So much news, and all-all-ALL of it is good! Isn’t that wonderful? Do you find yourself smiling more these days? I do! Everything seems more beautiful than ever before. I am almost giddy sometimes! I think it’s pure unadulterated appreciation for this start-over time we are having, being with friends again, making wonderful plans! Let me share some of that with you! 🚢🥂🚂 MUSICA!
🎵🎶 Tweet, tweet-tweet, tweet-tweet! 🎵
Such a springtime it’s been! Has it ever been prettier? I don’t think so. Each bloom has been like a marker, part of a seasonal parade, I’ll catch you up ~ the wisteria and the clematis has come and gone . . .
. . . the sun rises with an exclamation point and the garden sings out “Yes!” And I go get the camera. The peonies were gorgeous this year! Utterly utterly…
And this one, given to me by my girlfriends last spring when my mom died ~ just the perfect thing ~ a living tribute that will 
come up every year with a surprise of beauty and sweet reminder of my mother. Just like her, clean, sweet, and simple on the outside, complicated, and one of nature’s wonders inside! Never stops with the giving. Joe and I just made reservations for the TRAIN … we’re going to California in September, in our room with a view, to hug and kiss my family (squeal), and have a family reunion and celebrate our mom/grandma’s life and all she was and is to us. 💞
The rhododendrons and the dogwoods bloomed beautifully ~ and as usual, I thank Mrs. Bowditch, the woman who moved into this house with her husband and four children in 1949 and planted so much of our romantic garden (we’re the caretakers now) .. they’ve come and gone ~ as all things do, and so has the mock orange, the wedding bouquet of our garden! I am in the garden often these tender spring mornings…🌱
Now it’s time for the foxgloves . . .
The roses are blooming too . . .
. . . best roses I’ve had in years! Even the beautiful, fragrant, peach-colored “Just Joey’s” which bloom like mad in California, but until this year, not so much here! They’re doing great!
And the parade marches inside, into my little vases that line…
…the little shelf above my kitchen sink. Joe laughed the other day when I told him this shelf is the very best thing they put in this house! Pure genius! My wand, my Beatrix Potter people, little vases and flowers! Birdfeeders on the other side of the windows with view of the garden! Everything I need!
I’ve been drying laundry outside and airing the quilts on breezy days ~ with wide blue skies, sunshine, sea breezes, and birdsong! It’s truly the best musica anywhere . . . 🎵 🎶🎵 🎶
I go out with my scissors to cut flowers and look back through the screen door to see Jack on his ironing board perch, watching me like a hawk! He stops me in my tracks. Everything is Him!
When he sees me looking at him, he starts flirting immediately, rolling over and squirming and almost falling off the ironing board!
He can’t help it if he’s adorable!
We pulled the tiny fountain out of the barn, filled it with water, and surrounded it with porch flowers . . .
And Joe planted our new Dahlia garden. It’s our first one ~ it’s SO exciting… the tubers arrived, we got 23 different varieties . . . and I went out and made a schematic on paper to “decorate” with the different colors, so Joe would know where to plant them. 
He did a gorgeous job … Everywhere you see a green stake is a different dahlia, all sizes, shapes, and colors ~ can’t wait until they bloom. Like a little gift under the tree that we can’t unwrap for weeks!
Doesn’t it look organized? And you know what else we did in this brand new world where we’re allowed to leave the house sometimes? We bought a new car! There it is! It’s actually a 2020, but new to us, we have 
joined the Subaru Forester club … isn’t it cute? I love it but, it looks like every other car on the road! We’re never going to find it in the Costco parking lot! I’m still not quite used to the push-button start. We’ve only had one car ever since my old 1982 Volvo finally said bye-bye (after 40 years of perfect service ~ I’m of the “if it ain’t broke” school of thought)! All we’ve had is the van for the last year … we’ve been joined at the hip. Now I can go somewhere, and Joe can go somewhere else, and all at the same time! How novel! Note: Rhododendrons and the wisteria . . . see how fluffy?
But I digress, we’re talking dahlias . . . and LOOK! Our first milestone, they ARE coming up! (One worries. Actually, two worries.)
Every morning, after checking on the dahlias, out to the woods we go . . . to walk the sun-dappled dirt road through the shady green to where the pond opens to the sea . . .
The wonderful thing about walking on dirt instead of asphalt, is how kind it is to your knees! Also, less breathing of car fumes… years and years of doing this adds up!
These days (except when we get to the sea where we take them out), we walk with AirPods in our ears … Joe has one, I have the other, and we listen to the same book (from my iPhone) … it’s Hamnet now, a not-THAT fictional story of Shakespeare’s son … who’s name was actually Hamnet … it’s finely woven and beautifully written with the few Shakespeare facts we do know. . . so it’s fact-based . . . we’re only a few pages into it, but so far, I’m loving it. We love historical novels. If any of you, hint-hint, think you might be visiting Shakespeare’s home in the future, this would be a fun read!
This is the actual house of Shakespeare’s wife, Anne (Agnes) Hathaway. Joe has to watch his head! Look how crooked it is! And still standing! It’s wonderful! Can you imagine how she would feel if she knew? But again, I digress . . . we’re supposed to be walking now! Here we go… MUSICA
These days there’s lots of action around the water’s edge . . . and when you’re on foot, you don’t miss seeing the little things . . .
Me, too . . .
Lots of new babies amid the sparkles, guarded by their watchful parents . . .
Festive, happy, grateful people out digging for clams and canoeing, communing with nature! It smells wonderful out there!
The waves roll in toward “Stonehenge” of Martha’s Vineyard ~ but this stone circle is much more transient, like the seasons on the island ~ it goes away every winter, but it’s back, a little changed, every summer. But just like Stonehenge, you see it, you like it, you take pictures of it, and you wonder, “why?” . . . People being people, because we can.💞
And one more celebratory thing before I get down to business . . . this:⬆️ Speaking of yes we can: Girlfriends, off-island, TOGETHER, having LUNCH in a FRENCH restaurant, WITH wine, in the middle of the day, AND shopping. Okay? See what I mean? It’s because we’re free, and so happy to celebrate! We’ve only done this once, but once is so many more times than we’ve done it in the last year and a half!
Soft spring nights having dinner next to the water with dear old friends . . . I turned back to look as we were leaving our table … and had to take this photo for you . . . isn’t it insane? How can this BE? Just a little moment in time. Our beautiful earth. These vaccines have set us free! I pray everyone gets them so we can live like this forever!
Speaking of beautiful … wasn’t it wonderful to see the Queen, all dressed in flowers, out and about, so chipper, joking, and full of smiles? She truly set the tone with that smile ~ an inspiration for everyone . . . she seemed as overjoyed as I’ve been feeling . . .🌸
…despite the losses. But like her, we won’t forget. We are still honoring what happened to us all… our common grief . . . I saw this memorial, each flag representing a lost soul during the pandemic, while driving through Falmouth ~ every small town and big city in America has one… But despite it all, Queen Elizabeth showed us, with her action, despite profound loss, life is for the living. At age 95, she gave hope. A profound gift to everyone.🇬🇧
So, off to work we go! What have I been doing, you may ask? 
This. Spring cleaning to the nth degree! I’ve been getting ready for our neighborhood yard sale ~ happening next Saturday the 26th! And I have to say, instead of bemoaning the never-ending work that goes into doing this after twenty years🤪, I feel lucky to be lightening our load in a recycling kind of way! For all the joy I found in finding and using these charming old treasures all these years, it makes me happy to think soon it will be someone else’s turn!
Even a yard sale has it’s pretty moments! I can’t help myself. I tie things in ribbons.
I washed, and dried the linens on the line, thanking them for the memories as I say goodbye. I chose to believe that red embroidered monogram said S B … but I do believe it will be just as easy for a G B to think it was made for them!
I love these old things, I’m amazed at the kind of work that went into making them and wonder about the world they were born into … wishing they could talk! I think the initials here are D C, but it’s very hard to tell ….there might be an I in there. I never cared to know for sure, it was the beauty of the work I could not say no to!
Love all the little embroidery and lace trim . . . the heaviness of the old cottons, the sheerness of some of the fine linens…the colors in the old quilts.
This tablecloth has tiny appliqués of flowers and butterflies all over it, sewn with the tiniest of stitches. As I fold these linens, I 
remember the parties where I used them, and think about the good ju-ju they will bring to the lucky person who gets them next. Letting go, while reveling in the memories.♥️ Joe brings in a box from the barn marked “Yard Sale” ~ I open it and say, “OMG, I forgot all about this!!”
These wonderful old books have decorated our tables at lots of dinner parties!
Vintage tea pots, pin cushions, sewing baskets with their strange vintage contents from a bygone era (irresistible, I have four, three for the yard sale, one for me!), books, dishes, throw pillows, cups, rugs, baskets, 
kitchenware, dish towels, furniture, garden things ~ Joe’s in charge of tools and man stuff . . . Like native Americans I believe everything has a soul and a destiny and that these things deserve to escape the cardboard box, the dark cupboard, the messy barn, to run free and be useful. My girlfriend Margot likes to anthropomorphize her things, she says it makes it easier to say goodbye ~ I laughed so hard with her on the phone when she said, “Run little pie plate, run!” And FYI: I did try to do a yard sale in my webstore, but it 
takes so long to measure everything (laying tablecloths and linen towels out on the dining room floor to measure them ~ Jack positions himself in the middle!), take pictures, front, back, sides, and bottom, write a description for each item, upload and send pics to Kellee so she can put them up on the website ~ and time is the one thing I’m running out of … although we did get a few things up, and I am saving others, things that are so good, they should go to you . . . which I’ll get to after this imminent looming event is over!
Yard sales . . . we have everything for PLM, People Like Me, people with . . .
But the world does not stop for a Yard Sale! Yes, I’m telling you the truth! It does not!
New things have come in! A new dream charm! Filled with blue skies, fluffy white clouds and rainbows! Perfect timing for our world right now.
It has “Go. Be. Love.” engraved on it . . . Kellee put it up in the webstore a couple of weeks ago!
This too, Janie made us a new Courage banner . . . with the most darling gift envelope.
Can there ever be too much of this? Never! Even the good things require it! Janie also made us beach banners! A Secret Notes are back! All Here.
And LOOK, the samples arrived!!! One of each of the new cups was sent from England, so I can approve the final color! I’ve been drinking out of them! I love them! Here’s “Blessed” (the other two items in this photo are not part of the arrivals!).
And here’s “Rabbit-Rabbit” … I am thrilled with them ~ the only change I requested was to make the dark lines around the bunnies slightly lighter … I also asked them to lighten up a bit around their “toes” … I want them to look pink!
But look how cute “Rabbit-Rabbit” is with the rest of the “collection!” We needed a cup with a pink background!
And the last one is Winter! I did a reprint because so many of you asked . . . one of my prettiest cups, and smaller than the other two as you can see in the photo below.
Here are the “backs” of each cup … which I try to make as pretty as the “fronts” so no matter which hand you drink with, you are happy!💞
And here are the handles . . . the “Blessed” cup is a little hard to read in this photo, it says “My favorite prayer is Thank you.”
And the bottoms . . .
Ta-daaaa! Kellee just put them up for presale … go HERE! They should arrive from England the end of September or the first of October . . . you know they are special order and limited in number . . . I have to tell them soon how many to make … I think I know, but I just want to make sure you all get one if you want one!
But right now, for even more fun . . . how about a give-away?
I have three prizes for you today . . . one Fourth of July cup… (it’s out of stock, this is an extra I found in the cupboard!)
And to celebrate this amazing spring, despite the fact that yesterday was the FIRST day of SUMMER! ~ two “Spring cups.” To be entered, just leave a message in “comments” down at the bottom of this post, you’ll see tiny letters and at the end of the words, click on “comments” and voila! We’ll have a drawing in a little while and announce the winner here, but for now, you are ALL winners, so enjoy!
I told you it was all good news! And now, what many of you have been waiting for ~ NEWS about the England trip!
Joe and I went out to lunch and did our favorite thing … brought our books and talked about our trip to England next year 
. . . I wanted to figure out really special tours for all of you who might wish to take one when you arrive, tours that would make you feel as if you were walking through my book A Fine Romance. And, I wanted you all to be able to come to the PICNIC we planned! You know we found a great travel agency, one that does tours for 15 or less people, and takes care of EVERYTHING, so you don’t have to worry about ANYTHING! Between us we worked out 3 different tours, each of them lasting 8 days, all wonderful places Joe and I have been to … your biggest problem is to choose just one! These tours are a win-win-win! They all end up in London, where you can either go home, stay for a few more days, or join another tour! And, on the last day, before you go to London, all the buses come back to the most beautiful park I’ve ever seen, called Stourhead, where, after our time on the ship together, and then time on each of the tours, we will meet back up with stories to share! Is that good or what?!
So here are the basics: but first, mas MUSICA!
The Queen Mary sails from New York harbor May 1, 2022. We will arrive in Southampton on May 8th. People who choose to go on a tour will be picked up at the ship ~ and off they will go for a week of fun in the English Countryside. I can’t wait until you see the itineraries! They’ve kept me in dreamland for the last few weeks! Different clothes, but nothing else has changed!
So far, 98 staterooms, filled with US! Kindred spirits! have been booked!👏 Isn’t that wild? The ship is almost sold out! If you try to make reservations and are thwarted in any way, ask to be put on the wait list. I’m told that many people will cancel at the end of the year (everyone has up until Dec. 31 to cancel for a full 
refund), so there’s a good chance you’ll get a reservation.
To sign up for the ship crossing, contact Susan Gannon at 800-468-7752 x41663 or Cunard reservations 800-728-6273 ~ tell them you’re with Group #TNM (USA) or, #TN3 (Canada), Voyage M211, with the “Susan Branch Girlfriend Group.” They handle the ship questions, but have nothing to do with the tours… fyi.
To see photos of the ship, go HERE.
I have lots of on-board fun planned … but it’s a little early for full confirmations for some things, I’m waiting until closer to the time to make sure! I’ll be talking about this for the next year! The best part, is that we will all have each other, kindred spirits!
Our Picnic will be in the world famous garden at Stourhead, Sunday, May 15, at approximately 12:30 pm… on a beautiful lawn in front of the grass bridge like you see below . . . it’s one of our 
favorite places in England, pure magic, where we had our very first picnic! You are all invited. And that includes EVERYONE, that means you, Brits, and you over there in Norway, and YOU, out there in Spain! ALL our Girlfriends, everywhere! We’ll be waiting there for you on May 15th, 2022, at 12:30 pm, join us if you can! If you’ve elected to take a tour, the buses will stop so you can get a picnic lunch, and they will bring everyone back that day! The rest of you are on your own, but England makes travel VERY easy, as I’m about to show you.
FYI on the tours, you are all welcome to join any of the tours ~ you don’t have to take the ship … you can fly over if you like, you just have to get to Southampton to meet the bus! Talk to Kelsey, as mentioned below. (FYI, speaking of below, that’s Sissinghurst White Garden!)
To see the different tours: Go to www.discovereuropeltd.com/susan-branch print them out and read through them, you can check out most of the places in my book 
if you like, … and then call Kelsey Matson and her coworker at Discover Europe LTD with your questions ~ they handle everything having to do with tours (but not the ship). Call Kelsey from 9 to 5 EST, M-F, at 866-563-7077. FYI, they have almost the exact same cancellation program as Cunard ~ for a full refund you must cancel by January 1. So that gives everyone time to try this all on for size! For any of you that may want a longer tour, maybe go to Scotland, or go up to the Lake District, just let Kelsey know. She can arrange pretty much anything as long as there are enough of you to warrant the trip. You can work it out between yourselves on my Facebook page! And remember, we are a large group. We have a year to get this done, so in case she doesn’t get back to you immediately, I promise, she is wonderful and she will!
And, for you who you get off the ship but don’t wish to go on a tour? What to do, what to do? The options are basically endless. There are buses and trains to London, you can hire a private car, you can go with a group. Talk to others on my Facebook page, and perhaps put something together there. Everything you want to know is available in the Google machine.
If you feel comfortable driving and wish to do so, you’re fine, you can rent a car in Southampton. And for those of you who’d rather have a driver, there are many choices. There are cabs at 
the ship in Southampton, they can take you to a bus, or train, or you can arrange for a car to pick you up and take you to London (it’s only 1 hr. 42 min) where you won’t need a car, because they have cabs and the Underground! Totally civilized. They even speak a language that’s very much like English! Extremely handy! You can get a city map and do the MUST SEE things like Westminster Abbey. You can get on a red double decker bus and see the city. There are airport transfers from your hotel to the airport for your flight home. And London is where many day-trips originate, which take you everywhere, from Bath, to Sissinghurst, to Oxford! Just Google!
I love it all!! Yay for being back to normal. Nothing like a new appreciation for all our lives hold ❤️
Like second chances, what everyone wishes for! xoxo
Sign me up ! I would love a chance to win! Wish I could have attended your yard sale! Your fan and admirer! 💕
I was so looking forward to another edition of your blog! The photos of the flowers are just lovely. I also loved the myriad of mugs! Sign me up to win that freebie of the ‘4th of July’ keepsake.
I also wanted to ask if you sell the jam jar (shown with spoon in your photo) anywhere on your site.
Happy Summer!
I found that oldie but goodie at a yard sale years ago… it’s the only one I have… sorry!
I loved the peonies, the dahlias, the view behind you as you left dinner by the water…and so much else! I find the planning of a trip so intoxicating, and could imagine the anticipation as the two of you lunched with your books spread out, making plans. Such fun!
What great fun to have a chat with you today at least that’s what it felt like. I too have beautiful pieces of linens and things that my mother and grandmother and aunt made and love each one. I like your idea of the laundering and hanging them outside and may start to do that now. Can’t wait to think about and look at all the things about the trip to England it sounds glorious.
Happy Summer Susan! Loved reading your blog today – finally had a chance to catch up now that school is out. Hope your yard sale was successful.
I so enjoy the flower pictures. My sweet neighbor loves day lilies. She was on the tour this year and they did not fail to make her proud! She has planted hundreds and hundreds were in bloom! She does all the work and I get to enjoy the view 😊. I love her to pieces! I especially love your white picket fence. A scene that thrills the heart ❤️. Thank you Susan for the uplifting post.
Hope your yard sale went well!! 💓💓💓
You live in SUCH a beautiful place! Someday I will get there!
I love New England as it bursts back to life in the spring/summer. It seems almost impossible sometimes but it always happens! Can’t wait to see the dahlias cap off the season (but not too soon!)
Rabbit Rabbit July is here! Thank you for you being you and sharing your daily life with beauty and grace. Have a blessed month and stay health!🌸🌷💕
Am I too late? Love the cups! Please enter me in the drawing!
I just order the “Blessed” cup and the “Winter” cup, love them both! Love your art, your thoughts, your photos, you are a delight in my life. Thank you!
My condolences on your Mother’s passing. I must have known, but it struck me again. Such loss. They say that our life’s happiness is wrapped up with our mothers. Yours must have been a gem. Much love, Marybeth
Not too late, right on time! Thank you, she was a gem. xoxo
So wish I could join you on the England trip – it would be a dream come true! But, I have to work. I know you’ll all have a fabulous time!
Would like to win the Fourth of July cup! (Maybe do a reprint someday??)
XOXO
I asked Susan in a previous comment about re-issuing the July 4th Mug, and, according to her response, she plans to do just that. We just have to wait patiently. Happy 4th of July (a little early)
Susan, thank you for all the joy you bring us!
ME, pick me Please!!😊❤
Oh, how I would love to go on such a wonderful trip! However, I’m not yet retired and will be teaching my 7th grade lovelies! I have really fallen in love with peonies this year and yours are simply stunning!
I would love to win one of your beautiful cups! Just got back from a week with my sisters. We all live in different states but spend a week together each summer. We were in Michigan this year where we were born. If you haven’t visited Mackinac Island, you really must. Pure magic!
I haven’t! Must do that someday! Is it crowded?
What a lovely happy post! Your garden is absolutely inspiring!
So many wonderful photos to love! I will be traveling with you in spirit.
Hi Susan,
And I thought it was hot here in Florida!
Love the flowers!
Who could live without flowers?!
Enjoy the summer.
Fondly,
Irene & Elizabeth of course
I love your beautiful artwork, Susan. The cups are dreamy. Happy Summer!
Oh, yes. Spring has been the most delightful one on record. So much sunshine. So many tweeting birds. And the flowers. Breathtaking.
I’d love to be entered in the drawing for a new cup. Another smashing spring into summer treat.
Susan, thank you for the beautiful hug! (your blog post is delightful to read) It was nice to catch up on what is going on in ‘your neck of the woods’. 🙂
Big Hug,
A Southwest Missouri Girlfriend
Happy Summer to you, Susan! Enjoyed reading about your dahlia garden and look forward to seeing pics as the dahlias grow and bloom. Wanted you to know that I also love your tea cups. Can’t wait to order the new cups! I, like the girlfriend who said her chocolate milk tastes so good in one of your cups, think my coffee tastes so much better in a SB cup! I want to put a bug 🐜 in your ear about your cups … I didn’t get the chance to order the “Summer” tea
cup :(. If you ever, ever, ever reissue it, I’d order it in a heartbeat 💗! I love Summer and would love to drink coffee from your Summer tea cup! Enjoy this most beautiful season of the year. Thank you for the sweet blog!
I’ll keep that in mind!
Another love filled newsletter…thank you!
Dear Susan,
Teehee, we just got a new vehicle too. We got an electric car. No more gasoline or changing spark plugs on this one. GM will install a charging station right in our garage. It’s so quiet. We have to look at the green light to make sure it is on. Still getting used to it.
They sneak up on us sometimes out where we walk! So quiet!
How I look forward to your posts! Please enter me in the lottery for the beautiful mugs! Sure would like to win one!
Your enthusiasm is contagious 🙂 I’m an expat from England and I’m anxiously waiting to get the all clear to travel home to see my parents. Your cruise sounds so exciting.
Oh I hope it comes soon for you! So close, then this variant!
So glad to see a new blog edition… posting again, since I’m not sure if my last message made it through.
I love all of the flower photos and of, course… those mugs! 😉
(Is the lovely jam jar available anywhere on your site?)
Yes, I did hear from you, but no, so sorry, that jar is just something I found along the way!
Hi Susan! I posted a comment about a week ago and haven’t seen it here, so I hope it’s okay to try again. Thank you for such an uplifting and joyful post. It feels so good to read it. Life is still sweet. Thank you so much for reminding us of the good things.
Definitely okay, as much as you like… our “random number generator” better known as Vanna, knows to only use one address from each! Thank you so much, happy to hear from you Sherry!
Hello my dear Susan: I just gave my dear friend Amber one of your coffee mugs. She loved it! It was for her birthday. Thank you for your upbeat posts. I enjoy all of it! I’m so excited for the new bead. I love them all!
You have a wonderful 4th of July. We will be going to a parade at a near by town. Love to you and Joe. Happy July! Wanda Susuanne, Pocahontas, Iowa
PS. Lucy the dog (12 years young) and Hope the cat(13 years young) say hello to Jack!!
And he says a big hello back! xoxo
Hi, Susan,
Loved your blog, like always. I would love to go to your garage sale, You have such fun stuff. Thanks for always being so uplifting and positive. It certainly is what our world needs now.
Dear Susan,
I hope you have a successful sale this weekend. If I lived near by, I would make a beeline there.
I too would like to order a 4th of July mug. I wouldn’t even mind getting them in November.
Take care,
MaryAnn
It was a lot of fun! Very small town yard sale-ish! Making plans for that cup!
Yeah!
So glad to be back to “normal” again! Maybe another new normal in that we have a new appreciation for the things and people we may have taken for granted a year and a half ago. My word for this year-appreciate!
👍
I would love to win your 4th of July cup or one of your spring cups!!! Your cups are all so cute and really special. I’m one of your biggest fans!!!! Thank you Susan, I love your style!!!
Becky
Thank you for a lovely All Good News letter. My perennials have been the best ever this year too!
Just finished re-reading A Fine Romance (some books just beg to be read over and over for the sheer delight of them!) Though I won’t be traveling away from my bit of earth, through your joys in the English countryside, I have been reminded of all that surrounds me here at home that is precious. The driftless region of the USA that I call home is unique in all the country for its flora and fauna, not lost by the slow and grinding powers of glaciers. We feel the energy of the ages and many believe it exists as a portal to the universe. Living on the ridge as we do there are views out every window. The voices of my neighbors cattle and goats, the enthusiastic conversations of my chickens, the calls of resident and vacationing birds, the sighing and wailing of the winds, the benedictions of daybreaks, and endless blue hours of twilight, night skies that hum a tune that evaporates like dreams. Thank you for reminding me that joy is there, always there, if we but look for it. Best wishes on your planning for next year’s revisiting of “the green and pleasant land.”
Sounds just beautiful Sharon, where are you?
Hi Susan! This post brought me so much joy this morning. Thank you and happy summer. xo
Happy Happy Summer Susan!!
Loving your post. Looking forward to a wonderful summer.
Hi Susan and Friends, Love your blog this day.. Getting back to “normal”, I find myself running behind. It was so good to hear from you It seems like all our flowers having been extra special this year. And our small garden is doing great. We have had a lot of rain and heat here in St.Louis but its summer. I hope I’m a winner to one of your cups I love everything Susan Branch.
Love your positivity! So needed these day. Your beautiful flowers and garden planning give hope and inspiration to us all… Happy Summer!
This long and lovely post inspired and brought me happiness. Thank you!!
Dear Susan,
Thank you for all the wonderful, good news!!! I love to read your blog. The flowers in your garden are so beautiful!! You inspire me with your words, artwork, your sharing of your love of life! So excited for your travels that will be here soon!
xoxox
Nicole
Hi Susan!
There are currently over 1600 responses to this, and here I am adding one more! Thank you for a lovely post; I especially love the photos, quotes, and your walk to the beach – lovely.
I wanted to thank you, also, for your Summer book – I recently obtained a copy, and my husband and I are enjoying trying your recipes – yummy! For some reason – maybe a reaction to the pandemic? – I don’t feel like eating the same old things, so this summer I’m trying all new things, and your book is coming in very handy – same ingredients used in a way new to us, and we are loving it. So, thank you for that – I am going to collect the rest of your books for more good ideas throughout the year.
Hope this finds you well – Happy Summer –
Donna
I know, it’s like starting over, and trying new things, stretching our wings! I’m the same way, seeing things with new eyes. xoxo
Oh Susan, thanks for the response! Now I have to clarify (I know it’s not necessary to you, but bothering me) when I said I need to collect the rest of your books, I meant the Heart of the Home series – I have been enjoying Martha’s Vineyard: Isle of Dreams (the part about John Belushi is so touching) and A Fine Romance for a while now – I re-read them every year! We are debating about the cruise – I think we may decide to visit another spot instead, but the cruise is very tempting! (If there is even room left….) Anyway, thanks again for a lovely post, for cheer and sunshine, and for putting so many of our feelings into words. Happy day!
The flowers on Cape Cod have never looked more beautiful. I think I know the French restaurant you went to with your girlfriends . I am taking my Daughter in law in 2 weeks for her birthday. She is a lover of all things French!
It’s Bleu! Yummy! Have fun!
Wow, the England trip looks amazing and I love the itineraries. It would be hard to pick which one. I am really considering this trip. What a great idea you had-many thanks!!
Susan, your blog is such a delightful, end-of-the-day, watching-the-sunset-on-the-lake read! The musica makes me smile and reminds me of the TCM movies I love! All of your yard sale items are gorgeous! Thanks for a lovely read! I hope to win one of your mugs!
Late to the party this time! I’ve been busy settling into my new place and sorting things out. I think anyone that goes on that cruise is in for a really wonderful time!!! England, Scotland, and Wales are three very beautiful countries and I love that plans are being made to enjoy them once everyone gets there. How very wonderful! Dahlia gardens are gorgeous! My boss, when I cooked at the Manor, had one and it was stunning. You are in for a real treat! My favourite mug of yours is the Bluebird one. I was heartbroken when I unpacked my boxes and found that mine was smashed to smithereens. (along with every other bit of glass/ceramics, etc. Grrr.) I was thrilled however when somehow a friend of mine managed to get one and sent it to me as a gift. THRILLED! I don’t know how she managed to get it, but it is even more precious to me than my original one! When I got back to Canada I decided that once I got my own place I was only going to have things in it that I needed and that I loved. Your sweet bluebird mug was one of them. You must be beyond excited about your impending train trip. It will be a tender sweet time with family I am sure. I got my second shot yesterday and am now good to go and relieved to have that all done with. I am really hoping and praying that I can see my children and grandchildren soon. Happy 4th of July to you and Joe and all the girls! God bless everyone!
Congratulations Marie! I tell you, every day you will just feel more and more amazed and grateful for that vaccine! It’s a complete reversal of the entire last year. Where you were sad, you will now be giddy with joy. Where you were bored, you will be excited with all you can do! Where your personality was GONE, slowly but surely, it shall return, and better than ever! You’ll see! xoxo
Hi, Marie, We’re thrilled that we can once again go over to Canada. This summer, it will probably just to the area around St. John, NB, but we hope to be able to make to Nova Scotia next year. We’ve been many times, but still have places we want to visit, and maybe some we’d like to see again. While uprooting is traumatic, nesting in a new home can be wonderful. Hope all goes well for you over there in Nova Scotia. Maybe we can meet next year.
Debbie in Maine
Signing up! 😜
The world is a brighter place because of your posts!
Nicest thing you could say, thank you Sandra!
Hello! I hope it’s not too late to join the giveaway. I actually am reading your Fairytale Girl book right now. Then I happened to see your post on Instagram. I hope someday to meet you in person to autograph one of your books that I own. I love your work and how you shared your life through beautiful painted journal-style books!
It could happen! xoxo
Absolutely love all the cups, Susan. The bunnies and bluebirds are darling.
Rabbit Rabbit!! I have a set of those Shakespeare books in my library at Hull HS. They are the perfect size. They are on a shelf held up by Abraham Lincoln book ends!
Perfect!
I am very exited! Those cups looks gorgeous ❤️
Yay for summer and for seeing friends again and for lovely blog posts!
I’ve been so busy this past week that I confess I haven’t been able to read your beautiful blog post yet. I’m hoping to this weekend. In the meantime, I do want to enter the contest, though, if you’ll let me. Thank you for the possibility! (Life is full of possibilities, right?)
Love your cups!
Love the Fourth of July mug :))
I love your happy blogs, Susan!! Thank you!! I am enjoying my beautiful flowers also!! The hydrangeas are stunning this year!! I love getting out and about, but it’s just too hot here in Manassas, Virginia!! Take care, be safe and enjoy your day!! Xxx
Marge
I would love to win a darling cup! I have also planted Dahlias this year! Do you know to pinch them back for more blooms? Check out Floret Flowers website for how to pinch them and her amazing dahlia book!
Funny, I have a dahlia book here too, and was JUST reading about pinching this morning!!! Great minds! xoxo
These cups are so beautiful- what a wonderful opportunity to win them! Your posts and pictures bring so much joy!
I love everySusan Branch and would be over the moon excited if I could add the rabbit rabbit mug to my collection. Happy June 1
Thinking about joining the cruise! Please enter me for the mug give away!
Susan I love reading your blogs and have been collecting your things for years. You are my inspiration!❤️ Have a wonderful summer 💙Wishing you nothin but blue skies and sunshine!☀️🥰
Thanks for the lovely blog to read this morning! I love dahlias, yours are gorgeous. Thanks for the chance to win a giveaway 🙂
Caroline
Susan…it is such a JOY filled time…THANK YOU for all your encouragement and right perspective…oh HAPPY DAYS!!!…I hear MA is having some kind of crazy heat wave!!…but even this CANNOT dampen the excitement of life happening afresh!!!..
No it can not! 😂 Was very hot, but then, voila, today it’s cool and raining, and the lawn is stretching up to drink!
What a beautiful newsletter as usual!
Love the Queen wearing flowers! And the quilts airing on the clothesline!
Please enter me in the drawing for the cup!
Happy 4th of July!! The cup is adorable!
So look forward to your blog like a chat with a friend. Hope the yard sale customers know how lucky they are to get some of your treasures ! After hosting our neighborhood July 4th parade for 20+ years I love aloe fashion fun and finally being able to get together again! I would LOVE and cherish that mug just like the garden one I bought a little while back. Take care and enjoy the beautiful summer time!
Oh how I have missed yardsales, garage sales, front stoop sales…IT would be amazing to carry home some lovely thing to use and love and embellish my home from your home. A spring mug would brighten the morning cup of coffee for this Canadian!
Thanks for sharing your magical life and great talent with us! Love all you do! You have the best giveaways! HAPPY SUMMER!
Thank you for the giveaway! I love seeing photos of the beach and I love all your linens. I used to collect linens but I couldn’t keep moving them from place to place (we move a lot) and got rid of most of them. But we have just retired LAST WEEK and moved into our FOREVER home so now I can collect whatever I want!
Next week, we will be on Martha’s Vineyard!! I am so excited!! A dream come true. I would love to win a mug! So special. What a happy post!
Wonderful job on the Rabbit, rabbit mug.
One of our family’s favorite traditions.
Oh how I so enjoy your lovely posts!!😊
Your cheerfulness brightens my day! And how I wish I could join you on such an Awesome trip to England! That would be a dream come true!! But I will enjoy following along with all the post! 😊
Would love to have one of your cheery cups!!! 😍
Love all you do Susan!! ❤
Your posts always inspire me. You bring me right back to all the things that make life beautiful and lovely.
What a lovely post. So many goodies! Thanks for sharing…
Wonderful memories brought to mind of our 2012 week on Martha’s Vineyard! ❤️
So happy to have discovered your blog after finishing Martha’s Vineyard, Isle of Dreams. Happy Summer on the island, Susan, and LOVELY sink shelf! –Alexa
ohhhh to shop at your yard sale, that would be dreamy!!! such well chosen items and linens and books!!! Happy Summer! Simmer in the good news!!!
Happy summer Susan! Loved reading your blog. You are a wonderful inspiration! Thank you!
Wonderful post as always. ❤️ Hope I am lucky and win a darling cup from the drawing!
Oh my goodness, how did I miss this post on your blog?? It’s amazing. I will have to go back with a cuppa or two to enjoy and savor it. I saw tweet on your Twitter about the giveaway. The cups look wonderful! And I would love, love, love the 4th of July mug, it’s one I don’t have, which I can’t believe I missed that.
Everything looks so lovely and fresh and it really does look like a new world out there. Your photos are lovely as always, but more meaningful after what we have all been through and are still going through a bit.
You are so blessed to have a guy who can still help you in the garden. Your garden looks lovely and I LOVE peonies! I had a friend once who had them in her yard, but she lived up in Lake Arrowhead. They won’t grow here in the semi-desert of the Inland Empire. But I can pick some up at Trader Joes’ once in a while.
You will love your car-I have a priest friend who lives in Crestline where it snows, not far from Big Bear, who has one and he is so happy with it.
Have a wonderful Independence Day! Blessings and peace to you, Joe and darlin’ Jack.
~Maureen aka @4irisheyes925
Thank you Maureen!!!
Oh yes I would love to win a cup!!! I have a few but would adore a 4th of July ❤️🤍💙
So love spending this time with you… it’s a quick trip to Martha’s Vineyard on a sunny day. Love that you’re enjoying the openness that comes with vaccination! We just decorated the house for the 4th of July, a real small-town celebration in our town. Celebrating the 4th, and our 35th wedding anniversary on the 5th, means a fun weekend of family and food!
Happy 4th, and Happy Anniversary!!!❌⭕️
What a fun giveaway! Hope to win one of the mugs. Enjoy your beautiful work.
I love that you are reissuing your smaller season cups! Thank you…
So happy to see a new blog post even though it took me awhile to read. So happy to see the new mugs!
Yay for Good News! I am so excited for our QM2 Trip! I’m still saving blogs for rainy days as I’m under a bit of stress right now, but just wanted to pop in and say Hi!
Don’t forget to breathe Lynda! xoxo
Yay! I’d love to win the rabbit rabbit mug! I love my collection…keep them coming.
Cindy
Oh, dear Susan ~
So much to love and appreciate about your blog: Spring flowers in tiny vases; quilts and freshly laundered linens dancing in the breeze; daily walks down a long dirt road to the sea; a wonderful husband on his knees in the garden; joy and happiness that God brought us through this past year and all its troubles, fears and sadness so that we can really rejoice in the simple pleasures and the beauty all around us and never take a minute more for granted.
Thank you for creating this awesome space where we can see how much we all have in common and how few are differences really are.
Bless you as you spread your seeds of hope across the miles!
xoxoDebbie P
Well, it takes a village, and we sure have one here! Spreading those seeds, a lovely thing! xoxo
Wow! What an awesome post…I already have two of your cups…Bluebird and the garden one. One can always use more! Thank you for sharing all that you do. I have been a fan since you started way back when. xxoo
Rabbit Rabbit everyone!!!!! ❤️
Love good news!!
I always look forward to your blog posts. Thank you, Susan.
Consider me entered into the drawing!
I would love to receive the 4th of July mug!! On days that are “not so good” for me, my mind, my soul, myy spirits are lifted by YOU, your words and your artistry. Thank you for being there for me .
Tears in my eyes, I’m so happy to hear that! Happy you are here! xoxoxo
Would love to win the 4th cup. July is my birthday month along with my dad and daughter. Special month, indeed!
Love reading all of your post! Always a mood booster.
Happy Birthday to ALL!!
It’s Tag Sale season in Colorado, too, and you’ve inspired me to cull and send my treasures out to find new homes and new experiences!
There is a lightness of heart that comes with it! A win-win in every way!
I love your flower pictures 💗
How exciting!!! I have missed seeing you in California the last few years with my SB girlfriend Sandy Perry at the Apple Barn or all of the other places in that area that we have been to. I would love to win either of these cups, they are all beautiful.
Blessings,
Robin in Lake Tahoe
Just read your tweet “Rabbit Rabbit” and remembered that I had not left a post. Thank you and here is my post. 🐰🐰
I love your blog and also follow on Instagram. Thanks for brightening my day (week, month, year)! Let me know if I’ve won a mug!
I will do it DeeDee!
Your blog is such a bright spot in the day. A real ray of sunshine! Thank you!
I always look forward to reading your blog posts! Put my name in the drawing, please! XO