‘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!♥
Good morning Susan, girlfriends :)!!! its a damp and foggy morning here, and cold, only 38 degrees right now. I do love that painting of your friend, very dapper and chic. and congratulations to Jan on winning the address books, I found an old and unused address book in a box and I filled it up with websites and entry info to each site. I keep it handy by the computer now. and I have a handy tip for all you girlfriends that do sewing. I don’t know about you all but I do keep a button jar handy with all size, shape and color of buttons, and I find if I use one type or style more than the others I almost always have to dump the button jar to find the button I am looking for. so I figured if I could stick them on a safety pin and click it closed, I would have a way to see the button I need and a way to get it instead of dumping out the jar all the time and searching through the buttons. works like a charm for me. well I had better get busy, I have a ducky pool to seal up and refill, seems a pool for the ducks sprang a leak and while it’s not pouring out water, it is losing water and I don’t like wasting anything if I can help it. so I am trying that flex seal stuff to see if it works as good as they say it does to reseal the ducky pool. then I had better give the barnyard bunch their snack of leftover veggies, potato peels and other goodies, they love those treats. you all have a great day, stay sunny (happy). talk to you all again soon. hugs….. 🙂
Earl Grey tea and a lovely teapot with hearts! How wonderful would it be to receive these gifts? I was gifted a signed copy of A Fine Romance at Christmas, from my Secret Angel, so if I were to win this darling book, I would pass it forward to a dear friend! Thank you for spreading your sweet loveliness through the world with your loving and creative talents!
would love to win this valentines treat. Love your posts!
Susan, your blog posts make my day so happy. I did buy an extra copy of A Fine Romance & gave it to my daughter’s neighbor, who is nearly 90. She was born near London & I just love listening to all her stories of growing up in England. Her parents owned a small grocery store & she remembers seeing the Queen & Princess Margaret riding in their car on the way to their vacation home. She & her siblings would wait outside their store for them to pass by & wave to them. She just loved your book. Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day.
Wow! What a lovely giveaway! This is so inspiring to host a Valentine’s tea! I just tried your lemon poopy seed cake recipe and it was wonderful. These things would be a great addition to have for a tea party! I just love them! Thanks!
What a wonderful gift~ I would have a tea party with my now adult daughter in memory of my mom who passed away 3 years ago soon after my husband passed away suddenly (my daughter’s dad). My mom traveled to England many times researching her ancestors and last year I was able to go with my sister, and fell in love~ It was bittersweet though and I hope my mom knew I was there. I live in NH and dream of going back, and I will! My mom loved her ‘best’ dishes, tea, England, visiting with friends and family over tea, and what a way to honor her~
Oh what a perfectly splendid birthday gift. I love the gifts that come from the heart. This Christmas I received the most wonderful gift, a four page, handwritten love letter, full of everything my heart ever wanted to hear. I will treasure it always. I love the little touches that make everyday so special.
LOVE the painting you drew for Paul! What a unique gift — I’m sure he’ll treasure it. As for the teapot *sigh* it’s charming. I gave an identical one, along with two big teacups, to a friend for a wedding present. Perfect for a honeymooning pair, don’t you think?
Oh how lovely!! I am always so enchanted by how charming your giveaways are. I have been enchanted by your work since I first picked up “Girlfriends”!!
my 3 daughters and I would have such a lovely time with this give away!
Thank You again for everything you do !!
Mary B
Everything you create, dream, imagine is magical! Your posts transport me to the most charming and memorable places in the world. Thank you, Susan, for sharing your sparkling vision!
Ohh I adore that teapot! Earl Grey just so happens to be my absolute favorite tea in the whole wide world, it’s like this giveaway was meant for me! Though I do admittedly have the book already, I’m sure I have a friend who would love it as much as I do. And I’ll be borrowing the term “airing out” for the future, what a useful phrase!
What a glorious birthday greeting! I’ve loved hearing about your friends through the years. I need to create a special book with pictures and writings about my friends. I so enjoy your description of yours. I recall that Joe had a splendid birthday party a couple of years ago with treasured friends. Do you still celebrate his birthday that way? Yours is coming up in April. I hope you’re planning something special for yourself. Love to all.
What a lovely teapot, to chase away the chills 🙂 All your work is so lovely, and makes me smile every day. Thank you for having this giveaway!
sorry got a headache today and didn’t quite get my brain to comprehend…do I need to leave another post today to enter or was the comment on the original post for the address books, enough? Sorry. Either way…would love to be entered:0)
{hugs} to you Susan…and Joe …and kitties:0)
I would love to see that teapot on my table! I love a good “cuppa!”…..not a tea bag dunked in a stainless pot of hottish water!
I also love your awesome drawings and water colors on everything!
Love the new posts and love that Miss Janie made some new banners! Just the touch of color and whimsy to perk up winter! 🙂
Oh, what lovely things to win. That teapot would look so nice in my little red decorated cottage. I do not have a copy of your latest book and I dearly love lavender and rose petals. To have it in tea..how wonderful. Cousin Shelia, if you are reading this, I’ll share the tea if I win. LOL
Silver manicure? I am SO far behind. It has been a few years since I’ve had a girlfriends tea party – time to revisit the idea. Thank you for the inspiration.
You are just magnificent! Tea is my utmost favorite drink. Especially hot! As for small things – life is nothing without small things. If I received a smallish gift everyday, I would be the most happiest girl in the world! So thank you for this opportunity for this smallish gift! Tea and a Book. The perfect combination for the best day ever!
Your blog provides a welcome respite from dreary paperwork and helps add beauty to drudgery. What a gift you have! Sending love from south of the Mason-Dixon line…
Oh, a touch of romance!
hi, Susan! You are having such fun! Your enthusiasm IS contagious, and I am going to have a Valentine tea party. Thank you for your fun and exuberance! Love to you and Joe. Kathy W. Greenfield, Mass.
Susan , I so enjoy your posts and the musica you pick! I love to make a good cup of tea and turn up the musica to enjoy your postings. By the way your vegetable cheese soup is a big hit with my family! Thanks Maryann
You brighten each day for me and make the world a better place. Your calendr and tea start my day. Susan Branch reaches all parts of our little corner of the NW. You have affected my life in so many ways! Many thanks for your generosity and kindness. Love everything Susan Branch!
Lovely post, Sue!!! And, what a treat for the Girlfriends to have another drawing to look forward to!!!! That tea pot is adorable!
…..back to cleaning now! xoxo peg
Gosh Susan! I’m reading ‘A Fine Romance’ for the FIFTH time since I got your book last year (it’s not falling apart yet). Do you have any readers who are retracing your trip? It just seems far superior to any packaged tours I see offered. I know that all of your book signings last fall are probably a blur for you, but I met you at the Westfield Athenaeum and it was a highlight of my year. Thank you. Fran
I just read your entire blog post. After your musica, I followed it up with Magic Moments by Perry Como. So appropriate for your post. Winter can be drab, and must be brightened up! A must for me is a vase of tulips…perky and colorful, promising the coming of spring. Thanks for cheering my day!
What a sweet card for your friend in England. My copy of “A Fine Romance” has been in storage while my new home is being built. One of the first things I will do is unpack it and put it back where it belongs…on my coffee table with a number of other wonderful books!! Oh yes.. and reread it from cover to cover. A lovely cup of tea from your pot with Downton Abbey….I’m there! Thanks so much for your joyful approach to life.
A tea party! How lovely! You always have the most delightful giveaways!
Boo, hoo! I somehow missed getting a comment in on your last post and so I wasn’t eligible for Vanna’s spectacular drawing. I must get a comment on now because I’d love to win this latest drawing. I would share it with my friend, Missy, a hard working and dedicated nurse who has to work every Sun in Jan and therefore has been unable to see the new Downton Abbey episodes. I’ve been recording them and then she and her brand new husband (wed in April ’14) come over for viewing with scones and tea. Wouldn’t it be a perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the newlyweds to receive “A Fine Romance” and a beautiful heart teapot with a supply of tea? I’d love to win and share.
Thanks for a long and lovely post. Just one tiny complaint. No pictures of Jack ,the cat. How is he doing? Thought of him today when I passed a display of elastic cloth covered bands for ponytails—ie his favorite toy!!
Hi, Girlfriend! You are a hoot and I loved reading your blog this morning, especially starting out with “A You’re Adorable”! It came out the same year I did…1949! Guess that makes me an antique; just hope I am not archived! I would love to host an “adorable” tea with all your pretty prizes! Have a great day!
Love your teapot, Susan, and all the special things you do. Don’t you know your friends will just be so happy when they receive the painting you did of Paul Lucas!
And, no, I’m one of the very few I’m sure who doesn’t have a copy of your book yet. I’d love to be entered to win it and the other treasures! Thank you for the link to the blog with the lemon cookie recipe. I will make those soon!
What a fun post! This made me smile from ear to ear! I love the painting as a gift for Paul ( and loved his colored scarf also)! And the idea of your Virtual Vanna swimming like a mermaid into the well of names is such a fun visualization! But the thing that really hit home, was Joe’s comment about “people needing an airing”. After being stuck inside with the flu last week, I can really relate, and will use this lovingly from now on, honoring Joe and you! Ha! Thanks for the A-dorable song too….I will be serenading my seven year old granddaughter with this, forever! {{Hugs!}}
Hi Susan, how fun, what a great give-a-way so in the words of “Ace” the love of my live Kitty “MEOW” there maybe now I qualify for the drawing!!! So glad you are back
Connie from Abilene
Happy Trails To You
You never fail to entertain Susan. I so enjoy your blog; I read and re-read them. You are so clever and have provided so much entertainment over the years. Life in Smallville is so enjoyable to read about. Greetings from Santa Barbara County.
Such a nice post!
“How about a cup of tea.” was always an invitation from my mom to sit for a moment and talk. What wonderful memories I have of those times with her, and miss her so much. She especially enjoyed helping plan a Tea Party wedding shower for her oldest granddaughter, complete with vintage tea cups, tea cookies from Paris, and all those nearest and dearest to her present. She even gifted my niece with a tea pot she and my dad had received for a wedding gift 42 years earlier. So here’s to mom… hope she is up there sipping a cup right now!
Wow!! You’re kidding!!!! THE teapot!!!!! and the other stuff….whooo hooo~ Bestest giveaway yet!!! I’m in……I’m definitely in!!!
I have been a fan for a very long time and own lots of your stuff but my all time favorite is your wonderful calendar that graces my refrigerator year after year. I noticed that there was always a balloon on Aug 14 of every year which is my birthday so I once tweeted you and asked why. You were kind enough to reply and tell me it’s your Joe’s birthday as well. I love that it’s there!
Thanks for the opportunity to win such a great giveaway! I have my fingers crossed.
I’m leaving another comment since I’m not certain about my comment for the address books giveaway… Thank you for creating charming, comforting blog posts for us, love the musica links and kitty photos; and thank you for the giveaways you put together for us! I’m loving your 2015 calendar, a little bit of your charm in my life every day! xoxo p.s. Paul and Ray are gonna be so delighted with your Happy Birthday portrait 🙂
One of my “life’s little pleasures” is my pen pal from Wales.
Thank you Susan for promoting the art of letter writing .
My new friend across the pond and I have been writing for over 6 months now.
Hi Susan, love your tea table. I’m a huge fan of A Fine Romance and recently recommended visiting the Emma factory to a friend who is going to England, and she is! She is going in the fall. Thanks so much for your blog, I really enjoy it! Grier
What a windfall! What a wonderful Valentine tea I could have with my knitting buddies!
The table would look so beautiful. Thank you for all the adorable suggestions…
i live with all males. i have always been the minorityliving among brothers, room mates, and sons.
i would love a beautiful teapot! *:)
I see you’ve risen above 🙂
How cute! Love it all.
Oh my Susan reading your heart warming post has just made my day; your wonderfully written words are like a present and reading them unwraps simply wonderful times and places. You are definitely a smile maker! Ah and the Valentine giveaway, well what can one say but that it is most certainly the yummy frosting on a delicious cake.
Thank you for your gifts and blog.
Joanna
Oh, I am so excited about this giveaway because I love Valentine’s Day for many reasons, but the most important one is that it is my wedding anniversary. And, friends say my love story is so romantic. We met in London while I was on holiday. Three months later my English love visited me in America, and on Valentine’s Day we were married! We are celebrating 27 years of marriage this year! Isn’t it romantic? I’m singing, too! 😀 I am keeping my fingers crossed for the giveaway. Thank you, Susan, for all you do. I love, well, everything!
Oh, my goodness, what a lovely giveaway!
I would love the teapot. For years I wanted a tea. So my daughter arranged for one at Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC Canada. My husband and I took Amtrak to Seattle where we met our daughter and her family. And then we took a ferry to Canada. It was a lovely place for a tea. I was happy to see the Autumn Book out again. I bought my copy 8 years ago right after I had breast cancer. It was so comforting at the time when I was so scared. I’d only look at two pages a day, so that each day as I turned the page, there was something new to see. Now I’d like to see the northeast in the Fall. My husband and I went to Martha’s Vineyard a few years ago, but I’d like to see the rest of Cape Code and up the coast, and all the places you wrote about.
I’m humbled Nancy, that is such a nice thing for you to tell me. I’m so glad you’re better and happy, you’ll love New England in the fall!
How I love your blogs! Always so cheerful! Stay warm and keep creating beautiful things!
Susan, I love how romantic you and Joe are and all the memories you are making! I would absolutely love to receive your wonderful gifts!
Susan,
You are just such a joy in my life!! Even on the busiest of days, I stop whenever I see that you have a new post, because I know that it will be a delightful respite for a few moments, and the musica is always such a nice treat too!! 🙂 Thank you for the happy moments that you bring to my days!! LOVE your work!! 🙂
Wendy Zenor
Yay! Another Giveaway! Congratulations to Jan, lucky girl. Darling post, just love all the pictures, especially kitty reading “A Fine Romance” too cute for words. I heard a bird chirping this morning I about fell over it was a Cardinal so pretty, spring is coming to our frozen world. And I saw bunny tracks too, but couldn’t find the culprit hmmm…
Dear Susan,
I would love that teapot! Love your blog so much, I never miss it. I may not write much, but I ALWAYS read your new entries. xoxo Jacqui
I always know you’re here Jacqui! thank you!
I have been collecting and enjoying your books for many years!
what a wonderful giveaway! I used to hold an annual Christmas tea when I lived in CA. The last one, before moving to TN, people cried because it was the last one. Fast forward a couple of years later when I was settled in TN and going to hold a Christmas tea. My best friend of 50 something years,who lives in CA, asked me when tea was going to be. I thought she was just making conversation. Imagine my shock, a couple of hours before tea, when there was a knock at my door and she had caught a red-eye flight and flew across country to attend tea. A tea we will both always remember.
That’s a doll of a friend you have there. xoxo
Dear Susan,
Just finished reading “A Fine Romance” – love, love, love it! I love all things English and your book is so beautifully done that I smiled the whole time I was reading it! I soooo wish I had some artistic ability, but, alas, I was not blessed with this gift so I will just live an artist’s life vicariously through your books and blogs. Your artwork makes me happy – thank you!
I LOVE Emma Bridgewater. Gorgeous stuff!
I am late to A Fine Romance. I am trying to read it very slow (difficult) and savor each line and beautifully painted picture.
Loved the book, would love to win a copy!!! Am planning lots of tea parties with my new little granddaughter!!!
Love the teapot! Pink is my favorite color…… I really enjoyed you sharing the sweet birthday card to your dear friend. It has inspired me to make a special card for my family and friends. Thank you Linda
I love love love this prize and Valentine’s Day and Tea! I want to have 2 Valentine’s Tea Parties! One for the neighborhood kiddos and one with girlfriends! Thank you for the invites! Oh, dear Vanna, pick me, pick me! Thank you for the possibility of winning something! I am having fun already! And now a word from my 3 year old, Sawyer, who loves to type:
sawyer how rocketlearhedtoread susan branch
Tell Sawyer I said, sawyer inomoonshipanmom?
Oh…My….Gosh…. I have wanted this FOREVER and three days at least!!! My favorite shape is ‘heart shaped’ and the teapot would be used, displayed, and pampered like a newborn! And the tea? OMG I WOULD BE IN HEAVEN!
And that would be FOREVER NOT GOREVER LOL….just a bit excited I was!
Oh come on, it has to be Gorever! LOL xoxo
On the very cool day when we need your warmth and sense of (generous!) fun? Up pops another of your happy blogs. I consider your blogs a win, and this new giveaway so very like you. So as always, Susan, I thank you for sharing …you. xo, Mary
I love, love, love the teapot!!♡ LOVE rose petals in tea, and haven’t read the book yet, (but have been wanting too!) If I win you will find me up in my craft room, in the chair by the window, sipping tea, and reading away 🙂
Just love reading your blog. I don’t have your book, would be great to read it having a cup of tea with lemon butter cookies. Sure Ray and Paul will love the painting, great gift.
I’ve loved that teapot ever since you first posted a photo of it about 4 years ago and inspired me to have a Valentine’s luncheon for my five BFFs. That luncheon has become a beloved annual tradition for me, and the teapot on my table would so add to our celebration. Even if I don’t win, I’d like to thank you for giving me the idea in the first place. We’re all (almost all) in our seventies, and nothing is more suitable to brighten a February day than hauling out the best china, silver, and linens (plus a nice champagne piunch) to celebrate all our years of friendship. Thank you for enriching our lives!
That is a very generous giveaway, Susan! Maybe I’ll fiiiinally win something!! (((Hugs))
What a lovely gift and what a lovely artist you are!
I love blue…Blue Skies has always been a favorite song…I find myself singing it on glorious sunny blue sky days…conversely. ..grey skies make me blue…I am one who needs lots of light to function properly. Your teapot dressed in red hearts helps me focus onthe future…Valentine’s Day. ..love…warmth of tea in the mornings (every day in this house)…the coming of Spring! Thanks for always making me see the magic in living.
So pretty for romance and tea.
What a lovely teapot! Oh, I have such an affinity for teapots and tea! Is it possible to have too many teapots? And if I don’t win the set, I’m going to go buy the book anyway. I didn’t know what I was missing.
Dear Susan,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us! You really are an inspiration. As I sit here in the North Carolina mountains on a snow day off from school, I think I will take your advice and enjoy the simple pleasures of home and warmth and hot tea in a pretty tea cup.
Susan,
I love your painting!! You did a great job as it looks exactly like him! I know he will love it!! It is so nice to have such good friends!
Your posts are the highlight of my day! They make me feel so good when I read them. You are a very talented and special writer! Love you!
What a lovely and thoughtful birthday gift! Love this post today.
I can’t draw/paint for the life of me and I’m so impressed by those who do – what a fabulous gift for Paul. (Happy Birthday Paul from those of us across the pond). You’re awesome Susan! Also, I’m using that moon phase bookmark you shared with us recently and have shared it with loved ones as well. So cool.
Thanks for all you do.
Oooh, getting one of your posts in my inbox always brightens my day! I try to save them for a slow part of the afternoon so I can pause and read something happy and comforting. And it’s even more fun when there’s a giveaway to enter! Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays – even without a sweetheart to share it with, I just love all the pink and red and hearts. Half of the dishes in my kitchen are Valentine-themed, just for fun.
Here’s hoping I win! 😀
I just borrowed your Christmas book from the library. Can’t wait to read it.
Your own personal tea sounds lovely. Have a great day. I always do after
reading your post.
Oh what a lovely tea party we’ll have – on Valentine’s Day, of course! I’ll have my daughter, my three granddaughters (1 in college, 2 in high school) all bring their American Girl dolls and they can join my doll at their own tea table. Yes, the neighbors may talk but we’ll be the ones laughing like children 🙂
I can’t start my day without my piping hot cup of tea!
Love your blog today, as usual! What a beautiful birthday gift for your friend in England! You are wonderfully creative!
How wonderful to see handsome, dapper Paul! I always love to see sweet Rachel! So happy she’s one of the girlfriends! I adore Alice! Living my puppy pet fantasy through Alice because, alas, not able to have one of my own. Congrats to Jan! And what?! Yet another giveaway! You, my sweet Susan, are too generous! I have dreamed of owning that EB teapot! xo I love the thought of you sitting at your painting table in your little cashmere cardigan and shawl! Just like Tasha Tudor! Sooooo enjoying Downton Abbey! xo
Meeting next week for several days with girlfriends at annual “beach in winter” getaway…..we call ourselves “Stitch ‘n Bitch Gals”………lots of cross-stitching will happen, watching Downton Abbey Season One, and I purchased an auction basket in December with Downton Abbey Tea in it!!!!!!!! That darling Emma Bridgewater heart teapot would be PERFECT for this tea!
You are always an inspiration!! Thank you for all the beauty and ideas.
Bless You, Susan. Again, you’ve warmed heart & soul. Again, I’m taken into the World I know & love, yet, in reality is so very far away. These moments rekindle a spark of life. Momentarily a warm glow ignites. Peace, Joy, Love, Thanks, & Hugs; GM
I love your book A Fine Romance. I have visited Britain several times and your observations, drawings and photographs took me right back to all the things I love about it. If I win the contest, I would like to share the book with my dear friend who has just married a Brit (after being separated by distance for 2 years). She would appreciate all the special things in it. Of course, I would keep the teapot for myself.
Dear Sue,
Thanks for the wonderful post, just what I needed on this cold and gray day!
I appreciate you generously sharing some of your day with us. I would love to give the Emma teapot a good home.
I care for my granddaughter who is almost two. Whenever she hears the bird “tweeting” when I open your blog, she runs to climb up into my lap to see “burdy”. Her sweet face is filled with wonder each time she sees and hears the bird. She doesn’t want down until we look at all the lovely pictures. She always asks for “more” so we also look back on older postings. She likes dancing to the music too! It seems you have another fan.
Wow how fun!!! Thanks so much for all your talent! I’d love any/all of it, and I would indeed give A Fine Romance to another who will love it just like me.
Thank you!
Anne
I have rediscovered the joy of a lovely cup of tea, after many years of a tea drought. (between college graduation and retirement!) I have a cup of afternoon tea, with a little treat, every day and it’s made my days a little brighter. I enjoy reading about your give-aways, even if my name keeps slipping out of Vanna’s fingers 🙂 Thank you for all of your wonderful posts about Smallville and keep them coming!
Your blog posts just ALWAYS make my day! I so wish we were neighbors! I don’t think I would ever get anything done at my house, because you and I would always be doing something else! Would LOVE to have an Emma tea pot! It’s because of YOU that I fell in LOVE with Emma Bridgewater!!
HUGZZZZZZZ (((((())))))
Oh I love love love that teapot! I just ordered a matching teacup for my mom!
Oh boy! I just packed up the Christmas tea set and was wondering what would take its place. Do hope I win!
What a lovely post! And what a wonderful gift for a friend. Thanks for the chance to win the amazing teapot and A Fine Romance. I know just who I’d give it to. Even if I don’t win, you’ve inspired me to have a tea party.
What a gathering of loveliness! Your work is inspiring and fun, and making want to have a tea party of my very own. What a treat it would be to have someone serve goodies to my girlfriends and for us to put the world outside and just focus in the most important of all feelings and actions: LOVE, for a bit. A “Love Wins” Party…I think will be on the horizon, with lots of tea, scones, cookies and cakes. No talk of calories, only stories of love allowed. 🙂
I just realized you had a facebook page — what a wonderful treat. It’s a sad time here because one of my daughters is ill, but I’ll look forward to making her some of the lemon butter cookies when she feels better. Thanks for sharing your talents so freely.
Susan, I just love your blog. You have such an imagination. You inspire me to not care that I am 40, but to enjoy things like buying my own Victorian coloring book, putting pink flannel sheets with hearts on my bed and enjoying the little things during the day.
Love the card/gift you made for Paul..and the sunroom scene..even the paintbrush with a blotch of watercolor..
It is so cold here I am by the fire with lentil soup on the stove and cinnamon swirl banana bread out of the oven for 3 of my grandsons getting off the bus soon.
Have address books on my list for when I shop next for all my passwords etc.
Congratulations on your winner.
So glad Anna won a Golden Globe.Mr Bates will be proud when he sees her next Sunday.
Amazing giveaway! Thank you for your generosity! And it is just too cute for words. You have brightened this gray January day! Thank you so much.