Cottage Life

Just wanted to check in and let you know I'm still here and working on the cottage. In between all of the busy activities of the moment, I painted a wall in my kitchen with chalkboard paint. Actually, I made my own (Martha Stewart recipe) out of a deep, dark gray named Umbrella Black from Wal-Mart. We've been working on our landscaping, our laundry room, and cleaning out the garage. I know it's kind of a disorganized approach to things but it seems to be the way we get things done around here. I'll call it passion driven! I'll be out of town for 3 days this week on a business trip, so it's unusually hectic. I'll check back in soon. But on another note... Is it Morel mushroom hunting time in your part of the world? We've looked in our woods and didn't have any luck. Do you have a secret spot in Northwest Arkansas that you want to share with me? I'll settle for coming to dinner with Morels on the menu!

Friday Evening at the Cottage

Our first fire of the season and "someone" is making the most of it. This same "someone" has wanted to build a fire even when it was still 85 degrees outside.

The fur faces are settling in to a cool fall evening by a warm fire.

Apothecary jars filled with tiny white and brown eggs, winter oats, and bark, acorn, and shell potpourri.

Hydrangeas are drying nicely in my black urn. We'll have a dinner of home made meatloaf and steamed broccoli. The simple things in life are the best! Have a Cottage Glamour weekend!!!

Nifty Bargain Chair!

I'm so excited about my new find! It cost me all of $20. on Craig's List. I love that. I have black and white checked couches in my living room and I wasn't really planning on red but I couldn't resist this adorable chair. I like it in front of the picture window but I'm not sure if it will stay here. It might end up by the fireplace for the winter. I can picture cozy nights reading by the fire. What do you think?

Dreaming of Diamonds!

We have Diamond fever around here! My 10 year old has been dreaming of digging for diamonds at the only diamond mine in the US. It's in Murfreesboro, AR. He's convinced that we're going to come out with a huge, chunkin' diamond! The funny thing is that my 23 year old is just as excited to go! I'm just hoping it's not too hot. I've been enjoying the lower temperatures after suffering through 104 degree days. Of course the air conditioner on both of our vehicles broke at the same time. No mercy!!! I'll be posting pictures of our "dig" after Labor Day! Stay tuned. Tanya :)

My Dream Home List!

So this past Saturday was Father's Day but it was also my Wedding Anniversary. My hubby and I wanted to do something special so we went to the cutest (and tastiest) Mexican Restaurant and then......we went and drove by all of the cute cottages we could find! Ok, it doesn't seem very romantic but I know that all of my cottage fanatic friends can relate. Besides, we did go to the farm store and look at "chicken stuff" too. My husband was happy about that! I took pictures of some of the cottages and I've posted a few of my favorites. I hope you like them too! We also went into an Open house and this cottage had a library and a greenhouse! Those are two things on my list for my DREAM cottage. Here's the whole list. 1. A library with built in shelves with lots of natural light and a big white slipcovered squashy chair and ottoman. 2. A greenhouse that is attached to the house and filled with citrus trees, orchids and ripe tomatoes year round. 3. A huge laundry room with a built in ironing board and mending (sewing) area. Also lots of storage cabinets and surfaces for folding clothes. I would love it to be stocked with lavender and citrus scented soaps and fabric softeners! 4. A master bedroom suite with French doors that open to a private stone patio with fragrant heirloom roses, ivy and maybe some exotic grasses surrounding it. Brunch anyone? 5. A studio with lots of natural light and plenty of storage for every kind of creative endeavor from scrap booking to sewing to painting! (I'm actually working on this one in my loft, pictures to come soon) 6. An English garden complete with an evergreen (Privet hedge?) maze. I would also like a full-blown French potager type garden with veggies and flowers mixed in together. Don't forget the cutting garden where I could gather armloads of fragrant blossoms to fill the house with every week. Of course a beautiful and inspiring potting shed would need to be there too! 7. A huge Great room with a large, wood-burning fireplace, terra-cotta tile floors and arched floor to ceiling windows. This would be the gathering room for holidays, birthdays, showers, etc. So these are a few requirements of my dream home. What's on your dream list?