Antique, Memorabilia, and such!

What are some of the "objects" that evoke memories or that you just love to stare at?

I have about 20 pieces of Murano glass, that my grandmother picked up in Italy in the 1930's before WWII. (She left in 1933 to return to the US. My grandfather had been stationed in Germany between WWI and WWII). She gave them to my mother before she died. My mother had them packed away in a box because she had no place to "put" them. One day as I was housecleaning with my mother they were "found." My mother exclaimed that I ought to take them home and put them in my "parlor." I agreed!

My 2nd favorite thing is a 24 x 36 piece of poster board with all my 7 grandchildren's handprints on it and in their own writing, their name underneath their print. Each handprint is a different color. The handprints are the blossom of a flower. They painted green stems, grass, and a sun. I bought a cheap frame and it's hanging in my bedroom. I see it daily and gaze upon it lovingly.

Paintings done in the Hudson River School style. Majestic landscapes; teeny, tiny people.

Murano glass is very pretty.

I have a Hall "donut" teapot and a big poster from the Detroit Institute of Art's Diego Rivera retrospective in 1986 that I had framed. It was from the years before our son came along and my husband and I did a lot of traveling to "artsy" events.

I also have my grandmother's Fiestaware from the 1930s-40s. Many memories tied up with spending summers at the lake with Gramma as a teenager, and having coffee and sandwiches on her dishes while watching old movies on rainy afternoons. I have only used it for holidays and special occasions in the past, but I'm nearing 70, have chronic cancer, and my husband had a heart attack this year. I think God is telling me it's time to start enjoying it every day now!

>3 WholeHouseLibrary: I love Hudson River, although I don't have any!

>4 nohrt4me2: I too, have started using my "best" china and silver for everyday. Why not?