Why this mug?

Aug 11, 2026

My mom received a handmade ceramic mug from one of her grandsons at her 99.5 birthday celebration last weekend.

It’s a beautiful mug, but what surprised me was how much conversation it generated between the two of us.

What makes a mug a favorite?

Is it how much coffee or tea it holds? The weight? The shape? Does the handle fit your hand just right? Is it pretty? Does it keep your drink warm long enough?

Who knew we could spend so much time discussing mugs?

But then I realized—I have a favorite mug too.

Mine was a gift from my daughter. She bought it for me when she biked across the country after college, so of course I love it because of the memory attached to it.

But there’s more to it than that.

It just feels right.

It holds the right amount of tea. It has the right weight in my hand. The handle is comfortable. Given a cupboard full of choices, it’s the one I reach for every morning.

And maybe that’s why certain ordinary things become special. A mug. A well-worn sweater. A recipe card in someone’s handwriting. They carry stories that no one else can see.

Books can be a little like favorite mugs.

Some are beautiful. Some are impressive. Some are brand-new and shiny.

But then there are the ones we reach for again and again simply because they feel right. We know the characters. We know the town. We know that spending a few hours there will make us happy.

They’re comfortable.

And sometimes comfortable is exactly what we need.

Do you have a favorite mug or something else? And what makes it special?

Tango’s Paw Prints 🐾

I have a favorite bowl.
It’s the one with food in it.
I really don’t understand why humans make these things so complicated.
—Detective Tango 🐾

Book news…

Cooking Club Murder Mysteries:

Crime and Croissants - Sept 16, 2026
Marinated in Murder - Oct 14, 2026
Spiced with Secrets – Dec 2, 2026
Frosted with Fear – Jan, 2027
Baked with Betrayal - June, 2027
Sweetened with Scandal - Jan, 2028

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