I never realized how many telemarketers call during the day until
I stay home for a few days!
Bentley ~ momma will have to turn off the ringers while I am
gone so that you can get a nap!
Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Friday, December 28, 2012
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Fresh and Clean
I have a friend who always buys white tulips after Christmas.
It's her way of calming things down after all of the color and
excitement of the holiday.
And as much as I love color, I feel much the same way once
Christmas is over. White and calm and serene is just what I need
right now.
How about you?
Although ...
I do love these touches of red too, but maybe I'll just focus
on white for a bit.
Show and Tell Friday
Pink Saturday
Seasonal Sundays
Sunny Simple Sundays
Bentley has been very busy playing with his new toys.
He always likes to break them in before he starts the
rotation once again.
Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Christmas at Grandma's Update
Bentley patiently waited to open his Christmas gifts.
There were quite a few for him. While he looks calm, cool and
collected in this pic, after toys were unwrapped he was busy
tossing them in the air and waiting for us to applaud his skill and
overall cuteness!
Fortunately none of the flying toys hit Grandma's tree which she
so lovingly decorated.
I am off for the rest of the week and am starting to fill my
Cath Kidston "Dream Home" journal with all of my dreams.
And napping. Bentley and I did a lot of napping today.
Bentley, I did not get a pic of you sitting up at Grandma's table
last night. You did look pretty cute though.
Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Merry Christmas From Susan and Bentley
Bentley and I send you our very best wishes for a
Merry Christmas!
Love and Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Christmas 2012
Christmas sneaks up on us so fast.
Such a wonderful time. So full of hope.
So full of cheer. So full of memories that
last a lifetime!
May your Christmas be blessed.
May the hope and joy of the season last a lifetime.
Mosaic Monday
Merry Christmas,
Susan and Bentley
May your Christmas be blessed.
May the hope and joy of the season last a lifetime.
Mosaic Monday
Merry Christmas,
Susan and Bentley
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Christmas in a Lunchbox
This weekend has shifted into high gear. After losing a few
days this past week to illness, I am really behind!
But not so far behind that I could not take a moment to
create just one more Christmas scene.
No surprise that there is tartan and a dog involved.
I hope that your weekend is running smoothly and that
you all take out a few minutes for fun!
Bentley is napping right now. He had lots of fun on his
birthday. Thank you for all your kind birthday wishes.
Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Friday, December 21, 2012
Bentley Has A Birthday
Hi Bentley! Is today your birthday? Yes peanut, it's your birthday.
Momma's sweet boy is now 7 years old!
Gather up all of your favorite toys and I will play with you.
And remember ~ tonight momma will make you a hamburger
with a candle in it and some cooked carrots. Yum!
Happy Birthday sweet boy. We love you sooooo much!!
Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
The Ghosts of Christmas Past at Ash Tree Cottage
For the last few days I have been suffering with a terrible cold.
Sneezing, sniffling misery. All I have wanted to do is to stay in
bed, pull the covers over my head and hibernate.
But ....
that's really hard to do because I have so many responsibilities. Christmas is
just a few days away and my to do list is so very long. So after drinking
lots of liquids, taking lots of vitamin C and aspirin as often as allowed,
I am trying my best to rally and get everything done.
This evening I was thinking that I should write a new post and take some
pics of something. But what???
My poor head congested as it is, could think of nothing. No creative
vignette, no witty banter .... nothing!
I went through my picasa albums and pulled out some pics from the past.
Retro Ash Tree Cottage.
Here is my potting shed from a couple of years ago. I wonder if we have any
snow for Christmas this year?
Here is Santa. I think he is STILL up in the attic. I forgot to bring
him down. I better bring him down tomorrow.
I wish that I could tell you that I have been watching my calories
but to be honest I have been eating way too many goodies lately.
I need to go to the post office tomorrow and get more stamps. Do you even
remember when stamps cost 12 cents a piece? I don't.
Well that's it for now. Today's ramblings with photos from
years past. Hopefully I will have a better handle on things tomorrow.
Until then, I hope you are all healthy and full of holiday cheer!
Bentley ~ you better keep your trips outdoors to a minimum. It is
going to be very cold tonight!
Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Monday, December 17, 2012
God Bless the Little Children and Tweak Our Nation
I have a little shelf where all of my childhood blue willow
dishes live. I remember playing so carefully with these little
dishes. Never wanting them to get chipped or to break.
We always want to protect the things we love ...
the ones we love.
Sometimes we can't.
And the little ones are taken away from us.
And our hearts are never the same.
I pray that our nation will both heal and change. That we
will remember to treat each other the way we wish to be treated.
That we regain our civility and leave the violence behind.
Imagine a world without hate. Without cruelty.
We have the ability to make that happen.
Wouldn't it be nice if everyone was like Bentley?
He loves everyone!
Love,
Susan and Bentley
Saturday, December 15, 2012
More Christmas on the Porch 2012
I saw a couple of snowflakes this morning. It's cold and damp
and cloudy but I don't think we will have more than a few
flakes today. I decided to take a break from watching the news
about the tragedy in Connecticut. I have been shedding tears
on and off all morning.
I have decided to turn the whole thing over to God. Without
Him, I can do nothing.
I found this adorable little bird at Blooms. I just knew that
he had to be in a front and center vignette, so I gave him his
own little Christmas roost.
I always hang a pair of stockings on the porch just in case
Santa is too pooped to make it up to the rooftop!
I love to fill the wicker chairs with seasonal pillows too.
And some packages.
Have a safe and happy weekend and be sure to hug everyone
you love.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I
will give you rest."
~ Matthew 11:28
Bentley ~ where is Rudy Reindeer?
Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Friday, December 14, 2012
Cottage Christmas Tour Part 1
I will be spending the next few posts sharing scenes from my
little cottage, tablescapes and recipes with you. But I must
tell you that I am so very saddened about today's shooting
at a Connecticut elementary school.
My heart and my prayers go out to the parents and families
of 26 victims in Connecticut, 18 of whom are children.
What a terrible tragedy. I will never understand what
possesses shooters to kill other innocent people, especially children.
For all of those families, Christmas will be a very sad one. Their
lives will be forever changed by this loss. Senseless, senseless tragedy.
God Bless them all.
Bentley and I want to express how very thankful we are to
have you all as friends. Family and friends are the greatest
gifts in the world and our time together so precious.
Blessings,
Susan and Bentley
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Vintage Christmas Wrapping Paper and Cards
Last weekend one of my favorite antique shops was having
a holiday open house. I spotted this vintage wrapping paper
from the 1950's and fell in love with the graphics.
I have been saving vintage Christmas cards on my Very Vintage Christmas
board on Pinterest.
These little terriers are so cute!
Just can't help but to love these vintage scotties.
And I love this scene by the fireplace. Too charming!
If you would like to see more of the vintage Christmas cards
I have been saving, go to Very Vintage Christmas. I have lots of
other Pinterest boards too, so enjoy my pins and follow along
if you like.
I am happily joining
Bentley ~ I am all finished with my Christmas shopping except for
one very special loved one ~ YOU! I need a list from you Bentley.
I know you can't write (yet) but you could give me some hints.
Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Monday, December 10, 2012
My Cookie Baking Christmas Tree
This basket on the vintage scale on the tea cart in my kitchen
is usually filled with red apples. But everyone needs a little
Christmas in the kitchen ~ me especially! I spend so much time
in my kitchen that I want it to have some Christmas spirit there too.
So I popped in a little Christmas tree and decorated it with
gingerbread men, cookie cutters and holiday spatulas.
It's been tweaked alright.
Did I ever show you this little vintage flour sifter? It holds two cups of
flour max. At least that's what the measure reads, but honestly, it
looks more like one cup to me. Whatever, it's cute and I love it and
I just want to be able to look at it because it makes me smile!
I have so much to do these days that I feel like I will need
a spa day very soon. I just spent four full hours shopping with my
mom yesterday and she wore me out! She was armed with a
stack full of coupons and away we went.
After power shopping through three stores, we hit the market.
I was not sure I would be able to load everything into the back of
the Mini Cooper, but let me tell you, that Mini is mighty and
everything arrived home safe and sound. By the way, the Mini is
named Beatrix, after Beatrix Potter of course!
Here it is Monday afternoon. Before I go back to work, I am
brewing a cup of tea, putting up my feet for a bit and joining ~
and then
Bentley ~ I think you should do your own Christmas post.
Don't you think so? Let's work on that!!
Hugs,
Susan and Bentley