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)
I love your blog and i would love that book!
oh how o love your blog!! and i would loooove that book!!
I wish to thank you for sharing this amazing and beautiful story through your dedicated work on this website. I have followed and enjoyed your posts from a distance—but have never left a comment until now. I recognize a “blithe & kindred spirit” when I see those traits. You and your husband, together as a team,bring life and creativity to so many who I see respond here. I would be honored to recieve this book–but my sincere wish to you both–is to complete the circle of happiness you both possess as you journey through the adoption process. Our family has already traveled through two international adoptions–and we have been blessed with two babies that are now the “little men” and light of our lives. May your future be as blessed and offer you a new chapter of happiness and love. I know you will be amazing parents–and the “lucky winner” will be the new “little one” who gets to share that.
Can’t wait to read more about this magical place on this beautiful lake. Her Dad’s story brought tears to my eyes. I miss my Daddy so much, four and a half years now. If I don’t win this book, I will certainly buy it! The pictures are amazing. Thanks so much, Layla.
I can only dream of visiting a beautiful place like this. I can’t think of anywhere in Australia that has such fabulous accomodation in such a lovely setting. You have done a wonderful job and created a very special place. Sas
I would love to look at this–it seems so relaxing.
Love!
What a treasure- the book, Tereasa’s words and her vision. Thanks for sharing this, Layla- so much inspiration to be had. 🙂
Sounds like a wonderful book!
Gently tears ran down my face as I read Teresa’s post. What a great trait her dad passed on to his family and so wonderful for them all to find their own way to keep it a part of their lives. This book will find a way to my home whether I win it or run out and buy it! Thank you for sharing.
What a wonderful book!! It took me back to my great-grandparents little cottage in West Texas. How I would love to be able to the same as Tereasa. Her words are so inspiring. Thank you for sharing a part of this awesome book.
Thanks for a peek inside this book. What an amazing undertaking. As a cancer survivor, I feel the inspiration in a different more personal way. Congrats! Is a book signing tour planned?
Wow. I thought I would love her book yesterday, but after reading about her father, I know I will love it even more today!
Pick me! Pick me! I wanna win!!
Lovely. We are purchasing a 50yr old cape cod on a large parcel that needs a little love too. We love paint, caulk and duct tape too!
What a beautiful, inspirational book!!
Layla and Kevin: Believe. Such a powerful word. Believe, though, and anything is possible! Cindy
Oh yeah, I’d love to have a copy! Thanks for the giveaway!!
🙂
shaunna
This book looks wonderful. What a beautiful tribute. I would love a copy….
I would love a copy of the book, and would probably pass it along as a gift to my daughter, who has the same vision and can see beauty in all the old, rusty odds and ends she come across.
Wow!
With tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat this story truly spoke to me. I hope to someday have my very own modest cottage…. it also reminded me of my Dad, he was a bit of a pack rat and always saw the usefulness of everything and I do mean everything.
Thanks Layla for this heart-warming story!
This was just beautiful to me. It speaks to how our Lord never gives up on pursuing use. He sees the beauty in all of us.. not worthless or ordinary, or unuseable. He brings us back to life, restores us, sees potential where others may just see junk…” Nothing (no one) is too far gone…He sees the beauty “locked within”…Hallelujah! I would love this book…so inspiring!!!
What a beautiful heartfelt story. I hope his kids have passed the inspiration on to their kids. I would love to win the book!
I want my own modest cottage, great post!
Awww what a sweet story , and a neat looking book. To have a parent that inspires you is an awesome thing. My Dad has always been my best friend. He took me to work with him as a kid and I’ve gone with him as an adult! He took me and 2 of my children home from hospital after they were born. I recently had a teerible car accident and totaled my car. My Dad has been tireless taxi driver! He always helps me with any DIY project I start!! I would love a copy of this book to find more ideas for me and Dad to work on!! Thanx for a chance to win!
Would love a copy of this beautiful book! Such an wonderful story!
Beautiful!
A very modest cottage, a very big success story.
Oh, my gracious! My heart is singing! ♥ I would love a copy of this precious book!
This made me cry! I would love to win this book. Everything I read on your last two days posts makes me want to revamp a lake cabin!
I would love a chance to win. So inspiring!
This looks fabulous! I would love a copy of this book. What an inspiration.
Beautiful! Would love a copy!
What a beautiful post and beautiful tribute to Tereasa’s father!
I am loving Wandawega week… the look and feel of the place is incredible and the attention to detail and to keeping it real 😉 is so utterly charming!
The book is definitely on my wishlist now.
Love the story…..would love a copy of the book!
I am enjoying your posts on the Very Modest Cottage. My husband and I own a very modest cottage in Illinois that we have made wonderful memories at with our 5 children. My husband recently passed and now we struggle with the loss of the heart of our family. Teresa’s writing touches me and I would love her book.
i would adore a copy of this book! it’s full of beauty, and dreams. Would love to have this page turner on my coffee table!!! GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!
Absolutely lovely!
What a touching tribute to her father. Thanks Layla for to chance to win this lovely read!
ahh… this looks just LOVELY! i really fell head over heels for this when i read the previous post. and the Wandawege site is adorable… such an inspiring accomplishment! i hope to get to dive into the book! thx for the opportunity!
So inspiring!
What a great post!
This looks like a wonderful book~thanks for the chance to win.
I would LOVE a copy of this book!!!
This post made me smile as my Dad never threw anything out. You just never know when you might need it or find a use for it. My Dad passed away last year and I miss him everyday but take comfort in knowing that if I can’t quite find the right piece for a project that if I go over to the house I’ll probably will and this makes my finished projects that much more special. I would love to flip through the pages of this book!
How touching! I wish more people shared her father’s feelings about material possessions.
Would love to win this book! Thanks for the opportunity to enter.
I love this post. Very inspiring to not give up even in regular life situations and to keep at it 🙂 Thanks Layla!
So inspiring… I’d love to win this book!
I am looking forward to sitting on my front porch, sipping some iced tea and reading about the magical transformation of this little cabin. If only it had happened magically. It is obvious that it took imagination and hours upon hours of elbow grease. The boards of this humble little building must be rejoicing at how they now glow.
Love this post! The book looks inspiring! Thanks for doing the giveaway and for posting!