Tonight is a new moon (which is actually an invisible moon). If you live in South America, today you’ll get a solar eclipse. The next big thing, December 21 is Winter Solstice, a sacred time of magic and light and the bridge to a new beginning which I think we could all really use right now!💫 On that day we’ll be furthest from the sun, but the next strike of the second hand? The days start getting longer!☀️ . . . So much to celebrate! And now, me. No. First, MUSICA. THEN me.
I do not think, on earth, you can ask much more than this. Note cat.💞
Add THIS!⬇
XOXO
And among my wonderful old movies and among my darling kitty cat . . .
We had our first 
last week! Just a cotton-candy dusting . . . to make it pretty . . . but of course I ran around with the camera! First snow is always the most magical!
We haven’t put away our fire pit yet, still thinking we might spend New Year’s Eve hovering over that fire and, one by one, burning every page of my 2020 calendar, because I am SO GLAD TO SEE THIS YEAR GO. I’ll say prayers to go up in the smoke. With that lovely light at the end of a rather long tunnel, we’re all getting closer to HUGGING again!⛅️
The weather has actually been quite warm considering where we live, and beautiful out on our walk, so this was like a little frosted Christmas gift!
Bit by bit, it’s getting very Christmasy around here!
We decided to put all our trees outside this year . . . this one is in the garden and I can see it from the kitchen window… but so can everyone who drives by the house!
These are out front, a little one in the window, a big one in the yard, and a nice little extra of reflection in the window . . .
We don’t have room in the kitchen for a tree, but we spend so much time there, so Joe put one on the kitchen porch where we can see it from inside.
I took that last photo with the table lamp ON…And this one with the lamp OFF. Camera reacts to that lamp! We also wrapped a small living tree in twinkle lights and took to our hospital to thank our heroes … trying to do our part in this crazy time we’re living through!
But it’s not like we have NO trees in the house. . .’Course we do!
We do! My bird tree. Our kitchen table wouldn’t know it was Christmas without it!
Joe’s been busy! Our wreaths smell wonderful!
It’s funny how we’re decorating. We don’t feel rushed. Every day one of us adds a little something. We’re truly enjoying it, and not doing everything we usually do, but pulling out loved things, and celebrating. Cooking a lot and loving it. We’re home alone this Christmas . . . we seem to be using the extra time to count our blessings.
The candles are lit!🕯
Mother Seraphima surprised me with this glowing tea light . . .💫 (and if you’re new here and haven’t read about Mother Seraphima and her house of creativity, you might like this post of Christmas Past.)♥️
This is a must-have for us, a Christmas tradition: Joe’s stocking for his family’s pets. I mentioned this the other night at our webinar … I wrote about Joe’s childhood prayer in A Fine Romance ~ the last seven names (below) are family pets! You can see, on the stocking, how as time passed, some of the names are crossed out 😞, and new ones added👍.
Wasn’t our Crowdcast event with An Unlikely Story Bookstore WONDERFUL? I LOVED reading your comments and answering questions, but was sorry I couldn’t see you! Although there were over a 1000 of us on that call, might have been hard to see everyone! It was my last one this year ~ Book talks in the time of Pandemic! I’m on the phone in this pic because for about five minutes I thought I couldn’t get on 😜 which led to minor meltdown!
But Kym saved the day … and there we were! If we get really bored this winter and need another visit, Kellee learned how to do it! We can put it on the calendar and all come together for tea!
Oh yes, we can talk! I also want to thank whichever one of you it was that suggested I CLEAN the camera lens on my laptop!!! I could never figure out WHY I was so blurry … I kept asking everyone! No one knew! But then, during the talk, some of our girlfriends said, get a swab and some alcohol and clean that little spot next to the red dot on your computer! And voila! I came into focus for the first time! What would I do without you???
Did everyone get their puzzles? I hope so! We just heard they WILL be doing a second printing … probably won’t get them until February, but at least they are working on it! So, look what else 
came in! The first chapter of Enchanted! Another little bit of Christmas cheer🎄. Although it hasn’t much to do with Christmas, but everything to do with our very first trip to England aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2. It’s 28 pages, lots of photos, and all handwritten, and tied with a golden ribbon, it’s still festive! A stand-alone story with a beginning and an end . . . it’s the first chapter of the new book! And yes, I’m still working on the rest of it! And one more bit of news, I was just asked to renew the “shopping agreement” for the movie (or series) option for Martha’s Vineyard 
Isle of Dreams! Fingers still crossed (almost cramped in that position at this point), still not holding breath, but wouldn’t it be fun!?! And one more thing, THANK YOU so very much for all the lovely reviews for Home for Christmas . . . here, on Amazon, on Facebook, everywhere! . . . You don’t know how much it means to me!
Speaking of Roald Dahl . . . supposedly he met Beatrix Potter when he was a little boy, and now there’s a Christmas movie about it just released in England. Not here yet, but I’m sure we must be next! Interestingly because I 
met Roald Dahl’s daughter, Tessa. So that only means two degrees of separation between me and Beatrix, my closest fly-by yet!💞
I took all my Christmas-tree-decorating time and instead wrote Christmas cards and sent Enchanted and Puzzles to my friends and family . . .♥️
And this year, instead of greens and candles and trees on the fireplace mantle, it’s packed with Christmas cards! Almost like having everyone here!
Now it’s time to rev up the old girl . . .
I made my Cranberry Marmalade again after Thanksgiving! Have you tried it yet? Well, make more cranberry sauce at Christmas . . . then try this delicious thing! Lovely New Year’s Gift for the ones you love!
My girlfriend Lynne sent me this photo yesterday of her grandson getting ready to make Christmas cookies! Did it make my day? It definitely did!♥️ I particularly LOVE his T-shirt! The Future is right there in front of us making Christmas cookies!
I’ve been baking too! Making things to give away this season . . . I’ll try anything with Cranberries in it . . .
So when our Girlfriend Mary Holland sent me this recipe I knew I had to try it! (I’ll type it out at the very bottom of this post!)
Isn’t it pretty? Doesn’t it just scream Christmas?! You could almost hang it on the tree!🎄
So I gathered all my goodies and did some measuring . . .
Into a medium-sized bowl went 2 cups of flour . . .
add 1 cup granulated sugar . . .
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder,
1/2 tsp. soda,
and 1/2 tsp. salt . . .
Whisk it all together well…
Stop and find out what Jack is up to. ⬆ But of course. . . Time out for some shooting and retrieving of the stretchy unit! His eyes say to me, “You have all the power.” And then he whispers, “I know if I look at you like this you will stop and play with me.” And he is right!
Then it’s time for wet ingredients ~ The original recipe called for 2 Tbsp. melted crisco … but you can use melted butter, or coconut oil ~ I used avocado oil ~ it’s all considered “shortening.”
One beaten egg . . .
grated zest of one orange . . .
and 3/4 c. fresh-squeezed orange juice . . .
Mix it all up! (A spoon is better than a whisk in this case as I learned the hard, thick way!)
I thought nuts would be good in this bread so I added 1/2 cup coarsely-chopped walnuts . . .
And because I LOVE cranberries, I didn’t cut them in half as the recipe called for … I put them in whole (and probably saved a half hour of tiny cutting!).
Stirred it all up and poured it into my buttered bread pan…
Ready to go! Into a 350º oven for 55-60 minutes … 
And voila! 
It’s done if the knife comes out clean!
Cool completely before cutting into it.
And there she is … perfectly delicious and gorgeous too! You can make them in the little pans and give them as gifts! If I would have had some on hand (which I will next time) I would have sprinkled this bread with sanding sugar before I put it in the oven. I have to say, for some reason, this Orange Cranberry Tea Bread tastes better the second day, and every day!💞
This recipe reminded me a little of my Orange Marmalade Cake, which is more of a tea cake than a tea bread … a wonderful recipe that’s NOT in any of my books. Also perfect for this time of year, and I would have NO problem adding a cup of raw cranberries and some walnuts to it!
M A R M A L A D E C A K E
- 1 ½ sticks butter (¾c.), room temp.
- ¾c. granulated sugar
- zest of one lime
- zest of ½ orange
- 3 lg. eggs, room temp.
- ⅓ c. rough-cut orange marmalade (and another ⅓ c. below, for Glaze)
- 2 TB. fresh-squeezed orange juice
- 1 ½ c. all-purpose flour, fluff with fork before measuring
- 1 ½ tsp. baking powder
- ¾ tsp. salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9×5 loaf pan. Cream together butter and sugar with an electric mixer (hand or otherwise), about 
5 min, until light and fluffy, scraping down bowl periodically. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Stir in ⅓ c. marmalade and the orange juice. In another bowl, whisk together dry ingredients. Fold them gently into the batter until just combined. Put batter into loaf pan and bake 50 min. until golden brown ~ knife into center of cake should come out clean. Remove from oven and cool 10 min. Put a wire rack 
on a cookie sheet. Turn cake out of pan and place it on rack right-side- up. While cooling, prepare Glaze:
In small saucepan, heat together until melted: ⅓c. marmalade, 1 Tb. butter, ¼c. powdered sugar. Stir until smooth. Drizzle over cake, allowing Glaze to drizzle down sides. Cool completely before serving.💛
Soooo Sleepy these short dark days . . .😴💤
Found this on the Internet:
Very handy little list . . .
–
Enjoy this season of love.♥️ Take time for yourself. You can do everyone else NEXT year … it should be a doozie!🎉 Merry Christmas, darling friends, Happy Hanukkah, Joyeux Noel, Feliz Navidad, Happy Kwanzaa! And happy just hanging around the house!🎁
CRANBERRY-ORANGE TEA BREAD
- 2 c. flour, unsifted (just lighten it by stirring before measuring.
- 1 c. granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. soda
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 2 Tbsp. shortening: melted Crisco or butter, coconut or avocado oil
- grated zest of one orange
- 3/4 c. fresh squeezed orange juice
- 1 beaten egg
- 1/2 c. coarsely chopped walnuts
- 1 c. raw cranberries
- Sanding sugar
Preheat oven to 350º. Butter a 9x5x3 bread pan. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together first five ingredients. Stir in shortening, zest, o.j., and beaten egg. Fold in walnuts and cranberries. Pour into pan. Sprinkle on sanding sugar if you like. Bake 55-60 min. until knife comes out clean. Cool completely before slicing. ♥️
Oh my, those cakes look so delicious… I just printed the recipes to try them out! If I put on weight during the Holidays, it will be partly your fault! 🙂
I’m so sorry I missed your event on Sunday. I was deeply troubled because I thought I had cought the nasty virus (fortunately, after 2 tests, it turns out it wasn’t that, but just a cold), and happy thoughts just left my mind, including my will to attend to your event. 🙁 I hope there will be more opened to us people out of the US.
I had saved your Christmas book for Christmas time, and just started reading it yesterday before going to sleep. I love it already. You sure know how to tell a story, you are always both genuine and magical!
I really can’t wait for your next book. Each one is a real treat for us, and a work of art. Thank you for sharing this part of yourself and for making our hearts smile (and sometimes cry).
Here’s a link to a recording of the event . . Love you Sophie. 💞
Oh, Susan…thank you for the recipes. I do have little loaf pans and have been planning some treats for my neighbors and the breads will be great. On December 8 I discovered it was National Brownie Day. I made a batch topped with red and green m&ms, made a little tag, and dropped off some brownies around my building. Such a little thing…but wow, did everyone love them. Little kindness acts mean so much now…and it grows. This Sunday our across the hall neighbor rang our bell and there was a lemon rosemary crumb cake! I think we will keep this going through the New Year. I love your advice to BE AN ELF…and we need elves this year. Better days ahead…thank you for all your inspiration. PS Thanks for the heads up about Dahl and Potter movie. I have a special place in my heart for Roald Dahl books as a retired librarian…and because the year I retired I was honored with the Miss Honey Award from the American Library Association….it was one of the BEST highlights of my life. Will watch for the movie. MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and Joe. BLESSINGS!
You ARE an elf, Miss Honey!💞❌⭕️
Thank you for such a heartwarming post. Thanks for the recipes. Can’t wait to try the cranberry orange bread. How exciting to know that the movie/series is still a possibility. I will be over the moon with excitement! I wish you Joe, and Jack a Merry Christmas and a blessed 2021.
The tea cake and cranberry bread both look delightful! So happy that the puzzles will get a second run. How exciting to have the “shopping agreement” was renewed.
I will add cranberries and marmalade to my shopping list. Just us this year missing friends and our little grand child looking forward to 2021.
Thank you, just thank you…
I so enjoyed your Christmas book. It brought back a lot of my Christmas memories.
I absolutely love the “Recipe for Christmas” watercolour. So beautifully done!
Many thanks for the recipe for Cranberry-Orange Tea Bread.
Merry Christmas to you, Joe, and Jack.
Hope you, Joe and Jack have a very Merry Christmas!!🎄🎄🎅🎅💓💓
I think you and Beatrix Potter look alike so there’s another degree for you!!
Thank you so much for your blogs. I have loved all you do since I was in my twenties. I am 57 now and this year I retired from 34 years of teaching. I am finding myself again. I am crafting and penpal-ing ( probably not a word) I am so inspired by your books and quotes. I get your calendar every year for it must be over 25 years. This email too is a bit out of my comfort zone but it is the time for new things. One of my new ventures is making quick breads so I can’t wait to try the cranberry bread and marmalade cake. I wish you a beautiful Christmas Season and a lovely new year full of health, happiness and new adventures. Thanks again, Joy Pierce
Same to you Joy . . . I’m happy for you!❣️
My daughter’s first grade teacher many years ago gave each of the children here cranberry bread recipe, which they made in class. We still make it to this day 40 years later. It is very much like your recipe and now I must go make some. It is so delicious. Love your first snow and always love seeing Jack.
Just wanted to share this: Had to wait in a rather long line at our favorite little post office today and was so pleased at how kind and patient people were! A few folks saw how many others were ahead of them and decided to return at another time, but one lady let a much older lady ahead of her, people near the doors held them open for the next folks to be able to enter, somebody suggested a man loaded down with boxes put them up on the counter near the front of the line and retrieve them as he got closer, Christmas wishes were exchanged. What could have been grumbling and grousing just wasn’t! The holiday spirit was alive and well!!
Lovely! It’s that time of year!💘
Hi Susan, I totally love reading your letter each time you post it. I was wondering if you have any more of the door draft stoppers. I had bought one from you years ago that had evergreen pine needles inside, and it smelled so good! Needless to say, mine was ruined by one of my wonderful cats and I had to get rid of it not too long ago. I really miss it. I can’t seem to find it at your online store. 🙁
No, we should maybe look into getting them again if they are still in business! I love mine too!💖
P.S.
Forgot to mention…
Dec 21st. The evening of the Star of Bethlehem..
cbnnews/world/2020/december/rare-star-of-bethlehem-to-appear-dec-21-heres-what-astronomy-says-about-the-biblical-star-at-christs-birth
Always such a treat to read your posts! Joe was such a sweet sounding, cute little boy! Blessings on you both. Merry Christmas!
Thank you for all of that goodness!!!!💗💗💗
Love the idea of decorating the trees outside and enjoying their soft light from our warm homes. I’ve been saving Home for Christmas to read at Christmas. Now I’ll need to make a loaf of cranberry orange bread, a pot of tea, and set about preparing to open the pages of this new sure-to-be classic. You give us so many wonderful ideas to pause, reflect, contemplate, enjoy.
Confession time. I cheated. I went ahead and read Home for Christmas. I had my bread and my tea. As soon as I turned the last past, I went on your website and ordered an additional copy, sending it directly to my Mother. It shipped from CA yesterday. Called to tell her it was coming. She celebrated her 84th birthday this year and is going to write her Christmas memories for me after she reads your fond memories of childhood Christmas. Thank you for this delightful walk through your eyes as a child.
My pleasure Laura, thank you for you sweet words. Tell your mom I said Merry Christmas.💝 Though we’re far apart, I think you probably just gave her a little taste of home. ❌⭕️
I love cranberries and the cranberry marmalade looks delicious! I will be making it for sure. The breads I will try to convert with my gf flour. There is always hope. *L*
As always I can’t get enough of Jack. Love that sweet face. I know he loves to get attention and you love to give it to him. There is nothing better than loving our animals.
Ok all, have fun getting your baking and decorating finished. I’d be happy to have snow for Christmas but am just thankful to be, fingers crossed, healthy. There is a lot to be thankful for even though 2020 hasn’t been the best year for so many. Hopefully we will turn the corner and get back to a “normal” life.
Take care of yourselves everyone. Virtual hugs!!
❌⭕️ Cyndi! Thank you!
I love, love cranberry bread and made my old recipe last week. I made four mini loaves and shared with some elderly friends and neighbors. My recipe is very similar to yours but always turns out very crumbly. Delicious but crumbly. I will have to try yours to see how it compares. Love all your outdoor trees. I’ve also spent more time decorating this year and then enjoying the results. Wishing you and Joe a very happy Christmas and a much happier and healthier New Year for us all!
Check your fat content, and if it’s low, add another tablespoon or two. That should help it hold together better.💞
Do you know about the Christmas star that will be visible on Dec. 21st? Jupiter and Saturn align in a way as to make a giant star appearance for the first time in over 700 years! Hope you get to see it. I have enjoyed my England mug for over two years now and will always treasure the opportunity to picnic with you at Beatrix’ place.
What a wonderful memory that is!! I’m praying we have clear skies on the 21st! 🙏💫
Dear sweet Susan, You make me feel happy tears from your post. I just finished reading Home For Christmas. I must say….one of the best! I remember my magical Christmas in 1956… I was 6 yrs old and full of excitement. I relived it all over again with your book. We shared so many of the same memories, down to the exact dinner that was served lovingly by my mom and grandfather. I had a few tears, joyful ones at the end. I BELIEVE your mom and dad blessed this book and are singing it’s praises in Heaven. Blessings to all of you and happy Christmas! XO Karen H.
♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️😘
This was wonderful to read and enjoy. I, too, love anything with cranberries so thank you for a fresh new recipe. By the way, your Recipe for Christmas would make a sensational sticker for cards and packages, in my humble opinion. Maybe in 2021 when we are out of this crazy year?
Thank you for lifting our spirits!
Merry Christmas.
Susan, I LOVE, LOVE your blog. It brings a smile to my face when I see an email about a new one. As a former science teacher, I feel the need to correct something you said. On December 21 we are not farthest from the sun. That actually happens on July 4. That used to blow my 6th graders minds when we studied that in science. The sun will be at its southern most point in the sky for us that day. It will be directly overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn.
I enjoyed all your pictures – so festive. Thanks for the cranberry bread recipe. That’s my favorite this time of the year.
Hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
Oh oh! I even looked that up! Probably read it too fast. Thank GOODNESS for the Science teachers!💞😘
Thank you for all the recipes! I love cranberries in any shape or form. : ) And that bowl that used to mix up the Cranberry-Orange bread 💕 (swooning here!)
Oldie but goodie!💞Tis the season!
The online event with Unlikely story was awesome, thank you! I ordered my book to support them, it arrived today and I am loving every word and every page. This holiday season is different for sure. The house is decorated and I am loving the warm and cozy feel. While we won’t be with loved ones, I have to say as you said, my days aren’t packed like normal holiday seasons and I am enjoying having time to bake, time to wrap and time to enjoy the season without feeling rushed. My puzzle arrived and I can’t wait to start it in the new year, and may it be a much better year for us all. May you, Joe and Jack have a beautiful holiday season, filled with joy and peace.
Terri
THANK YOU so much for supporting them! Very elfin of you!♥️ We want them never to go away! xoxoxo
Have a beautiful and blessed Christmas and New Years Susan. See you next year!
Susan,
What a cozy and cheery letter you have sent to us. Filled with so much joy and beauty of course. I smiled from the beginning with the David Copperfield movie clip to the recipe for Cranberry Orange Tea Bread. I have made your Cranberry Marmalade and it’s so yummy. And then here’s Joe, he makes the best wreaths, this one is perfect, so beautiful. I always love to see his childhood stocking. And the decorated tree outside makes me smile. Sadly the only windows in our house that look outside are the living room and kitchen and they overlook the swimming pool in my back yard. (The front windows are bedroom windows) But your idea gives me inspiration to figure something out.
The movie around Roald Dahl and Beatrix Potter looks wonderful. I can’t wait to see it, but I guess I will have to! LOL!
Thank you Susan for making this crazy year more bearable, reminding us of the good things we can still hold onto, even if it’s not the people and hugs we all miss, the beauty that God surrounds us with, reminding us we are loved, the simple aspects of life that are far more important than we realize at times, but at times like this we remember and embrace them. The recipes you provide so we have amazing meals and desserts and the smells which they create, well they often take us to heaven. Thank you for these things and so much more. We needed these things desperately this year. And you did this all, while you yourself were grieving the loss of your mother. You are pretty amazing.
At with that, I want to wish you, Joe and Jack a very Happy Christmas. And the may the new year bring good health, prosperity, peace, and lots of love and hugs!! We need hugs!
Happy Christmas from Southern California.
Peace,
Maureen
Thank you Maureen, very lovely words of blessing-counting . . . xoxoxo🎁
I love your Merry Christmas plate. One of yours? I did some searching on both Ebay and Etsy. Apparently, no one is parting with any SB dishes/plates of any kind. Smart people! I’ve had a Paprika app on my phone for years and years now. I newly added the Cranberry-Orange Tea Bread recipe, and then figured why not just make a Susan Branch recipes category. And so I did! Now I can see all your recipes in one place! Wish I could share with you my holiday decorated Dr. Fauci bobblehead that sits on a shelf above my kitchen sink – maybe via Twitter! You and Joe stay well and safe. Merry Christmas, Susan!
Yes, an oldie but goodie, extinct since around 2000. Dr. Fauci is reaching guardian angel status!♥️
PS…
What is that amazing looking sandwich that you have posted in the beginning of your blog?
Maureen
Grilled Cheese ~ and tomato soup . . . of COURSE! 🤣
Such a warm, cozy Christmas letter. I can almost smell the cranberry bread.Take care of you and Joe, enjoy this most beautiful of holiday seasons.🥰
Thank you for the lovely post & delicious recipes. Joe’s wreaths are beautiful and his childhood prayer is precious. My puzzle arrived & I can’t wait to assemble. Have a blessed Christmas.
you mention Roal Dahl.
A few years ago there was a show on the Food Network called ‘The Delicious miss Dahl’
Its Roal’s grand daughter who did a few cooking shows.
She’s a real beauty with such a soft feminine voice, I loved it.
If you type in yutube and the title, some of it will come up.
She is truly fascinating .
Kind of a fascinating family!
Carol, That’s Sophie Dahl! She’s a wonderful writer. She’s written 2 novels, 1 children’s book and a cookbook based on her cooking show. She’s also written articles in various magazines. The apple certainly doesn’t fall far from the tree with the Dahls.
Got my puzzle today! It is a secret activity for our Advent calendar…I look forward to putting it together with our family this coming weekend! Your letters are a vacation to me. Thank you…and Merry Christmas.
LOL, what a nice thing to say! Happy Vacation!💞
I love your loaf pan! Is it a Polish pottery piece? I have a collection of them – but no loaf pan – and enjoy their usefulness as well as beauty.
Yes, I got it at the Christmas Tree shop … that and a pie plate. Love them both!
I just finished reading your Christmas book last night. I didn’t want it to end! It brought back so many happy memories of growing up in the 1950’s in good old Reseda, California! Other than the eight brothers and sisters, I only had one sister, our childhoods were so similar! The good old Piggy Wiggly and the five and dime store. Such wonderful, happy memories. How lucky we were to have that. We were almost neighbors, we lived on Hartland Street! The last page made me cry, so sweet and so true! Thank you for that joyful book . Wishing you and Joe and Jack a blessed, healthy and happy holiday season. Enjoy the moments!
You made Karen’s (Cambridgeshire) day with your sweet gift.♥️ Just another sweet elf in action!😘 How about Call’s Pharmacy? Do you remember that? With the orange chairs and the air conditioning where they would let us sit for a little while and read magazines and comic books? Did you go to Shirley Avenue?
I met Karen through your blog and what a sweet, dear person and friend she has turned out to be!
I went to Bertrand Ave school until second grade when we moved to Woodland Hills. My older sister went to Bertrand and Hughes Jr High until 1961. I don’t remember Call’s Pharmacy. Did you see Santa and his reindeer in Panorama city every year? A great place and time to be a kid!!
You must have lived a little ways from us . . . but your name sounds familiar to me so I thought maybe we were in Brownies together or something like that! Our Santa place was up in Woodland Hills where they had this huge lit-up neighborhood, maybe four streets, where EVERYONE decorated to the nines. They renamed the streets for the season, Candy Cane Lane, etc . . .
Received my new Home for Christmas book and my puzzle last week. Love them both. Can’t wait to start the puzzle, but my “puzzle” table is covered with wrapping paper, tape and tags. The puzzle will be a life saver after Christmas when I will need entertainment. Looks like a Zoom holiday for our family, but I will get to see the grandkids open their gifts and chat with our adult children. We just celebrated our 45th Wedding Anniversary on the 13th – at least Steve and I had some time together. Have a wonderful holiday!
Happy Anniversary Beth!💞
Thank you so much for such a cherry Christmas letter❣️ I too find myself just slowly adding little bits of Christmas as the days pass. Kind of a joyful savoring of each day. Merry Christmas 🎄🎁
Suddenly no rush, just all enjoyment.💫
I can’t wait to try the recipes you share here!
Merry Christmas!
Susan,
In addition to all those other phenomenal happenings, Saturn and Jupiter will be aligning on the night of December 21. It is thought, that because this occurs once every 825 years…that this might be the “star” the Magi followed to Bethlehem. It will be in a west to southwest direction about 45 minutes after sunset.
Thank you for your blog and sharing the orange cranberry nut bread recipe. Received your puzzle and love it. Stayed up way too late working on it.
Three hours seemed to vanish one evening…it was ten o’clock and suddenly it was twelve forty-five a.m. It was such fun to do, and I loved reading all of the quotes, book titles, and pointers in the “books”.
Have a very Merry Christmas, and a Joyous and healthy beginning to the new year. It feels as though we are turning a corner, and that Spring will be a return to our “new” normal.
Gail
Makes me so happy to hear that Gail! My very first puzzle, I hoped everyone would like it!💞
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you!
Susan, Merry Christmas to you, Joe and Jack! Let’s hope that 2021 will be an exceptional year for everyone!
Thank you for sharing those “loverly” recipes. hey look so yummy and festive. Everything is beginning to look a bit more festive. We also had our second dusting of snow here on the mountain and the temperatures are dropping.
I hope that you are well and stay safe during this Christmas season.xoxo
Like so many of us girlfriends, I am a baking machine. These 2 recipes are being added to the list! I just got my tiny tree ornaments and loved them! I shared 2 with my 2 friends here in Sun Valley that love you too! Merry Christmas 🎄
Oh! I love those little trees too! 💞 Janie did an amazing job!
Another wonderful post, Susan! And guess what was delivered today? The Susan Branch puzzle. I can hardly wait to put it together and then frame it! Merry Christmas and the Best of 2021 to you and yours!
Susan,
Oh, I have to say right off, your book, Home for Christmas, was such a BEAUTIFUL book!!!!!!! I wanted to savor it and read just a page or two a day, but after a few bites, down the hatch it went, and I LOVED every single minute of it. The Silent Night ornament on one page was on our tree every year growing up. So many of your sweet sentiments just took me right back to my own childhood Christmases. You are a bit wiser (ahem!) . . .than me, but it all sounded so similar to me. It made me want to cry a bit, but the smiling took over. You know, I love your artist hand but you also have the art of painting a beautiful picture with words. Your joy in those days comes through so clearly and in “seeing” through your memories, we are able to feel that joy as well. Thank you for sharing those things with all of us.
My total pleasure Sue, and thank you for the lovely words. I especially loved “but after a few bites, down the hatch it went!”🤣 Here’s to the memories.♥️ Merry Christmas!💫
Thanks for such a fun and uplifting visit. I loved it. Merry Christmas.
Thank you Thank you, for your Christmas letter. I am totally wild with excitement over the first Chapter of Enchanted. Scurried right over and placed an order, oh Yay! We too are celebrating a quiet Christmas season, just 3 of us (youngest just out of college got trapped here), our older kids are spread across the country. But we’re still decorating, with a tree and lights inside and out, and we’re sending Santa boxes in the mail, with little gift remembrances to all, and will do a Christmas Zoom. Our church will do a socially distant, service, outside in front of our lit-up church–masks required, limited numbers, with shortened Christmas story and recorded Christmas carols. Just half an hour, on the hour, for anyone who signs up on our website (to keep the numbers safe), from 5pm till 11pm. We’ll stay safe and keep the spirit and joy of Christmas alive and well. Here’s my Christmas wish for you: May you and Joe and your kitty celebrate the season with happiness and joy, in the sure knowledge that the true meaning of Christmas is about love, friendship, and Peace–and that our family love won’t change with distance. We’ll keep Christmas in our hearts, now and all year round. God bless us, Every One!
Fondly,
Rosemary and family
I LOVE the sound of your Church service, outside under the stars, will feel so spiritual! Just love it. I hope you all sing along! Merry Merry Rosemary! xoxo💞
So many things to look forward to in the next week! Christmas, the Winter Solstice (which after Christmas is my most favorite day of the year because they start getting longer after that), and a rare “Great Conjunction of 2020”, also on December 21 when Jupiter and Saturn will appear closer in the night sky than they have in almost 800 years! Some call it the Christmas Star. They can be seen in the southwestern sky between sunset and 7 pm EST. So there’s an activity that answers the Daily Quarantine Question “How am I getting outside today?” and one we can look forward to without having to worry about social distancing! Think I’ll make the Cranberry Orange bread earlier in the day so I can enjoy it with some cocoa after taking in this once in a lifetime astronomical event. Thank you for the yummy recipes and the cheer you bring not only at Christmas, but throughout the year.
Brilliant planning for December 21! Making festivals is a very good occupation!💫
HI Sue, I love the story in the little insert picture- where was that printed? In one of your books or a magazine? I loved reading it. I wrote down the Marmalade cake recipe, plan on giving that one a try, it looks so good…..and anything with orange marmalade in it, HAS to be good. Thank you for a new blog and Merry Christmas to you and Joe and Jack…that sweet little picture of him covering his little face with is paw….precious.
For years and years I’ve done a regular “column” for a little free give-away newspaper called Country Register. I wrote that little story for them. ♥️
Susan
May you and your family have a Blessed Christmas filled with good health and peace.
Sue McQuade
I made my first loaf of cranberry bread yesterday, and then your email appears today and you share the exact recipe! I inherited mine from my mother who made cranberry bread every Christmas. Now I make it for our neighbors and friends. I’ve never seen the recipe anywhere else, and none of my friends have it. I was stunned to see it here. What are the chances?? Mom always put nuts in hers too. Loved the Quarantine list. Excellent suggestions. Merry Christmas!
Susan,
Go to King Arthur Flour website and order a small dough whisk. It has a wooden handle and a curly thick wire thing at the end. It is perfect for mixing wet heavy batters as it does the job better than a wooden spoon and nothing gets stuck in the middle like a balloon whisk. I love mine and now wonder how I ever did without it.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Carol
Excellent advice, thank you Carol!😘
Thanks for all the loveliness, warmth and beauty all year long. 💚🎄❤️
This post looks like hygge to me! Still treasure the year you introduced that concept to us. You know, we are doing our decorating rather slowly and more simply this year too. So much more fun. I love your idea of having your cheery trees outside.
Yummy! Christmas orange cranberry bread–one of my favorites. Thanks for the reminder. It wouldn’t be Christmas without photos of your charming home, Susan. As always, thanks for sharing–it is time well spent and brings much joy to so many. Merry, merry Christmas to you and Joe! Blessings, Ginny
Have a very happy Christmas, Susan. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that 2021 will bring better days when we can hug each other again.
Have a very happy Christmas, Susan. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that 2021 will bring better days when we can hug each other again. Take care.
You brighten up the day when your blog arrives! I’m off to bake up the Cranberry Orange tea bread now! Thanks for being a bright light in this dark year!
Loved seeing your cranberry-orange tea bread recipe. It is almost exactly the same as mine. And what did I do today – made two batches, one to give away and one to keep. It is delicious! And you’re right – it just looks like Christmas.
Have you ever had something called Gumdrop Bread? It’s a quick bread that’s sweet and has gumdrops sprinkled in it. Super yummy! I think you’d love the taste and the whimsy of it! Merry Christmas!
I bet the colors inside are just as fruity and polka-dotted as it sounds!
Thank you for the lovely recipes, need some sweet breads in my life! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! ❤️🎉❤️
Merry Christmas Susan! Thanks for brightening up my little corner of the world!
Merry Christmas 🎅.
Because we all love you, each of us gleans some little thing from your blog to copy or ponder over or try ourselves. There is nothing more rewarding than baking or cooking something for an unsuspecting neighbor or friend and seeing their surprise at your gift.
As ever and forever, it’s the little things!🍰🍪🎄🕯
Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to all!
Susan,
Reading your blog is always so heart- warming. I was thinking tonight how you have brought all these girls together because we cherish the beauty of life and friendship. Thank you. I did go back and read about the nuns, an inspiring group of women too. I have a cloister monastery near me and they have the have a small chapel that I visit. One day the little nun half waved and I was so honored. They decorate so sweetly at Christmas. So many simple blessings in life. Merry Christmas 🌲 Patricia
Merry Christmas and thank you for all you do to make us happy! And thank you for your wonderful online store- best place to shop! Have a wonderful, peaceful holiday ❤️
Merry Christmas!! We are all hoping for a much better year in 2021! I love my Santa cup…I drink my daily 5 o’clock in it.. it is so much fun! Thank you for all your creativity!
Always a happy day when I see you have been blogging……….and creating for us. Can’t wait for “Enchanted” to be published…..Have a lovely, peaceful Merry Christmas.
What a gift, so many delights to read, look at, imagine, savor and enjoy! I will be alone this Christmas as my husband is away and no time to quarantine before the 25th. We will miss each other but, since nothing is normal anyway, it’s alright. Like you, I’ve rather scaled back my Christmas this year. I’ve been slowly going through my two big boxes for my most favourites (little bells on some greens that used to ring when my dogs and cat walked by). No tree for the first time in my life! But special decorations here and there and lights on my porch. Our village has pulled out all the stops, and Middlebury lit the falls! An old recipe from my beloved long-ago mother-in-law. Books, and re-watching things I love on TV. Walking every day and today I made granola, the house smells divine. Nice to give as little gifts, lemon curd, cookies and Hippocrates Soup. I want to make your cranberry marmalade too…
I’ll listen to music from Kings College, Cambridge. By the way, I met Tessa Dahl years ago, isn’t she fabulous? We had a great conversation and I’ve never seen her again but I’ll never forget her, bought her book.
I love Joe’s prayer, and his wreaths, and all the trees outside. Mostly the tree you took to your heroes. They’ll need a year off after this! Thank you, Susan, for raising our spirits in your inimitable way. Happy, peaceful Solstice.
Blessings and love xo
That’s exactly how I think: “Since nothing is normal anyway, it’s alright!” Covers almost all our ills. I love the sound of your Christmas, soft and gentle and simple, like in Little Women. Tessa’s mom lived here on the island for years. She kept that amazing smile all her life! Happy, peaceful, solstice. Happy Christmas, and here’s to a healthy, hug-filled 2021. xoxo
I’m so disappointed, I registered for your event but wasn’t able to attend. I was hoping there would be a recording since it was free. These recipes sound so good! I can’t decide whether to make the orange cranberry tea bread or add cranberries to your marmalade cake!
Here you go Allyson … it’s on YOUTUBE!🎉😘
Yay, thank you!! I’m so excited!! Merry Christmas!! Can’t wait to read your book, I asked for it for Christmas along with you wall calendar I always ask for so I hope I get it 😊
I hope so too! 💞
Dear Susan,
I got my puzzle! Yeah! It is so cute and I know it will be a good challenge. I will start it when I get a few more of my Christmas projects completed. I am really looking forward to it.
What a great post. There were some yummy recipes that I look forward to baking. Thank you that was such a nice gift.
I hope you and Joe have a lovely holiday season. Blessing to both of you and thank you for being so inspirational.
Anne
Susan. December 21,the winter solstice is also the time that Saturn and Jupiter are the closest to our view in over 800 years. The phenomena is called he Bethlehem star. Look to the southwest right after sunset. Susan from Falmouth.
Fingers crossed we get to see it! Our skies have not been very clear lately!
What a lovely post! What a great idea, to put your trees outside. They’re so pretty! And all your baking!! Those recipes look so yummy! I was given a cranberry bread recipe and it is wonderful! I have made your cranberries along with the orange marmalade — yum! I loved seeing you last Sunday. I really like Zoom! I hope we can do Zoom with my family on Christmas. Enjoy yours!
Blessings,
Gert
Hi Gert! Happy Christmas dear person! Love to you and yours. xoxoxo
Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year Susan, your words and photos are a bright spot in this crazy year. My Birthday is on December 21st but it is the Summer Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere our longest day of the year. Enjoy the season.
Oh yes! Just the opposite, you’re in mid summer! Happy Birthday Kay!
Oh what fun it is sing and cook and read recipes…and keep wishing for *snow**
Y’all have a wonder-filled Christmas.
jingle, jingle
The thoughts and the pictures are inspiring. Time to bake!
It will be 1 year ago Saturday that we departed the States to spend Christmas in England with my Mother’s side of the family, a “first-time-ever” for all of us! Great memories and look forward to doing it again soon!
Merry Christmas & Best Wishes for the New Year!
Lovely memories to get you through this year . . . then on to the massive celebration in 2021! xoxo
Happy Christmas to you and yours. Merry New Year to all of us! Thanks for trying to keep us afloat.
Hi Susan,
If you love anything cranberry, I hope you are acquainted with the children’s books written by Harry and Wende Devlin. loganberrybooks.com/books/authors/wende-harry-devlin.htm) Most have titles with “cranberry” in it, such as Cranberry Thanksgiving or Cranberry Autumn. Each book had a recipe at the end. I used to read the books to my students at the appropriate time of year.
My favorite recipe of theirs comes from the Autumn book. It is a recipe for Cranberry Squares.
½ C flour 1 C oats
1 C brown sugar ¾ C chopped walnuts
½ C butter 16 oz can whole cranberry sauce*
(optional: 1/2 C chocolate chips, sprinkled on top of cranberry sauce)
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease an 8 x 8” pan or line with foil to extend beyond the edges for easy removal.
Combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter until crumbly, then mix in oats, and walnuts.
Spread ½ the mixture into prepared pan. Cover with cranberry sauce; then add rest of oat mixture. Bake for 45 minutes. Cut into bars.
Mmmm, love the look of that recipe! I haven’t read the Devlin’s books, although the book covers do look familiar … maybe they were around when my siblings were young. Thank you Eileen, Merry Christmas!
I love that one too! I just found an old copy of the book last year.
Dear Susan,
It is just after midnight and I am finally getting to read your lovely letter…my heart just feels full! I think I will sleep peacefully…thanks to so many warm and happy thoughts. You are a great sharer! I have already had the best Christmas…your puzzle came last week and Home for Christmas came today! Merry Christmas to you, Joe, and Jack, the fun cat!
Oh yum.. I just printed up the Cranberry Orange Tea Bread – my two favorite flavors together. Thank you! Everything looks pretty wonderful at your home. ((hugs)), Teresa 🙂
❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉
*M*E*R*R*Y* *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉
Happy Christmas, Susan!
Baking cranberry orange bread this week! Thanks for the recipe!
Hi Susan,
I received my puzzle and I have it all sorted and ready to put the edge together. I opened my 2021 calendar and loved the January ideas for stress!! Also I read my Home for Christmas in one evening. I enjoyed your story so much I am giving one to a good friend of mine for Christmas and a 2021 calendar also. Looking forward to the new year. This C-crap is awful. I only have 10 more winters and I am not going to count this year. My sister just gave me a book for Christmas of The Great Tea Rooms of Britain. I am ready to travel to England for some tea and scones. Merry Christmas 🎄
Right there with you… forced to make tea room in my kitchen these days, not half bad, but not England!
I got my puzzle yesterday and did the same. Have “all “of the edge pieces and the pajama and cat pieces in little baggies. When I try to lay it out on my coffee table, I’m sure to have the help of my two kitties. They will love “sorting” pieces for me.
And you did it yet again- brought sanity to life. When I am with you, I just breathe! Thank you so much! Merry Christmas!
Dear Susan,
I received you calendar and two-year diary notebook for my birthday yesterday (14th December) received with thanks and sent with love from Lisa Jorgensen in California. How lucky am I??
The notebook will be in my handbag and the calendar on the wall in the kitchen!
I’ve absolutely adored your post today – such beautiful pictures and photographs and lots of wise words to carry us through the rest of this difficult year.
We’re nearly there and have much to look forward to with the vaccine on its way. Three cheers for clever researchers who haven’t stopped working hard on behalf of all of us.
Thank you and a Merry Christmas to you, Joe and sweet Jack, all your family and friends.
Love from
Karen Williams
Cambridgeshire, U.K.
🇬🇧
xoxoxox
Happy Birthday Karen!!! Wasn’t that sweet of Lisa? Really wonderful. Are you penpals? I agree, SO proud of our scientists, what they have DONE for us, working day and night. Although I never had a doubt they would do it. Plus as I hear they’ve been studying this virus for years and were already more than half way there. I can’t even stand to think what we’d do without them! Merry Christmas to you . . . hope to be over there asap! xoxo
I am always so happy to read your posts, it makes my day a little bit brighter! I bought your book “home for christmas and it gives me such a cozy Christmas feeling, thank you! Merry Christmas and a healthy new year!”
Susan,
I received my puzzle Saturday and I finished it today. Loved every minute of it. It was so much fun. Had to do it quickly so I could fix my dining room table for Christmas Eve dinner. I do a similar bread with cherries and chocolate chips but I will be trying the orange cranberry one soon.
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Mary Ann
Happy Christmas-time, Susan!
First off, Joe’s wreath is gorgeous and Sir Jack is still a DEEEElightful, furry movie star. So hard to get a photo of cats with their eyes SO big and round. Love the fact that you mentioned “his look.” Cats are smart, manipulative, spoiled and adored. AND! Kudos to you for expanding your PR capabilities to include Zoom book parties!
I love that you are sharing tree lights with the neighbors by having them outside, but really, no big tree inside to put your gifts under? Wonder why the decision to skip the traditional tree IN the house?
I relate that you aren’t taking all of your holiday stuff out, but putting special treasures out slowly, one day at a time. I am not putting up my snowman scene. My Santa collection will not have their annual reunion on the mantel this year, instead three trees that light at night. It is peaceful. Christmas during the 2008 financial crisis was paralyzing. I was sad, somewhat scared, and decorated differently then, too. One of my hutches had traditionally displayed a fun snowmen frolic, but I didn’t put them out. Instead, I opted to fill my hutch shelves with family photos. The change gave me the nurturing I craved.
We have a “bird tree”…just under 5’…and I put my Hallmark Beauty of Birds collection on it along with cinnamon sticks, berry garland and a few bird nests. I put it together one Christmas Eve as a gift for my husband who is a birder. I am still, at this mid-December time, fighting with myself as to whether I am putting it up or not. Dear John is good either way because we have pretty treasures out and it is festive, but I just cannot blitz…doing, doing and MORE doing!
The spotlight of Covid and the election process has given me plenty of time to contemplate and re-focus. The many months of all of the emotional exhaustion has left me in slow motion. I am content with my decorating decisions and yet a BIT disappointed that I am not pushing myself to “do it all” like before!! So, festive Susan, I really do relate to picking and choosing treasures and slowly decorating.
The breads look amazing. I can close my eyes and sniff the deliciousness. Thanks for sharing the baking steps in photos. Always fun!
May an angel of peace bless your heart and fill the empty spaces usually filled with loved ones. Maybe she can be an invisible guest and mess up the covers in your Peter Rabbit bedroom! Hopefully, the holiday season will be a candlelit, sniff of spice, fire-snapping season for Girlfriends. Condolences to Girlfriends who have lost a loved one. Your sadness is acknowledged and you, too, should be visited by an angel of peace.
Susan, your Blog has meant a lot these past months and I thank you for taking the time to settle our hearts during this Covid-era and long, long period of hibernation. It is now 16 months since John and I have been with children/grandchildren…and a handful of months more before we get on a plane to MA to see everyone. That’s a lot of time lost, but we are fortunate that they we are all well. Hopefully, by summer or fall 2021 we will be hugging them all…squeezing them all! Fingers-crossed the vaccine rollout goes well for everyone, including Girlfriends around the world!
Hi to Joe. Pet/kiss dear Jack! Hug yourself from me.
We’re not doing a tree inside pretty much for the same reason you are thinking about for your bird tree. I’m loving this slow Christmas. Not adding more, unless it has something to do with connecting to my friends or family. Tree will be double fun next year and we certainly are lit up around here! I’m like you, all I can think about are the HUGS we will be getting when this is over. I long for them! Hug yourself back, from me. I’m a big believer in self-hugging. It does help. ♥️
Just finished watching your last Zoom event. You are such a genuine woman…which I already knew…but your “visit” via Zoom reconfirmed your warmth, thoughtful mind and zest for everything. Every neighbor should be a clone of you!! What a great neighborhood that would be. What a great world that would be.
Joe’s longer guest appearance was a treat. He, too, exudes warmth and a loving spirit. You two are a wonderful, FAB match made in heaven.
Can’t wait to see you again at Apple Farm. Hope it will be able to survive this economic crisis. It has been one of my go-to places for decades. Wonderful people work there. I hope the staff will be there able to return. Hard to keep employees now.
TOTALLY out of context, but here’s a funny thought that JUST flew through my mind. Remember when we partied and often someone shouted out, “Shots for everyone!” Well, who knew that “Shots for everyone!” would have a spanking new, 2020 definition? Still a happy, resounding proclamation, but welcomed with a waiting arm, sleeve up…guaranteed no hangover. The world is thrilled to be invited to the revised “shot parties”…YAY and thank you scientists for our new, favored concoction!
Cheers! FayE!
So sweet, as always FayE… you are a joy to know. I hate to tell you, the Apple Farm is GONE!!! The owners shut down the restaurant, bakery, and store . . . I think the motel still takes guests, but they are looking for something like Cracker Barrel to come in and take over the rest of it. It’s terrible. I can’t imagine WHAT they were thinking. Very sad. Only GOOD thing, one of the employees has come to work for ME!!! At the Studio. Lauren. So I am happy, but very sad about Apple Farm. Huge loss.
LOL, shots for everyone!👏👏👏
NNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOO! Jeeze, Louise. There are only two beautiful “my type of” stores left on State St in Santa Barbara. One is closing for good at the end of this month and the other plans retirement in a year or two. Haven’t been downtown since March so it could be those owners threw in the towel early and shop is shuttered. Snorty sobs!
Good news. Susan Branch has a great shop online with wonderful employees who treat customers with joy. Have you shopped there? Highly recommend. xoxo
I know. Seems like the worst decision. But thank you for the good news!😅 Very kind of you to say so FayE!💞
Thank-you for your beautiful and cheerful blog post. I was a little sad this Christmas, not being the same and all. But there is reason to hope and stay positive I will! I will also try making the Cranberry-Orange Tea Bread. That will make the house smell wonderful. Thanks again for all you do. Merry Christmas.
It’s hard. Stay strong Karen.💘
Love this post 💞 Did you know that if you combine your cranberry relish into your snippydoodle recipe (3T relish), it makes a scrumptious cranberry orange teabread?!
The cinnamon sugar topping makes it extra special. Just beware of total consumption in one sitting 😇
Merry Christmas Susan ✨
I haven’t tried that! What a wonderful idea! Pretty soon everything I make will taste like Cranberries!!!
Merry Christmas to you and Joe. My recipe on the Internet doesn’t show the number of cups of marmalade in your recipe. Is this a misprint? Any help?
No, it’s just 50-50. However much cranberry sauce you have, mix in the same amount (more or less, you don’t have to measure) of orange marmalade!
Merry Christmas!! Love all your trees — they must bring much cheer in your neighborhood!! I have my 2021 calendar from you ready to hang up. The recipes sound lovely and photos are beautiful. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
Love the TWEET bird tree!
Merry Christmas Susan and Joe! xoxo
We too have created a quiet & simpler Christmastime at our house. Why not, it let’s us breathe more 🙂 Your holiday post and pictures were loved and appreciated very much. I want to THANK your girls in California for getting me all your wonderful items….I ordered things way back in September and recieved the puzzle just the other day (along with 2 calendars, your lil book and puzzle). It was worth waiting for…and it’s here for Christmas–no worries !! I sat down in my favorite chair the other day with just the tree lights on and began your wonderful little Christmas book. I thought I was YOU every single story was MY story and admittedly made me lumpy– but HAPPY !! Thank you so much for your gift to all of us……love you from afar and Merry Christmas to You and Joe and Jack (that lil kitty is a hoot)..xoxo Joan from Athens, Ga
You are one of t most positive, upbeat people I know! Enjoy!
Merry Christmas, Susan! So many good lessons and thoughts to ponder in this post. Will make the cranberry bread soon. Still waiting for my puzzle to arrive…hope it’s not lost!
Merry Christmas Susan. I am hoping you can clarify the amount of orange marmalade needed in the Marmalade Cake. There is a funny little square instead of an amount. I would love to try it……all those wonderful Holiday scents wafting through my home!
It’s 1/3 cup … I better go check that! Thank you Barbara!
Good Morning Susan
I have been a fan of yours since the 80’s, silently enjoying your cookbooks and the last many years your blogs. When I read your recent blog I knew it was time to touch base with you! I too have been decorating “differently” and slowly taking my time (almost finished) to decorate, create, and bake when each spirit moves me! I imagine a lot of us feel like you…..time for change, and new awareness of what is really important in our own little lives each day. I am thankful for everything we have and only miss the ones who aren’t here to share our day to days any longer. I am thankful that you Susan Branch are still writing your blog, and sharing “your every days” for all of us to enjoy while having a cup of tea quietly reading about your life. All my love to you, Joe and Jack. Have a wonderful Christmas!! Love, a quiet fan, Gloria.
Hello quiet fan.❌⭕️❌⭕️ That was lovely. ♥️
Dear Susan, Got the puzzles that I ordered and am so excited to give them to my book club for our 6th anniversary! 6 years ago when I turned 60, my sister started a book club in my honor, inviting 5 of my bookish friends to join her and I in what she named “Connie’s Book Club.” We have had so much fun and I cannot believe that 6 years has rolled around so fast! When I saw your puzzle, I got so excited and thought it would be the perfect gift for the girls. We have read several of the books that you painted into the puzzle, so it will be so fun to put it together! Loved your post! Got cranberries on hand and plan to make the delicious-looking cranberry orange bread. Also, I read your new book and loved it! I too grew up in the 50’s. As the oldest of 6 children, it rekindled so many childhood memories! Thanks for your beautiful post. Wishing you and Joe a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2021!
The perfect gift … since it’s called In Love with Books!!! What a generous person you are, your girls will LOVE you.🌹
Awww, so delightful !!!! Your posts are always, and I mean always a perfect gift at the perfect time. It is good to know that I am not the only one that has changed up how I am decorating for Christmas. Still cheery, but different. Oh, and the recipes, if only I had some fresh oranges. I have used them all. Otherwise, cranberry bread as well as orange marmalade would be in my oven at this very moment. Thank you bunny bunches.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, Joe and the most darling kitty of them all.
Shirley from Texas
Susan, I’ve made your Christmas marmalade for a very many years…back when I was cooking for my family of 7, and 2020 when I need a boost to my Christmas spirit. The orange addition is a MUST, illegal to make it without. Warm holiday wishes to you, Joe, and Jack.