Hi Everyone! Between WILLARD (which starts going out this morning and finishes Wednesday night) and this post, I think I’m going to wear you out! But in the Willard I promised you a recipe, I promised “make-up gifts.” (Too long since last Willard, should call them welcome-back gifts). But first, we need MUSICA . . . and I need to show you what my dad, better known as “Blog Daddy” and his darling wife Jeannie sent us for Easter.
Is that cute or what? I get the bunny with the bow and I’m seven again. It’s got green peeps, it’s filled with those 
little chocolate eggs with the thin crispy crust and my favorite dark chocolate-covered coconut bars. Thanks Dad, thanks Jeannie! There’s me and Blog Daddy → . . . Such a cute surprise! (We were so young!)
I hope Easter weekend was as beautiful where you are as it was here! We’ve been getting amazing doses (as in medicine) of spring, drinking it in, making it almost impossible to stay inside, stay home, stay down. We want OUT! We pop this music into the player and off we go…
The island is coming alive and it’s fun to drive around and look at it. You can see we are still waiting for leaves on the trees, but the air is filled with the sweet smell of thawing earth, the light is new, and the sailboats are coming back. It’s perfect timing . . . Happy Earth Day! It’s today! Pretty smart of the powers-that-be to tuck Earth Day into this beautiful time of year! For extra enjoyment, for frosting on the spring cake . . . Check out the Washington DC Cherry Trees in bloom! They will put a song in your heart.
And now, here’s the recipe for the cake I wrote about in Willard, an old-fashioned lemon-filled sponge cake, soft as a baby’s hiney, perfect for spring birthdays, and gorgeous as a Mother’s Day Tea Cake.
And since I made this cake for Easter, I thought I’d show you just how easy it is to put together. Making this roll is much easier than you might think if you haven’t done it before.
So set your oven for 375° and here we go . . .
Butter a 10″ x 15″ cookie sheet that has a rim (jelly roll pan), then lay down a piece of waxed paper (allowing it to go over edge), smooth it into the corners and into the butter, and then butter the paper too.
Put the yolks of three eggs in one bowl and the whites in another.
Beat egg yolks a little bit then add a cup of sugar and . . .
Beat them until they’re thick and lemon colored . . .
Sift a cup of flour together with salt and baking powder . . . (don’t worry I’ll give measurements at the end)…
And stir it in to your batter along with six tablespoons of hot water . . .
Beat the egg whites until stiff and glossy.
While you’re doing that take a peek outside . . . oh, my, what a DAY!
And LOOK!!! I begin calling for Joe . . . we have robins by the herds, we have gaggles of cardinals, whole families ~ (not that I will ever take them for granted), but see that bird on the right? We never see that bird. ever. Got out the bird book where we find out it usually likes woods and thickets. This is our driveway . . . he is a “rose-breasted grosbeak.”
We ooh and aaah over him for a few minutes . . . He must have spring fever, coming over for some dessert seeds.
OK, that was nice, but back to “work” ~ folding in the egg whites . . .
And then the zest of one lemon . . . Now spread the batter evenly on your well-buttered cookie sheet and put into oven for 12 to 15 minutes.
While it’s baking, lay out a clean dishtowel and sift over a sprinkling of powdered sugar.
When the cake is done, and wafting fresh cake fragrance to the neighborhood, bring it out of the oven and use the edges of the waxed paper to turn it out onto your powdered-sugar covered cloth . . .
Voila! While still hot, carefully peel off the paper. Then take a pair of sharp scissors and cut off the crispy edges of the cake all the way around . . .
You can eat those crispy edges immediately, but from experience, if you eat them all now, you’ll have nothing to dip in the lemon filling you’re about to make. Just sayin’ . . .
Now, using the dishtowel begin to roll up the cake. It’s fairly malleable while it’s hot so you can make a nice roll, just pull out the towel as you go . . .
Once it’s all rolled, just leave it there and let it cool while you make the filling. Essentially it’s in training now to be a roll.
LEMON FILLING: In the top part of a double boiler, put two whole eggs, a cup of sugar, the grated rind of two lemons . . .
The fresh juice of two lemons and two tablespoons of melted butter.
Pour the juice into the double boiler through a fine sieve if your lemons are like mine and filled with seeds. Stir over simmering water for fifteen minutes until the filling is thick. Cool slightly. (Más MUSICA Girlfriends?)
Then it’s time to unroll your cake; carefully peel it open until it’s flat ~ it goes very easily . . .
Pour over the lemon filling and spread it almost to the edges, but leave it thick in the middle. (Don’t forget to save a little bit of filling to dip your cake clippings in if you have any left.)
Roll the cake back up, not TOO tightly, because you want the lemon filling to stay inside. I roll and lift the cake a bit as I go so as to keep the lemon from squeezing out the sides. Move the cake to an oval serving plate.
Sift over a little more powdered sugar ~ the cake is beautiful, but I decide it needs a little Easter decoration . . . so I run outside to pick some of my pretty yellow (non-toxic) forsythia flowers . . . any excuse to go outside is a good thing.
And voila! Like little butterflies. Your cake would be just as pretty with wild violets, pansies, johnny jump-ups, or roses . .
Now, soak the dishes, while you’re at it, notice the guy in the garden . . . that really good guy in the garden? Doing the aphrodisiac-thing women love?
Mulching and getting everything ready . . .♥
Go ask him if he would like a piece of Lemon Cake . . . Tell him you will bring it and he can eat it in the garden.
He deserves this . . . tender soft sugary cake with the most lemony of lemon fillings . . .
And while you’re out there, find reasons to stay . . . Hang up your bird houses . . . because you LOVE the serenade of birds in love . . .
Go take a picture of your old bunny crossing sign … take note of good mulchy dirt . . .
Give up looking for more to do and go on a walk! Such an amazingly gorgeous weekend.
Remember these Jingle Shells I found on the beach . . .?
. . . and then arranged on my window sill?
Well, one of our Girlfriends mentioned how much she would like to have some of these genuine Martha’s Vineyard jingle shells . . . so yesterday, out on our walk, I collected these . . .
And I put them in this Emma Bridgewater tin as a surprise . . . because I thought they might be a fun giveaway for spring, to celebrate the change of season, a box from the sea.♥
Jack agreed. I tied the box up in a little bag. Then I thought maybe not everyone wants shells, but I bet everyone would love an original 1900 copy of the wonderful “Elizabeth and Her German Garden,” the first book written by one of my favorite authors, Elizabeth von Arnim (she also wrote “Enchanted April” which you would love if you haven’t already read it). So I added that . . . Look at the beautiful raggedy edges on the pages of this old book . . . (Of course, If I’m doing anything different at all, Jack is immediately involved. He has an inquiring mind that wants to KNOW.)
So I put them together and thought, that looks nice, but something is missing . . .
A Fine Romance! Yes, must have that in the package. I hope you like it! I’ll sign my book and the Elizabeth book to whomever wins the drawing . . . All you have to do to be entered is leave a comment; right here at the bottom of this post you’ll see the tiny letters “comment” ~ click there and say anything sweet and you’ll be entered.
But is that enough when it’s been almost a year since your last Willard? Don’t you owe the Girlfriends something else? Maybe not “owe” but “wish to give?” Oui! I think so! So Vanna will choose TWO names this time, and the second name drawn will get these two Keepsake books (guided “life story” journals with lined paper, places for photos, sewn-in ribbon bookmarks ~ and lots of fun questions to be answered in their own handwriting by mom’s, grandma’s, aunts, sisters), more Mother’s Day festivities! xoxo We are starting early because we know that the best way to remember Mother’s Day is to forget it once, but we never want that to happen!♥
Here’s the recipe Girlfriends!
CAKE:
- 3 eggs, separated in two lg. bowls
- 1 c. sugar
- 6 Tbsp. hot water
- 1 c. sifted unbleached flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- grated rind of one lemon (zest)
- sifted powdered sugar
Preheat oven to 375°. Butter a 10″ x 15″ cookie sheet or jelly roll pan, one with a rim. Line it with waxed paper leaving some to hang over edges (an inch is fine). Set pan aside. Separate eggs into two large bowls. Beat egg yolks, add sugar and beat until thick and lemon-colored. Stir in hot water and dry ingredients. Beat egg whites with electric beater until stiff; gently fold into egg batter. Fold in grated rind. Pour batter into prepared pan, spreading evenly. Bake 12-15 min.
Immediately turn finished cake onto clean dishtowel lightly covered with sifted powdered 
sugar. Carefully peel off waxed paper. With sharp scissors, cut off the crisp edges of the cake. Using the cloth, roll up cake pulling out cloth as you go. Leave it covered and rolled, set it aside to cool while you make the filling.
FILLING
- 2 whole eggs
- 1 c. sugar
- 2 Tbsp. butter, melted
- zest and juice of 2 lemons (strained if necessary, no seeds please)
Put all ingredients into top part of double boiler. Beat well and stir til thick, approx. 15-20 min. Cool slightly.
FINISH
Unroll the cake, spread on the filling, and roll back up. Cool completely. Transfer to serving dish. Sift over a tiny bit more powdered sugar. Add flowers if you like, edible and unsprayed, violets, pansies, roses, johnny jump ups. Here’s a list of edible flowers.
Now something everyone needs the week after Easter, a delicious recipe for:
These make the most delicious just-home-from-work treat, on the porch while you watch the green things growing. Which is what I hope you’re all doing these days, just as crazy with spring fever as we are. ♥ Deep breaths of the gorgeous outdoors, that’s the only “cure.”
Happy Spring, Girlfriends . . . I’m off to work on my book, my new addiction, a few hours every morning, trying to figure out what our heroine is going to do next (she seems to have a mind 
of her own) . . . housekeeping, gardening, normal life in the afternoon. Don’t forget to leave a comment for the seashells and books. Also, if you have any trouble with WILLARD, be sure to let me know. He goes to lots of addresses now, it takes a couple of days for them all to go out, but if you haven’t received him by Thursday morning, check your spam box (because I’ve heard he can take a detour) and then let me know . . . you can write either here, or on Twitter, or on FOSB (Facebook), and we will be paying attention!
XOXO
Susan, I cannot thank you enough for being part of my life through your blog. My heart jumps with joy every time you post a new blog. What joy, inspiration, and beauty you bring to this world that sometimes seems so bleak. I love everything Susan and think I will only focus on the wonderful things you point out to all of us all the time. Nature and flowers, delicious food, beautiful dishes, good music and books. Who could live without these things and I am making them formost in my life. And let us not forget family and friends.
You have made my day, Marian
Thank you so much for giving us an “up-close” view into your life…it is so relaxing to read and imagine being on Martha’s Vineyard, a vacation location that is definitely on the top of my list of wonderful things to do…thank you, thank you…..spring is my favorite time of the year……
Wow! A year since Willard??? Time flies, I am so thankful for Willard today…to think I’ve been missing all this goodness on your blog. I will have to make some appointments for myself to catch up on all the inspiration I have been missing! Happy Earth Day and keep the loveliness coming!
Hi precious Susan,
I have known your books since the very first one came out. You captured me with your beautiful words and pictures and just your wonderful way of being. If anything, I would love to win the seashells with some of the ocean…I live in SF, NM and I missed you when you drove through NM…so depressing…thank you for you…db
I’m sure we will be back one day Diana!
I am so excited about getting the new Willard!! My first!! I hope you had a blessed birthday! You are such an inspiration…I look so forward to each of your blogs. Thanks for making my day brighter! 🙂
Thanks for the creative ideas, as always. I love sipping coffee and reading your colorful Willards and the selected inspirational quotes you sprinkle throughout the e-mail. Happy Spring!
good morning: what a wonderful day.. so glad you all can now open the windows and have all that wonderful fresh air..enjoy
happy spring.
from florida
Hi Susan!
Thank you for Willard and a beautiful blog post. How do you manage to do sooo much!! I’ll be spending my free time today re-reading Willard and today’s blog post–love it!! Oh! the lucky girls who win your giveaway. Keeping my fingers crossed!!
Hugs from Barbara in Cumming, GA
My first post! I am more than excited about the jingle shells in the Snipe box. I loved the previous pictures of them because I grew up one block from the beach in Groton, Connecticut and would collect these every day! At the time there were the occasional white and black ones too. Susan, we made necklaces and jingly bracelets out of them because they often came conveniently with a hole in them already. At the same time in my life I was a Brownie and a Girl Scout. As novices we were sent on Snipe hunts!!! Now these two are combined. Thanks for the wonderful memories!!
Happy Earth Day! I can only imagine what Martha’s Vineyard feels like while it thaws in transition to Spring – can’t wait to visit some day! Thank you for sharing 🙂 That cake might be just what the doctor ordered for my best friend who will be celebrating her first Mother’s Day this year.
Happy Spring, Susan – and thanks for the update!
Another super-duper post, filled with delights in and of itself; but TWO GIVEAWAYS? Plus Willard forthcoming?? Wowser!! You are the best 🙂 Happy, happy Spring to you and yours …
Sharon in Alabama
You make me want to sing! Spring is here at last; let’s celebrate.
Lemon cake and tea in the garden. Heaven, I’m in heaven!!! You make my heart sing with your incredible gift for finding joy all around us.
You’ve done it again–transported me to your world. It is such a wonderful place to be. Thank you for the opportunity to enter your drawing. I never win anything but I’ll give it a shot. I feel that you are a beloved friend because you make me feel so good and happy! I always look forward to your posts.
Spring has sprung! What a beautiful, wonderful post! Filled with so much eye candy! Loved the Easter baskets from Blog Daddy and Jeannie, so cute. Can’t wait to get Willard and enjoy some more wonderfulness from you Susan. Fingers crossed Vanna picks me for one of the beautiful gifts. But if not, I know whoever she picks will be so happy! ♥
Thank you for the spring tour of Martha’s Vineyard, the recipes, and all your
sweet, and wonderful paintings throughout! I think I will get the “Mom” book so my mother and I can go over her life and memories and dreams. I started taking
down notes about her childhood years ago but never finished the project (the story of my life)…now that she is 86 and has macular degeneration, she will not be able to fill it in herself, but she and I can make it happen together. My Grandma passed away when I was only 10 and I have so many questions I would have asked her, now, as an adult.
I’ve collected jingle shells too, only in East Hampton, Long Island. They are all over the beaches there. Someday, I plan to visit Martha……..
Spring has been slow coming to my yard, but finally the forsythia is in bloom and daffodils are nodding their sweet little heads in the breeze. I can understand your excitement to see a Rose Breasted Grosbeak — sometimes I see them at my feeders and it’s such a treat — they are very pretty birds.
It’s truly the little things, like birds, flowers, and the sound of Spring peepers that can bring so much joy. Sometime I envy our California friends but I think the four seasons keep us from taking things for granted and give us something to continually look forward to.
Good luck with your next book — it sounds like you’re a happy clam to be working on it. Life is good!
JoAnne
Yummy! Love anything with lemons. Thank you for the recipe!
Earth Day 2014 — Cool here in Michigan, but it is so bright and sunny. Bright green weeping willows frame my pond view, also just budding Japanese maple, tulips, and just turning yellow bushes. Spring. Finally.
What a wonderful way to start the day….. And 2 chances at some treasured items what more can a girlfriend ask for…. Thanks so much for sharing!!!!!
Can’t wait to make the lemon cake. Brings back a lot of memories of my mother. She always made a chocolate roll with whipped cream filling and a homemade chocolate sauce drizzled over it. Happy Earth day!
Wow, a fab post and a give away! I wish cardinals and rose-breasted grosbeaks would come to my bird feeder. What a surprise that would be as I live in northern Utah! Looking forward to making the cake the next time I have friends over. The shells are beautiful. I think it’s time to get my shells out, it is very nearly summer. Can’t wait to read the latest Willard. Thank you for a wonderful start to my Tuesday!
‘ANYTHING SWEET”……okay, that was my Winter-brainfog and sassiness….just had to do it! (In case nobody gets my “cleverness”….you said to say anything sweet). Seriously, you have been a breath of sunshine this winter. Each time I would open up your post in the cold Michigan night, I would close my eyes and listen to that sweet little birdie sing and envision warmth and a beautiful walk on one of your lovely beaches. Thankyou . Your creative-ty is inspiring! xo
The sun peeked out here on the other side of USA as I read your blog and one of my four kitties (curious, like Jack) is here on the desk with a cheery good morning, as well. My day is off to a good start, thanks to both of you!
Dear Susan,
Thank you so much for your wonderful Willard. I always look forward to receiving them. I keep copies of all of your “Willards” in a notebook along with my “Snail Mail” book. It is always fun to reread them when I need a little extra happiness in my day.
Hugs, Carol
Oh, Vanna… choose me!
This is the loveliest of give aways. 🙂
Hi and Happy Spring to Susan and Joe from the English Rose Tea Room! Loved your bright and sunny post so much and the quote about the world being beautifully dressed for Spring! Do you and Joe remember the “retired” teapots Jo has hanging over the patio dining area? A mother finch has made a sweet nest in one of them for the past two or three years and this year was no exception, but she moved to a bigger teapot and raised five baby birds successfully from the teapot “chandelier”! The teapot openings are hanging at a slight angle, so the baby birds are safely nestled in the lower part of the pot with no danger of falling out—what a smart Mom!
That’s wonderful Beverly, sweet story!
Beautiful! Where is the English Rose Tea Room?
Hi Nancy—the English Rose Tea Room is located in Carefree,AZ near Phoenix and is owned by Joanne (Jo), a wonderful English lady who has created such a lovely place for all of us. Women’s friendships are so important to all of us and this is a perfect place to celebrate those friendships, as well as special events like showers, birthdays and even everyday “good times”. We serve traditional English formal tea, but also hearty fare for gentlemens’ appetites. I often say to reluctant husbands who think they are out of their comfort zone, “Oh, we had a man in here earlier, but he escaped!” They laugh, eat a satisfying meal, and come back again and again! Jo’s website is carefreetea.com.
The English Rose Tea Room is such a lovely place to visit! Last year, we celebrated my mom’s 80th birthday there. We will always cherish our celebration, complete with fancy hats! ♡♡
Such a wonderful post today! Ahh deviled eggs….It was requested I bring deviled eggs to our Easter dinner. I boiled my eggs, knowing they were probably a little too fresh, but hoping they would peel easily. My son brought his eggs over to boil, so they could color them later… to be nice I traded my already boiled eggs. Now I have even fresher eggs. Of course the eggs would not peel and I’m getting cranky. Then the shells plugged up the garbage disposal. A plunger wouldn’t unplug them so I called in my husband who plunged even harder. This loosened the pipe connections under the sink and now there is water everywhere. I have a corner sink so there is a lot of stuff underneath, which now has to be removed and dryed out. This stuff has to sit on the counters until we run the next dishwasher load to see if the pipes are still leaking or if my wonderful husband has fixed them. Easter food has to be prepared around this mess. Off we go with the eggs to our dinner, where everyone loves them. But it will be a long time before I make deviled eggs again!!! :))
Happy Earth Day, Susan! I am going to bake your lemon cake T.O.D.A.Y.!!! I have a lemon cake recipe that I always feel is a bit too “dry” but this looks absolutely heavenly! Can’t wait! Thank you! And thank you, too, for the “stuffed eggs” recipe… it’s wonderful to see a recipe that includes celery seeds. They are too often left out of devilled egg recipes… so good with them! Clearly, Spring is closer to its bloom there, where you are, than it is here. We are still thawing out!.. some snow left on the lawn and the garden beds are still frozen solid. We are hoping to be able to plant by late May. Your garden beds looks ready for seeds and seedlings already. And your darling Joe is out there to prepare for that. How lovely. You two are so cute. And so are the Easter “baskets” sent to you by your Dad and his wife! Sooooooo cute!! Have a good day, Susan. And thank you for a new Willard! WooHoo!
Hello Susan, how I love the description >doing aphrodisiac-thing women love< that will go into my personal dictionary :-)))
Please give me a chance to win that lovely tin with shells from your island. Your book would do a nice gift for somebody I like as I have it myself already. Love your island, it must be a privilege to live there.
Thank you for Willard & your blog post. I love paddling along a beach looking for shells & that rare treasure, sea glass. It was my birthday yesterday too, & I have so enjoyed reading about your life. My favourite holidays have been in US – I live in England – so your blog is a real treat. Thank you for the opportunity to win the smell of the sea & that fabulous vintage book.
Susan Anne you are so sweet, I can’t wait to try this cake. Jelly Rolls have always kind of scared me but you made this look like I could do it! I have always wondered how it was done. And the color of those seashells are so delicate. The books also so special…. Joe working in the garden is just like my hubby planting the garden and weeding, and mowing! Such a dreamboats aren’t they! La La La! Have a beautiful day!
Thank you for making it so spring like everyday…even on the days where it still wants to spit snow! Can’t wait to try the Lemon Cake…and to plant some new flowers in our garden. You are an Inspiration! Happy Earth Day!
Nancy T.
Another wonderful blog! Springtime in Martha’s Vineyard looks so beautiful. Here in California the trees are blooming like crazy and my roses have already had their first big bloom. Isn’t spring a wonderful time of year?
Would love it if Vanna chose me – Thanks for your lovely writings! Look forward to them every day.
OMG – how I would love to have that book and the tin with shells. Thanks for the chance to win it!!! Happy Spring to you!
I am looking forward to the Willard, always enjoy reading them. The cake looks delicious but neither my husband or I can have sugar so I won’t be making one. Spring has finally arrived here too after such a long winter. I love reading your blogs, don’t stop. They are a real inspiration. thanks, Sheila
Happy, happy Earth Day!
Willard, cake and a giveaway! This is such a fun place to visit.
Oooohweee either of those gifts would be amazing!
I love the grosbeak. Aren’t they cute with the burst of orange on their chests? And cardinals – my favorite. And LEMON – my favorite!
Enjoy your spring days!
Hi Susan,
It was so nice to receive Willard this morning. It’s always a breath of fresh air and a ray of sunshine bought into my life. Your new book sounds wonderful. Can’t wait till it’s published. Your Easter baskets, were so darn cute. Your dad and his wife are a hoot. Your never to young to receive your own Easter basket. Well hope Vanna picks my name for the wonderful gifts you put together with love for all of your fans. Have a wonderful Spring season.
Love,
Gail
How very fortunate you and blog daddy have each other. The posted picture of both of you together is precious.
Today we are having a delightful April Shower! It’s washing all the pine trees and rhodies on our property. Everyone waited so long for these showers that today isn’t gloomy at all. All outdoors is thrilled that the temperatures are a bit warmer than just a month ago. Thank you for the good looking lemon cake recipe. Mom would live a piece or two so I’ll get to work, all though it’s not really work when there is so much pleasure involved in making, baking and eating the end result!
Good morning!
I so enjoyed reading your post about the jingle shells! I’m a mountain girl, so I have never seen them before; I wonder how they get to be that color…As I write this, the robins are tweeting in my yard, the daffodil-yellow cloth from Easter dinner still covers the table, and a bouquet of purple tulips reaches up from a vase to say hello. Spring is here-hurray!
Susan I absolutely love your blog. I am relatively new new to it, following for about 3 months. You always cheer me & put in the nicest quotes, prettiest pictures & yummiest of recipes. I don’t understand what “Willard” is? Perhaps you could explain. Love the pic of you & your pop. How nice it must have been for you to receive the darling monogrammed Easter baskets. I miss my dad very much. His name was Joe & he passed in 1993. Thank you for the newest recipe. I wanna try this one. My oldest son loves just about anything lemon. Thanks too for a chance to win the lovely shells & book. Take care. Your Seattle fan, Debbie.
Click here for WILLARD info … Willard is my newsletter, named for my grandfather. If you click there, you can read about that, sight up and find old Willards. Happy to meet you Debbie! Thank you!
Hello Susan!
Our Easter was very nice, a very nice beautiful warm sunny day! I made stuffed eggs of course! That is an Easter staple!
I recently vacationed in Florida and saw one of your sweet little books! They are everywhere, which is so lovely!
Have a great happy day!
Ally
I used to receive Willard by post. Have only recently discovered your blog and see that I better get my name on the mailing list. You can never have too many jingle shells. My collection comes from Sanibel.
Happy spring! Happy Earth Day! And while I’m at it, Happy Everything! It’s a glorious day here, too, so I’m taking your advice and heading outside now. The seashells are such a pretty yellow. I wonder what kind they are. So excited for another Willard, too! Thanks, Susan! 🙂
What a beautiful post. What a beautiful prize! Someone is going to be very lucky! Hope it’s me!
Hi Susan, Although we moved from VT to SC, this winter has been challenging, though not nearly as it would have been had we stayed , as much as I love it. You can take your health for granted. I believe you and I are the same age so I think you’ll appreciate that things wear out…
In January I had low back surgery, in a brace for six weeks and then rehab. It is wonderful not to have back pain. The surgery did not fix the pain in my knee, though it did restore it’s mobility. So…now I’m having injections of lubricant made from cocks comb, the bird, not the plant – can you believe it?! This wonderful method is putting cartilage in my knee w/ lubricating fluid that is like what we used to do for our cars in the 60’s, remember? Well, now that we are in our 60’s they’ve made sure we can keep moving. Isn’t that wonderful? What a great time to be our age;they’ve thought of everything!! Additionally, I was just diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis…explains some aches and pains not covered in the other areas. I think now I’m finished with new bodily discoveries:) and again, the RA treatment has improved a gigantic amount, just in time for this time of life.
I’m not whining. I am so grateful that we “boomers” have lived through a time of wonder and now have researched remedies for our later years.
Last but not least, guess who kept me smiling with her wonderful blog? I so looked forward to it as I was recuperating. Thank you, Susan, you touch our hearts and souls with your humor, reminders of what to be grateful for and your darling writings and art work.
Happy Spring!
June
You are so sweet to offer such special gifts <3
Because of you I ordered and just received my first Gladys Taber book, The Stillhouse Road! Looking forward to reading it!
Have a blessed day!
I am always so inspired by your posts. My life needs all this beauty. Thank you. Looking forward to getting Willard!
Hello Susan, Your blog is so much fun to read. I love everything about it. I just signed up for Willard so I am really looking forward to getting it. I loved your book “A Fine Romance”. I loaned it to a friend who also loved it and she loaned it to another friend (with my permission), then she purchased four copies to give to her mother, daughter, and two daughter-in-laws! She said she knows they will all love it! Thank you for sharing your adventures with all of us!
The lemon cake would be lovely to serve on Mothers Day. Having 4 sisters and mom, we have much to talk about and remember, someone lucky person will receive such a thoughtful gift from you.
We all love “deviled eggs” too Sue. They disappear lickitty split. I also add pickle juice but hadn’t thought of the celery seed. Definitely will give that a whirl…a little paprika on top makes them extra pretty. Happy Spring !!
Oh my gosh Susan !!! You just don’t know how much this post cheered me up!! I would love to win one of your beautiful prizes!!!! Someone is gonna be so lucky!! You inspire me so much! I even posted a photo of my little lamb vase over on friends of susan branch Facebook page full of our spring flowers fresh from the garden! I hope you’ll be able to take a look and see how you inspire us!!!! Have a wonderful springful day!!
Ok, this one is my time to win your sweet give away. Your post just gave me a smile of springtime with the wonderful cake and stuffed eggs too. What a treat for the singing heart.
Hi Susan!
Your cake looks wonderful – can’t wait to try the recipe. Thanks for a chance to win your great giveaway.
Happy Spring!
Terry in Iowa
Notice of a new blog post puts a smile on my face each and every time! Thank you so much for sharing with us! Looking forward to Willard and to trying the lemon cake! Happy Spring!
Looking out my window here in Girdwood, Alaska, at stubborn snow still on the ground, I truly enjoyed your garden and would love to join you in the garden for a piece of that lovely cake ! Thank you so much for a look at Spring from here in Alaska !
Another day is NOT another day when we get to meet and chat. What a lovely group of surprises and how well they open everyone’s mind to thoughts of a meaningful spring day!
To everything there is a season, but certainly Spring is the most hopeful time of the year–even in the midst of serious personal and world issues. Happy Spring to all- and especially you, dear Susan. You could be doing anything, but you choose to inspire and encourage. MANY THANKS!
Thank you Susan for a wonderful mini-vacation this morning! All of your writings and works just warm my heart and soul, reminding me of the lighter and more engaging side within.
Awwwww – you are so thought full to tantalize us with the possibility of being THE NAME that is drawn! Although, drawing or not, I loved receiving Willard in my email box this morning. It is always a feast for my eyes and heart! I remember receiving him in the mail with stickers back in the day:) —– I just finished reading A Fine Romance. It was ALMOST as good as being on that trip with you! —–And, I am feeling inspired to make that mother’s day cake for a birthday celebration tomorrow. The step by step pictures give me courage! Maybe I’ll accent it with fresh berries. I LOVE lemon and berries—– Thank you for making this earth even more beauty full, and thank you in advance for working so diligently on your “novel.” I can’t wait to read it! —– with love from the heart of my home in Lake Tapps, Washington (where it is still raining!)
This is indeed a wonderful day!
Getting settled in with my cup of tea to savour it and the newest “Willard” . Then to find your recipe for the lemon roll- brought tears to my eyes….and fond memories to my heart (my mother made it often-I can see her standing at the kitchen counter making the luscious filling now). Her recipe has gone missing – but your version is very very very close to it (if not exactly the same)
And last, but not least, the chance to win this wonderful spring giveaway?
Can this day get any better?
Belated Easter wishes to you and the lovely man in the garden!
Hey there! Can’t wait to try your new teas!!!
Wow! What a wonderful post! My husband walked in and saw the lemon roll. He wants one, of course. Then our new little fur ball ran into the room, tore around the corner, and miss calculated the turn, doing a flip into the table let. She will still fit into one hand, but is full of energy. We named her Lilly, and she keeps us laughing.
I’m off to hunt antiques! We need more chairs. Last week I found an amazing huge (with the leaves) old oak table with fat legs & lion paw feet. It’s just the way I like, with a bit of a nick, one very faint old dark ring, tons of patina. It goes amazingly well with my old English oak kitchen cupboard (like a Hoosier cabinet). Don’t you all just love Spring rearranging/decorating (cleaning)? And, put me in for the amazing drawing! I might have to try bribing Vanna this time!!
That’s the exact style of table I wrote my first three books on . . . my dad has it now!
Please tell your sweet dad to make plans for that table so that it is never sold! One day, there will be Susan Branch Museum or Historical Home, just like Beatrix Potter’s, and people will be entranced to see the old oak table where you painted and wrote your first three books by hand. Perhaps it will even have a place in the Smithsonian ~ wouldn’t that be something special!
You are too cute, Terrie! It’s his kitchen table right now. 🙂
I agree with Terry! All your fans/friends will want a museum. Anyway, I’m happy to have a table like your old one. We have good taste! I keep my oldest cookbooks and all your books on the zinc pull-out of the cupboard so I can sit with my tea and plan meals.
You are such an inspiration. I love seeing the photos of your area – what gorgeous birds you have on the East coast! I love the jingle shells and the Emma Bridgewater tin is beautiful. Plus your books! Your gift package is just wonderful!
I so enjoyed all of your Spring pictures. I can’t believe you already have Forsythia, mine is not blossoming yet. The cake looks absolutely delicious and I can’t wait to try it…..it reminds me of the pumpkin roll we used to make. Happy Spring Susan and thank you for the chance to win one of your beautiful give aways!!
I have always thought you were a really expressive writer and am so happy you have now written your first novel. I look forward to reading it as I have your cookbooks, other books and that personal letter to me in 1995. I have saved it all these years and consider it my special “treasure”. You are inspiring to all who follow you and the world is such a better place because you are in it and give us your talent and kindness in so many forms. Thank you and Happy Spring to you, Susan!
I remember your name Jean! xoxo
How lovely, a Spring Willard, always a pleasure to open my email box and find one. Have a most lovely spring on your heavenly island! xoxo Jacqui
Like so many of your girlfriends, I , too, love to see that you have a new post! I check your blog first thing every morning to see what’s new. It is so refreshing to see what’s going on in your world and “get to know you”. Thanks for bringing a bit of New England to Tennessee!!
Thank you for who you are and what you do. You help me to remember to appreciate the small things in life.
So enjoy getting your Willards and this one was a joy to read. I have been watching this years swallows settle into their summer homes here in Washington State. At night we can hear a couple owls whooing and cooing their songs to each other in this wonderful reawakening Spring time.
Happy spring day from the beautiful Northwest. All of our azaleas and rhodies are blooming and we are getting periods of bright sunshine which makes everything sparkle from the rain.
What a lovely post and such happy photos to welcome Spring!
Oh Susan, I would love to have your Martha’s Vineyard sea shells or your books! Love your blog and can’t wait for your new book~
Janie
[email protected]
Oh, how I enjoyed your post today! Easter is my favorite holiday, Spring is here and I planted pansies, and then I read your post and it only added to my joy! Thank you for your generous give-away and for your recipes…I can’t wait to try that lemon cake! I will carry some of your joy to the women who are guests at our small house for homeless women & their children when I volunteer there this afternoon. Thank you for everything you share on your blog!
Thank you for what you do Debbie xoxo
Can’t wait to go pick some lemons off my tree and make your lemon cake. Thanks so much for the recipe and all your wonderful pictures.
Wow what fun and fabulous gifties. Thank you for being so kind!! Can’t wait to make the cake recipe — delightful!
Hi Susan! One of my very favorite things is a new posting from you. Thanks so much! Happy Easter and happy spring 🙂
Hi Susan! Spring on Martha’s Vineyard must be wonderful You make me feel like I am there with you. I just love everything you do Thank you!
Oh Susan! I can not wait until your book comes out! I love reading about adventurous, creative, curious women!! You inspire so many of us to create and look for the wonders right in front of our noses and for that I thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Enjoy Spring!
Christine
Happy Earth~Day Sweet Sue! This Blog is so Full of Your Magic I Had to Read it Twice (Savoring Every Word & Photo) 🙂 First…I Love What Blog~Daddy & Jeannie Sent You & Joe for Easter! Cute Baskets filled with Yumminess! 🙂 This Blog is Actually Singing Springtime! Thank~You so Much! You Know There’s a Huge Smile on Me Face! 🙂 ok Joe Mulching….Oh Joe…. Sue Has Sent Me Outside with a Lovely Slice of Lemon~Cake Here Ya Go Joe! 🙂 “Beyond Scrumptious” said Joe! 😉 Okay Sweet Sue My Wings are Sooooooo Crossed…. So Many Magical Surprises!!! Tell Vanna I’m Ready! 🙂 Magical Island Seashells & Those Beautiful Books! 🙂 & Jack with The Daffodils & Prizes… Meowy! Kitty~Kisses for Jack & Girl! 🙂 I’m Happy Your Easter was Delightful! Ours was too! Herbster wanted to Cook Something Different…We Have This Electric Rotisserie….so We Bought a Standing Rib~Roast I Set Herbster Up on The Back Porch with all The Spices & Things…He Put That Roast on That Rotisserie & let it Cook for Three & a Half Hours going round & round 🙂 The Entire Backyard & The Whole House Smelled Scrumptious! I Made all The Fixn’s 🙂 Your Corn~Pudding was One of Them 🙂 We Ate Our Easter Feast with Smiles & Lots of Yum Yum Yumssssssss 🙂 Yay! Herbster took Photos I’ll have to Tweet Them…. & Now I Await Your New “Willard” Twirling with Joy & a Jiggity~Jig! Thank~You Sweetest Sue for Everything! Springtime Pixie~Dust for All! xoxo Poof! ✶*¨`*.✫*¨*.¸¸.✶*¨`*.✫*¨*.¸¸.✶*¨`*.✫*¨*.¸¸.✶*¨`*.✫*¨*.¸¸.✶*¨`*.✫*¨*.¸¸.✶*¨`*
I will make the jelly roll soon, as I love lemon more than chocolate. We are on the West Coast and having a beautiful spring as well. We just planted 14 new Peonies and 5 Dogwoods are in bloom. I’m wondering if I can send you a picture.
Much love to all, Julie
You could send it to Facebook . . . blogs don’t seem to have a place for them. It sounds gorgeous!
What a great way to start the day – reading a new Willard and getting a new recipe to try. Thank you for the wonderful blog and for the chance to win the jingle shells, the books and the cute tin. I love everything Emma Bridgewater.
Thank you, thank you for a lovely spring moment. I live along the Salish Sea (formerly the Puget Sound). We do not have jingle shells so I hope…..
Wishing you a Happy Spring! I always enjoy reading your blog. My mom & I used to bake the bunny cake (from your previous post) at Easter time. So, your post brought back fond memories…..Thank You! This year I baked little mini pound cakes with lime-apricot glaze and white sprinkles…..they were very yummy! Maybe one day I’ll attempt your lemon roll cake; I’ve never made one, but I should really give it a try.
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have the sweetest song – we had one several years ago and he finally came back this year – yay!
I wait with baited (bated???) breath for your posts and am never, ever disappointed. You light up my life and I treasure living vicariously thru your world. Thank you for faithfully taking the time out of your busy, busy life to give us a peep into your days.
Can’t wait to make the lemon cake! So perfect for spring! We’ve been in spring for sometime here in S California. I went to the mountains this past weekend and enjoyed the lilacs and dogwood in bloom! Wish we had your forsythia. Looking forward to Willard and thanks for the delightful chance to win this sweet spring package!
Happy Earth Day, Susan, Joe, Girl Kitty & Jack! Can’t wait to try the Lemon Cake and get my very first Willard. We are so blessed when you share your beautiful gifts with us. Thank you!
Susan, I am celebrating spring with you here on the farm; North Carolina has bloomed with red bud, dogwood, dandelions (I don’t even mind these!), and green leaves. A delightful post as always. The cake looks entirely fabulous, and decorating it with flowers is just the right touch. Wishing you a blessedly abundant and abundantly blessed day! (A hearty “hee haw” from the donkeys and loud cheeps from the baby chicks!)
Oh what a treat, to see how life is being lived in the Springtime so far away from my home in CA!! I would looooove a signed copy of your book, as that is on my “to-do” list!! I will be making the cake recipe for my mom who supplies me with fresh Meyer lemons from her tree!! OK I am crossing my fingers to be a winner!!
XOXO
I have enjoyed your blog and Willard for over 2 years when I found you. Thankyou for being you. It is always inspiring. Looking forward to your next update. Thanks.
I am so glad that I have the Girlfriends glass beads!
I am wearing them right now! (One on my necklace and one on my bracelet!)
I even bought my sister one!
The latest Willard is great!
I’m wearing mine too, all four, around my neck . . . love the clicky sound them make when I play with them! Thank you CJ!
Susan,
Thank you, thank you, thank you for a truly delightful post!!!!!! What a feast for the eyes and I know the lemony yellow, light as an angel wing cake will be a feast for the tummy!!! I can’t wait to make it.
And, thanks for the opportunity for your generous give away! What a spectacular treat. I adore the shells and oogled over the properly the first time you shared them with us. Now I must wipe away my noseprint from my computer screen again. Plus, they are in that enchanting Emma tin – can it get any better?!? Yes, indeedy it does! A book, all aged and tattery edges – divine!!
What sweet Easter gifts from your Dad and Jeannie – they are too cute! The both of them and your Easter bunnies – oh, the treats!!!
Wishing you a spring filled with every delight your heart can hold! Thanks for making my Tootsday super inspiring and fun!
XooX,
Jeanette
Oh what a fine day it is!@!@! To get a Willard and a new post on your blog at the same time- makes me happy-happy-happy!!!! Thank you – for all you do. You sure do bring a smile to my face very often! Now Jack- he is up there sniffing around saying – “hey woman……you can’t do anything that i don’t know whats going on…..so whats that in that metal box-making that shakey-tingling noise- oh i want to see” ….hahahah- his little face just looks like he is saying that……
I hope you continue to have beautiful spring days- no more snow and cold.
OH- and before i forget-i would love love LOVE to win this giveaway….but best of luck to everyone and best wishes too.
What a lovely giveaway, Susan. You are so generous with us and we certainly appreciate it. I will make that lemon cake very soon. It looks too good not to make!! Happy Spring to you and your sweet little family. Love the bunny baskets!!
That is so nice of Joe to be out in the garden preparing it for Spring. It really doesn’t take much for a man to know how to win a woman’s heart—it’s by the little things they do such as making us a cup of tea now and then, preparing and mulching the garden, cooking dinner, doing the dishes when we’re tired—just little things that mean so much to us.
Those jingle shells are lovely, Susan. And I like how you decorated your windowsill with them. What a lovely gift for someone to get—it will start them dreaming about summer.
“SWEET~~NESS”” ….so enjoyed ”everything” in this blog…and looking so forward to Williard….woke up to realllllly tiny redbuds on my Redbud tree..so know central upper northern Ohio’s spring is coming !!! Bunches of smiles and sparkles to ”all ”and know Susan that we girlfriends get soooo much of that from your writings ..and we are blessed to have you and all your family in our lives!!
Susan your new blog post is as delicious as all of your recipes are! It’s amazing how your writing, photos, ideas and quotes can turn a beautiful day of life into something even more wonderful. You’re the icing on the cake…..the whipped cream on top…..! And what a generous beautiful prize to offer! Wishing you as happy and smiling a day as you’ve made mine……can’t wait to meet you in June! Happy Spring!
I enjoy your blog so much! It always brightens my day, especially today it’s dark and gloomy in Western PA. Thanks for the giveaway.
Oh Susan, what a wonderful giveaway! And what a happy post—as usual! I love the spring also but who doesn’t?! Thank you for the recipes and beautiful pictures especially the grosbeak! How lovely! I hear the birds singing their lovely spring songs right now as I type! What beautiful gifts of spring! Flowers, bird-songs, and green, green, green!!! :o)
Smiles, Deborah :o)
Whenever I read your blog it’s like a breath of fresh air. I can just sit back and relax, which in this hectic world, is a true gift. We have the cutest little wild bunnies that are everywhere in our part of the world. It’s sweet to know we have the very same Bunny Crossing sign.
Good Morning Susan,
What a lovely Blog..so good to hear about your Marthas Vineyard…and how Spring has Sprung. The Lemon Cake looks so lovely and I will be making it
soon, maybe for Mothers Day, also my Grandsons First Communion. Thanks for always sharing your lovely experiences, and I will keep my fingers crossed that Vanna will pick me…for that very lovely gift I will cherish forever. I hope you had a wonderful Birthday, as we share April.
xo..Carol O. from So. Cal. just over the bridge from mom, with the Lovely Red Toile Gravy Boat.