Welcome to the inside of my cottage! I'm so glad you came to visit and I welcome you...into my cottage and my heart!

When I built this cottage I sought refuge from the growing pains in my sad soul. I knew I needed healing. Like the birds now nesting in the birdhouses under the loft, I needed to nurture myself so I could learn to fly.

When my father died, he left me a little money; just enough to build a small, 10'X12' cottage. This, in itself, was a huge gift from him. You see, over the years, he condoned and sometimes took part in my mother's horrendous abuse of me. Just before he died, he apologized for this. He died right in front of me, with a smile on his face. It was peaceful. And so very beautiful. Every time I enter my sweet Lavender Nest Cottage, I am reminded of his apology, and this gift.

This is the gift that keeps on giving. Giving me the time and place that I need to put his memories in a safe place where I can remember the times he showed me acceptance and love. They were few, but at least they were... Only sometimes...

I always wanted to be "Daddy's girl." Now, thanks to his gift, I can go into the cottage Daddy helped me build. It is there that I work out a plan...and think of all the ways to undo my childhood for my own children. Understand and know this--- it is one thing to heal from abuse; it's another to create the childhood you never had---and gift this to another! This is how we celebrate. All because we survived. This celebrating and undoing are a must. An absolute must.

So what's inside my cottage? There's an overstuffed love seat where I welcome all who enter, so they can feel the love I have for them, and their gift of friendship and kindness. I have my spinning wheel and fleece from our sheep, which I use to spin wool into yarn while I unravel the memories of my abuse and use it to knit one strong sweater. It keeps me and my healing heart warm in the snowiest of winters. My husband Will bought me an art table and easel, which I use paint and illustrate scenes that used to only be dreams.. Most thankfully, they have all come true for me! The sweetest piece of furniture in my cottage is a small old armoire, I found at a thrift shop. It is filled with the sweet scent of lavender and shelves of abandoned bird nests. They are art in nature, and represent how we can build our abode which will nurture us until we learn to fly.

Really, my special cottage represents ALL of us! Little did I know, but when I built this small cottage, it turned out to be big enough to hold ALL of YOUR hearts, too!

My beautiful friends, you will always be welcomed into my cottage. It's where you can come to heal and rest your tired wings. Soon they will be strong. Strong enough to fly... and oh, they will be the most exquisite wings this world has ever seen!