Let the Sun Shine

Have I ever told you how much I love lemon?  Lemon slices in my tea and in my

ice water too.  Lemon chicken.  Susan Branch's recipe for lemon linguine.  By the way,
have you been to Susan's blog yet?  She always lets the sun shine!

Olive oil and lemon juice on my salad.  Lemon curd on biscuits and toast.

Lemon tarts and lemon bars.

Lemons are sunny and yellow and make me happy!

And lemon cookies too.  Try one ~ they are yummy!

Table Top Tuesday
Tea Cup Tuesday
My Happy List

What's It Wednesday

Wow Us Wednesday
Home and Garden Thursday

Tablescape Thursday

Bentley ~ would you like a little slice of lemon in your water bowl?

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Bentley's Weekend Update

Hi ~ It's Bentley with a Weekend Update.

No ~ it's not your computer ~ it's me.  I am feeling fuzzy!

Momma and my Grandma kept me busy all day yesterday.

A couple of weeks ago they knocked down a wall between my

Grandma's kitchen and her dining room to create an "open concept".

Well ~ I don't care about that, I was only concerned about the treaties

my Grandma keeps in the kitchen, but she assured me they are fine and

gave me two of them just to prove it.  

What a relief!!!

Yesterday Momma and Grandma were moving furniture and working

on some kind of a pattern to put a slipcover on a pair of French 

chairs.  I don't know why they did this.  There was a lot of pushing and

shoving and carrying of furniture and lamps and mirrors and more stuff.

Of course I had to supervise!

But a guy gets tired so I went into the study and curled up in my

Daddy's lap.  We watched golf.  But, I still had to keep track of my

Momma and Grandma, so I had to get up several times.

Well, that was my Sunday.  Now I am feeling fuzzy and need to

power nap.  I hope those squirrels can keep quiet for a while!

Lots of Love and Puppy Dog Kisses,

Bentley

It's The Season For Love

It seems as though I was just taking pics for Christmas and now we are 

coming up on Valentine's Day!

It's time to pull out the hearts and flowers and get ready for ...

the season of love!  I am joining Seasonal Sundays  to see what wonderful

seasonal ideas are happening there.

Bentley and his daddy are napping on the sofa.  I am being very quiet so

that I don't disturb them.  Maybe I will go paint something.

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

A Pink Palooza

Although the winter has been very mild so far for January, it's still

cold and gray with lots of rain.  I feel like I need a little bit of cheer so

let's have a ~ Pink Palooza!  A whole lot of happy pink pics.

A crystal bowl filled with pink carnations.

A sweet rose covered pink cup and saucer.

A galvanized metal planter filled with cottage pinkness.

An indoor pink picnic tea.  Whoops, I almost typed in Picnik because I 

love that photo editing site so much, even though we will be losing it.

And one of my favorite pink tea cups.

I feel happier already!  Okay ~ let's get more pink palooza at

Pink Saturday

and 

Friday Fun Link Up Party at Sugar Pink

Bentley ~ what do you think?  Shall we try to finish painting that

hutch today?

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Invitation to a Quilting Tea

There are two things I really enjoy ~ sipping tea and quilting.

I wish you could all come over and join me.  

Maybe ...

you will provide the incentive I need to finish a quilt I started quite some

time ago.  It is becoming very vintage now!

What's It Wednesday

Tablescape Thursday

Home and Garden Thursday

Open House Thursday

Time Travel Thursdays

Vintage Thingie Thursday

Show and Tell Friday

Home Sweet Home

Potpourri Friday

Feathered Nest Friday

Vintage Inspiration

Farmhouse Friday

What do you think Bentley ~ will Momma ever finish that quilt?

If she does, will you feature it in your magazine?  After you 

take a nap on it of course!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Winter Whites to Go

I have been moving things around and changing some color schemes in my

cottage.  First, I painted the old blue hutch in the kitchen a barn red.  While I liked

the color very much, I decided that it was too dark for the room, so I am

in the process of painting it white.  I removed everything from the shelves because

even though many items are thrift shop finds, they are special to me.

I had fun grouping items in a big wicker basket and was enjoying

the different textures of the whites, so ...

I am still painting the hutch because I got distracted.  Does that ever 

happen to you?

Table Top Tuesday

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Bentley ~ it was snowing this morning and it's raining now.

Funny weather for January.

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

I'm Having A Blue Monday

I am feeling blue ~ Picnik ~ one of my favorite photo enhancing tools, is

going away as of April 19, 2012.  I have used Picnik to create banners,

mosaics and labeling for many months and have enjoyed their features.

Well, I suppose all good things must come to an end, but I'll be sad when

they are gone.

Joining ~

Blue Monday

Mosaic Monday

Show Off Your Cottage Monday

Bentley ~ your Momma doesn't like change much does she?

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Bentley Has His Own Magazine!

Bentley ~ When did you publish your own magazine?

Just today Momma.  And Momma, when are you going to publish

a book about me?

It is obvious that Bentley is in the driver's seat!

Seasonal Sundays

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

From The Desk of Susan and Bentley

There are three desks in my cottage.  One belongs to my hubby and two of 

them are mine.  I use one desk for taking care of business ~ household 

accounts, taxes, the nitty gritty aspects of life.  But there is another desk ~

that's where dreams happen and creativity flows.  

I have collected lots of little things for this desk over the years.  Little things that make

me happy and encourage the dreaming to become reality.  It is probably no surprise to

you that most of these things are pink.

I have been fluffing up this little area of my cottage recently and will be showing

you more of it later.  Until then, this is my contribution for Pink Saturday.  I hope

that each of you have a spot in your cottage that makes your heart sing.  Bentley

is always in my lap when I am at my desk and that makes my heart sing too.

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Egg Cups

I love egg cups.  I only have a few of them.  

I hope to find some more.  They are such a sweet and gentle way to start

the day.

I know that there are new ones, but I think the vintage ones are

the sweetest of all.  

The snow is starting to fall here.  We may actually be getting the big

snowfall they predicted for today.  I hope we get snowed in so that I can

read blogs all day!

Tablescape Thursday

Home and Garden Thursday

Open House Thursday
Time Travel Thursday

Vintage Thingie Thursday

Show and Tell Friday

Home Sweet Home

Potpourri Friday

Feathered Nest Friday

Vintage Inspiration

Farmhouse Friday

 Bentley ~ Momma will have to shovel a path for you!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley 

Setting Up Camp

We have designed the plan for our new cabin.  We will be breaking 

ground this spring and hoping to be moved in by summer.  I am so excited 

about decorating it.  It will have a vintage look with inherited pieces from

family and bits and pieces I have been collecting.  I found this Campfire

Marshmallow tin recently.  It's a reproduction of an authentic tin used to 

store marshmallows.  I had to laugh because the tin says it's the "original food".

Old kerosene lamps and vintage signs.  We'll be fly fishing up there because our

property is walking distance to the little Salmon River.  Lot's of wildlife too. The last

time David was up to survey the lot, he and his friend found elk and bear droppings.

I looked at google maps and there is nothing between the back side of our

neighborhood until you cross the Snake River deep into the mountains of 

eastern Oregon.  Thousands of stars at night.  Peaceful and serene.

I certainly have changed.  I use to be such a city girl consumed with clothes and

shoes and nightlife.  Now I'm the LL Bean boots gal stocking up on cast iron pots

and reproduction Campfire Marshmallow tins.  I like the new me much better!

Party on over at ~

Rednesday

What's It Wednesday

Wow Us Wednesday

Bentley ~ I wonder if there is such a thing as snow shoes for dogs?

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Indoor Gardening

It's cold outside.  We have not had any snow to soften the landscape outside and 

my yard looks gray and sad.  My Mom and I were looking at a lovely garden in

an old Traditional Home magazine yesterday and I started to dream about spring.

Spring is still a couple of months off, so I'll just be happy to satisfy my desire to

play in the dirt by doing a bit of indoor gardening.  

I took some florist wire and created a fairly sturdy hoop ...

and wound my ivy plant around it.  That makes me happier.  Oh, and don't you

love that miniature African Violet?  I sure do!

I wonder what Marty is doing today?

Okay Bentley ~ let's start painting my thrift shop desk!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Congratulations Genevieve!

Congrats Genevieve!  You may not have won the Miss America crown last night,

but you have won the hearts of those of us in Idaho!

Genevieve's mom, Mary Beth, is a friend of mine. Mary Beth has told me of 

all the work Genevieve has done to raise the self esteem of young women all over

this country.  I am very proud that Genevieve represented the state of Idaho in

the Miss America pageant last night!   You have a bright future ahead of you

Genevieve and we are proud of you!

Bentley is too!!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Putting My Life Into Focus

I received a new camera for Christmas.  I have started taking pics and am trying to 

get used to all the features.  I never had any features with my old one.  It was very

antiquated and although I love vintage ~ new technology has it's place in my world

too.

Hopefully this camera will bring my life around the cottage into better focus.

I'll be able to take movies too ~ so plan on viewing the antics of Bentley

in the coming months.  He is quite a little ham.

I think I will need a tripod too.  Oh and it always helps ...

to read the instructions!  While I do that ... please visit ~

Seasonal Sundays

Show Off Your Cottage Monday

Blue Monday

Bentley ~ are you camera ready?

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Heart You

A little surprise inside just for you!

Open the lid.

We heart you!

Bentley and I want you all to know how much we appreciate

your friendship!

We heart Pink Saturday too.

Bentley ~ I do believe your groomer is coming over today to give

you a trim.  Maybe she will bring Daisy with her.

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Taking Time for Me

Life moves at a faster pace these days ~ at least it does for me.

I am always rushing around.  Every day seems to be jam packed with 

obligations and responsibilities.  I seldom sit down and just relax.

But today I have vowed to take a few minutes just for me.  

Care to join me?  I'll put the kettle on.  Bentley will curl up in your lap and maybe

show off a trick or two.

Tablescape Thursday
Home and Garden Thursday
Open House Thursday
What's It Wednesday
Show and Tell Friday
Home Sweet Home
Potpourri Friday
Feathered Nest Friday
Vintage Inspiration Friday


You love company don't you Bentley?

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

Pull Up A Chair And Get Creative

Every creative space needs a chair and here is mine.  I painted this

sweet little vintage chair white and added a thrift shop cushion.

Of course I always feel the need to accessorize, so I'll be adding this

adorable thrift shop plate that was a gift from my friend Maria, and this

little mini wicker chair to the mix.  You know how much I love minis
especially miniature chairs.

Bentley ~ what do you think ~ should I add your great grandmother's  cat

to my creative space?  I'm just teasing Bentley.  I know how you feel about

cats!  I will have to think of a way to incorporate this matelasse throw.

Next I will start painting my desk.  I paid a full $5.00 for it at a junk yard.

It's kind of funky ~ but I love it!  Hope to show it to you soon.

I am joining

White Wednesday
and
Wow Us Wednesday

Really Bentley ~ I promise no cats, not even ceramic ones!

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley