My Spring Garden Tool Box

I am always so happy to be planting at this time of year.  My chippy tool box

that was filled with bunnies and eggs for Easter, is now being used to tote

around seeds and plants for the garden.

I just stopped at my local co-op to pick up a flat leaf parsley plant.

My herb garden is just off our back porch and it's always such a joy to

snip fresh herbs for cooking.  I add parsley to everything I can.

I picked up some organic heirloom lettuce.  I plan to fill the old whisky barrel with

lettuce this spring.  Much cheaper than buying lettuce at the store.

 Oh and our bank has been handing out wild flower seeds.  What a sweet idea and 

what fun to sprinkle around!

It is raining very softly right now.  If I put on my gardening clogs and a hat I 

should be fine to plant for a bit.  Oh how I love the spring.  Despite the fact

that I already have a big blister on the palm of my hand from yesterday's

gardening chores, I am bandaged and ready to get out there again.

Shear joy!

Please remember to visit Marty for

Table Top Tuesday

and Linda for

Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays

Bentley actually likes to nibble on the herbs in our garden.

He is my little canine gourmand!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

I've Been A Very Bad Blogger!

I am so ashamed of myself for being a very bad blogger.  The past couple of months

have gone by so quickly and all I have done is put together a post and disappear.  I have 

not visited all of you as I should.  Not very friendly of me at all!

I am sorry and being busy is no excuse.  All of us are busy.

But I hope that you will accept my apology.

So instead of stressing about what to post for my blog, I am going to focus on catching

up with what has been going on with all of you. 

I have been thinking also about what I can do on this blog to keep it more interesting

and fun.  I can certainly use a bit more fun in my life and I bet you can too.

I love you all and so appreciate all of the talent you have.  Now it's time for

me to let you know.

Come on Bentley ~ let's go visiting!

Big Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Indoor Gardening

It's cold outside.  We have not had any snow to soften the landscape outside and 

my yard looks gray and sad.  My Mom and I were looking at a lovely garden in

an old Traditional Home magazine yesterday and I started to dream about spring.

Spring is still a couple of months off, so I'll just be happy to satisfy my desire to

play in the dirt by doing a bit of indoor gardening.  

I took some florist wire and created a fairly sturdy hoop ...

and wound my ivy plant around it.  That makes me happier.  Oh, and don't you

love that miniature African Violet?  I sure do!

I wonder what Marty is doing today?

Okay Bentley ~ let's start painting my thrift shop desk!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

A Welcoming Christmas Entry

Coming home to a warm and welcoming Christmas entry.

Cards from friends waiting to be opened.

Bits of Christmas cheer on the entry table.

No place like home for the holidays!

I am joining 

Table Top Tuesday
and
A Return to Loveliness

Bentley ~ I just had a great idea for a Christmas tree just for you!!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

It's All in the Details

What makes your home uniquely yours?  Have you ever walked into 

someone's home and had the feeling that the owners purchased every little

detail from a popular store?  A house that has been so depersonalized that

it does not look like a home?  

As a designer, I have seen it before.  I once had a client who did not think

that the members of her family were very attractive, so she thought that she

should keep the photos of the models who came in the picture frames she purchased

because they were so much more attractive than her family members.

How sad is that?

As we fluff our cottages this week and in the coming weeks getting ready to

welcome family and friends, let's remember to keep the "home" in our cottages.

Let's let our personalities shine through.  It's what makes each of us

unique and special!

I am off to visit Marty who gives us all great inspiration to

feather our nests.

Bentley ~ are you still napping?  Actually that's a good thing so that the

squirrels can peacefully eat the squash that I put out for them without

being disturbed.

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Hanging on to Autumn

Have you noticed all of the Christmas decorations in the stores?

In some stores they were up before Halloween.  

I am a traditionalist however, and as much as I love Christmas, I refuse

to put up any decorations for my favorite holiday until the day after

Thanksgiving.  Therefore I am showing you my autumnal cloche on the

entry table.  I'm hanging on to Autumn and enjoying each minute.

How about you?  

Life goes by fast enough.  Let's not speed it up!

I am happy to be joining Marty for

Table Top Tuesday

Bentley ~ let's not pull out any of your Christmas squeak toys until 

after Thanksgiving.  Okay?

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

There's a New Roo in Town!

Watch out Thelma!

Move over King Strut!

There's a new Roo at Ash Tree Cottage and he's a nifty thrifty looker

who is currently on my table top before he makes his way to his new

roost as the back porch doorstop.  Quite the looker don't you think?

I love a good bargain and he will really come in handy keeping the wind from

slamming the back door shut!

Joining

Table Top Tuesday





What do you think Bentley ~ don't you love the way I keep adding hens and
roos to the cottage?

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

This and That

Wow it's October already!  The time is just flying by.  

There are so many things I want to accomplish and it just seems that there are 

never enough hours in the day.  

My front porch still looks summery, so I am working on cozying it up for fall.

I have been enjoying all of your beautiful fall decorations and am way behind you all.

 I'm going to start pumping up the volume so that I have something

fun to share with you.

I am linking up to Marty's

Table Top Tuesday

See you there!

Bentley ~ let's get busy decorating for fall!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

I Heart Vintage Linens

I love them all ~ 

Tablecloths, Bridge Sets, Napkins, Tea Towels.

Any time I find vintage linens I just swoon.

Here are a few on that old tea cart I painted recently.

(I love the tea cart too)

I think of the love that went into each cross stitch and each bit of embroidery.

Such treasures!

I feel like wearing a pretty dress, some pearls and an apron and

inviting you all over for tea!

I am headed to Marty's for

Table Top Tuesday

Come join me.

Bentley ~ Daddy and I bought a new home freezer for out in the 

garage.  Let's go fill it up with the frozen food in our old

refrigerator before the new one is delivered tomorrow.  After

that we can watch I Love Lucy and the Home Freezer episode!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

It's the Little Things

Often it's the little things in life that bring us joy.

An email from an old friend.

Finding a perfect sea shell while walking along the beach.

The happy greeting you receive from your dog when you

walk through the door.

Finding some precious small pine cones while on a Sunday 

afternoon walk.

It's those simple sweet little things that bring such joy!

I am joining 

Table Top Tuesday

for some more simple pleasures.

Bentley ~ do you like your new tweety?  Do you want to play???

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

What's On My Table Top?

I love this tea cup ~ I think it's pretty.

I am joining

Table Top Tuesday

and

Tea Cup Tuesday

and last but certainly NOT least

Tea Time Tuesday

Bentley ~ send your best smooches to these lovely hostesses!

Lots of love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Classic Whites

Classic whites. Always in season. Always fresh

and lovely.

I am joining ~

Table Top Tuesday

Bentley and I had a wonderful holiday weekend even

though it rained most of the time. No matter what the

weather we always enjoy spending time with those

we love!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

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

Oooh Baby!

I love vintage silver and I really like this vintage baby cup and

fork and spoon. T he graphics in this vintage baby book

are wonderful too.

A 1941 copyright and there were never any entries in the book.

Too bad. Maybe the new mom was so busy she didn't have time to

write in the book. We'll just have to use our imaginations.

Maybe I should fill the pages with pics and stories about Bentley

when he was a pup.

So this is what is on my table top today. Stop by and visit

Marty for more Table Top Tuesday ideas.

When Bentley was a tiny little pup, I was concerned about running the

vacuum because I didn't want to scare him. I put him in his little bed

and started cleaning. It turned out that as tiny as he was, he had no

fear of the vacuum. Instead he ran after it barking and trying to bite

the Dyson. He was and still is a fearless little guy!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Make Way for Birdies!

I found this last week.

It's a Victorian style birdcage.

I won't put any birds in it because I can't bear to see any animal

in a cage ~ but it sure will look great on my front porch.

Of course, that's if and when we start having some spring like

weather. It snowed this morning and the winds were very strong.

I'm taking a quick trip to visit Marty for

Table Top Tuesday.

Bentley ~ lets get under that down filled comforter

and hibernate until spring!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Shopping the Cottage ~ Blue and White

As many of you know, I have started a few big re~decorating

projects at the cottage.

I am painting

Installing some new architectural elements

Searching for new fabrics and more.

It all gets a bit pricey ~ so I shop the cottage.

Since I love blue and white, I'm pulling out tea pots,

tea cups, lamps and more to re~arrange

and have some fun creating new vignettes.

Blue and white always looks so clean and fresh!

I am using what I have to be as nifty and thrifty as possible.

After I finish the latest "honey do list", I think I'll relax

with a cup of tea and...

Pay a visit to these fun Tuesday Parties:

Table Top Tuesday

Tea Cup Tuesday

(at Artful Affirmations and Martha's Favorites)

Tea Time Tuesday

Tea Pot and Tea Things Tuesday

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

and

Three or More Tuesday

What's that Bentley? Writing your autobiography was exhausting

and you need a tummy rub??

For you Bentley ~anything!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Lovin' Lavender!

Brrr ~ it's cold outside so ...

I'm warm and cozy inside having dreams of spring!

I'm dreaming of white wicker, warm sunny days in the garden

and ...

Lilacs!

While I snuggle under my quilt with Bentley,

I am going to visit

Marty for Table Top Tuesday.

Bentley ~ I hear Thelma next door. Maybe she left you

another egg!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo