Nestled among the towering pines of the Ocala National Forest stands a quaint little cottage since 1950, now occupied by Sallie Laurel and her four Jack Russells, as well as any guests who come to visit.  Most come just to get away from the hustle of everyday life for a few hours or a couple of days.  Others have stayed as long as two months.  Sallie’s Laurel rests on just under an acre of land and over looks a 28 acre spring fed lake. It's the ultimate for total serenity.

28 Acre Lake


The cottage boasts seventeen hundred square feet of living space which has an eclectic Victorian décor - a lifetime of Sallie’s collections.  Wool, silk, velvet and linen are among the fabrics that adorn the interior, as well as some very treasured antique pieces of furniture. This is not a “rooms to go” home.  It is her living art - an expression of her soul, full of memories.  Her passion is the garden, another aspect of her life art.  It is forever changing.  A morning walk on the dew laden grass is a ritual for her as she contemplates the day. She spends  hours “talking” to the many plants she has planted over the years. As a daughter and granddaughter of avid gardeners, Sallie has continued the legacy of a love of gardening passed down for generations.  It is her mission to give back to God all he has bestowed upon her by bringing 'color' to all who cross her path.