My dad says, “I’m ready for a new post.” But my mom’s house has a kryptonite barrier that resists computer connection! And then it turned to . . .
and memories of the island and home and fall and leaves and all of that came washing over me. My colorful little leaf collection I make every year, with leaves gathered from the dirt road where we walk each morning. I string them together for my kitchen window with a needle and thread . . . I
My backyard with layers of crunchy leaves drifting down and clouds of undulating starlings flying over trees and picket fences, the smell of salt air up from the harbor, my girlfriends popping in, not to mention Iris . . . a bit of homesickness seeps into this post . . .
Missing my dishtowels dancing in the cool autumn air . . .
There’s just something about October . . . but since we are now in California, we recognize there are other kinds of beautiful fall days in other parts of our country that “vagabonds with gypsy blood” simply cannot resist, and when you are there, it’s best to play the MUSICA of the neighborhood . . . go with the one you’re with . . .
Hello October in sunny Seal Beach, California! Can you hear the waves roll in? Feel the warm sun and soft breeze blowing? As Marilyn Monroe would say, “It’s all so delicate.”
And here’s a bunch of gypsy vagabonds if ever I saw them ~ heading off to Kokomo!
Just another day in paradise. If you look waaay over there on the left horizon, you’ll see a tiny little white half-moon looking bubble . . . see it? Well, next to it, you can’t see it in this photo, but it’s definitely visible to the naked eye (because of the smokestacks), is a huge gorgeous ocean liner so elegant it sends a chill up your sun-warmed spine. . . and you say, I got to GO there . . .
. . . and when you get closer, if you didn’t know before, you find out it’s the legendary Queen Mary launched in 1936 by King George V (Queen Elizabeth’s grandfather), a world class ocean liner still complete with old world ambience and authentic Art Deco decor and permanently berthed in Long Beach as a hotel with restaurants and bars and tours and shopping for all the world to enjoy! So of course my first thought was, “Let’s go for tea!”
I cannot imagine a better place to park The Fine Romance Van than in the shadow of this great ship. You just drive right up and park and walk right on board!
We were getting out of the car when Joe discovered Petey in his bag. Surprise! I hid him there. 🙂 He’s so happy. I know you can’t see it on his face, but trust me, he’s thrilled. (Petey is thrilled. Joe? Not so much. “What’s this doing here?” . . . I can’t seem to get the boy to swallow all the Kool-aid!)
Our cameras never stopped clicking as we walked up to the gangplank, me, my mom, and Joe.
You get on board and it’s so wonderful you actually want to run in all directions at once. Here we are on the Promenade Deck, trying to be ladies and gentleman about the whole thing.
So much to see! And we get to do it with my mom! The ship is huge; they said if you stood it on its end it would be taller than the Eiffel Tower. You’re free to walk all over it, stem to stern as they say. The ship’s horn blew (honked) on the hour and each time it did, I waited for the ship to do this:
She seemed fully capable of taking off and looking just like she did in her heyday . . . and we kept thinking, you go girl!
. . . Back then, passengers cavorted with the likes of Clark Gable and Loretta Young, Bob Hope and Walt Disney, British royalty and Prime Ministers too. This ship saw more than its share of glamour and we felt it everywhere we went. During WWII she was painted a (successfully) invisible sea-grey color ~ nicknamed the Grey Ghost, she transported thousands of troops and was a hero in her own right. The history of this ship is rich with story and there for the taking and imagining. In the bars, you can still catch the blurred images and feel the anxiety of boys (our dad’s and grandfathers) in sailor suits going far from home to save the world.
. . . and now us, Joe, my mommy and me for a proper tea in the Tea Room, no blurred images, and only one sailor suit . . .
A table for four please . . .
Yes, we will have this. The food was wonderful, as you can see, it tasted just as good as it looked! Little perfect tea sandwiches . . .
. . . egg and chicken, melon and prosciutto, some with caviar and salmon . . . Mom and I had a full tea, Joe had a large shrimp salad. The food was great!
The tea desserts were painstakingly made and delicious! I took about a thousand photos in the Tea Room, but I know you want to see the ship . . . so let’s go do that shall we? Let’s start in the gift shop! It’s the normal thing to do. ♥
If you ever need a crown for any reason at all (and who doesn’t even if it’s just to wear around the bedroom), this is the place to shop for them. They come in all shapes and sizes, sparkly reproductions you’ve seen at many famous queenly events.
They even had crown rings . . . my mom and I had lots of fun in here!
Tea pots, flowered china cups, special teas . . .
. . . all kinds of fun things . . . being the practical girl I am I bought only one thing in there: a red tin box of bandaids that said, “Keep Calm and Carry On” on each bandaid. I could not resist. Cute and useful too. My two favorite things in shopping.
Many of the shops carried vintage-looking clothing and accessories . . . I liked the red shoes so much I looked up the maker, Chelsea-Crew, to see what else they had! I now predict new shoes in my future. Cute and useful!
And look at these darling reproduction watches! Aren’t they adorable? I want one!
The shops look like this and showcase lots of interesting and wonderful things. I bought a gold scarf covered in sequins for Diana! (From the book? To thank her one more time for telling me to go with Joe to Boston! She loves anything that sparkles and I love her! ♥)
Besides the shopping, they have a self-tour you can take that gives you peeks (through glass walls) into the rooms decorated as they would have been back in the day. This is the children’s playroom, filled with old toys and children’s furniture. Many of the original murals are still here too . . . making it very easy to step back in time, and positively no sea-sickness involved! Gorgeous mural huh? Would be nice in my dining room! 🙂
This would have been the Captain’s Quarters. Nearby were the much-smaller, windowless, but still lovely rooms for the Captain’s Steward which included a tiny pantry complete with teapot and bar still filled with the old glasses. I could easily live here if I had too.
Speaking of the bar, here is the Observation Lounge out on the bow of the boat with a wonderful view of the shore, swirly Art Deco ceiling and original mural. Some people seem to dress up and play the part of elegant passengers here.
Here’s a closeup of part of the mural over the bar . . . I love the lady in pink, and the bow on the woman on the right!
There are over 300 one-of-a-kind staterooms you can choose from if you come here and spend the night.
You get off the elevator in the hotel part of the ship and it looks like this, hallways filled with the rich wood paneling and gorgeous rugs that decorate almost every space on the ship. The hotel also has a spa and a fitness room.
Here’s one of the main dining rooms . . . can you imagine? At sea, this beautiful room? Pearls and glittering diamonds and red nail polish, satin, lace, perfume and tuxedos, the band plays Cole Porter. So very extremely civilized. Cary Grant makes a toast and clicks delicate champagne glasses over the gardenia bouquet at table number six! Myrna Loy bursts out laughing. What could it all mean?
Not to be completely outdone in the realm of “not too shabby” here is one of the dining rooms where we had dinner on the Queen Mary 2. They managed to keep the amazing ambience of specialness with a capital H for Heaven, just like the movies.
The Queen Mary is filled with 1930’s sophistication and style, carpets are all gorgeous on this ship! I actually took a photo of every one of them. One of these days we’ll just do photos of “rugs I’ve known and loved.”
And the same style echoes on the Queen Mary 2 . . .
Of course the whole thing comes with stunningly beautiful panoramic sea and shore views! See the tall building with the green roof? That’s where my mom and dad had their first date. He was wearing a sailor suit and my mom tried not to swoon. ♥ We are a hotel dating people, apparently.
For Joe, we saved the best for last. He had tea, he kept his pinky in the air, he dealt with Petey with a certain kind of grace, he shopped, he looked at darling rooms, now it was time to take the elevator to the bottom of the boat . . .
. . . deep down to the bowels of the ship where they keep the engine room . . .
Joe was beside himself in here, he loved it . . . four floors of pipes, funnels, switches, gauges, nuts, bolts, and engine-type things for him to marvel over.
Look at all those dials! So exciting!!! Straight across the room there’s a sign that says, “control panel.” I was thinking we could use one of those in our house. Push a button for instant control! If only . . .
We stayed all day, until it got dark and we think we only saw maybe half of what there was to see. But it was time to get home, must save a few hours for our nightly game of Rummikub and eat our Potato Chip Cookies!
Out one of the windows of the Queen Mary we could see Long Beach Harbor and the docks and cranes where ships from all over the world come to unload their containers filled with goods. So exciting to think that in three weeks, a ship will come into this dock and unload pallets filled with the second printing of our very own book!
Yes, we’re still receiving your darling “traveling photos” — our book gets around! Here it is with our girlfriend June, at Nauset Lighthouse in Eastham on the Cape!
And for all of you who have ordered books and are waiting ever so patiently, your signed copies of A FINE ROMANCE will be the very first to go out in the mail . . . the girls in the studio are ready! Girlfriends, we have sold out of the second printing too!! We are new customers to the Long Beach docks, but they will be getting a third shipment with our address on it at the end of November! Who woulda’ thunk it? We are as happy as those kids riding the waves here in Seal Beach ~ we’re on our own little wave of sorts. I look to the left and the right, and there you all are, on your boards, riding the waves with us. ♥
On October 15, new charms arrive . . . more Girlfriends charms (for those of you who 
missed the first ones) and our new Fine Romance charms will be here too (to join the other two, the third one’s the charm ♥) . . . and we were so excited to learn that our Tea Tins came in on Tuesday! Along with my two favorite and now our signature blends of tea . . . the lavender tea with roses I wrote about in the book ~ and my favorite organic every-day Earl Grey tea. It’s all here! Most of you have already figured it out ~I used to be the one who gets to announce things, but you are too fast for me! You know stuff before I do! I brought my own tin along with me so I’ve had it this whole trip, but I still can’t wait to see them all at the studio today!
Yes, this is the day we reach our destination for this first cross-country leg of our trip after a month of living out of the back of a van, we will settle in to our house for a month! Squealing with joy (in a whisper, because my mom and Joe are still asleep). I have my tea and I’m sitting at my mom’s kitchen table where, for the moment, I have the quiet all to myself. Only the sound of munch of cookie. The stars are still twinkling in the sky, a little blurry through the soft fog from the Pacific. We’ve had a wonderful time, every day we pick a new restaurant next to the water to have lunch at! Every 
night it’s Rummikub and homemade something. And later today we’ll drive up beautiful blue Pacific Coast Highway along the ocean, winding past Malibu, Zuma, Trancas, and Ventura, into Santa Barbara, then over the mountains with a possible pitstop at Cold Spring Tavern (if we can bear to stop, those last few miles to home are always the longest, almost unbearable rounding the last two curves) to Arroyo Grande where they are expecting a balmy high of 71 degrees today, thank you very much. For the first time in two years, we will see Kellee, Alfredo, Sheri, and Bonnie (who’s been helping out at the studio lately), and meet the two kitties, the “Studio cats” that everyone adopted since the last time I was there! There are two mooshable, petable kitties at the end of this rainbow! I will need to be careful not to pounce on them! Then I get to have lunch with my darling BFF Diana on the beach at my favorite restaurant in Shell Beach and let the laughing roll! I lived on the Central Coast from 1971 until 1982 (the formative years, but then again, aren’t they all . . .) until I moved to Martha’s Vineyard and I’ve kept in touch with several people there. Lots to look forward too. Four high school best friends are coming to the Remnants Show on November 10th! (I hope if you can, you’ll join us!) Karen (with the beautiful red hair with whom I met the Beatles), Marilyn, Cathy and Linda (we made our Drill Team pom-poms together at a slumber party at Marilyn’s ~ among other things). So much fun! I have a garden here too that Alfredo has been watching over for us. I’ll take lots of pictures! I must close now, with lots of love and kisses. And I think it’s only right that I give my mother the last word:
Wow, I need to add that to my Bucket List! The Queen Mary looks like it came right out of an old movie – the perfect place for you all to be. (Glad Petey got to go too.) Enjoy your time in California.
Thank you Lori!!
Spectacular post and photos ! Thanks so much for sharing all with us . You guys look like your having the time of your life good on ya lol ! Have a wonderful weekend !
What a lovely ride you take us on today, Susan! So beautiful, and you have the eye and creative heart for sharing what’s important and beautiful in all you do so that we can “travel” with you! It’s such a beautiful part of the country, and it looks like you all have grand weather for everything you want to do 🙂
Ah, the 1930’s and 40’s, my favorite time period for fashion and style and movies! Just a beautiful ship! I will have to go through this a few times to really see and absorb all the goodies…
Well, those potato chip cookies are calling my name (or is that lunch time on the East Coast approaching ? ;-)) Have fun – great Beach Boys musica – just a wonderful post – thanks! ♥♥♥
Glad you liked it Mari! Happy cookie baking! It’s that time of year for baking smells in the kitchen.
A really beautiful commentary on your page today, Susan. We used to live in Ventura & spent lots of time on the “Gold Coast”. I think it’s my favorite part of the state!! Enjoy your stay & I’m anxious to see you back in MA.
We’re going to enjoy the going just as much as the coming, with the golden ring at the end of the rainbow, home.
Welcome back to California. Beautiful weather here lately.
I purchased “A Fine Romance” for my sister and myself. I’m reading it very slowly, only a few pages at a time, to make it last as long as possible.
Good morning Rebecca! Thank you!
Susan –
Other than creating wonderful art, I believe this is what you do best: travel-blog.
Happy trails –
Marcia from Sewell, NJ
Oh thank you Marcia. It’s almost unfair, it’s so easy, with everything so wonderful out there!
Oh, you are right in my neck of the woods! Maybe we passed by each other on the road or something. Just like the time I “almost” met you way back in the day. You were signing books at the Los Alamitos local book store “The Book Nook” (no longer in business). I, being a grocery checker, had to work on the appointed Sat. so I sent my husband and 2 children to have my 3 books signed by you. They said you were so gracious and served them sugar cookies, so they were glad they went. I was pleased to have my books signed and to have a family who would do that for me.
Have fun on your ride up the coast and enjoy the perfect weather. We are suppose to heat up this weekend!
Lovely to be here Darcy! Thank you!
Darcy , I know Los Alimitos — I worked in the Tower at Alimitos NAS When I came back from overseas . Is that Air Station still
Functioning? ….. Jack
Jack I think I can help out on that question. it was a Naval air station until November of 1972, then it became an armed forces reserve center. then in July 0f 1977 it was transferred to the dept of the Army from the Dept of the Navy. in August of 1977 it was licensed to the state of California for the California National Guard. in 2000 it became a joint forces training center. hope that helps out!!
Such an awesome post for an October day … Love the colors, love the leaves, love the feeling of fall … my favorite of all 🙂 Thanks also for the trip down memory lane on the Queen Mary. Recognized it right away from the shores of Seal Beach. I actually have the vintage print “Queen Mary Evening Departure” hanging in my house. PERFECT place to take your Queen Mum for tea and stroll the promenade deck. Enjoy the trip up that beautiful coast and the stops along the way. Don’t forget the famous rib-eye sandwiches at Firestone’s in SLO 🙂 Happy Destination Day!!! “For where thy treasure is, there also will thy heart be.” ♥
For where thy treasure is, there also will thy heart be. xoxo
It’s a Bible quote I’ve always remembered… xoxo
Beautiful quote Mary…I had forgotten that one! I hope to be in Mesa in Dec. for my sons pinning to Sargeant.
Oh my stars, that SHIP! It would be sooooo fun to stay a night in one of the cozy little rooms! Thank you for the great pictures. What a day you had!!
It’s so great they have it open as a hotel and everyone can get a little taste of ocean liner life!
It is easy to catch your enthusiasm in this post, Susan! Now, there is one more place to add to that “bucket list.”
I’m looking forward to that next shipment of charms. I did add one to my wish list.:-) Also, I’m expecting a delivery on this very day of an order I placed not too long ago! UPS says it is “out for delivery!”
Wishing you safe travels as you head to your California home today.
xo Nellie
Just adding this – the UPS delivery came as expected! Now I have the Martha’s Vineyard charm and just need to add the other two! Yay!
xo Nellie
Thanks Nellie!
Dear Susan,
Wow, you have done it again; brought us on a favorite trip!!! Love those ocean pictures and all the elegance on the Queen Mary!! Wish I could pop in the “store”with you and meet the girls there too. Your Mom is precious and darling and know what fun you are having with her. Just hope that Joe and Petey behave 🙂
Love and Hugs for your delightful California time. We have early marriage roots there! Your fall photos of home in MV were delightful; we are waiting for golden aspens here in Colorado. They are a bit late this year.
Blessings,
Irene
I’m hoping fall holds everywhere and saves a leaf or two for our trip back home!
Our tour of the romantic Queen Mary had me sighing into my coffee this morning. Thank you for taking us along with your pretty mother, looking so fashionable in her dangly earrings. I kind of love that Joe hasn’t drunk all the Kool-Aid (obviously Petey has). There is nothing like time spent with girlfriends from way back for erasing time and creating the kind of laughter that washes right through you. Can’t wait to get a glimpse of the two studio kitties. Uh-oh. Now there will be two more heart magnets in California! As always, loved your post, and loved spending time with my Imaginary Friend.;)
I know, now we will love kitties on both coasts!! Oh, the gratitude for such troubles as these . . .
✫*✫♥*¨☆*✿✫.♥*.✫♥*¨☆Good Morning My Sweet California Girl! Bravo! You Have Been Missed! This Blog is Perfection! I Know That “Kryotonight” was Annoying & Kept Your Tweets Few…. 😉 But We Understand…& are So Happy That You & Joe & Petey are “Home” in California…. Safe & Sound for an Entire Month! All of This is Amazing & It’s Been Two Years! Sweet Sue Enjoy All Your Wonderful California Friends Have Fun with Your BFF Diana…Hugzzz to All at The Studio! I Loved Every Photo in This Blog Post Joe & Petey Make Me Giggle 🙂 The Photos With You & Your Beautiful “Mum” are Priceless! Hey Guess What? This Saturday October 5th is Herbster’s 65th Birthday! OMG! I Tell Him That He Is 65 Years YOUNG! I’ve Been Buying him all kinds of Little Surprizes Gonna Bake Him a Birthday Cake etc…. & I Think We will Be Celebrating All Weekend Yay! 😉 so Breathe Laugh Enjoy Sweet Sue…Unpack & Thank You for Bringing Us Along on This Amazing Cross Country Adventure….Tell Joe Thanks! 🙂 We Love You Dearest Friend…..Time to Twirl into California Dreamin’ 🙂 October Pixie~Dust Everywhere Sweet Sue! xoxo Poof! ✫*✫♥*¨☆*✿✫.♥*.✫♥*¨☆ P.S. I’m Still Sprinkling Your Special Blend of Pixie~Dust! 😉 ☆*✿♥
P.P.S. KRYPTONIGHT 😉 ☆
You two will never get old! Sixty-five schmixty five! Thank you for the stardust Angie!
Good Morning Sweet Sue I Just Showed Your Reply to Our Birthday Boy…Herbster Agrees…. 😉 “Sixty-five schmixty five!” Oh So Cute! 🙂 Thank~You Sweet Sue! Have a Magical California Weekend! Yay! xoxo Poof! ✫*✫♥*¨☆*✿✫.♥*.✫♥*¨☆✫*✫♥*¨☆*✿✫.♥*.✫♥*¨☆
Welcome to California!! What a wonderful tribute to The Queen Mary. Must go to tea again! I am so looking forward to seeing you in Pasadena.
What a trip you have had! I love road trips, but this is an amazing road trip!!!
Susan’s back! I can’t wait to see photos of your California garden . . . Thank You for taking us on the Queen Mary — such a treat.
Thank you for a wonderful armchair tour. Beautiful ship and oh how I enjoyed seeing your lovely fall leaves. I just moved to the Texas Gulf Coast and no fall color here. In fact, it still feels like summer and I expect it will for a while yet. I will just have to refer back to your lovely images whenever I start missing the glory of autumn.
Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
How beautiful all the pics of the QM are!! Just love your van in the foreground…so appropriate that it should be there! Thank you for the wonderful, detailed tour of all the loveliness onboard! Wonderful to see you with your mom! Such a darling! And, I feel I must apologize because I think I was the one who let the cat out of the bag about the tea tin to our Twitter girlfriends! I’ve been waiting for it and was so excited when I saw it in the webstore! You DO need to be the one to share the news! Shame on us girls for getting to excited and ahead of the game! Maybe Kellee can hold things until you have a chance to share? xo…Karen P.
One of the things I love about the blog is how I’m not the only one to send prayers or answer questions . . .I have you girlfriends to help, and that includes everything! It’s just more fun. No cats in the bag around here!
We’re all obsessed with all things Susan Branch. Exciting, isn’t it?! We all think so. xoxo
Thank goodness, because Jack wouldn’t like to be in a bag! LOL
Know which picture, I love the best, from all these marvelous pics…?
.
The one of you, showing you wearing a skirt and white ankle socks and shoes. Like I do!!!!!!!!!!! Love it!
.
I always wear simple, long-ish, cotton dresses… With white ankle socks and tie shoes. And it is so marvelous to find a famous person, who does too. 🙂
.
Yes, we need to have our own “way,” but it’s so nice to find someone else, who has a “similar way.” Thank you!
Tessa~
I’ve always been a sock person. My toes are cozy in there. I even wore socks to Royal Ascot, and was the only one, and was so happy on that raw damp day that my feet were not that blueish purple color of everyone else’s in their kitten heels with big toes squeaking together in the grass. It may not be fashion, but where there’s a will there’s a way! 🙂
I know what you mean, Sue. I would have worn socks to Royal Ascot too. My particular feet just seem to WANT socks. I’ve never really been a bare-footer, or a sandals or flip-flopper either. Once I have my socks and shoes on in the morning, I’m ready to face the day!! If I was to wear flip-flops or Dr Scholls or something, all day I’d feel ASKEW. Off-balance. Bonus – I save tons of time and $$. No pedicures… & no little Lamisil monsters lurking twixt my toes…. :>)
Happy tears! Susan, what a wonderful visit you and your mom shared. ♡ Having tea together on the Queen Mary was a perfect idea! Many thanks for inviting all of us to join in the magic. Enjoy every moment at your California home! It will be such fun to spend time together with friends there. Please keep sending pictures. We love sharing all of the fun with you and Joe!
Love,
Dawn
♡♡
I’ll do it Dawn!
Ooooo I want one of those replica vintage watches too. 🙂
What a nice post. Your mom is so cute!
XOXO
She’s pretty darn adorable. Thanks Jackie!
Welcome Home, Susan!!! Your mom looks great!!!! WOW! Printing #2 sold out! I knew it would! How exciting!!! See you soon!!! xo peg
Soon Peg!
What fun for you to be on the “first” Queen Mary, after the treasured time you spent on the Queen Mary II this summer! When our boys were little we took them to Disneyland. They all humored me and we spent several hours on the Queen Mary one afternoon. Strolling the deck, imagining how it must have been back in the day. Such a great ship! We have a fun picture we took of the boys in a red phone booth on the deck. They were impressed with it. We spent last weekend with our sisters at a nearby lake in the mountains, and I did take “our book” with us. Shopping, great meals, a cozy big lodge, we put our feet up in front of the fire, a perfect weekend! Have a great October>
You too MaryAnn!
Oh Susan……………looks like so much fun!!!! You look like a little girl again going out with your Mommy!!! I just love it!! I used to live very close to the Queen Mary and would see her rather regularly!!
Loved the tour————continue to have amazing fun!!
XOXO
Joann
What a little spot of magic in the water …
That nighttime picture of the QM with the strings of lights looks like they’re actually star shaped! So pretty. And yes, please, I’d like that tiara! Did you buy one? I guess you already have one, though, so how many does one girl need, right? 🙂
I tried them all on, but didn’t buy one!
good Susan, good morning Girlfriends, hello everybody. aww the Queen Mary, love that ship, have to find time to go back and visit her again, and that crown looked good, I could use a crown around here. well we are having frost warnings here, and right now i’m enjoying a nice warm fire in the woodstove. the cats are curled up in their big basket by the stove for a nap, after a morning of swishing tails, twitching whiskers and chattering at blue jays and squirrels. the barnyard crowd is out and have a good snack of leftover salad, potato peels, steamed veggies and pasta noodles. got the hens out fast this morning, usually they want to stay and lounge in their warm and fluffy nests, giving a lot of extra work to G.W. and Jack our roosters. but not this morning, they got up in a hurry to get out for those treats. I don’t know how you can bear to leave those adorable kitties at home, I would be soooo lonely for them. well if you like you can stop here and come visit my kitties, they will love the extra attention. and you can visit our Jack, I do hope your Jack doesn’t mind we named our youngest rooster after him, but it seemed to fit him perfectly. he sort of has Jack’s energy and chases the hens around to get them out of the barn and out into the yard before G.W. comes looking for them. ( we named G.W. after John Wayne’s character from McClintock.) and since Jack is black and white it was a perfect match for him to named after your Jack. we have 2 barn cats now, and one is named Petey, the other is named Joe, Joe is the senior barn cat and he rules the roost. but he and Petey are getting the job done getting rid of the mice in the barn, and right now those 2 are curled up in the straw for their naps. we do spoil them a bit, they do get breakfast and then come evening they come around to do their job in the barn and they have a place to stay out of the cold, I think they are 2 happy cats here. well off to go feed the barnyard crowd and get busy with the laundry, I do miss my clothesline, but its too cool to use it now so back to the dryer. have a safe trip home. Happy Fall everyone. hugs….. 🙂
Jack is honored to have a chicken named for him!!! You have my entire household pecking around in your barn, Pat!
I don’t have a hen named Susan yet!!! I have Agatha, Jessica, Hermione, Prissy, Prudence, Nellie, and Elizabeth among the few ( have over 38 hens named) but no Susan yet!!!
Something tells me . . .
Pat – what this?? You have a Prissy – but no Foghorn Leghorn?? !!! :>)
QE2 is awesome! Thank you for the “tour”. I’m so glad you made it safe and sound. Your Mother looks great~ (love her pearls). You both look so happy!
XOXO
oops, I meant Queen Mary…. 🙂
We are happiest when we are together!
Dear Susan, I am a fairly new fan of yours having only found your blog a couple of months ago but I have already devoured many of your posts and your delicious new book! I am currently on my own tour around England but think that I might just have to read ‘A Fine Romance’ again when I get back to Sydney, Australia. Enjoy the rest of your book tour and keep these wonderful posts and pics coming! Nat
How nice to meet you Natalie! Have a wonderful trip!
If it’s any consolation, it’s 78 degrees on Martha’s Vineyard today so you’re not missing the “cool autumn air” just yet! Enjoyed the tour of the ship so very much. Thank you! Any success in getting your Mom on-line? 🙂
I told my girlfriend Lowely yesterday to save Fall for when I get back ….! So far, so good! My mom is a difficult one. We’re on our way to the library computers this morning.
Just wondering. Doesn’t your mom have children & grandchildren grumbling because they can’t e-mail her etc? My mom was just becoming computer-literate [e-mail etc] when she got sick but I know she would have embraced it, if for nothing else, the ease of communication. But I understand your Mom’s view too. My own Mom never liked TV much [she called it “the idiot box”]. Radio girl all the way. When Mom became an empty-nester, then a widow… the TV was almost never on until after supper.
We always felt our mom was missing out, because she was too stubborn to have a computer. She could have gotten on-line with all her girlfriends, not to mention her girls and grand-children!
One of my mottos: Never stop learning. (Or exploring.)
I know just how you felt!
hi Sue and Joe – nice blog post! I hope you are having a wonderful time! Your mother looks fabulous! Love the new tin (will have to get a couple). Thanks for the pictures of the Queen Mary. See you again soon! xoxo
Lovely, lovely…..enjoy your visit with your family and friends. Love the update! Must try the potato chip cookies…..my hubbie just loves potato chips….shall surprise him and make them. ~Mary (#3 at your Downers Grove, IL signing…..and by the way 3 is my favorite number!)
I forgot to ask but do you plan to go Pacific Grove and see the trees there all festooned with Monarch butterflies??? or go visit Cambria and go to the pewter factory and see all the different pewter ornaments for a Christmas tree?? definitely a stop at the Madonna Inn for tea and cake. have fun in Arroyo Grande, stop in at McClintock’s steakhouse and grill or at McClintock Jr.’s for a really great burger and beer. of course there is always Bernardoz for ice cream afterwards. Have fun and enjoy a good rest. hugs…. 🙂
All good things! I even worked at McClintock’s way back in the old days!
best steak and lobster dinner I ever had, and McClintock’s Jr. has about the best burgers around. I know the fries were great. then its off to Bernardoz for the best ice cream around. it was a great way to end an evening. aww the happy memories… 🙂
Thanks for the Queen Mary tour. Wish we had that on east coast !
Mary, in Massachusetts
We have the leaves! 🙂
and the leaf peepers!! I always find that a bit creepy to call them leaf peepers, maybe leaf viewers instead, how about that???
I really do love travelling with you! Thanks for all the sights.
Welcome Home Sue! We can’t wait to see you!! 🙂 You will absolutely LOVE the kitties! I am smitten with them, and love seeing them when I come to the Studio. They follow all of us around, and help us work! We all LOVE the tins too!! I bought one myself right away!~ See you soon! xoxo
See you this afternoon! (Can’t believe it!)
Awk!! I knew it was you Bonnie. I was just about to ask Sue if her Bonnie was my Bonnie and you are! I can’t imagine a better pair of lovely ladies working together. Perfect.
Isn’t it? What a special place we have here.
She’s my Bonnie, too, Suzanne! 🙂 Such a darling! Love you Bon Bon and Susan! xo…Karen P.
Hi Susan,
Soooooo excited to see your new update. I will be reading it over a few times. I ordered the new tin yesterday. My Dad came home on the Gray Ghost, are there no eggs in those cookies? Looking forward to seeing your West Coast home and the studio. Harold would be proud of you.
Nancy Jo
Home from the war on the Gray Ghost, what a memory! No eggs in the cookies!
I was SO happy to find a new post today! And about one of my favorite places too! Since I live in So. California, I’ve been to the Queen Mary numerous times and am not sure if I’ve seen it all yet! I’ve even spent the night on board and just loved loved loved it! It’s so beautiful and romantic. One of my favorite meals ever was macadamian nut encrusted salmon that was to die for served in the beautiful dining room of the Queen Mary. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful day with us.
And now up the coast to Arroyo Grande! What a wonderful trip! Enjoy your home there and the beautiful California coast along the way. Looking forward to your next post and pictures of the kitties!
I was amazed at how delicious the food is. I think it would be the perfect place to spend New Year’s Eve (among other things!). Kitties are coming. They are already my friends!
Welcome back! We’re having a lovely autumn so far here on the central coast. I’ll definitely come to Remnants of the Past, never miss it and even more fun knowing you’ll be there.
Erin in Morro Bay
It’s such a fun thing Erin … see you there!
You made my day with this post! Isn’t the Queen Mary amazing? I need to go for tea! I am so glad you are safely in my neck of the woods now.
xxoo
Sue from Simi
Hello over there in Simi!
Hi sweet Susan! Oh what a wonderful tour you just gave us! I adored every moment and felt like my Mom and I were with you! That’s a must see now on my list! Enjoy your relaxing month ahead! Our side of the states will be here awaiting your homecoming! I’m so excited to get my copy of your book!
Oh Gosh, now I want to go to California and visit the Queen Mary.
It looks fabulous. I’ve only been as far west as N. Mexico. Your
mom looks great. Good genes for you! I’m taking your word for it
that Joe was glad to see Petey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep on having fun. The
S&GN’s went over BIG at my party. Had to share the recipe.
We had a jolly good time! Yes, we did!
P/S: You have the best blog on the Internet.
What a compliment! xoxo Thank you Julia!
Julia you are absolutely right! No other blog makes you feel as wonderful as Susan’s.
XOXO
Oh, I loved this post! I felt like I was right there with you! I hope you enjoy visiting with family & friends!
Great! I would love to visit that Ocean Liner and see all that you have seen. I will have to be content to look through your camera lens. I need to get over and order one of the girlfriend charms for my BFF forever. She has one of those bracelets, I do not. It will make a great Christmas gift. You met us together at the Grand Rapids, MI book signing. Me Brenda and Kris….It was the highlight of our day out. I know your kitties will be so glad when you finally make it home but, what fun you are having on the way.
That’s the truth! Say hello to the girls Brenda!
What a happy day!
Oh, thank God they kept her! What a wonderful experience for you, Joe, and Mom~oh! and Petey too to see around her and take tea aboard!
Your Mom is so lovely, just like you, and you look so happy in that photo with her, over tea. You always look happy, but girls are always extra happy with their Moms/Mums/Mams
I was watching out this morning, had a feeling there’d be some lovely words and pictures from you today, but had to take my own lovely Mum to the Dr’s and when we came home, here you are, having fun with your Mom in California!
It all sounds wonderful, meeting up with friends, staying a whole month under one familiar roof, and just having generally a great time and well earned rest, although it sounds as if it will be brimful of things to do, plenty to keep you busy. Enjoy every moment! I know you will.
Oh! I have been drinking a perry that is made in Wales! Delicious, lots and lots of the teeniest tiniest bubbles, just like a fine champagne!
Waving from the now Wild, Wet, Wutheringly Windy Wonderful West Wales!
Debs xoxo
I’m not sure we take care of the Queen Mary quite as well as the National Trust could do it! But, I’m sure glad we have it!
Do you know why it ended up in the United States??
I don’t — haven’t really dug into it yet.
Love this story. very interesting…would love to see the Queen Mary in person!!!Thankyou so much for the story and pics!!
You are so welcome!
I just finished your book. I’m sad because it’s over! I tried to read it slowly, to really savour it, but like a big chocolate cake on the kitchen counter, well, it got devoured far faster than I had hoped. I sat down every afternoon with my favourite tea, an organic Cream Earl Grey (if you haven’t tried that one, you must. It’s got a creamy vanilla flavour that’s to die for. It’s available in Montreal and I’d be happy to send you some, as thanks for your lovely, lovely book.) I sat my husband down and told him I’ve decided we are taking a trip to the UK on an ocean liner. He is not yet convinced but he will be when I’m done. I’m going to order two more copies of the book for my Anglophile sisters. Maybe one of them will join me on the Queen Mary 2 if my husband won’t come round? Cheers, and thank you SO much for the beautiful book that felt like a warm hug. Pam
LOL, “he will be when I’m done.” 🙂 He will love it. xoxo Pam.
I’m working on my dear hubby as well. I’m going to England, or bust… XOXO
I live close to the Queen Mary,but , haven’t been there in years. You make it look so inviting
that I ‘ m tempted to go there. This was a wonderful post —-so full of good things!
Thrilled for you -going back to your Ca. Home.
Hopefully , I’ll see you at the Remnants Past show.
It’s really a nice way to spend the day! Food was delicious. See you there Pat!
I enjoyed every wonderful bit of this post (I always do). I hope you enjoy the sunny west-side of this great country we call home. Back home here in Indiana today it is gray and rainy. A perfect day to get some things done in the house.
I almost look forward to those days!
Just out of curiosity (and if you can share it with us), how many books are in each printing? I’ve ready mine and loaned it to a friend, but I’m missing looking at the artwork already!!
OOps! “I’ve read my copy”
That book info is always the “property” of the publisher. I don’t mind, but they might. Thank you Melissa!
Oh, good question, Melissa. I was wondering that myself. How many books constitute a printing? Or more correctly – how does a publisher figure out how many to print? Must be a lot of variables in that broth. Good thing they didn’t ask me – I am Not Good at estimating most things. I always make MUCH more food than is needed – or pack more clothes than I use etc. :>)
Always good to be prepared Janet. 🙂
Oh, what a trip down memory lane, Susan. Did you see my photo of Gene and me there in 1986. We walked down all those very corridors and steps and ate there and shopped there!! What a delightful blog!!! Here’s the photo, if it didn’t catch up with you yet!! A little faded but worth more than all the world to me!! scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p480x480/1380256_10201553168305000_534686174_n.jpg And All those places on the coast. We’ve been up and down that highway many times. More great memories. Oh, I know you are enjoying it and so deserve this rest and reconnecting with old friends!! The best to you!!! I know you have been busy, but when you get a chance, check your e-mail!! I sent you a loooong one with more photos!!! Thank you for such an incredible virtual journey. It has been such fun!!! 🙂
I love that photo Jane! Been so disconnected with computer problems, now I’m trying to catch up with older emails! Should get easier now that the van is parked for a while! Give a hug to Gene!
Thanks, Susan, oh we understand about computers, don’t we all!! I just love your photos of the Queen Mary. They have done so much to it since we were there in the 80’s!! I’m so glad and it was so fun to see. Maybe we’ll just have to take a little trip out there and see it again!! Gene says thanks for hugs!! And give your Mom and Joe and Petey hugs for us!! And yourself, of course!! 🙂
Thanks Jane! Happy day!
Rummmikub sounds like fun. Have you ever tried Dizzios? It’s our game of choice at our house. All ages like it.
No, just asked my mom and she hasn’t heard of it. She is game lady in charge around here … but you have her curiosity up!
Did you play with tiles or cards ….?
Tiles. You put them in straights of one color, or 2-4 of a kind in all colors and you can add onto them. First person to get rid of all tiles is the winner. It’s fun.
You come from good stock, Sue! Your parents both seem to be doing so well…how wonderful for you to have this time with them! I love the photos of you and your Mommy….she looks so lovely in pearls!
Once again, you’ve inspired me to live in the moment…wherever you are….home is in your heart. …and in the taste of potato chip cookies…YUM!
Continued blessings on this trip…
xoxoDebbie
Beauty everywhere Debbie! Thank you!
Snips and snails and puppy dog tails are what little boys are made of !
Add a nice car ,nice hair -one who’s seeking a distant star — and you gotta hottie
And little girls ? Sugar and spice and everything nice ! Add Bobby
Sox , some Botox with blue jeans and you’ re lookin’ at your homecoming queen…..
Today it’ s 50 out there and 74 in my rockin’ chair –lookin’ at scrambled eggs , toasted sourdough muffin , slatherd with butter and grape jelly for breakfast –might have one homemade oatmeal cookie with my Cocoa too.
I’m ‘ a nice day … Howboutchoo?
I’m calling YOU! 🙂
Sounds like you have it all figured out! Got a
giggly start to my day. Thanks Blog Dad, you are
a hottie hoot yourself!
We are definitely gonna have to add that to our list of places to see, if we’re ever out there! Soooo pretty. You’re right, Susan, I could TOTALLY see ‘Nick and Nora’ on that boat having a blast.
So glad you had your momma with you. Tea with Mom, is anything better?
Thanks so much for ‘taking’ us everywhere with you and Joe. LOVE IT!!!
My pleasure, you are very fun to have along!
Everyday I check (“Is today the day?”) for a blog update and just when we have made it through the wettest, dark days and the sun has returned, THERE IT IS! Tweets are nice but just not the same. You have made my day with this lovely, lovely visit to THE BEACH where it is warm and The Queen Mary where it is elegant and soooo romantic (not in the mushy way–LOL). Thank you so much for sharing your mom, Joe and Petey with us. It was a wonderful trip. Can’t wait for the sequel to A Fine Romance…… I have a title “The Signing, The Girl Friends’ Trip Across America”. 🙂 Enjoy every minute with your friends and family!
Love the title, may change it a bit to “The Signing, The Whirlwind, The Girl Friend’s Trip Across America!” Thank you Vickie!
Susan, the picture of Joe holding Petey is priceless. I loved your comment “I can’t seem to get the boy to swallow all the Kool-aid.” I almost rolled on the floor laughing. That whole scene pretty much laid the foundation for life at its best. I could see a “fun loving elf” at work there. Looks like you are having a wonderful time. Enjoy your “other October” with family and friends…looks beautiful.
Yes, I was ready to catch his “joy” with the camera 🙂 !
I’ve missed you the past few days as I check in to see what you’ve been up to. I’m so glad you have had time with your parents. We need to savor every moment while we can. Your tour of the Queen Mary was spectacular – enjoyed it with you more than the one time I visited. I just missed so much.
You are so lucky to have such great girlfriends working with you. I’ve talked with sweet Kelle several times on the phone and Bonnie is so, so special to me. Ask her about the newsletters she did for us years ago. They were in true Susan Branch style – before you and I were girlfriends. We sold your fabric and cookbooks and I wanted our newsletters to have the love and warmth that your work has. Bonnie did a wonderful job. Many of our customers have kept every issue. They were that special.
Enjoy your time in California. Being a home body myself I understand what it means to be away for so long. See you next month on the 7th! =)
I’m sure Bonnie told you how we met? Love this kind of serendipity! See you next month Suzanne! Hope lots of our girlfriends can join us at your wonderful fabric/quilt store in Bakersfield!
I was on the Queen Mary when they first brought it to Long Beach, we had our high school reunion there, Alhambra High. They had just started to restore her and she was pretty shabby, I’m so glad to she her in Tip Top shape. Tea there for sure next time in the LA area. See you in November cant wait for the show, we rented a little cottage in Edna for the weekend.
I know that cottage and it is pure heaven on earth! Lucky you!
Yeah You’re here !! Can’t wait to see you.. I red half your book yesterday while getting a mani-pedi! So so precious!
xoxo
Diana! I love how well-traveled this book is! Better than me! 🙂
I lived in Belmont Shore, near the Queen Mary, right out of college. One of my favorite memories was attending a New Year’s Eve party on board! Thanks for the trip down memory lane. 🙂
Amy in Idaho
My Grandma lived in Belmont Shore when I was little …
I loved this blog entry and this day is now on my bucket list after your lovely tour…..I just finished your book – In Hawaii !!!! and am now purchasing one for my daughter who just found out she and her husband will be moving to England ! I thought it would be a perfect guide for her. Keep telling us and showing us the wonderful things we can do in our own backyard – great pictures and stories to go with them ! Thanks !!!!
What a delightful way to spend a day and extra special because your Mom was with you!
I’m about 1/3 way through your book and am loving it. I have never been to England but would love to see it the way you did. Looking forward to my nightly “A Fine Romance” reading time!
Hugs,
Joy
It’s easy to do, such a small place and something wonderful around each corner! Happy you’re enjoying it Joy!
Oh Susan,I loved this post so much, I felt as if I was on that ship with you. My dad came home from Europe after WWII on the Queen Mary! He said the ship rode with the front part up out of the water! He also lost some $$ in a game of craps. 🙂 Your dear mom looks wonderful as does your dad. Bless them. xo
Thank you Barbara! What a memory for your dad to come home on that great ship.
Reading my book on the plane from Little to Denver, trying to read slowly and cherish every page ~~ when we arrived a lady across the aisle asked what book I was reading so I shared with her ~~ recruiting girlfriends wherever I go!! I was so extremely pleased to read the portion of your book about James Herriot. Books come and some go at my house, but the ones that have never left are his, yours, and now – thanks to you turning me on to it – Sharon Lovejoy’s books. Thank you Susan from the bottom of my heart for all the beauty you bring into my world!
Girlfriend recruiter friend of mine, thank you Vickie! Yes, James Herriot, isn’t he just too wonderful for words? xoxo
No wonder you have so many girlfriends Susan……We are all kindred spirits 🙂 My husband and I stayed on the Queen Mary in April for two days in one of their first class cabins……authentically refurbished….lovely linens….so much fun to explore every inch of that ship……Long Beach has its emergency radio broadcast system up on the top deck…..radio room manned by volunteer ham radio fanatics…..between that and the engine rooms……husband was a happy camper! We store our darling little house trailer in Pismo Beach……and just had the blue cheese filet at McClintocks to celebrate my birthday in Sept…..a sentimental restaurant going years back for us….Happy memories of the little toy treasure chest for the kids after dinner and servers on chairs pouring water from on high :)) What is your favorite restaurant in Shell Beach? Always looking for good food! You bring such joy to so many of us……thank you for sharing your daily life……you are proof that happiness really is in the details….those ordinary moments that are actually so special! Enjoying the book so much……I gave one as well to a dear friend….pre-ordered for her October birthday and when it came couldn’t wait…..so she already has it 🙂 p.s. she just sent me your little “Autumn banner”…..you are quite the tradition for us :))))
So happy you have the little banner … I just love them! You bring back so many memories of this area I love so much. We just got here last night, once again I want to run in all directions at once!
Hi Susan! I lived in Belmont Shore, right near the Queen Mary, just out of college. One of my favorite memories is attending a New Year’s Eve party on board. It was a great time. Thanks for the trip down memory lane! 🙂
Amy in Idaho
Thank you for the wonderful tour and how sweet to see your beautiful Mommy again!!! So glad you were all able to share such a perfect visit together!!!!
And I’m so anxious to see your beautiful garden and trees….. And I think you were putting in a hedge that lined your driveway, the last time you shared pictures of your California ???
Well, it will be so exciting to see it all!!! Thank you for always taking us along:):):)
I love the Queen Mary. I have stayed there a few times after going to their Paranormal Investigation. queenmary.com/evening-tours/paranormal-investigation.php. I have been there with the Red Hats Society also. Love the photos you took, they are wonderful. Hope to see you at Remnants as well. Love your site.
12roses
What a fun day! Thank you for always leaving a little room in your suitcase for girlfriends to come along. I try not to wrinkle things too much. You have lightened so many days with your generous “come along” posts. Enjoy your California Autumn.
WAY back in June of 1974, my husband and I spent one night on the Queen Mary on our honeymoon. It was wonderful, but it looks like they have much more going on there now. I need to go again! Have fun in California with all your girlfriends!
Wow, congrats on second sell-out! I am very happy to have my copy of your darling book. Wished I had visited the Queen Mary when I lived in San Jose, Ca. Now I’ll have to make a trip back and go see it. Looks wonderful to explore. Cute picture of your mom and you; more like sisters to me.
Enjoy being at your away home but know you miss kitties and the Vineyard this time of year. Iam in love with fall, a real romance. I took your book “Autumn” off the shelf yesterday so I can read it again in the evening. Have a wonderful time seeing all your friends and have a great time at Remants of the Past show. Not sure if I can make the trip but would be fun to meet you.
I loved reading about your visit to the Queen Mary. My Dad was one of the soldiers who was transported on it during WWII. I have photos of him and his buddies on deck as they were crossing the pond. They look so young and happy (and innocent as to what awaited them). He said that it was such a grand ship. Now I really want to visit it after seeing your photos!
What a wonderful day! I was sitting here looking through my Yankee Candle catalog.. Scratching and sniffing and then letting the dog sniff and lick if in approval. Yes we are an odd household 🙂 Then I get an email that there is a blog update! It is filled with such a beautiful journey, awesome pictures, Potato Chip COOKIES (I am making these tomorrow!!!) and our tea is in! I am filled to the brim with joy! Soak up the joy, love and excitement of this journey!
“We are a hotel dating people…” That is so funny. 🙂
This doesn’t have anything to do with anything in your blog today, but had to tell you I made your French Chicken Soup from your Autumn book the other night, and it was SO delicious! My husband said, “You’ve had that book all these years and this is the first time you’ve made this?” 🙂 Not sure what took me so long, but yum! Also I just got your favorite Swedish candles in the mail. What ingenious little things those are! NOW I know how they are “no drip!” Wonderful! 🙂
Oh, my! Seal Beach is one of my favorite places in the world. My husband used to go to CA on business and sometimes I could go along. Seal Beach was where he liked to stay at a small hotel that gave out little stuffed seals each time you came. I think we have a half dozen of them! Our daughters loved anything to do with a beach and I have pictures of them with the seal statue, and on the beach with a load of sand in their bathing suits! Too funny! I’ve also seen the Queen Mary but not to go aboard. Thank you for the guided tour! Such fun! Memory lane is a good place to visit!
So glad you are safely on our Pacific coast; loved the post. I attended a wedding on the Queen Mary several years ago of a girlfriend celebrating her second marriage at age 65…quite a beautiful ceremony. LOVE Seal Beach…this past August my best friend from school and I celebrated OUR 70th birthdays by renting “Pineapple Cottage” in Seal Beach. So nice to walk into town each morning, have a cafe latte or tea, choose different restaurants for B/L/D, Wednesday night concert in the park, even took the ferry over to Catalina Island one day…which passed right by the Queen Mary…lots of pix taken. Enjoy your month in Arroyo Grande/SLO – lovely time of the year!
Well, it’s quite lovely here in Western Massachusetts today, but, alas, no Queen Mary or any other lovely old cruise ships sitting on the Connecticut River for me to duplicate your lovely tea! Thanks for taking all of us with you. It’s always so nice that you share your happiness with us. Perks up my day every time! Have a marvelous time reconnecting with all your West Coast friends. Enjoy being in your other house while you take it easy. Hope Joe is also enjoying all of this adventure! Tell him I’d have loved combing the bowels of that great ship! I find that stuff fascinating.
I have been on the Queen Mary twice when I was in Long Beach and enjoyed it both times. It is hard to imagine people crossing the ocean in such splendor! I do not remember tea there, though, or else I would have insisted we make a reservation! I love to try tea anywhere!! I think my favorite was the Fairmont Hotel in Victoria British Columbia. Victoria has to be one of my favorite places to visit…so many pretty flowers everywhere. I like that it is tiny and you can see all of it in a day or so. You should visit it sometime when you are on the west coast. It is so very British that you would like it.
I did order my lavender tea and tea tin. It has been shipped! Can’t wait to try it!!
Ann
Such a satisfying blog! I needed that…I’m glad that you have a homey place to settle and rest. Too much fun!!
~ Good Afternoon~
What a fun post!~ I’m not a cruise person but I’d try going on that one! ~As long as it’s docked!~ Thanks for the new post!~
Oh the memories. The hotel where your parents met – is to the left of a senior home my grand parents ran across from The Pike – where all the sailors used to hang out. When the Queen Mary was brought over (early 70?) they held a big estate sale. My mother bought a beautiful sturdy walnut? step ladder that led up to a second bunk (for my brothers bunk beds). It had a lovely brass plate on it, but I can’t recall what it said – maybe a room number. There was so much stuff for sale. . . .wondering if your mom made it to that sale. In 1978, my boyfriend (now husband) had his senior prom on the Queen Mary (mine was in the Casino at Catalina)(and another now gone site for proms was Busch Gardens!) Oh the memories. Ladder is still in my mom’s possession.
Thanks for the pics! Loved playing on Seal Beach as a child, and watching the moms slather on the baby oil!
Thank you, thank you for all the pictures and the tour of the Queen Mary! It was lovely and wonderful and is now on my “to do” list.
What a great time you’re having!! Enjoy your stay at home on the Pacific. Looking forward to lots of garden pics and maybe a tour of your home??? It will be November before you can blink, so make the most of the time you have there. It was great seeing you with your Mom. She’s precious! Thanks for taking us onboard the ship. Enjoyed the tour.
Thank you Susan!!! As always you’ve managed to take me and the other girlfriends away. All those wonderful feelings of being on an adventure with you washed all over me again. Thank you. I still feel I’m in the car with you guys and you’re taking me on your British adventure.
By-the-way, I ORDERED MY TEA TIN WITH TEA!!! It’s perfect for the coming cold weather. Can we order refill of tea? They said it’s going to be a rough winter in the east coast.
XO Safe travels
Welcome back to your West Coast home and some of your best buds, enjoy all that you come in contact with. Thank you for the wonderful tour of the Queen Mary. I have wanted to tour and stay there, your pictures have put this at the top of my wish list. Keep us posted on all your experiences here in California, we don’t have the same “seasonal” joy that your East Coast home does, but right now we are getting the taste of fall and all it’s glory.
Love to you, your wonderful Joe and especially your mom, Paulette in San Jose
On a day when I wasn’ t feeling so well, this post was a joy to read! I live in Northern California and have never been to see the a Queen Mary. So thank you, I must go and have tea! I love the red shoes, I had to follow the link as I had never hear of that brand before. Do cute!
Sue, you must give us a lesson on how you brew your special blend of tea so we can experience it the proper way, as you do!
And a question comes to mind after reading your book. Did you ever legally marry Joe? Why are you Susan Branch and not Susan Hall if you maiden name was Stewart? I don’t mean to pry, but it is a curiosity that we girlfriends can’t figure out!
All the best, Barbara in Lodi
Such a glamorous day! What a wonderful guy, a delightful guest at tea, so patient and understanding an escort – so wonderful that he got to enjoy all those pieces and parts in the basement! My mouth is watering with all the tasty tea treats. I would not mine if you could post a hundred pictures from your tea party. So special you got to share it with your mom, too.
I married a California boy and went to his 10 year high school reunion on the Queen Mary. Boy were we young then! A couple of years ago his class celebrated 40 years in a park near the beach. There were not as many people, they talked about their grandchildren, and had less need to impress one another. I loved attending both.
Thanks for sharing your amazing trip!
So excited to get a posting from you, and what a wonderful one it was! I felt like I was right by your side! As usual, thank you so much for sharing your adventure with us! I enjoyed it so much! What a lovely old girl! (The ship). Well, you’re lovely too, but since we are the same age, I would never us the word old when describing either of us!!! Enjoy visiting with all your friends in Calif.! Francine
Just came inside after painting the wrought iron railing on the front porch. I’m dog tired and what a treat to now go onto the Queen Mary for tea! Everything looks absolutely wonderful on board. You are so lucky to have your mom enjoy this tea with you! She looks darling in her pearls. Have a wonderful trip up the coast to your home on the other side. xoxo ♥
Susan
Thank you for your blogs about all the places and people in your adventures. Truly these posting put such a smile on my face and “song in my heart”. I love your recipe for potato chip cookies. My great-aunt used to make these for us at Christmas … I am glad to finally have the recipe. Oh, please tell Kellee hi from me and thank her again for tracking my “missing” book. It meant a great deal to me.
She was so sweet and helpful. 🙂
Welcome back to CA! What a wonderful blog, especially since a great deal of it is so close to home! I so enjoyed looking at the Queen Mary shots – now I KNOW I have to have Bill take me sooner rather than later! After all, I’ve lived in Long Beach a whole three years now. What are we waiting for? Neither one of us knew there was a tea room, so that sounds promising. Seal Beach Pier is a favorite for evening walks, especially when there’s a full moon. And in my opinion, the ride through Malibu can’t be beat for beautiful ocean scenery. Have a wonderful month; I hope you have fun, fun, fun visiting with all of the people you love.
Thanks for the tour, it was just fascinating. I love that elegance of a bygone time and the Art Deco touches everywhere on the ship including the carpet designs. We all love to play Rummikub, too. So balmy here in southern New England, it’s been warm enough to sit at the beach, but not to swim! That engine room area did look interesting, too (tell Joe!).
Dear Susan,
What a beautiful post and thank you for sharing all the glorious pictures of the Queen Mary. What a ship!! I have also finished your book and have now read it three times because each time I find that I absorb more and more of it. It is a delight and I have even learned new facts! In the November issue of “Britain” magazine, there is an absolutely brilliant article on Sissinghurst and being Ms. Smartie Pants, I said to myself “I know all about Vita and her garden from Susan!”. Now I know why you loved it so much and her study in the tower is one we could all live in and enjoy!!! Thank you for being such a great ray of sunshine to us all. We are awaiting our first frost and possible snow in the mountains of Colorado tonight and tomorrow!
So great to hear from you! I agree about missing fall. It was the smell of fall and the smell of spring lilacs that I missed the most when I lived in Arizona. But fall will come again and nothing is better than seeing friends and family. I will try those potato chip cookies (if I can ever buy a bag of chips and not dive right into them!). Enjoy the California sunshine!
And your apple cranberry crisp was a big hit at my potluck. Thanks! Love lucy
What a fun fest this post is! A wonderful outing with Mom on the QMII. Keep Calm and Carry on BandAids :-). Love it. I’m dropping some hints this Saturday when my 2 daughters and I hit some antique stores together and celebrate the younger’s October birthday . . . It’s not really that far to Long Beach from Seattle . . . hint, hint. . . Yay, sold out 2nd printing! Fantastic!! I love to think of you and Joe “resting” in your California home with white-picket-fenced garden. Looking forward to pictures of that and the new kitty friends at your studio. 🙂 Thanks, as always, for taking us all along with you. It makes my day when I get to sip tea from my birdy cup and enjoy the ride.
A East Coast Queen Mary!
brilliant….!
the leaves have turned all kinds of spectacular colours. fall is here in all her glory.
Your mother is lovely! Petey never fails to make me smile; I’m glad he got to make the trip. Thank you for the tour of the QM. What fun!
Oooops, Not the QM2, just the QM! I’d be no good at the Rummikubs game. Too many numbers. By the way I love the idea of the favorite RUGS blog.
Susan, I grew up in Seal Beach and had the view of the Queen Mary but I have never been aboard. After seeing these photos I must go….. Thank for sharingl