A little about my life and loves on Cedar Creek Lake …
My husband and I live in the beautiful piney woods of East Texas on the banks of Cedar Creek Lake. We love watching and being a part of all the seasons and changes that happen on the lake.
We moved here 28 years ago … and began the mammoth task of renovating our “tired” and “brown everything” lake house that was originally built during the early 70’s.
Slowly, with each wall we knocked down, each remnant of shag carpet we removed and the many gallons of white paint that we applied … our brown house began to disappear and the “Cottage Green” we had envisioned began to emerge.
It still seems like we are always working on our “nest” but we love seeing every result and improvement we make.
My love of decorating and crafts …
When our kids were younger, I worked for an Interior Design Company decorating and accessorizing homes. I also gave weekly classes at Michael’s and was paid to teach other’s how to make holiday bows and wreaths…flower arrangements…seasonal door decorations…and girl’s hair bows. I love making crafts and from early autumn until two weeks before Christmas, I would sell my decorations at the local Craft Fairs.
Through the years I’ve continued crafting and decorating, but mostly for our own home, for our family and friends, or for custom orders.
I was blessed with a full music scholarship to college and pursued a double major of both music and education before I left my Junior year to marry my sweetheart … or as Anne of Green Gables would say … “my kindred spirit and dearest of dear husbands.” His name is Richard.
We have been married for 44 years and he still makes my heart skip a beat whenever I catch his eye across a crowded room.
We have been blessed with 2 children, a son and a daughter, and we now have 3 dear grandchildren who are running in the same footprints our children did … and we’re still making memories at our cottage on the lake.
I hope each recipe, tablescape, decoration, arrangement, landscaping idea, and the whimsical way I like to decorate our home … Cottagegreenonthelake.com will inspire you … 4 the seasons!
From my cottage to yours ~ Trenda
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Cottage Green on the Lake 
Your life along the lake looks beautiful. I’ve never been to that part of Texas, but I hear it is beautiful and seeing your photos confirms that. My husband especially would love to live on a lake, but I think we will have to settle for building a pond in our backyard!
I look forward to reading more about your life on the lake!
Dear Jan …
What a uplifting note! Thank you so much!
It is beautiful here and I awake each day feeling blessed.
Just last week we saw a charming, little cottage and the family who lived there had added and built a pond in their backyard!
I loved the intimacy of it all with the serene waters just past their back deck and the idea of “fuzzy and furry folk” wandering up to their doorstep!
Sounds like a lovely alternative!
Jan, thank you for taking the time to write!
You will always be special to me since your’s is the first note I’ve received since I first began this blogging odyssey … just 6 days ago! (like framing the first dollar bill earned in a new business establishment!) (:
Our son helped me get some final, preliminary things set up on my site last night and today … I am “ready to go” … sharing ideas with you!
From my cottage to your’s … Trenda
Dear Jan … What a uplifting note! Thank you so much! It is beautiful here and I awake each day feeling blessed.
Just last week we saw a charming, little cottage and the family who lived there had added and built a pond in their backyard! I loved the intimacy of it all with the serene waters just past their back deck and the idea of “fuzzy and furry folk” wandering up to their doorstep! Sounds like a lovely alternative!
Thank you for taking the time to write, Jan! You will always be special to me since your’s is the first note I received since I just began this blogging odyssey! (like framing the first dollar bill earned in a new business establishment!) (:
We’ve been getting some of the final, preliminary things set up on my site and I’m anxious to begin sharing more ideas with you!
From my cottage to your’s … Trenda
Such a nice reply. Thank you. I’m glad I made your first comment! I’ve tried to get back here and comment, but my internet was down last week. I hope life along your lake is great!
Haha, Jan! I feel like we’re both in the same boat! It has been a hard “internet” week here, also! One of the few “not so good things” about living out of the city!
Between our server and having to write everything on my mini-Ipad, I’ve been “frustrated” a few times this past week! However, we have a new computer being delivered and right now, our internet is working! Oh, happy day!
I didn’t realize until this post that you had a site, also; I love the enchanting sound of “Lifealongriverofthemonks” and I’m looking forward to checking it out!