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. 💖
Shadows have ALWAYS been one of my favorite things!!! This post was perfect and now I want to watch that movie. I haven’t seen it in years!! But, first the zucchini bread, which by the way, looks delicious! And thank you for the exciting give-a-way!!! I’m always so excited to receive my Willard and take a short vacation!!! Yes, PERFECT!!!
Hello!
I was watching and enjoying (for the umpteenth time!) “Suspicion” the other day on TCM and relishing the same details as you, Susan! A day with Cary Grant–wasn’t it delicious?
I’m definitely ready for all that fall brings, and also love the play of changing light as seasons change.
Headed to the kitchen to bake your zucchini bread! Thanks!
Deborah (Massachusetts)
Thanks, Susan, once again for your wonderful, cheery words. I LOVE the fact that reading you is just like sitting down in the kitchen with a “bestie”, sharing our thoughts, plans and dreams…often things that some others might think mundane, but are so meaningful in our lives. I believe I can smell the cinnamon aroma of the zuchinni bread now. Plenty of zuchinni here on the Eastern Shore of Maryland all summer. I will definitely be incorporating your recipe into my Monday. I also love you new mugs especially the fall one…my very favorite time of year. So if Vanna doesn’t find my name in the vat, I’ll be ordering one for me and one for my BFF. Keep on doing what you do so-o well…bringing sunshine into our lives.
Hugs to you, Joe and Jack!
Jean
Hi, Susan:
Always a treat to find your blog/Willard in my inbox. I can’t help but smile and feel lighter all day. Loved the photos and comments about the little crescent shadows during the eclipse. As I live in the path of totality, I had a different — but fascinating — eclipse experience. Your observations make me want to study little things in new ways. I also share your love of vintage British movies. I recently re-watched “Random Harvest” with the lovely Greer Garson and the plummy-voiced Ronald Coleman and enjoyed it all over again. Thank you so much for sharing your sunny outlook with the rest of us! Happy Pre-Fall !
Oh yes, my fingers are tightly crossed for the win. Enjoyed this post immensely.
I love all your seasons and I appreciate that you share them with your girlfriends because I don’t get the seasons in here Bakersfield! I work at a high school and some students brought glasses so I did get to see the eclipse but I didn’t even think to look for the fun shadows. I do love watching out my window and seeing the trees shed their leaves. Give Jack a flip of the rubber band from us in California!
Hi Susan,
Always sad to see Summer end, then there is that hint of Autumn in the air and I remember how much I love all things Fall!
Thanks for all you do!
I love the Autumn book. Fall is my favorite season so I feel a special affinity for that one.
Wow! You always have such a great way of looking at things and express it so well – that’s why your books are so wonderful! I can’t wait to hear about your lovely outdoor luncheon for your auction winner. I still have to read Willard, but first I have to watch that Cary Grant movie – the suspense is killing me and I hope one of my little shadows will keep me company – it looks like a nail biter. Luckily I have a lovely zucchini to try your delicious sounding recipe. Your shadow pictures are so cool, but my favorites are of Jack! Thank you for sharing….
Oh my! I have just discovered your blog because of a Facebook Live video that Patsy Clairmont posted earlier this week. I have absolutely loved exploring your blog and the Willard that just came to my inbox today. Such a joy and delight! Your writing is a haven and refuge!
My kitty, Juno, and I just read your post together and after all the shadow pics and suspense reading of the narrative, we are hiding under the covers until the hubby comes home to tell us nothing scary is outside! Love your shares! Enjoy your weekend. D.
You make me smile! What lovely treats you have, awaiting that special person.
I loved the crescent shadows of your eclipse moments. We stood outside with our cereal box viewers and sort of miss the whole thing. I just had to laugh. There was only a partial eclipse here, but I was so intent on looking through the cereal box that I missed all of the delightful eclipse shadows surrounding me.
Thanks for the smile. Enjoy the weather and delight in the small changes ahead.
My first Willard! I just love Autumn…and your writing just makes me slow down and notice – even from my office window. Thank you for sharing – EVERYTHING, Susan. I feel I’ve found my “people”.
I must watch that Hitchcock film. I love your books! thank!
Susan,
Your passion for the simple pleasures in life is what we all want. Thanks for the lovely reminders to slow down, breathe, and simply enjoy your surroundings.
Love everything you do!
I add chocolate chips to my bread which takes it to another level. We have a grandchild who is allergic to nuts, so we improvise by adding other goodies.
Always enjoy reading your blogs! Autumn is absolutely my favorite season!! Inspired to get my fall decorations out!
Susan, thank you for a wonderful post. I also love the change coming in the air. I would love to win your giveaway. I look forward to your next adventure.
Oh, Susan! What a joy your blog and Willards always are to me!! You make my day and speak to my heart with every line you write, every quotation and every photo! I’m especially fond of pictures of darling Jack!
Omigosh, Susan! I laughed out loud when you said, “What fresh hell is he up to?” So funny!! I just baked my Mom’s lemon bread recipe. You pour lemon juice mixed with sugar over it at the end. So yummy and brings back memories too!!
thank you for the smiles this blogpost brought! how do you ever keep your kitty from knocking all your pretties off the sill? My kitties would go bonkers trying to get to the birds.
I actually have no idea why he doesn’t knock everything over. I am not in charge here!
Thoroughly enjoyed my first ever Willard. What a treat! Thank you.
Recently moved after 7 years in dusty, treeless Texas and am excited to experience a fall here in Alabama! Can already feel a slight chill in the morning and my orange tabby sleeps a little closer to me at night. Thanks for getting me ready to rediscover my favorite season; can’t wait to make the cranberry tea cake!
Alabama is so pretty! We were there last year. We went to Ivy Green (Helen Keller’s childhood home) in Tuscumbia and loved it.
Your posts about the changing seasons are always my favorite. You help me to notice things in my home that I never would have. I also wanted to say that I LOVE your September kitchen calendar page. As a teacher I just HAD to turn the page early because it was perfect for the first day of school next Wednesday. Oh I love it and am going to frame it for my classroom desk when the month is done. Happy almost fall Susan!
Oh I just love all that you do. Thanks for making my day.
I absolutely adore how you look at everything. The shadows , the birds, your furbabies, everything. Your zucchini bread recipe looks yummy, must try it soon. Thanks for talk thru of the movie. Loved it!! Thank you for this blog.
The last comment I sent was deleted after a few days. Sorry if I offended
in some way. Couldn’t decide if I should try again, but do love your work and
hope I will be included this time in the drawing. Happy Last days of Summer.
I hardly ever hear something like that, but I know we DO have gremlins in this blog, other weird things have happened, so perhaps they ate your comment! Sorry! Hopefully it will never happen again!
I love Alfred Hitchcock movies and Suspicion is one of the best. I read that the original ending was vetoed by Cary Grant because of his image. Good or bad, he was gorgeous! If you are searching for a great, almost unknown movie, and you haven’t seen Austenland, you simply must. It isn’t a mystery. It’s a love story, and we LOVE love stories. I won’t give the story away except to say it’s about a young woman who longs for the world of Jane Austen. It’s really just a perfect movie, and I always recommend it to others, but I never find anyone else who has heard of it. Please find it and watch it. I’ll bet you will love it, too. And, I’ve decided that in my next life, I’m coming back as Susan Branch.
First, Pick Me, Pretty Please! And now other things… I loved my Willard, so full of happy thoughts and images and Musica! This blog post is equally lovely and included some of my favorite things, Hitchcock, Zucchini Bread, Autumn, and Shadows! The eclipse was amazing! The shadows in Suspicion, so cleverly done! I’ve already used my limit of exclamation points, so I’ll just say “Thank you” for brightening my day, with one more for good measure!
So enjoyed Willard, especially Jack with his rubber band. So pesty-looking, in the best possible way! Then I came over here to enter and find you talking about Cary Grant movies. Love it!
Shadows are so lovely. Children’s shadows on the sidewalk are my favorite. As Autumn approaches they leave me with a little bittersweet tug in my heart as I am reminded of how fleeting each little moment is.
we just finished two loaves of zucchini bread in about 3 days! but never fear-we also grated and froze about 8 giant zukes from just one plant! my grandson said we can have zucchini bread twice a month til the end of next year!!! love mary b
Susan, funny story. I broke my foot (not the funny part) on Sunday, August 6, and on Monday, August 7, my Bluebird of Happiness mug arrived in the mail! What perfect timing! Of course, being burdened with an aircast and a knee scooter, I am going to wait to actually use my mug for fear of breaking it too! But so looking forward to use it. It is so delicate and beautiful. Thank you!!!
Have someone BRING it to you the next time a victim enters your abode! xoxoxoxo And get well soon!
Your blog is always such a breath of fresh air! Thanks for sharing all of your observances. I love shadow effects too, and was fascinated by the eclipse shadows! You always inspire me to keep my eyes open to the beauty all around me every day, and to see the sacred in the ordinary! Thank you!
I love everything Susan Branch! I always get so excited to see a new Willard arrive in my e-mail or a new story in your blog. Can’t wait to see what new items will show up next in your store! Happy Fall!
Love that you celebrated the play of light. Such an every day small thing that brings delight if you take the time to observe it..thanks for the reminder. 😘
Drinking tea with my new Autumn Cup and dreaming of winning something from someone so special as YOU..
Hi Susan, I noticed that the “Comments” count is now 2,000+, so I’m very impressed with your reading of each comment! Question… have you ever thought of writing/illustrating a children’s book? (Not that you need more items on your “to do” list, busy woman!)
I’ve thought about it, but what I do think, especially after Girlfriends Forever, is that I write children’s books for big people!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful gifts and insights with all of us. Your world is warm, kind, delicious, creative and loving. We can’t be Susan Branch, but we can be “imitators”,and create some of that world for ourselves!
And when you do, you will put your own spin on it, and voila, a whole new thing, and you become the creator!
Not sure if anyone else has mentioned this…BUT the cozy Irish cottage with the green door would make a lovely cup design. I enjoy all your writings very much. Have also been a fan of Gladys Taber sine 1975. I would love to win some little token from you.
Love all the shadows….and love that movie….and love that you get to cross the pond again! Go you…😄
Enjoyed reading news from Willard! I am ready to bake some delicious zucchini bread. Sounds so good with a cup of tea, especially if I could drink it in your new Autumn cup.
Love your posts and Willard!
Every time I read either, I am transported to wherever you are at the moment….
I’m looking forward with you to England and Ireland.
You always make my heart smile!
I’ll be in Ireland the last week of May 2018! Hope to win! Love Autumn.
Simply wonderful! Thank you for such a lovely post.
How lucky can I be? A new Willard and blog post. I love how similar we are in liking the same things. I took pictures of the crescents from the solar eclipse on my porch too. I love fall. It’s my favorite season. The light is indeed changing and hinting at the promise of what is to come. So glad I found your blog almost a year go now.
Aug. 25,2017
Dear Susan,
Your blogs give me such a lift. I’m afraid I accidentally deleted the latest Willard and hope it can be resent.
Thank you.
Sharon Eurich
Oh Susan…Bring on Fall..I just love Autumn and all it brings…colorful trees…fresh air…It’s time for candle burning too!! Pumpkin bread is a Fall favorite of mine with a hot cup of tea!! My favorite season and I plan to enjoy it to the max!! P.S. Hope I am lucky enough to win the drawing !!
I would love to win the mug and books! But in the meantime, I am trying the Zucchini bread, it looks yummy, I’m sure I could smell it baking during the movie revue–thank you so much, you are such a generous artist and I love your work!
Susan, I love your shadows and your description of the tired and dusty leaves hanging from the trees. I always felt that even the flowers look tired but the shadows and chit chatting of the birds sure make this time of the year so wonderful. Thank you for all that you do, say, give to others, and make our days so complete. If I could win your autumn goodies that would be like a dream come true. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Enjoy your days!!!
Oh my… sighs and dreaming of the sweetest moments. Fall just makes me heart happy!
Susan, I have enjoyed your books for years! I love how you make each season special with recipes, memories, quotes, ideas and pictures. I look forward to each of your blogs to read all the fun things you are doing and the places you go. Now I need to go to the store and get some zucchini so I can try your recipe. What I would really like is to find someone who has home grown zucchini they would like to share so I can freeze it to have during the fall and winter! Thank you for sharing your everyday life with us.
You are a dear friend
Comment made; fingers crossed. I loved reading about the eclipse. I live in central MA and was able to see it at work since some coworkers had special glasses and shared. And the next, the next, will be total in northern New England. Finally!!!
Dear Susan, We visited the Woodlawn House in Alexandria, VA and saw where they found the Historical Color “Woodlawn Blue” that is now on my bathroom walls. So in LOVE with this color! Made your Zucchini Bread yesterday, and had it for breakfast this morning with coffee before facing the area traffic. It was cloudy here in Virginia so didn’t see the Eclipse, maybe next time in 7 years. Oh, the wonder of just being!
A deliciously long blog post, your Willard, photographs, recipes to make us all drool, your darlin’ Joe at the screen, a video that lets us hear your sweet voice and those bird songs, hydrangeas, the beach, dreams of Hilltop…ah, perfection! Thank you for blessing our lives!
You have gotten me excited about fall. I had already gotten out one pumpkin and my husband said I was too soon. Now I will get out more! Would love to be in the drawing! I appreciate you ,Susan. You add a smile to my day😊
I need to watch this movie! Beautiful pictures of the shadows!
Susan, I’ve been in foul humor all day, due to circumstances beyond my control, when I checked my email and there was Willard. Willard saved the day 🙂 I unscrewed my head and filled it with the good things Willard brought, then screwed it back on again, and it looks like I am going to wrap up this day in a better mental place than I started it – THANK YOU for the reminder of the things that are really important 🙂 The simple things!
I love the head screwing! 😃
Susan, I haven’t been on here in awhile but I wanted to let you know I found my own personal ‘Joe.’ Twenty years ago I found your stickers at a place called Gardner Village in SLC. I adorned my journals with them and when I went through my divorce, I happened to see you had a blog… it led me to know who you are, gave me roses in my wintertime of divorce and disease , and that led to your books. Which led me to hope. Which after 14 years of singldom, I found my Joe. Except his name is Allen. And we are so excited and happy to start this chapter of our lives. I am also 5 years older than he is😉Thanks for the help not caring there as well! So you have taken a two decade journey with me and didn’t even know it!
Five years seems to be magic, Beatrix Potter was five years older than her guy too. I’m so happy for you Amanda. Love is a many splendored thing. xoxo Enjoy every second.
wonderful! you make me think maybe fall isn’t so bad after all. I like the sunlight and the cool days… more daylight is better for me! but getting outside and walking will help. Thank you so much for this lovely post.
Be sure to take Vitamin D … I’ve experienced seasonal adjustment disorder .. SAD … even had a light box at one time. But that little pill works miracles for enjoyment of the shorter days!
Thank you Susan, for this wonderful Blog and for Willard. We are beginning
to experience a little bit of fall also here in Michigan–temps are cooler–great
sleeping weather. But sun is out full tilt during the day. Our eclipse was
80%–watched in on TV–breath-taking! Made a copy of your Zucchini
Bread recipe and plan to make it for a little luncheon in Sept. Sounds
delicious. And “Dancing Queen” from MAMMA MIA a favorite song too.
You hit the mark everytime and it is a joy to know you through these Blogs.
I am designing a cup that says “Castle Cottage” on it. Something tells me it will be a must-have in your house, Connie! 😃
Oh my gosh! Will so look forward to the cup when it comes
out. It will definitely be a ‘must-have’ in my home.
Thank you for letting me know. I have your ‘Little Things’
cup which I really love! You have made my day!
I know, I’m as excited as you are … my girlfriend came in the other day, I told her about you and Castle Cottage! LOL!
What a lovely post! I am actually looking forward to Autumn this year. I guess it’s because I’m getting older and I don’t tolerate the heat as well I as I did when I was younger. Today has been a beautiful day here in Central Kentucky. I was able to open all the windows and get some very fresh air in here. I love it when I am able to do that. My daughter and I have a special fondness for “murder mysteries”. Our favorite shows to watch are “The Mentalist”, “Death in Paradise” and “Father Brown”. Don’t tell her, but she’s getting a season 3 dvd of Death in Paradise for her birthday on the 31st. I know she’ll be thrilled when she sees it! I can’t wait for her surprise 16th birthday party. She has no idea that I’ve invited all the family over for pizza, cake and ice cream. shhhh don’t tell! 😉 LOL. Thank you so much for an enjoyable place to visit and the encouragement to think about happy things.
Oh, Susan! Thank you for the lovely Willard today! I am feeling absolutely lousy today with a tummy bug, but your lovely letter has brought a smile to my haggard face. Blessings!
I’ve seen Suspicion but forget now how it ends!!
Gonna go find it at the Library and watch it again 🙂
I too love dappled sunlight. I hang prisms in the windows and watch the rainbows dance across the walls. Never fails to make me smile.🌞
Without a doubt, we’re approaching the best time of year! Winner or not, your blog posts and Willards are awesome too!
Make your zucchini bread recipe today. Turned out terrific! I had to cook it about 4 minutes longer in my oven for the knife to come out clean. Thanks Susan.
Dear Susan, hello. I did not know about the moon shadows either. Now I wished I had gone out to see it here in Oregon. Had a headache and went back to bed instead.oh,well. I enjoyed your pictures. It is warm here but soon autumn will sneak in on quiet feet.i always love the dancing leaves….reminds me of my growing up in New England. The bread sounds so good…hmmm ,my mysterious neighbor has not left me any Zucchini. Usually I come home and find a few on my doorstep along with much loved tomatoes. So no bread yet can be made.
God bless you and Joe. barbara
I love the Autumn cup and the other items! I really enjoy reading your posts.
You make me even more excited for the season to change….we will be traveling to Concord Mass. for our 14th anniversary in October and am so excited already. Our every-other-year anniversary vacation to my favorite town….Orchard House, Emerson’s home, the Colonial Inn in the haunted room. Susan Branch and Concord are made for each other. Your life looks wonderful, as usual. XO
Since I didn’t win the lottery . . .here’s hoping my name will be chosen by Vanna!! Your blog and Willard letter brightens my day! I’m printing out Willard for a friend who is homebound and does not access to a computer!!
Oh, Susan. How I would love to win your wonderful “give-away”! I have several mugs and love them. Love hearing what’s going on in your neck of the woods with autumn coming and then winter-i love snow and winter-i know, I’m weird?!? Enjoy your fall planting! Love you, girl!
Every season has something doesn’t it. All have their blessings, and their celebrations. First warm day, first snow, leaves wildly blowing through the air, roses blooming on a fence, all of it wonderful!
Willard was wonderful as always! So refreshing that we can have Smallville at our fingertips when reading your blog. In a world of chaos, you put it to rest and give us pleasure and hope!!!
Smallville … love that, my dad came up with it. I would call and he would tell me all is well in Smallville. Dearest phrase. Says everything.
I definitely want to win. Love it
Nancy
Definitely want to win. Love it
Nancy
Six pieces of zucchini bread later… hah! What pretty dappled sunlight, and adorable little eclipse shadows. Hope you, Joe, and Jack have a beautiful weekend!! Can’t wait for fall. Hugs
Hello!! Happy end of summer and soooo looking forward to fall.
Oh how I love your blog! I wish I had your life! Thank you for this lovely post! It brings me such calm in my busy, stressful day!
I love old recipes – I have some from my grandmothers and my mother. Love your thoughts on the the recipe boxes. I can hope…..
Thank you Susan for your wonderful blog posts and Willard. Beautiful, relaxing reads. Trying your bread recipe tomorrow…can’t wait!
I have been a devoted fan since your first printing of HEART OF THE HOME.
The last four years, I have read and re-read MARTHAS VINEYARD, ISLE OF DREAMS as my own therapy time. I am a caregiver to my husband who is slowly recovering from a brain injury/depression after a car accident in 2013.
You’ll never know the joy you have brought me through your writings. In fact, my kids are sending me to Marthas vineyard in October as a gift. I hope to retrace some of your adventures. Thank you for being YOU!
October, perfection! Bless you for the care of your husband and the reminder that life can turn on a dime. Love the time we have on this beautiful earth.
Autumn light is the best. 😍
Thank you for sharing and celebrating your every day life. So much joy to be had in our own little corners, and you have encouraged us and reminded us of that with your newsletters, blogs and books❣️
Hi Susan! Thank you for another lovely evening of savouring your words and positive outlook. I truly needed it! Sending much love and happiness your way and good luck to all for the drawing of your beautiful mug and books! It would be wonderful to sip my morning/noon/night tea from your mug!! Hugs from Canada!
Gotta love zucchini bread recipes from an island. We take ours from North Haven, off the coast of Maine, with a little touch of almond extract and sea breezes…that’s all it takes to go home again.
~dear susan~, I watched Suspicion the other day on t.v. too. Could we have possibly watched it at the same time? I love how you pay attention to all the small details. Perhaps when your movie comes out, you will have the same input on all the small details, like shadows. It’s funny that I noticed the half moon shadows on the day of the eclipse too – so beautiful.
Years ago I bought your Christmas Joy book, because I also collect Christmas books that I display during the season. I didn’t know who you were, but when I saw your picture on the back cover, I fell in love with the loveliness of your surroundings and was surprised that you were inviting people to write to you. At that time I did not, but enjoy sending you a note via comments every once in awhile now. And to think that you read them all! My, oh my. you must be up all night!
Thank you for being so generous with your give aways and sharing of your recipes. I do hope I’m a winner, but will also be thrilled for whoever it will be.
thank you for letting me be one of your girlfriends, love you! ~v~
It’s only hard when I blog when a Willard comes out and have a giveaway at the same time. Then I don’t get to answer everyone…but I do get to read! Nicest, most wonderful comments. It’s all I can do not to stop everything and do a new post that tells everyone to read the kindness and fun that comes from our Kindred Spirits Girlfriends! It’s really a dream, because I love it to think you get to meet each other and see a side of the world not really shown in our culture, of kindness, normalness, and love.
Hi Susan…I received my MV mug in the mail and it was broken in three pieces. I immediately contacted Sheri and she was so great. She had me send a picture of the broken mug and she sent me a new one and I got it in perfect condition a few days later! Just wanted you to know that Sheri was “employee of week”, in my opinion!!
That’s my Sheri! Couldn’t love those girls more, they take care of you, and they take care of me too!
Susan, I want to tell you how I came to know your work. I am in a book club at our local library, and we had all read The Road to Little Dribbling, which many of us did not care for, myself included. One member mentioned that we might all like to read your book A Fine Romance for a very different look at England. Her husband is from England, and they make several trips there every year. I borrowed the book and TOTALLY fell in love with it! In fact, she had to contact me several times in order to get it back! I just read it and let myself dream about what it would be like to be there. I have roots in England but have never been there myself. My maiden name is Agett, which is very unusual but I am told that my grandfather had been in touch with relatives in England when he was alive. Unfortunately, all of that info was lost. So I still hope to go to England some day, and do some searching, and most of all hope to see many of the locations from your book. So I am a newbie to your work, but I have to say that I love it! Looking forward to the Willard posts and your blog. Thank you for taking the time to make my day!
Put your grandfather’s name into ancestry.com or one of the many search sites like it . . . the Internet has turned into a motherlode of ancestor-connecting! You can get SO MUCH information, and maybe find some of those relatives, or at least the area of England. Thank you for the book compliments! Hello to your book club! xoxo
I sat watching the eclipse for over an hour not realizing what I was missing on the ground! Thank you for sharing your photos of the moon shadows. I’m still trying to wrap my head around “when you see a splotch of sunlight through the trees, you are seeing the entire sun in that one bit of light.”
This blog showed me the source of my anglophileness! I was born in 1940 and my mother took me with her to the movies every week during the 1940’s. Thank you for that revelation.
That’ll do it! Also, me too, the entire sun! There’s a wow factor there!
This post, I loved it all from the moon-shaped shadows to the brightness of the leaves getting ready to change color. I have a zucchini bread story! When we first moved here 40 years ago and my children were young, a neighbor brought us a fresh loaf of zucchini bread, but I knew they probably wouldn’t taste zucchini bread. So (bad Mother or good), I told them it was banana bread! And my curious daughter wanted to know why it had green flecks in it and I told her it was made from green bananas! 🙂 But they still love zucchini bread and I did confess later!
Good Mother!
Thanks for the post. Just saw Suspicion last year for the first time ever. Your scene with Joan F. looked like she was in a spider web! Scary shadows. And how did you know we could use a zucchini bread recipe just about now? Will try it tomorrow.
Got my Willard today !!! Like a letter from a dear friend! Throughly enjoyed it , one thing that amazed me is that you showed a lovely butter mold & I had just started cleaning my china cabinet & came across my little butter pat dishes & thought I wish I had a butter mold to put pretty butter pats on those little dishes—now I’m going to look for a butter mold !
I love the little butter leaves in fall dinner parties … silly little thing that makes things so much more special!
Sounds like a perfect afternoon! ( baking, old movies, cuddly pets) I am in love with the moon shadows😊 Looking forward to Willard in my mailbox: must get tea and baked goods and cuddly dog to make it perfectly perfect.
Happy days!
Jenn M
Yay for possible winning!
Susan – I appreciate the movie recommendation (Suspicion). I somehow missed that one till now. Your descriptions of the coming fall are so lovely. I used to love fall in New England when I lived in Vermont.
I loved your photos of dappled light, especially the little crescents! I’m a teacher and just went back to school today, always a bit of a trying transitional week, as I go from quiet, unstructured days to days filled with bells and requirements and voices…. but by the end of the teacher week, I will be eager to hear and learn my students’ voices and get to know them. So it is a process! Wishing you a happy school year!
Creating is always a process … it’s like corralling cows, at first they are spread out all over the place, you keep going back and forth, bringing them together, closer and closer, one gets loose, you have to chase it, until it all gets together in a nice tight little bundle. That’s true for me when writing anything, and probably for you too, when first getting to know your class each year and trying to find the groove. The first part is the hardest! Happy teaching! I hope you get wonderful students who spark your imagination!
Thank you for the breath of fresh air you provide on this afternoon. Autumn! Now you are talking my favorite season. Can’t wait to get out my burlap, candles and pumpkins. Would love to win your book bundle.
Thank you for the moon pictures, the idea of going across the pond, warm zucchini bread and thoughts of fall!