Friday, September 30, 2011

Family Emergency


It's 1:40 am.  I just returned home from the emergency room.
My Mom's blood pressure is going from dangerously high to normal.
Her pulse is very fast.  She's in the chest pain center now.

The doctor sent me home to get some sleep.  Later this morning I will be
taking her to visit her cardiologist.



I won't be posting for a while.   I don't know what her prognosis will be.
I just know that I want to be with her.

Hopefully, all will be better and I will be back to visit with you all
again soon.

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

Thursday, September 29, 2011

S&B's Stress Relief Part 3


After a miserable battle with eczema last week, I am making some 
serious changes to relieve stress.  So I am taking action with my new
workout schedule.  I'm going to stick with it ... well I'll try anyway.  
Just remind me to get off my butt!

I am showing off my new schedule at Cindy's ~


Bentley ~ maybe I should set the timer so I don't spend too much time
pinning on Pinterest!

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Fall Lunch in My Garden



Come on over to my cottage for lunch.  It's so very nice outside.  The 
weather is so perfect I wish I could bottle it up and save it!



Just throw your things on an empty lawn chair.



The mornings are crisp and the afternoons are sunny and mild.
We might as well enjoy it for as long as we can.



Don't you just love fall?

Joining ~

Bentley ~ I think you have most of your toys outside in the yard!
You love this fall weather too.

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

Monday, September 26, 2011

Thifty & Vintage Blue Linens



I have always loved vintage linens, but lately they have become a passion.
Look at the sweet scalloping on this hand towel and the darling posies and bow.
Love it!




So much intricate handwork and so much charm for the price.




I love to hunt for these sweet treasures and am always so amazed at
how reasonably priced they are.  It's a great way to add a little bit of charm
to any cottage.

I am joining ~

and

Bentley and I wish you a happy week ahead!

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Autumn's Bounty



Colorful




Delicious




Beautiful  




Works of art


Bentley ~ I'm going to sneak in a few squash recipes this week.
Don't warn your Daddy!

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

Friday, September 23, 2011

Pink Pinterest Fun!



I am crazy about Pinterest.  I have been pinning away and having
so much fun.  As a designer I have kept scrapbooks full of design ideas 
for many years.  I also have an inspiration board on my desk.

But Pinterest gives me a place to save ideas I find on the internet.  I can
categorize and save all sorts of fabulous ideas.

Here are my



Click here if you would like to view the rest of my boards for all sorts of ideas




If you would like an invite to start your own Pinterest boards,
send me your email address and I will invite you.
It's free and it's fun and I don't get anything from Pinterest other 
than the knowledge that more of my friends will have fun pinning
away too.

I am joining~


Bentley ~ I can hardly wait for Beverly to get up her Pink Saturday
post so that I can start pinning away the great ideas from the party goers!

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley


Wednesday, September 21, 2011

S & B's Stress Relief Part 2


I woke up at 4:30 am and tossed and turned.  Could not get back
to sleep.  Why?  My mind was racing.  




I started to get frantic about everything I need to do today.
Sometimes there is just too much going on, and sometimes (often) I am
just too tough on myself.  



So I made a cup of tea and sat down to start going though my emails to make
sure that I had not missed something important.  1500 messages in my inbox!

Suddenly it occurred to me ~ my mind is just like my inbox, cluttered with
messages ... some important, and many are not so important.



So  I cleared out the not so important messages ~ just dumped them in the trash.
I'm doing the same thing with those unimportant thoughts in my mind ...
just dumping them in the trash.

Ah ~ I feel better already!


I'm going to make myself another cup of tea and give Bentley a hug. Now let's
get on to the really important things, like blogging!

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley


Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Ash Tree Cottage North


I am reviewing the closing documents on our lot up in New Meadows, Idaho.




So excited!

Bentley ~ soon you will have chipmunks to watch.

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

Monday, September 19, 2011

Susan and Bentley's Stress Relief Program



Have you been feeling frazzled lately?



Are you so busy that you often wish there were two of you
to get everything done on the "To Do List"?



Are your days so hectic that you don't know whether things are up ...




or down?

Come join Bentley and me as we take you on our one month
Stress Relief Program.

I made the decision yesterday that my life is just spinning
out of control.  I try to do too much and I fret over not
accomplishing it all.  I am edgy and irritable.  In my defense I 
will say that the last several years have been filled with lots of
worry and anguish.  But that's not an excuse, because we all go
through stressful times.

So ... I'm making changes that will calm me down and help me
be the person I need to be for my loved ones.


Today starts week one:  Exercise

Adding exercise into my daily routine.  It's the best way to get
rid of stress.  Yoga, going for a walk, strength training a couple of 
times per week.  Tennis lessons at the park?  Anything to get me
moving to work off the stress.  I used to be so faithful about exercise,
but in the past year, I have not taken the time to do it.  So I am
making the commitment to work some form of exercise into each and
every day.

Will you join me?

Bentley votes for lots of walkies!

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Sunday Stroll in Hyde Park


What a perfect Sunday afternoon in Idaho!  Just perfect for
a stroll through Hyde Park during the Hyde Park Street  Fair.
Bumper to bumper traffic and good luck finding a place to park.
Fortunately I only live 4 blocks away, so I can stroll over to one of
my favorite shops ~



It's such a cute shop in a historic building.  You can find
great ideas.



Super cute fabrics.
You know how much I love quilting!



Antiques.
And look at these cute hats.




A cute little pin cushion.



Papers for crafting and trims and buttons.
Sewing classes.  A charming spot to visit on a Sunday afternoon,
or any afternoon in Hyde Park.

I am joining


Bentley's groomer could not make it on Friday.  I'll have to take
a pic of him.  You won't believe how shaggy he is!

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

Friday, September 16, 2011

Dreamy Boudoir Pinks


Soft pinks in the boudoir ...



What could be dreamier?



Lots of excitement in my neighborhood ...
It's the annual Hyde Park Street Fair.  So before I rush
off to enjoy the fun, I will be visiting Beverly for


Bentley ~ Tina, your groomer is coming today to give you a 
bath and a haircut.  She is bringing Daisy her new Maltese puppy
along.  I think you will love her!

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley


Thursday, September 15, 2011

I'm a "Be @ Home Featured Artist"



Thank you Hailey and Krista for selecting Ash Tree Cottage
for a feature on your Best of the Web series!





I am humbled and honored because there are so very many
talented bloggers.

I am always happy when I am creating ~ whether it's interior design
for me, for others or when I'm in my "Little World".  I am always
creating something.




You may read the article here:

Creativity Galore

Thank you again Hailey and Krista

Wasn't that a nice shout out Bentley?

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley


Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Mountain Greenery



We are all very excited here at Ash Tree Cottage!
We have a signed offer and in two weeks we will be closing on
our lot up in New Meadows.




Our lot is up in this lovely mountain area about 2 hours from
our cottage in the city.  We have been coming up here for over ten years now and
our close friends have been so generous to let us stay in their lovely cabin often.




We are looking at plans and dreaming of what we want to build.
There are some lovely homes up there like this one.  I am partial to
post and beam.  

Bentley ~ are you looking
at the house, or are you searching for chipmunks?

We'll also be deciding on a name for our retreat.
Should we call it Ash Tree Cottage North or 
Lagniappe North? The latter will be David's choice.  



David is looking forward to playing lots of golf on this course.  This is the
14th green.  



We won't start building until next spring because up in the mountains the 
snow starts flying early and lasts for months.  This pic was taken just around
the corner from our lot.



I think we will need a snow blower!

Bentley ~ where did you disappear to?  Are you hiding behind that snow drift?

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley


Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Keep Calm


I'm waiting to hear back from my real estate agent.
I bid on a piece of mountain property up north.
The owner countered.
I countered back.
Anxiously awaiting his reply.
I'm trying to stay calm.
*****
I'm having a cup of tea.

Bentley is not at all anxious.  He has better things to do.

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley


Monday, September 12, 2011

Chicken Invasion



Slowly but surely chickens have been invading our kitchen.




They are holding up cookbooks ...




Keeping time ...



And keeping our soap from sliding off the kitchen sink.

I blame Thelma ...
Bentley agrees!

I am joining 


At least I have not brought home any live chicks Bentley.

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Let's Play Cards



I found two old ~ really old card table chairs 
and an old card table too.

I'm wondering ...
Do I go for the obvious and paint them white
and add some playing cards with old movie stars 
to the wood seats ...

Or ... do I do something completely different?



Like some hand painted flowers or some art deco theme?



Your input is requested!

While you are deciding I am going to visit 


Bentley ~ what do you think?
Bentley thinks I should place a treatie on each chair and
a basket full of treats on the card table.

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

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