Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Downton Abbey Continues...


Did you watch Sunday?????
It was wonderful and the plot, as they say, thickens!!  

In the first episode, Lady Grantham's maid was bringing her breakfast on a tray.  This week, I thought I would make up a breakfast tray.  But there is a story behind my tray

Here is the footman with a beautiful handled silver tray.  Wouldn't this be wonderful set for breakfast?

This is the downstairs dining table, so practical and such contrast from the fancy dining room upstairs.  I'm sure everything was still very good quality.

This is the breakfast tray "downstairs" in my kitchen, but notice that it is wooden (it would NEVER do), not a beautiful footed silver tray with handles. 

I DID have one once...it was beautiful, with ornate handles and little feet.  It was from the Oneida factory store.  Oneida Silver was founded in Sherrill, NY-about twenty miles from where we live.  They had fabulous buys there before the factory closed.
So what happened my tray, you ask???  Well, my husband (who has no use for these sorts of things) thinks he didn't get it out of the basement when we were moving from our old house.  We've looked everywhere here.  I believe it's gone for good.  So I am on the hunt for a replacment.  But back to the breakfast tray...it requires some imagination and think SILVER...

Perhaps just some toast with jam and a pot of tea.
 
 A plate for the toast that is served in a small toast rack
A small bowl for marmalade
A closer view of the jam server
with a matching tea cup
Milk and sugar for tea
A last view

I hope you enjoyed my breakfast tray.  Maybe someday there will be a post with a silver tray!!
Now for the dish on the dishes:
  • The china is "Victoriana Rose" by Paragon.  I have been collecting this for years and just love it!
  • The china teapot is from Poland, bought at Tea with Grace
  • The sugar and creamer are Hammersley and were found in an old building that my sister bought.  She gave them to me
  • The little toast rack is from ebay
  • Some of the silverplate is Reed and Barton "Rathmore" and the jam spoon and butterspreader are from ebay but I don't know the patterns
  • The white damask napkins are from ebay and the hand-crocheted placemat I have had for years
  • The embroidered napkin is actually a hankie from my husband's aunt in England.  I thought that it went well with the pink roses on the china
I hope you are enjoying PBS's Downton Abbey and I thank you for stopping by.  Please visit all of the gorgeous tables at Between Naps on the Porch (the button is up on the right of my blog)

Happy to hear from you!!!

13 comments:

  1. That is a beautiful tray! Who needs silver when you have china that is that beautiful?! Thanks for sharing ...

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  2. Beautiful tray, J! Fit for a Queen. I never heard of that show.

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  3. OMG! I watch Downton Abbey too and am HOOKED on that show! I can't wait for the next episode, but then we have to wait a LONG time for Series 2. I may just have to buy it on DVD from Amazon.co.uk, I am THAT hooked!

    Your tray is wonderful. How I would love to have someone bring me a lovely tray full of breakfast goodies in the morning.

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  4. I'm going to have to look in to that PBS series. It looks like something I would enjoy. The tray is beautifully done. Love the dishes, they look similar to my Moss Rose by Royal Albert.

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  5. Tess, I would be happy to have that beautiful tray set in front of me to break my fast. I love the shape of the sugar and creamer.

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  6. Haven't heard of the show, but sounds fun. I hate it when things come up missing. I know it was those mischevious BORROWERS again, imagine the fun they are having with that beautiful silver tray!

    No one has ever served breakfast in bed like this around here. I guess I had better get going! What beautiful china and I adore that toast rack. I need someone to spoil me!

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  7. Tess, I am still loving Downton Abbey, too! Great idea, to make up a breakfast tray based on the show! It looks lovely, and I'd be tickled to have that delivered to me! That jam spoon is SO pretty -- and the china is lovely, too. Such a sweet size for the teapot!

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  8. The Paragon Rose is beautiful. It holds its own on any kind of tray...wood or silver. Lovely. Thank you for sharing your charming design. Cherry Kay

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  9. Gorgeous china and I think it looks fabulous on your tray! I love the crocheted placemat and the embroidered hankie. Such a luxurious breakfast tray, fit for a queen!!

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  10. Oh Tess...how beautiful, love all the dishes, the ones in pink remind me of the dishes we inherited from my MIL in 09 when she passed and they're with pink roses and with a gold edge, kind of like yours, they're made in the USA. I love the English ones too, I'm just nuts for china!
    Thank you for sharing.
    FABBY

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  11. This is such a beautiful tea tray! Regardless of the wooden tray!

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  12. What beautiful china and silver! A lovely tea tray, Tess. So sorry about the loss of your silver tray. This one looks really pretty too.
    Blessings, Beth

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  13. You inspired me to link to Downton Abby on-line. I've watched the first two episodes, and I'm looking forward to the third one this evening. Thank you so much. This is a beautiful example of film well done. I'm thoroughly enjoying it! Cherry Kay

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