Hello All! Happy End of August!👏 Lots to tell you about! We had Joe’s Birthday Party last week! Was so much fun. Lots of pictures coming up!v I’m thinking this is really is more of a magazine than a blog . . . with all the back issues still alive and well, over there ➡️➡️➡️➡️➡️➡️➡️➡️ ↘️ in case you need them.♥️
Ready for MUSICA? Listen to the words to this! It’s good. By the same guy who sang that amazing Bella Luna song, Jason Mraz. 💖
and homemaking books, even in my autobiographical books ~ I can’t be separated from it ~ this forever celebration of home ~ and the days of our lives celebrated there ~ it’s given me such a happy life, all these little things add up ~ and I know I’m not alone with this passion, we (meaning us Girlfriends) have BONDED over it! And I’m so happy to tell you I have never grown out of it. I still love to see my countertops shine, love to have parties for our friends, and set the table with old dishes and candles and flowers and make it beautiful.
(among every other thing!), and writing about everything later in my diary. For me, it’s always been old houses, feeding birds, hanging things on the line, daily cups of tea, kitties, music that takes me to another time ~ homemaking is the MOST creative work … home, where everything is just the way we want it, giving us, at least in one place, the exact life we want. It’s my passion and always will be, even when I was 13, arranging ⬆️ birthday presents on my bed; or when I worked in a record department (that’s my bedroom ⬇️, in a house I shared with girlfriends, I made the pillows, my g. grandma made the quilt, old 
family pictures from Grandpa Willard, $40 dresser <bought on layaway> from nearby antique store), when I was a waitress, or when I was writing books … I always had that passion and money never stopped me, because my parents taught me, if I want something, I can make it myself or save for it. I see something new, get inspired, and add it to my repertoire! Isn’t that the way it works for you? All about the senses … so I figured it out: does it feel good, look good, smell good, sound good; does it make you happy, make you feel safe, fill your heart, fly you to the moon? … say yes to these questions and therein lies the secret to a happy life!
streaming wonderfulness we can find. The trays are made of acacia wood, so they are light and simple, they have handles, and fit on our laps most comfortably. Mine is the one at top, his is the one on the bottom. You can tell by the dishtowels. I keep these trays, all ready for us, under the coffee table and put dishtowels on them for mini tablecloths, and dish towels for napkins too . . . I just changed the linens and look how cute! So cute I had to show you! I’m a horrible person when I’m hungry, which is rare since all I do is eat. But Joe knows all the symptoms. I make that point-to-my-mouth move in that comic below (he gave me years back, it lives in my dinner party diary) . . . I point at my mouth, and pretty much no matter where we are, even if we’re on the freeway, his fear of what he perceives is madness in the woman he loves (she perceives it as normal), is so palpable he practically FLIES off the road to where the food is! One of the many things I love about him! 
So this is me, getting ready for Joe’s Birthday Party that happened last week ~ doing first-thing-first, deciding on the candles for the table. After the candles, I got out the tablecloths, then the plates, and so on and so forth . . . Because it was a dinner for 24, at a long table under the big albizia tree in our garden, our first big dinner party since we moved here. And we were both in the MOOD.🎵💃🏼🕺🎶 And I will jump to the spoiler with GLEE . . . we had such a good time. There was dancing and singing, cake and candles, laughing and hugging. That’s all it took. Old friends from 1971, and new friends from 3 months ago, ages 23, 50, 80, and everyone in between. Happy Birthday to Joe! I’ll show you more pics in a minute!
I’m putting this tip in my Christmas Book, but because that book’s not coming until next year, I’m going to tell you about this good thing now. Glass “Spooners,” like the one with the cute feet in front in the photo above, and this one below, were filled with spoons 
during the Victorian era and kept on dining tables as a sign of hospitality ~ today you can find them in antique stores, thrift stores, really all over . . . and instead of spoons, I discovered that they make the prettiest, most interesting candle holders for votives ~ some are even wide enough for pillars, and some make great vases too. This is actually a secret I’ve kept a long time, I wanted to get all I needed before I told anyone!🤣 You will see them at all prices because in lots of places people don’t know what to do with a spooner! The hunt is the best part, but if you are too busy for that, I did the hunt part for you and found a few pretty spooners, and some old glass sugars and creamers to put in our webstore. Because soon it will be fall, and chilly and cozy inside! Get ’em fast before they get hot-hot-hot!😂
“they’re on the way.” Okay we believe you. Hopefully they will get sick of hearing from us! I’m really sorry ~ thank you for your patience. We used to be able to fly our books over, but it has gotten monumentally expensive, and I’m not going to raise prices, so they just have to cruise over . . . I don’t blame the printer, they do a wonderful job, even flew the 5 books in this video over, directly to me for final approval! And I have to tell you, really, I sat down and read it (pretending I didn’t know me), and I think you are going to love it! I even loved it… and I never love it when I first see a new book! I hope this bodes well! Just know that the MINUTE they arrive, they will be shipped out to you…Kellee is waiting with lots of help to make that happen. If you haven’t ordered your copy yet, you can do it HERE… have faith, they are coming soon to a mailbox near YOU!💝
The Blotter is our biggest calendar . . . it can be hung on the wall, or used as a desk calendar, you can tear off the pages . . . I can’t find the picture of Jack laying on the blotter so you can see the size, but it’s 22″ by 17″ … big!🩷
Here’s some more from my new 2026 calendars, this one is from September . . . they’re all in at the Studio now, Wall, Blotter, Mini, and Purse . . . Go HERE to read more.🧡
Here’s Thanksgiving ~ November! I have so much fun doing calendars! I did my first one in 1993 and have covered every home subject there ever has been, from letter writing, to embroidery, to gardening, books, cozy beds for sleeping weather, and lots of recipes too, and I just signed a contract to do more for 2027!💞
Here’s March 2026!This is why I have to update my old books . . . there is so much new art, so many new stories since I started writing books in that little one bedroom house on Martha’s Vineyard back in the 1980s!!🥰
XOX
Here’s the new cover! The only problem is, I just found out they
can’t guarantee they’ll get books to us before Christmas. So I’ve decided to save it for NEXT Christmas! I think we can get it by JULY of next year. But that’s okay, I hope, because you’ll have the SUMMER BOOK to keep you warm this Christmas ~ and who doesn’t dream of Summer during the winter? Lots of benefits for doing it this way: Mainly TIME! Time to make the Christmas Book even better.🌟 Time to write Willards and do new calendars! And I get to go meet you and sign books at Independent bookstores this fall! Time for dead-heading roses! And it just gave me time to enjoy a flamboyant, true-love birthday celebration with my guy! Which I get to show YOU! It’s my favorite thing, balance in life, a win-win!💞🥳🎁🎉🎊🎈
Time to make parties for our friends, to celebrate birthdays, our friendships, and our new life here in California, appreciating what we’ve been given.💞
So when I was getting candles and dishes ready, Joe got himself a new birthday barbecue! ‘Cause you can’t cook for 24 in our two-butt kitchen while everyone is there! Here is a view of our little kitchen at Thanksgiving last year! Makes me excited for fall!
XOXO
Here’s our two-butt kitchen last year, getting ready for Thanksgiving! And it’s almost here again! Such an exciting time of year! I saw red leaves in our Cottonwood trees on my walk yesterday! Yellow too. Not known for fall color in our part of California! You have to look close! It’s 8 am this morning, the sun is out, yet it is only 58º! Fall is around the corner! 🍁🍃🍂
But I digress! We set up the fire pit the night before the party . . . it’s too cold to sit outside at night around here … and we LOVE it outside, so we have to make people comfortable so they don’t go home! These things are so wonderful, throw off a ton of heat and no smoke! Joe thinks we’re crazy California people heating up summer nights! But sitting under twinkle lights and stars with flickering candlelight and old friends is totally worth it!🕯️
XOXO
Joe and Alfredo arranged rented long tables, chairs, & heater towers under the tree ~ moved all our garden furniture around, set up a bar under the arbor. They hung lights in the Albizzia tree . . . and everyone brought food, Joe BBQed steaks. We started preparing a week before the party, and here we are, the night before, with the bones all set and ready! They next morning, we added the frou-frou, as in flowers, plates, and silverware!🌸
My girlfriend Terrie came early to help us set up! I brought the candles and dishes from the house to the deck, she took them from the deck to the table! This was a family affair! It took a village. My sister Shelly is in the kitchen (could not have done it without her! Without any of them!) and Terrie’s husband Tom was out deadheading the Julia Child roses! He wanted a job! And those roses were on my mind!💛 He’s my hero!😊
Here’s Tom, back from the roses, helping put out the water glasses! They came down from the Bay Area to join us!💞
Looking good. I was no help. I had to take pictures!🤣
Need a video? I have one!
XOXO
Terrie’s talking to me while making it perfect ~ she doesn’t know I’m videoing!! I wonder how many of those flowers we ate!🌸🌸🌸 This whole time Joe is over at the “bar” putting crushed ice into galvanized buckets and stuffing them with bottles of water, wine, soft drinks, beer, and juice from the fridge in the garage.👏
See Butch? He and his musica was a gift to Joe’s party from our very good old friend, Cliff, and his darling wife, Lynette!💝 Butch came early to set up . . . and was so GOOD, wait till you hear! He sang and played the theme music from our lives! And you see the dance floor right there in front of the bar! Sometimes we call it grass.
XOXO
Three amigas! Back from the extra fridge in the garage, Terrie has the ice cream, I have the peach cobbler, Diane has the water pitcher (Butch has the guitar! Tom has his camera!). The three of us have been girlfriends since 1972! Met in San Luis Obispo all those years ago. Never imagined THIS back then!! We were stopped by the music, gotta dance!💞
You’re going to feel like you were there!!
XOXO
There’s Alfredo and Cliff! You get the gist, just a really fun time! So good! So good! So good! This all went on for a while 🎵🎶🎵 . . . and finally . . .
We ate!
So DELICIOUS! Look at that! All comfort food!💝
We toasted, we speechified, we laughed, ate some more, toasted more, sang Happy Birthday, Joe made a wish and blew out his candles, we had ice cream and birthday cake, and enjoyed 
the gorgeous day. There were old friends and new friends, cousins of friends, children of friends, even my dentist and his wife and daughter were there, new friends.♥️ People who didn’t know each other met and talked and talked and talked. It was perfect. My darling man was the belle of the ball. And we all stayed nice and warm, lit the candles, and nobody went home early! Judy took a video of me toasting Joe and thanking everyone for coming … she has it in her phone and I forgot to get it, but she put it up on my Instagram page if you want to see it (I’m susanbranchauthor over there).♥️ (Don’t want you to miss anything!🤣)
Look what Sheri brought! Two Birthday Cakes AND coconut candy (like almond joy, without the almonds, and about 100 times better!) Coconut Cake and Lemon Cake. She made it all! Just delicious!💝
She is amazing! Isn’t it fun, we’ve been doing this blog together for so long, a lot of you know who a lot of these people are! Remember? Sheri worked for me for years, she’s my neighbor and friend. Judy was there too, but Kellee was booked up this day …she was missed!
Alfredo came . . . someone else we could not have done this without . . . actually I guess it’s EVERYONE!!
I always like to include characters from my books when I can, friends for life💝 … you saw Diana, and here’s more dearest old friends, Cliff and Elaine . . . Elaine drove out from Martha’s Vineyard to spend the month of August in her old stomping grounds.♥️
XOOX
Here we are, end of the night, just us in the quiet … the music still echoing, the ghosts of the party still milling about . . . We’re not taking those lights out of the tree. They go on with a flip of a switch in our laundry room and we’ve had them on every night since the party!
The next morning Terrie and Tom came over, Shelly was here, Joe made breakfast and we relived the entire party ~ always the funnest part! And opened Joe’s birthday presents!🎁
I found this in a nursery gift store near us (at Ron’s in Halcyon). It’s on a thick piece of board . . . I thought it was perfect for the darling love of my life, and he LIKED IT! YAY!💝
Parties are wonderful things. They leave you with a mown lawn, a clean house, left-over macaroni and cheese, at least four half-gallons of ice cream, plus twinkle lights, lots of flowers, a ton of photos, and wonderful memories!♥️
XOX
A couple days later, the party tablecloths are on the line, a lovely sight to see flying around the garden . . . Still living in the glow, but back to taking my walk, listening to my book (Maisie Dobbs series, book one, love it so much already!), trying to eat more healthily, planting lettuce, scratching cats, and hearing the sound of the bees in the albizzia tree.
If you have a Trader Joe’s near you, here are two things to try . . . their Egg Bites are SO delicious! I love all 3 varieties! One of them is just egg whites, one of them is eggs, spinach, and kale . . . one has bacon, they’re all good. Take 60 seconds in the micro-wave to heat up! Also, see that toast? That’s their Danish seed bread. Yummy! In my toaster (can anyone suggest a GOOD TOASTER that doesn’t take up the whole counter in my two-butt kitchen???) I have to put the bread down twice in this one to make it crisp, the way I like it. The peaches came from our tree. Free and excellent! This bag went to Sheri!
Well I hope that made up for my long absence. This ought to take you forever to read and look at all the videos. We can thank YouTube for making it easier to put up videos on a blog! I’ve never done more than one in a single post! It still takes forever, but not as long as it used to!!!
I feel like I’m forgetting something!🤣 Even after all that! Well, if I remember, I shall return! Exciting to know soon we’ll all be turning the page to wonderful September! 👏 Take good care of yourselves! Thanks for coming to visit! And remember,
LOVE YOU DEARLY!!! XOXO 
Wrote down the Trader Joes suggestions, love getting them! The party looked wonderful and your garden in the background looked amazing! It has been a cool spring and summer here along the coast in Southern California, cooler than it has been in a long long time, years. I keep thinking that some hot weather will come but we just might miss it completely this year. We are driving across the country soon, hoping to catch fall in Boston!
That will be heaven! Boston has so much history … have you ever been?
hi Susan, so glad to see you once again. I loved the party photo’s and video’s….looks like everyone had a ball. Is that Cliff your ex husband Cliff? i was just wondering….see yeah, i have read all your books and love them dearly….they will be in my library until i am dead and gone and i hope that my children or grandchildren will see what treasures they are. I would love to visit Cali one day, its on my bucket list. Looks like a nice place to live. Thank you so much for the wonderful post and for making my heart happy. Have a wonderful day and Happy Birthday to Joe.
Yes, that’s the Cliff! We were the lucky ones. No vitriol, forgave each other years ago. Too alike to live in the same house, plus one of us was over-endowed with hormones in his (hint) youth! He is married to SUCH a fun woman, just love her. I’m afraid, as time goes on, I may like her best! 🤣 She made my family’s potato salad recipe for Joe’s party! 💞 Lovely words Kathy, thank you for checking in!♥️
I thought I recognized Cliff! Met him years ago at a financial institution. Learned at some point that he was your ex. Funny connection!
What a lovely party and so happy for all the fun in your AG home – looks beautiful!
It is a funny connection! Even for us! But we’re all grown up now, and bygones have become just that! Bye-gone! I have to say, I adore his wife. He did us all a favor by marrying her!👏
Same here, Kathy, I have my Susan Branch Bookshelf here in Maine, where she was a Rock Star before I ever heard of her!!
The bit about you being hungry and Joe immediately finding food cracked me up, I could totally relate. After 50+ years of marriage my husband knows the signs too…just really made me laugh! Thanks for the reminder about how fun a life it is when married to the best person ever!
I knew it was more than just me!!! 👏🤣
So worth the wait! Love it all!! Love that the Christmas book is coming back to be a winter book as well. Now we need a spring book to have a complete set! Love love love from Washington State!!
xoxo
Lori M
I have always thought that too, a Spring cookbook!!!
Margot B.
I’m hoping for a revised and expanded Fall cookbook. Mine is looking a little worse for wear (although I prefer well-loved), since I refer to it so often. I can feel the crispness in the air and smell the wood smoke when I open the cover.
As you know, fall was one of my very best New England discoveries!🍂💞🍂
Oh, this was such a fun blog to read. I can’t wait to go back and watch all the videos. I am so happy for you and Joe that you are having such a wonderful new life in California. Hope to see you at one of the fall book signings. Love and blessings.
Have a nice party Susan. It’s nice to visit your blog always
So wonderful to catch up!!!! Hugs to you, Joe & the kitties!!
It looked AWSOME!
The yard, the party, the whole event.
So glad you are happy and healthy in your new abode.
Cheers
Jan from Northern CA
I love to see laundry on the line fair with the wind.Its been a sad day in our country, your blog brought light and love.I will never understand all the hate.Love you and all the light you shine on our lives.
Always in agreement Mary! xoxoxo
I miss Cali, living in Louisiana now. Your party, your set up, your friends and food, so wonderful! Your blog and the videos and pics had me smiling all the way through. Can I move in down the road and be your neighbor and friend? ☺️
Ha ha, I hear the homesickness in your words! Come back!
Hi Susan! What fun!!! I loved seeing all of your party videos , and you’re right! I did feel like I was there celebrating with you all!!! I just love a party in a garden…so enchanting. And, you and your crew of helpers did such a beautiful job of setting things up. I am very happy for you & Joe, that you’ve made such a good transition from East Coast to West Coast.
I was wondering if you’ve had a chance to watch “With Love, Meghan” on Netflix? It’s Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, inviting friends to her house to share cooking, gardening & hosting ideas. First of all, I think you would really enjoy the show! And second of all, I think you should contact her producer and see about doing a show with Meghan!!! You 2 are so similar in your love of homemaking, and she seems like such a lovely, charming, down-to-earth kinda gal!!! Anyway, just a thought!
Next week we are heading up to Yachats, OR on the Central Coast for, what I call a “Cousin Party”! I’m so excited to share one of my very most favorite places in the world with all of my cousins, and my 95 year old aunt. About half of them are coming from the East Coast. We’ve rented a big house, plus some will stay in the nearby resort hotel. We will do several dinners together at the house, but it’s nice to have the resort restaurant nearby, too. So, lots to do to get ready & packed up…we leave one week from today!
Thanks for sharing your wonderful Birthday party for Joe with all of us!!! I’m so glad your Summer book is done and almost here…really looking forward to it! And your calendars are so pretty, I will be ordering several to give as gifts.
Enjoy September!!! Sending love & hugs to you, Joe & Jack!!!💕💗💕
Barbara
Well! Me and Meghan! She is adorable . . . I’m so glad she fights for her happiness. There are waaaay too many who think they deserve an opinion about her!🤣 Your Cousin Party sounds WONDERFUL! Yachats … always wanted to go there. I’m going to remind Joe and see if we can head that way on our book tour! Have a wonderful time Barbara!
Loved reliving the party. So much fun!
You certainly picked your life up and put it down in California…wherever you go, there you are. I look forward to your blogs. So glad for this new one. Happiest happy birthday to Joe. Lucky people❣️ How is Jack?! I missed seeing him in this blog.
Ellen from NEOhio
He’s so good! He’ll be back in next blog. Such a good boy!
What a wonderful celebration with friends for Joe’s birthday! Thank you for all the videos in this blog post. Love your flowers and the lights in the tree…good idea to keep them up all year. Happy Autumn to you both.
Same with you DeeAnn!!🍂🍂🍂
Susan….you’ve become a real live excellent, exceptional artist conquering depth perception (hard for me)….you’re work is just lovely. I’m so glad you are back to illuminating books because your artwork inspires me. I just hope I get my book before September 16 as I will be leaving the country for awhile. Stay ‘cool’!!!❤️❤️❤️
Your book will be going out next week, Karen… starting on Tuesday . . . fingers crossed it will be there in time. Where are you going?
Your California property is so lovely! As always thank you for sharing joy 💕
Oh Susan, How I have missed you! This blog is such a treat. I had to clean a house today and I got home feeling tired and a little grumpy (needing food? haha). I made myself an iced coffee, brought my laptop out into my garden and I have been sitting here with a lovely breeze and you! Sparkling and making the house makes me happy! I used to clean my girlfriend’s rooms when I was little. Their mother’s loved me! I would surprise clean for my mom too. It made me feel happy and proud. I used to lay all my presents out on my bed as well.
I can’t wait for the new book and a Christmas one as well!
I love spooners as well and I’m always on the hunt for them when i’m out and about!
I love the calendar page with the little corgi. Is that Peggy? Ellie and Myron would be thrilled to have her represented!
The party for Joe’s birthday looked amazing. Thank you for sharing all the great videos. The lights, the table, the pretty dishes, flowers and friends. What a wonderful time you all had. You have settled into your life in California quite nicely. It suits you both. Sending lots of love to you!
Your friend, Mary
P.S. Did you get the recipe I sent you for the rustic peach tart?
What good little girls we were! Born into joy! Yes, Peggy was my first corgy model! What an adorable breed! Darn! I know i got that recipe … but I haven’t cleaned my studio in way too long . . . I’m sure it’s layered in there somewhere! All my peaches are gone! Are we supposed to do anything to the tree now? I love to hear you taking care of yourself. ❌⭕️
Good little girls, yes! always looking for approval or pats on the head (gold stars?!). I sent you the recipe on instagram messages. I can send it to you again if you like. I’m sure any fruit would work. Im not sure about what to do to the peach tree as I don’t have one. We went to a garden open house at the VonTrapp farm in Mad River Vermont today. It was so breathtakingly beautiful. It did my soul wonders. I try to take care of myself, Sue. Today was a good one. It made me want to plant everything. They had the most stunning Agapanthus! All in pots. I know you have them in Cali. I wish I could grow them but I don’t really have any way to store them over the winter. Sending hugs.
I had 3 agapanthus on a shelf in front of a window in my studio for years . . . they bloomed there, but never when I set them out in the garden for the summer! I don’t know why! Here, they grow like weeds … I planted 3 white ones in my perennial garden this year. I hope they look like stars when they are in bloom! I’m making time this week to organize my papers, by subject. The notes and scraps I have, what books to read, what series to stream, new recipes, ideas for the garden. I have them all in a pile and am going to type them and print them out, one page per subject. That’s the plan. In there, I should find that peach recipe, but of course if you have it handy . . . put it here instead of Instagram because Instagram is difficult to copy and paste … I probably copied it out . . . I know I WANTED it … Just don’t know if I remembered to do it! Our peaches were delicious this year! I’ve seen the VonTrapp gardens on Instagram … but was never sure they were REAL!!! Somebody knows how to fertilize a garden. I am still very much in the abundance learning stage!! Joe and I weeded until it got too dark to see last night, even with the twinkle lights on! What a gift!💖
Hi Susan, and Happy Birthday, Joe! I really needed that music video today. The world started to get me down. But finding your Willard helped tremendously. It is heartwarming to read these posts.
Thank you.
Happy to hear that Anna! I also forget the world when I’m writing them . . . always a good thing! ❌⭕️
EEEEkkkkk! Can you hear me over in California!! Been waiting for this new Blog, and Here it Is! I haven’t had time to really read and absorb it. Busy day here in DownEast Maine. Off to Orono for an appointment with doc, over to Lowes for glass covers for….our very own Ship’s Wheel light fixture that Tom and I are crafting, back to Ellsworth to scout out more countertop material, breakfast at Maaatha’s (Martha’s). Then on the way home to Franklin, found the exact, perfect green granite I’ve been searching for months. Local guy right nearby. Thank you, so much for sharing all the exciting book publishing, garden designing, birthday partying and many other lovely, feel-good things.
I had to put myself on a No News Diet. I was literally, physically ill. A week without a drop of that, and I’m the happiest of clams (which are right at our doorstep on the mud flats at low tide). I cannot change a thing, I’ve written to everyone I could think of, and I was making The Lovely Tom very Worried about me. This, too, will pass. At 85 and 80, I’m not giving this any more of my precious time and health to this insanity.
Wow! Beautiful sunset over Hog Bay, upper Taunton Bay, Upper Frenchman Bay, the Atlantic Ocean.
I’m Home in the place my heart has yearned for!!!!!
I love you so much, Dear Lady! You have been a “Happy Guru” for me these past years.
Debbie in Maine for the Duration
You never have to worry, all us New Englanders speak Maine! You guru me right back Deb! I’m so happy for you and Tom, in the place you love most and keeping on keeping on!❌⭕️
What a treat to be treated to all the photos of videos of SO MUCH happiness and love and fun! Beautiful party, loving hearts. Everything so beautiful, light-hearted, and merry … who could ask for a better party. Thank you so much for sharing, dear Susan. May goodness abide with you and all you love!
Thank you Jana! Beautiful! Lighthearted is such a lovely word! We need that!❌⭕️
A lovely 💕 yard with twinkly lights! 🤩. I had to look up what an Albizzia tree 🌳 is.
I must say that I use spooners for spoons. So does my sister. We always did in the farmhouse kitchen where I grew up. I have my Great-grandma’s caramel glass spooner with matching sugar, creamer and butter dish!
Happy birthday 🎂🎉 week Joe!! Those cakes looked fabulously delicious!!
Love,
Margot B.
Isn’t that wonderful!! I bet that set looks beautiful!🍂
Dear Susan,
What a wonderful party! Thank you for sharing all the pictures. Love Maisie Dobbs! Enjoy!
You are so inspiring to me.
Cindy
❌⭕️Cindy!
Thank you for mentioning the Maisie Dobbs series. I am adding that to my “To Read” list. I love books!
Lots of people have mentioned it in their comments and they all agree it’s a wonderful series!!!💖
You are right Susan…
We’ve been missing you
But
After reading
It is well worth the wait…
Will enjoy rereading and enjoying the pictures
Especially
Linens blowing in the breeze…
Thank you again for sharing your gifts.
Thank you for the lovely words Deby!❌⭕️
What a fun birthday party! Gorgeous table, great food and friends! What more could anyone ask for? Happy birthday to Joe!
You are going to love the Maisy Dobbs series. I’ve read all her books and took my time reading the last book of the series! I didn’t want it to end. Happy reading!
That’s how you judge a wonderful book . . . you don’t want it to end!! xoxo
As always loved the new blog. Enjoyed the videos of the party; felt like being there. So looking forward to getting my copy of The Summer Book. I think it should be here in a couple of days. YAH!
I want to thank you for brightening my day. I have been a bit down lately and reading your blog always brings me great joy! Thank you!
Awww, wish I could reach out and hug you! Glad it helped a bit, Margaret!💖
I don’t remember hearing the story about cleaning the kitchen for your mother when she went to get groceries. That is so darling!! I loved the story and pictures of the party! Happy Birthday Joe!! Can’t wait to get the Summer book!
I think it might be in my Fairytale Girl Book. Summer Book arrived to the Studio yesterday afternoon… being unloaded this weekend, will start shipping after the holiday, on Tuesday!👏
What a lovely party!! ❤️ Happy Birthday, Joe!! …I’m so excited about The Summer Book—can’t wait to see it! Loved hearing that you’re now into the Maisie Dobbs series. I discovered them a while back and just devoured them. Learned so much I never knew about WWI. Really great books—I hope you enjoy them😊
I already am! It makes my walk so much more fun!💖
Happy Belated Birthday Joe! All your videos made me homesick for Atascadero. Though, I will be out there the last weekend next month. Going back for my 40th high school reunion and visit my best friend. I am looking forward to the trip.
Oh fun. We’ll try to keep the fires OUT for you! You are going to have a wonderful time! xoxoxo
Greetings, Girlfriend! It’s always a pleasure to hear from you! A Trader Joe’s is being built about a mile from my house! Yay! So looking forward to shopping there when it opens. Where’s Jack? I always enjoy Willard but I super enjoyed this one. Happy birthday, Joe! I celebrated a birthday this month too! All the best, Marge:)
Ooooo, you are going to LOVE it! Feel comfortable about trying anything that says “Trader Joe’s” on it. Everything I try is wonderful! Happy Birthday Marge! Jack is here, and getting sweeter every day. He has lived here one year now, and finally seems acclimated!♥️
how great! A Willard today! The house and grounds are really coming along, the fruit is like a gift daily. When are you getting chickens? The birthday party for Joe looks grand and to have live entertainment and coconut birthday cake ( two cakes in fact). Life certainly is good for the two of you. Before I forget be careful with those albizia trees, here in Hawaii they are an invasive species and have taken over the big island much to the detriment of homeowners. Those large branches are quick to splinter off and fall on roofs of houses. They grow super tall and I don’t think the root system is that deep so when we get hurricanes they will easily topple over over homes. Not to scare you but be aware. It does give lovely shade in your back yard💖🌺.
Very good advice. We don’t allow the limbs to grow over the roof. I don’t think they’re invasive here, but we did get a volunteer way out back . . . it’s pretty big now, but not as big as the one outside our door ~ and it’s so far away, it never gets purposely💖 watered, but manages to thrive anyway! So far, no hurricanes. But with this weather mess, soon yours may start coming here!
I just love your California home. Your blog reminds me of a fine magazine article. I use a mini
Cuisinart air fryer oven. I have a tinier kitchen than you. It is perfect for making toast for avocado toast or just toast but as a mini oven I could biscuits too. I also cook steaks in it and it has to trays that wash quickly. I got rid of my toaster when I bought this mini airfryer. It has rectangular baskets. Frozen foods cook quickly too. I use my microwave too but not for toast. I actually looked at the TJ’s egg bites today while shopping. Now that I have your recommendation I will definitely be trying these. My son has an August birthday too! He went a few days after to visit Chicago for a weekend to meet a friend visiting from Thailand. Best! Karen from Southern CA I met you at Apple Farm 2018! So happy to meet you!!
Hi Karen! Thank you for the good idea! Since I wrote that blog post . . .💞Kellee surprised us with a toaster! But my sister’s birthday is coming and that little oven looks perfect for her!👏
Oh that was a wonderful Willard! Full of joy and flowers, kitties and lovely people – thank you for sharing – as well as the videos. That’s definitely how to party!
Love from
Karen
Northamptonshire U.K. 🇬🇧🏴
👏👏👏👏👏💞
Wonderful party and this blog was so fun to read and watch. Thank you for sharing Joes special day. As to a toaster…The Wonder Oven…not only is it the cutest thing, it performs all of its functions with perfection. I love it so much I have purchased several for gifts. It’s from Our Place and they are having a sale right now, fromourplace.com. Check it out.
It is cute!! But Kellee sent me a toaster! Totally unexpected! And it’s a Laura Ashley!!!😂
Wonderful newsletter as always!
Is Jack now an outdoor cat?
Does he get along with the cats in the neighborhood?
Jack still stays in. He got out one time, stuck close to the house, but between it and a hedge, munching on grass.I let him be for a few minutes, then found him on the front porch, scooped him up, brought him in! We have two other cats that were our studio cats before, born and raised here. Jack is king here, so we keep the other cats in the goat barn.Jack accepts their existence now, after a year, but I dare not try to let them come in!!😆
Thank you for the reply!
I never tire of reading about Jack and seeing new photos of him.
Happy Belated Birthday to Joe!!
The party set-up looked wonderful & most importantly, everyone had a good time.
The Gladys Taber quote you lead off with reminded me to tell you a story……I follow a local consignment/thrift store on Facebook. They posted a picture of a large crowded bookshelf & said “all books 50¢”. As I zoomed in you can imagine my surprise to see 3 Gladys Taber books on the shelf!!!!! I could not get to that store fast enough!!!!! As I was perusing the shelves, I spotted three more!!!! My heart was about to jump out of my chest. Can you imagine $3 for 6 Gladys books! Five of the books were ones I didn’t have, one was a paperback version of a hardback already had so I’ll be gifting it. Also found a Fannie Farmer cookbook! Anyways, I knew you would share my joy and I want to thank you soooo much for introducing me to Gladys. I love you both!
WOW! What a find! No, can’t imagine it! I’m so glad you found her . . . she is the best!!!❌⭕️
Speaking of Gladys…did you know you’re mentioned on page 29 of the September/October issue of the Friends of Gladys Taber journal? I received my copy yesterday!
NO! How fun! Mine hasn’t come yet!! 👏
As always you truly inspire me. I have been trying to think of something fun to do for my birthday in October. I think I will throw an outside dinner party! No one even has to know it is my birthday, the planning, preparing and execution will be gifts enough!
Last them sing to you!!!🎵 It’s a wonderful thing!❌⭕️ Happy Birthday! Have fun!💝
So lovely to see a new post. I’d almost thought you’d given up writing them. What a celebration – not only of Joe’s birthday but of summer with friends. A wonderful way to start this day and I thank you for all that goodness and beauty.
No, probably will warn you if I ever do that! 💖💖💖💖
Lovely blog post — I have missed reading them! Thank you for sharing your adventures with your readers.
My pleasure Louise!
Looks like you had a wonderful and fun birthday for Joe! Happy Belated Birthday Joe! Thanks for sharing your lovely house and yard. It’s all so beautiful and makes me miss CA where I lived ages ago. You inspire me to have a dinner party!
YAY!!!💞
Amazing party, as always! Love seeing the tablescape. The lights in the trees are enchanting! I hope you can also revisit the autumn book one day. I love it so much! I read a book recently that I wanted to recommend– The Briar Club by Kate Quinn. It’s about female friendships and their secrets in a Washington, D.C. boardinghouse during the McCarthy era. I couldn’t put it down!
Oooo, that sounds good! Thank you Hanna!💖
I love the story about Joe understanding your need to have food. A compassionate partner is needed especially when you’re travel companions. My second husband had a pact with me. If either one of us was ready to go home, the other person would comply and go home willingly. It helped to be on board ahead of time.( He also would pull over when we drove if I said I needed to pee). We made good partners.
Good to hear from you. Good to hear about your party and all your company.
Good to know my Summer Books is not lost in the mail.😀
Good guy . . . what we all need! Summer Books arrived at the Studio YESTERDAY! Will be on their way right after the holiday weekend!
Wonderful to be a “doily” person!! In one of your blogs you said you would never be a minimalist. It brought me such joy.!!! Thank you for reminding us to celebrate the little things, the important things and those we love! Any news on your book signing on the central coast this November. I have a girlfriend flying in from Nevada for that very event, so when you know a date, I’d love to let her know.🩷✍️📚
No, could not do it! Too many non minimalist things I love. Just think, probably some would think my Beatrix Potter figurines would be the first to go. But truth is, they were the first things I packed to take WITH us! I’ll hurry up and plan a date!!! xoxoxo
Lovely, newsy blog post. Thank you Susan, the last time was in May! We love hearing from you and about you and Joe and your life together. Its endlessly fascinating and inspiring to us!! Can’t wait to get the new summer book, I think I already pre-ordered. Looks like Joe had the perfect birthday celebration, you went all out. Here in North Texas we have had a pretty marvelous summer, weatherwise. Only about 4 days at 100 degrees, it’s usually 20 or more. This week we are experiencing two cold fronts and rain over next 3 days. I feel bad for the rest of the country who have endured a lot of weather extremes this year. Life is wonderful and you and Joe are a big part of it!
Always love hearing from you Judy! Hope fall is wonderful for you!!!🍂🍂🍂
Happy Birthday Joe. Love your blogs
Loved the newsy Williard… and we met the real Williard!! Now we know why this blog post is called Williard.. Susan, I am at one with you in the “need to eat now” issue. My husband always makes sure I have a protein bar if we are hiking or somewhere we can’t get food at a moments notice. I’m better now.. added more protein to my diet and cut out lots of the snacky foods, but I still need to carry a protein bar! Any news on the meet up with the girlfriends in SLO??
Haven’t had time to plan yet! working on it! xoxoxo
LOVE IT! Worth the wait!! Happy (belated) Birthday to Joe!
Joy, love, nature and sharing it with good friends.
You’ve found the recipe for a creative, happy life!
Congratulations,
Linda Z.
Thank you. That MUST be true, because happy is what we are!❌⭕️
Eeeekkk! Second verse, same as the First. Just sat with my second cuppa and watched all the videos. Oh, JOY. Aren’t we the lucky ones who are able to derive so much joy from the joy of those we love?!?
So glad you have “discovered” Maisie Dobbs. I have read every one, as soon as they came off the press. Now, it may be time to reread them. Maybe one blessing of having Alzheimer’s is that I can read old favorites because they will seem new to me. 😉 I know you will love them.
Thank you again for this Wonderful Willard!!
Debbie in beautiful DownEast Maine
You’re making me want alzheimer’s!!! Your joy of life permeates every time you write!❌⭕️
So good to hear about all the great news, party, and how you are enjoying your beautiful home! Loving the pictures of your gardens and all the work you are doing. Hope you have a “just joey” rose planted!!
K. Blue
Oh yes we DO! Maybe my favorite rose … smells wonderful, doesn’t get sick, prolific!
Dear Susan, It was so much fun reading Willard. Thanks! With your love of life and all things beautiful, I really do hope that you have trusted in Jesus Christ as your Savior. When this life is over, we will have eternity with our Creator & Lord. “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” Psalms 16:11.
Much love in southwestern Illinois, Beth
There is not a day that goes by that I don’t turn my eyes skyward and say, “thank you.”♥️
Looks PERFECT!! Thanks for sharing! Happy Birthday to Joe!
Loved this so much! What a wonderful party! You’ll love the Maisie Dobbs series! I have them all. There’s also a stand alone titled, The White Lady.
Thank you for showing us your “mess” which made me throw that horrible perfectionism of mine out the door once and for all. Creating a room this week for all my artistic endeavors, thoughts, ideas and materials. You inspire me to no end, thank you once again..,
I finally realized perfectionism is a threat! 🤣 So what I say all the time is “good enough!”👏
Getting your post today was perfect timing! I’m spending 6 hours at our VA hospital with my husband today while he has his 4th round of chemo (the whole procedure takes almost 6 hours). We also had a horrific day in Mpls. yesterday so it was nice to drift away reading and enjoying your beautiful, peaceful, delightful and delicious post. Thank you, Susan and Happy Belated Birthday to Joe! You sure do throw great parties!!
Rough times Elaine . . . I keep my eyes squinched closed when Joe walks by with the newspaper! Blessings to you two for what you’re going through. It’s not fun! But it WORKS … good and brave of you to persevere. ❌⭕️❌⭕️
What a wonderful Willard. Loved the videos. Even – or especially – the “after party” ones. Enjoyed the outdoor sounds. Lovely setting. Happy birthday to Joe.
Hello Susan! I have both your original Summer and Christmas books… has it really been that long?! RE: Toaster suggestions… after many years and many frustrations with toasters and toaster ovens, I recently splurged on a Duolit — hand built in Great Britain and fully repairable — and it is fantastic! And they carry a 2 slice smaller version. You can even get cages to toast sandwiches! So just an idea. Happy Birthday wishes to Joe and Happy Anniversary! Lovely party!!
Thank you Susan! You guys are the BEST when it comes to ideas!!! ❌⭕️
I almost bought a Duolit, but I decided on a Breville 2 slice instead. I don’t remember the reason behind my decision, as it was some time ago. I love my toaster, and I often wonder- “Is it possible to have a love affair with a toaster?!!”
Of course it is! Anything that does what it’s supposed to do without making you do all the work!😘
I enjoyed this Willard; now I go have my cup of tea. Until next time…..you enjoy your day Susan!
Happy birthday 🎉 to Joe! California lawn party Looks wonderful!
And for your toaster) lol 😂 that’s important! Just get a black n decker toaster oven!
Great for small spaces and toasts heats things up wonderfully! Have used them for 30?
Plus years! Small countertop approved! Thank you for all of the continued fairy 🧚♀️ tale love Lee ness! Happy 😊 fall 🍂 on the way! LK
LUCKY!!!🇬🇧
Thanks for sharing so much. We’ve missed you. Looks like you’ve made this home as cozy as MV. I love my cheap Walmart Mainstays 2-Slice Toaster. Perfect toast in less than a minute. Great for a small kitchen. The new books sound great.
This blog post made me so happy. I think my heart actually sped up some with excitement at the video of the party, when it was all set up, then all the others kept it going. I LOVE your garden and all the flowers. I am so happy for you and Joe to have such a magical place to live. I just preordered the new Summer Book. Can’t wait to read it.
👏💓😺😛 🌻🌺🌳🍒🍧🎂🍻🍹so happy to hear from you!&
Hi! So glad to catch up with your “doings”! Happy Birthday to Joe! You mentioned reading the Maisie Dobbs series book one, they are some of my favorite books! I have read the entire series! Loved them all! May I suggest, also books by Rhys Bowen, and especially her two new ones, “The Rose Arbor” and the newest one: “Mrs. Endicott’s Splendid Adventure”! Such good reads! Also if you haven’t found on Netflix “Professor T”, I highly recommend it! Excellent series, great acting and writing. How is kitty Jack doing? My Mr. Sims (orange tabby) is enjoying the last days of summer by sitting in our bedroom window each day! We are busy at our house putting up the bounty of our garden. My hubby does the canning and I am the clean up crew! LOL! We just celebrated our 64th anniversary last month with a special dinner out! Thanks for all the videos and the long newsy “Willard”! Take care! Sandi 🙂
My girlfriend Elizabeth told me to read them . . . and she said she was jealous that I hadn’t read them and get to do it for the first time!🤣 It has lots of teaching in it, love that! Have you noticed how much readers are enjoying historical novels based on WWII? So popular now! Thank you for the great book suggestions! Jack is good, we are here now almost exactly one year, and I think it is finally HOME to him! Happy Anniversary! 64 years! How LUCKY!💝💝💝💝
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That is a BEAUTY! But Kellee surprised me with a new toaster yesterday!!!🤣
How fun to share Joe’s special party–thanks for the photos and videos. Your yard is really coming along and you are once again creating a magical oasis! I could almost smell the linens waving on the line and loved seeing your office too! Well, I guess I just loved the whole blog! 😀 I’ve sure had trouble posting my comments recently–hope you get it! You bring me (us) so much joy, Susan. Thank you!
Home is where we make it I guess!🏡 So lucky! I see you Ginny . . . just was SO busy after last post I got too far behind with comments!!! I’ll try to do better!💝💝💝
No worries, I’m just glad it’s working!
Yes, home IS where we make it and that isn’t always where we THOUGHT we would! After 40 years in beautiful Canada and the Pacific NW, I sure didn’t think I’d grow old in Texas-ha! So, I’m blooming where we’re planted and thanking God for every day I have, to make my house a loving and wonderful home. And YOU are part of that inspiration–so grateful for you. Thanks again for all you do.
That’s the spirit Ginny! Must bloom where we’re planted!!!❌⭕️
~🩵~You make every occasion so special. ~🩵~
I love this toaster I bought on Amazon. They come in a fun choice of colors.
Keenstone Toaster 2 Slice, Retro Wide Slot Stainless Steel Toaster with 6 Browning Levels, Reheat & Defrost, for Bagel, Toast, Bread, Kitchen Essentials, Removable Crumb Tray, White https://a.co/d/bVeG3rQ
Guess what? I got a package from Amazon yesterday with a Laura Ashley toaster in it! From Kellee!!! 🌸🌸🌸 A person has to be careful what she says out loud around here! ❌⭕️
You are such an inspiration! I would love to be one of the lucky guests at any of your parties. I hope the brace on your hand/wrist isn’t something serious…that’s your paintin’ arm! ♥♥♥
It’s not serious . . . I was too rambunctious moving things around for the party ~ myself, to get it done now, instead of waiting for someone else to do it! It hurt for a minute . . . those braces are SO helpful, and it’s totally off now. All is well!♥️
Sigh..oh Susan, your posts make me so happy, happy, happy! We also use trays from time to time and I love the tea towel idea. I laughed out loud at your ‘hungry’one. That is me in a nutshell-but my husband calls it Hangry!😂
What a lovely party and your enthusiasm is contagious! It’s been so hot here in SC but you are making me itch to get outside and work our little piece of dirt to make it more beautiful.
Thank you for continuing to share your “happy gene” and your Eden with us all. 😘
Thank you Wendy! I love hearing from you all! Sometimes I get so busy, I don’t show it enough, but never doubt, it’s a forever thing!!💝
Dear Susan, we kindly need your books translated into Spanish. Greetings from Uruguay
I would need to get an Uruguayan publisher to be able to do that! I wish! Maybe you know one? Thank you for the compliment! 💝
I’m glad you had a great time celebrating Joe! Thanks for sharing your exuberance with us!
You’ve outdone yourself on this recent blog post… such beautiful images and photos! I cannot wait to get the new calendar… and cannot believe it will be 2026!
The time has flown, and some of the days have been rough, but it’s great to know I could always count on the beauty of what you bring to all of us.
And the beauty of all you give back! 🍂🍂🍂
a lovely post and great videos. Thank you for sharing, and Happy Birthday to Joe!
So good to hear from you again! The party looked like so much fun, with perfect weather and the beautiful setting of your lovely home… Watched all the videos, and it looks like everyone had a grand old time! I’m looking very much forward to your updated Christmas book! I’ve had the original for many years, display it every Christmas, and love it!
Nice to see you here Gina! Thanks for the kind words!!💞
Hi Gina
So good to see another post from you, especially since you are a fellow New Yorker. I live in the Hudson Valley. Do you by chance live nearby? Since my overseas travel plans are temporarily on hold (I have a new puppy), I am exploring the northeast region. I really haven’t explored New York in the past, so I am doing the Mid Hudson Library Road Trip whenever time permits. I hope to visit all 66 libraries in the system, so I can earn my “gold” card. Have you been to any of the book signings that Susan has done? Hopefully she will include someplace in New York (or close by) on her next book tour. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
You have that connection gene Dianne! Trying for New York … so pretty upstate… where’s your favorite place? xoxo
I haven’t explored that much yet beyond the Hudson Valley. In my surrounding area, the Mohonk Mountain House and surrounding grounds is one of my favorites. It’s like stepping back in time, as you drive along the long entrance road and leave the world behind. It is so quiet and peaceful. There are so many beautiful places to walk- or ride your bike- in the Hudson Valley. Dutchess County is home to a lot of historical houses, including the home of FDR- and Eleanor’s Valkill. It is also home to the Culinary Ibstitute of America and the Beekman Arms, which has been operating since 1766. I will be taking a short course next month on the role this area played in the American Revolution. So looking forward to it- and to seeing you at a future book signing
Along with Rachel and Paul, Joe and I took a trip to the Hudson Valley. Rented a house and explored the area. So much to see! We never even made it to Valkill! That course sound wonderful!
Dear lovely Susan, Always get excited when I see a new Willard in our inbox. Thank you for always making time to share your wonderful life with us ‘girlfriends’ 🥰. I wondered too if that was ‘the’ Cliff 😉. Yes, it’s so much easier, if possible, to forgive and forget. It has been about seven years since I read your three-part trilogy. Time to reread them! 😘. We are heading to a wedding in SLO this October; can’t wait to see that part of CA. A belated happy birthday to Joe! Happy Fall! 🍁🧡
Sharing that Cliff story … was a little iffy …but I know heartbreak and breakups are something we all go through …. starting over is part of growing up! I did ask him if he minded . . . and he was a champ about it, still my guardian angel wearing black! I was born without the grudge-carrying gene. Sometimes irritates me. I want to teach people LESSONS! 😆😂🤣 But it’s harder on me than it is on them!! Joe says it’s one of his favorite things about me!💞 SLO is heaven in October! Have fun!
As always, loved this! Happy birthday to Joe!
As always, loved this! Happy birthday to Joe! The gardens look wonderful!
Happy Birthday Joe! I watched and loved all the videos. Thank you for being so generous in including all of us in the birthday party. I just happened to check in to the blog post as for some reason I am not getting the emails. Will check on that! I have been wondering how you are all doing and the videos say it all! I am enjoying the book on quotes. I send blessings!
My pleasure … I’ve often had people ask me how to put on a large party, so there it is, in all its glory! So nice to hear from you Linda!💖
Love you too and have missed you so!! Wonderful to think you are just a few hours up the road now!! Your home and gardens look smashing, and I was wondering how Jack was adapting – so great to see him outside!! Beautiful party!! Joe’s long hair looks good too. Happy Birthday!! You’re so generous, Susan. Wish I was one of the ‘newbies’ around that table! Thanks for this lovely Willard. 🥰💝👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
That isn’t Jack you see outside, that is one of our other two (outside) kitties … Sammy, a spitting image of Jack except no mustache … another little tuxedo kitty. Jack isn’t crazy about the other two kitties, but they grew up here as Studio Kitties … this is the only home they’ve ever known, and they are very happy sleeping in the barn at night (a cozy one, not a big drafty one). Everyone gets lots of love.😻😻😻 I’m worried Joe will end up in a ponytail, which I don’t like, too Hollywood producer for my liking. If it goes there, I’ll sneak over and cut it while he’s asleep! He just hasn’t settled on a barber around here yet!🤣
What a wonderful post. It lasted me three sittings with three cups of tea. The videos added so much. I felt like I was part of the fun – a gift, much needed – thank you.
HA! Have to have the three cups symbol! ☕️☕️☕️ 😆😂 Glad you enjoyed it Lindsey!♥️
So good to see your Willard! Your photos, videos and captions made it feel as if we were at Joe’s party ourselves. As for a toaster, I am loving my turquoise Retro Series toaster by Nostalgia. I just got it on Amazon, and it comes in at least a half dozen colors. It’s really my first stand alone toaster as we’ve always used a toaster over, and I’m loving it!
Well before we even had a moment to look into it, Kellee surprised us with a Laura Ashley Toaster!!! It works really well, and doesn’t take up space in this kitchen. Love it. But I do appreciate your suggestions no matter what! ❌⭕️
Sitting in my favorite deck chair just outside Oslo,Norway, reading your long and oh-so- lovely post/blog, feeling like I am almost there with you all, you have the best way of making the magic cross the vast continent and ocean and land right here, so I can enjoy it,too. Thank you!
What a miracle Elisabeth, that we can dip into other’s cultures now, even go to each other’s parties . . . I love that! 🎵🎶🎵♥️
Someone if you will please explain Musica to me. I googled and all I get is pretty much a movie. It’s on YouTube??
Musica is music I put up to go along with my blog. Most people can click on the highlighted word and their computer will take you to the music and then you can click back on the blog and read it while listening. It doesn’t work, however, on iPads … because you can’t have two things open at once. Hope this helps, Laura!💝
Hello Susan, What a long and lovely post you made for us! It was so nice to read about all your “adventures” and it sure sounds as though you are very happy being back in California. Joe’s party sure was a happy occasion, has he shaved his beard off? Maybe I missed that haha, he looks handsome as ever, and very happy with his new BBQ too…
We were in Cornwall in June, and celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary
( how did that happen…??) by going for an early morning walk on the beach and enjoying a cream tea with heart shaped scones!
We are in the UK again, this time in the Peak District for this week, and then we will go to the Norfolk coast next week. After going to the UK for so many years, it’s time to discover more than just Cornwall haha, but now that Gabri is FINALLY retired we have lots of time, yeah!!!!!
When we come home we’ll have a little anniversary celebration with the boys and friends. We decided to have a tea party at home, so I have been baking some treats and we’ll be bringing the scones from the UK, because I still haven’t managed to produce good ones…. This morning I “found” the cutest teapot at a car boot sale, made for the Jubilee and decorated with little Union Jack flags! Well, I am keeping fingers crossed that this will reach you this time, because for some reason my comments on previous posts have vanished into thin air…Sending you lots of love from the gorgeous Peak District to you and Joe, from Nicoline and Gabri XOXOX
So happy to hear from you Nicoline, and all the wonderful busy things you and Gabri have been up to! Forty years! Congratulations! I know, that sentence, “How did that happen . . .” becomes sort of an anthem after a time! And Gabri retired! That’s the best! Free at last! Kiss the Peak District for us. We loved it there! ❌⭕️❌⭕️
Hi Nicoline,
So good to see a post from you. I met you at the Castle Cottage picnic (at the hotel where we stayed actually) and again at the last picnic at Stourhead. I’m glad that Gabri has retired and that you have more free time in which to explore. My overseas travel plans are temporarily on hold, since I finally got a puppy (my retirement present to myself) in March. He unfortunately developed some health problems when a month old and is going to require several surgeries. Hopefully everything will be behind us by the end of the year or early Spring at the latest. I do hope to visit the UK and Ireland at that time. My great niece just started grad school at Trinity College and a former co-worker just returned home to Ireland following her retirement. I do hope to get down to the Anne Frank exhibit in NYC either this month or next. I visited her hiding place in Amsterdam, but I believe this exhibit is more extensive. We are finally experiencing some Fall-like weather and are able to sleep with the windows open.
Have you tried Susan’s scone recipe? It is one of my favorites. Take care, Dianne
Me too, Hi Dianne!! xoxo
Yes!! Good for you and Gabri, Nicoline. I’ve “discovered” just about every nook and cranny of the UK and Ireland over the years. First time was 1977. Cornwall, Devon and Dorset are probably my favorites. Never forget my first “cream tea” in lovely little Mousehole!!
Travel is the Best Medicine!!
Debbie in Maine
I’m so glad to hear the replies to Nicoline! Just in case she didn’t know! xoxo
Wowzer! What a happy birthday party this was! Looked like a blast and loved seeing the 3 Amigos. Thank you Willard for posting all the highlights. Only thing missing was Jack at the party 😉 Love your TJ recommendations. You might want to add the Maple Leaf crème cookies to your list. It’s a treat for fall yummy. Susan, was your wrist giving you some problems? I saw that you had the brace on. Enjoy all the beautiful memories from the party, and best happiness to our sweet Joe! ~🩷🩷 Karen from Northern Cali
Oh I love those cookies. Before they were everywhere I started selling them in our website!!! SO good! And perfect for the season! I didn’t even know Trader Joe’s had them, so thank you! Yes, I did too much with my wrist and it fought back. But it’s all good now. I have come to love those braces!😆🤣 They are so helpful for healing without pain!!
So glad to see you post and right on time! I just returned back to college and your blog posts keep me company during my lunch breaks 🙂 Happy Birthday Joe!
Thank you Elizabeth! Good Luck this year!!! ❌⭕️
Loved the blog as always. I want to say Thank you, Thank you for telling us about Merlin Bird ID. I had used iBird for pictures I took of birds at the feeder so I knew what birds were around. But I could hear the different calls but could not match them up with a bird. Merlin did that for me -Yea!!!!!
Love to hear that! 👏
Yes!! Merlin is great. The web site has great stuff on it as well.
Debbie on Hog Bay, Maine
Hi, Susan, this post was wonderful! I loved all the videos and hearing your voice! What a terrific birthday celebration.
I have been receiving your wall calendar for Christmas from my husband since the very first one came out. Of course, saved them all. Then the last 8 or so years have purchased the desk blotter. A few years ago I came across Junk Journaling and found a new hobby and a place to cut up favorite pieces of all my calendars and make them into journals. It is a very relaxing hobby and fun to revisit the calendars and your beautiful art work. I have one that is all about cooking and going to add my recipes to give to my children.
I am looking forward to getting my Summer book soon!
Take care and thank you for all you do!!
Any diary, where you show yourself and your loves, is a good diary! Your kids will LOVE what you’re doing!👏👏👏
All the way through this “Willard” I kept wanting to click on a little red heart!!! Your life has changed so much in just a few short months—and yet it’s still the same. Your happiness gene is good for all of us! Enjoy Maisie Dobbs!
Thank you Pat, so happy to hear that! It’s amazing what delights of discovery there are in a new adventure as you age! I was so settled in my ways, but my ways were unsettling. I’m still tied to my work desk, but my main goal is to play more, but never lose touch with you Girlfriends! So many of us grew up together!💖💖💖
What a wonderful party! I must agree with you, it is our duty to savor and make everything in this world beautiful. It soothes my soul for sure.
Make it beautiful for others, and THEY make it beautiful for others, and pretty soon, it’s a beautiful world!😆👏💞
Hello Susan, thank you, this was such a joy to read. The photos and the videos were just wonderful. And I’m going to try that European grain and seed bread ASAP.
If you like seedy crisp toast, this is the best!
Happy Belated Birthday to Joe! Looks like you all had such a wonderful time and isn’t that what birthday’s are supposed to be. So much joy and I think we all need a bit of that.
I know I needed to sit with a cup of tea to enjoy this post, videos and of course musica. Thank you for bringing happiness to all of us on days when we need it the most.
Happy September,
Terri
Hi Terri, I will tell Joe you said hello!!💝
Happy birthday Joe! Looks like it was one for-the-books! Speaking of books (I didn’t plan that… hehe) I’ve been reading Maisie Dobbs too! I’m on book # 12 and trying to savor each one because there are only 18, I think, and it’s one of my favorite series! Jacqueline Winspear wrote a stand-alone novel called The White Lady that’s equally good. I came across it in a thrift store and scooped it right up! Really enjoyed this post. Thank you! How are all the kitties getting along?
Hi Valerie, the kitties are all doing well, they are very much loved. Jack has learned to understand and almost tolerate the fact that there are two other kitties living right outside his screen door. He has stopped attacking the door! He stays in, they stay out … but sleep in our goat barn . . . so everyone is safe and happy!
Thank you Susan for this lovely blog. Missed you but worth the wait. Happy birthday to your beloved, Joe. Also, thanks for suggesting the egg bites and seed bread from Trader Joe’s, so good. Loved all your videos!
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I just loved you blog with videos!!! Super fun! Everything in your garden is perfect and sharing it for a party or with us makes you an angel. I have my Susan calendar for the new year. I so appreciate you constantly creating for us. I know it is expensive to make more mugs, however, I would love a bee mug! Bees help your garden and mine and are so important. Those spooners…love, love!…gotta have one…or two. I use lots of candles when I entertain as well. 🍎 Happy September 🍎 💖
Just a big hug and hello to you Peggy, love hearing from you!!!🐝🐝🐝 Me too, am cultivating bees, butterflies, birds … had a fat striped monarch butterfly caterpillar on the Butterfly Weed the other day … then it disappeared. Read that it probably went off to become a butterfly. And yesterday, what I’ve been looking for . . . a monarch was flitting through the garden 👏. Plus, I saw a BRIGHT RED dragonfly the other day that hung around me and we visited. He eats mosquitoes. I’m learning more every day about all that. Such a joy. . . things I thought nothing about when I was younger . . . now all earth things are a marvel to me.💞
Hi Sue, So love this latest post (I love every single one, actually). The videos you’ve added make me feel like an invited guest attending your Party! What fun you all enjoyed – the love and fun comes right through the screen!!💕 And I love love the photos of you and your cargo pants striding so happily through the garden with your harvest of fall vegetation, and the happy Happy Birthday Boy with his new BBQ – you guys are C.U.T.E.!
One of the things you said resonated with me: “does it feel good, look good, smell good, sound good; does it make you happy, make you feel safe, fill your heart, fly you to the moon?” – it reminds me of a verse from the book of Philippians in the Bible: “Finally…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Your desk blotter calendar has arrived on my doorstep – yay! I like it so much, I got three last year – one for my desk at work, one for my desk-like area at home, and one for the wall in my bedroom – so nice and helpful to wake up and see my day/week/month plans on my wall, with everything so clearly showing in the large squares, and the NOTES section is really handy to jot reminders needed for the coming day/week ~ I don’t even have to get out of bed to see what’s coming up ~ I just squint at it from my pillow and am encouraged to get UP and get going.
The Sacramento Valley is feels like a too-warm place to be right now, so I’ve flown home to Seattle and am at my sister’s apartment in West Seattle looking west across Puget Sound towards the Olympic Mountains and trying to breath in as much salty-sea air with evergreen tree fragrances as I can. There is a forest fire burning a few miles away so the descent into the SeaTac airport last evening was pretty smokey, and the setting sun was colored just about the reddest-orange I’ve ever seen. It reflected on the waters of Sound like a moonlight path, except instead of glistening silver, it was a sparkling fiery-red trail on the water. The skies are much clearer today and a perfect 73F. Washington State must have felt my return because the weather forecast for tomorrow and Sunday is for rain – we see rain so seldom in my corner of California that I am sincerely excited and happy when the rains come. I’ve kinda come to think of rainy-stormy weather the way Amy March feels about butter.
As always, Sue, thank you for sharing your happinesses with us ~ sending much love right back to you, Christie
Yes Christie, “Think of these things!” So much possible in all of that! I’m so happy you’ve received your blotters!! It’s good to plan ~ things to look forward to, and then of course, there’s the dentist!🤣 Ha ha, “the way Amy March feels about butter!” That says it all! Love you back Christie.💞 Glad you travel for weather, I can totally relate!💝
Hello again! I wasn’t born with the Happy Gene. My parents were always vocalizing their fear of Everything. They both assumed that if it Could go wrong, it would! That negativity followed me into adulthood.
I believe I shut the door on it after meeting a friend who lives in Utah, or BeUtiful Utah. Soon after meeting her, her only child, a son was killed in a biking accident. He was in his mid 30’s and such a beautiful guy. Had a 3 yr old son and great wife. Then a few years after that, my friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. A few years later, she had several deep vein blood clots, and now an essential tremor.
But that Great Gal made a Conscious Decision to overcome whatever happens and to just Be Happy. At first, I was extremely skeptical, but having practiced what my Friend preached for about 15 years, I’m convinced that you can be happy. Don’t get me wrong, having a lovely home, good health insurance and a Lovely Husband, such as Tom, may make that goal a bit easier to achieve.
Today happens to be my Utah Friend’s 80th birthday. I made her and her 2 Triking girlfriends glass bead strings matching the colors to maybe hang on their trikes. She is Irrepressible and has decided to be happy.
Today I went back and read All the comments. Back to cooking in my Romertof Clay Pot and making Double Chocolate brownies for our supper here by Hog Bay. You can look at that on Google Earth, even zoom in on our house from satellite images.
Love you, each and every one!!
In all that, you celebrate every instant of life you possibly can! Brownies, Trike strings, clay pots, and Hog Bay! Looks like happy gene to me, BUT, could be fake it till you make it . . . and baby, you have made it!!! Love you Debbie! Keep on keeping on!
I am so excited and thankful that you are working on the Christmas Book. It’s been my dream. Can not wait, but I will, anxiously. Looking forward to gifting them to my 3 daughters. Perfect Christmas gifts!!!
Loving the work too! Christmas daily, how could you not be happy!🤣
I’ve always had the doily mentality, too!
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What a lovely, uplifting blog. I have logged on twice now, and haven’t read everything yet. Thank you, Susan.
I owed you one!😆
Ohmygoodness, Ohmygoodness, Ohmygoodness!!!! The boooook is heeeeere! AND IT IS BEAUTIFUL! I LOVE EVERY CHOICE YOU MADE! I especially like the FAUX DUST COVER!!! I don’t have to live in fear of ripping it. It’s like catching up with a close friend. All the things you always love with new things to love too. I went to review it on Amazon for you, but it says I can’t because it won’t be released until March 2026 FYI. Love you so and always will
Oh Carrie! I’m so HAPPY! Makes my day to start hearing back as everyone gets their books! I’m sorry it took so long! I know, crazy Amazon ~ by try calling them!🤣 Dying for reviews too . . . so thank you for trying! Love you back!❌⭕️