To kick off summer I’m blogging about The Summer Book by Susan Branch. I first heard of Susan Branch when I read one of Sally Clarkson’s books, either the Life Giving Home or the Life Giving Table, I can’t remember which one. She highly recommended getting any cookbook by Susan Branch. Upon that suggestion, I started keeping my eye out for Susan Branch books while thrifting. So far I have found four: the one above (for only $1!), plus the one about autumn, the girlfriends one, and the heart of the home one. I think that one was her first. Two of these were misplaced in the children’s book section. Lucky for me, I spied them on the bottom shelf there. Score! They are all soooo delightful! She fills each one with her own lovely, dreamy watercolor and pen illustrations to accompany the recipes. Each recipe is written in her own hand, a beautiful cursive. On top of all this you will find quotes, and tips for homemaking, hospitality, gardening and family life. You can see her lovely website here and sign up for her monthly newsletter, called Willard, after her grandfather, which is guaranteed to brighten up your email inbox. You can read the archives of Willard here, but I’m warning you, they are addictive! You can’t stop at just one!
So who is Susan Branch and why I am sharing her book? Susan is an author and illustrator who lives in Martha’s Vineyard. She grew up in a big family of 8 children in California. Her mother taught her to bake, cook, sew, tend children, as well as all the other homemaking arts. Susan loved learning all of it. She dedicated her first book to her dear mother, who she says was the strong foundation of her life. (You can read about her mother here.) The video below features Susan singing a song her mother taught her. I remember learning this song in third grade, but I only learned the first verse, so it’s fun to hear more of the song.
This is a little excerpt of what she wrote about her mom in the link I just referenced, “I think I saw the loneliness in my mom’s face on some of the tough days when the house would fall into chaos (beyond what was normal), and it stayed with me. I tried to say thank you while writing my first book, not only to her, but to all moms, to help them know that what they do, and did, really does matter. My mom (and dad) gave me a stable childhood, something every child deserves — I think if everyone had that, the world would be a better place. That’s why moms are so important. And the more support moms everywhere get raising children, it just follows, the better our world would be. Because no matter what the circumstances, no matter how much money they have, they are capable of being shelter in a storm, just by being there. I celebrate Mother’s Day deep in my heart, it’s another chance to tell my mom what a FABULOUS, WONDERFUL, HEAVENLY MOTHER she’s been to me. ♥”
After growing up, and while still living in CA, she went through a painful divorce. Part of her “starting over” process was to buy a home in Martha’s Vineyard, thus becoming a New England transplant. Before she moved to New England, she had a friend who encouraged her to write a cookbook. The friend, Jane, loved the illustrated, hand lettered recipe cards that Susan gave to Jane as a wedding gift. Jane thought Susan could turn them into a cookbook. Susan tucked that idea away. After moving to New England and orienting herself to single life and her adopted home state, she dusted off the seed of an idea that Jane had planted in her heart. She happened to have a friend who had a connection with a publisher, Little Brown, who agreed to publish her cookbook. So she now she has these wonderful cookbooks, with her watercolor illustrations and hand lettering, plus she has a memoir trilogy, based on her journals. (The trilogy is self-published.) She also has other types of books, like a memory book for keeping photos and mementos of your baby, Christmas books, her Distilled Genius book, and calendars. So fun!
You can watch a video below where she tells her story.
When you open the summer book, you will feel like you are stepping into the summer of your dreams. It just oozes summer sunshine and the vibe of idyllic carefree days. You will find recipes for yummy summer foods, from appetizers to salad dressings, side dishes, to drinks, main dishes, and desserts. You will learn how to make the perfect picnic sandwich and the perfect cheeseburger. Some examples of some of the recipes: Potato Fish Cakes, Three Layer Coconut Cake with Lemon Filling, and Salad Nicoise. Along the way, turning the pages, you will see suggestions for summer activities: an old-fashioned picnic, a tea party, how to draw, how to garden, how to have great lighting for your summer evening parties. I just wish it had menu ideas and family traditions suggested for Independence Day. Interspersed with all of that are memories of her childhood summers, and lots of quotes full of wisdom. I highly recommend it! Even if you never use any of the recipes, you will just love reading it! Reading her books is one of the ways I dazzle myself, to “romance my heart,” as Ramona Zabriskie of Wife for Life talks about. I hope you enjoy it! Put it on your “thrifting wish list” or get it new from Susan’s shop. You will just adore it! Here’s a brief video review below.
Tree of Life Mothering 