It’s a beautiful summer day on Martha’s Vineyard when I’m writing this; bees are floating through the lavender, beach towels are flapping on the line, a gentle harbor breeze is softly rustling the trees. But so quiet ~ it’s perfect beach weather ~ that’s where everyone must be. There are no cars on the road, a rare thing for summer on this island. All I can hear through my open windows are birds. ♥
Soon I’ll show you more about what’s going on here but today, I think we need just one more visit to Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top Farm — our second visit in a week — you knew I would have to go back!
Remember how gorgeous the sky was on the first day we found our way to Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top Farm? It wasn’t like that the second time . . . here it was on June 7, over the Lake District, dark, rainy, and moody. Musica? Yes.
Before we left the Lake District, I needed one more look at Castle Cottage (the light beige house above) where Beatrix lived happily-ever-after with her husband Willie for thirty years. It’s privately owned so this is as close as I really wanted to get, but there it was, a sweet comfortable-looking little house just across the meadow from Hill Top.
It still felt funny that we could just drive here. Beatrix Potter has been so far away from me for so long, almost on another planet. But shockingly, like any other place, like any old McDonald’s on the corner, you can drive right up, put on your blinker, turn in, and park. Go through a little gate, walk up a path and there it is! Where it’s been for over a hundred years, with visitors just like me, coming and going.
I didn’t get a ticket to go into the house again because I have that vision permanently pressed into my heart. I will never forget looking at the view through the wavy old glass of her bedroom window, the same ripply view of hills and green and cottages she saw all those years ago. But there were a couple of things I needed to do before we left — I had unfinished business. As I was walking through the rainy garden for the last time I noticed little wet side-path I hadn’t seen before. At the end there was a green door in the garden wall. I went to investigate. I didn’t want to miss anything.
I pushed it open slowly, making sure I wasn’t going somewhere I shouldn’t — then ducked under the dripping lilac to go inside. It led to the walled vegetable patch in front of the house, and gave me a slightly different perspective on the house. I was inside the iron gate for the first time. All alone, in the rain, in Beatrix Potter’s garden. ♥
Of course, Peter Rabbit was bound to get in trouble in this neck of the woods! Such temptation; rhubarb and strawberries too.
There were little details I couldn’t see from the other side of the iron gate, like this recess in the rock wall. It’s called a “bee-bole” ~ it’s made for sheltering bee skeps like this charming white box hive that Beatrix had “fixed up” — she also painted it into The Tale of Jemima Puddle Duck — later I painted it into the journal I kept of this visit. (You would have enjoyed watching me juggle camera, umbrella, hood on rain coat, purse and tears while taking photos.)
I also came back to get the name of the roses climbing over the front of the house. I asked the person at the door but she didn’t know. Which surprised me . . . they must get asked that question two-hundred times a day because those roses smell like heaven. Don’t inquiring minds want to know? So they can grow them all over their barn? Or something? So I emailed the gardener, and guess what, he didn’t know either! My blog girlfriends thought maybe Zephirine Drouhin.
Here they are, up close. They also look a little David Austinish with so many petals, they smell like David Austin roses too, really strong, but the gardener only called them cabbage roses.
The other thing I had to do was to take a photo of my miniature Beatrix Potter book as it soaked up some local ambiance, so I could bring it back to the Peter Rabbit Room to spread the wealth (a little more magic never hurts). The little book is so proud in that room since we got home, its buttons almost pop, bragging around to the Beatrix Potter People of where it’s been and what it saw!
Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail hoist it on their shoulders like a returning hero.
But this is what I really came back to Hill Top for . . . I knew, the moment I left the first time, I had forgotten something. I must have been crazy to even think of coming all the way across the Atlantic Ocean to England, then to the Lake District, over the narrowest rock-lined roads you can imagine, on the wrong side of the road, risking life and limb, and then leaving this behind? I scare myself sometimes. I’d picked it up in the gift shop and then put it back, regretting it every moment since, dreaming about it!
It’s an exact copy of the first book Beatrix Potter (who, as you can read in my journal of this visit, A FINE ROMANCE, is not only an illustrator, but so much more. Most 
importantly, a conservationist savior of the Lake District, but also a respected natural scientist and regular person, despite being a genius, who was very proud of her prize-winning sheep) paid to have published herself, exactly the way she wanted it to be. For this special, first-time-ever reprint, they used the same cover she designed originally, but they also added a dust jacket taken from editions published in 1903 by Warne; in a charming calico pattern supplied by Edmund Potter and Company (Beatrix Potter’s family business, isn’t it adorable? Oh, for ten yards of that!). They put the book in a special little bag and the only place you can buy one is at the gift shop up the garden path at Hill Top Farm. ♥ I could not go home without it.
What makes them extra special is, except for the surviving original books, there are only 1000 copies like this. On earth. (At least that’s what they told me, and I choose to believe!) And they all have numbers written in them like this.
The book is written in her own handwriting; all the pen and ink drawings are in black and white, just as they were when she first published the book. Only after Norman Warne started publishing Beatrix’s books were they done in color. He believed in her.♥
I had (was forced by a power stronger than myself, therefore the court would surely rule me not responsible) to steal a flower from the garden to keep in the book. Stealthy, like a cat, despite the pouring rain, looking both ways and still seeing no one — into the dripping mock orange and climbing honeysuckle I went. Rain pattered my umbrella as I tucked the wet rosebud softly, ever so softly, into my raincoat pocket, and was out of there before anyone noticed, leaving only a trail of muddy footprints, a clue soon to be washed away by the deluge; because I needed to press a real Beatrix Potter flower into my book more than I cared if I went to the Far Sawrey town jail . . . in fact, I took two flowers . . . . the rose, and an Iris for my journal.
And then it was time to go. Other than going inside and asking to take a nap in her actual bed, I thought I had done it all. The rain was coming down hard, Joe was waiting on the other side of the little gate with the car running, reading his newspaper. I stopped and took that one last photo of Castle Cottage ~ nostalgic, recalling memories that weren’t even mine ~ across green Post Office Meadow. Nothing in the village of Near Sawrey has changed since Beatrix walked the narrow lanes with her border collie Kep at her side.
I hope you enjoyed our visit — I wrote more about this dream-come-true in our travel journal in case you also have a place in your heart for the life of Beatrix Potter . . .
Another lovely post, and today I took the time to read all the comments. What a fun circle of girlfriends! Your Beatrix Potter book is just the best and most unique gift, especially with your inscription and the pressed rose! Sigh! For years I have counted on your books to help fill my inspiration cup and add some extra sparkle to life, and feel so lucky now to have your wonderful blog. Thank you!
Glad to have you here Rosanne!
Be still my heart! A book for me? I hope it comes along to my house! It’s been so much fun traveling with you everywhere on your trip.♥♫
What a treasure! reading your blog has been wonderful. We are now planning a trip to England ourselves for next spring!
Years and years ago I went to the Lake District and was not fortunate enough to see Hilltop. Did get some figurines and have cherished them. Would love to have the book. Thanks so much for your humor, calendars and blog. Makes my day.
Susan, I love your lifestyle and the way in which you view the simple things in life as treasures! The feeling of giving someone a gift is a like a sneaky little way of giving a gift to ourselves! I would cherish my time with this book if I am the recipient and, when serendipity leads me to the next person who deserves it, I will sneak a bit of that feeling for myself as I add their name under mine and pass it on with instructions to do the same. 🙂
Susan, your blog is like fantasyland…my little escapes here leave me so happy! You capture such beauty in all you do..your art, your pictures, your words here to us. If I win this book I will ask you to address it to Amelia…my precious little granddaughter who loves books and at 2, is learning all about magical things.
Oh, the treasure of a lifetime I would say! Just like the trip! Thanks for thinking of all of us 9and for those of us that don’t win, you can share yours with us on the blog right? LOL!!0 Simple handwriting with simple drawings to tell a cute story to cheer someone who was sick… and it is still cheering us today! I have a small Peter Rabbit book similiar to yours but it wasn’t baptized in England liquid magic! LOL!!
Oh what a treasure!!! ♥ I sure hope you’ll publish a book we can all buy about your trip!!! I’m sure it will inspire MANY things! Maybe even a whole calendar! 🙂
Wouldn’t THAT be wonderful! Your brain must be brimming with ideas!
It is . . . I’m writing a diary about the trip, so although I’m home, I’m really not! I love it!
I’m sending another comment. When I first responded, there were 16 responses, and the count is up to 104. I read through them and did not see my own. I want to make sure that I’m enrolled for the giveaway as I’ve loved Peter Rabbit since my children were young (now they’re 32 and 28). Good luck to us all, and welcome home, Susan. Hope to see you publish your English diary. Also have you considered writing a spring volume to go with the summer, autumn, and Christmas books? I’d love to add to my Susan Branch collection. Debbie S.
Hope this one goes through Debbie! I’m writing a diary of this English trip right now, but I like your idea!
I long to find a pretty green gate like that somewhere so that I might slip away from here and now and find myself alone in a garden in the rain.
That’s exactly what it was like Crystal. That I didn’t see it before, and on this day, almost no one was there!
Thanks so much for sharing your trip with us all! I have also loved Miss Potter’s work, but especially since the arrival of our (now toddler) grandson — PETER!
Oh, you got a little bunny!
When I thought I would have oodles of children I began collecting the books that I wanted my children to love:
The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter copyright F. Warne & Co 1989 published by the Penguin Group, 27 Wrights Lane, London, W8 5TZ, England
and
Adventures in the Big Thicket by Ken Gire, illustrated by Elizabeth Miles, Focus on the Family Publishing, copyright 1990
I would LOVE to have this issue of The Tale of Peter Rabbit. I think my life would be complete!
I like your collection!
How can I ever thank you for the beauty and joy you bring to my life through your writing?
Thanks for sharing your world with me!
Carol
I’m just happy you’re here Carol!
I just returned from MY clothesline in Seattle to capture the heavenly scented white sheets and cases and found your blog. Oh, Susan — my husband and I are going for the very first time to England in October and one of the main reasons is to visit Hilltop. My 33-year old son’s nursery was decorated in Peter Rabbit, including a rocking chair pad with Peter which I painted and stitched in needlepoint. I’m patiently waiting for grandchildren so I may put it to good use again. I have several of the figures and a nice collection of books. I can’t tell you how honored I would be to receive the book! How kind of you to think of this and share it with a lucky one. I’m so looking forward to your journal and how it will be published before our trip! Summer greetings and welcome home!
Deep inhale, so excited for you!!! So fun to prepare for, and you are just not going to believe how gorgeous the area is!!!
I am so thankful to you for sharing your wonderful, magical trip with all of us. Thank you from the bottom of my heart 🙂
My pleasure Lois!
Have loved following your trip – the Queen Mary voyage (I’m saving for it), your travels thru England -I am retired librarian and have all the Beatrix Potter figures that are reading books – that little book would be so lovely with them! Thanks for a chance to win it.
Oh my gosh! As if it hasn’t been a treat to follow you on your trip to England! What a special treat! I am a huge fan of you (of course), and a huge collector of vintage children’s books and vintage nature books…so I see treasures like this and my little eyes light up!!:) Thanks for taking us all along on your trip:) P.S. I love when you add music links!!!
That one was pretty huh? Makes me cry. . .
I have devoured every word of your wonderful blog about your trip. I had a pen pal from England from 7th grade in to college. We swapped teen magazines, discussed the Beatles & the royal family & the latest fashion. How I wish we could be in touch again. I have always dreamed of a grand trip to England. I’m hoping it will happen one day. Until then, thank you for your beautiful photos & descriptions of all things British.
Google her! You never know!
Loved reading about and seeing pictures from your trip. A wonderful reminder of the trip I took 16 years ago with my daughter and English son-in-law.
Susan, The trip was nothing but delight from start to finish… and a second trip to Beatrice Potter’s was a great treat. To win the book would be like Christmas immediately followed by the best birthday ever! Fingers (and paws) crossed!!
P.S. Thanks you to Joe for being such a good sport about taking all of us along on the trip. Did the whispering and giggling keep him awake?
No, he slept right through it!! 🙂
Oh WOW!!! What a treasure!!! And I had to giggle…you sound like Peter Rabbit sneaking into Mr. McGregor’s garden….thankfully you didn’t get caught, or chased, or stuck in the garden gate!! LOL!! Thank you so much Susan for taking us on your amazing journey! I seriously don’t see the possibility of myself ever traveling to England…but I thoroughly enjoyed the trip through your awesome journaling…I know you had to sacrifice your own time of vacationing to journal for us and we all appreciate that sacrifice!
Xoxo. Carolyn
Oh, you scamp, you, somehow I’m not a bit surprised that you revisited Beatrix Potter’s home for the book(s) and special mementos – I would have been disappointed in you if you hadn’t! Thanks for the glimpse into the lovely little veggie garden, for the shots of those breathtaking roses, and for the chance to have for our very own selves a treasure of a book – and a rosebud! (ooh, that’s my nickname, suppose that will give me extra luck? hope so!) Hugs! 🙂
Hope so too Rosie!
I’ve loved reading all about your trip to England, one of my favorite places in the world. Especially liked the writings you did about your visit to Bearix’s home, I almost felt like I was with you! Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us!
Wow!!! Please pick me!!! June was a month that was all about England. Reading your blog, watching the Queen’s Jubilee and sewing a pincushion for a swap partner who lives in Bath! Thanks so much for all the joy you spread with each wonderful blog post 🙂 xoxo Debbie
I have been with you everyday on our wonderful journey. I have always been a fam of Beatrix Potter, and did my boy’s room when they were babies in a Beatrix Potter theme. In those days you could only find the books and little figures, which I too have kept an mementos of their childhood. I hope to give them to my grandchildren. You have inspired to read Jane Austen and to take time for tea.
Thank you for taking the time to take us all along on your adventure.
Enjoy the Summer on Martha’s Vineyard.
What a wonderful ‘wrap’ to your journey’s story. The book and rose will be a treasure for whomever is chosen as the winner! Susan, you always are an inspiration and I so love your creative surprises! xo peg
Hi honey!! It’s not a wrap I’m afraid; we still have William Morris and William Wordsworth, and Hever Castle, for starters, not to mention Rosemary Verey’s garden. Maybe I should just put it in the book!!!
I have a rose that looks a lot like that called Lavender Lassie! Finegardening.com says it grows to 5 feet tall but mine is easily 15 feet…….
I would love to win that book!
Oh my goodness! I was already squealing with excitement at getting another look at Hilltop…The veggie garden (Squee!), the cabbage roses (Ahh!), the bee town (Ohh!) – then the book (insert many squeals – I had been SO hoping you would go back and get that for yourself) and then to find out you got one for us! AND a rose from her garden! Oh wow! I was beyond squealing…That is the most amazingly wonderful prize – and you are amazingly thoughtful and generous to offer us a chance for it. Whichever lucky girlfriend wins it (I have to say I am crossing my fingers and toes in hope – though I’m trying to suppress that greedy Gollum voice, ‘Precious….’), I’m certain it will find a good home and be treasured. Thank you for another look – and such an awesome opportunity!
Oh Susan… I just had to STOP what i was doing, make a cuppa and come and sit to relish your blog post. ahhhhhhhhhh what a way to start my day!
I’d love to go into the draw for the delightful book – WHAT a treasure.
LOVE how you just had to get a keepsake rose – getting that little something past customs must of made you want to shake with glee.
You are a fun gal and I bet you would of gone around and around the revolving doors with me yesterday!!!
Love Leannexx
Ooops, now this is the first time I realized it went past customs!!! It was squashed between the pages of the book, and I never thought of it!!
Oh my! How do you always manage to come up with the most perfect “gifts”! Not only the wonderful and precious little book, but to add the rosebud from her gardens! I could not imagine a more amazing and delightful surprise! I hope so to win this little treasure from you, but if not what a joy in the knowing of the joy it will bring someone! Thank you so much, as always you are a treasure to my life.
I’ve devoured your comments, Susan, your sighs and squeals of excitement at every flower, lamb, country road, Emma Bridgwater mug, even the rain(!) I am truly blessed to live in the English countryside, you’ve made me realise just how lucky I am. So thank you for your wonderful enthusiasm – one day I will make the trip to Hilltop and follow in your footsteps, even maybe sneak into the garden and press a flower! Tomorrow is my birthday – and the sun is going to shine – just for one day the weatherman says. Best wishes and thank you for all the enjoyment you share. Rosie
You live in pure beauty then! How are all those wild daisies doing, the ones in front of the hedgerows?????
I would never have dreamed that you could bring such a treat home for one of your girlfriends. Absolutely amazing! I would certainly cherish such a gift. Especially one that holds so many of your happy memories in it.
Oh good, you’re surprised!
It made my heart take a momentary sinking spell to think that you might have
come away without that wonderful momento of a wonderful trip! But you went
back! Sometimes there are things in life that are priceless…the cost or effort
doesn’t matter and this was one of those things. Thank you for going back and
giving me the chance to share one of your special keepsakes.
Dear Susan………..oh my goodness…….this is over the top! Always thinking of others – that is you! Loved this whole post. You have quite the knack for taking really neat pics and making them special out of something that is simple. Yes, the roses are beautiful, but I don’t know the name either. Loved your little lamb and the way you took that plain page that said “Limited Edition” and made it into something so special. Quite lovely. Thanks so much for sharing the whole trip. I truly don’t know how you find the time to do it all, but I’m certainly glad you do. Look forward to checking your blog daily. Best love, Gail in Florida
What a Wednesday treat to be back in England and at Hill Top Farm, too! When I was in high school, many a year ago, I worked in the children’s room of the Everett Public Library in Everett, WA. There was a special bookcase for books to be read aloud to very young children. On the bottom shelf of this bookcase were all the Beatrix Potter books. All small in size for small hands to hold while being read. There was rarely a day when I didn’t visit that shelf to replace a volume someone had checked out. It must have been one of my favorite places to visit for the memory to remain. I know I was amazed that someone would care to make all the books so small and of course I knew the stories because my mother read them to me several years before. She also delighted in knowing all the perfectly described characters and now that her eye sight is failing I would love to have this book to read it again to her.
I love hearing your stories!
Would love to win this for my daughter who has all the figures and seveal Beatrix Potters book from her late Grandmother. Your trip was so wonderful I told all my girfriends to blog you for the ride.
Thank you Martha! Hello to your daughter too!
Oh my goodness!!! What a special gift. I have loved traveling along with you to England. You went to so many of the places that I dream of going to some day..
Thanks!
hugs
oH my Heavenly Stars! Christmas came early this year! But, when I saw that
lamb….that dear little lamb….Susan’s Lambie….it all got to me!!! YoU, my dear
are an absolute joy in this world! I left a little note on Deborah’s comment (from the last post) and came in from watering to check on you and…….happy, happy, happy!!! Susan….I am so proud of You, and happy for YoU, and I just want to say that lamb is too cute!!!! And maybe the song, “When You Taught Me
How to Dance” with visions of Beatrix & Mr. Warne ….and “YoU”….got me all
teary and happy hearted. How lucky you must feel to know that by just being YoU the world is a happier place on earth!!! And cuter!!!…..oH that sweet little
lambie….sweet as hot milk cake!!! Truly!!! XoXDawn
P.s. I am so very glad “YoU” got the book! It was very special sharing in one
of your dreams coming true…going to Hill Top! And, your little book of Peter Rabbit, soaking up the magic……LOVE it!!! Kinda, like me, and my little bottle filled with “a perfect Summer’s Day!” 😉 oH how I get YoU!!! Have a beautiful
Summer’s Day on Martha’s Vineyard sweet Susan!!!!!
Dawn, you are such a doll! Thank you!!!
I loved hearing and seeing about your trip. It was so lovely. Thank you very much!
My dearest, dearest Susan, you have no idea how wonderful I feel right now after having read your post for today. It gave my heart such excitement when in my minds eye, I could see you reaching out to “pinch” off a flowers that you held so gently in your pocket. What joy you must have felt just knowing you were in possession of such a magical piece of Hill Top. The child in my heart is so excited for you as well as for all of the girlfriends knowing you are making something so wonderful happen for us by giving us such a wonderful surprise!!!!!! What can one say when someone goes as far as you are going to let us know how much we mean to you. May I say, (and I feel comfortable in speaking for all the other girlfriends) that you are truely a friend that may not live right here in our own neighborhood and can visit at the drop of a hat, but you make our hearts feel like we just finished sharing the most relaxing spot of tea as we sat for a spell and induldged in the things which make us such kindred spirits. From the inner most core of my heart I thank you. You really (and I mean really) have no idea how much we love you! FOSB 4~Ever! ~ Doreen ~
Oh thank you Doreen! Love you being here!!! FOSB 4~Ever!
And ditto what Doreen said. Perfect!
Oh please include me in your wonderful give-away! I’ve followed your whole trip and even rented the Beatrix Potter movie to watch over again. It would be a thrill to win this copy of her book with your sweet illustration included {I have a fondness for lambs and have enjoyed every picture & video you included from your trip!}!♥
Oh, peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck, Mrs. Tiggy Winkle, Mr. Jeremy Fisher……they were not really part of my childhood, no idea why not, but how I remember soooo fondly reading those stories time and time again to my son (now 16) and it was like being transported to magical place over and over again. Many happy memories of those stories and loved this post about Beatrix Potter’s house. Thank you! ♥
This trip was just so wonderful!!! I was with you the whole way and loved every minute. Remember you promished to make a book for all us to remember!?!
I am doing it!
What a wonderful adventure! Thank you so much for sharing your travels, anecdotes and darling photos. I almost feel as though I were there too!
Susan, thank you so much for taking us all along on your incredible trip! It’s as close as I will ever get to where my roots come from, so I especially appreciated it!! 🙂
Hi Susan,
Cannot tell you how much I’ve enjoyed our trip to England and back. You visited all of the places that I would have gone on my own!
I’d very much love to have your one-of-a-kind book, but only so that I may give it to my best friend who has not only been a SB fan from the get go, but who also turned me into a fan as well. She would so very much appreciate such a gift as she is the kindest, gentlest, oldest-souled person I know and this sort of keep-sake is right up her alley.
Thanks for always putting a bright spot in my day, Susan!
Christy E in South Texas
My first favorite book was Peter Rabbit and Mom said I would stop her reading and say “won’t he ever find his ma-ma?” (when he was hunting a way out of the garden.) The book is 77 years old and has no cover and lived through my 3 siblings, but is precious to me and when I finally got to go to Hilltop Farm 4 years ago, I’m sure no one felt the wonder I felt that day–except you also felt and so ably brought it back in your gift of telling us about your wonderful visit. That year we majored on visiting authors homes, and went to Jane Austen’s also and I read lots and lots about both ladies before I went. I loved doing it all again through your journal.
Hi Sue!
Hearing about your wonderful visits to “The World of Beatrix Potter” is like reading an enchanted fairy tale! Fairy Tales always tickle your fancy and have, as they say, always a happy ending! Well, here I am, about to share with you,(and the world), the fairy tale that led to how I got the name, “Bunny”!
Mind you, “Bunny” is not an abbreviation of my “given” name, nor is it a nick- name, which, if I understand nick-names, is usually a fond “pet” name for some quirky personality trait. My name was bestowed upon me on my day of birth!
The day I was born, my older sister, Deedee, went to stay with a neighbor lady who just happened to raise Angora rabbits to knit the “wool”, (I know you’re beginning to get the picture now, aren’t you?) Well, when Dad arrived at the neighbor’s house to announce her baby sister’s birth, four-year-old Deedee, (the animal lover), proudly proclaimed to everyone, ” I’m calling her Bunny!”
To this day, I don’t know if she stomped her foot emphatically, or maybe the glee in her eyes gave Dad the notion that he couldn’t say, “No”. Perhaps it was really Dad’s witty sense of humor that got caught up in all of the excitement of the moment? The reality is, sixty-two years later, here I am, a “Bunny”!
No one knows what might’ve happened if I’d been a boy; “Peter” perhaps?
Love & hugs, always!
Bunny XO
I do love your name … every time I see it, I think how wonderful it is, Bunny!
Merci Beaucoup! ;>)
Thank you so much for taking all of us with you. With both pictures and words I truly experienced it. All I needed was some cool rain misting down on me. I have collected Beatrix Potter music boxes for my daughter for 34 years. What a wonderful addition this book would make! One day I would love to repeat your travels with my daughter and 3 sisters.
You are the most generous and thoughtful girlfriend ever! Thank you again for the vacation, and thank you for bringing even more vacation fun into our hot summer days with the surprise give away. Oh, how I would love to see my name in that precious keepsake book!
I think I recognized the climbing rose as the “Traveling Branch” rose. 🙂
hahaha!
Well, here I sit early in the morning at work, and now I am craving a bacon lettuce and tomato sandwich! The book looks lovely, I was surprised at how the original paintings at Hill Top glowed they had a life of their own, spoilt the printed books a little. So glad you got there and had such a lovely time.
BLT’s make great breakfasts! 🙂 All the basic food groups are there!
Hurrah for Beatrix!!! My sons and I have loved her forever. Thanks for this experience!
Thank you sooo much for sharing your wonderful trip! The closest I’ve ever come to England is a tea cup brought to me by my daughter’s boyfriend when he was on a band trip. I don’t know how he made it back to the states without it getting broken! It is a treasure, as are you, and your blog. You make me feel like I was there in a very personal way.
I enjoyed hearing all about your trip!!!! I am sure that is a trip I will never be able to afford, so I lived it through your writing and pictures!!!! You made it feel like we were almost there too. Thanks for thinking of all your readers!!
The photos you have posted of your adventure to England has left me with lovely warm fuzzy feelings inside… such beauty! Thank you so much~
Tina
Enjoy your writing and photos. Thanks so much.
Sweet Susan and Joe….you have NO idea how much joy your trip brought for me and my dear ( almost 90 year old) Mom. We laughed, we chatted, we sipped tea and discussed it all. We went back to watch our Beatrix Potter movies and we will never be the same. I hope to visit Hilltop SOMEDAY, but til then I will hold the memories of this summer ( and both of you) close to my heart. XXX
Give your mom a special hello for me Annelies!
How tickled she will be to know you left a message. We are BOTH your most loyal admirers. I will call her first thing in the morning and share your sweet note. You would ADORE my mom…she is just so sweet. I took her to my quilt class tonight and my students love her to pieces ( hmmm…is that a quilt pun????)!!!!
I was so happy to go with you on your trip 🙂 Well at least I felt like I went with you!
What a wonderful gift it would make for my future grand daughter!
I am originally from England (Bournemouth) and you’ve hastened my trip back home I think.
Susan,
Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us. I remember going to the library as a small girl in my searsucker dress with a small apple pocket and borrowing Peter Rabbit books. ( They fit in my pocket!!) I remember thinking nothing could be better except for your giveaway!!
How gloriously wonderful!!!!!!!! I have so, so enjoyed your tales on your trip…. what a special, special gift you have given us all! This is like a giant special bow on top of that gift! 😉
I LOVE Beatrix Potter, and hope someday to visit Hill Top Farm. What a fabulous trip you had–thank you for sharing it. You’ve reignited my desire to go to England!
One of my greatest regrets is not purchasing a first edition of a Beatrix Potter when I found it in a little shop in New Orleans years ago. I’ve collected the figurines for years, and proudly display the “lady mouse” in my cabinet in my living room for my guests to see. What a lovely trip you had!
Loved traveling with you and Joe to England! Reading about your trip made me want to pack and visit myself! Thanks for all the beautiful entries, I enjoyed them so much! xo
Oh, goodness … what a sweet surprise! It was so nice of you to think of someone else who would love to have a piece of England and Miss Beatrix. Thank you, not only for this chance, but for the pictures and your commentary throughout the trip. It felt like I had been there, too, and it’s a precious ‘memory’ to me.
I love your website and reading your stories, especially about Hill Top Farm. I felt like I was right there beside you since I’ve imagined making that trip in my mind a million times thru the years! I fell in love with Beatrix when I was 12 and started collecting the figurines and anything else I could find. That was 45 years ago and my little antique cabinet that’s filled to the brim with all of her (and mine!) friends still makes me happy. Thank you for sharing your trips, love of England and Beatrix…and particularly for the opportunity to win this incredibly special gift!
Susan, thank you, thank you for taking us along on your wonderful trip to England. I enjoyed each of your posts telling about your adventures. I am hoping that you are planning a book/diary for us to add to our other collections from Susan Branch. As a retired kindergarten teacher, I was pleased to share the stories of that wonderful “rabbit family”. Thank you for sharing your talent with us……….
Hi Susan.
What a great book for the random drawing. Pick me, pick me!
So so adorable. Loving the pictures of the trip!
Hi Susan,
I have so enjoyed “our”journey but it is nice to back on Martha’s Vineyard too! I would love the chance to own this beautiful book, made even more special with your touch and the added bonus of a hand picked flower from Beatrix Potters own garden! It brings back memories of sitting on my grandma’s lap as well as of reading to my own two children. I still have their copies stored safely in our attic. Thanks for the wonderful ride and so looking forward to the English diary!
Thank you for sharing your England trip with all of us. It was a special treat to be there with you. : )
Oh Susan, what a wonderful gift for someone (me, I hope). I enjoyed your second visit more than the first because I too would have sneaked a flower! You are so thoughtful and I love all your blogs, I miss them the days they aren’t on here. Can’t wait for the book!
All I can say is…how lovely of you Susan…
✶*¨`*.✫*¨*.¸¸.✶*¨`*.✫* Twirling to The Music Sweet Sue…Oh My Word! A Copy of The First Beatrix Potter Book…Signed By You & You Painted a Lambie! (Heart Be Still) & a Rose! 🙂 I Love that You “Took” Two Roses from Her Garden…I Know That They Have Magical Powers….They are Beyond Beautiful!….The Person Who Wins This Treasure Will Be The Luckiest Person…(My Wings are Crossed!) 🙂 omgggggggggggggggggg 🙂 I Love all Your Photos Sue…The Tiny Peter Rabbit Book….Truly~Scrumptious! 🙂 Good Luck to All of Us! 🙂 Your Day on Martha’s Vineyard Sounds Heavenly….”Bees are Squidgy in the Lavender” Glorious! How was Your Picnic & Concert Last Night? Love & Sweet Dream Wishes…xoxo Poof!✶*¨`*.✫*¨*.¸¸.✶*¨`*.✫* P.S. & Some “Lucky” Pixie~Dust! ✶*¨`*.✫*¨*.¸¸.✶*¨`*.✫* 😉
Crossed wings! 🙂 Picnic was perfection, under a tree. The concert too, very small and charming. Livingston was funny, he has a big heart that shines out in his song choices, and he sounds exactly like his brother James Taylor!!! So really, how bad could it be?
✶*¨`*.✫*¨*.¸¸.✶*¨`*.✫* Hello Sweet Sue! A Perfect~Picnic Under a Tree…& A Small & Charming Concert…Jame’s Taylor’s Brother… Livingston… 🙂 The Perfect Summer’s Night!….Excellent! 🙂 (Yep…Crossed~Wings) 😉 Good Night….xoxo Poof! ✶*¨`*.✫*¨*.¸¸.✶*¨`*.✫*
Dear Susan,
It was wonderful to be a part of your and Joe’s trip to England- thank you for sharing your experiences with all of us! I have been a Jane Austen and Beatrix Potter fan for most of my life, so it was especially wonderful to see their actual homes… where they really lived… and talked…and loved. BUT- my little Peter Rabbit book (that I purchased from your website) is quite jealous of your little Peter Rabbit book for obvious reasons! Thank you again, Susan, for bringing us your special sunshine from a frequently cloudy England. With smiles, Karen
Wow! What a special trip! Seeing all your photos were delightful. What a special give away too!
My dear Susan,
Thank you so much for sharing about your trip to England and especially to Beatrix Potter’s house! I’ve always loved her. My children had her Peter Rabbit, and all of Beatrix’s other friends. Then my sister did my nephews nursery in Beatrix Potter decor. His favorite was Jemima Puddleduck!! This post brought back many happy memories for me. Can’t wait to get out the Beatrix Potter Christmas tree!!
And thank you for all your books, calendars, and recipe scrapbooks! You are a close friend that I haven’t met yet!
Oh Susan, how wonderful! I have so enjoyed reading of your English adventure and now this! I have loved Beatrix Potter since I was a child. I think mainly because the books were so tiny and cute. I am so happy that my three year-old daughter has a love for her too. We snuggled up in her bed just this afternoon and read The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse. Her favorite, other than Peter, is Hunca Munca. I love to watch her in awe when she sees a rabbit in our yard and she thinks it’s Peter coming for a visit and when the rabbit runs away, it’s always because he saw Mr. McGregor. I am grateful to my daughter and to you, Susan for reminding me of the love I have for things Beatrix Potter!
Well Susan what a delight to see that you returned to the cottage on the hill, I waited with such anticipation each day to see what you posted about your adventures in England. Oh what a delight to see all things “British”. It helped me to indulge in remembrances of country side journeys in my beloved Ireland. I loved all the nooks and crannies, and little vinettes that you lavished on us. I would have to say that the gift of the sweet inspiration of a book would be like heaven, and would be such an uplifting tonic each day to savor. I know there will be so many of your treasured friends wishing they are the chosen one. I can assure you if I were picked that treasure would be very well loved but it would also be shared with my wonderful first grade class. As I would read to them from her beloved stories and share her love of nature. Thank you again for the wonderful gift of your blog, especially your gifts of art and heart. Sincerely, Kathy in CT
Thank YOU, Kathy, very sweet of you to say that. Love first graders, so darling, lucky you to be such an influence.
Oh how I have enjoyed this journey with you…It has been such a special part of my summer. Thank you Susan from the bottom of my heart!
Well, it would be just about the best thing ever to be the humble owner of Beatrix Potter’s limited edition #151 of 1000!!! To know that you purchased it there in person just makes it that much more special. Thank you ever so much for taking us along on the once-in-a-lifetime trip to England. ♥
Oh dear! This is such a wonderful thing!
I don’t know what would be more lovely….her book or the sweet inscription from you. 🙂 Thanks for throwing my name in the hat.
Hugs,
Shann
Dear Susan,
To say that I have waited anxiously every day of your journey to read your posts is an understatement !! How can I ever thank you for taking us along on such a magical trip….and how thoughtful you are to share your treasures with us !! Thank you ! Thank you !
PS You are the real treasure !
Oh what a wonderful trip you’ve taken us on in the pages of your blog! Thank you sweet lady. Sometimes it’s good to enjoy experiences ( and adventures) thru the eyes of others. I may never make it to England but I feel like I’ve felt the rain in a cottage garden there and admired the roses. My heart sings with the memory!
What fun it is to jump over to your site each day to see what fun and interesting things you have to delight us with! Today is no exception, the book is wonderful and I love how you “nicked” the rose with nary a glance from anyone!
Dear Susan,
You are a jewel! To think that you thought of us when returning to Beatrix’s home to buy that dear book for your collection and got one more to share. We are blessed, indeed, to have you in our lives. Your blog is a continuing source of joy and delight. Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy and creative life to share with us.
Now, where are we all off to next?
hi susan!!! such a sweet post and a terrific surprise!!!…. this blog and all of your writings, pictures, drawings…they are the gift that keeps on giving!!! I can see that Beatrix was such the inspiration to you….i like this..” I cannot rest, I must draw. howver poor the result, and when I have a bad time come over me, it is a stronger desire than ever.” B. Potter. how true~~~ we all find our comforts in many ways…..you make her proud!!!! MV sounds lovely..we made it to Boston to see our son… and then to Plymouth but didn’t make the island this trip….hopefully next time!!! just love that quaint area…bet that laundry smells heavenly…thanks again susan..you are the best!! xoxo love, cindy
I agree that the roses look like David Austins. But, you’d think if the gardener can’t find out what they are, they’d be something really old. I hope he can find it out.
I was told, and I think it’s right, that they’re Zephirine Drouhin … they look like the ones at Beatrix Potter’s; they climb, do well in shade, smell wonderful and bloom for a long time. What else could you hope for? I’m going to see if I can find one!
What a treat to revisit England with you again today! (“Never can say good-bye…No no no no no!”) And to see the magic behind the gate, with those beautiful roses … Bliss! (I’ve put the identification question to my horticultural whiz of a sister-in-law, who is English herself.) The treasured special limited edition of Peter Rabbit, with your most dear inscription and artwork, will be a true keepsake for the lucky winner who is selected. Please add me to the list of “random hopefuls”!
Here’s what my s-i-l surmised about the unknown roses:
They don’t look like Austins to me. (I think the absolute, 100% best Austin rose is Evelyn…Don’t let anyone tell you it’s not a climber – mine hits our roof-line of 17″ and I summer prune it…a few times each summer! It is the best smelling rose, ever. It’s shell pink, not the lavender pink in your picture and a much fuller petal count. One more thing – it’s pretty disease resistant).
But I digress… I’ve attached a link to Regan’s Roses with what could be your rose. You could give them a call if you have questions.
http://www.regannursery.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants.plantDetail&plant_ID=396&typeID=4
Thank you Kim!!!
Susan,
I have felt like I was with you every step of the way on your trip. It almost felt like it was my trip. The Beatrix Potter book is a gem that I’d love to win. A real gem indeed.
Dear Susan,
I absolutely adore “all things Susan Branch” and was so pleased to “share your trip to England” – – once again repeating a trip I took several years back – – through the lake district, being overwhelmed to think I was actually at Beatrix Potter’s home, and enjoying so many of the pleasures you and Joe experienced. I’m sure Beatrix would have happily given you the flowers as a memento! 🙂 Thank you so much for all you have added to my life through the years. Love you, Ruthie
Thank you so much for thinking of us on your trip! Your generosity and thoughtfulness warms my heart.
I was so excited to see your post about Beatrix Potter – last semester I completed a 250 research project on one hundred illustrators and I picked both you and Beatrix. Thank you for being such an inspiration! <3
What a special giveaway. Thank you for your kindness and generosity. Looking so forward to the Travel Diary. It truly has been a trip of a lifetime.
We are going on a month long Panama Canal cruise next March. I am looking for summer clothes now because the stores usually don’t carry cool outfits in January. Any suggestions on what to pack for that length of a trip without taking the whole closet? Thanks.
I have just loved reading about your trip to England and all the wonderful places you visited. I really enjoyed reading about Hilltop Farm, and the pictures are just great!! I feel as if I could reach out my hand and touch the gardens. It is so nice of you to bring something back to give one of us (your devoted followers). I hope I win and can share this touch from my childhood with my grandson. So glad you are home and you had a good trip.
Dear Susan, When I saw this book, I just knew the person that is should go to. Her name is Mervi Hjelmroos-Koski, and she is the Director of the Denver Botanic Gardens, Botanical Illustration program. She is Finnish, but moved to Sweden to get her PhD in spores and lichens (now, how is that for scientific research), then on to Australia, and eventually to Denver, Colorado. She is in love (100% love) with Beatrix Potter. Now, I would love this book, but this woman has given her heart to our Botanical Illustration program, and works so hard on it every day and it would be a huge, HUGE, thrill for her to have such a special piece of the garden. Okay, I think even Peter would be happy about it.
Just sayin’ Thanks for letting me share this very special person. Cynthia
I can smell those lovely pink roses. Between the picture and your heavenly description the scent was right there. I so enjoyed your trip to England. I looked forward to every one of your postings…such a lovely adventure! Thank you Susan for all you do for all of us!!
Golly, Jack (not kitty, he probably hasn’t been trained yet to use the computer, although I’m sure he’s very capable!) did good, I didn’t even guess the SURPRISE!. I leave the book writing, & painting, etc, etc., to you dear Susan because I haven’t yet been able to get that stuff to come out of my pen & brushes, so, just want to say in my words (all your other great GFs sure find good words), what a wonderful prize & how clever you are to think of us, & we appreciate it so much! Thank you my dear! Love, Joanie PS You’ve got a few other Joans now, I’ll bet they’re about my age. Our name hasn’t been on the most common baby name for many moons!!!
Susan , you are so generous to share your joy with the girlfriends !! All love to see the “susan” adventures…nancy
Oh my goodness! What a fantastic gesture of kindness. One very lucky person will surely treasure this.
When my daughter was little, I started a small collection of Beatrix Potter books and collectibles. I have since been interested each time I see something new.
Aside from that, my background as an elementary school librarian has led me to become a huge collector of children’s books.
Ms. Branch, you are a very generous woman and we have all benefited by having the opportunity to enjoy your creative spirit:)
Best of luck to all-
Lisa
Oh, how thoughtful to pick up a wonderful book for one of us! I’m really looking forward to your trip diary too. Susan, both you, and Beatrix have inspired us all. Thank you.
OH,SUSAN,
What a wonderful surprise. Receiving that book would make any of your readers and friends happy. Thank you for the chance. I have thoroughly enjoyed sharing your vacation and all your wonderful excitment when visiting England. THANKS, again.
Joyce