Susan Branch's Blog, page 26

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ALMOST TURKEY TIME

Almost Turkey time!  MUSICA ~ you have to watch the little dance that goes with this one! So sweet! Then play it again and come read . . . xoxo

Turkey dinner anyone? Yummy! Our “free range” turkeys are very calm, considering the date and all, milling around our backyard.  That’s because they know they’re safe, culinarily unattractive with nothing to worry about. Not like these crazy babies that came running to see us a couple of years back when we pulled over to take pictures of them.

    

Maybe you remember them? So cute! Our wild Island turkeys are not grain fed like these cuties (except of course at our house, where they get bird food), they are mosquito and fly fed, and look pretty much inedible to me. Whenever I see these guys up there ↑ I always think maybe we will have salmon for Thanksgiving! You can’t imagine how sweet they were, and curious about us.

I just finished writing a brand new Willard (this photo is from the last one) . . . I have so many fun surprises for you! A  preview of how the new book is coming along and MUCH more! It should start going out next Tuesday, so watch your mail box ~ it usually takes about four days for them all to go. Hope you love it!♥

We have been sleeping so well. And this is why ~ the sheets! They are so cozy and crisp because we’ve gotten into the habit of drying them on the line.’Course that will stop when it starts freezing out there, but it’s been HEAVEN, a noticeable difference, they way they feel and smell, even inspires conversation between Joe and I when we’re on our walk, saying how delicious they are. If you can do it, if it’s not already snowing on you, and there are no rules against clothes drying on your line, try it!

And while I was out there I had to take a picture of the ground. So pretty under the maple tree ~ SO gorgeous despite dastardly worm-bites from killer worms we’ve managed to attract here on the Island. But we are going to get rough with them this year and put some oil on our tree trunks where they lay their eggs to keep them from ever hatching. Still pretty, if a bit gnawed.

I gathered the sheets and took them in, and this was waiting in the window at the back kitchen door.So lucky! ♥♥♥

I had to get the sheets in before it started raining . . . which it did, all day yesterday. It was perfect Willard-writing weather, tires slapping the street outside my window, raindrops pattering on the glass, while I thought about what would be the perfect new Giveaway to celebrate this Willard (a surprise!) ~ it was a delightful rainstorm which inspired us to light the first fire of the season last night.

 

We’re having people to dinner tonight (which is why this is going to be a short post ~ I have to go cook!) I’ve been looking at some of my dinner-party table settings . . . and starting to think about Thanksgiving, which always makes me think about my grandma.♥

My grandma taught me how to set the table when I was little.

Forks on the left, knife and spoons on the right . . . Handy information I’ve used all my life.

Think I’ll go check my recipe box and see what good old recipes inspire me today. It’s raining again, a perfect day for

Off I go dear ones, out to brave the drizzle and cut the last of the marigolds for the kitchen window . . . what are you up to this weekend? I will be painting! And getting Vanna in shape for the big drawing next week. Yay! Love you, XOXO

Another Gorgeous Day in Paradise

Another gorgeous day in paradise! MUSICA!

Oh, I am working so good now, girls. So excited for the new book. It’s my most favorite thing I’ve ever done and that is truly saying something. You are going to love it. I almost don’t want it to be done. I’ve already started painting for it, yesterday I painted my first little house as a doll house with no walls! That was fun! And I’m laying out the pages, hurrying before you all forget where we left off from The Fairy Tale Girl!

But then, the sun begins to come up, I look outside . . . and oh my . . .

I had to go out the kitchen door . . . because all the leaves were calling me! What was going on in our back yard this morning as the sun got into the tops of the trees was just wonderful!

The sun was lighting the tree tops on fire . . .

Here’s the garden before the sun got to it . . .

Nice and cozy . . . all this beauty right outside the door!

But this is what I meant . . . the sun was hitting the tops of trees, coming through other trees and splotching them with light, like it does on the walls inside the house . . .pretty amazing, don’t you think?

Oh yes, definitely treasure . . .

It’s hard to show the wind in a photo . . . I keep wishing the leaves would stop in mid air and let me photograph them coming down . . . they are flying through the trees today.I can even see them here from my window in the studio because the light catches them and they flicker all the way down. 

I almost forgot to tell you . . . I caught one in the woods today! It is not as easy as it sounds, believe me. But I got one, and I made a wish on it and tossed it!

Shhhhh, I would really like it to come true!

Dishtowels on the line are a pretty good second-choice indication of wind . . . . .

They can really get going . . . the wind is cool and fresh and smells good too. *Someone* should start raking up leaves!

Let’s let *Jackie* do it! He won’t mind. He’d do just about anything to get out there! 

He heard me say that . . . Really? We’re going out ???? 

You might remember this photo taken in the spring, only instead of leaves, these branches were filled with white flowers . . . it’s an ornamental pear tree. Trees are year-round giving things. Squirrels love them too.

From our bathroom window on the second floor ↓ the squirrel condo in the linden tree.

Yes, just like Bogie and Bacall!

Sun in the tree tops . . . Autumn gold.

I hope you are getting lots of use from your Autumn book!  There are a couple of recipes you may not have tried but I think you would love . . . one of them is Roasted Radicchio on p.50. A most amazing side dish, drizzled with balsamic syrup and so good, and different! Also the Gingerbread Cake with Lemon Sauce and whipped cream on p. 93. I’ve never tasted a better one. Honest. You’ll love it! Also, as a treat, because you deserve it, on your next rainy day, try the Red Chili Onion Rings on page 29! Heaven! And just in case you’d like to make my Grandma’s Stuffing this year . . . here’s how to do it, very simple, but you need to plan ahead a little bit.♥

And then there’s this . . . mmmmmmm. Grilled cheese. Good for breakfast or anytime!

Here’s my darling Girl Kitty. Getting a little ear-scratching. We are having lots of quality time these days . . . I brush her every day to help her with those dastardly hair balls. She loves it and so do I!

While I was walking around the garden taking pictures, I went out back to the street for more splotches of morning sunlight . . . They have taken this old house almost completely down in order to save the parts that are salvageable. It will be gorgeous one day. Seeing it made me think, building a book is a lot like building a house. First you need a foundation, then you add the framing, then the sheathing, the shingles or the clapboards, then the windows and doors, so it’s all enclosed and begins to look like a house. And the whole time you’re tapping your foot and saying Hurry. Then you get the wiring, insulation and plaster, then the cupboards. the linoleum, and the tub . . . and FINALLY you get to the good parts, the paint and wallpaper (don’t quote me on how to build a house) and then, most exciting of all, you get to the part where you get to cut flowers from your garden to fill a little vase to sit on your window sill. ♥ And that’s exactly where I am on the book right now. At the flowers-in-the-vase stage. I’ve made myself a mock-up version of the book so although it’s very clunky, I get to see exactly what it will look like! And you are always on my mind as I choose the perfect photo, the perfect bit of art, the perfect quote and my very best words. And so it goes, until the house is built. Which will be sooner rather than later. I COULD get it to the printer in two months, IF I did nothing else, BUT, I don’t think that’s going to happen, SO, asap will have to do!

In the meantime, Kellee is away on vacation, when she gets home I will have a brand new WILLARD all ready for her to send out . . . I think she said it will go out on the 17th . . . so get ready and sign up your sister and your best friend so they get one too! I have so many exciting things to tell you. Many surprises are coming this way, Girlfriends, for all of us!

Just had to show you this beautiful rainy day we had last week . . . too pretty not to mention.

And this . . .

Moonrise last week over Vineyard Haven Harbor . . . We went down to Owen Park to take this picture. The October Hunter’s Moon always seems like the biggest one here on the Island . . . It was so exciting, waiting, waiting, the light of it came first, and then finally, there it was, peeking over the horizon! Looks like the sun, but it’s really the moon!

And here’s one of my favorite dishes, just love this color and love to see it every year.

And now, one of the many reasons I L♥VE my Blog, a surprise for my dad, a giant hug to say I miss you, Dad! Hope your day is going wonderfully!♥ Kiss Jeanie for me!  XOXO

T H E

I   A D O R E 

And you too Girlfriends, the OTHER reason I L♥VE my blog . . . hope your day is going wonderfully too! I will hug the kitties for you! XOXO

Making Sausage

Well, I know you’ve been wondering what happened to me and I have an excuse. I’ve been making sausage and it’s not the kind you eat! Musica? Of course!

I know some of you are worried about me. And you SHOULD be worried! Despite how normal everything looks from the outside, I’m like that commercial, “Help I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”

Only I haven’t fallen. I’ve just gone stark staring mad.  My desk has looked like this for days now. Honestly, it never looks like this. That’s why I love watercolor, because it’s so NEAT. But this is different . . . my watercolors are under all of this. To add to the glory, Jack periodically comes and lays down on top of everything. Sometimes he hits the table and skids through everything. Then I wish to kill him. But instead I pick him up and kiss him madly and then he wishes to kill me. Despite the way it looks, this mess is actually organized,  until Jack gets there. Yes, throw the rubber band. Get up, stop the concentration, because this mess does require it, and throw the dang rubber band. It’s just that I am doing the funnest book-two and wish not to be interrupted. What you see here are just part of the photos that are going into the book. They say no one likes to watch sausage being made, so if that is so, maybe you should look away, because this is an inside look at scrapbook book writing.  And these are just the photos!  Wait until you see the watercolors!  I feel guilty for having this much fun while being derelict in my duties. But Mark Twain says it’s okay so if you have a problem with it, you will have to talk to him.

Here I am this morning … notice it’s still dark outside? Yes, I know, so what else is new. I’ve been wanting to write you but I keep thinking I’ll get this done and THEN I’ll write, but guess what?  It’s never going to get done!  It clearly will never happen. This is going to be groundhog day forever. So here I am, because I MISS you! 

Don’t worry about me, it shouldn’t, but there’s something about this that puts me in hog heaven. What can I say?  Making stuff is my middle name. And this book has so many little textures and parts, I’m enjoying myself immensely, except if the phone rings or Jack knocks everything off the table. Until then I’m happy as a clam in my house of creativity, and I have no problem, especially when the days are chilly and the leaves are falling and I start wrapping up in shawls and lighting candles, shutting out the world and just making stuff. In fact, I feel just plain blessed.

I do allow, appreciate, and adore this.  Our walk. It’s more gorgeous than ever these lovely October days, and we never miss it, we go everyday. Doesn’t that sound healthy and balanced?  Of course it does! I have myself fooled.

Pretty huh?  I wish you could feel the breeze, and see the leaves drifting out of the trees. So far I haven’t managed to catch one in mid air, but I keep trying. It’s exhilarating out there! We walked along the shore today, listened to the waves roll in, and filled our pockets with shells, glass, tiny sea-worn bricks, and rocks.Lovely, lovely weather we’re having.

The long and winding road . . . 

So I’m going to bed now, I just had to say hello . . . I realized I forgot to show you this. It’s a scarecrow we saw at Moulton Farmstand in Meredith, New Hampshire. Note the squash situation. I think I knew this guy in another life. Aren’t people creative? It never ends.♥ Love you dears.  Hope all is well with you.  Never worry about me, I am a loud and frequent complainer whenever push comes to shove. If there was ever anything actually wrong, I’m pretty sure I would tell you! In fact, you can depend on it. Sweet dreams Girlfriends! XOXO

AUTUMN from the HEART of the HOME

Hello darling people!   MUSICA

Get a cup of tea and join me for AUTUMN from the Heart of the Home, it’s blog time!

 Trees make SUCH good sense when you can get one to talk. Fall is when they do it, you can hear it in the shhhhh of their leaves . . . and you find out they make sense in more ways than one! ♥

And they smell good too!  Especially this time a year, when the air is filled with them.  Here was our walk yesterday. It’s getting very beautiful out there.  Still lots of green, but the change is coming . . . 

As you can see, we are nowhere near peak yet, color wise, but a few things are beginning to burst, like the bittersweet . . . such a fun thing to decorate with although I can use it outside only because it’s not good for kitties.

You would NOT want to decorate with this inside OR out, because this is poison ivy. But isn’t it pretty?  Our woods are filled with this climber that turns bright red . . . they should have called this bittersweet — because with poison ivy you get the bitter, but in the color you get the sweet! 

You can see a bit more of it in red on the tree in the back . . . it’s gorgeous, one of the prettiest fall plants in the woods.

Bittersweet tumbles everywhere. It lights the shadowy places up.

Sassafras!  Pretty pretty pretty. The wind makes the leaves shimmer in the light . . .

So I was wearing this kind of loose-knit sweater and I started gathering leaves, flowers and berries to bring home so instead of carrying them, I strung them through my sweater . . .

This face says Ha! I thought it looked great. I wanted to cover my entire sweater in them. Make a fall costume. But, when a car drove by us out there, Joe pretended not to know me. Silly boy. Doesn’t he know . . .

Here it all is, that’s our woods!

These are windfall crabapples I found on the ground under a tree when we were in New Hampshire. So cute, I brought them home to put on the kitchen table. P.S. They were free!  Just lying around on the ground. Can you imagine?

And this gorgeous rose is the last one of the season from our garden. I debated, bring it in, or enjoy it in the garden? IN! I felt good about my decision. Up close and personal, not just for me, but for you too. Through the MAGIC of the Internet! I still can’t believe we can DO this!

October, my darling, slooow down. Last two months, please . . .I really love you. I had such fun painting this page, I want it to stick around for a while!

We almost always end up getting mums to decorate our porch, and then we plant them in the garden afterwards. And they always come back. These wine-red mums are growing in the garden now.

Lowely was just here for tea, she heard we’re going to have a freeze on Saturday! So I’ll cover the mums with a blanket to get them to last a bit longer. The hand-painted little thrift shop vase up there is my newest favorite thing ~ it was a gift from my girlfriend Pat ♥ . . . adorable don’t you think? For the collection . . . From one “little vase” lover to another . . . ♥

…How does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockle shells…

Top o’ the stove as of yesterday. . .

We are cookin’ with gas in more ways than one . . . because it’s getting chilly out there!

And it’s Casper time.  A VERY friendly ghost . . . already lighting the bedroom window upstairs. . . hello to the street!

See him?  Our pumpkins are up too. But you can see, although there are colored leaves on the ground, the trees still have a little ways to go. Mas MUSICA? OUI!

When I want to decorate I just shop my house and pull out anything that says “Autumn” to me, like these little faux pears and that pinecone I found out on the road. Nature (and the attic) provides.

I read my Autumn Book and set it up in my kitchen to get inspired . . . such a creative time of year! ♥

See, just little stuff we have around . . . the birds we sell in our web store ~ along with little faux leaves I got somewhere and saved.

We had such a nice time at our book signing in Meredith, New Hampshire with the good people at Innisfree Books ~ Lots of our Girlfriends were there!♥ By the way, I left lots of signed copies of The Fairy Tale Girl and A Fine Romance at this wonderful Independent Bookstore if you’re interested . . . they told me they would be happy to send you one for as long as they last. You can call them at 603-279-3905.

They decorate their store with huge posters that authors sign for them. I figured out where to sign the poster for The Fairy Tale Girl, but was having trouble with Autumn. The caption (and my left hand) would say, “Yeah, but where?”

But I figured out . . . and was very proud of myself!

We stopped in the BEST farm stands when we were up there . . . and got ourselves some very large pumpkins to carve for Halloween.

But my favorite thing was reading in front of the fire at Lowely’s grandmother’s house . . . a little bit of heaven. 

I suggested Corn Pudding on the October page of this year’s calendar (up there ↑ and hopefully on your wall) so I thought I should give you the recipe. It’s in the Autumn Book too. SO good, SO easy, and DO float it in a puddle of maple syrup … It’s the perfect food for this time of year, I promise!

Jack. In his new capacity of door beggar. PLEASE take me out!  Please!!!!!!!! I hope over the winter he forgets about the great outdoors because, despite his little mustache and his melting green eyes, this boy has terrible killer instincts and if he were set loose, I would fear for the world of birds, bunnies and other kitties! A neighborhood cat becomes visible through a window and Jack turns into a Rhodesian Ridgeback. One scary kitty.

I tell Jack he has it so easy. The cats in California are working cats! This is darling SAMMY . . . helping out at the Studio. He sleeps with us when we are there, and I have to say, I get a tear in my eye when I have to leave him. He looks a little scary in this photo, but that’s just the camera, he is the MOST wonderful kitty, SO loving. After Jack and Girl of course. (I think they can read.)

And Sasha! Another HUGE help at the Studio. Look at those front paws! I Love that my Studio has kitties. Kellee’s yellow lab, Reese, comes to work with her too, so we know we are running the RIGHT kind of business, don’t you agree? If things get too busy and Kellee and Sheri get stressed, they can just reach over, pet a kitty or a dog, and voila, stress is a thing of the past and they are smiling again!

I’m smiling too because we have 52 five-star reviews on Amazon for The Fairy Tale Girl!!! Already, before most of our Girlfriends in the UK have even gotten their books. You can’t ask for more than that! I had to check Amazon, it’s the only way I know to gauge how the book is doing. So exciting and so lucky! Whoever has taken the time to write those reviews, if you are reading this, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank ALL of you. I love reading your comments here on the blog. I’m really overwhelmed to tell you the truth. This book was a long time coming . . . XOXO

Just so you know, every day I work on Book Two. Trying to get it done ASAP! Cliff hangers (I’ve come to realize) are so unfair! No matter how much fun they are! I think you think you know how this next book will end, but I think you will be surprised. *That’s all I’m saying*. And for all the talk about making The Fairy Tale Girl into a movie (or, a series with Zooey Deschanel in the starring role, ha ha), I have one thing to say, where is Nora Ephron (Sleepless in Seattle) when we need her? Hear that, adorable Richard Curtis who made Love Actually?And so are dreams. . .even if you don’t get them!

So, what else . . ? Oh, yes, I’ll be signing THE FAIRY TALE GIRL at Titcombs Bookshop on the Cape in Sandwich this Saturday, October 17th, from 1-3 p.m. if anyone is in the neighborhood.♥ Joe and I are having lunch with the Beatrix Potter Girlfriends before the signing, to talk about next year, the 150th anniversary of the Birth of Beatrix, a light upon the earth for her time here, and still, after all these years. There are plans afoot for a celebration. I will tell you more later . . . hope to see some of you at the signing.♥

Joy to the world, that’s all I have to say. Not really ALL I have to say. That’ll be the day.:-) We are starting to plan our cross-country bookstore tour for next year . . . we are very excited. You know how good it feels to put something fun on the calendar?  Oh boy, do we feel good! Because we are also planning a very big birthday party for Joe next August. With a band and a tent and everything!  PLUS, we still have another book to do, PLUS, Downton Abbey is coming, it’s all so exciting. PLUS Thanksgiving, PLUS Christmas. AND the first snow. Our cup runneth over.  Love you Girls, have a WONDERFUL day. EAT corn pudding! XOXO 

TRIPPIN’

We’ve been out trippin’ for the last week, and I just downloaded (or uploaded, whichever it is) 491 photos into my computer! I will do you the supreme favor of not showing you all of them (have to save some for WILLARD), just a few, to catch you up on where we are and what we’ve been doing so far! You know what?  Taking pictures doubles the pleasure! I’ve had so much fun looking at them this morning!  MUSICA!

It’s October, Girlfriends, rabbit-rabbit, big time. ♥

It’s been wonderful out here on the road.  We’ve driven across Massachusetts, up through Vermont to Lake Champlain, and now we’ve arrived in Meredith, New Hampshire ~ in two cars, with our friends Lowely and John.  Here are a few road photos so you can see a little bit of what happens in New England in the fall.

Scarecrows, cute ones, decorate roadsides . . .

And there are apple trees EVERYWHERE.  Aren’t they gorgeous?  I bet 300 of my pictures are of apples! I can’t help it. I think you can see why!

And of course, Vermont is famous for its covered bridges . . . which we brake for like crazy!

This one had windows inside, and this is the view.  Lowely and I are looking out this window and thinking how much we want to take a walk next to that river ~ so we pick a spot further down and ask the boys if they would meet us there with the cars.

And of course, they say yes . . . there goes Joe!

So here we are, on our little woodsy path next to the river. That’s Lowely.

She needs to get just the right shots so she can paint some of these scenes when she gets home.

We’re going to meet the guys on the other side of that bridge . . .

Here we are on the bridge with the lapping little stream running beneath us . . . 

And there they are, in the ancient, classical pose of men waiting for women . . . how we love them!

So off we go again, through hill and dale . . . and everywhere there are American flags flying . . . and trust me, although I haven’t put up pictures of us eating, don’t worry, we definitely ATE.

There was just enough color to satisfy the soul, but much more to come for New Englanders!  This is just the beginning.  (Uh oh, we better catch up with their car, they’re getting ahead of us!)

John lived in Vermont when he was in college, so he knows all the best back roads . . .

But then I try to take a picture of it to Tweet on Twitter, but no service!

That’s okay I just save the pics for later . . . can you see the cows?  I am SUCH a barn person!

All these country scenes make me think of paintings like this one.

More flags!  A good red tree over there too!

More flags, and of course, since this is Vermont, it’s “Bernie Sanders country!”

The last of the season hydrangeas are worth their weight in gold.  Picket fences too . . . Everything has been so clean, no trash on the sides of roads . . . beautifully kept.

We went to a graveyard to lay flowers on the grave of Lowely’s grandmother. . .very lovely, of course, quiet, blowy and chilly, wonderful.

And then we’re off again . . . to Lowely’s grandmother’s house, to see where her mom grew up (the house has been made into a B & B) where we got to see this . . .

The eclipse!  Ooooo, eerie and cold night, leaves blowing and this red moon! The last time we had a moon like this was in 1982, the year I moved to Martha’s Vineyard. ♥ Perfect timing for a revisit!

Trees blew in front of it . . . I wished it was Halloween and this was our moon! All of us under this moon together! So lucky!

Lowely put us in the bedroom belonging to her grandparents . . . we had a fire.  Do not fear for us out here no matter what the weather, because wherever we’ve gone, we always seem to find a cozy fireplace!

Here we are at the Shelburne Museum yesterday, which I will tell you more about later, but I just had to take a photo of this little pile of leaves blowing around the corner of one of the Museum houses.

And this is today! From the deck of our room here at the hotel in Meredith this morning, beautiful sky, but cold out there!

B r r r r ♥ 

Here’s another shot, looking down. We seem to be “lake hopping!”  This is Lake Winnipesaukee. When I get done here, we’re going out for a walk in the woods!

And, as you might imagine, when it comes to the new book, the fairy tale continues.♥ I think the very last of your books went out yesterday and we already have 12 lovely five-star reviews on Amazon!!!!!! It’s really hard to believe. I know it’s you ~ and I can’t thank you enough!♥

Reviews are also starting to trickle in to Goodreads too ~ also wonderful comments, but a couple of readers mentioned  discomfort with having to read about the sad parts of my life. But I have to say, I’m not sure if I would have ever made it to this kind of happy if I hadn’t had that heartbreak too. It’s bringing yourself out of sadness that is the true accomplishment in anyone’s life (I think). And it’s true life. It can’t all be candy canes and butterflies! But it’s YOUR reviews I’ve been loving.♥ If you would like to read what our Girlfriends have been saying, just click on “comments” at the bottom of my last post and they are all there. Even on this trip, I’ve been reading them and telling my heart to “be still” every day. Not easy! Too good! Thank you all so much!

Writing about the back roads of England is one thing, writing about yourself is something very different!  I didn’t realize HOW different until it was too late!!! So thank you! XOXO 

And darling pictures are coming in too . . . this is our Girlfriend Michele Morgan and her new book . . . a fairy tale girl if I ever saw one!

And this one came from, you guessed it, a teacher Girlfriend of ours from Indiana named Lori Hibbard who wrote “to give the book an A+.”  I felt just like a kid with a really GOOD grade!

Here are the girls we have to thank for the monumental job of getting your books to you . . . from left, that’s Sherie, then Kellee, Bonnie, Robin, and Sharon.  And they’re still smiling! 

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Here’s Kellee, who makes all the hard decisions! ♥

I’ll say goodbye and leave you with some more hearts ~ ones we found on the beach, and another bigger black-and-white heart named Girl Kitty.  Out here in the world, no kitties for me!  It will be good to get home!  But tomorrow, Saturday, October 3, I get to meet lots of you at Innisfree Books, between 11 am and 1pm.  I hope, if you’re in the neighborhood, you can make it.  After Martha’s Vineyard Isle of Dreams (book two) comes out, Joe and I will get in the van and cross the country and try to see the rest of you!   That’ll be next May! I have to get home and finish painting for the second one (SO much more to show you)! Until then, any of you who ordered a book but haven’t gotten it, you should have it very soon now!  Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Have a fabulous day! Love you! XOXO

NOT SAY GOODBYE? I DON’T THINK SO

The first seven pics here were as far as I got in the “saying goodbye” department before the ferry boat horn blew and we had to run out the door to make our 8:15 boat yesterday.  But my heart was in the right place. I really tried. Now, I’m in a hotel room, drinking tea and trying to make up for lost time. MUSICA

I wanted to show you some of the views we’re aiming for on this trip we’re taking up through Vermont . . . to Lake Champlain.

It’s a little early in the season still . . . most of the leaves here in Massachusetts are only tinged with color . . . nothing like these.  But maybe when we get further north.

These pictures were from another trip Joe and I took a couple of years ago . . . Nice fence eh?

Here we were yesterday morning.  I took this picture of the West Chop Lighthouse, not so steadily, through the ferry boat window as we were sailing past, with my iPhone.

And this one of the sky over Falmouth, MA through the windshield of the van . . . as you can see, not much color on the trees yet, but oh what a sky! Perfect day to be a travelin’ man and girl.

The van’s loaded up with Fairy Tale books we’re taking to my book signing at Innisfree Bookshop up in Meredith, New Hampshire on October 3rd.  If you pass this van on the road, honk if you’re happy! ♥

Had to leave the kittens behind of course.  My worst thing ever.  Why can’t they stay cats but act just a tiny bit more like dogs, in the coming-with department?  But nooo, they gotta have everything their own way… white blankets and white sofas and all. They have a wonderful kitty sitter living with them, so I know they’re doing just fine! (I already miss them and it’s been one day!!!) 

Tonight, the super moon will go incognito with an eclipse that hasn’t happened in this exact way since 1982 — which is the year I moved to Martha’s Vineyard, so I’m HOPING we get to see it.  I don’t know what the sky above us might be up to tonight. We’re meeting up with Lowely and John this evening and spending the night in a B & B that used to be the home of Lowely’s grandparents.  I’ll take pictures!

Hasn’t the Pope been wonderful?  Isn’t it refreshing to hear words of hope and goodness?  Wob him.  ♥

The Fairy Tale Girl books are still going out so if you haven’t gotten yours, it really won’t be long now.  The whole crew worked Saturday and as it looks now, I think every book that’s been ordered should be out by Tuesday afternoon.  Fingers crossed.

I did allow them time to eat lunch, because I’m just a really great boss that way!  Aren’t they cute, all around the breakfast bar in the kitchen in the Studio.  Best, nicest, hardest workers in the world! My favorite part is how much they all like each other and get along. They make the Studio a very nice place to be.

All in a day’s work . . .

Bye-bye books.  Spread sunshine please!

This was my fortune cookie fortune this week.  Good timing!

You should remember some of these next photos . . . This one is of our Girlfriends in Ohio, Linda and Kathy having an elegant champagne and tea party with A Fine Romance.  When that book first came out, our Girlfriends sent me the most wonderful photos . . .

. . . of our traveling book . . . as it went all over the world really . . . to kitchen tables, to libraries (like this one with our Girlfriend Pamela), out camping, to the top of a mountain, in front of Highclere (home of Downton Abbey) . . .

And here she is, with Beatrix Potter’s Hilltop behind her, looking up at Castle Cottage in New Sawrey, in the Lake District in England, soaking up the sun and the magnificent ambience. Our English Girlfriend Eli took her there and sent the photo!

And remember her here, lounging in the most adorable bedroom belonging to our Girlfriend, Victoria.  (I’d like to see the rest of this house!  The wallpaper sends me to the moon! The blue vase, with the peony?  Killer!)

And who can forget our Girlfriend Cathy Shultz’s contribution, getting Paul to hold up the book!  So the point is, if you take The Fairy Tale Girl somewhere on vacation, or to a tea party, or to a book club, or to the bus stop, anywhere at all, you can send me pics at Feedback@SusanBranch.com ~  Kellee and Sheri and I will choose our favorites and I’ll include them in the next WILLARD which will be coming out the middle of October. Won’t that be fun? 

I thought I’d show you where Smallville met Plainville yesterday afternoon ~ We stopped especially to visit a wonderful new bookstore we heard about in a town called Plainville here in Massachusetts.

The store had the perfect name, it’s called An Unlikely Story and books flew overhead ~ see them? I really hope this brand new independent bookstore can survive, because it is very wonderful. Here’s the story of how it came to be . . .Just a guy with a dream! ♥

See? Flying books . . . 

They don’t know me in that store, and I’m always too shy to say oh me, here I am, so I didn’t say anything and they don’t have my book yet . . . but you should go LIKE them on Facebook if you feel like it, because they do deserve it for making something so special for humanity.♥

The store has deep leather chairs for reading, and a wonderful coffee shop and beautiful everything. If you are ever in the area, be sure to stop in!

Also, Joe and I dropped off a box of books at Titcombs Bookshop yesterday in Sandwich, MA (that picture is from a couple of years ago, nothing has changed in this lovely old bookshop except that sign wasn’t there yesterday), in case you live nearby and want a book (I signed them too).  Not too many bookstores have The Fairy Tale Girl yet . . . Only Titcombs Bookshop and Bunch of Grapes, our wonderful independent bookstore on the Island, have them so far. The rest are being shipped probably by the end of this week. We’re going back to Titcombs on October 17 to meet and greet and to sign books . . . If you can join me, go HERE to read more and print out a Girlfriends name tag which looks like this . . . ♥ Speaking of printing out, I hope you’ve seen all the wonderful fall FREE STUFF Kellee has put in our webstore?  If not go HERE and check it out! We have some great stationery, bookmarks and gift tags . . . write your girlfriends a letter and send a bookmark and say Happy Fall!

 Well, that’s all she wrote . . . I have to say, Later Gaters, talk to you soon, time to pack up and keep moving! Have a WONDERFUL day! XOXO

Okay, just one more . . . Love the red roof of this historic inn in New Hampshire . . .♥ I’ll be on the road today, probably won’t get to “moderate” comments until later tonight or tomorrow, but never fear, I love reading what you write!  Byeeee, XOXO

LUCKY GIRLS

Hello Lucky Girls . . . from your other lucky girlfriend!  MUSICA?  Something old and delicious?  OUI!  Let’s celebrate SEPTEMBER!

Hi Girls!  It’s the month of the changing light (as you can see), and one big wonderful moon coming on the 27th. Are we lucky or what?

Mark your calendars for this moon.  Try to plan a picnic and go somewhere to watch it rise.  It’s going to be a big one!  A “Super Blood Moon Eclipse!”

Also, it’s the month of my sister Shelly’s birthday . . . this is the photo she found on her phone on the 15th.  Her twins made the hat for their dog Lucy. Aren’t they adorable? Imagine finding this on your phone!  My sister is one lucky woman! ♥

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SHELLY!

And me?  I’m one very lucky woman too . . . because I have diamonds on my walls and I didn’t have to do a thing to get them!

Shimmering away . . . sparkling up my kitchen!

And this too!!!!  Not quite as sparkly, but just as exciting to me!  It came last week.  I showed our Girlfriends on Twitter, but thought I better put it here too, just in case you didn’t get to see it.  A “BOX” arrived!!! I grabbed the camera thinking . . .

Because I just “knew” what was in it.

The printer had promised me she was going to overnight a copy of THE FAIRY TALE GIRL to me the moment it was off the printing press.  And so she did! I went real slow.  Savoring the moment.  In a ripping and tearing sort of way.

My first peek.  Thar she blows!  EEEEEK!

Oh my, oh my.  Words fail me.  It’s the best and the scariest and the funnest feeling I have.  Pure butterflies in my stomach. My baby is born!  Ribbons and curls, oh what a girl . . . ooooh, she’s heavy!

I could never get used to this.

I thumbed through it really fast, just to see.  The paper is perfect, just what I hoped it would be.  The color? I could not ask for more.  The ribbon?  Oh yes, just where it should be.  “Printed in the USA” is prominently displayed. (Because, as you know, we’re worth it. ♥)  Thank you R.R. Donnelly in Crawfordsville Indiana, for doing an excellent job for me and my Girlfriends!

Here’s a little peek inside . . . you should smell it!   And very soon, you will! !t won’t be long now!

Because today (Monday) it arrives by the truckload to our Studio in California and Sheri, Kellee and Alfredo are all ready!  They’ll begin packing them up and sending them out to YOU!  They are so good and so fast, I believe they will have them ALL out to everyone by the end of this week, or very close.  The first books will go to the winners of the give-away we had a couple of months ago, and after that, it’s first-come first-serve.  I’m SO excited that it’s finally happening!

That’s my Summer Book, and that thought is as good now as it was then.  Those little girls are two of my sisters, I painted it from a photo of them figuring out their outfit for Halloween, wearing the same pair of pink pants and same jacket.  Mary is on the left and Shelly is on the right. They are very enthusiastic!

We’ve had a busy week!  We took a day and went off-Island to go shopping (and out to lunch to delicious BLEU in Mashpee on Cape Cod, so good, so FRENCH!  I had escargot!  Oui! I vill eet zee snails eef zay come in zee gahlic buttair!) . . . this is the way the harbor looked from the front of the boat as we were pulling out of Vineyard Haven.

And these are my favorite thing I bought while we were off . . . fuzzy new slippers.  Because we’re going to the far north next week, and we think it might be cold up there! We HOPE! Leaves are beginning to blow across our yard, so we think the time is just right.

And here was the sky as we came back into the harbor later that evening. . . . Hello. Welcome home. Thank you very much.

We also went to Lowely’s gallery opening to see her beautiful new art . . . it was a group show and several of the artists gave away cards with their art on them ~ I brought them home and made a little kitchen gallery of my own.

If you look at the card in the center window on the lower right side, you will see what a little splotch of sunlight, in just the right place, can do.

And Him.  Mr. Precious. Jack. These days he LIVES to go outside.  I’m out, taking pictures of the turkeys in our yard, and he’s inside and not happy about it.

“Please Mommy!”  He rubs himself on the screen, “Please please please!  Please take me out!” He doesn’t get to go alone. I have to carry the little lord.♥

“Grrrrr,” he says, trying to stare me into submission. Never fear, I do his biding, I carry him out so he can get his greens.  Lawn munching is his favorite thing.

And this one of MY favorite things.  Letters.  When we got home from our little trip off-Island, I found this letter waiting for me.  I knew you would love it.  Who doesn’t love a handwritten letter!? Anyone who thinks the world has changed too much for their liking should read this and know there are kindred spirits in every generation. Many, many more than we might ever suspect.♥ Look how wise 15-year-old Emily Pulver is already!  My kinda girl! 

Bye Bye Girlfriends . . . watch your mail, XOXO 

ALL in my VERY OWN LIFETIME

 I don’t mean to gloat, but I have to say how grateful I am that in my very own lifetime, I had the extreme pleasure of slow-dancing to this silly young crazy yearning song:  MUSICA   And I know lots of you did too! How LUCKY are we???? Timing is everything!!! Don’t be jealous of us all you young whippersnappers ~ just put it on, and go to it. But it won’t be the same unless you can think of some way to make your hands clammy and your heart race. Be sure to close your eyes and only move your feet about an inch at a time. Ohhh, Earth Angel, earth angel, will you me mine . . .

That song still makes my heart race, and so does this!  Here we are the other night having dinner at Home Port, a delicious fish restaurant up Island in Menemsha, and that, dearest ones, is the sun setting right outside our windows. This time of year we get amazing sunsets. And it all happens to this very special one-of-a-kind MUSICA  . . . (you can play both MUSICA’S at once ~ and you can turn this off if you want, but we can’t ~ it’s a good thing we LOVE it).

As we left the restaurant to go to our car, voila, down drops the sun and up pops the moon! You know we have gorgeous moon rises on the Island too . . . those and sunsets are just two of the kazillion reasons I love it here . . . Here are a few Island sunsets just for you . . .

Hello. This is the beach at the end of the walk we take everyday. It’s the nature’s address where I find my best happiness.

Here we are at East Chop Lighthouse built in 1869 . . . Look at that sky, one hundred percent real color, no faking anything here!

This is the pond across from Bend-in-the-Road Beach . . . Just driving along and there is your basic sky. Pull Over!

Here we are on the deck of the Aquinnah Shop . . .  overlooking Gay Head at the far end of the Island.

We look out our kitchen door, see a sky like this, and jump in the car to look for the source, like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

And here it is, glimmering gold and worth every penny!

So what are your favorite things about fall?  I mean besides the sound of the crickets?

It makes me happy to listen to them while putting  up my fall dishtowels . . .

and making the house smell good with one of my favorite fall dinners . . . Scalloped Potatoes and Sausages.  (Page 97 of Vineyard Seasons)

And while putting a little bit of the season on the kitchen door . . .

I LOVE the chilly wind, perfect for washing tablecloths and skirts and drying them on the line.

It’s also a wonderful time for re-reading old books and putting yourself in a happy mood.  I read this one over and over again, reliving one of the best times of my life.  Diaries are a very good thing! Thank you for inspiring me to keep this one!

I love my easy decorations like the leaf garland I drape over the sideboard in the dining room . . . 

And my owls, out they come to take their place over the fireplace in the living room.

and on the kitchen windowsill . . .

And of course, flowers! I’m really just getting started!

And the crow collection, meeter and greeter at the back kitchen door.

HUH?

This morning it was pure nirvana on our walk. I had to wear a warm sweater and a scarf and keep them on the whole time.  A chilly wind was blowing, the sun was shining in the clear blue sky, and bright yellow leaves spotted the woods. It was just as wonderful as you could hope for, filled with singing birds and cawing crows. Like usual, Joe and I played Morning Science the whole way out to the water. We noticed a trail of tiny broken pieces of styrofoam on the dirt road, and of course, being naturally scientific, we thought, what’s this? We hashed it over. What could it be?  How could it get there? Conclusion: Possibly bits from insulation that fell off a truck on its bumpy way to the building site for a new house out there. Then we noticed another problem, more alarming: Look at that tree! What happened? It’s hanging by a thread! Scientific conclusion: due to little pile of styrofoam at the base of the tree, we concluded the truck with the insulation caught on corner of the tree and cracked it down the middle. The only thing keeping it from crashing to the ground was the tree next to it which the cracked tree had glommed onto on its way down. Additional conclusion: Somebody better do something about that tree before it kills us. Profound perceptions from the two Morning Scientists.  For any of you who’ve never heard of our game of Morning Science, here’s what I wrote about it in my AUTUMN Book.

BOOK NEWS:  TODAY, Tuesday, the printers in Indiana have told us they are shipping the books! It’s so odd how if the clock ticks long enough, we really do finally get there!  How long till The Fairy Tale Girl gets to us via truck?  The scientists are just not sure.  Four days?  A week?

But you can be assured, when those books come in, first thing, for those of you who ordered it sight unseen (except for the occasional pages like those above), based on Faith and the Adorable Inner Girlfriend Support System Mentality, the very first thing we will do is pop your book into the mail. Makes my stomach quiver to say that.  There is something very scary about a new book.  Always has been, always will be. I can’t tell you how excited I am to see it, see how it all looks together,the paper, the ribbon, how it smells, all that book stuff!

And then, later this month, we’ll be hitting the road, driving the highways and bi-ways of old New England, taking the back roads to Western MA, where we’re spending the night at a B & B that used to belong to my friend Lowely’s grandmother, where Lowely spent summers as a child.  Did I tell you we’re going with another couple?  Our neighbors, two doors, up, Lowely, and her equally adorable man, John. Yes, so we get to see some of Lowely’s roots. After Lowely’s Grandmother’s house, we’ll head up through Vermont almost to the top, to an island in the middle of Lake Champlain for a few days. Then we drive across Vermont to New Hampshire for our book signing at Innisfree Bookshop in Meredith, NH, at 11 a.m.  

I took a picture of this bird house the last time we were in Meredith. Gorgeous spot on Lake Winnipesaukee

We get back to the Island in October and then I’m going to write you big fat WILLARD and tell you all about the trip with lots of photos of leaves ~ I’ll do my best to make you feel like you were there.  It’ll be a mini FINE ROMANCE. 

You probably remember my girlfriend Elizabeth, the one who was redoing an old house down the street from me?  Well, it’s all done and she invited Lowely and me for tea the other day. I only took a few pictures but I thought you’d like to see them.  This is her “snug” the cozy room with the TV in it … see the pillow?  She made that with my Martha’s Vineyard fabric, so I feel right at home here…

Just so you can put the face with the person, this is Elizabeth and Jack in one of my favorite pictures of Jack.  The eyes!

This one isn’t as good of Jack, but it’s much better of Elizabeth!

Here we are in her brand new kitchen with the beautiful working fireplace! She rents this cozy place out, believe it or not, so if any of you are looking for a Fall or Holiday getaway in New England, you can go HERE and get more info. (Mention FOSB (Friends of Susan Branch) if you call. Elizabeth told them to offer a special off-season price for my Girlfriends!) It’s got three downstairs fireplaces!  And it’s insulated!!!  This is an important thing if you want to come in the winter! It was written about in a local magazine, you can see more photos here.

She had the table decked out California style ~ California is where Elizabeth spends half her time . . . And, in case you can’t tell, she’s an interior designer!  Here’s her web site!

This is Elizabeth contemplating the big question of any tea party, WHICH CUP????  Sooooo exciting!

I love her kitchen chairs. And that little thin china cup, she reminded me, is what I brought her to celebrate when the house was finished. It couldn’t be in better hands. After this moment we were much too busy talking to take pictures!

And now this last photo, back in my dining room, just showing you how fading hydrangeas STILL look pretty! Trying to take my mind off the shipping of the books! SOON! XOXO Bye for now earth angels, Keep in touch!

But first, we go Ommmmm.

How can so much happen in so short a time? But first, we go ommmmm, we take a deep breath and we make tea. Then we turn on our MUSICA ~ Did I mention that I’m going to tell you the story of where the “MUSICA” came from in the new book? I think you will like it almost as much as the MUSICA.♥

Now that we are all kicked back and relaxed, do you remember this gorgeous spot?  Isn’t this the most magical view in the world?  I can hear the lake lapping at the shore and smell the pine trees from here.

Have you figured it out where we are?  Yes!  You are so smart! It’s Meredith, New Hampshire, in 2013, where we went for one of our very first book signings for A FINE ROMANCE. 

And I was taking these pictures from the deck of our room at the most wonderful hotel called Mill Falls at the Lake . . . LOOK at that moon!

And that was how it looked over Lake Winnipesaukee . . . Wasn’t it amazing?  One of my best moons ever! Well, we’re going back! To the same hotel, to the same bookstore.

The wonderful Innisfree Bookshop called and invited us (and all of you) and THE FAIRY TALE GIRL for our first planned book signing together! New Hampshire in October? Be still my heart!!!

I hope you can make it. ♥ I hope I’m giving those of you who live nearby enough time to plan a little getaway. I made name tags for us again so we can recognize each other. The book signing is Saturday, October 3, from 11 to 1 p.m. and I’m sure it will be very festive!  Please come! Put it on your calendar! It’s very pretty there!  Innisfree Bookshop is in the Mill Falls Marketplace. Just   to print out your name tag . . .

Here are some of my favorite people, wearing their name tags from A FINE ROMANCE … that’s Sheri on the left, her daughter Maddie and our friend Bonnie (both of whom came to help last time when all the books came in), and Kellee on the right.  They’re standing in the garden of my California Studio ~ I know many of you have spoken to Sheri or Kellee on the phone, so this is what they look like!

By the time we get to New Hampshire the hills and woods of New England will look like this! Even after all these years, I still can’t quite believe the colors are real! We’re not going to do a lot of signings this year, we’re going to save ourselves for a cross-country tour next May after Martha’s Vineyard, Isle of Dreams makes its debut.  We’re going to stay home and enjoy fall and Christmas on the Island this year and cook and paint wonderful things for my second new book! I promise to take lots of pictures in New Hampshire so if you’re too far away, you won’t have to miss a thing . . . we’re also heading up to Lake Champlain, a place I’ve never been, for an actual vacation!!!  Unheard of around here!  We are so ready!  I’ll tell you all about it, we don’t go until the end of the month.

I couldn’t think of going anywhere until that book gets here. If I see a UPS truck, my heart falls into my feet.  But so far, we are still waiting. Kellee and Sheri are on pins and needles too, the studio is all ready to get a whole lotta books!   IN THE MEANTIME ~ I had a party and promised to show you, so here we go! We’ll just have to take our minds off that UPS truck !

While I chopped, squeezed, measured and sautéed, the sun shimmered through the wisteria onto the wall, which I just LOVE.  Pretty darn fairy-like if you ask me!

I have a thing about that kind of light . . .

The way it lands sort of willy nilly, and puts those lacy shadows on the wall, I just have to take pictures of it. It’s such a moment in time.

Even in the laundry room . . . 

Another moment in time.  I adore dappled things, even these big blotches of light through the trees.  We decided to have cocktails and bites of cheese and pickles and smoked fish and olives and gin and tonics with crushed ice and lime wedges in the Adirondack chairs while the sun slowly slipped out of the sky  . . . it was just cool enough for a little shawl, and when it got dark, we had this to look at . . .

All lit up and so pretty. . . But we decided to be comfy and totally bug free, and eat indoors . . .

Dish Playtime!  This night I wanted everything to be light and airy, end of summerish with just a TOUCH of fall… 

And Jack, my little shadow, totally agreed with me!  Just a touch of fall, he meowed while I got out the silverware. Most of my silverware came to me over the years .  .  . a little from my grandmother and lots was collected from flea markets like Brimfield in MA, and from antique stores all across the country . . . it’s very mix and match, but very romantic too. 

See summer?  See fall?

But of course, you can’t get people to look at your table settings UNLESS you include food!

I made spicy Mango salad, with red peppers, chopped mint and cilantro, lime juice and sesame oil (from p.82 of the Girlfriend book).  Joe made a brilliant saddle of lamb with rosemary and garlic that was melt-in-your-mouth juicy and delicious.

I also made basil ice cream, to serve with wonderful summer tomatoes that were salted and peppered and drizzled with olive oil and left to sit for a few hours.  Then I put a spoonful of tomatoes with juice in a small dessert bowl, 

. . . a scoop of basil ice cream on top, then a drizzle of balsamic reduction, and voila! Tastebud heaven.  This is the dessert that reminds us that a tomato is a fruit. It’s a different kind of dessert but easy and fun. I thought we might reprint Heart of the Home next year and add a few new recipes like this one. 

I made our favorite bean salad too, with sage and little bits of cauliflower for crunch. I also made a quinoa salad with fresh ginger and currants, green onions, water chestnuts and roasted peanuts. All was served with hot crusty raisin rolls and butter. My goal was to make everything ahead and I did and I was so glad I did!  I got to spend the entire time outside talking with every one . . . it was so easy!

It was wonderful, dinner for eight, and all my favorite MUSICA was playing. . .

All very simpatico and charming, catching up with good friends. Made me think . . .

A little credit where credit is due. I wrote this in my Autumn book in 2004 ~ it was in being printed when she passed away.

I really didn’t mean to get into Julia today, but there is hardly a dinner party I have where I don’t say a little thank you to her for her inspiration. ♥ It’s like she reached out of the dark when I was around 22, took me by the shoulders and said, WAKE UP! I’ve loved her ever since.

And look what was watching over us during dinner!  The MOON! Or was that Julia? 

And so now, it’s cocktail time somewhere, right here, it’s now, and this is my little excitement for today, my new British Country Living just arrived, so that’s where I’m going . . .  Hope you’re remembering to give yourself a little treat, because I know you and you deserve it! ♥Rabbit Rabbit Girlfriends, Happy September

YOU!