If you haven’t gotten your Willard yet, you will soon! It began going out Tuesday morning (that’s today!), so everyone should have it by Friday. There are a few surprises in there, I don’t want to give them away, so in the meantime . . . MUSICA! Let’s travel a bit, shall we? Good old comfy armchair travel. Let’s take our kitty with us.
But first, Oh Dash! Oh Victoria! Oh Lord M! Prince Albert and his selfish, cruel “Uncle Leopold!” Tell me no secrets and I’ll tell you no lies. Sunday night’s Victoria was a teary one. I did like the puppy though, all was not lost.
A cold and dreary wet day it is out here in the wild Atlantic ocean. But I have my wee cup of Constant Comment in my Castle Cottage cup, the fire is burning, can’t really ask for anything more. I thought I might take us to Scotland today! I hear lots of you are going to Scotland, or might go, or want to go, so if you do, I thought I’d show you a wonderful castle we stayed in, maybe you would like to stay there too. So off we go to the land of clans, lochs, lairds, lads and lasses, Bonny Prince Charlie, Outlander, and Balmoral, the beloved home of Queen Victoria.
It was late evening when we went looking for the two rooms that our friend Elizabeth had “found online.” We were traveling together, Joe and I, Elizabeth and Mike ~ she had no idea what this place would be like and neither did we. But how could we go wrong, we were together and having a great time.
Through tunnels of Scottish trees we went looking for a sign that said “Stravithie” on it. It was out there somewhere, so we were told! We’d traveled up from Edinburgh that day, the long way, along the Fife coast, stopping to eat, walk along the beach, pick up sea glass, go to a fishing museum . . . it’s where the cutest little fishing villages are, all festively criss-crossed with bunting flapping in the wind ~ now we were stopping overnight on our way to St. Andrews.
I was crazy about Edinburgh, everything I loved about York, there was twice as much of it in Edinburgh . . . the red line on this map traces the world famous Fife Coast where we’d been that day.
We probably passed it twice, but finally we quit talking and started concentrating, and there it was. What a nice little sign we all thought, very low key, and a cute little guardhouse too. So far, so good!
We turned down the drive . . . the lovely drive . . . Not too fancy, kind of real . . . the suspense is building, what will we find?????
This was our first glimpse of the house . . . ooooh, aaaah . . .
We drove around to the front, and this is when we began to call it a castle. Isn’t it the MOST? Couldn’t Jane Eyre be living in that pointed turret? We were saying to Elizabeth, “Where did you say you found this?” The thrill of discovery! You really never know what you might stumble upon . . . 
The Laird of the Manor, David Chalmers, with his cute Scottish accent, came out to welcome us. We were already peering into the hall, at the doors, the heads and horns on the walls, the lamps. What mysteries lie ahead?
I thought I would show you a better photo of David. Such a very nice man! And he knows all the best restaurants!
So into the front hall we went. I loved the lamp, I loved the ceiling trim and the little bit of green. I loved the whole thing. This is David’s home, he lives here, on 30 acres of gardens and a river with his wife and two children, so it’s a home they love to share with others, because as you can imagine, it’s fascinating!
I don’t know what they call this long, deep wood-paneled room, but there is the very old head of an alligator up on top of that dresser. The hunt room, perhaps. Leathery and manly, perhaps the smoking room.
I took photos of everything! Pretty lamp, pretty molding.
The dining room was filled with old carved furniture and things from days gone by.
Elegant old china and cut glass and silver . . .
Mrs. Chalmers came in a little later . . . we could hear one of their children practicing the piano somewhere in the house. Made it even more perfect.
Very much a family home. “My parents gave it to me.” That’s what David said when we asked how he came to live here. Of course they did!
Off we went to our separate wings to see our rooms . . . Joe and I climbed the red stairs in the turret . . .
looking up as we climbed . . . those are stairs. How did they do that? We don’t know. (I take that back, I’m sure Joe knows, but it’s not even light out yet, he would not want me to wake him to get this question answered!) My job is to admire curves and shadows.
Down this hallway-sitting room we went . . . loving the furniture,
Loving the fabric . . .
Loving the lamp . . .
Loving all the lamps!
Into our charming room with a view of the lawn and the river,
. . . framed by the heavy, lined drapes you find everywhere in the UK.
We came in through the hall on the right, the bathroom is off that hall, and the kitchen is through the door on the left … We each (meaning each couple) had our own kitchen. I’m happy, Joe’s happy, everyone is happy!
Perfectly appointed, all you need, bright and clean. . .
And more . . . they’d left everything we could possibly want for breakfast, Scottish bacon, ham, fresh eggs, sweet rolls, bread, butter, jam, tea, milk, juice, yogurt and cereal, a feast! And the table was set . . .
So pretty in front of the window . . .
And the view . . . How did Elizabeth ever find such a place?! Must hang out with her more!
We unpacked, went out to dinner to a wonderful restaurant David suggested, and toasted Elizabeth, and our friendship, and Scotland, and life and all good things!
And came back to the castle under this beautiful moon . . .
XXX
The next morning, of course we had to go for a walk, across the lawn and along the river we could see from our bedroom windows.
On a path through the woods. The perfect antidote to modern times.
Let’s to church! as they said in Shakespeare in Love. Yes, let’s! A lovely quiet spot out in the middle of nowhere with a beautiful old sleepy graveyard.
I imagine this walled lawn may have been a vegetable garden at one time. But I was most curious about the little rock sitting on the stone. There was something on it.
I came closer . . .a small piece of slate or maybe granite with something scratched into it:
My imagination says it may have been here since 1993. But if I let myself go, maybe 1593. Or maybe, stretching, just plain 93, as in Druids. We don’t know, but we didn’t touch it, left it as it was for other lucky travelers to happen upon. I automatically think very highly of the person who put it there. Little magic-maker. Hope she’s reading this. Love is the Law. Truly, it should be.
Back through the ancient wood the merrie folk did go.
We climbed a hill and came upon these worn stone steps and, oddly, that hole filled with water (I guess, needless to say, no one tasted it). 😜 Unmarked. No explanation. A hot tub for fairies? A little last-resort bathtub? (One of our Girlfriends suggested it was a “tail wash for dragons!”😂) But why here when there is a perfectly good river nearby? We had no idea. We saw no hose bib. I know it rains a lot here, but this much?
It’s perched on a kind of ledge, actually, the entire thing is rock. You could step behind those ferns on the left, walk off the edge and fall, maybe 20 feet? (I’m not good at falling distances.) There’s a very old, moss-covered, slippery-looking stone stairway to the bottom of the ravine that no one wanted to go on. But the boys wanted to see how deep the hole was. Nothing pulled Mike in, which was good. I stayed about this far away from it the whole time wishing I had my dangerous mastiff at my side.
And again, an answer from one of our Girlfriends. It’s a Druid’s well! It’s an actual thing. You can read more about it HERE! Fun!
Flowering things grew wild from the rocks. Because it’s Scotland. Did you know the national animal for Scotland is the Unicorn? Oh yes. Magical Scotland, land of legends and ghosts.
It was a wonderful time. If you would like to stay in a castle in Scotland, you can, so easily. Go to www.stravithiecastle.co.uk. Or write [email protected] or phone 01334 880251 It’s close to lots of nice things. And tell David we said Hello!
As promised in the new WILLARD, a Giveaway! This England, this green and pleasant land, this cup. For thee. And the book . . . a signed copy of A Fine Romance. That’s one.
And behind door number two, the new Spring cup, and one of my brand new cross stitch kits for Home Sweet Home, because they kind of match, and go together. Also for thee. Two giveaways! They won’t arrive from England until the first of April, so you’ll have to wait for spring. I’ll be away, but Sheri will make sure you get them the moment they arrive. All you need to do to sign up for both giveaways is leave a comment at the bottom of this post, where you see the teeeeeny tiny word that says, “comments,” click there, say anything, and voila, you’re in the drawing! I’ll contact you if you win, but you can come back in a few days to see if Vanna chose your name. Life is good!
Must go now . . . Say Goodbye to my muses, these . . .
And this one. I’m thinking of changing his name to Dash. Beloved puppy of mine. Have a wonderful day dear ones. Keep in touch! There are adventures and more surprises ahead! 
As usual, just delightful magic from you dear Susan. I love to pull up my emails and read about what you’re up to. Really brightens my day. Oh and this one especially because my ancestors came from Scotland. To this day, I can still hear their Scottish “slang” words. So endearing to my heart.
I chuckled about you saying that you weren’t good at falling twenty feet.
love the castle, pictures , reminds me of Downton abbey, when is your next trip. Your cups are beautiful. Ever thought of making a Childs dish place setting , like bunnkins, or Beatrice potter. I know it would be adorable. Always love traveling to Italy , but with your travels, it has me wanting to go to England, Scotland, castles and dreams.
Wonderful post, as always. Your posts are ways for me to “travel”, as my husband is a confirmed homebody. I need to find some travel buddies. Hope to win one of your beautiful give-aways!
What delight each blog creates, vicariously traveling over hill and dale with you, Susan. I always come away smiling! Thank you.
Dear Sweet Susan,
One of the many things I love about you, is how you inspire me to stretch my mind and joyously entertain possibilities that I otherwise never would.
My husband Mike(the one that when talking about you to me refers to you as “Your Lady”, and teases me that your assistant answers our comments STINKER!!)and I both come from Basque families. My heart rests in Spain. That’s my go to place. But your amazing blog of your trips, and enchanting Fine Romance have sparked a desire to spend time in Great Britain.
Thank you for all your contagious courage to dream and determination to make the dream come true!
❌⭕️❌⭕️,
Tawni MacUrrutia in Lodi, Ca😂
Susan, love this post, love all your posts. Scotland is such a beautiful country, was there once traveling with my husband. You brought so many things back to my mind. Thank you for it all!!!!!!
Wow, What a home run this overnight castle proved to be!!! I had the privilege to visit Edinburgh for two days and it was gorgeous, friendly, and full of history and British traditions. It was fantastic that you got to drive to your destination and enjoy that gorgeous countryside too. It truly was a magical surprise and one that would have been like a dream to experience. Thanks for sharing!!
Just think, this is just the tip of the iceberg for what adventures are waiting ahead for you this year. I am so glad I will be having a back seat with all the other GFs for this next epic trip!! WooHoo!! Dust off your passports, Lassies!!
Wow, two blogs and a Willard! Loved this post the most…I would love to be able to visit Scotland, from whence my ancestors came. Why would they leave that? If they had stayed I might be living in a castle and have you visit! One can always dream. . .
Thanks for another beautiful adventure.
Love, love this post. Hoping to do the English countryside and Scotland one day soon. My bestest friends just did 3 weeks in Ireland this past year and it was wonderful according to their accounts. Saving your information on this castle for the future.
I feel your pain for Victoria ….poor Dash! Knew that was coming. I cried through most of the episode. Lord M…..so handsome and deathly! How bad could life be if you have “Albert”!!
Thank you for this beautiful start to the day! It is as if we traveled to that amazing Scottish castle with you. I am a huge long time fan as many here are, and can’t wait for the new cups, especially Jack’s cup 😻 Good luck with the calendar deadline also. They are my staples every year. If you have any say in the matter, may I ask pretty please for the plastic cover to return to the 2 year pocket calendar? The pockets are so handy for stamps, lists and such. God bless you for bringing so much beauty and delight to your fans!
Write to the manufacturer … it’s on your pocket calendar. I have already complained, but I think they would listen to you much more than they do to me! Thank you Sue!
I will do that! Thanks so much. Safe and happy travels to you!
Wow, Susan! That’s a LOT o’magic packed into one wonderful little blog post! Thanks ever so much for sharing with us!
Dear Susan,
What a beautiful post! Thank you for taking us to Scotland with you. Reading your blog always brings a peaceful heart. And I love your books. Can’t wait for the next one!
❤️Wow! Just started my day with a trip to Scotland! Thank you, Susan!❤️
Wonderful post! Let us know if you find out what 93 means!
As always, thank you for sharing love and beauty with the world! Blessings and peace to you.
I truly enjoyed traveling with you, Susan. Thank you so much for sharing your adventure with us.
Thank you…that was a fun trip to take while eating breakfast! Love when my day starts off with one of your posts!
Can’t wait for your posts from Ireland!
Lovely way to start my day – a quick trip to Scotland! Thank you Dear Susan!
I’d like to visit Scotland in 2018 !
Amazing trip, just perfect. I love how you explore the little things. It’s these little treasures that make our day, our travels, shine light in our lives!! I agree with the quote, and read it from last year’s calendar as well, ‘we can never be grateful enough’. What a perfectly magical trip, thank you for the amazing pictures and details of what hides between the lines, which would surely be missed by a plain ole travel agent! Safe travels Susan and Joe. I also am glad to be entered in your fun giveaway.
Hi Sue,
I’m waiting for Willard and loving Scotland.
Thanks,
Lillian
My dream is to stay in a castle.Susan, thank you for sharing your wonderful experience and I’m looking forward to reading your next book.
My dream is to stay in a castle. Susan, thank you for sharing your wonderful experience.
Someday I will go to Scotland! I love the mugs! I collect sheep figurines and would especially like the spring one!
What a LOVELY post! Look at all this wonderfulness you have had hiding up your shirtsleeve all this time! I am so glad you peeked in there and pulled it out to share with all of us. I hope that I can someday take a trip across “the pond” to see some of the loveliness for myself that you have shared with us.
Great post as always. I am hoping that your next trip will result in a new book??? Fingers crossed! I own all of your books (duplicates of a couple) I need to start on tea cups…oh dear…another compulsion
Wonderful reading and dreaming of fabulous places. Definitely putting on my bucket list. Looks like we have almost the same collection of Beatrix Potter figurines. Looking forward to your trip and posts. Have a wonderful time.
What a wonderful post! Thank you for the peek into your Scotland castle adventure. I LOVE the new This England cup! We are headed to England for the first time ever in June, in large part to the inspiration I received from your book A Fine Romance. We are staying in a cottage for a few days and I can’t wait to explore the public footpaths. I only wish we were going to be there for your gathering in June.
Much love and warmth to you on this cold winter day!
Wonderful tour, thank you so much! Beautiful pictures, and great prizes!!! Meow to Jack, and I need to go for a walk now….but it sure won’t look like your walk!!!!! Your blog, always a super way to start the day! Hugs and many more thank yous!!!
I always feel so happy when I read anything written by you, Susan. Thank you for letting us live vicariously through you! This castle in Scotland was pure magic. They always say “photos can’t do it justice” so I can only imagine how truly magical it was there in person! This past weekend, I was able to treat my mother to afternoon tea at a lovely little café here in Brockport, NY. We had homemade scones with clotted cream, finger sandwiches and English trifle. We used linen napkins and real silver and even got to pick out our own teacups! For a few hours, I felt like I was living a “Susan Branch life”. It’s hard to put into words how much I enjoy your work. I’m just so grateful the universe had me stumble upon one of your calendars while in a gift shop in Vermont way back in 1992. You have a way of keeping me in touch with a side of myself that reminds me who I truly am. Have a wonderful day 💛
Perhaps the very nicest thing you could ever say to me. It’s a kindred spirit world around here. xoxo
LOVE it! Ab.so.lute.ly Love. It! Now I want Blue and White dishes! Sigh.
Yard sales!!! Good summer occupation!
Thank you, Susan, for sharing your lovely adventure with us. It’s good to be reminded there are many wonderful places and kind people in our world. You do such a good job of including us by word and picture, allowing us to return again and again.
Your mugs are lovely. When my daughter and I have tea together, she serves our tea in your mugs.
Love is the Law…this is so perfect and I think I will use it as a writing prompt for my students so they can imagine who it was that left this perfect stone for anyone to see and imagine! It would also make a great cross stitch or a bumper sticker! Thank you for the beautiful post of a dreamy place. xo
I can just imagine how many different and creative stories your kids will come up with!
Unicorns! Castles! Greenery! Loved it all. Thank you Susan for a lovely taste of Scotland.
xoxo. Pam
The prose, the drawings, the trip. Loved the new Willard! A vicarious journey for all of us.
Thank you Susan.
Lovely words for a lovely place. How fortunate we are to share! Thanks Susan for yourself
Absolutely pea-green with envy…lucky you, lucky Joe! Have a wonderful adventure and please share, when you find time, all that you get to experience!C Crossing my fingers for a similar trip one day as well…hubby says it’s quicker on a plane, I tell him I’ll just meet him at the dock when I get there! Thanks for letting us tag along!
What a delightful journey back in time with you. As always, a bright ray of sunshine on a rainy day. Thank you for keeping us in your pocket.
Lovely photos and post. Thanks for sharing.
The lamb mug is so sweet.
Another wonderful post Susan. I will be going to Scotland and Ireland this summer. Can’t wait. Hope to see the fairy pools and lairds too. Think I’ll go back and read it again my computer to get a closer look.😘
Your posts are lovely. I enjoy seeing your home and family and enjoy seeing places across the pond I will probably never visit. You are very talented and blessed!
What a lovely post to read in the middle of a dreary winter. Rich is always in the midst of planning the next trip, which usually includes a wee bit of the UK at beginning or end. Luckily for me, we are both Anglophiles so your dreamy posts get me through the off years. Thanks to you, I made sure we visited Chawton & Hill Top Farm. I’d love to win a mug or book, so count me in! Many thanks for your musings!
Susan: What a wonderful post….thanks so much. Pictures of Scotland are so lovely…and the castle….how inviting. Looking forward to the drawing.
What a treat this mini virtual trip to Scotland. Thank you for opening up the world to us to places we may not have to opportunity to see in person but that doesn’t stop us from dreaming. Looking forward to more after you set sail for the land of the highlanders.
Thank you so much for the wonderful tour😊 It has always been a dream of mine to tour England, Scotland and Ireland! If I never get there at least I have you to show me all of the beautiful, mysterious places that you have visited. Just beautiful!
Love your blog and Willard. It’s nice to travel and never leave home. Thank you.
What a perfect way to start my morning with Susan. I loved your trip It would be the perfect place to get away from busy life. I could only hope And then the give -aways – icing on the cake. I made the Full Moon Bookmarks for my daughters. Also made one for my granddaughter that lives in Ohio,(I am in St. Louis) We are going to look at the full moon each month and
pretend we are together. Perfect.. Thank you Susan.
Isn’t Victoria absolutely divine!?!? As is Scotland, thanks for the early morning travel.
Oh such fun! I love to armchair travel with you. You go to the *very* best places!
Love reading your Willard! I feel as if I am there with you in Scotland! I just started following your blog this past month & am totally hooked! I have always loved your books, and I now have one of your calendars by my desk at work. As an artist myself, I feel I am a kindred spirit. Portraits are what I love to do, and I hope to be able to do more when I retire – soon! I want to tell you, too, how much I enjoyed what you said about Laura Ashley and your feelings about her, her work, her shops. I could’ve written those comments myself….but not nearly as well as you! (I am not on Facebook, or Twitter, so this is the way I have to communicate with you, or on email).
Hi Susan and Friends of Susan,
Your blog always gives me a big lift, a spring in my step! Thank you for sharing the lovely trip to Scotland.
BTW, last night, I enjoyed a cup of soup in my Little Things cup! Such a treasure.
Love your give aways. Bought my first two cups to gift to friends- winter and friends. Thank you and God bless.
Thank you for this lovely post! I was in Scotland once for only three days and stayed in a youth hostel with my then fifteen year old son. Just enough time to want to go back and really see more. You are a renewed inspiration. Thank you.
What a lovely post – the castle is amazing. I plan someday to get to Scotland with my bestfriend. Hope we can stay in a castle!
Thanks for letting us travel through your experiences!
So sweet, inspirational and darling are your musings. Thank you.
Such a beautiful journey, thanks for sharing.
I’ve been waiting and wondering about the Spring cup…..if I don’t win it, I shall order it ! Love Scotland, love your blog and love you!!!
Today’s post brought back many lovely memories of a trip to Bonnie Scotland last May. I wish I’d known about Stravithie Castle….so enchanting!
I’ll keep fingers crossed for good luck in the drawing for your Spring teacup or your England cup!
Love your joy and appreciation for life….you are an inspiration!
Scotland sounds like my cuppa tea! I love the photo of Jack.
Can’t get enough of Scotland! Thank you for sharing! ❤️🏰☕️
Sharing in your adventures always makes me happy!! Thank you.
So exciting! Your trip to Scotland! Can’t hardly wait for all the posts!
Love reading your blog and living vicariously through your travels. Makes me want to polish silver and pull out my bone china!
Dearest Susan,
I can only live vicariously through you but so enjoy it! You are my idea of a girl that never had to grow up but lives a life of childhood treasures and joys into later life. You are very blessed!
Love sitting in a cozy room touring Scotland! And that last picture of Jack must have elicited hundreds of “ahhhhs”. Thanks.
Oh yes! Constant Comment tea…my favorite! Love to put CC teabags in a glass of hot steamy apple cider. Love to drop in a Trader Joe’s Sweetened Dried Orange Slice: http://www.whatsgoodattraderjoes.com/2016/08/trader-joes-sweetened-dried-orange.html ….. or a Trader Joe’s Sweetened Dried Lemon Slice: http://exploringtraderjoes.blogspot.com/2017/10/trader-joes-sweetened-dried-lemon-slices.html …. lovely and delicious indeed ! See ya! Gotta go make some CC!
Love, Carol from CT … tra la
I very much enjoy traveling the world through your eyes. You always find the beautiful details that most vacationers miss.
I have loved your art and cookbooks since 1986 ( the year I got married!)
Now I can continue to enjoy your work and inspiration through your blog. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Susan, Since you inspired me and my late husband to visit England and to return on the Queen Mary 2, I’ve longed to see Scotland as well. Your photos and comments has increased my desire even more!! My precious husband has been there and loved it and would like to show me parts of this country that sounds SOOO appealing. Thank you for continuing to bring us all the happiness you find in all the nooks and crannies of wonderful England and Scotland. We would leave tomorrow would it be possible.
What a great posting. I would love to go to Scotland, unicorns and castles! lovely! I’m waiting patiently for my Willard! Thank you Susan!
Oh my!! Over a Thousand posts on this new blog, and it’s only one day old!! I will happily read them all, but not now.
I needed this spirit picker-upper today. This past week..Wednesday to Today…could be described in crude terms, but I’ll just say it has been the Week From Hell….But nobody was killed.
I, however, broke my other foot, and contracted a horrible case of bed bugs from our “adorable” little beach front getaway. Discovered them in the sheets on our second morning. All clothing and my pillows were washed by the staff and returned to us at the deluxe house where they put us. Let me tell you All, Girlfriends, washing with hot soap and water will Not kill the eggs. We had scheduled fumigation of our 3-unit townhouse building for dry wood termites. And were told that fumigation will Not do it either. Had a room reserved in a Hampton Inn by our favorite move theater. The Bed Bugs (BB’s) in my much loved, old down pillow hatched out while there and had a feast on my face, ears, chest and upper back. So we fled, and we stopped by my best friend’s and dumped everything in a number of her,big black, garbage bags. We dumped the clothing we’d worn and the pillows I lug around with me, put our luggage and the bags in the trunk of the car and zoomed down to visitors’ hotel at MacDill AFB. (lovely view of the Bay and downtown skyline.) As soon as we arrived, we used the free laundry on our floor to rewash the clothes on our backs. Then we blasted ourselves with the shower. I’m still creeped out about BB eggs being somewhere on our persons. Tom being free of bites reinforces my belief that he is not human, but an Angel. 😉
We were allowed back in our townhouse on Monday. To face the chaos of all the food, toiletries, and meds sitting double bagged in gas-proof plastic bags. Only sealed, unopened jars and cans can be left unbagged. Sooooo, I needed to get something in the garage, which is down 7 steps…..I again missed a bottom step and, crack!, broke the same bone on my left foot that I had broken on my right last May in Maine. ;< I lay in a heap at the bottom on the concrete hollering help, help. My Tom is mostly "deef" and was 2 floors up with doors closed. I thank my Guardian Angel for a neighbor passing by walking her dogs. Garage door open, thankfully. She couldn't see me but was sure she heard someone say Help!!! She went upstairs to get Tom while her adorable poodles gave me wonderful, wet kisses. I felt a great deal better, not kidding. Off to the Urgent care place at my orthopedic clinic. Fractured as I knew, got a new walking boot and came home with a pain pill to get me through what was needed at the house. Together we took the bed apart and sprayed the mattress and all the frame. The buggy pillow had been in our bed for a few nights. Tom took all the bedding to a laundry, as I have a tiny stack W/D. I slept on the couch downstairs, Tom on the single bed fold out in our second bedroom.
Oh, and in the midst of all this, Tom had 5 teeth extracted, a post and bone graft put in. We were a "Sorry Lot" as some say. But still able to have a slug of Jim Beam and laugh at Fate.
Don't they say bad luck comes in threes? Well, darn it, that's 3, so stop, already!!!
Again, thankful for the new Willard, Blog on Scotland, and You, my Dear!
Having another cup of coffee in my Isle of Dreams cup and smiling because we're lucky we have the means to deal with all this. So many are bereft of just the simplest of care. I am staying totally Trump Free now, as I think his mere person on this Earth spews bad Kharma.
Debbie in Tampa, counting the days until our train trip to Chicago family reunion.
DEBBIE!!!!!!! I have no words. Be careful! I guess that’s all I can say . . . and I already know you are!
You make me want to go to Scotland and that castle! Oh, Dash! Sweet Jack!
Dear Susan,
Thanks for the Willard and another wonderful armchair trip to the fair isles.
I hope you like your new Schmincke watercolors.
I think they’re the best pan-colors out there…and you do put them to such good use! Thanks for being such a warm and cozy friend to all of us.
thank you for taking us on this trip! I love this post!
PS Girlfriends, you can kill the bugs and the eggs by heat over 150 degrees F.
We were told to sprinkle a special diatomatious earth for BB’s on and in things and use the BB spray, seal everything up in black garbage bags, put in car trunk or just out in the sun for a day. The heat will do the trick. We’ll see.
If any of you know of other methods, Please Post them!
Thanks,
Debbie, buggy in Tampa!!
Oh my gooodness. What a wonderful place you stayed in and now I want to go there too. Magical. I so love the new cups too! Thank you!
Love your blogs and Jack! Thank you for sharing your adventures!
DREAMY!
Oh, Susan. After reading your blog about Scotland, I thought I died and went to heaven. How lucky of you to find such good friends to travel with and find such treasures.
Thank you for sharing so many of your experiences. I live vicariously through you. ( I do get out some, too) Scotland, England, Ireland, Japan
But, I still love hearing from you.
Scotland is on our list of places to visit! Tea and shortbread and woolens, wha’s not to like?
I’m so itching to go to Scotland. Thank you for what I hope to be a little sneak peek of things I’ll get to see one day.
I saw my sister’s comment above 😍 We’re going to Scotland together this Fall, thanks for adding to the lovely anticipation!
Oh, my goodness, what a treat to travel with you and Joe to Scotland. I would be in heaven to get out of my car and see that castle and know that I would be staying there (living there). Lucky you but thank you for sharing your adventures for those of us who aren’t physically able to travel and walk. Love, love the England cup!
Oh Susan, yet another delight in my inbox…looking forward to the Willard later this week too! And seeing the cutest liddle kitty in a drawer…how wonderful is Jack?
Am ve ve excited to tell you that OH and I are travelling up to see you all at Le Piquenique in the Lake District! Yay! 🤣😂 We’ve found a great pub that is dog-friendly so you can meet Toby and the pup Bruno! We are going to stay for a couple of days too…Bear excitement!! And looking forward to all things Beatrix 🐰🐰🐰🐰
So looking forward to seeing you all again! Are Ray and Paul coming too? Such fun!
Icing on the cake will be beautiful spring weather, you and Joe
Loved Edinburgh and want to go back again and maybe go a liddle but further and see that delightful castle you stayed in!!
Love to all
Karen
Cambridgeshire UK 🇬🇧
Wonderful Karen! It’s going to be a great day…Mandy is asking that folks don’t bring their pups to Castle Cottage … I hope that doesn’t ruin anything, but she’s got a dog herself, and we will all be on the ground with food, and she just feels it might be too much. Not sure yet about Ray and Paul . . . have to wait until they get home from Salzburg and ask them if they found a place!
My favorite photo is of the French doors lined by the heavy UK drapes. I’m feeling lucky today. 🍀
Love Scotland….loved this post!
Stravithie Castle looks so wonderful. I would love to visit there. We haven’t been to Scotland in so many years and would love to return and visit Ireland and England again too.
Your blog is so nice. It’s like reading a letter from an old friend.
Thanks you so much.
I loved the window with cup at the top of the Willard! The oyster dinner sounded fabulous. Scotland is on my bucket list, but I think Arnie wants to check out his English roots first. We almost went over for Christmas, but then they sent him to a ship in the Philippines. 4 months of vacation for you in your home away from home 🏡!!!
I really love hearts 💕, so the shell and puddle were so cool to see.
Hugs,
Margot
I love traveling with you!! Thank you for always taking us with you….
Hi to Susan and Joe—I love how you and Joe travel—you linger and savor and absorb. A Fine Romance is one of my most favorite books and the prospect of reading a future similar one makes me so happy. AFR is on my table “at the ready” to skim through or read a few pages—a mini magical escape. I remember when the book first came out and many GFs sent photos of it in the midst of pretty scenery or on a backyard tea table or the beautiful pet cats and dogs with their noses in the pages! So fun to see. Do you recall the photo of the cardboard Queen taken at the English Rose Tea Room holding the book? We had so much fun laughing as Jo took photos of the “Queen” with the book prominently displayed in her hands. One of the comments from a GF noted that she was fooled for a few seconds until she saw the third hand! What fun—ha. ha. Love from Bev
That was so fun. I love my Queen Elizabeth pictures! Also, one of our girlfriends photoshopped the book into Paul McCartney’s hands! I treasure it!😁
Another enjoyable blog!Loved all of your pictures as well!Looking forward to receiving my Willard as well!!
Mine Scottish eyes are smilin, and you brought tears to them, such a lovely place!
Oh this is perfect Susan! I am headed to Scotland mid-April! 1 week in Edinburgh then a train ride to Aberdeenshire to…are you ready for it…stay in my family’s castle for a week! So excited
Just love your blog!! It takes me back to when I lived in England and loved it so much; you make it so magical but remembering biking on the weekend to see the country side, so breath taking!! I can’t wait for the next mugs, just love,love,love them!! Love seeing the snow and remembering the snowstorms when I lived in Stratford,CT!!
Your posts are magical. I feel like I’m right there with you. And I love Jack. He is adorable.
Hi Susan! Oh how I love adventures and your stay at this beautiful castle was definitely an adventure! I so want to go back to the British Isles. I’ve only been to England and Ireland; my husband has been to them all. I just love the pure old-fashioned beauty of everything. Are you counting the days until you sail 🙂 We’ve been on QM2 and the Queen Elizabeth but not the Queen Victoria. That will be next! Enjoy your day! Best, Karen 🙂
Btw, I did receive my Willard – so excited for you and Joe for your trip!
Oh, my. I am in love with the “castle” in Scotland. I am a huge Outlander fan, so have wanted to venture to Scotland for years. Of course, I would want to see standing stones somewhere on the trip, but the Druid’s well would be almost as good. Wonderful to see a post in your blog. They always (and I mean ALWAYS) brighten my day. I’m still waiting for my Willard, but that’s ok. I love having something to look forward to.
Plenty of standing stones in the UK. Misty, mossy, and mysterious.
Here’s to hoping! Thank you for your generosity and spirit. Looks like another spot to add to my bucket list.