📔 my little diary

snippets of life, small joys, and thoughts too long for anywhere else. written in pencil so i can change my mind. ✨

🌧️ a rainy saturday

🌧️
my window this morning

Woke up to the sound of rain against the window. I didn't set an alarm, just drifted awake slowly with the grey light coming through the curtains — the best possible kind of morning. 🌿

Made a big pot of lavender lemonade (I added too much honey, it was perfect) and set myself up at the desk with my watercolours. I've been working on a series of botanical illustrations and today the rain somehow made everything feel more inspired.

Didn't check my phone until 3pm. Highly recommend.

🎨
afternoon painting ✨
🍋
lavender lemonade 🍋
reminder to self: rainy days are not wasted days. ☁️
— cottagestar ✦
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🌷 spring market finds

The spring market was absolutely magical today. I went alone (my favourite way to wander anywhere) and gave myself a full two hours to meander.

Found the most adorable ceramic mushroom figurines from a potter named Lea — tiny spotted ones that fit in your palm. I bought three. I have no regrets. 🍄

🍄
tiny babies 🍄
🌸
flower stall 🌸
🧺
my haul 🧺

Also picked up some dried lavender bundles and a little hand-painted card that says "bloom slowly" which felt very much like a message for me specifically. Pinned it above my desk.

On the way home I stopped for a slice of lemon tart at the bakery on the corner. Sat on the bench outside and watched people go by for a while. Small perfect afternoon. ☀️

— cottagestar ✦
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🌿 a morning at the botanical garden

Went to the botanical garden just after it opened at 9am, while the dew was still on everything. The greenhouses were warm and misty and smelled like earth and flowers. I could have lived there honestly.

🌿
the greenhouse 🌿
🌺
close-up 🌺
🦋
found a friend 🦋

Sat on a bench in the rose garden and wrote in my physical journal for a while. A very old cat from the gardens came and sat on my bag. I was honoured. 🐈

I want to go back every single week. Note to future self: you always feel better after going outside.

buy a season pass to the botanical garden!! 🌿
— cottagestar ✦
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✨ site launch day!!

💻
launch day desk ✨

It's live!! starry cottage is officially on the internet and I'm genuinely emotional about it. 🎉

I've been wanting to make my own little corner of the internet for so long — a place with no algorithm, no ads, just me arranging pixels how I like. And now it exists!!

Celebrated with my special occasion tea (peach oolong, very important) and watched the visitor count tick up from 0. Literally cried a little. 🍵

— cottagestar ✦