I think, today, I’ll take you back for more Autumn Adventure, but first, MUSICA (haven’t played this one in a while) . . . and now, is everyone comfy? Do you have something to drink, maybe a cookie too? I’ll wait . . . . OK, here we go . . .
Very early this morning, Vanna, dressed in peach-colored chiffon jammies; still wearing the pink satin mask that keeps the morning light out of her precious private environment, reached into the hat, swirled and swirled to find just the right name . . . and pulled it out, gracefully, as only Vanna can. Our winner is . . .
Diana Hall!
CONGRATULATIONS DIANA (and not related to Joe!) — I just signed your book, here it is! I wrote you an email to tell you you’re the Lucky Winner . . . wishing once again, I had a couple thousand of these books lying around!!! ♥ I hope you’ll leave a comment here and tell us all where you’re from; and let us congratulate you ourselves!
Diana’s package will soon be winging it’s way home to her . . . with a little extra surprise . . . inside, in addition to the lucky leaf I brought from Connecticut, a copy of my first book, Heart of the Home, which I rescued from the Library Book Sale, one of our new collectible Christmas Ornaments for 2012, the fat, cute, antique-store measuring cup, into which I sunk a green pear-shaped candle in sand we brought home from where we walk to the water every day, along with some seashells and sea glass, for a little Martha’s Vineyard DNA, ♥ and, because life is short, and girls just want to have fun . . . I put in a little surprise (teeny tiny), to light the candle, a box of “Cunard” matches we brought home from our trip on board the Queen Mary 2. ♥ Hope Diana loves it all and it causes some redecorating to take place!
And now, I feel it’s my job to cheer everyone else UPPPPP!!! I’m so sorry if you aren’t Diana Hall, but then again, you’re wonderful YOU, and that’s pretty darn fabulous too ♥ . . . so let’s stop thinking about it and go back to Connecticut, OK? Cause I have something to show you!
Here we are tooling along; it was a cool overcast day on a leafy country road, we have no idea where we are, we’re just following the dots on the map that say, “scenic.” But I like barns, especially if they have an American Flag on them, so I say, “Joe! Stop, let me take a picture of the flag on the barn!” (Take note of the sign on the right, girlfriends . . . “Turkey Farm!”)
Joe pulls over, saying, “Wow, look at all the white turkeys!” I get out of the car to walk around it and take the picture of the barn across the street, but suddenly these guys see me, and immediately jump up and start running towards me, really fast, using their wings for lift. And because I’m unfamiliar with the habits of turkeys, I turn around and RACE back to the car, get in and close the door fast, because I don’t know if they will just fly over that short little fence and GET me.
But then, I begin to see how cute they are, with their fat bodies wobbling back and forth as they run . . . . they are gentle adorable creatures who just want to look at me; they think I carry turkey food in that big red van.
Here they are, I want to sing a turkey song to entertain them! I’m wracking my brain for a turkey song!
Then while I was standing there admiring them and talking to the babies . . .
A mule donkey ( 🙂 ) walked right into the picture . . . so, just in case the first one didn’t turn out, I took another video . . .
I liked reassuring them, I wonder if they believed me?
I loved this crazy peaceful kingdom.
So then I ran across the street to get my barn picture for my American Flag collection . . .
And because adventure requires sustenance, we went to the Ekonk Turkey Farm Store and got two of these cider donuts, still warm from the oven, and hot coffee with lots of cream to dip them in. This Farm is wonderful . . . besides the bakery, it has pumpkins and dried corn and a truly fabulous Corn Maze too . . . if you’re near Moosup, CT, this would be a very fun place to visit; I bet the leaves there are in full color by now!
I don’t think I showed you how Jack handled the idea of us preparing to go away . . .
I think he had something more like this in mind! Of course, not on TOP of the car … 🙂
Here he tries to divert Joe from the subject of maps!
And this is what we had waiting for us when we came home . . . Girl Kitty!
. . . and Jack helped us unpack . . .
. . . while Girl looked on, reciting The Serenity Prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change . . .
Our trees have been talking constantly lately . . . shhhhhhh says the wind as it passes through the leaves; I can hear it right now, and see it, blowing through the treetops outside. I did more fall cleaning over the weekend, getting ready for my girlfriend’s visit this week, hanging clothes, blankets and sheets to flap on the line, being outside getting good advice from trees.
⇐ Look at his little paws!!
The wedding was just as romantic as I hoped. The singing was successful! The groom didn’t run from us, no one fainted, the guests had all had enough Peah Ci-da (or the equivalent) to be appreciative! Joe videoed it too. Only thing, he forgot there was a microphone on the camera, right next to his mouth, and sang the song, with what words he could remember, a capella, through the whole thing! So funny! We both burst out laughing when we heard it; he moaned, eyes rolling in his head, “What am I DOING?” 🙂 Cutie pie!
After his solo performance, he put the camera down and forgot it was still on, so it sat there staring at a candle for about fifteen minutes. Please pass him a Peah Ci-da! I’ll post some photos of the wedding soon, and I’ll show you this video as soon as we learn how to edit movies on iMovie, but please, don’t hold your breath! Have a wonderful day Girls! ♥ Congratulations to Diana! xoxo me
The Heart of the Home is actually the cookbook that started me off on loving cookbooks. I have this one nearby in my kitchen at all times. I love to go back to favorite recipes.
Congrats Diana!
LOVE the turkeys running toward you! “Save me, save me”, is what I hear them saying to you.
By the way, if you haven’t made an October trek to Trader Joes, all the pumpkin-wonderful food items are in. Pumpkin everything. All yummy.
Enjoy your visit with your girlfriends.
Hi Elizabeth — I’m a Trader Joe’s fan, too, and made a trek there yesterday to pick up the Spiced Cider, Pumpkin Ravioli (had to get the Butternut Squash ravioli because they’ve already sold out of the pumpkin!), Pumpkin Ale and the Spiced Pumpkin Coffee which is brewing as I write this and smells wonderful!!! I didn’t pick up the Pumpkin Pancake or cake mixes as I like to make those from scratch, but I may go back for the Gingerbread mix. If you picked up the baking/pancake mixes, pleast let us know how they turned out. Trader Joe’s rocks!!! Thanks for giving the Girlfriends the heads-up!
-Marianne-
Love Trader Joes; we have to go to Hyannis — that’s our closest one … a trip off-island and we need to take a cooler — but we do it!
Our nearest Trader Joe’s is now ONLY 3 hours away! That’s next door for us. Previously we traveled 500 miles to Albuquerque or yearly to Ohio to hit a Trader Joe’s. Has anyone tried there dark chocolate peanutbutter cups? With a glass of Two Buck Chuck!
Granddaughter said Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Bread Mix is the BOMB!!!! I have not tried it as yet, but certainly will soon.
Thanks Susan for getting a lovely fall week off to a good start by sharing your Autumn Adventure. What a special start for lucky winner Diana, congratualtions girl! When you think about, we are all lucky gals in one way or another. Just a good day to be thankful isn’t it ? Happy Monday everyone 🙂
Yes we are! Great thought with which to start the day!
Hi Susan,
Funny post. Luckey Diana, what a nice group of things to win. Thank you Susan for another nice giveaway.
I would have jumped in the car too, no telling what those birds had in mind, but great picture.
Jack and Girl kitty, funny as always. I noticed in one of your earlier books you had drawn a picture of a kitty like jack with that ever so cute black swirl above his little mouth.
Nancy Jo
Ha Ha about the video! I’ve left the camera on, too. As for the singing along, I’ve not done that, but I’ve picked up unwanted narration from the person who shall remain nameless standing next to me! iMovie is pretty good about walking you through the steps if you understand the terminology. You can also do some editing in YouTube I just discovered.
I got choked up about the turkeys, too. Salmon is sounding pretty good right now. You did have to go and point out the baby, didn’t you. Argh!
I still have a hard time believing Jack’s mustache is so symmetrical. Are you sure you didn’t take your pen to it?
I forgot to congratulate Diana! Congratulations, Diana!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!! Home from vacation and my wonderful package was waiting for me!!! LOVE IT! LOVE YOU ALL!!! HAPPY FALL GIRLFRIENDS!
Welcome home Diana!!!
I didn’t, but I know what you mean, it’s perfect!
I always enjoy your trips via my armchair! Thanks for sharing.
Good morning! Diana is getting a wonderful gift! Since I have two copies of the book (one “just in case” extra) I think my favorite part of the package is the candle in beach sand. So evocative of MV. Thanks for sharing your adventure with us!! I think the turkeys were telling you to eat more chicken!
~ Good Morning~
Loved the picture of the barn with the flag~ I love (old) barns!
I have a book ” Our Flag Was Still There” 50 States in 100 Days : An American’s Journey Across A Nation United ~Photographs & Journal by Don Pogany. If you love the American flag you will love this book! The cover has an old barn with a flag and 2 crescent shaped banners on it.
~We have lots of barns around here with painted quilts on them. So pretty.
Good job reassuring the turkeys~ it makes me kinda sad though…….
I could do salmon but the rest of the family~ not so much.
Girl reminds me of our oldest dog when our new puppy moved in~ I’m sure he said the Serenity Prayer too.
I also thought of Frank Costanza who would say on Seinfeld ” Serenity Now!”
Congrats to Diane!
~Happy Monday~
Lynn
Diana!
I’ll take it either way.. Diane or Diana… I have been called both all my life, so I don’t take offense. It is so wonderful reading all the kind words from everyone!!! Makes me feel like it is my birthday or something!!! 🙂
You’re post is like opening the mailbox and finding a letter from a dear friend. So good to hear from you! I’m always happy to read about another Susan and Joe’s Excellent Adventure. Have a great day! XXO
Yes it is! And many dear friends. Love all the comments and different things people share!
You just make my day! Love all the fall decor. I rescued one of your Heart of the Home cook books from one of our antique stores here in Morro Bay. It was the day you started on your English adventure. Still remember it as I found a treasure! Just had company from Texas and besides showing off SLO county, took her to the Avila Barn with all the pumpkins, farm animals, fruits, veggies and glorious mums! A tiny taste of New England in sunny CA. How a wonderful day, I will.
Morro Bay is on my list of places I’d like to visit. Think you must be very lucky to live there!
I just love the Central CA coast. Was in Cambria in early Aug for wedding at Cambria Pines Lodge. Stayed in Shell Beach & visited family in Templeton. You are so lucky to live there as you can have three different climates in the same day depending on where you are!! Have a great week.
Congratulations Diana! I’m so happy for you! What wonderful prizes you’ve won! Thank you for your generosity dear sweet Sue!
Great song to read & watch the blog by! Love the flag on the red barn! I always hate to see old barns that are falling down, it’s sad to me! Yikes, white turkeys comin’ attya! I like those videos! Looking forward to Joe’s video! Sweet kitty’s to send you off & come home to. Have a fabulous day everyone! xoxo
Congratulations to Diana!!! You lucky girl, you!
Can’t help but wonder if the donkeys were in the field to help guard the turkeys. Think I’ve heard of donkeys being used as guard animals, but not sure.
And oh, those cider doughnuts! Were they as wonderful as they looked?
hello Mrs.T. our turkeys are good guardians of the yard, anytime someone comes into the yard they com a runnin’ wings flapping and lots of noise. it can be terrifying, but we just tell folks to pet them on the heads and rub their necks and chest, they love it. geese actually make the best yard guards, my grandma has those in her yard. aanyone gets in her yard had better look out and run, those geese bite!!!
Oh a Cider Donut would be so good this morning with my hazelnut coffee….yum!
Thanks for continuing our Fall adventure…..those Turkeys are a Hoot!…..I have never seen a Turkey Farm, it does look like they have a nice open meadow to frolic in………at least for another month, ( oh no……do not want to think about what happens next……sadder after seeing them.) Salmon might have to be the alternative Thanksgiving dinner ….LOL.
See that cutie pie Jack has stowed away on top of the car……so smart! He has an adventurous spirit…….loved all the kitty photos too.
Congratulations to Diana…..what a wonderful surprise…how exciting….treasures from the heart of the home!
Have a happy week Girlfriends…….I know you will Susan with your BFF’s coming to visit….laughter, fun, fall cahoots and merriment!
Hugs,
Deb
Your post brightened my day. Thank you so much!
BIG Congrats to Diana! I know how incredibly humbling it feels to be the lucky winner of a Susan Branch give-a-way! Mom is loving having tea and cider in her Emma cup… It couldn’t have gone to a more grateful person ♥♥♥ Thanks for the turkey talk to start our week off! Have fun getting ready for those girlie~friends … “The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.” ~Elisabeth Foley
Lovely Mary!!
You are so right Mary.. very humbling! Thanks for the good wishes!
Oh! Now, THAT’S a sweet weekend! ♥
‘Too funny about the video sing-along (and ci-da). 🙂
Your Jack is just adorable. That photo of him with his arms folded up so neatly, to the left of the “Our trees…” paragraph is just so dear. ♥ Your Girl Kitty looks like our Stuffed just minus Stuffed’s black nose. I looove black and white kit kats. ♥
‘Glad you’re having a sweet fall so far. It is SUCH a fabulous time of year. It is my favorite time of year–not only great for its own sake but also because it’s the start of the next few “holiday-every-month” holidays: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. I love it.
Have a great day, and thank you for sharing your sweet weekend with us. 🙂
Hello Susan,
Congratulations Diana…..how lucky you are! Musica is stuck in my head right now a great old tune and whom does not love an old postcard. LOL at the Turkey Video……these were Fantastic…great way to start off the day…thanks Sue we all need a good laugh.:):) Yummo with those Cider Donuts……….can we all have one……like right now?:) The Barn picture is beautiful…….love old barns too. Plus the history behind why barns were painted mainly red way back when is interesting……..are you aware of that Sue? Oh……Jack & Girl Kitty…never can have enough of those photos of those cute kitty cats. Very happy to hear the singing duet was a smash hit and now even Joe got into the tune. Cannot wait to see the video. The weather was perfect here Saturday…….very cold bright blue skies…..so hoping you had the same for Jamies wedding day! Have a Fantastic time with your GF’s from California and maybe musica will be California Dreaming!
Hugs&Smiles :):) Barb from Ludlow, MA
I have a copy of the first printing of HEART OFTHE HOME, VINEYARD SEASONS, CHRISTMAS as well as others you’ve written. So I don’t feel bad about not being Diana! Now I await the ENGLAND book…….hoping it’ll be available soon!
Congrats to Lady Dianna!
Your painting of Jack on top of the car with the luggage made me laugh hard (remind me not to drink coffee while reading your blog posts!) It captures his personality perfectly!
Love that Joe was singing along with you and it makes the video that much more special.
We went to an Irish Festival yesterday — good weather, good company, good music and good Guiness!
Your Friend,
Deborah
Loved this morning’s post–laughed over and over–turkey mobs, cat dialogue, Joe’s video oops. A great way to start a Monday morning before heading to the office which, while it can be a funny place too, is not as scenic and beautiful, and inviting as your wonderful blog! I am commenting because I want to ask if you will ever make a print for purchase in your webstore of the “tree talk.” I have the book that it is in, but I don’t want to copy or cut it out. I have a lot of prints from the nineties (or early 2000’s?) that I would love if they were rerun and I would be wiser this time to shield them from the burning SoCal sun coming through my kitchen windows that has faded them these last dozen or so years. Happy Monday Susan. Thanks for spreading sunshine all over the place. <3
I’ll do that Gina! Thank you! You’re a pretty good sunshine spreader yourself!
Sue, Gina has a GREAT idea here. I’d love this print too! In fact, I think there are dozens of similarly “frameable” pages in your books – one I especially like is the “When You Marry Him/When You Marry Her” pages from the little “Love” book.
O.M.Gosh……I laughed so hard I cried at those darn birds! How very funny, at least there was a fence to stop them, else they may have hijacked your van for their great escape! Thanks for starting Monday off with a good laugh…..
As always, your posts is a bright spot in the morning. Thank you.
~Jamie
Congratulations Diana; so glad you won. Susan, I believe that’s a Jerusalem Donkey, so called because of the “cross” on his back…the black goes from shoulders down the back and across either side from shoulder. Legend has it, that’s the donkey that carried Mary and babe in womb Jesus, led by Joseph on their way to Bethlehem.
My daughter thought the turkeys were adorable – and then when I told her they were the kind you eat for thanksgiving, she said “Yum!” 😉 Although she refuses to eat the baby ones, she wants to hold them!
She also admired Jack and Girl Kitty, and says “hello” to them both!
I love the sound of the farm, it sounds like a wonderful place to visit.
I’m sitting here, drinking my second cup of coffee, and giggling out loud at those silly turkeys! Add in the donkeys, and you’ve got a real chuckle. Thanks for the morning laugh! I also loved the tree advice…it’s ‘right on’ and fodder for thought. I’m so glad you and Joe went on your fall leaf viewing…it reminds me of the leaf trips my late husband and I went on every fall to northwest Arkansas. There’s some might beautiful scenery out there. Still go (with friends) but it’s not the same without the hubs. Sherry xoxo
{{Sherry}}what a beautiful reminder of lovely times shared….you’ll have that always.xoxo
The picture of Jack on the map is too cute! The look on his face is priceless – what a personality the little guy has 🙂 Congrats Diana!
Joe singing along while videotaping the performance was truly funny, and it’s lovely when we’re reminded of our little human fobiles. And I laughed aloud at Girl Kitty and the Serenity Prayer! Girl Kitty reminds me of a cat I had named Katie Bliss. She had the patience of Job, and would let another cat, very old and very greedy, eat her food — Dolly would go back and forth between her bowl and Katie’s. However, one day I gave them a tuna treat and when Dolly went for the tuna, patient Katie let out a yowl, gave Dolly a good smack, and at all of her own tuna. A favorite food will bring out the assertiveness in anyone I guess.
Never saw a turkey farm before, and never hoped to see one, but as for those poor turkeys, I’d sure rather see than be one! I like it when cows come to the fence, turkeys, not so sure…. You are brave! Look forward to your posts like letters from friends that used to come in the mail, and truly enjoy reading what the other girlfriends have to say! Fun to learn about the days of others, and sometimes very different ways people are living. And the things we all love and share. Such a great blog, Susan. Much gratitude to you and Joe and, of course, that talented team of Jack and Girl Kitty. A joy to have in one’s life. And loved Old Cape Cod this morning — so look forward to song of the blog! Wishing everyone a wonderful day!
Good Morning Susan! Loved your post this morning, just wonderful! And a big congratulations Diana! I’m so happy for you! What a great way to start the week! ♥
Congratulations to the lucky winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Auntie”
Congratulations Diana! Christmas comes early!!
I heard “Turkey in the straw” melody in my head watching the turkey video! They really are “breast heavy” aren’t they?? Salmon with stuffing sounds great to me for the holiday! Love the donkeys joining in also!
Another heat wave is hitting the SoCal area – over by Wednesday!
Moving the fridge back into the kitchen! Spent 4 hours Saturday morning cleaning and finishing the linoleum floor getting ready for the final touches today! Been a long 4 months!!
Love the photos of Jack and Girl Kitty! Guess they are tired of their people roaming!!? What a pair they are!
Have a terrific week Susan and all FOSB!! 😉
Congratulations to Diana, what a wonderful package! Loved today’s post, especially the portrait if Jack ready to travel. And I’m amazed you were only about 10 miles from my house when you were at the turkey farm. If I’d known, I’d have invited you for tea!
Congratulations Diana…so glad the wedding was wonderful…can’t wait to see the video…xoxo…
Congratulation to Dianna! You sure are one lucky girl! I know you’ll enjoy all your goodies.
Susan, loved seeing the turkeys…………..so sweet………….it’s hard to believe they are getting ready for you know what next month. I can’t even think that since I don’t want to be upset! I can’t put that video and next month together so stop it right now, Gail (I tell myself)! Loved seeing the barn with the flag and your travels. So happy the wedding went well without a hitch. Looking forward to seeing that video also. Hope you have a glorious sun-filled day! Hugs, Gail Buss, Bev. Hills, Fl P.S. My Joe is out fishing!
Congradulations to the winner of your book, and the other goodies you gave her. I hope we hear from her soon.
Love seeing the turkeys, what a wonderful home they have, well untill mid Nov.
but we won’t tell them that will we? What a wonderful place to visit.
Those donuts looked so yummy.
Cannot wait to see the wedding pictures, so glad you had a great time.
Thanks! Turkey sandwich with mayo, yum! We took a short trip to see Pennsylvania Elk yesterday. They are all over the place, walking thru open fields, in peoples lawns, etc. Great visitors center, right there with nearby roadside viewing. I bought 2 elk sticks (think Beef Sticks or Slim Jims) in the visitors center. Wonderful day but now I want an elk steak!
Congrats Diana!
This sounds like you have REALLY good bribery material with this video!!! LOL
Now on to the Turkeys… however are we all supposed to have turkey next month after watching that!!! LOL 🙂
Congratulations to Diana. I’ve owned a copy of this book for many, many years and have had so much enjoyment from it.
A lovely post today, Susan. So funny. Love the turkeys running toward you. Funny, but somewhat scary, too. After seeing how beautiful they are, I think we will be having salmon for Christmas. Our thanksgiving is already over.
♥ Good Morning Sweet Sue! First…Congratz to Diana Hall! What Wonderful Prizes! A very “Lucky~Girl” Wow! Miss Vanna Went All Out Too! ( She’s Brilliant!) 😉 All Those Turkeys! Gobble~Gobble It Makes Me Think Of Thanksgiving… :-O Yikes! 😉 I Love The Barn with The American Flag! I Love This Autumn Road Trip! & Now I Want a Couple of Those Cider Donuts! Yum…Herbster & I Had a 1/2 Dozen Pumpkin Donuts over The Weekend… So Yummy! 🙂 I Love The Photos of Jack & Girl~Kitty…They are Two Happy Kitties! Meow! 😉 Now As for The Wedding! Yay! I am Twirling with Delight Sweet Sue…Romance & Fun for All & Bravo My Dear!!! The Singing was a Hit! (I Knew it would Be!) 😉 & The Groom Loved it! 🙂 & Your “Cutie~Pie” Singing Along…is On The Video…Very Funny & Part of All The Charm & Magic of This Wedding! Pass Me Some of Tha Peah Ci-da Please! Pure Joy! Thank~You for Sharing All This Autumn Magic Sweet Sue…& Now Tis Time to Get Ready for The Fabulous Girl~Friends! Enjoy… Eat Drink & Be Merry & “Scary” xoxo Booooooooooooooo! ♥ & always a Bit of Pixie~Dust & a *Poof*! 😉 ♥
Susan,
Congratulations to Diana!! Lucky her! Thanks for sharing more of your Autumn adventure. The turkeys reminded me of our chickens when we were growing up, only they usually ran away from us with wings flapping and lots of loud clucking and cackling. It could be a frightening thing if you were not used to it. We visited an orchard while my sister was here that sells organic apples. Don’t have too many apples here in Michigan due to the late frost in the Spring. Cider here is $10.00-$11.00 a gallon. Sounds like you had an enjoyable time at the wedding. Funny things can happen – as you know. Loved your drawing of Jack on top of the car! Enjoy your time with your girlfriends!
Jan
Such a lovely post. Jack could absolutely not be any cuter–he still has so much “baby kitty” in his appearance!! Congrats to Jamie and her new hubby–I believe the weather was nice on MV over the weekend, as it was here in central PA. Hubby and I went to the lake yesterday, sat on a bench and drank coffee, then walked around and gathered some very pretty leaves–some I saved some for my 4 year old grandson. He’s having a sleep-over with us tonight and he loves to help me string garlands to hang in the windows. I am pressing several small ones to tuck into the “October” sections of my Gladys Taber books 🙂 Yeaaaaaa, Diana! What a wonderful box of goodies you will receive!!
Good Morning & congrat’s to Diana! You Lucky ,Lucky girl…..
Goodness I am laughing! This is turkey dinner comming toward you.
Cider donuts Yum! with hot coffee……:)
OH, Jack is such a good boy! He found out how to get out and become a stow-away, good for him!…. LOL Plus he is such a good helper. AAh! there she is ,”Miss Girl kitty”. Hello sweetie!!… Pretty Girl!
Never fails, Murphy’s law is just a button away. I have even taken photos of the celings. LOL…. Well Joe, now we all know you are a singer. Maybe you & Susan could sing us a song one day. Just saying…… Won’t hold my breath. More talent being discovered……..:) Have fun Susan as your getting the house ready for your company.
Susan,
I just had to laugh at Joe’s antics with the camera at the wedding. We all can relate to that. Anyway, it was good to have a good chuckle this morning. Happy Monday.
A fan of yours in Michigan,
Joan
Hi Susan,
Congratulations to Diana! I have this book and have enjoyed it for quite a while, though it’s not signed by you, Susan. Don’t know where to begin on this post, you have so many good things in it. And funny too; the turkeys remind me of a long time ago when I was in a very rural part of West Virginia with my aunt and uncle. we were crossing a hilly pasture to get to an old family cemetery up the hill when a bunch of turkeys saw us and ran right for us. My aunt and I ran but my uncle stood his ground and they left him alone. But those turkeys were mean! They may have been wild turkeys but they were big but not white like you expect on a turkey farm. I do think they would peck you given the chance. Your bunch in the picture look tame enough.
Poor Jack probably thinks every time you have your bags packed you’re leaving him for a couple months again, which would seem like an awful long time to a cat. He’s just too cute! Girl looks like she’s definitely learned to accept what ever comes. Thanks for the great post! The pics of the donuts make me want to go get some and some of your good spiced cider!
I just had an idea! You 3 girlfriends could lip sync the song! Just gather around your computer, open Garage Band, sing your song into the microphone that’s in your computer, then in iMovie you import the clip and put it on the sound track and uncheck the sound on the movie clip. OR we could just see the original clip with Joe singing if he didn’t mind. You could include the words for us and we could all sing along while we watch the clip so he doesn’t feel like he’s standing out too much. 🙂
You make it sound so easy! 🙂
I love American flags, too, and collect old flag pins with small rhinestones in them. Thanks for showing the barn picture with the flag painted on–beautiful!
As for the turkey farm–I noticed the sign said, “free range turkeys” and indeed they were! Those birds were outside, able to move around, eating naturally–not being stuffed with the wrong kind of food that only makes them so fat they can no longer stand up. That makes me sad. Kudos to that wise farmer, who cares for his animals and even lets the donkey mingle with his friends the turkeys. (And now she steps off her soapbox….)
I am so glad the wedding was a success and your singing is over–the best part is when you can say, “whew, I did it. No more panicky feelings. I can move on and enjoy the rest!”
My son and daughter in law came back from their honeymoon and had supper with us last night. Son is still working on their kitchen so no cooking yet. (You know about that!) They had a wonderful time and even spent a day and night in Savannah! They brought me a lighthouse tree ornament from Hilton Head Island with miniature pretend lights wrapped around it. I love it!
Congratulations to Diana! Susan, you dream up the best-est prizes ever! But I agree with so many other GFs that the BEST thing you dream up is each and every blog you put together just for us and the opportunity you give us to chat with you as well as each other! I’ve made so many great friends b/c of your blog.
Thank you, dearest Susan! Hope you have a few days of rest before your BFFs come! Bet you can’t wait!!
Linda
I really can’t wait! Thanks Linda!
Congratulations, Diana…I rescued this same Susan Branch cookbook from a local thrift store just a couple years ago. I do love to return to favorite recipes and to just ‘read’ the recipes too. Love the pictures of Jack and Girl…they are special friends to share with us…Have a great day, Susan and all the Girlfriends! -rosemary
My youngest son and his family live in Westport, MA in a split-level home. Their barbeque grill is outside the kitchen on the upper-level deck. One morning they got up to a wild turkey sitting on the lid of the grill! I have a picture but am not computer-savvy enough to send it. Turkeys, like chickens, know that humans close means food. Your video reminded me of when I was small and one of my chores was to feed the chickens. To this day, the only good chicken is one that is cooked and on a plate. I can even skip the plate. Turkeys fall into that same catagory. Congrats to Diana, enjoy the book and all the gifts. We are all winners everytime a blog is written. Thanks, Miss Susan.
You are very welcome Miss Pat!
Congratulations Diana Hall!!!! YAY!!!
What a fun post!! I love Jack riding on top of the car 🙂 I am now drooling for a cider doughnut, but I think I know where to get one. That is going to be the first thing on my agenda tomorrow morning!!
Happy Monday!
xoxo Debbie
Susan, as ALWAYS, Thanks for posting! I just loved the turkeys, bless their hearts!! And that picture you painted of you and Joe and Jack on top, made me giggle OUTLOUD! Jackie-boy is just too cute!
Congrats to Diane, too!
Funny video–I had to laugh. Did the thought cross your mind that they looked like your readers running towards you?! LOL! (Okay girlfriends, I’m counting myself in there, too! 🙂 Seriously, I’d have gotten back in the car fast, too! But those turkeys look kind of cute, not like the ugly wild turkeys we have around here that look like vultures! I love Jack’s way of trying to distract Joe while he is looking at the map. When our suitcases come out, we instantly have two schnauzers underfoot. They get so nervous they will be left behind that it is pathetic. We sometimes “sneak” the suitcases up from downstairs and then put up a gate so they can’t come in to see the packing. If we plan it right, the suitcases can get in the car without the dogs getting into a panic. Then we bring out their big canvas “suitcase” to get their dishes, food, leashes, brush and combs, etc. and they go WILD as they know they get to go along. Sometimes I tell Norm to just put them in their crate in the back seat of the car early so they can relax, knowing they are going along, and aren’t tripping us up! 🙂 Looking forward to seeing the video!
No, they were beautiful clean white birds. Perfectly edible. 🙂
Congratulations Diana!
Susan–I think you can read our minds. After I read who won, I started to pout a little, then you said “lets stop thinking about it” and so I did and the turkeys made me laugh. I am so glad for Diana, lots of goodies! I relate when you said you hope it causes some redecorating to take place….that always happens to me no matter what small treasure I bring home….you always have to redecorate the area where you are going to place the treasure!! Have a great week!
I’m still chuckling about the burro/mule muscling in on the action!
Why DID the turkey cross the road?! To get a cider donut!
Hard to believe they were once our national bird!
Heartiest of congrats to Diana! You lucky girl!
My friend from MA used to say P.S.D.S. or “peahs deahs” and I could never understand what she was talking about! Translation: pierced ears.
Happy Monday, Everyone! I guess we all get the Miss Congeniality prize?
You all do!
Congratulations, Diana! …and you’re right, Sue ~ we’re all wonderful…at least, you’re wonderful and we’re LUCKY!
You got me thinking about Cape Cod today…our family’s favorite vacation spot. We’ve stayed in several spots on the Cape and loved them all….it’s like driving into another world when we cross the bridge. Now that the children are all adults, George and I will continue to visit…it’s part of us. …a shell in your pocket and sand in your shoes…can’t think of a better place to get away from all your cares and refresh your soul.
I’ll be thinking of you as you ready the house for your girlfriends…so happy you have this chance to reconnect with them! Enjoy every minute!
xoxo Debbie
good morning susan, hello everyone, good morning. its cloudy here, and rainy, well drizzly!!! loved the turkey video, they were just coming up to meet you. turkeys are very social birds. and here is an interesting tip for you, their heads change color..when they are red it means they are in a mood for fighting ( for mating) if the head is blue, they are in a very good mood, combo blue and red, its going to a good mood and if the head is white, they are very happy and in their happy mode. like we tell folks when they come into the yard and see those big birds coming at them, just stand still, and let them come up to you and then pet their heads, rub their necks and chest and give them a pat on the back after. they love attention and are very social birds. and here is another thing i learned, they can’t fly, they forgot how to but a wild turkey can and does fly, they will fly for 30-50 ft and roost up in the trees, domestic turkeys won’t do this. come on around to visit our birds and we’ll show you how friendly they can be. our birds are regular lovebugs. i go out in the morning and get greeted each day by them, and give them some loving and attention, when i go to feed them, more pats and loving and i talk to them when i am out in the yard, and they answer back. the noise you heard was their way of greeting you, a turkey hello. you should hear the conversations we have every day here with them. and no i doubt very much my hubby can now kill any one of them for Thanksgiving dinner, i doubt that now…he is too attached to them and they have become the family pets, just like the ducks and chickens. so they are safe here and happy. congrats to Diane on winning, i hope she enjoys the book and the goodies. love Jack on top of the car…tooo cute for words. and love the video with the turkeys and the donkeys, i figure if our turkeys can get along with our cats, then any bird can get along with anything. have a wonderful day everyone. hugs…… 🙂 Happy Fall everyone!!! 🙂
I would love to visit your farm, Pat. But a good consolation prize is getting to “visit” it every time you post. So, thanks for taking me along with you today when you visited the turkeys!!
Linda
hello Linda, you’re very welcome, glad you could visit. our 2 female turkeys are the domestic whites like in the video, our male is bronze heritage turkey very close to the wild ones we have running about, and we have one wild turkey a bronze, and she is a female so our tom has 3 females to play with every day. the wild one stays close all day long and sits with tom and the other 2 females, and sleeps up in our oak tree at night. she is a pretty bird, still young and growing but looking very well. she gets fed with the rest of the turkeys, chickens and ducks and they are all free range birds, no keeping them in pens or cages. in fact just got in from giving them their lunch…squash and some corn. they are very happy now and hapily devouring their treat, wait til they see what get for dinner tonight…..potato peels, carrot peels and some apples. we do spoil them a bit. hugs… 🙂
Pat, I enjoy it when you write about your animals – it sounds as though they’re more like pets. Is that right? One of my brothers [we call him “Mr Green Jeans”] does that too. He has a “regular” job which he’d quit in a flash if he ever won the lottery so he could stay home and tend his “farm.” He keeps several turkeys, geese, chickens [for the eggs only] and goats [for the milk only], a rescued beagle and a ferocious-to-strangers-only black cat that doesn’t take crud from anybody. We call her his “watch cat.” Thanks!
hello Janet, thank you and yes they are all pets we don’t have the heart to kill our poultry, they supply us with eggs and plenty to docaring for them. we have 4 cats at home, 3 black ones..Tabby, Midnight and Tabitha and one tiger striped tabby cat named Miss Kitty. we love them all and right now Tabitha and Midnight are getting in some practice for Halloween, Tabitha is bristling up at Midnight and Midnight is tormenting her…the usual mayhem and mischief around here. hugs.. 🙂
Laughing!! The turkeys, salmon for turkey day, Joe (hahaha, snort!), Jack and Girl Kitty, what a fun way to start the day!
OMG!!!!! I thought I would laugh til I peed!!!! The turkeys are priceless. First of all, I have never seen white turkeys either and then I have never seen free-range turkeys. What a sight!! I am sooooo happy you took a video of that event. I must look for a free range turkey from Conn. Congrats to Diana!! Have fun with your treasures. Looking forward to the next blog because I surely love them……XXXXOOOO Pat
They were living the good life, that’s for sure!
Congratulations, Diana!!! You will absolutely LOVE this wonderful cookbook. Many years ago, on our first ever trip to lovely and quaint Cambria, CA I found a signed copy of Heart of the Home at the adorable Heart’s Ease shop. I have treasured it ever since and often make the Lemon Chicken and the Apple Crisp recipes from it as well as many others. It was my first Susan Branch cookbook and I’ve collected every one since then. Can’t wait for the Breakfast book and the England journal to add to my collection! Enjoy, Diana dear!!!
-Marianne-
Oh I did a book signing there, I must have just missed you Marianne!
It seems I keep just missing you over and over again! At your book signing in Cambria, at your store in Arroyo Grande (you had JUST LEFT to return to MV) and a kinda-sorta miss when living in Denver and hoping I’d get an invitation from our mutual friend “Adorable Al” to meet you while you were there for a wedding. Alas, no invite to crash the wedding reception (you know Al wouldn’t do that, but a girlfriend can hope) but I DID get a signed note from you on the jammies box my wonderful, recently late husband asked Al to get at same wedding as a Christmas present to me. Still have and wear the jammies, and the signed box top with the lovely note is framed on the wall in my sewing/craft room providing loads of inspiration. Still hoping to catch up with you one day, maybe your next book signing!
Your Girlfriend Forever,
-Marianne-
Adorable Al! Well, we’re bound to run into each other one of these days!!
Thank you Marianne.. I have a sister by the same name.. spelled the same way… love her to bits!!! I am enjoying all my SB things… I bought a used copy of Susan’s Christmas at the Heart of the Home and it has an inscription from one sister to another.. it kind of made me sad to think that something had happened to the sister and now the book was set free.. but it found a good home with me and I think of her when I read this book all the time… I am overwhelmed with the good wishes from all the Girlfriends!!! I am sorry that I am slow to respond but I was on vacation when I got the good news and it came at a most WONDERFUL time as we were having some difficulties with our travel.. then all was well after I found out I had won the goodies and then our travel issues cleared up and we enjoyed our stay to visit our “baby” in Texas!! We even brought some of our cooler midwest weather with us… well, cooler for Texas anyway!! Love to all!
How fun for Diana! Yay…..
While my parents sold their dairy while I was very young my Dad was still able to impart a bit of farming wisdom to me. Often donkeys are kept as guards to shield other animals from predators. I bet the donkeys (don’t think they’re mules) that eased in on your photo op with the turkeys serve that purpose.
Always fun to visit and love the pics!
Oh, interesting! Makes sense now!
Your posts are always so fun , full of wonder and beauty . Thanks for taking us on your little trip and for all you do to include us in your every day life !
Congratulations to Diana! Read and linger over every page in the Autumn book. . . It is a treasure!
P.S CONGRATS !!!! to Diana I bet she will just love her gift I know I would !
Yes!! Still in awe that I ACTUALLY WON SOMETHING!!! Thank you!
Reading your wanting a song to sing to turkeys the only thing I could think of was a take-off from Rogers and Hammerstein, “Chicks and ducks and turkeys better scurry when Joe takes me out in the surrey for an adventure with little worry…” I agree with Benjamin Franklin who felt the turkey should be our national bird; they’re much smarter than we give them credit for.
I honestly, not kidding you, looked it up … but it didn’t quite sound right…we are on the same page! I like them too, especially since they have given us all so much every Thanksgiving.
Great Post! The painting of Jack and the Ford is adorable! I grew up on a dairy farm, and we always had turkeys too. But turkeys in mass outdoors … well just amazing. Congratulations Diana!
Congratulations to Diana! But I’m like everyone else we are all winners with every new blog post. I checked out the turkey farm website. It says and I quote:
Our family takes personal pride in each and every turkey we sell. We raise them with TLC from day old babies.
• They are raised on open green pasture with free access to feed and shelter and full access to green grass, sunshine and fresh air.
• Our turkeys are processed humanely right on our farm in a State Inspected facility by the farmers who raised and cared for them, treating them with kindness and respect throughout the process
I would sure like to buy a turkey from them!! Not too many places like that left!
Isn’t that fabulous? The decent way to do it.
SO right. Hopefully as the Slow Food movement continues to grow in the US and globally, places like Ekonk Hill will cease to be the exception.
Loved the turkeys…what characters they are! We have a farm across the road from our home and one day their guinea hens got loose. My husband was spreading grass seed and they thought it was food, so advanced at a incredibly intimidating speed towards him squawking their harsh squawk…..scared the bejeebers out of him…he ran for cover while I doubled over in laughter at the window! Loved the “kitty” photos!
Last but not least, Congratulations, Diane!!!
LOL!
How LUCKY Diana Hall is! I think that sounds like just about the best giveaway you’ve ever given! You would have had me faint at the MV seashells alone 🙂 Congrats, Diana, you lucky lady, you!
Soon there will be something else, and maybe this time it will be your turn Erin!
Yes So VERY LUCKY… and I think EVERYONE should feel so lucky, at least once!!! Maybe you are next Erin!!!
Yes, it’s true. Donkeys are often used as guardians. We had several with our sheep for years, though we have Great Pyrenees dogs as our guardians now. Susan, your posts really are just like receiving a newsy note from a friend. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself to those of us who visit here. Happy Autumn! (and congratulations to Diana!)
Same to you Dianne!
Congratulations Diana!!
Those turkeys were singing…Please release me let me go…I hope you told them a lil white lie convincing them you are a vegetarian!!!…Great pics Susan…have a terrific week!
So happy for Dianna, She will be thrilled! Loved the turkey visit. You always bring fun into my day.
Congratulations to Diana 🙂
I do love the pictures, and must tell you that I love turkeys 🙂 I wrote a picture book about a turkey farm, too lol THey accidently had a visitor, but can’t tell anymore 😉
The video is so cute. I loved watching the dears running over to you. They must love people and esp kindreds.
Did I tell you my daughter wanted a kitty when she graduated this spring? well, we got her a little grey one, but for many years, the kids and myself have been on the lookout for a black and white tuxedo cat like my old cat, Gables.
Emily had plans on moving in with a friend, but that changed soon before she was ready to move, which meant kitty had to stay at Ingleside because the room we found for Emily didn’t take pets.
Soon before EMily was to move out, the cat began changing colors… it went from an old looking old man grey kitty to a young looking black and white tuxedo cat! it’s the coolest thing ever. Se we rechristened it Buttons Gables, in h onor of The Curious case of benjamin buttons and our old cat Gables 🙂
ps. there was a gladys taber conference this past weekend or last one. my friend in NewYork was at it. I told her that you loved Gladys 🙂 SHe has pics on her facebook.
Must go, kids will be home soon, CHicken stew for us to help mama get rid of this nasty cold.
Love,
Denise of Ingleside
Feel better Denise! xoxo
Hi Susan, loved, loved, loved your turkey pix and video! I think we’ll have salmon for Thanksgiving tooooo! They were too cute! I have always had a thing for donkeys, they are so adorable! I even taught my hubby how to do the donkey whistle call. You to a deep breath and whistle in, not out, and then make a funky honking noise. Give it a try!
Not so sure I’m successful on this, Joe just stuck his head in here to “see if you’re OK!” 🙂
Then you are probably doing it right! The turkeys in your first video look like turkey zombies as they are walking towards you!! Tee hee!
Now that would be a very bad dream! 🙂
I can’t quit laughing about this one! We’re all going to want to hear your donkey call now.
I wonder if you’ve ever heard the Albuquerque Turkey song. Here is a YouTube clip of it, it’s pretty cute: youtube.com/watch?v=YOCzQbmC6tQ . It ponders having a turkey as a pet, and it’s sung to the tune of the “Oh My Darlin Clemintine” song. 🙂
Congratulations to Diana! *cheers* Susan, you’re the best and your kitties are so precious and adorable!!!!! You always makes me smile and inspire me! God bless you!
I am not afraid of much in this world….However, when I was little, we went to my great grandmother’s for Thanksgiving and they had animals galore….and turkeys. Big brown ones. And when I stood next to the fence they would puff up and walk towards me with their wing-tip feathers dragging the ground (I can still hear that sound) and scare the livin’ crap out of me!!!! I was wondering how Jack and Girl are getting along? Are they friends now?
The dragging of the feathers would scare me too! 🙂 hahahaha!
that sound is the tom “booming” if you look closely at the male’s head he has a small vent or hole near the “snood” ( the flap that goes over his beak when he is puffed up or strutting his stuff ) that is what is making the sound and its called booming. a turkey gobble can be heard for over a mile during the mating season. thats the tom’s way of strutting out his stuff for the female to see.
You see Karen…he liked you!!!:)
Well what ever….it looked like he was big enough to eat me!!! I’m in Grants Pass, Pat. Hop, skip and a jump away from you. I was on Waldo Lookout before they tore it down. (eons ago….)
we’re right on caves highway right near the fire station there. you can’t miss us, just look for the yard with the turkeys in the back along with a yard full of chickens and 3 ducks. and 3 black cats peeking out the front window at you. can’t miss that house. LOL!!!! howdy neighbor..waves hello. 🙂
Congratulations Diane!
I didn’t know there were white turkeys – I only know the brown mottled version from William Sonoma plates and Currier and Ives painting!
I laughed so loud at Girl’s serenity prayer – so funny. Her “thoughts” are hilarious.
O.M.G. Is it really true! I cannot believe how lucky I am to win this! Thank you soooo much Susan. And Vanna,of course, and for all the amazing comments. Not in my wildest dreams did I ever think I, little ol’ me would win!!!! I am ALMOST speechless!LOL. It really brightens this day for me and something exciting coming from the postman!! Whoo Hoo!
Hooray! So happy to see you here Diana! Congratulations! Your package is all wrapped and ready to go!
Congratulations, Diane, too from me! You’ll LOVE the book!!!
Congratulations, Diana! What an embarrassment of riches you are receiving! And you will love HOTH – I love nearly every recipe in that book but would have to say my overall favorite would have to be the Bean Soup. So easy and just dee-lish-iss! And now is a great time of year for it. Enjoy!
what a great post! My favorite is Girl’s prayer. I see it in her eyes! And Jack on the roof of the car. Precious picture!
I’m jealous ( sorry to say) of Diana but I love that she got such a precious gift from you. Someday! I collect seashells from all over. I don’t travel much so I rely on friends and family for my treasures. Someday I hope to make it to your neck of the woods for some of those treasures.
Thank you so much for sharing the life you have there in
Martha’s Vineyard. So wonderful
Melissa
Congratulations Diana! So happy for you!
congratulations diana!!! that is just so great…..i know you’ll cherish this book… very special..have fun!!!!!
Congratulations Diana…what a wonderful gift…and coming from Susan, I’m sure is just the icing on the cake!
Susan, I never knew there was more to the Serenity Payer. I have the first part done in a sampler that hangs in my livingroom. Today I wanted to print off the prayer for someone and to my surprise there was more then I have ever known to exist to the prayer. Hummm… did my sampler in 1982,that was 30 years ago. I learn so much from your blog.
xoxo!
Thank you…..XOXO
I couldn’t stop laughing at those crazy turkeys and their gobble talk. One reason I love your blog, Susan, is your sense of humor, today’s photos made my Monday morning, I can’t wait to share this with my husband. Congrats to Diana! Here in SD, we are back in a heat wave, I had planned to make your stuffed pork chops tonight, I may have to wait, it’s just to warm to cook. Guess I’ll fix a pesto pasta salad .
Thanks for the LOL blog and have a fun week with your visiting girlfriends!
Indian Summer is always a good thing, make hay!
They were selling “hay bales” at the store this weekend and I hate to tell them that those bales were made from straw!!! LOL
I would be up for pesto pasta salad! Would you share your recipe???
P.S. Look up “Turkey in the Straw”,there you will the lyrics to this song. There is another one but right now it doesn’t come to me.
I found Turkey in the Straw . . .
That was sooooooooooo funny, I laughed so much I got tears in my eyes…..wish I could find the year that movies was made.
What a happy, happy, happy post ~ I’d write all the things I love about this post but you don’t have all day and I don’t want to blow up anyone’s blog or email account. Ha! The turkeys, the donkeys, your CAT!, the Woodie with the cat on top, what trees can teach us, CIDER DOUGHNUTS!!!! I can’t stop smiling. Lucky, lucky Diana! Thank you for making my afternoon with this sweet post!!!! XOXO
Thank you for making mine with this sweet comment!
Just wanted to let you know I tried your stuffed pork chop recipe from last week. I wanted to make some for a friend who just had surgery and her husband and then some for my daughter, who was coming home for the weekend, and me. I got 2 large dishes and divided the ingredients between the 2. It was just perfect for this time of year. My friend and her husband loved it.
I used Cortland Apples and butternut squash instead of sweet potatoes since they were on hand. Just precooked the squashed and mashed it a bit before putting it in. Tasty and healthful. New comfort food! Thank you!
Thank you for the cute turkey video and pictures, Susan. We have wild turkey “clans” that hang around our area of North Ada County (outside Boise), Idaho. They aren’t so interested in people.
I have to comment that when we go out of town, our “boy” kitty, Clancy–who, by the way, has the same “mustache” as Jack–gets in our suitcases before we pack them. He also enjoys knocking them over if we have them upright in the hallway. It’s his subtle reminder that we had better miss him 😉
I feel girl kitty…I live in a frat house!!! We even have a boy kitty. The last one was too! My poor boy kitty is moving slow today…kitty constipation!
I have never seen domestic turkeys before. I didn’t know that they were white. All of us Midwestern transplants from church had a delicious Octoberfest luncheon today full of Gemutlichkeit!!!
I was wondering if “Moose-up” CT has mooses???
Or is it moo sup???
Mr. Socks quietly passed away last night.
SO sorry Margot. Good bye Mr. Socks. He knew all your secrets and he kept them well. xoxo
I feel so bad/sad. We rescued him from the marina.
Terrible loss. 🙁
ohhh i’m so sorry, when we lost Inky i thought the world was coming to an end, it just about killed me. there is a place online called the rainbow bridge, they have a chat room there where you can talk to others who have lost a dear pet. they also have a wonderful ceremony each monday night for the new additions to the bridge list. go there at: petlosss.com and explore the site, i think you will find a prayer or poem to help you through this loss. my love and prayers go out to you now. take care of yourself, and know mr socks is in a good place now, i think he would want you to remember him but not be too sad for him.
Great idea Pat!
thank you susan, when we lost Inky, i accidentally found that site, it gave me such comfort and let me know that she would be all right and one day i would see her again.
So very sorry about Mr Socks, Margot. I think you should get out ALL your photos and videos of him, whatever you have. Just pore over them. I bet anything you end up laughing through your tears… You ALWAYS have your memories. A warm virtual squeeze headed your way. :>)
I’m so sorry~
Lynn
I’m so sorry, Margot. My heart goes out to you. He is waiting at the Rainbow Bridge for you.
Margot…I just read about Mr. Socks. I am so sorry for your loss. Hugs and comfort to you!!!!
Margot,
I, too, want to just say how sorry I am and how lonely you must feel. Something is missing and it’s your dear Mr. Socks. Don’t feel embarrassed b/c you feel bad for awhile. I bet you will remember him often each day–he sounds like he was a wonderful cat.
Linda
So sorry you’ve had to part from your furbaby.
hi susan!!! that’s the first turkey flash mob i’ve ever seen!!!! hilarious!!! but you are right…sort of takes the edge off Thanksgiving dinner!!!! wonderful post..thanks for the gift of happy….love, cindy
Hi, Susan, and congratulations, Diana! What a wonderful post today. I kept playing the turkey video and our Westie, Nessie, came running into the room trying to find the turkeys! She was on alert and started barking and barking. Very funny! We have some wild turkeys that wander up and down our neighborhood gobbling and looking for treats. I hope now one gets the idea to cook them for Thanksgiving.
Thanks for a great laugh today and your continuing positive, fun posts.
Susan in Spokane, WA
Congrats Diana, I know you’ll enjoy the book. I love the turkeys and the donkeys. We live in turkey country down here in coastal North Carolina. Our turkeys are white but un like those you saw live in buildings. My husband Jim and I were talking about how much we liked seeing the CT turkeys roaming around. I’m sure they are much happier not all crammed into the buildings, poor things. Would love to see them and the store. The donuts, which are my favorite things, looked so good. A donut and a cup of coffee, life is good.
Hi Susan!!
and congrats to Diana!! lucky girl indeed!!!
Your road trip looked great!! I need to do that soon too!! I just love your sense of humor!!
Your Girl Kitty looks just like my Maxie….what would we do without our furrbabies!! I volunteer at our local animal shelter and just love it…..I get to have 50 cats without having to pay vet bills or food bills, LOL!!!
thanks again for bringing a smile to our faces! You truly have a gift.
Jill
I was so sad it wasn’t my name drawn but you quickly cheered me up with the video of the turkeys and all your sweet observations of the season. So thankful for you!
Turkeys are neat birds! We raised some when my girls were little, and the turkeys were good companions. The girls would carry them around, go on the swings and slide with them. One of the toms used to stand on the roof of my husband’s workshop and stare in the window at me when I washed dishes in the kitchen. heehee!
Nothing is cuter than kitty toes! Your cats are great. 🙂
The office I work in is out in the boons, just like our home, and the property behind the office has turkeys that roam around our parking area. They are white and many other colors that I had never seen before either. I also wanted to let you know my oldest daughter came to visit this past weekend. Saturday was her birthday and I stacked some of my favorite cookbooks “I have many” in front of her and asked her to pick out what desert she would like with her birthday dinner. She picked the Gingerbread Cake with Lemon Sauce out of your Autumn book and it was wonderful!
CIDER DONUTS!! We LOVE those. 🙂 Here’s a great story. On Friday, three dogs showed up in our yard, and one of them had a tag on. His name was Cinnamon. We called his owner, and I asked him if he had a dog named Cinnamon. He said, “Sometimes. Where is he?” 🙂 I said, “Do you have THREE dogs?” He said, “Oh my goodness. I will come get them. Where do you live?” So I told him, and he showed up about 15 minutes later. He lives about two miles away, through the woods behind our house. No wonder those dogs were thirsty. The guy got out of his truck, and the dogs jumped in, and he handed me a dozen of those apple cider donuts from the farmer’s market down the road. He said, “Here’s a little something for taking care of my dogs. They had pumpkin flavor, too, but I took a chance that you would like the cider.” I squealed and told him he had no idea how much we love those donuts. Now THAT guy knows how to say “thank you.” 🙂 His dogs are welcome in my yard any time! 🙂
Congrats to Diana! I’m a Diane….which is close but not close enough! heehee! Happy Fall my friend! Sending you some mountains hugs from the mountains of Western NC!
Susan….you’ve made me so “HAPPY” that Fall is here. I’ve been so inspired to decorate the house, take long walks through the fallen leaves and do some baking……yesterday……apple crisp. Tomorrow we’ll take the back country roads to Shipshewanna Flea Market (in Indiana) and hope that we see some wonderful things too. Congrats to Diana.
P.S. Really wish that we had a Trader Joes here. The only time I’ve been in one was in New Mexico. We will be getting a Whole Foods soon, but I don’t know much about it.
You will love it … lots of good things there. I think the consensus is that we like Trader Joe’s the best, but I would take a Whole Foods any day of the week!
Oh Susan, thanks for making my Monday and bringing back some very special memories! One of my college roommates was from CT and one Columbus Day weekend she took a few of us home and introduced us to her beautiful countryside and Apple Cider Donuts! We ate them still warm, right out of the bag as we drove through the tree lined back roads, singing songs girlfriend-style 🙂
Your posts always make me smile! Thanks again, Kelly from eastern PA
Congratulations Diana Hall, on winning the giveaway! Loved the song, Old Cape Cod by Patti Page. It’s been a favorite of mine since high school ( a loong time ago for me.) “Quaint little villages here and there.” I live in the midwest, and live in a rural area with the quaint little villages, old barns (fast disappearing, sadly) and silos. Next weekend will be our annual color drive with all the little villages jumping with activities and people; hand-made crafts, a blacksmith, hand carding and spinning wool, lots of food such as apple dumplings, all kinds of pies, cookies, breads, candies, etc. This year the trees have beautiful color. My favorite time of year. Susan, I just want to mention that your blog is my go-to place for stress relief. A very soothing place, and the pictures of Jack and Girl always make me smile and laugh. Thanks so much!
I received another letter from a friend today and loved every word of it. I love the turkeys running up to you to say “hello”. The musica was wonderful. It brought back memories of my youth. I didn’t realize it then but it was a wonderful time of life when I really didn’t have to worry about anything as Mom and Dad would take care of it. Again I have enjoyed your post. So glad that I found you by chance. Congrats to Diana for the wonderful gift that she won.
Lucky, Diana! That’s all I have to say about that BUT, the rest of the blog….I still have tears in my eyes from laughing over your turkey encounter! I showed my husband the sign for the turkey farm to see if he recognized the location and then I scrolled down and saw Moosup. He’s knows Moosup from being a CT State Policeman in the eastern section of CT. Then you started with the Jack pictures and I started the laughing!! The picture of the car, loaded to the roof, with Jack on top of the roof pile is just precious. It brings back memories of driving from Giessen, Germany to West Berlin Germany in my VW Beetle loaded to the ceiling and my two Siamese cats loose among the household goods. This was when the Berlin Wall was still up and we had to drive for over 100 miles on a restricted travel highway through East Germany. And you had to stop at check points controlled by the Russians. Trust me when I say, I will never forget that trip and Thank, God my cats didn’t escape when I had to get out of the car at the Russian checkpoint. (What was I thinking???) But I loved your drawing. It’s priceless. Can’t wait to see the wedding video. Please don’t edit out Joe singing!!
Kathy Phenix
Susan, those turkeys were so cute. I could just see you hightailing it back to the car thinking a turkey attack was about to occur. 😉 They were saying, “Save me, Save me! I don’t want to become the star attraction in a Thanksgiving feast!” Loved Jack playing hide-and-seek in your bag. That was very clever of him obscuring the map in an effort to keep you from leaving. 🙂
It is reassuring when I see others’ kitties sitting on tables, chairs, beds, and couches. My husband and I gave up long ago trying to persuade our kitties they belonged only on the floor or where we ‘allowed’ them. We soon learned they would sit where they pleased! Nothing is sacred or safe from exploration, lounging, or curiosity. Thanks for sharing your kitties, trips, home, and talents with us. Sincerely, Linda
You make us feel like winners even when we lose. You know we all have the thought back in the far recesses of our minds that one magical day our names will be picked by Vanna for some wonderful prize you are giving away. So we’ll keep trying. Congratulations, Diana. I heard your squeal of delight from here.
🙂
Oh, I love this posting of the Turkey Farm. I had no idea how they really live before they end up on the Thanksgiving table! It is good to know that they have nice green pasture for living and places to move around with their mule protector friends. And, I have to agree with you that warm apple cider donuts are about next to heaven in my book. I just love them and they are not readily here at all in Florida, save Dunkin Donuts sometimes.
Your watercolor of Jack on the car roof is so hilarious it made me burst out in laughter! He takes the cake for always up to something. Poor Girl Kitty, I think she is stuck with his outgoing kitty antics forever.
A big Congratulations to Diane for winning! What fun she will have with her new book and other treasures!!