A Hutch Filled With Love

This hutch is in my breakfast room.  It's old and well worn and well 

loved not just for itself, but also for what it holds.  Everything inside

from it's cupboard at the bottom and open shelves at the top is filled

with precious memories of ones I have loved.

This covered casserole and the matching platter behind it belonged to 

my Mom.  She loved blue and white as do I.  The hobnail pitcher was

hers too.  It is both squatty and sweet I think.  The toast rack in the

foreground was a purchase of mine because we love toast in this house!

I love the cream soup bowls.  These belonged to my Mom as well.

This little blue calico square tea pot was purchased at the British Isles shop

in Houston years ago before David and I were married.  I was so very

happy to visit the shop when we were last in Houston.  It's always so

comforting to discover that a little shop you loved years ago is still

in existence.  I treasure small independent shops.  I know how hard

it is for them to survive in our world of big box stores.

See the cups hanging from hooks?  I purchased a whole set of these 

dishes while I was in London with my parents.  I had them shipped back to

the states and every piece arrived in perfect condition.  The Brits are so

good at shipping china.  This is a Mason's pattern.  We don't see much

of this china company in the states.  My mother-in-law had a lovely

Mason's pattern as her every day dishes.  It came from Carl Forslund in

Michigan years ago who used to specialize in colonial furniture and

accessories for the home.  I have a few pieces of her set.  It is 

called Plantation Colonial.  I will have to show it to you sometime.

Notice the little butter pats.  I love these.  I only have two and

wish I could find more.

The little Cafe Paris covered tureen is a purchase from a consignment

shop.  I have two and they were a steal.  The woven flower basket on

the left belonged to my grandmother.  The copper tea kettle is from

my step grandfather.  He brought it over from Sweden.

If you look to the right in the background there is a little sandwich

tray.  It is Mason's also.  My Mom and I each purchased one while we

were in London.  Now I have both of them.  I have such happy memories

of the day we found these little trays.  I remember we both squealed in

delight and could hardly wait to take them back home to serve little 

tea sandwiches on.

My little patriotic pie bird.  I found this at a cute little shop in Fredericksburg, TX.

David and I spent the weekend of our 25th wedding anniversary there just

this past June.  It's a wonderful little reminder of the very special weekend

we spent in that oh so charming town.

I purchased this tole tray at a wonderful antique store in new Hampshire.

David's mom had the most charming summer cottage on Mirror Lake

in New Hampshire.  We used to go visit her there in the summer while

David and I were living in Middleburg, Virginia.  Lee's summer

cottage was so adorable.  It had the sweetest little kitchen with an old

fashioned farmhouse sink and the cutest vintage refrigerator.  There was

an old screen door in the kitchen that squeaked and banged and took

you out to the deck.  There was one main living area with a stone fireplace.

The whole cottage was quite rustic and had a screened in porch that 

overlooked the lake.  There were two small bedrooms that had those

old built in dressers and windows framed by old fashioned Priscilla

tie back curtains.  Lee always had vintage handmade quilts on the bed.

To David and I it was the most charming cottage in the world and 

we have so many happy memories of spending our evenings 

listening to the loons on the lake while playing cut throat games

of Scrabble.  David almost always won which drove Lee and

me nuts!

That cute little tea pot in front of the tray is from the King's Arms

Tavern in Williamsburg.  It was a gift from my sister-in-law

Susie.

The little girl tying her shoe is Royal Copenhagen.  She was a gift to me

from my mother-in-law Lee.  The milk glass pitcher belonged to my

grandmother.

And finally, Mrs Rabbit and her bunnies with Peter Rabbit looking

quite the gentleman.   There is a Beatrix Potter plate in the 

background because I love Beatrix.  Always have.

So there you are.  A little tour of my antique hutch that is full

of memories of people I love and happy times.  Thanks for

stopping by.

Tablescape Thursday

Home Sweet Home

Feather Your Nest

Show and Tell

Bentley had a very exciting morning.  He discovered a

big cat asleep in the ginger and he flushed the cat out

and the cat ran up the big old oak tree.  Bentley was

extremely proud of himself and his Daddy was too

and Bentley got a treat.  High adventure :-)

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley