When my Mom and Dad were married, my Uncle Bill and Aunt Flo gave them a set of flatware. I've always called them the Candy Cane forks and spoons but it turns out, the actual NAME of this pattern is Elegance..by Providence. It says so right on the back!
We used them for years - and as there were four of us kids, I imagine they were WELL used. Over the years, somehow pieces were lost and eventually Mom got a new set of flatware to use. What the heck happens to the forks and knives that reside in a kitchen drawer? How does a full set of silverware dwindle to just a few pieces? Did we take them camping? Were they thrown out by accident by kids pressed into kitchen service? Did Steve use them to torture my Raggedy Ann?
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| Does This Doll look tortured to you? |
Anyway - When I went to Illinois State University, I took a setting with me to use in the dorm..a fork, a knife, a teaspoon and a big spoon...and then took them to my apartment in Sacramento, CA. And believe it or not, they have become treasured pieces of "MY stuff." In the morning, I root through the silverware drawer to use a Candy Cane spoon for my oatmeal. If a boy is visiting, I'll set his place with the Candy Cane setting. I dunno - to me it makes my his dinner with me that much more special. Silly I know, but I'm a sentimental twit.
At garage sales and in GoodWill Stores I've always looked for more Candy Cane pieces, but have never EVER found any. EVER! My brother Steve found a knife once, and sent it to me. But I've never come across any. I found a place online that will sell new settings, intending to fill in missing pieces...but at nearly $40 bucks a place setting, well, I may be sentimental but I'm also a cheapskate! :) I decided to just treasure my few pieces.
UNTIL! a few weeks ago, my friend Scott was over for supper and I handed him his plate of food ALONG with a CANDY CANE FORK! And i told him of my Candy Cane cravings. He suggested I search on Craig's list.
So I wandered over to the computer, and typed in "Elegance by Providence" and HOLY MOLY !!!!! A woman was selling an ENTIRE SET on CRAIG's LIST IN DAYTON OHIO!!!! WHOOO HOOOOOO!!!!! I was Beside Myself with EXCITEMENT! I emailed her immediately "I HOPE you still have this set because i WANT IT!"
And luckily, it had not sold to anyone else. I don't know if I could have recovered from the disappointment..honestly.
The VERY next weekend, Scottie and I drove to Kettering OHIO, and met this WONDERFUL woman Debbie McCoy! In exchange for a paltry sum, she handed me a bag full of shiny metal pieces of my childhood! I was so happy I babbled! I'm sure Debbie thought I'd lost my mind!
