Guess what tomorrow is??? Beatrix Potter’s 151st Birthday! MUSICA 🎶 And I have news!
The Genius, Generous, Life of Beatrix Potter.
Here’s where I was on this day, July 28, last year, celebrating the 150th Birthday of Beatrix Potter with so many of YOU and the Brewster Ladies Library, on Cape Cod. What a fun day that was!
Right after that, my Girlfriends, who also happen to be my nun friends (I’ve written about them before), sent me this wonderful little thimble to celebrate. Wasn’t that the sweetest thing? They love Beatrix like I do.💞
Because not all of you are intimately familiar with the life of Beatrix, I thought I’d at least give you a very simple time-line of her life so you can get the lay of the land, so to speak.
Most of you know how crazy I am about Beatrix because I wrote the whole story of my slow discovery of the person that she was, not just an artist, not just a scientist, not just an author, not just a business woman, not just a house-lover and adorer such as we, but more, so much more, a fierce, forward-looking conservationist whose passions still reverberate today ~ she changed her part of the world, and hence, in a sense, the whole world. . . that’s the hero I tried to tell about in my book A Fine Romance, Falling in Love Love Love, with the English Countryside.
So, to celebrate today, I thought I would take you on a special tour through a brilliant book about Beatrix that was published by Penguin Books in 2006. It’s written just as if it was Beatrix’s own scrapbook, in first person. But inside it says, “This is a work of fiction based on the journals and letters of Beatrix Potter.” Not entirely fiction, but kind of, because Beatrix didn’t actually make this book herself, it just looks like she did.
Using Beatrix’s words to tell the story of her life, the designer who compiled this informative book (who is not mentioned anywhere, but must be a kindred spirit, and girl after our own heart), filled it with Beatrix Potter artwork, mementoes, personal letters, stamps, and photos, and with words in what looks to be Beatrix’s own handwriting, with entries dated, as in a journal … and many of the things in the book, like the little photo album above, are glued-in and three-dimensional! I’m not kidding! Books like this don’t come along every day! Unless you make one yourself!
Pure charm, filled with pressed flowers and wonderful old photos, that’s Norman Warne there …
Above are glued-in “proofs” of the pictures for her first book. There’s even a real envelope that opens and inside you can pull out a perfect copy of the famous letter she wrote to Noel, her governess’s child, illustrating the story of Peter Rabbit for the first time on paper.
And on this page, an illustrated map of the Lake District unfolds … I could put ten exclamation marks after every page!!! Books aren’t usually made this way!!!!!!
Then, at the end, just when you think you’ve seen it all, and you are already sighing because you don’t want it to end, you find an amazing surprise embedded in the inside of the back cover. See the little ribbon? “Hmmmm,” you say to yourself, “What’s that?”
At first you don’t see it, but then, with a little tug, an invisible door opens . . .
and inside is an exact copy of Peter Rabbit that Beatrix had printed herself after having been rejected by publishers. (This was a very brave thing for her to do, considering women’s “place” at the turn of the century, but only the beginning when it comes to the bravery of Miss Potter). If you ever need a hero that will help you be brave, I suggest you read the biography of Beatrix Potter by Linda Lear. Forevermore, after that, you will say to yourself, “If she can do it, so can I.”
Her first printing, in black and white to keep down costs. A totally delightful surprise! I have to say, I think I might be forced to paint inside these little line drawings!
But you can do what you want when you get your hands on this little jewel, because, to celebrate the 151st birthday of my hero, Beatrix Potter, this book, and the book where I wrote about sailing the wild and windy Atlantic, then trekking across England in order to fulfill a long-time dream to finally walk through the doors of Beatrix Potter’s house at Hill Top in the Lake District ~ will both become the property of one of YOU darling people. Just leave your name at the bottom of this post, click on the tiny word that says “comments,” and leave a few words … and in a wee bit o’ time, we’ll draw a name and see who these books get to go home with. Happy Birthday, dear Beatrix. We will never forget you! 💞
One other thing . . . you remember the picnic we had last year in Stourhead, Wiltshire, England? Of course you do! And you remember how it happened? Well, just in cases, I’ll tell you again: When we knew we were going over to England last year, I wrote here on my blog, “Joe and I will be in the park at Stourhead, having a picnic, at 12 noon on September 18, and we would LOVE anyone who’s going to be in the neighborhood to BYO Picnic Basket and come join us and say hello!” We had no idea what to expect. Would anyone come? Might there be seven people? Could there be fifty? No idea.
As it turned out, there were sixty of us kindred spirits spread out on the lawn on a lovely spring day, next to a 12th century stone church, in a garden designed by Capability Brown over 200 years before, with the sun weaving in and out of the clouds . . .
And we had a wonderful, joyful afternoon, sitting, laughing and talking and getting to know each other, marveling over the unlikelihood of this happening at all … it was really a thrill. Lots of people from the US, lots from England, some Americans who now live in England, and others from Europe . . . a surprise and so perfect, I still live in the glow of it. People brought things, like gorgeous quilts they’d made, or their own Petey dolls, or their children, and lots of delicious lunches … and I signed books, and we had a great day.
We took a “class picture,” and I think you can tell by the smiles what a wonderful time we were having. “We all kept saying, we need to do this again!” Well, dear hearts, we are going to do it again . . . we’ll be taking the picture for Class of 2018 next year on May 11, and we hope you can come, wherever you are! But this time, we’re be having our picnic someplace else … so if you want to come . . .
You will have to drive through countryside like this . . . sorry, but you have to!
Where oh where are we going . . . ? ? ? It’s a mystery! MAS MUSICA ~ we loved playing Vera Lynn in our car while we drove through the English Countryside . . .
Past lakes with swans and and wildflowers, pulling over at a pub for an icy Peah Cid-ah . . . it’s a tough job but someone has to do it!
In May, hillsides of English Bluebells will be in bloom!
You’ll have to meander between narrow hedgerows speckled with cow parsley, watching for bunnies, rolling down your windows to hear the wood pigeons coo, “My toe huts Bet-tee … “
Past curving rock walls and gingerbread stone cottages . . . can you guess where we’re going yet? You probably can, but you probably can’t believe it! Me either!
Almost there ~ must go through bunting-decked villages where the buildings look as if they’re covered in frosting … oh darn.
The frosting makes them shine from the hill sides . . . you’ll be stopping to get your camera out.
Because you’ll be marveling over handmade chimney tops and slate roofs like these . . .
. . . as you drive past hillsides with cows and lambs and sparkling lakes, turn off your car to hear the wind through the trees . . .
. . . and through the hedges of wild roses and rhododendrons. But, a hint: Before you go, you’ll probably want to read this wonderful little book . . .
For inspiration. ❤️ Squealing yet?
Because, Yes! OMG, I’m not kidding! Where we’re going to have our picnic is totally impossible, it can’t happen, but it is and it can . . .
We’re having our BYO Picnic Basket Party right here, next May 11, at Castle Cottage, where Beatrix Potter (Mrs. Heelis) and her husband William lived for 30 years! Just in front of the house, across Post Office Meadow (which will be filled with frolicking lambikins in May), is the gate to Hill Top in Near Sawrey, heavenly Lake District, beloved home of Beatrix Potter!!! That’s where we’re going, Girlfriends!
And here’s a preview ~ this photo is actually from inside Castle Cottage, sent to me by my friend Mandy, showing the wonderful view over rooftops of Near Sawrey (with Mandy’s Ollie Dog in attendance) . . . From here, you can see the famous Tower Bank Arms and the entrance to Hill Top ~ the very same view that Beatrix had. For us. Us us us us us! We get to go go go!!!
Here’s how this miracle happened, . . . As you may remember, I was asked to speak at Beatrix’s 150th Birthday Party last year by Betsy Bray of the Beatrix Potter Society (are you 
a member? I love the wonderful newsletter I receive from England, and their luv-lee E-Newsletter called Pottering About) ~ that’s Betsy on the left . . . she and I have kept in touch, and a couple of weeks ago, she came to lunch and brought her friend Mandy Marshall, who just happens to LIVE in Castle Cottage (shaking head in disbelief) . . . and we started talking and our talking turned to plotting and then it turned to planning and I just heard from Mandy yesterday that she would love to have us for our picnic there (she opens the house only by special arrangement, which this is!), and Betsy wrote to say she’d be there too! So now, we’re inviting you! And if you CAN’T get over there in person, that’s okay, because we will take so many photos you will think you’ve been there! That’s a promise!
Happy Birthday Beatrix Potter!
Love you dears, leave a comment to win the books, and mark your calendars for May 11, 2018! Oh! I almost forgot, the cups! They are in LA, sort of stuck in a mire of Homeland Security (very dangerous cups) and Customs. We call, we holler, they ignore us, but it should be soon now. 💞 Bye for now! xoxo
Susan, Because of your blogs on Beatrix Potter, I made it a point to see as many places as I could when we were in England last year. We were in London on her 150th birthday so we had to see her original letters introducing Peter Rabbit, that were on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Then on another day we had lunch in the Lake District in a home that she bought to protect the area. I bought all the books I could find in England relating to her life. Thank you so much Susan for bringing the background story of Peter Rabbit to all of the “girlfriends”. I will be in London next April, so I will continue to look for more Beatrix Potter memorabilia.
I am anxiously waiting for my mug. However long it takes it will be worth the wait. Many blessings, Mary Alice
It’s coming. We really became the squeaky wheel today… marching them out to the warehouse (over the phone) to SEE our things, and MAKE them MOVE. They promised they would. But they are very good at promises! We shall NOT give up! They will want to get our things out of there just so they don’t have to talk to us on the phone anymore!!! Whatever it takes! Love when we travel to have a “quest” ~ the footsteps of Beatrix Potter makes a very good one.
Fun, oh what fun to have this book! I love the little book tucked in the pocket at the back of the book. Sneaky surprises are the very best.
When you know they didn’t HAVE to do it…and they don’t tell you they’re doing it, and then you find it, and realize how much they wanted to make your day, it’s a wonderful thing!
Happy Birthday, Beatrix Potter!!!!!
I know I will be reading this enchanting blog over and over! I too have been to BP’s home and garden (in the rain) and am thrilled for you to get to go again. A new great granddaughter is coming in Sept. and I’m cross stitching a Hunca Munca picture for her nursery! Would love to be drawn for the books. AND I ordered all 3 of your first porcelain mugs and they are terrific, getting lots of use now, even though it is very, very, very hot summer here and really iced tea weather.
You can drink iced tea in them, the lips are so thin ~ I’ve made almost a snowcone in mine, tons of really tiny crushed ice, with cold water and a splash of lemonade on top!
Hi Susan,
I have the book you described above and it is magical. Beatrix Potter will always hold a sweet place in my heart, as she was a person of great character and weathered many storms in her life, but what she wrote in those little books remain inspiring. I have shared my girlhood Peter Rabbit book with a new mom in hopes she will read it to her child. My mother purchased The Tales of Peter Rabbit in Spanish to teach us when we were little, back in the 50’s. I gave it to dear friend’s daughter, who wanted to teach her little ones en Espanol…the beat goes on!
I follow your blog closely and have all your books. To me, you are the modern day Beatrix Potter! Thank you for sharing your life with all your girlfiends.
Sweet of you to say that Cris! xoxo
I so appreciate your sharing all these wonderful places and stories! I dream of going to England but am not sure it will happen for me. But your books and blog have been a wonderful gift to enjoy. I watched the movie about Miss Potter because of you and was caught up in her story. Amazing! Just ordered the “journal” you just described through my library and can’t wait for it to come in. Thank you again for your sharing!
I think your books are magical, too, Susan. There are little surprises on every page. I’ve loved Beatrice Potter since I was a child. I will read her biography to be inspired by her accomplishments.
Dear Susan, You make me appreciate the little things in life. Thank you! This blog was a delight, just like the book you found. Your gift for writing and drawing us into your life is just wonderful.
xoxo
Teri Cardot
Yes please 💟💟💟
Oh my! I would LOVE to have those wonderful books. Happy Birthday Beatrix! Your post makes me happy, like always. Thank you, Susan.
Not only was she my first favorite author, but a highlight of my tour of England ‘Potter Country’ and its lush, lovely environs. My little flock of china animals grows by the year, and I have fed all of my children from their Beatrix Potter china. She is truly a kindred spirit!
Cheers!
Leslie P
Happiest Day Beatrix
She kept her eyes on the destination but always delighted in the paths to reach it!
Happy Birthday Beatrix! Susan, I love your blog and all your darling books. I would love to win the Beatrix journal. Please pick me as your winner!!
Happy birthday to Beatrix potter! Beautiful memories of reading 📖 peter rabbit to my son when he was little! 🐇🌿🌷i will have to read her biography now as well. Always enjoy your blogs, books and my sister sent me your “nature lovers ” mug. Absolutely beautiful! Thank you for your inspirations and Sharing your beautiful world with us ! 💐🍄🌻
good afternoon Susan, Girlfriends. would love to attend the picnic, but I don’t think I can, a big Happy Birthday to Beatrix Potter, I can remember my grandma reading those stories to me when I was little. around here we are settling in for some hot, hot, hot weather, a whole week of triple digit heat from Saturday on…. BLEAH!!!!!!!! I’m going to be busy keeping the water tubs and containers filled with cool water for the barnyard crowd, and for the rest of the critters as well. and sweltering in it as we have no air conditioning here, just ceiling fans and those are going to be working overtime… major overtime. looks like the dog days of summer are coming up, and I plan to go floating to keep cool. heard that some nasty weather is coming to Martha’s vineyard this weekend, stay cool and stay safe Susan, it sounded real bad with over 10 foot waves coming in. on second thought you could always send the high surf here, anything to cool us down will be appreciated!!!! off to go check on the birds and check the water tubs. have a good weekend, stay cool and comfy. hugs…… 🙂
We’re going to have a good rock and roll storm … can feel it coming in, suddenly the humidity is way up. But it will blow out tomorrow night, taking all that hot thick air with it … Perfect timing because I have lots of family coming, four little kids and their two sets of parents, my niece and nephew and their spouses ~ on Sunday. Fun! Love the sound of you going floating, that will be wonderful in the heat!
trust me it is very cooling and relaxing, you just get into your swimsuit, anchor your inner tube to one another and have a line to shore, wade out with inner tube, climb on inner tube or in it and just float in that nice cool river!!!! perfect if you find a shady spot to lounge around in, and if a breeze comes up so much the better… very cooling.
Susan I have a question for you… how does one make scented water for ironing??? I would love some lavender or rose scented water to iron my pillowcases with and some table runners, and for Fall I’d like to make sage water, I have the sage growing in my front garden, along with rosemary, huge plants and around Thanksgiving that sage comes in handy for turkey dinner… YUM!!!! do you use scented oils or the flowers themselves????
Oh, I’ve done that! Put flowers or herbs, lavender or roses or lemon thyme into a bowl, pour boiling water over and let it cool. Strain and then spray on pillowcases as you iron. I think any sort of oil might actually stain your fabric.
What river is it? Is it big and rushing, or small and gentle? Is it cold?
its the Illinois river in the Illinois valley in southern Oregon…. Josephine county. its long winding river and joins up near Grants Pass with the Rogue and Applegate rivers. it is a wild river, meaning it is not exactly smooth in spots but for floating you find a calm place in the river and float on it!!! oh thank you I will boil and distill the plants, I think you are right the oil would most likely stain the pillowcases and such. thanks for the help… ooohhhh lemon thyme, have to try that. hugs….. 🙂 p.s. just got home from some nice cool floating and I feel so cool and refreshed….. you should try it sometime out here. hugs…. 🙂
Do you tie your floating unit to a tree or to the shore . . .? I see you floating away to forever!
oops forgot to mention these rivers are mostly snow fed so when the big melt comes in spring we have rushing rivers. and yes it is cold, but right now it is about 62 degrees water temp, very refreshing.
I usually tie up to a stump, an old tree or even better a concrete block and go floating.
I usually tie a line to a tree or stump, or part of the dock or near the old bridge where you can anchor onto the concrete blocks. whatever you can anchor to it is so good to just get out in the water and float and cool down.
Be still my heart. Peter Rabbit’s mom’s book. And my Susan Branch’s book! Happiness!
Happy birthday to Beatrix, going to give my figurines a little dust off today and peek through my books. And if I don’t win, I need to FIND THAT BOOK. On top of that, I now have a perfectly good reason to finally plan a trip to England next May! Such fun.
How exciting!!
So enjoyed “seeing” your special Beatrix Potter Journal book (and here’s hoping to win!), and the thanks for the recommendation to read Linda Lear’s biography “Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature”. I ordered the biography from Amazon, and in the list of “books you might enjoy based on your purchase” – Susan Branch books were recommended…Amazon has put you in the same category as Beatrix Potter (and rightfully so!) Thanks for your radiant optimism and inspiration! =^..^=
That’s nice to hear, I like that!!! Also, happy you got the book. Sometimes it’s a little dry, but don’t let that stop you, her life is filled with inspiring moments.
You don’t have to enter me in the drawing because I already have both books! Just wanted to share that there are other lovely books like that. Have you seen the Winnie the Pooh one? It is absolutely precious! There is a Eeyore tail in it and even swatches for Christopher Robin’s play clothes and his Wellie boots. I have a Nancy Drew one and even one called Fairyopolis its all about Cicely Mary Barker (who I adore). Its full of her flower fairies drawings, there is a fold out map of Sussex, and in the back is a little pair of binoculars that fold out so that everything looks like prisms. There are tons of little fold outs and pull outs in all the books. You should look them up. They scream Susan to me.
Are they from England?
I don’t believe they are from England. You can find them on Amazon. The Winnie the Pooh one is called the enchanted world of Winnie the Pooh. The fairy one is called Fairyopolis. The Nancy Drew one is called the Lost Files of Nancy Drew. Just type in the titles on Amazon and they will come up. Hope that helps. ☺️
Thank you Jennifer!
What a wonderful way to celebrate Beatrix Potter’s birthday! You are always so generous. I love books that read/look like journals. Every time I think I’d like to make a journal, I don’t know where to start! (Just start, I tell myself.) Happy Friday! Have a lovely weekend.
It’s that first blank page. You just write the date, and tell what the weather is. And what you did that day. That’s all. “Went grocery shopping, made macaroni and cheese for dinner, did my exercises, Martha came over” ~ like that. And as time goes by, you can give yourself an assignment, and describe your favorite room, or sit on the porch and tell exactly what your five senses tell you you’re seeing and hearing. Over time, it will all make sense, it’s that first page that’s the hardest.
always have enjoyed BP and in fact I am known as Peter Rabbit Julie by my practice grandchildren. They had an aunt Julie already and since I always gave them PR things, I became Peter Rabbit Julie…they are now out of college but I still have to sign my notes and emails and letters, PR Julie…
Funny! Love the names grandchildren come up with. My girlfriend Margot is called “Bob” by her 2-year-old granddaughter!
I grew up on Beatrix Potter books. Loved them. Still do. Read them all over and over to my grandchildren too. She was truly a wonderful unique woman. I love anything I can read about or by her. It is wonderful you have this blog. It is so reassuring to know that there are so many women who still feel the same about so many of the truly good things in life. Thank you for giving us all a place to come together. You mean so much to all of us. You help us focus on the good things and good people in this troubled world of ours.
Mary Jane
I believe the world is FULL to the brim with people like us, all over the world, it’s just that we don’t get talked about on the news because we choose not to make our lives a soap opera, and just go about folding the clothes and holding close to the people we love. But I’d say 99% of us are just trying to do the very best we can! I’m glad we find each other here, it’s a wonderful thing. At my book signings the store owners always comment on how wonderful my Girlfriends are. I feel so proud!
What an exciting way to celebrate Beatrix Potter’s birthday!!! Thank you for the chance to win ❤️ Her work is timeless!!!
Hi, Susan. Oh how I am swooning! I can’t wait for you to visit England next year so that I can “tag along” with you. Blessed be………
Sometimes in the midst of life’s harsher realities the world of the imagination becomes a resting place. A place to call home when this world does not feel like the heart’s home. Thank you Beatrix for sharing the treasures of your imagination for those who can truly appreciate the created reality of a kindred spirit. And thank you Susan for following in her footsteps.
Love it all, book give away and English picnic.
I am just thinking to myself, now what will Susan and Joe pack for lunch in their basket? What a lovely place to have a picnic. Happy Birthday Beatrix ! xoxoxo
Cucumber sandwiches, egg salad sandwiches, maybe a grain salad and a little cake. We’ll have to see what we’re in the mood for! If it’s cold we might want chili!
Already over 400 girlfriends vying for the book, sigh. I’d really love to win so here’s my entry. Oh how I wish I could go to England… maybe some day, but not next year.
Chances on this Blog are a LOT better than winning the lottery! So, there you go, could happen!
“Happy Birthday Beatrix!” Thank you dear Susan for being a lovely friend, I’ve poured over your books since the begining and look forward to sitting down with all your blog posts. Very excited about Beatrix’s journal. Fingers and toes crossed!
Thank you for the chance to win 🙂
Lynn
Hi Susan,
I read the biography of Beatrice Potter and saw the movie. She was a fabulous lady! I also collect pop-up and 3D type books but have never seen this one. I think there might be a space waiting in my bookcase for this marvelous book : )
Beautiful and exciting blog as usual. Thank you for the wonderful photos!
Oh, to be in England…is sheer joy! I fell in love with the English countryside and village way, way back with novels by Miss Read, better known as Dora Jesse Saint. She captured the Cotswold village characters and life to a tea…no pun intended! 😊 I can never get enough of jolly ol’England and your book has been a highlight. Love all your books. Thank you Susan!
What a perfect place for a reunion picnic! Beatrix Potter was a big part of my childhood, her books and the little figures. The same followed for my children and in fact my son was named Peter by his older sister because she adored Peter Rabbit!
I’m sitting next to his bed in a NYC hospital now. He had brain surgery yesterday and has a “seeing eye” again, all indications are that all is well. How appropriate that your blog post came in just now and it made me smile as usual. Thank you Susan for the joy and beauty you bring.
Blessings on you and Peter, Sally . . . better days ahead! xoxo
Thank you Susan, he’s doing so well now, it’s incredible! We’re so happy xoxo thanks so much for caring
What fun news! Hope I might get to come along but you do make us all feel as though we are there with you and Joe. I am a huge Bea fan too.
Love the Beatrix Potter Journal (sounds similar to a Fairy book I have) and my favorite of all time…A Fine Romance!
Love that you are enjoying a dreamy, planning summer.
Melin
xoxo
Dear Susan,
I have been a Beatrix Potter fan for as long as I can remember. I read her books as a child, then as a classroom teacher, and now as “Grammy”. My birth on Easter Sunday guaranteed a special place in my life for rabbits and, especially, for Peter Rabbit.
Oh! How did I miss Beatrix Potter’s Journal!!! I make my own art journals and they are great fun and they are all yours, put whatever you want in them! So, to receive Beatrix’s journal would be fantastic!
The beauty of your pictures and words transported me to the English country side. Your books have the ribbon magic with your delicate watercolors. It’s a joy to soak in your creative books. Your blog is every bit as fun.
Birthday greetings Beatrix! I have the journal, but everyone who has seen mine wants one, so hope, hope, hope I will get one for them. Thanks Susan, for all the lovely things you write and draw for us. You are our modern day Beatrix. Would love to do May 11, 2018. We’ll see…..
Thank you for all your inspiring words and making everything so beautifully magical.
Happy Birthday, to Beatrix!!!
Every post, Susan, is for me – a reverie – and this is no exception. I play the accompanying Musica and with a smile in my heart and on my face, lap up your words as if they were the most delicious and nutritious treat ever. I am recovering from health issues and appreciate the good medicine your words bring me. Thank you! And bless you.
Get well soon Linda … more lapping up of the good medicine!
That book about Beatrix looks amazing!
What a great post! It’s such a treat to see something in my email from you! I would love to have the beautiful books. How generous of you to share them.
What a delightful journal! It would be fun to look at all the charming little details. I found two of Beatrix Potter’s little books at the thrift store; I think they are from Great Britain because they are stamped “Cambridgeshire Libraries Withdrawn from Stock” and are printed by F. Warne & Co. Ltd. (At least I would love for them to “really” be from England!). They are adorable; my little treasures. Thanks for your lovely books and sharing your life with us all.
I think you might be right Marcia!
I have read A Fine Romance but would LOVE LOVE LOVE another copy to share with any number of girlfriends. I don’t have this Beatrix Potter book and it sounds a gazillion times more interesting than the biography that I do own. So please put my name in the fishbowl and make me eligible for this special gift package. Thank you for arranging the picnic at the BP Cottage. I am planning a walking trip to England for next spring and may just end my time there at your picnic, with all the marvelous miraculous spronging baby sheep.
I think our timing is going to be perfect for the spronging!
I would love to cuddle up with these wonderful books. I am always want to see England again. I have been there once, that is not by far enough time to see such a wonderful country. I do so enjoy your blog. I have finished two of your books and am on the third one. Unfortunately, the library gets the books back.
That is my only problem with the library, they think the books belong to them!
I do love Beatrix Potter! Thank you for sharing!
The Journal appears very personal and delightful to the eye to read, similar to your posts. Always feel as tho I must read them with a cup of tea and scones to fully enjoy the experience.
I love that Linda!
Love Beatrix
Thursday May 11 2018, date marked in my diary, I WILL be there! Such exciting news, wonderful!
This is looking wonderful already!
You are my arm chair travel authoress for sure. You make my dreams come alive! I would love to win! Vanna please pick me.
What a lovely picnic that will be! My little idea about picnic baskets is something i do. I have a Longaberger picnic basket but any basket with a lid will do. I bring a fine point Sharpie every time we take our basket, write the date and place on the lid and if others join us, I have them sign it. It becomes a basket journal of sorts. I have signatures of family on mine that are no longer with us. A treasure! Have fun! ❤️
Reminds me of a picnic tablecloth from the forties I found in an antique store… apparently they had people sign the table cloth and then they embroidered them … the fabric was covered with signatures and dates in black embroidery thread!
Oh I would love the books! I already have the Fine Romance one, but I have lent it to a friend who I know would love a copy. As for the picnic….I would also love to come to that..and to Hilltop Farm..I have been a fan of Beatrix Potter for many years and have wanted to visit Hilltop Farm forever it seems. thank so much for sharing all this information…and hope to see you next May
We visited the English countryside last fall. Hilltop was a highlight and your book was very helpful! I love your pictures and look forward to seeing them BUT I cannot read what you write when imposed on the pictures. Maybe it’s just my computer or my eyes but I could not read most of this post. So sad!!
Try refreshing the page … there must be something going on. The letters should be showing up on a plain white background, not imposed on top of photos!
How truly exciting! I was thinking about your upcoming trip and how that necessitated another picnic meeting and here it is! Truly wonderful! I’m so happy for you and for Betsy and for Mandy too! Yeah!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post and am excited to possibly win the precious books! If I ever get the chance to cross the Big Pond, my desire is not to see Buckinham palace or Big Ben, but the Lake District!
Couldn’t agree more. I haven’t been everywhere in London by any stretch, but two things I loved was Tea at Harrods, and Westminster Abbey that is so very obviously wonderfully handmade, you melt all the way through it.
Lovely, or luvlee, I do love the Lake District. It’s a wonderful place to visit and I would love to go back and visit it again. The book is darling!
Miss Potter is my favorite movie! I have the DVD and watch it when I need inspiration. Moves me every time. Asha
Me too!
~ Hi~
I would cherish those books as I think printed books seem to be going somewhat to the wayside. I can’t believe you are parting with them! I’d give them a good home! I’m sure who ever wins them will!!
I don’t think they’ll ever go away, especially the classics … how will they decorate their houses if they don’t have books?
Amazing! I JUST received this blog post in my in-box and already there are 404 comments! Wow.
So this is what you had ‘up your sleeve’! How thrilling. It will be lovely to ‘armchair travel’ there with you, indeed.
Hope your ‘dangerous’ mugs are exonerated quickly. 😉
:), J
There are more secrets to come! I’m having the best time with this trip! Yes, on the mugs, we are crying “Attica” “Remember the Maine” and any other thing that might get them to notice us!
Happy birthday, Beatrice!!!
Happy BP Birthday to all of you. I have a faint recall on Peter Rabbit and I do mean faint. Maybe a visit to my library is in order.
Happy Birthday Beatrix! My children and I have loved her books forever. Hopefully a new grandchild will be here by this time next year and I can’t wait to introduce her (or him).
I also love the little Beatrix Potter figurines. I used to buy them in a jewelry store back in the 1980’s! They are on our bedroom dresser today!
Oh my, what a wonderful giveaway!!! Please put my name in the hat for the drawing. Oh please Vanna, draw my name!! And the picnic next May sounds like a dream come true!!
I was there at the birthday party in Brewster last year! What an absolutely wonderful day with your talk and Betsy’s and the slides–and there I am too, in the photo in your blog! Such fun to see myself as part of the crowd of girlfriends enjoying that beautiful day.
Next year sounds beyond amazing. I have been to Hilltop but that day would be one for the memory book forever.
It was a wonderful day, meeting you and everyone!
I won’t be able to come to the picnic, but my heart wants to come! I will look forward to the blog and pictures, though. I’d also like to get to England to go through some of the older bookstores. I will keep dreaming ….. 🙂
They have some wonderful old bookstores filled with used books in England!
I bought the Peter book for my grandson for Easter and told my daughter in law the story about Beatrix. She had never heard of her. We must educate our younger sisters! Thank you for all the lovely photos and tales so we can pass it along
Yes, sharing your heroes with the young ones is the very best way for them to fall in love. And having someone good, kind, hardworking, brave, forthright and true to look up to, has to be a good thing. xoxo
LOVE Beatrix! LOVE Branch!
And once again I am reminded by Ms. Potter through Ms. Branch that life is a gift and we can be and do whatever we like even if it is not so called accepted in society…yet.
Many birthday blessing to Ms. Potter who happens to share the same birthday as my beloved Aunt Pat!
Thank you for bringing beauty into my life today, Ms. Branch!! Much love!
Happy Birthday to your Aunt Pat!
Happy birthday, Beatrix!
Thank you for sharing these wonderful glimpses into her world. Someday I hope to visit the Lake Country.
I just received this in my email. What a wonderful blog! I love anything and everything Beatrix Potter and how I would like to have the books. My friends have given me several Beatrix Potter porcelain items that I dearly love. I was so sad when I broke one of the coffee cups. Hope you are having a blessed and happy Beatrix Potter birthday
How lovely it would be to win those wonderful books. I love Beatrix Potter and she has always been a great inspiration to me.
What a wonderful post. Thanks for calling our attention to a wonderful new BP book. So wish I could join you next may, but I know you will include all of us who cannot attend.
What a special blog….so inspirational! I am ordering the biography by Linda Lear now. How fun would it be to win the darling little book. And I had forgotten that my youngest shared a birthday with such a special lady. Happy Birthday to both!! 🎂🎈🎉🎁
I have been to England twice but would love to join the picnic gathering next May….will see what I can do about it.
Enjoy your tales and your travels. And of course your drawings. You make one feel as if they are on the journey with you. Blessings on you adventure. I will be there in spirit.
What a lovely gift in honor of her birthday!! Enter me
Happy birthday Beatrix I would love to have the books
Happy Birthday Beatrix Potter! You have had me searching books about her after your many posts. This summer I read Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life: The Plants and Places that Inspired the Classic Children’s Tales by Marta McDowell, it was such a delightful read. The journal book looks fabulous and would it be fun to look at all the fun embellishments. I love to garden and look forward to more of your pictures as you embark on your next picnicking journey.
Oh, feeling so spoiled getting invited to England with you two again ♥ AND a giveaway? Divine. Always regretted not getting to know more about Beatrix Potter besides a film or two….that book looks like something of my dreams….you are sooooo generous! Happy Soon-to-be August!
What a beautiful book about a beautiful lady! I’ve loved her for as long as I can remember. It’s nice that you do too.
Thanks to you, I recently finished Linda Lear’s book, which I enjoyed immensely. She was quite an exceptional woman. Now I’ve got to see which books my local library has. Thank you for sharing so many good things here.
Happy Birthday Beatrix! And thank you for Peter Rabbit and all of his friends! I was a big fan growing up so I decorated my son’s nursery with her artwork. Years later, now my son has 3 sons. Their nursery was also decorated in Peter Rabbit. I had saved a Peter Rabbit sleeper that my son wore and turned it into a pillow for their nursery…it came out darling!
The journal looks wonderful and a lovely book to slowly savor and enjoy. It is soooo exciting to see a party planned next year and that would be so fun to be there. I love seeing all your stunning photos and adventures. England calls to me through your enthusiasm. It would be a joy to be there, even if only in my dreams…
Oh, England is a favorite place especially where Hilltop is located. Wish I could visit💕
I am enjoying my Autumn cup – no customs problems for it here in the UK. I am hoping to get to the picnic on 11th May, but that will depend on my husband’s health.
Please include my name in the draw – I would love to have the Journal. I already have A Fine Romance, so if I were to be the fortunate winner, perhaps Vanna could be persuaded to dive in a second time to share the good fortune.
Dear, dear Susan, You have made so many of us happy with the news of the picnic at Hill Top. Just lovely. Actually we will be in England at that time…..and were booked at Holywell, Carrie’s B&B in Oxford, the week of the picnic. She just wrote from her vacation that she can’t miss your picnic. Well….Duh. Of course she can’t! I will just rework our trip and hope like mad we can still stay with Carrie later. (I wrote all about it on the previous blog, thinking I was posting to this one.) The Lakes are just too far away for us to go in the short weeks we’ll be there. Oxford was Tom’s request, and as he usually lets me do all the planning, I can not do otherwise.
I’m sure it will all work out, just feeling a bit sad right now.
Mucho love, dear Sue,
Debbie in Maine
Oxford is heaven, you will both love it, so don’t worry! I’m sorry Debbie … I had no idea … hopefully you’ll find a cozy place to stay. Luckily there’s time to work on it!
So happy to get your blog post — I was missing having one of your blogs to brighten my day. I would love to win the two books. The Beatrix Potter book looks very interesting. I have had your book for a long time and bought one for my cousin Ruth too — our grandparents were from England and we have made a few trips over there. I would love to share your book with a friend/family member.
How exciting! I am going to beg my hubby to take me to England so I can attend. Say a little prayer for me 🙂 Even if I can’t go, I will be there in spirit. xoxo love your blog.
Jacqui
Saying a little prayer! xoxo
Oh how delightful to have that little book.
Love all your posts
Thank you for the opportunity to own this special book!
I love it that you shared the wonderful Beatrix Potter book with all of us on your blog ! I have always loved all things British, and now you are going there on another adventure. (Have you read books by Helene Hanff about her love affair with England ?: ’84 Charing Cross Road’, etc. I should read them again.) Thanks so much for taking so many photos so I can appreciate all those lovely scenes and landscapes. I have been to England once, but probably won’t get back again. Lucky you and Joe !!
I did, a long time ago!
I’m bidding on Sunday’s Possible Dreams auction and hoping if I win you’ll be able to show me the “Beatrix Journal” personally 😉
Wouldn’t that be fun! I sent my basket of goodies off to the auction yesterday!
Happy 151st birthday Miss B. Potter
What a dream come true for you to picnic at the home of Beatrix Potter! What a thrill. My granddaughters are visiting with me now for a few days and when they were little…..they loved me to read her “little” books to them. I always had little voices for the animals…..so fun! What a delightful giveaway…..I don’t need to tell you to pick me…..to go with my BP books and figurines…..you might not be the only one that collects them. Tee hee!
Oh what glorious characters Beatrix Potter did give us.
Happy birthday, Béatrix! And thank you Susan for all your cozy and comforting blog posts!!
Really loved this post & the one before it (Highclere)…Thanks 🙂
Happy Birthday Beatrix!
I have never seen the English countryside. It looks so beautiful! It is on my bucket list of places to go. Maybe May 11 with picnic basket in hand would be the perfect time! I love all your writings and photos. It never ceases to make me happy. Thanks so much for always brightening my day.
Hope you can make it!
Dear Susan,
I would love, love to own that wonderful Potter Journal. And of course yours, too. Please add my name to your ever growing list of hopefuls. Thank you for giving us a chance to own them. And your plans for next year sound wonderful and I wish we could go with you.
Sincerely,
I love everything about Beatrix Potter. I read all about her that I can find.