Becky Linguiti laughingly says that she is artistically ADD.

Her surroundings support that belief.

Linguiti’s life appeared to be in a swirl. Antiques, oldtiques and artwork filled room after room. The aroma of potato soup and the clatter of dishes gave notice that food was being served. Linguiti excused herself from the work area where she bakes and decorates cakes – traditional and non-traditional – to take a short break.

Linguiti and her daughter, Christy Livingston, own and operate Ms. Colleen’s on South Main Street in Brundidge.

Ms. Colleen’s features antiques, collectibles, quilts and gifts and is also a café with tasty sweets and treats.

Linguiti isn’t new to the “restaurant” business. In 2006, she opened The Cast Iron Café at Pioneer Village and found success there.

“We met people literally from all around the world,” she said. “But this is where we were supposed to be.”

Several years ago, Linguiti walked into then Twin Gables and fell in love with the place.

“Betty Botts had a shop here, and I did fall in love with the house,” she said. “But, the time was not right for me to be here. But, a few months ago, I was looking for a place for my business that would be more visible and I had looked everywhere. When I saw that this place was for sale, it was time.”

Linguiti’s dad was a military so her family traveled the world over.

“Home was wherever we landed,” she said.

Of course, her mom, Colleen Hemphill, was at the heart of the family no matter where they “landed.” So, when Linguiti and Livingston were searching for a name for their multi-faceted business, they chose the name of the one who would “oversee” everything, “Ms. Colleen.”

Linguiti admitted moving to Pike County from Bogalosa, La., where she and her husband had lived for 26 years was a hard row to hoe.

“We prayed about the decision and, in 2004, we moved to Troy,” Linguiti said and added laughing. “If God showed us what was going to be required of us before we made a decision, we might not have the courage to do it. But His plan for us is unfolding, little by little. This is a work in progress.”

But Linguiti is having a lot of fun during the progression.

“I’m artistically ADD,” she said. “I love doing a lot of things and many of them at the same time. At Ms. Colleen’s, in addition to the shop, we bake cakes, do catering and operate a café that specializes in a made-from-scratch menu.”

The “house” specialties are bread pudding, loaded potato soup, chicken salad and pimento cheese sandwiches. The chicken salad is from a secret family recipe and the rave of the “house.”

Linguiti has a philosophy about operating a business.

“I have a strong commitment to the Brundidge community,” she said. “There are so many opportunities for the business community here. To own a business is to share what is unique about the community with others. That’s what we want to do.”

The hours for Ms. Colleen’s are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and from noon until 4 p.m. on Sunday.