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Terry's tales from Willowbrook Manor
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Tea Time Returns to Willowbrook ~
Hello Hello!
How are you?
This email finds its way to your inbox because you either signed up for my newsletter, made a reservation to one of my tea events, or are follower of my mother, author Liz Adair. Thank you for reading today! If you are short on time, scroll to the bottom to enter your name into this month's giveaway.
It was a long year of pandemic-paralysis where I could not host tea events, but Willowbrook's doors are opened and I have loved welcoming guests back into my home to enjoy English tea! It has been a celebration of connection, and I have especially loved those who took the opportunity to dress for tea, like my guests in the picture above. ( I asked them if I could share it since it is such a great pic.)
Tea and Tulips ~
The tulips bloomed to welcome tea guests from all around our state and beyond that participated in the the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. Willowbrook Manor's English Tea was a featured event during the festival and every tea session was fully booked. I felt badly for the people that I couldn't accommodate everyone who wanted to come.
We set up the tea tent for outdoor dining and hosted guests in the manor at 50% capacity to adhere to COVID requirements, and it made me realize what a treat the tea tent is even in springtime. The fireplaces created ambiance and warmth and made the tent a delightful place to enjoy teatime with friends. Glenda said I could use this picture of her and her daughter. They first came to Willowbrook for our Holiday Tour of Lights in 2018.
When the weather was good we took the walls of the tea tent down and enjoyed the sunshine! Theresa brought her husband to Willowbrook for his first tea and I think we made a new tea-convert.
Made with Love ~
I'm famous for my sweet potato, carrot, and apple soup. It has a touch of curry and honey and is a comfort-food for sure. My daughter Kjaisa garnishes it with love. All of our scones and sweets are baked fresh daily and I have the best tea-sandwich-making team you could ask for. People say the food at Willowbrook is wonderful. It's filled with positive Ju-Ju you know.
My crew of young people do an amazing job of caring for the tea guests who come to Willowbrook. We really had a great time working together to put on Tea and Tulips and Mothers Tea.
SWAN Report ~
In my last newsletter I shared with you my non-profit SWAN Foundation (Serving Women Across Nations) which is the giving arm of Willowbrook. (Click HERE to read). In March we hosted Seeding and Tea as a fundraiser for Skagit Friendship House that serves the homeless in our county and I felt for a first-time fundraiser, the $1100 that was raised was a huge success. Guests enjoyed tea and scones then planted chamomile seeds into propagating trays that will be used for our Chamomile Planting and Tea (CP Tea) fundraising event in June.
It will be an evening event of planting chamomile starts then enjoying tea and warm sweet cream scones under the tea tent as the sun goes down. The summer evenings are magical at Willowbrook. Make your reservation HERE.
Family Promise ~
SWAN and Willowbrook also helped Family Promise with their Spring Fundraiser called 'CommuniTea'. They are a wonderful organization that partners with local churches to provide shelter, meals, and programs to help homeless families get on their feet and in homes of their own. I was grateful to be a part of their event. It was an inspiring day full of heartwarming stories that spoke of despair and crisis turned to hope and opportunity. Through this fundraising campaign, Family Promise raised $50,000. What an outpouring of generosity. Click HERE to learn about Family Promise.
Mothers Tea ~
I think Mothers Tea is my favorite. It just warms my heart to see all of the mom and daughters, husbands and wives, and love ties that bring people to Willowbrook for tea. It is a special treat to see the family resemblances, like this picture of Hailey and her mom.
My daughter Kjaisa and her boyfriend Brandon helped in the tea tent every Saturday, but for Mothers Tea they made a special tea time for Brandon's mom in the garden. Mike and Mary Lou recently moved from Pennsylvania and now live just 16 miles from Willowbrook and we can go door-to-door using the Cascade Trail! They are a wonderful addition to our family.
Giveaway ~
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There were dozens of rock carvings, and I took a lot of pictures. This is one of my favorites. It makes me think about the people who lived in the barren and beautiful desert centuries ago. I think I like this one so much because it resembles what I could draw using paper and pen.....(such is my ability for art).
Speaking of art, how about a dinosaur footprint? We went to a place where there are over a thousand prints from various sizes of dinosaurs, but you have to search to find them. I couldn't help but feel the magnitude of time gone by when I found these dinosaur tracks.
Jim and I got to ride in 'Oscar' the newly acquired side-by-side. It is an amazing machine with a kickin' stereo. We were the last in the caravan, and it made Jim hearken back to his days Army days bombing around in fast attack vehicles. Click HERE for a video sample of our ride.
My Dad ~
My dad is an outdoor enthusiast. He always has been. When I was 6 he started taking our family backpacking. He taught us kids how to make matchless fires. I hated hiking back then. Now I hike every day that I can. It is my therapy. My dad loves the southern Utah desert, and galavanting around in it is his therapy. He marvels at the geological time that the rocks and mountains attest to, and often says that being out in them is his 'church'.
My Mom ~
Mom was content to stay at home and create yummy food for the crew. She has always kept the home fires burning, nurturing the people she loves with the most delicious home-made meals. If you watch her, you will see that she pats the dough, the bread, the freshly made sandwich. I find I do the same thing, and I believe we got it from her mother. Love pats. It makes the food taste better.
Switching Gears... How about Tea?
I typically set the tea tent up on the East Lawn on Mothers Day. I feel giddy when the tea tent goes up. So you can imagine my glee when last Tuesday found us setting up the place where so many good memories are made. The pandemic closed my business for a full year, and I am extra anxious to welcome guests to my home to enjoy the gentle tradition of having tea together. The manor is allowed to seat up to 50% capacity, so we will have the heated tea tent accommodate the other half. Click HERE for a video of the tea tent set up day.
Friendship Seeding and Tea ~
SWAN Foundation (Serving Women Across Nations) is hosting Friendship Seeding and Tea March 26th and 27th. Guests will enjoy sweet cream tea and scones in a warm garden setting, then plant chamomile seeds into propagating trays. This is a fundraising event for the Friendship House in Mount Vernon. I love this organization that helps homeless in our community better their lives. I cant say enough good about what the Friendship House is doing. Click HERE for some history about SWAN and HERE for information on the Friendship House.
Chamomile is a calming herb. I think a chamomile field is a wonderful place to bring community together to work towards solutions to homelessness. Click HERE to make a reservation for Seeding and Tea.
The Giving Tree ~
This is the willow tree that overlooks my chamomile field. It is the first tree you see when you turn the bend to arrive at Willowbrook. I want to make it the giving tree. Will you help? My vision is to surround this tree with bricks that demonstrate generous giving of help and hope for the homeless. Each engraved brick will represent $1,000 donated to aid in the fight against poverty and homelessness.
I want this brick to read 'Seeding and Tea 2021'. I need 100 readers that will donate $10 towards our homeless remedy effort. Will you be part of this project to create the first brick under The Giving Tree? Please participate HERE.
Tea and Tulips ~
This picture was from last year when the tulip festival was cancelled. The tulips are growing as we speak and the garden promises to host another beautiful display of blossoms.
Tea and Tulips is offered every Friday and Saturday in April and features delicious tea sandwiches, sweet cream scones and home-bakes goodies, all served with a pot of Willowbrook's luxury loose-leaf tea. Reservations are filling up fast, so make sure to save your table. Space is limited. Click HERE to make your reservation.
Teacup Time ~
 
My fun-loving and wonderful niece Lizzy, came to visit and brought her dear friend Kathy and her adorable daughter Aliiyah. I was tickled when Aliiyah chose the groovy '70s demitasse cup that reminds me of the Partridge Family (for those of you old enough to remember). I found it in a box of teacups that my friend Cynthia gave me, and it hearkens back to memories of my childhood with bellbottom jeans and polyester double-knit dresses.
Giveaways ~
In my last newsletter I offered a giveaway of three Willowbrook tea sampler sets. Here are the winners!
Christine ~
Julie ~
Ashley ~
Click HERE to see the video of the drawing.
I also had a drawing for note cards by Aliece in the newsletter I sent out to my mother's mailing list. Here are the winners;
Annemarie ~
Vickey ~
Dianne ~
Louise ~
Christine ~ ( not the same as the previous winner)
Alma ~
Carole ~
Katie ~
Leah ~
Kay ~
Click HERE to read this special issue.
Today's Giveaway~
My oldest daughter Addy is an amazing artist. She paints using only primary colors and mixes them to get just the right hues. Today's giveaway is a set of three note cards with art by Addy. I am giving away ten sets, so make sure to get your name in for the drawing. Click HERE to enter.
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