“Always try to keep a patch of sky above your life.”
―Marcel Proust
I got to spend the weekend in Tennessee visiting with four of my favorite mamas. Amanda, Jen, Nikki and Esty. They’re names feel like lyrics when I say them out loud. 🙂
They, too, are adopting children from (or have already adopted children from) Three Angels Children’s Relief in Haiti. Their kiddos are like brothers and sisters to our Sweet P…
…which makes them my Sisters…which makes me reeeeeally really smiley. 🙂
They came in from all over the country…Idaho, Ohio, Alabama, Florida…and it was so good to see them right there…under the same patch of sky. In the same living room, squished together on the same sofa. In the same restaurant, gathered around the same happy table. It felt therapeutic to lose track of time with them in those places. We talked and talked, and ate and ate, and they filled my heart with so much love, I could literally feel its seams stretching, too.
The friendly folks at Shelter & Roost were so sweet to provide the accommodations for our getaway this year.
The mamas stayed at Leiper’s Fork Inn, and Kevin and I stayed in a cabin called NEST. You’ve heard the lyrics, “Over the river and through the woods”? Well, NEST sits a half a mile deep in the woods (3 miles from downtown Leiper’s Fork), and you literally drive through two little creeks to get to and from it. I’m sure our Sweet P would’ve thought it was the coolest adventure!
I couldn’t resist sticking my feet in the water one morning….brrrr! It was ice cold! 😀
(photo: Shelter & Roost)
NEST is suuuuuuper secluded (there’s only one other house on the same road) and I had so much fun snapping photos of the place before I hung out with the mamas each day.
There were lots of big (undressed) windows and the cabin is surrounded by a canopy of leafy trees right now, so the natural light was diffused during the day- the perfect combination for taking evenly lit interior photos.
There are two twin beds up in the loft, and they’re backed by a wall full of (real!) old books.
Here is a photo from their VRBO.com listing so you can see what the whole wall looks like:
Isn’t that darling?! I love how they stacked them. I sort of think I need a wall of old books somewhere now. 😉
The details are always my favorite…this little glass lamp…
…the names and dates scratched into the top of the kitchen island…the combination of fabrics on the armchair in the living room.
The wagon wheel turned wall art…the check-bottomed curtains in the bedroom downstairs.
The small, simple collection of dishes on the (only) shelves in the small, simple kitchen…
The tiny table and stool set, in the center of the living room floor…
That Nashville Baking Co. crate, and the straw hats hanging on branch hooks…
Every room felt like such a breath of fresh air!
Kim from City Farmhouse did a great job decorating the place. The light fixture that mimicked the rain shower bath fixture made me smile every time!
And that reminds me, if you find yourself in the Franklin/Leiper’s Fork area, you must visit City Farmhouse in their new location at The Factory (230 Franklin Blvd.). There are several other fun shops in the same building, and Deann Hebert paints and sells her paintings there too. (Meeting her was one of the highlights of this trip, and I can’t wait to share a post about her as well!)
Oh! You also MUST go to Puckett’s Grocery in Franklin (120 4th Avenue S.) and try their Piggy Mac. It’s cherry-smoked pulled pork topped with gouda mac n’ cheese, and it is seriously one of (if not the) best things I’ve ever eaten. No joke. My mouth is watering just typing about it! 😛
Do you have a Franklin/Leipers Fork favorite? I’d love to learn more about that magical place!
What a beautiful way to fill your heart!
Oh wow….you were literally in my backyard! So glad you enjoyed LF and Franklin. We love wondering through the shops in Leipers Fork and next time try Andy’s Triple Treat Cookie at Puckets #bestdessertever!
Lisa G. in TN
We went Nashville this summer…then we went to Franklin. What an adorable little town! We were there on a Sunday, so City Farmhouse was closed. 🙁 I may or may not have snooped around the house just a bit. We visited the Factory. I am so glad to see that there will be some more life there. Again, it was Sunday, but there was SO much potential there! So much goodness here in the South. Can’t wait to visit Chapel Market again this year! Your neighborhood is just so inviting. I may bring my Uhaul and move in!
We are a short 4 hour drive from Franklin..visit often. We love middle Tennesse. Carnton Plantation is my absolute favorite. The cemetary there is a labor of love by the owners of plantation during the civil war for thr confederate soldiers who lost their lives in the Battle of Franklin.
LOVE it! What a great place, love everyone’s smiles and I’m so happy for each of you. To share such a great bond and sisterhood – and the children are lucky to have you all. Please NEVER stop sharing the simple things in life with them….
Merridee’s Breadbasket in Franklin. Did you make it there?
The best!!!
My mom and I did on another trip, Amy…but we didn’t fit it in this time. Next time, for sure! XO
Oh my! I am in L O V E with that cabin. That precious little lamp is to die for. Also, the ceiling light that mimics the rain shower. How creative is that? So many special touches caught my eye. Thank you for sharing it. Really enjoyed looking at every detail. One question. Do you lose your cell phone service in such a remote spot?
Thank you, Rebecca!
And to answer your question: we did lose our cell phone service, but there is a landline phone in the kitchen and bedroom and we did have wifi. XO
Layla,
There are so many details I liked I would n’t know where to begin to list them. But that book wallpaper is especially sweet.
Thank-you for sharing,
Penny
Oh those are actually real old books, Penny! They stacked them in there so beautifully, didn’t they? 😀
Oh, a landline phone. I forgot all about those. Duh. 😉
i was going to comment on several things like your gorgeous self portrait and so much more, but then you mentioned “cherry-smoked pulled pork topped with gouda mac n’ cheese” and i can’t think of a single things to say other than YUM.
🙂
Did you come down 96 on way to downtown franklin and turn into Westhaven? That’s where we live now. It’s another TND neighborhood like The Waters but, different architecture and focus here is on landscaping. It’s much bigger which makes it less “home” feeling than The Waters :(. Still great to see how they kept with most of TND ideas!
I just wanted to thank you for always brightening my day. Your cheerfulness, enthusiasm and overall genuineness is so beautiful. i look forward to your posts and can’t wait to open when I receive your email. I love the way you design your home and your stories. Many blessings Layla. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!
Such a wonderful place to stay!!! It is lovely and cozy!
The Coffehouse at Second and Bridge, in Franklin. I may be biased, as it is managed by my sister, but a fun gathering place that has grown leaps and bounds since it opened. I live in FL so don’t get up there nearly as much I’d like. Such a great area!
Oh, I love Franklin. My son and daughter-in-love live in Nashville and we visit Franklin every chance we get. Eat at Puckett’s every time! Another great time to go is the end of the month – to go to the Nashville Flea Market! That is a blast. Thank you for introducing me to the wonderful art of Ruthie Carlson. I am now carrying some of her work in my new store in Dothan, AL.
I grew up in Franklin and my parents still live about 10 minutes from downtown, so that place has my heart. I adore reading about it through other people’s eyes. I love just walking along main street and reminiscing. It’s such a special place and has grown and changed since I was a kid, but I think I love it even more now. I remember being in high school, long before Franklin was “cool” and cruising with my friends around the square. That was until the noise ban was passed and they really brought the class back. 😉 I love PD’s on Margin Street, which is like Home Goods on crack. LOVE it. I hope to make it to the City Farmhouse Pop-up Fair in October.
Oh I wish I had known about this place two months ago when we were in Nashville! It’s great!
I have to tell you that every time I see a blog post sitting in my reader, I hold my breath. Will it be a post about your beautiful home and creative tablescapes/wallscapes? Or will it be THE post… THE post that I hope for everytime… THE post that says Sweet P is coming home. I hold my breath, knowing that sooner or later (sooner, please!) it will be THE post and I will cry in my coffee with joy for you.
This light on Wayfair looks a lot like the bathroom light. So cool!
http://www.wayfair.com/Creative-Co-Op-Turn-of-the-Century-Drum-Chandelier-DA2838-XRL1800.html
I also have a store inside the Factory and would love for you to stop by next time you are in the area! I believe the mirror inside the bathroom pictured, Kim bought from me…it looks beautiful!!!
RELEK
Kristin Gatlin Spencer
We LOVE Franklin and will be headed that way in a few days. We will be vendors at Bella Vintage Marketplace at the Harlinsdale Farm Aug 28th – 30th (across from The Factory). I tried to book The Nest for our stay but it wasn’t available on the dates needed but we found another cute cottage to stay in. Thank you for posting your photos!! They are beautiful!
So beautiful! But I have to say, I just don’t “get” stacking all those books with the pages out and the titles not visible. Yeah, yeah, it’s a neutral wall, but in my mind it’s just plain stupid. I guess you’re not meant to actually read any of the books, or peruse their titles. I wonder if they were just bought to make the wall, or they are really collected, and cherished books. I wish this “trend” would just go away! It’s SO contrived!!! There, I feel better now. Sounds like you had a great time with your “sisters”.
Ah man! I would have loved to have met you while you were in town. I live about 10 minutes from Leipers Fork in West Franklin. So glad you had such a great time. Lots of great shops and restaurants here. Maybe a meet up next time???
We love Leipers Fork! We live in East TN, about 3-4 hours from that area. We have stayed in another Shelter & Roost property – Brigadoon. Love that little house. I believe it actually had been in the owner’s family? I could be wrong but I know they had some family antiques in the house.
That place looks like a dream! So cottage chic and beautifully decorated.
Glad you had such a great women’s trip!
Lauren Baxter | Lovely Decor
xx
I had a friend text me about your adoption last night to ask if I was following you. We are about a year into our adoption from Haiti and awaiting USCIS approval before we can send our Dossier off! It has been so fun to read all about your journey and I feel so much of our own story in your words. Thank you for sharing your heart! How did you meet all these Mom’s that have adopted from Haiti? We live in Idaho and I would love to connect with other Moms who have or are going through this process! Thanks again for sharing
Hi Julie!
SO fun hearing from you today! I love connecting with other folks that have have been Called to Haiti. No one understands quite like another family in this process does. 😀
Here’s a link to my Adoption FAQs post:
https://theletteredcottage.net/adoption-faqs/
I talked about how I connected with the other Three Angels mamas there. One of our mamas is from Idaho, so I’m going to tell her about you right now! 😀