Refreshing The Back Porch for Spring

Our back porch has been a mess.  When I first became ill last fall,

it started to be neglected because I just wasn't up to looking after it as

I normally do. It's an open air porch, so the leaves and other debris

settle everywhere.  By early this spring it really looked bad.  A thick

layer of dust was coating every surface.  So, I started at one end and

began to clean every surface.  Then I started to decorate.

I think these flamingo pillows are fun.  I bought them towards the

end of last summer at Lowe's when all the outdoor pillows were

discontinued.  

It has also been harder to find pillows in green because that has not been

the popular color.  I felt especially lucky when I found the flamingo 

pillows, and the green striped ones too.

I found this child size wicker rocker at an antique shop in Idaho.  It's

always been a favorite of mine.

Down at the other end of the porch is the wicker porch swing.  I paired

more green and white striped pillows with a bark cloth one I found on

Etsy.  The ginger you see in the background is over 12 feet tall this

spring.  It is covered in the most beautiful blossoms right now.  They

don't last too long, but when they do, they are spectacular!

Aren't they beautiful?

I'll leave you today with a photo of my backyard swing.  I love it.

So fun, and it makes me feel like a kid again.

Oliver comes home to live with us tomorrow.  I hope he loves his yard

and back porch as much as we do.

Love,

Susan and soon Oliver

Bentley is Forever in My Heart

This is the hardest blog post I have ever written.  I have been putting it off, and putting it

off since March 5th.  My little sidekick, my little love, passed away in his sleep on that

day.  He was fourteen years old.  Bentley was with me when I first started this blog.  He

was featured in many, many posts.  I signed off each blog "Susan and Bentley" 

because it was always the two of us.  He was so greatly loved by me, my

husband, his grandparents, and all of our readers.

He will live in my heart forever.

Rest in peace dear Bentley.  I hope you had a good life with us.

We miss you and hope that you are whole once again across the

Rainbow Bridge.

On Saturday, May 1st, a new puppy will be a part of our family.  We have named

him Oliver.  I hope that you will enjoy my adventures with him as well.

Love, 

Susan

I Want to Get Well for Christmas

I have been ill once again.  I want so much to be well for Christmas.

I haven't done any decorating.  I want to, I really do.  I will try to

get something up soon.  This is an archived photo from years past.

This situation makes me so sad.  I love decorating for the season.

I never thought I would be so ill.  I am fighting this with all my

determination, yet I seem to be fighting a losing battle.  

I am going to take a pic of a little area that I recently decorated.

Maybe that will cheer me up.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan  and Bentley

Waiting for the Season 3 Premier of The Crown

Those who follow me now that I am a devoted Anglophile.  So when I 

decided to binge watch Seasons 1 and 2 of The Crown, I just had to

decorate my space for the occasion.  A few months ago I found this 

quilted Union Jack tea cozy at the British Isles Shoppe in Houston.

Now it lives with me and is a great addition to all of my other  British

accessories.

While I truly loved the first two seasons, and am anxiously awaiting the 

third, I am a bit skeptical about the change of cast.  I'm not sure why

the producers thought it necessary to change The Queen, Prince Philip

and Margaret's actors.  May take a while to adjust, but let's hope that it

doesn't take away from the viewing pleasure.

It certainly has been fun so far and I have spent some extra time reading

up on the real lives of the main characters.  So fascinating!  Hope you

enjoyed my little tablescape to put us all in the mood.

Tablescape Thursday

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Bentley's Long Goodbye

It's with a very sad heart that I tell you about Bentley's current condition.  As many of you know,  

two years ago he lost his sight.  I took took him up to the Veterinary School up at 

A&M University to speak with an ophthalmologist.  Between the two of us we decided that

given Bentley's advanced age, it was safer not to perform any corrective eye surgery.  She also

assured me that he would adapt quite well and that we should just carry on as usual.

She was right about his vision.  He has coped quite well.  Recently, however, he

has been losing his hearing which makes is tougher for him, but we are doing

what we can to manage that as well.  The latest development is his sense of

confusion. Out in the backyard, he walks in circles as if he doesn't know where

he is.  He doesn't always know me or his Daddy either.  My own Daddy 

developed Alzheimer's in his later years, and Bentley is now much the same.

He's not in any pain.  He still eats his dinner with delight.  He knows when

he needs to go outside, which is more frequently now.  Some days he will

want to cuddle as much as always, other days not so much.  

Bentley will be 14 on his next birthday which is this December 21st.

I just can't believe that it's been 14 years of such joy having him

with us.  As you know, David and I never had children, so Bentley is

our baby.  He's always been so much fun, so loving and sweet with

everyone.  He's such a huge part of our lives.  

I don't know how the end will come, but I know it is coming much

sooner that I want.  I am hoping that he will just go to sleep at home.

Of course, if he is too miserable that may not be an option.  David and

I are committed to keep him as comfortable and as happy as we 

possibly can for as long as we can.  We both know how this goes.  We have

lost two others and know that we will be totally miserable.  I suppose that 

is a big part of the reason I want to make such a big production out of

Christmas this year.  Bentley is my Christmas puppy.  My dearest little

love.  I want everything around him to be continued in love and joy

and great happiness because he deserves it.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley