It’s the creative month of September.🍂 Perfect for us, the most wonderful time of year to be wrapped up in the Art of the Home every day. It would be that way for me no matter where I lived! I’m a home girl from way back! But this year it’s mandatory! Yay! MUSICA! (My mom used to sing this around the house!)
It’s my same old song, a song of home, being sung in a brand new place!💘
Home, where everything is different except our attitudes! It is another world out here! Guess what we plant here in California in September? Did you say Dahlias? Yes! Can you believe that? Me, either. Guess if you have to dig them up to winter-over! Yes, you’re right! You don’t! What fun. I ordered them for Joe for last Christmas, before we knew we were coming to California … and here we are at the perfect planting place. Google actually says we’ll see blooms this Christmas!
Willard-Time and I hardly know where to begin. The world is filled with ups and downs, worrisome chaotic things that keep us awake at night, but after moving across country, dealing with months of that kind stress, 
I’m lucky now to be unpacked!!!, and constantly busy with all the ordinary little details of home.💖 My Studio is finally set up, so I’ve been working on the covers for the 2026 calendars (one-down, 3-to-go!)! I’ve been organizing my books, hanging sheets on the line, putting flowers in my little vases, figuring out which lampshades to use on the lamps in the guest room, Getting the house ready for my sister’s visit. For me, making a home has always been the most creative job there is, part of my dream of what life is all about, goodness and safety, trust, and wholesomeness and being happy. As I’ve said many times, we can’t control what goes on in the outside world, but as long as there are yard sales, most of us do have the power to make our own little part of it exactly how we want it to be.🌺
And home is definitely the garden metaphorically speaking! Planting seeds and watching them grow. So let’s talk about all the good stuff! We had a spectacular August here where we live, 5 miles up the road from the Pacific Ocean. Early fog disappears by around 10 am, leaving us with breezy, cool mornings, cool 
nights in the 50ºs ~ lovely sleeping weather under the cozy covers with all the windows open ~ and soft sun the rest of the day, the kind of sunshine I remember, growing up here as a child, when I would wake from my nap and go out and lay on the warm sidewalk in front of our house, enjoying the caress of the sun with the intermittant sound of roller skates hitting the cracks in the pavement. There’s local Mexican food galore, new bakeries to explore, watching the sun fall into the blue Pacific, free concerts under the trees in the local park every Sunday ~ and Farmer’s Market on Saturday. We even have a mystery… we were in Morro Bay for dinner the other night, and look at the photo I took, above, and now this below and tell me what you think.😱
What is that? All I did is enlarge the first photo because I saw this thing sticking up in the middle and wondered what it was. Joe didn’t know, I sure don’t know. Has the Loch Ness Monster come to Morro Bay?😳
I’d rather sit on shore and drink our newest Trader Joe’s discovery ~ grapefruit wine (mix of grapefruit juice and white wine) … tastes like carbonated grapefruit with only half the alcohol content of wine. Only $6 a bottle! You drink it just like wine. Gorgeous color and delicious ice cold. Beautiful in champagne glasses! And it’s PINK! I’ll wait while you write that down! Twist-off cap, Girlfriends!
Moving is so inspiring! Never boring, because if you get sick of unpacking boxes and trying to decide what to do with everything (for weeks, EVERY SINGLE DANG DAY), there’s all new places to go to procrastinate in a still-getting-things-done kind of way!! And you don’t have to take a ferry boat to get there!!! Very spur-of-the-moment-procrastination is possible! (Sitting in the sun at a concert, although very good for you, really doesn’t count as getting things done!) We’re still in the “All the flowers…” mode of our move! ‘Cause if we plant the dahlia bulbs today, tomorrow will be filled with flowers! Get it? The seeds of today!
Yeah! We have lots of projects! We practically live at the hardware store, mostly because they also have a nursery, not to mention the free, fresh-popped, help-yourself, popcorn on Saturdays and Sundays. Not quite the tea rooms they have at garden centers in England, but pretty good! And they have paint! We’ve been choosing new colors for a couple of rooms . . .(those little apples stacked the background ⬆️ come from trees we planted years ago … Christmas apple trees … the apples never grow up, just stay small and cute like that.)🍎
And look! I found four vintage needlepointed seat covers for our bar stools on Etsy!! Exactly what I was looking for. Almost new, like they were waiting for me! Green! Perfect for this house. They go with everything! 
We have antiqued all the way from Los Alamos to Cayucos so far . . . (stress-free, the perfect get-away-with-purpose because we 
needed dressers or hutches ~ storage ~ for all the stuff we still have to find places for!) and there are still many more shops to see! Haven’t even made it to Cambria yet! Look at that little goat ~ It’s not like me to fall in love with a little rusty goat ~ it was $89 which, in my view, for a goat, is not cheap. So I didn’t buy it! It was at an antique store up in Morro Bay and now I can’t quit thinking how cute it would look on top of our goat barn! I think I have to go back. I’m going to be able to give you Central Coast tour from soup to nuts by the time we’re done here. Get a map of California! You should start a file in case you ever decide to go on a road trip! Because there’s some good stuff and sweet small towns in this neck of the world, although PLEASE DON’T TELL ANYONE how wonderful it is!! Just between us.💞
Here’s what I take pictures of when we’re out and about ~ roses! The thing that’s constantly on my mind these days! Gardens. I came right home and ordered this white rose we saw in Los Alamos ~ it’s called Sally Holmes! I already have the picket fence! I also got two other “five-star” roses: Just Joey AND April Love. Peach colored, and another climber much like the one above only deep rose. 💃🏼
Look how cute the packaging is they came in! I ordered them from Heirloom Roses, my first time to order roses through the mail. Now they might be my new best friend, they have a huge selection … they arrived pots in good condition …
So happy! Don’t get me wrong. It’s still hard to be away from our old neighborhood on Martha’s Vineyard. We loved our beautiful 
ferry rides. And I miss my girlfriends beyond words. But it is what it is, and we’re lucky, we do have friends and family here. And with change staring us in the face from the moment we wake up, my natural inclination is to sweep the porch, feed Jack, fold clothes, hear the birds, and think, “Oh what a beautiful day!” Go crazy with happiness that there is no humidity. Walk out to the garden, feed and love the barn kitties, breathe in the fresh air. Make Joe tea with lemons and oranges from our trees, and not climb stairs to take it to him . . . and then, get busy with the day. Plant roses! See what I mean?
XXX
We came from one garden on Martha’s Vineyard, took a ten-day, cross-country, road trip through the looking glass, and out the other side, arriving in California, and another garden! Another world. I have a story for you…
Let’s go get tea. I’ll meet you back here in a minute! Okay, here we go… Once upon a time, way back in 2004, Joe and I did our first garden tours of England and of course, having never seen anything like those gardens before, we fell madly in love. If you’ve been there, you know what I mean. We’ve gone back for revisits to some of our favorites, like the one in the video at Barnsley House, designed by the famous English garden designer, Rosemary Verey.💝
We learned the wonderfulness of hedges, and the magic and mystery of small paths that disappear around a bend.
Note the long view … and paths made from all kinds of materials, paths that whisper “follow me.” I thought at the time, “A few bricks and some bushes? How hard could it be? Couldn’t we do that?”
Some paths were made just by mowing the grass . . . and that opening between the hedges called my name. This is the garden of the famous turn-of-the-century British stage actress, Ellen Terry . . .
This was her house . . . you can go there and tour both house and garden! I always loved the very personal small houses best, better than the castles, and this one is so charming, with crooked floors, where we learned all about Ellen Terry, someone I’d never heard of, and stood in her wonderful bedroom and got to know her. Living history.👏
At Hidcote and at many other English gardens, we discovered “the long walk.” A swath of green, lined in hedges . . . they said “for after-dinner strolls and winter carriage rides.”🤩
Likely I’m never happier than I am in a garden . . this one is Sissinghurst where I looked up and there was Joe on the other side of the hedge! Sissinghurst is famous for the white garden, herb garden, pleached trees, and garden rooms.
Ellen Terry’s garden again ~ can you smell the green? Feel the breeze? Hear the birds? .. It’s in the small village of Smallhythe outside of Tenderden. Her garden runs naturally into the garden of the churchyard next door . . . One of my favorite gardens, it felt natural and wild, unconstructed, as if it just happened ~ even in the “nuttery,” her orchard of nut trees!
Smallhythe again, probably the most structured part of the garden. Paths surrounded in forget-me-nots.💘
Rosemary Verey’s Barnsley House again. Best small garden EVER! Four acres of perfection!
Look at that, almost no flowers, and it’s gorgeous! Who knew?
On that 2004 trip, besides my regular diary (above, that’s me and Rachel, Joe took the picture at our very first picnic in Stourhead gardens), which was a watercolored, hand-written diary, and the inspiration for the 3rd book of my autobiographical trilogy, A Fine Romance, Falling in LOVE with the English Countryside ~ so besides this “big” diary where each evening I wrote about and painted our day ~ I kept this narrow little “garden diary” in my purse . . .
So when we were walking around and discovered something new, I could write it down. Sometimes I added pictures I cut out when reading British garden magazines …
In the actual gardens, I would take notes . . . write down ideas, plants that look good together, and their names, and names of hedges, trees, bushes, wildflowers, and roses . . .
. . . we learned about wild gardens, topiaries, garden rooms, herb gardens, white gardens, knot gardens, potager gardens, hedges, textures, lime walks, walls, allies, statuary, dovecotes, every imaginable thing, and every one of those gorgeous gardens had a gift shop that sold books ~ inspiration to feed our growing passion ~ somewhere along the way a seed was planted, and we decided that when we got home, we would try to build our own English Garden.🪴
We’re so lucky NOW, all these years later, because, surprisingly, we decided to put that garden in California, at what was my “California Studio,” this house, where Kellee used to work, where we live now. It didn’t really make sense at the time because we lived on Martha’s Vineyard, but, then again, it made perfect sense because, as we discovered, our California property is in an ANCIENT river bed, and the soil is what is called “alluvial” ~ very fertile. In addition, there is always water from a creek out back that runs year-round, and then of course, the coastal weather, sunny but cool, which was way closer to English weather than the weather in New England.👏 Which is why now we can even TALK about gardens this time of year!💃🏼
This is our California house when I first saw it in 2001! Doesn’t LOOK that fertile … it was an old doublewide plopped down in the dirt; it had a metal garage with no garage door, and an open-sided barn ~ the previous owners raised goats, so they 
called that open structure “the goat barn.” (This was actually the goat next door. I loved him!) Obviously, it wasn’t about the house which was nothing special, no romantic whaling captains were involved, no history, no old fireplaces, no fancy counter-tops, or old wood floors … but it was okay, fine, big enough, lots of windows, in the country, but not too far away. For me, it was all about the 8 flat acres, the quick-running creek out back, a little orchard of fruit trees ~ all surrounded with acres and acres of farm land. It was like a blank canvas. I bought it 23 years ago while Joe was back east and when he got out here and saw it, he thought I’d lost my mind . . I had been driving 
around with a realtor, saw the “for sale” sign, drove down the driveway to the back, walked down to the creek, heard the gurgling water, the singing birds, the wind through the cottonwood trees … marveled over the openness of it all, the quiet, and said, with hairs on my arms standing up, “this is for me!” A teeny little piece of California (relatively speaking), all mine. It’s probably the Irish in me. You know how Scarlett felt about the land!💘
And, in time, Joe came to love it too. It had so many possibilities, but like everything, it was one day at a time . . . Joe began to contemplate the placement of our new picket-fence garden. . . and we bought a tractor.
Which he still LOVES!
I’ve loved gardens forever, a gift from my dad. Joe and I had always been garden minded; we already had a picket-fence garden on Martha’s Vineyard. I think I’ve written about every garden of my life in my books, I’ve always loved picking flowers for my little vases, fresh veggies and herbs for salads. Makes me feel self-sufficient, part of nature, even part of history.
Because of our 8 acres filled with voracious gophers (which don’t exist on Martha’s Vineyard), Joe lined the entire California picket-fence garden in hardware cloth … wire with small holes, not big enough for gophers to get through.
Me, so happy . . .
So we planted a lawn, painted the house, Alfredo painted the outside, and me, Joe, my sister Shelly, and Diane painted the inside … I wrote my Autumn book in this house, and then, in ’04, we went to England …
When we got home, all excited from what we’d seen and learned, I drew this plan, only one garden room, NOT Rosemary Verey’s garden! (Yet) . . . you can see the picket-fence garden on the right of the house, with the goat barn behind it, and the garage to the left. None of the rest of it was there, this was just an idea. We weren’t even sure it would work.
The first thing we did was put in a hedge down the driveway, on the right side of the house, all the way to the back of the property, almost to the creek. It had never dawned on me to make a hedge before we went to England. Buy 60 plants of the same thing? Why? Alfredo, who helped out at the Studio, also had a fledgling gardening business (we’re grateful to be his guinea pigs!). He planted one gallon pots 4′ apart all the way down, and he and Joe brought a watering system from the creek. And look at it now! And all the years we were on Martha’s Vineyard, Alfredo lived in our CA house and took care of everything . . .
So, before we left to go back to the Vineyard, we started planting the lawn . . . 
. . . We laid out the plan, with tiny bushes (hedges) enclosing the lawns and pathways as shown in our drawing, and a garden room (on the right, not in the picture), we planted a jacaranda tree, a Baileys acacia tree, and Christmas apples . . . My brother Chuck came and put walls with windows on the goat barn so we could use it as a warehouse for our Studio (see it above?), a place to store and ship my books and cups and all our other goodies . . .
Basically, my literary heroes (like Beryl Markham) knew what had to be done!💝
and behind it all, next to the fence, we started our mini version of the long walk . . . lined on both sides with a mixed hedge of California lilac (ceanothus), arborvitae, and boxwood, things to attract bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies, with openings left for paths surrounded in new hedges (we call the the hedges “bird motels”) … Then we went back to the island, Kellee moved the business from a space in town into the house and worked there from 8 – 5, M-F, Alfredo moved in, lived there, and made sure our garden grew … he’d take pictures and send them to us…and each time we visited, we added a bit more, and all the while it was growing-growing, years of growing, and now, all this time later…
We’re back!
And look how pretty it is! It all grew up! And if that’s not magic, I don’t know what is! The best time to plant a garden is 20 years ago.💞 The next best time is NOW!!😘 And for the most part, just by following our hearts, we now have this happy accident in our lives. We hadn’t been planning to move back to California . . . but during a visit last January . . .
. . . knowing (for waaaay too long) we really needed to downsize, we took a long look at the California weather and our garden, the one-floor-living of the double-wide, and found it all made sense. We HAD to sell 
something, and we decided instead of selling the California House where it’s like 3 seasons of fall weather (in the 60s today!😄), and one season of rain, we would choose the garden, we would sell our much bigger (and feeling bigger all the time) dreamhouse in Martha’s Vineyard and do everything in our power to get rid of two-thirds of our stuff. Not an easy decision, but, like so many in our generation, it’s what you do. Personally I’ve always been for cloning so I could live everywhere at once. But no. Not yet. See that corner closest to us above, in the picket fence garden? That inside corner is where the Sally Holmes will be planted, that fluffy white rose will look gorgeous over the fence. And here’s a quick little video of the garden room.
XXX
Still lots to do! I’m glad it’s not finished! Over the years, when I wasn’t here to attend to it, our picket fence garden has filled itself with whatever it liked best, and those things reseeded over and over, so mostly it’s wildflowers, but it needs to be replanted with veggies and a new rose tree and sweet peas around the fence. (See why I really do need that goat? Put him on top of the goat barn, and voila!)💝
Alfredo has been doing a beautiful job trimming the bushes . . . he’s good at it! On one of our trips, we planted a long border of spurge (yellow flowers), and Agapantha (large purple/blue flowers).
I aways thought this was a Mimosa tree in our backyard, but now I think it’s an Albizia. They look so much alike, I could be wrong! We had an Albizia at our house on the Vineyard. Mrs Bowditch, the previous owner, planted it, and described it for us with this warning, “Looks dead until late June, but do not be deceived.” I always laughed at that … as if I might run out and chop it down!
I’m going to save the decorating for our next visit. This house has nowhere near the elegance of our old house, I don’t want to 
disappoint you, that old house of ours, all that New England charm, maybe it spoiled us . . . it’s much more casual out here. But it’s cozy ~ kind of like those New York lofts in Soho we read about in the 70s. I never saw one in person, so I just imagined a big open space with a bedroom in one corner, workspace in another, a living room, a kitchen, a dining room, an office … all visible at once. That’s this, only smaller! See my Basket of Geraniums painting? Up there?… I still have that basket, it’s up on top of the kitchen shelves! See it? This house is full of memories! We brought them all with us! And we’re ready to make more! We already started!💞
My youngest sister Shelly and her twin men (that doesn’t sound right at all!) and their dachshund came up to celebrate her birthday with us this weekend!💞 Good reason to clean the house … not just any sister, a Virgo sister! I used to love doing things to Shelly’s hair when she was little and I was giving her a bath! This was her “fish tail” look.❌⭕️
We had our first lunch of their visit next to the water in Pismo Beach. The kids turned 21 in April, so they really are twin-men now!💞
But actually, they are the three amigos and have been since the beginning! They were in it together! Shelly has been in AWE of her creations forever, and the BEST mom to her boys.💝💝 They ARE great. I not only LOVE them, I LIKE them!!!😍
AND her dogs!
Uncle Joe had a great time too!😘
We all drove to Cayucos for Shelly’s birthday breakfast in the garden at Lunala . . . her friend Jill was playing music! It was heavenly. If they had beds we’d probably still be there. It was so relaxing and delicious.🥰
And yup, on the way up, we stopped and got my goat!👏👏👏 Worth every dime! Wait till you see him on the roof! (Loving him so much on the deck, may not even make it to the roof!)
Shelly has tried on every hat in every antique store we’ve visited, and has looked great in all of them. This lampshade is one of her birthday gifts, and she even looked good in it! What better hat than a lampshade on your birthday?! I like the way she holds the cord!💖
Last night was her ACTUAL birthday dinner! Another wonderful evening. Our first time seeing each other since we got back. We’d been saving it all for this weekend! 💃🏼 Joe made her boys a delicious steak dinner, Shelly made us an amazing salad with farm-stand strawberries and spinach in it, Paden tore the stems off the spinach leaves, I buttered and salted the skin of baked potatoes and put them in the oven . . . while Mason got all our streaming services onto our TV!
Shelly is showing off her new ring. I’m not sure what the rest of these people are doing!😆 We sang happy birthday and made wishes on her candle 🥳… had many hugs and kisses. And we’ll be meeting for MORE FOOD today!
Then it will be back to work on the new calendar covers … hard to believe I’m working on 2026 when we haven’t even had 2025! But no matter, I don’t need to see into the future to do them, my calendars are always about the little things at home, where nothing has to change unless we want it to! (Except that babies do grow up.🥲) Makes perfect sense that his month, the September page, is all about Creativity and the Homearts!
Okay y’all . . . Have a wonderful day and a happy, creative, grapefruit-wine-sipping September week! This glorious month!💞
That photo may be of a dolphin jumping, we see them off the Redondo coast all the time. I am so so glad that you went back for the goat! We saw a metal red barn in San Luis Obispo a few years ago, too big to be a bird house but it was so wonderful that I convinced Hubby to buy it. As the clerk was wrapping it up another worker came in and she said, “They bought the barn!”. To this day I am not sure if it was in amazement or gladness, I suspect the first! I see it out the window every day in the back garden and I love it. I love those seat covers too! So happy you are settling in and happy. Hope the big house sells soon!
Spyglass! Which I just heard, after all these years as the most perfect restaurant for girlfriends lunch, is closing.😵😩
Perfect way to start the week…..a few peaceful moments apart from the chaos❤ Thank you! Following on your new life adventure is really special. We store our trailer in Pismo Beach and am curious as to what restaurant that is with the red umbrellas seaside where you had lunch?
Love your story about moving back to California. When I’m at the coast, , I’ll look forward
to seeing you at the fabulous fish restaurants. Trader Joe’s is fabulous in San Luis Obispo.
E
Sally holmes lives outside my back door as well. Even though my yard guy has never learned how to prune her she blooms with a great enthusiasm all summer long. Love her! Thank you for still blogging. So many bloggers has left and they are missed.hope you can be around for foreseeable future.
Got my beautiful 2025 calendar today and tucked it on the wall behind my 2024 so it’s ready to go! I love them so much I’ve kept every one (since you started making them!) I love hearing all about your California home and this new chapter in your lives. 💕
A-lo-ha-ha… Dearheart Susan, your “new home” certainly feels like Spring Street.. definitely looks like a smaller version for your studio!! You had inspired me 4 years (?) ago in having a red wall while remodeling our kitchen.. yes it looks divine!! We started green walls probably 10 years ago and the family room has “Gardening”; upstairs bedrooms has “Bok Choy”; still you’ve inspired as my office has been the storage room but only one room left to down size!!
Looking at your chosen/kept chinaware… no Rose Chintz but I am hanging on to mine for a bit longer as I have a few other patterns!! Thank you again for sharing your lovely self w/us!!
Xo Evie in San Diego🌸💕🌸💕🌸
Such dreams come true! Happy for you both.
LOVE this WILLARD!!! Our sister-in-law lives in Los Osos so we’ve been to your “new” area and do miss CALIFORNIA since my husband and I are both natives… Thanks for the MEMORIES in your photos…..truly made me homesick!
I just knew that goat would be living with you soon! I actually recognized him, saw several like him in Corpus Christi TX a few years ago, when there for our niece’s wedding. In yards, by the front door, and my favorite, a few were in the trees! Isn’t it amazing how life unfolds? Years ago you bought the CA property, went to live happily across the country and then you return to your home state. Isn’t that what they call Serendipity? Looking forward to more home tours! I love a little lamp on the kitchen counter, so very comforting. A wonderful blog post. Thank you, Susan!
Thank you for this lovely post, Susan. It looks like you, Joe, and Jack are adjusting well to your life in California. How nice to see Shelly and her boys/men. I remember when they were little! I am glad you bought your goat. I look forward to seeing him on top of the goat barn!
No matter the place you and Joe will make it comfy cozy. I love my little one story bungalow.
hI THERE, boyyyy do I wish you had a FALL/AUTUMN mug/teacuup available right now…I’ve enjoyed Santa last Winter, Rabbit in the spring…Sailboats all summer..!!…I’ve enjoyed all of the Willard fun I’ve read through the years, as well as all of your books I’ve collected !! Susan, so glad you are HOME safe and sound after all the packing and unpacking required to set up a new nook ;)…If you would happen to have a Fall mug…this Texas friend would love to purchase it !! Thank you for the Musica and sharing your sweet memories with me…and with a couple hehehe of others too !!
You are so welcome Margaret … write Kellee and see if she has any fall cups around! xoxoxo
Susan, I always enjoy your blog, but I must say that this one is one of my very favorites. As you wrote about driving down the coast of California, I could picture it in my mind. We took that drive on our honeymoon many years ago. Love that section of the California coastline. And your words and photos of the garden – the planning and the creation – spoke to my heart. All four of my grandparents loved to garden and one of them was a landscape gardener for wealthy people who lived on the shores of Lake Washington, near Seattle. They would be so pleased to know that being in the garden is one of my favorite things. I have tried to create an English garden after visiting some in England. My husband always says there is room for one more plant! Thank you so much for the inspiration you have given me.
I so look forward to reading your blog posts. I have so many of your books, rereading one of them now, the Martha’s Vineyard story.
Placed my 2025 calendar order today !
I love your beautiful California home! I was reading Autumn, published in 2004, was it?, and toward the end, I think I remember a sweet line about how you guys dreamed of retiring in CA. This is such an awesome full circle moment to live closer to family and friends. Also you could sail to new destinations on Pacific cruise ships.
I loved reading this blog and seeing your pictures. While I have lived in AZ for 10 years, part of our years living in Ca, were up in central CA. We lived in Paso Robles twice, over a period of time. Going over to the coast from there was always our getaway days. We loved the central CA coast and like you; we would go to all the antique stores we could squeeze in. We have a wonderful large old Indian maiden print framed, that came out of a house in England. We bought it in Cayucas. There were two of the framed pictures (a pair), but we were young and could only afford one of them. It still hangs in my husband’s office.
Lovely memory!!
I love all the photos and stories! So nice to take the tour of your new home and gardens. You shopped at some of my favorite places in Los Alamos and Cayucos. (We honeymooned in Cayucos back in 1980). We are blessed to live in this area of the coast. I like the 3 autumns and one rainy season myself. So, once more, welcome back to California and happy gardening and decorating. Can’t wait to see things you add in the future.
Thank you for your sunshiny report on all you and Joe are doing in your garden! We are at San Francisco airport waiting to fly to Cornwall and Devon and see some gardens ourselves! I absolutely loved A Fine Romance and all the ways it inspired me to love England even MORE!
Have a wonderful time!!!🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
I’m so excited that you’re back! The Central Coast is my favorite little day trip up from Ventura County–I love Sisters in Los Alamos, and J. Woestes in Los Olivos. Make sure to check out all of the harvest fun at Avilla Valley Barn, and of course, Clam Chowder at Splash in Pismo…
Love seeing your plans for your new home! Inspiring. Your “Musica” link has been an Asian woman singing and playing a guitar and not a 50’s song your mother always sang. Can you correct or troubleshoot this terrible link? 🤞
HAHAHAHAHA!!! THANK YOU FOR TELLING ME!
It is great to read about this new chapter of your life, and to see this lovely tour of your garden. I’m in awe!
But you didn’t say how Jack is adapting to his new life! I see him on one of the pictures… how does he like Californian birds and squirrels?
Enjoy every moment!
It was hard for him, but he’s so much better, and everyday, noticeably better than the day before!
Soooooo lovely to hear from you, Susan!! I can hear the JOY in your words. I’m so glad that you and Joe followed your hearts and are busy making your hopes and dreams come true. Gathering with family was the perfect way to celebrate being ‘home!’ 🏡 💕 Your weather sounds positively wonderful! Can’t wait to see the goat adorn your goat barn! (So glad that you brought him home!)
Warmest hugs and happy wishes,
🩷 Dawn (in IL)
💖💖💖
Love seeing and hearing about your new adventures on the Central Coast. Sounds like Jill Knight was playing – she is wonderful. Happy to see everything moving forward for you and Joe here in California. Can’t wait for a local event!
Jill! A good old friend of my sister’s! Yes, she IS wonderful!
I was thinking about you, Joe and Jack yesterday. My husband and I were talking about our spring trip to Martha’s Vineyard and how we loved the charm of the island. Reading this issue of Willard and looking at the pictures, it is no surprise that you have created a beautiful home in a glorious setting in California.
It’s the heart and love that make the home and you and Joe definitely have both.
I love the goat and what a perfect way to decorate the goat barn! Those white roses will be a charming addition to the garden. It is so good to see you settling in and being happy with your decision to move. Thank you for continuing to share your life with us!
Your Williard, made me smile and forget about the world’s problems for a bit. Keep on gardening and loving being back in CA. Enjoyed every word and picture.
Karen from MICHIGAN.
KAREN
You had me at no humidity and windows open to the nice breeze!
What a lovely post! Yes, regrettably, the beautiful old house and garden are now memories. You and Joe are doing what you feel is best for you both and Jack. Your sister, Shelly, looks like you with blonde hair and the boys were blond as toddlers. I have family that are incredibly diverse too! Much love and many blessings. Memarge:)
Unbelievable how your yard /garden came to be, but it is looking really cute and very English. Why don’t you make the inside into an english cottage. Have a wall brick or stone and maybe wooden beams (they could be fake and not heavy. )The low ceilings has the flavor of an English pub. With lots of plants and ferns. I would love to get my hands on that place!! Can’t wait to hear what you are going to do next. And LOVED the needlepoint chair covers. I collect needlepoint pillows and stools. I have a new Queen Anne house (Rose Cottage)and have been making the inside Victorian, it’s been fun. What are you doing for walks.
Oh beautiful Fall. We are finally getting cooler weather up here in Northern CA. We don’t get those lovely ocean breezes in the morning in the Sacramento Valley, but we do get those delta breezes that cool us off when the winds are in favor. You have been an inspiration to start that phase of downsizing in these later chapters of life. We spend 3/4 of our life collecting, lol, and then it’s time to move things along and keep just the stuff that matters. I’m still a work in progress. So glad you are safely back out in CA and enjoying what you thoughtfully planted years ago to now enjoy today. Good for you!
Enjoy the process.
Cheers
Jan from Northern CA
I love your English garden pathways, and the Sally Holmes rose bush. Have you seen the pink Iceberg roses? I recently planted one and it is loaded with bright pink, friendly flowers that stay in bloom for a quite a while. I also planted a Double Delight rose bush because it’s fragrance is like French perfume.
Creating a garden is such fun! Enjoy!
I’ll go look! xoxoxo
So happy that you & Joe are settling in and literally enjoying the fruits of your years of labor! Your property looks gorgeous!! The Loch Ness monster actually looks like a kite boarder, or wind surfer, or whatever they are called, I’m sure you’ve seen them on MV, as we do here on the Cape when there is good wind blowing. Hard to believe you are on the other side of the country now and not just “across the pond” from us here on the Cape. Sending September air & Harvest Moon love to you & Joe. And the goat 😍😍
Joan B
California has welcomed you home with all her luscious floral beauty! How grand that you still live close to the sea and can get a healthy dose of salty air whenever you want! Congratulations on your home. I know you’ll fill it with love and laughter, just as you’ve filled every space you’re in and every page you paint.
Ok you’ve convinced me. I thought I was going to hate your move bc I so loved Martha’s Vineyard. But you’ve made this little house so cozy. And the gardens are divine! I’m jealous of that beautiful fall weather! 🧡🤎🍁 It’s still summer here in Houston. 🥵
PS We might need a garden tea cup!
Yay!👏👏👏👏 So glad. 👏👏👏
That little goat is awesome! Glad it was still there when you went back!
Thanks for sharing how your California garden came to be. My husband and I love to tour gardens as well. We went the way of the “Garden in the Woods” with lots of rhododendrons around the house and the Japanese inspired koi pond and patio. It’s our happy place to be. We laugh and say we live boring lives watching our fish swim around! I give you so much credit moving all the way across the country to an environment so much different from Martha’s Vineyard! I suppose it helps that you came from CA and have family there. We have only visited friends in Torrance, CA, not far from LAX and Pablo’s Verdes. So different from our rural environment here in northwest NJ! We visited the beautiful Huntington gardens and my friend treated me to high tea — nice memories of our only trip to CA. We are both in our 70’s now and understand the need to downsize. Not an easy thing to do! You and Joe are an inspiration along our way! Best wishes and happy new adventures! Jack seems to have settled in! 😻
What a delightful way to start the day with a new Willard!
Dear Sue, I’ve been waiting for your Willard, and enjoyed it a lot. Moving is so inspiring and draws the creativity to the fore. You’ve done a great job. The garden is outstanding. So much space, so much sky! You and Joe made a good choice.
A thought I’d like to pass along…clay. You could make some cool stuff. (-:
Peace be with you, Leslie
Clay! xoxo More food for thought. xoxoxo
Really enjoyed ur latest willard!! Looks like ur settling into the california home!! And enjoying family and flowers!!
Just returned from niagara on the lake and all the beautiful flowers!! Thought how much you would love the English atmosphere amongst the vineyards.
Always vintages to taste and Shaw theater to exercise the brain!!
Enjoy the autumn in california!!
Nancy from nw florida
Susan, no matter where you go you sprinkle beauty everywhere. Keep sprinkling Susan!
Congratulations on settling into your new digs! Such a necessary chore to do but that garden would be calling to me too as a distraction. Lovely property and creative plans ahead.
My three suggestions are 1. be sure to find time to remove any invasive plants from your property and dispose of them thoroughly and 2. plant as many NATIVE shrubs and perennials as you can to support your native pollinators and birds, and of course other wildlife. 3. in future, avoid planting a monoculture of the same plant (i.e. hedges of privet (invasive where I live), or rows of the same tree) as these are susceptible to succumbing to diseases if a fungus, blight, pest etc were to arrive and wipe out the entire group of plants. A mixed species hedgerow is much more beneficial to wildlife as it provides variety of food sources, nesting structures and texture/color. Native plants also require much LESS care since they are adapted to the environment they evolved in.
Thanks for the tour of your “new” yard. Happy gardening in that delightful sounding weather!
Thank you! All our hedges are mixed. Been checking around for English Ivy, found a little plot of it, RIPPED IT OUT!!! NO invading around here!😄There’s a low growing weedy grassy thing with runners. I don’t know if it’s invasive or not. I’m trying to get only plants that need less water, and grow happily with little care in our growing zone 9a. We make our own compost and Alfredo also made it here for years. We want butterflies, bees, and every other thing except gophers. We’re putting the new plant roots in cages to help with that. Thank you for the helpful info!!!
Thanks for the update, Susan…fun, lovely, touching and inspirational! Also, very grounding during these turbulent times.
Linda Z.
Love love love your new home !! ♥️
All I can say is thank goodness for Alfredo. He did a great job for those 20 YEARS. You’ve made a smart decision for those years you and Joe have ahead.
I tell him all the time! He’s very dear to us!💖
Doing the Happy dance to find a new Willard. Oh, so much to comment upon, but I will try to reign in my tendency to write every thought in my head.
One thing I believe, having seen it in many of the people I find most “alive”, is that they are Open to Change. And it’s not as though you and Joe had to trek westward during the Dust Bowl. Nor will mine and Tom’s changes be like that.
Thank you VERY much for the tour of your grounds. We Girlfriends need those pictures and drawings to place ourselves there with you!! After all, you are among the Very Top of the Girlfriend list.
You and Shelly are certainly identifiable as your mother’s daughters. Boy, was she big with the twins!!
Mimosas…there was one in our back yard in the Mississippi Delta. I used the pink flowers to make little dancing ladies skirts, using various other plants, flowers for the bodies. When the seed pods grew, I’d harvest those, open them up and save the greenish seeds. While they were soft, I’d string them on thread, and push them down to the end as they dried out. One of those necklaces ended up being in a picture of me used in my college newspaper. It became a “trend”..Ha,ha. Lovely greenish brown and totally 60’s!!
Dahlias! I did try them here in Maine, but I wasn’t successful in digging up and storing them, so I just bought new ones. Oh, the varieties at the Blue Hill Fair, of Charlotte’s Web fame!!
Even The Lovely, AKA Tom, asked what was new with you and Joe out in California. We did a dash down to Portland, Maine this last week to see a major exhibit at the Art Museum…Jeremy Frey, Wabanaki basket maker from Maine. It now seems that it has become The most tickets sold in the long history of that institution. And if you look him up online, you will see why! This week it moves to the Chicago Art Institute. Finally, native artisans are mainstream. I’m so thankful I began to buy small pieces as a young adult. I have a wonderful collection in Tampa. Small and affordable for me on a teacher’s salary.
I brought a cold home from our trip, so I’m going up to the loft to read and doze. No Covid, thankfully. Have tested negative twice.
With all you are juggling, Dear Lady, you are showing us why you are loving California. Think of all the healthy brain cells and synapses you and Joe are cultivation along with the garden rooms.
Mucho Grande Love,
Debbie still in Maine
No, ha ha, no dust bowl, thank God. We are nothing but lucky. No excuse for moaning when everything is so beautiful. We were also terrible at the digging up and storing of the dahlias. I don’t know how anyone can stand doing that!🤣 And now we won’t have to! I bet lots of people do what you do, just get new ones! Problem is, once you’ve grown them you never want to be without them again. I was about to do exactly that too! I also had a cold. Still stuffy, but pretty much over. Tested negative twice. There you go Debbie. We are on the same page! This morning I was out feeding the cats, watering things, and FELT the healing. I know you know what I mean! Mucho Grande from Arroyo Grande xoxoxox💝
Hi to a fellow Mainer Girlfriend! Debbie I have not yet seen the Jeremy Frey exhibit, but I am so proud to say that my friend Roberta contributed several of the Jeremy Frey baskets she’s collected over the years to the Museum, and they are part of the exhibit! I saw them in person last year, and they really are gorgeous. As for dahlias, I dig, divide, and store every year, and I always have lots of extra tubers in the spring. So, if you want some next year, I’d be happy to share. I have all colors, shapes, and sizes and am in York County.
Had to read it all twice so I didn’t miss a thing!Looking beautiful! I really love your new green chair pads! Morro Bay is my favorite place on earth… we used to eat at Roses Landing looking out at the Bay… and that sure looks like Nessie to me! You never answered my question… where does Petey live now? And look how close you live to Sharon and Jeff now! Love you xo Julie Marie 😘🐚
Oh! Petey’s on top of my dresser! I have all my beloveds where I can see them! xoxoxo
You are brilliant!! Ive been stuck for so long with redoing my bedroom and voila!! There it was in your paint samples. The lovely green with the peach and Im thinking trim in cream!! Thank you for the unintended inspiration!!! You are just one of those people that can turn anything into a something and live a purposely joyful life!! Many Blessings to you and Joe in your new/old homestead!!
Perfect! Love it when that happens!😆
It’s a wonderful life!! Love the goat💖
You are balm for heart and soul, dear Susan —- have been your fan for more years I can remember— and you continue to inspire. I’m grateful for you —- for how you are in this, our beautiful and broken world. You’re a healing force with your art and creativity, generosity of spirit and kindness. A deep bow of gratitude to you and for you —-and wishes that you continue to be drenched in blessings.
😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘
Welcome back to California from a girlfriend in Encinitas, down south! Enjoy all of it!
Susan, it’s great to hear how things are shaping up for you in your new home. I hope sometime you will tell us what dishes, etc, you kept, and how you decided…this is not something I am good at. I can use any help I get. The garden is beautiful! Thank you for all the pictures. Blessings to you and Joe. Becky
I chose which dishes to keep for fall and for Christmas… neither of them has santa or pumpkins on them, but they would both look good for those holidays. And for the rest of the year too. Which is why I didn’t take the pink Johnson Brothers . . . first off I didn’t want to split up the set, and it had EVERYTHING, serving bowls, large platters, salt and pepper, tea pot .. A set, I think, for fourteen. Someone will have them, and they will be beside themselves.💝
inspiring me to get back into my garden and some lovely new promises for Spring. Will dahlias planted now in CA really bloom this winter? I might have to try that too.
They tell us they’ll bloom by Christmas!
Oh, Susan!!! What a treat to see your new gardens!!!! You don’t need a big house – you have all of those outdoor rooms to lounge and linger in!!!! I saw those white roses in Santa Barbara and I have been trying to recreate that here in Indiana. I miss my heirloom pink roses and need to replenish them. Thank you for the link to the heirloom roses!
I am so very happy for you to be in California – as much as I loved reading about Martha’s Vineyard. This was the right thing to do. So proud of you and Joe. You are my inspiration!
and I love the goat…what will be his or her name??
Enjoy!
Blessings! xo
Pam
I’ve been thinking about her name and I think I would like a Mrs. Miniver in my garden, and since I could not find a Mrs. Miniver rose at Heirloom, I’ll name my goat that. I did find Miss Dior! So that’s good.🌺
Susan, it was so pleasant this morning to receive your update. Your new home and surroundings look lovely. I’m so happy for you.
Our southern Wisconsin spring had a bit too much rain, and our summer’s end, has brought a worrisome lack of rain. And may I ask you please to keep your wildfire smoke from muddying our beautiful blue skies, as it has been?
I send wishes for continued joy as you experience a “winter” of explorations and new normals.
Sad about the fires. My nephew was just up in Oregon working one there, what a nightmare! But everyone stayed safe, despite all this helicopter around mountains! And he thought it was a great adventure!
Wonderful read! Loved it!
Enjoyed reading while on the porch of our downsized home.
It’s a difficult decision and sooo much work but so worth it in the end. It’s another chapter in our book.
I’ve followed you since the beginning and while I loved the Martha’s Vineyard stories I’m looking forward to more of this stage of your lives.
Your home is beautiful!!!
We are coming out your way in October…👻
Gardening is truly a masterpiece in progress. 🪴🌻🌳Love the definition of inspiration. Beautiful 😍
I hope you see my comment as we need some Central Coast travel tips. (My comment on your last post wasn’t moderated.)
I had a goat like that one, dragged it from Goat 🐐 Island, SC to Wisconsin and now he lives with my sister in Minnesota! We are Swiss Heritage, so we heard “Heidi “ a million times! Beautiful gardens in Switzerland 🇨🇭. They love ivy geraniums.
OXOX
Margot B.
Just be sure to go to Morro Bay, Cayucos, Cambria … drive up a little further to Hearst Castle… 💞
Thanks 😊
Hi Susan! Your posts are always so happy and fun. I LOVE your English garden – you have done a wonderful job with it so far! Thank you so much for sharing your photos, videos, and your family with all of us. Hugs and best wishes to you and Joe in your new home, Sharon
P.S. I absolutely adore your needlepointed seat covers and my hubby and I are going to have to try the grapefruit wine!
Susan! You are the first person I know of who admires Beryl Markham as much as I do! She and Katharine Hepburn are my “Women-I-Wish-I-Was-More-Like”.
Anyway, big moves are always BIG moves, but it appears you are finding the JOY. I love your California gardens and open spaces – both inside and out.
I look forward to watching the further transformation of both.
PS: I found out it’s not a good thing to feed bread to ducks! Google it!
Susan, you have such a gift for writing and story telling. I even had to stop to read parts of this to my husband. He enjoyed it as well. I’m glad you are settling in and so happy you bought the goat! Thanks for the tip about the pink grapefruit wine! 💖 And your garden is very beautiful already. It’s been waiting for your return!
youtu.be/QhNhEPIKytM?si=pDTmwQTEutdLlld4
Could this solve the mystery of the loch ness monster in your pic?
Why not? Certainly is wonderful hearing the sounds of it!👏
There is so much to say about this post. I love the stories, the memories, the gardens…but the boys!! So tall & so handsome, I can’t believe they’re 21. So beautiful.
I’m so glad you’re all thriving out there. I miss everything about Martha’s Vineyard, though & will forever see you in that beautiful house. I’m not one that adapts to change easily. I will be leaving my home soon for, hopefully, greener pastures. It’s time but I don’t want to face it. You give me hope & inspiration, as always, so thank you for that. Love these long posts. Keep ’em coming! xo
LOVED this post. I have been in love with that property ever since you first showed it to us. I was in and out of that area a lot on business and bought your first book at the Thursday Farmer’s Market in SLO (local bookstore). I was devastated when you decided to sell; and utterly flabbergasted and shocked when you decided to reverse your decision…but very happy. I, too, love your house in MV but can’t wait to see what you do with this property in the future. So very happy for you, Susan and Joe!
So wonderful to see you adjusting to California!!
Loved the great garden tour!!! Especially the English inspiration!!
Blessings,
Julie
I enjoyed your newsletter! Thanks for showing us around your new home and giving us its history!! I lived in California for 30 years before moving back to Indiana. I love Indiana, but do miss the “no humidity” and sourdough bread of Northern California (lived in Winters, CA for 23 years). Looking forward to the next newsletter! God bless you two, Beth Barnat
Glad you are happy in CA. My daughter went to CalPoly in SLO, and we still miss the CA weather and cool nights. We lived in the SF Bay Area. East Bay.
I wonder where your picture of Jack is for this Willard Issue. I always look forward to them. I don’t have a cat anymore, and I love your interaction with Jack. Cats are so special.
I gave Jack the week off. 😄 He will return! oxoxoxo
Thank you for sharing all of the loveliness of your new home. I’m so happy and excited for this next chapter in your lives. Enjoy! And Jack looks like he is settling in just fine!
🌿🌻🩵🏡🩵🌻🌿I know you are loving being closer to your family. I admire your positive attitude on making your now home just as satisfying as your Martha’s Vineyard one. How wonderful that you have the beautiful landscaping all ready in place. Blessing on your new Chapter of life In California🌿🌻🩵🏡🩵 🌻🌿
Home has one thing in common, no matter where . . . caring for it is endlessly satisfying! Thank you Marlynne!
Our best friends, John and Martha, live in Cayucos. (He was born and raised there.) He tells stories of his father and uncles who worked on the landscaping of San Simeon.
His family home, recently renovated, is only one block from the pier. I feel you and Martha would be kindred spirits.
Such pretty old homes in that area! I used to walk that beach, up the hill onto the cliffs all the time back in the day … through that forest there up above the beach, so magical
So happy you are settling in,be happy.
Thank you for sharing your life and home. It’s beautiful and inspiring, personable and real. Love it!
Susan,
You definitely sparkle the world.
I lose myself in your posts.
Lovely. Refreshing. Inspiring. Joyful. Happy.
Thank you..over 20 years now.
Anne
Made my day Anne. xoxoxo
Oh my how the boys have grown…21! We blinked. And yes you needed that goat! I am so happy for you in your new/old home. So many projects to keep you and Joe busy. It will be fun. And you know food taste better in small houses ❤️
😂 It does!! Which may be why all I want to do is EAT!! YUM!
Great to see how well you are settling in , and how lovely it is there! Has Jack become accustomed to his new home ? I love your plan for your gardens, why not have Sissinghurst as a role model? Great idea! hugs from Oregon, Suzette
Some ideas come from Sissinhurst that’s for SURE!
Looks like all kinds of lovely already and so much potential to make it even lovelier! I do have to ask – where is Alfredo living now? The goat barn?
With a friend, for now. He comes here to help us a couple times a week. He’s such an old friend, I’d love to have him living on the property!
Susan,
So thrilled that you are back in California and enjoying all the fruits of your labor from the past 20 years. You are so creative and such a visionary… and you actually work to make your dreams come true. I love that about you, Susan!
I think we are around the same age, and have so many of the same likes.
My NJ husband, Paul, and I have family living in So-Cal and would love to swing by and see your garden “for real” on our next trip down to visit them sometime this fall. Would you please email your address to me? We’ve met you & Joe 3 times since 2016 and actually saw your home on Martha’s Vineyard when we were there in 2018. Thank you for sharing your life with all of us. You are such a blessing.
Thank you, Susan, for the right touch of Autumn Arts. I need it so very much. The goat is adorable, I am delighted that you went back and brought it home with you!
Shelly and her young men, sons, are pure delight! I have grandsons of similar age and it’s a wonderful treat to *like* them as well as love them, right?!
It is just wonderful what you and Joe have done with your English garden in California! I am just as intrigued to see how it comes along as I’ve been since opening the book, “Heart of the Home”, back when I was starting a family and counted on Susan Branch to keep me dreaming beyond the immediate season of bringing up children. AND teaching one of the three to appreciate all things Susan Branch! 😉
My beloved girlfriends. My life would have been nothing without you, your sweet and wise words, thank you. ❌⭕️❌⭕️
Welllll. I flipped at how wonderful Willard was yet again. I’m glad Calif is so happy and nice for you yo be closer to siblings. Sisters are special. I have 3 sisters and 3 brothers. Plus. yes. to NO STAIRS!! AS KNEES DO NOT REALLY LIKE THEM .
NOW I feel that thing, 2 things kind of, that were on photo of water. are some kind of boat moring. It is about the right distance from shore .
Be safe, explore many lawn sales, flea markets and resale shops. Browsing them brings such peace and joy. Its in the looking. My mum would say. its window shopping.. just looking. The joy is in the looking mire than buying. But I am a true second hand rose girl.
Also. I now at 71 love little houses best. Nooks and crannies .
So we will love your new nest. Enjoy it all. Joe looks happy. Jack too.
Thank you
😘😘😘😘😘
Hello Susan,
It’s god to hear all about your new home. One can’t keep a good woman down!
💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼
It’s such a treat, as always, to read your blog. I have to admit I was a bit shocked and saddened that you were leaving Martha’s Vineyard (because I could then live vivariously through you!); HOWEVER, I have since changed my mind and decided that the California spot is just as magical. Or perhaps it’s the people that make it special 🙂 Outlook and perspective are everything. How you & Joe make the best of absolutely everything is a reminder to me that positive attitudes and new opportunities go hand and hand. The views around your happy home are absolutely gorgeous and I love the different garden “rooms”. How charming! Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your lives, your latest discoveries and adventures <3
I’m so GLAD! I feel just the way you do. Excited, enervated, inspired! 🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺
I love what you have done to your gardens over the years since buying the double wide. I love your happy attitude too. Just Joey is my favorite rose and just got one to plant in the memory of my Joey cat that died last month. It also came from Heirloom Roses. California sunshine is so special and some days when it is grey and gloomy here in Oregon I wish I was back down there in the sunshine and closer to the sea.
ohhh, so sorry for your loss of Joey. xoxo I got 3 Just Joeys from Heirloom. Our roses probably know each other!💖
I think the things in the water were two playful otters or seals. One is jumping and the other you get a shot of the side of their head. Just my hunch. I think what you have done with your property is beautiful! The hedges were a fabulous idea, and they close the place in and make it homey. You made a hard decision but looks like the right one. My dream since young has been to live in New England, but I never got there. Not yet. Lived in Williamsburg Virginia for 20 years, and found the area to be lovely, nice people, great gardens and earned my Master Gardener designation at William and Mary. Rooting for you both to love
the new home and area. Just read “The Fairy Tale Girl”, but I’ve read Martha’s Vineyard, Isle of Dreams” a few times now. What a great bio. Best wishes for your continued creative adventures and success! Maryann
WOW, Williamsburg ~ and you went to the beautiful William and Mary … Close enough!🤣 So much history … Love that area! Thank you for sweet comments on my books! ❌⭕️❌
A new Willard always makes my day.
I love seeing all the developments of your California home, but I must admit a nostalgia (already!) for the changing seasons of Martha’s Vineyard. I will adapt! It will be interesting to hear about Thanksgiving and Christmas in your new digs. Much love to you and Joe and well-wishes for your new adventure!
I have my pumpkins out, and leaves on the windows. It’s very fall-like here right now. Cool days and nights, lots of sun! Like the best fall ever! One where it’s okay to plant roses and hydrangea!
Susan,
You all have done so much work in such a short time. The gardens are just lovely. Joe has really put in a tremendous amount of work on the picket fence garden…and it is beautiful. The soil looks great…no tree roots, rocks, heavenly!!
It is fun to see your initial plan and how much you have completed, although a garden is never completely finished.
Thank you for posting your photographs and sharing your move with us. Paring down is something I am trying to do…but I too have an overdeveloped sense of PROCRASTINATION.
Yeah! I even googled “Meditation for Procrastination” and tried that for a while. Found out it only helps if you WANT it to!😄
Ha, we have the $80 rusty goat up here in Washington state too, I’ve been SO tempted! I’m sad that you aren’t in the old house, but I so appreciate how you are looking forward, a lesson for us all.
💖💖💖💖
Loved your photo-filled tour of your gardens and outdoor rooms. Such creativity!
Is Jack happy with his new digs yet?
Every day he’s better. Has almost stopped snarling through the sliding glass door at the barn kitties, almost! But he’s right here next to me as I type! So I think he is beginning to forgive me!
Welcome back to California!
Your house and garden look lovely – love the goat!!!
Your new home is wonderful! I can’t wait to hear all about your new adventures and your evolving garden.
And thank God you GOT THE GOAT!
xo
bh
I KNOW!!!😂
So lovely that you show us everything Susan! Fun! Is Jack going to able to go outside here? It looks very quiet out there.
Not yet, but maybe, if he wants to. First I would butter his paws… probably follow him around so I know he’ll come back!!🤪
I’m so glad you got the goat!!! I was muttering… how could she leave the goat behind??… until! I read that line and saw that picture 🙂 Leave it on the deck, is my opinion, worth not even a cup of coffee but still. Susan, I was heartbroken to learn of your move because as I’ve said before here, I pass by your lovely vineyard home each year that we visit it, and I always felt you added some vineyard magic to the experience. HOWEVER, your new old home is just so beautiful and I love the journey you’ve been on with it…. it’s a new journey we’re all on in a lovely way thanks to your generosity of sharing…. and now I’ve got plans for our backyard – I’ve also taken up watercolors after 40 years of oils and I LOVE IT!!!!! You are my Gladys Taber – so inspiring. THANK YOU.
I am leaving it on the deck. I love it too much to hide it on the roof of the barn! You’re making changes without having to go anywhere! FUN! I needed a change for my soul. Something said …. you need to go outside and PLAY! 💞 I love to be your Gladys Taber.😆❌⭕️❌⭕️❌⭕️
Oh Susan,
What a wonderful post! I’m certain you have planted many seeds of gardening inspiration — “breath of God” — in hearts all over the world today.
My beloved Grandmother, like you a woman of so many talents, was a devoted gardener. Her big backyard garden had little box hedges, and stepping stones, to form enchanting little pathways through the rosebushes, which we grandchildren delighted in walking. She had a pretty little metal sign in her garden that says it so well:
The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,
One is nearer God’s heart in a garden,
Than anywhere else on earth.
(Dorothy Frances Gurney)
Grandma was always fighting slugs in her Alyssum borders. My family lived one house away, and my best friend lived next door to my Grandmother. Whenever she and I needed some pocket money (usually for ice cream at the Dolly Madison we could walk to), we would go remove slugs for my Grandma, who paid us 5 cents a slug — easy money! She had a metal pie tin in her potting shed, and special slug spoons for us. She would pour some beer into the pie tin (poor slugs), and we’d get to work. To this day when I see a slimy slug I also see a shiny nickel.
You and Joe were like little gathering birds… making notes and taking pictures of things you loved in England, drinking in ideas, soaking up the feel of those gardens, not knowing that what you created in California would be such a joy to you (rather than some other lucky person!) down the years.
I went to your estate sale in Arroyo Grande in April as a sort of literary pilgrimage, so I could see a home of yours for myself. The setting was so peaceful and lovely, in itself and in its surroundings, with so many little charming touches outdoors that made me smile. I took in the weathered birdhouse in the middle of the picket fence garden and thought, That needs her here to love it. I walked the long driveway to the back of the property to see the items back there, looked at the creek, and just drank in the beauty, feeling a world away. The sense of peace and well being I felt there stayed with me, and made it easy to understand why you couldn’t bring yourself to sell it. Hope you didn’t sell things in that estate sale that you now wish you had not (though that could lead to more fun antiquing). Please tell me that no one purchased those beautiful gates?
Wishing you continued fun making your house a home, indoors and out.
Hello to Tractor Joe and Meow to Jack. xoxox Coco
NO ONE DID! Thank goodness, I never wanted to sell them in the first place! What were we thinking? 😆 I LOVE your appreciation it. It’s rather plain when you think about it, but a miracle to me. It’s getting prettier and prettier around here. We’re home! I pet leaves, talk to flowers, hug trees and they know they are all in the nest of hands. Maybe not the greenest thumb, but with a big heart for all of it. I loved the sound of your grandmother’s garden. Such romance and mystery for children. We have butterflies here, and frogs too. I’m beside myself. ❌⭕️
Happy you can be with your family. But, you will miss the SEASONS. We moved from vibriant Austin to isolated Morro Bay. That lasted 3 years. It was not my “cup of tea”! The image you posted is most likely a young dolphin or seal. Plenty of them in that area. I will suggest….start your search for medical/dental care as it is difficult to get qualified professionals.
Oh yes, I’m working on it! You used JUST the right word for Austin, “vibrant.” Did you go back there??
Sue — only ONE picture with Jack in it…??? You’re letting us down! We need to see the boy in his new digs.
I’ll be looking for the grapefruit wine at Trader Joe’s. A while back I tried Cupcake’s berry version from there and it was wonderful, so I’m sure this one’s good as well. AND…I love your goat! I’m glad you went back and got him. When I was around 3-4 years old I had a pet goat and I swear he thought he was a dog. You should get a couple of the real things and you’ll have entertainment for years!
I would love that!
You and Joe have many lovely and exciting possibilities for your outdoor spaces which are green dreams as it were. I am envious of your border of agapanthus, a flower I delightfully “discovered” years ago. My favorite flower is the peony and I have 23 bushes to prove it! LOL My second favorite is the Agapanthus which only grow in a very protected, sunny small location in my gardens. Gardening is so fulfilling and mentally and physically challenging. I wish I had super powers of strength to accomplish everything my mind and heart wishes.
Slow down and enjoy your new stage of life!
Peonies grow well on the island, but not so good in this area… You’re lucky to have them. Agapanthus grow practically wild here. I need to get some white ones to put in other places in the garden. Aren’t we SO LUCKY??!!
Wow! How exciting! 🥰 Your living garden walls are a blank canvas for your imagination to go wild and decorate those outdoor rooms! 👩🌾The possibilities are endless…water features, statues, benches, wildflowers, colorful beds, topiary, birdhouses, paths, gazebos, flowers galore🌹🌻🌷🌸, decorative gates, maybe even a dove cote or two plus a practically a year-round growing season. Can’t wait to see what you’re going create! You must be chomping at the bit to get started. Enjoy! 🏡
I’m definitely popping over to Trader Joe’s today and picking up a bottle or two of the grapefruit wine. It looks so refreshing!
That list is making my happy heart RACE! I’m so excited! 💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼 Hope you like the wine Mary!
Thank you for such a beautiful post. I’ve read it twice already. So incredibly relaxing in this crazy, mixed up world. I’m glad you are so happy in California and are getting acclimated to your new home. The gardens are absolutely beautiful. I can’t wait to order a “Just Joey” rose come spring. It will be the new addition to my garden next year. So happy you are able to spend cherished time with your family in California. Happy Fall to you, Joe, Jack and the barn kitties. P.S so glad you went back for the goat. It is perfect for your property.
Well, you moved from heaven to heaven! Wherever you go you leave your mark…your realized vision. You r CA garden vision turned into the gift you have now. Beautiful, peaceful, creative…and like Goldilocks said…just perfect!
The planted seeds and roots of the past have grown to embrace your heart today.
If you were younger, you may have built your dream home…with SB nooks and crannies to make you smile and large windows so the sun can kiss your smiling face while you paint calendars!! Building a house from foundation to roof is challenging, but wondering if your imagination and vision for the future has a place picked out on the 8 acres for a small version of a New England country house?
Joy continues to be in every step you walk. The results of your property’s vision has given you and Joe a dream-come-true of your own making! Welcome to the property of your dreams…and life here in your CA nest.
May continued health embrace you, Joe and your extended family. How lovely that you and your siblings will be able to spend remaining years celebrating each other as CA residents nearby!!
🐬💚 🕐
Thank you sweetheart! It’s all turning out just as it was supposed to!
Susan – I was always so envious of your lovely New England home, and the beautiful plantings. Now that you have moved to California, I’m beginning to appreciate what we have.
I’ve lived in Lompoc for 50 years this summer, and have been enjoying it for 30 of those years. The weather is perfect for me now. The beach is barely 10 miles down the road. Rocket launches from Vandenberg to watch, frequently now. So keep sharing, and I will keep enjoying.
Welcome home to California.
Thank you. Waking up in Gratitude every day! xoxo
Ohhhhhhhhh…….🍂🍂🍁🍁🍂🍂🍁🍁your blogs always make me smile BIG! 🥳🥳🥳 All your settling in is screaming COZY and contentment! Welcome back to California you two. And the fairytale continues👏👏👏🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🥰❣️ 🍂🍂🍁🍁🍂🍂
Susan girl, you sure had me fooled, lol with that goat! I thought it was a real one till I read further and you said, yup, I got that goat! I finally looked closer and I do now see how you could that goat on your roof!! So I’m your Valley girlfriend who moved back to Texas for our final years, lol. Love my brand new house but oh starting a garden over again sure is a chore. What works and what didn’t, lol. Have you been to the Avila Farmers Market yet, you will love all the beautiful pumpkins. Cambria should have their homemade pumpkins out by now in front of stores, really clever ones.
I hadn’t realized that your fur baby had diabetes, he’s a trouper if ever there was one🩵
He’s a good boy! We’ve been out a lot, but have seen relatively nothing, there is so much!!! Thank you for the suggestions!🥰
Hi again,
Does the goat have a name? Or your home or your property? Do they do that in California like they do over here in New England?
We have so many questions!! 😍😍
I’m thinking about names… it doesn’t have one yet, but it deserves one. The only structure here with a name is the Goat Barn, so far the garden has been my English Garden. Secret Garden has already been taken … I tend to name my houses what they are, often having something to do with the street we live on ~ Joe and I called our last House “Spring Street.” I should have a contest and let you all help me name it. I’m terrible at names!
Susan,
It’s always so delightful to read your blog updates! Wanted to make you aware
that after reading your September update, thought you should know that it is not advised to drink grapefruit juice or grapefruit wine if a person is taking the following medications:
some stations, calcium channel blockers, Estrogen, Amiodarone, Plavix,
Viagra, Buspirone (anxiety), some opioids, Allegra (allergy med.), some
steroids, or immunosuppressants.
Have hesitated to send this to you, but felt that it was the right thing to do.
Regards,
Pat Bates
P.S. Happy Fall
Well that is very smart of you to send to me. I didn’t even think about it! I should have thought about that! Thank you Pat!