Well… seems I’m already failing miserably at my 2026 one-post-a-week challenge. Cool. Cool.
In my defense, a LOT has happened in the last month between moving into the cottage, all the work happening on the main house, and an ice storm that our pug, Aliza, refused to poop in.
However, today Cody is traveling, and I’ve finally found a (conference-call-free) pocket of quiet time to process my thoughts.
To be 100% transparent, every time I’ve sat down to write over the last few weeks, I’ve had creative paralysis. Our life – and what’s going on here on our tiny corner lot in Nuggett Hill – seems very trivial at the moment.
Talking about what now feels like minor mishaps in the moving process and the challenges of cottage living/shared space seems so tone-deaf in the wake of what’s going on in our country. That realization rendered me frozen in front of my laptop… until I gave in for the millionth time and retreated back to my phone.
It’s been a relentless cycle for three weeks. I guess this makes me a terrible blogger, and I would NEVER make it as an influencer or content creator – so good thing that’s never been our goal.
That being said, the same part of me that’s consumed by TikTok reports, Substack articles, and sold-out reporting on live “news” to the point that it’s swallowed my days since moving into the cottage is also hungry for a focus shift.
Not because I don’t care. I deeply care. I just need to give my heart and brain a rest from the helpless feeling of not being able to do a dang thing to help. It’s kind of eating me alive, to be honest.
So here’s to some mind-numbing entertainment. I’m going to pretend, as I write this, that these things are important to someone – and maybe help one of our three readers also take a break from what feels like the sky falling around us.
Here we go. A few wins and woes from moving and cottage life so far.
WOES
I found the most amazing hand-carved antique bed (1800s) through my local “dealer,” George Thomas, and fell in love at first sight. The original plan was for it to go in our downstairs guest bedroom in the main house because I selfishly wanted to look at it every day.
However, the bed I’d planned for the cottage (an antique Facebook Marketplace find) was buried deep in storage unit number one. So I decided to bring the hand-carved bed home and use it in the cottage until we move into the main house.
Fun fact: she was previously owned by another Nuggett Hill resident many years ago and was said to have been shipped over from Italy, if I remember correctly. I’m telling you – she’s preeeeety.
We got her moved in before anything else in the cottage the day before “moving day,” along with the gorgeous Harrods armoire I also purchased from George. She was a perfect fit, and with George’s help, we had her put back together pretty quickly.
Here Comes the Woe
That evening, we purchased a box spring and mattress and ran it over to the cottage, only to quickly learn that the size of a full bed in the 1800s is not the same as a full bed in 2026.
The mattress was fine. The box spring? A no-go. Not even close.
We didn’t want to mess up this gorgeous bed by not supporting it correctly, so what to do? Cody stewed over it that night and decided the only option was to build his own box spring (minus the spring part) inside the bed frame.
The next day, after moving a few loads, he went to work and did a mighty fine job building a platform for our new mattress. It wasn’t without a few questionable words (common to all projects at our house) and many little challenges.
The bed will most likely not make it into the main house – taking it apart will be an equal challenge – but it’s done, it’s perfect, and now our guests will get to enjoy her as much as I do.
Meanwhile, back at the bat cave (aka what I was doing while Cody was building a custom box spring), cleaning was a must thanks to construction dust and workers in and out. I was practicing my domestic skills.
The multitasker that I am, I decided to wash the new sheets while mopping and dusting so they’d be ready when Cody’s project was complete. This was the very first load in our brand-new stackable washer and dryer.
Surprised and delighted by the little song it sings when a load is done, I walked into the kitchen to discover she wasn’t just singing – she was pouring water. All over the marble floors, under the walls and fireplace, into the living room, and bubbling out of the seams of the brand-new hardwood floors.
Sounds dramatic, I’m sure – but it was absolutely a panic moment.
Unsure whether we’d bought a lemon or had a plumbing issue, we called our contractor and requested plumbers first thing the next morning… which also happened to be moving day. Not stressful at all.
We mopped, set up fans everywhere, and by the next morning things looked okay. The plumbers arrived bright and early, and within 30–45 minutes found the issue: during one of our exterior projects, a sponge or insulation had fallen into an open pipe before it was closed up, causing a backup.
I was very relieved it was resolved quickly and that we didn’t have to deal with replacing a brand new appliance – especially since it was a booger to move in. I’ve also quite enjoyed the little song she sings – especially now that it’s no longer accompanied by water.
Fast forward a few hours – same song, different verse.
The movers finally arrived after being delayed most of the day by a mid-move truck swap. One of the first things they brought in was the sectional we “built the living room to fit.” Or so we thought.
Assumptions were made. On both ends.
After finally measuring (very after the fact) and spending 30 minutes willing the space to magically grow by a foot, I listed our perfectly good sectional on Facebook Marketplace.
Thankfully, we had a buyer almost immediately, and it was picked up the next day. A new sofa and chair were selected and delivered by the end of the week.
I also made sure I measured the space myself. Just in case.
This did mean relocating my sweet little vintage chair to the bedroom, but surprise – I love her there anyway. It was meant to be. I’d count that as a win. Our 13-year-old cat agrees, since it’s currently her favorite spot.
I realize these are first-world problems – not “knicker-twisting” (iykyk) situations. More like annoying little speed bumps. Which, by the way, is my number one pet peeve. Just needed to state that again. Let’s move on…
After the movers delivered to the cottage and the remaining items to our second storage building, we still had about three more days of moving to do.
Overconsumption is real, and I am deeply guilty. Not hoarding-level, but truly… how many pairs of socks does one person need?
Shoes. I won’t even get into where my shoes are being stored for the next six months or the unflattering language I use when fetching a specific pair.
The cottage closet and armoire are perfect for guests staying a few days or weeks – but trying to fit my entire wardrobe into that space is, as we say around here (thanks to Tommy Boy), like a fat guy in a little coat.
Our solution: temporary clothing racks with covers stored in the main house. Our plaster guys love us – they’ve only had to move them twenty-two and a half times so far.
This whole situation has been… humbling. I like clothes, but this experience is definitely challenging my perspective.
After three days of clearing out the rental and hauling our clothes, we were finally living in one house again. The next challenge was sorting through the chaos while decorating for our little B&B – all while still needing to live here for the next six months.
This process took a solid month. Probably wouldn’t have taken so long if I hadn’t been relentlessly sucked back into social media and the news, but I digress.
It wasn’t all work and no play. We still had our Wednesday night watch parties with our big kids each week, a few big birthdays to celebrate, a little fun in the ice/snow (at least Amelia did) and even snuck away for a concert in Dallas. A very welcome break from cottage chaos.
One Final Woe then on to WINS
Because of the logistics between the cottage and the main house – and the current inconvenience of letting the dogs out into what will eventually be our permanently fenced backyard by the koi pond – we opted for a temporary fence in front of the cottage.
It’s not pretty, but it’s handy.
Except for one thing: the dogs hate it.
They’re used to roaming freely and do not appreciate the constant flow of people in hoodies coming and going. Our pug refused to go to the bathroom in the ice and proceeded to throw what we now know was a week-long temper tantrum, complete with back-leg paralysis.
That little episode cost us $350 in vet bills, only for our vet to apologize and explain there was absolutely nothing wrong with her other than… her pugness.
If you’ve ever had a pug, you know. She is QUEEN diva.
Meanwhile, our golden retriever got a sneak peek of the main house and discovered pizza crusts left over from one of our contractors. He now believes the Tudor on Sixth is a Disneyland of crispy forbidden treats.
I don’t think we’ll have attitude problems from him when we eventually move over there.
WINS
This month I’ve lived in a glass case of emotion. I’ve already covered the lows, so forgive me while I share a few highs.
It may sound like bragging for a moment, but it’s really just gratitude – gratitude that I don’t currently feel like I’ve completely bombed this B&B project.
Despite the “fat guy in a little coat” feeling, this 700-square-foot cottage has become the coziest little home. I love the colors we chose, the layout, and seeing our vision slowly come to life.
I love finally finding homes for my thrifted, antique, and estate sale finds. Creating a space for others to enjoy truly makes my heart beat faster.
Someone said online last week that green and blue cabinets are “out.” I didn’t even know they were ever “in.” I just love our house green and want it on everything. I’m grateful it’s a choice I still love – and always will.
My absolute favorite thing (and I knew it would be) is our marble floors. They’re perfectly imperfect – brand new, yet they look like they’ve lived a whole beautiful life already. Which is exactly how this entire project feels.
Yes, I’m still talking about floors. I can be as dramatic as our pug at times – but like her, it’s just who I am.
Another favorite: looking out the bedroom windows. We have a gorgeous pecan tree right outside one window that seems to whisper, “Good morning. Today’s going to be a good day.”
Beyond it sits our main house and, in the distance, my conservatory (it’s a sunroom, but Clue is my favorite game, okay?). The other window opens to our koi pond – a view I’m completely obsessed with.
Future plans for that view include a wooden bench for our waterfall, and… a tortoise. A real, live tortoise. If rumors are true, we won’t be the only tortoise family in Nuggett Hill, and I cannot wait to learn from our neighbor’s tortoise parent adventures.
At the end of the day – or really, first thing in the morning – these windows remind me that this view will belong to our guests one day, and I love that.
CHALLENGES
* Starting my mornings in the pink tub without interruptions caused by Cody’s coffee habits. There are stories, but I’ll spare you.
* Staying focused. I still have an entire house to design, but between settling in, styling the cottage, and managing the quirks of a 100-year-old home, focus is elusive.
* Adjusting to a galley kitchen with two dogs and a cat who believe they must assist with all food-related tasks.
* Sharing a living room office. Cody spreads out – all over the cottage. I work in the conservatory when it’s warm… or with AirPods in when it’s not.
Punch List
* Paint and brass Rub ’n Buff all air vents – white just won’t do 😉
* Install bamboo blinds and curtains (painters plastic also won’t do)
* Paint exterior trim of two BIG windows and front door (still deciding color)
* Order/install gas logs for the fireplace
* Finish custom Frame TV surround
* Finish painting the final bedroom window (currently decorated in blue tape)
* Finish bedroom gallery wall (have a little collection going and it’s sooooo good!)
* Same with bathroom artwork. Can never have too much art
* Shower curtain – on order but taking her sweet time to get here – further exacerbating the tub challenge above.
WHAT'S NEXT
We’ll as if my ADHD wasn’t already on full blast, I’ve already started on the “what’s next” with bathroom plans and renderings due this week. Here’s a little sneak peek at my ideas for the Master Bath…
As far as the blog, I make zero promises from here on out, but I’m planning my next post to include more photos of the finished cottage (in its temporary state) before moving to the main house and going room by room with plans. Like the four bathroom renderings I have due this week!
But for now, thank you for pretending with me for a short time that the sky isn’t falling.
See ya in a month. (Ha.)
Sincerely, Chicken Little