Feeling pretty miserable! (Bet you never thought you’d hear me say that!!) Guilty too, because I KNOW, and commiserate with every terrifying thing going on in the world 😥, and YET, I’m commiserating with me too, for my own infinitely less important problems 😧 … moving, getting rid of things, going through stuff and saying Ohhhhh, I have to keep THAT. How do people DO this????? It’s like killing history! Okay, I’m sorry. I’m going to keep it short. The next time you hear from me, it’ll be from Martha’s Vineyard! Twighlight zone! The realtors come at 10am, I need to get going, we leave on Saturday. Oy. Don’t worry, you know there’s always a bright side ~ you’ll find it lurking somewhere down there ⬇️ … MUSICA
Yeah, you try it sometime.😜 So much different when it’s YOU that’s doing it!🤯
Bleak. Not neat, not organized. Doesn’t particularly smell good, definitely wouldn’t taste good, doesn’t feel good either. It is the antithesis of all the things we love. And yet, it’s human. And it’s the job at hand. We have to DO something with this stuff. 
We have trash bags filled with no-longer-needed files. It’s hard at first, but after doing this for a couple of hours, you get so cavalier. Barely even open some files. Just tossing things around like they aren’t the bank you once put your dreams into! Well, most of them aren’t, they are junk, why did I ever keep them so long? These are the questions.
Then I find something like this, written years ago, and think, No. And it goes in the save pile. And I start wondering how many of these went out with the cavalier stuff?😲 Too late now!
It’s Boxland. If you were a box lover, we would be your Disneyland. They are everywhere, and yet, I need more!
Look at this, acid-free boxes filled with original art, from the beginning of time . . . calendars, fabric art, dishes art, old hand-written Willards from the 90s, miscellaneous scanned art . . 
And every book I’ve ever written, all the original pages of Heart of the Home in one box, all of The Summer Book in another, and so 
on, and so on. Twenty-seven boxes of book, calendar and misc. art. Guess how much they weigh? A million pounds. Despite the fact that we leave on Saturday, we STILL haven’t decided how to get these things back to the island. Aren’t decisions fun? I especially like the ones where no matter what you do, it could turn out terrible, and still cost an arm and a leg. If you ask me, it’s anti-fairytale-girl. There are RULES around here!
Oh yes, all kinds of (really nice, hardworking) guys coming to the house, to check out the septic system (dig up yard, kill half 
the alstroemeria living there ~ oh yeah, we’re leaving, stop crying over alstroemeria) . . . Reports on the septic system, reports from the guys checking wells, report from the termite guy, and from the one with the clipboard, looking under the house, into electrical panels, doing a complete home inspection. The good news is we found out it would only cost a mere $100,000 to make this house perfect if we decided to stay. We still have time, the realtors don’t come until 10. Haven’t signed anything yet. Arguhhhh. Train leaves on Saturday.
So I’m in the house, wistfully waiting for the tea water to boil while looking out the kitchen window at the green pastures and tall hedges ~ feeling a bit sad as I take my tea back to work, going through files, weeding out, deciding, organizing, throwing huge barrels of stuff away … days of this. My sister Shelly comes and helps me, so that happens with lots of stories and laughter. I’m doing GOOD, I think. Productive. Getting stuff done. And then, last night, for the first time in two weeks, I go out to the goat barn to check on what Joe’s been doing …
And what do I find?
He’s been decorating. He’s been out there, all cozy, day after day, making a little antique store. Yes. I know, how darling. But we leave on Saturday.🙄 The realtors are coming today… Everything we are taking home, all the boxes of art etc, have to be packed up because we leave (on Saturday), and the moving van has to come get them. None of the stuff in the goat barn is going back to the Island BECAUSE we have a guy JOE HIRED who is coming after we’re gone to take all this stuff ⬆️ out of the house, barn, and garage, and wherever and DISPOSE OF IT. All Joe and I need to pay attention to is the stuff we want to take with us. For instance his file cabinets, which he has not touched yet. See the situation? He is literally playing!!! I’m venting here, ignore me.😳
Been trying to include beauty-appreciation between the tossing and packing … and it’s definitely not hard this time of year in California. I mean, it’s gorgeous. So much light! Wildflowers on the hills and along roadsides…The air is clean and clear. And that’s part of the problem. It’s too nice. This ⬆️ is called ceanothus (California Lilac!), a plant so popular here you almost take it for granted. It’s so beautiful, so blue, and its fragrance is so pleasing, like very light grape candy. It’s often used as a ground cover, or like this one, a nice tall, shiny-leafed hedge. What a gift.
And an afternoon tea at Sheri’s produced my favorite photo ever taken of me (Thank you Carrie Weidert who was sitting behind me) … We were on Sheri’s front porch. There is a swing hanging from the roof, very low, just over the brick stairs that drop 
into the grass below which goes downhill quickly. I sat down … and LOOK, like I did 👀, at the BEAUTY, … I walked back, and kicked off, and up I went, a moment frozen in time for me. I really couldn’t believe it. Sheri lives up on the hill behind us, so that’s our green valley, and how gorgeous it is. This is why my problems mean nothing, despite how they are keeping me awake at night.
Fragrant, pale-pink jasmine vines climb all over this house . . .
It’s just coming into bloom now. I think if we went away and let this house just sit here, it wouldn’t be long before it was covered in jasmine like Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.
Ceanothus and pink roses look very good together! I always seem to have time to go out and pick flowers …
And I’ve been able to paint new art . . . So that’s like dreaming while wide-awake. More like the fairytale-girl business I’ve been spoiled by.💖
And I found art I did in the 1980s which has barely seen the light of day. You know I love linens … I bought that flowered pillow, and the blue and white striped linen pillow under it, on my first trip to New York back in the 70s! They finally wore out and had to go. But here they are again!!! I’m kinda like the Norman Rockwell of everything I’ve ever owned. From bowls to shoes to quilts and everything in-between.
And of course, we’ve taken some beach time, smell-of-the-sea, coastal breezes, umbrellas, and cappuccino martinis, with my bestie Diane …our troubles completely disappear in the sound of the ocean.
And when I can’t do it, I look at the wall, and there I am . . . in my dreams.
And my Bo-Bo Joe. (What? Me worry?)
Took a sunset-selfie of my reflection in the restaurant window.
Joe and I went on a long walk along the shore after dinner . . . went home and completely forgot to set the clocks back, and didn’t find out until 2 pm, I mean 3 pm, the next day. What a loss! It was almost past my nap time!
And I took this photo of the sky (with my iPhone) in our driveway when we got home. Look at the stars! 
Guess what I heard this morning? VERY cheerful news! First off, have you read A Gentleman in Moscow? It’s the closest thing to a perfect book I’ve ever read. It’s so good, go read it if you haven’t, I know you’ll love it too.💖 It’s by Amor Towles, and guess what? They made a mini-series of it! Debuting on March 29th on “Paramount”, which is probably the ONLY streamer we still don’t have.🙄 It’s starring Ewan McGregor (he’s been in lots of things, but also Miss Potter ~ 👍) … I can’t wait!👏👏👏
It’s been helpful for me to be reading my Gratitude book. Have you ever seen this? I always forget to talk about it! But it’s a wonderful reminder, to be grateful, even for the loss. It’s been an honor to be the caretaker of this beautiful land for 23 years . . . I have tons of pictures of it, and I’ll never forget.💖 So, off we go! Time’s up! And don’t forget, despite the difficult moments, we are really so LUCKY . . .💖
Bye for now dearest ones . . . see you on the other side. Until then don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers!❌⭕️❌⭕️
A Gentleman In Moscow. I loved it so much I read it twice. I have been to Moscow several times and I always remember the granduer of the city. I miss visiting that old city but this is not the time to return. I have a beautiful Balalaika I bought there and have tried desperately to learn to play it-but I am totally tone deaf and I just display it now.
Treese/Colorado Cowgirl
Oh Susan! I’ve done all this…. it is so, so, so, so hard. I kept things through my life like you have, and then the time comes to move and how do you part with part of your life? Just make it to that train on Saturday and it will feel so good, rock across America and just relax with no more hard decisions to make…..except what to order for dinner…..sending love.
Bless your big heart Susan. I am sure this change has been difficult for you. Keep your chin up!
Wow – it’s getting down to the wire! I know it has to be so bittersweet leaving your California cottage behind. Enjoy the train ride home and Spring on the East Coast. Journey’s mercies 🙂
We’re married to the same man. My husband is spinning his wheels during our downsizing, too.
I hate that you have to leave your alstroemerias behind! That are dearly loved in my garden, too. I pray you have enough time to do all that needs your attention. Just take deep breaths and give yourselves grace and each other. It will be okay…
Oh where to begin…You are just the most darlingest. I felt all your emotions. And you put every Itty bitty feeling into words we can wrap our arms & minds around & tuck them into our hearts. It truly is such a heart wrenching thing to go through all the history & memories & know we can’t hold on to each piece. And now we can store up some of yours in our hearts.
I’m just now going through a foot locker & boxes upon boxes of letters. It’s been over 5 years since I promised my Mama I’d burn them all. And I will. But these are history that go back to the early 1950s. The years Daddy was in Korea & Japan & Jump School & 2 Tours in Nam. Every single day they wrote to each other. In essence these are diaries. The tiny details of daily living. Plus…the letters my sister & I wrote to Daddy. In 1966 I was 12 & wrote to tell him to guess who won Miss Universe…it was Sweden and I’d send him her picture but Mommy says he’ll know what she looks like because she wrapped his food in that paper. And that teenagers were stealing people’s cremated ashes and throwing them around. That’s called vandalism. And just in case he didn’t know what cremains were I went o. To tell him. And the letter in 1968 where Mama tells him about the boy I was in love with and the latest drama with that. Spoiler Alert its the Hubs of 53 years, Jesse. I’ll read every letter. I’ll honor her wishes & burn the spicier ones…don’t worry I skim those…
So as odd & kooky as it sounds Dearest Sweet Sue…this was just what my heart needed to hear. As I sit here in my pink polky dotted Minnie Mouse long tee and lace edged pj bottoms.
Those pics were perfection. Especially you on the swing overlooking the valley…Joe with his sassy self…You n Your Bestie.
Safe Journey…Sending oodles of Love 💕 as always I’m full of oopsie typos
I laughed out loud reading this Willard. I understand your distress. I have moved and downsized a few times. And I still manage to keep and collect more stuff.
This month I really cleaned out what I really, really do not need. I gave 3 boxes of collectibles, pitchers, mugs, goodies to the Knights of Columbus spring sale. Since January I have been deleting clothes and bringing to our Salvation Army center every few weeks.
I promise you that you will feel so good after you are done.
I LOVE that picture of the girl painting. Could it be a print you can sell?
Enjoy your last few days. Breathe it all in. Keep the pictures in your mind. Take a deep breath. Here’s a kiss. 😘
It’s probably too late to mention this, but when I had to downsize, I kept my phone with me and took pictures of things I loved but that I knew I needed to let go of, but wanted a visual of forever. It helps. Good luck with it all! You’ll feel so happy when you’re done. 💪🤞
The pink jasmine climbing and taking over the house sounds wonderful! Fairy 🧚 tale dreams
Do come true! And one door closes and another one opens. I do know the heartbreak 💔 of moving from a place and people you
Love. 💕 hang in there! 😥 all will be well!
Dear Susan, there is no other way around the BITTERSWEETNESS of moving than straight through it. It looks and sounds like you have focused on the SWEET, as you always teach the rest of us to do! Best of luck during this “full-court press” of a week. You’ll get it done and when you leave, your heart will be overflowing with beautiful memories stored perfectly there. Big hugs! xoxo
Susan, I am also selling a very precious beach home that I’ve had for only 12 years, but very much loved. I have many pictures to remind me of the blessings of having enjoyed its beauty and comfort for those years. I hope it brings joy to its next owner. Your California paradise will serve someone else as beautifully as it did you – Thank you, God Bless.
It is beyond me how you have time to put out a Willard with all that you are having to deal with regarding this HUGE move!
And, you also paint your wonderful pictures to go with the dialogue.
Truly amazing!
Have a safe, good trip back to the island.
Wow you have been a busy Gal! It is bitter sweet to go through things that you know you can’t keep but the memories are still there. Leaving a home that you have created with love and memories is never easy either so you are taking a double whammy.
I do have an answer to your storage problem…… drum roll please…..
The Susan Branch Museum and Gardens !!!
Seriously it would be the perfect place to share all your wonderful art work, books, recipes, notes and letters with the world and let me tell you we would LOVE it!! Just give a thought 🙂
Wishing you and Joe safe travels home to your sweet kitty
Oh, how I can relate to your emotional turmoil and feelings of being overwhelmed. I’m living it, too. Sending love.
Oh, Susan! So hard to let go, I was crying for you until I got to Pollyanna, and thought about how that approach to life is THE most terrific thing! I saw that movie and then we had to find a (used) copy of the book. Now where could that be? My be-setting sin is diving into a book to avoid reality, and the best book I just finished was ‘A Gentleman in Moscow’, very very tempting to try to see Ewan ( Amazing) McGregor in that role! Dear Girl, I hope you and Joe make it home, and the big trucks bring all the zillion pounds of wonderful stuff in good shape afterwards. Hugs from Oregon, Suzette, being GLAD for you that you can choose to keep so many bits of history of your life!
Hello, Susan! Thanks for finding the time to write us a post. Hearing your frustration about packing makes you seem even more of a kindred spirit– haven’t we all been there? But you’ll get through it, and when it’s done, you’ll hardly notice the physical things have gone except in the buoyancy you feel. And when there’s an occasional pang for the random item you miss, you may be surprised (as I was) to find the pang of memory is sweeter than having the thing itself. Moving is not for the meek; you’re doing great!
Very glad to see you’re taking time to enjoy flowers and friends and spring on the coast. In just a few days, there will be the calm clackety-clack of the train, taking you back to spring in Martha’s Vineyard. I hope you’ll share those pictures with us, too.
Wishing you the very best in this latest chapter of your adventure.
P.S. I love Joe’s antique store.
It is one of the hardest tasks, this reviewing, sorting, tossing, saving … but as you say, it will end come Saturday. More to come on the other end, but that can be a little more leisurely. The kettle brings calm in the cup.😊 Sending calm and ease! Safe travels home!
Well, Sentimental Susan, you are in quite the pickle. I understand COMPLETELY how you’re feeling! But GF, you gotta be tough when it comes to letting go. Yes, there are a zillion memories linked to all the “things”, and they are all precious, but they’re from the past and you are moving forward. Right? You will always have your memories. Stuff is just stuff. Yes, you labored over all of it and in each thing there are pieces of you, but you will, and are, creating NEW stuff; NEW pieces of yourself. Let go of the old pieces. Create the new ones and revel in those. And we will join you. You can do this.
Praying for you! We have moved so many times and each time I think I need to reevaluate my life and how I live! Praying you have peace and the good kind of excitement during this move!
Oh, Susan, I feel your pain! I am at the beginning of my journey to downsize and then sell my lovely home (we built it) with pastures, privacy and gardens and even a small pond. Trading it all in for a small retirement home. I’ve already skimmed off some of the goodies from the top of the pile, meaning that I’ve given away some favorite possessions to dear friends, who I know will love and cherish them as much as I did. A set of beautiful antique Limoges dishes that have graced my cupboards for years, but also have not been used in a while, will now live in someone’s home where they’ll be used and hopefully loved for many more years. The list goes on from there, but I don’t need to elaborate because I know you understand. Wishing you the best in your journey. It’s a new chapter in life. ❤️❤️❤️🐶🐶
I understand your frustration over cleaning out the “clutter.” My husband and I have talked about downsizing the objects in our home so our only child (now a grown man) won’t have to clean out our home and garage when we are gone. It seems that every object is attached to a memory and it is so difficult to “let it go.” On the bright side, our son is giving us a trip to Martha’s Vineyard in April. This has been on my list of places to visit for years – now a delayed 50th wedding anniversary trip due to COVID. I’m sure I will have to purchase a souvenir while we are there – you know – so thus another object for him to dispose of when we are “gone.” Safe travels to you and Joe
Susan..what a surprise..a new Willard..Thank You from the bottom of my heart. I know you are overwhelmed & rightly so..but..looks like you have made a big dent in all the artistic stuff. I am certain it will all get taken care of..here & there.
Just breathe..take breaks & enjoy being back on your island.
You & I do not want reality..we need more & more pleasantries to make it thru these days + magic..I agree.
Have to ask ? Are you taking the studio kitties ? They are so sweet and beautiful
They belong to Alfredo, he just loaned them to us for the duration! xoxoxo
Oh Susan, This is a huge task…a collection of tasks…REAL HARD WORK. Thank you for sharing the REAL with us. I am sure I am not the only one cheering you on, praying, and sending lots of LOVE on this journey. Hugs!!!!
Oh dear! I’m crying from your description of how it’s been for you to go through everything and having to toss many things out. I know too well what that’s like. It’s even harder when you have to go through things left behind by a deceased loved one. You want to save everything they owned because it’s all you have left of them, but you can’t. That’s what I had to do last July. So many memories. Getting rid of things was like saying good-bye all over again. In the end, the most important thing we have is each other. Everything else is just stuff. So don’t stress. Be like Joe. Everything will be alright! 🙂
P.S. I love ‘Miss Potter’, and Ewan McGregor. Such a wonderful movie.
Oh Susan, I do know your discomfort– we moved from coast to coast and from NY to NC to retire — from big and too much space to a downsized cottage we remodeled to be our retirement cottage. The quick pain of sorting and leaving will subside and you will find some magic in “letting go” of many things you wondered if you should – – – yes, you should. I wish you peace with this venture, go home to that wonderful home, Jack, friends and the shore – – your life is still blooming there, enjoy every minute.
Just keep thinking of your beautiful home on Martha’s Vineyard…
Moved twice in 6 months once and I told my beau never again! I dreamt of boxes for a long time after!
Thinking of you and Joe!
Mary Helen
Hi Susan,
I’m getting sad seeing all your files and old artwork and thinking of them getting thrown out! As well as seeing the cozy spot Joe has made (while you’re packing like a madwoman in side the house..) Maybe you could just post something inviting local Girlfriends and art lovers to come and give your pieces a new home? It’s so hard to know what to do with so many lovely memories. Your place is a treasure, someone will be so lucky to have it. I’m glad you’re having dinner parties, lunches with friends, sister time, fairy tale painting time. Seems you’re both enjoying every minute. I have A Gentleman in Moscow on my bedside table right now, I’ve had so many recommendations for this book and now you’ve given me yet another incentive to dive in! Thank you for Willard, good luck with the never fun job of packing, and have safe travels!
You are strong. I don’t think I could do what you’re doing. The contents of Joe’s barn woud be so hard for me to get rid of. Glad you’re both coming back to Martha’s Vinyard. Hugs, and God bless you!
It all looks so familiar! 🤣🤣🤣
😝
20 times since age 22!!
And yet there’s more we said while cleaning out Mom’s house 🏡. Sort of like moving too…
Bless you and Joe,
OXOX
Margot B
Bittersweet!
Dear, dear Susan (and Joe), you’re doing hard, necessary work, and you inspire me to do the same. But oh! Just looking at the pictures of all that remains to be done makes me tired. How very like you to take the time to pick bouquets, swing a little swing, breathe deeply of the salty sea air, gaze at the stars, count your blessings, and continue to love each other well. Be well…the finish line is in sight! 💗💕💗
I just don’t know what I can say but thank you for sharing what must have been the highest and possibly the lowest of feelings. As we enter this age it is reality, for us. It was fun for us to have you, even briefly, on PST.
Safe travels, next adventure happiness, but always to our friends, gratitude.
The original Diane?💜
The very one!!! xoxo
Dear Susan,
You will get everything done by the time you have to hop on the train back home. In 2006, when my Dad died [97 yrs. old] my sister and I had to clean out the home that he and my mom had shared for some 40 years until her death in 2004.
It took us a week, working non-stop…to sort, donate and toss, [did we need to save tax returns from 1933 to 2006?! For 2 days we laughed and cried over memories and “things”…each with our own view of our lives in that house. [We moved to California from Virginia in the early 60s. I had just graduated from high school that year.] Around day 4 we realized we needed to get moving as the house needed to be put on the market immediately, and everything needed to find a home with us or elsewhere. When we finished at the end of the week, we were exhausted, the dumpster was full, and we still had our memories. [As a side note, the people who bought the house, razed it except for the fireplace/chimney in the living room. What they built in its place looks nothing like the original. But I can still close my eyes and see my mom’s garden, my wedding reception and remember all of the fun times we had there. Enjoy your trip back to the Island.
Even when it’s logical to make changes and it really is time to let go of a place and things, it’s so terribly hard. Leaving the people behind is hardest part of all. Fear of letting go of things is fear of forgetting time and place. Without physical placeholders, time passes, dims what we did with all of the hours – what have we to show for our years of life? It’s all in the archives and there are plenty. We can’t reasonably expect to remember every little bit of our lives, but I am guessing that Joe will fondly remember the day he spent time arranging old things just so as he said goodbye to a time and space in California that he wants to fondly remember for years to come. We need to make room for the future and all there is to look forward to with each new day. You’ve made space for all of the new to come and I hope you’ll be so pleased once you are home again, rested and you’ve had a chance to talk things over with Jack.
Oh, Susan…I’m crying right along with you. How hard it is to let go of something so loved. I’m about to start to purging 90% of everything I’ve collected (hoarded) over the past 50+ years. I’ve lived in only 3 houses in my lifetime. My childhood home (we moved when I was 12), the home I’d lived in most of my adult life & my current home, where I’ve lived for the past 14 years. I’ve carried & saved so much from all of my past homes. Most of the stuff is stored in floor to ceiling boxes along with no longer used furniture in my 2 car garage. The thought of starting to go through & having to part with everything is giving me panic attacks. Just knowing that these treasures (to me) are close at hand has brought me so much comfort after the loss of all of the elders in my life. Everything holds so much meaning. Intellectually, I know the purge will be freeing, but I dread having go through it & the thought of leaving this home that I love so much is just gutting me. Thank you for this post. Comforting to know that I’m not the only one dealing with this life transition. Sending so much love & healing to you & Joe. xo
Dear Susan, If I were you I would take those two kitties home with me. Three kitties would take your mind off of sad things. Go cry in the shower, take a deep breath of the wonderful flowers and carry on. You can do it! Feeling for you. Home is not far off. Hang in there. Debby
Hi Susan – “walking” with you as you go through your cherished belongings reminds me when I was going thru my children’s school work since they were in preschool – they are now in their late 30’s/early 40’s. They told me to just take a picture of their work and then throw them away. I had trouble throwing them away as their children attended the same preschool and did some of the same projects so it was fun to see their reaction when “mom” told them they did the same thing.
I would love it if you would think of all us girlfriends as your children who you want to pass your treasures onto. I am sure I can speak for all us girlfriends that we would like a part of your journey to you success. My cousin agrees with me too that possibly you can advertise in your shopping section some things you are parting with and make them available for sale.
I am an elementary school librarian and love to accent my walls with inspiration. I remember you saying every elementary school should have a copy of your Distilled Genius quote book.
I have a copy 😉
Would love to “purchase” your inspirations that brought us to you and continue to follow you as you enrich our lives through your greatness.
Thank you, Kathy
Such a lovely evening at the Spyglass! Thought later of all the things I wish I could have said like thank you for inspiring me and writing things that make me happy! So appreciate Joe and how he took photos and wrote down names on the last book tour. Happy Trails back to Martha’s Vineyard!
Awwww… xoxoxoxo
Oh Susan!
I am not moving, but do need to spend the next few months doing this same stuff…. My only child lives in Denmark, and I need to not burden her with all this when I’m Gone… not that I’m planning on leaving anytime soon, but you never know, do you?
I’ve lived in this house over 30 years now and it’s just full of my memories, and my mother’s memories… and it’s so hard to get rid of ANYTHING!
I treasure the past and the writings of the past and the artwork! I am so grateful to you for writing this post… knowing YOU did it gives me courage!
I wish for you a pleasant trip back home and a safe one. I’ll be thinking of you! ❤️Marsha
Reading your words, sad words about leaving your beautiful California home, took me back to when I put my home of 20 years up for sale. This was so hard – my children grew up here, climbed that tree, swung on that swing. But my elderly aunt gave me some words of comfort that you already know – She told me that I will forever be able to close my eyes and walk through that house and through my oak and pine covered property and not be sad, because I was happy there.
Hope all works out smoothly for you, Sue xoxo
Hi Susan, Oh dear, I feel for you….So much still to do, so little time, till it’s SATURDAY…I am envious too, just looking at those gorgeous paintings in the goat barn…I’d be happy to hang one in our house haha… Gorgeous yasmine too, I’ve never seen a pink one…. You have lots to do still, before SATURDAY…So I’ll love you and leave you, with lots of good luck wishes….
BYEEEEE OXOXO
Lots of love from Nicoline
Oh my goodness! This brought back so many memories! We moved from California to Nevada in August 2022 and I totally understand everything you were talking about! With that said, the move was the right thing for us and I feel blessed that I had the courage to make such a big change (I’d lived in our area in California my whole life). You will survive this and you will have beautiful memories!
What a beautiful post to highlight impermanence and to feel gratitude at the same time. Your gifts of art, the written word and your philosophy of living will keep California close to you. Thank you for sharing this part of your journey! Safe travels to you and Joe. With love, Linda from NH (but visiting my daughter, son in law and beautiful baby grandson in the UK 🇬🇧 right now ❤️)
Thinking of you and wishing you a joyful journey back to Martha’s Vineyard and may all that is happening right now go as smoothly as possible …totally understand your feelings and heaps of things you simply cannot throw away! I had the same when I moved to the UK from Canada ..what to take, what to leave…I gave so much away but it made me feel happy because I knew someone else will love it. Stay cozy dear Susan. ♥️
So difficult to know what is going and which will stay with you when moving!
I did it it in december 2021 and sometimes wondering where things are or surprised by what stayed with me.
Have a save journey home and stay save.
Lots of love
Thank you Susan for EVERYTHING!!!! INCLUDING the INSPIRATION to START CLEANING OUT NOW!!! I too have a boatload of Art work, frames,etc,etc…Ive spent a LIFETIME COLLECTING…NOW I’ll spend the rest of my time, getting rid of and organizing! Note to self….I’ll spend the rest of MY DAYS.TEA-ing & Reading your Williards, Walks & Singing & Playing Guitar. SAFE TRAVELS AND SEE YOU ON THE Flip SIDE! C*
Hi Susan,
What a mammoth task you have, sorting through things is extremely draining. Hang in there & keep focusing on all the positive & beautiful things….you can do it & then, come Saturday, you can sit back & enjoy the soothing rhythm of the train ride back East. 🚂💖
Dear Susan, I found myself reliving the stress of two cross-country moves as I read this. I was overwhelmed by all the decisions to be made: what to keep, what to toss, etc. For our last move, we drove from California to upstate New York with all our worldly possessions and a very angry cat in a Penske rental truck. My cat never forgave me for that journey. Now we can look back and laugh, and, oh, how we love our farm! Hang in there please, and enjoy the journey back home. Warmest regards, Peggy
Your books have brought such light and joy into my life so I just wanted to stop by and say ‘this too shall pass’ and, to quote Julian of Norwich – ‘all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.’ Sending love and deep breaths all the way from England. X
Dear Susan
I am SO Very Sorry that you are going through this Very difficult time. Please know that all of us Love and Adore you Very Very Much and we Care Deeply about you and all you are going through. I will be praying for you often. I will be SO glad when all this is over and you are on the train relaxing and healing. We all wish you all the Best every day.
Much Love
Lillian
As I sit here in this old house we’ve been privileged to live in for 56 years I think too of the letting go period of our live that we are in. I like you love all things old like linens when I touch one I feel deeply connected to the person who with their hands and fingers turned a plain cloth into something beautiful. I have years of gratitude journals on a shelf in my closet or in boxes on the floor…..what will become of them? Then there is the gardens we’ve created. We have a very old carriage barn which I’ve renamed Our Treasure Barn for within the walls is everything and I do mean everything we treasure. It just isn’t easy we just have to make decisions and do it. We are not alone in these years of letting go but oh there is so much we hold in our hopeful hearts. There are many moments of joy in our everyday life right now. Bless you and Joe on your journey back to your other happy island place.
Thank you, Susan, for sharing this part of your journey with us. My husband and I are going through something similar – a dear friend who had no family died recently and we have the task and honor of going through her worldly belongings. And she kept Everything. Scrapbook from 5th grade? Check. Handmade Christening gown from 1940? Check. Boxes and boxes of photos and journals and So Much More. It’s overwhelming but we can’t just toss it all without looking because this is her Life. As always, though, your musings remind me to take time to enjoy my life, even in the midst of the mess.
Dear, dear Susan – thank you for thinking of us in the midst of all your chaos. The picture of you on the swing is absolutely the epitome of how I think of you….a genuine heart appreciating her world. You find the muchness in every day. Your description of Joe decluttering the goat barn had me giggling. Obviously he is not feeling the same level of stress. We should all take a page from his book. Shine on!
A Gentleman in Moscow has to be one of my favorite books ( after yours of course). I’m so excited that it is being made into a miniseries. We are going to have to subscribe to Paramount.
Good luck with the sale of your California home. We had to do this when we sold our family home and moved to our Lake house. I had to downsize BIG time of things I loved but didn’t have room for in our new home that has no basement and no attic!😩 As you said, once you start it gets easier. I do have my memories of our old home and are making new ones in our retirement home of our dreams on the Lake where my husband and I met 60 or so years ago.
Have a great trip home to your charming home on Martha’s Vineyard.Enjoy your old memories and your new ones. Safe travels,
Sandy
I feel your pain Susan: I’m on my third house clean out in as many years. You’re doing the right thing. Do it while you have the energy (okay, some energy) because it doesn’t get any easier. I’m sure the Girlfriends would LOVE to buy your artwork so take pictures, put it in storage and post on your website and I guarantee that storage unit will be empty in a month😉
I love Susan. You’re inspiration for me
Darling girl, I have felt your pain and done that unenviable job. I’d lived in my home 30 some odd years and was going to move home to be with my mom. New house waiting for us. Thought I would be there in a few months-HA! I had the same folks in and out, inspectors and such. One of them bought my house-if I could be out in 30 days of close. Yikes and yea! 30 seems be a theme here. But with the help of friends I did it. And as I look back better for it. Decision had to be made right then. None of my beloved lollygaging about. Not a regret after all this time. But some wonderful memories and yes, my Wisconsin friends are still my friends. Love to you and I’m knowing you’ll reach your goals💞. I cherish every visit to your wonderful world. Mine in Arkansas is pretty special too🥰Annette
This is why I down sized, because it’s not fair to loved ones to have to get rid of our things after we have passed.
Thinking all of the best thoughts for you all in your move! All the sorting and digging and boxing leads to such amazing memories and such difficult decisions. And it will all work beautifully, once you get through the mess. Looking forward to the calm and the smell of the Atlantic!
Oh Susan! You are making such progress and being sooo productive. Many of us are facing similar times, downsizing, taking care of parent’s estates, etc. It is all part of the flow of life I guess. I heard we spend the first 2/3 of our lives acquiring “stuff” and the last 1/3 of our lives getting rid of it. Truth.
Deep breath in, deep breath out. Repeat.
All will be well Susan. Thinking of you and Joe. I truly understand and can relate to the complexity of your emotions. Letting go of so many things doesn’t mean letting go of the memories. Hold them close to your hearts and remember to BREATHE. All will be well. ❤️
I feel your anxiety but you and Joe will come through this just fine.
Moving is bittersweet, isn’t it? Each room is filled with memories. After living in the same house for 23 years my family and I moved three states away. It has been an adventure! Letting go of what I thought my future would look like has been a challenge, but a good one. Stay strong, give yourself a little grace, and take time to feel all the feelings. Never forget that you are not alone, and all of us are wishing you all the best. You have an army of girlfriends, just an email away!
Loving your positive, grateful spirit Susan!
All that lovely art. I hope someone is working to sell what you don’t keep. It would be a good job for someone. Seeing your leaving a land and area and preserving the memories, it seems to touch a cord with so many. You could write a bout about that too.
Thanks for taking us along.
Beautiful photos, beautiful memories! So hard to say goodbye…. Wishing you the best.
I can’t believe you found time to write a Willard! I SO understand your situation. Moving is one of the hardest things we’ll ever do. As I my late husband said, you have to handle every single item you own, TWICE! And you have so much more than most of us, with all your art, writings, collectibles, etc. So much beauty, it would be impossible to throw anything away.
It will get done one way or another and you can look back on the process and write a new chapter! When you get back home, spring will be right around the corner. You done good, girlfriend!
Susan! I once lived in a 100+ year old 4-square farmhouse in southwest Minnesota….waaaaay back off the road, with a winding lane and the Des Moines River timber as my back yard. It was the first “Smiling Dog Farm”. Everything about that house and place became a part of me. I cried and cried when I had to leave it. I still get teary upon the thought of it. So many precious memories…. of re-doing that old house and making it perfectly mine, the kids growing up there, all the dogs and cats that came to live with us, the family holidays, the adventures….. and then the packing up of so many years and moving away – forever. So, do I understand the anguish you’re experiencing? Indeed, I do. Hear this: It will find a place in your heart and soul to reside and will become so special. But, for now, it’s awful and frustrating and painful! I wish I were there to help! My darling Mother would be blessing your heart like crazy. But as you know, this too will pass. And even though we are in one of the worst times in the history of this country, I believe all of us good people will rise up and protect her and the efforts to hurt her will also pass. As we used to say in the 1960s – KEEP THE FAITH, BABY!! Best to you, Susan – Sending love!
Love you Davi, I hear every word.❌⭕️❌⭕️
Back atcha…. we are WARRIORS! Sending love!
Davi,
You are cool! Much wisdom and solace in you words!
Kim – I shall claim your words! Who knew I’d be considered “cool” at 75 years of age! But I do believe I’ve been granted some wisdom through all my silly mistakes and wonderful successes! Best to you!
Since i found you on the Internet, i have loved your blog ever since and read older posts. Creative and poignant and fun i could give you a long list of things i love to read in your blog. I live in Cheshire UK. I realised how much you love the UK and our traditions. I didn’t know you had a studio in Calafornia, i am sure you’ll miss it so much, but lovely memories. I love where you live now and presume you are staying put. Its beautiful. Loved your UK blog on your last visit to the UK. Also you loving Beatrix Potter too. Looking forward to your next one. I am Pauline and thanks for your blog it makes me very happy and content. xxx
Happy you like it Pauline! If you look on Amazon you’ll find my book A Fine Romance, Falling in Love with the English Countryside … it’s a diary of one of our trips through England, hand written, watercolored, and filled with photos. I think you will love it! ❌⭕️
Dear Susan… it’s been a while…but I have been following your escapades. Totally understand the moving/selling/cleaning out routine and the anxiety it brings. Not sure how you are navigating all of this as it took me over three years to clean out out basement before our journey to Florida. Starting out neatly dividing precious belongings into groups; Salvation Army, Goodwill, ask kids if they want this pile ( haha!), and throw away… and ended up with a junk person coming with his beat up old white pickup to cart everything off as I stood in the driveway bawling my eyes out. My mom, maybe one of the wisest people I know, was with me in spirit whispering in my ear: “ don’t cry… smile because it happened”.
Know you’ll carry these wonderful memories in your heart forever… all the best
Love, Cindy
PS… my husband was a “ decorator “ too….
Oh Susan – combo of “Thanks for sharing. hang in there, and ESPECIALLY thanks for the reminder of gratitude”. And ha, Daylight Savings Time thrown into the mix! Hugs, see you on the other side…
A Gentleman in Moscow!!!!! One of my top 10 favorite books!! It is rich, and delicious and full of surprise! All I could think of after I read it was Latvian Stew (anyone who has read it knows what I am talking about). So I Googled it and to my astonishment, the first thing that came up was the VERY recipe Amor Towles had in mind when he wrote the book. There was an article on Epicurious. (Don’t know if it’s ok to provide a link so I won’t. I’ll just give all the info to find it.) Now that recipe is amongst our top 10 recipes!! Oh, please try it if you haven’t Susan!! I did copy out the recipe, but every time I make it, I purposely read the article and recipe on the internet so I can hear Amor Towles again. I can’t wait to see the series. I hope it is possible to do that wonderful book the justice it deserves. Hope your trip home is peaceful and mainly uneventful. You will pass through my little town on the train. Probably you will be sound asleep. Hopefully I will be too. God be with you!
I found the recipe too! I haven’t tried it, but now I definitely will! Me too, praying they do it justice. It was so rich.😘😘😘😘
The winds of change: the bigger the change, the stronger the buffeting. It’s not fun. In 2020 my husband, son, and I moved to another state after staying put for 24 years. Such work, and the nostalgia didn’t help.
It’s tough, but you’re tougher! And when it’s done, you’ll feel relief (instant weight loss!) and I hope some well-deserved pride for accomplishing a huge job
Good luck! I believe in you!
I have no doubt you are right… can’t wait to go east, but then, try not to look at the 36 years of THAT!! 😜🤣🤣🤣
Gentleman in Moscow was such a great story; looking forward to seeing the mini-series. All the best in your move.
💖💖💖💖💖🥰
I feel for you, Susan. I too have difficulty parting with old stuff. It’s like letting go of a part of my life (like those old toys that remind me of my kid’s childhood… I don’t want to let them go because it’s like accepting that that time is over and I don’t want it to be over). So I hoard. But I have to learn and be bold as you’ve been! People say that you feel lighter once you’ve sorted those things from the past and accepted to say goodbye.
I wish you a safe trip back home. You’ve walked down memory lane. You bring the most meaninful stuff with you and tonz of memories old and new. Thank you for sharing those moments with us.
We are packing up
Our beautiful FL home right now too.
15 years of beach combing and Sailors Valentine building and
Sunset watching and cold Rose on the beach. Beautiful Hibiscus and palm trees and lots and lots of shells. How lucky were we to have this time and share it with our family and friends?
We close on Friday and fly back to MN on Saturday.
I understand what you are feeling because I am feeling it too.
🥹❌⭕️❌⭕️ I love how you write about it Mary Pat!💖
❤️
I love the photo of you on the swing looking out over your valley!!!!
I am also trying to declutter, and it is so difficult….
I do have your Gratitude book and am grateful for it:). I write in a gratitude journal every day!!!!!
My heart is with you Susan. I know the overwhelming feeling you are experiencing .I don’t own a business but my husband and I emptied out 4 family homes in 18 month. It was overwhelming and it totally changed my mind about my own home. I started clearing out, donating and paring down. I’m no spring chicken and I just couldn’t hold on to all the stuff. The more I got rid of the more I could breath. Best wishes in what you’ll look back on as a job well done.
This post was so timely for me. I am 75 and have just started “Swedish Death Cleaning” (read The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson). When my sister died her children and I had a huge nightmare cleaning out her apartment.I vowed I would not leave my children in that position and have slowly but surely been going through one room at a time and doing the same sorting you are now in your California home. Parts of this process have been hard but parts have been so happy. None of my children were interested in my Overshot coverlet collection but a sweet niece was beside herself happy to take the whole lot. I’m still quilting but have more fabric than I will ever use so the boxes (and boxes!) of the fabric I can live without are gong to a local shop that will sell it and use the proceeds to support programs for seniors. I’m fortunate that I don’t have an immediate deadline (like you are facing!) so I’ll just keep plugging away.
LOL Swedish Death Cleaning!!!😜😂🤣😂🤣 That’s so funny! I think our immediate deadline is probably what is making it happen. We could lurk around the edges of this misery for EVER!!!😘
Oh! NOw I know where the phrase, Swedish Death Cleaning came from. Thanks, Katherine.
Debbie in sunny Tampa
Katherine,I was going to tell Susan about that book, but you beat me to it. I think it’s called Death Cleaning because (trying) to do it will be the death of you!
Ha ha ha ha! I agree!
I understand your struggle with STUFF! I am your age, same type of big old Maine house full of our life. I have so much loved stuff, lots from our 20 years in England.
Yesterday I made a start…. first carload to Goodwill.
It is tough, it hurts. Our daughters don’t want much of it.
Soldier on, Sue.
Good luck, Leslie From Maine
Soldier On Leslie… read all this and you’ll know you are NOT alone. It’s very helpful!!!!
I have moved cross country twice in the last 7 years and divested myself of so much stuff. It is so hard! And why are there never enough boxes? Maybe there needs to be a Susan Branch museum for all your lovely treasures?
The world goes round no matter how hard we try to jump off.So,hard to let go.You are so lucky to be able to return to beautiful Martha’s vineyard.Keep what makes you happy,a hundred years from now someone else will be living in our house,the things we love and collected will be scattered to the wind.Enjoy each day like it’s our last.What would we do if we knew just how much time we have left,as for me I will not worry about that,I will just let life happen and smell the roses!
Forgive me but as I read this I am laughing my head off!! I am a camp follower I of yours since day 1!Love you,Joe too) met you and hugged you. I have moved 4 times, 3 years/ one cross country, two in state, sold two houses, bought two both large homes and we packed ourselves, traveled 15000 miles 7 RTs carrying the real treasures letting movers move the rest) car accident, fell twice and looked like Rambo on one of them for weeks. I felt like I was moving with you again as I read what you have written) We sold the house of my dreams in Ogden Valley Utah, where we made my Peter Rabbit garden and my husband cut out 400+ pickets for the fence. 💕It is hard and I feel for you and Joe. It will get better! Right now I have boxes and boxes of things- I am sitting, when I can and enjoying the memories of the journey. Thank you for all the many years of joy your ideas and indpiration have given me. Still haven’t been able to part with all my (yours and Gladys Taber) cards, calendars, etc etc of yours…. Going to let sone else do that!!😂So grateful for everything. Have a great trip home and enjoy the next phase of your life! “The moon belongs to everyone….” 🤗🤗🌺🐝
When I read about other people’s fear of flying, I laugh till I cry! I so relate! There’s something so funny about common tortures we all go through. We are so alike! Even I think this is funny! Miserable thing! YOU made me laugh Glenda, and for that, Oh yes, I thank you! xoxoxo
Oh my goodness! Hang in there – you’re going to make it! Love Joe’s antique store😁😁😁. This too shall pass – or so I have been told! Best wishes for the days ahead 💕
This is just so sad, all that cleaning out and throwing away. You are wise and I know it has to be done but so difficult. Here I am in Los Osos just a few miles away and thinking about you.
Hello Susan, I can completely relate with what you are going through. I am trying (very hard to do) with downsizing my “Stash” of “Stuff” also! Everything you said in Willard it so true, hit the nail right on the head!! I try to do a little bit each day, if it is a box, a drawer, you know what I mean. But it takes F-O-R-E-V-E-R!! It is so difficult and don’t let anyone else tell you differently. Our daughter offers to help but she would just throw everything away. She is not a keeper of anything. Even with 2 small children, she doesn’t keep their sweet little things for memories. Makes me so sad! But it is the way of the new younger generation. Wishing you continued Good Luck with your journey through the past and look forward to the future. Hopefully you will feel lighter and will carry on with life and have a different outlook on what to keep and what not, pass it on to someone who would give whatever a new purpose and use. Safe Travels and much Love for your return to the Vineyard. Thinking of you! Hugs! XO Candice in Ohio.
I brought in my first daffodil of the season, put it on my window sill over our sink, and thought of you.
Perhaps you can think of this time as shedding layers, lighting up, and coming come ready for your New England Spring!!!
Happy travels back east!
I know some of your pain, Susan. We “downsized” from a wonderful house on the shore of Lake Ontqrio to a small house inland. Soooo hard to say goodbye to such a wonderful home and gardens!! Turning those feelings of loss into feelings of gratitude for the 26 years of terrific, unforgettable times at the lake has been a struggle, but gratitude won!! My wise daughter reminded me, “You don’t have to own (fill in the blank) to have the memories.” She lives in a tiny NYC apartment near SoHo shops filled with beautiful things which she doesn’t buy because she can visit them (during business hours, of course). Smile! Good luck dealing with all the wonderful archives and treasures you ship to MV. Where’s Marie Kondo when you need her? Happy Trails…uh, Rails!
Ooooo, I want to know more about your daughter, DonnaRay.
She sounds interesting!
Debbie in Tampa
Oh my! So glad you are pausing for flowers, friends and starry views.
Susan and Joe –
I would be driving back to MV directly in front of or behind that moving van, in order to protect all that precious art and misc.
Yikes.
You need to open up a Susan Brach Museum and show your artwork and textiles and other treasures! Seriously… I’d pay admission to see your art and so would many others. Sending hugs!
💖💖💖
That’s exactly what I have been thinking this whole time you’ve been in California. I would be first in line…with a million other of your ‘girlfriends’…..which is what we all consider ourselves. Safe travels and much love!
That’s what I was thinking too!
Oh, Susan, I totally understand. I moved from California…to Wisconsin! Packing up was so difficult. Making those “Do I take it with me? Or do I donate it?” decisions was awful. Nowadays they call it “editing”. My Mom would have called it “throwing out old stuff”. Either way, once you’re finished with the process you realize that, in the end, it’s just “stuff”. It doesn’t compare with the joy of recognizing the islands of good in the world around us.
Ahh, Susan! A new Willard! It’s so lovely there in California, but today it’s lovely in NC, too! The forsythia is blooming along with daffodils and everything is greening up.
Thank you for sharing your life and world with us. I can’t imagine what it’s like packing up 23 years……..we’ve been in our house for……37! How time flies. I love taking our Fairy Tale Girl and MVIOD and rereading them. They take me back to my college/early married days and make me feel young again.
Safe travels back home for you and Joe!
Thinking about you! Hoping it all gets done and when you get home you know that that is where you must be. But we in California will miss knowing that you are near from time to time. I suspect you will come back for a visit. Safe home!