I have this cupboard. It’s my Thanksgiving Cupboard. Everything in it is used only once a year, on Thanksgiving Day.
It was built to fit into the corner of my great-grandmother’s house more than 80 years ago–into a corner with uneven floors.
I don’t have the date it was built, only that my father and his brothers and sisters always remember it being in Grandma Liz’s house. My oldest uncle is 81. When Grandma Liz passed, my grandfather brought it home. I remember it being in the front room in Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Though Grandma Liz didn’t use it for her china, Grandma Schultz did. When Grandma Schultz passed away it came to our house to live–for me when I had my own house.
I have one corner in my entire house this cupboard will fit into. Luckily it is in the dining room.
When Dad was stationed with the Navy in Japan 1960, he bought and shipped home to Grandma a service of 12 Mitake China. It was her first set of china. When Grandma passed, that china was given back to Dad who gave it to me–for when I had my own house.
Mitake MTK1
The china takes up the entire cupboard. The different sized plates and bowls, cups, creamer, sugar and glasses takes up the entire top 4 shelves.
The bottom shelves holds the platters, gravy boat and covered potato bowl.
The covered dish on the bottom is the only things that has broken in over 50 years. The first break was on the shipping to the U.S. and it has never held a fixing since. I just leave the pieces in the bowl now. (I am subscribed to Replacements, LTD with the piece listed.)
Besides the china, there is a Thanksgiving butter dish and napkin holder. When Grandma passed, all of the granddaughters were able to pick one thing from her china cabinets (besides the pieces that were being returned to whomever had given them to her). I was 10 and I chose the turkeys.
The china and the turkeys are special to me. The china was Grandma’s first and only full set of china. They were my first and only set of china. And I use them–but only for Thanksgiving. And I set the turkeys out filled with butter and napkins.
I’m thankful for my family and I especially get teary eyed when I wash these pieces by hand twice each year–once before setting the table and again after we’ve sat and enjoyed a large dinner prepared by all of us.
It’s the 1st of November already! We’re coming into the stretch of busy days and holiday preparations. We’d love to hear your Thanksgiving family traditions, special menu plans, or special memories. Do you have a dish that is especially requested at Thanksgiving? Share it with us! Submit a blog post or submit a recipe!
Cindy blogs at Our Life Simplified. Do you have a recipe post or kitchen-related story to share on the Farm Bell blog?
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bonita says:
Wow!, how neat to have china with all that history. Great that you have a special place for it, too. But best of all may be your 10-year-old self’s choice of those turkeys–they’re just great!
My mom had a corner cabinet filled with china as well. But after my dad died, she moved and ditched the corner cabinet in favor of a credenza. I have that now and it’s still full of her china.
On November 1, 2011 at 4:15 am
kellyb says:
CindyP,
What wonderful memories. This brought many memories back to me as well. I have my mom’s turkey salt and pepper shakers and turkey centerpiece. I remember her putting those on the table each year. I do the same at my house. Perhaps one of my grandbabies will have fond memories of them in the future.
On November 1, 2011 at 7:00 am
Ellen99019 says:
I love this posting as it conveys love of family & tradition that transends time and place. May your Thanksgiving be bountiful, blessed with many friends and family to gather around, and plentiful in years yet to come.
On November 1, 2011 at 7:16 am
Miss Judy says:
I have my Grandmother’s(my dad’s mother) corner cupboard. It’s over 100 yrs old. It was made from lumber milled from a great,great,uncle’s sawmill (mother’s side). I keep my Thanksgiving stuff in this cuppboard along with a lot of other special things. Everytime I go to that cupboard I think of my grandmother.I use most of my “heirlooms” all the time,they bring me a sense of comfort and homeiness. Thanks for the post!
On November 1, 2011 at 8:33 am
IowaCowgirl says:
That is so cool Cindy. Everything is wonderful about your story: the cupboard is beautiful, the china and its story, and I especially love the turkey butter dish that a ten-year-old chose.
On November 1, 2011 at 8:56 am
lisabetholson says:
Cindy P. How beautiful are these things, and to keep them for a special occasion each year. I guess anyone would be remiss to do anything else with them.
On November 1, 2011 at 9:57 am
Kathi N says:
Beautiful, CindyP. I love when you write. Thank you.
On November 1, 2011 at 10:06 am
Leah's Mom says:
Enjoyable reading! Thanks for sharing 🙂
On November 1, 2011 at 10:06 am