On Jan 7, 6:53*am, Stan Horwitz > wrote:

> Maybe its a guy thing, but I don't see the appeal of fancy china and
> cutlery. A set of inexpensive ceramic plates and basic cutlery from
> Target, Ikea, or another discount store is fine by me. The cheap stuff
> lasts many years without lightening my wallet too much.

It's not a guy thing. Sure, a well set table looks pretty, but you
don't eat
the dishes.

Our only set of dishes is white stoneware with a narrow green band
around
it. You can find similar in any diner. We've had them for almost 20
years,
they get knocked around and put in the dishwasher, and they still look
pretty much just as they did when we bought them. I think I broke one
cereal bowl in all that time.

People love to come to our house. We cook good food, and the table
looks
inviting when it is set. Above all, people feel comfortable in our
house and
they frequently say so.

Cindy Hamilton

> I guess with the sour economy gripping many countries, more people are
> asking themselves why they need to spend a lot of money on fancy place
> settings, when there are much cheaper alternatives that work just as
> fine and are more durable.