A Dollhouse Miniature Metamorphosis

About a week ago, I was contacted by the editor of a dollhouse

magazine asking me for some fall miniatures photos.  I have worked

with this editor before,  and she gave me a big spread in her

magazine a while back, so I am only too happy to fulfill her request.

Magazines are always planning ahead of schedule, so although it

is only the last day of July, fall will be arriving very quickly.

I decided to do something a bit different this time.  I have purchased an

unfinished miniature hutch, table and chairs.  These will be my official

holiday pieces that I can change for the season or for whatever holiday

or special event that comes up.  

The table and chairs are on their way, and I finished painting the hutch 

and could hardly wait to decorate it before the other pieces arrive and

I start the fall transformation.  At this moment, it is all decorated

in my usual pink and green theme and it's filled with baking goodies.

I can't show you any of the fall items I already have for this piece, but

my oh my they are cute!  It will be so much fun to have a dedicated table

that is just for holidays and different tablescapes.  I have so many

different patterns of china in my own house, and really don't have room

for more.  Miniatures are so tiny that I can fit lots more in!  I can envision

this little hutch filled with blue and white transferware too.  This is really

going to be fun!

That's what is happening around here.  Bentley is doing well.  He had

a fun weekend and was his usual sassy little self.  We had so much

fun with him.  In a couple more weeks we will head up to Texas A&M

again for another check up.  Thank you for all the sweet comments and 

emails and phone calls.   Y'all helped me to feel so much better about

this situation and it means the world to me.

Metamorphosis Monday

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Update On Bentley

I have been receiving phone calls and emails from dear friends who have 

been concerned about little Bentley and the outcome of his appointment

at Texas A&M Veterinary Hospital.  I want to thank everyone for all the

kind thoughts and prayers for this little guy.  I can never begin to 

adequately express how much your outpouring of love for Bentley

has meant to me.

It was a long drive from Victoria up to College Station, three hours

to be exact.  We tried to be very calm and cool about it because we

did not want to stress Bentley out.  This was the first time I visited

the Veterinary School of the University and I was so impressed by

the number of buildings in the complex devoted to the science of

animal medicine.  Our appointment was at the small animal hospital.

From the moment I entered, I was encouraged by the staff and their

kindness and obvious love and compassion for all the dogs who

entered the waiting area.  This was very reassuring to me.

Bentley's appointment was with an Ophthalmologist.  There were

also residents in attendance during Bentley's exam.  Although 

Bentley could not have been a worse patient, much to my chagrin,

they were so patient and kind to him.  Bentley squirmed and fussed,

and though it hurt me to see him so stressed, it was in his best interest

that I allow the exam to continue.  

The results are as follows.  Bentley is blind in his right eye and there

is nothing they can do to restore his sight.  Despite the fact that he was

properly treated and seemingly recovered from the possum fight,

his eyelid was apparently damaged and has been preventing him 

from blinking properly and closing completely.  His right eye has

actually atrophied in response.

He has a cataract in his left eye.  The doctor explained to me that

cataracts are quite common in Yorkies.  At this point, we will 

follow a course of eye drops in this eye and see how it responds.

We will be returning in a few weeks to check the progress and his

doctor will decide at that time if he is a good candidate for cataract

surgery.  So, prayers are still requested.  

Of course I am hoping and praying that the sight in his left eye

can be improved and I will do everything I can to facilitate an

improvement.  I also have come to terms with the possibility

that he could soon be completely blind.  It's been a tough couple

of days for me.  Should that be the ultimate outcome, we will

deal with it as it comes.  Many have contacted me and told me

of their blind dogs and their dog's capacity to adjust to this 

handicap.  Bentley's doctor also assured me that this is so, and

that Bentley could still have a happy life.  Whatever happens,

I will love him just as much if not more than ever, and so will

David.  He is a very important member of our little family.

Thank you once again for your outpouring of love.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Being Strong When I Am Really Scared

I have a confession to make, I often don't handle stress very well.

I try very hard to maintain a cool exterior, but inside all the

emotion and fear bubbles up.  I feel like I am a percolator on

the stove top heating and bubbling up and if I don't lower 

the heat, the top will pop off soon.

Everyone in this life suffers loss and heartache.  For some,

like me, those losses stack up and that's when I feel vulnerable and

shaky.  My Grandmother used to say,  what doesn't kill

you, makes you stronger.  I am hoping that I will be strong.

Just before sitting down to prepare for today's blog post,

I had to confirm Bentley's appointment at Texas A&M Veterinary

hospital.   Suddenly I started to fall apart.  I have been worried

about Bentley's vision.  I have been trying so hard to stay cool

about it.  I have been praying for him and I have asked you to also

pray, and I am so thankful for those prayers.  

Moments ago, my worries got the best of me.  The tears 

flowed quickly down my cheeks.  The sobbing shook my 

spine and I felt so weak and vulnerable.  This good cry helped

to take off some of the pressure and to dissolve the excess fear.

Now I just want to get through tomorrow and pray for Bentley's

future with us.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

A Cozy Sunday Afternoon At Home

Shh ~ everyone is asleep except for me.  David watched the British Open

all morning through lunch.  He is now napping in his big comfy leather

chair.  Bentley is curled up napping in one of his favorite chairs too.  I

have never been a very good napper, so I am in our bedroom lounging

in bed with a cup of tea.

It's Constant Comment.  I don't drink it all the time, only for special

moments alone like this one.  

I'm all comfy with a stack of pillows and the remotes at hand.

This is one of my favorite old movies  Dear Ruth.  It's a very light

hearted comedy that was originally a hit play.  The interior scenes are

wonderful too,  lots of floral wallpaper and frilly curtains.  It's a very

1940's vine covered, white picket fence kind of house.  Just my style!

I hope you are having a lazy Sunday afternoon too.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Please Pray for Our Little Bentley

My sweet and beloved little Bentley is having vision problems.  At the moment

he is blind.  He has developed a cataract in his left eye.  He is not seeing very 

well from his right eye also.

We are taking him up to Texas A&M University this coming Tuesday

morning for the doggie opthamologist to examine him and see if he is a 

candidate for cataract surgery.  They will also assess his right eye at the 

same time.  Bentley is now 11 1/2 years old.

I love this sweet baby so much. If you would be so kind to please 

remember him in your prayers, I will be so grateful.

Thank you from both of us.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Some New Pillows

A while back, I lightened up my bedroom with some more pink and

green for spring and summer.  I have always loved pink and green in

a bedroom.  Actually, I love pink and green for clothing too.  The first

pillow shams I found were the pink and green check.

Then I found these two Ralph Lauren Yorkshire Rose pillow shams.  

It's a retired pattern, but on eBay and Etsy, it's not too hard to find.  The 

pink and green check shams are custom and have a double ruffle in a

complementary pattern.  I like them with the pink and white toile

plates and the vintage framed botanical print above the bed.

Then I found this ....  a sweet rectangular pillow in the same Yorkshire

Rose pattern.  The pillow is corded in the same fabric and has two

covered buttons.  It's a vintage style pillow which just suits this room.

At the end of the bed is a patchwork quilt.  It's not vintage, but it is 

made with fabric that is made to look as if it is.

This is the first time I have ever had a bedroom with light sage walls and

I love it.  Sage is such a restful color and it's a neutral because just about

any color will compliment it.

Stay cool everyone.  It's very hot and humid here and oh so tempting to

take an afternoon nap.  That's just what Bentley is doing right now.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

It's My Birthday Today!

It's my birthday today.  I don't celebrate in the big way I once did.

I can remember that I thought it was all down hill when I reached 25!

As it turns out, it wasn't down hill at all, and when I think back, it's

been a life full of fun, and friends, and adventures.  

Here I am in the photo above at my 5th birthday party.  Even though I was

an only child, Mom said that our house was always full of kids from the

neighborhood.  We were always building forts in the backyard or 

digging a hole in the front yard hoping to have an adventure like Alice,

much to my parents chagrin ;-)

By my fifth birthday, I was riding my two wheel bike all around 

the neighborhood from dawn till dusk.  Such fun and carefree days!

One of my close friends was Barbie.  We shared the same birthday, so we had a 

party together.  From the time I was two or three, I followed Barbie around like

a puppy dog.  She was truly like a big sister to me and taught me all the crucial

things I needed to know, like tying my shoes.  

Barbie's older brother, Eddie is the first boy on the right.  As I recall, he 

was two years older than Barbie, so he must have been nine in this photo.

I had the biggest crush on him!  He was my hero and I went to him with my

"big" problems.  I'm sure he was just being nice to me, but in my young mind,

he was future husband material.  

This is my best friend, Nancy.  She was a year older than me and the two of

us were always giggling and having sleep overs at each other's house.  Her

younger brother, Billy went to nursery school with me.

These kids were all my friends until we moved to another house in

another village when I was nine.  There I met more kids and created more

happy memories.  Life was grand, but you know what?  It was still grand

after age 25 and I am still ready to look ahead.

Thanks for taking a stroll with me down memory lane!

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Bless Your Heart Banana Pudding

Yesterday was my husband David's birthday.  We don't eat a lot of cake

in our house, but we do love pudding ~ especially banana pudding.

So actually, this is birthday banana pudding.

Last year when we had a group of friends over, I served banana pudding

in little jars.  It was so easy to fill the jars, put the lids on,

 and keep in 

the fridge until time to serve.  Then all I had to do was to remove the 

lids, top with whipped cream, and pass them around.

Here is the finished product.  All I did was make some vanilla pudding,

layer vanilla wafers, pudding and banana slices and top with whipped

cream and a couple more slices of banana.

Yum!  And so easy too.

Today I still have two more that will be ready to enjoy whenever

we want.  I am already thinking of other pudding creations to serve

this way.  The possibilities are endless.  It keeps the serving size under

control too.

I hope you enjoyed today's little tip.

Metamorphosis Monday

Inspire Me

The Scoop

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Switching Things Around

Sometimes all we need to do is move things around just a little bit and 

we have a whole new and happy outlook.  The weather is so hot here right

now and all I want to do is stay indoors and keep cool.  However, when I 

stay indoors, I start fussing with furniture and accessories.  I especially do this

in my office because I am in here so often.  

I just changed the position of the crib in the dollhouse nursery by angling

it out into the room a bit more and away from the wall.  Tiny, little change,

but I feel better already.  

However, I don't plan on changing the location of the wreath on my 

door because ....

I still like it just the way it is.  Of course it's not etched in stone.

I could always change my mind and hang it over the bed, but not today.

Let me think about it for a minute ... no, not today.

I did switch around the McCoy and USA pottery on the top shelf of

the library stack. This should keep me content for a while.

I still like the miniature cottage on the night stand by the bed. 

And this little bird will still guard the Agatha Christie mysteries.

And the little hutch will remain the same.

Oh but wait, I can be fickle ... I just put this little stack of books back

underneath the bowl of fabric hearts.  They were under the roses in the

hobnail pitcher in the first picture.  Take a close look ... is it just me,

or is that antique fair sign a bit crooked.  Better straighten it or it will

annoy me every time I look at it :-)

Thanks for indulging me.  Stay cool and have a wonderful day!

Wow Us Wednesday

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Camp Shabby

I constructed this little teepee in the guest room last week and decorated

it with a cowgirl theme.  I was about to take it down, but suddenly I was

inspired to create a very cottage style pretend campsite I am calling

 Camp Shabby.

With three wooden dowels and a canvas tarp from Lowes, I constructed

the teepee in minutes.  No sewing, and no stapling or tacks.  I just wound

string around the dowels, cut a small hole to the tarp to fit through and I

was done.  I headed back to Lowes and found a little white trellis, some

flowers and a little terra cotta planter and I was on my way.

I painted a little sign and added some craft flowers.  The flowers were left

over from the ones I added to the ribbon on the sun bonnet and that is

now hanging on the trellis.

It was a fun way to spend a very hot afternoon here in South Texas.

Hope you enjoyed my little bit of whimsey!

Metamorphosis Monday

Inspire Me

The Scoop

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Cowgirl Up Glamping

Hey y'all!  I realized that it's been a long, long time since I posted a

glamping scene, so I decided to put one together.  This one is a little

bit different because it's a Wild West style of glamping where we are

not only allowed, but encouraged, to release our inner cowgirl.

I'll tell you what ~ it's way too hot to be glamping out in the back yard,

so I set up a little teepee inside in the guest room where there is air 

conditioning and we can watch old westerns on dvd.  Or, I also have a

big stack of chick flicks.  Take your pick.

Come on inside the teepee.  We have plenty of bling and coziness too.

I'll lend you some of my cowgirl jewelry.

Take off your cowgirl hat and I'll pour you some wine, or sweet tea

if you prefer.  Bentley and I really appreciate you stopping by and

we will do our best to make y'all feel at home.

Well cowgirls, the sun is getting low in the western sky.  Time to

dream about riding the range.

Share Your Cup

Feather Your Nest

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley