Coffee Can Kid's Play

There is an adorable little cafe just 4 blocks from my cottage

it's called ...

Sunray Cafe

Look at some of the cute coffee cans painted by kids

and filled with plants decorating the fence surrounding the cafe.

What a great project for kids and how proud they must be that

their art work can be enjoyed by everyone in the neighborhood!

I personally love painting cans.  It's become one of my latest

crafting passions!

It's a hot one here today ~ so I'm going to take it easy and visit

Seasonal Sundays

Even Bentley is feeling lazy in this heat!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Girly Pink Backyard Camping

Last summer I did a post about red backyard camping ...

So this summer I am doing one about pink backyard camping.

This is a more girly type of camping.

No coffee brewing over the campfire ...

We are serving tea in pink tea cups!

No early lights out for us ~ oh no!

We can gab and giggle until the wee hours of the morning.

It's a girly dawn patrol!

Lets take a moment from gabbing and go visit ~

Home Sweet Home

Show and Tell Friday

and

Pink Saturday

Bentley ~ grab your pink pig and join us!!

Hugs and Happy Trails,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Grab and Go Lunch

It's hard to believe that July is almost over.  Get out and enjoy a

park for an afternoon grab and go lunch!  Gather up a small folding chair,

a portable grass mat and a bag full of lunch time goodies.

I'm using a striped kitchen towel for a place mat and a gingham plastic plate.

Fill up some containers with a light salad and some sliced fruit.

Check out these cute vintage salt and pepper shakers.  I found them

at a yard sale.

Don't forget your water bottle.  This one has pictures from the old

Dick, Jane and Sally early reader books.  Love it!

And of course, don't forget your "beach read".

I am happy to be joining ~

Rednesday

Tablescape Thursday

and

Vintage Thingie Thursday

Bentley ~ let's bring snack and a water dish for you too!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Ash Tree Cottage on Tumblr

Sometimes I like to follow an old path, and sometimes a 

new one.

A few weeks ago I set up a Tumblr page.  I am having fun

on Tumblr with just quick short posts.  Stop by and visit me there

sometime ~

Ash Tree Cottage on Tumblr

I don't think that anyone is following me on Tumblr, but that's okay

because I am just having fun and being creative!

Okay Bentley ~ I have a couple of posts to set up for this blog, aka

the original Ash Tree Cottage.

Lets get busy!

Lots of Love,

Susan and Bentley

I've Been Painted

I have painted several things in our cottage white.

I can't paint too much more because ...

My hubby thinks it's too much white!

So I will hold off painting anything else ...

for a while, maybe.

I am joining Cindy's Paint Party

Bentley ~ what do you think, is this too much white?

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo and Sugar on Top

A Friendly Monday and a Winner

I was at one of my favorite shops yesterday and saw this sign.

Such an accurate sentiment!  

The winner of last Monday's Anthropologie tureen is 

(selected by Random Generator)

Mimi of Mimi Sue's Cottage

Congratulations Mimi!

Thanks to all of you who entered.

Have a wonderful and happy Monday and stay cool during these

"dog days" of summer.

I don't know why hot summer days are called the dog days.

Bentley is offended.  On behalf of dogs everywhere ~ he 

thinks we need to come up with a better term.

Lots of Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Where Are Susan and Bentley???

If you are looking for us and can't find us ...

we may be here, following ...

Susan's Path

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Vintage Inspiration for My Garden

I have spent a wonderful week at home working in my

garden and fluffing the cottage and my front porch.

I have been taking lots of vintage items and using them

in different ways.  I love to rearrange just as you all do

and every time I do, the results just give me a  fresh new

feeling!

Of course I have managed to work in a little bit of pink

because pink is one of my favorite colors.  I have decided that

I need a new pair of pink clogs.  I love to wear pink too!

I'm done fluffing for a bit and I am off to enjoy some parties ~

Feathered Nest Friday

Home Sweet Home

Show and Tell Friday

Vintage Inspiration Friday

Pinkalicious

and of course

Pink Saturday

If you have not entered my giveaway yet, please do on my July 18th Post.  I will

announce the winner on Monday, July 25th.

Bentley ~ I have so enjoyed being home with you all week.

I'll have to take another vacation again soon!

Lots of Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Tea in My Garden

Come join me for tea in my garden.

A vintage silver tea pot and vintage cup and saucer amidst a 

background of deep ground cover.

It's a beautiful day today ~ low 80's, low humidity and

just a gentle breeze now and then.

We can enjoy vintage linens and ...

Garden flora while we have a nice long chat.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Linking to ~

Cottage Flora Thursday

Tablescape Thursday

and

Vintage Thingie Thursday

How would you like to go for a walk with Bentley

after we have our tea?

Lots of Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Garden Cloche

Here is a little garden cloche I created for one of my

outdoor rooms.  I just inverted a metal planter basket

and added a couple of white birdhouses and some 

ivy from my garden.

I enjoy creating vignettes outdoors as much as I do inside.

Have a lovely day and be sure to stop by and visit ...

Marty's Cloche Party

Outdoor Wednesday

White Wednesday
and
Wow Us Wednesday

Okay Bentley ~ we have more fluffing the cottage today!

Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo

My Birthday Giveaway

Today is my birthday ~ so I have decided to have a little

giveaway.

This is a sweet covered tureen from Anthropologie.  

It is 6 and 1/2 inches high and 4 inches in diameter.

Please let me know if you would like to win it and I will

announce the winner next Monday!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Shout Out Sundays

I am suddenly loving succulents ~

like Hen and Chicks.

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Sunset at Bandon

A few years ago David and I went to Bandon, Oregon and

rented a house on the beach.  Well, 80 feet above the beach as 

all of the beach front houses seem to be.  We went so that David

could play golf at Bandon Dunes.  I was happy to walk with Bentley

up and down the miles of seemingly endless beach each day.

One evening on the balcony David took these pics of the sunset.

We were mesmerized by the beauty.

The stillness.  The peace.

The sun always seems to sink so fast over the ocean.

While Tony Bennett may have left his heart in

San Francisco ....

I have left mine in Bandon.

(No, there is only one moon, don't know what happened there.)

Join me in visiting

Seasonal Sundays

Bentley ~ you met lots of doggie friends on that beach

didn't you!  Now go give your Daddy a big kiss because

it's his birthday!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Dear Blogging Friends

Over the past year and a half, I  have met some wonderful

new friends.  Bloggers create their own community and it's one

whose boundaries are broad.  We reach out to fellow bloggers in other states

and countries.  We share happy moments and sad ones too.

We meet others who share our interests.  We are inspired and amused.

We are enlightened.  Most importantly, we lift each other up.

Thank you ~ each and every one of you!  I am especially

grateful to Brenda who has educated me and many others.  She

has welcomed us into her Cozy Little House.  She has dazzled us with

her beautiful photos, helped us be better bloggers, introduced us to

new friends and has been the best kind of friend to so many!

Thank you dear Brenda.  We love you!!

We are here for you.

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

From Blue to Pink ~ What Do You Think?

Last week I found this cute little child's beach chair.

The fabric was stained and frayed but I knew it just had to be

mine.  It would be perfect for a little shabby chic makeover.

So ...

It's been painted white and a new vintage looking pink and green

floral fabric has replaced the old frayed blue and yellow one.

What do you think?

I am joining

Pink Saturday
and
Pinkalicious

Bentley ~ I think you are the only one in this family who

will fit in that chair!

Lots of Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Playing in the Garden

Vacation at last!  

I am on vacation for the next week and Bentley

and I are having fun in the garden.  We'll be creating

new displays outside and working inside too on some

much longed for re-decorating and fluffing of the cottage.

It's a happy time for us.

Come join me in visiting ~

Cottage Flora Thursday

and

Show and Tell Friday

It may rain today Bentley, so don't leave your stuffed animals

outside!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Go Fish

I found some great fishy items at thrift and consignment shops

and put them all together for a Go Fish Tablescape.

Cute super cheap plates from Anthropologie.

A vintage wicker fish.

Vintage fishy salt and pepper shakers and a vintage fish bucket.

Laundry line to tie up the flatware and a cute fishy flour sack towel.

I soaked a few sea shells in bleach to use to decorate the glasses.

Anchors Away Bentley!!

I am joining ~

Vintage Thingie Thursday

and

Tablescape Thursday

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Happy Day

Sun is shining and it's cool on the front porch.

The birds are singing and the chickens next door are clucking.

Bentley is playing with his toys in the yard in between 

squirrel chases.

Life is good!

Bentley and I wish you a happy day too.

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

What's On My Table Top?

I love this tea cup ~ I think it's pretty.

I am joining

Table Top Tuesday

and

Tea Cup Tuesday

and last but certainly NOT least

Tea Time Tuesday

Bentley ~ send your best smooches to these lovely hostesses!

Lots of love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo