A house with pink trim perched on an unassuming knoll quietly and continually beckons my attention. With no awareness, that is what created a thirty-year daydream. Dorothy, Norma, Ina, and Allie were necessary characters that carried the dream until I was available. Now it is my turn to make a dream unfold and hopefully keep their dream alive in the meantime.
Yankeetown
More than thirty years ago, I visited a dot on the map that most have never noticed, heard of and likely never visited. We were in Yankeetown, Florida. Yes, the town is called Yankeetown. It is tucked away (hidden) but is chock-full of curious history and captivating people. Hindsight now reveals that God had a plan and he positioned me in this unusual place so that a dream could gently brew over time (a lot of time).
Our Hideaway
The family I married into had a house here and that is how I found myself in this one-off Florida town. I hesitate to even write about this gem because I have become a bit protective of its charm and seclusion. The main road that carries you into Yankeetown ends at the boat ramp that ushers many fishermen into the Gulf of Mexico at sunrise. It has become our hideaway. A place where you can live as if you are on the edge of the world lost in yourself, and free to be as peculiar and individual as you probably only dream of being when in the “real world”.
Always A Connection
The house across the street roused my attention every time we came to town. Was it the pink and white paint, the cottage-style architecture, or the human intrigue that bubbled up in me as we sat on the edge of the garage shooing away no-see-ums? I now know it was all the above. The house across the street whispered a story every time I sat for any length of time in his folding aluminum lawn chair. I knew that one day I would have a connection to this house or maybe I already did. Once, I believed I would write a story about this home but now, slowly unfolding, I see the real plan that has waited on me and the pink and white house on the unassuming knoll.
The Dream of Many Women
While I was living, working, and building a life in another town, history was preparing the way for a dream I had yet to discover. Dorothy, Norma, Ina, and Allie have carried my dream through the years. 850 square feet has offered an extraordinary life to women for over 80 years. Don’t assume these were passive, event-free years. The previous owners, all women, were as unique as the town that loved them. Front yard funerals, a late 90’s Crown Victoria, and weekly hair color kept the corner alive with curiosity. When the notion struck, Dolly (Norma’s long-time roommate) and her scooter would make their way to the town diner and carry back a few Styrofoam boxes… all at their matchless pace which was slow and steady. Slamming doors, pit bulls running loose, changing paint colors, and backyard visitors all became part of the needed process that brought me to my first chance to walk inside.
The Unassuming Knoll
How could this be my dream? This was not what the fairytale looked like from across the street. I don’t remember the part about broken and missing windows, roaches, uneven (sloping), rotten floors, sheetrock holes, and a kitchen that consisted of a single sink, no cabinetry, and a loose wire pulled through a hole in the wall… exposed. Where was the part about the window boxes, stained glass, sun porches, and Snow White greeting me at the door? Where was my dream that once sat on this unassuming knoll on the corner of 63rd?
We Did It Our Way
No agent, no stuffy board rooms. We went about this our way. There was no patience for jumping through someone else’s “hoops”. The deal was agreed upon. It was time to roll up our sleeves and wear the occasional safety gear. Not all dreams start pleasant. Some have ugly beginnings that stink and scare you. This was how my pink and white house greeted me. She was falling in and crying out for attention. She knew my name and I knew I had no choice but to stand close to her and bring her back to the days of Dorothy, Norma, Ina, and Allie. This one-off town had offered me a one-off house and a one-off dream that was about to set sail.
Cottage on The Knoll
For a year, she has endured the unpleasant sounds and smells of demolition and is eager to be noticed again. Still positioned on her unassuming knoll but causing everyone to experience a double take. After all, no one recognizes her at first glance but soon they meet their old friend who now has a fresh lease on life. I no longer secure her with shims and tape or prop her back corner on a cinderblock. She stands strong once again. In my mind, she will always be the pink and white fairytale that stays eager for the next chapter. I’ve waited long enough and it’s time to share her with you. She is affectionately named Daybook Cottage… restored, reclaimed, and ready to continue the dream on her unassuming knoll.
Daybook Cottage
Stay with me as I slowly introduce you to our 1940s Florida Cottage. Once you see all she has endured, you will want to visit. She is now a vacation home that we are eager to share. If you can’t wait to see more, find a comfy chair and head over to Daybook Cottage…The Curiosity of the Coast. Let me know what you think in the comments and yes, share her with your friends.
Stay Curious,
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