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
Lovely, lovely blog—the doll houses are adorable–I had a handmade one (not as fancy as the ones in the post) but I remember making little cushions for the porch settee…brought back alot of cherished memories. Thank you!
Throwing my hat into the ring – what a lovely gift package 🙂 I would love anything from your “collection,” Susan, but I most appreciate that you share your gifts here on the blog every day. It’s such a pick-me-up each time I visit. Blessings on you and your sweet household!
Dreams do come true and for someone (hopefully me) this would be such a wonderful dream come true!
Isn’t Fall just the best!
I say that about each season but Fall is really fun.
Susan,
Oh how I long to take that Sunday drive…alas, I live across the Nation and will do it via you. Yes, the houses are amazing, inspiring and so very quaint. Ahhhh….autumn dreaming…it’s the best time of year.
Bethie
I’m finding I have the “itch” for the hunt this fall…awaiting fall bazaars, the Portland antique show, Christmas shopping. Your beautiful blog makes me want to go find stuff!!! Thanks for sharing. :))))
Susan ! You were in Stafford Springs, CT, only 25 miles from my house in Enfield, and you didn’t stop in for a cup of “pumpkin tea” !! I’m crushed ! Tell me you did stop by, and I just wasn’t home !! 🙂 HAPPY, HAPPY AUTUMN ! Take care, Helen
P.S. Correction …. 15 miles from my house …. I even had “Pumpkin Bars w/Cream Cheese frosting” to go with our “pumpkin tea” !!
I stopped by but you weren’t home. 🙂 I missed you soooooo much! xo
I adore your books! I live in Florida and we are waiting for FALL!!! Thanks for the escape through your pictures 🙂
Oh, what beautiful wanderings. I love your trips. I am inspired still from your journey “across the pond” and now in our own beautiful country. Thank you for sharing your travels.
Susan, thanks for the wonderful fall tour. It makes my day when I see your blog in my inbox. Always love to travel along with you. This trip was great, love the houses, antiques and all the fall colors. Thanks for taking us along!!
What a fun time you must have had! The pictures are gorgeous, as are the houses.
Stumbled on your site and love it, love it, love it. It’s always a great day when there’s a new post to read. I was in New England about 6 years ago and remember every moment. Your photos take me back to Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts but I especially like the descriptions of island life on Martha’s Vineyard. Your comments about the cats make me laugh because my German Shepherd HATES cats and chases but never catches them in the fields around our village. I’ve ordered some thrifted copies of your books – great presents to girls in the family. Thank you for sharing such good things.
J 🙂
I loved the pictures of the houses. One of my favorite things to do is to drive around looking at houses. After dark, when the lights are on in the houses, I get to peek inside as we drive by. Where I live in Ohio, there are Amish family farms along with the “English” family farms. Riding through the countryside at this time of year in Holmes county is especially beautiful.
Susan-I just love receiving your blog in my inbox and looking at all the wonderful pictures. We enjoy all the same things. Autumn days, picket fences, old houses, antique hunting. I just got back from Savannah, but I feel as if I went on a road trip with you and Joe too. I think you should be my neighbor, we could have so much fun. Thank you for giving us a chance to win all those wonderful items.
Would love to see the Fall in New England but, sadly, that is probably not to be, so we trip to the Oregon Coast through the forests of the Coast Range and have our interior lights lit up by the vine maples and alder and all of the others with the sun shining through, in these heavenly days of Indian Summer.
Thanks, once again, for the joy you bring to us all.
Love, love , love your blogs..so happy I just discovered them..I have all your books and can hardly wait for the next one. I just returned from a trip to my husbands family. A couple of his sisters are going thro some rough times with chemo and such..I shared your blogs with them as I feel they are so uplifting.. Thanks again and I can not wait for more!!! Dorothy. From Minnesota
Thanks for the pictures Susan. I miss New England in the fall. We lived in CT for a few years. I also love old houses, especially with big front porches. Would love to live in one some day. We’ll see. I enjoy looking at yours. It’s lovely and the kitchen turned out great!
Such a treat to come home after a – shall I say- special day at school and find beautiful pictures of your fall adventure with Joe. How I envy you! Most of my relatives live your way (Fall River, Somerset, Webster, MA) thus always consider MA my home. Thanks for sharing! Looking forward to your next entry/a little taste of home……..
Elaine
I loved your blog!! Thanks for sharing! It is always wonderful to read what you write and you are so inspiring!!
i am new to e- mail and a friend sent me your site…..i am so pleased to share your adventures with you…..what a beautiful fall trip!!!…..thank you….thank you…..please put me in the drawing pot….i have several of your books and have bought them for my daughters….i could always use another one to share…..:)……peace and joy to you…..phylicia
you were in CT and i didn’t even know it! i would have loved to have you stop by for tea! how fun to know you were nearby.
i really do love and appreciate so much all of your art that i feel like i know you. SB is in pretty much every room of my house and i am doing one of your counted cross stitch pieces right now! i wish that you could make more – i have to scour ebay for them <3
if you're ever driving thru danbury ct and need a rest area "cozier" than mcdonalds :-), i live .8 mile from RT 84.
I loved going along on your trip with you–I’d love to go with my daughters when they aren’t in school! Looks beautiful!!
Susan,
When I was a little girl I had the most beautiful dollhouse that my uncle made for me. I had the most beautiful furniture for it too. I spent hours and hours playing with it. Sadly, when I grew up my dad wrapped it in plastic and put it in our crawl space basement and it did not survive the moisture. However, your beautiful post filled my heart with wonderful memories. Thank you!
Terry
Seeing all these beautiful pictures of small New England towns make me so homesick. I grew up in Massachusetts and miss it terribly this time of year. Thank you for the tour, it brings me home.
What a wonderful blog! I always enjoy going on and reading about your travels.
Love, love, love the homes and antique shops. Especially the sunny cottage with the little arched porch! Now I want to visit New England again!! But…this is the next best thing to making the trip myself 🙂 Thank you for sharing another wonderful trip with your girls. Can’t wait to read and see more!
Refreshing my kitchen this week as well; it shall rise in dollhouse colors like a harvest moon.
Here’s my comment to win your prize, love the cup, the book, the ornament, too.
Pick me, pick me and I’ll share pictures with you 🙂 🙂 🙂
Hi Susan!
Your kitchen looks divine! We were fortunate enough to travel through New England a few years ago, and your photo brought back those great memories. I love the measuring cup….some things just have a “comfort” feel to them, regardless of how we choose to use them in our homes… Isn’t it fun to buzz around the house, rearranging, pulling out the fall things, and making our home “homey”? Thanks for sharing so much of yourself time after time….
Oh my… I close my eyes and dream that Im traveling on that same road and stopping at all those places…. and that doll house, I fell in love with it instantly..Thanks Susan for another wonderful journey to my “New England in the Fall”…
What a wonderful colorful Fall jaunt…so nice that Joe likes to travel and even stops for Book sales! I can’t believe someone gave up their Heart of the Home Cookbook…I bet “Emily” was hoping to buy it back from you with your autograph! I always look for your books in thrift stores/yard sales but have only scored once! Hooray for you (um, us! What a lovely gift!) Someday you should come to Western WA for Fall color…don’t miss out on Port Gamble, my first WA home. Happy Autumn!
Hi, Susan! My daughter introduced me to your blog long ago and reading it is like a breath of fresh air. I love it! Thank you for sharing your life and allowing us to live vicariously through you. I am moving from the deep, deep south to Vermont in just a couple of weeks and can’t wait to explore that beautiful country. Who knows, one day I may even take that ferry ride! Thanks again for sharing such a warm home and beautiful pictures!
Love your first book! It is what led me to follow you and your progress over all these years! You inspire me to be creative and open my world to things I might not have ever seen! Thank you Susan!
Hello Susan, Joe, and Everyone,
Loved this blog! Such pretty pics and scenery. I would love to win the prize as I will be turning 57 on Halloween and what a great thing to receive for my birthday!! Wish me luck!!
Peace,
Doreen
Susan, I loved seeing the pictures from your trip. I especially enjoyed the dollhouses, the second one reminded me of the dollhouse my grandfather made out of an old kitchen cabinet for my sisters and me when we were little. What good memories!
Thank you for “taking us on vacation” when we can’t afford to go. Looking at your blog takes me away, if even for a brief moment in the middle of my SAHM kind of day. My daughter loves your kitty; he sure has an interesting shape of color “stamped” on his nose.
Blessings from Julie in MO(-:
P.S. I’m excited that I share the love of lamps, early morning hours, and glass vintage measuring cups with you!!
Oh, you really brought back those childhood memories!! I grew up in Northeastern New Jersey and childhood trips to New England were just so wonderful! I’ve eaten in the Deerfield Inn and visited Deerfield when we worried so much about its future. Thank goodness people still work hard to preserve such treasures.
I now live in the Midwest, but you so wonderfully help me to once again experience “my REAL world” again. Thank you so much!
Susan
Love, love, love going along with you on your travels through New England! Definately living Autumn vicariously through you, as I am stuck in no-season southern california. What a thrill it would be to live in an old charming house!
Wonderful pictures and prizes! You help us all slow down and admire the scenery! Thanks for the giveaway:)
I absolutly loved that big doll house! It almost looks haunted! It would be great decorated for Halloween. I have kept my daughters doll house out long after she had lost interest. I think I loved it more than she. I got inspired by your last few posts to drive out of town and go apple picking in Yucipa, Ca. It’s not New England, but it will have to do for now. Thank you so much for all your wonderful photos and ideas. It would be fun to have an interactive blog that we could post photos too!
I fell in love with your work about 25 years ago. I cherish every item I have. I wish I could purchase one or two of everything so I could use one and safe guard the other one. I am so glad to get the blogs delivered to my email, I print and keep every one. I love your talent and your ideas! Keep up the great work that I love so much!
Hi Susan, thank you so much for taking us along your fall trip. What beautiful homes. But I have to ask,how could someone put one of your beautiful books in a sale. Don’t they know what kind of treasure that is….there was a reason that book was there….for you to get it back. Yay!!!
Deb in Valencia, CA
what a wonderful trip! Loved to share it through your blog.
Thank you for sharing your adventures around the New England area. I would love to spend more time there than I do each year. Hope to take a fall trip to see the beautiful colors within the next few years. Your photos remind me of the times I spent in New Hampshire with relatives over the years. Thanks for the memories.
I would love to win this one!!!! Please? Thank you for your wonderful blog, it really brightens my work day.
After a difficult day at the law office, I get home, pet my tuxedo kitty Miss Iris and then open my lap top to check your site first for some “calm” and was thrilled to see your beautiful calming blue kitchen… and all the other wonderful pics… you are such an inspiration to just enjoy what is right in front of us… all the little things that make our houses a welcoming, restorative home.. Thank you for the blessings you continue to share ♥
Debb
Thank you for sharing your adventures around the New England area. Hope to take a fall trip to see the beautiful colors within the next few years. Your photos remind me of the times I spent in New Hampshire with relatives over the years. Thanks for the memories.
Oh, how I love your blog! You are very talented and I enjoy your books! Love your art work and words to go along. Loved to go with you on this trip and I hope I win!
Dear Susan,
I can’t imagine living anywhere else besides New England. There’s so much variety, you can never be bored with your surroundings. Thanks for letting us tag along on your getaway. Have you ever visited Wickford Village in Rhode Island? It’s got lots of charm and old houses, and antique shops and a wonderful old graveyard. It’s one of my favorite places to go when I need a mini vacation.
What a wonderful trip and great photos. Love the doll houses and measuring cup. Please count me in on your generous drawing. Can’t wait to see the rest of your photos from the trip.
Hugs,
Linda
“The woods are full of fairies; the sea is full of fish; the trees are full of golden leaves; let’s make an autumn wish.”
Anon
My favorite season … and this delicious post gave me a glorious vicarious journey! I love road trips. Thank you a million-billion!
Ooooh, me me me!! I’d love to be entered into the drawing. I too have a thing for old measuring cups. I have my mother’s from before I was born and I lovingly use them all the time.
And the dollhouse!! Whoever snatches that one up is a lucky lady, indeed. I would love to have a dollhouse to decorate.
And, finally, the leaves and other fall excitement were perfect, indeed. My boyfriend and my anniversary is next Tuesday, and we’re going for a drive into the mountains to see some autumn color and perhaps buy some apples. There is nothing better than fall. 🙂
How could anyone let one of your books go?! Poor thing, she must have died.
My daughter goes to college in CT…always love the drives up there…the houses…and there’s a lovely drive along a river. LOVE New England! ~*
Dear Susan ( and Joe), Thanks for making me feel as though I was driving along with the two of you seeing all the beautiful colors, sights, and sounds of your wonderful trip:) I always am inspired by your creative spirit. Thank you!
Since I live in Oklahoma, seeing New England through your eyes is a special treat! Thanks for sharing. Tell Jack his kitty friend (Fresco) in Oklahoma says meow (hi). 🙂
OK!
Hi Susan, I was just thrilled to see the things from antique stores you found. We are retired and my husband and I would be “in” that large toy house everyday fixing it up. He would wallpaper and do carpentry and I would crochet tiny things and embroider minute pillowcases and teensy little hooked rugs would be hooked with a crochet hook to make it small scale. I would have to sew up a very small apron for the kitchen. I collect aprons and made a “show and tell” of them to the ladies after Thanksgiving meal one time to OOHs and AHHS. It is the pear in the measuring cup that appeals to me as I have pear and fruit decor in the kitchen. Your blog is like a visual book and I love it. Thanks
Dreaming about doing that doll house is pretty fun too isn’t it Judy! 🙂
Thank you for bringing us along….It looks beautiful!!!
Oh! And BTW I love the vintage measuring cup. It’s frustrating that the cups now have the printed on measurements that wear off if you cook very much!
Autumn in New England is always so lovely! We lives in Bedford, Mass., for several years and thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing your tour.
What fun, here in Southern California our trees are still green so it is fun to see Fall in other parts of the country. Thanks for sharing!
I would love to be in New England for the fall, but I am enjoying some lovely autumn colours here on holiday in Scotland. Thank you for sharing your trip with us.
Thank you for another lovely post!
Hi Susan!! What beautiful pictures of Fall….!!! Thank you for sharing your memories and photos!! I so enjoy your blog and look for it daily in my inbox!! Have a wonderful Fall day!! =)
Susan, thanks so much for taking us along on your trip! I love the dollhouse…it’s amazing! Thanks for the home tour…I saw many that were totally drool-worthy! 🙂
I loved the tour of New England and must go there someday. Beautiful, quaint, and historic. I would love one of those measuring cups…I wish I had my mother’s.
I just love that old, beautiful doll house. I still have the doll house my mom and dad built for me over forty years ago when I was a little girl. It sits in my dining room now, and I still occasionally collect little trinkets for it. Thanks for jolting all my girlhood doll house memories!
Every time you write about your trips — long or short — I want to go on one just like it. Thank you for providing such great detail so that I can enjoy the trip through your eyes. Again, I’m hoping I win the wonderful give-away, although if I don’t, I know it will go to another happy recipient.
Lovely pictures Susan. I would love to have this book. It’s sister is here already, More from the Heart of the Home Vineyard Seasons, purchased on Martha’s Vineyard back in the late 1980’s. Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures.
Kitty
I just had to replay your little video over and over! So sweet! I just love the little back road 2 lane highways! All those warm beautiful autumn colors that we associate with thankfulness and abundance! I can’t believe you found one of your own cookbooks! What, are they nuts??!! Well, their loss, our gain! Woo-hoo!!!
My husband and I are traveling through the Canadian Maritimes and we, too, have been admiring beautiful homes. I keep saying, “I want to live in that one!” as I point. My husband pointed out that lots of them look like they could be the models for the homes in our Department 56 Christmas village. We haven’t been as lucky as you to see the colors of fall foliage … still lots of green.
Really .. in Canada! I thought they would be far ahead of us! Must be beautiful up there!
hello, good afternoon everyone. i have one question for you susan, can we please see the hooked rug you got while on your trip??? i reread the description and i had to see the rug. i hope girl kitty and jack are happy to have their mommy home with them, i know mine would be wanting to sit in my lap and walk around with me. forgot to tell you all about the squirrels’ revenge. seems every morning they watch the ducks play in their pool, quacking and splashing and for some unknown reason they are now bombing them with acorns every morning when they go swimming. they are also bombing the chickens when they come out of the henhouse…i have no idea why the poor birds are meriting this revenge from the squirrels, now for the chickens i think its because of the roosters crowing but i have no idea why they are picking on the ducks, unless one of the ducks chased them or got them wet. seems like my squirrels are on the warpath here. off to go feed the chickens and change their water. have a great evening. hugs…… 🙂
Just returned from a quick weekend trip to PA for my husband’s college Homecoming, and am catching up with your delightful blog. So excited for a new give-away! Thanks for sharing your trip with us all.
Susan, I hardly know where to begin on what you have shown in this blog!! 🙂 I am so glad that you had a wonderful time, and I am like you….love to travel, and LOVE to get back home and putter. I loved the doll houses…I had a minature doll house when I was small, and my daughter still has hers! I almost thought you had purchased the jumbo house, and I was going to start coughing! lol. I loved all of the historic houses too…but my very favorite pic of the houses was the one that was set back into a large space of land…and all of those gorgeous fall colors! It took my breath away because it is so beautiful. I LOVED the measuring bowl/cup….and I know how rare it is to find one of those. I dont have your very first book and felt an arrow of excitement hit me when you said you were going to give it to your girlfriends! How thrilling! Please stick my name in there this time…and thank you so much! Isnt this such a special time of year? Our weather is just beginning to really turn cold…especially this week…and we are looking to have some rain in a day or two….such great weather for fires and hot drinks! Have a wonderful week!!! Happy you are back!
Hi Diane from Poulsbo! I live over by the Southworth Ferry and will be shortly in your area to enjoy the North Kitsap Holiday Festival and kick off the Big Season! Just thot I’d say HI from a “neighbor” 🙂
Hi Amanda! How fun that you are one of the girlfriends who will be visiting in my neck of the woods! I love the NK Holiday Festival! Do you live in West Seattle or close to it? I LOVE Alki beach! Great to “chat” with you! 🙂 Have a great festival!!!!
Hi Diane! I’m actually our OUR side of the water, the Kitsap side of the Ferry Run – I live close to the ferry dock, so I walk to the dock, catch the WSF car boat to Vashon, then the Vashon Water Taxi to downtown Seattle and walk up the hill to the office. Makes for a long commute, but WE SAW ORCAS on Tuesday off Blake Island!! Things like that are totally worth the long slog 🙂 I agree, Alki is great fun – so pretty! Looking forward to the Festival and visiting Poulsbo 🙂 And good luck winning the SB Gifties!! Cheers!!
Hi susan,
You just happen to be giving away 3 of my favorite things in the shole world!! books, candles, and Christmas ornaments. Hooray for you! Hope i win.
As always, it is fun to see where you go and what you find to share with us.
Fall, my favorite time of year! What lovely photos of your trip! Thanks for sharing with us! Take care!
Oh! One more thing I meant to tell…..I had never tried Honey Crisp Apples before….and after I read your last blog, I looked for them and found them! I bought a bunch of them since you said they were so wonderful and my little family tried them with me and we just love them!~ 🙂
Aren’t they amazing? We went to a farm stand while we were on our trip, and asked if they had them; the man shook his head sadly, “no” — Joe asked him what he had that was “like” them. The man said, “there isn’t anything like them.” And that is true!
Hi Susan! I just love going on trips with you!
Thanks for the free trip through New England. I would love to get there in person one day but until then it’s nice to go places with you.
Thank you so much for sharing the wonderful stories, pictures and artwork that color your world with all of us 🙂 You are a peach 🙂
Susan thank you so much for taking us on your travels. I look forward to your blog all the time
Reading and living vicariously through your blogs is delightful and wonderful! I feel as if I am actually talking with you. You guess my thoughts as soon as I have them! Spooky! I loved traveling with you and Joe through New England. I loved “our” trip. Thank you for being who you are. What joy you bring to so many lives! Thank you for your great drawings, giving us a chance to hope and dream. One lucky person will win and I’m happy for that person already!
You are truly very gifted at what you do!
I thoroughly enjoyed tagging along on your trip – again… The houses, leaves, antique shops, etc… were all lovely. Thanks for sharing.
So glad you could rescue your book. I’m always on the lookout for your books in book sales and second-hand book stores. So far, I haven’t found any. However, recently I found a box of your “Teapot Collection” blank cards in a thrift shop. I snatched them up and plunked down my $3.00 before anyone else saw them. Woo hoo! I’ve already sent a couple to friends – just because.
It just doesn’t get better than New England in October. Your gifted writing and lovely photos are an inspiration to me….thanks for sharing your passion and talent!
I loved this post! The pictures are beautiful! I sooo want to visit there someday! And I would love to win those treasures because I probably will never get there! Thank you for such a great post!
I wrote a comment earlier this afternoon, but didn’t see it posted yet. Just wanted to thank you again for sharing all of the lovely pics with us. I would love a chance to win the giveaway. 🙂
Beautiful pictures, our leaves here in PA are just starting to change. This is my favorite time of year. Love your blog, your website, and of course, your books and even though I have them all, I can’t wait for your England book! It is one of my dreams to go there one day and see Beatrix Potter and Jane Austen homes. And have Tea, of course, the proper binge. 🙂
What a wonderful journey you had! Thanks for sharing with everyone! I would love to win the book and the “candle holder” although I think I would have to use it as a measuring cup because I couldn’t stand not to!
I loved the old dollhouse! I was in England last month and visited Windsor Castle where I saw Queen Mary’s Dolls house. I do hope you’ve seen that. I squealed with delight over the books in the library and the rugs/carpets. Unfortunately it was impossible to get up close to examine it in detail…..and no photos were allowed. I was pleasantly surprised when I got to the gift shop and found a pack of Doll’s house photo postcards…on sale!
It would be so much fun to have a dollhouse to decorate but I’m afraid I would spend much time and money “decorating” it!
Love your blog! Thanks for the chance to win.
Hi Sue,
My husband and I left MA almost 5 years ago, after living there for over 30 years. Your photos bring back so many wonderful memories of long drives in the fall. Thanks!
Hello! There!!……from my Home to yours!!!!…I’m simply loving all the beautiful pictures of the Autumnal Folage!!! <3<3 I need to tell you, I made ur yummy corn chowder today for the first time..I was secretly hoping the temps. would have been In the 50's.Damp and chilly, here in good ol'Pa., So I could have pulled out my Gladys Taber find at the flea market and curl up on the couch with a warm blanket, and enjoy a hot bowl of nasal clearing soup lololol….But, not soooo…It was warm, High 60's…and partly sunny..BUT, I and my husband Dave, enjoyed the chowder for supper anyhoooooo…YUMMMO!!!..I was sceptical about adding saige…so I would add alittle, taste,add a little ,taste…very good…I also..cheated a weeee..by adding a little Ham Base to the soup….I enjoyed all those veges…and will definately make it again!!!…Can't waite to see what you have instore for the holidays…until then…Your girlfriend in crime! lolololo…Davett, from central pa. NITE!!! NITE!! =)
Thank you so much for sharing your leaf peeping adventures. I would have loved to see you decorate the amazing doll house. You have been such an inspiration to me…decorating, recipes, love of hearth and home and kitties…..I was able to order your Autumn Book this month from a used book seller. Love it!!! Thank you for making our world a warm, caring and special place. xo
Would love to try recipes from your cookbook. Hope I win!
Thank you so much for showing autumn in New England and all the wonderful architecture. This is the time of year I miss Connecticut and the drives over hill and dale. Thank you. Watching the video I could almost guess the town!
one chance in 691, but well worth the try……Thank you for that nostalgic ride
through New England,boo-hoo….. I have a doll house that a friend”s Dad made for
her (not unlike your spectacular find) and she was selling it. He had a stroke
and never completed another project. Can you imagine her giving that up to an old
fashioned garage sale? I had to “rescue” it and honor his great creativity..It sits
near our Christmas tree each year. I can imagine what you would do with that
grand $6500.item….splendiferous…..
OH!! p.s…I told my cousin kathy about ur wonderful blog…thought she might be interested….since you have two cats..that are b/w and she has a cat named oreo…for obvious reasons..lolol…she and her handsome hubby, took a trip recently to Maine this summer..and enjoyed it very much! Sooo here’s hoping she falls in love with you, as much as I have…Thankyou again for this blog! =)
Dear Susan,
I loved seeing the doll houses. So darling! I remember mine as a child, but it is long gone. I’ve always been a doll person, and couldn’t wait for Christmas to see the new one I would receive. (Should I tell you that once I stopped believing in Santa, I would snoop around the house to find it, take it out of the box and hold it, long before Christmas? For me it was part of the thrill of Christmas. And of course acting suprised on Christmas morning. I was a naughty girl.) As I became an adult and married, I would buy myself a special doll each Christmas. All those dolls are gone now as we have only sons and grandsons, so no one to pass them on to. And I shouldn’t say only because they are all wonderful. Needless to say, girlfriends are important to me. Your newest gift give-away would be very welcome in my home as I don’t own that particular book. You are so generous! Congrats to whoever the winner is. 🙂
I understand completely Chris … perfectly normal 🙂 I kinda did the same thing! I’m sorry, Christmas was torture for me when I was little!
New England in the fall….how beautiful. Loved taking the trip with you. Hope to see more…glad you are back safe and sound
What a wonderful trip! Thanks so much for sharing it with us all. And thanks for the give-away offer – I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
Your pictures made me want to rush downstairs to get the beautiful, well worn, but beautiful doll house that my Grandfather made for his 4 daughters. My Mother was next to oldest and gave it to me. Mom was 86 when she passed away last year, so without giving away My Age 🙂 you can guess that it is Rather a “Collectable” It also needs some TLC, but you, as always are an inspiration.
Susan thank you for your wonderful blog..it’s a chance to get away!! Love your books and would love a signed one!!
Thank you for taking us on a Fall tour of New England. I look forward to your blog everyday! You are so inspiring to me.
Happy Fall from Cumming, Georgia! Barbara S.