Hello Darling People! HAPPY NEW YEAR! End of the year, time to wish everyone all the sparkle, cozy, and love our beautiful world can provide✨💖🌟💫🧨, and if you don’t feel the world is providing, which can be most noticeable this time of year, then my darlings, you must never forget that God made us with all the power to provide for ourselves. Do what must be done.☄️ MUSICA.
Hot bubble baths, warm slippers, favorite books, naps with a cozy blanket, a furry petty-pet to cuddle with, musica, potato pancakes, fresh air and nature, a healthy respect for gratitude, and your very own thought processes, these are the gifts you can give yourself.💝 You will love them. Such fun unwrapping. And from me to you, an end-of-the-year, get-ready-for-a-new-beginning
I’m actually writing you from my old Studio on Martha’s Vineyard, in my old House, where we are to celebrate Christmas (the house hasn’t sold yet, so why not!) and bring in the New Year!!! Seems like old times!🎄
It’s freezing on Martha’s Vineyard ~ I’m even wearing fingerless gloves … my darling nuns sent me that heavenly wool plaid blanket you see across my lap and wrapped around my legs ~ I love it ~ it’s keeping me cozy and warm, along with the six layers of everything else. And it makes for great naps! When I hold still for a long time, I get cold, but I have Mother Seraphima to keep me warm. I wrote about our visit to Mother Seraphima, the Holy Nativity Convent, and how we met quite a long time ago (“The True House of Creativity”), and we have stayed heart-sisters ever since.💖
I have been nurtured by the very best.♥️ And feeling pure gratitude.💞
Joe brought me LUNCH!! Kale soup and homemade sourdough bread that was actually left here by my darling girlfriend Martha. Bountiful bounty!!!♥️♥️♥️ SO! I promised you some pictures of our cross-country Amtrak train-trip in our room with a view . . . so here goes . . .
Here we are, just leaving home, waaaay back on December 8, seems like months ago! A lovely start with the sun coming up outside our train window, speeding along next to the Pacific Ocean on the first leg of our trip, from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles . . . Look at that fog bank! Nature is just insane with beauty, and so fun to watch slide by from a train window. The whole trip went so well, right on time, funny train people, interesting dinner partners in the Dining Car, heat worked, hot-water showers were good, and of course, the view of America . . .
In LA we transferred to the Southwest Chief for the two-day trip from LA to Chicago … changing terrain is always wonderful to see, from sunny big city and palm trees, to hillsides covered with windmills, to dirt roads to nowhere that make you curious, who, what, why, where, and when!🤔
The changing view turns panoramic in the dining car, while eating the BEST French toast, the train winds through brown corn fields, past barns, farmhouses, through small towns, across Main Streets alive with twinkle lights, our train whistle blowing . . .a most romantic to travel!
As usual we brought everything to make us cozy, including my pillow, and oranges from our California orange tree . . . no scurvy for us on this trip!😊
… we had our tea kettle and our cups (which we wanted anyway for when we got back to our ransacked house ~ which we personally ransacked when we packed up ~ Our California house holds only a 
third of what the old house held, so I got to take ⅓ of everything, which I actually loved!) and our favorite tea ~ Joe likes Lipton with lemon, oranges and sugar. For me it’s my “Fine Romance” loose tea, with honey and milk … Yup, we brought it all and made it a morning celebration. If you do this, don’t forget to bring a short extension cord for your tea kettle! But remember they DO have coffee accessible from your train room. Unfortunately it’s Starbucks,🙀 too bitter for my tender taste buds, but fine in a pinch.🤓 (PS, we still have those Santa Cups in our store! I just found out! I thought they were all gone!)⭐️
We made ourselves cozy while sugar plums danced by our window, snowy cottages and Christmas lights blurred by speed . . .
We wound our way through the bright lights of Chicago, put on our hats and gloves for the freezing walk from the train into the station to wait for the overnight train to Boston on the Lake Shore Limited, heading for Woods Hole where we would catch the ferry boat to take us home . .
And here we are . . .! We drove our rental car onto the ferry for the 45 minute ride, went upstairs for coffee in the snack bar, and here’s the view from our table . . . you can see the beginnings of the island there on the left . . .
So excited! . . . getting our first view of Vineyard Haven Harbor since last August!
Joy! How could it be any other way ~ we’re there!! On go the coats and hats . . . as we drive off past . . .
. . .this, the ferry ticket office, officially welcoming us home to Christmas on the island! MUSICA
And an almost full moon to greet us as we backed into our driveway. You know we only “moved away” 4 months ago, but thinking this was probably the very last time we would be staying here touched a crazy bone in our bodies! The house was dark when we got there, but it has been lit up every night since. Our way of saying “Hello, we’re Home!” to the neighborhood!🥰
I have taken so many photos of our lit up house! My friends tell us it’s been sad to see it so dark. Even the moon was helping us this night. (When we leave on the 5th of January, we’re leaving timers on some of the lamps to make for a smoother transition to the next lucky people to live here.) We’ve been making up for lost time, that’s for sure, doing all the things of the season and seeing everyone we love.💝
Our walk … as so many of you know (because you’ve been coming 
along with us since my Willards began and have seen it in every weather) we started going here to walk around 1990 … we’ve listened to so many books out here that very often now, the characters show up 
to walkk with us! My favorite are the ones from the magical book, Wind in the Willows . . . and I’m thrilled when Dickens makes an appearance. (Which he does, not only on our walk, but at almost every party we’ve attended while we’ve been home ~ that’s another thing I love about this place ~ it’s all here, all the history, the old houses, very much like it was when Dickens was alive ~ this year our house saw its 185th Christmas, 35 of those years belonging to us.💝 The gift of a lifetime. If we turn off the lights (except for the Christmas Tree), make a fire and light all the candles, it can look and feel very Olde English, complete with snow and plum pudding!)♥️
Lately we’ve been reading The Alice Network. Really good, time travels between WWI and WWII in the lives of women spies, we only have an hour and a half left! Don’t tell me how it ends!📖
But our first day out we went bookless. We wanted to talk, listen to the wind, feel the feels, delight out loud in the magic of this place we’ve decided that someday we will haunt. Since we love it the most, we claim it. And when we do our haunting, our prayer is that we meet everyone here we’ve known and loved for all these years. What a total treasure it has been.♥️
Here’s my boy, bringing in the holly from our trees! We couldn’t wait to make Christmas in our house.🎄 I started checking around for all the red things we left behind, 📕🍎🌹♥️ added some poinsettias too.
We’ve had a fire most every day . . . The house comes alive when candles are lit and there’s a fire burning.🔥
I thought we might not get a tree this year because we were trying to “keep it simple” ~ but here he is, Father Christmas, tree on top of the car, Christmas flowers in hand, and mini cokes for a guest at our Christmas dinner. 🎆 🎵🎶 May your days be merry and bright . . . .🎶🎵
We drove into Edgartown just after the yearly “Christmas in Edgartown” weekend …they weren’t keeping it simple either ~ the town was quiet, but decorated and lit-up to the nth degree, every store, even the bank! I’m sure it brought out the child in everyone!
Such an elegant town! We went to Alchemy, there on the corner, with old friends for our traditional once a year dinner.♥️
Our town looked wonderful too, frosted like a Christmas cake . . .
This is our old movie theater, the Capawok, opened in 1913 in the days of silent movies! The stories this theater can tell! This is where I first heard that two of our friends were getting married! I still see the bride-to-be, her eyes lit up, running up the aisle toward us! It becomes a Christmas market this time of year with handmade things from all over the world!
How’s THIS for scary driving, me and my girlfriend Martha, on our way to Annie’s for a TGIF ~ she’s driving about 2 miles an hour, we’re laughing ourselves silly at how ridiculous this was ~ snow coming at us in long streaks making it very difficult to see. Nature’s fireworks! Luckily we had a very short drive. But, this is one of my favorite sights on dark snowy nights when driving. Something you never see in California! Luckily I have it memorized!💞
We pulled up right in front of Annie’s little cottage, so we could carry in our wine and snacks without slipping in the driveway and killing ourselves. Overcoming one disaster after another to hang with our girlfriends! Totally worth it! My favorite thing about this beautiful island is my GIRLFRIENDS, and the very next thing is the CHARM!!! Because that’s what it is!♥️
They are the gift that keeps on giving. We all take turns having TGIFs which we’ve been doing since the ’90s ~ I’m having one tomorrow! On New Year’s Day👏 ~ but we just LOVE Annie’s cozy fireplace! Can you imagine the years of stories told here, 
the fun, the laughter? The food? It’s been 30 years of heaven! Everyone wanted to know who’s watching what … Bad Sisters won! If you haven’t seen it, do! You’ll love it! (Apple TV+). We even cried at the end! And now I have a whole new list of things to watch!👏 I also learned, among other things, that the very BEST socks are made by a company called Darn Tough, and you get them on Amazon! If they grow a hole in them, they will replace them!!! Guaranteed for life! Isn’t that great?💝💝💝 I love Girl Talk, always have, and always will.💖
I also love Annie’s tiny kitchen ~ had to show it to you. Annie lived in London for years and years, very apparent in the cozy way she decorates! Her couch was given too much kitty love 😽, just like the couches belonging to the rest of us.💞
And despite everything, all the love I have for this place, I love our home in California too. I miss my kitty SOOO MUCH. Kitties have always been my best decorations!😿
The house, once we got it all together, looked like we never went away . . . It was fun “redecorating” ~ you know how much I love it! And with mostly empty rooms, all we really had to do was add RED! ♥️
Surprising what a few roses and poinsettias can do . . .
I set the table for Christmas Dinner . . . had to borrow cutlery from Elaine, but we found a good assortment of glasses we left behind, all the 
red Copeland Spode dishes are still here ~ I had two sets of napkins to chose from. One has “I scream, you scream, we all scream, for ice cream” embroidered on them. Not very Christmasy. But the other set were for backyard dinners, there were black ants embroidered on them. So I chose screaming for ice cream over bugs. And I only had 10 of those, but there were 12 for dinner, so Joe and I got linen dresser scarves for napkins! It all worked! It was the people on the chairs that mattered anyway!
IMG_8860 Dinner was fantastic! Everyone brought something! Joe made roast beef and gravy, I made spinach salad with apples and pomegranate seeds. The most fun was the lighting of the plum pudding Lowely brought … note we have readied ourselves for the inferno by placing the fire extinguisher on the sideboard, everyone is leaning away from Joe and what we imagined could be imminent danger! But Joe did it! Nothing blew up, next year we might get even MORE reckless, and it was DELICIOUS! (click on that link for live action at the table!) It has been such a good trip. We haven’t stopped connecting with our history here. More today, tomorrow, and all days until it is time to go.💖💖💖
My mom was with us at this long-ago Christmas dinner, and the moms of two of our friends were there too, and the children in this picture are all grown up with kids of their own . . . the echoes of this Christmas and all the rest will live here and in our hearts forever . . . a person can’t help but remember at this time of year, all of the wonderful joys of her life.💝 MUSICA! (My friend, Kate Taylor, James’ amazing sister . . .🎵👩🎨🖼️)
I have so many photos, this post could 
perhaps never end! It could be more of “Our Family Vacation” than it already is. But this picture above captures the essence. The being together, catching up with everyone, one lovely dinner after another, potlucks, cocktail parties, visits, walks, going to the MV Museum to hear 
Margot Datz, Girlfriend extraordinaire, talk about her art (yes! She made the skirt!), the hugs and kisses good night under cold starry skies, naps under my blanket with TCM to lull me to sleep, drives around the island to look at the lights (and watch the ferry go), and even a touching memorial for our friend’s darling dad, Jim Norton, beloved island mainstay (look closely at the beautiful old church built in 1883), with Jim’s inspiring words and favorite quotes related by his family, like this, one of my favorites too
“Out beyond ideas of wrong doing and right doing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass,
The world is too full to talk about ideas, language, even the phrase “each other” doesn’t make any sense.
Out beyond ideas of wrong doing and right doing, there is a field.
I’ll meet you there.”
♥️Rumi
I couldn’t possibly leave without showing you Ripper. This is my girlfriend Elaine’s dog … remember Elaine? I wrote about her in Fairy Tale Girl. She and I have been friends since we met in 1971, she was my boss at the time, and had a dog then named Boxcar. Her newest baby is this good boy here.💝
Here we are this wonderful Christmas home. The least judgmental of dear friends. Whatever we choose to do is okay with us, with love, forever. And that does include never letting go. 💝
So, I come bearing gifts to help celebrate 2025! The first? Your yearly “Full Moons Bookmark.” No, I didn’t forget . . . and you can depend on Kellee to make sure that never happens! Just click on it and follow the directions, and voila! It’s yours. Makes a good gift for kids and grownups alike.🌝
Another gift for your mom, your aunt, sister, or BFF ~ is a subscription to this blog ~ it’s free, and mostly all good news, and in this day and insane age, all good news? Is what we need! Subscribe in the upper right corner of this page. It’s so much easier to sign up than it used to be!! And my blog will be delivered into your box whenever there is a new one!💌
Goodbye for now. Check in with me at dearsusanbranch on BlueSky for photos of our train trip back to California!🚂 We leave on Sunday on the 6am Boat! My darling Joe and I, out of the snow and freezing we’ll go, noses pressed to the windows in our room with a view, from the mountains to the prairies, to the ocean white with foam, more sunrises and sunsets, until home, JACK💃🏼, garden, 66º, and who knows what? It’s a new beginning!👏 Happy happy 2025 my forever friends!💞 Prayers for peace, love, and connection. Let’s you and I meet you in that field, of no judgement and forever love.💞 
Dearest Susan….your Willard brings such joy, at a time I need it most. I have not shared my news, because it’s simply to hard to even write these words. My sweet Mom, our darling Oma went to Heaven the beginning of November. Momma fell in her home in August, and bravely fought to regain her health. Little in stature, but huge in heart, she battled the fall, pneumonia, Covid until she could fight no more. Jim and I by her side for months. In denial that we would lose this dear spirit who brought such joy to all our lives. She loved you ( and Joe) so very much. What fun it was to meet you both at the Apple Farm. We often had tea and discussed you like you were family….and in many ways you have been. I wish you both a safe journey. I pray for courage and peace in the new year. Sending my love ❤️
Happy New Year to you and Joe and Jack too! I always start out the new year reading Isle of Dreams as I find it terribly inspiring! I’ve already devoured it these past few days. Sending love and blessings for 2025! 🎀🥂🩷✨️🍾🎉
What a gift for you to spend one more Christmas in your beloved MV home! ❤️🎄Things happen for a reason and you really had a whirlwind of decisions, emotions, and packing this past year. I think this house needed to hug you one more time!! The Island is magical and just like here in Rhode Island, December has been cold! Having a white Christmas made it even more dreamy. I have a Sister in Florida and a friend since Kindergarten that live now year round there. Neither of them can visit in the Winter now, they can’t handle the cold lol. As a matter of fact, if it’s under 70 degrees there they need a blanket. Enjoy the rest of your stay and thank you for sharing this Christmas at such a very special home with us. What a treat for your readers. Happy New Year to you and your Joe……..and Jack from my kitty 🐈⬛ Lincoln. ❤️
Sweet Sue, it has been wonderful having you back on the island! I live on the Cape and have felt the presence of your energy and love. Thank you so much for sharing the pictures and wonderful stories-just what my soul needed. Now please have a safe trip back home to CA. Wishing you and Joe and Jack the very best for 2025!! Happy New Year!!! xoxo
Delightful as always ! What a joy and privilege it is to read your lovely posts. Joyful, heart warming, tears and laughter. Thank you for sharing this journey with us ❤ 🙏
🥰😍😘
Happy New Year to you and Joe. Good to hear from you.Stay well and safe journey home.
Spending this last day of 2024 re-reading Isle of Dreams for the millionth time (not exaggerating at all)……
Happy to think of you back at the house to ring in the new year.
I tell everyone I know Susan Branch is my favourite…..!!
Happy New Year !
What a wonderfully joy and love filled blog! Just loved it. It’s so awesome that you got to spend one more Christmas and New Years in your MV home! Couldn’t be more perfect.. The house will sell now. It wanted you to have one more Christmas at home with your friends. Happy New Year to you and Joe and Jack and the barn kitties and all your helpers! Peace and joy to you all.
Sending my love your way! See you on Bluesky for Time on the Twain home!!
❤️ Thee Beverlee
What memories your Martha’s Vineyard house holds! It actually tugged at my heartstrings to see it again…and how some of your furniture and belongings are still there. And the way you talked about it…it really sounds like you are truly at HOME there. Is it possible for you to keep that house AND the one in California? Happy and blessed 2025 to you, Joe, and Jack. xoxo
No, I think if it was possible, we would do it. But for aging, and daily joy, sunshine, light, and the green things growing, California is best for us. I spent this entire trip enticing everyone to come see us out west! I think we’ll be having company, special one on one time with our friends!
Ohhh Happy New Year to you and Joe, Susan🎉❄️🎊 thank you for such a heart warming update. I feel inspired for new beginnings and filled with love this season. I’m so happy to hear you’re doing well and loving California. Many blessings to you and all your loved ones, for a wonderful, healthy and happy 2025. You bring us so much joy through your lovely blog and cozy books I read over and over. Thank you so much, Susan💗💗💗
Happy New Year
Happy New Year! Looking forward to all good news here in 2025! Have a wonderful return trip to California 💕
Susan,
Happy New Year to you and Joe! I just loved this blog post, it was like a warm hug. It looks like you have had an incredible time with friends creating memories to last a lifetime. Such fun! The house looked beautiful and festive and how wonderful for you two to enjoy it maybe one last time.
I followed your train trip on Bluesky and it was a joy.
Yeah, the bookmark, isn’t it funny how the simplest things bring such joy? It is already on my treasured bulletin board over my desk.
May 2025 bring you nothing but joy and blessings. Safe travels back to California.
Take care of yourselves and I will follow Bluesky for your trip home.
Terri Brewster
Thanks for answering all my questions! I DO think you are a light in this world to SHINE for people to see it IS POSSIBLE! HERE’S TO POSSIBILITIES!🥂
Bring on 2025 and MY guy!
Thanks for answering all my questions! I DO think you are a light in this world to SHINE for people to see it IS POSSIBLE! HERE’S TO POSSIBILITIES!🥂
Bring on 2025 and MY guy!
Happy New Year, Susan & Joe.
I am so glad you are having such a wonderful time in Martha’s Vineyard. I will be following you on your train trip home to California.Thanks for sharing all your fun times with us.
Live you.💖
Happy travels, happy New Year❣️
Thank you, Susan, for the lovely post. I especially love the Rumi quote, a keeper, and the 1866 quote about feeling safe with a person! I understand the reasons you left the Vineyard but I don’t think I could ever leave if I lived there, it’s one of my special places on this earth. I want to go back this year, preferably before it is overrun with too many visitors like me. By the way, Darn Tough socks are made in Vermont and are worth every penny, such good quality.
Blessings to all in this new year, stay safe and strong.
Susan great blog…nothing like being with great friends at Christmas. I was also there in Vineyard Haven with our dearest friend who lives On Skiff Ave. Agree very cold but beautiful. Happy New Year to you and Joe
Happy New Year ,dear Susan and Joe. Love checking in with you on this cold New Year’s morning. Safe travels.
Wishing you a very happy 2025 – thank you for always being that safe space all of us need. You inspire me to strive to be braver and to make my corner of the world a little better this year … I so appreciate all you do!
Your letters always bring me joy – and it’s so needed as we face the future. I’m so glad you and Joe were able to spend time in your beloved house and share the love and laughter with your beloved friends. I find that seeking recluse with people I love so much more important these days.
Your photos are simply beautiful and tell wonderful stories, Susan.
Be assured, my beautiful sister-in-spirit, I will be in that field. And we will lie down in the laughing, friendly grasses with all the GIRLFRIENDS and their
LOVED ONES. And we will know Peace and Joy in every particle of our beings.
That Peace and Joy throw a sparkling blanket over this beloved Earth always. I’m holding and embellishing this imagining of mine with such gratitude to you, Susan. Thanks for making the world so beautiful and for sharing your visions with us. May 2025 bring fulfillment of all your desires.
So happy to see you back on Martha’s Vineyard … visiting friends and the house that we’ve all come to love. MANY years ago I wrote to you as a fan of your first “Heart of the Home” and I was delighted to receive a hand-written letter in response. It’s been lovely to be able to follow you via all the Willards. 🙂 Wishing you the best on your trip home.
Susan, Your Home on Martha’s Vineyard is a Treasure and a delight at Christmas time with old friends is a blessing! We are entering the new year 2025!
Wishing you and family a very happy, healthy new year! 2025 is the jubilee of pilgrims of hope, may we ALL be that during the year bringing hope wherever we go. 💜
I was so happy to see the old house and your celebrations with friends! It was so nostalgic and I couldn’t imagine you having to leave again. However, being of a certain age, I understand totally the move to California. I love our year round climate! Have a wonderful trip back HOME. When you pass SURF Station on the coast, that is where I live in Lompoc. I know Jack will be ecstatic to see you. Bon Voyage or how do you say that for a train trip? God speed!
You can’t imagine how excited I am to get back home! That’s always been the trouble, being in love with two (and counting England, which I must) three places! 💞
Happy New Year. Stay well. God bless you both.
Dear Susan Wish you all the best and good in New Year. With Love your fan
What an amazing trip! Thank you for sharing the memories and photos. Loved the snow coming down on the windshield while driving. But – it can happen in California! Many trips driving from SLO County to Lake Tahoe in the winter to ski, even when there’s “weather” and have seen this many times. Also driving very slowly on Hwy 50, making it over the pass to drop down into the Lake. Heading back there soon – hopefully no storms next week. Travel safely home to AG and Happy 2025!
Love, hope, and kindness for 2025. And rabbit, rabbit, rabbit
Seeing you and Joe and your dears back in your MV home made MY heart so happy, I can’t IMAGINE what it did to yours! Wishing you the happiest of new years, your first full year back in sunny California.
Love, from Ohio,
Kathy
When time and finances allow, I hope to stroll by this special house one day …and I suspect it will make me a bit sad to know we no longer live there….yes, I meant to say we….for all of us have lived in that house with you. We’ve cooked with you in your kitchen and watched as you set the table for your gatherings with all your pretties. We’ve enjoyed your garden views and Jack’s hair tie chases.
It’s like saying goodbye to a dear dear friend.
I’m glad you were able to spend Christmas one last time there.
While waiting for the spackle to dry upstairs, I’m reading my Heartwarming New Year’s Day Suprise Willard. We made the decision to sell our adorable little townhouse in Ballast Point, Tampa, and now I’m exploding with energy. Fix what’s easy, hire a plumber for what’s not, a little dab of paint, and Bob’s your uncle. Well…then there Are all the treasures to disperse. You and Joe having just gone down that tough trail, understand.
I’ve packed and unpacked my grandmother’s old China, for the last time.
While not Spode, it’s flowery, old, delicate, and each piece hand edged in real gold. Service for 12 with so many different sized plates and bowls, almost Victorian. 12 big to small serving pieces to go with it. And….12 and extras of those paper-thin etched crystal stemmed glasses. I remember breaking one when I was “little”. I will take a few of the delicate little teacups with me to Maine, for sitting in front of our fireplace on a snowy day next Winter.!! Some SB tea for company.
I have a friend who is a member of the Chislers, a group here in Tampa that has a ginormous sale every year with thousands of donated treasures, just like my China and Crystal, and all that Silver!! The proceeds will go to a cause dear to my heart. They even want my little black with gold paint Singer portable sewing machine, that used to make most of my A line dresses curtains and slipcovers for ratty old furniture. Wonder if Tom and I are now “collector’s items” as is this little machine?!?
Thank you, Dear Lady for the “BlueSky” and being able to see other pictures.
Of course, this old Southern gal has to make Hoppin’ John tonight, with the black-eyed peas for luck, and the collard greens for bounty, along with a little ham for seasoning.
Mucho big 2025 love and look forward to your Twain Trip back West. You will enjoy the best of both Coasts. My Lovely Tom has just gone out on his bike to enjoy riding these brick streets under the ancient live oaks. Not too bad for an almost 85 year old foxy man!!
Debbie in sunny Tampa
You and Lovely Tom are MY collectors items, but total keepers. Not auctioning you off despite the big bucks! Total originals! Sending you both best wishes for this New Year!💖💖💖💖💖
Thank you, thank you, thank you … for bringing us into this visit with photos and narrative, all full of love and peace and goodness. What a perfect way to start this first day of a new year. Thank you, Susan, so very much.
Thank you for sharing your heart and positivity once again. This post made me tear up, in a good way. You always help to remind us what’s most important and to always be grateful, cherish the beauty in all things, especially our loved ones and to always have hope. May 2025 be everything you’re hoping for. Safe travels back to California. xo
After the Big House sells, I’d seriously consider a Christmas Cottage (even if just a B&B) for December. Your heart winters in NE. Be good to yourself, and indulge that longing as long as possible.
Thank you for sharing your cross-country voyage. I relocated to the East Coast 10 years ago. I still have family and friends in California and would love to try taking the cross-country train. Darn Tough socks are wonderful. My favorite pair is a pair I received from Vermont Public for supporting public radio. These socks are Vermont green with cows on them. So fun! Happy New Year, Susan!
Thanks for sharing your Vineyard Christmas. I love all the details of friends and food and pets and memories. You have helped me get ready for 2025 with your Rumi quote. May God bless you and Joe!
Happy you were “home” for Christmas! Safe travels back to your California home
I have truly enjoyed this blog post. It may be my favorite, especially knowing we may not get anymore of you in your beautiful, old MV home. There is something magical about that house. It gives me all the feels, although the picture of you in your studio working on this post made me “feel” cold.
Happy 2025 to you, Susan, and Joe, of course.
Best wishes that the perfect people will come to make the old house their home, and that they will also be welcomed by and be good stewards of all that is left inside the home (if it’s included, that is). Such an amazing opportunity for someone! Also sending best wishes for a safe and lovely trip back to warm weather and Jack! You’re so lucky to have a lot of land at both houses!
What a wonderful post! Your California home is nice, but it was lovely to see Martha’s Vineyard again. I’m sure it was a bittersweet Christmas for you. Your train journey sounds like so much fun. I have always wanted to take a train trip. I think the trip would be as much fun as the destination! And thank you for the charming bookmark. I’m sure I’ll put it to good use this year. Have a great trip back home. I’m sure Jack will be happy to see you, and you’ll be happy to see him!
Happy New Year, Susan! It warms my heart to read about all of your Christmas Island adventures and sweet memories with friends. I look forward to seeing the train photos on Blue Sky next week. All of us in California wish you a safe return! Cheers to 2025!
I was just thinking about you today and wondering about your visit back home. What a Christmas gift! And then this Willard appeared in my mailbox! Loved reading about your train journey and look forward to your trip back to CA. Safe travels!
Happy New Year dear Sue and Joe…I’m so happy for you that you got to spend time with your dear friends over the holidays! I’m sure they were thrilled to see you! Safe travels back to Jack and know how loved you are. So loved. 💖
Susan———I have followed you for many years…..You heal me–You make me feel better
..
My life is about to change & it has happened to you.
I am leaving Connecticut( where i grew up met hubby & had a family)
I am purging…Lots…….How did you do it????!!!! After loosing the Love Of My Life 5 years ago—It’s time to move on….Family is moving to Florida?? I’m moving to Florida…I can’t bring my cozy winter clothes or boots–maybe some sweaters??
Yes a huge change…If you did it(we are the sam age)i can too.
I am an avid Quilter—they can’t stop me there LOL
Just read your Willard—I will take you with me–All of your books & Calendars..Your first painting is framed…You will be there with me too.
Happiest Christmas to you and Joe………
Following you wherever you go & wherever i go!!!!!
Peace & Happines–Love ,Linda Matera
💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
Such a wonderful warm and cozy blog. I almost got to visit Martha’s Vineyard in 2019, but there was such a storm that the ferry was not ferrying! I wanted to see where my ancestor Isaac Norton had lived in the mid 1600’s. He was my 8th great grandfather. I was on a tour and we had to move on. It was a beautiful New England tour in early October! I now live in CA. Our family has made a steady march from sea to shining sea!
Always so calming and uplifting to get a Willard from you. I had to laugh about the choice of napkins and the waiting fire extinguisher in case the plum pudding had too much “plum” in it. It had nothing to do with Joe and his match skills. He seems capable of handling so many things. I’m sure he will be happy to get back to his tractor. May the new year bring you many good surprises!
Christie
It sounds like you and Joe had a wonderful Christmas with your friends on Martha’s Vineyard. Safe travels back to California.
Look forward to hearing more from you soon,
Happy New Year!
Love, Love, Love, this Willard!! My heartstrings are pulling!! I have no more words!! Happy New Year to you, Joe and the kitties! Hugs and safe travels back to sunny CA!
Such a joy filled time! It was so good to return with you to Martha’s Vineyard and to see your former home along with so many of your dear friends. What a special time and what a relief it is to have something land in my email that is all good news!
Hi l susan and Joe.
My husband and I got married on the Vinyard October 2004. Eastville Beach. We just celebrated our 20th anniversary back on the island. October 8th. Rented the canary Cottage in Oak Bluffs. Drove all over the island in our car 👍 stopped by Black Dog Tavern for lunch.
Saw your home 🏡 on spring st. So awesome! So glad you spent your Christmas back on the Vineyard! Sorry I missed you by 2 months would have love to knock on the door and say hi👋
Just lovely as usual. I hope you enjoy the rest of your time on MV and have safe travels to CA. Happy New Year❣
Susan, you are amazing! How did you have the energy to make the trip from CA, settle in quickly, decorate your home, and host a dinner for all your lovely friends?!! I have the feeling you don’t relax easily. That’s a wonderful trait!😊Loved the pictures of your trip and sharing yourself with us. I always look forward to your blog.HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Your train trip and photos (turned into water colors) would make a great children’s book, Susan Bee! Happy New Year to you and Joe and thank you for the positive encouragement, as always.
With each scene, each sentence and each sentiment you made me pine for the island and girlfriends! Thank you for bringing it all so vividly into my heart!
Thank you for sharing your amazing holiday and trip! I love Willards! Your friend’s Westie is adorable. They are the cutest, my Harry is going to be 12 in February. I keep hoping to win the lottery, so I can buy your house and host S.B. Girls Weekends as a Bed N Breakfast. We’d cook different recipes depending on the season but would always start the day with Popovers and happy hour with Skip N Go Nakeds!! How fun to be able to share the house with everyone who loves you?!! Happy New Year! xoxo
I enjoy reading your blog. My hubby and I are almost in the same boat as you. Downsizing and moving from east to west. We are going from Michigan to Oklahoma and we came to our Michigan home for about 4 weeks. We leave on the 11th. One thing I’m curious about is how you are handling the time change. For us it’s only an hour, which isn’t tool bad. Happy New Year
Happy New Year to you and yours, Susan, and thank you for sharing your trip to the Vineyard. It’s emotional for US to see you “back at the old address,” so I can only imagine all the feels you and Joe have being there. I so appreciate your emphasis on good news and gratitude and am trying to focus more on both! We were blessed to have both our boys (now 31 and 29!) and their ladies with us for Christmas. Your books, recipes and reflections have been with me since my dear friend Kelly gave me Vineyard Seasons as a shower gift in 1991. Of course I also bought Heart of the Home soon after my wedding when I realized I had not learned to cook! So many of your delicious recipes nourished our boys and have been part of our family traditions for all these years. I am truly grateful for your work and all you do to inspire so many. My Aunt Wilma (also a fan and most partial to your Gratitude book) and I continue to hope that, now that you’re back in CA, we might get to see you at a bookstore signing somewhere in LA or San Diego County one day.
BTW, I just hung your new calendar up in the kitchen! Another wonderful year of Susan Branch art!
Happy New Year to you and Joe!! Was so lovely to see a New Year’s greeting from you today! Read this delight as I sit in my favorite wake up area looking at my backyard with gently falling snow as my view. Northern Wisconsin beauty❄️ Enjoyed seeing the beauty of your charming “old” home again. You have been so gracious to have shared so personally your life in that grand old home that I feel part of me got left behind too! It had to be such a wonderful gift to self to be with your wonderful friends at Christmas/New Year time and see the house come alive again! Love to you and Best wishes for a Blessed, healthy and Happy New Year!
I absolutely LOVED this post❣️ I LOVE your MV home and the way everything was decorated was just lovely. Thank you dear Susan B for making a big difference in my life, ❤️ Here’s to new beginnings and California where my daughter and her family live!!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR my friend 🥂 clinking to all of us!
Happy New Year, Susan, and safe travels back to California. What is really cool is seeing the pictures you posted and saying, “I’ve been there!” Would love to go back and visit with my girlfriend against some day!
I enjoyed this so much but my heart hurts a little for your Martha’s Vineyard life. I understand though that sometimes you just know it’s time to move and you’ve made the right choice. With your lifelong connections there, you’ll always have friends to go back to.
Love it here and love it there. How much more could a person ask for! xoxoxo
I have no idea why or how, but I teared up at this Willard. It sounded … final. Like something was already gone and I was feeling bereft. Silly, I know, but I hope all is well with you and that there will be more Willards for a long time. 💜
No worries, Liz, we are fine. Just touched by all the love and kindness and more LOVE and more KINDNESS from visiting with our old friends on this trip. We’ll be back here again, lots more fun to come. So far, we are very lucky that way. XOXOXO
Your most recent blog came at just the right time to cheer me. Hubby was convalescing from a recent knee operation (Christmas was on the back burner and no visits to loved ones) and very little to celebrate. My 96-year-old Mom (living in Vermont) has to wait for our “Christmas visit” until hubby Joe can drive us up there! The only saving grace is our 2 year-old grandson, who got pampered and spoiled with all the trappings of the season. Yet I was in near tears every day until my Mom suggested to read your latest blog. Well, seeing your home all gussied up for the holidays and reaching out to all your dear friends, brought such joy to my day! Thank you Susan Branch—and a very happy and healthy new year to you, Joe and Jack!
Happy Healthy New Year 2025 .. Susan Dear❤️ Am about to find a new loving home for my Johnson Bros. Rose Chintz .. because they didn’t come to CA w/you!! And behold there I
see them in this blog❤️💜❤️ A-lo-ha-ha .. Xo Evie in San Diego
Wonderful people enjoying a beauti-full life! You are so blessed. We girlfriends are blessed by you. I am so excited to see your former home again. It looks as cozy as ever. Wish you could keep it too! I’m always looking forward to your posts❤️
A belated Merry Christmas 🎄 and a Happy New Year 🎊
I love the red and white quilt on the coach! Did you make it? Love 💗 Margot’s skirt…
Love ❤️ Elaine’s doggy. I would like to find one like that, because I have allergies.
So you are leaving for CA on the 12th day, otherwise known as Epiphany. Please put on your calendars…
Love to you and Joe and Kitties!
OXOX
Margot
Thank you for sharing your Christmas on Martha’s Vineyard. It truly did seem like old times. I also look forward to following you on Blue Sky back to California. I know you will be overjoyed to see Jack again and how nice it will be to get a jump on spring and be able to start growing things for the New Year! Wishing you, Joe and Jack a very Happy and Blessed New Year! Safe travels.
Happy New Year to all! ♥️
Susan– Could your team pretty please add a link to your BlueSky page at the top of the blog? Thank you!
It looks like you never moved away but I know you have. I bet it was wonderful to celebrate Christmas with your good friends. I hope your MV home sells before too long as I wish you both well. Take care and Happy New Year from your friend in Minnesota.
Love,
Crystal
All love and blessings to you and yours this next year and beyond, Susan! As always, it’s pure delight to read your blog. <3
All love and blessings to you and yours this next year and beyond, Susan! As always, it’s pure delight to read your blog. <3
What a beautiful gift this Christmas trip was. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Happy New Year Susan and Joe! I am so happy to see you back east on MV enjoying your friends and all the fa la la la la of the season. Have a wonderful twain ride back to Jack. All the best to you. xo