Coffee mugs? We have them! They fill one shelf above the water glasses and the Christmas ones are in another cabinet. Over the years we have donated bunches, sold them in garage sales but some remain cherished and unbroken. As I drink my coffee in the morning I take it remembering a lot of schmaltzy moments.
Daughter #1 brought this one back to Dad from Disneyworld when she went on a school trip competition to FL.
from daughter, to Dad – It has to be over 15 years old! Looks it too. Yet, it won’t be sold and it can’t be given away.
Back in the 90′s as my husband worked for GTE-VZ, he negotiated a buyer’s contract to use Neil Sedaka’s song for GTE advertising. He was so proud of that contract. I am very careful with that cup.
♪”Breaking Up Is Hard To Do”♫
Back in the 80′s we celebrated one of my aunt’s 70th birthday. We brought home a souvenir cup to remember a very special family reunion in Mexico.
From Tía’s birthday
Daughter #1 went to ASU in Tempe. How proud I was to be a Red Devil mom!
From the ASU years
I went to MSU…many memories there. I picked this one up at a class reunion since others had been broken.
Spartan coffee–I like mine black.
This one is for beer, but if an extra helping of coffee is in order, it fits the bill. Summer of ’90 took us all to reunite with my brother in Belgium and sister in Germany.
If you turn the little hand crank, it will wake you up with a tune, too.
John Deere is Rick’s merchant of choice for farm equipment. It holds the extra ounces of coffee he requires in the morning.
“Nothing runs like a Deere”
How about you? Do you have a favorite mug and a little schmaltz to share?
Thank you for your patience this morning. Having trouble with my internet connection. Sigh…more coffee please!
How interesting! I can imagine how carefully you handle some of these – considering the memories they hold, in addition to the coffee!
I have probably used each and every one of these as I read the latest on wp in the morning. Exciting thing happened this morning! A good friend from VA found the Labor Day piece on daughter K just this morning. She lives in VA, too. I told her how much I would like to schedule a week long trip to visit brother, sister, her and a few blogging friends. I hope I can make it happen between fall and spring term in January.
My dad’s first “important” job was with John Deere in the Tri-Cities – later to become the Quad-Cities, and now the Quint-Cities, if you listen to some of the civic boosters. He didn’t stick long enough for me to develop a fondness for their mugs, but yours reminded me of that.
I have four special mugs. One actually is a cup, bone china, gifted to me by an English friend. It’s a beautiful black transfer of Buckingham Palace. My three mugs represent three of my favorite places in the world – the Cottage House in Council Grove, Kansas (the prairies), a Baby’s Coffee mug from Breaux Bridge (Cajun country), and a big, heavy mug from Lost Maples (the Hill Country). I need to start bookmarking leaf-peeper pages. With the rain we’ve had this year, there may be more color to enjoy.
I thought of you as we drove to Galveston last night for nephew’s Stateside reception. How interesting that your dad worked for John Deere.
Many mugs have fallen casualty to falling on the tile floor but these remain. They feel familiar and hold memories. When I visit my mother, brothers and sister, I enjoy my coffee out of one of theirs. Some have stories, others don’t. Just this morning I drove in early from my mother’s. We both shared coffee in her newest addition…one from the town where nephew’s bride’s mother lives. It had a painted scene of the central marketplaatz. There’s an “eagle” that doesn’t look like an eagle atop a building. Apparently, it’s the motif of her town and inside the cup there’s a repeat image of just the “eagle.” Oh…the conversation these mugs inspire.
Oh, that would just be wonderful, Georgette!! I would LOVE for us to meet!
I like my Spartan coffee black, as well. When we moved to Florida I got rid of a lot of cups, but some of the very special ones (and more than I can use since I am the only coffee drinker in the house) made the trip with us. Going to see if I can find the MSU one this morning…
I wonder what your MSU one looks like. Tell me when you find it. I had a favorite version. It has a large block S on it. One summer, I placed it on a window sill while I was weeding under the kitchen window along the side bed of our house. Somehow, it slid off, bounced on one of the pavers and broke. I looked for another “S” to replace it, but found this more “staid and formal” version with the university seal. Yes, I still think of the “S” one when I use this replacement.
Ah, I found it. It is an MSU College of Nursing mug. I’m going to the Lansing area next weekend to see my new grandson…maybe I’ll pick up another!
awww…thank you for letting me know. Now I have a mental image of it…just wondering and curious. Have a safe trip! Congratulations on your grandbaby! What a wonderful visit that will be.
they are cool keepsakes to have. we have a few favorites around here – nothing too noteworthy, but still we keep ‘em.
I wish them a long life, Theresa.
Schmaltz — I haven’t heard that word since my Dad died 12 years ago. You made me smile. I also have a cupboard full of mugs, including one from the National Air and Space Museum with a picture of the SBD — the plane my dad flew on in WWII.
Now that’s a keeper. I know you take good care of it, too.
I don’t know where that word came from…it just came out when I titled this. Then I thought I’d better check its meaning just in case I had misused it. Nope, I hadn’t…it fits.
It absolutely fits! It’s a GREAT word. And yes, I take good care of that mug!
Thank you for the affirmation.
Your father’s service is certainly to be remembered.
Interesting topic for a post! I “support the arts” by buying handmade pottery, especially mugs. Most of mine would be a travelogue to places I have visited. I do, however, have some schmaltz… including a Halloween orange one which proclaims “Moxie Makes Mainers Mighty!” (See my post, I’ve Got Moxie, Do You?)
haha…now that’s a mug dripping with M’s! Thank you for sharing some of your schmaltz with your Moxie.
Though we have a collection (mostly from pre-marriage days) of coffee mugs, I prefer to pull from my Fiesta ware collection. A brand new color each and every day, with two special mugs for Saturdays and Sundays (larger, because there is more time to enjoy the coffee).
You have lovely memories tied to a very nice collection. I’m not surprised.
Mugs, mugs, mugs. Who doesn’t have them? And along with them, yes you know me, there’s always a memory attached.
Your Fiesta ware sounds like fun with the various colors you have. I have given it as wedding gifts from registries and enjoyed so much picking the pieces the brides have requested.
Well, this may come as a shock, but my fave mug is in my photo. I bought that at L.L. Bean’s years ago (our family has a long history with Bean’s…)
I love the above Carol’s Moxie mug–I live in Lisbon, Moxie Central!
That mug is classic and the photo of you drinking from it is perfect! With your eyes open just over the rim, you look ready for anything.
And, by the sound of the colors that Carol described, it will soon be time to pull out that Moxie mug. Thank you for sharing your cup o’ schmaltz.
I love that you have memory cups
Well, you know me well enough, that I don’t own something that doesn’t have some sentiment to it. Don Francisco, for one. You know his story.
Thank you again for your lovely gift on Friday. I had more Canadian visitors than US visitors on my blog that day. You have a presence across our Northern border. And Jos and I have discussed geese since… Truly, I have enjoyed meeting new friends out here.
Coffee mugs are fickle things. The weight, the size, the handle, the shape, all lend themselves to the ‘perfect’ mug. Mine is a Christmas mug with snowmen on it. It’s positively the best ever! Great post – unique!
A few years ago I gave daughter and SIL some hand potted mugs. They felt so…well…ergonomic and the colors were right too. When I visit them, I feel right at home drinking coffee from that mug. I may be rushing it, but I look forward to bringing out the Christmas mugs again. Thank you for sharing about your favorite.
I enjoyed seeing your cups and learning about each one; it’s funny, we have a cabinet of mugs but seem to use the same 4 or 5 over and over. My 3 favorites are 2 from the boys, both are wide yet tall so they hold a lot and are good for soup, tea or coffee. The 3rd is one I bought at the Grand Traverse Resort, it’s short and wide and sturdy. Fun post
MJ
Thank you for sharing about your favs. They sound unique; all three seem to share being wide. You said it, the best thing about mugs is they hold “a lot.”
I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
I use mugs for all kinds of non-coffee drinking purposes. They make good pencil/pen holders and loose change organizers!
Great idea! –and then to dust them off, you can empty them and pop them into the dishwasher. I like the way you think.
It is nice to have memories attached to the things that surround us, isn’t it?
I do agree, winsomebella. Vicente Huidobro, Chilean poet, called it “la voz de las cosas”, the voice of things.
My coffee mug has a picture of the Super Mario Brothers.
Ahhhh…my grandson’s favorite game and heroes. He dressed up in red and blue as Mario last Halloween. Is your cup “made in China?”
Great post, Georgette. I was cleaning out cabinets and found I couldn’t throw any mugs out. Too many memories. And of course, if one breaks it’s always my favorite one
Glad you enjoyed it. Just yesterday, the MSU one tumbled onto the tile floor…and broke. So now I have this post.
That is a handful of lovely cups. Nothing like mugs with memories attached to them. Unfortunately I seem to break them over time, so all my great cups eventually goes to pieces. The advantage of that is that it’s great to get new cups then…
My favorite was the one from Tía’s birthday. Both my husband and I came home with one. He usually breaks them, however in no time flat, I broke mine, so the photo is of his tucked on a shelf where nothing can happen to it. Yes, new cups and changeover are good.
You’re so cute! I don’t drink coffee, but do have a favorite pink wine glass & a favorite diet coke glass! Love your keepsakes & memories … Love you!
You’re in my thoughts as you approach your birthday. Happy Birthday, dear.
Beautiful, warm memories in every cup. It’s amazing how one item brings back a flood of memories that make us realize how lucky we are to have a very loving family and friends. Love it!
Isn’t it fun how you can open up your kitchen cabinet and it’s like ‘show and tell?’ Same here, our mugs tell lots of stories. I do have some favorites and I’d be unhappy if those cups got broken, so some are stored on the high shelves where I can’t reach without a step stool. Loved your post and seeing your story tellers.
Oh goodness, we have broken our share of mugs. But these, thankfully remain to remind me of their stories.
very interesting post, awakening tonnes of memories…
i came here via Chris & his FITFS… so have to acknowledge….
wonderful blog you are having, Georgette.. will b following you…
love,
Rose
Thank you for coming by. Chris and I have been blogging friends for over a year now.
Thank you for sharing your memories with us. Your cups are lovely. I have so many mugs they’ve over-flowed onto a second shelf but I usually drink from the same one every morning. Funny!
Such innocuous things these mugs! Yet we’d be a bit lost without ‘em. Funny you use the same one every morning; but I do understand it. Me? I take the tour…haha.
We have our share of mugs, too. They are a good way to regularly reminisce over the fond memories of their purchase, or the giver who picked it out. Virginia you say?
They make very useful gifts, don’t they?
In morning I switched from coffee to orange juice. Florida grows millions of oranges. None of the OJ on the shelves is from Florida.
OJ is so good! Really? None of it is from FL?
Personally I like using plain mugs, not sure why, but we do have some with logos and pictures and they are reserved for our visitors.
One has a Doctor Who pic and logo on it, the others are… currently unmentionable…! One mug, however, has pride of place and nobody’s allowed to use it other than my husband as it’s his mug. Do you have any that hold that special place of honour and that nobody else is allowed to use?
Interesting question in this family household where everyone has the right to use, borrow or even take what’s in it. I would say, the one thing reserved for only one person in our household is a stoneware ice cream bowl that I bought for my husband. The girls were with me when I bought it at a local creamery, so they know it’s his. He uses it for ice cream, cereal and soup. Something just told me to pick it up for him. There’s a framed message in our kitchen that I also, picked up with him in mind: “Lord help me! There are girls in the house.” I try to let him know that he has a voice, too, and we appreciate all he does.
That’s lovely.