A PRAYER FOR A LITTLE HOME ♥ “God bless thee when winds blow; Our home and all we know . . .” (Musica?)
Had to send you this little prayer, so perfect for this time of year, when our hearts overflow with gratitude. “Overhead thy stars O God.”
And in my little house, there’s a new stove-scape 🙂 (I suppose if we can have “table-scapes” we can certainly have “stove-scapes,” right?) I bought the little wooden house this summer at a flea market; 
I had no idea what I would use it for, but I just couldn’t leave it there. It’s been on a shelf in my studio. Yesterday my eyes fell on it, I said, come with me little house. The miniature string of lights was in my wrapping paper drawer. I stood in the kitchen prying the roof up a crack, and finally got the lights hooked over the “front porch.” Then 
I found the tree! And put more lights on it!! Just like playing dolls! I fear I will have fake snow around it before the season is over! And tiny reindeer on the roof!
Joe came downstairs, peering at it, going ever closer; when the string of lights registered, he laughed, shook his head, and said, “you’re a genius.” 🙂 It’s the little things in life!! ♥ Makes me think that if you’re looking for a fun table-scape, or mantle-scape, or top-of-the-refrigerator-scape, you might want to try raiding the toy box!
Just wanted to wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving with the prettiest prayer I know!! Because we are so lucky! We have each other!! And so much more. Our own “little houses” that we love, filled with the light of our own making. xoxo
Susan, I just love that sweet poem. We all need to take time to be thankful because we have all been blessed with soooo much! I especially love the line “red firelight and deep chairs.” Reminds me so much of my big cushy chair that I love to curl up in next to the the fireplace (with my Susan Branch book-of-the-moment) and look out onto the backyard through my big windows and just breathe a sign of gratitude for the wonderful things God’s given to me. I think everyone should have a “deep chair!”
Have a fabulous Thanksgiving with your wonderful group of friends. I just KNOW it will be perfect, especially with all the hard work you’ve done on your tablescapes! LOVE that little house!!!!!
Happy Thanksgiving to you, Joe, Girl and Jack! xoxo….kp
Same to you Karen!
Thank you for sharing that beautiful poem. Blessings to you and yours Susan. Happy Thanksgiving
Susan,
and other sisters,
It’s so amazing how so many of us have hearts that fit together with the simplicity of home. This Blog of yours Susan, has been one of the most refreshing things that’s come in a long time, instead of all the problems that try to gather around our feet. Susan Branch, yes, you are a gift and a blessing. And sisters….so are you.
Love,
Jane Alexander
You are so kind Jane, thank you for that! xoxo
Hi Susan
That was a beautiful post. I needed it today. The little house is so adorable with the little lights. I love it. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Susan. Thank you for making us all feel like we are part of your (happenings) its fun for us all
deezie
My pleasure Deezie xoxo
Happy Thanksgiving to you, Joe, Girl Kitty and Jack! In his own way, Jack is giving thanks for finding his forever-home. Bless you for taking him into your family.
Special thanks to you Susan for sharing your creative talents with us all. Your blog, with its wonderful writing and gorgeous pictures, has become part of my daily routine…and I love it!
Wishing all the girlfriends a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Marilyn (in Dallas)
xoxo Marilyn, thank you!
Happy Thanksgiving! And thank you for the music you add to the blog…love the selections!
Never know for sure if the girlfriends really want music at all, but I like it, and this way everyone gets a choice — to click or not to click! — so happy to hear you are enjoying it!
LOVE the music, Susan! Keep in coming!
It makes me happy inside to see someone find a “little homemade treasure” and not only rescue it but give it a place of honor in their home…with all its imperfections it is the “prettiest home of the block”!!! The poem is wonderful-thank you…..and it is true that there is always, always , always something to be thankful for. “I was feeling low as I had no shoes, till I met a man who had no feet”….my favorite saying, Happy Thanksgiving!
Perfect, Linda! Thank you!
Hi Susan! A simple beautiful blog as usual! Loved the prayer and since we will be moving soon, that is what we want – a little, old house! Older, previously loved houses have so much personality. I already have your framed print of your stove that says, “Things taste better in small houses” Queen Victoria. Saving it for the new/old house! I adore your stovescape and have to tell you that I do the same thing only with an old miniature barn – we really are like-minded! One more thing, I always get my grown girls (and me) a before Christmas gift of an Amaryllis kit (you know still in the box waiting to be planted? Sometimes busting out to see the light?). Well, I got them at Lowe’s on Saturday and saw some different colors that I’ve not seen before. I ended up getting some beautiful deep pink ones and the name? Susan! I kid you not! Just perfect, since I have made sure they have all things Susan for gifts! Thank you for the Thanksgiving Blog when it is such a busy time. Wishing you, Joe, Jack, Girl Kitty and your company a very Happy Thanksgiving! God Bless you and Keep you! Love, Gloria in Nevada, Texas
That’s a riot! I like that theme!! 🙂 Thank you Gloria, and hi to your girls for me!
Hello Susan!
I adore the beautiful prayer you shared with all of us, how appropiate for this time of year. It was music to my soul. I also like your sweet landscape on top of your stove, I bet a lot of your reader are now inspired to do the same.
An update in getting the kitty from the shelter, I was approved by the rescue shelter so now Miss Luna kitty graces my home and has brought me a lot of joy. The poor thing has waited for two years to get her “forever home” so it was a “meant to be” situation that she came home with me. I got that little extra push to get her after reading your story about adopting adorable Jack. By the way, congratulations to you that Miss Kitty Girl is taking to him. So now we are both proud parents of children in fur coats.
Have a good week and thanks for your always, inspiring and amazing blog 🙂
How wonderful Jamie. They are a true blessing! Lucky Luna!
We are making preparations to start decorating for Christmas on Friday and Saturday. You are getting me in the mood. Right now I have a pot of vegetable beef soup simmering on the stove even in our warm south Texas climate. We’ll be at the A & M vs. Texas game on Thursday. Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Sounds perfect and Fall . . . and smells good too!
Thanks for the prayer Susan. I so need it the last couple of weeks! House hunting is one VERY daunting task! Hopefully soon I will have a place to have any kind of “scape” here soon! Maybe even before Christmas, wouldn’t that BE something. Hubby will be flying in next month for two weeks from Germany but we won’t get our household goods until 3 January 2012. AND thanks for the beautiful card you sent me, I got it on the 3rd of this month, a Thursday. Hubby brought the mail in as the packers had packed up everything that means so much to me in all sizes of brown boxes and my heart just sank as they were taking it out the door to the crates to ship here. I was almost in tears and I came to your beautiful card with the pressed flower in it. It was like you said, “It will be okay, Terri.” And then the tears did flow! Love you!!
Moving is right up there on the stress charts — especially moving from across the world! It won’t be long Teri, and you’ll be all settled in a new little home, with all your things safe and sound. Glad the card found it’s way to you! I am still munching on German tea cookies, thin, round waffles. Yum and thank you!!
Ohhhh those waffles are awesome aren’t they? Just in time for the Happy Holidays! So glad you are still enjoying your goodies! Big Hugs on this Thanksgiving eve… I have SO much to be thankful for… and one of those blessings is YOU! Hugs and Smiles for a wonderful Wednesday!!
xoxo Terri!
What a sweet prayer.
The house is really a cute idea. If I could ever get my hands on a O’Keefe Merrit with the shelf, I would have to have a Stovescape, too! (of course, that would mean a whole kitchen remodel, but well worth it!)
Happy Thanksgiving
ps, love the copper pot. I love the looks of them, but I HATE to polish them. Mine are needing it badly.
I love them too, but have a pretty good rule of never polishing them! 🙂 I actually like them used-looking. I have a friend who has an entire set and polishes them every time she uses them. I would have to kill myself. 🙂
Brilliant idea! I have a tiny string of lights like that packed in my Christmas things (ummm… boxes and boxes even after downsizing). It will look perfect on a red birdhouse purchased on a vacation in Lancaster County a few years ago. Why did I never think of that… so creative.
I must admit, even though it is not Thanksgiving I have been tempted to tweak the top of the buffet with some Christmas items. Since hubby and I are all alone this Thanksgiving… no one would really notice… now would they? 😉
No one but the people that count, you. Happy you!
I love your prayer because I love little houses. I also wanted to mention about your stepping outside just before Thanksgiving dinner reminded me of Gladys Tabor opening her door at midnight to wish the world blessings on Christmas. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Ahh, Nature, and that oneness we feel sometimes. How lucky we are!
The little house is just perfect! It’s so much fun to be whimsical and have fun with our decorating! And I love that it was ‘second hand’…with a history! Makes it even better! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! ♥
I love your stove and your stovescapes! I decorate the window between my kitchen and dining room for the seasons, so I guess I have a windowscape 🙂 Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Thank you for all the blessings you give us every day.
Everyone needs a scape to fool around with, like a little invisible doll house where only the furniture is visible! 🙂
Delightful little house! Of course, it makes me wonder, what are the HOA fees? Sorry. I got distracted. 😀
I love you Susan! I also love that your husband called you a genius. I tell my kids at school that they are geniuses when they have a great idea…it catches them off guard…but I really mean it!! I love new ideas! The poem is so fitting. Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving and God Bless you and yours!
Everyone has a little piece of genius in them — they just need someone to notice!
YES!
Love your sweet little prayer. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Thank you! Hope you have a Thanksgiving blessed with peace, joy and yummy treats
Loved the poem…one of my favorites…and I would also love it if you offered it as a print:)
I felt much better about creating a miniature festive paper chain for a teeny tiny cottage door by my pantry baseboard, after seeing your miniature lights hanging over the teeny tiny house…keeps us young at heart!
Happy Thanksgiving, dear friends and furry folk;)
Christie
Oh! My little heart pan came in the mail today, so I can make those little tea cakes!! Yay!!
Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you for sharing that sweet poem, it reminds me that the small things in life are what make us truly happy. I do some volunteer work and last week I met a woman who has nothing, she has lost everything: her home, her work and her family. This poem/prayer expresses what she was trying to tell me she wanted and is what I pray for her.
I pray for it too Debbie. Isn’t it what we all want? And not just for ourselves, for everyone. A little home . . .
Love the little house with lights and tree. : ) I am thankful for YOU. Also thankful that you have a man who seems like a masculine guy who can appreciate the feminine spirit, specifically YOURS. Have a great holiday!
Dear Susan,
thank you for being “you” and thank you for the beautiful prayer-poem.
Just love the stovescape!!! And what a dear little house!! The poem reminds me of the Padraic Column one, “An Old Woman of the Roads”. ..Oh for a little house-a house of my own, Out of the wind’s and rain’s way. I felt this way when we received our little cabin in the woods…oh, so snug and homey and we are so grateful. Isn’t great that the joy the we all felt as children can live in our hearts forever?! (Walt Disney knew!!) Know you are preparing a wonderful feast for your guests and friends and I wish you such a blissful Thanksgiving with all my heart! Love, Sherry xoxo
Rachel is leaning over my shoulder, reading right now . . . says a special hello to you and Happy Thanksgiving!
Oh, and a special hello right back, sweet Rachel! Bet you are in 7th Heaven!! Is Jack providing tons of fun?? Girl Kitty looks soooo serene while he just bounces all over!! Makes me laugh out loud!! You two girls just enjoy the moment and make more memories!!!! Love you!!
We are Sherry . . . See you on Twitter!
What a meaningful poem. Such a sweet little house, too! I just love your blog! My phone and internet have been down for over 24 hours. As soon as I got back online tonight, I came right here first. “Visiting” with you and everyone else who posts on your blog has become such an inspirational part of my day. I had no idea how much this special place has come to mean to me until I lost my connection. Being here and being part of everything you share is something to be thankful for. No matter my mood or the stresses of the day, you always brighten my spirit, Susan. Thank you for that. Wishing you, your family, and everyone on this blog a blessed and very Happy Thanksgiving! ~xoxo~
We’re glad to have you back! 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving Pamela Jo!
Thank you Pamela Jo and Susan. Susan’s blog is such a fun thing to look forward to. One can never have too many girlfriends.Happy thanksgiving to you all.
I love your little house! Now I want one! I want some of that creativity too! Thank you for taking the time in this busy week to chat with us! You’re amazing! Happy Thanksgiving to you and all the girlfriends! ENJOY!
I loved the little house you got at the flea market. With the lights, it looks like a little doll house. I love doll houses and have since I was a child. Everyone wants a little home—a cottage—just to call their own. This one seems meant for you, Susan. Thank you for sharing it with us.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!
Such a sweet poem Susan. I was just telling my husband, as we grocery shopped today, how very grateful I am for our home. This poem also reminded me of my great aunt’s little home, where we gathered for many holiday’s when I was growing up. Her kitchen was so tiny, we ate in shifts. Then men first, the kids next, and then the women. No one seemed to mind at all, and we always had the best time!…….On another note, my husband help me wash our windows today. They are sparkling clean, and I can’t wait to step outside on Thanksgiving day and enjoy the view of my beautiful family! I think I might even take my camera and snap a couple of photos. Thank you Susan, for sharing your wonderful ideas, and your beautiful life. We are all so blessed by you!
Love it Lisa, have a great time!
Dear Susan–
We have this little prayer, lettered and illustrated by you, framed up and hung on the foyer wall of “our little home”. It brings me great joy every day to read the poem and look at your beautiful illustrations! A Blessed Thanksgiving to you and Joe!
Genius is right! Your little stovescape is perfect.
And the prayer — makes me thankful for my home and all those who live and love in it.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Thank you for sharing that wonderful poem It so epitomizes what I desire in my life and for those I hold dear. Happy Thanksgiving and many blessings to you and yours.
That is a sweet little poem. I found a hand stitched primitive style looking poem with flowers and trees stitched on too- I found it as I was going through a divorce and putting my house and life back together- I read it every day- The wind whispering through the trees, The soft and peaceful buzz of bees, The scent of flowers on the breeze, All that I ask please is these….. makes me thankful for those things. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!
Jennie, I was just painting this poem the other day!! Its wonderful, thank you!
Susan, I just wanted to tell you that it was raining HARD in Baltimore last night and I made your gingerbread cake with lemon sauce and it was perfect for a rainy night – it smelled great when my husband walked in from work and he ate two helpings for dessert.
As a sidenote – I made both with granulated Splenda (can’t eat sugar) and it turned out very well in case anyone else out there wants to try it.
Thank you!
Thanks for that good information Amy! Happy Thanksgiving!
Love the poem, love your little house, and love your blog. Thanks Susan. Our house purchase fell through yesterday so maybe we could move into your little house for a while! lol
Oh so sorry! Yes, would love to have you, but you will need to be very small, go light on the stuffing! 🙂
Hi Susan:
for some reason little houses bring out the child inside of us at Christmas time …..and bring back memories of the little villages we set up around our trees years ago with our little paper and cardboard villages, which reminds me, anyone who is fascinated with little houses ought to visit papatedsplace on the net…..totally fascinating indeed. it will inspire anyone to bring a little house into their plans for the holidays. happy day to you and to everyone!
Thank you Paulie!
Thanks for the tip, Paulie, have loved looking through the Papa Ted site – and I think I found your little house, Susan! I was amazed to see it a little over halfway down the 20’s page, on a table with a model train setup:
(don’t know if links work here, but…)
And a lovely Thanksgiving to all, off to play in the kitchen! 🙂
Woke up to lots of snow today………….wow! still coming down here. it’s beginning to look a lot like ……….over the hills and through the snow to grandmother’s house we go……………ta ra ta ra ta ra……………….stay safe everyone who is dealing with this mix of rain, ice and snow………….
Must be beautiful! I wish we had it, but we have rain . . . still cozy for Thanksgiving!
Thank you for sharing that beautiful poem! My favorite part is, “Great talk in little nooks”! That is one of my favorite parts about gathering for Thanksgiving. Everyone comes here to our home for Thanksgiving and we are so blessed. My husband and I are blessed to still have both of our parents and they are best friends! They were best friends before Dave and I got married. We met, as young children, in church. Our parents became close friends so we saw each other all the time. Very soon after we fell in “like” which turned to love! We have now been married for 31 years!!! We never have to decide whose family to spend any of the holidays with because our families spend every holiday together!!! That is such a blessing to us. So when our parents all arrive and our daughters come home with our son-in-law and grandsons we have a lot of, “Great talk in little nooks”!!! Sometimes I just stop what I’m doing and stand and listen to all the chaos, the different conversations going all at once, the laughter and deep discussions and I thank God for my family and our home that they can gather in. Yes, we are so blessed!!! And I want to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!!! You have become such a blessing to me and I love coming here to visit you.
What a life for you Sandy, how wonderful! Very blessed!
Has Jack gotten into any of your decorations yet, Susan? I just set up my Nativity scene yesterday, and this morning I could not find Little Miss Molly. Finally, I noticed her tail hanging over the side of the card table I use for the Nativity. There she was in the stable with her head on Baby Jesus! She had knocked down the Wise Men, their camels, and all of the sheep. Guess she knows Jesus was born among the animals and wants to be part of the story! LOL! Thought you would enjoy, being a cat lover, too! It will be very interesting to hear about Jack’s Christmas adventures…I’m quite sure he will have many of those! Have a great day! ~xoxo~
I totally understand what you are saying . . . Jack is leaping and jumping on everything, he bushwhacks me when I come around the corner, leaps into the air, hangs on my pant legs. When I write, he attacks the pen and smears things. He is learning, very slowly, the word NO, but right now, all he does is make me laugh. Adventures with a new kitten!
Ha-Ha! “Jack The Bushwhaker!” Love it and can just picture it! You should allow him to contribute his “smeared ink artwork” to your upcoming book! Maybe he and Girl could put together their own book! The title could be “The Entertainment Value of Humans…By Two Cats” I would buy it! LOL!
That reminds me that my kitties did walk across the pages of my Vineyard Seasons, and since I had finished the page, I just left them! Love this idea, oh to get into the head of a cat!!
Happy Thanksgiving to you dear Susan, we are all very thankful for you.
XO
Christy
Happy Thanksgiving “Girlfriends”! May you all know this year I’m so thankful for having you all in my life. Even though we have never met….we are connected. We share the things that matter to our hearts here. I’m thankful for that. I’m also thankful God has blessed us all with Susan. Thank you Susan for being who you are. God has blessed us all, so let us now all be a blessing to others! FOSB 4~Ever! ~ Doreen ~
Hi Rachel! Hope you are enjoying your Susan time. I’m sure she is enjoying you!
Thank you Doreen . . . Rachel just came down in her jammies to get her coffee, we are going over the dinner list, and today we cook!
How fun to have someone to cook with! Although when I’ve had the opportunity to cook with someone, sometimes we get to talking and laughing and lose track of what we’re doing and things don’t always turn out! Be careful! Have fun, girls! xoxo…kp
I know, hard on the concentration!! But fun on everything else!
Dear Susan,
Thanksgiving is a time for being grateful, and I am so grateful for you and your beautiful blog. I look forward to it and learn from it everyday. This morning I learned about Vera Lynn and her music during World War 11. I am so glad you chose to include her in your message. There are so many individuals like Vera who try to spread goodwill to one and all. You are one of them too! Wishing you and Joe an anbundance of Thanksgiving blessings. Enjoy a lovely day with your guests. Happy Thanksgiving to all the girlfriends and their families too. Lots of Love, Gail
Thank you so much Gail!
To Susan and Joe,
Happy Thanksgiving to all. Your blog gives smiles to a rainyday. Sunshine
where there was none. Love your house and the lights. Very cute scape.
Ohh, that little red roofed house! Susan, I love all the inspirations and encourgements you give us to just play. The Museum of Play is nearby (in Rochester, NY). Each year they select three new entries into the Play Hall of Fame. This year the blanket won a spot….don’t you love it? Blanket forts and blanket capped superheroes…… so many memories of such good fun! Your blog celebrates these simple joys of life and feels like a peaceful haven during all this craziness of those catalogs and ads and the latest gizmo! Give me a blanket, a little red roofed house and ideas from sweet playmates like you and the girlfriends. Now I’m off to play with acorns,little squirrels, deer and an old red rusty toy truck for our Thanksgiving table. Sweet blessings to all.
Ooooo, I see you are having fun!!! 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving to the grandest giver of all!! Once again you’ve reminded us its the simple pleasures we treasure! My granddaughter has one of those high rise tower dollhouses that is rarely touched yet when she comes to my house she plays for hours with a similar doll house like the one on your stove top – basic square with 2 windows – when she was 2 she “painted” HER dollhouse with crayons! Just adds a bit more character! Hope you and your delightful English company over eat and a drink a bit too much as will my family 🙂 and know that we are the luckiest people in the whole, wide world! xoxo
You need to save that little house for a wedding present! 🙂 Luckiest people in the whole wide world!!!
OMG you’re brilliant!! How cute would that be at a bridal shower… or a housewarming party?! Once again, you’re amazing and I’m so THANKFUL to be part of the girlfriends! HAPPY TURKEY DAY!
Gobble Gobble Christine!
You and your blog (and all the girlfriends) are another of my reasons to be thankful–I’ll be preparing very quickly to make pies and chop grapes, celery, etc. for waldorf salad to take to our son’s home tomorrow for dinner with his family. His wife’s parents will be there too, so it will be another holiday of sharing for us all. It’s going to be an unusually warm Thanksgiving day here in Michigan, so great for traveling. (something else to be thankful for)Thank you for all you do, I’ve been enjoying the music you’ve included as well–and the stove-scape is a great idea. No reason the work area can’t be festive as well as the living room!
Dear Susan…thank you for that lovely prayer…you always know just the right things to say at the right time! smile… I love your new ‘stove-scape’…Joe is right you are so wise! Love the house and lights! Smile….
Am sure you are enjoying your visitors and having a blessed time!
Gert
Happy Thanksgiving Gert!
Well, we are about to load the car up and head out for our “Thanksgiving Adventure”! (Camping with my 4 boys!) I wanted to stop by and wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and tell you how thankful I am for YOU! Hope your holiday is pure magic!
xoxox
donna marie
Have a wonderful time!
Happy Thanksgiving to you …you lovely lady and to your dear Joe and to those sweet kitties..And..thank you so for all you bring to our table!!! Xxxxxx!
P.s. I think I would like to get into that dear little house with the red roof!!
Susan,
Loved the poem, loved the little house…but even more, love how you share your love of home, family and friends and inspire us to do the same…you are my kindred spirit!
Happy Thanksgiving…
Cynthia
Thank you Cynthia!
Happy Thanks-Giving to you too Susan and to Joe & Girl-Kitty & Mr. Jack.
May the Good Lord bring you peace this thanksgiving and good turkey too! Have a wonderful day…
Susan and Joe,
Happy Thanksgiving!
Susan, food for thought: It would be so cool if this blog offered an opportunity for girlfreinds to post photos with their comments! That way we we could SEE what we all are typing about. You know….all our “scapes” and such. Maybe Facebook is the place for that, IDK…just a thought. 🙂
Tamar
Knowing as little as I do about this, I’m not sure whether or not that’s possible, not sure where it would go — I’ll ask — but for sure it works on Facebook.
Woops……….forgot to highlight this site I recommend for anyone who is in love with little houses for villages ….www.papatedsplace.com Take a stroll and enjoy his site for hours & keep him in your prayers too!………..so much knowledge to be had from it.
Another wonderful example of your creativity. I think it’s adorable and probably makes you smile as you stand in front of the stove. Thanks for all of your great ideas. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Sandy
You too Sandy! Thank You!
such a lovely post, I don’t think we ever leave the little girl in us behind, I have a doll house I’m working on, its just for my pleasure.
I try not to comment on your blog anymore,, you have so mnay comments, I don’t want it to become a chore for you. I couldn’t resist today,
You’ll never be a chore! xoxo
Happy Thanks-Giving Day! I am thankful for your generous, talented, kind heart Susan!
Thank you so much Laurie!!
That little prayer speaks to something deep in our hearts, doesn’t it? I’m always drawn to replicas and paintings of little houses (especially yours!). Like the prayer, they’re a way of expressing the longing and contentment we feel for our homes.
I love your stove-scapes! They make me wish for a shelf over my stove. I don’t have one, but I’m eying a spot nearby. Your ideas just make a house more fun :-)!
Sending love to you and Rachel and Happy Thanksgiving wishes to all of you. xoxo
Thank you Janie!! Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
Susan, your blog today reminded me of this Bible verse that I love:
From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.
John 1:16 NIV
We had our Thanksgiving dinner on Monday because my brother and sister-in-law were here then. They left this morning for her folks’ places. We had a wonderful time together and ate and ate. So fun to have my SIL working in the kitchen with me. I’m not used to help, so it was a treat.
I want a stove shelf. I love your stove. But I have a shelf over our stacked oven and microwave. Now I know what I’ll be doing with it in the future. Thanks for always inspiring me. I’ve loved that poem about the little house ever since I discovered it in your Autumn book. It paints such a cozy picture.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who will be at your house for the big day. And the furry friends too. Love the new photos with both Girl Kitty and Jack in the same frame.
Thank You Linda! Yes we are definitely getting there, Kitty-wise!
I need to clarify something I said. My husband helps in the kitchen all of the time. I meant “girl” help when I said I’m not used to having help. Don’t want to slight my dear husband. He is wonderful.
Happy Thanksgiving sweet Susan! Thankful for you and your wonderful presence in the blogging world and in our lives! Loved your books and artwork for many years, but your blog just brings it all to life for us.
Here’s a quote I love and want to share with you:
We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. ~Thornton Wilder
And you are one of those treasures 🙂
xoxo
Andrea
That was so nice Andrea, thank you!!
Hi Susan, love this blog entry and wishing you a Happy USA Thanksgiving as we already had our Canadian one in October..
Also, this blog reminds me of Christmas cookies- yummy 🙂
Here’s a Thanksgiving Poem 4 u :
” Thanksgiving Blessings ”
Such as the family and friends in life
To be thankful for many things
For our faith, blessings, gifts in which we share
Thankful for the food and prayer
Creativity in all its facets
For smiles and laughter
Embrace the Harmony Harvest of Being
Bestow Blessings and receive
Believe
Thanksgiving Blessings 2011…
~Jacki2011~
Lovely Jacki, thank you!
What a sweet little poem 🙂 The house is darling! Looks so at home above your stove.
Wishing you, Joe, Girl Kitty and Jack a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Love and Blessings,
Kim
Now that poem sets the mind a thinking of all the homes I inhabited. Each one of them have wraped around my heart. Those little houses of sticks and stones saw so many people in my life come and go.Through death, divorce, losing touch or just moving on, as we all seem to do, the houses I have lived in each hold a set of different people,different times ,and memories.
Dear Susan,
Thank you for the sweet poem, fits in with my mood today and with the snow falling here in Maine I’m happy to be in my little home. The winds are blustery and I’m hoping we down lose power tonight as I think I amy slip a dvd in and watch “Its a Wonderful Life”. Never too early for the old favorites as far as I can tell. I even managed to go out into the woods along the road and cut some bright berries and some pine branches from the back yard, now my window boxes are filled. With the snow on them, it does look very festive.
Thanks for you lovely blog, it always makes my heart happy.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with you and yours…oh and of course, the little “critters”.
love
maggie
Stay warm Maggie!
OOP’s….forgot spell check. Hope it makes sense..
maggie
Where is the recipe for “Onion Casserole”? I saw it on the card in your recipe box and have searched your books and can’t find it – my hubby LOVES onions and I thought this would be something special to make for him.
Thanks!
It’s not in any of the books, but I’ll put it up soon.
That little house is perfect in the new “shelfscape”
The poem is perfect, too! Thanks for sharing that.
Have a wonderful and perfect Thanksgiving with all the family! God has been so good to all of us.
Kate
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I wonder how many of us are making one of Susan’s fantastic dishes tomorrow. I am making the cranberry sauce to take to my brother’s house. When he invited me and I offered to bring something he began teasing me about bringing my “canberry sauce” like last year. He then told me to be a “Martha Stewart”,pick the cranberries and make my own sauce. Well little does he know that I bought fresh Cape Cod cranberries at the market and I will be using your recipe for cranberry sauce which I will put into a pretty glass dish. Who needs Martha when we have SUSAN! Love and blessing to all the lovelies out there!
xoxo !
Not sure where I should leave this comment but the most recent post seemed to make sense. I want you to know how very much I appreciate your cranberry sauce recipe in Willard. It is a keeper and the very first whole cranberry sauce that I have ever liked. I made it this evening as well as my usual cranberry jelly mold – some like whole berry, some like jelly. Your recipe is WONDERFUL. So easy and so good. I could eat it by the spoonful. No chance for Christmas jam with this batch. That’s for another day.
Wishing you and yours a blessed Thanksgiving.
So happy to hear that, I made mine yesterday and hid it from us! Have a wonderful day!
That gave me a smile — I made your spiced pecans (using walnuts instead as that’s what I had on hand) and then HID them so there would be some left to nibble while we cooked the Thanksgiving meal! They were a really big hit with everyone.
Hooray!
Susan, I am taking a moment, before making my pumpkin pie, to thank you for being so gracious and giving. I have stopped often in the middle of life’s circumstances to rest and take a deep breath at your website and now your blog. Such good refreshment and inspiration! Now off to the kitchen…
Thank you Carolyn, have a wonderful day!
Oh, Girls…..Happy Thanksgiving!!! We are in Colonial Williamsburg for the holiday. This is our first visit and I am SO excited!!! My little family is still sleeping, but I hear faint stirrings…..I am dying for them to get up so we can get out and see this magical place. We are having dinner this evening at an historic tavern by candlelight here in the village…all this AND I don’t have to cook??? Pinch me!!! Yesterday we were in D.C. and we went to the Smithsonian to see Julia’s kitchen….I just wanted to slip in and start creating magic…..it was so, so wonderful! So much to be thankful for! Happy day Susan and everyone!!! Xoxoxoxoxo
What a wonderful time of year for this trip! Have fun! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family Laura! xoxo
Oh Laura….what a wonderful way to spend Thanksgiving!!!!! I must admit…I’m jealous! Have fun and post some pictures on FOSB on FB for us so we can share the experience with you! 😉
Well, I just had to share! I DID IT!!!!!! I finally got Tom B. Turkey into the oven. The yelling and screaming was killing me but I did it. I had to hold but butt up against the oven door until he quieted down. I think next year I might have to anesthetize him first! I wonder if that will change the taste??? I’m going to have to look into that one before next year. LOL! Happy Thanksgiving “Girlfriends” Enjoy those turkey & cranberry sauce (with a little mayo) sandwiches late tonight….I’ll be thinking of you all as I stand in my kitchen in the dark at around midnight having mine in my jammies! XOXO! FOSB 4~Ever!
~ Doreen ~
LOL FOSB 4-Ever! ♥
Happy Thanksgiving, Susan
Thank you for all your inspiration. Thank you for bringing us all together through this blog. We are so very blessed.
Happy Thanksgiving Susan to you, to Joe and the kitties! Had doubts when you started the blog! Now it’s one of the first things I check when I’m online! Has only increased my admiration for and of you! Thanks again for all you do and the grace you bring to my life and the lives of others! Feel like it’s opened more windows on the world which only serves to bring us closer!
Lovely Kerry, thanks for being here!
Happy Thanksgiving Susan and family, kitties, too. Reading your blog is like getting a letter from a Sister. Thank YOU for sharing all that you are with us. XOXOX Cyndy
A very blessed Thanksgiving to you Susan and all your loved ones as you gather aound the table today. I’m giving thanks for you today!
Love your magical little house & LOVE the Albert Einstein quote! -And Joe is absolutely right…you ARE a genius! xo
hahaha! You know better than that!
I saw this and it made me think of your kitties. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3JC24p0YsA&feature=feedu
That is just plain adorable, and EXACTLY what we are experiencing around here right now! Thank you Sarah!
Hi Susan,
This poem has always been one of my favorites from the Autumn book and I love the whole page, how it is decorated! I just wish I had an extra (maybe even a smidge bigger) to frame for my little entry. I have just the spot! Any plans to make a little print or needlepoint or with this poem?
~Debbie
We were just talking about that, I think we’re going to make a print of it — there’s a place we found that has gorgeous printing and paper!
Yippee skippee! SO excited to hear that! 🙂
Thank you so much, Susan ~ my momma had fun looking at the photos/videos of Girl Kitty and Jack yesterday while in our home for Thanksgiving and her 89th birthday!
That’s so nice to hear Barbara!
Susan….I have had so much fun today. Recently I ordered three of your early books….today I received Vineyard Seasons and have spent an hour enjoying it.
I especially liked the sweet tribute to your mother. My mother is 97+ and lives with me….we all should take the time to thank our mothers while we still have time. Thank You!
You’re so welcome, I agree with you, I don’t know what I would have been without mine!
Is “Christmas from The Heart of the Home” ever going to be reprinted and available? I am trying to get all your books for my 2 soon-to-be-married granddaughters and can’t find that one. (and I won’t give up my copy – LOL).
Thank you!!!
There are no plans at this moment, but maybe. I was thinking of writing a new one.
For Joan: I just received “Christmas From the Heart of the Home” ….. ordered from http://www.thriftbooks.com. I “Googled”
Susan Branch books and they came up. Very timely service and the books are in great condition for a reasonable price.
Excellent Nancy, thank you!
You’re very welcome!
I have actually been moving into my own “little house” these past 2 weeks! We bought a lovely cottage for 2 with a beautiful view. I have been very busy unpacking and nesting. Hard to think about decorating just yet while we are still trying to find spaces for ordinary things – but maybe soon! Our internet has been sketchy up to now so I get behind on the blogs – fun to catch up though. :0)
Hope your holiday was great!
How fun Karen! Congratulations!
Susan, Great idea for a list, I can’t remember all the things I do.My girls would love this. Every day I hear my mom giving ideas to my sister, now that she,s gone we keep trying to recall everything she said’ tome to write it down. Hope your Holidays are peacefull and happy.You blogs getting me going everyday, THANK YOU,,Florence
Susan,
Can you tell me when to find or order your 2012 small easel calendar?
My local store has sold out and I don’t see them on your website, I want to give one as a gift.
Thanks so much and happy holidays,
Nancy
I don’t have an easel calendar, sorry! I did a few years ago — I have a mini wall calendar?
hi susan branch its marin from the daring girls club and your decorateing is awesome. thae rest of the dgc says hi
Say Hi back Marin!!
Okey Dokey! Do you mind giving out your email adress because there is this really cool scrap book i made online of the daring girls that i would like to send you!
Sure — send it to [email protected]/~susanbs3/susanbranch/!
Hi Susan,
I’ve enjoyed your books for years, but I just found your site today (what a fun discovery!) when I decided to look up the author of this old framed poem I’ve had for years. (I’m finishing the process of putting back my regular decor after Christmas.) Well, I found “The Prayer for a Little Home” and that it was written by Florence Bone. What surprised me was the difference in several lines of the poem, so I’m not sure what was the original version. However, when I read it another place online, I found only one difference between that one and mine, in that “thee” had been added at the end.
I just thought I’d send the version I’ve enjoyed over the years, with the punctuation exactly as it is on my framed print, with a little illustration above it. (The writer definitely liked commas! smile)
A PRAYER FOR A LITTLE HOME
God send us a little home,
To come back to, when we roam.
Low walls, and fluted tiles,
Wide windows, a view for miles.
Red firelight and deep chairs,
Small white beds upstairs.
Great talk in little nooks,
Dim colors, rows of books.
One picture on each wall,
Not many things at all.
God send us a little ground,
Tall trees standing ’round.
Homely flowers in brown sod,
Overhead, thy stars, O God.
God bless, when winds blow,
Our home, and all we know.
Have a blessed 2012!
It’s beautiful isn’t it, just the perfect poem! I haven’t checked the difference between the one I have and this one, but I’ve seen lots of quotes with word changes, so I think it’s kind of normal. Thank you Judy!! Loved reading it.