DO YOU LOVE SILVER LIKE I LOVE SILVER?

I was lucky enough to be entrusted

to care for the silver that belonged

to one side of my husband's family.

I had two sick little girls here yesterday

watching movies which left me

free to do something-

but not so much that I would be

out of sight.

So.....

being the dutiful little wife I am

only my true friends know what a joke THAT is

I decided to polish the pieces that had been

sadly neglected since late spring.

Now, I know a lot of you like tarnished silver

but I feel guilty if I let this get tarnished.

Here she is-

BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL!

Notice how wonky the top of the candle holder is?

That is from years and years and years of

REAL USE.

Real silver is actually pretty malleable-

not hard at all.

Don't ya love it?

The tops do snap down tight and 

I should have done that for

the pictures..

but - I keep them slightly ajar 

so they don't get yucky inside.  

I am always afraid that I will seal some moisture in.

The coffee & tea service sits on the 

bombe chest in my dining room.

The drawers store linens and stuff.

The picture above the chest was a landmark in

Green Bay, WI.

Kaap's Restaurant was famous for its

ice cream treats and chocolates.

It is the first place my husband ever took me when

I came to visit his family before we got married.

Sadly, so sadly, progress has destroyed that street

and all the wonderful shops and stores that were there.

So---the silver looked like this when I started...

Pretty sad and kind of embarrassing!

 I used my special secret tools for cleaning...

Maas (and the other if I run out) 

and old diapers to polish with.

If you use these make sure the diapers are clean---just sayin'......

I won't bother to tell you I could only find two RIGHT HAND GLOVES.

Did you ever try to use a rubber glove 

wearing it on the wrong hand?

Can't turn these inside out because they are lined...lol

Yeah- You look  as stupid as you feel doing that.

Well, maybe YOU don't - but I do!

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER use TARNEX

on good silver...

I won't even go into all the reasons why...just DON'T!

A few more pics to show you how I worked my fingers to the bone...

Oh---and this is MY SECRET!

See the candlestick below?

It is sitting on one of  Grandmother Clara's coasters.

TA-DA!!!

I am so flipping clever that I can't even believe it myself sometimes.

Look!  It is...

A hiding place for a few nails and screws 

cuz you just 

never know when you are gonna have to nail something to the wall.

I have SECRET TOOLS, too.

They look like a shoe (hammer) 

and a butter knife (screwdriver)

Please keep these secrets to yourself.

MyHero gets all worked up 

when I use stuff like that

for little household jobs.

He is SUCH a spoil sport.

I love these special things.

It is my husband's 

sterling silver Christening cup and 

my youngest son's Christening cup.

Both are engraved with their names and birth dates.

The little fork and spoon were used by all the kids.

SweetCheeks did NOT want to give it up.

I think she used it until she was almost five.

Well, that was my big adventure yesterday.

I am off to make myself a cuppa coffee...

Which reminds me-

I came across the most 

delightful poem the other day.

It just speaks to my heart and I am sure it will

TOUCH SOME OF YOUR HEARTS, TOO!

J.Dewitt

Y'all  have a nice day now, ya hear?

oh..and if you didn't sign up 

for my give away yesterday for

Somerset Life

you can still do that by clicking here

Silver Smells Or Is It Bells

Our oldest son is 

staying with us for a while

till MyHero gets tired of

him and me ganging up 

on him and making him the

brunt of our jokes

and it has been working

out quite nicely.

Mom, Is there anything

I can do to help you out?

Ummmm...

How do you feel about 

polishing the silver

for the Holidays?

Let me tell you...

His joy knew no bounds!

He polished and rubbed

and shined and buffed

until Gramma Clara's silver

set shone like the sun

off a bald man's head.

Look at this!

Is that gorgeous, or what?

It sits on the bombe chest

in our dining room

below the painting of

the first place MyHero

ever took me when I came

to meet his family in Wisconsin.

Sorry about the reflections

it is hard to get pictures

in this room.

Well, imagine our surprise

when the 

VERY NEXT DAY

I saw instructions on someone's blog

to clean silver.

(and PLEASE let me know if it 

was your blog-I can't remember

where I saw it)

AHHHH-One smart reader knew!
It was Ann-On Sutton Place
Thanks, Pam!!!!

This is SOOO easy

you are gonna die....well, not literally

so you can keep reading.

Take tinfoil...

Line your sink with it.

Add HOT TAP water.

Sprinkle with a few tablespoons

of salt...

and DROP your silver in.

Presto- Bango

You can see the Tarnish lift

right before your eyes.

If you have bigger pieces

you cover them loosely 

with the foil and let them

soak a bit.

(for heavy tarnish you might

have to do it a second and third

time-AND you MUST change

the tinfoil every time)

This is a only a 30 second bath 

for this piece.

Before:

 After:

My son wants to know what is

wrong with you people

that you didn't post this

"recipe" sooner.

Now.....son.....

How do feel about putting

up outside Christmas lights?

I think I'll go hide-

I hate naughty words.