Spring has begun to show itself in the form of puddles and rubber boots at our house. There is a field near our home that can be pretty marshy even in dry weather - at this time of year it is the perfect place to utilize rubber boots and splash pants. They have so very much fun and I'm always faced with the predicament upon leaving the house - bring the camera and capture the moments for scrapbooking, or forget the camera and just live the moment with the boys without worrying about splashing or dropping my friend D90. I rotate.
With the spring weather comes an increasing need to get crackin' on the big plans for our trip. Campgrounds and attractions and closed roads.... so much to consider. It will be a wonderful time and I know we'll remember the trip with the boys forever regardless of how limited their little memories might be at this age. At least everyone is well aware that snapping pictures will be a HUGE priority for me, so I'll be shirking the parental duties perhaps more than the normal, non-trigger-happy parent?
My mind has been occupied by thoughts of china lately. Not the country. The dinnerware. Beautiful, delicate dinnerware. I have a large set of Blossom Time china. It's a lot of pink, but I love it for nostalgic reasons. And it is beautiful. Just not something we will use a lot for the men because, well, I just imagine the the old-school men in my life aren't going to jump up and down at the idea of pink floral dinnerware. (They won't jump for joy at any dinnerware.) I have a few pieces of Silver Birch (another Royal Albert pattern) and I love the little punches of colour amongst the muted greys of the tree trunks. I have recently been thinking how I don't have anything suitable for a special Christmas dinner. Perhaps I should have the Yuletide pattern as well. How silly! I think in our next home I'll have to have a beautiful, build-in wall unit to display these three sets (or more) when I've finished my collection. All that being said, I have been looking at pieces on kijiji just to see what's out there. Once in a while you can find someone who either doesn't know the dollar value of china or doesn't care and just wants it out of the way. I like to jump on those pieces. I'm currently waiting to hear from someone in Edmonton who wants to sell a few Blossom Time pieces (tea pot included) for a ridiculously low price.
The question is - to whom will I bequeath my china when my time has come to an end? Maybe a granddaughter? I understand not everyone wants china. I'm going to have to request three or four granddaughters who all want a set of Grandma's fine china. Any ideas how to start that process? :)
Appreciators of Royal Albert - here's what's got my blood pumping this week:
Below is the Blossom Time pattern - inspired by an orchard in our very own Annapolis Valley in 1933. Having this set displayed in my china cabinet makes me feel like I'm not that far away from the smells and sights of home - particularly in the spring.
Here is the Silver Birch pattern. I think my Grandmother Erickson had this set. I have a cup or two, but I'd love to have more.
For Christmas - I guess I don't know for sure if this is the real "Yuletide" pattern by Royal Albert, or if the next picture is? But I like both. I have an aversion to the tomato-red colour, and would appreciate these pieces just a little more if the red had a SLIGHTLY darker hue. Not burgundy, but deep red. The second picture shows a red that I like, but other pictures of that pattern online seem more tomato-y.
Does anyone have a favourite to share? Does anyone else CARE? ;)
