Pansy Teacups

Since we are on the topic of pansies, I thought you might enjoy seeing some of my pansy teacups. Searching for pansy teacups was something that my mother and I enjoyed doing together. It was fun to have something we were purposefully looking for as we browsed shops together. Antique shop, thrift stores, and an occasional tea shop were places that we found these little treasures. Most of the pansy teacups in my collection were my mother's, although a few were some I found in our searches. At this point I don't remember whose were whose. I've added information from the markings on the bottom of the cups and saucers. For me, it adds interest as I try to discover the history of each teacup. After awhile, it becomes easy to identify a teacup's origin simply by looking at it and not having to depend upon its marking. And just like with garment styles, each period has its own unique style and design. 

Royale Garden
Bone China ~ Staffs, England

Formalities by Baum Brothers
Bone China ~ Made in England

Ornamental Collectibles
Made in China

Regency English
Bone China ~ Made in England

Pansy
By Sango ~ Made in Japan

Saji Fancy China
Occupied Japan

Original Napco China
Hand Painted ~ Made in Japan

No Markings

Castle China
Made in Japan

Child's Teacup & Saucer
Hand Painted ~ No Markings

Hand Painted & Made By...
H.L. Effie Foster 1956
"May Good Thoughts Follow You Always"
to "Ellen Martin"

Windsor Bone China
Made in England

Royal Stuart
Fine Bone China ~ Made in England

Royal Patrician
Fine Bone China ~ Staffordshire England

Today I am linking to Heather's Tea Trolley.

The Joy of Family Recipes

Do you have a kitchen collection? There are so many things one could collect. Antique kitchen gadgets, silver spoons, tea strainers, crystal glassware, and more. Some things cost a pretty penny to collect! And other things are free. The free things are the best, because they usually harbor memories or bits of history. These things are priceless. Recipes that are passed down from mother to son, grandmother to granddaughter, or great-uncle to your favorite cousin are not only measurements, words, and instructions. They are also a very tangible piece of family history and lore. Additionally, taste buds can create very strong emotional responses when it comes to family recipes! Therefore, family recipes are really worth the effort it takes to gather and transcribe them.

Sometimes these recipes come with stories. In our family, some recipes immediately remind us of aunties or a grandmother who specialized in making a specific dish. And sometimes they come sprinkled with a but of humor. One of my dear aunts always baked the most delicious "crumb buns". They were a white and delicious yeast roll that was dipped in milk and then a crumb mixture of flour, vanilla, sugar, and milk before being set to rise and bake. Oh, they were so good! Dear aunt would always pack a lunch for us after a trip to visit her. She packed our lunch in colorfully painted tins, and one tin always contained a good supply of her "crumb buns". When I became a teen, I decided that I should learn to bake "crumb buns" myself. Mostly dear aunt cooked from memory, never really following a recipe in a book or card. But she was willing to assist in helping new cooks to learn, so she would carefully measure ingredients the next time she made a requested dish in order to know amounts she used. Upon my request, she mailed me a neatly typed card which contained the measurements, ingredients, and instructions for baking her famous rolls. I trusted dear aunt implicitly, not once questioning her choice of ingredients. But my "crumb buns" simply fell flat! Upon further analysis, I discovered that dear aunt and I had both left out the yeast! She on the written card, and me in the bowl! Oh dear! They were a total flop! Later, dear aunt and I would laugh over this adventure many times. She thought anyone would know to add yeast, even if she had left it out. And she was correct. I'd spent many Sunday afternoons since 4th or 5th grade, baking bread for the family's food needs for the upcoming week. I should have been experienced enough to know.

Recipes can go in notebooks, recipe boxes, computers, cookbooks, scrapbooks, and more. My recipe gathering habit has me take advantage of many methods of storage. No matter how organized and efficient one is, I suggest that at least one box be available on the kitchen counter where recipes can be "stuffed" as they are discovered or received. My box is a recipe storage container that is from the Martha Stewart line. It's a beautiful faded green and holds quite a bundle of recipe papers and cards. Someday the recipes here will go into a notebook in order to make room for the next batch of recipes collected. How do you store your recipes?