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

A Pink Surprise!

Hurry over to my Momma's other blog

Ash Tree Cottage Minis

for a Pink Surprise!

Momma told me to link up to

Pink Saturday

Love and Kisses,

Bentley

xxoo

Cabin Dreams

David and I have been dreaming of the cabin we want to build on the lot we bought

back in September.  I have been gathering up things I want to put in the cabin before

it's even built.  I know ~ it's the cart before the horse.

These Ralph Lauren tartan plates are for the cabin and so are the birch bark 

candles.  It seems like every time I go into a thrift or consignment shop I find

something that would be perfect for up north.

We are going to have to decide on a plan soon, because we need to submit it to

the home owner's association for approval, then start pulling permits and also

get our logs ordered from the mill.  Thankfully we live in logging country, so

we can have our pick of logs.  

We already know that we want post and beam construction, open concept and a

big stone fireplace as well as a wood stove.  However, when we start altering

plans, we are a bit like Cary Grant and Myrna Loy in Mr Blandings Builds His

Dream House.  It's he wants, she wants, but we have a budget and it's not

a huge one.  

Primarily I want it to be cozy and charming and filled with vintage decor.  A real

vintage camp style place that our friends and family will love to visit.  A place for the

skis, snowboards, snowshoes and fly fishing gear.  A table where we can play Scrabble

and put jigsaw puzzles on days when we are snowed in.  

A dinner bell out on the back porch that we can ring when dinners ready and a 

martini flag that we can fly when it's time for cocktails.

It won't be spring until we will be able to break ground, but until then I will

be gathering up vintage items to turn our cabin into a cozy nest.

I am linking up to

Tablescape Thursday

Vintage Thingie Thursday

Show and Tell Friday

Home Sweet Home

Bentley ~ I see you brought out your moose.  You are anxious to go up

north too.

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Wowsa Reds!

I am starting to think about my plans for Thanksgiving dinner.  I found these 

adorable red silicone utensils at my local co-op the other day.

I  just could not pass them up because they are so cute and red!  Look at 

that sweet little whisk ~ I love it.

Back to Thanksgiving dinner.  Last year everyone loved the turkey, the yam

casserole, the roasted Brussel sprouts and the cranberry sauce.

The stuffing ~ not so much.

If any of you have a great stuffing recipe that your family and friends all love,

please, please let me know.  

What's this???  A Christmas spatula ~ I thought I said no Christmas

decorations until after Thanksgiving!

I am linking to 

Rednesday
Wow Us Wednesday

Bentley ~ you liked my stuffing last year didn't you?

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