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*Repost from SimplySara.com, January 28, 2017 In the mid 1970’s, the Jim Hodges family rented a simple white cottage in Minden, Louisiana, from Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Fitzgerald.  Little did they know at that precise moment, the Lord was orchestrating a divine friendship that would change the life of one of their daughters nearly forty […]

Without any further adieu, I present to you the floor plan I selected for my Simply Southern Cottage!   If I’m being literal, the correct answer is none of the above.  HOWEVER, after pouring over all 5 options, I ultimately choose Plan Option 4 with modifications.  In all reality, this is a totally new plan […]

One of the toughest decisions I’m currently making resides around the new floor plan.  If you watched my Facebook tour, you noticed there are currently LOTS of walls and LOTS of space that could be better utilized. The kitchen is REALLY small and not very functional.  There are three existing bedrooms and 1 and a […]

In Parts 1 and 2 of First Things First, you learned how I managed to get rid of the pests and overgrowth that threatened to take over my cottage.  Once those things were taken care of, it was time to move on to what would hold the house firmly in place…the foundation. Honestly, I was […]

If you read First Things First Part 1, you learned there were three essential issues that needed to be addressed right off the bat before any other pieces of the renovation could begin: pests, overgrown vegetation and the foundation. Here’s a view of the cottage BEFORE the vegetation was tamed: Red Tip Photinias had completely […]

As eager as I am to get into the cottage and begin demo (a.k.a. removing the paneling to reveal the shiplap!!), there were three crucial elements that needed to be addressed right off the bat before any other work could begin: pest control, the overgrown vegetation and the rotting foundation. When I walked through the […]

(Cross-posted from SimplySara.com) Honestly, in my entire life, I don’t think I’ve ever been as drawn to anything…much less a house that would capture my affection and undivided attention. I KNEW the Lord was calling me home.  Every time I visited my family, I soaked in the tall pine trees, azaleas and slower pace of […]

(Cross-posted from SimplySara.com) Famous. Last. Words. In 1995, when I graduated high school and went to college at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, AR, I was SO ready to get out of Louisiana. “I will NEVER move back here!” I exclaimed.