TASHA TUDOR

   I discovered Tasha Tudor while looking for garden inspiration on Pinterest. I found many pictures with Tasha taking care of her wonderful garden. She was almost always alone and she didn't look at the camera. I started to look for some more information about this intriguing person. I discovered that she had four children and it was her choice to live alone, but what's even more interesting is that she was an illustrator and writer of children's books ;) She resided in New England from her birth on August 28, 1915 in Boston, Massachusetts to her death in Marlboro, Vermont on June 18, 2008.

   I started to look for Tasha's books but quickly discovered that none of them have been translated to Polish. Fortunately many online stores offer free delivery worldwide. One of the cons is the waiting time, which can take up to several weeks but this a sacrifice that a true book-lover will bear with dignity.

   The book I bought "A Time to Keep" was published in 1977. The story starts with a question "Granny, what was it like when Mummy was me?" asked by a little girl to her grandma. The answer is a journey through memories of holidays past. There were homemade valentines and Easter eggs, Fourth of July picnics and family birthdays. Thanksgiving brought visits from relatives so numerous, the children had to sleep in the barn. And finally there was Christmas, the best of all "times to keep" with handmade presents, Advent calendars, and a "beautiful tree in a shine of candles". The book is gorgeously illustrated with watercolor paintings. 

   The world created by Tasha is idyllic, both in her illustrations and in the way she lived in her house with the garden. This greatly conflicts with the fact that she disinherited three of her children in her last will and now they fight over her estate. The sad truth is that Tasha lived in a fantasy world and didn't face real life issues. Some of the last words Tasha said to her daughter Bethany Tudor were: "Oh, will there ever be a cat and dogfight when I die. But I don't care. I won't be here to see it." I suppose a loving mother wouldn't let that happen but I don't know the circumstances to judge Tasha.

Tasha Tudor

A Time to Keep by Tasha Tudor