MUSINGS ON MUGS

Just a few of our many mugs. More reside at the farmhouse.

Our Halloween decorations are mostly put away, and now I’m setting out Thanksgiving. We hear reports of snow in the Cascades. A cheery pinewood fire perks away in the little stove. I’m in a holiday mood and preparing my advent story for this blog. But that’s still a month away.

Daughter Hallie took a mug from the cupboard – one that happened to be hers in childhood – and said, “There are so many cute mugs out there. It’s time for you to replace yours. This one could go to Goodwill.” Surprised as I was by her comment, I suppose it’s telling that my immediate thought was, “Goodwill doesn’t want it.” I have seen the mugs that come into the rummage sale – all faded and stained and chipped. Nobody wants to buy a used mug. And nobody wants to pay for an item that was a freebie in the first place!

Hallie’s observation prompted me to take a hard look at the mugs in my cupboard and where they came from:

·       Dodge (my favorite) – a freebie when we bought the Magnum 10 years ago

·       Putnam – a freebie from our broker

·       Mac’s Cycle (2) – freebies from a place “we” do business

·       Starbuck’s (several) – generous gifts from a family member (and some of the nicest we own)

·       State of Idaho – to thank me for five years of service

·       “One Mother’s Story – I used to have a handle on life but then it fell off” (I don’t need the constant reminder.)

·       “I’ll straighten up tomorrow” (I’m still waiting.)

·        Boy Scouts – 2

Recent acquisitions

Well, you get the picture – mostly a hodgepodge of joke gifts and freebies.

After the initial shock of learning that it’s not good enough to have familiar old mugs in my cupboard, I asked the pertinent question: “Where does one find cute mugs?” As you might expect, the answer was vague. Now I’m conflicted. Should I be on a mission to replace old mugs with new? Should I replace old freebies with new freebies? Should I buy a set of matching mugs (maybe Lenox)? And – does it really matter? (Mike would say no; he loves a useful freebie.)

Gifts from friends

Of course, people today use thermal mugs, and we have those, too, but most of them just don’t work for us for one reason or another, so there they are, taking up space on the top shelf of the cupboard. And maybe this is true for many of us. As a case in point, Yancey left one behind last summer, and knowing that he would visit in October, we just held it for him. He was so pleased to be reunited with it. He said he had more at home, but for a reason I can’t recall, this was the only one that works well for him.

What kind of mugs do you have in your cupboard? What’s your favorite? Where would you shop for a new one? KW 

[Photo #2: I ordered the autumn mug from Celestial Seasonings and bought the glass one at Walmart. The one on the right with chukars on it was a gift to Mike from his hunting buddy Ken.]