Apples, Daisies and Dog Shows

Good morning from sunny South Texas!  Whoops ~ it's no longer 

morning, it's noon already.  Where does the time go?  I have been 

busy doing little chores around the house.  It's a really pretty day

outside and Bentley has been in and out all morning.  

I felt like just checking in with y'all and chatting for a few minutes

before I get on to other tasks.  I have fresh daisies on the island and

a vintage bowl filled with crisp red apples.  The combination of the two

make me really happy.  

See what I mean?  More apples over on the tea cart.

Did y'all watch the Westminster Dog Show last night?  I never miss

it.  So many beautiful dogs.  That Pomeranian was so darn cute and

Juliette the Yorkie was so pretty.  That long flowing coat was gorgeous.

I cannot imagine ever letting Bentley's hair get that long!  He's like a

mop as it is.  Every little twig and leaf comes inside with him.  I will

be anxious to see part two of the show tonight, especially the terriers.

Sometimes I think I would like to get a second dog.  I don't know

how Bentley would feel about it.  He's been the "only dog" for his

entire life.   Every time I see a Golden Retriever, I feel like I am longing

to have one once again.  My neighbor in Idaho always had yellow

Labs.  She used to bring a puppy home from a guide dog service

near Palo Alto, California.  She would have the dog for about two

years.  She would take the dog to work with her at the university.

Amy is the dean of engineering at BSU and the pup would visit all

the professors and students each day.  Then the dog would be tested

to see if is was a candidate for it's future as a service dog.  We always

prayed that the dog would fail so it could stay with Amy, but they

always passed until this last one.  Hooray!  So, I think that since

Bentley is used to Labs, he might happily adjust to a Golden too.

Bentley will have the last word on that of course :-)

 Apples!  

I hope that wherever you live, the weather is as glorious as it is here

right now.  It is really feeling like spring and such a happy tonic

it is.  

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Jealousy, Deception and Greed

Greed is a nasty demon.  When one is both greedy and

jealous the temptation to resort to deception can pull on

whatever bit of moral fiber is within their mind and heart.

The characters in the novel I am writing are both flawed and
hampered by their jealousy and it's dominating effect on
their every waking moment.  This jealousy eats away at them
every day.  It takes over their present and erodes every chance
they have for happiness in the future.  Each perceived snub,
any little slight from the past, eats away at their content
like a cancer.  Greed and deception are the tools they use to
wield their revenge.  They are merciless.

Not exactly a fairy tale is it?

Sadly, life is not a happy ending fairy tale.  We do
encounter individuals who want to harm us.  Do
we curl up and hide?  Do we fight back with the
same underhanded tactics?  To me, neither choice
is a good option.  I am going to take you on a
roller coaster ride filled with multifaceted characters
that you will both love and hate.  At the end my
goal is to leave you with a glimmer of hope because
I believe that good can triumph over evil.  This is
the hardest goal I have ever set for myself, and it's
the goal I dearly want to conquer.

Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley





  

I Don't Love My Love Handles

I am interrupting your Valentine's Day with a special

announcement ~ I hate my love handles!  

While putting on my jeans, I noticed some flabbiness

at my waistline.  I am not fat, nor am I overweight, 

however if I gain a pound or two, it doesn't go to my

thighs, or my bottom, it goes straight to my waistline.

Bummer!  I mean, why can't it be evenly distributed

so it is not noticeable???

The weather has been warming up here in South 

Texas.  It won't be long before it will be time for me

to pull out my shorts and bathing suits.  The last

thing I want is to see are little love handles at my

waistline.

This means war!  So while I will be enjoying our

Red Velvet cake for dessert after dinner tonight,

tomorrow the battle of the bulge begins ;-)

Bentley ~ this war means extra long walkies

for us each day because mama doesn't think

 her love handles are very romantic.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Hearts and Roses Breakfast Tea

Here is a way to celebrate the morning of Valentine's Day with a breakfast

tray filled with hearts and roses.

Heartfelt Valentine's Day wishes to you!

 We are joining:

Thoughts of Home on Thursday

Tablescape Thursday

Share Your Cup

Home Sweet Home

Feathering Your Nest

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Dishing on Downton

On this past Sunday's episode of Downton Abbey, the house was opened up

to the public to raise funds for the hospital.  I had to laugh when some 

members of the household questioned who would want to pay money to

visit the house?

Who???  Well, I for one would love to take a tour!  

As the full fledged Anglophile that I am, I would be happily taking in 

the visual banquet of the grand estate.  Wouldn't you?  So many of

us are so in love with houses and decorating and consider home tours

to be greatly entertaining.  

People have always tipped the butler to see the house.

Even Elizabeth Bennet wanted to see what Pemberley 

was like inside.

~ Isobel Crawley

Of course, what amazed me about the Downton tour was that so many

of the family knew so little of the history of the grand house they call

their home.  The family stumbled over questions such as these:

Who knows about the history of the house?

What about the architect?

Or ~

Tell us about these people?

By the way ~ that's me I think ;-)  Yes, it is.  I remember the hours

I spent posting for this portrait.  I was itching to get back to the stable!

Lord Grantham thought the idea of touring his estate for money

was crackers,  yet he was quite delighted by the little lad who decided to

take his own self guided tour and ended up in Lord Grantham's bedroom.

He referred to the young lad as a philosopher.

Have you ever wondered if any of the Crawley's dogs ever napped

on the sofa?  That's Bentley's question.

People are curious about historical homes.  At the Mardi Gras party we

attended last Saturday night, there were many members of the Victoria

Historical Preservation.  They had all been on the tour of our home back

in April 2013, just one month before we purchased this house.  They knew

more about my house than I do!

Victoria, Texas has many grand old homes.  You can visit many of

them here.

Imagine ~ charging money to have people snoop around our house.

Of course they will happily do so!

I for one would want Mrs Patmore to give me a tour of the Downton 

kitchen.  I love all the beautiful copper pots and the great table where

the work of rolling out pastry and such is done.  

When Mr Mason sent a basket of fresh veggies to Mrs Patmore, she

responds by saying …

I'll make soup and stock and all sorts.

The guests always do end up in the kitchen and that's where we

will end up today.  The Ash Tree Cottage kitchen where dinner

will be prepared tonight.  See y'all tomorrow.

Wow Us Wednesday

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley