A Rosebud Tea

Although we had a very mild January, these last days of February have

brought lots of wind and gray, cold and rainy days.  I think that this year

the weather has made me feel sad.  Yesterday I stopped by my favorite

consignment shop and spotted this teapot.  It is covered in rosebuds.  The pot

has been well loved.  There are tea stains inside and there is a crack in the lid

that was repaired by it's previous owner.  The bottom is stamped Sadler England.

England and Scotland are my spiritual homes ~ the place where my heart lives.

I just knew this teapot had to come home with me.  Nothing like a bit of 

consignment store shopping to improve one's mood.

I also found this.  A little ceramic basket covered in pink flowers.  I am sure it 

was never very expensive or dear, but it still spoke to me.

And these precious little bone dishes.  I can think of many ways to use these and

the price was so low it was really hard to pass them up.  The Battenburg doilies were

on sale too.

I have had this precious rose bud covered tea cup for years.  Mom and Daddy brought 

it back for me from Victoria, BC.  I love it because it is dear and sentimental.

Of course I have to have candles.  I love little votives and am always looking

for ways to use them.

Today is another gray and cold day.  A leap year day and I am happy to be saying

goodbye to February and looking forward to spring.  I think I will put the kettle on

and initiate the new rosebud teapot.  I wish you all could join me!  Joining the

virtual parties around blog land is fun, but it would be more fun to party with all

of you in person.  

Vintage Thingie Thursday

Tablescape Thursday

Home and Garden Thursday

Open House Thursday

Time Travel Thursday

Show and Tell Friday

Home Sweet Home

Potpourri Friday

Feathered Nest Friday

Vintage Inspiration

Bentley does not want to go outside and I don't blame him.  He made a 

quick trip out this morning and wanted to come right back in.  He's 

hoping that March rolls in like a lamb, but the forecast is more like a lion.

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Farm Fresh Touches in the Kitchen

Wow ~ have I ever been busy lately.  I have been coordinating my Mom's 

kitchen remodel.  We have stalled out for the past few days because she

strained some muscles while doing some yard work.  She fell while using
the leaf blower in her yard.  After the fall, she could not walk without pain,

started complaining about pain in the hip area and had some swelling

and redness around the shin. But the good news is no fractures, no

blood clots ~ just strained muscles.  That's a huge relief for me.  I am not

stressing out about that anymore.  Now all I have to do is make sure she

takes it easy for a few days.

In the meantime ...

The wrought iron scroll shelf brackets should be arriving any day now for some

open shelves in her kitchen.  I had the tile man over to measure for the job so

that will be happening too.  I still have to pick out pendant lighting for above  her

new bar top and get the painters in before the carpenters finish the trim and a 

new surround over the stove.  I have also found a few new accents for my own

 kitchen refreshing.  A wrought iron roo doorstop and a wrought iron soap dish.

I gave them both a coat of heirloom white paint.

Some fresh flowers that make me sigh and calm me down.  Life can get

pretty hectic, but a sweet farm fresh kitchen is like a breath of fresh air.

Wow Us Wednesday

How do you like the new roos Bentley?

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Living the Life

It's fun being a blogger.  I have the opportunity to share lots of mini creations 

with you. I am playing with dishes ~ creamy white bowls, a little tea pot,

an old McCann's Oatmeal can filled with parsley.  

Oh how easy it is to amuse myself!  

Have a wonderful and happy Sunday amusing yourselves with things you

love to do.

Seasonal Sundays

Bentley is full of beans.  He has been racing around the yard chasing

squirrels and then he runs back inside and tosses his toys in the air

waiting for us to applaud his achievements.  He never fails to amuse!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Pimping a Thrift Shop Shade

I found this cute pink and white gingham shade at a thrift shop.  I thought it might

look good on a lamp base I found at a different shop.  

I added some white ball fringe and some buttons too.  Now it's all

pimped up.

Now, I wonder what I should do with the pink pillows I found?

I guess you'll have to wait until next Friday to find out.

Off to join Beverly for Pink Saturday

Hey Bentley ~ who said you could take a nap on top of those

pink pillows?  

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Getting My Groove Back

Have you ever felt like you have lost your way?  I have.

Brenda has been talking about being authentic this past week and she

really hit a cord with me.

I'm not sure how it happened, and the how is not important ~ but

I have lost my authentic self.  So I have been focusing this week on getting her 

back.

I'm just letting my creative spirit flow.  I'm taking pics and posting
about whatever interests me at the moment.  I'll just throw lots of ideas out
there and see what sticks.  

I hope that you will join me on this creative adventure.  You are welcome

to critique.  

So let's just have fun and savor all that life has to offer.

Let's put on some fun music and dance like no one is watching.

Come join me and watch me get my groove back.

Bentley ~ I don't think you have ever lost your groove.

What's your secret?

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Bentley's Mardi Gras Celebration

Who dat?  Why it's Bentley wearing his beads and wishing you a very

Happy Mardi Gras

Y'all don't eat too much gumbo!

Bentley ~ you are my little lagniappe!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

I've Been A Very Bad Blogger!

I am so ashamed of myself for being a very bad blogger.  The past couple of months

have gone by so quickly and all I have done is put together a post and disappear.  I have 

not visited all of you as I should.  Not very friendly of me at all!

I am sorry and being busy is no excuse.  All of us are busy.

But I hope that you will accept my apology.

So instead of stressing about what to post for my blog, I am going to focus on catching

up with what has been going on with all of you. 

I have been thinking also about what I can do on this blog to keep it more interesting

and fun.  I can certainly use a bit more fun in my life and I bet you can too.

I love you all and so appreciate all of the talent you have.  Now it's time for

me to let you know.

Come on Bentley ~ let's go visiting!

Big Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

What Makes You Happy?

Here is what makes me happy ...

Sunset over the Pacific coast.

Bentley's sweet face even after a bad haircut.

This cute pic of my husband when he was a little boy.

A vintage ballerina music box.

The pond that my Mom's house overlooks.  There is her solarium over looking

the pond.

What makes you happy?

Seasonal Sundays

Of course Bentley ~ you always make me happy!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Let's Fast Forward to Spring

I really can't complain.  We have not had a very cold winter, and

although the snow is covering the mountains just up the street from my

cottage, it has not snowed much down here in the valley.

That being said ...

I am itching to fast forward to spring.  This is the time of the year

when I am tired of down filled coats and wrapping up in scarves and

hunting for my mittens.  I want to be fluffing up my front porch and

leaving the doors wide open to allow Bentley to run freely in and out

of the house.  I want to plant pansies and start working in my garden beds.

But ...

I know it will be a few weeks before that can happen, so you will have

to indulge me as I play with a few things that remind me of spring.  I love

this rusty old trowel.  It is so much more handsome than a new one ~

don't you agree?

Show and Tell Friday

Pink Saturday

Bentley found his "Busy Bee" that he left out in the yard.  It is

almost like a new toy for him now because I think he forgot about it.

Apparently he's not too bummed that a Yorkie did not win the dog show.

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Relaxed, Calm and Serene

After all of the bright reds and pinks of Valentine's Day ...

I am enjoying a relaxing morning surrounded by

calm and serene blue and white.

This hyacinth has the most delightful perfume ~ I just love it!

Tablescape Thursday

Home and Garden Thursday

Bentley ~ did you enjoy watching the dog show last night?

What did you think about that Peke ~ okay, but the Yorkie should have won.

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Sending You Love for Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day

May you spend the day with those you love!

Table Top Tuesday

Big Valentine Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Women Bring Love Into a Home

The sweet loving touches that a woman brings into her house make

it a home.

It's the way she shows her family how much they mean to her.

Freshly baked cookies, pretty flowers and sweet cheerful touches.  That's what

women do for their families.  Valentine's Day is not just for lovers, it's 

the day when we can show appreciation for all of those we love.

Of course, cute little dogs bring love into a home too!

I dedicate this post to my Mom who always made our house a home.

Spread some Valentine's Day cheer by visiting ~

Pink Saturday

Valentine Party With Laurie

Home Sweet Home

Potpourri Friday

Feathered Nest Friday

Vintage Inspiration
Share the Love Wednesday

Tablescape Sunday

Bentley ~ come over here and let your Momma give you a hug!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

A Little Romance

I know that Valentine's Day is not until Tuesday, but the weekend is coming

up and I can't stop thinking of adding a little romance to it!

Show and Tell Friday

Bentley ~ shall we make heart shaped dog biscuits for Daisy?

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Wednesday Chit Chat

Hi!  How are you?  I am sitting at my desk with a cup of tea thinking about all of the

unfinished projects around here.  I start out with the best intentions and then life gets

busy and I have lost the enthusiasm to finish the job.  Does that ever happen to you?

Please say yes!

I would hate to think that I am the only one who does this.

Remember when I was talking about painting the hutch in my kitchen?  Well, I finished

the first coat, but have not started the second coat.  I need to completely unload all of

the bits and pieces on the shelves and remove the fabric currently covering them.

Maybe I'll get started on that tonight.  

I want to paint this schoolhouse clock white too.  That's what is happening

at my place.  What's going on with you?

Oh ~ and Bentley is taking a nap.  He is bored.  He would rather nap

than watch me paint.

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Losing Google Friend Connect

So many bloggers seem to be in a state of panic because google friend connect 

seems to be going away.  I have read conflicting reports as to the validity of this

event, but regardless, it is causing some discontent among the blog community.

Am I only valued based on the number of "friends" I have

accumulated?  I hope not.

I am here to entertain, to be creative, to meet others.  I have never approached

blogging as a competitive sport.  I sincerely enjoy meeting those who

share my interests.  

If google connect goes away, I will not disappear.  I will continue to

blog even though others cannot display their affection for my little blog.

And I will continue to visit other bloggers and catch up on their lives.

Google friend may one day be only a distant memory, but the friendships

we have made through blogging will remain.

I have loved being invited into your lives and have so enjoyed you

being a part of mine!

Bentley does too!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley