Grandma's Pinkies

Happy Pink Saturday and Happy May Day to everyone! Today I have three pink items from my Grandmother. A portrait of a young woman made with pink ribbons, a platter with faded pink roses and a pink transferware pitcher made by Staffordshire depicting the Governor's Palace in Williamsburg, Virginia. These items were favorites of my Grandmother and they are treasures for me.

This platter was given to my Grandmother by her own Mother. It is quite old and the glazing is cracked, but to me that makes it even more dear. It has been well loved and has served many a family meal over the generations.

I love the delicate pink roses on the rim. There is also a slight scallop which

I think is very charming.

Here is the pitcher. The glazing on this piece is cracked as well making it look a bit discolored on the rim and handle. My Grandmother could trace her roots back to Mary Ball Washington and she was a great lover of the history of our nation.

Grandma had this picture in her bedroom. It was one of her favorites, and it's one of mine too. Thank you so much for visiting me today and thank you to our lovely hostess Beverly! Be sure to visit her blog How Sweet the Sound for her Pink Saturday presentation and all of the other participants as well. Be sure to pick up a copy of Artful Blogging and see Beverly's site listed. It's a great honor! Until next time, have a wonderful weekend with those you love!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Must Love Dogs!

I love dogs!! Sometimes I even like dogs better than humans. Yes, that's true. I love dogs because they are loyal and true, but also because they are playful and spontaneous. I think that is the best way to be. So for this Thursday, can you believe it's Thursday already?? I am proud to participate in Vintage Thingy Thursday with our lovely hostess, Queen of the Rockies, Miss Suzanne and her lovely blog ...

The Colorado Lady. For this week I want to show you some of my vintage canines.

This sweet little cup came from my dear Grandma. She was a great dog lover, and she also loved cats, horses and all of God's sweet creatures. I love this little cup and saucer. The bottom is stamped "Germany". Isn't that a cute pup?

What a cute array of terriers. Don't you just want to pick them up and give each one a hug?

This vintage chalk dog is a favorite of mine. It looks like he's ready to play! Oh wait ... how did this cute little guy sneak into the picture??? Thank you Suzanne! Now please link back to see all of the other participants. Hey Bentley, did you see that last little guy sneak in?? Bentley ....??

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Red Plate Special

It's Rednesday again!! Sue over at It's a Very Cherry World is opening up her Rednesday Diner and I am joining up with her to show you my "Red Plate Special". The Red Plate Special for today is a red ripe and delicious tomato sandwich served on lightly toasted white bread. Now don't go expecting the crusts cut off like at those fancy places. At the Rednesday Diner we believe in fiber, and yep, those crusts have fiber all right!! And you get a nice cold glass of milk with that sandwich, and no substitutions.

We use only nice ripe, juicy tomatoes. Mmmm, mmm, now don't they look tasty?

And we slather on some good old mayo. We don't serve any of the fancy gourmet stuff at the Rednesday Diner. Now how about a cookie with that glass of milk?

Thanks for stopping by and trying our Red Plate Special! You all come back now you hear??

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Thyme in the Kitchen

Hi everyone! Happy Table Top Tuesday!! On my butcher block in the kitchen is a little pot of lemon thyme that is on it's way to the garden. Be sure to visit Marty at

A Stroll Thru Life to see what's on her table top and then link on to the other participants as well. Have a great Tuesday!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Metamorphosis of Love

Two people. He's from Texas, she's from Chicago. He drinks Dr Pepper in the morning, she drinks hot tea with lemon. He wears cowboy boots, she wears English riding boots. He likes to stay at home in the good old USA, she likes to explore the exotic places of the world. He's a great big guy, she's petite.

They meet ~ and suddenly it's magic! When two different people meet with little in common, but there is that spark ... it's a kind of metamorphosis. It's a metamorphosis of LOVE!!

That's our romantic metamorphosis for the day. Be sure to visit the "other Susan" over at her own cottage Between Naps on the Porch for her metamorphosis for this Monday!

Love, love, love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Vintage Pink Quilt

Every Saturday Beverly over at her blog How Sweet the Sound, is the hostess of Pink Saturday. I am very excited to participate for the very first time. This is my vintage pink quilt which I believe is around 75 years old. Each square is hand embroidered and unique.

There is a windmill and a basket of flowers. Tulips and a kitten playing with a ball of yarn.

A horseshoe for good luck and a young girl in a bonnet.

A cluster of grapes. Imagine the hours of work that went into the embroidery alone!

I love the picket fence with the flowers growing behind it.

A pot full of flowers, a baby and a frog too. But here is my favorite of all, "Old Faithfull". I think the person who made this quilt made a mistake in spelling "faithfull", but I think we can overlook that error, don't you?

Thank you so much for visiting me today. Thanks also to Beverly for being our lovely hostess. Don't forget to stop by and visit the other Pink Saturday participants as well. Have a great Saturday everyone!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Bitterman

Bitterman

In Loving Memory

1988 ~ 1997

Our sweet little guy and my very first Yorkie was born on April 23, 1988. He held a very special place in our hearts. Happy Birthday dear Bitterman! This sweet little guy was in front of the Pastor with us when my husband and I were married in 1989. He went everywhere with us and was always a perfect little gentleman. He was so cute and so well behaved that the flight attendants used to let us take him out of his carrier and let him sit on my lap when we were in the air. In one year he logged over 10,000 miles, but alas no frequent flier miles were allowed for dogs. In honor of his birthday, Bitterman is my Show and Tell for this Friday. Thank you Cindy for a chance to show off my sweet little guy. Please visit Cindy at her blog, My Romantic Home and all of the other Show and Tell Participants as well.

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Vintage Baby Ginnette

Well, here I am playing with dolls again. Today I am joining Suzanne over at her blog The Colorado Lady for another Vintage Thingy Thursday. This is my vintage baby doll and her name is Ginnette. Ginnette has cute clothes like these corduroy overalls. Ginnette is the baby sister of Ginny by Vogue Dolls.

She also has her own baby book and some cute turquoise blue building blocks.

She has a toddler feeding table and a pink bassinet to sleep in too.

She has a baby bath too for bubble baths. When you close the lid, you can change her diapers on top.

Baby Ginnette is tired and has gone to sleep in her little nursery. Thank you for visiting us today. Be sure to visit all of the other VTT participants. I feel a nap coming on, how about you Bentley??

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Susan and Bentley Red in the Kitchen

Yes it's me, Santa. Will someone please tell this blogger that Christmas is long over. It's spring now. I should have been boxed up and put in the attic until next December. While I realize that it is Rednesday and I am wearing a jolly red suit, and I am a kitchen timer, isn't this stretching things a bit Susan??? Okay, I'm supposed to invite you to go and visit Sue's blog "Its A Very Cherry World". Please visit her so that I can take a nap until next December. Oh no! What's this??

It's that little dog who lives here. His name is Bentley and he's bringing out his own Santa to show off for Rednesday!!

Bentley and I promise that now that we have shown off our favorite Santas for Rednesday, we will put them away and get on with spring. Now rush over to Sue's blog and see what are probably much more timely reds!!

Love,

Susan Bentley and our spokesmen, the two Santas

xxoo

Welsh Dresser

I have always loved those Welsh Dressers that you often find in English Cottages. They are full of plates and cups, mugs and tea pots. Everything accessible and charmingly arranged. Today for Table Top Tuesday over at our friend Marty's blog

A Stroll Thru Life, I am showing glimpses of the vintage blue and white dresser in my kitchen.

It is filled with things I love and things I use quite often. A blue calico pitcher, tea pot and sugar shaker. A sauce boat.

Little chocolate pots for lovely puddings. Extra little bowls for serving dips.

A French Press coffee pot that I purchased years ago in London. It makes great coffee. I love the style of it too.

A touch of whimsey with vintage terrier salt and pepper shakers. Thank you for visiting me today for a little tour of my blue and white dresser in the kitchen.

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Small Changes for Big Impact

I started out with a day bed that had looked great in another room, but was not having much visual impact in this one. I wanted something cozier and a bit more comfy than the day bed, so I opted for a twin bed instead. I found a vintage french provincial headboard at a consignment shop. Instead of painting it white, I left it as is. The touches of gold on the frame highlighted the frame of the client's existing print.

I found a lamp that was being used in another room and repurposed it in this one. I also reused the simple blue coverlet from the day bed and the pillows as well. They show up nicely against the new headboard.

A chair that had also been used in another room now fills the corner to give guests a cozy place to sit. The tray is an nice accent to provide a welcoming cup of tea.

A cozy chair with an off white slipcover was also found at a consignment shop. I added a hand quilted pillow. Tab curtains and an additional pillow were made from sheets the client had to repeat the pattern. Now the guest has a cozy corner by the window. I found the wicker trunk being used in another room, sprayed it white and placed it at the end of the bed to store extra blankets and pillows.

This cute little table was found at a thrift store. I painted it a soft blue to match the other blue shades used in the room. I added some hand painted flowers and tiny touches of gold to accent the turned legs.

An inexpensive and unfinished armoire was painted white, and few hand painted flowers were added. The mirror is another thrift store find and was spray painted white. The client already had the other accessories.

Some round boxes were covered in leftover wallpaper from a previous home and trimmed with a bit of blue for some pop.

Simple and inexpensive changes turned this room into a charming retreat for a welcome guest. Please visit the other Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for other tips on Metamorphosis Monday!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Out in the Garden

At long last, the weather has warmed up here in Idaho. It was lovely yesterday, but I was working elsewhere. Today will be warm and sunny and I will finally have an opportunity to work out in the garden. I need to get quite a bit done before the next storm from the Pacific comes our way in a couple of days. This is a tiny corner of the herb garden off my back porch. I love to be able to snip fresh herbs to use in cooking and salads.

Of course I will have my little gardening buddy with me when he is not chasing squirrels, peeking through the fence at the neighbor's chickens, or running off with my weed puller! Have a wonderful Sunday afternoon!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

True Confession

I confess, I love china. China plates, china figurines, and more. I am a "chinaholic". I already have a fairly extensive collection of blue and white china, but alas, my addiction does not end there. If I am at an antique shop or a thrift store and I see something that calls out to me, I am hooked. Like this little blue bird. One look and I knew it was coming home with me. So today, for Cindy's Show and Tell Friday at

My Romantic Home, I am making my confession. I am a "chinaholic".

Now look at this darling plate. It's so sweet, how was I supposed to resist it??

Okay, this one is not my fault. My Mom saw it and decided I needed it.

Oh dear, another one just had to come home with me!!

These came from my dear Grandmother, so I'm in the clear!

This came with the little set from Grandma. Dear Grandma, I hope you know how much I love these!!!

This Bavarian bowl came from a garage sale held by a neighbor of my Mom's, so technically it's not my fault completely because you know how when you go to a friend's garage sale you feel "obligated" to buy something ....

Okay now, this platter is my fault. We were up at my Mother-in-Law's place at the lake and I just happened to see this sweet platter. It really is perfect for serving meat loaf dear ...

Now this was a gift from my dear husband's Great Aunt Laura. I can't possibly be responsible for this sweet little pitcher which I love so dearly.

So there you have it, my complete confession. Well, maybe not complete. There may be just a few more items ... but that's for another Show and Tell Friday. Don't forget to stop and see Cindy. I am very sure she will have something wonderful!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo