Welcome! So much excitement here in Smallville! If you just came from WILLARD, you are going to need another cup of tea and some more MUSICA! (If you haven’t gotten your Willard yet, don’t worry, it will be going into your mailboxes from 9am eastern time Tuesday Aug 18, through Friday 
the 21st.) But you should know, our Giveaway has grown, now there are three! If you haven’t time to read the Blog just now, scroll to the bottom of this post where you can sign up for the drawing by clicking on the word “comments” and leaving a message. For the rest of you . . . I can only hope you agree that
I love this quote by one of my favorite authors. Wonderful things ARE happening. I used this quote in my new book, and asked Kellee if she would make it into computer wallpaper for you . . . and she did! Click HERE ~ it should be up by now, along with some gorgeous new stationery . . . As you’re about to see, things are getting back to normal!
You really know I have a little more time on my hands when you see this.↑ I’m finally giving my poor Beatrix Potter people a bath . . .
Filthy piglets, hadn’t bathed since Christmas! It was the very first thing I did to gain control over my house again after so many months in book writing mode.
Now they’re back in their places, all sparkling and happy, and the little vases are filled again and I am saying . . .
If I ever missed taking a closeup photo of a rose in the summer, then it just wouldn’t be summer, no matter what else I think I have to do!
There is nothing like roses from the garden, they look and smell like no other roses.
One of the first things Joe and I did when everything was turned into the printer was go to the nursery for these: ↓ Our garden needs help! Better late than never!
We also decided to celebrate our newly-found freedom with a long leisurely lunch at the restaurant at 
the golf course ~ “leisurely” is difficult to find here in August, with the Island so packed with vacationers. But we thought this place was a little bit out of the way so we’d have a chance. Well, it didn’t work out quite as we expected because we accidentally went on the day that Presidents Obama and Clinton were both there playing golf!!! We sure know how to pick ’em! So much for the quiet lunch. There were dogs sniffing the FINE ROMANCE VAN, believe it or not, and we were wanded (that’s what the secret service called it) before we could go inside. But after that, everything was normal until the two presidents became visible on the 
golf course, then the entire restaurant stampeded outside to watch and take pictures. All except us, because we had seen them before. Yeah, we’re so cool ~ it’s old hat to us! But we did put our flag on the front of the house! Afterwards we went to the nursery, also my first visit this summer . . . and no presidents were there! Yay! We’re replanting around the poor neglected bird bath right now . . . Once again, it’s Domesticity City around this place and we are happy as clams.
Out go the fluffy, healthy, quickly reproducing weeds, making room for actual flowers.
We also stopped at the farm stand and got our first corn of the season, hot, buttered, salted and peppered, it just popped off the cob! DELICIOUS! I’m sure you’ve done this ~ now I know it’s really summer!
We went out at 7 am this morning and have been walking our walk through the woods out to the water every day. This is the place where Joe and I hash everything over . . . from the habits of cormorants, to the unknown idiot who figured out how to move the huge rocks protecting tern nests so he could park his car there, to what’s for dinner and future travel plans/dreams. And we stood at the water and said a prayer for the victims of the terrible fires out west, that they be showered with love from their families, friends, and communities. My heart breaks when I see the ruin the flames are leaving behind.
We’re ooohing and ahhhing every night, and counting our blessings.
Coming home after a walk to the harbor to our little greeters . . .Jack’s looking at Girl who is waiting out of reach, on the kitchen table . .
Then back out with the camera because the sky at night has been wonderful, filled with stars. I’m a big believer in ladybug magic and there was one in the bathroom last night. Insert five exclamation marks. Second floor, hot crickety summer night, brushing my teeth, and there she was. A lucky omen. Believe me, I look for them every day!
Jack thinks our starry night sky is wonderful too, because it seems like it’s dropping . . .
. . . yellow cat toys!
Joe’s birthday balloons were tied around a bouquet of giant sunflowers that Kellee and Sheri sent from the Studio and within 10 minutes of arrival, Jack’s scissor-like teeth had severed the ribbons and all balloons were floating free.
Just the way Jack understands life to be. All about him. Which it is.
Yup. He’s our guy. Aren’t they adorable?
Busiest cat I ever knew. Floor water is no good anymore, he wants sink water.
Grass, he loves it. I take him out and sit with him while grazes. He’s really not an outdoor cat at all, I never let him out alone, and he is so good, he never tries to get out the door. He likes me to sit next to him the whole time.
On Cat patrol, sitting on top of the ironing board in the pantry, watching out the screen door for any possible trespassing by anything, bunnies, turkeys, neighborhood cats.
He also watches me working . . .and I watch him watching me. Sometimes I can’t believe he’s real. I don’t get as many photos of Girl Kitty these days, but never doubt that she is still our Queen. She just likes to keep her throne in the back of the closet most of the time, so she’s hard to get in action shots!
But they both were with me the whole time I was wearing these pencils down to the nubbins, and now they watch curiously as I reorganize the studio. I’ve been cooking too, filling the fridge with August-type healthy goodies we love, ice cold Gazpacho and . . .
. . . my favorite Coleslaw Recipe ~ stuff to munch on. Look at that apple core in our compost pile! Isn’t it beautiful? (If you click on the recipe you’ll also see us repainting the kitchen a couple of years ago . . . just scroll down for the Coleslaw recipe, I promise, it’s there).
Nature. Just wow. I realize we are finding wow in the compost pile, but I can’t help it. I had to dig this guy out and take his picture. I almost put him on Ebay.
I can already feel fall coming and we hear it in the woods, we’ve even seen a couple of bright red leaves out there! And what’s back to school without book things? I know there were two Fairy Tale bookmarks in the Willard, but I thought, considering the time of year, some of you might want our wise old owl once more. Just click there, cut around him, and he is yours.♥
And now for the Giveaway(s) to celebrate my new book which I can barely believe is really finished! The first one I mentioned in the new Willard ~ it’s my 2016 Wall Calendar, plus my AUTUMN book, plus my new book, THE FAIRY TALE GIRL, and, for the cherry on the top . . .
a fairy tale banner! I’ll sign the books ~ and it will all go out to the winner the minute THE FAIRY TALE GIRL 
gets here, which should be about three weeks at the latest. (But who’s counting? Me, I am!) All you have to do to enter the drawing is scroll down to the bottom of this post and leave a message ~ just click on the tiny gray word under where I sign off that says, “comments” and leave a comment and that automatically enters you in the drawing. And the good part (or the bad part, depending on how you look at it) is that you have a lot better chance at winning this than you do the lottery!
Also, another surprise! Something else for my Girlfriends, Giveaway #2, because when I think of fall, I think of three things, delicious recipes, books, and old 
movies ~ and this Giveaway covers them all. My Autumn Book, filled with fall recipes, and a wonderful old movie called Hobson’s Choice. I think you will LOVE this movie! I have it, but I have to keep it, so I bought you a brand new one. It has everything going for it: It’s old, it’s English, and it’s pure charm. And it makes you feel good. What more could anyone ask for?
And this strange item, for good measure, will be Giveaway Number Three. I was cleaning up my studio (WHAT a mess!) and came across this. I saved it because I think at one time I was going to cut it 
up and make bookmarks out of it. It’s one of the little bits of paper I use to test watercolors and my ink pen before I paint or write something for a book or a calendar. As you may notice, my pen was giving me all sorts of trouble — I didn’t want it 
to blob onto the “good” paper, so I kept playing with it, making squiggles until it started behaving. Anyway, I thought one of you might like the results of the squiggles . . . the originalist of the originals, stream of consciousness without the consciousness, no rhyme nor reason for it ~ but I did sign and date it … it’s about 6 ½” by 9″ and would make a fun little piece of kitchen art for your fridge or bulletin board. And it does have fairy magic in it. And you can win it.
And that makes it three Giveaways on this blog today. Leave a comment, and Vanna will draw three names in a few days and I HOPE SO MUCH that the name she draws is YOURS!!!!!!!!!
In the meantime, I will be watching for the UPS 
man to bring me my first stack of The Fairy Tale Girl. I wait ever so patiently, but I am as excited as Christmas.
With the new book and the new calendars, Kellee and Sheri have been shaking in their boots about the WILLARD and asking me to make a special request to remind you how tiny their four little hands are. The phone has been ringing off the hook at the Studio about the calendars and they want me to tell you that they 
will try their hardest to get everything out as quickly as they can . . . if it takes a couple of extra days to get your things, you can blame it on the dratted calendars, but have faith, they’ll be there very soon. And so will your books!
And then soon, we might be doing this again, sailing out of New York harbor on the Queen Mary 
2!!! We are dreaming big time. Anything could happen between now and then, but we’re going to try. We took all our travel books with us to our leisurely lunch at the golf course the other day ~ looking for cottages to rent, pouring over maps and plotting our possible course. Figuring out whether we should go in the summer or in the fall . . . we’ve only ever been in the spring, so there will be new things to see. And we’ll bring the Blog along, so get ready Girlfriends!!!
And there she is ~ our beautiful in-house Queen joins me to say fare thee well for now. Thank you for your support and friendship.♥ Joe thanks you, Jack thanks you, Girl Kitty thanks you, and . . .
. . . I thank you . . . ♥ Have a wonderful day Girlfriends! XOXO
I always want to do a better job at making our home cozy and welcoming after reading anything you write.
My hubby and I are going to Scotland mid September, so excited! Our daughter was there in June and tells me green will take on a whole new meaning. Can hardly wait! And then maybe next year we will go to England, I want to see a midsummer village and the English countryside, and an English garden and have a tea party and……..well, you know.
Oh yeah, I know. 🙂 Have a wonderful time!
Wonderful blog post! So good to be reading here again 🙂 and a lovely giveaway, can’t wait for the new book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Looking forward to receiving my book. Enjoy the rest of this EXQUISITE New England summer! Luanne
I was so happy to see your new Willard! I love reading it, and you’ll never know how much it cheered me. Just what I needed. Thanks Girlfriend. 🙂
Waiting with baited breath for the new book (s)! It should arrive just in time for my recovery, I know for a fact it will be a ray of sunshine to me. Thinking about digging out my pencils and sketch book…..you are so inspiring.
XOXO Jean!
Oh! How wonderful, just as excited as u are..can’t wait..enjoy seeing your 4-legged friends. Just purr fect. Meow meow..
Rosemary from ft lauderdale
Susan…just finished reading “Willard”….you need to know the joy you bring to us, with your talent for living. Your words, colors, love for life, are a tonic for those of us who may be handling stress, or urban craziness….I look forward to reading your new works…but with fall coming, it may be time to read “A Fine Romance” again…..so thanks again for sharing your art and love of the important and beautiful things in life….
Regina, Seattle
Susan, I would be so happy to be the winner of your wonderful share. I still remember the first calendar I purchased that had a rounded refrigerator it was the warmth of the past and the dream fantasy of my future
Dreams do come true if we take the gamble and dare to dream.
I am so excited to see you dust off the cobwebs and return to the world of blogland…..Missed you
I am in the process of launching a book club. Garnering the nerve to go forwards.
Please do it, book clubs are the perfect excuse for good interesting talk and perhaps some cake and tea! Your friends will thank you for it!
The Willard, with your drawings, quotes, musings ,and sharing—sheer magic* – Thanks
Hi Susan, Love your words,pictures,and everything .
Hi, I am really glad you are back to blogging! May I ask since you are coming to Europe, have you ever considered Greece for vacation destination? I believe it would be a great inspiration for your artwork. Thank you for sharing your work with us, I wish you all the best! Kisses from Athens !
There are SO MANY places I would love to see … and Greece is one of them. xoxo Thank you so much for the invitation!
dear Susan, I so look forward to your posts! I wait till my kids are busy and quiet, click on MUSICA while I read, and feel as is we were catching up over a cup of tea. Thank you!
So much to be excited about!! I’m looking forward to the new book(s) and calendars and it’s lovely to envision you out and about on the island, enjoying life. We are hoping to visit Martha’s Vineyard in October (New England visit before we finish up at Rhinebeck for the New York Sheep and Wool Festival) AND, we are going back to Scotland next September! So, life seems so good right now! Bless you for being the ray of sunshine and happiness that you are!
Is there a baby lamb festival anywhere? That’s what I’d like to go to!
We’ll be having baby lambs here at our farm in the spring. I suppose we could call it a festival, if you’d like! (Truthfully, it’s my most favorite time of the year!)
Wouldn’t a baby lamb festival be wonderful? When they are doing that frolicking thing they do!! Everyone could bring a picnic and maybe there could be a maypole. 🙂 You know, just imagining. Skip the maypole~ the lambs and spring would be good enough! Where are you Dianne?
I am not good with words like Susan is but I have a big heart. And Susan’s books have filled mine up with JOY. I love to sit and “read” her books year after year. I love the whimsical pictures she draws along with her recipes and the cute little quotes too. I am looking forward to her new book. Can’t wait until it’s here.
Your words were perfect Leslie!
Oh my goodness, so many comments! Well, I will add my own few words and hold tight to my little shred of hope <3
I want you to know, Susan, that I've been following your blog, writing, calendars, etc. since I first became a stay at home mom 6 years ago. And because of you, I've finally plucked up the courage to do what I've always wanted to do..I've written my first children's book and am working on the illustrations as we speak! Thank you for giving me the courage! And if you're serious about inviting all of us to your little picnic in England next year, I will bust my butt trying to get this little book published and perhaps earn a little extra cash so that I can join you. Oh, it would be a dream come true! All of my favorite things in one place…the english countryside, picnics in the park, and you. Say a little prayer for me that it happens, will you? In the meantime, congratulations on your beautiful books, I can't wait to read them!!
I will say a prayer, and I congratulate you . . . I know what it takes, and you’re doing it WITH children!
I just read the new Willard and I am reminded once again how much I enjoy your beautiful creations. I wish that I lived on Martha’s Vineyard and was your neighbor and I would invite you over to tea – your Apricot Jam tea, of course, I simply love it! We would talk books, flowers and cats. ! You are an inspiration and I look forward to your next Willard.
I am honored to be in such wonderful company . . . thank you Merrilee — reading all of these comments is just amazing, I’m actually speechless, which is a very rare thing for me!
I always look forward to the new Willard. Your way of looking at the world reminds me of something we’ve lost in this modern world but I get it back, at least for a bit, when I read your cozy musings.
My favorite part of your postings are the pictures of Jack and Girl Kitty, and the watercolors, and the beach pictures, and, and,,,well you know. Thanks for all of them!
All your girlfriends want to be winners and they are when they have your art and blog to peruse! Lucky us! Thank you, Susan!
The highlight of my Friday at work – Willard! Loved reading it during my lunch time.
I cannot wait for the new book, so Willard was a wonderful diversion!!! And the UK in the fall is lovely. I went to London in early October and only had one day of rain. It was glorious!! xoxo
I can’t wait for the new book! I am looking forward to it!
I LOVED my first Willard !!!! It could never be to long. Thank you so much !! I absolutely cant wait for “The Fairy Tale Girl”. Im on pins and needles until it comes out. Thank you for giving us the chance to win it.
Willard was a fun read! Thank you! Enjoyed seeing and reading about Jack. We owned a black and white female cat that our young son named Charlie Cat. We had special songs we sang to her and she would come running. Still enjoy telling stories about her even though she is no longer with us.
Happy end of summer to you!. And, thank you for the lovely giveaways!
Hi Susan!! Thank you for your blogs!! They give us all a break from this busy world of ours! My little girl loves your cookbooks as much as I do and we both enjoy picking out recipes to make! (she is the one that calls you “sugar branch”!!) Have a wonderful rest of summer!!! 🙂
Couldn’t ask for more than that, Sheri!
I’m so happy to get the Willard, though I signed up after the first ones went out! I got to experience a little bit of that “exquisite” a few weeks ago, visiting the lake by boat and staying there for several days. I bought A Fine Romance at the bookstore in VH, and read the whole thing during an extraordinarily rainy day, tucked inside the (mostly) dry cabin of our boat, drinking tea (of course). I saw the Fine Romance van a few times, and I have to say, it was quite as exciting as riding my bike past the president’s vacation house!
LOL Laurie!
Willard, at last. Housebound for the duration of the summer with a badly broken ankle, I’ve been hoping you’d write for us. Thank you for reminding me that there’s life beyond the front door. Your blog is always a delight!
Get well soon Carol!
It’s the best kind of day when a Willard shows up in my email! So excited for the new book!!
Goodevening Ladies and especially you Susan !
Oh, I agree with all of you ; it always feels like coming home when I enter “Susan Branch’s domestic city” … I’ve been visiting your blog for quite some time already…I don’t exactely know what it is, but there is this kind of joy that sprinkles and glows when I see your lovely & cozy little drawings and paintings and I love your quotes! ~
~Fairy Tale Girl is on my wish~list for my next birthday…Although I surely might need quite some patience>>> I just turned 24 this past Sunday…
Hmmm…. For Christmas then ??? { insert a hopeful blink in the eye here !!!:-) )
Wishing you a beautiful weekend ahead>>>Enjoy every minute of the remaining Summerweeks….!
Blessings and cups of (iced?) tea to you,
Aurelie
Hello Aurelie in the tiny land of chocolates!!! 🙂 Thank you for saying hello!
Splendid to get the Willard in the email.
I really enjoyed your blog . We just got back from a east coast trip and Nova Scotia and PEI and I was so happy to see all your lovely pics. I took some photos I hope to watercolor and I am so inspired by you and your life. Plan to get the book and calender as usual. Thank you so much. Joyce Ryan
I can’t wait for your new book!!! Thank you for making me feel like I’m right there on the island with you! (I wish I was!)
OK, this Willard did it. I am officially in love with Jack and Girl.
Join the club! 🙂
so happy to come home from vacation to read your Willard letter. I can hardly wait until your new book is in my hands. Thank-you for all the wonderful normal domestic chores that fill your blog pages. I always have a smile on my face for days after. You are just the right amount of sunshine that we all need in our world today. Thanks, Karen U
Thank you for reminding us about all that is beautiful in this world!
What great give-a-ways you have…FINGERS CROSSED:-))) Toni
Love Willard! And Jack’s little face is just adorable!
Wow, over 2,000 already!
Well, I already ordered and recieved my blotter, think calender and book are ordered….just waiting. Great to have you back on line and sending us great picks of Jack and flowers and receipes. Thanks! Wish we were as cool as you are out there…and yes, we were saddened to hear of the firefighters up north. I don’t think the general public knows what we do and how many of us there are. Over 90% of firefighters in the US are volunteers…..and they fight the initial battle on many of those small to become big blazes. Anyway, it was really sad. Thanks for thinking of them. They are in all our prayers right now.
Your travel plans sound so great. Someday…….that crossing is a dream and you’ve made it sound easier to accomplish with your blog. So, I’m going to keep it on my “to do” list. Well, enjoy the last days of summer.
Cheers,
Jan from Northern CA
P.S. Dad saying more words every day 🙂
So many heroes, everyday people doing amazing work, that don’t get the credit they deserve. Love to celebrate firefighters, teachers, nurses, doctors, toll booth people . . . policemen and women, our armed forces, the country is made up of this.
And it seems the U.S. has heroes all over the world…..even just ordinary travelers that take the initiative and halt a terriorist on a train. I think we Americans are made up of special stuff that makes us love freedom and fight oppression. I was so proud of those 3 young men who stopped that violence. It will take all of us to stop the violence in whatever form it comes.
Sorry for the dialog….but just had to comment from the hero standpoint…..:)
I agree with you! And I know there are heroes like our guys all over this world. Thank God for the Good Guys! How cool was it they went to grammar school together? I want them with me on every train I ever go on!
Finally feeling better after a week of infection and fevers…seeing Willard in my inbox was the best medicine I could have ever dreamed of….surely there is magic all around! Thank you, thank you!
My pleasure Barbara, glad to see you are feeling better!
Thanks for giving us the chance to win. I just received your original snail mail WILLARDS today; can’t wait to read them.
What a treat! A long Willard and a long blog post complete with photos, painting, a fab kitty, and so much eye candy that I came back more than once!
What a surprise to see Willard in my inbox!!!! Glad you are back…can’t wait for the new books. Will be nice additions to my already “Susan Branch book collection”!!!
I love your blog and your wall calendar hangs in my kitchen every year!!!
Susan, did you ever see “Cinderella” starring our Downtown Abbey girl? I saw it five times in the theater! Also, did you watch the BBC production of “Poldark”? It’s wonderful!!
Love the kitties, the art, the inspiring writing – so glad I found this site!!!
What fun to receive another Willard from you! I think I have all the snail mail ones saved in my file too. Can’t wait to see your new books! Thanks for a wonderful, enjoyable read! Love, Mary
Hi Susan,
Love reading your blogs they make me smile. Thank you so much for your giveaways. Good luck to everyone! Have fun planning your next trip. It is so much fun dreaming of new places to explore. Enjoy the rest of summer with Joe, Jack and the Girl!
I don’t know how you do it, Susan. All those calendars, then the book… and the next book right on its heels. All DONE! You are amazing.
I loved A Fine Romance and can’t wait to read the prequels.
Happy Happy end of summer and it is sweeter with the anticipation of your new book…blessings to you Susan!
Love, love, love the new Willard! Thanks Susan Branch. I adore you.
Susan, can you just tell me if you are ever going to get any more of the Girlfriends charms??? I so want one and so sorry I missed out ordering one before. Please let me know, thanks. Love you!!!
I think we will Judi!
Oh I can hardly wait for my book. My UPS man gets so tickled when I ask him. “anything from Susan” He knows you by now. HA….
I hope you draw me for one of the three. Say hi to Joe….
That’s the true mark of “making it” — when UPS knows your name! Thank you Gail! Hello from Joe to you!
Yay, fall is in the air with new books and goodies
Oh a new book to look forward to! I can hardly wait!!!
Dear Susan, I literally laughed out loud when I read that you were finding “Wow” in your compost! It made me want to tell you about our compost. I have been building our compost for 2 years, throwing in all the bits of peels and stems and things I forgot about in the refrigerator. I was going to put it in the vegetable garden this year but, sadly, it didn’t get planted. 🙁 So I figured it would go around all our new roses and fortify them . One day, just before I was going to go out and spread the lusciousness around, I looked out the kitchen window and thought I saw a branch in the compost can. I admit I was annoyed because I had specifically told my husband NOT TO DO THAT!!! So I asked him about the offending branch and he said, ” No, I think something is growing in there.” Chastised, I went out and saw that we had not one, not two, but THREE very healthy TOMATO plants growing AND a bunch of lemon balm. I couldn’t believe my eyes. A couple of months later, we now have a dozen green tomatoes growing bigger by the day. When they are big enough we will have our favorite, fried green tomatoes, and we will let the rest get red. I wish you were here to share with. I will share with someone else for you though. The lemon balm is from a planting I started 22 years ago. It sort of overtook everything so I pulled it out. I didn’t think any got in the compost bin, but there it is. I think anything that works that hard to survive should be allowed to live, so I am going to find a special spot for it. Thank you for making me laugh today. It must just be an extra special year for compost. Blessings, Michaelene P. S. We even water our compost now!! 🙂
Fantastic, and I know how you feel because one year our compost heap gave us pumpkins!
I LOLed again!!! Thank you!!!!
Have had a busy week applying for jobs, interviews and just the general humdrum of life…spent today catching up in the house, tomorrow will catch up outside in the yard, but took some quiet time to read Willard and this. Would love to be entered in the giveaway. Thank you Susan.
Like you I am looking forward to Autumn; and one of the first things to happen here is that your “AUTUMN” book comes down off the shelf and finds a prominent spot where all who visit may enjoy it. So Happy Autumn Susan one month early!
Soooo excited to receive new book, need some sunshine in my life, first granddaughter leaves for college August 27!! Sad and Happy and Proud
!
Made my day to read this just now. Oh. the happiness!!
Susan, thanks for all the loveliness – even if I don’t win I feel like I did, just getting to see what you create and what you love. Thanks for your generous giveaways and the constant stream of beautiful thoughts and images!
Again, the music is playing in my head: “Fairy tales can come true…they can happen to you…if you’re young at heart…” (and if you win one of Susan’s fabulous give-aways! Here’s hoping, for sure.)
I’m listening to the gentle roll of thunder, which I hope is the prelude to more rain. We’ve had a couple good days of it here in Houston, but everything was so dry and crunchy I think it would be lovely to curl up this evening and end the week with a wee bit more.
You’ve made my day/week/month/year once again. Love your blog, and have saved Willard for my Saturday morning treat. Hugs to you and those adorable furrballs from me and mine!
I was so excited about WILLARD that I FORGOT to come here!!! Oh My! That just won’t do 🙂
Vanna, Vanna… Add Georgie to the pile. I know you’re walking every day to build up your endurance, expanding those lungs to take a DEEP breath when you must dive deep into the pile of girlfriends and pick winners!
Susan… Girlfriends all over the WORLD have received and opened up your WILLARD and you got to watch, practically in their livingrooms (OK not really, but almost) What an exciting time we live in.
I am waiting very not so patiently for “The Fairy Tale Girl” LOL. It’s more exciting than waiting for Season 6 of Downton Abbey!
Happy Weekend Susan!
XOXO
Georgie from NJ
Ha ha ha Georgie! That’s funny . . . so happy to see you no matter WHERE it is!
A Willard, give away, and a blog post!! Happy Days!!!! My fingers and toes are crossed.
so happy to have the blog back on a more regular basis!!! How I missed it. My cat peaches celebrated his birthday on August 16 five years old he loved his party I love seeing the pictures of your kitties. School is beginning on August 25 I can’t wait to see all of my students the blogger calendar sits on my desk top and I was so thrilled to add all my new dates to it a lot of the other teachers inquire about it when they see it where did you get that? It’s sooooo cute of course I let them know where they can aquire one too of course teachers share why wouldn’t we? I am sooo looking forward to fall can’t wait
We LOVE our teachers . . . xoxoxo
Glad to have you back.
Life’s simple pleasure is reading and enjoying your art. Thank You for that!
Love your blog and Martha’s Vineyard!
Always fun to see a new Willard in my inbox! I absolutely LOVED A Fine Romance! Can’t wait to see your new books!
Yay, glad to hear of another trip to England – and Scotland, too! Your starry night sky photo is beautiful!
You’ve worked so hard at what you enjoy and now you can enjoy the autumn knowing you deserve to just be!
I think I might be the 2,468th person to post a comment. It only takes one!
The Willard was great! I just love pictures of Jack – cutest cat ever! Girl is the most regal cat ever.
I just love your books, emails, blogs, etc. all I can say is “They make me Happy”. Thank you for sharing your great talent.
I’m so ready for autumn….my favorite time of year here in Maine!
Can’t wait to read your new book! Autumn is my favorite season so I would love to win the book!
Thank you for all the smiles you bring to my life!
I love when things get back to normal!! Being out of touch is disconbooberating! These two books are eagerly anticipated— there is kind of a mystery about them , unlike a fine Romance that we were on the journey with you ! I know you were drawing on deeply personal things & had to be mulled over privately — now let the fun begin—sounds like you have a great year ahead for you —ready to vicariously be there with you !
Deeply personal, and now the scary unveiling! Back into the rabbit hole I dive! 🙂
So glad to have you back writing on the blog. A breath of fresh air!
I’m so excited about the new book, the giveaways, and Williard!!! So many great things to be excited about!! Jack and Girl are as adorable as ever. Thanks for inspiring me to make my small corner of the world beautiful and magical!
Please enter my name in the three wonderful give a ways!!!!! I enter in great anticipation that someday that cute little Vanna will twirl and spin and dive and come to the top holding that small slip of paper with my name on it! So I will Continue to believe that magic really does happen. Thanks for your beautiful blog
Denise
It’s been ages and ages since I’ve visited (ill husband and crazy amount of work for an upcoming show), so I’m super late in expressing congratulations on the upcoming books! Can’t wait to read them, and hope you thoroughly enjoy a well deserved rest this autumn (the absolute BEST season to take a bit of time off and just breathe, don’t you think?)…
Thank you as always for sharing a bit of island life with us, and of course those adorable two kitties, and well, everything! Your positive outlook, work ethic and determination are an inspiration to still struggling creatives everywhere!
♥ Carolee
Thank you Carolee! So sorry to hear about your husband. Sending love and all the best of wishes. xoxo
Willard was wonderful!
I had to unsub from my old email and sign up with a new one…
And I got it today!
Yea!!!
Thank you Susan for the beauty and inspiration in your Art.
SO ENJOY THE DAYS WHEN I CAN READ YOUR BLOG AND SEE THE SIGHTS IN PICTURES! BOOKS WILL BE WONDERFUL…. CAN’T WAIT!
Enjoy your blog so much. Thanks for Willard, too. Enjoy the rest of your summer!
I just read my first Willard, enjoyed it very much. Thanks for the giveaway.
Love reading your website and would love to win the give-away.
Lovely treasures and your Willard makes me feel like I’m right there with you!
Thanks for another breath of fresh air.
Welcome Back Susan to the Land of Blog. I have missed reading your most inspiring blogs filled with such warmth and thoughtfulness. Your Beatrice Potter people are just adorable. Your kitchen is enchanting. And your delicate rose photo~~~my favorite! I am enjoying our rose bushes and clematis so much this summer. And we have already had a little nip of Autumn in the air up north which was delightful after a hot ending to July. My favorite Season is coming soon and I can hardly wait!!! Wonderful treasures you are offering as giveaways…
Counting the days, can’t wait! Enjoy the days til fall!
g
So good to have you back! Love the pic of Jack at the kitchen door. I too, am ready for Fall! Can’t wait to decorate. Can’t wait for the new book. Kisses to the Kitties!
Whoooee. Boy Susan, we begged for an update and you certainly came through for all us girlfriends. Thank you!
I would like to win, because I love everything you do!!
I really enjoy your books and Willard too.
I am so excited for your new book! i do hope to win one!!!
Looking forward to the new book. The new Willard was beautiful!!!
Susan you are an amazing, hard working, salt of the earth woman ! Can’t wait to read your new books ! Love Poldark too. Did you watch Last Tango in Halifax too? It is a hoot ! They were both on Sunday evenings. What would we do without public broadcasting stations !
Just love the pictures and the pictures in my mind that come from your writing. Looking forward to getting my calendars again, thanks so much, you are so talented. I drove home to northern Michigan from San Diego, it was so green there. And since I have been back in SD, it has been 90-100’s, too hot, so I appreciate the talk of breezes. Hah! Thank you again for all you do!
I do so love your writing, Susan, and I can hardly wait to dive into your new books. You have such a delightful way of whisking me away from mundane moments – like canning veg/beef soup, beef broth, and just plain beef for three solid days – to the magic of Martha’s (I remembered.).
Linda, Sharmin and I all will be contacting our favorite bookstores to host a book signing in Indiana, I’m sure. We SO enjoyed meeting you and Joe and seeing the Fine Romance van! What a wonderful day that was.
I am so glad you didn’t cut your watercolor test paper up…what a wonderful piece of the Artist’s Art someone will win! And thank you so much for the free stuff! I need to get some card stock for the bookmarks. You can’t have enough bookmarks! The stationery is lovely – I can hardly wait to print it out and use it to write my Great Aunt Elizabeth in Virginia. She loves flowers!
So happy you’re back blogging, Susan, and enjoying life on the Isle of Dreams. We missed you! Enjoy the rest of your summer. (How blessed you are to be able to walk to the market!) 🙂 Sara 🙂
Martha’s! You remembered! And your great aunt is going to LOVE a real letter from you, Sara. Thank you for your lovely comment, as always, xoxo