Oh, I am so excited I don’t almost know where to begin! After a too-long deadly-quiet year… the world is waking up with a bang! with MUSICA!
I’ve been meditating every day and feel so much better!💫 (They should teach meditation in kindergarten, what a wonderful tool it is.) We put “FUN” on the calendar!💖 We’re seeing our friends!👫👭👫👭 And it’s spring!
It’s hard to be sad on beautiful days like these. Today, for the first time, we’re going to have almost 70º! It’s been a month of pink petals drifting through the spring air, the salty wind blowing up from the harbor, boat horns echoing over the island, making my heart skip a beat . . . because I’m so madly
and it seems to love me back 💖 . . . we have so much of it now . . . the dogwood is a meditation all by itself . . .
And the lilac is in bloom! In-TOX-icating smells all over the island! We just open the door and there it is! Our garden is filled with bluebells, lily of the valley, strawberries, and white bleeding heart, all in bloom now, the peonies and roses are budding . . . May is bursting out all over!
Curtains from the Peter Rabbit Room are washed, bleached, and fluttering on the line on a cool leafless morning . . .
And magnolias! Magnolias from a tree we thought wasn’t going to make it, and surprise! It was beautiful this year! Spring still comes as a surprise to me . . . the change of season brings unexpected celebrations! Who is not thrilled to see the first strawberry in the garden? You feel like you MADE something!
And the morning light ~ yes, joy unrestrained, has returned to Mudville, mighty Casey did NOT strike (totally) out!
And I have to say, my joy was doubled . . .
. . . because of you . . . this is just the beginning of all the get-well, birthday cards and letters, dripping with love, empathy, hope, and commiseration I received from you darling people after my last post! How did I get so lucky? 🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷
I can’t tell you how much they meant to me!💞 And if you ever want to see how kind and compassionate people can be, read the over 1000 sweet comments on my last blog post ~ and that doesn’t even count our Girlfriends on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷 
You know who you are . . . Thank your generous hearts forever!❌⭕️
You would think that would be enough, but nooooo, there’s still MORE to be excited about 🌸 . . . our clematis Montana is coming back and getting ready to bloom!🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 I’m staring it into flower . . .👀
Joe put a new coat of clean white stain on the picket fence ~ look at the back compared to the front to see the before and after . . . it needed it! Making it pretty for our new dahlia garden, the tubers came yesterday! Eeek!
And where there’s a garden, there’s a kitchen…
And where there’s a kitchen, there’s me . . . it just couldn’t get much cheerier that this Trifle, except maybe for the cheeriest event we took it to . . . an INDOORS dinner party at a friend’s house, with NO masks, NO distancing ~ our darling friends around the table, together again, vaccinated thanks to the magic of genius-science which is getting us OUT from UNDER this misery!🙏 Goodbye plague, hello fun!
Simplest, prettiest, easiest dessert makes a WOW at a party that’s already a WOW from the love in the room.💞💖💞 Here’s how to make one of these beauties: layer, from the bottom, store-bought angel food cake cut into bite-sized pieces (or any cake, even 
brownies or cookies!), then spoon pudding or custard over the cake . . . I made old-fashioned vanilla pudding with Agnes’s (from Holly Oak!) 1946 Joy of Cooking (could be chocolate pudding, could be lemon, 
could be butterscotch, could include coconut), then I placed a line of cut strawberry halves around the edge with more in the middle (instead of strawberries it could be bananas or mixed fruit), and added a layer of homemade whipped heavy cream ~ then I did it all over again, ending in whipped cream . . . so it looked like this . . .
It didn’t look like that for long . . . Grab a spoon! Strawberry Trifle makes everyone happy!😋
That’s exactly what I’ve been doing . . . arranging flowers in vases creates a happy heart!
We had a birthday party at our house and I got to do my favorite thing, set the table! At age 21 I went to my landlord’s house to pay my rent, she called “come in!” … which I did, and as I followed her voice through the dining room, into her kitchen, she unknowingly changed my life:
. . . It was the first time we had people for dinner since December 2019.💖
So much fun! I filled the house with flowers and lit the candles . . . isn’t it romantic?
It was an evening of toasting and laughing to the point of giddiness, so happy to be together, living life again . . .
I made a blueberry-lemon angel food birthday cake. (I make this often to take to parties because it’s delicious, relatively low-calorie, and it’s also the birthday girl’s favorite whether it’s her birthday or not!)🎂
I also made Basil Ice Cream . . . (both of these yummy recipes are in the 30th Anniversary Edition of Heart of the Home).
. . . After a little light churning in the magical Donvier ice cream maker . . . Voila! Homemade ice cream! It doesn’t even require electricity! (Yes, you can take it outside and do it right at the table! Excellent picnic material!)
Our birthday girl loved it!
You can see we did the “ring thing,” put our rings on the cake as we always do, so there were wishes galore … she used a plate to “blow” out the candles (I had a fan, set it down somewhere, never to be seen again that night!) . . . we’ve decided in honor of the Pandemic we will no longer spit on each other’s birthday cakes!
What else . . . ???
This … I took this photo through the kitchen windows over the sink, past the bird-feeders, out toward the picket-fence garden and the weeping cherry tree. See them? The lamp, roses, and just-washed-glasses from the party are on the table behind me, and reflected in the windows. So is the window behind me, so now it’s a window in a window. I see infinity in there somewhere. Blows the mind, does it not?🤣
I love it in our house just after we’ve had a party…the dishes are done, dishtowels are drying on the chairs, the house is clean (first time in a year!), it’s quiet but I can hear the laughter, there are leftovers, and I still have all the flowers! Win-win!🏡
But let’s face it ~ and I know you could tell by the MUSICA … . . . what I’m MOST excited about is the FUN we put on the calendar! And what makes it extra fun, is that so many of you put the exact same fun on the exact same date on your (exact same 😂) calendar!
MAY 1, 2022 
So, just in case you missed it, I told everyone in the last blog post that Joe and I will be sailing to England next year, on May 1, 2022 aboard the Queen Mary 2 (if you didn’t see the 
announcement, click on the link and scroll toward the bottom of the post for more details) … and if you would like to join us on the ship to call Susan Gannon at Cunard at 800-468-7752 ext. 41663 and she will personally help make your reservations and answer your questions. Mention that you want to be a part of the Susan Branch Girlfriends Group, and tell her it’s group number: TNM, voyage #M211 so she can keep track of us as a group . . .
Already there are something like a hundred of us going! Together. On the ship. To ENGLAND!!! I can’t believe it! Canadian Girlfriends are 
coming too! I’m beside myself. (Remember in 1987 when I was wishing everyone who was writing me such wonderful letters could meet each other? But of course in 1987, how could that happen?? And now, miracle, here we are!) Susan at Cunard told me lots of our fellow travelers have never been on a ship before … and many have never been out of the country! Even more exciting! Brave Girls! I promise, I’m going to help! But look ⬇️ . . . isn’t it heaven?
If you CAN’T join us . . . don’t worry, we will take you virtually . . . you’ll feel as though you are with us . . . I’ll be blogging too ~ I probably won’t be the only one! And it’s not too late to join us . . . although I did hear the ship is selling out fast. We aren’t the only people who want an adventure after what we’ve all been through! I mean if we’re going to re-invent ourselves, why not do it on a ship to England! And they are giving us until December 31 to cancel for a full refund! (This is a whole post of win-wins!)💝
Kellee added a travel page on Facebook in case you’d like to meet up with fellow travelers ahead of time, talk about the trip, ask questions, and get more information. Don’t plan too far ahead until I get a chance to show you some things … That’s where I’ll put the link to the tours so you can make 
reservations and it’s where I’ll update information. But of course, no one has to take a tour, you can make plans there to do things amongst yourselves… everything is good! We have LOTS of time. Just consider this something you don’t have to worry about anymore. Because we’re doing this together! And because we’re a group, Cunard is giving us a special “on-board credit” to spend on the ship … which means we can have a massage, or buy souvenirs or perfume, or clothes, or jewelry, or wine in the stores, or have a glass of champagne at the Veuve Clicquot Bar! I’m so happy! You know it’s very fun to share something you love with people you care about.❤️
It’s the North Atlantic, windy and wild and beautiful, so we don’t often get days like this on board the ship, but when we do, ooo, la la!
This was one of our rooms . . . We’ve stayed all over this ship and we’ve always been happy, and Petey’s not picky! It’s the land of nooks and crannies, there’s a place for everything no matter how much you bring!
You will be wined and dined . . .
as elegantly or as casual as you like ~ this is the beautiful Britannia Dining Room . . . but there is also a HUGE cafeteria style restaurant with literally every food on earth, and, coup de grâce, they have Room Service . . . You will not go hungry.
They will bring you breakfast in bed (COZIEST of beds, down comforters & pillows, but of course, I bring my own pillow!), a midnight snack, or afternoon tea, whatever you like including French fries! Cuddle in and read while you eat your fries if you want to. There are no rules! It’s your voyage to do with what you wish. No need to bring a tea kettle, they have one in every room! (And in every room you’ve booked in England. We are talking civilized!👍)
I hope we get a day like this in New York when we board! Notice there are no crowds? It’s just not crowded on this ship.
We never know, but in all our crossings, it’s never been unbearable even for a moment. It’s a huge ship and very stabilized, but if you get a little seasick, which I have done, you can celebrate by taking the tiny white pills they give you in Sick Bay, and go to bed and be deliciously happy while gently rocked to sleep in your cozy jammies, under your down covers in nature’s arms. I’m never sorry. Sometimes Miss Potter is on TV. I love to sleep. Joe brings me crackers and soup. I don’t let it stop me. It goes away. Just remember, you can never be disappointed if you keep your expectations low. Everything is good! Mostly better than good! But nothing is perfect!
As the people who were sitting at the six tables around this nightmare can attest! The waiters light food on fire in the dining rooms, flaming Steak Diane, Bananas Foster, Crepe Suzette, etc ~ very festive . . . but this time a flame went too high and licked the fire sprinklers and SURPRISE! Very quick movement of people OUT of their chairs, flinging themselves across the room! Everyone else grabbing their cameras!
Poor waiters were rushing out with buckets, trying to stop it as fast as they could . . . no one was upset, most people were laughing and feeling bad for them, and trying to help by staying out of the way! But yes, things happen. And that’s where the stories are . . . that’s what you’ll be telling about and remembering for years to come! Travel isn’t always easy ~ nothing is normal, you are not going to be able to find anything the entire time, but when you get home, you forget all that and just wallow in the fact you DID it, you enlarged your heart and soul, you found beauty, you made yourself smarter, you became an inspiration, you spread sunshine and made the English people love our country because of who you are, you saw the world!
For those of you who are wondering what you will do in England once you get off the ship, and perhaps you’d rather not drive? We have it covered! One of our Girlfriends (Thank you Janice!) told me about a travel agency that specializes in small groups and providing knowledgeable, experienced, personable guides ~ I had a long talk with them and they are putting together four or five different tours for you to choose from. They will collect you and your luggage at the ship . . . and along with other Girlfriends (and boyfriends too), they will drive you through the . . .
…English countryside to many of the places I wrote about in A Fine Romance . . . for instance, here, 
to Rosemary Verey’s Garden ~ and also, depending on which tour you choose, to Bath, the Cotswolds, The Garden of England, to Blenheim Palace, Hidcote, Hever Castle, and SO MUCH MORE!!! Wait till you see! They will take care of everything, your hotel reservations and meals . . . You can choose which part of the country you’d like to see … it’s a win-win because all of the tours look wonderful! There’s so much to see! And everyone on your tours will be a kindred spirit! You will get the lay of the land, see how easy it is, and be able to do it again all by yourselves next time!
And don’t forget all of the UK (and much of the world) will be celebrating the Platinum Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth . . . the first time ever in history, beloved and longest-serving monarch 🇬🇧 … cities and towns will criss-cross their streets and homes in flags and bunting! You’ll be part of history!
You’ll dine in tea rooms and eat in charming pubs, no two alike, and see wonderful handmade houses and dovecotes, not to mention . . .
fabulous gardens, big ones and little ones, and castles too … .
And in May, the bluebells will be in bloom! Baby chicks and ducks will be running around. Lambs will be cavorting! I know some of us are in total squeeeeeee-mode right now, and I am one of them!
If you ARE planning to drive, be sure to read the Rules of the Road for the UK so you know what all the squiggly lines on the road mean. Each tour will finish in London, close to the airport for 
your flights home. No one should think about leaving London without riding a big red double-decker bus for a bird’s eye view of Big Ben (which was hit but not destroyed by a bomb in WWII, and only lost one second in the process🇬🇧) , and no one should go without experiencing the handmade-glory of Westminster Abbey. If an eight-day tour isn’t long enough, you could take two tours, or you can stay in London for a few days . . . So many possibilities ~ maybe a few of you would want to join together for a tour to Scotland, just ask the travel person. If enough of you want to go, I would imagine they would make it happen. I will put the tour contact information on Facebook and Instagram very soon, also on Twitter, and here on the blog … as soon as I get a few 
more details ~ because I just realized I want them to take you to a Waitrose Supermarket. I love seeing wonderful food stores when I travel. Great place to get “English things” to take home. But don’t worry, all the answers will be here for you as time goes by. I should tell you, I don’t personally have any connection to this travel agency, but it has been “Girlfriend Approved” and talking to them was a pure pleasure (you’ll see), they are on our same wavelength, travel-wise. Joe and I won’t be on 
any of the tours, we’ll be off on our own adventure . . . perhaps we will run into you along the way! We’ve met Girlfriends out on walks in the middle of nowhere on other trips, so I wouldn’t be a bit surprised! (Pic above: Across a wide field I saw this woman waving at us while we were out on a walk. She looked so welcoming! But, who was she? Did I go to high school with her? We didn’t recognize her! … We started talking and discovered she was one of us! I forget I have a familiar face to some people; tall Joe, in his beret, is like a very handsome neon sign, but it’s still always a surprise! Isn’t that fun?)
I’m also working on a ship-board schedule of things for us to do together on the crossing! Surprises you are going to LOVE. Some I can’t wait to tell you about, but some I hope I can keep to myself until the bitter end!🤐 Because surprises are good! It’s just hard for me to keep them a secret! Do bring your knitting, crocheting, or embroidery project if you have one. If you 
want to bring a cellphone, check with the cellphone people near you and find out how to get a Sim Card (an iphone will work just as it is, without a different Sim Card, but it will be much more expensive to make calls ~ as you know, I’m not a phone expert 🤣 ~ Google whatever you want to know about traveling with your phone in Europe ~ and ps, we’ve discovered 16th century stone houses are not conducive to cell phone use, but that’s okay, because we’ll be in ENGLAND and we can always go outside!❤️ The joy of traveling is that things are NOT the same as they are here! How boring THAT would be! Don’t forget to go to the Cunard website, click on “The Experience.” It will give you lots of information, including “what to pack.” The North Atlantic is 
not Florida, so be sure to bring a jacket. A warm rain jacket with hood will be something you will like on board the ship and in England too, and perhaps, the tiniest umbrella you can find for your jacket pocket. They have a wonderful big gym and a pool on the ship . . . We’ll talk about clothes probably all the way until we go! Also, are you interested in genealogy? Have you had your DNA done? It might be something you would like to do in this next year . . . It’s good to know where you come from, anytime actually, but especially BEFORE a trip like this ~ just in cases you end up in your ancestral town! You’ll want to take an extra-deep breath of that air!
These are wonderful movies to watch when you’re going to England. Also, try to read or listen to The Splendid and the Vile . . . SO good ~ we loved it! Story of Churchill and England 1940 to 1941 … you need to know the kind of people 💞 you’ll be dealing with. There are more book suggestions on page 181-182 of A Fine Romance!
You can get notification of new blog posts in your email box, so you won’t miss anything if you go HERE!
This, as always when we travel, will be my only problem. We are madly in love now. He’s at the perfect age for mad love. And me too. Someone needs to tell me how we leave him! 
Off I go Girlfriends, I’ve talked your ear off long enough. I know you’ll have lots of questions, don’t worry, we’ll answer them all as we go . . . we’re lucky we have such a long time to prepare! The anticipation will be exquisite! If you need to hear the unofficial anthem of Great Britain, HERE you go.
Love you!🌷🌷🌷
This is the most perfect spring here where I live in West Virginia. So many blooms on everything even my Montana Elizabeth clematis which I just planted a year ago. Happy Spring Susan and Joe!
Today I planted the dahlias we bought at Swan Island Dahlias. Lucky for us it is just 45 minutes from our house! The fields, of course, are not in bloom yet but we can always go back in August. Also lucky for us, there is a farm near there that just had their yearly plant sale. They specialize in rhododendrons but have other plants also. All the plants are only $10 regardless of size! We went crazy and bought 16 rhodies which we have scattered around our property. Like you, I just love spring. I’m glad you are feeling better, I so enjoy your posts.
Love rhododendrons, inherited quite a few when we bought this house 30 years ago! Still going strong! Thanks Judy, nice to see you, happy spring!
Hello Susan,
So good to see you are feeling better. You can hear the excitement in your words. I am going to Key West this Sunday for the very first time there, and first vacation since quarantine, and I am a bit apprehensive. But after reading this, I feel so much better. Best advise, have low expectations and know not everything is perfect, but the experience is so worth it all!
Also, I have the same lacey curtains you have in your Peter Rabbit room. I haven’t used them in a few years and forgot about them until I seen yours. I am going to wash them and use them this summer! Thanks for the reminder!
Take care and thanks for everything!
Have a wonderful time! You’re early enough, it probably won’t be crowded … I’ve never been there either, but I have a friend who used to live there! You’ll have a wonderful time! Just this morning Dr Fauci said that none of us have to wear a mask outdoors anymore. Only if we go to some huge event, concert or even a massively crowded bar. So that’s good! Joe and I will probably continue to wear them when we go to the supermarket … we LIKE not getting sick! Have fun!
I hope you love Key West as much as I do. We have been many times. It is hot and humid there, so dress as lightly as you can. Take a silly trolley tour, but you will learn so much. We always advise that you take the ghost and bicycle tours. Read up on Key West history. Lots going on, great restaurants, crazy atmosphere. We’ve stayed in b&bs, hotels, and on our own boat. I hope you enjoy it.
Happy Spring, Susan. SO glad you are your sunny self once more.
This England trip will be glorious. You have already done so much to make it magical. 🛳
I am tearful that Tom & I will not be joining you all. How i wish we could! We hope to be returning to Florida next spring/summer. We moved from Florida to NC 6 years ago to help my daughter. Well, she is remarried now(I introduced her to a single dad of one of my students)and my granddaughter is growing up and driving. Time for Nana to move back to sunshine and warm weather year round. 🌴🌞
I look forward to everyone’s pictures and blogs. Another cruise is on my bucket list, as well as another trip to Martha’s Vineyard & Nantucket.
Everyone deserves something fun to look forward to. We all deserve some fun. 🤸
I have my Mothers Day Susan gift certificates all ready for some new Susan mugs. ☕
Love you, Susan. Keep smiling. And..as always…thank you for everything you do to make us all smile.
We do deserve some fun Peggy . . . love your plans, very exciting! And don’t worry, we’ll make sure to include you in everything, it will be like having your cake and eating it too! New mugs are on their way … should be here by the end of August if all goes as planned!
Hooray!!!! Can’t wait for the preview. So much to be excited for.
Spring were I’m at in Virginia has just flown by! I got a great look at the cherry blossoms this year though which was nice. I’m planning my garden now- I think I’ll stick with mostly herbs this year as last year the squirrels mad effects with most of my veggies. I have to say that I am WAY excited about the upcoming boat trip. Its going to be so fun to meet all the girlfriends!
We’re on the same wavelength … garden garden garden… I’m doing lots of flowers this year . . . just want to SEE them! So happy to hear you’re coming along!
Oh My! Huge EEEEEEEKKK of Happiness. So glad I checked for the new blog before getting back to work, inside and outside…doors and windows Open…..
I have just done a quick “first read” of this Gawjus blog, but I’ll do it again and again. While we won’t be with all of you in May, 2022, all of us will be with you in spirit!!! Tom’s and my trip is planned for September-October, 2021. Hever Castle is on the list, as well as a couple of gardens for day trips out from London. My lovely man is beginning to slow down a bit at 81. He says, Carpe Diem, lets do it soon. One never knows how many good traveling years we have, so Do It.
Sue, Dearest of the Dear, you are among the most generous, most thoughtful of people. Deeply, truly appreciate what you bring to our world. I’m working on a print to send you….as though you need any. I just can’t resist. Hope I can get the hands to cooperate. 😉
Mucho Grande Love,
Debbie in Beautiful Maine
Hello Susan,
Janice here. I too am sooooo excited about the crossing and all the adventure at the other end. My mind full of ideas and plans. Looking forward to seeing what tours they have for us. I’ve always enjoyed this tour group and they are so great at what they do. Anyway, will be looking out for more info.
Cheers
Jan from Northern CA
Come sail away, come sail away with me!
Awesome blog!
Dearest Susan! You bring England home to me every time you go over and share your adventures! I’m not sure I could ever have as much fun in person as I have, cup-in-hand, in my cozy little house, watching you and your Joe meander about. Like many of the girlfriends, I will be anticipating every post with relish (and maybe a cream tea!) It is good to hear your pendulum has swung back from the darkness of the past few years, I truly think we have all uncurled from the fetal position a bit and are looking forward to embracing the face-forward, can-do attitude which is America’s birthright. We cannot keep sad things from happening, but we can get to the other side with love and support and flowers that bloom in the spring (TraLa!) (Sorry, I couldn’t resist throwing in a little Gilbert & Sullivan, all things considered.) BTW, are you watching the newest version of All Creatures Great and Small? It’s grand in the truest sense of the word. I adore Mr. Herriot’s books as they used to keep me company in my younger days when I commuted from my home to the city to work every day. Having the Cotswolds surround me rather than miles of freeway traffic was always a blessing. I hope everyone who goes on your wonderful shipboard adventure remembers to share with the rest of us. I may be more excited than you!
Positive happy views FORWARD is what is bringing us out of this! “Happy” is in the air here on the island with so many people coming to break out of the lock-up! We’re all prisoners of war set free! ❌⭕️
One thing about staying put on my property in the Shenandoah Valley for 15 months (I’m an introvert and write for a living from home and get all of my organic food from local coop curbside service – never entered a store once), was that I fell in love with photography again and became entranced with micro-nature. Such that I actually memorized every tree, every wildflower, and every weed. I became acutely aware of their daily changes, from the beauty of the ice storms to the sudden almost overnight burst of dogwoods and cherry blossoms and azaleas. I believe that many of us relearned how to be acutely aware of our surroundings. And to understand the importance of shopping local, with intention.
I think we will be recognizing blessings from this awful Pandemic for years to come ~ unless we lost a loved one to it. I love your inspiration Christabelle!
Susan, your upcoming Atlantic crossing and England trip sound so fun and exciting! I ‘m happy for each and every one joining you and Joe. Have a ball! I’m pleased to tell you my upcoming travel plans. On October 30, 2022, Bonnie and I are flying to Edinburgh, Scotland, to start our British Landscapes tour with Collette Tours! We leave London on November 11. A highlight is a guided tour of Highclere Castle! Then we are going the last day to the Emma Bridgewater factory, on our own, to decorate our own cup, before flying home the next day. We’re very Excited and looking forward to savoring every moment of this trip! AAA is assisting us with all our travel plans so that the entire trip is worry-free, and easy.
Our lives are returning to normalcy now since we are both vaccinated. Home is still the dearest place where we can relax in peace and harmony and create beauty in simple homey pleasures. We know just how fortunate we are to live in safety and peace.
Fabulous Carolyn!!! ❌⭕️
What a wonderful trip you have planned Susan. I will anxiously be waiting for your posts and blogs.
I’m in central Virginia and it’s been an oddly cool May but I’m not complaining! Today it’s sunny and 69*F, so what could be better? I can answer that … my Grandma Hall’s peonies are about to bloom in our garden!
Thanks to today’s blog, I’ve gotten out my copy of “Heart of the Home, 30th anniversary ed.” and am pouring over the recipes again. Yum!
I so appreciate your blog posts, cheery or not, and all of the photos, quotations, and good sense you add.
Hugs!
How lovely you have your grandmother’s flowers! xoxo
Back in the early mid 1970’s, we did teach meditation to primary students. It was called Magic Circle, but because we had to get the children ready to take state standarized tests in order to get funding, meditation time went by the wayside as did many other good programs.
It’s just too bad. And I expect now if you tried to teach it, someone would call it witchcraft! I taught my nieces, on board the ship to England! It’s a magical tool all for good.
Happy Spring Susan! I said the same thing to myself this year that I am always surprised by the Springtime even though I know it’s coming! Since I’m down south we had our first blooms a couple months ago and now everything is green and getting more & more lush. ❤️❤️❤️
I’m so glad you’re feeling better, Susan! Spring will work its magic every time! I will already be in Europe when you sail next May (seeing the tulips in Keukenhof) but maybe I could join the group after you arrive. I have always wanted to visit the Cotswolds and Lake District (especially after reading your book!) so I will wait and see if those are options on the tour list. I’ll bet we could work something out!
I’m betting the same thing! Fun!
Dear Susan and the Loverlees,
It’s so delightful to feel your energy of reconnection and fun!
It enlarges my heart so much that I can hardly bear it, but I still want it to go on and on.
What a fun trip you have planned. We were lucky to share the Stourhead picnic in Wiltshire with you all on our last trip to England. We covered a lot of driving in our rented Mini Cooper about the whole of England. My first roundabout -with the car unexpectedly stalling out due to the energy control I didn’t realize was engaged- and a harrowing trip back to the car agency through Heathrow was a wild ride, but after that we were pros. 🙂
Anyway, anyone planning on going is so fortunate and will love the whole experience I am sure.
We would love to come but are unable to travel while our sweet girl kitty, Miss Marple, is ill with lymphoma.
I send lots of love and hopes for fun, hugs and happiness!
xxooxx
Gabi
We will miss you Gabi! But very understandable.♥️ I know you’ll feel yourself there with everyone feeding back! xoxo
Hi Susan, Your unbridled joy is just shining brightly through every word of this post! From your beautiful spring garden, to dinner with friends, and to the “OMG” girlfriends cruise and trip.. Everyone is going to have so much fun!!! We may go over around the same time, but coming from the west coast we will fly. (I don’t like flying but I do it… truth is, not sure how I’d be on a ship in the middle of the ocean either LOL) and leaving our Gigi is excruciating as well. We are kindred spirits in many ways for sure.. But, we soldier on and do our trips, and Gigi soldiers on too with help and kitty love from our kind neighbor.. So glad to hear (read) you so happy and planning for fun, friendship and England!!! And! we are really starting to put the pandemic behind us!! Yay for the miracle of vaccines!!!! ❤️ Twitter Beverlee. 😉
Yay for the vaccine is right!!! Looking back, I wonder how we made it through! But we had each other, and now, out of the tunnel we’ve come!👏👏👏
No masks 😷 if fully vaccinated 😁!! Spring has truly sprung! 66 degrees today!! Ahh…
Gardening slowly, as I will be traveling to see my Arnie for two weeks. I don’t trust the 🦌 deer here.
Good to see you twining again!! Love 😍 the strawberry 🍓 trifle! Pavlova too! 😋
Hugs,
Margot B.
LOL, you don’t trust the deer? 🤣
Dear Sue,
I’m so glad to find you your happy self again. This beautiful Spring came just in time. Your plan for next year sounds so special and it’s so generous of you and Joe to invite us all to come along. On the boat or the blog it sounds like the trip of a lifetime.
Happy planning,
Lillian
The spring, and the miraculous vaccine! Between the two, hopes rose, a wonderful thing! The pandemic, despite the vaccine, STILL affects me, but I’m getting used to being “normal” again and every day is a blessing. Popping in to say hello to friends! Just the everyday stuff! Life is good!
The trip sounds fabulous! I will enjoy following you, Joe and our Girlfriends online!
We’re moving into an older Victorian home this summer. I’ve been looking at your garden on the blog and hope to create a space as lovely and somewhat similar. Traveling, gardening, cooking, celebrating- looking through your eyes makes life charming.
It definitely does . . . all perfectly available to everyone, and we need all the charm we can get!♥️
Dear Susan,
This blog was such a delight to read! Thank you for always being so uplifting in your messages! I am very glad that you are feeling better! Your trip sounds wonderful! I will experience it through all of your news! All of your different flowers are a beautiful sight to behold and take in! Thank you for the Strawberry Trifle recipe ,looks absolutely delicious! Can’t wait to make it!
I’m so happy you enjoyed it! xoxo
Hi Susan
Oh how I love when see your have created a new blog post, my absolute favorite thing I read was when you said you went to your landlords house and how you described what you saw. Pure magic
enjoy this glorious day Susan
deezie
Inspiration is a glorious thing!❌⭕️
What a delightful post. I have devoured every word and all of the music. I have finally moved into my new place. Its been a long journey to get here, a very long six months, but I now have a Home Sweet Home. The only way I am leaving here is in a box, and I hope that’s not for a very long time. We have had our first Covid Jabs here in Nova Scotia. I get my second one in August, so we are a bit behind you lucky people in MV. Right now NS is actually having a resurgence of the virus and worse than we had it the first time so we are on total lockdown again, but I am safe in my own little home. I cannot say how happy I was to open my boxes from the UK and see your books and calendars. What a red letter day it was for me to be able to finally hang them both up in my own little home!! That’s when I really knew I was Home Sweet Home! The only sadness was that my bluebird mug did not make the trip well. I am trying to figure out a way to make the pieces into something else. I have my thinking cap on. I am so happy you are over your funk at last. I did pray for you, even if I didn’t comment. You were in my happy thoughts at any rate. Stay safe and stay blessed, everyone!!! (¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ¸. •´´¯`✻.¸¸.Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ.
Duh, that was supposed to be a heart. 🙁
🤣
Oh I am so happy for you Marie, Welcome Home!🏡❤️❤️❤️
Three Cheers for you, Marie. We are So looking forward to getting over the border and back to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia again. Even a quick jaunt to lovely St. Andrews, NB, would help. We’re fully vaccinated, but not sure the border is open yet. I don’t blame them, NB had very few cases, as they put very strict policies in place immediately, and the US certainly did Not.
Enjoy your new home. I enjoy your blog.
Debbie in Maine
Bloom where you’re planted!🌺🌸💐🌹🌷
And I’m hungry for cake!(Thx for recipe Susan)
Wish, wish we could travel with you and all the girls, but because
I started to have arthritis this winter, we are planning to go
back to warm Florida this winter🌞 And perhaps for 2 was instead of one!
Will enjoy your video tho, and know you’ll have a blast.
Just picked the first lilacs today, in MN! The trees are still pretty in pink.
LOVE SPRING! In fact I think I have spring fever…is it contagious?
Gardens are cleaned, except to rake leaves off the strawberries😊
Bye bye damdemic, and have a “Wonderful” garden time.
💗hugs
Your spring sounds wonderful! We just got our first strawberry!
Ah, breath of fresh air and such enthusiasm it’s easy to feel how excited you are for your trip to England. We’ll be traveling to Belize for our daughter and her fiance’s wedding in May 2022. Perhaps next time!
How exciting!
Susan, if you ever need a babysitter for Jack, I’m game.
Lovely of you to offer!💞😻
So good to read that you are feeling better and are busy making plans for your trip! I know it will be wonderful. We are blessed here in the states to come closer and closer to a bit of “normalcy.” Our son is an ER doctor and we are planning a trip with him – over a year since he has had a vacation or an extended break. Prayers answered! Love all the pictures of your parties, table setting, flowers and outdoors – beautiful. Take care!
And he is safe and sound, and so are you. Blessings galore! Be sure to thank him for us . . . xoxo
Susan, so happy to see you’ve got your “groove” back! It’s wonderful to see so many people signed up for England! Did you know the first of May is National Speak British day! I mean here in the US. How appropriate.😁. I hope you all have a right blast and come back safe. Lucky girlfriends to be able to play with you in England!!! A little green here. LOL.
You’ll be with us Dezi! xoxo
It is lovely here in Cupertino! My dear husband Gene is replacing rotted wood on the deck where I like to stretch out on my antique wicker lounge chair and ottoman and read and watch yard critters! Yay! Thank you Susan and all for your wonderful stories of Spring! ❤️👏❤️
Men don’t realize what an aphrodisiac it is to watch them working around the house!🤣
Three cheers on the lovely celebration and yes, spring! And today’s good news from CDC. I know it’s not perfect but it’s a whole lot better than it was before!
Spring has arrived here in Michigan, too, at least today (these days, one never knows!) I hit the nursery yesterday and potted loads of pretties, painted our outdoor bench and sowed seeds. Life is good indeed.
I don’t know that I’ll be able to hit the cruise and tour since I’ll be in England in September but will look forward to every travel hint and detail you share! it sounds such fun and so exciting!
Never had a picnic on the ship before, but I think that’s what we’re doing! Have fun Jeanie! 💞
Susan,
I’m so glad you are feeling better. As the world continues to open up, I think more of us will begin to feel much better and be able to see the beauty around us again. You have a great talent of sharing the beauty around you. Thank you.
So blessed are the girlfriends joining you on the trip! Oh my gosh, it sounds so amazing and fun!
And no masks for those fully vaccinated, was just announced today! Yippee!
Looking forward to the new mugs. 🙂
Love to you, Joe and of course your darlin’ Jack.
Maureen
Hi Maureen, Nice to hear from you! Yes, no masks, what a miracle! xoxoxo
Thank you for this lovely post. I feel like its a letter from a close friend. I love spring too. We have been taking rides down 6A and watching it unfold. The flowering trees are spectacular this year. Happy to hear you are feeling BETTER. Ann Meads. On Cape Cod
Adore 6A … fun! Beautiful New England!
I just got my petunias in my planters to enjoy from my kitchen window. They are very vibrant in white, yellow, pink, purple, red and blue including striped and multicolored. This little change in my view is bringing me much joy. Happy Spring ♥
I know just how you feel! Staring at flowers is very good ju-ju!💖
So excited to hear you are returning to England. Sounds absolutely delightful. Have an fabulous time!
Pull up your armchair Peg! xoxoxo
Susan! I am so glad the “regular” you is back. Couldn’t bear that you were sad. Thank heavens our world is getting back to regular, too.
My favorite thing, we’re doing it TOGETHER. I love to see our country all on the same side… and with the millions who ARE getting the vaccine, my cup is more than half full! It’s a true joy!💝
The peonies are nodding joyously as i to come out. Could feel your happy vibes thru your lace curtains. Love the movie Miss Potter, especially when her drawings wink at her. The peas are blooming and we are eating lettuce and spinach from the garden. I am itching to make something sweet and resisting.
LOL, these covid pounds must go! xo
So glad you can get together with friends. Here in Saskatchewan we cannot have anyone in our houses who doesn’t live in them. It’s difficult and make grandmas like me long to be with our grandchildren and kids. Hearing you can visit in each others’ homes gives me hope that it will happen here in Canada before too long.
Well it was like that here too until a very short time ago, I know it will be for you too Brenda! Soon! You’ll be surprised at how amazingly wonderful it actually is … better than you imagine!❌⭕️
Also planning a “Tea and Sympathy Tour” in May 2022! My sister and I have traveled with a small group to Ireland, Cornwall and Wales, and Scotland. Next year will be new places-Bath, Oxford, Stratford-on-Avon, Cotswolds etc. Finishing with several days in London. Civilized describes UK travel perfectly, have enjoyed every second and so looking forward to returning! Glad to get your happy post, Spring has a way of getting us there!
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
Susan, What a wonderful post today!!!!! I’m so happy for you. Many thanks for sharing your life.
Lovingly, Julia “Southern born, Southern bred, turnip greens by my bed!”
❌⭕️ cute! Happy you enjoyed it Julia!
Oh Susan…you’re killing me! My absolute favorite flowers are first, peonies, and then lilacs — neither of which grow here in Texas. Fortunately, Trader Joe’s usually has peonies around Memorial Day (when they bloomed back in my Ohio hometown yard). The first time I walked in and saw them I nearly cried!
Our late season snow and freeze whacked a lot of plants and I thought my gardenias had had it, but I cut them back and back and back and left them with my fingers crossed. I’ve just noticed that they’re sprouting back out from the roots. Hooray!!!
I wish I could set sail with you. Maybe, maybe, maybe…
Thanks for sharing all the beauty and the fun!
Aren’t they amazing? I’m looking at an unfolding white bloom in our garden, still tight, but you can see the tips of the petals! Now YOU are killing ME! I adore gardenias, and they don’t grow here! We all have something! But no one seems to get it all! Keep thinking about that trip! It’s kind of a one-time thing, at least wth all this wonderful folderol!🚢
Such lovely pictures with all the blooms. I never got around to planting anything this year, so enjoyed your pictures even more. I, also, enjoyed hearing all the plans for the upcoming trip and I will be looking forward to hearing all the adventures upon your return. Glad you are feeling well- sunshine and flowers definitely help us all out spiritually, as do your wonderful blogs! Thank you!
Thank you back Linda … lovely to see you here!❤️
We are all blooming this year. Been toasting with Champagne and tasting salty tears at each gathering! Cheers!
Us too. It’s fabulous!🍾
Such an incredible post, it’s almost as if we’ve gone on the trip already! A tip re. sea sickness…if you’re expecting rough seas overnight, take a dramamine and you’ll sleep through, waking the next morning relaxed and refreshed and even wondering what all the fuss was about!
Excellent tip Sandra! Even though I do get seasick, I’ve never suffered for it on our crossings. Knock on wood!
Dear Susan, I don’t know where in this world that could be so enchanting every minute of the day. England is unbelievable, yet is desirable because of all the people that came before we did. They left it for us! I always knew I had to see it. And we did. We left it for everyone coming later to not be sorry they went there. Enjoy the big chunk of USA going with you! Bon Voyage!
Enchanting every minute of the day. So right Judy! It puts a thrill in my heart to think about it.❤️
I hope I can get onto your blog this time… I followed and I am trying to stay on top of all your writing and photos; I am going back in time in all your memoria and re-reading everything you wrote. I’ve ordered all your cookbooks and your Life of the three books (I wonder how I can get your signatures and tape them to my books that you sent me?!) Which is my favorite book? It is the Martha’s Vineyard, Isle of Dreams, why? because almost every woman had gone similar disaster in their life, it’s sad but we or almost we all came out of it okay. But the thrill for me is you didn’t think about it, you just did it!! That put a smile on my face…
If you ordered the books from us, they all come with my signature in them! Someday maybe we’ll meet at a book signing and I can sign them for you in person and put your name in them! I’m so happy you enjoyed Isle of Dreams! Yes, we do all have so much in common! 🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷
Oh, Susan…lilacs and dinner parties and Greer Garson at the gate of Smitty’s cottage! What a post! I so know what you mean…we love to have guests in our home and I love to cook, set the table, and “make it nice”. Last time we had guests was February 2020 – and my dear sweetie work up with a heart attack the next morning and spent three different times in the hospital last year. Covid and and heart attack….way too much to handle! Life and health is so much better now and we had dear friends here for a Cinco de Mayo dinner. The longest we have ever gone in over 44 years of marriage without having guests. IT WAS BLISS…we laughed, ate, and talked for hours! Looking forward to more good times. But…I am BEYOND sad that we cannot join you on the England trip. We love England and to go on the boat with all the girlfriends would be amazing. But, we have already booked ( and more importantly) paid for a river trip AT THE SAME TIME! We will be starting in Berlin, then moving to the Elbe river, sailing to Prague, then going on a land trip to Poland…and Auschwitz. After reading so many books about that terrible time and spending many years teaching a Holocaust Unit with my students…and having an Auschwitz survivor come and speak to the kids in my library, I am so excited/scared/sad to visit. But we booked the trip last year and I am taking some stones to place there in memory of the survivors I have met. SO…I will miss your trip…but hoping there will be a next time! Thanks for posting the photo of the lilacs…love them. Reminds me of being a school girl and stopping on the walk to school to ask if we could cut lilacs from people’s yard, then putting them on the May Altar in our classroom. Memories! Thanks again for a wonderful post ! Enjoy the good times ahead!!!
Oh dear Ann! How awful for you guys! So much worry! Thank God you came through and are back on your feet! I understand the BLISS you are feeling, perfect word for it! Your river trip sounds fantastic! You deserve it! I would be afraid to go to Auschwitz too… All I can think about is the charm and the humanity of Anne Frank, and the sickness of those times and now, understanding with too much clarity, what mankind is capable of if given free reign. Those were peaceful citizens of Germany just living their lives. We’ve been watching “The Rise of the Nazis” on PBS … I can’t recommend it more. It shows the lead-up to Hitler taking power. The perfect storm, step by step. We must Never Forget! Make our children aware! It’s our duty. Be sure to tell us, what you can, of the experience. You are a brave girl and a wonderful teacher. Please take a stone for us.😥 Stay well, lovely to hear from you. ❌⭕️
Thank you enormously, Ann, for teaching the Holocaust unit to your students. I attempted to do so many years ago, but my plans ran afoul of the local school board. My husband’s family history is Jewish on both sides. My great grandmother, for whom I’m named was Jewish, so I delved into the Holocaust while still in High School. Horrified can’t even come close to what I felt, having many Jewish friends.
My husband and I made a month long trip to Germany, mostly Bavaria, in 1988. It was so beautiful, the people so welcoming. Hard to reconcile the past with the beauty and vitality of the past….But, if we ignore the past, we surely will repeat it.
I look forward to hearing about your river cruise, as we would love to do the one on the Rhine River? We were thinking Viking, as they are top rated. Perfect for folks as old as we.
Thankful we have teachers such as you!
Debbie in Maine
Dear Ann,
I am so glad that your husband (and you) have recovered after such a trying year. How wonderful that you are able to celebrate with the trip you have planned, although we will miss having you on the boat with us. Your students are very fortunate that you were the one to teach them of the Holocaust, as I am sure that your words will resonate with them as they approach adulthood. I look forward to a trip to Poland in 2023, and, like you, I have read many books about WWII- many of which have focused on Poland’s role. Some of my most recent “reads” are While Paris Slept, The Things We Can Not Say, The Paris Architect, The Yellowbird Sings,Salt to the Sea, and Between Shades of Gray. The last two are Young Adult, but excellent. I also watched World on Fire on Masterpiece. (Excellent, if you haven’t seen it).Poland suffered so much during the war, but it seems as if the part they played was largely overlooked until recently. I was fortunate to hear Elie Wiesel speak at Marist College several years ago. In fact, I took my son, who was probably 12 at the time, with me. He still talks of what he learned. Take care , Dianne in Upstate New York
We have only been on one river cruise but it was on Viking & we loved it! It was the “City of Lights”, Paris to Prague cruise, 12 days. Prague was so lovely I wished that we had booked extra days there to wander the city. Everything was taken care of on the cruise, the food was wonderful but not overwhelming, we took a lot of the day trip & enjoyed every moment! Have a wonderful cruise!
I went to Auschwitz-Birkenau 6 years ago. It was an emotional moment for us. My husband’s parents were both survivors of the Holocaust. They were not in Auschwitz, but in another camps in Poland.
Wear a comfortable shoes as you will walk around gravels.
😭
Spring has been slow to unfurl here but is so exquisitely pretty with flowers, flowers and more flowers and tiny green tree leaf buds. You live a wonderful life in a pretty home that satisfies the heart. I am happy that you are happier! I hope you and Joe have a great trip and your furry baby boy will welcome you home!
You can tell I’m better . . . I’m not on the couch! Lots more to write about when you’re not on the sofa trying to decide if you should go to the emergency room! 😂 And I can laugh about it a little bit … but I have respect for it, and am not letting down my guard! Staying mind healthy! We have a whole year before we go! Lots of time for dreaming! 💖
What an absolutely lovely blog! I’m SO glad you’re feeling better…it’s obvious. ♥️
You’ve really been busy planning your glorious trip next year. Envious of those who are going but you can be sure I’ll be keeping up with all the adventures you’re certain to have.
What fun for you to entertain! I’m sure you were in seventh heaven, as were your guests. The table looked beautiful. Such yummy desserts, too!
I’m enjoying getting out in our yard again..planted annuals to spruce things up (love that immediate color!) Our daffodils were a welcome harbinger of spring and the dogwood was beautiful this year..best blooms ever! Our yellow roses are already full of buds. It’s like everything is happy!
Take good care..enjoy every minute of this welcome spring.
Annuals are great … they bloom all season! Gotta love it! Your garden sounds wonderful! Feeling very lucky! Sending love…❤️
We are having a most wonderful spring in the low country of South Carolina! Beginning to harvest our Super Sugar Snap Peas! Spent Mother’s Day weekend with vaccinated family and several delicious dinners in my daughter’s pretty dining room. Great cooks and a great clean up crew! The main attraction was a new baby to love on! Can’t get much better than that!
No, it can’t. Pure perfection! ❌⭕️
Everything you had to tell us about today was lovely. Parties, cakes, flowers and friends. I will be so jealous of your trip across the pond.
We are talking about a New England cruise or maybe renting a house in Sicily in 22. It’s so much fun to think about.
Luv-lee to have something on the calendar. Don’t we all deserve it? Resounding, YES WE DO!💖💖💖
Oh! Looking at this lovely birthday party almost made me cry… Is normal life really possible again? Wow… we aren’t there yet around here (but hopefully it’ll come soon! We are halfway there, as we have our first dose of the vaccine). What a wonderful sight, such happiness, such joy. You must have enjoyed evey minute and will remember this feeling forever!
I love reading about the cruise to England. I can only afford to travel through your words and pictures, but it is such a treat anyway! 🙂
When you’re fully vaccinated, it’s more than possible. You’ll see. It’s happening right now for us, since we’ve had both shots. We don’t wear masks with our friends anymore . . . and we don’t wear them on our walks! It makes you giddy! You giggle like a 13 year old! We went out to dinner to an actual restaurant last night. We ate on the patio . . . but I think we’re on the brink of going inside soon! Nice when we walk into a restaurant and find everyone in there is our age! Then we KNOW everyone is vaccinated! Still happily wearing masks to the grocery store. I really LIKE the idea of not getting sick with flu or colds or whatever! So, we’ll see. I’m glad you’ll be joining us via arm-chair travel… SUCH a comfy way to go! ❤️
I have seen all the versions of Jane Eyre and 2007 is my favorite. It made me feel so warm and fuzzy knowing it is the one that you recommend too. All the rest are great choices too. The trip sounds so fantastic. Keep feeding us such juicy information. What a treat!
I know… to me, Ruth Wilson was the perfect Jane. Just loved her. Kindred spirits Barbara!💞
Welcome back, dear Susan!
My heart has missed your inspiration!
Thank you Judy, it is my total pleasure to be here! xoxoxo
I just love Spring. The promise of it gets me through the winter ice storms! I get a little giddy over snowdrops and then the fun just never ends. Now it is geraniums and columbines.
I also love lists of good movies and books. I have read so many England based books that I am something of an anglo-nerd and I doubt there are too many who want to hear me go on and on. But— here are a few I just have to share with you.
Movies that put me in the scenery: ‘Sense and Sensibility’, Hugh Grant and Emma Thomson; ‘A Month in the Country’, on Prime or Netflix now; ‘Local Hero’ for the girlfriends going to Scotland next year.
Books are really something that I am obsessed about. Here are just a few:
Anything by Miss Read, but especially the Fairacre series in the Cotswolds, where my great grandparents came from, I like to think of them going to the village school she writes about; ‘Mapp and Lucia’ by E F Benson; D E Stevenson, some set in England, some in Scotland; and some of Tracy Chevalier’s books — her most recent is ‘A Single Thread’ and set in Winchester.
I am also hip deep in nonfiction books about England, histories and coffee tables alike. Here are several: ‘The Charm of the English Village,’ written by a vicar around the turn of the last century- P H Ditchfield; and just one more, although I could go on an on — ‘English Heritage,’ a 1963 Batsford book with a brilliant introduction by Edward Hyams. He says England has been shaped by humans into a work of art. With its unsurpassed villages and cottages, stone walls, hedges, canals and flower gardens, – both manor house and cottage – village churches and grand cathedrals, it is all beautiful to behold. The ‘green and pleasant land’ with its lakes, seashores and mountains are enough, but add the human made touches and we are drawn to it over and over. Those things were made with a keen eye for beauty.
How I would love to be in England next May, but I will be well-served by great movies, books, and my memories of my past trips there. (Was there when Queen Elizabeth was celebrating her 25 years of reigning.) I am so happy to be able to be with you and all our friends in spirit however.
Happy planning!
Jeanne of Iowa
The green and pleasant land . . . all handmade, still here for us to enjoy and feel the past, even our own. Love your lists, wrote things down! Thank you Jeanne! We’ll love having you with us even if it’s vicariously! It all counts! xoxo
Jeanne, I wrote down every one of your recommendations, at least the ones I haven’t read. Will get A Single Thread right away, as we will be spending a week in Winchester this fall. Love Mapp and Lucia.
Thanks,
Debbie in Maine
Happy Spring! Thanks for the beautiful letter! now I have to see if England could work!!
Blessings Julie
Oh Susan what a lovely post. So much to be happy about. I’m glad you are feeling better. I’m glad we are all feeling better. To say we have all been in a funk is putting it mildly. It’s so nice to see the pictures of all the lovely notes and cards from girlfriends. We are all in this together and more alike than we realize. You are the common thread and the person that helps us stop and realize how wonderful and lovely the little things in life are!
I think your spring is a little further along than ours but we are getting there. It has been so gosh darn windy and cold. We still have our heat kicking on in the morning. I went to the nursery this morning and bought my first round of annuals (not to be the last!). Flowers to feed the soul! I kept staring at them in my rear view mirror as I drove home. I spent the morning getting my sweet pea beds ready. I am very excited! As you know I planted some last summer and I was successful enough to try them again this year. Fingers crossed they do well.
The trip to England sounds heavenly. I read your description of the trip out loud to my husband and could feel a small catch in my throat. Oh how I wish I could go. I will be there in spirit though. Please leave a little room for me in a suitcase so that I can come along too!
I have some very exciting news. My daughter Sarah, will be defending her thesis for her PhD tomorrow from the University of Michigan. She will be Doctor Brehm! I am so very proud of her. It has been a long arduous haul. 6 years, away from home and everyone she knows and loves, plus a huge heartbreak right in the middle of it (stupid boy). She is defending via Zoom. I give her a lot of credit for being so far away from home, in a tiny little apartment, isolated and alone during covid, but she has done it. Not without some severe angst, frustration and tears, but she made it! She already found a job and starts teaching in August! I don’t think I could have done it at her age, Lots of courage and pluck! We are so very proud of her. She keeps Isle of dreams on her bedside table and reads it when she needs a little boost and inspiration. If you could do it, then she can too!
Thanks again for being you and for sharing your wonderful, joyful, outlook on life. I’m so happy I that I discovered you years ago. You have been a constant source of inspiration and happiness to me.
Your Friend, Mary Brehm
You live in an area that loves sweet peas! How lucky you are! How MUCH I adore the success story of your very own Dr. Brehm! What a girl. What a woman! I’m proud of her too! Thank you Mary, for the kind words! It has been the joy of my life, this miracle of connection. SO blessed! Please send Sarah my congratulations, big hug, and tell her, as my dad would say, “Ya did good.” ❤️
This blog post makes me 😞 sad. I’m supposed to be in Ireland at this time. May 1st through the 17th. We have had to postpone our trip twice so far. It was to celebrate my mother in law’s 80th birthday. She turned 81. As of now we have not tried to reschedule. Fingers crossed that if we do reschedule it will be a success. I was really looking forward to seeing Ireland. I will definitely be following your virtual trip. I followed your previous ones and loved every minute of it!
I’m sure it will cheer you right up when you get those reservations made for beautiful Ireland! I hope you can go!☘
Happy Spring, Susan! I have been wanting to go back to the UK since returning from a job posting in London in 2003-2004. I am going to check in with the Cunard “Susan” and get all the info regarding the cruise. It sounds wonderful. I missed so many of the “great houses” when I was in the UK and would really appreciate having the opportunity to take a small group tour. It all sounds heavenly!!
I think it will be Paula… hope you can make it! London is fabulous, but the countryside is pure nature, including the nature of man … no power tools used in the building of cottage and castles, 🌷 just pure clean art. And thousand year old trees that 8 people can hold hands and encircle. Oh if they could talk!🌳
I can’t wait to see the countryside. I missed so much because I was there to work, unfortunately! My boss just didn’t understand my need to get out of the city…..haha!
Get ready to fall madly, irretrievably in LOVE. And don’t think it’s only in the places you happen to see . . . no, it’s EVERYWHERE over there, and so very special. YAY!!!
Oh, I had to laugh out loud when I saw the photos of the sprinkler going off in the Britannia Dining Room! In my 44 years of cruising, and over 100+ cruises I have never had that happen when I was onboard! Your post brought me SUCH joy…with all of the beautiful flowers and photos of your home…THANK YOU for inviting us into your life, Susan! I hope you have a WONDERFUL time on your crossing on the Queen Mary 2! She’s a grand ship with so much to do! And, you will be doing it with so many friends…how lovely! 🙂
It was definitely unexpected!😂 But too perfect would be boring! Like trains, ships are “people” things! So no real chance of perfection! Perfect! ❌⭕️
Susan, Your trip sounds so special. How I will look forward to every blog you send telling about it. I will savor each story and each picture and wish I was there on that ship with you and Joe. You make everything such fun!! I especially love how you embellish each season and point out what makes them remarkable. You have so much talent. Thank you for helping us thru this pandemic:)
Thank you right back for helping ME through! Everyday feels more stable and real than the day before! That vaccine feels more like a miracle every day! I’m going to enjoy the lead up and the bon voyage for this trip … and then there’s the “being in England” part of it! So happy you will be with us ~ vicariously counts too! XOXO
Hello Susan,
So happy to see YOUR enthusiasm again! It’s great to participate in life once more! Your
special birthday gathering looked so festive….the tablescape was gorgeous! Spring flowers do bring joy and smiles, and gardening is therapeutic for one’s health. And you seem to be surrounded by nature’s beauty! Life is grand after last year’s horrific plague! Looking forward to more news about your journey….sounds so delightful.
Exactly true Linda, life is grand! Goodbye plague, hello hope which springs eternal! ❌⭕️
Oh Susan, you are the best motivator ever! I want to go, I want to go, I want to go! Somehow I missed your last post and will have to catch up on the news …if you’ve been under the weather like so many of us, I dearly hope spring has helped restore your health and joie de vivre. ❤️ Looking forward to hearing more about future adventures and thank you for making my day😁
Oh thank you Wendy, I’m much better . . . too much stress and worry got me down for a while, but I began to dig (as you’ll see when you read my last post) and finally dug my way out of it! I’m still digging, so I STAY out of it! Pure optimism has replaced ridiculous but painful anxiety! Hope you can come along!💝
Hi Susan, your enthusiasm is so wonderful. You could cheer anyone up – thanks so much for that. I went to my favorite nursery today for the first installment of instant happiness – a van load of flowers -it doesn’t get any better than that!!!!
A whole 5 months of beauty every day and can now play my fiddle after the year long lockdown. I can’t believe 9 months of practice and lessons have flown by. I can play about a dozen Irish tunes – but oh the flowers – can hardly wait to plant them among all the bleeding hearts and trillium etc. already living here. Thanks for passing along all your joy! I am so happy Biden/Harris have gotten most of us vaccinated -giving thanks to them every day!!! Live it up and stay well. Cheers from Peggy in Madison
Isn’t that FANTASTIC? You came out of the Pandemic able to PLAY IRISH TUNES!!! I’m SO impressed!!👍👍👍 Congratulations… And yes, it’s SO good to see government doing something so huge in such an organized way that affects every one of us personally. Joe and I wake up so happy and grateful and optimistic!
What a fabulous gift the dampanic gave you! I know that sounds a little flippant, but I believe we need to take joy where we find it. You Go Girl.
Debbie in Maine
Dear Peggy,
So happy to hear of your success with the fiddle. How I’d love to hear you play! My bucket list includes a trip to Ireland. I dream of wandering in to a pub to the sound of impromptu music. The fiddle is so uplifting; it makes the heart sing. Have you ever seen the movie The Red Violin? I think that you might enjoy it- especially the gypsy scene. Take care Dianne in Upstate New York
ps. Maybe have one of your nieces or nephews come stay with Jack and love him and smush him with love. They share a quarter of your DNA and he might find that very comforting:)
I would love that, but they all have lives! Jobs, homes, pets of their own! All on the other side of the country! We’ll find someone! Love ideas, so thank you!❤️
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Look at the power you have! All gone!
OH NO! 😂 There must be somewhere else that’s carrying it! xoxoxo
I already live in your 2022 destination country, but I would love the recipe for the blueberry-lemon angel food cake …
Well, you’re just lucky! Here’s the recipe! Use the tiny blueberries if you can … we’ve found the big ones will sometimes sink in the batter, but the little ones stay scattered throughout! Enjoy!💖
And I have one question: is the Appendix for A Fine Romance link on your website working? I’ve tried to click it on my iPad and not had success.
So excited about your big plans! Whether we can go or not, thank you for generating some happiness and excitement and something to look forward to for a change!!
It’s coming up for me . . . try refreshing … let me know if you still can’t access it. I’m not sure what I can do, but I can at least ask Kellee and see if she has other ideas. I know… I feel the same way. Even if people can’t go, it’s always fun to watch a good story unfold! We are our own TCM or Hallmark channel! Something to look forward too!💖
Yes, we ARE our own story! Great way to think about it! I got the link for the appendix to work- thank you for checking.
I must tell you about the most fun we’ve had since the pandemic. I saw this device through another blog online and I bought without telling my family….On Friday night when we prepared to sit down for our family movie night, I pulled it out! It’s called The Whirley-Pop Popper and it has a wooden handle that you crank. You put it on the stove just like we used to, but nothing burns and it makes the best popcorn ever! I also bought some gourmet corn and gluten free topping powders and we look forward to it every Friday! This past week was hard for my kids so I made some mid-afternoon snack and they came down smiling and shouting “Whirley Pop”! when they smelled the wonderful fragrance of fresh popcorn. It’s truly made our last few months a little brighter😋. I know how you love old movies and if you love popcorn, try it out!
Adorable! It’s always the little things! Your kids will write books about the Whirley Pop someday!
So exciting! Wish I could join you! I can’t wait
To hear about the trip!
You definitely will! xoxo
I loved reading this post! Everything you have shared about England brings back such happy memories for me! I would love to be with you all on the ship, but that is not going to happen. I will journey with you in my heart. Here, in Western Washington, the dogwood have been glorious, the rhodies are blooming, and my perennials are up and beginning to bloom. I love Spring! Seems like it is even more special this year, given the past year we have endured. And, the residents where I work are finally getting to see family members. So happy for them. Enjoy your friends and the beauties of your island. A visit there is on my bucket list. Hug Jack for me!
Our rhodies are only on the brink, we still have them to look forward to! Yay! Washington is such a great state for growing things! Yes, the world is beginning to turn again, and we feel the elation in the air! I am grateful to the scientists every day, and the doctors and nurses who saw us through this dark time!❤️ Lightness of heart! xoxo
Oooh! I am so excited about this trip! Being English, I go back to England every year to visit my lovely Mum, but I’ve never sailed across the pond before! I have almost a year to lose my Covid weight gain and (hopefully) fit into some of my evening dresses again…then I’ll probably put it all on again filling my tummy with all the foods that I can’t get in the USA. Like you, I won’t be able to join any of the tours, although they sound lovely, as I will be rushing North on the Southampton train to London, then from London, a little further North to my home town of Kettering to celebrate my Mum’s 90th Birthday with a BIG party. Looking forward so much to finally meeting some more girlfriends and sharing such a wonderful experience with them ❤️
LOL, I’m thinking the same thing … 12 months, if I only lost 2 pounds a MONTH, that would be 24 pounds!!! Be about right! It’s lovely you know what you are doing when you get there, and a 90th birthday for your MUM to boot, how perfect, what perfect timing! See you there!!!🚢 We’ll all meet on the ship (not sure where yet, must have a place that fits all of us), to toast the Statue of Liberty as we sail away! I’ll post it later . . . eeek, now I’m excited all over again!
❤️❤️❤️
Was concerned that you had relapsed, so good to hear you’re good and having a life.
Good to have plans and you have a plethora! So much to look forward to, so glad for you.
No relapse Jo’l, thank you, just steady movement toward strength. I haven’t stopped doing the things that make me happy, self care, meditation, acupuncture, naps, and in the garden, a little Frank Sinatra, wonderful books while we are walking … I’m so much better. Feeling the TLC emanating from HERE! YES, something good on the calendar makes all the difference!
You said: “Just remember, you can never be disappointed if you keep your expectations low. Everything is good! Mostly better than good! But nothing is perfect!”
I just had to tell you one of my favorite sayings by one of my favorite people and former pastor, David Eckman (who got his doctorate from Oxford!): “Keep your goals so miserably low that you can’t help but succeed.” It’s a tongue in cheek kind of thing, but helps a lot if you’re a perfectionist.
In real life I’m one to reach for the stars, but when traveling, my goal is to LOVE the trip and spread sunshine where I can (or at least leave no path of destruction) … that’s the star I reach for. And, for me that comes best from low expectations (the Pollyanna mode kicks in: to find something good in everything), remembering I’m a visitor in someone else’s world, and to keep humble. I never forget I represent my country! I do not wish to embarrass us if I can help it! Makes it very easy when practically everyone I meet is delightful!!! Yes, my words for my perfectionist streak are “Good enough.” If I can say that (over-riding the perfection) I can allow myself to actually FINISH a book!😂 That’s kind of a big subject come to think of it!❤️
England cannot wait to welcome you all! What a fabulous trip you will all have. I met Susan on the QM2 in 2012 and can confirm that the voyage is FABULOUS!
Do you have any plans for a picnic in the UK your English girlfriends can attend? I was so disappointed I could not get to the one you had last time – we were away from England on holiday.
It’s lovely to hear life is starting to return to more like the normal we remember, we can welcome people into our homes again from May 17th, and actually HUG people again 💕
Stay safe and well Susan and Joe and all us girlfriends. Karen XOXO
I’m trying to figure that out! I imagine the folks on the ship would want to come… but when we get off they will need to be picked up … off to the four corners on their tours, then probably they go home from London .. it’s hard to figure out how to meet after that as most of them won’t be driving. I’m working on it. SO good to hear things are better there too… I’m so thankful!! Isn’t it FUN to be together again? Just loving it!
Yes, it is FUN!! I can imagine the logistics of planning a picnic is a bit of a nightmare – but will “watch this space” i.e. your blog with interest.
I’m 97.2% sure it’s happening!💝
Dear Karen,
I, too, am hoping that the picnic will take place somewhere in England. I would love to attend with a very special friend who now lives across the pond. She was unable to attend the picnic with me the last time, but Susan did sign a copy of A Fine Romance for her. She was thrilled to receive the copy, but I would love for her to meet Susan in person. They are kindred spirits. Stay safe and take care Dianne in Upstate New York
It’s going to happen.
Hi Susan,
So glad you are finding time to relax and enjoy your beautiful garden. Spring is the happiest time of the year for sure….flowers make us smile. My husband and I just left our home in sunny Carlsbad, CA for a few months in New Zealand at our other home. Winter’s in the air here. We are currently in isolation – five more days til we’re free! We will be busy planting our winter garden. So thankful you are feeling chipper again – your blog is truly a ray of sunshine. Hope you and Joe have found the wooden kitchen tools useful.
That sounds wonderful! What is winter like in New Zealand? Yes, so true, even a half hour clipping or planting in the cool spring garden with all the green smells and bee hums makes such a difference in happiness quotient!☀️ Love the wooden tools!!❤️
I’m so glad you are feeling better. I can tell by your wonderful post today.
Yes a lot more smelling of the flowers! Thank you Rosie! 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
Happy happy Spring!!
There are geraniums and gerbera daisies on my patio and many green things growing in our veggie garden. The birds are going crazy around the bird feeders and the sunshine is soaking into my soul!
I would love to go to England but the only cruise I ever went on, I got extremely seasick so I don’t know………. but I trust that those of us who must stay home will be amply provided for vicariously.
I’m so glad you’re feeling well. Life is good!!
It definitely is these days Lori! xoxo
YOU have put the “spring” back into all of our steps, dear Susan, source of pleasure, purpose, clear-eyed look to future plans, and a grateful heart.
Love you . . .
Sweet of you to say that Linda… not easy for anyone, just one step at a time! We are VERY lucky and I’m sure we all know that . . . Just difficult sometimes. Spring helps!
Sincere thanks to you for your newsletter. You are the positive mental attitude so many of us need right now.
Well thank you Christine, that’s so nice to hear! xo
Thank you, thank you dear Susan for this blog. It was something I needed. Now that we can gather together, post vaccines, without masks, (altho I must admit I’m a bit nervous) smiles seem bigger than ever. Looking forward to hearing all about your big trip next year. Sounds wonderful.
Here’s to being outside. In the gardens, watching our bees go back and forth from their hives. Seeing cats sleeping under hostas, purrfectly content. The sun on our faces and rain on our roofs. Chickens clucking softly and scratching in the soft earth. Our lab lying in the grass, tummy to the sun. Hearing tractors in surrounding fields preparing for planting.These are my “squeeeeeee” moments and I love each and every one. Joy from Iowa.
They are beautiful Barb, the little sweet things in life!💖
Thanks for brightening my day, Sue. Your photos and paintings, splattered throughout your blog, are so lovely. Thank you!
Thank you back Deborah, nice to see you here!
Hello Susan 🌷
Your trip sounds like a dream!
How wonderful.
Can you please please tell me the name of the paint color you told us you use on your front door? Its such a dark green that it looks black! I love it and we are painting our house next week. Thank you. So glad you are feeling better!
gwen
Benjamin Moore Black Forest Green … HC-187❤️
How exciting to be heading to England again!The last Year and a half has been somewhat of a nightmare.Sickness and sadness are a bad combination.Looseing my darling mother in February broke my heart,a broken heart is The worst hurt on earth.How does one take another breath with such news.The day her heart stopped and mine continued was awful. Your blog gave me a lift as it always does.You are the eternal fairy God mother.I would love to do the trip to England but I will have to follow your dream trip.The birthday party looked like heaven on earth.So,happy to take off my mask and breath fresh air to hug my sister and my family.
I have no answers to your questions Mary, because I ask them too. I am enjoying being with both my parents during meditation. I am about 2, they are on either side of me, both holding one of my hands and swinging me into the air and we are ALL SO HAPPY. It is a wonderful place to feel the healing. I hope you will find that spot too if you haven’t already … Blessings and great gusts of fresh air! XOXOXOXOXO
Such a wonderful, positive post. I wish could go with everyone, but I just bought my first house. I will be doing lots of wonderful things to make this 1941 house my own in the coming year or so. I just moved in the last week and somewhat overwhelmed in figuring out where to put everything. I will be with you, Joe and girlfriends in spirit and virtually.
A new house, how wonderful!!! 🌸🌸🌸 Have fun Becky!
Thank you for all your books and images that have filled my life since discovering you in the early 1980’s! Now, to think that I will sail with your group next May is beyond a “dream”. I have put in two calls and waiting to hear back from Susan at Cunard. My sister and I plan to travel together. I live in Tempe AZ My sister lives in Lake Fork, TX. What a sister’s trip it will be!!!!
A sister’s trip to beat them all!!! I spoke to Susan yesterday, she’s getting lots of calls, she asked if I could slip it in to tell everyone who’s waiting for a call that she’ll “be right with you, ASAP!” So there you go! I hear your excitement, and it just makes me MORE excited!
Happy Spring Susan! I loved your post and feel as if we just went on a trip with you right now. Wow! Happy excitment is what we all need about now. I’ll be tagging along via your blog and twitter. It will be wonderful!
Will love to have you with us! xoxo
Hi Susan thank you so much for spurring me n to book on this cruise. We will book this week. We have talked to Susan and looked at all the room options. Is your picture of your room the premium balcony option? It is a little heard to decipher ? Thank you in advance for your answer. I am so looking forward to this as I so need something to look forward to ! Thank you thank you thank you. Sheila from Colorado
Honestly they all look so much alike, I’m not sure which room we got, maybe it was a Princess, and yes it had a balcony, but most of the double rooms do. Soon I’ll have more info for you, which will give you LOTS more to dream about!
Happy Spring Susan! I’m so glad to hear that you’re feeling better. I was worried about you and have been looking out for an update from you. I absolutely love your blog, your paintings, the quotes you use and the painted letters and fonts are all so very pretty! <3 It's wonderful to hear that you and all your girlfriends are coming to England, but I have to ask, what about your English girlfriends, my lovely? I'm sure I'm not the only one who would love to join you for a day trip or two whilst you're here. Please include the English Roses in your itinerary. I, for one, would adore to meet you. Take care lovely lady and have oodles of fun! xxx :0)
How can I ever forget the English Roses????????? Not possible! But to quote Eliza Doolittle: Just you ‘wite’ ‘enry ‘iggins, just you ‘wite’ ~ ❌⭕️
Thank you for another incredible blog post, Susan! I’m thrilled to hear you’re feeling better and celebrating life, as you do so well! Also love the video! I adore 1940s music, and Vera Lynn’s “White Cliffs of Dover” is simply sublime. I wish I could accompany you and the girlfriends on the Queen Mary II. My grandfather crossed the Atlanta on the Queen Mary I during his service in WWII. He “borrowed” a shower curtain ring as a souvenir that we will have as a keepsake! My husband and I are *finally* going to take our honeymoon trip to England and the South of France next May! Hopefully I will bump into you all along the way!
P.S. Thank you for recommending The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson! My mother-in-law and I are huge anglophiles. I purchased the book for her for Mother’s Day, and she is currently engrossed in its pages!
Perfect! I know she must love it. It’s not only filled with the true-life day to day happenings of the times, but also, because of the diaries involved, there are charming bits of funny gossip, habits, relationships, and descriptions from everyone involved. A fascinating way to tell the story! Happy Honeymoon! So much to look forward to!
Oh this post is so wonderful, thank you so much! So happy you are feeling better. You’re a person who needs your peoples.
It is a testament to your tremendous enthusiasm that I actually “booked the boat” after your April blog announcing your May 2022 sail to England, because I have so much difficulty with motion sickness that I get ill just from seeing certain kinds of movement on television. (No handheld-camera movies for me, ever, blech.) But I had been so blue and really needed something to look forward to, so I did it. NERVOUS! Why do they drive the boat so slowly, I asked the lovely woman at Cunard, the Atlantic isn’t THAT big between NY and Southampton. Ocean liner, said she, and it’s so you have more time for fun! NERVOUS!
The post-sail land tours are an inspired idea. I understand that you and TD&H in the beret will be going off on your own, but I am wondering (well more like hoping and considering begging) whether you will hold another “girlfriends” picnic in Beatrix Potter land? That would be pure heaven. If so please talk about it on your blog, because I’m not on all those social media sites.
Lovely to see all the cards you received spread out in that picture. You lift so many souls with your words and art and verve; we want to buoy you up too.
Hope your scrumptious-looking birthday cake “rings” wish comes true!
xoxox Coco :@)
Dear Coco, The Queen Mary 2 isn’t any old “cruise” ship, she’s DOUBLE HULLED (the Titanic was NOT), and has four stabilizers ~ so safe! It’s normal to be nervous when you step out of your box, believe me, I’m nervous too! 🤣 But life, she is too short not to give it the old college try! And yes, shhhhh, don’t tell anyone, but it LOOKS LIKE we may be able to bring EVERYONE to a certain picnic spot on the last day of their 8-day tours. After everyone has seen the English Countryside, we’ll come back together for a goodbye picnic before everyone either returns home, or maybe even goes on ANOTHER tour! The travel agency is working on that arrangement now … let’s see what happens before I announce it!
Dear Coco,
I traveled to England on my own in 2018. It was my first time traveling solo, but I wanted to prove that I could do it (since I will often be traveling alone or not at all and the second is just not an option that I want to consider). It was a learning experience, as I hoped it would be. But most of all it was an adventure!! Was it without roadblocks? Absolutely not, but I was able to navigate them all (and I’m a senior citizen). Remember, we speak the same language (well, mostly), so asking for help is easy. I traveled first to Ireland (Dublin) then to the Lake District by train via Manchester and then back to London via train. I also rode a train in order to visit a friend in Hampshire. Oh the fun I had! I was never afraid, and I never really felt alone. I crossed the pond again in 2019 and traveled from London to Chester, then to Cornwall (for a walking vacation) , then to London via a short stay in Bath. On the way to Heathrow, my cab driver was telling me about his “brave” mother-in-law who was traveling on her own at age 70. It took me by surprise, as I am 72, and I never thought of myself as being “brave”. I have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, and I venture to find answers. I find that people everywhere accept you with open arms as long as you approach them with respect and show an interest in who they are. Curiosity does not always kill the cat, sometimes it renders a bowl of cream. I would love to meet with you on the ship. Perhaps I could allay some of your concerns. Take care Dianne in Upstate New Yoek
You probably talked to a million more people because you were alone! You ARE brave, so many of us just stay still, but, with a little push, a little challenge, damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead, if you’re that sort, you’re that sort! Toot-toot! 🚢
Dear, Brave Coco! What a wonderful adventure you are going to have! Any time you have a doubt, or a fear or a question, just ask! People are always willing to assist visitors, to their town, their city, their train or their ship. When I was a little girl, and did quite a lot of travelling as my Dad was in the Army, our rule was “ask someone in a uniform, any uniform”. If we ever got lost, we were to give them Daddy’s name and rank so we could be re-turned. It made us fearless travelers as there was never a place without someone in uniform! Go, have a delicious time, watch the moon on the Atlantic, I hope you see the White Cliffs of Dover, then come home and tell us all about it! Best wishes to you! Jennie Lou
I just reread and re-oogled this fabulous Blog. I can’t begin to fathom how you do all you do, but we are all thankful that you Can! Swore I wouldn’t buy one more cookbook, but I ordered the 30th anniversary copy of yours. Just too many tempting recipes.
Woke up to a fabulous day. Crystal clear skies, warm sun. Our carpet of dandelion blooms are finally full of bees. Getting a bit worried, as they were so late and so few. Several of the apple trees are all bloomed out, clouds of pink and white. Lilacs all have bloom buds, as does the crab apple. Old hawthorns getting ready to bloom. Spring in New England, Ahhhhhh.
I want to thank you for jolting me into resuming my morning stretches and exercises. (Stretch your way out of siatica) We have the house turned upside down, finally forced to do the floors. Grrrr, the machine I ordered didn’t work as expected, the two of us being pretty hard of hearing, on long conversations with the Bissell Techs, all of whom speak in lovely, yet hard to understand accents….to get it put back together to return. All my doors off the cabinets for cleaning and re-oiling, not a horizontal space unused. Determined to get this done, so I can enjoy our Summer. Our “new” family arriving in mid-July.
Doing the exercises when I’m so anxious to get it all done was hard. But being in pain is harder. So, thank you, Dear Lady.
Here is a tip if you have slugs. Save all your egg shells. After they are all dried, crunch them up, and put them around the bases of the hostas, or any other plant they enjoy. They won’t go over the shells, if you uses enough. We also use Diatomatious Earth, which is the stuff folks use in pool filters. We’ve never had one, but we do use the powder, and it seems to work against slugs. I rarely see one now. So hated stomping on them or cutting them in two with my clippers. Yucky Gross!!!
Some of the stuff on our sofa relates to our trip to England this Fall. So exciting to have not one, but 4 different 2021 travel books on London. New maps as well. Wish we could join you on the Cunard. Maybe on your next voyage. Tom says that Joe needs some guys to help with all the Eeeeeeek-ing that will be filling the salt air. Even though he spent 26 years in the US Coast Guard (plus 4 at the Academy) he still became queasy for the first few days at sea….Just like Lord Nelson, he says!!
Mucho Love and Thanks,
Debbie in Maine
You’ll have a fit, but I’ve never seen a snail on Martha’s Vineyard. THOUSANDS in CA, but none here (to my eye!). I’m with you, hate killing anything bigger than an ant! I definitely don’t like to hear anything crunch! LOL, “Just like Lord Nelson” … if you’re going to compare yourself, might as well start at the top! I’m so happy for you, it’s an exciting thing, to plan a trip like this!
I just LOVE your lighthouse curtains!
I don’t know how, but I missed the last blog! Just read it and so glad I did for many reasons. The best part for me right now was the dahlias. I love them more every year. About 20 years ago they showed up at a garden center near me. I always hunted for unusual flowers to plant because all we saw in the midwest were petunias. I took my bff to see these wonderous flowers and we both bought quite a few, but the best part was that she called them Dehlilas! She could never remember the name. To this day I can’t see a dahlia without calling it a Dehlila!
Another memory was that I did NOT like petunias and swore I’d never have any because they were so overused. Where was the creativity with the same old thing?! Last summer I had to rethink petunias. Who knew they would develop these darling miniature versions in spectacular colors?!?
I guess our minds really are on gardens. Thanks for inspiring the wonderful memories!
As life proceeds I find myself rethinking so MANY of the wonders of the world! Blue cheese salad dressing used to make me ill if I even smelled it! ADORE it now! Used to call the Oleanders in California “Freeway Bushes” … they are GORGEOUS, too bad they won’t grow here! Planted them at the studio in California! We grow up, sooner or later!😂 Love Dehlilas! ❤️
I am so excited about your upcoming trip. I will delightfully follow along via your blog. One day, I do want to take a Cunard ship and do with my son when he is a bit older.
Perfect to do with a child! Such a lovely gift.
Hello there. I hope you & Joe are doing well. I just wanted to say HI, because you make everyone’s day happy. Take care and be safe.
Hi Brenda! xoxo
Happiness! Joy!
I’m not worried about the ship sinking; I’m an excellent swimmer and aspire to be the fearless Molly Brown type, ha. I’m worried I might spend six days tossing cookies (or drugged out) in my cabin and miss all the fun.
Oh you blessed girl! I’m standing by on the BP front. Tra-la, it’s May, the darling month of May!
xoxox :@) Coco
Swimmer? I think not!🤣 I’ve had just one “drugged out” evening (I really just felt nice and kind of sleepy with the pills), but being an inner-introvert at heart, I did not mind at all, just cozied in and napped, wake up for food, go back to sleep! 😴💤 But you know, you can FLY over and meet us at the ship! That’s where the tours will begin!
Forgot to add: If you have raccoons or skunks, you need to spray a bit of hot sauce/water on the egg shells…unless you are a nut, as am I. I used to spend hours carefully pulling out the membrane, worried the fur critters would smell it. We never see any raccoons anymore, as we thing the foxes, cayotes fishers got them all.
As soon as we get out first local strawberries, I’m making your Trifle. It looks amazing. First trifle I ever had was on my first trip to England. I ordered it every time I saw it on a menu, no matter what the flavor.
I must be more tired than I realized…so many misuses of words in the above. I think I’ll join my Lovely Tom for a little nap!
You really can’t go wrong with a trifle! I’m about to make my first banana trifle. Going to use fat flakes of unsweetened coconut in it!
Hi Susan, it’s taken me a few days to read your blog. My 41 year old daughter is excitedly having her first baby very soon and of course they are moving-ha! so I’ve been BUSY helping! But, I can’t read this blog without saying how wonderful it is to “hear” your cheery voice and catch your excitement for the days ahead. I’m so glad that you are feeling yourself again. 🙂 I would have sent you a “perk-me-up” card, too, if I had figured out where to post it–hum? Nice that so many others did.
I especially loved your spring pictures–the lilacs were dreamy!
I can’t wait to learn the name of the small tour group, because once they did away with the British Tourist Authority I’ve not had anyone to turn to for small tours. Have you ever been to Snowshill (pronounced “snōwzle”) to see the lavender fields on the hills? If you haven’t, find out when they’re in bloom and definitely visit! It is near Broadway, in the Cotswolds. It’s one of my all-time favorites.
Thanks again for bringing so much joy to all of us. There are no words to express how what you do brings so much comfort and joy. And the fact that you are willing to share your kitchen and dinning room with us, makes me feel like I have visited, like in-person friends do. Blessings for a beautiful spring on your little island!
I felt your good vibrations ANYWAY, and I hope you can feel mine right now for the exciting birth of your new grandchild! My sister had her first at 41 too.. and they were twins! They’re 18 now! Oh yes, I’ve seen the lavender fields near Snowshill, and we adore Snowshill including the little village! One of our all-time favorites too! Blessings to you Ginny, happy spring! Happy new baby!
Thanks, Susan!! I guess if your sister could manage twins at 41, my daughter will handle one. 🙂
So glad you’ve experienced Snowshill. Special place. And I can’t wait to travel with you through Istagram-land. It is time for another England fix.
She’s going to be great! What a blessing! Yes, we all need a fix these days!!!
Oh my!!! I don’t know how I’ll make it through the year waiting for this amazing journey!! Never sailed before nor have we been over seas! So much to think about but I’m feeling better knowing you’re so graciously taking care of the tours for us 🤗 I’m freaking out just planning our flight to NY from Louisiana 🤦🏻♀️
Our tour people are doing SUCH an amazing thing, organizing these tours with all the most wonderful places. Your only problem is going to be which one to choose!!! I’m thrilled … excited to imagine you guys experiencing these lovely places! When you see how it’s done Becky, and get the lay of the land, the next time (and I have full faith) you will easily be able to plan it all for yourself! This is like a little door which is magically going to open in your life, just like it did in mine!
All I can say is, what an awesome blog! It makes me want to go with you to England.
That was the plan!😂
Thank you for another wonderful post! Who did the gorgeous painting above your mantle?
That was done by a local man Bill McLane, signed W.N. McLane … still out there painting!