Favorite Vacation Spot

When it comes to vacations, there are always two things I need to keep in mind:

Source: ti.org via Clint on Pinterest

Golf for my husband

Scenic beauty and preferably a great beach for me.
Bandon by the Sea, Oregon ~ a perfect spot for quite walks along the beach.

While David is playing golf, Bentley and I can walk for miles along an 

unspoiled beach.  There is a tiny little person on that beach in the pic.  The

place is larger than life and is absolute heaven.

I am happy on the Oregon coast if the weather is sunny and mild or stormy.

For some reason, I really feel at peace here.

Although ...

Source: unshelvedwords08.blogspot.com via Susan on Pinterest

There is also Carmel, California with it's storybook cottages and dog

friendly attitude.  You know that I never, ever go anywhere without

Bentley!  Lots of woofing always going on in Carmel.

And it is close by to the Mecca of Golf ~

Source: google.com via Bobby on Pinterest

Pebble Beach.

The list goes on ~ The Williamsburg Inn, Congressional in Bethesda MD, 

River Oaks in Houston and I have not even started on the best place on earth for

golf and for me ~ the United Kingdom.

Have you noticed a theme here?  Every vacation David and I take MUST

 include a golf destination.  I knew this going into our marriage and I 

entered into the bargain.  So far it's been working quite nicely for 23 years!

My best buddy Robin The Decorating Tennis Girl and I plan to go on 

vacation together with our hubbies one day.  You all know where the men will be.

But then, Robin will be playing tennis and I will be riding off into the

sunset on the back of a horse with Bentley as my saddle mate.

Joining

Favorites on the First (Alison and I both love the ponies)

Seasonal Sundays

Sunny Simple Sundays

Bentley ~ do you think your Daddy plays too much golf?  Should

you be riding in the cart the next time he plays???

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Looking Back

This past week was a busy one.  I had so many things I planned to

accomplish but did not.

The days all slipped by so fast.  Work projects, errands, finding products, 

chores around the house ...

etc, etc, etc.

While I am thankful it is Friday and looking forward to the weekend,

I am stopping to think how it has arrived so quickly.

Remember when life moved more slowly?  When summers seemed 

like endless days filled with wonderful memories?  

How I long for those days once again.

I plan to slow down a bit this weekend.  Sit on the porch with a glass

of iced tea.  Watch Bentley chase squirrels.  Enjoy the moment.

Pink Saturday

Be sure to sign up for my giveaway on the previous post.  I'll be

announcing the winner on July 5th.  Have a happy day!

Bentley ~ I promise to spend more time with you today.

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Come On To My House For Breakfast and a Giveaway

Come on over to my house.  I'll serve you breakfast on

the deck.

We are having the most beautiful weather.  It's sunny in the low 80's and

low humidity.  The kind of weather when I want to spend each and every

moment outside.

I just bought these egg cups.  It's really hard to tell, but they are milk glass

and shaped like a chicken.  You can see the little beak on one side and

the tail feathers on the other.

Oh and see the little yellow ceramic bird peeking out behind the tea pot?

I am giving him away!

Leave a comment if you would like a chance to win.  I would love it if

you would become a follower if you are not already.   Or if you would

like my Ash Tree Cottage Facebook Page.  

But ... You don't have to do either if you don't want to, just leave a

comment.

Easy peasy!

I'll announce the winner on Thursday July 5th.

Until then I am joining ~

Let's Dish

Tablescape Thursday

Home and Garden Thursday

Open House Thursday

Show and Tell Friday

Home Sweet Home

Bentley ~ do you want me to make you a soft boiled egg too?

In an egg cup you say?   No I think it needs to go in your doggie dish.

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Engager La Conversation ~ Or Let's Chat

Let's chat ~ I'll go first.  My hubby is down in Houston picking

up some furniture he inherited from his mom.  I'm here at the cottage

in Idaho feeling a bit sorry for myself.  But I am keeping busy so I won't

be too lonely and of course I have all of you to chat with!

I am painting my kitchen cabinets and listening to French music.  

Somehow I always feel more inspired when I do.  Just another one

of my funny little quirks.  

I have decided to prepare Supremes de Volaille a Brun for dinner.

Translation:  Chicken Breasts sauteed in Butter.  It's Julia Child's recipe.

I do enjoy cooking even when it's only for one.   I think I will set up a

separate page on this blog to share my favorite recipes with you.

Anyway ~ let's get back to those kitchen cabinets.

Well ...

I decided to make my own chalk paint.  I mixed Plaster of Paris

(there goes that French reference again lol) into my paint.  It 

seems to be working fine but I am afraid the bottom of the plastic

pail I mixed it in is starting to set up.  I thought I did everything

right.  Maybe I just have a bad recipe.  The container gets heavier

every time I pick it up so something isn't quite right.  I am glad

I only mixed a small batch up.  I have plenty of Plaster of Paris left

over so if any of you need a home made cast or some walls patched

just leave me a message.

I could keep chatting all evening and it's time to let you 

chime in, so tell me ~ what have you been up to?

Joining

Table Top Tuesday

What's It Wednesday

Rednesday

Wow Us Wednesday

And Bentley how are you doing today?  Do you have anything

to add to la conversation???

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

From the Desk of Susan and Bentley ~ Garden Rooms

I was over at my Mom's house yesterday helping her create a new 

garden room.  We both love to decorate spaces outside the house to sit and

relax and reflect.  Mom likes an Asian influence, so we have been working

on this little spot off of her patio.

It's next to this pergola.  That crabapple tree was beautiful this spring.

This area is still a work in progress but we are having so much fun

putting this together.  Whether it's inside or outside ~ the two of us

just love to decorate!

While working on this area we are also working on an adjoining garden

living room.  Every day Mom keeps coming up with a new idea.  I'm 

having a hard time keeping up with her.  I was so tired last night I fell

asleep just after 8 pm.  Where does she get all of her energy?  She was

just diagnosed with congestive heart failure in April.  She has been 

following her doctor's orders and faithfully doing all of the exercises 

prescribed by the physical therapist and now she's just a whirlwind!  I do

wonder what she'll come up with next.

Seasonal Sundays
Sunny Simple Sundays

Right Bentley?  Your grandma keeps us busy doesn't she?

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Tiny Treasures

A couple of weeks ago I spotted these tiny little teapots and guess what ~ they

are S&P's!  How cute are they?

My new tiny treasures.  This is a tiny post too.  Busy Friday ~ lot's on 

my to do list today.  Have a happy day everyone!

Pink Saturday

Bentley ~ let's get busy on that list!   Number one priority,

picking up your toys.  They are everywhere!!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Beach Dreams

I am stuck in the city and the closest I will get to the beach is

dreaming beach dreams.  To say that I have cabin fever is an 

understatement.  I have not had a vacation out of the state in 

six years.  But I can dream can't I?

While I am setting up this seaside tablescape I am wondering what to make for

dinner and suddenly it dawns on me ...

ciopinno!

I went to the market and bought shrimp, clams, rock fish and

some scallops.  Ciopinno can be made with whatever fish is fresh,

but generally has some type of shellfish included.  It's the yummiest

seafood stew and is a meal in itself served with some French bread.

Some good wines to serve to continue with our beach theme would be

this Ocean Blue 2010 Vinho Verde from northern Portugal.

Or ...

How about a merlot from Barefoot Cellars in Napa, California?

Of course, if you are not a wine drinker ~ how about

a Nantucket Nectars lemonade?

Since I am just about to prepare the ciopinno, I will share that

with you for another post.  Maybe later I will re-read A Gift From the Sea.

Sail on over and visit ~

Tablescape Thursday

Let's Dish

Home and Garden Thursday

Open House Thursday

Show and Tell Friday

Home Sweet Home

Bentley ~ maybe you and I will be able to fly to Chicago later this

summer or early this fall.  We need a break!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

My Feet Are Doing A Happy Dance!

Source: smallplacestyle.blogspot.com via Susan on Pinterest

I have been thinking about adding a skirt under my kitchen sink.

I pinned this to my Cottage Kitchen Board on Pinterest.  If you are

not already following me, check out my boards because I am always

pinning away.

Anyway ~

On Monday I went to one of our local thrift shops looking for a

Featherweight sewing machine because my friend has found two

of them there.  She is very lucky!  

I did not find a Featherweight, but I did find this ~

it's Waverly window pane fabric in red!  Love it and I think it will make

such a cute skirt.

It coordinates with some Frenchy pillows I brought home from a 

consignment shop.  I plan to use them on a Deacon's bench.

So that's it chickies.  I am doing a happy dance!!

Joining

Rednesday

Wow Us Wednesday

Bentley had a nice long visit with our postman today.  Bentley

and the postman are great pals and Bentley is always so happy 

to see him.  Aren't you sweet pea?

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Don't Be Too Serious

Who says you can't grow flowers in a sugar bowl?

Or chives in an old perculator?

It's windy out and the chives are leaning way over!

Or basil in a cream pitcher?

Or flowers in a drawer?

Not me!

Please visit

Table Top Tuesday

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Bentley ~ it's so windy outside we could get swept up and

land in the land of OZ!  If we do, I hope they only have

good witches.

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

A Tisket, A Tasket, My Yard Sale Basket

Several years ago I bought this vintage picnic basket at a yard sale.

I can't remember what I paid for it, but I know it was cheap.  The

top was stained despite my cleaning attempts.  The hinges and the 

metal handles were rusted.  I put it away thinking I would get around 

to fixing it up one day.  Well years went by ~

but ...

Finally I decided to paint it and enjoy it.

I set it out in the backyard while I am contemplating what to do with

the new annuals I bought.  I took my Mom to the garden shop and 

although the mission to buy more things for her garden was successful,

I just could not pass up a few more plants for my own garden.

Of course, now I have to plant them.

But not until I take a little break and look at my latest issue of

Romantic Homes magazine.

It's been a very lovely afternoon.  Hubby did not miss me one bit.

He's glued to the TV watching the US Open.  When he's not on the

golf course, he's watching golf on TV and texting his buddies and

critiquing every shot.  Oh well, such is the life of a 

golf widow!

By the way ~ I have to correct myself whenever I write the word

picnic.  I want to spell it picnik.  Sure do miss that site!

Joining ~

Metamorphosis Monday

Masterpiece Monday

Show Off Your Cottage Monday

Mod Mix Monday

Bentley ~ have you deserted your Momma?  Are you watching

golf too or are you just begging for peanuts from your Daddy?

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

For All the Dads

The Treasure Valley Model A Club held a meeting today.

We were driving by and just had to stop and take a look.  It's Father's

Day weekend and yesterday I showed you pillows, but today it's antique cars

because cars are a guy thing.

I wish my Daddy was still here.  He would have enjoyed this collection of 

Model A's.

This one would have been just his style.  My Daddy was a tuxedo wearing,

martini drinking, golfing kind of guy.

Yes ~ this would have delighted him.  So elegant and stylish.

While I love the elegant and stylish too ~ I am also drawn to pick up trucks.

Maybe it has something to do with being married to a red blooded Texan!

This one is beautifully restored.  I could just imagine driving around and loading

up the bed with vintage furniture and more.

But then again, I loved this one too.  A funky junk kind of pickup.

Here's another restored beauty.

But take a look at this one ...

It's from the Boise-Payette Lumber Company.  The phone

number only had three digits.  Idaho is a pretty wild place, even today.

Can't imagine what it must have been like driving mountain roads

in this old truck.

Look at that rusty old saw on the back.  Love it!!

Must have been a bumpy ride up and down those mountains hauling lumber

back to build houses. I wonder if the lumber for my house was hauled

down by a truck like this.  Actually, it may have been hauled down by mule!

I am missing you Daddy!  Wish you could have come to the car show 

with me.

To all the Dads out there ~

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

For those of you who still have a Daddy ~ give him lots of 

hugs and kisses.

Saturday Nite Special

Seasonal Sundays

Now Bentley ~ promise me that you will let your Daddy sleep in

tomorrow morning!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley