Changes at Ash Tree Cottage

I was inspired to write this post after reading and

contemplating Brenda's post yesterday.

Her question was "Should We Tell It Like Is?"

For me the answer is yes.

I am bored with my own blog posts.

I'm so bored with my own material that I have 

been hanging around Pinterest a lot creating my own

inspiration boards. 

But it's more than just being bored with the party themes

and feeling the need to spray paint everything  white.

What's happened to my soul?

Where is the passion?

So I am contemplating some changes

and

I hope you will stop by to see what they are.

In the meantime ...

I'll be spending more time visiting all of you!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Will She Ever Finish It?

I have been working on this quilt for years.

I get very enthusiastic and can't put it down.  Then I

put it down and don't get back to it for weeks and weeks.

Do you think I will ever finish it?

I hope so.

Joining ~

Table Top Tuesday

Bentley ~ at the rate I'm going you will get a new quilt 

before I finish this one.

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Ahoy Garage Salers

Found:

1 old lamp shade

1 old nautical lamp base

Add ...

Some rope from Home Depot

Some canvas from a drop cloth

(left over from a slipcover project)

Some craft paint

And it's ~

Ahoy garage salers!

Joining ~

Amaze Me Monday

Masterpiece Monday

and

Metamorphosis Monday

Yes Bentley ~ Mama knows that sailors is the correct 

spelling, but we bloggers sometimes take liberties!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Who Can Answer This Question?

To the left of the walnut tree trunk and behind the

deep ground cover ~ is a type of rose that grows up and

over the fence between my garden and the garden

next door where Amy's chickens live (ie Thelma and 

the girls)

Here is my question ~ what type of rose is it?  I did not

plant it, it was here when we moved in years ago.  It only 

blooms at this time of year and for a short time.  My yard is in

deep shade, so it's not a sun lover at all.  I'm quite sure it's a 

type of rose because the bush has thorns and the buds look like

rose buds.  

Neither Amy nor I do anything special for it.  It is just

happy to be.  It lives between two big black walnut trees

and I have been told that nothing likes to grow near black

walnuts, but the ground cover in the foreground and the rose bush

are quite content.

Any guesses?

Bentley is completely hidden in that ground cover and 

is chasing cats through it daily.  It's a full time job!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

Summer At Last

It finally feels like summer!

A new to me vintage mini rocker is on the front porch.

Some sweet little pink posies are on the wicker table.

And ...

A glass of ice cold pink lemonade is waiting for you!

Come and join me!!

Let's Party ~
Shabby Summer Cottage
Show and Tell Friday
Pinkalicious Thursday
Pink Saturday
and
Seasonal Sundays

How about an ice cube for your water dish Bentley?

Lots of love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo

Yee Haw Patio Fun!

Summer is finally here after a very cool, very wet spring.

It's going to be in the upper 90's today ~ so it's

out to the shady deck for a casual supper tonight!

We'll have something easy and cool like chicken salad

with almonds and dried cranberries over a bed of mixed greens.

And after dinner???

Watch out for some water gun action!

Y'all know this is the wild west after all.

Bentley and I are joining ~

Tablescape Thursday

I think it's time to get out your swimming pool Bentley!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Red and White Kitchen Remodel

After months of anticipation, I am finally starting my

kitchen remodel.  I have been collecting items for the color

scheme that is going from blue to red and white.

Just found these cute chicken prints.

Yes ~ chickens are invading the kitchen.

My Mom is stable right now and feeling better.

Thanks for your well wishes.

I am off to join Sue for Rednesday

Don't worry Bentley ~ the real chickens live

next door.

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

The Mountains Embrace Me

There are rough patches in life.

Events that touch us and change everything.

Whenever I feel that the burdens of life become

too great  ~  I go to one of two places ...

the ocean or the mountains.

The big shoulders of the Rockies embrace me

and make me feel safe.  They provide a place of 

comfort where I regain a sense of peace.

My Mom had a TIA ~ a Transcient Ischemic Attack

She is fine for now, but it is a warning that she

could have a stroke.  

I plan to spend as much time with her as I can, so

I won't be posting as often as I have in the past.

I am just taking life day by day.

I'll be back when I can and until then

Bentley and I wish you peace.

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Remembering My Dad

Photo by Fabian Bachrach

I will be taking several days off.  It will be one year since

my Daddy's passing this coming Saturday.  It's been a tough

year for both me and for my Mom.  Bentley and I will be back

sometime next week.  Thank you to all who follow us and are

kind enough to leave sweet comments.

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

PS: For those of you who don't know, Fabian Bachrach was 

the photographer who took the famous photo of JFK when he was a

young Senator from the state on Massachusetts.  It was the photo that was used

as the official presidential photo.  Daddy was lucky enough to sit for
a portrait by this iconic photographer.  It is my Mom's favorite
photo of him. Mr Bachrach died in February of 2010.

Candlesticks A La Palm Beach

I found these candlesticks the other day at one of my

favorite consignment shops.  Cute, but a bit drab.

I pulled out my craft paints and gave them the Palm Beach treatment.

They will look cute as part of a summer tablescape ~ especially

if I am wearing a cute little Lilly Pulitzer dress while I am

setting it up!

Joining ~

Amaze Me Monday

Making the World Cuter Monday

Masterpiece Monday

Metamorphosis Monday

Show Off Your cottage Monday

Table Top Tuesday

and

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Bentley ~ let's give you some Palm Beach style too.

How about a pink and green collar?

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Who Wants Pie?

A homemade blueberry pie sounds good.

I found this cute flour sack towel with a pic of 

a peach and blackberry pie imprinted on it.

Yum!

But I only have blueberries in the cottage ~

so a blueberry pie is what we will have.

I better get busy!

Stop by and visit 

Seasonal Sundays

Bentley is back outside on patrol.

He's busy too!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Bentley the Hunter

Here's Bentley

Look at that sweet face,

But ...

Don't let that sweet face fool you!

He is always on the lookout ...

Even while on a bicycle ride with his Mama,

He is busy looking for invaders to his territory.

He's looking in the garden to the left and to the right.

Even while wearing Mardi Gras beads ~ he is on the lookout.

Sadly, Bentley caught his first squirrel today. The squirrel had

a broken leg and Bentley caught him as he was sliding down a tree

in our yard.  In a way, it was a blessing because the squirrel would

have died a long painful death.  

But I still felt sad, so I read 

 "Squirrel Nutkin" by Beatrix Potter to 

Bentley and explained that the sweet little squirrel

is now in squirrel heaven.  

When his Daddy came home from work he said ~

"Good boy".  Then gave him a treat.

I just don't get that macho mystique!

And I think that Bentley feels very proud of himself!

How can I undo years of terrier breeding??

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Pink Inspirations

Pink inspires me to be creative

So ...

I am sharing some of my inspirations

with you!

Happy Pink Saturday

and thank you to Beverly for inspiring us 

each week!

Pink Saturday

Here is a posting tip ~ place a treat in a treatie ball.

Bentley has been busy for the past half hour and

has not been begging for my attention.

Okay Bentley ~ I'm finished, lets play!

Oh oh ~ he's too busy now!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Simplify

Everyone I talk to has been hit by our economic downturn.

Will there be an end in sight?

As one who believes in the strength, spirit, talent and

creativity of our fellow countrymen I say

Yes We Will turn our economy around!

Until then we will stand tall, have faith, love our friends

and family and take joy in the simple pleasures of life.

We will reuse and repurpose.  We will plant Victory Gardens like our

country did in the past.  We will support our community.

We will blog on and share tips.

And we will laugh and have fun!

Right Bentley?

Let's get this party started ~

Show and Tell Friday

Inspiration Friday

Feathered Nest Friday

Vintage Inspiration Friday

and 

Home Sweet Home

By the way ~ I still have music on my site for those of you

who enjoy it.  Just go to the sidebar to turn it on.  Playlist

unfortunately no longer turns on upon opening the page.

For a music lover like me, this is regrettable.

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

A Little Garden Tea

Care to join me for a little afternoon tea in the garden?

I am serving it on my vintage child's size wicker rocker.

I have some sweet petits fours.

No Bentley ~ too much sugar for you!

Mama has some sugar free peanut butter cookies 

just for you!

Bentley and I (with his peanut butter treat)

are joining ~

Tablescape Thursday

and

Vintage Thingie Thursday

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Garden Sweet Garden

In between the raindrops ...

I ran out to take a couple of pics ...

of the last of the blossoms on my Snowball Bush.

Time to party ~

Rednesday

and

Wow Us Wednesday

I know Bentley ~ it's raining again!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

French Grain Sack Inspired Snack Tray

One boring, run of the mill snack tray.

A bit of French vintage inspiration, some paint,

And ...

Voila!

My Vintage French Grain Sack Snack Tray!

For those of you who are wondering why the number

1913 ...

That's the year our cottage was built.

Thrifty and fun!

I am joining ~

Amaze Me Monday

Blue Monday

Market Yourself Monday

Metamorphosis Monday

Masterpiece Monday

Making the World Cuter Monday

Show Off Your Cottage Monday

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Twice Owned Party

Tuesdays Treasures

and

Table Top Tuesday

That was fun Bentley ~ what should we

transform next?

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo