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Actually, from now, until the end of next month, all kinds of boxes will be opening.  In fact, I guess that it’s pretty accurate to say that we’re entering the official box-opening season.  Just for starters, there are all of the silverware boxes, cedar chests, and oak chests, from which people will be retrieving their table services and holiday napery.  Beyond those wooden storage boxes, however, millions of people will be digging into gift boxes, before the end of the year.

Naturally, most will be giving, as well as receiving, at least, one of those boxes, which, you can bet, will be as carefully chosen as the presents that they will hold.  On the other hand, in many instances, boxes will be given as gifts; and they will be deeply appreciated and cherished, perhaps, for decades to come.  Some of the timeless favorites include cedar chests, cherry chests, jewelry boxes, jewelry chests, steamer trunks, and armoires.

There’s no denying the significance of boxes; after all, they play very special roles in our lives.  Not only can they be among our most prized possessions, but they are often charged with storing, and protecting, some of our best-loved belongings.  Usually, the things that we entrust to them are irreplaceable keepsakes, such as family photographs, quilts, precious holiday ornaments, special linens, laces, and tablecloths, silverware, and jewelry, which become heirlooms, and, along with the storage boxes, are passed down through the generations.

Indeed, it has been this way for thousands of years, as, throughout the centuries, every known society has placed great importance, and high values, on all sorts of boxes.  These have been made in all sizes, from prayer boxes, which were small enough to be worn as necklaces, to cedar chests and trunks that were large enough to be used for storing household goods.

Boxes have also been constructed from an endless variety of materials, including stone, wood, marble, gold, silver, copper, steel, porcelain, and crystal.  They have been carved, etched, engraved, inscribed, and decorated with beads, jewels, shells, pearls, precious metals, ivory, and symbols of every description.  Some of these special boxes have been – and continue to be – the focal points of holiday, family, religious, and secular traditions.

As far back as ancient Egypt, wooden chests were used for storing jewels, gold, documents, and other important assets.  In Europe, it was common for craftsmen, using whole trees, to carve one-piece chests that were used to safeguard valuables.

In early America, when cellars were dank, and closets were non-existent, the colonists used chests made of cedar for storing blankets, linens, clothes, and whatever scarce items of finery that they owned.  Since it was also rare to find a chair, the chests served as benches, too.  Truly, these chests were so essential to the households that, according to the logs of several ships that brought settlers to America, they were, frequently, the only possessions that families brought with them.  In later years, that was also the case with many pioneers who were traveling west.

Of course, there was a period in which the cedar chest was commonly referred to as the “hope chest.”  According to the customs of the time, it would be given to a young woman, as a place to keep linens, blankets, tablecloths, towels, quilts, and other things that would be necessary for starting a household when she got married.  Fortunately, however, that tradition has long since faded.

So today, women, and men, are free to use their cedar chests and steamer trunks for storage, or as attractive home accents, without any crazy expectations.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: cedar chest, cedar chests, cherry chests, home accents, jewelry boxes, jewelry chests, oak chests, silverware boxes, steamer trunks, storage boxes, wooden chests, wooden storage boxes

Well, Thanksgiving is only two weeks away; and those who are hosting large get-togethers already have their hands full with preparations for the big day.  Certainly, there are tons of details to be taken care of, from grocery shopping, to house cleaning, to figuring out where to seat everyone.  In order to accommodate all of their guests, people everywhere will be dragging folding tables, folding chairs, picnic table benches, patio chairs, and even outdoor dining tables and kids’ picnic tables, out of their storage sheds.

Of course, these won’t be the only things that will be pulled out of storage in the coming weeks, as decorations will be brought down from attics, and holiday tablecloths will be taken out of cedar chests.

Then, there’s the good silverware, which is essential to elegant holiday table settings, and must be at its brilliant, beaming best.  However, because the services often emerge from their silverware boxes looking less than radiant, many people will have to add “polish the silver” to their to-do lists.  What’s worse is that, sometimes, in trying to make their silverware sparkle, they can, inadvertently, cause damage to it.

That’s why it’s best to know something about silver before you attempt to polish it.  For example, sterling silver is an alloy, comprised of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper.  Over time, with use and exposure to air, it can develop a patina, which, in some people’s opinions, makes it more attractive.  Obviously, oxidation also causes the silver to tarnish; and, under very humid conditions, this can happen quickly.

While this is natural, and inevitable, fortunately, the tarnish can be removed, and your silverware can be restored to its original beauty.  That is, as long as you don’t wear rubber gloves while you’re polishing it, as that could cause serious damage.  In fact, rubber can corrode silver badly enough to leave deep etchings, and even wear away intricate, raised designs.  Surely, sometimes, it can scar silver so severely that a skilled silversmith will be its sole salvation.  Never use rubber bands on silver, either, or store it in cabinets or chests that have rubber seals or coverings.

Because acidic foods can also mar silver, be careful about using it to hold, handle, or serve salad dressings, vinegar, olives, eggs, salt, fruit, and fruit juices.  The longer it is exposed to these substances, the more damaged it will become; therefore, if you want to put fruit in a silver bowl, either line it with plastic, or set a glass bowl inside of it.  When you’re not using it, the best place to store your service is in a solid wood silverware box that’s lined with cloth.

So, while the bad news may be that you’ll have to polish the silver in advance of your Thanksgiving dinner, the good news is that it won’t have time to tarnish again before the next special occasion.  Remember, there’s another big celebration just around the corner.  Yep.  This is just a dress rehearsal; or, for those who are going to be cooking another holiday dinner next month, perhaps I should say, dressing rehearsal.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: cedar chests, kids picnic tables, outdoor dining tables, patio chairs, picnic table benches, Silverware Box, silverware boxes, storage sheds

As I was saying, I enjoy trying to find out how our many holiday traditions got started; but each one has so many conflicting versions, that it can be difficult to pinpoint its exact origin.  Still, they’re all pretty entertaining.

 Kissing under the mistletoe, for example, is a strange one.  As one story goes, in ancient Scandinavia, it was a plant of peace; so, if enemies happened to meet under it in the forest, they would put down their arms and observe a truce until the next day.

 Somehow, over time, that led to kissing beneath it.  The thing is that, according to legend, men supposedly had license to kiss women who were standing under it.  BUT (and, as you can see, that’s a big but), afterward, they would pluck a berry from the mistletoe, and when the berries were gone, it was, well, all kissed-out, I guess, and the privilege existed no more.  

 However, like every tradition, it apparently kept on changing, and the berry-plucking eventually ceased.  Of course, although it’s no mystery why men would want to do away with the part that would deprive them of their rights to further kisses, I don’t know whether it was a blatant disregard of convention that caused the modification, or the simple fact that most mistletoe found in homes today is plastic. 

 See?  That’s the even-funnier thing about trying to solve an ancient puzzle; the more pieces you find, the more puzzling it becomes.  In the first place, I can’t imagine what possible good a one-day truce would do anybody, except that, maybe, it gave one party the chance to run away (and live to fight another day!) under cover of darkness.  Otherwise, it seems to be a hollow gesture – kind of like a meaningless kiss.  

 At CedarStore.com, we prefer more solid traditions; and that’s why most of our wood furniture is still hand-crafted in true, Old World style.  This includes our beautiful oak and cherry jewelry chests, jewelry boxes, armoires, silverware boxes, and cedar chests, which make great gifts, not only for Christmas, but for any occasion.  In fact, by giving one, you may start a whole new tradition, as it may end up being passed down for generations. 

 All in all, I’d say that’s much more enduring and meaningful than an insincere kiss under a plastic plant!

 Yours Outdoors,

 Kathy

Tags: armoires, cedar chests, cherry, jewelry boxes, jewelry chests, oak, silverware boxes, wood furniture

Now is the time to get out the silverware box and polish up the good utensils for Thanksgiving.  That’s another time-consuming task amidst all of the holiday hubbub.  It’s enough to make you ditch the formality and eat in the backyard at the picnic table or outdoor dining set, where you can use paper plates and plastic forks, like the pilgrims did.  (Su-ure, they did!  And afterward, they sat around on their Adirondack chairs and chaise lounges, watching football.)      

Anyway, as is the case in many families, your setting may be a cherished heirloom that you save for special occasions.  But, while you’re trying to make it sparkle, be careful not to do anything that will accidentally harm it; that’s another thing that happens frequently. 

Sterling silver, an alloy of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper, develops a patina over time, with use and exposure to air.  While some people find this attractive, oxidation can also cause unsightly tarnish; but, luckily, it can be polished away – which is what you’re probably doing this week.  If so, do not wear rubber gloves while you’re at it, as that could cause serious damage. 

Indeed, rubber can corrode silver severely enough to leave deep etchings that can be repaired only by a silversmith, and can even wear away raised designs.  So, if you’re gonna wear gloves, make ‘em cotton or plastic; and never use rubber bands on silver utensils, or store them in chests with rubber seals or coverings.  Use solid wood boxes that are lined with cloth. 

At CedarStore.com, we have magnificent silverware boxes, worthy of your finest silver, that are hand-crafted from cherry and oak, finished in one of six resplendent wood tones, and lined with green or burgundy felt.  They also make great gifts, as do any of the jewelry boxes, armoires, jewelry chests, steamer trunks, cedar chests, toy chests, and quilt racks, which you’ll find in our ‘Home Accents’ section. 

Now, when it comes to cleaning the silverware after dinner, the best method can depend upon different factors, including the age and type of the silver.  However, it seems that most people prefer to do their antique pieces by hand, even when it is perfectly safe to put them into the dishwasher (you know – like the pilgrims did!).

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: Silverware Box, silverware boxes

Well, the first big holiday of the season is breathing down our necks.  Next week, most of us will be sitting down with loved ones (and, perhaps, a few people that we can barely stand!), to our turkey dinners.  For those who are feeding large crowds, preparation for the feasts may include trying to figure out where everyone is going to sit, which means pulling a lot of folding tables, folding chairs, picnic table benches, patio chairs, and even outdoor dining tables and kids’ picnic tables, out of storage.

Of course, this is just the beginning; after Thanksgiving, it’ll be one big, mad rush to get ready for Christmas.  Besides shopping for the perfect gifts for everyone, from now until the end of the year, there will be decorating, making travel arrangements, baking, cooking, and trying to decide who’s spending what day, where.         

Another huge part of it is entertaining, which adds the stress of trying to keep our houses clean in showcase condition at all times.  So, we obsess over every little detail, including things that we rarely even think about for most of the year, such as the good silverware.  Because, in many homes, it’s used only on holidays, a lot of people will now be polishing it, to make it radiant for company. 

Naturally, it’s equally important for the silverware boxes to be gleaming as well.  Sometimes, however, they’re in poor condition, because they’ve been handed down with the silverware, and have suffered many scratches and chips while protecting it over the years.  If this is the case, it may be time for a new case – or, rather, box – for your silverware.      

At CedarStore.com, we have gorgeous, hand-crafted oak and cherry silverware chests that are available in six lustrous shades of wood stain, and lined with green or burgundy felt.  Even if you don’t need one, it will make a spectacular gift for someone on your list.  In fact, you can do a lot of your holiday shopping in our ‘Home Accents’ section, where you’ll also find stunning jewelry boxes, jewelry chests, armoires, steamer trunks, cedar chests, toy chests, quilt racks, and more.

And don’t feel guilty about replacing your original silverware box, because you can still keep it in the family.  Just give it to the sister-in-law who gave you socks last Christmas!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: Silverware Box, silverware boxes