One of my favorite buys at Gold Rush this year was an oak and iron coat/hat rack for the wall. As soon as Marian pointed it out to me, I knew it was coming home with me. It was a bit dirty and the wood was dry, so I wiped it down and put some … Read More
Chair clean-up
A chair was for sure not on my “look for list” when I headed to Gold Rush last weekend. However, it is no surprise to me that I brought one home. A $5 chair is difficult to pass up, especially when it is so cute. As charming as the chair is, it was extremely dirty. … Read More
Gold Rush 2019
This year I went to Gold Rush with my friend, Marian. It was the first time in 27 years (that’s how long we’ve lived in Rochester) that I didn’t go with Kirk. He was happy to stay home and work on some landscaping and sent me on my way. Neither Marian or I had anything … Read More
Curtain Hack
The master bedroom in our 1978 multi-level home has been a work in progress for years. Actually, the entire house has been a work in progress since moving here in 2004. A few years ago we slowly started the process of updating the room by ripping out old carpeting and adding wood laminate flooring (kinda wish … Read More
2018 GOLD RUSH, Part 2 . Typewriters
Typewriter Fever. On Saturday of Gold Rush weekend we went to the Rochester Fairgrounds. Shortly after arriving, my cousin found a portable Royal typewriter. She really liked it, but she had just purchased a beautiful desktop typewriter at Oronoco Gold Rush the day before, and though she really liked this portable typewriter, she really … Read More
2018 GOLD RUSH WEEKEND Part 1
Gold Rush is an annual antique show and market located in Oronoco, Minnesota. Hundreds of dealers from throughout the country converge and fill the small town with their booths. When our children were young, Kirk and I made Gold Rush a date day. When the kids became young adults they joined us now and then. This year … Read More
Cottage Guests
You guys! Guess who stayed at The Cottage! Our newly hired church pastor and his family! I’ll let you read how it all came to be on his wife’s website, Miss Mustard Seed Somewhere around 10 years ago I started following Marian on her Miss Mustard Seed blog. Over the years she has inspired me … Read More
Soooo over. it.
One by one, six coworkers entered the time clock room this morning. We all echoed the same sentiment. “I am so over this” The snow. The cold. Looking out our front and back windows it’s hard to tell if we are in Narnia or Rochester. It is pretty. But it sticks around too long.… and … Read More
Design
Many moons (and months) have passed since we completed our new kitchen/great room space. The major parts of the remodel: flooring, kitchen cabinets, painted walls were finished early last summer. However, like any major (and sometimes minor) projects here at The Cottage there is usually some leftover details to finish. Sometimes the delay is due … Read More
An empty nest
It happened. Kirk and I joined the ranks of official empty nesters! Official. Not away at college. Official. Off the payroll. On their own. Yes, we are excited. Yes, we absolutely love. love. love. our children. We loved having them at home with us. We also love that they are all now gainfully employed, independent,self-sufficient adults … Read More