It Was A Great Weekend

As usual, the day following a long weekend usually moves a bit more

slowly.  Saturday afternoon, we drove down to Rockport to see how the

rebuilding is coming along, and to have dinner at one of our favorite

restaurants that just recently re-opened.  Rockport is a tiny coastal

village that was really hit hard by Hurricane Harvey.  Massive 

destruction was everywhere.  It will be two years since the hurricane

struck in August and it's taken a long time to get things back to

a new normal.  While there are still many homes, condos and apartments

boarded up, many restaurants have re-opened and were very happy to

see the crowds of people returning to kick off the Summer of 2019.

Our favorite little restaurant is Bellino's.  It's a charming little Italian

restaurant that serves great food in a very charming and cosy

atmosphere.  The place had to be gutted after the hurricane, but the

owners were determined to re-open and their patrons are very happy

about it.  

David and I have always preferred to dine at independently owned

restaurants.  We avoid the big commercial chains unless we are 

on the road and there is no other choice.  One thing we noticed on

Saturday night was that no one was on their cell and that couples were

actually speaking to one another.  I don't think anyone wanted to 

leave, the atmosphere was just that pleasant.

I'm always sad when a holiday weekend comes to an end.  It's so

nice to see more of David and just hang out together.   I hope your

weekend was a nice as ours.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

More Changes at the She Shed

My She Shed sits off by itself in a more remote and fenced in area of

the backyard.  While I have a sink and a place to pot plants on the 

veranda, it's not so convenient as having a designated place to store

everything I need for working in the She Shed garden.  So I went on

a hunt for a potting bench.  I wanted one that will fill my needs and yet

not be too expensive.  

I found this one produced by Better Homes and Gardens and sold 

through Walmart. The price was right, it suited my needs and there

was a two day free delivery to my home.  Sold!

One of the features I love about this potting bench is that it has a 

plastic pan underneath a removable lid.  This is handy for adding soil to

pots and can be rinsed out later.  

So, I am very. happy with this new purchase and it is already getting

a lot of use!  BTW, as I was walking around the corner, I happened to

glance at one of my tomato plants and noticed that I already have two

small tomatoes just hanging on the vine waiting to ripen.  There is one

one my other tomato plant too.  On top of that exciting news, I also

stopped to check on my new rose bush and noticed that I have three

new buds.  What a great afternoon it's been.

Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone!  Have fun and stay safe.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Daily She Shed ~ Interior Finishes

The weather here has not been very conducive for gardening, so I have

been focusing my She Shed thoughts on the interior.  As in all standard sheds,

the walls are plywood, and really need to be covered in a finish of some 

kind.  I am leaning towards bead board because of it's ease of installation,

and it's cottage charm.  I may consider shiplap too, but not sure.  I am

not a big trend follower as you know.

It's hard to tell from this photo because of the stacked pictures in the

way, but that black square between the two chairs is an electric stove. 

Looks like an old fashioned wood stove.  Yesterday it occurred to me

how much I would love stone in those two areas marked above.  Faux

stone of course, which appears to be readily available in all types of

styles.  The faux stone would run ceiling to floor.  I think it would 

really draw the eye to this end of the room.  Everything else will be

painted white, walls, beams, and ceiling, so the stone would really

pop!  We also will be installing longer arch top windows on 

either side of the stone.

The other reason I like stone so much is that many of my favorite

movies from the 1940's utilized it in their interpretation of cottage

and farmhouse interiors.  This is true of Christmas in Connecticut,

Bringing Up Baby, Dear Ruth, Skylark and more.   All of these homes

use lots of interior stone with detailed trim work and beams, all in

white.  This has always been an ideal look to me.  One that

exudes country charm.

I am excited about all of this coming interior work and plan to

get some samples this weekend.

A weather update.  We have been fortunate to have escaped the

nasty weather that was headed for our area.  It just stayed above

us and headed east.  We only had light rain, while from Fredericksburg

to Austin, and on to Houston, there were high winds, and large hail,

and many lightning strikes along with the heavy rain.  Poor

Sugar Land, a large town west of Houston has flooded once again.

It was flooded after Hurricane Harvey and many,  including our

friends, had to evacuate their homes.  David checked in with our 

friends last night and they were getting very nervous.  Please 

keep everyone in these paths in your prayers.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Daily She Shed ~ Rain Day, Working Inside

I had hopes of doing some gardening around the She Shed today, but 

the weather is so threatening.  One minute the skies turn dark gray, and

the next they are clearing up.  The weather channel is predicting a lot of

rain for us, so we shall see. 

I have been going through closets and hutches looking for things to

add to the interior.  I am amazed at just how much I have squirreled away!

I am going for all white for the walls and exposed beams.  I am not 

certain what kind of treatment I want on the walls.  I still love the cottage

appeal of bead board.  I am not sure if I want to go to the trouble of 

putting up shiplap or not.  

At the far end of the shed is an electric copy of a wood stove.  I just

had an idea of putting up faux stone around the back of it.  I hadn't thought

of that before.  I'll be doing some research for sure!  More about that later.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Daily She Shed ~ Windows Installed

The new windows, shutters and window boxes arrived last week.

David installed them for me on Saturday.  I'll tell you what ....

I am loving them!  They even have little screens.  Honestly, I feel 

like a little girl with a play house.  Can't remember when I have had

quite this much fun.

It's raining now and will be for days and days and I had to remember to

run out and shut the windows!   This may be the last outdoor shot I will

be able to post for a bit.

After the windows were finished, I went inside and decorated one of the

window sills.  I know it's premature, but that's my playful nature.  I just

want to be inspired to get busy with all the inside work too.   I have

also decided to add two more windows at the far end of the shed.

These windows will be longer and have arched tops.   They are from the

same company, and I wanted to make sure that I liked their products 

before I went hog wild ;-).   Still so much more to do, but it is truly a

labor of love!

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Daily She Shed ~ New Use For Old Teapot

I was going through the hutch in my breakfast room and discovered this vintage

electric kettle.  I found it at a thrift shop long ago, and have never used it.  In

fact, I was afraid to even try it out.  It is the kind that has a small electric

heating element at the bottom and plugs into an electrical outlet.   I

remember buying it just because I thought it was cute, and I still think it

is in that thrift shop cute kind of way.  Since I knew I would never

use it the way it was meant to be used, I thought I would put it out in the

herb garden and add a spot of color with a vinca plant.  It seems right at

home in this spot.  You will have to wait a bit to see what else is happening

in this garden pot, because I have plans!

Have a great weekend y'all!

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Daily She Shed ~ New Windows, Shutters, Flower Boxes

The new windows, shutters and window boxes have arrived!  Hopefully

these will be installed this weekend.  The wicker edging for the herb

and tomato garden is scheduled to arrive on this coming Monday.

Progress is being made.

These mums are from last fall.  I planted then in a galvanized container

and never transplanted them.  Now they are blooming once again

this spring.   

I am thinking about what kind of flooring I want inside the shed.

Let me know if you have any suggestions.  Slate, or a slate look 

might be nice.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Daily She Shed ~ Happy May Day Flowers

To the right side of the She Shed there is a stand of ginger plants.  

They are quite thick and getting tall once again.  This past winter we

did not have a hard freeze, so the ginger did not have to be cut back 

down to the ground as it did for the past couple of years.  When we

don't have a hard freeze, the ginger will flower, and that's what is

happening right now.  Large clusters of buds.

This morning these buds began to open up.  Aren't they beautiful!

Vinca in pots hanging just above the herb garden.

At the end of the herb garden, a lovely plant with the sweetest clusters of

blossoms.

Yet more in pink.

The garden around the shed is coming along nicely, although never quite fast

enough.  I get so much enjoyment from this garden.  I had to move the bird

feeders because the tree man trimmed our crepe myrtles, and it took the

birds a full day to rediscover them.  Now they are back singing in the background

while I work in my little garden.  This is truly my happy spot!

Happy first day of May y'all!

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley