be my guest

"I am excessively fond of a cottage; there is always so much comfort, so much elegance about them".   ~ Jane Austen

"The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it."

 ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

"Please come in to Good Drop Cottage and make yourself right at home," this she spoke with as much warmth and grace in her voice as she genuinely felt. ~Me 

Because the living room is longer than it is wide, I wanted to  provide a division of sorts. I call this space the "Reading Nook".  It still could have a small bookcase in the corner which I hope to add when I find the perfect one. It is a sunny spot to sit, read, sip a cup of tea, and dream. There is also a turntable record player with some old albums. One guest reported she and her husband put on a record of the Carpenters and danced. Isn't that lovely?

"There is room in the smallest cottage for a happy loving pair".    ~Friedrich Schiller

The Grandfather clock was in my childhood home. My brother wanted it when my parents passed away and then when he died back in the summer of 2023, my sister-in-law gave it to me. This is a Ridgeway Clock  which was originally manufactured very close to where I now live. These clocks were popular in their day.  

See the little mouse?

 

"Hickory Dickory Dock, the mouse ran up the clock..."

When we got the clock home we decided to put it in the cottage and we hired our clock keeper friend to get it working again. When Ridgeway Clocks were being sold as a small USA business locally, they would give their customers a little mouse to sit on the weights. Our friend was happy to have received a supply when they sold out to  a company in Michigan, that was in 2004. He gifted us with this little fellow! Herman rides the weights down daily, then we make sure he "holds on tight" as he rides up when winding the clock.

 

This is the "Queen's Room" named so because it has a queen-sized mattress on the bed.  No magic in that. The names of the rooms are not significant other than what we initially called them as we were furnishing the rooms. This southwest bedroom is full of sunshine.

My son lived for a couple of months in the other bedroom. He was nicknamed "the Professor" by my late father-in-law years ago. That name has stuck, since he stayed there the "Professor's Room" seemed to stick. I hope to stitch up the names of the rooms, frame them and  attach to the bedroom doors one day.

I even embroidered a set of pillowcases in the "Professors's Room".  My plan is to stitch Good Drop Cottage in the blank spaces, but the spacing is tricky and I just need to sit down with my needle and embroidery threads and do it.

If you forget anything we try to have a simple supply of items on the bathroom shelf.

When we were ripping out the kitchen, I convinced my husband to take the ceiling clear to the beaded board and please at least one wall I begged? I would have loved to have had the entire kitchen with the original beaded board, but I am thankful for what I did get!

"I had rather be shut up in a very modest cottage, with my books, my family, and a few old friends, dining on simple bacon, and letting the world roll on as it liked, than to occupy the most splendid post which any human power can give." ~ Thomas Jefferson

The kitchen is completely supplied with anything you would need for cooking and baking. Though I am still on the look out for pretty casserole dishes to add to the cupboard.

My grandchildren go into the dining room and the first thing they observe is the candy on the buffet, "Grandma, why is there candy on the table?" They know they are not allowed candy so I try to remember to put it up high when I know we will be over there. Their father helps with with certain things that need to be done at the cottage when he comes.  But my other guests are always welcome to enjoy as much sweet candy as they like.

There are still things that need to be added to the cottage, it is an ongoing process, but hopefully our guests can come here and always feel comfortable and welcomed.

For now it is only for friends and family...or if friends or family know someone that need a getaway. It is our pleasure to be able provide this cottage.

And do not forget to sign the Guestbook!

There are plans in the making to create an inviting and enjoyable place outside too. I am presently planting a flower garden and establishing garden beds, the roofed open area above will be a lighted arbor to dine under during mild days and evenings.

The view from the front porch and the arbor.

For the Christ-child that comes is the Master of all; No palace too great no cottage too small.  ~Phillips Brooks