It is countdown now to turkey day, we will be swamped with details of that. Yesterday China and folding chairs and blue napkins went to Sarah's house from ours. I gifted her permanently with one of our old Ironstone platters. I love to turn them over and see the dear old English marks. We will carry the turkey over tomorrow and slice it onto our best wheat pattern ironstone platter, very large and grand indeed. There will be three turkeys cooked three ways, and a ham. Many sides and many deserts. Norman Rockwell will be right there in spirit. About 20 of us will be eating there. More O'Neill branches will be in two other gatherings here in Fredericksburg.
Sarah and her mother Beth and I all have large amounts of the same china patterns. We are always able to pick up more from each other and serve groups nicely. Before the fire I had service for 36 in Spode indian tree. Some was damaged, I lost a lot of cups, and some other pieces were crazed from the heat. I still can serve over 24 in basic pieces. Beth concentrated on Spode's Christmas tree pattern, she has enough for about 30 of us in that. Sarah has the Spode blue room reissue things, including a nice amount of Spode Itallian. I have all three in our cupboards, as well as a bit of Spode tradewinds which mimics the old chinese export dishes with red sailing ships. Jack always says of us, we never met a dish we did not like!!!
When Great Granddaughter Bailey Elizabeth was about 3 she was making her way into the living room with a doll size tea set to show off, and dropped the teapot and broke it! Up went this heartbreaking wail, "Oh my China!" We were all in the livingroom and heard her and rolled our eyes. Poor little thing will love it as we three older ones do! Of course we showered the child with more tea sets. The beloved dishes are just a symbol for the joy of repeating the traditions once more, the beautiful ties of having 5 generations in households a few blocks apart in a small town. We count this among our greatest blessings to be thankful for, that we are close together on a daily basis. E
