Oak Branch Cottage: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly?

 At the very beginning of this journey, I promised to keep you posted on the renovations of Oak Branch Cottage—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Well, it turns out you really do have to push through the ugly to get to the fun stuff!

The Heavy Lifting

Last week was all about the gritty, essential updates. We officially kicked off the week by tackling the ancient knob-and-tube wiring. Done and check!

Before: Furnace

After: Repaired

Before: Laundry floor rotten wood

After

Living Room floors

From there, the focus shifted to the original hardwood floors. The crew got to work cleaning, sanding, and restaining them to bring their natural character back to life. In areas where the wood was rotted, fresh boards were woven in, and we finally removed an old, bulky furnace, patching up the flooring where it once stood. Meanwhile, plumbing work is well underway. You couldn’t pay me enough money to crawl under the house, so I am endlessly grateful for the team taking that on!

Looking Ahead

J and I meet with our contractor every Sunday morning to map out the strategy for the week ahead. This coming week is all about prepping the canvas:

• Removing various old doors throughout the house

• Prepping and cleaning up the interior walls

• Diving headfirst into paint, paint, and more paint

Even when the daily progress feels minor, I absolutely love watching the cottage transform bit by bit.

Exterior & Finishes

Outdoors, things are moving just as fast. I'm meeting with the cloth awning specialists this afternoon to finalize those details, and the landscaping crew arrives tomorrow morning to clear out overgrown brush and remove a few problem trees.

Best of all, we got to squeeze in some of the fun design work this past weekend! On Saturday, J and I took a trip to Gulf Coast Home in Bay St. Louis to meet with the owners, Wendy and Theresa. We spent the day selecting and ordering rugs, a Louis Phillipe mirror, a new bed, and outdoor furniture for the porch. {Photos to come....}

Seeing the design elements come together makes all the dust, noise, and rewiring entirely worth it. Stay tuned—the best is yet to come.

Work, work, work, y'all!

Classroom Theme 2026: "TIE"-ing It All Together

The start of a new school year always brings a wave of fresh energy, fresh faces, and one of my absolute favorite traditions: a brand-new classroom theme. Entering the room on that first day sets the tone for everything to come, and this year feels especially milestone-worthy.

Hard to believe, but this year marks the start of my 17th year at St. Paul’s Episcopal. Wow! Time has truly flown by, but the spark and curiosity inside the lab never fade.

This year, our theme is "TIE"-ing It All Together!

Throughout the year, our visuals and hands-on activities will focus on how the three core sciences I teach—Earth, Life, and Physical science—interlock to form the world around us. Science doesn't happen in a vacuum, and seeing students discover the threads connecting physics to biology, or geology to ecology, is where the real magic happens.

To bring the theme to life, preppiness abounds! Bright bow ties, crisp bows, and playful ribbons now don many of the lockers, bulletin boards, and display walls across the science lab. It’s colorful, welcoming, and packed with a healthy dose of science humor.

Naturally, a theme this fun needs the perfect puns to go with it. Keep an eye out around the classroom for a few of our favorites:

• "Tie-ing it all together... one experiment at a time!"

• "Bound by time"

• "We're all tied together"

• "Let's have a bowtiful year"

• "Knot your average homeroom"

• "Well-bonded"

Whether we are untangling the mysteries of physical forces, mapping the life cycles of organisms, or digging into Earth’s history, we are set up for an unforgettable adventure. Here’s to year 17, strong bonds, and a fantastic school year ahead!

Past Classroom Themes

{Click to view below}

Think Like A Scientist 2025

Elements of a Successful Student 2024

Classic Pennants 2023

Out of this World 2022

Get on Board 2021

Two Thumbs Up 2020

Saddle Up 2019

Science Is a Beautiful Subject 2018

Every Year Should Be This Good Theme 2017

Periodic Table Theme 2016

APPmazing Theme 2015

Facebook Theme 2014

Get Hooked Theme 2013

Keep Calm Theme 2012

"TIE" It Together, y'all!

Oak Branch Cottage: The Work Begins...

We officially have the keys to Oak Branch Cottage, and the real work has already begun!

While we fell in love with the charm of this 1901 home, bringing a turn-of-the-century house into the modern era comes with its fair share of behind-the-scenes heavy lifting. Before we get to the fun aesthetic choices, safety comes first. Our attic still houses original knob-and-tube electrical wiring, so a full system update is top priority. Along with electrical, we’re tackling plumbing, fresh paint inside and out, and bringing the original hardwood floors back to life with a full sanding and fresh stain.

Thankfully, the original floor plan is already wonderful. We aren't knocking down any walls or shifting appliance hookups, which keeps the scope focused on restoring its existing character.

Outside, the landscape is getting a complete reset. Years of uninhibited growth mean several overgrown trees and shrubs have to go. Top of the outdoor hit list? The aggressive patch of bamboo down at the street level. Clearing it all out will finally give the cottage the breathing room and curb appeal it deserves.

The project is already moving at full speed. J and I have spent the last few weeks in a whirlwind of meetings with electricians, plumbers, landscapers, and window treatment specialists. We’re currently mapping out custom curtains and woven shades to fit the house's incredible features—specifically, its massive 12-foot ceilings.

Moving from a home with standard 8 to 9-foot ceilings to these soaring 12-foot spaces completely shifts the scale of everything. The light pouring through the tall windows is a dream, but it means our old decor suddenly looks miniature! We’ve already spent some time hunting down "new-to-us" vintage and antique finds that fit the grander proportions of the rooms. Thanks to local haunts like DOP Antiques and Renaissance Interiors, we were able to locate items that will fit perfectly into the new home.

Here are just a few of our newest finds. I cannot wait to see how these new to me objects look in Oak Branch Cottage.

Custom Chandelier for the Living Room

Dining Room Hutch

Duncan Phyfe Dining Table (also has two leaves)

Entrance Table

Over the Mantle Mirror

I am still thinking about these (there are two available for extra seating)...

It’s a mix of dusty hard work and creative excitement, but watching the vision for Oak Branch Cottage slowly come to life makes every meeting and floor sample worth it. Stay tuned—the transformational before-and-afters are going to be so good!

Oak Branch Finds, y'all!