The Decorating Ghosts of Christmas Past

One of the wonderful things about having a blog is that you can look at old

seasonal photos from years gone by and remember what you liked about a 

holiday decorating scheme.  

These are a few of my favorites from last year.  This was my Sun Valley

Christmas cloche.  It was fun putting it together for one of Marty's

cloche parties.

This is another one of my favorites.  Love that Christmas card that looks

like a vintage postage stamp!

And this darling little bird is another favorite.  

Now that I have the Christmas boxes down from the attic, I wonder what

I will create this year?  

For more inspiration I am headed over to 

Seasonal Sundays

Show Off Your Cottage Monday
Amaze Me Monday
Masterpiece Monday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

and

Table Top Tuesday

Okay Bentley ~ let's gather up all of your Christmas themed

squeak toys and put them in a wagon for your display!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Cozy Cottage Elements

I want to thank all of you who come to visit me.  I have not been very good about 

returning the favor, and I do apologize.  Life has been very hectic around my

cottage for the last several weeks.  My Mom was ill several times, my hubby

David was too and then my Mother-in-Law passed away.  

I have been trying to balance all of my obligations, and frankly, blog reading

just took a back seat.  Now things seem to be settling down to a more

normal pattern and I will be happily following and commenting on all of

the great and creative blogs I love so much.

So until then, here are a couple of mosaics I have put together to bring the "cozy" 

feeling back into my little cottage and to share than coziness with you.

What a great group of friends I have made and I thank you from the bottom

of my heart!

I am linking up to ~

Blue Monday

Mosaic Monday

Show Off Your Cottage Monday

Bentley ~ your Auntie Robin flew over Idaho today on her way to

visit her daughter Taylor in Washington State.  Did you remember to look

up and send her a kiss?

Big Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Antique Books

I don't have many antique books, but of the few I have, this one

is my favorite.

It is the first book I ever purchased at a tag sale with my

Mom when I was a young girl.

Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag

Vol. III

Cupid and Chow-Chow, Etc.

by

Louisa May Alcott

Published in Boston by Roberts Brothers, 1874

The binding is worn. There is a bit of water damage that was

there when I purchased it, but I love it just the same.

Have a happy Monday and Tuesday

I am joining

Show Off Your Cottage Monday

and

Table Top Tuesday

Bentley had a very busy day at Grandma's house yesterday.

He's not even interested in chasing the squirrels this morning!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xx00

Creating a Little Romance

Romance is in the air ...

I am starting to plan for a

romantic evening for two ~ well actually three,

because you know Bentley will be with us!

I am on my way to visit these Monday parties

Amaze Me Monday

Making the World Cuter Monday

Masterpiece Monday

Mosaic Monday

Show Off Your Cottage Monday

Bentley ~ would you like to think about giving Thelma a little

Valentine's Day gift? What about heart shaped

lettuce leaves?

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

It's A Sign! and A Give~Away!

When I moved into my cottage, I gave it a name immediately ~

just like the cottages in England are named. Of course I had

to have a sign ~ so I painted this one above and it has

been hanging proudly on our front porch for many years.

Now I am offering a fabulous give~away so that you too can

have a sign for your cottage!

The Ramsign Company of Denmark ~ makers of very charming

enamel signs ... is giving away one of their creations to

You!!!

All you have to do is:

become a follower if you are not already a

follower of Ash Tree Cottage.

Or ...

Not ~ Don't feel obliged to be a follower!

Leave us a very charming comment!

Or Not!

And ...

I will name a winner next Sunday, January 23rd.

How easy is that???

I am still oohing and aahing over these sweet signs!

Now ~ please also visit the very talented Cielo at

The House in the Roses for

Show Off Your Cottage Monday!

I know, I know Bentley ~ I sound like a presenter

at the Golden Globes!!

But you must admit ~ this is a great give~away ...

and the first of many during this

Blogversary!!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

PS: Bloggers who are critical of the way that I operate this contest or who leave nasty comments on another post of mine will be eliminated. We all left high school long ago.

Shabby Chic Cottage Corner

An old Eastlake table covered in many coats of paint ...

Lightened up and added to a cottage corner ...

Makes for a cozy cottage corner.

Cozy is the operative word for today!

Big storm rolling in from the Pacific ... 10 inches of snow in the valley ...

20 inches in the mountains ...

Be careful what you wish for!!

I'm joining our friends Susan for Met Monday and Cielo for Show Off Your Cottage. Susan injured her wrist ... ouch!!! Let's all sent her our love and prayers for a speedy healing!!

That's right Bentley 10 inches of snow coming our way!!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Blue Mosaics From My Cottage

Ever since I learned how to make mosaics I am just having so much fun combining photos from around my cottage. So ... Today I am joining Smiling Sally for Blue Monday, Mary at The Little Red House for Mosaic Monday and Cielo at The House in the Roses for Show Off Your Cottage Monday. Thank you girls for being our lovely hostesses each Monday!

Bentley ~ should we make a mosaic of you napping? You look so cute!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

My Cottage Pantry

Today I am giving you a tour of my cottage pantry. It is located on the back porch off of my kitchen. It's a lovely light filled place where I store staples for cooking, marketing bags and more. Here is a basket filled with milk bottles that will be returned to our local Boise Co-Op for fresh milk. I am in love with this new local dairy that sells it's delicious milk and cream in bottles!

My husband built these shelves for me. I store can goods, my slow cooker, vintage cake pans and more.

On the top shelf are baskets filled with vintage thermoses, lunch boxes, a vintage bread box with an old style popcorn maker on top. I'm just not a microwave girl.

There are marketing bags ...

And a French market basket too. I am in walking distance to the Co-Op and this basket makes it easy and fun to collect my fresh veggies and milk.

More baskets ~ always useful. My three tiered hanging copper basket. It is filled with artificial fruit and veggies that once belonged to my Mom. Because she gave them to me I just can't part with them, so I show them off for fun in the corner of the porch.

Here's my vintage Skotch Cooler. It's so decorative and fun to use for picnics.

And finally ~ my little sewing cabinet where I store a stash of fat quarters for quilting. That's my tour for today. Tomorrow I will show you the other side of the back porch where the laundry is located. Until then, please go visit our lovely friend Cielo. She has a charming cottage to show you at The House in the Roses for her Show Off Your Cottage Monday.

Yes Bentley, I know we keep your bag of crunchies out on the back porch. We showed it on a Pink Saturday post remember??

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Tour 2 ~ Cottages of the North End

Grab a thermos of tea or coffee and come take a morning walk with me and Bentley too and we will show off just a few of the charming cottages in our neighborhood. First stop above is Amy's Garden. Amy is an Engineering Professor at BSU, but she also has quite the green thumb. She owns two cottages, side by side and uses one for visiting profs, friends and relatives. The entire front yard is full of veggies, herbs and wild flowers. In the back are her four chickens, Thelma, Louise, Florence and Beatrice. Next stop ... Bentley's place of birth!

Here is the cute little cape cod cottage where you were born Bentley. It's just on the next block. His birth mother Miss Lady lives there. His birth daddy, Mr Rags, comes to visit, but he lives in another house. Bentley, we don't need to check back at Amy's, the chickens are out back ...

This cottage below belongs to Inger. It is super tiny, about 600 square feet. It was originally built as a "sample house" to show off the architect's plans. Inger is a talented artist with such charming vision. Her little cat is watching us ~ especially watching Bentley!!

Inger added this little potting shed on the side. Isn't it the cutest???

Here's a fine example of Queen Anne style.

Picket fences are everywhere. Traditional white pickets, square pickets, iron ones too!

Porches are hugely popular in the North End. They are a must!!!

Porch swings are seen everywhere ...

Bungalow styles are popular too.

Cottage gardens are popular ....

And hula hoops too!!

Bentley and I are headed home. Here is our little cottage back behind our own picket fence ...

Thanks for taking a morning walk with us. Get a refill of coffee or tea and stop by to visit Cielo at her House in the Roses for Show Off Your Cottage Monday!!

Yes Bentley, you were born in that sweet cottage just one block away!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo