Friday, April 29, 2011

Beauty of Nature


We may decorate our houses as much as we like
but we can't compete with the beauty of nature!
Some salmon pinks growing on the fence outside
my cottage.

And ...



The beautiful pink blossoms on my Mom's plum tree.

My prayers go out to those in the Southeastern States
who have lost loved ones and property.

Please stop by and visit
and

Oh Bentley ~ your Momma loves you!

Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Vintage Tole Trays


I love tole trays and seek them out at thrift and antique
shops. The text on this one reads ~
"He Who Gardens Shall Never Starve"





I found this one while visiting some lovely antique
shops in New Hampshire. It's one of my favorites!



This is a recent acquisition. I am giving it to my Mom
and we are going to use it as the top for a tray table in
her solarium. I'll post the pics when we are finished.

So what do you like to collect?

I am joining some fun parties ~

and

Yes Bentley ~ I know you have quite a big
collection of toys! Maybe we'll show them soon.

Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Oh ~ You Cowgirl!


Recently while on a routine shopping trip, I noticed
a grouping of darling vintage trailers on display owned
by several members of the Idaho chapter of
Sisters on the Fly.

I love these vintage tin cans and hope to own
one myself one day.





As a cowgirl wanna be, I could not wait for a tour!



The owner of this cutie is originally from
Cut ~N~ Shoot, Texas
Yes ~ there really is a town with that name.
She lives in Idaho now.



I see she still has her spurs!



What a sweet place to serve up some cowgirl grub!



When she closes her red bandana curtains, I bet
she dreams sweet dreams under this cute quilt!



I guess the cowgirl in me has never grown up!

Y'all stop by and visit my friends for~

and

Bentley ~ you are the perfect size for one of these cute
vintage trailers!

Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo

Monday, April 25, 2011

Forget-Me-Nots


How could I ever forget this sweet little tea cup?

It's what is on the table for this

another
and


I think Bentley is all rested now and ready to play!!

Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo

Monday Already???


I had a very busy weekend
I chased squirrels
I chased two big cats out of our yard
I went for long walkies
I ate too much ham at my Grandma's house

I am going back to bed!

Love,
Bentley
xxoo

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Wishing You a Blessed Easter


Happy Easter To You!
May this blessed day be filled with
delight!



May you find happiness where ever
you look!



Celebrate Our Lord's Resurrection!



Don't eat too many jelly beans!



Spend time with those you love!



Enjoy a vintage card or two!
Thank you dear Maria for this sweet card!!



Bentley and I wish you a Blessed Easter!

We are joining ~
and

Bentley ~ Mama said to stay out of those jelly beans!

Lots of love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Good Day Sunshine


Despite the cool temps ~ today was sunny with
no rain. So I decided to hang a few things out on the
line to air them out.



Notice the salvaged lawn chair that I recently
painted a light green.
You really didn't think I would keep it that color
for long did you?
You all know how much I love RED!!!

Happy Rednesday everyone!

I'm thinking about a toy box for you Bentley ~
painted red of course!

Love,
Susan and Bentley

Monday, April 18, 2011

Gallery Wall


Here is a peek at a gallery wall in my Mom's solarium.
It's fun to use things you already have in different ways
and we had some fun playing with frames.

Several of you asked about the Franklin stove painting
project. Here are some answers to your
questions:

These little stoves do function as fairly powerful heaters.
A heating unit under the stove is what produces the heat.
I DID NOT paint this heating unit. I carefully masked it off
with plastic before painting to ensure that none of the
paint seeped through to this unit.

There is a light inside the door that goes on to create what
appears to be flames behind the door, just like you would
see in a real wood stove.

The paint I used on this piece was Krylon indoor/outdoor
spray paint in Celery and it is a gloss finish. I usually like to
use a satin finish, but for this piece I wanted to simulate the
baked on enamel finish often found on more expensive
stoves.

I think it would be fun to paint one of these in red! But it
would be fun to have one in turquoise or even pink.

Bentley ~ I promise not to paint any of your toys!!

Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Refreshing a Franklin Style Stove


My Mom has a lovely solarium that she enjoys sitting in every
day. Although there is central heating in the room,
we decided to add a little electric Franklin style stove to give
her a little extra heat and to provide some ambience on a
chilly morning. Unfortunately the stove only came in black
which seemed too dark for a sun room, so ...



Out came some spray paint and it's now a soft green to
blend in nicely with the whites, other soft greens and pinks
of the room.



It's a much more cheerful little stove now.

I am joining
and

Bentley ~ Do you see all of the geese on the pond?
I think you like the geese because you never chase them!

Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Cottage Spring and a Winner!


The winner of the Shabby Apple dress is ~

Congratulations Sherry!!!
Please email me your address so that I can
forward it to the Shabby Apple Rep.





Thanks to all who entered. You can still use my
10% discount for the next couple of weeks even
if you didn't win. And we will have more give aways
so stay tuned.

Bentley and I send our love and appreciation to
all of our followers and to those who visit. You all
warm our hearts with your visits and comments.
You Rock!!!!

Thanks and Big Hugs!!!

Okay Bentley lets party with ~

and

Lots of Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo




Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Cafe Paris


Recently while shopping at one of my very
favorite reuse, repurpose shops ...
I found two of these wonderful covered soups!
They are from the "Cafe Paris" line from Bernardaud.



I have matched it up with two of my favorite blue and
white patterns.



Unfortunately, this pattern has been discontinued.
So the only way one can find it now is through
china replacement shops or lovely shops like
Renewal.

C'est Dommage!!!
(It's a pity)


So, I will keep my eyes open for more of this
lovely vintage line!

I am joining
and

I wonder if "Cafe Paris" made a dog dish for
my petit chien Bentley???

Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

An Apple A Day


I am a Mac girl.
I spend so much time on our Mac OS X Tiger that my dear
sweet hubby decided to get me a Mac Book Pro too.
With a red cover of course!



Thanks David!
I love it!!!

I am joining Sue over at It's a Very Cherry World for

Bentley ~ do you see your cute pic on my screen?

Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo

Monday, April 11, 2011

Sunny Yellows


While strolling around town the other day I stopped
into a cute little shop and saw this cheerful vintage table runner.



We have had so many gray and rainy days that the yellow
just cheered me up.

I added a potted yellow gerber daisy and a little yellow
bird to send you all some sunny cheer!

Happy Tuesday everyone!

I am joining
and


Bentley ~ Did you have fun over at your Grandma's
house yesterday? She loves to spoil you!

Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo

Sunday, April 10, 2011

French Shabby Chic Chair


Good bones non?
Oui oui ... mais
A bit of paint and voila



C'est magnifique!!

I am joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch
for

Bentley ~ your Daddy is concerned that your
Mama is painting everything white!

Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo

Friday, April 8, 2011

Spring Fashions and a Great Give A Way!!


Have you looked in your closet and thought ...
I don't have a thing to wear?
I have. Maybe it's because I have worn that dress too
many times. Or maybe it's because I just want something
fresh and new.



If you have a little girl ...
maybe she needs some new spring fashions because
she has outgrown everything in her closet.

Don't panic because I have a solution for you!

Shabby Apple has lovely dresses for women and for

And they are giving me the opportunity to allow
you to choose one of three lovely dresses from their
South Pacific Collection!
That's right girls ~ take your pick of ONE of these THREE
lovely dresses from Shabby Apple:





Leave a comment if you would like to win one of these
great dresses.

I'll give you two chances to win if you also"like" Shabby Apple

or

I'll give you two chances to win if you are a follower.

Shabby Apple has also given me a chance to offer you a
10% coupon! The code is "ashtreecottage10off"
Hurry to use this code because it expires in 30 days!

The winner must have a US shipping address and there
will be no exchanges for winning one of these dresses, so
carefully make your choice

The winner will be announced on
Friday, April 15th!

Good Luck to all of you and thank you to
Shabby Apple for this great offer!

Now lets go visit
Beverly for Pink Saturday
and
and
The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays

Bentley ~ maybe Shabby Apple should start a line
of doggie apparel, and you should be their model!

Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo










Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Vintage Aynsley Demitasse


These vintage Aynsley demitasse cups have always
been a favorite of mine.



Classic styling, elegant and the color is
so perfect for spring.



Care to join me for a cup of espresso?

While we are sipping away, let's go visit ~

and

No coffee for you Bentley ~ you'll be up all night
hunting for squirrels!

Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo


Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Barnyard Reds


It's Rednesday!
Make it a good one!!

It's raining and cold again Bentley
Let's get under the red quilt!

Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo

Monday, April 4, 2011

It's A Cupboard Party!


This is my kind of party ~
A Cupboard Party!
Here is a glimpse of my blue antique hutch in the kitchen
filled with tea pots and cups, gravy boats and tole trays
and ...





Favorite little treasures.



Here is my open cupboard over the stove filled with plates
and bowls of all sizes with stainless and copper pots
hanging beneath. See that black stove pipe? It's from back
when there was a wood burning cook stove in the kitchen
years ago. I love it!



Here is a cupboard in the dining room. It's my hutch holding some
of my blue willow china.
David and I bought this while we lived in
Virginia. It was hand made by an Amish craftsman.



This is really a little shelf ~ but let's call it a cupboard filled with
treasured childhood books and toys.



Here's my little spice cupboard because we all need
a little spice in our lives!




Here is my little sewing cupboard. It's filled with bits of fabric
for quilts or sewing projects. It's out on the back porch where
the laundry and pantry are too.



Here is my quilt cupboard on the back porch. It's filled with some
extra quilts because in our cottage we think that there
are never too many quilts.



And here is a favorite vintage miniature cupboard
just because it's cute!


Thanks for coming to visit us!
Keep the party going by visiting
Shelia at Note Songs
and

Cupboards are fun aren't they Bentley?
Especially the cupboard that stores your treat jar!!

Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo