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A Very Modest Cottage Giveaway

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Welcome to day 2 of Wandawega Week! If you missed day 1, click here.

Today, we’re giving away a signed copy of Tereasa’s book, A Very Modest Cottage. If you’d like a chance to win it, just leave us a comment on this post between today (Tuesday, August 9th) and Thursday, August 11th at noon (Central Time).

But before you scroll down to comment, I’d like to share with you a few more gorgeous Wandawega photos, and a very special blog post Tereasa wrote about her Dad, Tom Surratt. It’s filled with love and heaps of hope, and I’m sure you’ll be as touched by it as I was…

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“An old car, a decrepit piece of furniture, a rusty old tractor, an abandoned cottage is never beyond hope. They just need to find someone who’ll believe in them.

Tom Surratt believed.

He didn’t see a worthless, geriatric farm machine that was too far gone. He had a gift to see the youth, the former self, the beauty in everything. He saw his grandson one day driving that tractor down Main street in the annual Beardstown Fall Fun Festival Parade. He didn’t see a rust bucket of a pick-up that was beyond repair. He envisioned the ‘country limoisine’ his son Sam would drive his bride Tara home in on their wedding night.

Tom’s ability to see potential where most saw junk was a gift he passed on to every member of his family. His son Sam can bring pretty much anything with an engine back to life again. And again. And again. His daughters Amy, Lisa and Holly married men cut from the same cloth. Men who know that the right combination of ambition, duct tape, and elbow grease make all things possible. His wife, Kay, held Tom’s hope in her heart as she hammered, nailed, painted, and restored half a dozen condemned properties into loving homes for low income families with her two hands. And my father Tom inspired me to see the beauty locked within an abandoned cabin bound for the wrecking ball. I saw a quiet, happy place where Dad could go to read his books and listen to his grandkids and watch the clouds roll by.

Dad didn’t make it to see the rebirth of the modest cottage.

Or to witness his grandson – with a grin a mile wide – old enough to pilot that old international Harvester tractor down Main street and win best of show for antique restorations. But his ability to dream and hope and believe lives on.

I hope this little story of a resurrection inspires you (like my Dad inspired me) to think twice before you lose faith in that old car, that weathered piece of furniture, that old tractor, or even an old, abandoned cottage.

(Tereasa’s Grandpa, holding up her Dad)

Even the most modest of projects can be become something beautiful. There is no such thing as too far gone. With hope and a hammer, I believe there is always a way.”

– Tereasa Surratt, author of A Very Modest Cottage

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(Photos 1, 2, 3, & 5 courtesy of Mary at at Home Is Where The Boat Is. Photos 4 & 6: AVeryModestCottage.blogspot.com)

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Comments

  1. Lydia

    Wow, this seems like a great book to curl up and read on a lazy day. I would love a chance at winning this. 🙂

  2. amanda

    I love taking something so broken, and brushing away all that kept us from seeing it’s beauty. It’s amazing with things and people!

  4. Joyce Carr

    I am not a blogger, but always enjoy checking in on you and Kevin. If I am selected, I would love a copy of the book. Thanks.

  5. Cecily

    Love the post about the cottage resort. Loved, Loved, Loved the tilt shift photo of the cabins making them look like toys! So many great ideas to keep people inspired to be more DIY in their busy lives.

    Great job!

  6. Bliss

    Very cool blog – since I started following your blog – I don’t miss it! And have turned on many friends to it also. Would love the book! What a place – I’d love to visit!

  8. Mary Bjornsgaard

    Have been thinking about yesterday’s post all day today. I’m re-doing a guest bedroom and would like to do it in a similar style. Would love to own this book. Thanks so much!

  10. Traci

    Wow! This sounds like an amazing book!
    I love this post. So inspiring. I hope my boys see that same spirit in Cy and I. 🙂
    xoxo
    Traci

  13. Janita

    Love The Lettered Cottage but these posts about Wandawega were especially inspiring, on many levels. So many good ideas I’m going to try out at my own very modest cottage, “Wit’s End”. Tiny house. Big fire pit. 🙂 Thanks Kevin and Layla!

  15. Stephanie

    What a lovely post about what sounds like a lovely man! Thanks for the chance to own this book!

  16. amy

    Love this post, what a beautiful story!

    Thanks for sharing and for the giveaway 🙂

  20. Christine E

    I am loving all these posts this week (and always) I enjoy all the inspiration of the southern posts, but this one is more in my area (the midwest).

  23. Dawn

    What a beautiful post! I love the story. I would really like to see a bit more in the book.

  24. Megan

    I just love this post and would love to take a peek at this book. It’s my birthday on Thursday and this book would make it a happy birthday indeed.

  27. brittney s.

    I want to go to there! Wandawega is gorgeous I’ve had it pinned for ages 🙂

  29. Lori

    This is just lovely. My husbands grandfather lived on a lake in northern wisconsin and this just takes me there.

  30. Shala

    This place looks amazing!! I loved the pictures from yesterday’s post. A place like that would be so neat so that the whole family can gather and have fun together

  31. Tina from AL

    I enjoyed the story you posted yesterday and I think the entire process and story would be a page turner. I can imagine all the great ideas I could pull from this book. It sounds like a family labor of love…how special.

  34. Lori Bowen

    I am visiting my mother this week in Georgia. Had planned to go back to Texas tomorrow, but my car’s engine decided differently. While I’m waiting for it to be repaired, I’m working on my mother’s “very modest” ranch. She’s on a very fixed income and lacks ability/mobility and creativity, but she’s super agreeable to whatever I suggest. Excited to see what we can accomplish while we wait… Love your stuff!

  35. Teresa

    I would love to stay at this place! Being able to own your own lake retreat like this would be a dream, glad she can!

  40. Itsa

    I, too can see the beauty in things many see as to far gone. Lovely book, lovely story!

  42. Jan

    I spent way too much time at her blog exploring through the map! Why does it have to be so far from Texas? I’m sure the book is awesome!

  44. Jeannie-JB

    I’d love a copy of Tereasa’s book. It sounds like she loved her Dad in the very same way I loved mine (my Dad is all over my Blog Profile). His 83rd birthday would have been this Friday and so, needless to say, this post was very moving and I’d really like to read the book. Thanks for the opportunity!

  47. valerie

    I have seen this book and would LOVE to have a copy! They are so inspirational-it is the cutest place EVER!!!

  48. Shelley Turner

    Teresa’s post about her father reminds me of my own father. Looks like a beautiful book!

  50. sarita

    what a wonderful comment on how our lives should be lived. Family,restoration,fun, and just living life! Thank you for the chance to win this book.