Oh, I have treats to show you, blazing fire too! Here’s treat #1: Musica
Something delicious is cooking!
Where do we start . . . let’s see, how about here. . .
This is Titcombs Bookshop in Sandwich on Cape Cod where I went to sign books last week. But look what they did — with brown plastic tablecloths, they made the front of their shop into a gingerbread house! They cut heavy white paper plates in half and glued them around the doors and windows, and used some as edges to the “house” . . . they made candies out of them too, and lollypops in the window boxes. Isn’t that brilliant!?! I thought so too. I’d love to try this on our house next year.
I’m almost all unpacked from the trip now . . . I thought I’d show you some of the things I got at antique stores as we crossed the country. First off, lambs! You know how much I love lambs! I had a few before we went away, but on this trip whenever I saw one I thought would fit with my little group, I would get it. It was so fun to unwrap them, slowly, after forgetting what I’d gotten. I have a flock!
And look, treasure! I found a Beatrix Potter figurine of Samuel Whiskers! There was no possible way for me to leave him in that dusty old store, alone and unloved. I’d never seen this figurine before . . . did not even know what I was missing. Adorable thing, I saw it from across the room and honed in on it like a submarine sonar system. (Like I know what a submarine sonar system is, I think I made that up, but you know what I mean! Like Jack and his rubber band!) And now Samuel has friends. Never to be alone again.
And later, in another store, I found Mrs. Tittlemouse! Another BP person from 1948 I did not know existed. In her jaunty striped coat with the
bow on the back! She’s now lined up with the others on my kitchen shelf . . .
And look at this gorgeous vintage tea set I found! It was displayed on a starched white lace tablecloth in an antique store in Oklahoma City and practically glowed in the dark it was so pretty. I walked round and round it like a tiger in a cage. It was such a good deal, I couldn’t leave it there, so we wrapped it all in newspaper and brought it home, and now I’ve given it a nice soapy bath.
It’s all hand-painted, gold-edged, and made in England, it even came with an old silver sugar spoon!
The set serves six, it’s only missing one cup. But I mixed-and-matched it with both old and new china cups and mugs, to see what it looks like, and I think it’s even better. I love mismatched! You know what a dish person I am.
Here’s what it says on the bottom. I don’t think it has a pattern name; I’m thinking Tuscan is the name of the China company. Has anyone ever heard of it?
I love nesting . . . I’ve been making up for lost time . . .
We’re taking it slow . . . we haven’t even trimmed the tree yet. That’s OK, it’s in a bucket of water in the dining room, so we’re close. There’s a wreath on the front door, we’re getting there. We have Christmas in our hearts! I’m determined to enjoy this season and in order to do that, I want to go slow and not feel hurried. If something doesn’t get done, it won’t matter. A little poinsettia in the window is just fine for me . . .
I’m just happy to be . . .
I’m spending lots of time in the kitchen with my little buddy . . .
Jack is interested in everything I do, and everything that goes on outside our window ~
It’s been really cold, but beautiful . . . decorative cardinals have been flocking around the feeders. Note, you California/Florida Girlfriends, that there is no color out there in the garden, it is a sepia/white world here in the winter, which is why we were blessed with the Cardinal. What a gift!
And it’s not cold inside, it’s crackling and cozy and smells just wonderful . . .
One thing I’ve been doing is making a few little food-gift items for friends. This morning I made one of my favorite candies for this time of year, chocolate-covered Almond Brittle from page 132 of Vineyard Seasons. SO easy, and perfectly irresistible ~ and very mailable . . I thought I’d show you how, in case you have a last minute someone you’d like to please . . . . But first, more MUSICA for the kitchen dance . . .
So all you do is (don’t blink because this recipe is really fast!) put one pound of butter and two cups of sugar in a large heavy pot on top of your stove.
then pour in one-quarter cup of water . . . hook a candy thermometer to the side of the pan . . . don’t let the tip touch the bottom.
Melt the butter together with the sugar and the water over medium-high heat . . . boil mixture briskly until your candy thermometer reads 300°.
Stir and stir, boil and boil, and while you do you can count your blessings and . . .
watch the birds and stir a little more . . .
The mixture will cook and darken like brittle should. When it reaches the “crack” hard candy stage on your candy thermometer, 300°, remove the pan from the heat and quickly stir in two cups of sliced almonds.
Then spread the mixture thinly on an ungreased (plenty of butter already in the recipe) cookie sheet (or two) and allow it to cool.
When the brittle is almost cool, melt eight ounces unsweetened chocolate over low heat in a heavy pan, stirring constantly.
Then brush the warm chocolate over the top of the candy. Let it cool completely before you
break it up into pieces (I hit the bottom of the pan with a hammer to put hairline cracks in it all over, then I do the rest with a knife).
. . . and then I fill the tins and boxes I’ve collected to use for Christmas gifts . . . old ones and new ones from the pantry . . .
I had this darling box that I lined in a lace doily, and I knew the perfect person to give it to. . .
It’s the same person I’m giving the dishes to . . . the perfect little gift for . . .
Y O U !
Surprise! Yes, it’s YOU ♥ YOU ♥ YOU, (like bread and fishes, I wish it could be all of you, but for a few days, it will be only YOU, and then, one of you really will walk away with this elegant little English tea set, just in time for Downton Abbey! It’s my present to you. It’s been so long, I wanted it to be something nice. The minute I saw these dishes, I thought, my girls will love these. But then, I couldn’t send them out without a little homemade something! That wouldn’t be right. So I made you some Chocolate-Covered Almond Brittle to remember me by. Now all you have to do is leave me a
comment at the bottom of this post and you’ll automatically be entered for the drawing for the Tea Set and box of homemade candy.
(BTW, If this blog comes to your email box, in order to enter you will have to click on www.162.240.10.175/~susanbs3/susanbranch/ and come here to the online version, then scroll to the bottom of this post, look for the tiny word “comments,” click on it and leave a word or two and you’ll be entered!)
Then our girl Vanna (Vanna is the same as a “random number generator” only our Vanna has a lot more verve and style) will be pressed back into service. She’s done NOTHING for months, it’s about time she earned her keep. In a few days she will choose one of your names from her giant Santa hat and I’ll announce the winner. Tell your friends too Girlfriends, your sisters and your mom, because even if you don’t win, you could get invited to Tea (possibly even Twine) at their house and have candy to boot. You can leave as many comments as you want, Vanna knows to only count each name once. She is a contest-engineering genius.
So while I’m cleaning up, I’ll tell you about another surprise. Because if any of you bought a signed copy of our new book A FINE ROMANCE from our studio for your friends and family during this month of December, you don’t know it, but you’ve already given a gift to some very 
special people. Oh yes! Seven dollars from each purchase through our studio for the entire month of December will be going to Casa Pacifica, an organization in California that “Builds Foundations of Hope” for abused and neglected children. ♥
So I got lambs and new BP People and I got to go out and meet so many of you, and you got dishes and candy, and lots more I hope, and we all made a little bit of a difference for children and families, because without you there would be no FINE ROMANCE. ♥ High five, Girlfriends. Thank you also for the wonderful reviews on Amazon, I know it’s you. We are still number one in England Travel Guides! Thank you so much! We make a little difference in our own little kindred spirit world. What goes around comes around.♥
And now it’s time . . . I can smell it from here . . .
I put a little something in the oven for lunch . . . and it’s ready!
A big delicious, salted buttered sweet potato all caramelized and ready to go. Oh yes. Perfect for this cold day. Off I go now. Don’t forget to leave your comment Girls. Good luck, I hope you are having just the very best time! ♥
Love your tea set. Went to England for the first time this last June. Fell in love immediately with the people, London, Beatrix Potter store in Stratford, countryside, all of it! It took me almost 60 years to get there, but it was worth the wait!
Loved your post! It was so exciting when I opened my email to see you had a new post. Just in time for Christmas. I really love reading your old posts too. I’ve decided I will read your December posts this month than in January read those and so on. That way I can savor your posts all year. That tea set is just beautiful and so YOU so I was so surprised that you will be giving it away. What a generous soul you are! Right now I’m not able to do a lot of Christmas baking because I’ve got a bad knee and can’t be on it for too long. Lots of things have slowed down for me this Christmas and it isn’t all bad. A snowstorm is due to hit our area on Sunday (northeast Kansas) and we are hoping to do some traveling to visit my mom and siblings and our daughter and her husband. Hoping that will still happen. We have missed a lot of the major storms and I feel for those of you on the east coast who are dealing with storm after storm. Hope all our girlfriends are staying safe.
Love, Love, Love the tea set….what a beautiful color & what a find. I’d love to own this & would think of you every time I used it. I have a few tea pots but many tea cup/saucers & love having teas for friends & family but wish I could do more. One of my favorite tea cups was a gift from a friend whose son found it in a house he was demolishing; it was black. He cleaned it up & gave it to his mom who in turn gave it to me – it is lovely & very precious to me. By the way, I make cashew brittle….delish! Merry Christmas & a blessed New Year. Glad you are back home safe & sound.
Oh Susan, you have done it again. What a beautiful tea set. You are so thoughtful and the candy looks great. Love your blogs. Merry Christmas, so glad you can spend it at home. Thank-you for being you.
Love, Connie
Can’t wait to make the almond brittle tomorrow! Just found a “stove ring”today at an old variety store and thought it would be such fun to finally be able to make my mother’s divinity recipe…..you see, it has only been 30 or so years since I have had that joy at Christmas because I never had been able to find this little item. And now I discovered your recipe in my e-mail and thought what fun tomorrow will be. Thanks for sharing! The china is just lovely. Such a find.
What great B.P. figurines. I was given
the Benjamin Bunny one years ago when my son Benjamin was born -I didn’t know there were so many. You’ve really been lucky finding so many treasures!
Wow! Susan!
I nearly fell out of my seat when I read that you are giving away those beautiful dishes!! They are too pretty to give away–but Thank You for being so generous! I recently purchased the milk glass cake plate from your web-store and I just love it!! I’m going to make that delicious candy brittle you wrote about here and mail it to my daughter in California.
Merry Christmas!
Barbara S. in Cumming, GA
Beautiful tea set! The brittle looks delicious, too. I love reading your blog and check everyday if there’s new posts. It’s not snowing here in Hawaii, but your blog makes me feel I’m there in front of the cozy fireplace, listening to Christmas music and smelling the goodness that comes from the kitchen.
Oh Susan, you make me want to stay home and bake and cook and drink tea and find wonderful finds!!!! Thanks for being such a bright spot in our lives!!!
Hi Susan. Hoping Christmas brings great joy and bliss, and that a mistletoe sprig brings a sweet kiss. Hint: show this to Joe 🙂
****Merry Christmas! Love Karen****
Oh my goodness! I was in the middle of coveting those dishes just before I gave it one more “scroll down” and there it was, ” SURPRISE, these dishes are for you!!! You are so darn cute!
A beautiful gift for sure and anyone of your girlfriends will be delighted beyond measure to have this teaset to call their own!
Merry Christmas to you Susan
Merry Christmas! What a lovely tea set. Watching season 4 and sipping a cup of rosehip tea! Sounds so nice! Blessings!
Merry Christmas Susan! Your posts always make me smile. I love the way you appreciate the beauty in the simple things surrounding us, cardinals in the snow, a fire, a gorgeous tea set, a black and white cat… Wishing you joy during this magical season, from another Susan 🙂
Thank you for the chance to win another wonderful give away. Loved your post but my favourite part was the lovely photo of the view outside your kitchen window. I have managed two winter Christmases (one of which was white) in my life and loved them. In the mean time here it is is the mid to high 30C’s ( which is the mid to high 90F)
What a beautiful tea set, and the candy will make it a perfect gift! One that I would love to unwrap on Christmas Eve – for if I win, I wouldn’t open the package until then – the excitement isn’t just for unknown present contents but for those that come filled with love and so even though you know what’s inside, its the love that burst forth when you tear the brown paper off.
Wow! Love your books and wait eagerly for each blog entry! Thanks!!
Susan,
I am new to your blog, saw you featured in Yankee magazine so I had to find you and start following your blog. I have to say I am completely enchanted with your style, your home and your beautiful artwork. You have a way with decorating, so homey and comfortable. I also adore Beatrix Potter, loved the little figurines you found, such little treasures!!! The tea set is so charming! I think we all long for a simpler time when friends could visit and enjoy a cup of tea and chat. The almond brittle looks yummy and not too hard to make, I just need time!!
Merry Christmas and thanks for sharing!
Welcome Ellen, so nice to meet you! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Love your wonderful blog and the sweet pictures. What a chance even to dream about winning.
Susan – It was a treat to be at your visit to Schuler Books in Grand Rapids Michigan. They said you would not be speaking, but I knew you would want to talk to us and share your adventures. Glad you are safely home and including us in on your cozy Christmas plans. I’m about to light a fire in the fireplace and write out my cards. Have a very Merry Christmas.
We are so glad you are home. It seems like all is right with the world. I would love to win the beautiful teaset but whoever does win it will be lucky indeed and I’m sure it will be treasured.
Susan, I’m almost embarrassed….I haven’t been here in a long time…and here you are offering even me a chance for this lovely tea set and homemade candy! Why have I stayed away so long? Dead hard drive, had to get and learn a new one, took a while to find and afford what I wanted, had to use my husband’s computer in stolen moments. So, now I have l-o-t-s of catching up to do, reading all about your trip back and forth across the USA and all the girlfriends’ comments. That will have to wait for the lazy days of January. Now joy abounds and elf lists are long as we prepare for our whole family in a few days! Falalala…like you all I love, love my home filled with holiday smells and sights, but the very best is the laughter of our marvelous big kids and granddaughters. Sooo excited! Sure hoping that this most wonderful time of year holds special delights for all of you! As always, DonnaRay
Welcome back DonnaRay! We missed you!
I gave my two best friends canisters of your special tea for Christmas and your book to curl up with. I know I love these and so I wanted them to have enjoy too! Oh my–what a dream it would be to have your special tea and brittle. It would have to be a very wonderful dream! Merry Christmas Susan–I have so enjoyed the travels with you this year!
Thank you for the cheerful post. I love Christmas, feeding birds in the snow, and cooking on a snow day. What did you buy at Shakertown? I bought a broom when I was there in October.
Susie
It is always so good to hear from you Susan. I’m glad you are back home, but it was so nice meeting you and chatting with you in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Bet that seems like a million years ago to you, but to me it feels like just yesterday.
I wish you, Joe, Jack and girl kitty a wonderful Christmas. Warm and cozy in your home.
I have given several friends the “Tea party” tin and your tea and they just love it. I would love having the tea set and drinking tea while dreaming about all that wonderful snow outside your house. I live in Hawaii. Christmas is not the same on a hot sunny day. (some people would think I must be crazy).
Wishing you and Joe a very Merry Christmas and looking forward to a great 2014 reading about your adventures.
Thank you for another lovely post. We are big on tea parties in this house, even my two little guys. We have picked up many mismatched items along the way, even the dolls have tea sets! Our tree is quite crooked now due to late night kitten attacks and the lower two feet are looking pretty rough, but it is very funny to see a cat launch itself with front arms fully extended into the tree! Not perfect decorations but happy Christmastime around here!Meow for now…
As always, you’re so kind and generous. I’m glad you’re home and getting to enjoy the Christmas season all nestled in your cozy home. I love the beautiful tea set and the candy looks delicious. Have a very Merry Christmas!
ps: A co-worker of mine has a black and white kitty like yours and I told her to get on your blog and look at all of your kitty pictures. She loves them too!
What fun to travel cross country with you. The dishes are lovely, and to win some toffee made with your own two hands on that lovely stove, mwah!
It’s such a wonderful season to share your blog. Thank you for your blog, your talent and your creativity that motivates us all to make our homes warmer and cozier.
Dear Susan,
Oh! The lambs are darling!! I enjoyed your post so much…thank you for sharing! Merry Christmas to you, Katalin
Thank you for the directions on how to make the brittle. My dad used to make peanut brittle and I wish I had paid better attention to how he did it and the recipe he used. Always enjoying reading your updates…Merry Christmas!
Oh what a beautiful tea set and what a wonderful surprise to read that you were offering a chance to win it! Tea is my all time favorite beverage and I’ve inherited a love of beautiful tea sets from my mother and grandmother. Three generations of tea sets clacking around – the more the merrier! Merry Christmas to you, Susan!
I truly love your personality and spirit for life. I feel I am a winner just being able to share your thoughts and talents. Your friend in southern Indiana. Melinda
Your home is looking so cozy Susan. We have the same icy white views here in Colorado but instead of red cardinals we have bright blue mountain blue birds.
The tea set is a treasure. You are always so thoughtful and generous Susan.
Wishing you, Joe and the kitties the best Christmas ever.
XXX OOO
Well…you are incredibly thoughtful. It is a beautiful tea set. Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
It is Christmas in my heart every time I open one of your books (I have them all) or read your blog. Your weekly blogs are the ultimate gifts—-they lift my heart. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Oh Susan! I adore Christmas, the tea set and mostly your lovely words and pictures. You make me smile. Merry Christmas!
I so love your website. I recently started drinking tea and would love to win a vintage tea set. It would feel right at home in my house. Merry Christmas to you!
What a lovely tea set! It would be such a treat to win. Loved you visit to Strawberry Patches! Thanks and Merry Christmas!!
I almost fainted when I got to the end of your post and read what you are giving to one of us lucky girlfriends. Oh, my, how absolutely wonderful. You are so generous and giving. I will pretend I am the winner until you pick the real one and good luck to all of you.
What a warm and homey atmosphere you have created. Just how home should be 🙂 Thank you for a chance to win the lovely tea set.
Welcome home!! The tea set is a treasure, for sure. Thank you for always remembering us, your admiring girls. I hope I win this tea set!!
I had not bought your book yet but will make sure it is ordered in December from your shop – what a wonderful giving heart you have.
I absolutely love your blog and would be so very happy to give that beautiful tea set a happy home. You are the best, Susan Branch!
I loved reading today’s post. So nice to think of a day cooking and savoring the season. Merry Christmas!
Here is a link to online information about your beautiful Tuscan dishes:
http://www.thepotteries.org/mark/p/plantrhsl.html
Lynne, this is a great webpage. Thank you.
Susan, you are always so generous to us GF! Lucky girl to find new BP figurines you didn’t even know about. How giddy you must have been seeing them and then putting them in your home.
Hugs GF,
Lynnie
Susan you are a dear! If I win the tea set I promise to share it with my other Susan Branch groupies who happy to be my local girlfriends. Who wouldn’t want that almond brittle??? Sign me up please and enjoy this holiday season filled with Christmas.
What a sweet post, I loved the tour of your antique finds, and had to go reread the china dish post. I have never owned a tea set and as I saw picture after picture of all the lovely sets and singles, I thought I really need one 🙂 Thank you for the opportunity to receive one. That gingerbread decorated store was the best….we have been reading many different gingerbread stories for the past 2 weeks in my kindergarten class and that sure would be a fun way to decorate our doorway. We enjoyed homemade ginger bread cookies this week and recorded our first 4 bites to collect data on what part of the gingerbread man we all eat first, etc. Looking forward to baking this weekend and might have to try your brittle recipe. Have a very Merry Christmas!
Oh, Welcome Home Susan!!! What a wonderful feeling that has to be. I absolutely love all of your sheep…..what a wonderful collection you have. Oh my, such a beautiful and generous gift you are giving away to one of your girlfriends, I absolutely love it! I am so glad you and Joe made it back to your beautiful home safely. Merry Christmas to you both!!
Carla
How lovely to be home again! There is nothing better than being at home, amongst your own lovelies! I don’t own a tea set but would love to have one! Maybe I will be the lucky winner! I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!
Love to read your posts…Merry Christmas!
I always love my visits, love to see how you decorate and what you’re cooking! I’ve been thinking of making the toffee, I’ve looked at that recipe every Christmas, yes I am making it! I’d love to have that tea set to admire and to wash! tee hee! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas…
Oh, my. What a find and then to be willing to part with it! What a sweet gesture in this season of giving. Thank you, Susan, for all you give us with each new post.
Love all of your posts Susan and your book is wonderful. You make my day. Love sharing your world!
Oh what a treat! I actually gasped when you said the tea set was for one of us. How beautiful. It has been such a joy traveling with you and Joe and seeing all that you see. I have finally finished “A Fine Romance” and I didn’t want it to end…I read it slowly to savor every nuance. I shall just have to start rereading it! I think it will be one of those books that one wants to keep rereading to find something new we may have missed before. Or to just gaze on the beautiful photos and paintings. Tell Vanna I’ll be waiting patiently for her to choose!
Hi Susan,
I had to chuckle at the Samuel Whiskers. The same Sam who found the heart rock for you. He loves Samuel Whiskers. At age 3 he begged to have Roly Poly Pudding read to him over and over. My mom found him a Samuel Whiskers figure for Christmas. And at age 13, Sam has his Samuel Whiskers on his dresser along with his The Tale of Samuel Whiskers or The Roly Poly Pudding, in hard cover on his dresser too. 🙂
I had to show Sam your Samuel Whiskers that you found. How fun.
Have a great Christmas.
Carla and family
xx oo
Tell Sam I said HELLO!!!
I did. 🙂 And he says “Hello and Merry Christmas!”
What a lovely post!! I love all the treasures you found along your way home. You inspire me to get out into the fray and shop for treasures too.
Beautiful! Lovely! Cozy! Happy! Delightful! Homey! Comforting! That’s what your blog is to me!!! I always love coming here Susan!! Thank you for the chance to win such fabulous goodies! Have a very Merry and blessed Christmas!
Dear Susan, What lovely treasures you found–and you’re sharing with us! Thank you–and have a Merry and Blessed Christmas!
Love that beautiful tea set! Hope your Christmas is wonderful!
I bet you are glad to be back home?! The snowy scenery in your yard is beautiful especially with the gorgeous red cardinal in the foreground for contrast. Isn’t nature great? Christmas is here. I wanted to share a beautiful city scene I encountered over the weekend while visiting my son, daughter-in-law and grandson in Brooklyn: Gorgeous Christmas trees and wreaths waiting to go home with a family covered with fresh snow. It goes to show us that even the city has it’s touch of nature! By the way, I would like to recommend a heartwarming Christmas book that I read last year. It is called Christmas on Jane Street by Billy Romp. It is about a family from Vermont who travel to NYC each year on the day after Thanksgiving to sell the trees they grow on their farm. They live in a trailer and each year reunite with the friends they have made over the years. Sweet!
My mom and I visited Martha’s Vineyard 20 years ago- what a treat it would be to have tea with her this Christmas in this china!
Merry Christmas to all of you! You are so fun! Sounds like your days are “Merry and Bright”. Cheers!
How I have enjoyed reading your blogposts and A Fine Romance shared with me by my dear friend, Cheryl. Maybe I’ll win the lovely dishes and candy for her! 🙂 God bless you, Susan!
So glad you are home safe and sound. I bought “A Fine Romance” for my oldest daughter. Of course I had to read it first. I so enjoyed it -felt like I was right there with you and Joe. Thanks so much for sharing your life with all of us. You are amazing. Merry Christmas to you both.
Hi Susan,
I have only recently discovered you and have since collected several of your books including A Fine Romance! Where have you been all my life? A true kindred spirit. A special thanks for introducing me to Gladys Taber. Oh my! I am on my fifth Stillmeadow book. Glad you are home safe and sound.
This latest post from you filled me with the Christmas spirit I have been missing … just wasn’t feeling it yet but now I am ready. Your posts are like a warm bath for me each time one lands in my in-box. They are always so cozy, so fun and so full of love. Happy Christmas and a bright and shining New Year for you and your lovely family. I am making the brittle tomorrow, just could not resist … see, Christmas is busting out all over.
I love, love, love A Fine Romance. Each night I curl up in bed, put some classical music on and read. I am taking it very slow because I don’t want it to end! My heritage is in Yorkshire, England. I hope to one day go to England it looks so beautiful. I have to tell you that today I bought some scrunchies for my kittie Cheddar. He loves them. Thank you Susan for all that you do for us Girlfriends. Maybe if I’m lucky enough I will win the tea set. That would be lovely! Merry Christmas to you and yours. Give Jack a hug from Cheddar!!
Mine is in Yorkshire too Kathleen. You will be amazed, which is way too small of a word for it. Cheddar, what a darling name!
Oh Susan, you are the sweetest girlfriend ever! What a lovely gift! Thanks so very much for your generosity and for sharing your wonderful life with us! Thanks also for entertaining us with your wonderful way of writing! I’m starting to read a “Fine Romance” for the 3rd time and shall read it until it’s memorized! C:
MERRY CHRISTMAS! from Cathy in Idaho!
So happy you & Joe made it home safely. I love all your new treasures. The new BP people are adorable and the tea set is so beautiful. I screamed when I read you were giving it away! I would love to have such a beautiful tea set.
Sending you jingles and comfort and joy from my house to yours, Girlfriend~ Thanks for coming to New Hampshire… My daughter and I were delighted to meet you~
:o* Smooches
Oh my! It’s loveliness took my breath away – how can you part with it? I imagine a cup of Earl Gray, sweetened with a smidge of my homemade salted caramel, sipping beside the fire while the musica plays!
Thank you for inviting me along on all of your travels…I’ve had such a lovely time but am so glad you are home in time for the holidays!
I can’t imagine anything better than watching the new season of Downton Abbey while serving tea in that lovely set. Thank you for a chance to win it and thank you for your wonderful blog! Merry Christmas!
Oh my! I was thinking to myself your dishes would blend in so well with a small set I have from my Gram! They are beautiful! And I might have to try out the candy! It looks really yummy!
So very glad you are HOME. Pleased you had a wonderful trip, safe and filled with joy at all you saw and ALL the people you met along the way. I visit you daily and you bring me such JOY as a senior I no longer have the health to travel and I so like my trips with you and Joe. Took the ship, bought the book and you just make my world delightful. LOVE the tea set and how did you know green is my favorite color. I,Too have a tuxedo cat, her name is Miss. Figgie. Wrap those presents,hum the music and keep the spirit, Merry Christmas, Blessings, Brook
I love your thoughts, Brook! Hug Miss Figgie for me!
Merry Christmas to you!
Sweet Carol xoxo Merry Christmas to Brook, Miss Figgie and you!
Susan, you brighten my days! Merry Christmas.
Jolly Joy, yes lets mingle!!! What fun things you found on your trip! I was born in Oklahoma City! So many sheep, and BP cuties! The tea set is beautiful. Jack is not letting you out of his sight is he! Your candy looks delish! I’ve only been able to make 2 of my regulars so far, been watching the grands much to my delight! They helped me make my stained glass cookies, the easiest thing to make ever, with colored marshmallows bag of choc chips and stick of butter, they turn out beautiful! been making them for over 35 years! Ok, all you do gals is melt the choc chips and butter together in large bowl, stir in the marshmallows, pour it out on large piece of wax paper, roll the paper into a long roll, let it sit in fridge overnight, pull off paper, sift powdered sugar over all sides and cut into pieces! Aren’t they pretty? Adding nuts with marshmallows is good too! The others I make are really pretty too! They are called rainbow jelly jewels. Everyone loves both of these!
Merry Christmas to everyone!!!!
Love ya all!
Jeannie
Chirp Chirp 🙂
****
OMG Susan love your stuff just love your style you make smile 🙂 thank you
Susan, I am so glad your home, I missed your post from your home so much. They are so comforting and inspiring to me. You are my Beatrix Potter and Gladys Taber, I collect and admire everything you do, ( I collect them too now because of your passion for them) I just have to tell you thank you so much for everything!!!!!!!
I sometimes get lost in antique stores. Not physically, but in thought. I try to imagine the stories behind the pieces.
I have two special tea pots now. One given to me upon my High School Graduation, the other one given to me on Mothers Day, many years ago. My sons and I shared tea and cookies often using that set.
Our tree will be up soon, my husband just brought it home from the lot. The boys will be here soon.
I hope you and yours have the merriest Christmas ever!
PS~love your lamb collection!
Tea for two…me and you, Susan, would be more than wonderful!!
I bought your book a few months ago now, I got it because it made me so happy. I am an English woman living in Michigan. Your book brought back so many memories and happy thoughts. I then got 3 of your small books for the art work. So inspiring to me as I am also working on some art journals. I love the blog and just found this post. I would love to win but more than that I wanted you to know how much I loved the book.
You did good, you found some great stuff and I also loved reading about your Beatrix Potter things. My daughter has a small collection that her aunt gave her as a little girl. I just rented the movie about Beatrix life. I find so much to inspire me in your words and pictures. just wanted to tell you that
Janice
You are such a generous, thoughtful person! I look forward to reading your blog and eagerly await each new installment. Your book was such fun to read that I had to pass it on to my best friend who will be visiting England in the spring to see her daughter – I know she will be able to put it to good use while there! Have a wonderful, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
Merry Christmas! Love, Love, Love your blog & your kitties. I have a two Kitties named Charmin & Jack. The tea set is gorgeous and I will definitely be making the almond brittle.
omg susan so beautiful the china and the candy looks yummy i love love your stuff i got books calendars stickers recipe books love your style just awesome
I would love to share this set with my son, who knows a good cup of tea as much as his mom. And just tonight begged me to buy him a new kind to try.
Merry Christmas Susan,
It is such fun just looking at the photos you post. I love the cardinals. We don’t have them out here so it is a treat to see them.
It is so nice reading you again….not that I didn’t read your blogs on the road. I don’t know why but it’s different when you are home on the island. Anyway, It is always a pleasure to see what you have to say.
xoxo Pam
A beautiful tea set, always wonderful gift from “Heart of the Home,” you! You bring joy to all. Merry Christmas.
Just got back from the Wild West. Trying to return and set up home in the great Mid Atlantic once again.
We’ve been enjoying all the creature comforts that Pennsylvania holds including the foods and family. Boys are still in Wyoming, but journeying East soon.
Windy Wyoming held our hands for a few years, but our hearts never left the rolling hills of Pa. It would be a treasure to behold that tea set and your homemade treat. I’d invite my old ghosts back to the Landing so as to help rededicate this once lonesome house back into a home.
Happy Christmas!
Jena
Blown back to P-E-N-N from Windy Wyoming
Although I enjoy traveling in our Airstream, this is the time of year I really miss having a HOME! I’ve decorated as best as I can: little Christmas tree with multi-colored lights in the panoramic window, needlepoint stockings hanging on a shelf over the electric fireplace (really a heater!), and blue rope lights around the RV outside. Lighted cardinals fly overhead the sofa under the overhead shelf.
When I read your blog, it makes me yearn for my past home(s). So many things are packed away in our climate-controlled storage units. I tell myself that someday I’ll have a “stick and brick” home again like Susan Branch.
What a lovely post!! The cardinals outside your window are great…a beautiful red!
I’d feel like I won the lottery with the tea set!! Have a Merry Christmas!!
My granddaughter would love to have a tea party with your beautiful tea service; me too!
Thank you for that wonderful music, and trip in your kitchen while you were cooking the almond brittle. It always lifts my spirits to get to see what you are doing next. We too have cold weather here in Kentucky. I am glad you got to see Shaker Town while driving through. You are lucky to fine those cute figurines. I have collected rabbits for years and your finds are precious. Have a Merry Christmas!
Susan, I was shocked, shocked, (just tossing in a little Casablanca) to read that you were giving away the tea set! You are the most generous. It is so sweet, and someone is going to be thrilled. It will be so much fun to see who wins. I know Vanna will pick just the right person. (Gee, I hope it’s me.)
Love coming into your kitchen and seeing you making candy. I think I need to find some time to make some candy before Christmas. This sounds like the perfect recipe. Can’t wait!
Thank you for all the world brightening things you do. Love that you’re donating to the children. God bless you and Joe.
Merry, merry Christmas! Hugs to the kitties. Jack is such a doll!
Susan –
What a wonderful post. I was lost in your story and in love with your pictures of treasures found….and especially of those you are going to share! Thank you for the “time out”. So enjoyed it~
Have a wonderful holiday~
Well firstly…I’m so happy your home!!!! And can you believe we have snow!!! I’m so excited..what fun you had on your trip!!! But I’ll bet the kitty cat Ooooo’s are so glad your home!
I’m giving away several of your wonderful books for Christmas…and my sister is reading it for her book club!! Yeah!!
Amazingly thoughtful giveaway….the bark looks sooooooo good!!
I just had a sweet potato too!!! I can not seem to get enough of them lately….so delicious when baked to perfection!!!
Well enjoy nesting!!!!
Oh, how I enjoy reading your blog! I feel like I have had a wonderful visit from a kindred spirit! The tea set is lovely, thank you for the chance to win it! I can’t wait to try your candy recipe for my family. Merry Christmas Susan!!!
Oh, What a lovely blog post! I love hearing about your home and your travels. I also love the photos because it makes me feel like I’m there (almost). I am reading “A Fine Romance” and I am deliberately going slow because I don’t want it to end. Thanks so much for the chance to win the beautiful tea set and homemade candy.