Saturday, November 19, 2011

Polishing Silver and Missing My Mom

There was a showing on our house this afternoon so I decided to pick a bunch of nandina branches to put in the front hall and chose an old thrifted champagne bucket to put them in. It had been stored away in a cupboard for awhile, so it was tarnished and in need of polishing.  As I was polishing it, I thought about my mother who would often polish my brass and silver when she came for a visit.  All of a sudden I was missing my mother so badly! And then I realized that I was missing Rose Colored Glasses and you too.  I wanted to tell you what I was doing today, not because it was so important, but just because you are my friends and I like to share what I am doing with my friends.
So here I am back again.  Don't know how often I'll be able to post but I'll write when I can.

So, back to what I was doing today....The table needed something else shiny to balance it.  A tray maybe, so I dug out a tray which I hadn't used in a long time, and thought of mom as I polished it.
What else did I need there? I know..... the brass deer Mom and I bought when I lived in Pennsylvania.  I always wondered.....why are 2 deer still called deer instead of deers?  Anyway, Mom and I were in a thrift shop one day (they had THE BEST thrift shops there!) and we spotted these deer.  We had just been to Valley Forge Park where deer are everywhere and these were the perfect little gift to remember our day.  They needed polish too.
I think they look happy on the silver tray.

So now I have a  nice shiny welcome for anyone coming to our front door.

Once I started with the polishing I just kept going.  All my brass candlesticks got a polish and I moved them to the mantle in the living room.
 Then I switched the pictures above the mantle putting this one instead.  This painting belonged to my mom. 
She bought the two candlesticks on the right for me when I was just a teenager and was decorating my bedroom in a more grown up manner.  I think they are very old.
Now that I was on a polishing kick I noticed my silver tea service was very tarnished too, so it got some TLC also.  My mom always served tea in this, not just for special occasions but all the time.  She got it as a wedding present and I cherish it.
So now for a few hours my house sparkles and it is clean top to bottom.  I wonder if the people who viewed our house today noticed the sparkle?

  I'm going to make us a pot of tea in Mom's silver teapot, get out some pretty cups and serve you a cup of tea and some raspberry pie.  I made the pie today for my husband.  It's his favorite, but I'm sure he won't mind if we each have a small slice.

I am so happy that you stopped by.  I'll see you again soon!
Rhondi
xo

24 comments:

  1. Lovely candlesticks and tea service. I hate to even think what my tea service looks like after being in the attic for many years. Maybe it will make an appearance during Christmas.
    Beckie

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  2. Hi Rhondi - I've kept you on my sidebar, so just in case you blog I'll know, so imagine my delight to see something from you today. Your silver tea service looks exactly like mine - it goes with your Dainty Blue and my bits and pieces of Dainty Blue just beautifully!
    I agree that the thrift shops in PA were the best! I used to live very close to Valley Forge, but there was a thrift shop in Villanova that I loved!
    Today The Great Dane and I spent the afternoon looking at houses in town. Believe me, if anyone had taken half the care in cleaning and polishing that you do I'd have been delighted!
    Good luck with the house sale!

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  3. Wonderful post...it's always so nice to remember our loved ones when we see or display special things we bought with them or received as gifts. I have many lovely things from both my mom and my mother-in-law. Every Thanksgiving we use china, crystal and silverware from both of them. Nice to have those things around us. I didn't know you were selling your home..it looks lovely! Best wishes and Happy Thanksgiving!

    Miss Bloomers

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  4. Hi Rhondi, Your painting is beautiful! Love it when the people look real like that. What a gift from God to be an artist of that quality. Pretty candlesticks and tea service too. Yes, I'd love a little bit of pie and tea.

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  5. There is something so comforting in polishing silver and remembering the small tasks we've shared with family. I always polished my mother's silver for her and now my son helps me polish. I always think of him being connected to my silver. I love the story of the deer.

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  6. Oh, I have missed you, too! It's so good to hear from you again. Thank you for sharing a bit of your thoughts about your sweet mother - what treasured memories. Your silver pieces are wonderful and so special. They look wonderful polished and ready to greet everyone who comes by.
    ~Adrienne~

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  7. Hi Rhondi! Maybe it's the time of year, but I was rather sad and nostalgic today, with thoughts of years gone by and those that shared our Thanksgiving table, but never will again. It was nice to see your post. I hope you have a beautiful Thanksgiving.

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  8. Like Pondside, I didn't delete you either from my blog feed! Welcome back and thanks for sharing.

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  9. I had to smile when I read your title. When my father came to visit, he always polished my silver and both the silver and I miss him terribly after all these years.

    The deer look so happy on the silver tray. I love finding old tarnished silver and bringing it home to a new life. Glad to know someone else does the same. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family and enjoy your lovely silver decorations.
    Sam

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  10. So nice to hear from you again, Rhondi.
    I would be willing to bet that the people who came to look at your house could appreciate the beauty of your polished silver. You have shared such nice memories of time spent with your mom. Her silver tea service is just beautiful. I will gladly stay for a cup of tea and raspberry pie. :)
    Happy Thanksgiving.

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  11. Rhondi, always lovely to see you appear!
    I couldnt believe it when I saw your silver tray, as I have almost its twin...which belonged to my grandmother. It is in sad need of a polish....maybe you'd like to pop in and do it for me?

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  12. Hi Rhondi!
    So happy to see you posting. Your tray and deer look wonderful! I hope the house hunters decide that your house is the one they want!

    I miss my Mom too...especially as the holidays come around. She LOVED Christmas...
    Hugs,
    Penny

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  13. Rhondi,
    I loved the visit to your beautiful home. The front table looks so 'dressed up' now and you did a fab job putting it all together.

    Yeah, we miss our Mom's don't we? They were very special people.

    Hugs,
    Latane

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  14. Everything looks so sparkly and ready for company. May you and your family have a blessed Thanksgiving.♥♫

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  15. What Beautiful silver! I only have a few pieces of silver, platters mostly. I have one set of old silver serving set and 3 platters that are silver. So glad you decided to make an appearance.

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  16. I bet people noticed the shine.. I just wonder if they knew the love and the thoughts that went into the shine! but we do! thanks for sharing your day with us. Ihope you have a blessed thanksgiving!
    xo
    vivian

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  17. Hi Rhondi! I'm so happy to visit with you and perhaps cheer you up a bit. I know what it's like to miss a parent, and it's especially tough during the holidays. But, you have lots of friends who are thinking of you ~ including me.

    Hugs,
    Susan and Bentley

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  18. Everything looks sparkly and beautiful, Rhondi. I can understand your thoughts of missing your mother ~ I miss mine around the holidays. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

    Nice to hear from you.

    Hugs,
    Donna

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  19. Isn't it nice when a house sparkles -- and what wonderful memories of you Mom.

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  20. Goodness, that was a lot of polishing. It all looks so pretty now. My mom passed 14 years ago and I still miss her - sometimes more than others.

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  21. Oh, your post made me cry, my Mom died seven years ago the day after Thanksgiving...the closer the day gets, the MORE I miss her. It helped me knowing I'm not alone in these feelings of loss for her! Thank you for touching my heart...

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  22. I inherited my mother's silver. I don't polish it nearly as often as she used to, but when I do, it always makes me miss her. I wonder what things I do that are special to my daughter?

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  23. Dear Lillian
    You touched my heart too!
    Hugs, Rhondi

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  24. Rhondi, I didn't know you were back. And, I couldn't be happier to find you here, dear friend.

    Your mother must have smiled as you polished and savored your memories. Everything looks lovely.

    My silver all needs polishing. Don't you want to come help?

    I've been sick with a terrible cold and cough. This is the third week, and I am slowly getting better. Now my sweet husband has it.

    I hope you will join us every Pink Saturday during the holidays as we celebrate together.

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Hi
Thanks so very much for taking the time to leave a comment. I always read every one. I am glad you stopped by for a visit. Hope you'll come again!
Rhondi