A Winter Morning at Willowbrook Manor ~

The English Thyme Room of Willowbrook is where to catch an amazing sunrise. No filter on this picture. Just nature doing its thing. (You can faintly make out my reflection from the window.)

Mom and Me ~

For those of you who are new to The Willowbrook Word, I’m Terry, owner and caretaker of Willowbrook Manor English Teahouse and Farm Stay. My mother, author Liz Adair, lives here as well. (The picture above is of us walking the Cascade Trail that runs adjacent to my farm.) Mom has her own corner of this newsletter. We always have a giveaway, so make sure to read to the end. (If any pictures are sideways, click on the link at the top to view in your browser.)

What’s New at Willowbrook?

The English Thyme Room (where I took the sunrise picture above) is now a tea room! During Tea and Tulips and Mothers Tea you can enjoy high tea upstairs in this spacious room that features stunning views. Click Here to book.

Something Really Great!

Our first annual Hearts for Homeless Children Fundraiser was a heart-warming success! Thank you to all who donated. The Valentine Tree at Willowbrook Manor was filled with love and support for homeless families.

Teacup Giving ~

Many of you know that SWAN Foundation (Serving Women Across Nations) is the giving arm of Willowbrook Manor. With a $100 donation to SWAN Foundation, you can take one of Willowbrook’s beautiful teacups home with you. 100% of proceeds go to local shelters and programs that support at-risk women and children. This Valentine season, between teacup donations and Hearts for Homeless Children, we raised $1,050 for Skagit Family Promise! For a first-year fundraiser, this is tremendous.

Sharing Tea from Morocco

One of my lovely tea guests brought me samples of her favorite tea. She had just returned from a long stay in Morocco and wanted to share the flavors she enjoyed there (notice the Arabic script on the tea packet). I was touched at her thoughtfulness, but even more so when she asked to take a Willowbrook teacup home with her. It would be her fourth teacup from as many visits to my teahouse. Four teacups and four generous donations to help women and children in need. I get moist around the edges when tea guests support our outreach efforts. Large or small, every donation makes a difference.

Another Something Super-Great!

The tulip bulbs planted in Willowbrook’s raised bed last fall are stretching their tender leaves upwards from beneath the soil! This is the sign that spring is just around the corner. Here in Skagit Valley, the coming of spring also heralds our month-long Tulip Festival where you can view acres of vibrantly colored blooming tulips. There are five tulip farms to visit, each with its own unique flavor and charm. Click HERE for more information.

Willowbrook Manor’s Tea and Tulips has been a featured event of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival since 2018. We offer high tea every Friday and Saturday during the month of April. Sweet cream scones, scrumptious finger sandwiches, and home-baked sweets accompany a pot of your favorite Willowbrook tea. The cost is $57/person, and we typically sell out, so make your reservation early. Click HERE to book.

Red Falcon Road ~

Mom and I are having a great time filming segments for our upcoming YouTube channel Red Falcon Road. We took this selfie with Skagit’s Best Salsa owner Jill Rohrs. We had just toured her salsa-making facility.

Jill joined us for a jaunt up to the Anacortes overlook. There we ate chips and Skagit’s Best Salsa. (Munching is best with great company and a spectacular view.) Of course, we finished our visit with a bit of tea.

Stay tuned for more updates of Red Falcon Road!

Time for Liz ~

This is where I turn the pen over to my mom, author Liz Adair.

Liz Sez:

An Upriver Valentine Story

My sixth novel, Cold River, had as its inception my experiences teaching school in Concrete, Washington, a tiny town 22 miles upriver from where I live now. When the book went out of print, I asked the publisher for the rights back and published it on Amazon in Kindle format.

Though this novel is contemporary, I taught in that school district over fifty years ago.

One of my students was a darling cheerleader in her senior year named Leslie. Peppy and full of fun, she took a shine to me and often visited my family after she graduated. Before long, she came to live with us, occupying one of the many bedrooms in the old farmhouse on Barr Road.

It was while she was living with us that she met Bruce, and he courted her in our living room. He would come to visit carrying his guitar case, and they’d talk and sing and laugh until well after midnight. When Bruce stayed too late, Derrill would go up in his bathrobe and suggest it was time for him to go home.

Bruce and Leslie married in 1983 and raised a beautiful family. We were so proud of them and celebrated each milestone. They were such a plucky couple, so engaged in the adventure of life.

They are still plucky, still engaged, though the adventure has gotten a little scarier. Leslie has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and Bruce–though carrying his own Parkinson’s diagnosis–is her caregiver.

I feel so lucky to live close enough that they can visit on one of their short field trips. Except for duplicate questions several times in one conversation, Leslie is her same perky self. Bruce is still laid back, but very knowledgeable about both her disease as well as his own.

Seeing his devotion to Leslie, I’m glad we encouraged the courtship all those decades ago. It has been, and still is, a true love story.
-Liz

Now back to Terry

Here is where we have our monthly giveaway!

This Month’s Winners ~

Our four winners of Willowbrook Manor’s monogramed tea infuser are:

• Janine M, Lynden, WA
• Jill M, Spindle, NC
• Trish B, Anacortes, WA
• Linda H

This Month’s Giveaway ~

My oldest Daughter Addy paints beautifully. I made one of her paintings into a refrigerator magnet and will be giving away five this month. Enter for the drawing HERE. Don’t forget to include a little note to let Mom and me know how you are doing. We enjoy hearing from you.

Another Sweet Love Story ~

Jim is the behind-the-scenes super hero of Willowbrook Manor. He keeps things working, heating, cooling, and running smoothly. We make a great team. Whatever I dream up, he facilitates. 🙂

Best of all, my heart is safe with him. This is my sweet Valentine.

To all of you, thank you for being part of my newsletter family.
Sending lots-n-lots-a luv.
-t

P.S. Here are a couple more upcoming events at Willowbrook Manor (click on each picture for more information).