Silver Lining

I may or may not have gone off the eBay deep end.

I can explain…kinda.

I really, really, really love silver.

Also, I never actually owned any.

Kevin had a few nice pieces when I met him. A tea set, a couple of pitchers and a few platters. (Funny story…once when we were dating, Kevin’s ex-wife wanted to borrow the platters. He agreed and told her just to come by and get them. This was before the robbery when the doors were not routinely locked. When we got home, he noticed the platters were still there. He called to see why his ex hadn’t picked them up and she said she couldn’t use them because they were tarnished. This story tickles me every time I think about it because I just can’t figure out who she thought might actually polish those platters.) Anyway, the tea set and at least one pitcher were stolen which broke my heart.

After we got married, I polished all the remaining pieces and didn’t think much about them for a while. Then a few months ago, I read about a silver punch bowl in my Southern Living magazine. This created an unquenchable need for a silver punch bowl in my life. How had I lived 37 years without one? The author of the article said she used hers to chill champagne and to ice down shrimp. Champagne! Shrimp! I love both those things! The hunt was on. Unfortunately, every gal south of the Mason-Dixon line must have read the same article because the bidding for silver punch bowls was going hardcore when I arrived. It was not pretty.

During the three month period that I was stalking the punch bowls, I discovered all kinds of awesome silverplate pieces. First, I fell in love with these butter dishes.

(Also I got those candlesticks so cheap it was nearly stealing.)

But mainly what I love about the butter dishes is the knife.

Ain’t it cute?

Then, I started seeing these cake baskets. I know. I never heard of such a thing either. Apparently, brides used to carry them in the early 1900’s. These things could bring out the hoarder in me. I just want all of them.

Finally, the Southern Living furor died down and I got this beauty for a ridiculously low price. It is perfect for me. The best part was that it was tarnished when I bought it. Cleaning up a piece of tarnished silver makes me feel like I have discovered a treasure. It thrills me.

I’m trying hard to taper off my silver hobby. If I really want to simplify my life, spending an hour a day on eBay is probably not the best way to achieve that. But there is just something about silver. I’m not sure what the draw is. Maybe I just like the idea of having something to leave for my children. Maybe I just like shiny things. Maybe I just like the idea of having something to hide from the Yankees.