Well HELLO darling girlfriends. It’s Queen Mary 2 time! Can you believe it? I really do not know where to start!!! Time has been racing and now I’ve been staring at this blank page for about an hour! So many good things to tell you! So I will take the terrifying advice of William Morris
who said, “To begin, begin.” And start in the regular place with MUSICA! Okay, here we go!
I must say, to begin, that every dream and hope I had about this adventure we’ve embarked upon has come true to the nth degree. It’s been amazing, nothing short of a little miracle. We did it! “Doing it” isn’t always as easy as it sounds. I know because it took me years of thinking and wanting, but finding reasons and excuses to stay close to the familiar, before I took the, 
actually kind of scary, leap to DO IT. To GET myself on board that SHIP Joe and I spoke of at our very first meeting… the one we’d been dreaming of, and actually GO out into the unknown! To step forward in time in order to go back in time. Then, what you find out, it that everything over here, is just as calm and quiet as it is at home, but so very different too, and beautiful and educational and historical, and then you just know you will have to do it again. And this time it will be much easier. The first time, and actually each time after, is a door opener. A heart opener. A curiosity maker. A memory maker. A sensory extravaganza. There is earned pride in taking such a leap. The rewards are profound.💖
I know I’m right because I’m writing to you from our rented cottage in the English Countryside, on a small desk inside that downstairs window on the left of the front door, where climbing roses are just about to bloom, from a place we know and love so well called Stourhead, 
in Wiltshire, England🇬🇧. The brilliant blue sky outside that window is filled with huge white cumulus clouds (the same sky you are under right now), and wood pigeons are cooing the British national anthem of birds, “My toe huts bet-tee.” The breeze that blows the curtains is filled with the scent of yellow azaleas because the park beside the lake is filled with them; bells ring the hour at the 12th century church across the green, and I’m drinking my favorite Earl Grey Tea with Lavender “A Fine Romance” Tea because? You’re right, I brought it with me! And two cups too! Our little taste of home. We’re all settled in in a foreign country where nothing is the same as home, it’s all an adventure, in the land of our ancestors. But that’s JUST the beginning.😱
In case you are new to my blog and don’t know what I’m talking about, a year ago I wrote here that “Joe and I would be 
sailing on the Queen Mary 2 to England on May 1st 2022,” and asked, “Would anyone like to come along?” I gave a phone number where people could sign up. You can read more about it in the last 5 or 6 posts … Anyway, we had NO idea if anyone would join us, but we had a year to think about it, wait, save, plot, and plan, get passports (some of us, for the very first time👏), and along the way, anticipation grew, escape from Covid was warily anticipated (have you seen this commercial?🤣), but we forged on in complete determination🔨, we packed, found people to take care of our petty pets, took Covid tests required by Cunard, shivered with happiness when they were negative,
and on the appointed day, we fought New York traffic during a huge bicycle race, and got our 
piles of luggage to the dock! This was our “Can you BELIEVE this” moment! Standing in front of the huge, magnificent Queen Mary 2, unloading the car. (If you look close, you’ll see I’m wearing my “girlfriend” skirt, it’s the second trip for my jacket, and first trip for the Laura Ashley hat!) Many of you who are NOT new to this blog but could not join us, are stuffed inside our suitcases, ready to be smuggled aboard, others are coming along as armchair travelers, but, as promised, you’re all with us now, so here we GO, one and all!!!
Long lines of excited travelers greeted us at check-in . . . everything slowed down because of Covid; masks required in all public places. My darling Joe had all necessary pen-types just in cases. I needed a hat rack so I could run to the bathroom.
By the time we got up the gangplank, into the mirrored elevator, and down the long, long corridor to our stateroom, our bags had already been delivered to the room! We ran out to our deck to see the view, and this was IT!!!! Isn’t that WONDERFUL?? 
We hadn’t run into ANY of our girlfriends yet. Plus, Rachel and Paul, dearest old British friends (I wrote about them in A Fine Romance, and many times on this blog), flew over to join us for the crossing, but were ALSO stuck in the bicycle traffic trying to get to the ship. They even closed freeway exits for those bikes! But we made it anyway!
Outside we went to the back of the ship, where we’d decided to meet for bon voyage, the kick-off for our eastbound crossing on this gorgeous ship, and what did we find? All these happy, brave, adventurous people! We introduced ourselves, putting faces to names, some of whom we’ve known through my blog and other social media for years. It was just the beginning! The ship was still docked and Ray and Paul hadn’t shown up yet, among others! In the end, there were 90 of us kindred spirits on board!!! And don’t think there weren’t guys, because there were, adorable guys who shied away from the first photos, but slowly integrated becoming full-fledged girlfriends by the end! My cup runneth over.♥️
Gifts, cards, notes, letters, were exchanged … I made ship journals for everyone. And see the round pin above? In honor of the Queen’s 70th, I made a Crowned Corgi ID pin. Everyone got one, so we would recognize our fellow travelers when we ran into each other in the elevators! Pin = kindred spirit!💞
I left places inside the diaries so later everyone could add their photos…📸
They went very well with our Platinum Jubilee remembrance bookmarks!👑 Did you get yours? Click HERE, use card stock if you can, regular paper is good too, glue the two sides together, cut around and voila! A little dog to put his nose out over your book!
When Paul and Ray arrived, I saw them coming across the deck … we ran into each other’s arms and hugged for so long and didn’t even THINK about taking pictures… it had been 4 years since we’d been together. NEVER let that happen again! (Being apart that long OR forgetting to take pictures of our wonderful reunion!💖)
It was like that for all of us … been trapped by Covid for a long time. Here we were, freshly tested, outside, ON THE QUEEN MARY, in full hug-mode! It was so freeing!!! Twitter girlfriends were there in force… Adorable Nicole, the connector of the group, Sharon, and darling Belinda, known as Belle.
Nicole made a felted Jack pin for me . . .(I was also wearing my Girl Scout pin along with my Corgi ID)
I took him off his lace backing so you can see all the DETAIL Nicole put into this tiny Jack, complete with whiskers, green eyes, and a mustache! Plus a very soft belly just like the real thing!💋
and Nicole also made a felted Elsie dog for Rachel!!! We LOVED them.👏
Jack was feted in other ways too, this darling bon voyage card came from Nancy. Look at Jack’s hat ala Petey! And excellent job of painting Jack’s face!!!💞
Look what Kim made! Two darling pillow cases she hand-embroidered herself! I mean, really! Here they are on the bed in our new cottage! She even embroidered the date! Very much like the art I did for A Fine Romance! We’ll be using these for a very long time! ❌⭕️
My ship from A Fine Romance!
The gifts flew back and forth . . . This is Cheryl 💖 ~ with the Magner’s “Peah Ci-da” we sent to everyone’s stateroom with a box of heart-shaped candy to welcome them aboard. Look at Cheryl’s camera …isn’t it cute and old-fashioned looking? That is actually just your basic iPhone cover! It’s from Emily in Paris! Isn’t that smart? Here, she told me where you can get one!
I told everyone about where and when we’d be meeting next… This was Sunday, Rachel and I would give a talk on the Magic of a Handwritten Letter on Tuesday in Illuminations Theater ~ Our group had reservations for the Planetarium on Thursday, and a meeting for us was set up in the Atlantic Room on Friday. We stood outside yakking until it started getting chilly, the ship still hadn’t sailed (probably stuck behind the bikes!) . . . and lots of us had dinner reservations at 6pm, so off we went feeling so blessed …
Ray and Paul came to our room for a proper reunion, to get some champagne and stay warm until the ship started to sail! Celebrating our 30th year of friendship that all started with a letter! If you think about EVERYTHING that’s going on here, it’s all completely impossible, although, here we are!
It wasn’t long before the boat whistle (the one from the famous Queen Mary, christened in 1936) roared its low notes over the harbor and echoed a farewell to New York, a most magical sound that makes everyone dream of far away places. Slowly we began to pull away from the dock gliding past this thrilling view of the symbol of America. As touching to our British friends as it is to us. 🇬🇧🇫🇷🇺🇸 And PS, thank you France!
We were ALL cameras the whole way out to sea, taking pics and videos of sailing under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, so close we could see the people in the cars! When they built the QM2 they had to keep her “short” enough to get under that bridge! She’s a mere 23 stories high!
This was Rachel and Paul’s first trip across the pond at sea level! An exchange our two countries have been doing for a very long time! I’m reading the book Ben Franklin in London … He was still an Englishman at the time of his first visit to London, and it took him 7 weeks to get there! We only have 7 days!
Dinner our first night . . .
Flaming desserts did not lick the fire extinguishers in the ceiling the way they did on another trip, almost drowning the people at the table. Sopping wet men with buckets trying to stop it, some laughter, lots of picture taking, and finally, at the end, they stopped it. Very exciting. But that didn’t happen this time! All quiet for our delicious crepe suzettes with ice cream… mmmmmmmm.
We walked the Promenade deck almost everyday to drink in the sea air. Three times around equaled one mile. We knew when we saw them put the cushions on the lounge chairs in the morning that it would be a nice day.
And those cushions were out almost every day. We had amazing weather! The sea was flat, the wind was more like a breeze, I was so proud of the ship for putting her best foot forward for my Girlfriends! Zero seasickness! I’d been nervous, you know when you get 90 friends to join you, you PRAY you will not be making them sick!!!🙏
There were afternoons in the Chart Room listening to lovely violins while drinking our favorite Magner’s Peah Cid-ah. That stuff is SO delicious. May be blasphemous to say, but it’s as bubbly as champagne, maybe more, and it tastes BETTER! I wish we could get it in America. The stuff they sell us isn’t the same. I need to look into this. Call up Ireland and find out what’s up with the Magner’s in America!
We took pictures of ourselves in the elevators… Me and Joe both with our masks under our chins just in case you’re wondering what happened to our necks!
Early mornings, I made tea and wrote in my diary… at 7 am each day, they brought breakfast on a tray… fruit and eggs and oatmeal, anything we asked for, Joe’s Bangers and Beans of course.🤪 Internet connection was squidgy at best. They gave us some Twitter on our phones, but every time I touched my computer it was all over. Nothing. Then I looked outside, and thought, okay. I get it.🌊
We ran into girlfriends everywhere we went ~ this is Luci and Jerry in our dining room. 
Barbara, Cheryl (with the cute camera), and Dianne too, stopped to visit with us most every night ~ Our girlfriends were everywhere, we met them in the hall, in the elevator, in the Commodore Room, out on deck, in the exercise room, once I was outside on the balcony in our stateroom, I heard a familiar voice, it sounded like Nicole. I leaned over the rail, peered between the life boats to the deck below, and sure enough, there she was on a lounge chair. I called out to her, she looked up and waved👋, and when the man she was talking to looked up, it was Paul!!! Extra small world on a ship!
Here we are, planning our trip and catching up. Ray has a “thing” about Petey’s smiling face, thinks *perhaps* he has bad intentions, which he absolutely does NOT, he’s a very good boy … but note how he is appearing in this photo? She says she didn’t do it.🤪 Sure Ray. Look at her face! 🤣 SHE’S the scary one!
Tea on the deck for sunrise was amazing… the weather was so nice, it was the first place I went every morning.
And everyday the TV in our room gave us our bearings … you see that little swerve? The Captain decided to go around some weather!
Stairways between each floor, exercise bikes, the Promenade deck, were like lifelines, we so we could eat. We moved so we could eat.
All dressed up with somewhere to go! Joe behind us taking pictures…
I told Paul he looked like James Bond, so he pulled out his guns!
And this cutie pie, I could not resist.💞
On Tuesday … I brought my computer with a slide show I’d made for our presentation. I combined Rachel’s photos with my own and between us we pretty much touched on the entire 30-year span!
They hooked us into our microphones.
And despite the fact that my computer screensaver with Joe and Jack was projected on the screen . . . something was wrong…
I couldn’t make it go. Nothing was working and we had no idea what to do! Mainly because A. I left the battery charger for my computer at home in America. I know, brilliant. Now we were on an English ship trying to use the foreign charger I had borrowed. Everyone tried to help. Everyone DID help, but finally the person Rachel called “The Young One” (because she was!) ran out of the audience, jumped onto the stage, flipped a switch, and voila! There it was. She got a round of applause, and my undying gratitude because it was, as they say, getting ridiculous.
The whole time we were fiddling with the machines, it was doing this outside, just toddling along with the breeze. Because we kept reminding ourselves, we were on a SHIP, on our way to England!
But finally, we were off and running, telling our story, celebrating our years of friendship, impossible though it was, since we came from different countries, and didn’t meet in person until 6 years after we met through the mail. Our “talk” was much longer than what I’m going to show you … but in a nutshell …
Ray and I were lucky to be born in the last hurrah of “real” 
letter writing (especially her, since she is 20 years younger than me, and missed a lot of it because of that! Poor thing.😂), so we still have some of our old letters to share.💌 But that era was taking its very last gasp when she wrote me the first time to tell me how much she loved my book Vineyard Seasons …. my only book to be published in England, and as fate would have it, she happened upon it, loved it, and wrote me to tell me so! Of course I wrote her back. The rest is herstory.
In our short period of correspondence the communicating world has changed wildly! It’s gone from snail mail, to fax, to email, to text, and now zoom ~ for many years a long distance call 
to another country was financially unthinkable, but that changed and we finally heard each other’s voices for the first time when Princess Diana was killed in Paris and we were both a sobbing mess.💔 That’s when the bond was set indelibly and forever, when Rachel took a peach rose and put it with the sea of flowers for Princess Diana at Kensington Palace in my name, it was so thoughtful of her, our friendship was set in stone.🇺🇸🇬🇧💞
Finally a year later, Rachel came to my house for her first visit… and her first Thanksgiving. We had everything in common, books, movies, cooking, England, America! She knew words to the same songs I did.
Then it was our turn to go to England, take my nieces on the Queen
Elizabeth 2 for a picnic with Rachel’s lovely parents in the 
garden of the house where Rachel grew up. Back and forth we went for each other’s birthdays, getting to know each other’s families. She fell in love with Paul, and we fell in love with him too. And it’s never ended and never will … and for proof if anyone needed it, here we were, ALL aboard the glamorous Queen Mary 2, speaking to friends we’d both made through books, letters, and social media over the last 10 to 30 years or so! What a small SMALL world we have made for ourselves. Everyone is just around the corner!
I love it in here, don’t you? Everyone is so nice! Kind. Giving.💝
At the end of our talk, Paul got up and spoke and made everyone laugh, while Joe ran out the back door for fear he might be called on to speak next! Not really, he heard all the sweet words Paul spoke about their friendship which put the frosting on the cake. What girlfriend doesn’t love it when their husbands like each other! Lucky!💘
YUP, they’re keepers.
Sharon had made a beautiful banner out of my name tags to honor Barbara Urbank, a very special girlfriend many of us knew on Twitter that has recently gone to heaven and is sorely missed. Sharon spoke a few words, telling us about her friendship and why she made the banner, she made us all cry, and I started taking photos from the stage . . .
Then Rachel and I came down, where I kept taking pics . . .
I took a video of the banner … let’s see if it will go up here IMG_9034
Yes! If you click on it, a new page should open, click on the tiny spot in the middle and wait till it loads and I do believe you’ll be able to see it! (Maybe it only works on a computer?)
Finally Joe took over the camera . . . and took about 700,000 of these.
LOOK HOW LONG THIS IS! AND I HAVEN’T EVEN GOTTEN TO THE PICNIC YET!!! But I don’t want to leave anything out … it’s harder to go back! As it always seems to be, I may have to divide this is two parts. Same thing happened with Fairy Tale Girl, and now, Distilled Genius. There’s always too much!!!
Soooooo, After the talk, I signed books, Joe, Rachel and Paul did too! The books were now like yearbooks, everyone was signing! We hung out, visited, had just a lovely time… and then it was time for pear ciders!
On the in-between days, there was more of the above, more walking, sleeping, eating, curled up reading, laughing, exploring the wonderful ship’s library . . . etc. My diary says: “Had breakfast in our room, then Joe and I walked 3 miles around the deck next to the big wide Atlantic. Beautiful day! Met Ray and Paul out there, her just back from massage, him in shorts, fresh from gym. Will meet in Commodore Room before lunch.” So it was like that…
While we were sitting in the Commodore Room, we met these lovely people sitting right next to us and guess where they are from? Yup. Martha’s Vineyard. Practically neighbors. They heard us talking. What are the chances? They must be much better than I think because this keeps happening. Hope to see them when we get back!
On Thursday, it was time to go to the Planetarium, which was actually a little bit of a disappointment, to me anyway, since we had seen a show before and it was SO inspiring, it almost made me cry, but this was a different show, more swirly pink and blue sky stuff about global warming (which almost made me cry too, but for a different reason), not stars and planets zooming in and out of the great black infinity, which is such a good thing for crossing the ocean! Here, you can read what it was supposed to be as I wrote it in A Fine Romance!⬇️ (Read it in your spare time, which now you don’t have any because I already took it all!)
But it was still fun because I got to see everyone again . . . and probably no one knew it wasn’t the right show but me.👍 I hope!
I brought Petey and Peter to the show because I knew Diane was bringing her Hitty Lynn doll … of course they had to meet!
Did I tell you Paul brought Petey a Peter? He did! They bonded immediately. So now I have TWO dolls to haul around England! 🤣
The next day we were off to the Atlantic Room for our last meeting before the ship landed in Southampton and we would all go off on our respective tours, at “the pointy end of the ship” as Paul calls it! (I call it the “front,” Joe says “bow!” (Paul calls Martha’s Vineyard “Martha’s” … he calls Cape Cod, “Cod.” Never listen to him!)
It was a long narrow room, with chairs lined up across from each other, a room usually filled with game tables. Perfect for our meeting. My favorite part is when each person stood up and told their name and where the were from. Exclamations, “Oh! You’re from Minnesota?” Or, “I live in Santa Barbara too!” We had husbands and wives, sisters, best friends, mothers and daughters, and mothers and sons too!
Me and Christie HAPPY!
Jeremy & Lisa, sweetest “sherpa” in the world Richard, & his darling wife Mary, and is that Beth? I have to say, contrary to my Grandmother’s admonition, there was NOT a single creep in the crowd! You’ll be glad to know!💞💞💞
They were all adorable! Paul was in the center, and loving it! As suggested by the very creative Kim, I cut up tiny bits of paper and put them in my hat, and if someone wanted a pen pal, they wrote their name on the paper and dropped it back into the hat, and then drew another one out. Till everyone who wanted a pen pal, had one! A penpal with an automatic something in common!💞
Hugs with Nellie and Rachel!
And Joe, being his crazy sweet self, finding it unbearable to throw away our Country Life Magazines, brought these from HOME for a giveaway, and it worked, they were all taken!
Our last evening was just as wonderful as every moment before it… smooth sailing, clear skies, warm winds, gentle rocking to sleep (which is saying something when you’re coming into the English channel!).
Moon looks full, but half of it is actually moon glow, it was just a half-moon that night!
To try to tell the true beginning of this amazing trip would be almost impossible because it’s been one thing leading to another for a very long time. Just before we left for the ship I found a note Joe sent me after our very first meeting in 1986 where we discovered we had a mutual dream of sailing to England like they did in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. He ended his note with “Let’s meet soon and discuss our travel plans…” We didn’t HAVE any travel plans! But something in him seemed to know we would. He was right, that’s what we’ve been doing ever since. My other dream is that someday my girlfriends could meet. I knew the world would be better if they could. And now. OMG. Look at that. Another one come true. I can’t thank you all enough for coming. I loved every second of it!
And suddenly the hands on the clock clicked forward and our dream had become a memory … it was time to go! The English Countryside was waiting! My heart was beating like a drum.
After lots of waiting and jostling with our luggage, we were off … Destination: Stourhead. In 8 days we would celebrate our coming back together with a picnic in the park. That was the plan…
Off we went, like living in a dream, the blue skies, the wide fields of yellow rapeseed, the hedgerows, the charming stone houses … it was all still here. In the meantime our girlfriends went off to the four corners … to the Lake District and Hill Top for some, to Jane Austen’s House for others, to Hidcote Garden, or Stonehenge for others. History in the making. I wanted to be alongside every one of them to hear the oohing and ahhing that HAD to be coming from them around every bend in the road.💖
I am going to wait until next time to show you around Stourhead and do the picnic … I think you can see why! Don’t worry, it won’t be too long! You’ll need to rest up anyway, after this post!
In the meantime, Rachel, Siobhan, me, and Carrie all say Hello, SEE YOU AT THE PICNIC!💖 (We look like we just jumped off the roof like in the movie Practical Magic!😂)
P.S. Many of you know the webstore was down all last week. Broken again! But it’s back up now.👏 Also, just before we left, the color proofs for the cover of Distilled Genius arrived for approval! I wanted to show you!
They did a great job on the color, don’t you think? I can’t wait for this book!! Everything is right on schedule… Also, taking a little poll, if we were to do another printing of one of the old cups, which one would it be? Might be able to get it in time for Christmas… but it doesn’t have to be a Christmas cup, it could be anything. I could re-do the Queen Elizabeth cup! If you wanted . . . After all, this is her year in history, no one has ever been on the throne for 70 years before. This is a first! Let me know! Love you! ❌⭕️❌⭕️
Add my vote for the Queen cup! I would think she deserves it. Such history. Thank you for this post from an arm chair traveler with wanderlust.
Susan, Where ever did you get that lovely black dress you wore one of the formal nights on the ship? Just adorable!
I’ve had it too long to remember where I got it. It’s my go-to dress-up dress!♥️
Snail Mail 💌 is a wonderful gift to give and receive, a present of self between two hearts 💕 hungry for friendship. It allows you to be yourself as you are able to pause, reflect, and share without time constraint. And the recipient chooses their own time and place to receive the gift they’ve been sent. Make a pot of tea, open a window, 🪟then, put on (a record) or pull up (online) an old instrumental song that reminds you of your friend. Go out, dust off a lawn chair, sit under the lilac, invite the birds to share in your joy as you slide the letter opener under the envelope edge and hear the unique sound as the paper gives way. Through your exchanges- you laugh, you cry, you grow, you become family. The anticipation of the each missive grows daily. You find yourself longing for another word to arrive even as you post your response! 📬. Sigh. Thank you for sharing the journey of your friendship story and the journey back across the pond.
Mug selections: 1st choice Bella Luna (use it year round); 2nd choice British Corgi (in honor of the Queen).
Every word Laura . . . thank you!💌
Thank you Susan for each and every happy moment.
PS. Just read the excerpt from Enchanted and I am – enchanted! Hoping time allows you to share your past journey as well as your current journey.
Susan,
After a busy week last week, I was able to relax and read your post. Thank you so much for sharing so many details and pictures. I have dreamed of visiting England since my freshman year of college as an English major. Seeing what you and Joe are wearing and hearing your delightful descriptions brought me a happy experience this morning. I look forward to the rest of the story. ❤️
I have so wished you could offer some of the cups again. They are all pretty, but I really love the Bluebird and the Little house.
Have a lovely time, and stay safe. Thank you again for taking me along your happy journey.
Love,
Rebecca
Being an English major will make you homesick for England before you ever see it! All that wonderful literature!
Hi Susan!
Please,please,please reissue the “ Little Things” cup. I know there were only a few other requests for this( Elizabeth Tong & Barbara Moen) but I drink my coffee in it EVERY morning & would be devastated if I ever broke it! I adore every one of the tiny pictures on it. Every one of them has a special meaning to me.
I SO wish I could’ve joined you on your recent trip. In the summer of 2019 I went to England with my niece. We spent 4 days in Doc Martin’s little town of Port Isaac -so quaint & friendly. A funny memory is the day I walked out of the ice cream store & a seagull swooped in, practically knocking me over in the process, took the entire giant scoop & left me with only the EMPTY cone! It was witnessed by the patrons of the pub across the street who all cheered as if they were just waiting for it to happen! Sure enough, when I went back in to get another, the owner said, “I know, I know, he does that EVERY DAY; your next cone is on the house!”
I too used to have an English penpal( during the reign of the Beatles; so jealous you got to actually talk to them!) I have always loved writing letters. I have a suitcase full of the love letters my future husband wrote to me when we first started dating.) I also have a monthly correspondence with a 94 year old friend who used to be my mother’s best friend! She is an artist & I treasure her mentoring my watercolor dabblings.
I would love to be able to watch the talk you gave with Rachel on writing letters. I am looking so forward to your next blog. Kindred Kate
🤣That’s SO funny!!! I can just picture it, Kate! I loved Port Isaac … so charming, I can just picture that smart seagull helping himself. What a shock for you!!💖
Your trip brought back wonderful memories of a cruise on the QEII back in 1988, which I won. My cousin and I had a wonderful time on Cunard’s ship where we were treated like royalty. We even had a stow away on board (which would never happen today). We overheard him trying to charm 2 women about the island he owned. He was always wooing some lady or other. At the end, we heard he had charged flowers to people’s cabins so was put ashore, in a towel, at one of the islands! He would have enjoyed your trip with all your charming lady friends.
Yikes!! Ha ha, thank you Laurene!
What a wonderful trip!! Thanks so much for sharing all the joy!!
AND – I broke my Girlfriends cup – the one that says “Come, Sit, Stay”. I really want another one. It was one of my favorites. I do so hope that there are more votes for that one!!
Looking forward to more “trip posts”. It would have been wonderful to actually be on the trip, but since that was not in the cards, seeing the blog post is the next best thing. All the best to everyone venturing through the English countryside!!
Susan, I was happy when you opened your suitcase so I could crawl out and stretch my legs! Even though it was only vicariously, being stuffed in luggage is cramp-inducing. LOL
I would have loved to be on that fabulous trip with you and all the girlfriends, but I have the best of all possible consolation prizes…two wonderful, adorable kittens! My treasured kitty died in October and my house has been just plain WRONG without a kitty. Now, a solid black (Shiner) and a sold gray (Thunder), about two months old, have joined me and my house is once again a HOME.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful travels with those of us left at home.
Even the THOUGHT of it!🤣Kitties! How wonderful! I’m so happy for you … and two, the ONLY way to fly!💖
Dear Susan, Thank you so much for this post–a most wonderful gift from the heart! And it came at just the right time for my fragile spirit.
Sending love to fragile spirit Jennifer. 💪💪💪 (supposed to be a muscle, as in strength!)💋
Thanks Susan for “bringing” me along! I needed this escape right about now! Nothing I love more than English countryside, especially as seen through your lease. Can’t wait for installment #2. Blessings!
Have a lovely visit to England! I vote for a Queen Elisabeth mug. Thank you!
My vote is The bluebird cup 🤞and maybe a plate to match 💕
Such a wonderful post! I feel like I was there.
Susan,
I vote for the Queen cup.
Loved reading about all about the “dreams come true” trip of a life time. thank you for making it long and detailed for all of us.
I also have a pen friend from England for 3 years now. Hopefully one day we can meet up.
all for now
Susan, Please keep sending about the trip-we live vicariously thru others until pandemic stops! You made my birthday brighter as I was depressed-no going to a restaurant for us. Husband’s post cancer surgery has been a tough recovery. You brightened my day (as always.) Please bring back the Corgi cup AND the one w/the thatched roof cottage. I love my bluebird cup -makes my a.m. beverage (Hot or Cold) so much better!! Love everything you do .Please stay well. My area near Sacramento, CA seeing more Covid cases !! Thank you for all you do 🙂 Love, Gail
Stay safe Gail, best to you and to your husband’s recovery! Love hearing from you!❌⭕️❌⭕️🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷
Thank you for taking all of us who couldn’t physically make it along with you in this blog! I’ve been to Ireland and Scotland, but haven’t made it to the English countryside yet.
I vote for the Fine Romance/English countryside cup…….I still use mine but I’m guilty of being careless and chipping it. I’d love to have another!
Blessings to you and Joe!! And Jack of course!
Dear Susan, What a pleasure reading your blog today. My oldest friend from 5th grade and I were to be aboard celebrating our 75th birthdays, but alas,Covid got in the way. It was such a surprise to see Lucy and Jerry again because we spent time with them and you four years ago with Mandy and Betsy doing the lakes and culminating with the picnic on Hilltop. Maybe we will meet again sometime on the Vineyard. Please keep the pictures coming. Susan from Falmouth.
So sorry you weren’t able to join us, Susan! But what wonderful memories you have!💖🇬🇧👏
I vote for Bella Luna or the Winter mug!
What a magical, exciting, thrilling trip!! My dream trip too – to England anyways. I am TERRIFIED of deep water so I would have to fly but oh I so want to go one of these days. Oh, and I vote for Queen Elizabeth cup too. Can’t wait for the rest of the story….
Somehow I believe we are born with these “terrifications” and it’s very hard to overcome them! I know my fear of heights is physical ~ I first experienced it when we visited a fire station in kindergarten! How could that be scary, but looking down the hole where they slid down the pole almost did me in!😂 Ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Work around it … but get what you want!❌⭕️
Hello Susan, a lovely voyage over but that Petey sure likes to kick in that trunk. the weather here has finally warmed up to get out to the garden and work on that. thinking of using planters this year and try to restore the old garden soil, or is replenish?? whatever working to get the planters ready for tomatoes, and lettuce greens and maybe get adventurous and try artichokes this year. love artichokes, a bit of a pain when it comes to cooking and eating them, but they are good. the barnyard is busy already with new peeps and baby ducklings about and we had an extra lovely surprise this spring.. one of the does that lives on the back area of our property had babies.. triplets. rare but not unheard of and they are adorable. the deer stay here as they know they are safe here with us and no harm will we allow to come around them. we even named the little fawns …. Peewee, Pipsqueak and Pippin. mama comes to the back to eat and we leave out some alfalfa and grains for her to help her stay healthy while nursing those youngsters. so we are looking for a wonderful and quiet summer this year. this weekend it is off to the Boatnik celebrations, better know as the boat drag races and the river race to Agness near the coast. plus the memorial day races, the parade and the carnival, love that caramel popcorn. look forward to the rest of the trip, are you going to the jubilee celebrations???? laundry to finish up and fold plus time to get out to the hen house and check the containers, water and feed. have a great time and love those lovely pictures. hugs… 🙂
We grew artichokes in California … delicious, and gorgeous if they go to flower. Triplet fawns, how fun Pat!💖 Sounds like another good year in Cave Junction!
So much fun being along with you all, through reading this wonderful account of your trip, on your ocean voyage. Hope you will do another trip in the not too many years. Would love to be with you then.
Have a wonderful rest of your trip.
Happy wanderings! I will be looking forward to the next installment of your fabulous journey! Good times indeed! XO Linda
Loved every detail of your blog. It truly was next best thing to being there. LOVED seeing the 4 of you, including Carrie, holding your dresses out!
Thank you for once again providing so much fabulous detail.
I think Bluebird or Elizabeth will win the cup re-do, but if you ever do ANOTHER re-do please consider Tiny Houses. Which I broke 😭😭😭😭😭.
Thank you for being you. Safe trip home! 💕
Thank you Pam! I’m glad you enjoyed it, and will keep cup choices in mind!!! xoxoxo
For the cups: corgi / Queen Elizabeth…could you have 1952-2022 added to the bottom??? second choice: Little House! Wish I could have been on the crossing and looking forward to the quotations book (already ordered)!
Utterly delightful. Wish I was there!
The “Little Things” mug is classic “Susan Branch!” Would love a chance to have that one! Enjoy your wonderful trip!
Thankyou for a wonderful post…..the next best thing to joining everyone on the ship! My husband and I were planning on going to the UK to live for a few months so we could enjoy a few of the seasons, when covid hit and our whole country was locked down……couldn’t leave, couldn’t come back! Hopefully we’ll still be able to follow through on that dream as our last trip simply wasn’t long enough to savour all that England and Ireland etc offers. I’m SO looking forward to more posts…..don’t ever think they’re too long. I’m sure the other girlfriends are with me on wanting to enjoy as much as you’re willing to put out there for us.
Oh, I hope you get to do it Chris. That would be wonderful!! Thank you for not thinking my posts are too long!❌⭕️
Please redo Bella Luna since it matches the new book cover. Thank you for sharing your trip across the pond. I am glad that everyone stayed safe and COVID free.
Yes, far as I know none of our Girlfriends got it!👏👏👏
How about two cups? Queenie and Bluebird? Maybe a Cidah cup is coming soon???
I can’t thank you enough for sharing these lovely memories with us landlubbers! So glad for everyone that you truly had smooth sailing ⛵️. And all the little additions you provided were so special.
Your planetarium experience reminded me of an awesome show called The Privileged Planet on YouTube (not YouTube TV). It’s amazing. Hope you can catch it. 🌏
I think I speak for all when I say there is nothing you could write here that would be too long. It’s like a free book. 📕
PS I vote for the Corgi Cup. So cute…and maybe offer those corgi pins and “blank diaries” too! 🐕 👑 📖 🖊. They’re wonderful!
Keeping that in mind. I’ve always wanted to do a journal, but more than 24 pages long!
You captured it!! I will definitely have to print this and put it in my journal!! Thank you again for being willing to go through the hassle of including all who could make the trip! It was an all around great time with lots of fun, food, and friends!! Let’s do it again!!
Love,
Diane Bennett and Hitty 🙂
👏💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼
Hey Diane and Alan!!😘💕. Was thinking the same thing! Into my journal it will go! So good to see both you and Alan again!! Such an amazing crossing and trip to England!!🇬🇧🎉💕🐑🐶🌹🌼🐑🌸🐏☕️🌷🫖🥰 Love you girlfriend!!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful trip. I so enjoyed reading about it. I vote for the 4th of July cup or the Queen’s cup.
I would really love to get the July 4th mug if you remade it! Love this post and look forward to the next and of course my copy of distilled genius! ✨✨✨
So awesome!! Totally loved your first one & now this… <3
Have a fabulous time everyone!!
Dearest Susan,
Please consider redoing the summer cup- it is the only one of the four seasons that I don’t have! Love reading about your adventures in England. Maybe someday I will get there.
❤️ Jean O.
Yes, make extra of the queen cup….
I’m so glad to be able to see “faces” without being masked. To see all of your warm smiles which aren’t visible masked, so much better and personable.
It feels as good as it looks. We had all been quadruple vaccinated which made it slightly easier!
Bluebird cup
wonderful willard! this british nationalist salutes this anglophile!
Deep bow of thank you! 🇬🇧🇺🇸
I want an autumn cup either pumpkiny or leaves an autumnal things! I’ve been looking weekly to see if any become available I have the moon mug and my tea tastes better when I use that cup!
I know what you mean, mine does too!💝
Wish I was there on your trip. I am looking forward to reading more of your posts as you travel the countryside. Have a wonderful time and enjoy the picnic as well.
Thank you for the delightful Willard!
If you reissue a cup, my vote is the one with Jack (with books?). Yes, books and cats are two of my loves.
Wishing you and Joe
a wonderful journey!
What a delightful post! An Atlantic crossing is on my bucket list, and I still hold out hope of someday having both the funds and mobility to actually DO IT. In the meantime, thank you for allowing all of us who are unable to participate the opportunity to vicariously join in the fun. Can’t wait to read the next installment!
♥ Carolee
Winter, Holly and Santa cups plus the Heart one, since it was dropped and broken 💕
Bella Luna is a favorite as well as Joe as Santa!!
Maybe you could add a choice of different sizes.
As alway you made my Month of May!!!
Happy travels!
So much fun going along with you all to England. Thank you for sharing.
I too have a pen pal from over 60 years ago; two young girls who met in Estes Park, Colorado and had the wherewithal to continue writing between Oak Park, Illinois and Houston,Texas. Amazing, and I have kept every letter.
A history! How wonderful!👏👏
Oh my word where do I start as I so wish I was there!! I’m not saying much as I don’t want to take away from your trip!! Just so wonderful Susan! Such a perfect testimony on the goodness of life! Keep at it as it gives us hope! You MUST do the Queens Jubilee mug!!! It’s so perfect on many counts! I do have to share I saw a cat like yours and almost jumped for it but it was sold. Boohoo. Henry is my last one unless I see a Jack somewhere. I love that u did the tea breaks on the boat! So wonderful and relaxing!! Well look forward to the updates! My ancestors are from Ipswich and York among others. I know it is meant for me someday. But for now I’ll enjoy my art friend’s stories!! Enjoy your trip and my best to Joe!!
Thank you Wendi!💞💞💞
I read this over a couple of days because I didn’t want it to be over! And now I’m so nostalgic for England I’m misty eyed. It truly is my favorite place in the world, and each time I’m there, I don’t want to leave. Enjoy your trip!
Exactly how we feel! It just pulls at our heartstrings!
Looks like a wonderful time was had by all!
Dear Susan,
Merci mille fois for this glorious post, chock full of pictures, vivid descriptions, important details, even the correct planetarium show! My favorite pictures were the ones of you and Rachel (and Paul and Joe) together… the joy, disbelief~relief, the deep contentment of dear hearts finally seated beside one another just shines through. Anyone who has such a friend could drink that feeling in, looking at the two of you, and enjoy it deeply.
How very lovely it was for we armchair travelers to feel we were right there with you too. A very special thank you to all the Girlfriends who posted on the FB page and allowed us to see and read, not just imagine!!! I had to cancel my booking on the QM2 and Cotswolds tour the day before I was to fly to NYC. I thought my heart would break, but all the pictures and posts and this blog made me so happy! Thanks to each and every one of you for taking the time to make the pictures and share the experience!
It sounds like you might have to reorder BOTH the Corgi in Crown (QEII) cup, which is not only timely but #1 darling beyond all words, AND the Bluebird cup. The branch that the bluebird sits on is a little bit reminiscent of the branch on your Disneyland water pot for painting. Did you take inspiration from that at all? My personal vote is for In Love With Nature (I love best your small-art collages) and Castle Cottage (sheep!), both of which I missed out on in a misguided fit of being too budget-minded, ha.
Hope you and Joe are having the time of your lives, and are getting lots of kitty pictures of Jack now that you are off the boat and on the interweb. I cannot believe how much joy you can give the world in one amazing blog post. Thank you thank you thank you, in English now, a thousand times thank you.
xoxox love Coco :@)
Thank you back Coco, your sweet words just make my day! I’m so sorry you had to cancel. I hope all is well … just remember it’s still all here!💖
Susan,
Thank you for sharing these wonderful moments and stories. You all look like you are having a brilliant time! I love the idea of you and Ray talking of your friendship and showing your letters. How wonderfully special, with an incredible bond formed across the sea resulting from those letters. And then placing a peach rose at Kensington Palace for you. Truly special.
That pillowcase is marvelous and the felted Jack! Adorable.
I continue dreaming of being in the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District, Hill Top and Jane Austen’s-all you mentioned. My ancestry site has recently shown where In Ireland and Scotland my ancestors are from. Ireland, I knew as they still live there and parents were from there. But it shows a few places in Scotland with one near Windemere! And I thought, no wonder I’m dreaming of these places, it’s in my blood. And I really hadn’t thought of them as anything all that special until I became immersed in A Fine Romance. Thank you so much.
Can’t wait for the next blog of fun. The girlfriends all are so happy looking and it’s wonderful to see.
Until next time, enjoy your fabulous cottage and the English countryside. Be safe and stay well.
Maureen
Maureen with the Irish Eyes! Yes, all such special places. Ancestry is so much fun!
Thank you for this wonder-filled blog for those “stay at homes” who couldn’t join in the fun. Enjoy each minute for us and I am so looking forward to your next installment.
You sailed right past our NYC apartment, very close to the Verrazzano Bridge!
And oh, I wish I remembered to warn you about the NYC Five Boro Bike Race traffic. This annual event “traps” us in our home every spring for several hours, but we enjoy watching the bicyclists go past our windows – and this year I was keeping an eye out for your ship!
Well, it added to the excitement, that’s for sure!😂
Thank you for taking the time to post as you travel. I am enjoying a cup of tea this morning while I read it. I dream of going to England one day.
Here is an odd question, what brand of shoes are you wearing in your first pictures (the navy ones)? I love your style of clothing!
Safe travels,
Hope
They’re called Vagabond.♥️ But they’re black.
Jack in the Books, please! It’s so colorful and adorable! Or even better, bring back two!
Would love the Queen Elizabeth cup – or any other England-related cup!! Sure wish I could’ve come with all of you – what a BLAST!!
I would love to see Queen Elizabeth’s cup reprinted. Long live the Queen [and her corgis]!!
I have enjoyed this trip so much, even though I had to stay home. LOL! I so appreciate Sharon including all of us at home on the banner. <3 I hope you have a wonderful rest of your trip and a safe voyage home.
If you make more cups, I'd love to get a 4th of July. That's the only one I didn't get that I really wanted. 🙂
Bluebird Cup reprint please !! Love the Blog ! Looking forward to enjoying the rest of your trip ! So happy for everyone that you could have this experience !
Queen Elizabeth Cup in honor of her 70 years as Queen! 🙂
I would like to get the autumn cup but of course, the queen’s cup would be divine!
Love you, Susan! Thank you for this wonderful recap so glad to be a “darling girlfriend.”
You are truly an ambassador of love and peace. ❤️
The Queen Elizabeth cup would be wonderful in celebration!
I vote for the English countryside mug!
Hi Susan, I don’t think my comment of 3 days ago posted… so in case you get it twice… sorry! Anyway, I want to thank you for suggesting we girlfriends come along on the QM2… what an incredible experience. But you took what was an already fantastic experience and just made it even better with all you did for us on the crossing from the Pear Cider, Champagne, pins, journal, your presentation with Rachel about the “Magic of the Handwritten letter,” to our pen pal get together, and planetarium get together… it was all so above and beyond and I appreciate it so very much! I’ll sign off as “the Old one” since my daughter has been dubbed by Rachel as “the young one!” Thanks again for everything… and I vote for the Queen Elizabeth Mug in honor of the Jubilee!!
I was between houses and lost control of the computer, but I’m back, settled in and getting a chance to read the lovely comments from my Girlfriends!!💞Yes! The young one was our lifesaver! But even more so was her mother, since without you, there would have been no young one!!!👏 Good job!And thank you for coming, Annette … just a wonderful time!!!❌⭕️
The Queen cup would be lovely since it would mark her reign.
Loved seeing all the wonderful things that you did on the trip! Oh, how I wish I had been there! This entire blog post made me smile so much! I would love to see the English Countryside mug printed again. A Fine Romance is my favorite book! The Queen Elizabeth corgi cup is also super adorable. So much love to you, Susan! I can’t wait for Distilled Genius! 😀 xoxo
Queen Elizabeth cup, please!
Suzin I would love the opportunity to buy that lovely cup honoring Queen Elizabeth from you once more! I love all things Queen Elizabeth and all things Susan branch the perfect combination in a cup for my tea!
Bluebird cup (mine fell and cracked)..though Summer, 4th of July, Autumn with pumpkins would be acceptable (ha!!!) too. You are so generous in blessing our lives 🙂 Marilyn
Please bring back the winter cup. It would be great for hot chocolate on a snowy day!
Loved, loved your post, Susan! All the photos and stories and the dreams come true. It was lovely to be here — to soak in the joy and love that seeps from every paragraph and picture. Thank you!
Re the poll on the cups: I vote for the Queen Elizabeth cup.
Bren xo
I’d love to see the Santa or pumpkins teacup reprinted, but any of the retired ones would be amazing!
So many amazing choices…I would like all 4 Seasons available again for purchase.
Yes to bringing back other cups! I’ve only got two!! I’d be interested in many of the discontinued ones.
Yes vote!!
It’s a hard choice to make but I would cast my first vote for the Queen Elizabeth cup!
I think, considering the year, it really has to be one of them!💖
How about a Jolly Olde England set of three: the countryside, the corgi, and the bluebird (There’ll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover, see? It fits!)?
I’ve always wished I’d gotten my mitts on the 4th of July mug, too..
Oh, Susan. Tough decision!
So glad to read about your splendid trip.
It really IS!!🌷🌷🌷
Loved your latest blog from your voyage! What an adventure that you’re on. I’d vote for the Mother’s Day cup myself.
Thank you for arranging this amazing adventure!!😘 Still can’t believe I was there! Since my dreams have already come true I don’t want to be too greed but…the cups that got away from me are the “In Love With Nature” and the “Bluebird” 😍 Would love another chance to own these even though I’m going to have to start stacking them on top of one another! 🫢
I believe you were there Nicole with your big smile and my favorite dress and then of course, there’s Jack! Funnest thing ever with you all along. My cup runneth over!!!
Thank you for a lovely update on your voyage. I look forward to the next instalment. As an American living in Wiltshire I have enjoyed following along on your ‘fine romance’ with the English countryside, feelings I share. It was love that brought me here when I married my wonderful Englishman, and love of the beautiful countryside has sustained me through these past few challenging years. So I would probably vote for either the English Countryside mug or the Elizabeth mug. Anything with a corgi on it will have my vote, since my sweet walking companion every day is our little corgi, Jethro.
LUCKY YOU!!💞
I would love to be able to get another bluebird cup. I broke mine and would like a replacement. Although, I would love a Queen Elizabeth cup, as well…
Bluebird and Queen are pretty much a done deal!
Thank you for taking us all along on this lovely adventure. If you are re ordering mugs, I would appreciate the opportunity to order the Queen Elizabeth cup. I copied your Queen’s bookmarks for 4 of my friends and of course, myself. I would also love the Blessed and Bluebird mugs. I look forward to the next Willard.
Melinda
Dearest Susan🤗
I just read this whole “Girlfriends on the Queen Elizabeth 2” in nearly one sitting. Every single thing you wrote was so perfectly interesting, or touching, or precious and actually defies describing adequately. I feel beyond blessed 😊 to have stumbled into your life and phenomenally adorable world.
I absolutely loved all the photos and your little video of the “Twitter Girlfriends name tags” banner in honor of Barb, was just beyond belief.
I think I have an idea for a little pocketbook that I’d like you to write, called “Totally Wonderful Adjectives For Use in Describing Susan Branch’s Actions, Etc.”
I’m running out of wonderfully delightful words to describe everything YOU do🤗.
Your description of your experience on The Queen was such fun, so interesting and descriptive. It’s like you just knew intuitively what your “along for the ride from home girlfriends” would want to know, see and hear.
I appreciate yourself, dear Sweet Susan more than I can say. And I thank my good 😊 Lord Jesus for bringing you into my life. ❤️
Reading your blog made me feel like I had been on board and for now, I’ll settle for that. . . .
but, if there’s a next time, I’m praying that I’ll actually be along for the ride.
ThankYOU from the bottom of my heart ❤️ for this indescribably wonderful blog.
I pray that God blesses you, Joe, Jack 🐈⬛ and Cat 🐱, with all my heart.
With my love,
Susan
Well Susan, that was SO NICE of you. Sweetest words! I’m just glad you’re here and enjoying and hope you come back again and again … I’m going to go give Joe a big hug just for you!❌⭕️
Oh Susan, ThankYOU sooo much for replying. I just adore 🥰 getting a reply from you🤗. And to think that you actually gave Joe a hug just for me is a very most joyful thought. THANKYOU FOR THAT.
Wherever your next steps are taking you now, I’m praying that you are doused with favor, peace, joy and love ❤️. Please keep the faith, Susan, we are all the better for it.
With gratitude and love, ❤️
Susan
Thank you for letting me live your adventures vicariously! It was almost as if I were there. I wanted to go sooo badly, but circumstances prevented that. Maybe next time? As far as the mugs I would love to see the Garden one or the English Countryside one. Of course, the Corgi would be good too. I missed out on these (among others), and would dearly love to get one of these. I am not a morning person, but your mugs cheer my mornings up considerably! Thanks again, dear Susan!
I need to make a Wakie Wakie cup!😆
My desire is the Autumn Cup. Would be so nice to enjoy my pumpkin spice tea in it.
1. THE LITTLE THINGS mug ❤️
2. IN LOVE WITH NATURE mug❤️
Would L❤️VE those to be available again.
THRILLED you are all on this journey, and having a grand time. May was one of my favorite months when I lived in Somerset.
EnJOY!
Please share where you purchased your long black coat or who it’s made by in the photo titled: “All dressed up with somewhere to go!”
I love it!
It’s actually a dress … but I don’t remember where I got it, sorry! I’ve had it for years! Oldie but goodie!
Thank you, thank you for the wonderful blog!! It’s almost like being there…your descriptions are the best. I can’t wait to hear more. It will be fun to see which cup gets the most votes. My favorite was the “Little Things”.
🌷🌷🌷
This has been such a fun and interesting blog post, and I can’t wait for part 2! I’m going to force myself to keep my ‘comments’ for another time, so that I can get my ‘vote’ in as to which cup I would love to see brought back.
First choice would be ‘Little House’ (we finally found our ‘dream Cottage’…a small, cozy little house..in the midst of crazy Covid!) and it would look adorable in my little kitchen on the open shelving.
Second choice would be ‘The Little Things’. (I may have an obsession with all things ‘little’?)
Thank you for sharing your ‘adventure across the pond’ in such great detail and wonderful photos…(also for giving us a say in which cup to bring back!)
Just love this post. Cannot wait for the rest. Have been lucky to visit England as I am a huge Austen fan and Chawton was charming. Love your books and your blog! I vote for the Queen cups or the Garden cup. I did not order one and could now kick myself. Please keep doing all you do!!! Best regards.
Dear Susan,
All of the cups are perfect but I particularity love the Winter 2021 cup. Maybe because it’s so Minnesota–to me it feels cozy and warm. I, too, love the British Isles and relive my happy memories when I read your words. Thank you for years of delightful art. I have all of your books. I can see them from the chair I’m sitting in. Looking forward your return-home stories.
My best to you and yours,
Kate
I treasure and savored every bit of your post, just as I do your books. I’m just so grateful that I was able to share the trip and picnic with you and the rest of the group. What wonderful memories. Thank you so much for your generosity!
I’ve already pre-ordered my copy of Distilled Genius and looking forward to it!
The Queen Elizabeth cup! It has such meaning, not only because of her special year, but because of the Corgi pin we all shared to identify ourselves on the ship. That said, I’d give almost anything for the English Countryside/Fine Romance cup to honor my favorite book!
Pumpkinhead pretty pretty please 🙂
I need a Fall cup. Mine broke and so my set is sad. The other seasons are missing autumn!!
I make a delightful request to see all four seasons of the cups available my dear! Pretty please with cinnamon on top! I would purchase a set in a heartbeat.
Your latest post made my heart skip a beat and began to fuel the travel bug in my heart again. I have so missed the spontaneity and wonder that travel often brings. And I can’t tell you how much smiling and laugh out loud moments I had whilst reading about your latest journey. As Mae West once said, “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” May we all find our way again, through wanderlust and with friends by our sides, as you have done so brilliantly dear Susan! Sending you, Joe and Jack all the hugs from sunny San Diego.
Thank you for the beautiful post/pictures .. was like being aboard the ship with all of you! So nice that Rachel & Paul were able to make the journey with you, such fun for the 4 of you! My vote for mug re-issues would have to be the Jack in the Books – my 2 loves 🙂 Would also love the Queen mug – don’t think I’ve seen that one? as I sip my favorite English Breakfast cuppa in my corgi mug! I use one of your mugs everyday – used the make a wish mug all week in honor of my birthday! hope you’re enjoying a beautiful spring on the island! BTW – loveeee your Laura Ashley hat!
I would love to have the mug with the moon and stars pictured in your photo with the proofs of your upcoming book. I wonder if that is the Bella Luna mug mentioned in several comments above mine. I have two of your mugs, a gift from a dear friends, and I love them. Blessings to you.
I live being an armchair companion on your trip. Thank you for sharing all of the adventures! I vote for the 4th of July cup!
happy birthday cup
Oooooh, the English Countryside cup. I could travel there whenever I used it!! Thank you for asking. Have a wonderful rest of your trip. Looking forward to the next newsletter.
I would love to have the “Jack in the Book” cup. My second choice would be the “Bluebird” cup.