HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY EVERYONE! MUSICA Good Morning! I’m thrilled to say there are twenty-seven hundred entries for our Spring Fling Giveaway, wow! That’s almost shocking! But don’t worry, you still have a much better chance of 
winning this than you do the lottery! Isn’t that comforting? I woke up this morning to another hundred and fifty new comments ~ so I don’t think we’re done! I thought I would give it one more day so everyone has a chance to enter and announce the winner TOMORROW, with a new post to show you how I’ve been decorating for spring. (Remember this is Smallville, don’t get your hopes up too high on the decorations!)
Wishing you the Luck of the Irish and a big pot o’ gold at the end of the rainbow. Don’t forget to wear something Green so you don’t get pinched!
One of our Blog Girlfriends (Lorene) mentioned something interesting in her comment that I thought you all should know: She said the reason they carve an “X” in the top of Irish Soda Bread is to let the fairies out.♥ Be sure to do that, Girlfriends! Let the fairies fly!♥
In the meantime I’ll be in my same old spot . . .
So, until tomorrow . . . an Irish Blessing and a wee bi’ o’ the sampling’ for ye . . . w’ love from Paddy McSue. ♥
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you and can’t wait until tomorrow when you announce the winner. Yesterday I saw my first patch of green grass in the backyard here in Ct. Yea!
It’s a start!
I almost feel guilty, Linda, because I live in the Northwest and we are experiencing a highly unusual early Spring….along with really warm days. I feel I never got to experience Winter at all. My trees and lilacs and other things have buds and flowers and leaves beginning to come out on the trees. It feels too early, but I will take it! 🙂
Happy St. Patrick’s Day.
Love your blog.
Me too!
Top o’ the Morn ~ and a day filled full of rainbows and pots of gold ~ let them fairies fly ~ for they be a buzzin’ and a busying around my fresh from the oven Irish Soda Bread! {is it Irish if it’s made in Wales? Then, I’m part Irish too}
~~~waving from Across The Pond it’s Debs {Irish O’Brien} in Wales! xoxo
Welsh and English here!
Happy St. Pat’s Day !! We celebrate our sons B-day today also…love the idea of leaving gold chocolate coins in good hiding places 🙂 a little more fun to our dreary days here in Northern Wisconsin!
Good! A little something always helps!
Happy Birthday to your son, Dorene! My daughter grew up with treasure hunts on special days too. I never did the gold choc. coins for St. Pat’s day….what a wonderful, fun idea! 🙂
Oops….not sure what happened when I clicked ‘post’ (computer leprechauns having some fun maybe) but I meant to send green greetings:
Oops….not sure what happened when I clicked ‘post’ (computer leprechauns having some fun maybe) but I meant to send green greetings: Happy St. Patrick’s Day morning all! I’m remembering school days when we had to be creative about finding something green to wear because our school uniforms were blue and gray – and of course we didn’t want to get pinched by classmates for not wearing green. A five-leaf clover, like the one above, would have caused quite a sensation! We had to search long and hard to find one with just four leaves!!
Here we go! You’re posted now. The five leaf clover was sent to me by a Girlfriend in Austria!
Whew! I finally figured out that that the green four-leaf clover image that I’d started my comment with wasn’t of the lucky variety, and cancelled out everything that followed! From now on I’ll stick with the real thing like your amazing Austrian clover.
Is 5 luckier than 4!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone!! I thank my great grandmother Mary Jane Reid and her family for my Irish Roots.
…and top o’ the mornin’ to you Paddy McSue.. (and to all you girlfriends) !!
I love your painting of you “painting”. Just precious and beautiful. Thanks again for allowing me in a small part into your world. I’ve already commented before but I just couldn’t resist commenting on such a wonderful picture.:)
It’s OK, Vanna knows to choose from just one when there are multiple comments, so feel free! 🙂
Top of the mornin’ to you from the midwest – where the snow is melting and we will be seeing GREEN soon! Wishing you and all the girlfriends a *magical* day!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Corned beef and cabbage and Irish soda bread is on the menu today. I wonder if anyone caught a leprechaun today? Tricky little fellows they are…
Has all of your snow melted yet? The tips of the daffodils are starting to show in Maryland.
No, it’s still patchy, and in some places, large piles of it made by the snow plows. But we have rain today, and perhaps, with a little Irish Luck, it will all melt and go away.
Top of the morning to all the girlfriends! Its a gorgeous day in the south today. Supposed to be 80 degrees today! Yea…Finally, I am hoping spring is here. The trees are finally budding out just a little and the yellow daffodils are blooming their little heads off showing the first signs of spring! It’s all so beautiful and feels so wonderful. Perfect for the fairies to fly!
Blessings to all the girlfriends on this fine morning…Judy Ann from Georgia
70 in Maryland today! But a wind is blowing in cold this afternoon they say.
Happy St Patricks day! what a nice surprise to find your post as I check in prior to logging off for the day (I work grave yard)…. Thank you for being here and for being you… a stranger friend from California
Hi Stranger Friend.
Top Of The Mornin to you and Joe and the kitties!
So that’s why my soda bread was not up to par, I upset the fairies. Oh well, it did make delicious croutons for the salad!
Tina Marie…haha…good one! It gave me a chuckle! 🙂
On this St. Paddy’s Day – may you always have a sunbeam to warm you, good luck to charm you and a sheltering angel so nothing can harm you.
Good Morning Susan and Happy St Patrick’s Day! Love the Irish Blessing it’s beautiful. Until tomorrow… so exciting! ♥
Good morning Susan,
Thank you for the lovely Snow Walk. I could almost feel myself picking up that beautiful piece of sea glass. It was a treasure among treasures wasn’t it? I could hear the crunch of the ice as well but am so looking forward to Spring. We need a bit of color and warmth. For today and for now we’ll enjoy the color of green. Happy St Paddys day to you. Have fun today!
Barbara Kuzdzal
Creme de menthe yum! We plant Sweetpeas on St Patrick’s day.
Where are you?
South Australia Susan..I should have mentioned!x
Hello Terry!
Top O’ the Morning to You! Pretty little daffodils are waving hello in the wind here! Hope you have a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day!
Happy St. Patricks Day to you! On all our trips to Ireland we were offered an Irish Coffee….yummy end to any meal. Remembering a pint of Guinness in the Gravity Bar. and cider in the local roadside pubs. A special time as my family are from Ireland!
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day…in the Western NC mountains we are seeing signs
of changes in little green ways…but OHHH the birds, they are talking and singing to say nothing of flittin’ around with each other enjoying not only the bird food but also the deer corn – what a glorious sound and sight.
Please know after checking with the news, etc. I always choose to come back to this corner of the world, re-reading if needed, to restore my sense of clarity and enjoying not only your “goings-on” but also all the readers who post glimpses of theirs as well !!! HAPPY SPRING to ALL ……….be blessed
Top O’the Mornin’ to you Susan! Hope the weather is improving and a beautiful day of sunshine is in store!!
Happy St. Pat’s dear friend.
Wow, over 2,000 posts for your last blog. Everyone is finding out what a dear person you are. Got my irish fingers crossed for winning tomorrow. (O’Healy and Connley). As always, thank you. toni b
Happy St Paddys day! I’m going to make some of that Irish Coffee today for sure!
You’ll love it!
Well, I wasn’t going to try for this giveaway, but since I can’t get the book out of my mind, and since you’ve given me another chance, and since it’s St. Patrick’s day, I’ve decided to try my luck. Thank you for your generosity and fun with this, Susan. And now I’m off to bake my annual loaf of Irish Soda Bread……and I’ll be sure to let the fairies out when I cut the cross on top!
Please! Thank you!
Good Mornin’ to ya, and Happy St. Paddy’s day ! Love this post it made my day.
I think I will definetley have to try the Irish coffee. Have a lovely day all !
“May your blessings be more”! Love that! And same to all of you! My daughter’s (she’s a teacher) home has always has leprechaun footprints everywhere, when her children awaken on St. Patrick’s Day – with golden coins scattered about! I’ll make sure my soda bread has an X (Angie probably already knew about the X!) today! Although we’d rather have rain here, we’re enjoying the beautiful Bradford Pear trees in bloom – everywhere!! Looks like it snowed on those trees! Have a Lucky Day! xoxoxo!!!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you and Joe & your wonderful Mom & Blog Daddy! Miss being in Boston for all the Irish festivities, but we are seeing green here in Virginia – 75 and sunny today with snow melted, green grass and trees and flowers ready to just burst for joy of Spring! Enjoy the day & thanks for the Irish smile!
May the luck of the Irish be with you all today. When I moved to the east coast many years ago one of the first things I learned was that you prune your rose bushes on St. Patricks Day and I’ve been doing it ever since. I’ll be out there singing an Irish tune while I do it.
I’ve always heard that’s the best time too. And you get to go to the garden and DO something!
Back at ya, Susan! A very happy St. Patrick’s Day to you, Joe and the kitties!!
And a Top O’ The Morning to You Lass from the Heart of Minnesota! Enjoying a dish of green ice cream.
Slainte! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!!
Happy St Paddy’s to Sue, Joe , Jack and Girl.
Live it up and hoist a glass to ye olde sod!
Peggy
Happy St. Pat’s Day Paddy McSue ! I woke up this morning and realized that my husband had used up all of the cream for coffee, but I didnt get upset at all. I decided to honor this day by having Bailey’s Irish Cream in my coffee….just a wee drop (or 8 or 9)….and so I toast you and all of the Girlfriend’s! haha. 🙂 xxxxx
You can’t help it if you’re festive!
Thanks for reminding me of Irish Coffee. ..that’ll be our celebration tonight!!
Happy St Pattys Day, may the luck be with me and thee…
Happy St. Pat’s Day to you too, Mrs. Susan! Love, Love, Love your blog! Always cant wait for the next entry. Happiness just flows from your pen..or computer keys! Irish Blessings to you!
Mary Ann
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to everyone! Loved the comment from Lorene about the fairies in the Irish Soda Bread – what a fun tradition and story to pass along.
I bought myself a shamrock plant to ensure a spot of green. Corned beef is boiling & kerrygold butter at the ready to slather on that lucious soda bread. Love that fairy tradition in the cutting of the loaf. It always smells sooooo good. Happy St. Pat’s to ye all.
I love Kerrygold butter too, Gloria! I buy so much I should get stock in the company! 😉
o you must be able to get it all year then?? I have to wait until March in my store. There is no comparison…right??
After being born and raised in NYC for 9 years, I was sent to live with a grumpy old grandfather in Ballyconnell Ireland. Outdoor plumbing, huge fireplace for warmth and cooking, a donkey to ride to school and playing out in the bogs and tough love , the color green evokes a memory of magic and most of all unconditional love. Blessed St Patricks Day to all who read this. Share a smile with all because of your past happy memory.
You had “The Grandfather” that Heidi had! 🙂 Did you have Bearly? The donkey will do!
Jan, how interesting! How long did you live in Ireland, if you don’t mind my asking?
Happy St. Patricks Day (from Vancouver Canada)
and best of luck to you Susan
You give so much joy with your lovely blog…every read is a gift…I often forward them to my 89 year old Mom (and she shares with her long-distance boyfriend in Manchester England)!!
thank-you Susan!!
Well, hello to your mom for me Linda! And the boyfriend too!
Good morning dearest Susan, and a happy St. Paddy’s Day to you and Joe, Girl, and Jack. (Hope he has a green hair band to carry around today)! So excited about tomorrow’s post. Love the idea of “letting the fairies out”!! Well I must go and put the corned beef in the crock pot, that is how I am going to TRY to make it this year. Love from one of your gazillion girlfriends, lol. Oh and my Irish Leprechaun name is Silly McCheesy according to a pin on pinterest, I would get the McCheesy one!! xoxoxoxo
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Ciao,
Miriam from Italy
And the same to you, Dear Paddy McSue!!
Having loved bagpipes as a child I married the Scotsman of my dreams who brought me coffee this morning, a wee kiss, and a bit of green cream! There must be a bit of the leprechaun in him…..
Meant to be!
Happy St. Pat’s Day to you, too, Susan! I so enjoyed your pretty green-themed images in today’s post; sweet and fun; thanks! And now Easter is next; I luv-luv bunnies, lambs, Easter eggs and baby chicks…
Susan! You have new goodies in your online store! Spring and garden time is one of my favorite times of year…to shop!! I love the new teapots and couldn’t resist the bird one in blue since I collect teapots with blue. I’ve come to love your little store. (I am NOT a big-box store kind of girl except maybe for Target’s dollar bins, only because it’s fun, like an Easter egg hunt sometimes.) Your online shop sorta reminds me of Gooseberry Patch (luv them!) when they had a paper mail order catalog for lots of other things than just books, although I love their books (I think they’re still online for books). Or a shop or two we had in town where I could browse, de-stress and come home with some beautiful, affordable thing to feather my nest…not that I needed another thing to feather my nest! (I would have gone NUTZ if I’d known about your brick & mortar California store back in the day, had I known about it. It would have been worth ‘the journey’ to get there!) I’m afraid The Great Recession had a profound effect on a lot, a lot, A LOT of small businesses, which made me sad because (for at least one shop owner I know) I think they tried really hard to stay afloat. I come from a long line of people/ancestors who stuck their necks out and tried to ‘make it’ with their own retail and wholesale businesses or as business service providers; it’s hard, hard work. My ‘people’ just never quite ‘got it’ that it might be easier to work for a big employer who could provide great benefits like pensions, 401Ks and health insurance (although it’s a big guess how THAT’s gonna go in future years for employees!). My dad was a small business owner for 40 years, worked til he was age 80, so I’ve always tried really hard to support that independent, entrepreneurial (how do you spell that?) spirit and drive. Gutsy. Just like you. (Me? I didn’t get the gene.) It’s a great thing in America to be able to try your own hand at making a living, you know? I applaud it. I actually applaud anybody who works to pay the way, in any/all ways…I think there’s true nobility in work before reward, and that applies to a stay-at-home mom, too, since parenting is also hard work, or even making sure your household chores are out of the way before you sit down to blog! Productivity is good; it’s all in the healthy balance. Off my soapbox, but I feel I can wax on about it because I’m a person who lost the ability to go out and work due to health, although I’m tons better and hope to get a job before the year ends. Anyway, ‘way off track here, but you should do posts again which highlight new stock in your lovely store!
It’s a funny thing about that! 🙂 I probably should, but then, isn’t that a hard thing to do? Thank you Vicki, you are a dear to think about it. I too miss all the little fun quirky stores we used to have.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you, Joe, Girl and Jack dear Susan!… my Jack is Irish, and Princess Tess insists she is part Irish Setter (she is actually English Pointer, but I will go along with her today)… so we have our traditional corned beef, cabbage, and tiny red new potatoes simmering in the crockpot, with Irish Coffee for dessert tonight… a tradition at our house. Hope you are having something yummy to eat too!… xoxo… Julie Marie
Top of the morning to you from California! I loved your spring post and Irish one today. It always puts a smile on my face when I read your blog. A great way to start my day of teaching first graders. Have a blessed day!
Two beautiful days in a row here in Maryland. Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all the Girlfriends!
Happy ST.Patty Day, LOve your Book’s
Love your pages!~~!~! bring cheer and joy daily~!~
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you and your family!~~!!
Keep up your lovely posts and all you do…love it all..thank you!!
Happy St. Patricks Day to all! Off to the market to get the ingredients to make my great grandmothers colcannon for dinner!
The crocus are blooming here in Newark, DE!!!! So excited for Spring!!!!
Hello Susan! Happy St. Patrick’s Day to YOU!!! Your post today is so, so cute! Thank you !!! I agree, everyone is Irish today! Baking Shamrock shaped sugar cookies and Irish soda bread, and cooking stew today…..wearing green, even though I’m of Polish/Czech decent! My father told me he’s wearing green today, too, and looking forward to a green beer on Harsen’s Island, where he lives…….he’s always looking for ways to be “naughty” at 90, it’s his daily goal !!! (That’s why I call him daily, he’s like a teenager!!!!) Oooooh, 3 more days until Spring!!!!!!
and a VERY wonderful, lucky, cozy st. paddy’s day to all. your blessing is super-wonderful !!! but…have any of you ever heard the term “irish-blessing” used to mean a kind of “sermon”, or “looooong dissertation” for having done something “naughty”?? it was the kind of thing that induced “eye-rolling” from the recipient. hehe. happpppy, cozy, fortunate day to all. xo
Top of the mornin` to ya ! Snowing in Me., but the grass & crocus are peeking through! Think I`ll try the Irish Coffee.Thanks!
I collect Tasha Tudor books! Each one is a true joy for me. This one, Susan, is too good to be true. I grew up with Better Homes and Gardens magazines and they were an inspiration to me as I envisioned my own home some day. To have Tasha Tudor doing the art work for their edition of a kitchen garden is just too wonderful!! Oh, I hope I win!!!!
LOVE YOUR BLOG, SUSAN. MANY THANKS
Top of the morning to you and thanks for the lovely post. Tis the small pleasures that make life grand. Thank you for your sharing of pleasures.
What a lovely idea, to start the day with a bit of Irish coffee! Fortunately it is a day off, so the extra spring in my step will go noticed only by my little four-legged leprechauns! (Purrrrr) 🙂
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day. Hopefully our spring is right around the corner . My snowdrops are up and I am looking for the crocus in the next few days. Come on Springtime.
Happy St.Patrick’s Day from Princeton, NJ where the first snowdrops are finally blooming! So happy to see the snow practically gone!May you all have a wonderful day.
Happy St. Patty’s Day! Sure hope Vanna doesn’t celebrate too much today. 😉
Erin go Bragh!
In Oregon we are having an early spring (achoo!), with pansies and tulips and pink flowering cherry trees, and camellias! Tis a blessing to live in the NW, and to be Irish. Just saying.:). Good luck and love to you, and to all who gather here.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you, Susan and Joe and the kitties!
HAPPY, HAPPY ST. PADDY’S DAY!!!!!
AHH……SPRING!!!!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you and all of the Girlfriends! Spring is here…we just have to tell the snow!
Love all the comments. Love Susan’s blog, her books, her pictures and most of all…..the musica!
Thank you, Susan, for the beautiful pictures, watercolors and taking us on your adventures! My daughter and I are taking our first class in watercolors! I think this is how you started out! 🙂
Happy St. Patty’s Day to all! Time to watch “The Quiet Man”, Girlfriends!
Marie Fluck
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you, Ms. McSue ! Wishing you a wonderful day!
Happy St. Paddy’s Day. What a fun and festive day this is!!! Looking forward to seeing some green grass soon.
Happy St Patty’s Day to you and all! Starting celebrating yesterday when two of my little grandsons came to visit and we made shamrock sugar cookies. And then of course “Charly Lucks” (aka Lucky Charms, but we won’t tell that darling grandson that he says it wrong) for breakfast today. Have a blessed day!
Thanks for sharing the pictures of your daily walk (resumed). I was there in August at a friends family cabin on that road. Her grandfather built it in the 1950’s. Oh, how different it looks in the winter. Thanks for the chance at the giveaway.
Erin go bragh! Happy St. Paddy’s Day, Susan!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Happy St. Paddy’s Day to you and yours!!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day Susan and many more to come! Can’t wait to see your Spring decorating.
Hello Susan!
I want to wish you, Joe and your kitties a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day! Any spring bulbs pushing up through the earth in your backyard yet? Our snow won’t melt until May and forget about tulips! However, I do have impatiens seedlings growing under lights and their bright green leaves give me hope that winter will eventually go away soon!
Did you see the photos of Kate Middleton visiting the set of Downton Abbey last week? How much fun that must have been for Kate. It is so sad that Season five is over for this year and now we have to wait all those months until the new season begins! Bummer!!
Have loved all your photos and stories in your recent posts. Oh, I just joined Instagram a few days ago and noticed that you have signed up but haven’t posted any photos yet. Can’t wait to see what you post!
Again, Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!
Michele
Love the Irish blessing – thanks Susan!
What a great way to start the day, your blog was lovely.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day for PA!
I check your blog every other day to see if there’s a new post. I so eagerly await the uplifting words and sweet watercolor pictures. Thank you for all of the loveliness and charm you give to the world! May there always be a shimmering rainbow out your window! – Mary
Happy St. Patrick’s Day – and if you can take entries from Canada, I’d like to add mine, please 🙂 Not quite spring here yet – fresh snow yesterday – but hopefully not too much longer to wait …..
Oh yes, we figure we go where you go! If there’s mail where you live, we will send it.
Slainte! xoxo
Happy St Patricks day to ye from western Pa
Love your blog. I visited Martha’s Vineyard in October and loved it. Would enjoy this book.
Susan,
Your ideas alone are “give aways.” I was thinking that this morning while perusing the March 2015 British Edition Country Living. It’s you who introduced me/all of us to that treasure.
And on my desk are now TWO Heart of the Home address books. The first one I bought after I saw how you used yours to keep track of password and username information, etc. I cannot tell you how helpful that has been.
The second one I bought for use as a sort of shopping directory. For instance, I love wearing beanies, and now that we’re getting into VERY warm weather in Louisiana, I began researching summer weight beanies on Etsy, eBay, and other vendors. Now, all I have to do is go to “B”in my shopping guide and note my favorite designers, their direct links, and other details, such as colors, materials and prices. “B” is also good for things like Barbours and Boots (Wellies!).
That address book is good, not just for online shopping, but also for favorite local haunts, like the British tea room that recently did a Downton Abbey night. I can note things like hours and special events.
So, thank you again for your wealth of ideas!
So
Love hearing how you’ve made that idea your very own. That’s how it works! xoxo
Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh!
St. Patrick’s Day Blessing Upon You!
I have Irish Stew, warm Irish Soda Bread and Luck O’ the Irish Chocolate Cake on my menu for my handsome Irish husband for supper tonight. Our three year old grandson has made a trap this morning in hopes of catching a Leprechaun! He hopes the Leprechaun will leave gold coins for him after his nap. Yesterday he had such fun finger painting a beautiful rainbow with a pot of gold at the end of his rainbow. It is with great joy we pass on our Irish heritage and traditions to our grandchildren… A Blessed Day to Susan and all who visit her blog on this special day!
Happy St. Patricks’s Day to you and everyone! I’m sending wishes for you to receive some of the extra warm sunshine Southern California has had for too long. My home is near where you grew up, so I know you understand the weather. Please wish some rain our way! <3
Thanks for the Irish Blessing, Susan!! Happy day to you as well!!!
I adore your blog and your art, and have for as long as you have been publishing books. My favorite of all is your new book on England. Thank you for all the magic.
May the ferries of the Irish bring Spring blessings.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day Susan!
It’s snowing in Vermont, but we boil our first batch of sap tonight! Spring is here!
Have a wonderful springy St Pat’s Day
Happy St. Patrick’s Day from sunny North Carolina. Down with flu here, but sipping some hot lemonade and thinking of venturing out into the sunshine!
I absolutely love all your books, as well as your blog! Happy St. Patty’s!
Reminds me I haven’t made Irish coffee in a loooong time! Too long!
If you like Irish soda bread, there’s a great recipe on the “Once Upon A Chef” website for Irish Cheddar Soda bread. I made two of them this week and they were a huge hit. Looking forward to hearing about the winner!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, dear Susan! I’m wearing green, but I’m cooking spaghetti tonight for my Italian husband. Anyway, I’ve read that Patrick was a Roman from Great Britain. 🙂