Thanks to the quarantine/social distancing rules, I am at home much more than usual. It seems like a golden opportunity to do some long-neglected deep cleaning. so far I have defrosted two freezers, washed my table and chairs and the ledge around the stairs with Murphy's Oil soap, cleaned out two cupboards, and thoroughly dusted three rooms. There remain enough tasks to keep me busy for several weeks, if I can just keep myself motivated to do them.
My son helped me take all of my teacups and saucers down from on top of the kitchen cabinet; there were 17 up there, and 12 more inside a cupboard. Some of them had not been taken down and washed for.....longer than I care to admit! The dust and kitchen grease was downright appalling. The only good part to this story is that, last time I cleaned up there, I had borrowed someone else's idea and put down some old sheet fabric underneath the cup and saucer stands. As a result, there was only a little scrubbing to be done on top of the cabinet, around the edges. The old sheet fabric was so disgusting, I just threw it away and cut fresh pieces from another old sheet.
I won't post pictures of all 29 teacups, but I will post several. This is one I bought from an Ebay seller several years ago. It is called Silver Birch. It's one of my favorites.
When my mother died in 1994, she left behind a very large collection of cups and saucers. My sisters and cousin and I each took a few home. I don't remember for sure which ones were hers, but I know she was very fond of roses, and these probably came from her collection.
My mother definitely owned this one! She loved Lily of the Valley.
My aunt gave me this one, probably for 8th grade graduation. It was my very first cup and saucer.
My birthday is in October, so these were probably gifts.
Once of my daughters gave me this for Christmas one year. I think she bought it in the bookstore/gift shop at the college she was attending.
A Christmas gift from my son-in-law, before he and my daughter got married. I am quite sure he had some help selecting a gift, and this was a great choice!
Another Ebay purchase. I love the English cottage pictured on it.
Yet another Ebay purchase. This one is called Brigadoon, and is another favorite of mine.
I love daffodils! They are so bright and cheery, and among the first to bloom in the spring. These were gifts, no doubt from my sister.
Next to daffodils, pansies are my favorite flowers. I love their little "faces", and the wide variety of colors they come in. These were likely gifts, too.
It is a treat to look up at the cups and saucers on top of my cabinet and see them all sparkling and clean. I kept six sets in the cupboard to use for a while, choosing some I had not been using for quite some time. I'm sure the tea tastes better in a pretty cup!
