Scabs Over the Wounds

Last week I wasn't feeling very well and I know why.  I was making myself 

sick.  I mentioned a while back that we had been hurt by someone who lied and

did it in a very calculated way for their own financial benefit.  As I also 

mentioned, I did and am doing my best to let that go.  But the lingering

thought I have is this ...

Did I make a horrible mistake by moving here and thus being 

subjected to this person?   I never had this happen before. No one

has ever intentionally tried to hurt us this way before.  Is it

just this town, this state, this place that is making me feel so

vulnerable?  I even convinced my Mom to move down here.

Did I make the worst mistake of my life?

Last week I was believing that I had indeed made a big mistake.

It's not my first time at the rodeo.  I have lived in many

different cities in my life.   I have always adapted and have

made friends easily.  I don't ever remember anyone going out

of their way to hurt me.  Why now?  

Had I put myself in an environment where this type of

behavior was the norm?  Would it happen again?  This 

person who perpetrated the hurt not only got away with it

but directly benefited from the action.  

All those thoughts were going through my head.  

We made such a big commitment moving down here.  

Packing up two households, selling three houses,  selling a

business, saying goodbye to long time friends and business

associates.  Major, major changes that happened quickly and

permanently.  

All last week I kept thinking ~ now I am here.  Now I am

stuck with the decision.  Do I forge ahead and keep trying to

build a new life for myself here or do I give up?

I love this house and the beautiful gardens that came with it.

We have very nice neighbors.  Do I dare trust this decision?

Can I be sure that something like what happened to us will

not happen again?

I was and still am feeling vulnerable.  There is still a scab over the 

emotional wound.  I also know there will probably be a scar.  

I can't live my life on pins and needles and frankly I refuse to do so.  

So now it's up to me to create the reality I want.  I am giving myself some

time to heal because I don't want that scar to be too big.  Yet wounds and

scabs are part of life and while it's not possible to avoid them, we all have

the ability to slough them off and to learn how not to be so vulnerable.

I have decided to stay here but I will do my best to insulate myself.

That scar will just become a tougher skin.

Big Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Cinnamon Toast and Tea

I have not been feeling well all week.  I have been tired and achy and

 have had a headache on and off for days.  Nothing so severe that made

me think I needed to go see a doctor, but enough to make me feel like

crawling back under the covers.  

I have two home remedies for this condition of general malaise …

 Toast and tea is one, homemade chicken soup the other,  but 

this particular malaise is best treated with cinnamon toast :-)

Sometimes just plain toast is fine, but when the ailment calls

for emergency treatment,  white bread toasted (Texas toast is

preferable) with the crusts removed and generously sprinkled with

cinnamon sugar is what I recommend.  

Of course we all know that a cup of hot tea cures everything!

So the next time you are feeling a bit tired and achy and have a little

headache, give this remedy a try.  I'm feeling better already.

Disclaimer ~ this post is for amusement purposes only and is not

meant to imply that it actually has any healing powers.  If you really

feel ill, call your doctor.  You know I had to add that disclaimer

because everyone is so into legalese these days ;-)

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Texas Ruby Reds

The daughter of one of David's co-workers was selling grapefruits

for a fund raiser for school.  Not just any grapefruit ~ but Texas  Ruby Reds.

I love them.  My favorite grapefruit.  Sweet, delicious and juicy.

 Perfection on a plate.

Even better served off a cute melamine tray.

Still cold and gray and dreary here today.  Any bit of 

happy cheer is welcome, and this fun tray does it for me.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Daisy Fresh Farmhouse Tweaks

After the Christmas holidays when I finally start to pack all the

decorations and put things away, I do what many of you do too ~

tweak vignettes.  And what better place to start tweaking than in the

kitchen?  If you are like me, I spend lots of time in this room and

I like it to be a fresh and happy place.  

I added this new enamelware vase for my daisies that I usually buy

when I go to the grocery store each week.  I love daisies and they 

always make me happy.

This dairy slab was an after Christmas gift to myself.  I bought it

when Joanne Hudson was having a sale.  Despite the sale it

was still a bit extravagant, but I have wanted one forever.  It

is now organizing the coffee station.

These red velvet mini cupcakes have nothing to do with decorating

or organizing but they are so yummy and each one is a sweet and

tiny treat.  If you were here with me in my kitchen I would offer you

one.  Only one mind you, not because I am not generous but because

we all have to watch our waistlines :-)

I hope you enjoyed seeing the fresh as a daisy tweaks in my kitchen.

I can't wait to see what y'all have tweaked this week.

By the way ~ did you notice how Lady Mary is tweaking her

love life on Downton Abbey?  What do you think it was that

she asked Anna to buy for her?  David thought it was a

condom and I was thinking it was a diaphragm.  

Metamorphosis Monday
Tweak It Tuesday
Wow Us Wednesday

Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

My Love Affair With the Butler's ...

source

When I was growing up the house we lived in had a butler's pantry.  I

was always fascinated with it's glass cabinet doors filled with all of my

Mom's crystal.  Champagne glasses, old fashion glasses,  martini glasses,

water goblets, wines glasses and more.  On the counter was Daddy's

martini shaker and various decanters filled with scotch, or vodka or gin.

It was what I always thought of as the special events corner of the house.

A place where the preparations for big parties and family gatherings
were staged.

source

There was and is still, a butler's pantry in my Aunt Susan's apartment
too.  Hers is a bit bigger than ours was and is much like the one pictured
above.  Hers has a sink and old polished antique walnut countertops.
The layout is similar to this one from House Beautiful.



So that's how my love affair of butler's pantries began, long ago
in my childhood.

And you thought I was going to tell you about my love affair with
the butler ;-)  You can admit it, I led you on a bit with that blog post title
didn't I???

source

So now I collect pictures of these special places.  This one above is a gem.
It has everything going for it ~ beautiful cabinetry, deep moldings and
storage galore.

source

This is certainly good use of a narrow space.  While I tend to prefer white, these
black cabinets are stunning!

source

This one makes me so homesick.  It looks very much like the one in
the house where I lived as a kid.  I wish my parents had thought to
take pictures of our old pantry but they never did.

source

This one really makes me swoon!  It is elegant yet has a friendly and
approachable atmosphere.  If you want to see more of this exquisite home
in North Carolina visit Sagee Manor here.

source

Another elegant pantry.

source

But this one ~ this is the one that stole my heart!  This is the sweetest
butler's pantry.  Lovely polished wood countertops.  Pretty little copper sink.
Love the window, the cabinets everything.  This is so me!  This darling little
spot just screams welcome.  Come and I will get you a cup of tea or perhaps
a glass of wine?

What can I say, just my cottage loving nature showing through.  If you want
to see more of this precious place in Carmel, CA go here.

Just think ~ tonight we can sit back and dream that we have our own
butlers as we watch Downton Abbey, episode two of this season.
Hope you had fun day dreaming with me.  See you tomorrow.  I will have
a little tweak in my kitchen to share with you.

Not to worry Bentley.  My heart still does and always will
belong to your daddy!

Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley