Traveling Turkey Dishes

I adore china!  Many years ago Tuesday Morning advertised a set of Johnson Brothers "His Majesty" china.  Our family has enjoyed setting our table with Nikko Christmastime every December since the boys were small.  I naturally  thought it would be a great idea to have a special set of china  for Thanksgiving.  I wasn't going all out for an entire service for eight, just four dinner plates.  My husband promptly voiced his mild objection stating that I already had too many dishes!  Off to Tuesday Morning I went anyway and was saddened to find not a single item of His Majesty from the sales ad.  Had they already sold out?  I knew it!!  Everyone wanted a set & that is why they were already gone.  I peered under shelves and in unusual areas hoping someone had decided against  four dinner plates and laid them to the side.  Imagine my delight when I found a tattered box holding five dinner plates under the lowest shelf at the front of the store.  I drug the box out and promptly walked to the register, inquiring as to the cost.  The salesman looked at me quizzically and called for the manager...not a good sign. When the manager arrived she looked at the tattered box and asked where I found it.  Imagine my shock when she said that they had not received any of the shipment of His Majesty!  We talked for awhile and the mystery could not be solved.  You know what I thought...it was meant to be!!!  We decided on a price for the five dinner plates and I left a puzzled, but happy girl.  I have since acquired a few more pieces.  My husband ultimately liked the pattern and has been known to ask salespeople in china departments if they have "Turkey Dishes"!  He can never remember the name of the pattern. Since that time they have been lovingly known as the "Turkey Dishes".

Fast forward one year from the "Tuesday Morning Mystery".   Our family had arranged to spend Thanksgiving in a beautiful cabin in the Smokey Mountains.  We would be joined by my mom and dad as well as my sister and her family.  I mentioned to my husband that I wanted to serve Thanksgiving dinner on our His Majesty china.  His answer to me was something similar to, "I am not hauling a set of china 10 hours away for one meal".  Notice he said "I".  As we arrived at the cabin I graciously agreed to unpack the last part of the car by myself.  My husband is a sweet guy and came back out to help out no matter how many times I tried to shoo him away.  Imagine his surprise (we will call it that) when he pulled a heavy tub full of "Turkey Dishes" from the car!! 

In case you are not familiar with this delightful pattern, I set my grandmother's dining table with an intimate setting for four.  I love this table.  I have taken the additional leaves out and it sits in our reading room, usually holding a simple arrangement and whatever literature is currently being read.  Always the Bible! I know many people would get out the chalk paint and cover the character left by years of use, but I just can't.  Each mark brings a memory of the person who left it.  Here it is with His Majesty...

This year, we are spending Thanksgiving at home so my dishes will not be traveling.  The funny thing is that my sister and her husband just finished a vacation home on Little Cumberland Island off the coast of Georgia.  We have tossed around the idea of spending Thanksgiving on the island this year.   I think my "Turkey Dishes" would have liked the island view!

Linking this week with these fabulous parties:

Mockingbird Hill Cottage: A Favorite Thing Saturday
A Stroll Thru Life: Tabletop Tuesday
Cozy Little House 

Debbie-Debbiedoos: Newbie Party
Brambleberry Cottage: Time Travel Thursday
Between Naps on the Porch: Tablescape Thursday
At The Picket Fence: Inspiration Friday
Rose Chintz Cottage
Women Living Well
Blessings from Still Woods