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!🧡
🍁🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡
Hi, Susan! The Willard was such a wonderful surprise! Thank you for blessing my day with such beauty, kindness and good thoughts. Just what I needed. Blessings to you, Joe and Jack! ❤️
Kathy
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones🦃🥧!!
Beverly Stone
Dear Susan,
Thankful.
Thankful that you share your beautiful talent with us.
Your timing is always just when I need it.
🍃 🍁❤️🍂
Amy
I love that table setting at the book club meeting. I don’t usually use my Blue Willow plates at Thanksgiving but I might this year seeing how beautiful that blue looks with the orange. Thanks for the inspiration! 🙂
It even looked better than in the photo … just a gorgeous mix of color!
Those pilgrim candlestick holders paired with the quote from “The Church in the Wildwood” – oh my!
Everything is a story . . . 🥰
Hi Susan,
My daughter has a few pilgrim sets that she loves. I would love to win these just for her. I know she would take good care of them too..Wishing you and Joe a Happy Thanksgiving.
Always comforting reading your posts. Reminds me to really slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures in life. Getting excited for the holiday season and decorating and baking. Thanks for the inspiration and happy holidays to you!
Such a wonderful surprise to see The Willard. Love those candlesticks. Thanks to Bunny!
Happy Thanksgiving to all. 🍁 🦃
Thanksgiving Blessings!
Love your posts….happiest part of my day today!
=Always happy to receive a Willard from you. Lifts my spirit every time and reminds me to be thankful for my many blessings. Thank you, Susan.
Christie
Hi Susan. Thank you for another wonderful Willard. Absolutely LOVE those candle sticks! So enjoyed reading about your latest blessings. Happy fall. Xoxo.
Willard reminds me to count my blessings, everyday! Thank you, Susan. Your cheesecake looks gorgeous, and I am trying it!😁💗
What a perfect, blessed Willard tonight! Thank you for this missive, from the bottom of my heart, Susan — oh, and I NEED Pilgrim candlesticks in my life!
Once again, I have loved every word of your post. We flew home from Boston one day before the Nor’ Easter began in earnest. We prayed for those in harm’s way. What fun to gather with ladies who are reading your book. I just finished re-reading it and loved it once again. Now your book, “Autumn”, is being enjoyed by me. The Pilgrim candlesticks are fabulous. I would have a hard time to put them away at the end of this season. Happy Thanksgiving to you, Joe, and Jack!
Blessings are in abundance if we only slow down and see them! You and your blogs are a much appreciated blessing. You bring so much joy to others! Enjoy the upcoming holidays! Thank you, for all that you do.😊
Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Your post was just what I needed. It’s been a challenging couple of months and this evening I poured myself a glass of wine and filled my tub with a warm bubble bath. I lit some candles and took my kindle in the tub and found your post. By the time I finished reading and enjoying the art, sayings, and pictures, I was finally able to relax. Thank you, dear Susan, and I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Perfect Debi!♥️
May we be thankful for this beautiful season! May our hearts rejoice for our many blessings!
I am so thankful for this Happy Mail!
After reading this I am inspired to find more gratitude. Beautiful job as always.
Love every bit of this Willard!
Your musings give me hope and delight in this long run pandemic!! Thanks for the encouragement!! Autumn is so beautiful!!
So happy to see Willard today. I was just diagnosed with a 2nd NET cancer & have been a bit overwhelmed. So blessed to have family & friends supporting me.
Grateful is my word for the year!
Much joy & happiness to you, Joe , family & friends this Special Season of the year!
Blessings on you Lois. Special prayers for beating this invasive uninvited presence. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Thanksgiving blessings… 🧡🧡
Dear Susan,
Best bedtime reading of all! Great for pushing aside all the political angst of the day and putting beautiful imagines and thoughts into my mind for happy dreams.
Thank you for all you share with your readers. Please put my name into the tumbler basket for the drawing too. Sweet dreams to you.
Sally Jane
Lovely photos and stories Susan, thank you for sharing. Thanksgiving is almost here, and though it’s one of my favorite days in the whole year, this year will be extra special with the arrival of our newest grandgirl (due tomorrow, but who knows if she’ll keep us waiting!). Wishing you a warm and wonderful holiday!
I’m noticing a theme here. Pandemic Baby Boom! Congratulations Carisa!
The candlesticks are so nice!
Hello Susan! The cup (Blessed-which for some reason I labeled the box “Blessing” then looked at the cup and realized it said “Blessed”! silly me!) I’m so glad you were able to weather the storm as they say! It seems we’re having fires, floods, storms, etc. that are getting so much worse. Maybe it’s just me…however, winters really are milder compared to those we had back when I was young. Knock on wood:-)
Our leaves have finally been turning and falling from our trees too. I absolutely love seeing them out my window.
Oh, Ripper is such a cute dog! So nice she is on the island now.
Boy your drawings of people are really good! I love them!
Pottery Barn!! My favorite store…even though I don’t buy too much. What I do have is amazing and very special! Your Christmas items look beautiful! Hurry Christmas, right? Ha Ha. And I too want to thank Bunny for her thoughtfulness in sharing those unique candle holders! I’ve always found them special also.
Stay well and warm and enjoy Thanksgiving!
Blessings,
Gert
You too Gert! Our snows are lighter too, but I have to say I would miss them terribly if they disappear! I love being buried in the snow with the fire going and soup bubbling. It’s one of the things I came here for … you can SEE season change in California, if you have a trained eye … but it’s truly a constant sameness! We get WINTER tied up in ribbons and glitter … and then, just when it becomes totally unbearable, SPRING!!! What genius!
Yes, I remember how fall and winter and a bit of
Spring was like in California. So different then here. I really missed the change of seasons. So I pray the change of seasons continue😊
Good Morning Susan,
Hi, and what a nice post you gave us, that was MY blessing for this dull grey wednesday! THANK YOU!
It must have been pretty scary to hear those trees falling so close to the house, thank goodness no injuries…
Love the picture of Jack, checking out the mantle, haha, that is one HUGE book he’s standing on! Where does he sleep at night?
Our little ladies sleep on our bed, and we often wake up, shaped like a letter “S”, because they get right up against our legs or knees. So we have to bend and stretch when we get up, but wouldn’t have it any other way, haha
Happy Thanksgiving to you, Joe and Jack, and sending you lots of
XOXO
Nicoline
Us too, the contortions I get into not to disturb Jack!🤣 Didn’t hear the trees coming down, the wind was ROARING… Happy Thanksgiving to you too Nicoline, with love . . .❌❌⭕️⭕️
Happy Thanksgiving Susan, Joe and Jack. That Pumpkin Cheesecake looks delicious 😋😋
Loved the new Willard. Beautiful Pilgrim Candlesticks. Happy Thanksgiving .
Thank you, Susan, for the timely reminder to look around and count our blessings. Autumn is so full of beauty as the year slips away, and a poignant reflection of losses that come with change, yet burst our hearts in quiet gratitude for what remains. My favorite time of year; I enjoyed your pictures. And aren’t book clubs wonderful? Even (or especially) those with only two readers.
Blessings to you and yours through this holiday season.
Thank you for the warmth you share from your heart and your hearth. I love the dancing kitties painting!
What a nice surprise Willard this evening. Thoroughly enjoyed every bit, pictures and all ~ from island walk, to Ripper (who is a doll), to decorating suggestions, to poems, to pumpkin cheesecake recipe (!) etc. etc. Made the day for me. Not to mention a chance to win those candleholders 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Love reading Willard …… You always have me giggling at the end. I have just received my bunny cup… And I am so charmed by it. I will sip tea from it celebrating our new three great grandchildren …. all born within the last 5 weeks . We now have the blessing of 22 grandchildren ( 11 of those great grandchildren.). “Bunny Cheers” !
Wow!!! Pandemic baby boom! Congratulations Carolyn!
Hello and happy Thanksgiving, Susan! I recently found your blog and am enjoying reading your posts and viewing your lovely art and photos. Thank you for the opportunity to enter the giveaway for the candleholders! They will be a gorgeous addition to the lucky winner’s Thanksgiving decor.
Welcome to the neighborhood Melissa!
Thank you, Susan!
Grateful to all those that give.
What a lovely surprise this Willard was! We read Home for Christmas last year, and it made me want to cry so many times. It was evident you really put your heart into it. Thank you for your work, and for the chance at the candlesticks. Happy holidays!
I didn’t have to try … as I know you know. A happy childhood is a gift of a lifetime.💝
Loved the book A Gentleman in Moscow as well. Read it over a year ago and the book is still with me.
Your Willard posts are so inspiring. Thank you, Susan. They wrap around me like a warm blanket.
I’m always so inspired by your pictures, your art and the way you view life! Thank you!
Happy Fall!! 🍂🍁
I love reading your Willards. You’re so good at reminding us to be positive and thankful! What wonderful candleholders!
Love reading your blog. Happy Thanksgiving!
I would love the candlestick holders to grace my Thanksgiving table. They remind me of my Quaker ancestry.
Me too, Meg! (I hope you win!) I have the same candle holders and they remind me of my quaker ancestry as well!
Happy Thanksgiving from Christy in California
Your blessings, so many and written so beautifully, serve me well as they always make me think of my own blessing and give thanks. Thank you as always for sharing.
Dear Susan,
What a lovely letter to us for November. I’d wondered how you and Joe weathered the Big Storm!
I would enjoy the Pilgrim Candle Sticks. I have a silhouette collection and would make a vignette with the candle sticks!
Thank you.
Kind regards, Ethel
Love silhouettes when I find a good one!
Happy Thanksgiving! Love the candlesticks
Wonderful to get your blog this morning! The candlesticks are wonderful. They are simple but they say it all! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
I was so happy to see your blog today!!
Happy Thanksgiving!
love these and forever a fan
I’m overwhelmed reading your Willard today – it’s overflowing with all that’s good and beautiful. Such a joy to read. Thank you, thank you, Susan! You are the blessing around here.
Bren xo
@wordfromhome
Happy Thanksgiving! I’ve been in such a festive mood, planning my menu – revised several times of course! Love those candlesticks! My grandkids are not much on my Thanksgiving menu so this year when they come I am making Chinese. Already have my crab rangoons and wontons frozen, just rice and a couple of mains and we’re good to go!
Why NOT? How fun! Enjoy!🧡
You and your Willard are the BIG Bright Blessing for me. Thanks for sharing. Love to all this fabulous fall.
“The best things in life are tied with heartstrings!” 💝
Indeed, somebunny loves you! 💞
God bless! 🐰
Bunny Perkins
Tied with heartstrings dear Bunny … Look what you’ve done!!!♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
I am alway’s glad to see a new Willard. HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
You truly are an angel Bunny – what a kind gesture! 🥰💕💞💖
Thank you for the Willard Surprise this morning!
I’ve seen another set of this once. Was at an antique sale in the Texas Hill Country. Before zi could make my way to them, someone else snatched them. Huge disappointment! Grave always seeing yours.
Eeeek! Not fair!
It’s always relaxing and dreaming read your posts,
Miriam
So very sweet!
Thank you Susan for a wonderful post. It is nice to count your blessings. Sometimes we forget how truly blessed and lucky we are. Thank you Bunny for finding the great candle sticks. Have a wonderful day.
Thank you for this fall treat!
Kathleen Branch is my maiden name! I was surprised to see this as I scrolled through comments. 🙂 GREETINGS!
Such a special giveaway! Fingers are always crossed about winning, but win or lose, your blog is a gift each time I read it. Recently, someone in a Facebook group I follow said she just discovered your blog and plans to go back and read each one. Lucky girlfriend to have such a special journey ahead. You are a blessing to all of us. Happy Thanksgiving 🦃 🍽
Love it all! Cups, candlesticks, quilts, Jack and Ripper! Darling! 🐈⬛ 🐶! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Wonderful to hear from you Susan. A very timely reminder to look for and count our blessings. They are there every day if you know where to look. I am a bit jealous of your changing seasons. I am in southern California for just a few more weeks, then relocating back to North Carolina, where I moved from five years ago. I have truly missed the seasonal changes for sure. I’ll be home for Christmas this year, and forever, with the grand children and I can’t tell you how that fills my heart. My sister and I watched a movie on Netflix called Victoria and Abdul the other night. It was sooooo good. I was surprised to find it was several years old. Dame Judy Dench (sp?) plays Queen Victoria. If you haven’t seen it, you need to. It sent me straight to the computer to look up the whole story and it’s quite a story. Happy Thanksgiving to you and Joe and Jack, sweet Jack. Love seeing him.
Such a joyful post, entirely contagious! I hope the supply chain problem hasn’t created a shortage of springform pans (my old one bit the dust) because I HAVE to make that cheesecake! Love those candle sticks. Happy Thanksgiving!
Oh the pilgrim couple candlesticks are sooo wonderful! I have a small turkey collection…..I am just saying that because they would feel so right at home on my dining room table with the turkeys……just saying! It has been a beautiful fall here too in NE Iowa! Blessings to you and Joe!
I am reading A Gentleman in Moscow! I looooove it! I read this Willard all the way through THREE times. Thank you!
A new Willard always makes my day! ❤️ Thank you for sharing and inspiring!
To every fan of the sunshine Susan brings to us, I wish you all a most joyous Thanksgiving
and lovely holiday season of light and hope! You radiate goodness, Susan, in each post to
us! Thank you!
For some reason my first comment didn’t go through. Not sure what happened. I love this blog! Regarding the picture you painted of the little girl in her pajamas eating her cereal – is the cup Carlton Walking Ware from the 1970’s?! I love the whimsy of the walking ware. I collect egg cups and my daughter gave me one with darling little green Mary Jane shoes and striped socks. ❤ to you and Joe
Yes it is! Adorable whimsey!
Love reading your posts!
Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!
It always feels like a hug to read one of your posts. Thank you. ❤️
Oh what a wonderful Willard surprise!!! You are always such a bright spot. We won’t be home for Thanksgiving this year. We are going to Seattle to meet our newest grandbaby…so excited!! And I have been elected to prepare Thanksgiving dinner at our daughter’s home…your pumpkin cheesecake is on the menu!
Hope your feast is as lovely as you are. Love to you, Joe and Jack.
Cat
Hello Susan and Girlfriends! Seeing the bookclub is a sweet reminder that kindred spirits are out there. I’ve been to two of Susan’s book signings and discovered good friends that were just waiting for me to meet them. Susan – thank you for seeing the beauty in a leaf in a puddle and reminding me to look for these nature winks. As always, I appreciate you!
I would love to add those candlesticks to my Thanksgiving table!
Dear Susan,
You are a blessing to all of us! Thank you for being you, with love, Jennifer
Many Blessings! So glad you got through that wild storm! Jack and Ripper are so funny-and so cute, what a relationship! Thank you and Bunny for the wonderful candlestick giveaway.
You all have a most marvelous thank-full Thanksgiving!
Love all the beautiful inspiration for Thanksgiving! We have so much to be thankful for now that we can actually be together with friends and family. These Pilgrim candlesticks would be perfect on my table since we live in Plymouth MA, home of the Pilgrims!
Goodness that was a surprise to get the Willard this morn. Makes me all warm inside. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Was so happy to read the latest Willard! Glad to hear you were all ok, minus a few trees. That Nor’easter was a nasty one, left my entire town of Stoughton ( where you came to Costco in 2014? before the blizzard) without power for almost two days. Not fun, but no damage so we were lucky. Love the candle stick holder, thanks to your generous friend Bunny! Wishing you and Joe a wonderful Thanksgiving! oxox
Always interesting and fun! Thank you!
Thank you for this delightful Willard! I also am just crazy about nature, it just utterly amazes me in the fall. I have to stop and stand back to look at a tree or touch a leaf . It is breathtaking.
And yes, A Gentleman in Moscow was just the best book. I only read it recently as well.
Isn’t it wonderful to share the things that you love!
And especially wonderful to see us all loving the same things!💞
“If you’re worried and you can’t sleep just count your blessings instead of sheep and you’ll fall asleep counting your blessings.” White Christmas Tonight, on my Gratitude List I will add reading this Willard. Thank you for adding to today’s blessings!
I hear Bing!🎵🎶🎵
So happy to receive a new Willard!…Full of news, stories and happy notes! Reading it and taking in all the pictures just gives you warm fuzzies inside! Love it!
Hi Susan, May you have a blessed Thanksgiving with family and friends! I feel grateful for you and all the wonderful things you share with us! Your posts are so lovely and heartfelt!! Keep writing and drawing!! You inspire me!
Happy Thanksgiving to you, Joe, and Bunny Perkins! Blessings! XOXO
Oh, what a treat to see this in my mailbox. So much to focus on. I will have to read it over and over. But one quick question. The photo where Jack is sitting on a big open dictionary–I love the painting behind him. Can you tell us more about it? Who is the artist? Is it a painting or print? Love it!!
Also the dinner with the girlfriends book group–what fun!! And the table setting is really beautiful. If I went on about everything in this Willard it would be at least as long as the Willard–without all those gorgeous photos!
Ha ha ha! Thank you Virginia! That’s an oil painting called Tea Time by the British artist Pamela Kay.♥️
Thank you again! I don’t know how you do it all in 24 hours…and so beautifully. Thanks for sharing it with all of us.
What a lovely giveaway! I have always admired your Pilgrim candleholder in your cozy home,
Thank you Susan for being a ray of sunshine!
What a lovely post! Blessings abound! Love the Pilgrim candlesticks! Perfect in your home!
Willard was just what I needed this morning! Thank you for sharing your lovely world. And so thankful there were no injuries from the Nor’easter…
So much happy came to my heart when I saw a new Willard!! Thank you for being amazing, Susan Branch! ❤️
Thankful for this uplifting blog!
I love the Pilgrim candlesticks! I have been cultivating Thanksgiving decorations in the last few years as I was sorely lacking in that decorating area! We are celebrating Thanksgiving this year and in a bittersweet turn of events, this First Thanksgiving in a while may be the last we get to celebrate with my husband who has terminal cancer. We are learning to cherish each moment with him and each other.
Cherish your time, so beautiful and sad. All my very best to you and yours Sherri. 🙏🙏🙏🙏💖
Thank you for your lovely post. I am 67 and still working. I can’t wait to be a full time homemaker. You have no idea how much you have helped me make my decision to retire. I just love being home. I will do other work but it will be from my home. Have a great Thanksgiving. God Bless You!
So glad to hear from you!
Love, love, love everything in this Willard. Thanks so much for sharing with all of us!
Nice to see your email today. A wonderful surprise. Keep sending you positivity.
Loved this post so much! Well, I always love your posts:) I will go back and read it all again to see what I missed the first time through. Have a blessed Thanksgiving! We’re cooking at our house too. My grandkids love that I still cook for this very special holiday.
So nice to read this post and see the beautiful tables set for festive gatherings. I’m going to try that Cranberry Marmalade. It looks yummy.
So happy to read your blog. We are all blessed to be well.. So much to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving.💗
I always love every word in your Willard. But I really enjoy coming with you on your walks. Such pretty pictures❤️❤️ Thank you!!
❤️Nancy
Dear Susan those candle sticks are so beautiful. I would love to have them on my fall table..Love love your blog.
I love how your posts always inspire me to take in the beauty and blessings all around me. Here in Maryland we are also having a late fall–still some green leaves on the trees!! Have a great Thanksgiving.
Happy November! Thank you for the post!! I always enjoy seeing a post from Susan. Your home sweet home posts always make me smile.
Love you!
Carla
So nice to a new Willard to have my tea with, Loved everything about it.
Happy Birthday To the United States Marine Corps 246 years. Big deal in my house complete with birthday cake and all the trimmings. Love those candlesticks!