Cottage Crazy: Hershey visits the Vet for a check up...

Cottage Crazy: Hershey visits the Vet for a check up...: "Hershey has been with us a month this past Thursday. He has stolen our hearts and rearranged our schedules, house, and priorities. We took h..."

Cottage Crazy: Hershey visits the Vet for a check up...

Cottage Crazy: Hershey visits the Vet for a check up...: "Hershey has been with us a month this past Thursday. He has stolen our hearts and rearranged our schedules, house, and priorities. We took h..."

Hershey visits the Vet for a check up...

Hershey has been with us a month this past Thursday. He has stolen our hearts and rearranged our schedules, house, and priorities. We took him to Dr. Finkler for a check up and to update his flea and tick protection. Lime disease in animals and people in our part of Virginia is increasing rapidly. Dr. Finkler gave him a Lime disease shot...back in two weeks for a booster. We also made sure to pickup heart worm pills and Frontline for fleas and ticks. Dr. Finkler said that Frontline was so safe that it is actually used in Europe on children's hair to prevent head lice. So we felt comfortable using it for our Hershey. We got lucky and Hershey is healthy, fit, and well behaved. He was a sweetie when the Doctor checked him over including peering in his mouth and ears. Dr. Finkler was great with him. He spent ten minutes just petting him and getting to know him before lifting all 68 pounds on to the metal exam table. Hershey didn't try to get up and was very patient. I will say he was very happy to jump back in the Rav4 and head back to his new Windy Gap Mountain home. We purchased a 5x6 foot chain link kennel...5 feet high...to go in our lower level basement/laundry area for him to reside in when we are away from home. He has spent so much time in a kennel this actually seems to make him feel more comfortable. His kennel is large so there is plenty of room for his massive ultra suede doggie bed. Still can't believe I scored a $179 Orvis dog bed for $65 at Second Helpings thrift store...he loves his bed. It is his favorite hiding place for his chew bone. He is a chewer and we have to be careful what he has access to. Since he is one big dog he can pretty much reach up and clean anything he likes off the counters, etc. No big losses as yet...except for my turby micro fiber hair towel...it is now missing the thingie that secures the towel. A small price to pay for having such a fun loving friend who is so happy to see you every morning and every evening. He loves our walks in the morning...1.5 miles up the mountain and back...and again in the evening...though lately with 95+ we have often opted for a shorter evening walk. He is also great about just going directly out the lower level french doors to the yard and quickly taking care of business. He stays in sight in our yard and if he gets out of sight he comes galloping back with a shout and a whistle. A very good dog!

Hershey loves to get in the back of my Rav4. He actually tries to get IN when I am trying to get packages and groceries OUT...2 funny. We are thinking he should do fine on our upcoming long week end in Tybee...we are so looking forward to being back at Paws and Paddles and catching up with friends and just chilling on the sun porch...I have been dreaming lately about a long cool outdoor shower...

Cottage Crazy: FiFi Flowers Painted Hershey...oh my gosh...is thi...

Cottage Crazy: FiFi Flowers Painted Hershey...oh my gosh...is thi...

FiFi Flowers Painted Hershey...oh my gosh...is this cute...crossed paws & all!

Cottage Crazy: Paws and Paddles Cottage is up and running...

Cottage Crazy: Paws and Paddles Cottage is up and running...: "The Mermaids worked their magic and the cottage is on the www.Mermaids.com website. Mike was worried... at first...he didn't want to rent i..."

Paws and Paddles Cottage is up and running...

The Mermaids worked their magic and the cottage is on the www.Mermaids.com website.  Mike was worried... at first...he didn't want to rent it at all...someone might mess it up... and we just got it so perfect. Totally felt the same way...but we did agree to do this so...here we go. Then he started worrying what if our guests didn't like it. He is so funny...always worrying about what might happen. I was more worried about the number of renters...like where we going to have any! We were getting started late in the season and didn't put it on the Mermaid site until May 1. We did have one guest coming because of Jane...she suggested it to someone and they actually booked it before it was listed. So that our first guest. How fitting that Jane had a hand it that too. The bookings started coming in slowly then picked up. We have been rented all of May, June, July, and the first two weeks in August. Some fall bookings as well all the way through Thanksgiving! The Cottage seems to be a hit. We have had all 5 star reviews and many are saying they love the quiet location, the decor, and the fact that it feels like home with everything they need. Several have mentioned that they have taken pictures so they can try and create their own Jane Coslick design at their home. So that all makes us feel good. We have booked a long weekend in a few weeks...cause we are homesick for Tybee. Can't wait to get back there and experience some Tybee Tyme. Our big king size bed with all the comfy big lush Euros, my Chaise on the Sun Porch, long walks on the beach, and lots of seafood smoking on the Webber grill...ahhh.  Oh, Oh...and... Hershey will be going for his first visit...now that should make for some awesome pictures...by the way we were asked for pictures of Hershey by a artist friend of the Mermaids...thinking he is going to be on a note card...more on that later...

Cottage Crazy: The MerMaids are Coming...

Cottage Crazy: The MerMaids are Coming...: "We are renting the Cottage! The MerMaids arrived with lots of great advice and a long check list. They are very detailed and want our Cottag..."

The MerMaids are Coming...

We are renting the Cottage! The MerMaids arrived with lots of great advice and a long check list. They are very detailed and want our Cottage to be the best rental experience possible for our guests. We had a few items left and we made sure that we got them all done before the Cottage was made available for rent. We weren't really sure about the retractable clothes line...but after installing it we realized it was a great place to hang towels and clothes since it was next to the outdoor shower. So again they were right...just like they had been on the Webber grill. We enjoyed smoking tuna steaks one night and oysters in the shell the next...best darn tuna I ever ate...really. We cleaned and organized till we were ready to drop. I may have been a little over the top...I even labeled all the cabinets and the pantry. I always like to know where to put things when helping in someone's kitchen so I thought it might be helpful. We bought new pots,pans, dishes, a killer blender, coffee maker, coffee grinder, and plastic ware, dishes, cups, bowls, etc...for outside and any little ones. I made a mini office in a deco-file box with note cards w/Paw Prints...of course, stamps, postcards of the Tybee Lighthouse, scissors, stapler, paper clips...tape measure...u name it...it's in there! Mike thought that was a little over the top...but he made sure to leave charcoal, and a L.L. Bean sun shelter, a beach blanket, I had the sand pails and shovels covered...we where pretty sure by then we had it covered! Then I remembered we did not have oyster knives! Bowies Seafood shop is within a stones throw of the cottage...and they had been out of them. I walked over and sure enough they had them...so now...we were done. We left feeling good and were hopeful that our first guests would have some wonderful Tybee Tyme...

Cottage Crazy: The Cottage is coming together...2 Rent or Not 2 R...

Cottage Crazy: The Cottage is coming together...2 Rent or Not 2 R...: "The cottage feels nearly complete. Eric has finished the hot/cold private shower and the new deck and steps leading to it from the back porc..."

Cottage Crazy: The Cottage is coming together...2 Rent or Not 2 R...

Cottage Crazy: The Cottage is coming together...2 Rent or Not 2 R...: "The cottage feels nearly complete. Eric has finished the hot/cold private shower and the new deck and steps leading to it from the back porc..."

Cottage Crazy: The Cottage is coming together...2 Rent or Not 2 R...

Cottage Crazy: The Cottage is coming together...2 Rent or Not 2 R...: "The cottage feels nearly complete. Eric has finished the hot/cold private shower and the new deck and steps leading to it from the back porc..."

The Cottage is coming together...2 Rent or Not 2 Rent?

The cottage feels nearly complete. Eric has finished the hot/cold private shower and the new deck and steps leading to it from the back porch. It is such a private enclosed area that it instantly felt like a special place. Showering under the palm trees and blue skies is the best. Neither of us have used the showers in the house since Eric finished. Jane has made some final additions and we added a few touches of our own. I purchased a 5 ft. tall rolling cabinet that was only about 24 inches wide...with numerous shelves for a combo entertainment center/bookcase/game storage cabinet. I loved that it was tall and narrow and would fit in a space in the kitchen on the way to the sun porch. It was dirty and needed some TLC. Well after a bath by pressure washer from Mike...I used my new handy dandy spray handle thingie that I bought for 3 bucks at Home Depot...and three cans of a medium green paint and it actually looks great. Oh...in a former life it was a Merita bread rack at a small country store. Bought it at an estate sale for $15! It even had a small hole in the back of the top shelf for a cord to run through which made it perfect for our Bose Radio/CD Player. We wanted to cover all the bases...two flat panel tvs, a killer blender...for frozen drinks, oyster knives, a gazillion pillows and tons of special spots to chill. Bought a half dozen comfy outdoor chairs for the new deck, and the required webber grill...which...surprise surprise we actually love. We added a zebra rug in the master bedroom and I think Jane liked it cause she didn't move it! We learned it we brought something that Jane did not think fit the vision that it would be stowed away when we returned. I think I moved my grape vine wreath with 20 years of shells glued to it about 10 places before she decided it was ok...not really beach like but ok to go outside. I also brought tons of candle holders, pewter, cut glass, etc. and they kept ending up in the pantry...it finally dawned on me that it might NOT be a great idea to have tons of candles in a rental property...especially near that awesome blender...frozen drinks...candles maybe not a good idea. We also bought a bench with cubbies for shoes for the front porch. We knew Jane didn't like it when she took the darling snoopy house and to die for turquoise table...since it was now too tight with that bench. We quickly packed the bench in the car and begged for the snoopy house and table to return...all was forgiven...and the snoopy house and table are where they belong. Mike was really upset when the snoopy house disappeared...so it really is the little things that made a cottage a home. We had planned to rent the cottage to hopefully help cover utilities and maybe some of the taxes...which are quite high...at least compared to Franklin County, VA. where we live full time. I have to admit the cottage turned out so well it was tempting to NOT rent it...but it also cost more than we expected to renovate it...that deck and shower and some other add ons...so on our next trip we would meet with the Mermaids to insure that we had everything covered to insure the best possible rental experience for our guests...

Cottage Crazy:

Cottage Crazy:

Cottage Crazy: Cottage Crazy: Hershey loves Us!

Cottage Crazy: Cottage Crazy: Hershey loves Us!: "Cottage Crazy: Hershey loves Us! : 'Hershey has been part of the family for two weeks yesterday. What a wonderful addition to our family. He..."

Cottage Crazy: Hershey loves Us!

Cottage Crazy: Hershey loves Us!: "Hershey has been part of the family for two weeks yesterday. What a wonderful addition to our family. He has made friends for us here in Win..."

Hershey loves Us!

Hershey has been part of the family for two weeks yesterday. What a wonderful addition to our family. He has made friends for us here in Windy Gap Mountain Village. We have lived here for 11 years but he has managed to introduce us to neighbors we have never met who either like dogs or have dogs. He has had a request for pictures from a famous artist! He might if we are lucky be featured on a special notecard and/or a painting maybe...we'll see. He helped us entertain Gigit our friend Cindy's dog last night. He has taught me that I need to consider his needs in my schedule and that the world will not end if I have to change things up to accommodate his needs...I still find a way to get it all done. I actually have been going to work early early somedays...Mike goes in later...so that I can get home earlier...I can be a little overly work focused and tend to let things get out of balance...so he is trying to train me to do better. He is greatly improved on walking on a leash. He walks 98% of the time without pulling or tugging! I just know to hold tight and get close to him if a loud sound is coming...or a stranger appears. Breaks my heart but everyone that has met him quickly suggests that someone has been mean to him. Well that is over for him now. He is a chewer and quickly demolished a industrial strength tennis ball,he ate a bone larger than my arm in twenty minutes. I am thinking he may have destroyed something or somethings and that may have gotten him in trouble. So we watch him carefully and try to keep things out of his reach...he has a BIG reach. I just ordered him a GONUT dog toy that is guaranteed for life and has a red warning if the dog goes too far with it...then they will replace it for life. Made in the USA...so I will let you know...I am so in love with this pooch I paid extra to get his toy here in two days...I never do that...oh well...having a dog seems to be a slippery slope.

Cottage Crazy: " Having A Second Home will change your life forev...

Cottage Crazy: " Having A Second Home will change your life forev...: "My good friend was so happy for us when he heard we had taken the plunge and purchased a Vacation Cottage. His first words were, ' Having A ..."

" Having A Second Home will change your life forever."

My good friend was so happy for us when he heard we had taken the plunge and purchased a Vacation Cottage. His first words were, " Having A Second Home will change your life forever. " That was a little frightening until he explained. What he meant was we would have the knowledge that when it was available to us (he rents his too) that we would know that OUR things were there and that off season we could just decide in the middle of the night if we wanted to run away from home for a few days. A big plus for him was knowing that he could always take his golden lab buddy with him and know that he was welcome and would have what he needed to make his doggie vacation perfect for him. I grew up having all types of pets. I always had large collies, ponys, horses, goats, cats, you name it...I an outdoor gal for sure!  We had a run of bad luck with our last three dogs...let's just say they went over the Rainbow Bridge...and it was painful. I decided I did not want to go through that again. I did agree to adopt two older cats mostly to help out a friend so that the two cats could stay together. Mike is more of a cat person so he was on board. They turned out to be awesome pets and were more like dogs...they loved company...the more the merrier. But as with all things they each had health issues...we drove back from the lake to give Alex our black cat insulin shots for almost two years. He left us first. His best buddy...lasted another year or so. He was the biggest white cat in Franklin County...hence his name...Frankie. We cried like babies the day we buried him. So... more hurt. I was determined to go pet less. After a few years on the Mountain a thin ugly grey striped stray cat showed up...she needed help...we helped. She lived with us for about 5 years mostly in the garage. She had her own cat bed with a heating pad for colder weather and she also would come in the house. We live on Windy Gap Mountain...found her here so...Windy was her name. She turned into a pretty sweet little cat. Technically she was never our pet...but the stray cat that lived in the garage. She was a feral cat, probably older than we thought. She had never been to a vet. We were the only ones who could touch her. She generally ran from everyone else...she did warm up a tad to our sailboat friends when they fed her in our absence. Last summer she got thinner and thinner. Then she slipped away too. I missed her more than I thought I would. I think I am not a cat person...but I am a pet person for sure. Then we went Cottage Crazy and bought a place on Tybee. I saw how much people enjoyed their pets...especially the dogs. We made our Cottage pet friendly primarily because of Mike's Mom and Sister Deb. They have two Black Poms and they go everywhere with them. It is often a struggle to find accomodations. So here I am with a pet friendly Cottage on Tybee Island...and no pet! Jane even made us a dog bed for the great room to match the slip cover on the chair and ottoman. I always wanted a Chocolate Standard Poodle...Chocolate because large black dogs...I have to admit kind of scare me. The Chocolate Standards are quite large but are more like big old loveable clowns with feet and legs that seem too large for their bodies! That is the back story on how I let Hershey slip into my heart. Let's hope he doesn't break it...

Cottage Crazy: White Paint Works a Miracle on the Sun Porch...

Cottage Crazy: White Paint Works a Miracle on the Sun Porch...: "Eric and gallons of white paint worked miracles on the Sun Porch! It looked brighter and larger. And best of all the peachy color that was ..."

White Paint Works a Miracle on the Sun Porch...

Eric and gallons of white paint worked miracles on the Sun Porch!  It looked brighter and larger. And best of all the peachy color that was not playing well with our fabric choices was gone for good!  Jane was able to pick out several fabrics. A ibis print for my comfy old chaise and an assortment of fabrics for tons of pillows for the new day bed. The deal was I get my comfy chaise and Mike got a new day bed for him to crash on...that way we could both snooze on the porch while pretending to read the paper!  Eric was starting on the deck and the outdoor shower. We settled up with him for all the painting and part of the new work. We would still be painting if we had not been so lucky to hook up with Eric. Eric thought he would need a couple of weeks on the deck and shower...

Cottage Crazy: Hershey is on the premises!

Cottage Crazy: Hershey is on the premises!: "Hershey is 7 and is a loveable Chocolate Standard Poodle looking for love and affection. He is doing amazing well considering we just picke..."

Hershey is on the premises!

Hershey is 7 and is a loveable Chocolate Standard Poodle looking for love and affection.
He is doing amazing well considering we just picked him up last Thursday night at 7.
He is high energy and very interested in everything. He seems to be used to being in
a kennel...the walking on the leash thing is a bit of a challenge...but improving. His disposition
is wonderful. He loves loves being petted and hugged. If you wrap your arms around him
and give him a hug he sits down! He prefers being in his own space. He put himself to bed
the first night. We had a large Orvis doggie bed (snagged at the local thrift store) in a corner
of the guest bedroom across for our room. A bit before ten he just when in and went to bed.
He stayed until we said it was ok to get up and go with us for a walk. After our walk he
kept pacing and walking about until I left the back of the SUV open. He hopped in the back
and refused to get out...so being a good hostess I just served him his water and food bowls
on a tray in the back of the Rav4...2 funny. This morning for the first time he has calmed down
enough to quietly sit with us on the back deck. He is a BIG dog...told a friend it was a lot
like bringing in Christmas tree to the house...he looks a LOT bigger... in the house! But not too
big for us to have already made room for him in our hearts.

Cottage Crazy: A Pet Friendly Cottage needs a Dog!

Cottage Crazy: A Pet Friendly Cottage needs a Dog!: "When we told Jane and Diane that we wanted to be a pet friendly Cottage they both asked the same question. What kind of dog do you have? We ..."