Happy New Year darling Girlfriends! 🎊🎉 MUSICA
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! It went so fast, a blur of fruit cake, cookies, twinkle lights, and beloved faces!
We made it through another year! I stopped by to wish you all the most wonderful of New Year’s Eves, quiet or raucous, whatever your choice, may all your New Year dreams come true. My gift to you this evening . . . a little bit o’ Jack:
When we come in from shopping or walking . . . we are met by Jack, always waiting, he flops to the floor . . . I can see him through the window in the door before I even turn the key, he hears the car pull in and is busy rolling around in seeming ecstasy before we get inside.
… stretching ~ begging to have his tummy rubbed!
. . . squirming, wiggling, and yawning,
. . . cute-pawed,
. . . ridiculous, so-soft and furry, adorableness,
a flirty,
. . . precious boy. Worth going out just to come home. I’m humming, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas . . .🎵 Was just wondering, has everyone got a kitten? Or two or four? Or a doggie, or some sort of petty pet to take your minds off your troubles and meet the New Year in style? Go get yourself one! Make it your resolution! Worth their weight in gold! Anyone can tell you! They make you laugh every day. Read “Life of Jack” for more good kitty information. 💞
I’ll be back soon to show you pictures of Christmas! Our English people came over! It was so much fun! 
Already New Year’s Eve! 🎉We’re going to Lowely’s (girlfriend down the street) tonight to celebrate with dinner and champagne and a wild and crazy game of Pictionary with some of our nearest and dearest! I’m bringing a Blueberry-Lemon Angel Food Cake with Lemon Glaze . . . I just made it. All air and egg whites, to make up for the 
debauchery of the last couple of weeks: See’s Candy. Monks Fruit Cake. Pumpkin Cheesecake. Sugar Moon Brownies. Need I say more????? I don’t think so. (But you know I could very easily say a whole LOT more.)
Here’s the cake. . . waiting for me to turn it out onto a stand and drizzle it with glaze. I’m putting candles on it too, we’ll drink a cup o’ kindness and do the ring thing, everyone will put their rings around the candles, then we’ll make wishes for 2019 and blow them out,💫 counting our blessings that in all the world, we managed to find each other to go through this life with.💞
And you, thank you for your luv-lee friendship of the past years . . . it has been such a pleasure. I never imagined a blog would be such an important part of my life, but it is! Because of you, Girlfriends! 💞 I love sharing the planet with you! 🎊
S E E YOU NEXT Y E A R ! XOXOXOXOXO
Happy New Year, Susan and Joe! 2018…the year I read “Fairy Tale Gir”, Martha’s Vineyard, Isle of Dreams” and “A Fine Romance”. Every once in a while you read a book and it changes your life and that’s how I feel about yours. At 67, it almost felt like I had to quit dreaming, but your words gave me encouragement to imagine and dream again. Thank you so much for that!
Oh, you have no idea how happy it makes me to hear that! You just made one of my dreams come true! I love inspiration more than almost anything . . . my joy of life would be to inspire. So thank you Sherry!
I just introduced a girlfriend who is pushing 80 to your books. She loves them! Makes me so happy!
Laurie
=:3
Dear Susan,
Wishing you, Joe and Jack a wonderful New Year!
Thank you for your wonderful blog, it always makes my day, a little bit brighter.
You have inspired me in the past few years to always Dream Big!
This year we are going to England for a month, thanks in part to your beautiful book,
A Fine Romance. We are spending a week in the Lake District, to visit Hill Top Farm.
Hugs, Wendy
How WONDERFUL Wendy. I’m so happy for you. Funny how you can just DO it, and it happens, even after years of dreams. Reminds me of one of my favorite quotes by Wordsworth, “To begin, begin.” xoxo
Happy New Year! Here’s to a more kind and peaceful 2019. Loved the kitty pictures. We took in a stray, young Calico last year. Since we have always had hunting and sporting dogs we didn’t think that a cat would ever be in our future. How wrong we were, they absolutely love each other. Little Ted Kitty is the light of our lives and has brought us so much joy, she even sleeps with the dogs! Thanks for another lovely blog.
I will be spending tonight quietly engrossed in my latest historical novel, the Alice Network by Kate Quinn which I highly recommend! The two parallel stories take place in 1915 and 1947 during the great world wars. Your musica from those periods make a nice backdrop while reading!
I recently received your 2019 wall calendar and was struck by your inclusion of the Yeats poem Stolen Child on the January page.
That poem is beautifully sung by one of my favorite singers, Canadian Loreena McKennitt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izYzuG0Vh2k.
While I no longer have a pet of my own I am pet sitter and have one of my furry “children” visiting me tonight so we will end the year snuggling and hoping for a more peaceful, genteel and compassionate 2019!
Happy New Year!
A lovely way to put pets in your life. Loved the MUSICA Sue, just beautiful, perfect for that wonderful poem. The book looks great too! Thank you for sharing your inspirations!
Thank you, dear one for all the joy you bring to the world! It is a kinder more lovely one because of all the Girlfriends I have met through YOU! I do wish for you and Joe a most joyous 2019! Your new calendar can’t wait to go into my kitchen. It makes me happy to gaze at your beautiful work every day and remember the good things in life! God Bless! xoxo ♥
Thank you for your beautiful and uplifting post. Your messages make me misty,in a good way! Celebrating tonight with neighbors ,we share our houses and no one has to drive. We all still have each other and its a blessing! (30 years)
Happy New Year to you and yours!
It sounds and looks like you had a wonderful Christmas! May your new year be filled with Happiness, health, a beautiful garden and wonderful days throughout the year. Happy 2019!
Diane
HAPPY NEW YEAR Susan, Joe and Jack!!!
Thank you for everything!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Happy new year to you and Joe! May 2019 be a blessed time throughout the world.
I love reading your blog and hanging your calendars in my house. Have you ever thought of adding people of color or other nationalities to your pictures? I think it would add to the reality of our country.
I have done that . . . but probably not enough to show how MUCH I agree with you. I don’t do a whole lot of people, I’m not that good at it, but I should try harder when I do! xoxoxo
What a nice surprise to open my email and see your blog post today. It’s my 62nd birthday today, so I will consider it a lovely birthday surprise from you!
Happy Happy New Year, wishing you all the very best. Thank you for bringing me much joy this year!
Happy Birthday dear Mary!!! The whole world celebrates with YOU! 🎂🎊
In November I took my dog to the vet for her shots and they had for adoption the cutest little black and white kitten. I saw him and thought of Jack. I knew I couldn’t leave him there so I gave my husband puppy dog eyes and he said ‘oh, alright’. (!!!) So these past few weeks have been filled with constant laughter because of all of the mischief our Domino has been up to.
Brilliant Ashley! Puppy dog eyes, whatever it takes. Hugs to your sugar daddy husband and happy New Year to all of you!
Dear Susan & Joe,
Our very best wishes for a happy, healthy & prosperous 2019. May this New Year be filled with happiness, great fun, wonderful friendships & memories tied together with heart strings. Hugs from New Jersey.
Andrea and Rick J.
Happy New Year Susan*
Have fun at your friends house** I absolutely enjoyed every photo, as I always do!
deezie
Happy New Year to you, dear lady, who fills my life with such joy in your writings, quotes, and pictures!! And Happy New Year to Joe and Jack too!!
Your house has just the perfect cozy feeling that makes you feel like you’re home. I think Jack has a lot to do with it!
Happy New Year, you make our days.
Happy New Year everyone!!
Thank you Susan for such a cheerful post, it brightened my day. I actually thought last night was New Year’s Eve! Gained a day somewhere along the way. I spent most of it sewing on a quilt & listening to music, all quite happily. My husband was working on a creation in his workshop (his heaven) too. Wow, a whole extra day… More sewing time ☺️
We have five cats & Jack still makes me smile. Our youngest is a kitten three months old. She plays all day long, chasing the older ones. She makes odd noises like a pigeon, especially when she’s happy…. Basically all day long 😺. The kitties keep us laughing as they play, running up & down their tall cat tree.
Thank you for all the goodness & joy you bring into all our lives.
A cooing kitty, who could ask for anything more! My boy is crushed against my leg right now, squeezing himself into my chair. Love it so much!
Happy New Year Susan, Joe, Jack, and all the Girlfriends! Let’s hope it’s a good one …
Happy New Year to you and Joe!!! I already put out my two Susan Branch Calendars, all ready for tomorrow. Unfortunately I am allergic to cats, so we have dogs. Right now we have Lexie who is half Bichon Frise and half Shih Tzu, she’s only about 12 pounds and she acts like a cat A LOT! Thank you for all your faithful years of sharing with all of us. Blessings to you in 2019!!!
Donna (Idaho)
Happy New year to you and Joe and Jack. Blessings on you all.
Happy New Year to Joe and Susan!!! You have made me realize so often what is important in our lives. I look forward to “the things that have never been”. Thank you! xxoo
Wishing you a Very Happy and Healthy New Year!!!!
Thanks so much for the beautiful blessing. I always look forward to your post and seeing your lovely home. Happy New Year to you and yours and peace on earth good will to all. Suzanne
Happy New Years from our house to your 🎉
May 2019 be your year for health and happiness!
I love you my best virtual friend and can’t wait to hear about more of your adventures!
Happy New Year! While our sweet Gigi has my heart, I have to say Jack is one of the cutest little guys I have ever seen..(he is especially dashing with his bright red ball!) I’m a total cat person and have had all kinds of kitties throughout the years. My life is measured in cats it seems. They have always been part of our family. What I am thinking.. Maybe Jack might need his own book. Maybe a children’s book or one for all us kitty lovers. Know you are busy with the new book, but wanted to plant a little seed :-)… Love the blog…
Xo
Measure your life in cats . . . what a perfect thought!
Happy New Year!!! Will be ringing in the New Year 5 houses down at my sister and it will be our last get together with my niece Emily, she is off home to California tomorrow night, will miss her oodles!!!! Love Linda S Lorenz
Congratulations, one and all, for making it through another year! And bless each, and every one for the support of friendship you have shown to one more soul on this good earth. It is cold and crystal clear on our Pacific Northwest hill, so much so that I feel as though we are in a snowglobe, waiting for a big SHAKE! (our neighbors in Alaska have had a few this week, so we will try not to look surprised). In a week, we will start putting things away, and filling boxes to drop at Goodwill and Friends of the Library and other places where some of the Blessed Excess can be put to good use, then we will cook up a big kettle of split pea soup with ham and bundle up with a stack of new books until spring. Happy New Year to you!
Thank you, Susan, for the New Year’s greeting! A true highlight of 2018 for me was girlfriend trek to San Luis Obispo to hear and meet you at the Apple Farm. Wish we could have had a cup of tea together and share some of our connections! I do hope we can get you to come to Pleasanton on a book tour and meet up again with local John Madden!
You know I would love that! Give him a hug if you see him! Strikes me as a very huggable man!
(I’m commenting for the first time ever.) Thank you for your blog. I appreciate your writing and photos very much. Love your books. Happy New Year to you, Susan, Joe & Jack! Our kitty, named ‘The Buddy’, is the softest, black and white kitty, has a goatee, loves playing with hair elastics and rolls for back scratches.
Happy New Year Susan,Joe,Jack!!
Thank you for a fabulous 2018!
Just a quiet evening at home here in
Long Beach, Ca.😊😎🙋♀️🎆
Happy New Year dear, dear Susan & Joe & Jack too, of course! xoxo Cheers!!
My kitty Sadie is sitting here too and says meow meow meow!
Spending my New Year’s Day “with you” filling in all the important dates of 2019 on your new wall calendar… have bought one every year you make one! Looking forward to a new year of reading about your adventures and having some of my own!!! Happy New Year to you and yours from another Stewart in California!!!
I love sharing the planet with you, too!
The Hubs and I are staying in and off the roads tonight, preferring a quiet evening at home with our ginger girl kitty (who will promptly disappear when the neighborhood fireworks begin).
Tomorrow we go for brunch and a hike with dear old friends (I’ll order my usual Philly Cheesesteak Omelette and hash browns and swoon from the deliciousness of it all), then home to collapse.
Happy New Year to you, Joe, Jack, and all the girlfriends, both down the street and around the world! Our times are in His hands.
Happy New Year! Nasty weather on the way to central NH so we are tucked in fireplace going and pizza!
Happy New Year! Here’s to a kind and peaceful 2019. Loved the kitty pictures. Last year we adopted a stray Calico kitten. We have always had hunting dogs and didn’t think that a cat was in our future but, they love each other. Ted Kitty is the light of our lives and brings us unbelievable joy. I grew up with See’s candy at the holidays and every Christmas my mother would make their fudge. Now years later I’m the one making See’s fudge for my kids and Christmas wouldn’t seem like Christmas without it!
Happy New Year Susan! You read my mind about resolutions. I have a goal to find a rescue Great Dane! How did youknow? Hopey has been gone for a couple years now and my heart is bursting with love to give to anew friend! Nothing like the unconditional love of a four legged friend! Cannot wait, already searching. Love.
Happy New Year to you and Joe and Jack! May you have many wonderful days and adventures (which you will of cousre report on to us)! May blessings and much love.
Hi there, Susan,
HAPPY 2019 to you and your dear household. I have a 14 year old adopted kitty named Fred and he is such a joy – just like your dear Jack.
Here’s something you might like: a cow on the way to slaughter fell/jumped off the awful truck, skinned her knees and bumped her head. A man who adopts large animals took her in. Just heard on the news she just delivered a calf named Winter. Nice, huh? We can all use that kind of good news.
Love ya, Susan.
Nice!
Thank you Susan, for the faithful gifts of kindness you send to all os us throughout the year.
They are cherished.
I love the ‘Blessing’ plate picture!
Here is an idea~
You could do matching tea cups or mugs with this shortened sentiment:
‘God in His wisdom and infinite love
Looks down on you always from heaven above’
Thank you for your presence in our lives.
Love Jeanine
Pacific Northwest
I love that idea. I’ve always felt a little nervous about “using” God or religion as a money-connected thing. I know lots of people do it, but it’s never felt right to me. But those words are so pretty … so much beautiful scripture too, so I’ve always been torn. My heart with God’s has always been very direct and private. My grandma was like that and she gave it to me. xoxoxo
God bless you Susan and all your family and friends. I’m at a transition point in my life, letting go of what was and looking forward to what will be. It’s taken me 4 years since I lost my husband to get to this point but I’m ready. I’m now retired and that in itself is a new adventure. I have a second boy in my life, a new grandson, who lights up my life. I see hope and love in my future. Thank you for sharing your life with me through your blog. We may never meet but you have given more joy then you can imagine.
That’s what it’s all about . . . time . . . very difficult, but I’m happy for you. Not to forget, but to grab for the golden ring while you can. Life is for the living. SO lovely to hear your hopeful words Judy! xoxoxo Sending all good things for 2019. Your husband would be proud.
Happy, HAPPY New Year to you and Joe and the kitties! May 2019 be a heck of a lot happier and full of brand new possibilities! Love to you all! xoxoxo peg
Sitting on your beautiful stripped chair pad from Wayfair I received this week! Great colors and quality! Sending wishes
to Jack for a very healthy new year with his family and lots of
joy to you all! Thanks for sharing Jack with your readers. Our special tuxedo cat died last year at 12 years and Jack stories
bring us laughter to fill that void. Happy 2019!
Happy New Year, Susan!
So sweet to receive your lovely blog on the very last day of the year. Wishing you health and happiness in 2019 and a new book for us to love.
Happy New Year.
Please explain the custom of putting the rings around the candles.
It’s something my girlfriends started in the 90s. I’ve tried to look it up since then, but find nothing about it . . . it’s original to us is what we think. We do it on all our Birthdays. I do it on my New Year’s Eve Cakes too, for wishes for the future. Before we light the candles, or sometimes after (ouch!), we each slip our rings over the candle. Then when the birthday girl makes her wish (over a cake of candles and rings), we all get to make a wish too. It’s a togetherness thing! Try it! We call it the “Ring Thing.” I’ve mentioned it in a couple of my books.
Susan Happy New Year to you and Joe and Jack who is just so darn adorable!!
Darlene
Happy New Year, Susan!
What a good one it will be…I can feel it in the air… of such hope and great expectation
this New Year’s Eve! May you, Joe, and Jack be abundantly blessed in the months to come!!
Jack is so cute! I miss my Ariel, a cocker spaniel that I had for 16 years who passed just this past June! She was my best friend, even though I have two other rascally male dogs, I still miss her terribly. I hope 2019 is a better year, for everyone who had a tough one, and I’m looking forward to moving forward for me as well. Thanks dear Susan for giving us all hope, and wishing you and your family a blessed New Year!
Cocker spaniels are so wonderful! Melting eyes. xoxo
Thanks for sharing that ‘kitty cuteness’ with us. I miss mine every day! He’s been gone a year and a half and I can still cry at a moments notice.* sigh*
Happy New Year to You, Joe & Jack! May 2019 bring you lots of:
GigglesLoveHugs&Squeezles!
Your cyber-bud, Judy(N.E. Ohio)
Get a kitten. It will be a gift to the kitten, but more a gift to you. You will be surprised after the years of a grown cat, what a minx a little one can be. Pure joy. Lots of older cats out there too, waiting to be loved. Hope it’s possible for you ~ understand that sometimes, it just isn’t! xoxo
Happy New Year !!!!!
Happy New Year 2019 to you, dearest Susan and Joe! You are kind to us and you enrich our lives with beauty, creativity, love, and friendship (and more). Thank you so very much.
I have a beautiful all gray cat with a cozy, thick, soft coat of hair! He loves to be held and petted.
Happy New Year to all you girlfriends! May God’s great love for you all wrap you in peace and joy every day of 2019~and beyond.
Wishing you and all those you love a blessed and beautiful (and happy) New Year, Susan. Love seeing pictures of adorable Jack. I would have at least 2-3 kitties in a heartbeat, but I have kids who are allergic. We do have a beloved Golden Retriever named Daisy who keeps us on our toes!
Happy New Year. Susan, I have a kitchen stove exactly like yours (probably not as clean😆). But I LOVE cooking on it. Makes me feel like we must be kindred spirits somehow.
Aren’t they great? Old and heavy, and yet they don’t take up the space some of the new ones do. Tons of gravitas! Definitely kindred spirits!
Always excited to see your posts. So many thanks for making them. I particularly love this one with all the lovely Christmas cheer and sweet Jack photos (I want to kiss him. Will you give him one extra for me?). Very happy New Year! Wishing you peace, health, and joy in the coming year.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! Love those pictures of Jack. My Dahlia does the same rolling around when I come home, she hears the garage door going up and knows it’s me. Spending a quiet evening with my son, a nice dinner and some movie watching ahead. Good health, Good times, and light hearts to all in 2019! 🥳 ♥️
A nice way to sum up a year….Jack. I have 2 very old birds, one has cataracts so petting his head is tricky. I miss cats but now I can’t have anything underfoot.
The best to you and hubby this coming year.
Thank you for taking the time to write this short but sweet blog post Susan. I have a sweet little doggie named Henry. He is a cross between a Bichon Frise and a Shih Tzu. And he is a blessing to come home to every day. Always happy to see me no matter if I have been gone hours or minutes!
Happy New Year!!!
They know everything about us, more than the humans in our lives, and they love us anyway. What a pure blessing. xoxo
Dear Susan, Joe, Jack & your Loved ones,
Thanks for sharing the Sweetness of Jack the Love Cat, in those precious pictures!! We who have pets to love and cherish are extremely blessed! We are blessed to have Thomasina, our soft buff colored fluffy “Old Lady’s Lap Cat” to fill our hearts with love and gratitude ❤️.
From Terre Haute, Indiana…”On The Banks Of The Wabash Far Away”, from sea to shine sea, and onward to Martha’s Vineyard,….I wish all of you the Happiest New Year full of Blessings and Miracles !! …I am looking forward to your upcoming book, the #SBbooktomovie, the beautiful little “Blessing” plate that a few girlfriends have mentioned earlier today, some (possibly) new recipe cards, a “Kitty Love” bead back for sale, reading all of your lovely new blogs and PEACE ON EARTH ❤️ Happy 2019!!!
Happy New Year Susan, Joe and ALL the SB Girlfriends. Praying for Peace on Earth in 2019. That’s all I can ask for.
Happy New Year to you and Joe, dear Susan! We’ll be
staying home to ring in the new year with our dog Lilo
and our cat, Bustopher Jones(who looks a lot like your Jack).
Hopefully no fireworks will go off, as the pets do not like
them at all!
Happy new year Sue, Joey, and Jack!!!
Thanks for sharing Jack -such a darling boy. And thanks for cheering us up every time you write. We all need you for that:)) Looking forward to your christmas report. . … Happy 2019!!! from Peggy in Madison Wi
(minus my best girl Sparky who passed in ‘August at 16 yrs -miss her so much)
Here’s to a quiet New Years Eve with my sweetie rescue dog Joy! See you next year dear Susan!
~Susan~
Jack sure is a cutie! I have 4 , Im not a crazy cat woman yet ! haha.
I said to my friend we never even thought about the year 2000, and already 2019 is just hours away, unreal at times !!
Blessings to you and your in the New Year !!
xoxPaula
IN
Dearest Susan: Happy New Year to you, Joe and Jack! Many blessings, good health, and adventures in the new year. I love all the red in your holiday home. So cheerful and cozy! That Jack is really a cutie! Looking forward to your Christmas post – no reason why we can’t keep celebrating the most wonderful time of the year! 🎄🎁
Happy New Year to you, Susan, to Joe and to Jack. Here, near Seattle, we will have a quiet evening – just right after a very busy day at work. We will snuggle with our cat, Marco, specially if there are fireworks in the area. Thank you for sharing your life with me; I am inspired every time I read another post.
Can’t wait to hang the New Calendar! Thank you for Inspiration and Peaceful Feelings. Just Love looking at it. Our Milton , Rose, and Winter Teddy Cat Family are finally relaxing and welcoming New Arrival Chester ( he just walked in one day and we were unable to find anyone who knew him ) sweet, personable, he has made himself at home. Here’s to Good Music, Good Food, Family and Friends, and Plenty of Quiet Gentle Times to Read and Learn New Things! ❤️
Happy New Year to you and yours Susan Branch !!! Wishing you all of life’s blessings, and everything you need this year. I love everything about you and your life. Thanks for being the best girlfriend ever, and sharing your beautiful life with us 💕
Susan, from NC
Susan, Happy New Year to your family as well. And as an ex California girl and now a Texan, Sees candy is my favorite candy in the entire world.
Happy New Year Susan, Joe and Jack. Let me start by saying…you bring so much joy to so many of us out here. When I see you’ve posted, I know my heart is about to get a dose of happiness. Thank you for what you do. I hope you have an inkling how important your work and voice is.
I am loving how many people would like one of your plates at the end of the post. Add me to that list.
Love from girlfriend Erin
Living on Vancouver Island, Canada
Happy New Year to a favorite friend of mine….YOU. I unwrapped my SB desk calendar for 2019 but will not turn the page until tomorrow. What a nice thought…to discover each other to go through life with and that is how I feel about my girlfriends…fortunate. Looking forward to 2019 and praying for our nation. Thank you, Susan Branch for all you do to make this world a better place.
To all of us, for that very same reason! xoxo Thank you Rosemary!
Happy New Year from Canada…does anyone else spend the first five minutes of your blog talking ‘baby-talk’ to Jack like I just did ?? He is too cute !! Hope you have a wonderful 2019 !
I just put your 2019 calendar on my desk here in front of me-a gift from my CT. sister. It’s just the right size! I like your quote about a rainy afternoon….Hope my Christmas card found you. Thanks so much for sharing your life with me. Happy New Year!
It did Julia, Thank you! Happy New Year!
Happy Happy New Year Susan, Joe and Jack! You always make my day when I receive one of your blogs. I get excited and wait until I’m all by myself to read so that I am not interrupted.
Thanks for all the beauty watercolors my fav!
Happy New Year to you and yours, Susan! Your home is sovlovely. A bright and wonderful year to you and your family. Give Jack a belly rub for me.
Always dreaming of having a cat! But my poor husband is allergic. Living vicariously through your pictures of sweet Jack!
Read this and see if it helps in any way . . . http://www.petmd.com/cat/wellness/evr_ct_hypoallergenic_cat_breeds
Happy New Year Cass!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the darling pictures of Jack. Happy New Year to you and Joe. Pets for Jack from me.
May we all have a cup of kindness and pass it on to the world. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year. May we all be Happy, Healthy, Thoughtful, Kind, and Blessed, this 2019.
I just knew it, I told my friend Nancy that I had realized today, you never elaborated to us about your Christmas festivities with your British friends….I just knew you would share such a wonderful evening. Feel very relieved the story is still in the making.
A toast to you Susan, you make this world just a little bit better for us all.
Dear Sue,
Happy New Year and thank you and Joe for including all of us in another lovely year. Waiting for the new book with breathless anticipation.
Lillian XOXOXO
Like your Jack, our three dogs (Colby, Milo and Pip) and six cats (Mama, Socks, Tiger, Smoky, Kiki and Gigi) surely do help to make the season (and all year long) bright ~ Happy New Year to us all (including all creatures great and small)! ❤️🎉✨🎊🐶🐱🥂
45 minutes til 2019, Happy New Year Susan and Joe! Thank you, as always, for your lovely blog.
Ding Dong Sally, Happy New Year!
Happy New Year everyone…
🐈My daughter got a cat from the Humane Society for Christmas. His name is Jack and is four months old. I can’t wait to meet him tomorrow. Happy New Year!
Wishing you and Joe and sweet little Jack a very healthy and happy new year!!
Thank you for all the joy and happiness you bring all year through.
🥂~ Happy NewYear~! 🥂
Enjoying that last few quiet minutes of 2018~ the guests have gone home and it’s just me up~ Counting my blessings before I turn in & dropping my 1st “gratitude blessing” into my 2019 gratitude jar~Blessings & Peace~
Lynn
Happy, happy New Year to all! So lovely to have a place to share happy thoughts and daily gratitude of enjoyment of beauty – in people, in the great outdoors , in homes . So much to appreciate !
A very happy, healthy, prosperous New Year to you and Joe Susan. I wasn’t able to wish you a Merry Christmas, but it sounds like it was full of wonderful for you. Looking forward to the update when you have the time. We had a lovely Christmas. Spent it in Halifax with my daughter and son-in-law and my 3 beautiful granddaughters. We went on a sleigh ride in downtown Halifax, then had a potluck, out for lunch with my son-in-law’s family, Christmas Eve church service, fun helping my granddaughters get ready for Santa, baking cookies, then off to a cottage by the sea to spend several days with my son-in-law’s family. We enjoyed a very special Christmas this year. I’m going to chime in with others about the plate at the end of the post. It would be wonderful to have it made available. Also I love the photo in the blog post of Dec. 10th of “Be an Elf.” It would be great to have a copy of that to be able to frame. Showed it to my daughter and she just loved it. Thank you for the prayers for my health. As you can see, because I’m posting a comment, I’m still here. And for that I am thankful. Enjoying your blog postings as they help to sustain me through thick and thin. So thankful for all you do for us Susan. It means more to all of us than we could ever put into words. Happy New Year to all the girlfriends too.❤️
How wonderful your Christmas was Rhonda. A sleigh ride! Such wonderful family memories. I’ll work on that plate . . . I’m happy our prayers worked, sending more love for 2019. Thank you for saying hello! xoxo
Twenty-five of our family went on the sleigh ride. We sang Christmas carols for an hour and it was a beautiful thing to see how our spirits lifted the spirits of all those around us. We got smiles, and waves, and photos. I’m actually putting together 3 of your Christmas Memories books to capture all of our Christmas memories…one for myself, my granddaughters, and my son-in-law’s family. Let me tell you, your books were getting well used this Christmas. My oldest granddaughter who is 6, was running around with her book constantly over the holidays. It’s going to be so much fun helping everyone fill them out. I took many photos, and I’ll print them out and help everyone get their memories into their books. I can’t believe how this has caught on and how excited my family is about this project. Thank you for teaching me well and now I can pass it on to others. It’s been a rough ride with my health. I spent 3 weeks in hospital because the chemo was too strong for me, but they reduced it by 30% and I’m doing much better now. I actually feel pretty good and strong.
Love hearing that Rhonda, and how through it all, you’re enriching the life and history of your family. That’s hero-stuff as far as I’m concerned!😘
Sorry to post again, but I just had to pass on my good news to you. Had an appointment with the Dr. this morning and I got very good news from the ct scan I had done in December. The lymph nodes that were involved have returned to normal, there is a huge marked improvement in the lungs, there is no sign of cancer anywhere else in my body, I gained 2 pounds, and my hair is growing back in (which the Dr. said it wouldn’t).
I have 3 more chemo treatments, then she is taking me off the chemo and will judge accordingly…if things improve I won’t have to have chemo, if things start to get worse then she will give me more chemo. The Dr. didn’t even know if the chemo would work, so I guess I have to be very thankful for such good results. I would say some miracles have taken place because there has been such good results after only 3 treatments. I even surprised the Dr. Again, thank you for the prayers.
Oh my dear Rhonda, that is SUCH SUCH good news! You made tears in my eyes. XOXOXOXOXOXO So happy!
A stray cat had four kittens in our backyard and my husband said, Let’s keep them all! Plus we had 3 ferals at the time and my husband managed to tame them all. One we know is 19! She’s so old and finally trusts us and let’s us pet her and we were able to bring her inside.just last week. Sweet kitties.
Good for you Janine, life saver! Blessings on you and yours!
Happy New Year from Texas!!!
Happy New Year! 🎆 🎉🥂🍾
May 2019 be a year of blessings to us all!
Like tiny Tim said God bless us every one!
15 minutes to midnight here in the SF Bay Area, CA. Wishing Susan, Joe, Jack & all the Girlfriends both old and new a blessed, joyful New Year!
Best wishes,
Kel from WC
Happy New Year Kel! xoxo
Happy New Year year Susan and Joe and kitties too. . looking forward to
Reading more of your blog this year. I so enjoy your photos of your lovely home and countryside. And your creative books. I can imagine what your daily walk is like… you describe it so well I feel I’m walking with you!
Phillipa from Cornwall, England
Sweet to hear from you Phillipa . . . Love your part of the world! xoxo
Happy New Year from Kauai
Alo-ha-ha Raynette! Happy New Year!
Have a Happy New Year’s Day,
and then when it is through,
have a lot of Happy Days,
all through the New Year too!
Wishing you all the best in 2019 Susan. May it be filled with love and light! Thanks so much for all you share with us. I love this Susan Branch Group/family/sisterhood! We are all kindred spirits! Its pretty special!
I think so too! I always think of it as a little miracle! xoxo
A very belated Merry Christmas to you Susan. I am thankful for your Willard’s. Happy New Year 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Love your New Year Blessing.
Joyful New Year❣️