A look at the cottage

Entry 4: The Scent and the Small Things (Fall 1994)

The place was clean. It was also empty. We needed signs of life. We needed to change the air.

The first job was small. Barb brought the photographs. We hung them on the cheap paneled walls. The art was wildlife pictures. We added knickknacks.

I brought the gear. The bamboo rod and creel hung above the window. It faced the lake. The cottage felt more ours. The walls watched the progress.

Then, the smell. The structure had an odor. It was not rot. It was not damp. It was cottage. A distinct, dry scent of old wood, pine needles, and stale air. It was a good smell. It was the smell of arriving.

We did not try to kill it. We honored it. The scent was a signature. It was the proof of the place. We opened the windows. The new blinds managed the light. The room held the scent. The scent made it home.

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These pictures are from Year 1 when we first found the Cottage- The fireplace is shown post remodeling.