Stop Being A Cry Baby!

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I don't know about you, but I am getting so sick and tired of all the crying on television.

Every network has some form of competition show and it appears that the production

crew encourages tears.

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I don't find it entertaining to watch a contestant cry like a baby and have a
tantrum every time they don't win.

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The nastiness and back stabbing is alarming.  What kind of message is

this sending to the youth of our nation?

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Competition can and should inspire us to give our all, to try our best.

But if we don't win ( and no one will win all of the time), we need to 

learn how to be gracious.  

In one of my very first horse shows when I was quite young, my

trainer caught me crying in the stable after I lost a competition.

She told me that if I was going to cry every time I lost to another

in a horse show I may as well give up showing altogether because

it would happen again and I better get used to it.  She made me dry

my eyes and saddle up.  Her response did not scar me, but it did

make a lasting impression.  Whenever I lose, I just get back on the

horse and try again.  Just keep trying kid and remember ...

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Have a little dignity.

I hope that someone from network television reads this post.  

Civility is sorely lacking today and it's time to bring back some

dignity.   And remember ...

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Happy, smiling babies are much cuter than cry babies.

That's my opinion on the media.  If we want this world to be a better

and happier place, then it is up to each of us to set a good example.

Happily Joining ~

Seasonal Sundays

Big Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Fairies That Leave Gifts

Sometimes very early in the morning ...

just before dawn ...

little fairies slip onto the front porch ...

and leave little surprises ...

Bentley and I found these this morning.

We believe in fairies, do you?

What would we do without a little magic in our lives?

It brings us fun and fun is one of our favorite things.

Happily Joining ~

Pink Saturday

A Favorite Thing

I didn't hear those fairies on the porch this morning Bentley

did you?

Big Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Old Door Becomes Quilt Display

I really want a quilt ladder, but until I find one, I am

using an old door that used to be the door to the coal

storage room at the back of our garage.  Our cottage was

built in 1913.  Way back then, the house was heated with

both wood and coal.  Before we moved in 20 years ago, 

a previous owner took off this door and just stored it in the 

coal room.

I instantly fell in love with this treasure.  It is not a standard 

size door, but is rather petite.  I decided to use it as a quilt

display.  Of course my hubby doesn't really "get" it, but I

think its fun, whimsical and adds a bit of history to the room.

Of course I plan to bring it with me to Texas to our much 

newer house.  Our Texas house was built in 1948 ~ 35

years newer.  It seems to be a pattern with us.  David and I

lived in a house in Middleburg, Virginia before we moved to

Idaho.  Our house there was built before the Civil War.

Our houses keep getting newer!

In front of my quilt display is a basket full of quilts guarded

by a ceramic cat that belonged to my grandma.  Bentley

is fine with this kitty because it is not real.   So here it is ~

my latest tweak.  I am going to have to stop playing with

decorating and start packing.  I am dragging my heels a bit

because although I am excited about the move to Texas 

and love our new house, I still love this cottage so much and

will be so very sad to say goodbye.

Happily Joining ~

Tweak It Tuesday

Inspire Me Tuesday

Wow Us Wednesday

Bentley ~ I hate to tell you this, but your daddy told

me that there are a couple of cats in the yard of your new

house in Texas.  You will have your work cut out for you!

Big Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Sneezing, Sniffling ~ It's A Summer Cold

On the sofa with a box of tissues watching old movies.

It's a summer cold.  How did I manage to succumb?

Bummer!

Bentley however is feeling great and is full of

energy.  

Big Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

I'll Miss Paula Deen and Other Chit Chat

Source: google.com via Susan Freeman on Pinterest

I have been watching Paula Deen since she first appeared on 

the Food Network back in 2002 I think it was.  Being a 

southern girl at heart, I instantly fell in love with her "down home"

charm.  No, I did not make all of her recipes because most are

quite fattening, but I did make some which were quite tasty.

I watched her because she made me feel happy and when

she moved into her new house I fell in love with her kitchen!

Source: hookedonhouses.net via Susan Freeman on Pinterest

I love the dark beams on the ceiling, the extensive use of antique
brick and the gleaming copper pots.  My kitchen in my cottage is
no where near as large as Paulas, but I have the beams, vintage brick
and lots of copper pots too.

Source: pinterest.com via Susan Freeman on Pinterest

While I don't know Paula personally, she had never impressed me as
one to be cruel.  She always appeared so warm and welcoming to
everyone and humble too.  The Food Network has cancelled her
show and it's hard to know what the future will hold for Paula.
I for one will miss her and if she has said she is sorry and has
learned from her mistake, then I have forgiven her.

Source: hookedonhouses.net via Susan Freeman on Pinterest

Things are starting to settle down a bit more for me now and I am
looking forward to spending more time with you all.  I have so many
things to share with you and am so anxious to learn what you all
have been up to lately.  Expect me to be visiting you all again
and filling you in on Bentley's antics too.   I hope that when you do
come to visit me, that I make you feel as warm and welcome as
Paula once did for me.

Once Again, Happily Joining ~

Seasonal Sundays


Bentley ~ mama is making burgers tonight.  You love them!

Big Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

Life Is Really Stressful Right Now

While I would like to tell you that things are going smoothly and that

everything is good, the reality is that sometimes things are not.

Stresses and tension come our way.  These stresses are both 

unwelcome and uninvited, but they come nonetheless.

We look for comfort and stability in these times of turmoil.

Where is that Mayberry world?  The one where all good outcomes

are achieved in a neat and compact 30 minute segment?

Sadly, I have no easy answer for these questions.  In fact, I 

have no answer at all.  It's at times like these when I have to

put my faith and trust somewhere else.  When I need to

rely upon a greater wisdom.  And so I do.

Love,

Susan and Bentley

Getting Pretty in a Powder Room

I love to think of a powder room as a little jewel box.  A place to 

let your guests feel a bit pampered.  A place where the 

decorating rules can go out the window.  A place of function

of course, but also a place for frivolity.

I love this little powder room.  It's tiny yes, but efficient and 

also has the cutest little window that makes me think of a fairy castle.

It's a place where you can use bold wallpaper that  you might never have the

nerve to use elsewhere.  And all types of vanities are perfectly acceptable.

You can let yourself go and be dramatic.

Or inventive.

Funky Junky

Or Uptown Girl ~

Where is my Cosmo???

Chi chi, or ....

for the bibliophile.  

Just have fun with it!

Bentley ~ have you ever noticed how many magazines

are in our bathroom???

Big Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Missing Daddy Today And Everyday

Remembering you Daddy on Father's Day.

You were a great daddy.  In my mind the best one I could ever
imagine having.  You had a brilliant mind, but kept the heart of
a child.  You built igloos in the snow for me and my friends.
You recognized the budding interior designer in me when you
happily installed a hardwood floor for my tent in our backyard.
You laughed at my silly jokes, applauded my successes and
dried my eyes when I failed.  You instilled a love for travel
and adventure and taught me to appreciate the other cultures
of our fascinating planet.  You provided for me and for my Mom
still to this day.  I thank you for that.

You were the best Daddy and I miss you today on Father's Day
and everyday.

Love,
Susan


PS:  You were such a great lover of dogs and for that
Bentley thanks you too!

Bring On The Vintage Linens

I confess ~ whenever I am in an antique shop I always look for 

the linens.  Hand towels, anything embroidered, table clothes, pillow cases

and more.  I love it all!  It's always a favorite with me.

Happily Joining ~

A Favorite Thing

Pink Saturday

I have been away quite a bit lately and have missed you all.

It's been extremely hectic around here.  I closed on the house in

Victoria, Texas today, so it if finally ours.  We are so excited 

about this new adventure.  We sold our business too.  That was 

more paperwork than I expected, but it has a new owner now and

we are very happy for him.  

The inspector was over at my Mom's house today, so we are one

step closer to finalizing the sale on her home.  We may have a buyer

for our rental property.  And some even bigger news is that

two different people have approached us who are interested in

buying our house.  We may never even have to put a sign out

front!  I have been holding out on putting my house on the market

because it is so dear to my heart.  But, if either one of these folks

become the owner, I will feel like it will be well loved.

I need to spend some quality time with Bentley.  He has 

been such a good little soldier lately and he deserves to be

spoiled a bit.  

So now that things have calmed down a bit, it's good to be

back in blogworld.

Big Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Freshening Up A Foyer

Source: betterdecoratingbible.com via Susan Freeman on Pinterest

While I do not have a pic of the foyer in our soon to be ours house

in Victoria, Texas, let me just say that I have plans to freshen it up.

To me a foyer should say something about the inhabitants.  It's a

way of letting everyone know just a bit about you as they walk through

the front door.  In our case, we will be incorporating two different

styles ~ my Mom's and mine yet with the same interests.

Source: ashtreecottage.blogspot.com via Susan Freeman on Pinterest

Of course you all know, I am a cozy country cottage kind of girl,
while my Mom has much more refined tastes.  So I am going to combine
the things I love with those she loves.  This is my current entry at
Ash Tree Cottage.

Source: lord-of-hahn.tumblr.com via Susan Freeman on Pinterest

And of course, I could easily live with something like this.  Dogs
and horses reflected everywhere.  Very English country home.
While Mom loves horses and dogs too, and spent lots of time
watching me sail over fences ... she is more sophisticated than I.

Source: houzz.com via Susan Freeman on Pinterest

So perhaps something a bit more refined like this.
The foyer has enough room for us to use two groupings
of furniture.

One thing is for sure though, the equestrian theme will be front and 

center, but then ...

perhaps a few dog references will enter the scene too ~
right Bentley?

We are crazy busy right now.  Even so, I am still
decorating in my dreams.


Happily Joining ~

Seasonal Sundays


Big Hugs,
Susan and Bentley