Garden Review

CheriGENERAL

I’ll tell you .. it grows.. which is starting to turn to seed and gobs and gobs of birdhouse gourds  which are shamelessly taking over the garden AND the yard  but then, so are their cousins the pumpkins Every day I have to re-route the pumpkin, birdhouse gourd and ornamental gourd vines out to the … Read More

Parties

CheriGENERAL

This weekend we had both at The Cottage. Saturday was a planned party. We hosted a gathering for the artsy people who serve at our church — the musicians, vocalists, tech team, actors/actresses…  At about 7:30 pm we realized it had been nearly 4 hours since we had guests at The Cottage, so we called Darold and … Read More

My DIY Project

CheriGENERAL

Last weekend I walked the shore line just steps from our friends cabin on Battle Lake. I found treasures. For a change I didn’t pick stones. I was distracted by the driftwood. I had a vision. A plan. A DIY project. I found 3 small pieces of driftwood  Exactly what I was looking for to … Read More

Fashion Show

CheriGENERAL

It’s standard practice here at The Cottage (still deciding on name) that when the girls return from shopping (not including mom)  they exhibit their new acquisitions and in most cases  produce a fashion show of sorts. Baby Girl and her BF Kate shopped  like it was their job this week  and scored some awesome sales … Read More

Cattail

CheriGENERAL

Not a kitty tail —  A Cattail. That brown stick that grows in marshes —  Every time I see cattails growing, I have a strong urge to pick a handful.   As kids we used to pick cattails so we could light the brown portion which burns like a punk, then walk around the neighborhood … Read More

10,000 Lakes

CheriGENERAL

Living in the Land of 10,000 Lakes is awesome. Having friends with a cabin on one of the beautiful lakes is priceless. Last weekend DIY Guy and I left The Cottage and headed up North with friends.  A grown-up get-away weekend at Battle Lake  — just the four of us.   Getting away from it all is invigorating … Read More

GUEST POST

CheriGENERAL

Hello all of Cheri’s followers.  My name is Nate, and you may have heard of me, I’ve also been called “The Boy,” etc.  Yes, I’m the one with the somewhat unoriginal nickname here on the blog.  Haha, but no hard feelings, I don’t have much of a problem, unless you’ve got a better one, I … Read More

Monkey Bread

CheriGENERAL

A favorite recipe at The Cottage is an oldie and goodie Last week Ryan wrote this on my Facebook wall:   “heeeeeeyyyy.. remember that one time you made monkey bread? wanna do that this summer? then eat it all in one night?” This is Ryan with his super cute girlfriend, Sarah. I haven’t met Sarah … Read More

Second hand

CheriGENERAL

I’m in the middle of several projects here at The Cottage (name still to be determined) because that’s how I roll.  With the projects I’ve assigned myself, and the projects that pop-up as I go through my day, and the project list from DIY Guy, I have plenty of things to keep me busy — … Read More

Like OR Dislike

CheriGENERAL

Consider this fair warning. The images you are about to see may be disturbing to some. They also could be cool to others. I’ll let you decide . . . Toads. Itty-bitty, teensy-weensy, itsy-bitsy, little toad: Cool?  or  Gross? When I was a young punk with no fear and lots of curiosity, I liked little toads.  I … Read More