I look back at the 1437 posts I’ve written on this blog, and think about all that’s happened in the past four years I’ve been blogging at Cozy Little House. I’ve gone through a divorce, moved to another state, had wonderful highs and crushing lows. My life has basically been laid bare for my long time readers. I want to say thank you to each and every one of you who’ve been with me every step of the way.
Yesterday I got an email from a woman in New York who said she found me on Pinterest. Starting last week, she said she started at the beginning and read every one of my posts. Now that’s a lot of reading! It is so inspiring to get feedback like that from readers.
Down every winding road and around every bend, I’ve always said my readers are the wind beneath my wings. And you are. When I’ve felt like sinking to the floor and just giving up, I had all of you there, steady and loyal, wanting to help or give advice or just a virtual hug. You’ve sent me lovely gifts and cards, and even sent me live plants to make sure I had a garden last year.
You’ve watched me tearfully leave a wonderful home and my two cats in Texas, where I’d spent six years creating my dream gardens, only to have it end in heartbreak and little else. You’ve read along as I’ve begun to live a whole new lifestyle here in Tulsa, learning how to pinch pennies. But having a sense of peace I thought was gone forever.
You were there when I broke both sides of my ankle and helped me through many months of trying to rehabilitate it. I’ve wondered at times, if the life I knew before July 9, 2012 is a thing of the past. Will I be able again to take a shovel to hard red dirt, and haul bricks and create something out of nothing? Maybe so. Maybe not. But I’ll find a new “normal.”
I still have all of you surrounding me with sisterly love and devotion, and daily you give me courage. You are the most loyal friends a girl could possibly have.
I have come to the point in my 5 years of blogging that I am ready to add like-minded bloggers to contribute to this blog. I want to, through their varied personalities and interests, send Cozy Little House on to a new level. Broaden the scope of it and look to farther horizons.
With my team of four delightful women, they will bring their locales and their diverse experiences and their homes and unique strengths to the table. And yes, they love the colors and details of decorating and style that I do.
Beginning in March, these four women will alternate Thursdays with a theme that will run for just that particular month. We will plan events to share with you, and instead of one mind devising ways to delight and entertain you, there will now be five.
Andrea Haywood blogs at Opulent Cottage. She lives in Dallas and we’ve been friends online for quite awhile. She lives in a small cottage with her husband. They are recent empty nesters, as their only daughter is in college in Austin. Andrea loves red of course, and toile and doing projects and decorating.
Judy Clark blogs at 20 North Ora. (Well, by now all of you know who Judy is). She lives in Tulsa and became my friend over a year ago (and saved me throughout my ankle surgery and the ongoing rehab). Judy is a licensed interior designer and decorates houses all over the Tulsa area. She is semi-retired now and loves to do projects. (And boy, are they fantastic projects!) She also is a wonderful painter. She has had a successful Etsy shop for nearly two years. And she loves red!
Dawn Cain blogs at Creative Cain Cabin. She lives in a lovely log cabin she shares with her husband and two teenaged sons. Dawn loves to decorate and do craft projects. And she loves red! She comes up with fantastic decorating ideas. And you’ll see even more of her log cabin that she and her husband built together.
Elaine Lewis blogs at Sunny Simple Life. She has four daughters, ages 4-21. Elaine is top notch at coming up with frugal ways to save money. She knows how to cook for a family of six on a budget. And she has the cutest chickens! And, of utmost importance, Elaine loves to decorate with red!
These four very talented bloggers will be part of a round table team, and will come up with their own series and special blog segments that we will all undertake together.
I hope you will enjoy this new change at Cozy Little House. Five women, four states and all living in different parts of the country. Five completely varied homes. But all loving the cottage, farmhouse, eclectic lifestyle. We all enjoy decorating and go junking, and transform furniture pieces we find on the curb. We love a bargain and thrifting and repurposing old pieces and turning them into new treasures.
Dawn, Judy, Andrea, Elaine and I look forward to bringing you the expanded version of Cozy Little House. We hope you enjoy our combined efforts as we travel this new path together. I love you all.
Sounds wonderful! I enjoy your blog and look forward to the new format!
How neat! I love this idea! Elaine is a personal friend of mine. And I know Dawn quite well too, via blogging! But I am eager to get to know the other two ladies!!!
Good luck!
xo Kris
This sounds like so much fun, what a great idea, Brenda!!
I have been a reader since the divorce. A silent reader, I believe I commented once…when you bought your house, because I too had just bought a house. Do you know how I know you have a fantastic blog? I have zero red in my cottage. Not a red thread. I am excited for the new additions and have no doubt, you have hooked me for another decade at least! TY for teaching me to dig in the dirt, and inspiring me to haul my own bricks!
I really love this idea! I am looking forward to their posts!
Suzan
Ladybug cottage
Thanks Brenda. I am so honored you are including me. Now let’s do it!
Wow love it!! I already read the other blogs. I am about an hour from Dallas in the Denton Decatur area!! A great idea for sure.
I love your honesty. Life isn’t always a great decorating project or finding the perfect “whatever.” Life shakes us so hard, like a cruet of salad dressing. Just when we get it mixed just right, it settles and has to be shaken again and again. That’s real life. Shake, settle, shake, settle. Thanks for the update and welcome to your new peeps!
That should be fun and I’m sure it changes things up for you – always a good thing.
Best Wishes with your new venture, Brenda! It sounds quite exciting.
-Karen
I am honored to be a part of this wonderful group of blogging buddies! Thank you for putting this together and doing all the legwork. It’ll be so fun for us and your readers! Thanks friend.
Judy
Looks like fun!!!
I think this is wonderful Brenda and I appreciate you and the other ladies sharing your lives and homes with us..
Friends are the very best Gift.
How exciting! I’m a follower of both Dawn and Elaine (two of my favorites!), and look forward to getting to know Judy and Andrea!
I think this is a very exciting move for you and your blog! I look forward to it! I love and follow already two of the team (Elaine and Judy) and will look forward to getting to know the others! We all love you Brenda and you courage to put it out there for all to see. I am inspired by you and your challenges and how you have prevailed! This next step on your blog looks like so much fun!
hugs, Linda
I love the idea of a new normal! This is so exciting! I already read all of you so it will be interesting to see what all of you together come up with. Congratulations and way to go, ladies!
Congratulations on your new venture! I loved the small house segment you did. I’m sure this will be wonderful also. I happen to love red too! (and blue!) I read your blog as often as I can, and have for quite a while. Tulsa happens to be where I started this life at!
Best wishes to all your contributors!
This is exciting and your fellow bloggers are all so wonderful. I love that you come up with these ideas to share w/us! Your readers love you and are so supportive of you during this journey you’ve been on the past few years. Little do you know the strength you have given other women to cope with problems in their lives. Thank you for everything you do, Annette T
A very exciting adventure, for sure! I’m looking forward to seeing what you and your “team” come up with.
I have been following for three years now, since I started blogging. You were one of the first blogs that I found. I will look forward to your new adventure. Good luck,
Brenda, what a wonderful idea! I’m looking forward to Thursdays!
What an awesome idea! I will look forward to the new girls on the block (well, not entirely new to me). Sounds interesting and fun!
This sounds wonderful, Brenda. Looking forward to coming along for the ride and some great inspiration and ideas.
Mary Alice
Sounds and looks like you’re taking it to the next level, great job! Look forward to hearing from these ladies here at Cozy Little House.
Mary
Congratulations Brenda,you have an awesome team ahead of you!
Looking forward to this! All such beautiful women. Judy looks just as I pictured her!
But where is the photo of YOU??
It sounds like a great year ahead for you and your blog! I’ve been a friend of yours for a long time and I love the long lasting friendships we have made with so many in blogland! We women need to stick together and support each other! It makes us stronger! Sweet hugs and best wishes in all that you do!
This sounds wonderful Brenda! Such creative women! I’m looking forward to your new adventure. ♥
Yea team ! It sounds like you and your team are going to start a “Cozy Little House” Journal.. It’s a wonderful idea and you’ve, again, been creative.
You know, Brenda, YOU ARE LOVEABLE ! Happy Valentine’s Day tomorrow, 2/14/13, friend of mine..
I love the pictures of all the “gals” on your team.. Great picture of Judy. No wonder Charlie and Abi love her..
Take care and keep on, keeping on.. You’re going to hit the Jack Pot one of these days..
I’m hoping and praying that you’ll be able to dig in the dirt and plant more flowers in just a few short months.. If you’re not able to use a shovel, there’s always a hand trowel and containers of all kinds..
Hugs,
Charlotte <3
Hi Brenda, You have gone through so much these last years and yet have been victorious and given us all encouragement. I always love visiting here each day-you are just so special! Of course I know Elaine through her blog and Judy through you but look forward to seeing what every gal shares-I think it will be wonderful!
Hugs, Noreen
What a wonderful idea – I look forward to your blog each day and will certainly enjoy hearing from these ladies too!
Brenda, This is the first comment my computer has allow me to leave in such a long time. I have missed you. The ladies are all so nice. I kind of thought that Judy was the same lady that was your friend. You are blessed Brenda. I have made lots of new friends blogging also. I wish you the best and all our wonderful blogging pals. xoxo,Susie
Hi Brenda,
I am thrilled with your new venture….Not to mention the fact that your contributors all love the color RED. I am a fan and follower of each one of their blogs…and, they are truly my favorites…along with you.
I look forward to some great features and renewed energy in the coming days.
Blessings and my very best wishes,
Carolynn
This is such a wonderful idea! I love the fact that you will have bloggers from different regions with various interests to share on your blog. I look forward to visiting!
Brenda
This sounds like great fun.
I know Dawn and Elaine and look forward to getting to know the other contributors.
Blessings-Kimberly
Brenda, Just popped over to read all the comments. I am honored to be a part of the new team, and it sounds like your readers are eager to welcome us. Thanks again for picking me, I am heading over to Facebook to promote the new group:)
I look forward to the changes you’ve got planned. Your blog is wonderful as is, but it can’t hurt to add 4 red loving ladies into the mix!!
What fun! I am looking forward to the contributions of your new team! I am familiar with Judy’s and Elaine’s blogs and I am eagerly anticipating reading the other Andrea’s and Dawn’s as well!
Five beautiful women! What a great idea!
Hello! I wanted to stop by and say thank you SOO MUCH for featuring my blog at Welcome Welcome Friday last week! (I tried to post there but for some reason I’m not getitng a comment box? I’m new, but not that new, so I have no idea what my problem is). Anyway, thanks for sending so much traffic my way! I just wished I stopped here sooner with a thanks! It’s been a busy week…..
Wow Brenda, you always come up with wonderful ideas!!! All these women love red!
Now that makes me know I’m gonna enjoy what they will be posting. A little red (or a lot),
junk & creating sounds exciting to me! Looking forward to your new adventure!
Hugs
Sounds like lots of new and exciting changes ahead.
How exciting, Brenda! I look forward to following along.
What fun! I visit each of those four blogs already as well as yours so I know this is going to be a really amazing collaborative effort…looking forward to it!
Happy Valentines Day!
Hi Brenda, Love you too! Thanks for your lovely blog! Hugs, Anne
How great, Brenda! Moving Forward is ALWAYS a good thing. And when you add RED…… well, we know it will certainly be FABULOUS!!!!
What a wonderful team of gals you’ve picked! And, what a great idea! I’m looking forward to it. Moving forward has become my theme, too, lately! Lots of blessings in your new endeavor!
Dru
Congratulations on this new collaboration Brenda! Five awesome ladies on one blog?! There’s no stopping you now, and I am so looking forward to their features. (((Hugs)))
Beautiful post Brenda! I look forward to meeting your new team on Thursdays!
Xo
Charlotte T
Brenda, how wonderful that you are breaking out in a new venture!
These women are just perfect for your blog share.
I look forward to reading and visiting their blog sites.
I am so excited to see that you are doing this! I have followed you for several years starting from your Texas blog. I too follow Creative Cain Cabin and Sunny Simple Life. I look forward to reading along with Andrea and Judy! So excited! Linda
That sounds like a fun idea, Brenda! Looking forward to seeing what you ladies come up with!
XO,
Sheila
Brenda, I appreciate you sharing your heart with us. I don’t know how you do it. I can’t imagine going through what you have, and then being able to so cheerfully share with us . Thanks so much, I have been reading your blog for a long time, but rarely comment. Your decorating style is so cute and cheerful and your blog is one of my favorites! Looking forward to this new venture. Thanks again.
Brenda, what a great idea, I can’t wait to see the growth in Cozy Little House and meet the new bloggers..sounds like such a positive thing!
Barb
So excited!! What a great group of ladies to learn from!
I Love all of your blog buddies…and have already been reading their blogs as well as yours! This is going to be fun!!!
Thank you and many blessings to you,
J