A COTTAGE IS...........................................

................a little bit of heaven on earth.

If someone asked you "what's your definition of a cottage?" how would you answer? Many of us who read these wonderful "cottage blogs" really do embrace the idea of turning our homes into cottages even though we are living in the American version! Sometimes the outside of our house almost resembles a cottage style, though probably without a thatched roof! We paint in country colors, build garden structures, plant pots of cottage garden flowers, grow peas, beans, and oh so British Brussels sprouts, get hollyhocks to make a Summer fence, linger on teak benches by goldfish ponds, and serve tea in Summer houses and conservatories. Meanwhile inside - we plan, design, paint, sew, arrange, and then rearrange furniture, burn wood fires, hunt flea markets and yard sales for treasures, all in hopes of eventually living the cottage life...................and revelling in that comfy, warm, snug, country inspired feeling, the true feeling of home.
(Some years ago there was a British thatcher living here in North Carolina and I wanted so much to have him thatch my potting shed - alas I waited too long and he upped and moved to France to cook as he was also a trained chef).


My home in Devon, England is well known for tiny villages and hamlets tucked away in the river valleys and rolling countryside. Dairy farming has been a way of life since Anglo-Saxon times - and of course Devonshire Cream teas are always announced on a rustic, handprinted sign on the farmhouse gate.

Do tell me about your cottage dreams. Why do you like this style of living? With so many huge homes now being built here, why have you decided a smaller, cozy cottage is more your style? Have you ever been to the British Isles and visited authentic cottages.......in villages or at the seaside perhaps?