Dishes -- Are 60 Too Few? Are 6000 Too Many?

It's Sunday, and I'm not really here.
I am working today at the antiques center where I have a booth,
but late last night I decided to join in The Tablescaper's 
3rd Annual Where Do You Keep It All? blog party.

But because time is tight this weekend, I'm cheating.  I dug out a 3-year old post

about the old cupboards and cabinets at That Old House, and the treasures they hold.

-- Because --

 "My name is Cass, and I am a dishaholic."

An old walnut cupboard -- rumored to have been built by Abraham Lincoln's father --

is at the end of our kitchen, and holds a crazy ragtag collection of dishes that are used regularly.

Since June 2009, when these pictures were taken, the kitchen has been redone but the cupboard

is still there.  Still full of dishes.  Even more full.  'Cause dishes?  I have a lot.

Open the doors in the bottom if you dare,

to find stacks and stacks of Christmas dishes, and

even Christmas flatware (wrapped in the yellow plastic).

There is very little upper cabinet storage in this kitchen.
Things get put where they fit.

I think there are 7 different patterns represented on these shelves.

In the dining room, the big pine breakfront does its bit for the cause:

There are oodles of Mikasa Far East; I bought service for 8 the year after we married,
and then a few years ago began snatching it up on Ebay; I think I have service for more than 2 dozen.

Wedgwood, rummage sale tea cups, and assorted glassware,

and behind the doors underneath?  Noooo.... don't look!

I warned you.
Stuffed with white Thanksgiving china (embossed Della Robia type borders),
and in the upper right corner, a stack of old Limoges plates with pink roses.

Look to the left of the Limoges -- clear fish platters!

Mikasa Ribbon Pink china hides behind a side door:

The rest of it is tucked behind the Christmas dishes in the old walnut kitchen cupboard.

Across the dining room, my grandmother's china cabinet,
a hodgepodge of bits and pieces, including. . .

yes!  More of that old Limoges -- some plates, and bouillon cups.

A small stack of Far East dinner plates rests on the sideboard,
waiting to be tucked away in the breakfront:

We used those plates several nights ago, when we had a dinner guest;
I try and use the dishes we have, so that they are more than just pretty faces.

And speaking of pretty faces . . .

Mr. Dion DiPoochy, in a portrait from June 2009.

Today, June 3, 2012, was not a happy day for Dion.

After his dinner, he took a walk outside and his little legs got a bit shaky,

and he landed a foot plop in the deposit he had just made on the lawn.

He did not enjoy the subsequent scrubbing in the tub, but he did enjoy the

almost 3 hours he spent in Anne's lap, snuggling and drying off.
He did not wake up until Howard walked into the room with a mug of wonton soup.

Look for pictures of Wet Dion on Monday.

Ssshh . . . please don't tell Mr. D. that we shared his tale of woe.

Visit The Tablescaper 

for more shares of where things get stashed in households

that are overly blessed by china and glassware!

And have a lovely Sunday!  -- Cass