Situated on a little knoll on the edge of a rapidly growing city in SE Minnesota is our 1970’s cottage. The house is all kinds of quirky, and nothing I ever imagined I would live in, but it has a fabulous 2.5-acre lot, lovely neighbors, and a pool that provides hours of relaxation and fun. Our journey of over 16 years living in this home we named The Cottage has included many improvements and remodels and the weddings of our two daughters.

Though I’m retired from the corporate world, I wear many hats these days, wife, mom, nana, part-time location independent executive assistant, and I care for two of our 5 grandchildren 4 days a week.

I have been married to Kirk, close to 40 years. He is a patient man and never complains when I ask him to help haul, arrange (and re-arrange) all sorts of finds and furniture and he willingly joins me at antique shops and shows. We have two beautiful grown-up daughters, a handsome grown son who is my antiquing side-kick, and two incredible sons-in-law. The crowning glory (Prov 17:6) in my life is our five grandchildren.

Winter is brutal in Minnesota so we focus on indoor activities like home improvements. During the summer months, I keep busy with a vegetable and flower garden, an occasional flock of hens, a dog, the littles running around the yard.

While my focus here is decorating and homemaking, I also hope to encourage you to try new things – to not be afraid of beginning something new. To re-arrange that room that has never changed – or use a room for something totally different than it was intended. Plant a flower garden or cook up a new recipe. My goal is for you to feel inspired, brave, and empowered to create, take pictures, write, paint furniture and continue to stretch as a person. We are all created to be creative in some way.

Our family is represented in Cincinnati, OH, - Jacksonville, FL, and Rochester, MN. My husband, Kirk, and I reside in Rochester, MN with our rescued pup, Nike, and summer chickens.

Thank you for stopping by and reading, and joining in this adventure. I hope you drop in often to see what’s new and say hello!