Just returned from Pap's house, where he and his wife Mary lived most of their married lives. The family is disassembling, sorting and trashing their belongings as Pap is not coming home again. Many years ago, possibly 20 now, Mary gave me an antique china cabinet full of tiny cream pitchers. Of little value, but sentimental to her, she wanted me to have them. She implored me to get them whilst she was still alive, but I didn't feel that was the right thing to do.
Over the years the shelves fell inside the cabinet, and all the pitchers fell forward against the glass doors. Thank goodness there was an old fashioned latch on the top holding the doors closed, and the pitchers did not escape and crash to the floor.
Today I made my way to the china cabinet and we disassembled it, and I packed up all the tiny pitchers, some of them very small. We had to lay the cabinet down on its back to open the doors. There was fear that the pitchers might break, but not as many as would have broken should we just open the glass doors.
This cabinet is extremely old, with wooden dowels in pegged slots to hold the shelves, no nails inside the cabinet. I have never seen anything quite like it. It took me two hours to wrap the little treasures and carry them out of the house to the van. I did manage to, whilst R.J. and his dad brought the cabinet home. It is in the garage and will need a good cleaning before it is brought into the house.
The tiny pitchers that are strong enough will be put into the dishwasher, the others lovingly hand washed one at a time. I am cognizant of the joy these little treasures brought to Mary and with each one I touched, I remembered, that they once were in her hands. A small gift from a friend or a loved one, or a treasured find on a vacation. All of them held special meaning to her. I will clean them up and safe keep them for the next generation to have.
I was happy to finally bring them home where they belong and to know I fulfilled Mary's wishes. Once I get it all cleaned up and inside the house, I'll post a pic for you. It is really quite beautiful. R.J. was able to find a few hand sewn quilts made by Mary. She was a traditional quilter and always sewed by hand. She made string quilts mostly with some variations of material. The heavy ones were made with corduroy material, and I am thrilled to have 3 more of these in my possesion.
It is a sad thing to go into a home and take out the many treasures of the ones who lived there. I felt the sadness and the loss of these wonderful people, and how all that we held in our hands today, were the trinkets of their everyday lives. There is still much work to be done at Pap's, I will leave that to his children. I am happy to have been allowed to get the treasures promised to me all those years ago. They have found a new home, and will be treasured for many years, just like when she was alive. God rest Mary's soul, and may Pap find peace in knowing that some of his things will stay in the family forever.
peace :) shemelts
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