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. 💖
I love Willard…so much fun to just sit and read~ and have some tea. I watched Suspension the night…always tense even-though I have seen it before. I love old movies.
Dear Susan,
Wow! All your words are like a dream, weaving details of the loveliest things and seeing beauty in every little thing. Just like a quote ” A thing of beauty is a joy forever”. Susan Branch words are like a joy for ever. You have such a wide fan base and the whole women are your girl friends. Everyone associates with you. Your Willard and blog posts from your home to our home, your gracious books and delicious recipes all these bring a sense of wonderment
and bewitch. You are truly a fairy god mother 😍❤️ We all love you dear Susan Branch🎀🌈😀
The shadows! The kitty in the window! I could go on, but I’m busy getting ready for AUTUMN!!! ❤❤
Oh please, please, enter me in the contest dear Susan. Your Willard and your blog post today made me smile……as always!
Autumn is my favorite season. I moved from Southern California to Eastern Pennsylvania and for the last 23 years have enjoyed every changing leaf, every blooming mum, and every farm stand pumpkin! Although I already own your Autumn book, (and use it often), if I were to win, I would share that part of the prize. I have the perfect girlfriend in mind already!
What are the chances??????
How I’d love to win those books♥
I copied the recipe and will compare it with my own and maybe mix the two together. I just finished making a zucchini/Ritz Cracker casserole to bake and take to a potluck tonight. What a versatile vegetable!
I enjoyed seeing your eclipse photos! How splendid.
Love all of the shadows and preparations for fall, my favorite time of the year. I too, make maple leaf butters to keep in the freezer and it is not Thanksgiving without them! I so love your blog and look forward to my visit from Willard!! Thanks for all you give to us!
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.
The light is changing here on Cape Cod too.
As the eclipse was beginning, the leaves stopped moving, and the crickets started singing. A clear, light-golden light made the trees look luvlee shades of green. It reminded me of my childhood, when a hurricane would come over our home and you’d suddenly be in the eye of the storm where there was a beautiful stillness and clarity.
Fall is my favorite time of year. I love reading your blogs..
I love autumn and your blog!
Thank you for the reminder to look for beauty in something as ordinary as a shadow. Love the pictures you took. I will now see more beauty that surrounds me in the beautiful shadows.
What a wonderful way to start my day, a letter from you! When I was growing up we lived in the basement of my father’s restaurant. My Mom didn’t cook, we just went upstairs and ordered all our meals. Even though I’m such a novice in the kitchen, that zucchini bread looked so delicious I’m going to try it. Wish me luck.
We enjoyed a total eclipse here in Mid-Mo. I actually got tired of all the pre-eclipse hype, and decided to just stay inside. But when the moment was approaching, I got in the game and quickly grabbed some paper plates, put a thumbtack through one, and went outside. So glad I did…it was amazing! I forgot to look at the ground, so missed the moon shadows, but noticed the insects start their evening calls and our solar lights came on. The birds had stilled themselves soon after the approach of the moon, and I saw a few rapidly flying to a nesting spot. I had seen a partial eclipse as a young girl, but of course it didn’t dawn on me how amazing this phenomenon was back then. Hope I’m still around in 2024 to see the next one!
Wish to clarify and remain anonymous, please.
For those who are not able to do the beautiful tour with Betsy Bray, are we able to show up for the picnic without reservations?
Thank you, anonymous.
Oh yes, everyone is invited, get there any way that’s comfortable for you.
Just love everything Susan Branch! Want to make the cranberry tea cake.
My zucchini bread recipe, an old favorite, is almost identical to yours. This year I grew my own zucchinis and we will be eating bread all winter. I’ll probably make and give some for Christmas. Nothing better for that afternoon snack/tea time.
What a wonderful post! Love the fall changes and can almost smell the freshly baked bread! Thank you! xoxoxo
Denise
Get a dog with bigger teeth! LOL! You always make me laugh!
I would love to win the books and cup ❤️.
Oh, the shadows! I do that all the time…..I really need to make prints and put them in my journal. I’m looking forward to trying that zucchini bread! I’ve been looking for a good recipe! Waiting for my Willard. It’s been a looong time since the last one!!! Miss you!!! xoxoxo
Get a dog with bigger teeth! LOL! You always make me laugh!
I would love to win the books and cup ❤️
Love your descriptions and photos of the delicate shadows. Happy you captured the little moon crescents. Such a treat, as your blog is, always.
Willard has arrived in East Sussex, England. Looking forward to next May in The Lake District.
Fall is my favorite season so I would love to win this giveaway! 🍁🍂🌻
Thank you for another enjoyable blog post! I have zucchini on my kitchen shelf, just waiting to be made into zucchini bread. 🙂
I loved today’s Willard, too. When he arrives in my inbox, I like to make a cup of tea, put on the Musica, and let myself be transported to an enchanting world.
Thank you for the mini-vacation!
Ahhh nothing says Fall as well as Zucchini Bread made from those zucchinis that just get left in the garden too long and grow way too big! The only thing they are good for is yummy bread. Yay.
Enjoyed reading your post today, I think I’ll make the zucchini bread today to enjoy with a cup of coffee tomorrow morning. 🙂
Hi Susan,
I love to receive your Willard newsletter! Your life is so beautiful and you really let your dreams become reality.Home sweet home refers to you in the way you live your life.
You cannot beat Cary Grant! I am from New England, so always carry a piece of it in my heart no matter where I live. Your posts help me. I love my life and my adventures in Mexico, but Connecticut tugs at my heart. Right now, I am drinking from your Earth Love cup, so pretty.
Love the pictures and the recipe. I am going to try it with an apple instead? Do you think it will work? Maybe add a touch of lemon juice? Can’t wait to put out fall decorations!
Judy Ann from Georgia
Ok now I want to watch that movie…
Ann, just visited your blog and have bookmarked it for future visits! Love your artwork inspired by KRR.
Love the dappled shadows. What a beautiful season for a giveaway. I would love, love, love one of your cups a the best books ever.
That bread looks and read-smells amazing!
It’s so delightful to spend the morning with you on this blog!! Happy Day! I too, love old movies! Yesterday on TCM, I watched Mrs. Miniver and Madam Curie! Such great ones and such a delight! Thank you for the Zucchini Bread!
Good Morning from the Bay Area. In these difficult times for our country I am so glad I live right here in this beautiful bubble!
Thanks for the wonderful post! Love the eclipse photos!
THANKS for the smiles & break for my day!
Hello dear Susan,
Your blog posts and wonderful Willard are gifts like no other. Thank you for the cheerful words and images you share so happily with us.
Hugs and love, Dee
I loved seeing your eclipse shadows. They are almost identical to those we saw in Riverside, CA. I was outside, washing windows, and noticed one on my chest! Such fun! I’ve decided that I need to see it in person in 7 years. Everyone’s photos were just amazing!
Your Blog lifts my spirits it is cloudy and cool here today.
Love Jack’s involvement in all you do and great to see Joe with the birds.
now i am on the hunt for Willard!
Happy Fall Yall!
Love this post. Am anxiously awaiting Willard. The bound volume I have of past Willards is quite cherished. Love Hitchcock movies. Rear Window has a totally intimate atmosphere enhanced by the music. Do you see the shadow witch on the wall next to the steps in the foyer as Joan walks forward? Spooooky!
I’m listening to the birds and insects on our farm through the windows. Miserable heat and humidity until yesterday. I can breathe again! Your birds sound so sweet? That is what I heard during the eclipse. Laid on the deck peaceful and quiet except for the birds and insects as the sun dimmed and it got 10 degrees cooler. My Blackie, a rescue dog, laid there dozing and occasionaly thumping her tail. We were in the 96% darkness range. Nice dimness for a Hitchcock movie! Autumn is taking hold of summer here too. Love it! 🍁
I wished I still had my bookstore is Mashpee,Ma. I always stocked your wonderful books… but now I have time to read them living Kentucky
Hello Susan! Yes, fall is getting ready to make an appearance. Each season seems to be my favorite … they all hold so many special qualities! Thank you for your tea bread recipe. Excited and waiting for Willard. <3
I love that you wrote about “Suspicion”, because my Mom Ruth Winkler (yes, I’m in Vermont) and I were just discussing this great old flick. I also enjoyed your take on shadows–in the film as well as the eclipse designs that were found for our pleasure. Thank you for all of it, sweet Susan <3
I love the shadow photos! I truly enjoy all that you share on your blog and in Willard. I usually sit down with a cup of coffee or glass of ice tea to read and enjoy. I would live to win your beautiful books and cup. Bless you!
Fall is my favorite time of the year. I’m with you – love the shadows.
Ahhhhh Autumn, my heart sings for you 😍❤️ As it does while reading your Willard and your posts. That and a cup of tea… happiness ❤️
I love your cups, the autumn one is beautiful! …and thanks for the zucchini bread, lol.
Off to find that movie! I haven’t seen it and I am dying to know what happened! I’m also going to make your zucchini bread except I will be using pecans. Not a fan of walnuts, but I am a good Texas girl and love pecans!
Fall is my favorite , because I have a birthday, and the season is so lovely and full of color. We garden heavily in the summer, and the canning season changes to fragrant apples and pumpkins with spices!
Susan, thank you for bringing a smile to my face.
Love the cart with the plants, I had just one like that this afternoon, purples and pinks, Lavender and Monarda.
Kind regards from Holland!
Hey Susan,
My suggestion for lunch is your salad with the cauliflower and cannellini beans; that is so yummy. Now, gotta go find my Wilard.
I love your website, blog, newsletters and books. They are a go-to when I need a good dose of positivity. Thank you.
Hi Susan!! Thank you for another lovely post!! I too can see subtle season changes where I live. I’ve been craving a piece of pumpkin pie but I have a strict rule of not one bite before September 1st! Love to you♡
So enjoy reading your blog! Would love to win the books and cup.
That is a great movie. Thank you for pointing out the shadows. Don’t think I noticed them before – kind of like a spider’s web…oooo. 🙂 So many new things to notice while watching Alfred Hitchcock.
Looking forward to trying out that zucchini bread!
The eclipse shadows are so cool! It was cloudy where we are and we did not get the full effect. I, like you, love watching those lovely old movies, and spend most of my time admiring the landscapes and home interiors 🙂 I haven’t seen Suspicion, but intend to now. I have zucchini in the fridge (how did you know?) – off to make zucchini bread. Have a great day!
Love the fall…it is my favorite season!
I’ve never seen the movie, and now I must! I’ll try your zucchini bread with gluten free flour…here’s hoping! I love your blog, thank you.
Susan. So enjoyed this. Could smell the bread. Yum. I’m going through a difficult time and this brought such joy to me. Your writings bring sunshine into our lives. Love Jack.
My husband also took photos of the eclipse shadows here in Washington state. What fun to see that yours are the same on the other side of the country!
My most favorite time of year is almost upon us! I love to read your new blogs and anxiously await Willard to arrive! Happy Autumn!
We were heading out this week for a vacation to celebrate 36 years of marriage!! (Married young…😉). I had zucchini as I didn’t want to waste, I grate it and froze in 2 cup increments and will bake up Zucchini bread this fall and winter! Lovely give away…crossing fingers. Have a beautiful day!
Hmmm….for some reason, when I went to post my comments, it went under your Good Old Summer Time post. Oh well, here it is again:
Having lived in South Florida for the past 30 years, I’ve come to dearly miss the beautiful autumns I experienced in Northern Virginia. However, I get to vicariously enjoy them (and winter too!) thanks to your blog posts, and Willard. Thank you for sharing your lovely world with us!
Reply
Love fall ! All those red leaves bursting into color. Thanks for the preview. Linda
I just stopped reading your post, logged into my local library website, put “Suspicion” on hold, and came back. I’m glad you didn’t spill the beans and give the ending. I’m looking forward to watching it. I love the dappled eclipse pictures. I like seeing the dappled sunshine through the lace curtains in my living room from the morning sunshine.
Dear Susan,
I love all of your sunbeams and shadows ❤️ The video of your little birds is so precious. I love sitting on our back porch to watch our backyard birds, especially the babies that follow their parents everywhere fluttering their little wings, saying “feed me! feed me! feed me!!!!” They melt my heart!!! Our Little “Hummers” have multiplied and are just everywhere now! They are so territorial and refuse to share the their feeders! They are all like little dive bombers!! They perch in the butterfly bushes and watch for other Hummers to land on the feeders…..and then it is like Snoopy and the Red Baron!! They chatter and chase each other all over the yard, over the house and then start all over again! I could watch them all day but would never get anything done! Your Zucchini bread looks so delicious!! Thank you for the recipe! Our Zucchini didn’t do very good this year but I have some pre-shredded Zucchini in the freezer. I will make a loaf as soon as we finish the Hawaiian Wedding Cake that I baked yesterday. I also love that movie SUSPICION!! I haven’t watched it in awhile so I will put it in the DVD player later and watch it!! I too love old movies and music . I have collected music since I was 8 years old….besides buying penny candy with money from all of the 2 cent pop bottles that I would search for in every empty lot and alley when I was a child, I would save up the 98 cents and buy a new 45 record! I still have all of them plus many more. My first record was KOOKIE, KOOKIE, LEND ME YOUR COMB…… I was truly madly deeply in love with KOOKIE from77 Sunset Strip!! He began my record collecting!! Whenever I have work to do in the basement, I play my old 45s and reminisce ❤️ Have a happy day Susan!!
Oh my but to have some new fresh SB Books and a lovely cup of tea! My copies, other than my newer “Gratitude,” are so worn with love I am hesitant to loan them to anyone and this would give me less fragile copies so I could without worry.
I wonder how many persons hopped on Amazon to rent/buy Suspicion after your post? I for one immediately added it to my watchlist 🙂
Sue, thank you as always for bringing happiness to our lives with your words and infectious joy for the regular everyday things in life. You remind us of what is important in times when we need it most.
I love the light and shadows so much this time of the year, that I love just READING about them, too! At 67, I still get butterflies when the air is cooler and school supplies are available. Wool skirts and knee highs and sweatshirts…sugar maples leaves, pumpkins and acorns.
Thanks for starting my morning off so deliciously!!!!
Love you, love your blog, love your books, love your pictures, love my Martha’s Vineyard big tea cup, love the shadows of fall, love old time movies and love Mamma Mia – Dancin Queen….Willard. Thanks for putting a smile on my face. Have to go, got some baking
to do. Thank you for your inspiration and fun.
Sadie Snyder
Dearest Susan,
Well here I am again, just read Willard and was so inspired by what you posted. A little bit happy, a little bit sad, but so encouraged to keep the faith. First, your mom, what a blessing she has been to you and now you to her. You may not want to hear it, but you are a unique and an exceptional human being. Your Charles Dickens quote is a reminder that “this too shall pass.” We just need to remember to keep the faith. And finally, your quote – truth is stronger than lies… As always, thank you for reiterating we do live in a beautiful world, sometimes even if it’s in “our little world.”
What a “mah-velous” gift. What a treat for the winner. Thanks for the tea, bread, movie and shadows. 🙂
Morning! ……..what a lovely blog Susan. Loved it! I too enjoy the dance of shadows in my home~it is a comforting kind of thing 🙂 Your giveaway gift is lovely and it would be a joy to win! Wishing you a very happy upcoming Fall……xo
I love Cary Grant movies–thank you for the info. Zucchini bread is also a favorite recipe. All the things in your shop are wonderful; I buy for myself and as gifts. Everyone loves Susan Branch. Best wishes.
I really love the different light in the autumn as well. I started noticing it abotu a couple weeks ago here in Minnesota.
Your posts ABSOLUTELY make my day!!! It’s like a mini reading session with one of your books ~ so uplifting and joyful! I would LOVE to win your SIGNED books and mug, and I so want to meet you someday. I post comments now and then, just another faceless name in cyberland, but I’m a huge fan of your work. Thank you for giving me that soaring feeling – Happy, happy!
Dear Susan,
Such joy to receive your Willard and blog posts in the same day AND if that was not enough, there is a wonderful give-a-way!
I had the same eclipse moon shadows! They were darling! Thank you for the zucchini bread recipe…I will be trying that soon as I have lots of zucchini from the farm to use up.
Hope to be chanting Winner Winner Chicken Dinner soon! ;0)
Be Well!
I love the Fall photos! I am reminded that our hot Alabama summer will end! I would love to win the books and cup! I have so many of your books that the oldest books have become worn by love and use!
My favorite time of the year is almost here…….thanks for another chance on a giveaway!
Your blogs are such a delight and I so look forward to them! Little side note…I am home, cancer out and on the road to recovery!! Thanks girlfriends for kind thoughts and your prayers!!😘💜💜💜💜
I love my new “Martha’s Vineyard cup my sister ordered for my birthday” I promptly ordered the bird cup too as a gift from my Mom! Love everything you do! Jeanette
Hope I am a winner of your books and great Mug. Thanks
love the shadows ,I did not know about the shadows of the moon.
your blogs always make me happy.It really can be a wonderful country.
I would love this, but my Mom would even more, so I’d have to share 🙂 Looking forward to fall here, too!
Love you Susan Branch!!!
I absolutely love your bread pan!
I am definitely going to try this recipe, although here in England it would be called’courgette’ bread.
I am so looking forward to Autumn. Please enter me into your wonderful draw and thank you so much for the opportunity.
Those shadows in your kitchen….well, I just returned from the Finger Lakes and the Adirondacks in NY and those crisp shadows were definitely present, as were some colorful leaves in the mountains. I love all of it and at the same time, sort of has always made me a little sad…like the end to something. BUT, am home in Texas now waiting for the possible remnants of Harvey in a few days. Anyway, your pictures are so beautiful and the bread so yummy looking. I have two mugs coming in my held mail today. Is that exciting or what!!? The autumn mug would add to my collection of which I have given just one away. The loaf pan…is that a Polish pottery pan? I just love the beautiful designs and colors of them. Happy days!
You are so incredibly funny! We watched Suspicion ourselves a couple of weeks ago. I love the old Alfred Hitchcock movies and this is one of my favorites. Zucchini bread – I used to make about 14 loaves a year at Christmas time, enough to give to a few of my friends and neighbors. Seems like I don’t have time anymore because time is going faster now! I’m so looking forward to Autumn! This summer in Fresno has been exceptionally hot with every day almost over 100. We’re at the coast right now (Cayucos), and I dread going home on Sunday! It’s supposed to be 104! Much love from Mary S. in Fresno, CA xoxo
Love your blog. Hoping to make the zucchini bread soon.
Love Fall- my favorite season in New England!
Take care,
Luanne
Oh how I love shadows (maybe not the kind in that movie) and I’ve always loved shadows and I will always LOVE SHADOWS! The best part of the eclipse (even though I had eclipse glasses – but I shared them with co-workers and strangers so I only got a couple glimpses myself) was the shadows! I loved the way the shadows looked, and all the little moonshadows. And I love the song Moonshadow. Leaping and hopping on a moonshadow! And this concludes the most occurrences of SHADOW in anything I’ve ever written. That is all.
So much lovely in this blog post and also the current Willard. I just loved reading both. I also love the vintage recipe boxes. So sad that so many don’t want these treasures of the past (in their own families even!). You did such a lovely job putting them together to resell. I have a little tin box that is the same as the one my Mom has. Very ’50s looking! Have you read the articles about how the younger generation doesn’t want the things that belonged to their parents and grandparents? Very sad to me. I love links to the past and simply can’t wrap my head around this. And your mugs, I mean, they are the most gorgeous!!!!!
Dear Susan’
Excellent idea for the zucchini bread. I am going to use yellow squash though because we have tons in the garden and I have to come up with ways to use it. As always, thanks for the ideas .
Thank you for the new Willard! I have been re-reading one of my favorite authors and he was able to touch the heart of nature and express it for us all to enjoy. “The urgency that was midsummer now begins to relax and September comes in sight over the land…..late summer is more sedate; it is fulfillment of time and purpose…the time of haste is past……hot days are still upon us, but the sun’s nooning is from a different angle; and nights lengthen, dusk to dawn…..summer ripens and matures, even as the fox grapes on my river bank and August leans toward September and equinox and Autumn.” ~ Hal Borland (This Hill This Valley) Blessings to all….
Susan, you make every season lovely. I think fall is my favorite though. I can’t wait for it! Of course it’s short here in the wonderful valley of California. So, I enjoy living it through you! Happy baking! Shawn
I would be so wicked excited to win!! Your stuff warms my heart.
Same zucchini recipe I used this week – but I didn’t know you don’t have to peel it! I won’t anymore. (Plus I’m thinking it needs a bit more zip – wondering about some nutmeg next time?) I enjoy your blog, never commented before but sure would love that cup!
Yummy recipe for Zucchini Bread! Thanks for sharing with us. Also loved the musica!
Another delightful post…can’t wait to try the Zucchini Bread….yummmm