Today I am back in the Dining Room

It has been a really busy day again, and I am now completely crackered.

I have started off the dining room again.  I have stripped down the second Dresser and am gradually getting it put back together again.  Before I can finish this and finalise what I am going to keep on there I have to do a bit of a side-step.  This is how far I have got so far just using the pieces that are out and about.  It may get changed  up again yet, but that is for later on.

I have worked down to the top of the dresser, so the shelves of it are all dealt with, but what to keep on this dresser top will evolve.

During the cleaning and sorting of the Dresser, I came upon these:

I then posted on Instagram as to whether anyone knew what they were?

They are in fact carving knife and fork rests.  These ones are made of Lead crystal, and were a way of keeping the dining table clean in the days when the Master of the house tackled carving duties for guests.  Meals often consisted of at least 12 courses, and one set of cutlery would be provided for the visitor, however he would have to use that one set of cutlery for all 12+ courses. Interestingly to start with, the rests were only for the carving knife and fork.  These days usually two are provided for a guest one for the knife one for the fork.  Table Etiquette dictates that the only time the rests are used is in between courses.  If eating one of the courses and you decide to put your knife or fork down the acceptable manner at this point is to lay the knife one side of the plate and the fork the other.  You do not use the rests at this point.  

I have had these for some time and I believe that they are Edwardian.  I only have these two.  I love nice things and sadly although a lot of stuff over the years has gone out of fashion to use, I still when I can collect it.  I love nice china, linen, glassware and crystal, embroidered centrepieces, little table ornaments, I even have the start of a set of Mother of Pearl cutlery, that I am gradually piecing together. There is also the highly decorated Fish Knives and Forks that I bought in a Canteen.  My Nan always had knives and forks like this and I just think that they look stunning on a properly decorated table. I just like things to look really nice it gives me a lot of pleasure.

Anyway as usual I have gone slightly off piste!

I have worked on the Fireside cupboard again today.  I have been slowly stripping it out, sorting out.  It will then need washing out.  Then it will be a matter of sanding down the paint work before setting too and painting it out.  This is all so that I can then put things away in there which although I need, need putting away safely.  

Thus far in the top cupboard I have cleared the bottom shelf.  Am going to start on the second, and then finally the third.  Everything that was in there has been sorted out including stuff being chucked out and a lot of stuff going to the charity shop and recycling.  It is slow work.  I had planned on another late night however am a little tired so that is not going to happen tonight.  Probably will progress further with it tomorrow and maybe I will be late tomorrow night.

This storage is very much needed though to tidy up so much.  Once the top cupboard is all sorted out, washed out, sanded down and painted this can be left overnight to dry, and then hopefully will get shelves recovered tomorrow.  New vinyl is going on them.  I can then fill up the top part of the cupboard.  The top shelf first is where I am going to store a lot of my vases some of which are quite old. The reason for bunging these out of the way is that I have recently lost a couple of inherited ones, which I was none too pleased with as they had belonged to my Nan. 

My Nan absolutely loved her flowers plants and always grew a proper flower garden.  The flower garden patch was specifically for doing flowers at the local Church, and also to put in her own home.  There were always flowers or plants in the house all year long.  It was one of her things.

The second shelf down is to store a lot of my canned fruits etc.  Under the stairs provides storage but I still need that bit more.

The third shelf is the area where any bottled drinks are stored.

Once the top is all sorted out, I can then gravitate towards the bottom.  Am not sure what I am going to store in here at the moment.

I shall update on the yogurt post from yesterday tomorrow evening, unfortunately tonight I am a little tired.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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