Welcome! How about some nice cool MUSICA? Oui! I imagine lots of you are just coming over from your 
It just started going out today (Wednesday), and it now takes about five days for it all to go … if you don’t 
already get it, sign up now and maybe you’ll be in time to find a letter in your box. It’s a fun one! It has announcements! I thought today, in celebration of the coming change of season ~ I’d make us Zucchini Bread for tea! But before I do that, a reminder about the new Fall Giveaway I mentioned in Willard! When you get to the bottom of this post, look for the tiny word “comments” ~ click there, leave a few words so you’ll automatically be entered in our drawing . . . for this . . .
Not one, not two, but three books ~ all of them signed to the winner (or if you’ll be giving them as a gift, to whomever you like!), Autumn, Heart of the Home, and Gratitude ~ in addition, for complete celebration, I’m including one of our new Autumn cups along with a bag of Gingerbread Cake Black Tea.👏 Just leave a comment, and keep your fingers crossed! It could be YOU! It really could! Much better odds than the lottery. And we ship, so no matter where you are, if you win, you win!
Speaking of fall … this is one of my favorite things, a harbinger of the changing season, the way the light dances on my kitchen walls as the wind blows through the leaves outside ~ it’s mesmerizing!
It actually shimmers all over the house . . . there is something very cozy about it . . .
I’ve been taking pictures of it for a long time. This was the porch of my first Island house, 
called Holly Oak, during my first fall on the Island (my first “real” fall, period). For those of you who don’t know ….I had moved to the Island from California and had only lived there for a few months, but I could feel the season changing, and I knew then I was falling in mad love with this place. It’s been the same every year since, watching the light and the way the colors change is magical. 🍂
Joe and I walk down this dirt road each morning, through the dappled woods, trees and thickets are still green, but we’re starting to see tiny pops of color (you can see some at top, over the road).
I even take pictures of other people’s shadows!
The solar eclipse was only partial up here in New England, but it made the shadows even more fun … you could see the moon in them. Making me realize for the first time, that when you see a splotch of sunlight through the trees, you are seeing the entire sun in that one bit of light. Because here, the moon is blocking part of it … and so you get these little scalloped moons dappled under all the trees. Isn’t that wild?
So much moon and sun, they almost made tulips!
This little one … the moon in the sun … quite an amazing bit of sweetness.
They even made it into the house… sparkled down the kitchen counters and across the floor. I wonder how many times this has happened in this house, and what the other people we’ve shared these old rooms with must have thought about it.
There’s Joe, my hero, outside washing the specks of spaghetti sauce and bacon grease off the windows and filling the bird feeders for me . . .
We visit through the windows while I set the oven temperature for 325° and find my recipe for Zucchini Bread. Ah yes . . .
I’ll show you how to make this delicious seasonal yumminess . . . and don’t worry, I’ll put the recipe at the bottom so you can print it out. First we need a couple of bowls and a loaf pan.
This recipe is as fast and easy as any packaged mix ~ I make it at least once a year. You get two big loaves from it, one for you and one to give away or freeze. In one of the bowls, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and baking powder. Set aside.
In the other bowl, whisk eggs, then add sugar and vegetable oil and whisk well.
whisking well.
The you grate zucchini . . .
and stir it into the egg mixture . . .
The birds keep me company while I work, always a good thing!
Stir well.
Add the dry ingredients,
along with the chopped walnuts,
and the vanilla . . .
And voila! Mix well and pour into buttered loaf pans. Bake 60 minutes until a knife in the center comes out clean.
While the cake was baking, I took Jack and we went into the wood room to put up our feet and watch a good old movie.
See? His feet are up.
Our movie starts out all nice and sweet … with Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine ~ Perfect! In this movie, she’s wealthy and shy and he’s a charming playboy without a penny to his name, but she doesn’t know that yet. She’s falling, hook, line, and sinker.
Boy meets Girl, it must be love . . . and I’m settled in, happy as a clam ….
“Have you ever been kissed in a car?” he asks her, and she says, “no” and he says, “would you like to be?” . . . and then they go on an amazing honeymoon and waltz all over Europe to this MUSICA … so delightful ~ they come home to their new house that I would like to own and he immediately puts on “their song” and they dance around their new living room from happiness!
And she is now Mrs. John Aysgarth … sooo happy. But, I forgot to mention, this is an Alfred Hitchcock movie, so it comes with a twist. ⚡️
. . . Which I’ll show you in a moment (not giving anything away, even though I’m pretty sure you’ve seen this movie ~ it came out in 1941, but just in cases) ~ this film has everything I love . . . it’s set in Sussex, England, so there’s already plenty of unspoken history and gravitas, there are darling cottages, and cute cars ~ they have tea, there are quirky characters, and a wonderful scene on a train…
. . . plus it’s mostly British actors, Dames and Sirs, and there are things like riding to the hounds . . . (… just about now, that cake in the oven was starting to smell so good, all cinnamon and sugar!)
. . . and little village churches. Alfred Hitchcock was English so he knew about these things.
The hair, the clothes, the architecture, are all perfection. Everything I love. Love the little bow ~ a bit of 1941 Diane Keaton.
Wonderful romantic curtains, and look, leafy shadows on her windows!
The buzzer just went off, my zucchini bread is done! YUM! Out it comes to cool . . . back I go to the movie . . .
SO, yes, Alfred Hitchcock, which means that besides the charm in every scene and especially the charm of the wonderful actors, there was another character in this “romantic psychological thriller” that got no billing at all . . . Bwaaaaaah! It’s the shadows! Look at them! They aren’t mentioned in the credits, but they are a definite presence in this movie and tell you everything you need to know. I don’t think the shadows in my house are sinister at all, but here, they definitely are! First thing I would do if I was her is get a dog. She actually has a dog but I would get another one with bigger teeth.
Because this movie is called Suspicion, and you don’t have to say it twice, it’s in every scene. Look at those shadows . . . I feel suspicious right now.
For example, what fresh hell is HE up to, lurking around the bar . . . we don’t know, but we know it’s something!
Oh, Alfred, you are so good! Slashed with a shadow! They don’t make ’em like they used to!
Even here, she goes into this office (in the adorable little English town that’s actually probably some place in Hollywood) and look what he’s done with the light ~ I have no doubt that he controlled every corner of this movie.
Cake’s cool, time for tea! No problem, I can watch TV while I make tea! My biggest problem? Which cup shall I use? I take turns.
My shadow’s right with me … lotta shadows in this blog! But this one is the best. Back to our chair we go . . .
Uh-oh — Cary and Joanie play Scrabble with Beaky (Nigel Bruce, naive friend), and we get another rather huge clue . . .
And as time goes by, it becomes more obvious that this lighthearted movie isn’t as lighthearted as we thought (or is it?). Here comes Cary with the poison milk! We know it’s poison milk because it’s all lit up! And we are very suspicious, because of the sinister shadows from the moonlight through the conservatory roof. We can see that milk coming up the stairs a mile away! Bang with the shadows! 💥
OMG, he’s in the bedroom, don’t drink it Joanie!!! (Love the satin pillow on the left. And whatever is behind it. Love everything in this house.) I better stop. I’m going to give the whole thing away. You are just going to have to watch it yourself! Make a loaf of Zucchini Bread first, it’s moist and nutty, and all chewy on the edges ~ it adds a lot to the ambience.
XOXO
Joe’s feeders are emptying fast but the windows look so much better! The birds outside our kitchen windows are constant entertainment ~ they bring their babies, fight for footholds, and sing their hearts out. We keep a bird book nearby, to identify possible strangers.
In my next blog post, besides announcing the winner of the drawing, I’m going to write: “How to Travel: the Tricks of the Trade.” We are getting to be experts. Only thing we haven’t figured out yet, how to take only one suitcase! Getting us ready for our virtual and real trip to the other side of the pond. So excited … love all these months in front of us for planning and “looking forward!”
One more shadow . . . we were downtown over the weekend, walking home after dinner, and looked up to see one of my favorite sights, a kitty in the window!
Today I get to plan the menu for the winners of the Possible Dreams Auction that was held 
here on the Island a couple of weeks ago ~ they’re coming on Friday! You might remember, I mentioned the auction in one of my recent posts, and just in case anyone is interested, here’s the update: I’ll be making lunch and spending the afternoon with the highest bidder and three of her friends (I heard it went for $4,000, which all goes to our local Community Services so it was a wonderful thing for someone to do 💗). What shall I make, what SHALL I make . . . going to get out the books. I’m thinking we should eat outside under the arbor … I want this to be GOOD.
We went to the nursery yesterday, where everything is on sale, it’s end of season! We wanted to freshen the garden, get some fall color . . . and look how pretty, that’s our cart!
It’s a good time of year to get plants. They’re less expensive, you can see how big they are and know for sure what color the flowers will be. And then next year? Oooh, la wee!
Love you Girls, I’m still singing Dancing Queen from the Willard, 🎶 You can dance, you can jive, havin’ the time of your life … 🎵 See that girl, watch that scene, digging’ the Dancing’ Queen . . .🎶 … Have a wonderful day! Don’t forget to leave a comment to win our Giveaway! XOXO
Z U C C H I N I B R E A D
Preheat oven to 325° Makes two 8″ x 4″ loaves
- 2 c. flour (unsifted, lighten by stirring with fork, then measure)
2 tsp. baking soda- 2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. baking powder
- 3 eggs, beaten
- 2 c. sugar
- 1 c. vegetable oil
- 2 c. grated, raw, unpeeled zucchini
- 1 c. chopped walnuts
- 2 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. baking sodaPreheat oven to 325°. In a lg. bowl, whisk together first five ingredients and set aside. In another lg. bowl, beat eggs, add sugar and oil and beat well. Stir in zucchini; then add the dry ingredients along with the walnuts and the vanilla and mix well. Pour into two buttered loaf pans. Bake one hour until knife in center comes out clean. Cool completely before turning onto serving dish. 💖
Hi Susan…Love all the pictures…you always do such a wonderful job of taking me away from the daily grind…I love Fall…I was married in October, 22 years ago and my daughters are fall babies who are growing up too fast, my youngest is starting college. Can’t wait to try your zucchini bread, we just lost a dear uncle last month and he used to always bring me zucchini’s…Happy Fall to Everyone
My husband just washed all our windows too!! Now he’s looking for “Suspicion” for me! We too love anything English…so I can’t wait to see it! JUst love reading your blog!
Ermetta
Susan I love your blogs! I wish I could visit your beautiful island someday! I live in Santa Maria, California about 30 minutes away from where your studio is… I look forward each day to look in on Twitter to see what you have posted. I love birds just as much as you do and your precious bird song. Thank you for sharing your life, your loves, your artwork with all of us! You help make my world a little more special!!! Hugs!
You have an unbelieveable talent for making all the Girlfriends feel like we are the most important people in your life through all the things that mean so much to you weather it’s music movies, quotes, books and much more….you are loved 🙂
Yum! I’ve baked 2 zucchini breads in the last week already!
They don’t last long….too good!
Love your posts Susan!
Hi, Susan, can I make the zucchini bread gluten free by just swapping out the flour for a different type? Any girlfriends have an idea? Himself is no longer able to eat wheat, post chemo, and I miss baking for him. I’m glad we have a chance to win the Autumn cup – we have an October anniversary- who doesn’t love a treat in the fall?
The birds! The bread! The movie stars! You, you and you! Thank you!
Love, love, love all of your charming books and blog readings!!! I’m from MN but I think that it would be nice to visit Martha’s Vineyard and all of the special places that you write about. I’m looking forward to your latest book!
I love the fall season the best – every season has something fun, but fall is really special. Fall just sort of kicks off the whole holiday season – we live in Maine, so it is just a beautiful time of year! Thanks for the fun post!
Yum, yum. Zucchini bread. I think I will have to make some tomorrow. When I freeze zucchini I freeze it in amounts I use in my bread recipe and add 1/4 cup oil. Then when I bake the bread I use 1/4 cup less oil than it calls for. My sister told me this trick to keep the zucchini from getting watery. I’m looking forward to Fall although we have had such nice weather in August after a hot July. And an eclipse to excite everyone – 95.8% where we live. It didn’t get as dark as I expected. Everything got real quiet though – no birds or insects or even cattle from the neighboring pastures. The shadows were so neat to see.
Love all the shadows. We noticed the same thing during the partial eclipse. Our big maple outside the kitchen window was casting very long shadows – kind of eerie.
You are such a breath of fresh air and positive love!! Thank you for being the girlfriend we can always count on! Love your blogs, photos, life, Willard – I am acquainting all my little corner of the world with you and your joyful talent!
Gorgeous photos!! Thanks for sharing them with us!!! I met you when you came to Denver on your book tour. Love your books!! Happy almost Fall!!!
Have recently found your blog but have enjoyed your calendars for a few years. I like things with lots of words.
The zucchini bread looks yummy! Is your loaf pan Polish Pottery? It is really pretty. The weather is cooling down in the evenings here and I am happily turning off the A/C. I love when we’re in that transition period. ❤️
Before I started reading Willard, I was in the kitchen scrounging around for the ingredients to make M & M cookies. Not enough sugar!! Then I start reading your post about baking.:-)
So delighted to get Willard today from you, Susan! Made my day. Tomorrow I have to have a tooth oulled and I am not fond of the dentist and my anxiety level goes way up. Maybe I should take one of your books eith me? That zucchini bread looks scrumptious. When I a, back to myself I shall make some. Have fun and enjoy fall, its my favorite time of the year too!
Karen. Arpenter
Loved the moon shadows, they were beautiful!!! How lucky of you to get pictures of them and thank you for sharing them with us!
I love, love, love your batter bowls. Old mixing bowls are one of the things I have collected over the years. Something so cozy about them!
This is exciting . I came home from work after a long day and surprise your new blog !! Love your books . Hope you write a sequel to A Fine Romance-more of your English adventures.. Thanks for making this a better world . Keep writing
I’m looking forward to reading about what you made for lunch for the auction winners. I’m sure it will be a wonderful afternoon for all!
Your writing makes me smile everyday. Colors changing here in Vermont…cool nights. I think I love Fall the best. Thanks for sharing your life with us.
Love the shadows and the changing light also. There is something to love in every season, but the transitions are my favorite. I also love, love the waltz musica. Playing it again and then going to find Suspicion!
In Texas, we are just glad the temp dropped below 100! Fall still seems far away but thanks for giving us something to dream of!
What a wonderful post! Your play-by-play of the the movie had me laughing out loud – you’re hilarious! But you had it exactly right.
I’ve just moved from San Diego to a Boston suburb and am excitedly looking forward to my first New England autumn, thanks largely to your delightful descriptions over the years.
Thank you for the the birds at the bird feeders, the magical eclipse shadows, and Jack’s silhouette in the window, waiting for your return – all enchanting!
Oh, and I LOVE my new Susan Branch bluebird mug! Happy Fall to you, your sweetie, and Jack!
Ive always said, ” theres just something about the light on the vineyard!” Havent been there this year, but I am still going to make it. Thanks Susan you always have a knack for peekingour interest anew each time you write! Keep up the great work.💞 Barbara.
Love your post! Such fun to read/see/enjoy. I love the change of seasons also. We are loved!
In southeast Michigan we finally have a whiff of fall in the air, washing away the heat and humidity of recent days. Love zucchini bread. It’s a Thanksgiving and Christmas staple in our family. I bake four loaves at a time and give most of it away. Thanks for another lovely blog post. Looking forward to Willard.
I found myself smiling out loud while reading your blog. 😀 So refreshing.
Just wanted to say thank you for the beautiful pictures and the recipe. I love this time of the year. It has always has been my favorite.Maybe because I am a November baby.I feel the most peace in the Fall months. I love being able to cuddle under my cozy throw with my beautiful Lucy kitty and read a good book!! Or watch a good movie. Sometimes just the quiet and peace,and my Lucy is all I need . I love old movies too. I remember my Grandma and I cuddling under one of the afghans she had made, with some cocoa, watching the old movies on a Saturday afternoon! It truly is the simple things that make life so precious. Thanks for reminding us of that.
Mary Jane
The birds I’m watching are a swarm of hummingbirds (well, for us a swarm – three at the most is all I’ve ever seen) maybe 7-8 of them, they are so fast, tiny and aggressive!! The biggest one I named Bruiser. And the sunlight coming in our front window, late in the day, all golden. Heaven! Watching the shadows from the window blinds climb up the fireplace as the sun sets. I love that most about our sweet little home.
Another wonderful post, Susan! And on my. Irthday, no less! Loved it! A question; how often do you fill your bird feeders? From the looks of it, those little birds are “eating you out of house and home”! I so enjoy watching the birds at the feeders around the house. We, too, have a bird identification book so we can identify any we haven’t seen before.
Thanks for adding to my already wonderful day!
❤️
Hi Susan,
Fall is my favorite season. A slice of zucchini bread, a cup of tea along with an old movie sounds like the perfect way to spend the afternoon contemplating the wonderful fall days ahead.
Would love to win your Fall giveaway.
That’s supposed to be “birthday”-
I just want to put in a little thank you for the Autumn Mug which is a perfect size for me. I love all the mugs but I like a smaller one best and this one is adorable! Perfect gift idea is the Autumn Mug with the Autumn Book and some tea; that gingerbread one sounds awesome!
I of have been a faithful follower of yours for many years. I have all your books, order a calendar every year even made embroidered tea towels to hang in my kitchen and collected your Marthas Vineyard fabric to make your pinwheel quilt I made the quilted table topper that was in the magazine for my daughter in law.. I don’t have any mugs yet but hope to soon. I would love to win this giveaway. Thank you for bringing so much sunshine to so many lives.
Hi Susan…we, too, have a bird feeder right outside the kitchen window! The birds are gentle and constant entertainment, and we also keep a book in the kitchen to identify all newcomers. We had the privilege of briefly entertaining a rose-breasted grosbeak this year. I’m going to try your recipe because I’ve never baked zucchini bread before and it looks delicious…!
Wonderful post Susan. Very generous of you to donate your time, talents and home to the Auction.
My favorite season is fall and can’t wait for the cool morning walks where I can gather leaves, acorns, and anything else that looks interesting. Thanks for sharing your recipe because it looks so delicious. I will only add a dollop of whipped cream on top.
Thanks again, Susan. Another fantastic blog. I haven’t yet received my Willard, but knowing it’s coming always makes me happy. I feel just like a kid at Christmas. My favorite actor of all time is Cary Grant. I thought I had seen all of his movies, but this one is new to me. Excited to find it and watch with my daughter. She is becoming a classic movie fan like me and I couldn’t be prouder. I also know what I’m going to do with my extra zucchini. Blessings as always.
From one Susan to another Susan, I love and adore your blog! It makes me so very happy every time I read it. So enjoyed your shadows over the Hitchcock shadows. Yours were all “happy shadows” and love the eclipse ones. I’m a huge fan of your books and artwork. Good night from one Susan to another Susan!!
Fall is definitely my favorite season- would love the mug to use in the upcoming months.
Thanks for appreciating all the little things in life, Susan- your blogs make us stop and remember to enjoy every bit of life.
Oh Susan, I love your posts. So inspiring.So much love, and whimsy.Thanks for sharing. Dawn E. Brown
I love zucchini bread, and I love Autumn, AND I love Cary Grant!! I feel like I’ve already won the prize, but please enter me in the giveaway anyway! Thanks for brightening my evening, Susan! You never disappoint!!
What is your next project? Are you going back to England any time soon?I love Alfred Hitchcock also – one of my favorites is North By Northwest. I love the autumn too. I hope I win the drawing!
I love the thought of the possibility of being the winner of your wonderful giveaway, Susan!
I love the changing seasons and Autumn is my favorite here…in Michigan. And, Alfred Hitchcock is the master of suspense…scares me to pieces! Love all of your posts…look forward to each and every one of them!
Ohhhh…..I’ve never seen Suspicion! A movie and zucchini bread…..does it get any better?? We are so totally lucky to have all this luciousness in our lives!
Such a generous give-away! And the zucchini bread looks yummy 😋
Thank you, Susan, for this little window of time away from reality. I too love dappled sunlight!
Hooray! Another giveaway!
Loved your eclipse shadows. Wasn’t it wonderful to have an event that the entire country could enjoy together? It wasn’t political or divisive… it was just awe-inspiring. Thanks for sharing the view from the other side of the continent!
All the best to you and yours. I might need to go watch “Suspicion” now….
Oops, I just realized that I am so excited for my first New England autumn that I wished you Happy Fall on August 23rd! Okay, let me back up the bus and say that I hope you all enjoy these last lovely weeks of summer … 😉
Hi, Susan,
I’m one of those “rule followers” so when you said! “Just leave a comment, and keep your fingers crossed!” … Well …. here’s “a comment” and I have my fingers crossed. 🙂
Oh, and, were your ears ringing/burning today? I had lunch on a beautiful flower filled patio with three very old (in every way) friends and we all spent quite a bit of time talking about you…your blog, your books, your trips, your life (Joe, too, of course) … All things SB. What a lovely day and then to come home to this post. “How sweet it is!”
We were house and pet sitting this past weekend and watched “Suspicion”. Alfred Hitchcock is the best. The Autumn cup is my favorite one so far, so fingers crossed👍🏻.
Love Zucchini bread! Thank you for the recipe and your beautiful books! I enjoy your calendar every day on my refrigerator and have for years. Enjoy your company on Friday!
Enjoyed your post and am waiting on Willard. I too enjoy Alfred Hitchcock movies and think they are much better than thriller movies of today. Would love the cup and books but just enjoy your posts. Thanks for sharing
Hi Susan! How simply delightful it was to read your post today! Well they’re all fab but having had just the worst day I checked for email & found your post – it was a tonic for sure! I so love your website and as I began to read your post…aaaaahhhhh….my the shoulders came down….and it brought me back from the brink of homicidal thoughts towards the darn annoying service people I couldn’t confirm with/track down all day! Hah! Thanks for that. 😉
As for the Fall Giveaway – it just has to be fate as I’ve got a cart full of your items, including the three giveaway books, AND I tried to add the Autumn mug but it’s showing unavail (say it isn’t so!!). So fingers/knees/eyes crossed I win as I’ve just gotta have the Autumn mug! And now I’m off to see if I can find Suspicion somewhere online to watch! Cheers! ~deb.
Wow, I love the fall. Can’t wait for it to happen here in northwest Arkansas.
Love your comments about Suspicion. It is one of my very favorite movies. BTW your reference to the cute bow on her outfit reminded me of something I came across on a blog somewhere. It was about those bows being back in style and they called them “pussy bows.” Kind of a cute name.
Well gotta tell you I love your books and ephemera. Keep the good stuff coming.
Hello Susan
What a great birthday present, to open your Willard!
I always look forward to your blogs, love all your photos.
We spend our summers on the Cape and fall is fast approaching.
Many thanks for all you do ❤️
Rosemary
I love the eclipse shadows. Everybody was looking up when there was an equally awesome show on the ground.
While we are getting ready for a Tropical Storm or Hurricane Harvey in Houston, I think I will pull out some of my Susan Branch recipes and enjoy being at home! Does it get any better than that?
Susan, I love the shadows everywhere, and how you noticed them in Suspicion really wowed me. I’ve never singled out the menacing shadows as an explicit dramatis personae but you are SOOO right! I’ve always loved Hitchcock’s edgy hints, red herrings and foreshadowings. Cary Grant is still about my favorite actor and I’m shocked when I meet someone who is almost as old as I am and yet has absolutely no idea who he was. I set my DVR to record all of his movies when they are shown, and right now there are 17 there. After Downton Abbey finished, I invited 3 friends to join me every other week to re-watch the entire 6 seasons. When we finished, we watched Gone With The Wind, loving the special features in which they describe how they made up places like Twelve Oaks and were able to apply the different layers of scenery in the editing room so that the viewer has no idea there never was a real house there at all. All this before computers! My Downton Ladies and I will start a Cary Grant marathon after this. Gosh it’s fun!!
Gingerbread tea oh yum! I will have to make your zucchini bread recipe soon. Autumn 🍂 is such a lovely time to read your cookbooks, I would love ❤️ to win.
Your blog and Twitter and Instagram feeds are a much needed escape from the political crisis du jour. Your voice and pictures are helping keep us sane in this distressing time! Thank you!!
Thanks for the recipe–it looks delicious and I can’t wait to try it. Love that movie!
I love the moon shadows! How cool is that! Thanks for sharing the pics. I learned something new! I was working so unable to see it for myself but I did look out the window at the dimming light. Here in Md. we were to be able to see approx 80%.
Nothing like an Alfred Hitchcock movie to get your spine tingling.
Love your illustrations. How,fun to,win books AND a cup!
Susan,
Willards are such a sweet escape! Thank you 😊
Until the next one❤️
You had me hooked on the movie. Now I want to see it.
Well now I have to get my hands on a copy of that movie. My mom raised me to love old movies. Maybe we should have a girls night and watch it together! I live close to Nashville so we were blessed to experience a total eclipse for my son’s 13th birthday. I’ll never forget that day!
Thanks for a charming post that put a smile in my heart!
Hi from Washington state! I just finished reading your book, Isle of dreams today. I can’t get enough of your stories, and pictures. Love them all!
Oh fall, my favorite time of the year and what better way to spend it than having a cup of coffee in a beautiful Susan Branch mug while reading the Autumn books swinging on my front porch swing!
Love the video AND audio of the birds! So peaceful and charming!
I LOVE old black and white movies – nothing like those amazing sets, clothing, and storytelling! Thank you for the recipe, I am filing it away under “REALLY good stuff”. Blessings to you.
Love your blog…I wish you would come to northeast PA on your next book tour. Cary Grant and zucchini bread, yum!
Loved hearing the birds! Our variety of birds in Florida tends towards larger– like pelicans and gulls and cormorants– but I miss others like robins who just pass through in the fall and hardly any starlings of all things! Spending lots of time in the nursing home with mom– thanks so much for so much brightness and optimism– you can get wrapped up with things and forget!
Susan,
I love the shadows, too. A friend of mine is pregnant and posts her growing tummy by using a shadow! 💕
My Hubbie and I are are traveling, but when we get home I plan to make some zucchini bread using your recipe!
Love to you!
Ruth B. (The Inklings-Ohio)
I was home watching the same movie! Love Carey Grant, and Alfred Hitchcock!
The eclipse was pretty uneventful here in I’ll. We had heavy cloud cover and couldn’t see a thing. The weather here is cooling off quite rapidly, Im ready for the cool air, but not the frigid cold that comes after!
I love the “little scalloped moons” that sparkle all over the place. I love zucchini bread, and I love Cary Grant! OK, and I would love to win your wonderful, awesome treats! As always, so totally enjoy your refreshing take on life! In our little world of today we really need to make the best of each day, and trust me, I do my share! Love to you and Joe!
Your posts are like a personal letter from a dear friend. Thanks for uplifting posts and reminding us that healing takes place in nature, music, books, old movies, family, and friendship! 💕
I just copied the zucchini bread recipe and I am so excited to try this version! It’s my first year to plant zucchini and I’m still enjoying summer! And… now it’s almost pumpkin EVERYTHING time! Don’t we all just love the seasons!! Thank you so much for sharing your happy times with us! Blessings!!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and activities with us. I greatly enjoy reading everything you write!
BTW Susan, it appears your kitchen window is open where the birds are feeding, have any of them ever flown into the kitchen? That would be such a treat!
There are actually screens … they can’t really get in!
I read your reply to someone else who asked the same question. Of course, screens! What was I thinking! Hahaha!!!
Susan, I wish I could change some Alabama humidity for your island beauty! I love the birds video! And your window is glorious!
How does the movie end?????
Hi Susan, Your Zucchini Bread Looks Delicious I hope you enjoyed it with your cup of Tea, I am also a Tea Drinker with a collection of Tea Pots and Teacups unfortunately they can only be displayed in my farmhouse China Closet or else my Cat Tommy will knock them over and Break them oops….I am currently reading A Fine Romance and enjoying it very much, I just got back actually from Martha’s Vineyard spent 6 days there with my Daughter Melissa, we saw a Play at the Vineyard Playhouse on Church Street it was fabulous we Loved it, went to the Beach and did many other enjoyable things no wonder you live there my daughter and I Love it, anyway going to Meditate now and then read your book…Goodnight…..Karen Seward Oceanside, New York………….
Oh how I LOVE Fall! Like you I believe I was an adult before experiencing my first “real” Fall, while living in Germany as a military spouse. Sad to say I did not make it to England while there so long ago. So it is on my bucket list. Enjoyed “your island” update. Someone is in for a treat with that auction winning bid!
Greetings from Texas and Bradbury Lane (where we carry your books, and would love for you to come for a visit! bradburylane.com) Oh, what a wonderful thing it is to receive a Willard, and for a few minutes forget all about the real world, and enjoy lovely descriptions of life’s simple pleasures! I can almost taste that delicious zucchini bread – can’t wait to make it. Thank you for sharing your unique and wonderful brand of joy and happiness!
I looked at your website, you have a darling store! xoxo
How I love autumn!! Love the smells, sights, tastes, and coziness of the season❤️! I’m ready to put behind the unbelievable sadness of my life through spring and summer…. I lost my dear friend to brain and lung cancer suddenly and shockingly…followed by the shattered marriage of another dear friend….some days are just hard to breathe. I’m ready to embrace the new season❤️
Reserve a corner of your sadness for living…it’s why we are here. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo so very sorry. 😢
I feel the change in seasons coming from the way the grass smells when you mow it now. Smells like hay now, not the sweet smell from earlier in the summer. Love fall colors!
🍁🌾🐿🍃🍂
Hi Susan, I, like Ginny am commenting for the first time but have followed you for awhile. I have referred to myself as your stalker, lol! Your blog always makes my day! Love the music and how I know all the words! Figure my mother must have played the radio a lot in the early forties when I was growing up. You are the same age as my younger sister and so our memories and childhood are very similar. Thanks for all the enjoyment you bring and the comments from the friends, I will no longer be just a stalker! Weather here in southern CA today was overcast and a real feeling of fall all day, a nice respite!
I would love to win one of uour beautiful mugs. Love your revipes and your writing.. Pi k me!!!@
I just loved all the pictures of the shadows. Don’t you just love the sun coming through lace curtains…with the window open…and a breeze blowing…it’s magical!!!
Loved the Willard! The prizes are gorgeous. I would LOVE to have the new mug. The books look fun too. What a lovely gift for someone to receive. Autumn is my absolute favorite season. I have already been looking at ads for new pumpkin dishes coming on the market and looking at photos my my decorating from last year so I don’t forget to get Everything pumpkiny out! Have a good week.
I loved the crescent shadows during the eclipse also. I knew to look for them because of previous eclipse experience. The 2024 one will go right over our summer home. We’ll have to go there a month early to experience it.
Thank you for such a fun read!! My daughter is moving into a cute little cottage which reminds me so much of your little house. I know that she will have fun making a cozy home!!
Thank you for all of the smiles!!
🍂 Autumn is my favorite!
Interesting blog of contrasting shadows. I will have to look up that movie.
Dear Susan,
I always marvel at how you rejoice in life with great joy and share your magical thoughts with us! I typed up a copy of your favorite movies for my planner and will be starting to watch them this fall with a delicious cup of tea in my new Autumn mug!
Love and Hugs,
Brenda