The decisions were to be made, who should get them, how should the selection be done, would everyone want one, should we ask or just assign, should they be delivered or ask people to come pick them up...

I put this under relationships, as I have a sense that these items, whatever they may be, have a thread that connects us with the other.

I have a teacup from my loved Cousin Peg, that I hold dear. of course, my kids didn't know Cousin Peg..but, it is meaningful.

What items do you have that are a connection to someone.

Have you had to disburse items from an estate, and how did you do so, that covered those that are not around us.

When my mother died she also left numerous teacups. I'm proud to say that I have broken everyone of the ones left to me from overuse and not letting them sit on the shelf as she did. My mother brought them out for only special occasions and used the "everyday" teacups for daily use. I like to buy only what I will use and believe that family deserves the "good china" too. Different era's for sure, but I understand her love to "display" them.

Also she left me 3 mink coats! Yikes, I was 17 what the heck was I going to do with that? I gave them to my older sister, but then again it was something she cherished and thought I would use them down the road. So I was just satisfied that she wanted me to have them.

 aaah, waterfall, glad to hear you used them.....mom's sat tucked away as well....though they did come out for some people.

mink coats?  wow...well, they are warm.

My mom left behind a collection of teacups too.  We divided them among the three of us.  They are very meaningful to me.  I also took her display cabinet.  Some of them were from my grandmothers and some my mom collected including two silver jubilee mugs and a centenial year cup.  My cousin gave me two of my aunt's teacups and I have one of my father's.  I have to admit that I made my picks first.

My sister and I split my mom's dishes ( special plates etc) and the tea cups. Have never used them but they were such a sense of pride to her  that I will never get rid of them. My kids can do as they wish.

Special dishes should have masking tape on back if there is a story ( Note to self - Do this).

I have tea cups from my grandmothers, a great-aunt and my mother. They do hold a lot of memories. I also have my great-aunt's china. She got it for her wedding in 1939 and used it as good china for many years. By the time I met her, it was her everyday china. It has chips, and some of the design is faded. I use it when company comes, and sometimes just because. It comes with many good memories of many special people in my life.

I have tea cups in my china cupboard that were my paternal grandmothers.

I think I'll make a point of using them more often!

My mom had many beautiful tea cups too - I think she had a "tea cup shower" when she married in 1950.  We left those with my Dad & his new ladyfriend who would use them more often - but actually I found out later she gave them away to her daughter & grand-daughter.   When my Dad sold the family home, we were faced with dividing up many things.   My mother had left instruction that he could enjoy her things (many inherited from her family of origin) but when he no longer wanted them, that they should remain in her family.   Some of this he honoured, some he did not - and this created quite a lot of bad feelings, sadly.  

I do have a good many pieces - sterling, dinnerware, jewellery, a few furnishings, photographs.  They are all pieces I do love, and love the stories & traditions related to them.  I love feeling surrounded by special things that have been used by other generations in my family.   They touch my heart.

 How did we 3 kids decide who would get what?  My brothers were both in kinda shakey marital situations when my mom died, so they asked me to keep most of the items - not knowing what might become of them if they took them home.  Indeed both are now divorced.   I'm happy to share with them when the time becomes right for that.  My own kids were too young to want or appreciate the things - although my daughter & neice did accept a couple of Grannie's rings - and they likewise cherish them.

What of the future?  Hard to say.  Looking at my kids now, and their lifestyles & tastes, I'm doubtful they will want any of it ... but time will tell.  

 Carolla,   I have heard that happen from more than one family, where Dad remarries, and then, nothing goes to the family of origin, or  based on mom's codicile(?).  One father had an impressive clock collection.  Sadly, not one of the clocks went to his son.

I have been typing stuff up for Dad, what he wants done with what, and am recording what was originally included in Mom's.  This should make it easier to show what should not be changed, ie, is with Dad until he passes, but, then is given based on Mom's will.   

Re, the who will want them?  I agree, hard to tell.  I am ordering teacup display holders, and plate display holders.  The teacups will then be able to used easier and displayed and take a lot less room, in the china cabinet.  The plats I am hoping will be acceptable as dust collectors / display on our cupboards.  I figure if they see them out they are more likely to want them.

Greetings!

I've got teacups - both from my mom and mil.  From my mom I have about 7 or 8 and from my mil I have 3.  Both of them had the identical Christmas teacup and saucer, and each year I put them both out on the shelf and enjoy them over the Christmas season.  Throughout the year I put out the other teacups, one a time, on the shelf - enjoying them all throughout the year.

Hope, peace, joy, love . . .

My children each have a Grandparents Memory Box which they will get when they are settled in their own homes and each one has a teacup and saucer from their Grandmas also.

 What a great idea, Beloved.  A grandparents Memory Box.  Brilliant.  

I received a couple of items of my grandmother's before I moved into my home and sadly, they through my moves during university days and early working years, were damaged.  Love the idea of giving the precious items when they are settled.

Also, great idea re a shelf and having one or two out all the time.

I have found a site which has teacup holders which allow the teacups to take less room on a shelf and display better. I am ordering a set of 12 twisted brass ones to share with my sister.  http://www.finehomedisplays.com  Also considering a few plate holders, which allow me to accept my Dad's plates knowing they will be properly displayed.

Good  morning, Pinga,

I am keeping the Grandparents Memory Boxes at my house for the time being because neither one of my adult children are permanently settled anywhere.  For now the items are still important to me, and so I will safe keep them.  I'm not sure if someday they will mean as much to my children, but at least they can look at the items, keep what they want, and remember their grandparents.  They contain items such as teacup and saucer, special plate, special ornament, doilies, embroidery items, decorative spoons, hankerchiefs, some inexpensive jewellry,  etc.

I also have Memory Boxes for each child that contain special toys and items from their childhood that they will get at the same time - books, colouring books, little toys, puzzles, knicky-knacks, etc.

I have used the large Rubbermaid containers as the boxes.

Hope, peace, joy, love . . .

 Brilliant idea, Beloved.

Thanks Pinga, for posting the link to the site - neat site - going to have to bookmark that and take a closer look - some neat teacup hangers, but also some neat other stuff.

Great idea Beloved re the Grandparents boxes.  I have a bin for each of my kids with stuff of theirs - much as you describe - now I'll maybe think about adding some other special family items.

I was in a restaurant a couple of years ago and on the windows they had some sort of valance and attractively attached was a china tea cup. I was impressed.

Try  drinking tea in a coffee cup instead of a fine bone china teacup and it changes the taste completely. Ever notice that?

It's almost disrespectful to the tea!

And all the "rules": putting a spoon inthe tea cup before pouring hot tea into it to prevent cracks

or putting milk in first to prevent cracks. Letting the tea steep in a teapot.

Pinky finger up?

Putting the milk in first also scalds the milk a bit and gives it better flavour.

I bought myself a china mug that is the best of both worlds. Tea always tastes better in china. Styrofoam is out of the question and totally wrong!

Milk first or second?  My beloved Nana explained that to me when I was teensy.  Rich people had staff to wash the dishes - they put the tea in the cup and then the milk.  Poor people washed there own dishes - straight tea stains the cup - so they put the milk in first.

Interesting, things I never knew.  Now I know why I put the milk in first, LOL!

Call me crazy......tea tastes better if the milk goes in first. Really. There is a difference!

Milk in tea . . . not for me!

Maybe if one leaves teacups to another generation instructions are needed.

What's the best tea? I like plain old Earl Grey, but there's a nice pear flavoured white tea that I like too.

 Whoever gets my parents' china 'stuff' is going to have to build an addition on their house to accommodate it all.

That is because the hot tea as it hits the milk sort of 'cooks' it and brings out the natural sweetness. Ever tried warm milk? It's sweeter than out of the fridge. So your theory does hold...um...tea.

Love it trishcuit!

I think it could be a proven fact that churches have the biggest selection of china cups and saucers anywhere. Does your church?

I think all this talk about tea cups is kinda special they sound really pretty! We have some fine china but I don't think its quite the same. I do get attached to certain mugs of mine! But it's more for memory reasons, ie I pick up something collectable from a trip. I want nice tea cups!

KINST, GO TO GARAGE SALES. you will find lots

or, say you would love to have a few nice tea cups, when you are around a bunch of senior women at the church. You will likely be inundated.

LIKELY???   Kinst I have one in a box right now, waiting for our next garage sale ... white with lots of lovely purple violets on it ... (and I'm not even quite a "senior" woman yet!)

I  just  saw an article about a gal who saves saucers. She adds some sort of toggle to the centre and sells them as jewellery holders..

I love my china cups and saucers. Remembering the stories that go with them is very meaningful. I remember giving showers for sisters and friends and out came the beautiful china cups. Mom got them out only when someone special came.

Tea does taste the very best when in a china cup.

At antique shows I see them at prices starting around $20. There seems to be a lot of them, I guess some people that inherited them didn't have the happy memories that went with tea time in the china cups.

Wow - $20 . . . that's quite a bit!

I agree about the memories, Fern - the tea cups from my mom mean something to me, as I remember her pulling them out when special guests came - especially when she had a "Stanley" party - then later Tupperware and Liquid Embroidery.  But after I know longer can keep them I don't think they will mean much to anyone else.