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!
Spring is my favorite time of year. I wish we had smell-a-vision so I could enjoy the scent of the roses and peonies. Visiting Martha’s Vineyard is on my bucket list but until then, I’m going to enjoy seeing the sights through your eyes.
I love your newsletter and your cups!!
Hooray for Susan! Hooray for summer!
Hooray for the Queen (and for Queen Anne’s lace)!
Hooray for the lifting of restrictions, for bare
feet in grass, for travel dreams and garden schemes!
Thank you for leading this joyful parade, Susan!
PS: I also ordered Swan Island dahlias and all five have
sprouted; another hooray! xo
Susan, you are a treasure! Your words and joy are so entreating and send my heart soaring. The more I read, the More I am intrigued, excited, and grateful for you. I love the 4th of July cup – in all the times I have been to your pages, that cup is brand new to me! See? You are always steps ahead and ideas beyond! =o)
Love, Sharleen
Oh, to walk through your garden this time of year …
what a blessing it must be! And I always love the photos of your linens hanging on the lines. Thanks for sharing your homey photos. The new cups are wonderful.
Hugs,
Gail
It may officially be summer, but I think this quote still applies: “A little madness in the spring,/Is wholesome even for the king.” ~Emily Dickinson
So glad to know the day and time of the picnic!!! We have been planning our journey and now have the missing puzzle piece, thank you! Looking forward to more writings, photos, ideas and such from you Dear Susan, hugs, ~patty
Thank you for giving us things to look forward to as well as the encouragement to enjoy the here and now. Very thankful you have wrestled through “the blues” and are feeling better!
This past Christmas my husband gave me a beautiful framed print of the back side of Beatrix Potter’s home. We visited there in 2019 with our youngest two, ages 17 and 19 at the time. I was in awe during the whole visit. It was your descriptions in your book, “Falling in Love with the English Countryside,” that helped me plan that portion of our trip. Maybe someday I can send you a copy of his beautiful photo. I think you would love it!
I’m sure I would!!!🥰
Hi Susan
I was thinking the other day I haven’t seen a blog post from you in a while and look at what I just found in my emails today, I adore when you do a new blog post. You have been having so much fun. I love that. Happy Summer by the way. I can’t go on your trip either but look forward to seeing pictures and hearing all about it. Enjoy this glorious day, have fun at the yard sale next week and please share photos of your Dahlias***
deezie
So excited for new mugs! It is such a lovely start to each morning being able to sip my coffee in a special mug. The beautiful little things are the beautiful big things!
Oh Susan what a happy posting!!!! Loved every word and picture. And May 15 in Stourhead… going to have to figure out where that is and see if we can swing it next May.. Thank you for all you do!!
❌⭕️ I put a link to it on the post, nice photos, but honestly, nothing does it justice!💞
What a wonderful newsletter. Loved reading every bit and all of the pictures-especially those if Jack.
Thanks for the cheery words today!
Thank you for the sunshine in my in box! I reread a fine romance every so often! I love it so❤️ I look forward to reading about your yard sale!
Susan, I look forward to your posts. They brighten my day. Thank you!
Thanks for updates
Lovely blog. Your blogs always make me smile & think happy thoughts. I hope your yard sale goes well.
What a wonderful blog post!! It’s good to see the world, our country, and our neighborhoods finally opening up. Hugs and seeing our family members is so precious. God bless you, Joe, and Jack with a wonderful summer!!💕💕💕
I love your mugs! Seeing photos of your flowers is so much fun. I like taking photos of my flowers too. Right now my calendula, Gerbera Daisies, and snap dragons are blooming. Your trip to England will be fabulous. I’m so glad you take us along on your travels.
The peonies were exquisite! My dark burgundy peonies looked great this year, too! Loved all the pictures of your gorgeous garden! Debra Scharf
I love the joy in your spirit! I will be traveling with you all online and watching for updates and photos!
Hi Susan, I’ve been waiting for the land tours and they all look wonderful. Now how to choose? Just thinking, if you would like to take the Island Queen over, I could pick you and your girl friends up and take you to my Thrift stores here in Falmouth, maybe even a stop in the French Bakery for a lunch to go.Let me know via my email.
LOL, thank you! We NEVER leave the island without stopping at the French Bakery!!! xoxo
I feel can your happiness coming through your joyful words. My family was together for the first time in 18 months over Memorial Day weekend. I think I smiled constantly for 3 days.
Your positive thoughts and lovely images are the very best medicine I could hope for following successful surgery. So grateful for all the good things in our lives!
Oh how I’ve missed all your happiness! Ty!!!
Hi, Wow london sounds like so much fun. I have a Darling girl friend that lives south of London. I would love to be there for the yardsale, I would have to have a large box for all the doilies and linens I would want, some for my quilts and my tables . Someday when my hubby is better he may bring me up to walk your lovely island
As always, your blog is such a gift…so many ideas and happenings…thanks
Love, love, love your blog! A long anticipated breath of fresh air!! It makes me want to visit your neck of the woods!
Your posts just make me smile! Thank you for sharing such beautiful photos of your garden. The peonies were so amazing. My favorite! Your posts remind me to enjoy the small things in life. I think we have all been smiling more and your post was another reason to smile.
Dear Susan,
I visited Stourhead with my friend’s singing group. I felt as if I had stepped right into a Masterpiece episode. It’s an incredible place, I know you and all who join you there will be in awe of the place.
Thank you for your photos and uplifting words. It’s always a gift to me when I see an email from you. ♡
Nancy
So romantic to read about the England plans. I dream of returning for a long excursion someday, meanwhile getting healthier to be able to manage it. Thank you for an inspirational post, and all the Spring garden pictures.
I would love to have a Fourth of July tea mug…don’t know how I missed that one. Did you know that it’s 3 weeks between Flag Day and the Fourth? Good to fly the flag every day for that duration!
Happy Summer!!!
Boy, I wish I could come to your yard sale! It’s nice to dream..
Oh what joy you brought to my day! So much fun news – I can only dream of a wonderful trip to England but I will enjoy your journey and a book to follow? Hope so!!! Enjoyed all of the pictures – your flowers are stunning!! And the shadow picture – you clever girl!! Too cute!
And welcome to the Subaru family – I have a Crosstrek. I can officially attest to the safety of the cars as of last week. A young lady pulled right out in front of me as I was going 60 on a Farm to Market Road (that is what they are called here in Texas). She said she didn’t see me – I am thinking there must have been a phone involved as she was stopped for a bit before she turned – I saw her!! All I could do was slam on my brakes and try to stop without hitting her and I started to swerve off the road. I am sure it was my guardian angels who landed me safely in the ditch without rolling over…. and my Subaru. All is well – just badly shaken up and so was my poodle! Minimal damage to my car, too. All this to say to you and all your sweet girlfriends…. Please be careful out there and tell their loved ones to please be careful and pay attention. A text can wait! It could have been a very different outcome but thankfully all is well. Love and Blessings to you and all your girlfriends!
Glad you are OK, Jeannie, and glad you have a Subaru!!! We’re on our 3rd one.
Debbie,
Thanks for your note – very kind of you. Stay safe in your Subaru and have a Happy 4th of July!
Busy, Busy, YOU!!! Oh how I wish I lived closer. I would love to go to your garage sale!!! Hooray for flowers…they make life so happy.
As always, another wonderful newletter.
I wish I could join you for the trip to England but I’m sure you’ll post beautiful words & photos….
Luanne
Your garden and yard are so lovely—makes my heart happy just to see those photos!
I sure get excited to travel again when I read your inspiring blogs! Let’s all enjoy whatever “trips” we are able to take now, even the “trips” to the grocery store or the nursery!! Love the new mugs, especially “Blessed” like I feel I am.
A beautiful post. Can’t wait to see pics of your dahlias in bloom. I envy all the lucky girlfriends who will make next year’s trip with you. Will have to settle for pictures of that, too. Thanks for your inspiring blog.
Devoted girlfriend fan,
Denise
Such exciting news all around!
It is so wonderful to finally hug and be hugged! I appreciate both your artwork and your words. Thank you!! ❤
Your cups are darling. It’s funny how a cup can promote joy. I have a cup I bought in an antique store that I love…for the shape. It’s squatty, about 4 1/4″ across and 3″ high, with a single word written inside. Every time I use it I feel happy. Perhaps the next SB cup could be in this shape…
Unfortunately I don’t get to choose the shape, I have to go with what the manufacturer offers! Love the sound of this!
Love, love, love the way you say goodbye to things that you have cherished but are ready to be passed on to someone else!
And thank you for the lovely spring and summer walk with you. It always makes me smile 🙂
I have fallen in love with everything “you”. Just read all the books and so happy to find the blog and Facebook group. Just love it. I wish I could do the tour but am finally making it to Sweden since the trip was canceled with Covid and it just happens to be the same week. My son loved there a couple years and so I must go see. Anyway someday my dream is to meet you and give you a hug. 😉. So much talent and a gift you are to us all.
We are living in parallel worlds! I too just bought a new Subaru Forester and our neighborhood yard sale is on the 26th! Enjoyed your all your joyful news and beautiful pics. Btw…I love the car, especially the rearview camera and Siriusxm radio (always on The Beatles Channel).
LOL, Look at us! I haven’t had time and I don’t yet know how to hook up the Siriusxm … Dying to do it!
Oh how I wish I could come to your garage sale. Altho I’m letting things go too. But there IS a big garage sale coming up locally this weekend I plan to go to. 😁
Thank you for sharing all your artistic talents! You are my favorite artist!
My peonies heads have lost their pink tresses so the flowers are waning in Maryland. The weather goes from hot to cold in a strange Spring, but we are happy to get out again. It was a joyful Spring getting out again in baby steps. Thank you for sharing your beautiful spring and the airing out of your beautiful things. Loved the linens on the line, i love the smell of the clothes after blowing in the wind. Thanks for sharing your spirit with us.
No matter what I am feeling at the time, your words help me stop and breathe. We all need a little more calm in our lives…thank you so much for sharing yours through the years!
Miss Susan: Thanks for brightening up my day! You remind me to be Joyous! Hugs:!!!
Lillias Trotter is a favorite artist and poet, and I often think of her when I relax and read your blog. Here is Miss Trotter’s diary entry for July 9, 1907, “A bee comforted me very much this morning concerning the desultoriness that troubles me in our work. There seems so infinitely much to be done, that nothing gets done thoroughly. If work were more concentrated, as it must be in educational or medical missions, there would be less of this – but we seem only to touch souls and leave them. And that was what the bee was doing, figuratively speaking. He was hovering among some blackberry sprays, just touching the flowers here and there in a very tentative way, yet all unconsciously, life-life-life was left behind at every touch, as the miracle-working pollen grains were transferred to the place where they could set the unseen spring working. We have only to see to it that we are surcharged, like the bees, with potential life. It is God and His eternity that will do the work. Yet He needs His wandering desultory bees.”
BEAUTIFUL! Thank you! 👏
Absolutely beautiful! Thank you Joni,
Thank you, Joni ~ Lovely reminder and encouragement!
What a lovely garden you have filled with so many of my favorites like peonies, dahlias, dogwood and mock orange. And I love seeing the quilts airing out on the line. They remind me of seeing Amish quilts waving in the breeze when we drive near Yoder KS. Have a wonderful summer!
Thanks once again (for the millionith time😘!) for the beautiful post!!! We are definitely doing the happy dance here – every time we get to do something for the first time in a year and a half! I have to stop myself from just hugging absolute strangers. Unfortunately, we have one friend who has announced she’s not getting the vaccine we worry for her and the roughly 40% of our state who have decided not to get the vaccine. Can only hope that their immunities from previous infections save them – remember when we just used to get in line at
school and get whatever shot they were giving? Wish it was still that simple!
But as the Queen would probably say keep calm and carry on! xoxoxox
Yes she would. Just march forward and do what needs to be done. I don’t have children but it’s my understanding that they can’t get into public schools without proof of vaccines … those 40% might check their files for their children and realize getting vaccines is not a new thing! We’ve been saved from many terrible diseases! Stay safe Beth! xoxo
Delightful to hear from you, Susan Branch! I agree wholeheartedly that it’s great to feel free and alive again. I sure enjoyed all of your news, and seeing some favorite pictures from previous calendars (love the bicycle one). I have a big square frame on my kitchen wall which I change the picture in each month or so. Guess what I keep in that frame? Your old calendar pages: so fun! It started with the priceless apple cranberry recipe, then after the holiday season I thought why not change it up. Have a great early summer season!
I too am cherishing every opportunity to go out with those I have not seen in almost 1.5 years. Life is beautiful!
This is going to be a super trip. Wish I could join you but we can’t all go. That’s of too. I’ll be there in sprite. As usual I love the pictures of Jack, that sweet boy. I just want to put my hands on each side of his face and give him a kiss on the top of his head. *L* His soft fur in my hands. I’d love to go to the yard sale and find something new to me. But I know there will be lots of people who find a treasure. I’ll be standing by to hear all the news for the sale, the trip and anything else. Oh yeah, the train trip!! That I really would love to do. Take care all. If you haven’t got your shots yet do it!!
Loves hearing from you! Always brightens my day!
Susan, I so wish I could join you and all the girlfriends on this trip of a lifetime. But I will be waiting to hear all the delightful details as I’m sure there will be plenty. This was a
wonderful blog full of fun things. Thank you.
I am thinking of my two daughters when I see the cups. My older daughter cried like a sheep when she was born, so she has always been my “sheepy sheepy”. My younger daughter was born on the Fourth of July, my little firecracker! She is turning 22 this year! Oh my!
I always look forward to reading your blog. Thank you for sharing “you” with us!
Your enthusiasm and love of spring is contagious! i love all of your beautiful photos–how blessed you are to live in such a lovely place. Wish I could come to the yard sale, but, meanwhile, here is my name for the drawing! xoxo
Hello Susan,
I’m so excited about this coming year. I’ve been looking for this note from you for days! To have something so wonderful to look forward to, something I’ve been dreaming about ever since reading your book all those years ago…what year was it released….2013? only 8 years ago? it seems like much longer..lol. My daughter and I visited the Queen Mary in Long Beach after reading about you and your Mom going there for lunch? …..and that really made me dream about doing a “crossing”. Having visited England before with my Mom, with our wonderful tour group, I always want to see more. My Mom was a retired Librarian and so into genealogy, way before the internet made it easy…..she searched back several generations to both sides of our family. My father’s folks were from down south…St Agnes in Cornwall and Mom’s side up in the Scotland area. So, I’m English through and through.
I can never get enough. First trip over fell in love with ‘tea” with scones and clotted cream and strawberry jam of course. Well, I’m babbling…..just can’t help it. Lots to plan, looking forward to meeting many of the “girlfriends” in person. Trying not to wish the year away….just enjoy the journey of planning and just getting our lives back to some semblance of normal. Oh, you gave me incentive to “have fun” in planning a yard sale. Pass it on to another to enjoy. I have my parents home of 60+ years to clean out…..and it’s been a journey to say the least. Estate sale to plan and yes…..it’s great to pass things on.
Well, hope your sale is fun. I’m sure you’ll let us know how it goes. I too wish I could be there…..but as a lot of us, I really don’t need one more thing…lol.
Cheers
Jan from Northern CA
From one “Babbler” to another….I love your Babble, Jan.
Debbie in Maine
Indeed, “All good news” – an update from you; delightful to hear everything you are doing, planning and engaged in the simple aspect of living life. It is always a delightful time to sit-a-spell with you.
What a lovely positive post!. Your spring musings are so happy!
Susan, I so enjoyed this newsletter! I love every one, but this one was special!! Always LOVE seeing pics of Jack too! Wish we could join you on the trip to England next year but work beckons. Happy summer!
Love all of the pictures in the blog, and I am so excited to get the new cups! 🙂
I’m in seventh heaven.Thank you for all you do to make the world a brighter place.Mary in sunny wonderful Gloucester,Va.
Your gardens are glorious and filled with so many of my favorites like peonies, dogwood and mock orange. And I love the photo of the quilts hanging on the line. They remind me of the Amish quilts we sometimes see blowing in the breeze as we pass by an Amish community near where we live. Have a wonderful summer!
The cups are so fun. . . hope I am a lucky winner!
Loved your blog. Your spring housecleaning is an inspiration and maybe it will catch me.
Dearest Susan Branch, Have I told you lately that I ❤️ You? Yes dear one, everything definitely is more beautiful this year. Little moments of JOY are everywhere. Spring in Rhode Island had me oohing and aching every time we went out. Then we were able to go to our Maine cabin in the woods and we got to enjoy it all over again since they are a couple weeks behind us. The best thing, of course are the reunions with loved ones. Birthday parties, dinner out with friends, dance recitals, bridal shower, and Father’s Day cookouts. Two Weddings that were postponed from last year. Then there is “Our” trip. Just when I was feeling a tad bit overwhelmed, received this wonderful Blog where your reassurance calmed me immediately. It will all be lovely no matter what we choose to do in England, I even ordered my husband a Beautiful bow tie to bring for Father’s Day and the book about Churchill! xo
It will be Andrea… so many choices, all of them easy. Happy to hear you are breaking loose a bit! xoxo
Hi Susan…thanks for your blog. Beautiful pictures and what great cups you have created. Can’t wait to order🎉
I can only imagine how glorious a Martha’s Vineyard yard sale is going to be. Yard sales in the southwest are not what they are on the east coast. Love that 4th of July cup.
I’m so glad you’re blogging again . I missed you so much. I do feel us girlfriend’s are seeing all the joy and the beauty around us. We have so much to be grateful for. Love your mug Blessed Enjoy our new found freedom. Hugs and best wishes 🤗😘
Wonderful! Thank you💕
My mother-in-law had a Just Joey rose; it was beautiful. I recently had to pull out a rose in my garden )-: so I asked for a Just Joey for my birthday. Several people were scouring the county and my husband finally found one! It just bloomed – smells like honey. Happy me.
I understand, happy me too! xoxo
You said it perfectly..everything in the garden here in Maine is bigger, brighter, and more beautiful this year too. Maybe it’s just my eyes or my heart but I find myself tearing up over every bloom.
LOL, I know the feeling.
I SO look forward to your blogs. I can see you smiling all the way here in Arizona! I feel your excitement and happiness that things are beginning to return as they once were! I’m so thrilled you and Joe have a trip planned for May of 2022 aboard the Queen Mary! There are so many of us itching to get out and travel once again. Such anticipation and fun planning for your upcoming trip. Wishing you and Joe and all those lucky girlfriends a great adventure and making lasting memories!
Wonderful blog full of joy! Ready for new beginnings…..new adventures!
Jack is such a handsome little darling! I’m so sad today because our guinea pig, Juliet, passed away last evening after my daughter got home from work. She was such a sweet little piggy, and very dear to us both. :'(
Oh my gosh! You have got me seriously thinking about joining everyone on the England trip! I’m not normally a fan of tour groups, but it would such a fun way to meet new friends.
Thanks for the beautiful and so cheerful blog post!
This will be a good one, because we have that kindred spirit thing in common! Also, the tours are not too big! That’s important. Give it a try, life’s short! xoxo
Susan, your garden is just beautiful! I can’t wait to see the dahlias. So glad your “Just Joey ” rose is blooming; it’s my favorite out here in California!
I can hardly breathe!! It’s going to be a looong year! 🤦🏻♀️ My dilemma is having to fly home. Having only flown once in 1987. Trying to work it out so we can stay and cruise back home 🙏 Praying we can find lodging that financially allows us to do that. My fairy tale guy isn’t sure about driving but I’m going to work on that. 😉😂
After the first day, and the driver gets over the White Knuckles, he’ll be fine. In fact, it becomes so second nature to everything “backwards”, you’ll have to be careful driving and crossing the street on foot when you get back home!!!
Debbie in Maine
My garden has flowers given me by relatives who have passed and I always think of them when they bloom. Cherished memories.
Hi Susan, I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your Mom. I lost my beloved and beautiful Mom years ago, but I still miss her like it was yesterday! She made life so fun and exiting! My sister, and brother and I have wonderful memories of her and our sweet Daddy. We are truly blessed! Always hold on to the sweet memories! All of us are blessed to have a great family! I love the uplifting Blog! Life is truly great and precious! I love all of your items and mugs! You are such a gifted artist! Much love to you, and your family and of course, Kitty Jack! Love Susie Z.
Your letter, as usual, brightened my day – thank you! We are heading to your neck of the woods in a couple of weeks. Can’t wait to see the Massachusetts coastline and islands. Maybe I’ll be lucky and run into Susan and Joe. Don’t worry, I won’t pester you or act too star-struck!
It’s a very pretty place! Have fun Janet!
CAN NOT wait to see all the lovely dahlia blooms in your garden patch later this summer! Did you plant vegetables this year among them? Happy Summer!
Your an inspiration Susan.
Love to read everything you write.
Just finished Martha’s Vineyard Isle of Dreams again for the 6 th time.
Loved reading about Holly Oak.❤️
Beautiful post ! Seems we are all grateful for the sunshine, flowers and new adventures 🥰
Dear Susan, Thanks for your nice newsy blog post with lovely photos. Reading it is one of my favorite ways to relax. I love your concept of setting things free, it helps people like myself be able to part with things. I have four of your beautiful mugs and we enjoy them daily. Thanks so much for creating them. I love seeing all the pretty things blooming in your yard and your beautiful quilts on your clothesline. I am a hand quilter and I especially enjoy making antique reproduction quilts. We have a dresden plate quilt on our bed that I made and I am working on a grama’s flower garden quilt for our guestroom. I am very slow but really enjoy the hand stitching. Take care and thanks for sharing all your travel plans with us. Such a Beautiful place to travel to.
Love, Crystal from Cannon Falls
I feel uplifted and more enthusiastic about life just reading your blog today. You have a wonderful way of lifting spirits. I would love to win one of your cups – especially the July 4th one. Isn’t it great that we’re finally able to even think about and plan trips?
Susan,
Love your Posts! Your flowers are Glorious and make my heart sing! I don t have your green thumb, manage to plant some flowers but I can dream gazing at your beautiful garden! Can t wait to see your Dahlias. I too love vintage linens and have all my Mom and Grandmothers handmade doilies and embroidered tablecloths which I have shared with my 4 daughters! Keep sending these posts they are so uplifting!
The quilts are exquisite! I’m always inspired by your photos and words.
Love the flower photos! Beautiful foxglove. And that adorable kitty cat – Mr. Jack! Wish you could post more of your vintage items for S-A-L-E. But I do understand how time consuming that is (selling my vintage items on Etsy). Have a lovely summer. 🙂
I was so sorry to hear of your mother’s passing. Am very happy to hear, however, that you will be joining your family in CA to celebrate this special woman. This was a lovely blog; your gardens and flowers are perfection. Your photos bring so much pleasure and joy to those of us who get to receive these wonderful blogs. The 2022 tour plans sound incredible, and imagine we will be right there with you as you send along descriptions and photos along the way.
I hope you have a wonderful neighborhood yard sale. Wish I was going to be there. Love the new cups especially those adorable rabbits!!
Thank you for such beautiful words and photos. So inspirational!
You bring such joy and happiness to the world! Thank you!
Thank you so much for your words of joy, promise and hope. Reading them was so calming and wonderful and then…. I got to the new tea cups. Thank you, thank you, thank you for bringing back the Winter design. I have been lusting after that one and kicking myself forever when I didn’t get my act together before they disappeared ages past. Couldn’t help myself – I pre-ordered 2 – got to have a spare!
Love hearing about all your flowers! Will be waiting to see pictures of all the beautiful colors!
Susan Branch….my real life hero…..
😘❌⭕️
Oh the trip sounds amazing! So does the yard sale, I love old linens too!Love reading your blog and seeing the photos. Hope to see the Dahlias in bloom!
Thank you for sharing the joy all the year through!
Sending you all good wishes and much gratitude!