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’m so glad to see this, I thought I had messed up and gotten myself deleted somehow. You know, autumn is my favorite time of year!!
Those moon shadows! Who knew! I will be baking your zucchini bread tomorrow, I have some rather gigantic squash to pick. And runner beans, and soon it will be time for plums. Hurrah 😁 Love, love love Autumn.
Ooo, I would love to have that package delivered to my front door!! Fall will arrive later for us here in Louisiana. October is usually cooler although we may not get leaf color until mid to late November. This was a lovely post. Thank you
Love reading your posts! They make me feel very happy!
Thank you for another wonderful post. My DH & I just made zucchini bread together, He squeezes lots of juice out of the shredded bits. Yummy!
while I am not eager for the change of seasons (I love summer), there is no denying that Autumn in New England is something special. That’s when I take every back road for miles around just to see the leaves change colors and crunch through the fallen ones on the sidewalks. Nothing like the smell of freshly crushed fall leaves! All around Massachusetts, up into New Hampshire and Vermont…it is all exquisite! Thanks for the recipe. Do you know how quickly a zucchini goes from trim and narrow to humongous? In a blink of an eye.
Oh, I just love this post. All the shadows, the movie, and the zucchini bread recipe! I always feel happy after reading the words you pen. Thank you for blessing us.
Ordered one of your newer mugs with the blue bird on it. Makes my heart sing as I sip my tea from it. Thanks Susan ❤️
When I was about 7 years old, I met Joan Fontaine. Poor Mom and Dad …. I embarrassed them so. They were so thrilled to have the opportunity to speak to her while all the while little me kept asking “Who’s Joan Fontaine?” 😕
Have you ever added some of your blueberries to the zucchini bread batter? Delicious!
Thanks Susan, and God bless you and Joe.
Such a perfect post! Full of crescent shaped shadows, intrigue, kisses in the car,
birds chirping and zucchini bread and tea! Thank you for being so thoughtful and filling up my mind and soul!
Always love your posts. Sitting here listening to thunder nearby here in central Texas. It looks like we may get some rain the next few days and do we ever need it. Even though it has been mighty hot what breeze we have has felt like fall is on the way. Thank you and hope I win.
One of my favorite end of the summer foods: Zucchini! and especially zucchini bread! I love how you pay attention to such detail as shadows! The sun light is also changing around here and the days seem shorter. As much as I love Autumn, I am not a fan of what follows: winter! Count me in on your generous giveaway!
Just made zucchini-pineapple bread – YUM!
I’m not the only one who loves to see the sun shadows dancing on the walls. 🙂
It’s the first week of school where I teach! Recess duty has been so hot! I am ready for fall.
I love all the pictures of the shadows!
Nothing better than old movies followed by fresh zucchini bread, unless it’s kitty love!
Susan, I love how you’re totally content in an old home, don’t feel the need to update to a state of the art kitchen. There’s huge comfort in surrounding ourselves with old, time tested things that WORK. I love these little visits to your world❤️
I wouldn’t like one. I like all these soft surfaces… we COULD use a tiny bit more counter space, but the would mean we would have to ruin something else. We’ll let the next owners worry about that!
I do love the shadows and especially the lane image. I never thought to go out and look down at the ground but I’m not sure I know where I was when the partial eclipse made our area. Next one due when I’m 80 something. Will I pay more attention then?
I used to make zucchini bread when my husband had no idea what it was. Now my oven is storage until maybe winter.
Loved this post. It made me want to see the movie and make the Z U C C H I N I B R E A D!!! Please pick me as your winner!!!
Susann Branch! You make me so happy!! Love you!
I love shadows plus I have prisms in one window (like Pollyanna) so I have rainbows unexpectedly. I never know when they will appear.
Thank you, Susan, for lifting me up time after time – and transporting me to a kinder world – where the shadows are not frightening but magical and there are yummy, homey things like kitties, tea and zucchini bread (which my mom used to bake when I was little). I love spending time with you – in every season! Love, Valerie
Loved all the shadow pictures. Fall is my favorite time of year. Am ready for pumpkins, falling leaves, sweaters, comfort foods and cooler temperatures.
Here in Jefferson City, we had a total eclipse. It was awesome!
Thanks for this happy post and the recipe!
Your recipe sounds so good and I love the pictures especially your kitchen.
Thanks for sharing all of this.
I love watching the old black and white movies they are my secret indulgence!! Just watched “The Man’s Lady” with Barbara Stanwyck. It was a great movie. But my heart skipped a beat when I came across the picture on your post of the curtains in the window, I have the same exact ones on my big picture window. They were my aunts when she first got married back in the 1940’s and are one of my most prized
possesions!
I learned all my decorating from old movies! 😃
I love your books and blog! Always exciting to see a new post!
Love the Autumn 🍂 give sways ! Love Autumn!
I live in Florida so the seasons never seem to change to me. My husband, however, can always see signs here and he points them out to me. Honestly, I think it’s because he’s a birdwatcher that he notices.
A detail man!
I always have a giggly heart and lifted spirits when ever I read something that you
have shared or written. I live in Santa Cruz, Calif. where Alfred Hitchcock lived a mountain
away from where I live. He certainly knew how to double raise the goosebumps on our
arms 🙂 . I love the saying “Throw confetti around like kindness” and that you do for your
many “girlfriends” around the world…..thank you….for brighting our days ! I have my treasured collection of your many books from over the years. I share them when I can
with our 16 grandchildren. Please add my name to the drawing…thank you ! 🙂 🙂 🙂
You are an inspiration for living a grateful life! Thank you for pointing out the delights one can appreciate in an “ordinary” life.
Oh my Goodness…that zucchini bread looks so good. I can smell it right here in my French kitchen in Canada…For sure I will make the bread for my 80 years old recuperating husband who spent 2 months in hospitals after a huge surgery. He will love you Susan, me and the bread. You are such a kind lady. Bless you and thank you.
I feel in good company Lucile, hugs to him, and you, from me.
I love your batter bowls.
I love fall! It is my favorite time of year and I love the shadows too. We have them in our house and you know change is coming! I love the colors, the cool temperatures and especially the tastes and smells! Going to make some zucchini bread too!
P.S. I think your pictures of the eclipse through the trees and on the mat are better than any other. Such a unique way to capture it!
Perfect Welcome Fall treat! Love fresh bread with tea anytime.
You are a bright light to so many y of us Susan! Enjoy the Fall and all of it’s glory.
I love autumn and spring especially, my mom used to say those “shoulder seasons” and I always break open my Autumn Susan Branch book at this time of the year, can’t wait to put up the wreath, plant some autumn flowers, the whole thing! Thank you for your messages, they inspire me!
If heaven has a season, it would be Autumn.
Alfred Hitchcock was a genius with light.
The zucchini bread sounds delicious. Can’t wait to try it!
Thanks for the recipes! No fall in the air here yet (Western Washington State) but soon I’m sure. Love autumn!
Susan, I always feel a surge of “happiness” when I see an email from you! You never cease to bring a smile to my face as I read through what’s going on in your day. Your trilogy is sitting on the bookshelf above where I am now writing this message. I LOVED them.
I hope I win your give-away, but congratulations to whomever is the lucky gal.
Hi Susan,
Happy The-Day-After-The-Eclipse! We went up to Canterbury Shaker Village to view the partial eclipse and had a really good time. There are a lot of wonderful people who work there.
Fall is creeping into NH! Our lilac bush is loosing her leaves and our purple coneflowers are looking exhausted. After a long and wet summer that resulted in amazing plant growth, I think it is time for the plants to have a rest.
I haven’t received Willard yet, but I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will arrive soon. Your latest giveaway is delightful! By the way, I have special memories of your first edition Autumn. I was at your Autumn book signing in Newington, NH. It was a fun evening!
Take care and enjoy fall as it enters our live,
Karen Holly
Hurray, hurray for autumn! I would love to be a winner!
Thank you for another wonderful blog post . I am looking forward to my new Willard !
I love how you capture the beauty in every day life : )
I am looking forward to a colorful Fall in North Carolina and would be so happy to enjoy a cup of tea in that gorgeous cup !
I just love when I see an email from you in my inbox. It’s like catching up with a dear friend and just brightens up my day. I haven’t seen that movie so will need to check it out. And, oh my, I love your mixing bowl AND loaf pan! Beautiful!! What a wonderful giveaway, pick me, please!
Always liked “Suspicion” because I love Cary Grant. But must say that Hitchcock’s “Rebecca” with Joan Fontaine is my more favorite creepy movie of the two. Read that Joan’s sister, Olivia de Havilland, turned 101 in July. Along with Kirk Douglas at 100, and Doris Day at 95, they must be just about the only ones left from that Golden Age of Hollywood.
Olivia was so perfect in Gone with the Wind!
Susan, I really enjoyed this blog featuring shadows. I live in Pennsylvania but traveled to Alcoa, Tennessee to see Monday’s eclipse in totality. The sky show was glorious, of course, and the shadows we saw on the ground were fascinating too. They were shaped like crescents!
What a great experience it was to be with a group of fellow umbraphiles ( lovers of the moon’s 🌙 shadow) whooping and cheering when totality occurred. I’ll be whooping and cheering if I am the lucky winner of your wonderful giveaway.
I do so love your word Umbraphiles, I’ve never heard it before, and who doesn’t love a moon shadow. LOVE IT!
So handy to have the recipe now that there is zucchini in my frig! Thanks!
I can’t tell you how much I love your posts. We must be some how be related because I was just telling my daughter that the shadows are changing with the seasons. Funny how most people probably get more sunlight in the Summer but, because of the leaves on the trees we get more in the winter. It’s actually perfect; shady when it’s hot and bright and sunny when it’s cold. I am fortunate to live surrounded by tall mature trees which create these amazing shadows through all seasons. Well, thank you once again for your wonderful posts. I think I will go to the nursery and see what is on sale. Thank you for the idea.
Smiles and hugs,
Liz
Love this post:) Thanks for the movie recommendation – Hitchcock is the best!
Hi Susan
A delightful blog, as usual! It is hard not to be envious of your beautiful home and its leaf shadows!!:-) We have had similar experiences a year apart. My 97 year old father passed away last month. It is a difficult time. My husband and I decided to take our 15th anniversary trip to Vermont. (We were married under the moonlight at the Rabbit Hill in lower Waterford, VT.)
Love fall! Love ALL your books! You even signed one for me at Malprops in Asheville. I missed meeting you by a day! Someday…
I thought I had viewed all of Hitchcock’s films, but this one doesn’t sound familiar. Thanks for the suggestion.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I lost my dad last year. It’s a profound thing that never makes any sense, but time and memories are the things that help, and you have those. Happy anniversary! Ahhh, romantic Vermont.
I too noticed how the season is changing. I love going around the house telling my husband and daughters that fall is right around the corner since it’s my favorite season. Good things are right around the corner.
I love how you see beauty in everything…even shadows. Like you, I notice the little things in the old classic movies, especially those from the forties… the jewelry, clothing, set designs! Happy Fall to you! 🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁
Fun post. I’m off to see if Netflix or Amazon has Suspicion. I LOVE Cary, I will be so sad to see him cast as the evil one! Ah, well, I’ll have to follow it up with Houseboat. 😊 Thanks for the opportunity to win your generous offering.
What a lovely idea for the auction. And the pictures of the moon are lovely. Thanks for always refreshing!
What a lovely giveaway! They always are though. Very hot and summery in Plano, Texas so no signs of Autumn yet. We don’t usually get much of an Autumn. So very glad you blog about it!
Well, I wasn’t feeling fallish until I read your blog. It wasn’t so much the pictures as the thought of baking zucchini bread that did me in. ..now I am on the search for some zucchini. Thanks for the recipe, as I now have no excuse not to bake 🙂 If I win the contest, after I faint dead away, I will certainly sip coffee in that sweet cup!(along with the bread). Thanks for sharing yourself!
About 20 years ago a dear friend gave me Girlfriends Forever for my birthday. Well that was it! I was completely hooked and have all your books, except for Baby Love… I’m not sure why that one has escaped me… but I digress. I love them all and have them in my kitchen where I see them every day. The Fairy Tale Girl and Martha’s Vineyard, Isle of Dreams are my favorites. Strangely I had purchased TFTG last year but had never gotten around to reading it. Finally, I read it this summer… 6 months after my husband left me. Talk about the right book at the right time! I could so relate. But it was while reading MVIOD that I knew I’d be okay, survive and thrive. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for that gift. ❤️❤️❤️
My total pleasure ~ that is the exact reason I wrote it. Thank you for telling me!
Loved this post and so happy you have found the joy of living in New England!
Love all of your books and recently found out that a friend of mine is a friend of yours from his days of living on Martha’s Vineyard — the artist Bill Mc.!
He’s still painting away with me and friends in RI.
Loved your light and shadow pics!
Bill’s maybe the best artist I’ve ever personally known. So wonderful. How fun that you paint with him!
Maybe this zucchini bread will help me and my Rick get over our terrible summer colds we have had! Love reading your blog and getting ready for tropical storm Harvey to descend on us here in Houston! Looking forward to my Willard. Thank you for cheering me up! 😉
xoxoxox
Lisa
I love your books. I just had our neighborhood book club at my house using Isle of Dreams. They loved it. I made desserts from your cookbook for them…. Chocolate Mousse Pie, Banana Cream Pie, Piggyback cookies, and Chocolate Shot cookies. They were a big hit. Great directions.
Yaaaay! 👍 Good news!
I miss the seasons so much since I moved to Southern California. So I decorate my house with artificial fall leaves and decorations and turn the air conditioner down lol. I feel like baking and it’s still to hot but I do it anyway. Let us know how Friday goes! I’m sure it will be wonderful 😊
Susan – I enjoy all your posts and I love Willard. I’m on the last day of receiving it so the suspense really builds up. I also like your “kitty”…He’s your real shadow. Thanks for a positive experience (even with Alfred Hitchcock).
Hello Susan, love your blog! I got your Martha’s Vineyard cup and LOVE it! Hope to win you’re giveaway! Also, please tell us what’s going on with your movie/tv series!
Have a great day!
Janie
Your eclipse photos are delightful! I love the other images of shadows. The contrast is striking. Thank you for sharing these!
P.S. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to get a “Be an Elf” charm. I missed them the last time.8<
I have not seen this movie. I love the old movies! I bought the Autumn cup for my friends birthday in October. I would love to have one of my own❤️ Thank you
Love the shadows of the morning sun shining through lacy curtains! Beautiful way to start the day, and a piece of zucchini bread will be just the finishing touch!
I absolutely love old movies too! Now I need to watch Suspicion. I could basically smell that zucchini bread in the oven the way you described it! Now I wish I hadn’t made that huge zucchini from the garden into zoodles last night. Thank you for adding so much beauty to our lives through your posts and paintings.
Susan we love zuchini bread, but here in Southern Indiana, persimmon pudding is our fall choice. We gather persimmons and run them through a sieve for the pulp. I actually made two persimmon puddings today. I am taking one to a girls weekend with my college roommate from the early 1970’s and out next door neighbor in the dorm. My roommate, Debbie is the one who introduced me to you and all your books! We will be driving to Northern Indiana and I am sure we will be talking about you!
Hi Susan!! Oh, how this was such a lovely post, and I love that autumn is on the way!! I live in Tennessee so we are still in the midst of very hot and humid temps, but my family and I are heading up to New England in October for holiday, and I CANNOT WAIT!! We don’t get much of the autumn beauty and color around here, so it will be a joy to see some remarkable colors in person!!
Your giveaway is so delightful and oh….all that autumn goodness….makes me swoon! I would love to be entered and am excitedly awaiting my Willard letter to arrive in my inbox.
This blog of yours is always such a happy and splendid place to visit…thank you for making it that!
May you have a beautiful day!
~Elizabeth
I was fascinated by the shadows made by the eclipse! Had never thought about it. What a treat to see yours among the leaves.
Fall’s coming! Best time of the year! Love the autumn cup.
I love old movies too!! I really enjoyed your post!! Thank you for the recipe! 💞
I LOVE LOVE LOVE fall! Every year as it approaches, I feel so blessed to experience another year of my favorite season. We’re starting our homeschooling year this Monday and we’re kicking off the year (and the season) with Ginger Molasses cookies 🙂
Susan, your posts always raise my spirits!!! Fall is my favorite season and here in Idaho it seems to come and go so quickly. I can see small signs on leaves that fall is coming. Looking forward to reading Willard!!! By the way I LOVE drinking tea in my autumn mug!!! Hugs!!! Donna (Idaho)
Dear Susan, Living down in the south it is still high 90’s but last night for the first time I said to my husband, ” The season is starting to change it is getting dark earlier” a sure sign of fall approaching.
Hello Miss Susan; wonderful post! and love the music. Exquisite!
Here’s to you- to have a fabulous dinner party.
I especially love the kitty watching the movie with you!
So sad that you didn’t tell how the story is ending–cann’t find the film so I will never know…
Do love your birdfeeders-what a lot of birds are there hanging and eating.
Went also yesterday to the nursery to get some plants for the garden-a beautiful Budleia for the butterflies and some plants for the bees.
Looking forward to see the Willard!
Have a great weekend
Greetings from the Netherlands
Just finished reading The Fairy Tale Girl and Isle of Dreams. Such heartfelt stories of your life journey. I so enjoyed them and am looking forward to reading Falling in Love. Thanks for the details, the moments, and the way you encourage us to take a pause and enjoy the small pleasures in life.
Hi Susan~How proud you must be to have earned so much for your local Community Services! I hope you will share your menu with us. Enjoy every minute of hosting the lucky and generous bidders.
Loved this post. Here in Maine we had “mini-moon” light spangles too. Totally enchanting!
Reading your posts always make me feel happy!!
Thank you, Susan, for sharing your lovely life with us. I also love shadow patterns on walls, floors, anything. Your movie review was tantalizing so must see that thriller!
I love shadows in my home, Since it is California, It is the late afternoon. I agree it makes the rooms cozy and dreamy. Love the old movies and this one is perfect. Thank You for the recipe and have a wonderful Friday with the winners.
I have been privileged to receive Willard since the very beginning when they came by snail mail. I still have all of those Willards and enjoy going back through them from time to time.
That was so many years ago and, I think, several years before I got to meet you at QVC. I was so pleased to have you sign my book and still enjoy giving your books to friends. Everyone loves them!
Best Wishes,
Bonnie Porro
Enjoyable blog as always! Just sweet and peaceful!
Always happy to see your post in my mailbox!!
I’ve got a Lemon Blueberry Zucchini Bread recipe from Yankee Magazine on my “to do” list. Will have to make it soon. Bought the frozen Maine wild blueberries. It’s a start!! Love the eclipse shadows. Next one will be closer to New England. Hope I’m around!!!
I loved reading your books. I especially loved Martha’s Vineyard, Isle of Dreams. I hope to visit the English country side someday. Thank you for this lovely giveaway. I love your Autumn cup. Blessings.
Some day I will write you a real pen to paper letter, Susan. I would like to tell you the many ways you have been the starting point for a wonderful new and magical season in my life. You have given me the courage to live boldly and that has made all the difference. Thank you for being you and doing what you do.
Proud of you Cynthia, truly proud of all our Girlfriends, everyone so brave. 😘
I just love New England, Cape Cod, and all so connected to Your Blood g! I have at least almost finished your one book of your start living there and can’t get enough. Keep up the Fabulous work. Pictures related are sooo good! Love your Art so much
Susan Y
I adore your Autumn book. I take it out each September like an old friend coming for a visit. I cannot wait to enjoy it for the first time this year with my Autumn teacup.
Love your cookbooks, artwork, everything! What a wonderful giveaway … I’d love to be the lucky winner!
Loved all the shadow photos and Joe smiling in the window. How delightful! I had never seen eclipse shadows before….how interesting. Saw the eclipse in totality and what an awesome sight of grandeur it was! I will never forget it.
Thank you for all of your beautiful posts of the joyfulness of the simple things of life. It is such a breath of fresh air in our cluttered world. I do so look forward to reading them. You are a gem!
Dear Susan,
What an awesome giveaway! Thank you for the chance to win. I so thoroughly enjoy reading your stories – I’m going to go back right now and re-read as I’m certain that I missed a line or 2 in my hurry to get it all in! Thanks to you, Susan!
Thanks for the zucchini bread recipe –looks like a good one 👍!
The season is shifting up on Mt .Rose 🌹 Finally !!! I just bought Russian Sage for the bearm I’m building on my property line due to new neighbors placed the living space looking into my sanctuary–my backyard.
Loved Alfred Hitchcock -& his surprising twist to his stories !
🍁🍂 fall is just around the corner! 😘 Penny
If anyone has never experienced Autumn, one just to read your newest blog and Willard. Your enthusiasm, excitement and joy in anticipating the change of seasons is infectious. I would love to win the giveaway but consider myself lucky enough to read your words and revel in your photos and paintings. We all are refreshed, renewed and rejoice with happiness from your heartfelt postings. Peace and❤️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
We were just talking about the shadows today on our country lane. We love how they dance across our yard. Just beautiful. Thanks for your blog. It always puts a smile on my face.
just wanted to let you know that I enjoy your blog (& your books) so much. I always feel a little happier after reading your blog. I love my house, cooking, baking & all things home. I truly feel like I’ve just “talked” to a friend after reading your blog (or books) 🙂
Shadows, tea, zucchini bread and a good movie! Your blog is always a good read and this one did not disappoint. Thank you, Susan.
As usual, lovely post…looking forward to reading Willard, always a treat! My adorable baby sister, an elementary school teacher, was just mentioning how she loves the autumn mug…if I were to win, off that wonderful box of fun would go, straight to her doorstep!
I always enjoy reading ANYTHING you write and am inspired to watch “Suspicion.” With tea and zucchini bread of course!
I think we are all running to Netflix and looking up this movie! How have I missed this one?! Lots of zucchini bread baking and Cary Grant going on in, what did Susan call it, “Kindred-Spirit-Ville!” Love it!