I've subscribed to Cottage Magazine for 2 years mainly because it has so many lovely pictures of gardens and cozy cottages. I used to subscribe to House Beautiful to get decorating ideas but found myself "coveting my neighbor's home", a subtle practice that leads to discontentment.

For some reason I can enjoy the beauty and the ideas found in Cottage Living magazine without wanting the homes to be mine. Maybe it's because so many of the ideas are doable on a smaller scale and many homes came be made into cottages with the right plan and an eye for the cottage feel and look.

To go into detail about the articles and layout of the magazine is possible and I'll deal with that below but the main focus of this magazine is on cottage living, finding cottages, and gracious, stylish decor and beautiful pictures showing an appreciation of usually rather English gardens. If you want beauty, this is for you. I snuggle up in my easy chair and let myself plan and dream for a few hours when my new magazine arrives. I always look forward to that day each month. I keep some of the magazines if their are ideas I want to try and give the rest away so that others can enjoy them, too.

I got my April 08 copy in the mail today. Here are the basics categories:
The Good Life
Pride of Place about a cottage near Seattle
New Old House an energy efficient N. Cal. cottage
Get Comfortable making your bed in a new way
Cottage Industry Patio Umbrellas

The Green Life
This is a special edition and I was happy to see it as we all are interested in changing our ways to impact our global environment
New Old Neighborhood responsible neighborhood development
Responsible Renovation remaking a 100 year old home
Farm to Cottage local produce

Joy of Gardening
Cottage gardener lovely Indiana garden
Romancing the Cottage arbors, arches willow branch rustic touches in Georgia

Escape and Discover Weekend cottages in Oregon

Features
My Garden is just bliss
This is our enchanted cottage
We traded concrete for rolling pasture

Home Cooking
Fresh Daily
Sweet Tooth

In Every Issue
Cottageliving.com
Welcome Home editor's words
Find it Fast list of items in this issue
Dear Cottage Living a redo of a home to be more cottagey

Recommended: Yes