Here’s Jack’s first morning home after our 10-day coast-to-coast trip, Martha’s Vineyard to the California … I had to give him “The Talk,” “I know you don’t feel like yourself, it’s normal, after all, you’ve just been taken away from everything you knew and loved. But you have to be patient with yourself. It will get better. It just takes a little time.”💞💞💞 MUSICA
Then I left him alone to do whatever he wanted to, because that’s actually how it works. . .
And went out to look at the roses and the sky …
Before it got crazy around here . . . then I ventured to the goat barn to see the array of boxes waiting for me! And that’s when it got crazy around here. I’ve been at it ever since.
I’ve always loved figuring out how to fit things into small spaces. I first discovered it as a challenge at Hollyoak, my first 
house, which many of you know from my books. It was a teeny tiny, adorable, one-bedroom cottage. I enjoyed making space from “no space” by finding it where it didn’t exist. So much fun! Made me feel victorious! Fighting city hall and winning! But I was only one person, and had a lot less stuff in those days. . . . And because we just moved from a 3,500 sq. ft. house on Martha’s Vineyard where we’d lived for 35 years, stuffing it to the gills, into an 
1,800 sq. ft. really-old double-wide in California (not small, perfect really, but now I have boxes of watercolors, an art table, file cabinets, and sooo many books ~ not to mention JOE!) I’ve been having all SORTS of fun!! Grrrrrr-ruh! (That’s the Grrrrr-ruh the Unsinkable Molly Brown gave while standing in the lifeboat (as the Titanic sinks behind her) freezing to death saying she ain’t down yet! Yes, that happy Grrrrrrrrr-RuH! I have secretly become Vickie Victorious!
For example, remember my pantry on the island? An ENTIRE room next to the kitchen, with its own backdoor and a screen door! Loved it. Total 1800s luxury, for the washer/dryer, an extra fridge, the ironing board, my tall shelf (on the left) that Carlton made for me at Holly Oak, and look at all the storage! You might think I am verklempt to the nth degree leaving that behind!
But NO! Look! Downsizing is fun! It challenges our creativity. So I made a pantry here! It has its own back door! It’s not quite done yet, but would you like a short tour?😅 (Short, get it? Ha!) 
You are standing at the door now (so don’t blink) ~ behind you is a tiny hall with 3 doors off it … one for the bathroom, one for each of the two bedrooms. The ironing board is behind the door on the left. I bought the rug of little houses on Newbury Street in Boston around 1983 for my kitchen at Holly Oak. Isn’t it perfect? Not quite . . .Still need to pound in a higher nail to get that old Martha’s Vineyard plate above the watercolor of the cover of my first book (which was never used, turned down because I didn’t make the title big enough! Living and learning!). I think a darker color curtain on the door would look better . . . There are two cupboards over the washer and dryer so, besides the iron, soap & laundry things, there’s room for my extra indoor plant pots.👏 Carlton’s wonderful pantry shelf is on the left above, (and in Holly Oak, below), giving us miles of storage space that we definitely need (I asked Carl to make it one-can-deep, so it could fit behind a door if necessary) ~ The folding wooden clothes-dryer you saw in the top pic leaning against the door fit perfectly in the little slot between the wall & the washing machine 👀 … And voila, our new little pantry is born! Vicky-Victorious!
Carlton’s shelf is now over 40 years old has now been used in 3 of my houses! He should patent it! It holds tons of cat food … all the oil and vinegar, soup and tea, cans of tuna, crushed pineapple, beans, tomato sauce, and extra cups we need ~ nothing “hidden” in the back, and fits behind a door! It’s a genius thing!
I love decorating, I feel like no matter where you live you can make it wonderful just with the things you love. I’ve been doing it all my life, even in my bedroom as a teenager, so I know it’s not about money! Especially if you shop at yard sales and antique malls. You can find wonderful deals there, and original things you love put a different stamp on every home. And don’t forget, there are so many things you can make yourself! Making a home is still my favorite thing to do . . 
. and here we are, I get to do it all over again! But this time it’s with things I’ve loved all my life. I do it all with a secret smile, because fall is coming.🍂 The fall stuff is at the ready, not out yet, but I’m feeling it here! Chilly morning today… thin fog shining behind the hedges and mimosa tree outside my “studio” window ~ all windows open and wearing a sweater. YUM.
New things I’m loving: The color green. Actually I knew it before I came and made sure to bring all the green things I love. Here’s the beginnings of my new studio. And 
green looks good with everything! Perfect for every season! The house likes orange and purple too, both excellent with green. But it ADORES black and white😺. And wood. Real wood. Old, if possible, with the patina of the old wooden spoons I love so much. We brought lots of it with us. The wooden spoon my dad made for me! We we also packed the 
dishes I thought would go with it. Nothing is done yet, when I take these pictures again, the details will all be different. Because I open the boxes one at a time, put things where I think they might go, and of course, change my mind later.
More details?
Yes! More details! But first, here’s photo that’s definitely worth a thousand words! We’re doing it! All the bubble wrap, kraft paper, cardboard, and creative wrapping bits that are still useable are folded in piles. Boxes will be flattened. This stuff is expensive! Somebody will need it! Okay, on to the fun part!
See what I mean by wood? Just little touches here, the hutch was big, but most of it is things likewooden bowls, and old trivets for hot-from-the-oven pies and casseroles? Baskets, in my eyes, just make things homey and warm. These shelves aren’t done either . . . I haven’t even opened all the boxes, we are very fluid here. Now I’ve made myself hungry. Need pie! Will settle for cookie.
Little bits of yellow and black in the kitchen… was going to be more green, but yellow is perfect with green, and we still have our avocado green sink and stove top …
Then, when I opened the box with the black check curtains that hung over my kitchen table on the island . . . I thought, ahhh black! Everything looks good with black! (This is Jack’s favorite perch so far, Lord of the Manor, overseer of all things great and small). Fog is gone! Sun is coming out! Note purple alstroemerias! Note my dad’s wooden spoon on wall, left of window.💝
I still got it!
But I don’t want you thinking that all Jack does is look at the view … he’s been a HUGE help … scrubbing out cupboards . . .
Arranging drawers …
. . . hanging up clothes, putting away shoes . . .
Not to mention all the unpacking and vacuuming! It’s been a lot to do . . . no wonder he’s pooped. But he, like me (and Vicky Victorious), wants it over with. To be settled, to spend as little time in this in-between state as humanly possible. We spent 4 months packing it, we would like to shorten the unpacking time! We want to FLY into the mystic!!! Unanchor ourselves!
His daily nap helps a lot.💤 MAS MUSICA? 💖
But look what you get! You open up a box wondering what you could have meant by “normal clothes . . .”
And it all makes sense when inside you find your old “Too Mean To Marry” t-shirt that you don’t even remember you packed.👏
Unpacking can be intriguing . . . seriously, why is a “rabbit head” in a paper cup? What Rabbit Head? And then you find out and it’s like a box of chocolates! (You never know what you’re going to get.) And sometimes it’s like Christmas, all seemingly new, falling in love with your stuff all over again!
Things you couldn’t live without. This lamp that went with me to Holly Oak in 1982 was my first grown-up lamp. Couldn’t leave that behind. I love lighting. Candlelight for obvious reasons, but lamp light can be just as beautiful ~ you light the lamp in its new place and squeal softly at the beauty. You forgot how pretty it is! . . . and little houses with nooks and crannies show them off way better than big ones do!🏡
Little bits of spark and romance perk up a dark corner.
Look at this! Remember years ago when Lowely and I learned how to make these cut and pierced lampshades from Ayn Chase, the artist I used to snap them up from on the island? Ayn made this one too. We were so lucky to have her … I do see shades like this on Etsy now and then, but just in cases, people DO make them at home, and so if you want one bad enough, you know what to do! I’d be very surprised if there weren’t tutorials on youtube.
I mean, really! But while admiring things, and being happy I decided to bring them,
There’s still a lot to do! Like where does everything GO? Don’t know what to do with it yet? Put it in the guest room! It’s kind of never-ending. But with all these new views, I think it’ll give me good stories to tell for a long time!
We brought our favorite hutch, I’m filling it, and finding places for the books . . . just think, if we hadn’t moved, I wouldn’t be getting to do all this in a starting-over sort of way, all clean and new! Yes, it’s work, but it’s creative too . . .
There’s been laundry to do, which I totally have to do myself ~ Jack can’t reach 😹. But the dryer man just left, he fixed the dryer, and we’re back in business again. But never totally ~ we’ve always been clothes-on-the-line people; because hanging things like sheets and dishtowels and quilts out to dry is one of the simple joys of life. You get to be outside with the wind and sunshine and trees. And the smell of fresh air permeates everything. And then you are overwhelmed with all the gratitude that those things provide. Because we’re . . .
Plus we have new artichokes to plant, because I know some of you are wondering, did they get to eat the artichokes they planted last March? Practically the first thing I did when we got out of 
the car from our 10-day, cross-country trip to California, was go and look for the artichokes. Was really hoping for our OWN for our first dinner. Sad to say, all we had were two artichoke flowers, artichokes gone to seed. Not that sad actually, they are so pretty. So we just dug a better bed, and mixed it with compost, and planted four more plants, and these guys will definitely get much more TLC (i.e. water) and we expect a better outcome. In the meantime, the flowers, green and purple, fit it perfectly! Another win-win! They just keep coming!
Yes we are! Especially Joe, who got his first delivery of the NY Times last Sunday … with his beloved crossword puzzle in it. I 
loved this headline and keep the paper open on the table! I think of all we went through with that pandemic, how it interrupted life in such a weird way, how it changed us in so many ways, how hard it was, like some sort of world trauma, and all we learned (that nobody really needed), and think how glad I am that it’s over and want everyone that still feels the effects (like I sometimes do and maybe always will, not physical, “just” mental, some kind of PTSD) will feel freedom and lighthearted in the sunlight and the wind and be happy again. Like I told Jack, we just have to be patient with ourselves, this too shall pass. It’s already so much better! (Above was written and illustrated by our girlfriend Maureen Carmichael after the bookstore zoom we had during the pandemic…)💞
Happiness has been kind of a theme here, because this was the first Angel Card I chose when we got back! I closed my eyes and really fished around, tried to feel for the one that made my fingers buzz, it was important because it was the first one, I hoped it would set the tone . . . and I got this!!! Wanted to shout it to the world. And I just did!😘
We’re definitely settling in. Note: green and wood. Looks excellent with black and white.
The new fall napkins I ordered arrived and I love them soooo much I got them for you too! They’re soft woven cotton! Wash, dry, no iron!!! They’re huge too, 21″ square …kinda perfect! If you love them on sight like I did, go HERE for some of your own.
I hope they go with your dishes! I’m looking at Thanksgiving right here! They’ll be my go-to forever!
Jack loved them on sight too.💖 Arbiter of good taste.😻
Part of my new little studio, which is actually a corner of the living room. It’s tiny, but I LOVE how it’s coming together! It’s little and perfect and Vicky has been massively victorious space-wise! I’ll show you more next time! Until then . . . here are some
Things I’m told you must know.
#1. FYI. Kellee says we are no longer sending Martha’s Vineyard Isle of Dreams to Amazon, we are saving the 80 we have left for our Girlfriends, in case you want one for Christmas this year. Our prices are lower than theirs, so we’re better anyway.😁 And the new printing should come in around February …
#2. Judy wants me to tell you that if you have a favorite local gift, kitchen, antique, or bookstore who you would like to carry my things, you can suggest they go to Faire.com and look for Susan Branch Studios, or you could please send the name of their store to [email protected] ~ include their city, state, 
and/or email address of the store or owner and she’ll Judy will in touch. As you know, because we’re small, and don’t have agents or lawyers, we run very much under the radar, and are not in many stores … lots of people don’t even know we exist.🫣 Which is fine, we love our little world, but that’s why word-of-mouth has always been our best thing ~ otherwise I wouldn’t get to do what I love!! So we’re happy to write and introduce ourselves. We just need a little help from our friends. If it’s easy!💞
Also, Kellee would like me to tell you we have cards and cards and more cards ~ like 3 pages of them in our shopping site now ~ and more are coming everyday!🌺
When she put up our welcome home banner,👏 Kellee left me this happy little bag to find when I got home. Isn’t it cute?👏 It’s got a cork bottom, and a fabric top with cork handles! Really sweet, perfect for me! I asked her to get a few more in case you’d want one too.💖
Fits phone (as you can see), notebook, pen, lipstick, comb, keys ~ all the little things we need when we leave home.
So that has to be it for today, there’s a Vickie whispering in my ear … But here was our first view coming down the driveway after 10-days crossing our beautiful country! I need to show you more pics of that! But one of the best things, 
just as I hoped, has been this amazing California weather . . . cool mornings, cool evenings, soft sun touching your face, more like a caress, during the day … and still the smell of ocean air, not all that far away . . . Listening to the crickets as I fall asleep at night, my California childhood comes back. Every door & window open, cozy under the covers, quiet, inspiring, awake-
dreaming, so contented it brings yearning… it can send me out to look at the stars. I’ve never had the right word for that feeling. But I believe kindred spirits know what I’m talking about. Bye for now girlfriends . . . enjoy the last of the hazy crazy days of summer, because as I mentioned earlier . . .
We’ve downsized our home to ‘the dollhouse’ but upsized our land so I can have more garden and more room for the ‘grandies’ to run around in. I love my little house and our bedroom up in the eaves. It was a challenge fitting in and deciding what treasures to bring with us, but now I can’t imagine being in a big house again. Enjoy your smaller home and the fun of finding the exact place for everything.
Susan and Joe – glad you made it safely and are settling in well. Enjoy and please keep sending us updates and your other wonderful newsletter postings. thanks much sally
Welcome back home to California, Susan! I can relate to all you love here as I love it here as well. Unfortunately, my family has all moved away from here for various reasons, mostly financial. Thank you for sharing your joy in reestablishing your home here. You are always inspiring! I always look forward to your blog posts- they bring a smile to crazy days! Linda
How glad I was to see your post. I can’t imagine how you and Joe have managed such a gargantuan task—and seemingly, kept your minds and good humor! Well, of course, you have had expert help: Jack! Jack is really the reason I am posting. I have had two cats with diabetes through the years, including my Mini, another tuxedo with “cattitude.” My vet told me of a wonderful online resource, Binky’s Page. All topics are covered, but one of the most helpful is a chart with full nutritional information on all brands of cat food, wet and dry. Here is a link: https://binkyspage.tripod.com/dryfood.html. I have enjoyed your books and posts since a friend gave me “A Fine Romance” for my birthday eight years ago. I hope you can build a circle of talented friends in your new home as you did on MV. Where will you go for your morning walks?
My dear Susan….so glad you’re back home in California! I know you will miss MV, as I’m sure I would. But, I know this is a great move…as we age we have to downsize and make these moves. I did the same a couple years ago. However, I fell last December and broke my femur bone in my leg. I’m still recuperating! The joys of life..huh? Haha! Enjoy your new life! Hi to Joe…kitty hugs to Jack!!!
Love !n hugs,
Gert
So happy to read your latest blog post, Susan! I fell in love with your writing and art when I read Isle of Dreams and look forward to reading more of your lovely books. Welcome back to California! What part are you in? I’m in Nevada City, about 1.5 hours NE of Sacramento; I moved here from Santa Cruz 8 years ago. I’d love to connect more!
Blessings on the new home and new adventure. Jack is a beautiful cat, so helpful with the unpacking! 🙂
Welcome Home!!! It is so wonderful to read your first Willard from your California Home!!! I love how Jack is being so helpful and settling in so well. Hugs to you, Joe and Jack.
I was thinking a more appropriate expression for this Willard is “The first Willard from your full time California home in your new chapter”. What a wonderful experience to return to this home with new eyes. I am loving the “tours”.
I so needed your blog today! It lifted my spirits. So happy for you, Joe and Jack!
Dear one–you know I’ve been cheering you along all the way. Don’t forget to get those voter registrations moved! I know you won’t. You could make a cardboard box feel like home, so I have never concerned myself with your CA home’s insides. It’ll look like you two. Two people, in love, who are good at home-making–cuz it starts with love. Plus a cat that arrived named for dad! What could be more fun? The only thing I’d recommend is more breaks for fun. Not kidding. Go to that place on the water for lunch today. Go for pie at that place suggested at the top of all these loving comments. Hug yourselves for me! Lotsa love.
Such good advice JoEllen . . . 👏👏👏 Love you!
Dear Susan,
I have been carrying my new Susan Branch Book, “Distilled Genius”
everywhere I go!!! I love this book!!! Thank you❤️
All your books (I’ve bought them all) live happily together on my bookcase shelf.
“Distilled Genius” lives up to its title! The quotes are inspiring, funny and your artwork
creates magic as expected😊
Thank you dear Sister in Spirit🦋
Carolyn
Thank you Sister! xoxoxo❌⭕️
Dear Susan,
I have been carrying my new Susan Branch Book, “Distilled Genius”
everywhere I go!!! I love this book!!! Thank you❤️
All your books (I’ve bought them all) live happily together on my bookcase shelf.
“Distilled Genius” lives up to its title! The quotes are inspiring, funny and your artwork
creates magic as expected😊
Thank you dear Sister in Spirit🦋
Carolyn Covert
Thank you right back Carolyn, you just made my day!
Susan,
The view down the drive as you reached your California home looks like a painting. Just beautiful. It says “Welcome home!” Maybe a new painting project, after all of the unpacking and settling in. 🙂
Sharan
How glad I was to see your post. I can’t imagine how you and Joe have managed such a gargantuan task—and seemingly, kept your minds and good humor! Well, of course, you have had expert help: Jack! Jack is really the reason I am posting. I have had two cats with diabetes through the years, including my Mini, another tuxedo with “cattitude.” My vet told me of a wonderful online resource, Binky’s Page. All topics are covered, but one of the most helpful is a chart with full nutritional information on all brands of cat food, wet and dry. I have enjoyed your books and posts since a friend gave me “A Fine Romance” for my birthday eight years ago. I hope you can build a circle of talented friends in your new home as you did on MV. Where will you go for your morning walks?
How glad I was to see your post. I can’t imagine how you and Joe have managed such a gargantuan task—and seemingly, kept your minds and good humor! Well, of course, you have had expert help: Jack! Jack is really the reason I am posting. I have had two cats with diabetes through the years, including my Mini, another tuxedo with “cattitude.” My vet told me of a wonderful online resource, Binky’s Page. All topics are covered, but one of the most helpful is a chart with full nutritional information on all brands of cat food, wet and dry. I have enjoyed your books and posts since a friend gave me “A Fine Romance” for my birthday eight years ago. I hope you can build a circle of talented friends in your new home as you did on MV. Where will you go for your morning walks?
I can walk around this property 9 times and that equals 3 miles! I have to kick a rock over every time I go, otherwise after the 4th, I forget! Nine rocks and I’m done!
Dear Sue and Joe,
It looks like you are making some good progress. Moving is alot of work and stress. But what you are doing makes alot of sense. It is hard to leave a home and friends you love so much though. But your home in California looks lovely too.i wish you all the best. Love, Crystal Burns from Minnesota.
Delightful!
Welcome Home!
Dear Susan
While following your move in your blog, I have been amazed at the similarities to what my husband and I have been going through. We left a Victorian house (1889) with 2100 sq. feet to move to a Ranch style home of 1500 sq. feet. We have managed to fit in the antiques (mostly), but when I saw your comment about “where does everything go”, with the accompanying picture of a loaded couch in the guest room, I was surprised to see in the photo of the guest bedroom shows glass mirrors on the closet doors. It looks very much like our new “guest” room, and that is the place the “where shall we put this item” things go with a “to be determined” designation. It is a lot to squeeze in, but I love the fact that all similar items have come together once more making them easier to evaluate for keeping or not. We had lived in the house for 44 years, so the change is quite dramatic. Reading your thoughts and feelings has helped me adjust to such a big change. I have always loved the saying, “This too shall pass.” Thank you for what you told Jack and for reminding me of this great truth. Your blogs are always such a blessing, and I turn to them for uplifting thoughts and am never disappointed. Many thanks, and best wishes on finding good places to keep the things you love!
I’m loving the settling in . . . how are you doing? For me, it gets a little better every day. Some days we forget about what needs to be done, and just do anything we want!!! But then we get back to it! Congratulations on making that difficult job HAPPEN! Sets you free to PLAY!!💖
Your new laundry room/pantry is absolutely perfect, although I do agree that a darker curtain over the door might look better. Did you happen to bring the curtains from your previous laundry room with you? Isn’t it wonderful how the shelf that Carlton made has moved with you from place to place? You always seem to find the perfect spot for it. When you think about it, you didn’t really leave the Vineyard behind. You brought a little bit of it with you- both in your heart and in your surroundings. What is the pattern/manufacturer of the purple dishes you brought with you? They look so familiar (and not just from your previous posts). Looking forward to your next post- you definitely seem to have made the right decision where you and Joe are concerned. Hopefully that scowl will have disappeared from Jack’s face by the time you post again.
I brought the black and white checked curtain from over the kitchen table and it’s perfect, there and over the sink in the kitchen!👏
Waiting for pics of the cross country journey!! I don’t do social media so waiting to see some on the blog!! That had to be a challenging trip but seeing our great country is awesome!!
Nancy from nw florida
Dear Susan,
So glad you made it here me to California safely. I was praying for a safe trip with no issues. Your house looks like it’s coming together nicely. Thank you for sharing everything with us. I just got back from my first trip to Europe. We, my husband, I and 2 of our friends went to England, Scotland and Ireland. I’ve been wanting to go since I was 10 years old and after reading your book about England years ago, it made me want to go even more. My children are all grown and out of the house, so we decided to make my dream come true (thanks to my wonderful husband) and go. It was so wonderful, I absolutely loved it. I even had a chance to go to a second hand shop and buy a beautiful old tea pot to make my loose leaf tea in that I bought over there. Thank you for sharing all of your wonderful trips to England with us, it inspires us. Enjoy settling in.
Dear Susan,
So glad you made it to California safely. I was praying for a safe trip with no issues. Your house looks like it’s coming together nicely. Thank you for sharing everything with us. I just got back from my first trip to Europe. We, my husband, I and 2 of our friends went to England, Scotland and Ireland. I’ve been wanting to go since I was 10 years old and after reading your book about England years ago, it made me want to go even more. My children are all grown and out of the house, so we decided to make my dream come true (thanks to my wonderful husband) and go. It was so wonderful, I absolutely loved it. I even had a chance to go to a second hand shop and buy a beautiful old tea pot to make my loose leaf tea in that I bought over there. Thank you for sharing all of your wonderful trips to England with us, it inspires us. Enjoy settling in.
Always so thankful to you for the sweet Inspirations! Keeping us abreast of grand designs and scenes, Of youth, beautiful green things and gardens a-plenty! Thank you! Lately I’ve taken to Watching YouTube videos of the California seaside, Bug Sur, Morro Bay and green-greener-greener pastures! Today finally we have big rain! The storm is “Helene” isn’t that a wonderful name for an Atlantic seastorm? It is dynamic and beautiful, wind blowing in off the ocean, waves blowing salt spray and we are thinking of you! Red flags on the beaches … and warm
Humid air resting on fall flowers! I’m longing for marigolds!
Love and thanks for this Willard dear Friends all the way in California.
Friend! Xoxo Prue
😘
Oh my Susan, you really bought that goat for a goat house you have on your new property? Did you buy him @ that Farm Market in Avila Beach? If you haven’t been there yet, get ready for a Fall Harvest of wonderful pumpkins. Also, Cambria will have homemade Scarecrows out front of some stores, so clever.
Now for me, the Valley girl who moved to Texas to spend the rest of her life with hubby naturally, especially since he’s a Texan. I love my brand new house, but the garden is a chore, what works and what doesn’t. But isn’t life that way right now, so many questions and not enough answers? Love you Susan girl of my heart🩵
Welcome home , Susan. I so love reading Wilard and catching up. 3 months of warm is nice…..( we retired from Boston to Southeast North Carolina. Sun is so nice and happy. Have a wonderful new adventure.
How did you feel about voting the refugees off the island? Did it mess up your musica and dreamworld? I doubt it
You will say we didn’t have the resources to help them
Well that is nonsense and we all know it
Some of them are back and living on the island. When they were dropped off by that nutcase in Florida, they were welcomed, helped, sent to the place where they could get their papers, and now they all live in the US. My dreamworld is happy and complete knowing people are helping people. I believe our lives would improve significantly if Billionaires paid fair taxes and we quit sending our hard-earned tax dollars to subsidize rich corporations. If you’d like to know what happened to the refugees … https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2023-09-14/a-journey-continues-migrants-reflect-one-year-after-being-flown-to-marthas-vineyard 💖
Just re-read A Fine Romance. The little dressed up lamb figurine you pottered made me wonder whether you might start a line of your own figurines. I know, that’s alot to ask. But thought I’d ask anyway.