Happy Halloween Y'All!

Happy Halloween Y'All!  I have been having fun decorating the 

miniature English cottage kitchen for Halloween.  The really fun thing

about holiday miniature decorating is that everything stores in little

boxes and it's soooo much easier to clean up.

Are you all set for Halloween at your house???  David bought a big 

bag of candy at Costco last week.  We don't usually get many visitors,

and the kids who show up last get the biggest handful of candy. 

For some reason, it seems to rain here every Halloween.  Parents end

up driving the kids house to house.  David is coming home early from

work, so his first job will be sweeping off the porch and sidewalk because

our live oaks have been dropping acorns for days.  The walk was just

cleaned off, and it's nearly covered again.  I don't want anyone slipping on

a wet acorn!

I have been watching the Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel.

They are always a bit corny, but I love them anyway.  I am adamant  

about not decorating for Christmas until after Thanksgiving, but those

movies are making me so anxious to do it!  Does that happen to

you too?

Have a fun and safe evening!  

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Help! I Am in Desperate Need of Recipe Inspiration!!

It's been Fall now for several weeks.  I should be really enthusiastic about

cooking, but for whatever reason, I am not.  Lately it seems like I would

rather do anything but cook.  I never believed this would happen to me.

I am getting tired of all my tried and true favorites.  I don't even want to

go out to eat.  The restaurants in this town are pretty sad.  On Saturday

afternoon we were running around town doing some errands, and we

decided to stop at one of the few places we like for lunch.  The outdoor

patio over looking the river was packed, so we ate inside.  We had

worked our way through the menu several times in the past, and since

neither of us had ever eaten a hamburger there, it's what we both

chose.  How do you ruin a hamburger???  You can if you cook it until

it is dry as shoe leather.  

Aside from a deli in town we like, we are quickly running through

all of our other options.  Even our club, which was always a safe bet,

isn't as good as it once was.  This leads me to no other option ...,

I MUST COOK!

I need inspiration.  I need the fairy of cooking to land on my shoulder

and whisper creative cooking ideas into my ear.  I'm putting in a tall order.

I want tasty, but not too many calories.  I want it to be nutrient dense and

I want the portions to be just the right size, not to big or not too small.  I

want it to be simple, easy and with minimal clean up.  In other words, I 

want what seems to be the impossible!  

How will I find that???  I think what I will do is try one of the food package

delivery services.  You know the kind, the ones where you list your food

preferences and they send you a box filled with enough groceries to serve

two (or whatever number) of people for three or four days.  I have watched

a couple of YouTubers who like this service, so maybe it will work for me.

Yes, I do believe it is my only current hope.  I am quite sure that I will be

unable to convince, or to afford, Michael, Patricia Altschul's butler to come

work for me.  Michael is really good with dogs, and I am sure he would

prepare some lovely meals for Bentley too.  Have you ever seen Michael on

Southern Charm?  Of course, Mr Carson, or a Mr Carson clone would be

wonderful too, but then Mr Carson didn't cook.  Mrs Patmore would be

ideal, but then I would just want to hang out all day in the kitchen listening

to her charming accent.

I suppose a package food delivery is my only realistic option.  I

will let you know how it goes.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

It Feels Like England

It's gray, chilly and damp.  Just a couple of weeks ago I was hoping

for cooler weather.  Well, you know the old saying .... we got it!

It feels like England, but I have turned on the heat, yes, the heat.

I wore sweaters this weekend, and am wearing one again today.

We don't get the cool, crisp days here in South Texas, but I will

take what I can get.

David plays golf despite the weather.  He just puts on a rain shirt and

heads out to the links.  Bentley and I, being more sensible types, stay

inside and stay cozy.  

This cooler weather has forced me to ditch my shorts and sandals,

and go through my winter/fall wardrobe.  I love Fall clothes!  I have

also realized that I need some new jeans, so I spent all weekend 

scanning the online shops for some new ones.  I have a tough time

buying jeans.  It is always my least favorite item of clothing to buy.

I am super tiny, all 5' 1" of me.  Yes, I cling to that inch for dear life.

I am also thin with teeny tiny bones.  I probably should shop in the

kids department.  The clothes would be cheaper, but thank goodness

that many women's fashions now come in petite.  Yet, buying jeans

is always a struggle.  I like them to look trim, without being too

tight, but I certainly don't want to swim in them.  

A few weeks ago I ordered a pair of "girlfriend jeans" from Talbots.

I was apprehensive about my purchase after I hit the buy button, but

they arrived and I love them!  I will probably have to start a 

fashion feature to show you what I buy.  I ordered a second pair of

jeans from Talbots too, in a different style, and they fit well too.  Now

I know where to go.  I realized I have a couple of blazers too that have

been hiding in my closet.  I decided to send them to the cleaners and

start wearing them too.  

Working from home has made me very lax about my wardrobe.  I

tend to live in sweats.  Comfy, but hardly fashionable.  I need to step

up my game, if for no one but me.  Fixing myself up really changes

my attitude for the better.

That's all for now.  I am actually (hard to believe) in a organizational

mood today.  I have to take advantage of that mood when it strikes.

Have a great Monday, and we'll connect again later in the week.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

I Have a Soft Spot for Staffordshire

For those of you who visit me often, you know that when you stop

by, you will not find the latest trends here.  In fact, you won't find

much that is trendy here at all.  No fake fur pillows, no shiplap, etc.  

There is nothing wrong with any of that, but it's not me, and it will 

never be where my decorating dollars go.

My style is very much English Country Cottage.  I love the warmth

and coziness of it all, and I especially love Staffordshire.  It just

sings to me and it has for many years now.  When I go up to 

Round Top for Antique Week, I tend to spend most of my time at

Marburger Farm and the Big Red Barn.  I know from experience, 

that I will find something I love there.  

I don't even have to buy anything, I just love looking around and

appreciating all the beautiful displays of pieces I love.

These collections also make me think of lovely table settings.  I have

scrapbooks full of elegant tables.  I have saved these photos for years.

I know I have to polish it, but I still love silver, especially sterling.  

If you want to start your own collection, just remember that you don't 

have to buy everything at once.  You might think of beginning with

serving pieces that will work with the flatware you currently own.

Here some darling vintage dogs.  Oh how I love these.

What makes this hutch so interesting is that it is filled with a mixture of

antique books, candlesticks, binoculars and an old telescope.  It is

a fascinating collection of well loved pieces used in a different way.

Well, that's it for today.  The weather turned quite cold here, or at

least quite cold for South Texas.  I had to dig out some warm socks,

and a sweater too.  It's a huge change from the mid to upper 80's

we had last week!

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Latching Onto and Trying to Hold a Memory

As I go about my day, I sometimes hear a song, or notice something 

that triggers a happy memory from the past.  The image may be a bit

foggy, like looking through a wet and humid window, and yet it

can seem so real that I can imagine I might reach out, touch it, and

hold onto all the joy of that special moment.  

The memory can be more recent.  A happy moment,

a beautiful sunset, a moonlit walk.  A little

treasure that is stored in my heart and pulled out

when needed.

Or perhaps it may be a fuzzy moment from the past of a loved one

who is now dearly missed.  

I often try to hold onto those treasured moments for longer periods of

time.  It's like looking through an open doorway.  I get a glimpse of 

what is on the other side, yet I have no way to get there.  I try to

grab the memory and hold on, but it slips away from me.

I once read that old episodes of I Love Lucy are streaming through

the Universe and perhaps other beings on other planets may pick 

up that signal.  Our thoughts are energy too.  Are they also 

streaming through the Universe to some unknown destination?

If time is an illusion and is limited by our thought, and God lives

in a different dimension that we cannot grasp, what will Heaven

be like for us?  Will we walk through a doorway and all the 

memories we collected on earth will be saved for us like a movie

is saved to a DVD?   I wonder about it.  Do you?

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley 

Fall in Love With Texas Blog Tour, Day 4

It's the final day of the blog tour.  It sure has been fun seeing how the

other girls have decorated for the season.  Here is a list of the 

final participants.  I know you will love this!

Opulent Cottage

Blue Sky at Home

Botanic Bleu

My Heart Lives Here

Poofing the Pillows

White Spray Paint

Hyacinth For the Soul

Thank you once again, to Katie for both organizing and hosting

this tour!

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Prayers for Florida and Blog Tour Day 3

It's hard to be cheerful and upbeat when our neighbors to the east are

about to be slammed by Hurricane Michael.  The Gulf Coast of Texas

lies to the east of the Panhandle of Florida.  The waters of the Gulf

are so warm and provide just the perfect environment for a hurricane

to become deadly.  I do hope that most of the residents have

evacuated.  Having lived through two major hurricanes that 

spawned on the Gulf Coast, I can tell you that sitting one out is a

very terrifying experience, and the aftermath is miserable too.

So I hope that you will understand that I just feel like praying

for the safety of so many in Michael's path.  I hope you will

join me.

Despite the upheaval in the east, we still have two remaining

days of the Fall in Love With Texas Blog Tour.  I hope y'all

will stop by these sites and enjoy all the Fall decorating 

inspiration!

Fall In Love With Texas Tour Day 3

Let's Add Sprinkles

The Aspiring Home

BJ -Sweet Nothings

Monica Wants It

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

My She Shed Named Sweet Tea Cottage

Sweet Tea Cottage is the name of my little She Shed and it's all

ready to show off for the Fall in Love With Texas Blog Tour.

Fall is officially here and it has even arrived in the mail box.

Such a welcoming sign with it's warm and cozy colors.  

I am so happy you are here.  

Despite the warm temps of the Texas Coastal Bend,  there is a lot

of Fall color in the garden surrounding the shed.  Mums, pumpkins,

and sun flowers are all blooming happily.

This little garden is a happy place.

From the wreath on the door ....

To the cozy garden chairs.

You will find something blooming all year here, and this spot

seems especially cheerful right now.

There is a little table and chairs all set for lunch too.

The weather has cooled off just enough and it is comfortable to

sit and chat.

Let's go inside.

Unfortunately, the plans to paint the interior last Fall were put on hold

after the tough days that followed Hurricane Harvey last year.  The

paint has been purchased to transform the interior walls and windows

will be installed too.  Despite it's rough look, it's still a cozy space,

and I am looking forward to the interior transformation that will

be starting soon.

This is my little stove filled with candles that give the space a warm 

and welcoming glow.

Vintage wicker furniture given a new and cozy look for Fall.

A little chandelier complete with pumpkins and leaves.

Sweet Tea Cottage is a tiny house with a big heart.  Thank you

for stopping by and letting me show you around.  Please stop by

and visit the other Lone Star Sisters who are participating in the

Fall in Love with Texas Blog Tour.  

First Day of Home

Country Road 407

Kitty's Kozy Kitchen

Ash Tree Cottage

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Let The Texas Fall Blog Party Begin!

Hey Y'all ~ Let's get this party started!  The Lone Star Sisters are having

another annual Fall in Love With Texas Blog Tour.  Put on your best

party clothes and let's go!!

Today's participants are ...,

Let's Add Sprinkles
My Thrift Store Addiction
French Ethereal
Decor to Adore

Bentley and I are up tomorrow.  We have been hard at work all day
staging, taking photos, avoiding thunder and lightning, but we'll be
ready to roll early tomorrow morning.  Hope to see you then!

Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

Sneak Preview of My Fall She Shed

I have been playing in my She Shed all week, getting her ready to

join my Lone Star Sisters for the Fall Tour.  I have been planting

around the outside of the shed, and poofing up the inside too.

This is just a little peek ~ much more next week!

By the way, although my blog is named Ash Tree Cottage, my 

little She Shed has taken on a life of it's own and is now been

officially named ....

Sweet Tea Cottage

I hope that you come to love her as much as I do.  More details

about the tour this weekend.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

At Least I Didn't Cry Today

I was shunned by my neighbor again today.  I came outside with 

Bentley.  My neighbor was out with his three big dogs.  Bentley

started to head towards the fence because in the past, he loved

to visit with the big guys next door.  As soon as my neighbor saw

us, he grabbed the dogs and headed back inside.  Bentley was

left by the fence, whining.  

Little Bentley is blind, as you all know.  I try to keep things

as happy for him as I can.  It's hard to know if Bentley

feels sad about not being able to visit with his doggie

friends again, or not.  I picked Bentley up and gave him 

lots of kisses and hugs and we spent more time out in the

yard.  While the whole incident made me feel sad, I 

did not cry this time.  I won't give the neighbor that

satisfaction.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Shame on Me

I will confess, these past couple of months have been very sad and

sometimes stressful ones for me.  I have not posted about them, because

I didn't want to bore you with my troubles, but these problems have

kept me from living a good life.

I have lived here in Texas for five years and I must admit, the move

and the consequences of this move have been hard for me.  As you

know I lost both my Mama and my beloved Aunt Susan during this

time and both of those losses have been tough for me.  Deaths in 

families happen, and they are always hard for the loved ones remaining,

but they are also part of life.  The sadness I have been feeling is

different from the loss of family members.  It's one of not fitting 

into the community.

I have been very fortunate in my life to have made and to have

kept friends for many years.  I have friends I have known since I 

was ten, and am so blessed to still have them in my life.   For some 

reason, I have not made any good friends here.  I can get beyond

that, but what I have not been able to get beyond is that some

have been really rude to me.  This rudeness has caused me to

become very withdrawn and afraid to reach out to others.  

Fortunately for me, I love my house and can spend my days and

evenings happily enjoying the comforts of home and garden.  

What has concerned me is that the unhappiness I have felt from

the unfriendliness has been eating away at my soul.  

Over the past few days, something has shifted for me.  It was

as though a little voice in my heart said "SHAME ON YOU, SUSAN".

So I did some soul searching and decided that I cannot allow the

people of this little town diminish my enthusiasm for life.  If they

don't like me, so what!  I know from past experience that I can

both make and keep friends.  They can no longer rob me from

living a happy life, and it's not necessary, nor is it healthy for me

to feel crushed by their refusal to accept me.   I refuse to stop

being kind, smiling at others and shining my light, but I won't 

care whether or not they return the gesture.  I am holding my

head up and living each day being happy.  

Thanks for listening.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley