‘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!♥
I fell in love with your book and have given it away as a gift! We are planning a trip to England this year and will definitely use your book for guidance. I showed my husband (who makes me tea every day!) the Emma Bridgewater site and that’s the teapot I chose!! It would be wonderful to win, then I could add other pieces !My mom loves planning tea parties and we will have one this week before she goes home to Atlanta. We’ve already picked out a new scone recipe! We always use mismatched cups and saucers,too! We are also getting ready to adopt a New kitty as our daughter took hers to college and we miss having a “snuggled bunny” around! Thanks for your art and your words that inspire!
I’ve just started my book that my baby brother had you sign for me in California!! Such a great Christmas present from him and his wife! Loving the English country side!
So nice to have you back in my life. I am reading A FINE ROMANCE. We celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary and sailed around Booth Bay Harbor in August. My Mom passed the June before and our happiness was mixed with sorrow….my wonderful husband made it nice for me and I got my first massage…a gift from my little brother for our 50th. My husband asked me what I was laughing about while reading A FINE ROMANCE….the roundabouts had me laughing hysterically…a release from from sorrow….I even read it to him which brought a smile on him. I love the intimacy and watercolor doo dads that always bring a smile to my face and extend Susan’s words and make her cookbooks delicious to read…I have so many even tho I am not a good cook. Kind of makes me want to open her books tho.
That little teapot wants to come join her cousins in my sweet collection. Tea in a delighful teapot is joyful!
Best regards to Jack & Girl Kitty.
Hello Susan! Your blog is one of my “go-to” websites when I want to “go back
home”. Your colorful drawings and musings are so enjoyable! If I were to win your generous giveaway drawing I would surprise my mother (who lives in the U.S.) for her 98th birthday (in February) with the lovely teapot, tea & A Fine Romance. Though I have lived in England, Austria & now Germany, I grew up in Encino (yes – right next door to Reseda!) and was in Girl Scouts too! It is a small world and your blog makes it an even nicer world. Thank you!
Susan you have always been such an inspiration to me. I love that you love cats too…I have two black kitties, and they are my joy, Hugs!!
I love the fireplace almost as much as I did the bird flying and singing across the page .You’re terrific .
The table setting for your Valentine’s Breakfast party is so pretty! Thank you for brightening my day!
Love, love, love the birthday artwork for your friend! Are you sure Joe used enough bubble wrap? 😉 Adore the E. Bridgewater teapot. I’ve a mug of hers with all those lovely hearts all ’round it. Would be darling to have a “tea set” of that pattern. Thanks for all your wonderful art and cheery words!
Love your blog and the teapot!!!
So pretty and fun!
Love following your blog. Always so much to see.
I love your teapot! It’s so romantic, but yet fun!
Tea is my favorite drink and having your tea pot to use would certainy brighten me day! Your book will definitely add to my collection! Thanks for your opportunity to win one!
Why are my comments never published? I never said anything nasty or hurtful! I love your blog, books, drawings, and rabbits! You must have me confused with another Denise!
Susan you remind me of a feminine version of my son! You draw, write, decorate, and make the world a lovelier place to live in. The world needs more people like you and him!
He had a Valentine party for his female friends when he was in college. He invited his roommates and had them wear tuxs. Could you imagine! He is so romantic!
We would both love that tea pot!
Just popping in to say hello, thanks for sharing Paul’s birthday painting, have a great weekend, and thanks for entering all of us girlfriends in this wonderful teapot, etc. drawing – how exciting!!! Hugs ~ mari
love your blog and your book, A Fine Romance! Both brighten my day!
The teapot is lovely and you are so generous with your prizes! Hoping I win; happy for the one who does!
Iloved your book-A Fine Romance. It brought me back to my trip to England where my MUM was born. I too have her Rose Chintz china. Thank you,my home looks like a Susan Branch annex!!!!!
Susan, you are a sweetheart!
Reading your blog posts is like sitting down to enjoy a warm cup of tea and conversation with an old friend! Thanks for inviting us into your warm and wonderful home and for sharing all of these beautiful glimpses into your life. I’ve loved that Valentine teapot since the first time I saw it here on your blog. <3
Oh boy! I would love the teapot that matches the teacups that I got from your store several years ago. You are so good to us. You bless us with your wonderful blog and great giveaways! Thank you!
A handmade card is so special. A friend made us a card when we were married (45 years ago!) and I still have it tucked away in my wedding book.
Thank you so much for your lovely winter posts. They help me through these dreary days. I am currently reading and adoring your current book. I have had to slow down because I do not want it to end. Love that beauteous teapot, your selections are so wonderful!
It is so enjoyable yet frustrating to read your blogs !I learn so much and love everything you do but I find myself wanting to have my home as well as lots of other things in my life be just like you ! First of all , my wonderful husband will not wear a beret like Joe ! I don’t have cats because of allergies , we don’t live on Martha (but I think we will win the dream home ) , and I cannot paint or write . To make up for it , I surround myself with lots of your things and cook a lot of your dishes from your beautiful cookbooks ! I certainly will continue reading your wonderful stories which , I am sure , would be enhanced by tea in a teapot covered in hearts !!!
Thank you for sharing the bird pics. I live in Colorado and we don’t have cardinals here. Love the birdies and Emma! Happy Valentine’s Day to you and Joe!
Sweet Susan Branch, I love the pin of Alice on Paul’s lapel! What a treasure for Paul and Rachel too!
Thank you for all the gorgeous posts this month, treasures for all of us!
Happy Friday!
❌⭕❌⭕,
Tawni Urrutia
Oh what i would give to have your red and white dishes….LOVE them- and i have found another set that i absolutely love- Johnson Brothers- Friendly Village- have you seen those Susan?????????? GORGEOUS!@!@! but they are not red & white….but oh oh oh so pretty………
would love to win the tea pot- but good luck to everyone!@!@!
LOVE your BLOG!@!@!@!
Yes, they are wonderful! Thank you Kathy!
Susan Branch, I have been in love with all things SB since I met my honey 20 years ago. My little collection of your books, notecards, notepads, quilting fabric and patterns is dwindling. It’s always a special moment when I spy a SB notion in a shop. Keep painting and sharing your treasure of lovely inspiration of the heart. Much love!
Thank you Susan for sharing your life with us. It brings such joy into our world. I so look forward to your postings . Love A Fine Romance and have shared it with so many friends. When I look at my teapots and tea cups collection not to mention my figurines I’m reminded of you. They bring such joy.
GLORIOSITY !
Thank you for the beauty and inspiration.
Love your art…it makes me happy!
I have the teapot and the delicious tea, and the book, but would love to give them as Valentine’s gifts. How perfect! Am planning either a tea or luncheon for my girlfriends. Just inherited my mother-in-law’s beautiful Haviland china with pink roses all over it and her crystal etched with roses. It begs to be used for a ladies lunch or tea. Thanks for the invitations! Just in time! Now what to serve!!! Maybe the lemon cookies and brownies in this blog for two!
My great grandma gave us her Haviland, which I (so generously I could almost kill myself) gave to my sister . . . it is the MOST romantic of all . . . you can make such a beautiful party with it. You are right, it begs to be used for a ladies lunch or tea!
Happy smallville winter. Can’t wait for your new book to be completed!
Me either, I think about it every day!
Susan, I have followed you for years. Have almost all of your books. My husband used to buy them for me and write something sweet in the front. So fun to look back on. Love the heart teapot. Look forward to everything new that you do.
Susan, your posts make me smile from beginning to end! Thank you for the happiness that you spread throughout the world, and thank you also for your ongoing inspiration!
I have been a “summer person” on the Vineyard for every one of my 54 years, and I know how lucky you are to live there, soaking up all its glory. My love affair with the island is the reason that I feel honored to be a “Martha”. Thank you again being so generous with your many gifts!!!
XO
I completely understand that feeling of honor to be a Martha. It’s the perfect name for you. xoxo
I just found your website and I am on cloud 9 ! I have so many of your books. Started with the Heart of the Home in 1995 and it has gone on ever since. I would love to enter my name in the darling teapot giveaway and hope this is the way to do it. Also can I sign up somehow to receive your blogs automatically? This is so great. A fan and friend, Elleb Husel
I believe (because I don’t pay close enough attention) that there is a little something in the right hand column of the blog that will allow you to do that. If it doesn’t work, please let me know. Thank you Ellen!
Never mind the teapot , enter me in the drawing for Vanna!
LOL, My dad (our Blog Daddy)! You are so funny!
…hey !!…there you are, B.D. !!…we’ve missed hearing from you !!…’so glad you are back and sounding very well indeed !!
Are you sure, Jack?!!! That Vanna sounds like quite a bit to handle! Now THAT was funny! You are a hoot, Jack!
Yaaaay!!!! To hear from Blog Daddy, the Commander in Chief of Our Peanut Gallery is the best way to to start the weekend! Delighted to see you’re feeling your fiesty self Jack!
CiC of OPG, such a fine command post!
YIPPEE! See you haven’t lost it:)
Ohhh no! He’s baaack! Cuter than ever!
I collect teapots and I love hearts and I love Susan Branch. I have all of her cookbooks, books, stickers, tea, etc. etc. I love tea parties with my grands and our favorite is Earl Grey with Raspberry. Blessings for a great rest of the day!
Happy Valentine’s Day! I’d love to win the beautiful tea pot, wonderful tea and fabulous book! Thanks for the opportunity… Stay warm!
Dear Susan, Michelangelo once said, ” My soul can find no staircase to Heaven unless it is through Earth’s loveliness”. I get that concept. I think you do too. Health and happiness to you in the new year.
I’ve put that quote in my calendars, and yes, I am right there with you Mary Jane!
Susan, Because I’ve bred and shown Yorkshire Terriers since 1984, I always had to have a yorkie calendar in my kitchen. I’ve always felt that my kitchen was the “Heart of My Home” so when I stumbled upon one of your calendars a few years ago it broke the yorkie spell and I had to have one. However, it was already the end of Dec. and your calendar was totally sold out! I mean “totally”! I finally accepted the fact that I was out of luck and tried to stop obsessing about that calendar. Little did I know that my wonderful daughter, Dorian, heard of my plight, went on Ebay and out bid everyone, I think she paid $45 for it, so I did get the calendar that year. I buy early now 🙂
Yes, I understand, it’s like that old joke, “the way to remember Mother’s Day is to forget it one year!” What a nice daughter you have, hello to Dorian!
You absolutely always make my day ! Thank you for that.
Susan I believe we are kindred spirits who share the same name and joys! I adore your Valentine table and the teapot is so cute! Thanks for all your joy you share!
Susan — I ABSOLUTELY love your painting B-Day card of your friend Paul!!! It’s really super! And I love the teapot — please enter me in your drawing. Have a great weekend —
P.S. Your Blog Daddy is too funny! What a guy!
Hi Susan! Just gave A Fine Romance to another of my girl-friends which prompted me to re-read. Couldn’t put it down, again! Brings back so many wonderful memories of my visit to England in 2013 especially Sissinghurst:)
Everyone loves your book. It is a wonderful birthday gift or for other special occasions. Thank you for putting so much time into writing and painting all the way along the journey.
Happy days to you and Joe.
Betty (in Melbourne)
We all went together, it’s like looking back on a happy memory! xoxo Stay cool down there Betty!
Thank you for your beautiful words and art. I love when I come across something new of yours that I can add to my collection!
I have the mug that would match the beautiful teapot!! I would love it!! Your art adds such magic and joy to my life! Thank you!!
I love ALL of your books and art. Please keep them coming. Fabric too, please? Thank you for all of them.
Sending this again. = )
Hope you have a great weekend.
I forgot to say you captured your friend so well.What keepsake for him.Mary
Susan, I have loved you as long as I can remember. Love your books, your stickers, your jewelry, your illustrations of sayings and on and on. Love that you are real and do all the things my girlfriends and I like to do!!!
Susan, I love everything you post and all your funny comments and Musica. I read your book three times, and will read it again, I am sure. Made the cookies, my husband loved them…..we sat down and had tea, delicious. Keep up your blogs they are almost better then Sunshine in winter. I try not to miss one. Love the tea pot too!
No Valentine’s Day for me this year Susan. Will be in the hospital recovering from a surgery but I must admit .. Sigh.. I haven’t gotten my copy of A Fine Romance yet and would like to…so here’s my entry. Still I am blessed..my best friend is a nurse and lives by me so my care will be superb…as well as my wonderful husband.
Wishing you all the best. You’ll wake up and be on the other side of a very long and tough climb and then it’s clear sailing to wellness. xoxoxoxo
Love the teapot and am anxious to read this book!
Susan … That tea pot is adorable… I just love Susan Branch.
Oh I would love to be the lucky one! This is so beautiful and I love to have tea parties with my 4WW’s ;0
Your boys are both so cute!
I would love to win the tea party give-away! I am a new girlfriend after reading “A Fine Romance” and subscribing to your blog. Love it! Thanks for the opportunity to win. I hope Vanna picks me.
Love those boys!
Would be so happy to have Vanna draw my name!!
Ohhhh that teapot. Could you really be giving one away? Your blog Susan is just like sitting down to a lovely magazine but better because you’re real! I know because I met you in MA this past fall at the library. That was one special afternoon! Stay cozy, tara
Thank you dear Tara!
Getting your blog updates in my email is as delightful as getting a new magazine in the mailbox. I just love them! I would so enjoy your goodies!! Thank you and Happy Valentines Day!! Hugs!
Oh My! What a cutie… Your teapot… No… I mean Rachel’s sweet Paul! What a wonderful picture you painted 🙂 Such a wonderful surprise gift!
Come Sit Stay, even if far away… Across the sea or down the coast. There’s only one thing that could make your tea taste any better, and that’s a special teapot… not just any teapot, but one from EB!
Thank you for the chance… count me in. I will pour XOXO Georgie from NJ
So enjoyed your post as I always do! What lovely friends you have in England, Paul looks quite dapper and I think you captured that brilliantly!
It’s so cold here in Massachusetts, all this below zero weather, I think it would be lovely to have a tea party with Emma’s teapot and your luscious Earl Grey tea. Happy January and stay warm Susan –
p.s. Your dad is a hoot!
~East Longmeadow, Ma
Hi Susan, such beautiful art, words, photography, books! Thank you for all your work. It is so good to know you are here reminding us of the beauty that surrounds us all the time. It is comforting to realize there are so many others who love these things, too.
I so agree with you . . . very comforting!
Always feel uplifted after visiting your blog!
Love the teapot! Have your book which you signed for me in San Luis Obispo so would love another copy to gift to a very dear friend. Keep warm, I have a favorite fleece vest to wear in house, yes, we do get cold in California!!
Valentine’s Day! I love it! Beautiful tea ware!
Hello Susan; What an awesome gift you have shared with us! Paul is a lucky lucky man I know that. I would love to win the teapot and all of the others items you are generously giving away! The tea.. love that tea. Oh you just make my day so beautiful, you are just the best Susan, you are the top! thank you. Noelle
I have several tea cups that would love to have this adorable teapot join them.
I just started following you blog and posts on fb. I think your articles are fascinating and uplifting. Your artwork and paintings are spectacular. I am trying to get some new ideas for decorating so I look forward to seeing your posts. The teapot is delightful. I have quite a few but this one is just darling. I hope I win:-)
I have your latest book, “A Fine Romance” on my wish list for my March birthday …. fingers crossed!! Love your blog and read it all the time with MY “cuppa” in the morning. Thank you for such a beautiful blog … it really makes my day and lifts my spirits!! The teapot is ADORABLE!!!
Love your blog and the fun stuff in it. Would enjoy reading your book as I sip some tea from the tea pot.
Love the teapot and the tea sounds yummy. Hope that I win.
Just love everything you do! All your words & art work 🙂
Thank you so much for really putting your heart out there with every post!! With appreciation…..Lisa (of Verona in the 1860’s house!)
beautiful artwork – fun posts – thank you!
I received of copy of your book “A Fine Romance” for Christmas and have been reading it every night before I go to bed. Needless to say, my dreams are filled with images of England. I have visited many of the places you wrote about and have been a card carrying member of the National Trust for many years. This past summer, we joined English Heritage also. We are returning to England this June to celebrate with our eldest daughter as she marries at Old Wardour Castle and moves to England full-time. Winning the contest would keep me a little closer to her everyday, as I enjoy my daily cuppa.
That just sounds like heaven! Happy wedding in an ancient castle! How smart of you, now you’ll have someone wonderful to go visit!
Your updates always brighten my day! Thank you for the joy!
I love the teapot. I purchase your things whenever I see them…a few times in TJMaxx . I am still enjoying the mason-style jar with the red lid I bought 2 yrs. ago. Gave one to my friend who loves red.
Adorable and I love to read your blog! thanks!
Love everything in this post, but those cutout white heart banner is awesome!
I couldn’t agree more. We have more coming soon!
Hi Susan! It’s been a while since I have stopped by; been a busy year since I left cold snowy Ohio and moved to even colder snowier Vermont!
Would love to have your teapot and tea to cosy up the new place…
I love the birthday card. It was a lovely likeness! How nice to have such a creative friend as you. I prefer Paul clean shaven however!
I would love to win your giveaway.
I’m like the song “I love you just the way you are . . .”
HI Susan,
Awesome Blog…ohhhh..sad Vanna did not pick me.
Love the Painting you did of your Friend in England…It turned out soooo good.
He will love it..you are so talented.
Oh…I have a girlfriend that inherited Haviland Limoges CHina, and..gave it to me. I just cannot believe it. It is beautiful with all the Hand Painted Roses, oh my gosh..It is on my Dining room Table with a Tea Set and Valentine Things on Lace…it looks great. I hope Vanna picks me this time…thank you Susan for your lovely Blogs.
Carol O. in So. Calif. just over the Bridge from your MOM..with the Red Toile Gravy Boat..you know. xo
I do know, but I love how you sign!
Your artwork is beautiful! Your blog is so delightful! Your giveaway is simply amazing!
How lovely to imagine a cuppa with your special tea leaves and the Emma teapot strewn with hearts! Thank you for giving your girlfriends all a try!
i love the teapot with the red hearts.
love, love, love your blog, art work and site, thank you for brightening my day. Haven’t read a fine romance as yet but planning on it soon. I can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon than sipping tea, having a cookie and reading a good book. Please enter me in your drawing, my birthday is Feb. 15, what a wonderful gift that would be.
God Bless,
Weslee
Oh how I would love to add that sweet teapot to my Valentine’s “stuff”!! Thank you for allowing us the chance to enter the give-away.
You are an inspiration, Susan, thank you!
Ah! I don’t have that book. And I’ve been wanting a darling tea pot to go with all my mismatched reddish tea cups! Valentine’s has always been my favorite holiday because it reminds me so much of my mom, a true romantic, who always made us kids feel so special and so included on that day 🙂 And this year I might have my own special news for my children about an upcoming “delivery” so a fancy little Valentines package would make that even more memorable!
What a treat this would be. I have afore everything Susan forever. Pulling out my books for recipes or quotes to fit the holiday.
That is one sweet teapot! And some lucky person will soon own it, along with the tin and your tea. Gosh, I don’t think it could get any better, well, unless it were tea with you and Joe! I just want you to know that I have plans for that teapot…it’s to give it to a very dear young woman, who told me that she had never had a real teapot and wanted one!
Fingers crossed… Sara
LOve your “stuff.” I have been looking for your book at chain bookstores and my library. I cannot find it anywhere. I am eager to read it as we took a trip to England’s Lake District (among many other places) in September 2011. We saw many of the places you visited (Beatrix Potter’s home and shops (I had read her biographies and all of Susan Albert’s books) and Wordworth’s homes). I love the feeling of “home” I get when i scroll among your site. I hope I win (clasps hands together in eager anticipation).
I love your beautiful drawings! I always look for your calendars, and can’t walk past without smiling.
Thanks for sharing your life and talents with all of us!
I would love to win! I’ve been a fan for many years, mentioned in a couple Willards (the 1st when I sent you wild garden violets)! I don’t have a copy of A Fine Romance yet so this would be perfect! Happy Hearts Day to all! ❤️
Same to you Judy!
My love of tea and pretty teapots comes from my mother. We enjoyed many cups of tea together through the years. One of my favorite memories was when my sister, brother and I were young, we always celebrated New Year’s Eve with a tea party. Mom used loose tea leaves and made the most wonderful brew in her special, now antique , teapot. My mother would have celebrated her 94th birthday tomorrow, but sadly lost her battle to breast cancer 11 months ago. Tomorrow I plan to have a cup of tea while I remember the wonderful woman my mother was and recall the special times we had while sharing a pot of tea.
I do very much the same every January 8, the day my Grandma was born . . . So sorry for your loss such a short time ago.