People often ask me what inspired me to move all the way across country, from California where I grew up, to New England ~ to an Island, off the coast of Massachusetts, so very far away from home, where they had this thing called winter. MUSICA? Well, the short answer is the break-up of my marriage in California and the strong urge to escape the pain of it. But the deeper answer is . . .
Not just autumn, but all of it . . . everything New England seemed to offer (from all the books I’d read), deep traditions, romance and inspiration that comes with nature, the authenticity of the old houses that had seen so much~ it all seemed to represent a solid foundation where I hoped I could build a solid new life.
And no, 35 years later, I’m still not used to it. I don’t think I ever will be.
I still see the change of seasons as a miracle. Four-times-a-year for extra celebration, totally organic, not man-made, God provided, and real as real could be. So I thought I’d give you my “Best of Autumn,” just in cases you aren’t yet in the mood 🎃 ~ hopefully when this post is done, you will be, because what I want to do is help you . . .
Is that color possible in nature? No. Not possible. Probably the camera had a piece of red cellophane over it!!! Wrong. But that’s actually what I used to think when I was a child and would see photos of New England in the fall. It just couldn’t be real.
Now that I know better, you would think I would get used to it, but apparently that’s never going to happen. Looks like magic to me.
I’ve walked down a dirt road through the woods to the water almost every day of the last 35 years. The first five I did alone, then I met Joe, and we’ve done it together ever since, in all seasons. I told you, I love tradition. The over-and-over leaves an ownership imprint, and someday far into the future, Joe and I will haunt this place for eternity. When I wear this loosely woven sweater, I can tuck in stems of the wild things I find growing along the side of the road. 🍂Then of course Joe feels the need to hide in the bushes all the rest of the way home!
Is this not romantic? Sooo romantic, little cottage by the sea, we walk by it every day. Simple and surrounded by color . . . in the foreground is bittersweet, it grows wild and free, it makes a celebration where there might not normally be one. You see? Not my idea. It’s nature! We gather it to decorate our front door. 🍁
In the fall you can feel the icy breath of winter in the wind that blows leaves through the air. Black crows fly low across the road, cawing the whole way. Someday I will catch one with my camera!
My traditions hold inside the house too. My little rusty birds, garlands, wreaths, leaves, owls, birds, festoons, out of the boxes they come!
Then of course, there’s the dance of the tea towels . . .
I can tell you about the fall breezes, but here you can see it . . . and we can smell it too ~ and not only the fragrance of the sea ~ but as it flits around the Island it gathers perfume from everything 
that grows wild: goldenrod, clematis, wild apples and pine, blueberries, sandy beach plums, asters and bayberry. 🌻 As I wrote in Martha’s Vineyard Isle of Dreams, “the salty breeze slips in and out of seashells, climbs tree trunks, dives into squirrel holes, slides along old porch rails, stumbles through the bittersweet, skips along picket fences, scoots beneath falling leaves, whistles past ancient graveyards, flits over and under dragonfly wings, and steals all the wishes off the dandelion puffs, flinging them in every direction, wishes for all.” It’s the pure romance of the seasons. 🍂
And my little bo-bo waits for me to come in.
Our very best tradition. Cat-loving people that we are. True blessings are all around us.💞
I brought in the last Just Joey rose of the season ~ in the little blue bottle Joe found while digging the hole to plant our Dogwood tree. And you can see our best tradition peeking out from the corner of the screen door.
The garden isn’t finished yet. I plant things that bloom late so we keep ourselves stocked in garden flowers for as long as possible, till the first freeze.
To some, marigolds are common, but they are the BEST when it comes to fall color right from the garden. Long-lasting flowers that know their job and do it well.
Lighting candles, part of the tradition of the season, for the shorter days and colder nights, wind beating our shutters against the house. And P.S.: LAST NIGHT!!! PBS was golden! The new season of The Durrells started (you would love it), and after was Poldark, and advertised was the new season of Victoria starting in January! So much to look forward to! Right now, while I’m writing you, I’m listening to the BBC production called Byron (as in Lord). I just spoke into my remote, and there it was!
Lounge lizard.
More wind, crunch leaves, sweet smelling sheets . . .
This is a sandy driveway where the leaves have been driven over so many times they are imprinted. I thought it would make gorgeous fabric.
And we’ve been cooking too . . . this recipe cooks at 250 degrees for 7 hours! Makes the house smell heavenly. It’s Spicy Short Ribs, I made it for you last Christmas in another post . . . just click HERE and scroll to the bottom for the recipe. It’s so good!
And here’s the Marmalade tea bread! (Recipe is HERE, just scroll to bottom of this old post.)
All for my favorite thing, setting the table, with my purple Windsor Ware . . . and, here’s a little tip: flowered dishes look best with striped, plaid or plain-colored napkins.
Some things are a must at this time of year . . . homemade pie crust is one of them. I have to say, if you haven’t had a real homemade pie crust in a while, you don’t know what you are missing. Fill it with pumpkin . . . homemade is best! There is nothing like cooking and nurturing to make you feel 100% better about the world.
Am I right, or am I right?
I love this photo. It was on a door of a tea room we visited years back and I just love it ~ it screams halloween! 🕷 Or maybe I scream halloween. But definitely, someone is screaming! 😱
And this foggy day showed all the dripping little webs that normally you don’t even know are there. In our woods they’re on the ground, between every leaf and twig. . . sparkling in the mist and dew. 🕸
And now, about pumpkins . . .
We found these pumpkins at a craft show. They are easy to make, but you have to grow them and mark them while they are young ~ it’s so easy, you can put your family name on them, read HERE for a How To. . . it’s pure magic for children! 🎃 There are so many interesting pumpkins available these days. Below, the warty ones are called Knuckleheads . . . there are Cinderella and Lakota too, beautiful and fun to grow, remember for next spring! Put it on your calendar so you don’t forget!
I’m a star pumpkin girl myself, but Joe always does a few faces . . .
Don’t forget to put cinnamon and nutmeg on the inside of the top of your pumpkins for wonderful smells when lit.
And of course him. Casper. Our ghost. SUCH a tradition. This house would not be a house without our ghost. How many years have we had him now? Maybe twenty!
We have a street coming toward the house, with a stop sign out front, and for twenty years Casper has been in our upstairs window saying HELLO to everyone who goes by. I’ve never seen another one like him, but I think it might be possible to make one (not by me, but I think Joe could do it, or maybe you can! Or perhaps you have a Joe of your own who might like a project that will last forever) …. would you like some photos of his innards? I can do that!
You can get an idea of his frame by seeing the light through the cloth ~ its like a wire dress form. The cloth is cotton, starched to the nth degree, and lightly covered in the finest glitter. There are two tiny lightbulbs attached inside to the frame, top and bottom, and one inside the pumpkin all on one cord that we plug into the wall.
Here he is from the front, holding a pumpkin . . . which is also framed in wire ~ its fabric is felt.
There are two round frames, one on the bottom (which you can see in the photo above) which is what Casper sits on, the other is visible in that first picture ~ from the back ~ up toward the top of the head. And all the vertical wires are hooked to them.
The little arms are separate, and here’s how they are hooked to the main frame.
There are two lightbulbs fitted into the two round frames.
There’s a tear in the ghost fabric to hook the frames together, to hook the pumpkin to the ghost, and for the light for the pumpkin to go through. The pumpkin hides the tear.
And voila!
You can see him up top center window.
There have been a lot of Autumns at this house. Tradition, authenticity, romance, endurance, security, dreams, and somehow, despite everything, a symbol for the continuity of life, the manifestation of my childhood faith in forever. Cue the Musica . . . 🎵 I would love to see how it looked inside on the day this photo was taken, what they were doing in the kitchen, go to the barn and see the horses … go for a ride in the carriage down to Main Street . . .
Gathered from the woods, from the farmstand and from Michael’s Crafts.
We are ready! Bring. It. On. We get a jillion kids at halloween. We have a responsibility to give back some of the magic we’ve been given.
Our other house decoration is our big BOO in the window!
Lovely wonderful bittersweet. Another miracle from nature.
Last year we were in England for the fall . . . I’m standing in the 13th century churchyard looking at the moon across from where our dear friend Rachel lives. Whoooo . . .
Here we are at Carrie’s darling house in Oxford! Lots of you know her from Twitter . . . go say Hi! Aren’t blue and orange perfect together?
And here we were, apple tasting with our friend Siobhan in the glorious English Countryside . . .
Perfectly wonderfully charming . . . an apple on every fence post . . .
Last October 19 we were busy setting the table and decorating the dining room in a house in Bath where we were staying (with Ray’s friends and family) to help celebrate Rachel’s birthday! Yes, balloons and hats and bunting, streamers and candles!
While we were doing that, she was waiting in the kitchen ~ no peeking! Drinking wine and overseeing the cooking of the birthday dinner. 
Here’s Ray’s cake, with all of our rings on board, ready for her to make a wish and blow out the candles. It was a wonderful time and a luv-lee memory. And now, here we are, one year later! We can surprise her again, Girlfriends 🎉 . . . click HERE and say HAPPY BIRTHDAY 🎁 … or, HERE . . . or, if you live in the UK, go HERE, and get a sample of the amazing Sugar Moon Brownies she makes, packs and sends in the mail! Her birthday is on Thursday and I’m not going to say a THING . . . 🤐 shhhhhhh.💞
In the meantime, I go to my studio every day . . . making new things, painting for the 2019 calendar with my little three haired brush . . .
And this week, I’ve been choosing thread colors for my new
Coming soon . . . Have I told you? Yes, we found someone wonderful in the USA to make them for us . . . coming to our web store soon.
This is the newest . . . just finished and needs ironing, but I think it’s going to be darling! This is cross-stitch, but some of the kits will be printed too . . . Nothing like needlework to take your mind off the cares of the day and leave it to wander and dream in an aimless, do-something kind of way. Hand sewing and old movies go together like ice cream and cake. I speak from lots of happy experience. I tell you more very soon.
Jack’s been helping us plan our next trip to the UK! Maybe not helping, perhaps blocking.
Also, for you who’ve been asking ~ two of our “Sold Out” cups came back in! The manufacturer let us know they had some “leftover” decals ~ and asked if we wanted them to make a few more . . . we said we’d take them all . . .
So, there were two . . . the 16 oz. Martha’s Vineyard . . .
And the 11 oz. Autumn cup ….
We didn’t get many, but I hope this will fix it so that everyone who wanted one, gets one!
One more of my favorite fall traditions: I just bought the most delicious new flannel jammies. I love thick cottony flannel for our wintery nights . . . the best ones I’ve found are at Garnet Hill . . . . when I find something good, I need to tell my Girlfriends! 💋
So off I go to write a new WILLARD . . . in case you don’t know, WILLARD is my Newsletter, you can sign up and every so often it will just appear in your mailbox . . . lots of interesting things to tell you about . . . it should be going out sometime next week. Until then my dear, darling Girlfriends, remember to choose love.
You bring such joy to my life. Thanks for the window into Susanland. Can’t wait for your needlework kits. Blessings☺️
Thank you for sharing your beautiful memories.
Lovely trip to Autumn in New England!! So. Cal our temps are in the 90’s! supposed to cool off by Friday. I do have my fall decorations in my house and a fall wreath so we do feel the season somewhere! Love your pictures and commentary! oh yes PBS last night love them all!!
Thanks again so much for sharing! looking forward to Willard!
OK, THIS is what I miss the most about living in Florida! It just isn’t the same. But I so love looking at all the wonderful pictures of leaves and pumpkins and getting just a wee bit nostalgic. Palm trees and sand just don’t give the same feeling. A girlfriend can pretend, can’t she?
Barbara, I do understand. We lived in Florida for many years and I taught kindergarten there. I had northern friends send me a box of colorful leaves every year so the children could touch and smell a wee bit of Fall. For family needs we moved to N C but miss Florida terribly. I hope you weren’t too badly inconvenienced by the hurricanes this year.
Agree…I HATE palm trees and I am a native Californian!! There is NOTHING like woodlands in any season. If I could transplant woodlands around my neighborhood, I would be SO happy. Sometimes I wish there was a real Genie to wiggle her nose and fulfill my impossible wishes. 😊
Another week of HEAT here…there are NO fall feelings for me. I have a hard time dealing with orange/fall colors in my house when it is so hot…makes me feel hotter…so I may be skipping the trip to the attic this “fall” and wait for Christmas decor. Who knows…maybe my favorite snowmen will melt in this year’s December decor…weather is SO out of whack.
Jack IS boycotting your trip planning…map-sitting is a sure sign that he is taking a stand against your long journeys away from him!! Pets and kitty massages, and yes…kisses, too, from HOT CA. (Unlike fall decor making me feel hotter, I NEVER pass up the delight of my toasty, furry Grayson using me for a couch…no matter how hot it is!!!) 💗💗💗🐱xoxoxo
Thanks for the REAL fall delights in this blog post.
PS: I shouldn’t be grumping about our heat…my house is still standing and my attic’s treasures haven’t burned to ashes or drowned in hurricanes. My heart goes out to all who are experiencing this year’s devastating destructions up close and personal.
I’m so with you FayE, counting my blessings and saying prayers at the same time. xoxoxo
Thank you for bring a New England Autumn to California. Were we are in hard hat season with the falling acorns. Those little devils sure do hurt when they hit you on the head. I hope to one day soon visit New England in the Fall and Winter. Have a Happy Halloween.
Fall is arriving in Michigan…After a rainy weekend, the sun is shining today…I look forward to our daily walk by the lake for our little adventure…Love hearing about what you are up to…It reminds me to just concentrate on my own little corner of the world.
Wonderful as always.I like you think of autumn as a second spring with all the lovely color.Here in Virginia the leaves are coloring everywhere..Happy Fall,then Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Christmas!
Keep all the lovely words & pictures coming Susan! You are such a blessing to so many people.❤️
Thank you for all the Fall pictures! I love Autumn. We live in Texas so we have to travel elsewhere to see “true” Autumn magic. I take my grandsons, ages 1 and 3, on wagon walks in the morning. We have a red wagon with two seats in it. We walk through the neighborhood and look at the Fall and Halloween decorations. They squeal with delight! Sometimes we take snacks! It is such a fun time to see everything through a child’s eye. We take Granddad along to pull the wagon as I frequently lag behind to get a closer look at things! Happy Autumn to you! Thank you for everything!
We were on the vineyard last week, and drove passed your house a few times…. love Casper in the window!!! Bought myself a pumpkin from MV Glassworks, because I love to decorate too! Thank you for Willard, and your blog! Just love it!!!
Our Maple trees are just beautiful. We a very large, old one in the front of the house and replacements on our boulevard, that were planted 5 years ago after the tornado that hit our town took them all down. We lost 14 trees on our property that day. Now the leaves are beautiful. They look like they are on fire
when they reach the height of their glory. As I sit here in my computer room, with my doll collection, and my Grandparents Secretary & my husbands original oak rocking chair, given to his great-aunt & uncle, by his Grandparents for their
wedding, sadness comes over me, as I realize the day is coming closer, when we will have to pack up and leave this beautiful house & move to a smaller one. Oh well, I will have to leave those thoughts for another day. DeLores
Thank you, Susan, as always, for inspiring us to seek and find our own treasures. I am happy to say I have multitudes and all the most important ones are accessible by heart if not proximity . I am reading a wonderful book. “The Book of Joy” It is a discussion between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu with Douglas Abrams. This discussion has me nodding my head…so many things that I hold in my heart, but struggle to articulate. Leaving now for my own little walk in Autumn glory along the Olentangy River near my Central Ohio home. Blessings to you and your dear ones!
I “heart” you, SB, you transport me just when I need it. Love, Clare
Another wonderful blog! I’m curious about the picture of your house from days gone by-the one with the picket fence-it looks as if there is either another house or part of your house on the left side of your roof…it doesn’t look like that house is present in the photo of your house all decked out so festively for 👻 Halloween. BOO!
Oh, how I miss Fall. I have decorated the house, but it still feels like Florida.
Thank you for a delightful post, skipping through the leaves, smelling the Fall smells, I can feel it from here! Thank you! I am also enjoying my SB ” bluebird if happiness” mug, (even put it on my blog post). almost every day. I just love it. Happy Halloween! Happy Fall! 🍁
Autumn has always been my favorite season (my very soul is wedded to it, to borrow a phrase), and you more than do it justice. The colors, the scents, the decorations, the traditions — an unparalled delight (yes, I’m listening to the Phantom of the Opera movie soundtrack). A shout out to the friendly, fragrant marigolds in your garden, too. Thank you, sweet Susan, for sharing your love of all things autumn with us. Our hearts are always happier after a visit to your neck of the (gloriously orange-and-garnet-and-golden) woods.
Should say “unparalleled”. Sorry about that.
Hi Susan : ) Happy fall! I was wondering if the recipe for the marmalade tea bread is printed anywhere. I made some fig preserves this summer and got a little over anxious to be done so they didn’t set properly. oops. I thought the tea bread might give me an outlet to use runny fig preserves. Thanks!
Here it is Lisa … in an old post, just scroll to the bottom …
Glorious fall! Thanks for sharing. The vintage sepia tone photo of your home is just too cool! Wouldn’t it be freaky if there was a ghostly figure captured in the upstairs window. I just love EVERYTHING about fall, and all your photos have me hopeful that we can enjoy fall for a few more weeks. Happy Autumn, Happy Fall, Happy All Hallows Eve, and Happy Halloween. Hygge season has just begun!! Cheers, Susan!
Hi Sue,
Love the post, love the cups, can’t wait for the plates AND the cross stitch kits. I’m so excited because I ordered the Autumn cup today after missing out when it was last available. I was so sad that I had missed it, so OH HAPPY DAY!, I am one of the lucky girls who get to have one! Keep enjoying your Fall.
xo, Sue from Simi
Oh so special I’m in New Mexico and leaving tomorrow for home! Been seeing my daughter and son-in-law for a week. It’s been fun, but, secretly, I’ve missed Fall and Pennsylvania. Seeing the colors and the fresh Autumn scents. There’s nothing like. NM is pretty and totally different from what I’m use to. I have to have my 4 seasons and will be glad to be home. Thanks for your Blog and showing me the beauty. It warms my heart. LOVE IT!!! Hugs, Marie
Love your blog!! I’m in New Mexico with my daughter and son-in-law, visiting. It’s very pretty here and got to see the Balloon Festival!! Amazing!! Lots to see. But, I miss Pennsylvania and our Fall season! You have reminded me of all the lovely colors and Fall scents. Can’t wait to be home tomorrow. Thanks for all the pics. There beautiful.
Hugs, Marie
Susan, I just love you, simple as that, I really do! Xo
Thank you Anne! I love you back!
I have been trying to read slowly, then re-reading, and I was thinking the exact same thing: “Susan, I just love you, I really do! Xoxox”
You are too sweet, I love this place, and love you back!
Hello Susan! Having lunch while my first graders are at recess. Thank you for filling my creative well today! I’ll be cleaning out the basement on Fall break this week. There is a snake down there! Wish me luck -eek! Real Halloween stuff! As soon as I’m done I’m going to treat myself by playing house and decorating!
God bless you!
A delightful read on a beautiful autum day here in Alberta Canada. Looking forward to the new Willard. 😘
Your post bring joy to my life! I’ve always loved autumn but when I see it through your eyes it come alive. Your Joe is a lucky guy😊
I’m the lucky one! xoxo Thank you Susan.
I really just can’t WAIT for the embroidery kits. My grandma, my great-grandma, my husband’s grandmas, my aunties and my mom and I were all embroiderers and I somehow gave up the tradition a long time ago and need to get it back…and will, thanks to you! One of my favorite things when I was a kid was going to Grant’s or Gilbert’s or Cornet or Woolworth’s to get my hoops, pre-printed cotton fabric, a new needle and oodles of colorful embroidery floss; it was one of the few handicrafts/home arts I could actually do and not botch.
Just love hearing about autumn on the island; it sounds so soul-enriching and calming; just a life of real quality and substance (and beauty).
I’m again reminded (you’ve got a word in, with the current owner for if/when, right?) that I hope upon hope that you could get back Holly Oak. It would be so full circle; so meaningful. All the memories; the cows in the yard; your dad’s deck. This alone could be two more books or three from you; oh, to think of what you could do with it now … just the best project ever!
And today’s take-away along with all of your beautiful words, illustrations and photos: The Dance of The Tea Towels. Ahhhh; perfect…
Ugh, Susan, it was 102 degrees at noon here in SoCalif with the Santa Anas as my lunch date. What I wouldn’t give to be experiencing your island autumn right now. We are shriveling in the heat; 7% humidity. But the east coast is cooling and first frosts are on the horizon. Which is really & truly the more ‘normal’ thing than this ridiculous west coast weather.
I’m feeling it for California, especially for everyone up north ~ the loss is beyond imagining … the smoke that’s going on for days must weigh on everyone. I hope to blow a fresh cold rain your way!
I know. I want it! ☺️
I forgot to say how much I love the photo of you in the marsh grasses with your braids. Island Girl. (I keep thinking of songs, I have no idea why…wasn’t Island Girl an Elton John tune in the 70s?) It’s no wonder Joe snatched you up (Cliff’s loss!); look how cute you were at that age & time. Indeed a long history for you on MV. It’s the happiest story; it really is…and to have a photo of your house when people lived there in another century, the ladies’ long hemlines; that street lamp(!); all so very meaningful and it’s contagious, how much you appreciate it all. I just had this flash in my brain of yet another boomer song (Stephen Stills)…gosh, I think I was in high school, or maybe it was after; Crosby Stills Nash…called “Love The One You’re With” but it just took a new translation on (for me) about “Love The Life You’re With”, which is what you’ve managed to pull off, Susan; leading us by good example!
Love that the MUSICA is going through your mind Vicki . . . it’s the sign of a happy day!
Yay! Yay! Yay! Cross Stitch! I have been wishing for S.B. jigsaw puzzles, coloring books or cross stitch. I can’t wait.
What a wonderful sharing of Autumn from glorious MV ♥ It was a perfect read for today for me because this is the first day that the temps are actually in the 60’s….we’ve had dry continuous extended Summer! Lovely, but I am a Fall Girl! Love the Musica you selected, all the pix, your ghost :-), decorations and outdoor joy. Leaves continue to slowly change here…and I change to 64 tomorrow the 17th! (cue Sir Paul to sing, please lol)…must tweet Rachel also! Thank you, Susan, for the most joyful and cheery sharings, breathings of your heart. Love them all & look forward to a new Willard, new embroidery kits, cups plates…you are on a roll for sure! Enjoy every moment…there’s no place like New England in Autumn! xoxo to you, Joe & Jack!
Susan — thank you for brightening my day with a new autumn blog. It’s my favorite time of the year too. When I have time, I’ll go back and make a copy of the yummy looking recipes. I noticed that Ray’s brownies are priced in Pounds.
Is it possible to order them here in the U.S.? Would they be stale by the time I received them? 🙁 They look really decadent! Guess I’ll have to make my own.
You remind me that I need to go out and photograph the season before it’s gone.
You’re such a good influence on me!! Looking forward to making short ribs with homemade pumpkin pie for dessert.
Ray doesn’t send to the US! 😥 Have to go there to get them!
Dear Susan,
Thanks for the joy of living that you bring to us!
I always say thank you for your blog and I truly mean it. It is 81° here in coastal NC today. The weatherman promised some rain and then Fall weather for us later this afternoon. I am excited to shut off air conditioning , but thankful I have it, to open our windows. This may be my last day in shorts for the season. Now I just have to work on our puppy to not eat acorns from the oak tree out front. The squirrels have abandoned my bird feeders and are starting to collect acorns. 🎃 Halloween! We get zillions of kids for Halloween too. Our neighborhood is one of few subdivisions in our town. Kids from area farms and neighboring roads are literally trucked in. Adults, teens, kids all go trick or treating. Throngs of people roam the streets. Our homes are all decorated inside and out. I have to buy tons and tons of candy. It is so much fun! Thank you for sharing pictures of everything. Love you tons.
Well, it is a chilly fall 54° here this morning. Cozy leggings and long sleeved shirt today. But the air smells so good. Had to write again. Twitter limits me and I am chatty. Awww, I wish you lived next door to me. Lots to share. Apple tasting was always a September lesson in my Kindergarten class. We tasted 4 different types with distinct flavors, described their colors, taste, similarities, and then voted on 1 favorite and graphed it all. 🍁 Yay fall! 🎃 🍁 🐩
What a fun thing to do, Peggy! xoxo Yay fall!
good Morning Susan and Girlfriends.. Happy Autumn!!! I just love this time of year, so warm and cozy and the beautiful colors… I am forever an Autumn girl. I got hooked of the Fall many years ago when I was little, I loved all the colorful leaves and when all the kids could we would rake a huge pile of leaves under a neighbor’s tree and climb up on a big branch and jump into the pile. it was fun and part of our Fall tradition. I also went walnut gathering, they had walnuts trees up and down the street and it was harvest time so I would go gather as much as I could carry in my canvas bag ( and it was big let me tell you) bring them home and spread them out on screens my dad set up for me in the back to dry the husks and get the walnuts out. then I would bag the nuts in paper sacks I bought at the store and sell them for $1.00 a bag whole or shelled for Christmas baking, that was how I made my Christmas money for presents for family and friends. I sold tons of walnuts each fall, especially around Thanksgiving. we had one old guy that lived at the corner and he had a whole half acre of walnut trees and he let me come and pick them, boy did I pick, and he would get more down by shaking the trees for me, it was a fun time of the year. I just enjoyed my favorite Fall tradition, I got new warm slippers this weekend, and enjoyed a nice warm fire this morning along with a hot cup of orange spice tea. later today I may just enjoy a quiet moment out on the front porch and try my latest discovery of honey maple tea from Vermont. I love the fall and always will, its my favorite time of the year. Happy Autumn everyone, and many Happy Autumn memories to you all. Autumn hugs….. 🙂
Also, I love the Musica today! Whenever I see a cricket in the Fall, I sing Jiminy’s song to it! 😊
Wonderful blog my dear, thank you so much!!! You help me feel better……about stuff……God Bless……♥xo♥
Hi Susan. Happy fall day to you. I just got home from my cleaning job and sat down for some lunch and found your new and lovely post! So nice to come home to. It’s brisk and chilly here and I love it. My back yard is covered in golden pine needles. Even when the sun isn’t shining the woods and lawn give the impression of light glowing. The brisk air makes me feel more energetic and productive and gets my creative juices flowing. My Birthday is coming on the 23rd and My hubby always takes the day off to spend it with me. We usually go for a ride and have a nice lunch and to stop at antique shops along the way. We always pack the clippers in the car just in case we get lucky and find some bittersweet growing along the road. I have always felt lucky that my birthday is in the fall.
The lovely woman I clean for gave me a real treasure today. It’s a little cookbook called the New England Butt’ry Shelf Cookbook by Mary Mason Campbell with illustrations by Tasha Tudor. It’s a sweet little book feel so lucky to have it. Have you ever seen it?
Have a lovely rest of the day, I’m going outside to crunch in the leaves and breath in some of that heavenly fall air. Love ya! <3
SWEET husband!!
Happy Birthday Mary! Yes, on that book, I have seen it, and you’re right, it’s charming, although I never got around to making anything from it. If you do, let me know how it comes out!
Your home is just so charming and really carries off the Autumn and Halloween flair! I especially like your chunky knitted sweater that carries all your fall leaves and berries home. I need one like that. Happy Fall!
Hi Susan! I recently finished reading your book, Martha’s Vineyard Isle of Dreams and THOROUGHLY enjoyed every page-didn’t want it to end! Your books have inspired me for many years, beginning with your first cookbook as a newlywed 28 years ago! It was so wonderful to go “behind the scenes” (via this book) to your beginnings as an illustrator/author and your courageous move to dreamy Martha’s Vineyard. This book was very interactive– had me laughing out loud, gasping at parts, cheering you on, and of course cooking and baking 🙂 Easy to be friends with you! Thank you for so many wonderful books, thoughts, recipes, and of course, beautiful art! I have one question: Do you still live at Holly Oak? Or what happened to that house? Do you speak of it in another book?
Your house looks fantastic decorated for Halloween! I love your Casper….I have a Joe (his real name) of my own who is very handy. I wonder if I can get him to replicate something similar? Hmm…
Lovely post! I’m really looking forward to seeing your selection of the new Embroidery Kits. It’s great that you found a US company to produce them. Our families will be coming for Halloween this Saturday and you inspired me to put some extra effort in my decorations. I’m a star pumpkin girl, too! I love the garland over your kitchen table. Do you know where you got it? Thanks!
Yes, it was all by itself, in a bowl, in an antique store! If I knew where there was more, I would definitely tell you!
Susan-
I love you, also! You once wrote about Gladys Taber that the things that were important to her, were important to you to and how that truth gave you hope. I feel the exact same way about you. So much of what you share is exactly how I feel too! We are kindred spirits. We truly are. Yesterday, I made your bean soup (so delicious) watched The Ghost and Mr. Chicken and started embroidering dish towels for Christmas gifts. I cannot wait to see your embroidery kits! YAY! I’m so excited. Thank you, wonderful Susan!
xxoo Debby
Susan,
I love your blog, Willard and your positive attitude on life. Wish we were neighbors.
Best wishes,
Marie
Thanks for the lovely Autumn blog, Susan — this season is one of my favorites, right along with Winter, Spring and Summer in New England! Wishing your lovely friend, Rachel, a very happy birthday, and I almost feel I know her from your visits and blogs.
I was very interested in the “old” photograph of your house … it almost looks like there is a tower in the left behind the house, and another house to the right. Have you done any searching on the history of your house? I think it would be very interesting to know about its past … and I do realize you know some of the history of the gardens and arbor from the previous owners.
A very happy Autumn to you, Joe and Jack …
I love love love Autumn! Thank-you for this wonderful blog post!!!
Happy fall! It has FINALLY come to the South! Every year I have ghost envy! Maybe you could find someone to make bunches and sell them next year! : )
Beautiful post! I so enjoyed reading it even though I am already in the fall mood; this just added to the things I love about fall. And yes, I think orange (as in pumpkins) and blue (as in blue and white dishes) look just wonderful together. That Autumn cup is lovely!
We are in the throws of Autumn now here in SW Washington St. The trees are all different colors with deep red the brightest. I need to go over a couple streets from my house and take a few pictures and post one to Facebook. We are having company for Thanksgiving this year. They are from southern CA, but last year moved up to mid Oregon. My daughter, whom we haven’t seen since the first part of Spring will be here next weekend. Can’t wait!! She only lives 2 1/2 hours’ drive from us, but she works at a fruit packing house, inputting all the orders for around the world. During cherry season…. spring into summer, she is working 10 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can see why we don’t see her then. Autumn, oh yes, you got to love this season!! I am thinking Christmas for making cards though. I am looking forward to a new Christmas stamping kit from Gina K Designs coming in the mail today. I make one of my cousin’s Christmas cards for her and it does take a while to finish up and then send to her in NH.
Here’s to Autumn and all the changing colors , candy and Halloween!
xoxo,
Carol M
I have missed so much this summer..barely checking in and being busy just doesn’t seem to be a good enough reason. You do Autumn so well and I needed to connect again because basically you do everything so well and I’ve missed the inspiration. When I did finally sit down and connect with the blog, I was so disappointed that I didn’t know about and consequently missed out on the Autumn cup. I love all of your books but the Autumn Book is my favorite so having a cup to go with it would have been just perfect. So glad I checked in today to see a few more cups were just made available !!!! I got one!!! Yay for 2nd chances!. If you should happen to be thinking of a Spring cup….I’m soooo hoping it has pansies on it. That makes me think of your friend Sharon Lovejoy when she had a column in Victoria Magazine ,I think it was. It was the first time I heard the term “hearts-ease” . Have a wonderful day
Missed you Cindy, happy to see you here!
Dear Susan,
If you Google haloween you’ll find the origin is not Christian. Not all would include it in a Newsletter. Your choice, of course. Kitty photos are always welcome and your Autumn pictures are lvely. Thank you.
It’s just fun Carmen. For children to get dressed up and play and get candy. I don’t think very many of us would regard it as religious. So many of our holidays had pre-Christian roots, but over the years, they’ve changed to what they are today.
Enjoyed your autumn post. I miss the season changes so much! btw that candle in that little green creamer…lovely!
Susan,
I was wondering why there are rings on the birthday cake? Is that an English tradition? Thanks for another great post.
It’s something that my girlfriends started many years ago … I’m not sure how, but for years we’ve always put our rings around the birthday girl’s candles … then when she makes a wish, we get to make one too, and when she blows out the candles, ALL of our wishes come true. Now our guys put their wedding rings on too. I love it too, feel free to borrow it!
Every blog, every painting, every word you utter brings such warmth and a smile to my day.
I treasure your view of the world, and my admiration is beyond words.
Happy Fall~my favorite time of year!
I had to laugh at the suggestion to mark planting pumpkins on your calendar! For several years I have marking things on my calendars for the following year. Last year I wrote on this year’s Columbus Day square that all of my wool sweaters were in the cedar chest (my late Mother’s, bought for her when she became engaged by my Grandmother – there is even an engraved plate inside with their names on it). However, it has been so warm that I haven’t had a need for wool sweaters yet. I am hoping we get some very cool weather soon! Next, I need to tell you that I am so happy to see that more cross stitch kits are coming out. I returned to cross stitching about six years ago after a twelve year hiatus, and your “old” kits, which I was tickled to purchase on eBay, were a favorite to do. Now I stitch on linen rather than aida cloth, but I will be glad to make an exception for your kits.
Happy Autumn, Susan and Joe…and to Cuite Pie Kitty as well!
I share your love for all things Autumn! Where I live, here in North Texas, USA, we go directly from hot weather to hot”ish” weather to cold! Very little time is allotted to my favorite season. Very little in the way of leaves changing colors. What a joy to dwell where the air is crisp and the trees abound with color glory! Thank you for sharing your beautiful pictures with us! 😊💕
I just reread th my post …I am sorry for the lack of editing!
You are always a treat for me! Thank you from a 1970 Cal Poly girl.
Oh, Sue! Delicious Autumn it is! The very magical time of the year. Oh, how I wish we had the cool, crisp weather to go along with the amazing blue skies! It is 95 today in Pasadena…supposed to cool down a bit by the weekend. The colors are slowly turning…..and, I can feel the season’s embrace in spite of the warm weather! Thanks for starting off our Monday with this amazing blog post. ♥ peg
Good afternoon Susan and Girlfriends, love that cute ghost, we have a ceramic ghost that sits in our front window and glows every night to folks walking by our house, he is a big ghost, a neighbor made him for me many years ago as a gift to say thanks for the help I gave her when she needed help moving in to her new home in my old neighborhood, I was still a kid and that ghost has been with me ever since, he sort of lights up my Halloweens. love that big old ghost, and I am surprised he survived the move to Oregon without a scratch on him. my in-laws want to borrow him each Halloween, but I will not loan him to them, he is my ghost and he prefers to sit in my front window spooking the neighborhood. our porch is ready, the pumpkins are on the porch and come the weekend before Halloween we will carve a few, roast the seeds and have a good time creating spooky faces to thrill the kids. we never forget to put spice on the cut lid, and Vaseline on all the cut edges to keep our pumpkins looking fresh not shriveled. we put pumpkin pie spice on our pumpkin lids, smells so marvelous and wonderful just like the season. isn’t Fall grand, the season of all. I love this time of year. Happy Autumn and Happy Autumn memories everyone. Autumn hugs…. 🙂
oops meant the best season of all….. embarrassed (blushing) 🙂
I love New England too, and totally agree that the colors and the seasons make all those breath taking moments, I just snapped some pictures in my yard, pulling in the driveway from errands, smiling and feeling happy with the crisp air, and beautiful color. Being a transplanted Bay Area Californian, I just love this place, like you and Thank You for reminding me of all the traditions that make this my home of choice for over 50 year’s! And I’m drinking tea in my Autumn cup, of course.
Thank you for this Susan. I love the whole autumn /Halloween decorating that seems to be in abundance in the US. Gradually some of the loveliest ideas are making their way over here across the pond! I can imagine myself bringing the grandchildren round your area trick or treating. Fortunately a lot of our neighbours are embracing the whole Halloween decorating thing and it’s becoming a real pleasure to take them round and see their excited faces.
Fun! Just take the best parts!
I LOVE, love, love Fall now!! I used to be such a summer girl but no more. I try and sneak fall colors in all year long! So your pictures prompted my questions. Is the Holly Oak house still in your family? There seems to be a lapse in time from when you moved from there, which made me think, hey there is a block of time missing in the story; which begs me to ask, are you going to write/is there going to be another book after you and Joe blossomed to now? I cried so much when you wrote the memorium for your old neighbors and the kitties. Its like I lost time in your story and you hadn’t aged! My heart is so full for you and all you went through, but Id bet youd do it all over again to get to your ‘now’!! I just love you and all your old fashioned goodness, When I see an email from you its like my aunt wrote me a letter. I try and live heartfelt everyday. Hugs xxoo
I would really like to write a book about HOME . . . about this house and others . . . yes, there is a missing piece! And yes, I would do it all again (eeeek!) just to get to here. xoxo
Born and raised in Ontario, I’ve always loved the colours of Autumn. But since moving to British Columbia (Vancouver first, now south Vancouver Island), I miss the fall show. We do get some colour, but nothing like the show in Ontario and the rest of eastern Canada and the US. When I do see some coloured leaves here, I pick them all up, bring them inside and use them to match the colours of my quilting fabrics to make Autumn quilts. Mother Nature is very good at putting beautiful colour combinations together. Some you might not have even thought of.
Leaves, leaves, glorious leaves!!! I am still laughing at the thought of Joe hiding in the bushes while you are parading down the pathway adorned in all your fall glory 🙂 🙂 🙂
I love your Casper. Do you think you could use a tomato cage for part of the body? Just a thought and add a frame for arms. Happy Halloween. I’m alway happy when I see your name pop up.
That sounds like a really good start! Wire hangers might be put into action too!
I love fall too! My favorite season! Thank you for sharing your love with us…you are so delightful and your posts and newsletters make me smile 🙂
Thanks Susan ~ just for being You! xxoo
Ahhhh, Autumn! My favorite season. I am SOOO thankful to have lived in upstate NY my entire life. I LOVE it here with all the changes. This was a wonderful reminder of my many blessings. Thank You Susan!
Good Afternoon, Susan!
Thank you for a wonderful post! Autumn is my favorite time of the year too.
(Your leaves sweater is fabulous…you are adorable.) Thought of you last night while I watched PBS…looking forward to Victoria too!
The antique photo of your house… omg! I do wish I could time-travel back…
Enjoy the day!~ Hugs.
PS… A message to anyone who hasn’t made the marmalade tea bread yet…don’t wait a minute longer! It is beyond delicious!!!
Susan, please tell me why you all put your rings on the birthday cake candles? It looks so pretty, but there must be more to it than that!
Living in Phoenix now, I miss autumn. Thank you for a piece of yours!
It’s something my girlfriends on the Island started … so long ago, I don’t remember how it began, but for years we’ve put our rings over the birthday candles on each others cakes, so when the birthday person makes her wish, we all get to make a wish too. She blows them out, and our wishes all come true! Now we’ve taken it to England and you can take it to Phoenix!
This is such a sweet tradition.
Isn’t it? We love it! Feel free to make it your own!
You have just made my whole week! I was able to go back and order myself an Autumn mug! I kept putting off treating myself when it first came out and by the time I decided to do it, they were all gone. And I missed the ‘seconds’ that you had for a short time. This time I bought it in time and I’m on pins and needles with anticipation. I grew up in Ohio with delicious Autumn and have now been in Florida far too long. I miss the colors and get homesick every year. I know this mug will help. <3 <3 <3
Hi Susan,
Thanks for brightening a gloomy day!
They’re saying we’ll get a frost overnight – so maybe it will f
finally feel like fall here! Yayyy!!!
Tricia in CT
Sometimes I wish I lived in your town – especially when you describe it so lovingly! We are Missourians life-long, and can’t imagine living elsewhere. But now we are in a private subdivision where almost every resident is well past 60 yrs. old; so no children other than one home where two little babes live with their parents. No trick or treating goes on here at all. We don’t even bother with decorations now except a wreath on the door. BTW, your Casper almost looks like a lamp shade framework inside. I bet you could fashion something similar with a tomato cage and wire!
I did so enjoy reading your post today! All I’ve wanted to do lately is cook and bake! I made a delicious Caramel Praline Apple pie this weekend, and plan to make Chicken and Dumplings this weekend if I can get the family here to help us eat it! HA-ha!
Hi Susan,
I really enjoyed this post about Autumn… It has to be spectacular in New England and you clearly make every moment a celebration. We’ve only been to Montreal and Quebec in the fall but being from Southern California I had never seen anything like that before…It took my breath away!
Also, I always love seeing pics of your mustachioed kitty… Makes me smile everytime… My little tortie cat is asleep next to me as I write this. :-).
Thanks Susan.. I always am happy to see your email in my mailbox. 🙂
So, so happy that you had some extra cups from the sold out ones. I missed the autumn one and was so disappointed. Just went and ordered it! Yay!!!
Thank you for all the autumn inspiration! Hugs from Wisconsin!
Hello, lovey. You feel like a new old friend, though we’ve never met. My friend Pam and her daughter Brooke met you recently at a luncheon and they bought your “A Fine Romance” for me, so we’re re-acquainted!
Last night I made a favorite soup, torn from the back cover of a very old catalog from a place called “Black Dog” – have you ever heard of it?😀 – called “Joe’s Favorite Corn Chowder”, my first notes on it are from July 1997!!! I add roasted chicken breasts but it’s PERFECT.
At last, I’ve figured out who Joe is. Took me 20 years but I do love another happy ending. Thanks for your sweet blog. 💋
You always, always, always brighten my day. Thank you.
Love Fall~love you, your books, your recipes, your trips, your Jack and especially your blog; have been a fan for YEARS; you cheer me up when I need it, I love how supportive your Joe is; how creative; Fall has arrived in upstate NY…not as pretty as Mass. yet…leaves are blowing and day is crisp…thanks for all your inspiration, Susan xo
A lovely post! I bet the kids love to run up the walk for a treat.
Thanks for the recipes.
Enjoy…
Hi Susan,
I love autumn in New England. We just came home after a wedding on a hilltop in Vermont. Gorgeous fall color everywhere! On the way home we stopped to see the farm where my husband lived for a few years as a teenager and the farm is much the same as it was back then. It was a trip down memory lane for him and for me it was a chance to peek at an important part of his past. He had worked in the apple orchard so we visited their farm stand (of course!) and bought Cortland apples so I could make some pies when we got home. (Using your Grandma’s pie crust recipe which I love!). I appreciated the full-circle-ness of the experience, serving him pie made with apples from the farm where he once lived and worked. He pointed out all kinds of important places…(see that corner of the house? That’s where my mother was sitting in that picture I showed you)…
And now that I’m home I’m collecting beautiful leaves and acorns on my morning walk. I pile them on a counter and take pictures of them as soon as I get into the house. They are casually stunning.
Thank you for the lovely post, once again timed perfectly as I just finished a project with a deadline. Reading your cheerful words and seeing your artwork and photos constitutes the perfect reward!
Susan, Autumn is my favorite season and you make me enjoy it even more! Thank you so much for inspiring me for so many years. XO
I had to come back to finish this post…after a rush shopping trip to your virtual store to get one of those Autumn mugs!! Pre-order the Winter one, too! Plus a few other goodies I’ve been drooling over, Lol! Maybe a “kitty love” mug in the future?? And I do hope you’ll get some more dream charms in…
Definitely fall moving in here today. Cool, breezy, and frost/freeze warnings for tonight. Maybe soup for dinner? My kitty boys are all snug in their favorite napping spots, curled up in little furry cushions of cuteness! I might have to go join them…
Autumn blessings to you and yours!
The trees here in Colorado are changing into their fall dress. I love the Apsens best. When the sun hits them everything is golden. Down the block are three trees that turn red. I love fall!
This is a post I will keep and savor over and over, whilst sipping my tea in one of your Autumn mugs! Thank you for your heart on your sleeve musings in your blogs. They are so nourishing to my spirit!❤️🍁🍂
Just to let you know,unfortunately, the link doesn’t work for the marmalade tea bread.
Okay, thank you, I’ll fix it!
Hi Susan,
Great post. You are so lucky to live in that part of the country. I always loved New England. I went to Cape Cod years ago but have never been back since. Can’t wait for your new items. I do both needlepoint and counted cross-stitch. Jack looks adorable. I would be picking him to hug him all the time. He would probably keep running away. I LOVE the star pumpkins Joe did. I also watched The Durrells in Corfu. Did not know it was coming back and it was a nice surprise. Have a wonderful rest of the autumn.
Last week we experienced fires–real fires–really close fires—we were SO Lucky–so many were not.
Needless to say, my gratitude list is great and I thank you from “the heart of my home” for such a heart felt post today–love reading them so much.
With love,
Robin
Blessings on you and yours Robin. 💞
I live in Sonoma County and have been very heartsick to watch my home town ravaged by the firestorms. Your blog adds such a bright and light spot to my heavy heart. I can’t thank you enough for sharing your life with us. When you take us on a walk, share a view of the moon, set a table for a celebration, share a recipe, let us play with your cat, inspire with a delightful quote, you ease a sad heart. You remind us of our own simple, yet lovely moments, as you put your arms around us as you hug your girlfriends with words.
I appreciate you and am so grateful for you gifts of sharing and nurturing and homemaking, and teaching us about things like “hyyge.” You let us know that we CAN make a home wherever we are; we CAN share our homes with others, we CAN open our arms and lives to others; because we might need those arms wrapped around you one day.
I’ve been heartsick right along with you.💔 I can barely believe it. I grew up with California fires, but I never saw one take out thousands of homes, whole neighborhoods. It’s shocking, and all so quick. I pray for you every day. Your words are beautiful Lorna. xoxoxo All my best to you.
I’ve never claimed to have ESP or second sight or anything like that, but just this morning while I was getting ready to go to work, I had a case of the MONDAY DREADS (I work in university accreditation – you can probably imagine I sometimes dread what’s next) and I was thinking – OH! I do think it’s time for a Susan Branch blog post and I feel today will be it! And that thought made me happy. And then, like magic, it’s here! And I’m happy! THANK YOU!
Raking leaves and jumping in them, reading under a blanket in front of the fireplace, pumpkin spice everything, the changing light, bittersweet with mums, sunflowers in a vase, a wooden basket of apples, pumpkins in an open field, coffee and journaling, puppy tails wagging out from under warm sweaters, walks in the morning mist, random acts of comfort food for neighbors – celebrating Autumn with you Susan!
Just wonderful – but tell me, why the rings on the cake ??????
It’s something my girlfriends on the Island started … we put our rings over the birthday candles, so when the birthday person makes her wish, we all get to make a wish too. She blows them out, and our wishes all come true! Now we’ve taken it to England!
My very favorite season and you make it so very special…and I may even be able to get an Autumn mug…if I act fast! We have this season in Houston, though not as authentic — the colors in New England can’t be duplicated. It was 93 yesterday, so we have a few days to go yet…thank you, as always, for making my day…hugs to Jack…
Sharon
Thanks for your Fall post! Here in Ohio its getting colder, and they say we may get FROST tonight! Good thing we brought in all our plants, they would not be happy! Mom made one of your cake recipes from your books for her book club and they went like crazy! YUMMS! Happy Fall to you and yours! OXOX Linda
I love your Autumn inspiration! Just what I needed, no sun here today…NOW I’ve got my Sun, thanks to you…perfection…color, flowers, leaves, news AND, Spicy Short Ribs…will get them from the butcher tomorrow…will my hubby be surprised, never made them before! Looking forward to rounding up fresh ingredients and into the oven…YUM, YUM, YUM. Thank you so much Susan for filling me up with Autumn!
Your watercolors are amazing….I am taking a water color class but it seems so boring compared to your talented self.
So—i have been practicing with all of your pictures….The art teacher even says,he doesn’t know how you do it??
You just said “3 haired brush”——-that would be great for the finer lines?
I need to practice…with a cup of tea.
Where do the years go? I hit the big 60 this week and I wonder how on earth did this happen? I’m celebrating with a half bottle of real Champagne and a double order of Rachel’s Sugar Moon Brownies ~ it’s the little things that make life BIG! {Double Chocolate and the Chocolate Orange kinds if you are wondering}
If Joe hides in the bushes, then it’s time to get him an open weave beret!
I love the tea light in the green glass jug! And your purple {favourite colour} Windsor Ware. Peek~a~Boo! Always something different, and I love The Durrells also. You do know that there are two more commissioned series, don’t you? We had the last Victoria of the second series last evening. It’s good, but it’s not Downton Abbey.
Sitting here, listening to the remains of ‘Hurricane Ophelia’ whipping around my cottage and rattling my chimney, as she has done all day long, and thanking the Powers That Be for safe passage through this windy day. Some parts of the UK saw a red Saharan sun, where particles of sand carried in from the Sahara to the UK on Ophelia {I love Hamlet, btw} and all I could think is how our ancestors, devoid of the knowledge and technology, would have been prostrate on the ground with fear and terror, praying for their very existence at a red dawn rising.
I love Autumn, I always have, but thanks to you I now have many more Kindreds with whom to share my love of this season. Heartfelt gratitude to you, and all my Autumn loving Kindred Spirits!
~~~Waving~~~from Across the Pond~~~Deb in {Very and more so than usual} Wildly Windy Wet Wuthering Wonderful West Wales xoxo
😘
We ALL love you! I got to do something on my bucket list for my big 70th bday and it included visiting Martha’s Vineyard with 3 good friends. We did go by your beautiful home – tried not to stalk too much though. We have heard how you have done minor stalking yourself at places you have loved so we didn’t feel too guilty. We loved the fall of New England and are enjoying it here too. We met some “luv-lee” people (as Susan would say!) on Martha’s Vineyard and look forward to going again sometime in the future. Thanks for the cheering up you do with each blog, willard, etc. ❤️ paige
New England and Martha’s Vineyard really is just as you say… Magical and WonderFULL!
In Autumn especially. How do I know? I moved there after buying your calendars and stickers and reading all about it right here. It’s a long story and one day I will write you a long letter all about it that you can read while having tea. You must be properly thanked for a beautiful and healing time in my life. I miss it everyday. Love you too dear Susan, you are forever warm in my heart.
Love Fall, but this year our lilac bush got mixed up and is blooming. The birds are singing late afternoon. The leaves are just dropping and have given up trying to be colorful. Your picture are beautiful and makes me homesick for New England. Thanks for your lovely letter. ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Cross Stitch Susan Branch!!!!!! Can I say how excited I am????? I have been an avid stitcher for over 30 years and have always wanted to cross stitch your designs. Can we hope that Jack will be in some of your kits????? 🙂 Not SB without Jack! 🙂
Here in Rochester. NY, we’re enjoying early autumn, as well. Thanks so much for the reminder to revel in it! Alice
My favorite time of the year! My birthday is in October and I do believe that the sky is at its deepest blue this month…always! I too love whatever is cozy, delicious to eat and decorative to bring indoors to drape and garland. And, I LOVE your artwork!!!!!!
Hello Dear Susan!
Recipes… Dear Memories… Embroidery Kits… AUTUMN… Yea! I love your vintage house picture! How wonderful to have one from ages gone by. So many FUN things are happening in your life. Wishing we could get up to walk out to the sea.
It’s FALL! leaves kissed with gold ushering in holidays much too much too close to each other. Oh that we had more time to enjoy them all a bit longer.
Know you are loved heart to heart through all the seasons.
XOXO
Georgie from NJ