The Sunshine Cottage

“For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭54:10‬ ‭

Hello sweet friends and Happy September, the month that we welcome autumn, my favorite season.

Five years ago I mentioned it would be nice to have a potting shed next to the garden. Renaissance Man agreed, but life was busy and we didn’t make any plans. The following year (2016), we became grandparents and it was pushed to the bottom of the priority list. Fast forward to spring of this year when I mentioned to my sweet hubby that a potting shed would be a great place for me to play and make memories with EM and EK. A few days passed when one evening he asked me if I had settled on the design. Let’s say I got busy finalizing my ideas.

We officially broke ground June 15th and it was completed July 24th…seven weeks from start to finish in the middle of a pandemic! I blogged on the progress and so many of you suggested names and were anxious to see what colors I would use on the exterior. You all were genuinely excited along with me, that is why I love our “everyday living” community. So why have I taken so long to share? This year has had its challenges.  It has been difficult to locate the few things I needed for the interior. Who knows when I will find what I have in mind?! I decided it was time to share, anyway.

I am so excited for you to see the exterior of the Sunshine Cottage!

 

It has been somewhat of a task to take photos of the Sunshine Cottage without sunshine and between showers and thunderstorms.

Late yesterday the clouds parted and we finally had sun on the Sunshine Cottage…so we plugged in a pic after we were set to publish!

 

The porch is 6 feet by 12 feet. It hasn’t been decorated, but hopefully in a few weeks it will be dressed in autumn’s glory with pumpkins! The glider came from my Daddy’s screened porch. I spent many hours sitting on that glider next to my beloved Mother drinking coffee and talking. When Seth first saw it on the porch of the cottage, he immediately said how much he had loved sitting on the glider next to his Nanny. I hope to make lasting memories with my girls on the rusty glider!

If you remember, my plans were to stain the board and batten. We tried several stains, but I wasn’t happy with any of them. After much deliberation, I decided on painting the cottage and I am glad that I did. It is “dove white” by Benjamin Moore, the same that is on the trim of our house and Butch’s workshop. The antique French doors and  vent are “buxton blue” by BM.

I feel that painting the cottage white makes the cedar shake roof more defined.

In a previous post, I made mention that the shed would be called by a different name…it would be known as a cottage. It made perfect sense with a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. I have always admired the English country style with the mixture of patterns, colors, and textures. The interior will be a mix of shabby chic and English country. I also have a deep admiration for English country gardens, much like this area next to the cottage.

Our plans are for fall planting in front and on the sides of the cottage! The pea gravel walk which leads to the garden is lined with brick from the historic home that was located on the farm.  

A view from the porch as a thunderstorm is approaching.

Another view from the porch looking toward the hubby’s workshop!

We had narrowed the choices for naming the cottage to two names…our pick and Ella Mae’s. Ella Mae chose Butterfly Cottage and I adore the name. We do have a lot of butterflies in the garden. I had thought of Sunshine Cottage for many reasons and Butch immediately liked the name. The cottage has no shade trees surrounding it, except a small ginkgo that will provide some shade in the future. It is obviously in the sun. If you have followed our blog for any length of time, you will be aware that we are huge John Denver fans.  “Sunshine On My Shoulders” is Butch’s favorite song…and the sunshine makes us happy!  “Sunshine Cottage” also has a spiritual meaning to me that I will share when I reveal the interior. I was so torn between the two names until Ella Mae said to me, PJ you can call it the Sunshine Cottage and I will call it the Butterfly Cottage. The perfect solution!

We added another sunny, blue sky photo. We were getting happy at this point!

“If I had a wish that I could wish for you,
I’d make a wish for sunshine all the while.”
-John Denver

 

 

 

Thank you so much for your visits and gracious comments. Next Thursday I will take you inside. Wishing you a joy-filled day!

 

Linking with:
 Pieced Pastimes,  Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
 Imparting Grace,Life and Linda