Treasures, Mysteries, and Surprises - - -

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Leigh is again hosting Thrifty Thursday, and again I'm breaking out of the mold - - -mostly because I'm not really very thrifty, but I DO have things I VALUE and wish to share.

This time I'm also joining Coloradolady in her Vintage Thingies Thursday - - - which is, by the way, much closer to what I do in these Thursday posts of mine.

My first treasure this week is in the form of a note given to me by a cherished family friend, Norma, who grew up with my mom and Aunts.


And with the note came this lovely dish:


I'd never seen anything like it before, certainly had never seen dandelions decorating china before. The depth doesn't really show up well in the photo, but it is a shallow bowl. What a special treasure passed down to me.

Then my cousins Darlys and Marilee gave me some of Aunt Doris' pretty things. She collected tea cups and bells. I think I got a little more than they bargained for - - - check it out.


I was so excited to get this tea cup since I also collect tea things. I remember when they gave it to me, even though we were talking and I wasn't paying close attention, I "felt" that something wasn't quite right about the cup and saucer - - - do you "see" it in the photo??? But, we were busy visiting and I didn't focus on it then, nor even when I packed it for the long trip home.


But when I unpacked it at home I noticed more clearly the disconnect between the cup and saucer. The fruit print on the saucer doesn't really match the fruit on the cup. So, I flipped them over and this is what I found:


Hmmmmmm - - - these markings don't match either.


The cup is obviously Haviland - - - it is fine and delicate - - - that china I KNOW!!!


But the saucer is JKW. Hmmmmm not familiar with that brand. At least they are BOTH German.

I'm not quite sure why, but I rather like my mismatched cup and saucer.


Also from Aunt Doris, this bell and demitasse creamer and sugar.


Imagine my surprise when I opened the sugar to find more treasures hidden inside.


A 37 cent postage stamp and a tiny news paper clipping.

Menila (pronounced Mah - NI - la) Ensign was Aunt Doris' mother-in-law. To me she was "Auntie Menila" and until I was five years old she was our next door neighbor in Spooner, Wisconsin. She was like a surrogate grandmother to me. Lots of happy times at her house.

I think I'm as excited about having these two little treasures as I am about all the others.

Darlys, when you see this post if you want these little treasures back because you didn't realize they were in the creamer, I will return them. But if you choose to let me keep them, I will store them right in the creamer where they belong!!!

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