The month for
And guess what? YES! They’re here!
Blessing #1: The new cups started shipping out to you guys last week! If you haven’t gotten yours yet, they are on the way!!! They crossed the pond using every form of transport, plane, ship, train, truck, and slow boat to China … we don’t know how because no one would tell us, but the miracle is, all the way from the luv-lee potteries in Staffordshire, England, to Arroyo Grande, California, they have arrived! And for the most part, in one piece! Thank you for your never-ending patience! Reward? MUSICA!
The color turned out great! Here’s what the backs look like. As you can probably guess by the slow pace of the all-of-a-sudden infamous “supply chain” … unfortunately we will not be getting more of them before Christmas!! I THOUGHT we’d get these by September!!! If you were waiting until you saw the whites of their eyes, your time has come. They are here! And if this is the first time you’re seeing them, you can read more about them and see other designs we still have in stock HERE.
Blessing #2: Fall has come on very slowly this year.👏 A long fall is what I hoped for, and a long fall is what we’re getting! Usually, by this time, the leaves have turned and fallen and we’re raking them up . . . but right now the colors are at their best, and when you look out the window you see them, orange and yellow sparks twirling past in the wind. This was our walk in the middle of October! Green as green can be. Note the smooth and leafless road…
Then came a wild nor’easter! Worst winds I’ve experienced since I moved here! Wind gust was clocked at 96 MPH in Edgartown on the other side of the Island! This was our walk the day after … lot’s of visible wildness!
Tattered and torn leaves, branches, and pine needles carpet the dirt road to the sea ….
And a lot of missing sand, carved out and taken away . . .
I noticed this leaf on the ground, stepped right over it, but after a few more steps I felt I HAD to turn back and get a better look. WHAT was that? And take this picture. Right? The perfect cut-out “eyes” in the leaf were enough, but it wasn’t until I enlarged it that I saw the eyes had EYEBALLS!!! I’ve been saving it to show you. A wee note from nature!🍁
Storm was raging when I woke up and came downstairs in the dark, flashlight flickering around the kitchen like a lighthouse beam … the wildest of winds knocked out electricity for a lot of the island, including us … but our good old gas stove saved the day! The kitchen was warm and smelled like last night’s pot roast.
I lit myself a path through the wood room, flickering flames into the living room to my studio beyond … time to paint. It was a storm, but it was cozy and like a step back in time. No TV, no computer, a moment to just BE. Just like Gladys Taber said it should be!
Threw on a jacket and went outside to check on things the next day … at first I thought the wind had chipped the paint off the arbor! But those marks are tattered leaves plastered to almost everything, the arbor, the house, the car. The storm prematurely blew lots of leaves right off the trees! But our house stayed strong, as she has done since 1849. Knock on wood. These new type of storms we’re getting pack a wallop!
Lost one big tree behind the arbor … which was kind of good ~ it didn’t hurt anything, not even the picket fence, and it had shaded-out the roses on the arbor for years, so now, I get to grow roses again! A win-win! Blessing #4.
This is over our back fence behind the barn to the neighbor’s yard. They lost a tree too. This one is actually schmooshed right up against the windows of the house, but still no damage. Lots of huge old trees down all over the island…but we were lucky, no injuries that I’ve heard of, and all is back to normal. Blessing #5. Blessings galore.
And now? Thank goodness the storm didn’t take ALL the leaves! And they’ve finally turned color . . .
I took this picture of the back garden from an upstairs window… when the sun comes up and goes through the trees, we get warm gold light inside the house… Blessings just too many to number…but I think you can see them!
And here we are out walking in the woods …
Which are now ablaze . . .
Even the beach grass is on fire!
Lots of wild bittersweet . . . Mother Nature decorating earth. Just for us! How blessed are we?! I’m losing track!
This was today . . . the crows are having a field day!
Leaves coat the bottom of this puddle on the road, and trees reflect in the water. Isn’t it gorgeous?
This is the reward at the end of our walk . . . this little sandy salty windy beach…
We are listening to the book The Overstory right now, one ear-pod in Joe’s ear, one in mine, so we can listen together … it’s a Pulitzer-Prize winning novel and love story to Nature. Could NOT be in a better place to hear it . . . had to stop and smell a tree at one point, put my nose right ON it . . . so inspiring! Did anyone read A Gentleman in Moscow? That was our last read. I’m still not over it! My sister is reading it now; she calls me and we become the tiniest bookclub in the world hashing everything over!
When we got back to the car this was waiting. I PROMISE with all my heart we did not put that leaf there. It came on it’s own, just like you see it. Another blessing. 
Madly in love with nature . . .
Today it’s only about 48 degrees! Cold. Joe (Blessing extraordinaire) made us a fire, and now he’s outside putting on the storm windows . . .
While Jack investigates the mantle. All is well!
For those of you who read Fairy Tale Girl or Martha’s Vineyard Isle of Dreams, you might remember Elaine? She had the dog called Boxcar, was my boss at the record store, and fired me too? (Not her fault, she had to, I had become useless which you know was NOT MY FAULT!) She’s been my dear darling friend since 1971. She lived here on the island for 10 years, moved back to California 20 years ago but kept her house here ~ and now she has retired from working at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo and moved back here two weeks ago!!! I couldn’t be happier. She was born in Boston, so New England is really her happy place.
Elaine drove across country with her darling Westie, Ripper! He’s standing on his back legs in order to get a better look at Jack. Isn’t he adorable?
So, we now have Jack and the Ripper. But I have to say Jack is not that fond of the Ripper. Ripper would just like to lick Jack all over. But Jack is saying,
“Don’t even think about it.”
I’m just happy to have a cat that goes so well with the decor! Would hate it if he clashed!
But how could you go wrong. This is the secret to decorating. It’s like a movie set. Plain and unadorned. That way when the season changes . . .
I take the summer decorations upstairs and put then away until next year. . .
Then all I have to do is stick in different pillows, some fall flowers, quilts, and voila! It’s fall! Same thing and suddenly it’s Christmas!
Joe, Elaine, Ripper and I went off-island a few days ago. The first time any of us had seriously gone into stores for three years. We went to Pottery Barn. OMG. 
Every Christmas thing was out, sparkly, red and white, candles, and fluffy throws, perfect pillows, glass chandeliers … everything to set your heart on fire. The whole thing went to the happy zippy part of the brain. I was as excited as Ripper when he goes after Jack! We threw money at the cash register, bought tiny end tables, white felt and red sequin Christmas trees, napkins, candles, and star shaped pillows came home with us.
And this appliqué tablecloth! Needs to be ironed, but I wanted to see it on the table the minute I got home. I am going to LOVE Christmas this year, and I think I’ll just start now and have Thanksgiving and Christmas be a dynamic duo! Lights Camera Action!
We got our greeting cards back in!!
William Morris would be proud, recipes make them useful!
All about love . . .
Feeling the blessings! Especially when you think that this year we are going to be together. Fingers crossed it stays this way!
What else? I’ve been painting! Heading for my studio with Jack and my tea in the morning. . . listening to old movies while I do my watercolors …
Practicing people ~ I love painting people, but I’m still so nervous, I do the drawing, but putting on the first bit of paint is scary! The cup, you ask? I have that cup in real life only the shoes are blue. Isn’t it funny? Had to paint it.
This is my newest one… I love her … she hasn’t been scanned yet which is why the picture is so dark, it’s only a photograph. The book? My 8-year-old niece was reading it; she was OVER THE MOON about this series of books ~ so I thought, in her honor, I should include it in the new calendar.🧡 Normally I don’t have to turn in calendars until the first of March, but due to “supply chain” issues, the fact that everything is taking so much longer, they need them this year by January 1. So that’s what I’ve been doing. 2023! Eeek.
Something lovely happened. Erin, bottom left, called me out of the blue … she said her book club was reading my book Martha’s Vineyard Isle of Dreams and said they loved it so much would I would come to one of their meetings so they could talk about it … I’d never met any of these girls, and yet they all live here on the island! So of course I said yes… And here we are!
Look at Erin’s table! Isn’t it gorgeous? I wanted you to see it for possible Thanksgiving inspiration! That blue and orange together was spectacular! I didn’t even know it was going to be dinner! They all brought recipes from my cookbooks! I was so honored I was almost (stressing on that word) speechless! I got to hear about how they met! You know I have this closeness too with my girlfriends, but it was wonderful to be in the bosom of that same thing with a whole different group!
I love seeing other people’s houses! Erin’s house was wonderful. I loved how they put their library of great books all in colors!! Cute! And yes, Joe was there too, along with Erin’s husband, they ate in the kitchen and only came out to pour wine and wait on us! Men can be so adorable!💞
Yes! Second printing of Home for Christmas has arrived!!! In the Saint-Nick of time … considering the “supply chain” ~ we got lucky! Big help that we had it printed in the good old US of A!
If you need to be taken back in time to a 1956 Christmas, this true story will do it for you … in detail!
I had a wonderful time writing this book. It was especially good during the time I was losing my mother, my first and forever best girlfriend, to be immersed in the warmth of her love every day as I wrote and painted this memory. Definitely a blessing. Like a dream. ♥️
And speaking of home and the generosity of girlfriends . . . I got the best thing in the mail the other day… and it wasn’t even for me, it’s for you!!! Yes!
You’ve seen my autumn decorating for years now . . . and something almost everyone comments on that you can see in this picture is…
my Pilgrim candlesticks! They come out every year . . . I found them in an antique store about a thousand years ago and have never seen another set.
They are just perfect this time of year!
Aren’t they wonderful? The black is the best! But guess what? These aren’t mine! These are going to one of you!!! Yes, our girlfriend Bunny Perkins from 
Ohio spotted them on Ebay and sent them to me to give to you! Wasn’t that just the sweetest thing?! You know Joe hates having to stand in line to pick up packages at the Post Office, but this one, he forgave me for! Leave a comment at the bottom of this post (you’ll see a whole bunch of tiny words and near the end, click on “comments.” Just a word or two is all you need to leave in order to be entered for this giveaway!) Thank you Bunny! You’re a blessing, so very kind and thoughtful of you!
Have you guys seen the pictures of families reuniting at the 
airport now that they can come into America from other countries again?😥 It’s just like Love Actually (best movie ever made). After all these months, people are throwing themselves into each others arms and sobbing with joy. Sisters hugging sisters, couples hugging grandchildren. Makes you cry … makes your heart soar.
We get to have Thanksgiving at our house this year! I’m so excited! I was just reminded by one of our girlfriends that it’s the 400th anniversary of the first Thanksgiving!!!!🍁 The chicken stuffed with my grandma’s dressing was delicious last year because of course it was just us. But this year we get to have the real thing, with good old friends, light the candles, bake a pumpkin cheesecake. I already ordered the turkey! Yay yay yay yay!💃🏼
Here’s the guaranteed-to-please recipe from my Autumn Book . . .if you need it to be gluten free, all you have to change is the gingersnaps … get the gluten-free ones and voila! If you haven’t made this recipe I highly recommend it. Easier to make and more delicious than pumpkin pie, in keeping with the season!🍁
Well, the clock keeps ticking and the hands move closer all the time to when we’ll be heading off on our trip to England on board the Queen Mary 2. I think about it all the time! May 1. Here we come! I got my booster, yesterday we got our flu shots! Staying healthy! First requirement for getting on that ship! Where are we now … oh yes, must be around blessing #757. ♥️
Bye for now girlfriends. Going out on our walk with our book! I hope you are doing well and feeling festive. Both the quote above, and this one below, are very nice to read at our 400th Thanksgiving dinner! With all my love . . . .🎃 And don’t forget to sign up for the giveaway!🧡
🍁🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡
Thank you for all the blessings and the Rumi quote. Just what I needed today ! Bless all of you sheila
Hello Susan! Thank you for this wonderful fall Willard! I’ve missed them! This is so full of goodies that I’ll be able to read several times over.
Susan, I am sending blessings and squeezy hugs from Santa Barbara, California!
Love, Carol Schlerf
As usual, I can not convey in words how much I love your blogs, Susan! Thanks so much! Will you being doing another home photo calendar next year? All the best-
Karen Skogstrom
I didn’t do one for 2022 and none planned for 2023… should I do that again?
Yes. You know we all love serving your cozy home.
Whenever I read your posts, I want to move from California to Martha’s Vineyard!
Ha ha ha, be careful, that’s what happened to me! Thank you Louisa May Alcott!
Oh my, sweet Bunny has put a tear in my eye! And your new post has put a glow in my heart. That book club event looked SO fabulous and right up your alley.
Many blessings to you and yours. And Happy Thanksgiving! ♥
Dear Susan, I too prayed for a long Autumn here in Arizona, and we are getting it! The leaves here are finally beginning to blow off with high winds, but never higher than 30 mph. Your blog is always such a welcome surprise, it never gets old, and I have wandered into your past blogs whenever my heart needs a lift. ❤️❤️ I have your Autumn cook book 🍁🌾🍂in the hutch with my faves along side, and though my hubby and I are both keto, (he was diagnosed pre-diabetes), I am able to figure out a keto version to most recipes. So, no, I haven’t rid our house of my old cook books and have bought only one keto cook book. I am looking forward to trying out your Pumpkin cheese cake keto style, and the cranberry cake last Thanksgiving turned out absolutely nummy with the almond flour and sugar substitutes. Thanks again for the cat fix, love love love Jack! Happy Thanksgiving, and God bless you all! -dezi in Az.
Love you Dezi! ❌⭕️
The holiday season is upon us once again! I love Christmas the best of all. So glad that you and Joe survived the North ‘Eastern storm!!! I thought of you guys being on an island. It had to be scary.
The Christmas decorations will start coming out later on today at our house. The season will be filled with joy and love for our friends this year! So happy to be able to be together!
I’ve adored the candlesticks each year when you bring them out. One of the girlfriends will be over the roof when they win them! LOL…I wouldn’t mind it if they came to live at my house.
Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to you and Joe and Jack!!
Thanking you for the “November Willard” surprise…so special with your all your photos of the Island…especially the jack-o-leaf!
I like that jack-o-leaf!!!🤣
Susan, That Jack-o-leaf was totally cool. You are so observant girlfriend to have seen that!
Hello Susan and Joe! You covered so much and just wonderful subjects here! I have to say your drawing of the little girl reading Warriors is just fabulous, I love it, just striking work!
Glad the storm did nothing tragic to your wonderful house and home! The cheesecake is perfect! Wow! And a shout out to Bunny for her kindness in paying it forward! Thank you for such an awesome catch up blog full of autumn blessings! We got our flu and boosters too! It’s a good feeling! Oh…and that leaf with the eyeballs!! Thank you for sharing your gorgeous Martha’s vineyard!
❌⭕️
Best Willard yet!! Love it all! Yes a gorgeous Fall here too… Kansas! One of the best in years! So happy for you to be invited to someone’s dinner party! Looked lovely!
I have loved those candle sticks for years!
Per your suggestion I requested “A Gentleman in Moscow” from our local library. Loved it. What a beautifully written novel! The ending made me ask, “Wait, what just happened there?” And when I investigated it I found out I had it right. Most satisfactory ending and a great joy to read. I’ll be reading more of this author. Thanks for the suggestion!
Yay! So happy you enjoyed it. I think it’s almost a brain miracle … this guy, how in the world did he WRITE that? Not mine to reason why, my job, and I did it so well, was to ENJOY!♥️
What a wonderful surprise, a surprise Willard. Thank you for the chance to win the pilgrim candlesticks. I wish you, Joe and Jack a blessed and happy Thanksgiving.
I have had my nose in your Autumn book for weeks now planning our Thanksgiving menu! We are so excited to be having friends and family this year. So quiet and missing our loved ones last year. We can’t wait for the house to be filled with laughter. Our bedecked ping pong table would be just beautiful with the pilgrims adorning it. We wish you the merriest Thanksgiving ever!!
That’s what I love. Big dinner? Get the Ping Pong table! McGiver would be proud! Happy Thanksgiving Laurel!
What a lovely chance to win those beautiful candle sticks I have admired for so long thanks to you and Bunny for your generous hearts! Happy Thanksgiving!!
How delightful to see all your autumn decorating, venturing out and sharing the weather (unpredictable here, too). Thank you for brightening up this day (we had an overnight power outage so identified with yours).
I so enjoy all of your Willard’s! The song “Praise God from whom all blessings flow” keeps popping in my head after reading this. Thank you sweet Susan for being a blessing to me❤️
Happy Thanksgiving Susan and Joe … from my house to Yours! And I cannot wait to get my tea cups! It’s getting cold here in St. Philip, Indiana … perfect weather for afternoon tea!
Please be careful with Covid. I know 12 fully vaccinated people who have it. One of them passed away. Sorry to rain on your parade!
We only had four cases on the island last week, thank goodness it’s going down, although England has been going up up up, so we still take extra care. ❌⭕️
I am so blessed to have found your blog!
I love Jack so I painted him. I had a black
and white kitty when I was young and
her name was Sabrina. She had a black
mustache!
Debbie
Thank you Bunny and Sue for such a wonderful giveaway. You are truly a blessing to all of us, you sisters from another mister. Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Thank you for this marvelous Willard surprise! I loved every single thing you wrote for this Willard! You are the best! Love to you!
This post was a truly beautiful gift. Your little girl paintings are wonderful! I love this post-Halloween, pre-Thanksgiving season so much, but I can’t wait to take Home for Christmas off my bookshelf and read it again right before Christmas!
Dear Susan,
It was such a gift to see your latest post. It totally brightened my day! I imagine all the girlfriends will be checking ebay if they do not win the candlesticks! It would be interesting to know the history of them. If only they could talk … the stories they could tell! Your Willard fills a whole in our hearts and gives us hope and gratitude for all that is good in our lives! Happiest of Thanksgiving to you ! I had already planned to make your Pumpkin Cheesecake !
XOXO Julie
I know, and no marks, nothing on the bottoms. They are a secret! If you crack the code, let us know!🎃🎃🎃
Hi Susan,
Thanks for always showing up when I need it!
Just finished baking your carrot cake. Going to visit my daughter in North Carolina tomorrow and she asked if I could bring it with! Of course I can! Haven’t seen her and our son in law since February 2020. Before the shit hit the fan!
Happy holidays to you and yours!
LOL… happy cake-eating with your family, Deborah! Enjoy the MAJOR hugs!🧡
I just love Willard! It makes me feel cozy inside and motivates me to decorate my home even more. Love to you and your dear husband.
My husband and I live in Central FL now but we used to live in Sandwich so we found your Nor’easter pictures amazing. And, the Jack pictures go without saying…particularly loved him on the dictonary! Thanks for brightening my day with Willard.
Always LOVE having your Willard newsletters pop up! Yes, we all have many blessings to be thankful for! The Pilgrim candleholders are darling! How sweet & kind of you to gift them! Sending Happy Thanksgiving wishes to you & yours!
Loved this post full of gratitude and blessings! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving this year! It will be one to cherish! 🙏🏻🦃 🧡
Love, love, love when I see a post from you! I hang on every word. You are a blessing, Susan. Thank you for all you do to bring joy to our lives. Happy Thanksgiving!
“Memories obscured and softened, not by the mists of time, but by the fragrant steam rising slowly from innumerable savory dishes. Oh, the Thanksgiving dinners we have eaten! The Thanksgiving cheer of which we have partaken!”
Victorian writer John Tremaine
Happy Thanksgiving to All!
The fragrant memory … very strong. If my kitchen didn’t smell like my grandmother’s dressing, all buttery and sagey, on Thanksgiving, it just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving! I can’t wait!
A new Willard, what a treat! Reading your post puts me in even more of a cozy, hygge mood. Here in Pittsburgh the weather is sunny and beautiful with turning leaves and the air is turning “crisp”. I love seeing all your decorations and seeing fall arrive on the island. Loved every word of your new Willard but especially the part about you spending time saying goodbye to your Mom, while writing your Christmas book. Gets me every time. I bought it for myself and then gifted my dear friend with a copy. I will be re-reading it again soon. As always, thank you for what you do, Susan. Happy Fall to you, Joe and Jack!
Kelly B.
It was heaven spending every day with her for those months. A gift.❌⭕️
Love it when a new Willard appears. This one is a treasure! The table setting for the book club is just the best! Thanks for sharing. I always love your walks to the beach, as I feel like I’m walking along with you. Happy Autumn!
Ginny
Your pilgrim candlesticks remind me of all those brave people who sailed from England to a new life in America. They link our two great countries together just like the great friendships that have been forged between girlfriends in the two countries today by their common interest in all things”Susan Branch”. I have two such friendships and in a few days I am hosting one of these lovely people for dinner here in Cumbria. How wonderful it would be to light those candlesticks on the table at what will, I hope, be many future dinners.
The world gets smaller all the time, and aren’t we lucky Trudy!🇺🇸🇬🇧
Happy Thanksgiving Susan, Joe and girlfriends! I’ve been reading first your cookbooks a now your blog and Willards for years and enjoying them all. Thankful for you and your optimism everyday!!
Oh Susan! I’m loving this post but I didn’t even finish it yet. I had to put a comment in right away-you know I have been coveting (loving) those pilgrim candlesticks for so long. I have searched for them and your dangling star bobeches for so long. What a kind and generous friend to have sent them for one of us! I’m going back to see the rest of Willard. I’ll comment again later on all the lovelies. Your letters to us are the best, just the best!!
Hope you win Maureen! xoxo
Anyone who is in the habit of reading your blog wins. So inspiring for those who would rather go home than go anywhere else.
♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Thank you for reminding us of the many blessings all around us!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Wow thanks for another blessing~~this Willard was awesome!!
HappyThanksgiving! Love everything you do.
Thanks for an awesome Willard…what a blessing !! Happy Thanksgiving !!
Thank you for the great email Susan! And thank you to Bunny!
Hi Susan. I’m counting YOU and all the GFs as blessings! Thank you for the gratitude reminder, for fall pictures and recipes, and for this Willard. Sending out love to Bunny too! What a kind thing to do to provide those darling pilgrim candlesticks. Someone will love matching you, Susan. And OMG for that MV book club who had YOU as their honored guest. Happy Thanksgiving to all! 🍁🧡🍂
Hi Susan! Thank you for such a wonderful post! I enjoyed every picture and word. Happy Autumn!🍁🌻
Love this post. But I love all of them! This is my favorite time of year. Counting our blessings and looking forward to 2022, after getting together with friends and family for the holidays. And those candlesticks❤️❤️❤️
Your Willards make me happy! Love the pictures of your cozy home. I especially enjoyed the poem at the end. Lovely!
Hi Susan,
Was so excited to see this November Willard in my in box today. Always love “catching up” with you. Love the nature pics and happy there was not more damage from the Nor’Easter that blew through. Lots of coastal erosion along the East coast from that storm (I live in Maryland). I got my mugs the other day. Yay!! They are beautiful! Just love them and one is a gift so it was right on time. Love those pilgrim candle holders. They are just darling. Happy Thanksgiving!
👏So happy to hear that! ❌⭕️❌
I so enjoyed counting blessings right along with you, Susan. I just love how Erin and friends invited you to their book club meeting and then surprised you with all of your recipes. Truly heartwarming. I also enjoyed the little glimpse into Erin’s house and the beautifully set table. Jumping from that story to the story of Bunny sending you a set of the charming pilgrim candlesticks to gift to one of your readers … well that is just so thoughtful and sweet. Despite what the daily news feeds us, goodness and kindness prevails and you have just proven that here :).
I was so touched! and yes, what goes around comes around. Just read all the lovely comments here and hope for the world is reborn! xoxo
Talk about cosy! That’s how I feel every time I get your Willards with the stories and pictures. Looking at the one of you and your sibs, I wondered what they are all doing now?
They are in California, Colorado, and Arizona. We lost one brother, but the rest of us are intact and still counting our blessings. Our text feeds are filled with pictures of the food we make. The other day my sister Mary sent me and my brother a picture of the Oysters Rockefeller she made from my book… my brother Brad sent a picture of himself in the middle of making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich … the bread was open, the peanut butter was on one side, the jelly jar was there, but he hadn’t put it on the bread yet. Gave us a good laugh!😂
I love that you met a whole new set of girlfriends and were welcomed as one of their own. What a special time for all!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and Joe!
Dear Sue,
Autumn has arrived here in Northern Ohio too. We love riding our bikes on the leaf covered path in our local Metropark and the earthy smell of Fall staves off the dread of snow in the forecast 🍁🍂🪵. Happy Thanksgiving 🦃!
The picture of Jack inspecting the mantle was adorable. Happy November to you!
Thanks for keeping in touch!
Hello Sue! It’s so refreshing and exciting everything I find a Willard in my inbox! Those candlesticks are beautiful, thank you Bunny for your kindness! Love to have them in my Thanksgiving table! Much love to you, Joe and Jack!
What an incredible surprise! It’s always a good day when we receive a Willard. I’m so glad you enjoyed A Gentleman in Moscow. It was one of my favorite reads this year. Amor Towles had a new book just come out recently called The Lincoln Highway. I haven’t had a chance to read it yet, but his writing style is so fabulous, I trust it’s another great story.
One more thing– I mentioned this to you on Twitter, but I traveled to New England with my best friend for the first time in October. Being from New Orleans, I hadn’t experienced a “real” autumn before. Needless to say, it was nothing short of magical. I thought of you and your first autumn in Holly Oak in Martha’s Vineyard Isle of Dreams. Your story inspired me to keep a journal throughout our trip, complete with pressed leaves from each place we visited. Blessings, indeed!
I’m so happy for you!🍁
Isn’t Thanksgiving the best holiday? Hoping for the pilgrims but positive they will enjoy the holiday wherever they land. ☺️ Thank you for the “A Gentleman in Moscow” recommendation!!! I NEVER would have thought it would be such a wonderful book and it’s now definitely in my top 5. It’s kind of Dr. Zhivago and The Sound of Music rolled together and just wonderful. Sending out some early Christmas presents so we can have our own mini book club. 173 days to May 1. ❤️
But whose counting, right? I. Can’t. Wait.♥️
Oh, Susan…I soaked up every word of this post. Just lovely. I love seeing how you decorate your beautiful home around the holidays, always love pictures from your walks, love the book club story…just such a treat hearing from you. BTW…
I, too, was lucky enough to find a pair of your Pilgrim Candlesticks on eBay after scouring the web for months. I love them so much. Cannot tell you how happy I was when they arrived. They’ll be a part of our Thanksgiving table this year & I can hardly contain my excitement. Wishing you & Joe a wonderful Thanksgiving. xoxo
I’m so happy for you Maria… YAY! The really are perfect on the Thanksgiving table!
Always so happy to find a Willard in my inbox. We are enjoying our golden fall days here in Virginia.
Counting blessings each day and a new Willard tops the list. So grateful for your inspiration, kind words and spreading the beautiful fall wishes. So grateful for the thoughtfulness of the girlfriends here. Such a break from the wild world out there. Sending love and thanks to all. Keep your luv-lee art and words coming to brighten our days!
Happy Thanksgiving! And thank you Bunny for the adorable candlesticks! I love reading your blog Susan!
Susan, I’ve been following you forever. Thank you for bringing beauty and kind words to me and the world, enjoy your Thanksgiving and especially your dream trip on the QE II! Stay safe and pick me!!!!!
Thank you for blessing us!! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
By the time I finished reading your fun-filled Willard, I realized I’d been smiling the entire time! Well, except for the parts about trees falling. But even that episode ended in a smile! Thank You Susan for generously creating and sending us your happy note!
Love sharing Autumn with you!@
Dear Susan – I just love your Autumn posts each year and so look forward to them. Surprise & joy when this new one popped up on my phone ♥ Of course, I had to boot up my lappy to see it in all its big & gorgeous color.
Thank you for sharing every season with all of us, and I do love Fall most of all! Wishing you a very blessed Thanksgiving… beyond everything going on, we have sooooo very much to be grateful and joyful for even this year. Hugs to you all from my home to yours! Mari
Thankful for your blog. It helps to get me in this holiday spirit. By
Yes, Love Actually is the absolute BEST!!!!! Hubby and I are seeing it at a local theater after Thanksgiving. Champagne will be provided, and reciting lines encouraged. Just in cases, it’s my favorite time of the day driving you, there was more than one lobster at the birth of Jesus?, etc.
The BEST. Pure love.♥️
Note: The take outs to that movie are many, almost a whole hour. The deleted scenes of the kid’s wish to see farts should have been in the movie, made us laugh. The deleted scenes (most of which deserved editing), are on my DVD copy of that movie.
Thank you for this wonderful post. Those pilgrims are darling. I was talking to my 4 year old grand daughter about the first Thanksgiving and she was looking at pictures of the pilgrims and the native Americans and seemed confused. She asked who are those people. I explained again. She said she didn’t like them. I have my work cut out for me. We are going to have several projects covering the first Thanksgiving. So by Thanksgiving she will know who these people are. From a child’s mouth. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
LOL, you have your work cut out for you! LOL!
I have noticed the candlesticks too and always liked them. Enjoy reading your posts and your calendar on my wall.
“Come ye Thankful People Come…”
What a delightful post! Thank you & Happy Thanksgiving!
Speaking of blessings, what a blessing it was to find an unexpected Willard in my incoming emails today! I enjoyed everything you wrote and every picture you posted. You made my day!
Hi! Loved this Willard-I’ve missed you! And how fun-a surprise give-away!. You are just the best girlfriend, Susan!
Thank you for Willard. This holiday season will be so different in our home but I am blessed in so many ways. Reading Willard and your blog are the most beautiful images and sentiments…they brighten my days. Big Hugs❤️
I absolutely loved A Gentleman in Moscow! We read it for our book club, and if you ever come out to Colorado you can join us for the evening! Thanksgiving blessings 🙂
Hi Susan. Happy Fall! Mary
Thanks for the new “giveaway” and thanks for the surprise “Willard”. I still have an old “Willard” when you actually sent them out “snail mail”🤣. Such a great “souvenir!
Thank you for all your happy thoughts! You always make me smile!
Love your blog. I look forward to reading about your home, your adventures and Jack.
Hi Susan,
Loved your Willard post as usual. The fall leaves are beautiful and looking forward to a wonderful holiday season, celebrating with family and good friends. You, Joe and the girlfriends have a blessed holiday season.
Love,
Gail from Ca.
My Winter cup arrived the other day in beautiful condition!
So Blessed, indeed!
I too collect Carlton Walking Ware.
How can you not love China wearing little Mary Jane shoes?
Happiest of Holidays to you and Joe and Jack!
🌻🍁🌾🍂
So quirky!♥️
Happy Fall Susan!🍂 🐿 I really enjoy seeing your Fall photos of the beach. We get lovely Fall foliage in the Hudson Valley, but I have never experienced Fall on the beach….including bittersweet. I thought tgat only geew in the woods. So lovely! We really are blessed. Thank you.
Snow on the sand was a surprise when I first saw it. I never imagined that for some reason!
So happy to see this Willard and hear all your news! I’m glad you are enjoying The Overstory – great book. Another to put on your list: Cloud Cuckoo Land – strange and wonderful.
Wrote it down!!!♥️
Hi, dear Susan! I read your sweet Christmas book when it first came out last year and related to it so muc, having grown up in Westchester above Playa del Rey and spending Christmases in Northridge, Van Nuys and Burbank in the 50’s and 60’s! That started a Susan Branch book buying spree that lasted me all this year and kept me company/made me so happy through an unexpected and worst depression I have ever experienced. Bless you for your trilogy and all the others, but most of all for the Christmas book ❤️ Happy holidays!
I hope things are better Susan! ❌⭕️
“My first and forever first girlfriend”…..my heart hurt reading this….and missing my wonderful Mom so very much. What a lovely way to remember her this way. Thank you.
My guess is it never goes away. Now when I meditate, at the very end, I have my dad with his cheek pressed against mine on one side, and my mom on the other. I am the happy baloney in the kid sandwich. It helps. But nothing can make up for the loss of one who has loved you.♥️
Hello Sue,
Thank you for sharing your autumn with us! Mine was just the opposite, here in N CA. We enjoyed the gorgeous leaves for a bit. We then had a storm, and wind similar to yours, and it blew the pretty fall colors right off our trees.
Love all that you shared so much! You are a dear girlfriend to all of us.
Peace,
Melin
Storms are getting to be a little too mean!!! Wishing you a soft winter with no worries at ALL!
Love love to get Willards! Happy Thanksgiving!
Dear Susan,
What a great post! Glad you got through the storm. Loved all pictures but especially of Ripper since I too have a Westie – Miss Shelly! Don’t you just cherish this time of year…especially this year! The pilgrims are amazing….when I read the tablet with them, I just about lost it. I used to sing that hymn in church when I was a little girl and it was my favorite and boy, did I sing it out loud! What a lovely gesture to give one away. Happy Thanksgiving from Colorado.
What a nice surprise, a new Willard. Loved everything in it. Wonderful read!
Every morning I look out my window and say Hello World and good bless everyone.
Only a truly lovely person would think of all of us this way. Thank you, Bunny!
So nice to hear you are doing well on M.V. !! Those storms make us appreciate the normal weather days. I’m from the East as well and miss the fall colors so much. We do get a little color in N, Ca. You will enjoy hosting Thanksgiving this year !! Thanks for posting the wonderful stories and keep counting those blessings !! God never runs out !!
The candlesticks are adorable. Thank you Bunny. Great post Susan.
Your posts are delightful Susan. Great to hear from you.
I love those candlesticks!! Thank you, Bunny, for finding them.
Love it all Susan…made my heart happy!
Hi Susan. Thank you so much for this wonderful Willard. It arrived on our first rainy autumn day on California’s central Coast. Our chicken is roasting in the oven and reading your Willard today was very heartwarming, particularly the plain and unadorned decorating idea.
Thank you so much for the giveaway.
Fingers crossed,
Julie V.
I like to combine thanksgiving with Christmas too. A month is not long enough for Christmas decorating. Nice to hear from you. Happy holidays! 🍁🍂
So thankful for your Willard message. They always make me happy and thinking about things I can do to get my home more seasonal. Bless you and Joe.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I’m glad your garden was okay!