The cookware set that I use— the only set I own— is the old Queen Anne waterless cookware set. It came into my world way back in 1974 when Ed and I married. I think it might have been quite new then; sold door to door by industrious folks. The term waterless doesn’t mean no water; it means just a little bit and in the cooking process the lid and pot form a seal so no additional moisture is usually needed. It was a lovely complete set with a lifetime guarantee. 
   A number of years ago I found an outlet in Winnipeg and was able to have several handles replaced. The set included an electric fry pan, a six quart pot with an egg poachers accessory, and then three, two and one quart pots. I think there may have been a juicer, and a set of utensils- lifter, masher, long fork, spatula and soup ladle that I still use as well. Unfortunately in the fifty plus years use there have been two injuries — I overheated the six quart and the two quart and they warped so that they wobble when in on a hot element. I think that’s not bad for a door to door purchase from half a century ago!
   Those who know me well know that the kitchen is not my very favourite room in the house. Many years ago, in a conversation with a grandson, I mentioned that my ideal retirement home would even have a kitchen. Josh was quiet for just a second and then in a hushed voice ‘ that’s an old folks home’. That being said I took the care and feeding of the first five seriously. It was my job to give them proper nutritious meals, albeit plain and boring. I did/do cook and bake. Homemade buns are one food I prepare well, and pies. I learned early that any meal was a hit with those two items on the menu. And some cookies —date filled oatmeal rounds, chocolate chip and raisin oatmeal drop cookies. The cookie pans are also part of my inheritance. The two most used certainly look the most used! Twelve by eighteen inches, they are discolored, scared, still showing the label ‘ Bake King, King of Bakeware’. One has a slight break on two sides, not endangering the user, just a testament to heavy usage.
   The loaf pans and the pie plates are PYREX, yup, old enough that they are all upper case letters. Even have a Pyrex casserole dish whose cover serves as a small pie plate. And all inherited as well! When you have a good thing, why mess with it? The fine china/everyday dishes are so old they have become collectable. The set started as gifts back in 1974, and has had some add ons. It’s the white Corelle with the little green flowers all around the edges. Big plates, little plates, cups and saucers, mugs, cereal/soup bowls and fruit bowls, the serving bowl and platter, the gravy boat set….The replacement cereal bowls are mostly all white, it’s rare to find a patterned one in good condition.
   These well loved items are all old, vintage. But then — so am I!