Trip of a Lifetime!

© Susan Branch

So, how do I share this piece of incredible information with all of you? 

To be honest, it still hasn't sunken into me yet. If you recall, I had briefly hinted at a potential New England Excursion in my last post, but didn't want to tell you guys until I knew for sure it was actually happening. And it is. As unbelievable as it is to me, it really is going to happen. Next month. In Martha's Vineyard. My heaven on earth. Home.

As all of you know, and I'm sure many of you share with me, I love Susan Branch. Susan Branch, for those who are unfamiliar, is an American author/illustrator of most notably her Heart of the Home series of cookbooks, who also runs a beautiful and drool-worthy blog of her life in Martha's Vineyard. She is the one responsible for igniting my love for New England in the first place (read the whole story here), the one I owe my thanks to for inspiring me each and every day with her lovely books and her wonderful, inspirational life.

Susan moved from California to the Vineyard, she told us, to make a fresh start, with virtually all of her savings, without knowing anyone there or even what to expect. Can you imagine leaving everything behind and moving cross county to a little unfamiliar island, alone? And what an incredible woman- she honed her talent there in a tiny studio within her modest home, and became the extremely popular and highly successful artist she is today.

That, my friends, is why I consider her my idol. And why I'm going all the way up to the Vineyard in August to meet her at her very first book signing/talk for her latest book, A Fine Romance: Falling in Love with the English Countryside !

You heard right! 

On August 15th at the Bunch of Grapes Bookstore in Vineyard Haven (Susan Branch's home turf!), I will be meeting Susan Branch for the very first time on the very island that is closest to my heart ♥

... And that's not all!

You wouldn't believe what else is going on the island, the night before the day I meet Susan...

Come on, Martha's Vineyard enthusiasts! August 14th, third Wednesday in August...

Give up?

The Grand Illumination in Oak Bluffs!

The Grand Illumination, an island tradition dating back to the mid-nineteenth century, is a dazzling event which usually takes place the third Wednesday in August. The town of Oak Bluffs, known for their charming gingerbread-style houses, creatively adorn these said homes with beautiful and ornate paper lanterns, creating a colorful glow throughout this little patch of the island that is sure to leave you breathless!

Okay... let me just compose myself, 'cause I'm getting giddy just thinking about all of this! 

Two dreams, scratch that, three dreams (because I was not expecting to return to the Vineyard so soon!) are about to come true for me. A good question is: how am I ever going to contain myself once I'm there?! I guess that's what my boyfriend will be there for- to supply me with the tissues and hugs!

So, Jake and I will be leaving early in the a.m. and heading up to Woods Hole in Cape Cod to take the ferry to Oak Bluffs. From there we're going to walk (we're leaving the car behind) to the charming little cottage we're staying in- The Tivoli Inn in Oak Bluffs- and cram in as much sight seeing that we can during the course of two days. And meet Susan Branch, of course.

The Tivoli Inn

I know this is an understatement, but...

I CAN'T WAIT!

♥