Hello all, Welcome! I hope you all got your WILLARD (if you didn’t, don’t worry, you will, it’s going out today but it takes three days for them all to go). I wanted to have everything ready for you when you got here, so yes, in the vernacular of the day, I’ve been “tidying up!” I have lots to show you, but let’s start with the little things that make life sweet with background MUSICA perfect to energize us for the job ahead . . . 
I love this time of year! Time has slowed down, a lovely long January is gone . . . our Island outside my window is cold blue sky, leafless trees, old houses, quiet and colorless (except for the cardinals, our flying Valentines), and in complete healing-mode from the Summer onslaught. No cars going by, no one on our walk in the morning but us. 😁
If you read my last post, you’ll see my sideboard looks very different than it did over Christmas! I’ve been putting my house back together. It was fun decorating with all the holiday stuff 🎄, I was a little sad to see it go, but then felt huge relief to have it all gone! It’s usually around the 5th of 
January, when suddenly all the sparkly, pine-needly things I LOVED in December, begin to drive me crazy. The wreaths on the kitchen doors block the light and drop needles every time we go in or out, then leave a Hansel and Gretel pine-needle trail from the kitchen to the studio. Time to say goodbye to the old year, and hello to the new. The tree came down (we don’t drag it through the house because then vacuuming takes forever ~ Joe takes the branches off to keep the mess confined, and tosses everything out the window!), ornaments were boxed up, bows and ribbons are back in the attic, dusty mistletoe is gone from the doorways, my house is peaceful and quiet with only the sound of wood falling to ash in the fireplace, joy is sparked to the nth degree! 
So, in case you can’t tell, we’ve been watching Tidying Up with Marie Condo. Have you seen it? It’s about a woman who loves to organize, she wrote a book about it, I think more than one, and now has a show on Netflix where she comes to people’s homes and teaches them how to de-clutter their things. Watching someone else clean is inspiring ~ and it’s catching! It makes you want to jump up and get organized ! My eyes suddenly see the chaos around us. How can we live this way!!! If you need help getting going I highly recommend it. Even Joe’s gotten into it and that’s saying something!
She has all sorts of tips ~ she teaches people how to fold things into tiny packages (something I will never do because I choose speed over neatness), and file them on their sides in boxes in drawers to make them more visible. Which was thrilling to see, because it meant I was doing something right!! I’ve always done Joe’s shirts that way (except for the tiny-package folding!) . . .
. . . filed them in a row so he can see the logos and know what he’s getting into without unfolding. It’s not perfect or tiny, but Joe loves it!
I don’t know if it was Marie, or if it was because it was January, but as I was cleaning up the Christmas things, suddenly I couldn’t stand to see boxes or bags parked conveniently next to a wall, did not care for piles of books anywhere but in the bookcases, didn’t want to see folded market bags piled on my little red kitchen chair, or any little bits and pieces dropped here and there that added up to clutter. 🚫 I needed clean walls I could walk up to like a starving man needs a ham sandwich. I couldn’t even work until I got this house under control!
I did it! Everything’s in its place (well, not everything!) with sunshiny face . . . now it’s February (rabbit-rabbit💛) and I’m back to work! Of course, now my studio is a complete mess because as you know creating is not neat, but the rest of the house is heaven. All my best intentions fulfilled, lightheartedness returned!
Most of my table tops have barely anything on them! It won’t last long, but right now I see this and go “Ommmmmm.”
Candlesticks & votives, glass, wood and brass, are sorted and put away, Christmas 
books are back in the hutch, tablecloth and napkins are starched and ironed, on hangers, in the front closet, floors are swept and vacuumed, we’re dusted and ready for the next event. I think of my house sort of like a movie set . . . once Christmas is put away, everything is organized, I leave it smooth and plainly cozy until the next season or event, then I change the throw pillows, add flowers, bunnies, bunting, garden books, and voila! It’s spring!
There’s a big difference between clutter, and decorated. I do not see these shelves as cluttered! I think it’s because everything up there gets used on a fairly regular basis. I could never be a minimalist and hide everything away. Serious minimalism looks heartless to me. Life is too short not 
to set out my Beatrix Potter figurines, hang my teacups on hooks, fold cute dishtowels over the handles of my stove, or put a paper calendar on the wall in my kitchen. Real life is not going to allow me to hide away our family photos, or baskets of rosy apples, or old quilts just for some crazy fashion that will change in an hour anyway!
I wrote about it in my Girlfriends Book. How when I was 11 or 12 I would try and get my girlfriends to play, “Let’s go home and decorate our bedrooms.” A game I mostly ended up playing all by myself! I still redecorate the way I wrote about here . . . and put back one “joy bringer” at a time.
Marie suggested that as we sort, we shouldn’t be looking for things we want to throw out, instead we should look for things we want to keep! It does make it easier! Gather everything into a pile, keep just the things you love and get rid of the rest! She sees organizing as a spiritual endeavor … believing there’s a divine spirit in everything. It feels like that to me. A sort of gratitude for all we’ve been given. It reminds me of a quote I put in my Autumn book by Joe Friday (respected elder of the Alaskan Yup’ik Eskimos) . . . who’s gone now but should should be remembered for this lovely thing:
So glad to the wood. Everything is related. Touch one thing, you touch it all. I say thank you as I oil my wooden cutting board, imagining the people who made it, remembering all that chopping for all those dinner parties, as I oil the wooden handles on my old pots and pans,
and my wooden cooking spoons (my dad made the one with my name on it 💞 ). I want them to last forever. I starch and iron my curtains, shine my windows, make my stove sparkle with plain hot water, refold my old quilts, and dust my bookcases. Because things we use every day have character. Makes me happy.
These things aren’t just merchandise, part of a throw-away world. They’re gifts. When my Grandma died, the only thing I asked for, since I had always gotten her very best when she was alive, was the old wooden spoon she used to scramble her eggs and mix her cookie dough. Because that spoon had her in it. That spoon and my grandma had cross-pollinated their DNA, while alone in the kitchen, beating brown sugar, butter, and walnuts, a long time ago.
It’s why I love old things and that includes this old house of creativity filled with kindly ghosts of the past. As I was tidying up, it was easy to know which of our things “sparked joy” as Marie says, and which ones made me sing out, 🎵 Yaaaard Saaaale 🎶 as I packed up boxes to go. Our busy lives and this modern world do not naturally provide us with the peace and sustenance we need to grow, space for creating, a gentleness for our families. But we can make it for ourselves. We have all the power. As the Chinese proverb says, “Outside noisy, inside empty.”
One more thing, in case you find yourself in a cleaning-emergency on a day when deep tidying and tiny folding is not going to be possible, with possibly just ten minutes to clean your house for guests, here’s what you do:
So, in-between the tidying up, what have I been doing in my studio? Lots. I guess I should say, “we.” We’ve been busy!
Here’s the other half of “we,” my partner-in-crime who plunks his righteous self down in the middle of my art table any time he wants and gives me this look. Like, “What?” Requires belly rub, many kisses. Petty pet of my dreams.
I made a soft little embroidered doll of Jack. Put his heart on the outside. Gave him a little quilt all his own. He’s only 6″ tall (extremely gentle, for children) ~ he and his quilt will come in a sewing/embroidery kit. We’ll have the kit in the web store soon, so some little child out there, maybe yours, can put Jack to bed someday. ♥️
And a quick update, for all of you who pre-ordered and are waiting patiently for your little vases, butter dishes, tea bag holders, and all the others, we are being told to expect them soon. I keep asking, when, when, when, they keep saying soon, soon, soon 😜 . . . so have faith and know the SECOND they arrive, yours will be first to go!! We won’t forget! Soothing MUSICA to make you forget. 🎵 And this:
And, despite kitty distraction in the Studio, new cups are on the way! At the end of the last post I asked everyone what cups they’d like to see and did the best I could to make you happy! So here we go: Four new cups, Fine Bone China, made in England, coming late March! This one, the large 16 oz, is “Bella Luna!” For all you moon-watchers like me! 💛
Every time you use it you can wish on a shooting star! I never painted a shooting star before!
The moon and constellations in a sea of stars . . .
And here is brand new Cup #Two, “Home Sweet Home” . . . this is for you who love the smaller, 11 oz. size, a bunting-draped celebration of . . .
Here’s the side, says it all.
Here is the other side…. a little house of my own . . .
And here is the cute handle! These are only paper mockups, I promise the real things will look much better!
And #3, You all asked, so Yes! A great big 16 oz. Birthday Cup! Because everyone has a birthday and what would be a better celebration than “Having your cake and eating it too?”
There is singing . . .
. . . balloons, a hat, and suggestions for fun!
And another perky handle! Happy Birthday Girlfriends! 🎈
And one more large, 16 oz. cup, due to popular demand, it’s the “English Corgi” cup . . .
With the perfect T.S. Eliot quote surrounded by blue forget-me-nots:
An empire of imagination!
And the side . . . complete with Union Jacks, lamb and castle.
And would not be complete without an English rose on the handle.🌹
And, extra exciting news, guess what? For the first time, the actual BBC website is going to carry one of my cups, this one! For their print catalog and web store! And also my book, A Fine Romance, Falling in Love with the English Countryside! So honored! Secretly extra-thrilled as it is one step closer in my diabolical plan to get to the National Trust. Would love for them to carry my book someday. At least now we’re in the same neighborhood! 🇬🇧 👍
They’re already in production in England, and up for Pre-sale now… as you know, I try to make sure there’s enough for everyone, it helps so much when you pre-order, that way, when I give the factory final numbers, I’m fairly sure everyone who wants one will get one! I usually add on some extra for those who forget, but sooner or later they’re gone. So if you have a special birthday coming in September, be sure to think about it now!
Movie News: I keep promising you an update on the “movie” ~ the project in the works to get my book Martha’s Vineyard Isle of Dreams onto the big (or even little) screen … and every time I think I will just blab what I know, the person working to make it happen sweetly warns me not to!!! 🎬 Grrrr. So all I can say is that it’s still a possibility. Which is better than saying it isn’t! Seems so easy! Movie about starting over, woman and three cats in darling cottage in woods? What could be better? Just say Yes!
Okay, back to the drawing board, 🎨 but before I go . . . I was thinking, what would be a really special giveaway for today? I thought of the perfect thing, then another idea popped up, then another, I didn’t know which to do! I finally gave up and decided to do all three! It’s almost Valentine’s Day! 💖 All you have to do to enter is leave a comment at the bottom of this post (click at the tiny word “comment”), and you’ll be automatically entered for all three gifts! In a few days, Vanna, our resident “Random Number Generator” will draw the names of three lucky winners and I’ll announce them here. So, here’s giveaway number one, very rare . . .
A brand new copy of Girlfriends Forever! When I find out the winner’s name, I’ll personalize it before I send it. They’ve been out of print for a long time, but during my “Tidying Up” phase, I found a small pile of these books in the back of a closet! Buried treasure! And timely, because what could be better for a Girlfriend’s Valentine than a book about best friends! You may have one, but perhaps a special Valentine girlfriend of yours doesn’t! So anyway, this one’s for YOU, and Sheri put the others in our web store for however long they last!
And then I was walking by my newly decorated stove shelf, and was suddenly reminded of this timeless Valentine . . . charming old words I found carved on a stone on a dovecote in England.
Here’s a closer view! Giveaway #2, Love Stays!
And, last but not least, this luv-lee 16 oz, fine bone china cup that asks, “Have I told you lately that I love you?” Is there a better Valentine Message? This one will be going out to some lucky winner in honor of our Girlfriend Dee Lamphear and her husband Brad 💞, to celebrate their forever love and happy marriage.💖
This is the back . . . it says it all, cup-wise, winter-wise and love-wise.
So don’t forget to leave a comment! Remember, you have much better chance of winning here than if you played the lottery!💖
Last but not least, here’s a delicious recipe to help keep your house warm . . . I wish I could send out smells from my computer, so when you opened my page on a freezing cold morning you’d find the cozy smell of baking biscuits. That’s how you would know it’s me. I wish someone would invent that. Unfortunately, under the circumstances, you’ll have to make them for yourself!
Make them in heart-shaped pans and they’re the perfect Valentine gift.
Cut them in half, toast them, add orange marmalade or yummy Christmas Jam and bring them to a lucky Valentine near you. For more Valentine’s ideas, plus a link to get a Valentine Bookmark, go HERE.
If you haven’t signed up to receive my Blog in your mailbox, and you’d like that, or you’d like to surprise your mom, sister, grandma, or best friend, please go HERE.
Winter is king of intimate delights, Enjoy the quiet, light the candles, make a fire, pull on toasty socks, feed the birds, eat hot biscuits. Life is good. Have a wonderful day Girlfriends, kindred spirits. Bake and stay warm! More surprises in the next blog!
My dear, Susan,
We have had freezing rain and power outages in Northern Wisconsin. To read your Blog and read the inscription on the Valentine Mug about howling wind is correct for today. I enjoy your Blog. It is the first thing I read every morning. YOU are a grand way to begin my day. Thank you for all that you do for us!
EJC
Thank you, Ethel, very sweet. Stay warm up there! xoxo
Thank you for your wonderful post! I too have been watching Marie Kondo’s series on Netflix and cleaning like a mad woman. There’s just something magical about having an early spring cleaning and then sitting back and enjoying your beautiful home! Take care!
It is magical! Allows us more time to enjoy it before we’re compelled to run outside to play!
You always know what we love 💗, great posts, wonderful giveaways and helpful ideas! Thank you and Happy Valentine’s Day to you and Joe.
Same to you Eva! Thank you!
I have enjoyed watching Marie Kondo, and do love a good sort, but just like you I love my goodies of remembrances on show to see and embrace. The give away is sweet. Look forward to trying the Lemon Pepper biscuits. Take care!
Most important thing in the house is memories! xoxo
Very happy to see this post on a February morning.
Not received Willard yet, but I think I’m quite far down the emailing list.
Any one of your prizes would receive a welcome here. (Can Vanna be bribed? 😉)
LOL!
Toasty socks! That sums it up for winter in New England ❤️ Many other places too, and toasty socks are not limited to winter – plenty of damp rainy summer days that the toes appreciate the coziness. As always, when I see a new post from you I STOP what I was doing that was important at the time to drink in your peace and tranquility. Sets the happy pace within so I can continue on with renewed joy. Thank you Susan!
And yes please, enter my name in this drawing.
You’re entered! Socks! I pull on thick warms ones in the morning and go ahhhhhh. Probably the same noise as the first person who ever made them.
The weather has been so gray here in the Laurel Mountains, but your blog always lifts my spirits. I can count on you to make my cares lighter. Can’t wait to order the new mugs.
When it does that here, I will go around and turn on every lamp and light every candle just for the relief of it. Just in cases. . . xoxo
Beautiful post💞 perfect read for this February morning. I too caught the January cleaning bug. Mostly closets and cupboards. Feels so nice.
Does! Proud!
It is such a treat to get to my desk at work and see that you have written a new blog post. The perfect way to start the day! Am hosting a Valentine’s Day party next weekend and will have to try your lemon pepper tea biscuits – they look divine! Cheers to a February filled with slowly warming days and little clumps of snow drops peeking through 🙂
Susan,
Luvlee and inspiring as always! Thank You!
Linda
Helllllo, Susan! So glad to hear from you. Your spice-and-span home is inspirational! Marie Kondo had motivated my closet cleaning right after the holidays, but then I hit the pause button and pretended that half my house disappeared. Maybe/hopefully you’ve added the spark I need to get going again. Love your new cups, especially the moon one, and I’m looking forward to that shipment to get the things I have on order. It will feel like a lovely surprise when the box arrives! (That’s the up-side of an old brain, lots of “surprises!”). Thanks for your give-aways and for being there to inspire and enjoy!
❤️
You inspire me as always with taking current things and old and making a better place to be. Thank you.
What a lovely post, Susan. I find cleaning and organizing very liberating. I’m looking forward to more exciting news about your movie. Thank you for making a very overcast day sun-shiny with your post. Can’t wait to get my copy of Willard. Enjoy your day.
Marie is like you, Susan… giving us ideas and inspiration for truly Good Housekeeping. Even when I had a “real” career I have always thought of myself first and foremost as a homemaker. I LOVE making home! And, like you, as a child I played homemaking all the time with my sister and cousins. We all grew up on farms with woodlots and bushy fencerows and gullies so many of our homes were made outside with clean moss carpets, grapevine curtains, sticks in the ground for walls, bark dishes, etc. We had wonderful parents and weren’t even scolded when we rolled the redclover down to make “rooms” in the hayfield. Home and the people who frequent it…. my greatest joy! Susan, you’ve never really been to my house but if you came in the door you would see our sisterhood as homemakers. Thank you for all the inspiration and fun! Shower the people you love with love!
I have no doubt DonnaRay! I would also LOVE to visit a home with redclover walls! How cozy!
I’ve also been watching Marie Kundo! I haven’t started the actual tidying up though. I provide daycare for my grand babies and they do not understand tidying up! Ha! I’ll get to it though. Can’t wait to order the new cups! Thank you for making beautiful things for us!
LOL, no they don’t understand! Thank you Peggy!
Great post this morning. I love seeing pictures of your house and they always make me feel calm. Would you ever consider doing a book about your house and how you decorate for all seasons – not just holidays, but regular days too.
Love your books and the mugs you have designed are beautiful; I especially like the Bella Luna Mug. Happy Valentine’s Day to you, Joe, and Jack!
-Donna H., Arkansas
I do have a House book all planned, just not enough hours in the day! Hope to do that someday!
Woke this morning to find this waiting for me in my mail box – what a sweet, gentle way to begin my day. I truly enjoyed your thoughts on tidying up – I guess that I have always lived that way. A few special things to mark each season are out and about in my home, but I like organization and simplicity for certain. To some it may appear austere, but to me it is neat, tidy, and clean! The new cups are really lovely – cannot figure out how you get all this done, but they are lovely to look at. Much appreciated! Enjoy the quiet days of winter yet to come and pray for an early spring!
The luv-lee eye of the beholder! It’s everything! Thank you Susie!
I love the January Tidy. It strikes every year and every year I get Something Done. This year it got my DH too! I am loving that. Our anniversary is February 14th and I think he would love the lemon pepper tea biscuits!
I also love to fry Joe an egg inside a heart cookie cutter, very cute!
Hi Sue, nice post lots of good info. Love the pictures. I will be watching for the Willard. Thank you for being there.
Nancy Jo
Nice to hear from you Nancy!
Hi Susan….We are soul sisters as I have found myself tidying up too… but the hand was forced as we are having several sets of company arriving throughtout the months of February and March…a very popular time of year to visit Florida. So away with the dust bunnies and hello to the sparkle!!! Valentine tree is up and your LOVE book on the coffee table…life is good!
Thank you for the inspiring post and keeping an eye out for Willard…
Have a wonderfully sweet Valentine’s Day!!!!💖💕💞
Love,
Cindy
Nothing like having guests to get the inspiration ball rolling! Have fun! xoxo
A large yes to the movie, please!
I’ve been watching Marie too and although definitely not a minimalist I have had fun following some of her suggestions. Your Tidying Up post has gotten my puttering instinct raring to go today even more so I’m off to do that and taking memories of my visit here today of your sweet home and island with me.
I have your lamp with the graduated size glass balls! From my sister’s consignment shop in Orlando, for some reason it is the perfect foil against our 1935 dark paneled walls. I will look at it today and think, You’re in Susan’s home too!
I know, funny that such a modern thing fits into such vintage rooms like yours and mine! I love glass, love the way it reflects the light. Happy puttering, Dewena!
Just read Marie Condo’s book and now want to watch the shows! Definitely motivating! Thank you for your wonderful posts!
Hooray for inspiration is all I can say! Otherwise I don’t know where I’d be!
Perfect reading for this cold February morning. I made the short ribs. Oh my gosh, delish!!! Thanks for sharing your recipe.
I’m so glad you liked them. So good! Cozy for this crazy cold weather!
Loved all three of your books, can’t wait for the next one. I do love England and everything English. I look forward for your blog, and keep on checking my email. I’ve been a widow for 12 long years, and my companion is my small chiwinee dog. I’m 75 and reside in a North Florida, but my hometown is MIAMI. Keep on writing and telling us about your lovely life.
Chiwinee dog! how fun! I’ve never heard of it! Have to go look it up. Thank you for the kind words Georgette. xoxo
Susan,
I can’t thank you enough for the encouragement that you send to all of us who read your blog and wonderful books. I know they are truly a blessing to me. I recently made your recipe for the angel dream cake and that was soooo delicious. The many recipes that I have tried from your books have been great.
Happy to hear that Darlene! Thank you! xoxoxo
P.S. I hope you and Joe have a nice anniversary tomorrow.
Thank you! You remembered!
OH, thank you for the reminder of your sweet Valentine book mark. Just printed one. I enjoy seeing your sideboard in your Dining room. Thank you so much for sharing lovey thoughts.
Nice to hear from you Melissa!
Love sharing your post with my new friends on a trip to Spain and Portugal. They are delighted to find you. Just finished watching Marie’s show and she has such good ideas to share.
Thank you Rise. . . xoxoxo
I so look forward to reading your blog! Home with a bad cold so this was a treat to find and read this morning! Thank you!
Feel better soon Marianne!
It seems wrong to complain about winter in California, but here in the Central Valley there is a chance of snow today, the poor people of burned-out Paradise are being told to find somewhere else to live (!), and Pacific Gas and Electric is declaring bankruptcy (anything to avoid paying for problems that you may have had a hand in causing). Your post makes all of this go away and lets my heart sing! Thank you.
Yesterday I received a letter from a Girlfriend who lost her house in the fire, then Joe and I spent last night talking about her and imagining the unimaginable. It’s beyond heartbreaking. She lost her petty pets too.😫 And yet, there is life. And so we go on. Because as Anne Frank said, “Think of all the beauty still around you and be happy.” xoxoxo
Was preparing to dash out the door for errands but clicked on your Tab and schreeeeech! The breaks came on and so did the kettle. So lovely. So inspiring.
I said to my husband this morning….i feel like i need to scrub down the whole kitchen. We’d cooked some duck breasts last eve and the smell still hung in the air. And yep, you confirmed it, now’s the time!
Also, i used your idea of taking left over cranberry sauce and mixed it with marmalade ! wow!! Then i used some of it to make an after Christmas coffee cake with a yummy layer of that sweet/tart jam in the middle…Lordy, i wanted to eat the whole darn thing!!! As always, thanks for the domestic encouragement and inspiration. Now on with the errands and a stop to get cream cheese so i can bake those Lemon Pepper biscuits. Your not helping my slim down plan, but you are helping my love life,be happy in my home sweet home plan. hugs from North Carolina.
You are so welcome Kimberly! I know, marmalade and roasted cranberries, a match made in heaven!
Kimberly, you made me giggle. That’s the same thing that happened to me this morning on my way to work! Schreeeeech! Only I didn’t put the kettle on since I didn’t want to be TOO late for work! :} My kettle goes on as soon as I get home from work tonight so I can re-read this wonderful blog again. xo
😘
Love your blog and all the cheer and happiness you impart to our days!
I love doing it too Barbara! xoxo
Another wonderful blog-makes me want to tidy up (sort of).
Reading about it is good too! 🤣
Susan, As always you have fed my soul. Thank you so much
Thank you back Robyn, luv-lee to have you here!
I sooooo look forward to your posts. I hope you continue to write and paint and share your work with us for many years.
Thank you Carole! I love doing it, I hope I’m blessed in just the way you suggest!
Love your new mugs! Beautiful.
“…the wind howls loud…” here on the west coast of Canada, too 😉
I bet! Stay warm Jean!
Enjoyed reading this post and I feel the same way about clearing up the holiday decorations. Sometimes I even think treacherous thoughts of taking a cruise next Christmas so I don’t have to do all the decorating. But I would miss seeing all those little decorations that I love! The new birthday cup is so cute I might order one for myself. Enjoy the rest of your day!
I shouldn’t discourage you, but I did that one time, took a cruise to Acapulco for Christmas. All it meant was I had to have Christmas ready and done 2 weeks before the normal people did. Also, it was 95 degrees at dinner on Christmas, we were not very “elegant” as Jane Austen would say. I vowed from then on, if I felt the need to go away at Christmas, I would get a house in the snow, where Christmas belongs!
I’m in LOVE with the new English Corgi cup! Can’t wait to get one.
I feel the same as you after the Holidays! Love my Christmas “stuff” but glad when it’s all put away…why is that? Ha!
So enjoy your posts, thank you!
Enjoyed reading your wonderful post! At least it has made me think about tidying up (that’s about as far as I’ve gotten but hey……it’s a start!!).
Loved your February Post and can’t wait for Willard. Have not gotten it yet. Yes I would love to win. Please let Vanna pick me. I would love to give that gorgeous mug to my daughter for Valentines Day. Keep the wonderful posts coming for my inspiration. Love, love them. Thank you Susan.
Judy Ann from Georgia
I’m so excited to see the little house cup because I live in a little house! I will definitely pre-order that one!
I read Marie Kondo’s book a couple years ago and tidied my drawers as she recommended. Then I recycled some boxes and packing material that were taking up space. A month later, I needed to ship some things and had to go buy boxes and packing material! I gave up after that. 😉
Yes, and “where did I put that sweater?”
Oh, Sue, you and Punxsutawney Phil are twins! You both emerge from under winter’s cold blanket to announce to the shivering world that Spring is on its way. What a lovely and inspiring post. I so agree with you about the minimalism movement — I love simplicity, but I must have my treasures displayed for regular consumption. All your new mugs are beautiful, but I’m especially drawn to the moon/stars one. And wow, just wow!, about BBC. And the pending movie — after all this waiting, I hope your person doesn’t let us down. Please tell her to shake a leg — I’m not growing any younger. LOL
Ha ha ha, I will definitely tell her, Marigold!
I think I’ll go make some of your biscuits right now. They sound delicious. Hope I win something! It’s cold and rainy here in Kansas.
A cozy house is such a blessing. Snow flurries flying outside here in Onyx, CA!
Thank you for another wonderful post. I will be watching for my Willard. I love putting the house back to rights after the holidays. It’s like a clean slate. Your new cups are loverly.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Susan and Joe!! Your art is amazing and inspiring, thank you for all you do.
Always such a joy to read your happy, happy posts! Thank you so much for your enthusiasm and encouraging words. So refreshing… need to add the birthday cup to my collection. Have a wonderful day.
Thanks for a lovely post. Also thank you for the bookmarks. I love to leave them in my library books when I return them to the Library. Have a Happy Valentine’s Day to you, Joe and Jack.
Good Morning, Susan, you do always lift my spirits with your beautiful blog, thank you!
Thank you Susan for a bright spot on a gray day! As someone else mentioned it seems almost absurd to complain about California weather but the dark gray days do get dreary after a while. I watch our GoldenDoodle puppy Macie stare out the window, dreaming of chasing bunnies in the sunshine and find myself too dreaming of sunny days outside again!
I read Marie Kondo’s book a year or so ago and it planted a seed, even though I wasn’t willing to go full in on decluttering. I realize again, after watching her show on Netflix, that life is all about balance and I can have my treasures and a tidy home too if I choose well what to display. And my office is next on the list. It is starting to make me itchy-twitchy by the afternoon time.
Thank you for sharing as you do and brightening up my life! Much love to you and Joe on Valentine’s Day and always…
Bethany
I get that itchy twitchy feeling!
I have read both of Marie Kondo’s books and over the course of two years, made lots of progress. I couldn’t get rid of all my t-shirt collection, but boy, do they ever look nice all folded and lined up in those little packets! Cheers to you for taking on the project!
It’s a great way to do it!
I’m so excited about the Home Sweet Home mug! The size is perfect for my little house. I watched some of the Marie Kondo episodes to get myself back on track after the “stuff” overload from the holiday. What really made me downsize was emptying out both sets of parents homes. It was overwhelming and I knew I didn’t want my children to have to deal with the same issue in the future. The funny thing is the items I choose for myself were all kitchen related. xoxoxo
You see all that stuff together, and it puts your own in a new light doesn’t it?
You see all of us anxious girlfriends, eagerly checking for your blog, and here it is, we are so happy! You always inspire, how on earth do you do it? I was so inspired I preordered a little house cup. My English side of the family came from the Cotswolds area and that cup is probably a vision of their house/home. That’s my idea, and I’m sticking to it!
Thanks so much for the Valentine gifts, even if I don’t win, it is still fun to see them offered. Good job, Susan.
Thank you Jeanne . . .that’s what my dad used to say to me, miss it! xoxo
I love your post today. I see history in wooden spoons also….It’s good to be us.
Ha ha ha!!!
Lots of snow yesterday an most of the night. So, a challenge to clear a spot for a little boy dog this morning! Last Christmas we were all too sick to enjoy the holidays, so this year all 9 trees were up an decorated. First time ever, all the decorations are being sorted an organized, Wonderful! Have already experienced the loss of dear ones in this new year.But, a cousin whose family with major health issues says her word for the New Year is HEALING and it will be mine too!Off to brew a hot cup of coffee an read my book.
Beautiful word. Your Christmas sounds wonderful!
I too as someone mentioned in comments would love 💗 a book about your home. Seeing all your photos and actually seeing the house 🏡 driving by one fall I am always trying to figure out the floor plan. Such a beautiful spot for such wonderful residents. Hope you and Joe have a happy and very special Valentines Day. I have a question “when did you and Joe get married?”
I always love to put a love story in my books if I can … I thought I’d put me and Joe in the Home book! Makes sense, he goes with this house!
Great inspiration. Been soooooo in the mood to tidy and clean out. It must be a universal feeling that comes in January 👍. And now it’s February! Time to get to work. Love the new cups. Bought two. Going to have to get a bigger cupboard or make room. It’s all Susan Branch cups in my cupboard now. 😃. Reading Isle of Dreams again. It’s a movie in my head for sure. Keeping my fingers crossed. Thank you for being you Susan!!
Was a movie in my head when I was writing it! Not on purpose, but I could just see the fashion show from the 70s (in Fairytale Girl) with all those great clothes and shoes and MUSICA, boys whooping, girls being girls!
Exactly. We are a similar vintage 😂😂 Can totally picture it all. Did you just love the Laura Ashley store of that time. I had a few of her dresses and that laced petticoat. I loved her clothes. Somehow I bet you did too. ❤️
Ohhhh Yeah! 🤣 LAURA ASHLEY!
Hi Susan,
As always, you bring so much pretty into our lives. Thank you!
G
the tidying around here has begun – it will take us waaaay past spring cleaning to work through it all, but Life already seems lighter … LURVE the moon cup … MUST HAVE the MOON cup!!!
Good day! Super windy and cold today in the southeastern CA high desert. Cozy and warm with fireplace going. 🙂 My tried and true tip to lessen clutter: whenever I purchase something new, I get rid of something similar. So, a new sweater replaces an old sweater which then gets donated! This goes for all objects including furniture. Love your blog!!
Probably slows down the shopping a bit too! Win-win!
Always so inspiring Susan! I simply must try your spoon butter, I have recently inherited some wooden spoons that I gave to my mother many years ago, and treasure them, just as you say, for all those times they were used by her. And those cups! Now how am I to justify more cups when my shelves are over filled with dear Emma’s cups? ( I must admit, I’ve slipped a “Winter” cup in amongst them already, and it is my favourite afternoon teatime one😉)
Happy Valentine’s Day.
Justifying, the bane of my existence! xoxo
Happy Valentine’s Day!
I enjoy your posts!
What a wonderful way to start the day a post from you! I love getting my home in order and doing a little Spring cleaning this time of year. You’ve certainly been busy, so many new and beautiful creations! I can’t wait to get my tiny toothpick holder! Thanks for all you do, Susan, you’re the B E S T ! ! !
Thank you Marie! xoxo
Sweet, sweet Susan! Another lovely post. I shall be making those biscuits this weekend and bringing some to my daughter’s apartment in Boston when I take her to dinner Sunday night. 🙂
Thank you for the reminder that the most important thing, really, to focus on each and every moment of each and every day………..is happiness. To thine own self be true! xoxoxo Bless
Perfect. When thine own self is true, it makes others delirious! xoxo
Susan, your generous spirit is shining today. Thanks for the “things” but most of all thanks for creating your wonderful world for all of us to visit. Love to you and your vast community of girlfriends. Annette
Girlfriends, kindred spirits, they’re the best!
Sending Valentine love from our SoCal 1903 home where it had a Gladys to your Agnes and spoke to us “buy me” 30 years ago.
I absolutely love it when you have a new post! It makes my day happier. And I am in the middle of cleaning out my house of all the things I don’t want, use, or need anymore. As each room is finished, I feel lighter. Great feeling.
Enjoy your blog and all you books so much. Keep up the good work. Brings smiles to so many.
Enjoyed the new post. Though I am a neat and tidy person, I too like Marie K. There’s always something new I can learn – a better way. I like the contrast between Christmas decorations everywhere and the calm that is there waiting when everything is put away. I light a candle or two and am Zen for an hour …or less.
Lastly, appreciate the 11 oz. cups as I am a coffee drinker. Thank you for sharing your thoughts – always look forward to reading.
Thanks for your post Susan! Always a joy to read about what’s going on in your corner of the world! Keeping fingers, toes and eyes crossed about the possibility of a movie. It is a great story that would translate perfectly to the silver screen! Here in Kentucky, they are talking about record high temperatures this week, possibly in the 70’s in February. The poor trees and flowers don’t know what to do and neither do we. Coat? Light jacket? Umbrella? Rain boots? Hat? Gloves? Hot coffee? Iced tea? I look at it as a surprise and enjoy it all! Have a great week!
Us too, it’s gorgeous here today, sunshine!
I am far from being a minimalist but I’m trying to declutter – so many things spark joy for me that it is difficult. Please enter me in your lovely give-away and please pick my name! 🙂 Happy February.
That’s why they named you Joy!
Love the new cups! The shooting star cup has “my name all over it”!
How do you oil your wooden delights? Just oil?
With mineral oil . . . it doesn’t go rancid . . . HERE
May your post bring an early spring
I love your quotes about being a homebody. I love being home and making it a place that comforts and excites me! Thank you for bringing your sweet simplicity into a world filled with hate and anger. I always look forward to your blog posts!
Love doing them. Thank you Kristen!
Dear Susan,
I am usually hyper and upbeat but for some reason lately the winter blues have been getting to me. Your blog arrived at just the right time! Your cheerful words never fail to uplift the spirit, and what the heck, I may just treat myself to a Corgi mug! Happy Valentine’s Day to you and your darling Joe, and thanks for making time for us in your busy schedule! 😘
Love to hear your happy voice Nicole! xoxo
I find it amazing how long it took Kondo to have a show. Her book has been out for a couple of years. Still, we are a materialistic society and if tidying up reminds us that we don’t need all the stuff, we’ll be good.
Probably because she doesn’t speak English, they had to figure out a way. I wonder if maybe she’s had a show in Japan?
Peace Be With You….
Amazing, Sue! You’ve finished your spring cleaning in February!!!!! Wishing you a healthy, happy 2019 filled with more adventures!!!!!
Probably have to do it again in April the way we go!
My husband is wondering about all the giggles that come out of me when I read your blog. You may not realize it, but you are one funny and delightful writer. Thank you for the new mugs, especially the little house one. We are so kindred spirits with the tidying up mode! I have read three books about that and decided with a friend that we’d love to do it for others. No one will let us tho! The sparks joy phrase is so true. Why keep things that bring up a negative memory just because they were pricey or so and so gave them? Someone else might find them delightful. Donate or give them to someone to make happy memories. Be an elf.
Luv-lee elf talk Kathie! xoxo
I love watching that cute little Marie shake books awake and introduce herself to houses. So far I’ve only watched but I feel some tidying in my future.
I know you’ve told us before what you use to oil your spoons and cutting boards but could you tell us again? Or, where can that information be found?
The photo of your nude tree was so poignant! We put ours at the curb for the city to pick up. Discarded trees always look so sad. But, uncluttered tables and mantels look so lovely in January!
Thank you for today’s post.
Here you go Jill!
Thank you so much! I’m off to buy mineral oil. My son made three spoons for me so they get oiled first.
It’s a cold & drizzly day here in Kansas City, Missouri. Thanks for transporting me to a cozy place! I must go tidy up a drawer or two now and make some blueberry muffins! Your blog always transports me to another era! Does anyone even know what a “sideboard” is these days! 😁
Blessings on your day!
Ours came with the house, probably too big to move, and what a handy girl she’s been! She’ll stay when we go. This is her home.
Would you ever contemplate leaving/selling that beautiful house Susan? Where might you go, England??
Someday I will offer this house to my girlfriends first. I already decided. When Joe and I move to someplace smaller and easier for us to care for. We might even build a small house right out in the back yard. This property is dividable. But right now, we just continue loving it every day.
You make me proud to be a Homebody.
I can’t think of a more creative thing to be!
Another beautiful post! It gave me a respite from my crazy office for a little while. Thank you so very much for transporting me to another, more beautiful world. Happy Valentine’s Day, Susan!
I just love your blog and get so excited when I find a new entry! I’ve shared you and your writing with so many of my “girlfriends!”
Thank you Sue!
I always love how-to things —Marie Kondo is inspiring—my house usually looks pretty tidy but, drawers , cupboards & closets are a different thing—I’m old & have thoughts of organizing it all , but doing it is something else !
Remember the old saying, it’s the thought that counts? (Would that work here?)
Hope so, I do try to do a drawer or two at a time !
It’s a cold rainy morning here in the Santa Cruz, CA area with snow in our hills! Yes, snow! So happy to see your new post this morning. I have loved all Susan Branch since the mid 90’s & visited your beautiful island a few years ago. Loved it & hope to get back again one day.
Thank you for all the beauty you add to our world!❤️
Karyn
Thanks for all the cleaning tips and the great recipe.
Always looking for your books when I go to any antique store. Love Susan Branch! And Love Martha’s Vineyard.
Thank you for your post. I’m recovering from shoulder replacement surgery and am miserable. Your post brought some sunshine to my day!
Awwww, poor baby. Feel better soon. xo
Enjoying your blog with my sweet little dog napping at my side. Happy Winter!
I’ve watched 3 episodes of “Tidying Up” and am going to put some of Marie’s methods into action next week when we get back from a little trip to see the grandbaby.
My sister and I just discussed this morning how much STUFF we all have and how to get rid of all that we don’t need or really love but then how to maintain the de-clutter and yet keep what is beautiful, sparks joy or is useful. A very delicate balancing act!!
You don’t know how I look forward to your blogs and WILLARD. They’re like a ray of morning sunshine on my kitchen floor; in other words, they make me h-a-p-p-y. Also, can’t wait for the new book, movie and goodies that I’m going to order.
Have a happy day~
Oh, Susan, as ALWAYS, thank you for posting. Always lifts my spirits and challenges me to do something pretty (clean something, put something away, decorate something, make something, or enjoy outside!!💕 ) and love seeing Jackie boy!💕🐾
I love when your blog comes out. I was just reading about Marie Kondo and planned on trying to organize my house. I started this past weekend in the basement. Thanks for always being so upbeat!
We’re having a women’s retreat at church the end of this month about “The Power of Books.” We’re supposed to bring our favorite book. Guess what I’m taking—A FINE ROMANCE! I love it and all your other books and everything about you!
Oh thank you Charlotte! Nothing better in this world for “book-power” than girlfriend-word-of-mouth!💖
Oh, how lovely. I can see some cups in my future!!
Just as I was clicking on your blog post the 🌞 SUN appeared for the first time in weeks…that’s a sign for sure! The sky is actually blue today~that’s another First here in Northern Michigan. We’ve had fog, clouds and gray skies for weeks. 15* with a wind chill of 4* after an almost 40* day yesterday…needless to say the melted snow from yesterday froze overnight to solid ice…Yikes! Last week the local schools were closed everyday-fog had them close yesterday and ice has the schools closed again today! Thank you for your blog, Susan and thank you for the 🌞😉
I do my best! xoxo
Have been baking everyday. Weather has been crazy in Michigan. We were 70 degrees warmer yesterday than we were 4 days ago! The tea kettle is always on. Counting the days til Spring. You inspire me to get busy tidying up. Love your books, cups and would love to see a movie based on Isle of Dreams!!
Sue! I often wondered if you would be combining the blog with the Willard! I still have the Willards you snail-mailed those many years ago! True treasures! Looking forward to the news and updates! xoxo peg