‘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!♥
A teapot, your special tea, AND your delightful book?! Wow! What a huge blessing that would be! And what a perfect setting for a cold winter’s day.
Delightful blog entry! Magical!! Puts a HUGE smile on my face. A great joy and escape for little while in this busy and hectic little world of mine. Truly love and enjoy each entry.
Susan, The only thing better than your blog visits would be if you lived next door.
You are one of my People.
kim
Oh how I love to visit your blog, Susan! Like a breath of fresh air. Yes, please enter me in the give-away for the tea pot, the book and the tea! I already have the wonderful book but I know just who I could pass it on to if I win the one that you sign. How wonderful that would be!!
Hello Susan! On my iPad list (I make a list of things I want to look up . If I don’t do this I don’t remember!)is to look up Emma Bridgewater teapots n mugs! Imagine my surprise to see a great new post from you and a beautiful teapot give away! Ethel and I love tea and tea parties so we need to fancy up our pots. Although I do have my mom’s favorite teapot which I love using. I also have my grandmas teacup collection. I am such a lucky gal to enjoy these memories! Stay warm! Love, Lucy
Another magical reading from Marthas, Haven, which always puts me into such a Happy State of mind, only my dear Susan Branch can create such joy to spread into our hearts – the hearts teapot is lovely and I would love to be the winner of this. After reading your blog I feel Spring right around the corner. So cheers and a nip of pear cider I say and a wee bit more for good measure – chip chip and cherrio
It’s so fun to read your blog with lovely pictures. It makes me so excited for Valentines Day. Thank you for sharing you many talents.
I love your blog,it makes my day.Valentine’s Day is so special.I have a valentine tree with vintage cards.Stay warm,we r expecting snow showers here tomorrow.
What a wonderful gift for Paul! It brought a smile to my face and I don’t even know him. 🙂 And what a wonderful give-away! May your generosity and kindness return to you like a boomerang.
Hi Susan! I love all your dishes. I have some of the Johnson Bros. Rose Chintz as well and they are such a treat! Have fun painting!
Susan, its always a wonderful day when I see a blog post from you. In this crazy world of ours, your blog takes me away into the coziest, comfy place where all my cares disappear. Thank you for that !
All Valentine’s Day my first favorite holiday that comes after Christmas. 🙂 Your dishes are amazing!
Oh, I would so love to win the give away! I gave my BFF of 25 years my copy of A Fine Romance so I’d love to get another. She’s my tea friend and we could have tea parties together.
Hi Susan~Thank you for your kind comment in your last blog…I just have to say the picture of Paul, Ray and Joe sitting in the little spot in Maine on this blog just made me grin from ear to ear…they all look like such “fun” and really interesting people…since you are taking the picture, I can’t see you, but I already know you are fun and interesting…Paul sitting there in his sport coat and jeans, Ray looking at a map of the area and Joe with his beret and darling glasses perched on his nose…if I were sitting in the little spot, I might just have to listen in a bit to see what you have planned for your day…aren’t those Merrill booties just the bees knees…I have two pair also and wear them with my smart wool socks~can’t live without them~all winter long…lovelovelove Paul’s card…how thrilled he will be when it arrives in his mail box…or do they say postal box in jolly old England???…stay warm and cozy…xoxo…
Love “A you’re Adorable” !! My grand-nieces and I have sung it since they were little. We also like “You are My Sunshine” and “Sometimes I’m Happy”. Singing at the Top of your lungs is the best!!
Oh you always make me smile when you pop in. I just think that is the cutest teapot ever and I love tea.
What a perfect celebration of friendship, Susan! Paul will be just thrilled when he opens his special birthday gift. You have captured him perfectly! Rachel’s ‘Lemon Butter Cookies’ have been a special part of several tea parties here in Smallville. They are the perfect combination of delicate and crunchy! The beautiful EB Heart teapot, a tin of your tea blends, and a special copy of A Fine Romance will make one of our Girlfriends oh-so-lucky! Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. I’m already planning my handmade valentines for special friends. Just thinking about it warms my heart on a cold winter’s day!
Heartfelt thanks for adding sunshine to each day!
Dawn
♡♡
What fun! I love a give away. 🙂 A teapot and book are the perfect pairing.
It has been so grey all week! Thank you for the pick-me-up! ❤️
Oh my goodness, please pick me!!! Your blog makes my day. Thanks for sharing your world with me (and everyone else!).
What a darling post, so enjoyed seeing your special birthday gift to the ever dapper Paul (more fun if you scream “PAUL!” Beatles-fan-style). Thanks so much Susan for this lovely corner of cyberspace, Virtual Smallville is my favourite destination and helps me create it in real life, too! I am MAD about Valentine’s Day and would love to have my very first piece of Emma via this giveaway, not to mention the delectable tea (flavours so dreamy) & book (I know the perfect friend in need to pass *this* copy of the book to!). “Please, Vanna, Please.” (fingers crossed, excited grin)
What a wonderful birthday gift for your friend, I’m sure he will treasure it. I think its time to have another Valentine tea party for my granddaughters, I have ten! You always lift my spirits and inspire me, thank you.
Ten, all your own, what a great photo op a Valentine Tea Party would be!
Would love this tea pot for the valentine’s party I’m going to throw for my sweet girls and their little girl cousins:)
I am just swooning all over the place here in Smallville, Oregon….. What a joyful post of such a wonderful give-away. Valentine’s Day will never be the same with that tea and teapot! Oh and that Alice is such a sweet little thing! Thanks again for your generosity!
I adore Emma Bridgewater with all my heart – I’m an avid collector! And I dont have a 4 cup pink hearts teapot! I would most certainly faint from excitement if I won! Thank you, Susan
🙂
Susan,
You are so sweet to do this giveaway! They are treasures! May have to buy the teapot if I’m not lucky!
Many thanks!
Jennifer Seale
I always love reading your blog, it’s like getting a letter from a good friend. Your giveaways are so generous, I would love to be the recipient.
Inspired by your photos of beautiful cardinals, I have tried enticing them into our yard but the squirrels make short work of the birdseed. Ah well..
Your little teapot with the hearts is adorable…I could just hug it!
Another wonderful blog entry–thank you, thank you! I must go back and click on all the links you provided–LOVE your painting for Mr. Lucas–so amazing–such talent 🙂
From another freezing Wisconsinite who loves finding a new entry from you, Susan! I’ve been re-reading my copy of “Fine Romance” for the ??? time just because it is so very cozy….thank you so very, very much!
I was just sipping some peppermint tea and there you were:) Singing and happy as always!
When I see that you have a new post on your blog, it is the happy highlight of my week. It’s such a loving, cozy few minutes reading it and listening to the Musica. Your gifts sound wonderful as well and I love the painting. My two daughters were born in England and we lived there for fourteen years. I miss it and sometimes wish I hadn’t come back home – I felt more at home there going for bike rides and walks in the country and sitting outside at the pubs. I loved it there and I so enjoyed A Fine Romance it brought back so many happy memories. We went over on the Empress of Canada in 1962. One of the highlights was when the tender came out from Greenoch to pick up passengers, they brought two pipers with them and they stood on deck and piped. A lovely memory. Thank you for this wonderful blog and Happy New Year to you and Joe and the two kitties of course.
Beautiful memory! I was right there with you and the pipers. What world!
Another great post, thank you! Seeing your painting, in stages, makes me want to drag out my watercolors, I think that’s how I’ll spend my day tomorrow(with a cup of tea).
I saw your lovely gift to Paul for his birthday on Twitter. So marvelous! And this giveaway is marvelous too! You are always so generous to your girlfriends. Thank you! Now I’m off to see if I’m too late to pick up one of those lovely white hearts…..
I am and for over twenty years have been your biggest fan. My seasons start with re reading your books and then placing on my family room table. Love. Love. Love
It’s wonderful to have Valentines Day to look forward to. We start making handmade Valentines and heart shaped everything in February. It helps to get us to spring and reminds us to really celebrate those we love. Thanks for the early inspiration. I will put the kettle on and dream about that lavender tea swirling in the lovely teapot. Stay warm and cozy.
Debbie
Oh Susan, you are so good at brightening up my day.
You’ve got me singing at the top of my lungs for a chance at the Valentine’s giveaway!
Cheers! Betsy
Hello Susan, I would love that teapot and tea!! Stay warm, 20 degrees on Long Island!
Please count me in on your giveaway…fingers crossed!!
A Valentine’s tea party! What a lovely idea. I only have about three dozen tins of tea! Better stock up on more. 🙂 My little girl is from China and when we get a snow day (like we did last Friday) we have a tea party for lunch. It’s wonderful.
Thank you Susan for adding some fun to a cold January.
…that Emma Bridgewater teapot is so beautiful…and will be perfect for whoever Vanna chooses:)
Love, love, love the teapot! Thanks for your beautiful blog,, it’s so wonderful to read!
Love that little heart teapot….sigh, as do a zillion others. But more than that, I love, love , love your blog posts. They have lots of little hearts on them, too…so….I just say thank you!
See what I mean? One after another of sweetness!
Hi Susan; That is a wonderful Birthday present for your friend “Paul”. My Aunt Polly used to do little paintings for gifts, we loved them, still do! She has been gone for some time but everytime I walk by one of her paintings the memories jump right back in my heart. Very nice giveaway, I would love to win all, but your book!! I have it but want to share it with so many. Just found out my 16 yr. old granddaughter wants to live in England, and I told her about you and Joe and your trips and your book just last week. Thank you again for your fun, caring and thoughtful prose, I think it means more to us than you may even know. 😉
It is so difficult to go through these wonderful comments, reading them, intending to move through quickly because there are many waiting for me to “approve,” and NOT answer such lovely heartening words. Thank you Paula!
Thank all of you for your wonderful responses, I love reading them even if I have to grab my hands to keep myself from answering them all! I will never get these calendars done! 🙂
What a dear sweet friend you are. That painting is wonderful and what a special gift. Love that Emma Bridgewater teapot and it would be perfect for a Valentines Day tea party. If I win, I will definitely have one. You and Joe would be invited, too! 🙂
LOVE your blog (never fails to cheer me up 🙂 ), LOVE Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc (now and forever to be known as Kimmie), LOVE Emma Bridgewater and the hearts teapot. Thanks for being there, and bringing cheer and warmth into my life at a difficult time. . . My 93-year-old daddy is dying of cancer, and it’s a wicked, nasty disease; so hard to see him suffer like this. Blessings to you, Joe, and all the girlfriends out there—- thank you, thank you, thank you. . .
Oh Libby, that is so sad, I’m so sorry. I’m saying a prayer for your dear daddy.
First time visiting you blog and I love it. So cute and happy inducing. Love the heart teapot….my fingers are crossed. 🙂
Eeeek!! Oh, this giveaway is so exciting – even more so because my granddaughter and I have been planning a Valentine Tea Party for our special friends! How much fun to use the heart teapot, drink the delicious tea and, because we she and I already have a copy of A Fine Romance, we could give this copy to our friends [a new mother-in-law/daughter-in-law pair]!
Quote: “. . .someone who simply needs an airing (as Joe would say, usually about me when I’ve been in the house too long)”. Oh Susan, that was me today. In the past weeks I’ve been robbed, broken my wrist, fell down the stairs and injured my back, had the flu. Today was the first day out and about and I talked to absolutely everyone – waiters, hostesses, clerks, strangers, haha!! I musta been lonely 🙂 Wonderful lunch (with wine) on the water. Shopping. Amazing dessert. A Good Airing!
Welcome back to life, stay strong Barbara!
Would love to win this contest – I do have your book, but would love to share another one! And I love the teapot too, reminds me of my English Grandma.
I love everything about this post and I’m over the moon to be included in it! Paul looks like a darling, which is exactly what I’d expect for our equally darling Rachel. They are going to love the painting!!! Thank you for opening the doors to “Smallville” and chasing away the winter gloom. xoxo
Janie! Thank you for your wonderful contributions . . . Your lovely banners hang in Smallville homes all across the world!
WOW! just WOW!
The Emma Bridgewater heart tea pot is the Cat’s Meoooow! I’m intrigued by the tea as well. Sounds like it would be absolutely delightful. 🙂
Dearest Susan, what a lovely blog post. Your talents are simply amazing and draw me to your blog above all others. How fun to witness Paul’s beautiful card. I am sure he will be thrilled.
I so love that heart teapot and oh for a spot of your special tea. Thank you for once again making my blog reading wonderful.
Your painting of Paul is fabulous! He will be thrilled. I would LOVE the teapot. I am a life-long tea drinker and it would be perfect with my assortment of vintage red transferware. I just recommended a Fine Romance to a friend who is going to England in the summer. I know she will love it.
I got engaged on Valentine’s Day 31 years ago… Will celebrate our 30th anniversary this May. Now planning our daughter’s wedding. Would love to share the book and teapot with her as she dreams of her own Fine Romance.
My mom gave me a cup that matches the heart teapot and I use it every afternoon. She said to remember how much she loves me when I’m sipping. She’s sweet that way! Of course it’s my favorite cup now.
This blog is one of my continuous small treats!
Thank you Susan!
Here’s hoping! I would love to share your book with some more of my friends! And share some tea!
Steaming tea poured from an Emma Bridgewater pot, and a really good book. What more could a girl ask for? Thank you!
What an absolutely darling blog! And wonderful card you painted for Paul. Delightful to take a breath of fresh air break in the midst of year end bookkeeping. Just perfect timing! And the teapot is so sweet. I saw a large fluffy red heart on one of my neighbor’s door today and made a mental note to get out my red wooden ones to nestle in around the winter greens I leave up all winter. I keep my sparkle lights going, too, to keep us cozy on grey days. The teapot and scones would be a great treat for my neighbor. I have a friend in mind for the book, as well. Thank you, dear Susan, for bringing so much style and charm to ordinary days. And hello, dear Rachel! Happy Birthday to Paul! Love the scarf! xo
Your painting of Paul is wonderful! What a special gift to receive! I’m sure he and Rachel will treasure it. Thank you for mentioning Rachel’s Lemon Butter Cookies. It reminded me I bookmarked that recipe to try. I made Siobhan’s Orange Lavender Polenta Cake over Christmas and, oh my goodness, it was over-the-moon delicious!!
I hope your brief statement about new knees at the start of your post doesn’t mean you have had to have knee replacement surgery.
Stay cozy and well in Smallville.
No not at all, my knees are the bees. 🙂
I love taking a moment in your world 🙂
positively pea green with envy here over your beautiful talent…i always wanted to draw/paint but alas, that gift was not bestowed but rather needlework skills instead….such a lovely giveaway it is!
If you do it with heart . . . .
I swear you can’t miss a few days checking the GF blog or you miss a wonderful give-away! I LOVE hearts, tea, teapots and I think I NEED this one! Hoping Vanna smiles on me! Thank you SUsan and what an awesome gift for your friend. I’m sure he wil cherish it!
Susan, you are such a dear – a combination of best friend, favorite neighbor, fun little sister, preferred tea party guest, best artist and wonderful author. Your books line my shelves. I made that fantastic Sticky English Toffee Pudding and it was a tremendous hit with my daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren. I had wanted that recipe since I took a trip to England and ate some of that glorious dessert. Imagaine my delight to see it in “A Fine Romance” right there for me to make. “A Fine Romance” is definitely a favorite and rare treat – wish you could live next door to me. You are ‘one of my people.’ My kitty and I are great fans!
As I read this post & found myself laughing out loud at your description of your shoes, your sweaters, friendships & such, I realized that if any of your other “jobs” go south you would make a wonderful stand-up comic! Along with your other talents, you are so clever & downright funny. Laughing is healthy & you give all of us a good dose of that with each post!! I feel as though I’m laughing along with a dear friend…..thank you. I love to laugh!
I didn’t know it was funny! How great!
Thanks for your most wonderful website. As a recent member of the Girlfriends Club, I am having the best time catching up on all your adventures, via your blog. Reading a post or two (or three) is one if the nicest things I look forward to doing every day.
I meant to say “Imagine” not “imagaine”…. good grief! If by some magic I should win the give-away, I know just the person who would love “A Fine Romance” …. and I would invite her to tea with your teapot and lavender tea. Ahhh… a delightful thought.
I have a new computer and my spell check fix-it thing is working overtime! I look up and suddenly everything I’ve written has been changed — for every one actual spelling mistake it fixes, there are ten places it changes my words completely to something I didn’t want to say!
My oh my, how lucky and dapper is Paul. He’s getting a very special birthday gift. My son-in-law came through my door a few months ago with a bottle of Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc for me. I shrieked “Kimmie” but then I couldn’t figure out where I had heard that before. Now I know…Smallville. So much goes on in this “small village” and it’s amazing how much it affects our lives.
My daughter had a Christmas party in December. I met a couple from Scotland, now living in Nova Scotia. His mother has now moved to England. We had a wonderful chat about the Lake District and Beatrix Potter. His wife has old BP figurines, still at her mother’s house in Scotland. After our little chat, she’s now thinking she had better put all her BP figurines in one basket and not take her eyes off that basket. It was the “bees knees” as Debs in Wales would say.
I love talking about that subject too, it’s almost like being there!
I just love getting your newsy update with all the color and design. It brightens my day and makes me want to be creative. Thanks!!!!
Love seeing your new art , you really captured the Birthday boys look! A lovely gift—having an original S.B. Hand painted card ! You seem to be on a roll with the artwork, calanders etc.!
I love reading everyone’s comments as much as your blog. I love it all! What a great way to spend my evening with my feet up, a cup of cocoa and drooling over the give away (with a big smile on my face). It just makes me feel like we are all kindred spirits – a sisterhood! Love to you Susan and all the girlfriends.
Hello Susan! I just love your blog! I look forward to every post. Reading it is truly a respite from very hectic days. This is my 1st time ever commenting though. I am a fellow Anglophile and Scottie dog lover in North Carolina. Thank you for continually brightening my world!
Oh how I love the cute heart tea pot. I would love to ry your tea.
I too have Emmas heart mug and wish,wish,wish for a teapot to match! What a beautiful and fun post this time around! Thank you!
Your references to England leave me reminiscing of our trip to the UK last summer…truly the trip of a lifetime! Would love to enjoy teatime with the Emma Bridgewater heart teapot and Earl Grey tea!
Back in the day, Perry Como was my heart throb; you know how to pick the tunes! Once again, you made my day with you being you in Smallville.
Susan, please know how very lovely your blog is! It is beautiful and fun and homey … All the wonderful things in life you celebrate and help others to celebrate too… We are blessed to call you “girl friend”
Lovely giveaway and thanks for the chance to win! I love reading your posts and I really enjoy all your illustrations – wonderful!
I so look forward to reading your posts, and admiring your lovely artwork! Thank you for all the giveaways you do, you are surely making many people happy! The teapot is lovely, of course we all would love it! And the tea, wonderful! A great cup of tea to drink while reading your lovely book, I can’t imagine a greater afternoon activity.
Your website is like a special treat – I really do savor it! Thank you for sharing your talents and joys!
My sweetie bought my first teapot and tea cozy on our honeymoon 29 years ago this year. Your post took me there again for a bit of sweet memories this evening. I’d love to be entered for the drawing.
Very much enjoy reading your blog it’s a perfect excuse to make another cup of tea and have a bit of a break! Thought the birthday card you painted for your friend was brilliant & unique. Oh and I love the sweet dear teapot that somebody is evidently going to win!
Pretty teapot. Great give away.
AHhh, another chance to win a copy (signed by YOU!) of A Fine Romance, which I’ve yet to read? I’m all in. And In. And In. Do you get my drift? Love the teapot…and that tea sounds like some sweet shortbread cookies my daughter made…with earl grey tea (i would’ve added lavender but she prefers NOT), so I see myself in front of the blazing woodstove, hot water atop with tea brewing, feet in woolly slippers upon a down blanket with Squeegee the Yorkie at my feet. My. Idea. Of. Bliss. (while I also dream of Pismo Beach and sunshine!) Sweet dreams to you, sweet Susan!
Dearest Susan
My goodness, you are spoiling us with your generosity!
It would be so nice to win this draw. My teapot has a chip in the top and I was just thinking that I needed a new one.
It is so wonderful to be getting so many lovely posts from you this month.
Thanks for everything you do.
What a great giveaway! I so look forward to reading your posts and finding out what’s new with you, Joe & the kitties. ps, love your blueberry,cornmeal pancakes. They would taste great with your tea.
Oh, that heart teapot! I so enjoyed this post!
I already entered this drawing on the last post; and I know Vanna is too smart for me to trick her with two comments. But I just couldn’t resist saying you just make life so fun! Thanks for creating the dream of being the one to receive such a generous and lovely Valentine’s Day gift!
I drink a lot of tea but have never had a proper teapot. My husband, aka “Mr. Wonderful” and I would really enjoy this St Valentine’s Day teapot. When he is grumpy, a cup of tea with me, is all it takes to warm his heart. Thanks again for all your cheery thoughts.
Susan… The birthday painting is beyond special ! Another giveaway.. you’re so generous. Would love to see that package on my front porch. The flower garden quilt is so pretty. I have two that were my mom’s. Congrats to Jan on her win !
I think I have a crush on Paul!
(Don’t worry Ray, I’m an ocean away and just celebrated my 50th wedding anniversary.)
That’s fine, DonnaRay! I will let him know he has admirers…he will love to know that! Congratulations on your Golden Wedding too…wonderful achievement! X
I visit you and the kitties here every day. My day isn’t complete without a stop in your kitchen! I’m headed to my cozy little kitchen now to make some lovely lemon tea cookies and a cup of tea. I already look forward to the 2016 calendar. I’ve had yours on my kitchen door since your very first. Thank you !
I am already entered in the last post but, I had to say how much I love your posts! You steps of painting so great! How could anyone not love a birthday card made especially for them, with their own picture. Love it, love you!!!
Your posts are such a treat! I am inspired to have a Valentine’s Day tea.. Something fun to look forward to!
Happy Birthday Charming Paul. How lucky are we when our girlfriends have sweet spouses? The best giveaway ever to celebrate Valentine’s Day, tea, my husband, kitties, and tea parties. Pick me, Miss Divine Vanna.
xxxooo Genie
Thank you for the joy you spread with your posts! I check frequently for new ones, and after reading them, I print them out for my friend Carolyn who adamantly refuses to use a computer, but who loves to write lovely long letters, each one like a little gift to the recipient. She loves your books and calendars, and I know she would love to win the teapot and tea so I am entering for her!
I have read your book twice – winter is the perfect time to read it again! Thank you for taking those of use who will not get to visit England – we got to go through your book. Also, I do need to make the cookies as I marked each recipe you had in the book.
Susan,
I love your blog, your books, recipes, and especially your beautiful paintings and drawings of all kinds. Thank you for sharing! Please enter me in your drawing.
Susan, congratulations to the winner of those address books! You are such a dear, with these amazing giveaways! The tea and teapot are gorgeous… Wow! Oh, I love your drawing of Paul, I know he will be so excited to receive such a thoughtful and special gift!! Enjoy the snowflakes….warmer temps should be coming…
I’m not sure Paul could have as much fun getting it as I did making it! 🙂