March 9, 2019
My mom, aka Granny, dreamed about a cottage garden from the moment we moved in to this beautiful property. I spent most of my adult life planning, researching, pinning and fantasizing about a garden where I could plug in whatever beautiful thing I could find with no creative limits.
Dave lovingly created the perfect blank canvas to make that dream come true.
This post shows the back-breaking labor and the first years of life of this little beauty.
Our cottage garden was built in the Summer of 2016 by the blistered hands of Dave with the help and supervision of my mom and Me.
It started with the dirt…Mountains of it!
Dave was literally moving mountains for days and days….
At first we over-did it on the large equipment…
And we had to ask our neighbor for help to get us un-stuck!
Too big! 
Just right!
American Gothic!
But after we got in the groove, we made some progress!
I helped out but mostly played with the animals and tried to rescue baby wood ducks.
Mom, Gizzy, Shanny and Coco were always very helpful.
Mom cruised up the driveway to say hello to the ducks and get a different vantage point
Lisa and Kim came to play 
Gavin, Dave, Granny Garret, Nate and Chloe take a lunch break 
Cassandra, Perry and Dave enjoyed “the beach” 
Chloe was a huge help 
Shelly, Liz and Erin came to visit 
Sophia said hello to Saffron 
Gavin contemplated life in the treehouse!
Friends and family sprinkled the garden with love…
Mom took clippings to the goats 
Uncle Jim helped with the tool shed 
Gavin planted some flowers
And the Garden grew more beautiful with every visit!
And the transformation was magical!
Before…
After!
Kimmy Jo
Such a beautiful labor of love Jill! And Dave is such a stud! I’m sure that Sweet Granny is smiling down from the heavens with pride at your new venture! Love you! ❌⭕️
Jill
Thank you, Kimmy Jo! Truly a labor of love and as I watch the garden come to life this Spring, all I can do is think of my sweet momma cruising next to me. She would probably be bossing me around a bit too! Love you! xoxo
Vicki
Your garden is just lovely!!!! I bet your sweet mother is smiling with pride.
Jill
Thank you, Vicki! I love it so much. This is the first Spring without mom so it’s a bit of mixed feelings but it really is so beautiful and getting prettier every day now. I plan to give a little virtual tour of how it looks now, in a few weeks! Stay tuned!
Bita
Hello Jill!
I’m reading the old tickets in small spare time and I think maybe this is the most beautiful there is. Full of so many feelings. You left a beautiful and wonderful garden, I would say that even magical and it is so cute the name you put and the reasons.
Is there any way to email you directly? I have started to investigate a little about au pair-like options when I remembered that the parents of an acquaintance in my city, when their two daughters left the nest, began to receive foreigners during seasons at home (something like an au pair but without children, more for a cultural and language exchange, like welcoming “new children” during seasons). I found it a very good option because I would love to go and make ties with the family and learn about the place, become one more while I learn the language a little bit by force so that I can understand it and help at home. I have been depressed for a while because of the few facilities I find here between bad jobs that do not fill me, it is frustrating at 28 years to be this lost but it is happening to many people in Spain. After a few days watching your photos, stories, celebrations … of farms full of nature, lots of animals and beautiful places like the tulip festival, something tells me that I should try to go to Oregon, save for the stay and locate a family to fill me back with a little life and hope in a place like that. I would love to go a few months and be part of it while I learn English making me understand and continue practicing in my illustrations in free time. Do you know any family that usually participates in something similar over there?
Just in case I leave you my email and instagram:
– bitamogwai@gmail.com
– https://www.instagram.com/bitasibyl/
And thank you very much at least for reading and listening. I send you love Jill!
~Bita
Jill
Hi Bita:
I am not aware of programs like that. I know there is an organization for Au Pairs but I’m not sure about the scenario you describe.
It sounds like you are searching for happiness out in the world. I’ve found that you won’t find it out there unless you search your own soul and figure out what it is you truly love inside yourself. This concept took me a long time to understand but I suggest that you be honest with yourself and work hard to discover what makes you happy without trying to please anyone else. That’s the advice that helped me and that I give my kids. When you discover what you love, do something everyday to work toward it, even if its small. Once you discover your passion inside, you will be happy wherever you go whether it be Spain or the USA. Sending you love xoxo Jill
ANGELICA VIDALES
Hi Jill!
Happy Monday!
I love your garden! and I would definitely hang out everyday on that swing set if I could; I have always been a fan of flowers and plants but sadly other than a cactus I have never ever been good growing them, they always die on me 🙁 I guess it is simply not one of my talents given that my mom, and mother-in-law, are masters at growing plants and flowers but I am the total opposite.
Your mom looks so happy on your pictures, she makes me remember my grandmother.
Best,
Angelica V.
Marie André
Hello Jill, I just wanted to say that your cottage looks heavenly! I would like to have one as beautiful as yours when I have a house and a garden.
Much love from France.
Marie
Jill
Thank you, Marie!
I love my cottage garden so much. It is my “happy place”! I think everyone should grow flowers no matter what size space they have…even in a pot. Watching flowers grow is such a beautiful miracle of nature!
Sending lots of love to you in France! xoxo Jill
Anne
First of all, this is a lovely garden Jill! The transformation is beyond magical. It transported me to my hometown. I grew up in the mountains amongst trees, fruits and flowers too. The city is less of that though and as much as it is wonderful, views like this are just priceless. Congrats on a job well done to everyone. 🙂
Jill
Thank you. It was a labor of love and is constantly transforming! xoxo