Well, we made it home! I thought I’d do a little recap for you … with MUSICA! 💞
Here we are, just leaving Southampton not all that long ago . . . waving a tearful good bye to luv-lee England, more in love than ever! It could not have been a better trip home. I think we have to remember to ALWAYS travel by ship at the end of June! The water was sparkling and flat most of the way . . . we even saw dolphins!! It was so amazing and wonderful and special to see them jumping out of the water, arching in unison, going along with us next to the ship. 🐬
The good ship Queen Elizabeth was just ahead of us as we left Southampton, making a very pretty picture with all the little boats escorting her out of the harbor.
The moon was up when we caught up with her . . . I hope our ship looked as pretty to them as theirs did to us!
The setting sun shone on her as we went by and she turned off to whatever wonderful place she was going.
The moon followed us on the Queen Mary 2 all the way home. We left England on a Sunday, the moon was full on Wednesday, and we arrived home, along with the moon, the following Sunday . . . pondering the gift of each day . . .
The moon made a path to our stateroom twice in this photo, both outside and also reflected in the door to our deck …
We had amazing fresh ocean air, I had my books, I took naps, I took a bubble bath, I had room service, I wrote in my diary, I went dancing, I walked around and around the boat and worked out in the gym: EVERY day was a Red Letter Day!
It was the most wonderful thing. I took this in the morning, the moon is actually setting …
Here it is, on another night, right over us at 1 am …
And after six luv-lee days of this, at about 4:30 am on Sunday July 1, the first lights of Long Island came into view . . . it’s hard to describe how it felt, it had been a long time. We left our home March 4, and here we were, back again.
Coming home after a long slow voyage over the wide ocean, experiencing the world space as it is … is majestic. We were pinching ourselves as we glided quietly through the dawn, seawater washing over the sides of the ship, toward the lights of the Verrazano Narrows bridge.
We ran up top to see it up close as we went under it and found out we weren’t alone!
Everyone was taking pictures, watching tug boats as we passed the twinkling lights along the shore.
See the lit-up cameras? Notice the stairs, look at the top, see the people crowding the rail to get a view of New York? People come a long way to do this, in more ways than one!
I looked back, as we passed under the bridge . . .
And then we got our first glimpse of the most wonderful welcome home you could get, the Statue of Liberty (her light is shining there on the left). It was perfect timing, we arrived home in time to celebrate the Fourth!
As you know, the Statue of Liberty was a gift to America from France to celebrate our 100 year anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. 🇺🇸
She was assembled in France, then taken apart to be sent to America and came to us in 350 pieces! I love these old photos. Seeing her in pieces is surreal!
The sculptor used his mom’s face for his model. What a good son!
The first bit finished was Liberty’s right hand and torch ~ which was shipped to Philadelphia and put on display. For a fee of 50 cents, visitors could climb a ladder inside the hand to the balcony around the torch. Ah. luv-lee history! I imagine no one had the slightest idea of what was really to come, but this probably gave a tiny hint.
The unveiling took place with parades, a Presidential speech, fireworks, cannons, flags and an overflowing New York City ~ she’d already caught the imagination of America.
And now it was our turn. Standing there in the hushed dawn light, it was easy to imagine what an inspiration the Lady was to the huge numbers of immigrants arriving at Ellis Island ~ if your family came to America on a ship after 1886, they were greeted by Lady Liberty. Can you imagine the thrill? And for us too, it was total chills. Five-thirty in the morning and EVERYONE was up and dressed and on top of the ship for our arrival, arms around each other, tears in the eyes, cameras clicking, all together experiencing . . .
. . .excited to see the light of her torch. Her formal name is “Liberty Enlightening the World.”
Wow. Right? Just beautiful. I took this photo with my cell phone and it almost looks like a painting.
When the sun came up everyone applauded!
SO American, so Fourth of July! Such a perfect welcome!
The moon was going down as the sun came up behind us shining on the front of the ship.
Hello new day.
An amazing morning of celebration ~ for tourists and for us, coming home sweet home.
Everyone was taking their last photos . . .
And saying good bye to an amazing crossing . . .
wah.
So long ship, until we meet again . . . save our place!
You say good bye, and I say hello . . .
I found a porter and we gathered our 50 billion pieces of luggage while Joe went to rent a car . . . and soon, off we went. HOME was beginning to come into focus, but we still had a five-hour drive and a ferry ride before we would turn into our driveway 😻. LOOK at the AMAZING Brooklyn Bridge!
We were a little worried when we saw this!
But no worries, the nursery was open . . . we needed flowers at home so we stopped here, and loaded up at the supermarket . . .
Everything was getting precariously close to the ceiling of the car, but there was still breathing room!
Across Connecticut we went . . . into Rhode Island . . .
Through Providence . . .
To our home state!
And everywhere people were getting ready for the 4th …
Flags flying …
I just put the camera up to the car window and clicked, because flags were flying everywhere . . . what a welcome home!
Down Main Street in Falmouth, all decked out in flags . . .
And finally, to the BOAT!!! Thar she blows!
And while we waited for our ferry, the sky turned pink and the sun began to go down.
And pretty soon it was our turn to board . . . I could hear Jack meowing from here . . .
Off we go . . . by this time I’ve lost all pretense to calm dignified travel, I’m DYING to get home! This boat can’t go fast enough.
We sit up top on a soft balmy night heading across the sound to our Island, a 45 minute trip. We drove off the ferry and down the familiar streets of our small town . . .
We turned into our driveway…by now I’ve almost lost consciousness, I can barely remember, but we put the key into the kitchen door . . . and the lock wouldn’t turn! I could see through the window in the door and there, on the floor, was Jack, looking at me. His eyes were round as he threw himself down, rolled onto his back, twisting and wiggling and pawing the air . . . Joe ran around to the back door while I whined and cooed through the window.
We finally made it in and spent the evening purring at each other (me and Jack, Jack and Joe, me and Joe), while unpacking. Sweetly, Jack was perfectly willing to repeat his rolling wiggling performance on the ironing board the next morning when I had my camera ready!
Never tell me cats don’t show love.
Because this is what it looks like. And it hasn’t stopped! We’ve been forehead to forehead, inseparable, every day.
He watches me unpack, get organized, do laundry . . . slightly suspicious that this might not last… “She is my sun, my moon, and my stars . . .”
Fear not Jack! He sleeps with us, of course, he curls up on me when I take a nap ~and when we go out for a walk, he does the wiggling thing when we come home. When I sit down to read my book, he cuddles right up. He was well-loved while we were away ~ he plays ponytail band better now than he ever did! Being at home is, as I know you know, a wonderful thing.
With my own luv-lee shadows through the linden trees, then through the windows . . .
and into my own living room . . .
My own top of the stove to decorate the way I like . . . we know where everything is! We know how it all works! These are little pleasures in life!
I count my blessings while polishing my wand . . .
Loving everything!
Saying hello once more to the children . . .
Walking out to the garden with my scissors on these warm mornings . . .
picking roses and pulling weeds . . . getting the fountain out of the barn for the kitchen porch . . .
. . . and filling my little vases . . . Oh the glory of it. Going away makes coming home better than imaginable.
Our friend Jaime gave us a welcome home party in the back garden of her most adorable house . . . It was Jaime’s son Duncan (one of triplets!) who took care of Jack.
It was heaven seeing everyone again . . .
Gorgeous salad, Jaime is amazing! One of the most generous souls I’ve ever known. She’s a caterer, receiver of the “Best of Vineyard” award for years and years!
We’ve had a ton of unpacking to do, a lot to catch up on, you know, the bank, the dentist, all the regular things . . . but so far we’re trying to be balanced. 
Our walks to the water are still my favorite part of the day . . .
The Island was crowded on the Fourth … This is a tiny beach has a very shallow protected beach, perfect for paddling children, and very popular especially on Summer holidays!
But early on other days we have the place pretty much to ourselves.
Not tired of the sea!
And to add to the wonderfulness of everything, your sweet comments on the last post were delightful, making me cry many times. 💞 Without you this trip would still have been magical, but with just a little less sparkle ~ you made it so much more fun . . . trying to see everything not only through my own eyes, but maybe through yours too, having you along has gotten me a little bit outside myself and that can only be a good thing!
Oh, yes, I’ve been unpacking our memories too, getting out my watercolors early in the morning, getting organized . . . I’m going to have so much fun putting this new book into my “good” handwriting . . . adding the photos, the watercolors, the quotes and recipes, the how-to’s, and all the other little bits and pieces I think you will enjoy seeing in this book.
I wrote the whole thing day-by-day, in the moment, while we were in England, Wales, and Ireland . . . I also kept a diary when we were in Scotland and I plan to include bits of that too . . . all the best most informative and enjoyable parts. We learned so much, had so many amazing moments, I couldn’t possibly tell you everything while we were there ~ each day was too stuffed full, so there will be surprises! And now for the fun part, I get to write it . . . Stick with me while I do it. I’ll hurry.
So here’s a few things that happened while we were at sea . . .
The new 2019 Calendars went up for presale! (Can’t believe it, means it’s almost fall!!!🤣) This is the cover for the 12 x 12″ Wall-Calendar. They’re up for presale now, but they should all be at the Studio by the middle of next week.
Here’s a little preview of the November wall-calendar page . . . with a quote that came directly from one of our Girlfriends, Lee Gordon, here in our comment section! Isn’t it a cute idea? I know, it’s playing with your food, but canned black olives are different! I keep telling you how much I love your words and thoughts, well, it’s true! 🎃
We have the Mini Calendars, too, as always, and the Blotter Calendar, and the Purse Calendar … (That’s the Purse Calendar in the upper left photo above⤴.) You might remember the publisher decided to do away with the plastic cover for the Purse Calendars … which resulted in the loss of that little storage pocket on the inside covers. SO, Kellee, being the genius that she is, fixed us a fix! You can click HERE to receive free papers, pattern, and directions to make your choice of two different pockets (as shown above) to add to your calendar if this is something you would like.
Our Girlfriend, Posy Lough, made our wonderful new Alphabet Sampler pre-printed Embroidery Kit … I left a place for the date in the design, and for you to embroider your own name. Of course there’s bunting! I hope you have fun with it! It’s in now, it comes with directions, embroidery floss, and pre-printed 12″ x 15″ cotton fabric…
Last but not least . . . I think you all received your new cups, right? I hope so and I hope you LOVE them! 💞… and I have a little surprise . . . I thought as a 🎵 Welcome Home to Me 🎶 I would do a new giveaway. We finally have our cups in all four seasons! So one of you lucky girls is going to receive this entire set (yes, I do hope I’m helping with some of your Christmas shopping)! All you have to do is leave a comment ~ just scroll to the bottom of this post and in teeny tiny letters (look closely) you will see the word “comment.” Click there, leave a comment and you will be automatically entered! In not too long from now, we will have a drawing, our in-house “random number generator” we call Vanna, will draw the winning name. I’ll be announcing the winner here on the blog and sending an email to the lucky person! So don’t forget to say hello! ❤ Always so much to look forward to with you Girlfriends! My favorite thing!
Enjoyed your trip, thank you for sharing!
Your trip looks like it was so much fun. Glad you made it back to Jack.
Hello~My~Sweet~Sue (Our~Sweet~Sue) 😉 🙂 I Just Read & Re~Read Every~Word & Studied Every~Photo…#Truly~Scrumptious & Oh How I Know Jack Is So Happy To Have His MumAndDad #HOME My~Wings~Are~Crossed What A #Magical~Give~Away…#MeWant! 🙂 See You In #Twitterville #TwirlingIntoSummer & #SavoringTheseSizzlingSummerDayzzz Yay! xoxo #Poof! & A #Meow 🙂 😉 P.S. & A #Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr 🙂
Savoring, such a lovely word dear Angie! xoxo
I’ve enjoyed your travels so much. SO much delightful musica has been added to my youtube playlist. 🙂 And so many sites have been added to my dream travel list. Thank you for sharing, for taking such wonderful photos and for bringing a bit of beauty and joy to the world. Thanks for the chance to win some of your cups, too. <3 blessings as you settle in to HOME.
Welcome home Susan and Joe, thank you for your gorgeous photos you shared
and for taking us with you on your travels. I cant wait for your book and more
wonderful things that you will share with us on your blog. Your home is now
warm and cozy again and the best place you can be. Enjoy
Welcome home. It was wonderful traveling with you and Joe but glad your back on American soil. Looking forward to your new book and future travels.
Thank you for sharing your creative gifts – you bring tears to my eyes and longing to heart.
Thank you so much for taking us along on your marvelous trip. It was splendid in every way!
What a lovely trip,,and how special to be welcomed home by Jack,,Our pets are truly special, aren’t they,,would love to in your mugs,,,Judy
What a glorious journey. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Glad you’re back safe and sound after your wonderful adventures. Looking forward to reading about it.
Thank you so much for all your beautiful pictures!!! I feel like I was there!!!
Love the pictures !!! I feel like I was there!!!Thank you so much!!!
I love reading all your posts. I feel that I’ve been with you guys all the way along on your trip. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for writing my favorite book of all time…A Fine Romance! Can’t wait for the new one. I hope one day to go to England and your books will be my guide. What a delight!
My husband viewed the Statue of Liberty from the original Queen Mary the first time he sailed to America from England in 1962–your pictures provide some great memories!!
Dear Susan, so love your blog.
I appreciate all the effort in sharing your pictures, the stories and day to day special moments. I especially love how you notice the special details, what some would think mundane moments that make up our lives. The sun shadows, the breeze, the scent of the air, the awe moments as I call them.
My daughter asked me, “Mom, why are you so interested in this woman what is it about her that intrigues you so?” I couldn’t help but smile as I responded.
“Why she is living my dream. Living by her Art, her love for simple things, for just the art of living.” Yet there is more, it is your happiness and joy that you so easily portray and remind us that it is there right in front of us. Your friendliness feels like true friendship.
I care for a mother with Alzheimer’s and your blog offers great solace. Thanks for being there
How very sweet Teresa, I’m so glad to have you here. It’s true, it is a learned thing, how to make yourself a happy life. We can all do it once we realize that our home is our castle, and beauty is the quest. It’s there that the harsh realities of life get a little competition. Nothing like the smell of cookies baking, of creaming the sugar and the butter. xoxoxo
Please put my name in the hat for the cup drawing. Thanks for a happy place of refuge from all the chaos going on “out there”. Lonnie
Thanks for making my day again and again. I was happy to see the winter mug. It’s my favorite. Your tweets and blog help me make it through the day.
Welcome home, Susan!!! And thank you for this beautiful, beautiful post! Sarah
…I’M A BACK ROADS TAKER. I’M A STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES…DILLY DALLY’er😊Lover of nature, and fine wine, twilight and fur babies, family and my girlfriends. I see GOD in all of creation. You do a brave thing taking lookie, louse along with you and your hubby too.
I love that you share your way of traveling with us all…I really experience with you miraculous nuances, signs, special little and bug things, I believe are GOD winks. Any how…
Thank You.. Susan
And to all who have a hand in helping share your talents with the masses🐚💜 hugs.
Love&Shalom
Kimberly
🙏💜😊
Kindred spirits! xoxo
Hi Susan,
I am glad you and Joe made it home safely. I will be first in line to but the book about your trip. I was in Lacock and Castle Comb in 2009. We were on a van tour of the Cotwolds so we were only there a day. Nancy R.
Welcome home! I never thought I’d want to go on a cruise, but your descriptions of the crossings pique my imagination!
Welcome home to house and garden and Jack and the hometown! I’m sure it’s been lovely to see all that awaits you.
The new mugs are lovely. I DO enjoy using mine–though lately, with our temperature in the 100s, I just haven’t been drinking hot tea! I can’t wait to see pictures and hear a report of your home goings and comings. 🙂 xoxo
Welcome Back, Susan and Joe!! It was wonderful to join your trip via your blog. Thank you for including us. It looked amazing.
How exciting to have a chance to win your mugs. All of your things are beautiful!! Thank you for being so generous. I can’t wait to see the 2019 calendar pages & “what’s to come”.☺
Welcome Back, Susan and Joe!! It was wonderful to join your trip via your blog. Thank you for including us. It looked amazing.
How exciting to have a chance to win your mugs. All of your things are beautiful!! Thank you for being so generous. I can’t wait to see the 2019 calendar pages & “what’s to come”. ☺
So pleased that you had a wonderful trip and that you are safely home,
Just so much love in your blog…my heart dances:-)
Susan, Thank you so much for taking us with you. Looking forward to the next book. Ijust reread all three while recuperating from sugery. You made a rough summer start so much better. So gratful you do what you do.
Hope you are feeling better now Kelly! And thank you so much for the kind words. xoxo
I sailed the ocean blue from Southampton ro New York on the old Queen Mary with my royal air Force family when I was 5 ( I am now 73) your mugs and blog tell a wonderful story .
How lucky you are! We’ve stayed on that boat overnight in the Long Beach Harbor … they’ve really left it as original, it’s wonderful! Thank you Sarah!
I have had a wonderful time traveling with you and eagerly awaiting each new blog! Thank you for giving a view to all of us who will never get to actually travel to those beautiful countries!
Susan, I have loved reading all about your trip. I would look every few day,s hoping for a new post. I loved the photo of you in front of Beatrice,s house. I don,t know why everything seems so peaceful in England. The ship looked like heaven, I need to take a cruise. I look forward to reading your new book.
They make it VERY easy to commune with nature and feel yourself back in time.
Welcome Home, Susan and Joe,
While you were gone I was at Martha’s Vineyard with friends from Maine. I absolutely had to find your home and show my friends. I didn’t see Jack in the window-must have been napping.
So happy your trip was an amazing one!
My two daughters and I love our mugs we got just in time for Mothers Day.
Enjoy your summer.
Paula S
After taking the grandies to swim lessons, I sat and enjoyed your latest posting. Such beautiful pictures! Eager to see the new book. Very glad you and Joe have a whole new boatload of lovely memories of this trip!
Cannot wait for the new book!!!!!
Cannot,cannot wait for the new book!
Love your process and can’t wait for the new book!
The trip looks like it was a trip of a lifetime. Thank you for sharing your pictures and commentary. It was like having a friend tell you what fun we are going to have.
Loved following you on Instagram, to hear your voice and the music of your travels was just plain wonderful! Now if they can just get the smells….. 🙂 ahhh!
Welcome home from far away adventures.
Hugs to you and your beloved family,
Denise
What a magical time traveling! And then you get to live on the Vineyard too!
Welcome home. It was a fun “trip” for us all! Thank you. I treated myself to the “Home” mug in your first production and would enjoy sharing the set with friends at Christmas! Fingers crossed 🙂
I purchased 2 of your English Countryside mugs—one for my cousin’s birthday and one for me so we could sip our tea and enjoy your British Isles blogs “together”—the closest we could come to being there with you! Welcome Home!
Love it Dorothy … say hello to your cousin for me!
Dear Susan, I was so happy to hear about your new giveaway as I haven’t given up hope that I might be the lucky one. I am very much looking forward to your new book when you get it finished as I am a big fan. Good luck with writing it and glad to hear that you and Joe are safely home from your big trip. Yours truly, Crystal Burns
Never give up hope, I’ll keep trying ~ you have a better chance here than the lottery! It’s always hard for me and Vanna to only choose one winner. Actually, more me than Vanna. 😳 Boat whistle just went off … first morning ferry is on her way to the mainland. Have a good day Crystal.
Reading your blog is probably the closest that I will ever get to the UK and I enjoyed every minute of it! My mother was born in Belfast, N.Ireland and my dream to to go there someday.
Oh, what a wonderful connection. You need to go there! I can only imagine the discoveries you will find.
Loved this post! Beautiful photos! Thank you!!
God bless America and God bless you!
what a lovely trip. thank you for taking us all along on your travels!
I have so enjoyed reading your blog. And so happy for you that you had a great trip and are both home safely. Thanks for everything!
I want to thank you for sending the girlfriends such beautiful pictures of your voyage. That moon on the way back was just waiting for passengers to photograph. Beautiful! I always take my vacations vicariously with you. I am from Long Island and my uncle was a tug boat captain in the “day”. He escorted the liners out to sea. Seeing the ship passing through the harbor, the Statue of Liberty and the bridges made my heart beat just a bit faster. Thanks for your blog and everything you create for us.
Oh what a family memory that is! What he saw, all the comings and goings, wonderful!
Oh my goodness! You know I already broke my autumn mug!! Winning the set would be a magical fix. XOXO and welcome back home.
Can’t wait to read your new book !
What a wonderful trip. Your sharing was so generous I feel like I went along with you!
Everything about this post is delightful, and you passed through my little state. Which is the littlest state of all.
Dear Susan,
Following your blog, buying your books ALWAYS puts me in a peaceful, happy place. Thank you beyond words ❣️
Welcome home! It’s always an adjustment like coming home from camp as a kid. After so much excitement—-we greet the quiet routine of home life with mixed feelings. I can’t wait for your new book! Hope you have as much fun writing it as we will reading it!
I’ve been relishing the quiet, the not moving around too much, and the knowing where everything is. Little blessings in life! xoxo
Welcome home! Jack is so sweet, how he must love having his people back ❤️🐈
Welcome home!
Love reading your travels home, seeing Lady Liberty how moving.
Thank you for sharing your journey with me! I can’t wait for the new book! I live in South Africa and like you I have a “fine romance” with what I call “my land” (England). I am a complete Anglophile! Thank you for your attention to detail and passion.
That word, Anglophile, a badge of honour we can’t help but wear with pride! Thank you Morag!
I love reading your posts and can’t wait for the new book. Thanks for the opportunity to win the cups.
Your touching pictures of Lady Liberty in the harbor just took my breath away –
how spectacular!!! Loved reading all your posts, but this one was especially dear as you made your way home. Is there a sweeter word than “home”?
Can’t wait for the new book – what a treasure it will be to the collection.
Always appreciate all you share and inspire. You are simply the best!
Hugs from the Rockies, Pippa
Just read your update on your return home and loved the photos of your crossing, the statue of liberty, flying flags and so much more!
Dear Susan, I’m so glad your trip was wonderful and we have a new book to look forward to! Thanks again for wonderful photos and especially those of your Jack. You must tell us what it’s like to be away for so long and then to finally come home, do you think you’ve missed anything? I was on the Vineyard a week and a half ago and wished I could have waved to you! Welcome home!
All our friends are still here, so that’s good. My house is still standing, Jack still likes me. Things seem to be just fine, but now I’ve got a boatload of memories and a big fat diary. So all in all, pros and cons, it was a good thing! Thank you Sandi!
Love your mugs! Perfect for my morning tea.😊
Dear Susan,
Thank you for being brave & funny & showing us that dreams really do come true! I ‘met’ you in a Newport kitchen shop in 1986 and you have been my hero ever since!
~ Kathy 🙂
Hello old friend! xoxo
You make me smile every day !
Dear Susan….sssssooo glad you made it home safely. Can hardly wait for the book! love and prayers, Toni from Sylvania OH
Though not one of the girls, I have followed your adventures both at home and in the world for some time. I love your stories of creating and experiencing joy in the everyday. To speak of being centered and still enough to experience and tell of the beauties of everyday life; whether at Martha’s Vineyard or in England. Thanks again and I look forward to your new book on your 2nd journey to Britain.
Thank you, James, nice to meet you! xoxoxo
Hi Susan…on a road trip of our beautiful California and happen to be on our first night and staying in SLO. Had dinner at Apple Farm and voila you were there in a lovely display of your books and other goodies. I am enjoying GRATITUDE as I also caught up on your blog. Glad you’re home safe and sound. Your trip was wonderful, but there truly is…No Place Like Home.
I’ll be at the Apple Farm myself on October 13 … SO looking forward to it. I love those people!
Susan, such a wonderful trip and equally wonderful return home. Your sharing it means so much to us all!! I will savor and cherish the book when it is complete and you put it out into the universe!! Seeing your journal and photos makes the finished books that we have even more meaningful. Thank you Susan.
This post left me in tears when it came to Jack. Welcome home and thank you thank you for your fabulous gift in writing. Can’t wait for the new book.
Susan, I have loved following your and Joe’s adventures in the UK. I CANNOT wait for the next book 🙂 I hope y’all are settling back into things on Martha’s Vineyard. I’ve just moved back across country from San Luis Obispo to Charlottesville, VA. I’m going from “Sarah from SLO” to “Sarah from Cville.” I’m looking forward to your next post, and hopefully your next book tour (2019?!?!) will include a stop in Charlottesville (there’s a nice independent bookstore Downtown 😉 plus a Barnes & Noble).
Ooooo, that’s a big move Sarah! Congratulations! Virginia is gorgeous. Happy new home!
So glad you made you and Joe made it home safe. I spent a great vacation through your twitter. What an amazing time you had.
I have pre ordered 3 of your 2019 calendars.
Autumn is on it’s way, enjoy the beautiful seasons on Martha’s Vineyard.
WELCOME HOME! It doesn’t get any sweeter than that! Quick story…in 2006, my husband and three middle school aged children went to Mexico. It was a bit of a scary trip as we didn’t know that they had changed passenger rules while we were there. We were stripped of shoes and all containers were thrown away when we were boarding. Our shoes were returned to us though! When we flew into Dallas, we went through what felt like FOREVER in customs, being looked over, back and forth from passport to face to passport to face…then when the non-emotional, very stern lady was finished scrutinizing, she looked at all of us, smiled and said, “Welcome Home”…never have I ever had such an emotional moment. It was then that those words took on a completely new meaning!
Happy Birthday America and Welcome Home Sue and Joe! 💕
YIKES!!! That is such a scary feeling. The toss of a coin almost . . . in or out! Eeeek! They always say that to us in US Customs too, and I know what you mean, warmest words ever. xoxo
Thank you for being such a bringer of joy! My husband and I just visited MV for the first time on July 7 and fell in love with everything there. I am devouring your books and can’t wait for the new one!
We journey with you with great joy~home and away and home again. You make the world a more beautiful place!
xo
Welcome back again, Sue,
Loved traveling along, as I recovered from a knee replacement. Can’t wait to hike again and tap dance. And looking forward to your next book, bringing adventure and color as a keepsake for all of us!
Dear Sue and Joe,
Welcome home! Can’t wait to read your new book. It can’t come soon enough.
Love , Sue
Thank you for sharing. I could never make that trip right now (four beautiful little kiddos keep us busy) but I loved following along in my mind!
Thank you for taking me along during your wonderful travels and even better narration. You’re a dear, Susan- Welcome Home xo
Hello dear, dear Susan! I had hoped and sort of planned to join you for the picnic in May – but, due to a family emergency/situation (not my health thankfully!) – I needed to stay home and help. I felt very homesick for you and all the girlfriends, and beautiful England that week – but, it was wondrous experiencing it vicariously through you. And, your tweets, and blogs and pictures and stories and reports were wonderful and amazing and cozy and comforting and inspiring to hear – as always! And, don’t we need that kind of good news and inspiration more than ever these days! Sometimes I go back to your posts just to get a much needed dose of positivity and optimism and common sense and beauty and love! You are a blessing to me, and to all that you touch with your art and your heart! Hopefully, I can see you at another event at some point soon. So excited the new calendars are out! Yay! Doing the happy dance! Having my coffee drink in one of your glorious cups right now, and have been greatly enjoying my new beautiful 4th of July cup, and the Summer cup which finishes the gorgeous seasonal set! Welcome back home! Lots of Joy and love, Diedra 🙋🐶💞🇬🇧🇺🇸🚢🍺☕️💃🌷
Oh thank you dear. I’m so glad you could follow and enjoy at home, we all can’t be everywhere as my mom used to say. I have every faith that love, truth, and honour will out. 💖
I’ve just discovered your books and your website, and I am completely and utterly charmed. Thank you for all you share!
Happy to meet you Odette! Thank you!
What a wonderful trip!!! I enjoyed every single minute of it!! Thank you so much for sharing all these wonderful things with us!!! It was all just magical!!! Please forgive the possible overuse of exclamation points and the word wonderful but I couldn’t use either less!!!!
This is only one of the many reasons we are kindred spirits!!!
So loved reading about your wonderful trip to such a magical place. Some day I hope to go to England and visit places from which came my not very distant ancestors. Thank you so much for taking me along on your trip.
can’t wait for your new book. loved the pix from across the pond.
dear susan ,
what a great time I have had in my arm chair travels with you. It means so much
my visit with you and your blog and twitter bring a great joy to my life. many many thanks . marisa
Looked like a beautiful trip, so glad you shared it with us! I can’t wait for the next book…
I have enjoyed your art work, recipes and special writings for years. Thank you for sharing so much of who you are. I also have a great love for the works and philosophy of Gladys Taber. Thanks for keeping her memory alive. Looking forward to your new book.
Her books are needed more now than ever before. I’m happy to meet so many kindred spirits from the world of Gladys Taber.
Can’t wait for your new book. Just returned from trip to Scotland and Ireland with a little travel group. It will be fun to read about what you got to see. I would like to rent a VBRO in England some day with some girlfriends and leisurely see things instead of being up and packing every single day. Would start in Cornwall, I think. I would see everything about Beatrix Potter too. Loved your books, esp the England one!
It is good to hold still somewhere, the packing and moving and unpacking part takes up too much precious time! And no matter where you are, you’ll find TONS to see just within driving distance. But traveling with a group is a big help too, because it gives you the lay of the land and shows you things you need to know for the next time you go.
Thank you, dear Susan, for taking me along on this wonderful, magical trip. We all need something happy and uplifting to balance out all of the sad and maddening news that almost overwhelms us every day. When I read your posts, I feel hope for better times ahead.
So enjoyed your Instagram and blog posts while you were away. They were a source of constant joy, and a wonderful respite from the awful, awful stories that have been dominating the news these past few weeks. I’m grateful that there is a still a little corner of the world where kindness and beauty and appreciation for simple pleasures are still the order of the day.
You are so inspiring, Susan! I’m beyond excited for your new book! Thank you for being a ray of sunshine to all of us dreamers!
Lovely in every conceivable way. Thanks for taking us along on your fabulous tour!
What a wonderful trip! I cannot wait for your book to be published. Happy summer to you both and your precious kitty!
I can’t wait for the new book! We did our own trip to England and Wales in June…it was lovely, but too short.
I’m so glad to Jack in your photos again!
thank you for everything you offer to your readers, heart and soul and originality
Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful journey with all of us. I dream of going across the ocean to England too someday. I can’t wait for your new book to come out because with your beautiful and descriptive way of writing I know I will feel like I made the trip right along with you.
Susan, I can’t wait to buy your new book! You inspired me and my husband to take our first trip to England this year and we can’t wait to go back. We took a day tour of the Lake District and visited Beatrix Potter’s home and it was just magical. Also took a day trip to the Cotswolds and felt like we were in a fairytale come to life. I’ve been dreaming about England ever since!
And it’s 90% all like that (10% is for cities, which also have their charm, but not like those far views and narrow lanes). Wales too, Ireland, Scotland, although every part has its own character with beauty being the thing that connects them all.
Welcome home old friend….glad your back in the States.
Susan! Joe! Welcome Home! I missed your return by a few days, but hugs all the same. I am flying through my house, trying to keep up while we ‘deal’ with the crisis of our one and only vehicle giving up the ghost and my darling husband has had to bring an assortment of 4-wheeled dragons home for me to ‘try on’ as age has made me far less able to fit my 6’1″ into the average car. (what a small, silly thing that seems, now that I have seen it in print! Isn’t the world in much more dire straights that mine?). Beep!Beep! My 80+ Father in Law (Bless his cotton socks!) has been chauffeuring his son around, getting up early to take him to work, etc. How do we get ourselves into these things?!
Okay, here comes something in a fashionable shade of red, come on, knees…
my reward for all this grunting and groaning will be a nice cuppa and a leisurely minute to go back and read the homecoming blog and all the comments. I’m coming, I’m coming…!