Eat, Drink and Be Scary . . .

I thought that today I would pay attention to the calendar because it’s that time of year when the world wants to get scary  . . . and eat!  And I have lots of ideas for that!  Starting here, with a Halloween menu and some of the little things that make life sweet . . .  Not sure if it fits but I’m in the mood for French MUSICA!

Everything from spiderwebs in your soup to pumpkin ice buckets and plastic spiders floating in the your ice cubes ~ and don’t forget popcorn night and those wonderful old movies ~ maybe start a little project for a Christmas gift with a favorite old movie on TV.

 Shop your house and find things to decorate: celebrate harvest with apples, pears, pumpkins and squashes, old quilts, candles, jars of fresh herbs and marigolds, baskets, leaves, acorns and pine cones . . . make small seasonal vignettes.  Let the last tomatoes from the garden ripen on a kitchen windowsill.  Sleep with the windows open so the stars and the moon can watch over you.

Set out old books and magazines with covers that remind you of what you love. . .

Cook and invite your friends over . . . It just wouldn’t be fall for us without our favorite Chili recipe — get the best chili powder you can find at your market ~ we usually get the kind you can buy in bulk ~ or bags of it in the Mexican food department.  This recipe isn’t particularly hot, as in spicy (or “pica” as they say (brilliantly) in Mexico), but you can add a quarter tsp. of red pepper flakes if you’d like to feel a little more heat.  It goes delightfully with the sour cream!  Here’s the recipe:

Click HERE to see step-by-step directions for making this special Chili. This would be a very good place to use your sour cream spider web, especially for a Halloween dinner.  Serve things in heavy pottery, wooden bowls, pewter, ironstone, brown and white transferware, red Spode.

Invite your friends (no matter how strange they might seem to the outside world, you know their hearts are in the right place) ~ ask them to wear their hats.

“It’s not what’s on the table that matters, it’s what’s on the chairs . . .”

Another good place for the sour cream spiderweb mentioned in  EAT, DRINK AND BE SCARY at the top of this page . . . is my elegant

It’s all delicious with . . .

Or this next one, one of my favorite recipes ever . . . every delicious thing of the season, cinnamon-dusted roasted apples, plump raisins that pop in your mouth, thick pork chops, moist with celery and onion stuffing, and sweet potatoes . . . in one big casserole that makes your whole house smell like heaven.

Here I am, in my favorite fall apron (that I love even if it does make me look like a country road), stuffing “Jack-be-Little” (did someone say Jack?  waaaah) Pumpkins with apples, leeks, squash, mashed with butter and cream.

You can have one on each plate when your guests arrive, or serve them on a large platter, they are such a knock-out . . . you can also stuff them with the Sweet Potato Casserole on p. 65 of my Autumn Book (cream cheese, sweet potatoes, brown sugar, eggs, walnuts, nutmeg, yum!).

When it’s turkey-day, surround your roasted bird with these and when you bring it out people think they stepped into a Norman Rockwell painting.  Know what?  Make just one for you and one for someone you love.  That’s good enough.

Here’s an easy placecard I made one year.  I used letter-stamps for my friend’s names and burnt the edges over the flame on my stove holding the card with tongs.  Be sure to blow out the flame quickly before the whole thing burns up!  You can lean the card against a tiny vase of flowers, cut a slit in a mini-pumpkin and slip it in there, lay it on top of the napkin or tuck it into a small pine cone.

I always forget to take pictures of my Corn Pudding until it looks like this.  It’s the most wonderful easy, delicious dish in the world.  Here’s the RECIPE.

And now, the must-have of the season . . .

If you have never made this before, please take this opportunity to do it!  And make the lemon sauce.  This is an amazing dessert: tender fragrant deliciousness. ♥  Warm cake in a puddle of cold lemon sauce with whipped cream.

Go on a wild goose chase . . .

While it bakes and fills your kitchen with gingerbread fragrance, grab a sweater and go outside and poke around.  Take your scissors and see what kind of wild things you can gather to decorate with.  Or plan a walk in the wild and windy woods, bring nature indoors ~ wild asters, windfall apples, or rose hips, whatever is local to you. Everyone has something, you might be surprised when you go out to look.

More MUSICA? Is it time yet? Oui!

It’s really unending all the wonderful decorations you can make with things you find on the ground.

“October gave a party, the leaves by hundreds came . . .”

Last year we grabbed a few fallen branches and leaves and wound them with bittersweet to decorate our front door.

Cinnamon, being so good for you, is great in this ice cream and nice thing to have in your freezer for small unplanned celebratory moments.  ♥  I speak from experience.

Fly your colors, Girlfriends . . . air your down comforters for the winter. Bring fresh fall air inside.

It doesn’t have to be very much for you to feel like something is special about today. A little vase of flowers is all you really need.

And then of course, there is the possibility of TWINE …. a four o-clock cup of tea with a friend, and then, when it’s five o’clock somewhere, perhaps another kind of surprise from the fridge . . .

You can include a gummy worm in your Vampire’s Kiss for a special Halloween scream fest!  This is actually our favorite thing for April Fool’s Day, here in a glass with coffee in it, or at the edge of the shower drain, both work so very well. (This is part of the DNA that develops when you are born into a large family. Torture of your fellow man naturally comes with the territory.)

Halloween Boo!

 

EAT DRINK & BE SCARY Girlfriends . . . it’s that time of year!!! XOXOXO Love You!

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306 Responses to Eat, Drink and Be Scary . . .

  1. Jacquelyn Wirthlin -Las Vegas, NV says:

    Wonderful goodies you and Joe have uncovered and packed into the “Fine Romance Van” in your trek across country to California. Loved the paper mock ups of the tea towels to come. Also the fall recipes which remind me to get the Autumn book out and get cooking! Loved the kitties and love Kellee for adopting them. Hope you and Joe have been able to rest a bit on this further adventure. Thanks Sue.

    xoxo
    Jackie

  2. Angela says:

    Hi Susan!
    Just had to drop you a quick note to tell you how much I love the suggestion of a sour cream cob web atop of chili or hearty soups! Can’t wait to give it a try.

    PS. This message has been brought to you from Thompsontown, PA where we are currently under a flood advisory.

  3. Cindy Maulin says:

    hi susan…I knew you’d pull through with a scary~ merry Halloween post…. 🙂 love this one too….I think my last comment got lost in moderation heaven and truly..that’s OK..just wanted to say how much I enjoyed being able to share in a few delightful moments with you and your mom…..can tell you are having a great time in CA but feeling(as we all know)….there’s no place like home….dragging out all of my wonderful fall/Halloween décor and on a decorating binge!!! My mantle is the place of honor for my cherished collection of special “good” witches….wish I could show them to you because I know you’d like them. Maybe I can figure out a way to post on FOSB or send picture via email…..I’ll put on my magical witches hat and conjure up something!!!! I just risked life and limb today to climb the ladder to put up my witch that looks like she slammed into the front of our house head first!!! She has orange hair and is still on her broom…the neighborhood kids just love her!!!! (me too)……Iowa Corn Bread and touchdown chili this week-end for friends while we watch the Missouri/Georgia football game..rah-rah!!! thanks for the WONDERFUL fun inspiring post and happy California Dreamin’ ..oh.btw.i have had oodles of compliments on my new SB charm..looks GREAT on my bracelet and I LOVE IT…. 🙂 xo love, cindy

  4. Jane F. says:

    Hi Susan! Am I the first? Was just checking in to sign off for the night and there was your twitter announcement. I had to jump right over here and check it out!! Love the French music accompaniment! So many great ideas!! I’ll read it all again in the morning when I’m more awake. I plan to take Gene on a fall picnic in our park one of these days, and I’ll try some of these treats to take with us! Great timing!! The kitties are adorable, and all your “finds” are just wonderful. Going to order the tea real soon. It will be wonderful on these fall nights watching Downton reruns (on countdown to Season 4) with Gene!! Love all the scary Halloween stuff!! Super blog, as always!! 🙂 xoxo

  5. Pat Mofjeld from St. Paul, Minnesota says:

    Susan–does your chili recipe really not call for tomatoes at all? What gives it the reddish cast–the chili powder? It looks so different than the chili that we make here in the Midwest but I am going to try it as it looks yummy…This post really got me in the mood for Autumn decorating!

  6. Karen P. - Wisconsin says:

    Oh.my.word!!!! That Santa IS Joe! That’s the same Santa on the impossible-to-find pillow, right!? Love those towels so much! I’m a sucker for kitchen towels! And thanks for all the recipe reminders. I often make in Autumn your Shotglass Butternut Squash Soup and it is the best! Not sure if it’s the same as this one. And the cornbread….mmmmmm. Must try some of these other recipes. Such a perfect blog filled with lovely ideas for Fall. This is why your Autumn book is one of my faves. Have fun with your studio kitties! xoxo….Karen P.

  7. barbara miller says:

    everything sounds so yummy but i think the pork chops are on my next menu! thank you for being so inventive about your harvest ideas. when i get home i am going to look around and decorate. i am away from home …visiting my son, his wife and my beautiful granddaughter in Minn. and loving the lovely fall weather and the beautiful dancing leaves. they are so crispy to walk on. love that sound. fall…the time of year when leaves dance away from their trees and swirl around so proud of their colours. ahhhh. ta

  8. Pat Johnson from Paso Robles, CA says:

    Welcome to Fall on the Central Coast (again)! What a treat this must be for you & Joe – and to think you even got kitties!! Halloween is more about Fall than Trick or Treat – I bought a few of my favorite pumpkins (Fairy punkin’ & some baby ones) at Vons last night – but must make the trip out to Jack Ranch to get some of the other ones I adore. I can usually keep the pumpkins looking great until the end of February – believe it or not! Must have leaves & Mums & whatever else I can find along the way. I am thrilled about the towels – and you are right to say “yippee” about them being made in the USA!! I can hardly wait!! Happy to see that it is “put on the down comforter because the frost is almost on the pumpkin” weather! I sleep so much better in the Fall & Winter months. This morning I didn’t wake up until almost 10:00 in the morning!!!! Imagine that!!! It has been about 45-47 degrees in Paso Robles at night. Perfect!!! I bought the cake plate (ruffled) and the Peter Rabbit Emma Bridgewater cup and the tin – got the shipment today – lovelovelove it. It was a treat from ME to ME! Love those kinds of treats!! Rest – eat well – enjoy your Central Coast homecoming! I can close my eyes and just see you here! XXXXOOOO Pat

    • Pat Mofjeld from St. Paul, Minnesota says:

      Pat, I laughed when I read your comment about sleeping better in Fall/Winter. I realize this may sound nuts to some people but I just made that same comment to my husband this morning. I sleep so miserably in the Spring and Summer–in the Spring we have the peepers in their pond too close to our house and their “sound wave frequency” really gets annoying so it is hard to sleep. And in the Summer the heat and humidity are so bad and eventually sound of the air conditioner and dehumidifier running get really “old”. I hate to complain but it is such a RELIEF to have the cool dry weather of Fall and even our cold and snowy Minnesota Winters are preferrable to the heat and humidity of Summer! I can’t tell you how much better I feel now that I am getting some quality sleep at night! 🙂

  9. Bon jour, Susan! I woke up very early this morning to more rain here on the east coast to find your new post waiting for me. This time of day I feel I have you to myself! 🙂

    You are amazing! Even though you are not surrounded by the charm of New England in Autumn you’ve managed to create it here on your Blog. As always, I love French music! I must tell you…..the parents of the French teenager we hosted for three weeks this summer came to visit us last weekend! One of the shops we took them to in our lovely town was a tea shop called Voila! and we discovered that the proprietor, who had very good paying job with Google, chucked it all to start her shop after visiting a tea shop in Paris that my guest was very well acquainted with! I love serendipitous moments! 🙂 He bought tea to take back to Paris!

    I’m eager for your found items to find their way into your shop. I see a book I want to add to my collection and I’m glad I waited to order your tea can because now I will get the matching towel. I love that cheerful quilt, too, but I suspect I’ll have to leave that for another girlfriend. Oh, well. Au revoir! xoxoxo

  10. mary spring says:

    … good morning dear Susan and Girlfriends !!..such a FUN post…so much to comment on (will need to write again, as very soon little ones will be knocking at my door)..but I had to laugh at the time of this posting !!..10 30 p.m. !!..girlfriend, you are up late !!..(when I was out meeting my newest grandson out in Seattle area, my time clock was all mixed up too !!..being an early morning person, I would be getting up at two a.m.(their time) as everyone was falling asleep)…’love this newest post !!!..with love and take care, as always…

  11. Nadine says:

    Glad to see you made it to the West Coast; what a road trip! I haven’t left a comment while you were so busy traveling, but I do want to tell you how I have enjoyed “A Fine Romance”–makes me want to go to England. I’ve always been in love with the IDEA of the idyllic English countryside and those perfect small villages, but was sort of afraid they were a thing of the past, and I would be disappointed with reality; but, you have proved that it’s all still there!

    I seem to have a problem in placing orders to your website, and had to actually call to order my copies of the wonderful book. Kellee was such a sweetheart, and I really enjoyed our conversation. Please tell her “hello” and when she comes to Kentucky, she is welcome to a room at the “Creekside Inn,” which is my family’s name for my house!

    I know you and Joe are enjoying your time with family and friends! Fall is such a wonderful time of year, not only the colorful foliage, but the very atmosphere seems to say “Welcome Home,” wherever you are! Take care in your future wanderings!

    • sbranch says:

      I’ll tell Kellee. She is a doll alright . . . I’m so lucky to have her here. We’re having a meeting with our blog guy this morning and maybe we can figure out a way to make ordering easier. Sorry about that. We keep trying! Thank you Nadine!

      • Susan, I do have one request from your Blog Guy besides the one every is asking for concerning a searchable archive…..Is there some way that you can moderate the comments in the order in which they come in? It would be much easier to separate out which ones I’ve read already by the time stamp. As it is now the newest unread (by me) comments appear somewhere between the ones you moderated first (which I’ve already read) and the ones you moderated last (which I may have read already, too).

        • sbranch says:

          That’s how they come in to me … the newest is first, so if I stop “moderating” for a while, all newer ones come on top of what is already there, and so I work through those, may have to stop again, and still the very first ones that came in are on the bottom. Isn’t that fun? Sorry!

          • I was hoping the Blog Guy could enable the comments to come to you in the order in which they arrive…..check some box that would reverse the order, in other words. 🙂

          • sbranch says:

            I asked him, he said he’d check. They do come in the order they arrive, but that means the oldest comment is the one I see last, the newest ones are right on top.

          • I just had an idea! I don’t know if this works for you because I don’t know what your set-up is to receive the comments that need to be moderated, but on my mail program I can click the header that says “Date Received” and it will reverse everything so that the last will be first.

          • sbranch says:

            AH HA! I’ll look for it! We’re word press, but maybe that won’t matter . . .

      • Nadine says:

        But if the email order had gone through, I’d never have had the occasion to speak to Kellee, you see? And I have my books and calendar all the same. No problem, lovie. I’m a dud at technology, anyway!

  12. Rosie (from Illinois) says:

    What a wonderful post! So full of yummies and pretties! I thoroughly enjoyed reading and looking through the whole thing, nice and slow-like so as to savor it all and not miss a thing.

    Hugs to you and Joe, and thanks for helping my fall really get rolling. 🙂

  13. Jeanette says:

    Hello-o-o-o-o, Susan!!!
    What a delightful way to start my Friday!!! A glorious post from YOU!!! Thank you!
    I love all the wonderful delights of fall! It’s supposed to be 80 today here in central IL, but cooler weather is on the horizon for next week…
    I’ve made my leaf garland for my kitchen window, think I’ll refresh it this weekend. Have pumpkins and mums outside and little peaks of fall & halloween inside -perfectly, delightfully, ghoulishly FuN!
    I’ve made Iowa corn bread and bee butter – fabulous!
    Love all the finds at the “store”, think the girls know my name already and so many goodies yet to come! 🙂
    Hope you have an enchantingly, splendid wonderful weekend!!
    Autumnal, fleecy Hugs & bunches of love,
    Jeanette

  14. Darlene says:

    Good morning Susan! Thanks for sharing these wonderful recipes and decorating tips! Some I’ve made (gingerbread cake, iowa corn bread, stuffed porkchops) and have enjoyed many times while the others I’ve not yet tried but will surely be making soon! Love all the treasures you’re finding along the way and thanks for thinking of us to share them with. Have a great time! p.s. those kitties are beautiful 🙂

  15. Marcia A. Sherman says:

    10-11-13 7:40 a.m.
    no way… am I the first comment?
    Susan – as always the best of blogs, love the fall ideas and recipes, love the cats, love the goodies. Happy travels to you and yours.
    from the wet and windblown east coast
    Marcia in Sewell, Gloucester County, NJ

    • sbranch says:

      Wet and windblown . . . how cozy it must be out there!

      • Margot in Virginia Beach says:

        We are trying!!!

      • Marcia A. Sherman says:

        Ah, I see I was not the first…the computer was thinking.
        It is cozy now that I am home from my 9-5 work and do not have to leave until Monday morning, at which time I will be visiting my daughter in cozy Central Jersey. This part of the country is experiencing, (what promises to be), ‘soup’ weather for a few days. If you have read Harry Potter, this must be the type of weather the Dementors cause when breeding, ahem. The weekend will be spent writing, editing, polishing, and submitting my final essay for Llewellyn Publishing – about flower shows and gardening clubs for the 2015 Herbal Almanac. You, Susan, are one of those who can understand why I am writing for 2015 in October of 2013.
        My cats will be keeping me company and will provide kittie loving breaks – Stars a 10-ish year old torti and Shadow a 4-ish diluted torti. Both rescues, Stars as an adult and Shadow from a kitten. I have to share this: Shadow is the first cat I have ever had whose belly button is plainly visible, and she loves to have it rubbed.
        I look forward to more blogs from the west coast…
        Marcia in Sewell, NJ

  16. So much goodness in this post! I know you miss Jack and Girl Kitty, but you have delightful kitties to pass the time with there in yonder CA.
    The vintage items make me break out in a tizzy!!! Can’t wait to see them on your site.

  17. Chris Wells in Knickerbocker, W TX says:

    How do you top the Queen Mary? With recipes, vintage finds and KITTIES!
    I wish you could have seen me enlarging the photo on my IPad so I could get a closer look at all your shopping treasures! LOL
    I must get to work, so I will return when I have more time…..but such precious and lucky kitties even if their start in life was less than purrrfect:) look at them now.
    Love ya…..I’m late……..gotta go
    Chris

    • sbranch says:

      LOL, too funny Chris. Have a wonderful day!

      • Janet in Rochester says:

        Me too! HAD to enlarge that photo of vintage finds and just noticed something wonderful – looks like a big yellow ceramic bowl. EXACTLY what I want to use alongside a teal blue “Bauer” bowl I got last Spring. Which has been in CONSTANT use since it came to live at my house. Useful and beautiful, just like Willie Morris tells us. What a smart guy. Plus: how cool is it to have Susan Branch as your personal shopper?? Have a wonderful weekend, Sue and Girlfriends! :>)

  18. Joan Lesmeister says:

    Mornin’! Oh yeah, you’re on my time now, been up since 4 like me? A new blog, such a lovely surprise! Thank you! Fun to see all your treasures, Kellee & kittees too! The food is yummy, I know from experience, & my “Autumn” book is sitting on the sideboard waiting for me to get cookin’ now that the temperature is droppin’! Tea & tin arrived yesterday (eeeeek!), ready for tea time today! Tea towels look great! Pretty, pretty pictures (as always my dear), bestest blogger! Have a wonderful California kinda day, & hi to Joe, girls & scratches under the ears for kittees! ♥

    • sbranch says:

      Yup, 4. Time is very strange, thinking that in Martha’s Vineyard they are all hustling and bustling around while here, I’m drinking tea and it’s still dark out! I gave out the scratches under the ears already this morning, will work on the rest of it soon! Happy Day Joan.

  19. Julie Marie says:

    Hello Susan!… how excited I was to wake up and see a new post from you… and all about Autumn, my favorite time of year!… I was up half the night reading (re~reading for the 100th time!) your Autumn book… a tradition for me this time of year… oooh, and I read Sharon Lovejoys post about you… she is my cousin!… how excited I was to see you both together… and how lucky you are to have been girlfriends for so long… I love you both!… I also LOVE Sammy and Sasha!… kitty kisses to them… oooh!… and my new tea tin arrived the other day!… another LOVE!… wow, I use the word LOVE alot when I write to you!… also LOVE all the vintage treasures you and Joe have found along the way, that quilt is so beautiful!… okay… I am going back now and look at everything again… sending much love to you and Joe… Happy Autumn!… love you, xoxoxoxo Julie Marie PS I also love what you wrote about putting out old magazines with things you love on them… I have some of my old Jack and Jill October issues out I saved from when I was a little girl… we’re talking 50’s here!…

    • sbranch says:

      I met Sharon in the antique store she used to have, years ago, before I ever moved to Martha’s Vineyard! We just started talking, and BAM, here we are! 🙂

      • Julie Marie says:

        You two are priceless ladies!… oh, and I wanted to tell you, todays post was just like getting an Autumn “Willard”!… I also re~read my Willard from last Fall last night… FUN FUN FUN!… xoxoxo

      • pat addison (cave junction,OR) says:

        ohhh I love those old Jack and Jill magazines, especially the October issues, they always had a great Halloween story in them and my Grandma read them all to us in our special little library in her house. you are so lucky to still have those, wish I had the ones from my childhood.

    • Margot in Virginia Beach says:

      Julie Marie,
      Tell your cousin that I love her books! I have Trowel and Error for me.
      And because I live in hope for grandchildren…I have Boots, Shoots, Buckets and Boots!
      I really like Susan’s Autumn book too!!!
      Margot

  20. mari1017 says:

    What a happy Autumn post to read this morning, Susan! Getting ready for my birthday next week, and your recipes will be included in the dinner -yum! I love those kitties!!!!! And the tea cups towels and canister. Wonderful goodies for us girlfriends! Your posts always make me smile, my friend. It’s dark, rainy and scary here today, so until the sun comes out tomorrow, have a wonderful day with everyone in California! Blessings!!!

  21. Debbie P ~ Weedsport, NY says:

    Wow! What a gorgeous, mouth-watering love letter you’ve sent us this morning! I think I was really drooling while I read…LOL! And your art-work just blows me away! I’ve tried so many of your wonderful recipes but never the stuffed pork chops. That one is on my list of things to do this next week…yum!
    Btw…I visited your friend, Sharon Lovejoy’s blog yesterday…what a treat that was seeing the photos and getting a glimpse into your long-lasting friendship. You have too much fun! Wait…what? Can a person HAVE too much fun? I take that back. Just so happy for you and Joe…that you have this time to share a meal and laugh and reminisce. Is there anything sweeter than friendship? Speaking of sweetness….cinnamon ice cream…spoon-in-hand disease…thanks for the warning. I was going to ask Santa for an ice cream maker, too 🙂 .
    Love, love, love this blog…
    Happy long weekend, Sue and all our girlfriends!
    xoxoDebbie

    • sbranch says:

      Look for a Donvier ice cream maker Debbie — I have one and I love it! We even carried them in our web store for a while because I think they’re so great. Hand cranked … but really easy. Yes, coming back to California, I get to spend time with old friends — I even have high school girlfriends coming in November. Couldn’t be better.

  22. jan says:

    Thank you for another great post! I’m getting started on the recipes! Gingerbread— my favorite.
    Have a great weekend.

  23. Elaine in Toronto says:

    Beautiful post brimming with autumn. We’re celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend in Canada and I want to make every single one of your recipes. Love your vintage finds, all of them but especially the “Little Grey Rabbit’s Christmas” book which I have plus a few others in the series. And Sammy and Sasha – beautiful little kitties. Sasha is a twin to our Patches. We had her for 19 1/2 years. Must go now and re-read your blog and make my cranberry sauce (actually your cranberry sauce – the one you do in the oven). Thank you Susan for all the goodness.

    • sbranch says:

      Happy Thanksgiving Elaine!!

      • Elaine in Toronto says:

        Thanks, Susan. Just wanted to add that l use the little wooden Scrabble tiles to spell out my guest’s names for place cards. I give a little prize for the name with the highest score. For example, “Susan” is worth 5 points but “Joey”is worth 14 points – it’s the “j” and “y” that make it higher. I found a vintage Scrabble game at the thrift store for $1 and I’ve been having fun with it.

      • pat addison (cave junction,OR) says:

        Happy Thanksgiving Elaine!!! hope you have a wonderful holiday!!

      • Janet in Rochester says:

        Hi, Elaine & happy Thanksgiving! We Americans [most of us] have turkey for Thanksgiving – do Canadians have a similar tradition? Just wondering… thanks. :>)

        • Elaine in Toronto says:

          Hi Janet, yes turkey is traditional for Thanksgiving here in Canada. Plus cranberry sauce, turnip, squash, mashed potatoes and gravey and we can’t forget the creamed onions – so good plus stuffing and apple crisp and pumpkin pie for dessert. Instead of wine we are having pear cider. It’s a beautiful day here – just like summer – we could almost eat our Thanksgiving dinner outside.

          • judi says:

            Happy Thanksgiving Elaine! Cute idea for the place cards:) I am thankful that my Nova Scotia friend will be returning to FL in 2 weeks!

          • Janet in Rochester says:

            Oh, your Thanksgiving meal sounds a LOT like ours! I like that because both countries are British “in origin” – there are so many other connections between US & Canada too. I LOVE the idea of having Thanksgiving outside on a dazzling Indian Summer day – makes me wish Abraham Lincoln had proposed October instead of November for our Thanksgiving. Enjoy your day Elaine – and thanks for writing back! :>)

  24. Kathy Korb says:

    What a wonderful post, full of all things Fall, the grandest time of the year!! Thank you! Love the new dish towels and all of the recipes. I am drinking tea and sitting here enjoying your precious works of art! Happy Fall to you, Susan!
    p.s. my 10 year old daughter who love Jemima Puddle Duck will be turning 11 tomorrow!! She loves your blog, too! Enjoy your California time!

  25. Deborah Heater (Indiana) says:

    Hello Susan….thank you for a very festive fall blog. I have one question for you about when you go out antiquing….there are so many “reproductions” especially of the pink/green depression glass. How do you weed out the imposters?? I do believe a nice man once told me about the depression glass to look for the thinness and also the original has what they call a “straw mark” sort of like a back slash?? I know some old glass has dates; but, it is very hard to know if you are getting a reproduction vs an antique. I love old glass and most of mine is down at the farm because unfortunately our home is just to small for things to just sit out. I truly believe we should enjoy everything we can and packing Grandma’s Antiques is just wrong. We are having a Birthday Weekend for Jim whos birthday is Saturday!!! Saturday, the girls are headed to the Covered Bridge Festival in Parke Co. IN where there is 30 miles of going through the bridges and then crafts/food/fun after that. I’m praying I can keep up with everyone after a week long illness and I will give it my best. Angela is baking Dad’s cake this year (hard to delegate out but she had her heart set on doing it to help me out)….sigh what an Angel. So, Girlfriends let’s get out there and enjoy the beautiful fall scenery, plant some spring bulbs, breathe in the beauty that surrounds all of us no matter where we live. Happy Weekend Everyone!!! Blessings

    • sbranch says:

      I think from so many years I can just tell. The new depression glass isn’t as thin as the old, so that makes it not quite as pretty to me. Plus, if the price is right, I don’t care if it’s new or old as long as I’m totally in love with it. So I don’t worry too much.

      Get lots of rest Deborah! It sounds like a lovely weekend!

  26. Dawn (Elmhurst, IL) says:

    Festive Fall Fun!! Thank you for all of the wonderful recipes and ideas. Iowa Cornbread is one of our family favorites. Gingerbread Cake with Lemon Sauce sounds heavenly! Susan, I’ve been reading my way through the new links to all of the past Willards. Many of them are brand new to me! What a treat!! ♡♡ Saturday we are going to a wonderful Antique Market in a park along the river.
    Wishing you and Joe a wonderful Autumn weekend!!
    Love,
    Dawn
    ♡♡

  27. N. Jean says:

    This post came at just the right time for me! I love it, it warms my heart to see the artwork, pictures and recipes. Love this time of year. Thanks

  28. Joy says:

    What a lovely post! Fall is such a wonderful time and all the recipes sound so good, especially CORN PUDDING! I love that, my grandmother used to make it with fresh (as in, just-picked) corn and there just wasn’t anything better. I will try your recipe soon. Love all your pretty vintage dishes, especially the Candlewick piece and the pink glass one…and I can’t wait for the tea towels to arrive! I think I will be ordering. Christmas gifts for some of my tea loving friends and for ME!
    Thank you for starting my day with a smile.

  29. Betsy says:

    WOW! Such yummy food ideas that I am heading to the kitchen to make Gingerbread NOW! American made towels….how wonderful. We need to support “made in America” items. Love the Santa towel, it would look grand hanging from my stove. xoxo

  30. nina sznurman from Maryland says:

    Love all the decorations and recipes l!! Where can I buy your Autumn book. nina

    • sbranch says:

      You can sometimes find used ones in the Vintage part of our web store, if not, try Amazon or Ebay. We are reprinting this book, it should be out by next May.

  31. Cindy Maulin says:

    hi Susan …. I knew you’d pull through with a scary-merry Halloween post!

  32. Jack says:

    Oh ,a Fox went out on a chilly night ,
    And prayed to the moon to give him light,
    For he’d many a mile to go that night ,
    Before he reached the town’o , town’o , town’o ,
    Before he reached the Town’o .

  33. Cindy Maulin says:

    hi Susan …. I knew you’d pull through with a scary-merry Halloween post!

  34. Pam says:

    Lovely post. Autumn’s great isn’t it! We’ve been enjoying a bit of an Indian Summer here but I’ve just walked up to the Post Office and it feels quite wintery out there today.

  35. Angie(Tink!) says:

    Good Morning Sweet Sue…Glorious Autumn Blog! & I Adore Your Tweets! These Two Kitties are Very Cute! (Meow & Purrrrrr) Sasha & Sam…(I Know Girl & Jack Would Love Their Kitty~Kuzins) Kellee is a Doll…The French Musica is Wild This Morning…I’ve Been Watching One Halloween Movie a Day to Keep Me In The Spirit! Boo! Our Temps have Finally Dropped into The 60’s at Night so Autumn is Here in Florida! Yay! I’ve Got All The Windows Opened & The Cool Fresh Autumn Air Has Filled Our Enchanted~Cottage! Wishing You & Joe & Kellee & Sheri & The California Kitties a Glorious Autumn Weekend! Oh So Your Old House is The Studio???!!!! Cool! a Little Autumn Pixie~Dust for You Sweet Sue! xoxo Poof! ✫♥*¨☆*✿✫♥*¨☆*✿(Still Sprinkling Your Blend! 😉 ) P.S. The Holiday Dish Towels are Adorable! Yay! 🙂 ✫♥*¨☆*✿✫♥*¨☆*✿

  36. Michele says:

    Susan, What a w~o~n~d~e~r~f~u~l post, today! It was like we were decorating together, making food together (that I could SMELL!) and then you took me shopping :0)

    And OH…The Kitties! (and I know the comment of Jack was actually WAAAAYYY bigger than that font)

    Thanks for making my morning! :0)

  37. Margot in Virginia Beach says:

    I L-O-V-E Autumn with all the leaves, pumpkins, spices, cider and corny recipies!! I skip the scarry stuff, but I do like a bit of candy corn. 🙂 AND apple crisp or gingerbread cake!
    I love your kitties. My son told me when he is gone his kitty misses him, but when he goes on drill (3 days)…his kitty says, “Ohh! Where have you been!!! I didn’t know if you were gone 3 hours or 3 weeks, because I am a cat and I can’t tell time!!!” LOL My guys are sooo funny!

  38. Jack says:

    Loved the old picture of that Granny and her , veteran(stars and bars) UPS driver, grandson peeling onions into the pan on the wood floor . Seems like they set some of the other pans of dinner on the floor also ….

  39. Barbara (WA) says:

    Good Morning Sue! I popped over to read Sharon Lovejoy’s blog and it warmed my heart. True friendship, such a treasure.

  40. Ann says:

    What a lovely fall post to brighten up the rainy days here in Maryland. Second day in a row for rain all day. Think I will have to make the Gingerbread Cake today! What lucky kitties to be rescued by Kellie.

  41. Rosanne Murphy (Oregon) says:

    Oh yes, we do got fun! I’ll have one of everything please.;) Seeing your recipes, I realize how many have become family favorites over the years and a must for autumn. Especially love your corn pudding and sweet potato casserole, both of which always win raves, and oh yes, the gingerbread cake! You know how to warm our bodies and our souls. Love those kitties, but even I am a little homesick for your home on MV, and your kitties patiently waiting. It’s where I see you.

    • sbranch says:

      It’s where I see me too. I should be kicking up those wild leaves in my backyard right now! It’s OK, missing it just makes it better! And what we’re doing is wonderful too.

  42. Linda g says:

    So happy to see the new post. Had to let you know I am a realtor and I am sharing your blog with some new Very “tender” buyers who are in the middle of buyer their first new home together This is helping them get a sense of creating their own home sweet home. Thank you very much!!!if you ever get the chance come and visit the sweet little redwood mountain town of Boulder Creek in the beautiful San Lorenzo Valley (20 minutes south of Santa Cruz) lots of antique shops along the way I think you and Joe would love it!!

  43. Janet in Rochester says:

    Terrific Fall post – and right on time! We’re having a sparkling October day here in upstate New York – October “bright blue weather” as Auntie Mame says! Love the “new” kitties! Sasha is beautiful with that coloring and those eyes! And I know Sammy is a handsome devil too, even though we can’t see his face because Kellee is smooshing him! Can’t blame her one bit. PS – I’m salivating at the sight of the vintage finds. Like Chris in West Texas, I am enlarging those photos. I think I hear a big yellow bowl calling my name… Have a wonderful Fall weekend, Sue and Girlfriends!

  44. Maria Penner says:

    hi susan….loved reading your fall post this morning….I truly love the fall and pumpkins and leaves!!! Our bench out in back of our house has redwood branches and pumpkins all around it! Too much sap from the tree to sit on so it’s always decorated…our grandkids call our home Christmas Grove rather than Pacific Grove because of the deer and the trees!!! I just received my order of four tea tins yesterday and I am so excited…Can’t wait to get the tea towel to match….This will make such a special present for dear girlfriends…(one for me too)
    Thank you for making the world a more beautiful place! hugs, maria

  45. Jan says:

    Susan,
    Oh my! What a delightful post! Thanks for so many Fallish (is that a word? sounds good anyway) recipes and ideas. The butternut bisque sounds wonderful. Will certainly have to try it, and the cinnamon ice cream. Fall color is in full swing here in Michigan. My backyard is scattered with beautiful fallen leaves. Made applesauce from Cortland apples – Yummy! I must say the tea towels are sooo cute! You just keep coming up with the cutest ideas. Sooo you! Am waiting for the restock of the Girlfriend charm. Hope it is soon. ( Left a comment awhile ago but it didn’t make it past moderation – know you have a lot to do and not enough time to do it). Thanks for everything you do, do for us! Enjoy your time in California with family and friends. Have a great weekend!
    Jan

    P.S. Have not been able to find the Christmas items on the shopping site but did by going through the blog post?

  46. Carol Maurer, formally Eureka, Ca.... now Kennewick, WA says:

    Susan~~~ what fun this post was!! Now I’m in the mood to start getting the house to smell like Halloween, lol. Oh, I love the tea towels as well! I’m wanting to at least get the Santa one. How cute he is! The items you found along your journey to California are really cute. I love the banana dish. I really don’t have room for one on my kitchen counter, but I do like it.

    We went to an antique mall after Frank’s doctor appointment at the VA clinic yesterday. We came away with several things. Funny, I just can’t get away from antiques. It’s in my blood. Of course, all the things were small. I did find a small lamb flower vase. A miniture one like the ones that you have. I got so excited! Next time we go to the clinic, I plan on going back to the mall and looking at the linens. Didn’t have time yesterday, but they really looked very nice. That’s another one of my passions. Good thing we have a linen closet in this house 🙂

    Got to go now. I’m actually thinking of making some cards today. Or perhaps tomorrow.

    xoxox,
    Carol M

    • sbranch says:

      I think part of what I like about antiquing is the mindlessness of it . . . my head is so into what I’m looking at, I forget everything else. It’s a mini vacation from reality, and if you can convince yourself of the usefulness of what you’re doing, making a prettier tea party, spicing up your potholder collection, it’s a win win! My aunt gave me a banana dish years ago, I really had no idea what it was, but it’s sat on my kitchen table ever since, always filled with bananas!

      • Julia says:

        Your answer about antiquing reminded me of something my
        mother said. Mother was a no-nonsense career woman and
        I’m Lucy. I took Mother with me to a flea market and told
        her to sit in the chairs in the middle if she got tired. I was
        zooming up and down the aisles, totally absorbed in what I
        was doing and when I got back to the chairs my mother
        said to me “you know what you look like?” No………….
        “you look like a dog in a meat factory!” It’s what I do!

  47. Shannon (Pennsylvania) says:

    Rainy, rainy two days here in south central PA. We’ve had almost 8 inches since yesterday and there has been quite a bit of flooding, road closings, stranded motorists, property damage, and worry. I always appreciate your new blogs, but this one even more so than usual. What a literal ray of sunshine! I got my tea tin a few days ago. I am not usually a hot tea drinker, but I’m sold on your blend! Hubby, who drinks tea every day, likes it too…we tried it the “Susan way”, with honey and a bit of half and half. Delicious. We are headed to WV tomorrow for a week or so. Hubby will turkey hunt and I will spend time with my precious 88 year young momma. We’re going to make gingerbread cake and corn pudding and leaf garlands 🙂 Hugs!

  48. pat addison (cave junction,OR) says:

    good morning Susan, hello girlfriends. I love the recipes, I think you just planned out my entire Halloween and Thanksgiving menus for this year. and I have a couple of recipes for you, if you like, one for a delicious and easy to make cocktail and the other is a wonderful snack for movie watching or Halloween special watching like the Great Pumpkin Charlie brown. here they are: for the cocktail, I call it apple lager: 1. 12 ounce bottle of lager beer (Budweiser works fine) 1 apple wedge for garnish and 1 shot glass of apple brandy. mix 1 shot of apple brandy with 1 bottle of lager beer, serve in a chilled beer mug or stein and put the apple wedge on the side of the glass as a garnish. very simple and refreshing. for watching spooky movies or football games try a Goblin treat: Goblin good snack mix, here is the recipe: 4 cups crispy cereal squares; 4 cups popped corn; 1 cup honey roasted peanuts; 1 cup salted and roasted pumpkin seeds; 1/4 cup butter; 6 Tbsp. brown sugar, packed; 2 Tbsp. light corn syrup; 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract; 1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice; 1 cup candy corn; in a 4 quart microwave safe bowl, mix cereal, popcorn, peanuts and pumpkin seeds; set aside. in a separate microwave safe bowl combine butter. brown sugar, corn syrup and vanilla. microwave for uncovered on high setting for about 2 minutes, until mixture is boiling; stir after 1 minute. stir in spice. pour over cereal mixture and stir until evenly coated. microwave 5 minutes, stirring after every minute. spread on waxed paper, let cool for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to break up any larger pieces. add candy corn and toss to mix. store in airtight container. makes 11 cups. love the kitties, how wonderful she was able to rescue them. love all the antiques, time for me to go antiquing around here and see what I can dig up, after I get my graveyard in for Halloween. hope you all enjoy the apple lager and the goblin treats, great for munching and crunching on while watching scary movies or football games. have a wonderful day everyone, enjoy the treats and enjoy our gorgeous Fall weather right now. Happy Fall and Happy Halloween everyone. hugs….. 🙂

    • sbranch says:

      Great looking recipes! Thanks so much Pat. Happy Halloween!

      • pat addison (cave junction,OR) says:

        you’re very welcome, enjoy!!! I still have time to experiment and get those bloody zombie fingers right along with pickled brains and zombie guts for Halloween dinner, along with fiendish brownie pie for dessert. Happy Halloween everyone!!!

  49. peg says:

    Lookin’ good, Sue! Love all the new goodies you have for the web store! LOVE the glass tidbit plate with the handle! Lovely!

    I’m waiting for WINE time….that’s when Charlie gets home! Have a wonderful, Autumny Weekend!

    xo peg

  50. Anne says:

    Love getting that “Susan Branch Blog” e-mail! Your blog is very fitting for me as I live in Canada and this weekend is our Thanksgiving! Lots of good recipes to try. I am from Atlantic Canada and it always make me homesick to read your blog in the fall (I live in Western Canada now). I am missing the colours and the smells as I’m sure you are right now too. Safe travels!

    • sbranch says:

      I am, I know just how you feel. The smell of the woods is such a New England smell to me. Happy Thanksgiving Anne (with an e, just like my middle name).

  51. Cindy says:

    Welcome back to the Central Coast, Sue & Joe! I didn’t think it was possible to be more excited about the Remnants show in November, but to read that you’ll have a little shop set up is FANTASTIC news!! Your shop in AG was one of my most favorite places to be… ever. Also, we happen to be attending a wedding in Long Beach at the end of the month, so after your post featuring the Queen Mary, I booked a room there for the night of the wedding! SO romantic!! Thank you for your amazingness!!
    See you in November!
    Cindy from Paso Robles

    • sbranch says:

      It’s our first time having a shop at Remnants, and we’re excited. Everyone trying to figure out what to bring and how to make “space” inside the booth so actual humans can get in! Lucky for you to go to the Queen AND a wedding — very romantic. Bring a bouquet of white roses for your hotel room, it will just be fitting. xoxo

  52. CarolK says:

    It’s rainy and chilly here in central NJ so your blog is just the ray of sunshine we needed today plus the accordian music, P-E-R-F-E-C-T. Love, love, love all the neat things you found in your travels and can’t wait till those cute kitchen towels are in stock. I hope you’re having warmer weather out there. I’m not complaining though, I LOVE Autumn……….Hugs to Everyone

  53. Eileen F says:

    Hi Susan,
    So nice to hear you are in my territory now (CC), although I’m further north. I was digging around in a drawer and came across several of your old printed Willard’s, one of them in which you shared that you and Joe had decided to live back in CC. How things change.
    I think chili and cornbread will be on our menu very soon. As always, thanks for the recipes.

    • sbranch says:

      We missed the seasons, our old house and our friends, but we continue our lifelong homesickness no matter which coast we’re on. Falling in love with two places 3,000 miles away isn’t as smart as it might seem!

  54. Sheila Weakley says:

    Oh, boy, if I was drooling over the pretty cake plates & tea things, I really went nuts seeing the old books! I love, love, love old books, and you have one of my favorites there-“The Fireside Book of Christmas Stories”! I bought it years & years ago, at my first job in high school. I worked at a pet shop, & there was a book store a few doors down-between them both, I never got home with very much of my paycheck! 😉 And that Christmas book has been a treasure, I read it every year, great old stories in that one. Love all the recipes too-happy, happy autumn!

    • sbranch says:

      I have it too, yes, wonderful old stories in that book. I get out my stack of old Christmas books every year ~ my favorite of all my “decorations” — I stack them to decorate the Christmas table too.

  55. Kathy Cronberg says:

    All those wonderful fall recipes, all in one spot, so I can refer to this post to decide what to make!! I LOVE that grandmother’s flower garden quilt, with black centers, how different! Awesome! I can’t wait to order your new dishtowels, love the one that matches the tea tin… What a wonderful blog post……..!

  56. Chris says:

    Wow…..that was a fantastic post, Susan! Even with the thermometer reading 80* I could smell autumn in the air. Served your Butternut Bisque in small pumpkins last week. Oh, yummm. Your pretty white ruffled cake stand is Fenton milk glass from the late 1960s and matches the one in my china cupboard. Your cinnamon ice cream is gonna look so special in the matching ice cream dishes, too. Are you sure you aren’t another one of my sisters?

    Now, about those sweet kitties you’re snuggling up to – do Girl and Jack know that they are only to keep you happy til you’re home with them? (just look at that soft little fur beneath that kitty chin….)

    (Jodie’s) Chris

  57. Nellie says:

    Dear, dear Susan!

    I am “on the road” myself, and the first thing I am going to prepare when I get home is that pork chop recipe! It is just the perfect thing for fall!

    I love, love, love those towels, and they will definitely be on my list!

    “Scary time” is nearing, ’tis true. What fun it would be to have a party! That may make it on my calendar.:-)

    Must hurry along for now. Oops! I didn’t even comment on the precious kitties! That means I will have to come back.

    xo Nellie

    • sbranch says:

      Good! 🙂 xoxo

      • Nellie says:

        And – here I am, just as I said. I had to return to comment on those lovely kitties. Sammy and Sasha certainly know a good thing when they see it! Sasha looks as though she definitely belongs on that quilt!

        Your finds as you shopped while crossing the country are amazing! You do know the perfect choices to make!

        Now, I am awaiting the date when I will be able to order those two charms! I have been enjoying wearing the MV one on a chain around my neck.

        I will not be able to be on the West Coast in November, and I am still hopeful of a book-signing stop nearby as you cross the country on your return to MV!

        Sending along wishes for a wonderful October afternoon where you are!

        xo Nellie

  58. Kathy George says:

    O.M.G. just this very minute my package arrived at my door with my Tea Tin, and now the matching Dishtowel. What’s a girl to do but hit “Add to Shopping Cart.” Fabulous new items. Enjoy your West Coast family and friends!!

  59. Lynn McMahon says:

    ~ Good Afternoon~
    What a fun post! ~ I loved looking at all the treasures you found on your road trip~ I love finding goodies too!~ I was in a soup making mood this week~ one healthy~ Black Bean soup~ and one not so much~ Cheesey Broccoli soup~ not really soup making weather here in Wisconsin~ still in the 70’s~ I’m not complaining ~ but I love homemade soup any time of the year!~ Have A Great Weekend !~
    Lynn

    • sbranch says:

      You know you’ll get your fall and winter . . . so stretching out late summer as long as possible only seems the right thing to do!

    • Margot in Virginia Beach says:

      Lynn~
      Cheese and Broccoli soup sounds healthy to me!!! Afterall, we ARE cheeseheads…and the broccoli is a veggie.

  60. Marsha MacLean says:

    Dear Susan,
    How much fun! I love all the ideas with the pumpkins and the butternut squash soup with the sour cream piping is so pretty, I will need to make that for guests soon. The kitties are absolutely adorable, and you must be delighted that they get to live in the studio after a somewhat rough patch at the beginning of their lives!
    Thanks again for the darling post. I’ll be watching the web store for some of those treasures, as well as visiting your store at Remnants of the Past. Love the dishtowels! Will you have the chance to speak at Remnants or will you just be signing? I’ll see you there either way, but would love to hear you, so can’t decide about going to Vroman’s…
    Havew a wonderful fall weekend up there,
    <3 Marsha

    • sbranch says:

      I think I will be speaking at Vroman’s but I’m pretty sure I won’t at Remnants. Although I do talk to everyone when they come up, but I don’t think it will be possible to do a “formal” talk considering the outdoor venue of that event. See you soon Marsha!

  61. Sharrieboberry says:

    Come on, Fall! It’s 83 degrees here in North Texas but there are still signs of fall! Autumn Clematis is blooming, the Surprise Lilies are popping up all over, the roses are putting out new growth–and tonight, a cool, front and rain!

    I worked at a museum in their one-room school program in my early 20s (I was a school marm) and I sewed leaves together to decorate the front of my desk. I’ll have to look for some colorful leaves here in a couple of weeks. The trees haven’t quite started turning yet.

  62. Christine says:

    Wow, what wonderful sounding recipes! Love the cooler nights and days. Soon heading to Oak Glen for apples here in So Cal!! Bought my pumpkins today! The fall is falling. Thanks for the beautiful blog today, warms my heart!!

    • sbranch says:

      “Sun” just coming up here on the Central Coast, north of you … or, anyway, not much sun but it’s getting light. We have a grey misty fog in our valley right now. Fall is falling!

  63. Martha says:

    Love seeing all of the autumn pictures – it’s actually starting to feel like autumn here this week. Looks like you found so many treasures going cross country – how fun !! I just love your little owl and the placecard ! 😉
    Martha from CT

  64. Carol C says:

    Hi Susan! I got my tea, Peter Rabbit mug, and home cookie cutter yesterday. Having tea right now and it is delicious. Company coming tomorrow night and they’re having gingerbread for dessert, Sunday our Sunday School class in having SS in the mountains (cooking over open fire) but I’m bringing a big pan of apple crisp, Monday the quilters are coming to my house and they’re getting chili, cornbread, molasses cookies , and Wednesday we are headed to a family reunion in the mountains and they’re getting all of the above!!! Thanks for the recipes and inspiration! My house looks adorable now, if I do say so myself. Love the fall decorating! (Finished the fall leaf quilt I was quilting on the motor home trip, ta da!!) Blessings to all, but especially to Rhonda and Sandy. I pray we get some positive news from them soon.

    • sbranch says:

      Sometimes people will write me wishing for a “more exciting life” — I wish they could read your comment Carol and see how easy it is to make the world around them perfectly lovely. xoxo Thank you!

      • Carol C says:

        Life is really what you make it, isn’t it?! Every day is a gift from God and we are not guaranteed the next one. Like Tasha Tudor quoted, “take joy”!!!!

        • Rhonda D. says:

          Carol, that quote “take joy” by Tasha Tudor is one of my very favorite quotes. I think about it often, and try so hard to live my life by it. I just had the best Thanksgiving ever. I spent the thanksgiving weekend with my daughter at her in-laws’ cottage by the ocean in Nova Scotia. It was so very beautiful…the water was like glass, the autumn leaves were brilliant with color, and the sun so warm with definitely more than a hint of fall in the air. We celebrated my granddaughter’s first birthday and enjoyed the most delish turkey dinner. My daughter’s father-in-law gave thanks that I was able to be there with them and for my good test results. I was so touched…it doesn’t get much better than that. I have so much to be thankful for. As far as I know right now, I had 4 tests to go through after my treatments. I have passed 3 of them with flying colors, and expecting the same result from the 4th one. I will find out on Oct. 29th how I made out, but the Dr. didn’t seem concerned at all, everything looked good. They’re telling me that I still need a year to heal. This has been the best thanksgiving ever. I’m daring to stick my toe in the water and go for “celebration Butterscotch Pie” with my friends before the 29th. Thank you for thinking about me and for all the prayers from everyone. God has been faithful. I’ll make sure I let everyone know how I make out. Everyday really is a gift. Thinking about Sandy and keeping her in my prayers. xo

  65. Ann Y in PA says:

    Fun ! So rainy and gloomy here…but your post made the day warm and cozy. Now time for TWINE ( I just LOVE that) then pizza, candles, and a good old movie….might be a Random Harvest kind of night…..Thank you, Susan…for making the day cozy !

  66. Irene Talaasen says:

    Hi Susan,
    Again, your warm and cozy post that I found last night but just now commenting. We have Fall here now in Colorado, a little late but always beautiful!! I want to try the stuffed pork chops soon; they sound yummy!
    Love your vintage finds too especially the grandmother’s flower garden quilt with a kitty on it )
    Blessings as you visit with friends and family and your great staff there too.
    Irene

  67. Lynn Marie says:

    I so enjoyed reading this–as always. Today I had lunch and shopping with my NEW girlfriend that I met because of you!! We met at one of your book signings this fall. Thank you!

  68. Love all these recipes. I have made a dent in the fall book. I made the gingerbread cake last year for my daughters 32nd birthday. Number 33 is coming up this Sunday. Hard to believe it has been a complete year since I made. Must make it again soon. And the touchdown chili, as I told you in Grand Rapids MI, my hubs new favorite. LOVEs it! Pretty kitties along with all the wonderful fall suggestions.

  69. Kathy Phenix says:

    What a chuck full post—recipes, decorating ideas, vintage fines, new products and best of all kitties!! What more could we ask?? Thanks for continually remembering the “girlfriends” and keeping us enthralled with your adventures.
    Have a great Columbus day weekend. We’re participating in a community yard sale. The weather here is great for being outside. Best time to be in FL. But I miss the colorful leaves!

  70. Mona in Riverbank CA says:

    Your blog today is beautiful and yummy! I love seeing all your fall decorating. I’ve got more room to decorate now and need these lovely ideas. Your chili recipe is the only one I make – everybody loves it. And the cinnamon ice cream is so delicious! I made this last year with your gingerbread crisps and made ice cream sandwiches for our refreshment table. Besides being a hit, I got to take the extras home. Bonus!!!

    I love, love, love the studio kitties! It’s wonderful to know that they have a warm safe place to live with people who love them. Blessings on Kellee for rescuing them.

    Have a wonderful California autumn, Susan, and thanks for a colorful, heartwarming post! =^..^=

  71. Ruth Thomas says:

    Thank you Susan. You brought us into Fall! I’m using your idea of fruit in the window sills and I added a couple of other items like little scarecrows. I ‘m so excited about your dish towels. So bright and beautiful – just like you.

  72. Rae Ann R...back in Michigan...forever... says:

    Can’t wait to try the mini pumpkins for Thanksgiving…I have to find my box of cookbooks including your Autumn + all your others!!!…hubby Dave and I took a drive on the tunnel of trees aka M119 to see the glorious display the trees are making…it’s going to be a mushroom barley soup kind of weekend here in northern Michigan…a bit coolish in the morning with rain in the afternoon…even though you’re in California, you are getting us all in the fall mood…thanks!!!…xoxo…

    • sbranch says:

      It’s not so different here … despite the two sweaters I’m wearing I had to turn on the heater this morning! We know that snow won’t be coming, but it’s quite nippy and coat weather at night here on the Central Coast. We made chicken soup yesterday, had it with Parmesan sprinkled on for lunch, so we are getting that cozy feeling here too.

      • Rae Ann R...back in Michigan...forever... says:

        I have to read each of your blog posts six or seven times…so much to see and learn…I just now noticed the blue and white “When this you see think of me though many a mile distant we be” plate…I have one hanging in our cottage dining room by all the antique blue willow dishes displayed on the built in sideboard…waiting for a rain storm to roll through this evening…listening to Garrison Keillor’s “news from Lake Wobegon while waiting to watch the Detroit Tigers play Boston…GO TIGERS!!!…xoxo…

  73. Gail Marie says:

    You are amazing… Traveling posts… I need that banana dish! When do items go up for sale 😉

  74. Charlene H. (S.F.Valley) SoCal says:

    Hello Susan! This past Monday, I was up in your neck of the woods…visiting Gopher Glen apple farm and Avila Apple Barn. It was my first visit to these locations and I really enjoyed them! Brought back 20 lbs. of yummy apples for sharing, for baking, and just plain crunchy eating! Also, antiqued in Arroyo Grande while keeping one eye out for your “A Fine Romance” van! 🙂 Missed you this time but I know I will see you in November…twice even!!! 😀
    Enjoy your West Coast time…charlene

    • sbranch says:

      We’ve been antiquing there too Charlene … and today is the farmer’s market, we’re going to that too!

      • Charlene H. (S.F.Valley) SoCal says:

        Hope the Farmers’ Market was fun! I also like Los Alamos for antiquing! I enjoy the Quakenbush Cafe. Yummy, local farm-grown food. And they make a peanut butter cookie just as good (if not better!) than the Girl Scout version. 🙂

        • sbranch says:

          We haven’t had a chance to get to Los Alamos but we will! I’ll look for the cookie!

          • Charlene H. (S.F.Valley) SoCal says:

            Ooooo…you and Joe are in for a treat! Its a literal “one-block wonder”. With its own historical hotel (1880’s), antique shop owner with charming Scottish brogue, gigantic Depot Mall of antiques, and “Gussied Up” housed in a quaint Victorian home, etc. (So small I’ve almost given it all away!) And, of course, the food and baked goods at Cafe Quakenbush. Its a great day adventure! One of my favorite Central California stops…off the beaten track! 🙂

          • sbranch says:

            Oh yes, we’ve been there many times . . . have spent hours in that mall … you love all the same places we love! Have you ever gone from Santa Barbara to Santa Maria via the “short cut,” up and over the Santa Inez mountains past Lake Cachuma?

          • Charlene H. (S.F.Valley) SoCal says:

            Yes…took the 154 and drove by Lake Cachuma and stopped in Los Olivos. Beautiful California landscape!
            I so appreciate your replies and contact with us, Susan. I still don’t know how you do it ALL. You have an amazing work ethic that includes so much fun! I am sure that you are missing celebrating Fall in MV…and your furry family (saw your post on Jack). Please know that we Girlfriends appreciate your labor of creativity and love, the taxing cross-country drive, and having a chance to meet you! Looking forward to seeing/hearing you speak at Vroman’s and more contact at Remnants. My sister is driving south from the San Jose area and I am driving north from S.F.Valley to meet in S.L.O. for Remnants. We are going to antique our hearts away! Hope Central California is getting ready for us! :)))

  75. Cindy says:

    This blog doesn’t put you in a Fall mood ,nothing will! Love love love the recipes.

  76. nancy says:

    Love the tea towels….can’t wait to purchase a “Santa Joe” one! 😉

  77. Cathy McC. says:

    What fun to visit the Queen Mary and then enjoy your autumn treasures, recipes, decorations. It’s been a busy month for us so I’m behind in all my reading and responding, and I realized as I was admiring those darling studio kitties and the festive kitchen (paper) towels that I was hardly taking a breath — it’s all so amazing! You guys are certainly making the most of your travels. I know there are many of us girlfriends who wish we could be at your big sale and signing out west. (But I keep reliving the Westmoreland Country Club signing by looking at our pictures and signed books.) Hope you’re getting pix of your Jack and Girl Kitty. It’s always fun to have a reunion to look forward to. Do you still find bittersweet in your area? I always found it near the river by my father’s house, but that was years ago and since his passing, I don’t visit there anymore and haven’t found it here at home. Absolutely love it — looks great in your decor. Thanks for all the great recipes and ideas. Happy Autumn! Ethel
    PS My great-niece is coming to visit tomorrow — I have to try the food coloring in the milk glass trick!!!

    • sbranch says:

      Some people think of bittersweet as an invasive vine and rip it out as quick as they can … but Joe and I found a big thicket of it out near where we walk — we go and collect it every year. I don’t remember if it grows in this part of California. Have fun Cathy!

      • Pat Mofjeld from St. Paul, Minnesota says:

        Just remember, girlfriends, that bittersweet is very poisonous for kitties and dogs… 🙁

  78. Ooh! I just knew you’d be antique/junk shopping along the way! Can’t wait to see everything up! I just know you and Joe are having the time of your lives! I can smell the ocean breezes wafting to us from your wonderful blogs! Sniff Sniff! I just have to make your stuffed pork chops, everything sounds delish, and love all your ideas, got to run out and get some gummi bears and ingred for the drinks!
    Hugs,
    Jeannie
    Chirp chirp!

  79. Gert~Iowa says:

    Awesome post..full of amazing ideas for this time of the year!! smile.. Love those kitties..so adorable…I bet they are getting lots of hugs and kisses! Your finds are wonderful! Love..love..love those dish towels! Perfect to go with the tea cans!

    Blessings,
    Gert

  80. Hello Susan –
    Thank you for the lovely post. So glad your book is selling so well. You deserve it! It has been so much fun reading it, and rereading it, and rereading it. Don’t think it will ever get old. I’ve been waiting awhile to get my “fix” from Susan Branch, but I finally gave in and ordered several items from your online shop. Can’t wait for them to arrive. You take care of yourself! Happy Fall! xxoo. Am looking forward to making some of your Autumn recipes, especially the cornbread and gingerbread cake with lemon sauce. Thanks again just for being you. xxoo

  81. Betty says:

    Autumn in America sounds wonderful, especially the way you celebrate it. I must look up the recipes in your lovely Autumn book. It doesn’t actually have to be Autumn to enjoy them, does it?:) I enjoyed your last post very much, especially going aboard the “Queen Mary” with you. Just wonderful!
    Happy days, Betty

    • sbranch says:

      Those recipes will be delicious all winter long . . . those pork chops are good any cold night! Happy Day to you Betty!

  82. Joan Watson says:

    Susan – is it possible when you put a recipe in your blog if you can indicate if it is in one of your books and which one? This way if it’s not already in a book, it can be printed out and if it is in a book, there is no need to print.
    Thank you SOOOOOO much!

    • sbranch says:

      Yes, you’re so right, I should have done that! Most of those recipes, maybe all, are in my Autumn Book. I’ll try to remember that for the future, I know it helps. xo

  83. Pam Fortune says:

    Hi Susan
    Love your idea of the jelly worm are the bottom of a drink, I am going to try that out on my two grand children Maxim and Imogen and then watch for the reactions, great fun. Hopefully I should be seeing them next week. It is now very Autumnal here in the U.K. and today I have succumbed to putting the central heating on, but I have lasted much longer than last year. I love all your vintage finds. I am about to embark on sewing shopping bags for Christmas presents as England is going to charge for plastic bags soon which is a shame as I use them for refuse bags. Ah well! Enjoy your thanksgiving and all those delicious recipes you have created.

    • sbranch says:

      I have also succumbed Pam, despite the two sweaters I’m wearing right now, it’s dark still, and cold out there! I just turned on the heater. And it’s making that comforting noise that means goodbye to the chill. We’ve had to do shopping bags for a few years now, the plastic is going away. So is the paper for that matter … better for all, but us recyclers will miss the double duty they’ve done. Happy day to you!

  84. Georgie says:

    Hi Susan!!!

    You MADE it cross country! You and Joe and Petey in A Fine Romance Van, complete with a filled warehouse of wonderful girlfriend memories, plus antiques too! What a fabulous trip. Was it FUN to squeal and give Kellee a great big hug?

    Your recipes are such a treat. The cinnamon ice cream doesn’t last long here in our household!

    I’m sending HUGE HUGS across the miles. Joe and I are hoping to see you guys again at one of your stops on your journey back. Enjoy Remnants of the Past! Those tea towels are precious!

    XOXO Georgie, NJ
    P.S. XOXO

    • sbranch says:

      You’ve been running around a lot so I know you’re home for a while, but if you ever get a chance to attend one of the Remnant’s shows, it is just your cup of tea Georgie …. you would love it. Put it on your calendar for maybe next year — she does it (Judy, who used to work with me at the Studio) a couple of times a year and it’s always fantastic. Happy day to you and Joe!

  85. Paula B. says:

    Amazing, this post was filled with so much that is wonderful about this season. I loved all the recipes and the great finds you have scored on your cross country journey. (My grandmother and mother used a small clear glass dish like one you have pictured – with the fluted edges and “handle” to pass it so easily, as a candy dish. Sweet memories. I decided I had to have your Autumn book and am awaiting its arrival from a used-book store in Maine. Can’t wait to amp-up the fall festivities. How is it to be back home on the west coast? Enjoying the weather, lots of reunions, and much fun, I hope!

    • sbranch says:

      It’s wonderful to be here. Days are cooler but sunny, and lots of old friends to catch up with. Good to be at the studio too, reconnecting with everyone here. Much more fun to speak with real faces! Have a great day Paula!

  86. Joy Pence from Ohio says:

    What a cost way to start my weekend…curled up with a hot cup of your tea, and reading this beautiful autumn post. We are having our family (Jeff’s father is here from Florida) and all the daughters and their friends/boyfriends for a fall cookout. Home made baked beans and corn pudding plus apple cake and butter nut squash pie are some of the things on the menu. I am headed out shortly to gather some bittersweet and whatever else I can find. I have been cutting Japanese maple branches and putting them in a jug of water for a fall bouquet on my kitchen table. I told Jeff I was helping him get a head start on tree trimming this fall…I am so helpful! 🙂
    Thank you for the wonderful recipes and inspiration to find beauty wherever we are!
    Enjoy your girlfriends.
    Hugs, Joy

  87. Asha says:

    Hi Susan! Hi Girlfriends! What a joy to find your new blog this morning! Can’t wait to try some of these yummy recipes. Especially the cocktails and gingerbread! You are a delight, Susan! Hope you are enjoying your time in CA. Safe travels to you and Joe! oxoxox 🙂

  88. Winnie Nielsen says:

    Susan, you spoil us with so many wonderful ideas and treasures! Your Autumn book is always front and center in my kitchen. Talk about a compendium of everything you need for the best fall ever!! As a fall enthusiast, this book is my go to for inspiration and just enjoyment. I love the new kitchen towels too. Whoa, are they perfect for us or what? And Kellee and sweet kitties? Kitty love from coast to coast! Thank-you, Susan for giving us a perfect get ready Halloween post. For those of us who ADORE Halloween and all it’s quirky and crazy fun, you have shared with us reminders and suggestions that when you add old time fun and wonderful food, Trick or Treat becomes magical and deliciously scary!

    • sbranch says:

      It’s the magic for me too, for kids, remembering how it felt on those cool nights dressed in costumes and running around after dark!

  89. Margot in Virginia Beach says:

    I really like the paintings of the little butternut bisque cups! I just love your little drawings! What does the blue plate in the corner by the Christmas books say?

  90. Mo'a says:

    This is such a wonderful post. I am so impressed by your generosity…thank you for all the recipes…your artwork illustrating them is so beautiful.
    The ‘Tadpole’ aka ‘Polenta Cake’ was a great success again…(I was asked to bring a desert to a party the other night)…wish you could have head the Mmmmms.
    As a child growing up in Iceland I never had the experience of Halloween…however, raising an American child I experienced it vicariously…I was good at costumes and make up…that child will be forty November 1st. We have no small children around us now and we live in the woods an hardly ever see a child on Trick or Treat night.
    I lived in Salem, MA for eight years…that was a Halloween year around 🙂

    • sbranch says:

      LOL, I’ve been there and you’re right! I LOVE the graveyard there. Found out quite recently that one of my relatives was (I hate to say this word out loud) hung (eeeeeek) as a witch and is in that little square they have there, with all the names of those accused and abused in that period. I have her name in my papers at home, can’t think of it just now, but I always loved that spot and now I think I know why.

      • Janet in Rochester says:

        Oh, I’d love to know the name too, Sue! Does this mean you had family on the Mayflower? It kinda must mean that, huh? If not the Mayflower, the next boat over, right? That is completely amazing. Are you a DAR member? This is just fascinating to me. I like anything and everything old. :>)

        • sbranch says:

          I did have family on the Mayflower! Maybe a minuscule amount of DNA remains in me after all these years from William Bradford. More of my relatives, the Fosters, came in 1632. My great grandma’s maiden name is Foster. My Grandma was in the DAR, which is how I started on the search . . . we had one of “our guys” at the First and Second Continental Congress! I love history too. Our “Foster family tree” goes back to someone in England in around 945 named John the Forester (or something like that, I forget his first name right now). But hey, “the Forester!!!!” I’m suitably impressed! 🙂

          • Mo'a says:

            William Bradford…impressive. With a DNA like yours no wonder you grew up to be an Anglophile 🙂
            I know the graveyard that you speak of, well. I used to work at the Peabody Essex Museum.
            I am a card carrying member of The Society of Mayflower Descendants…through marriage (I am Icelandic descended from Vikings…an other story altogether) My husband has two lines to the Mayflower,the one that got him into the Society is John Alden and Priscilla Mullins. There is Alden House Historic Site in Duxbury, MA. We will visit that on our next New England trip.
            Very interesting ‘Girlfriends’ here 🙂

          • sbranch says:

            Well it’s not so hard to be related to William Bradford since I think it was his son that had ten children! I loved the bit of history, and I mean little tiny bit of Viking history we got when we were in the Lake District. More!

          • Janet in Rochester says:

            Incredible to think that you’ve had family in the US longer than there’s BEEN a US! Coming up on 400 years! One of my cousins has been tracing her dad/my mom’s family since the early 1980s. And of course, without computer help back then. Huge old dusty books and files pored over, letters that had to be translated into German, months waiting for replies. The Internet makes such a difference now. Now that I’m retired I want to work on my dad’s family which we know is Irish, English and who knows what else. :>)

  91. Carrie says:

    Good Morning Susan,

    Hope it’s ok to ask…I read a comment, several posts back, about your being in Palo Alto around the end of October for a book signing. Does it look like that might happen?

    The Queen Mary trip was postponed but I celebrated my birthday yesterday in Nevada City, CA where the colors are just blazing. And sweet homes, several Victorian. If you are ever headed on I-80 East, take off on Hwy 49 towards Grass Valley – it is a slice of heaven. Lake Tahoe, the Pacific ocean, Sierra foothills and San Francisco all within a short drive of Sacramento.

    Will keep watching the coming events page and hoping for a miracle for northern CA, Carrie

    * I was talking to my friend for 40+ years last night and learned she has followed you for quite some time. So I told her about all the fun this past year and a half has been with your trip to England and AFR – she doesn’t have the book yet so that is going to be sorted out but quick out of my distribution center 🙂 We are also going to spend a night or two in Sonora, CA and go to the yarn shop there where they have gorgeous colors of yarn to choose from; you can sit and knit in the shop, asking questions of the wonderful clerks. I, like you, also do scarves (did a sweater once but with much help from my Mom and Grandma).* Did you finish your scarf from your England trip?*

    • sbranch says:

      At first we expected that event to be open to the public, but it’s in a private home and they’ve invited over 300 people so it ended up that it’s going to be closed after all. I’m sorry. I wish my “distribution center” (when it comes to books) was in as good shape as yours! Running out of books has put a serious crimp in our plans. We think we’ll be losing the whole northern part of the California trip, up to Washington … but we will not forget and our next time out here we’ll try hard to get north first. The finishing of my England scarf will be my winter front-of-the-TV project for stormy evenings . . . I look forward to getting back home to do that. Happy Birthday week Carrie! xoxo

      • Carrie says:

        Thanks for the update on P.A. and no worries. Just not meant to be this time ’round. So glad my friend Darlene (the nurse from Modesto, CA now transplanted to Ft. Wayne, Ind. and who knows your friend’s husband) met you and Joe in Goshen and got my book signed for me. BTW, are you going to keep the van decorated once you get home…would seem a shame to keep such happy wheels off the road.

        • sbranch says:

          You’re so sweet Carrie! About the van, it seems silly to keep driving it around decorated like that forever, but then, I’ve grown so fond of it! The lamb face and all that, it’s so festive! Of course we’d have no secrets — oh, Susan or Joe must be at the dentist, oh, just saw them down at the boat, there they are at the PO, wonder what they’re doing at Tiltons? It’s a very little island. Course everyone knows everyone else’s car anyway, with or without lambs on them!

          • Margot in Virginia Beach says:

            Aren’t small towns something??? I used to want to run away from the one I grew up in, but they can be cozy and handy. Especially in a college town where you can walk to everything!

  92. Barbara Serio says:

    Good morning Susan! Your post was such a lovely way to start my day! Your fall posts are so inspirational, every year they make me so excited about fall and all things wonderful for this time of year! It has become my favorite time of year! I’m really looking forward to meeting you at the Remnants of the Past. Our girlfriend Sandy Quaresma Perry (who I met through FOSB) is bringing me! Hope you enjoy your time here on the Central Coast. Have a great day!

  93. Barb from Ohio says:

    Hi Susan, I’m loving this new post with all the delicious recipes. Pictures are making my mouth water! It’s just that time of year with cooler temperatures that make you want to cook good comfort and feel good foods. Glad you are settled and doing well at your California home, getting some rest and relaxation before you’re on the road again. I found the recipes to most of these in the Autumn book so I don’t have to copy them off from here. Thanks for posting all of this fall goodness, it’s my favorite time of year. Happy fall and Happy Halloween!

  94. Marie (Long Beach, California) says:

    L O V E D everything in this post! And that’s because I love everything about fall and you. Your placecard idea is darling. Your comment “(did someone say Jack? waaaah)” did make me a little sad, but I know how happy he’s going to be when you walk in the door when you get home. Jack and Girl Kitty will be so giddy you’re home; all will be right in their world again. All us girlfriends appreciate you and Joe being away from home for so long, to make so many of us happy by signing our books. Thank you! With love and happiness always. ♥

  95. Rosemary says:

    Susan, if you get a chance I’d love to see pictures of your California house please.

  96. Carilyn Wolski says:

    Hello Susan! It was so very nice to read your wonderful Autumn Post this afternoon! My mind is now spinning with so many of your ideas from your recipes, to decorating, antiques, and tea towels!!! Beautiful, just beautiful! Such a great reference for all of us to use to get our homes ready for this chilly season!!! (However, it is sunny with temperatures in the 70’s in Dearborn, Michigan!) I just finished sewing a rag quilt for my neice’s baby shower tomorrow, (plus a matching stuffed cushy owl) and have finally had time to check my e-mails and “BINGO”, there was yours!!! You always make me smile! Have fun on the West Coast Susan!!!! Enjoy the Autumn you and Joe!!!

  97. Carol in NorCal says:

    Great recipes and decorating ideas! Thank you Susan! Just one question: I was thinking of serving the baked stuffed little pumpkins at a party, but does one eat the pumpkin or just the filling? I guess I know they are edible, but do they taste good? And would one just scoop out the pumpkin with a spoon, or cut it up with a knife and fork? If I am to be a good hostess, I’d better know how to handle this! Any input you could provide would be helpful. BTW, I have a milk-glass cake stand very similar to the one you found, with the ruffled edge, and I can attest to it being a great piece to serve or display anything!

    • sbranch says:

      The pumpkin is really just the vessel, although it’s like any squash so you can scrape out the soft stuff in the middle. They’d look great on that milk glass footed stand!

      • Janet in Rochester says:

        I was wondering something similar about the Jack-Be-Littles. If used as “bowls” for soup, are the scooped-out “innards” edible? The only pumpkin I’ve ever used for recipes that WASN’T canned was called a “pie” or “sugar” pumpkin bought at a farmer’s market. It was quite a bit smaller than the jack-o-lantern pumpkins and apparently grown to be sweeter. ???

        • sbranch says:

          They’re edible, you just scoop out the flesh, but they’re very small — not much flesh, just perfect for stuffing. Here’s a website that tells all about them. All pumpkins are edible, maybe some are better than others, I’m not sure, too many varieties and I haven’t tasted them all, but they are all edible.

          • Janet in Rochester says:

            Thanks for the info, Sue. My mom always used a pie/sugar pumpkin [or canned] for recipes & said that the standard “Halloween” pumpkin wasn’t as tasty. And because of their size, I think I was equating Jack-Be-Littles with the gourds that are available now, and from what I understand are definitely NOT edible.

  98. Deb from Dixie says:

    Happy Fall ♥ ♥ ♥ !!
    The most beautiful time of year…..ah, thanks for all the yummy recipes….and all the updates. Love the dish towels…so cute! And oh…….you have snuggly kitties on both coasts now……so sweet and cuddly.

    Enjoy California….and all your friends and family…..I grew up out there in Glendora……many moons (decades) ago…..still miss the beaches and the beautiful drives up the coasts…..and the orange groves….and the date shakes…LOL!

    Have a wonderful Sunday! And Happy Fall to all the Girlfriends too!

  99. Hi Susan,
    Yay, I am so excited the towels will be made in America! That is great news.

    I love Sammy and Sasha. Our one year old cat, Little B is long haired. He is a doll to sleep with, so so warm. I think he would be pals with Sasha. 🙂

  100. Nettie says:

    oh what a great blog……very inspiring for sure….I just want to decorate and bake and decorate and bake and decorate and bake and oh yes nibble! today was an amazing fall day here in upstate New York….just perfect, I hope yours was too.

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