Rabbit-Rabbit Girlfriends! Good Morning! MUSICA It’s the glory of love!
Everything good here ~ so far it looks like it might not rain today! A minor miracle on this first day of June considering that it rained all May ~ but, so far, so good, it’s dawning with blue skies! 
Time to turn over the new page on our calendars ~ It’s tea! Perfect timing (how did I know?), because today I’m having twelve best friends for a Farewell Tea Party Twine for a girlfriend who’s moving south! I’m hoping that maybe, just maybe, if the sky stays blue, we’ll be able to have it outside under the arbor!
Our party is at four, so I doubt we’ll need the twinkle lights. But every time I look at that little spot, I think of Mr. Bowditch, who I never met, the man you lived here before us, who built the arbor with his own hands back in the 1950s. He doesn’t know it, but he has given us YEARS of pleasure. He and his wife called the arbor the “Teahouse of the Vineyard Moon.” Romantic people that they were.💞
But I’m still waiting to see if the picnic table gets dried out enough! We cleaned up the dining room just in cases. Jack’s been helping me get ready, but we still have a lot to do. I know everyone is waiting for the drawing . . . So I thought I’d say hello and give us one last day to make sure everyone is signed up for our Luv-lee beautiful cup Giveaway.
Be sure to sign up your sister, your daughter and your mom! And you! Do it today ~ just leave a comment below and you’ll be entered ~ because Vanna (our very interesting “random number generator”) is on her way back to the Island so we’ll try to do the drawing tomorrow depending on what kind of shape she’s in. 😜 You know how she is. (If none of this makes sense to you, read down the next post ~ for drawing explanation.) Until then, off I go . . . Let’s see, where’s that recipe . . . Oh yeah . . .
I’ll take lots of pictures today, between setting the table, cutting chives in the garden for the tender little egg salad sandwiches and dipping the perfectly ripe strawberries into melted chocolate. Ahhh, tea parties. How I love thee. Have a wonderful day everyone . . . It’s true, to know you is to love you!
P.S. Just saw this photo, wasn’t Jack the sweetest little kitten? He’s under the bed in the Peter Rabbit room in this photo, on his first day home. All ears and mustache! Intelligence shines out around the eyes, don’t you think? 😘
I also love tea parties. By myself or with others. Such fun!
I AM MOVING TO ARIZONA FROM ILLINOIS SO PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED MY MAILING ADDRESS IN CASE I WIN!!!
JACK IS ONE COOL TUXEDO CAT.
What a gorgeous evening photo of the arbor!
Just begging for a party
Love the tea party preps and Jack. What a lovely companion he is!
I find peace in sitting down with my cup of morning (or afternoon) tea.
I recently tried to clean and reorganize my craft room when we came across my Susan Branch Color Paint Sets.
I’m so sorry to say thatI didn’t use them completely but since they’re water-based, I’m still able to use what is remaining.
Do you think you’ll ever market them again?
They’re such beautiful shades.
I only started reading your books this past year. It really hit home, as in 1983, new married, we moved to New England (1984), New Hampshire to be exact. It was the thrill of a lifetime, many different customs, foods, talk, made some great friends. When I started reading “Martha’s Vineyard, Isle of Dreams”, so many memories came flooding back, the strong, never ending winters, the black flies, fraps, cukes……thanks for the story, it was great. I did get to Martha’s Vineyard once for a quick trip. My best friend’s mom originally owned one of the gingerbread houses.
We love tea parties too. Soon I will be introducing my almost 3 year old grandson to them
Been reading teapot mysteries so I’m right in tune with you today. Hope you have a lovely tea party.
Love the blog. Thanks for a chance to win
Sign me up please, Nancy Newsom!❤️❤️❤️
My daughter Allison Cornwell and my daughter in law Amber Newsom! Thank you!☺️
My name is Nancy Newsom…hmm shows Nancy Neesom
Got you all!
I always look forward to your posts. They are always upbeat and cheerful. I feel like I’m visiting you and we’re old friends!
We had tea parties when I was a kid. The best part was drinking out of the teapot spout.!!! I’m sure you are much better behaved.
I dearly love these cups and ANYTHING you make or color. I have all of your books, they’re so pretty in my kitchen, I treasure those before anything in there! These cups would be used well and go with the decor also, and I’d give one as a gift!
Thank you for the chance to win them. They’re beautiful 🙂
Oh lovely Jack! what a precious little kitten he was. Yes it’s time for tea, having some right now with a chocolate muffin. Thanks for the chance to win! Hope Vanna Gets back on time!
Hi Susan
Have the best time ever with all your friends, I adore tea parties***
deezie
Hi Susan, I have been in London for a month in this glorious spring. Attended the famous Chelsea Flower Show last week which was glorious. Another two weeks to go and home for a little while. Love the photo of Jack as a kitten. He is still beautiful. Have a nice tea party.
I adore your books and have just lent one out to one of my friends. I may re-read them this summer! You brighten my day. Thanks!!
Love tea parties. My two nieces took my sister and I to a quaint little tea house in San Francisco to celebrate our birthdays. So fun and enjoyable.
What a lovely way to begin June! Makes me want to stop everything and sit down and have tea with you…oh! Wait a minute… I just did as I saw you in my inbox. Got all comfy, gathered my beverage, and enjoyed a moment’s reprieve with you! Thank you for the gift of the breather an the visual eye candy!
Jack was adorable as a kitten and he is so handsome as an adult. But then again, I haven’t met an animal I didn’t like yet. Enjoy your tea party! The weather should hold.
Oh! I purchased my first mug late when the sets were sold out. At least I was able to get one (The Little Things) and I LOVE it! Everyone in my house argues over it. I need more!
Hi Susan, Your tea party sounds terrific! I hope you have a delicious time. I want enter my daughter, Juli in the drawing for a tea cup. Maybe I should add my dear friend Grandma Joanne in the drawing. She used to invite us to tea parties every Christmas.
Tea parties are wonderful!
xoxo
Susan, I love your new mugs. They are so beautiful and unique. My dear Mother is turning 60 in July, what a nice present one of these lovelies would make for her.
Happy Spring from beautiful SLO!
I LOVE my coffee cup, but it needs a mate! It holds a HUGE amount of coffee. I actually hand wash it every day so it’s ready for me every morning AND because there’s a wonderful man in my house that sometimes jams things into the dishwasher and I couldn’t bear it chipped or broke 🙂 Can’t wait for the next edition of the mugs!
A tea party and a kitty picture- what more does one need? Fingers crossed for no rain.
Enjoy your tea party! One of my favorite things to do!
Susan, My husband and I love to have tea and “biscuits” in the afternoon. I would love to have one of the new mugs to make our tea a real occasion.
Have a wonderful Tea Party! Off to England this month and a visit to the Lake District and Beatrix Potter’s home- because of your marvelous book! Thank you!
Ah tea parties. I haven’t been to one or had one since my mother passed away. She was an avid tea party thrower and even in the last few months of her life she served tea and cookies to the Hospice helpers and nurses. They often told her that they would make the tea, but she wouldn’t hear of it. Mom made her scotch cake cookies by hand every week. And once a month she would make lemon curd or apple butter or fruit jam to go with the miniature scones she baked fresh every few days. Tea time gave her the burst of energy she’d need to set out the cups, milk and sugar, and the wee plates for her guests. She loved the afternoon doorbell and invited anyone (UPS driver, mail person, odd salesman) in to tea with her.
It’s so nice to know that the tradition continues in homes throughout the world. I miss our afternoon “cuppa,” but I must admit I’ve lost a few pounds since I stopped the mid day sweet treats! However, I recently bought a quarter flat of fresh pick berries from a local farm, and did dip some in chocolate for a special dinner treat! They were injected with Amaretto. MMMMMMMM….GOOD! A salute to summer. As I’m writing this, you are just sitting down for your farewell tea. I can hear the delightful chatter all the way to California. Enjoy!
I adore your work, I know it must feel wonderful to be so talented. That way you can share your precious ideas with others. And that is the most fun part of all.❤️❤️❤️🇨🇱
Thank you Jeanne … I feel really lucky, but other than that, I feel normal, like all of us talented people!
I love your tea pots!
It sounds like you’re having a delicious tea party at Teahouse of the Vineyard Moon. What a delightful way to celebrate the beginning of summer.
Yes, Jack looks like a very wise kitten! I love that little guy, and I am a DOG person!
Enter me, please!
Jack is adorable…he makes me smile every time. What a cute baby he was…all grown up now! Your teapots are gorgeous…crossing fingers for good weather…and a win with a. mug? Keep up your beautiful work…so inspiring.
Oh tea parties! How I love thee.
My daughter and I love tea parties too 💖💖💖. We are waiting hopefully for your tea party book. 😊
Little baby Jack. So sweet. 🙂
I hope the weather cooperates with your lovely tea party under the “Teahouse of the Vineyard Moon.” Jack looks as if he is a fine little helper … such a handsome fellow. Enjoy the day.
Rabbit rabbit back to you! Lovely weather in Ohio too! Thinking of you having that wonderful tea party and wishing you and the girlfriends all the best. It’s so hard when one leaves.
Me and my goaties Love tea parties too.
My choco lab puppy Beatrix Potter does too.
Love love love the darling tea cups. They just scream happy happy joy joy down in my heart💕💕
Hi Susan!
I want to have a tea party too! Thanks for the inspiration. My mom and I love you!
I enjoy very much what you write here.
This is my first time to tell you so. Hope your
tea party is rain free, what a lovely idea for
a good friend. Love how romantic the
Bowditches were.
What a wonderful idea to have a tea party so you can use your beautiful teapots!
And what an adorable picture of Jack!
Oh Susan, I so wish I were on the Vineyard so I could have a tea party with you under the arbor. Sounds delightful. For now, I will just sip my tea here in Maine with my kitty all curled up beside me. It rained here all May as well and threatened us earlier today, but I waved my magic wand and wished upon a star, clicked my heels together 3 times and it went around us!!!! No sun, but also, no rain! Hurray for June!!! I wish it could be June every month, except for September. I would smile everyday if that were true! Have a delightful day and please enter my daughter, Sarah Page, into the drawing for the cups, as well as myself, Beckie Page and my mom, Ellie Malone, and my sister, Teri Rader.
I remember only one other May in the last 18 years that it rained so much in May and was so cool. My shoes in the tiny room we slept in before the loft was done, turned green. Not Kidding!!!
I worry about the fruit and veggies, because the bees won’t work if it raining. One year, we had lots of summer squash, but they were all empty inside, and the apples were all weird.
Are you noticing many fewer bees, even in sunny weather? We are here in Franklin.
Debbie in Maine
Sure glad it’s not raining! Beautiful day for all! I would really like to win a teacup. Anxious to see pictures of the progress in the blue kitchen. Your post about de cluttering has encouraged me and given me hope. Have been reading Marie Kondo, which has helped some, but there is a certain amount of me that likes some of the cluttering things too much to part with them, forever. I am afraid that I will just start shopping at resale and acquire more to replace that which is gone. Heading to a wedding in Indiana for the weekend. I know we will come home with a treasure or two, how could we not?
My oldest daughter, Carey and I have been enjoying tea parties since she was old enough to drink from a cup! We still enjoy them today, whether it’s doing it ourselves or finding a new “tea” shop. Carey is 43 years old now and I’m…well quite a bit older, but nothing beats sitting with my “baby” girl and chatting over tea and treats!
I love tea and drink it everyday. What a treat to have one of your new designed
cups to drink from while I look at my SB calendar.
Thank you for your inspirational blog! Time to have a tea party! Thank you for the love that you send all of us, you are the best!
You deserve every bit of it!
Sigh….I wish your blog would go on and on. It’s like having a special visit with a treasured friend. I am about to finish reading your book, Martha’s Vineyard, Isle of Dreams. I limit the number of pages I can read each night because I don’t want the book to end. Thank you for sharing your journey with all of us. This book has been inspiring, enchanting, delightful in every way. The ribbon book mark, a unanticipated gift. Thank you, Susan Branch, you’re simply amazing.
Thank you Sue, that was so sweet of YOU!!! xoxox
Hi, Susan, do you possibly have any more of the mugs that say “Earth Love” on them, and that I think have a little Mama Lamb on them? My mother was wanting one and I was going to get it for her, but now don’t see it listed. Please tell me you haven’t run out of them! Maybe I didn’t look in the right place?
Thanks so much for your help!
I’m so sorry Cheyenne, but I do think we’ve run out of them. Best way to find out for sure is write [email protected]/~susanbs3/susanbranch/. Fingers crossed!
Hello, Susan,
I was thinking as I read about your tea for twelve best friends, “When Susan moved to the Island she did not have one best friend there.” That has certainly changed. You have friends EVERYWHERE now, and many on the Island! I rejoice with you and I do hope you are able to have your tea on the arbored “Teahouse of the Vineyard Moon.”
Hugs, Paula
It’s true Paula, how lucky is that? Thank you for being here!
What a wonderful way to welcome June! And yes, Jack – like my pal, Jackson – is a very handsome and intelligent persona. Best to you and yours on the Island.
During this last long winter, I too, have been creating white space. The last sale will occur this weekend. Resolved that whatever may be left, is not re-entering the house! My files have been completed since March! What a fiasco that project was. Sad to say, I had our taxes back to 1992. I had my mom’s files, (and all her other earthly possessions), as I was blessed to have her living with us the last 8 years of her life. Mom passed in 2014. This was a project that waited too long for me!
How freeing the space feels to my very soul. I cannot allow myself the privilege of sewing if there is viewable clutter, so, be gone with you clutter. And I rest easy, knowing the drawers have white space too!!!!
Susan, you have been a delightful friend, an inspiration to me for many years.
As you continue in the creation of the white space, I will cheer you on from Ohio.
Please do enter me into the drawing for your sweet mugs?
💝
Hello Susan Branch! I would love a beautiful cup for my beautiful mom 🙂
I’m so glad it worked, and your first blog to come via my email arrived today. Precious picture of little Jack under the bed and perfect lighting; you caught quite an expression. I wonder how long it took him to come out from under the bed. I recall my new kitty from an animal shelter hid for over a week. We had her for 18 wonderful years. Your arbor is beautiful and its history; hope you can hold your party there!
Hope to take my younger daughter to tea this summer, to a lovely tea room in Waltham, we try to do it each year. We get dressed in our summer best and take High Tea. Look over all the goodies in the shop, and enjoy each other’s company. Sending wishes that your party is splendid, the weather cooperates, the berries are perfect, the tea just right, and the company is everything you wish. Then you can tell us all about it.
Best,
Rosemary
I’ve been snipping chives lately to put in potato salad. Much nicer than onion in my opinion. The tea party sounds fun and the giveaway a generous one. I’d love to win — thanks for the opportunity!
Hi Susan!
I saw your lovely cups at my sister’s house yesterday! I love them! They are so pretty and elegant! I am going to place an order for them right away! Why am I such a procrastinator? Sigh….. Anyway, it’s a lovely, sunny day on Long Island also. It’s wonderful to see that round, yellow thingy up in the sky! Time to get more gardening done!
Be well!
Oh Jack is such a darling. Have a wonderful tea party!
What a wonderful thing, Tea Party with Friends. I am sure you will create a special time for your departing friend…maybe she will decide not to move away from you!
Hi Susan,
I agree with you, tea parties are such a fun way to spend time with dear friends, one of my favorite ones I’ve given was to teacher colleagues at the end of a school year, at my little condo. Believe it or not, most of them had never been to a tea!!!! I gave them a limit of 15 minutes for “shop talk” about school, then said, “For Pete’s sake, let’s talk about something else besides school, there is a whole world out there! Let’s get to know something else about each other!!!” The small group of us drank 6-8 pots of tea, ate scones, lemon curd and strawberry jam, and my homemade version of clotted cream, which was a whole lot like your carrot cake icing (!), quiche, darling little shaped sandwiches someone had made and brought, with her hand-lettered sign done with calligraphy that said “Pimento cheese.” We spent the most pleasant afternoon! I used my grandmother’s Johnson Brothers Rose Chintz dishes, that I have seen that you have also, the other grandmother’s antique lace tablecloth, and lots of cranberry dishes that coordinated from other English china makers. It’s a wonderful memory!
Thank you for brightening my day, would love to have tea with these mugs soon!
June 1st, yay for June. Our son gets married at our cottage on Lake Ontario on June 10th. Pray for good weather for us. Hope Vanna picks ME!
I have tea parties with my grandkids. We use the peter rabbit tea set. Please send us your rain. Florida is on fire and we need here so badly… it’s always lovely to see your dishes and home.. I’m married 51 years this month and it feels like yesterday we married.. so enjoy your time in your home with Joe.. happy summer Susan – Julia in Cape Coral
Tea parties and so much fun and the food is always delicious! Having tea in your new mugs would be wonderful.
Cannot wait for the strawberry moon – rain has finally left the Midwest behind and we are able to enjoy our gardens and patios in the afternoon and evenings. Hope your tea party is a go under brilliant blue skies!
Tea parties are some of my favorite memories of my granddaughters as little ones.
Tea parties are a romantic getaway from reality, aren’t they? A bonus is the party gathers in the garden. Ahhhhhh! lovely.
How I wish I had a lovely relationship with my mother (who was and is emotionally abusive). But, I’m I’m fortunate that I’ve had dear friends/mother-figures, who’ve become family, even if my birth family told the story at every family gathering that I was not wanted and such a shame I survived the birth when my twin brother didn’t. Always found your stories of family closeness so charming and wonderful. 🙂
Well, they ran your life for a time, but now they don’t. You are loved. And they gave you an Elf name, and that’s one good thing, and now you can go on and be one for life, and the heck with them. xoxoxoxoxoxo
I also love tea parties. Brings back fond memories of my childhood.
Got to go to my first official high tea while in Ireland a few weeks ago…and thought of you, Susan! Also every time I was taking a picture…just remembering the wonderful picture of England that you and Joe took. You made a wonderful trip even more enchanting…thank you!
I got my tea cups! Wrapped them in the blue Martha’s Vineyard Toile wrapping paper from Spoonflower (the nicest wrapping paper ever!) and got to watch my mom and sister so carefully unwrap theirs to save the amazing paper. We will now plan a tea party! Now we need more of the cups so we can have more ladies to enjoy the beautiful cups with us!
Dear Susan,
“Happy June!”…to you too! I was just about to bake the marmalade cake recipe when your email blog announcement arrived in my inbox. Have a wonderful tea party…the perfect day for one! Hugs. (Hugs to Jack too… he still has his sweet kitten face.) ~Charl
One of the delights of life is going to a tea party. The rain and snow has given way to beautiful early summer days here in Colorado. I’m planting flowers and looking forward to admiring them with a cup of tea afterwards on the porch swing.
Would love to have one of your beautiful cups for my tea.
I love tea parties too! I’m in Maryland and we are finally having a dry day too! Lots of rain in May for sure. Enjoy your tea party and friends. And oh, I would love to win a mug!
I hope some hats will be attending!💐
Hope the twine party went well – such a good idea!
Would love the opportunity to own another of your gorgeous mugs.
Tradition of tea parties go way back in my family, and I’ve passed it on to the next generation. Can’t have too many, or too often, if not as a group, Just by yourself. Calming, flavorful and so feminine.
Loved your cheery note today as I was involved with doctors on the telephone (press one for…) I have a favorite drawing that I got in England. It shows a family of rabbits around the table and the mother rabbit is cutting up a giant carrot. Teatime at the Rabbit house
Jack is too stinkin’ cute in that picture!! But then he is still quite adorable! Who would have guessed we would all fall in love with him!! Your tea sounds delightful!! I LOVE your pink lusterware teapots! So pretty!! I do hope the rain stays away and you can enjoy each other under the romantic arbor!! I am sure it will all be delish!! Enjoy!!
Love, love, love the Jessica poem! A perfect excuse to go make myself a tea party! 😍
Love, love, love any and all your posts, but especially the ones with Jack in them. He is precious.!
Sounds fun, would love to be there! Jack was such a cute kitten and is now a handsome gentleman.
I would be in heaven if I were to win one of Susan’s mugs!!! Love you Susan Branch!!! Donna (Idaho)
Your tea party preparations sound wonderful. Hope your weather is as pretty as our Bay Area (CA) afternoon is. Have fun!
Your cups are lovely!!
I remember going to a birthday party for my niece. She was about 5 and it was held at a little tea room designed for such parties. There were hats and dresses and boas and gloves and beads oh my ! all for the little girls to dress up for their birthday tea. What fun we all had. And yes Jack has matured quite a bit ! Enjoy your tea !
In England everything stops for tea !
There is nothing better than a moon, friends and a gazebo!
I love your new mugs! I hope you keep making them.
Oh my goodness! Thank you for this fun contest! I love reading your books and blog! It’s always very uplifting!
Young Jack was a handsome kit!
Would love to receive one of your beautiful mugs! Enjoy your tea party! Take care.😊💕
Jack was a beautiful kitten and has grown to a wonderful, lovely cat. Such a helper! Hope your party was great. Greetings from Chuck, the Siamese and Ivy, the Border Collie.
My husband and I just had a fabulous high tea at Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey) on Tuesday! Wonderful experience…great weather, views of English countryside and scones!
Love the picture of little Jack and the rabbit!
I agree…the arbor IS the perfect spot for a tea party. I’m sure it will be beautiful no matter where you have it. Enjoy & good luck to your friend on her southern migration.
I’m signing up my mom too! We love to spend time together and a tea party is perfect !
The thought of your arbor makes me swoon! I have seen many of your photos from gatherings there. Just enchanting in every way! Even of you can’t be put there today I know there will be many an island soiree over the summer. Enjoy every sip amd nibble today!
Leslie in Maine