April 1, 2010

A few of my favorite things

When my husband and I moved into this house, the thing I was most excited about was having a dining room. One of our first purchases to fill the gaps created by moving a studio apartment's worth of furniture into a modest home was, of course, a dining room set -- a vintage one with a beat-up table -- from a wacky guy in HoHoKus, NJ. The chairs had no seats, but I found someone to make them and upholster them in this cool fabric.

I didn't have Christmas here, and I'm not doing Easter, either, so I was excited to host a Sunday dinner when my parents were in town last week. My in-laws came, too, so with the kids and Michael and I, it was numerous enough to feel festive. So what did I do? I pulled out a few of my favorite things -- many of them wedding gifts. Having them is special, but using them is really what it is all about. If you never see it, it's like you don't have it. Luckily, my mom agrees, so she helped me pick and choose and set a springy table.

One of my favorite items of all time is my parmesan cheese server -- a gift from -- OF COURSE -- Tara. I love how you can see the luscious cheese through the glass bowl, and the spoon (which, unfortunately is obscured by said luscious cheese) is adorable!

My new favorite is a gift from my dear friend Lucy Borland, namesake of my little one. A bunny cookie jar! It's really for the girls, but I've already pressed it into service.

The china -- one of my mom's sets -- was her wedding gift to me -- it is no longer in production, and I cherish it. Her marriage has lasted nearly 43 years, so I like to think of it, in part, as a good luck charm. It is also my favorite dish to look down at -- it makes me feel especially like home.

So I guess this rambling isn't really about food, but how we present it. It's not really that I'm proud about my belongings or that I want to show them off -- I can enjoy a delicious meal on a paper plate or from a square of foil. I just love these things because of the people who gave them to me. We all have our family recipes -- and our family dishes, too.

6 comments:

Susan Blumberg-Kason said...

I love your blog! It's so nice you can use your good china and accessories. Sometimes I feel like I'm tempting fate by taking that stuff out of storage, what with young kids running around the place.

Your upholstery looks divine. Is it a Chinese print? I just love it!

Anonymous said...

What a lovely thing to read! I constantly feel the closeness of friends and family from the things they have given me - materially and spiritually.
Blessings! Lucy Elizabeth

Elizabeth Gallo said...

Thanks, Susan! -- the upholstery looks like a Chinese toile -- not antique fabric, but that feel, which is what I love about it!

Dearest Lucy Elizabeth -- thank you again for such a lovely gift! The girls stop and admire her daily -- as do I! Want to stop by on your way home from Asheville? Miss you! oxox

tara. said...

thanks susan and lucy for commenting!

btw, e, i love me some toile.

Anonymous said...

Hi Elizabeth and Tara,

I am looking for a cheese bowl just like the one you have posted. Can you tell me where it was purchased from? vlandris@pratt.edu.

Valerie

tara. said...

hi valerie!

thanks for posting! the cheese bowl is from michael c. fina where elizabeth was registered for her wedding of the century :). i've emailed you the link!

thanks again.
tara. xo.

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