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.
As usual,loved reading the new Willard. Your new cups and plates are fantastic. Looking forward to hearing about your next trip.
Thank you for all you do for us. Such an inspiration! Thank you for this opportunity to win the beautiful china pieces. You are going to make one of us very happy, of course you already do that! I’m enjoying your wonderful tea. Happy Fall!
I am so excited to enter your contest for the dishes. I love reading your blog, getting Willards, and reading/sharing your books and Susan Branch items as gifts. Thank you.
Please enter me 🙂
Hi Susan, Went to my Dad’s grave at Arlington today, so was so nice to read the poem & posts about the poppies. Have a wonderful fall!
Looks like I have waited too long to buy an “Autumn” cup! I think it says that they are all gone!! Am not sure if I could buy a smaller one but if I can would be interested! Love your blog & drawings. My daughter has already gotten me a calendar for next year – yours of course. Usually my husband gets one for me but we lost him in June this year to pancreatic cancer. He was ill for a year & I cannot tell you how I miss him. We were married for 6l years so hang on to Joe. They say your heart cannot really break but they’re wrong.
I know, you are 100% right. Hearts can break. I’m so very sorry Shirley. Sending love and peace of mind. 💞
Sad news today. I needed a soft smile and I found it here. 💜
Love your happy and loving quotes and notes! You make the world a better place! XOXOX
Love the new china. It would look great in my kitchen. Smiles
I would love to win your new China—both to keep and to give. I especially love the new cups.
So excited to get your newsletter! Love your giveaway & will hope to be the lucky one!
Happy Fall from CA!
What a great 85th birthday present this would make pour moi!!🙃🎃💕❤️😇We
Would love to win the wonderful new set of china. Thank you for being such a sweet and generous girlfriend!
I love your blog, books, calendars, recipes….. and I would love to win this drawing!
Love your drawings!! I live on the Central Coast, not far from AG!
Thank you Susan for the lovely letter. Please enter me in your giveaway!
i love your plaques! Please enter me in your drawing.
I love ❤️ the embroidery kits.
🍂🍁Leaves fall…Autumn calls….🍂🍁
Please enter me in your lovely giveaway.
Thank you!
Enter me please. Thank you.
Enter me please as I have lusting after the mugs since I first saw them! Shame on me.
Love your blog, art, and life!!!! Happy season!
It would bring such joy(and be an honor) to have your dishes. Please enter me!
I was diagnosed with cancer yesterday. Was awake in the middle of the night with my mind racing when I saw the newsletter. What a sweet escape. I lived on Cape Cod for 20 years. I can feel it when you describe the joy of fall in New England. I’m sure I will be looking for more inspiration as I walk the path ahead of me. Thank you for the warmth pouring off the pages. 💜
I’m sending a prayer your way right now Kristin, it has to be the scariest thing, but don’t forget how many walk through and come out the other side. Cry, then gather your forces. Stamp your feet and get mad. You go girl.💞
💗
I hadn’t thought of stomping my feet. I guess at some point I have to become a warrior rather than victim. I’ll get there . Thanks for the image.
Oops I got my email address wrong. I guess I’m distracted.
You will, with a team of cheerleaders wherever you look. xoxoxoxoxo I’m one of them!
I’m a 10 year cancer survivor… you can beat it… it is scary I know… hang in there and have hope.
Thank you. I don’t know what expect when the shock wears off.
I hope they hook you up soon with a group of others who’ve been in your boat that DO know … it’s the unknown that is the scariest. Biggest hugs to you Kristin.
OOO, enter me please! (And then pick me! :0)
Please enter me.
I love your designs and your creative blogs and newsletters!
Enter me 🙂
Thank you for your lovely Autumn blog. It inspired me to carve a few pumpkins which is something I haven’t done for years. I do have a question about the antique photo of your home. It appears in the photo there is another large home peering from the upper left side that doesn’t seem to be there in current photos you’ve posted. Do you know what that might be? It’s kind of spooky. Perfect for this time of year.
Good eyes! Yes, there was a time when these tower add-ons were all the rage in our neighborhood. Ours is long gone, we never saw it … it doesn’t match the house architecturally at all and I can’t imagine what they used it for, but there are other homes near us that still have their towers. Yes, it’s like a ghost out there. Would love to have a photo of the house from the rear so we could see how it was attached.
Good Morning!
Please enter me. I love reading your blog and receiving the Willard. I grew up going to the Cape and the Islands in the summer. Someday I would love to own a Martha’s Vineyard mug. But first…it’s off to work I go.
Enter me please, your work is beautiful…
Please enter me! I’m currently living in Bristol, U.K. and a dear friend gave me your book “A Fine Romance” before I moved here. It has been such a treat and has added to my enjoyment of living here even more. Thank you for adding such beauty and love to my world through your art and kind words.
Makes me happy to hear that Mary Beth, you are a lucky girl!
Beautiful fall leading us right into glorious winter! I am reading Willard on the day of our first snowfall here in MN…and loving both 🙂 But not as much as I LOVE your new mugs and dishes. So beautiful, cozy and perfect. LOVE!
Just wanted to say thank you so much for your wonderful messages. The colors of Fall inspire me, as you, to create, rejuvenate, feel blessed & be thankful for each & everyday. When the world events are crazy, I read your blog to remind me of the joy of my peaceful life of home, family, friends, & Loving One Another. Thank you for your surprised offerings. As a collector of creative things, I would cherish any one of your adorable items.
Thank you so much for Willard – I enjoy it greatly! Would you please enter my name in your early shopping contest. Thank you.
Today, with my morning cup of tea in hand, I sat at my computer and found your lovely Willard in my inbox. Heaven! Thank you for all the time, care, and love you put in all your work. You are brightness in the world.
Such a lovely seasonal post and Willard. As I write this it is a beautiful sunny day here in England. I have just returned from a long walk with my grandson through the woods which are looking very Autumnal. I have just bought my 2017 Remembrance poppy which is an enamelled pin badge. They are less easy to loose and collectable – I have one for each year since they started doing them. Before that is Bonfire night (Guy Fawkes night) which is something we always look forward to.
These are beautiful! Would love to win.
Thank you Susan, for using your gift of creativity to encourage so many! My heart smiles every time I read your writings, and I’m inspired, again 🙂
I just made my Christmas list! I LOVE the embroidery set and the new dishes are adorable!
As the wind blows here the stray kitty is meowing for attention. She’s fed and tonight as the very cold comes in back in our garage she goes.
Got Willard this morning. Love the Autumn pictures.
I hope you two fall in mad love with each other. xoxo
Please enter me! I have so enjoyed your blog and your recipes. It’s time for another recipe book!
Please enter me!
Fingers crossed I’m the winner! Enter me for those fabulous dishes. Willard brightened my morning today. You paint such pictures with words 😉
Enter me, please. Fall is creeping in here in Charleston SC finally… high today 71 degrees… for us that’s chilly.
You’re right. We do have the power to make our homes sweet and cozy! Willard was a good way to start today. Thank you.
Susan Branch…I LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK! I really hope to meet you someday…maybe I will venture out of Illinois and make my way to the east coast some day! Anyway, tell joe to be sure to mark Doolan, Ireland on a must stop visit! My hubby and I stayed in a quaint little hostel right on a babbling brook! I’m not a hostel person so we were out of our comfort zone, however, it was the most cozy happy friendliest place ever! Also it’s the music capital of Ireland. Guaranteed a winner…speaking of …please enter me in your contest! Happy Fall!!
We’re staying just an hour or so from Doolin! Yay!
i was excited to see a new willard. I always feel a connection with you and your readers. When you feel you have nothing in common with others around you , I have a lot of the same interests as you and your readers.
Then you are a kindred spirit, welcome to the neighborhood!
Your creations bring me joy and happiness every time you put your love out there✨💛🌿
Love your blog and your art!! Would love to win your China!
Have just so enjoyed reading “Martha’s Vineyard, Isle of Dreams” and passed it on to my Granddaughter. So happy to have found your work. Blessings!
Woke up to wonderful call from my
SISTER and BEST FRIEND saying WILLARD is here. I love WILLARD and you, but Kami…..she LOVES, LOVES, ADORES you! I so want to give her the dishes. If I get chosen, it will be the best thing ever. I’m entering my information as I don’t know her email. Here is to hope!
Kami and Karla, the Stewart Girls. Or maybe not, but I like saying it!
Beautiful work done by a beautiful person! You always bring such delight to those who follow your postings!The colors are perfect and the sentiments affirm the excitement and hope found in every season, every day. The pictures and artistry are enchanting! As I read your words and see the colorful drawings it makes me want to start cooking, make a quilt,walk in the woods,meditate on and give thanks for life’s treasures, and share it all with loved ones and friends!
Enter me, please, oh please, with a cherry on top!! It is going to be 90 today here in Fountain Hills, Arizona! But, I love reading your posts with their beautiful photo’s and of course your drawings. I wrote a letter to you and sent it to your publishing company, but alas, it was returned! Just wanted to tell you that I love your books and how you so seemingly easy you write and convey exactly how things are. I wanted to tell you that we might have seen one another at football games while we were in high school. I went to Canoga High, graduated S’65 and was on drill team for two years. Love and my best to you and Joe, Joyce
I’m sure we passed each other on the field Joyce!
Please pick me!
Enter me please thank you for sharing your talents
Love what you create
Love reading youwr blog ! Enter me to win!
Pick me, pick me! I enjoyed the section on the poppies. My father also fought in WWII. As a choir director I have used music using the words from Flander’s Fields. It was wonderful to read the story about the poem. Cheers!
Love the little heart dishes!
I first found you through a packet of stickers – there was only one choice in this very small store in Okaton, SD, so I bought two…and they’re long gone, onto letters and envelopes. How I wish I could find more of your sticker sets! And the dishes seem quite lovely, too, though my cupboards are full (and I have a lot of cupboards. Still, they would be lovely gifts for my lovely friends. Thanks for your beautiful words!
Please let it be me!
Enter me please!!! Thanks and Happy Fall!!
Hello beautiful paintings, inspiring words, lovely pictures, wonderful stories, a world full of joy which I am thankful for because it brings out the best in us, it makes us feel the love around us and it keeps us in friendship. A reminder to look around us in silence, breathe and say thank you. Thank you Susan for reminding us that being alive is a pretty wonderful thing.
Please…please…pick me!! Love reading your emails & of course Willard!
Everything is just stunning.
Please enter my name for drawing.
Autumn Blessings!
You bring so much joy,I can NOT even express in words. My heart explodes with happiness when I see your newsletter.Love all books,your china is delightful…you ARE SO DELIGHTFUL.Been following you for years and years…live in California,but so enjoy your insight to the east coast and beyond…thank you for being YOU…would be an honor to have your china in my home…thank you again.!Be blessed…Carole
please enter me! when I saw your grilled cheese, I had to run make that and tomato soup for lunch! you inspire every day life!!! thanks for entering me!!
Now that I have found you, I will never let you go. Susan, this is for you.
Please enter me in the drawing – thanks!
I love everything you do! Please enter me!
I love you work! Enter me please.
Please enter me in the drawing. I have been receiving your Willard for ever, when you used to mail them and always included little Post It Notes, the one I’m looking at (I couldn’t take it out of the wrapper, just kept it as a keepsake) says 1997:
“All the things I really like to do are immoral, illegal, or fattening.” Oh, so true.
Your Willards and Blog posts make the world a little nicer. Thank you.
Hello!
Happy Fall! My favorite time of year! I love the dishes and I love to cross-stitch.
I love reading your books, blog and all the pictures!
Pleas enter me!! 🍁🍂🍁🍂
Enter me please!! Love you Susan. Thank you for all that you do ! Xoxo
Would love to have a part of you in my home and some to give away in my Christmas gift bags!
Thank you so much for all you do! I have loved your art and books forever. Now that I have discovered your blog I go as often as I can. Each and every time I am transported to a magic, happy place. I have read your books over and over. Right now my favorite is, “A Fine Romance”. I too, am an “Anglophile”. Thank you! and Happy Autumn!!!
I, too, missed out on the Autumn cup…but I can’t wait for the new ones! Love all your work.
Love my Autumn cup, preordered Winter cup. Can’t wait for Spring!
Love the new Willard!
Hi Susan! You so make my day. I send an email to my Sit & Knit group every week. I always end each letter with a quote from your Gratitude book. I so enjoyed sitting in the front row at Titcomb’s and listening to your talk. I just purchased A Thought A Day, A Five Year Journal which I will leave on my desk so I can write in it daily. I have been so inspired by you!
Love that Carol . . . the perfect way to count blessings! xoxo
Oh, how fun! Yes, enter me!
Reading your blog and Willard gives me an escape for a short time to a simpler place. It takes me back to my youth and the lazy days of summer visiting my grandmother and grandfather in Minnesota.
Thank you for bringing those simple joys back to us!
Please enter me, I find your paintings and wisdom so inspirational!
Enjoyed my first Willard!
Happy Autumn! We’re enjoying every moment here in the midwest:)
Got my Willard just now…like a letter from home. Please enter me in the giveaway.Thank you for the beauty in all you do.
Susan You still have the best blog of everyone. I feel so good and happy when
I scroll thru all the pictures and comments. Never stop please
I so love your watercolors–especially the flowers. I think that the borders here would make beautiful fabric and I would love to make slipcovers for my chairs out of your work. I have seen you on Spoonflower–but I am disappointed that you are not choosing your beautiful floral watercolors as designs for your fabrics. PLEASE think about it.
Thanks for everything that you do.
Maureen Kaplan
I’ll keep that in mind Maureen, thank you for the suggestion!
My favorites…..Fall and Susan Branch!!!!
Love all your art work it just makes me smile 😊
Hi Susan, I simply LOVE reading every bit of Willard. I just celebrated my birthday and my husband said get anything your❤ desires from Susan’s gifts. So I’ll be shopping soon. I already have your 2018 desk calendar for my classroom. Please enter me for the chance to win your darling prize. Thanks very much for always bringing the magic of fall especially to readers. I’m sooo lucky to live in a world with October’s wonders. Happy haunting to you &Joe .
Would love to win the new items to use & share with lovely daughter & daughter-in laws.
You remind me to find beauty in everything. A cup, plate, etc would be an awesome reminder of that beauty.
Love all of your new things especially the cross-stitch which I’ve taken up again after 25+ years! Blessings to you for all you do to make the world a cozier place. Please enter me in the contest!
So often when I read something you write, I think “that’s exactly how I feel”, like the specialness of hearing La Vie en Rose, unique and quirky thoughts that pop into my head [and I realize, so many others] For many years, I’ve read your books, enjoyed your stickers and paintings, been continually inspired to keep on dreaming….now I am honored to get your newsletter and enjoy your blog. Thank you for all of it. I would love to be entered in the china drawing as well. You make life better…..:)
What lovely writing about remembrance. Both my grandfathers fought in World War I and my dad, in World War II. I’m thankful they all came back.
Do you ever get tired of winter? I grew up in upstate new York and always loved all the beautiful seasons, but when most of my family moved to north Carolina and loved the weather we moved with 11 of our 14 children to be with them. We’ve only been here a short time and we are all missing the beautiful fall and the thought of snow. Everyone seems to love the idea of a mild winter with no snow and a super hot summer instead…except us!
No snow? Eeek! I do like to see the whole thing to wrap up in March though! I’m ready for daffodils then.
Please, please pick me for the dishes. Thank you.
I am so excited to see your latest treasures! They are all gorgeous! I love fall too!
Am currently helping my daughter on the other side of the country, she just had our second granddaughter in Florida! It was snowing back home in Colorado yesterday! They are moving back to CO in April and we are so happy! Would love your new dishes! My birthday is Sunday! 💞😉🌺. Ha, ha!! Love, love, love all your creations! Blessings, Pat
Happy Birthday Pat! Birthday gift of family home, what could be better!
Please enter me ♥ ♥
Thank you Dear Heart.
Loved reading this and Willard!
Thank you for helping me to appreciate Fall even more than usual, through Willard and your wonderful blogs. 🎃❤️😊