What's Your Decorating Inspiration?

I am experiencing (as are many of you) the after Christmas let down.

While the cottage looks all warm and cozy with all of the Christmas 

decorations still up, soon it will all come down and everything will look 

a bit less cheerful.

What to do to spice up the couple of cold and dreary months ahead?

Decorate!

All of the reds in the Christmas decorations have made me realize that I want to

use more reds in my accents.  Red and white.  Happy and clean and uplifting.

Oh and chickens.  My heart was stolen by my neighbor's chickens.  I never

knew how very fond of them I could be.

David and Bentley have prevented me from having a few running around our

yard ~ but I can still enjoy their presence in other ways.

My Mom has decided she would like to have some chickens.  There is a little cottage

just one block from my own that is for sale.  It is a really sweet little place.  Mom's

neighbors have been moving into assisted living facilities (neither of us want that for

her) and she may be ready for a change.  If we bought that little cottage for her she

would be close to Bentley ~ AND she could have her own chickens and a 

chicken coop.  I am going to share a sweet design I found on William Poole's

site of a Grandma's cottage.  The one down the street is very, very similar and we

could make it the cutest little cottage!

So once again ~ chickens are inspiring!

Oh and one more thing before I let you go.  Stop over and visit our BFF

Brenda she found a wonderful source for crafting fabrics.  She bought the 

cutest rooster print you all must see.  I don't know about you, but little

sewing and crafting projects just relax me and make me feel all warm and

cozy!

AND ~ I am about to start painting my kitchen hutch.  It's currently blue with a 

white interior and Laura Ashley fabric covering the shelves.  You know the one,

you have all seen it.  Well, if I get the nerve it will be painted red with white

shelves.

Okay Bentley ~ send everyone your biggest grin and a wave too!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Dear Blogging Friends

Over the past year and a half, I  have met some wonderful

new friends.  Bloggers create their own community and it's one

whose boundaries are broad.  We reach out to fellow bloggers in other states

and countries.  We share happy moments and sad ones too.

We meet others who share our interests.  We are inspired and amused.

We are enlightened.  Most importantly, we lift each other up.

Thank you ~ each and every one of you!  I am especially

grateful to Brenda who has educated me and many others.  She

has welcomed us into her Cozy Little House.  She has dazzled us with

her beautiful photos, helped us be better bloggers, introduced us to

new friends and has been the best kind of friend to so many!

Thank you dear Brenda.  We love you!!

We are here for you.

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Crazy for Collage!

Ever since Brenda from Cozy Little House gave us a tutorial about using Picnik, I have been having lots of fun making collages. If you have not tried it yet, go visit Brenda and read all about it. You will have lots of fun too!! Thanks Brenda ~ you are a doll!!!

Bentley, should Mama make a collage of some of your pics? We have lots to choose from.

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Rain and More Rain in the Garden!!

I would love to get out in the garden but as I look out the front window, there is nothing but rain. Rain and more rain! The ground cover is so thick it has buried the old lawn chairs out front. My poor peonies have lots of buds, but the cool temps and lack of sunshine are keeping the blossoms from opening up.

I still have pansies though. They are happy in the cool and wet weather. Bentley and I are longing to get outside, but we'll just have to poof and fluff the inside of the cottage.

First I want to show you this darling set of handmade jewelry I won from Jennifer over at The Toy Box Years!! Thank you so much Jennifer! I know that I will enjoy wearing these sweet pieces this summer.

Aside from fluffing the pillows in the cottage, I'll be visiting Cindy's Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home, and Brenda's Cozy Little House for Welcome Wagon Friday.

Bentley, if we put on your yellow rain slicker you can go outside and not get too wet. Bentley says no.

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo