Story Book Cottage

Yesterday I went to visit my Dear Friend, Ginger at her Story Book Cottage in the big woods. 

Ginger grew up on this very land, married her teenage sweetheart, built this lovely cottage and raised two daughters here. 

Her love for her home, family and gardens shows in every beautiful square inch! 

And did I mention her love for her precious pets? 

Here are two special friends waiting patiently on the front porch for us to join them. 

This little guy, named 'Moochie' is just as cute as can be. 

He is a miniature Pomeranian.

He is waiting for 'Daddy' to get home! 

Can you see the real 'bear' in this photo? 

This sweet little pup is her daughter's miniature Pomeranian. 

She pet sits for her every day and this is her 'favorite spot' outside where she loves to dig holes. 

You can see the evidence on her front 'bib'. 

Another favorite spot, inside, on the back of the chair! 

Isn't she precious? 

Ginger served a delicious lunch of a chicken enchilada wrap. 

It was as tasty as it looked! 

 I confess to having 3 helpings! 

Don't you just love her dishes? 

Her beautiful home is decorated in true log cabin style, with brown leather furniture, mission oak, and beautiful cathedral ceilings. 

Natural materials are used through-out and there are special touches everywhere. 

I fell in love with these gorgeous etched windows that were custom made, both depicting eagles in flight. 

The sunshine was shining through, causing some blurring, sorry about that! 

The beautiful grandfather clock chimed while I was there with a lovely melody. 

The stairs lead up to two rooms in the loft, one a guest bedroom with old fashioned quilts on the bed, and the other an office. 

These were once her daughter's rooms. 

After lunch she took me on a tour of her gardens. 

She has a Himalayan cat that likes to sleep in the hammock! 

She gardens in dappled shade and everywhere there were flowers blooming. 

Can you see her blonde friend under the Rhododendron? 

She has incorporated the native ferns into her plantings. 

Nearly every tree had a lovely garden surrounding it. 

Bird baths, garden statues and bird houses were tucked everywhere. 

A garden swing....

Hand crafted bird house, 

and garden bench add rustic touches. 

And the gardens....!!!

Coral Bells, Fairy Bells, and Sweet Woodruff, 

Hosta, Trillium, Bleeding Heart...

Primroses, Azaleas, and groundcovers of every kind. 

Lilly of the Valley, Candelabra Primroses, Phlox, 

and huge, rosy Camellia blossoms! 

And sweet Wood Violets that Ginger generously shared with me! 

She brought out some boxes and a little shovel and she sent me home with divisions and starts of all her wonderful flowers!

I will be planting a 'Ginger Garden' and will share that with you soon.

Thank you so much, Dear Friend! 

What respectable Story Book Cottage would be without bears?

I half expected to see 'Goldilocks' ! 

When this magnificent tree fell in a recent storm, what else to do but have a bear carved into the remaining stump? 

Set in the very back corner of the little forest, you can almost believe it is real! 

After the garden tour we settled into the comfortable wicker chairs on the back porch and visited a while. 

From there we had a lovely view of Ginger's garden shed. 

Here is another view. Isn't it darling? 

With one last look at her sweet Story Book Cottage, 

And with her generous gift of sweet garden treasures, 

I reluctantly say goodbye! 

Thank you, Dear Ginger for sharing your beautiful home and gardens.

They are truly special and so are you!

xoxo