When I was a little girl, I used to admire a gorgeous treasure when we would visit my dear grandmother, who I always called Nana.
In her kitchen, she had a lovely hutch that stood so grand in the corner of the room. It was not a large hutch, for her kitchen was small and cozy, but it was grand in the eyes of myself, the child who loved pretty things even then.
Through the glass doors I always admired her pretty gold tea pot, sugar and creamer and 6 demi cups and saucers. I thought it was magnificent. Nana told me it was from Italy and a gift brought back to her from a dear friend when visiting her home town of Naples. I knew it was very special to her in just the way she spoke of the treasure.
Nana only used the set for special occasions when company would visit. I remember a time when she had a gathering of her special friends and my mother and I were included. The ladies enjoyed an espresso coffee from the demi cups and of course I was given juice. oh well too young~~~ but I thought I was so important to sit with the ladies while they talked in a mix of Italian and English.
As the years went forth, the treasured set remained secure and beautiful behind the glass doors of the small grand hutch that stood so proud in Nana's kitchen. As I grew older, I continued to admire the set and the special spot in Nana's heart that it would fill. The treasure that came from her home town of Naples, Italy. The town she would never visit again while on this earth. I used to feel sad about that, thinking that my dearest grandmother would never go home again to visit. Back then, it was a world away, expensive to travel and a very long trip by ship. When talking about this to her, she told me, that although she missed her homeland, her home was where her family was now and that was all that was important. That God had blessed her coming to America, and for this, she would always be grateful.
In August my dear best guy and I will celebrate thirtyeight years of marriage. My how the years have flown by. Remembering back to that special time just before the wedding, I visited my Nana often to talk and share my dreams of our wedding and plans of a world to come.
On one visit before the wedding, I walked over to the hutch like I had always done my whole life up to that point and I quickly noticed the treasured gold set with the darling demi cups were missing. "Nana", I said, "Where is the set from Italy?" She motioned for me to follow her into the living room.
As we sat on the pretty light green brocade sofa, she handed me a wrapped box to open. I looked at her puzzled, but proceeded to open the package to find the gorgeous treasured set from Italy inside.
As I began to cry and tell her, no Nana, this is yours and I could never take it. She held my hand and whispered it is for you and will be in your care from this point on. I was so excited, promising I would always take good care of it and cherish it forever. She said, she knew, I would take good care of the set because she watched over the years how I had always admired the delicate beauty of gold.
Yes, I had admired the beautiful set and never imagined it would someday be mine to cherish. I never would have imagined the many years of looking through the hutch with admiration, that I was gazing at a wedding gift. Nana gave me a part of her heart that day and it was in her plan to do so.
Today with my anniversary upcoming, and today, being Tea Time Tuesday, I share this story with you. We calculate the set to be nearly 80 years old. It means as much to me today as it did when I first admired the delicate treasure as a little girl. And today 107 years ago, my grandmother was born, Celestina Marie, July 19th 1904.
Happy Birthday Nana, I love you and miss you everyday!
Thank you for stopping by, sharing my tea time story and letting me invite you to shop Christmas in July at my etsy shoppe here with early treasures with Free Shipping.Blessings for a wonderful summer's day and wishing you the joys of remembering times in your life that are cherished and loved.
With Love, Celestina Marie
Please visit our gracious hostess Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage for more tea time participants.
22 comments:
Hello Celestina Marie,
thank you for sharing this wonderful china. The tea set is really outstanding.
Best greetings, Johanna
Celestina, you tea shop is really beautiful!
Hi Celestina Marie,
I loved reading your beautiful story of your dear Grandmother and her giving you the beautiful gold tea set.
What a treasure and such a gorgeous gift.
19th July will be a special date, remembering your wonderful Nana's birthday.
Also congratulations for your upcoming 30th wedding anniversary and yes, the years do come around quickly.
Best wishes to you dear friend, for a fabulous week and many thanks for visiting me today.
Hugs
Carolyn
Your tea set is beautiful ! ! I too had a Grandma that had breakables in her hutch. I too admired them but could not touch. After my Mother passed away I inhereted them all & now they are in my hutch & yes, I do stop to admire them very often!!
They too are precious to me!!
Have a Great Day!
Marilyn
Oh Celeste, the tears are just streaming down my face, but they are happy tears... you know how very sentimental I get about these things too... how precious your dear grandmother gave this beautiful teaset to you for your wedding day... knowing how much you loved it and would cherish it always... I did not know you were named after her, what a priceless gift as well... and today, her birthday... she is celebrating by having tea with you once again in yours and hers stunning set... I can just picture her... a lovely Italian lady whose little granddaughter brought her so much happiness and joy... and continues to do so...Happy Birthday to your beautiful Nana... xoxo Julie Marie
What a precious story. Your tea set is gorgeous and I know everytime you look at it, you think of your dear Nana.
Precious story of your Nana and her tea set. I think we have more than Michigan in common. My dh and inlaws came from Arpino and Rocco Secca Italy. I have my MIL treasured expresso set that belonged to her Mother. I was truly expecting to see the same set, but mine is different from yours. Lovely set and lovely memories. Good wishes for your sale too, your shop is beautiful! ~Diane
Hi Celestine Marie...I'm in love with your tea set, it is just stunning! I love the story that goes along with it, so wonderful to have things passed along from someone you loved, like your dear Nana...a real treasure and thank you for sharing. Hugs, FABBY
The special you have up for Christmas in July is fantastic! It's just beautiful!! The cupcake spoon is just too cute! This offer will not last ~ I'm sure of it!!
Continued success to you!
~Julie =]
What a beautiful story, what a treasure you have from her. COngratulation on your wedding anniversary.
Best of luck with your lovely items for "CHristmas in July".
Mimi
Beautiful tea set and wonderful tribute to your grandmother. Happy Anniversary! Happy Tea Day!
What a great story, Celestine! I was right there with you as there were many things in my grandmother's home I had admired and am today the proud caretaker of. What a jewel to be presented with such a treasure. So honoring of you to her memory and your family history. May you continue many years of joy in your marriage - and Nana's tea set!
Joy!
Miss Kathy
Hi Celestina Marie,
Thank you for visiting again and congratulations on almost 38 years of marriage and sorry I got the years wrong. That is wonderful!
Enjoy the rest of the week and I always enjoy your lovely posts.
Hugs
Carolyn
Such a beautiful tea set! I am so happy you have it as you have such sweet and loving memories associated with it!
Thank you for sharing not only the story, but the pictures!
xo
Jil
Congratulations on 38 years of marriage, time flies doesn't it? ( We just celebrated 39 years.)
Thank you for sharing the heart warming story of your grandmother's tea set, and I can see why it mesmerized you so, it's absolutely gorgeous!
You are the keeper of the family heirloom now and it is in the hands of a dear lady that will treasure it.
Judith
What a precious post, Celeste. I can just hear your sweet voice saying each word you've typed! Such a treasure that you posess! Funny, but just today I was jotting down things I want to someday pass along to my grandchildren.......I'm ever so sure that today your Nana is looking down on you and smiling!:0)
Much Love,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents
What a beautiful Tea Set and such a heartfelt story. Congratulations on your anniversary and I love your Christmas in July offerings, beautiful!
Hugs Miss Celeste!
Sniff, sniff, dab, dab, what a beautiful story and a lovely tea set. Truly the stuff of childhood dreams and fancies. What a blessing to have it in your collection.
Hello my sweet friend,
Your story was very touching and brought tears to my eyes as I read it. What a darling grandmother you had and how sweet of her to gift you with her treasured possession. She knew how much you would always cherish it. I'm so happy you have shared this exquisite tea set with Tea Time. It truly is beautiful! And Congratulations to you and your hubby! My hubby and I have been married for 39 years and we would do it all over again if we could.
Your post is very much appreciated and I wish you a Happy Anniversary and a delightful celebration.
Blessings & Hugs,
Sandi
Oh wow, what a story~and Happy Anniversary to you and your husband!
I'm so happy you shared this with everyone at White Christmas in July...
and what a fabulous surprise that you made that beautiful spoon and have FREE shipping--WOW!!
XO
Cindy
Thank you so much for participating in the White Christmas in July blog party, Celestina Marie. I was so happy to see you become the 200th reader. Woo-hoo!!
I love your treasured memory. What a beautiful story of such a special moment with your Nana. The set is gorgeous too, and I love that it's from my dream place, Italy. I have never visited but dream of living there one day. This is a beautiful addition to the party and I'm so glad you are part of it.
Much love!
What a heart-warming story you shared with us today! I know the feeling of possessing cherished things from grand-mothers and my mother. There seems to be a connection between them and you every time you handle something that was theirs....your tea set is just beautiful, and I know you treasure it as you do the memories of the time you spent with your Nana
Happy 38th Anniversary, too!
Francy
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