Baking Banana Bread

Yesterday I did something I have never done before ~ I baked my

very first loaf of banana bread ever!  That's right friends, I never did

this before.  I have always loved to cook, but just never became a

baker.  My Mama was a wonderful baker, and both of my

Grammies were too.  What happened to me???  I baked

cookies at Christmas time, but that was all.  

So I decided to use this stay at home time to learn new

things.  Baking was on my bucket list.  Guess what ~ the

bread tastes delicious and now I am hooked.  I just hope that

my HEB has plenty of flour because now I am on a roll!

What have you been doing recently that perhaps you never

did before?

Love,

Susan and Oliver

Opening Up Sweet Tea Cottage

Until yesterday, the doors to my Sweet Tea Cottage had been closed since

last fall.  I had planned to have it all decorated for Christmas, but then I

became ill and spent 45 days in the hospital, and Christmas never happened

for me.  

I wasn't sure what I would face when I went inside, so I let David take

a peek and see if everything was fine.  My big concern was that a

snake may have taken up residence, but no snakes thank goodness.

Every thing was just fine!

It is so good to get back into this little cottage.  It's like a vintage 

playhouse for grown ups ~ and that would be me!  

It was such a beautiful day yesterday, so I opened up the windows to give everything 

a good airing.  I noticed that the windows need to be cleaned, but somehow the little

windows are more fun to clean than the big ones on our house.  Dusting is more

fun in a little cottage too.  It's more like playing.

I have been thinking about what to do about the interior walls.  I finally

decided to wall paper the walls and paint the supporting beams white.

I found a vintage looking wallpaper I love and ordered it online

yesterday.  The weather has been so lovely that this will be a good

time to get going on that project before the heat returns to 

South Texas.  Oh, and I also found a red and white check rug for

the floor.  It's so cute!  Can't wait to show you!

So that's it for the interior.  I started doing some clean up around

the little garden outside of the cottage.  I was very pleased to see

that many of the plants survived the winter, including most of my 

herbs.  I purchased some ground cover roses, a first for me of that

variety, and plan to get them into the ground today.  I'll keep you

posted.

Have a wonderful Monday!

Love,

Susan and Oliver

Happy Mother's Day 2020

Happy Mother's Day!

Love,

Susan and Oliver

Time in the Garden

There was rain in the forecast today, but it seems to have passed

us.  I am glad because I can finally get those caladium bulbs I 

ordered planted today.

I thought I had lost this hydrangea, but I cut it way back and it is

flourishing once again.  I see that I should be getting a big blossom soon.

It looks like it will be white.  It was a vivid pink last year, so we'll just

have to wait to see what it decides to be.

My hibiscus came back too after I cut it way down.  It doesn't

always bloom for me, but even so, the foliage is so pretty.

I'm headed out to get those bulbs planted and to assess the amount

of work that needs to be done around Sweet Tea Cottage.  See

y'all later!

Love,

Susan and Oliver

Favorites in My Living Room

I have spent so much time at home these past few months that I

have spent more time fluffing the cottage and enjoying it's various

nooks and crannies.  I love my living room because of it's bright

and cheerful yellow walls, and for the sunlight filled mornings

because of its eastern exposure.  It's a good place to sit and read

too.  

I really have a passion for vintage books.  I love their decorative

spines and covers.  Whenever I come across one in an antique or

thrift shop I just can't pass it up.  I have never appreciated 

displaying books with their spines facing the back of a bookcase.

I suppose I dislike that trend because I love to see what others 

are reading.  

Here is a collection of dog photos of beloved companions who

are no longer with me.  I love seeing their little faces, and each one

has special memories for me.

The toile on this chair is just perfection.  I have two of them in this

fabric, the style of each chair is slightly different.  This one has

fully upholstered arms.

This one does not.

A desk filled with sentimental treasures.

And a lamp full of whimsey.

Staying at home during this pandemic is not always fun, but I take

comfort in appreciating the things I have in nooks and crannies that

make me smile and say "this is home".

It's Friday afternoon.  Let's make it a good weekend filled with

memorable moments.

Love,

Susan and Oliver