Hello? Are you still there? I’m singing my song: “Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, start all over again!” Despite it all, I’m back, ready to free those pie plates, tell a story about my diaries, and announce our lucky winners!♥️👏♥️
You’ll need a cup of tea while I catch you up! I’ll wait . . . Here we go! I sent out a post last Sunday and about 3 seconds later, everything about my website disappeared. Instead of sweetness and light and all good news, this ⬆️ was the message you received in the mail… “Forbidden” ~ rudest message in the world! I’m so sorry! Then I started hearing from you, then Twitter, then Facebook and 
Instagram chimed in, and I found out I was NOT alone! I called my IT guy, crying, “HELP!”
I hope this did not hurt your feelings, I would never say Forbidden! We, my darlings, were attacked by some sort of hacking machine. I thought for a moment this meant we made the big time.😂 I asked my IT guy and his response was, and I quote: “In the overall scheme of things your site is insignificant!” 🤣 So, it looks like we were just roped into this with scads of other victims, which makes me feel SO much better than thinking someone intentionally did this to a purveyor of good news and the sweetest kindred spirits ever! Luckily, we have the BEST IT guy who had to practically reconstruct the whole thing, so here we are, intact, healthier than ever, ready to go, and grateful. Thank you for holding in there! Here is the post I TRIED send you last week:
How’re you all getting through summer? Hasn’t the weather been crazy? One day it’s unbearably hot, air warm and thick as sea water, the next day unbearably beautiful ~ and the day after that, it’s freezing! Horrible floods in Europe! Canada rivaling Death Valley for high temps! Crazy! We made it through our yard sale despite the relatively benign early-morning on-and-off rain ~ I thought you might like to see a bit of it . . . while listening to best MUSICA in the world… the soft melodic voice of young Frank! Take a deep breath, relax, and here we go! 💞
We rented a bunch of tables, spread them out, putting them as close as we could to the garden so no one could go around the back of them!
We brought out the old picnic benches to surround the bird bath because our number-one consideration was to protect the flower beds from the pitter-patter of thundering feet!
Looks kind of organized don’t you think? Well it didn’t stay that way! Which helped me to understand why churches call these things jumble sales! Blue skies . . . but changing . . .
We parked the van in a tricky place ~ gave us privacy from the road as we brought the boxes from the well-seasoned barn, a mish-mash of homey things to unpack, sort through, and organize.
I was thinking “department store” while arranging things, a born store-keeper-decorator ~ there was a linen department, a garden department, a kitchen department; there were sections for dishes, baskets, furniture, and applicances ~ like a pop-up store! I had a little store in California at one time and my favorite part was making it look cute! So I was having a good time! 
This organizing kind of worked until we began to run out of time and gave up on it, and started just getting things OUT of the boxes ONTO the tables!
Birds, boxes, bowls, and baskets, . . . all good. Throw in some cups, vases and a thermos … variety, the spice of life, here at my favorite and most-spontaneous kind of recycling center! Everything going to new homes, spicing THEIR lives just like these things did for us! (At the top of this blog you will see “Home Sweet Home” … click there for talk of 100% originality about making a wonderfully original home from recycled things!)
We opened at 9 am ~ the line to get in was down the block ~ neighbors, islanders, and tourists, all together ~ my girlfriend Lowely had a yard sale that day too, and also Martha, and a few others in our neighborhood, so it was a lot like Halloween, people going door to door! Fun for all! And unfortunately I forgot to take pictures when the people were there!!! Too busy! And they were the best part! Everyone was in SUCH a good mood, toting cups of coffee, stopping to chat, they even brought their kids and dogs, I had to get a big bowl of dog water! ~ Summer Saturday morning ~ who doesn’t love . . .
It really wasn’t a beach day ~ it stayed overcast so what better thing to do than go to a yard sale!? You can see the line still going on the other 
side of the hedge ⬆️! They pretty much cleaned us out and I have to say, there is lightness of heart that comes with watching the pie plates run free! Everyone spoke of their incredible gratitude for the vaccine, that we were able to come together to do this! It really was sort of a mini celebration of the normal things in life! And I decided, if I ever really miss something, if I wish I hadn’t let it go, I won’t mind because I can put it on my list and start hunting for it all over again. A win-win! A great yard sale, all cleaned up now and put away for the next time!
So, I have to share with you what we did on our cold rainy days . . . we had about three of them in a row, I had to FORCE myself not to turn on the heater! (Almost feels like a dream now!) I just kept adding clothes, then blankets! And we made it cozy with this delicious tummy-warming lunch:
Maybe today it’s 115º where you live, in that case, this would probably NOT be the right thing (try my icy GAZPACHO!), but this Mexican White Bean and Chicken Stew is SO good, I had to give you the recipe. Joe and I tasted something like this on our travels, I wrote down what we thought was in it, but never tried to make it until now … oh what we’ve been missing! If you can’t make it now, save it for later! Because look!⬇️
It’s actually even better than it looks! Great if you have leftover chicken, but worth it to quickly sauté enough to make this! Gluten free, chock full of vitamins, and relatively low calorie! Easy to make! Pop, pop, pop, it’s done! Serves 6 . .
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 minced garlic cloves
1 c. chopped yellow onion- 2 c. chicken stock
- 2 c. jarred salsa verde (we used Stonewall Kitchen)
- 2 c. cooked, shredded chicken (we always use thighs!)
- 2 15-oz. cans of white beans, drained and rinsed well
- ½ tsp. ground cumin
- salt and pepper to taste
1 c. chopped yellow onionIn a large saucepan, sauté garlic and chopped onion in 1 Tbsp olive oil until onion is soft. Stir in rest of the ingredients, heat through and serve with all, or your choice, of toppings: chopped avocados, squeeze of lime juice, minced cilantro, sour cream, minced green onion, grated cheddar cheese, and/or taco chips.🥑
Hope you love it! So, what else do I have to tell you? Oh, yes, this: (I hope you are sitting down.)
Look what I did. Can you tell? Actually I’ve been debating whether or not I should tell you because everyone I HAVE told has gone, Oh nooooo! It’s okay ~ I always knew I would do it ~ to me it’s just like “Fly little pie plate, fly…” Freedom. Yes, you may have guessed . . . those are the shredded remains of my diaries! Don’t be upset! Let me explain! I am the mommy of these books, I brought them into the world, and it was time to take them out.💝
They gave back more than they were ever given, they lived a good and useful life but it was time for them to go. So this is how I spent my early mornings during most of the pandemic, reading, laughing, blushing, crying, tearing out a few pages to keep forever, and shredding the rest.
All gone! Blowing on fingernails, polishing on shirt, so proud of myself! I’m glad I have pictures of them. Before and . . .
. . . after. I kept the covers. And that’s not all . . .
I started by trying to burn them in the fireplace . . . and found out it was a very slow and cumbersome way to do it and guess what, they don’t burn! It was a romantic idea: dark winter day, world in turmoil, snow blowing, a cup of tea, crackling fire, reliving memories, burning old diaries, but, no…it wasn’t working.
So I moved the shredder into the wood room in front of the big flat box that holds the true pandemic treasure of Turner Classic Movies, put Jack next to me in the chair, and shredded a few pages every morning 
… listening to Shirley Temple sing, watching Fred and Ginger dance, realizing, as I read them how smart I was not to leave them lurking around! I stayed young and ignorant forever, searching for life, love, and purpose. I kept those diaries for me, not for posterity. I wrote “Your service is undeniable” in the back of each one when I finished it. They did their job, were a HUGE help in the beginning years of being a grown up. So there they are in that big bag behind Jack! And I didn’t throw the bag away, or put it in the yard sale.
Most of you know I’ve been keeping diaries for almost as long as I could hold a pencil. I’ve always loved 
writing, my diaries have been SO helpful for growth, and helpful for writing books later on! But I didn’t have what it took to begin trying to save them until I was in my twenties! (My mom kept a few of my things in my baby book!💝) I lost all my teenage diaries, all my little girl ones. Probably a good thing! But today, when I talk to children who say they want to be a writer when they grow up, I tell them all I know, “Read everything, keep a diary, and don’t lose it!”
You’ll be glad to hear I didn’t shred them ALL. I kept this one. It goes from from January 1996, to June 2007! Lots of good things in here. It’s at a bookbinder now, being rebound, it was a pretty book with a cloth binding that wore out with too much train travel!
To this diary, as you see in the lower right, I was was “your obedient servant.” Actually to all of them.💞
So I kept it.♥️ And as you can see, I never stopped trying to figure things out.
The diaries I shredded were filled with little bits and pieces . . . old letters, cards, ticket stubs, photos, tucked between the pages. Sometimes I would be somewhere I didn’t have my diary with me, so I would do addendums. I kept all this stuff and much much more!
I saved lots of whole pages, the happy times . . . and wasn’t about to shred this! Buying my first little house here on the island, Holly Oak! The doorway to my new life. But then I wrote all about it in Martha’s Vineyard Isle of Dreams, used the good handwriting, and added pictures too, so I no longer needed the diaries!♥️
And this, trying to learn how to “Think Like Leonardo DaVinci”… 🤣 ~ I was reading the book, and put it down to try to do what he did one early morning, curled up all alone on a big overstuffed sofa in front of a huge crackling woodfire in the very quiet lobby of the Mt. Washington Hotel in New Hampshire, I drew my first “Mind Map.” Finding out who you are is a process.
And this, a wonderful Mary Engelbreit card Joe gave me in 1987, exactly 3 weeks after our first date. Read the top. I tried not to melt.👏
And then . . . the topper, My boat had come in!🙃 I wasn’t ABOUT to throw this away!💘 He already loved me. At the time, I thought, NO WAY . . . but then he set about convincing me ~ the fun part. My mother wasted no time, she was thrilled immediately.♥️ I transferred that whole story of our first date (that lasted a lifetime) from my diary to A Fine Romance, so I didn’t need to save it. Just all the cards and sweetness tucked between the pages. See? It’s not as bad as you thought!
And there are lots of other diaries I will never get rid of! My dinner-party diary is going nowhere . . .
My first English Garden diary . . . where, among other things, I figured out how to make cute fences like the one I saw at Great Dixter!
I kept all my English Diaries of course . . .
Not to mention those journal BOOKS so many of you have read, where ALL my memories are saved .. . so I just feel good about the whole thing!
And Joe had a brilliant idea. He thinks I should send Cliff one of the new cups when they come in (for all of you who’ve ordered, they’ll be here to help us celebrate fall, 🍂 hopefully by the end of September) and use my shredded diaries to pack it in! Isn’t that perfect? Cliff’s a big fan of the cups! Perfect closure. I’m sure he’ll love it! A big relief, he won’t have to hear his most dreaded words anymore, “But I have the diaries!” 🤣 The torture has ended!
Speaking of which, I’ve started keeping a NEW diary! I kind of stopped writing during the pandemic when I couldn’t focus! But I’m back! And that’s not all!
The other day I came into the kitchen and grabbed Joe’s hand and said, “Come with me… I want to show you something!” I was so excited. I pulled him through the living room into my studio to show him what I’ve been doing ~ working on my new book of quotes again! All laid out on my counter. My Creativity is back! Here are a couple of the pages . . .Joe was so happy ~ gave me a big hug! After the pandemic, I needed to get a new “foundation for the creation” and it took a while for it to form! Sometimes I wondered if it ever would, the waiting is always the hard part…but every day feels better and I say to myself, life is soooo good. 
Makes me happy. I am still my own science project! Trying to figure things out, forever and ever! My dad called me “Grasshopper” (he got it from the 70s TV show Kung Fu) ~ I was his inexperienced idiot student and he was all-knowing master! True then, true now. Learning something new every day! 
And for the learning part and the beauty part . . . we finished listening to Hamnet while out on our walk (Joe gets one ear plug, I get the other, book is on the phone!). My review? Excellent. Beautiful writing. Lovely lovely lovely. They’re going to make a movie out of it! My favorite books are the ones that send me to Google, wanting to know more, about the characters, the subject, the time period, or the author. This was perfect for that.(It starts slow, don’t give up.)
Blessings on all the geniuses the world has produced who have charted a path, and left their brilliant discoveries behind for us… you will love my quote book, I’ve collected them from the beginning of time, it’s going to be all the secrets of the world.♥️
More of the beauty part . . . good old tablecloth, of course did NOT go into the yard sale despite small hole from over-love! The pillows, made with my fabric from Spoonflower, were our Christmas gift from Kellee and everyone at the Studio last year!
We lit up the twinkle lights and had dinner under the arbor (Tea House of the Vineyard Moon”) with friends for the first time this summer. Everyone beautifully and inspiringly vaccinated and safe. Gratitude galore! Mutual admiration society! Tons of fireflies blinking in the lawn . . . corn on the cob, salmon, my mom’s potato salad, and root-beer floats! Do you butter your corn with hot bread? I’m so far behind, one of our guests just told me about this, I tried it for the first time! More genius! It’s everywhere!🤣
And roses . . . Joe brought them home, not from our garden, but very pink and very beautiful!
I love summer nights on the island when it’s all quiet in our neighborhood of old houses, and I hear dishes clattering, and music playing from other people’s screen doors, and then the boat whistle blows . . .like a dream.
So here we go my dear girlfriends. You’ve been so patient! Time for our drawing! I so hope YOU win!!! And if you don’t, don’t worry we will try again and again and again! ❌⭕️ So here we go . . . for the 4th of July cup . . . our lucky winner is . . .ta daaaa!🎵
KAREN BLANKENSHIP! 👏👏👏
And for the two Springtime cups, we have two winners:
MARY from Forest Grove and ALLYSON BILLINGSLEY..
How exciting!👏👏👏
I’ll send an email soon so you can send me your address and your new cups will be winging their way to you before you know it.💞 Thank you ALL for entering and trying, you never know, you still have a better chance here on this “insignificant” blog 😂 than you do with the lottery! Keep that happy thought in mind! ❌⭕️
Last but not least, for all our fellow travelers to the English Countryside next May 🥳 . . . Kelsey at Discover Europe (Kelsey@DiscoverEuropeLtd.com) and I worked out a new tour to add to the list … this one goes from the ship by train to the Lake District ⬆️, then across the Yorkshire Dales, to York! This tour will NOT come back to join us for the picnic at 
Stourhead with our English girlfriends because travel time is a little longer than the others, but it’s still so very wonderful and you can read all about it and sign up HERE. And FYI, The Cotswolds tour is sold out, but they’ve made a waiting list because they are trying to put together another one💞, so be sure to contact Kelsey if you’re interested in that. There is still room on my favorite tour (they’re all my favorites as you know!), that’s taking everyone to Sissinghurst Garden!
XXX
And although Sissinghurst Garden is a little bit of heaven on earth, this tour also includes Anne Boleyn’s Hever, Winston Churchhill’s Chartwell, Vanessa Bell’s Charleston, places we LOVED, plus so much more! All in the gorgeous “Garden of England!” History, gardens, cottages, pubs, and charm, oh my!😘
And BTW, P.S, Here’s another surprise! Guess who’s flying from England to New York to board the Queen Mary 2 along with the rest of us? Guess!! Yes!!! Rachel!!👏 Bringing her darling husband Paul! It just gets better every day! There are more fun things to come, but I have to make sure they are 100% definite! So hard to keep my mouth shut . . . stay tuned!♥️
And, there is still a little space on the Salisbury tour that takes you to Lacock ⬆️, and to everything Jane Austen.♥️ Read about the four tours HERE.
And yes, if you don’t have time to take the ship, you can fly over and join any of the tours, and all but the one to the Lake District will bring you back to our picnic on the lawn in front of the grass bridge ⬆️ in Stourhead. Or fly over and just come to the picnic (May 15th, 2022, BYO picnic!) before you head out on your own. SO many choices! For a red letter year!
So off I go. In all my memories today I was reminded of something my darling brother Jim said to me once, “All I need to know about love I learned from the song Hey Jude . . .” ♥️ As usual, I’m thinking what an idiot. So of 
course I ran to read the words (insight into a brother’s thinking is not something one takes lightly) . . . And realized how right he was when I read . . . 🎶🎵 “Remember to let her under your skin, then you begin to make it better . . .”🎵🎶 One more reason to fall in love with the Beatles (and my brother Jim💞 ~ John Lennon’s OTHER song works for him too, Beautiful beautiful beautiful boy….💝) That’s him with his son Ben in ↖️ that picture.
Sending love, cooling breezes, dry days, soft rains, and starry nights . . . . ❌⭕️❌⭕️ Your Pal, Anna Susana Branchburger the third.♥️
P.S. 🎶🎵 “For well you know that it’s a fool who plays it cool, By making his world a little colder . . .”🎶🎵
AUGH!!! I am so bummed I missed your yard sale…it would have been sooooo worth the trip from upstate NY!! Ah well, maybe next time. We are planning a trip to the Cape to celebrate our 27th anniversary in October. Cannot wait to dip my toes in the ocean. Hope you and Joe have a wonderful rest of the summer.
We sat out next to the water last night with a bunch of friends until 10 pm. No one wanted it to end! Have a wonderful time, and Happy Anniversary!
what a great post, patiently waiting for your next book !
I sooo wish I had been able to make the yard sale, rain or shine, looked like so much fun.
Would love to start collecting your mugs. Thanks for the chance!
I see red transfer ware in your pictures!!!! My favorite!
Always enjoy the pictures!
Always a red letter day when your blog post arrives. Welcome back creativity! 🙂
👏
Every letter you send, a treasure. Couldn’t be at your sale, but this will be my “find”, pure nuggets of fun, whimsy, and love. Thank you Susan!
My pleasure Michele, thank you for being here!
I always love receiving your letter in the mail. It tells me everything is going to be ok.
xoxoxo it is.
Words of wisdom from my grandmother shortly before she died. “You know, I am learning new things each day!” Your post reminded me of her and that a lifetime of learning should always be my goal. Thanks for your ever inspiring work! I’m glad you are feeling better. I lost my sweetheart, my love for more than 45 years this past January and I miss him so. Your newsletters always bring me joy and hope for past days remembered. There is a bit of nostalgia in your newsletters. THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!!
You are so welcome Deborrah, I’m happy to have you here. It’s been a hard few years for many! I’m so sorry for your loss, nothing can ever make up for it… except for wonderful memories, and more awake-dreaming than ever before. With my parents I’ve decided, they aren’t gone until I SAY they they are. And I’m not saying it! xoxoxo
Like you, I live on an island: Mount Desert Island in Maine, and we have also seen many more fireflies than in previous years. They truly are magical!
There seems to be good and bad in this weather, just like everything else!
Here in the NW, we survived! Thankfully we have AC. But now the days are NW perfection: cool mornings, warm afternoons, cooler nights.
Thanks for your upbeat newsletter! Always appreciate it.
Love those shaker boxes. I have one box just like that which I purchased back in the 90’s and I have my sewing notions stored. Those are very expensive boxes now, so hopefully someone really appreciates them. I bought mine at Shaker Village in Pleasant Hill Kentucky. Probably one of the reasons I hate to part with many of my collected things, as I don’t think people will understand the memories or the value. Hard for me to let things go. Good for you!
It probably gets easier as time goes by! xoxo
Your blog is just what I needed today. Thank you.
I wish I could have been at your sale. So many beautiful things. I’m selling off some of my things this summer too. We’re thinking of downsizing and there is just too much. My husband says how can we sell these memories?
❤️
Dear One, I chuckled to think we were forbidden!! Forbidden from our heart of the home? I knew it couldn’t last long! God Bless your IT guy. I read Hamnet and it was glorious. I floundered around about what to read after, it was so beautiful. I LOVE Agnes; I’d like a hawk:)
Awhile back you recommended the movie, About Time. I just had my beloved husband watch it last week, after he had a hard week. He said, “This is a Life flick. It is a game changer.” Our daughter just GOT ENGAGED last weekend. She and her fiancee are incredibly beautiful people; inside and out. The kind of couple that make everyone around them so happy about life. Before we begin the WEDDING planning, I told them they HAVE to watch this movie. Isn’t it miraculous how your life touches so many other lives. xo
I know, LOL, it was (and this is a word I never use, but fits for so many things these days) ludicrous!🤣 All my girlfriends have a little Agnes in them, that’s what I was thinking as we were listening to the book! Witches, good ones, smart, witty, charming, forgiving, nurturing, and good to have around in an emergency. You just made me cry. xoxoxoxo
Sooo GLAD you’re back!
In this crazy world you add happiness and light and dare I say friendship! Welcome Back!
Yes you do dare!♥️
I won! I won! I won! So as it t
urns out … Mary does indeed have little lambs. Thank you Susan from the bottom of my heart. I even forgive those who told me I was FORBIDDEN all 639 times. And did you hear … I won!!
Mary
Ha ha ha! She does indeed! Congratulations! I’ll email you soon and you can give me your address! Now every where that Mary goes, the lambs will go too!
Oh yes they will! 😬
Hi Mary from Forest Grove…..this is Anita from Forest Grove!
I was thrilled to read that you won!!
Isn’t Susan’s blog such a treat to receive?
Hi Ms Susan,
I’m sitting here in my home just a few blocks from Minnie Giant Elementary in Long Beach California. Both my children attended and it was the best of times..It makes me smile to know that we share a little slice of heaven together. Here’s to more memories ahead Keep a happy heart.
How wonderful! We lived on Park Avenue, if you know where that is … 1721 (funny how you remember the address, we moved from there when I was almost 7) … many of those little houses have been made HUGE, but ours looks just the same when I look on Google. xo
Dear Susan,
Martha’s Vineyard is an amazing place, on my list to visit. It’s so good to look back at old diaries, calendars, pictures… A part of you will be always there.
I am not able to enjoy my garden as previous years, the heat is extreme! Autumn is around the corner and that is what I am looking forward to.
Please keep us updated when your dahlia garden begins to bloom.
Hugs
I will. I go out early every day to check on it… seems to be going well so far!
WOW!! I had my computer guru out today and he brought you back – THANK GOODNESS!! So glad all is now well.
🎉 Congratulations to the cup winners.☕
Loved your blog, as usual. Thank you for taking the time for us, Susan.
I looked at all the goodies that you put out at your yard sale. Looks like a lot of what I own as well. Well…maybe because we are of the same generation and just love the same stuff. I enjoy hosting a yard sale too. The people are so fun. Lots of chatting. My mail girl always comes and I just give her whatever she wants, remembering the rainy days when she brings packages to my door.
Here’s hoping for no more hurricanes this summer.
And also wishing us all a healthy summer vaccinated and happy.
❤. Love you, Susan. 🌹🌻🌷
Yes! No more hurricanes! I don’t think the next one will be even a little bit “normal” if there is such a thing!
Yay! You’re back! I kept trying to find you. Your sale looked lovely. Too far to drive from Wisconsin! Loved your diaries! I too kept some diaries when my three girls were young and tried to capture the funny things they’ve said or the trying day I was having with them . They are now adults with two of them with children of their own and can appreciate those diaries even more so. Keep telling your stories. I’m always and forever listening…
♥️
Your energy and enthusiasm is amazing ! Thanks for sharing your positive energy . I have use your desk calendar at work for years and it is inspirational!Always a red letter day when your blog posts . Thanks Mary Jane
I’m excited about the quotes book! I sure would have loved to be at your yard sale!
Susan, your emails are always a ray of sunshine – thank you, thank you, thank you! I love your artwork ever since I discovered some scrapbook stickers of yours back in the 80s. Your yard sale looked charming, and I’m definitely going to try that Mexican stew recipe!
So happy to see this repost! Forbidden? How could that happen…I thought it was my computer! Thank you to your IT guy. Good for you parting with some of your old diaries and household treasures. Not an easy exercise! Congrats to the cup winners..I have the Spring cup, it is my favorite for morning tea! Eagerly awaiting that “Quotes”. book💕. Enjoy the remainder of summer on your beautiful island….
So thankful for your wonderful IT guy. I was so sad that I couldn’t open your blog as it always brightens my day. Glad to know it was a glitch and that now the blogs will keep coming. Wish I could have been at your yard sale. I lived on Cape Cod for many years and went often to Martha’s Vineyard — Oak Bluffs in particular as it was my favorite. I miss it and the Cape. Can’t wait for your next book as I have all of the ones already in print — including all the cookbooks.
So happy to read this lovely, long post with some AM coffee. And so inspiring to see you let things go and find room in your heart and home for new things and new learning.
I knew your yard sale would be amazing — but these photos surpass all my imaginations!!! What a delight! Loved hearing about your diaries and glad you didn’t get rid of all of them — glad they also fulfilled their purpose. The shredded diaries to cliff with a cup is absolutely perfect. Makes me think even more of Joe for coming up with that idea!!!
Oh yes, he doesn’t bother with being jealous, being king of the lions and all, he poo-poos all of that!😂
SO glad that you are back up and running! Thank your IT guy again from us!!!
I started working on your jigsaw puzzle last night. I had bought it for my recuperation from hip surgery last fall, but wasn’t up to it then. Now I’ve the time to work on it! It is beautiful and challenging! My husband and I are enjoying it!! Have you ever thought of making it into a poster in a larger size? We are using a magnifying lens to work on some of the parts!!! 😃
Love hearing from you! Your blog is so uplifting! Thank you!!
That is a very good idea Kris!!!💘
Susan , Our computer had just been in the shop so I thought it was just not fixed when that “Forbidden!” came. Felt soooo much anger-my favorite thing to read -sometimes over and over!! I love your words and your artwork soooo much. Very depressed until this came today and the sun came back out. We were not alone. What an evil hacker person(s) to spoil something that brings pure happiness to so many. I hope it never happens again!! I am so grateful for your presence in the world. Please continue to take good care –we need you ALOT !Love and hugs, Gail Risden
Love to you Gail. xoxoxo😘
Hi there to you and all the girlfriends,
Newsletter was so rich as always. I remember carrying a pile of journals to the dumpster and let them go-not sure they had shredders that many years ago. Yes, the corn is delicious this year and I grew up buttering the bread and using that to butter the corn! Don’t we love butter! I retired just a few weeks ago and have been reading your books and have devoured what I refer to as the cookbooks. I have been cooking…this is a wonderful time in my life and my husband is getting to know you too! I realized as I read this current newsletter that I would have been on Martha Vineyard in1998 (my one and only time) and that you were living there when I visited the island! What a nice thought that was for me. Can’t wait to read the book you are currently working on! Be well.
Yes, here, living in this house! Passing ships! xoxo
Hi Susan, I’m so glad you’re up and running again. I have to say I felt a sense of panic when you said you shredded your diaries. Oh no, all that history of your experiences! But as you said…let them fly.
I so wish my friends and I could have attended your yard sale, quite the drive from Canada though. It looks like it was a smashing success.
As always your blog brings us joy. I hope you never stop sharing your life with us.
And bad hackers, leave our Susan alone!!!
Yeah, too far to drive! 🤣
Your blog always makes me feel better. Between the state of the Union and a catastrophic hip fracture, I’ve struggled to maintain my optimistic outlook on life. It’s been a very long year. So thank you for your rays of sunshine and sharing your struggles as well. I feel a strong connection to you. We came into this world just days apart in 1947. …. “ It was a very good year,” as Frank Sinatra sang🎶🎵🎶
I’m glad you are feeling a bit better, keep doing that . . . it took me a while to get all the way back, and I had less on my plate than you. Getting out has been a key for me… seeing people, bringing back the smile to my face. So important. Sending love xoxoxo
I once had that very bowl pictured in your yard sale…the white one with the tulip…but I dropped and broke it. Wish I could have come to your sale…I would have bought it again (got the first one at a yard sale) and been a happy person. Your stuff looked irresistible!
Now that was definitely one deliciously juicy and highly enjoyable blog post. I am SO VERY glad everything is going well for you (and for all of us because of the vaccine) once again. Thanks for writing and sharing it all. The love note from Joe made me swoon. I caught my breath. Time stood still for a moment and, once I recovered, I felt so very happy for you two and for absolutely everybody who is in love. It’s all so wonderful!
I’ve been looking for a new audiobook. I’m so excited to start the one you recommended! Thanks for the ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.
Susan…I nearly had a heart attack when I tried to open your latest blog and got that nasty “forbidden” message. I knew something had to be amiss and am grateful to your AT guy for working his magic so I could, again, get my SB “fix.” Now, the only heart attack inducing event was seeing that you shredded your old diaries, but I’m glad to know you saved the important parts. I have stacks of them, too and should probably do the same. (Insert big sigh here…)
I was just in San Antonio a few weeks ago to see friends I haven’t seen since our pre-pandemic days and you’re absolutely right about how good it felt to do “normal” things again. Prior to that (in mid-May) I drove from Houston to Sioux Falls for a reunion on my cousins. It’s wonderful that we’ve released that “pause” button life has been on for so long.
It’s great that you’re feeling like your old self again…we need our Susan in our lives. Wish I could have been at your yard sale or won one of the drawings, but maybe next time. Until then…can’t wait for the next book!
Oh what a relief! The link worked and tea in hand, out on the porch I could read this wonderful long post until the raindrops forced me in.
In spirit I was at the yard sale. Wishing I could bring home some treasure your hands had touched.
Thank you for sharing!❤
Thanks for the sunshine you spread, Susan. 🌞🌞
Susan and all,
Asking for prayers after my breast cancer returned after 17 years. Surprise is the only word that fits this situation. My consolation is that “I’ve been there done that!” But am finding a lot has changed medically during that time. So wish me well as I await my first oncology appt!
Thanks to all my sister friends!
Barb in Charlotte
It’s changed massively for the better. Such miracles! Wishing you every good thing Barbara, my prayers are with you!
Sending up prayers for you for healing and peace. Love, Pam
Lifting up a prayer for you right now, Barbara! I wish you all the best and, as Susan said, every good thing! I’ll scan the comments in future blogs to see if you give us an update. 🙂
Will be keeping you in prayers Barbara and wishing you all the best.
Dawn in Fl.
From one Barbara to another…Sending you prayers & love!!!💕🙏
Prayers are with you, Barb, for calm and clarity. The girlfriends are holding you in our circle of love.
Prayers sent up on your behalf.
Wishing you all the best and praying you come through it with flying colors.
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
It’s a drizzly, chilly day here in Vermont. Your words of love & warmth wrapped me up in a hug. Thank you and hugs back to you, Susan!
It’s always like a breath of fresh air to see your blog! I found out I am not alone when reading the comments – for whatever reason, when I received MV Isle of Dreams I became obsessed with it (in a GOOD way) for so many reasons like so many other girlfriends did. I read it then proceeded to re-read it more times than I will admit. And I couldn’t bring myself to write in it, so it’s decorated with sticky flags! Your timing for me and many others helped get us through times when we needed a friend, one who understood what was in our hearts and heads. Thank you Susan, not only from me, but from many others. We look forward to your next book, your blogs, your words that carry us along.
Made my day Cindy, with your sweet words. Thank you!!!💘💞
Thank you for telling us that your creativity disappeared during the Damdemic. Mine did too, and I thought I was the only one who wandered around the house, feeling lost. But it did come back, and I’m so glad.
And am glad your website came back, too. I tried to read an older one last week and couldn’t access any of them. I was so worried. Glad the IT guy fixed it.
I was SO worried I had lost your mail forever. Haven’t even read the whole blog yet – – I’m just so glad to see your name pop-up!
What a joy to be able to read your blog again. I had made numerous attempts to open your blog only to receive the “Forbidden” message of which you speak- even on your website. Tragedy! Yes, as so many others, I only wish I could have attended your yard sale, especially when I saw the Tulip bowl just like the ones my mother had- to die for! I will definitely be trying your stew- looks crazy yummy! But, disappointed to hear of your shred session; although, I too have contemplated shredding some of my diaries as well- not the number you have maintained, but still wondering if they should go. Loved your reference to the chain lager as a small locking chain was my lucky lager as well- always seemed to land exactly where I had intended- ha ha! Wondering where your teenage diaries disappeared to? That would be my greatest fear! I loved seeing some clips from your diaries, like the excitement of your first home that was Agnes Butler which reminded me that Butler was the name of the principal at Walt Disney Elementary school in Anaheim where I attended. Anyways, better close. I am so excited for your quote book! I hope that you have space for all your inspirational quotes- love, love, love them all! And, I will be looking forward to its publication!
XO Linda
I wrote my teenage books in CODE!!! Of course. Thought it was all so personal!🤣 So I don’t worry too much about them! I think the book might be more than one volume! So many wonderful quotes to share! Wisdom of the world! xoxo
Dear Susan, I am one of the lucky ones who did come to your yard sale! I think that’s a picture of me at the end of the hedgerow and it was almost 9am then! I introduced myself and hubby John as the ones who would be aboard the QM2 next May! I love all my treasures from that day, but kicking myself that I didn’t even realize your garden was right there!!!!! Too many beautiful things on the tables I guess. I’m sure writing about shredding the diaries crashed to the Forbidden zone! I do understand, they are your babies and I’m glad to see you’ll share them even further as packing material! Until next time xoxoxoxoxoxoxSandi
Oh yes Sandi, was wonderful to see you! Next time we meet, maybe on board the ship!🚢👏♥️
Cannot wait!
I am so glad that you straightened out the computer problem. I was so sad when I tried to read your blog on Sunday and got that awful message. Then I tried your previous blogs and still that message stared me in my eyes. I thought I had lost you forever. It was wonderful reading this and seeing the pictures. You made my day.
Susan….how luvlly to read your words and see your pictures on the blog….the description of summer, quiet neighborhood, music and clattering of neighbor’s dishes….I love that….our neighborhood came so close together during this covid year and it continues as we open up slowly…sharing food, pet sitting,well wishes for those who had surgery, doggies visiting in each other’s yards, and a plan for a big n’hood potluck in September…..even though London hadto be cancelled until next year, other things about our lives have taken front stage…..it is interesting I no longer feel like I live in the big city of Seattle….my n’hood is my small town….so dear I admire so that you decided to put together the cruise for girlfriends to go to England together….what a creative thing you have devised! Continue your wisdom, your colors, your joy and keep in touch with us.
Regina, Seattle
As always, organic, one thing just led to another, and here we go!🚢 Stay happy Regina, always good to hear from you! xoxoxo
Really can’t thank you enough for your words, photos, remembrances, kindnesses and joy given generously over the past 33 years when I first discovered you. So thankful we are not “forbidden.” All love.
That internet stuff drives me crazy! Glad your IT guy is wonderful and you are BACK. Lovely, lovely, lovely.
Dear Susan,
Earlier today I reread your previous post, thinking it was this post! I thought it seemed familiar, but I’m getting older so I just figured it was that. Needless to say, I so enjoyed both posts!
I commend you on shredding your journals. It’s hard to part with written memories be it cards, letters, journals, etc. I have my grandma’s old cedar chest in which I’ve kept 25+ years worth of such items. But 7-8 years ago I decide it was time and reread everything and recycled about 75% of it. I must say it was fun going down memory lane again, but also so freeing to lessen myself of the paperwork too. And now I know my family won’t be burdened having to go through it someday too.
Thanks for the great post and sharing your happy life with us all!
Mary Jo
P.S. I thought the card from Joe was just adorable!
I celebrate the way that your art and words ripple and inspire so many. Before finding your email, I had just watched a hummingbird and butterfly enjoying my coneflowers. It seems to me that you are like a pollinator spreading joy to all of us whose lives you touch.
Thanks Susan🦋🐝🌺💖
I love the thought of that. Thank you Pam!🥲
Hiiii!!!
So glad you have the IT Hero saving the day! It’s always fun reading your blog! I can’t wait for the quote book! I have tons of saved quotes and such snipped from your old calendars that I have scrapbooked. Now, this! Hooray!!! It’s wonderful! Yes, yes, yes!!!!
—-<—-<—@ Randi Bault
So many parts of this blog entry that I enjoyed!
I will most definitely be making your Mexican White Bean & Chicken Stew recipe, it’s sound so delish!
I especially like the “story of your life” page, since it starts so similar to my story. I was born at the tail end of 1946 at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Long Beach, and I also went to Minnie Gant – how fun to think that we may have even been in the same class there, or played on the playground together!
Did you have Mrs. Caldwell in kindergarten?
I’m so happy that your IT guy put everything back together.
Hi Susan!
I sooo wish I could have attended your yard sale! I love that bowl with the tulips on it!
During the pandemic I decided to throw away about 40 years worth of diaries/journals. Each week I would fill a large garbage bag with as many as would fit. It took about seven weeks to clear them all out. I dis save about 15 years worth of Day by Day Journals — most of them are your book :). In these books I record what I did each day but they do not contain my thoughts and feelings – well not too many of them. 😉 I still journal every day. I record what I did each day in writing with photos but my thoughts, feelings, prayers, etc. go into my computer where they are for my eyes only and are deleted when I choose.
I look forward to your quote book. I do love quotes!
Have a wonderful day!
Terry
That kind of diary is good too… I love my calendars for that, dinner dates, birthday parties, dr appointments. Good to know these things! Good reference!💘
Loved the post as always! I’ve been taking some short trips down memory lane lately myself. Not reading diaries – although I have a few stashed somewhere – but connecting with childhood friends, buying postcards on eBay from the little town I grew up in Minnesota – and one of the hospital I was born in. I was the first of 5 kids born in the hospital – and a very famous hospital at that – St. Mary’s – which is next door to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. My Mother said she had to stay 10 days and my father was the only visitor allowed. She probably needed the break anyway – Grandma was at home with the other 4 kids. This post made me go back into nostalgic mode again! Thank you – it’s a nice place to be these days.
Ha ha, my mom LOVED having babies and getting to stay in the hospital a week or so! Like a vacation she said! Waited on hand and foot! That’s probably why she had 8 kids! What a woman will do for a vacation!
Thank heavens you are back. I thought I was doing something wrong as I kept trying over and over to bring up your blog post. I so enjoy everything you write and everything you share with us. You make my heart happy and give me such motivation, and I always want to immediately grab a cup of tea and read you from beginning to end. Thank you!
♥️💞♥️❌⭕️
Dear Susan,
“Forbidden”-I thought, “What did I do? How do I fix this?” We even got a new router! The Internet solution to fixing the error was “simple’, right?! Um, nope. So, when all else failed, I did e-mail your contact person at the store! Glad it wasn’t me and sorry it was you, but grateful for “tech guys”!
We were actually on the Vineyard at the time of your yard sale, along with at least half of America! OMG-I was afraid the island might sink into the sea. We walked Edgartown in search of… We bought the Vineyard Gazette in search of… Alas, we never did find you! Oh, well. I should be HAVING a yard sale, not attending one, but oh, I did want to see you, again and tell you in person, again, what a positive impact you have had on my life!
I did pick up your puzzle at Bunch of Grapes-I have all of your books! My husband has been searching for the MV secession flag, a throw back to yesteryear. We found that, too. All in all, a wonderful trip to the Isle of Dreams.
You and I met in 2002 at Colorful Creations-a small event. My BFF of now 63 years (we met in nursery school-been besties ever since-that’s a story!) went, together and our photo with you is on my bulletin board in my “Underground Craft Room”, my “Basement Bliss”! You’ve moved home with me three times since we met-bet you didn’t know you had traveled to these obscure locales!
I’m so happy you’re back. Darn Internet meanies-wish they’d find more productive ways to use their time and talents!
No I didn’t know we were traveling together, but I love it! We put ads for the yard sale in both papers! But I never checked to see if they actually showed up!😂 So sorry to miss you! xoxo
IT is awfully good to know you were “beautifully and inspiringly vaccinated and safe” and did not end up with a horrible reaction…or worse yet, dead….as MANY HAVE!!! But I still give you maybe two years, tops, to hopefully escape any of that.
Millions more lost to the disease, millions more still to come. Prayers that we can stop this thing before it ruins all our lives. Blessings on you and yours. 💞
I’m soooo relieved and happy that the weird Error message was not just on my computer!!! It has been acting up lately! I was getting ready to write you a snail mail and ask how I could get back to receiving your blogs – I have been following you for many years!!!
Many many humble thank yous to your awesome IT Master!
So happy you are back up and running!😍
I am so glad your blog came back from the internet neverland…. What a crazy thing!! You should be so proud of all your shredding!!! You must feel so light and free. You saved the really important things but let go of what doesn’t serve you anymore! Your garage sale looked fantastic. Looks like the best garage sale I have ever seen.. all wonderful stuff!!! Never been to a sale like that! Usually you have to weed through to find one gem. Yours looked like it was all gems! Wish we were going to England with you. It makes me feel better that I have been to most places on the all the tours (except York) after reading a Fine Romance. We did 4 trips to the English Countryside in row because of your book!! Thank you Susan!! Love, Beverlee
Thank you, IT guy. I kept trying and yay today there you were! I’m excited about the quote book.
I have 43 years worth of diaries and I thought the last month or two, what in the world am I going to do with them. Yikes!
Just slowly read, maybe for the last time, and decide as you go. Baby steps. xoxoxo
Susan, I think of you as one of those geniuses and I cried at hearing about your destroying your diaries. It is so strange you posted this as I have been wondering just yesterday what my children are going to do with my 42 volumes of my art/musing/ranting journals. I call them my cheap psychiatrist. Like you they were mostly written for me. To get my emotions into perspective. It has worked all these years.
I can’t help but wonder what if Beatrix Potter and Winston Churchill had destroyed their journals? I am not famous at all so no one would be interested in my life, but you? You have the happy gene and are so very interesting. Anyway, I just got your blog notice today, I was seeing that “Forbidden” message until today, so I’m surprised there are replies from Monday. Weird. I was also thinking just Thursday of having a yard sell, we have way too much stuff. You have given me the fire to start boxing past needed things. Yours looks so wonderful, I wish I could have been there. Plus my youngest is stretching his wings and moving to a city 40 miles away with his half brother and six other friends to rent a rather large house, and wants to toss a lot of his old toys. These toys are yard sell gold and will help his first rent and deposit. So a no Brainer! 😃. Ohm, I heard yesterday a second Downton movie is now being filmed for a December release date!! Does anyone else out the in the girlfriend universe know it this is true or just a rumor? I am holding me breath here! Lol. Congrats to you winners too and hope you all have happy years of enjoyment! Lovzies—dezi
Maybe they did destroy some of them, and the ones we see are the ones they saved! Could be! But I know what you mean. I LOVE other people’s diaries! I think if the future gets ONE diary from a person, the future should consider themselves lucky!🤣 I heard the Downton “rumor” too … I think it’s true! Happy Sunday Dezi! xoxo
Hello Dezi,
I had heard about the 2nd DA movie also, and it’s true ! But it’s been delayed, unfortunately….I found this on internet;
Downton Abbey 2 has been delayed and is now due for release in 2022. The sequel to the 2019 adaptation, based on the much-loved ITV period drama, was set to arrive in time for the festive season on December 22, but will now be released next spring, Deadline reports. The official release date is March 18, 2022.
Best wishes
Nicoline
Thanks for that Nicoline, isn’t Susan’s blog so wonderful?
I love love love that idea of one journal from every person, make it the best of your thoughts and life. I rarely look through my old ones unless there is a dispute between what I remember about some past issue and a brother or sister or whomever, because I have a bad memory from a horrible head accident when I was eight and lost all my memories before that day. I believe that was about when I started writing things down. I write everything, about the silly raccoon family that took up residence in the attic of the old dilapidated carriage house, about my feelings when my beloved brother was killed in Vietnam, and even the weather and high and low temperatures of that day. If I did not write on a given day I still put in the date weekday and weather. Sometimes it’s nice to look and see what the temps were for a day, but since I moved so very much and lived in different states I can’t really do comparisons. 😕 In West Virginia in summer of 1975 there was a thunderstorm I thought was going to take the whole hotel into the sky. I know what Dorothy felt like. It’s too bad that diary and that whole box of them disappeared in one of the moves. I know the fear was put in there. I could laugh now. But mostly my journals were my art teacher, I arted in them and it’s fun to see how my miniature paintings matured over the decades. My besti has asked me to leave them to her, she is very healthy and will probably outlive me by decades, but maybe I need to read them too and decide which ones to destroy. The ones full of accronimity , which I know there are many. Negativity can be disposed of, for sure, even if it was my way of trying to work through frustrations. I shall, I shall tear out what can go, and keep what I think is worth keeping, and glad to note the journals from the last decade show a maturity and healing of mind and soul that is not seen in the early years. Lots to ponder on.
Side note: Did you hear about the cat book that Beatrix Potter never finished and is going to be finished now and published? By whom I can’t say, but I thought of you because I think the cat Beatrix painted is a tuxedo. You should write a story about Jack and illustrate it, IF you are ever looking for a new project in years to come. It could be short or not??? Does he still chase the hair bands?
I am so looking forward to your quotes book, I have a son who loves quotes and bought himself The Oxford Book of Quotations when he was 17. His in Hawaii in NAVY so I have been using it. I will buy yours and he can have his back. Lol!
Sweet Dezi. And yes, Jack still chases. Every. single. night. before. bed. I am totally trained now.xoxoxoxo
🤭🤭🤭😛👏🏻Good on you Jack!
Dearest Susan, I began reading your blog, got sidetracked on your shopping link, then sat back, fan blowing the tendrils around my face every which way (like the summer wind come blow’n in from across the sea), and smiling contentedly. I love your happy, fun site! Insignificant! Bah humbug (oops, wrong season). Your words, art, delightfulness, and alllll on your site (all of the side of your gifted personality you let us see), are inspiring, encouraging, and downright frolicking. The IT man is smart with your computer, but maybe is unlearned in fairy tale fun. Sprinkle some fairy dust on him (or part of your shredded diary confetti) and see if that uncovers the secrets of just how significant your site is to all our hearts. I bet he’ll start sending you fam mail! You are loved, for sure!
You are a sweetheart!!! And yes, Bah humbug is really good year-round ~ in certain cases! Thank you for the support Liz! Just like FORBIDDEN, I ignored the “insignificant” too! 🤣
Amen, very well said! liz! 🧚🏽♂️🧚🏻♀️🧚🏽♂️🧚🏽♂️🧚🏻🧚🏻♀️🧚🏻♀️
Susan, I must tell you that that the dear friend who introduced me to you and your amazing work/life passed away last week after a year of terrible illness. Not COVID, because, we all must remember that all the other ills of the world kept on churning during the “dam-panic”.
I loved her as a friend, and will miss her always, but I am so indebted to her for seeing me in your work, when she was at the bookstore in Cotuit, and bringing your book into my life in Milwaukee, WI.
So I dedicate my continuing joy in you and your creative, delightful sharing to this wonderful friend.
Thank you for being you!
Oh dear Ellie, I can’t tell you how sorry I am to hear that. 💔 Very sad. I love the way you celebrate her life. It’s beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with me. Blessings. xoxoxo
I would have snatched that Fire King tulip bowl up in a heartbeat! Beautiful piece. I collect them. I enjoy your blog so much. Thank you for sharing all the details of your life with all of us. I hope you have a great rest of the summer.
Hi Susan, such a wonderful post. Reading your blog always puts me in a happier mood. It was so worth the wait! I am glad the best of your diaries make it into books. I can’t wait until the next one. So glad you are enjoying your summer. I am catching up on things we missed last year too. Thanks for sharing your life with us.
I LOVED everything you wrote in this fantastic newsletter, yet I must admit my favorite part was “It’s always You” with Frank. It was my parents “song” as they courted through letters only during WWII. They married in January 1946 & are both gone now. One of the first gifts my husband gave me when we started courting was a framed copy of that sheet music. Most definitely in theme with all things Susan Branch🥰
What an amazing gift!💝
Dearest Susan,
It seems that EVERY one of your blog notes gets better and better, even the “down” ones because you are ALWAYS yourself! Thank you for that. Thank you for you.
Your true and loving fan,
Zoe Greenwood
PS. My great grandmother, Edith Cordelia, had a cousin that she corresponded with and every letter began, “Dearest Edith” and ended with “Your true and loving cousin”. It just makes me tingle when I think of them.
There is something very wonderful about a little tradition like that. My grandmother’s letters always started “Sue Darling…”
You were so brave waiting!!!❤️
So relieved I could open your blog this time! I was in a bit of a panic thinking I was now “forbidden” forever, from following you. I have to admit I was holding my breath! Friends can be hard to come by sometimes – I would hate to lose the like souls who find their way to you. And like a “girlfriend,” I read each blog chatting back with you… “Yes, I got rid of all my diaries too…” and “I love the summer nights too, just as you describe them”…. ah the fireflies and the fairy lights! So beautiful. Thank you for capturing them for us and sharing your very special thoughts & visions. Glad your yard sale was so fun & successful!
Happy Summer!!
Kindred spirits! How lucky we are! 💝
Once again, you leave me smiling and humming to myself. So glad I wasn’t the only one “forbidden”. That really did upset me, thinking I may never get another blog from you, Susan! Happy I was wrong about that!
You are so wise to start whittling down your stuff. I am trying too. You give me inspiration. Take care and Barbara Middleton, I will add you to my prayers too.
Thanks!
Enjoyed this post so much! Glad you’re feeling creative and spry again!
Susan,
so thrilled (and relieved) that you’re back.
When you share your news and your heart with me/us, it somehow makes my own life as an artist feel more expansive. And definitely more on track.
You are such a blessing!
In it together! xoxo
Dear Susan, author of wonderful diaries and my most favorite insignificant blog, So good to have the ERROR message resolved. Thank you IT Guy!! The yard sale was fabulous in pics and I would have loved to have been there. I know everyone is thrilled with the delights they brought home to love. I live in Maine and adore visiting the MT Washington Inn. We ride over just to sit, take in all the beauty, appreciate the old style decor. And for Barbara Middleton in Charlotte, my prayers and positive healing energy are going to you everyday with love. SusanCB
Susan
Thanks for the yard sale pictures, the diary stories and most of all the inspiration! Also a huge thanks to your IT guy!!! I’m sooo looking forward to your book of quotes.
Mary
Oh….!!! how I wish I had been there for your yard sell….what fun it must have been for everyone shopping.
Yay👏👏 Finally we get to read your blog. So glad your IT guy got it all sorted out. 👏👏 to him. So much fun stuff here. Happy you’re back and Happy your creative streak is back. You just have to ride out the dark days to get to the other side sometimes. Maybe it was cathartic shredding the journals. I’ve been doing that too. They are helpful at the time of writing them, like going through my mothers cancer but to painful to relive. And other what nots.. All nobody else’s business. So kudos to you for freeing yourself except for the few mementos. Loved Joes cup idea. 😁 Your garage sale looked fabulous..happy for you it sold out. No having to put stuff back… That’s also freeing. 🤪
Congrats to the cup winners, especially to Mary who got her little lamb. 😁 Welcome back to blogsville Susan. So glad we’re no longer forbidden. 😜 You were missed. 🤗
❌⭕️❌⭕️
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful and worth waiting for! I am so glad your great IT person brought it all back to us.
Thank you, as always xo
Dearest Susan… Hooray!!! I knew things would work out & so glad to finally read all about what’s been going on in your life! Tech glitches are always so frustrating, but thankfully we have smart & clever IT guys (and gals) that can fix the glitch!!! And, I’m so grateful to yours, that I will even forgive his “insignificant” remark!!! He doesn’t know what he doesn’t know!!!
Your yard sale looked like so much fun and, although, I live too far away to have attended, I enjoyed looking at the pictures of all the interesting & pretty things! Even saw a few that brought back memories of my family & childhood home.
Summer life is good here in Reno, NV, where the month-long arts festival, Reno Artown, is happening, once again! Music, theatre, dance, & visual arts…all kinds of events happening every day all through July, and much of it free. It is so wonderful to be outdoors, having fun with friends & enjoying life again! (So grateful to our scientists who created the vaccine to help us be safe from covid!)
One sad note, however, my husband and I had to say goodbye to our beloved shih-tzu doggidy at the end of June…it was time for Parkie to make his journey over the Rainbow Bridge. He brought us so much love & joy in his 14 years!!! We had a veterinarian come to our house to assist, and everything was very peaceful & calm. We are sad & we miss his goofy little personality, and, we will carry him in our hearts💕…always! I wish that I could send a picture so you could see how adorable he was…and he was such a little ambassador, too…so sweet & friendly towards everyone he met. My husband, a musician, often would take Parker with him when his group The String Beings, played at assisted living homes, and Parkie would go around the audience of residents, greeting each one! He was just the BEST!!! I know that you understand, Susan.
Sending you & Joe & Jack much love & hoping you continue to enjoy such a wonderful summer!!! Always your friend, Barbara Vlcek-Vinikow
p.s. “Insignificant”, my foot!!!
I do understand, I’m so sorry for your loss Barbara, so very sad to lose a petty-pet. I love how you loved him! I’m sure he felt it every day! Who can ask for more!? xoxoxo
❤ Thank you for your sweet message, Susan. Yes, I felt truly blessed to love & be loved by Parkie!❤
🐶😘
Every morning I wake up and open my cabinet to pick which of my SB teacups I’ll use today. I have the Home Sweet Home (3 of em), Spring, a red flower one, and my very favoritest – the oversized Blue Bird cup. I dunno – they just make tea, coffee and hot chocolate taste better. It’s a great way to start the day. Have a great week ahead! xo t
What fun it would have been to be able to putter around at your yard sale! I loved looking at the pictures you included. And oh, my! My heart skipped a tiny beat when I read about your diaries. But we can’t keep everything, can we? Just a few special things do just fine. I’m so glad to hear your creativity has returned – you must be feeling like yourself again. I’m looking forward to all of the things you have in store for us. Hugs to you! 💚
Susan—I am so excited about your “quote” book coming out. I have saved a lot of quotes myself and my daughter has been saving them to a book also. This sounds like a great birthday present for her…………so glad your IT guy was able to straighten out the mess with the website!
I’m leaving extra pages in every section for readers to add quotes of their own! Makes it double-good!
I gasped, sighed and felt sad all within the few minutes it took to read your post. So glad you held our hands in explaining the shredding of the journals.
Going to garage sales, thrift stores, estate sales and antique shops is our pastime. So as I viewed your garage sale pictures I told myself there was really nothing there for me 😀 Denial comes in handy sometimes.
Looking forward to the quote book. Is the breakfast book still on the table(pun intended)?
Will definitely be making the soup.
Prayers to Barbara Middleton. I am a 2 year survivor of breast cancer so you will be in my heart and prayers.
💖 Denial is definitely a good thing! All books still on the table, until I can’t do it anymore, which I pray is never!
Oh my….what a horrible word – forbidden! Glad you are back and sharing such wonderful ideas with us. Good for you shredding your diaries….I write sporadically and have some old ones saved and think…hmmm – do I EVER want anyone else to read these. You have given me food for thought. BUT, most of all, I loved how you described “whole story of our first date (that lasted a lifetime)”. Love it! May I say, that is our story….and when we retired and found we needed only one car I felt my beloved “ANN Y” personalized license plate was no longer correct. So…feeling the same as you and Joe, our license plate now reads 1BIGD8! ONE BIG DATE – that is how we feel our life has been – Blessed and Blissful! Thanks for all the inspiration, ideas, and LOVE you share with all of us!
So cute, and SO lucky! 💖
Well there you are, dear heart! When I excitedly opened my Sunday post from you, and discovered “FORBIDDEN”, I yelled Oh NO!” But I had faith in my girlfriend Susan that she would get out another post ASAP 😉. You have your dancing shoes back on, and your mojo is in full mode. So happy your creativity spark has ignited in your soul! Sending love and hugs to you, Joe, and Jackie. XOXO
Dearest Susan, I have never thanked you for the joy you have helped me see all around. And also the little things I’ve now given myself permission to acknowledge every day. You truly are an elf spreading sunshine with your magic wand!
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So glad to see that you are “back”. Of course you never left us but the pesky people who do the hacking like to make us think that you have. The NW is back to its usual summer not the 108 degree climate change one. Hopefully it will stay this way for awhile. Thank you for showing all the things that you had in your yard sale. It gives me hope that if you can get rid of some of the treasures that you have collected over the years then so can I, oh but it is so hard because of the “back stories” that go with these treasures. Take care and continue to enjoy the jewel of an island that you call home.
Only you can decide what can go and what must stay! Some things I have decided will be other people’s job to throw out, not mine!
Cannot tell you how thrilled I am to read this after getting that message that I did not have permission to read your post. I love the posts.
Sandra
Your garage sale was awesome. Brave girl to shred some of your diaries. I have trouble shredding a 1987 phone bill, lol. Must do better. Happy family reunion in September but enjoy your summer first. Hugs, Elaine
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Hurrah for the IT guy! Twould have been a cruel irony to have lost all the work you put into this post just after you had shredded your diaries! Lovely to receive, as usual. I am glad to now see the secure lock in your heading, whereas before it said something like not a secure site! I always wondered if that was just my provider’s warning.
It’s my IT guy, saying we don’t need it! Has more to do with the web store than the actual blog site … I don’t understand any of it! xoxo
Well worth the wait! That was scary. So nice to catch up with you. I have to say, I felt sick to my stomach hearing that you shred your diaries. OMG! I can barely get rid of yesterday’s grocery list…HOW DID YOU BRING YOURSELF TO DO THAT?? I admire you so. I’m at that age where I have a houseful of “stuff” handed down to us that I have absolutely no use for but can’t get rid of anything because of the sentimentality attached to it. Every little thing is full of my Mom’s & my Aunt’s DNA. I struggle with this daily, knowing what I should do but selfishly hanging on to everything. It’s soooo hard. I know it will be so freeing but I can’t seem to get out of my own way. One question, re: the diaries. WILL YOU EVER RETURN TO WRITING ENCHANTED? You’ve written two books since you began it & I’m obsessing about reading how you & Rachel became so close, not to mention every detail of your journey across the pond. My copy of A Fine Romance looks like the diary you sent to the bookbinder…LOL. Anyway, sorry to go off here…just so happy to see you’re back.
Much love, M
I want to, it’s SO full of things I want to say …. it’s all RIGHT THERE, but things keep getting in the way. I need a year of solid nothing but Enchanted! xoxo
My husband and I burned our love letters outside….over 100 of them during the pandemic, but we live on a farm so they burned just fine. We wanted them to only be ours and this was the only way to ensure it.🥰 Also… did you know Paul McCartney wrote “Hey Jude” to Julian Lennon, John’s oldest son when he was struggling with his father’s new love Yoko? It was so thoughtful of him. Glad your creativity is back, I’m still waiting on mine! So grateful to be vaccinated- gotta love science!
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Huge hugs for all of the sunny thoughts in today’s love letter, Susan. It absolutely took my breath away when I saw the shredded pages of your diaries! As I read on, I KNEW that you did the right thing. So much wisdom, dear heart!
I have been holding TIGHTLY to wonderful family memories over the past few months. Tragically, in early April, I lost both of my brothers to Covid. Johnny and Jeff were both being very careful as they waited for their turn to get vaccinated. My sweet parents are devastated by the loss of both of their sons. I am taking it hour-by-hour as I care for my parents and do all that must be done for both of my brothers. Holding fast to our memories is more important than ever now. I shared a few favorite memories of my brothers on my most recent blog post, “Pieces of My Heart.”
Thank you for sending sunshine across the miles today. Be safe and stay healthy!
Warmest hugs,
💗 Dawn (in Illinois)
Noooo Dawn! I’m SO sorry. That is heartbreaking news. I lost the brother I was talking about in this post, the same year as my Dad, in 2016 … Jim, was his name. Born when I was 13 months old, my first baby. I just wanted to do a little ode to him … I made myself cry. Now you’re making me cry. I’m so sorry Dawn, there are no words for what you’re going through. Sorry for your parents too.💞💔💞
Bless your family’s broken hearts. Such a tragedy, Dawn. There is nothing to fill your emptiness except happy memories, but the contentment from those memories will take a long while to bring light to the darkness. Cyber hugs to your family.
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So sorry Dawn! 😔 🤗🤗
Margot (in Wisconsin)
So Happy You Are Back!!! I really enjoy reading your blogs!! Yes, my heart did drop when you said you shredded your diaries, but I do understand. How special to use them as packing! Of course you would think of doing this!! Glad your creative side is back, covid has touched so many of us in so many ways. But we are back with vaccines, better and stronger than before!! Take care, keep creating, We Love It!! XOXOXO
Christine, Fairfax, VA
Oh Susan – you are the most positive soul on the planet, I swear. Your writings never fail to move me (in tears here, at the sheer loveliness of it all – I cry more at beauty than at sadness). I don’t “do” overseas travel (Fear of Flying!!!) and have never had a passport, but if I do and did, I would be on that ship just to soak up some of the positive energy. Keep up the good work, my luvlee, and best wishes from Down Under.
Just rented Hamnet audio book from thel library after reading your post! Love that you share this and so many other wonderful gifts of your life with us all!! Thank you!!
Dear Susan,
I love your honesty and I am so glad you are feeling better. Thank you for sharing your life with us. You inspire me. I wish you happiness, I wish you good health and I wish you peace.
❤️🙏🏻 Wendy Marvin