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)
So inspiring! Thanks for offering this giveaway 🙂
More people need to look around themselves and see the potential before they run off to purchase a new “thing”. There is more satisfaction that comes with rebirthing something than buying brand new.
I so enjoyed this article. It reminds me of my own father who is now 90 years old. He kept a little of everything he ever made or tore down. He was a carpenter by trade. Whenever I had a project my Dad would always have a way of having that one particular thing that I might need. Not only would he have the item but there was always a story as to where it came from the year it was acquired and the job it had come from. He is a real inspiration as was her Dad. Wish everyone could have that kind of father. Thanks for sharing.
Oh this post made my eyes “sweat”!! 🙂 I can’t wait to read more!!
Oh, it looks so lovely! If I can’t visit…I’d love to win the book! 🙂
My sweet father passed away a year and a half ago, but, he, too was someone who saw the beauty in items others would discard. In the 1960’s he went to auctions where beautiful antiques were considered junk and nothing a person would use in their “modern” homes. Those pieces are loved and cherished as a reflection of a person who appreciated fine craftsmanship and timeless design.
I loved this sweet posting. The pictures are beautiful, the words inspiring. Thanks for sharing!
What abeautiful tribute to her Father. Sounds like someone a lot of would love to have met.
As far as the book…yes please! Pick me!
What an inspiration. New is not necessarily better, and and ols does not mean throw it away. Thanks for reminding me 😉
Awesome! 🙂
Tereasa’s place looks great! I’d love to win a copy of her book.
I’ve been wanting to order this book for some time now, so I would love to win a copy!
I would very much love to be the winner of this book. I enjoy your web site so much.
What a great story and post! So inspirational – in fact, I already had this book on my wish list, so I’d love to win it. Thanks for the opportunity and your own inspiring adventures!
Absolutely believe as he did…sometimes my sister looks at me at some of the furniture I buy and thinks why does she want that?Then I work on it with the vision I had when I saw it and she declares”I’ll never doubt her choices again”Love this blog.
I’d love a copy of this book. How inspirational!
Love the story and would be honored to have the book 🙂
Oh what a neat post!! Her dad sounds just like my husband. He can bring ANYTHING back to life! Another neat thing is that we live just a few miles away from them. What a beautiful area that is. I would LOVE a copy of her book.
What a sweet tribute. Would love the book!
Looks like a wonderful book! Wish I had the “can do” gene too.
Very touching. I would love to read this book.
Thank you for such a great giveaway! The book looks wonderful.
Getting ready to move into our dream lake house. . . dream to have it, but it sure needs some MAJOR TLC! Would be a huge blessing and tons of inspiration to get lost in the pages of that books! Always enjoy you Layla! Thanks
The book looks as beautiful as the resort. Nice!
I am ready to buy my ticket to Wisconsin and come to visit Wandawega. The book would be a close second!
Would love to read this book!
I would love to have this book! Can’t wait to read the rest of the story!
Pick me!!
i want to go there….reading the book would be the a good thing to do instead.
What a touching post . . . . I am in the throes of restoring a “very far gone” 1880s house in Albany, Oregon, right now. Sometimes in the middle of the chaos, it’s hard to keep the faith, to remember that I first saw the house and thought, “It’s not too far gone; I can fix it.” Thanks for helping me stay the course on my project by seeing what others have done.
Great inspiration!
Sigh… still dreaming about owning our own lake cottage. I have loved reading about Tereasa’s cottage adventure. Would love to hear more. Thanks for the chance to win her book!
Love the book. Fingers crossed!
Love this…with hope all things are possible.
i’d love to win the book! peace love and happiness 🙂
I love it! What inspiration!!
Oh, I would SO love to have this book!! It is exactly what I need right now. We are in the process of purchasing an old farmhouse in Tennessee, built in 1897. It needs so much work! When exploring the outbuildings the other day, inside a caved-in barn, we found a very old tractor that we intend on refurbishing. Anyway, love your blog…it is so inspirational 🙂 Keep it up!!
We really enjoy your profile this and look forward to visiting the blog to spend more (vicarious) time at the Resort!
Great to see the vision of this couple and their execution of the rescue and renovation.
Winning the book would be the icing on the cake.
EZ & VAZ
This sounds like the philosophy of my “do it yourself” family. I would love to have a copy of that book! It captures the very essense of loving items back to life!
Looks lovely and inspiring!
So Inspiring in so many ways! Thank you for sharing it with us.
Ashley
Loving this series and would love a copy of the book!
Would LOVE a copy of this book!
I love seeing amazing transformations done, gives me lots of ideas!
Would enjoy that book!
This book would have a special spot in my home 🙂 Thanks for the opportunity!!
What a dream come true! I absolutely love the quote by her Dad!!
what a lovely post….sign me up for winning what looks like a very sweet book, maybe some inspiration for our own tumble-down cottage?
I’d love to win! What a great book!
I loved this post. I’m typing with tears in my eyes right now. Too many people today throw away old things because it’s the easy way out. But when we do that (and we’ve all done that before) we miss out on the chance to restore a little piece of history and the beauty and hope that can emerge from the process. All it takes is some character-building hard work and good old-fashioned perserverance. I’ve never won anything on a blog before and would love to win this. Thank you so much for blogging about this hidden treasure.