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
Yea!,, I am so excited to read my Willard! I have missed them! I love, love, love your books, calendars and artwork! Thank you!!
So glad I looked for your blog today! It is always a welcome cheer-up to any day! I will be spending some special hours with my grandson this week before he returns to school. He will be traveling to England in October so one of our activities this week will be looking at your book and choosing a recipe to try together after enjoying the photos and descriptive tour. Thank you!
I can’t wait to get my Willard. It will be my first. I recently ordered out of print copies of your first three cook books. I lose myself in them for hours at a time. I will be visiting Oak Bluffs at the end of September. I can’t wait. It has been years since I have been there. I love your blog, your stories ,art work, photographs, and especially your cats.
p.s. What is the camera you use? I believe you’ve mentioned it before but I don’t seem to be able to find where.
Thank you for all you do.
It’s a Canon T2i, maybe four or five years old.
Hi,
This is my last summer in New England, so I will treasure your willards and photos all the more.
So looking forward to your newest book. Love your kitties and their antics.
Can’t wait for my books to arrive.
Oh joy! The joy of anticipation, the possibility of wonders becoming true! Who wants the lottery when one might have art? Art made with love, overseen by whiskers.
So happy that you are back blogging and enjoying summer!
I am really looking forward to your new book. Thank you for the owl bookmark. Oh so cute. I love owls and am slowing building a collection. I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer.
Another wonderful blog post…so enjoy your pictures!
I love your blog. It always makes me smile.
Writing your new book must have been great fun, but surely it must be nice to be “back to normal”. Hope you get to take another cruise! I’ll get the pleasure
of going along, but without the sea sickness. I’d love to win one of your give
aways.
Pat. S. in Lebanon
Yay! A Willard to look forward to, a new blog and a book to be delivered soon! What could be better at the end of a long, hot summer. Glad you are enjoying your summer finally and looking forward to a wonderful trip!
Oh, I am so excited for your new book to be released! I still give friends near and far your A FINE ROMANCE and now I’ll have a new book to spread around!
So happy to find your blog in my inbox this morning! I’ve missed walking with you and Joe on your little excursions. Looking forward to the day I open my house mailbox and finding your new book…can’t wait!! I just love seeing the awesome pics of Girl Kitty and Jack…can’t help but smile…they warm my heart. We have a brown tabby named Toby who is joined at the hip to my husband. Wherever hubby goes, there goes Toby! It’s hilariously joyous!! So will President Obama be visiting with you while he’s there on Martha’s Vineyard?? If not, he’s missing out on a very special treat…LOL!
Blessings,
Dawna
When you have time to do the little things, like bubble bathe “filthy piglets” or wash kitchen canisters or clear out a drawer, it just makes a person breathe easier. Welcome back, Susan.
I won a single lottery ticket on Saturday and my winning prize was one more ticket, which I will collect this afternoon. (I’d never purchased a ticket, so this was, and is, an Occasion! Sooooo, I hope to continue my winning ways with Miss Vanna. Sending this with a little kiss for good luck. What’s wrong with all these people sitting around me? Am I the only person to dispatch cell phone messages with a kiss? Gee whiz!
ok, so now I read it! How wonderful and I really enjoy reading the comments too. Isn’t it great to have all these girlfriends! Even if I don’t win anything, I’ll be getting the book and watching the movie. Thanks for the best blogs. You were my first I signed up for and the best!
I’m so excited about reading your new book! I love all of your others. My husband and I are planning a trip to England for the fall of 2016, and I’ve been using a Fine Romance as a guide. It has been so helpful. The only trouble is that I have too many places I want to visit and not enough time!
Thank you so much!
With each new blog I get in my e-mail from you, my day always gets brighter. The beautiful illustrations and words of prose lift my spirits. Your pictures of your cats and their antics and the beautiful flower beds are so inviting, I would like to be your neighbor and drop in for a visit. Thank you so much. Robin, [email protected]
good morning/afternoon Ms. Susan and girlfriends, all settled in here for another heat wave… 103-106 degrees today and 100-102 tomorrow. the water containers are all filled with water and ice cubes to help keep that water cool for awhile, all the tubs and buckets are filled and the pools are topped off with nice cool water and ice cubes floating in there to keep the ducks happy. the fans in the barn and henhouse are all going to keep the air moving about and cool and the hens happy and somewhat comfortable. its sunny with patchy clouds/or smoke hard to tell these days. we get so smoky its difficult to tell if its cloudy, smoky or both. hopefully the rains will come soon and drown those fires, and cool things off around here. tomorrow, Wednesday Aug 19th the local county fair opens up and on Thursday The Knights of the Realm will be doing their jousting competitions. these are all guys from Oregon and the stunts they do will amaze just about anyone. just go to google and look up The Knights of the Realm, Tournament of Champions and up will come their website with info on the knights and what they do. and for add info there is an excellent video just below the website on them from you tube and it shows one of their tournaments at the Roseburg Rodeo. it is fascinating, and you see that they are the best at riding horses and the stunts that they do, they are professionals at that. they have even performed at Medieval Times, enjoy the video and I will enjoy the show on Thursday dressed as a wench. off to go check on the barnyard brats, air out my tavern wench costume and maybe iron it a bit later. later…. floating on the river to keep cool today. have a great day everyone….. hugs…. 🙂 p.s. where do you plan to sail to this time??? England, Scotland or Ireland????
I’m so excited waiting for Willard I feel like a child whose birthday is approaching. I know it’s coming but not fast enough. — I absolutely *LOVE* all of your writings, drawings, and sayings. You always uplift me when I read your blogs, posts, books. You’re an inspiration and joy, Susan (and Joe and kittens too)!
Oh how Wonderful it is to have you back! Great to know that you are now enjoying what is left of Summer and enjoying every minute of it! So looking forward to “The Fairy Tale Girl” to arrive!! I know it will be worth every tiny second of anticipation! Thank you for sharing your lovely photos with all of us Girlfriends, such simple things like the star in a an apple core! Simple and beautiful! Looking forward to the give-aways too! You have the best prizes!
We have a 4 week old kitten, the mama is a teenager and was over-whelmed we tried our best to help her and the babies and this one is the only one that survived out of the six she had 🙁 and he is a black and white Tuxedo kitty. He is sweet as can be….pink nose and all four little feet…pink as can be! He is just starting to get the hang of walking, totters a lot and falls over but trying so hard, then he has to have a long nap with Mama! Since I am on the subject of kitties, we have the NeuterScooter that comes to Ohio and the next visit is in September and I want to get Mama spayed which is the service they provide, neutering and spaying also vaccines and other medical services for minimal cost. The vet that performs the surgeries is wonderful and she has done over 200,000 surgeries for strays, feral cats, pets, barn, in and in/out kitties. Our state is so blessed to have this service. She is very compassionate about kitties and loves them all, no matter what, like she said, “they are all precious.” Other states besides OH are CA, IL, IN, FL, Hawaii and Mexico. Maybe you have heard of it before since you are from California. There, that is my Public Service Announcement. LOL!
Hugs,
Candice in Ohio
I am fairly new to your blog, but I am “enchanted” and I feel as though we could be kindred spirits 🙂 I love the musica!
Just returned home from a quilting retreat and it was so relaxing to read about your delightful home and your super cute kitties and your latest “doings” – such fun to read and such fun to imagine along with you!
I’m so happy for you, that you have completed the book and are getting back to the usual things. But then to read that you are going back to England and that you are graciously bringing us along…now I’m really excited!
Susan ~ enjoyed the blog ! Can’t wait for “Willard” ! Have to comment on “ladybug magic” …………. when my kids were little, I told them whenever they found a ladybug, it would bring them “good luck” …………….. and whenever the “first ladybug of the season” was spotted, we always made “Ladybug Cookies” together (cookies that look like “ladybugs”). Memories ……….
Take care,
Helen
I look forward to your new book, I loved “A Fine Romance”! Enjoy your much deserved free time, I love your photos and writing and I’m with you on roses from the garden~
Hello Susan! I am so glad to have you back blogging – though the wait will be worth it when our books come in. Your joy is infectious and radiates off the pages – from Jack and Joe to roses to Beatrix Potter figurines covered in soap bubbles! It makes me so happy to read 🙂 Looking forward to The Fairy Tale Girl and “our” next trip! Thank you so much. Pam in Natick.
Hello Dear Friend ! Can I say that..we haven’t formally met but I sure would like to sit and visit with you, Joe, Jack and Girl Kitty one day. We would sit in your lovely garden and sip fresh squeezed lemonade…yum…and I would just admire all you have done for so many of us….taking us all away if only for a few minutes and showing us how to admire our surroundings..thank you for that. Do you know my maiden name began with the the letter “S” and for 19 years I never was able to make it look as beautiful as you can! anyway I sure would love to win anything from Susan Branch !! Thank you for the opportunity and waiting with baited breath for my new book to read and to start marking in my new calendar(s) ! I always carry one in my purse too ! Regards, Dexter, MI.
While I love everything Susan Branch, your piece of scratch paper captured my interest the most. I am a calligrapher and I “get” those little squiggles, I do the same thing when my pen is giving me trouble. I do not, however, have fairy magic on mine 🙁
Your roses are beautiful and I do love the pictures of Jack and queen Kitty.
If you are visiting England again next year please do visit Northumberland because I do love that part so much and the landscape is so wonderfull.
We loved it so much during our holidays many years ago.
Looking forward to your new book!!!
greetings,Trudy from the Netherlands
Do you ever go as far as Florida on a book tour? Please come!
I have known and loved you for about 23 years now. I have all the original snail-mail Willards (oh, to receive one of those, the old-fashioned way in the mailbox…what sheer bliss that was!), and all your books, among so many other things. Sigh. I just love you, Susan Branch.
We just need a bookstore to invite us and we will try to come!
I sat down today so stressed and there you were. Oh Susan you are my escape. I wish you were to be found in my inbox a couple times a week. After I read everything and then had to shop and get my new blotter calendar, jars and August book; like a special cup of tea an hour melted away and with it my stress. I adore you sweet girl and hope you will be blessed to do this for years to come!
I so love Autumn, the crisp air, the food, and I love your two cats. I have two as well, one black and white and one solid black; Icarus and Salem.
Yay! Just say your new posting – thinking I’ll save
to read tonight when I have a warm cup of tea and house
quiet. However, saw suppose to post a comment to win
a drawing – not sure for what but am sure since
it’s coming from you will be just wonderful!!
Is that a FitBit I see Joe wearing? 🙂 What a cheerful blog; Susan, you made my afternoon. Roasted sweet corn – it’s a favorite here on Long Island’s North Fork. Hopefully, hubby and I will be sailing to Canada/New England end September on QM2, our very favorite ship! It’s where we met our very dear friends, Clare and her mum and dad, Pauline and John! 🙂 We’ve been watching the rates and hoping, hoping, hoping – that they come down a bit. We’ve been doing house projects. That thing called work takes up way too much time and we’ve been needing to do these things and so we have to pace ourselves. A happy belated Birthday to Joe and hugs to those beautiful kitties! Be well & be happy!
We watch too, and they’ve had some VERY cheap rates this summer! So enticing!
Your writing and your pictures just make me smile…!
I am looking forward to reading your latest Willard !
Lots of “Gloriosity” to look forward to !
THANK YOU !
…and, we Thank You, Susan, for being a very bright spot in our days. So happy that you are in a more leisurely place now after your marathon book writing stint. Looking forward to seeing the finished product. Glad you are back to your more normal daily rounds.
Love your blog! Thanks for the chance to win.
I’m eagerly awaiting my Willard! It and your blog are such a positive beam in today’s otherwise fast-as-lightning-gossipy world on the internet.
Dear Susan:
Your page is my favorite page of all. Every single day, I click here, just in case there is a new post. There are so many bad things going on in this world, that having something uplifting and beautiful to read, have a place to turn, it is like a large bottle of cold water to someone thirsty in the desert. A post plus Willard and Giveaway… it´s going to make my week!
I don´t have access to your books (al least, not yet) but at least I have access to this. Thank you for taking time to do it. God bless you.
You lead a charmed life! *Sigh* So beautiful! 🙂
Thank you – I would love to win anything you create!
What a joy to see a new posting on your blog! I enjoy reading about your life. I always find it inspiring to make even the smallest changes in my life – for the better.
Oh my what a delightful surprise on a sunny day to receive your blog and news and views from your island! Though at age, 69, I have begun water coloring and fully understand now your testing paper to dab before you paint. I have saved and then threw away blinded of what to do with them. Amazing idea.
I am grateful for your quotes, photo vignettes and your layers of gratitude.
Ciao Bella from Michigan. We have a little independent bookstore, THE NEXT CHAPTER, in our small Victorian town outside Detroit!!
Susan,
Thank you so much for your blog. You have been miss, but The Fairy Tale Girl makes it all worthwhile. Hope you & Joe enjoy the rest of summer. Here’s hoping I win.
What a sweet surprise to see your post. It is definately making my day. Glad you are back, Susan!
I got much needed warm fuzzies reading your blog today. I so needed a spirit boost, so THANK YOU. Perfect timing. Also, Queen Girl Kitty looks very regal in her photo. Should you ever get writer’s block or artist’s block(?) (God forbid it a thousand times!), you could be a professional photographer, you really could.
I’ve been receiving your blog for awhile but I must have missed something–What is a Willard? And I also thought there was a trip to Scotland in the future but I assume work came in the way.
Willard is my Newsletter . . . scroll down on the blog, look in the right hand column and you’ll see where you can sign up to receive it in your email box.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Always a joyful inspiration to read your blog posts.
Long time fan❤️
Happy that you have come back to blogging after so much hard work that is greatly appreciated! So excited for the new book and some beautiful calendars for 2016! I am looking forward to Willard and hope that you and Joe enjoy the rest of summer.
Susan – So glad to receive a long Blog post to read at lunch today! The picture of Jack are bittersweet for me. Just lost my 16 year old girl cat, Queenie. She was a tuxedo cat like Jack and Girl Kitty. Thought I would be able to enjoy her company a few more years.
Give Jack and Girl Kitty extra treats from me!
So sorry Lynn, terrible to lose our pets/friends who know everything about us and love us anyway.
Loved reading your blog this morning Susan and the pic’s you shared of the sky are amazing! They reminded me of your watercolors. I do hope you and Joe get to make a summer trip to England this next year and that you’ll share your journal entries with those of us who live vicariously through you. 😉 xxo Joyce in Port Ludlow, Wa.
It’s always a treat to read and look at your beautiful Willards! I am excited for you about your new book! How satisfying it must be to have it completed! Thank you for your heartfelt artwork and writing. It always cheers me up!
I’m so glad you are back with us again Susan! I actually think I was becoming depressed without your regular uplifting blog entries to look forward to – your re-infuse me with happiness!
Too much of a good thing is definitely wonderful! Congratulations on finishing your new book – I can’t wait to see it!
Susan – always such a joy to read your posts and see your pictures! Your life of domesticity is a joy we need to rekindle and pass on to the newer generations. The simple life of beauty and blessings counted in the beauty. Cherish the moments. You do it all so well. Thanks for your unique contribution to our world. I’m still listening to the big band musica also. Your choice of music is wonderful! Thank God for old-fashioned everything and new technology! I would love any of your three giveaways. Vanna, pick ME, please!
Susan, can you feel it?? Autumn is almost here! I can start to sense it just a little … needing to pull the blankets on a little tighter at night, the chilly mornings as the sun is just starting to peak, the grumpy kids walking slowly to school …. it can only mean one thing! I’ve been waiting ever so patiently since Spring and it’s finally upon us 😀 Happy Almost Autumn, Susan! I know you appreciate the changing seasons as much as I do!
Thank you for the fun bookmark and the lovely post. You are so lucky to live in a place like MV even w/the tourists. I get so nostalgic for the East and the seasons and I enjoy visiting with you.
Thanks again
Mary Lou
I have collected your books for a long time. My first one was Vineyard Seasons. I also love your calendars and can’t bear to discard them when the year is over. I think I am becoming a hoarder! 🙂
Also, have “rediscovered” my Beatrix Potter collection and added 2 new ones, Peter feeling poorly, the Old Woman and the Shoe. Thanks for reminding me how much I loved them.
Mary Lou
Thank you, Susan, for working so hard to finish your new book! I have always been so curious about your move to the East Coast and your fairytale life. You are so generous with sharing your stories here, but cannot wait to read more! And to hear you and Joe will be going on another adventure ~~squee!~~ I hope this means another new book will be in the works after! And still, my hope of hopes is that one of these days, I will have the honor and delight of meeting you at one of your book signings! Thank you for all you do, and for all the fairy-magic-love you share with the world! xoxo
Loved the post!
I’m so happy I re-signed up for your Willard! I wasn’t receiving them for such a long time. Looking forward to your new book. Thanks so much for letting us all know how things are going. Blessings to you and Joe.
i am so glad you are able to enjoy the rest of your summer! It is so very hot here, and dry, and HOT!
Linda L. in Texas
I know exactly what you mean about how fun it is to get back to your life after finishing your new book that I can’t wait to read. I’m in the final editing stage of writing & doing the graphics for one and geez, it will be great to tidy up my life in the aftermath!
It is always a delight to read your words and to see your photos and your precious art. Every blog of yours that I read leaves me feeling happy! 🙂
And we thank you for your generous giveaways!
Your roses are a fairy tale in themselves, thank you for that beautiful photo.
We are planning a spring wedding in our family and the bride, my son’s lovely fiancé, has chosen peachy-pink-coral flowers for her attendants.
We are not so patiently awaiting the delivery of the new book…
Loved today’s post! Can’t wait for the new book, which I’ve been looking for since you first mentioned the idea of it. Love the kitty and house pics and am super excited for you and the England trip planning. Whoo hoooo!
Always good to “get away” through your blog and dream of being on Martha’s Vineyard too. Enjoy seeing your little fur pals too. Happy Summer on the island.
It is always a treat to find a “Willard” in the mailbox. I am so looking forward to “Fairytale Girl”.
Congrats on finishing yet another book! Cannot wait to read it!
Time flies by and yes fall is in the air here in the midwest too.
Thankyou for entering all of in your drawings.
You make wonderful things happen !
What a joy to have you drop by for a visit today. You always bring sunshine!
I’m looking forward to getting your book and calendars…my sister and I get them every year!
Thank you for this generous opportunity – what a great selection of goodies for any of the prizes 🙂 We’re so much looking forward to autumn here in Canada too – the BEST season of all!
Love, love, LOVE your blog. It’s rambly and pretty and has cats sprinkled through it, just like my life!
By the way, can you recommend any good watercolor pans that have lots of colors? I can’t limit myself to just 24, even with mixing!
Just love your blog and would be sooo happy to win something from you!
Susan…what exciting items for Vanna to find homes for…I hope that I am one of the lucky names she draws! : ) Enjoy the rest of your summer with Joe, Jack and Girl Kitty.
Look forward to reading your blog! It keeps me smiling.
Susan,
I absolutely love everything that you do. I think if you could say that someone has the perfect life it is you. You are so talented and you are able to reap the benefits of what you sow. I so wish I could have the life you have. Thank you for putting a smile on so many people’s faces.
Everything you write or draw brings a smile to my face. Thank you!
love your blogs! looking forward to reading the new book too. Lastly, love the kitty photos!
As always, Susan, you light up our lives!
Congrats on all your news! I’m replanting some spots too – busy summer (my neglect) and hot, hot, weather has done my flowers in. The nursery had a surprising selection of annuals. Happy for the color! can’t wait for the new book.
Hi, Susan ~
It’s so nice to hear from you and catch up. When you were busy with your book, I realized how much I missed you and what an important part of my life this blog has become. Don’t get me wrong….that kinda sounds like I’m obsessed! Well….maybe ….kinda. lol 🙂 But, seriously, I have gained so much insight and inspiration from your words. Thank you!
George and I just returned from a week on the cape. We rented an adorable cottage in Sandwich for the week, which we shared with 2 of our adult children, our son-in-law and 2 of our granddaughters. Such fond memories of meeting you there a couple of years ago. I saw that you will be returning to Titcomb’s for a signing. Such a wonderful book store!!! Izzy just loved it there! It’s so fun to be sharing our love of the cape now with the grands. It truly is a magical place!
Just before we left for vacation, I, too visited our garden center for the first time this season. Although it seemed so late to be buying and planting, I couldn’t resist the amazing deals on annual flowers! I spent a fraction of what I usually do in late spring and had so much fun filling in the bare spots in my gardens. Those pretty marigolds will carry you right through the fall now with that happy yellow!
Know you have many to talk to so I’ll be off. Just know you made my day! Watching the mailbox…fingers crossed….love ya!
xoDebbie
Good afternoon Susan! So wonderful to see all of the photos and especially the ones of the kitties. Soooooo good to have you back! Hugs!
So good to hear from you again. Cannot wait for Willard. Thanks for the owl bookmark, I will add it to my collection!
It’s always so nice to read your posts. Thank you.
Slightly off topic…but this might be of interest to those readers who don’t yet have the Autumn book… We love lots of the recipes in the Autumn book (and all the thoughts/quotations and artwork) but we’ve only recently tried the brownie recipe. It alone is worth the whole book! In the past two weeks we’ve made three batches. We served a stack of them at Sunday lunch and they went ‘like hotcakes’. Delicious!
Love hearing that!
Are you really going to go to England again!?! Oh I’m so jealous! I just put on a pair of pants that I had washed while there and they “smell like England” if you know what I mean. So glad you are able to enjoy some time in the yard and your stand! Yay for the excitement of the daily things of life! Thanks for sharing!
What blessings you bring to all of us who follow you! Love the way you cherish the little things of life. How lucky you are to have Joe to share, to plan and to dream with. As a retired home economics teacher, I often wish young women could catch the vision of what a home such as yours can truly be.
I know you’ve been busy . . . but I gotta tell you, I’ve sure missed you !!!
Dear Susan,
Happy day, a lovely post from you! Congratulations on finishing the book! I’m so looking forward to it, it’ll be like Christmas come early this year!
Oh goody, book 2 will arrive around Mother;s day…Is that early May, like here in Holland?
Do you have any news about the Chinese version of the Romance book?
Thank you for the lovely give away, and for the cute pictures of Joe and the cats!
with love from Holland
Nicoline
XXXXX
I haven’t yet, but it’s supposed to be in September.
Susan – I was just in awe of the picture of the stars. I can’t remember when I have see so many even if it was in a picture. Because of all of the lights here in Vegas, that many stars are very difficult to see. Thanks for sharing.
Your darling kitties always make me chuckle. Jack is such a little ham–haha!
Its me again. I just googled “Autumn in the UK” images, and it would be enough to entice me.
I always enjoy your blog posts, photos of the kitties and the island. I am looking forward to your new book. Thank you!! Have a great day.
It is so good to hear from you! I’m thrilled you have time to enjoy some of the summer outside doing what you love to do.
Your blog posts make my day! I am going to get to Martha’s Vineyard at some point! I hope soon! Thank you for the Willard! What a treat!