I have this friend. We met each other when our girls were in the same class (first grade). She'd purchased a copy of my first book, Scrapbooking Your Faith without knowing that the author was a patient of her husband, who has delivered all three of my babies.
Small world, no?
Anyway, at seriously 9 months pregnant, I met her face to face. I think I was taking up the entire doorway into the first grade classroom and we were both there for the girls' Thanksgiving party.
Oh, just thinking back on it. How huge I was... oy.
That's a serious belly.
Anyway, we had the scrapbooking thing in common and later our kids all started with Christian Youth Theatre (and her daughter(s) have been in both of the shows we've been involved with) so we have lots to talk about.
But that's now. Back in June of 2008, she still didn't know me all that well. And yet, that didn't stop her from offering Adam and I the use of their cottage in Michigan for a week that summer.
Who does that?
We were so blessed to go away for a few days, to spend our time here:
...please excuse the poor photography throughout this post. I have learned a thing or two since 2008, so you'll have to bear with me. Anyway. I still cannot believe she offered it to us. I was overwhelmed with Sam stuff so it was a little hard for me to relax, and looking back on it, I keep thinking of things I wished I'd photographed, but the general point here is two-fold.
1. I love the style of this home. I love what Beth has done to make it all come together and hope to achieve something simliar in my own house.
2. This quick trip our family took mixed with Beth's stories about this sweet little community plus a lot of imagination gave me the idea for the fiction series I'm currently working on for Guideposts.
You better believe one of my characters will have a cottage just like this one. I mean, check it out...
So dreamy. If I ever go back, I am taking better photos. I was so smitten as soon as I walked in the door, these are all taken after dark. But look how pretty it is!
I love the colors. While I love the all-white looks so many of my favorite bloggers are able to pull off, I think I am a color girl. Especially with Messies 1, 2 & 3 destroying everything even remotely neutral!
This is the guest room:
Check out the window pulls and the beadboard. Love.
And the guest bathroom...
Next is the master. I can't believe I didn't photograph the bathroom, but it was equally as stunning.
Aren't the floors amazing? The girls' room was adorable. It had this amazing loft above the closets (which I of course didn't photograph). I imagine one of my characters had a simliar loft as a young girl. Hiding place? Place to go to be alone. I would've loved that when I was filled with teenage angst.
Here's the eating area just off of the kitchen. Two tables. Brilliant.
Yep. I'm in love. So many details filled this cottage. I'm surprised Beth doesn't live here all year long!
Ok. now. for the chickens. The reason I am doing this post is because of Becky's post about roosters. I don't know Becky, but she is friends with my friend Jeanne and I wish I could hang out with them just once! Lissa too. They look like such fun girls.
Becky... this part is for you.
Beth has this adorable chicken sitting on her island in the kitchen. Well, I fell in love with it.
So much so that I thought, before I left, Beth needed a sister for her chicken. One that would always remind her of the Walshes.
Meet Edith.
Is she not the most disturbing, hilarious chicken you've ever seen? I seriously think I'm going to paint her.
Or at least put her in my books! I laughed so hard when I saw her at one of the shops up there. Wooden carved birds with nameplates. perfect for any collector.
What do you think, Becky? She's not a rooster, but she'll liven up your Minnesota home!
Anyway, thinking about the chickens made me realize I've never shared this cottage on my blog. I do hope to go back soon (more exploring!) because there's so much to discover up there on the lake! I've done some research for my book and there are a few little towns up there worth visiting and I can't wait to go! (Soon!)
:)
Don't you wish you had your own Edith? C'mon...I know you do! Everyone needs a deranged chicken on their kitchen counter.
