So Many Dishes

I never set out to collect anything. They just sort of happened. But, thinking about it, I have two collections to share today.

My cookbooks can legitimately be considered a collection. When we moved into this house 36 years ago, all of my cookbooks fit into the bookcase shown above, which is adjacent to the kitchen in an area that I think was intended as a breakfast nook; we made it a mini-office. But the collection grew, and now it fills another three shelves in the family room bookcase. I’m not supposed to buy another cookbook without getting rid of one. Gifts don’t count, though, and I think I’m still owed a couple from when I gave away many of my Southern Living annual recipe compilations.

A collection that is very precious to me is the one of stuffed Mickey and Minnie Mouse characters that were gifts from students. For many years, I would take a choir to perform at Disney World. As an appreciation gift for the business we brought, the hotel where we stayed gave me a stuffed Mickey Mouse. When I put him in my classroom, he inspired students to bring me other versions. I think I have all of the Mickeys and Minnie’s designed for the different countries represented at Epcot. There’s a black and white Mickey, a guitar-playing Mickey Mouse, and many more. There was no doubt that they were coming home with me when I retired. They are much loved by our grandkids, which is why they never stay neatly arranged.

That’s two very different collections!