Hello and welcome to The Birch Cottage! My name is Pam Baker. I’m married to the most incredible man on the face of the earth, Lenny. Between the two of us we have seven children and ten grandchildren and counting.
The Birch Cottage is a very special place for us. It’s not only where we have the privilege of sharing our creative ideas, recipes, and our home remodeling journey, but we also get to meet incredible people just like you!
I like to think I’m the creative brains behind The Birch Cottage and Lenny is the “master of power tools” {a nickname our grandson gave Lenny}. Together we make quite a team, if I do say so myself.
The Birch Cottage blog was born out of my desire to create an online resource for our growing children. I’m just sure that one day one of them will wonder what tool they need to refinish a dresser, how to make guacamole or cinnamon rolls, or maybe even how to really clean the bathroom like mom. Then I thought that if this information could be useful to our children, maybe you would find it useful, too.
You may be wondering why our blog is named The Birch Cottage. Well, each summer since my husband was a little boy, his parents and grandparents would travel to Northern Ontario to vacation in a cottage on the French River. The French River is right in the heart of Canadian cottage country.
But the French River is more than a vacation spot to Lenny and me. It truly is the one thing that has brought our family closer together. Sometimes we would camp on the river, which meant no electricity, no cell phones, no TV, no social media – just our family and nature. In fact, when we do stay in a cottage, our children choose not to use their electronics. French River is family time and we love our time on the River!
Just like the French River renews us and gives us inspiration, we hope The Birch Cottage is a place you come to find inspiration, peace and hope: inspiration to be creative, the peace of mind of knowing that everything doesn’t have to be perfect, and hope for a future filled with loving memories of time well spent with family.
Regardless of your reason for visiting The Birch Cottage, we’re really glad you’re here!
From our family to yours…
Mary Lou Tomei
Friday 17th of February 2023
Thank you so much for adding me to your website. I am 93 years old and have sewed since I was a child, so it seems like there is nothing new for me to sew, as I am always looking. However I received your casserole pattern and That was something I had never made. Since receiving it I have made three of the large and three of the smaller. They fit my casseroles exactly and the rest will be for gifts. The pattern is so easy and quick and fun to make. I will be making more to keep on hand for gifts. Thank you so much. Mary Lou
Pamela Baker
Sunday 19th of February 2023
Mary Lou, thank you for taking the time to message me. I am so inspired that at the age of 93 you still have the desire to make handmade gifts for others. Thank you for your inspiration!
Pam Baker The Birch Cottage
Vickie
Wednesday 8th of February 2023
Can the Bunco Printables be edited? we number and move from Table one to table too and so on. and I would like to change winners move to winners stay.
Pamela Baker
Wednesday 8th of February 2023
I used Avery Design & Print Online to create the Bunco printables. I will email you a link to the shared file.
Doreen Storic
Monday 14th of November 2022
Hello there. I just wanted to say that I love your work but I had to try many times to download a pattern for the casserole cozy. I am sure I am doing it right but while I was finally able to print it I don't always have that kind of time to waste. Please look at the way you have your system to see if there is an easier way for us to print. Someone else that I know and is a subscriber also gave up trying to print the same pattern
Thank you for your attention
Doreen
Pamela Baker
Thursday 17th of November 2022
Hi, Doreen. Would you mind giving me a little more information? Such as where were you trying to download the pattern from? Did you use the Casserole Cozy form to request the pattern? Any additional information you can provide will help me to better understand and troubleshoot this problem. Thank you!
It should not have been a time consuming task, so I do apologize for that. What should have happened is that a link to download the pattern should have been emailed directly to you. There is no downloading directly from The Birch Cottage website for security purposes. Also, all printables, including the Casserole Cozy Pattern, are available at any time for all subscribers in the Subscribers Resource Library.
Thanks for brining this to my attention!
Pam Baker The Birch Cottage
marthajane
Thursday 3rd of November 2022
i like your site,very informative--i got the cozy bowl tags,
but i hv notbeen able to access tag for baked potato
hv subscribed numerous times
Cheri
Saturday 24th of September 2022
Hello!
Thank you so much for providing the proportions to make 6 cupcakes from a cake mix! I was looking at my box, and wondering how I might divy up the recipe. Found your website. THANKS! I literally have a husband like yours ..including the beard.. and I made the cupcakes. I have set up some cleaned jam jars with instructions for him so he can make his own when he wants to. He is thrilled. Thank you again, and best wishes for your continued success! Cheri
Pamela Baker
Sunday 25th of September 2022
Thanks, Cheri! So glad this little recipe trick was helpful! Even our daughter, who lives by herself, loves to make small batches of cupcakes using a box of cake mix. Thanks for taking the time to share your comments!
Pam Baker