We’re in the Pink darlings, in more ways than one . . . MUSICA 
So, in honor of Vanna, in honor of our Giveaway, today we celebrate with her favourite colour which of course is PINK ~ the colour associated with JOY, femininity, and romance (also Double-Bubble gum, flowers, babies, cotton candy) … it’s the color of universal love and warms the cockles of our hearts. And most of all, it puts sunshine in our day … pink sunshine. Vanna is getting into her deep-dive costume, and while we wait . . . let’s do pink!
Take a deep breath of this luv-lee flower . . .
Ahhhhhhh . . . . mmmm, roses . . .
Mmmmmm.
Fill it with pink lemonade . . . 🎀
Tea anyone? Or iced tea? Go get some, I’ll be right here when you get back!
All treasures from second hand stores . . .
Ice-cold Lemon Rice salad is good with everything in the summer, especially barbecue! And so pretty decked in flower petals. The trick to rice is to rinse it in COLD water when it’s done. Get all that starch off so that it doesn’t feel slimy or stick together. Here’s the recipe!
Pink . . . 
Clematis . . . read how to grow this fluffy springtime spark of light HERE.
Another yard-sale find . . .
We were far from home when we saw this lamp in an antique store and could not take it with us … but a picture is almost as good!
More pink!
We saw these luv-lee things at the New York Gift Show, having pictures is almost as good as having the real thing, less expensive, takes up less room.
Top o’ my stove . . . Rachel gave me the little love creamer … check out the tiny tea-for-one … another antique store moment.
Martha’s Vineyard in June and July . . . roses everywhere!
My kitchen porch after a day of hard work in the garden! Pink glass … 
F I R E W O R K S in the Park . . .
The hydrangea in our dining room . . . I bought the Hydrangea Pot at Macy’s about 25 years ago . . . I’ve gotten my money’s worth out of it . . . just keep refilling it with potted plants, and voila! The glory of the dining room!
Oh yes, Pink. The letter I got from the Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Elizabeth when I was a little girl. (Lots of you already know, but just in cases: Yes, I wrote her first!)
Christmas Pink!
Painting in pink!
I think I love pink easily as much as Vanna! This is my Fairy’s Petticoat Pale Pink Peony.
Ahhh yes, England. Does anyone know what this flower is? It was in the fall … they reminded me of bleeding hearts but the fall isn’t the time for bleeding hearts . . .
Yard sales!
Sweetest duvet cover . . . we sleep so good under this! Nothing like a cozy bed!
Table set for a wintry Valentine Breakfast . . .
My dinner party diary for that day . . .
Things like this make doing the dishes highly satisfying.
Okay, now you are all in the very best, calmest, happiest, and dreamiest of moods . . . one more deep breath . . . ahhh , good, because it’s time for our drawing, and as you know there can only be one winner 💔 . . . so hold those happy cheery thoughts, because who cares, they are only cups! And you are so lucky, you already have everything you need!
This time it will be four fishes! 🐟🐟🐟🐟 Get ready girls! Open your mouth, here comes the fish. (No, no, not you Vanna, you’re not a fish ~ I was talking to the Girlfriends! You look beautiful, I love your scaled lime-coloured body suit and shiny pink flippers, perfect for slithery deep dive. The pink plastic ice-cube necklace pulls it all together!) 
Vanna’s so talented.🌸 Okay, she’s UP! Her hands high over her head, thumbs twisted together in classic dive form… Kick OFF Girl! She’s DOWN! She’s a whirling dervish. Little confetti-bits of paper with names on them are spiraling into a vortex of churning paper, the room is filled with floating, flying confetti . . . Vanna surfaces, looks up and like a lizard’s-tongue after a fly, a lightening-bolt across the sky, Jack’s claw as I walk by, she plucks a name from mid-air, and hands it to me. 💌 Oh, I love this so much!💖
Alright, Girls, here we go . . . little drum roll, please . . . The winner of all four cups is . . . . . L O R R A I N E M A C H O L Z Congratulations Lorraine!!! From almost 3,000 entries, YOU’RE the one to come up with the fish! Lucky Girl! I’ll need your address . . . watch for an email from me soon.💖
So, to change the subject for my wonderful dear girlfriends not named Lorraine Macholz . . . 😢 (Don’t worry, you know we’ll do this again!) So, let’s see … first off something I think you might like if you don’t have it already . . . there’s an easy way for you to be alerted when I do a new post. You’ll get an email, just like when you get a Willard. To make that happen, go to the top right-side of this page … (see the example with the red arrow below, you’ll just click there . . .)
And when you do . . .
A screen that looks like this will come up. Not very Susan Branchy, but it does deliver! Just click the little envelope in the red circle . . . sign up, and from now on, when there is a new blog, it will simply show up in your email!💌 If you want , you can go from HERE . . .So what else . . . Oh yes, before I go … we DO have a few Spring and a few Winter cups left, if you’d like to see them, there are very few, I hope if you want one, you can get it HERE.
Oh yes, the date is set for my talk at the Apple Farm in San Luis Obispo, California.🍎 Joe and I we’ll be taking the train out in October . . . we’ll be at the Apple Farm on Saturday, October 13 . . . they’ll have further information for you HERE on July 25. Hope to see you there!💞
This was me the last time I was at the Apple Farm 🍎. I’ll have to remember not to wear that dress!
AND, if you’re going to be near Cape Cod in November, I’ll be speaking at the West Falmouth Library on Saturday, November 10, at 1:30 pm.📚 Fall! It’s coming!🎃
And one more thing . . . Oh, yeah . . .
I know I said I might not do anymore cups . . . but then I thought, what about fall???
And I could not resist . . .
And, was there to be nothing for Christmas? I didn’t think I could bear it! And this one is a whole new shape. It’s a wider-mouthed cup sized between our large one and the small one to make extra cuteness on your shelves … a luv-lee 14 oz. cup. The holly design goes all the way around. I am picturing my Christmas dinner table right now!
Then The Apple Farm 🍎 said they would love if I did an apple cup . . .
Of course I did, how wonderful, more fall!🍁 Perfect for eating Apple Crisp out of! And I think they’ll be there when we are!
I just wanted to show you what’s coming. The saucers for the cups shown are mine . . . was just trying to see how they would look with antique saucers and I think they look good! Soon I’ll show you the bottoms and handles and we’ll put them up for presale … just didn’t want you to think I was being lazy! I will leave you with this little reminder:
Yes, it’s Pink and it’s Summer. We are so lucky! Love you dearest ones. Thank you for all the wonderful comments. 💞 You are by far the funnest of them all! The cleverest of them all!
All that pink loveliness, I love it! Now when I go out hunting and junking I will be on the look out for pink things. Congrats to Lorraine, what a fantastic win but deep down I was wishing it was meeeee. I have to say it again, I don’t know how you find all the time to do ALL the things you do, especially these wonderful blogs. They never disappoint so GOOD JOB lady.
I wish there were little piles of cups for everyone Carol! Thank you for trying! xoxoxo
It’s all better now that you sent me some XXXOOOOXXX’s
While I’m thinking about it I want to thank you so much for over the years putting me onto books I might have overlooked if not for you mentioning them on your blog. Elizabeth and her English Garden, all the books about the life of Beatrix Potter and just lately The Six. What a read that was! You’re my reference desk at the virtual library. Thank you.
My favorite now . . . and maybe always because when I was younger I LOVED historical novels like Gone with the Wind, mainly because I LEARNED something, a little history . . . now I love biographies, real lives of real people with amazing stories who live at different times so you not only get THEM, you get their times. The 1930s, the years leading up to WWII in England were a revelation to me in The Six . . . those Mitford Girls! Oh My! And so like our times today ~ and then the fact that they had a big family, and so did we, so many commonalities, sense of humor, Boudelidge and Arf and Arfy! Try Nancy’s novel The Pursuit of Love. I’m sure you’ll like it … first part is an autobiography of their childhoods, but make no mistake (like I did), this is a novel.
I totally agree, Carol, where does she find the time, especially for these gorgeous blog posts? I think, like me, Susan loves the quiet early mornings for getting things done in peace, watching the new day appear…
I dooooo! It’s my favorite!
Congrats Lorraine!!!! What a nice addition to any day! I LOOOOVED seeing your dinner party journal. I could sit and read your journals for hours and hours Susan. Thank GOD we have your books!
😘 Thank you Mamey!
How beautiful your post is. All that pink, all those ideas..it makes for a happy heart. Thank you.
Happy you enjoyed it Lana! xoxo
I don’t love pink, but congratulations Lorraine!
LOL, oh well, I’m sorry! Yeah, I guess I was sort of taking that too for granted!
What a puffy pink cloud of happiness you have sent us today! Many congrats to Lorraine, she will be over the moon, I know I would be😊
Thank you Sue!
Ooooooooooooooooo!! Love the apple cup, must have! We have apple trees all around our yard. Nothing tastes as good as an apple right off the tree, still warm from the sun, juice dripping down your chin! Unless it’s fresh-picked berries! Hmmmmmmmm, I’m thinking a cobbler size dish with a recipe printed inside…. 😮
Now you have made me have to go get an apple. Wish it was off the tree, hope it’s got the juice for the chin! xoxo
yummy, made me hungry for an apple and I love apples… 🙂
Oh, Shelia, that’s a wonderful idea! I’d love that… what do you think, Susan?
Congratulations Lorraine!! Lucky girl! I’m so excited for the new cups – I might have to buy myself a housewarming gift!
There are types of bleeding hearts that re-bloom in the fall, so that might just be a bleeding heart! Whatever it is, it’s beautiful
It is, and cheerful in the fall!
Seeing the recipe page from Country Living made me miss it so much! I looked forward to all your pages. I even kept a few magazines, because of your recipes and lovely artwork. Thank you for your blog. I love it when I see it in my Email Inbox! Hope to see you at the Apple Farm – October is a great month for that.
Love love love all the pink! Especially the idea of brightening a winter day with a valentine breakfast!!! Is the mystery flower some kind of guara? Thank you for the fresh inspirations… *lacy pink heart here*
I love all the Pink especially when it is formed by Nature, but I like everything else too, except for the doughnut… someone else may have that with their cuppa! Congratulations to Lorraine, and good job Vanna.
Such pretty rice, Susan, I’ll have to remember that. I always used to put nasturtium flowers in my salads.
I know you are enjoying your return home to the Vineyard and hope you are doing a little work on your new book. I can’t wait to savor a copy.
It’s ALL I want to do, but I force myself into the rest of life too!
Such a lovely garden with all my favorite flowers a-bloom. You put a whole new prospective on the color PINK, it’s just amazing…
Beautiful post! You always brighten my day-
Oh how I loved this blog especially!! I moved into my present house just a few years ago and decided to decorate largely in pink. I have loved it. My favorite roses are also pink. Thank you for the pink shot in the arm so to speak. It makes me want to run out and pink up the house some more. You are such a fun inspiration.
And congrats to Lorraine. Lucky Duck!
Lovely post! You always brighten my day-
When I was a little girl, pink was my favorite color. Sometime in my early teens, blue took over and never let me go. But my best friend was nicknamed Pinkie in high school, so I enjoyed the blog for her! Pink is still so lovely in the garden – roses, hollyhocks, sweet peas.
I don’t even know if I have a favorite, I like them all! 🎨 But Pink is cheerful!
Thank you for the “pink” and other colors too garden photos. Since it was just 109 here last week, our Oklahoma gardens are wilted and/or burned. But fall will revive the roses, at least. This blog was just what I needed!!
109! OMG. That is ridiculous. I think I would stop breathing! I hope you are inside somewhere cool. I would probably take my bed and move into the supermarket!
From one Lorraine to another, Congratulations Lorraine on winning the four season mugs! I have them and absolutely love them. Enjoy!
Lovely pink post, even though my favorite color is blue. However, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the new cups. I can’t decide which one is my favorite. Hmmmmm…… It seems I need to do some more clearing out to make room for more. Yippee!
The pink hit the spot on this dreary, rainy day! ❤️
Ohhhh! Such pretty pinks things to love! Thank you once again, Susan, for bringing joy to the day.
I read your wonderful post out on my foggy West Coast deck. By the end of the post, my heart was singing. Thank you!
OMG! I am shaking with excitement~! I LOVE LOVE LOVE all things PINK~! Thank you Vanna for choosing me! I am besides myself!! Thank you Susan! Love love love you too! xoxo
We all have cup envy. Enjoy them, Lorraine.
SO happy for you Lorraine! Thank you for being here! xoxo
I enjoy pink and do not understand that among my younger family members,girls only, they speak badly of pink. Why no pink, don’t know. My grand daughter was having a baby girl and asked for no pink. When the little beauty arrived she now wears and looked so beautiful in pink and her mother has changed her mind. Help!! Why no pink?
Thanks again for the wonderful blog!
They’ll get over it! Baby girls LOVE pink, and you have to do what the baby wants!
The pink is so sweet! I’m just not really a pinky girlie! I love other colors better, but that being said, I do love your newsletters. Such fun and I love keeping up with you!
Wasn’t it perfectly sweet of God to make so many color choices, staring with the blue blue sky, and big white fluffy clouds, and all that green!!! xoxoxo
Many thanks for a little respite on this humid Rochester day — and now, back to chores!! Alice
Hi Susan,
I loved your pink blog today. I had just come in from watering all my many pink flowers, on this very warm day, when yippeeeeee…..there you were waiting for me on my email. 🌸🌸
What a wonderful treat! It was so refreshing to read through your photos and sayings. I am so excited to say I made reservations for my daughter and I to stay at Apple Farm on the weekend you’ll be doing your book signing. It is my birthday gift to my daughter who introduced me to your blog years ago. Looking forward to seeing you there in October❣️❣️
Yay, Kay! See you there! xoxo
~ Love your blogs….they are the best! Congratulations to Lorraine; very lucky lady!
I binge read your three books, and loved everyone. Great writing style and so fun to read hand-written books, with so much fun and helpful info included. (I believe you are The Fairy Tale Girl for sure; living the dream, as they say!). So, thank you. Can wait for the next one. I plan to head to Falmouth in November to hear you speak (we have a cottage in Popponesset). Look forward to it!
Me too Joanne, Jody! xoxo
Congrats to Lorraine, the lucky winner! PINK! I also love pink. Your posted pictures here are so lovely. 💞 My kitchen walls are a light shade of pink. Everything goes well with pink. Purple, blue, white, red look great with pink. I also have pink glasses, creamers, dishes, even pink seashells. And…. oh, no! More cups!!! I am overjoyed! I will save my pennies. I will ask for them for my September birthday. I HAVE to have the apple 🍎 cup. September is Apple 🍎 time! Oh, Susan I have no place to put them anymore, but I am in love with all of them! Thank you. Thank you for all your goodies. I have lost all control. I love your cups! Love you too.
HA HA HA .. you and I are in the same boat Peggy!
You just gave me my smile for lunch time! We loved meeting you in England at Townhead Farm as one of the lucky ones on the tour. Since then I have acquired 5 cups from the Apple Farm not all that far from Solvang where we live! Now I see you are making more cups. Be still my heart! Though I missed being this time’s cup winner by just a hair (didn’t I?!), I am SO happy for Lorraine because that is what girlfriends wish for each other. Keep those smiles coming to all of us and thank you for being you.
I did see a Judy floating by . . . so close! Thank you dearheart, it’s true, because what joy can happen for one of us, makes the same possible for all of us! Say hello to Solvang for me! Hope to see you at the Apple Farm. Those running lambs! Weren’t they wonderful!!!
One or my favorite days on the tour. A real farm with a real farmer family. Lemonade with elderflower press in it and homemade lemon cake by Emma. Delicious. A “red letter day” for sure!
Was amazing. And yes, both that delicious fruity drink and the cake were sparkling with yumminess!
Congratulations, Lorraine!!! What a wonderful Monday! Many thanks to Susan for the perfectly pink-petaled blog entry today! I enjoyed every smidgeon of it. Pink is especially welcome on a dreary, rainy Northeast day. Hooray!
What a lovely pink post! It is a delicate color that manages to be soothing and joyful at the same time. Love the upcoming Jack o’lantern cup design!
have to think about making the trip to San Diego….what a combo…SB and an apple dumpling from the Apple Farm!!! my friend just brought me one back…heaven!
silly me…not to san diego,,,from San Diego:-)
Susan,
What a delightfully pink idea! All things pink, topped of with a lovely gift for Loraine!
How incredibly inspiring to see the beautiful new cup designs! Marvelously exquisite!!
I know you have taken us on the cup process behind the scenes before, but would love to see again. Can you take us on the journey from drawing to delivery? Are you still loving the company? I don’t remember if you mentioned a minimum order in the making process
(although I’m sure there is one). They are all so happy and encouraging!
Thank you for a soft summer respite! I think I’ll have some more pink lemonade!
Well, I might not have won the drawing, but your pink post brightened a rather rainy day here in Virginia. What fantastic yard sale finds! Love the china, glasses and linens – all making me want to “nest” and move furniture and objects and perhaps do a bit of cleaning. Your garden is so lovely – a quiet place to dream. As always, thank you for sharing. The Halloween cup is precious. I’m dreaming of winning that.
As always you lightened my day….. pink is so very fun…..not nearly enough of it in the world. I just went out and cut a bouquet of pink hydrangeas due to your incentive. Love the mugs…..can’t wait to place my order. Enjoy your summer days…..
Smiles…
Liz
Susan,
All those beautiful pink flowers, wow!
Love the outfit you wore to the apple farm, I wish I could borrow it! My family always thought I was channeling my inner Laura Ingalls Wilder, when they talk about some of my dresses I have worn.
Ha! I’m Laura Ashley for life!
Thank you for the pink. I neeeeeeded some pinkness in my life today. xo
Just when I needed a “pink me up” I walked in to my office with a fresh cup of tea and your blog message was on my e mail! Perfect for a typical Monday at work! Thank you for being so PINK! I do like your new cup designs very much, including the shape. Of course my dream is of a 2 Cup tea pot and 2 matching cups and saucers…A girlfriend can dream out loud 🙂
Surprised you did not mention a birthday tea for Beatrix this Saturday. If you were in Holland, Michigan I would be happy to host you and Joe for tea and cakes. I had the pleasure of stopping by the studio of Gwen Frostic this past week while traveling up north. ANOTHER remarkable artist/woman that set the world right with art and grit. Creating something beautiful with a purpose. For all that have not heard of Gwen, quick to GOOGLE and learn about this remarkable lady. One of our greatest treasures here in Michigan. Feel the Pink!
TTFN. Lindy in Holland
hmmmmm not sure why my comment came up as Lorna….hope it gets sorted out for you.
Lindy
I’m seeing Lindy on this one, thank goodness . . . we try to sort it out, but the problem is that it doesn’t always happen. Why? We don’t know!
For Beatrix’s birthday this year I’m planning to WRITE about her! But what a perfect idea to have a tea to celebrate! How cute it could be, all coconut and blue bunnies! And yes, the glory of nature through Gwen Frostic! xoxoxo
Ooooooo! Sounds wonderful!
You always capture the magic of the seasons! And it’s contagious! Thanks Girlfriend!
You got me Susan at the pink sunset, Pismo by chance?? We love going there, will be there for Christmas this year.
That particular sunset is out where Joe and I walk everyday … but I also have amazing photos of sunsets in Pismo … we love it too!
I love pink and loved the new blog. I’m so glad you had a few Winter cups still for me to order. Have a great rest of the day!
Oh good, yes Kellee just let me know about the extra cups … yay!
Susan, I do love pink as well. Congratulations to Lorraine. She is a very lucky girl! And I love the mugs! Will the apple mug be available for everyone, or only those who attend your talk at Apple Farm?
For everyone!
I remember you explained this once before, but I’ve forgotten: What is the reason for putting rings on the cupcake candle?
I have seven close girlfriends here on the Island, it’s a thing we started years back … when it’s one of our birthdays, we all put our rings around the candle, then when the birthday girl makes a wish, we wish with her, and when she blows out the candle, ALL our wishes come true.
That is so lovely <3
How cool is that? Love it!
We love it! Connectors. Like holding hands when you say grace. xoxo
…and the holly mug is particularly lovely. I do love holly!
Congratulations to lucky Lorraine ! Ooooh…love the Apple mugs! And while I am loving all the pink, I am still in a white mode this week. On Friday our community had a Fete en Blanc….everything WHITE. It was wonderful – my friends and I had a table of 8 and we plotted/planned our tablescape and menu. So much fun. My contribution was a little Eiffel Tower with white lights…and coconut cupcakes all decked out on my grandmother’s cut glass pedestal dish. As I placed the cupcakes on the dish I remembered my Aunt Mamie telling me her mother bought that dish for my Aunt Annie ( who was gone long before my mom and dad met) because she would bake a cake every Saturday for her brothers and her mom thought she needed a nice plat to put it on. I said a little prayer for them all…and felt they knew I was part of the long line of bakers in our family ….and still using the plate. Thanks, Susan…for reminding us to enjoy the good life and cherish the little things!
Beautiful Ann, I can just picture it. xoxox
Dear Friend,
When you can find joy and warmth and beauty in almost everything around you, you realize that winning isn’t about things but blessings and friends and pink!
Love to you and a heart filled with gratitude for the happiness you create.
Deborah
P.S. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the new designs because holidays can happen anytime you take a sip!
Love all the pink dishes. They remind me of the tea cups and teapot my mom had on her hutch. Thanks for a lovely post. I will hopefully see you at the Apple Farm.
I’m very excited to see the Jack-0-Lantern mugs in the works. I don’t want to say how much I love the Fall, because right now I’m basking in all the good things Summer has to offer.
Brilliant. Something right now, and something to look forward to!
I have the prettiest pink Holly hocks this summer! Pink is my favorite color and is for two of my granddaughters.
Loved everything about this post!! I have pink glassware that belonged to my mom….you inspired me to dig it out!!! Love the apple mug, Much as I love summer, Fall is a favorite time of year too!!
Love everything about this post! I have some pink glassware that belonged to my Mom, you have inspired me to dig it out! Love the apple mug too, much as I love summer, Fall is a favorite time of year too!!
SO pretty in the summer! (Winter too!)
Your blog in pink gave me a smile for the day …. Love your writings🤓❤
Love your cups but just too large for me plus I just can’t win one and my little check book can’t find enough to buy one. 🙁
The seasonal ones are all small … only 11 oz. Keep that in mind, and save your quarters. xoxoxo AND, look for the next cup-giveaway! I’m not going to stop! (at least in the foreseeable future!)
Lovely pink post today, bet Lorraine is tickled pink too! Well done so happy for you!
I know my turn will come one day, ha ha ha . Fingers crossed.
Gill N. Devon U.K.
Pink is such a happy, welcoming color and my favorite! In the garden, on linens, in the kitchen on dishes, in the sunrise, on your clothes, in our food, children’s rosy pink cheeks, just the right pink lipstick and nail polish and on and on! Pink can cheer a cheerful person so they’re even more cheerful! It’s eye candy- eye cotton candy, pink of course! Ahhhh. Pink.
What a beautiful and airy post about pink! I imagine that fairy breath is scented with pink and that their wings leave a delicate waft of pinkness whenever they flutter. Thank you for lifting our spirits, Susan!
Pink stars flying out from behind them . . .
So deeeelighted that you mentioned the winter cups. Thought I had missed out. Ordered some right away, plus some other necessities. Then I saw the pumpkins….then the Christmas cup…looking for more space in the cupboard!
I had a hydrangea pot just like yours, and still rue the day I had to pass it on when I downsized. But, I still have the old Country Living recipe pages pulled out long ago!
Okay, I will remember never to get rid of it. No rueing! I think you sometimes don’t know until it’s too late!
So pretty, all these pictures, paintings, lovely quotes! We get such an incredible amount of motivation and inspiration from you, thank you so much. We have you, but what is your secret well of nevet ceasing inspiration? Sent in awe😍, from Switzerland 🇨🇭.
Awww, Cornelia, so far away, thank you! I think it’s because I’m like you, LOVE to be inspired and look for it everywhere. When I find something I like I share it with my Girlfriends, because we all seem to be in the same boat! xoxo Have a wonderful day!
I cannot express in this little blog how much I love your talent, your pleasant attitude, your books, etc. etc. etc. Keep it up, little lady!
Congrats Lorraine!!!
Do love the pinks as well as the holy hocks and the teapot from Emma Bridgewater which I have too as well two mugs with the hearts.
How beautiful are the new mugs aspecially the Christmas one.
Thanks susan for our luve-ly stories!!!
Greetings,Trudy from the Netherlands
Lorraine is quite the lucky lady! You’ll love the cups! Love the pink blog so many beautiful pictures, ideas, thoughts. You do so much. Does your creativity keep you awake at night? 😊 I am amazed with all your energy! I also have pink dishes, Johnson Bros pink castles and Rose Bouquet, love love love dishes! You are the highlight of my days. Thank you 🌹
Spreading Girlfriend-hood one kindred spirit at a time. It’s a luv-lee thing. Thank you for being here Diane!
Well, I didn’t win the cups but, this blog is a lovely gift—love it when you’re back home—alls right with the world !!!
Your writing is like sunshine on paper (or on the computer screen): It lights up my day. Love to see all your antique finds and how you use them and enjoy them. Love and a hug to you.
What could be better than a post from Susan Branch in pink??? I feel like Vanna! ♥♥♥ Such a lifter of spirits to read and soak in all that pink this afternoon ~ my favorite color ~ thank you! Congratulations to Lorraine on a super drawing win 🙂 I always feel like a winner when I receive that email that tells me there’s a new blog post up. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.
Now there is one slight problem…I’m in the midst of downsizing to move, “staging” with the realtor expert (translated moving out without moving out haha), making those 3 piles – Keep, Donate, Trash…and along comes these fantastic new mugs, most of which are in my favorite seasons – Autumn and Christmas!!! Will be plunging into the deep end with these, I’m afraid lol I’m moving to a tiny dwelling by the sea in NC if all goes as planned and prayed over ♥♥♥ Enjoy the rest of your Summer, Susan and girlfriends…we’re not even half way through…and then….Autumn!!! xoxo mari
A new home! All my best that your prayers are answered in just the way you like!
Thanks for the well wishes! All the downsizing, staging work is worth it to move toward your dream ♥ Open House Aug 2!
p.s. What a fabulous group of girlfriends on here! So blessed to participate and also to read and rejoice, smile and share with everyone!
They’re great, could not agree more! xoxo
Hi Susan! I tried to post a comment under your last post (Welcome Home!) but I haven’t seen it yet. I hope I’m not double posting!
It was great to be with you and Joe and the “Twigs” in the Lake District in May. I have written about our Fine Romance trip with Mandy and Betsy on my blog. It can be found at Sandra’s Town & Country, at sandrahutchinson.com. There’s a sweet photo I took of you holding a ten-day-old Herdwick lamb at Town Head Farm! And much more, including a photo of your 2018 Castle Cottage Picnic cup in situ! What a fantastic trip was had by all! Thank you for inspiring us.
Best, Sandy
It was there Sandy, just so you know! Luv-lee post too!
Love all the pretty pink treasures you have—-I also buy what I love—not always what I need!! And I am usually glad I did. Happy shopping!
If it makes you happy, then feed your soul. xoxoxo
good afternoon Susan and Girlfriends. Congrats to Lorraine on winning the cups, and I love that Halloween cup and the apple cup… made me hungry for an apple and thirsty for iced tea today. its going to be a hot week here… triple digits again, and I hate those… too hot!!! we also have a nice fire situation going here in Southern Oregon with over 50 fires going at once. we are near the Natchez fire which is just outside of Cave junction and Selma. my in-laws are panicking as they are near a big fire, just across the river from their location and they are cut off… the roads going in to their area are closed to all but the residents. they can’t evacuate here as we are looking at the same thing ourselves, so far so good… no evacuation notices. but it sure is hazy and smoky here… phewy!!!! well off to get the last load in the laundry.. cat accident on the sheets again…. and I hate that, takes forever to get them dry and back on the bed plus I have 2 loads ahead of that… laundry day. stay cool everyone, Fall is not far away.. only 2 months to go. and I cannot wait for the cool down!!! have a great day today, and stay cool everyone. hugs…. 😀
this has got to be a switch…. usually I watch tractors from the front porch, going down to the corner gas station to fuel up and come chugging back to their fields. now I watch water trucks and tanker and rigs hauling bulldozers to the fire lines go up and down the road… be glad when I see just tractors chugging down again… time to get another load on the line and another load in the washer….. its laundry day here. hugs…. 😀
Prayers for you & everyone to be safe & the fires out SOON ‘
Frightening, Pat! My prayers are with your in-laws … and everyone having to smell that awful smoke of destruction.
Thank you Pat and Thank you Susan!! so far we are doing well, just dealing with the smoke and haze here, makes the birds unhappy but they love the misters we have going in the henhouse and on the play pen for the baby ducks and the sprinkler we have going for the chickens out in the chicken yard, the ducks just love that, they sit out all day under that sprinkler and enjoy the water coming over them.. crazy quackers!!! the in-laws are still at home and if they have to evacuate they can go to either town and stay with Judy or to the shelter. they come here and we may have to pick and go ourselves, we are in the area of the Klondike/Natchez fires except they merged so now it is the Natchez fire. the cats are sleeping under the fans and keeping cool ( we have ceiling fans) and for now I deciding whether or not to go floating or just stay home and sit on the front porch.. too hot for housework!! its going to be triple digits all week here… whew!!!! talk later…. Hugs…. 🙂
Pink!!! One of my favorite colors because it goes so well with gray hair. Mine, that is. Starting a collection of your cups for each season. Please tell me you’ll do more. I will definitely have to have a Fall and Winter (Christmas)one. Two of my favorite holidays.
Enjoy your summer!
Oh how PEACEFUL to read your blog and trip back in time. To be able to block out the *#&? in my head!
Thank you
GOOD, that *#&? can be so destructive. All power to consciousness Robin! xoxo
Congratulations Lorraine! I love to read every little word on your posts. I wonder how many girlfriends skipped to the bottom first to see if they won? Lol Not me. Looking forward to seeing you again at the Apple Farm.
Blessings
Dearest Susan, Love, love, love the pink!!! Really put me in the mood for yard sales, and I did not need any encouragement…. I have been reading some of your older blogs and found myself picking up Isle of Dreams again. So I am reading it for the third time. It is my favorite!
Gorgeous new cups. I have the blue bird and now I may order Winter as well. Thanks for the beautiful post. Always enjoy pictures of your dishes. Take good care. With love, Bridget. 💖
Love your pink blog. Now I am in the pink. Your mugs are adorable. All rested and ready to go. Congratulations to Lorraine! Vana’s been busy! ♥️
I Love Love Love your pics and your words and your flowers and your garden and Jack and………..well everything! Greetings from Spain.
I believe the flowers you asked about are called Lady Slippers….so happy to know you had a few more of the winter cups for sale–bought one!!
Love hearing from you, dear Susan!!
XO
Robin
I Love your pics your words your garden your flowers your Jack…..well everything!!!
Greetings from Spain.
I just enjoy your blog…everything about it. But when you show your dishes, the table set for a party or glasses drying on the counter I am looking and looking at the pictures ! So today was a “yippee” day because you designed more cups !! My summer cup is right nearby filled with a cup of hot coffee. Earlier today I purchased a tiered display where I just arranged my cups. Thank you for continuing a selection of cups. The apple one will be next 🙂
Ahhh dishes, how we love thee! xoxo
Pink together with green is a favorite combination of mine. Your post got me wondering, could you pick any color, any color at all, and find enough items to do a blog post. Then that got me wondering … could I?
I think you can. If you take enough photos . . . I have blue and red and yellow too!
Great post, Susan…pink is sooo pretty. I really like the cups – Halloween and the Apples. Don’t stop making them yet.
Love the pink blog! It’s funny but I never liked pink until the last year, now I love it! Congrats to Lorraine! I’m sure she will love them! Susan I think you will appreciate this, but I just found out that I am related to the Pulitzer Prize winning author Willa Cather! We are third cousins from my father’s mother’s side. She is the author of O Pioneer, Song of the Lark, and My Antonia among many others. She wrote fiction based on her own experiences living on the Nebraska frontier in the late 1800’s. I am so honored to be related to her and have her blood flowing through my veins. Now I know which side of the family I get my own creative life! Just thought I would share with you another strong independent woman who was ahead of her time and lived as a professional writer like you! Thanks again for enriching our lives!
I do know who she is and that is simply wonderful Lynette! So much fun to do our family trees and make these interesting connections that somehow all seem to make perfect sense!
Pink is my fav color too, so this was a feast for my eyes. I’ve sent your photo of the bleeding heart-like flowers to my gardening cousins in England to see if they can identify them. Lovely indeed. Thanks for sharing.
Oh good! Thank you Ann!
Pink, love pink! When I pick my hydrangea they wilt so quickly. Sounded like you just put a plant in the container? Looks so pretty. Anyway, I’ll be checking and checking and checking some more to get in on the new fall/holiday mugs. Thank you.
Yes, that container holds a potted plant, makes life very easy. Hydrangeas do wilt quickly, To keep them freshest longer I make sure there’s a fresh cut on the diagonal and put them in slightly warmer than tepid water. I also feel like it may depend on the variety, but that’s nothing scientific … just feels that way to me.
Thanks, they just look so pretty in that pitcher/vase and I need all the helpful hints I can get 😀
P.s. Just received my 2019 calendar in the mail today. If you only knew how hard it is for me NOT to open up the cellophane and look at all the months! I want to peek… I won’t, only because I love the surprise of turning over each month.
Loved all of the “pinkness”! Congratulations to Lorraine. Enjoy using and sharing the wonderful cups❤….”Happy Trails” westward, Susan
…just a quick, heart-felt congratulations to Lorraine !! lucky lady !!!..and what a post, filled with pink wonderfulness !!..I’m seeing a lot of pink too these days with my new sweet baby girl granddaughter..and now my daughter is getting ready to take us down to the beach to walk and walk..it’s my birthday today and it has been perfect !!!…thank you Susan !!!..with love, as always…
oh, and the new cup designs are wonderful !!!
Happy Birthday Mary!!! xoxo
Love Love Love this post !
and my PurrGirl Banjo O’Feral agrees . . .
and she wants me to remind you, that every day when I drink tea out of one of my beloved mugs, she gives me that ‘where’s My version?’ sad-kitty face
because she wants a kitty dish for her own food made by Y o u 💕
OH I will definitely keep that in mind Paige! Kisses to Banjo … beloved kitty!
Banjo loves hearing that !
Xoxox from both of us on a lovely fog-filled Carmel afternoon as Banjo O’Feral and I are snuggled in together (she is nestled in the crook of my elbow), re-reading your divine A Fine Romance.
😘
Lucky Lorraine😊 Now should I go back to the thrift store and pick up the pink toile de jouey quilt I nearly bought today!? It would be lovely for a picnic….xx
This was food for the soul. Such a beautiful display of thoughts, art and charm. Thank you so much!
I’m tickled pink 💗 with your pictures, Susan, and with the opportunity for more mugs. I don’t think I could choose between the apple, jack o’lantern or the holly so I better start saving for all! So glad you’re making the time for more creativity. And a big congratulations to lucky Lorraine. I’m sure she’s thrilled to win.
Absolutely love all this pink!!!!
I love, love, LOVE the Halloween cup!
Is it going to be a real cup that we can order?????? PLEASE?!
Yes it will … I’ll get them up for presale soon! xoxo Just hard to believe we’re on our way to Fall so soon now. . .
I agree! I am currently planning (plotting) my Halloween displays for the yard. Although it was 106 degrees at my house yesterday, so nothing remotely Fall-like!
I will keep checking for the pre-order opportunity for the Halloween cups.
Thank you!!!!!
Thank you for the pinkness of it all. It was perfect. Exactly what I needed.
How do you know? It must be magic.
Congratulations Lorraine. And and thank you Susan for putting the rest of us in that lovely pink calm mood before we discovered that we didn’t win. I think we all wanted those cups! I especially wanted the winter one. I need to go order it before you run out.
I like the new Christmas one too. Nice idea to make a different size and mix it up for the beauty of our cup displays. 😉 Please keep making cups. We all love them so much.
❤️❤️❤️XOXOXO❤️❤️❤️
Well, I wasn’t sure it would work, but I wanted to try and soften the blow! I love giveaways, all the excitement, but the choosing of only one name is hard!
Hi Susan,
The flowers that you wanted to know the name? I think they are a variety of salvia…sage, but not the cooking sage. Such lovely colors to choose from. In case no one has told you…haha!…your posts are so wonderful! Thank you, love, Karen
Thank you Karen!
Yes, I agree with Karen… definitely a variety of Salvia Greggii (And no, I’m not a botanist, I just love a good mystery and a good search engine)! Check out this link en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvia_greggii …I think this is what you’re looking for. There are a vast variety of pinks and even a salmon that is gorgeous, and they DO bloom in the fall.
Susan, this post is truly the PINK OF PERFECTION. Of course, that Haley Mills tune has been in my head since you posted about it on Twitter. My favorite of the flowers (today, at least) is the fairy’s petticoat peony… I can just imagine the scent of that one, too. Actually, if you pressed me I would probably say that the gladiolus and old fashioned roses are my favorites, too. So glad we really don’t have to choose just one! I love pink, and appropriately I actually have on a pink blouse today. Congrats to Lorraine “for the win!” Thank you for your continued generosity to the girlfriends.
Christi
Oh yes, choosing just one would be impossible! We had an English Girlfriend write with the name of the flowers … she called them Angel’s Fishing Rods … which I hadn’t heard of, but I googled them … and I do believe she’s right. See what you think!
I looked at the images of Angel’s Fishing Rods, but I don’t think they are the same as the ones in your photo. Wish the photo were higher resolution so I could really zoom in, but I am sticking with my diagnosis of salvia greggii …only because of the very distinctive double-lobed shape of the bottom of the blooms along with the single (bird’s head looking) top of the blooms. Check this English nursery’s links: ashwoodnurseries.com/shop/salvia-x-jamensis-la-tarde.html “La Tarde Sage”
ashwoodnurseries.com/shop/salvia-greggii-stormy-pink.html “Stormy Pink Autumn Sage”
…very similar to the ones you posted. The Angel’s Fishing Rods have “full bell skirts” with 7-8 petals, as opposed to the double-lobed petal.
In my reading about salvia, I learned that it is the largest genus of the mint family (it also includes sage.) All sages are salvias, but all salvias are not sages. But, I would bet these are edible. Whatever, species they are, they are beautiful and now I want some for my garden! Thank you again for all the luv-lee pink photos.
Oh yes, that close-up photo from Ashwood Nursery is EXACTLY like the one in another of the photos I took that day. That’s definitely it. Thank you Christi! I hope it’s edible, that would double our pleasure!
I loved all the pink in this post! The best surprise: the pink baby’s breath in the bouquet. Beautiful!
All your mugs are not only beautiful, but fun. I must purchase some as I have purchased a iron cup holder just for them. Filled with pink sunshine today. Thanks
That was beautiful! I love that pink gladioli! I’ve never seen one like that. The new cup designs = super! Loved the pink! Thanks Susan 🌸🌷🌸
Oh my gosh, that Holly cup! I love it! As usual, a post I want to read over and over!
I enjoyed hearing who the winner of the cups were and what a wonderful summer surprise for Lorraine! Summer is my favorite of all with fall and spring close behind. I only like winter for about one month and then I am “done with it” ☺. I will have to have that Holly mug though. The idea of a dish with a recipe inside was a good one! As far as us thinking you are lazy! HA! I am sure it is a whirling dervish over there at your home on Martha’s Vineyard since you have returned.
My friend Margot blooms like a hot house flower in the heat and humidity . . . she loves it. Another girlfriend is in the sea every single morning before most of the Island is even up. There is something for everyone in our luv-lee four seasons. My dervish whirls into the studio every morning with a spring in its step, it is jealous when I do the laundry or make dinner! But it also allows reading, especially reading about England. So all is well!
I love pink. Thank you for featuring my favorite color. I so look forward to everything you write. I am so inspired by your words. Also I love the new cup designs.
♥️
Congratulations to Lorraine! I feel like I won too because I got home from Maine today and your desk blotter 2019 calendar was waiting for me!!!! How my daughters and I love the 2018 version:) Were your ears ringing? While on the beach in Maine, our feet in the sand, we talked about your wonderfulness and your adventures with our soul mate friends. So fun to see the next generation love you too as they “Branch” out into their own apartments!!! I’m going to try to rustle up some friends and daughters to come see you in Falmouth in Nov 🙂 Thank you for the pink poetry. My favorite pink right now is the pink mandavilla that goes all the way up our pavilion and spills flowers even INSIDE!
FUN! xoxo