The Modern Day Cottage

09/03/2026

Today, I want to share a little piece of wisdom, both for myself and hopefully for others who might be struggling with unfinished projects.

Think of completing a to-do list like an artist completing a masterpiece, it’s not finished in one sitting.

It's done one gentle brushstroke at a time.

Sometimes, stepping away from the work allows us to reflect, preserve our energy, and open up new possibilities that rushing might cause us to miss.

Patience and kindness with ourselves can make all the difference.

Just one brushstroke at a time.

What tasks are you still working on?

Mine include drafting blog posts, SEO, writing, photography, and decorating my home, which is still sitting on my living room floor as I write this. I also need to fully clean out my craft room and office, organize my pantry before fall baking begins, and make space for all the canned goods I plan to put up for the season. The list goes on, but I remind myself.

We’ve got this together!

Also, I think I’m slowly learning that the masterpiece isn’t something waiting for us at the end, either. There’s so much life in the making of it.

Take care of yourself as you tackle these things, one step at a time.

08/27/2026

Dolly’s Christmas, Family, and Everything She Stood For

Twelve kids raised in that Tennessee mountain house, Dolly, her five sisters, and six brothers, with a mama and daddy who didn’t always have plenty to put on the table, but always had love to pass around it.

I’ll never forget an acoustic concert of hers, no smoke, no mirrors, just her. A man in the crowd told her she looked cheap. She looked right back at him and said, “Honey, it takes a lot of money to look this cheap.” Raw. Real. Exactly who she was.

She had no bounds with her generosity. She gave and gave and gave, to literacy programs, to kids, to strangers she’d never meet.

Family first. Sharing without limit. Love spread wide.

Rest in peace, Dolly. You will be forever treasured.

Welcome to my Dolly Parton Collection of Music. We offer the best a...

08/24/2026

Does anyone else feel like the whole internet suddenly wants to slow down and embrace “Slow Living”?

What is embracing this movement called “Slow Living” look like?

Sourdough starters everywhere, fresh milled flour being the new buzz word on TikTok and IG. Grain mills selling out and on back order everywhere online.

Raised beds, in small backyards, and even on apartment balconies.

People wanting to learn heritage skills like canning and milling their own flour.

I’ve been watching this happen for a while now, it happened back in 2020 with the world issues, and now I see it making a resurgence, but not from necessity this time around.

It’s like an ancestral spark is being ignited in all of us, and I have some thoughts and lots to share. More coming this week.

08/23/2026

The internet certainly does keep changing. Algorithms change, search changes, social media changes, and apparently YouTube requirements change too. :) I’m sure three years from now there will be a whole new list of things I’m supposed to understand.

What I don’t want to change is the reason I’m doing any of this.

I’m a real person sharing things I’ve actually learned and a life I’m actually living. Some of it will be cozy and beautiful, and some of it probably won’t be because, well, that’s real life. Mostly, I hope when you leave my little corner of the internet, your cup feels a little fuller than when you arrived.

I’m a doer and a dreamer. I always have been. And if you’ve been putting off one of your own dreams because you think you’re too old, too late, too busy, or you need to wait until life looks a certain way first, maybe you don’t.

I started this at 45. I’m 48 now, and I feel like I’m just getting started.

To read the full post click HERE:https://substack.com//note/p-211748872?r=6jrmj3&utm_source=notes-share-action&utm_medium=web

08/22/2026

Fresh peaches + freshly milled wheat + browned butter might be one of my favorite combinations for summer baking. 🍑

This Whole Wheat Peach Cobbler is made with a blend of freshly milled hard white and soft white wheat, juicy peaches, warm spices, and a simple batter that bakes up tender with beautifully golden, buttery edges.

And here's the important part, don't stir the layers!

The batter rises around the peaches while it bakes and does all the work for you.

Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a simple late-summer dessert.

08/21/2026

Comment COBBLER, and I’ll send the recipe straight to you 🍑

Peach cobbler is one of those desserts we all look forward to making every summer.

This week is the week to make it because peach season is nearly gone!

This peach cobbler version is made with regular all-purpose flour and sourdough discard, and there is no long fermentation time.

You melt the butter right in the baking dish while the oven heats. It saves you from washing another pan, but it also gives the butter time to lightly brown before the peaches and batter go in.

Those crisp, buttery edges are going to be your favorite part.

I’ve made this cobbler with fresh, frozen, and canned peaches, and they all work.

We like it best after it has rested for a few minutes, while it is still warm enough to melt a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

08/04/2026

Comment WAFFLES and I’ll send you the recipe! 🧇

These freshly milled flour waffles are golden and crisp on the outside, soft and fluffy inside, and perfect with plenty of butter and warm maple syrup. Save this one for your next cozy breakfast!

07/19/2026

*Comment "ICE CREAM" for the recipe* Every summer deserves one unforgettable homemade dessert.

This Brown Butter Peach Custard Ice Cream combines fresh peaches with rich brown butter and a creamy French-style custard for an ice cream that's full of homemade flavor.

One of my favorite ways to serve it is in these Homemade Waffle Cones made with Fresh Milled Flour.

🍨 Are you a cone or a bowl type of person?

07/05/2026

Happy 4th of July! I hope you have a wonderful and safe celebration.

See you next week, lots of recipes that are just peachy:)!

06/09/2026

I keep coming back to fresh strawberries as a tablescape element this summer, and I do not think I am done yet. There is something about soft pink and real berries on a table that just feels right this time of year. Full setup is on the blog. *LINK IN COMMENT*