The sugar bowl is beautiful, not atrocious. And as a tribute to your beloved mother, have it re-plated. Do some research into its period in history, and perhaps you’ll gain some insight into your (lovely sounding) mother’s good taste.
One of my favorite wedding gifts is a silver plated pitcher from the Jubilee Period, signed and dated, 1927. It too is pot bellied, with ball feet, and has a single ‘arm’ handle much like your mother’s. Mine is delicately etched, and it is anything but ugly. Unfortunately I can’t attach an image. Yours may be from that era.
I’ve read everything you’ve ever written. I’m sad to say that your work has become less relevant for the disdain you show increasingly more often to your audience and even your peers. Your “word-smithing”may be clever, but it is not wise. To use a word coined by a younger generation, your snark is showing, and it is unbecoming of someone with your former stature.
Your story about the family sugarbowl reminds me that I have a saltbox that has special meaning to me. It's the only thing of my grandmother's belongings that was passed down to my mother. Mom was the last of seven children. As her older siblings died, their childen sent my mother family treasures including good jewelry, priceless photos and the saltbox.
The salt box is ceramic with a wooden lid. It's marked "made in Japan" and similar ones sell on Ebay for $30. I keep it filled with pens in my office and think fondly of my grandmother when I look at it.
I kind of love your sugar bowl, though I don't consider it "ugly" so much as "has character". I think it's exactly the kind of weird thing you'd want to hang onto, sort like the *schrank* my family home had—it's a china cabinet my Mom bought when we lived in Germany, and it was a part of the family until she died. Unfortunately, NOBODY in our family has the room for where we live now—I couldn't even get my ex-wife to take it and she's got the house!
I could imagine keeping that sugar bowl, though....
Your Homely Truths article was my favorite thing I read this week. The great human urge to transform something not always being wise rings even more true today. My mom has a collection of vegetable peelers accumulated over the years and it's the one she inherited from her mother, without the fancy ergonomic handle or shiny parts, is by far the best one.
Many of us are dealing with gloom at this time of year & that lemon tart sounds like just the ticket! Can you also explain the kumquats on the plate? How are they prepared?
And while I'm here, thank you for years of fine writing!
I am laughing my way into the weekend! A sugar bowl with attitude, it does look like 2 little arms judging you. I laughed out loud here by myself at my desk. Happy Friday it is!
Thank you for the sunshine dessert recipe and the rest of this lovely post.
The garnish of candied kumquat slices is superb. I bet recipes abound, but I haven’t seen kumquats so far this winter.
The sugar bowl is beautiful, not atrocious. And as a tribute to your beloved mother, have it re-plated. Do some research into its period in history, and perhaps you’ll gain some insight into your (lovely sounding) mother’s good taste.
One of my favorite wedding gifts is a silver plated pitcher from the Jubilee Period, signed and dated, 1927. It too is pot bellied, with ball feet, and has a single ‘arm’ handle much like your mother’s. Mine is delicately etched, and it is anything but ugly. Unfortunately I can’t attach an image. Yours may be from that era.
I’ve read everything you’ve ever written. I’m sad to say that your work has become less relevant for the disdain you show increasingly more often to your audience and even your peers. Your “word-smithing”may be clever, but it is not wise. To use a word coined by a younger generation, your snark is showing, and it is unbecoming of someone with your former stature.
Your story about the family sugarbowl reminds me that I have a saltbox that has special meaning to me. It's the only thing of my grandmother's belongings that was passed down to my mother. Mom was the last of seven children. As her older siblings died, their childen sent my mother family treasures including good jewelry, priceless photos and the saltbox.
The salt box is ceramic with a wooden lid. It's marked "made in Japan" and similar ones sell on Ebay for $30. I keep it filled with pens in my office and think fondly of my grandmother when I look at it.
Great read as always. Keep them coming.
I kind of love your sugar bowl, though I don't consider it "ugly" so much as "has character". I think it's exactly the kind of weird thing you'd want to hang onto, sort like the *schrank* my family home had—it's a china cabinet my Mom bought when we lived in Germany, and it was a part of the family until she died. Unfortunately, NOBODY in our family has the room for where we live now—I couldn't even get my ex-wife to take it and she's got the house!
I could imagine keeping that sugar bowl, though....
Those are some of the most delicious looking dishes that I have seen in a very long time !
Your Homely Truths article was my favorite thing I read this week. The great human urge to transform something not always being wise rings even more true today. My mom has a collection of vegetable peelers accumulated over the years and it's the one she inherited from her mother, without the fancy ergonomic handle or shiny parts, is by far the best one.
Many of us are dealing with gloom at this time of year & that lemon tart sounds like just the ticket! Can you also explain the kumquats on the plate? How are they prepared?
And while I'm here, thank you for years of fine writing!
Yum! What are the little "things" adorning the slice of the beautiful lemon tart? Kumquats?
I am laughing my way into the weekend! A sugar bowl with attitude, it does look like 2 little arms judging you. I laughed out loud here by myself at my desk. Happy Friday it is!