Pt1.- an epilogue to passionate conversation- Be brave! Be strong! and talk about what you are REALLY interested in!  I’ve had so many experiences like I did this afternoon.  It was me and a few dudes just working and talking until someone asked probingly “Are you into Isaac Asimov?” The countenance of the dudes changed […]

Niki is a Chicago girl and ex antiques dealer who now works for Head Start in Litchfield and Mark is a residential therapist. Maia is an aspiring architect and self professed fan of “shabby chic”, she comes from a family of people with an eye for style. Niki’s mom Mari smoking under the porch in […]

I imagine myself a great gardener and regularly try to make my own little “luschious garden” as Jack Black would say, but some people don’t have to imagine… Jim and Christine May are seasoned gardening vets with a magazine worthy decorative garden and great edibles and herbs to boot. Their back yard was a sloping […]

(ATTENTION PATRONS: The Rooster’s kitchen is taking a “Baby Break.” With Sarah due any moment and Nikki due right around the corner our kitchen will be closed until further notice…Our bar will remain open Tuesday through Saturday 3pm to Close.)- posted Jul 30, 2015- Please Check their website here or call them at (217) 532-6332 before going […]

How can we live in a small town with the same level of culture and creativity as anywhere else?  Passion.   These two women have it!  Every Friday and Saturday morning they open up a renovated house on a residential street in Greenville, IL and serve up home made bread, pastries, pie, soup, sandwiches, as […]

Treasure hunting… It’s been in our bones since pirates, explorers, adventurers, and now, pickers. Auctions, thrift stores, yard sales, random deals… Small towners are crazy for it.  And we are getting good at it too. The Litchfield Pickers Market was started by picker Mark Brazel as a small Facebook page in 2012 and is now […]

U-pick: A phrase that some might not know, some might not like, and some (like myself) have tons of memories with and love. U-pick usually means if you go out into the field and pick the fruit and that they will sell it to you for a cheaper rate. Two important things here: 1. You can save […]

I like good ideas, especially when someone follows through and makes them happen! The Journal-News put on a special called “a day in the life-Montgomery County”.  Since I missed it I decided to do one for Small Town Cool!  (the Journal asked readers to take photos in Montgomery County on May 2nd)  Anyways, here’s mine for […]

Spring is here and it’s finally getting warm! Hooray! It’s time for mowing, tilling and planting the garden. This is one of my favorite times of year, everything is new and we are all ready for a little relief from the winter cold. The birds wake us with their singing in the morning and the […]

Character…  It’s the calling card of the small town. Sometimes when someone is trying to make a living in a small town it’s hard to give character a chance when it always seems to add to the cost of a renovation. Isaac and Bailey Reynolds are cutting costs while simultaneously adding character in this successful renovation […]