Yes to the Bay Leaf liqueur recipe! My husband and I made it for Christmas, and it's delicious. Had to get our Everclear from another state, but otherwise, simple to do and quite festive for the holidays (or anytime, for that matter).
When I saw the china article in the NY Times yesterday, I sent it to my sons, other family members, and friends. Thrilled that my older son and his wife were happy to have turquoise Wedgewood "Praze" china set from my grandmother, as well as silverware that goes so well with it. Now if my younger son will take the Limoges and Stieff silverware when I'm gone, I'll be happy. Hope they'll want the crystal at some point, too. I am at a loss to understand why younger folks don't seem to value special occasions as much as we older ones do--everything is so casual and laid back. Every night, we always sat at the table and had dinner together and talked with one another. The "good" china, silverware, and crystal were used for holidays and special family dinners. This is reflected in how people dress these days, too. Don't get me wrong, I like being relaxed, but I miss the days when people made more of an effort. I was a working mother, so I know how challenging it can be. Italians still seem to care about la bella figura. It's not just about how one looks, but how one lives his/her life as well.
If you liked Ben Whipshaw, we just loved him in an earlier series with Hugh Grant as a villian: A Very English Scandal (based on the Jeremy Thorpe scandal)
Ben Wishaw also in-This is going to hurt series, he plays a gay Midwife In a hospital and all the scenarios on the ward. Of course as Q in 007 Bond as well and the voice of Paddington Bear 🐻
I was never interested in fine China even though I came from an era when females had "hope chests" and picked out China and Silver patterns even before a male partner was on the scene. I had a set of Bennington Stoneware from my 20's that I got rid of a decade or two ago. I have a set of Dansk porcelain that I've used off and on for 40+ years and still like. And I have a large set of multi-colored Waechtersbach dinnerware that I've loved and used daily for many years, though currently I'm back to the Dansk for everyday. Plus I have about 50 white plates from Ikea that I use when there are lots of people. I was sorely tempted in Deruta to buy a set of dishes like Elizabeth's as I love them, but at age 75, I need to be getting rid of dishes, not acquiring more. The only dishes my daughter has expressed any interest in are the Waechtersbach.
What the heck? I took the train from Chicago to St. Paul, MN last week and as I walked through the train I heard several people talking about whether 'Die Hard' was a Christmas movie! Weird. Loved the Sophie 'interview'. Very cool. THANK YOU and Happy New Year.
Dishes? 1) white (and some sky blue) Fiesta for every day 2) white Rosenthal porcelain 3) depression glass Manhattan pattern 4) pottery dishes made by a wonderful potter called Susan Painter from Florida 5) Easter dishes from Williams Sonoma 6) Christmas dishes from Waechtersbach. None inherited, bought by me. I’m sure no one will want them when I’m gone, but they do enjoy eating off of them now. And hey, it’s my thing…😎
I love dishes! I grew up with my dad in the Canadian armed forces and my mother a teacher, moving around all the time. He came from a fishing family, she a farm but both families valued beautiful dishes. We always had Sunday supper with the good stuff and bits and pieces of crystal and china passed down. My mother felt if you didn't use it there was no point in keeping it, so I have done the same. Our daughter was eating off china from the time she was able to sit at the table in her clip on chair. A great aunt of mine used to gift me and one of my cousins, with beautiful pieces whenever I visited. Tea tastes lovely in a china cup. Lovely dishes encourage people to sit and talk and not rush because the table is pretty so why not. My 93 year old mother recently went into a home but was very concerned about her "stuff". She wanted to make sure it was taken care of and luckily her granddaughter is thrilled to have it. Although technically it is in a trunk in my house as we live on opposite coasts of Canada, but one day. For me, pretty dishes mean good food, memories, laughter and love. When we cleared my parents' house it was hard to let things go, but I kept a few pieces, a dish always used for cranberry sauce, a turkey bowl that held stuffing, the Johnson brothers serving bowl that was on the table etc. Sorry this is so long but I always buy a little bowl from a small ceramics shop when I am in Italy, it's a great memory. Those pieces probably won't mean anything to our daughter but the pieces that have been on the table forever will. I think over time as the twenties and thirties age they will wish they had kept a few pieces just for the smile factor.
I enjoyed the article about fine china. My mother had collected Wedgewood for 12 which she bought in Canada & snuck across the border in picnic baskets. I inherited it. I didn't have a family but used it for those few times each year when I entertained. Three years ago I moved into a retirement community where I would not need it, and I don't have any children who might want it. I advertised it on Facebook Marketplace, and an English woman nearby offered me $250. She was going to use it for her everyday china.
Elizabeth, I loved the NYT article on china and your question of what to do with it.
I partially have you to blame for the more than 50 sets of china I own. Back at the very beginning of the pandemic in Italy you showed us your table setting and delicious dinner each day.
I loved how you focused on making each day special. When the pandemic hit NY I decided to emulate you. I still had 2 of my 4 kids home and I didn’t want them to be afraid so each night I set a gorgeous table with one of my many sets of china, made a lovely meal and posted on insta to friends and family. I encouraged others to #showmeyourplates and kept it up for 30 days while still working full time (I eventually had to take a break- it was exhausting!).
People began using china they hadn’t unboxed in years and it was a fun way to connect with everyone but guess what? I became known as a china appreciator-
Now when people move or clean out their attic or basement they offer me great Aunt Tilly’s china. How can I say no!!! My very large collection continues to grow! I do not keep teacups or saucers anymore- they take up too much room!
As far as my four children, I’d like to think they are going to come around. Brown furniture is coming back- maybe china will too!
The best thing is that my two daughters have friends who now collect china and post fancy meals on beautiful plates to insta! They credit my pandemic posts as inspiration. So, maybe they will take all of these plates off my hands someday!
And I have been known to give a complete set of china as a gift to someone I know will love it. We chinaholics are out there, you just have to know where to look!
Anyway, thank you so much for keeping us entertained during the pandemic and for giving me a reason to share one of my passions with all my friends, and start a mini- revolution of people sharing their tablescapes. White plates are boring everyone! #showmeyourplates
Loving your account! Particularly as we plan a month in Italy for 2025. Curious if you might address what impact the Jubilee may have on travel in Italy this year?
Such great insight about spas in Italy! I, too, was a bit shocked when I had to meet with a doctor before doing a mud treatment in Ischia. I had a great experience at the Terme di Saturnia too. And for anyone who wants to experience a legit (and luxe) medical spa with healthy food, I would recommend Palazzo Fiuggi. The menus were designed by Heinz Beck and you can choose whether you want to do a normal dining plan or a weight loss plan consisting of 1,200 calories per day. The amount of treatments and fitness programs is almost overwhelming!
Please host another late fall tour in Umbria in 2026, Elizabeth.
Yes to the Bay Leaf liqueur recipe! My husband and I made it for Christmas, and it's delicious. Had to get our Everclear from another state, but otherwise, simple to do and quite festive for the holidays (or anytime, for that matter).
When I saw the china article in the NY Times yesterday, I sent it to my sons, other family members, and friends. Thrilled that my older son and his wife were happy to have turquoise Wedgewood "Praze" china set from my grandmother, as well as silverware that goes so well with it. Now if my younger son will take the Limoges and Stieff silverware when I'm gone, I'll be happy. Hope they'll want the crystal at some point, too. I am at a loss to understand why younger folks don't seem to value special occasions as much as we older ones do--everything is so casual and laid back. Every night, we always sat at the table and had dinner together and talked with one another. The "good" china, silverware, and crystal were used for holidays and special family dinners. This is reflected in how people dress these days, too. Don't get me wrong, I like being relaxed, but I miss the days when people made more of an effort. I was a working mother, so I know how challenging it can be. Italians still seem to care about la bella figura. It's not just about how one looks, but how one lives his/her life as well.
If you liked Ben Whipshaw, we just loved him in an earlier series with Hugh Grant as a villian: A Very English Scandal (based on the Jeremy Thorpe scandal)
Ben Wishaw also in-This is going to hurt series, he plays a gay Midwife In a hospital and all the scenarios on the ward. Of course as Q in 007 Bond as well and the voice of Paddington Bear 🐻
Loved "Drops of God"
I was never interested in fine China even though I came from an era when females had "hope chests" and picked out China and Silver patterns even before a male partner was on the scene. I had a set of Bennington Stoneware from my 20's that I got rid of a decade or two ago. I have a set of Dansk porcelain that I've used off and on for 40+ years and still like. And I have a large set of multi-colored Waechtersbach dinnerware that I've loved and used daily for many years, though currently I'm back to the Dansk for everyday. Plus I have about 50 white plates from Ikea that I use when there are lots of people. I was sorely tempted in Deruta to buy a set of dishes like Elizabeth's as I love them, but at age 75, I need to be getting rid of dishes, not acquiring more. The only dishes my daughter has expressed any interest in are the Waechtersbach.
What the heck? I took the train from Chicago to St. Paul, MN last week and as I walked through the train I heard several people talking about whether 'Die Hard' was a Christmas movie! Weird. Loved the Sophie 'interview'. Very cool. THANK YOU and Happy New Year.
Dishes? 1) white (and some sky blue) Fiesta for every day 2) white Rosenthal porcelain 3) depression glass Manhattan pattern 4) pottery dishes made by a wonderful potter called Susan Painter from Florida 5) Easter dishes from Williams Sonoma 6) Christmas dishes from Waechtersbach. None inherited, bought by me. I’m sure no one will want them when I’m gone, but they do enjoy eating off of them now. And hey, it’s my thing…😎
Well done. Thank you.
I love dishes! I grew up with my dad in the Canadian armed forces and my mother a teacher, moving around all the time. He came from a fishing family, she a farm but both families valued beautiful dishes. We always had Sunday supper with the good stuff and bits and pieces of crystal and china passed down. My mother felt if you didn't use it there was no point in keeping it, so I have done the same. Our daughter was eating off china from the time she was able to sit at the table in her clip on chair. A great aunt of mine used to gift me and one of my cousins, with beautiful pieces whenever I visited. Tea tastes lovely in a china cup. Lovely dishes encourage people to sit and talk and not rush because the table is pretty so why not. My 93 year old mother recently went into a home but was very concerned about her "stuff". She wanted to make sure it was taken care of and luckily her granddaughter is thrilled to have it. Although technically it is in a trunk in my house as we live on opposite coasts of Canada, but one day. For me, pretty dishes mean good food, memories, laughter and love. When we cleared my parents' house it was hard to let things go, but I kept a few pieces, a dish always used for cranberry sauce, a turkey bowl that held stuffing, the Johnson brothers serving bowl that was on the table etc. Sorry this is so long but I always buy a little bowl from a small ceramics shop when I am in Italy, it's a great memory. Those pieces probably won't mean anything to our daughter but the pieces that have been on the table forever will. I think over time as the twenties and thirties age they will wish they had kept a few pieces just for the smile factor.
I enjoyed the article about fine china. My mother had collected Wedgewood for 12 which she bought in Canada & snuck across the border in picnic baskets. I inherited it. I didn't have a family but used it for those few times each year when I entertained. Three years ago I moved into a retirement community where I would not need it, and I don't have any children who might want it. I advertised it on Facebook Marketplace, and an English woman nearby offered me $250. She was going to use it for her everyday china.
Elizabeth, I loved the NYT article on china and your question of what to do with it.
I partially have you to blame for the more than 50 sets of china I own. Back at the very beginning of the pandemic in Italy you showed us your table setting and delicious dinner each day.
I loved how you focused on making each day special. When the pandemic hit NY I decided to emulate you. I still had 2 of my 4 kids home and I didn’t want them to be afraid so each night I set a gorgeous table with one of my many sets of china, made a lovely meal and posted on insta to friends and family. I encouraged others to #showmeyourplates and kept it up for 30 days while still working full time (I eventually had to take a break- it was exhausting!).
People began using china they hadn’t unboxed in years and it was a fun way to connect with everyone but guess what? I became known as a china appreciator-
Now when people move or clean out their attic or basement they offer me great Aunt Tilly’s china. How can I say no!!! My very large collection continues to grow! I do not keep teacups or saucers anymore- they take up too much room!
As far as my four children, I’d like to think they are going to come around. Brown furniture is coming back- maybe china will too!
The best thing is that my two daughters have friends who now collect china and post fancy meals on beautiful plates to insta! They credit my pandemic posts as inspiration. So, maybe they will take all of these plates off my hands someday!
And I have been known to give a complete set of china as a gift to someone I know will love it. We chinaholics are out there, you just have to know where to look!
Anyway, thank you so much for keeping us entertained during the pandemic and for giving me a reason to share one of my passions with all my friends, and start a mini- revolution of people sharing their tablescapes. White plates are boring everyone! #showmeyourplates
Loving your account! Particularly as we plan a month in Italy for 2025. Curious if you might address what impact the Jubilee may have on travel in Italy this year?
Such great insight about spas in Italy! I, too, was a bit shocked when I had to meet with a doctor before doing a mud treatment in Ischia. I had a great experience at the Terme di Saturnia too. And for anyone who wants to experience a legit (and luxe) medical spa with healthy food, I would recommend Palazzo Fiuggi. The menus were designed by Heinz Beck and you can choose whether you want to do a normal dining plan or a weight loss plan consisting of 1,200 calories per day. The amount of treatments and fitness programs is almost overwhelming!
I know where to get bay laurel leaves by the river. Will these work for the liqueur?
Hi Elizabeth! I’m a big fan of yours and hope to book a trip with you to Italy soon.
But first, we are planning a trip to Spain and Portugal in May. Do you have any contacts that you would recommend for tours to Spain and Portugal?
agreed! Drops of G-d super weird but made me want another glass