Dining Room Getting Ready for Christmas

It took three full coats of red paint, but I finally finished painting the dining

room.  

Now I need to call the electrician to have him wire two antique

sconces for either side of this portrait.

But at least the room is ready for the finishing touches and the 

color is certainly perfect for Christmas!

Seasonal Sundays

Metamorphosis Monday
Make It Pretty Monday
Amaze Me Monday
Tweak It Tuesday
Inspire Me

Now Bentley, we just have to put up the hundreds of lights on that 

huge Christmas tree.  

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

A Sadness In My Heart This Christmas

Over the past eight years there has been a lot of sadness and heartache in my

husband's life and as his wife this sadness is felt by me as well.  While I won't 

go into all of the details, let me just say that there was and continues to be a very

nasty battle over the assets of his parents.  My husband being the youngest of 

their four children was left in the dark about much of the struggle for control

of the estate.  I believe I touched on this subject once before, so I won't bore

you with any rehash.  Let me just say that eight years later during this season

of what should be good will towards one another I am deeply saddened by

the deceit and cruelty toward one another I have witnessed.

I am an only child.  I have some close girl friends who are like sisters to me.

I treasure them more than words can express.  I would never, ever lie to them

or intentionally hurt them in any way.  I don't want to treat anyone in a hurtful

way.  I could not live with myself.

I am not saying that I am perfect.  I am not.  I have asked for forgiveness

for any wrong I may have committed and knowing that I am forgiven

I make every effort never to sin again.  

My husband has reached out to two of his siblings.  They are

speaking to each other and I am very pleased about this.  

But there is one sister who continues to lie.  The lies are easily discovered because there

are legal documents that prove she is lying.  What is even worse is that she accuses

another sister of this lie when we know for a fact that this second sister is innocent.

I don't understand this.  How can one lie about one own's sister?  

I wish that I could resolve this situation.  I commend my husband for having the

strength of character and good heart to forgive his siblings and attempt to

move forward in peace.  But it is very hard to know that there is one who

continues to create heartache for this family and sadly seems to take pleasure

in doing so.  

There is so much pain and sadness in the world.  Most of it is of our own

making.  I pray that each and every day we all try our best to be kind to

others.  May we always serve and edify one another.  Thanks for listening.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Newly Painted Red Dining Room

Remember when the dining room was painted a mustard color???

Well I said it was going away and now it has.  The new color is

Sherwin Williams "Stolen Kiss" and here it is ...

The color is a bit more cranberry than it appears in this pic.  Took me most

of the day to finish it.  Now the fun part begins.  I get to push the furniture

back in place and set up the new buffet lamps, hang the mirror and art work

and tweak up a storm.   

Of course at the same time all the tweaking in the dining room is taking

place, Four Seasons Nursery delivered our fresh Christmas tree and here 

it is ...

 at the end of the living room.  It's huge!  An eight foot tree.  Boy am I

glad the guys delivered it for me.  

This is the first live Christmas tree we have had for years.  Back in 

Idaho the climate was so dry that we stopped having real trees 

because they would get so brittle I was afraid to turn on the lights.

But here in our humid gulf coast climate it is easier the keep the

tree moist.  This tree is so big I will be out buying more lights

tonight.  I wonder who will get to string the lights all the way up

to the top ~ me or David???

Tweak It Tuesday

Bentley had lots of fun barking at the Dyson when I went to 

vacuum up the needles that fell off when the guys brought the tree

inside.  Do your dogs bark at the vacuum too?  Bentley thinks it is

one fun game.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

A Cozy Bedroom Corner

There are four big windows in our master bedroom, and this is my favorite

corner.  It overlooks the back garden and the back porch.  I put this little

electric stove in the corner to cozy it up.

It's the perfect spot to sit and relax and dream.  Now if I could just find

the time to enjoy it!  Stop back tomorrow.  I hope to show you my

dining room.  If not, then certainly by Wednesday.

Bentley ~ go help your grandma collect some of that moss that has

fallen off the trees.  She wants to spray it with snow for a Christmas

craft project.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Bye Bye Mustard

When we moved into our house we inherited mustard colored walls in the dining

room.  The mustard was both above and below the chair rail. The consensus of the

family was ~ the mustard must go (although I still love it on hot dogs).  So ...

bye bye mustard.

In it's place will be a color called "Stolen Kiss" from Sherwin Williams.

Could make for a very romantic dining room ;-)

It took me all afternoon "cutting in" the red around the built in hutches, and 

moldings while David looked for a Corvette on the internet ( a mid life

crisis thing for sure) and while Mom took a nap and Bentley ran in and out

of the house patrolling for stray cats (no not the band).  I just popped in my

ipod and listened to Mel Torme Christmas songs and some Chopin Nocturnes.

If I have more done by tomorrow afternoon I will post pics.  If not, well maybe

I can get Bentley to entertain you.  Not much coxing is necessary, Bentley is
quite the little ham!


Bentley ~ I think that you and I are going to be on a road trip to Houston
so your Daddy can look at a Corvette.  If your daddy buys one, let's grab the
keys and claim it!

Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

PS:  Trust me ~ this room is far from being finished.  That space over
the sideboard looks very bare ~ but not for long.