China for All Seasons?

Before we were engaged, I had already set my heart on a particular china pattern, Woodland Spode.  I don't know exactly what it was about this pattern that I loved so immediately, whether it was the traditional feel, or the different game shown on each piece, or the tiny little bird on the inside of each delicate tea cup, but I knew instantly it was for me.  (I was amused to later find that it had been listed by a style magazine as a china you might choose if you identified with the character Bree Van de Kamp on Desperate Housewives)  To my surprise, my husband immediately agreed to this china choice, and I say to my surprise because our silver choice was a bit of 'process,' with each of us having distinctly different points of view.

We love this china, but after a few years, I had to face the reality that it was wonderful for fall and winter, but for spring and summer, it was not ideal.  After some careful discussion and research, we decided upon a second china pattern, Si Kiang by Raynaud.  It was crisp white where our Woodland Spode was creamy ivory, pink and green where our other was rich chocolate.  Instead of buying larger pieces in each of the patterns, we bought silver serving dishes to go with both.  Now, each fall and spring, I change china patterns and our table feels properly 'seasonally' dressed.