June Cleaver's Antique Plates

 

 -Source:  John Reiff Williams

You probably don't recognize the man on the right.

He's my hubby.

(Here he is at our wedding reception - almost 18 years ago.)

You may, however, recognize the beautiful woman

he's dancing with.

Yes, that is Barbara Billingsley -

the actress who starred as June Cleaver

in the television series

"Leave It To Beaver".

She's my husband's grandmother.

On TV, June was the ultimate mom.

She was well known for cooking and cleaning in pearls.

When I was growing up in the early '70's,

"Leave It To Beaver" reruns

were on TV when I returned home from school.

Great show!!!   :)

In our early weeks of dating, I saw that

my hubby had a photo of Barbara Billingsley/June Cleaver

on the bookcase in his living room.

When I asked if he was a big "Leave It To Beaver" fan,

he told me that Barbara was his grandmother.

WOW!

I mean, I certainly didn't aspire to be June Cleaver -

but I did admire her character

(she was always calm and collected - and put together).

In our second month of dating,

my *now* hubby invited me to a family dinner party

and Barbara would be there.

I was nervous.

I'll admit it.

How could Barbara ever measure up to June Cleaver?!?!

I didn't want my little "June-dream-bubble" to burst.

 -Source: John Reiff Williams

1997 - Wedding Rehearsal Dinner (Left-right:  ME, my mother-in-law, Barbara Billingsley)

What can I say now?

Barbara in real life was a thousand - no a million - times

better than June Cleaver.

She was a real person who was graceful, funny, kind... WONDERFUL.
Two years later, I married my hubby 

and she became my grandmother, too.  

I loved her.

-Source:  Michelle A. Mortensen

simplysantabarbara.blogspot.com

This is my son with Barbara at her annual Christmas party.

She became known as "Gigi" to my 3 children

and all of her other great-grandchildren.

She loved all of them... and they loved & adored her.

A few years ago, Barbara passed away.

The family was asked to come over to her house

so that we could choose some items that had

belonged to Barbara.

It was difficult, but sweet.

We would have special things

to help us remember this special woman.

Among other things, Barbara and I shared

a passion for fine china.

 Today, I will share a little vignette in my home

featuring some of her lovely plates.

 

These four plates are from a set of six.

Each plate is different - but so appropriate

for our home in California's Wine Country.

These plates have a beautiful gold rim

and feature gorgeous fruits in warm colors.

They look great all year, but the colors are

especially suited to autumn and harvest time.

According to information at porcelainmarksandmore.com,

the blue shield/crown logo was used on products

produced between 1950 to 1960.

The "Orchard" pattern was manufactured in

the Barvaria region of southeast Germany.

Don't these fruits make your mouth water?

 The wonderful, rich colors on these plates

make them perfect to have on display.

They are placed above

an antique Chinese brick mold that I bought at

little store in Solvang, California (no longer in business).

  

I like to change up what I put in the three sections.

Most of the year, I have the silver baby cups

for my three children.

I don't mind if there's a bit of tarnish - it adds character!

This month I have my 3 ghosts

(representing my 3 kids).

They are a bit casual for this vignette

- but they were a gift and they hold sentimental value.

A year and a half ago, my oldest daughter traveled to

Costa Rica.

When she returned, she had three miniature,

hand-made vases (one for each kid in the family).

We like to display them together on the brick mold.

Right now, they are filled with orange berries for fall.

The third section of the brick mold

is filled with 2 pumpkins and a pinecone.

The pumpkins are hand-blown glass

and were purchased at a crafts fair.

 

Finally, the vignette is completed

with a quatrro stagioni (four seasons) mask.

This is Italian pottery which I purchased in Santa Barbara.

I call this mask my "grape guy" (he represents autumn).

Some of my friends call him "creepy grape-face guy".

The mask is somewhat unusual

(especially for me).

Something about it caught my eye & I just had to buy it.

I did.

I don't regret it.

My family and most of my friends don't get it.

Oh well...

My vignette makes me happy.

All year long, the plates hang on the wall

in my living room

and help remind me of a wonderful woman.

Au Revoir,

Michelle 

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