HELLO from Christmas Island!!! Look how HAPPY I am!!! That’s because (and not at all discounting my daily dose of delicious anti-anxiety medicine (Lexapro for inquiring minds)) I started after 
Covid and worry-about-the-world almost did me in 😃, but I digress) ~ I’m happy for many reasons as you will see below, but first, THIS: my girlfriend Martha’s brilliant husband WROTE a brand new CHRISTMAS SONG.💖 Who DOES that? He’s usually so normal! It’s a totally original song 🎹, and I do believe you are the first audience to hear it! In fact, this is the only place on earth where you can hear it! He let me because we are old friends who live across the street, and when he sang it for us, before he’d even had it professionally recorded, I immediately thought of you!💞 “They’ll love this” I said. He didn’t even try to resist my begging ~ and graciously said, “Of, course, I’ll send it to you! That’s why I wrote it!” 💖💖💖💖💖
Here we go, this is it . . . The Mistletoe Waltz!
Perfect for Jane Austen movies! Right? Can’t you see Mr. Darcy dancing with Elizabeth to this? Molly has a gorgeous voice! It could be in the next Love Actually! Or Mariah Carey could sing it! Kelly Clarkson! Or Taylor Swift, Times Magazine 2020 Person of the Year, who fills our world with happiness and light! This song is like that! Happiness and Light. Good job Ivan!👏
So here we go, from me to you. . . a Willard filled with happiness and light, giving love away, very like A Christmas Carol, doing season past AND season future! Freezing here this morning, had to warm my hands over the toaster! Which of course was a win-win! Toast and warm hands! MAS MUSICA . . .
Our fall here on the island was gorgeous . . . with flaming skies at sunset, church bells rang, wild geese flew over, the wind blew chimney smoke 
around, leaves curled and turned orange, garnet, and gold, mini murmurations of grackles flew in low black clouds over and around the trees, the Harvest moon shone down with golden light … the freshened Autumn air, as Gladys Taber wrote, was “cool as an old coin teaspoon” …and whipped the leaves up behind the tires of our car. Just as it has been since the beginning of time. Perfection.
I decorated inside to match the outside. . .
But Nature does it best, inside the house too: Sun and leaves made shadows on the walls that fell differently in the shortening days . . .
Church bells rang the hour across the street . . . Between that and the boat whistle and the early morning blast of lighthouse foghorns, I am reminded constantly of how lucky I am . . .
Joe brought in branches of bright leaves to hang over mirrors . . .
We hung our wreath of leaves on the front door and dried corn on the kitchen door . . .
It’s that time of year when it’s FUN to carry the basket of wet laundry across the crunchy leaves in the fresh air to hang things out to dry in the wind, where a slight fragrance of leaf mulch and woodsmoke spice the airy sea-smell of our sheets. Even a speck of time in nature is good for what ails you ~ it carries forever the hum of ommmmmm in it!🍁 I spent the end of October and the first of November nursing around the house, getting it ready for company. I washed and . . .
…hung things on the line while Jack watched and waited in the kitchen window . . .
My shadow!
He watched while I starched and ironed tablecloths . . .
. . . sprinkled dresser scarves and table runners, curtains and napkins. Sssssss, the smell of hot iron …👏
Joe polished my wand and all his little silver things for his bar.
Jack helped me fold the starry sheets in his own inimitable way of helping . . . that is, sitting on them, making them his own.
He watched me arrange flowers, make beds, and freshen and make the guest rooms cozy for my people . . .
I stopped off in our room, Jack’s favorite shooting grounds, to shoot rubber bands for him ~ I stand at the door, grab a handful of hairbands, aim, and shoot over the bed, he waits on the workout bench, HIS workout bench, not mine . . see that rubber band in the air over his head? I do this at least 3 times a day, which is how I know I will be going to heaven. God loves those who take care of his creations.
He also likes me to shoot down from the top of the stairs, in freezing bare feet, when I want to go to bed, while he runs up and down the bottom stairs catching them . . . he catches them, but doesn’t bring them back anymore. That’s my job. He has made that very clear . . .
As it was getting closer to Thanksgiving, and our guests were on their way, I set out bread on the ironing board in the pantry to dry for my grandma’s stuffing; Joe is there choosing bottles of wine… . . . we wanted to make it special . . .
Because we had family coming! And suddenly, hooray, they began to arrive ~ I found I just wanted to LOOK at them!👀 But I was trying very hard not to be scary Aunt Sue!😜 This happy guy is my nephew Matt Stewart . . . you might recognize him because…
. . . in the way-back machine, Matt flew over to join us on our trip to England and Paris with two of my other nieces Holly and Heidi the day after he graduated from high school in Durango, Colorado in 2001! We had these three for six weeks! Best trip ever!
The gang’s all here and out to dinner we went … that’s Becca on the left, Matt’s girlfriend who I had never met, then Joe, then my niece Jessica, my nephew Matt, Cory (Jessica’s husband), Maggie, and Eliza (Jessica and Cory’s daughters), and Eliza’s boyfriend Justin, who I hadn’t met either, but new people at the table are always fun! And I, as a strict Morning Scientist, like to study the younger generation to see what the future will be and talk about it with Joe later. (It’s okay, they never noticed.😁 They think they’re normal.)
We walked out to the water, through the woods, with the smell of decaying leaves … looking for shells and beach glass . . .
Then downtown to tiny La Choza on the corner of Main Street to get the fattest, yummiest, homemade (except in a restaurant), Burritos on earth!
Cory entertained us with hilarious pirate stories of his sailing days. I analyzed, of course, and found them very very good.😱😅😂🤣 Little bits of information, here and there, from every one of those kids make me know the future is in good hands. They are as passionate as we were, but much more motivated and powerful, and ready to take it on. And they have Taylor Swift on their side! (MAS MUSICA … my Grandma’s Favorite)
I’m STILL analyzing this move by the mother of children!😂 What EVER it means (it could be a kind of dancing), it IS cute! After all, MY mother said, “Boss!” when she liked something.🙄 Some of them stayed 4 days, some of them stayed 3 . . . and all of it was wonderful. Matt and Jessie, the children of two of my brothers, Chuck and Jim, both grew up in Durango, Colorado, but because they were five years apart in age, they had never really spent any time together before they all moved away, so this was extra special (for me) just for that reason. I like the cousins to know each other. 💖 And I like to know them! (Have you read the most wonderful “knowing people” book that’s just out, written by David Brooks and appropriately called “How to Know a Person?” SO GOOD, so smart! A great Christmas present! Order it HERE or HERE and make our small Independent Island bookstores crazy with happiness❤️). Oh the power!
Jack found a comfy perch where he could keep his eyes on everything!
Time to make the Stuffing! My grandma’s recipe and HER mom’s, which means that, for Eliza and Maggie, this stuffing I’ve been eating since I was little, came from their great-great-great-grandmother Sarah, born in 1870 in Adel, Iowa! I don’t know where she got the recipe! Probably HER mom!
The recipe is in my Autumn Book . . . we dipped the slices of bread we dried in the pantry in a sinkful of the hottest water we could stand, and squeezed the water out, as you can see above, so you have chunks of bread with finger marks in them.
You keep dipping, squeezing, and tearing into chunks, till you get a bowlful, then add chopped celery and onion that’s been sautéed and softened in lots of butter, salt and pepper, then a whole jar of sage. Mix it well with your ands and voila! That’s all I do to it, I love it simple, just the way my Grandma made it, smothered in turkey gravy ~ and from there I put it right into the turkey … but some people will make this basic recipe and add sausage or oysters, whatever means Thanksgiving to you is what you should do!
Matt knew how to make it and helped me! (BTW, see Matt’s long hair? Both he and Becca grow their hair and donate it to people stricken with cancer. If you have an abundance of hair, and need somewhere to put it . . . here’s how you do it!)
Matt and I have been good partners in the kitchen for a long time!
I made the cranberry sauce and popped it in the oven, and we are STILL eating Christmas Jam on the delicious scones Matt and Becca brought us from Shelley’s Tea Room in Plymouth, MA where they stopped on their way down to the island from Boston! Now I need to GO there! Jam’s so simple:
Maggie, who is 16, peeled the potatoes . . .
Maggie and Eliza have helped me in the kitchen before!💝
This was one of their creations! How did the world survive before cameras? This cookie is still fresh and beautiful! We always wish that time would stand still, and look at this blog full of standing-still moments that will never come again. Thank you camera inventor!
And suddenly it was TIME! Joe’s Beautiful Turkey 2023 was done!
Kids set the table, Joe sliced the turkey, I heated the rolls so the tops were crisp and the insides were soft, and we all carried the food to the table . . . I did not forget the most delicious French salted butter for the rolls.
Have you tried this yet? OMG it is beyond delicious… everyone LOVES it . . .
And Voila! We did it! Together, we made it happen! My mom would be SOOOOOO happy to see this!!! 💞
So fun, I got to be the Grandma and read the words to MY grandma’s favorite hymn of gratitude and celebration…
I wanted, with our togetherness, to honor these people, most of whom our kids have never met. (I’m the little face with the white barrette with Jessica’s dad on my right 😍, you can only see the very top of Matt’s Dad’s head, in his high chair toward the back.😂) That’s my Grandma on the left, and her dad (on her right), Merrill James Orr (he’s the fourth child of seven, father of ten, and my mom’s grandpa) ~ and he’s Maggie and Eliza’s great-great-great grandfather. He was born in 1871 in Stacyville, Iowa. This is the thing I love most about growing older, now I’m the connection between long long ago, and today, and even the future. Merrill’s g-g grandfather was born in 1745 in Plymouth MA, where Joe and I are going for a little Christmas get-away/shopping (and Shelley’s Tea Room) next week. 
I told the kids that our old house was built in 1849 and how I can hear echoes of stories of the families and their friends that lived here before us, their birthdays, the Christmas trees, tea parties, soups bubbling on the stove, their school days, changes of seasons, children, new babies, pets, and how this was our 34th Thanksgiving in the house, but it was the House’s 164th! The history! I thanked them for helping us add to the house DNA by being there for this one. Our house hugs back and I’m convinced this is the reason why. Doing our best to leave it ringing with memories, for the next people.
Of course, what do you do after Thanksgiving? You find out if you’re taller than your mother! I literally remember when I was finally taller than my mother, and I think it might even happened at Thanksgiving!😊💃🏼
Beautiful Girls ~ Jessica is the daughter of my brother Jim and his wife Kate; and her daughters, my great nieces Liza and Maggie.❤️
Jessica with her mom, Kate.💖
Yes, this photo was at least partially staged, that’s why all the smiles . . . because we are a modern people! After dinner we all snuggled into the wood room to watch the wonderful NY stage play production of Hamilton on Disney+! They knew ALL the words, made me so happy, they sang all the way through it.🎵🎶🎵
All too soon we were at the boat waving goodbye to Jessica and Cory on the ferry, time for the kids to go back to school and for them to go back to work . . .👋💗💗💗
Then it was time for Matt and Becca to go . . .
Matt told me I would love Becca, and I definitely did! We’re going out to California in January and hope to see them there! 👏 And then, deep breath . . . tick-tock, dastardly clock never stops … it was back to normal . . .🧡
No one took a picture of my cute outfit, so I did. That flannel skirt turns 40 next year! Tip for the day: Always buy skirts with elastic waists.👏 I’ll let you know when I get myself into that buttoned skirt I wore on my first date with Joe! A whole OTHER story!😊
Cruel children left us with this … seriously dangerous . . . after one relatively short fork-frenzy, I cut the rest of the Pumpkin Cheesecake in half, took half up the street to Lowely’s, and the other half over to Martha’s! (Wish I had it this moment!)
Then back to THIS, trying to get Thanksgiving OFF me . . . doing my planks. Which I started a few months ago by doing one plank and holding it for 3 seconds.🤪 Now I have worked up to doing three, 
holding each for 50 seconds. You know what that means… if I can do it, you can.💝 All of Google agrees that if you can only do one exercise, this is the one! And one of the secrets to happiness… and maybe not planks, but there is always something we can do to keep those joy levels going strong. Life has been more than complicated these last years, turns out it’s up to us to MAKE it the way we want it. Turn on the music YOU like, make the cookies YOU adore, have the tea YOU love, if you want green hair, HAVE it … because if mama ain’t happy, ain’t no one happy.🧑🎤 And you know, life is short.😘
With a little help from my friend. Then I turned the calendar to 
So first thing, because the holidays are upon us . . . I want to give you your Full Moons Bookmark for 2024 . . . so you can make your stocking stuffers! 💖 Just click, print it out, and then cut it out.
And then, I mentioned that Joe and I are taking the train to California in January? So excited!! 🚂 We’ll get there around January 15th and stay probably a month (or for as long as it takes), because we’re MOVING our California Studio a LOT closer to where Kellee lives ~ and we’ll be selling the house we’ve owned for 22 years, in Arroyo Grande, just below San Luis Obispo, on the Central Coast.💖 We actually spent most of our time there for the first 10 years of the 2000s … I loved it, despite the double-wide aspect of the house. I didn’t care, while I was there, it was the House of Creativity! It’s where I saw my first bluebird. One year we brought in a bunch of sand and made a beach next to the creek! We made a firepit down there, put a long table under the trees and had Thanksgiving dinner outdoors. My brother played the guitar and we all sang.🍁🍁🍁
THEREFORE… because we think about lightening our moving vans, we’re having a MOVING SALE …. starting now, all December long, until midnight December 31 ~ All my books, the calendars, recipe cards, post cards, art prints, and giclees, are all ON SALE for 20% off! We’ve never done this before, but I promised Kellee we’d make it as easy as possible! We might add more, so check back . . . she’s still figuring out what we have enough of! So we have a lot to do when we get out there!
Sale includes Christmas Memories, Gratitude, Enchanted, Grandma’s Story, ALL my books!
YUP, Home for Christmas too! AND if any of YOU need to make your own little farm in the country on the Central Coast of California on 8 flat acres, completely fitted with an overhead irrigation system that comes from a year-round creek running through the property that comes from Lopez Lake and passes through to the sea, let me know. Everything grows there because it is an ancient river bed. Arroyo Grande means Big Ditch, but now it’s a beautiful wine, artichoke, and avocado producing area in its own micro climate . . . where good weather is even better there. There’s a back road through the wine country to SLO, so I never had to get on the freeway to go there; and the house is about 3 miles from Pismo Beach. Trader Joe’s is about a 6 minute car ride away!
OUR CALIFORNIA PARADISE IS ACTUALLY FOR SALE! 😲 TELL EVERYONE! Because I’d like to sell it to someone who will love it as much as I did.💝
This is how the picket fence garden looked when I lived there all the time! It’s still pretty, but not as flowery without me around. I will love seeing it cared for again!
Photo by Christopher Gardner. Aug 2004
Susan Branch at her AG home and garden
This is the house from the road . . . The house itself isn’t great . . . it’s usable, two or three bedrooms, depends on how you look at it, and 2 bathrooms, with its own well. But you’d really want to build a house out back where you could hear the creek running at night ~ that’s what we would have done if I hadn’t gotten so homesick for New England. Very difficult to be in two places at once.
At the end of this hedge that we planted, turn left and you’re at the creek, it winds along that row of trees back there . . . and the property continues a bit on the other side of the creek.
This is the property from the back; the creek is about this same distance behind me . . . A tractor comes with the property!
When we came home from our first garden tour of England we went fairly crazy planning the garden. . .building hedges, a long walk, and garden rooms around the house . . .
I laid it out on paper, and it’s all there along with several out buildings.
Artichokes grow so well there, the best I ever tasted! We grew them behind the garage next to the back wall of it. It was toasty warm and they were ecstatic and prolific as you can see! There are citrus trees, avocado trees, a walnut tree, a plum, fig, apple, and I can’t remember what else.
We planted lots of roses . . . they love this little valley.
Oh yes, we planted tiny Christmas Apple (or Lady apple) trees there too. Because unlike Martha’s Vineyard, things bloom and grow in California year-round. And those that don’t grow well on our Island, like Sweet Peas? One year I had them blooming in California from March to August!!! Oh yeah.🥰
Joe planted corn and all sorts of veggies . . .
The plum tree in springtime ~ it’s a property with SO MUCH potential, everything between farm, winery, estate, wedding venue or garden nursery . . . Although zoning, I have no idea . . .there was a nursery on that road about ½ mile up from us . . . it’s gone now, but there are still wineries and a farmstand. I’m going to love being there for January! I like to walk, 9 times around the property equals 3 miles. It’s not on the market yet … I don’t even know what things are selling for out there, but if you have interest, email [email protected] and we’ll pass your note to our realtor, which we don’t have yet!😜
I received a sample of our new cup for approval! It looks beautiful! I’m so excited to send it to my people. They should be arriving to the new Studio toward the end of January . . . I love it, I know you will too. I drink my Fine Romance private blend Tea (Earl Grey with lavender), with honey and cream, out of it everyday and looking at this new cup, I celebrate how our country got started. And for a moment in the quiet morning, I treasure the peace we have always felt in this country and promise to do everything I can to make more of it.💖
Yes it is! So don’t forget to enjoy the deliciousness of this 
Holiday Egg Nog. I changed it a bit this year. Love milk so much, I reversed the measurements, and made a much lighter version, now it’s ⅔ c. milk over crushed ice, splash of eggnog (too taste), splash of bourbon, shake of nutmeg. I think it’s better! Just plain YUMMY, and easy! And there’s calcium in it! Now light the fire or the candles, make a toast to peace on earth, and let the daydreaming begin.
It snowed on our walk yesterday, blasted us actually . . . it didn’t stay on the ground, but it was the first one, and it came down pretty hard for a while, coming straight at us and sticking to our eyelashes. Of course we loved it. We were listening to 
Dickens Pickwick Papers . . . We decided December goes perfectly with Dickens. It’s a really funny book, written more like short stories (it was originally a magazine serial), but in some places it’s VERY hard to understand. The reader is excellent at accents and voices, but some of ye olde 19th century English accents might as well be Hungarian. We need subtitles which Audible does not provide. Because that would be “a book.” Still it’s fun to be in the wind, in 1829 England, and ALSO, at the same time, in the first snow of the season in 2023. When we get home from Plymouth we’re going to listen to A Christmas Carol. 
I’m decorating again!
Decorating with all the little things that have become our traditions . . . old books, old music, old friends . . . and with all our years together, you know some of them as well as I do!
Using all the things we have in common, like sparkly things . . .
. . . candles, bunting, and angel chimes . . . things found, and things made . . .
Homemade things and memories 💞
And this . . . 💖💖💖 Big Magic!
Yes, I’m getting ready for Christmas and my Girlfriends Gift Exchange. Probably one of my smallest parties, because as we get older, we have SO MANY beloveds, it would take something miraculous to do it with everyone! And my beloveds includes you! My first gift to you all, wasn’t even mine, it was Ivan’s new song! Want to hear it again?
I’ve also planned very tiny gift exchange with just one of you. Problem is, I don’t know WHICH one yet❓❓❓So far, it’s a mystery! Your part is to leave a comment, from which we’ll draw names and whichever name I get, I have a present for. Would you like to know what it is? Okay … It’s not this:
But you know how I always love to decorate with quilts? They are so festive and charming and add a bit of coziness, wherever they are,
with their old-fashioned, handmade, historical nature, . . . I put them in the kitchen (no matter that it doesn’t make sense, they make it cozy and I love the color!), hang them over the backs of chairs . . on quilt racks in the bedrooms, I stack them on the top of the hutch in the living room . . . drape them over sofas . . . . everywhere I can think of . . . because they’re so pretty!
And I’ve painted them into my books …
Since the very beginning . . .
Sharing this thing I love has been easy. I’ve collected vintage quilts pretty much all my life, since my Grandma gave me one my great-Grandma Sarah made and opened my eyes to this gorgeous homemade art of our foremothers, who by the way, could do ANYTHING and wasted nothing . . . and that is why . . . 
Jack and I thought it would be nice to give away one of my beauties to a good home.💝
YOURS! This beautiful quilt is my secret Santa gift to a very special universal YOU 💞 . . . Just leave a comment (at very bottom of this post there are a bunch of tiny words… at the end you’ll see “comments” ~ click there) to be entered in our drawing, and soon this 64″ x 77″ handmade 
quilt (there is nothing standard about the sizes of old quilts!) will be winging its way to the lucky winner. Always remember you have a LOT better chance of your name being drawn here than you do with the Lottery and, creme de la creme, we don’t charge for tickets.💞 Another win-win!😃 I’m sorry, but I already know I won’t be able to answer all your comments this time, as you can guess, but believe me, I will read them and make sure they all get entered.💝 Are you signed up to get my Willard Newsletters mailed to your box? This would be a very good time to make sure. Sign-up is at the top left of this page. I’ll announce the winner in the next Willard!
And so Tra La, another Willard, AND another year under our belts my dears . . Wishing you all, from my heart, the very Merriest of Christmases, Happy Hanukkah, Joyful Kwanzaa, Feliz Navidad, Joyeux Noel, Mele Kalikimaka🌴, Seasons Greetings, and any other thing I might have forgotten,😃 and God Bless us every one.💞
With love from me and Joe! Hoping you 
So happy to see a new Willard! Thank you for sharing your lovely Thanksgiving-with-family celebration. Have a blessed and merry Christmas!
What a lovely Thanksgiving you had with family!
Thank you for your generous giveaway. I feel blessed every time I read your newsletter so thank you for them also.
Wishing you and Joe and Jack a peaceful and healthy New Year.
Well, I don’t think I have written to you except on Instagram. Anyway hope this is where you sign up for quilt drawing! Love you dear lady!
Here I sit in South Carolina. I’m finally pausing the holiday hubbub to sip a Christmas mug of creamer with just enough coffee😉. Queso, our 20 year old rescue cat (maybe more than 20?) is curled up next to me. I love escaping with your thoughtful words, photos and art. My older sister introduced me to you over 25 years ago. We appreciate your “spin”of this crazy world of ours that brings nothing but positivity and beauty to many. Thank you.
I love everything in the blog. I love that you took so much time to put everything together, and show us beautiful pictures of your friends, family and your home. I’ve been following you since 1985/1989, and I always think I’ve seen it all. And then you come up with something new to share with us! When I moved and downsized from my house this year, I had to part with some of my antique quilts. It was very hard, but they went to other people who I knew would cherish them and take care of them. I would love to have one of yours. How special that would be 💚 I hope you and Joe and all your loved ones have a wonderful, and blessed Christmas
Happy Christmas to you and yours!! I couldn’t imagine my Christmas without you and your beautiful words and equally wonderful art and photos! You know how to put a girl into the seasonal mood!
I also wanted to thank you for posting the info on donating hair. The story of your nephew really hit home for me and off I went to the bathroom and chopped my long hair to a chin length Bob!! I must say it really highlights my third chin with that oh so notice me flair! Ho, ho, ho. Probably should have hit onto the link you provided before going chin deep into the commitment… Luckily, I had divided my hair into pigtails and the length far exceeded the minimum and I even had hair that I’d cut off two years ago that I was able to include. Yeah, I sometimes have a “follow through” flaw, that’s why when I saw your nephew has successfully donated hair, I printed out the form, bagged up mine and mailed out this morning. I feel so privileged to get to feel this good about some hair!
Well, my dear, you did good! Thanks for your Christmas love and hope you enjoy this year with extra magic! Lots of love!
How wonderful Ginette, I will tell Matt he was a good inspiration! 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
Merry Christmas may it be filled with joy!! The quilt is lovely💕 thank you for your inspiration. We all miss you out here on the central coast of California. I went to your last book signing at Apple Farm – so much has changed there. You wouldn’t even know it. Your cheer your vision your loveliness is missed!
I worked at Apple Farm in 1988! 😍
Merry Christmas, Susan and Joe and a healthy most happy 2024! The best year yet!🥰🎄🎅🏻
Merry Christmas! 🎄
Here’s to you and Joe having a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy new year. And thanks for another wonderful letter to us all.
Those photos of you and Matt in the kitchen are PRECIOUS!! And the quilt you’re giving away is so beautiful! Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
I always look forward to Willard. Love living vicariously through you and your wonderful adventures!
I go to your blog when I want to feel the goodness and beauty that comes through in your posts. The joy and simplicity that you share with your readers is inspiring!! And my tuxedo kitty, Charlie, loves seeing pictures of Jack!!
Thank you for being so thoughtful and giving away a beautiful masterpiece. I love all the things you offer on your website. Your books are soo cool and fun to read. Love all your pictures of everything. Your house reminds me of a fantasy cottage that I dream about. You are soooo lucky to live where you are. Thank you for sharing your life with the world. Your website is such a good positive place where in our world today is not the best.
As always, thank you for sharing your life, your loves and most especially your heart with all of us!
Love how down to earth and honest your posts are. There have been so many of us who have struggled with anxiety over the years; it can be exhausting. I’ve been putting off the medication option but am thinking, time to reconsider it again. It has certainly helped in the past, therapy too. Merry Christmas Susan, thank you for sharing your life, your ups and downs and hope. It has meant so much to me over the years.
Julie
I love every cookbook and novel you have written! I’m so happy to have found you on Instagram as your posts about your life are so aligned with my values. Thank you for creating a world I want to emulate! Sending you peace, love and many blessings in the coming year! Signed…A Connecticut girl now living in Santa Cruz County.
Merry Christmas! Thank you for always creating warm
and cozy for us and keeping our hearts hopeful
and our creativity bubbling.
I have not stopped by your slice of heaven in ages, but it’s heartwarming to see things are very well with you and your kin. It felt a little like coming home, to me. Thank you for the joy of the seasons you’ve brought back to mind. I’m an empty-nester, now; and it’s a different season, indeed. I will enjoy a bit of chaos when my daughter and new son in law come for dinner, tonight. Wishing you joy and peace from my sea to yours,
You are an inspiration to me!!
Dear Susan Merry Christmas and may you have a Blessed Christmas!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for a wonderful post!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You brighten all of our days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
God bless you Susan and Joe a very merry Christmas. Your words and beautiful natured inspired decor warms my heart!
What a wonderful lovely and newsy December note. It’s such a blessing to spend time with family…now and then. Have many of your books and just received yesterday your mini calendar, small calendar for my purse, and notecards. Always such beautiful things to choose from. One of my gggggrandmothers was Joanna Folger. I wish I’d found out sooner so I could have visited the islands, but can’t see myself visiting now. So, that is why I enjoy your blog so much. Love to see the neighborhood!
Very big name on Nantucket! I’m sure you know her sister was Ben Franklin’s mother!
Happy Christmas to you Susan as well as Joe and Jack!! Wishing you good health in the new year!💗
Always a spirit lifter – thank you, Susan!! Merry Christmas to you and Joe!
I love your posts and books so much! I wish you a Very Merry Christmas 🎄! Hope your New Year is great too! 🥂
Thanks for sharing all that you do, you have been such an inspiration over the years. ♥️
The quilt is lovely 💕💕
What a lovely post Susan! I have enjoyed your words and work for many years. Thank you for bringing so much joy and beauty to the world. Jack is one handsome fellow! I adore quilts, I always think about what story they could tell if they could talk……. Such treasured heirlooms.
Truly uplifting Willard!
I am so happy to see your interaction with the younger generations. It gives me hope!
You share your world and it in riches mine. Thank-you!
My best friend for over 40 years died unexpectedly in October. We always shared things from your newsletter and books. So there is a bittersweet feeling to reading this and leaving a comment!
That you treasure quilts also makes me feel validated as a fellow artist and quilt maker!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
So sorry for your loss Lila! 😞
I’m fairly new to your Willards and loving them! Brings me lots of joy and comfort! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
Susan, I have collected your books and read your Willards since the early days when they came to my house in the mail, but I’ve never written to you. I feel like you’re one of my oldest and dearest friends! Your love of family, friends and home inspires me and your zest for life has endeared you to me and to so many others. Your love of words and passion for old movies and books makes you a kindred spirit and I just wanted to say thank you so very much and Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas! (Would love to win this beautiful quilt 😍)
Merry Christmas! Jesus is the Reason for the Season! 🙂
I was so happy to see a new post. Always such a treat Susan. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. You always brighten up my days.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
Thank you, Susan, for all the smiles and joy you bring to us all through your blogs all year! It makes me smile just to see it in my inbox! Merry Christmas and Happy 2024 to you and Joe.
Donna
Merry Christmas Day, Susan! I must have fallen off the email list because I just learned of this wonderful post! I loved seeing your family and hearing your fall festivities as well as the Christmas preps. I’m sorry I missed the chance for the drawing (though the smart money would say I need one more vintage quilt like a hole in the head!). I never listen to the smart money!
Sending love, joy and peace for the new year (and hopes to get back on that mailing list!). Thanks for sharing the beautiful song and the bookmark. Always a treasure. I hope the rest of your holiday is as joyful as mine has already been. Merry Christmas and Joyful New Year.
Just finished opening our Christmas presents and my husband got me, ‘Isle of Dreams’. Love the Islands, engaged on Nantucket, married on the Vineyard. Just getting settled and cozy – ready to start reading my book, why wait! Loved the Willard this month, def’ has gotten me in the Christmas spirit, visiting with family and friends, love it!
Need to find that butter!
As a quilter, I just have to take a chance on being the next caretaker of such a lovely keepsake!
Merry Christmas!
Thank you for the joy your books, calendars and posts have given me over the years.
MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and Joe!! 🎄🎁
I hope you had a wonderful cozy Christmas on Martha’s vineyard. Enjoy your upcoming trip. Travel safe sweet friends.
absolutely love the quilt! Colors and pattern, spectacular.
I love reading your blog, so cozy, colorful and inspiring
Merry Christmas!
I’ve been saving reading your latest Willard for when I could sit in front of my Christmas tree and savor every word & picture without distraction! And here on Christmas Day after everyone has gone to bed I got my moment. Reading your news is like catching up with a dear friend! My thoughtful daughter continued the tradition this year once again & bought me your 2024 Wall calendar. Even though I know this wonderful gift is coming, it brings me sheer joy & excitement opening it & seeing your latest creation. I have shared my love for your incredible artistry with both my girls since they were little. It’s not Christmas or a Birthday without a “Susan Branch” related gift! Please don’t stop sharing your stories and art as long as your have breath in your lungs. God gave you a wonderful gift and I’m grateful you didn’t keep it to yourself. Thank you friend! Wishing you, & Joe a very blessed & Merry Christmas! 🎄♥️
Thank you once again for reminding us to slow down and remember the most important things in life. Merry Christmas Susan and Joe!!!
Merry Christmas to the big sister with the white hair barrette! You make the future bright when you highlight the past. Enjoy the snowflake eye lashes and a warm comfy quilt when you get back home.
Dear Susan,
I found your blog while reading another about old movie houses – it referenced your blog about your visit to Gladys Tabor’s home. What a delight to find you! You’ve just moved to the top of my list to read in 2024! Happy New Year and safe travels to California.
What a great blog post, would love to be entered into the quilt drawing, if not to late! : )
Praying you had a beautiful Christmas and will have a very happy new year! Thank you so much for the happy blog…they always cheer me up!
It’s December 26th and I am reading this blog post for the second time – I always see something I missed with the first reading so it’s almost a new experience! Best wishes for a Happy 2024 to you, Joe, Jack and all those dear to you! Thanks for always bringing a smile my way💕😊💕
Loved reading this and looking at the pictures!
Merry Christmas season! We have passed December 25th, but it does not mean we must stop celebrating 🙂
Oh Susan! I chomp at the bit in anticipation of the next Willard ❤️ I love everything you share as it brings back such warm memories of my childhood with my grandparents and their warm and cozy farmhouse and farm. Thank you for all the wonderful reading, watercolors and photos. The hour I spend absorbing the Willard is a great start to my day!
I have been an fan of yours forever.Feel like we are kindred spirits.Often read the Willard over again.Love the area where you live.Once we vacationed there .Blessings to you and Joe in 2024.
I enjoy the Willard.Feel like we are kindred spirits.You are so down to earth.Blessings to you and Joe in 2023.
Such a great Willard, filled with holiday cheer! Happy New Year to you and Joe!
Merry Christmas! And a Happy New Year!
Merry 2nd Day of Christmas!
December 21, 2023 at 7:23 pm
Hello! Susan I dearly love your words, artwork, photos, life and travel stories and for your graciousness to share them with us. You’re a bright spot to land upon. Thank you for the beauty and magic and wonder you bring into the world. I would love to win the quilt. Thank you for the opportunity. Merry Christmas and Happy Travels to California. I’ve been watercolor painting and find I love it. You’re a great inspiration, thank you for that. Blessings. Susan Bricker
Wonderful and inspiring, as always, to read your Willard! Ah … the holidays are already a blur! Ready to ring in the New Year! Happy 2024! The best to all!
As always, fun to sit a bit and read your wonderful letters to us! Love to get a glimpse into your charming home with all your warm & sweet touches. I love to have a pretty quilt to warm up a corner or add some coziness to a room. Your recipes are a treat and a joy to share for friends gathering. I still have all of your wonderful Willard’s that you snail-mailed many years ago and I have every book you’ve written! Thank you for spreading sunshine & sharing all your charming tid-bits for making a home happy!
~Happy New Year to you! 🎶 🎉 〰️linda 🔆
I love, love, love reading your Willards. I feel as though I’m right there with you.
This issue was so lovely! I love seeing that you also have ponytail holders all over the place for your kitty. My cats steal mine and then I find a little pile of them on the sofa where my Sophie puts them. I hope one of your fans buys that house in CA!!
I loved this too! A year ago I took in a kitten, this is the first I’ve read about the joys of hair elastics for cats, giving it a try soon…
Been using your wall calendars and desk pads for years!!! all your illustrations have brought peace and contentment in my life that sometimes is chaotic. I always have a smile on my face when I read your blog , look at your original art work and wonderful sayings. Please continue to do what you do .
Thank you,
Cindy Dacey
Hi Susan, when will the new cup be available and are you planning any more cups? I would love to be considered for the quilt giveaway, thank you for doing it!
It’s starting to get a wee bit colder in North Texas, we had temps down to 28 for a few hours yesterday. I hope you and Joe have a marvelous new year and I look forward to your next Willard.
New cups will be in near the end of January! And yes, I’ll be making more!
Love your blog!
And your artwork!
Happy New Year
Thank you so much for your latest Christmas
“Willard!” I love everything about the holidays. Like you, I decorate with old things, with new added in, quilts, and things that sparkle. My cat’s name is Hazel. She is a smoky gray and white sweet qirl kitty. Have a happy New Year in California. Look forward to your next email. Judy in the Midwest
Ohmygoodness!!!! I absolutely LOVE this blog!! Susan, I feel like we are kindred spirits!! My maiden name is Branch…maybe we are related somehow😁 I would LOVE to win the quilt!!! Thank you for being you and for being such an inspiration!
Love the Willard’s. I am fairly new to your subscription feed, and I’ve loved your artwork and cookbooks for years. Thank you for entrusting a quilt to one of us!
-Nancy
Susan – you make my heart happy every time you release a Willard. Thank you sharing your life and your family with everyone.
Happy New Year to you and Joe
Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to all!
Love your Willard’s! So enjoy hearing from you!
Saw your beautiful Holly cup on Ideals cover and totally recognized the cup as I have one!
So glad you are all right, Susan! I had begun to worry a bit but thought you must just be very busy. Willard is always a delight. Thank you for what you do in brightening up the days for us!
Oh my – I started reading this when it first appeared in my in box, but only today could I sit down and focus on finishing. I loved it, perhaps even more on December 29 – I love the thought about growing with age into the “bridge” role in the family, entwining then, now, and that which is to come.
All the best in 2024 Susan and Joe, thank you so much for these encouraging, uplifting messages!
Thank you so much for all the joy you share. Happiest of Holiday Wishes to you and Joe!
Hi Sue. Love your blog. Love your artwork. Love your family. Love you the best! Happy New Year. 🎄💚❤️🎵🎶
Merry December 29th Susan and family! Perhaps in your January blog you can share ways to get through the days after Christmas when I still want to pretend it is Christmas because I don’t want the season to end! Let us know if your friends make their song available to buy—I would definitely buy it to have it in my Christmas music collection! Thank you for brightening my days! I keep your Christmas Joy book on the coffee table as a decoration for the season and read through it when I need Christmas cheer (especially in the days after)!
Lots of love, Kara
Happy New Year, Susan and Joe!
John 3:16
I love your blog Susan!
Hello from across the water on Cape Cod. For many years we have spent a few precious days each summer visiting the Vineyard. It is a special and magical place and wonderful to be able to reach it so quickly but feel so far away from life on the Cape.
Thank you for the glimpse into your life. I love your decorating, your collections, your recipes, your art and gardening and photography. Jack is precious! I always look forward to Willard and woke up thinking about it this morning. I had signed up for delivery at my work email and having retired last year I wasn’t getting it anymore! So glad to be signed up again as I have missed the wonderful, peaceful moments that I feel when I get to peek inside the world you have created over your life. So much beauty and inspiration! Also – I am a quilter (own some of your fabric) and WOW!! love your collection.
I’m excited about your beautiful new cup design. My ancestor fought at the battle of Lexington.
Your cup will make nice gifts for my family…and for me !
Thank you for your positive, uplifting posts.
Hello Susan
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
I love reading your Willard Blog I can always relate to something you have written Around 4 years ago, I started to quilt with the ladies in our parish Every Tuesday can’t come fast enough Over the years I have purchased your quilt patterns but have never made one. 2024 could be the year.
Your giveaway of a quilt would be a dream come true
Wishing you and Joe a Happy Holiday!
Happy New Year! My comment is late but life sometimes stands in the way of reading my Willards. I loved this post so much. I’ve been a fan since your very first book and even went to the store in Arroyo Grande. A big fan. I’ve recently moved from Idaho to Iowa and in this post I realized that you had roots in Iowa… I’m thrilled! And I’m a quilter and seeing the old quilts lightened my heart. Thank you for the Willard’s and you being you. You bring a light to the world that is needed.
Beautiful post, Susan! Merry Christmas & Happy New year to you & yours.
Susan, how in the world do you find the time to write such a fabulous blog?!!! I loved the pictures of your sweet family, the beautiful dinner, the years-old family dinner picture, and the romantic Christmas song your friend Ivan wrote. The song is perfect, the words and music. I wish him much success with it.
Merry Christmas to you and Joe!
I have been a fan for a long time, and just learned from this post that you once lived in Arroyo Grande – which is where I live now! We moved four years ago after living in Alaska for 20 years. What a lovely community, we feel so fortunate to spend our retirement years in such a beautiful place. I know the area where your property is – it looks lovely and I would guess you’ll have no problem finding a buyer.
Your train trip sounds fun – enjoy that and your time in CA. Maybe I’ll see you around!
p.s. making your cheesecake recipe today for our New Year celebration, it’s been a family favorite for decades
Happy New Year Susan and Joe!! Praying it’s happy and healthy!
I commented on this lovely post earlier today, but I just thought of a precious little Tea book you did some years ago. I have seen pictures of it but have never been able to buy one. Will you be doing another tiny book in the near future. I have four granddaughters who would LOVE to have a tiny book to guide them as they often have tea parties. Hope you will consider it even though you have a “thousand projects on your plate.”
Happy New Year from SC!🥰
Happy New Year, Susan! God bless us, everyone!
I just adore you & everything you put out into the world! <3
Thanks for reminding us all how special life is especially during the holidays making memories (and remembering old ones) with those we hold dear.
Blessings!
What a gorgeous quilt!
Fantastic and inspiring post!
Oh my goodness, i adore you. I have had your calenders every year as long as i can remember. I love your books and recipes. My mom loved you so much too. She past away years back but her treasured memories of you are mine too. I would treasure the beautiful quilt if i were lucky enough to win it. It would be like a million dollar lottery to me. I havnt really won anyhing before though. Oh i did win a cake walk in grade school. I was so thrilled to go home with a whole entire cake. So exciting! Thank you for your beautiful art and the joy and happiness you bring everyone. You are so loved! Especially by me!
💖💖💖
Wishing you a New Year filled with dreams come true!
What a beautiful quilt! Happy New Year to you & yours 💕
Happy New Year! Was introduced to your art and Instagram by my boyfriend’s mama and have been uplifted and inspired by you. Appreciate reading your posts and am sending you big hugs this new year! If I win the quilt, it’s a gift for her for turning me on to ya!!
I begin this brand new year with you and Joe and Jack, Dear Friend! Here’s to a Fabulous new year. And sweet birdies are visiting me at the feeder, squirrels are hopeful, the trains are whistling through town… and soon buns will Be baking in the oven! My best to you! Thank you so much for your chipper, brave self. Ps Me too w the anxiety thing. Yes! We make our pledge to search for beauty and peace. 😘
I would love to win the quilt. Happy New Year! I love all things Susan Branch. I just hung my 2024 Susan Branch calendar up this morning. Love ❤️ it! Wishing you a healthy & happy 2024.
Susan, your Facebook post reminded me to sign up for your quilt giveaway. Happy New Year also means t that I start using my two year pocket calendar and my mini wall calendar. Hope your selling of the house is successful! Safe trip across the country.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Have always loved your work. ❤️
Hope your new year is filled with double the blessings you had in the last year! And may you grow in the love and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
I just love following you!! Years ago my sister intriloduced me to Susan Branch books and I instantly fell in love!! Wishing you all the best with the sale of your Cali home..just simply beautiful!! Thank you for including us in your delightful quilt giveaway! I love them!!
Happy New Year! And thank you for sharing your world with us. Your drawings and thoughts make me feel happy and calm, and are a much needed tonic in the crazy world! Hoping we all have a fantastic 2024!
So festive and full of wonderful things and ideas! Happy New Year