We’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving tonight on board the Queen Mary 2, out here in the wild North Sea, feeling very grateful! It’s been really hard to get anything up here on the blog, but for some reason, Twitter seems to be okay! I’m sure you’re too busy today to care . . . but I wanted to send Thanksgiving blessings to one and all. SO excited, we arrive in New York …
On Saturday . . . then it’s home sweet home. Wishing you all a wonderful Turkey Day! Thank you for being you. 💖
XOXOXO
Am just finishing A Fine Romance – have loved all 3 of the books (in addition to your cookbooks which I also love). Thanks so much for sharing your story. The blog is great, too – looking forward to reading more about your most recent journey.
Susan , I was delighted to read the new Willard post. You have such a lovely way of expressing yourself and describing your adventures ! Thank you and Merry Christmas to you and Joe !
It is way past my bedtime, but if there was ever a good reason to prop up my eyelids with toothpicks, it is for sure to be able to read all about it in your awesome Willard and blog! You are worth staying up for!!! Welcome Home!
I’m glad you’re back and had such a wonderful time! I love your books and your blog!
love your style on your blog; and a collector of little houses
Thank you for being a lovely, decent, light in our world. I check in with you at least 3 times a week and am never disappointed. Read all three books several times and can’t wait for another. Love the cookbook also. I think we are about the same age and was raised in Reseda. I could just feel that era when reading your book. Please keep up the good work we all need you!
You’re very kind to say that Nancy…Thank YOU for being here. XOXOXO
You have been blessed with amazing and creative talents. Thank you for sharing your life and adventures with us.
I feel very lucky…thank you Charyll!
Happy
Blessings, dear Susan!
Can’t wait to hear about your trip in a book! Hint, hint 🙂
Dear Susan, I have loved your books since the early 80’s, I had no money to buy them then but took them out of our local library religiously. I now have several of your beautiful, inspiring books and have had lots of calendars. Thanks a million. Love from Chris in Canada.
Thank you so much Chris! Stay warm up there! xo
I am waiting for medical test results this weekend, and amazing your blog and Willard appear in my inbox. Such lovely diversions. Thank you.
Stay diverted,it’s a very good place to be! xoxo
Thank you for gently reminding us that “life is unbearably short” in your most recent Willard. My good friend just lost his wife to cancer and he kept saying, “I just wasn’t ready.” It brought home that we are never ready & had better get with it and soak it all up. Like you are always saying- be grateful, appreciative, silly, open and easily “happified”(I love to invent words) with this wonderful blue green orb whirling through space. Even when life is tough, there is beauty and life abounding, we just have to stop and look, listen, smell, taste and remember. This is why I scribble in my journal all the time. To read when the going gets tough, and remember when I forget how much fun I’ve had with my fabulous friends and family. Thank you again for reminding us there is sooooo much to love in our lives & not forget to share it. I’d love to be thrown in Vanna’s pool ‘o name slips to possibly be drawn for winning the charms, bird cage, etc
Scribbling madly in Morro Bay
Love it Kenna, lovely words! xoxo
Susan, So glad you and Joe had a wonderful time in Europe and a safe passage home again! Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year to you and Joe. Looking forward to your newest book, which ever which way you choose to go. 🙂
Suzanne
A vote of confidence! Thank you Suzanne! xoxo
Glad you are back safely!!
Welcome home! I cannot wait to read more blog posts about your trip! <3
Your blog and newsletter are so delightful and uplifting. They inspire me to take more time to add coziness – the little things – to my life. Thank you for sharing.
Susan, I always have a hugge feeling when reading your blog. Would you believe that there is hugge in Japan, also. My husband,our adult daughter, Megan, and I returned the day before Thanksgiving after ten days in Tokyo. We lived in Kyushu, Japan when Megan was in high school. There are warm, cozy things there, also. The people are warm and friendly, the food is delicious. and the aesthetics, well, they are hard to beat. The traditions of centuries make you forget the concrete and steel of the city. The everyday art of Japan embraces you and the closeness of everything is like a hug. But best of all, arriving home to my three grandchildren waiting to celebrate Thanksgiving with us. Life is good!
Japan has a LOT of charm, which I only know through fabric, clothing, art, etc. I haven’t been there. Thank you for your thoughts!
Love your blog post! So enjoyed coming home after a tough day at work and curling up with a cup of coffee and reading the latest post and Willard! Your gift with words, beautiful pictures and art work are always a pleasure! Thank you for making my day! Have a blessed Holiday Season!
Hugs and love from Alabama!
Thank you Karen!
So happy you’re both home safe & sound! So loved all your postings! I was caught up for hours with your beautiful pictures, drawings & words!! ❤️
XOXO Patricia!
Welcome home! Love your blog and newsletter. Love to you!
Joan
A blog post And a Willard! Too much to bear!
Luvalee!! ♥
Aahhhh, the holiday is now complete, with your special touch of joy sent to my inbox! Thank you!
Dear Susan, what a treat to see your newsletter in my inbox this morning. This is the first one I’ve received since I signed up. It is amazing!!! Not sure why I didn’t know that you were online since I’ve been buying Susan Branch everything forever. I snatched up the Heart of the Home cookbook probably 30 years ago on a day trip to Martha’s Vineyard with my sister, Barbara. What a delight to find your books just last summer–had to have all three and read one after the other. I’m the oldest of seven, grew up in the Midwest in the ’50s and ’60s. Your stories are so familiar and we have so many likes in common. I posted a picture of my dishtowels hanging outside on a wooden rack this past summer–just scrolled past your photo of the same! I’m just now reading through my very own copy of the 30th anniversary edition. Your beautiful pictures and comments are uplifting. I am profoundly saddened by the outcome of the election–I worked very hard for my candidates–national and state races–and feel we made a terrible and dangerous choice. I see you’ve had some pushback from followers but I completely agree with you about the forces at work in our country against the common good. I am terrified at this direction as are all of my family and almost all of my friends and neighbors. It’s still all we can talk about but we’ll have to work harder going forward to turn this around. Anyway, it was certainly a treat to have you share your travels. Loved the video of your beautiful Christmas decorations. I visited Martha’s Vineyard again with my sister three or four years ago and got a glimpse of your house–I think. I felt a little odd, as though I were peeking over the fence, so thanks for the tour of your dining room! My mother had one of those mobiles (?) with the candles that make the angels spin–not sure what happened to it. You bring back such memories. Cheers to you and Joe. Warmly, Anne
Hi Anne, thank you so much for the sweet words. Love having you here. The candles with angels are called Angel Chimes, we had them too, growing up, I still love them … and I think we might have some left in our webstore. xoxo
I was so happy to see the new Willard on my e-mail and can’t for your next book.
You are the queen of hygge !!knowing how to make a house a home and sharing that with friends and family spreads love and laughter not just in your own circle but radiates out to us all who love your work.I have my own cosy corner of England my house has twinkle lights and gingerbread smelling candles…I’m snuggled under homemade crochet blankets and send you and yours hygge hugs for a wonderful Christmas and glorious new year xxxx
Sounds wonderful Alison, sending ((((Hygges)))) to you and yours!
Susan Greetings from England! What a lovely start to the day getting your December Willard.
I have been buying your books from Amazon over the years I just LOVE your illustrations , quotes & recipes.
Yesterday I was helping my friend run a stall in a village in Derbyshire called Hathersage which is so pretty. As soon as it got dark the children did a walk round the village with their decorated lanterns made out of paper & bamboo& a led fairy light. The trees had plastic birds glowing in them. It was so magical.
I have been twice to the USA this year. I love your country & met some wonderful people
Now THAT is my kind of Christmas! How adorable and magical. Lucky you. Our two countries have so much in common, and yet luv-lee interesting differences too. xoxo
Your recent post is like an early Christmas gift to us all! May all your days be Merry and Bright! Welcome home!!!
Merry Christmas!
I have your 2017 calendar in hand, thanks to my daughter. Always fun to begin the new year filling in birthdays and anniversaries, remembering friends along the way.
I do the same thing! It’s a nice tradition!
Welcome Home Susan! Thank you for the always delightful Willard! My friends and I are looking forward to all your upcoming postings. Enjoy your cozy home and Happy Holidays to you and Joe and kitties!
Welcome Home! So enjoyed the recap of your adventure. Big Hugs!
Welcome Home!
Wonderful read this morning when I went to my email. I so enjoy hearing of your adventures. Merry Christmas to all!
So many lovely thoughts!
When I left comment I forgot to mention the lovely tea in these adorable tins mt son brought back on his London trip and two beautiful mugs and an umbrella with English design. My son and I are huge tea drinkers, these teas were oh so wonderful. Have a great day . we are decorating our home as I write this. I too feel like as I read your newsletters that we are right there.
He sounds like a sweetheart, Rosie. Happy decorating!
I would love to know t places u visited in Scotland. We used a fine romance to plan t Gardena we visited in England. It took two trips to get them in. Onto Scotland!
I think I’ll have some good tips for you!
Your posts take me to a wonderful place in my heart.
Soldiers and soft boiled eggs! Bubble and Squeak! Sticky toffee pudding that’s really a cake. (Tea with lots of milk and sugar when we were sick.) We thought these names were used by all until a friend mentioned how much she liked my dad’s accent. Accent? I never noticed.
Ha ha ha!
Merry Christmas
Grateful.
Just read one of your books from our public library and was blessed with the gift you have to connect to people. I will be reading more.
I love reading Willard! Thank you!
I love what you say about doing something ‘weird’ to be remembered by!People have forever been relating stories to me of all thememorable things Ive done that make them laugh unexpectedly….guess I was creating my own legacy and didnt even know it!Wasnt trying…just comes naturally!Ive certainly had more fun in life than alot of people being this way…cant be so serious about everything…like you stated. ‘Life is,unbearably short’…Amen
Look what you bring to others from your sweet attitude, it’s a gift, Katt. xoxo
Welcome Home Susan and Joe, Merry Christmas and hpoe to here more on the trip. Can’t wait to see what is next. Thanks L.T. from Maine
It always brightens my heart to have your name pop up in my email. How I enjoy you sharing your FUN life with your girlfriends! Merry Christmas to you and Joe. Give Jack an extra kiss on his sweet nose!!!
Happy to do that Patti!
Welcome home! Thank you for sharing all your beautiful inspiration that make me and my home feel so “Hygge”! Merry Christmas to you and yours!!!
Blessings to you…..thank you for bringing some sweetness and joy to a sad heart. It does remind me to sprinkle small doses of sweetness and joy to others not matter what one’s life is experiencing. That brings joy to the heart.
As the saying goes, the joy you give to others is the joy that comes back to you. Takes our minds off what ails us. xoxo
Reflections
My mother sang “she was just a bird in a gilded cage” when I was a little girl – a fond memory. I would love to have a bird in a gilded cage!
I find everything you write, draw, cook, photograph or do, quite enchanting.
My favorite word! 👏
I am a 75 years old grandma starting a family blog. I want it to be a happy beautiful blog with lots of goodies in it and most homemade too. I love your blog and letters and everything in it. I did buy 2 of your cookbook binders that turned out full of very old recipes and photos and stories. Thank you so very very much for sharing your happy hours with us. Merry Christmas nice lady to you and your family.
They will love your blog Lucile …it’s such a giving thing! xoxo
Perfect life.
Susan, you are an inspiration to both young and old. You truly love life. You are a model homemaker for all as it is expressed in all you do.
Dear Susan, I just love your books and living in the Netherlands it is easy to visit Great Brittain. We started to follow your journey this summer and loved it.
Thank you so much to give us so much pleasure reading your books an follew you trail.
Thank you for saying hello Ineke, love meeting you here!
Magical moments, they take me away💓
I love reading your updates, it’s like visiting with family.
thanks for the lovely information, I was raised in England’s lake district and went to Canada with my parents at the age of 13yrs. Have always thought of the lakes as home. used to roam with my friend who lived in a farm at the foot of catbells. what a childhood! I still miss it, though live in Oklahoma now!
Beatrix potter is my childhood “friend”. I have a lot of figurines and books too.
Love that you love England!
I can’t imagine how wonderful it must have been to have a childhood in the Lake District! What an amazing foundation for life. xoxo
I received Willard yesterday but didn’t know until this lazy Sunday morning. I was soooo excited as I hadn’t received one since last April for some reason. You lift us all up you know…years ago I thought you were just my friend, silly me, after signing up to your blog I realize I have to share you with the world sweet Susan. I guess you belong to all of us. Enjoy December, the music, smells and lights. Merry Christmas to you and Joe and precious Jack xoxo
I’m glad you got it! xoxo
Susan, thank you for bringing your talent and New England into my living room in France. Am sitting in front of the fire, on the Dordogne River, in Beaulieu (Beautiful Place) sur Dordogne.
You bring coziness into my French life, thank you, Julie Tave
I read your comment to Joe (who is in the kitchen whipping something up), and he said, “Let’s go visit!” LOL, very sweet Julie! Thank you! xo
oh, my goodness!! Beaulieu is my maiden name. I don’t know anything about the actual “place”…and, i’d LOVE to. we were always so enchanted with the name itself. my mom & dad made the whole world a “beautiful place” for our whole family. any info would be much appreciated. thank you. xo
Welcome home, just love your blog, it always inspires me. It was like finding Waldo (Joe) in the picture 😉. Your books are treasures, thank you. Patricia
A heartfelt Welcome Home to you.
Just discovered you in May (where the heck have I been?) and now can’t get enough of Susan Branch anything! Best present ever to myself are your books I ordered after having read from library. Buying more as gifts so I won’t worry about having mine returned. What great reads!!! Lastly, could you please make a birthday book as in recording birthdays of loved ones and friends? Thanks so much! Happy hygge Christmas to wonderful you!!
PS. My condolences for the loss of your father. Loved the story of the building of the bomb shelter.
He was one of a kind. Thank you Sally, so nice to meet you!
Susan you are my ‘time out’ portal to good reads, good thoughts and positive attitude adjustment. Read your trilogy, a few times…we grew up at the same time. Your colorful artwork is so beautiful and uplifting. I hope to meet you someday…on a future book tour maybe! Glad you two are home safely…squeeze the kitty boy!
He is in the chair right next to me, so I’ll do that right now! Thank you Sally!
Thanks for your blog and your Willard. Have a blessed Christmas and please pat Jack for me.
You made my day, my week! Hygges to you!
I love you verything you do!!!
I am almost 75 years old and one of the greatest blessings in my life was discovering Susan Branch. Your art and wisdom and humor are always a joy. Thank you, Susan.
You are a dear to say that. I feel so blessed! xoxo
Your website soothes my soul. 🙂
Thanks so much for your blog and Willard emails! They brighten my days.
So happy for you and Joe that you are finally back to Home Sweet Home and darling Jack. Just lost my last cat, Juno in October, she was 16. Don’t know if I’ll get another, but looking at Jack makes me smile. I just retired two days ago from the Postal Service, after almost 35 years as a letter carrier. I’m exhausted, but looking forward to finally putting my little house in order, after years of neglect due to working too much overtime. It will be a new adventure of a domestic type! Looking forward to more tales of Britain and the Vineyard….
Happy retirement, very sorry to hear about Juno, but yes, you must have a kitten to start everything off right! xoxo
I love your blog and I love reading Willard. Thank you for sharing your vacation in England. I enjoyed every post and picture. Have you ever been to Gold Hill in Shaftesbury, England? I was smitten as soon as I saw a picture of the long steep hill of row houses that my brother took while visiting there with his wife who is from Mansfield in England. Your post about how much you liked houses made me think of the Gold Hill houses.
Oh yes, we have been to that wonderful spot!
I love you but quit being so darn perfect, haha!
Happy Holidays from a devoted fan!
Victoria
💞
Thank you Susan💕 Your blogs , books, and all you share brings such a simple sweetness to my life😘
Your blog came after an extremely busy week of Life reminding me that we are here for a very short time on this beautiful place called Earth. Nothing this past week is anything that everyone has to deal with at one time or another in their own lives; but my week was exceptionally an “in your face,” shake up your world, that only prayers will help you get through kind of week. So, needless to say, you were welcome in my world on this rainy (albeit much needed–Thank you, Lord) day! Welcome home and thank you for your cheerful post. I thank God for you and your talent.
I’m happy to be here, hopefully things are getting better now for you Jean. Sending love xoxo
Ah dear Susan,
Welcome Home and a Merry Christmas🎄!
I was on a plane to Texas recently to see my daughter Megan as she attends Baylor University . Our entire family would be meeting there for Baylor’s last home football game.Any who , as I was running late out the door to catch my plane with my husband😬 I meant to grab my sweet little copy of “Christmas Joy”to read on the plane in preparation of my home for the coming Christmas season .However, I could not put my hands on it so, I had to make room in my carry on for” Christmas from the heart of the Home”.As I sat on the plane the woman next to me recognized the book and we agreed how much we enjoy your gift of painting and sharing your life with us. As I was turning the pages,I came across a card you had sent me from 1998 . I had just read “Heart of the Home” and was taking notes about your grandmothers stuffing p. 106 and had decided to write you about my mothers new marriage and her chef -husband’s stuffing that stuck to the roof of my sister and my mouth at the Thanksgiving table. So different from what we were used to that we would kick each under the table trying to breathe with that clump stuck to our throats. You wrote me a lovely card with your stationary, complete with your Santa sticker on the front.You wished me a Happy Thanksgiving and hoped there would not be much kicking under the Thanksgiving table that 😉 !Susan I want to thank you for the joy I have received in reading and sharing your books with my friends. I’ve traveled to Martha’s Vineyard 3x’s once with my mom and friends Linda and Mandy since becoming acquainted with you as an author . I’ve traveled to Arroyo Grande to the Produce Market(where I met Denise 😊) and bought dishes from your store ( they resemble those in your shelves). My daughter and I had to wrap them in your store room to attempt in getting them in our Motorhome undetected by my husband ,only for him to have wandered into the store to find us in that storage room and startled us by saying, “What are you doing?”😳Knowing the last thing I’m in in need of are dishes !!!!
I’ve been with my friends Linda and Nancy to your book signings in Pasadena. I too enjoy decorating a darling O Keefe and Merritt double oven stove with your holiday towels and trinkets .Reading your books have brought Joy to my heart . In closing I want to say thank you and though you and I chose differently this election season, that has not changed how grateful I am for how you have touched my life through these many years.Once again, welcome home and may your Christmas be a blessed one .
Cindi Leonard
Sun Valley , California
Loved this, loved your stuffing story, what a funny memory! I did have some Rose Chintz dishes in my store at one time, you probably got them! Nice to hear from you Cindi! All my best to you and yours.
Happiness!
Who doesn’t love all things Susan Branch?
Merry Christmas, Susan! Thank you so much for sharing your travel details and pictures with us. You’ve always been an inspiration to me. I can’t wait till I can open my 2017 calendar which my husband is giving me for Christmas! =D
Thank you for the cookie recipes!
Sounds like you had a lovely trip. I love England and Scotland and have been several times. I even was eight feet away from the Queen and I curtsied and she nodded back. I was so thrilled. I also live on an island but with no cars. We just have horses and bicycles for transportation. I also love your island and was there last August. I stayed in Vineyard Haven and thought it a lovely village. I’m sure we would be good friends if we knew each other.
Do you live on Mackinac Island? Or where? It sounds wonderful!
Thanks so much for sharing such lovely pictures of your trip! Always love your writing and art style so much!
Thank you for the lovely post, Susan and the wonderful raffle
Prizes. I love the teapot from the Lakes district! Wow!
Dearest Mrs. Branch (I know, please call you Susan!), I love my tea time & bubble baths along with the Christmas blessings of friends, home & family too. ♡ I just read your December blog; thank you for your writings!
Thank you back, Cara! Love, Susan 💜
I bet your downstairs bathroom gets a lot of traffic. Even if someone has seen the pictures before they would want to see if there were any new additions.
They love it…and these pictures are the kind most people never get tired of seeing…lots of them are in them, and they bring back memories from wonderful days.
Welcome Home and Merry Christmas!
Susan, I just finished “Martha’sVineyard Isle of Dreams”! I laughed out loud, shed a few tears and did a lot of rembering about my own younger years.. It was wonderful! Thank you so much!!
Thank you for letting me know Cindy! SO glad you liked it!
You have brought joy to my life for oh-so-many years!
Thank you.
<3 <3 <3
Thank you for giving so much of yourself to us readers!
it felt like i was playing woldo , but i finally found joe in the picture after i clicked on it and it enlarged. ha ha!
A lovely post. I’m currently reading ‘The Cozy Life: Rediscover the Joy of Simple Things Through the Danish Concept of Hygge’ by Pia Edberg. She describes it as hygge (n/vb): pronounced HOO-gah. Such warmth emanates from this concept. Congratulations to both of us for discovering it. xo
I think your blog is HYGGE!! Thank you. I so hope your voice has you writing a book about this trip. ❤️
I’m so glad you made home safely and had a wonderful trip. Please write another book about your trip.
I hope you and Mr. Joe have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I have yet to get one of your 2017 wall calendars, but will be doing that soon. I have enjoyed the ’16 calendar so much.
Your writing and art brings me so much joy.
Thank you Paige!
Merry Christmas!
Christmas blessings!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful adventure! I waited patiently to hear about it since our time together at the Brewster’s Ladies Library. Well worth the wait😉
I am #815. Maybe that’s my lucky number. I am reading the blog and Willard at the end of a busy Sunday making chicken soup and cornbread and chocolate chip cookies. I wiped out, but I am glad you and Joe aRe safely home.
Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear Susan, welcome home! I so enjoyed your blog posts from the UK, and (being a Scot) I am hoping that you write a book about your Scottish adventures! Season’s Greetings to you both!
You have a luv-lee country over there, Penelope! Where do you live?
In Upstate New York!
Oh! LOL!