We are HOME and happy to be here with darling kitties! I hope you will love this charming MUSICA . . .
Perfect music for nesting . . . which is what I did yesterday, our first day home; I waltzed around to this song putting everything back in order; kissing the kitties, hanging laundry, eating farm-stand Honey Crisp apples, putting the pumpkins we bought on the porch, hanging the wreath on the door. I dressed my stove in the two vintage dishtowels I found on the trip . . . cute eh? Look at those embroidered, appliqued apples! How come that was even THERE? Why hadn’t someone snapped it up before me? Lucky!!
I was all over the place trying to figure out how to do this post . . . I have too many different subjects/things from the trip to show you! But since I started with antiques, I thought I would continue that way . . . especially because we careened into every antique-store driveway we saw and found some really fun things.
“Was it open?” were the most-often spoken words on our trip.
This cute little barn was filled with wonderful old stuff.
But this one had the best prices! I found a 4′ x 6′ black, flowered, hooked rug here, for $49! For my pantry. Oh yes!
Some things struck me as perfect for Christmas presents . . . like this large embroidered towel with the title “Mother’s Little Helper” on the back. For some reason I’m weakest for embroidery, potholders, tablecloths, napkins, dishtowels, fabrics, needlepoints; the soft stuff.
And I found another vintage measuring cup! These are not easy to find! The shapes are softer than the modern ones, and they aren’t printed on, they’re embossed!
But this was the big one, and I do mean big. I walked into a wonderful store called Rustology in Stafford Springs, CT and just fell in love with this old doll house. It was almost four feet tall, and about six feet wide . . . and three feet deep.
The front of the house is on wheels and you can roll it away to reveal the wonderful rooms inside.
Wouldn’t Jack just LOVE this? The owner of the antique store said he found it in the attic of a Massachusetts house during an estate sale. It was originally built as an exact replica of the real house — It must have had a room of it’s own to live in, it’s so big.
What this must have looked like when it was furnished, I can’t imagine! That flowered piece on the floor is an actual carpet, a tiny petit point; and you can see the old wall paper. And the doors! And the doorknobs!
If this was my house, I would make everything for it. I would paint little paintings, and mold little clay, and stencil the walls. It would be so much fun finding the perfect pots and pans, making tiny pillows, looking for little dishes. Decorating it for the holidays!!! Joe could make beds, I could make sheets. Our real house could fall apart, but the doll house would be perfect at all times!
It definitely needs help, but it has great bones … and all the wonderful details; trim around doors and baseboards.
The shutters are perfect, and there’s glass in the windows, and through this window you can see two other doors with doorknobs.
The front door . . . Imagine it with tiny lights on it! The owners of the antique store love the doll house as much as me; they were showing it with so much pride. I don’t think they are in any hurry to sell it; they’d only had it for two weeks . . . they were asking $6,500 for it.
Anyway, I had a lot of fun in there pretending what I would do with it if it were mine. I considered which room in my house I might put it in, and came to the conclusion that it was too big for any of them. I also would have wanted it when I was twenty, so I could have done it the same way I did my charm bracelet, making and gathering one piece at a time, from everywhere, so each piece could have a story to go with it. Magical magical house. Lucky someone who will end up with it! But this house requires commitment, if you move, you have to pack it and take it with you which would he a true heck of a packing job! Maybe the smart thing would be to get it, give it to a historical society with the caveat that during your own lifetime, no body touches it but YOU.
This house was in the same store . . . . MUCH less expensive — $250 . . . and pretty darn cute, although it needs a lot of work. It opens like a little closet … how smart, hardly takes up any space at all; I really liked the original shape of this.
And it has lots of charming details too. . .
Inside, you can still see vestiges of the glory that it once was . . . but someone would have to start from the beginning to put it right again.
Sooo, while I’m at it, I thought I’d show you some of the pictures I took of REAL houses as we drove hill and dale around Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Because truly, one of the inspirations that motivated me into moving to New England was the charming houses I saw in books and movies. I wanted an old house sooooo badly; my life just wasn’t going to be complete until I got one.
Just look at these and you will see why. I would be perfectly ecstatic to have any of them! Look at that glassed in porch. Perfect for a tea party!
Obviously these people have another way to get into this very old house besides the front door! Look at those pumpkins!!! Wonderful, huh?
Of course, I am a fool for picket fences with colored leaves falling around them.
Sunny cottage, little arched porch, dentil-work up top, and tiny windows.
Very old house, leaves swirling through the air.
Love this soft yellow house in Historic Deerfield, Massachusetts — if you ever get a chance to drive through here, you should do it…. the prettiest houses ever, so full of history, most of the houses are very old, pre-Revolutionary war!
The great thing about these houses is that no two are exactly alike and all so amazingly romantic … I always wonder what kind of thinking was going on that they added so much gingerbread; the wide porches, bay windows, columns, and balconies? And inside, with all the built-in little nooks and crannies! Some of the bigger houses have a cozy fireplace in every room! I think I would have liked those people!
So on we drove, past houses and barns, farm stands, graveyards, and antique stores . . .
The sunsets would light the mountains on fire with color . . .
In one little town, we saw they were having a Book Sale . . . So of course we stopped to see what treasures we could unearth . . .
OH BOY, look what I found!! My first book, Heart of the Home! Rescue secured! Book no longer lurking pitifully in cardboard box! I brought my baby back home. Pobrecito!
And then, while nesting all day yesterday; I put some Martha’s Vineyard sand in my new measuring cup; then I added a pear-shaped candle I found on the trip, and a couple of shells and some sea glass. I thought, how perfect for the kitchen table!
And then I set it on top of my book, and it all looked so cute together, I thought,
I already have one of these books, and I already have one of these candle holders; I should make this a give-away for the girls, because they stick by me through thick and thin. And so that’s what it is!
And then, guess what? My brand new Collector’s Edition Ornament was waiting for me when I went to get the mail! Isn’t it cute? This is the 5th year in a row for our dated collectible ornament (no, in case you’re wondering, we don’t have any left from the other years; we only get a few in of each design, and because they are dated, when they’re gone, they’re gone!) . . . . so, I thought, oh yes, I better throw this in with the book and the candle, right? They look so good together. ♥
I added a leaf I brought home from the trip . . . . and I’ll sign the book when I know the name of the winner and where its new home will be. Just leave a comment, and you will be entered in our drawing for all these goodies! And BTW, if my blog is being emailed to you, you have to come directly to my website (click here: www.162.240.10.175/~susanbs3/susanbranch/) to enter for the drawing . . . just scroll to the bottom of this post where you see the tiny word “comments.” Click there, and leave a comment and that will automatically enter you!
OK Girls, bye-bye for now … I have more to show you, but realized this would be the longest post EVER if I tried to do the whole trip all at once. So, there’s more to come! XOXO Love, me
A day spent nesting is the best! Your writing is always an inspiration.
Connie
Thank you Connie.
Susan,
Thank you for taking me antiquing with you today! I really enjoyed the countryside and the homes you shared in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The leaves were vibrantly beautiful. Not so here in Texas……maybe we will get a little change of color before they take to the ground. I always hope.
Charlsey
Lovely, lovely old houses! You must have had a wonderful trip! I would love to win this give-away! You are so generous!
Oh, thank you for sharing your “leaf peeping” trip! It was georgous and I loved every minute. Maybe someday, I will get there.
So glad that you are back home safely again. I love all the beautiful pictures. The dollhouses are wonderful. I would think that you were very tempted. Have a lovely day!
Thanks for sharing the photos. I loved seeing the house pictures–you are right that they all look different with their own character. I want an old house badly, too–more space, more character, etc. Didn’t seeing the dollhouse inspire you and Joe to make one, only smaller scale, of your own house? Wouldn’t that be a FUN project??!!! I love the measuring cup “candle holder” with the pear-shaped candle. I have a small shallow “washtub” that I float apple-shaped candles in on the center of the dining room table in the Fall. Reminds me of “bobbing for apples”…
WOW….what a fun packed blog so much fun to read and look at all the antiques that you saw and found!!! Susan, thank you so much for always including all of us in your adventures…you have such a big loving heart!!! I truly needed this today along with a lovely call from Pat to try and cheer me up (which you did by the way)…..My Angel was hit by a car while walking on campus yesterday and actually thrown onto the hood of the car and then the driver sped away without checking to see how she was?? Can you believe someone could actually do that….I feel very sad today and I know it is because of all the “what ifs” I’m doing and believe me I am so thankful that she wasn’t severely hurt or worse….I know that bruises will heal it just scared me to death to get that “dreaded call”…thank you for distracting me and giving me so many reasons to be thankful. Blessings
Oh Deborah!! I am so sorry that you and your daughter had to go through such an experience! I am thankful that she is well and that no serious damage was done!… please take care of yourself.. we mothers have a worry gene that seems to kick in much of the time… I trust that you will count your blessings and I know that the next hug will be a wonderful one!!!
Diana (mother of three blessings)…
Deborah, I am so sorry to hear about your daughter! Hope her bruises are minor ones and soon go away. That must have been a very frightening thing for her. It’s so hard when your loved ones are not with you and they are hurt or sick. You just want to rush to their aid! My thoughts are with you!
Linda
Okay, for those of you who do not know Deborah Heater, her “Angel” is her daughter, Angela. (not a dog or kitty!) 🙂 (Just thought I’d share that info….) 🙂
Thank you ladies for all your concerns…..Angela is doing well and preparing for her Senior Recital on Saturday which will just be amazing (Voice Major) I know. Bless her heart after this happened she said “Mother, I would of walked out on stage with crutches or even in a wheelchair to perform”. I feel blessed today that she wasn’t seriously injured and all of you with children that have moved away know they are always with us in our hearts and “we” never ever get over the worry. I always pray for the Lord to surround her with Angels to protect her and I know HE is doing just that!!! Blessings
Hi Susan! Welcome back home. I love the houses and the antique shopping. I would love to have one of those old houses. Your house is pretty awesome too. My Mom and sisters and I always go to Brown County (Columbus), Indiana every 2nd weekend in October to browse and shop and EAT and have quality time. I’m so looking forward to it. Especially the antique shop where we find stuff from our childhood and wow! is that hilarious. I also pick up some good books there. The candy store is my second favorite. It has all the types of candy we used to have as kids. Hello additional pre-holiday 5 lbs.!! Thanks for sharing your trip, looks like you two had a great time! Love you Girlfriend! ( I bet the book sale people didn’t know that it was YOU buying your book!)
Dear Vicki,
Somehow I didn’t catch your comment about your son’s wedding. How did everything go? Tell me a little about it! My son is now married also and he and his darling wife are honeymooning at Hilton Head, SC! I’ll share more in a later post!
Love and Hugs,
Linda
I remember someone from my childhood having a doll house like that but I cannot remember who it was. I have thought often of that doll house and wonderful it was.
Wonderful photos and what a fun giveaway!
Every time that I see you’ve posted I get excited because I know that as soon as my tea is brewed I will have at least a few minutes to step back from my day and be reminded of the all the sweet and beautiful things in the world. Those dollhouses are beautiful- the little pumpkin in front of the first one slays me. Too cute. I can’t imagine a life much better than a little yellow house with a white porch and kitty peering through the windows, especially this time of year.
I was waiting anxiously for your description of your lovely trip. You gave us such a glorious, vicarious experience. Thanks so much. Becky in Oklahoma
Hi Susan,
Antique stores with doll houses, little towns with real life doll houses, streets dotted with pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, swirling leaves in the crisp fall air, friends of the library book sales, vintage hand towels to nest with…what a delightful way to spend an early autumn weekend! LUCKY!!
Deerfield is charming. The Yankee Candle store is really something – have you been?!
Thanks again for another lovely blog post. I LOVE your pictures. They are just like your paintings.
Have a Happy Tuesday Evening!
XO,
Christy where the skies are mellow and birch leaves are falling from the tree outside of my window!
I have the first book and everyone since. By best girlfriend and I exchange them as gifts when they come out. I have to get her and I the ornament. Yikes is sure is cute.
Looking forward to more posts on your trip. Loved the scenes of the shops and the falling leaves and old houses.
Oh my do I love “friends of the library” book sales – so many treasures to find. And those doll houses are amazing. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE that ornament. Can’t wait for the next post 🙂
That doll house is amazing! They do take a ton of work, I’m in the middle of fixing up one…much smaller, but lovely charming just the same 🙂 I love all of your photos! I was so tickled the first time I read your blog. I remember yelling at my husband saying that your photos are just like your art work! They’re beautiful!!
That’s very sweet of you to say!
Dear Susan, thanks for sharing these wonderful photos and for the chance to win. I share your love for the houses of New England. They remind me of Avonlea and Green Gables and also, of course, Little Women. I hope someday, I will get the chance to drive through…
Loved the Fall color and the beautiful homes you photographed. So much character.
What a surprise for you to find a copy our YOUR book at the sale. Who would give it up I ask???????
I just love the doll houses you found. I have a kit that my parents bought me waiting to be constructed. While in England, did you see the doll house in Windsor Castle? It is the best one ever. I’ve been collecting ideas for my doll house so will add your pictures to my file.
thank you so much!
Sue
I missed a daily update of your trip, but am loving seeing it now.
thanks for sharing your adventures with us on the other coast!
It is vitially important to take at least a day of rest when returning from a journey. There is always so much to see and do that we tend to forget a few of the most important parts of the trip. (often it is just the fact that we got to go on the trip at all) I like to breath it all in – usually the first night I get back when I am comfy in my bed and looking for a wonderful dream – just going thru the antique shops, seeing the landscape and the homes – priceless. One of my past times is checking out real estate in different parts of the country – small towns – fun! Loved the homes you took pictures of. Thanks! XXXXOOOO Pat
oh how I love your stove! And the pictures of those houses are very neat. I love fall, it just gives everything a warm glow with all the yellows and reds and browns!
Anyway have a good day,
Kim
I loved your blog about traveling around New England. It is beginning to get real fall looking here in central Conn. All we need is some sunshine to make the colors sizzle. Hopefully it will clear out soon. Thanks for sharing your trip and the giveaway of some of your finds.
Oh, such fun! I love the dollhouse, and all the real ones, too. I have been inside that one at Historic Deerfield, I think – or one a lot like it, and it was wonderful – there was a rug in an upstairs bedroom that was stitched with Queen stitches!
I love the autumn colors – just beautiful!
Julie
Such a charming trip through color-saturated New England~ Thank you! Years ago, my friend, Celeste, and I created doll house characters, who received “mail” from each other, that we sent back and forth between doll houses (tiny letters in tiny, hand-made envelopes, addressed to the doll house itself- of course the addresses were wildly romantic; these were, of course, enclosed in our normal-sized letters) One doll house occupant was a lady betrothed to a ship’s captain, circa 1890, and she often wrote to her best friend… the lady in my doll house 🙂 . It was such fun! 🙂
Michele, do you know about the late Tasha Tudor and her doll house? Her dolls (which she handmade), corresponded with other dolls. Your library might have the book that was done about her doll house–another room-size delight. In 1955 Life magazine did an article on the wedding of her dolls.
I have never been to the “North”, well –NYC for a day-Your trip is on the bucket list, but right now we are planning a month long trip to England next spring. I found one of your calendars and bought it for my sister for one of her Christmas presents. I can’t tell a lie though, I opened it up and read it before I wrapped it. She will understand……
I can’t tell you how enjoyable and even comforting your blog has been to me. I’m a very homesick New Englander (born in Maine), living in WA state for the past 25 years. Reading your posts make me feel like I’m back there, if only for a moment. Thank you for taking the time to write to us all and share so much of your life and adventures. It’s a true pleasure visiting here.
Splendidly done! I can’t wait to read more! Just as I was reading that you found your book ~( how cool is that?) ~ I thought, “She should give it away to a new, much more appreiative, home”! I would LOVE to have it, or at least have loved to have found it at a book sale! Of, course, you thought the same way. You are that sort of thoughtful person! Thanks again for all you do!!!
Such a wonderful trip and what wonderful finds! I do have an inherited dollhouse and it is like a second home. I am hoping when my 2 year old granddaughter gets older she will help me with the decorating and upkeep! Thank you so much for sharing some of your treasures. I would love to have the adorable measuring cup, and although I have enjoyed my own copy of your book forever and ever, one signed to me in your own handwriting would be an honor!
Several months ago, your blog posts had me longing to go to England; now, I am wishing I could go to New England. Historic Deerfield especially sounds like a perfect place to visit. I, too, like to “rescue” books, so I can imagine how you would want to bring home your very own book. Thanks for the chance to win it and the other special goodies.
Oh, Susan, thank you for showing the doll houses. I still have mine and it was my favorite toy as a child. My uncle wired it so it had electric lights and my sister and I would save our pennies to go to the “10 cent store” to buy furniture and dolls for the house. I’m thinking I should bring the doll house down from the attic, set it up, and have my girlfriends over for tea and doll house dreaming.
You are so lucky to live in New England with all those lovely old homes an the gorgeous fall season. We’ve had our first frost, so gardening is over but the baking genes are in full mode, so apple pie, pumpkin bread and plum kuchen are on the agenda.
Thanks for your wonderful posts and putting together such charming giveaway surprises.
Susan in Spokane, WA
I just love your Blog! Such a bright spot at the end of the day!!! I love traveling to the East Coast just for the history that you have out there, so different than the Mid West. Thank you for sharing!
I’m back too Susan….back to checking your blog each day after a long wonderful summer at our Lake House in Minnesota and then a memorible trip to PA & Maryland to see old friends and a meet a new one. Can you believe that during the summer I got an e-mail via Ancestry.com from a gal who turns out to be my first cousin. My mother’s sister’s daughter….and I had NEVER EVER met any of my mother’s relatives. It was the most wonderful experience meeting Lisa my newly found cousin and now dear friend. Back home to CA now making things look like the fall has arrived in Southern California the best I can. And time to check in on Susan….glad to be back!
Hi Susan ….your Fall pictures are wonderful ! I of course love all of the old houses. I didn’t see a picture of mine thought , it was built in 1891…..maybe on your next trip through. I need a week to go sight seeing and treasure hunting, I’m jealous. I would LOVE to win your book , I don’t have that one !
:o) Sue
Dear Susan,
Thank you so much for sharing your adventures….after a very busy day at work, it’s like taking a mini vacation to restore my dreams. It also motivates me to add those little special touches in my home to make it a special haven….I also enjoy your readers’ comments – such kindred spirits!
Thank you so much for sharing your trip!! You’ve inspired me to do just a little more decorating for this beautiful season!! Enjoy spending some cozy time at home!!
I love that book! I wish I could find it at a sale. I had that book, some other special books and 2 quilts (that I made) stolen from the back of my car while I was moving. I had lost my home in a divorce and losing my favorite books and the quilts was just devastating at the time. I’m recreating the quilts and have been replacing the books as I can and my house is my sweet little retreat but I would sure like to find those books at some kind of sale. Thanks for your blog!
Cheery wave from
Bev
Is freaking me out. The yellow doll house looks just like my real house with a picket fence. My father built a model of my house. I am so proud because I know you would love my house. Thanks for sharing as always. Home is where are memories are.
Isn’t that the pure truth!
My husband and I visited New England in the fall last year and fell in love with it. We’re now trying to find a way to move there. Thank you for the beautiful pictures!
I have always wanted to visit New England in the fall! I enjoyed your trip so much, felt like I was there! Thanks for sharing.
The Mother’s Little Helper dish towel is beautiful, a real gem. I too enjoy collecting dish towels, tablecloths, and the like. They can still be found for bargain prices.
Loved all the house pictures, the sunny cottage was my favorite, with all its details, especially the little enclosed side porch.
Thank you for sharing all your pictures, you brightened this chilly fall day!
Thanks so much, Susan. I loved seeing all the houses and my very favorite is the first one with the American flag and pumpkin and two chairs on the front porch……..its like a little cottage. I love those 2 little windows, and I’m wondering what is inside those two little windows! So dear. Everything is adorable……….but those doll houses sure do need a lot of work which is a great hobby for someone………I don’t have time since I’m doing the cross-stitch of your stove right now. I have to stop that right now since I’m starting to make a Christmas stocking for my one Grandson. I won a stocking at a Tricky Tray here at a local church for the older Grandson (6) and it says Noah on it and has all the animals……….all handmade and so sweet. Well, I need on for his brother (4) so I’m starting this in earnest. When I see all the leaves changing………..I do feel a bit homesick for up north. That 2012 Collector’s ornament is adorable as well. And of course the cookbook being opened to “My Grandma’s Turkey Stuffing” has me thinking about Thanksgiving and all that I am thankful for. I am thankful for you and your blogging………so very inspiring. Enjoy being back in the Heart of the Home! Luv to you both! Gail Buss, Bev. Hills, Fl XXX
I miss the romance of New England’s falls and architecture, but I also love the romance of the Pacific Northwest where I currently reside! Loved you photos!
Thanks so much, Susan. I loved seeing all the houses and my very favorite is the first one with the American flag and pumpkin and two chairs on the front porch……..its like a little cottage. I love those 2 little windows, and I’m wondering what is inside those two little windows! So dear. Everything is adorable……….but those doll houses sure do need a lot of work which is a great hobby for someone………I don’t have time since I’m doing the cross-stitch of your stove right now. I have to stop that right now since I’m starting to make a Christmas stocking for my one Grandson. I won a stocking at a Tricky Tray here at a local church for the older Grandson (6) and it says Noah on it and has all the animals……….all handmade and so sweet. Well, I need one for his brother (4) so I’m starting this in earnest. When I see all the leaves changing………..I do feel a bit homesick for up north. That 2012 Collector’s ornament is adorable as well. And of course the cookbook being opened to “My Grandma’s Turkey Stuffing” has me thinking about Thanksgiving and all that I am thankful for. I am thankful for you and your blogging………so very inspiring. Enjoy being back in the Heart of the Home! Luv to you both! Gail Buss, Bev. Hills, Fl XXX
My granddaughters and I have “lazy days” where we stay in our pj’s all day, do crafts, read, and bake. No deadlines and so much fun.
Thanks for the NE tour.
Jan
Looks like you had a wonderful trip! Coming home is always best! I could almost smell the country air- feel the chill in the breeze. Thank you so much for sharing your adventure~
What a lovely trip. One day I will get to New England to see all the beauty . I to love the houses there with their white Pickett fences . Fantastic photos thanks for taking us with you ! I do love your stove . Have a great day !
Susan, what a wonderful trip you had and I’m so glad you took us along with you. Thank you so much for sharing your life with us. It means a lot.
What a great trip. As always, thank you for taking us girlfriends! I got so excited to see your measuring cup find. I am forever wishing they still made them embossed & not printed too! Wishing real hard I win this giveaway. Its all of my favorite things.
By the way, I made your corn chowder for dinner tonight and added potatoes and crabmeat. It got rave reviews. Many thanks, Natalie
Ah, leaf peeping and nesting. Love it! Thank you for the wonderful pictures.
Amy
Aah, Susan, I drool at old houses too. What luck finding your book and rescuing it. Thanks for showing us all of the goodies from your trip, that includes the old homes and gorgeous trees.
Sheila
What a wondeful trip. The doll houses and the real houses are amazing. I think I need put a trip to this beautiful part of the country on my Bucket list. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Susan and Joe, Did they recognize you when you bought your book? I was lucky enough to find your full-size Christmas book at the Sunday Antique Market in Toronto and couldn’t believe no one had recognized the treasure it was. The doll house is even more enchanting inside. What fun it would be to fix it up. Thanks for thinking of all of us on your trip. Someone is going to be so happy to receive the measuring cup and your lovely ornament and of course, your book. Did Petey enjoy the trip. He looks quite content. Hugs to you and the kitties. Your stove is so cute with the new tea towels – what a fun find.
Hi Susan,
You have a great gift for seeing the world as a magical place and finding something special in every object, both large and small. I was particularly touched by the embroidered dish towel you bought. It reminds me so much of the beautiful embroidered linens my grandmother used to make. She would decorate such useful items as sheets, pillow cases, table clothes, napkins and even dresser scarves with her beautiful handwork. Sometimes she would even cut the edging into lovely shapes. You’ve inspired me to try making an embroidered dish towel:) Thank you for sharing your lovely thoughts and suggestions with us. xoxo
I loved sharing your fall trip. Thank you so much for sharing. I can see why the music you chose would invite nesting, I can just imagine doing the same as I listened. Enjoyed your post as always!
I love nesting so much, I was born to nest, maybe we were birds once apon a time. I am happy where I am and love just changing things up and moving things around. I had my sheets on the line yesterday, the Sun was out up here in West Newbury, MA. Last night when I went to bed the smell of the sheets was intoxicating. I love having my owm little piece of heaven, just doing the domestic thing is the best, and you my dear make it the best thing in the whole wide world!!! Thank-you for your happiness ! You share such wonderful things with us girlfriends. You know that you have great karma because there is so much LOVE out here for you. I’m off to make succotash with the fresh corn and beans I got from the farm stand today. I will reread your post again tonight because it brings me such pleasure!
Nesting this time of year is just the best. I have cinnamon apple burning right now while a pot of vegetable soup simmers on the stove. Thanks for sharing your trip with me. Beautiful indeed.
blessings to you
Oh my gosh, Susan. These pics are so pretty. I love the beginning of your post though where you talk about coming home to your darling kitties. I feel the same way when I travel – how lucky I am to come home to my precious girl, Paris (also a black and white kitty)! Thanks for sharing. Deborah
How sad to find your book in a carton of books and not being enjoyed – if I had your book I would put it on display in the Heart Of The Home, which is our kitchen. I also have just finished painting my kitchen.
Susan, you and I could be the same person. I love nothing better than driving through the countryside in the fall. The old houses, the colors, the smells. I wouldn’t live anywhere else in the world. And then my next favorite thing is “nesting”. I dream of a week-end where I don’t have to go anywhere or do anything, but putter around my house and make a pot of hot chicken soup for dinner.
Thank You for sharing your adventure.
Jennifer
p.s.~ the dollhouse? LOVE it!!
As serendipity would have it, I picked up your Christmas Joy book last week at the Peapack NJ Visiting Nurse Association Sale! The book tent was endless and very well organized sorting books by genre. Winning your generous giveaway would add to my reading nook. Thanks for the charming road trip blog filled with delightful details!
generous giveaway
I received your first book 20 some years ago as a birthday present. Thus began my love for all things Susan Branch. Yours is the first Blog I check when I turn on my computer every evening! You’ve definitely inspired my artsy side! I look forward to your new book and having one of your older ones signed by you would be absolutely wonderful!! Linda
Oh, my heart has hardly settled from your previous post, and here we have another. Those houses are breath-taking! I laughed when I saw the water-stained wallpaper on the doll houses — that’s how our living room looked for years when I was growing up. I guess it goes with the territory of old houses.
Your “give away” gifts are delightful; we all appreciate your kindness. The wind is blowing like mad here in South Bend, IN, this afternoon — leaves are swirling about and the colors are radiant. I’m finally coming down from my high after attending the survivors’ fly-casting retreat in southern Indiana. Reminder to any of you breast cancer survivors in our FOSB sisterhood — if you like the great outdoors and would like to meet other survivors for a refreshing weekend of love and laughter, google Casting for Recovery and click on your state for info. I can’t say enough about the renewal of hope gained in a short weekend. Wish I could say the same about my skills as a fly-fisherman, but so it goes. Autumn blessings — Ethel
I always love what you share!
Thank you for the lovely ride in the country!!! I live in Oregon and it is very pretty, but we don’t have the darling villages. You also have wonderful antiques in your neck of the woods……always love visiting those.
So thanks for the outing and the inspiration!!!
Judi
Fall is here, too, though our colors are now earthy, the leaves blow in the wind. I made your corn chowder, now a new comfort food favorite. Thank you for your sweet posts, comfort words!
I know what you mean when you talk about feeling complete in an old home. That’s how I felt when we purchased our 110 old Victorian here in Arizona … not as common as in your neck of the woods! I still pinch myself sometimes as I pull up to it. And in the window of the lovely turret room upstairs sits my 30+ year old dollhouse that I got in my early 20’s from an old boyfriend! I always wanted one and had such fun making it my “dream home”… filling it with favorite treasures … little furniture, little curtains, little cookbooks (including yours!)… little lamps, and even a little flickering fireplace. Such a fun hobby. Little did I know that I would own one like it one day. Believe and it will happen … “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” ♥ Thanks for taking us along on your little adventure! Makes me want to go jump in a pile of leaves 🙂
Hi Susan. I enjoy reading and seeing all you do.
Oh how I miss New England…raised in Concord, NH, then moved down to Framingham, Mass. San Diego’s a nice place to live, but I always wanted to return to the NE. We lived in an old, old home for many years & it was SO perfect!!! Raked the leaves, jumped in them. Shoveled the driveway & drove into it…. So much for the past!!
Would love to win something from you. Love your blogs. Thanks so much for sharing them all the time.
What a sweet giveaway. Aren’t used book sales just the best, the treasures that abound? Found your blog just a little bit ago and love it, great food, great ideas for decorating and inspiration. Loved living in CT, miss the history, actually miss all of it. The pictures brought back great memories, thanks.
I am originally from Michigan, but have been in Florida for the last 20 years and always get a little sad this time of year because the leaves don’t change and it is still 90 degrees and feels like summer! So thank you so much for your pictures of the beautiful fall trees and descriptions of your leaf peeping trip! Luv’d it tooo much! It gave me a breath of cool fall air and the doll house was soooo amazing, I would have loved to see what you would have done to restore it! Happy Fall! Give Jack a smooch from my black cat Ruby!
Dear Susan,
It is always so wonderful traveling along with you. New England is so beautiful in the Fall. My Husband and I had to cancel our trip there this year. So I am loving seeing parts of it here. We will have to include some of these towns next year.
Hi Susan, Am LOVING your trip through New England! Used to do that on business trips EVERY fall years ago and now really miss New England. So many wonderful and historical things to see and do! Your writings fill me with a million ideas of things to do and things to look for. Thanks for reviving old memories! Hugs for Jack, Girl Kitty, and Joe – – and lots of hugs for you from Minnesota – – Ruthie
P.S. – Love seeing your “new” kitchen, too.
Thank you so much for sharing New England with us! My husband and I hope to go in the fall in two years. Such a long time to wait for something so beautiful as the trees turning colors.
Susan, I have been looking for your book everywhere, would so love to have it! That must have been so much fun to see it there at the book sale.
Love the tour of NE you gave us today, beautiful photos! Hmmm, no food-eating photos though…did you not stop for tea? Autumn greetings from Robin in Liverpool, NY where it is chilly and colorful.
We stopped for pretty much everything! 🙂 More to come!
I loved seeing your pictures of the very old homes. We will definitely put Deerfield on our list for towns to visit on our next trip to the East coast.
Oh, I know what you mean about not being complete until you had an old house of your own! I’ve felt the same way and in just a couple of days, I will be the incredibly happy owner of a little old house of my very own! How wonderfully special it would be to win a copy of your book as a special bit of housewarming! (and of course the super cute measuring cup and candle!)
Congratulations Lisa! You are about to have some fun!
I love your blog! Thanks for sharing and letting us peek into your world–it seems like a wonderful place to live in.
What a wonderful little mini-color tour! The bigger dollhouse is absolutely amazing! If only one could always bring home the very best happened-upon treasures…..Please include me in your drawing, Susan…..Thank you! Happy Autumn!
I have dreamed for some years now to take a fall excursion through New England – this cinches the deal for me, Ms. Susan! I will turn the big 4-0 on New Year’s Eve and to combat the certain depression (!), I’m planning a year of big and little gifts to myself – a leaf-peeping trip is definitely going to be on the agenda. How “loverly”…. = )
No depression, I promise, your forties are more wonderful than you will ever imagine!
Dena, Celebrate the fact that you are turning 40!! No depression… I was still very young when I lost two aunts and two uncles to cancer. They would have given anything to be here for another birthday. I guess I learned the lesson young. I wear a bracelet that says “nothing is worth more than this day” (have worn it for years). Okay, I’ll get off of my soapbox now. : ). Forties are wonderful, as are fifties, and I am entering my sixties (with my own bout of cancer almost behind me) and I will enjoy it!! Fall in New England is lovely- definitely do it!!
Didn’t mean to preach… Just have strong feelings about this….
A very good soapbox to be on Sandy! xoxo Thank you!
You go girl! Nicely put, Sandy. And Dena, what I’ve discovered as I’ve moved through my 40’s and 50’s is that each decade grows richer and richer in experiences and maturity. You are only as old as you tell yourself. A number is just that! So have fun on your 40th!! I’ll be rooting for you! Best wishes!
Linda
Thanks, ladies! – for the encouragement and for the change in perspective! I just read recently this quote and I think it shall become my motto for the years ahead…because the best is yet to come, right?
“LIFE IS NOT A JOURNEY TO THE GRAVE WITH THE INTENTION OF ARRIVING SAFELY IN A PRETTY AND WELL PRESERVED BODY, BUT RATHER TO SKID IN BROADSIDE, THOROUGHLY USED UP, TOTALLY WORN OUT, AND LOUDLY PROCLAIMING—-WHEW!—-WHAT A RIDE!!!
Dena, don’t you know that “40” is the new “30”! I love the quote you shared below! I’ll be 62 next month and I physically I feel like I’m 40 because I walk 3 miles 5 days a week (on the treadmill). And they say you’re only as old as you feel. But the best advice I can give is to get in touch with your inner child–the person you were before everyone else told you who they thought you should be.
You will be 40 on New Year’s Eve?!? THAT IS MY BIRTHDAY TOO!! And I never meet anyone with that birthday so I just had to chime in! I will be 50 this year – yes, that’s right- the big 5-0! So I am finishing the decade you are about to enter and I can say with great certainty that you have nothing to dread – on the contrary, it is wonderful and surprising! We shall both move forward with joy and confidence! Dena from Oklahoma, I shall drink a toast to you on our birthday!
You two have the BEST birthday!!
You know, just what you’ve shown us of your adventure so far, makes me think I need to take a little road trip and find some treasures. Nesting is my absolutely fav thing, I was born to be a home-maker….always wanted to be Donna Reed….but I’ll settle for being me 🙂
How lovely! Those houses are amazing!!! We have some old homes like that here in Momma South- theyjust look like they have such amazing stories to tell. My house was built in 1920 by a railroad widow who liked to entertain. oh the stories she must hold!
And I laughed out loud when I saw “Pobrecito”! I say that to my children ALL of the time when they are grumbling or have banged their little knee.
I loved going on this trip with you through your blog! Oh….my heart belongs to New England. And autumn. I can’t do anything about it.
Your kitchen is positively sparkling! I know it was a pain, but just look at the results! Good for you. 🙂
Looking forward to more…
Love you,
Dawn
Oh boy, Heart of the Home! We seem to be on the same schedule…I was doing some New England leaf peeping this weekend and found your Vineyard Seasons book in a Vermont antique store. My husband saw me yell with a look of shock, “Susan Branch!!” and point across the store. He thought I was pointing to you, the person, not the book. Haha. Of course I bought the book immediately and am greedily entering into the drawing for Heart of the Home 🙂
Much love and thanks for the constant inspiration,
Jillian from RI
LOL! xox
Like you, when I go antiquing I am drawn to linens, English china/transferware, depression glass, vintage jewelry & Valentines. (I collect for myself & sell at shows on Long Island.) Been to Old Deerfield several times to walk around the area & visit the museum store. I have found many a gift there for little kids & big kids like me. lol (I have friends who live nearby in NH, too.) When I saw the doll house, it reminded me of a vacation I took with DH & son back in the mid-1990s to Colonial Williamsburg. There was a Tasha Tudor exhibit of her antique dresses & doll houses at the DeWitt Wallace Museum. Loved it. The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Museum had an early 19th century sampler exhibit done by little girls which was wonderful. I own many of your books as well as Tasha Tudor’s works. Two talented women who have brighten our lives with their artwork & words that come from the heart. (May Tasha rest in peace.) Listen to the song of Life! Barbara from NYC
I loved seeing the pictures of the very old homes. We will definitely put Deerfield on our list of towns to visit on our next trip to New England.
Oh, how I love this post! road trips, antiques, old houses, embroidery’d towels…all things I love!! Oh my, and I never knew you had ornaments! It’s darling. Always excited about your give-away’s Susan, but your blog is an everyday gift…..
p.s. those pumpkins are A-Mazing! Think we could grow some??
How fun, I would just love to have tagged along in the backseat when you were on your adventure. And you find the cutest things…..take me with you next time.
Hello! Isn’t getting home the best part of the trip? I do love to pack up things and go, but arriving back home, putting things back where they belong is the best.
I LOVE that blue embroidered tea towel with the kitchen scene! I’ve never seen another like it, and I embroider a lot of towels. Isn’t antique hunting the best? I do love finding fresh estate finds, especially a ladies sewing things, her pincushion, and kitchen items too. It’s hard to believe that no one wanted these things. Often, those items come home to live with my sewing things. Favorites to hunt for are sewing items, quilts, old bowls, Fiestaware, old silver (although with the increase price of silver it’s not a good find anymore), old photos of women and children. I also collect old pottery, like flower pots with an attached saucer, white vases, old 30’s green colored vases, …
I had a great grandmother who died in 2004, at the age of 104. She was an original antique hunter. She and granddad used to go hunting for town dumps from the 1800’s. They brought home boxes, and boxes of old bottles. One of my favorite memories are tons of these old bottles up on the roof of a stone storm shelter, sun bathing! The old bottles would turn wonderful colors in the sunshine. So, now I have a few of those old bottles in my window sills, still sunbathing, but now they are light purple, green, blue, pink… they make me smile, and remember my granny.
I could talk all day about antiques, and old stuff! Your post was great, thanks for all the wonderful photos! Happy nesting everyone!!
Oh Susan..thanks for posting the lovely pictures of New England. My cousin lives in New Preston, Connecticut and I love visiting in the area there. I wished i would have known you would have been so close. She has beautiful gardens, a covered bridge on her property and loves nostalgia and poetry. Please..let me know the next time you and Joe will be near the area…she would just love to serve you a cup of tea and show you her gardens. You inspire me so…I am blessed!!!
AAAHHHH…..your post today is so soothing to the soul. Thank-you.
Thank you Susan for all of the beautiful pictures of New England. So gorgeous! By the way, did you see that scary picture behind the doll house? I don’t know what that is, but my friend and I jumped when we scrolled down and it popped out, lol! We look everyday to see if you have a new post. It is our highlight of the day at work!
Susan, once again thank you for the beautiful fall tour through New England.
Hi Susan,
Glad you are home, I miss you when you are gone. But you do bring back interesting things for us to see.
Love those old houses, I was brought up in a big seven bedroom white house and red barns, well I lived in the house not the barn. But Still miss it after all these years.
Your stove looks cute, how exciting to get your new kitchen all back in shape. I embrodered a lot of dish towels, but then I don’t want to use them, very confusing.
Thank you as always for doing another drawing. Do you have a date when the newDiary book is coming out? Got my new 2013 Susan calendar in the mail, Love it.
Nancy Jo
Oh!! What a glorious trip you shared! The colors are beautiful and the homes and cottages so quaint! And nesting…isn’t it wonderful?! Last weekend I spent a whole day organizing my recipes and thought of you and your pretty new kitchen. My home is a pretty (at least I think so) little cottage in west Texas where I am so happy to live with my mini Aussie, Willa Louise, and my dear kitty, Christmas. As I was working on my recipes, Christmas was in the middle of the table helping me. Some of my friends would frown at a cat on a table, but I know you wouldn’t! Please know how much I would enjoy the book and the vintage measuring cup. Please keep the wonderful blogs coming; what an inspiration you are!!
Antiquing jaunts are the best! Thank you for sharing the journey with us! Your writing is inspirational, as always, and if I haven’t said it before, thank you for valuing creativity!
Susan, I just love your blog, whether you are in a train crossing the country, on a drive in England or New England, or at home, the way you describe places makes them seem so very lovely. I already want to copy your trip to England, now I want to go to Deerfield before the leaves fall. Really loved seeing the autumn colors today, it’s still green down here in Georgia!
Sandy
Loved seeing Falltime in the Northeast. We are just getting cool weather and bits of color in our trees down here so it’s a treasure to see such photos! The trip was lovely and your telling of it brightened our day!
How did I sneak in so early on? I just spent the weekend in Seattle and it was full of all those glorious Fall colors also – definitely what we are missing in SoCal! Glad you’re home safe!
Love,
Sue from Simi Valley