“Snudge,” our 17th century word-of-the-day, means “to remain snug and quiet, to nestle” … the olden-days word for hygge! MUSICA! And we are deep in the throes of it aren’t we girlfriends? My old house on Martha’s Vineyard has been withstanding below-zero wind chills lately. Just like so many of yours! Eeek! But I’m lucky enough to know what that means!💞 I don’t think I’ll ever have to give up any of the seasons, I have been witness to them all, and remember them so well.💝
Was it all a dream? I feel so lucky to have lived the other side of the story for 45 years . . . in a place where the storms came in with a vengeance, where the electricity went out and trees blew down and porches and driveways needed to be shoveled… and the whole world turned white overnight and we couldn’t wait to get up in the morning!
For people in states without snow storms, this might look like a heart attack in the making… a giant pain! But look at his face! That is the face of a happy man throwing a shovelful of snow at his wife on the other side of the window, watching him with her camera!
Winter gave us a fairy tale! We loved watching those big fat flakes float slowly out of the sky! A fantastic invention! Perfectly creative, maximum pleasure.
We had spectacular little views of cardinals, nuthatches, chickadees, and woodpeckers, just outside the kitchen window . . .💝
But they would all run away when Jack appeared!
We had “frosted window panes,” just like they sing about in Christmas songs, which inspired even more beauty with candle lighting . . .
There is really nothing like a snow day,
out for a walk in the cleanest chilly ocean air, then home for grilled cheese sandwiches and bean soup.
. . . or a blueberry corncake breakfast . . . we had a gas stove, we could even cook in candlelight! What’s a little snow storm ~ it gives so much more than it takes.💘 MUSICA . . .
LIFE IS ART.
We were always so excited when we heard the first snow was coming!!! Especially me! I had a whole California, no-snow childhood to make up for! How many times did the electricity go out so I had to write my books or paint in candle and firelight? So many! So quiet on those days, me dressed in lots of sweaters, even a hat, with just the sound of the snow plow out front. I felt like Louisa May Alcott when that happened. That’s just NOT a bad thing! Always inspiring that dreaming thing…
It’s why I feel so lucky to have experienced this. Opening the door to blasts of cold air as our friends 
would trek in for winter dinner parties, everyone pink cheeked and lit in candlelight and firelight. I even suggested in my first Christmas book that everyone should rent a house to have Christmas in the snow at least once in their lives and watch the snowflakes drift down. That was advice from this born-and-raised California girl in 1990! That’s what I had already learned! It was positively magical!
XXX
See? Snowstorms never stopped us … life went on, they just made everything more exciting!
Oh, by the way, our realtor just found this turn-of-the-century photo of our old house at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum! A much clearer image than any we had, including that crazy tower in the back which is no longer there! You remember, our old house is still for sale … but guess what? We signed an offer! We’re waiting now to sign the Purchase and Sale; and then we’ll have the Closing. If it all goes through, which is NOT FOR SURE, the Closing will happen in March. Keeping an open mind and not putting all my eggs in one basket! What makes it especially wonderful, if it happens, is that they ARE the perfect people for our house, they have young children who will get to grow up in that fairy tale!👏 They will love my neighborhood of wonderful people, and vice versa, so I do this: 🙏.
You might think, after seeing these photos, that we are crazy to sell our wonderful house. But no matter, I will always be able to relive it all . . . Traversing from room to room in candlelight . . . I could feel all the winters that came before and all the generations who’ve lived in our 1849 house, before there was electricity and how it was for them. And once again, thinking about things, even little things, like their socks ~ suddenly so grateful to have a washing machine and that I don’t have to make my own soap. All this luv-lee history to leave behind for the new people. They don’t even know about that yet!♥️
Winter was the time for dreaming. If you go back in time to my Archives, which are all in the column on the right, you can see it all, 45 years of four seasons in New England, celebrated to the nth degree!
Here is one very good reason I will never forget. I just finished my 2027 wall calendar . . . my best ever if I do say so myself, because the entire thing is dedicated to my old house, to every season and so many memories, filled with watercolors and photographs, it’s a “Goodbye My Love and Thank You For Everything” Calendar and it will be here in the spring! Anyone who has ever loved a house will understand . . .
And now that I can see and feel both sides of the country, I almost feel guilty to show our winter, like as if I would hurt someone’s feelings. But I KNOW how much fun everyone is having in the snow! And this is what it is here! Not a reality any of us can rise above. It is what it is, and it’s winter here too, just a different kind, but definitely winter. Some of our trees don’t even have leaves on them!😱
I see that while many in California, and other fair-weather states might not truly understand how anyone could enjoy the “glory” of winter, the stormy states don’t really understand that we have totally cozy winters here too …
. . . there is excellent sleeping weather, with flannel jammies and chilly 40º nights (it’s just not freezing, so we get to have the windows open); there’s no snow, no nor’easters, we save a lot of 
money on mittens, hand warmers, and hats . . . but we get heavy rain that turns our winter cold and grey, which seems to make “green,” and we cuddle under my Grandma’s nap blankets to watch TV. Sometimes it’s mild enough that we can sit outside on the porch. Like last night. And I can garden almost every day. I’ll TAKE it!💝
XXXI
Instead of sledding, we listen to our water fountain, and watch the birds as the sun goes down. Winter in California is still magic ~ the magic was always here, but I do think we brought some of it with us, and if we went back to the island, where I learned about magic in the first place, it would come there too.💞
So what’s been going on? . . . Well, I did my regular January thing, transferred my anniversaries and birthdays to my new calendar. Boy do we have plans! This is going to be a MASSIVE year for us. It is my 
40th year of book writing … and I’m thinking of all kinds of ways to celebrate! My new Christmas book is coming, we’re reprinting old books, hopefully selling the house, replanting the wildflower orchard, having our Diane Keaton party and a cross-country book tour, planning a visit to the island, shutting down the Studio, moving everything (keeping my blog, the books, and my relationship with Kellee). Keeping healthy, walking and exercise, because NEXT year, I turn 80 😂🤣🤣🥳 (something so funny about that . . . it can’t be real!), and we are rewarding ourselves with more excitement… wait till you hear… I put everything on the calendar so we get it all done, because . . .
Joe and I traveled up to San Anselmo before New Years to see my darling girlfriend Elizabeth and she gave me this new cup warmer with a candle inside. I love it and have used it for my tea every day since!💞
Me and Elizabeth… we had such a wonderful visit … tea and cake, walks in woods, visits to olive farms and bee stores . . .⭐️⭐️⭐️
. . . with Elizabeth and her wonderful best friends who I’ve gotten to know over the years, and love ALMOST as much as Elizabeth does💘, that’s Cathy on the left, then E., then her cousin Diana, then Mimi, and then me. So much fun, starting with a visit to a famous hamburger stand, cheeseburgers, fries and shakes! We did it all!👏 Note, California girls wear sweaters too!
When we got home I put away all our Christmas decorations and redecorated my new mantle . . . if you didn’t see my last post, Joe made me a mantle for Christmas! We don’t have a fireplace here, but I needed a mantle (for obvious reasons) ~ so he made me one! I still laugh and giggle when I pass it. It was just what the Doctor ordered for this house, not just for Christmas, but year round! That painting was over our fireplace on the Vineyard, so it feels normal!
Things are how they’ve always been. . . I get up early every morning, followed by Jack. I brush my teeth, throw on a sweater . . .
and this is what I see when I come out of the bedroom, yes, we kept our outside Christmas lights. They are even on a timer, that’s how serious we are.
I turn on the lamps, hug the heck out of my little petty pet; we turn on the furnace to take off the chill, make hot tea and put cat food in a bowl, then we roll around on the floor doing our exercises. We 
make Joe his tea and take it to him, and then we go to work in my studio, writing my new Christmas Book ~ it is so changed from the old one (which has actually been out of print for at least 15 years😲) … this one will be all new, the only exception is that I’m keeping a few of the old recipes and some of the old art, for old times sake … but we’ve had lots of Christmas’s since 1990 when I wrote the first one! I have more to say!
Writing this new book is making me so happy!!! Here’s the cover, and down at the bottom you see what it’s all about!
The world has been in such a mess, but because of YOU and this BOOK, I get to LIVE in the Christmas spirit 
every day ~ it’s such a gift, and YOU my darling girls, are the reason I’m doing it. I hope you’ll love it.💞Jack is not one bit impressed, he is asleep behind my computer right now, snoring oh-so-softly.
We watch the sun coming up, and are excited to see the luv-lee new shadows slashing across the walls as the days slowly get longer.♥️
Look at this light! I have always loved shadows and light, reflections of light. The tall windows in our house reflect into the mirrored walls, and back and forth across the room it goes! Turns out this place was made to catch the light and bring it inside. I love to play with that. We draped the trees in twinkle lights and colored lights just to bring magic inside.
I took this photo through the living room window out to the picket fence garden, you can see the reflection of the lamp on the mantle behind me. Isn’t that just crazy?
Same window, different lamp, and the pink reflection of the setting sun. . . .
And this one, through the back window to the sunrise, through the tree with twinkle lights and lanterns we put up for Joe’s Birthday, and the reflection of the lamp on the mantle behind me . . .
But did you notice the cat shadow in the chair??? Wait till you see how fitting that is:
Joe found the chairs at a yard sale, $15 each, deal, brought them home, took one in, left the doors open on the van, I came out to get the other one, and HELLO Simon! Simon impressing his shadow into the chair. Basking in the evening sunshine. King of the world. Those chairs were only at the house about 5 minutes before they were kitty blessed!
But loooook! He loves getting into the car the minute we open the doors! He is the love-cat, that’s all he wants to do. Give love, and get loved.
Anyway, I finally decided that the way to decorate this place is how I WANT it to be in the end, and forget about how it IS. Here’s a pretty nice corner that probably doesn’t go all that well with the kitchen, so far anyway. But we have plans.👏 Bringing our New England house home to California, still celebrating with the doily mentality after all these years, nothing really changed when we moved here, except more kitties, smaller house, bigger garden, and like maybe 20 to 30 degrees! And hanging clothes on the line year-round!
So, here comes February, and I have lots of Valentines for you to choose from, all free, just print them out … there’s even a little envelope you can make! The perfect thing to do while snudging!💝
Look how cute! And now, get ready for really fun first-time news! We are having a big blowout Valentine’s Girlfriends Sale starting TODAY and going to February 14th, to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the publication of my first book in 1986, Heart of the Home!!! Almost everything in our webstore is on sale at 50% off, not kidding . . . from stickers, to tea and cups, to soaps and jewelry, and prints . . . and MORE! You’ll see your discount at checkout! FIRST COME FIRST SERVED, until they last.💝 From me to you with L O V E.
Let’s make her ⬇️ a bookmark too, shall we?
The story of my life . . . :
Well darlings here I go! Time to get walking! Hope you are all having a wonderful day, no matter where you are! Have fun! Snudge in and get cozy! Keep in touch! I’m not going anywhere, don’t worry! Just making work life a little easier and a little smaller (after I finish this book!), so the PLAY part can get a little Bigger! ❌⭕️❌⭕️❌⭕️❌⭕️
Hi Susan! What a luv-lee and EXCITING Willard! Congratulations on (almost) selling the MV house! Thank you for the memories, house! Looking forward to seeing all the lovely things 2026 has in store for you! Another calendar done, a book tour (are you coming to upstate NY?!) and another book! Oh how awesome! The other day I was cleaning my book shelves and I have an entire shelf just of your books and I’m not done collecting! One more to add!!
Where I am, we got about 17 inches total of snow and there’s more coming on the 31st. We haven’t had a true snowy winter here in a couple of years. As annoying as it can be to dig through, it is wonderful to play in the snow again. Almost a breath of fresh air, haha! But I also cannot wait for spring. I have so many packets of seeds I get to start soon of flowers and some veggies. I need to get my hands into dirt!
Have a luv-lee evening Susan and Joe! Happy New Year! 🎊
I know, it IS exciting, adds a little spice to life! Happy New Year to you too!💞
Thank you for the wonderful Magic blog, the free Valentine’s, the sale, and your wonderful self exuding on the page. I can’t wait for your pre-sale of The Christmas book!! I was a fan of yours for 40 years. Met you once which was fabulous! I love all your books! 📚 Happy 40th Anniversary my Pollyanna friend!! Happy St. Valentine’s Day to your Joe and you!❤️❤️
Are you the Karen Baron with the red hair? I might be mixed up, but I definitely know your name! Thank you for calling me your Pollyanna friend! xoxo
I will be looking forward to next year’s calendars!!! It would be amazing if the new owner would let us follow her on Instagram so we can keep following the house!
You never know, wouldn’t that be great?!!👍😊
Well, Susan,
You really won’t be done until you write A Spring Book!!! You have all the other seasons – I’ m waiting!! Very excited for you and Joe and Jack.
Oh I do think about that … and then there is Enchanted and Home! ❌⭕️
Hi Susan! Wow, thank you so much for the beautiful Valentine’s Day gifts! I’m so excited to print them out! And I can’t even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed reading your wonderful blog post. Thank you for sharing your snowfall memories with us. (I must say, I’m a bit jealous that you didn’t have to shovel after the 14.8 inches we had here in Nazareth, PA. But on the bright side, I got to shovel and bond with my beautiful 23-year-old daughter, and our neighbor came over and helped us with our long driveway! Having wonderful neighbors is amazing!) And having you as a girlfriend is wonderful!!! I know I’ve told you this before, but my beautiful sister, Cathy, who passed away some years ago, LOVED you, too. Thank you so much for everything!! Hugs, Sharon
That’s the thing about winter, the connection you feel with your neighbors during these “disasters!” Remembering how we’re all in this together! It’s a wonderful thing!💝
Can you please tell us a little more about the “ closing the studio” part? I gasped and my mouth fell open when I read that!
Well, it won’t happen until maybe next October . . . but after that our wonderful calendar people are willing to ship our things for us … which means we can close down the brick and mortar Studio and let Kellee work from home, and I will be able to work or not work, whichever I want, less work, and more PLAY! Just planning for the future so we don’t leave a mess for anyone to have to deal with later on…💝
Snow!! Beautiful snow! Thank you for the snowy Martha’s Vineyard memories. I am glad you are lessening your workload. But I am sad we’ll no longer see new mugs. And I am happy for more calendars and blogs and Susan videos. I am excited about the new Christmas book. When will it go up for presale? Your home is lovely and so Susan & Joe. I love it. All I can say is thank you. Thank you for all you do and share with us. 💗
I asked Joe, should we do one last mug? He said, why not. I’m thinking about what I would want to say on one 16oz cup! I already did a LOVE cup xoxo
I think that a 16oz Autumn mug might be nice, especially since it is a favorite season for so many. Maybe you could “reissue” the autumn mug from the four seasons set with a few changes and in a larger size. Or didn’t you mention once wanting to reissue your bluebird mug since yours cracked? You could “gift” yourself as well as the girlfriends- and save yourself some time since you already have the design. Just an idea
That’s a good idea. To let you know how much I love that bluebird mug, I NEVER give Joe his tea in it. If it gets broken I would rather only have to blame ME for it!
Beautiful Blog. So HEART FELT! Lovely-just Lovely.
Treese-Colorado Cowgirl.
💝💝💝
I will send even more positive energy your way that you close on the house in March, which will be here before you know it. I can’t wait for the 2027 calendar about the house ❤️ It will be a special one. And when the year is over I will add it to my pile of Susan Branch calendars which I could never throw away, they are a diary of my life as well. Every thing important is written in them, what date the humming birds returned, when the barn swallows came back, how much rain we got…life! Thank you Susan for all you have given us over the years. You go in the column of things I am grateful for. Much love❤️
Oh Chris, I love it in that column! I’m seeing lots of friends in there! xoxoxo
Absolutely delightful. Thank you, Susan, for a lovely time reading Willard.
Thank you for such a wonderful blog post. You always sent us magic from Martha’s vineyard and now you send us magic from California. As beautiful as your house and Martha’s Vineyard were, you have shown us that the magic follows you wherever you go. It turns out that you are the magic. Thank you so much for sharing your magic with us for all these years. It is truly a bright and shining star in a world that seems to have gone mad sometimes. How exciting a cross-country book tour and an upcoming 80th birthday next year. Only good things ahead. Fingers crossed that everything goes well with the closing of the house this spring. Blessings to you, Joe and the kitties.
Thank you Janet!
I’m ALREADY looking forward to your 2027 calendar! I purchased the bird feeder that lights up and now have it hanging outside my kitchen window. Brings happiness inside. Thank you for reminding us “it’s the little things”.
Me too, can’t WAIT to get that calendar!!😃
Susan you are an inspiration and bring Joy!!
Thanks so much!!
We need it in this season!!
Hi Susan.. That was welcome breath of fresh air. Thank you. It is much needed in these crazy times. Sending girlfriend hugs…❤️. Beverlee.
😘
Thanks for the sale! I enjoyed shopping in your store. Happy Valentine’s Day! 💘
What a delicious read that was! Best of luck with the sale of your beautiful old house. You certainly have so many wonderful memories on the Vineyard. Now it looks like you’re picking up where you left off. Everything looks so cozy, inviting, and homey. Thanks for the day brightener.
Thank you, Susan, as always, for your beautiful blog that brightens the chilly, grey day here in Michigan! Your transition back to California has reminded me of our own travels over almost 43 years. Five states, five houses, temporary apartments, leaving friends and family, finding wonderful new friends to add to our “family.” Decorating the next house how “we want it to be rather than how it is!” Love that you are doing that, too! And, through it all, your books, discovered on our third move in 1990! You taught me to be content and cozy (and calm!) wherever we’ve landed! Thank you for making the journey extra special!
Lucky lives! xoxo💞
Thank You
Positively my pleasure . . .💝
Right now, I must say I am liking the looks of your winter a lot more than mine. The older I get, the less I like the cold. Brrrr.
My favorite picture on this blog post is of the kitty sitting in the chair, in the van. It looks there are 3 extra sets of cat eyes going across the ceiling.
I really enjoyed the pictures of your Island home, too. I miss that. I can’t wait to see the new calendar, since it will be a bit like a diary of your life there.
I am still hoping you will do more videos of that house, where you show parts we rarely saw before, like giving a guided tour.
As always, thanks for sharing your world with us.
Good idea, I could do that!💝
Thank you for the 50% discount! I found lots of treasures! How can you possibly be turning 80? When I am 80 I want to be just like you! Enjoying life to the fullest!
Just keep your sunny side up! xoxoxo
Hi Susan,
Thanks for your wonderful newsletter. I experienced both sides of winter, too.
I lived in Northern California for 30 years and grew up in Massachusetts (Newton Center and Needham Heights & mostly Indiana. I love the seasons!
When it would get to 50 degrees in CA, the natives of CA would say, “It’s so cold!” I would think, “You don’t know cold!” Take care and God bless you and Joe.
Ha ha, and now I say it!!🤣
I love your Christmas lights still up. They look besutiful. The glass around vyour house does make the most glorious shadows includingvthe kitty shapes. I also love your California kittes along with Jack. Your island winters were fab but the west coast hasit’s own beaiuty and lots of green. I’ve always loved your gradens and I know you will love the year round gardening you have now. I moved around all my life with a father and a husband in the Marine Corps till 2000 when we bought the house that gas been mine since then. Ijust turned 72 and I can’t say how much longer I’ll be in it. But I have just under 3 acres and lots of birds and widlife. Turkeys, my 5 deer herd, racoons and lots of squirrels.So for now I’ll enjoy myself and my wildlife. It’s been very cold lately and I we might get snow in coastal NC this weekend with below freezing temps. So I my slow cooker is making bean soup and it’s driving me crazy it smells so good! My little dog and I will cuddle up and watch my favorite English tv shows. Love Acorn and Britbox!
We love them too Cyndi, as I’m sure you know! Stay warm and cozy! ❌⭕️❌⭕️
Oh…cozy is how you make it wherever you are! PA is VERY cold, more snow on the way – we are hunkering down with movies, books, tea, and enjoying it all. Now in an apartment I can feel what you mean – loved my house, brought the best of it with us, enjoying this chapter and remembering the past. Just invited friends for a Sweethearts Dinner Party – thanks for the valentines, will use them as favors! Can’t wait for the new Christmas book – have had mine for years and LOVE it – Annie Hall’s cookies !!! Enjoy your California seasons!
Another reason to change the new book, for all the people that already have the first one, this will be 💝 something new!
Dear Susan
Your blog is like a light for my in my life that now is a little bit hard. Thank you so much and lovely Valentines
Blessings on you, Magdalena . . . and a prayer for better times.🙏♥️♥️♥️
Dear Susan
Thank you so much for your blog and wish you lovely Valentines
Love the bookmarks & valentine crafts!
Thanks for reminding me that the homes we no longer live in are still instantly accessible in our memories. I needed to hear that.
Also thanks for the sale. I bought gifts for three girlfriends, that is, if I’m able to part with them.
I know JUST what you mean!🤣
As a completely ‘nutty about Christmas’ person too, this post was a dream. I cannot wait to get my hands on your new book when it comes out. You sound tremendously happy to be back in California. We are all so happy for you!
I feel it Erin … it’s amazing this morning how many names here in the comment section I am recognizing. Yours is one of them, thanks for being here!♥️
Susan, my sister and I have followed you for years. When she passed away in 2018, my nieces gave me all of your little books that I gave her over the years. Many times, we would buy each other the same thing and then laugh! I miss her but there are so many memories. I was cleaning bookshelves out the other day and found your 1990 Christmas book…..it had been left in a house that my grandson and his fiance purchased last year. I snagged it but never had time to really sit down & look at it, and I forgot about it. When you mentioned in your blog that you were going to reissue the Christmas book, I went to my Susan Branch shelf to see if I had the book. I opened it – it is a first edition (!!) and it has a message to the purchaser from you, and it is signed. Now the owner of the book, and the house, was one of the first people I met when I moved to our small town in 1978. She belonged to the church my in-laws attended, and she became a very good friend. I am so happy to have your book with her name in it. I will make sure my granddaughter-in-law gets the book when I am done with it. She is an old soul that loves the old things, and she is one of the dearest people I know. Isn’t it amazing how things work?
Ab-so-lutely amazing! And yet it does, time and time again, that thin thread that connects us all together … sometimes visible and sometimes not, but always felt. Thank you for the sweet story, Kristen. Hard to lose a sister and a best friend at the same time. But what a lovely memory. ❌⭕️❌⭕️
Hi Susan! I just turned 80 in December! Believe me, it’s definitely a reality check!!! 😂😂😂
Oh I believe you.😂 But trying for “Reality is something you rise above” until the bitter end. not bitter, grateful.🤣
Love !
Hi Sue. We are all snudged in for the night. Candles in spooners and old glass are flickering, jammies are on and heated blanket is on! I love your post so much.
I love all the pics and reminders of your lovely life on MV. I am missing having you here on the east coast but I am so happy for your new life in California. I am so happy you have a potential buyer. I just know that you have left your DNA in that lovely old home and that the new owners will absorb it and cherish the house as much as you did.
Your California house is so you. You have managed to add all of your cozy vibe there as well. I love the mantle and the fact that you have the same painting over it as well.
We are in the deep deep deep winter here. Our bird feeders are full and the heated birdbath is bringing all the wildlife in. The Bluebirds are loving it. It’s very cold but the daylight is increasing slowly every day.
I am so looking forward to your new Christmas book and the calendar as well.
I went to your studio and bought a few lovelies. Thank you for the sale!
Sending so much love your way.
Mary
Feeling it dear Mary! Love you right back!!💝💝💝
Dear Susan, was wondering how you spent Christmas. And are the kitties getting along yet?
Not really! The two barn kitties Sammy and Simon adore each other. Jack hates them both. I would LOVE to let Jack out, I think everyone would be okay, but I seriously don’t have the nerve! All is well, we have kitties where ever we go!🥳
Dearest Susan, Thank you so much for the wonderful post. It made me cry. I know what you mean about loving our homes. Home is truly where the heart is. If anyone in the whole wide world has showed me this it is you. Doing the simple things in life that we enjoy in the comfort of our homes. Writing, reading, gardening, cooking just to name a few. As we both said goodbye to our beloved old homes our hearts are filled with all the cherished memories. I can not wait to see the new calendar of your old home. I also believe the sale will go through. You are such a blessing to all of us and bring us so much joy. Thank you dear one. ❤️🙏🏠🇺🇸 Blessings to you and Joe and know you are in my prayers each morning. Love you, Dawnie Jones
Dawnie, your words always touch my heart. again today, little tears fill my eyes.
Susan,
Wonderful to see a California winter, while sitting in 16 degrees with about 10 inches of snow on the ground, the top 1 1/2 inches being ice. Feeding the birds is quite the challenge, I need a pair of snowshoes [which I don’t have] just to help keep my balance as I trudge through the ice and snow to the feeders.
I turned 80 last October…and feel when I say I am 80, that I must be incorrect I must mean 60. But my doctor says that 80 is the new 60…so true or not I am going to believe him. Looking forward to spring and daylight savings time…but I do enjoy the quiet and stillness of the snow!
I love that 80 is the new 60! Laughing that I get to be 60 TWICE!!!
Well, dear one, our lives have hugely changed in the 20? Years I have been following you. I love being back in the 4 seasons in Minnesota although very, very sad at present. But, we have great resolve, and love, and hotdishes. I lived in FL full time for 20 years.
I understand how you miss your home & seasons on the Island but, embrace the flora and fauna of your home base again. I lost my home and 90% of accumulations from 60 years of marriage in a hurricane. Now, at almost 84, nature, sunrises, puzzles with new friends and FaceTimes with old friends scattered bring me smiles. Love, judi
My heart aches for Minnesota right now. Watching your community pull together, hearing about the care everyone is trying to provide their neighbors, makes me proud of the human spirit. You are a hardy bunch! Love is all there is. Lovely YOU, Judi.❌⭕️❌⭕️❌⭕️
Hello Susan.
I received your pretty calendar as a Christmas gift this past September. I love it and have it hanging on my wall at my side entrance. I was disappointed that it is smaller than the calendars I usually purchase and will not work in my wooden calendar holder. Is it possible to make them slightly larger?
Thank you!
I would if I had the power! But the people I design calendars for are the ones who get to choose what types of calendars they want me to do, and how big they need to be! I get to decide what is inside them!💝
Thank you for the Willard! Just a bit early as a Valentine’s present.
Here in NC we’re waiting for the second winter storm in as many weeks – not a usual occurrence, at least in the last few years. I plan to “snudge” and enjoy watching the lovely white stuff fall.
Enjoy your CA winter!
I know, I told my MV Girlfriend this morning that this storm is adding insult to injury! Yes, stay snudgie!! This too shall pass, there are a lot of little green things hiding under that snow!
Hello,Susan! As usual, just delighted with another “Willard”! Your delight with life just exudes across your writing and enters all of us who follow you!! We all have so much going on with life and the world but a joyful heart certainly makes it palatable! I have to say I certainly took advantage of your surprise sale!! Thank you so much! So happy for you to have plans to slow down!! You are such a “young” almost 80 year old!! Inspiration for me…will be 74 in a month! Hard for me to believe THAT! I hope this reply appears because the last one never did? Nothing like technology! Thank you,Susan, for taking the time for all of us❤️
Sometimes I don’t get back to “approve” comments as quickly as I would like! Always so much to do!! But I am here, and love to read them. I now have about 400 comments waiting for me to read, so I will do that, and try to stop commenting myself! That’s very hard to do ~ so many wonderful girlfriends saying so many interesting things, I love to have conversations, but I MUST go work on the Christmas book . . . the clock, she is ticking! xoxoxoxo
Oh, Susan, I did not expect a reply as busy as you are…..just thought my messages never went through! Just wanted to let you know I so appreciate your wonderful inspiration! Thank you!
Thank YOU right back . . . sweet words and thank you for understanding! xoxoxo
Why is it that my comments are always awaiting moderation? Always feel left out. 42 comments and mine always overlooked. Wondering why.
I’m so sorry, I try to get to them as quickly as I can… but the pipes froze on Martha’s Vineyard over night so I have been on the phone this morning trying to get that handled…. life is so in the way of US!!🤣 ❌⭕️❌⭕️
Glad to hear the Diane Keaton get together and book signing is still being planned. Maybe let us know what month you are thinking about so it can go on our calendars too!
As soon as I know… I don’t want to hurry the Christmas book, I want it to be WONDERFUL… and everything is dependent on when I get it done, and when we have it back from the printers!!! So that’s got my attention right now!!xoxo
Oh, I so enjoy your impossibly optimistic posts!
Do you have any plans to resume writing your book ‘Enchanted’? Fingers crossed that you say YES. You are a wonderful blogger and story writer. Your gift to us, your girlfriends. 🙂
It would be the thing I would turn to when I let so much else go . . . I really do want to do it!!!
So glad to hear that. 😊
Such a lovely blog. I awakened this morning to frozen pipes, so finding a new Willard in my mailbox was a lovely treat. They always seem to arrive when I need a little bit of sunshine. Your unexpected sale was an added surprise. I had vowed to buy nothing new in January as mentioned in the UK version of Country Living. Well, I almost made it. I had to buy the Grandma’s bowl print that I’ve wanted for years, as I was afraid that it wouldn’t be available if I waited until Feb 1st. The bowl in the print is the same as the one that I’ve used for 50+ years (except that mine has a large chip!). So many memories reside within that bowl. I’m so glad that you have a potential buyer for your home, especially since you were also dealing with frozen pipes. Hopefully no damage was done since you are checking with things from a distance. It will be a great weight lifted from your shoulders. When you mentioned more surprises to be announced in the future, I crossed my fingers in the hope that a Queen Mary crossing might be included.
I do believe there will be.😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
My post from yesterday, Jan. 29 about 12:30pm-12:40pm, didn’t appear here. But I hope you were able to see it somehow.
I got a whole lot of them at the same time, if you haven’t seen it yet, you will!!😂👏👏👏
Wishing you joy every day as you spread joy in your writings, be they books or blog. Thank you!
Hugs!
Hello dear Susan, I’m always tickled to see a new Willard, and I can not resist opening Willard right away. Thank you so much for the pretty printablesl, they are so charming. I love the photo of your old house on Martha’s Vineyard. I would love to know more about that tower. Was it attached to the house, what did they use it for, why did they tear it down ? I thought it might have a “widows walk”, but I can’t see one. The roof is fabulous! They really paid attention to the details in those days. I love to wonder what the people in the photo did that day, what did they eat. Was the photo taken to remember a family event? I just love to wonder ! Hope your sale goes through without a hitch !!
Hugs ! Iris
I have all the same questions about that tower! There seems to be no record of it … no written words that I’ve been able to find. We think it was attached, and it was a style going around back then . . . several homes in the historic district have one, but none quite like this one. To me, the architecture does not match the original house one iota… The owner was a sea captain, and a building that high would have had a view of the water. So I wonder too. And ALL about those people, those children and the two dogs. But I knew at least some of that group lived in our house … had a life there. And took very good care of it for us!
I still think you and Joe were crazy to leave magical Martha’s Vineyard! But I understand your reasons and hope you’ll be very happy. You already are!
Thank you for giving us this beauty to give us hope during dark times…
I do love a new adventure!! You take care Sally, as always, it’s good to see you here. 💝
So happy for you and Joe!
Can we preorder the new Christmas book?
Soon, I would like to get a clearer answer for when the book will be delivered from the printer . . . and that will require me knowing for sure when it will be done so I’ll be able to turn it in on time! ❌⭕️
Hi Susan!
I love you!!! I always feel so much better & happier when I read your Willards!!! They/you just lift my spirits up!!! And, during these very trying times, we all need a bit of lifting of spirits!
It was fun to see your snowy Martha’s Vineyard pictures and take a nostalgic trip down Memory Lane with you. However, I am just very glad for you that you’re living in a lovely Central Coastal California Cottage now. You & Joe deserve to live in a milder, easier climate where you have the opportunity to stay healthier & enjoy the lovely weather. You’ve no need to apologize for your choices, my dear!
Life really is like a very intriguing book, and every chapter is special & wonderful! And, when a chapter is over, it’s great to move on to see what happens I the next one!
I hope that all goes smoothly with the sale of your MV house, and I wish many blessings of happiness for the new family who will live there & start their own new chapter.
When you mentioned “Anyone who’s ever loved a house….” I thought about 2 houses that I absolutely was totally in love with. The first one was called The Norris House, and was located in Leesburg, VA. It was a Bed & Breakfast, and I first learned about it from a feature article in a 1985 Country Home magazine. I had become very interested in the B&B business and I wrote to the owners, asking if they needed any extra help on the weekends (I had a 9-5 job in Washington DC). They replied, and they hired me, at first just part time but then eventually I became the full time innkeeper.
I loved that house so much! It had been built in 1806, and I felt it was such an honor to live in this beautiful old house and take care of it. Every time I walked into the house, I felt like it was giving me a hug! I was there for almost 3 years. When I left to move back out to the West Coast, I missed that house like a dear friend!
The second house I truly loved was the one I bought in Washington State and turned into my own Bed & Breakfast business. It was built in 1903. I had it for almost 10 years, and I took very good care of it, by doing lots of repairs, maintenance & making it look prettier! However, when it came time to make some different life choices, I needed to sell it and begin a new chapter. I felt very fortunate to have had the opportunity to live in, & take care of, another very special house. I very much felt a part of both houses history & proud of the contributions I was able to make to keep them alive.
I look forward to the updated version of your Christmas Book! And, I think its great that you’ve left your holiday twinkle lights on in your yard. We just took our lights down today, however I’ve left a string of white lights plus one of red lights in our front window for February to celebrate Valentine’s Day. It just makes things cheerier!
And so….Cheers to you, Joe, Jack & the other kitties, too! Have a sweet, snudgie & romantic Valentine’s Day!💕 💗🌹🥂🍾🌹💗💕Sending much love & hugs to you all!
💗 Barbara 💗
Lovely old-house stories and memories . . . “honored to care for” … words you expressed for both of your houses, resonates to me … I never felt like I “owned” our old house, I always felt like I was the caretaker, for those that came before us, and those who would come after. And yes, it was a pure honor! Snudges to you dear one.💞
Susan!!!
Are you going to stop your business? You said “close the studio” and everything is on sale!
What does this mean?
Yes, we’re going to close parts of it . . .probably not until Fall, but we’re getting ready! The parts I’m keeping are the blog and my relationship with Kellee, but she’ll be able to work from home, and we’ll close our on-line shop all except for books and calendars, and MAYBE one last cup. If I WANT to write another book, I can, but no one know what might happen ~ and our main goal is less work, more FUN!! 💝