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Sunday, January 24, 2010

IT REALLY IS SILVER!


I'm linking this post to Silver Sunday at The Gypsy Fish. (I hope if she comes to look at my post, she doesn't kick me out of Silver Sunday!)



I'm going to reveal another dirty little secret about myself. I have a horrible confession to make. I own a lot of silver - really, I do! I received a lot for wedding gifts (back when silver wasn't as expensive as it is today), and I inherited some from my mother. It is all wrapped securely and put away, because I hate to polish silver. Okay, I've told you-it's out there now. I am NOT a silver polisher! What a waste it is for me to own silver. I know that, these days, it's okay to have a little tarnish on your silver, but I'm afraid mine has more than a little tarnish. (Actually, I don't know whether it does or not, because I don't want to unwrap it and look!) Sooooo, I decided I could at least post my high school charm bracelet for Silver Sunday. Imagine my shock and dismay when I looked at these photos and realized that my charm bracelet needs to be polished too! Oh No! Soooo, here's my once silver, now tarnished charm bracelet.





As a high school senior, I was very fortunate to spend a month in Europe participating in an exchange program. Being in high school, my shopping consisted of searching for charms for my bracelet! Oh how I wish I had known then what I know now! I have dreams about the china I could have brought back with me from Europe! When my husband was in the army, we were stationed in New Jersey and made many trips to New York City, so, of course, I bought a Statute of Liberty charm for my bracelet. (I had matured a little by then, and I did buy a few things for the house in N.Y. City.)






Yes, even I was 16 once, and yes, I did talk on a Princess telephone a lot (mine was blue instead of this tarnished silver). And no, I do not sew. I did take Home Ec, and I think my mother thought if she bought me a sewing machine charm, it would encourage me to learn. Sadly, I just wasn't interested at the time. Another one of those things I wish I had done differently.



I'll leave you with an untarnished photo I took in one of my high school classes.



I just went over to link to Silver Sunday at The Gypsy Fish and found that she had posted some wonderful old aluminum pieces. Why didn't I think of that? I have some of those, and they don't have to be polished. Maybe next Sunday.


Thank you for coming to visit me on Tarnished (oops! I mean Silver) Sunday.


38 comments:

Kat said...

Laurie, I am SO with you on the polishing thing. I have very little silver, and what I have is stored away for the same reason. I love your charm bracelet, did we all have one of those princess phone charms? Now, the vintage aluminum I could really get into and I've been keeping my eyes peeled for it. Mom and Grandmom had a ton of that stuff, and I have no idea where it is now. I asked Mom, and she's pretty sure she got rid of it all in a garage sale - arrgggg! Kathy

Treasia Stepp said...

I love your charm bracelet Laurie. How cute that little princess phone is. At one time I had a pink one in my room and used it all of high school.

Now, since you hate polishing that silver soooo much I think you should just send some of it over my way! LOL. I'll take good care of it for you.

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Good morning Laurie...now I need to find my charm bracklet...I don't even remember where I put it...Hey I have Old Timers now ha ha!! That's my story and I'm sticky to it...Loved seeing yours with your Swett sixteen charm and the Princess phone I had one in Pink ha ha!! I bet your surpised by that one...Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

Debby@Just Breathe said...

I've been thinking it would be fun to start a charm bracelet now. I would like one in white gold. Yours is beautiful. Have a jeweler clean it for you and start wearing it again!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Oh I love all of your wonderful charms. They are all so perfect for the age you were and what a treasure to have them. So many memories of when and where you got each one. Just gorgeous. Hugs, Marty

Carol said...

Your charm bracelet is so great! I always wanted to have one when I was a teenager! I know what you mean about polishing silver, I finally broke down & shined up one of my silver trays for the Christmas season.

Smiles,
Carol

Sylvia said...

I am drooling over your silver charm bracelets, that is an obsession with me! Happy Silver Sunday...

Sylvia

Sharlotte said...

Laurie,
What a great bracelet! I love all your charms...isn't it fun looking at them and remembering special trips? Thanks so much for sharing!
Sharlotte

Robin said...

I don't even own any silver to polish, but I LOVE that bracelet! You are so very fortunate to have these wonderful reminders of your young adulthood (tarnished or not..lol) Thanks for sharing!!

{{HUGS}}

Robin :o)

KBeau said...

Love your charm bracelet. Wish I could find mine. My first phone was a blue princess phone. When we were in Destin, the manager of Emerald Towers told my sister that one of the phones had died in the condo that she and her husband own and have in the rental program. The way she put it was, "The princess phone finally died." I didn't know those were still around.

NicNacManiac said...

Oh my gosh..you make me laugh. I also hate to polish silver, but that does not stop me from putting it out...! I think I have that same sweet 16 charm on my bracelet, did we all have those when we were young! Love it!
Happy Silver Sunday, xOxO Nerina

9405018--Pat said...

love your charm bracelet. I need to find my charm bracelet...I too had a blue princess phone...for my thirteen birthday.....thanks for sharing...Pat H

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Love the bracelet. I need to get my charm bracelet out - have not worn it in years. I will join your "I don't like to polish silver club". That is why I don't have any more than I do. I got rid of a lot of my silver years ago.

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Hi Laurie! I love your charm bracelet! I have one, too, which never gets polished either! It's fortunate that tarnish has become stylish, isn't it? Happy weekend...hugs...Debbie

Sonia said...

What a fabulous charm bracelet...makes me want to dig mine out too! Such fun charms big back special memories! Great post.

Miss Bloomers

Barbara Jean said...

Laurie,
Love tarnished silver!
All mine is that way (well what i have at the store anyway. do not really have any at home).

So bring that stuff out and enjoy it, tarnish and all!

Love your charm bracelet.
thanks for showing us.

off to check out the Feb 12th party!

blessings

barbara jean

Ginny said...

Laurie, I got rid of all my silver. I only still have my high school charm bracelet. It sits in my mother's vintage jewelry box on the dresser in the bedroom that my grands stay in when here.

Marigene said...

♥ your charm bracelet, tarnish and all!

Tardevil said...

So cool that you still have that. I've been meaning to come over and thank you for putting me on your prayer list during my pregnancy! I'm so sorry that I haven't done it earlier! Thankfully, things went well, and I'm always thankful for the extra prayers!

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

I showed my charm bracelet a couple of weeks ago and I think we have some of the same charms. They were so popular then...wearing with a wonderful soft sweater...I vaguely can remember those days!!!
It just has to be the color of silver...so go for the aluminum...those are so much easier!

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

It's gorgeous Laurie, polished or not! Takes us back to a simpler time, or at least we thought it was! Is it warm there in Arkansas? Just wondering what it's like in Jan. there. Hugs, Cindy

Kathleen said...

I have some tarnished silver bracelets too..always forget to polish them!
I did polish a silver heart pin today to wear out..
You don't like to polish silver??..Oh Gee, I thought you did, I was going to send you mine to do!
My mom used to like doing it, she would always do mine! The good old days, and good old mom!

Jane said...

I don't blame you for not wanting to polish the silver. I love the charm bracelet. I've seen several charm bracelets on the SS posts and I love every one of them. I think they are great to recall all the memories that go along with the charms.
Jane

The Painted Garden said...

Hi Laurie,

Oh my goodness - I have some of that silver in my closet only it is not all wrapped up like yours - LOL - I can see how tarnished it is everythime I open the closet! Love your silver charm braclet - it brings back memories of my highschool charm braclet.
Have a lovely week.
Blessings,
Erin

Anonymous said...

Hi Laurie, Loved your bracelet and that sweet sixteen charm. Now I have to go find my high school charm bracelet and see if my sweet 16 charm is still on it. What fun! Looking forward to you heart day party.

Sarah said...

Laurie, what fun it is to visit your blog. You always make me smile and giggle. Loved seeing your charm bracelet, tarnish and all. But now you really have me curious as to what wonders are stored away. Funny, but I love to polish silver, copper, brass, . . . I know that sounds weird, but I used to like to mow the lawn too. I think it must have to do with the instant gratification of the fresh new look. So perhaps I need to make a visit and get some of that silver polished for you. What a shame to not enjoy it. LOL
Thanks for sharing....Sarah

vignette design said...

I hate to polish silver too. But then, I don't really own much of it. For some reason, I didn't even get any silver when I got married.
Love your charm bracelet. I had one too in high school and of course, I can't find it. I received it on my 16th birthday along with a Singer sewing machine. Yours is better though....! --Delores

Unknown said...

Hi Laurie! Sheesh! Every time I come by I leave with a smile. I too have lots of silver. I also do not like to polish it. BUT! I do love how it looks when it is all shiny. So I let it tarnish until I need it. :)
Your bracelet is adorable.

I posted my little valentine button. I can't wait for the party! :)

~Liz

Sonia said...

Hi Laurie,

Thanks for visiting...no I didn't make the flowerpot babies but my friend did...she just took stryofoam balls and dowel sticks and covered the heads with panty hose, painted the pots added a bow and put some toile in the pots. She bought the stick on eyes and painted the faces...voila.. So cute...I just bought the baby hats to fit!

xinex said...

Awwww! I love that Sweet 16 charm. Hard to believe that we used to be seet 16, lol. I am like you Laurie, whenever I go to a new place, I go hunting for a charm cause I collect them too (Is there anything I don't collect? LOL, I guess I am like you that way too, but in addition to charms, I manage to bring home other stuff too. I think you and I should open a store. Wanna be partners?....Christine

Bridget said...

I love your charm bracelet, what a treasure!
I don't care for "polishing" either, I use a liquid that you can just dip or sponge on to quickly remove tarnish. It smells to high heaven but works like a charm (no pun intended!)

Chandy said...

Laurie, you are probably the most prolific collector of wonderful things I know! I love those bracelets!

Gypsy Fish said...

Now, why on earth would I kick you out of silver sunday....aren't we all a little tarnished in some way or another....ha ha. I love your post and the fact that you spent time in Europe scouring the markets for charms....Thanks for coming....see you next Sunday!
{{gypsy hugs}}
Beth

Together We Save said...

Love the bracelet... tarnished or not, it is beautiful.

LillyB said...

Great post! I thought I was the only one who hates to polish silver! Too bad it wont hold its shine..I do love it so much!!

Kathy said...

Sorry my Sunday Silver visit is so late but I do love your silver post!
xoxo...Kathy

The Muse said...

Dear Ms Laurie,
A splendid reminder that little things can bring to us, such a vast wave of emotion, such a plethora of memories...

To have such keepsakes with us, after the years of life have passed by, is indeed something very special.

I agree with Debbie, it is marvelous that the look of antiquity is now "in"...now if only this Old Muse's face was in vogue too...
LOL...


Hugs as always my friend...And I am trying to get ready for your Valentine party :)

prashant said...

What a great bracelet! I love all your charms...isn't it fun looking at them and remembering special trips? Thanks so much for sharing!

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