kind of left over. I don't know its provenance but it's in our den. I'm using it as a place to concentrate pictures. Rather hard to get to at this point because it's rather jammed in.

Lovely, but truly, does anybody NEED three china cabinets????