Monday, April 23, 2012

Tea Time, No Golf Clubs Allowed

When I was four years old my Great Grama Gina gave me this little sugar and creamer set.  She had it in the box it came in, a souvenir of her trip from Iowa to Galena, Illinois to President Grant's Home.  I imagine it was some time in the 1940s.  I displayed them on my hutch dresser for years.  The roses are the opposite color on the other side of each piece and the trim says 24 carat gold.  The set is precious to me no matter their material value.
I started thrifting five years ago and developed a unique habit of putting things back together.  It sounds like something from a children's storybook; the two candlesticks that sat on some grandmother's table forever and a day can't be in two different places in the great big thrift store.  They have never been apart their whole lives, they'll have separation anxiety!  I put the candlestick in my cart and 'drive it around' till I find its mate and put them together.  They are happy once again.
This little habit also pairs creamers and sugars in holy matrimony.  'Look, there's a cute little sugar bowl.  I wonder where the creamer is?'  Into the cart, drive up and down the isles.  If I didn't find it, I drive through the whole place looking again (there are about 6 isles with four layers of shelves on both sides).  I am not taking OCD medication, in case you are wondering.  This is the only place I do this, things that were together at some grama's house must REMAIN together.  
  So you see, once they are reunited, they just are so cute, and when you can have both pieces for around $3.00, why shouldn't they come to tea at my house?  They come in pairs, two by two, just like Noah's animals into the ark, I mean into my buffet,  TOGETHER AGAIN.  Only paired sets of creamers and sugars come home.

I did have to bring home the little red Pyrex fridgie without his lid.  I walked through that great big thrift store three times trying to find his mate!  He came home and I'll keep hunting, he's willing to accept a new partner at this stage of the game.  I asked Stephanie at Gilded Junque, my spring swap partner if she put things together too, we are so much alike...sometimes, she does.  Do you?

11 comments:

  1. I like things together too. I have a creamer and sugar set that was my Nana's. When she passed away it came back to my mom, who had given it to her, and them my mom gave it to me. The sugar bowl sits on top of the creamer. During the 1989 earthquake in the Bay Area, it fell off of the shelf and the sugar bowl broke. I was at our local junior college flea market with one of my friends years later,and we saw a sugar bowl all alone that matched the one that had broke. I had no extra money at the time, I went to the market to be with friends not to buy anything so $6.00 was totally out of the question. My friend said you have to have it..it's a once in a lifetime find..I said I can't borrow money to by a sugar bowl and being so sweet said it's an early b-day present!
    I don't usually find the missing one at the same time.. it usually is very random and much later.
    Hugs, Chris

    P.S sorry for the really looonnnnggg comment :)

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  2. I never thought about looking for "the mate" but I'm guessing I will from now on. :)

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  3. What a great idea!! I love the beautiful roses on the first one your Grandma gave you!! ;) xo Heather

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  4. Such a treasured pair from your grandmother. I understand the need for things to be united again. I do the same thing when I'm wandering thrift stores.

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  5. Something I do frequently, even with book sets. It seems far more logical to take the pair home. Sweet post...smiles...Renee

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  6. Gotta have one with the other or it's just wrong. =)

    The one from your great g'ma is so beautiful....

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  7. You know I never thought of that? But now seeing the couple, I think I look good even better ...
    I loved it! His pieces are beautiful.
    Congratulations!
    Have a blessed day.
    hugs
    Luciana

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  8. What beautiful cream and sugars - my favorite is the one from your grandmother. So pretty!

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  9. Hi Tammy,
    Your sugars and creams are very sweet! I agree, I like to find the mates too. It's part of the fun; the hunt, I mean. Love your Grandmother's set. It's very special. Thank you for sharing and joining me for tea.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  10. This opens up a whole new concept for thrifting. I always thought if just a creamer were in the store, that's all there was and the sugar bowl must have been broken. From now on, I'll be looking for its mate.
    You have picked up some nice pieces and your grandmother's cream and sugar set are nice to have to remember her.

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  11. Hi Tammy! How wonderful to have something so pretty from your grandmother. I also have some things waiting for a match. Denise

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