‘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 valentine tea party would be a nice break from the winter blahs. Love the little invitation.
I have always love your books:) over the years I have taken your books out and had others asked where I get these:) I only won once at age 7 or 8 at elementary school raffle Barbie doll cloths handmade and a couple handmade ornament (which I still have the ornaments:) my mom have my Barbie doll cloths to other little girls who did not have much:) I know I was a kindered spirit and love your blogs and paintings:). Thank you and have a great day:)
Respectfully,
Cynthia Luke
Now you’ve inspired me to have a Valentine’s Tea Party for my daughter, daughters-in law, and six granddaughters (ages 1-9). What a lovely idea! I can’t wait to pull out all of my lovely pieces and share them with the ones I love. I’ll have to request “outrageous fancy-dress and hats” to make it so much more fun!
Thank you for the inspiration,
Linda
Love the darling heart teapot- so sweet!
Xoxo
I love that green hobnail candleholder. I found a green hobnail MINI cream and sugar set, that I use for tea light holders. They had them in different colors on ebay. I really enjoy them.
Hi Susan,
Love the give-away!!! I do hope Vanna pulls out my name, and all those lovely treats come to my house. I really want to share your book with my friend Becky. We love to share tea with each other!!! I have large tea parties three times a year in my home. About 12-16 ladies attend, and we have so much fun. Each party has a theme, I design the invitations, do the cooking, and set the tables with linens, crystal, and china. My lovely neighbor Diana comes over and helps with set-up, and the flowers. The wonderful thing about these parties is that most of my “tea sisters” started out as strangers. Now, they look forward to seeing each other. Everyone gets to forget their problems for awhile, and just enjoy lifes beautiful moments. It’s my pleasure to get to pamper each of them for a couple of blissful hours. Oh, by the way, cocktails are involved!!! Thank you again for all your wonderful stories. Take care, and stay warm.
Hi Sue, just thought I’d take a moment to say hello and all this talk about tea has me wanting a cup right now!!! The kettle is on and I’m listening intently for the whistle to begin to beckon me to the kitchen. Tea has a way of when you take the first sip….it calms your heart, sooths your spirit, warms your tummy and massages your feet. Yup…that’s what the first sip does for me these days. Now if I only had a warm scone and some Devonshire cream……hmmmmm! Ooopppps! I’m being paged to the kitchen by my tea kettle! So from our humble home in Smallville, FL to yours in Smallville on MV …. have a wonderful “tea like” day! F.O.S.B. 4~Ever! ~ Doreen ~
Tea as foot-massage! Gotta love THAT! xoxo
Susan, I love your artwork and it really picks me up on those days that are difficult! Your blog is great…..it’s wonderful to read about Martha’s Vineyard and your family life there with Joe and the kitties! Seeing your work has encouraged me to start an art journal and work on my watercolor skills (or lack there of!). Okay, now off to have a cup of tea!
What a great painting of Mr. Lucus! And the sticker is just the right touch. Perfect! I would love love love to win the darling teapot and the book, which I would give to my girlfriend who doesn’t have one. (I don’t lend my books out anymore. I don’t get them back or a doggie uses it for a chew toy or a baby uses it for a coloring book. No longer can I smile my way through with gritted teeth. Best to just have a policy.) So Vanna, throw me a bone or a slipper as the case may be, and pick my name out of the hat this time…pleeeeaaaasssseeee!?!
Need your cheerful post today. Overcast and cold in Michigan. Love your paintins of your friend Paul. I am sure it will be treasured by him.
Always makes me so happy to see you have a new blog post, a spirit lifter on cold, rainy winter day. Love all your stuff and to win as a prize would be delightful…
What a lovely drawing you made of your friend Paul!
And the recepy of the cookies I’ll make next week when Peter our son has his 34th birthday.
Love the teapot with the hearts-have already two mugs and we used them every day.
Have a nice day–we had snow too today!
greetings,Trudy from Holland
I love anything with hearts on it, so would love to win the teapot and the book!
Susan, I thank you for blessing us with the joy of possibilities, not only today, but in every day! Pam
I have been a fan for so many years! I am reading A FINE ROMANCE right now and savoring each evening’s read. Your book is truly delightful and full of wonderful information and photos plus – your gorgeous artwork! My husband’s family originated from Newbury, England and we are anxious to travel there and take in the glorious sights including the places you and Joe visited. Thank you for sharing your beautiful talent with all of us. It is a joy to see the world through your eyes and paint brush!
You probably know Newbury is close to Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey)? Go to the oldest pub in Newbury and probably your husband’s ancestors were there too at one time! Love England!
Oh yes! We did make that discovery and it has made us more anxious to see it. Love your idea of visiting the pub, too! We have the original copy of his great grandfather’s, “Declaration of Intention” when he came over to New York from Liverpool on the vessel, Little Italy, in 1889. He was a blacksmith by trade. How he ended up in Rosebud, Texas we’ll never know.
Priceless piece of family lore!
I have high hopes for the Valentine teapot. It would be like it was coming home.
I love all things Susan Branch! Keep up the amazing work!
It facinates me how you can make lines on a paper them moosh watercolor paints in them and come up with something SO GLORIOUS!! You make it look so easy! I could use another copy of A Fine Romance. I loaned mine to a friend and it has yet to find the way home. Perhaps I should consider tethering it with a chain like the pens at the post office :0)
LOL! cute!
How how lovely! A tea party! A romantic book! Friends to share them with. That’s really the important part, isn’t it?
Thank you for giving us the chance to win such a generous gift.
PS~Should I win I will be having a tea in memory of my Grandmother who loved her tea.
Oh, wow! An Emma teapot, tea, tea tin and a copy of your beautiful book! Everything one needs for complete relaxation. You have put together the perfect package of delights! I’m keeping my fingers crossed
Susan,
Thank you for always being a ray of sunshine in what can sometimes feel like a cold&dreary world. I would be happy to win your giveaway but I feel like I win a prize each time your blog arrives in my inbox!
Thank you for always being a ray of sunshine in what can sometimes feel like a cold&dreary world. I would be happy to win your giveaway but I feel like I win a prize each time your blog arrives in my inbox!
I love the teapot! It’s perfect for Valentine’s Day and also to use while watching Downton Abbey. I have tons of teapots, but not one with hearts. Would love to win this! Happy Valentine’s Day and Happy Winter! Stay warm and cosy.
I am using your Days from the Heart of the Home (book of blessings) to write down things I’m thankful for each day. I love your illustrations and lovely stuff! Would love to win all those items. 🙂
❤️Warm “Valentine Wishes” from Boise, Idaho.❤️
I work for a *big* bookseller (I do know you love the small, independents—as do I, but a book in anyone’s hand is always a step in the right direction). ;))
I, so very joyfully (and with a skip in my step) get to place “A Fine Romance” in the hands of as many people I can! In fact, I have a goal set of how many I want to sell this year. I am paying forward the joy you bring to me, in this small little way. It would be SO fun if you could stop by and see us one day! =) On your way to California. The “Northern” route.
Tea could most certainly be arranged!
Thank you for being you. And sharing you with all of us❤️
Have a beautiful day!!!
Ohhh yes, I never want to lose ANY bookstore, I truly do love them all. (And worry for them, even the big ones.) You are a doll to be my guardian angel of book world Kimberlee . . . Keep in touch, and when my new book comes out, write, invite me to your store, and I will be HAPPY to come!
Your post was the perfect accompaniment to afternoon tea. Hope your day in Smallville was as lovely as mine here in Waco, Texas (my very own Smallville) with the corgis!! Thanks for always making me smile.
I so much enjoyed reading your blog post as I sat here waiting for my two yr. old son to wake up from his impromptu nap between grocery shopping stops. Please enter me in the drawing. What a beautiful and heartwarming gift package!
Oh boy….another fun give-away. Your blogs brighten my day…thank you.
My husband and I share a pot of tea most every night while watching British tv shows on Netflix. I would adore it were I lucky enough to win that sweet teapot to add to my collection.
Oh, I so want to win your book, so my Bestie, Linda, can keep her copy. She knows how much I LOVED every word, painting and quote, when I borrowed it. She has promised me her copy, which is signed. Please let me win, please let me win. That way, we both win 😉 Love your posts and ALL YOU DO! xoxo
Susan, thank you so much for your blog! It brightens my day every time I get to read it! You definitely make every post full of love and friendship and that means a lot! I can’t wait for the next one!
I love your portrait of your friend. It is a great likeness!
Hi Susan! I always look forward to your blog posts because they help me escape, even for a little while from the craziness of the world. I have my own version of smallville out in the country and prefer to stay snug at home-if I only didn’t have to go to work! It is so generous of you to give away such a cute teapot. It would go nicely with my pink Laura Ashley teacups. I have been meaning to have friends over for tea, nothing fancy, just tiny sandwiches, cookies and fun conversation. One of my friends gave me a small Downton Abbey (Highclere Castle) that lights up when you press down on one of the towers and plays the theme music from the series. It would look nice on the table, positioned next to the teapot!
Dear Susan,
What a joy to read about you making your own fun in Smallville! In my Smallville of Cohoes, NY I was up to similar mischief – not with your level of artistry, but making a get-well card for a dear friend who has surgery this week, inspired by a punny, quirky and fun vintage get-well card illustration I think you and fellow girlfriends might get a kick out of too, it’s from this blog called Papergreat: papergreat.com/2014/03/vintage-punny-get-well-soon-card.html. Thank you for sharing what you’re up to, I like to think there are lots of Smallville residents in Smallvilles across the globe enjoying making their own fun 🙂
I’d love to be entered into your giveaway too!
Thank you for entering me in your drawing! Love that tea pot and have been wanting to try your tea!
Oh please, pick me! Pick me! I’m happy & I know it!
Oh my, to be able to win the tea themed prize would be the best! There is nothing better than great tasting tea from an adorable teapot and a wonderful read! Since I have the book I would have my own drawing with my girlfriends names entered that do not have the book (several do). I just know they would cherish it as much as I do. XOXO
I have always thought “what a wonderful teapot!” And what a lovely birthday gift for your friend Paul. I’ll bet he’ll be really pleased and surprised.
Susan,
I am so happy I found you on the Internet a few months ago! I really enjoy everything that you do. The first books I bought of yours were in 1995- The Summer Book and Christmas Joy, both first editions. I still have some of your stickers from when I first started scrapbooking many many years ago. I love using them on handmade cards, but I hate to part with them! Is there anywhere I can buy more? I enjoy reading your blog. Thank you for bringing a lightness to my day. What a wonderful painting you did of your friend Paul!
I don’t have your new book. Thank you for the chance to be entered into your drawing. I would love the teapot, tea, or book!
Dear Susan,
Just want you to know that you are the start to my everyday. If I’ve read the blog posted, I go onto older Willards and just enjoy one of those for that day. You are a totally positive force. I’m sure your readers would agree with that as well. You take me away from all of the morning news, that I feel I should watch in order to be informed. However more and more it’s overwhelmingly sad, fearful and filled with tragedy. I need your message from “smallville”‘ as you say so truthfully. We MUST focus on small in order to make any positive changes in the world. Do what you can in a helpful, kind and charitable way for your family, friends,neighbors and in your town. The effect of it may not be so small really, and it’s something you can manage that is in your control and within your reach. It’s a way to move toward making a better place out of the world. Imagine if everybody who could think this way would do it. Changes for the better would be realized in the small part that makes up your world. It’s the only way, I think, to live your life. I forget sometimes the phrase, pay it forward. I only want to say, don’t wait to pay it forward…that implies you are waiting for something good to happen to you, then you will act. No….you be the start.
This is what I get from you every morning….all good! Helps me to stay on track.
Thank you, Susan…..the world needs your insight.
Hello from St. Louis.
It is going to be a sad Valentine’s Day here because my granddaughter just left to join the Peace Corps in South Africa and I won’t see her for 27 months. Boohoo! My grandson’s 19 year old friend was just murdered over the past week-end as he was out celebrating with friends the day before he was supposed to return to college – shot in the head by a thug from Ferguson. A great big Boohoo – how incredibly senseless and sad. And my husband has cancer and is undergoing treatment with no hope or promise for the future. I look to the Susan Branch blog for a little cheer and music in my life.
Ohhh Marilyn!
Soo sorry for this sad and difficult Season of your life! All my prayers for your husband…and that he knows he is soo LOVED!
None of us escape this life without some suffering and struggle….but be assured that you are not alone! Thanks for sharing and know that you are being REFINED (like Diamonds!) through this pain. It is not for naught.
We do not journey alone…for good or sorrow! Live your LOVE for others!
Marilyn, I feel so bad for you. I will certainly ask God (tonight) to be beside you as you live with your pain. I hope you feel my prayers coming into your life. I’ll be thinking of you. My husband lived five years with cancer. He went through a lot, but kept on fighting. What wonderful doctors he had, to have kept him alive for all those years. I’ll be eternally grateful to those doctors, who were so dedicated to my husband’s welfare. (Sandy from Chihuahua Flats)
Thanks for entering me in your drawing. I always love reading your blogs!
You are so inspiring. My girls and I love your books. I put a few of them away for each of them for when they have their own homes. Thank you for giving us a bright spot to come and visit.
I love your painting of Paul in all of his color! What a fantastic gift to give him for his birthday!! Please enter me in the drawing for the lovely teapot, I especially like Earl Grey tea… 🙂
I love that sweet teapot! What a wonderful giveaway. I enjoy your blog, your books, and your art!
So glad to hear from you. It’s like a letter from a dear friend just arrived when I get notice of a new blog entry. You are a marvel. How lovely, an Emma Bridgewater Heart Teapot and more. I’ve admired E.M. teapots and mugs for years. I think I need to put them on a wish list somewhere. A teapot is a perfect start to a new collection:-) I have your tin and “our” book but would love to share them with special friends. What fun! AND your idea of a tea party was just the little push I need. I have a college friend visiting in Feb. and a tea to introduce her to a few special friends would be perfect. Thanks.
Oh how I would love to win this giveaway!!
Thank you, Susan, for such a wonderful blog – what a wonderful, inspirational “few minutes” of time out in a busy day.
A friend “introduced” me to you. I just love the tea pot.
Ohhh! I LOVE that hearts Emma Bridgewater teapot – I look at wistfully every time I visit the shop, and the double treat of your special blend Darjeeling to serve in it, SIGH!!! – please, please put my name in the basket, too. Your portrait Birthday card for Paul is surely one to be treasured – you really captured his cuteness :-)!!!! Thank you once again for a visit in “Smallville”!
OOOOPSY! – I’m blushing because how could I have gotten your OWN private tea blend wrong – please forgive me – I do want to make amends (especially because I love Earl Grey tea). Please ‘xcusy?!
Don’t think a thing about it! xoxo
Penny I thaught your post was so cute. Where is there a Bridgewater store near Oceanside ? My BBF lost her brother at a very young age , he was at Camp Pendleton in the Marines n died on the base so she goes ofter to Oceanside to fell close to her beloved Brother Edward. I am from Newport Beach / Huntington Beach and now live in Las Vegas area of Henderson Nv. I would love to know where I can actually look and touch Emma Bridgewater items I would also swoon over seeing her things. Have a great week lovely chating with you text me any time Id love to hear more Love to you Cheyenne from Henderson NV
I love the teapot, tea, and your book! It’s a fabulous give-away! Your hand painted picture of Paul will be such a treasure for them–Such a dapper man.
I love your books Susan! I have 3 of them. So beautifully written and illustrated! Thank you for sharing your talent with us 🙂
Oh, how I love your books! My husband, son and I enjoy tea most every day. We will often fix a cup of tea and go to sit on the front porch to “talk to the man,” our beautiful orange cat! It is time we so enjoy together and the cat always comes from nowhere to join us! Right now, however, tea is at the kitchen table, as January in Connecticut is not sitting on the front porch season! Looking forward to Spring, Summer and Fall! While I have most of your books, I do not have this one! I will look forward to the drawing in hopes of being lucky!
Tea! I’m ready ~ let’s do TEA! While the cookies are baking, our tea can be steeping…ooooo it already smells wonderful!
Such a cute teapot & some yummy tea to sip while enjoying your signed book! I would just love it! I love your blog and look forward to reading it as often as I can!Such a nice giveaway!
Susan, the painting you did for Paul is precious!
My table is already set for Valentine’s Day tea minus
that tea pot. I promise to invite Vanna if she gets it for me.
Love your cookbooks, love your blog and just everything you do. You always generate a warm and happy feeling for me. Thank You!!
Oh, I desperately need to share tea with my very best heart friend, Susan, who lives in Alabama. I’m in Utah, but I think this lovely teapot would love to travel with me across the miles to share tea with my sweet friend. We haven’t seen each other in YEARS and I miss her so!
Oh this wonderful! I so want to have a tea party for my best girlfriends!
Oh, there you go again….being lovely….it’s just like you ;D Share your website with so many because you would love all my friends 😀
Happy New Year and Valentines too!
Margeaux Holland!
Loved this post…and the musica! I kept hitting replay! Your gift for your friend is priceless, just as he sounds to be. It would be so lovely to have a teapot like yours to share a tea party with my four wonderful grandchildren. They love our tea parties, even the boys! They love to show me how carefully they can pour! So cute!
New Year blessings to you!
Evelyn
Thanks for this wonderful drawing!
My friend finally returned my copy of A Fine Romance, now I get to enjoy the trip all over again!
Happy 2015!
Hi Susan! I am going to have a Valentine Tea Party for my girl friends! Thank you so much for the invitation as it will have a Susan Branch theme!. It will be quite fun and we will have a chance to just talk. Great job on the painting of Paul!
Cindy
I’ve been eyeing that teapot for a while now, Susan! Maybe this is a sign??!! Thank You for the chance to win it. It will look lovely next to my Emma Bridgewater cups ( I have 3 now!! YAY!!)
I absolutely LOVE your creativity and art…and that card is absolutely FABULOUS! What an awesome gift.
And it would be another awesome gift to win your giveaway, as I adore that tea pot! And your books. And Earl Grey…
Thanks for the chance and have a lovely rest of the week!!
My heart bests faster at the thought of an Emma teapot !
Oh! How much I’d love to win !! Especially the book. Your posts always make my day! Although I don’t know if you would send them to Spain.
I would so love to win. What a wonderful prize package. Especially the book, I’ve checked it out at the library but would love to have a copy of my very own ! You make my day Susan.
Dearest Susan,
I have been enjoying your art and illustrations and inspiring words for many years. But just came upon your blog about a week ago. To my delight I discovered that you and Gertrude Taber and I all share the same birthday ! Your blog is my favorite. Such fun!
Just to introduce myself, I live in the PacNW in Forest Grove, OR, a sweet little college town at the foothills of the Coast Range. A proud graduate of the Univ of OR (GO Ducks!) a wife, mom of 4 teens (ok, truth be told the eldest is turning 21 in March, but the teenager in him still eeks out from time to time!) a lover of overgrown English gardens, tea parties, schnauzers, raising my backyard chickens, artist, and owner of a ’67 Aladdin trailer that we remodeled this past year into a darling artist’s studio/vintage boutique.
My hubby and I visited Martha’s several years ago during a business trip to Boston. During a break in the schedule we happened upon the last ferry for the day and enjoyed an early dinner and some window shopping. Apparently the 5′ of snow of the previous week had melted just in time for us to visit!
Hi Susan, I have loved your work since I first saw it many, many years ago. The fact that you handwrite everything is so special. Not many people hand write anything anymore and I cherish it when they do. Thanks for all the cheer you bring to this world.
Love your blog and your give-aways. I would love to win this wonderful gift, but even if I don’t win I’ll be happy for the person that does.
I would love to win that beautiful teapot! The other goodies look good too! Of course if I didn’t already own your book, that would be the one thing above all the others that I would want! Thanks for the opportunity!
Love reading your blogs and your calendar!!! I just made the February recipe for the pineapple pork ribs excellent!!! Thank You
My mom’s . . . since I was a little kid.
What could be more “lovely” than having Valentine’s Day tea brewed in such a pretty teapot!? Love reading your blogs. They always put me in a happy frame of mind!
Forgot to say enter me in your drawing….Thanks Again
How so very clever and nice of you to paint such a fun birthday card for your friend, Paul! I’m sure he will love and treasure it! And Congratulations to Jan Hammond on winning the drawing for the address books! I didn’t enter that drawing as I already have your newest address book. But Oooooh how I would Absolutley Love to win this drawing for the Sweetest, Most Darlingest Teapot Ever!! I’ve always admired it in your blog posts! I seldom ever seem to win drawings, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed and hoping against hope! Is it okay (and does it help) to comment more than once, for good luck?? Thank-you for thinking of us and even offering such a wonderful drawing!
Hugs,
Laura Croyle
You seem to make the ordinary things in life, like washing dishes into a special event! Thank you for opening up about your life, your musings, for giving us such a nice place to go to.
I keep ‘A Fine Romance’ on my bedside table to read whenever I need a lift.
It was cold and dreary here in Ct today and then I read your blog. My book club’s next Tea Party would be very special with any of the prizes.
I squeal and giggle when I get your sweet emails. Your artwork, photos and lettering are so cheerful! I would love to be considered for your “give-a-way.” Thanks for all you do!
Gifts from the heart are the nicest gifts.
That dear card which you hand painted for your friend, Paul, is just that sort of special gift which I am sure he will treasure forever.
I love tea parties……….tea pots, teacups, and everything and anything that has to do with “taking tea”. Scones, little cakes, finger sandwiches…………What a civilized custom. How is it possible for anyone not to love it?
Emma Bridgewater pottery is indeed a special work of art. I have 2 little matching cups with Robin Red Breast painted on them. I love having my tea, coffee, or hot chocolate in them. Especially on a cold, frosty morning.
Congrats to Jan for winning the last give away. I would be honoured if my name was selected………..in any case, I think it is time for tea!
Have loved your work for years and always enjoy your blog!
What a fantastic giveaway! You will make a girlfriend very happy. And by the way, thank you for introducing me to Gladys Tabor. My husband gave me several of her books for Christmas and I owe it all to you (and a great husband). Your blog brings happiness to so many. I know I speak for all when I say THANK YOU.
Susan,
Always love your blogs, drawings, books, pictures….everything!!! They make my heart warm and put a smile on my face. You are the best. I keep one of your books out all the time to look at. Love, Judy
Hi Susan, I wanted to tell you that I just got home from a cruise to the Caribbean and guess what I saw next to us at the very first island we docked our ship? The Queen Mary II. I was so excited! Took lots of pictures of it and talked to some of the people cruising on it. Made me think of you. Drucye
Dearest Susan, what a lovely gift for adorable Paul! The Belgian version of Paul and Joe is married to me, and I could not be happier….such a joy, these special guys! How lucky can we be! Thank you for your lovely blog and wishing you a cozy winter in Smallville!
Love,
Cheryl
I’d love to win. Such wonderful prizes!! Count me in.
You are so sweet to have giveaways. Such a wonderful birthday card for your special friend, Paul! Keep warm. Hugs sent your way!!!!
You do such lovely creations–and your giveaway offer makes my sentimental heart do a waltz 🙂 I would enjoy winning, especially since I attain the Great 6-0 on February 2nd! Have a blessed winter–no doubt you will fill the time with more exquisite creations!
Thank you thank you thank you for giving us something sweet to hope for! I would be beyond thrilled to receive such a special offering from you! Thank you for always being so generous:)
Thanks to this blog entry I’ve “discovered” (Ha! “directed to them” by you actually) new blogs to read. Thank you!
i love the heart teapot….I read your entry and nodded and smiled. It was heartcentered from the heart…please enter me in your giveaway. I think of my English Mum….she loved tea and discussing the simple pleasures. You did show us the simple pleasures…magic or miracles.
Blessings and hugs…..count me in
Thank you
Celeste
I love your blog and almost as much I love your spring tea! We’re a bit cold here in Illinois but I’ll get back to you when the first robin shows her cute little beak.
Thanks so much for your warm blogs…remind me to cozy-up!!
Great post! I love all of your things.. and the teapot, tea and the Romance book, which I don’t have, would be awesome to win! Count me in..
have a wonderful friend you just lov to sit with and have a sip of tea and talk. Don’t get to see her as much iAs I would wish, but she’s working hard at her job and ax a caregiver to her father-in-law, while remaining an ovarian cancer survivor. I love out short but sweet tea times. Gives us both, myself trying yo help my mother ith living with dementia, a moment or two to relax!
Such a nice post, but then they always are! A sweet escape from the rest of the world. My 3 year old granddaughter and I love to have tea. I introduced her as soon as she could drink it and now she gets up in the mornings and asks. We sit on the front porch and watch the world go by. Your teapot would be the perfect addition! As would your lovely book. I haven’t been lucky enough to read it as yet. Thank you Susan for all of your uplifting words and pictures!
I have been doing chores inside all day do to “CABIN FEVER.” Old Man Winter and I are fireside with a glass of wine enjoying your post. The beautiful pink tablescapes give hope of spring flowers. Thanks for being happy!
Now that’s my cup of tea! Especially with the fancy Earl Grey and lovely teapot. My husband’s birthday is the same day as Paul’s, but hubby is a teensy bit older and not quite as dapper. You have such wonderfully interesting friends. I’ve enjoyed the frequent posts, thank you.
Pick me ! Pick me please Vanna. I sooo want a teapot and a book. I gave the one I ordered to my very best friend. Pick me please?!
Love the blog and have loved your books for years. My copy of A Fine Romance has been read by my mom, who loved it as much as me, and is now being enjoyed by my sister-in-law. The list goes on and on of girlfriends who’d enjoy reading the book as well. As an artist myself, you put a smile on my face whenever I see your work. It’s been a while since friends have joined me for tea and now can’t wait to plan a Valentine’s Day tea party!
What a delight! I would love to win your sweet giveaway. But even if I don’t, I’d like to host a Valentine’s tea for the ones I love. Thanks for the inspiration!