“When I look back on my childhood, my fondest memories are those surrounding the dinner table.”– Katherine ‘Katie’ Lee, chef, cookbook author, and food critic. Family mealtimes, when everyone sits down together, helps build relationships, promotes stability, helps children develop conversation skills, especially when everyone shares the day’s events and activities. Table manners come into play as well, as temptations to reach and grab may result in sibling rivalry. The Mother of a large family reaches to the Mailbag, bringing a reaching issue ‘to the table’.

Family dining dilemma

“I was wondering if anyone has a table w/ hutch that they would donate to our large family as grabs increase with increasing family members around the table” says Lucy W. of Nashua (LTR 2810). “It would be greatly appreciated.” ‘Hutch furniture’ is a term used to describe a set of shelves or cabinets placed on top of a lower unit with a counter and either drawers or cabinets, often seen in the form of desks, dining room, or kitchen furniture. Many hutches from decades past featured a mirrored back of the upper shelving to better display items such as fine china and glassware. Anyone able to help this longtime Mailbag reader, baking entrepreneur and homeschooling mom, can reach Lucy at 603-948-8928.

Fine china, service for six, for your dining pleasure

“For anyone who has ever dreamed of having a set of truly fine china to use for special guests, a special occasion, or display in a china cabinet, do I have a set of dishes for you!” says Bert the Picker of Nashua (LTR 1,775). “The dishes have the Bavarian backstamp ‘Traditions Fine China, Johann Haviland China Corporation’. The pattern is ‘Blue Garland’, and the set includes six each dinner and luncheon plates, cups and saucers, platters/serving pieces, sugar/creamer, salt and pepper shakers. The pattern has blue flowers, on a white background, with a gold edge. The complete set fills two plastic filing crates. Hope someone will enjoy using this really nice set of fine china.” The Johann Haviland Company, founded in 1907 in Waldershof, Germany by John Haviland, produced everyday china, hotel china, and also high-quality china for home use. In 1937, Rosenthal China of Germany purchased the company and began producing fine china for export to the United States, marked  Johann Haviland, Bavaria, Germany.    Fine Haviland pieces have been produced for over 150 years and there are literally thousands of patterns, including Blue Garland. Interested parties should give Bert a call at 603-883-0990. Leave a message if no answer and he’ll call back.

Updates

• The CPAP machine offered by Nancy S. of Hudson (LTR 2,392) went to a gentleman visiting Nashua. He hadn’t brought his machine with him and his hostess saw the offer in the Mailbag. No doubt made his visit more enjoyable.

• The three pieces of luggage offered by Bert the Picker of Nashua (LTR 1,775), went to Betty R. of Nashua. Bert says “She is a very sweet lady and having to take an unexpected trip, was very happy with the luggage which fit in perfectly with her upcoming travel and budget. The flat screen TV has been promised to a lady in Nashua and will be delivered as soon as I find the ‘temporarily misplaced’ remote.” Bert broke two toes but is ‘getting back on his feet’.

• In response to reader, Cindy L.’s request for contact information for “the organization that was looking for fabric several weeks ago”, I believe that would be Sandy L. of Hudson (LTR 3,139), a lady who donates many hours a week of craft therapy to cancer patients and is running low on fabric for quilting and all quilting supplies. For Cindy and anyone else who may have fabric to donate, Sandy can 603-521-5451 or via email at: sandy_langley@ymail.com.

Contact Chris’ Mailbag by emailing christine.graham33@gmail.com or sending mail to Chris’ Mailbag c/o The Telegraph, 110 Main St., Suite 1, Nashua 03060. Include full name and complete address, along with telephone number or email address for publication, if applicable. Items eligible for publication are for donation, trade or barter only; requests of items for sale or purchase will not be included.