Pieces of History

Oh, my blog, how I've missed you! This semester was nothing short of crazy! But I did write my first book (don't get too excited, it's a lab manual, not a novel...in good time, I promise...). But if a lab manual can be a good read, I'd like to think I accomplished it :-) Anyways, the holidays are upon us, all is calm in the Tomboy Bride world (not so much a Newlywed anymore, am I!?), and there's plenty to talk about. But tonight I'll focus on one of my favorite topics, my dining room!!!

You may notice I use the pronoun "my" throughout this blog when referencing the dining room and anything in it. That would be because Bryan has had zero input - and this is by choice, not my doing. Who doesn't like dining rooms, fine china, and arranging displays?? I know!!! But Bryan would rather watch football or hockey than discuss the beauty of Federal Platinum. Well, I guess that's why I have a blog, so let's get started!

I'm sorry I teased so long about revealing these pictures, but I wanted to give the celebration of the new additions to our home the time it deserves (and I needed to figure out how to get pictures from my iPhone to my Mac without having to e-mail them to myself - needless to say, much like all things with Mac, it was a snap!).

Before we get to the Main Event, I wanted to post a picture of a new piece that Mom and Dad so generously shipped down to me. Some of you may recognize it. That's because....

it's my Great-Grandmother's Singer sewing machine!!!!

Mom used this piece the same way I'm using it here - to display pictures - since, let's face it, neither of us can sew a lick. But I LOVE it and I think it looks lovely against our living room wall. I think Mom puts the origin of this sewing machine somewhere in the early 1920s or 30s given that Uncle John has childhood memories of his mother sitting at this very machine. It's so cool to have it in our home.

Ok, now onto the big stuff - this is another piece you may recognize. Mom and Dad purchased this very china closet shortly after they got married (so 31, almost 32 years ago). I, of course, have been desperate for a china closet since my Federal Platinum has been sitting in its boxes for over a year. I also am excited to host our first Christmas in our home this year using our china, so Mom and Dad shipped this on down to me, too, to add to our dining room. Here it is in stages:

It first arrives....excitement, excitement....

This was followed by 2 days of washing every piece of china by hand.

Phase 1: I had washed all the plates and coffee cups. I placed our Unity Candle and Lenox cake topper on the top shelf. But then....

Sidenote: we have a MILLION glasses - seriously, we can imitate a fancy restaurant experience with all the glasses we have. A Chardonnay with my appetizers, Pinot Noir with my first course, and Cabernet with my main course? Don't mind if I do! Dad wants whiskey? We have crystal Vera Wang glasses for those (thanks, Emily!!)! Then when we all wake up hungover, I can serve mimosas in Champagne flutes! End Sidenote.

Ok, so after washing our hundreds of glasses, I arranged what I could fit on the top shelf and then did a little work with some of our wedding keepsakes. Our toasting flutes

that were used at the wedding are on display on the bottom shelf behind the Philadelphia-themed champagne flutes that Bridesmaids Lindsay and Melissa (my soon-to-be-sister-in-law, by the way) gifted us with at the Pennsylvania shower.

Then I placed the Unity Candle and cake topper to the right of those. I also decided to display our cake serving set in front of the cake dishes (hahaha, I crack myself up).

You may be wondering: "Hey, where are your serving platters (thanks, Aunt Claire!)? Why are those not displayed?" Frankly, because I want my Mommy to help me. I was afraid in trying to stand things up, I'd end up breaking stuff because - well, I'm somewhat clumsy. So I will call this "Tomboy Bride China Closet: Phase 2, Still in Progress".

I was sending Mom and Dad pictures of this project as it came along when they said, "But what does the whole dining room look like?" So here it is!

The best thing so far is that we've hosted twice in the two months we've had the dining room set. It's so warm and cozy (even with the leaves in and the table expanded), the set just feels perfect for our household. It's exactly what I've always wanted my dining room to look like (sniff, sniff). Now I am thinking I need some artwork on those walls! It's a good thing I've recently discovered a hidden talent of mine!

And with this Funky Turkey that I painted, friends and family, I bid you adieu. Ok, don't look too closely at it...

The Funky Turkey and I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!!!