cottage living

Making Your First Home, Your Second Home

Posted by Barbara Techel

 

My Cottage 

So many people I know have second homes; whether they are “up north”, as we say here in Wisconsin, or perhaps in another state.

Years ago I thought I wanted a second home on a lake somewhere—Perhaps on Golden Pond. Well, maybe not on THEE Golden Pond, but something like it. I need more than two hands to count how many times I’ve watched that movie. The soundtrack, the scenery, and all the warm feelings that come from it make me return to it again and again.

As I sat out on the deck the other night with John, I was glad I did not have a second home. I love perusing through magazines like Cottage Journal and Cottage Living while sipping a glass of wine in my Adirondack chair with the dogs nearby, and conversation now and then with John. Often I’ll show John a picture from a magazine of something I like and maybe want to incorporate into our home.

I realized in essence we have made our first home, our second home. We do not need another house somewhere else. Besides the fact, I want to live a simpler life, and having two homes does not fit my definition of simpler. That to me would mean more work!

It was a heart warming thing to realize how much we enjoy our little cottage or as I like to call it our “Cottage in the Village.” Often on the weekends, many of the neighbors are not home, so we have the chirping of the birds and whispering of the wind through the trees all to ourselves.

So often I think others have second homes to “escape” their busy, crazy lives- though many don’t feel this way, so I want to be sure to say that, too. But, I find complete joy waking up every day to my quaint home and loving it for what it is. I also have the glorious option of hopping on my bike or going for a walk past the lake which is only a few minutes from my home.  So I “sort of” have my own Golden Pond.  Maybe one of these days, you might even see me dancing and singing away to myself out in my backyard, just like Kathryn Hepburn does in the movie.  Now that would be something!

My writing cottage behind the cottage

I Love Anything Cottage-y!

Posted by Barbara Techel

I love small spaces – never been one that would need a large home.  And I’m very good at getting a lot of pretty things within a small space – just ask my hubby. He is always jokingly telling me that if I die before him he will be putting out a sign in front of our house that says, “Open.”  Should that ever be the case I hope other cottage-y like minded people will shop to their hearts content!

I find a lot of joy in my little home that I call my “cottage in the village.” I love to decorate for each season – moving the furniture around, etc. I also love to peruse cottage style magazines. I was actually truly sad when my favorite magazine, Cottage Living was cancelled a few years ago. I thought I’d never get over it. I looked forward to it each month and would always save it for a weekend – late in the afternoon. I would pour myself a glass of wine, curl up in my big red chair, Frankie nestled in my lap, and get lost in the pages.

Last year I discovered a new cottage magazine and I was thrilled!  Though it only comes out four times a year – it is extremely nicely done.  It is called Cottage Journal Seasons – one comes out in spring, summer, fall and winter.  It is relatively new.

You couldn’t get a subscription last year and could just buy it when an issue came out – not inexpensive at $9.99, but well worth it.  I was so excited to learn today that you can now get the yearly subscription for only $19.98! Click here  if you’d like to check it out.

There’s also a new blog I recently started following that is all about cottage’s and cottage life and thought I’d share that too.  It is Mockingbird Hill Cottage. While there check out Claudia’s Etsy store and the beautiful scarves she makes.

So are you a cottage person too?  If not, what’s your style?