Cottage at the Crossroads

Scarecrows on Jane and Leo's Autumn Porch

Jane and Leo, bloggers from Cottage at the Crossroads, decided to retire early, downsize and take on new challenges that allow them to live a more carefree, self-sufficient lifestyle. They live in a cozy home with a wonderful screened porch.

Jane has always loved scarecrows and so she enjoys decorating with them.

She even included a sweet little tin man on their porch this year. Autumn on Jane and Leo's porch is like going home.

Everything warm and friendly and inviting.


Scarecrows on the Fall Porch

Meet Jane and Leo from Cottage at the Crossroads
Introducing fellow porch lovers and bloggers, Jane and Leo,
from Cottage at the Crossroads



Interview with Jane

We had the pleasure of asking Jane questions about their blog, their porch and lifestyle.

How did you decide upon the name of your blog Cottage at the Crossroads?

Jane: The name, Cottage at the Crossroads, came about because Windhams Crossroads is the name of an actual place where a federal highway crosses a state road. It is named after my husband’s family that has lived in this area since the 1700s.

Everyone in our family and in the community has shortened the name to The Crossroads. The name is also symbolic because my husband and I were at a “crossroads” in our life where we were making some major life decisions.

We decided to retire early and move into his family home (the cottage) that was vacant at the time. We started our blog as a means to document our restoration of the family home place and be repository of family recipes.


What is the main theme of your blog? What message do you want to share with your readers?

Jane: The main theme of our blog is that people can make drastic lifestyle changes and learn how to live more economically by doing things for themselves.

For example, we started a large vegetable garden shortly after moving to the Crossroads. Although our parents had gardened, we knew little about it but we dove right in.

The rewards have been immense and many of our gardening posts encourage others to do the same. We aim to inspire others to grow and preserve some of their own food.


Do you have a special porch memory to share?

Jane: My husband grew up in this house and every Christmas Eve his family would gather on the porch to make an annual Christmas photo.

That tradition continues to this day when we still gather on the porch to make the annual family photo on Christmas Eve.

The porch is crowded now with many grandchildren who look forward to the annual family gathering each Christmas Eve. Santa ALWAYS makes an appearance!


Rusty: Friendly Greeter at Jane and Leo's Porch

Rusty greets visitors at Jane and Leo's home this autumn
Rusty the Scarecrow welcomes guests to Jane and Leo's home this autumn



Any advice for decorating a porch for homeowners not so savvy about decorating?

Jane: A few comfortable pieces are essential to the enjoyment of the porch. The furniture doesn't have to be expensive but cushions and pillows really ramp up the comfort factor.

Curtains make the porch feel more like a room, and once again, they don't have to be made out of pricey outdoor fabric! Flea markets and garage sales are great places to find old wooden furniture pieces that can be painted and used on the porch.

Unusual containers can serve as side tables or a place to put down a drink. Plants and a rug can pull seemingly disparate pieces together to make a cozy, relaxing place.

If your porch is covered you can use any leftover furniture from your home, just recover the cushions to give it a fresh look. Shop thrift stores for great outdoor items.


Anything else you would like to share with us about your blog?

Jane: Cottage at the Crossroads is about two people who down-sized their lives and chose to live a more simple life. Our home is smaller but so are the demands of life.

We have learned how to do many of the things that we paid someone else to do years ago. We just post about our real life around the cottage, the foods that we grow, the dishes we prepare, and the projects we complete.

Porch time is a very important aspect of our lives around the cottage just as it was in an earlier time when my husbands grandfather, who built the house, and then his parents lived here. We often wonder if another generation will make this house a home.


What Do You Spy on Jane's Porch?

Rusty greets visitors at Jane and Leo's home this autumn
Is that a sweet Tin Man we spy on Jane and Leo's autumn porch?
Jane said along with scarecrows, you've got to have a tin man. How cute he is! We love your porch, Jane and Leo. You've made it so friendly and inviting.



Thanks to Jane and Leo of
Cottage of the Crossroads

Leo and Jane of Cottage of the Crossroads Our many thanks to Jane and Leo from Cottage of the Crossroads for sharing special memories of life on the porch and telling us the story behind their lovely blog.

Down sizing and retiring early is not only refreshing but also inspiring to many people who wish to enjoy their lives more.

You can enjoy lots more pictures of their porches on their blog, Cottage at the Crossroads.





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