Ash Tree Cottage Has a New Look ~ Almost

After several cups of tea (to keep my nerves steady) and some pencil chewing,

I managed to get up the nerve to change my blog's template.  Now this may

not be a big deal to many of you, but it was a big leap for me.  This tech

challenged chickie has been posting on the same template since my first post.

Oh sure, in the past I have changed my blog's banner and have played around

with some fonts and colors, but essentially that's it.  I got so bored looking at

my blog when I opened it up and I thought that if I am bored then you all

must be yawning when you pay me a visit.

So, here it is ~ the big new reveal.  Of course it's not without it's flubs.

There is a bit more tweaking to do, but the biggest flub is that I have lost

my BlogHer Tune-in Bar in the process.  I was not expecting that and don't 

know how to fix it, so I have sent an urgent message to the BlogHer ads team.

Of course they are all in New York at the big 2012 conference.  Martha Stewart 

and Katie Couric and a visit from the President will no doubt have them all

busy and I am sure they are not too worried about little old Ash Tree Cottage

and the missing Tune-in Bar.

That's all I plan to do today.  I probably should start thinking about

dinner because if I don't pull myself away from the Mac, I will be here

all evening and David will have to go pick up some take out.  If that 

happens, I know that Bentley will be voting for pizza!

I am joining Brenda's new party

Tweak it Tuesday

Be sure to stop by and visit all the tweaking going on over there!

Right Bentley?  You know Brenda has two adorable Yorkies too!!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Under Construction

I have been working on some ideas for changing the look of my blog.

I'm going to try them out first and if I'm still not happy I will hire

someone who knows what they are doing :)

I'm baking some cookies so that Bentley and I will have a treat

while we burn the midnight oil giving our virtual cottage a facelift.

See Y'all Soon!

(we hope)

Bentley ~ Momma is ready to start the demolition and re~building.

I hope I don't make too much of a mess.

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Little Cabin Turns Into Mr Blanding's Dream House

source

Last fall we bought a lot in a lovely golf course resort community up in

the mountains.  We were very excited because not only is it beautiful in

this area, but it is also just three lots away from our friends Juli and Patrick's cabin.

We immediately started looking at plans for a simple cozy cabin.

Nothing fancy.  Something small, simple with a nice front porch and

a stone fireplace inside.  Something like Jack Hanna's cabin shown here above.

We started to draw up our plans.  

I said I really wanted a nice rustic stone fireplace just like the one in Jack's cabin.

Since David is a contractor he contacted our stone mason about it.  

Rudy said he would build it for us.

source

Great!  That will be a perfect fireplace.

Then we started to talk about the bedrooms and we decided that we needed

two bedrooms on the first floor and a loft on the second floor that would include

guest sleeping and a studio/library.  The insanity begins!

Our tile subcontractors and plumbers asked us about the bathrooms.  We

decided we needed two full baths and of course a powder room.  "You will 

need a bidet", said the plumber.  "Can't build a decent bathroom without a bidet."

Oran, our tile man said, "I want to build you a stone walk in shower large

enough for two with dual rain heads and body wash."

source

Of course I said that I wanted a claw foot tub. 

source

David wanted a walk in bar and I said I wanted an Aga for the 

kitchen.  It would be so charming, and cozy and oh the wonderful soups

and stews simmering on the stove!

source

The appliance salesman said I was crazy.  Just buy another Viking like

the one you have in town.  Much cheaper he said.

We visit our architect with our wish list.  He starts drawing up

the plans and keeps adding our suggestions.  

A dutch door in the kitchen.

A window seat with bookcases on either side in my Mom's bedroom.

Don't forget that walk in bar for David.

And a big island in the kitchen ...

And what once was a cozy little cabin began to evolve into

a mountain mcmansion!

Lots of windows across the back to take in the mountain views.

Post and beam construction just like the house in the movie

Christmas in Connecticut too!

A two car garage too. Oh, and don't forget the radiant heat in the floor.

Blah, blah, blah ...

Then the visit from the excavator ...

source

"Yep, you're going to need a walk-out basement", he says.

Suddenly David and I looked at each other and said ~

"What are we thinking?  This is insanity!!!"

We were living through scenes from the movie

Mr Blandings Builds His Dream House.

Whatever happened to that simple, sweet and cozy cabin we originally

dreamed about?  

source

Something like Jack Hanna's cabin seems like the perfect and practical

get away once again.  We have regained our senses at last!

I'm drawing up the plans.  Keeping a lid on my fantasies. Unless of we should

happen to win the lottery of course :)

 Seasonal Sundays

Sunny Simple Sundays

Bentley ~ sometimes your Momma and Daddy just get carried away. 

Thankfully, you have more sense than we do!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Ready for a Change

I am sending Happy Birthday wishes to our friend Beverly who hosts

Pink Saturday each week. 

After celebrating my own birthday just last week I have been thinking about

the changing years.  I feel restless and itching for a change.

I have been wondering ~ what should the change be?  A haircut?  New clothes?

Repaint all the rooms of my house?  Plastic surgery?

What, what, what???

Finally I realized that my blog needs a facelift.

I am bored with it.  I have not been coming to the page with the

same enthusiasm I once had.  So ~ it's to shake things up a bit.

Change is on the wind and Ash Tree Cottage will be getting

a facelift and a new lease on life.  

Pink Saturday

Well Bentley, your Momma feels excited about the 

changes ahead.

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Christmas in July Tablescapes

I am having so much fun celebrating Christmas in July.  My Christmas things are

all packed away, but I did save some pics from some of last year's Christmas meals.

So let's take a trip down memory lane.  This was from a Christmas tea.  I really

need to have another one this coming December.

Last fall we bought a lot up in the mountains and I was so excited about building a

cabin up there that I started to purchase woodland theme dishes and accessories.

The tartan napkins just make me want to snuggle up by the fire with a cup of

cocoa or tea.

I love these plates!  I purchased them from Dee Dee at Forget Me Not Antiques.

Dee Dee is very aware that I have a plate addiction and she shares that addiction.

I promised her that she can borrow them sometime.  Of course when she comes to

visit me up in New Meadows, we will use these plates for dinner!

Birch bark candles from Pottery Barn.  And now let's go visit my Mom's house.

We set up this tablescape together last year.  I bought the glass holly napkin

rings for her at Lord and Taylor in Houston years ago.  I wish that I had

purchased more of them!  I only bought six, and I have never seen them again.

We had a lovely Christmas dinner last year at Mom's house.

This was the fondue table.  We always have cheese fondue while we are opening our

Christmas gifts. 

Wonderful memories!

Let's keep this party going and visit ~

Let's Dish ~ Christmas in July

Tablescape Thursday

Home and Garden Thursday

Open House Thursday

Tutorials Tips and Tidbits

Rednesday

Vintage Thingie Thursday

Time Travel Thursday

Show and Tell Friday

Home Sweet Home

Potpourri Friday

Feathered Nest Friday

Vintage Inspiration

Inspiration Friday

Bentley ~ do you think we have time to publish a post of your

Christmas toys?  You were playing with your Rudy Reindeer squeak toy

earlier today.

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Christmas in July Crafts

I love the idea of Christmas in July parties.  After all of the hot weather

it's fun to pretend to be wearing a warm and comfy sweater and drinking

a hot cup of cocoa.  Okay ~ let's get into the Christmas mood with some 

reuse, recycle crafts.

This little Christmas cottage was made from a Ritz Cracker box.  Just

added some paint, some cotton and some glitter.  

I made this skate from the remainder of that Ritz box.  I added some

white felt, sequins and more glitter.   I took a pic of the skate and emailed 

it as a Christmas card to a friend who is an avid ice skater.

I plan to make some more skates this year and give them to Juli for her 

Christmas tree.

Every year my Mom spends hours decorating her Christmas packages.

It's hard to compete with her creations, so I just decided to recycle a brown

grocery bag and paint it to look like a mountain white Christmas scene.

I tied the package up with some left over yarn from a project, added some

white spray painted twigs, a painted pine cone and a little tag.  

I always seem to get started on Christmas crafts so late, but perhaps 

this year I will start much sooner.  I certainly am becoming inspired by all

of the wonderful Christmas in July posts!

I am joining ~

Samantha's Cowgirl Up Christmas in July Party

Bentley ~ we are posting twice today so that we can show some

Christmas tablescapes too!  And how about that Christmas music?

That really gets us in the mood don't you think???

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Baby Talk Cloche

Don't you wish that we could keep childhood memories 

under glass and store forever?  Well, since we can't really do that,

we can always create a baby cloche.

The innocence.

The sweetness.

The joy.

Now who could ever forget the Poky Little Puppy?

I am joining Marty's Summer Cloche Party.

Can't wait to see the other cloches because quite frankly

I am cloche challenged!

Bentley ~ next time will you help Momma dream up a cloche?

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Bentley and I Are Back!

Bentley and I are back from our mini blogging break.  We escaped into our own

little world!

We just had fun together and took a well needed 

retreat from reality.

There's nothing like kicking off one's shoes and just

relaxing and playing house!

We have lot's of fun things in store for the week ahead and hope

that you will be joining us. Right Bentley?

Big Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Reflections on My Birthday

Today is July 18th and it is my birthday.  While some like to make resolutions

on New Year's Eve, I like to reflect on the past year on my birthday.  I ask myself

what I have achieved in the past year?  What goals did I achieve and which ones

did I miss?

Are there any lifelong dreams that have yet to be fulfilled?

Have I been a good and kind person?  

Every new day brings another chance to be the person I really

want to be.  I will be taking the next couple of days off to greet this

new year of my life.  Until I see you all again I will be joining ~

Home and Garden Thursday

Open House Thursday

Vintage Thingie Thursday (because I am vintage)

Time Travel Thursday

Cottage Garden Party

Show and Tell Friday

Home Sweet Home

Potpourri Friday

Feathered Nest Friday

Inspiration Friday

Pink Saturday

Bentley ~ I think it's time to start working on another backyard

camping theme!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Hubby's Birthday Dinner

Today is David's birthday and I am home this afternoon making

his birthday dinner.

We are having ~

Hot Artichoke Dip with Tiny Toasts

Filet Mignon with Ree Drummond's Whiskey Cream Sauce

Twice Baked Potatoes

Sauteed Baby Peas

Fresh Garden Salad with a simple Vinaigrette

 and champagne of course!

This Wednesday is my birthday and David has VIP tickets for us to

see Chris Isaak on Friday!  I am a huge Chris Isaak fan and have gone

to see him twice.  He puts on a really great show.

Excuse me while I listen to Chris, dance around the kitchen and do more

prep work for David's B~Day dinner!

Joining ~

Table Top Tuesday

Bentley ~ don't forget to give your Daddy a big kiss as soon as he walks

in the door!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Hey Love ~ What's for Dinner?

Well the weekend is over and it's time to start planning the 

menu for the up coming week.  Here is what is on the menu for Monday.

Now remember ~ if you don't like it here's the phone. You can

always call for take out!

Salad with Blue Cheese Vinaigrette

white wine vinegar in a bowl

chopped fresh garlic

salt and freshly ground pepper

crumbled blue cheese

whisk these together with extra virgin olive oil

toss with fresh salad greens and croutons

Grilled Corn on the Cob

pull back corn husks

carefully remove silk

place husks back over corn

soak in husk covered corn in water for 30 minutes

grill over hot coals 15 to 20 minutes

serve with butter

Stove Top BBQ Chicken Breasts

boneless skinless chicken breasts

seasoned flour

BBQ Sauce

dredge boneless skinless chicken breasts in flour seasoned with

salt, pepper and garlic powder

preheat EVOO in skillet till hot

add flour dredged chicken breast

sauteed on both sides until well browned

add favorite BBQ sauce

cover and cook 30 minutes

This is a very easy recipe that will produce a very tender chicken breast

and the BBQ sauce will cook down to be very sweet and tasty.

And that's what is on the menu for Monday

Let's go visit Yvonne for more recipes

On the Menu Monday

Hi Bentley ~ did we wear you out driving around in the jeep

with the top down today?

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley