MUSICA 🎵 You know how when you are going about your daily life, perhaps living in a rabbit hole, but perfectly fine with it ~ and you think that although you are extremely happy doing your little thing, probably if you 
told someone about it you would be forced to watch their eyes slowly roll back in their heads as they prepared to die from boredom? Well, that’s why I haven’t written. You deserve better. But then I miss you, so here I am, ready to bore you to pieces ANYWAY. Because I’m sure what most of you would like to hear about is Christmas, food and decorating, snow and all the wonderful things of the season. And don’t get me wrong, in regards to these things, my heart is in the right place ~ and although snow is still a distant memory, our tree is pure heaven . . .
. . . I just love it. As I run back and forth through the house, from the tea kettle to my studio, I pass right by it. There it is, almost perfect this year, smelling piney, twinkling and 
bringing cheer to the person rushing past it to get back to what makes her so very boring and so very happy. BTW, note little red button on the floor under the tree? One of the best inventions of the 20th century. You plug your Christmas lights into it, plug it into the wall, and step on the button to turn the tree on and off. Perfect when you come home from a party late at night and want nothing to do with crawling around on the floor to unplug the lights. Step and boom, and off to bed. So satisfying. We’ve had ours for years ~ love it every year . . . I found one HERE in case you want one too.
And here’s that party we came home late from. See? I’m not THAT boring. I even made a Gingerbread Tree Cake yesterday to take to this party last night. I took this photo of our hostess Jaime and her beautiful table . . . it was a 
wonderful dinner with all our best friends and the most amazing food: Jaime made Julia Child’s Coquilles St. Jacques from The Art of French Cooking, with stuffed tomatoes, a perfect little salad and a side of some sort of grain I think might have been quinoa (I didn’t have my glasses on!). Elegant, light and delicious. We had the gingerbread cake with wine 
soaked pears and whipped cream for dessert. While we ate, we went around the table of old friends bathed in candlelight and each person told a favorite Christmas or Hanukkah memory, and all we did is toast each other and laugh.
Speaking of memories: Yesterday I got a Christmas box from my youngest sister Shelly. I opened it this morning and inside was a doll I made for her in 1973 when she was around 11. What a surprise! She was letting it come for a visit with me! I’d forgotten I even made it. Shelly called it her “Kelly Doll” and I laughed to read what she wrote in the letter that came with it, “Sorry Kelly is so dirty but she hasn’t had a bath in 43 years.”
I had to turn her over and examine her, loving her striped socks and rick-rack apron . . . and then I remembered…
That I’d embroidered on her back, and there it was … a little worse for wear, but still readable. I was happy to give this to her in the first place, but even happier that I did it now! I made a doll that is now 43 years old. How can that BE?
Kelly came from a really easy-to-make Raggedy Ann McCalls pattern. All Raggedy Ann dolls have a heart on their chests because of the candy heart the author gave her in his original stories.So I embroidered a heart on Shelly’s doll.
Shelly’s doll started me on a doll-making jag, you could seemingly do anything with this pattern, just change the clothes, the face, the hair color and you could even match the child you were giving it to . . . my ex mother-in-law brought me a tiny dress 
from Thailand that I couldn’t get even get a toe into, it was so small. But the fabric was beautiful and I wanted to use it for something so I took it apart and made my Asian Annie, complete with nail polish and black satin pants, and yes, a heart on her chest too. I still have her. I also made another doll wearing a 1950s outfit, with a poodle skirt and blonde hair, but she went off to the child of one of my friends and ended up being loved to shreds.
This was also in the box Shelly sent . . . a quilt I made for my mom the same year I made Shell’s doll.
There was no rhyme nor reason to the design for this quilt . . . I was self taught, which meant I didn’t know what I was doing and just hooked the pieces together using lots of different embroidery stitches.
Shelly sent me the quilt because a couple of weeks ago my mom did some downsizing and moved into a place where she would have more care. We wanted the move to be easy for her, and what could have been a sad event turned out to be a 
true blessing because she was getting a little bit cut off from people where she used to live. Now all she has to do is walk out her door, and voila, there are lectures, and exercise classes, and delicious meals, and a great big Christmas tree, and carolers singing songs she knows all the words to and she is much happier, and so are we, her children. She has gone to exercise class every day since she moved in! SO happy! But this quilt, that has been on the back of her sofa for the last 42 years, has returned to me, for better or for worse. I am pleased to have it, but will miss seeing it in her old house.
So this morning has been a lovely little walk down memory lane. Just what I love at Christmas time.
Despite this, visions of sugar plums are really not what dances through my head, and although I DO have my kerchief and Joe DOES have his cap, we have NOT settled down to a long winter’s nap! No,I LEAP from my bed, my feet all a’clatter, before any creatures begin stirring and say, “What’s a’matter?” I speak not a word but RUN to my 
paintbrush and pen and then fall down, down, down into the rabbit hole again (mixing my metaphors and fairy tales the entire way) where I live, deeply connected and madly in love, to be honest, with the making, writing, and painting of my new book. It wins for my most favorite project ever (but I probably say that with all of them). Some days I jump up and say YESsss! Out loud, because I remembered to include the right quote, or wisp of girlfriend conversation that I know you probably had with your own girlfriends, happy because the watercolor of the girl 
being blown down the road by the wind actually looks like a girl being blown down the road by the wind! I can’t wait to show you. And because I am so into it is why my life looks boring and repetitive like Groundhog Day to the outside observer because this is all I really do and is why I haven’t written to say hi. I don’t think you will be mad at me anymore when you see this book, I really don’t. I still take time outs to read Christmas cards, bake a cake, to open a box and fall all over an old doll or quilt, but then, I’m done. Back to studio. On the phone, talking to mom, talking to dad, while painting. Drinking tea and stopping sometimes to play with Jack or hug Girl or go for a walk with Joe.
Here we are. Gumby people out on the road in long afternoon shadows. We still haven’t had any snow. I prayed for a long fall and those prayers were answered but nothing really matters because my heart is in the book, even when out here, in my favorite place on earth. I hope to have it to the printer by the end of January. And then
Because next year? We sail to England! And in case you haven’t heard, I will be blogging the trip, so we’re 
bringing you all with us! But before we sail away, we’ll be visiting 20 American cities, doing 20 book signings. Click on EVENTS at the top of this page ~ next week, Kellee will start putting up a few of our confirmed dates so far. I’ll just say now: Yes Cedar Rapids, Iowa,✔️ and Yes, Cincinnati Ohio ✔️, and Yes, St. Charles, MO.✔️ We are coming! Next May! Hope to see some of you there! Don’t worry, that’s not the whole tour. Our 30th Anniversary 2016 Book Tour has just begun!
I’m still watching progress of The Fairy Tale Girl, in the 
only way I can, by the ratings on Amazon, and I’m thrilled to tell you that we have a 5.0 rating with 113 reviews so far for Fairy Tale Girl!!! Can you believe it? ♥ And A Fine Romance? It’s got 473 reviews and a rating of 4.9, which I could not ask for more! These little books survive almost completely because of your word of mouth ~ makes me so happy.♥ Thank you! You are the best!
Here we are, a winter with no snow (so far), and in a few days it will be time for the shortest day of the year, and then, the days begin to grow longer and Downton will start and life will be complete. Can. Not. Wait.
So back I go to paint some more, this was a time out for my little message of love to you all. 😘 I hope you are having a boring holiday season too. Makes life so nice. No hectiosity to deal with, right? All is calm, all is bright. Oops, I almost forgot, you probably would like a picture of the children right?
Always on guard. Never know when or where the attack might come from. Siempre Listo. Motto #1
It gets very tiring standing guard all the time. Trust but verify is their #2 motto.
Time out to apply for the job of cat model.
Am I cute enough? Is my tummy soft enough looking? Do I light your fire? Oh yeah, I know I do.😻
Oh, my, Susan, what a lovely Christmas present you have given us. Your tree is radiant in all its splendor. I made a Raggedy Ann doll for my niece using that same pattern. What fun it was to do especially her hair. Wishing you and Joe and your families lots of Christmas blessings. Hope Girl and Jack know it’s OK to let Santa in. Hugs.
I loved doing the hair too! Just a fun little project.
Yes, Jack lights my fire. So does his sister.
Your tree IS pretty! I love it!
The Ann you made is WONDERFUL. I have made Anns, too. I love her face. I wish my face looked like hers.
Merry Christmas, good Sue!
I see what you mean, she does have a seriously happy look on her!
While we all wait in anticipation of your next post how could we be mad at you. You bring such joy in your posts. Love your Gumby picture. Reading your post brought back many childhood memories. Like the time I wanted a Barbie doll so badly, that while my parents were out, I unwrapped a box the size I knew the Barbie would come in , played with it for a bit then wrapped it up again. Naughty I know, it still makes me laugh that I did that.
Wishing you the best of the holiday season.
I did it too, locked my brothers outside, opened boxes, tried on the CLOTHES, was SO excited, wrapped it all back up and put it under the tree and felt SO much better now that I wasn’t being tortured with curiosity.
Loved your blog, as always! And made even more excited for Christmas as we head to the island on Christmas day. Can hardly wait to see the magical down town and all the white lights. So wish it would snow, but than that could affect our travels, so will just be happy to be ‘home for the holidays’!! Wishing everyone a most joyous holiday season!
Good for you Lee! How fun to be here on Christmas! No snow, but we’re working on it.
I was about 10 years old, home alone, when the mailman delivered a package from my Aunt Alice. I carefully unwrapped the brown paper, the ribbon and the Christmas wrapping paper and discovered yellow pajamas make like a clown suit ! I loved them. So, I had to rewrap and place under the tree as if nothing happened. On Christmas morning I went over-board exclaiming how I always wanted clown pajamas. My parents never said a word to me but let me just dwell on what I had done. I never did that again !
I never did it again either, although Christmas was a pure torture for me. I always cried. I could hardly stand the wait! I LOVE your clown pajamas!
hi Susan!!!….. BORING..?!?!?! you must be joking!!… you and your rabbit hole life are anything but!!!! So happy to see this post… the dinner party looked and sounded fantabulous…and I love your tree…it is sooooo cheerful!!! Raggady ” Kelly Doll” and your moms quilt warmed my heart….and happy to hear that she likes her new digs!! Of course, the kitties stole the show…. adorable pictures!! But the best news was the announcement of the additional book signing locations in the spring….ST.CHARLES, MO makes the cut!!! So excited…. think you will like it here!!! Oh joy!!!!!😊😊😊 I know I speak for all of your fans around here when I say…” WE CAN’T WAIT!!!”… I hope you all have a wonderful holiday celebrating all the joys of the season…..Merry Christmas to all!!!❤️❤️❤️
love, cindy
So excited to be coming there Cindy . . . It was you and Alisa that made it happen! Thank you so much!
you are welcome! And believe me….. it’s our pleasure!!!!
xoxo
oh, my goodness-gracious-me!!!! wow. making the raggedy-ann for your sister, and the quilt for your mom….what wonderful expressions of love!! and, to receive them back into your home now….and sharing them with us…well, I don’t know what to say, really. and….I am SELDOM at a loss for words. just wonderful. just beautiful. just THANK YOU!!!! funny, there is a fabric on the quilt…the one with kind of “stripes” of blue-floral fabric…..I have a quilt on our bed right now, made by my mil, ever sooooo many yrs ago, containing some VERY similar fabric, out of which I had made curtains for our very first home!! and, as I had “leftovers”…gave them to her, and, voila…this quilt. ah, yes. memories can, indeed, come from the smallest of things. a blessed, peaceful, fun, safe, wonder-filled Christmas, and a happy, HEALTHY new year to all !!!!! going off to our “beans & dogs” supper, and then….to re-read your Christmas Book, Susan. wheeee & whooopppeeee. mmmmm. love to all, from one who feels sooooo much love from all.
Add me to that list Chris! xoxo
I’m confused…..
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
??????????
You have a right to be confused! It’s Cedar Rapids! I changed it! Oops!
So excited that you will be in Cedar Rapids!! Yay!
Lisa
I feel the same way!
OH–that is where I grew up!!! I was born in Iowa City. Hmmm….depending on our move and when you are there, maybe we’ll come down to see you and Joe again! 🙂
Or, better yet, how about you doing a booksigning in the Mpls/St. Paul area??? 🙂
Or better, yet, how ’bout I meet you half way? 🙂
That would be perfect!
Hmmmm….wish you were serious–that would be fun to meet you and Joe at some little diner in a little town mid-way for lunch! 🙂
I meant I’ll meet you halfway at the bookstore in Cedar Rapids! You come from Mpls/St. Paul, and I’ll come for Martha’s Vineyard and we’ll meet there! K?
We’ll see…will need the name/address of the book store when closer to the time… 🙂
In Cedar Rapids it will be Barnes and Noble… I’ll be sure to post it!
Awwww, thank you, Susan, for the update. So happy you have your mom’s beloved quilt…its come full circle, hasn’t it? Hugs, lots of thoughts and prayers, and wishes for a very Merry Christmas to you, Mom Pat. Your new home sounds lovely. I hope you’re getting settled in and are discovering delightful new adventures. Who knows, maybe you can organize a tennis club with your new neighbors 🙂
I look at that quilt, it’s so much more hers than it is mine. It’s like a little bit of her warm self right here. Thank you for your good wishes Shannon. xoxo
The photos of your quilt inspire me to make one similar of the leftover rich colored wool fabric I have from my rug hooking days…I’ll add that to my “to do” list when we get moved, settled, and our lives return to a dull roar from the chaos we are living in now. LOL! 🙂
Oh that will be a red letter day Pat!
How cute to see your Raggedy Kelly. I have a Ann and Andy in exactly the same pattern (but different colored clothes) that were made for my daughter, Molly about 35 years ago. They, too are well loved. For Christmas this year they are sitting in a chair beside the tree, with a little framed “prim” quote that says “Raggedy doll all torn and tattered, you were my friend when it really mattered”. Christmas is so much about memories. Thanks for sharing yours with us.
Sweet quote Deb, perfect!
Thank you so much for this post and the wonderful way they always make me feel after I read them. I thought perhaps we wouldn’t get another one before Christmas. Love the way you make every little thing in life seem so special. Glad your mom likes her new home….my 91 yr. old mother was actually so much happier when she moved into her wonderful assisted living facility. May the little things in life continue to make you happy…that’s my Christmas wish for you!
Thank you Judy, same to you!
Dear Susan
I add my thanks to everyone else’s for this Christmas present of a happy and inviting blog.
Your tree reminds me so much of my childhood trees, all multi-colored and sparkly and simply covered with every sentimental thing there was.
Yes, Jack, we have your contract waiting. Perfume, habadashery, or simply springy ponytail holders in the perfect cat size — he could sell them all.
Finally, if this is boring, then I truly want a boring life with boring pets and boring surroundings. “Boring” like this is heaven!
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Thank you Barbara, very adorable comment! xoxo
A post from you? Boring? NEVER! Any glimpse into your wonderful life is exciting. You may be waiting for Downton, but I am waiting for you to bring us on your trip to England! A very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year to you and Joe and the children.
I can’t wait to bring you either! Thank you Sharon!
Susan…..I left a reply on you post before this one….On With the Dance….on December 15, but it’s still “awaiting moderation.” Would you mind checking for it? I have some questions about one of your recipes and would like to make it for Christmas Eve.
And, I got my wish…..another post before the New Year. I love old things too….dolls…still have my Tiny Tears, quilts….have so many made by my grandmother and mother, crotched doilies and an afghan with roses on it. There is just something about having things that belonged to family….a real connection with the past.
What a gorgeous dinner party…Jaime and the table are so beautiful.
Your tree is wonderful….filled with ornaments and colored lights.
Happy to hear that your mother has found a new home and is enjoying it. I really couldn’t imagine her, from the way you described her, not being happy with lots of people around and things to do.
Hope you and Joe and your children have THE best Christmas ever.
Love, Rachel
Yes, I held on to it until I find time to figure out the answers to your very good questions! When I get these comments “waiting for moderation” finished, I’ll work on it. Tiny Tears, I had her, loved her. That was a very good doll!
Hi Sue,
Know what you mean, What no snow in Dec! I’m here near Buffalo NY, Last year at this time we had a record breaking 7 feet of snow over just two days. Maybe Mother nature realized the mix up and is giving us a break. Can’t speak for the Vineyard but that’s my story. Nice post as always, now I have to go upstairs and give my Raggedy Ann a nice pat and tell her she is valued. For all I know she reads your Blog.
Nancy Jo
I’m afraid Mother Nature has the flu! Need to get her well and on the job again! xoxo to Ann!
Hi Susan,
Wow, just happened to click on your site and was so happy to see this new post! Love the pics of your beautiful tree and the “kids”….So nice that the doll and quilt have come back to you for safe keeping, I’m so impressed that you made those yourself, I always tried to sew as a kid, my mom was always sewing for us but I guess it skipped a generation because I could never quite get the hang of it!
I’m very excited for the new book, I’ll see you in CT at RJ Julia in May! Happy Christmas to you and Joe and the kitties!
Oh Good Karen, see you in Connecticut!
Hi Susan, haven’t commented for a long time. Just wanted to wish you, Joe and the kitties a ” Very Merry Christmas” and Happy 2016, from Victoria, Australia. I look forward to returning to England with you too. Karen
Goody! We’ll have fun! Merry Christmas to you Karen!
Hi Sue,
I survived my pneumonia and am back in the classroom! My second graders are soooooo excited about Christmas they can hardly wait! It’s all they talk about! I did not do many decorations at all since being sick but that’s ok. My life is predicable and rather boring as well but I like it that way. No need for any monkey wrenches! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas! xo Tracy
Glad you are well and back with the kids! Merry Christmas Tracy! Have fun!
Happy Christmas to you and Joe, Susan! May your days be merry and bright! We look forward to all the Susan that 2016 will be bringing us! Sounds like lots of fun and goodies are coming our way! Thank you, again, for being a constant joy maker and spreading it all around…..you make a wonderful difference in our lives. xo
Thank you for saying that Tina, makes me want always to do more. xoxo
Susan,
I just finished The Fairy Tale Girl. I loved it. Thanks for writing it. I’m so glad you ended up with a life that fits your senibilities!
Michelle
What a good way to put it! It does! First I had to figure out what my sensibilities WERE, but after that, it was a piece of cake. xoxo
Hi Susan! Love that you are in your rabbit hole too! I’ve been in mine after my recent surgery. I’m knitting , reading , writing notes, watching wonderful movies and brushing my own black/white kitty, “Opal”. My husband is being a wonderful nurse! You need your peace and quiet to rest up for the busy 2016 that you and Joe have planned. What precious gifts you gave your sister and Mom! So talented and so full of love. Keep enjoying your own rabbit hole and have a beautiful Christmas with Joe, Jack & Girl Kiity in your cozy, Christmasy home!🐰❤️💚
You too Patricia, it sounds like you have planned the complete healing program perfectly!
What a wonderful rabbit hole to have! Love and joy, cats, your sweetheart, Christmas all around! Thanks for sharing, a little routine is a wonderful thing.
Chirrup! 🙂
Oh yes, I do love my rabbit hole! It’s good in here. Just sometimes other people want me to come out, that’s when the trouble starts! 😜
Your post was perfection, as usual! Happy to know your Mom is doing well. Had been wondering as hadn’t seen mention of her recently. I live just a few miles from Seal Beach. Am waiting breathessly for the new book (of course it is “pre-ordered”). Merry Christmas!!! 🙂
Yes, I was worried about her, feel so much better now! Merry Christmas Joan!
That quilt is fabulous…I now have several things that I made for my mom over the years. She was my biggest fan; supporting everything I did and made, always cheering me on.
Everything looks cheerful and bright in your home! And those kitties must be enough to make the holidays beyond fun. I think this season is a time to settle in and get immersed in activities that can make us feel like hermits at times. Glad to hear you’re working away on the next book…can’t wait till it’s here!
Wishing you the happiest of holidays, and a white Christmas. 🙂
XOXO Thank you Suzanne!
Susan,
I’m so glad you came out of the rabbit hole to share a bit of Christmas! Your tree is lovely. No climbing by the kitties? I have my grandmother’s crazy quilt made with an assortment of velvets and fabrics from the early 1900s. It is quite heavy and feels wonderful on a bitter cold night. Our fall has been very mild with many days in the 70s. The only snow we’ve seen is on the Hallmark movies, but we’re hoping for a beautiful snowfall in January. Last winter we had more than our fair share – schools closed for a week. Thank you for graciously sharing your life with us. Merry Christmas and blessings for 2016.
Kitties are seemingly, so far, uninterested in the Christmas tree. Yay! Blessings to you too Ann!
Thank you, Fairy Tale Girl, for this sweet post about your everyday life, with a reminder that good things com to all of us who wait. For me, travel over the holidays again and coming home to Downton ! I found some darling paper napkins the other day with a quote from Lady Mary that say… “Drinks before dinner? Wait ’till CARSON catches you!” Of course, they had to come to my house, even though I am usually a cloth napkin sort of girl…😊
I hope this Christmas season continues to be a blessing to you, Joe, Jack, and Girl!
We will wait patiently for the book, and your next post.
Marsha
Thank you Marsha!
I was so hoping for one more post before the big day actually arrives, and it came and did not disappoint! Thank you and MC & HNY to you and yours!
I couldn’t go without doing it, missing everyone, and tis the season!
Oooo, is there a way your tour could come to Wisconsin?
I love making things for Christmas gifts. This year almost eveything I am giving to my family is handmade. Merry Christmas to your little family!
Closest we will get this time is near Chicago, or Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Meeting everyone at least half way I hope! Happy Christmas to you and yours Sara!
This blog post, was very inspiring to me. I, by choice, live a simple, boring, beautiful life. As of the past few years, it’s been hectic with family health issues and tragedies:/ I am now reminded, no matter, continue to live beautifully, make gifts for loved ones and craft home goods; seeing that 43 year old doll, made me wish I’d made more gifts, instead of being such a “shopper” over the past 35 years of kids and busyness. I was a major crafter from about age 6 or so, not super talented, but found it joyful and relaxing. For many years I’ve let life get in the way of my love of crafting for home and loved ones. Now I have my first 2016 resolution, return to homemade gifts, home crafts as often as possible. It bringse joy conjuring up some projects already. Merriest of Christmases!
Those are the ones that last forever, all the store bought things are gone, and it’s never too late to make those wonderful memories. I love your resolution!
All is calm.
All is bright.
Sleep in heavenly peace. ✧
Merry Christmas to you and Joe and the kitty darlings. ♥
Dear Susan. So happy that you checked back in with all of us…your tree is a dream! And I loved seeing the quilt that you made for your mother and the Raggedy Ann doll that you made for your sister…thank you for sharing so much of yourself with us. Have a Wonderful Merry Christmas and let’s hope that our long autumn continues for a little while longer… The winds are howling tonight here in Connecticut and we had flurries this morning! Love to you.
You did? We thought we might get some too, but not even close. It’s okay, will take it as it comes and be happy! Love to you too!
Never boring, Sue. Loved your thoughts about your mom and her new home. My mom and I experienced this adventure together about ten years ago. It was a very positive move for mom and my brother and me. Merry Christmas Sue and Joe
❤️ Jackie
Surprisingly, wonderfully positive. A blessing. Who knew?
Hi Susan!! I am beyond thrilled about your new book and it is my DREAM to meet you! (I feel like meeting you will be how you felt when going to Beatrix Potter’s home. :)) I looked up Grand Rapids in Iowa and only Grand Rapids in Michigan and Minnesota popped up, otherwise there was Cedar Rapids in Iowa. Is it just so tiny of a town that it doesn’t pop up online?? Either way, cannot wait!! 🙂 xoxo
Oh my gosh, it IS Cedar Rapids. Oops. Dingbatville, here I come. Hope you can make it (to Cedar Rapids)!
Merry Christmas, Susan. It is always such a treat to see the latest. It’s truly like opening a present. I get a cup of tea and read it in my bed with my lovable dogs and my comfy quilt as I, too, gaze upon my Christmas tree. It rained today and it gave the air that nice after-a-rain scent. I can’t think of what the exact name is again, but I know you would know. An Oriole visited me the other morning and two birds (on different occasions) swooped into my kitchen this week. That is the sign that Something Special is on it’s way. I have a feeling it was your timely update and Christmas wishes. Hope you and Joe have a merry holiday.
Warmest Wishes,
Rosemary Olson
Newbury Park, California
Petrichor! Ha ha ha, glad you asked. I never get to say that often enough. Thank you Rosemary!
New word for me!! Love it. We don’t use that word….it hardly ever rains here! 🙂
But I remember the smell from my other life (Ohio) 🙂
I don’t often discover a word with quite that much deliciousness wrapped up in it!
Trying to write in Arf and Arfe and battling spell check is the worst! It hurts my brain!!! So will just say straight out, glad to hear from you. Susan can you tell me how to write these words in Arf:
Is
Are
Wanting
And
Merry Christmas to you my inspirational far away friend. Debby
HA HA HA, I know exactly what you mean, it’s a fight to the finish! Here you go!
arf-fiz = is
are-far = are
war-faun-tar-fing = wanting
arf-fand = and
Merry Christmas! xoxo
Susan, I always look forward to your posts!! They inspire me!!
This year, my youngest neice suggested that, instead of drawing names, our five family group, could do a “homemade” project to give. Sounded good to me, until I panicked, wondering what in the world would we do as our project?? We ended up doing a revision of a 1991 family cookbook that I had done. Just finished it!! Yeah!!
Linda Kidd
Loganville, GA
U
Wonderful! What a perfect gift.
No snow here yet, either. Slightly sad for Christmas when we live in snow country but perfect this year for building a new house! Oh, I remember well that Raggedy Ann and Andy pattern–sewed a pair of them, too…Have a Merry Christmas, Susan and Joe, and all the other girlfriends! p.s. Re your itinerary, where in Iowa is Grand Rapids? 🙂
It’s just over the border from Illinois, fairly close to where Wisconsin meets Iowa. I don’t know how far that is from you Pat! Lucky weather for house building!!!
Boy, you aren’t kidding. I told the builder I can’t hold off Winter forever so get going!!! Foundation is in, grading next and then well and septic system. We will be living in the country! I’m trying hard to not drive up every day but am going at least once a week to take photos for a “House Book” I’m making… 🙂
It’s so exciting, building a house!
OMGoodness…..I look forward to each writing. You never bore me for a second. But……will your tour ever take you to Burlington, Vermont? We have loads of book stores up here. Some like B & N but also some really quaint and really neat family book stores. Please come sometime. I would love to meet you in person. Hugs and have a great Christmas.
The closest we will get to Vermont on this particular tour will be Plainville, MA — maybe we can meet you there? Happy Christmas to you too MaryBeth!
Good Morning Susan,
Oh thank you, what a lovely surprise to see another post! Early sunday morning, and I’m up, all alone, except for our “girl Kitty”, called Emily…
Your tree looks gorgeous, as do the kitties, and that CUTE CUTE DOLL!!?? What can I say?? Little Asian Annie?? Oh to find a doll or patter to make her….I don’t think you should EVER worry about boring us! For me, what you tell us, is just perfect. You are helping us look at the most ordinary things, and turning them into happy thoughts!
So thank you for that!
And I’ll tell you what made me VERY HAPPY….Your Chinese version of a Fine Romance has arrived here in Holland, and is looking very happy next to its English relative!! Oh, I’m so happy to have it!!
I’d like to bring it along to your book signing in the UK, next Autumn, so you can sigh it, will that be okay?
We had a birthday party yesterday, for our sons, they are now 18 and 16, big boys now…Some of the food I prepared was from your recipes, I baked your Annie Hall butter cookies, and the Chocolate Dipped macaroons and also youir potato salad…All was gone and everyone loved it all!
I also decided I wanted everyone to wear party hats, so I spent a nice afternoon with my boys crafting! We made our own, with shiny cardboard, lots of glittery things, pom-poms and that made me happy too!
Happy, happy Christmas dear Susan, to you, Joe, the Kitties and yoir loved ones.
May the new year be magic and bright!
With love from
Nicoline
XOXO
Of course, bring your books, I’d love to do that. I’m so excited you’re coming! I’m really looking forward to this (what will have to be) surreal and amazing day! Your birthday party sounds wonderful . . . love the hats! Happy Christmas to you and yours Nicoline! See you soon!
Oh, I hope, hope, hope you come out to Seattle! It would be a dream come true!! Thank you for the photos of your tree and the special doll and quilt that your sister shipped to you. I love your posts!!! And you!! xoxo!!
We are definitely planning to, just hoping Elliot Bay Books will want us!
I will ping them again, I want you too!! Oh, had to share the most wonderful gift idea I came up with!! The 2010 calendar with the plastic easel that came with prints you made for every month…well, I kept them wondering how I could use them. I bought frames to put them in and will give them as birthday gifts to friends in their birth month! I have a friend whose birthday is early in January, so I will give her the January one, and so forth! I’m excited to already have some gifts in hand for upcoming birthdays! Xoxo!!! ♥♥♥♥
Perfect! Very cute idea!
You are never boring! Your tree is so beautiful. Love the vintage creations that have returned to you. It’s been cookie decorating blitz for me and my kids and I mailed off the last small box of cookies this evening. It’s the same recipe we’ve been baking and frosting for about 50 years now. We make everything from hula girls to flamingos, kitty cats and sailboats. It’s become an addiction collecting new cutters each year. Lots of fun to give them to neighbors and friends near and far. I love to drive around the area after dark now and take in the houses all lit up – the sailboats moored nearby as well with their rigging lights strung. Kind of magical. Cookies and lights – two of my favorite things at Christmas time. The day is now topped off with your lovely blog posting. Love to see Jack and Girl peacefully hanging out. What a lucky pair they are.
You know I’m the lucky one! 🙂 xoxo
Dear Susan ~ how beautiful your tree is! I still have to do mine, although I don’t put a tree up {or is that put up a tree?} these days. I only just started the Christmas baking and playing Christmas music this year. I have a brand new Emma Bridgewater Rose and Bee DAB/FM Radio on which to listen!!! There is a dedicated Christmas music channel and I can connect my iPod up via Bluetooth too. Very handy. I guess I’m arriving in the age of technology after all. Right now, Bing and Co are crooning one of my favourites ~~~ “SNOW” from White Christmas ~~~ remember the scene on the train? Oh, and The Bishop’s Wife was on yesterday too. Love that film.
I love your Raggedy Ann. It doesn’t surprise me at all that she has survived. Real Heartfelt Love kinda does that to things. I loved Raggedy Ann books as a child, probably one of my first ones I read myself, along with Mabel Lucie Atwell books and Pookie the Rabbit with Wings.
Well, the wind whips wildly about in west Wales, and there is a zero chance of snow because we are having a very warm December. Heating is off!
~~~Waving~~~from across the pond~~~Deb in Wales xoxo
I like Bing and Bluetooth in the same paragraph! Oh yes, snow 🎵 on the train! Fun movie! Have a wonderful day Debs!
Love this blog! Is there anything you can’t do? Very jealous but so happy that you share your talents and happiness with us. Merry Christmas.
I always try, but don’t always succeed. You can check with Joe! Merry Christmas to you too Mary! Merry Mary!
So happy that you came out of your rabbit hole long enough to share with us all these wonderful things! You will have to forgive us for being so greedy and wanting more of your time – but this post has certainly made up for your ‘absence’!
The menu from the dinner party you mentioned sparked one of those culinary ‘light bulbs’ – haven’t made coquilles Saint-Jacques in years – and now I must do that! Solves the problem of what do make for dinner on Christmas eve!
So happy to hear of your mother’s new home/life. And I’m so pleased to hear how she is ‘downsizing’ by passing along things with powerful and positive memories for everyone.
The quilt you made for your mother is the exact ‘style’ that my grandmother used to do for her quilts! Family and friends would give her scraps from their sewing and dressmaking and being a thrifty New Englander, she couldn’t let a piece go unused! Embroidery just seems to bring it all together. What fun to see your version. I’m lucky enough to have one of my grandmother’s ‘crazy quilts’ and I like displaying it because as an artist friend tells me, it is art – the medium is just fabric instead of oils or water color – so go with it!
That will be perfect to serve for Christmas Eve, it was just so elegant and yet so simple. Perfect expression of Julia Child, and of my friend Jaime! Yes, about the quilt, I have always said and maintain, if you do it with heart, it’s art. xoxo
Just like you to be boring. And share it with us to make us so happy. My husband and I are officially Mr. and Mrs. Excitement (sarcasm). We do love our evenings with the tree, lights and a fire. We have had a long year of medical stuff and we are so looking forward to a New Year of healthy and travel.
I wanted to Thank You for being here with me this year. Your blog is like that little happy I would find on the most random days.
Merry Christmas and Happy 2016!!
You are Mr and Mrs Excitement in the same way Joe and have a deep and abiding understanding of Science. 🙂 Best to you for a healthy happy 2016.
Haha! I loved that one of the fabrics in your early quilt is also in a quilt I made … a Canadian quilt in Saskatchewan. Those fabrics were sold everywhere. And that’s in the ’70s when my hometown of 2000 had two variety stores which each sold fabric by the bolt. You don’t see that anymore.
Your “hectiosity” will now be part of my vocabulary.
Thanks, Susan, for the wonderful early morning read.
I know, variety stores, weren’t they handy! I got fabric for 25 cents a yard in those days.
I enjoyed this post. You don’t have it in your veins to be boring! I enjoy your creative writing and I can visualize your stories so easily. I think it’s very sweet how you have the quilt and the old doll you made for your sister. I made soft sculptured things and a few of them are hanging about at my mother’s and mother in-law’s homes. I imagine some day I’ll end up with them back too.
My mother at 93 could use to be at a place like you described your mother is now at. It’s so hard to make these choices. I was trying to find a way to search for your story about your old Volvo. I can’t find a search bar anywhere. I wanted to read it to my husband.
Wishing you and yours a Very Merry Christmas!
I tell the story of my Volvo in the new book, so it’s coming! Merry Christmas Liz!
Susan your tree is BEAUTIFUL! What a lovely blog post, dolls, quilts, trees, books, kitties~I actually sit here writing to you with Miss Ellie, my newly adopted kitty~IF, she could snuggle into me any closer, I dare say it could not be possible!♡♡♡ Thank you for always lighting our days! Christmas is coming!
New kitty!!! Yay for you and Yay for Miss Ellie. Lucky!
Thanks for the update Susan – your tree is so beautiful! That is one of my favorite things to do this time of the year…just sit in front of the Christmas tree enjoying the sweetness of the season. So happy your Mom is enjoying her new home. I love your homemade dolls and quilts – such good memories! I have ornaments on our tree that I made when I was 10 years old (45+ years ago!) – it’s so much fun pulling them out every year 🙂 Christmas memories new and old make this time of the year so lovely. Merry Christmas to you and Joe and the kitties!
Same to you Laurel!
Hi Susan!
I’m right with you!! Nothing I like more than being in my “boring” house; though it is NOT boring right now but filled with twinkling lights and gold glitter sprinkled through out my red/white Swedish (normal Christmas!) decor, since gold is so BIG right now, and glitter is IN!! I love it! Turning the lights on (I have a toggle switch, too! And my window candles are connected to it also) and VOILA! Instant magic! Everything twinkles and sparkles!)
We are hosting a disabled neighbor (in wheelchair) and his wife and caregiver for Christmas “Lunch” on Wednesday (23rd) — the only day they would let him out of where he lives — and I’m having fun getting ready; they are thrilled to be coming!! We’ll have “crackers” and everything English including FLAMING PLUM PUDDING (something that has become a tradition with me! I’ve managed to master it without burning the house down!)
I love your childhood “gifts” and all you are sharing about your book. I know exactly how you feel, and I agree, when in the thick of writing, no more satisfying place to be than down the rabbit hole. I intend to descend down mine again in January!! Can’t wait!!
Thanks for taking time to climb up out of the hole and share your news with us!!
The Christmas party setting looks fabulous! My kind of celebrating!! Good for you!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS to you both. Much love, Gene and Jane xoxox
Your house sounds heavenly Jane! Thank you, and here’s to the Rabbit Hole!
Susan,
What a wonderful post to wake up to. We haven’t had snow here either…hahaha So. California WE GOT RAIN last night and early Sunday Morning with a promise of more on Christmas Eve and Day. I order wood..first time in three years. So we may not have a white Christmas…but a cold and rainy Christmas…I’ll take it. Your blog brought back so many great memories to me. I have been in the rabbit hole for three weeks…getting all the cookies tins done! And now I am out and doing what we do best at this time of the year..ENJOYING THE SEASON. Your mother’s quilt…what a treasure…I quilt…I learned from my sister Patty….but my mother passed away before I knew I could quilt…matter of fact it will be 43 years this Dec 23. The treasure is… the love you gave your mother and in return all that love and cuddling and warmth has been returned to YOU. What a great gift your sister gave you!
But that is what wonderful Sisters do…make you smile and laugh and shed a little tear or two…HHHmmmmmmmm. God Bless you and Joe and your families on this most wonderful CHRISTMAS. Love, Susan P.
So very true Susan. Thank you, and Merry Christmas to you too. xoxo
Thank you for the timeout beautiful Christmas message! Lovely memories of homemade gifts. I too made a crazy quilt top before I knew anything of quilting. It was also in the 70’s! I used fabrics from clothes I made for my 2 boys and my husbands shirts! it is still quite a memory! Love your Raggedy Ann. I love her and her stories. Maybe she is ready for another comeback!
Have a wonderful blessed Christmas with Joe and the Kitties! Love to you for all you give to me!
She really a fun doll to make, I would think people would LOVE that pattern. One of our other Girlfriends wrote to say she had a Raggedy Ann the same size as her five year old self, with elastics on the feet, so she could dance with it! Adorable. You could use the same pattern and make a man in a tux! It could be so much fun, all the things you can do with it!
youtube.com/watch?v=M1F0lBnsnkE Susan – I thought of you when I saw this video!!! A friend sent and it made my day, watching all of those 1930s – 1940s dance geniuses (Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Ann Miller, and more)…..so joyful! To share with you…..
Regina
Perfection! Thank you Regina!
Merry Christmas to you and yours from me and mine! So interesting to read about Shelly’s Raggedy returning to you. My granddaughter turns 10 Dec. 31st, and the Christmas before she turned 5 we made Ann and Andy dolls together from a kit – super easy, but cute. (I even journaled about them in my Susan Branch Christmas Memories album for the year 2010). Yesterday those dolls came to stay at my house, along with a library of Raggedy Ann and Andy storybooks I had purchased before I even had grandchildren. No doubt she probably needed to clear up space for other more ‘grown up’ treasures, such as the Harry Potter collection she’s currently smitten with. {smile}
And I bet she will love getting them all back when she has children!
Not a shred of boredom in that post! It was a collection of wonderful memories and tender hope for the future; how relieved you must be to think of your darling Mom safe and sound and enjoying every day. What more could any of us ask?! Have a wonderful week and keep loving every event, person, and bite that crosses your path. Merry Christmas to you.
Okay Lee, thank you!
All that you share about your life, thoughts, etc. are never, ever boring. I’m so happy to hear that your mom is making such a wonderful adjustment to her new home. I remember when I moved my mom to an assisted living home. As I sorted things for her, there was such a flood of memories which I cherished. How lovely that her quilt is with you. It’s like her spirit and goodness moved in too. Your handmade dolls are precious. Thanks for all the fun, cheerful photos. Wishing you, Joe, the kitties, your mom, dad, family and all the girlfriends GREAT JOY!
Thank you Carmel, I love having you here with all your kind thoughts. xoxo
Had to send xoxo too!
Hi Sue……..as always, I so enjoy your blog and reading all of the comments from all over. A very Merry Christmas to you, Joe and the kitties! I look forward to the new book and all of your inspiration. You make my life so much more interesting! XOXOXO
That’s so nice to hear Nettie, Merry Christmas to you too!
Your tree is beautiful and reminds me of our tree as a little girl next to my sisters and brother sitting next to the colored lights. We have those tiny white lights on an artificial tree as my husband is allergic to the real tree. Thanks for sharing your rabbit hole…not boring at all! Anxious for your new book. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Me too, can’t wait until I get to put out into your hands. xoxo
You are not boring!! I have your cookbooks from years ago. I have used your quotes in cards, cooked your recipes, tried to draw some of your pictures, and made a little book of your quotes for my friends dying husband. All because of you!!!
I’m very touched by that Gail, thank you so much.
Seeing the wonderful Ann doll you made inspires me to take out the dolls my daughter had, which I said I would “fix up” or make new dresses for. It’s been a few years, and definitely time to follow up on my promise.
Happy holidays to you and Joe.
Dolls are wonderful. I’ve always wished I had a secret room filled with them!
Love seeing the pictures each time you post, brings you so much closer to us all. I love the Raggedy Ann. My mom made me a Raggedy Ann and Andy for me for my 35th birthday, at the time I was collecting the books to read. I like you have so many memories of handmade gifts that I received and made. As I hung ornaments many were made by Aunt Pat who was an avid painter and for years I received a hand painted ornament of some type and card. She died about 10 years ago but I put her ornaments up on the tree each year and hang the many Christmas cards she made and I feel such a connection to her. This year as I pondered what to have my 4 year old class of children make for ornaments I looked up on my tree and remembered the felt green tree my niece had made with sewn buttons on it for ornaments many years ago. I thought that would be fun to try. So my 38 students from my 2 classes all learned how to sew buttons as they each made their own ornaments for their parents. It was a little with crazy with 4 or 5 students at a time sewing and they all turned out very unique 🙂 24 of my 38 students are boys this year and what they might have lacked in fine motor skills they made up for in enthusiasm, I wish I could be a fly on the wall and see the parents reactions. Thanks for the walk down memory lane. Have a wonderful Christmas!
Good girl! Excellent idea. Education disguised as fun! You are a genius Sue!
There is joy in the mundane things. The cookies we bake, the quilts we make. Crisp sheets on the bed fresh off the line, having dear friends for dinner and getting the food on the table in time. It’s all wonderful. Thank you for reminding us how it’s the little things over the years that ground us. Merry Christmas! Your tree is beautiful.
Thank you Betsy!
Dear Susan
Thank you for you wonderful blogs.
MERRY Christmas to you and Joe.
You are so welcome! xoxo Merry Christmas Nancy!
There is no way we could be upset with you! We are waiting with bated breath on your next little masterpiece with no doubt it will make us feel loved and warm and cozy like all of your work. From Arizona (moved here recently from Alaska), we wish you and Joe a very Merry Christmas and that blessings continue to overflow!
I remember that you moved! Quite a difference! Enjoy Christmas Sonya, and thank you!
Merry, merry Christmas to you, Susan, and thank you for taking time for the always-delightful blog. Fingers crossed for a least a little snow but only after everyone has gotten to their families for Christmas and home again safely, including me!
Good point!
I also hope you will be coming to Seattle. If Elliot Bay doesn’t work out, try Third Place Books, they have two locations, one in the Ravenna area, one in Lake Forest Park. They bring in great speakers all the time. Your Raggedy Anne is just like the ones my mother made for as many of her grandchildren as she was able before developing Alzheimer’s. I have Anne and Andy sitting on a stool under our tree, no embroidered hearts, but I know the love from my mom is still there. We don’t normally have much snow here near the cities, but we are truly delighted to see the amount of snow in the mountains here this year. Have a wonderful holiday season and hope to see you in person next year!
Thank you for the idea for Third Place Books. . . I wrote it down, just in case! Merry Christmas Linda!
Hello Susan!
I was in the kitchen stirring up some sugar cookies with TCM on in the background. The movie is The Blue Bird starring your favorite, Shirley Temple, and I thought of you! And then I go to my laptop and see your blog post! Did you like this particular Shirley Temple movie? I haven’t seen many yet. The pictures of your quilt and Raggedy Ann doll sure shows that you’ve been creative all of your life! Glad to have an opportunity to wish you and Joe a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I had it on while painting! I have to say, it isn’t my favorite, at all, really. Better is Rebecca of Sunny Brook Farm, or The Little Princess, Little Miss Marker, Heidi is wonderful, Baby Take a Bow I think was her first and she is just precious in it. Don’t let Blue Bird form your opinion. Merry Christmas to you too Linda!
Just when I thought I couldn’t love you any more! Thank you for sharing pictures of your adorable Doll and special quilt. Beautiful memories. Loved my handmade Raggedy Ann and Andy, made by my Godmother along with my beloved handmade “Lambchop”. My beautiful big sister Rita Mary made me a patchwork quilt that I thought was the most beautiful gift in the world. I loved looking at the squares and seeing material from a “cool” pantsuit she made or a groovy flowered shift dress she wore! Fun to read all the readers memories of their dolls as well. We received our best early Christmas gift from our 22 month old granddaughter Nora, who had us close our eyes and handed Grammy and GrandPaul an ultrasound picture of her new brother or sister due in June! Nana will be here with us from Maine watching her first great grandchild opening her gifts from Santa. Now I need to get busy finding a pattern. Merry Christmas from little Rhody to you and Your Joe.
Oh BOY! What a fun gift! Congratulations!
Hello everyone 🙂
Merry Christmas, I work at an assisted living home. I have been there almost 9 years. I just wanted to share with all of you who have loved ones in care or are preparing to move a loved one. I love my job and the families I’ve met. The residents become like my own grandparents. I care about them and go above and beyond to make them happy and comfortable. 🙂 This year I had opportunity to decorate our building for Christmas. It’s a wonderful chance to make their home a beautiful place! Even when times are rough I’ve had a chance to pray with them and comfort them. I just wanted to reassure the families and thank them for entrusting your loved ones to our care. There has been many blessings to me in return. Susan, I’m glad your mother is happy and safe. Have a Very Merry Christmas!!!
This is the business of a guardian angel and I can’t thank you enough for what you do Theresa! Merry Merry Christmas to you and yours and to all those entrusted to your care. xoxoxoxo
Thanks for your lovely post. I enjoyed it to see the quilt you have made for your Mum and now it is back in your home.
Love the pictures of the children laying down–my çhildren’ are snoring loud at the moment and don’t looking up when telling how I love them.
Looking forward to see the Christmas special of Downton in a few days. You will love the story!!!
Merry Christmas to you and your lovedones and a happy and healthy New Year!
greetings,Trudy from the Netherlands
Jack has adopted my mother’s quilt. Slept there all day yesterday! I asked him if he was sick and he said no, just comfy. He’s there now! He must know! Merry Merry Trudy ~ hope you are getting some snow!
Loved seeing the doll and quilt you made all those yeas ago.
Just finished ‘Fairy Tale Girl’. And love, love, loved it. Wanted it to go on and on, but now I’ll be looking forward to ‘Isle of Dreams’ in May.
Glad your mom is happy moving away from home. Sounds like an exciting place she has moved to, and if she exercises every day, she will be healthy.
Thanks for the post…..I live a quiet life, too…except my grandson and his wife and six dogs are coming for Christmas…I have a guesthouse on the property so that makes it nice.
This next book actually does go on and on! So get ready! 🙂 Sounds like a lovely Christmas for you Vivian!
Susan, just loved your post this morning, thank you. I’m a late-in-life quilter and treasure them soooooo much. This year, I’m wrapping up three quilts to give to my three adult (kinda) children! I decided, since I’ve never slept under a quilt before, I would take a turn with each quilt and say prayers for the child that would receive that quilt. I was shocked, utterly shocked, to find out how warm quilts are to sleep under! A neat experience! I loved your shadow photo and your tree (a decorated tree is always hugely important to me) and the kitties, the special Raggety Ann, your Mom’s quilt (she’ll always be right there) and the babies! Thanks for your post, that’s a Christmas Card from you and Joe. Love you always, Marilyn
Three quilts for your almost adult children (love the “kinda”) — what a mom! xoxo
What a beautiful idea to sleep under each quilt before you give it and to pray for each child. I love it.
Oh, yay! St. Charles, MO in May! Hoping it’s near the end of May, because we’ll be venturing through my husband’s hometown of St. Louis. While you’re in St. Charles, and if you love thin-crust pizza as much as we do, be sure to visit Talayna’s World-Class Pizza. I’ll be tucking my copy of “The Fairy Tale Girl” into the motorhome, just in case our paths cross and I go autograph-seeking. Praying for snowfall soon for you and the rest of Martha’s V, sweet Sue.
Carol Tuchschmidt
Steamboat Springs, CO
St. Charles will be May 15th … hope that works for you! I adore thin-crust pizza! Looking forward to it!
I made a Raggedy Ann and Andy (McCall’s pattern, of course!) 30 years ago for my niece and, when she outgrew them and wanted to give them away, I rescued them and tucked them away for later. She was thrilled to recently discover that I still had them, so I washed and ironed all their little clothes and then shipped them off to their new owner, her little two-year-old daughter. It’s so nice to see them being loved once again!
How perfect. The beat goes on. xoxo
Susan, you are never boring! A post from you is like a visit from my sister. I recently received your book, A Fairy Tale Girl, and I absolutely loved it. I especially enjoyed reading about your family life because I could relate to it somewhat. I am the youngest of 5 children and my oldest sister is 12 years older than me. We all had that magical family life in the late 50’s and 60’s. (Or at least I did. I was born in 1955) I wish you and Joe and the kitties a very happy Christmas. Your tree is beautiful.
Ellen
That is so nice to hear Ellen, I’m really happy you liked it! I am have a wonderful time writing the sequel, the “rest of the story.” Thank you for writing! We obviously have a lot in common!
Always love seeing the children and your beautiful home.. Wish mine home could look like your’s, neat as a pin. My husband do not know how. I see no snow for you this year. We have enough to make it a white Christmas, here in Mn. I hear lot of the mid states might have what you had last year. Good for you.
Enjoy you holiday’s, Carolann Siegle
I just don’t take photos of the messes. Solves all my cleaning problems! People think “neat as a pin.” Yay! xoxo
Just popping in to wish you, Joe, kitties and Jack Daddy a very, very MERRY CHRISTMAS! I am decorating gingerbread houses with my grand children today!!!! It’s not quiet or calm around here but very HAPPY! BTW – love your tree!
It sounds just wonderful and probably smells pretty good too! Enjoy, Cathy!
Love your Anne!–I think I have the same pattern, if it has lots of sizes. I made a 3 foot Andy for my high school friend’s little boy in 1973 along with an earlier normal size version of Anne for me since my sister was not an Anne person. All I need to finish Andy after all these years is the right color red wool yarn. Been carrying a small wad around for YEARS but a good wool yarn is hard to find in person these days of fewer yarn shops. At 61 this Christmas, I oddly or not find myself doing more of going down memory lane. Our parents are gone now, our daughter is in her early 20s, we really “need” nothing for gifts, so all the memories are a wonderful thing. We have a Christmas history and some items saved to jog the memories. So, you are not boring us at all! Truth be told, I was hoping for such a gift as yours amid all the email ads and stuff I delete. By the way, our Cascade mountains have your snow right now. Last year there was so little it wasn’t funny. We got out on the trails around Mt. Rainier earlier than ever–which I loved, but the high trails became a little too barren. May snow come your way soon! Merry Christmas! 🎄
Ah-HA! That’s where the snow is! 🙂 You have it! xoxo
Hi Susan! I haven’t written for a while because we have been traveling almost non-stop for months. I just got home from a fabulous girl trip to the German and Austrian Christmas Markets. Soo much fun! But great to be home and cozy with the decorations and fire! There truly is no place like home!!
I wish my dad (91) would make a move like your mom did. He’s such a people person and would have all sorts of friends. He’s determined to stay home in FL where none of us (his kids) live. It’s a constant worry for us!
I made three sets of Ann and Andy from that pattern for my nieces. They are all now passed down to the next generation. Love seeing that the dolls were and are really loved and appreciated!
Hope you have a white Christmas! We have 71 degrees predicted here in TN. This is one reason I left FL after college… love snow and winter!!
Merry Christmas and a blessed 2016 to everyone.
That’s exactly the situation that my mom had been in. She just didn’t want to go anywhere. I think she’s as surprised as we are that it’s worked out so great! You have to respect their wishes though. They are not children, they know what they want. My mom finally came to us and said, it’s time. Otherwise she’d still be in that too-lonely spot. I finally got to the “what will be, will be” stage, but it’s not easy. Blessings on him and on you for a wonderful Christmas. xoxo
What a wonderful life you have! Thanks for letting us enjoy it with you. The gilded tree is beautiful. ..the memories divine. I was married first on the longest day…June 21…lasted 18 years…alone for 9…then married on the shortest day. ..30 years tomorrow. ..in a Medieval Banquet with our children and grandchildren all dressed in period style clothing…12 of which I designed and sewed whilst completing final exams of my first semester at University! Fun times! Merry Christmas to you and Joe and your kitties.
Anne in NH.
Wow! That just sounds like a gorgeous wedding!
Forgot to tell you in my comment yesterday…we are heading for WV early Christmas morning to spend a few days with my 90 year old mom. I won’t be making your delicious Christmas Coffeecake that morning, but I am making it for my beloved hubby for breakfast tomorrow. It’s his 70th birthday…we’ll start the day off right! Girlfriends, if you haven’t tried this lovely little cake you’re missing something special. So, so good!❤️🎄
Happy Birthday to your dearest Beloved Husband! Yes, Christmas Coffeecake will make the best present!
Thank you Susan for taking time out to send us Girlfriends a perfectly sweet and charming blog post – and it might just last us through to New Year! How delightful that things you sewed your love into all those years ago are now returning to you with the knowledge that they were and are treasured by those you gifted them to. It always gives me great pleasure to visit my Son and Daughter over the festive season and see that the felt stockings I made for them until they were 21 are still treasured and displayed each Christmas in their homes. May you and Joe and your little kitties be blessed with a peaceful and joyous Christmas filled with special moments to treasure in the years ahead.
With love from Ann in Chester xxxx
Thank you Ann! Happy Christmas to you and yours xoxo
Thank you Dear Susan Branch for all you write all year to lift my spirits and inspire creativity. Merry Christmas and may the coming year be all you hope it to be. No snow in Minnesota either but the cheery lights everywhere sure do help with the brown landscape.
They sure do, need to leave them up all winter!
Sweet Susan Thank you for todays blog. It brought so many memories to mind such as homemade dolls , mothers downsizing .I think a lot of us know those feelings. Your tree is so pretty And your kitties so sweet. Hoping I will get a chance to see you when you come to Cincinnati . Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and hope your year will be great.
Thank you Freda!
Thank you for sharing your life, loves, and inspirations with us in your beautiful blog. I love seeing this appear in my email because I know that magic still exists in our world!
If you know it exists, I think that means you are making some, so I’ll thank you for that!
Wonderful and just thank you 🙂
Dear Susan,
Thanks so much for writing and letting us into your lovely Christmas tree living room! My love to you Joe and the kids! I adore reading your letters to us all. I can not wait for the new book next year – I’m almost done with The Fairytale Girl – new year, new book! YAY!!! And Downton too – too good to be true! The best of holidays to you Susan and thank you from the bottom of my heart! Rose
Thank you back Rosemary! Happy 2016 to you too!
Susan,
I always so look forward to a new post from you. I especially love your Christmas quilt and how it looks in your home, being a quilter myself. And glad your mom is safe and happier. I am working on a homespun angel quilt. (At least the top will be completed for Christmas.) I love the beauty of your home with tree and kitties (and husband- I still can’t find one I like, but there is always the new year. You and I are the same age, so that speaks to my optimism.)
Have a lovely Christmas.
LOL, yes, always the new year!
Merry Christmas girlfriends! You boring?? N ever! Your life is very much like mine, except the end product is a quilt, not a book. It’s a very peaceful life. My kitty girls are right on my desk keeping me company too.
Your tree is beautiful. No tree here except for a huge three layer ceramic tree, with hundreds of colored lights with a music box. It isn’t a real tree but it’s festive and tiny gifts under it look great. Loved your post and photos of the sweet kitty kids.
Sounds adorable to me, especially the music box!
Dear Susan, What a pleasure it is to find a new blog post from you in my inbox. I hurry over to the actual blog, so I can comment and tell you how much you are appreciated and loved. I recommended that our library buy your first two books of this latest trilogy and they just got them. They have a waiting list of patrons who want to read them and folks have said that after reading the books from the library they purchased their own copies. That always make me feel so good, because I know how wonderful it is to own a copy and be able to reread them whenever I want to do so. When you go to England do you plan to visit near the forest that inspired the author A.A. Milne to write the Winnie-The-Pooh books?I just read an article about a new book entitled The Natural World of Winnie-The-Pooh by Kathryn Aalto. In it she writes about the area, although I am not sure if it is a park now or still privately owned. Wherever you go, thank you so much for taking us with you. Merry Christmas to you, Joe, Jack and Girl Kitty! love and prayers, jep
Hearing that makes me feel good too Judy, thank you for being the springboard that made it all happen! I wrote years ago that I wanted (this sounds a little grandiose right now, but I still feel it) to be a “valentine for the world” and touch more hearts. You have made that possible, and I thank you! Not sure about the Hundred Acre Wood right now . . . maybe!
Merry Christmas to you both and the kitties!
WOW! You made your own Raggedy Ann doll. Movers are coming tomorrow, so I will blog with you on the other end.
Merry Christmas,
Margot
When and where will you be in Cincinnati? My mother and I would LOVE to come!!!!!!
At Joseph Beth . . . May 7, at 2 pm. Kind of perfect because it’s the day before Mother’s Day!
Hi Susan:
Your posts could never be boring! I was so happy to read it, and see your tree! It reminds me of our trees when I was little (plus tinsel). We didn’t have twinkle lights back then, just those larger bulbs like the ones on your tree. There was something so charming about them. I will have to see if I can find them next year, and try something different. Somehow, I think they may be hard to find, but I will look!
Love the Raggedy Ann doll! Your talents are limitless! Painting, drawing, cooking, home keeping, sewing, authoring – and each done with lots of love and care. Isn’t it nice to find things from our youth? Sadly, we too, had to move our mom to a nursing facility. Mom has had dementia for many years, and we were able to keep her home with care for a long time. But it became too difficult for her and for those caring for her, so we had to make a hard choice. However, when I see her now I realize that she is in a good place, getting wonderful care, and safe too. We are getting ready to put her condo up for sale, and have been going through everything. It is so hard to know what to get rid of and what to keep. I would like to keep everything, but with limited space, it is not practical. I have found many treasures while going through my parents things: items from their childhood, from when they first came to America from Italy (my dad when he was 8, my mom when she was 19), things from my childhood. My mom kept all the cards I ever gave her, along with those from my two brothers, and her grandchildren. It was sad, yet at the same time wonderful to see these things again.
I have to tell you, I miss the snow! It’s supposed to be in the high 60’s here on Christmas Day! They say El Nino is causing these high temperatures we’ve had these last few months. I’m sure the snow will get here at some point, and at least we have all saved lots of $$ on heating bills!
I wish you, Joe and “the kids” a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Please post again soon – I’m sure the girlfriends will agree that we LOVE hearing from you.
Love, Gina
I’ll do my best Gina! I so understand all the bittersweet moments in caring for your mom. xoxo
Susan, you could never be boring! Cute tree girlfriend! MyAunt Joyce made ma a Raggedy Ann doll when I was in 4th grade. It was a tough year and there were no gifts under the tree. Mom worked so hard to keep us going and we understood, so when Aunt Joyce gave me that doll for my birthday on Dec. 18th it really meant a lot! It was darling! Unfortunately my dog chewed it up and my sis hid it in a closet so I wouldn’t t be sad. I was more upset that my Aunt would be hurt, but we never let her find out. I loved that doll, but I loved her more. Your story bought that memory back, thank you. It was a bittersweet memory, but I loved the sweet feeling of joy it bought back! I m glad you love what you do. Love.
Bad dog!! 🙂 Very sweet Aunt Joyce!
I am sorry that my earlier post wasn’t very Christmas like. I apologize, and I understand it wasn’t in the spirit of things. Sometimes, for some people, Christmas is a lonely time. You don’t have to post this either, of course. I do enjoy seeing your blog though. Hoping you and your family will enjoy a healthy and happy finale to 2015. Sounds like 2016 should be wonderful.
You don’t have to be Christmas like to be here. I think all of us has been through that at one time or another. Thank you for your good wishes, and sending the same back to you Jan. It was good of you to write. xoxo
Jan, I don’t know what your earlier post said, but I am sorry that Christmas doesn’t feel like Christmas this year for you. Susan is right… we have ALL been there at one time or another, but you must be trying to get yourself there or you wouldn’t be here:) Just wanted you to know that you have a friend in me wishing you Merry Christmas and sending all the Brownies (do you know about the Brownies? I think they were like the elves from The Cobbler and the Elves, but smaller and more mischievous.) to turn your frown upside down. Anyway, this is what I always say. It is kind of hard not to smile when you picture a bunch of little guys doing anything and everything to make you smile. I am so very sorry you are hurting.
Hi Susan! I always get that little buzz of anticipation when I see a new post from you! Goodie! An update from Susan!
Your Raggedy Kelly is just the sweetest and reminded me of the raggedy Ann my mother made me in 1965 when I was 5. It was a ‘dancing’ doll-all the rage back then, with elastic on the bottom of her feet to slip over my shoes. She was as big as me and we could dance together. At age five I still had a little comforty small pillow that I had to cuddle with to sleep but that Christmas I couldn’t find it anywhere. My mother confessed that she had run out of stuffing for Ann’s belly and had needed to use my pillow! But she performed a quick operation and all was well! Such a lovely memory! Thank you for helping me access it!
Merry Christmas to you, Joe and the kitties! Especially Jack. Shoot an extra rubber band for him from Elizabeth in Kansas. XO
How cute you must have been dancing with that doll!
Please come to Atlanta, Ga!
We’re going to try!
Well I just yelled out loud…..she’s coming to Cedar Rapids…..my husband says, who’s coming….I just keep saying she’s coming!!!! Finally I answer…Susan Branch…..I want to meet her in person. Where is she coming…..I don’t know, I answer, but she is coming to CR in May and I am going to be there with bells on!!! Aren’t you thrilled???? Hopefully I haven’t scared you off!!!
We left on a trip the day before you arrived the last time you came through Iowa to an Iowa City book store. After I got home I ordered one of the books you had signed from that store….but was so sorry I missed you then….I never dreamed I would get another opportunity, that you would come back to Iowa!!! So excited, I will watch the website for details!
Yes, I am thrilled and not a bit scared (yet) 🙂 See you soon Sheri!
Oh I am so excited!! Cedar Rapids is relatively close for me! I will be looking for the details. Love the Raggedy doll and quilt you made. It is so kind of your sister and your mom to give them up. I made a few Raggedy Ann dolls about the same time you made your sister’s, don’t think any of them survived. Merry Christmas!
Hope to see you in Cedar Rapids Carol!
i LOVE THIS BLOG!I have a Raggedy Ann that was given to me as a child. Store bought, with a heart, but a treasure all the same. My Mom and now sister make beautiful creative gifts, of which I have many.
Your color in your home is so beautiful. I have sadly not put up a tree in years. As I have read your blogs this year, I am rethinking all of my life. Are my cats why I do not put one up? Is it because I live alone? I just know my sister has come to my house for the last 2 years and this year three for Christmas. For her….I am grateful we will go to my sisters who is right with you on Holiday beauty in her home…….She has loved your writings too. Victorian Paper Queen is her site……Loving her work came after loving yours. I hope to buy your newest books soon. Thank you Susan for adding Merry Christmas to all of us with all your words and art. It has entered my home in Southern California!
How do I know when my message is posted?Why does it take so long with the moderator?
Because the moderator is me! And all I want to do is write my book, so I’m bad. But here I am this morning ~ the thing is I need, want, love to read them all. So I’m just slow.
If you DO get in the mood, try a small Charlie Brown tree, one you can pick up with one hand and set on a table. One string of lights. And then, as you go through the season, you will find things, like cards, a ribbon from a gift, a photo, or something you pick up on a walk, like a shell with a hole in it, and suddenly, like from nowhere, your tree will be decorated with absolutely no effort! Merry Christmas Kathleen!
Susan…. Thank you so much for writing. I am going to ask my sister today in her first day here from NY to find that tree and items to decorate it. We can make it our first tradition! She can head out and find Southern California trinkets to make it special. Thank you SOOOOOO much for posting.
Tell me if it worked Kathleen. I’ve done it before, and there is something very NOW about a tree like that. Lots of charm and always creative.
I can think of nothing more un boring than the creation of your new book!! We are out here hanging on the cliff, anticipating. 😊 What a lovely photo of your friend at her dining table, preparing for a warm circle of friends. Christmas magic! As to Downton, the PBS News Hour did a feature the other night on the last season (sniff!), and an interview with Julian Fellowes, who I didn’t realize is a member of the House of Lords. He has written every word of the series, which is pretty remarkable. Can’t wait for January, except I think each episode will be bittersweet. Anyway, definitely the season for hearth and home, for cuddling (kitties are especially good at that), and for counting our blessings. Merry Christmas, dear Susan!
Right, the season for hearth and home, just around the corner in the new year! Merry Christmas Rosanne!