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
Hey Sue ~
Happy Easter! Happy Spring! I plan to make that cake very soon. Thank you for the recipe. Always great to try something new.
When are you going to come to the Los Angeles area for a book signing?
Miss you! ♥
I need to get out there soon, but nothing is planned right for now.
Good Morning to you, my friend, Susan! Even though we’ve never met, you have been a part of my life for years. I love seeing all the wonderful things you do at your beautiful home. I’ve gotten lots of fun ideas from you!
Thanks, too, for the book suggestions. I LOVE the Gladys Taber books and Elizabeth and her German Garden!
Have a wonderful day and say Hi to Joe!
I didn’t realize how much I was missing my Willard fix until I opened my email this morning and squealed with glee!!! I do read your blog all the time but there was something exciting about having an email from you :). Thank you for making my day!
Hi Susan!
Reading this blog and seeing your photos sent my spring fever over the top! As always, thank you so much for your generosity in your giveaways. Someone is about to be blessed! Hope your day continues to be wonderful.
I love collecting shells…..
Great to hear from you ! Spring is awesome and so are you!! Love the post.. Art work, pictures. Reciepe’s, and music, you think of everything! Thank you from Texas
Good morning Susan, good morning girlfriends, Happy Earth Day!!! hope everyone had a wonderful Easter and that the Easter bunny was good to everyone. spotted a bunny in the garden, I think he was thinking about chowing down on my new plants, but that was discouraged immediately with a good “shoo” and he hopped off to elsewhere. hope hubby gets that deer fencing and puts it up soon, why he had to plant before getting that fence is beyond me, I would have gotten the fencing first then worried about the plants. its cloudy and dreary here, and rainy so the peeps are staying in the nursery today, all my peeps are in the nursery now, 26 chicks, 6 ducklings, 6 turkeys, and 6 baby geese. we have quite a busy barnyard now and a few hens getting in that broody mood as well so more is coming… I hope!!! the baby geese are so big, but they don’t honk, they peep as do the ducklings, they don’t quack yet, they peep like chicks…. got to love them all. they are all so adorable. love the lemon cake recipe, may try that one for tea… I have some neighbors over for tea on the front porch, we sit and watch the world go by and chat and have our tea. I also sit out on the porch to watch the tractors and lawn mowers go by on parade to the gas station on the corner. I also sit out there shell my peas and snap beans during the summer. I love my front porch during the summer. well off to go feed and check on the peeps and get the flock fed and watered. have a great day everyone….. hugs……. 😉
Dearest Susan, Say something sweet! That’s easy. Everything you do for us viewers (aka: friends!) is sweet. Your blog, books with ribbons for markers (and such an antique y touch), your love of what I love; English Bridgewater; old china; Beatrix Potter and friends; even your cottage and grounds. Everything! Please consider me for a prize. Love, EJC
Two give aways!!!! Remarkable. I have never heard of jingle shells until you posted about them last month. They are beautiful. Enjoy spring!!!!
-Donna H. P.S. I will be making your lemon roll recipe for a Mother’s day tea, it looks absolutely devine.
How I love your Willards! Spring has sprung here as well and the grosbeaks are at my feeders too. You find them near ponds and marshes as well. Birdwatching is my favorite Spring thing to do and the birds are eating voraciously to fatten up! I am excited about your new book and will wait for it with great anticipation. I know it will be a work of art. Happy Spring! xo Tracy
I LOVE sweets…but give me a stuffed egg any day! Yum!
My backyard is covered in pink “snow” from our beautiful cherry tree. April in Oregon is beautiful! O.k., you’ve convinced me – I’m going to try to make your lemon cake, realizing that even if my end product doesn’t look perfect, it will taste delicious. Your recipes have never failed me! Happy Earth Day!
Hi, Susan:
I have been a fan of yours for many years, dating back to when you sent Willard through the mail! I am Janet Nordlinger’s sister (Elizabeth’s sister-in-law). I love your writing style and reading A Fine Romance. I re-read it when I like to escape to England. Thank you for such a beautiful and enjoyable blog.
Best regards,
Elisa (Newport Beach, CA)
Thanks for the recipe – I’m gonna give it a try. I sneak onto your blog here at work (I don’t have a home computer, laptop, smartphone, etc.) and always enjoy it! Happy Spring everyone!
Of all the lovely things within this post my eyes zoomed right in on the flatware by the piece of cake and I’ve been on a long journey viewing silver and silverplate patterns online. Ridiculously curious, I am hoping you know the pattern or at least the manufacturer. My “need to know” gene is the dominant one, heh. Happy Spring!
I’m terrible Barbara, I don’t know the names of the patterns I have! So sorry!
Hi Barbara!
Being the little research hound that I am, I saw you enquiry and proceeded to find an answer to your question. The flatware in question, is from a company formerly called Alvin, and the pattern is “Majestic.”
So pretty, isn’t it?
leonceantiques.wordpress.com/2008/09/06/alvin-sterling-silver-patterns/
You are brilliant Erica! Thank you!
It doesn’t quite look the same to me, but thank you, Erica! Susan, I was just curious if there was a manufacturer name on the back of the piece. That would narrow it down for me. But that’s okay. I’ll try not to be pesky about needing to know china & flatware, ha!!
There’s the word “patent” then a diamond shape with an A in it, then the word sterling and that is all.
Hi Barbara,
“Majestic is a multi-motif pattern; there are chrysanthemums, poppies, and daffodils on the different pieces in this set.”
sterlingflatwarefashions.com/Patterns/Alvin3.html
Hope this helps to clarify. The hallmark Susan describes is bang on with Alvin.
Erica
Yes, it’s definitely the fork on the right, 7th one down.
Another delightful and inspiring post, Susan…so much fun to be a part of your band of girlfriends in blog-land! And a wonderful give-away, too! How perfect! Happy Spring to you.
Dear Susan,
I love your gift package!! I would love to win it! I’ve entered your contest before and haven’t won but will keep on trying. I remember your first contest–the one where we had to send in our favorite dessert recipe when you were writing “Sweets for my Sweets” . I wanted to win that soooo bad because I wanted to come visit you at Martha’s Vineyard. I will treasure this package if I win. I need another copy of “A Fine Romance” because after I finished mine I gave it to a friend. We both love it!! Happy Spring –I hope I win!!
Peace & Love,
Carolyn
Thank you for all of the time and effort you put into this beautiful blog and everything you do! You make the world a more beautiful place! 🙂
As soon as my lemons turn bright yellow, I will be making this cake. My mouth is watering.
How wonderful to celebrate Earth Day with you, Susan. As I type, Brad is in for a nice treat…..your lemon sponge cake is in the oven. I’m waiting for Willard…….yes, it has been a long time! Enjoy the day…….
Chris
What a dreamy collection for a giveaway–very Spring apropos!
Thanks so much for your blog. It cheers me up when I am down. I look forward to making the lemon cake. I don’t know if you realize how many lives you touch and what joy you bring to us!!! Take care Judy
Happy Spring! It’s so beautiful here today in Kentucky. I am definitely going to try the lemon cake. But, I am so excited about your give away. I am such a fan of the movie Enchanted April and Oh, that book, Elizabeth and Her German Garden, with its worn pages. I would be elated to have my name picked. And those shells, how precious. You always make me want to explore more and enjoy more of life just around me.
Dear Susan
Thank you for a “Sweet” blog for spring!!! I’m excited about the new gifts…we can’t get those kind of shells out here in California. Also the books, that I think are REALLY Special and important!!! For years I have tried to start a little business by making a book “I WISHED I HAD ASKED….” So here it is to all the girlfriends out there…. Get your grandmothers, aunts and mothers…and with them start taking pictures of “THEIR” treasures. EVERYTHING and ANYTHING they might think is a TREASURE. China….tablecloths…..tea things…furnitures…pictures….necklaces and rings etc etc. Ask question from whom…from where…dates…. when….Wedding…Birthday or Anniversary gifts. Put all the pictures in a book with a note telling it’s story.
By the time you finish you will have a treasure book. And the start of that person’s life. Which by now, will want you to win the “books”. So you can fill in all the interesting events of your mother or grandmother. I did one for my Aunt Agatha (102) and still with us…..I did this when she was 98 ….99 years old and I got some great information and also her life history and her husband. Sadly we have found things since and she just doesn’t remember……”.I wish I had asked” and even snooped in more closets. Have a great day Susan and thanks for all the joy and love you give to us all. Love, Susan P.
I agree, it is now too late to ask those questions. How sad for all of us. Good ideas. My son wants me to start something like this. Now I will.
Bunny hugs, Shirley
Shirley, It may not be too late to ask some others those all important questions…..My mother passed away when I was 22 and I did not make this book until many years later. My oldest sister had a wealth of information…for she remembered so many things. Then to are surprise when visiting a cousin who’s mother was my mom’s sister, had even more stories about some of our grandmothers things. I made books for all of my sisters…and what is wonderful we put little notes about who has what…and if someone wants to use the china for a tea or a tablecloth etc etc we can just call each other and pass it on. Even some of our children have gotten into it and are doing their lunches and teas and have been borrowing things. It will take some time to get the pictures and write things down but I truly had a wonderful time collecting and learning all about the treasures. So enjoy the journey. Love, Susan P.
I love all things Spring!! Yellow, gardens, working men in the garden, birds, flowers, breezes, the smell of the dirt as it warms in the sun and me, out there to be a part of it all in the rain!! Is there anything better? Well, maybe a close tie… the recipe for the lemon cake.. I can actually smell it as I look at the pictures you’ve posted, Susan.. Thanks.. I’m thinking, it is indeed a lovely tea party dessert!! Thank you for sharing. Can’t wait for the drawing. It inspires me to pass along a book or little gift to someone else. too!
Happy Spring!!
What a wonderful giveaway! Your posts are always so cheery. When my day is a bit gloomy it is a ray of sunshine to look through your pictures and paintings.
Thank you for the beautiful post!! I do hope I received Willard and I will go to my e-mail and hopefully it will be there!!! I love the beauty of Martha’s Vineyard and imagine being there. I really want to visit and my husband agrees….so someday, soon!!! I am anxious to try the cake recipe, as I read, I could smell the sweetness and taste the lemon. I hope, as all the other girlfriends, I win any of the books!!! Best of luck to everyone. I love spring and it’s looking and feeling like it everyday!!! Our trees are filling out and everything looks beautiful!!! Happy Spring to you!!! Bobbie
Great blog today, Susan. Good job! Love that sweet little bird; what a beautiful color on him. Is that a bird usually found in your area, or is his migrating?
Such a joy to find you here with a lovely lemon cake and heartwarming pictures of Spring!! Your posts fill me with thanksgiving, encouragement, and inspiration to mark my days as you do by paying attention, noticing the beauty around me, appreciating and LOVING this life! Thank you, Susan!
I am looking forward to the new Willard, as I always enjoy reading your blog so much. The recipes in today’s posting, I am sure, are very tasty. I especially love a good deviled egg. Thanks for sharing a glimpse of life on Martha’s Vineyard.
Oh what a wonderful gift for the lucky winner. Thank you for your uplifting bit of brightness. I treasure it. – Heather
You put a smile in my basket today! I was feeling a bit low; read your lovely words above and breathed a good sigh! Your words are like a sweet tonic! You are an inspiration! Thank you for sharing your time, talent and treasure!
Another Sue – in IL 🙂
Hello Susan,
It is a dreary day in Maryland as I read your blog today, and see the lovely sunshine from Martha’s Vineyard…Spring has sprung in spurts here, also. Our forsythias are in bloom, but I am waiting for the lilacs…my favorite flower of spring!
The pictures of making the lemon cake look so real and make it look so easy to make. I am not so sure…since I never rolled a cake before. But your pictures inspired me to try it. I love lemon cake!
You are so fortunate to have your dad and step mom send you such thoughtful gifts. I am not a peeps person, but I do love the chocolate eggs with the crispy spring colored coverings and I love dark chocolate coconut eggs. I love anything coconut!
I would love to win one of your giveaways. If I am lucky, maybe my name will be picked! I look forward to reading the new Willard.
Take Care
Just loved this post! Can hardly wait to get the new Willard!
I just gotta say………you looked just like an adorable kewpie doll, Susan! I notice this in all the little baby and toddler photos of you! It’s sweet of you to take time out to share with us!
Happy Spring!
Hi Susan,
Happy Earth Day! I know you love quotes, so I thought I’d share some nature inspired quotes from two of my favorite people (I have a history obsession!)
“where has nature spread so rich a mantle under the eye? Mountains, forests, rocks, rivers. With what majesty do we there ride above the storms! How sublime to look down into the workhouse of nature, to see her clouds, hail, snow, rain, thunder, all fabricated at our feet! And the glorious sun when rising as if out of a distant water, just gilding the tops of the mountains, & giving life to all nature?” — Thomas Jefferson
And one from New England’s own John Adams,
A rain had fallen from some warmer region in the skies when the cold here below was intense to an extreme. Every drop was frozen wherever it fell in the trees, and clung to the limbs and sprigs as if it had been fastened by hooks of steel. The earth was never more universally covered with snow, and the rain had frozen upon a crust on the surface which shone with the brightness of burnished silver. The icicles on every sprig glowed in all the luster of diamonds. Every tree was a chandelier of cut glass. I have seen a queen of France with 18 millions of livres of diamonds upon her person and I declare that all the charms of her face and figure added to all the glitter of her jewels did not make an impression on me equal to that presented by every shrub. The whole world was glittering with precious stones.” — John Adams
Enjoy your day! That cake looks wonderful!
— Alison in “Little Rhody”
LOVE them, thank you Alison. xoxo
The male rose breasted grosbeak is so showy; his female mate is lusciously attired in streaky brown & cream;-so attractive!! -Look for her soon!
p.s. I anticipate your blog with bated pleasure!
Dear Susan, your last blog entry and Willard are balm to my soul in the difficult days of the last week or so. One of our beautiful daughters died tragically on the 12th and we have her funeral tomorrow. My most recent ‘just because’ gift to her was a copy of A Fine Romance as I knew she would love not only the format and handwritten style of your beautiful book but the content as well. She had been planning her own visit to England.
I’m so looking forward to your next book starring our favourite heroine
Oh mY God Chris I can’t put into words how sorry I am. This breaks my heart. My prayers are wrapped around you about three feet thick right now, I hope you can feel them.
Oh, this is too sad! So very sorry for your loss, Chris. Hugs.
Dear Chris,
There are no words to adequately express how terribly sorry I am, Chris. May you feel an inordinate abundance of love envelop you now more than ever. You are in my thoughts and prayers. So very, very sorry, Carrie
Can’t even imagine the pain. Our hearts go out to you Chris. Cherish the memories and feel the strength of love & prayers surrounding you. ♥
Dear Chris, Please take comfort knowing that allot of the “girlfriends” will reads this and have you and your family in their prayers. So so so sorry for your heavy burden….Love, Susan P.
So very very sorry Chris. Can’t imagine the pain you are experiencing now. As Sue said, hope you can feel the prayers, support and love of all Girlfriends around you at this most difficult time.
I am happily anticipating the arrival of Willard – though he’s never come to my house before so I don’t really know what to expect!
I have never heard of Jingle shells before – I do love their lemony colour though; much like the lovely lemon curd you put in your cake. I am thinking of hosting a Mother’s Day tea and that would be just the ticket I think:)
Cheers,
Jenn
Reading your posts are like mini vacations on Martha’s Vineyard. Thank you.
What a wonderful cake, this is the cake I will make my dear husband this weekend. I normally make a Lemon Drizzle cake, which is lovely, but this does sound as though its OZZING lemon. Hope it tastes as good as it sounds. I am also looking forward to receiving the new Willard. Enjoy your Spring. Marie
Have just eaten THE cake. VERY nice, was a little worried by the lemon curd filling , husband doesn’t like lemon curd, but need not have worried, he has just finished his second piece. Thank you for the recipe which will be added to the recipe box. Marie
Excellent!
Your cake sounds delicious and the directions are almost like my Chocolate Whipped Cream roll. Now I am getting hungry. Sure wish I had the ingredients to make one for myself. I am patiently awaiting my Willard.
I gave my beautiful antique copy of Elizabeth and Her German Garden to a former favorite boss, whose name was Elizabeth – which she treasures to this day. I so love reading Elizabeth Von Arnim.
Susan – I have to ask you – have you read, “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” by Mary Ann Shaffer? It mentions that there was a British society that was actually rabbits and Beatrix Potter – and the book Elizabeth and Her German Garden figure in the beginning of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society! It is such a wonderful read! I think you would love it.
Yes I have!
Sorry – dropped the word “against” – a society that was “against” rabbits and Beatrix Potter – unfathomable!
I so enjoy your posts! They bring sunshine to the cloudiest of days, and a cheerful perspective to daily habits. Have a glorious day!
Susan – your website is one of my favourites. I would love to be able to draw like you but I can’t, I’ll keep practicing though! The shells are beautiful in England but we don’t have anything that comes close to these treasures from the sea. Happy Earth Day xx
I love your adventures~! What a blessing you are to so very many people.
I print copies of your blog for my own Mom, who doesn’t do technology, who in turn passes them on to other older friends who enjoy them immensely. Your book is now being given as gifts to her friends as well.
So, for each reader or commenter of this blog, there must be exponentially more than the stars!
Happy Springtime♥
XOXO
~Carolyne
We print it for my mom too! I wish we could afford to send Willards via snail mail, the way we used to but everything has gotten so expensive. I do feel bad we can’t reach everyone, like our moms! xoxo same to you Carolyne.
It’s always so good to have a new blog to read from our friend!
I just love daffodils….my favourite spring flower, and for some reason that’s what the cake reminds me of.
And, I am looking forward to reading Willard!
Happy Spring, everyone~
Sherrill in Connecticut
Thank you for all the springtasticness! Lemon cake, gardening and reading–three of my favorites! And who knew that forsythia flowers were edible?
Taking a deep breath of that spring air…
Spring! My favorite time of year. We, my Mom, 3 grand-daughters and myself, are just returning from a wonderful mini-vacation to the beaches of the west coast…where we gathered shells and rocks. We all love the power of the of the sea and the beautiful gifts she gives to us, placing them on her shores for us to discover. Thank you for sharing your shore adventures with us. Happy Spring! -r-
so we are busy bee’s getting ready for the moving truck to come tomorrow!! can’t believe it’s already, but excited to get to Massachusetts! we are moving to Deerfeild! so beautiful and historic ,which I love. I hope some day soon I can see you at a book signing! I gave the ” mom” book to my mother in law a couple years ago for mothers day, she loved it and I will see how much she has gotten done in it when we get to her house soon. I am still waiting to get the fine romance,($ is tight right now) but can’t wait to get a copy! since we lived there before it will bring back good memories. anyhow Lot’s of get togethers in the near future and I will have to give your lemon cake a whril!! have a great day!
OMG, you’re moving to Deerfield. That’s such a beautiful place!!!
How lovely!!!!! You are so thoughtful!!!!!!
Susan, Your latest blog has got to be MY MOST FAVORITE BLOG OF ALL TIME, although I say that about every blog you write. Sooooo beautiful. Full of excitement & good things to do. I have a bird book as well, which I look up birds when I don’t recognize them. The one you saw in your yard is very, very unique. You have such wonderful birds around your area. When I see a Robin, I jump for joy, as we don’t get a lot of Robins in our yard. One morning, years ago, I drew back the curtains, & behold, there were about fifty Robins on our lawn. They must have been resting on their migration flight. That was a real present from God to me, as He knows how I love birds. One thing I loved about PA, when we lived there, were all the beautiful birds. Enjoy the opening up of Spring! (Sandy from Chihuahua Flats)
The perfect gift, 50 robins for Sandy!
What a welcome sight Spring is this year after a very difficult winter for those of us who live on the East coast. Thank you for showing us the rebirth on Martha’s Vineyard and for sharing your observations and wonderful recipes with all your girlfriends ~ we are blessed to have you in our lives!
Your blog is my happy place! Filled with music and words and pictures that soothe my soul!
Just came in from weeding the garden, trailing dirt and a piece of pulled out ivy. The chipmunks are busy digging holes for their summer nests and the lilacs are starting to bud. I LOVE Spring!!
Finding a new Willard on my email is making my day. It’s like taking a break with an old friend. Thank you for the company, Susan.
I love Willard! I feel like I’m a young mom with an old soul and you fulfill my passion of country goodness! Haha!
I enjoy the Willards so much and looking forward to this newest one. I go back to reread the compilation of them that you had bound and sold several years ago. Your gifts are lovely and I’m quite hopeful that I will be the lucky recipient. Thank you Susan for being such a wonderful, cherished friend to us all…. and Joe, too!
Thank you Susan for your beautifully written and illustrated blogs. I look forward to them always. You give me so many great decorating and baking ideas. Bless you!
Susan – a beautiful post! Love the cake and eggs recipe – Can’t wait to get Willard.
Yeah Spring! Even in SoCal there is a different feel with the cool morning air and the birdies chirping away. I can only imagine the lure on Martha’s Vineyard! Someday….
Can’t wait to make that cake!!
Love,
Sue from Simi
Happy Spring, Susan and Joe…..love the lemon recipe, anything with lemon has my vote. What a wonderful give away you have planned, the books are to die for, and you just keep adding to the delightful prize. Thank you for the new Willard, I look forward to it with great anticipation.
I want to surprise my daughter and daughter-in-law this year for Mothers Day by making them dinner instead of them taking me out, and your Lemon Cake would be the prefect dessert.
I’ve loved your books since the first one. Then your website and Willard. And now all of the above plus your sweet, funny and graceful blog! I love how much you love your life and life in general. Inspiring. Happy Spring!
A wonderful Spring Post. Thank You so much and awaiting Willard. Lemon is my favorite, the picture is delicious, stop drooling on my keyboard. The beach picture set the mood and would love to stroll on the beach for shells. Once again Thank You for the mood and the chance for the Spring Gifts. Blessings, Brook
Ahhhhh, reading your posts, regardless of the season, is akin to taking a mini vacation. Thanks for the vacay!
I’m really drawn to those two keepsake books. I wish I had stories from my grandmothers and family. As I get older I appreciate that family history more and more.
Thank you for making my day, AGAIN!! I so look forward to your posts and Willard. And a giveaway to boot!! Thanks for the chance!!
Happiest Easter!
Hi Susan, question..do you roll cake from short side or long to roll cake??
See the teeny drawing on the recipe? I knew someone would ask! It’s the short side 🙂
Hello Susan,
I always look forward to your blog. Thank you for sharing your world with all of us.
I hope I am the lucky winner!! Happy Spring!
Oh happy, happy Spring day Susan! I’m sitting here shivering with a sore throat, red watery eyes, and a 32 gallon bag of used tissues at my feet. Just when I was feeling that I’ll be sick for-ev-er, I check my computer and see you’ve sent out a wonderful blog ~ happiness and joy! The photo’s and recipes, (your dad’s gift – please, so adorable!)) and always cheerful words fill me with hope that I’ll survive ~ yes! The prospect of possibly winning your wonderful gifts makes my heart skip a beat, I just know I can make it! I will pull through this miserable Spring cold!! Thank you, dear girlfriend ~ I enjoy you so!
Get well soon Elaine! xoxo
Thanks ever so much, and as always, Susan, for sending your light out into the world and into our hearts. Your generous spirit inspires us all and brings comfort, smiles, communion and delight. Mwwaaaaaah! (Is that how you spell the sound of an airborne kiss?) xxoo
Yes it is, and it’s what my dad and I say to each other with every phone call!
Happy happy Spring! I have my Mother’s lemon pie recipe and this looks just as yummy. This lemon roll cake looks so luscious…. I have The Enchanted April book and MUST read it – I’ve put it off too long, and…. decided to choose it for my Book Club which I have this July! With your recommendations I know my “Bookies” will enjoy it. Thanks for being you!
Your bookie Girlfriends are going to LOVE it, and you for suggesting it. It’s a wonderful book that you will enjoy hashing over and over!
Dear Sweet Susan…again and again Thank You for your thoughtfulness. I love the way I feel after reading the blog and today…WILLARD! I feel renewed. I love the gentle way you remind us to slow down and enjoy. My husband was just diagnosed with a very scary severe disease. Prognosis – not good. I have been so lost in all this, trying to figure out what we’ll do, how to handle the stress of a disease for which there is no cure and then…..I hear from you. Twice in the same day! Perfect! Time to breathe again and enjoy life – one day at a time. Thank you for that gift Susan!!! XOXO, Willa
While there is life there is hope dear Willa, I’m so sorry, it must be so frightening. I’ll pray for you both . . . Blessings on you two xoxo
Willa, I believe in the power of prayer….yes there will be tears and bad days but also allot of great days and memories ahead. One day at a time and ENJOY ALL OF THEM You and your husband are in my thoughts and prayers……and also you have just reached thousands of “girlfriends” that will have you both also in their thoughts and prayers… Love, Susan P.
Thank you for sharing the joy! Happy Spring!
Such a fun prize! Thank you Susan!!! Russell’s coconut eggs are my favorite too! They are already gone.
Shells from your part of the world would be a great memory in our beautiful mountains of eastern Kentucky. Happy Spring!
You bring so much joy, Susan, with each word you write. Thank you for sharing! Cindy Duncan
Boy—you are on a roll, nice long (never too long) blog & a Willard too ! I was wondering if your dad & Jeannie gave all your sibs Easter baskets—-that would be quite a feat!
I absolutely love anything with lemon in it and the cake looks yummy. Your yard has inspired me to get going and help out all the waking flowers and greenery….I so love all the seasons but Spring and Fall are my favorites
Thank you for those lovely spring photos. I have made jellyroll cakes and find them to be really messy but worth all the trouble. I will certainly have to try your lemony version. Isn’t spring wonderful?
I didn’t realize how long it had been– I suppose since we were all reading A Fine Romance! I have one question: in your Willard, you spelled caffeine without the “e” on the end. Is that a British way or something??
No, it’s just the misspelled way! 🙂
I love you Susan Branch. Thank you for all the beauty you bring to our world.
It would be so fun to win this prize. My mom said i could try. Thank you.
I love to click on your blog in my FAVORITES list and hold my breath in anticipation waiting to see if its “new”… And today, not only was this “new” but it was sweet and informative and the pictures made me almost cry with thoughts of being on Block Island soon. Your mother’s day cake will be made once before the “Big Day” since I want to test it out before I make it with my 4-yr-old granddaughter for my daughter’s 4th Mother’s Day brunch. I will wait until later tonight to read my Willard. I’ll make a nice cup of tea, settle in before my computer, put in some Edith Piaf and read. Thank you for all you do, if I win either of these incredible “prizes” I’ll be so happy, but if I don’t, I’ll still be happy for the two who did. Just knowing you are giving them away is gift enough for me. And do tell your gardener that his “tush” is quite cute, he can come and weed my window boxes any time he wants – well as long as he brings Jack to visit my little lady, Lucy.
Thank you for your drawing of the little girl with the blue sweater and blue shoes-sooo sweet!
I’ve always loved your books and website. Hoping when my children were grown I could put some of your ideas into my home. But fate has stepped in and at the ripe old age of sixty we are raising a grandson. So I will continue to read and tuck away ideas for a new future. Thank you, you give me hope!
,
What a lovely post dear Susan! You make Spring even better for me. I just came in after planting basil, squash and green beans. It is now sprinkling a little and that’s just perfect for my little vegetable garden. My husband built me two above ground boxes for my little veggie patch. I’ll have to make him your yummy sounding Lemon Sponge Cake. It sounds just perfect for Spring! Have a wonderful day sweet friend! xoxo ♥
I am pretty sure my daughter is old enough to use the My Story book and would love to see her writings and thoughts in it. All of the books you are giving as gifts are lovely. I got A Fine Romance from my mom for christmas this year, but have many people who I know would love to receive it as a gift from me. I really enjoy reading your blog as it inspires me to treat my home with such TLC, and Willard was wonderful to receive in my inbox. Happy Spring!
Oh My Goodness ! I just sat down to relax while my beautiful sweet baby granddaughter was taking her nap and what a wonderful surprise ! I just love getting your Willard ! It makes my heart sing and jump for joy. I have that same bunny crossing sign. Such kindred spirits, I can’t tell you how much we have in common, I just love US ! Last night when I went to take an outdoor shower there were three bunnies in my backyard munching on the new sweet clover. The stars were out and it was so mild, the earth was so peaceful, just blooming before our eyes. You know when I finished my shower those bunnies were still munching, guess they are used to us being in there little backyard world. Thank-you so much for that recipe, it will be made this weekend as a treat, Paul and I are planning to clean out the barn, oh what a job, so we need a special treat ! Ohhhh sweet baby just woke up ,gotta go, Thank you so much sweet Sue what a wonderful thing you do for so many…….. Love You ! ox
Hello Susan !
Our twin daughters are graduating from Jr. college in June and your lemon cake is going on the party table! 🙂 The girls and I have enjoyed your books and recipes so much, delightful! Your blog is a breath of fresh air! God bless you and Joe!
I took a required break from quilting to read Willard and he drew me to your blog to spend more happy time. Now I must get back to quilting since I am on a deadline. Thanks for a springy escape.
I recently discovered your blog, it’s like a beautiful piece of sunshine every time I visit.
I can hardly wait to try making the lemon cake. It sounds delicious and I love anything made with lemon.?
Oh Susan, I simply don’t know how to begin to thank you for all the joy your art and writings have brought to me. When I first discovered you back in 1990, I truly felt as if you had created a book filled with all that I loved …from your exquisite artwork to the way your stories were told. And then to find out that you too were a long time Gladys Taber devotee, well that convinced me that we are somehow entwined spiritually 🙂 AND we lived for 3 years outside Boston, falling in love with all of New England esp. the Cape. See, must be girlfriends!!
Your devoted fan,
Cynthia
Spring finally came to the Vineyard. What a happy time. The giveaway is wonderful. I’ve never seen those shells before…so pretty.
Thank you for helping me see and appreciate life through new eyes, you have no idea how much you’re appreciated. There’s magic, beauty, joy and blessings all around us…..if we just dare to open our eyes and hearts. Thank you for sharing your gifts and talents.
Looking forward to receiving the new “Willard” and the lemon cake sounds delicious! Thanks for the opportunity to win such wonderful prizes to welcome in the long awaited springtime!
Dear Susan,
How can I thankyou for all the lovely memories that you trigger when I read your blog and books! You make me happy when Im sad and you always bring a smile to my face, What a wonderful soul you have thanks for sharing it will all of us,
Xxxxxxxxxxooooooo. Sheila
Thanks for the cake and egg recipes! They look wonderful and I can’t wait to try them.
Hugs