Friday, January 1, 2010

Pink Saturday, Pink dishes, Grandmom and The Greenbrier Resort......

I love Pink Saturdays and I love Beverly at How Sweet the Sound, for hosting one of the most popular events in our blogasphere!

Today, I'm bringing you pinkies some of my Greenbrier Hotel Dishes that I have collected for many years.

First a little history.  I could of course, write a book about the Greenbrier, but I will keep it simple.

The photo you see below is a History of the Greenbrier and the lady in the photo is my Grandmom, Katherine. 

The Greenbrier Resort has a history that goes back more than 200 years ago.  It is located in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia in a little town called White Sulphur Springs. 
My Grandmom, Katherine worked there for 40+ years.


The Greenbrier was first known for it's healing waters, or the  mineral springs that were found on the property.  It is said that prominent people would travel by horseback to partake of the
mineral springs that many claimed to cure rheumatism and
other ailments.
Eventually cottages were built by the wealthy, then the
spring house and the hotel itself.
Southern aristocrats, world leaders, presidents, royalty and celebrities all started flocking to the Greenbrier.
Today, it remains one of America's premiere resorts and is known for it's social
grace and lavish southern hospitality style.

My beautiful dishes you see here were designed by Dorothy Draper who was the interior designer for the Greenbrier.






I have quite a few pieces of these dishes and I wouldn't part with them for the world!!!
Everytime I look at them, I think of my dear sweet Grandmom,
Katherine and how much she loved working at the Greenbrier.
She gave me my first piece of the china, which was the
little green creamer with the gold rim.



The silver pot you see here was probably used for hot water for tea in the diningroom.  Some of these pieces were found in the cellar of my Mom and Dad's farmhouse.  One year she surprised me by bringing me a box full of Greenbrier dishes. 


The Duke and Dutchess of Windsor were the center of  attention
at a party celebrating the reopening of the Greenbrier after its use as an Army hospital in WWII.



A 1950's fashion show by French designer, Pierre Balmain's creations shown in the Cameo Ballroom.



Conde Nast, publisher og Vogue, at the Golf Clubhouse in 1933.  Looks rather dapper um?


The cottages, where many celebrities have stayed, including me!



My Grandmom loved Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds.They honeymooned at the Greenbrier.

There were so many celebs that visited the Greenbrier, and still do to this day.  But, the ones I remember the most were the ones that my Grandmom would tell me about.  She said that Zsa Zsa Gabor
sent her dress to the valet shop to be cleaned and that they all gasped when they saw it was covered with jewls and pearls,
and a whole glass of red wine!

She could tell you stories about Elizabeth Taylor and
Richard Burton that would make you blush!
Oh, and she loved Bing Crosby.  She said he was
so sweet and nice to the staff.

~~~~~~~

She  disliked the famous golfer, Sam Snead.  She said he had too many girlfriends for a married man.

This last picture is of me and my Mother.  She passed away
a few years ago.  My sister and I surprised her for Mother's
Day that year and took her to the Greenbrier for lunch and
tea.  She loved it.



Okay, I think I have bored all of you too death, so I'll quit.
I think I was writing and having a trip down lovely memory
lane at the same time.

~~hugs~~



23 comments:

Lisa@Pickles and Cheese said...

Boring....not possible! Fascinating is what it is! I love to hear about things like this. Keep those stories coming! Your Grandmother must have been a sweetie and so interesting to talk to. Great post...I enjoyed it!

Country Wings in Phoenix said...

Oh Sissie...
Happy Pink Saturday sweetie. I love your post, and my gosh you dishes are absolutely exquisite. I love the green and pink combination. How pretty it is. What a blessing from your Grandma. Dishes and wonderful stories and memories. I loved it when Grandma would tell me stories. They were so precious and simple. They never would have held hands in public let alone kissed in public, like today.

I so love the picture of you and your sweet MoMa. How precious. Thank you for sharing your pictures sweetie, and I so loved your stories about each.

Thank you so much again, for sharing today. I haven't even got my post put together as of yet. I am working on it though. I am having a Pink Saturday give away so make sure you pop over late today or tomorrow and sign up. You're gonna love it.

Country hugs and so much love sweetie, Sherry

My Grama's Soul said...

Sissie,

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED that story! What more can I say.

Blessings,

Jo

Marsha @ Tattered Chick said...

Oh, Sissie, what a fabulous post! Thank you so much for sharing this with us!! The dishes are beautiful!

When my dad was a young man back in the 30's he worked as a bell hop at a resort in Arizona. He too met many famous people. The one I remember him talking about his Tyrone Power. My dad had brought his bags up and Mr. Power told my dad to take $5.00 out of his wallet for his tip. Now that is trust and $5.00 was a LOT of money back then!

Happy Pink Saturday!!

((Hugs))

Ginger said...

Thanks for coming by and leaving your sweet comments. Always look forward to seeing you.
What beautiful dishes your family left you and with such great stories. Very interesting and Wow she met some very famous people. Memories to hold onto forever. Happy New Year!!

Ginger

alice said...

Oh Sissy. I love your stories. Thanks for stopping by today! Happy Pink Saturday!
smiles, alice

Vicki said...

Oh, Sissie, not boring me at all!! I loved hearing about the Greenbriar and its wonderful history, a part of your family history, too!! Thank you for sharing your story and for showing us those beautiful dishes! I love posts like this!! Happy Pink Saturday to you and have a wonderful weekend! Vicki

That shabby Pink Girl said...

Never Never will you have anything boring on your Blog~I love visiting you and what an exciting Story about Greenbriar~thank you for sharing it with us~~love the pretty dishes too.
Have a great New Year!!
marian elizabeth

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful post!!! I love those dishes, how sweet they are. Your post was far from boring, I enjoyed every word of it.

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My name is Riet said...

Hi Sissie. What a lovely post and a wonderful story. And beautiful dishes. I love them.
Happy New Year dear Sissie.

Anonymous said...

Wow, what pretty china! And what nostalgia tied to it. Happy Pink Saturday~

Treasia Stepp said...

What absolutely stunning dishes you have inherited. Love the color combination of the pink and green. What wonderful stories and memories you have. I enjoyed reading this.

Sue McPeak said...

Beautiful china, and beautiful memories of your Grandmom and her memories. Loved all the pictures and the history of Greenbrier. Your posts are never boring and I always enjoy visiting. Happy Pink Saturday and Happy New Year....Sue

LV said...

Enjoyed everything about your blog today. Nothing more precious than great memories of our special loved ones. Your dishes are very, very pretty. Thanks for visiting and your comment.

Grace said...

What a fabulous story! Happy New Year and Happy Pink Saturday Grace xoxoxox

Jennifer said...

Sissie I love your post!Not boring at all very interesting!!!!Greenbrier is near me.I'd love to go someday.I love all your photos and the china.Hugs.Happy Pink sat,Jen

Shirl said...

Hello Sissie, Happy Pink Saturday. Thank you so much for stoppng by. What a cute post, loved reading about the Greenbriar, I've been wanting to go there. It's on my list of to do's.
Blessings, Shirl
Shirls Rose Cottage

Linens Lace and Lattes said...

I stayed at the Greenbrier a long time ago for a business event and loved it! I can still remember sitting on the front porch in the big rockers the day we left thinking I never wanted to leave and how could I go a day without mid-day tea! Thanks for bringing those memories back.
Also thanks for the inspiration about blogging. It helped! deb

Just Joany said...

Oh, you absolutely did not bore me. I loved reading about your memories. And all the pictures were just the ticket.

~ Just Joany
Red Wagon Flights

The Tablescaper said...

What a beautiful story and a great collection.

- The Tablescaper

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My favorite stuff

  • Donuts
  • Iced Vanilla Coffee
  • Finding Junk and making it beautiful
  • Spending Time with my Sister
  • Holidays with my family
  • Poirot movies
  • reading murder mysteries
  • searching shabby chic stuff on ebay
  • writing stories and blogging
  • snuggling with my husband and my kitty kats
  • comfortable pajamas
  • slot machines
  • yard sales
  • hunting through estate sales and thrift shops
  • going to antique shops
  • eating out with my sister
  • having lunch with my husband
  • having lunch with my son
  • vanilla wafer cookies
  • pedicures and pink toenail polish
  • Lavender scented soaps and body wash
  • Good makeup