The Compound in Round Top, Texas

Last Saturday I stopped at The Compound, which is an event venue with 

several barns.  

We drove past this wonderfully restored 1946 Dodge pick-up on the way

in to the center.  The passengers have already gone inside, but there was

a man, a woman and a Yorkie.  More about that later.

  That truck looks so perfect parked out front.  The owners of The Compound

should lease it out during the show ;-)

There are all sorts of wonderful decorating accents inside.  Not old, but

rather new made to look old.  Still wonderful though.

If you look very closely ~ do you see a little Yorkie peeking around the 

basket to watch what I am doing?  That's Gidget!  And that's Gidget's

mama in the straw hat.  I had a nice little chat with both of them.  They

get to ride off in that old 1946 Dodge.  I envy them :-)

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

The Perfect Vintage Tole Tray

When I spotted this vintage tole tray at Round Top, I knew it would be

perfect for the guest room, and it is.  One of the reasons I love 

hunting for vintage treasures, is that I never know what I will find.

Very seldom do I look for a specific piece for a particular room.

I seem to have better luck when I just wander around and discover

things I like.  

I do have a fondness for tole trays, so they always catch my eye.

Yet my passions are not just limited to tole.  I like to find items

that make my home completely my own and not particularly trendy.

At the moment, I am playing around with this new piece to see how

I might use it.  For example, just placing it on top of that tiny table

gives it a one of a kind look.

However I decide to use it, I am so happy I found it and already love it

here in it's new home!

Thoughts of Home on Thursday

Home Sweet Home

Feathered Nest Friday

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Spring Antique Week 2016 Part One

This past Saturday, David and I drove up to Warrenton and Round Top

to catch the first weekend of Antique Week.  It was very crowded despite

being Easter weekend.  It almost seems like the crowds get bigger every

time we drive up there.  

I will say that not everything is antique.  There are many tents filled with

decorative items that are new but made to look old.  That's fine with me,

because there are some great finds.  I love those Pony Express cases!

I saw lots of things that would look great in my potting shed, but I 

am holding off for a bit.  It's already getting crowded in there ;-)

I love this stand and cloche!

I looked long and hard at this little chest.  I am thinking that it would look

great in the guest room on one side of the bed.  I did not buy it, but I

did buy this ….

Large wicker bee skep.  I don't think it was ever really used for that

purpose, and I am not going to use it for that, but I love the look and

off to the potting shed it goes.

I also purchased this round tole tray.  That is going into the guest room because

the color is perfect.  I'll show you later how I plan to use it.

I saw quite a few strollers with cute pups being strolled around.  These two sweet girls

were nice enough to pose for me.  They are so cute!  I don't know how happy

my Bentley would be in a stroller.  I can envision him starting to whine and

wanting to either be held or to walk on the leash.   I can't say for sure that he

would not like it, just guessing.  Maybe I will have to try it out sometime.

If you need a bracket of any style and are close to Round Top, for goodness

sake stop at this booth!  

Or how about a dough bowl?  Stacks and stacks of all sizes, shapes 

and colors.  

Well, that's part one.  I have more to share with you later this week.

I am hoping to go back up this Saturday to stop at Marburger Farm

and the Big Red Barn.  Those are my two favorite stops.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Join Me on the Terrace

It is a beautiful day in South Texas!  The kind of day I wish I could bottle

up and keep forever.  I had coffee out on the terrace this morning.  It was

so relaxing to listen to the birds and here the fountain in the background.

Shear bliss.

I added some new cushions to our vintage wrought iron furniture.

I kept the colors in the cool greens to give the illusion of a cool and

serene spot under our hot Texas sun.

The everblooming azaleas are in the background.  I thank our previous

home owners for planting them.  They were thoughtful to see that something

is flowering or bearing pretty berries in virtually every season.

Notice that Bentley is no where to be found.  Normally, he is right

out here with me.  However, he had a very busy weekend and is 

inside doing some very serious napping.  He often naps quite

soundly on Mondays ;-)  Not to worry though, he will be rested

and ready in no time.

I have cleaned up the porch and patio three times in the past couple

of days.  At the moment it is pollen free, but don't know how long

that will last.

Did you notice my ferns?  Love them.  As long as they are kept

evenly moist they should thrive through next fall.

I do need to give the wicker a coat of paint.  That's another 

project. 

I put this bowl of succulents on the coffee table in front of the settee.

I love them!  Succulents are my new planting passion.

So now that the cushions are on the wrought iron furniture, the 

ferns are hung and pollen swept away, we can enjoy it while we

can before the hot humid South Texas summer arrives.

Metamorphosis Monday

Amaze Me Monday

Tweak It Tuesday

Inspire Me

The Scoop

Wow Us Wednesday

I just checked on Bentley.  Still napping and dreaming too :-)

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Happy Easter 2016

Wishing all of you a very Blessed Easter!

David and Bentley and I were up in Round Top yesterday and

I had a very fun time hunting for treasures and taking pictures

that I will share with you this coming week.  The show just gets

bigger and better every year and the fun and excitement is 

felt everywhere in the little towns of Warrenton and Round Top.

More later, and until then ….

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Easter Garden Tea

I finished painting the little bistro set out in the garden and it's

the perfect spot for a springtime garden tea.

A couple of years ago I found this bunny teapot at a consignment

shop and bring it out every year for Easter.

The scalloped and embossed bunny and butterfly plates came

from Hobby Lobby.

Wishing everyone a very Happy and Blessed Easter.

Tablescape Thursday

Thoughts of Home on Thursday

Home Sweet Home

Feathered Nest Friday

Share Your Cup

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Easter in My Studio

I decided to add some Easter decorations to my studio.  I am in here

for so many hours a day and thought it would be fun to have bunnies

and chicks and colored eggs surrounding my days.

The little cottage gained an Easter topiary and some chicks.

Chicks and colored eggs moved into the tool box.

The pillow pocket on one of the pillows on the bed gained a bunny bookmark,

an Easter card and a copy of the Velveteen Rabbit.

The little dresser added more bunnies and colored eggs.

And the basket on the door to the studio was decorated too.

Have a blessed Wednesday everyone!

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Dollhouse Miniature Baby Nursery

I have been thinking for a while about my next miniature project.  I thought

about an adult bedroom, then a little girl's room, but finally decided on a

nursery.  Once I made the decision, I could hardly wait to get started. 

Here is what I have so far.  

The canopy crib arrived first.  I need a baby blanket and perhaps an itty

bitty mini quilt too.  

Here's the rocking chair and I found this adorable Raggedy Ann and

Andy pillow too.

But I think my favorite is the rocking horse.  No surprise there ;-)

I am so addicted to miniatures.  Makes me feel that I am a little girl 

again and that all is right with the world.  I have more ideas for 

the nursery and will keep you posted on it's progress

On a sad note, prayers for those killed and injured in Brussels.  

We all need to be thankful for each and every precious moment

of life.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Creating Our Backyard Oasis

Hi y'all!  David and I have begun our backyard oasis projects.

I am painting chairs at the moment.  I have a little bistro set that is

tucked back into the ginger along with a garden statue.  The bistro

set was white,  but I have started to paint the set a soft sage green

so that it blends in a bit more with all the greenery that surrounds it.

Here it is now with the first coat.  Much more subtle and I know I am 

going to like the pieces better now.

We bought new cushions for the patio furniture.  We have an inherited

wrought iron set that includes a settee, two lounge chairs, a coffee table

and two end tables as well as this chaise lounge.  I would show it all to

you right now, but I have to clean off all the pollen that is covering 

the patio.  My yard man came last Thursday and spent over four

hours mowing and raking and fertilizing.  Everything looked so pretty.

Then a big storm blew through that night and once again the patio was

covered with leaves and pollen.  The live oak trees are still shedding,

almost done but not quite.  So I will be hosing everything off.  I

would have done it before today, but we have been having very high

winds up until now.  That's what it's like when you live on the

Gulf Coast.  

We purchased a wall mounted water fountain for a little niche on the patio.

I need to get some big tropicals for either side that will help to cover the electrical

cord.  We hung up those little patio lights that you see at Costco, and Pottery

Barn and Lowes ~ just about everywhere.  They follow the eaves and it

looks really pretty at night.  I also picked up three big Boston ferns to hang

from the porch.  I'll be showing you everything once we get it all put 

together.  We are planning a lot of garden parties at our house this

spring and summer.  The first one will be in a few weeks for our neighbors

who, sadly, will be moving to Houston for a job transfer.  Our 

immediate next door neighbors and David and I will be really sad to

see Chrissie and Raul leave our street.  We have had so many fun

times together.  They will be greatly missed, so we are planning a big

send off.  Houston is only two hours away, and we will still get

together, but it won't be nearly every weekend like it's been for the

last couple of years.  Isn't it sad when you have a great group of

neighbors who really like one another, and someone gets transferred?

That's life I guess.

My headaches are disappearing and my eczema is improving, so 

y'all will be hearing from me more often this week.  Antique Week

up in Round Top will be starting soon, so I'll be covering that

for you too!

PS:  Bentley is losing his girl friend Bella when she moves

to Houston with her family.  I know he will be sad too :(

I have not broken the news to him yet.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

My Tiny Shamrock Cottage

Come share a pot of chocolate in the garden to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

.  

At center stage, is the tiny Shamrock Cottage.  It started out as one of

those little cardboard cottages you can buy at a craft store.  I painted it and

covered the roof with moss.  Next I added little green felt shamrocks

for shutters.  Little gold "coins" line the path to the door.  

Perhaps if we peek inside we will find a tiny leprechaun ;-)

Happy St. Patrick's Day to y'all!

Tablescape Thursday

Thoughts of Home

Home Sweet Home

Feathering Your Nest

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley