To Market To Market

One of my favorite things is to go to the market ...

Pick up a bottle of wine, some yummy cheese, some fruit and a

crunchy baguette ...

And sit out on our deck and enjoy the evening.

(I know that one is not supposed to cut off the tip of the brie,

but I was very hungry and impatient)

The autumn leaves are just around the corner, but it is still very hot here.

Sadly, we did not spend too many evenings on the deck enjoying

a glass of wine this summer.

But, when the weather cools off a bit, we will still enjoy

an evening out here.  I'm looking forward to wearing a comfy sweater

and sipping some hot coffee or hot chocolate and snacking on some

freshly baked cookies.  That's a favorite thing to do too!

Please join me in visiting Claudia's very first party ~

A Few Favorite Things Saturdays

Well Bentley, it's back to painting.  Do you want to go with Momma

later to look for some fabric to make new cushions for the sofa?
Bentley will happily come along even if he doesn't enjoy shopping all
that much.  He loves the attention and he loves to hang his head out
the window and catch all the smells in the air.  When he's not
driving of course lol!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

What Did You Do On Your Summer Vacation?

Did you visit your local farmer's market?

Did you fill your planters full of your favorite flowers?

Did you sit out on the porch?

Did you bring home treasures from yard sales?

Did you run barefoot through a fountain?

And remember to celebrate the 4th in style?

Did you drink tea in your garden?

And visit your local garden center ... more than once?

I hung out my laundry on the line did you?

And I made a little garden for the fairies ...

and a camp site for them too.   And ...

One for Bentley and me too.  We had a fun summer doing some of

our favorite things.

As we all say goodbye to the last official weekend of summer,

Bentley and I hope that yours was filled with fun!  We are looking

forward to fall with it's crisp cool days, apple picking and nature hikes.

We will be taking the weekend off to have some fun and do some re-decorating.

See you in September!

Please join me in visiting

Show and Tell Friday

Pink Saturday

Bentley ~ Momma is home with you for 4 days!  Whoopee!!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Poor Boo Boo The Bear Cub

Source

Wildfires are still raging in Idaho.  The skies over my cottage are filled with smoke.

With no rain in the forecast it's estimated that the fires may burn through the fall.  Sadly,

these fires are a threat to wildlife.  A big news story here is the one about a young

20-25 pound bear cub nicknamed Boo Boo.

Boo Boo was spotted clinging to a Douglas fir tree by a fisherman on the Salmon River.

Fish and Game searched for it's mother, but she was no where in sight.

Source

Boo Boo was rescued and it was discovered that all four of his paws

have 2nd degree burns.  He probably has not eaten for several days as well.

Dr Mark Drew, the state veterinarian treated Boo Boo's paws.

Source

Boo Boo will be staying at the Snowdon Wildlife Sanctuary near

McCall for four to six weeks to recuperate.  

While I have a healthy respect for bears, Boo Boo has captured my heart.

Get well soon Boo Boo!

Bentley ~ I think that we should make a contribution to the 

Snowdon Wildlife Sanctuary.  We don't want to see any of our forest

friends suffering like Boo Boo and it's comforting to know that he will

have a safe place to stay until he gets better.

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Life is a Balancing Act

One

Two

Three

Tweak!

I bet you thought I was going to give you some advice on

how to balance all of a woman's responsibilities.

No ~ it's just me being silly.

Now lets all visit 

Tweak it for Tuesday

and decorate our tables on

Table Top Tuesday

Bentley ~ did your grandma give you three treats yesterday?

Now be honest!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Tuscan Bean Soup ~ It's On the Menu Monday

Even though the weather is still blazing hot here and smoke is filling

the air from all of the wildfires, I am really getting tired of grilled chicken

and salad.  So ... I decided to make some soup.  Not just any soup, but

Tuscan Bean Soup.  It's nutrient dense, low fat and sooo delish.

I used Emeril Lagasse's recipe and here is the link so that you can print

out the recipe if you choose ...

Emeril Lagasse Tuscan Bean Soup

And here it is ~ ready for David to come out to the kitchen to 

take his tray out so we can sit out in front of the TV for some 

Sunday Night Football!  Yes it's that time of the year.

David gave it his seal of approval.  Believe me, if David likes

it ~ everyone will like it!!

I am joining ~

On The Menu Monday

Oh and Bentley had some too.  He actually really likes soup and

he ate his kale all gone too.  Good Boy!!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Weekend Eye Candy

It's Saturday and I feel the need for a little shopping therapy.

Antique shops are the supreme form of shopping therapy for me.

Of course, you probably already know that don't you?

So here I am at Forget Me Not Antiques ~ one of my favorite shops!

I am in love with this vintage wicker tea cart.  No, I would never paint it

and it would be so so cute in the cabin.  That's a big hint to my hubby

in case he wants to do his Christmas shopping really early :-D

Transferware.  I have loved it since I was a little girl.

Isn't this the sweetest?  I could imagine serving hot chocolate from

this darling pot.

Love this vignette and also love the title of this book.  

Maybe I should write a post once a month and call it the 

Agony Column and we could all air our grievances and then

let them go for a big collective "ahhh"!

I think I need (ie want very much) this lantern!

If Glenda ever decides to sell this dresser I hope she let's me know.

And this precious tea stand ...

and this one too.

Thanks for visiting me and coming along on my eye candy stroll.

Here are some fun sites to visit this weekend ~

Say G'Day

Saturday Nite Special

Seasonal Sundays

Sunny Simple Sundays

Open House

Wasn't that fun Bentley?  Bentley says no.  He does not care much

for shopping and just tags along and can hardly wait to get out of the

store.  Typical male!!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Make Mine a Double!

It's been a tough couple of days around here.  As many of you know,

my husband's cousin was shot and killed by an intruder into his home

just after midnight on Tuesday.  We are still in shock and feeling such

a loss and so much sadness for his wife, children, grandchild, parents 

and siblings.

We need a bit of comforting during tragic moments like this.

Nothing like a cozy quilt and a dish of ice cream.  I am wondering ...

should I serve up a dish of ice cream in this size bowl?

Or this bigger bowl?

One scoop or two?

Better make it a double.  It's been a rough few days.

If you ever come to Idaho, be sure to pick up some Clover Leaf Creamery

ice cream.  It comes in strawberry, vanilla, chocolate and the best ever

butter pecan.  It's yummo isn't it Bentley?

Linking to ~

Home Sweet Home

Show and Tell Friday

Potpourri Friday

Pink Saturday

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

The Very Tragic Murder of a Family Member

My husband's cousin, Pastor James Carr of Greenville, North Carolina was

shot and killed in his home by a burglar.  We just received news of his passing.

Jimmy spent his adult life serving Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
He served as a missionary in Tanzania and Kenya with YWAM.  He
served as a pastor at Williamston First Presbyterian Church, Oakland
Presbyterian Church, Life Song Evangelical Presbyterian Church and
Covenant Methodist Church.

He was a devoted husband, father of two and grandfather of one.  His life
was cut short by a burglar who entered his home after midnight on
August 21st.  He was shot in the chest and his dear wife witnessed the
shooting.  She must have been so terrified because not only had her
husband been shot, but she was unsure if the gunman was still in their
house.  Jimmy died at the hospital.  I still do not know if the killer
has been apprehended.

Jimmy was a very fine and good hearted man.  He believed in
forgiveness and redemption.  He will be greatly missed by all of his
family, his many friends and to those to whom he brought compassion
and the Word.

I am dedicating this post to his memory.  Rest in peace Jimmy.  I am proud to
have known you.

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

Crafts for the Cottage

I wish that I could crochet this well.  Both of my grandmothers could.

I can single and double crochet, but I am still challenged when it comes to

making Granny Squares.  

This winter when it's too cold to do much but sit by the fire and drink hot tea,

I plan to practice crocheting.  Maybe in a few months I will be able to make

a really colorful Granny Square blanket, or may ...

I will practice embroidery stitches.  What will you be doing

when it's too cold outside to garden?

Rednesday
What's It Wednesday

Wow Us Wednesday

Bentley ~ Momma has lots of projects lined up for the remainder

of this week and this weekend too.  Let's make a really special dinner

for Daddy tonight to soften him up so that he will help tackle those

projects!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Lookie, Lookie, Lookie

Source: animalstalkinginallcaps.tumblr.com via Pam on Pinterest

I pinned this on Pinterest and could not resist sharing.

What a cutie!

Don't be jealous Bentley ~ you know that to me you are still the

cutest puppy.

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

I've Been Tweaking Again

Very few things that arrive to our cottage remain the same.  

I'm always tweaking something to better please my eye.  Case in

point ~ this lamp shade.  Too country for me, but it was a cheapie,

so I tweaked it.

Now it looks like this.

Much better.  I wonder if my hubby will notice it?

Probably not.

I am joining ~ 

Tweak it Tuesday

and

Table Top Tuesday

Bentley ~ Momma has to put her foot up and put the ice bag 

back on her big toe.  It still hurts after I overturned the cast iron

boot scraper onto my toe last night while I was watering

the flowers.  Ouch!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley