‘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!♥
Swooon! I’ve been sorting teacups allll day, but there’s no charming teapot to go along. To say nothing of TEA! If wishes made it so… Thank you again for lighting our days. SWAK!
As always… your words come at the perfect time. Thanks for turning my busy, grumpy day into an Ahhhh… and for taking me to England and back again. Much love, Mitzie
Ooooo…your Paul Lucas Birthday Painting is delightful! I can hear your friend, Rachel, squeal! I’m going make Rachel’s Lemon Butter Cookies in honor of Paul’s birthday. It’s so nice when people have birthdays, isn’t it?
OOOOHHHH!!! What a wonderful post! Pick me, pick me. 😉 Thanks for sharing the beauty of your artwork with us so generously. I never cease to be inspired by your posts. Happy January!!
Christi
What a lovely give-a-way from a very lovely lady. Susan, thank you so much for being in my life. I can’t begin to tell you what a God send you are. love you……
Love everything about your art and so enjoy your blog. The prize is so YOU and I love the combination. I order the tea and love it! Love! Love! Love! I think we have a theme here…
Valentine’s Day is the perfect time for a tea party! A teapot all covered with hearts takes the cake! I love your painting of Rachel’s husband…he’s very dapper (even barefoot at the ironing board!) You give such lovely gifts. You are a sweet friend!
Susan,
Your blog posts are always a joy to read! I just smile every time I drop by 🙂 And what an awesome giveaway!! Thanks for sharing your special brand of happiness with all of us!
I’m having a tough time dealing with the fact that I missed out on a 2015 wall calendar!! Ugh! But at least I have the mini calendar in my office, so I can get my daily dose of SB goodness! Please help cheer me up with the teapot and your beautiful book!! God bless!
I have missed your blog for awhile Susan, and having just finished reading this post I wonder – Where Have I Been? I love everything about it – the writing, the art, the photo’s and always the music. Perry Como was one of my Mom’s favorite singers ~ hearing your MUSICA brought a smile to my heart. I will be checking back in often again, as I realize how happy this site makes me!! Thank You, Thank You for that 🙂
I just LOVE everything you do!!! <3
Your heartwarming blog is always such an inspiration. Thank you for sharing it with all of us, your “kindred spirit” girlfriends!
As one who was raised on show tunes, I can attest that my children think long and hard before watching a musical in this house…but I will say that I take great pride in the fact that my eight year old son knows the words to “Singing In The Rain”, he was belting it out just this morning! What is life without a daily belting out of song? In this world we need to make our own happy…that is one thing I am trying to instill in my children. Thank you for helping me do that! We all love your work and hope you know how appreciated you are. xoxo Marybeth
Yes, that kind of “happy” does not come from the outside!
I don’t whistle while I work, I sing. I sing when I run. Once I was singing while running a 10K about 15 years ago, and a lady running up from behind asked if she could run with me because she didn’t have her walkman along. LOL
How darling!
What a delightful birthday card you created for your English pal Paul. It’s very fun to bask in the warmth of the friendship between you and Joe and Paul and Rachel. Got the dreaded flu bug even though I got the shot — about 75% “back” so every little bit of fun helps. Thanks.
first of all, love the shoes and the vent idea. love the painting….he is a dapper man. his doggie pin is dapper, too ! thank you for pointing our way to St. Valetines’ day. the pot is precious. but having a pot of tea with those you love is even more so. thank you, Susan. keep your toes toasty , your paint brush at the art of painting and your smile warm.
Dear Susan, Today I received my copy of the blue address book which I ordered from you. I love it! I could hardly wait to open it. I had one of my kitties on my lap at the time of the delivery. You are so o o creative. I got so excited when I opened it and looked at all the filler pages. The drawings and quotes are so sweet. It is a breath of fresh air in our crazy world! Thank you so much for getting up early, being inspired, and doing the work it takes to produce the wonderful items you have made available to us!! It brings so much joy!! Blessings to you and Joe and kitties!!
Lovely comments like yours, and all our Girlfriends, inspire me, make me feel like what I do matters, I could not ask for more, my cup runneth over.
I love reading your blogs! They make me so happy. My daughter Rachel and I love having tea parties. And I don’t mean just the type you have with your daughter when they’re little and sit around with their stuffies. My daughter is 14 yrs. old and she loves to have her friends over or meet them at the park and have a real tea party. It’s such a wonderful thing to see teenagers dressing up and having a tea party.
Susan what a delightful offer! As always a joy to read your blog. Always something nice to think about or look forward to. I’d love to win the cute tea pot, tea and the wonderful book. I think I’d save it for a younger family member to have when she gets older. Want to share with them special joys also. Thank you!!!
Oh to open up a package and find the most perfect of birthday cards, filled with love and wit and made special ! Such a lovely gift and so full of your heart and love . Thank you so much for sharing with us all. The pictures, the chatter and some wonderful gifts!
Dearest Susan, Your blog is like a ray of sunshine on a grey day! Thank you! I would love to be entered for the drawing for the wonderful heart teapot and tea accoutrements! Thank you, Suzette in Oregon
Thank you for your blog! It’s always nice to relax and escape with you and your lovely artwork!
Your posts are always such a bright spot in my days and today was no exception.
Your happy colors, the music, and a tea party. How I love to have tea of various sorts and in pretty cups at that. My goal has been to have more people come for a simple tea and treats at least once a week during these cold and dreary days. I have been pretty isolated for a while and not only is it not healthy for me, but I suspect many others need a lift as well. To feel special and to have someone else
do a few extra things for Them…..you have inspired me further…..just use what I have and go for it. May even do a little something for Valentine’s Day.
The teapot is charming with all its little hearts. I am just now reading your wonderful book (the library finally got it in) and would so enjoy a copy of my very own.
Stay warm.
I love that you’re venturing out . . . xoxo
I would love these gifts soooo much,
being a tea girl. Wish your friend a happy birthday,
he is going to love the painting.
I have really enjoyed your new book, A FINE ROMANCE. That sounds like a trip of a lifetime! Your descriptions were so lovely. And I have tried to track down some of the wonderful Earl Grey tea with Lavender that you described but no luck around here! I am still fairly new to your site but am absolutely enjoying it. Our winter, unfortunately, has yet to arrive, so am enjoying your winter pics as well. Thanks for being such a bright spot in so many lives. You are such a blessing!!
If you can’t find the tea, I put some in my web store (I knew it would be hard to find . . . thought it would be rude to love something so much, write about it, and not figure out some way that others could enjoy it too!) Thank you for sweet comment Kim!
I so would love having tea with my friends and serving with the heart pot !
Hi Susan,
I enjoy reading your blog and I try to catch it at least once a week. Being a middle school teacher keeps me a little busier than I would like to be!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the EB teapot! I have mismatched dishes similar to yours, and it would blend in fabulously!
Happy 2015 to you and Joe!
Hugs,
Sharon
Just LOVE your blog!! I get SO sad when I come to the end. You are so talented in putting life into words. Thank you for all you do to help us remember what is important in life!!
Blessings!
So beautiful….all of it! Your words, your water color painting, your writing, and your give away.
Susan. Would love to win the teapot, tea and your book. I enjoy your writings so much. Was so excited to find out you’re a fan of Gladys Taber. I loved her wtitings and though she had been forgotten. I have all your lovely cookbooks.
Another give away? I’m not complaining. You are MOST generous!! Still hope for me to win!
I loved the birthday portrait of your friend.. Looks just like the photo. Portraits are so hard to do! You’re incredibly good! What a nice present!
Thank you Kirsten!
Alice looks exactly like my little dog, Jack. Wish Alice & Jack could meet one another.
And, your English friend is certainly dapper. What a handsome man. I love the B’Day picture you made for him. He’ll certainly cherish that forever & ever. Those English men usually have such good manners. How can we ever resist their accents, as well. Do you have a bit of a crush on your friend? I’m sure Joe is so sure of you that he never gets jealous, eh? (Sandy from Chihuahua Flats)
Not a crush really, I just love him! Joe does too!
I can’t think of a more incredible birthday gift! Priceless! I’m sure your friend Paul will cherish it always. And what better way to celebrate with him than with a cup of tea from that adorable teapot! Sign me up!
I followed the link from FB to your blog and I am so glad I did! What an inspiration and great fun. A Feb tea party is just the thing to chase away the winter blues. I am looking forward to reading your book and settling down with a nice cuppa-hopefully it will come from that lovely teapot.
Please enter me Susan in your contest, I love your blog, books, and art work. You are extremely talented in so many ways!!!!! I had your book but gave it away to my sister and now I need another copy!!!!!
I recently took two draughts and a granddaughter to our first tea…in Cave Creek, Arizona! A very British tearoom in the middle of the beautiful desert. It was so delightful and I’ve been gathering recipes so I can host my girlies at home. Thanks for your inspiration. I always leave your blog with a smile on my face.
Oh dear auto correct…that’s two daughters!
What? You didn’t take two draughts? 🙂
What a delightful post…I am blown away by your watercolour art and your friends in England will love your thoughfulness for ‘the special birthday.’
This January 4th was a year since our youngest son died and your posts have lightened the pain for me. Since meeting you and JOe when we were on Cape Cod I feel more than ever like your girlfriend; maybe more like an adopted ‘mother’.
We have a Lavender Farm in our area for the last 10 years and I had my first taste of lavender tea in their bistro and of course had to purchase some to brew for my friends. I am sure yours is just as ‘tasty’ and how good would it taste in the heart teapot. When I had my business, years ago now, I called it ‘Heart’s Desire Studio’ as I felt we all had a ‘special heart’s desire’. Your teapot would be lovely to win but I would be happy with a 63rd wedding anniversary card in September.
I have already posted for the other draw but wanted to thank you for today’s post which I am enjoying at almost 11:30 pm.
With a prayerful heart,
Sylvia Faye
With a prayerful heart for you Sylvia. xoxo
I so love your artwork and your outlook. Simple things to make one happy. My mom and sister and I love to go to tearooms in our area. What a great giveaway! We love Earl Grey tea too!
I’m not too sure if I’m commenting on the right blog A Fine Romance, singing at the top of your lungs, but here goes. I’m quite a newcomer to the blog but absolutely love it. I live in the Uk but brought the book as a travelogue for us to explore our own country in a different way. I’m very new to painting also, watercolour and pen and ink so once again the book is an inspiration, just have to neaten up my handwriting, if only. If I was lucky enough to win this month I would certainly make good use of the gift as my other passion is collecting vintage china and table linen, so definitely keeping my fingers crossed . Thanks Susan for your wonderful words and pictures x
Welcome Barbara, very nice to meet you!
I just can’t think of anything more lovely than to have that teapot. Just love it. It is ” all things Susan Branch” to me. You are such a fun neat lady who brightens so many lives. Thank you, thank you for being you.
Oh I have long coveted that tin! And the teapot is so darling. And I do have the book but I have someone I would love to give it to. So thank you for a chance to win these!
Paul will be thrilled with his painting – what a special gift! I would love to see his face when he sees it (if he hasn’t already!). Thank you for a warm little snuggly in the cold of a difficult winter.
What lovely gifts! And though I Do have your book (it lives on my nightstand, so I can easily visit England, whenever I want), I’d love to be able to share it with someone else so they could visit there with you too. Thanks for such a wonderful chance!
p.s. Love that little cardinal at your feeder! Someday I really hope to see one in person.
p.s.s. Happy birthday to your friend Paul! You truly did capture his sartorial splendor!
Trying to stay warm for my first winter in Massachusetts! Drinking lots of hot tea and snuggle under blankets! Just need a good book to read now! Check out my new stoore to open in March in Spencer MA facebook.com/pages/Whimsy/870731399613405
Hi Susan, Your post beautifully illustrated a loving gesture of friendship ~ taking time and care to create a gift for your friend. The fanciful portrait is a treasure and the sticker on the glass was perfection!
Thank you for sharing with us ❤
You are just the nicest friend. Love that birthday card that you made for Paul.
It would be so nice to win the teapot. I drink tea all the time, but I do not have a pretty pot. Keep drawing your fantastic pictures.
Good Morning Susan!
I can’t get over what a great artist you are! Your picture for Paul is just charming! He seems like a great and interesting person too! You are most generous in your giveaways, and the teapot is the bees buzz! I have some delicious honey to go with that tea and juicy Meyer lemons too… I wish you an awesome day today and think of you often! Luv, Elaine~
You’ve put me in the mood to do some Valentine crafting. And to plan a tea party for my grandkids. Love your ideas and your paintings. Always an inspiration!
My visits with you are always a delight Susan. Like all your readers, I feel like I am spending time with an old friend. Love, LOVE the birthday gift you made for Paul and the little birthday hat is the perfect addition! I am sure he will be thrilled beyond measure with it, not just for the art, but because it comes from you and Joe. Gifts from much loved friends are always the best. It’s been bitterly cold here, but today the sun is shining and in the UK you must make hay whilst the sun shines. Many will be out and about today enjoying it, cold or not! Love the Valentines hearts, etc. Your posts are always a delight . . . and Perry Como on top of it all. Sigh . . .
I just love visiting your blog.. as Im sure that all these others do! such a fun, relaxing place!
have a great weekend!
xoxo
Good morning Susan. I am so embarrassed, as I was trying to FIX my grammar yesterday and both comments showed up. I see they need moderation. Can you erase the 2nd and 3rd comments of mine on the 2nd page.
I will look for them Margot, the comments don’t seem to come to me in order, so I promise to do my best! Everybody knows you’re brilliant anyway, so don’t worry too much.
I have waited all my life for someone to call me that. LOL When one is short and blonde, one doesn’t get much respect. LOL
LOL, well, I’m still keeping my eyes open for your comments!
Ah, thanks to a friend winning one of your books, I discovered your delightful blog. I don’t want to stop reading. Paul’s birthday gift, the bad part is you won’t see him open it. What joy you bring. The Valentines have me thinking of February … thank you for this.
Honestly, I think it was probably more for me than for him! Joy of getting can never equal joy of giving! 🙂
I agree about the giving. You have given to Rach too. She will always have a special picture of her husband in her home.
I love love love the picture you painted of your friend Paul <3. What a present that will become a treasured heirloom, someday. It's so charming and filled with your exquisite vision and talent. Susan, you make SO many people happy with your immeasurable talent. Thank you~
The secret is, I actually did it for Will.♥️
You truly are a beautiful person, you exhibit such beauty and joy. You bring such beauty into this world and especially mine. Each post is so enjoyed, thank you. The painting for your friend…what a gift. The generous give always are such a statement of the woman you are. It would be divine to be the recipient of this one or any of them. I am gifted each time I see your blog, thank you for such a generous spirit. God bless
Oh Lisa, so nice. xoxo
Oh, the teapot. The tea tin. The book. This is the best giveaway! I enjoy your art-thank you! I’m so looking forward to having some tea with my daughter. I get a little giddy whenever there is a new post…this was no exception.
Love the Valentine Tea Party idea! My turn to host Book Club in February – I think I will do a Valentine Tea Party! Great idea Susan, thanks!
Oh, they will love that, Lynda, who wouldn’t!
There are so many things to love in this post….dear sweet Alice, the kitty reading, the birthday card, the birthday concert and of course the beautiful teapot. You would have enjoyed the lovely tea party my Girls put together for their Nana over the holidays. A new teapot would be the perfect addition to our collection.
I typed out the most perfect comment (haha) and them work blocked it from posting. 🙁 but I’m back and better than ever! Love your book – the sweetest surprise gift from a wonderful girlfriend. She introed me to you! You are so sweet for sharing sunshine in the middle of winter. Even in SC it gets cold and I pretty much despise cold weather (I’d die in seriously cold weather). Crossing my fingers Vanna finds my name in the pot! Xoxo
I love Paul’s picture – what a wonderful gift! Speaking of Downton Abbey, I’m not sure what took me so long, but I FINALLY jumped on the bandwagon. I found the first 4 seasons in a box set and started watching it this past weekend. I’m already 1/2 way through Season 2 (thank you Michigan winter). With my fondness for all things British, how could I not have done this before. I need to hurry to catch up to the new season 🙂
Yay to have you on the bandwagon with us! 🙂
I just absolutely LOVE your website and truly just everything about you! Thank you SO much for sharing your gift of art and writing with us. Happy Valentine’s Day! What a great gift to someone!
What wonderful prize’s for a drawing. However, the real prize is having my own wonderful day after reading your posts. In this frazzled world we live in, it is so lovely to be grounded by pure and gracious thoughts that you give to us all. You give us the ability to live the lives we crave, even if it’s only in our own little homes, or perhaps even in our own minds for a brief moment. Your soothing words, wonderful ideas, and caring spirit, are a breath of fresh air to everyone…a healing balm to those needing comfort. Thank you for making a difference in so many lives.
Yes, we can’t control the big world, but we can make our own little worlds pretty sweet. xoxo
Love the birthday card and the story. Would like the teapot, tea, and book too! Thank you.
Hi Susan, thank you for yet another wonderful blog post and giveaway. I would love to start my Emma Bridgewater collection with that beautiful tea pot!! Also have been wanting to try your tea, it looks so good!
Susan not only do I love your name your blog is beyond wonderful. I want to have a tea part with my sister. She is almost at the end of 100 days of post transplant recovery. I’ll start on the menu that accommodates all the various restrictions involved. Have a great day.
What a wonderful thing to celebrate!
My sister-n-law let me borrow her copy of A Fine Romance about a year ago. I couldn’t put it down from the moment I opened it! I can’t wait to take a trip (and possibly never leave) the Old English Countryside. And since then I have been reading your blog and stories all the time. You inspire me to be a better homemaker, wife and mother. To give my daughter’s an atmosphere of girly tea time and long walks with yummy picnics (Maybe even in a whimsical little creek) I really appreciate your works of art and wonderful ideas!! Thank you Susan! The Valentines Day give away is so amazing.f! It would be great to win my own copy of the book that started it all for me!
Starting your girls young with all these wonderful things, they will always be able to make their lives happy. That’s a true gift. xoxo
What a beautiful birthday keepsake for your dear friend! The banners are adorable and the teapot too!! thanks for sharing all of it with us xoxo
I almost didn’t make it past Perry Como. My darling daddy still sings that song to me,
and I am 62!
What a generous and “Valentiny” giveaway. Just thinking about tea parties on the patio, chases the Winter blues away. Starting my chilly morning reading a post from you is just the best recipe for a happy day.
Many thanks for all the warmth you bring to us!
xxoo
I seldom leave comments for anyone. I laughing call myself a blog stalker not a talker. I am in the middle of a birthday project for a dear friend and was so inspired by yours I had to stop and say a simple thanks. I love the process of working on something for the people that mean the most to me. I get to concentrate on them and the qualities I love and admire in them as I put together a birthday surprise. Thanks for the dose of joy I always encounter at your blog.
That’s exactly right . . . you get to think of all their qualities and how to transfer the feeling of that person onto paper. Nice to meet you Denise!
Susan,
Thank you for the beautiful post!! I could feel a smile as I read and enjoyed the interesting, beautiful pictures!! A little happiness on a cold winter’s day is a good thing!
I’m excited about the give away and please put my name in the pot. I’ll be watching for the lucky winner.
Have a happy day, stay warm and drink tea!!
Ann xxx
Hi Susan,
What fun! When I saw your shoes at the beginning of your post I thought maybe you were going to give those away. hehe Thank you for your wonderful giving heart. Just sharing your fun, art filled life and friends with us is very inspiring to me. Have a wonderful day!
I would like to win your prize’s. I’m a big tea drinker and love the Emma Bridgewater teapot. I’ve been enjoying your work for many years. It always makes the day a little brighter reading your blog.Thanks for all the lovely art and books you do.
I am not sure if you received my first comment about Valentines day. I have a party every year with my granddaughter daughter and mom. I have a new granddaughter this year I hope she and her mom will join us. I make a little valentine cake cream cheese and cherry sandwiches your cucumber sandwiches all cut out with a heart shape cookie cutter. I shop through the year for cute fun things with hearts on them. Heart shaped soaps and candylipsticks are fun.
I love reading your blog. I have been a fan of your ever since I discovered your first cookbook. Love everything you do. Thanks. Happy Valentines Day to you! Katherine
What a lovely way to start the day. Thank you for the beautiful post. In my daydreams I pretend that I can illustrate and watercolor. Thank you for the food for daydreams.
I was so lucky to find a copy of your address book locally. Yay me! What a great idea. I still keep a physical address book that my grown children tease me about. Yes, it is all on the iPhone too, but iPhones fall into puddles and hard drives fail, so the ‘address book’ lives on. The “pile” of stickies holding passwords that live on my desktop is out of control and the password app that I tried to use is rendered useless as I have forgotten the password to open the app!
My fingers are crossed Vanna. Pick me, pick me. I have been gazing lovingly at photos of that teapot for years. Sigh…
come to me little teapot. Come to me.
O my goodness…what a wonderful and generous give away..thanks so much. But thanks most of all for bringing such joy and fun to our lives through your blog and your art work and your sense of humor. I did not realize it when I married my Jeffrey cause his handsomeness was in the way a bit, but I think I really married him for his sense of humor. There are many good ones out there, that give the world solidness and hope….thanks for sharing about Paul Lucas!
Joe was too handsome for me too, but I finally had to give in and accept it! 🙂
LOL LOL LOL
Good morning, Susan! I just listened to your latest Musica offering and can’t think of a sweeter way to start the day…thank you! 😀 I hope you can help me — I’ve purchased three pounds of Kerrygold butter and now CANNOT find your recipe for shortbread! It might be in the only book of yours that I don’t yet have, A Fine Romance, but I have scoured every calendar (of course I keep them!), book, blog post, etc., etc….I just can’t find it! Would you please share it again?
If you mean Butter Cookies, you can find it in my Christmas Book.
Your Annie Hall Butter Cookies are the only ones I make, but I thought you had a favorite Shortbread recipe! Thanks so much for replying — I’ve loved your work for many years now and want to thank you for making every day a little brighter!
Hello Susan! You are truly an angel on earth!!!!! Wow, two give-a-ways, one after the other!!! You are more of a Fairy God Mother spreading sunshine and happiness to all with your beautiful pictures and prizes!!!! My goodness, I thought I was dreaming as I read your blog this morning, sipping my tea and milk! No excuses now, I must take down my Christmas tree this morning and start thinking of Valentine’s Day, which is fast approaching. (I miss my daughter so, as she returned to college this past Sunday….she had decorated the tree so beautiful this time, I haven’t the heart to put it away for next Christmas 🙁 …….with your inspiration though, I now have a stiff upper lip and will march right into that living room and begin to pack up the last reminder of Christmas 2014. Onward and forward! Also, CONGRATULATIONS TO JAN the winner of your address books, lucky lady she is!!!!
Good girl! 🙂
Susan, I just love teapots and especially the small ones for intimate tea parties! I so enjoyed this blog and I know Your special friends will treasure his special birthday card! Happy Valentine’s Day! I look forward to your blog each time you print it!
Your blog is always like a warm hug on a cold winter’s day. Thanks SO much.
Pam, in Montreal
‘A’ you’re adorable, ‘B’ you’re so beautiful, ‘C’ you’re a cutie full of charm!!
Thanks for sharing your life and treasures with all of us. Blessings!
Valentines Day is the BEST holiday! We have a watercolor portrait of our family that a friend painted for us, and it is one of our family treasures. Presents that are made by hand are so special!
Hi Susan, I just love your style and have admired your talent for quite some time. I always get SO excited when I see my new email with your name on it. I would love to win some of your goodies. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
Oooh la la! I feel like a winner already! I do the same thing with my shoes. I use my hair dryer in my shoes if I’m in a hurry, before I put them on. Toasty toes.
Love, love, love you and all the creativity you inspire in me!
Such a cut teapot – hearts and love every day of the year!!
What a joy to read this wonderful post on a cold icy morning. I am inspired to have a Valentine’s Tea for 2 of my best girlfriends. My grandmother’s tea set has not been out of the china cabinet since my daughter and her friend had an American Girl tea party many years ago. Time for that to change!
I did not win the address books but I did start a password list in my journal. Thank you for the great idea!
What a wonderful post. Love the birthday card you made for Paul. Such a personal, funny, thoughtful gift! Your blog always brings a smile to my face! Have a great day.
Thank you for a blog that is full of kindness, joy, and inspiration. After visiting your website, I’m always motivated to pass it on; cooking a recipe for someone I love or sending a note to a girlfriend. My home is homey-er after getting ideas from you, too. Lovely. That’s the word for your blog. It’s just lovely.
Thank you Susan for another delightful post. It is always such a delight to check your blog and find a post. You put so much thought, charm, and delight in each one. I always feel as if there were a cute gift bag filled with goodies at my computer on the days that I find a new post! Thank you for sharing a creative and friendly spirit and such terrific ideas like the address book! I mean! How very clever! And the lovely card you created for Paul was so wonderful. You have shared so much with us, but I wonder if you will share another morsel of information from this post? Would you tell me what kind of shoes those were warming by the heater. I see that they are Merrells, but do you remember which model? Have a lovely day!
They change them fairly often, but they are the slip on clogs . . . they come in normal leather, suede, and then a kind of mesh (for summer). I’ve had and loved all three. They last FOREVER. The suede used to be lined in a lambs wool, but from what I’m reading, they changed that and their customers are complaining. Go to Zappos.com or to Merrell.com and see what you think.
Thank you for taking the time to write back! I’ll do that!
i love… love… LOVE all things “heart ” and “tea”… always have! what a wonderful way to introduce my 2 1/2 yr old granddaughter to gramma jojo’s “happy place”! i hope… hope… HOPE i am the winner of this most awesome giveaway! from all the way over here in the middle of this big pacific “pond “! aloha!
Your blogs make my day!! Thanks for sharing yourself with us all!
Loooove Emma and your book. And I do really want to try that wonderful tea. Last year we had an extended family tea party on Valentine’s Day. My husband made little sandwiches and I did scones and a cake. We picked three teas. Everybody who came loved it, although my adult children dislike the holiday and have renamed it “Valoween.” Not to be outdone, I just add a few dark gothic touches to humor them.
It would be so wonderful to have a “Susan Branch Valentine’s Tea” this year.
So lovely to read your pages today: after dealing with broken and frozen pipes in our basement in upstate NY and having to babysit the new water pipes so they don’t burst from the cold again, I was able to relax and look on the bright side of winter once again! Thank you.
Good morning Susan!
Oh the wonderful things you do! You are all the beautiful words from A to Z! I would love to win that wonderful give away, but I think some of those happy genes that you are filled to the brim with, would be an awesome give away!!!! Thank you for this post…
Another happy post! The tea sounds yummy. I think this is the day to try the lemon cookie recipe. I enjoy meeting your overseas friends. It is an enchanted world when we can have these friends who share their little island with us. I so enjoy my overseas blog friends who give me a glimpse into their beautiful world. Their posts hold me up until I can hopefully visit again. Love the Valentines banner!
Love your blog. Love the Emma Bridgewater teapot. I have already set a Valentine’s Day table. The teapot would look so cute!!
Another homey post – felt like I was in the kitchen with you warming up my own Merrells (I live in mine too!) Have always loved this little teapot of yours and would have to think really hard about giving it to my tea-addicted daughter or keeping it for myself if I won! Dilemma! Thanks for bringing some feeling of winter to bright and sunny CA!
Patty in SLO
I love everything you do Susan! Thank you for sharing your talents with us! I would sure give that precious teapot, tea and book a good home!
I laughed at Joe’s comment! I’m one of those in bed waiting for an ankle to heal and boy do I need an airing 🙂 Loved you, Susan, since I bought your first book 🙂
Dear Susan,
Thanks for another inspiring blog! Loved your shoes….have Lands End shoes that look just like them….in two colors too!
That picture you painted of your friend Rachel’s husband is awesome…the party hat puts the final touch on it. You catch the true person with your details and painting skills.
I love anything Emma….also love anything hearts…..the teapot is calling my name…oh well I can wish, can’t I? Please,Please Me(oh yeah)
I love that little terrier dog. Years ago my Aunt Jane had one just like it named Muggins!
Stay healthy and warm…..having a cup of tea and re reading my Fine Romance book…cuddling under a blanket!
Looking forward to your next blog installment!
Kathie from Limerick, Pa
You’ve written an enjoyable post. What a feel-good “picker-upper” ! I’ve already won just by reading this. However, if I should win one of your giveaways, I wouldn’t blubber about it. Thank you for making the world a tad lighter and brighter.
What a wonderful post! I love the painting you did for your friend….so talented! My 9 year old daughter was lamenting the difficulty of painting with water colors in her art class at school, and I told her “I know!…but look what Susan Branch can do with water colors!…It’s truly amazing!” She agreed. She has your calendar hanging in her room and admires all the wonderful details in your work. 🙂
Susan, I just wanted to tell you how very much I enjoyed your blog today! Thankyou for sharing your life with us. Is it snowing there today? It’s been snowing a tiny bit here.
Take good care~~ Sherrill from CT
Susan, I love your posts! They are full of joy! That is my New Years resolution, bring or allow more joy in my life! Thank you!