‘Tis the Season, for the memories, for the things that matter . . . and for the MUSICA! Happy Monday! Rabbit-Rabbit!
Being my camera-loving Mother’s daughter (except and because of the fact that that we no longer have to buy film), I have 
over a hundred-thousand photographs in my iPhotos … so many they don’t fit on my computer, I have to keep them in a separate hard drive with a ton of memory. They’re filed by category, under headings like “Holly Oak,” “Family,” “Quilts and Sewing,” “Birds,” “England,” “Tablesettings,” “Children’s 
Letters,” “Tea and Dishes,” “Heroes,” “Decorating,” and “Tiny Vases” ~ 135 categories! There are innumerable subheadings too, like “Diet,” “Time,” “Courage,” “Happy,” and “Dreams.” They’re also filed by color. So if I type “GREEN,” into my Photo Search, over 100 photos come up, all green, from green fireworks to my green Girl Scout badges. The color headings include lots of photos you haven’t seen because they haven’t necessarily fit into a story. I can’t wait to show you BROWN! Brown sounds so boring but it’s NOT! But today, in honor of the season, we are going to do RED! It’s my biggest color category, almost 300 photos, and as you might guess, over half of them have to do with this wonderful time of year!
This is one of the pictures Joe took for the back cover of my Christmas Book.
“I love bright red drinks, don’t you? They taste twice as good as any other color.”
―
You can see, the silverware and flowers aren’t even on the table yet, but I didn’t care, I had to light the candles to see what they were going to look like on that tablecloth which is actually a bedspread! Just thinking about that bedspread this morning . . . where is it? Need it!
Right now our kitchen table is a gathering of little piles with addresses and cards . . . this to there, and this to there . . . spreading cheer where we can.
As you can tell, I love this radish. As a lover and collector of whimsy, here was never a more perfect photo to add to my RED pile than this one.
Food is Love
It’s not a very big book, and it’s almost full … not every dinner party gets in, but every so often, I write down the whole thing, what we ate, who was there, what we were thinking . . . For the memories.
See what I mean? RED is everywhere in the Christmas season!
Even the tiny bits of red stand out in these guest-room towels!
And this old guy. Years ago we had a person making dishtowels for us, but he retired and so that was that, but not before I got this one for my collection! Joe modeled for me, that’s how I drew Santa… “His eyes ~ how they twinkled! His dimples ~ How Merry!”
‘Cause, when I can’t make them, I draw them . . .
Making the cupboards shine . . .
with sparkly glasses . . .
Symphony in RED, my Mom, Me, and my Dad. I’m mashing, she’s thickening the gravy, he’s got the salt. The perfect number of cooks in the kitchen, if you ask me.❤️
Joe’s handiwork . . .
Reflections . . . I don’t know what it is about them, but they feel like magic . . .
Roses.
Heaven and nature sings . . .
“…and so many orchards circled the village that on some crisp October afternoons the whole world smelled like pie.”
―
Need I say more?
Sometimes the RED is very subtle . . .
And sometimes you really don’t have to look for it!
I am not allowed to throw out a poinsettia. I have to hide them to throw them away, because Joe will even take them out of the trash if he sees them. So, see the little one on the left? That came limping in from the previous year.
Just good RED.
And embroidered RED for the bread basket.
And my boy with his Christmas feather!
Through the pantry window to the barn after fresh snowfall, I should play the song, Isn’t it Romantic . . .🎶
Cheese Blintzes and Cherry Sauce!
5. You make magic, like Santa Claus . . .
Spiced Pecans and best old stove, heartbeat of the house.❤️ MAS MUSICA!
My other boy at work in his village . . .
A heart-shaped strawberry. Nature does make the most whimsical REDS.
In my next life, I will paint my house cranberry red just like this! I think I should even aim for this very one!
“But Jo, I think I will be homesick for you, even in heaven.” ❤️ Beth, Little Women
This slipped into the RED category because of his cheeks!
The pear is actually a candle. I think this and the book was a Giveaway from a few years back.
A Valentine from Joe. I do wear it sometimes, like on Christmas morning, when I want to be festive, even though it goes up to my knuckle! Do not think it is a real, what? Cranberry diamond? Because it’s not. It’s just sweet as pie.
Making memories…
I mean, did someone say RED? Remember when we went to Vermont for a sleigh ride?
Then there’s this . . . it snowed on our first Thanksgiving in this house, which was exactly thirty years ago this last Thanksgiving! ❤️
Just a picture I never get to use, but I love it. That dishtowel is hanging on my stove right now!
There’s that cranberry cake! Tea party, cozy fire, sugared fruit, vintage tablecloth . . . 
One of the other Photo-Categories I love is “GLASS” ~ 132 photos of sparkling pitchers, lamps, candlesticks, sugar bowls, and etched champagne glasses. These Star Bobeche are perfect additions. AND they are our Giveaway for this very RED Letter Day.
For the Lucky Winner, a pair of Star Bobeche will soon be flying your way, from me to you, just in time for decorating! Vanna was downstairs earlier, she climbed into the barrel filled with all of your names in her flannel Santa Jammies and kitty-cat slippers. She stirred the little slips carefully, and for a very long time, but finally, she did come up with one name (one, is not enough, I wish I could do fishes and loaves and have them for EVERYONE💞)… BUT here is our grand and I do mean grand WINNER:
G I N E T T E W H E E L E R
Congratulations Ginette … I’ll be emailing you, please write me back with your address and your Bobeche will be on the way!❤️ 
I’ve been listening to and watching Little Women while writing this post . . . tears and joy and the spirit of Christmas.
“Jo, your hair will grow back and it will be as lovely as ever, but you will never be more beautiful than you are right now.” ❤️ Marmee
Love you, dear ones . . . Deep Breath, do what it takes to make your hours turn into Red Letter Days.❤️ A little cup of tea here, a little pet-the-pet there, a little baked potato with lots of butter here. 💋 Use your powers for good . . . XOXO
Dear Susan, I just love the life you have created for yourself. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!!!!! Merry Christmas to you and Joe! from Medford, OR 🙂
Your photographs evoke precious simplicity….it all looks effortless, but I know better– YOUR touch brings all things to life. Thank you for ALL that you share with us !! xoxo
♥️ Thank you xoxo
Was just wondering what to bring a friend for a hostess gift next week when along comes your blog mentioning spiced pecans and I cheered HUZZAH! A great solution! AND I have some nice jam jars with RED checked covers. Perfect! Thank you!
I also collect pictures organized by color to make into books for my young granddaughters. I get excited when I find something really interesting. Three days ago I was at the Cahoon Museum of American Art here on the Cape in Cotuit and they have trees painted cobalt blue on the property. (Environmentally sound, I hasten to say.) Need any pictures of blue trees? 😀
Ha ha ha, probably do!
What a lovely, lovely blogpost. I’m nursing a cold, feeling whiny, and then this arrived and cheered me right up! Thank you.
👏👏👏
Be still my heart😍 Pam from Orange County CA.
Although pastel pink is my favorite color for anything – it lifts my spirits – there is something so wholly satisfying and warming about red especially during cold, dark, snowy weather! I reread your newsletters (on average but not average) at least three times. I race through it once, then more slowly read a second time and a few hours later really slow down and savor each comment and mental image.
Yes, I save your newsletters to reread days, weeks or months later.
👏💞😘
What lovely sparkle, inspiration and good cheer you always share here! Wob it (and you!). Now, back to my cuppa, along with a *good book in hand, a dog in my lap (plus two at my feet, and five kitties in various stages of repose).
Happy Holidays! xxooxx
*PS ~ Speaking of good books … I read your trilogy this summer and loved each one on so many levels. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself so honestly, openly, creatively and beautifully.
Makes me happy to hear you enjoyed them Kim, thank you!
Merry Christmas, SB🎄. I made your Iowa Cornbread today, the one with the orange zest and I thought, wouldn’t it be funny if I got a blog from Susan today so I could tell her how yummy it is! And there you were as I sat to check my email. I have your tiny Christmas book and am hoping to make some of the cookie recipes soon too!
I love your idea of sorting photos by color! Red has never been my favorite, but you’re teasing me with it! I am more of a green girl myself🎄🎄🎄. For example, I dressed my glass candlesticks with holly from my yard, since I didn’t win your bobeches. Hope the winner loves them!
OH! I’m sooo happy you liked it Char!💚
What a beautiful post about red. Perfect for this cold snowy day here in The Bronx. Best wishes to you, Susan.
I think we have snow coming by morning and I can’t wait!
Everything red is so festive! I love it.
A gorgeous pair of prism bobeche sat on a lace tablecloth on our dining room table back home in Indiana where I grew up. Where are they now? I wish I knew. Thank you, Susan, for bringing so many cherished memories back to me including holly berries, red wall clocks, checkered dish towels, cardinals, poinsettias, sleigh rides, spiced pecans, and homemade strawberry preserves.
We love you…you’re the Best! Merry Christmas!
Thank you Mimi, Merry Christmas to you and yours!❤️
The Marine family who owns this lovely house 🏡 that we have rented these last 5 years is returning in July and want their house back.😕 Good news is that we will be moving to a sweet house just 10 mins. away that my daughter owns and lived in before she remarried. We are getting a great deal on the rent. Will stay there a minimum of 2 years as we decide whether to move back to Florida or not. Other good news is that all doors are black, 1 wall in living room is red. So I will be doing red dining room cushions and red plaid curtains in kitchen. I already have red accents in my decor.
I love this RED blog. Thank you. Bought your red champagne hearts mug for my daughter in law for Christmas. She loves red too.
Congrats to Ginette. Lucky girlfriend.
Enjoy your December. 🎄 I hope you get some snow. Continue sharing your cozy home with us, please. Love you sweet Susan. You make my ❤ so happy.
Already decorating! My kind of girl! 😆♥️
Susan,I don’t know how you do it,but every frame is adorable.This post is so CHEERFUL! Thank you and love, Annette (Oakland CA)
A red letter day for sure! So cheery on a drab grey day in Michigan!
I love red, Susan!
I want to thank you for including a quote from The Bishop’s Wife on the December calendar page. I was all choked up when I saw it. It’s my favorite holiday movie, and I think of my Mom and the many times we watched it together whenever I see it. Such nice memories.
I recorded it, and have it on right now while I’m reading all these wonderful, creative comments! And, to top it off, it’s snowing outside my window!
I love this post, because I decorate with red!
Red plaid sofa and chair and even a red ceiling fan!
It feels like Christmas all year round!
I love your decorating! Merry Christmas!
Red has always been a favorite color of mine. When I feel a little down, all I have to do is put on my red sweater, and I perk right up. Cheers, and merriness to all! Take time to be good to yourselves.
My husband says he has reached stage 4! 😊Isn’t life wonderful?!!! Love your wonderful reds. Thank you for all of the joy!
Becky form Springfield Virginia.
Congrats to Ginette! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!! Love all the colors of the season!! So festive and pretty!!
Susan
Just what was needed to get started on Christmas decorating!
Thank you and bless you and stay warm and cozy 🙂
I too have a gazillion pictures but not as organized as you 🙁
Mary
Salida CO
Love everytMhing you!
A word about love – In the summer of 2006, I attended a week-long seminar on Shakespeare at Trinity College, Oxford. I had one professor who had once been a nurse, and she felt that the structure of an English sonnet (14 lines of iambic pentameter = 70 stressed syllables), which usually focuses on love, was deliberately planned because it takes a drop of blood approximately 70 heartbeats to travel from the heart and back to it. Young men in the 16th century would have contests to see who could write the best sonnet in record time. This was something I never heard in my 1960s high school English classes!
Yes, they definitely left out a few things. How positively wonderful. 👏❤️
One Christmas years ago I was given your book ‘Christmas From the Heart of The Home’. It completely charmed me and I have been a fan ever since. I love all of your red photos!! Merry Christmas!
Christine (Saratoga Springs, NY)
I love red! Thanks for this cheerful blog post! I especially love the picture of you and your parents! Priceless. Of course the one of you and Joe is great as well. Both are cozy, as is the quote from Alice Hoffman. May a bibliophile like me ask which of her books it is from? Thanks, and happy December.
Joanne from the Bronx
Hello Susan, Girlfriends. hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. its cloudy and cold outside, but warm and cozy inside with a nice warm fire going and Christmas decorations popping out. slowly getting the Fall and Thanksgiving things down and back in the closet. also have 2 big loads of laundry going, one washing, one drying and I still have to figure out what to have for dinner, soup sounds good about now so does sausage. unfortunately we have a problem over the in-laws, they have 2 guys staying on the property in a travel trailer, and it appears one of them has some serious medical as well as mental issues going. I don’t know, it does not sound very charitable, but I don’t trust these guys too much. its just a feeling but I trust these feelings. I just don’t feel too comfortable with them hanging around the in-laws’ house and MIL with her problem with dementia and her physical problems. and FIL is far too trusting these days, to the point of being stupid when it comes to dealing with people. I just don’t trust these guys, I get a real bad feeling around them. they have overstayed their welcome by 2-3 weeks, they were only supposed to stay 1 week and MIL keeps repeating she wishes they would leave. I don’t know what to think but we are keeping a tight watch on those 2 and if they are still around by Christmas we are going to contact the sheriff and see what we can do to move them along to somewhere else. that’s about all we can do, anyone have any thoughts on this??? well got to fold the load from the dryer and get the second load into the dryer, check on the fire and get some sausage out of the freezer. have a great day everyone. hugs….. 🙂
Thank you, Susan. As always, I can be having the most difficult day but as soon as I see your new blog post and read it, relishing every tiny bit and the beautiful photos….everything is better.
You are one of my angels in my life. Thanks for always keeping it real and lovely.
Suzanne from Austin.
I dont usually comment, but you touched my heart with RED❤ I have collected red and white all my life. Antique quilts, splashes, buttons, pot holders, handkerchiefs, feed sacks, and over 200 aprons. Thank you!
There is something about RED that just cheers a person’s day!
I can’t wait to see the latest version of Little Women!
What gorgeous pictures! Really enjoyed them ❤
*hugs*
deb from Newman, CA
Dear Susan…so glad to a another new post……you are REAllY a very busy girl!! Gives me incentive to move my tokes and get ready for the big day! Love and prayers, Toni from Sylvania OH xoxoxo
Love your art, your blogs, your recipes and all your shop items! MerryChristmas!
This post was a wonderful surprise on a grey, rainy day! I have been decorating all day (and cleaning as I go along). Lots of red here, too – candles, ribbons, berries, wooden hand-painted Santas, and kitchen towels – just to name a few. I want our home to feel warm and festive for my bridge club friends tomorrow. Just in cases (to quote you!) you don’t post again before Christmas – Merry Christmas to you, Joe and Jack ~ Thank you for the many lovely, inspirational blog posts in 2019.
Well, Susan, if I wasn’t already in the mood for Christmas I would be now! All that red! My favorite Christmas color — it’s all over my house! And all so very happy, too. Everything about this makes me smile. Every photo, every tune, ever word.
Life is good and happy. And even better for reading this!
Loved all the red FUN! Wish you’d bring back that Joe Santa towel! If there’s one thing I use every day about a hundred times, it’s the kitchen towel….about 200 times a day the week before Christmas! I also hang them over the toaster, line them up on the stove and chopping block and just plane hanging off my apron.
I think I better go look and see what you have FOR SALE as far as Christmas kitchen towels go! THANK YOU SUSAN for all your comfort and charm! Merry Christmas from So Cal. – BTW, we just got RAIN!
RED….my favorite color!
SUSAN BRANCH….my favorite author, artist, inspiration, girlfriend!
Thank you for all of these beautiful pictures! Enjoy the season! 🎄🎅⛄️❤️💚
You too Patty, thank you! xoxoxo
My Favorite Color too! If I find something that is Red I have to be somewhat practical or I will buy it even if I do not need it and I am running out of room!!
Loved looking at your “Saved Reds”
Lovely post…I have always loved red. Our home is red!! When we built it nearly 20 years ago, the builder looked at us like we were crazy… “red??” LOL. I don’t think I will ever tire of it. Red has been a favorite color of mine for 50+ years!! I love your Santa Joe…what a “doll!” Looking forward to your new book…I started reading Isle of Dreams again last night. Was thinking how you strive to put ‘magic’ in your life…going to be a new pursuit for next year!! Happy Holidays!
Very rewarding, I recommend it! 😅 xoxo
Wonderful! You are Christmas, Susan Branch! Thank you for your messages of joy and beauty. They brighten my days! Merry Christmas to you and Joe!!
Speaking of red, your cranberry sauce recipe was a big hit with my crew. Since we like a bit of orange in our cranberry sauce, I took a hint from your day after jam and stirred two tablespoons of orange marmalade into it while it was still hot. Yum!
Yes, they’re a natural together!
I cannot even choose my fav photo in this new post of yours! Each a surprise wow and smile. Red. When i see red cars this time of year. And see soo many. I always calls them all Christmas cars. Have a lovely and snug December. If snowed in..enjoy the rest, birds your magical fireplace. Debra
I just love your cheerful and colorful posts~~it makes my day when one shows up in my inbox! I love red, too, especially red and white. So crisp and clean.
I have pulled out your books – again- for holiday inspiration. Thank you!!
Jane from Wichita, KS
I’m so happy for the winner—bet it made her day! I love everything red, too. It makes everything around it look prettier! Thanks for sharing your lovely photos, Susan.
Cathy from Ohio
I love all your reds! So many good pictures, makes me happy to see them. Thank you! Happy Holidays!
Oh, how I loved this post! It really gets me in the Christmas spirit with all that red. It seems that we are kindred spirits, Susan, when it comes to cozy!
I wish I could post a photo for you of my bxw border collie wearing his big red Christmas bow!
I can imagine. Would look like if I put a red bow on Jack!!!
Red is such a happy co;or and my favorite! Our house is decorated in red, blue, and green. It goes with any holiday!! As I sit here in my red sweater, I am enjoying planning for Christmas and reading your wonderful blog. Thank You for sending a smile to my face!
Ahhh, a breath of fresh air. Love all things red.
Always love hearing from you and I enjoy your photos. Hugs and a very Merry Christmas to you and yours from means mine in Gardner Illinois.
I luv this blog…red is my favorite,color! Hagd…Loretta/Calif.
I sure do L♥️VE that we all speak COZY ! It’s the bees knees 🤗 Tashmoodley-doodley, too.
Red is the color of the Heart ❤️
Precious photos of you with your folks; you with Joe…
I’ve decided to pull out all the stops which includes getting a ‘real’ Christmas tree for the first time in well over twenty years. Just can’t deal with artificiality this time ’round; SO looking forward to THAT SMELL of pine and/or fir or whatever we get.
Many good ideas today from you, Susan; I especially like the one of a buttery baked potato on a cold December night (speaking of, I looked up your weather just now and you are apparently rainy and windy, brrrr, with snow on the way; be warm & cozy; Jack makes a ‘fur’ lap blanket I’m sure [cats do not like to be cold … I’ve got two trying to catch a little sun on a back step as I write this; we’ve been a bit rainy ourselves in SoCalif and more tomorrow]).
Happiest holiday to you and Joe, dear Susan; thank you for such another wonderful year of joy and cheer from your blog.
One year, I didn’t have room, but I wanted a tree, so I went to the tree lot and found one I could pick up with one hand. A real tree. Brought it home and put it on a table in the living room. And it was perfect and just enough! Have fun Vicki! We have snow! ♥️
Red is the color of the ❤️
Reading this as I have tea in your LOVE mug, lots of red! Also revived my old day-after-Thanksgiving-tradition of reading your Christmas cookbook, cover to cover. So many stained pages!!! Annie Hall’s butter cookies are our favorite, but the cranberry coffee cake is wonderful warm on Christmas morning. And of course, the sweet potato pie…to die for!!
In Sept. We moved from NJ to Eastern WA and today while unpacking, I found a bag of doilies and crocheted table clothes that I don’t recognize. I know my mom gave them to me, but they were not her’s, I believe they are my Aunt Betty’s and Aunt Gert’s, Mother and Daughter. I am THRILLED to have them, as they both passed in 1988. This house has a proper craft room, above basement level, Doilies and all things lace will go up there for now!! I thought you would be thrilled with such a discovery as well!!
Thanks for sharing your RED letter day and everything else!!
Wonderful discovery!!!! Red letter day!
WHAT a great post! I think the color red has the best energy, so cheerful and inviting, perfect for this wonderful season!! Maybe you will do a color a month or so? It is such a sweet way to connect us all. Thank you Susan!
This has been so fun, I definitely want to do them all!
You make me smile! Love this holiday season with all its hearts warming reds.
When I was but a wee lass my favorite thing in the whole world was to color….I LOVED❤️ getting a brand new box of crayons and taking a giant whiff, and the FIRST thing I did was take the red crayon out and use it. To this day I still do that with great anticipation…and I’m 71!!!!☺️ (And yes I STILL like to color and not with colored pencils or markers….with good old fashioned crayons!!) Good cheer kind friend😘❤️❤️❤️
Good cheer kind friend. Ah the smell of a crayon!
Red was my Godmother’s favorite color.
Dear Susan,
Another Beautiful Blog!….and in Red! A very nice color for us Aries folk!😉 We have been busy decorating our home for Christmas also. Gosh…it seems as if we just took it all down!! We leave everything up until Epiphany so we have a longer time to enjoy it all! ❤️ This is our first year with your cute little white paper Christmas Trees hanging across our kitchen windows. I Love them….they are so pretty and cozy looking!! Our kitty, Thomasina is happy once again to see all of the Maileg Pixies! She loves them!! There is a big pile of them laying on the love seat, ready to be placed throughout the house and Thomasina is nestled right in the middle of them! She was up there as soon as I unpacked them all…. and I am sure that she knows that it is Christmastime for sure now!! Speaking of Christmastime…I just finished reading the Best Book! It is called CHRISTMASTIME 1945 by Linda Mahkovec. It is the last book in her Christmastime series ranging from Christmastime 1939 through 1945. I found them all on Amazon. It is a wonderful series and so well researched and written!! I hope that You, Joe and Jack, and all of your loved ones have a Very Blessed and Happy Christmas, and that the New Year will be a Good One for us all!! GOD BLESS US EVERYONE!!! (By NEXT Christmas I hope that I will be telling everyone that I know about YOUR NEW BOOK!!! I can hardly wait!!!) xoxoxo🎄
I also love all the red in your post today. I just started my Christmas decorating and the red is coming out. 🙂
Have a wonderful day!
Best post evah!!! When I was little my mom loved to dress me in red. She said it was because she could catch sight of me easily, but I know it was because it was such a wonderful color. Today, I am still enchanted by pops of red – a red sweater, a red pocketbook. red boots, a red hair ribbon, a red winter coat, mittens, too! And, I loved all the wonderful and inspiring quotes you included, even copying some down in my little notebook for later.
What a fun post! Just need to know one thing- between painting, writing, and all else you do, how do you have the time to sub file all your photos, let alone categorize them at all.,🤔
Congratulations, Ginette! My mother’s name is Ginette, also! Are you French Canadian?
Thank you Susan for your Red Letter! Such fun! Merry Christmas to you, Joe, & kitty Jack! And A Peaceful and Blessed Holiday Season to all. Hugs, Sandi (from Utah)
Oh my Susan, how all the “red” brought joy to my heart today with each of your photos. I still decorate with red every where at Christmas. At Christmas when I was a small child I had a red bedspread and when my mother surprised me with buttercup yellow wallpaper filled with red apples I felt like a princess in my little attic bedroom. Just made your Christmas coffee cake with cranberries and apples and it was delightful as always. Joe’s red cheeks made me want to get him a scarf. Merry Christmas from Sherry in Portland, OR.
Beautiful and charming time this year is – with the lights and the colour of red accenting our daily life. I especially laughed when I saw Joe’s cheeks-very red indeed! He does look like the Santa you painted. When I was came to the conclusion of this blog post and your recommendations on having a red letter day-I just read your words a little pet her-a little pet there..my cat came up to me, looked up, meowed and I unconsciously put my hand down to stroke her head. The perfect timing. Wishing you and Joe wonderful holidays and a Merry Christmas too. Looking forward to reading more.
Dear Susan, Thank you for sharing. Merry Christmas to you and Joe and Jack and your family.
Greetings from a New Englander living in Mexico!
Greetings! Feliz Navidad, and hello to you and to beautiful Mexico from me!
Red is my mom’s favorite color! And I like it too, especially as an accent. In kindergarten, we were Christmas Bells in red and green and of course, all of the kids wanted to be red bells. My persuasive mom talked me into being a green bell and all was fine. 🙂
And my sweet mom makes cinnamon toast with the same ingredients listed on your cinnamon/sugar shaker. BUT the secret is to make it in the oven. Place bread on a cookie sheet, butter your bread, sprinkle liberally with cinnamon and sugar and broil in the oven until the bread is toasty and the cinnamon/sugar is MELTED. Oh my! As kids (and grownups too!) we put the melty, buttery, cinnamon toast in a bowl and add a bit of milk. Yum!
Jolly good post. Merry Christmas to you, Joe, gals in the office, and others that are busy at work. Giving “Isle of Dreams” to my favorite sister-in-law for Christmas along with a tea cup and special teas.
Susan, Hope that your had/wrist injury is fully healed by now? I am excited -I now have your wonderful English Countryside 2020 calendar and the pocket one as well. I had not found your calendars for sale in our area before although I did find your lovely notecards. (I am betting they sold out before I found them.) I love your art and your writing. Can you tell me the difference between a Willard and a Blog?Thank you for all you do and for sharing it with all of us. Gail
That is an excellent question! Years back, like in the early 1990s, I began to be unable to reply to all the mail I got, so I started sending out a newsletter once a year to try and answer questions and just to say hello, which I named Willard, for my grandfather. It finally got to be sooo expensive to do it, mail got pricier all the time, and just in the nick of time, email was invented. So I collected everyone’s email addresses, those who wanted to still get their Willard, and began sending it around 2004-ish. I kept doing it for all these years, even after I started my blog. My blog and my Willard are very much alike now, but there is more behind the scenes work on a Willard and it’s a completely different mailing list. And now I do it just once a year. We weren’t allowed to just move the Willard Mailing List onto the blog so the Willard people could have the blog too … over the years, people have started signing up for the blog, but many are still ONLY getting the Willard. So, not to leave them out, I still send a Willard once a year, and try to do a new blog at least twice a month. Long answer, sorry! My wrist is so much better, but they told me maybe a year, and I think they are telling me the truth. It’s a funny feeling, but it doesn’t hurt! Thank you for asking. xoxo
I was always a green and brown gal but I have to say you turned me on to red a few years back and little by little it’s creeping into every room in my house. I love it! We got our first snow fall of the season today and now it’s feeling very Christmasy indeed. So Merry, Merry to you, Joe & Jack the black and white cat.
And you know? Red looks excellent with both of those colors! A win-win!
A Win – Win for sure.
I’m also in love with the color red! ❤❤Everywhere in my house I have red and white checkered “something “. I even added the checks to my school library so I could feel at home! (I’m a librarian) I’d love to add the checks to my red jeep, but the Mr. wouldn’t like it!! 😎
Love from Minnesota
Thank you, Susan, for this lovely festively “red” reading! My hubby and I are in the process of moving (yes, in 2 weeks! Not by choice) so I have to live vicariously this early December through others’ decorations and my own memories. With our NY snow today (Thanksgiving Monday), though, I put up a pot of turkey noodle soup from the bones of Thanksgiving dinner and *presto!* the old house with its numerous packed boxes is still a home!
We just finished a simple paint and clean renovation on our kitchen-to-be and changed a baby blue and faded yellow 1970’s room into a more modern gray and white kitchen- with all my red accents! Splatterware red pots and red pointesettias, and a bright red tea cart for cheer!
What a lovely variety of towels, tablecloths, and quilts. Do you have any tips, hints, products for keeping vintage linens snowy white and stain-free?
If they’re old and 100% cotton, you can soak them in hot water with a few drops of bleach. Works great. Also, if you need other remedies, just Google your question, all the answers are there!
I just love reading your blogs and seeing all the beautiful pictures you take. There is just something about the way you capture everyday “sights”. Thank you for all the effort you put into bringing us sunshine in our mailboxes! I look forward to them every month. Merry Christmas Susan and Joe!
Joyful color RED. good anytime of the year- spring, summer, autumn, winter. Red has been my signature color for many years. Thank you for sharing your reds. Merry Christmas to you, Joe and Jack of course.
I love red!! Thank you for the trip through your photos!
Just a quick, so excited note. So happy to see this today, I will enjoy thoroughly once I get to bed and cozy up with it! Love all the beautiful things and while Christmas is on bit of hold for our family this year this fills me with warmth and happiness. Thank you.
I just saw the “Bless this house….” and wondered if there’s any way you could make that saying into a print or stitchery …. I’ve made your “Home Sweet Home” for both of my children’s homes, and would love something to hang with that saying. Your design would be darling, I just know it💕
Thank you for considering, Susan.
Fondly, Marta
I will work on that Marta!
This post is as sweet as sweet can be and pure lovely – just from you!
Great blog Susan, I too love red, espicially red shoes! Merry Christmas to you and Joe with those red cheeks . “OH” I forgot love red hearts tooooo!!
Susan, I have been receiving your newsletters for about 3 years and can’t wait to see them in my mailbox. You are a very talented and giving person and with some many wonderful stories. Looking forward to many more. Cheers to you and yours this holiday season!! xoxoxo
Nadine in Trail, BC Canada
So much Christmas inspiration in this blog! The snowy view through your pantry window to the wreath on the barn door is very romantic. So is the photo of you and Joe and Mr. Snowman (your cheeks are rosy red in this photo). Lots of romance here ~ candlelight, firelight, Christmas tree light, love~light. I’ve always thought the Christmas season was romantic ~ all the connections to Christmases past, especially the first Christmas. Love you back, Susan xoxo
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Oh I love red! I collect vintage red transfer ware and ADORE the pictures of yours! Enjoy this Christmas holiday friends!
I want that red house. Love this post. Thank You. Beautiful as always.
Dear Susan … what a lovely ❤️RED LETTER❤️ day to find you today❤️❤️
We spent Thanksgiving Week on the Central CA Coast: Cambria, Morrow Bay,
Pismo Beach … and drove on a Branch Street towards Arroyo Grande❤️
You continuously touch my ❤️….Alo~ha~ha w/love, Evie in San Diego, CA
P.S. your Red Blog has inspired me to paint our one kitchen wall Red …
looking for a cranberry or claret red!! Merry Christmas to you and Joe….
our husbands have the same birthdays and you & I are in April❤️🎄❤️
Lucky us! Matched just right! Love the idea of your red wall… want to hear how it turns out!
🥰❤️😘
RED cyclamen?!!!!!!!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 What a wonderful thoughtful idea. Thank you dear Evie!!!❤️♥️❤️❤️❌⭕️
Susan,
Loved how you have all the different categories for your pictures. I do the same thing even though I don’t quite have as many pictures as you do! Love all the linens you have – they make a home cozy. Enjoy all the Christmas season has to offer. Wishing you and Joe many red letter days!
Love this charming and cheerful post. Yes, a red house or even a red door. Love red doors on older homes. Just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you. Love to you, Joe, Jack and your family. Oh, by the way, thanks so much for posting all those older family pics on twitter. So filled with warmth and fun.
I’m so happy you like them Carmel. Thank you dear, I appreciate you right back! xoxo
As a reader who lives in a 100 year old house in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon — that we painted RED last year.. I loved each and every photo you shared.
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*M*E*R*R*Y* * *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
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Teresa 🙂
Perfect!!!
I love all your posts they make my day happy. I read them again and again. Thank you. You are wonderful, wonderful Susan. Have a Merry, Blessed Christmas.
Love all the red, Susan. The first decor I take out each Dec 1st is your Red covered book, Christmas from the Heart of the Home!!! It warms and inspires me, makes me smile and remember what is important. Your book gives me so many ideas and heart felt thoughts. Can it be, copyright 1990??!! I’ve enjoyed it so much since then. Have given it to many who all cherish also. Thanks so much for the warmth and fun! 🙂 Judi
I love red! I have several pairs of red shoes! I love shoes! And red shoes really make me happy. And I have a red mixer. I love baking with my red mixer! I would love to splurge on a red couch (but I’m terribly practical) and a red house. But I do love red at Christmas and my red jeans! They make me so happy!
Merry Christmas to you and Joe and the kitty. Thank you for making my life brighter and btw, I bought the new calendar with photos and I can hardly wait to put it on the fridge. I’m really looking forward to your new book too. Merry, Merry! From Joy in the tiniest town of Guin, Alabama (gu [long u] in)
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I like and use red at Christmastime. Some say it’s old-fashioned. I say it’s good!
It’s snowy here and we needed some red to warm things up-my favorite color, and it was my beloved mom’s favorite, as well. I’m sitting on my red couch as I write this, with her red rocking chair beside me, wearing my red Scottie pjs. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
I love red at Christmastime, too. Some say it’s old-fashioned. I say it’s good!
I know. Pink and Turquoise … nice for one year maybe, but then it’s really not Santa Claus!
As usual , I loved your Christmas blog and the quote you included by Mother Teresa is the true message of Christmas!!! Thank you for sharing that with all of your readers.
peggy
Susan, would you please tell me what font you intersperse throughout your post? I apparently need to install it in my computer so as not to have to guess at what your saying.
I tried to show an example, but it converted in this message so I can read it! I don’t understand….
From way back at the beginning of your post… Here’s what it converted to. “Isn’t it Romantic ”
I’m so confused….
Well, there is my own handwriting in some of the quotes, is that what you mean? Tell me exactly where this problem is, between which paragraphs and words, and I’ll look to see. I do put some words in italics … try hitting refresh and see what happens. I haven’t had anyone else tell me about this problem … just fyi. Let me know!♥️
Susan, I slowly scrolled and took in every detail. Love your file of Red! My favorite? Its a toss up between the rosy cheeks and the photo from your first snow the first Thanksgiving in your house. Both priceless. Happy Holidays to you and Joe. Sending warm hugs and good wishes from Austin. Love too! ~ Sarah and Sadie
Thanks so much for spreading joy! Your posts bring such delight! Many thanks!!!
Thank you for cheering up my busy day with such beautiful pictures of red. I love the pic of you snd Joe and mr snowman 30 years ago! You look adorably in love.