The Peacefulness of a Sunday Morning

It's early Sunday morning here.  The house is quiet.  David and Bentley 

are still asleep.  I can hear the horn of a nearby train in the background 

while in my office typing softly on my keyboard.  

I love this time of day.  The peacefulness of a Sunday morning before

I make the coffee and the hustle of getting ready for Church.

It's one of the things I treasure in life.  

Suddenly I hear the pitter patter of little paws on the hardwood floor

leading to my office.  Then those same little paws reaching up to touch

my knee and sweet little eyes appealing to me to acknowledge that it

is time to go outside and greet the day.  To let him go outside in his

beloved yard, his domain, to check every nook and cranny.  And so

I do.  

The sun is up now as I look out the window over the kitchen sink.

Those personal minutes of solitude after rising from a night of
dreams have now passed.  Precious moments that won't come
again in quite the same way for another week, have now passed.
It's time to greet the day.

Have a blessed Sunday everyone!

Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

  

Found Treasures

No politics today ~ just fun and eye candy!

Bird cage, cachepots and a chintz pillow.  Right up my

alley.

Years ago I found these adorable vintage lamb S&P's.

The paint is worn away in spots but to me that makes

them even more endearing.

A vintage embroidered pillow slip.   This past June David and I were

in Fredericksburg, TX and there is this wonderful old fashioned "dime store" on

Main Street.  They have a section for sewing and notions and they had all the

old fashioned iron on transfers.  The next time I go there I will pick some

up.  I am so charmed by this kind of work.

I had to slip this one in because he is the best treasure of all.  Here is

Bentley sitting at his grandma's table.  She let him do that because like

all grandma's she was indulgent.  Notice his ball in the background?

She kept and closet full of toys for him and he knew exactly where 

they were.  I know I am prejudice, but isn't he cute?

I love this roo covered dish.  My Mom bought that sweet chair in the

background at a Goodwill shop years and years ago for $1.00.

I found both of these pillows at a consignment shop.

The heart shaped toile covered one is my favorite. 

Notice the gingham trim and the soft rosebud fabric

used for the sides.  Sweetness!

I have a little weakness for vintage picnic baskets.  I 

painted this one a soft sage color.

Vintage pitchers.

My Mom bought this miniature tin kitchen cabinet years ago at a tag sale.

It was already vintage when I got it so who knows how old it is, but I love it.

Crushing on little birds.

Mackenzie Childs. 

My French market basket.

Vintage tools.

And repurposed vintage tool boxes.

Family heirloom tool boxes.

White wicker.

Vintage dotted swiss fabric.

Pretty little aprons and dish towels.

Things I have found for David's desk at work.

Vintage books.

Vintage aluminum tumblers, tray and a cookbook with blast from the past

recipes.

And memories of beautiful sunsets on the Oregon coast.

Say G'Day

Have a happy weekend!

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

I Am Afraid ~ Are You?

As I gaze upon the mini violets that are happily blooming on my

kitchen windowsill I am thinking about how I should be happy and

content.  Everything in my little world is solid and happy.  I have a

loving husband of 25 years.  I could not love him more.  I have an

adorable dog who brings me joy each and every day.  He is the

dearest companion.  I love him with my whole heart.  Our home is

comfy and content.  We live in a nice neighborhood with friendly

neighbors.  Why then would I worry?  Why am I afraid?

Of all the potential threats to our happiness, our security, the 

safety of our family and friends and our way of life there is one

threat that scares me the most ...

ISIS or ISL or whatever they choose to call themselves.  I am

probably more concerned than the average American about this

militant group.  After spending three years living in the Middle East 

and spending most of my life as the daughter of a man who 

spent all of his career in international business and regularly reported

to Washington, my antenna is up.  The group that beheaded 

freelance journalist James Foley and is threatening to behead 

another journalist is a well funded, well organized group who

have recruited foreign nationals into their ranks.  Speaking to

lawmakers at a House on Foreign Affairs committee, Brett

McGurk a deputy assistant secretary of state said of ISIS,

"It is Al Qaeda in it's doctrine, ambition and increasingly in it's

threat to the US interest.  In fact, it is worse than Al Qaeda."

source.  

In addition, Army General Martin Dempsey chairman of the 

Joint Chief of Staff  told reporters:

"This is an organization that has an apocalyptic, end-of-days

strategic vision which will eventually have to be defeated."

What will be our response to such an organization?   In fact it's no longer just

a terrorist organization (if that's not bad enough)  it has become, from what
I have read, a full blown army.  An army has one of two purposes.  It
is formulated to protect it's citizens, or it is formulated to expand it's
territories.  ISIS has made their intent known.  They don't follow any
diplomatic rules.  They won't be satisfied until they over turn the entire region.
Once they achieve that objective, what will their next one be?

In the famous words of Lord John Acton ~
Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupt
absolutely.

While I don't like to bring up unpleasantries on a Friday before
what will hopefully be a happy and carefree weekend, when is
a good time to bring up a topic such as this?  I have not forgotten
September 11, 2001.  I do not want our nation to have to
experience anything remotely like that ever again.  Our freedom
is priceless.  It is sought after.  It is to be cherished and protected.
We cannot afford to lose it.

If you have any interest in studying more of the thought of
Lord John Acton, here is the link to the Acton Institute.

God Bless us all,
Susan and Bentley

A Hutch Filled With Love

This hutch is in my breakfast room.  It's old and well worn and well 

loved not just for itself, but also for what it holds.  Everything inside

from it's cupboard at the bottom and open shelves at the top is filled

with precious memories of ones I have loved.

This covered casserole and the matching platter behind it belonged to 

my Mom.  She loved blue and white as do I.  The hobnail pitcher was

hers too.  It is both squatty and sweet I think.  The toast rack in the

foreground was a purchase of mine because we love toast in this house!

I love the cream soup bowls.  These belonged to my Mom as well.

This little blue calico square tea pot was purchased at the British Isles shop

in Houston years ago before David and I were married.  I was so very

happy to visit the shop when we were last in Houston.  It's always so

comforting to discover that a little shop you loved years ago is still

in existence.  I treasure small independent shops.  I know how hard

it is for them to survive in our world of big box stores.

See the cups hanging from hooks?  I purchased a whole set of these 

dishes while I was in London with my parents.  I had them shipped back to

the states and every piece arrived in perfect condition.  The Brits are so

good at shipping china.  This is a Mason's pattern.  We don't see much

of this china company in the states.  My mother-in-law had a lovely

Mason's pattern as her every day dishes.  It came from Carl Forslund in

Michigan years ago who used to specialize in colonial furniture and

accessories for the home.  I have a few pieces of her set.  It is 

called Plantation Colonial.  I will have to show it to you sometime.

Notice the little butter pats.  I love these.  I only have two and

wish I could find more.

The little Cafe Paris covered tureen is a purchase from a consignment

shop.  I have two and they were a steal.  The woven flower basket on

the left belonged to my grandmother.  The copper tea kettle is from

my step grandfather.  He brought it over from Sweden.

If you look to the right in the background there is a little sandwich

tray.  It is Mason's also.  My Mom and I each purchased one while we

were in London.  Now I have both of them.  I have such happy memories

of the day we found these little trays.  I remember we both squealed in

delight and could hardly wait to take them back home to serve little 

tea sandwiches on.

My little patriotic pie bird.  I found this at a cute little shop in Fredericksburg, TX.

David and I spent the weekend of our 25th wedding anniversary there just

this past June.  It's a wonderful little reminder of the very special weekend

we spent in that oh so charming town.

I purchased this tole tray at a wonderful antique store in new Hampshire.

David's mom had the most charming summer cottage on Mirror Lake

in New Hampshire.  We used to go visit her there in the summer while

David and I were living in Middleburg, Virginia.  Lee's summer

cottage was so adorable.  It had the sweetest little kitchen with an old

fashioned farmhouse sink and the cutest vintage refrigerator.  There was

an old screen door in the kitchen that squeaked and banged and took

you out to the deck.  There was one main living area with a stone fireplace.

The whole cottage was quite rustic and had a screened in porch that 

overlooked the lake.  There were two small bedrooms that had those

old built in dressers and windows framed by old fashioned Priscilla

tie back curtains.  Lee always had vintage handmade quilts on the bed.

To David and I it was the most charming cottage in the world and 

we have so many happy memories of spending our evenings 

listening to the loons on the lake while playing cut throat games

of Scrabble.  David almost always won which drove Lee and

me nuts!

That cute little tea pot in front of the tray is from the King's Arms

Tavern in Williamsburg.  It was a gift from my sister-in-law

Susie.

The little girl tying her shoe is Royal Copenhagen.  She was a gift to me

from my mother-in-law Lee.  The milk glass pitcher belonged to my

grandmother.

And finally, Mrs Rabbit and her bunnies with Peter Rabbit looking

quite the gentleman.   There is a Beatrix Potter plate in the 

background because I love Beatrix.  Always have.

So there you are.  A little tour of my antique hutch that is full

of memories of people I love and happy times.  Thanks for

stopping by.

Tablescape Thursday

Home Sweet Home

Feather Your Nest

Show and Tell

Bentley had a very exciting morning.  He discovered a

big cat asleep in the ginger and he flushed the cat out

and the cat ran up the big old oak tree.  Bentley was

extremely proud of himself and his Daddy was too

and Bentley got a treat.  High adventure :-)

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

How To Lose A Blog In Ten Days

Have you ever seen the movie How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days?

It's a cute chick flick that has been on television many times

about a journalist (Kate Hudson) who works for a woman's

magazine called Composure.  Andie Anderson (Kate) longs to

write serious pieces on topics that interest her like politics and

religion.  Her editor reminds her that Composure is geared to

fluffy topics, salacious gossip and How To's.  She also tells

Andie that until she develops a following she will have to 

write what she is told to write.  Andie reluctantly concedes and

agrees to write a fluffy little piece on what not to do to keep 

a guy, hoping that after this piece she will be able to write

about the things that really interest her.

I have been writing posts on Ash Tree Cottage for a little over

four years now.  I have posted about decorating, tablescapes, 

repurposing and repainting furniture.  While I enjoy posting 

about all of the above, it's not the only side of me.  I have 

great concerns about our nation's future.  I am disturbed by

a new and steadily growing wave of terrorism.  I worry 

about the potential spread of Ebola.  While our border is

unsecured I am concerned that not everyone who crosses it

is just looking for a better place to live, but could be 

planning another terror attack like 9/11.  I just can't sit back

and not talk about the problems that concern me.

However ...

I will still have posts about collecting.

And repainting and repurposing.

And tablescapes.   

But on some days I will want to inject some grit into 

this blog.  Unlike Andie, I don't have a boss to satisfy.  I am

the writer, editor, photographer of Ash Tree Cottage.  

As ISIS beheads foreign journalists.  While Ebola threatens the

lives of thousands in west African nations and has the 

potential to become a pandemic.  While our border remains

unsecured.  While innocent children are losing their lives 

every day on the streets of Chicago.  While Putin continues

to flex his muscle in the Ukraine ...  I can no longer sit by and

only write about fluffy stuff.  

I don't want to learn how to lose a blog in 10 days

so I hope you will stick around while I write about 

some of the gritty issues of life from time to time.

It won't happen every time I write a post, just when 

the spirit or the news compels me.  As much as I 

would like to live in a peaceful world I do not, 

so I can't just pretend these problems do not exist.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley