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)
This was inspiring. I really enjoyed reading the post yesterday. It made me wonder about other similar properties that might be around. Such a fun thing to do – but sooo much work!
Love this!
I LOVE the story she’s interweaving…wow…would love to win a copy of the book…she’s right up my alley.
i am a country girl stuck in the suburbs raising my family. reading your b log yesterday makes me yearn even more for that cabin in the woods for weekend and summer escapes.
wow! amazing!
Following you on GFC as Ashley Brooke
ashleybrookeblog at gmail dot com
I would love to read this book. I like in a Chicago suburb and frequently travel to Wisc and Mich to enjoy Lake Michigan and the smaller, midwest lakes.
Super book! Very inspirational!
I would love to have a copy of this book. Looks like me and a million others, hah. Thanks for the chance.
I’ve always had a thing about houses, even as a little girl I would collect pictures and house plans of homes I loved. I enjoy your blog so much! It’s so inspiring! I would love to win the book!! I especially have a thing for lake houses!!!
without the old, there wouldnt be inspiration..every weathered item has a story, even cottages.. and its creation reflects the passion and love one poured into its life… by far, an absolute fav.. 🙂
I’m looking forward to your additional stories on the cottage and camp –really great what they’ve done with revitalizing run-down buildings and old furniture. It looks like an ideal vacation spot, and I’d love to win your giveaway book.
I LOVE this story! We live in WI just an hour North of Wandawega. I can’t wait to get the book & plan a trip to go there!
I love old treasures and lesser loved objects. How wonderful to have a story that captures the beauty of resurrection! Thank you for sharing!
I want to go there!…but looking at the book might be as close as I get for a while! Thanks for sharing this story and beautiful place with me!
I love cottages and cottage style!
I LOVE the ceiling from the dark green-painted cabin!! Lovin’ this week!
What an inspirational story. Just what I needed to read today!
Inspiring.
I love the story. Thank you for sharing. I would treasure a copy of the book.
What a sweet tribute to her dad. I’d love to read the rest of this book! My birthday is tomorrow (hint, hint). 😉
Such a humbiling story. How lucky she was to follow her dreams through her Dad. I’m sure he was there to help finish it…He seems like a pretty special guy.
I love this cottage, the book, everything! I’ve always wanted to buy an old summer camp on a lake and restore the cabins for my family and friends. This whole series makes me long for indian summers and smores! Thank you for sharing!
Beautiful lessons from Tereasa and her Father. Not only does it say not to give up on something old or rusty. It is also a beautiful lesson to slow down and live. Thanks again Layla for sharing. I hope to win a copy of this beautiful book, but if not it will be going on my Christmas List.
I would love a copy!
“With hope and a hammer, I believe there is always a way.” With this phrase alone, Tereasa really hit the nail on the head (excuse the pun). I love her philosphy, her vision, and her spirit!
love it. endearing.
So inspirational. I want to read more. Please put my name in the bag.
I would love to win this book. It is my dream to live in a cottage someday
oh do put my name in! She’s in my backyard and i’d be so grateful.
Would love to add A Very Modest Cottage to the Fairfield House library. Loving Wandawega Week!
Finally purchased my own very modest cottage! What a fun read this would be!
Would Love a copy of this book!
Would so love a copy of this book! PLEASE! please, please?
Wonderful!!
Loved the post about Wandawega yesterday and today! Would be happy to have a copy of the book.
Such a beautiful post and a beautiful restoration project. I would love to read more.
So touching! I’ve really enjoyed this post. There is a set of cottage in VT that I recently had the pleasure of visiting and they seem to have the same love/vibe. We had such a wonderful trip there. I loved every minute of it.
My dad helped me haul, set-up, lift, hang, at my first flea market booth. Now, he’s been picking up items for me, even driving back to town to get his truck to help me haul a load from an estate sale back home. Thanks for the story and giveaway- I flipped thru a few pages at a bookstore out of town and was immediately smitten!
What a beautiful book, I’d love a copy!
what fun!! i would love to flip through these pages and live vicariously through them 🙂
We are just starting to renovate an old cabin that we inherited with our property so could use all the help we can get. Love the free or flea sort of idea!
A
That place is amazing! Thanks for sharing even more inspiration.
Wow. . .after reading your post about the property, I would love, love, love a chance to win this book! Thank you!
Wow, what an amazing family. I would love to win this book – my boyfriend’s family could use this inspiration and encouragement as they renovate a badly destroyed property they’ve inherited.
I wish I could have that same perspective. I would love that book!
Love this series of posts! What a cool, fun project!
What a wonderful, touching tribute to Tereasa’s dad-makes me wish I could stroll amongst the cabins with him and hear his stories! He has left his legacy in this awesome family.
Wow – what a great story – I can see the potential in old items – I just can’t manage what it takes to bring them back to life – I wish I had a team I could get to help me with my visions. 🙂
The way she writes, you could just feel her dads arms holding her long after he was gone with the past he left for her. There is nothing cosier than something that came before and we should treasure them. I would love to add this story to the one that I know from my past.
I love this post. Oh, how I would love to visit this spectacular place. I loved looking over all the pictures and reading their story. Thank you so much for sharing about Camp Wandawega!!!