18 November, 2011

Happy Faces


Other than fabric stashing, I don't collect much. These mugs are one exception.

My Baba (grandmother) had a few of these hanging on little cup hooks in her only kitchen cabinet. They were pulled out and filled with hot raspberry tea when we arrived at her house in the winter. I looked forward to that tea every time we visited. It was a small pleasure in what was likely to be a crowded, somewhat boring, and filled with starchy fried food visit to a tiny house on the side of the highway in Saskatchewan.

That tea never seemed the same at home. Even though we had Baba's homemade raspberry juice and used the same sweet tea to make it. I concluded long ago that it was the mugs. So when we were packing up Baba and Dido's house as age forced them into care the mugs were the only thing I adamantly claimed. Over the years I broke one, but I've added two.

These happy face mugs are a little bit silly and that's why I love them. On particularly dreary days I can pull it out for my morning tea and I can't help but smile.

They are also very hard to find. So, I'm asking you, my readers, that if you are out on thrifting adventures to keep an eye out for these mugs for me. They are made by Anchor Hocking and the brand is Fire King. There are many gorgeous patterns under the Fire King brand, but I'm only interested in the happy face mugs. If you ever see one, let me know and I'll probably ask you to buy it for me.

10 comments:

heartsease54 said...

What a lovely story. I'll keep my eyes open for you.

Francis Paul said...

do you know the are for sale at ebay for $175???? (seller: afurforyou) WOW! but a lovely story and a lovely mug :-)

Amy said...

I love antique shopping and love looking at all the Fire King mugs. You can bet I'll be keeping an eye open for these! They're fabulous!

Mary said...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fire-King-Red-Smiley-Face-and-A-W-Mugs-/250932036529?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item3a6cb703b1

Dee said...

My grandma had a set of amber colored glasses there were cut and shaped straight out of the 1970's. I remember drinking out of them when I was quite young. My parents bought my grandparents house and in turn got the amber glasses. I still love drinking out of these glasses during the holidays. Good luck in the quest to add to your collection! I have never seen these mugs before, but they would sure brighten my day.

Shannyn said...

I remember my Grandma's mugs too...they had that (typical) funky 60's/70's paisley pattern on the outside with oranges, yellows and blues and greens... and YES they hung just under the cupboard....I Goodwill Hunt all the time and will keep my eyes open for you!

Josie McRazie said...

Isn't it amazing that you can have the same recipe and yours just never tastes the same! My Mom has been gone for seven years and there are a few thing that I make that are her recipe, I know how to make them, because I used to make them right beside her, but there is just something not the same when I make it here!! I miss my Mothers Goulash!! LOL I thrift store shop all the time! I will keep these smiling faces on my look out list!!

Anonymous said...

I adore things like this, but then again, I am a collector for sure.

Suzanne said...

I have those kinds of memories about my Oma's house. I will keep my eyes peeled.

Susanne said...

Love them! I'm officially on the hunt oh your behalf!