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!
You new mugs are lovely! I know that anything I would taste from them would be dreamy!
Your new cups are delightful (like you are). Enjoy your journey to CA. Enjoyed your Valentine sleigh ride!
I’m sure afternoon tea will taste even more delightful when sipped from one of your mugs. They are so cheerful and whimsical!
Thank you for the interesting ideas about starching. I sure remember those rolls and stacks of clothing found in the fridge. Sometimes she put them in the vegetable drawer in the bottom. My Mom still irons nearly everything at the age of 92. And will as long as she can do it, I’m sure.
Thank you for sending my first Willard. Really enjoyed. I’m wondering why the Willard archives only shows until November 2015? Not sure where the rest might be found.
Have fun in California.
The mugs are delightful! Glad they’re being made in the potteries. Visited my sister and her husband in Stoke on Trent in September and toured Emily Bridgewater factory as well as Aynsley. Memories! Memories! The cheery mugs you designed remind me of all that and brings lots of smiles!
I love the mug! I collect them, but ONLY ones with very special meaning of very special people. Thanks for designing this one as a reminder of you!
I think your loving attitude is a balm for this upset world, and thank heavens there’s a Susan Branch. ❤
Luckily there are a lot of us. xoxo
Your new mugs are marvelous…I hope I win one, otherwise I’ll be asking for one for my summer birthday. Have a wonderful trip!
Oh! I wish you could stop in St. Louis:) Have a wonderful time with you Mom!
Love the mugs! I just moved back to America after living in England for the past 6 years. Please enter me in the drawing. Thank you!
You made tears come to my eyes with your starching. I grew up on a farm and my Mother used liquid starch & when I married I thought that was the only way to do it! My middle brother always wore French cuffs & I grew up ironing those for him. Nothing like the smell of starch when you are ironing! I always ironed my pillow cases until just recently. My husband has been ill and I have run out of time for some things. Also love the cups and would pre-order but can’t right now. Must share with my daughter – she will love them too. Also love the pictures through Vermont – we have been there & love it – just not in snow as my husband is not fond of snow (but I love it)! Thanks so much!
Loved the lovely newsletter email!
The mugs are charming, thanks for the opportunity to have one.
Thank you Susan! I’m so excited about your new mugs! Some people buy shoes, I buy mugs! And books!
Love the mugs!!! The wonderful tea you sent me will be especially good in one of your mugs!💕
I can’t wait to see your coffee mugs!!! And I loved the lesson on how to iron with starch.
Love you,
Anita
Safe travels and a very happy birthday to your mom. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway and for bringing so many girlfriends together.
Hi Susan,
I had the hardest time finding the blue starch & one day our local store got it in & I grabbed it right away. I even was asked by the check out girl why I wanted that. (Too young to even know what a dresser scarf was. I love vintage linen & have lots as well. I do love how you display them on quilt racks. I’m a quilter so you know what’s on my racks. Not only do I have a large drawer for T-Towels but I collect embroidered pillow cases. They too need ironed to show their beauty. Thanks for the cups you designed. Gonna preorder to make sure I get them.
Enjoy mom & Cali.
Hugs & Aloha,
Georgia
I LOVE all things “Susan Branch” so I adore the beautiful mugs, what a wonderful thing to start the day with.
Mercy me – lots of comments for the wonderful mugs!!! Enjoy the time with your mom.
Over 1600 responses so far will not keep me from telling you, Dear Susan, how much I loved your recent Willard , with its wonderful ideas AND your cups, which I will pre-order, AND this blog ( I willgo to the Daytona Antiques Market to shop for old linens & flowery things & start real starching– you’ve sold me on it. )Thank you and Blessings to your dear mom who brought you here. Happy Birthday to her!
I’m glad you overlooked the 1600, and commented anyway!! xoxo
Love everything about this post, and everything in the new Willard. Happy Birthday to your mom. You are so lucky to still have her. The mugs are darling. Hope I’m the lucky one ! Travel safely, and enjoy your trip. Oh my…Hollywood -that’s so exciting ! Who will play you and Joe ? Hmmmmmm…
I’m so excited for Spring ~ my favorite ! Xoxo
Thanks for making these adorable mugs. Great way to start the day. Have a safe trip and best wishes for your Mom.
I am so excited for your mugs! Your travels make me want to do those with my husband, so nice and leisurely!
The mugs are wonderful! Vanna, pick me, pick me! I know the perfect home for a mug, with my mom for her 90th birthday. She adores all your books. Hope the California weather allows you sunny warm days to share with your mom!!!
Hi Susan,
So happy to get the new Willard today. My daughter (age 10) and I have been enjoying your memoirs (all 3!). I remember reading Joe’s recipe for an Old Fashioned made with Maker’s Mark bourbon, but now I can’t seem to find it. Would it be possible for you to post it here? Or tell me which page of which book I can find it on? TIA.
BTW I too visited Jane Austen’s house when I took a week-long course on Emma at Oxford a few summers ago. The field trip to Chawton was the highlight of the whole week. I loved revisiting it through your eyes.
It’s from an older Willard, Karen . . . Go HERE. YUM!
Thank you! Can’t wait to try it!
Susan
Thank you for your wonderful blogs and Willard notes.They really brighten my days.Your mugs are very special and would love to start collecting them.
Oh how I love hearing from you, Susan. Your narrative always brings a smile to my face and warms my spirit. I loved your ideas of what to fill your brand new mugs with–Irish coffee was my favorite though! Isn’t it such a delicious treat? I wish you safe travels. Looking forward to your next fun report! Xoxo, Cindy in San Diego
Ohhhhh! The mugs are fabulous! The starch lesson and the show and tell of linens, also fabulous! And I’m holding my breath until you’re back and we get the orange marmalade cake recipe! YUM! That looked amazing! Can’t wait to see you at Apple Hill very soon! Have fun with mom! XXO ❤
16 ounces is brillant! And they are darling.
Beautiful mugs, like everything you draw and paint!
yep liquid starch great stuff… i hung fabric on bedroom walls with it ..lasted for years
btw…u can not go to tweeter via your link… need to sign in or sign up….
My dad used to go to Twitter all the time without joining (he wasn’t interested in anything but seeing my photos) ~ I wonder if I’ve given out the wrong link?
..I am not signed up for twitter either yet I still can view your lovely photos also.. ( the moving videos posted on twitter, tho, I’m not able to view on my computer..)..
I understand that the videos may need a newer computer . . . someone mentioned that to me the other day, that she couldn’t see them on her computer, but she could on her iPad. ? Thank you for that info, I was pretty sure people could see them!
..yes, alas, I do have an older computer.. I didn’t mean to sound complaining.. I do appreciate all that you do for all of us !!..btw, ‘so happy you arrived safely and Happy Birthday to your dear Mother !!..I hope you all are having the best of times…sincerely..
You didn’t sound complaining at all … ❤️ Thank you Mary!
Dearest Sue n Joe, Thank you so much for the reminder of how to use liquid starch. Please wish your beautiful. Dear sweet Mother Happiest of Birthdays.Tell her how all your fans wish her the best Birthday Ever ok.Again Thank You Soooo Much.for the memories. We Love You Botj GodBless you and keep you akl safe n well youre in our hearts n Minds Love Cheyenne from Henderson Nv xxx
Cute, cute, cute mug! Have a safe trip and looking forward to hearing all about your train ride and California visit. Take care!
Hi Susan,
Love, love, loved the masterclass in starching, so much information about a subject I had never really considered before. SO pleased that your beautiful mugs are being made in Staffordshire but I am very disappointed to learn that the only place they are available is on your web store. How ironic and frustrating that something which is being made almost just down the road from here has to be shipped all the way across the pond – and then all the way back again if I order one from your online store. That’s a lot of mileage for a mug!! I am sure they will be hugely popular with your American girlfriends which means more business for the Pottries, woohoo!
With love from Ann in Chester xx
I’m going to try and see if the manufacturer might find a way to distribute there, but I’m not sure it will be possible. Going to try!
That would make a girlfriend very happy if you could Susan. I know you will give it your best shot for your fans in the UK who would love to start a collection of your utterly charming mugs. I will wish upon a star for your success.
With love from Ann in Chester xx
Thank you Ann! xoxo
Wow what joy …Willard and a new Blog…hold the jobs I’m busy reading. I’m off today to buy supplies to make a wreath….im now inspired. I’m counting down now until I receive the mugs and the 2018 calendar. Have a great time in California…Happy Birthday Mum.
Jacqui, East Sussex UK
These cups are so perfect! They would make a wonderful housewarming present (for myself! haha) (I’m in the process of moving in with my boyfriend)
Yay! Thank you for the giveaway Susan 🙂 Two of my favourite things – your heavenly art and a china mug x x x
Happy travels Susan!
I love your mugs. You are so creative in everything you do.
The cups are beautiful! What is it about drinking out of a vessel with a thin edge that makes everything taste better to me?
Have a wonderful trip, and love the mugs!
Thank you so much for sharing your days with us. I always enjoy to read your blog, Willard and books. I would be so
honored to win your wonderful new mug.
I have such happy memories of an overnight train ride I took with my children from Los Angeles to Albuquerque. I couldn’t sleep, so I spent the night in the observation car watching the sun rise over the desert. Beautiful! I can’t wait to read about your cross-country odyssey. If I should be so lucky to be selected by Vanna, would you please send me the mug with the sweet sheep?
Thank you so much for sharing your updates, and for how to use liquid starch! What a lovely “fresh from the dry-cleaner” look! My iron has been in repose for a while – I’ve been using a steamer lately for touch-ups. Thank goodness for wrinkle-free fabric! (Though “wrinkle-free” is rather optimistic)
WHAT A WONDERFUL BLOG POST! Can’t seem to get over the current political season so your thoughts help – especially reminders like this of earlier times (my mother had a large ginger ale bottle with a cork that had a sprinkle top – for just dampening things not needing starch. Did your mum?)
One of my favorite things is hearing about Vanna I’m a totally “visual” person so the descriptions bring me joy!
Love the mugs!
Yes, she did, a pop bottle was her sprinkling bottle too. Vanna is such a character, I fall more and more in love with her all the time. Blessings Kedra. xoxo
Always enjoy Willard’s visits, nice to have him pop in! My goodness sakes, your mugs are beautiful, well done, and “Made in England” makes them very special too! Welcome to California hug to you and Joe! Happy Birthday and hugs to your beautiful Mom! xoxoxo
I have so many items I want to starch now! 🙂 Thanks for the tips! Have a safe and fun trip to Cali!
Enjoyed the reminder about old-fashioned starching. My mom used to do this too. My dad’s uniform shirts could practically stand by themselves, but they never seemed to get dirty or stained just because of the starch. I am in love with the china cups. Safe travels for you and Joe.
This first day of my “getaway”…and the very first thing I did was read “Willard”! Such a lovely way to kick off the week! I would love to wi one of your beautiful mugs!!♡♡
LOVE your beautiful mugs, perfect for tea with one of your books. I think it is time to reread them again as they are so uplifting.
Love, Love Love the mugs. GJ
I started my day with the Willard. Loved it! I have to tell you that I somehow missed your blog about your father’s passing. When I read something recently I thought, oh no. So, I went back and reread blogs and I am just so very sorry, Susan. My heart aches for you and I have sent up little prayers for you as you mourn his loss. It also gives me a glimpse into what I will have ahead of me at some point down the road. My dad is 85…and the most precious thing in the world. My relationship seems so similar to what you have. I know that day is getting closer and you will give me strength through your words but I have dissolved into tears this past weekend so much…for you. But, The Willard’s closing paragraph was a gift to me and I just want to thank you so much for your strength, your wisdom, and the love I feel you give each of us individually. Oh…and I need to also tell you that in moving my parents out of their home this past fall, I brought home many, many many Gladys Tabor books and a big carton of the Friends of Gladys Tabor newsletters. My mom (and, thus, my dad were huge fans). I think I told you that I have a picture of my mother and me (big as a barn awaiting any day my third child) in the front yard of Still Meadow in 1992. I lived in Connecticut then and my mom had come to help me with the baby (and two lively little boys). I thought of you when I packed all of that up in Indiana and brought it back here to Atlanta. Have a great time in California. I am heading there this week. I can’t wait to see green!!! P.S. How do I see any responses you might post to my comments without scrolling through everything…or maybe there isn’t a way…no problem
It’s that unavoidable ticking clock . . . a page turns, and the world is different, and unfortunately there is nothing that can be done, but feel the love probably more than ever before. Enjoy him while you have him, know you will never lose him. As for finding your comments, I forget how it’s done, but others who comment do know, and will probably leave the instructions on how to do it right here!
I would love to win a mug! Loved the Willard and love your blog! Safe travels.
So excited to see a Willard post in my mailbox this am – so look forward to the news! Those china cups/mugs are darling – I am lusting after all of them – can’t make up my mind! Would love to win one and will def. preorder one soon. Safe trip – train travel is so much fun – first time my bestie and I took a long trip on train we got the bunkbed sleeper w/ toilet next to door – needless to say we upgraded next trip! We did have a good laugh over it though and the dining car and being lulled to sleep by the train – good memories.
How lovely to be able to visit w/ your Mom too. Enjoy oxox
I received my Willard email for the first time and I love it!!! And your mugs are delightful!!!
I love your new mugs! Will you be writing a new book this year?! Happy happy birthday to your mum!
Going to start one when we get home!
Seems like I’ve been waiting forever for your email. Really brightened my day. Love the mugs!!
I loved your sleigh ride post, Susan! What a wonderful way to spend Valentine’s Day! Your new mugs are darling. Have fun on your train trip and enjoy celebrating your mother’s birthday with your family and friends!
Love, love those dear mugs!
I’ve been using that starch for years and , yes, it is hard to find in stores. Love your mugs designs ❤️. Have a wonderful time with your Mother and friends. I vote for Amy Adams to star as “you” in your movie! She was so sweet in “Julie and Julia”, one of my fav 🎥. She can act very wistfully.
Good morning Susan – I just read your blog and Willard. What a wonderful and inspiring way to start my day! My heart skipped a beat when I saw your beautiful mugs! I have your teapot “A Proper Tea” by Lenox and I’m so in love with it! These mugs will be a great addition to my “collection”.
I hope you have a wonderful trip and birthday celebration with your mom!
BTW, can’t wait to see the movie!! I know it will be great!
Love your books, your blog, and these mugs!
Thank you for spreading love.
Delightful Vermont post! And I love the mugs. 🙂
Hello Susan!
Just registering to win one of your sweet mugs…and keeping my fingers crossed!
Safe traveling to California and back and many happy birthday wishes to your mother!
Love your blogs, art, and positive attitude! Have a safe trip west, and enjoy!
So excited for these mugs! I love large tea cups and these are adorable. Have a great time in California with your Mom and your friends.
Your happiness is contagious! Thank you for everything you do to include us in!
Susan, have a wonderful trip!! Many blessings to your mom on her birthday!!
I would love to be the lucky winner of a mug!! This is very exciting news!!
Dear Susan,
Love the new jacket; such beautiful colors! Also thank you for the great instruction on starching clothes. I have always used spray starch but your method will last much longer – such beautiful linen jackets!
I think your new cups will be lovely but alas they are out of my price range. I am on a fixed income and can only enjoy them from afar. They will be a hit this spring! Good for you!
Lovely mugs! Would love to add one to my collection!
Oh my…beautiful mugs. They would make getting out of bed on a chilly morning worth it:) Thank you for the beautiful, inspirational things you create and share with us. My Mom was unexpectedly widowed this past year and reading your books and blog posts never fail to lift her spirits and keep her motivated…..and she LOVES her morning coffee. I might have found her birthday present this year:) Mom, if you read this…please ignore….
I love your “In Love With Nature” teacup! I grew up on a sheep and pig farm in Michigan, and it reminds me of teatime with my grandma in our big, warm kitchen! Spring is my favorite season, full of possibilities. Thank you for making my heart happy!
Love all things Susan Branch & especially your new mugs. Would love to add to my collection! A dear friend who collected bone china, gave me a cup & saucer for my birthday one year & I was hooked!!
Just love the mugs and will need each one. So enjoy your blog and Willard’s.
We too are having a lovely early spring. Enjoy your trip to visit your mother.
Happy Birthday to her.
Oh Susan, I love to travel, when you are doing it for me!!!! Your new mugs are inspirational. Hope you enjoy your trip to CA.
Susan ~ love the new mugs!!! they are so precious.. I think tea would just taste better with these! So enjoyed the snow trip pictures.. my desire someday is to come up to your neck of the woods.. I have always been fascinated with that part of the country– I need to pull up a chair and sit on your island for a spell!!! Hope to win one of these lovely mugs.. keep up the beautiful work!
It can cure whatever ails you. xoxo
I am inspired to find liquid starch today! I hope you have a joyous birthday celebration with your mother. Thank you for sharing your talent with us….especially the new mugs!
The mugs are so wonderful I love everything about them. Thanks for making them
Your love of life is so uplifting, Susan. Thank you for sharing!
Truly beautiful mugs! And just the right size to wrap your hands around and savor the delicate aromas of your teas too.
As for the starch….I still iron things and starch them also. My grown-up children had to have their shirt collars standing up, as well as the creases in their jeans (livestock showmen required attire!). They weren’t stiff enough if you didn’t have to pull the fabric apart as you put them on. Memories!
Ha ha, I remember that too!
Every morning when I’m having my first coffee or tea, reading the newest comments and responses on your blog, I am again gobsmacked by the overwhelming connection women have with each other. We are the intuitive half of the species, so I think that Thread one of the Girlfriends mentioned is a real phenomenon. I think I respond too often directly to various comments, but they move me to do so. Debbie Vaky’s message of caring for her parents’ is so moving and touched me deeply. Every day I tuck away the love and wisdom of this group that you have assembled, Dear Susan. More Good Medicine 🙂
Hoping you, Joe, your beautiful mom and siblings are laughing and crying with joy!!!
Debbie in Tampa…for now
I know just what you mean Debbie. Stories can make you laugh and make you cry! I’ve noticed it since the beginning of my career. Before computers, I would receive snail mail letters with all the same kinds of wonderful stories. Which made me dream that someday there would be a way that all these wonderful people could meet. I felt like if everyone could read each other’s wonderful stories, we’d feel better about the world, knowing how much we all have in common. That’s the way it worked for me. Then a miracle happened, blogs started, and voila, here we are! Amazing! What a world!
I, one among 1000’s of Girlfriends, are so thankful that you “endured” until the internet blogs!! The only other blog I’ve been involved with led me to a fabulous woman my own age, married to the love of her life, who had a horrible trauma. I, among many others, stood by. She has stood by me with such good, wise advice and love, and a little bit of fun. She asked me to visit her in Utah this summer….wild horses couldn’t keep me away!!!! She inspired me to let my “Sparkle” shine….let the grey grow, and I absolutely love it!!
PLUS, Utah is gorgeous! That sounds wonderful Debbie! You sparkle definitely shines!
How fun! Your mugs are adorable!
Love the mugs! Especially In Love with Nature! Oh, I hope I win!
The mugs are lovely…..and I am one of the strange ones who loves to iron! And I love to use starch!
Your things are so lovely!
Loved the blog and all of the lace! Please tell your mother Happy Birthday. You are so lucky to still have her. Both of my parents have passed and I miss them so much. I absolutely loved your black lace bathroom curtains. You hardly ever see much lace trimmed with black with the white. So gorgeous! Where did you come across those? I would so love to win this time.
PS. Can’t wait to get the recipe for the orange marmalade cake! Looks yummy!
Have a wonderful trip Ms. Susan!
Judy Ann from Georgia
Love the mugs, especially the Country one. The article on starch reminds me of my Mom starching many items, she had to cook it first, Argo, maybe. She had a small sauce pan she would dip her fingers in and sprinkle them. When my girls were little we received many hand-me down dresses and I starched them, with a pop bottle with a thing you popped in the end. Would also put them in the refrigerator. Thanks for the memories. Linda
Your new cups are just lovely! And I love the fact that they’re made in England, too.
I love your new mugs! Thank you for a great Willard letter!
Dear Sue’
So happy to see that you are safe and sound in California with your Mom. I’m sure that she’s over the moon to have you there. I hope you get to skype her when you are in the Vineyard, or traveling all over the world. Love your new mugs. I’m sure you have an agent, but make sure you have someone looking out for your best interests when you have the movie negotiations. I think Maria von Trapp sold her story for less than $10,000 with no residuals, or spin offs or book and movie rights, or musical and play rights, or toy or coloring books… the possibilities are endless. They may also try to curb what you can put on your blog ect… you have a lot to consider. Sound of music should have made them a fortune, but they saw almost nothing from it. I hope you make enough to fund your travels from now on. And if you decide to capture them in more books and blogs, all the better. All the best to you both.
Love Sue
My mom has never gotten on board the computer band wagon. Basically, there will be no skypeing! We’re lucky she has an answering machine for her phone! Very good advice about contracts, etc. I’m not even close to that yet, so your thoughts are timely. Funding our travels to meet and greet with our Girlfriends, our investments into book publications, cup making, and so forth, is what we’ve been working toward. But we are very small. So we are slow. But we’re like the turtle and the hare, the little train that could, the energizer bunny, and what ever it is that takes a licking and keeps on ticking. Thank you Sue!!!
Dear Sue,
I’m glad that my thoughts may be of some help. I also feel that slow is good, it’s not good to rush into anything. Better to take your time and do a little research and bounce your thoughts off someone you trust. Also women have good intuition, and learn to follow their gut feelings. I know everything will work out in the end.
I also have a thought on another topic.
As you are in California , and have over a month to spend with your Mother, you may want to do something that I wish I could have done with my Mom. Hallmark makes recordable storybooks. You once mentioned that you wish you had saved more of your father’s voice messages on your phone so that you could hear his voice. You could choose a book that you like and have your mother read it, or you could read one page and she could read the next etc, etc. and then you would always have a way to hear your Mothers voice, if you could get hear to laugh or say I love you it would be even better. You could also do one for her, so she can hear your voice, and Joe’s anytime she wants.This is something I would recommend all the girlfriends do. They can also record themselves for their grandchildren. At Christmas time they have the night before Christmas recordable ones I think these books are fabulous.All my best.
Love Sue
Such a good idea . . . I record videos of my mom on my phone, then download them onto my computer. I did with my dad too. I have one of him, outside, so cute, kissing Jeanie, his wife, and because it’s on my computer, it’s forever. I have my mom blowing out candles, digging into her hot fudge sundae. We are so lucky these days!!
That’s great to hear, I’m so glad you have those….I’ve never thought of doing that. I’m going to have to learn how to use the video camera on my cell phone, and then how to download them onto my computer so I can do the same thing. Thank you for sharing that with me… Nighty night…Sue
Timex watches!!! the answer is Timex watches.
The mugs are just Darling, as is everything you do <3 And can I just say, I LOVE how you love your mom. It's so sweet <3
LOVE the new mugs Susan! It truly IS….the little things. Thanks oodles and oodles for sharing your “happy gene”-ness with us in so many ways. Wishing you the very very best time in CA!
I would love to win one of your new mugs!! Thank you for the opportunity to win a mug and for another great Willard.
A very happy birthday to your Mom and many more! The mug turned out beautifully. Isn’t it amazing what can be done? I have yet to win a drawing of yours, but I’ll definitely purchase your mugs. I LOVE mugs, and I won’t be able to resist yours – and I don’t feel badly about that at all:)
I just did my pre-order for the nature one…I also would love either of the other two versions!! Who can decide?? It is hard!
O-M-G, I loooove the mugs!
Happy Birthday, Happy Valentines, and Mother’s Day to ME
My new Love Cup made in England!
Good! I have no doubt whatsoever that you deserve it! xoxo
Your train rides always seem so wonderful. When I was 12 my brother 15 sister 9 and I traveled by train from LA to Toronto on the Santa Fe line. We had a great time traveling in coach. Back in the day children traveling alone were watched and helped by the Stewards. They held our Toronto train in Chicago and we we raced off the train down Union station to our wait train. We stayed in Canada with our grandparents for 3 months. Would love to travel by train again.
Love the new mug must get them for Wanda and Julie we will have a tea party with scones and jam.
Lovely story. My mom and her brother went from Iowa to California when they were young, and same thing, the stewards kept their eyes on them!
I want to try your starching method. It seems the spray starch just does not have the effect I want on certain items. Time to try new tricks!
Happy Birthday to your Mom!
The mugs are adorable! I would love to win one!