Christmas All Through The House 2018

Christmas is over, and tonight is New Year's Eve.  We are on the cusp

of entering 2019.  A new year, new adventures and new opportunities.

I have highlighted some of our Christmas photos.  It's been fun, but

I am ready to leave 2018 behind and start a clean late.  

Thank you for visiting me so often these past twelve months.

Please know that your visits are greatly appreciated and that you

are all deeply loved.

May 2019 be filled with all the happy moments you long for, and

may all your wishes and dreams come true.

Much Love,

Susan and Bentley

Bentley's 13th Birthday December 21st

It's hard to believe it, but our baby is 13 years old today.  Born December 21, 2005 in

Boise, Idaho,  just a block down the street from us.   I knew his doggie mom and daddy

for years before Bentley was born.  He has a sister named Shorty, and a brother named

Joey.  His doggie parents were named Lady and Mr. Rags.

I knew he would be a loving puppy because he came to us from a very loving home.

Bentley has been a joy since he first joined our family.  Always such a good boy with 

a happy spirit.  Always waiting to amuse and to bring love.

He was by my side from the first day I started my blog, and often found 

himself a part of the blog action.

He always received the most amount of gifts at Christmas.  My

parents adored him and showered so much love and attention 

on him too.

The one negative about Bentley is that he has always hated to be groomed.  I don't

know why.  My groomer and I did everything possible to make it a happy

experience, but he stood his ground.  If you look closely, here he is running 

away with his hair brush!

Now Bentley makes his home with us in Texas.  He has traveled all over this

state and has been the perfect little traveler.  Here he is looking at a lovely

cottage in Fredericksburg.

Here he is in San Antonio on the Riverfront, at a dog friendly restaurant called ...

Charlie Wants a Burger

And, Bentley had a yummy burger too.

Of course he gets to stay at posh resorts with his Mama and Daddy,  and gets

to climb up on the bed pillows to get comfy.  Why?  Because we love him!!!

We are so blessed to have this little peanut in our lives.

This tribute is for you, dear Bentley, from your loving and devoted

Mama.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley, the Birthday Boy

My She Shed on Gingerbread Street

Welcome to my She Shed on Gingerbread Street!  The birds have been 

stopping by to see all of the decorations in the garden too.

This She Shed is part potting shed and also partly a creative

escape for me.  I love to get her all decorated for the seasons.

We have mail!

It's been very mild here, both yesterday and today.  It doesn't feel much

like the Christmas season should (at least for me), but I am going all

out to stay festive.

No real snow, so I had to use some from a spray can.

The rusty and vintage yard tools get decorated too.

Thank you so much for stopping by!  There will be more later, because

the inside of the shed is getting festive too.  

Metamorphosis Monday

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Lunch at the Cottage

We could have a salad, that would be the healthy choice.  However,

we could have PIE.  That would be the indulgent choice.  Your

pick.

I really can't remember when we sat down at this table.  Most of the time we

eat our meals at the breakfast bar.  However, I still enjoy creating a centerpiece,

and this little deer is a favorite of mine.

Okay, getting back to the important question ... who wants pie?

It's pecan, made in Texas, and it's really yummy!

Tablescape Thursday

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Finally ~ The Sun is Shining Once Again

Wowsa!  We had so much rain last Friday that I was beginning to worry

that we might get flooded out!  We have never been flooded here, but the

rain came down so hard and so fast that part of the patio began to look

like a pool.  I had planned to work on decorating my She Shed for 

Christmas, but there was no way I was going out in the swamp.  When

the rain finally let up, the winds started to blow and the temps dropped.

That was equally as miserable.  

Finally, today we have clear skies and the sun is warm and beautiful!

Of course, we still have a moat around our backyard, but I can live

with that until it dries out.  The toughest issue is Bentley, who likes 

the mud puddles.  He doesn't like the rain, but he joyfully gravitates

to the puddles it leaves behind.  

I have so much to do today to get caught up with my Christmas decorating plans.

I'm setting up the exterior of the She Shed Christmas Cottage, and I am also

waiting for our Christmas tree to be delivered.  I definitely need a second mug of

coffee today!  Hope your day is going well!

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Creating a Cozy Christmas Cottage

Well, I was hoping to be able to decorate around the outside of the

She Shed today, but it's raining.  I think it is supposed to rain for a 

couple of days and then clear up.  I certainly do hope that will be the

case.  So I am back inside finding little spots in the house to add 

some cozy Christmas cottage charm.

This is a favorite spot in the cottage, especially on a gray and

rainy day.  Bentley loves to curl up in one of the chairs with me.

Sometimes he takes more than his share of the chair, but that's

just fine.  I am happy to indulge him.

I usually like to start my day with a mug of hot water and a slice or two

of lemon.  After that, I have a mug filled with coffee, cream, and

some kind of sweeter that isn't sugar.  Coffee in a Santa mug is

especially cozy at this time of year.

I'll be home for the rest of the day.  I am having my groceries delivered

later today.  I am loving this service.  First I started using curbside

delivery, and now I have switched to home delivery.  They pull up in

my driveway, and unload all the groceries in my back hall.  All I have

left to do is to put them away.  I feel so spoiled, but actually it is helpful

especially when I have not been feeling up to leaving the house.

I hope you have a wonderful and cozy day too!

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

I Have Not Been Feeling Well at All

I have been feeling so poorly for the past few months.  I have not had

the kind of energy I usually do.  I have been sneezing and coughing and

wheezing.  I am a tiny little person, but I have the loudest sneezes you

have ever heard!  It's not a sweet, dainty and feminine sneeze, but 

I do believe that I can out sneeze my hubby.  I can be way over at one end

of the house, but when I start having a sneezing fit, I can hear David 

shout "Bless You".  

I was looking forward to our trip to Tucson and while I really did enjoy

myself there, it seemed to make my condition worse.  Too much dust?

Too much cold dry air in the evenings?  Who knows, but I really

started feeling miserable on the way back to Texas.  

Something else I noticed was aggravating my condition too.  Before 

Thanksgiving I had an unfortunate encounter with a person who has

always been very toxic around me.  I have purposefully kept a wide berth

around her because I just don't want to get into anything.  I have taken 

a smile and keep my mouth shut attitude whenever there is contact with

her.  Well,  she did something that really hurt my feelings, but sadly,

it also made my physical condition worse.  I could feel my chest starting

to tighten up and some wheezing begin.  That's when a line was drawn

for me.  I don't need to have this person in my life if her association has

such a negative impact on my health.  Life is too short to look for trouble.

I wish her well, but I have moved on.

Finally, I had a second confirmation that emotions could really make my

condition worse.  Very recently I had a discussion with a friend who I

really do like, but this friend has a tendency to always complain about

a mutual acquaintance.  As I was listening to the complaints, I could

once again feel my chest tighten up, and later that night I had a very

hard time sleeping because I was coughing so much.  

The night before last, I took a Benadryl before I went to bed.  I have

used this in the past for allergies, and it works very well for me.  The

problem is that it makes me feel so groggy the next day.  That being 

said, it worked wonders.  The very next morning there was no

sneezing, no coughing, no feeling of tightness in my chest.  I didn't 

take one last night, but I still feel good today.  I can breath easily.

I'm no longer sneezing, and my eyes are not tearing up either.

I am beginning to feel like myself again, and what a wonderful

feeling that is!  The solution was much easier than I thought it would

be ....  an occasional Benadryl and only happy thoughts!

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Christmas Decor From The Past

I always have a vague idea of how I decorated the previous year.  In the 

past, I decorated most of the rooms.  I am less interested in going to all

that work this year.  It's fun going up, but a real chore to dismantle and

put away.  My knew motto is "take it easy".  

I plan to keep the interior decorations to a minimum.  We will have a

live tree filled with all the Christmas memories of the past.  The difference

is that I used to put up a tree in the living room and one in the family room.

Now it's just the family room.

I will however, spend a lot of time decorating the She Shed ...

because who doesn't want to see a little cottage all dressed up

for the holidays???

I sure do!

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Social Media Can Be Cruel

I am hard at work on my book right now, but I wanted to take a few minutes

to discuss hurt feelings that can be caused by social media.  Here is my

question, have you ever been unfriended by anyone on social media?  I

am not talking about someone you have never met personally, or

someone with whom you only have a limited friendship.  I am talking

about someone who you have corresponded with regularly, or worse yet,

a relative.  How did this make you feel?  Were you hurt, or were you

angry?  Did you have any idea as to why you were unfriended?  

This happened to me just last week.  I am curious to know your 

thoughts.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Why I Woke Up in a Panic!

Last night at about 4:30 AM, I woke up in a panic!  I had a very scary

dream.  In my dream it was Christmas morning, but I looked around and

realized I never put up a tree, or baked any cookies.  I walked around the

house saying to myself .... How could it be Christmas already?  I thought

it was still November!  

I noticed that David had already brought in the newspaper.  When I looked

at the headline it read ....

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

No coffee cake for breakfast and nothing for dinner.  I had not been 

shopping and the pantry was empty!

No fire in the fireplace.  No filled Christmas stockings.  Nothing at all

to celebrate the holiday.  

When I woke up from this very scary dream, I looked at the clock.  

I checked the date on my phone.  Yes, still November.  What a relief.

Falling back an hour on Saturday night has me all mixed up!  But

I am taking no chances.  I think I will head outside today and start

decorating the She Shed.  At least one spot will be ready just in 

case, lol.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley