Mini Quilts

I love making mini quilts and mini beds.  Puts me in another world.

A Favorite Thing

Pink Saturday

Lots to do today Bentley so lets get busy!

Big Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

I Will Miss My Laundry Room

One of the many things I will miss about my cottage here in Idaho is my laundry room/

pantry.  This room was converted from an old back porch and has windows all around

making it always bright and cheerful.  Of course you know me, and it received a few

decorative touches because that's just what I do.

David added open shelves above the washer and dryer that not only store

laundry soap, etc, but baskets filled with extra towels and a 

picnic basket or two.  This old thermometer was in the house when we

bought it.  I hope whoever buys our house loves this vintage piece too.

The shelves go right up to the ceiling.  So handy.

At the other end of the back porch is room for baskets.  I can only imagine

what the movers will say when they see all of my baskets!  Oh and of course 

the pantry shelves that David built for me.

I try to keep them neat and organized, but they don't always stay that way.

Did I ever tell you that I do not own a microwave?  Yes it's true.  I had one years ago

but did not use it much.  That's why we have one of these old fashioned hand crank

popcorn poppers.  Easy to use and it makes yummy popcorn.  Popcorn is one of the

very few things that David prepares and trust me, he has turned it into an art form!

I always walk down to our local co-op, so these totes come in handy.

And I have one of these French market baskets too.

I don't know if I will be able to get our milk in glass bottles in Victoria.  I sure

have enjoyed buying it this way.  The milk tastes better and it's so eco friendly to

recycle the bottles.

My cute vintage laundry bag.   Don't use it, but I love to look at it.

Some extra quilt storage in a primitive jelly cabinet.

This vintage clothes pin apron is one of my treasures.  I really do hang laundry

out on the line too.

Seems silly to get all weepy and sentimental about a laundry room/pantry,

but hey ~ that's just me.

Happily Joining ~

Vintage Thingie Thursday

Show and Tell Friday

Home Sweet Home

Feathered Nest Friday

Be Inspired

Bentley ~ we should show your treatie jar one of these days.

It's very important to you and we won't forget to bring it down

to Texas!

Big Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Don't Tell David, But I Have A Crush On Mario Buatta

Source: betweennapsontheporch.net via Susan Freeman on Pinterest

I have always loved chintz.

Source: thebuzz.dianejameshome.com via Susan Freeman on Pinterest

Every time I see a room decorated with chintz ~ my heart skips a beat.

Source: betweennapsontheporch.net via Susan Freeman on Pinterest

So it's no wonder that I have a little crush on the "King of Chintz" the one and
only Mario Buatta.

Source: betweennapsontheporch.net via Susan Freeman on Pinterest

What can I say?  Mario just has a way with chintz!

Not to worry ~ David and I will be celebrating our 24th wedding anniversary
this Saturday.  I may love Mario's way with chintz, but David still has the
key to my heart!

Oh and Bentley does too ~ don't you Bentley?


Big Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

Thank You

To all the service men and women both past and present ~

THANK YOU!

Memorial Day 2013

Susan and Bentley

The Wisdom of Cowgirls (And Cowboys Too)

Source: Uploaded by user via Susan Freeman on Pinterest

I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed because of everything I need

to do to get ready for the move down to Texas.  Now is  just the time

for a little cowgirl wisdom.

Source: picpinhd.com via Susan Freeman on Pinterest

Bentley and I will get through this ~ he's my little buddy, just
like Scruffy is this little cowgirl's buddy.

Source: picpinhd.com via Susan Freeman on Pinterest

And I should know by now that somedays are a bit more trying
than others.

Source: picpinhd.com via Susan Freeman on Pinterest

Cowgirls know that cooking is a good stress reliever too.

Source: picpinhd.com via Susan Freeman on Pinterest

So I'm not going to cry about it, I am just going to
Cowgirl Up!


Big Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

So Excited ~ Take a Look at This!

Source: houzz.com via Susan Freeman on Pinterest

Remember when I told you that I was trying to decide what to

do with the outdoor sink on the back porch of our new house in 

Texas?  Well I was searching through Houzz for pics to add to 

my idea books when I found this!

I love this idea!!!

So I will add a new hutch top and change the faucet
to an oil-rubbed bronze one something like this ~

And it would be great if I could add a copper sink ~

But that would mean that I would have to change

the top too.  Soapstone perhaps?

source

Of course if I did this I would create an integrated sink and counter

 top like this and eliminate the copper sink.  Wow ~ this is starting

 to get pricey, so unless I want David to tease me forever about our

"million dollar" outdoor sink (he's prone to exaggeration) I will have to

 figure out how I can do this in a thrifty way and still get the look I want.

If you want to see more of my Houzz idea books look here.

Now back to work.  On this holiday weekend I am going through

closets and weeding out clothes we no longer wear and giving them

to charitable donation sites.  I would love to sit and chat with you all day

sharing decorating ideas and recipes etc, but I can't.  So while you all

are having fun gardening and grilling outside or going to picnics,

think of me purging excess stuff from our cottage!

Oh and an update on the sale of Mom's house ~

We have an offer!!!  I'll keep you posted about our decision.

Happily Joining ~

Seasonal Sundays

Sunny Simple Sundays

Bentley ~ I am looking at your overflowing toy basket ...

can you part with any of these???

Have a Fun and Safe Weekend Everyone!

Susan and Bentley

Favorite Things I Can't Leave Behind

I am a very sentimental person.  There are things that I have

collected that may not have much value to anyone else but are 

dearly loved by me.  When I saw this little bird in an antique 

shop, I fell in love with him.  He's so sweet and dear and he

is coming with me to Texas.  Just can't bear to leave him behind!

Tiny little salt and pepper shakers that just managed to find their

way into my dear little cottage.

A vintage toast rack, a tea cart a favorite tea pot.

Various mismatched plates and linens and vintage silver spoons

from my grandmother.

Pillows of all shapes and sizes.

Serving dishes.

A favorite book tucked away for safe keeping.

Sure do wish I could wave a magic wand to safely and

instantly move all these favorite things!

Bentley is exhausted just thinking about having to follow me from room

to room packing up all of these favorite things!

We are Happily Joining ~

Pink Saturday

A Favorite Thing

Big Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

How Do You Know When You Have Too Many Dishes?

When it's time to start thinking about packing them all up to move

to Texas!  Yikes!!!

Bentley ~ your mama is a confessed dishaholic!

Big Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Beyond the Destruction and Loss ~ Glimmers of Hope

Growing up in the suburbs just north of Chicago, I remember many,

many tornado watches and warnings.  When I first saw the Wizard of Oz

as a young girl, I fantasized about what it would be like to be swept up

by that funnel with my little dog Bonnie Heather MacGregor just like

Dorothy did with her Toto.  

But life is not fantasy as we all grow to learn.  There are times when
 loss and devastation seem to be more than the heart can bear.

There are not adequate words to express the sadness I feel for those
who have lost everything ~ most especially their loved ones.

For parents hanging on to hope that their children will be found
alive.

Please keep these suffering souls in your hearts and in your
prayers.

Yet despite the heartache there are glimmers of hope.

Stories of thankful parents finding missing children, like the one of Miguel and Veronica Macias.  They found their 8 year old daughter Ruby safe
after the tornado hit, but their 6 year old son Angel was missing.  With the
help of the pastor and members of their church, little Angel was
found with minor injuries 5 hours later.

And heartwarming stories of those re united with their
beloved pets.

And for those who tirelessly help bringing aid and comfort
to those in need.


It is at a time like this when we realize we must pray,
do what we can to help and to remember that despite the
terrible loss and heartache there are glimmers of hope
that keep our spirit alive.

God Bless all of the residents in Oklahoma
who have endured this terrible storm.

No parties today.


Big Hugs,
Susan and Bentley