Hello all, Welcome! I hope you all got your WILLARD (if you didn’t, don’t worry, you will, it’s going out today but it takes three days for them all to go). I wanted to have everything ready for you when you got here, so yes, in the vernacular of the day, I’ve been “tidying up!” I have lots to show you, but let’s start with the little things that make life sweet with background MUSICA perfect to energize us for the job ahead . . . 
I love this time of year! Time has slowed down, a lovely long January is gone . . . our Island outside my window is cold blue sky, leafless trees, old houses, quiet and colorless (except for the cardinals, our flying Valentines), and in complete healing-mode from the Summer onslaught. No cars going by, no one on our walk in the morning but us. 😁
If you read my last post, you’ll see my sideboard looks very different than it did over Christmas! I’ve been putting my house back together. It was fun decorating with all the holiday stuff 🎄, I was a little sad to see it go, but then felt huge relief to have it all gone! It’s usually around the 5th of 
January, when suddenly all the sparkly, pine-needly things I LOVED in December, begin to drive me crazy. The wreaths on the kitchen doors block the light and drop needles every time we go in or out, then leave a Hansel and Gretel pine-needle trail from the kitchen to the studio. Time to say goodbye to the old year, and hello to the new. The tree came down (we don’t drag it through the house because then vacuuming takes forever ~ Joe takes the branches off to keep the mess confined, and tosses everything out the window!), ornaments were boxed up, bows and ribbons are back in the attic, dusty mistletoe is gone from the doorways, my house is peaceful and quiet with only the sound of wood falling to ash in the fireplace, joy is sparked to the nth degree! 
So, in case you can’t tell, we’ve been watching Tidying Up with Marie Condo. Have you seen it? It’s about a woman who loves to organize, she wrote a book about it, I think more than one, and now has a show on Netflix where she comes to people’s homes and teaches them how to de-clutter their things. Watching someone else clean is inspiring ~ and it’s catching! It makes you want to jump up and get organized ! My eyes suddenly see the chaos around us. How can we live this way!!! If you need help getting going I highly recommend it. Even Joe’s gotten into it and that’s saying something!
She has all sorts of tips ~ she teaches people how to fold things into tiny packages (something I will never do because I choose speed over neatness), and file them on their sides in boxes in drawers to make them more visible. Which was thrilling to see, because it meant I was doing something right!! I’ve always done Joe’s shirts that way (except for the tiny-package folding!) . . .
. . . filed them in a row so he can see the logos and know what he’s getting into without unfolding. It’s not perfect or tiny, but Joe loves it!
I don’t know if it was Marie, or if it was because it was January, but as I was cleaning up the Christmas things, suddenly I couldn’t stand to see boxes or bags parked conveniently next to a wall, did not care for piles of books anywhere but in the bookcases, didn’t want to see folded market bags piled on my little red kitchen chair, or any little bits and pieces dropped here and there that added up to clutter. 🚫 I needed clean walls I could walk up to like a starving man needs a ham sandwich. I couldn’t even work until I got this house under control!
I did it! Everything’s in its place (well, not everything!) with sunshiny face . . . now it’s February (rabbit-rabbit💛) and I’m back to work! Of course, now my studio is a complete mess because as you know creating is not neat, but the rest of the house is heaven. All my best intentions fulfilled, lightheartedness returned!
Most of my table tops have barely anything on them! It won’t last long, but right now I see this and go “Ommmmmm.”
Candlesticks & votives, glass, wood and brass, are sorted and put away, Christmas 
books are back in the hutch, tablecloth and napkins are starched and ironed, on hangers, in the front closet, floors are swept and vacuumed, we’re dusted and ready for the next event. I think of my house sort of like a movie set . . . once Christmas is put away, everything is organized, I leave it smooth and plainly cozy until the next season or event, then I change the throw pillows, add flowers, bunnies, bunting, garden books, and voila! It’s spring!
There’s a big difference between clutter, and decorated. I do not see these shelves as cluttered! I think it’s because everything up there gets used on a fairly regular basis. I could never be a minimalist and hide everything away. Serious minimalism looks heartless to me. Life is too short not 
to set out my Beatrix Potter figurines, hang my teacups on hooks, fold cute dishtowels over the handles of my stove, or put a paper calendar on the wall in my kitchen. Real life is not going to allow me to hide away our family photos, or baskets of rosy apples, or old quilts just for some crazy fashion that will change in an hour anyway!
I wrote about it in my Girlfriends Book. How when I was 11 or 12 I would try and get my girlfriends to play, “Let’s go home and decorate our bedrooms.” A game I mostly ended up playing all by myself! I still redecorate the way I wrote about here . . . and put back one “joy bringer” at a time.
Marie suggested that as we sort, we shouldn’t be looking for things we want to throw out, instead we should look for things we want to keep! It does make it easier! Gather everything into a pile, keep just the things you love and get rid of the rest! She sees organizing as a spiritual endeavor … believing there’s a divine spirit in everything. It feels like that to me. A sort of gratitude for all we’ve been given. It reminds me of a quote I put in my Autumn book by Joe Friday (respected elder of the Alaskan Yup’ik Eskimos) . . . who’s gone now but should should be remembered for this lovely thing:
So glad to the wood. Everything is related. Touch one thing, you touch it all. I say thank you as I oil my wooden cutting board, imagining the people who made it, remembering all that chopping for all those dinner parties, as I oil the wooden handles on my old pots and pans,
and my wooden cooking spoons (my dad made the one with my name on it 💞 ). I want them to last forever. I starch and iron my curtains, shine my windows, make my stove sparkle with plain hot water, refold my old quilts, and dust my bookcases. Because things we use every day have character. Makes me happy.
These things aren’t just merchandise, part of a throw-away world. They’re gifts. When my Grandma died, the only thing I asked for, since I had always gotten her very best when she was alive, was the old wooden spoon she used to scramble her eggs and mix her cookie dough. Because that spoon had her in it. That spoon and my grandma had cross-pollinated their DNA, while alone in the kitchen, beating brown sugar, butter, and walnuts, a long time ago.
It’s why I love old things and that includes this old house of creativity filled with kindly ghosts of the past. As I was tidying up, it was easy to know which of our things “sparked joy” as Marie says, and which ones made me sing out, 🎵 Yaaaard Saaaale 🎶 as I packed up boxes to go. Our busy lives and this modern world do not naturally provide us with the peace and sustenance we need to grow, space for creating, a gentleness for our families. But we can make it for ourselves. We have all the power. As the Chinese proverb says, “Outside noisy, inside empty.”
One more thing, in case you find yourself in a cleaning-emergency on a day when deep tidying and tiny folding is not going to be possible, with possibly just ten minutes to clean your house for guests, here’s what you do:
So, in-between the tidying up, what have I been doing in my studio? Lots. I guess I should say, “we.” We’ve been busy!
Here’s the other half of “we,” my partner-in-crime who plunks his righteous self down in the middle of my art table any time he wants and gives me this look. Like, “What?” Requires belly rub, many kisses. Petty pet of my dreams.
I made a soft little embroidered doll of Jack. Put his heart on the outside. Gave him a little quilt all his own. He’s only 6″ tall (extremely gentle, for children) ~ he and his quilt will come in a sewing/embroidery kit. We’ll have the kit in the web store soon, so some little child out there, maybe yours, can put Jack to bed someday. ♥️
And a quick update, for all of you who pre-ordered and are waiting patiently for your little vases, butter dishes, tea bag holders, and all the others, we are being told to expect them soon. I keep asking, when, when, when, they keep saying soon, soon, soon 😜 . . . so have faith and know the SECOND they arrive, yours will be first to go!! We won’t forget! Soothing MUSICA to make you forget. 🎵 And this:
And, despite kitty distraction in the Studio, new cups are on the way! At the end of the last post I asked everyone what cups they’d like to see and did the best I could to make you happy! So here we go: Four new cups, Fine Bone China, made in England, coming late March! This one, the large 16 oz, is “Bella Luna!” For all you moon-watchers like me! 💛
Every time you use it you can wish on a shooting star! I never painted a shooting star before!
The moon and constellations in a sea of stars . . .
And here is brand new Cup #Two, “Home Sweet Home” . . . this is for you who love the smaller, 11 oz. size, a bunting-draped celebration of . . .
Here’s the side, says it all.
Here is the other side…. a little house of my own . . .
And here is the cute handle! These are only paper mockups, I promise the real things will look much better!
And #3, You all asked, so Yes! A great big 16 oz. Birthday Cup! Because everyone has a birthday and what would be a better celebration than “Having your cake and eating it too?”
There is singing . . .
. . . balloons, a hat, and suggestions for fun!
And another perky handle! Happy Birthday Girlfriends! 🎈
And one more large, 16 oz. cup, due to popular demand, it’s the “English Corgi” cup . . .
With the perfect T.S. Eliot quote surrounded by blue forget-me-nots:
An empire of imagination!
And the side . . . complete with Union Jacks, lamb and castle.
And would not be complete without an English rose on the handle.🌹
And, extra exciting news, guess what? For the first time, the actual BBC website is going to carry one of my cups, this one! For their print catalog and web store! And also my book, A Fine Romance, Falling in Love with the English Countryside! So honored! Secretly extra-thrilled as it is one step closer in my diabolical plan to get to the National Trust. Would love for them to carry my book someday. At least now we’re in the same neighborhood! 🇬🇧 👍
They’re already in production in England, and up for Pre-sale now… as you know, I try to make sure there’s enough for everyone, it helps so much when you pre-order, that way, when I give the factory final numbers, I’m fairly sure everyone who wants one will get one! I usually add on some extra for those who forget, but sooner or later they’re gone. So if you have a special birthday coming in September, be sure to think about it now!
Movie News: I keep promising you an update on the “movie” ~ the project in the works to get my book Martha’s Vineyard Isle of Dreams onto the big (or even little) screen … and every time I think I will just blab what I know, the person working to make it happen sweetly warns me not to!!! 🎬 Grrrr. So all I can say is that it’s still a possibility. Which is better than saying it isn’t! Seems so easy! Movie about starting over, woman and three cats in darling cottage in woods? What could be better? Just say Yes!
Okay, back to the drawing board, 🎨 but before I go . . . I was thinking, what would be a really special giveaway for today? I thought of the perfect thing, then another idea popped up, then another, I didn’t know which to do! I finally gave up and decided to do all three! It’s almost Valentine’s Day! 💖 All you have to do to enter is leave a comment at the bottom of this post (click at the tiny word “comment”), and you’ll be automatically entered for all three gifts! In a few days, Vanna, our resident “Random Number Generator” will draw the names of three lucky winners and I’ll announce them here. So, here’s giveaway number one, very rare . . .
A brand new copy of Girlfriends Forever! When I find out the winner’s name, I’ll personalize it before I send it. They’ve been out of print for a long time, but during my “Tidying Up” phase, I found a small pile of these books in the back of a closet! Buried treasure! And timely, because what could be better for a Girlfriend’s Valentine than a book about best friends! You may have one, but perhaps a special Valentine girlfriend of yours doesn’t! So anyway, this one’s for YOU, and Sheri put the others in our web store for however long they last!
And then I was walking by my newly decorated stove shelf, and was suddenly reminded of this timeless Valentine . . . charming old words I found carved on a stone on a dovecote in England.
Here’s a closer view! Giveaway #2, Love Stays!
And, last but not least, this luv-lee 16 oz, fine bone china cup that asks, “Have I told you lately that I love you?” Is there a better Valentine Message? This one will be going out to some lucky winner in honor of our Girlfriend Dee Lamphear and her husband Brad 💞, to celebrate their forever love and happy marriage.💖
This is the back . . . it says it all, cup-wise, winter-wise and love-wise.
So don’t forget to leave a comment! Remember, you have much better chance of winning here than if you played the lottery!💖
Last but not least, here’s a delicious recipe to help keep your house warm . . . I wish I could send out smells from my computer, so when you opened my page on a freezing cold morning you’d find the cozy smell of baking biscuits. That’s how you would know it’s me. I wish someone would invent that. Unfortunately, under the circumstances, you’ll have to make them for yourself!
Make them in heart-shaped pans and they’re the perfect Valentine gift.
Cut them in half, toast them, add orange marmalade or yummy Christmas Jam and bring them to a lucky Valentine near you. For more Valentine’s ideas, plus a link to get a Valentine Bookmark, go HERE.
If you haven’t signed up to receive my Blog in your mailbox, and you’d like that, or you’d like to surprise your mom, sister, grandma, or best friend, please go HERE.
Winter is king of intimate delights, Enjoy the quiet, light the candles, make a fire, pull on toasty socks, feed the birds, eat hot biscuits. Life is good. Have a wonderful day Girlfriends, kindred spirits. Bake and stay warm! More surprises in the next blog!
The new cups are lovely and your winter coziness inspiration is fabulous as always.
All signed up to receive notification of your blog. The new cups are wonderful. Feels good to be back in Branch Land after a time away. I ask myself why I ever left something this nurturing?
Everything I read of yours is sunshine to my soul! I can’t get enough! Thank you for the joy you have given me since I was a teenager (quite a long time ago!!!)
Since you were a teenager! How fun! xoxo
The Valentine’s Day decorations are up, to be followed by St. Patrick’s Day! A pet peeve of mine is the substitution of four-leaf clovers for shamrocks! Shamrocks only if you are thinking of making a St.Patrick’s Day mug (hint, hint). Once March 17 has passed, any snow that comes usually doesn’t last too long. Here’s hoping! The rest of the winter would surely be made brighter by winning a Susan Branch giveaway!
Love finding Williard in my mailbox today. It always brightens my day and this time, encouraged me to get to work and begin spring cleaning!
I live in Maryland and just thought I’d mention that some of my daffodils popped up a couple of weeks ago. We had a day in the 70’s this week, too. I love watching Spring slowly and gently arrive.
Your blog always makes me smile, thank you. I love the new cups. My Martha’s Vineyard cup is my favorite, so far, but I think I would love the England cup with the wonderful quote by T.S. Eliot, and the English rose, perfection.
Diane
I have always read your emails, they are my favorite, but what a delight to come see your blog! It’s lovely, and I wish I could just camp out here for awhile! I am going right this to check out the new mug pre-order link because I LOVE the mug with the night sky! Gorgeous! So glad I’m all signed up for the blog posts! Thank you!!
Lara
Thanks for your cozy hospitality, welcoming us girlfriends into your beautiful creative world. We need good news these days….optimism, grace, and gratitude for the sacred ordinary. Thank you again!
Love the cups!!!
so excited to hear about the English mugs, from an Englander to a New Englander xx
Thank you for inspiration. Wishing you Love this February and the whole year through! Lots of exciting things happening and I can’t wait for your new book!
Hi Susan!
I will watch that Netflix show on tidying up. I’m pretty good about being tidy and organized, but I am always thrilled to learn a new trick. I love your kitchen hutch with your beautiful dishes, cups, mixing bowls, glasses, and books. So gorgeous! I agree that it should stay just the way it is! I love the birthday cup. I may just have to order one of those!
Have a wonderful day!
Terry
So excited for your new items. I love the little kitty/blanket kit idea! So fun!
Thanks for being a constant source of cozy happiness in my world.
Oh, such delights! The news of the BBC taking your book must be thrilling and I hope that the National Trust won’t be far behind. Your new cup designs are charming.
Loved Willard-looking forward to receiving the new emails! I have loved reading Willard-Thank You!
Love the new mugs! As always, the post and your blog is such a happy place to visit.
Thank you for sharing.
Oh, Susan,
How I wish I were your neighbor so I could sit in your charming home and have a spot of tea with you. I delight in all you do and I think I am living vicariously when I read your blog. I just wrote a poem about the Moon so I must order your new Moon cup. Thanks for all the inspiration.
I too have my Grandma’s wood spoon with the one side stirred flat.
You always make me feel good about life! Thank you and Happy Valentine’s!💖
Thanks for the beautiful Valentine bookmark. You make everything with love… and that makes me happy! 🙂
Hi Susan,
I really like your new mug designs, especially the moon cup! I have signed up for a Master Gardener course out here in Utah. I love it’s philosophy. In order to get certified I have to volunteer 40 hours of service and to keep my certification I have to give 15 hours annually. I would say that’s the gift that keeps on giving. Thank you for the inspiration to achieve this. You truly make the world a better place.
And so do you Terri!
Can’t wait to see this movie of your inspiring story.
Just the right venue for my 80 something widowed and divorced girlfriends.
Tell BBC to hurry up.
Love always reading your blog and books.
Lovely, Lovely. My mom is going to get your new Birthday Cup. She will be age 90 on September 28th. Thank you Susan ! Happy Valentine’s Day to you and your sweetheart Joe. ^;^
You are ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!
Susan, what wonderful de-cluttering ideas you have. Love the Ten Minute clean-up. Heavy snow is falling today and cleaning is on my to-do list. Love all your mugs and would love to win any one of your 3 giveaways.
I’m sitting at home, sipping tea and reading your blog, while stuck in the middle of yet another Midwest snow and ice storm! Your beautiful photos and quotes were just the inspiration I needed on this blustery day to remind myself of the good and not focus on the rather miserable weather! Thanks for another day brightener!
Dear Susan,
You always make me smile, even through the saddest times. I hope that the sun is shining on you today 🌸
I love your blog and books. I also drink my morning cider out of one of your cups every morning.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Love the Bella Lunar mug ! I am a moon watcher especially when it is full~ when it starts to rise over the ocean, a mellow yellow color and whitens up as it rises further in the sky !? Nothing better to help keep life in perspective. I too watched all Maire Kondo episodes and have read her books. As an empty nester with a house full of memories ~ I have found her method of thanking items and letting them go very helpful. Hard to do – but in my case necessary. Thanks so much for sharing all your joy !
Susan – on your sideboard is that lovely dish with fruit on it. Who is the maker of that dish? It is a beauty!!
Love love love your blog and your creative heart. ❤️
Brightest blessings!
That’s the problem when everything in your house comes from yard sales or antique stores . . . it’s old, and hasn’t a mark on it! So I don’t know, I’m sorry!
That’s okay, I appreciate you taking the time to let me know that you don’t know. Haha! I will just keep looking when I do one of my FAVORITE things….antiquing at sweet little stops filled with sweet little things. IF you ever see another, please buy it and I will but it from you ~ I promise!!! Yay!
Heartfelt hugs!! Happy Valentine’s Day from our house to yours!
I will do that for sure Lola!
I was so delighted to find Willard in my mailbox this morning. I have missed all your newsy posts. Say Hello to Joe and Jack for me and have a great valentines Day!
I am eagerly awaiting the mini three vase set! Your new book sounds fabulous too!
I’ve been tidying up, too! Feels so good! But every time I walk by my hall closet I think I can hear all of my knick-knacks and doo-dads, that I stuffed in there so I could be all neat and tidy, screaming at me to take them out! One day soon I fear! Oh well, I do try!
So nice to see your blog this morning. Finally Christmas is all put away at our house too. Can’t believe we are into Feb. and looking at Valentine’s Day next week – where does the time go?? Love your new cups, too.
Love the new cups – so hard to decide which one to order! If I win the lottery, I will order them ALL!
Your blog always puts me in such a calm and serene mood. Thank you for your inspiration.
You made my wintry day! Thanks for Willard, your lovely inspirations, re: cleaning, all the illustrations and happy thoughts… dw
Happy Valentive’s Day, this is the month for love. Our anniversary is on the 24th, so we have a whole month of love. Love your blog it’s the highlight of my day.
More snow & bitter cold in Minnesota today but reading your Willard and blog make me feel warm & inspired! The mugs are adorable! Love your books – can’t wait for the new one. Thank you Susan!
It’s been snowing here in Seattle and more this coming weekend. After a fairly mild winter it’s a bit late but beautiful. Martha’s Vineyard will get some soon. Still waiting for Willard to arrive. It didn’t come last time so I keep signing up hoping for delivery. Keep making beauty. We need it and wish for more to soak into our heart and soul.
Hi Sue,
I love the pictures of Jack at work!! Ha! My cat George comes out of who knows where when I am writing check, painting, knitting, you name it. Got to love them!
I have the same feeling about remembering a loved one through an object. I know they are in your heart always but when you see the item everyday it makes you think of them everyday.
Happy Valentine’s Day
Oh, what wonderful gifts! Please choose me!!! Love your blog, books and everything you share with us!
lovely and bright! as usual, Blessings
Love your blogs!,… so inspiring!
Happy Valentine’s Day to you!
Happy Valentine’s Day to you, Joe and Jack! My daughter, granddaughter and I have watched some Marie Kondo shows too. My 7 year old granddaughter did an amazing job in her room, everything organized and folded into little squares! Love your new cups, my heart sings with the Musica!
Any of the offered ‘prizes’ would be a delight to own. Even Marie Kondo could ‘love’ one of these treasures 🙂
Getting Willard and your blog posts are like a visit from an old and beloved friend!
I am so smitten with Marie Kondo! Although I’m pretty tidy, I found her method of folding clothes life changing. Truly! Like you, I could never be a minimalist, but I do like a sense of order; it’s calming to my soul. Your open shelves are a beautiful way to store and enjoy your treasures. Well done, us!
I so enjoy your posts, here and on Instagram! Your paper calendars have been on my walls for years now and I certainly wouldn’t give them up in this modern age. Same for using your books and even mugs for decor. A Fine Romance accompanied us on our trip to England a couple of years back as well! Honestly wouldn’t mind being selected for one of your giveaway treats ❤️
Thanks for the inspiration & your beautiful artwork!
I so enjoy reading your blog, it is a ray of sunshine! Happy Valentine’s Day!
Happy Valentine’s Day! 💗
Wonderful post. I love to move furniture around and move pictures from one wall to another when I do. It’s like entering a “new” room each time I do this. Also, your new cups are lovely. Can’t wait to order another one.
Happy Valentine’s Day Susan.
Your creativity is boundless❣️ …and it makes us feel so good. Thank you Susan❣️
You always make me appreciate my home my friends and life itself! Another icy day and more winter weather to come. Time for tea and a good book by the fire! I would love Vanna to pick me! Thank you for being so generous and a wonderful friend to all of us. Take care Susan.
Happy Valentine’s Day!!! Now I think I’ll go home and start picking up!! And biscuits sound really good with hot tea. I’ll need that after all of my hard work!! LOL Thank you for another wonderful inspiring and uplifting blog post!!
I am trying to tidy up. Warmer inside. I will share Joe’s t-shirt drawer with my son. Enjoy the spirit of love on your trip to the Cape and in your ❤️ home!
🤗. Margot
So glad to receive your posts Susan! I think I may try the tea biscuits, they look delicious!! Xx from Oregon,
Jacqueline
Reading your blog on a rainy day is sweet sunshine! Thanks for the inspiration to tidy up. Our wreaths on the garden gate and attached to the Radio flyer sled propped by our front door are what we keep of Christmas cheer at our home in the Pines. Thanks for your clean up tips! The “Quick, clear and hide the clutter! Guests are arriving! ” list of TO DO is not only helpful but hilarious!! As always,your artwork is precious! Thanks for sharing! I adore the moon mug!!! Your sister moon observer absolutely loves it! Happy Almost Valentine’s Day to such a sweet couple! Lots of love to you both!!
My dearest daughter Elizabeth (16) would really love the cup for her Valentine’s present!
I am new to your blog. I love reading about everyday life, housekeeping, and your life on the island. I’m enjoying your book A Fine Romance.
Hi Susan, I always enjoy reading your blog’s and Willard’s! The new mugs are beautiful. My husband and I love star gazing so we love the star mug, we are dog lovers so we love the corgi mug, we have four dogs of our own and help with a rescue and the little cottage mug is so sweet! I’ve been following you for many years. Happy Valentines Day to you and your family!
Such a wonderful blog post Susan. Everything is in it to pick up our spirits this time of year…cleaning out the Christmas clutter, a little tidying, new mugs to enjoy, a heart shaped recipe, loving the quotes. Felt like a breath of fresh air ran through me after I read it. Love the “Quick Clean Routine” for when you’re having surprise guests. I have to admit that I like what Joe did to the tree. Great way to dispose of it. I went to an artificial one a few years ago because I was cleaning up dry needles everywhere in June. Hope the movie is a “go.”
What could be better? A movie about starting over, a woman and 3 cats in a darling cottage in the woods. Just perfect!! I’m saying YES!! Happy Valentine’s Day to all!❤️❤️
Girlfriends Forever has always been at the top of my SAB book collection favorites!!! 🐄
Pat Bates
Delicious-looking recipe, wonderful musica, inspiring & thought-provoking quotes, encouraging words, fun descriptions~~ who could ask for anything more? I love Willard & your blog Ms. Susan. Thank you for sharing all of your adventures & thoughts with us.
Love your blog and reading about your trips! Have you every thought of doing group tours of England? Happy Valentine’s Day!
All signed up and ready to go, Susan! I know what you mean about tidying up after the holidays…I just did it and reorganized my pantry, too, where all of my Susan Branch books have an honored place on the cookbook shelf. I have a whole new lease on life feeling de-cluttered and organized! Thanks for the inspiration and bright posts! And Happy Valentine’s Day — I’ve printed out the Valentine’s bookmark for my book group girlfriends! XXOO!
Nancye T., Wells, Maine
Happy New Year and Happy Valentine’s Day! 💕 I was excited to see a smaller size mug. TY!
Very welcome!
I shed a few tears as I read your blog, Susan. My lifelong friend (truly, as our parents were friends when we were born) passed away one year ago this month after a short illness. Nanette was a fellow Susan Branch follower and YOU are one more thing we had in common, including our love for cleaning and nesting and putting things in order. When I read this post I felt her reading over my shoulder. Thank you for the tender and memorable moment of sharing. Happy Valentine’s Day and Blessings over your Home Sweet Home!
Awwww Claudia, that is so beautiful. xoxoxo
xoxoxo
I just don’t know how you do it all! Your creativity is beautiful–and it’s so welcoming to see forget-me-nots and roses in your blog! Spring is just around the corner (isn’t it?)!
Awesome cups!!!
Yay! Willard and blog! I’ve watched all the Marie Kondo shows and am decluttering like mad. Well actually, slow and steady works better. Thank you much for being you and sharing your everyday joys!
Such lovely new cups! Hard to decide to pick. Spring is peeking it’s head out here in central Texas. Daffodil’s are blooming. Happy Thursday.
No sign of my first response, so sending again and hope it goes through! Thanks for the tidying up blog post…I just finished decluttering and re-organizing my home and pantry and feel so much better…and now my treasured collection of Susan Branch books have a special place on my cookbook shelf, where I can see them every time I go in the pantry to find something in the perfectly organized place…Thanks, Susan, and Happy Valentine’s Day to you, Joe and Jack!
XXOO,
Nancye T., Wells, Maine
Reading your blog is delightful. Made by day.
Oh Susan! You are a ray of sunshine in the midst of an ice storm here in Michigan! The music you provide is comforting to the soul! your inspiration inspires me to clean! You are a mentor and I want to be like you when I grow up! always be beautiful you!!
LOVE your celebrating the life of Beatrix Potter in so many ways! Thank you for simple treasures! Do you also love Tasha Tudor? I do! She is so like my very special Gma.
I do!
Lovely post!
I’m so happy to finally receive your blog on my computer automatically! Thank you.
Hi Susan:
Loved this blog and all your ‘springy’ ideas from organizing to new cups.
I just moved and still have many boxes to open–it is like Christmas all
over again! Thank you, as always, for sharing all your goodness.
Connie from icy Michigan!
Susan, Keeping my fingers crossed for your movie.
Whenever I’m feeling a little down or overwhelmed like
(Now) after selling and moving two houses into one that needs way
Too much work, I read your blog and books and instantly
Feel better! Thanks 🌹
Spring cleaning already? Thanks for the tips although you make it look sooo easy…. Calmly waiting for the next book….(Can’t wait!)
Such lovely giveaways! Pick me❣️
Thanks for the good cheer!
A friend gave me a copy of A FINE ROMANCE which I loved and I just finished ISLE of DREAMS. And now I’ve discovered your blog which shares information creatively and inspirationally–and is so much fun to read. I’m hooked.
Nice to meet you Nancy!
I see the moon & the moon sees me…so I had to pre-order the Bella Luna mug! 🙂
Thank you for all your heart warming sentiments about life, love and friendship:)
I just finished reading my WILLARD and was confused. I can understand that you would make changes to the WILLARD since it IS much like your BLOG,
but. . . will I still be able to simply click into the BLOG as usual or do I need to sign-up in some special way? I must be even more computer illiterate than I thought! Ugh! I certainly hope I can just type in 162.240.10.175/~susanbs3/susanbranch/ and be able to read the “News From the Island”. Hopefully the WILLARD will now be a part of the BLOG. Sorry to be such a dunce!! XOXO!!
You’re not a dunce, you absolutely can, just as you always have. But lots of people who got Willard didn’t know that, it always just showed up in their mailbox from who knows where! So now the blog will do just what the Willard used to. Makes it more handy for some.
Thanks for the clarification! I am breathing a sigh of relief!
Have a Very Happy Valentine’s Day tomorrow!! XOXO!!
I love the cups. Congrats on getting your home tidy.
Susan, I tried signing up for your new blog/Willard but it kept saying I was already signed up…Will I still get your newsletter? Praying so!!!!
If you don’t just let me know!
Love your tidiness and your memories out to enjoy at all times.
Please pick me, I would love to be one of your winners!!
Everything here is so homey!! I love, Love, LOVE it! Home is my favorite place and contains all my favorite memories. Valentine’s is so fun too, we adore making our valentines homemade. I would adore winning absolutely anything which you might give away! Everything is so ADORABLE!
Hi Susan,
You’ve brought joy to my life for many!! years. So many thank yous and hugs.
I would love to see more books of the seasons, gardening, actually any. :). Also, my address book is sad and falling apart. Where do I look for another?
Best to you and yours,
Wendy
They may be all gone, ask sheri@162.240.10.175/~susanbs3/susanbranch/ . . .Thank you Wendy!
Your post was wonderful. I always feel like doing a deep clean after Christmas. At this moment our house is in a major remodel so any cleaning is a ways off & not really looking forward to doing that at the end. Your talk of baked biscuits made my mouth water as I have no kitchen at this point. I will devour this post again when I’m back in my new spaces. Keep the bogs coming.
Thank you Susan for all your lovely blogs, I so enjoy them all!
A welcomed moment. Your blog and Willard are some of my most lovely joys. Thank you for stealing time in my day to spread sunshine
Ahhhhhh, more cups!!!🤗🤗 Just another excuse to go antique shopping for another tiered tray that already holds every cup you’ve made! 💕
I’m utterly delighted by all of your blog posts, Susan! 😘
Thank you for changing my mood to ‘happy’ for the day. Love your new cups!