Hi Everyone! Happy Autumn! Did you miss me? I definitely missed you! I’m still not sure my blog will work right, but I know you will let me know if you encounter road blocks. Ever since it shut down back in July my IT person has been working on it . . . he has also invited all our Willard girlfriends to join us here on the blog . . . which I’m hoping will work well too . . . it’s all a big experiment! But welcome! We have lots to catch up on! Let’s give it the old college try!🧡 Did I forget MUSICA? Oh no I di-ent!
It’s getting cold out there on our walk through the windy woods to the sea, crows are flying low, daylight is shrinking, a cozy knitted throw is near my favorite chair, candles are in their 
wooden holders. I put out my fall kitchen rugs and dish towels …. there’s a pumpkin on the table and flowers in my little vases . . . I especially love marigolds.🧡 I plant them every year just so I can have them this time of year. When you cut a branch like this and put it in water, it will keep going, the buds will bloom as you take off the faded ones … they brighten any corner and bring fall indoors!🍁🍂🍁
I’ve been doing fall cleaning chores … washing windows, airing quilts, oiling my table and wooden spoons … letting that oil sink in to make the wood more beautiful.
Getting ready for a cozy winter . . .🧡
I use mineral oil, the food-safe kind they have at the drug store. I brush it on with a pastry brush. The top three spoons are finished, I let the oil sink in for a few days … and I’m getting ready to do the bottom ones … isn’t the color difference amazing?
So, what’s new? Been a very long time . . . well, my newest news is that a couple of days ago I was wandering around the Internet, looking at house plans and ideas for decorating, and that’s when I discovered a fabulous new trend they are calling GrannyChic” or “Cottagecore” ~ and so, being of the granny age and curious, I thought, “What is THAT?” … and I discovered . . . you should hold on to something . . . this . . .
Look familiar? Believe it or not, this is Granny Chic. It’s a thing!! “Like your grandma, but hip,” one blogger wrote. 🤣
This is it too, looks like my girlfriend’s (who actually IS a granny) kitchen! It’s described as “a back to nature philosophy 
of simple old-house-living with pre-worn furniture, vintage books, delicate china, wallpaper, toile, flower gardens🌸, baked cakes, cups of tea you drink curled up in front of a fire with a kitty, learning to knit and embroider, feeding birds, arranging flowers, and listening to old music. “It’s a world like your grandma’s house where life is more whimsical and magical in an imagined past full of good things.” How about that my friends? Everything we LOVE!💞
“It’s baking fresh bread, listening to the radio, wearing a floral apron, and “simple closed-toe clogs.” One blogger said it could “dethrone Hygge!!!” Don’t you LOVE it?!! They even mention Laura Ashley! I am so HAPPY. We are IN again! I thought we were going to spend eternity in heartless minimalist-ville, but apparently, it’s OVER! Think of all those beautiful old “dated” kitchens HGTV ripped out! They’re going to have to put them all back! And the fireplaces they painted over!!! Eeeek!
Hygge, Cottagecore, GrannyChic, GrandmaCore Aesthetic, Grandmillinnial Style, whatever you choose to call it (they even have FarmCore and FaerieCore), antique stores are going to LOVE it! And now maybe they will want all that great stuff we’ve collected! And think of 
all the lovely hours spent wandering through antique stores ahead for the people who never heard of this before! They’re going to have so much FUN! Just no better way to have an original house than finding fanciful one-of-a-kind things at yard sales and second-hand stores. What’s next? CraftCore? Handwritten letters? Dinner parties? Anything can happen! It’s just an all-time win-win-win for the creative heart because HOME brings inner joy ~ it’s an especially big win for the Doily Mentality!😁
There are books and magazines for the “new” style and there’s fashion too, elegant simple things like this they are calling the “new Modesty.”🧡
And also, they are wearing 1970s granny dresses, cotton, long to the floor, with puffed sleeves. Even in Paris!
And when they put up pics of CottageCore houses, they look like this!!!🏠
And this … someone must have taken a trip to the English Countryside. So basically, you can count me in. Hippest of the hip … pure granny chic ~ should never go away again! Old is history, family, beauty.
I can’t tell you how much I love being hip and happenin’ again!😂
The chic-est of the chic!💋
What do you think. . . too granny? I’m sure SOME understand about the smell of freshly ironed clothes, don’t you think?
Anyway, I’ve been lighting candles and making chicken stock . . . ’tis the season . . . Couldn’t love it more. Let’s see, what else … So much happened over the summer . . . I can’t begin to tell you everything in one post ~ but here’s a little taste . . .
It was a beauty. The Island was packed this summer. A little scary in the Covid way, we had relatively high numbers … but we didn’t interact with many tourists, so we had our little safe pods of friends ~ it was the kids working in restaurants that took the brunt of the contagion . . . I can’t WAIT till this thing is over! I know it will be. These things always go away sooner or later, and we have way more ways to fight back than we used to.👏
We walked almost every day, our woods are still mostly green … we’re having a nice long fall this year 🍁 . . . these days we always have air pods in our ears when we walk, one in Joe’s, one in mine, sharing books as we hurry through the woods to the sea … I have Audible Books on my phone …
I’m one of the very few people in the world that had never read Wind in the Willows … Joe wanted me to hear it, he read it as a child, I don’t know how it got away from me! So we listened together … what a wonderful story. The description of each of their homes! Pure charm! I started looking deep into the woods wondering about all the life going on in there that we never see!
We read and loved Hamnet and the Pursuit of Love (have you seen the new Pursuit of Love movie? SO wonderful!!! Staring Lily James from Downton Abbey! Written by Nancy Mitford, the eldest of the famous (or infamous) Mitford Girls) ~ It’s on Amazon Prime. I hope you have it! The costumes/clothes are darling.
Right now we’re reading A Gentleman in Moscow. I can’t even BEGIN to tell you how much we love this book! We’re only about ¾ through it … I PRAY it holds true and doesn’t veer off into some sort of kidnap murder torture story, because so far it’s PERFECT. The Count! Adorable! (Please let him stay adorable and don’t let anything happen to him or anyone he loves!🙏) And please don’t tell me how it ends! The writing in this one is amazing. So good one would like to somehow examine the brain of Amor Towles to figure out HOW he THINKS of the things he does! We’re constantly repeating some of his word choices to each other and shaking our heads!
We took pictures of the Harvest Moon . . .
And counted stars over our house . . .
And had outdoor birthday picnics with our friends . . .
And dinner parties on their porches.
And at our house too . . .
We fed them the big beautiful tomatoes we grew in the garden!
Our dahlia garden grew strong and tall, and we learned so much! For one thing, next time we need to plant them earlier! May rather than June! It was torture waiting for the first ones to flower!🤣
They’re still going strong . . . we’re told they will last until first frost. 👏
We filled the house with them!
I go out to cut flowers or pick leaves of lettuce and Jack begs Joe to pick him up and hold him at the screen so he can watch me!
I planted two patches of lettuce for the fall season, and we’ve been eating amazing salads ever since! I always forget to do this, but not this year ~ I think it’s even more rewarding than doing it in spring! Lettuce likes colder weather too!
I designed and turned in the calendar covers for 2023! (Nice example of CottageCore if I do say so myself ~ kissing birds says it all!💞)
We had planned to go to my Studio in California by train for a family reunion (and a Kellee reunion💞) and stay the whole month of September but at the last moment we canceled … very disappointing but it just didn’t feel safe and we didn’t want to take a chance on bringing everyone together and have it turn into a Covid-cluster. Not worth it when we’re talking about our beloveds. We’re going to try again in November when we hope things are better. Instead, we drove ourselves onto the ferry, and went camping on Lake Sebago in Maine!
Camping in this cozy cabin, Granny Chic Style!
Having dinner among the pines, with wood-smoke spicing the air . . . can you smell it? 
We even had a porch with rocking chairs and a fireplace. It was heaven. And our first official get-away in 2 years!
We visited roadside stands 🎃, did Christmas shopping, ate lobster next to Camden harbor🦞, and visited a wonderful DAHLIA GARDEN… and we arrived home just in time for the rising of the Harvest Moon.🌕
When we got back, I waited in line and got my booster. I had Pfizer, Joe got Moderna so he is still waiting for the big okay. I feel a little bit like Superwoman now…💞
That’s enough of summer because it’s already October, and I’m sure you’re wondering where your cups are! I know you know Covid has thrown the shipping world into a tizzy … but no, thank goodness, your cups are not sitting on a ship in Long Beach Harbor! They were picked up in England at the manufacturer on August 12 and put on a slow boat that came in on the east coast … and our most recent news (2 days ago) is they were on a train heading for California, a very good sign, and Joe is GUESSING they should arrive at the Studio by October 15th. For sure, they are on their way, and the minute we get our hands on them they will be in the mail to you!! I’m so sorry they’re late!
BUT, in the meantime, very good news, the puzzles have finally arrived and are all stacked up in the Studio ready for the the cozy season! Hopefully we won’t run out this time because from what I can see, shopping is going to be a bit iffy this year. Backup jams, candies, and cookies are going on my list!
And the Calendars are Here! Much later than usual, but perfect timing for 2022!
And the new printing of Autumn got here in the NICK of time! I’m so excited to revisit some of my favorite recipes … 
And the second printing of Home for Christmas just arrived too.👏
Okay, a few more things, first off, ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT GOING TO ENGLAND AGAIN? Sailing past the Statue of Liberty on the Queen Mary 2 together? And our Picnic? If I was a person who said squeee, I would say squeeee! I think about it constantly!🚢 And if by chance you don’t know what I’m talking about, go back a couple of posts, scroll to bottom of each of them (I always put the ship news at the bottom of the posts for easy finding) and find out how to join us aboard the shipleaving NY Harbor for Southampton, England on May 1, 2022.🇺🇸🇬🇧
Also, another VERY interesting PBS special that I think you’ll like is Citizen Hearst … the story of William Randolph Hearst, 1863-1951. Chock full of old photographs and videos, his life takes up a huge time-period of American history ~ so you get all that too! Really interesting.
I’m doing a Zoom party for a group with the perfect name of Enchanted Book Club on December 4th. There is room for 400 of my dearest girlfriends, so if you’re interested, it’s first come, first serve, and free. It’s at 3 pm EST, 2 pm in Chicago, noon California Time, and 8 pm in England and I’d LOVE to see you there! Register HERE. (Addendum: Best news! We already have 450 of you signed up for the Zoom! 👏 but The Enchanted Book Club upgraded their Zoom account so we have room for 1000 now! 💞Yay!)
Well, off I go for now! Hope you are doing well . . . If everything goes okay today with this blog, I’ll be back soon with MORE! One way or another I’ll let you know! Write and say Hi! ❌⭕️❌⭕️ 
The Susan Sunshine is back. You brighten my day. It’s been a tough year or two.
Thank you Susan and Joe and Jack.
Susan, Tried to send a comment yesterday but must have done something wrong.
Love that I found your wonderful blog. You and your books and calendars have been a part of our family for so many years and I just made your recipe for Butternut Squash soup from your Autumn book. We grew lots of squash,this year but the woodchuck felt it was his and we were only able to save a few. The soup was delicious and even though here in N.C it is still warm we enjoyed it thoroughly topped with some copped apples and a dollop of yogurt. At Christmas it is a tradition to bring out your books to make so many of your recipes. Without you I never would have started our family tradition of Rib Roast and Yorkshire pudding. Both my grown daughters continue the tradition with their families. My husband of 53 yrs are enjoying our retirement in N.C after being born in CT and raising our family in New England. Now I am busy with our 10 grandchildren ,volunteering at a thrift store,gardening, and enjoying my Cottagecore home shared with,2 dogs and 2 cats one a tuxedo like Jack but named Ollie annd,and, about 16 Lbs! He is so handsome and knows it. Obviously our travel has been limited due to Covid but everyone has remained healthy. Maybe next year.
Again so thrilled to discover you are on line. It was like discovering an old friend.Look,forward to all your new entries. Have a beautiful fall in you incredible Vineyard home.
Happy to see you here Kathy! Long time kindred spirits even if we didn’t know it! 🧡
Oh gosh, Susan, your blog is filled with so much to think about! “A Gentleman in Moscow” is one of my all time favorite books–so clever and beautifully written. I am so excited to read his newest one which came out yesterday. His “Rules of Civility” is also a great book. I saw Amor Towles speak and he’s as charming as his books!
I loved your commentary on Granny Chic and the minimalist decorators who painted over fireplaces, etc. So true! My Mother always said, if we live long enough, we come back in style. I’m on my second or third time around.
Which leads me to ask, will you ever do stickers again. I’m almost 80, still hand write letters and love putting a sticker on the back before it goes in the mail. I’ve rationed out my Susan Branch seasonal stickers but am running desperately low–frankly, it’s frightening. Would love to see some new ones!
The December webinar is so exciting. I’m all signed up and plan to kick off my holiday celebration with you on December 4th!
Until then, take care and enjoy these glorious fall days.
I’d LIKE to do stickers again, but I need a manufacturer to contact me to request a license for my artwork, and so far, that hasn’t happened. I think sticker world has changed a lot since I used to do them! I’m sorry I don’t have better news for you on that front! See you December 4th! ❌⭕️
Perhaps someone in your crew could look into printing your own stickers. The ability to do it online is there and there would be not middle person to have to license to. That would be lovely!
We have, but since we don’t sell in retail stores, we would have to print about one jillion stickers to make it happen … it’s a lot for a little space such as ours. I’d love to have them. But some products are really difficult to do on your own.
So happy you’re back ! I thought it was me or my computer . I sure missed you! So happy Grannie Chic is back. I had it in our first home, an old, quaint farmhouse! I loved it, it had charm and everyone else loved it. Back than it was Shabby Chic ! I read awhile back , that couples looking at homes thought so many didn’t like the wallpaper, curtains, etc. They said it looked like an old person’s house. Well I’m glad it’s back. I have brand new slipcovers , flowers and ruffles, that I can finally use them and freshen things up, candles, potpourri, lots of flowers and pictures. Have a great Fall 🍁🎃🍁 So love that you’re back, you make my day ! Be Well 🤗
Oooooo fun! Lots of redecorating! I’ve been mooshing up my kitchen too…🧡🧡🧡
My kitchen table is the table my grandfather made in the 1890s and I love it!! Does that make me granny chic? And welcome back.
Welcome back Susan
What a refreshing blog ❤️ it. Couldn’t wait to tell you I purchased your blue vintage piggy banks from your shop. They will be well taken care of and I will feed them everyday. I love them. Thank you for giving them up to a new home. Enjoy the sounds and smells of Autumn.
Happy they went to a good home!😄
Hi,Susan, So glad you’re back and that you and Joe enjoyed your Summer. The next time you’re in Maine, come to Belfast and visit the Belfast Fiberarts Center where we weave and have fun! There’s a lovely shop, too, with lots of homemade things. Stay well. xoxo
Yay!! So glad to hear from you again. My day, my week, and my month are so much better now. I signed up for your zoom in December and can’t wait.
So, so happy to have you back! We’ve missed you! Love, Love Granny Chic! We have never gone out of style. The rest of the world just didn’t know it. Tool awhile for them to catch up with us. LOL Thanks for mentioning the Lily James movie. Can’t wait to see it. Absolutely love her!! So happy you had a great time in Maine. I went to herb school in the Sebago Lake area. Beautiful there. All signed up for December 4th. Happy to hear you got your booster. I need to wait for the Moderna approval like Joe does. Fingers crossed it hopefully will be soon. Stay well!
See you in December Anne!
I had a copy of the older Autumn book and just gave it to my cousin. They love your books.
👏👏👏
Absolutely missed you so much!! This blog was full of so much happy, positive thoughts and fabulous things to look forward too with Cottagecore! I have been that all my life! Yay it is our time!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️💫☕️🫖🍁🌻
Again! 👏👏👏
So glad you are back to posting. I have missed your posts.
Cottage Core? Granny Chic? We are in style again?!!!!! Best news ever! Although I have been happily abiding in my Granny Chic home all along. ☺
Hello! I was going to try to save some of your blog to read with lunch tomorrow but it was just too wonderful:) I LOVED Rules of Civility… and I am excited to now read A Gentleman In Moscow. I think you would LOVE a Mark Helprin book. I carried around Paris In The Present Tense and read aloud passages to husband, kids, parents, and even friends who are English teachers, so blown away I was by his writing. I know you will have a happiest Fall xoxo
Thank you for the suggestion Care! Looks good!🎃
You are a breath of fresh air! So good to see you back in my email today and lovely to “catch up”! Thank you for caring and sharing with us, it’s always so wonderful.
A Gentleman in Moscow. Best. Book. Ever!!!! Probably my favorite book. Hope his new one is as good.
Hi Susan,
Really enjoyed this post. Granny chic is my style too! I never read The Wind in the Willows til I was an adult either. It was on my grandmothers book shelf but I never could get into it as a kid. Loved it as an adult. Oh and ironing, I thought I was the only one left who still ironed. I love things that look crisp and fresh. I have a friend who makes her granddaughters lovely cotton dresses but her daughter never irons them and it drives my friend crazy. But then who ever thought ripped up jeans would be a style not just for the young. Shaking my head. Wonderful to have you back! Look forward to all your posts. Enjoy the loveliness of autumn!
Shaking my head with you Bobbie. So far I just haven’t been able to buy jeans with holes already in them! I like to do that work myself!🤣
🤣🤣🤣
Happy to see you back, alive and kicking up your heels, metaphorically. Got worried that you were ill after such a long spell without hearing what you and Joe were up to, so glad you just took a vacation.
So true that if you wait long enough things come back around, and fun if you never changed.
🧡💝🧡
P. S. No Willard with the email that said it was, just a duplicate of the Autumn joy.
Asking for a friend . . . duplicate of Autumn Joy… what is that. Also, did you by any chance get two emails, one from Willard and one from the blog?
Susan,
HI!! How lovely to “have you back”!! So glad to know you are well, happy, and that you are doing the things you love….Granny chic, LOVE it, not sure about the granny part though….Who would have thought that the things we have always liked are not “hot and trendy”!!
Did you have a good summer? Hot and sticky? We have hardly had to use our NEW air conditioning, haha, it was a much cooler summer than last year and the years before, but I’m not complaining!
Autumn has arrived, with much rain, but with sunny and warm days in between, so we planted our spring bulbs. We bought a couple of bags on Texel, where we went on holiday, so we’ll have a lovely reminder of the holiday, when spring comes! Scented mixed daffodils, can’t wait!
We tried dahlias last year, did everything by the book, but maybe our soil is too rich, none of them survived…
Anyway, great news; Tim has graduated from college, and is now a qualified teacher!! He was already taken on as teacher, at the international school in Amsterdam, where he had been as a student for 2 years.
And on almost the same day, October 5th, but 20 years ago, Gabri and I left for China, to start our great adventure into the unknown…..And a lovely little boy was trusted to us…where did the time go….
Meanwhile, Mick is in Seoul, Korea!! It’s a part of the course he is taking, students are able to go abroad somewhere for a term…So, Asia it was!! It’s his birthday tomorrow, and he told us, that he will celebrate his birthday, with new friends, by a swimming pool…
How are the plans for your UK 2022 adventure coming along? Have you decided where you are going? Any chance of you heading west, to Cornwall?
We are keeping fingers crossed that restrictions will continue to be eased for travelers…We would like to be able to visit London in December, like we planed 18 months ago…We have tickets to see Riverdance, the Irish dance group. Have you heard of them? It’s impossible to keep your feet still, when you listen to that lovely music!
So, bye for now, lots of love to Joe, Jack and you, from all of us, and Kitty and Katy too.
Nicoline
xx
Well Nicoline, THAT was a Willard in the style of my grandfather! Thank you! Loved hearing about the boys. Amazing life you have given them, citizens of the world! The thing with dahlias, the soil can’t get soggy … I don’t know what you’re supposed to do about that after they’re in the ground! We lost a couple of them too! We were in Cornwall last time, but we’ve never been over to the east side of the country so I think we’re doing that this time… maybe up above York … love to see what we’ve never seen, BESIDES going back to the beloved places. Yes, I’ve seen Riverdance on youtube, amazing, I’m sure it will be wonderful in person! See you next year!!! XOXOXO
Hi again,
Lovely to hear from you, and thank you for the compliments!
Oh York, is so lovely, I know you were there before, but go again, walk along the city walls, have tea at Betty;s tearoom….go to the James Herriot museum in Thirsk, climb Roseberry Topping, drive through the Yorkshire dales, GORGEOUS!! And along the east coast; cute towns and villages like Whitby, Robin Hood;s bay….
Have you ever visited Sandringham? It’s in Norfolk., open to the public, and GORGEOUS!! Well worth a visit!
Oh I need to cross the channel soon…..!!
Lots of love
NicolineOXOX
We were only there one day and spent half of it at York Minster and the other half walking down the Shambles. Loved it so much I thought if I was 23 I would move here! Went to Thirsk too! Had to do that! And we drove from the Lakes through the Dales, and oh my, it was magnificent! But no, not enough time, no east coast, and no Sandringham. For such a small country, there sure is a LOT to see!!! Love you, hope to see you soon! xoxo
Nicoline, I love your posts, especially your hitting the high points of the Yorkshire Dales. York is my favorite city in England. Have made 3 visits there, and I would love to be able to see it again. We, too, had to cancel our extended stay in London…for the second time!! Rescheduled for May, 2022, and if these two old folks are still alive and kickin’, we’ll spend 2 weeks there. The good part of the delay is that we may get to meet Susan and her Merry Band for the picnic. Look forward to meeting them.
Fingers crossed you can see Riverdance this try!!!
Debbie in Maine
PS:) You made me laugh out loud when you wrote, “If I was the kind of person who said squee, I’d say squeee!” I have already quoted you twice today: Once in my journal and once to my friend who introduced your cookbooks to me all those years ago and who we are meeting tonight in VT for a weekend together … first one since covid!!! “SQUEEE!”
Thank you for the sunshine and I will read the whole lovely blog over again with lunch today.
Have a wonderful time Care! xoxo
Love love love to see you pop up in my inbox! Glad all are well, even tho vaccinated a nasty COVID bug snuck into our safe home via a chimney cleaner. It tried, yes it did, we were both positive tho vaccinated and mad as wet hens. How could this be?! We go nowhere, I have never not masked, but it snuck in – all it took was one germy sneak – when I came downstairs to see this invasion of our living room with NO MASK I was furious 😡 We work so hard to stay safe for everyone. I actually went to my workplace unsuspecting and still masked, thank goodness I did not spread it to my dear coworkers. So after a positive test then 10 days of isolation I’m back to work today, we’re good to go. Relatively mild cases for us, enough to say, Yes, this is IT, rest rest and cough, sneeze, low fevers, aches. We also opened all windows every afternoon to air out our home. Happy Fall to All, wonderful to see you’re still here❤️
OH! I’d be mad too! We are so careful! Such a nasty sickness, I’m glad you’re over it and back to happy Fall!🎃
Furious!!! I fired our propane service over anti-maskers. First time one arrived here to service the furnace with a silly bandana around his mouth…not nose. I nicely asked him to leave and send our usual guy. Second time, months later, yet another no-mask guy. I called the company mad as a wet hen. We now have a new provider.
Your story is so scary. Thankfully you are OK after this.
Debbie in Maine
Thank you Debbie, yes we’re good now. This guy blew me away, my usual furnace cleaner is masked and we have strict rules not to be in a be same room. This shows me who cares about their clients AND their workers. Stay safe, Happy Fall!
Susan, I LOVED reading about your Grannychic. I always feel so much warmth in a Grannychic home. My mother-in-law had a sort of Grannychic home and I followed suite with my favorite things. So glad it’s on trend now away from minimalism. Need to go buy a pumpkin for my table today!
👏🎃👏
I knew my style would come around again.I worked for Laura Ashley a d saved so much stuff!All my beds are covered with quilts,etc.I wear aprons and love my cozy cluttered kitchen.Thank you for letting me know I’m not alone in my quest for cozy.I love the cozy season and all that goes with it.I Dream of England and hope to go again one day,until I do I will Dream and enjoy your blog about your trip.I also have my booster and feel like I have an extra layer of armor.Enjoy the weather and thank you for your beautiful words..Mary Elizabeth Marshall Lawrence
♥️♥️♥️
Your post reminded me to oil my lovely wooden countertops, and I’ll do the spoons as well! Thank you for so much beauty in the images and words you’ve sent us. I don’t much care about being chic, Granny (which I am) or otherwise but I do love all the things that are mentioned, things that you’ve loved all along!
Dahlias are a delight, glad you had a change of scenery in your Maine visit. We just visited my son north of NYC, who is still cleaning up after Ida. We went to an orchard for apples and made a big deep dish apple pie. So lovely to be with them, and lovely to be home in Vermont now.
Thank you for everything, you make me relax and smile when news gets to be overwhelming.
Mmmm apple orchards… and pie. xoxo
Sooo happy you’re back ! You were sorely missed. And your “letter” hit all the right notes. You made my day and brought back COZY.
Happy Fall.
Judy
YAY! I’m in style again! My bread baking will be cool again as will my teapot and tea cup collection, my stacks of books all over the place and really my entire decorating scheme. I just wish I would have kept all of my granny dresses from my old hippy days. BTW, your autumn book is one of my favorites. I reread it cover to cover every autumn. It usually has several pressed maple leaves in it each year as well.
Thank you Becki! I don’t think the smell of fresh bread baking will EVER go out of style!❌⭕️
I loved Willard today! It was so much fun.
Granny chic! Awesome! My sister and I call our styles eclectic vintage bohemian, but I believe our homes definitely have a touch or more of granny chic. 🙂 So glad to see you blogging again; the pics and banter more than worth the wait! I’m signed up for the December 4 get-together, my first of yours to attend. Can’t wait!
Looking forward to it Nan!
I have a gravy boat of the same design of the sugar bowl to the left of the big pitchure that you have. It was my mom’s and has always been in our family.
On a different topic, I am awfully grieved that you succumbed to getting the jab…and then a booster. You don’t seem to be aware of the true nature of it.
We really carefully looked into it. I have a genius friend👏 who is a Doctor and he gave me all the information and websites I could check. I LOVE this vaccine. Feel SO much better! Each time I’ve gone for a shot the nurses have been WONDERFUL and everyone there has been so happy to be doing what they can to get us OUT of this thing and back to normal. Some people cried from the joy of it. It’s a miracle of modern science and I have nothing but highest praise for it. Billions of people in the world have taken it now… the only people dropping like flies are the unvaccinated. My unvaccinated brother got it, he was lucky (and I was sooo lucky I didn’t have to start learning how to live without him) and he didn’t die, but sometimes he wanted to. It was so painful. The minute it was over, he went and got vaccinated. Sending love Lynn, as always.🧡
Oh my, my…. shocking.
SARS was made by man and PATENTED on April 19, 2002 before there was any outbreak in Asia.
Hundreds of millions of people are being injected with a pathogen and what was to be, by 2005, a biological weapon. There is no such thing as an alpa, or a beta or gamma-delta varient. This is a means by what is desperately sought [as] a degree to which individuals can be coerced into accepting something that they would not otherwise accept.
In short, the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services [!] was involved in the funding and amplefying the infectious nature of coronavirus between 1999 and 2002 BEFORE SARS was ever detected in humans. (from pg. 2 of the Fauci/COVID-19 Dosier).
Influenza did not leave the human population. Influenza was a failed, decade-long pan-influenza vaccine mandate that was desperately, desperately, desperately promoted by governments around the world. They failed – and they decided if influenza doesn’t deliver on the public promise of getting everybody to get an injection, let’s change the pathogen. (!)
All of the above is from Dr. David E. Martin at the German Corona Inquiry Committee on July 4, 2021. Dr. Martin is an intelligence analylist who has been checking the patent files concerning SARS-COV2 and what he found out. The Committee heard almost 150 scientists, experts, researchers,winesses and victims in 60 five-hour sessions.
Susan – the purpose of COVID is to accomplish depopulation of 90% of the world. That’s why they created the pathonegenic ‘vaccines’ first….and THEN COVID as their excuse to use a depopulation ‘vaccine’.
Okay, well they are going to need an awful lot of caskets.😂 People better start digging holes. WHY would they want to depopulate? Without us taxpayers they won’t have any money or anyone to buy their products. And you know how much they love money! Anyway, “Dr. David E. Martin” is a well-known conspiracy theorist. He makes this stuff up. There are many sites that debunk conspiracies, everything from Forbes to Unicef … here are a few.
HERE…
https://www.factcheck.org/2020/08/new-plandemic-video-peddles-misinformation-conspiracies/ ….
HERE …
HERE. . .
I never use Fact Check…it is propaganda-driven.
I never use USA Today…more propaganda.
They have turned you against all the truth tellers, so they can continue lying to you. Heck no, stay away from anything that checks facts. It’s EXACTLY what they did in Nazi Germany. By the time the people figured out they’d been lied to, it was too late. We aren’t going to turn my blog into a crazy argument. I have to say. Probably going to stop posting this stuff. But I just wanted to try one last time.
You must not have heard one of their favorite sayings….that we are all “just useless eaters” and should be eliminated .
They need us to eat … to work, make money, pay taxes, and buy their stuff. They aren’t killing us.
I am almost laughing out loud! The design industry has used up all the ideas so they’re going back to tried and true. Make it feel homey, safe and secure. DUH! And when they realize they’ve painted over 200 year old furniture and ruined the value, they’ll cringe. As they should. Mind you, painted furniture is fine but not original period antiques. Unless it’s the original paint. I love being right. Don’t you? Hahaha! Nice to have you back, Susan
LOL, so fun to be right!!!😂🤣🤣
Hello Susan, Joe & Jack: Soooooo thrilled to see a new blog; thank you so much.
Your lovely photos & inspiring words made my day & no problem with the blog at all. Tell IT guy & hope it continues with no further problems. Enjoy your walks in this lovely weather – beautiful fall.
Susaaaaaaaaannn!!!!! :)))) Oh, how I have missed your blog so… I don’t even think I realized how much until I began reading!! Pure butterflies.
Love ya and XO,
Cassandra
💝🎃🍁💋
I enjoyed the Hearst story on PBS. I live in Milford, MA so I was concerned about you with the Covid rise! This warm weather is crazy but I’m enjoying it. Love the dahlias!
I got it! Did we always scroll to the bottom of moments to be able comment? That seems different but maybe it’s just me!
Barbara in Lodi
I think so … to the bottom of the post? Is that what you’re saying, because yes, the word comments is close to the end of all the tiny words there …
So lovely to have one of your charming letters, Susan!
I read it so fast! Now I shall have to read it again, slowly, with a cup or two of tea and perhaps I shall make something yummy to go with it…
Always a treat to have a visit with you!
Soooo glad you are back, up and running! Happy Autumn 🥰🍁
Simply heaven to have you back! Enjoyed every line. You have a magical way of taking us with you wherever you go and I come away feeling so enriched and blessed❣ Thank you Susan! My best to you & Joe and give Jack some love from me. He is SO BEAUTIFUL!! 😸
🧡🧡🧡
Shirley said it right…..it’s a slice of heaven to have you back and it is pretty much a magical thing.
We hosted a “Farewell to Summer” party outside on our back patio and hired a 2 piece band to play fun music throughout the night. Mother Nature blessed us with the perfect, star-filled night and our 40 guests mixed well and realized once again that we are all connected somehow.
It’s time now to prune back the butterfly bushes and the viburnums and hydrangeas (yes, I’ve clipped many of the flowers to dry for some beauty inside this winter) and pull out the fall colors.
You are such a gift to all of us who know about your blog. Thank you for making time for it.
XOXO
Betsy B.
Beautiful Betsy, could picture it all! 🍁🎃🍁
I am so happy you are back blogging. I love GrannyChic. Totally agree it is cool to be “happenin” again. Looking forward to the Zoom call on December 4. I attended last year’s call in December when your Christmas book came out. It was one of the highlights of my Christmas season. Blessings to you, Joe and Jack.
Thank you Janet! Hope to see you at zoom time!
Hi Susan. I was so glad when I clicked on your website and saw a new blog. You make my heart happy. Thank you.
I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am about Granny Chic! About 85% of my home fits in that description as it is filled with many old, family things and previously loved (by someone else) things that have filled in the gaps over our 54 years of marriage. Several months ago I found an article listing everything we should discard, donate, update, etc. Everything on that list fit into Granny Chic, but what it really did was remove family, coziness, comfort, memories, on and on. So thank you for giving me public permission (and many others too) to enjoy the things that make our homes our homes! Welcome back – what a great way to return, Susan!
My pleasure Carol! xoxo
Love your Blog and wondered where you’ve been, hoping that all was well. I see that it was! Thank you! Always so great! Marybeth
It was VERY difficult, but I saved your delightful puzzle for our Girls Beach Weekend (we’re kindred spirits that met 16 years ago while studying abroad in England, collectively known as the “England Lovelies”!) and I’m SO glad I did!
We had the best time chatting, drinking tea, and working the puzzle! Everyone commented on how cozy it was (high praise, as we’re a cozy-loving group). My ultimate dream is for us to travel back to England one day, with “A Fine Romance” as our travel guide! ::sigh:: 😉
You will love it, but I know you know that! So happy to think of the puzzle I design in the midst of you and your cozy girlfriends! xoxo
The dahlias are breath-taking! Congrats to Joe for finally getting it going.
Photos of your shelves of china and glassware always delight me.
Thank you for the photos from your trips and celebrations–
Summer lingers on here. I’m so ready for sweater weather.
Thank you for this post.
You do ‘girlfriend’ sooooo well.
It’s easy with what I have here to work with! xoxo
Just was lucky enough t-ó díscover 2 books by that author including one you are enjoying😍I l loved seeing your flowers! I MISSED you!!!
Hi! So happy you’re back. Our book club read A Gentleman In Moscow and we all loved it! We’ve been meeting for 19 years and do so on Zoom now. Take care and have an awesome Autumn!
This Willard just Absolutley made my day !! So glad your back.
Yay! Susan’s back!
Thank you for our “Zoom” treat!
You’ve been missed!
How wonderful to read your Willard….so good to hear your news… thank you for all the sharing… Autumn is here in the uk too and the trees are beginning to change colours too…hope to join you on the Zoom..an early Christmas gift…thank you
Love and blessings
Sandra from Bournville ukx
So good to hear from you, Susan! And so excited to get my new cups! I have most of your tea cup collection, and pick a different one each morning to celebrate my coffee time. Also so happy to see how beautifully you and Joe’s dahlias bloomed! You inspire me. Will plant dahlias next Spring! Happy Autumn with love … Connie
Absolutely wonderful to hear from you again….thank you for staying in touch !
Continue to be happy, healthy and safe….a longtime girlfriend from the 70’s…xoxo Joan from Athens, Ga
Susan, I loved being introduced thru you to GrannyChic and will have to look around the internet for websites & blogs. I have been decorating in GrannyChic style all my life. Do you have any particular sites to recommend? BTW, I was glad to read that you expanded your Enchanted Book Club Zoom “seats” to 1000 but when I tried to sign up, it said “filled.” Waaaa! Did 550 girlfriends really sign up since Oct 5? Please let me know if seats open up. Signed, Your Devoted Reader, Carol R.
Yes, they did Carol! Amazing! And I’m sorry, but 1000 was their limit … we are going to have to do this again! Just Google “Granny Chic” and “Cottage Core” and off you go on a decorating/fashion extravaganza!
Hello, Hello Susan😊. Been 👀 looking for ya! Loved this sweet post, especially when I’ve just had my eye brow lift surgery 2 days ago, and am recouping with Tylenol and ice packs.
(Eye dr. recommended it for my peripheral vision!) My daughter’s think it’s a free face lift!🤣
Turns out my hubby is a good cook!
Anyway, I loved the new style of dresses, and the photos of the English cottages 🏡. So fun! The Dahlias are AMAZING and your little cabin days so cozy looking, sweet. We’re going to a cabin next week up northern MN! Crunchy leaf 🍁🍂walking and campfires on the beach! Enough of drs., but I am thankful for them, yes!
Thank you for sharing your ❤️ with us and your home too. And movie ideas and book ideas now that it’s 🕯 candle time! 😊 LOVE FALL!
God’s blessings on your baking, walking, and writing days. You INSPIRE all of us. We all need to spread a bit of sunshine and light to others these days….
Another pal,
Sherry
Sounds like a perfect fall plan Sherry! Get well soon! xoxox
Hello Susan! Thanks for the get well wishes❤️ We just got home from our weekend at the cabin🍁🍂🍃. The leaves were still beautiful up north! A couple walks in the woods, crunching in the leaves, and staring out the window at the lake. Sunny and upper 40’s. We saw 5 deer!
This week i get my stitches out😊 And now with my surgery, I can see so much better👀
Happy last week of October and before we know it will be thankful Thanksgiving🙏
Thanks Susan! It’s been 1 month and went back to surgeon last week. He removed stitches as they did not dissolve after 2 weeks! Says it takes 2-3 months to heal completely. One month down! Just stings for few seconds a day. The stretching, tight feeling more often. But getting my energy back and plan on going back to the YMCA ’tis week, after missing it so dearly for 6 weeks.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving🦃🙏 We are so thankful for our boosters and flu shots!
SO happy to see this post! Have always been a fan of ‘granny chic’ … except I call it ‘Nonna cool!’ LOL
Have my copy of ‘Autumn’ out as I’m getting ready to cook up a Thanksgiving feast this weekend….. first gathering with my family in 19 months.
Blessings to you and Joe
Have a wonderful time. I can just FEEL those hugs! xoxo
My Tom just came inside with his bright orange hat…hunters about. He said, “What on Earth have you doing on the computer for 2 hours?” Reading every comment on Susan’s Blog.
I felt well enough to do it today. Had a strong reaction to my Moderna booster.
Temps between 101 and 102. Lots of ice water, ice packs on arm, which ached worse than rotater cuff surgery…Not kidding. Tom’s doc told him to take it even though it wasn’t yet approved for booster. He was a bit feverish for a day. I did it so I’d feel safe going out down in Rockland/Camden.
Had stitches out yesterday….I must have done, but I don’t remember!! Such high fever. They didn’t want to let me in, due to that. Thankfully, I had my booster shot recorded on my Covid Card. The Alien was cancer, squamous cell, but margins clear. So glad to put that behind me.
I do love reading the comments. I have a long list of things to check out. Thank you girlfriends. All the Best people come here.
Thank you Dear Lady for all you do to promote warmth and love.
Debbie in Maine
You’re on the way back Debbie! Keep it up! And yes, the BEST people! xoxo
I’m so glad you’re back! I depend on your inspiration and make notes all through your posts. I just got my Pfizer booster too and am counting the three weeks off in anticipation of joining the world again. Back in April, after feeling that I had navigated the pandemic bravely, I hit a wall and lost my zest for life. Couldn’t pick up a book and read and even the Psalms didn’t help. Then one night I picked up Martha’s Vineyard Isle of Dreams and this time didn’t rush through it wanting to see what happened. I savored each page and looked at all the art work and photos and made lists. It did the trick and then I went on to read A Fine Romance and last reread A Fairy Tale Girl. They were just what I needed so thank you!
I’m so glad Dewena, I went through something very similar, so I know. Let’s hope we are almost through this and back to real life. Stay well. xoxoxoxo
Aww maaaan! I missed the boat. I tried to sign up for the Zoom party and the door was locked and the key was thrown away. I always wait to open up your posts until I can sit quietly and absorb the whole thing in it’s entirety, but..I waited to long. My fault. I hope you and your girlfriends have an enchanting book club meet. I’m not gonna lie. I’m jealous!!!
😘⭐️🍮📚
I’m sorry Karen! It filled up fast! We’ll have to do it again!
Near Seattle our winter weather is very wet. The dahlia bulbs do not do well in the wet, so I dig them all up every fall and replant in the spring. They overwinter in a cardboard box in the garage. I would ask a dahlia grower in your neck of the woods to see if they’ll be ok in the ground there!
We learned that we need to do what you do, dig them up and put them in the basement until spring!
Love the light this time of year. Especially on the fall colors across our little bay. Clammers out on the mud flats, following the low tide, up stream, then downstream, always within reach of their little punt.
I tried dahlias one year. Even though my dahlia buddy walked me through everything involved in drying them out and carefully storing them in the basement, they were mush come Spring. I decided to focus on making apple butter and apple sauce with our own wild apples. Those are always good hostess gifts.
Yesterday, Mr. T picked the ones from the heirloom Baldwin tree. They are late ripening, and will store in a cool basement all winter. About 20 years ago, I borrowed a car from a neighbor and made a run South to Clinton, Maine, home of MOFGA, Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association. I bought 2 spindly little heirloom apple trees and drove them back with their crowns sticking out of the little hatchback. The Black Oxford didn’t survive, but the good ole Baldwin thrived. Best of all, it seems to be impervious to fruit fly larvae.
Hard to get bored here, there’s something new with every season, especially for this Southern Gal.
Mucho Big Fall Love,
Debbie in Maine
I’m so glad you’re here Debbie. It seems to suit you to a T! xoxo
I am so happy I’m back in style again. I’ve been a hardcore grannycore devotee for my entire life. That beautiful photograph that is your first example is the work of Emily. She has a lovely Instagram (instagram.com/bluelinencottage/?hl=en) and Etsy shop where she sells fabulous fabrics and laces. She is a lovely, gentle soul.
I just finished reading The Last Garden in England. It follows the lives of five women in three different time periods – all connected by an English garden. I highly recommend.
Susan, welcome back to us! I know I speak for all when I say we all missed you! I have a friend whose husband died and she must sell her house. She packed up all her teapots, cups/saucers, linens and was going to donate ALL because she has no room in her small apt. Her friend said I will drop off to Salvation Army for you and DID NOT. This sweet friend put it all in her garage KNOWING she would change her mind (which she DID) and it had NOT been donated. 🙂 Wait til I tell her about Granny Chic. This summer my husband had a popcorn garden. Rows and rows of popcorn AKA Indian corn, in all sorts of gorgeous colors. Now that we have harvested them I have made up at least a dozen door decorations – bundled together with ribbons and a loop on the back for hanging on doors – and have been giving them to all my friends/family and it’s been so much fun to create and to give away. Everyone loves them. There is such joy in giving!
WHAT a wonderful friend! Saved by the bell! A popcorn garden! Fun for everyone!❌⭕️
You have been missed, my girl! So glad to see you back. Love this latest blog entry. Nice to see that we are so right on trend. 😉 Nice to see Jack as well. I missed that little face. Please give him a hug for me. Joe too, while you’re at it. Take care.
Laurie
=:3
Hugs all ’round! ❌⭕️
So glad you are reading “The Gentleman from Moscow”, it truly is one of the best books I’ve read! And have anxiously awaited your new blog…just too long in between – it brightens my day and love all the photos, graphics and meanderings that tell us about your life…enchanting! Waiting patiently for my two mugs…am so mad at myself every time I think back to the great fall mug you did, think it had a leaf on it, about 5 years ago (could have been your first one?), when you first started making…loved that mug…would you ever reissue?
I did a small one with some leaves and a squirrel on it? I also did one with pumpkins … Sometimes I do re-issue when requests are made… let me know which one you’re speaking of …
Wonderful blog post!! I, too, loved Gentleman From Moscow. I even think it improved my vocabulary!
Hi Susan!:) I too am glad you’re back, your blog is a beacon of light:). Thank you for sharing about ‘The Pursuit of Love’ mini series on Amazon prime! I had actually been given that Nancy Mitford book last Christmas,.. so the program just really brought it to life, and I loved it!:) Also, I’ve made your sublime Mexican white bean & chicken stew twice now, and it’s just delicious, healthy and couldn’t be simpler to put together,.my kind of meal:) Also, I agree with what some have said here, that the ‘Cottage chic’ trend just seems to basically be a ‘Shabby chic’ come back! I think these kids, like us all, are longing for softer and simpler times:) Thanks for all you do,..my good friend and I just broke out your Autumn book, it helps us savor our favorite season all the more!:) Hugs, from Portland OR.!:)
So happy you liked The Pursuit of Love … 🧡 Well done!
My husband, his sister, her hubby and myself are planning a UK trip next year also. We have our fingers and toes crossed that nothing crazy happens to disrupt our travels! It will be our first time crossing the pond and we are so looking forward to it. I plan on re-reading Fairy Tale Girl before we go!
Mine are all crossed too! Read A Fine Romance, Falling in Love with the English Countryside … it’s all about our trip to England and has lots of ideas in it! xoxo
false claims America is experiencing, “a pandemic of the unvaccinated.
An AI-powered Dept. of Defense program named “Project Salus,” run in cooperation with the JAIC (Joint Artificial Intelligence Center), has analyzed data on 5.6 million Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 or older. Data were aggregated from Humetrix, a real-time data and analytics platform that tracks health care outcomes. Legal analysis from Thomas Renz of Renz-Law.com is included in a breaking video interview, below. The alarming findings show that the vast majority of covid hospitalizations are occurring among fully-vaccinated individuals and that outcomes among the fully vaccinated are growing worse with each passing week. This appears to fit the pattern of so-called Antibody Dependent Enhancement, where the treatment intervention (mRNA vaccines) is worsening health outcomes and leading to excess hospitalizations and deaths. These data, presented here, shatter the official Biden / Fauci narrative that falsely claims America is experiencing, “a pandemic of the unvaccinated.” The data show that the pandemic actually appears to be accelerated by covid-19 vaccines, while unvaccinated individuals are having far better outcomes than the vaccinated.
And now you know why it’s called the kill jab….
Yes, the so-called vaccines are really gene altering depopulation bioweapons – a WHO whistleblower has already confirmed that
https://www.bitchute.com/video/MunVOGBF2PCQ/?list=subscriptions
– along with plenty of real truth tellers including some of the world’s leading bioscientists such as Michael Yeadon and Sucharidt Bhakti among others.
During this last surge of the Delta Variant, 93% of the people who died were unvaccinated. There will always be exceptions. All you have to do is listen to the drug commercials on TV, hear about the horrible side effects, to realize how FEW the Covid vaccine has comparatively, and how so many people prefer those awful side effects over death, or the illness they are experiencing. My poor brother was SO sorry he wasn’t vaccinated… but he is now. I’m sorry Lynn. We will have to agree to disagree because I’ve had 3 Covid vaccines so far and I feel wonderful ~ everyone I know has had them … all it has brought us is more freedom, connection, real-life. My best to you! Stay safe!
Oh, dear Susan —-your patience and grace never ceases to amaze me — ❤️ we are so grateful you are back —- you’ve been our light and source of strength through all of this—-from the bottom of my heart thank you again and again — with love as always —- ❤️
As always, it’s a delight to hear from you Mary!❌⭕️
😘☺️
Ditto, Mary. While I sat here blowing my top, our Dearest Susan chose patience and grace. The neighbors on our little road had our first get together Saturday evening since the pandemic began. We’ve all been vaccinated and “boosted”. We shared how furious we’ve been at all this death and loss of businesses, homes, quality of life.The loss of time with family can’t be regained for those of us in our late 70’s to late 80’s. None of us were as generous to the above sentiments as she has been. Ahhhh well, unfathomable to us.
And all for lies, perpetuated in big part by Russia and China through Youtube and Facebook, trying to split the American people ~ they managed to get about 30% of us … Just enough to shoot our economy in the foot. I truly understand the fear ~ if I believed some of this stuff, I’d be afraid too. But I have no patience for the people perpetuating these lies. I think they should be arrested and jailed for murder. We’ll get through this, I know we will. xo
Yea, 4.5 million deaths (including car accidents, cancer…) from COVID and 2.1 million injuries from the vaccine? I’ll take my chances.
I’ll let you have the final word Lynn, and pray you stay safe.💞
Dear Susan … Please don’t give this person the final word …obviously this person hasn’t been to the ER and ICU these last horrific going on two years …views as hers is exactly why this has turned so tragic.. Godbless the scientists .. we have a vaccine that works !! ( both of my daughters , as you know, are nurses .. I’ve watched them both drain from all of this.. please don’t give that person the last word … I come to your posts for some light and comfort… stay strong and healthy ! … and with love, as always … ❤️
You are so right, one visit to a covid hospital to see people, gasping for air, might just change hearts and minds. I will say one more thing … that is this: Lynn and many others have been turned against everything we hold dear by dark forces spreading lies and fear and tearing our country apart. Turned her against science, against life-saving vaccines such as those we’ve all been getting all our lives, against consensus, against her fellow Americans, against the overwhelming majority of doctors and nurses, against truth, against her friends and neighbors, against American institutions we’ve trusted all our lives … and for what? What has she to gain from all of this? I don’t understand. And I do try. I looked up the list of conspiracy theories, the lies being perpetuated by people who get two things from them 1. Money and 2. Power. NO ONE is THRILLED to get stuck with a needle. We do it because we love our family and friends, and we want our country to come back. God bless the scientists, the Doctors and Nurses who are putting up with horrible negativity and even attacks by people who do. not. know. what. they. are. talking. about.🧡
I wish I could let this ‘rest’. And Dear Susan, I totally understand if you do not let this comment be printed…as I know this is our Happy Place. I don’t use Twitter or Facebook.
Having said that, our Happy Lives have forever been damaged by this Cult thinking, if you can call blind acceptance of medical advice from political figures and pillow salesmen.
Our Bangor Daily Newspaper runs OP eds by Gwyn Dyer, a syndicated independent journalist, who is published in 45 countries. His piece of a few weeks ago was worthy of copying and giving and sending to friends. First…look up Eugenics. He wonders if the voter repression will balance out the “auto-eugenics” of those on the right. We were stunned that someone was actually saying in print what we and our personal doctors have been saying. Like those who followed Jim Jones down to South America, and obeyed his order to Drink the Coolaid, maybe so many are willing to buy debunked or fictional ‘Facts”, and refuse to take the Jabs, that the fringe elements will balance out. But it’s the loss of life, business, homes and most of all precious Time with our loved ones that is the most infuriating. We’re waaaay past sympathy or even empathy…as my doctor told me. If they wanted to commit suicide, fine, but they are taking the nation down with them.
Thank you Susan, for pointing this out.
Love you and respect you,
Debbie in Maine
Well said.
…thank you, dear Susan and Debbie ! … stay well and strong and full of light … and love always…sincerely…
‘Yay’ for Willard! I always love reading these 🙂 Sounds like you’ve been reading some wonderful books! I adore Wind in the Willows, it just makes me laugh so much and warms my heart. I recently read A Gentleman in Moscow and fell in LOVE with that book! Definitely a new favorite–it’s just utterly charming. I can’t wait to read more from that author.
I have missed you and was so happy to find my Willard in my “in” box! So pleased to know you and Joe are well! Thank you for sharing the Granny Chic trends and all things for fall. Your Dahlias are beautiful! I’m marking down your book and movie recommendations since we seem to have similar taste in those things. 😊 Love & big hugs to you and Joe!
It’s October 11, and I just had time to read this delightful blog! Thank you! Sad news is that the zoom party says registration is closed and I’m not sure if that is with the new number of 1,000 or not. In any case, I hope another session opens up for those of us who were late to the party! Will you tweet if this happens? Also, I’m wondering if the big plate near books & napkins on your kitchen hutch is a pattern called Rutland? If not, it is very similar and I had some odd pieces, but gave them to friends in England who actually live in England’s smallest county, Rutland! Looking forward to rereading and then doing a bit of Christmas shopping in your store! Happy Fall y’all!
That big plate is Devonware by Ridgways … and Rutland is by Ridgways too… so there you go! Good eye! I’m so sorry to miss you on the Zoom, Trahlyta ~ it sold out faster than I expected! Yes, I hope we can do another one soon. Until then, Happy Fall!🎃
You have such a way of taking a lovely time of year and adding a spark of richness to it. The amazing thing is that you do this for every season! Fall will always be my favorite, but as I grow older I find that I love them all. I know what you mean about ironing. There’s nothing like getting into a clean bed and laying your cheek against a smooth, sweet-smelling pillowcase. My mother is 91 plus years old. She lives with my younger brother and his amazing wife and they treat her like a queen. By way of ‘doing her part’ she irons. She irons blouses with tucks and pleats and they are perfect, she irons tee shirts, dish towels, and even sweatshirts (‘things just look better with a crease in them’) she irons the decorative trim on bed sheets, too. She also makes wonderful molasses ginger cookies, mainly because the dog loves them. She, like you, has the gift of making a house into a home. I love your blog, your books, and thank you for sharing your trips with me. God bless you for being a voice for joy in a world that is sometimes bleak.
Well please give your darling mom a hug for me. 💝
A friend sent me your blog via e-mail. So wonderful, so granny-chic! At last, a name for my form of decorating. I’ve always referred to it as victorian-country chic. Doilies, orginal brick fireplaces, old wooden spoons and tables, platters decorating my kitchen wall, OH MY, I am at home. I want to continue to receive these wonderful blogs. Your new friend, Ginger (I’m an 82 yr. old real Granny)
Hi Ginger! Happy to meet you! xoxo
Hello!
Are you not doing the calendar with your photos this year? I ordered all the others and was so sad not to be able to order that one too. I always enjoy it so much.
But the others are so precious. Have to always start my day with Susan Branch!
Love
Dolores
No, I didn’t do a photo calendar this year. Thank you for asking! xoxo
Dear Susan,
Was I surprised to find a ‘Willard” in my email! Fireworks! Flowers!
Parade of autumn leaves! I was so happy to hear from you. Seriously. Your
blog sentiments brightened my week! I had prayed for you and Joe when no
blog appeared for months. So thankful to hear you and Joe (and Jack) are
safe and well. Wishing you a Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!
Tu amiga de Ohio,
Lydia Alejandro
Happy Heritage Month Lydia! Yes, Willard! About time! Happy Fall!
93% vaxxed died?? [from Covid] that’s a FALSE REPORT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I believe Susan said, “During this last surge of the Delta Variant, 93% of the people who died were unvaccinated.” She never said 93% of those vaxxed died! Alas, this is how rumors are spread and perpetuated. Just setting the record straight. Facts don’t lie.
Wonderful post!! I had a theory when I was reading the minimalist books. I believed it was a conspiracy by the retailers to get us to threw out all our wonderful possessions only to realize our mistake and have to go purchase everything again:) I’m so glad I couldn’t get my head around living without beauty. Surrounding yourself with pretty, interesting items is so much more relaxing to me. Thanks Susan, and a Willard too…it’s like the whipped cream on my pumpkin pie.
I agree, big fat conspiracy! But we outsmarted them!👏 Beauty is more important than fashion, or almost anything. Lucky us! ❌⭕️
Hi there!
So very glad to see your blog post in October… I had hoped that the delay was technical crisis rather than a personal one (strange as that sounds!)
I always love your suggestions for books and movies… definitely going to check out “The Pursuit of Love” sometime soon!
Love all of the photos and stories from your daily routines. It’s my favorite time of the year right now (just before my least) and I always try to enjoy this as much as I can. Thanks for sending a bit of New England’s best our way!
My pleasure! Happy Autumn, Viffy!
You are such an inspiration to me! I would never have thought to use marigolds as flowers inside the home. I have a whole flower bed full of them! Now, they are inside – in a pretty vase – and I’m so enjoying them. I also added a few butterfly bush purple flowers and am so happy with the arrangement! One suggestion – I had to scroll wayyyyyyyy down all the comments to get to the new post place. Could that be moved up to the end of the blog? Just a thought. I’m so glad GrannyChic or Cottage Chic is coming back! I just threw a copy of HGTV mag in the trash!!! byt I have already gotten my new 2022 wall and mini calendars and love them!
Comments SHOULD be at the bottom of the new post … no? Try refreshing and see if that makes it better! Thank you for the kind words about the calendars! Makes my day! xoxo
Dear Susan It is so good to have you back. Oh the smile that came to my face when I saw that there was a new post (it’s embarrassing how many times I checked, was disappointed, and started the day with a “little” frown as a result. The frown didn’t last long, as I would just reread the previous post and smile once again). You are such an inspiration to us all, reminding us of the little things that give life its meaning. I actually waxed my kitchen table after reading your post. Oiling my spoons is next on the agenda. Fall is my favorite time of year- walking among the falling leaves, smelling woodsmoke in the air, sleeping with the windows open. I feel so energized. I love the idea of granny chic. What’s a home without a cozy chair to snuggle in and the smell of something cooking in the oven?
You are going to love the ending of A Gentleman in Moscow. Although I have read the book twice (for book clubs), I recently listened to the audio version. It added so much depth to a much-loved story. I would also recommend Rules of Civility, as did a previous follower in a comment. I haven’t listened to The Wind in the Willows, although I read it years ago. I think I’ll put it on my list. I’m currently listening to Caste, which is quite thought provoking- to say the least.
I will be visiting the Vineyard later this month. Although one must wait- with patience- for a gift from the sea, I wondered if you might be able to recommend a spot in which to search for beach glass. Take care and stay safe
Don’t you love the windows? Me too… that cool night air full of the sounds of crickets and that light airy down comforter… perfect sleeping weather. All our beaches have beach glass, being an island . . . of course you’ll have to go every day! xoxo
Oh I love your term GrannyChic! We live in an 1896 Victorian and our decor is completely 1900’s. I love all our old things and kinda pretend to be living a century earlier with lots of cooking, baking (even bread) and quilting. Our newspaper recently printed a picture of our home taken in 1910 and it beautifully reminded us of the treasure we live in! Also have two precious kitties!
I kinda pretend too Carolyn, it’s a lovely place to be!
Hi, Susan,
Sooo happy to read your Happy Autumn blog this evening! It’s been a little dark here without your beautiful pictures and happy thoughts to keep us company. So glad that my granny chic style is popular again… I’ve loved it for as long as I can remember.
Just an idea to help brighten your days…. Google Bryan Wright from University of Pittsburgh and listen to him perform some wonderful Ragtime music. Ragtime is an American antique! Music our grandmothers listened to when they were young. It can’t help but lift your mood. There is a ragtime festival in Orbisonia, Pa., each September, where you can hear ragtime music played in person. Such fun! Thanks again for being there for all of us! God Bless You,
Candy
Fun Candy! Thank you!
Dear Susan How Wonderful to read your new newsy news!!!!!!!! Your optimistic and positive outlook on life does me so much good. Reading your blog refreshes and renews my spirit! Your light shines on each one of your readers and I’m so grateful for you! I’m keeping my light strong and my spirit soaring with grateful appreciation for my upbringing that gave me a heart filled with love for beauty, home, peace, health, joy, love of travel, and reading. My daughter Bonnie and I both carry this spirit with us daily. I recently got my Pfizer booster and Bonnie will get hers as soon as her age group opens up. We are looking forward to our British tour in late August! Susan I am forever grateful to you for sharing your life with us so beautifully! You, Joe, Jack, and your families, and all your readers, stay safe and well! Love, Carolyn – with a song in my heart!
Love hearing your happy voice Carolyn! XOXOXO
Hello Susan, got some good news, i don’t know if you like Peanuts (Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, Schroeder, and Peppermint Patty and Marcie) but on October 23 at 7:30 p.m. on the PBS channel they will be showing “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” and for November they will show “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving”, and for Christmas they will show “Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown” i guess enough folks really yowled and complained when they took the Peanuts’ specials off the regular channels, and yes count me as one of them. in our house it is tradition to see those shows, ever since i was little the family would watch the Peanuts’ specials. glad they are coming back 😀 !!!
That is good news, especially for my sister who LIVES for It’s the Great Pumpkin! I’ll tell her! Thank you! xoxo
I goofed, it is October 24th not the 23rd for the Its the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. sorry but all that is going on around here keeping the dates straight is bordering on the ridiculous. but its my mistake and i hope your sister enjoys it. i am literally looking forward to it, been a Halloween tradition in my family for years, ever since i was a kid. we watched all the Halloween specials and this was our favorite one.
Thank you!!!
you are ery welcome. sorry about the goof, with Ed’s birthday coming up and trying to keep the dates in order for other things ( appointments and such) it can get pretty hectic. i hope your sister enjoys, i know i will. goes to show what a little yowling and complaining can do…. Hugs…. 😀
hello Susan, got the dates for the other Peanuts’ specials: for Thanksgiving, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving will be on Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. PBS and for December, Merry Christmas Charlie Brown will be on Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. on PBS. Happy viewing!!! 😀
What a lovely post, as usual, Susan. Maine is simply gorgeous, and I’m so glad you and Joe had the opportunity to spend some time there. I readThe Wind in the Willows for the very first time as a read-aloud to our youngest daughter when she was about ten. It quickly became one of my lifetime favorites. She would sit on the floor working a jigsaw puzzle and burst out laughing every time Toad cried, “Poop-poop!” As for marigolds, well, you know how I feel about that sweet, colorful, happy flower. I can only hope I brighten up a room they way they do (something to strive for, at least!). Thank you for sharing such heartwarming news with all of us girlfriends. Any updates on your newest book and/or a movie?
You do Marigold, you are aptly named!!! Movie is still being shopped. I’m working on the book, painting new art for it now… Life moves on! Happy Fall! xoxoxo
You are such an inspiration. Your constant cheerfulness is a beacon — like a lighthouse offering safe harbor in a world of rocky seas. Keep shining, Susan.
Thank you Marigold!🕯
I am so happy to see you back, Susan! Wonderful post and pictures, as always! I laughed so hard at the “new” GrannyChic style…you and many of us Girlfriends have been on to this all along. Welcome back, Laura Ashley florals!!! I think I still have my Laura Ashley handbag; I will have to dig it out of my closet. Thank you for the beautiful pictures and inspiration. XOXO
Wow! The Zoom zoomed to 1,000 and closed! Congrats on that success! I was busy traveling and only just got to the blog. Sorry to miss the Zoom – but I’ve enjoyed one before, it’s another girlfriend’s turn.
Loved the blog! Flowers! Parties! Maine! Fantastic!
We lost dear Magnus Pym in September. His last blog tells all.
I’ve just posted about helping with a 9/11 20th anniversary memorial.
Digital photography is such a blessing!
Thanks for all you do to share beauty and joy!
I know, too fast! Lovely to hear from you Jen!
Don’t you love being the first one up on a gawjus, sunny, Fall morning? Waiting for the coffee to drip, marveling at the little bit of low fog wafting away! Yes, I am a fool for alliteration..;) Tide is in and the water is mirroring the colors in the trees.
I’m thinking of Sherri and her 91+ yr old mom ironing. Yesterday I soaked all my napkins to get out the grease/oil stains, and today I’ll be ironing them to be stored in the sideboard chest for next Spring. We are leaving this magical spot on November 14, to fly back to InSantis Land, AKA Florida. The Lovely Tom has been so patient, but he does not want to spend another winter here. Our best Maine friend left her camp to return to Old Orchard Beach on Tuesday. Of course I’m a bit sad, but the balance is getting to see our daughter often. We’ve all been vaccinated and boosted, so that terror of being in Tampa Town is tamped down….(groan!! sorry!!)
Thank you researchers, for giving us these vaccines. Thank you nurses, doctors for all your grim toil through all of this dying. The thanks could fill a book.
Mucho Love, Dear Lady,
Debbie in Maine for one more month.
Mmmmmm, Debbie. You are a good wife to your darling Tom. Must be so hard to leave, but yes, there’s always the bright side! You’ll be safe, and you don’t leave for another month! The good month! Yay, and you’ll have a warm sunny winter! All good! The thanks could fill a book, I hope they are feeling much more of that than the other! Love you Debbie …♥️🍁♥️
It’s always a treat to catch up with you and it sounds like life is good indeed. I’m another all in for Granny Chic (which yes, sounds very Hygge to me!).All those lovely dishes, old things, lacy bits, vintage table cloths…. I’m in!
I’ve spent the summer north at the cottage and returned home to a whirlwind of out-of-town wedding and toddler sitting for a long weekend. It’s been three hours and it’s already long. So, if I never show up here again, it’s because the toddlers won and I am no more! Savor every second of this lovely fall. Winter will be here soon enough and we must grab those moments now so that the times inside (even with cozy blankets and hot chocolate) won’t seem quite so desolate!
LOL Jeanie! I hope you survive!❌⭕️
Dearest Susan,
We are indeed kindred spirits. I fell in love with Granny Chic several years ago when I first heard it whispered on the interwebs and started seeing evidence that my style and wardrobe were – gasp! – in style! Now that’s a new one for me! What a blissful world we live in where the things we love usually come back around for a time and we can stock up on lovely little things until they go out of style again. But THEN we can find everything at the thrift shops! How Grand!
And The Wind in the Willows is one of my all time favorite books. I read it every year and this year, I listened to an audio version and it was splendid! Ah, so happy to hear A Gentleman in Moscow is good. I keep seeing it, keep wanting to pick it up, but like you I’ve been a little nervous that it would turn out to be just another, icky modern fiction. You’ve got me even more interested now!
Have a wonderful Autumn, Dear. It was so good to see Willard in my in-box again! Happy Halloween and enjoy those cool and crispy nights!
Love from Savannah, GA,
Jennifer
It’s not modern, but it has history, which makes it even better! Happy Autumn Jennifer! xoxo
Dear Jennifer I love A Gentleman in Moscow and think that you will too. I’ve read the hard copy twice for book groups, and I recently listened to the audio version. I thoroughly enjoyed the audio version , as it added another dimension to the story. I was finally able to get an audio version of Hamnet from my library, and I look forward to listening to it on my walk tomorrow. Can you recommend an audio (unabridged) version of Wind in the Willows?
Susan, I have a question. I am using your 2021 calendar Heart of the Home. As a retired reading teacher I am particularly captivated by the October page on which (witch) you describe the fury of THE witch when she discovers her prey has escaped. Is this excerpt from the Brothers Grimm tale of The Frog Prince, or did you create it? I love the image of her circling three times and dropping to the ground in a “cloud of pure fury.”
I printed it and displayed it on my refrigerator with photos of myself, my daughter and my grand daughter each dressed as witches from three different Halloweens. I’m just curious whether or not it’s from the story. I’ve ordered the book from our public library to read it closely. If you wrote it, bravo. It’s perfect and gave me chills. I Olán to order a 2022 calendar soon. Thank you for such beautiful work.
Oooh, I like that, because yes, I wrote it. I’ve always thought I should finish it someday… was just making a little something at the time. If you can’t tell, it’s about control!😂 Thank you Nancy!
The trees are so lovely in the mist across our little bay. It’s raining yellow, orange and red when we have a gust of wind. Tom just took a picture of the very last rugosa rose. They did so well this year. Seems like just yesterday that I put on my long, leather gardening gloves to get into the leafless, but thorny stalks of the rose bed. Cutting away any dead or dying stems. Tom has opened up the 2 apple trees we cultivate. If we were to be here all winter, that wood would be dried and used in the smoker for a Thanksgiving smoked turkey with Cajun dressing and spicy greens.
I have time to make the mince meat with the vinison my step son gave me. I have a very old local recipe. Will take it back to Florida to make filled cookies and small mince meat pies.
Yes, I’m making a list of fun things to do when we get back to Tampa. Swim laps in our little condo pool, sit on the beach at sunset, go over to Mote Marine on an island off Sarasota, take a ride out to see the dolphins being studied, Spend time with a few old friends, and most of all with my lovely step-daughter and her new love. I can not possibly whine about going from one lovely home to another, not with so many having lost so much. We are so very, very lucky.
And by the way, we’re going to Primo next week while in Rockland. 4 nights of watching the moon rise over the cove and islands of Penobscot Bay, 5 days of vacation from cooking and washing up. I’ll be ready to roll when we get back home.
Stay well, Everyone,
Debbie in beautiful Maine…..Looking forward to May, 2022 in England!!!
Having a “sour puss” doesn’t help me or Tom.
Gratitude is a beautiful thing. xoxoxo
I loved your newest post with all the beautiful illustrations, photos and stories, as usual! I just heard about CottageCore this week, and what a surprise to read about it some more on your lovely blog! It does make me feel better about all the pretty accumulated and handed down tea cups, doilies, and homey bric a brac (cozy items of family history). It’s really fine to be sentimental as I knew all along. Thanks for sharing with us!
Thank you so much for the extra encouragement to listen to “Wind in the Willows”. There were so many different narrators,, it was hard to choose one. I ended up with Martin Jarvis who did an outstanding job and the musical accompaniment was perfect. And now I understand the references in Elizabeth Goudge’s book, “Pilgrim’s Inn”, when the children called others, Mr. Badger, Ratty and Mole, etc. Now I’ll be rereading “Pilgrim’s Inn”.
I love all the flower photos and especially Jack at the door. So glad to see a new post! Tried to register for the zoom and it is closed 🙁 Will you be doing another? Happy Fall .
Most likely, nothing planned at this moment, but I will always put it up on the blog. Happy Fall Chris!
Read your blog and pulled out all of my wooden kitchen spoons, scrapers and cutting boards, gave them a nice oil rub. What a lovely thing to do for them, after all of the work they do for us. I have all of my fall decorations out, and have my Halloween decor ready. Now I need a cat, from a nice rescue organization, to adopt, to love. They make a house a home, as well as my little dog Peanut who charms everyone with her little beard, rough coat and Cleopatra eyes. Happy fall Susan, just thinking of you as the fall chill starts falling on Martha’s Vineyard.
Yes, a kitty for Peanut! Happy Fall Julie!
OH, that picture on Twitter of Joe holding Jack makes me weak in the knees. I recognize “the look of love” on both their handsome faces. I have a couple of similar ones of The Lovely Tom looking right into my eyes….Eeeeee!!! I have them right next to my dressing table along with ones of Kristin and her puppy.
Beautiful day to drive down to our favorite Maine town, Rockland. Snagged a reservation at Primo Wed. night for 7:45, the only one left. They are so popular. I’ll see what’s being served before we go. In many ways the internet makes our lives better. #1 in my book is this Blog, Dear Susan.
Mucho Love,
Debbie in sparkly Maine
Thank you Debbie! Be careful, Primos is crowded! xoxoxo
I never gave a thought to whats new , or in. Like a lot of you, I like what I like in or out. I am a dish-o-holic. Have always loved pretty dishes to match or not, and who does’nt love the warmth of golden wood, what it does to aroom, is instant warmth, even with newer pieces. I am glad what goes around, comes around again.I love old , used, my favorite place to shop, is Salvation Army stores, good stuff. Happy Fall.
Patina of old will always be “IN” … xoxo
I just finished A Gentleman In Moscow. What a gifted author, don’t you think? I’ll keep the story in my mind for several days before pulling out another book to read. I’d like to know what you and Joe thought of it. Now my Joe is going to read it. I always look forward to your blogs Susan. You give me ideas, like oiling my wooden items; which i have done! Have a great day Susan.
kathy
Gifted is the perfect word. I can’t imagine how much fun it would be to live in his brain!
Harvest Moon tonight!! Almost full last night, watched it rise over the islands and the bay. Had brunch at a favorite, much loved place, Home Kitchen. Killer bloody Mary (Woah??!!!), so I’m “resting”, while Tom goes to the Light House Museum. Adore Rockland/Camden!!
Mucho Love,
Debbie in Maine
Must have been beautiful … I can picture it!
Whew! Thank you so much for this much need post … I hope your blog will be back and you will be able to post a few times a month?
I have been gone being a caregiver to my mom the last two years! I have some catching up to do. It will be fun to see what I have missed.
Good to know you are well
Nice to hear from you Daralyn! xoxo