Battle of the Christmas Timers!!

Choices, choices ...

Which Christmas timer will win out?

I found this gingerbread house timer at the Co-Op yesterday ...

isn't it cute?

Last year I found this Santa timer at the Co-op ...

I have shown you this Santa timer before,

but now ...

Which timer will I use to keep track of the time the Christmas cookies

spend in the oven???

Leave a comment and vote. After you do, be sure to visit Sue for ...

Rednesday!!!

Bentley doesn't care which one I use as long as I bake cookies

and Christmas Dog Biscuits!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Santa Baby

Have you made out your list for Santa?

Every year my family and my husband ask me what I want for

Christmas ...

And I never know what to say ...

Because I think I already have everything I need ...

A loving family, wonderful friends, a cozy cottage, and ...

Bentley!

Here's a little Santa vignette for those of you who have a list. I wonder if Marty has a list, or how about Sue???

I bet I know what's on Bentley's list for Santa. Walkies ... rubbies ....throw some toys and more attention and treats!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

We Need a Little Christmas Now!

What a happy, jolly time of year!

Let's start decorating the house and making little gifts ...

Here's a peek inside the quilting cabinet ...

Finding little Christmas accessories to add to packages

Getting in the spirit of the holiday ...

What fun!!!

I'm linking to Between Naps on the Porch and The House in the Roses. Be sure to stop by and say hi!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Have You Ever Noticed?

Have you ever noticed that it takes hours and hours to prepare Thanksgiving Dinner and yet only minutes to eat?

Time to start decorating the cottage for Christmas ~ now that's what I call fun! Have a great day everyone and come back to see how the decorations are progressing. And ... Don't forget to visit Beverly for Pink Saturday!

Bentley ~ let's get out your Christmas bowl!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

May you all be spending the day with those

who are near and dear.

Thank you for your friendship!

You have all come to mean so much to me

and brighten every day!!

Lots of love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Bentley ~ It's Cold Outside!

Bentley ~

Put your sweater on ... It's cold outside!!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxxoo

A Red Plaid Table Top

So here we are at Ash Tree Cottage. A big snow storm is rolling in from the west. I have heard that 20 feet (no not inches, but feet) of snow has fallen in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and is headed this way. Thanksgiving is Thursday ~ so much to do. How about a cup of tea served from a red vintage book of children's poetry? The calm before the storm. A nice warm cup of tea ... so civilized, don't you agree?

It's a busy week, so take a short break and visit Marty's Table Top Tuesday and Sue's Rednesday for a wee bit of a fun and relaxation. Oh and look, Terri and Martha are having Tea Cup Tuesday too. That's always fun!

Bentley, you were just out in the cottage garden ... what is the snow report???

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Shabby Chic Cottage Corner

An old Eastlake table covered in many coats of paint ...

Lightened up and added to a cottage corner ...

Makes for a cozy cottage corner.

Cozy is the operative word for today!

Big storm rolling in from the Pacific ... 10 inches of snow in the valley ...

20 inches in the mountains ...

Be careful what you wish for!!

I'm joining our friends Susan for Met Monday and Cielo for Show Off Your Cottage. Susan injured her wrist ... ouch!!! Let's all sent her our love and prayers for a speedy healing!!

That's right Bentley 10 inches of snow coming our way!!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Bentley and I Love Snow!!!

It's snowing today!! It's not sticking very well down here in the valley ~ but hopefully the mountains will be covered in a thick layer of snow. Bentley loves the snow and so do I. Soon we will be ready for skiing, sledding and cuddling by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate on a snowy day. This is how it looks up in the mountains of Idaho in the winter ~ just lovely!!! Bentley looks so tiny compared to towering ponderosa pines dusted with snow and huge snow banks.

Bentley ~ it's time to pull out your sweaters.

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Pink Mini Boudoir Chair and a Giveaway!

I love miniature furniture, but I don't always find mini upholstered chairs that I like, so I decided to make my own. This is my first chair. I used a cotton fabric with tiny little pink and blue flowers. It is overstuffed for a comfy and cozy look. It would be sweet in a bedroom ...

Or any room where one would want a comfy cottage print chair. It is my November Giveaway. If you would like a chance to win this chair, please leave a comment or become a follower if you are not one already. After you do, please go visit our friend Beverly for Pink Saturday.

No Bentley, you can't sit in this chair ... it's too little. You can sit in our big wing chair with Momma.

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Vintage Bling!

It's been a tough few days. Nothing like a bit of vintage bling to cheer things up a bit. I'm thinking of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. When my Aunt was young, she was a model in New York and she loved to stroll by the windows of expensive shops and dream of beautiful things. So Aunt Susan, this post is for you!!

I'm off to visit Suzanne for some fun this Vintage Thingie Thursday. Come along with me ...

You too Bentley!!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Thank You

Thank you for your prayers. It has been a tough day. Aunt Susan was in surgery for over 6 hours. Then we learned that there was bleeding into the chest cavity. The bleeding was stemmed and she is on a ventilator and her condition has been stabilized. Thanks to all of you who have been supportive during this trying time.

Life is fragile. Love your family and friends!!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Prayer Request

Aunt Susan

On Wednesday, November 17, 2010, my Aunt Susan will be having open heart surgery to repair both the tricuspid valve and the mitral valve of her heart. She will also be having by pass surgery. This will not be an easy surgery and will take about 6 hours to be complete.

I am requesting prayers for her full recovery. Aunt Susan is a dear sweet soul and the only sibling of my Mother. Thank you for your prayers.

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Pink is for Girls!

I love to wear pink! It's a girlie girl color ...

And a preppy color too.

I'm a huge Ralph Lauren fan ...

Maybe he will send me an outfit. Fingers crossed!!

While I wait to hear from RL ~ be sure to visit

Beverly for Pink Saturday!!

Bentley ~ Maybe RL will send you a cute sweater!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Vintage Chickens

Ever since getting to know Thelma, I have really started to like ceramic chickens ~ like these vintage cuties.

Suddenly it seems as though I am seeing chickens everywhere and when I do, home they come. I have no idea how old they are, but the gals at Blue Moon Antiques seem to believe that they are vintage ~ so I do too. Wait a minute ...

What is this???

Bentley, this is a post about vintage ceramic chickens. How did your vintage teddy bear get onto this post??? What can I say, Bentley is a little scene stealer!! Thank you Suzanne for hosting another Vintage Thingie Thursday. Bentley and I are on our way over to visit you.

Bentley, you are such a little ham!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Wild West Barn Chick

Howdy Barn Chicks! Welcome to the wild, wild west and the beautiful mountains of Idaho!! Grab yourself a saddle ...

Or a cowgirl hat and an apron ...

Rustle up a cow ...

Or a cowboy ...

and find that missing calf hiding behind the ponderosa pine.

When you are finished with your chores, head back east to visit Karen at Brayton Homestead Interiors for the 4th meeting of the Barn Chicks.

Bentley, stop barking at the calf. She'll never come out from hiding!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

A Pink Botanical Saturday

Any time I see a framed botanical print in an antique shop or thrift store, I just can't pass it up.

Of course that goes for little pitchers with floral decorations too ~ and ...

Sweet little plates decorated with tiny pink roses. Thank you Beverly for being a great Pink Saturday hostess!!

Bentley is really tired tonight. Tina, our mobile groomer came by to give him a shampoo and a haircut. He is curled up next to his Daddy on the sofa and they are both sound asleep.

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Vintage Puppy Days

Badger and Tim have the day off ...

Flora is being precious on her cushion ...

The Doxie pup is sorry for breaking the flower pot ...

And these little guys are ready to play!!!

What are you planning to do today? I am going to visit Suzanne for another wonderful

Vintage Thingie Thursday.

Come and sit next to me Bentley!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Shabby Whites for White Wednesday

It's fun to play with whites...

You can mix and match shapes and textures ...

And a bit of shabbiness adds to the fun.

I am joining Kathleen at Faded Charm for White Wednesday. In fact, I am headed over there now. Why don't you join me?

Come on Bentley, you can come along too!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Autumn Leaves

Last evening after work, I decided to walk home. It was such a beautiful evening and since day light savings ends this weekend, I decided to take advantage of the glowing sunshine on the colorful leaves.

So lovely ...

Sigh ...

And here we are ...

Up to the front gate of my cottage. Thanks for joining me on my late afternoon stroll. Don't forget to vote!!

Hi Bentley ~ Mamma is home!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo