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. 💖
Your unceasing creativity in your blogs is a wonder, Susan! The shadows from the eclipse were fun to see. I had read that one could see and photograph the eclipse that way, and you DID it!
Living in Central Oregon, we were able to experience the sudden darkening. It was notable how the birds began to sing after the sun began reappearing. I had not given a thought to the fact that it would get cold when the sun was overshadowed (we could see a teensy, tiny sliver of light from our yard). I suddenly realized that I was cold, so I went inside and put on a sweatshirt! The entire experience was awe inspiring and I exclaimed to God how amazing he is!
What a joy for the woman who purchased your “package,” and a joy for those she invites to join her. I know you will have a lovely, lovely, delicious, fun time!
I love loading a nursery wagon with colorful flowers; they remind me of a mini English garden! Your wagon load is beautiful.
I really like the picture of happy Joe outside the window and the video of the birds. Thank you, thank you for sharing, Sue!
Lovingly, Paula
Susan love your blog any love shopping at your online store.Its almost time to find a cozy spot in my garden and read again your Autumn Book. I’m a fall person I love everything fall and I can’t wait for it. I know you are a fall girl to . Soon I will put out my Susan Branch fall flag and anticipate its arrival. Fall wishes to you
Reading your blog is always a bright spot in my day. I met you at “Rakestraw ” books about a year ago. I have a picture of “us” on my shelf and it makes me smile everyday. Fall is my favorite season, and your Fall cup is my favorite one. I hope I win! Thanks for the chance.
The leaves are just beginning to turn on certain trees here in Paso Robles, CA. It’s far from fall-ish with temps of 100 -108 predicted through next week. I am definitely looking forward to fall and cooler temps. Love your little birdies. I have different kinds of feeders for the different kinds of birds we have right now. Oriels, hummers, nuthatches, titmouses, blue jays, threshers, mocking birds and of course sparrows, finches and wrens. They are so fun to watch and try to catch with the camera. Each one has it’s own way of doing it’s own thing. 😉
P.S. I just made your zucchini bread in a gluten free version for the hubby. Yum!
We were in the path of totality but I didn’t watch the eclipse as I forgot to get glasses. It was 99.7 totality here but it doesn’t get like night—more like the light at sundown and only for 1 minute. My cat Beauregard started freaking out about 20 minutes before but calmed down after it started to return to normal daylight.
Curious about how you have spaghetti sauce and bacon grease on the outside of your windows? Is it from outdoor cooking?
Your bread looks divine and think you could serve some to the ladies who won the visit to your home? Maybe some of your wonderful soups you make? ANy thing you serve them they will love so don’t fret over it too much…..the thrill will be in meeting YOU!!! Did you happen to know the person who won? One of your friends perhaps? They are lucky whoever they are!!!!Linda fro Idaho where it has been mid nineties and higher all summer.
The kitchen windows open out, the screens are on the inside. We could have taken the screens down to wash the windows, but I was cooking so we opened them and Joe cleaned them from the outside! He cleaned the inside of the windows from outside! I know, it sounds crazy! I don’t know the person who won, but I will! They live in California, but come here often. That’s all I know so far!
Hello Susan,
Your Zucchini Bread looks Amazing !
And I STILL LOVE your Yellow Batter Bowl with all the Chickens and Eggs on the outterside !!
Thank you for taking time out of your day, sharing happiness with the World . . .
Linda Co. of So Cal : )
Love your blog posts , always have such contentment in them. Lucky winners that get to spend an entire afternoon in your company. Wouldn’t we all like that? A friend of mine hosted a Tea Party for 5 of us lucky women yesterday and it was just wonderful, she served a spinach quiche, chicken salad, hot green tea, lemonade, ice tea, brown eyed susan cookies, lavender bread, and brownies. with mismatched china in her garden, It was so lovely! So I am sure the Arbor will be a perfect spot for your guests!! thanks for the give away.
Life is good! Susan, Your posts are always a delight to read❤️❤️
Always love your words, pictures, watercolor pics and recipes!
Thank you!
Best, Nancy
My fingers are crossed! Your blog sets my world on the right path! I love it!
I’m loving your books! And we have the same stove!
I’m going to go bake some zucchini bread right now. Your recipe looks sooo yummy. I always look forward to your new blogs. I have been following for a few years and have a lot of your cookbooks and all your books about your life. Waiting for the next one. I treasure them all.
I had the greatest compliment this week! A friend of mine told me I was as talented as Susan Branch with my exciting written details and descriptions of life’s everyday blessingsr! Made me feel fabulous !!
Love Hitchcock movies and delicious zucchini bread. What a great way to spend time. I’m now looking forward to a new Willard in the mail as well. Thanks.
Haven’t yet made zucchini bread this year so will be trying out your
recipe tomorrow. However I am adding just about 1/4 cup of cocoa
powder to make it chocolate zucchini bread. Just remembered this is
something my mother did many years ago. Wishing you lovely late
summer days and fun in your garden with new plants.
What a wonderful prize the books and mug and tea will be! When it finally cools down in Arizona and becomes autumn, I look forward to baking and cooking again! Right now it’s the bare minimum to get by.
You are such a positive light in this crazy world. I love old movies too,especially musicals. Thanks for the chance to win the books.
I love checking to see what is happening with you! Pictures,flowers,food, antiques,linens,and yummy recipes. You make me happy 😍
Hi Susan,
Last year I picked up one of your 2017 Calendars and absolutely love it! Please tell me you’re publishing one for 2018. My favorite calendar ever!
The new calendars are all in our web store … and right now I’m painting new art for the 2019 calendars!
Thanks once again Susan for a great blog post! Delightful topics to read about on a late August afternoon. I loved the video of the birds outside your window and I also loved the pictures of the “eclipse” shadows. I will definitely try out the recipe for zucchini bread. Up here in Canada, fall colours are beginning to make small appearances here and there but we are still having unseasonably warm temperatures so it’s hard to think about the changing of the season yet. Fall is absolutely my favourite time of year though so I would love to be entered in the draw for your wonderful collection of fall treats! 🍁🍂
I love how you extract every bit of joy from everyday homey things and how you share that perspective with us. I too enjoy puttering around my house, decorating for the seasons. Every season, I display one of your books on a small easel on my hutch and make a little seasonal tableau with it. I placed my bluebird cup next to the summer book. I just got my 2018 calendar and couldn’t wait to look through it and anticipate all of the wonderful days to come. Thanks for showing us how to find joy in the simple things in life – things that are available to all of us, regardless of our bank account. 🙂
Loving fall in Upstate New York for the first time in 10 years. I’ve been in Florida for ten years in the fall.
(Hope uou received my girst comment…it was better🍂🍁🐿❤️
Love, love, love the small book with the wonderful drawing of a cruise ship and the words “DREAM” you occasionally post. It would be great to have an opportunity to buy a journal to record one’s trip or just dreams of a trip. Something else for you to ponder marketing. I’m making zucchini bread tomorrow. Yum!
I too have a favorite zucchini bread that I’ve been making for years. It has chocolate chips and cocoa in it. It’s sooo yummy. Very much looking forward to following you and Joe on your trip to England next year.
I love Alfred Hitchcock films and have seen Suspicion, so I know how it turns out. Though I must say, I have never experienced one while my kitty and I both had our feet up! Your moon shadows were enchanting and remind me to keep my eye on shadows more often during my travels. Thank you for a lovely break in my day.
we would love some signs of fall down here in texas but we are still in
the 100’s. I don’t care because i’m off to england, my home-put the
kettle on luv
Found your book “Martha’s Vineyard Isle of Dreams” in a little bookstore in South Park, San Diego and I am loving it. I laughed so hard at the Arf and Arfy word, Barfastarfard. I started reading #2 first but have already found #1 & #3 and am very much looking forward to reading them as well. Thank you for sharing your gifts❤️
Thanks for the zucchini bread recipe. Love the partial eclipse shadow pictures.
Dear Susan, I loved the pictures of the shadows in your house. I never saw those in mine before until Monday during the eclipse. With all my windows in our house downstairs and the bright sunshine coming through at least three of the flat skylights, I had shadows in my living and dining rooms, foyer, and kitchen. Our back deck was alive with the shadows of the leaves. It was beautiful. Your blog always brings me to a place of thankfulness of our God’s creation. I usually don’t like scary movies but now I’m curious how Suspicion ended. Who drank the milk? Thank you always for your blog which brings a smile to my face. I’ve always loved your drawings and one day hope to own one of your mugs also.
I should say, scary movies made in the 1940s are not really scary. Not anything like they are now. That’s why I love them so much. If they shoot someone (which doesn’t happen in Suspicion, but just general shooting in 1940s movies) the victim falls down, but they don’t explode and there is no blood. They leave all of that to the imagination, of which I have plenty. I can’t go to scary movies today, they are ridiculous and I would never sleep again.
Merci here:
Okay, I cheated, I couldn’t wait, had to go and find out what happened, now I know, but won’t ruin it for Karen. And, yes, I can’t watch the movies of today either, so violent and bloody as you say Susan. And I also have a very vivid imagination; must be an Aries thing.
What a beautiful, sunny, and magical moment with the sun, all things looked at in such a beautiful and spiritual and natural way, loved listening to the birds, new plants are so colorful and will be in our next Spring and Summer. Love each and every one of your blogs. Thanks for the treasure that you are to all of us –
YUM! Hi, Susan. I haven’t read Willard yet, but wanted to thank you for another most generous gift you are giving away. You are so very thoughtful. 😍. I must put zucchini on the shopping list. Loved seeing the tulips in the shadows. Just thought I would mention I’m half way through with my radiation treatments for a lumpectomy I had in June. I am so grateful there is no more cancer. God is so good.☺️☺️
Looking forward to your next post,
Nancy (from Bakersfield)
Me too Nancy, so happy to hear that. 😘
Such a nice surprise to find there’s another Willard AND another drawing in the offing! I just received my Isle of Dreams cup last week and am still relishing the SoCal summer, but I’m willing to switch tracks to autumn, if I should win… Thank you for your generous spirit of sharing, first with your life/books and blog, and then with the surprise goodies!
I love your blogs and looking at all the items you have for sale, thinking which cup I love the most. I made 7 loaves of zucchini bread, thanks to a grandson that shared his large zucchini, and have 1 to eat and 6 for the freezer. Thank you for blessing so many people with your blogs.
Dear Susan,
I sure look forward to autumn too. I get excited when I see the first Mum’s, my sister and I call each other who sees them first. I decorate my entire living room with Halloween decorations and then help my grandsons decorate their spooky Halloween tree.
I really adore Cary Grant my favorite movie is The Bishop’s Wife. I watch that the first movie of the holiday season.
Thank you for the recipe zucchini bread. It’s making me hungry!
Susan, Enjoy your Autumn Season!
Just used zucchini this evening. I made yummy vegetarian lasagna. It came out fabulous. It had zucchini, yellow crook neck squash, spinach, onion & lots of cheese. Now I wish I’d bought more zucchini so I could make your delicious bread. Perfect with tea! Even better if I get to have the tea in your adorable autumn teacup. Thanks for the chance Susan.
Hi Susan, This is my first time writing to you, but I can identify with your love of the changes in the light that the end of summer/beginning of autumn brings to New England. I moved from Connecticut to Pasadena, CA six years ago, and always go back east to visit in October. The light is the most dramatic difference for me….I forget it until I see it again every fall. I do miss that, and the changing colors so much. However, I do love the entirely different feeling of living in SoCal, too.
Love your books and blog….and your tweets as well.
My favorite movies I watch over and over again are Rebecca and Suspicion. Joan and Gary great together. Hope I win!
Love Willard! I’m a cat lover as well. I could spend the day
watching mine! You are an inspiration to us all in so many ways
Blessings❤️
All these little things give us a glimpse of heaven on Earth. Good music, good books, a cup of hot tea and something wonderful out of the oven, who could ask for anything more.
Have loved you and your books forever. Thank you!
Here in California we are getting just the tiniest hint that fall is coming. It’s my very favorite time of year. Great time to bake and cozy down with a good book.
We had a thick cloud cover for the eclipse, but watched it live streamed across the country. I loved seeing the pictures you shared. In our part of the country the temperatures are dropping, the smell of wood smoke is already in the air as neighbors try to have camp fires before all the kids head back to school. I love baking in the fall. I was given a zucchini yesterday so your recipe came at the perfect time. I am looking forward to trying it. Thank you!
Gingerbread Cake Tea!! Yes, please! It would be delightful to drink in between lessons in the classroom! Each post you write makes me feel like we have just had tea and a visit. Thank you for the magic you share each time! Love, Love, Love!
Kari
What gorgeous photos resulting from the eclipse…you always manage to see even the smallest, simplest beauty around you. Because of your influence, I’m taking a closer look at things and I’ve been trying to capture the beauty or a moment with my camera. My skills are improving! Your recipe for zucchini bread gives me a perfect way to use the zucchini given to me from kind friends. I will return the kindness by sharing a loaf of the bread with them. I can taste it now; I’m sure they will enjoy it. My husband is anxious for me to make it soon; what a joy to share with those you love…especially husbands!
Love zucchini bread…must try your recipe…will have with tea in my Susan Branch bluebird of happiness mug. Waiting on Willard…know it will be great.
I am soooooo craving seasons in general. Living in Phoenix, we have three seasons: warm, hot and BLOODY HOT! I’m tiring of it in my old age! Given the political climate currently I’m thinking British Columbia CA might be the ticket!
I absolutely adore you, dear Sue! Your blogs and Willards brighten my life and make my heart go zing! xoxo
Oh yum! Zucchini Bread is perfect for this time of year. Glad you reminded us and shared this recipe!!
I missed the eclipse here in the Pismo Beach fog! But the light is changing by gum, and the air has a different feel too. My sweet husband brought surplus zucchini home from work tonight, so I’m adding your zucchini bread to tomorrow’s agenda! Thank you for the inspiration.
Love love love everything 💕
Bev in Oregon
Dear Susan,
I am loving your blogs & Willards & have vicarious pleasure in reading about your trips on the Queen Mary. I have read & re-read your book “A Fine Romance” & enjoyed it immensely. While you are watching the shifting shadows as Autumn approaches, here ‘downunder’ in Australia I am watching blossoms emerge from the Pear & Prunus trees outside my home here at Willow Vale in the Southern Highlands of NSW.
I, too make Zuchini Cake but a bit different to yours – I put 1/2 carrots & 1/2 Zuchini & sometimes pecans rather than walnuts. Nice change from all Zuchini. One of your mugs would be a wonderful partner to a slice of Carrot & Zuchini cake!
Keep writing such wonderful stories. BTW, Joe looks like a nice guy & a treasure to clean those windows. Regards, Jessica from Willow Vale, NSW, Australia
I think it is absolutely thrilling to think of you going into spring while we’re heading for fall … what a perfect world in nature!
Sounds like a wonderful recipe….thank you….I love the different light and shadows too as the seasons change…..it is slowly starting to change here in Montana….but it is still very smoky here in many places from the wildfires….there are so many !! And such big ones….we have 4 firefighters in my family…my husband and three of our kids and they are staying busy……..I love your new mugs!!!! Happy early fall!! Donna, from Montana
Awww….little moons and zucchini bread. I think I’d watch that show just for the set….reminds me of Mrs. Miniver….thanks, arden
Yep fall is in the air so I’m switching to cozy pillows and blankets on the couch even as we enjoy juicy tomatoes 🍅
Thanks for the zucchini bread recipe. Will make as soon as buy the zucchini. We are enjoying cooler temps for August so won’t mind turning on the oven. Also must find the movie to see how it turns out!
Your blog posts always brighten my day!
It was so fun to read about your shadows with Cary and Joan….it was Cary Grant day and it was here at our house too! Fun to relieve it through your descriptions which are so much more fun! Thank you once again for sharing your charm.
Susan: I loved that you were from California and now live in Martha’s Vineyard. Your garden, your books, your recipes, your love of nature and your hero husband Joe, your Kittys, your travels and your music, your lovely home and your warm heart takes me into your world and I try to make it my world too. blessings, and Love, Joy
Have had “Heart of the Home” for so many years – it’s got turned down corners, sticky notes making tabs, food-stained pages – but it’s one of my favorites!
Enjoyed your latest Willard. Thanks for writing it!
The last time I made zucchini bread I used half grated carrots and half zucchini … it was wonderful!
I love old black and white movies but somehow have missed this one so far… but not for long! Your description was so exciting and full of suspense I am already on the edge of my seat – did she drink the milk?! Was it poisoned?! Got to find out!
Thanks for the reminder – bought some zucchini to make bread a few days ago, and have been so busy, I had totally forgotten! Guess I know what I’ll be doing tomorrow! Love all the fall colors, and was admiring beautiful silk wreaths at JoAnn’s just this afternoon! Not looking forward to hotter temps forecast for the weekend here in northern California… I’m ready for it to be fall!
Susan,
Love all the photos of the shadows, especially the “moon shadows”! Thank you for brightening my day. ❤️😊
Although it’s evening here I’m noticing a lovely, dappled amber light coming through the dining room..it really is the little things which you remind us of…it happens to be our 49th Anniversary today so your delightful post tops off our day! Zucchini cake tomorrow I reckon!
Dear Susan, just came back to Paris with our youngest daughter Maxence (son 16) after leaving our two eldest daughters in Canada for University. Parting with loved ones is always sad, but they’ll come to us to spend the Holidays in Paris. In the meantime, love reading your posts, they’re so soothing…and thinking about making that gorgeous Milk cake of yours and now, that zucchini bread. Let’s welcome Fall! Thinking of spending a couple of days in London for my birthday in November with my husband and daughter. It’s just a two-hour train ride from Paris. Cheers, Geneviève
Me again ~~~ just popping in to say “Thank You” for my WILLARD; it dropped into my inbox overnight, so it’s a real treat this morning, especially after having a delightful treat of a blog from you, yesterday, too ~ double treats!
Sitting, quietly, before the day gets going, listening to Enya, sipping coffee {my only cup of the day, before tea drinking starts in earnest} from a ‘special mug’ and gently squishing my toes into the seashore sands of Martha’s Vineyard beaches, breathing in that salty smack of ozone sea air that I love so much.
~~~Waving~~~From Across the Pond~~~it’s Deb in Wales xoxo
Dear Susan, thank you for another wonderful, fun blog post! Please enter me for the drawing. I would be thrilled to win the books, tea and mug combo! Charming for sure! Love, Joanie
Hi Susan, I’m here in Sussex reading about this scary film…yikes! Yesterday I visited Standen a National trust house from the Art and Craft style with my sister….a wonderful, peaceful ,calm, house and beautiful garden….put it on your list! Next week we are off to Northern Ireland to the Giants Causeway…fabulous. My chickens have just laid and my courgettes are growing nicely so I can feel your recipe coming into use this afternoon! …enjoy your very special day with the lucky auction winners…I’m looking forward to hearing all about it.
P.S my copy of the Beatrix Potter book arrived from Amazon yesterday…its beautiful thank you for telling us about it…..a real treasure.
I was at the lake during the eclipse with our art group, a bit during and after the lake just sparkled. Quite fascinating. Just reread your trilogy this summer and thoroughly enjoyed them all over again. Have all the cookbooks and the others, too. It just lowers the blood pressure to peruse them every once in a while to get an idea for our gatherings. Thank you for finding your voice.
I share your love of old movies, they are the best!
I love the houses and the way they are decorated.
I think your interest in shadows is fascinating! Have you always loved shadows?
The cat shadow in the window was adorable.
I have your Autumn mug, love the smaller size, so cute!! Autumn is my favorite season, can’t wait for it to arrive.
If I win the drawing I will give the mug to my sister.
Take care Susan.
I do feel like we’re straddling Summer with Fall now, even in SoCalif. I feed feral kitties and always am mindful to make sure their water dish and food isn’t sitting in the sun, so I move their bowls according to the shifting light, and I’ve definitely noticed changes in the shade and shadows. Bring it on; I am SO yearning for autumn even though, of course, here as you know Susan, it’s very subtle and not the blaze of glory found in the East.
Uh-oh! I must get Suspicious from somewhere. You just stopped, when it got very exiting…
About 10 years ago I sent you a hand painted and hand written card to You. Some months later I got a card from You, ecually hand written. I put it in my Year Album of that year (I must go after it. It’s in the attic.).
I had your Autumn book many years ago, but it disappeared, when I moved. I dream I will be the Lucky Winner <3.
YOU are my Inspiration Susan!!
Hugs. Ria in Finland
I enjoyed this blog! A trip to a movie, tea and cake, so fun. I make zucchini muffins with a little wheat germ in them. They are good, too, especially with butter :-). Just a few weeks ago we moved to Indiana from the Rocky Mountains. We love it here! I got some good news the other day after having a test that made me a bit nervous, and to celebrate we bought a pink and white hydrangea like the one pictured for our new house. I have enjoyed your books, stickers, Willards, and all things English for many years. Thank you for sharing your life with us!
Congrats on the move Easternly and the positive test results. Hydrangeas are a fav of mine too! Can’t get enough. Enjoy your new home. Fall is the best season to learn about a new home. All the flashy colors swirling. I wonder if you will have trick or treaters in this home. Sweet!
Jena
I always enjoy reading the Williard, and all of your posts, to see what you are up to. You are an inspiration in my life.
Hi Susan, love your books and your blog!
From sunshine to shadows and back again! Your posts always bring sunshine to my Inbox. Thank you for your bright spirit!
So true about the changing light and the wonderful shadows of fall. Ready for mums and pumpkins! Some tea (or coffee) in that lovely Autumn cup would be perfect with the zucchini bread.
Ahhh, I forgot the end of the movie. Love the shadow play.
Thanks,
Steph
You just brightened up my early morning. I love those old black and white movies too!
Your Zucchini recipe looks incredible and I will have to try making it! Thanks for all the delightful pictures of the dancing shadows and crescent moons; they are beautiful! Your garden is so pretty and I would just love to sit and read and take in all the sights and sounds of the amazing outdoors! Lovely! Thank you for your wonderful blog – I always enjoy reading and experiencing your joy!
Yes, The fall season is fast approaching, and with it your lovely mailings that bring enjoyment of each season and the glory of each! You bring much joy to your readers as you bring back the memories of a simpler time and the “little things” that make our days so very special.
Thank you Susan!
Thank you!
Good morning Susan,
I can’t believe the solar eclipse shadows you were able to capture. They’re perfect. Ours weren’t as vibrant here in Vermont or maybe I just couldn’t see it. I was at my sons soccer practice and these 2 little old ladies had 2 paper plates, 1 with a circle cut in the middle of 1 paper plate and the other paper plate caught the reflection. It worked perfectly and thats how I got to see the eclipse. They were so cute and proud and I learned so much from them. I took photos of them and the half moon circle on the plate for future reference to show my kids. What a cool thing to be apart of and witness in real time. Loved it!!! Super excited about the new drawing. Fingers crossed. Im definitely going to make your zucchini bread. Those zucchini grow by the second!! I swear they double in size overnight so Ive been having to stuff them. Today I will pick a couple of tiny ones for the bread and bake away now that is has cooled cooled down a bit. First day of school and what a yummy treat to come home to. I have your fall book out in my book holder on my counter in the kitchen as I mentioned before. Its been a tradition for many years and many more to come. Hugs and please give Jack a little pet for me 🙂
Hi Susan,
Just read my Willard and loved it. Always do. Even though I knew about you and Joe’s adventure and have seen the cottage, I can’t get over the cuteness of it, thatched roof, two fireplaces, the picket fence…..heaven. Its perfect. I’m so excited for you guys its ridiculous. I hope I’m responding to the Willard post, don’t think I’m doing it right. I can’t wait to see all of your new pieces. You’ve been so busy with creativity pouring out of you. The tiny vase is my fave. Ordering my calendar after this post. Its tradition now, going on many years, that I get my calendar, give it to my daughter and she wraps it for me every year for Christmas and I always still act surprised. Getting the Christmas book too. Love the idea. An album of just Christmas memories! Anyway, picked up some Fall leaves today on my walk to put on the windowsill just to get the juices flowing. Wanted to pull out my wreath and a few other goodies but my family insists that its still too early, so Ill wait a little bit longer. Lots of Love to the both of you and please pet that darling kitty for me.
I’m waiting too, but while waiting, I’m planting fall flowers and cool-weather veg….getting ready! Jack says hello!
Over the years receiving your emails has become a singular joy in my life. I will wait to unwrap it like a present when I have time to sit down and fully saver and enjoy it. Thank you so much for these! You brighten so many peoples days!
Good morning Susan!
Sweetness filled post for reading this morning- thank goodness. We delivered our eldest off to college yesterday afternoon. Heartstrings now spread further from home. Joy and sappiness are mixed together this moening with one less head under the rafters. So morning Jo and Susan sure did the trick to get my spring back in my step.
Going to make the zucchini bread Sunday and ship it to my son next week- care package from home.
Thanks!
Jena
Blessings on that Care Package, you are a good mom! xoxo
Dear Susan…..This blog post was so precious with all the shadows….and I am totally SCEERED of Alfred Hitchcock movies, so this chickie will not be watching it!!!! I also make a zucchini bread that everyone loves…mine has pineapple in it too! Thank you for the giveaway. What a most wonderful win it will be for a very lucky lady. Cheers to tea time xoxo Love, your Pismo Beach wanna be girl, Donna
His early ones really aren’t scary … they’re just suspenseful. He changed … I wouldn’t see Psycho if you paid me. But Notorious, Rear Window, North by Northwest, Foreign Correspondent, To Catch a Thief, are all really wonderful classics, sometimes suspenseful but not violent like we think of it today. Suspicion is like that too … very easy for us weenie-girls to watch. I promise. HELLO to Pismo Beach for me please!
Love this zucchini bread recipe. Made it last week and both loaves are gone!
Makes great toast. Try it with peanut butter. Of course, love your post as always🍁
❤️~ Hello Susan & Everyone ~ I love how you, Susan (and the girlfriends!) can make ordinary days the most special ones of all!~ So nice to have a “gentle” place to come with all the harsh negativity in the world~ Thank you for that!
~Lynn~❤️
Love me some Alfred Hitchcock!
You always brighten my day with your charmng writing, and the zest for life that permeates everything you do. Autumn is on it’s way here in Sweden, we had 44 degrees this morning, with fog rolling in from the Baltic Sea. I also like shadows, and here in the far north they can be quite different from lower latitudes. Happy planning for the trip next year!
Dear Susan,
Love reading your blogs. What happiness and inspiration you bring to us each time! Looking forward to the new Willard. Lots of love from the Netherlands!
Such an array of plants you purchased to enhance your lovely garden.
The smell of baking is delightful, I bet your loaf was delicious.
Jack does looks a sweetheart, his expressions are so wonderful.
Enjoy your day x
They don’t make movies like that anymore and they don’t make leading men like that anymore. (Swoon!) I so enjoy reading your posts, a little bit of hygge heaven in each one!
Love the shadows, thought I was the only one who loved them!
Mrs. Miniver, another movie with plenty of shadows. I am hooked on your everything, can’t get them a day without some contact.
You make my day Susan 😀. Such happy, lovely thoughts, words, photos & yummy recipes. Your Willard & blog are delightful. Thanks for being so generous with giveaways.
Autumn is my favorite season! Crossing my fingers and toes for the win-this is a big one!
Thanks for the Zuccini bread recipe! always a lovely blog. Thank you also for hosting the contest.
Loved seeing all the shadows, especially the cresents during the eclipse. Didn’t realize that would happen. Now, inspired to make some zucchini bread! Yes, the seasons are changing.
I live near Orlando, Florida and have to go to Disney World to see autumn! Being a retired elementary teacher from Michigan, I am used to decorating for every season and holiday and I don’t let the “unseasonable” temps hold me back! This year we are taking a cruise up to Quebec and Nova Scotia to see fall colors and I was very excited till I realized I have no warm clothes or shoes! I went on a shopping binge and came home with plantar’s fasciitis and tendonitis! So I am staring at my foot and willing it to heal. Your prize package would be the miracle cure I’m looking for!
Thanks for a glimpse into a life well lived.
Love your books and enjoy your blog! Looking forward to enjoying the upcoming seasons on Martha’s Vineyard through your eyes. Enjoy!
Hi Susan – I love your blog and looking forward to your trip across the pond – nearly as much as you are!
I spent a majority of my summer renovating 4 rooms in my home…..making them cozy and warm and inviting (so many will want to come to curl up for tea and old movies perhaps?) I would love to win the lovely books and tea cups! Love, love, love all of your work Susan! Such an inspiration!
We just returned from our annual New England vacation, in a small town in Rhode Island where the colors of fall are more evident than in NJ…glorious!! As I anticipate autumn’s arrival, I love to watch the hummingbirds dive bomb one another, frantically trying to fatten up before their migration. And this morning, long sleeves are needed for my morning walk. I’m with you Sista…I love Fall!