Porch Journal: Cottage Glimpses

Behind-the-scenes glimpses from home and studio at Juniper Hill Cottage

Hello my lovely readers, come on in.

Welcome to the ‘Porch Journal’, a short-letter series where I share small reflections and behind-the-scenes thoughts on living a smaller, simpler, more beautiful life. These are quick, easy reads, about a minute or two - just enough for a mid-morning coffee break.

In today’s Porch Journal I’ve got a few behind-the-scenes glimpses from life here at Juniper Hill Cottage - a 1924 craftsman bungalow located in the high-country of Northern Arizona. It’s a small house - where life is well-lived.

Lately I’ve been sharing what I call Cottage Glimpses, over on my Substack daily notes.

They’re not grand design moments or perfectly styled rooms. Just corners of daily life in an old house.

Our front door wearing a brass dragonfly knocker.

Apparently I’m leaving the eucalyptus holiday wreath up until the scent gives out. A lovely gift from my beautiful Mama.

And this original 1924 window on the porch - the craftmanship and detail give me joy every day. (We just finished renovating the window last week - which was in pretty rough shape, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the result.)

The evenings are warming now, so we are easing into our daily evening porch sittin’ ritual. Best way to end the day EVER.

It’s the little things ✨

A little corner of the garden room in the soft morning light.
A straw garden hat hanging beside a well-used apron.
A ristra of dried chiles by the window.

Ordinary things, really.

And no, this isn’t staged for this image!

But somehow those are often the very things that make a home feel warm, lived-in, and beautiful.

A Cottage Glimpse - Before & After

Another corner of the garden room at Juniper Hill Cottage - this one my little office (aka writing desk).

Here’s a progression, to show how it evolved over the years - beginning in 2010 (when it was 87 years old) through to today, when it’s become my lovely writing and work space in this beautiful, historic 1924 cottage.

That’s the same window as the first image.

My desk now is essentially sitting where that grill lived on the porch.

That’s my office, and where I write - just a corner, but it couldn’t be more perfect.

Some evenings the cottage seems to glow from within.

The moon hanging low over the neighborhood. The old alligator junipers standing guard, heavy with berries that will later fall in great messy waves across the property.

But for now… they simply frame the house, making me feel rooted and tucked in.

I’m curious - do you have a favorite little corner at home? I’d love to hear.

Thank you for spending a little porch time with me today!

With contentment & possibility,

P.S. 👉🏼 I’ll be sharing something a little special here next Wednesday - a small spring campaign and a handful of original artworks from the studio. More soon…

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