Hello Everyone ♥️ . . . I’m baaaaack . . . with MUSICA!
I’v always thought of myself as a lucky girl because I was born with the happy gene . . . I’m the one that wrote:
That’s probably part of the reason I didn’t recognize the overwhelming feelings of loss that descended like a black cloud early in February and left me sitting on the couch, staring into space, wondering if I should go to the emergency room. I couldn’t even express the symptoms. What could this shaky, unmoored feeling of being perched on the edge of a razor blade possibly mean? I should have known, but I forgot. Twenty years ago in Girlfriends Forever I wrote:
How could I forget? This part especially ⬇️ . . . it sneaks up on you. Yes, it does. 
I’d been too busy with racing thoughts, deadlines, and worrying about the world to notice the black cloud swirling until the floor suddenly dropped out from under me. Yes, I did spend a lot of time worrying, but wasn’t that normal in this day and age? My purpose in life has always been to try and spread a little sunshine in hopes of changing the world. I had the happy gene! I counted my blessings! But the other side of my coin, I was born worried. Since I was little, I could feel the despair, no matter where in the world it was, and I worried about it. Don’t tell me not to, I can’t help it … I worry about everything from starving lost people to fish choking on plastic.
I cried to think of our isolated beloveds stuck in nursing homes with no hugs, and anguished about hungry, confused, innocent children left alone to fend for themselves. I lost heart wondering if the healthy, strong, and rich would ever care for the weak, poor, and vulnerable. Otherwise why did God put us here? Why do animals have to suffer because of us? I was disgusted with the sick adoration of money. These last years of turmoil and chaos, floods and fires, gunshots and death counts made me feel like what I spent my life doing didn’t matter. And of course, my mom died, and February was her birthday, my first without her. My dad was gone.😢 Too many sadnesses lead to sleeplessness and anxiety. I lost control of my brain and bad thoughts filtered through my dreams. I felt so alone. But, now I know I wasn’t.
One gray day, I found one of my best friends standing outside my kitchen window holding 
this sign in her hand. 😢 Of course, I let her in. The first person in our house in a year. Joe made us a fire, I lit some candles and made tea. She sat at one end of the living room and I was at the other. We commiserated about our moms, about the constant bad news, how awful it was for children missing school, how overwhelming it was. missing everything ~ we dreamed out loud about what we were going to do when it was all over. If it was ever over . . . the light at the end of the tunnel was still very dim.
I read in the newspaper that that people all over the world have been coping with stress because this dam-panic has been MISERABLE. The drip-drip-drip of bad news wears on us like a plague. Stress is too small a word ~ when your mental health starts affecting your physical health, it becomes much more than mere stress. And, if I felt like this, what about the nurses and doctors, the hospitals, and the families who had to deal with constant grief, would it ever end for them? I read about trauma. I knew it shouldn’t be like this.
My world looked like this. Hope had flown the coop.
I could not find the bright side. I couldn’t even write you. Something HAD to be done.
One day, sitting in my chair, wondering if I should tell Joe (I didn’t want to worry him) and ask him to take me to the emergency room, I said to myself, “What do people do when they don’t feel well?” I glanced over at the couch and answered, “They lie down and go to sleep.” So that’s what I did. And I felt a little better when I woke up. It gave me just enough energy to get on Google to find out WHAT IS THIS? I already knew, but I forgot. I had somehow gotten myself into this, and I learned from Google, I could get myself out. I read that if you are not sleeping well then you MUST nap. It’s not a luxury, it is a necessity. Your overall health depends on it.
And when the rain stopped we went for a brisk, wet walk through the woods and out to the sea. Every day. I turned off the news and turned on HGTV and watched everyone choose floors and faucets for their dream homes. I wallowed in the creativity of other people. 
Ommmmm . . .
I stopped eating lunch at my desk, and started eating it in front of an old movie. Where the music is wonderful, the rooms are gloriously romantic, and everything comes out the way it’s supposed to.
I stopped going into my studio and signed up for twice-a-week sessions with my girlfriend who is an acupuncturist. At first, I got there dizzy and unsteady and lay down like a buzz saw, hovering above the table about a half inch, holding on for dear life to the razor’s edge. But when Marjorie found the first point (she said it was the “Gate of Hope”) boom, I fell to the table all at once, became grounded and calm, like someone had handed me a teddy bear and a blankie. It was life saving. She said my “adrenals” were shot. Whatever that was. I put myself in her good hands and it’s been a huge help. At first it seemed to wear off after a couple of days, but each week I got stronger, the wearing off took longer, and now it doesn’t happen at all! I have a 2 pm appt. with her today!👏 Because I am committed. I have places to go and people to see. But more than anything, my Google research reminded me . . .
I started meditating faithfully once again, every day, about two months ago. When I first started, I pictured myself sitting on top of the earth with the stars, a lovely, quiet place to be. Something else that’s cumulative, one day of meditation is definitely not enough. It’s made a world of difference to consciously stop time for a little while and count my blessings. And find, once again, that within each of us is everything we need, bravery, wisdom, clarity, gratitude, peace, healing, God. I made up my own mantra: I say an affirmation such as, I am happy, or I choose health, and at the end of each affirmation, I add “Because every cell of my body is bathed in the creative light and love of God.” It’s heaven in there. My mom and dad visit.💞 And it’s making me well . . .
If you’ve never tried meditation, or if it has seemed too hard (another word for meditation is prayer🙏), you might enjoy reading about the different kinds of meditation. My favorite is “guided” meditation . . . it keeps your mind from wandering in the most wonderful way. You can find so many guided meditations on Youtube . . . try this one, or this one. Or choose one for your own circumstances. I don’t know if I would have ever written my first book if I hadn’t found meditation. It’s so powerful. You have to do it every day, every other day is no good! Care for self comes first so we can care for others.💞
Being faithful to meditation reminded me of when I first moved to the island, feeling that loneliness and terrible loss of self . . . many of you remember me writing about discovering it in Martha’s Vineyard Isle of Dreams.
It was like that, burrowing in, rebuilding, getting strong again . . .
Relying on others to help.
And you know I have the perfect others!
He needed me. Sort of. Not really.😹 But I can wield a mean can-opener. It’s good to be needed.♥️
And this good man. My guardian angel. He needs me too.♥️ Every day I got better.
So then I discovered these little magic things . . . AirPods, wireless earbuds. You just put them NEAR your iPhone, push NO buttons, and they hook themselves up to your phone.😲 Then you sign up for Audible, audio books you keep on your phone, and voila! A new world opens!
You put one earbud in your own ear, and the other one in Joe’s.
And off you go, into the woods, with the blue sky coming through the bare branches, the clean cold air filling your lungs with Spring, and the luv-lee sound of an English Storybook in your ears as you walk through the woods to the sea and crashing waves, the salt smell, the seagulls call.💞 Joy of life. 
I’d read the book before, but Joe hadn’t ~ he loved it as much as me. Much more fun with him! Sometimes we walk all the way to the water with the book playing, then take out the earbuds, and walk back doing “book club.”
It’s even a better book that it was a movie, and it’s a WONDERFUL movie. In case you haven’t seen it. Set in 1930s England, published first in the 1940s … Delightfully written with every word a pearl, I Capture the Castle. We finished it yesterday and today we start a new book, The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson ~ everything personal and public about Winston Churchill during WWII. Another English accent to listen to while we walk! ♥️
Other “words as pearls” arrived this winter, beautiful letters, kind emails, and concerned comments on this blog from Girlfriends, who somehow knew, even though they didn’t really, and worried about me, and sent love.💞 Inside the watercolored rose Ann B. painted, she wrote, “Now abideth faith, hope and love, these three, but the greatest of these is love.” One girlfriend (Ellen I.) wrote, “The journey of life has ups and downs, not always easy to see the silver linings, the positives…the blessings… there’s always something to be thankful for.” Made me cry. See how connected we are?
I read that what we eat has a lot to do with overall health, even mental health, so I ate better . . . Mmmmm, split pea soup and beets. 
And after I meditated, and after our walk, and after I got home from acupuncture, it cheered me up to make ice cream sandwiches like flowers to take to friends.
And I made some for us . . . (This easy delicious recipe is in the 30-year anniversary edition of Heart of the Home ~ this time I made them with ginger cookies, pickled ginger, coconut ice cream and ground black pepper ~ yum!)
I put flowers in my tiny vases, one of my tried-and-true cures for whatever ails you.
I felt better every day, and finally cleaned the kitchen . . . the red holiday rugs were getting on my nerves, I needed to lighten up, so I changed them out for summer blues and brought down my bluebird lampshade. We opened the door and let in a little fresh air . . .
I washed everything in the open dish cupboards, made it all shine . . . stood there and stared at it, proud.
Pride doesn’t have to be big, even little pride can help . . .
And noticed with joy that the sun was getting stronger and our days were growing longer…👏
We watched a wonderful movie called Two Popes . . . A must see! THIS is what I call HOPE! You don’t have to be Catholic, or even religious to love it! It’s a people movie.♥️
I finally finished the 2022 calendars! I worried I would NEVER get them done, but I did! God and nature and the whole world and the stars too. . .
I sewed a little heart on this guy to give him as a get-well gift . . . couldn’t tie off the thread, had to leave a long one hanging inside of him . . .
This happened in the garden . . . so I brought some in …
Snow drops, the first flower to bloom here on the Island… they come up even in the snow! If that’s not a vision of hope I don’t know what is.
Then this happened in the woods . . .
And this happened in the kitchen . . .
And I made an Easter Cake . . . Domesticity always comes to the rescue with me.🌼 And you can’t beat domesticity in the spring. It’s the best! Spring cleaning to a new beginning.
But the most wonderful of all . . .
I got my first Covid-19 vaccine ON my mother’s birthday, and the second one on the first day of Spring, and then, on Easter Sunday, I was fully immune (as immune as we can be).🌺 They gave me this card and
I felt like it was an “I voted” sticker! Talk about proud! Wanted to wear it on my coat! Most of our friends were in the same boat at the same time. We have experienced our first hugs now.💞 I CRIED when I got my first shot. I didn’t expect to cry but I was suddenly filled with gratitude for our amazing medical people and scientists who worked so hard to save us from 
another year of this misery. The joy at our hospital where they gave the shots was palpable. Everyone felt it. We’ve lost so much, but my heart tells me there’s been a shift. I even heard people talking on TV about money not being everything this morning ~ that made me very happy. Maybe, just maybe, we have learned something. Maybe we are coming out stronger, better, more loving.🙏
We celebrated on the first nice day with a picnic with the swans . . . and then we went home and took a nap. And each day I felt better and stronger and more “myself” than the day before . . .
We planned our first Dahlia garden. Joe has always wanted one.
Soon it will be time to plant. It’s going inside the picket fence on the right side of the gate (in the center), so we can see the tops of the flowers peeking over the fence from the kitchen window. This year I want to fill that garden with
SO MUCH B E A U T Y!
Dahlias, forget me nots, roses, foxgloves, Shasta daisies, white cosmos, hollyhocks, and pink petunias. You’ll see. I’ll take pictures! Don’t we all feel this way? A new start! Sweet Peas, my favorite flowers, don’t grow well here on the island . . . but if they do where you are, be sure to look for the variety “Cupani” … I hear they are more resistant to heat, and have the very best fragrance . . . and with a sweet pea, that is saying something!
Isn’t this gorgeous? We ordered our dahlias on line from Swan Island Dahlias at www.dahlias.com . . .
We chose big ones and little ones, but mostly ones that make good cut flowers . . . we got fifteen varieties . . .
Hard to narrow choices since there are over 50,000 different varieties! Some people make a life’s work of them, finding all the rare ones … I watched a wonderful Easter Special about a Dahlia Garden in England belonging to a couple who’ve been growing them for twenty years . . .💞
I managed to make us some new cards . . . the always-needed festive Birthday Card ~ and Friendship for saying goodbye to a PANDEMIC . . . 
And these rainbow stickers! You’ll find them and the cards, along with some new sewing kits here.
And a new garden banner from our luv-lee creative girlfriend Janie! Look at that envelope, isn’t it darling? She is so good, we never know what new idea she will have!♥️
We got in a few more of my dishes including these sweet little ring plates.🌺
And two pages of bookmarks, decorated on both sides, you can cut out and give to your friends . . .💞
And this is why I feel so much better . . . the grand essentials of happiness . . . Check ✔️! And yes I’m about to start designing us some new cups! I’m ready! But I saved the best for last . . .
Loving our Country Life Magazine . . . giving us hope for the future! It’s time to start dreaming! So let’s have more MUSICA, one of Queen Elizabeth’s favorite songs . . . all about dreaming . . .
So, if all goes well . . . Joe and I will go WEST to California via AMTRAK, in our room with a view, this fall to see everyone … Oh the hugs. I can’t wait. Big dream. I hope this world cooperates and doesn’t mess with us!
And then, oh yes . . . We made reservations to sail to England on the Queen Mary 2 next year, on May 1, 2022, God willing and the variants don’t rise! And wouldn’t it be fun if this time you come 
along with us for real? Think about it! You wouldn’t have to be crushed into suitcases and smuggled aboard and dance in the dark this time! Because yesterday I called Cunard to see what I could do to make that happen.♥️ I spoke to Susan Gannon and she said if you’d like to sail with us next year, you can call her at 800-468-7752 ext. 41663 and she will personally help make your reservations. You will have to mention that you’re part of the Susan Branch Girlfriends group, give them this group number: TNM, and voyage #M211 so they can keep track of us as a group . . . If there’s enough of us they’ll have special 
group pricing and other surprises. They had to cancel their entire spring and summer itinerary this year, which means that many of the people that didn’t get to go this year, will be going next year. So think fast! You would have to make a deposit, but you can cancel with complete refund if you do it by December 31, 2021, this year. It would give you extra time to decide for sure. Susan can answer any questions you have and you can call her anytime. This isn’t a tour like the kind you read about, where you have a “tour guide.” It’s more like one of our picnics, only on the ship!🚢 
2022 Should be an especially WONDERFUL year in England 🇬🇧 ~ probably dancing in the street due to freedom from pandemic🤞, but 
that’s not all . . . bunting will criss-cross every city and village as the whole nation celebrates the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth! It’s the first time ANY British monarch will have celebrated 70 years on the throne! She will decree an additional “bank holiday” … an extra four-day weekend for everyone! (How’s that for power to make joy?🎉) I’m sure there will be fireworks, probably in June! We were there for her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, and I can tell you, Brits know how to celebrate their Queen! Every kind of ship and boat came from all over the Commonwealth to London to honor her in a Parade on the Thames! Even rowboats and the “Dunkirk Little Ships” were there. It was beautiful.⛵️
I stopped writing here, and when I did, I heard the sad news that Prince Philip had died at age 99.😢 The Queen’s rock. Macho man who took on the job of guardian angel.💖 A reminder that we’re losing the Greatest Generation. The Prince is a huge piece of the past, our history too, the history of the world. 
The Queen has “carried on” through thick and thin, through wars and Prime Ministers, natural disasters, and even worse disasters, the man-made kind ~ through every sort of challenge, always with Prince Philip at her side, but this one will be her most difficult of all, she must go it alone. I hope the UK spends all of 2022 celebrating their love.♥️ I hope they play this MUSICA . . . it was their song when they were young. Wasn’t she lucky to have the person she loved at her side for so very long for what I think might be the worst possible job in the world!?! Sending my deepest condolences to all my UK Girlfriends …
So out we go, it’s a good time for our walk with Winnie (just found out he took two baths a day no matter WHAT was happening! Even during his darkest hours. The ultimate in self-care. Love this man.) I hope you are having a WONDERFUL DAY and taking very good care of yourself💗… now, I will go add MUSICA to this blog, and voila, fini! Finally! Happy spring dearests!🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 Talk soon!
I knew there had to be something pretty bad going on. I prayed for you and Joe. So very very glad you were able to get help and pull yourself back up to Happy again!
So very sorry about your mother. She and I share the same birthday. My mother got Covid last November in the nursing home. It was so very difficult to not be able to go and visit with her every day as we had always done until March 2020 when they shut us out. After going through Covid and being in isolation for 14 days after, she started going downhill fast. They wanted to put her on hospice in the nursing home, but we decided to bring her to our home with hospice. She was so very excited to be with us and we let her eat whatever she wanted to her hearts content. But, into about the 3 or 4th day with us she could no longer get out of bed and was getting weaker every day. She passed with her loving family around her on December 1st. We were so very blessed to have her with us for the little time she had left and to be able to see her smiling face in person after being separated for so very long. I’m finally able to paint again and was so happy to just finish a new Christmas painting yesterday in honor of her. We were so hoping she’d be with us through Christmas and I had visions of putting up the tree and decorations for her to enjoy. But, I know she’s happy to be with her heavenly father, dad, my brother Joe, and her 12 brothers and sisters who went before her.
You made the right decision. Scary, but it was such a wonderful thing for her to be with you. 💖
Take your vaccination picture off if possible.
I’ve heard scammers are getting off of them to steal identities. 😳
My identity isn’t on there. I checked, just my name. But thank you, I hadn’t heard this, and I’m glad to know!🌷
Welcome back! It’s nice to have YOU back
Oh my, your post brought tears to my eyes, a common occurrence during this weird world we are living in. Thank you for voicing your experience and I’m happy you’re feeling better. We need you! You brighten our days when you post and we have missed you. I think with the warmer weather coming we should all feel a bit better. I for one can’t wait to get out in the garden. My friend gave me a dahlia bulb for my birthday, my first one ever.
How exciting you’ve made your reservations to sail to England. I miss England so much. I think I lived there in another life 🥰 I can’t wait to hear about your adventure.
Wishing you continued happiness. Take care of yourself.
Thank you so much for this update! I was very concerned when there was no post around March 1st. But I am glad that you have been finding ways to lift yourself up and care for yourself. My mantra is “Oh Be Joyful” (which I found originally as the name of a type of wine!): the idea not being to have to always be happy, but instead to remember the well of joy and love which always exists at our center, even if it is sometimes hidden or seems swamped by the difficulties of the outside world.
Of course, at this time of year, nature can help us with seeing and remembering that joy too: I have only to look out the window to see the forsythia in bloom, daffodils everywhere, and the lawn spangled with cheerful marsh marigolds. At this time of year, Mother Nature turns my garden into a vale of sunshine!
Again, thank you for taking care of yourself, and for letting us know you’re okay. Your light touches so many other lives, and helps them in so many ways you may never know; I only hope that we can do the same for you. 🙂
i felt like supergirl after my first shot, like yes, things really are going to get better and yes, i will have a normal life again….exercise was the thing that kept me going on gray and stormy days….forcing myself to drive 15 minutes and work out made me feel better every time. and now spring and flowers and warm sunny days….it’s going to be okay i know it…and a trip to see my family will be the icing on the cake!
I’ve been so WORRIED about you, and about me, and everyone else too, while I was at it. I’ve been in such despair. But as I type this, I’ve just had my second shot and awaiting the all clear to leave after 15 minutes of observation for side effects. Things will get better. They HAVE to. My vitality, too, is in retreat. But I am trying like crazy to find it again.
It’s like you looked into my soul, saw what was in there, and wrote it out.
There is hope, there is hope.
Love to all.
Kathy
So,so glad to see you are back! Kept checking every day and after a few weeks and then a month, became very concerned something serious had happened. And…yes it was serious but so glad you have used your own advice and are getting much better. Wonderful that you are making delightful plans to see family and a cruise to enjoy wonderful England. Wishing you well and God bless!!
I am very happy to hear you are getting back to yourself. Scary thing when you are such a happy, optimistic person. I was also so relieved to get the vaccine. The days are getting warmer and our spring flowers are blooming here slowly but here they come. Many hugs to you and thank you for your blog, twitter, calendars and the books – so much joy.
Take care, Leslie
XO
Oh, Susan! I’m so happy that you are feeling and doing better with each passing day. I’ve thought of you often. It’s such a relief getting both shots to keep us safe. I was so happy when I got mine. Still keeping our distance and wearing a mask, but we get to do more things ie, go to church inside, have a small group of friends over, go to the movie theater….
Looking forward to more of your blog coming up. Spring has sprung here in Eastern Washington. Lots of spring flowers, grass is greening, birds splashing in their bowl of water and even a couple squirals visiting us and wanting the birds to share their food.
Looking forward to more posts from you.
Dear Susan,
I’m so glad you are back! I have missed you and knew something was terribly wrong! I so appreciate the way you brought to light what many of us are going through and your journey back from your dark place. Once again, you are shining the light and helping to guide others forward in a positive way in their personal battles during this difficult time. I am a teacher and have been teaching my virtual students in my empty classroom all year. I try my hardest to provide the most positive learning experience each day. I also lost my beloved mother last year and everyday there have been so many things I wish I could talk to her about. One special event that I wish I could share with her I want to share with you. Every child should have something special to look forward to so I decided to have a virtual Peter Rabbit Tea Party the week before Easter. I made English Fascinator Hats for all my second grade girls and my boys got black top hats. I shopped at the local thrift shops and purchased a teacup and saucer for each of my students. I ordered carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and found Peter Rabbit figures to top them with. There were Peter Rabbit plates, napkins and a teabag of Chamomile tea . I ordered small fabric drawstring carrots that I put packaged Easter candy in. I purchased Chamomile seeds, soil, and small pots for planting. All my parents drove their children to my school to pick up their party bags. They were so excited! I read The Story of Peter Rabbit during our reading time, we planted our Chamomile seeds during Math time , and we had our High Tea at the end of our day. My girls dressed up in their best special dresses . Everyone had such a wonderful time learning about Beatrix Potter, her books, planting Chamomile, and how to brew a perfect cup of English tea. It was the best party ever!
What a wonderful idea for a party! I’m sure the children loved it, especially when they are missing out on birthday parties and all the other little treats they would normally have. It’s wonderful that you are teaching them about Peter Rabbit–I recently discovered that there are many young adults who have never heard of him or Beatrix Potter, including my daughter’s college roommate. We can’t have that! What a wonderful teacher you must be.
How brave of you to share again the struggles you face. It has been a very difficult time and we are all looking for hope. In the last few months, I have read all three books of your story. At a time when I found I couldn’t focus on reading much; I could focus on reading your books. And that gave me hope! Your calendars and cookbooks also bring so much joy. You ARE making a difference in this world. Unfortunately, it is just so hard for you to see that difference. Mostly, it is not visible. It is happening far away in the lives of your readers, your “girlfriends”. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Glad you’re back, Susan! Take good care of yourself!!!!! You have been missed by many!
Oh dear Susan, glad you where able to pull yourself up by the boot straps. I was going to say, bake your orange cake, but later in your blog, you made your Easter cake and domestic bliss kicked in, and all your other antidotes. I started painting 3 years ago, I’ve done 8 paintings this winter. Painting kept the dark cloud from coming. Good to read your blog
So happy to see you again! I love everything you do!
Keep looking up… that’s where the stars are.
I’m so excited about the new friendship cards.
Bless you Susan! I have been watching for your latest blog for over a month and hoped that all was well with you. Love, Sherill Anderson
Oh Susan, I am so glad to hear that you are doing better. I was worried something had happened, and I guess it had. I can relate as I have been having my own struggle with stress and depression.
Stress can sneak up on us and make us sick before we realize what happening. I’m taking it one day at time, eating well, going for walks in the fresh spring air, and lots of rest too.
A book I loved was “how to walk away” by Katherine Center, I think you’ll enjoy it too.
Thanks for sharing with us, it helps to know we are not alone in our struggles.
Hope you are feeling better, and your spring is full of happy moments.
Susan, we must be soul sisters,because I just knew something wasn’t right and actually inquired about you and was told all is ok.
I was missing your monthly uplifting blog,which never fails to put a big smile on my face. You are a comfort and joy to so many.
Thank you for coming back to us. I will purchase your calendar just as soon as it is available.
Looking forward with hope in my heart.
N.W.H. Means nothing wrong here,from one of Gladys Tabors books when she said the writer Beverly Nichols would write that on the envelope of letters to people,just to let them know in advance that the letter would not contain bad news. So to you, dear Susan, I am happy to read there is nothing wrong here with you and yours.
Susan, I felt like you were writing what was in my brain and heart. There are days when it’s been a struggle. The violence, Washington, the pandemic, the loneliness. It was like I was lost in a jungle fighting to get out. I wonder if things will ever feel right sometimes. People I talk to feel the same way. Thank you for your blog posting, it made my day!
Dear Susan,
I’m so glad you’re better, but I know what you were going through. Such a sad time for all of us. Just starting to feel better too.
We were blessed with a new grandson this past year. We did get to see him, but no one else in our family could meet him in person. Zoom meetings are wonderful but not like showing off a special baby that you have been praying for!
Plus my wonderful kitty of 16 years, Reilly, passed away last month. I think she hung on because she knew she was so special to me during this time.
Thank you for letting us know that everyone is looking forward to better times now, and that we all really missed seeing each other.
Yay, so glad to get a post!! I knew something had to be wrong. I’ve been praying for you and I’m glad you are feeling better. You’ve added SO much beauty to so many lives and certainly mine over the years even though we don’t officially know each other. Always wishing you the best😘
Hellooo, dear Susan!!!
It’s so good to hear from you…..I was getting worried but knew you had so many projects going on that you were probably working feverishly and had very little blogging time.
I’m going to put you on my prayer list and pray for you all along that you will worry less and “sunshine” more. We all get down and have “those days.” Just reach out a small bit and we, your fans, will do all we can to lift you up as you lift our spirits so often.
I’m going to send you something in the snail mail soon. It’s a tangible piece of evidence that everything you do and say matters. You gave me the courage to try something that I’d thought about attempting but was afraid to. Your little saying, “To begin, begin,” is what got me to gather myself up and go for it.
I’m relieved and happy that you’re back to your optimistic, sweet and light-filled self. I’ve had many challenges myself the last couple of years and knowing that “God’s got this!” has gotten me through – along with a great support system.
You are very loved and appreciated. Keep the news off, pray and watch those flowers and birds! It’s good to have you back!
Oh, It is so good to read your post! I’ve really missed you. Glad you have squashed the blues and still love to make us smile. ❤️
Hugs help a lot and I’m sending you a very big one! XOXO ❤️
Love you too Susan.
My Dear!
I am so glad you recognized what was going on and made some changes!
To often we never get to the bottom of it and (much to our detriment) go with the flow…
Continue to get better and better and enjoy your life!
Love to you, Joe and especially Jack💖
I was thinking of you this morning, with the sun and breeze coming through the Open Windows (!!) and wondering… Hmmmm, is something the matter? I am so happy you are recovering from your winter of discontent, or whatever it was. You have happy plans and joy in the beauty around you, not to mention that handsome husband and noble kitty, or is it the other way around, or both!?
Sweet peas and The Two Popes, and your vaccinations. I cried too when I got mine. I felt as my parents might have felt with The War ending. Now I’m going to write a note to my Queen, who is sad that her liegeman for 73 years is gone.
Thanks for your honesty, Susan! I often go through seasons of feeling the way you did. I appreciate your inspiration! BTW, the website I’ve listed is the only one I have now — not to sell anything, though.
I’m sooo sorry you’ve been going through this. I too have felt a little depressed and I’m hardly EVER down. It’s all this remoteness and not being able to go out and have lunch with a friend and EVERYthing being closed down. It’s just not natural and now we know why our kids are in dire need of getting back to school in person. I’m so over this. Stay well my dear friend.❤️❤️❤️❤️
None of us are alone in this seemingly never-ending struggle we’ve been living in. Thank you so much for sharing. It brought tears of recognition to my eyes, and a grateful heart for your honesty. Blessings on all of us and the brightness yet to come. Thank you!
So happy to hear from you! I was worried after a bit of not hearing from you. Such happy news that you are feeling better! Wob you!
Welcome back……missed you! And thanks to Zoom programs from all the Senior Centers.
History, Art, Exercise, Line Dancing, Cooking, etc. I was even able to give my grand girls their. Faith. Formation Lessons via Zoom!! Bought myself a piano keyboard and giving myself lessons. Crochet, sew masks and weekly online Mass. Never give up!!
Glad you are coming back….blessings. Virginia in Connecticut
So good to “hear your voice” again. These past months have certainly been a bumpy ride. One thing that’s helped me smile is BritBox on my television. You probably know all about if, but, if you don’t, here’s a link to it. http://www.britbox.com/us/ Looks like maybe you can watch the shows (old and new) on a computer too. Oh, the garden programs! And Mary Berry’s cooking shows and tours of the manors! Wishing you sunshine and what comes after April showers.
Susan, You give so much to so many that sometimes we just run dry. Spring brings new beginnings that we all must find within ourselves and look to the promises that Spring brings with it. We are ever evolving and finding peace in many places. So glad to you have found your own new beginnings. Sending love to you and yours. Nancy
Hello Susan, and Hello Grilfriends. it is so good to see you back here Susan, i’ve been missing you and wondering what was wrong, but i think i kind of knew as it is not like you to be away for so long. i am so glad you are feeling better, i know this crazy pandemic is really getting to everyone but the light is a little brighter at the end of the tunnel and with the vaccines available things should slowly start coming back around to normal… we may get our Boatnik celebrations back this May and we are looking forward to the county fair and the Back to the 50’s night being back for the summer nights, maybe even Tuff Trucks and the carnivals. as for around here well we are making progress with the hen house. slow but surely. we have the nesting boxes cleaned out, scraped and sanded and back in with new walls and part of a new ceiling. we are planning to go in and level that floor and then concrete it and hopefully it will rat proof it!!! i think i may have accidentally mass murdered some mice, it was an accident but to be honest i am not sorry i did it. i bought a big bag of DeCon mouse bait, poison for rats and mice, and i left it on a work table in the shed where the hen house is. when i checked the shed and let out the ducks for the day i found the bag on the floor under the brooder. my first thought was OMG the barn cat (Furby) got into it, but the cat was fine and no signs of being sick so i looked at the bag closely and discovered a mouse – sized hole in it and all the poison was gone, the mice had a munch party and ate it all. so no more mice in the shed and the hen house, still have to battle the rats, but its a lot less than it has been. on the more exciting news we have little ducklings, about eleven of them. mama had 13 eggs to hatch out and 2 eggs never hatched. but we have 11 little ducklings and mama takes them swimming every day in the smaller wading pool and fusses over them like a good mama and we have 4 Rhode Island Red chicks, the grange where we buy our feed was offering free chicks with each 50 pound sack of feed and since we went to buy feed for the ducks, we figured why not so we got the chicks as well. we are getting really excited as the time for our new flock of baby chicks and peeps will be here soon… June 14th. i think we will definitely have a busy summer this year. i have a marvelous sparkling ginger lemonade recipe and a wonderful fresh mint pea soup recipe to share and for summer drinks i have 2 frozen sangria recipes guaranteed to keep you cool on the hottest summer days. let me know and i will post them. it is so good to have you back and you keep taking care of yourself, i think we would all be lost without you. stay well, stay happy and be good to you and to Joe. sending lots of love and hugs your way. hugs…. 😀
Here’s to a ginger-lemonade busy-summer to us ALL! ☀️☀️☀️ Thank you, Pat!
well i know its going to be a busy one here with all the new babies. hey here is the recipe for sparkling ginger-lemonade. (6-8 servings) ingredients: 1 cup sugar; 1 14 inch piece ginger, cut into coins; 11/3 cup fresh lemon juice ( about 6 lemons), plus wedges for garnish; 1 large bottle club soda. directions: heat the sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan over med-high heat, stirring occassionally until the sugar is dissolved. add the ginger and remove from heat, let steep 30 minutes then strain into a pitcher discarding the ginger. stir in the lemon juice and chill at least 4 hours or until ready to serve. add the club soda to the pitcher and pour into ice-filled glasses, garnish with lemon wedges. enjoy. 😀
Dear Susan,
Thank you for this post. I’ve been wearing your lovely “Courage, dear heart” glass bead all through this damn-panic. I wear it on a silver chain around my neck that I can fidget with as needed. Daily walks and yoga have also helped. So have homemade cinnamon buns. And your German pancake recipe for dinner.
xoLiz-Anne
So thankful that you are feeling better every day! The long silence felt strange and unnatural. Wishing you all the best. Hugs!
So glad to get the blog!! I was so concerned about you that I called California to see if you are OK. Hopefully you have been able to come through this dark period knowing that you are loved and were missed.
Thank you Edie… sweet as pie!
Oh Susan you can’t even imagine what I felt like reading this.
It was like you were sharing my story. AND just this morning as I was drinking my coffee from my special mug I wondered why we hadn’t heard from you in sooooo long. I was afraid I really did fall down the rabbit hole.
I am so glad to hear you are better. Me too. I’ve begun planning our trip back to California. It won’t be til December but I can wait because I know it’s possible now.
I have missed so many memory making times with my grandchildren but I’m going to makeup for it. And another thing I just got my dahlia bulbs. I’ve never had them in my garden but this year it was a must!!! See didn’t I tell you you wrote my story too!!
Thank you for bringing spring and sunshine and hope to my gardens today.
Welcome home❤️
So grateful to hear from you! It had been too long and when you didn’t greet with “rabbit rabbit” on the first the prayers and love I had been sending you and Joe increased. Continue feeling better and know you were missed . . . and so much!l
I’ve been missing you! Looking for your beautiful words everyday to help me through such dark times. Just when my husband and I got our vaccines and were anxious to finally kiss our granddaughters and children without masks and distance we got the news my husband’s cancer had grown. Thank heaven for wonderful NIH and the devoted doctors and nurses there. He will start his third trial by the end of the month. Thank heaven for my husband’s courage as well. He is my hero.
I’m sure he is an inspiration to everyone.💞 You have a HERO. That’s so wonderful. My prayers are with you. Lucky for you, you have the NIH. XOXOXOXOXO
So nice to hear from you, I’ve had similar feelings over the winter.
But! I have a MUSICA recommendation! There’s a youtube channel I think you’ll like with many videos of “Oldies music playing in another room.” Lovely old music playing softly, usually accompanied with rain, birds or fireplace sound effects. Perfect for those of us in apartments! I’ll link one if I can–
Oldies music playing in another room and it’s raining:
youtube.com/watch?v=UxjPuxBVZ_Y
Dear Susan … I wish I knew you personally and lived near you, because I would also come to your kitchen window with a sign saying “Let me in!” after reading your post today. When you opened the door, I would come in (if invited) and give you the biggest hug … maybe more than one. Your post today has touched many if not all hearts that read your writings. I am so glad you are feeling better and your advice is well taken. It has been a very difficult year and more for everyone. I lost my husband John (married almost 56 years) to cancer the end of August 2020. Grief is a very personal journey, but I now understand the emotions and thoughts that come with the loss of one you love with all your heart. My belief/faith that he is in Heaven waiting for me has been the biggest help … that and God’s strength that I ask Him for every day. Thank you for sharing your inner thoughts, doubts, fears and hopes. We are here to help each other and you are doing that. Blessings to you and Joe … BIG hugs from me to you both. You made my day.
O my goodness Susan I new something woz off and I’m sorry I didn’t reach out I want to but I felt Similarly and had nothing to give. emergency Room… oh that breaks my heart. Please excuse any typos or wrong words more bad punctuation I am having to use voice text because I can not use my arms I have tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow in both elbows. You are my true friend and I am so sorry for your pain despair and anxiety and Feelings of failure. I would like to address the one thing that I feel that I can with certainty and clarit Failure?! I can tell you Something for sure… what you have done with your life and howYou give and how you inspire and how you ready kindness and goodness and everything lovely with the world you have touched millionsI know that for sure deep within my heart. To say you have no impact on the world Seems unfathomable to me. I I know that you have impacted my life and so many others. I know this is deep impact not just surface stuff I know I have told you before but your books and your blog brought me out of deep despair and depression a number of years ago I waz at the emergency Room stage myself and I read every single blog entry andYou brought me back to myself and made me rememberHow to be and how I waz and what was important to me. You have brought so many people together friends sisters mothers generations even some really smart guys and You don’t have to make major worldwide policy changes to make a big difference in people’s lives worldwide I know you have done that I wish I had proof because I know it is there. I wish I had reached out in your time of need because you helped me in mine but I want to say now Here that you have saved my life if I’m honest more than once and continue To inspire and make me feel connected and a part of something.. You are very important to me And when you checked in on me on Twitter that really meant the world to me. I know I am not the only person that feels this way in fact I am just one in thousands if you ask me that’s a pretty big impact for 1 life. To me you are magic personified. I write this tears streaming down my face because I am grateful high got to tell you. I am glad you are doing better and I send inspired again by your ability to share and have everyone grow and learn by Been vulnerable and sharing your strengths and weaknesses And giving The benefit of both of those to all you know Just by being the real and authentic you. You will always be my close friend And I will be grateful for you forever xoxo
Love you Charissa … I love that you found yourself again ~ we’re all right there, if we can just find that spot! Blessings on you and thank you so much for those sweet words. You made my day! ☀️☀️☀️☀️
Susan, you are about the 5th person I know who has been depressed after receiving the Covid vaccine, myself included. Pretty scary stuff!
I was into my anxieties way before I got the shot … in fact both of them were bright lights in my day! I’m SOOOOO happy rescue is on the way! For us and for the world! 💖
I just knew something was wrong when your post did not arrive. Susan, give yourself permission to get well no matter how long it takes. Your friends will wait. God Bless, Sharon
Susan, remove your covid card asap!!! Just on news today that there is specific information on it and scammers are using them to create fake ID’s for sale on the dark web. Telling people not to post the cards! BTW, great blog, it made me cry because I made it so well until about Feb. and then I became very sad. Thanks for all the super ideas. Used to meditate and will return to that. Are the audible books abridged?
No, they’re full length, real books for your ears!👏
Dearest Sweet Susan, sometimes we just need to literally check out…This wave that hit some of us ( I say some b/c there are many who felt he was the second coming) I digress, THE US, I am referring to are those who could not understand the meanness of mankind, for the love of God, I will never understand what the heck happened to our world. I was consumed by news, had it on all waking hours, dreamt about it, woke up, had to tune it until the new President was chosen. I turned off all news, like an addict, went cold turkey, smiles on my heart when I saw your HGTV, that is what I did, I have hundreds of episodes taped and when I feel the need to watch something, I tune in. The other thing I do is I download birds singing, hours of them on youtube and that just lifts my soul. I started to write again, smile again, have hope again and I am soooooo HAPPY, also have that gene, and I see the world differently. I really do. I see kindness, compassion and empathy again, it was there, I just could not see it for the haze that clouded my vision. And yes we still have a VIRUS, actually many and we may have to wear masks for a very long time but things could be so much worse. So I thank God every day, a chance to learn and a chance to play and feel gratitude that we have people like a Susan Branch in our world to remind us —sometimes we have to check out. Blessings to you, Samm
Susan, you are not alone. Thank you for sharing your ups and downs. This too will pass. Happy Birthday on Monday. 🎈You and I and Gladys share a birhday!
Dear Susan, thank you so much for posting what we are all feeling. The fatigue, the sadness has been so great. I think we are all going to have some degree of PTSD and we need to remember to practice excellent self care, to get help if we need it, to be present for others. I’ve had both shots and will be fully vaccinated + two weeks on the 13th. We’re going to have our first family gathering in more than a year. So I’m feeling hopeful but also worried about those who can’t be vaccinated yet and for those who are ignoring and denying the seriousness of Covid. I grieve for those we’ve lost and for their loved ones. I miss travel but hope to do a bit soon. I’m delighted with beautiful spring weather, sunshine, snowdrops and crocuses. I keep reminding myself of the old twelve-step adage “one day at a time.” Be well, take care of yourself and enjoy our beautiful New England springtime!
I have been thinking of you. You have done so much to cheer us all. I’m so glad you are feeling better! Take care of yourself. We need you.
So wonderful to see that familiar email this afternoon! I had been so worried when you were silent but then, I remembered that I have also been silent because of several things that have happened this year. I have read your blogs but didn’t have the energy to reply. I think I have been in a real depression, too. Happily, I am starting to feel better and excited because we have planned our trip to MV for the end of June-early July. We have our boat reservations and will be there with our family, most of all my grandsons, who I have not seen for almost 18 months. I can’t wait to walk past your garden, as we always do, and see the beautiful flowers you have planned for this summer! Husband and I are fully vaccinated and my son and his wife have had their first, so we are so excited for our grand reunion!
I know you must be very sad about Prince Phillip today but ninety nine years is a wonderful, long life and a marriage over seven decades. Bless him!
Please continue to care for yourself with Joe and Jack helping, too. There are so many beautiful things on the horizon for all of us. Much love to all of you there on the island. 💕😘
Dear, dear Susan,
It is so good to hear from you. I am glad you are feeling more like yourself. Depression is a terrible thing that saps the joy out of living. Yay for vaccinations – we in Canada are behind, but I’m scheduled for sometime in April and can’t wait (even though I have a needle phobia). I retired from teaching at the end of January and thought I would have so many projects to keep me busy and content. Well, the projects are there, but I sort of drifted through February and March, but am feeling more motivated now. Our garden is coming alive and that’s such a good thing.
hugs and prayers,
Lorrie
THANK YOU! May you and Joe be greatly blessed! I needed to read your letter today and am so grateful it arrived and I took the time to actually read it. Sending love and hugs, Bev
Dear Susan, I was so glad to get your blog today. I wondered and thought why hasn’t there been a blog from Susan for such a long time. Viola it arrived to today and now understand that you were absent due to stress and needed time to heal. It’s good to hear that you have found ways to do that. You are also lucky to have Joe and Jack for support. Of course you know you have a ton of girl friends sending prayers for your health and well being.
Those Dahlia flower pictures are absolutely amazing. Didn’t know there were so many varieties. Think I’ll have to find what would grow best where I live and plant some. Thank you for being you and sending such wonderful uplifting blogs. Keep well, hugs to you, Joe and Jack. Sharon
Dear Susan,
Thank you for sharing your experience and your inspiring path back to feeling the best you can in these challenging times. Many many people love you and appreciate the cheer you send out to the world. I hope the positive comments you receive here and the beautiful island Spring will further buoy you up!
Love,
Julie
So happy to hear from you Susan. You are always so cheery and positive and when I could not feel the same I couldn’t read anything so happy. I retreated inside myself. Spring is proving a positive antidote for me, a little sun, flowers and the ability of getting on an airplane to see family. Many things to look forward to this year. I’m happy that you are now feeling better and yes it is a journey, it doesn’t happen overnight or in a couple of days. Keep up the treatments and positive aspects of life that is what I’m trying to do too. I look forward to your next email.
OMG. It’s so good to have you back. I have missed your blog posts as they always brighten my day. Thank you for your heartfelt words and the art is perfection.
Sending an abundance of love and hugs dear human! Your heart always appears in all that you do. Thank you for being an inspiration to the world! Fondly, Teresa Hjeresen, Bend, Oregon💛
Oh Susan, your words are so timely.
Easter I went to the 8:00 service at my church, it touched my heart. Afterwards my husband and I went to my daughter’s home for breakfast and stayed ’til 3:00. Later that afternoon, after we got home I was feeling strange. My husband was in the kitchen getting a snack and I was looking out my back window at the beauty of our five acres, huge majestic evergreens, a pond at the bottom … ducks swimming. And then out of the blue I said to my husband, “I feel sad.” I don’t think he really heard me, but then I started to cry. He said, “Aw, what’s wrong?” I just said, “I don’t know.” He came over, wrapped his strong arms around me, and I softly cried.
The world is tired, all creation is groaning, and I guess this Easter day it overwhelmed me.
Fortunately that moment in time has passed. I am cheerful, strong, looking only for the good. I have a hope, Jesus Christ, and my hope in Him keeps me from dragging along the bottom of a river through all the mud and rocks and sticks, and instead brings me to the top of the river to float along in peace.
Thank you for your words, Susan. When others we look up to bare their souls, we feel we can too.
Susan, I am not surprised these feelings of helplessness hit you like a ton of bricks. It is happening to everyone! These have been (and still are) tough times and they aren’t over yet, but getting closer to normalness. Vaccinations, yes! Hugs, yes! Our daughter has been in a funk for a year but happily we all have our shots now so life is better. Wishing you all the best and hoping for good times for all.
xoxo
Pam
Darling darling Susan, now we love you even more.
And I will come to England. XXX Emma In Norway
🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷
God bless you and your continued recovery.
you should delete the photo of your Covid vaccine card. Folks have been cautioned about publishing them. Maybe you are not aware of that. They are being copied illegally.
Just love love love all of this. 💜 So glad you’re seeing more hope and light around you and bringing that into the world – we so desperately need it. 🙏 I enjoy every blog post but felt especially blanketed in your positivity and domestic bliss today – thank you!! 💕
Susan, So glad that you are healing your body and your spirit. The winter in this part of Texas was awful No electricity for days, frozen pipes, then burst pipes, on a waiting list for a plumber and then our darling neighbor came to the rescue. Yes, many trips to the hardware stores looking for parts, some failures, lots of soaked towels, but eventually success. We discovered we could tile a small area, and happily our bathroom is back in order. A helpful worker answering a phone when I thought I had a Vaccination appointment, and never receiving a confirmation after months of trying to get an appointment. Tears in my voice, and then relief, don’t worry we’ll take care of you. And just like that, a kind voice gave me an appointment, and then when I asked how I could get my husband one, she said, bring him with you, what is his name and bring ID. Tears of Joy. Wednesday was the second one. Rejoicing like you. That card opens up the world for hugs, and time with friends and family.
We understand. We are glad you are back. Don’t overdo. We are here to listen and encourage.
Much love and lots of bunny hugs to you and yours. Shirley
Thank you!!!!! Most always when reading your blog, I’m saying yes, I know that feeling!! I said it many times today! Giving thanks for spring and flowers and beautiful souls like you!
Oh Susan! How I love your honesty and have missed your posts! I do understand the feelings of sadness. This year for the first time ever, we had Christmas without our children. They are 28 and 32, but we’ve never spent an Advent season apart. We just celebrated “Cheaster” which was Easter and Christmas all mixed up together! Stockings and Easter baskets, presents and all the best celebratory foods and sweets. It was wonderful. Daughter flies back to Chicago tomorrow, and will be so missed…but the hugs and kisses will live in our hearts til we meet again. Take care, So glad to “see” you again! Love, Donna xo
Susan, you bring such joy and lightness into all our lives that I am so glad you are back and feeling better.
MAKES ME HAPPY TO READ THAT YOU ARE FEELING LIGHTER. DO HATE THOSE WEIGHTED FEELINGS AND LOSS OF VITALITY. CONTINUE ON YOUR PATH TO SPRINGY-NESS AND SPRING IN YOUR STEP, SUSAN…
I was wondering where you went! Thank you for being honest about your trials. I’ve always been upbeat but this year has taken a toll on my psyche. After reading how you powered through and up and at’em I feel better! You will love your Dahlias, we live just 40 minutes from their garden, it’s amazing! And we are growing them here on our farm too. I’m swooning at your cruise to England. Lucky you. ((hugs)), Teresa 🙂
Thankyou 💕🌷💜For sharing all this …
Gods Blessings to you ⭐️❤️🎈
Susan E
Sending you so much love, Susan. Holding you very tight in my virtual arms for a hug. Depression it very tricky. Gets you when you are down and exhausted. This is a rough time for the whole world. Your light dimmed, but didn’t blow out. We love you. Take care of yourself.
Dear Susan,
I’m so happy to hear from you, as I’m sure everyone else is who follows you. You have been keeping me afloat with your lovely newsletter during this dam-panic. I won’t list every sad/bad thing that has happened to me this past year, because all of us have suffered in some way. Which also leads me to say how very sorry I am for your troubles and how very wonderful it is to see you’ve made it to the other side of it! With vaccinations getting to do many of us, we’re starting to be able to see our nearest and dearest people! As for me, I’m on my way to pick up Sammy, my six year old grandson after his baseball practice!
Please take care and know that there are so many of us who love you!
Michele Bottorff
I was so happy to see this letter in my mailbox .
I wondered “what” had happpened. I just knew something was not right so I began praying for you….asking God to heal you..to provide whatever you needed ……and He did!
I am so glad you are back!!!! This has been a challenging year and we all need a little help from our friends …..as you said ….on to new beginnngs! Welcome back!
God has used your gift of words and art to always bring joy to my heart …just like fresh flowers ….thank you!
Susan,
It is great to hear from you in such a personal, positive message. I am so sorry that you have experienced this valley, but thank you for sharing what helps. It has truly become a time to appreciate and celebrate the little things in life…notes, phone calls, and pleasant blog posts. ❤️🙂 God bless and keep you. Rebecca
We missed you, Susan, and so glad you are back! My meditation is prayer and reading my Bible everyday. 🙂 My laughter I get from my new kitten, Izzy! I pray you continue to get stronger everyday and keep leaning on the Lord. 🙂
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living HOPE through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven FOR YOU, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” I Peter 1:3-7
Love you lots – Lisa Hay
I bet you get the most comments on this blog more than any other you’ve written. I think we can all relate to how you’ve been feeling. I too, look for the positive in everything, and my family calls me little miss sunshine. I too, was sinking fast. The best thing I did to help my anxieties, was turn off the blasted network news. My mother who has a tendency to get cabin fever and get gloomy in the winter, has gone without watching any tv news and I sure could tell a big difference in her these last 6 months. I took her advice and did that too. I’m so happy you are doing better and returning to OUR little miss sunshine. 🌼🌹🌸🌞
You are not alone 💗
I’m so glad you are on the mend! My friend texted that she thought there was something wrong, we just didn’t know what nor that it was so debilitating! This year of lockdown has had huge repercussions on our lives. It may take a while to sort everything out.
I loved reading I Capture the Castle now I’ll listen to it while I sew.
Welcome back, we all missed you so much!
Jill
Thank you for sharing Susan what we have all gone through to some extent and for your authenticity! I love your work, your books, and how you see things. I’m going to send you my novel, Being Ethel (In a world that loves Lucy) set on another island…Mackinac Island! Blessings and love and thanks so much for sharing your heart!
I am so glad you are feeling better, Susan. It has been a very difficult 13 months for all of us. England sounds exciting…what will the future bring?
I can so relate to everything your wrote Susan..So glad you are feeling better. Me too! Sending hugs your way..❤️
PHEW………you’ve hit the nail on the head girlfriend. This best describes me. I’ve had a very difficult time getting into my Studio and being creative. [fiber art]. All that you describe sounds exactly where I “live”. I’m beginning to come out of the “pit” a.g.a.i.n. There was one pit back in the Fall, and then another one in March. It’s not fun. I hear you loud and clear, Missy. So grand to hear that another creative person is struggling. Not of the fact that you’re hurting, but of the fact that this is real for a lot of us. When I went to emergency walk in, they ask the usual question: have you stopped doing things that give you pleasure……….to which I said a resounding YES YES YES!!!!!!!!! All of it. Hear me……….I’m depressed. I’m so thankful that Spring is here and the days are getting longer. That’s “life” to my soul. God Bless you Susan. What doesn’t kill us will make us stronger. xoAlice Moline
Bless you! Just what I needed after so much bad news today.
Take care my friend and always remember…. You are a blessing in some(my) lives.
May God bless our Queen and comfort her.
Welcome back, you dear thing you! And bless you and Joe for keeping it together all this time. Here, on the damp, cold, western shore of the continent, me darling Kent is holding me up and I lean my back against his. When it is quiet, we can feel one another’s heart beating and know as long as we can feel them, we can do anything. It has been a horror, the last four years, the last year even more, but yes, we feel a breath of clean air in our lungs, a return to sanity, and the start of strength coming back in our spines, to face what is still to be faced. You are not alone, dearest girlfriend, as long as even one of us stands, we are not alone.
You have been on my mind so much and had decided probably you were working like a little bee! I should have checked on you sooner! Our lives and world had become such an uncertain place, my old familiar methods of looking on the bright side just couldn’t find much of a bright side anywhere. So I re-read your books; the new little Christmas book was in the nightly rotation. Slowly began to feel a little control coming back. Plus we’ve gotten our vaccines too and next Tuesday will be the end of two weeks after second shot. Many many hugs to you and Joe and Jack! ♥️🍷🎉🌻
Understand, as I went thru something similar. I had to see my doctor before the election and take a pill around sedition as my thighs tightened. I started jogging just before the election. I could not watch TV and had to listen to music, by the time Spring came I took so many pictures of daffodils I have a lifetime supply. I am so lucky to have my sweet. dear husband being so understanding for I cried for all those who didn’t have to die. The flowers are planting little seeds of hope in me, and I go to the living room for a change of scene. We walk together at night under the stars and listen to the chorus of peepers. We watched MISS POTTER and that comforted me in an innocent sweetness of most people.
Susan, How ironic. Just this morning I started to panic -what if Susan hasn’t done the blog cuz she has the damnpanic. Not my word but it does fit doesn’t it? Thank You So Much for sharing your challenge and how you dealt w/it! It’s a full yr of being housebound for my husband & I. Great help from our darling daughters but we are feeling the isolation effects. I just found out my eyes need cataract surgery & I have macular degeneration. I plan to buy all the rest of those books you wrote that I do not own yet. Thank you Dear Lady for making the world a better place in sooo many ways! Keep staying well. Love you, Gail
Dear Susan,
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for writing! When there was no word
from you – especially around Easter, I began to REALLY get worried about you.
Something was terribly wrong. It wasn’t like you to vanish/retreat, without a word. Something was up and it didn’t look at all good. You know, although we have never met face to face, your reflections on life and your attitude toward
a “make do and mend” worldview – with a sunny chaser of optimism, has been a bulwark against the debacle of the past year and epoch of chaos before that. Many, many of us have looked forward to your loving words and lovely images to raise ragged spirits. Gloom descends everywhere and we all trudge on. Until we can’t anymore. I am so very, very grateful your spirits are returning and you are feeling more like yourself. For sensitive, loving people, all the suffering and death takes a real toll. The pain is too close and too pervasive. I am so grateful you were willing to share what so many have been experiencing and are unable or unwilling to share. Our humanity is stitched deeply into our feelings and to be truly human is to know compassion/empathy. Without that civilization will not make it. I am so sorry your own little boat was tossed so badly in these turbulent waters, but I am enormously grateful you are finding refuge, comfort and milder currents. One step at a time. Be gentle with yourself. “Whatever is good, whatever is true, whatever is beautiful, think on these things.” Let
springtime bring healing and know many of us applaud your courage for caring, for helping to uplift this suffering world and its inhabitants. Your presence alone is a gifting – to bring comfort and healing to a world badly needing a greater good, a more profound awareness of our connectedness.
Thank you for who you are! Thank you for the courage to share as you do! Best wishes dear one, for a springtime of heart, body and soul. May you find a refreshment and healing joy in the days and months to come.
With love,
Elizabeth
Susan! I did worry about where you were and why we hadn’t heard from you. Thank you so much for sharing you emotional journey with us. It can feel lonely to think you are the only one who feels that way. I felt comfort knowing I wasn’t alone as I read your words. I’m happy you have a trip plan. Wouldn’t I love to be on that boat with you?!!?–but that won’t be in the cards for me. I hope many other girlfriends are able to go and I will be anxiously awaiting your documentation of that trip! Love to you, thank you for sharing all the feels❤️
Dear Susan,
I am happy that you are feeling better day by day. I have had you in my thoughts and prayers and kept thinking I hope everything is okay.
It has been a particularly grueling time for our country and the world, and like you, I had to unplug and fill my mind and soul with goodness in so many ways. You are right it really does help especially when you have lost someone very dear to you, which I did.
My walks are such a blessing and I even finished my doll house that I have worked on for several years. My little corgi was by my side and quite the little cheerleader himself. Let’s go he would implore. So some days we would hop in the car and just go for a ride to see what was changing.
Now, as the days grow longer and the earth comes back to life, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Soon, we should be able to see our grandchildren and my siblings. I am glad you have things to look forward to.
Take good care and thanks for keeping us posted.
Anne
Thank you for telling us about your struggle with depression. The world needs to know that it is ok to feel this way and that dragging yourself out of that big black hole is always hard work. We each have to find what works best for us. I love being outdoors and walking, and rereading your print that I have framed in my snug, Reasons To Go On Living, to keep my mood elevated.
I cried and sobbed reading this blog as I have felt just like you described. I am so sorry you have had a hard time. Here’s a big hug.❤ We all love and need you, Susan. I am glad you found your way back.
Hooray for trips and plans and vaccines!
As soon as we were 2 weeks after our 2nd dose Tom & I went out for breakfast, planned a trip to see grandchildren in July, celebrated Easter at our house with my daughter and her crew. Hugs all around!
Sunny weather, warmer & longer days, flowers blooming. Just what we all need.🌷🌹🌻🌞
We all need friends like your best friend who showed up with a sign. We need each other. My Twitter friends and Girlfriends helped keep me afloat during this pandemic. Love you, Susan! Sending hugs ❤❤❤🌞
Wow my dear it has been a while. Yes who would have thought the thing that we would wish for more than anything would be a shot ? It truly is the most freeing feeling in the world. So glad you are doing ok…..it has been a long hard year. My daughter is a nurse practitioner and has been on the front lines the entire time but……for my birthday, in February, I got to hug her for the first time in nearly a year and was able to gather with my vaccinated siblings for Easter.
I am back to teaching and our students are trickling in slowly but surely. I just hope that light I see at the end of the tunnel isn’t an on coming train. (;just kidding…I have faith). Take it slow and enjoy your naps….we are on our way back.
Smiles and Hugs,
Liz
So glad you are feeling better! Since getting Covid at Christmas my get up and go got up and went. My brain is like a sieve, what goes in goes out just as quick. Love the new note cards. You are a reminder that there is still good in the world.
Susan, I’m so sorry you’ve been depressed. I understand. Like you, I’m a worrier. Recently, a friend had issues with her relative . . . so I was up all night worrying. As you pointed out, we have lived through extraordinary times for more than a year. I’ve had dose 1 of the vaccine and cried also when I got it. Dose 2 is tomorrow, assuming all goes well, and my husband is scheduled for his first dose. Our kids still need theirs, but every step forward gives me hope. I’ve got to say (out of concern) that I hope in future you won’t hesitate to see a therapist and tell Joe if you become depressed again. (I’ve been seeing a counselor and it has helped.) Happy Spring to you, Susan.
❤️❤️❤️