The Great Influencers ~ Found In A Teapot

  52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2024: Week 5 (INFLUENCER)

When I think about who in my family has had the greatest influence on me I keep coming back to my grandmother, Amy Almeda (nee Bayes) Graham. Some of my earliest memories include my grandmother.

She died this past November - this blog is about Grandma 
Remembering Grandma ~ Amy Almeda (nee Bayes) Graham

I came home with this treasure.

When I was growing up I was entranced with this teapot. I thought it was real gold. I believed it had incredible value along with it's beauty. 

A few years ago I went home to look after grandma when she had knee surgery, and the discussion of what treasures I might want came up.  I shared that I loved this teapot. As a tea drinker I had visions of making tea time fancy should I ever receive it. I wrote about that trip in this blog Greatest Challenge ~ Being Present

After grandma passed the family remembered that I had loved the teapot, and gifted it to me to remember grandma by. 

My initial thought had been that I would drink my tea from it everyday.

I took a look at that pot, and noticed the spidery crack-like visuals inside, and decided it might not survive daily usage. 

I decided that it would be better to look at it everyday instead of risking breakage. 

I may have known the story of where the teapot came from when I was growing up, but as an adult I no longer remembered.

I was so happy to receive this lovely message from my aunt:

💖💖 I woke up this morning thinking about Gram’s gold tea pot, cream and sugar…don’t know if you know this… but Nanny… Nellie Graham... bought this for mom… either for Xmas or her birthday... not sure how long ago..maybe 50 plus years… the salt and pepper and cup…Gram bought herself ... just thought you might like to know a bit of history around the set… love you 💕❤️

In reading the message I felt loved and reconnected to the treasure I brought home.

I responded

I love the stories ❤️ 

She responded

I wasn’t sure if anyone had told you… Gram always cherished the set… even though her and Nanny had their differences… I think she always had a soft spot for her… I think she felt sorry for her….. I’m glad you  got the set… like I say I’m not too sure how safe it is as the inside of the pot is so marked up… someone had told me once that if you put a teaspoon in the pot first… before you pour the hot water in the pot it will help from cracking it… don’t know if it’s an old wife’s tale. 🥰

I wrote about my great grandmother Nellie May (nee Cannon) Graham in this blog 
When you're named after your NPE ~ Nellie May Cannon

I responded

I have placed it on display rather than using it. 
I decided looking at it is better than risking a break

When I was growing up my parents always kept cash in a teapot in the china cabinet. It was there for us kids to pay for cabs home having grown up without debit cards. 

Wrapped up in memories, while writing this blog, I discovered the role of teapots in my life. 

With this blog I leave the history of the golden teapot for my children!!! 

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Photos:

Personal

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

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