Happy Halloween!

Have a fun and safe Halloween!

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Not All Minis Live in Dollhouses

Just because you don't have a dollhouse, doesn't mean you cannot start a

miniature collection.  I still ~ yes still, have not completed my dollhouse.

In fact, just the other day my hubby suggested that perhaps I start with an

easier model to get started on dollhouse construction.  I think he made a 

very good point.  I seem to be mini builder challenged.

This little Bar Harbor chair and side table used to be in the shabby

chic mini living room.  However, I recently purchased a new chair for

that room, so I decided to put the sweet rocker on one of the shelves

on my little sewing supply cabinet.

Do you see it there on the second shelf?   The table has a porcelain basket 

full of tiny spools of thread, so it's quite happy in it's new spot I think :-)

(Refer to the first pic)

I found this little desk on eBay and instantly fell in love with the color.

It's a vintage piece, and as is so often the case with vintage minis, it is

not truly 1:12 scale and is a tad smaller.  No matter.  I love it on it's own ....

and on this shelf in the guest room.  I think it adds a bit of whimsey to an otherwise

sophisticated space.

The Bar Harbor rocker was replaced by this new pink gingham wing chair.

I have a new coffee table and a new puppy named McDuff too.

I am crazy about that little thatched cottage tea pot!

Check out McDuff.  The little ham wants to be in all the pics :-)

So, as you can see, the miniatures have a couple of shelves in this 

bookcase.  Miniatures are addictive, and you don't have to own a 

dollhouse to enjoy them!

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Charming Miniature Windsor Chairs

For as long as I can remember, I have loved Colonial style furniture.

I have four Windsor chairs in my breakfast room, and now I have two

of them in one of my dollhouse kitchens as well.  I think they are so

charming!

I purchased them from Matthew of Weston Miniature on Etsy.  Matthew

is such a talented artist and creates with so much attention to detail.

He created the ceramic rooster on the little hutch too and he gifted me with this

adorable Life is Sweet sign.  Stop by his Etsy shop to see his other creations.  Here is

the Link.

Bentley and I are enjoying the cooler weather and we are so thankful that it

is beginning to feel like Fall here in South Texas!

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

A New Puppy in the Dollhouse

Since I believe that every home needs a dog,  I also think that every 

dollhouse needs one too.  Meet McDuff ~ who is now happily

calling the Texas Rosebud Cottage home.  That's what I call my

dollhouse which is not really a dollhouse, but a miniature room on

a bookshelf in my office.  Y'all know I live in a fantasy world ;-)

I also purchased a new chair and pillow that now sits right next to the

fireplace.  Isn't it cute?

I bought some new wallpaper too.  I originally thought I would re-paper the

living room, but now I think that I will re-paper the nursery with it.  I have been

thinking of changing the nursery into a young girl's room.  This paper reminds

me of the wallpaper I had in my own bedroom when I was a young girl.  I loved

that paper so much and this one is really sweet too.  I will let you know what

I decide.  Have a fun day!

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Feeling Grounded Once More

Going back to my childhood home and visiting with family and friends

has been the best thing I have done for myself in a very long time.  It has

given me a sense of connection and peace that has been lacking for me.

Whoever said that you can't go home again was wrong.  If one expects to 

find home exactly as it once was, you will no doubt be disappointed.  Things

change and people are not the same or perhaps are no longer there, that is

true.  What I did discover though, is that some things do indeed remain the 

same and old friends still share precious moments in common.  It's just

so therapeutic to reach out to dear family and friends and to keep those

connections close to your heart.

It's comforting to tend to your roots.  It's made me feel stronger and

more balanced once again.   

If you are lucky enough to grow where you were once planted, I

envy you.  If you are like me and have been scattered to the winds

for much of your life ~ go home again and dig those roots in once

again.  It will give you the strength to carry on.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

A Mini Fall Festival

Sorry I have been gone so long.  I was not feeling very well all last

week.  Whatever I had seems to be gone now, and I am bursting

with ideas to share with you.  

Welcome to our mini fall festival.  There will be pie and other

goodies and lots of Fall spirit.

It just isn't fall without a basket of freshly picked apples and a crate

full of pumpkins!

Getting those pumpkin pies ready for the oven!

Come on in and enjoy yourself!  Mini Bentley is here too.

So glad you stopped by!

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

My Fall Home Tour 2017

Hey y'all ~ it's my turn to show off my home for the Fall in Love with Texas

home tour for 2017.  I always get excited about these home tours.  I just

love the decorating and inviting everyone in to see what we have created

for the season.  Just ask my husband, lol!  All I have to do is mention

blog tour and he already knows the drill ;-)

If I have a theme for this Fall, it's to use what I already have and not

buy new.  When I go into my stash of holiday decorations, I realize

over and over again that I already have lots of seasonal decor and unless

I am willing to part with some of it, nothing new better pass through 

our door.  Well, guess what, I was able to keep that promise to myself

and I only purchased one new item and 2 yards of fabric.  

So let's take a look.  I created the vignette above with little hearts I made

for fun several months ago.  I just added a few berries an apple and a 

pine cone.  Nothing to it at all.

These aprons and the oven mitt are hung by my stove.  The big deep

pocket is just begging for a bit of decorating each season, so I just

dropped some berries inside to keep company with the spoon

and the old rolling pin.

Just one little Fall touch added some seasonal flair to this 

pre-existing vignette.  Easy peasy!

Here was my "big splurge" ~ I found this apple cider tin at Hobby Lobby.

Y'all know me well enough to know that I just cannot stay out of that

store for too long ;-)  This tin is the perfect display for flowers, and apples,

and pine cones.  

Oops ~ I fibbed, I bought a new candle too.  It's apple/cinnamon, my

favorite!

This vignette is not Fall, exactly, but it's cozy and welcoming for 

a Fall day even if the temps outside are still hot and steamy, we 

can pretend can't we?

These short bread Scotties are so cute and I consider them decor too!

A vintage book tied up with twine.  No rocket scientist needed here :-)

I am calling this vignette Country Hearts because I love little hearts

and toss them around everywhere.  Please notice the little heart on the 

left, that is new Fall fabric and and plaid fabric beneath is new too.

This is a corner of our bedroom on a rainy October afternoon.  

And there it is ~ our home all dressed up for Fall!

This is the final day of the Fall in Love With Texas blog tour.

Be sure to stop by and visit these gals for some great decorating tips.

My Thrift Store Addiction

My Heart Lives Here

Blue Sky at Home

Our Home Away From Home

Ash Tree Cottage

Hyacinths For The Soul

Thanks for stopping by to see all of our friends!

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

What I Saw at Round Top

Saturday morning was lovely.  It started out with somewhat cooler temps

and clear skies, but by the afternoon the temps rose once again.  It did

not however, curtail my hunt through the tents up in Round Top.

After being up here many times now, I have my favorite haunts and 

one of them is Marburger Farm.  Because there is a fee to enter the farm,

it is a bit less crowded than many of the other venues and tends to 

attract the best dealers.  The wares have not varied too much over the

past few years, and I am not interested in everything that is offered,

but I was drawn in by this booth.  

For those of you who know me well, you are very familiar with my

fondness for all things tartan.  Although it's still a bit early to

be thinking of Christmas, I am still open to decorating ideas.

Here is what caught my eye in this scene, I like the gate leg table.  I 

have one at home in my front entry, and while I like the idea of painting

the table gray, I won't be painting mine.  Isn't it charming though?

I also like that red tole tin on the mantel.  My Mama loved tole and

I have lots of it in my home and feel that it never goes out of style.

The ironstone tureen is great too.

I love this French Christmas pillow on the tartan chair!

This is what I am still kicking myself about ~ I did not buy this black

tole candlestick lamp.  I certainly don't need it, and don't know where I

would put it because I already have so many lamps.  Those facts don't 

stop me from loving it though, but I walked away when my common

sense won the battle over temptation.  Darn old common sense!

I love the skis.  I have a pair up in a storage facility in Idaho.  

Certainly won't be using them down here, but a pair of wood ones

would be great for a winter and Christmas decorating scene.

I have not seen one of these before.  A portable record player in a 

tartan case.  How cute is this???

If my Mama were still alive, I am quite sure that we would have been 

packing up that wrought iron console table and stowing it in the

back of the Suburban for the trip home!   That was so her style!!

This wicker sofa caught my eye.  It's a sofa bed!  It would be awesome

in a beach house, or one could paint the wicker a dark green, cover the

cushions in a red and black buffalo check fabric and use it in a cabin.

What a great piece!

The Garden Company has been setting up a booth at Marburger for a

few years now.  They are located down in Schulenburg, about a 45

minute drive south of Round Top.  They also have a great restaurant

where we have enjoyed lunch or dinner in the past.  The plan is to

open a restaurant in Round Top, but I don't know where that stands.

You won't believe this, but I did not purchase one thing!  I know, 

very shocking.  The only thing I can contribute this to is that since

Hurricane Harvey, I feel like I have been suffering a brain fog.

I should have purchased that little Tole lamp.  What was I 

thinking???

More Fall home tours today!

Let's Add Sprinkles

Just Plain Jilly

County Road 407

The Dedicated House

Estelle's

I hope you enjoy these tours, I sure am!

See you tomorrow when y'all will see my home decorated 

for Fall.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Follow Me to Fall Home Tours

Bentley and I are busy doing some decorating for Fall with some

dollhouse miniatures today.  While we are working on our own

projects, we are inviting you to tour some lovely homes today

 on the Fall in Love With Texas blog tour.

Poofing The Pillows

Botanic Bleu

Decor to Adore

The Aspiring Home

Kitty's Kozy Kitchen

Enjoy these tours!

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Wonderful First Day in October!

I hope y'all are enjoying this beautiful first Sunday in October!

No, it's still pretty warm here, but I don't mind.  I am polishing my

copper pots, making beef stew for dinner, and dancing around the kitchen

to my favorite Broadway show tunes.  Life is good!

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley