Party Party Party Party Party Party Party MUSICA
We go from party to another around here, from Tea Party to Birthday Party! Lots of our girlfriends are having a birthday month, lots of new babies are being born, but you may have noticed on your calendars, it’s also someone else’s birthday on Sunday, and she would be 147 years old. ♥
H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y
So what makes sense for today’s blog is cake and presents! Right? First we’ll have cake, and then we’ll have presents. OK? That’s the normal way for a Birthday Party! And never forget, we are the normal ones! ♥
L A V E N D E R P O L E N T A C A K E
This Lavender Polenta Cake is a plain cake alright ~ really easy to make, deliciously moist with an amazing crunch, plus, it’s gluten free — but the recipe, which I got from my girlfriend Siobhan (“Shivon”) when we were in England, calls for ingredients that aren’t “everyday” fare. Don’t let that stop you, because if you’re like me, and something tells me you are, this cake will become a standby. The recipe calls for fine yellow cornmeal (or polenta flour) and almond flour. Our supermarket carries them, but I’m pretty sure that won’t be true everywhere. You can order them from the lovely Bob’s Red Mill web site. If you’re not familiar with Bob’s Red Mill, you are in for a treat. They also have everything you need to cook for a gluten free diet.
The recipe also calls for superfine sugar, which my market does not carry. But I made my own, I just whirled regular sugar in the blender until it was superfine. Super easy!
No problem coming up with a pound of unsalted butter, allowed to come to room temperature.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until it’s . . .
. . . pale and light.
Then stir in the almond flour . . .
. . . and vanilla.
Beat in six eggs, one at a time (Don’t worry, I’m putting the recipe at the end of this as a party favor! ♥)
I’ve made this cake with orange zest and juice, lemon zest and juice, and this time, with lime zest and juice. All are truly wonderful, it’s up to you. And btw, if you haven’t used one of these wonderful microplane zesters yet, we have them for you in our webstore, because they are a must-have tool! No more knuckles in your food! You pull the razor-sharp edges across the fruit, the zest collects on the top with no pain or strain at all . . . it makes it so easy to measure too.
So you fold in the zest and juice . . .
along with the polenta (cornmeal) flour, salt and baking flour … just pop it all in,
along with dried culinary lavender flowers (just click there to get them on-line). The recipe calls for three tablespoons — and this is correct. Don’t worry, it will not taste like soap, just so very light, and pretty in the cake.
This cake serves a lot of people ~ twenty four! It’s perfect for a party, but you can also halve the recipe very easily and bake it in a 9″ cake pan. I wanted the big cake for our Tea Party but I don’t have the called-for 12″ cake pan, so I bake mine in this 12″ iron frying pan, which works perfectly.
Into the oven it goes until the house is filled with fragrance and the cake is brown. Let it a cool a while, flip it over onto a serving plate and it comes right out of the pan.
And this is it, close up. Delectable! Also addictive. Here’s the recipe as it will appear in our new book!
It’s your party favor, but there’s more.
And I have some heartstrings for you. ♥ Starting with our Royal Baby Gift Giveaway.
Vanna left for the beach hours ago, but she didn’t forget to draw a name before she hopped into her yellow convertible 1959 T-bird and sped off, sunshine glinting off blonde curls blowing in the ocean air. What a life that girl has!
Such a happy thing, a Baby Book, filled with love and hope and firsts for everything. I’ve been loving the stories from our Girlfriends of babies coming, of new grandchildren on the way. I did not envy Vanna’s position of choosing just one winner. I did ask her to try hard to get me someone who’s expecting a baby into their family. And she did that. Oh yes, she did that.
I’m thrilled to announce that the winner of this trio of gifts is a first-time mommy to-be who is decorating her own Peter Rabbit room for her first born child coming in September, a real “birth-day” . . . she’s having her own little Prince, and her name is OLIVIA. So happy for you dear Olivia, congratulations to you and your whole family! Let us know when the time is right and we will hold hands on this blog and say a prayer and say, “Pushhhhhh.” We can be a big help! ♥ (Mas MUSICA)
So now, I have another little gift for you in honor of Beatrix Potter and you don’t even have to pin the tail on the donkey! If you CLICK HERE, you can print out this name tag on card stock (just put it into your printer like regular paper, the printer will do the rest) . . .
. . . and then when you come to one of our book signings next month (and as we drive across country) you can wear your name tag and we’ll know we’re Blog Girlfriends ~ I’ll know you, and you’ll know each other! Fun! (Kellee is going to put this name tag on our EVENTS page, just in case you forget where it is.) ♥ And if this isn’t quite enough, I have something else for you . . .
. . . I’m thinking maybe a nice parting gift for everyone would be something to read?
Because we got a surprise on Friday . . . at our California studio . . .
Oh yeah girls, your books arrived! Early! Boxes and boxes of books, A FINE ROMANCE ~ Falling in Love with the English Countryside! is born. What a cute baby! Sweet smelling with ribbons and everything! (I’m secretly screaming inside, how about you? Did I surprise you? They surprised me! :-)) The first page you have to read is Page 9 where I mention you.
And now these two darling girls, Kellee on the left, and Sheri on the right, with lots of help from our wonderful Alfredo, our right-hand man (on the truck but not looking at the camera), will ship their little fingers to the bone. The books will leave the studio as they were ordered … the first of you to order will get yours first. I have no idea how long it will take to get them all into their envelopes with addresses, so please be patient with us, because these two are the hardest workers in the world and will get them out as quickly as humanly possible!!! Look how strong they look!
So of course, we are celebrating birth-days and dreams come true. Our Twitter Girlfriend Janie made us a Dream Banner to match the Bon Voyage Banner she gave Joe and me when we went to England (you’ll see it in our book, in the stateroom on board the ship). She made just a few for anyone who might want to focus on a dream for themselves. They come with their own little envelope, and they’ll be in the web store on Monday. ♥
And the last gift today, in honor of Beatrix Potter and Olivia, and all of you with new babies in your lives or hoping for one, or dreaming of one, or remembering what it was like to be one ~ these are the two games we used to play on our babies faces when I was little and the oldest of eight children. The babies love it.
That’s it Girlfriends, for today, just another day in paradise. Happy Birthday Beatrix! Congratulations Olivia! Click teacups! Eat cake! Happy weekend! See you soon! xoxo
Hi Susan!
I cannot wait to see you again in Sandwich MA next month! I will be sure to wear my name tag!! So excited to pour over the pages of your new book!
You and Joe should stop at the Dunbar Tea room (right around the corner from the library in Sandwich (Which I also LOVE!) The tea room is charming and I think you would love it!! Safe travels!
Beth aka Lizzy : )
Oh thank you Lizzy, I wrote that down! See you then!
I’ve been to the Dunbar Tearoom. I loved it! They have a great weathervane on the roof – a teapot or teacup. Gosh. I’m going to have to go back through my photo archives, and I’ll tweet a picture when I find it.
I’m so excited to go to Sandwich, also, and I have heard good things about the Dunbar Tea Room. Will have to look for you Elizabeth, or will that name tag read: Lizzy? I may eat lunch at my very favorite Daniel Webster Inn, we’ll see….!
Both the Dunbar Tea Room and the Daniel Webster Inn as soooo wonderful! You are fortunate to live closeby – I am in Virginia now (which I also love), but I will always miss the South Shore and the Cape and Islands…think I’ll put some Carly Simon on 🙂 Enjoy!!!
I will be patient waiting for my book….but YEAH!!!!!!! I’m so excited to get it and will run with anticipation every day to the mailbox to see if it has come yet. 🙂 I’m hoping there will be a signing close by to me (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa?)! 🙂
I’m sure one of those places at least Kristen. We should know soon!
Susan,
I spent my childhood in the English countryside, before moving to the US for college and somehow along the move I lost my Nana’s recipe book. She used to make lavender tea cake for her WI and I’d get a slice to enjoy afterwards. So wonderful to find a replacement recipe, so thank you!
Kiki
I hope this tastes just like your Nana’s — wouldn’t that be wonderful.
Thank you so so so much! I am over the moon with excitement! I will tell the little prince (Weston!) all about how we got his baby book from an amazing woman named Susan Branch 🙂
xxoo Olivia
I was wondering if you’d picked out a name — I love it! Congratulations Olivia, we are so happy for you! xoxo
Congratulations, Olivia!
Congratulations, Olivia and Weston!
Congratulations Olivia & Weston!! So happy for you! Perfect timing, perfect goodies! Wishing you every happiness…
Congratulations, Olivia! And best of luck with everything – you’ll be bringing your own little Prince home before you know it!
There is something very special about mothers of Boys…Congratulations Olivia! I am so excited to hear about your little bundle coming and the name you chose. Weston. A name he will wear proudly.
Love the name Weston!! Congratulations for winning and for the expected joy that will be yours soon!!
Congratulations, Olivia, on the upcoming birth of Weston (darling name!) and on winning Susan’s wonderful prize package!! A Peter Rabbit baby room!? Wish I could see a finished pic! Oh, and I LOVE your name….it just happens to be the name of one of my newborn twin granddaughters…Olivia Grace! xo
Congratulations Olivia, what a wonderful story you’ll have for Weston.
Congratulations Olivia! Wishing you a quick labor (with our “pushing” help 😉 and a very healthy baby!
Olivia! You Lucky Girl! Congratz To You & Your Little Prince Weston! Twirling with Joy for You! Baby Weston will Grow Up Reading & Knowing All The Magic of Susan Branch Our Sweet Sue! Yay! 🙂 Here’s a Little Pixie~Dust for You & The Baby! xoxo Poof! Make a Wish (We Know At Least One of Your Wishes has Come True!) ♥*¨`*.✫*¨*.¸¸.♥*¨`*.✫ ♥*¨`*.✫*¨*.¸¸.♥*¨`*.✫
Olivia, you’ve been blessed by Angie, you can follow her on Twitter and get much more of her magic dust!
♥*¨`*.✫*¨*.¸¸.♥*¨`*.✫ ♥*¨`*.✫*¨*.¸¸.♥*¨`*.✫:-) xoxo Poof! Sweet Sue!
♥*¨`*.✫*¨*.¸¸.♥*¨`*.✫ ♥*¨`*.✫*¨*.¸¸.♥*¨`*.✫
Congrats, all the best to you and your bundle of joy!
Oh Olivia, Congratulations! How absolutely perfect that you won! Vanna did good! Blessings and best wishes to you and Weston! Will be praying for you!
Hugs,
Jeannie
So happy for you, Olivia! Get ready for more JOY than your heart even imagine!
So very happy for you Olivia. I, too, love the name Weston. Blessings and congratulations!
We have a brand spanking new, three week old grandson. I will be playing your very cute game with him.
Our BOOK!!!! I am so excited. I think I’m going to go do the happy dance now. I’m probably near the end of the list, so I think I will wait by reading the Willards that I ordered from your store!
Wee!!!!!
Brand new, congratulations Michelle!!
Grands are so much fun! If I’d known how much fun they were I would have had them first! Lol!
Enjoy him!
Jeannie
A truely wonderful surprise, Susan. And here I had planned to have to wait patiently until some time in September. Now, even though I do not know where I am on the receiving list, I am sure it won’t be as long as it was originally supposed to be.
Your polenta cake looks delicious. I still have to try your blueberry angel food cake. I am waiting to make it when I have a few friends over for tea.
I am Orlando, Florida, so I don’t expect you to make it down this way, but wish I was able to get to a place where you WILL be.
Again, thanks for an unexpected weekend surprise.
We want to try and get down to Florida in the winter! Seems like a really good idea!
That’s an excellent idea. If you get to FL I promise to be there.
♥*¨`*.✫*¨*.¸¸.♥*¨`*.✫ ♥*¨`*.✫*¨*.¸¸.♥*¨`*.✫ Florida is The Winter is Heavenly Sweet Sue! 😉 xoxo Poof!♥*¨`*.✫*¨*.¸¸.♥*¨`*.✫ ♥*¨`*.✫*¨*.¸¸.♥*¨`*.✫
That’s what we thought Angie!
In The Winter…..You Are Right Sweet Sue! xoxo Poof!
♥*¨`*.✫*¨*.¸¸.♥*¨`*.✫ ♥*¨`*.✫*¨* 🙂
I am jumping up and down ( not a pretty site…but OH WELL). I can’t wait for my book. We are off on our “cross the pond” trip in the Spring. I hope to get LOTS of ideas of places to stay and visit. Congrats to Weston’s Mommy on her lovely win.
Oma is waving HELLO too. XXXX
Hello waving back!!!
Oh my goodness, my goodness, MY GOODNESS!!! This is such an exciting announcement, and what a thrill to be a part of the day with the Dream Banner! I’m SO excited to get my copy of A Fine Romance, I loved seeing pictures of Sheri and Kellee and the warehouse … and the books being unloaded … just so much excitement! I can even eat the cake because it’s gluten free — could I ask for more? I think not today 🙂
Congratulations, Sue, and THANK YOU for sharing the fun! Love you! xoxo
My pleasure Janie, thank you back!
Janie, your Dream banner is just SO cute!!! Susan, it’s such fun that she makes those for you, isn’t it! Love it!!!
It’s just another wonderful connector!
Thank you, Karen! It’s fun for me, too!
LOVE your banners, Janie!!!
Thank you, Mari! You made my day 🙂
Love your banner Janie!
Great news that the books arrived sooner than expected. I will be watching
my mail for the two I ordered, one for my dear friend Jillene and one for me.
I have done the first baby game on all my grands (5) but it was a bit diffenent.
Head bumper, eye see-er, nose smeller, mouth eater, and chin, chin chopper….as
you tickle under their chin. It is cloudy and cool today, almost feels like fall
here in the panhandle of WV.
I bet it changes from family to family, but the tickling is for everyone!
What a great surprise! The books have arrived! I’m jumping up and down and feel like camping out next to my mailbox!! I have burgers on the grill so I can’t stay, but YEA! Life is good — I’ve printed out my Girlfriend name tag. Can’t wait to you come to New Jersey….
JoAnne
Enjoy the burgers JoAnne!
Oh, what a fun party! Love everything and congratulations to Olvia! She will love having these books! I too am squealing over the books coming early!! I will awaiting in anticipation for the knock at the door by our mailman! And Happy Birthday to Ms Potter!
Blessings..
Cannot wait to read the book. We are off to Paris now, but next year England. So your book will guide us. Are you coming to Utah? If not we will try to come to CA. I will have my name tag!!! How fun you are. Your blog is sunshine. Love it.
I think so, have you heard of The King’s English Bookstore in Salt Lake? I haven’t been there, but it sounds so appropriate!
I’m from Salt Lake City and I love the King’s English Bookstore. You would love it too and it would be just perfect for a book signing! It’s a great independent bookstore that has been around for years and they often do book signings. I never thought we might be lucky enough to have you come to Utah – please consider it! (It’s right on the way to California :))
Exactly what we thought, just over the hill! If you get in the mood to call them, ask for the events person, and request a signing from me, that would be very helpful. It always matters to them that local people are interested! Thank you Marilyn!
Susan, you will love the King’s English Bookstore. One of my favorites! I so look forward to meeting you in person. You have shaped my holidays for so many years!
I look forward to it too!
I will also stop there and talk to them. I will get my whole Park City neighborhood to come as well !!!
🙂 Janice!
Saturday surprises! The cake looks fantastic. I cannot wait to try it. The books arrival was too wonderful! Can’t wait to savor our trip all over again. And thank you for the Girlfriend name tag. I shall wear mine proudly. A wonderful ending to a picture postcard sunny day on our island. Eldest son visiting from San Francisco.
xoxo
Jackie
Fun Jackie, enjoy!
What a happy surprise a new blog on Saturday, and best of all our book is here!!!
I’m going to try and be patient ’cause I know it’ll be a while until it actually gets in
my hot little hands!
Happy Birthday Beatrix Potter—love,love love her.
Congratulations Olivia !
Any chance you will be in Connecticut or Rhode Island on the book tour? I’d love to get to MV, but the timing doesn’t work. I’ve ordered the lavender…hope it comes in time to make this cake when my sister comes to visit! I’m happy it’s gluten free so I can share it with my special girlfriend, too. You are the best! Have you ever created a “Page-A-Day” type calendar? Oh, also, anyone who doesn’t have the 12″ pan, or the iron fry pan, I think I’m going to make mine in two 9″ pans, then I can freeze one for later. The wonderful thing about not knowing when my book is coming is the surprise I’ll have when I receive it! Such fun, and so much happiness!
You will want both of those cakes, this I know for sure. I tried freezing it and it works like a dream.
I’m so glad I pre ordered my book …… and now to wait, but not until September! What a wonderful summer surprise. Congrats to the winner – I know she will just love everything! Thanks Susan for sharing with us – CAN’T WAIT!!!!
CAKE AND PRESENTS!!!!!!!!!! Are you sure it isn’t all of our birthdays!!!!! I am sooo excited that our books came in early! I can’t wait!!!!!! And I am making this cake!!!! It sounds sooooooooooooo delightful! You are a gem!
Hello…I just started reading “At Home with Beatrix Potter” (Susan Denyer) last evening in honor of Beatrix’s birthday tomorrow…and here you are having a birthday party for her!! I am certain she would love the polenta cake. What a thrill to hear the books have arrived. Thank you for the honor of taking all of us along on the journey of writing this book. It was an amazing year of excitement reading about your trip and seeing the photographs of your watercolours bringing it alive to our minds as well. Where shall we send you next?? 🙂 My best friend, Kim, who lives in Florence MA and I hope to catch up with you at one of the book signings to thank you in person for sharing so much with us. But if we can’t most definitely at Stillmeadow next summer!
~Jamie
I hope you get Polenta cake in heaven. It would only seem right. Look forward to meeting you and Kim, Jamie!
Congratulations to Olivia on both the win and Weston!!
~Jamie
Did you hear me let out a scream when you showed us the picture of our book/s?!?!?!?!?…now I will have to call California and see if I had mine sent to Minnesota or Michigan!!!…I didn’t think they would be in until September or October!!!…sooooo can’t wait!!!…xoxo…
They told us September, so this was quite a surprise!
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK…soooo excited…
LOL!
I’m so excited also. Such a wonderful surprise!! Now, I’m worried as to when it will be delivered. I’m really afraid that we will be moving at that point and will it be with the new address ok? I’m thinking that such things as books can’t be forwarded. Wait, you don’t have our new address as I’m waiting until the last minute…. just in case!!
Uh-oh is all I know to say! When are you moving?
The cake is my new favorite! I love love love it! I used my favorite chamomile lavender tea bags (2 for 1/2 recipe) as the tea ingredients said organic chamomile and lavender flowers. I was to impatient to wait to get the lavender flowers. I will make it over and over again. Have you ever tried the recipe in cupcakes? I want to try making it into cupcakes next time. Great recipe! Can’t wait for the books to arrive!! Something wonderful to look forward to!
Just watched Miss Potter yesterday again! So sweet!
Haven’t tried cupcakes yet, but I would imagine it would be fine!
hi susan!!! what a great wonderful happy post and CONGRATULATIONS on the book arrival!! SO EXCITING!! The pictures from CA are so fun and I love it that you put faces to the names….. AND…. so thrilled for Olivia!!! Now…I still think that you should try to swing by St. Louis, MO on the book tour…there are two places that would suit the signing…one is called Left Bank Books…and the other is called Main Street Books in St. Charles, MO..which is a stone’s throw from St. Louis county. The one in St. Charles is located in the “historical district” and is among cute shops, yummy restaurants and cozy B&B’s…I think a perfect setting for “A Fine Romance”. I have called and left a message with the owner to see if she’d be interested in hosting a book signing…waiting to hear…. in the meantime…HAPPY WEEK-END EVERYBODY!! xo love, cindy
I wrote it down Cindy! Thank you for calling too!
I SOOOO Agree Cindy!! I am on the East Side, but would SOOOO gladly go to either sites!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stop at the Gateway to the West!!! 🙂
We will try Diana!
Susan, you would LOVE St. Charles. I’m from Wisconsin but we visited there last year. We missed the book shop but there’s also a little British import gift shop there and Alice’s Tea Room. Very cute little town, isn’t it, Cindy!?
Yay Us! We Did It! You Go Girl! XOXO
Well… YOU were the one to do it. We stuffed into your suitcase and cheered you along!
I’m cheering all over again in NJ! A Fine Romance has arrived… EARLY!
Remembering the Dream, Remembering the Trip, and now to take part in the Birth! I am beside myself with… EXCITEMENT!
An AMAZING journey. Soon my copy of A Fine Romance will come home… to me! And I will take her on the ferry to MV so you can hold her too! 🙂
The memories you’ve lived have been captured in part
On paper… and BOUND
Given Birth from Your HEART
I CAN’T WAIT! My dream is coming true too!!!
Georgie, NJ
XOXO
We really were all in this together, I’ve so enjoyed it because of that!
Oh Susan, I forgot to mention, Janie’s Banner is AWESOME! Dream! WTG JANIE!
The morning after you sailed out of New York Harbor on the QM2, headed towards England and the beginning of A Fine Romance, I flew to Hawaii where I met the Disney DREAM (cruise ship). So many dreams were in the works that weekend!
I am hoping there will be a banner left for me on Monday 🙂
XOXO
Georgie, NJ
Really! How was that cruise? Hawaii, so gorgeous.
It was a wonderful cruise! I met friends there at the dock in Oahu. I’m ready to go back 🙂
What a moment that must have been — landing in Oahu with friends to greet you! Did they put a lei on you and say Aloha?
There were lots of screams, hugs and laughter! Kind of what you will hear at each book signing! XOXO
Georgie NJ
P.S. Earplugs?
!!! Georgie!
You’re a sweetheart, Georgie!
Yippee! I will be eagerly watching the mail box for A Fine Romance. I think I signed up the first day you offered pre-ordering, so it should come soon. Thank you so much! Congratulations to Olivia. Do let us know when to puushhhh! Oh, and an early Happy Birthday to your dad; 90 is quite a milestone occasion! Have a wonderful trip out to celebrate with him. Also, thanks for the lovely cake recipe, and name tag. I will wear it proudly.
Anxiously awaiting AFR,
Nancy (from Bakersfield)
Happy Birthday dear Dad … 90 years young. xoxo See you in Bakersfield Nancy!
Our books are here! Now I can plan our “A Fine Romance” tea party. Will be haunting the mailbox. Bonus, our calendars will be shipped at the same time plus your Willard book – just can’t wait but wait I must. Lovely to see the picture of Kellee and Sheri. I’ve spoken to them both and they were so helpful and pleasant to talk to. I’m sure you know what treasures they are. Happy birthday Beatrix. Your wonderful legacy lives on. And congratulations to Olivia and soon to arrive Weston. So excited.
I do know what treasures they are. We are a very happy group together … one reason it would be hard to grow bigger, because it’s all so good just like it is!
First of all..I am just screaming with excitement about the book!!! But..enough about me. Congratulations Olivia!! How perfect that a new Mom- to- be won this.Cherish every moment because they grow up before you know it! Next, would you believe that I have culinary lavender flowers?! I bought them last year from a shop on the Pier in Halifax where the Queen Mary II just happened to be docked on it’s return trip from your adventure. I had to mention that because all these things just suddenly seemed connected. Sooo many good things to be excited about!!!(<– not too many right?)
Not too many! 🙂 Isn’t that funny about the lavender? I think everything is connected too.
OH, GOODNESS !!…my heart is racing again !!!!…firstly, happy birthday dear Beatrix Potter !!! …what joy you have given us !!!… and , then, our book has arrived ?!?!…how awesome is that ?!?… as I said already, my heart is literally racing….whew !!…thank you, Susan !!…. oh, and thank you for that cake recipe…’will try and make it tomorrow … for a special birthday !!…oh, yes, dear Olivia, congratulations !!..you will absolutely love Susan’s baby book and her brand new calenders….and congratulations on your September baby… I, too, am so excited about my grandson’s arrival in September !!!!!!…take care, all, and with love !!!!
…and, oh, CONGRATULATIONS !!..on the arrival of this new “BABY” !!!
I’m excited for you too Mary!
And, Mary Spring (your name is so cute that I have to use the whole thing!), don’t we just LOVE that we get to share our birthday month with Beatrix Potter!!??
Yes, Karen !!… July , I’ve always thought, was a good month to have been born !!!!!!…’love summer time !!
Exciting news the books have arrived! Talk about a baby being born! And how wonderful it coincides with Beatrix Potter’s Birthday! That seems to me one of those ‘gift from the Universe events. You post today is only the second time I’ve encountered the name ‘Siobhan’. The first time was years ago, in one of my favorite summer reads, ‘Summer People’ by Marge Piercy. In fact, your mention of the name caused me to find the book and now I want to read it again this summer! The cake looks and sounds delicious! Makes me want to lick the computer screen! However, I’ll refrain, and bake one myself one of these days! Wishing everyone a most wonderful summer. Let us eat cake!
It’s an Irish name, which is perfect because she’s Irish-English!
It’s an Irish trick , it’s true
And I’ll lick the Mick that threw ,
His overalls in Mrs. Murphy’s chowder!
🙂 Dad, you always have the little poem or saying!
Who threw the overhalls in Mrs. Murphy’s chowder,
nobody spoke, so she shouted all the louder….
Played frequently on the Victrola in our house when I was a wee lass…..
WOW A surprise for everyone but then every blog is a wonderful
surprise for everyone! Thanks! I have been inland bound for a
month but this good news will see me hopping back to the island to
meet the mailman. Yea! We so need those name tags.
YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY………….WHAT ELSE CAN BE SAID? BUT yay………so exciting ……….like waiting for Santa when I was a kid………..the anticipation is huge and has been building,,,,,,,,, and now ………..just gonna wait for that Mailman to drop off the bundle of joy!………..Wha hoo ! So happy to know our long awaited book is on the way now……….who knows, maybe it will arrive before my new grandson due in late August………..miracles can happen ya know……….
It should Paulie! Hope so because your eyes will have everything they need after that baby is born!
Yum! I wish I had a piece of that cake right now! Can’t wait to get my book!! I’m excited!
First off, congratulations to Olivia! What a marvelous giveaway she has won!
Next, thank you for this wonderful recipe! My husband will like ANYTHING that is baked in an iron skillet!:-)
Then, I am SO EXCITED, too! I did place a preorder, and I am really looking forward to receiving my copy!
I will be more than happy to celebrate Beatrix Potter’s birthday tomorrow. I baked a Lemon Blueberry Cake today, and it will serve nicely!
I fear I will not be near where you will be having a book signing.:-( I will copy that name tag anyway!:-)
Have a good Saturday evening!
xo Nellie
Nice little piece of Lemon Blueberry Cake and a cup of tea seems just the right celebration!
Susan, You need a bigger backyard…cause we all want to come party with you. I love the books…I am going to go to the book store to find them. xoxoxo,Susie
They won’t be there yet, but soon! First the girls then the stores.
Ohhhhhhhh! I’m so excited!! I cannot wait for my book to arrive!!! I do hope you will be able to stop somewhere close to the Utica/Syracuse, NY area. The only bookstores I know of are Barnes & nobles in the area.
Congrats to Olivia!! What a wonderful surprise for a new baby.
Happy Birthday to Beatrix Potter!!
Wonderful post ! Oh that cake looks and sounds wonderful ! Thanks for sharing with us . Have a good day !
Susan, I so love how you go from one party to the next! 🙂 I love pomp, circumstance, celebration of all kinds – big and small! Can you believe the books already? In some ways, it seems you were just on that trip and here it is, the telling about it! The process seemed to take forever, but then in a flash, it arrives! I love your blue speckled bowl – I bought the white one a few weeks back at the cookery shop when I was at Vineyard Haven. My Mom had one like that which she always used – it had gone to a relative who expressed a desire to have it when Mom passed. So, when I saw it, I had to get it! It makes me smile! 🙂 Not to mention, I have a “thing” for bowls!
So many bowls, so few cupboards! 🙂
Congratulations to Olivia, what a wonderful gift for a first time mom! Will have to print out name tags, one for me, and one for my best friend (since first grade). We will see you at the Sandwich event and then she is putting me up at her Cape house so it will be a fun-filled few days for me. Counting the days!
Can’t wait Paula!
Yahoo – our book arrived!!!!!!! I pre-ordered several, for me and for gifts. I can’t wait to get them. And guess what, my son just got engaged so on Sept 7 I will have my very own DIL and a 9 year old grandson. They are getting married in front of my arbor and wedding garden. My niece named it years ago and I am thrilled to have my son marry there. I am busy keeping the garden alive, heh!
How lovely, the wedding garden! Congratulations Barbara, how fun!
Can you imagine this happy dancing girl tonight?? I am so happy I will have my book before September! It will most likely be my last “fun” read before classes start at the end of August. Then, I will be back to Emerson, Alcott, and Hemingway here in the U.S. of A. while my heart longs to linger in England a little longer.
So, happy for Olivia! There is something so special about the first baby. Enjoy Every Single Minute. Congrats!
You can linger in England with E.M. Forster and Jane Austen, having cake and eating it too! 🙂
Happy Birthday to dear Beatrix Potter at 147 years young tomorrow!… and another party from you, yay!… the cake sounds delish!… congratulations to Olivia, on winning your giveaway and also on her upcoming little bundle of joy!… and our books… WOW!… I can hardly wait!!!… am I mistaken or are they going to be signed by you?… I ordered four and think I was one of the very first to pre~order, for me, and gifts for my sister and my nieces… Oooh, I hope they will be signed by you!… I have not seen that you are coming anywhere near me on your book signing tour… boo hoo!… I want to see you sooo bad!… you can stay at my house if you come, ‘k?… love you dear Susan… and I too will be celebrating Beatrix’s birthday tomorrow in my little “Peter Rabbit” corner in our bedroom!… xoxo Julie Marie
I’m not out there, so what I did was sign lots of bookplates which will be in every book that was pre-ordered! Where are you Julie?
Hi Susan… I am about 20 miles north of Salt Lake City in Utah… a quiet little rural town called Centerville… I want to meet you sooo bad!… please please please come to Utah!!!… I am excited for my book and can’t wait to give my sister and my nieces theirs… they were supposed to be for Christmas for them, but hey, I can’t wait that long… they will be sooo happy! They have all been to England, but not me…
We’ll try to get there Julie!
Congrats. to Olivia! Twice:-) You deserve the gift from Susan-all mommies do:-) I am sooooo excited about the book coming soon-maybe if I close my eyes and spin in a circle it will arrive sooner:-) Can’t hurt can it? Love:-) 🙂 🙂
Can’t hurt …. and I really don’t think it will be too long!
Ooooh… how exciting that your book came early! I’ll have to get my hands on a copy! 🙂
Hurrah! My BFF and I will have to get our Fine Romance book date on the calendar. We are planning on a special book get together, maybe it’ll be on the beach! SO excited, my heart is VERY happy!
Tickled pink about the early book arrival. I simply can not wait. But I will. And I promise not to tackle the postal carrier.
That’s good! 🙂
Dear Susan,
I love you, your work, your blog, everything Susan. Plain and simple.
You make me smile inside.
Love,
Diane Marie
xoxo Thank you Diane! You just made me smile too!
Hello Susan! A big congratulations to Olivia!!!!! So excited to see those boxes of books!!!! Wishing you maybe might come to Michigan, we have such beautiful Autumn seasons????? I would like to know Susan if I could use something other than almond flour because my son is allergic to tree nuts? It looks like a very moist cake!!!
It would have to be a little project to find out — I googled around and the best idea I could see was ground sunflower seeds as a substitute.
Thank you so much for checking!!! I just bought sunflower seeds today and I will grind them up fine in the blender….just like the sugar!
Yes, and please tell me how it works! So interesting, you little scientist you!
Soooooooo looking forward to receiving THE book…and the extras I ordered for friends. It will make such a wonderful gift. And sooooooo looking foward to trying the cake recipe – it looks like it taste sooooo good. Hope to be at one of the signings in California…somewhere.
The book is here-Yeah!!!! I am so excited. I will make the polenta cake as my daughter only eats gluten free. I was feeling kind of gloomy today and now I feel much better!
Happy to hear that Pam!
I am so excited the book has arrived! Can’t wait to find it in my mailbox one of these days. Your cake with lavendar looks delicious. I think it will be on the menu for my next tea party.
Thank you thank you,thank you!! I am so excited about my book arriving whenever but soon!! I remember the baby face games as there were4 younger than me thenmy two and now grands! So happy for Olivia first for winning but especially for the new baby. Nothing greater than a brand new life!!
What a treat…. a cake recipe AND your lovely book announcement…and it’s my birthday today! We are about the same age Susan…49 plus tax…as my auntie used to say. I’ve had a most wonderful day…cake and flowers from my husband, birthday wishes from friends and family, new haircut, and did some of my favourite things which included shopping in a new thrift store in town and a new antique store…bought birthday presents in both of them. Last night it was dinner and a movie…Despicable Me 2 in 3D. Going to bed tonight a happy girl. Wishing you and all the girlfriends a terrific week!
What a perfect birthday! Many happy returns! xoxo
I can’t believe our book has arrived!! Too exciting, now I will be sitting by my mailbox everyday, waiting. This was the most perfect surprise ever. Thank you Thank you Thank you. The polenta cake recipe looks like a keeper. Today I made your cheesecake which turned out soooo good. I had a big piece and sent the rest to my daughter’s house. She was overjoyed. I have to ask, I have been trying to join the friends of Gladys Tabor since last year, I have e-mailed them at least 4 times, I never hear anything back. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. Can you help me? P.S. Congrats to Olivia!!
I sent your note to the powers that be at Gladys Taber headquarters … I’m sure you’ll hear from them. Mmmm cheesecake! I haven’t made that in a while!
Oooo, don’t we love surprises? Especially when it means the wait is over! A Fine Romance, another beautiful Branch baby delivered after a labor of love and anxious waiting! Can’t wait to meet her! And speaking of babies, so happy Olivia is receiving such beautiful shower gifts for her baby, Weston.
Can’t wait to try your yummy looking gluten free Orange Lavender Polenta Cake! I am collecting a wonderful recipe box full of gluten free delights…this one sounds heavenly.
By the way, how will we know your bookstore hopping schedule?
In the column on the right of the blog you’ll see the word EVENTS … click there. We need to update it, we’re still confirming dates and times.
It’s here! What a fun and unexpected summer surprise. Yea!!!
I am so excited to hear the book will be on it’s way soon! I ordered one for my sister also. We hope to see you in or near the good old valley!!
Thank you for all the joy and happiness you bring, and for showing us that dreams really do come true.
Always a bit of a miracle — see you soon Lisa!
Oh boy, The book! Perfect. It will be my birthday present (Aug 7). A Leo like Beatrix. Did I know that before? Can’t remember. Happy for Olivia winning the give away and the new baby coming. So appropriate. I plan to rewatch Miss Potter tomorrow in honour of all and everything. Wheee!
Me too!
Me too!
Congratulations to Olivia! What a perfect timing for her too!
Aren’t we lucky Girlfriends~~~ANOTHER PARTY! Oh, I do love proper parties, and Dear Susan, you certainly know how to host a proper party, so I raise a glass and make a toast to Dear Beatrix Potter! Happiest of Birthday Anniversaries to YOU!
Yours from Across The Pond
Debs~The Shire Gardener (formerly Celtic Heart!)
Hi Deb .. and happy Beatrix Potter to you too!
A gluten free cake..how did you know? Thank you so much! I can’t wait to make this. Be blessed.
Congratulations, dear Susan, on having AFR delivered! I guess the process will be complete when you’re at the first book signing and you see the gratitude and excitement in your readers/fans/friends eyes. Can’t wait!
I’ve ordered my lavender so I can make this cake, and I’ll be ready to go when my book arrives. I loved seeing the pictures of the warehouse (so many treasures on those shelves!) and those lovely and talented young ladies, Kellee and Sheri.
Congratulations to Olivia, our winner and the oh-so-prepared Mom to baby Prince Weston! And happy birthday to Beatrix Potter!
Thanks so much Patty! When a book finally comes out, the very best part begins, meeting everyone in bookstores!
Oooh, so excited that the new book has arrived and will soon be on the way. Congratulations to Olivia and what a wonderful tea party to celebrate Beatrix Potter’s birthday. I’ll be needing to do lots of exercise after all these parties and cakes 😉
I know know know the feeling! 🙂
Good morning! SUSAN I am sooooo proud of you! to dream, to DO, to see it through to the finish! Your new books, hundreds of your new books!! WOW, you are an inspiration. 🙂 2nd: almond meal is also available at Trader Joe’s and I use it all the time but it’s not the flour. so the question is this: would that be the same almond flour to use for French macarons??? that’s on my to-do list. I love macarons but have been “afraid” to make them for fear of failure. has anyone mastered making them? 3: your little baby face game has given me joy – can’t wait to play it on my dear grandbaby, Austin, who is learning all the names for things (he speaks gibberish but is at the point where some words are sticking! like puppy and bird, night-night and dinner 🙂 When I see Austin today I’ll be playing your new game! thanks 🙂 and your lavender polenta cake is on my list for things to make this week!
Almond meal and almond flour are pretty much the same thing and interchangeable. I haven’t made the French ones, but I say, how hard can it be! You can do this. I can hear the gurgles and see the happy drooling smile from Austin right now — makes my day! 🙂
I’m a resident of Salt Lake City also. First thing Monday morning, I will contact the King’s English Bookstore and request a signing in your behalf. This just might be a DREAM in the process of coming true! Thanks so much Susan.
Pat Bates
Oh good Pat, thank you — it does make a difference!
What a Great Day! Happy Sunday! Happy Birthday Beatrix Potter! Congratulations Olivia!
Happy me…2 surprises this week. My Linda Lear book you recommended arrived from England early. I cut the label off and put it in the book….it came from Gloucester, GL2 5EB, UK!!!!! I wonder if they thought it was funny to be sending it to Knickerbocker, Texas? And now the ……our….book is in and ready to ship. Did someone else say Over the Moon? It is.
Thanks for the name tag, I will definitely be using it and find you somewhere at a book signing. Also I am planning on the Gladys Taber reunion next June. Even though it means flying! There are direct flights between Dallas and Hartford, so not too bad, though not a big fan. But for you and Stillmeadow, I will make an exception.
Thanks for the lovely, lovely Sunday!
Chris
Siobhan, who I wrote about in the book, and who gave me the wonderful Polenta cake recipe, lives in Gloucester. Oh yes, she does. And so does Prince Charles. Your book is almost famous royalty! 🙂 You could take the train to CT if you have time! It’s very civilized.
All I can say is WOW. Such wonderful things have happened since I found this blog, wonderful new friends, great food to try, books to read, places to go….dreams to dream….”if you can dream it…”
Jeanette just said it best….”sending oodles of love and gratitude for being our lovely, sweet and generous girlfriend!” And also sending love to Kellee and Sheri who work tirelessly behind the scenes.
XOXO
Ooodles right back to you Chris. It’s good bunch, we are. xo
Susan,
I’m bursting with joy & anticipation to receive our new book!!! Will be patient as I know your spectacular book elves with be working so very hard! Keller & Sheri are awesome, I’ve spoken to them both over the years as I’ve ordered items, I can attest to their caring, delightful spirits and diligence to their work!
Thanks for sharing the recipe, my mouth is watering…plus, I believe the kitchen must smell divine while it’s baking!
Happy Sunday to you, Joe and the kitties. It’s 52 degrees here in central IL this morning. I must say, it feels wonderful. The air so clean, fresh and even sweet from the crops, must be since our hay was cut last night!
Sending oodles of love and gratitude for always being our lovely, sweet and generous girlfriend!!!
XooX,
Jeanette
Oh Jeanette, thank you . . . I was trying on jackets this morning to see what fits for trip … saying to Joe, can’t wait to wear jackets again! 🙂 52 with hay smells sounds so wonderful! Thank you for compliment on Kellee and Sheri … they are elves, out there without me, doing it all themselves, making it happen. Couldn’t go on without them. They always say how nice everyone is who calls in, that ALSO makes my day! 🙂
Kellee & Sheree are awesome! If I could, I’d be sending them Greek yogurt, vitamin E and oxygen because I know they are going to work like LONGSHOREMEN in order to get all those books on their way!! :>)
Oh, Susan! I am so excited about the book arriving soon that I can hardly think of anything else! I ordered extra copies to send to two friends in the UK so am so thrilled that I will be able to send their copies to them sooner than anticipated! I just cannot wait to make the Lavender Polenta Cake either! The pictures make my mouth water! I have decided to celebrate Beatrice’s birthday with a carrot cake as that seemed a suitable homage to Peter Rabbit and his entourage! Hope you have wonderful day in celebration as well and know that you are just as much as an inspiration as Miss Potter!
Perfect Minette — carrot cake! And, YOU have just made my day, thank you for that compliment!
it IS the perfect thing – how adorable carrot cake – and of course please serve with Chamomile Tea (because that’s what Peter’s mom served him after his ordeal with Mr MacGregor’s garden!)
I’m a big believer in the soothing qualities of Chamomile Tea!
Yippee!!!! The best news ever!!!. You made our day Susan. Thank you. Can’t wait til the book signing at the Madonna Inn in California in November. And thank you Kellee and Sheri. Love all those special touches you add to our packages when they arrive. All wrapped in tissue and a susan branch sticker. Love , love love…
Debbie
They’ll read this and be happy Debbie, thank you telling them!
The “knock on the door” has gone done in history as our family’s favorite lap game with babies! There’s been a long standing debate with my brothers and sisters of how the rhyme ended (the part when you tickle under baby’s chin). For some strange reason “chin, chuppa, chin, chuppa chin” has always stuck in my head so that’s the silly way I did it with my kids. No matter; Babies love that game!!
I would think that the longer you can make the under-the-chin part last, the better!
Same here…Mom did to we three, me to my four, then 18 Grands, and now 11 GreatGrands…we always did “Chinny-chin-chin-chin-” at the very end! Over the moon about the early arrival of our books…househunting to move “home” and was so afraid my book would get lost in transit…now I should still be here to receive it! Yea!!! Congrats to Olivia, and what a darling name Weston is…OUR newest family addition is a girl, Elowyn Rowan,,,don’t you just picture her in a Laura Ashley print dress with a long white apron? I do……Blessings all…..
What a beautiful name!
You must know, that your blog site, has been hacked, for some time…….. I and another blog friend, have not been able to access it. And yet, another blog friend, in another part of the country, has been able to do so.
And now, I can access your blog, again!
It was a very weird time… So happy to be able to access your blog again.
Hugs…..
It wasn’t really hacked, it was taken down by the service providers. Once down it went back up very slowly, one corner of the country at a time. I don’t really like it too much! Hopefully it will never happen again, but I probably would not bet actual money on it! Happy to see you back Auntie!
Here in upstate NY, the website was down yesterday only. I figured you were undergoing “site maintenance.” A good cleaning and dusting, basically… :>)
I hope they fit that in while they were at it!
I think as that stack of books is distributed you’ll find the traffic on your website very quiet as we’ll all be diligently reading our book! But slowly, as we each finish our copy and rush to our computers to comment, your website will probably start to light up and be shut down again when the Server can’t handle the traffic!
LOL! Good thing the shipping is staggered!
Hooray for you (hardworking and brilliant artist and author!), and for us (happy and grateful readers!), and especially for Kellee, Sheri, and Alfredo (getting the new book out to everyone, wow, look at those massive pallets of BOOKS)! What an undertaking! It seems to me like the we the readers have the easiest part of the whole job… ;O)
When I worked in bookshops I packed and shipped, unpacked and shelved, cleaned and sorted, all happily because it meant I could have my hands on real books, which I loved and still love, to distraction. Seeing those big skids of books brings it all back… xxoo from Maine.
Bookstore people are such hardworkers!! But they do always seem to love it.
p.s. one of my favorite kinds of tea is honey lavender stress relief (Yogi brand), you’d think it would taste sweet and perfume-y, but no, it’s just… wonderful. Makes me want to try your cake, though I am not much of a baker. I do make cornbread in a cast-iron pan, though, and this looks pretty darn close, so I may give it a go…
It is kind of close. A little more moist and just as easy.
This is a drippy summer day and here on the other “west” coast, we have been in need of cooler temps and rain! Perfect weather to celebrate an English Lady’s birthday!!!
Slow cooking lamb shanks and white beans for supper, tea and cakes at 4ish with my husband and Bella our Great Dane pup. After supper the movie Miss Potter. A perfect day to work on latest quilt projects and smell good things coming from the kitchen. Happy Birthday Beatrix, thank you for the moments of pure pleasure in our lives. From Holland, Michigan have a blessed day everyone.
I love your day!
On the other side of the state today it is sunny, but with interludes of partly cloudy – cool like autumn – I managed to go blueberry picking today with a girlfriend and picked tons!
We looked closely at our wild blueberries when walking on the road this morning. They’re still green, but it’s a bumper crop!
I see England as OK but really can’t compare it to fields , of blooming sunflowers , herds of
Wild Antelope , wild Horses , wild Buffalo , plus our own herds of sheep , goats , tame horses and cattle we have roaming free out on the plains of waving grass in this country — in addition to our permanently snow capped mountains like Mt Ranier , Pikes Peak , The Grand Tetons , and our outstanding mountain ranges and rivers and Lakes — our Grand Canyon is hard to beat too . Drive the back roads of New Jersey and be treated to wild Dogwood in flower lining the amply wide roads. If we want diversity we can drive to other foreign countries like Canada and be immersed in a completely French atmosphere , or to Mexico for a latter day rural existence …..you can even, , , go live on an island , if ya want ! I say if a person can’t find satisfaction with what this Country provides … They can’t be
satisfied!
Don’t forget our country was created by England in order to obtain religious freedom.
I’ve decided that while we drive across country, I’ll take photos of everywhere and share them on the blog! All those mountains and plains . . . will be glorious! BUT, no Roman ruins. Which are pretty fun to see too!
Guess we can see where you get your talent for words and writing…both very visual!
No but we have the Indian ruins from the 16 th century ….in fact Talacapachi ruins , just down the street We don’t have a Stonehenge — but then we don’t have to try to figure out why it’s there either …..:~)
PS–how many Totum Poles did you see over there ?
Zero. They come here for that kind of John Wayne and Tonto thing! Rachel and Paul are coming to California from England to drive back to the island with us. They want to see the desert, cacti, ghost towns, and skinny dogs. While I’m staying with you, they’re all going to the Grand Canyon!
Yes, very relaxing for the brain. 🙂
Sweet Rachel and hubby are coming here! How wonderful!!!! You will do a wonderful job showing them the sites, I’m sure!
Trapped in our car with us for 10 days, we will love it!
I agree with your Dad about the landscape, but we don’t have the ancient history and architecture you find in Europe!
We have Sleeping Beauty’s castle at Disneyland! But no Anne Boleyn, No Westminster Abbey, completely, amazingly, made by hand!
Did you read Pillars of the Earth? It is
amazing what was done “by hand.” When
I was in Italy last fall I could not believe
the cathedrals that were handmade. And
we think we are so “advanced.” You don’t
realize how new our country is until you go
to Europe. Can’t wait to get to England.
Next on my list. Just waiting for the
right opportunity. But, Jack, I was very
glad to get back to the good old, beautiful
USA!
Me too! I was just talking about Pillars of the Earth in another comment … really interesting book!
hi Jack…your “comment” makes me love our country all over again !…thanks…
Thank YOU Mary , it’s just another look around us ….Japan has their Mt Fuji , Switzerland their Alps , Africa , Mt. Kilimanjaro , while we have Minnisota , Land-o-lakes— as Sue often comments. , it’s simply a matter of stopping to smell the roses…..
Love it Dad!
Wonderfully said, Jack. Mom always told me to ‘see America first’ and now I know what she meant. I know Susan is going to treat us to some wonderful sights as she and Joe criss-cross the country just like she treated us to that fab trip to England. I only wish I had another life time coming to me so I could see the whole world for myself.
Jack, I believe I read that you live in Sedona? We were there for our wedding anniversary last year and it is beautiful country there, indeed! Gorgeous weather. We took a hot air balloon ride! You’re blessed to live there!
I share a birthday with my beloved Beatrix (isn’t she beloved by so many of us?). My gift to myself was to preorder your book from Amazon so I get it as quickly as possible. 🙂
Happy Birthday to you Brenda … and FYI, first the blog Girlfriends, then the Independent Bookstores, and then, Amazon. In order of love. xoxo
Awww.. no kidding. Wow. Puddling up now. What a wonderful person you are…. ❤❤
YAY!!!!! Congrats to Olivia/Weston, Happy Birthday Ms. Potter, AND your book arrived early!! How much excitement can we all take…I was writing a comment on Friday and ZAP your site shut down and I couldn’t get on so I will talk in past tense now. We went to the Indianapolis Speedway for the NASCAR Nationwide Race on Saturday and I must say as a “rookie” it was Exciting, Awesome, LOUD, and very Enjoyable…did I say LOUD!!! I was lucky that earplugs were purchased for me and thank goodness. I had 80 stairs to climb to make it to the Penthouse seats and I must say I did a very good job and wasn’t even winded at the top!! phew We are having very cool temps. here in IN and I think the high will only get to 74 today and it is perfect for racing and very unusual. I want to say my precious Dad is in the hospital to have testing done and he is in very bad shape and we are all scared to death including him. I needed some good news and you provided that for me Susan. Thank You and wishing blessings to everyone out there that are expecting babies in their families. Babies are true Gifts from God.
Blessings and every good wish for your dad Deborah … The things they can fix these days are just amazing. xoxo
Thank you.
Hi Deborah. Thinking about you and your dad and will send prayers your way. We’re kind of going through something similar with my 88-year-old “adopted aunt”. We’re on the 3rd week of ER to hospital to Interim Care and then repeated all over again. Today we heard the feared words “infection and gangrene”…it is hard to deal with… I’m really looking forward to seeing Susan’s book in the mailbox, too–a bright spot in this weird sad summer we are having…
Pat! So sorry! Sending prayers for all of you.
Thank you Pat, as you know I have all of you in my thoughts and prayers too. I’ve been doing a lot of reflection this past week and although I feel blessed to have my Dad in my life at my age….this will sound selfish I know; but, I just am not ready for this time to arrive. I know that death is the natural ending to life, and as Christians we are to celebrate the eternal life to come. I’m hopeful Dad’s Doctors can give him peace/healing and a chance to come home. My Mother said to me yesterday “I just need to see his eyes” (the most crystal blue eyes ever) and he hasn’t been awake since Friday. It made me sad to hear the fear in her voice they have been married 63 yrs. I’m not counting Dad out just yet, he is my “Superman” and when asked if he wanted to be resuscitated he did respond with “I would like to live”…aawww how precious he made the Dr. smile. Pat, take care of yourself being a “caregiver” is extremely difficult and you are so special to do this for your friend. Blessings to everyone affected by the fires…be safe!!
Best to you Deborah … And your mom. Very rough. xoxo
Deborah, that is what my friend, Trudy, told me– “This is just part of the cycle of life”. But it is still hard to take. I think, if allowed to choose, we would all choose a swift, painless end. The word “amputation” is really hard for me to deal with…especially with an 88-year-old with other on-going health issues. The Drs. talk about “watchful waiting” and I think I know what that means… 🙁 Thanks for prayers and good thoughts being sent this way…
Hi Pat~
My Aunt had her leg amputated below the knee almost a year ago~ she’s 80 and doing well~ she has good and bad days but the thing that keeps her going is support from family and friends and mostly a positive~ mental~ attitude~ hard to watch but I keep encouraging her~ you are a good friend~ she is blessed and you will be too!~
To Deborah and Pat – my thoughts and prayers go out to you both as I just went through a similar year. Have faith – and take comfort in knowing we are all here for you! Always a place where Susan can lift your heart!
Sending love and prayers for you both, Deborah and Pat; and for your loved ones.
Thank you Debbie….it truly helps to know people care.
thanks Deborah and sending prayers to you and your family and to pat and her family, I hope all goes well.
Hello Pat, thank you for your concern especially during your own difficult time. Prayers are with everyone especially the precious Firefighters and their safety.
Such fun!! So much excitement!!! It’s wonderful to be able to share this book launch moment with you, Susan, and a million other people who are equally thrilled to have traveled the journey with you! It will be fun to see comments rolling in as the girls get their books, won’t it!? Your book-signing nametag was a brilliant idea! Will Joe be wearing one? 🙂 xo…..Karen P.
Maybe, but he is very recognizable. Probably not. but maybe. 🙂
Well, of course we all know Joe! Just thought maybe he could meet up with the other hubbies and console them for what craziness we wives put them through with our Susan Branch love!!! Ha!
Most times at signings, Joe is the popular boy in the corner! 🙂
His dance card is always filled, huh?! 🙂
Definitely!
Wow! So much to read here this morning (was doing joint yard sale all day yesterday!) – I am pinching myself that your wonderful book has actually arrived!!! I can’t wait to receive it ♥♥♥ You had a brilliant idea to set down your journey to England in a book to share with all of us – thank you!
Today is my mom’s 86th birthday. She’ll be delighted to know that she shares this day with Beatrix Potter. This has been such a year of change for her, but she is settling in to this new phase of life in assisted living for which we are all grateful. So while I am back in Virginia, my sister up north is taking her to lunch by the sea at a tiny seaside cafe called The Mermaid Cafe 🙂 It’s adorable, and she loves it. All of us out-of-towner family will call her at my sister’s house, so it will be a wonderful day of birthday love for her -♥♥♥
I will definitely be making that beautiful cake! And congrats to Olivia – what a wonderful surprise of both books and baby 🙂
Hope you will be near coastal Virginia for you book tour! Thank again for everything, Susan!!!! ♥♥♥
Please wish your mom a special HAPPY BIRTHDAY from me too! xoxo
How wonderful the books are in early! What a treat awaits us all! You must be over the top to see all those boxes of books being delivered….it is almost like “giving birth” to your creative ability! Anxious to try the polenta cake…I can almost smell the aroma coming from the oven…..love that you share so many goodies with us!
You are so much FUN to share with! 🙂
Good Morning Susan!
Happy Day!! So excited, already standing by the mailbox! I’m hoping to see in November at the antique show in southern California! Thanks for being so sweet!
Hope to see you there Lynn!
Our Book!!! Ready to read!! Cleaning right now so all I will need to do is SIT and READ, READ, READ. I know I will be glued to the book. I know my job will get in the way, but I will work it out. Maybe a book reading Vacation. What could be better the England on a Staycation…. Love ya Susan, Joe,Girlkitty and Jack!!
I like it, England as a Staycation! Thank you Pamala!
Oh, Susan! What a wonderful SURPRISE party!! Such joy for you, Olivia,… and all of us! We’ll be waiting by our mailboxes for our happy mail to arrive very soon!
Sweet Sunday wishes,
Dawn
♡♡
Susan, I’m so excited!! It’s only Monday and I received an email from the Studio saying my book was shipped today! Please thank Kellee and Sheri for all of their hard work. They are the best!
Dawn
♡♡
I’ll do it Dawn!
Happy squeals here! I can’t wait to share my book with a friend who just returned from her first trip to England. But I get it first.
Your cake is at the top of my list of things to make. And “Bob” of Bob’s Red Mill? A sweetheart of a man…he gave his company to his employees! I’ve shopped at the mill store since it’s beginnings. The original mill (since burned down) is where my great-grandfather hauled his grain by horse-drawn wagon to be milled.
I’ve heard that he gave his company away! I wish more of that would happen today!!! How wonderful your historical connection to the place!
What a nice surprise on a Sunday morning. Another wonderful blog post, and the news about the early delivery of the books. I’ll be watching for it to head my way soon. Still hoping you’ll make it to somewhere in Colorado for a book signing. Would be so fun to meet not only you, but fellow kindered spirits.
Denver, the Tattered Cover, that’s what we’re trying for! I always say, the line at my book signings is a PARTY. They have more fun out there than I do!
Hi Susan: Can you see me doing the happy dance :)! Can’t wait for my book to arrive. Hope it gets here before I meet you in NH in August! We girlfriends are all so proud of your great accomplishment and the fact that we get to share it is just so wonderful! Thank you for another wonderful blog! Can’t wait to try the cake oh and congrats to Olivia! The new prince was born on my son’s birthday and my birthday was July 11th! Lots of July birthdays! So happy to share the month with Miss Potter. Cherio Susan! See you in August! oxoxox
Happy Birthday Asha — see you in New Hampshire!
The best gift is that, after 2.5 days, your website is back up and running for us here!!
Congratulations on many levels to Olivia!
I have to try that cake recipe as soon as I assemble the ingredients!
Have a wonderful celebration! We were at a wonderful farm feast event for one of our favorite farmers from our local farmer’s market! So we escaped SoCal for the coast in Carpinteria and then back to Oxnard in time for the fun! It gave us a chance to meet more of their staff plus to once again thank these farmer’s for their amazing berries and other produce! A wonderful summer tradition!
Two and a half days! Shocking! Love that farm tradition … those are the folks to support!
You have just made my day! Sooo excited to be able to receive our book sooner than expected!!!! I have a question (probably a stupid one) how do we attach the bookplate you signed to the inside of the book?? I have never used a bookplate before! Happy Birthday to Beatrix Potter! Your cake sounds divine, will try my local Whole Foods store for the culinary lavender, they have so much in bulk bins there. I treat my co-workers with a cake about once every two weeks and this one will be awesome. I too, can’t wait for Fall and cooler temps and I have a great pumpkin cake recipe I am anxious to try.
Are you coming close to Dallas for a book signing Susan? I am 65 and am not aware of any other fans in my area. Would be great to get together with someone to travel to see you! I’m in Plano, Texas.
They are attaching it for you .. it has a sticky back! I think we’ll be in Dallas too! I’ll announce it and then you can ask and see what happens!
Hi Judy,
If Susan makes it to Dallas, I for sure will be there. Jim’s daughter is in Ft. Worth….if you need a ride to the book signing let me know. We will come pick you up! Not a problem.
Chris
good Sunday morning Susan, girlfriends, hope everyone is well. right at the moment we are in the middle of a fire area, drive down our road and especially the main drag of town and you need headlights to see its so smoky here. have a website here so you all can see what I am talking about. go to: swofire.com we are near the Labrador fire. so no evacuations, but going outside is not exactly healthy. try wearing a bandana and sunglasses to let chickens outside. its that smoky and getting worse. congratulations to Olivia and best wishes for a safe, easy and healthy delivery. thanks for the recipe, may try it soon, sounds yummy. off to take care of the critters, the cats and the birds are a bit disturbed by all this smoke, can’t blame as I don’t much like either. hugs everyone!!!
Stay safe Pat, praying for you!
thank you Susan, we are staying safe, the winds have shifted and we can actually see down the road to the main drag of town ( before all we could see was smoke) and we can see across the road so that’s good. also took in 2 firefighters from Northern California last night, they are from around San Jose I believe. but one got the couch, and one got the spare bed and both got full use of the shower. they think they are spoiled, I laundered their clothes so they were clean for them to wear, fed them dinner last night, taco casserole, and now they are enjoying a hearty farmhouse breakfast of fresh eggs, homemade bread and fresh blackberry jam, ham steaks and fried potatoes and lots of fresh coffee. they have met the cats, and saw the barnyard crowd, loved the ducks and turkeys and were amazed to learn that if you oat a turkey on the head, it will settle down and actually be very affectionate to you. they were also amazed at the size of our rooster, G.W. a Rhode Island Red rooster. heres that website: swofire.com i’m near the Labrador fire. talk to you all later, have a great day. hugs…. 🙂
Great news Pat! Thank you for the update! Lucky firefighters!! 🙂
my pleasure. its the least we can do for those guys. they don’t get much to eat on the fire lines, just sandwiches and coffee so a big farmhouse breakfast is a treat to them right now. we still have smoke here but thankfully its not as bad as in the past few days, the wind shifted finally!!!!
Oh this is much better!
yay books! sure do hope you will be stopping by the philadelphia area this trip…
Hi Susan:
Wonderful news about the book! Can’t wait! Thank you so much. 🙂
~ Good Afternoon~
What a pleasant surprise to see that the book is in!! ~ We are all winners today aren’t we?!~
~Congrats to Olivia! ~ I am very excited as I await the birth of my new great niece and grandson~ both due within the next 3 weeks~ my youngest grandson was born just 9 weeks ago so it has been baby central here!~ Hoping you will make it to my neck of the woods~ there are only a couple little tea shops in my town~ have you ever done a signing in a Culvers??? LOL!!
~Blessings~
Lynn
~ BTW I never got my Willard 🙁 I had to re~sign up again and still nothing~ checked my trash and spam~ Help!
We had a real problem with Willard this time Lynn and it looks like it may be that AOL is not allowing them through. Almost everyone who didn’t get it has AOL. If you have another email account, please sign up again using that — until then, here’s a link to WILLARD.
Thank you! I will!
Which Culvers Lynn??? 😛
Joe would think that was PERFECT!
~ How about Racine, Burlington or Kenosha?~ I don’t eat red meat but I do eat fish and icecream and cheese curds~ I’m so bad!~
Congratulations to Olivia! And I am so excited about the book! It might get here before I go to upstate NY for my daughter’s wedding in a few weeks, or it might be waiting for me when I get home. Whenever it arrives, I will do a quick happy dance, then plug in the kettle, put some Buckingham Palace Garden Party tea in the pot, sink into the cushions and go on a trip with you and Joe (and all the girlfriends) to England! As I have a new baby in the family, it makes me feel good to hear about all the other new babies.
It’s such a joyful time! Love hearing about it!
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful news; getting our cake & eating it too! What
a grand way to celebrate: Baby George, Beatrix and Your Beautiful Book!
I’ve always been a person who relishes the smell wafting from a bakery; but, the aroma from your new book???? …. Just as yummy! Happy Dancing, here!
Thought of you: “If you truly love a book, you should sleep with it, write in it, read aloud from it, and fill its pages with muffin crumbs.” ~Anne Fadiman
Hip-Hip-Hooray, Susan!
And Cheerio! Bunny XO
I like the thought of Bunny filling A FINE ROMANCE with muffin crumbs!!!
Me too! Lavender Tea Cake Crumbs for sure! ;>}
Have you noticed that your giveaways always seem to end up in the perfect hands, as if it were meant to be? How exciting that A Fine Romance has arrived (!!!), and I love your painting of the girlfriend engrossed in your book, because you know that’s how we will all look.;) BTW, must tell you that I cleaned the silver this morning using your method while I went about my business fixing breakfast, and it worked beautifully! Any tarnish that was left I just gently rubbed off with a sponge. It was magic, even without a wand in the mix! You bless my life in so many ways!
The thing is, it’s almost like they could not possibly end up in the WRONG hands! xoxo I just cleaned my silver again, for the tea party, and it is a kind of magic!
Hopefully we will all be able to ride along on your cross country journey. Like everyone, I would love for you to end up in my neck of the woods – the beautiful Pacific Northwest (Oregon, where Bob’s Red Mill is located!), but know there is much ground to cover. BTW, I give you high marks for sifting through all of our comments. It must be challenging, but also rewarding with such an outpouring of love and appreciation for all that you give to us.
It’s both! xoxo
Like… WOW!!! Did NOT expect to be reading this news today! The Books [must capitalize!] are here, and more than a MONTH ahead of schedule! A well-deserved reward for all those disciplined months of hard work. So looking forward to coming home and finding a box from California on my doormat. Can’t wait to read about all the things we did not hear about on the blog. I know we’re in for some wonderful surprises. I’m raising my mug [very appropriately, my Royal Worcester “Evesham Vale” breakfast mug] in a toast. Here’s to you & Joe and to EVERY success with “A Fine Romance.” Not that you’ll need it, it’s going to sell like gangbusters! Here’s to your publisher [on having excellent taste]. Here’s to Olivia on her win! And here’s to our heroes, Kellee, Sheree & Alfredo!
Thank you — we were shocked too! How can this BE?
Congratulations to Olivia!, and for her new baby too! What a very special gift for her and her sweet prince!
Susan, I am sooooooooo excited that the books came in early!! I just can’t wait for mine to come!!!! How thrilling!! So far you are not coming to MPLS for your book tour, but maybe that will change. I can D*R*E*A*M right?? Actually, what would be perfect is if you came to Barns and Noble in Blaine, MN!!!! :). That’s a northern suburb of MPLS. That would be much closer to me, and I KNOW all the MN and WISC.( and surrounding states) girlfriends would still come. Oh well, just thinking out loud here, lol! I’ll be watching your book tour to see if you come close. I would LOVE to wear one of those sweet name tags!
Happy Birthday to Beatrix Potter!!
We still don’t have your part of the country narrowed down, we want to get up there, but it’s going to depend on time etc. Chicago for sure, so hop on a train if all else fails!
Just had to let you know that I live in Oregon and Bob’s red mill is about 30 minutes from my house. It is an amazing place and actually overwhelming when one goes into the store. They have so many items I couldn’t decide which ones I wanted to take home. They also serve a lunch and or a breakfast too.
It is a great place to browse. Thank you for ‘showing’ your readers this wonderful Oregon mill.
Sharon O
I bet the food is wonderful! We have to go there!
Hi Susan,
Thank you for the link to English Heritage, I just love the Union Jack buntings. Congratulations to Olivia and little Weston!! A first baby is such a special time in a mother’s life….it also prepares you well for the second. My 2 children are out of college now but I remember their births like they were yesterday and it fills me with such happiness. I scrapbooked, journaled and photographed practically every moment of their lives up to high school graduation. I am very excited for Olivia, Kate, and my good friend Lindsey to experience the incredible journey that is motherhood. I am also excited for all of us girlfriends to get our new books!!!! A good excuse for a tea party or better yet, a twine party!
Kathy from New Albany, Ohio
Last night I was talking to my mom on the phone — we were talking about how big two of my brothers were when they were born — over 10 lbs. I said, “I was 9 1/2” — she popped right back as if she just that moment took me off the scale, “you were 8-6!” I think that’s something moms never forget!
Exactly…I think we compare “battle scars” with other mothers also. Someone will say “well my baby weighed 9.2 pounds” and I’ll chime in “Oh that’s nothing, my son was 10 pounds!” So silly, no matter what they weigh I know the pain is the same! I received my email notice yesterday that our beautiful book is on it’s way, I never have felt so personally attached to a book, except maybe the bible, in my life….hurry up Mr. postman!!!
You should feel that way, all of you were my inspiration!!
Thank you for the recipe!!! And the nametag. I am going to check a few places to see if you can get down here. Would you like to go to Williamsburg, the Beach or the Outer Banks? I know we have quite a few girlfriends around this area. I will talk to some places this week. Do you head west on a northern route or a southern route???
Where ever you like it best Margot!
I know we have many girlfriends around my area and some in NC, but I don’t know where in NC.
Woo Hoo!!! HAPPY DANCE…………the books are on their way!! THIS is exciting and I can hardly wait. My husband was stationed in England with the USAF when our 1st son was born in 1980. A dear, dear English lady taught me this game for him: with your pointer finger and middle finger walk around the palm of the child’s hand while saying: “run around the garden , like a teddy bear; (then make great strides with your fingers and jump to the wrist and say “one step”, then the crease of the arm saying : “two steps” and then to under arms saying “and tickle under there”!!!! Such giggles…………..I can still hear them 33 years later. 🙂
Adorable game, Ann!
Yes a happy birthday to Miss Potter and her bunny book! And all the wonderful characters she created how pleased she must to be remembered so long after her death. The cake looks very interesting it makes me want to go look for culinary. Lavender! I will have to try making that! As fir your book I really need to order one!
Beatrix Potter loved Americans, at least all the ones she met. They traveled to see her up in the Lake District and she always enjoyed them. Isn’t that great?
It’s funny, but I think a lot of Americans put the English on a bit of a pedestal and are surprised to find that they actually DO like us! An interesting example of this was none other than Queen Mary, the present Queen’s grandmother. No one looked or behaved in better queenly fashion than the bejeweled and upright Queen Mary. One very shortsighted acquaintance of the royal family recalls bowing deeply to the very tall wedding cake at Pamela Mountbatten’s wedding breakfast thinking it was Queen Mary. Despite all of this, she loved Americans. During the war she lived in the countryside with her niece. Traveling about in her ancient Daimler, she frequently stopped to pick up American servicemen stationed nearby. She loved taking them back to Badminton House for tea and even brought several for Christmas each year! The present Queen is also quite a fan of Americans. She rarely vacations outside the UK, but on the rare occasions when she has she’s gone to Kentucky and Wyoming to stay with her “horsey” American friends. One of the highlights of her trip to Wyoming was eating at a restaurant where she had to order off the menu. She is said to have loved the hash browns that came with her steak… It’s also said that she wasn’t familiar with the dressing choices having never heard of ranch or Thousand Island! I think America must be a treat. She’s still respected, but our lack of formality makes for a pleasant change!
We have a lot to offer each other!