‘Morning Girls, here’s your MUSICA for today. ♥ This is a very good song for memorizing ~ it’s delightful for singing at the top of your lungs in a Smallville shower, nice while cleaning out cupboards, fun while driving in the car, even good if you have to be in bed to wait for your new knee to heal (or something like that).♥ Sing it into the ear of a child, or your better half, and life gets really good.
Speaking of Smallville; here is a little thing that will make your frozen mornings 
a little less so. I have two pairs of these darling sexy shoes you see above,the most comfortable shoes in the world . . . this pair is in the kitchen in front of the heat vent getting warm, while the other is on my feet, slowly (but surely) chilling up. Soon I will exchange places with them and my cold feet, as they slip into the deep warmth of freshly heated shoes, will purr the immortal words: Ooo La Wee.
a little less so. I have two pairs of these darling sexy shoes you see above,the most comfortable shoes in the world . . . this pair is in the kitchen in front of the heat vent getting warm, while the other is on my feet, slowly (but surely) chilling up. Soon I will exchange places with them and my cold feet, as they slip into the deep warmth of freshly heated shoes, will purr the immortal words: Ooo La Wee.
Some variation of these two old cashmere sweaters and that brown shawl are my daily outfit for working at my art table. Not pretty, but cozy ~ works perfectly in Smallville. I took the picture pointed at my lap (sucking in my tummy to protect the innocent).
As you know, I’ve been doing lots of painting for my 2016 calendars, but I took a little time out and did something just for fun I thought you might like to see.
This is Paul Lucas, he is the darling husband of my good friend Rachel. It’s his birthday at the end of the month. And it’s a big one.
That’s Paul on the left, Ray in the middle,(we’re in Maine) and who’s that other guy in the picture with the beret? Oh, yeah, that’s Joe!
Some of you know Ray from Twitter, some know her from Sugar Moon Brownies, and others from her own Blog (she’s more famous every day, another hardworking girl in Smallville) . . . and,
Here’s where they live. You might recognize it because I wrote about Ray and Paul in A FINE ROMANCE; they are English and live in England and part of the reason we went over was to see them. You might remember that wonderful recipe for Ray’s amazing Lemon Butter Cookies on P. 139 of A FINE ROMANCE? (One of our Girlfriends made the cookie HERE in her Blog, in case you don’t have the book but need the recipe!)
This is Paul with Ray’s darling nephew Will. Paul is doing a one-of-a-kind birthday cello recital for Ray’s mum on her sun porch. See? he’s wonderful.
♥
Just ask the love of their lives . . . this is Ray’s and Paul’s “dog” Alice. I use the word “dog” only because I know Alice doesn’t look at blogs.
Her collar says it all.
You may have noticed that Paul is the picture of sartorial splendor, he always looks darling. As you know if you read A Fine Romance, he sometimes wears an ascot. He’s one of a kind. I love his new beard and mustache.
It’s men like this that give me hope for the world. (He’s in my pantry ironing his pants a couple of Christmases ago.) So I decided I wanted, even though I’m much too far away to do him total birthday justice, to help him and Rachel
So I decided to paint him in all his dapper charmingness, or at least as much as I could muster onto a flat piece of paper. Including the dog pin on his lapel and the brilliant scarlet handkerchief in his pocket.
The colors in that photo of him made it easy to make the decision ~ I had fun painting every single stripe, plaid and eye sparkle.
I’m almost done!
I added a few descriptive words, put on a little border, watercolored his name and then signed it. Paul is funny with words: instead of Vineyard Haven, he calls where we live “the Haven” (no one calls it that); and instead of Martha’s Vineyard which many people shorten to “The Vineyard,” not Paul, he calls it “Martha’s.” He calls Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, “Kimmie.” And now, so do we and all our friends do too. It’s catching . . . if you like Kimmie, you’ll probably call it that from now on too. It will go viral!
Witty, Talented and Cute. Oh yes, and he raises bees in their garden.
So, while Joe reglued an old frame we had lying around Smallville, taking out all the teeny nails and framing it for me . . . I wrote a card, and went looking through my sticker collection for something Birthday-like to put on the 
envelope. My eye landed on a three-dimensional pink polka-dot birthday hat, with a real, red-yarn pompom on top (no longer being made if you can imagine that sad state of affairs) I tried it on Paul. It fit perfectly. So him.
envelope. My eye landed on a three-dimensional pink polka-dot birthday hat, with a real, red-yarn pompom on top (no longer being made if you can imagine that sad state of affairs) I tried it on Paul. It fit perfectly. So him.
So I left it there, stuck to the outside of the glass, thinking it was kind of the cat’s meow. Joe wrapped it up in 3 lbs of bubble wrap and it’s on the way to England even as we speak.
So that’s what makes Smallville special, we’re in charge around here. We make our own fun.
And speaking of fun . . . it’s your turn! You know I can never just come out and announce the winner of a Giveaway. Oh no, must drag out the suspense like my dad used to do at Christmas, thereby almost doing his children in with the hysteria of the thought of what Santa might bring them!!! Unbearable! Hope I can do the same for you. (No, I know ~ it’s not quite the same thing!)
OK, anyway, Vanna, unlike her usual self (usually she sleeps in late, resting up because of the many Euro Trash parties she loves to attend), is actually already UP, and dressed and ready for her big moment. She wafts by me in the palest whisp of Chanel #5, wearing a gown that looks suspiciously JUST LIKE the one that Kate Hudson wore at the Golden Globes, (Vanna has no idea how she freaks out the people who live in Smallville. But her joie de vivre is so compelling I can’t bring myself to put a damper on her. I just let her do what she needs to do and get her out of here before Joe gets up!)
Our Vanna is named for Vanna White, the most well-known Game Girl of our times. Our virtual Vanna is a professional when it comes to 
drawing the winning name from a huge vat of names. Nobody does it better. She’s the double-oh-seven of the Game Girl world and we are proud to call her our own. This is one of her bedroom slippers.
drawing the winning name from a huge vat of names. Nobody does it better. She’s the double-oh-seven of the Game Girl world and we are proud to call her our own. This is one of her bedroom slippers.
And so. While I was writing about her, she was busy digging deep into the well with all your names ~ she actually dives in, a graceful high dive (especially in that dress), and swims through them to mix them up, she’s like the Little Mermaid that way, a little silver fish. And she just popped up with teeny piece of paper. Let me get my glasses . . .
Ohhhh, how wonderful! Here goes: The winner is . . . drum roll please . . .
J A N H A M M O N D !!!
Congratulations Jan!
You are our LUCKY Winner! Please look for an email in your box, write me back and send me your home address so I can pop your books in the mail to you. I hope the new books help organize you and Gale (in her comment, Jan mentioned that if she won, she’d give the other book to her girlfriend Gale).
But that’s not all, there’s more . . . first of all, here comes Valentine’s Day, and Janie made us some adorable new banners! I wanted to let you know before they’re all gone . . . Kellee snuck them into the store last week and they’re already flying out.
Janie always makes the cutest envelopes to go with the banners ~ these little banners make the perfect Valentine’s gifts.
Janie made these Swedish hearts for us too, they come in both white and red and in darling envelopes of their own.
Sooooo, I hope everyone is feeling festive and organized and no one is too disappointed ~ the hardest thing I do is announce a winner! But I really wanted to thank you for the lovely, wonderful comments you left on the last post. You are an amazing bunch of Girlfriends!
I feel like we’re on some sort of roll, I hate to see it come to an end, so, because it’s almost Valentine’s Day, I thought . . . maybe . . . we should . . .
have another. . .
another what? ~ another what? . . . another cup of tea?
La-dee-da . . . la-dee-da
GIVEAWAY!! After all, winter is long, and the secret of a happy life is continuous small treats, right? . . . and a tea pot really isn’t very big . . .just the perfect size for Smallville.
Remember, you saw that teapot in A Fine Romance?
I’ve had mine for a long time ~ remember how well it mixes with my mismatched dishes?
And how cute it looked at our Valentine’s Breakfast party with the Johnson Brothers Rose Chintz dishes? I think you would love having one as much as I do.
And there’s even more, it’s a really BIG Giveaway! Because I thought it would be nice to include this ~ a tin of our own private label Earl Grey tea with Lavender and Rose Petals. Yum!
Oh yes! And one more thing, since it’s Valentine’s Day we’re talking about . . .
I thought, even though most of you already have it, A FINE ROMANCE would make a good Valentine’s present because 
you could give it away to someone you love. And if you don’t already have the book, if your name is drawn, you would now have access to the recipe for Rachel’s Lemon Butter Cookies. It’s a win-win! And I hope you do! Win, I mean. My way of saying Thank You!
you could give it away to someone you love. And if you don’t already have the book, if your name is drawn, you would now have access to the recipe for Rachel’s Lemon Butter Cookies. It’s a win-win! And I hope you do! Win, I mean. My way of saying Thank You!
Kitties love it too.♥ And vice versa.
So, we’re going to have another drawing ~ after all we don’t want that silver manicure of Vanna’s to go to waste, 
and she adores Valentines Day more than any other . . . so, to sum up: if you left a comment on the post below for the Internet Address Books, you are already entered for the teapot, book and tea! But if not, leave a comment at the bottom of this post and tell your mom, your sister, your grammie, your BFF, your great-aunt Mary, your Twitter friends, Pinterest Peeps, and Facebook pals to come on over and enter too. 
The prizes: one of our dear Girlfriends is going to get a 4-cup, Emma Bridgewater Heart Teapot, my “Come Sit Stay” tea tin with delicious Lavender and Rose Petal Earl Grey Tea, AND a signed copy of A FINE ROMANCE.♥(And you think YOU’RE having fun! HA! When people talk about “the power of the Internet” I think this is what they mean! At least here in Smallville.)
Rubbing hands together in attack of pathological enthusiasm.
And P.S. if just thinking about this inspires you to envision having a Valentine’s Tea Party, the first thing you will need are invitations . . . so here you go! 
Click there and you can print out as many as you need on card stock or heavy paper (one of our girlfriends said she used a cut-down manila envelope and it worked perfectly! Probably an interesting color too, quite creative!) ~ 
invite your best girlfriends, your sisters, your mom, your best guy, or someone who simply needs an airing (as Joe would say, usually about me when I’ve been in the house too long), and celebrate as we do so well here in Smallville. Make Rachel’s cookies and some cucumber sandwiches, light the fire and a candle or two, talk, talk, talk, solve all the world’s problems, hash over Downton Abbey, and watch the cold and snow fade away to nothing.
Click there and you can print out as many as you need on card stock or heavy paper (one of our girlfriends said she used a cut-down manila envelope and it worked perfectly! Probably an interesting color too, quite creative!) ~ 
invite your best girlfriends, your sisters, your mom, your best guy, or someone who simply needs an airing (as Joe would say, usually about me when I’ve been in the house too long), and celebrate as we do so well here in Smallville. Make Rachel’s cookies and some cucumber sandwiches, light the fire and a candle or two, talk, talk, talk, solve all the world’s problems, hash over Downton Abbey, and watch the cold and snow fade away to nothing.
Ah yes, here’s Nature’s Valentine, out on our feeders . . . making the world more adorable one little birdie at a time.
Love you Girlfriends, have a wonderful day!♥
Lovely painting and what a cute teapot!
You whisk me away with your blog, dear Susan, thanks for that. Fingers crossed for your give-always.
Clare
I have always admired the heart tea pot! My quilt friendship group is coming to our house right before Valentine’s Day so I believe we will have a tea party!
Stay warm and toasty. Going out to do yard work now. It is about 70 degrees out today.
We have snow flakes!
Oh that teapot!!!!!! I love coming here 🙂
Love having you!
Oh, Susan. You never fail me. I come in to my job every day and run through my blog bookmarks to see what’s new in the world (most of them are for baking blogs). It’s always the best when there is a new blog entry for Susan Branch. So happy that you are back in the swing of things and delighting us all with your piece of the universe in Smallville. Thank-You!
What a sweet giveaway! I remember reading on your blog about your favorite tea. I tried duplicating because I couldn’t find it by buying lavendar buds and Earl Grey tea leaves and steeping together~it was the next best thing.
Ohhhhhh, that birthday card/picture. What a sweet treasure and what a sweet give-away. Thanks!
The painting is adorable, as is Paul….but I want to thank you for the song !
My mom taught that song to me when I was a little girl. I love it, but had not thought
Of it for a while ~ ~ you just made my day ~ ~ and gave me a very sweet memory of
My mom, who passed away 10 years ago. Thank you, Susan ! xxoo
How nice to hear that Mary. xoxo
Alphabetically speaking…you’re O-K !
LOL! Good one Mary!
Love the Emma Bridgewater teapot! It’s been so cold here in Wisconsin that it’s good to wrap your hands around a warm mug of tea, hot chocolate, coffee…..or just anything warm.
I need to get my hands on your 2015 calendar! The store I looked in last week was out! I found another cute one (I was desperate, as I use my wall calendar regularly at work), but it simple will not do. I need the mis-matched, comfy charm that your doodles and quotes bring my day!
Can’t wait to get my hands one on!
Hoping I can find one soon!
Valentines Day is one of my absolute favorite holidays! It makes me so excited just to see the heart garlands and teapots!
Hoping to get a little Heart Goodie or two in your drawing!
With so much love,
Lacy
A post filled with such lovely deliciousness just makes me smile. I love gentle bustle of activity in Smallville where you start slow and (I forget the rest of your saying). Paul Lucas is most dapper and a very fortunate fellow to receive such a greeting in the mail.
Pink is a wonderful antidote to the grey of winter around here. Pink gerberas smile on the hall table and I think a pink banner for V-Day might be in the works for the mantel.
Thank you for cheering us all up!
Start slow and taper off. 🙂
Once again-your contagious joy has struck again!
Everyday I hope for a new message from “Smallville” and today I was delighted to see I was rewarded- even with a gorgeous cardinal.
You warmed the cockles of this girlfriend’s heart!
Happy to hear that Judy!
What a fabulous birthday gift (treasure), your friend will be delighted!
What a fabulous giveaway! I have the Emma Bridgewater heart mug and would love to have the teapot to go with it. I’ve also been wanting to try that tea. Thank you for warming up a very cold Indiana day with your wonderful blog entry.
Some of those Sugar Moon brownies would be perfect with a cup o’ tea. Pass the plate, please!
ps…I’m convinced they don’t make men like Joe and Paul anymore. But if you see one, send him my way.
I’m going to start seeing if I can collect them in a little group!
What a splendid painting of Paul! So fun. You are a wonderful friend, Susan….. Thank you, thank you for the darling Valentine invitations. There a few of us who could use an airing. 🙂 We are going to have fun, and enjoy this beautiful world! …p.s. Thank you for a chance of owning A Fine Romance. I would love it to pieces!
I love the tea pot!! I also will try living more in the moment in Smallville. 🙂
Good for you Renee!
Here I am!! Just HAD to comment on this beautiful post, because it’s a little bit mine after all…so much darlingness to be found here, and all due to YOU! I will show the birthday boy ‘his’ post at an appropriate time…such delightful photos that brought back some great memories. He’s a one-off alright…everyday I count myself SO lucky that we found each other! Happily it’s mutual. Good luck everyone…it’s a fabulous giveaway! Xoxo
It’s a lot yours sweetheart! Not due to me, I don’t wear any cute ascots or striped ties! Love you darling. Hope you have the best party! xoxo
How delightful! My mom’s old teapot just lost it’s handle and smashed to pieces on the floor. The Bridgewater teapot would make a perfect replacement! =) Love your blog!
OMGosh another wonderful, beautiful, too generous of you give-away!! Love it all and really (I mean really really really) would love to win. By the way Vanna is lovely. Susan I think your card for Paul is just wonderful, it looks just like him!! I am sure he is going to be just thrilled (not sure if he will like his hat, but it is so very festive)! By the way what kind of shoes are those, hard to tell from the picture? Thank you for yet another joyful post, just love to read them so much, it’s like the frosting on my day! P.S. Congrats Jan!!
He can remove the hat, that’s the good thing about the hat. He’s stuck with everything else that’s on that painting!
Personally I love the hat! (I used to always make my kids wear one when we sang happy birthday, I don’t think they liked it very much, but now I see them doing the same thing!! I think what goes around DOES come around. Hugs to you xoxo
Oh Susan, I’m so excited about your newest giveaway. I commented on your last post, but this one really makes my heart sing. Our only granddaughter is named Emma, she is 3years old and fills our hearts with true radiance every time we hear her say Grammie or papa! So, when I saw the Emma teapot I beamed with great delight. This cute little teapot, special tea, and a Fine Romance are true gifts indeed. Thank you.
P.S. My girlfriends and I go to a cute little tea house, and enjoy it always.
Oh, what a fabulous give away! I love Emma Bridgewater…….actually, I love everything English. I just heard that a new member from my needlework guild went to England last summer, planning her trip via FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE. I hope to get together with her soon to help me plan our trip!
Becca
PS Thanks for the tea party invitations!
I’m in! Love that sweet little teapot. Perfect for teatime on wintry days or anytime. And I am off to order up the Swedish hearts right now–adorable. Must have.
Love the painting of Paul. He is indeed the picture of Sartorial Splendor! The party hat is perfection. 🙂
You’ve reminded me that I need to make Rachel’s butter cookies again — so good! Nice to see your collection of Rose Chintz dishes. I only have a couple of pieces that I bought when I lived in London. One can never have too much crockery after all, or too many tea parties. ♥
Thank you Jama!
Loved the picture you made for your friend. What a lucky guy. We are waiting for some exciting news on Thurs. , to learn the sex of our 6th grandchild arriving this spring. Our sons first. I’ve been busy making a crib quilt, in cross stitch, with mother goose figures. I love your Smallville reference to home, it’s just perfect for everyone to use. We need to feel connected to our surroundings now more than ever. Older sister in my heart, Karen U.
So happy to hear about the baby!
There are billions and billions of snowflakes in our yard right now. A good, well brewed cuppa warms more than just the teapot. It is as lovely as reading your blog. Listening to music, giveaways, watching the card creation process, smiling. It all just works so well. Thank you
Susan! Oh! My! Goodness! What an amazing giveaway! Someone will be very lucky, and I hope that someone is me!
You have snowflakes! Yay for winter snowflakes! We’ve no snow here, though our rain gauge measured two inches of rain in less than 24 hours! Windy and cold today.
Wonderful gift that is making its way across the Atlantic Ocean. Won’t he be just absolutely thrilled? Would love to try some of Rachel’s brownies!
Sending you warm hugs!
xo Nellie
Hello Susan, what a lovely teapot, indeed it looked familiar from your book.
Please may I be considered in your drawing. I love the idea of using your invitations for a special tea party, such a good idea! Thank you. Best wishes from stormy and rainy Belgium.
What a lovely post! And another giveaway- it’s too good to be true. I already ordered the new Love banner, and I am feeling inspired to have a Valentine’s tea party. Thanks for all of the ideas.
Do you know what my heart cried out!!! Oh pick me! Pick me! A teapot with hearts and tea with lavender in it! At 58 is it proper to hop up and down and call out…right arm respectfully waving in the air…pick me! Going to make a cuppa right this minute!
Oh Susan! I collect teapots so this would be the most wonderful addition! I have two of Emma’s mugs and this teapot would complete them. I would definitely have a Valentine tea party. Thank you for another wonderful give away! You are the best most generous Susan! 🙂
AWWW. How sweet. The gift of art from the heart is just the best.
P&R will love their painting. I think I’ll go make something!
I was thinking, “That’s the teapot I need!” and wondering if I could buy one and here you are giving one away! No matter how warm it gets here in Southern California, I always start my day with a pot of tea. It gets my brain in gear. 🙂
Oh I would love to win! I’m one of the few that DON’T have your book yet. Sad, I know but buying books tends to come last, after groceries and bills and all those other important things. 🙂
I do understand. xoxo Hope you win!
Oh my, I just HAVE to leave a comment on this amazing giveaway! I adore every single thing in this prize, someone is going to be a very lucky winner :>)
Thank you for the beautiful posts, I enjoy them so much, and for this lovely chance to win such lovely things!
My Sophia is 13 and loves England! She so badly wishes to go, this could give us more time to save -up! What a great gift for her at Valentine’s Day. A passion shared between mother and daughter and a cup of tea while we snuggle by the fire.
Perfection!
Wow! This would add sparkle to cold, dark winter days. Thank you for the chance!
Thanks for your beautiful website, Susan. I visit a few times a week.
Love the heart teapot. It reminds me of the tea parties I had some years
ago with quilting friends. I can’t think of anything sweeter.
Great painting. Love Alice, thanks for all the photos!
Oh wow! What if I don’t remember if I signed up for the last giveaway or not? I read about it, and even told my kids about it (because I only had to change my Apple ID about 20 times last year due to not being able to remember my password!), but I don’t remember if I put my name in the hat. I definitely want to put my name in the hat for the teapot draw, though. A Fine Romance was my favorite book read last year, and I’ve already given away one copy. What fun!
At first I thought the new give away was going to be a pair of Merrell shoes like yours. Ha!
What a lovely birthday gift for your dear friend Mr. Lucas.
Stay warm and cozy in your sweaters and shawl.
I hope I win! 🙂
Great job on the painting!! I have the perfect mismatched group of dishes that is missing a teapot ~ they would be so happy to have a heart one ~ would make them feel complete!! Enjoy the snow!!!
Oh! Susan!! You are the most generous person I have ever known! Just winning one item from your giveaway would be so exciting!! Love you and love your blog. Paul’s Birthday portrait is amazing, too! Hugs from Barbara S in Cumming, GA
The Emma Bridgewater teapot is adorable!
Love, love, love the tea pot.
I had so much fun reading your blog post today Susan! A warm cup of tea and your cheery words, quotes and pictures make this cold day glow with warmth. Thanks!
Love the Birthday painting (would you like to know when my Birthday is?) If you are fond of men with beards and “taches” you would love to be in England now – all the “trendy” young men have them! Something to do with Downton I believe. (my husband, two sons and son-in-law are all bearded) Oh and a request – would you send a flock of Red Cardinals my way, please? Pretty please?
Consider it done! 🙂
Wow! I shall keep looking for them xx Drove 10 or so miles today to a car park – just so I could sprinkle sunflower hearts along the wall and sit in our car to watch the birdies! Robin, Nuthatch, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting and more. Snowflakes and cold today.
Oh Susan, there are so many happy things to love in your posts.
I love the hearts in this one….and you Birthday card is wonderful.
But it was the music that really touched me today….we always sang that song in the car when I was little….it took me right back….thank you.
Jacquie x
Us too Jacquie!
What a beautiful painting. You are amazingly talented. Thank you for reminding me of those lemon butter cookies. They are fantastic–that buttery, cornmeal-y, crumbly deliciousness. I think I will make a log for my freezer to slice and bake later. They are perfect with tea. Even my teenage boys and husband love them. A nice change from chocolate chip! A lovely post!
Love your “cookie review!” Crumbly, cornmeal-y deliciousness!
I love the story and then the Birthday card. It looks wonderful and the hat is the perfect touch. Your talent always amazes me. I love your paintings. That heart teapot is absolutely adorable. I know I would drink lots more tea if I had that. Thank you for another wonderful blog post.
Well done to Jan and her friend Gale! I know they will love them.
We had an electric storm, right overhead, about three hours ago and I shut everything down toot sweet because we don’t want to be without t’internet for another nine days like we were back in October!!! So, the storm has passed for now {although much damage is done across the county as there was a real tornado!!!} and I decided to turn everything off properly, as you should, before going to bed, so I plugged all back in, turned the Hub on and ~~~ Oh! A treat at bedtime ~ it is bedtime Across the Pond ~ I’m still humming the blissful tune to Prince Caspian and really must go find out what it is called and who sings it because I love it greatly ~~~ am I rambling now? ~~~
Okay, now I’m humming “It’s a Small World After All” because I have not long finished the last of my Sugar Moon Brownies until my next treat time ~ I put them in the freezer and take them out as a real treat ~~~ they are the best brownies I’ve ever eaten ~ this one, tonight, was a Toasted Pecan ~ yummiliciousness ~~~ and here you are telling us all about the adorable Rachel and her hubby Paul! Love the painting you have done of him ~~~ it really is the Bees Knees ~~~
Time to go beddie byes now ~~~ Nos Da!
~~~Waving~~~from Across The Pond~~~Debs in Wildly Windy Wuthering Wet Wonderful West Wales xoxo
I know for a fact that there is love in every one of those brownies! 🙂
There is! Thanks, Deb, for the lovely words…so happy you enjoy them xx
Aren’t these connections just amazing . . . where impossible meetings actually happen!
So wish you were delivering to the good old USA!
You are most welcome, and I really do love your brownies Rachel! They are the best ever and if it wasn’t for Susan I might never have met you or discovered them ~~~Deb xoxo
Love your blog…..I wish you posted everyday:)
WOW!! Super great post! Especially the painting of your friend – great likeness. Your cheerfulness is much appreciated here. My Dad, with Alzheimer’s, is staying with me for now, and we’ve been in 1950’s most of the day. Great give-away too! The heart teapot would look great with my Franciscan Desert Rose dishes.
It would! Best of the 50’s I hope!
Ohhhh, I would love a new teapot. And some tea. And a copy of A Fine Romance. What a wonderful treat for Valentine’s Day. So nice of you to think of sharing. Stay warm up there in the snowy north!
Very nice the drawing for Paul, it is sure that he will be charmed with. Since to my also I would be charmed with being able tene the tea-pot of hearts, or the tita of the tea and if it could have the book, already it would be a dream. It might do a photo with the book and in the bottom one would see the mount To The mano, which is my people. A very big embrace from Spain Susan. Mari Carmen
Same to you Mary!
We have long been “Kimmie” lovers although didn’t know to refer to it with this wonderful nickname! Now we must be part of the group and use the secret word!
🙂 Jeanie . . . and try it with an English accent!
Susan, I just put away our Christmas decorations and put out a teapot and some vintage china on the buffet. I usually put snowmen, but its been too cold for too long here and tea things spoke to me:) What a generous give away – I hope I’m lucky!
Love this teapot and have enjoyed “shopping” on your website. I do love those banners and have bought several!
Thanks for another lovely post! Wonderful card for your friend. Love the beautiful table setting!
Susan, I love your post. The dishes are beautiful. Congrats to Jan. Oo-la-la to Paul Lucas. Yummy boy. Love seeing all your wonderful pictures. Blessings, xoxo,Susie
I’ve been ooohing and ahaaing over the lavender tea for some time and would love to have some in the lovely tin. Our winter weather is a simply perfect time to brew up a pot in the cute tea pot. I must try the delicious cookies very soon.
Love your blog and your kitties!
Oh my goodness. That teapot matches my little footed bowl and my “Darling” ( that’s what it says with the hearts) cup that I ordered from you sometime last year. In fact, I loved the bowl so much, I gave one to each of my best friends on my birthday last year! My day is at the end of the month and I’m gearing up for my second annual girlfriends night at the B&B. We had such fun last year eating forbidden carbs and such and I’ve found the prettiest pink Italian sparkling wine for this year. I’m thinking I need to get a couple of those Valentine banners to go with their thanks for coming gifts! My hubby’s new knee is healing and I’ll be off duty then! Yippee! Loved the painting you did for Paul. What a lovely surprise! Anxious to hear his response! Thanks for the blog today and the chance for Vanna to work her magic for us all!
Oh what joy you give me on a dreary day! Thank you!
What lovely posts you write! Thank you for such a generous giveaway.
It’s all tooooo adorable!
Ok…I REALLY would love to win the teapot for so many reasons! First, I lived in Yorkshire for eight years and came to love tea in a teapot. Second, I strive to live in the Smallville in my heart each and every day, and in that place I make a pot of tea for myself every day. Third I collect things with hearts on them….it isnValentine’s day here every day in my home. It would look ever so cute in my bay window with other Valentine-related things. So you see I really MUST have it!
That makes perfect sense to me! How lucky you were to live in Yorkshire!
What a beautiful gift you painted. The only teapot I have is your teapot, and I love it! Valentine’s Day is coming up quick. Enjoy…
A pot of tea, a good book, maybe a little painting. Your posts make me smile! Great ideas for a gray winter day!
Your posts always inspire me. Whether it’s too cook, to paint, or just to decorate with whimsy. Thank you for bringing more color to the world. 🙂
Your blog always elevates my spirits and lowers my blood pressure by reminding me to focus on what is truly lovely and important. Bless you!
Susan, how I’ve loved your calendars and books for many years! Finding your blog was such a treat, and has even inspired me to do some painting of my own. Love seeing your sweet pictures here also! And that teapot … swoon** Have a lovely day!
Miss Sue – you are so generous to all of us girl friends! I love the gift for Rachel’s dear Paul, a one-of-a-kind, super-special memento that he will treasure for sure! The teapot is so lovely and all the tea to go with it! A tea party will definitely be required!!!
I keep saying that I don’t need another tea pot, but……….. that one is so darn pretty. Consider me entered.
oh joy! oh bliss!! A tea and teapot giveaway. Be still my heart. Congrats to Jan on the address book. Here’s hoping I’m drawn for the teapot. I’m already planning my table setting 🙂
Loved reading your blog today. Even those of us who live in the Deep South (Louisiana) have experienced cold weather this week- below freezing temps. I cannot imagine below zero! Your writings are warm and cheerful; I am ready to give up my glass of ice tea for a cup of tea. Keep warming our lives with your words!!!
I was having a problem with my internet connection today. My husband helped me solve the problem when he arrived home from work. The FIRST thing I did was check your website and hollered, “Oh! Susan posted a new blog! Yay!!” My husband knew exactly what I was talking about and was happy for me, because I’m always showing him your blog. Thank you, Susan, for so much pleasure during these cold winter months. And thank you for another giveaway!!
Any day with a new Susan blog addition makes me happy! Just the antidote to winter blues… The Paul painting is just too cute for words. What a nice birthday surprise for him. I would just love to win the drawing. Received my first Emma mug for Christmas. I suspect that a new collection was started 🙂 A pretty teapot would be the perfect addition. Hope Vanna picks me!
Already in from last time but I had to comment. Lucky, lucky Paul to get such a wonderful Susan Branch original. I love this post and all the happy thoughts and imaimages it gives out. You are the best-never stop!
xo. Sue from Simi
You are such an inspiration. I love Valentine’s Day! I am a incurable romantic and love to make my husband feel special. The teapot is too cute and would look so good in my hutch. Bless you for spreading such cheer.
Love your blog and following you on Twitter. This give away is amazing as it combines my love of tea, tins and hearts. Can’t beat that! I am so excited! My fingers are crossed. Thank you for all you do!
Paul is so lucky to have such a lovely gift. But then so are we! Thank you for sharing Susan. The teapot would be great and so would the tea. I would share the book with my daughter! Love.
What a great idea for an old address book! Love it
Reading your posts makes me happy! Lately I’ve been requesting tea parties for Christmas and my birthday. My daughters create lovely ones. The teapot and tea would be lovely at our next one. Re-reading A Fine Romance is something I want to do soon. Thank you for everything and Happy New Year!
Here in The City with a Heartbeat — Loveland, CO — Valentine’s Day rules. Thank you for sweetening the anticipation with an adorable give-away. You make life brighter!
Love, love your blog, just makes me happy reading it. Thank you!
I love the teapot! This post makes me want to decorate for Valentine’s Day, make a cake, and have a tea party! I love your blog. Seeing that there’s a new post always makes my day.
What a beautiful post, Susan,
The drawing of Paul is something I am sure will be a beloved treasure to him.
Every time I look at your artwork, I am amazed. That is only one of the reasons I purchase your calendar. It makes me happy every day to look at it.
Does Rachel deliver her brownies to the U.S.? I am sure they would be better than the few times I have tried to make brownies.
Would love the chance at that beautiful teapot. I used to collect things with hearts.
Please enter me for the drawing. What an adorable teapot & tea tin. I already have your wonderful book, but it would make a great Valentine gift for someone I know. Thanks for your charming blog!
What a most memorable gift for your dear friend! He’s one lucky man . Love the teapot it is sooo festive and so cherry! This uppermidwest girl could use some hot tea on these cold winter days
I so want to win! I love that teapot! If I do you are invited to tea at my house and I will use my vintage Johnson Bros. tea set from my grandmother. Plus I’ll make some wonderful cookies from my aunt’s precious vintage unused-datebook-from-1958-turned-recipe-file. ( and if I don’t win, you should really come by anyway, I’m just outside NYC.) Btw, I love the glimpse of your pantry, everything about you is so cozy and lovely. All your posts are like a visit from a dear friend.
(ok, I’m gushing now, sorry…!)
You are perfect xoxo
I always love your blog and really like the picture of your friend, that will be a very special present for them. The tea pot is adorable and the china is too. Just love everything about your little place in the blog world, please don’t ever stop sharing we need ‘good news’.
After another grey, rainy day I am blessed to be able to read your blog… Thank YOU!
So excited when I was reading your latest Blog ..and saw your Paul drawing into painting..and immediately thought ..I’ll bet Rachel has ALREADY seen it…What a hoot for both of them ..and how hard it will be for her to wait to show him your Blog …And speaking of Rachel ..how’s her cookbook coming?? I do receive her Blogs …but haven’t seen (or I missed it somehow) any mention…AND….that Teapot is ”loverly”… thanks for your ”sharing gifts” to us!! Just a chance to win ..is a ”win” .. Smiles and Sparkles…Blessed Be !!!!
Hopefully she’ll read this and answer for us both . . . I think her business has turned out to be a bit more successful than she expected which is good and bad, bad for cookbook writing, good for everyone else!
Oh my…….I do love that teapot! I also love reading your blog. Thank you for making a cold Indiana winters’ day a little warmer!
What a lovely tribute you’ve created for your friend’s birthday. It’s beautiful – just like all your other creations.
ps. I chuckle at how your post says ‘good morning’ and here I am reading at nightnight time. LOL!
I had the post done at 10 am yesterday, but my computer wouldn’t let me put it up! Finally, at around 4, I breathed a sigh of relief when it went! Hence, Good Morning. But I know we’re all in some other sort of time zone anyway!
Susan, this is soooo wonderful. A second drawing, the tea pot would be beautiful in my kitchen and so very loved. Tea and A Fine Romance sound lovely together. I don’t have a copy yet.
Hi Susan, I bought A Fine Romance for my husband , on our recent 40th anniversary . He’s an Anglophile and he absolutely loves the book . He reads it every evening after working all day . I think it’s a nice, restful escape for him . Thank you for writing it . Btw, the rose dishes in the photo are gorgeous ! Hosting a tea , is something I’ve wanted to do in a long time……maybe a Lilac Tea when the lilacs are in bloom this April ! 🙂
Thanks for the lovely post. Love the teapot. Love the hearts. Are you going to put up your hearts desktop background again soon? I love that for the Valentine’s season!