MUSICA!❤️ Well, first off, I promised you a photo of the wool coat I bought in England ~ the one I wrote about a couple of blogs ago … And I finally managed to remember to do it. And, btw, while out and about on the Internet, I happened upon a website in the English Lake District that sells them (just in cases you want one too! The label says, “handmade.”). It’s a wonderful store Joe and I visited when we were there called Stewardson’s of Hawkshead .
Welcome over from the new Willard if that’s where you’ve come from (he’s just starting to go out today ~ takes 3 days for him to get to every email box, so if you’re signed up, he 
should be there soon!), and if not, welcome anyway! As lots of you know, Joe and I are on the train right now, in our “room with a view,” actually in the beautiful Berkshires as I write, heading down the tracks for Chicago, then on to LA ~ and right now, out our window, is the most gorgeous sunset between the leafless tress and across snow fields! It’s kind of a miracle, to be on a moving train and writing you at the same time! I’ve been sending photos and videos of our views over to Twitter … hope you’ve been able to see them (you can click on the link and take a look if you like, you don’t have to join Twitter in order to see the pictures).
Yesterday, before we left (which was just this morning), I needed to do some ironing for the trip. I’m sure many of us remember our mothers starching clothes before they ironed them ~ rolling them up while damp, putting them in plastic bags and keeping them in the fridge until they were ready to iron. Seems so old-fashioned to us now! My mom did it, there were always bundles of ironing in our fridge, she ironed all my little sister’s puffed-sleeved dresses with starch, and taught me to do it too. And my dad’s shirts ~ we were all very crisp around our house. And it wasn’t spray starch, it was the real thing. Liquid starch, the kind she used, is hard to find, at least where we live . . . our supermarket doesn’t sell it anymore, I had to go to Amazon to get it. Mostly, these days, it’s used for crafts, but I have this linen jacket I was bringing along that is no good without good old-fashioned starch, spray starch just doesn’t do it. In fact, I have a lot of things I use real starch on. There’s actually a really good reason to do it! I’ll show you! (Jack, as you can see, was there for the whole thing! But he was more interested in . . .
. . . what was going on outside our kitchen window, than what was going on inside . . .)
So, just in case it’s been a long time, or maybe never, since you starched something, and just in cases you’d like to try it . . . here’s how. It’s really easy. First off, you can read on the bottle how much starch to mix with how much water to make the fabric as stiff as you’d like it to be.
I wanted my jacket to be slightly stiffer than medium, so I mixed 4 c. water with 2 c. starch in a very large bowl. My summer potato salad bowl if you want to know.
I swirled it around with my hand to mix it . . .
Then I put my clean linen jacket into the liquid and got it soaking wet.
I took it out and rung it out as best I could … then I noticed all that left over starch and thought, what else do I have? Then I remembered I’d just washed a dresser scarf from the bathroom and thought, perfect timing!
I like dresser scarves to be really quite stiff, so I added a bit more starch.
And in it went.
Then they both went out to the pantry to partly dry on the clothes rack. Soaking wet is not good for ironing, you want them damp. So while that was happening . . .
I wrapped birthday presents for my mom, we’re heading to California to celebrate her 87th birthday (on the 27th)! 🎁 She loves it when I wrap her things in my own paper, so I ordered some from Spoonflower, (the people I do the fabric for … they make all the fabric patterns into wrapping paper too!) which I’d never done before, I was interested to see the quality. And was happy because it’s the thick stuff! Very nice.🎈My mom will love it!
And then, for a couple of good reasons, I made a cake ~ An Orange Marmalade Cake, because Jack’s other Mother was coming from California to stay with him while we’re away . . . and we were making dinner for her . . . and also, because every time Lowely makes something delicious, she always brings me half.
And I wanted to do the same for her before we went away.
Which I did. She only lives two doors down, so I walked it over, and got a goodbye hug. The next time I’m doing a blog and NOT on the train, I’ll give you the recipe! It was delicious!
So then it was time to iron. And what is the first thing I have to do? I have to get Jack’s hair off the ironing board, unless I want to iron it into my clothes. The ironing board doubles as his perch at the pantry window to watch the world go by. So I got out my packing tape, laid a big long strip down, and moved it along until all his little hairs were stuck to it!
And now, I’m ironing. And it’s coming out beautifully.
Voila! When you starch something, it stays fresh looking so much longer. You can wear it and re-wear it and it doesn’t look wilted.
And that, in a nutshell, is why I love starched things. They last forever.
Here’s my dresser scarf, back on the table in the bathroom. Note shadow under table.
Old linens are one of my passions, loves, downfalls. The beautiful cloth, the delicate embroidery and the cotton lace ~ irresistable! Smoothing an old damask tablecloth onto my dining table is one of the simple joys of life. Lighting a candle on that table, where it almost reflects in the sheen of the cloth, is another.
Here is an example of starch and what it does. I haven’t ironed these in over 6 months. No one really uses them, because a terry hand towel is right there, so they are really more decorative than anything, but they look as nice today as they did when I hung them up 5 years 6 months ago.😜
These are the bathroom curtains in that same room, made from an old lace tablecloth, the last of the ones I brought from California when I moved into my first little house on the island. Starched and perky, I won’t have to do it again for a long time. You could never do this with spray starch. Not even with the one that says, “Heavy.”
And here are a few more linen things, just so you get the picture, which I’m sure you do by now! I should be a door-to-door liquid starch salesperson!
One more tip, and that is, you may have starched something a while back, like this linen jacket. But maybe it was crushed in the closet and got kind of wrinkled again. No problem…
As long as it’s clean, you don’t have to rewash and starch, you just spray on a little water, and iron, and it all that good starchiness comes right back.
And there they are, ready to go into plastic bags and into the hanging bag … yes, they will need a touch up when we get there, but it won’t be much! So there you go, adventures in ironing from the Heart of the Home! Pure
Okay, enough about ironing, how about some maple syrup? I LOVED your comments in the last post, like I always do, thank you so much.💞 And yes, we did stuff poor Vanna into our duffel bag, she’s here, fluffed out, head to toe in pink cashmere with a leopard faux fur collar (she knows how to be comfy), complaining because she broke a nail and there’s “no manicurist on board.” It’s okay, we’ll fly her outta here when we get to Chicago. Her and her “little pink zipper bag”👛 which we have had to find for her about six times now. She’s a princess. Not fit for train travel. We knew we would need her for the drawing for our Vermont Valentine Giveaway . . . and so, with no further adieu … Vanna? Come here darling… (oh, the look on her face😱) ~ here we go . . . the WINNER of this delicious Vermont syrup (I know because we got a bottle of this too!) is . . . . PAMELA TASKER!!!!! Congratulations Pamela! You will love this! Be sure to heat it up before you pour it on everything! Look for an email from me in your box . . . I’ll need your mailing address so I can send it to you.
And now, so it doesn’t have to end . . . there’s more . . .
Hello. Remember I showed you these cups I was designing a while back? That’s the one I designed on the left, my glued and pasted paper cup without a bottom. And on the right, that’s the sample they sent! Pretty darn wonderful if I do say so myself! So I did more!
This one is called
and it has Ms. Lambikins on it, amongst other recognizable doodads from my flora and fauna art repertoire. Plenty to read early in the morning when the brain requires quiet time.
And this one is called
for us, the normal ones.💞
Last but not least, we have “Little Things,” because 
All three are being made right now, of fine bone china, in the potteries, in England. Yes, real, bonafide English cups. ❤️ Each holds a truly magnificent 16 oz (if filled to the very top). I’m so excited. You who have hung out around this blog for a while, know how much I have wanted to do this. Finally, the time has come. They will likely be here in May, in time 
for Mother’s Day, if all goes as planned. And if you leave your name in the comment section of this blog,😁 you will be entered in a drawing to win one of these. There will be 3 winners, and the moment they come in, those winners will be the very first on our mailing list! And yes, just in cases you don’t win, they are available now for preorder. Which means, if we haven’t ordered enough, we should know fairly soon, and can get more into the works right away. After a decent amount of time, each of the designs are going to be retired, and replaced by new ones (I have so many fun ideas!) And the only place on earth where they will be available, at least for the foreseeable future, will be here in our web store. I hope you like them.💖
The last time I was in California, Joe and I were driving across country … I picked these two roses, one from my Grandma’s garden, and one from my moms. They sat on the dashboard of the Fine Romance Van the entire way. And when I got home, I took this photo of them. As beautiful as they were when they were first cut. In two days I will be in my mother’s arms. 💞 The dearest person, who was in labor with me for so long (72 hours) that a tiny piece of her soul broke off, and went into me. And that is the way it has always been and will always be. I feel so lucky. Thank you all for being here. Have a wonderful day! WILLARD’S on the way! I’ll be back soon!
Love the mugs. Your starch story brings back memories of clothes in my childhood refrigerator, or icebox as my mama called it. Have a wonderful trip.
I absolutely love your new mugs and I’m so excited to see them offered! Have a wonderful train ride and trip to California!
Love your new mugs!
What a great lesson on starching! My mother always used the same method, and a liquid starch. I do occasionally, depending on the item to be starched. I so enjoy your blogs always. My oldest step-daughter has given me, over a period of time, your last 3 books; they are a joy to read and to just look at your drawings. I love them! Your new cups look terrific; would love to have one! Have a safe and wonderful time with your mother, celebrating her birthday!
Love the new mugs! Enjoy your trip to ca! And happy birthday to your. Mom! 🎂
Have a wonderful visit! ❤
Love this post on vintage linens and STARCH–I forgot about STARCH–my Mom’s linens were just as you described and try as I might (with the spray stuff) I never got the same look. Now I know..thank YOU! The mugs are beautiful–great job as always. Safe journey!!! Happy Birthday to your Dear Mum!!!!
Your new mugs are so pretty! Thank you for sharing all of your tips, ideas and recipes with us. Safe and happy travels.
Love the new mugs — so much so that I had to order the In Love with Nature one and can’t wait until it arrives! Happy travels!
Hi Susan, I grew up and still use the spray starch. But….I remember the lady that babysat me, as my mom was a working mom, would use the regular starch. I remember her unrolling and spraying her clothes with water first. Although my mom does not use the regular starch she has always told me she loves to iron. She says it is a job well done. She often offers to iron my family’s clothes. My mom is a gem! 85 years young and still independent, driving, and helps many people. She has always wanted to take a train ride out west. We have talked about it for nearly 5 years. But now she is a afraid because of mudslides out west. It was going to be the 2 of us. Even my husband encourages us to go. She won’t go now. So sad……but we still take weekend trips together, throughout our state of Michigan. Love your mugs! I’m betting you will be designing a cat mug! I can’t wait!
Oh! Love your mugs! And would love one of Miss Tiggiewinkle the
“Clear starcher” 😉 Enjoy the trip, the view, and all that
thrills the heart ❤️ of you!
Your new mugs are beautiful!!!! Safe travels!!!!!!!
Your mugs are so adorable—I love the “love” mug! It would go so great sitting on my table next to my Susan Branch fabric table runner I made with the houses and flowers fabric. 🙂 –thanks for all of the inspiration! I am so pleased to learn how to starch the “real” way because the spray never seems to be as great as when my grandma used to do it–thank you! Safe travels to you and Joe!
I’m a starcher too! It is so rewarding to see and feel that beautiful end product. I’m so happy you pursued having the cups made and as always, you’ve given much attention to the details. I can’t wait to hold one in my hands. Travel safe.
Oh those lovely mugs! I am lucky enough to belong to sewing Friensdhip group for a long time and now I know what my Christmas gifts will be as we are all fans! have a wonderful visit with your family and I may make the booking signing, crossing my fingers.
oh the cake looks delicious!! please do share the recipe! another adventure/trip . . . thank you for taking us along . . . LOVE, love, love the mugs! oh how I would love one but also have special friends that would love them too! Great work Susan, keep spoiling us with all your wonderfulness, thank you, thank you!
Your mugs are the cutest things ever. Also, wanted to tell you my hubby and I are planning a 40th anniversary trip to the British Isles. Have been having so much fun comparing our tour schedule with your travels in A FINE ROMANCE. Great way to see places we dont eant to miss.
Dear Susan,
Receiving Willard in my mailbox this morning was such a delight! Your words and art are pure JOY. I could not chance winning a mug, so I preordered “Little Things” and “In Love With Nature”. I am hoping to win the “Love” mug to complete my set!! ♥♥♥
Thank You,
Suzanne Keller
Love the mugs and have safe travels!
Oh I can’t wait! Those mugs are darling , my moms will love them …. it’s going to be hard to choose just one… maybe I’ll have to get all 3:)
Love your mugs and look forward to owning them! Have a safe and enjoyable trip west!
Thank you for the tutorial on starch. I have a beautiful old doily from my mother in law that I’ve been meaning to learn how to starch. It has one of those wide ruffle edges that has to be starched to look good. Also thrilled to see the new china mugs. I think I will take some of my birthday money from my mom and order the “little things” one.
Your email and blog are the perfect start to Spring!! Makes me miss your beautiful island. Safe travels and blessings and Happy Birthday to your Mom.
Love, love love the mugs and have been waiting for them! Thank you for YOU!!!
Mary Ann McCann
I agree, all spray starch does is leaves tiny white things on your clothes. I’ve been embracing the ways of yesteryear more & more…proof they do work better & save time in the long run.
The mugs are so adorable, I ordered the 3 set, because that was the only way to get the first one, since it was sold out for individual sale, & decided to give my 2 daughters each one! They’re in their early 20’s & I’m putting together for each a pretty things box for each, family heirlooms from mom, mom in law & the grandmas, & just pretty things I find at vintage, or resale shops..If by chance I get graced with another cup, I have a special friend who unbeknown to her, has inspired me in so many ways to start following my inner self, that I will gift it too. Wishing you & Joe safe travels & love the tweets from the train!
I would love my tea in one of your English bone China cups!
I just purchased that same bottle of starch to make “slime” with my Littles (grandchildren). You have inspired me to wash up my grandmother’s doilies and dresser scarves and use it for it’s intended purpose. Hmmm….I have my grandmother’s handmade with love treasures, not sure my handmade with love “slime” will be a lasting treasure for my Littles, lol. Oh well, the memory of doing it together will remain. Your mugs are wonderful and the fact that they are coming from Staffordshire, England just adds to their wonderfulness….
Looking forward to your recipe for Orange Marmalade Cake!!
Beautiful mugs. But of course I love everything you make 🙂
The mugs are wonderful! So glad you made this dream come true and I’m happy to be in a drawing to win one! Have a wonderful train trip and happy visit with your mom and family.
And I’m still reeling with the news from Willard about the TV movie! How exciting!
Hi again Susan!
I just received and read Willard. Best wishes to you in California as you meet the screenwriter in Hollywood. YIKES!
I have preordered the three mugs and I want to let you know how glad I am that you have included your little lamb on the In Love with Nature mug. She is so cute!
Enjoy California!
It’s true about the little things. Love tea, love your new mugs.
The mugs are beautiful. Great Christmas and Mother’s day gifts. Thanks for your fun art work and interesting writing. You cheer up everyone’s day.
I would absolutely love the Love mug. My ‘name’ mug is chipped and this would be a good excuse to toss it.
Susan those mugs are beautiful. I love them all, but I took one look at that adorable little sheep and I pre-ordered right away. I totally fell in love with it. I plan to get all three of them, but the sheep had to be my first one! Thank you for this lovely post. We all need these posts and your beautiful outlook on life more than you know. Have a wonderful trip and I hope you and your Mom have a lovely time together. Give her an extra little hug for me. I know this may sound corny, but thank you for being here to remind us how beautiful life really can be. That it is our choice to make it so.
Hugs, Mary Jane
Yes, I can remember the bundled up shirts in the freezer! Mother ironed all of my father’s shirts that way….I vowed never to do that! I did enjoy ironing his handkerchiefs….those were the days! Another wonderful blog post…just love all of your new products! Have fun! ☺️
Dear Susan,
I love your new coat. It is darling and so much fun.
The new mugs are super. I can’t believe they are bone china and coming from The Potteries. Bless you for helping to keep that industry alive there along with “our” Emma. We got to visit her factory last spring after seeing your enviable trip there. Couldn’t have loved it more. (now fighting and Emma mug addiction-just kidding of course).
Happy Trails to you and the beret man, Ruthie
Love the Mugs! Your starching directions reminded me that I have a Christmas tree “Kissing Ball” that I hung over the front door for years and years. It is a crocheted sphere with mistletoe attached. Then 2 years ago, I got it out to hang and it had collapsed. I haven’t tried to rejuvenate it yet. I think I will need to heavily starch it and blow up a balloon inside it to get it back to its original shape. I have liquid starch- I just need to get busy!
Oh please, PLEASE enter me…I truly love my cups of tea! XO
Yay for soulmate mothers! I hope you have a wonderful time celebrating your sweet mom and enjoying the country along the way!
😊
Kathleen
I just finished reading “Isle of Dreams” for the 4th time and then I read “Heart of the Home” again for the artwork as much as the recipes. We can’t have sugar so can’t use a lot of the recipes but they sound so good. By now you will have passed through our state (Kansas) on your way west. We took the train to NY once just for the fun of it but we have to drive at least 100 miles to get started. Might as well take the car. I love your new Willard and look forward to the new mugs. Love, Sheila
If only I was sipping my coffee from one of those mugs while reading this blog! I’m inspired to go scrap the pictures of US at your book signing in NJ last June. You were wearing that stripped, starched jacket!
I love the mugs! What a beautiful way to start a morning. Your words and art have been a part of my life since I received Heart of the Home as a gift in the 90’s. After that I have each and every thing you have written…and gifts of your calendar are now a traditional (and requested) gift I give to others every year…..thank you!!!!
Oh my gosh, now I am in the mood for spring. I tuned into the birds on YouTube; being in ca.,
I now hear them chirping outside. They are courting I do believe😉 Thanks for being a breath
Of fresh air.
I would love a cup from you!
Safe travels to CA. Enjoy ever second with your Mom!! I LOVE your new
line of mugs!!!!!! I also love to starch my antique dresser scarfs….nothing is
better than freshly starched linens!!!
Safe travels to CA. Enjoy every second with your Mom!! I LOVE your
new line of mugs!!!!!!! I also love to starch my antique dresser scarfs…
nothing is better than freshly starched linens!!
Willard and today’s post brought joy to my heart. Your reminder to love the simple free gifts that are all around us is a good practice to live by.
Love the new mugs. Some day I hope to visit England. Have a wonderful trip to California.
I’m in love with your new mugs, and so hope to win one! Wish I could see you in person in California next month, and pray your meetings in Hollywood come to fruition with a movie about your life. You are a ray of light and such a welcome relief from all the dissent in the news. Reading your blogs is so soothing and actually lowers my blood pressure. Keep up the good work and give your mom a little squeeze for all of us.
Yes…you should definitely be a saleswoman for the starch. You (almost) made me want to iron. LOL . I, too, love linens. I have some hanging (limply) like your’s in my bathroom. I have lots of doilies my grandmother crocheted, and you reminded me of how my mother used to starch them. Grannie had made some with daffodils that stood up. Mama would starch them and put tissue paper inside them to make them hold their shape. So lovely…and something I’d not thought about for many years.
I love linen (especially here in the central Florida climes), but don’t wear it because it wrinkles so badly. Thanks for the tip. Hopefully, I can get help to iron them. I swore off ironing years ago. As a matter of fact, when I married eleven years ago, I told hubby, “I’ll do anything for you….except iron.” 🙁 I guess I did so much of it growing up, and then keeping my two daughters looking spiffy, that I just needed a break. You made it sound so lovely…(wistful sigh)
The cups are gorgeous, and yes…I will definitely pre-order. They turned out perfectly, I think.
I’m enjoying the twitter from the train. You’ve also sold me on train travel. I’d like to take a trip from Florida up to Maine during the Fall to see the leaves change.
Blessings and safe travels,
GG
You’d probably get fun little layovers in some of the cities on the way … likely change trains in NYC!
I love the mugs. I love old linens. We are soul mates!
Trains, ironing and tea cups- these are few of my favorite things! Love tagging long with you on your journey!
The mugs are delightful. I hope your journey is smooth and that you have a wonderful visit with your mother. It’s always such a pleasure to read what you’re up to, Susan! I truly enjoy the peek into your life. I’m so inspired by you!
Your mugs are awesome…would love to win one, though the odds are slim, so I’ll just pre-order to make sure. And yes, a kitty mug is a must. I’m looking forward to meeting you in SLO in a few weeks. I was hoping to drive down from Carmel through Big Sur but that is impossible with so many slides and bridge closures. I’ll have to take the highway. I was so bummed you were sold out of all your 2017 calendars so I will be sure to be an early bird for next year. Also can’t wait to get my hands on your books. I love trains since I used to live in Germany and Switzerland….have a wonderful trip.
Loved seeing a picture of the new mugs. Can’t wait to get one…or three. Thank you for sharing your wonderful art and beautiful quotes.
So nice to hear that you are making your lovely mugs in England. x
Susan Branch art on a mug?!? Two loves in one object! My cup would runneth over – ha! I’ve admired and collected your books and items for years. They are simply delightful!
What beautiful mugs. I can’t wait, I want all of them. I can just taste my tea in them. I was also happy to see someone else using heavy starch. I can remember starching my doilies. Ah! memories. Also, can’t wait for the recipe for the orange marmalade cake. Have a great trip and be safe.
From paper sample to fine bone china – love, love, love the bonafide English cups!
Love ALL the mugs but especially the L O V E mug! We will be in SLO at the same time!! Maybe we will see you at the Apple Farm…
Safe travels!
Pam
Hello Susan, Joe, Jack and everyone,
First, such lovely people leaving comments on here❤
Susan, I am so happy you are branching out! I just love the
new mugs!!! Is a clothing line far behind? I really hope so!
You have great taste! The plaid coat is wonderful! I love plaid.
The blog was very informative as well.
Enjoy your train trip and Happy Birthday to your mom❤🎂
Good luck to everyone!
Love and peace,
Doreen
I very much enjoyed your tutorial about starching! The photo of the Sta-Flo really brought back memories, as my Grandma used it to starch all of her doilies. After she had soaked them, she would lay them out on a large piece of insulation foam–you know, the kind that’s put up against the outside walls of a house, just beneath the siding. Then she would painstakingly pin out the doilies so that they would be perfectly symmetrical when they dried. So many pins! She did this recurring project on the large flat surface of her own bed and used a fan to get the doilies to dry before bedtime. What a sweet memory your post has triggered for me! Please enter me in the drawing for one of your lovely new mugs. 😍
Would love to win the cup. Love your blog.
Well, my goodness. Now you’ve done it! Right now all I want is a piece of Orange Marmalade bread alongside some tea in a new Susan cup! I will have to struggle through the day somehow…Hugs and Happy Travels.
I enjoy your blog so very much!!! And the mugs are just waiting for a cup of tea at my table!!!
Safe journey!
Hey Susan, as I am paging thru the replies, I am finding people’s emails at the bottom of this box I am writing in. It’s never happened before, but at the the end of each page of replies, there are people’s names with there email listed! Thought you should know. Debby
Thank you for the spring Willard! I will have to go get eggs and fresh blueberries this weekend and try the cake recipe. Hugs and love from Denver, Colorado.
Your mugs are beautiful! Now I wait patiently for my Willard to arrive…what a wonderful gift you send. I also just printed out and laminated your full moon bookmark, thank you for sharing your talent & heart:)
A bone china mugs for my tea is the only way to start the day!
I love the mugs too. Each cuter than the other, which means all are darling.
I have been a fan of your art for many years! Love the mugs!
Susan, how lovely to drink tea from a fine bone china mug! I love bone china tea cups, but when you’re sitting cosily on the couch with a good book, you want a large mug that you don’t have to keep refilling. Although bone china tea cups are the best for tea, they are so small. So a bone china mug is the best of both worlds, and yours are beautiful.
So excited about the new mugs! I have hot tea every morning and my tea would be sweeter in your mugs. Also have never used liquid starch but want to try. Thanks for the information! Your blog is always delightful! Safe travels!!
I haven’t thought about “real” starch for a long time. Remember our mom’s would put it in a coke bottle with a sprinkler thing on top. And you ate right…spray starch just isn’t the same. Tho cups are great fun! I like Mrs Lambinkins. I had 4-H lambs and pigs growing up. The hills are very green around here!!! It is beautiful.
Mugs are so pretty. My mother was 99 yesterday, and oh yes there was a party. Feeling blessed to have been with her.She is amazing. Have a good trip and birthday wishes for your mom.
I’d love to win one of those cute cups.
Love the mugs! Love the tribute to your mother (Such a long labor! Such a joyful result!)! Happy 87th birthday to her on February 27. Thank you, as always, for the reminders of life as we lived it (Starching!!!) and for the pictures that allow us to share your lessons . . . and your journeys!!!
Your sweet comments about your mother made me miss mine so. I’d love to have a mug for my twice daily cuppa!
Gorgeous cups. Please enter me to win.
Such sweet mugs, would bring a bit of sunshine to any morning:)
The mugs are enchanting–can’t wait to see them ‘in person’. I love bone china–there is nothing like it. And your starch lesson is inspiring tho I just finished hand-washing some non-starchable blouses and I admire your energy and discipline. Hand-washing clothing is always near the bottom of my lazy list, I’m sorry to admit.
Have a wonderful trip and most of all a lovely visit with your mother.
Your mugs are a DELIGHT like everything else you do! Willard is the loveliest delight of all! Thanks for sharing ‘him’ so generously. (I feel like I’m in a secret club!)
Enjoy your Mom’s birthday. A precious time. Would love to see your train room or should I say cubby? Either way it must be great! Hoping to win your nature mug. They are all wonderful.
Hi, Susan!
You even make ironing look fun! LOL! All exciting stuff in Willard and latest post- love those mugs! And we can’t wait to hear what comes of your TV/movie meeting!
You are so blessed to still find yourself in your Mother’s arms! Mine has been gone for nearly 10 years now. Enjoy every moment of that and your wonderful travels and back again! xo
Hi Susan
Have a safe trip to California…I love train rides.
It was 78 yesterday where I live…all my bulbs are budded and ready to bloom…about 3weeks too early…. Yellow crocuses have now joined my snowdrops blooming…daffs are budded and ready to go too… If we have a really cold snap , I will lose them. Hope not , my bulb garden in the front of my path are gorgeous in the early Spring.
Love the mugs… Always loved your China from many years ago …glad you could do it again.
Your story about clothes and how to starch them has brought back many memories…I used to starch clothes for my Mom when I was younger…never liked to iron large pieces of clothing but liked doing dresser scarves and my Dad’s handkerchiefs.
Have a great trip…thanks for a great Willard
Kathie from Limerick
Memories! I also helped my Mama – dampening / starched / rolled up clothes in plastic bags and into the frig they’d go! The next day after school I’d get them out and iron them (Mama worked)! Happy Birthday wishes to your Mom! And I love the new mugs!!!
Happy Birthday to your dear mum from across the pond. My own mum will be 86 this year. It seems only yesterday we were celebrating her 80th. The time flies by so quickly. I so wish I could be there to give her a hug, but Canada is a long ways away. I hope I don’t have to wait too much longer to see her. Your new mugs are just darling. I love them. No surprise there! I am reading MV Isle of dreams again now for the third time. Our lives have paralled each other’s so much in a way it’s like reading my own story except yours is way cuter, lol. But I suppose we both ended up with the men of our dreams and living on small
Islands! It’s all good! Enjoy sunny California! My friend will be coming over to see us in April from CA. I hope to show her some lovely places and make good use of my National Trust membership and maybe I will finally be lucky and get into Hill Top! Happy journies to you both and enjoy your stay. Xoxo
Yes, Hill Top! And me too, my mom’s 80th was almost yesterday. Luckily I have videos of some of it! Family reunion in Las Vegas!
Susan, Spring is all around! glad that it’s warmer in your area as well. Yesterday we had a record breaking warm temperature here in Kentucky, it was 79 degrees. The warmest Winter (Dec, Jan, Feb) temps ever in our state. Our roses are leafed out, the Japonica is blossoming, and the tulips, and other early spring flowers are following suit. Let’s just hope we don’t have freezing temperatures after this teaser!
I feel after a 1,000 plus comments you’re not likely to see mine . . . but I’m compelled to tell you what an impact your book “Martha’s Vineyard – Isle of Dreams” and your blog has had on my life. I’ve dealt with anxiety all my life, but so much more so recently as I enter the lovely menopausal years. Your book was my sanctuary on so, so many nights. And that book led to your other books, your blog, and even books that were in your book (the one on quotes – which is at my office at the moment). 🙂
I use the past tense “was” my sanctuary because a dear friend of mine was recently diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer which has already spread to her brain. The first thing I did was to send her all three books of yours that I had purchased ~ and a link to your blog. Your books, your writing, your blog ~ they are all so cozy and warm . . . and settling. They all have a calming impact.
You have been a blessing that I just recently discovered . . . and I just wanted you to know that what you do ~ how you do it ~ has a major impact on us . . . those struggling through their journey . . . and those nearing the end.
Thank you, Susan.
I see it Elizabeth! And it’s making tears in my eyes. Thank you for writing. ❤️ Please hug your friend for me. Life is a mess sometimes, no question about it. xoxoxo
I love your LOVE mug. So cheery. ♥♥♥
Your mugs turned out beautifully…..each one of them is wonderful. I don’t know which one would be my favorite.
the cups are just beautiful! I would love to win one. Have a lovely visit with your mother!
When we moved to OKC last July we promised not to buy any more tea/coffee mugs
. Well that rule just went out the window! Preordered all 3! Have a memorable time in California.
You know what they say about rules! 💞
Just when I thought you couldn’t make anything cuter or sweeter you go and make mugs to live for!!! Love them and can’t wait to gift them to my fellow susan branch lovers!!
Love the new mugs!
Love the mugs! My husband and I just got back from a trip to Woodstock, VT-stayed in the wonderful Ardmour Inn. Cozy, elegant-lovely mid-winter get-a-way. Even went on a sleigh ride at Billings Farm-the history of this working farm is amazing.
Love the new mugs…….I think my other comment posted without email….silly autofill.
Love, love, love your new mugs, Susan!
Susan, those cups are just lovely! And one can never have too many cups, right? I only just saw your blog about the Vermont trip… Wow, so much snow!!! We still haven’t had any here in the Netherlands. But this… it’s impressing and beautiful! Thanks for sharing. I actually went to visit family in Stowe, VT in 1988 when I was 15, with my parents. Only then we had sweltering heat… Quite the opposite! I hope you enjoy your mom’s birthday. My own mom has turned 83 years old today and I’m very grateful she’s still here. May we have many more years with our moms!
Happy Birthday to your mom Elske! Yes, and many more!
Thanks for the starch lesson, very interesting! Also, thanks for all the goodies – Willard, blog, mugs, recipes, words of encouragement ❤️ Have a wonderful trip and Happy Birthday to your Mommy.
LOVE your coat btw – gorgeous! Make sure you hang it up after each time you wear it or Jack will make a snuggly bed out of it ☺️ hehe, that’s what my kitty would do🐱
Tea in a new Susan Branch mug…..what a delight!
Your mugs are extraordinarily lovely!! Love all your work!