Hello Readers!

I’ve got some fun news about my farm, but for first-time readers, let me introduce myself. I’m Terry, owner and caretaker of Willowbrook Manor English Teahouse and Farm Stay.

This email comes to you because you either signed up for this newsletter, made a reservation at Willowbrook Manor, are a friend of mine, or are a follower of my mother, author Liz Adair, who has her own corner here in The Willowbrook Word. There is a giveaway at the end of each newsletter, so make sure to read to the end.

Voted Best of the Best!

Willowbrook Manor was voted this year’s Best Bed and Breakfast in Skagit Valley. I’m delighted to receive this award. Thank you for all who voted.

A Bit of History ~

Overnight stays at my farm began in 2018. High Camp was the first glamour-campsite, and it was a favorite place for me. I still had teenagers at home, so I would treat myself to an ‘escape’ with a rejuvenating stay at High Camp when it was vacant. Most of the people who stayed there were travelers exploring the North Cascades National Park that is an hour away from Willowbrook Manor.

Cottage Camp came next. People from all over the U.S. came to enjoy a luxury camping experience on my farm where they could pick chamomile for morning tea.

Indoor Overnights ~

When I became an empty-nester I turned the kids’ rooms into guest rooms for overnight stays. It was the summer after the pandemic, and the majority of people who booked High Camp or Cottage Camp actually chose to stay indoors to avoid the summer heat. That is when I decided to simplify, and in 2022, I only hosted guests inside the manor. Glamping at Willowbrook came to an end.

A Tea Getaway ~

When guests arrive for an overnight stay at Willowbrook Manor, the first thing I do is invite them into the kitchen to acquaint them with the tea kettle. That way, anytime day or night, they can make up a tray with teacup, cream, sugar and a steaming pot of tea to enjoy in their room, the cottage greenhouse, or any comfy chair inside the manor.

Morning Tea and Scones ~

Every morning I serve tea with scones fresh out of the oven.

Come for a Cozy Winter Retreat ~

Summers are when I typically host overnight guests, but I do have a handful of dates that are open this winter. Come for the Birds of Winter Festival. (Click HERE for birding.) Come for a writer’s retreat. Come and ‘fill your cup’ during winter with a stay at Willowbrook Manor.

Available Dates:

• November 8–10, 15–17, 22–24
• January 3–5, 10–12, 24–26
• February 21–23

Winter dates can’t be booked online. Instead you can email me for room availability and rates. (Minimum two-night stay required.) Click HERE to request more information.

Tea Blending for Gift-Giving ~

November is the time to make gifts for holiday gift-giving. At Willowbrook Manor you can treat yourself to high tea followed by our tea tasting/tea blending class. The class involves tea tasting, learning the medicinal properties of herbs and teas, and then making your own signature tea blend.

You will take home six tins of your tea blend (including a picture of you on the label) and six Willowbrook note cards. This experience includes high tea (savories, scones, sweets, and a pot of tea) hosted in Willowbrook Manor’s Tea room, decorated for the holiday season. The tea tasting/tea blending class follows in the Lavender Room. This is a group event, perfect for a holiday corporate party or family together time. Minimum of 10 and maximum of 14 people,  this can be scheduled for weeknights or Saturdays during the month of November ($110/person). Click HERE to request a date.

Holiday Tea ~

Holiday Tea is almost fully booked, so I added an extra day. You can book a table or sign up on the cancellation list by clicking HERE.

Valentine Tea ~

You spoke; I listened. You asked for a Valentines Tea, and now it is a reality (re-ali-tea). If you would like to celebrate love and friendship on February 15th click HERE to book your tea time.

Tea and Tulips ~

I know the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is six months away, but I’m already getting requests to book for Tea and Tulips.  Last year, most of our tea sessions were sold out, with a long waiting list.  That is why I’m starting early and inviting you to book early.  For those of you who like to plan ahead, you can click HERE to make your reservation.

Mom and Me ~

In my last newsletter, you learned that my recently widowed mother has come to live with me. People ask how I’m doing having my mom here full time (you know, the ‘mother/daughter’ thing). The biggest problem she and I have is that we try to protect each other from doing too much hard work. We tend to smile as we argue about why I should help her when she is trying to help me.

For instance, Mom now joins me on my dump runs, even though I say I can do it myself. She insists that she is the ‘bungie smith’ and helps by unbungie-ing and rebungie-ing the trash cans. It actually cuts the time in half, so I don’t try to talk her out of it anymore.

We are both relishing our time together. We talk about dad and how we miss him. I know the days with my mom here are numbered, so I soak them in.

Oh…and for those of you who know us, we have actually been too busy to play Scrabble!

Time for Liz ~

This is where I turn the pen over to my mom (Liz) and let her share.

Liz Sez ~

If any of you have listened to my books on Audible, this is the lady who reads them to you. Her name is Tanya Parker Mills, and for fifteen years, she and I have been members of Writeminded, a weekly critique group. In addition to being a brilliant book narrator, she’s also an award-winning author and owner of an independent bookstore. But more than that, she’s a Mom-hero, and that’s the story I’d like to tell you. I may get some of the details wrong because I’m close to deadline and—let’s face it—I write fiction. But this is the story I’ve carried around in my head and my heart, and the outline is dead true.

When I first met Tanya, she was mother of a high-schooler and a co-ed. Jason, the younger of the two, was sweet, funny, a good kid, and on the Autism spectrum.

Jason has Asperger’s.

Bookish himself, his aim in life has been to work in a bookstore. Realizing he was coming from behind in dealing with the public in a retail setting, he did battle with his condition by enrolling in Deseret Industry’s employee-training program which is much like that of Goodwill.

I ran into Jason at work there one time when I was at the St. George, Utah, thrift store looking for end tables. I was impressed with the growth this shy young man had made since I last had greeted him in his living room. This time he smiled at me, met my eyes, and called me by name.

Fast forward a year or so, and Jason, his hard-earned retail experience under his belt, took his courage in his hands and applied for a job at the only game in town: Barnes and Noble. He didn’t even get an interview. Same on Try #2. Same on Try #3. On Try #4 he got an interview but no job offer.

That’s when Tanya emailed me and said sorry, no more audiobooks done for a while. Also, her writing was going on the back burner. She and her husband Michael were opening an independent bookstore in St. George.

Located on Second West and Tabernacle in the historic downtown section of St. George, The Book Bungalow has been in business for six years now. If you drop in to browse the bookshelves, you’ll find Jason at the front desk. Tell him hi from Liz.

The Book Bungalow is a family business success story, and Jason is right in there, pulling his weight. You can visit the store online at https://www.thebookbungalow.com

~ Liz

Now back to Terry:

A Teacup Story ~

You will find this lovely teacup in the tea room of Willowbrook Manor. It sits on the mantle above the fireplace with a ‘not for use’ label beside it. Though it was gifted to me a couple of years ago, it has a story that goes back to my teen years.

John and Margret ~

This teacup story begins back in the ’80s when I watched John and Margret begin their family. I was a teenager and we went to the same church.

Margret worked at my mom’s bakery delivering pies to local restaurants. It was a job she could do with kids in tow. Little Jonette was three and Matthew was two at that time. Sometimes Margret would get extra hours by cleaning the pie kitchen, bringing a playpen for her little ones.

The people who worked for my mom were like family, so when sweet Jonette was diagnosed with brain cancer four years later I was devastated.

An option of aggressive radiation treatment gave a sliver of hope. Margret and John decided to try. The potential side affects were dire (possible blindness, deafness, pituitary gland damage).

Margret was pregnant with her third child at the time. Jonette counted the days and decided the new baby would be named Annamarie.

Jonette was a patient on the same hospital floor when the baby was born. When Jonette came to see the baby and heard the word ‘brother’ she cried and went running out of the hospital room. The obstetrician ran after her, scooped her up and asked if she would just hold her baby.

Her hairless head bowed, Jonette caressed her brother’s tiny hand. Tears streamed down her face as she told her little brother that his name was Annamarie.

I’m happy to share that Jonette survived the rigorous cancer treatment (and her little brother was actually named Mark).

Now I will get to how the teacup is part of this story.

Margret brought Jonette to Tea and Tulips 2023. I was thrilled to see them both again. Jonette, the miracle child, brought her own miracle child. You see, the doctors said she would not be able to have children. Yet here, sipping tea at my table, was Jonette’s own little girl named — you guessed it, Annamarie.

So when Annamarie presented me with this teacup and saucer, I couldn’t help but cry for joy and gratitude. It sits on my mantle reminding me that miracles can happen.

This is a picture of Jonette with her family including, Annamarie, Rowan and Chris.

Palm Sugar Giveaway ~

Congratulations to our three winners of Yay Novelty’s Palm Sugar from Cambodia. This has been a delicious addition to our tea service. The winners are: Mary H. from Ferndale, WA, Janet S. from Corvallis OR, and Patty K from Kanab UT. Life just got a little sweeter for these three readers.

This Month’s Giveaway ~

This month’s giveaway is a bulk bag of Apple Cinnamon Tisane, a recent addition to my tea selection. Three people will win! Click HERE to enter your name into the drawing and make sure to write a little note to let me know how you are doing.

That’s It for Now ~

Thank you for reading all the way to the end!
Make sure to make time for a gentle cup of tea.
-t