Years ago, Bobbie Allen, my precious mother-in-law for 39 years, picked out a special gift for me at Christmas. It was heavy, beautifully wrapped and waiting for me under the Christmas tree. It really was very heavy, so I had no idea what it could be. She and my sweet, gentle father-in-law watched, smiling, as I picked it up and began opening it. It was a large, wooden box and I was puzzled. I opened it carefully and gleaming sterling silver filled the box. Well, technically sterling silverplate, but back then, even silverplate was very expensive. All the pieces were heavy, beautifully crafted and in a simple pattern I loved. She knew me well.
Through the years, that silverware has been used at holidays, special occasions, parties and even for a season, every day. When Doug and I moved here to our home in Iowa, I found the heavy wooden box and the beautiful pieces inside.
With the way the light falls, you can’t tell from the photo, but each piece is polished and shining.
Today I polished each piece with silver polish. Then I washed the silverware in hot, soapy water, rinsed and dried each piece carefully. Tomorrow night, this silverware will be used at my fifteen-year-old granddaughter’s special homecoming dinner that she is hosting for her date and two other couples. All high school students and probably all in the high school band she’s in. My daughter is preparing one of her special homemade pasta dishes, a salad and french bread. Eclair cake for dessert. Sounds delicious! Yesterday, my daughter, youngest grandson and I went to Hobby Lobby to buy Autumn decorations for the table. No doubt, it will all be lovely and a memorable occasion. Somehow, I think Bobbie Allen would have loved it…
We are happily settled in our apartment in the Chicago neighborhood of Ravenswood. My youngest son and his family is a short 3 block walk away from our apartment. Tonight, we will be there for my birthday dinner. Quaint shops – and a Starbucks – are just a short walk away. Thanksgiving dinner was here in our small apartment- all eight of us. Doug and I cooked the ham, turkey and cranberry salad and everyone else brought the sides. My three and five year old granddaughters decided they would rather be at the “grown-up’s table”. We moved them there and everything was perfect.
ewest adventure??? We have leased an apartment in the neat little neighborhood of Ravenswood in Chicago!!! We will spend at least half-time there and half-time in Iowa until we’re just too old to travel and that should be a long time since the Mega Bus is always an option! We will actually be able to WALK a few short blocks to see these two precious granddaughters in the photos! With two sons and their families in Chicago, we think this is an awesome idea and we are so excited about it! Our new apartment is on a tree-lined street and in what is rated as “a walker’s paradise” – which simply means we will be a short walking distance to the train, Starbucks, many quaint little stores and restaurants. The apartment is in a vintage, gated U-shaped set of buildings that were built in the 1930’s I believe. We’ve purchased a few antiques for the apartment in keeping with the vintage theme. The buildings and lawn are well kept with trees and flowers. It’s just down the street from the mayor’s house so, hopefully, that’s a good thing. There is so much to see and do in Chicago – including a host of museums we’ve yet to visit. Most importantly, there will be more time with our big family in Chicago and we are thrilled about that!
