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.
Love the whole blog! Is the squirrel print available for sale? On a tea towel or print that could be framed? So very cute!
I put him on the Autumn cup … maybe I should have a cross stitch made with him!
Susan,
A cross stitch of the squirrel would be great fun!
I think so too!
I love squirrels and a cross stitch of that adorable squirrel would be a wonderful idea. be a perfect addition to my framed cross stitch of Autumn pumpkins and leave.
Yep!
Autumn colors are supreme – pumpkins, gourds, leaves, late blooming flowers – Nature’s magic! Every time I read your post I want to “nest” – bake, clean, polish, knit, read, sip tea. Thank you for the inspiration!
Makes me happy to hear that, Ann . . . Big bandaid for the soul!
I never, ever tire of the gorgeous fall colors here in the Pacific Northwest. We didn’t have colors like this in Nevada. Beige was the predominant color there! Lol. There was beauty of course. Just not as abundantly widespread as it is here. Of course you’ve also gotta love the rain to live here. Looking forward to the next Willard. Happy fall Susan. 🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁
I finished Willard yesterday, off it went to Kellee, then to the people who prepare it for mailing, and it will start going out next Tuesday through Thursday. Happy fall Debbie!
Yay, Willard. I just stopped in your online store yesterday and, yikes, stuff was there but I didn’t know(!), like the heart plates already, the teapot plates, the special little stands with words & pretty art; I went a bit crazy with the buying (I wasn’t the early bird who caught the worm last time … as in, I dearly wanted one of your vintage recipe boxes, so lost out on that one by reading your post about them too late; darn [!] … so, this time, I jumped). Is the shop’s lone cross-stitch kit YOUR artwork or somebody else’s? I bought it, but just curious. It has to be yours. Can’t wait to see more of the cross-stitch kits; they’re coming soon? Just in time for Christmas, too; I’m getting some as gifts for friends. Terrific little stocking stuffers.
Surprise! Lots of news about the new dishes in the Willard that will start going out Tuesday morning (through Thursday)! You beat me to it Vicki! That little kit you asked about is, I think, the very last of the old embroidery kits we used to make, but yes, I wrote all about the new ones in Willard! Have a wonderful day!
Oh, good then; lots more to hear about. I do check your store fairly often because it’s one of my favorite online stores.
Susan,
What a glorious post! Poems, pumpkins, recipes, ghosts, Trick or Treaters, celebrations, and nature in all her glory! Thoroughly enjoyed every word….you inspire me!
Thanks kindly,
Linda
You’re welcome Linda!
Loved your email. I live in western Washington state and though our seasons are not as extreme as New England’s can be, we have the four seasons also and October is my very favorite month because of all the gorgeous maple trees. Japanese maples are brilliantly colored fire orange! One of my favorite things about the fall season is the dappled light during the day that is different from the rest of the year.
Thanks for your beautiful pictures!
Maples are amazing when it comes to color! Thanks for being here Rene!
Thank you so much for giving us a glimpse of glorious Autumn in your part of our United States. I do hope to visit “SOMEDAY” although I don’t know when that will be. Mother Nature is taking her time this year bring cooler temperatures and colored trees. Enjoy the season🍁
When you come, put Vermont on your travel list . . . Amazing color along with old covered bridges, and the tiny towns with every elegant building gleaming in white paint, surrounded in yellow and red trees.
Thank you Susan for warming my heart, Kathy
Happy you could visit, Kathy!
What an amazing post; it drew me in and went everywhere. Wonderfully illustrated too. I wouldn’t like to live without the seasons. You might (or might not) enjoy the take on Halloween over at A Bit About Britain! – http://bitaboutbritain.com/on-halloween/ Best regards.
Great history of Halloween, thank you. There’s a small movement afoot in America to say Halloween is anti-religion! I am anti-that-theory. I LOVED Halloween as a child, it was so exciting to choose your costume and get dressed up and go out after dark where pumpkins were on fire, and they gave us candy, and our neighbors were so funny and happy in porch light! I would hate if they took that away, there was a happy magic in it . . . so we do it for the kids. 🎃 We’re in a neighborhood where tons of kids come through, and we have friends who live out in the country who come here for the fun of opening our front door. Thanks Mike, delightful story about Halloween!
Thanks Sue; given its origins, no one could actually claim Halloween is anti-religion! I agree it can be fun, too; I have happy memories of fabulous parties when the kids were small. A bit scary, but nothing nasty. 🙂
Yes, however truth is getting short shrift these days, fear sells! Thank you for doing the research!
Dear Sue
I just saw the portrait you did for Rachael. It took my breath away… I can only imagine Rachael’s reaction. I wish you could have been there to see it. You totally captured her essence. Seldom have I seen a portrait of anyone that is so spot on. Many times there is a strong likeness, but this is so much more. The love that you have for Rachael definitely shows through. Have a wonderful day..Love Sue
Thank you! I loved working on that painting of Ray! I’ve always had a yearning to do portraits, long before I did watercolor I doodled around with a pencil drawing of my grandmother I did from a photo ~ then a few years later, another of a black and white album cover of a portrait Barbra Streisand (it was raining and I was doodling). It’s just so interesting to me, but I don’t often have a need for portraits when I’m doing my regular work, like a calendar page or a book page (although I’ve managed to squeeze in portraits of John Lennon, Martin Luther King, and Roy Rogers!). But I really wouldn’t want to work “on commission” as so many artists do, because I like to choose my subjects! Each time I do it, I try to learn how to control the watercolor, practice and do it better . . . with Rachel, blond hair on white paper was my biggest challenge! I’m still learning. Thank you Sue!
Being an October baby, Autumn is my absolute favorite season of the year! I was lucky enough to grow up in Ohio/Michigan and enjoy all 4 seasons and their traditions. When my family moved to California when I was 12, I was not only in culture shock but also season shock! I mean it’s a nice place to visit, but how do you celebrate the Holidays without the proper weather to accompany it?! Now I live in Beaverton, Oregon (yes, we have beavers!), and I get to enjoy an occasional snow storm- but we do have glorious Fall colors! Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm!
Jenn
Even when I was young, it seemed a little wrong for it to be 80 degrees on Christmas Day! It didn’t start to seem normal until the time we rented a little cabin in the snow. Another ah-ha moment for me!
I love this post and you make any season beautiful with all your beautiful pictures
thank you!
Gayle
You’re welcome Gayle, my pleasure!
I love this post. Gayle
Susan! I copied down your Marmalade Cake recipe!! I love, love, love marmalade and I bet the cake will be wonderful! I just love reading your posts!! Have a Happy Autumn!!
Deb Harmon
Enjoy! Thank you Deb!
Have I told you, I just love you and all your stories; but especially how dear everything is to your heart, I think we have to be soul sisters. Everything you love, I also love. I treasure beauty in every beautiful thing God has created. Thank you for all the sharing you give from your heart to all of us. I love all the beautiful pictures, Jack, and your Joe. What a guy! How blessed you both are to found each other. I think God must surely smile when He looks down on you and sees the way you have used your gifts to bless so many others. You are so talented! I so look forward to all you send! God Bless! Enjoy your beautiful Autumn. Maggie
Oh Maggie, that was so nice. Thank you, I’m so happy to have you here. Yes, I came a long way to find Joe, I’m so happy he was looking for me too!
Dear Susan. So love reading your writing, I can visualize all you speak of around you! You make a line of tea towels so awesome with you beautiful description of them dancing in the wind. I love that picture so much! Thanks once again for writing and all the pictures, recipes and stories. I can’t wait to hear about your trip to England. Take care and safe journey! Evelyn
Thank you Evelyn!
I’ve been saving this one to just enjoy when there is nothing to pull me away, when I can sit and listen to the musica and know that Lizzie is fed, my walk is through, it’s nearly pitch dark and all is well. Now I can cozy up with Susan and Joe and Jack and smile.
We’ve had few really fabulous colors this year here in Michigan — either they are very late or we’ll just see green till snow takes them away. But I did see a few bright trees. The first leaf, perfect. Solid red. Smashing. And yet, those I discovered later moved me more — half and half, flecks of green or brown spots or yellow and red together. I saved them to paint! Yes, you have this autumn thing down very well!
Fleeting moments . . . and gone for so long!
I am thrilled I got a chance to purchase the Autumn cup! I missed it the first time around and boy was I bummed. Everyone got tired of hearing me complain about how stupid I was to miss my chance to get the cup, etc., etc. There was a lot of eye rolling at my house (and not on my part.)
I sent an email to customer service asking if the cup would ever be available again. I could only imagine how busy everyone was and waiting to receive a “sorry” reply was all I could imagine. So, I cannot tell you how thrilled I was to receive an email from Sheri letting me know the Autumn cup was available again. My poor fingers were so nervous that I kept making mistakes with my online order. But, finally….success! I am now a happy camper (as are all those who had to listen to my endless lamentations.)
I love this cup! Thank you Susan and thank you Sheri.
LOL, the eye rolling! I’m so happy Sheri was able to help ~ you’re a sweetheart to tell me! xoxo
I have dealt with Sheri (saying this happily) too many times to mention and she is a gem. (It’s not because I’ve had a problem, but more about questions. She gives great customer service.) One of my regrets on the regret list is that I never knew you had, at one time, a brick & mortar store, Susan. It’s a drive-able distance; a fun weekend excursion. I would have just loved it SO MUCH. I have a friend in the town I’m in now who did know about it and she said she was just drunk on the store, saying “I was Susan Branch obsessed!!”
It was a good one. Roses, picked by me in my garden, every day, I took them to the store. I didn’t get a lot of book writing done in those days, always haunting antique stores trying to find special things for my store!
As always, this was a lovely post. Autumn is my favorite time of year. We’ve had a fairly warm fall in our neck of the woods (~60 miles SW of Chicago, IL) and I’m looking forward to the first frost to finally put aside the yard work.
I pre-ordered my winter mug and showed a great deal of restraint in not ordering more. I love your mugs I have so far, and plan to buy all the four seasons, but I have to consider cabinet space regarding the others (we’re actually considering downsizing within a couple years… Eek!). However, I’m not sure I’ll be able to resist the Castle Cottage mug. I mentioned before we are planning a trip to Ireland in 2018, and I was hopeful that we could make it to the picnic. But now it looks like a fall trip will work better for us. So I feel completely justified in buying the mug because I’ll likely miss the actual picnic. It feels like a must have item… Ok, that’s settled.
I’m looking forward to the new issue of Willard. It’s always a treat to find it in my email.
I hope you and Joe will continue to enjoy fall. Thanks again for such a fun post.
Yes, mug much less expensive than trip! We’ll miss you, but I know you’ll be with us in spirit and on the blog!
Yummy Autumn pages! and just before those, that oh so sweet drive to Maine. I was feeling very restless after seeing New England in all it’antique and quilty glory. Wish I could go again. Thanks for the vicarious wonderfulness.
Yippee – Your Joe’s Black Dog Mug was still there this morning! Now I have a “My Joe’s (or whatever his name will be)” mug to serve him his “cup of joe.”
Funny how things work out -like naming cat Jack on way to see him and he has Jack name tag around his neck……
I’M A BELIVER!
The Sycamore outside my place is turning red only on it’s upper right half…..
spectacular.
$10 for Joe’s Mug (with SUZI ’70 on bottom) enables be to have him & her mugs from both of you. Yea, thanks.
Grasshopper has a sterling silver Tiffany Child’s Bowl for water
with my first cat Tux’s name since he was a Tuxedo engraved on it. Only the best of our babies.
Much love and gratitude for enriching my life, Susan, Sandra
Jack drinks from a Beatrix Potter child’s dish with a teeny chip on the side! Had to rescue it from the thrift store!
Hi Susan! Thanks for helping to usher in this wonderful season!! Am watching our friends on the island of Corfu. Don’t you love the dresses the women wear on this show?
Yes I do, I love the whole quirky thing!
Hi Sue, I have written to you before,about grasmere gingerbread and the fact I’m English ,well I want to thank you , my husband died suddenly six days ago ,and I,veg laid here tonight catching up on your blogs , and looking at your pictures and drawings and it passed time for me and stopped my tears. Just wanted to say ,hug your Joe tight and enjoy every minute , we never made it to retirement , and our plans never will come to be. But one morning we got up and drove to Niagara Falls and then we never stopped ,what was a day out for lunch turned into a six day road trip .We carried and drove to find your lovely Martha’s Vineyard.nevervactually made it on the ferry as it was booked that day,but thank you for giving us the idea to just go .and make those memories .xxxxx
Oh my Lynne, what words do I have, absolutely none. I can’t imagine. Virtual arms around you and good warm hug. One day at a time now sweetheart. xoxoxoxo
Hi Susan ! I got my autumn cup ! I ordered the winter one so am a happy girl. I am so “pumped” about the cross stitch kits and patterns. I have enjoyed doing this for years. I am now cross stitching on clothes for grandchildren. Finding waste canvas has not been easy. But like everything, seems this quiet time activity is making a comeback! Can’t wait to see what you have done. I look everyday to see if you have posted. so enjoy going back through the old posts too! I will pull up all the autumn ones and will do the old Dec ones another time. Hanging buffalo check curtains today in the room we have set up for the children ( 6 years, twins are 2 and baby will be 1 Christmas day ! Yes, kinda crazy ! Enjoying a time out with my autumn cup and a roll.
Happy comment Cindy! Thank you!
Good morning Susan and Girlfriends. a lovely Fall day here, the trees are brilliant and alive with color and after a good long soaking rainy period, we can all breathe that wonderful crisp air. the barnyard crew is doing fine, settling in for the cold Fall and the cold Winter to come. I still have to get out and reefed the squirrels, the wild turkeys came over for a visit and devoured their breakfast so I had better put out some more for them. I do love my little squirrels and I hate to see them go hungry. the cats are in the windows watching the feeders and the suet feeders this morning, busier than usual today. saw some deer, looks like a cold winter coming in, their coats are much darker these days , so are the squirrels’ coats darker and thicker. means another cold winter is coming our way. BRB better get that food out to the squirrels. okay I’m back….. had to clean up a cat disaster… food fight I guess. have a mountain of laundry to get done…. guys get so dirty when they go hunting, and boy do they stink…PHEWY!!! what on earth do they get into that smell so bad???? the squirrels are now happy, they have their munchies and no turkeys around now. those will be back later this afternoon on the return trip back to their roosting place. now to figure out what to do for dinner… hmmmm sausage, fried potatoes and salad sound pretty good to me, or maybe a grilled cheese sandwich, sausage and soup… decisions, decisions!!! may be nice to me this afternoon and enjoy a cup of hot tea out on the front porch and watch the tractor parade go by, it is harvest time around here, the last of it, mostly squashes, pumpkins and root vegetables. plus I love watching the weather go by and seeing the clouds pass on by. more rain for later on this week… wheeeee!!! have a wonderful day today everyone. Happy Autumn, and Happy Autumn memories. hugs…… 🙂
oops meant reefed the squirrels, and we just had a cat funny…. yesterday was Ed’s birthday and someone gave him a balloon, the helium kind. well it was floating in the living room and Tabitha snagged it with her paws, and KABOOM it popped and 4 bristled up kitties… too funny!!! LOL 😀
LOL, would have loved to see it!
trust me it was hilarious. Tabitha snagged the ribbon and dragged down the balloon and got hold of it in her tiny paws, in went the claws and KABOOM, 4 bristled up cats went scrambling for the 4 corners of the house….. LOL. too funny for words!!! 😀
Bittersweet is fall and so cheery. Some grows at the top of a sand dune in NW Indiana. It’s worth the hike up the dune to see it. Happy Fall.
Oh, how lovely. You truly capture the heart of Autumn.
I hope that I am commenting in the right place to be entered for the dishes! I would so love, love, love to win! I’ve never won before, and just changed career paths and jobs to be home more with my children, so money is a little tight at the moment. This would be a tremendous bright spot! Thank you, Susan, for the pictures and posts – it’s an exciting moment in my day to see your name pop up in my inbox! 🙂
I hope you win Sarah!
Love the new Williard and love the Autumn post…..so much sweetness all around…..~~~~! Lori
Happy Willard Day! Always a celebration to stop and savor your art and writing, home and seasons. Much thanks for this peek of fall and creativity come to life.
Thrilled with your new dishes. Yesterday I checked your site to see if the tea plates are available yet and ordered one for me and one for my sister. I would love to see a quote stand with a Jane Austen quote!
With a happy autumn heart I am saying good morning <3. Please enter me in the contest (thank you!). Thank you Susan and Sherry for having a new stock of autumn mugs. I cherish it every night with my warm mulled cider. It brings me so much joy- you know what I mean!!
Snuggle in and stay warm. Much love, Barbara
Just took a break at work to read Willard–one of the things that tells us it’s finally fall is Friday night supper with grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato-basil soup–now served in our Susan Branch mugs! So, yes, please enter me for the drawing for the plates and dishes and lovely plaques since all would find a very good home.
look forward to your postings, they make me happy!!!!!
Dear Susan…as always an awesome post !!! And yes, Autumn is truly a magical time of the year… We get to see God in all of His glory!!! Thank you so much for sharing and virtually letting us join you as you walk down by the sea!
I loved Willard…I’m running way behind this morning as I had to STOP, grab a cuppa coffee and read Willard!!!
Friends.. Gert
I feel like Anne (with an “e”) when I say I am so glad that I live in a place where there are Octobers. I cannot imagine living in a place without visibly changing seasons. I have been so very blessed with them my whole life, although in all truth where I am living in the UK now, not quite as brightly coloured as the ones from my Eastern Canadian childhood. We just don’t have all the maples. But I am sitting in my cosy brick terraced house while the wind and rain batter our windows and walls, with my freshly crocheted wool lap blanket across my knees, so all is well. I miss having a wood stove, but I guess you just can’t have it all. Oh, how beautiful all of your new cups are. I am hoping to be able to buy myself a few more. I would like one of each. Halloween is not as big a deal over here as it is in North America, but each year I live in hope and buy in bags of candy just in case. I think we actually had ten children last year, so things are improving! I would so love to have a kitty to curl up on my lap, but alas living in an urban area with windows that are screenless, I would be a basket case of worry, so I content myself with your tales of Jack. xoxo PS – Your beret wearing pumpkin carver sure puts a smile on the face! What a dear!
LOVE all the new dishes! Fingers crossed they travel all the way from the studio to me in SLO… 😉 We’re still waiting for Fall to arrive here – spose to be 103 today and dry, windy, Santa Ana’s. Will have to live my Fall vicariously through your pictures of the island for now. The tarantulas are out and looking for love so we’re hoping that means rain is around the corner. Sure hope so!
The tarantulas!!! One time I was driving over San Marcos Pass, and there were tarantulas all over the roads, crossing from one side to the other, I must have seen about 30 of them, which is exactly 30 more than I’d ever seen in my life except, accidentally on TV! What a thing! One needs to keep ones eyes on the road, be strong, and keep driving!!! Praying for rain, ridiculous temperatures for the end of October!
I walk the loop most mornings and once in awhile I see one. They are alittle off-putting but John Lindsay, the weather guy in the Tribune, says they mean we’ll have rain, so I’m going with that!
Just finished reading through Willard…oh how I love getting to peak inside your beautiful little world over there. I just made your Touchdown Chili from the Autumn book and the whole family loved it with a batch of sweet, southern cornbread. SO delicious!
ENTER ME! Thank you so much for a chance to win the entire set of your new dishes. That would be a dream come true.
Happy Fall!
Pick me! I hope this is the right place to enter! Love you and all your works and creations. xo
Enter me❤️️
Put me down in the Willard drawing! The only thing missing from your lovely Willard was a warm creamy bowl of oatmeal! Your words and pictures inspire and warm me! Love makes the world go round!
Thank you Miss Susan for this dear blog. I can count on it every single time to lift my spirits. A rare treasure these days. You are a blessing…just wanted you to know that today. Xo
Thank you!
Enter me! Enter me! : )
Dear Susan, Thank you for sharing your joy and your serious thoughts, the autumn-inspiration and your beautiful artwork. I always enjoy it! Please enter me in the drawing.
The plates and cups are amazing! The wind is blowing the leaves off the trees today in New York! Happy Fall.
Susan, How exciting that you have all these fantastic new treasures! Thank you!
Loved the Willard, as always. It’s now officially fall in my neck of the woods as well, the furnace is coming on now. Fall is my favorite season. I love it but it doesn’t last very long for my taste.
Happy Fall Susan!
P.S. I would love to win the beautiful teapot plates, heart-shaped dishes or quote stands but to win all of them would be beyond amazing!
I want to be your neighbor! You are such a delight. Thank you for sharing all your wonderfulness with us through the years. Happy Fall
Love all the new china! Fingers crossed!
Blessings to you Susan! Love your art!
I would love to be entered into your drawing for your lovely new items! Many thanks to my dear mum for telling me about you!
Thank you for the beauty you bring to the world.
Happy Autumn, Susan!! My favorite mornings start with checking my email and finding there’s a new Willard!!! What a beautiful and inspirational morning you awaken us to!! Because of you, and your books, I took my husband and daughter to Martha’s Vineyard last October…one year ago today, actually. MV was as stunningly beautiful as you have often described it to us and shared over the years. My daughter took a photo of me standing quite close to your front porch which sits in a little frame in my kitchen. Promise, I’m not a stalker, I just had to see your lovely home in person. And it is charming!! It was a wonderful trip and one I’ll never forget. I don’t travel much, so it was a big deal for me. Thank you for inspiring:)
I’m a 6th generation native Californian (from the San Fernando Valley -like you!) and I happily live vicariously through your blog, your books, and your sweet stories you share with all us girlfriends. Even though I live in my MV (Mission Viejo), I read your blog and then joyfully try to set about decorating my little cottage on the lake….hoping to encourage a feeling of autumn, but it’s not quite the same. Considering it was 97 degrees here yesterday, I do my best to decorate pretending in my mind we get the four changing seasons here. A girl can dream!!
Blessings to you!
Love hearing from you Barbi, I’m so happy you enjoyed your visit to the Island. xoxo Yes, on the dreaming!
Absolutely love all the new little items❤️❤️❤️ Guess I’m gonna have to put retirement off, gotta have a big December ☺️…perfect gifts for the girlfriends and Mom
I am enchanted by the story of poppies and and love dancing tea towels! thank you.
PICK ME PICK ME!!!!! please XO
I love everything Susan Branch! I hope I win! xoxo
Loved your blog! So great to see a part of the US I haven’t seen. Here in the Midwest, it’s
Been dark and rainy for 3 days.
So fun to see your take on the good things about fall, and the
World in general. Wonderful to get taken away to happy thoughts. I need to reread your
Willards and blogs. It’s like the old commercial, “Calgon, Take Me Away!” Susan, take me away. A cozy place, just what we need. Thanks!
PS. Would love to win a set of your adorable mugs, plates!
Good morning, Susan! What a delight to wake up this morning to a Willard AND a new blog post! I can’t think of a better way to start a day! Thanks for all of the great news, gift-giving ideas, recipes, and just overall happiness you spread to the world! I LOVE the new products and can’t wait to make some friends happy! Happy autumn!
Thank you Kathy!
I am always so excited when I open my email and find a have one from Willard!
Hi Susan! I am just reading the latest Willard on my break and I’m loving it! I hope you, Joe and Jack are having a lovely, cozy day. I am so hoping I win; I know all my friends would love your things! Have a wonderful day and hopefully it’s not raining too hard there.
Love, Karen xoxo
Enter me! Thank you!
I love your new products! I pre- ordetexand can’t wait for that cute package to arrive! Thank you!
I enjoy you so very much!!
Now that i have finally made it to Martha’s Vineyard, it brings together your stories so vividly! I have loved you for years and years (20 or more) and i am still as excited as ever to see your new creations!
Now that i have finally made it to Martha’s Vineyard, it brings togher your stories so vividly! I have loved you for years (25 or more) and i am still as excited as ever to see your new creations, read your blog, hear your music and eat your food 🙂
Makes me happy to hear that Duana, and I have just as much fun doing it as always! Thank you!
every blog-every picture-every quote you write and post touches my heart! You are my soul sister that I have yet to meet. xo
HI FREIND
I JUST ADORE MR, WILLARD , I LOOK SO FORWARD TO IT , THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR DARLING SELF WITH US
LOVE ALWAYS
JULIE
Lovely bog post, as usual.
I am so excited for the new dishes and the cups, would love to win.
I absolutely adore Garnet Hill, best cotton jammies too – the long and short ones are so comfy. They are my favorite layover jammies at work.
Keep bringing us sunshine and joy – you are simply the best.
I love your new products and hope I’m a winner of some. I have always enjoyed your stories and pictures. Happy Autumn! Enjoy the fresh air it brings.
Autumn is my favorite season!! Pick me, Vanna!
Fingers crossed!
I love Autumn and I love your Williard……good for the soul!
No matter what season, your letters inspire me! What a great talent you have!! Thanks so much for sharing your artistic gifts, Susan.
Love the new Willard!
Tea time is my favorite time of day! I would love to win all those lovely items. Thanks for always brightening my day.
Love! The! Dishes!
Also check out Mary Oliver the writer of wonderful poems I think you would love!
I know of her . . . especially that amazing poem she wrote after 9-11.
I am a huge fan of your blog, books, everything, and have been from the beginning. I am the proud owner of a signed copy of “Heart of the Home”! Such a thrill to have met you in Bakersfield a few years ago!
Please enter me in your draw. I have loved your work for such a long time. I’m drawn to anything with “Susan Branch” on it. Thank you.
Enter me. Have been a fan since your first book. I have all of your books,
and a calendar every year.Mim
Love the blog! It always brightens my day!
Happy Fall!
Thank you for all your cheer and warm notes. Happy Autumn! 🍁
Susan, I just love the dishes, cups, quote stands!! I’m
Breathless from their beauty!! Thank you for
Your generosity in giving us a chance to win them!
What a lovely dream! God bless you real good
Please enter me in your drawing. Thank you.
Susan, I have been happily following you since your first cookbook was published and I own them all. I look forward to Willard’s periodic arrival filled with all things I love and have followed you via your blog and book, on your travels through the English countryside, to places that I have been lucky enough to visit also. It feels as if we are two souls on the same journey through this wonderful life. Thank you for your beautifully inspired art work and your gratitude for all of natures wonderful gifts. You are amazing!
L
Love everything you make, you are so talented!!
Please, please, please enter me, Susan! I’m still nursing “shingles”, and have been happy drinking tea from my Autumn cup. Your blog ALWAYS makes me smile! Thank you!
OH-SO-FUN‼️ Love your blog, love your spirit, love your art❤️
Autumn is my favorite time of year, though it is only just beginning here in Virginia. I loving the early evenings and making soup and sleeping in the chilly air, windows open to hear the crickets singing. Thanks for sharing your joys!
I love your perfectly cozy, New England life. Reading about it always gives me chills and makes me homesick for something I’ve never had.
Yes please enter me for drawing. Love all your new stuff & you!
Chris
Love you back Chris, hugs to Kathy!
I said, “What should I comment?” And in unison, my daughter, Autumn, and I said, “Pick me! Pick me!” 🙂
Your blog takes me away to fine feelings and warm thoughts. The coming of winter then is not so bad. Fall is beautiful and colorful. I do love the 4 seasons we Hoosiers (Indiana) have.
Your ghost in the window is so grand. The photo of your house in by gone days whispers of good times. Can’t wait to see the your cross stitch patterns become available.
Happy Autumn, Susan
I would love those dishes!! Wonderful giveaway!! 🙂
Loved your Willard! Love your new dishes! Thank you!
I would love anything your creative mind and hands have made . Please enter me ❤️
Love, love, love your blog, your Willard posts, everything!! Please enter me in the drawing for your beautiful dishes!
Hi Susan….I too grew up in CA (Van Nuys) (now live in San Diego) and I also went to the Beatles Concert at the Hollywood Bowl in 1965. You got to meet them though! Wow! What an amazing experience that must have been. I have been following you and your life for years. You are so creative and live a wonderful life. Love, Love, Love Martha’s Vineyard….my husband and I need to return soon. Happy Fall!
Oh how fun! You probably weren’t in the bathroom when we were or we likely would have met you in the Beatles backyard! 😜