‘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!♥
Love the Emma Bridgewater teapot. I also love the old hexagon quilt it is sitting on. Family heirloom?
I adore your drawings and artwork. I drink at least a pot of tea, each and every day, and I collect teapots in all shapes and sizes and would love to add yours to my collection…where it will joyously be used everyday.
Susan you are the sunshine in my world.
Love reading your blog a sharing your sweet paintings. Thank you!
I always look forward to reading your blogs. It’s not just your writing, but your pictures are always wonderful as well. And you include musica to top it all off! Thank you for what you do!
I have always liked the way you think!! Why not have another raffle!? You are too good to us! XO
Earl Grey is my favorite tea. I’d love to try yours! A tea party would be loads of fun! If I win, I will make the cookies & share the book with my daughter at the tea party. I’ll post pictures too! Thanks so much!!
Reading your “blog” always lifts me up. Thank you for being so positive and cheerful. Have a wonderful day and Happy (early) Valentines Day!
Happy New Year Susan & Joe : )
What a generous prize . . . I look forward to hearing who the lucky winner is !
This is my first winter living overseas (in Israel) and your lovely and charming posts have made the chilliest wettest days seem much cozier!!! Thanks! And, please enter my name in the contest…:)
Hope I’m not to late! I love the teapot and any tea with lavender ! You are a very good artist! The drawing of your friend is great!
What a charming gift for your friend! Giving “yourself” is always the best present.
Take care, stay wrapped in Smallville and pull the edges in around you to stay
warm.
It would be wonderful to have the darling heart teapot grace my table. I rarely treat myself to something as “girly” as this as I have a husband & 10-year-old son so my life is full of “boy things.” Even our little Maltese is a boy!
Oh Susan! How you brighten my day…When I start my day, with a cup of tea and my laptop….. You are back and in full swing and it makes me so happy! I adore your postings and this one is no exception….I have been quite busy these last few days….My son and his wife just welcomed another baby into their family….She is daughter #3 and was born on Jan.12th. My son Joe insists on flower names on all of his girls….The oldest is Iris Marie, then Nora Rose and this brand new one is Catherine Violet….Joe has a beautiful little bouquet of flowers in his garden of daughters….. So this is all the great news from my little corner of the world….I raised 3 sons and now I have 4 granddaughters ( another, Camila Mae from my youngest son) so you should know what it would be like to have tea parties with these girls of mine….Heaven! thinking pink and white with frills and fancies! Just would be the best! So look forward to the spring time and tea parties in the back yard…..all gussied up!!!
Thank you for this wonderful post…and all your wonderful posts… with much love from my island to yours……xo ( Oh all my grandgirls call me noonie!)
The teapot is so sweet Susan. I have a few odd plates and bowls from D & G Meakin,the teapot would fit in nicely. I am enjoying your posts during the winter,it helps cool me down during our hot summer in Australia. I also love looking at the snow.
Such a lovely post and generous giveaway! Your words–written, typed, painted, shared–inspire!
I love your blog, and look forward to each post. Thank you for the very generous giveaway.
Your portrait of Paul was so nicely done! Thanks for the post. It warms the heart on a cold morning.
And yours warms mine, on this cold morning…Happy Day Melissa!
Hi Susan I had the thrill of a lifetime meeting you a couple of years ago at a book signing in New Hampshire. My very British mother-in-law and I went together to get a signed book. I took half day off from work and I felt like I was playing “hooky” as it was a beautifully warm summer day. I also bought a book for my daughter-in-law who had just become a new mom the previous October. You gave me one of the nicest (and funniest) compliments of my adult life when I told you I had just become a grandmother. I don’t remember exactly how you said it but it was something like “how old are you, 11?” It makes me laugh every time I think about it! Thank you for sharing all your beautiful artwork, recipes and humor with all of us!
Ha ha ha! Fun. What I remember most from that trip was the MOON, big and orange, the biggest I’ve ever seen, coming up over Lake Winnipesaukee! Hello to your “very British mother-in-law” — thank you for playing hooky, that’s the other thing I remember, how wonderful that book signing was!
How cold is it on Martha’s this AM? Cold weather forces me to get something done inside, because in Spring I am digging in the dirt and walking to see the neighbor’s gardens.
About 29* with a light powered sugar dusting on the driveway, and I would imagine, very slippery on the porch!
One of my favorite holidays; it was my mother’s birthday, but she always celebrated by leaving Valentine surprises on my bed for me to discover when I got home from school.
I realize many think of it as a day for romance, but I’ve always thought of it as a day to surprise friends/family with little treats of all kinds.
Starting, spending or ending the day enjoying you and your talents is absolutely delicious. Makes me want to make a pot of tea and invite my girlfriends over…..
Love all the beautiful pictures you share on Facebook. The teapot in A Fine Romance is beautiful. I had several beautiful tea pots that I gave away what I moved.
Sweet Susan,
You are so darn adorable! Your watercolor portrait of the dapper Mr. Lucas is a joy to behold. Also the way you introduced him and your lovely gift until the final glimpse of it complete with 3D birthday hat was as deliciously colorful as the portrait. They will LOVE it!!!
Your give aways are amazing and so is your marvelous description of Vanna!
Thank you for warming us up with this post!!
Love your blog posts! They always brighten my day. I have always loved the heart teapot from the first time I saw it on your blog. We lived in England four years while our six children were growing up and so began a love affair with tea pots. I have a small collection all around the top of my kitchen cabinets. But I would love to win this teapot for my son who is getting married at the end of this month so they can start their own collection. Thank you for around other wonderful giveaway!
Happy Birthday to Paul…he is one lucky guy to call you friend. Love the Emma Bridgewater teapot. We visited her factory last year while we explored the English countryside with our copy of A Fine Romance as our tour guide. Kim
Love knowing that Kim!
I so enjoy reading your blog posts! It’s 7:15AM in chilly New York and I’m off to work soon, but reading your post gave me the extra “oomph” I need to actually get out the door, so thanks! Happy birthday to your friend Paul! <3
Walking my pups under a crescents last shine, lights the way to Main street. Crunchy, glittering, frozen dusting makes me want to dash back for a warm cup. How wonderful it would be to be waiting in the little love tea pot! Sorry here in Middleborough and feeling the cold!
OMG … Be still my heart ♥ … The teapot of my dreams from my favorite EB and SB 🙂 If I were to the be the luckiest of lucky winners in this incredible giveaway … I would double the JOY and have you send it straight to my darling daughter … who became engaged on New Year’s Day! In the words of St. Francis of Assisi, “For it is in giving that we receive”. Just imagining a perfect ♥ teapot for the blushing bride to be … with her favorite flavor earl gray tea! Did I mention she spent a semester in London loving Emma Bridgewater? Or that she grew up with you as I got my first SB book the year she was born? Or that this Valentine’s Day will be a special one for the newly engaged couple as it is her fiancé’s birthday? Or that we started an annual tea the year she was 3? This giveaway fits KT to a T 🙂 So, besides hoping I win the HGTV home on Martha’s Vineyard … (a dream is a wish your heart makes) … I’m also hoping Vanna might reach in the jar with her perfectly manicured pink nails and choose not me but…
Katherine, Kate, Katie, KT… Loves Earl Grey tea and all things SB … And Emma heart pots for serving tea … Such a perfect gift for the bride-to-be ♥! xoxo
Oh Mary, I love you! xoxo
The feeling is mutual dear Susan ♥ It makes me smile to think of you “rubbing your hands together in attack of pathological enthusiasm” as you post another giveaway 🙂 🙂 🙂 How great is that?! You’re the best … and we are blessed. Happy Weekend to you and Joe! ♥ xoxo
Susan, I love reading your blog! It brightens my day! Thanks for being a part of my life for a long time now. I used to love to receive Willard in the mail and now I love and look forward to every new blog entry that you post! Wishing you and Joe a lovely Valentines Day!
Lovely 🙂
Oh to be able to win such a thing would be such a great Valentine. My husband has recently started asking for tea time at 4:00p.m. Every day when he arrives from work. Considering he is not yet turned forty, I think it’s great! Wonderful! Sweetly inspired. We have a “Brown Betty” that we use daily and I make spinach bacon bread, or cream cheese scones, or even a muffin in a mug. Thank you for the chance at entering into such a giveaway! Good day and joy be with you all!
I think that’s great too, Maralena!
Sorry I’ve left no comments lately, but I’ve been reading your wonderful thoughts. Really enjoyed the train trip. This is a very generous give away and of course would hold a special place in my home…except the book, that would go to my Mom, I know she would enjoy the trip through the English countryside, and of course I already have my own copy….signed in person. One more thing…I just love my desk blotter, I had it tucked away until January one…but now it greets me each morning and makes me smile. Wait another one more thing…how special was your birthday painting/gift to Paul? It is just the best gift ever, how lucky he is to receive it. Well stay cozy and warm in Smallville…I know I will be doing the same here in my own corner of Smallville.
What a lovely teapot. I still have the teapot that my parents gave me for Christmas, when I was 15 years old, some 55 years ago.It’s a musical teapot and it still sings.
I love your books (especially Christmas from the Heart of the Home 🙂 and Emma Bridgewater!
what a precious tea pot!! I love celebrating love ❤️
Susan, I love your blog posts…it’s like sitting across the table from you if only for a few minutes, and your portrait of Paul is adorable! I have a question that’s a little off topic. In your Christmas article in Yankee Magazine last year, I see your red and white stripe and black and white check Christmas stockings. I love them! Are they knitted? Where did you get them and do any patterns happen to exist?
They are knitted, I love them too, but I’ve had them for so many years, I really don’t know where I got them! No patterns exist that I know of. Maybe you can figure out how to make one?
I have thought of using a basic stocking pattern and creating the checks and stripes. I may be inspired to give it a go! Thanks!
The good thing is that they would last forever!
You are such a delight! Thank you for spreading Love and Sunshine in everything you do.
Just smiling my day through, because of you! 🙂
A new post is always a bright spot in the day – thank you!
The teapot and tea (Earl Grey is her favorite) would be a gift to my mom. She was married on Valentine’s Day so always try to remember the day with something special. She has a signed copy of “A Fine Romance” from a book signing I attended in southern, OH, so the book would be gifted to someone else.
I woke up with the nastiest of headaches and your ADORABLE blog rose me up to a place of peace and joy! The pics of you watercoloring so motivated me as it was so well done! Susan I have been a fan for years, even met you with tears in MN! Your art just keeps growing immensely as I know what a challenge it can be to paint a portrait and yours had soooo much Branch charm to it!! Well done!!! You go beyond that and make us feel at home, many times when we really need that home to nurture us!! Bless you dear artist friend, hug my favorite east coast for me with a heartfelt hug from the heartland of Kansas!
Thank you darling Wendi!!!
Even though I have never won, thank you for your lovely give-a-ways! I have the plain white Johnson Bros. dishes which I now use and enjoy every day. Your little heart tea pot would make a smart addition to my evening meals!
Hello from Missouri. Just what I needed on a cold winter morning! Love getting each and every blog. Been cooped up in house after two knee replacements. Just seeing the pictures in your blog make me feel better. I loaned my Fine Romance book out and right now I would love to lay in bed and reread it. In every blog when you show some picture from it, I have to get my book and look through til I find that page with the picture in the blog. Thank you for the time you put into each blog. Keep them coming!!
Hope your knees are better in time for a nice spring walk!
Love your birthday card it is so very special. The heart tea pot is adorable and would be perfect for a Valentine’s Day Tea Party. Pick me. Love to read and enjoy your blog and the music too.
Dear Susan,
Your blog is always a bright spot in my day. Always.
From Minnesota…
Sandy
Good morning, Susan!! Today is my “baby’s” 21st birthday…how did THAT happen?!?! He is such a kind young man and I am so proud of him but am feeling a little sentimental right now…after all, he will always be my baby!
Thanks for being “you” and keeping in touch with all of us…gonna sign off now and go watch The Andy Griffith Show. Another “Smallville”! Love you bunches!
Susan I love your posts. The cold weather gets me down but reading what you write always makes my day happier. A tea party is just what I need. It would be fun to win and get together with some friends to enjoy your wounderful Earl Gray Lavender tea. Have a lovely day.
I just finished re-reading A Fine Romance and am so inspired by you! My 2015 calendar is up and I’ve been reading your cookbooks (I own them all and you signed most of them for me in 2000 when I met you at a book signing in California) for culinary inspiration. This summer my husband and I have plans to visit the Vineyard so maybe I’ll bump into you there. Peace, Love and all things Susan Branch!
Hello Dearest Susan,
Your blog is a welcome refuge. Some much going on in the world and even in my little community right now. I just want you know how much I appreciate you and your world. I love the simple beautiful things you show and discuss on your blog. Talking about washing dishes or your gorgeous stove, your kitties and your lovely garden. I love your blog because it is an escape. So thank you, thank you, thank you. Have a blessed day and love to you and all of the girlfriends. Life is so short…love on your families and friends…ENJOY every minute!
Love and Hugs, Tricia B. XOXO
Adorable! Would love to share with my girlfriends!
You have the best blog in all of Blog Land!! I eagerly await each and every post…..thank you!!
Even though we’ve never met, your joyful stories of everyday life always bring comfort. I walk away feeling as if I’ve just had a good visit with a friend. 🙂
This is wonderful! I love that you put so much thought into what you include when you do a give away. Your posts never fail to make my day more joyful!
Susan –
I have those same Merrills to wear around into the yard during daily “chores”!!
Getting excited for Valentine’s Day. . . maybe it’s the red & pink and all variations thereof!
Take care and have a wonderful Friday!
Hi Susan!
Have you seen that Emma Bridgewater has a new black & white 1/2 pt mug coming out in the new spring items? When I saw it, it made me think of Jack! I’m sure you probably already know about it but I have a feeling you might add it to your collection of EB mugs!
Congratulations Jan (& Gale)! And, thanks Sue for yet another beautiful contest, my goodness sakes! Happy Birthday Paul! Loved watching the painting progress & the end result is fabulous, he’ll be so honored to have your painting! He’s quite the dapper Englishman! As always, could hardly wait to get on the computer & check your lovely blog – I thought Don would NEVER give me a turn! Love & xoxoxos
Love to you Joan, and to Don too!
What a delightful portrait! Your talent is a blessing to so many. Love the teapot.
I have loved your artwork since my first Susan Branch sticker! My mom just shared your website and giveaway with me! Absolutely inspiring and beautiful!
I just finished reading A Fine Romance again. So fun! The portrait you painted of your friend is wonderful.
Great blog, as always. Love the picture you painted for Paul. What a special gift to give a friend! I recently got a few Emma Bridgewater mugs and I love them, but no teapots yet, it’s so hard to decide which I want because I want them all. If I win the heart teapot I PROMISE to have a tea party with my girlfriends!!
Wonderful site!
Hi Susan,
Another wonderful post! Love the banners, I drape decorative garlands all over my house and am always looking for more to give as gifts. The Emma Bridgewater teapot is so beautiful and the size is perfect for one. One of my New Years resolutions is to drink more green tea. What a perfect ritual for one to make lavender tea or green tea in such a lovely teapot with a healthy breakfast…shut the front door!!! I have given A Fine Romance to friends as gifts and we all want to go to England of course. It’s going to be a long cold winter here in the Midwest, a particularly dreary time of year. A good time to stay inside and drink tea!!! Thank you again for your wonderful blogs, insight, and giveaways. Stay warm and CONGRATULATIONS BUCKEYES!!!
Kathy from Ohio
Love your positive thinking Kathy!
Wasn’t that game WONDERFUL?!
I so enjoy your blogs, your books, your artwork, the beautiful items on your website and the lovely music you share with us. I carry a list of your recommended books with me each time I visit a bookstore. Thank you for bringing so many smiles and lots of joy to my days.
Susan, I just love stopping and reading your blog. It feels almost like I am there with you sharing in your tea, friendships and adventures. Thank you so much for sharing with us “girlfriends”.
Oh how I love tea!!!! There just isn’t too much tea in this world for me. I love to sip it on a cold morning like today. This tea would surely add to my small collection of tea items. How I would love to win!
Susan, thank you for always sharing your talents! You are an inspiration to me in some many ways! I’m raising 6 girls and have made them all lovers of Susan Branch! We love to have tea together in the afternoons, sitting at our big kitchen table in front of a wood stove! We would love to have tea out of such a beautiful pot, from someone who is part of our lives in our heart and home!
Morning Susan, nothing says winter mornings & evenings than tea, your blog & your book. It’s been cold here in IL & just enough snow to make the trees & brushes all sparkly. My poor tea kettle has not been given a break of late….she’s starting to sing as I type this. I so love that cute Emma Stone tea pot, Earl Grey is my fav, and there’s a special girl in my house who turns 18 on Feb 14th that is becoming quite the tea drinker, & I have been finding my copy of a “Fine Romance”, along with your cookbooks in her room lately. So if by chance Vanna choses me, I know exactly who will be getting her own copy. Have to add that I was so happy that HGTV chose MV, as this years home giveaway….yes I’ve entered, much to my husbands dismay! Lol But I keep watching the recording of it, & so enjoy the bits & pieces of MV that they are showing….can we say guess where I’m planning to visit…..if I don’t win the house!!! Lol Ok tea pot is in full chorus now….que to go! Have a great day!
What a beautiful post, and such a generous giveaway! A visit here is guaranteed to brighten the outlook and lower the blood pressure. It is a good reminder to slow down and remember what is truly important. It also encourages us to find beauty in everything that surrounds us – one of the keys to living a happy life. Susan, thank you for all that you do. I visit daily just to get a calming “fix” and to read the comments of those who visit. It is such a pleasure to know that visiting here will be a positive, uplifting experience. Have a wonderful weekend; we are finally seeing the sun after almost two weeks of dark, cold skies. The weather men have indicated a pretty weekend is on the agenda; however, God often has other ideas that he uses to show he is in charge (and to keep the weather men humble. After all, they don’t know everything.)
Hi Susan! You introduced me to Emma B and I recently received my first two pieces as a birthday gift. Two little creamy white and red Christmas bowls (with scalloped edges … adorable:). I love them! Thank you for all of the inspiration you provide!!
Dear Sweet Susan,
I am enjoying my second trip to Smallville. Perry Como is a nice beginning. It is a reminder of how sweet most of our music was from our era. My daughter has music envy about our music era . She is a big Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin fan plus many others. So happy that it didn’t have to go away thanks to itunes, musica and many other sources. Know what you mean about those Merrill shoes. I have about four pair of their summer varieties and love them dearly . Comfortable!!!! Can see why you love Paul and Rachel . What a charming, sophisticated and talented couple. Rachels blog is so pretty and as delicious as yours. Their dog Alice is as cute as your kitties. Your portrait of Paul is just perfection. You did such a beautiful portrayal. I am addicted to your artwork. Know Paul and Rachel will be thrilled. Paul is a wonderful dresser and the wool jacket, scarf and dog pin are scrumptious. The beard and mustache set it all off. The picture of him at the ironing board in his long robe being domestic and the one of him playing the cello concert for his Mum certainly adds to the impression of him. The birthday hat that you put on the glass of the portrait is so cute, cute, cute.
Congratulations to Jan for being the lucky winner, know she must be thrilled. I’m pea green with envy, but only the good kind of envy. I’m sure Vanna must be resting now after all that diving. I can only imagine how pretty her dress was if her slipper is that elegant. How exciting that you are going to have another drawing! Teapot with hearts, Earl Grey tea with lavender and rose petals in your tin and a copy of “A Fine Romance”, sounds like a party in Smallville to me. Your dishes and your table setting are beautiful. Mine will be set with Wedgewood Wild Strawberry for my party. That was my indulgence that I saved up for when we lived in Germany. Would love to have another copy of ” A Fine Romance” as my daughter borrowed mine and it conveniently didn’t make it back to my house. This is the girl whose nursery was done in Peter Rabbit and we have collected Beatrix Potter for years. She uses the Peter Rabbit books to teach her children to read in the classroom at school. Our favorite collectible is a Steiff Peter Rabbit (new) she found in a Boston childrens bookstore and gave me for Christmas several years ago. It is so cute.
Loved your Kitty endorsement picture for your book. If it’s Kitty approved it’s purrrfect. The Cardinal picture is the perfect Valentine year round too. Thank you for the lovely invitation you shared and for the lovely visit to Smallville. I shall now return to my little piece of heaven. Hugs and Kisses to the four of you. XOXOXO
Packrat that I am, I have a basket of old calendars and appointment books in my basement that are too beautiful to part with! Looking through them the other day (as I added yet another year to the pile), I found an old Susan Branch datebook. I brought it upstairs to enjoy again. Even though the dates don’t match up with the 2015 calendar – who cares? Beauty knows no timeline. Thank you for bringing so much beauty to our world!
I just started making tea with loose tea again. I am looking for tea cups at second hand shops since I gave mine away when we moved a few years ago. I love your blog and your writing. Thank you so much for making it like sitting down and chatting.
Oh how lovely! I can’t wait to pour tea from that adorable teapot!
Thanks for your delightful blog! It makes me happy!
Oh Susan! It’s my birthday month and this would be such a treat to receive! I love the teapot and of course your book is my favorite! Blessings to you and Joe!
Love your blog, love you on Facebook, love the teapot!!!!!!
The world needs more of your generous spirit and your love of all things simple and lovely. Thank you for sharing your gifts with us. Your blog always strikes the perfect cord.
Love your post, love the beautiful Valentine table setting!
Such a talent! I so wish I could draw like you. But then I remember that we are all talented in some way and I cherish the talents that I do have and those of my friends. And that is what you remind us to do – to use our talents, whatever they are, each day in our own “Smallville”. Thank you for your lovely reminders. And another giveaway to hope for and dream about winning! I’ve loved that teapot for such a long time and have almost bought it two or three times. Well, maybe I’ll win it now! Or maybe not. Either way, I enjoy reading your blog. Thank you, Susan for continuing to enchant us!
What I do came directly out of Smallville (I think it showed up because of it), just like you and your creative friends. Yes, it’s all different, but it’s all the same too.
Can’t wait to make the Lemon Butter Cookies……….to enjoy with some tea of course❤️
Love the teapot!! I so enjoy your blog!!
Oh how I love to see and read everything you post!! I love teapots, cups and hearts!!!! What a great combination! Your books are beautiful. I have the recipe binder and love it!!! What a beautiful talent you have been given.
Love your Tablescape. Your Teapot would be so lovely in the spring in North Carolina where I live when the weeping Cherry Trees bloom. Look forward to all your blogs. You are an inspiration to me as I am disabled and look forward to your books. At this point, I believe I now have every book.
I’m happy to have you here Mollie!
You brightened up this otherwise gray January day with this wonderful post. Putting the kettle on for tea:)
Oh, you have the best stories, pictures and posts! I am so glad I found you years ago! What a fun giveaway this will be. <3
What could be better than getting hearts and tea all in one? Would live to win.
Loved the drawing/watercolor of Paul. I’m sure he will be humbled by that sweet gesture. Big birthdays do need celebrating just a bit more than regular birthdays. You always bring a smile and make hearts happy. I have been needing a lot of that since my sweet, love of my life departed for Heaven on December 7, just shy of his 62nd birthday. Thanks for brightening my day.
I’m here! Did I make it in time?! Just wanted to pile-on for your lovely generosity drawing. Seems you may need a barrel soon to hold all the slips for Vanna to swirl in. Thank you for sharing the beautiful portrait you made for Paul’s birthday. You captured his twinkle and style so eloquently with your paints. Awesome you continue to be, a marvel of talents! Hope you consider mentoring the creative side of your nieces/nephews as they surely have some of your instincts percolating in their hearts. I appreciate you and honestly, you with your little blog, bring me joy quite often. :))))
I would so very much love to win your fabulous giveaway !! Wish me luck
Happy New Year Susan!
Today is our 34th wedding anniversary…can’t think of a better day to enter my name for a chance to win such fine gifts 🙂 Thanks 🙂
Hearts and tea and cozy books to read make January feel better! It was so much fun to get to meet you this Fall in Massachusetts and to see the pretty colors along the way. Found the store, Best of British in Newburyport and got my first piece of Emma Bridgewater. At Christmas, my sister and my niece added another piece or two to my adorable new collection! Can’t wait to have a February cup of tea and raise a toast to you and the wonderful travels you allow us all to enjoy!
Darling teapot and fun giveaway! I am such a fan of your work!
Love this adorable teapot!! And singing at the top of my lungs here on the Central Coast of Cali!!
Susan you have always been such an inspiration to me! I love your work….and love your love for Cats too! I have two black kitties myself and they are my joy! Hugs!!
Paul is a very lucky guy! What a nice surprise he will get when he opens the package. Don’t we all love to get unexpected parcels, or letters, in the mail.
I have a card that I have kept for many years that says, “you know what I wish I was doin’, sitting with you while the teapot is brewin'”. There’s just something about a cup of tea…
Love this post! And a very Happy New Year Susan to you and Joe and the kitties. That Jack is a heart stealer.
Love, love, love your page!
Your posts are always the highlight of my day! And I love all the talk of Downton!
Love love love your blog!! The painting of your friend is one of the sweetest gifts I have ever seen!! Your Smallville life seems so charming and delightful!!
Susan, I adore your blogs and your website. I love your idea about giving your book to someone you love! It has been such a hit with my sister and my daughter-in-law! I will need to take more time to read more of your blogs as I always seem to be in such a rush lately. I definitely need a calming tea party to slow down my day. I would prefer if it would be in England, but darn it, Michigan will have to do for now! Reading your blog and seeing the way you decorate the pages makes me feel very calm, keep up the wonderful work you do!!!
Oh how nice it would be to have afternoon tea using that adorable teapot. You are so generous. I saw your boots by the heat register and I hope you have a pair of alpaca socks to go with them – they are so snuggly.