Salad bowl

[celticdragonfly]

I just had lunch. Using a bowl I haven't for awhile. I was reminded of it partially by a discussion the Bujold list is having about knowing where the bowls are in the kitchen, but more by bkseiver bringing it up and discussing it with me recently.

Y'see, way back when I had my first wedding, my maternal grandmother gave me a bowl. A Waterford masterwork crystal bowl. Those are basically graduation projects, what the artisans make to prove they're up to master standards. I love it. bkseiver was talking about it to me lately, wondering if I realized how valuable it is. Not that it's a museum piece or anything, but it's more valuable than your typical wedding present, at least at the financial level of my family.

So today I got back to what I used to occasionally do with it. I got it down, carefully washed it, and made a Caesar's salad in it for lunch.

I'm sure there are those that would say I shouldn't, that it should be saved to be used as a serving bowl in formal entertaining situations. Of which I have approximately, um, none.

Personally, I figure it's like the scene in Bujold's book A Civil Campaign with Miles, Ekaterin, and the saddle. Better that it should be used and appreciated. And I like having my salad from a bowl that special.

It occurs to me that for those who have not read _A Civil Campaign_, that the phrase "the scene with Miles, Ekaterin, and the saddle" may sound MUCH more risque than it is. No, no. Not like that. It's an excellent book, you should try the series.

Comments

[jazz007.livejournal.com]

Sweetie, even for those of us who *have* read a Civil Campaign, that phrase sounds more risque than it is :) Good times!

[joyeuse13.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm so glad she clarified. I was thinking, I HAVE to go reread that book!

[selenesue.livejournal.com]

Verily, you deserve the best!

I have a few fancy goblets that I'll use for ordinary beverages when I'm glum and want to feel special too.

[celticdragonfly.livejournal.com]

Ooh, fancy goblets. I should do that occasionally. Trouble is, with the kids I almost always am using plastic in case it gets knocked over.

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

Oh, I use my best stuff all the time. I eat Ramen with my grandmother's silver. I learned all this, in a perverse way, from my mom, who saves all her very best perfume until it turns to vinegar. Cuz, y'know, too good to use everyday.

We could be dead tomorrow. Use the crystal bowl!

[shadefell.livejournal.com]

My mom collects Watt pottery. She scandalizes other collectors by eating off it every day. She also found out that it's dishwasher and microwave safe.

I had some friends over for Halloween, and one of them asked for a serving spoon. I pointed to the drawer they were in, and she tutted at me. "This is sterling, isn't it? I'm sure you don't want me using it for... spinach dip." Leaving aside how she can tell solid sterling from plate, I use them all the time. It keeps them tarnish free and makes me feel like a pretty princess.

[celticdragonfly.livejournal.com]

I do have a set somewhere of fancy silverware that the same grandmother gave me. That, I never use. I don't even know where it is right now. Because that I have to handwash all of it. I don't mind doing that for the waterford bowl occasionally, but I'm not going to handwash lots of silverware.

[shadefell.livejournal.com]

I grew up in a house without a dishwasher. Excuse me. Growing up, I was the dishwasher. ;) So that's totally a non-issue for me. I mean, it's what I'd do anyway, you know? Had I a dishwasher, however, I might well change my tune.

[celticdragonfly.livejournal.com]

Ah. I love and appreciate my dishwasher as the labor-saving miracle that it is. Although I'd let them take it away before I let anybody take away my laundry maid, I mean washer and dryer.

[salix-03.livejournal.com]

Nope, you wouldn't. I come from a family of 6 and we didn't have a mechanical dishwasher. (Whoever was in the most trouble with mum at the time was the dishwasher.)

As of two weeks ago, I have a dishwasher. I've used it exactly once, after cooking for 5 people. I did a load of dishes in the sink by hand while it was running. I look at as a convenient place to store clean dishes, not something to wash them :)

[firedrake-mor.livejournal.com]

I love using the "fancy stuff" for normal things. It makes me feel like I'm living better, somehow.

BTW, OB Bujold moment. At Coronation on Saturday, I was admiring new-Duchess Adrianna's coronet and her jewelry, and out of the blue she mentioned that she wanted a couple of ImpSec eyes for a high collar sometime to see who noticed.

Not Bujold, but another fannsih moment . . . Then, on Sunday morning, at Queen's Champion, Duke Paul of Bellatrix was seen wandering about before getting dressed wearing a "Royal Manticoran Navy" polo shirt, like one I have. I looked at him, said "Hmmmm . . . white belt, white beret: it fits," and wandered on, leaving him chuckling.

[carbonelle.livejournal.com]

I save all my uber-goodies for guests - which includes family; basically everyone who isn't me, my husband and my child - and for holidays.

I want to keep the "specialness" factor intact.