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. 💖
Hello Susan! This is my first email from Susan Branch. Recently signed up on your website. What fun! I recently purchased all three of your books and I am currently half way through Book 2, Isle of Dreams. Wonderful books! I had received my Country Register Paper with local craft shows and there was an article about you and the books. And I knew I had to have them, all three! Being of the same age and remembering those good old years, it was a great escape every evening to get my tea and get cozy on the sofa and READ. Something that is much needed at the end of my long, busy retirement days. Life is full, Thank God! I have always loved your calendars that my sister-in-law would get me, because she thought we were so alike. Funny how life just goes along and until you come upon something that really hits you, do you realize what you have been missing. So happy I hooked up and look forward to the emails. Now I need to find out about Willard?? And yes, I am hoping I win, what a lovely giveaway!!!
I’ve never seen Suspicion but am about to get Filmstruck and it’s going on the list! The shadows and the chandeliers. . . shivers! When I first went to England and walked out of the subway station in London, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Embarrassing but true: I think I expected it to look like St. Mary Mead in an Agatha Christie novel! I remember thinking, “Everyone looks so MODERN – OMG!” I felt like an idiot (but was still disappointed). So I like movies with old-fashioned English villages, even if they’re really Hollywood sets.:)!
LOL, I don’t like them to look like us either (or maybe it’s the other way around). I want them to wear tweed ~ in the little villages you can imagine it’s all right there.
Susan, Love your photos of the changing light patterns. This time of year the black-eyed Susans here in central Indiana are especially luminous at sunset. The golden petals shimmer in the late evening sunlight, creating a visual treat. Thanks for the zucchini bread recipe. A bumper crop of zucchini is truly a sign that autumn is on its way!
So much sweetness, love and joy in everything you do! Thank you. (There…now send me that beautiful prize!!! Hee…)
Oh, my, how I love fall, too! It is my favorite season of the year. I love the light, the changing colors, the cool air. I love baking zucchini bread and having tea. But you tell it much better than I do, Susan. Thanks for the “trip” I take with you every time you write a new post. Hugs to you and Joe and your shadow!
That Gingerbread-Cake Tea sounds fabulous, I can’t wait to try it. Autumn is my favorite time of year as well. It’s my Birthday, our Anniversary and our sons Birthday as well, a very blessed time of year for our family.
Love “Suspicion” & Cary Grant! I think George Clooney is our modern-day Cary Grant.
Always the highlight of my day when I get a email. I did see the movie but forget some so I will get it from my library first thing. Can’t wait to hear all about England.
I would love to win!!!
We had an eclipse picnic at our house. I bought special eclipse glasses & fit them in to paper plates for even safer viewing….& lots of laughs. I also made a pinhole viewer. Somehow I was so busy looking up & then around at my family, that I missed the shadows. I as very disappointed when I began seeing them on FB & realized I hadn’t even noticed!
Still it was super fun. My husband & daughter-in-law took off work early. Our son got out of bed early (He’s a night shift worker). Daughter & I picked up Pieology pizza & salad. It was so good! To add the fun we had our handyman was there with his crew working on some things he didn’t finish the week before. It just happened that way. So he took a family picture for us, watched the eclipse with us & laughed at our silly eclipse masks.
I have not yet seen Suspicion. It looks wonderful. I am a fan of Hitchcock’s movies–my favorite is Rebecca–love the book too. Joan Fontaine is so lovely in these films! This July my best girl buddy and I took a three day trip and I brought along two 1940s movies–Apartment For Peggy and Family Honeymoon. Such a blast each evening!
We also had the partial eclipse here (Washington state). The crescent light shapes were so much fun to see! Lots popped up in my Facebook feed. I was going to do a some house organizing that day but instead I watched NASA tv and also ABC that covered a lot of the spots across the country that experienced eclipse totality. Amazing stuff! I can be such a tv junkie 🙄. Such a generous giveaway! I will have to cross my toes too!
I get sooo excited when I see a new email from you!
It’s like piece of chocolate or a nice cup of tea with a friend.
Hope to meet you someday when you visit Oregon. 💗
This is my first comment. I look forward to reading your posts and always feel cheered by them. I have read all three books and have been inspired to plan a Crossing on the Queen Mary with some weeks in England. Thank you for making a kinder world for your readers.
I didn’t know you had a book on gratitude. I MUST have this! I have written 5 lines per day in a gratitude journal since 1996! 21years! 💜 The lesson of gratitude!
Willard arrived in my mailbox and per my habit, I had to pause to go and get a piece of chocolate to nibble as I read. So many bits brought a smile — your love of old recipe boxes with their wonderful handwritten recipes. When my daughter became engaged (almost 30yrs ago) I created a three ring binder for her. I hand copied all her favorite recipes and slipped then into plastic cover sheets. She’s added so many recipes over the years but the front of her bind still has all the originals I created for her. This weekend, I was going through boxes of old papers and found handwritten recipes from my Grandmother (in her hard to read German script!) and my Mother-in-law (now deceased). Each was slipped into a plastic cover sheet to be added to my daughter’s treasured binder
Enjoy the upcoming fall months – I’ll be looking forward to hearing more Autumn goodness —
I also love shadows Susan and always notice it everywhere and take photos of it. Love your blog and thanks for the Willard.
Another breath of fresh air. Every time there is a new post, it takes me away to another place. One that makes me smile and takes me away with you wherever it is you may be at the time. This time, I could smell the sweet aroma of the zucchini bread coming from the kitchen and the tea waiting for the bread to cool. Ahhh, Fall, my favorite time of the year. The air is changing, days are getting shorter, leaves starting to drop here and there. Just teasing me. Soon there will be the crispness in the air and the sound of the rustling leaves as I walk through them, smaller ones here and there attaching themselves to Moose, our mini Schnauzer, so they can catch a ride to inside the house. Yes, Fall my favorite time of the year – relaxing from the hard work of summer. Thank you. :o)
Count me in. Loved the new blog plus now I wanna go make zucchini bread!!!marilyn
Thank you for ALL you do and share with us..I have been a fan of yours for many years..have all your books and have shared with my 5 daughters…all fans too!
Thank you for reminding us all we have much to be grateful for!
Blessings, Anne
Hi Susan! Loved your crescent moons in the dappled shade! They are beautiful and something that wasn’t once mentioned in any of the news coverage I saw on TV—leave it to YOU to find the little things in life that mean a lot! The long-awaited Santa mug arrived recently and I can’t wait to give it to my daughter-in-law when Christmas is getting closer! We both love your books and blog. And speaking of your blog and the beautiful roses in your yard which you shared with us last time…I was able to locate a “Just Joey” rose bush and have it shipped to our best friends. It was shipped to them today and I know that they will adore it!
Thanks for always making life beautiful for all!
Susan,
What a delightful post, every bit of it!!! I will be making zucchini bread very soon, my mouth is watering…
I’ll be in Goshen, IN this weekend!!! I always think of getting to see you and chat with the Fine Romance book tour – it was such a fun, memorable evening!!!
Hope you have a wonderful everything!!! Much love and squishy hugs. Thanks so much for this very generous opportunity 😘😘😘
XoXoX,
Jeanette
Just signed up for Willard, love adding joy to my life. Thank you for all you send! OOOOH & I would be “jumping for joy” if I were to get your books and mug delivered right to my door.
That was so fun to read! Can’t wait for Willard!
I loved reading your blog today, a bit of relaxation I needed! I’m taking care of my two grand babies while their mommy and daddy are off to attend a wedding in the wine country of France. Lucky them, lucky me! But I’m sooo tired!😩 Autumn, my favorite season, is still a few months away in Texas, but it’s coming! And your zucchini nut bread looks yummy! I’ll file it away for a chilly day! 🍁🍂🌾
Oui! Have you tried “Lemon Zucchini Bread”? Simply delicious!
Hi Susan.
I enjoyed your letter, as usual. It was a coincidence to see that you watched Suspicion by Alfred Hitchcock. I watched it a couple of nights age on Turner network. I liked it! The next movie I want to see is Miss Potter, but I’ll have to rent that one.
I wrote down your recipe for zucchini bread and will make it as soon as I get the ingredients that I need to make it. I used to bake a lot, but have gotten away from it. That recipe sounds good, though.
I just finished A Fine Romance, and it didn’t take me long to do so!!! I’m going to read it again and then send it to my sister in Florida. I know she will love it. She liked the cup I sent her a while ago – the Martha’s Vineyard one. She loves Cape Cod & everything about it.
Hope you and Joe enjoy the last 😐 of the beautiful summer we have had this year. I see signs of it fading, as it is only 62 degrees now (10:35 p.m.). Bye Bye for now.
I’m reading your Isle of Dreams book and have absolutely loved it! Thank you for sharing with us and for your friendship and inspiration to others , Susan. I haven’t been to the island in years and long to go back someday! Tomorrow, I will make a cup of tea and your bread in honor of friends all over the world 💗☕️📚
Hi Susan
Can’t understand why I have missed this movie. It sounds so good! Hopefully I can find it before my daughter from Arizona arrives for a visit next month. Mom, daughter and a good movie is always a good combination!
wonderful Willard!
Those tiny crescent moonprint shadows are news to me! Will have to wait for the next eclipse to try seeing them. But in the meantime, glorious Fall is right around the corner! Blissful season.
From our home to yours – Welcome to the Burnt Orange Season.
I love the moons under the trees. Suspicion is one of my favorite Joan Fontaine movies. Rebecca is the other one.
As always a wonderful post, thank you! You were lucky to see the eclipse…we had lots of cloud cover with only glimpses here and there in No. Calif…Thanks for a chance at the lovely giveaway!
Dear Susan, Joe, Jack and all girlfriends,
I feel the coolness in the air up here in Northern California too!!
I loved this email Susan and so look forward to getting my Willard in my email!!
I wish everyone the best of luck for winning!!
Peace,
Doreen
I love zucchini bread! I will make it using your recipe as soon as I get home from our wonderful beach vacay in Ocean City, MD! One question. Do you add the zucchini as is or do you get the wetness out first. (I’m not much of a cook but I try.)
As is!
Dear Susan,
YOU are mesmerizing! 20 years ago ~1997~ my hubby & I were building our home; I stumbled upon your “Days from the Heart of the Home” at a small indie bookstore that we had in our area at that time. I immediately felt your ‘Heart of the Home’ to be as Real as any true & trusted friend – I still love going back to it to reread my entries ~ even now, I still feel the same deep comfort, delight & inspiration that I felt back then. The MOST amazing thing tho, was that I found your address at the back of that diary, wrote you, & you wrote back & sent me a Willard! I continued receiving your paper Willards & I cherish my collection ~ they are cozily tucked away in between my collection of all of your other books!! Thank you for shining your light so brightly & for helping us see the beauty in the shadows. You are indeed a mighty light-bearer of all the things that makes this big, ‘ol beautiful world of ours go round. Mil gracias!! Always.
Wonderful blog post! I’m going to have to watch that movie! How great it is to have clean sparkling windows.
My girlfriends and I have loved your books and calendars for many years. Our sweet friend got us each a wonderful mug as a special surprise. 💕 I love sipping tea or coffee from it as I dream or read and remember our wonderful friendship. She passed away suddenly so it is very special. Thank you for your beautiful artwork!
I love the eclipse Shadows! I now will have to find “Suspicion ” to Watch! I would love to win the drawing, I love gingerbread and tea. I collect gingerbread men. Always love your blogs!
I love your books and the many seasons they help to celebrate. I have been getting them since you first published them. I actually have the Autumn book on my counter on a book stand as part of the beginning fall decorations. Our three married daughters all have your books also. It is so great to hear from you and all the things in your lives. Thanks for being part of mine.
Plotting my own trip to England and the Cotswold area for next July with girlfriends. Love reading your blog for ideas!
Tea, delectable zucchini bread, old movie with charming English cottages, plants, clean kitchen windows! Contentment! Ahhhhhhh!
I noticed the change of light around my house, too. And the air smells like autumn early in the morning now. It washes across my face and I am instantly transported back to walking to school and watching my new school shoes pushing aside the newly fallen gold and red leaves on the sidewalks. Thank you for a chance to win your lovely give away.
We have zucchini coming out our ears! Neighbors hate to see us coming. Will give this recipe a try, if it’s from you it’s bound to be great!
I’m a first timer to read your blog. Enjoyed it very much and of course, signed up to hear more. Your book, Gratitude has been highly recommended.
Hi Susan! As always, I love your blog.
Have you ever seen a book called “Through the Kitchen Window” by Susan Hill?
Amazon has it; I couldn’t figure out how to add a link to this comment.
If you haven’t seen it, I’m pretty sure you would love it–very British; food, nature, and seasons related.
Lots of love to you and yours!
My fingers are crossed! Would be wonderful to win.
If your guests do not mind please post pics of the auction lunch. Sounds like so much fun
Hi Susan,
Loved your post and the chance to take a few minutes for some shadow dancing! You will have to enjoy the fall for me this year. I have moved back home to Florida and for the first time in 36 years I will miss the glories of my favorite season . Although being back with family does make missing the cool weather and wonderful colors bearable. I’m counting on you for lots of pictures. Thank you for always making me smile!!
How generous, and delightful!
2008 was Zucchini Summer at Oak Hill ~ our daughter then, 9yrs. old planted her first garden. She was thrilled to watch the zucchini grow. There were a few small 4-5 inch ones. We left for a week on holiday, and came back to find SEVERAL 1-2 foot long HUGE zucchini ! lol!
We grated and froze! She was in zucchini heaven !
We made everything you can think of with it and gave to everyone we knew!
Now she’s just left, across country for her freshman year of college! Empty nest for us.
Oh how I loved that season!
That sounds so good, I’ll have to make,some soon.
Susan,
I am so glad to have discovered your blog. I have read most of your books. They are wonderful. You have an amazing gift of drawing and painting! I especially loved the birds video. I enjoy feeding birds in my backyard. Nature is very therapeutic. Hoping to get your Bluebird mug soon. Thank you for inspiring me.
Thank you for sharing the zucchini bread recipe, it looks yummy! I can’t wait to try it – maybe this weekend – and have some tea in my beautiful blue bird cup!
Love your work. You have inspired me to visit England (twice in the past four years) and Martha’s Vineyard a few years ago. I absolutely love tea time, so we have so much in common. Thank you for you.
DonnaLee Yeatts
The pictures of the eclipse shadows were really cool to see!
I just harvested some zucchinis from my garden and now I think I’ll make some bread from your recipe. Looks de-lish!
Autumn is my very favorite time of all. Love the Autumn mug. It would go good with my zucchini cake.
One of my all time favorite zucchini bread recipes came from my maternal Nana. Its time tested, and delicious with a slither of melted butter.
We went to the nursery yesterday too! And bought way too many flowers but I couldn’t resist.
Scary movies are best watched at a drive-in theatre… do they even have those these days?
What a lovely way to spend a day! Something yummy baking in the oven. A great classic movie to watch. A cup of tea, and a cat to cuddle with! I can’t think of anything better! Well… Actually being able to share that with you would be a dream come true! Take care!😊💕🐱☕️
Been a fan for years and years. Yours was one of the first cookbooks I bought as a “grown up.” Thanks for all the art and joy!
Dear Susan, Thank you for the wonderful photos of the moon invading sun shadows. How very interesting. Loved the movie “Suspicion” and am waiting to receive it from Netflix. The shadows in that movie are remarkable. And another movie with shadows is one of my favorites, “The Uninvited” with Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey. Set on the coast of England in a beautiful old mansion, it is truly a scary movie, I guess the first time I ever came that close to a ghost! I like to watch it at Halloween time. Thanks for sharing your beautiful home and its shadows, too.
Don’t you just love sweater weather! It is August here in NJ and it gets cool in the evening.
So this time I have been thinking of a strategy to get Vanna’s attention when she dives into the comments – something to make mine stand out. Glitter glue would be a good bet. (Of course it would get on the other comments so that might not be the best idea.) What about folding my comment and putting in one of those microchips that play Happy Birthday? (Today IS my birthday…so that would be appropriate!) Maybe wrapping it in a home crocheted mailing sleeve because Vanna has her own line of yarn and her eye would immediately be drawn to “Soft Heather Tweed”? In lieu of these tactics – maybe carefully using colored Sharpies on the back of a map of England? Oh Vanna, you are fickle and have broken my heart so often. Sigh! One can only hope….get it HOPE!
Oh Vanna, pick me! Would love to have some gingerbread tea in my In Love With Nature mug while watching the humming birds at my window feeders.
I too am a “shadow watcher”! Like you I always look forward to the first of the hints of fall approaching with the longer shadows here in the bluegrass of Kentucky. Thank you for the recipe! You’ve inspired me to bake at lease one loaf. Your gifts are most thoughtful. Good luck to all.☺
Love your idea for the “leaf” butter molds! Have you tried KerryGold butter from Ireland? Yum! I can get it now at the local supermarket. Also love your Polish pottery loaf pan!
Dear Susan,
Reading your comments about England and going back just thrills me! I went to England just last summer for the first time and I promise you….I left part of my heart there. I am so looking forward to hopefully going back for a long visit someday. Thank you for all the simple pleasures you share with us in so many different ways.
Much love,
Georgeann
I love the fall and would really enjoy sitting down to read one of your books while having a nice cup of tea in your mug!
I love reading the Willard! I have also been reading and rereading your cookbooks along with your two biographies. We live in the Midwest but for some reason I love reading and visiting the New England states. You are living my “dream life!” Thank you for sharing your New England life with us! Just received your Santa mug and would love the Autumn mug! Fall is my favorite season in Indiana.
My heart does a little pitter-pat when I see your name in my in-box and then I get to savor the blog which never fails to enchant, delight, and inspire!! Love you to the (crescent) moon(s) and back! 🌜🌚🌙 XO Melissa
Loved your pictures of the movie, Suspicion. Even tho I’ve seen it several times, I’m still on pins and needles till the end.
Just one question: Do the birds ever fly into the house?🐦
We’ve never had them fly in… they really can’t get it, we have screens.
Merci here:
I asked the same question, forgot about the screens – hahaha!
So loved the dapples! Thank you so much for sharing your late summer light 🙂
I always look forward to your notes of life with the birds, your kitty and something wonderful in the oven. Makes me smile. Thank you.
Oh thank you, thank you. I do see the small changes suggesting Fall is coming. I am already thinking about crock pot creations and now zucchini bread! Thanks for the yummy recipe. thanks too for bringing to light the subtle, but beautiful moments we all need to appreciate every day!
Love your books, recipes and shadows!
Will be making your zucchini bread this week! Lots and lots of zucchini here!
“A home without books is like a room without windows.”–Horace Mann
My professor-husband is retiring and next month we are moving near our daughter and her family who currently live 400 miles away. Since we’re downsizing, we’ve donated many of our books including lots from hubby’s 1000+ office collection. Needless to say, he thinks I don’t need another book! Shh…if I happen to win…🤣
All this cute crescent moon shadow dancing on the bricks during the eclipse. I loved those photos – Such a different perspective. I noticed the shadows but those photos – very cool. Thanks for sharing the view from Martha’s Vineyard.
Off to print the recipe. sounds like the perfect snack to go with book I’m starting.
Enjoyed the post as always.
Thank you for sharing the simple lovely joys of your life.It causes me to reflect upon all the little, but great wonderful î
Dear Susan – What a beautiful basket of love and light and zucchini bread! Just the lift I needed after a day spent at the hospital with my very sick husband. Thank you for the joy you bring to our lives.
Ah Susan, you’ve created magic again! Your shadows are so lovely….I can’t wait to find “Suspicion” at my library! And try your z. recipe-one of my favorites…Your bird feeder video made me so happy! Thank you~Your friend, Julia
Hello Susan, thanks for the lovely bright light of happiness that you spread so wonderfully.
So long Summer, this year your air was too thick, your skies too grey and too full of rain, but we still had fun!
Hello Autumn, thank you for those cool breezes and long golden evenings….love you already and you’ve only just begun!
The only thing that is constant is change and change of seasons is my favorite kind of change!
Such a treat ~ the zucchini bread, tea, and movie! I feel like I spent the day with you! ❤️
Always love your Willard ! Brightened my day !
Xo Tiina johnston – California
Reading your blog was the icing on the cake of a lovely day !
I loved hearing the birds! Love your illustrations.
I’m laying in bed…it’s almost midnight…reading your blog and Willard. I’m so hungry right now for some zucchini bread! If there were any zucchini in the house, I’d be downstairs making some bread right now!
I’m so excited to have discovered your work through my marvelous book club this past year!
I can’t wait for fall either!!! Although here in west Texas our fall is little less spectacular, than yours, color wise. Nonetheless….everything about fall is just cozy and I love it! Thanks for sharing your bread, your day, your true love, your Jack, your movie, your home with us. Thanks for being you!
Ty for showing us the shadowy side of your life😉. Love this recipe along with everything else you write about. You make seasonal changes incredibly more rich and fun. My heart is happy!
What sweet gifts you give us with your thoughts and fun movies. I love the changing light outside and am really looking forward to fall and cooler weather here in California. The eclipse was fun to see with the glasses , except we didn’t get any little half moon shadows. Can hardly wait to make your bread. Can’t decide which cup to use. Gave one to my daughter who drove me to see you in Santa Barbara. What fun!!! Thank you for sharing with all of us.
Charlene Scholey
[email protected]
Autumn is my favorite season Susan! The mood you set with the Hitchcock movie, the tea, the bread and Jack make me yearn for cool fall days and lots of leaves!
I would love to give these items to my sweet sister! Her house looks like yours, but it looks like HER. She also loves kitties, flowers and old movies. Who doesn’t?!
Such a lovely Willard! Tomorrow I will buy some zucchini and make some bread, and request the movie from my library. Thank you for another inspiring and heartfelt post, for sharing your special home and wonderful life!
Susan! As always you pull me in to your luscious writing and beautiful photos. But this time I was hanging by a thread, leaning forward practically face plant into the computer screen with Cary Grant and glowing milk, and wham! Suddenly birds are joyfully singing at the feeder! What? I needed to run to the kitchen and search for chocolate to gather my senses. How could you? But of course you are forgiven. How could anyone so charming (and clever), be anything but forgiven. Hugs to you, Susan.
LOLOLOL sorry!
Autumn. Yippee it’s on its way. Love this time of year.
Hi Susan – I am new to your blog and only recently finished reading your 3 books. I so enjoyed them and have been promoting you to all I know! My favorite is A Fine Romance and all your recommendations. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for the word of mouth ~ nothing better than that! Nice to meet you Linda!
I love to read your blogs. You bring a shining light to any day.
A wonderful visit with you! Thanks for the recipe, ’tis the ‘Zuke’ season. Hope you are sharing the yummy looking 🥒bread with Joe. The tea sounds interesting, would help us prepare for the coming season🍁
Yay, there’s a a Willard coming soon! Changing light, shadows and Carey Grant brightened my day. Thank you.
Your blog brings JOY to all…Thank You.