We spent the afternoon in an antiques shop

Georgiagranny · Oct 22, 2023

It made me kinda sad seeing all the beautiful china, crystal and silver and remembering holiday dinners when the table was set with a lace or damask tablecloth and such things.

We so looked forward to dressing up in new clothes and getting together with all the aunts, uncles, cousins and especially grandparents, and dinner was always a special event.

My grandmother was a nurse and rarely had holidays off, but my mother and aunts would go to my grandparents' house on the day of and tackle the dinner preparations. If my grandmother had worked the 11pm-7am shift, she'd sleep while my aunts and mother cooked. When she worked the 7am-3pm shift, dinner was ready when she got home.

Me? The week before Thanksgiving, I'd go over there and polish the silver. The day after Thanksgiving was the day I'd go there to decorate Christmas cookies. Then they were stashed in her cold, cold pantry. Sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas, my grandmother would make plum pudding, and that got stored, too, then reheated in a steamer and served for dessert with a brandy hard sauce after Christmas dinner, flaming, of course!

Now? Does anybody even bother setting a formal table? Does anybody even remember how to set a formal table anymore? Probably not. Big meal, probably. Dress up? Not likely.

There were things that really were better in the good old days.

Jules · Oct 22, 2023

Georgiagranny said:
Now? Does anybody even bother setting a formal table? Does anybody even remember how to set a formal table anymore? Probably not. Big meal, probably. Dress up? Not likely.

My friend always sets a lovely table for guests. Always a centrepiece. She lives to entertain.

Dress up? Heaven forbid. One SSon was annoyed that I insisted that the TV be turned off.

I have fond family memories of holiday dinners with family.

jujube · Oct 22, 2023

My grandmother loved to set an elegant table. Chargers, the "good" china, silverware all in the right place and more than you could use, the iced tea in crystal goblets. Silver and glass serving pieces. There was always a lace tablecloth over a colored cloth suitable for the season. Linen napkins bleached and ironed to a fare-the-well. There was always a big ceramic turkey in the center.

And, of course, more food than an Army platoon could eat.

Then after Thanksgiving dinner, we'd watch King Kong and The Wizard of Oz, which were ALWAYS on and then scatter for a nap to regain strength to attack the leftovers. My dad always got the couch. Everyone else slept wherever we could find room. There might be four to a bed.

Georgiagranny · Oct 22, 2023

Jules said:
My friend always sets a lovely table for guests. Always a centrepiece. She lives to entertain.

Dress up? Heaven forbid. One SSon was annoyed that I insisted that the TV be turned off.
50s
I have fond family memories of holiday dinners with family.

Turning off the TV wasn't a problem at all because we didn't even get a TV signal in our little town until the late 50s. Even after that, there was one TV, and it wasn't in the dining room!

oscash · Oct 22, 2023

I love to go into antique shops. I love all the beautiful China, crystal glasses and vases. The antique chandeliers as well. I still have a beautiful crochet tablecloth that my grandmother use to put on her large dining table for New Years Day luncheon. I have a 12 piece dinner set with lovely Roses all over, I never use it and thought I could donate it to a charity, my sons never wanted it as they didn't like the flowers.

Fyrefox · Oct 23, 2023

There are fewer antique shops in my area than there are what I’d term upscale flea market malls. They are often housed in large, now repurposed buildings that once housed big department stores like Sears or K-mart. Stepping into one, you see dozens of dealer booths, often specializing in something or featuring a particular look. Almost any one of them contains artifacts from my past that I grew up with in the 1950’s or 60’s. It’s like going through a museum of your own past, a real nostalgia trip…

Georgiagranny · Oct 23, 2023

Fyrefox said:
It’s like going through a museum of your own past, a real nostalgia trip…

Exactly! Only in my case, it was growing up in the 40s and 50s. It was fun but sad at the same time.

jujube · Nov 11, 2023

I do love a good antique store but the problem is I find myself less often saying, "My mother/grandmother had one of those!" and more often saying, "I had one of those!"

That's when you know to be careful in antique stores lest they put you on a shelf and try to sell you as "vintage"......

debodun · Nov 11, 2023

Where are all you antique enthusiasts when I'm having a garage sale?

Sliverfox · Nov 11, 2023

I was thinking hubby & I need to go to an antique store ,just to get out & look around.
What makes my heart ache at places like that is all the embroidery work, crochet dollies,afghans & handmade quilts.

The time , effort gone into those hand made items only to end up there.

Jules · Nov 11, 2023

Sliverfox said:
What makes my heart ache at places like that is all the embroidery work, crochet dollies,afghans & handmade quilts.

It really is heartbreaking when you think of the skill and time spent making all of these. I think quilts sell.

hollydolly · Nov 11, 2023

Wanna see something beautiful talking of antiques, and lovely old stores...?

This is Barbra Streisands' Basement... ... had to laugh at the look of disgust on Kings' face when Barbra said she bought a dress second hand for $10.. and loves it

Lilac · Nov 11, 2023

We still use real plates & glasses for our everyday meals. Holidays will get gussied-up to include centerpieces & crystal. I have it, so might as well use it. As far as dress you don't have to be real fancy, but please no sweats or holey jeans.

Paper plates, plastic ups & forks are for outside picnics, not holidays.

I have to be careful going into antique stores because I always see something that I want to buy. Hubby reminds me of what I already have at home.

Teacher Terry · Nov 11, 2023

My youngest son loves antiques and wants the few furniture pieces that I have kept and the glassware. I used to have a house full of antiques but I downsized to a small condo and my son lives in Vietnam so I sold them.

horseless carriage · Nov 11, 2023

Georgiagranny said:
It made me kinda sad seeing all the beautiful china, crystal and silver and remembering holiday dinners when the table was set with a lace or damask tablecloth and such things.

We so looked forward to dressing up in new clothes and getting together with all the aunts, uncles, cousins and especially grandparents, and dinner was always a special event.

My grandmother was a nurse and rarely had holidays off, but my mother and aunts would go to my grandparents' house on the day of and tackle the dinner preparations. If my grandmother had worked the 11pm-7am shift, she'd sleep while my aunts and mother cooked. When she worked the 7am-3pm shift, dinner was ready when she got home.

Me? The week before Thanksgiving, I'd go over there and polish the silver. The day after Thanksgiving was the day I'd go there to decorate Christmas cookies. Then they were stashed in her cold, cold pantry. Sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas, my grandmother would make plum pudding, and that got stored, too, then reheated in a steamer and served for dessert with a brandy hard sauce after Christmas dinner, flaming, of course!

Now? Does anybody even bother setting a formal table? Does anybody even remember how to set a formal table anymore? Probably not. Big meal, probably. Dress up? Not likely.

There were things that really were better in the good old days.

Oh yes we do. You often see my visage underneath a fedora hat, so rather than that, here's three of our friends, just for you.

smilingmore · Nov 11, 2023

Georgiagranny said:
The very first time I ever entered an antique shop I was so amazed. It was like stepping into my grandmother's house. How I miss her doilies. No one uses a doily any more.

Gary O' · Nov 11, 2023