Cloudy Day ~ Sunny Attitude

It's cloudy and gray outside today.  The news is terrible.  Stock market

is down another 500 points.  The price of oil continues to slide.  Terrorist

attacks.   Presidential candidates slinging mud.  Our nation is trillions

of dollars in debt.  More and more Americans are out of the workforce.

Yet ...

When I look outside my windows I see that my everlasting azaleas are 

still blooming.  Life goes on.  The seasons change.  There will be

sunny days ahead.  We will get through this just as we have

survived many storms in our past.  

I choose to be positive and hopeful.  I choose to be happy and look

for that silver lining.  I choose to be kind and helpful to everyone.

I choose to maintain my sunny attitude despite the storms that come

our way.  Keep your chins up y'all.  We will get through this 

together.  I believe in the power of prayer, so join me in praying

for sunny days and goodness and kindness and happiness

for all.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Toast and Tea Cures Everything

Yesterday I was feeling poorly.  I was dragging around all day, so

last night I could hardly wait to climb into bed.

This morning I did not feel much better.  I had all the tell tale signs

of coming down with some kind of bug.  I probably picked up 

something during my travels last week.  So I thought I would just

take some aspirin and get cozy and climb back into bed with the

current book on my nightstand.  Bentley wanted to go outside to

double check that our squirrels were staying in line.  While 

waiting for him, I decided to make a cup of tea and then thought

I needed something other than my usual oatmeal and mixed berries.

Toast!

Not the whole wheat, whole grain, healthy for you kind of toast.

No, feeling too poorly for that ;-)  What I wanted was two slices

of good old Texas Toast with lots of butter!  The kind of toast

that is pure comfort food.  

So I sat down with my tea and my toast and read Susan Branch's

latest blog post about the recent Downton Abbey episode.

After a few minutes something happened.  I noticed some

changes in how I was feeling.  Suddenly the headache and

stuffy nose had disappeared.  The achey feeling was leaving me

too.  

It's a miracle!  Toast and tea is a miracle!  I am cured!!

I closed up my laptop and headed to the fridge for some orange

juice.  I chased down a vitamin C tablet with the juice just to

make sure that the recovery lasts :-)

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

What I Brought Home from Magnolia Market

There were many things I could have purchased at Magnolia Market, 

but since I already have a full house, I limited myself to things that

would add to my current decor and not break the bank.

I purchased three of these tulip buds knowing that they would be

right at home in a cute little pitcher my sister-in-law Cindy gave me

for Christmas.  

Then I found this adorable little sage green picture frame.  It's on my desk in

our bedroom. 

I added an old photo of my granddaddy who was planting a vegetable

garden in his backyard.  Both my grandparents were avid gardeners and 

went so far as to have pint sized garden tools for when the grands came to

visit.  I loved "helping" my granddaddy in the garden.  I idolized him!

  

I found some flowering branches too.  Come spring I can put them in

a large glass jug.  For now, I put them in my French market basket to

show them off to y'all.

I also found this sweet herb wreath for the door leading to the kitchen 

from the breezeway.  

And this herb wreath will be going out in the potting shed.  I am so excited

about the potting shed project.  David and I spent some time this weekend

deciding what to do.  I really think it will be my most fun project ever.

I can't wait to roll up my sleeves and start working!

And lastly, I purchased this potted sage plant.  It's sitting in a tiny twig

chair next to the back door of the breezeway.  

So that's it for today.  I am so happy to be home once again after

being away all last week.  Thanks for stopping by.  We are always

so happy to see you!

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

My Visit to Magnolia Market

Super observant Stacey from Poofing the Pillows guessed correctly.  I did

indeed stop at Magnolia Market and it was even better than I expected!

It's a huge facility with lots of indoor space and a great outdoor space too.

Very family friendly and exudes Texas hospitality and fun.

The twin silos are big and rusty and wonderful and this adorable 1953 Willy's Jeep

in red (my favorite color) is parked outside.  Trust me, my heart was going pitter

patter because I have always, always, loved this vehicle!

The only vehicle that comes close to this perfection is a vintage pick-up!

Love the front entry too.

I was greeted at the front door by this charming mantel and vignettes.

Simple and whimsical too.

This first area is dominated by beautiful flower and cotton stems and all kinds

of wreaths.  I could have easily bought every single one!  After seeing all of

this I know just how I want to decorate my potting shed and I already have

discussed my plans with David.  Can't wait to get started.

On a side note, prior to to arriving in Waco, David and Bentley and I were

up in Throckmorton talking to an oil man there.  On the way to the

well site, we went past acres and acres of cotton fields.  I was so tempted

to ask the farmers if I could just pick a few stems ;-)  Of course I did not,

but it sure made me want to plant some.  David joked and said "look

away".  That was his successful attempt at a bit of levity :-)

There is a big Scratch and Dent room.  Trust me, if you visit and see 

something you want, grab it, because it won't be there for more than a minute!

Even the husbands seemed to be enjoying themselves.  Maybe Chip's

outgoing and fun personality is rubbing off on them and husbands have

decided that remodeling can be fun!

Olive buckets and big glass jugs and wooden trays everywhere.

Another great mantel display.

The vibe of this place is warm and friendly just like Chip and

Joanna.  They were not there, but the staff is large and they are

very welcoming and helpful.  

I wish I could have spent more time there, but we still had a long

drive back to Victoria.  Next time I go I will allow much more time

to spend not only at Magnolia Market, but also at the many other

shops that are in the area.  Come back tomorrow and I will show

you what I purchased.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

1,265 Miles of Texas ~ Yee Haw!

Bentley and I travelled with David over 1,265 miles through Texas over 

the past five days.  No, unfortunately not in this vintage Willy's, but in

a much newer truck.  

We were out in the west Texas desert, through the oil patch, in the

Hill Country and the prairie.  I went with David on business and it

was a great, but exhausting trip.  I will tell you all about it after we

recover.  Here's a little hint of where I went on Friday afternoon ~

if you recognize the base of this rusty old silo, then you have 

guessed correctly ;-)

I'll be back to tell you all about it tomorrow.  Until then, I am

planning on a bubble bath, fresh jammies and then watching the

Peach Cobbler Mystery on the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries

channel.  

Texas sure is a big state ~ isn't it Bentley?

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley