1930's Craftsman... Historic McKinney

Be still my heart!! 

This cottage is amazing and if you want to be my neighbor we would only be a 3 minute walk from each other...

too cute for words right??  Holla at me if you want to preview...  Don't I have the best career  seeing all these adorable cottages!!  

Hugs..

Valarie 

nothing like ...

This past weekend while in East Texas stopped to see my great friend Christina! She is amazing, she lives on much acreage in the country, grows her own vegetables, has horses, raise cattle, has an awesome knack for photography.... AND the list is endless of her talents! 

She supplied me with a very large bag of fresh veggies.. 

So tonight we are having what I call the "SUMMER SPECIAL" 

Tomato Sandwiches served up with a  pickle and chips! 

Some pictures recently taken on the ranch! 

Hope you enjoyed the tour!  

Valarie 

farmhouse love.....

Everyone loves a farmhouse!!! 

Well if you are seriously wanting to own a piece of Texas history & heritage, and fabulousness!! check it out... 

This little jewel had me at HELLO yesterday! Showed my sister Fannie this one.. they need a bit more land for horse barns... I am saving this one for you... interested?? 

Click here to find me! if you want to preview!! It's stunning!! 

Valarie  

MY DAY...

The phone rang early from the GRANDson - He said....

 "I'm ready, let's leave right after church for camp"

His idea of packed and "ready to go" - trunk stuffed to the brim and would not shut! 

My idea of packed and ready to go! 

of course, we had to decorate the car!! 

3 hours later we arrived to The Ranch!  

Nothing like East Texas country! PINE TREES, Horses & Texas Heat in July! 

ALL THE COUNSELORS WERE HAPPY TO SEE THE CAMPERS!! (and after waiting in the car for the gates to open so we could be first in line... I was glad to see them! It's a huge thing to be one of the first in line.. it's a camper thang!) 

After dropping off the happy camper -- I headed north to show some ranch property to my sister Fannie... A new ranch is in the future for them!! LOVE LOVE THIS LITTLE BARN!!

Take a look here.... our hearts were racing... I think this is the one!! 

Slight problem - it's not on the market.... YET! 

Hope you enjoyed our Sunday! Thanks for stopping by! 

Valarie 

Guest Blogger Friday!! Come on in, door is open!

I stumbled upon Terry's blog one day and fell head over heels with her decor talent... especially here when she made a headboard out of vintage shutters!!
Check it out here- 

Please welcome Terry from the fabulous blog "FOREVER DECORATING"  

It's a pleasure to introduce  myself. My name is Terry and I live in western Illinois. I am married  and have two grown children and we are recent empty nesters. I am also fairly new to blogging since November, 2010 with my blog Forever Decorating. 
It has been a learning curve and I have begun to train myself to think about my projects with blogging  in mind; ie: before pictures and tutorials.

I was raised with parents that  made everything they possibly could and I forced to sew all my clothes at  the age of eight (now I am thankful). So it comes natural to me that, I  could and would, tear into any home renovation or make anything I could  (or maybe it's because I am cheap). It's a hobby, a lifestyle and a joy  for me to do these things. I believe that if you want it bad enough you will figure out a way to have it. I am blessed with a God given creative gene that I am very thankful for.

Do you have a special collection? I have many and one of them is my vintage purses. It started one time when I went on a home tour and the homeowner had a wall displayed with very old vintage purses and it just grabbed my at my heart. This is how collections for me start...from the heart.

I shared with you on a previous post my wall of purses in my master bedroom...

I hung them from glass drawer knobs until I found this trellis at a garage sale...

It was only $4 and I thought it would look great out in my garden...as trellis' are made for.

But then,I had a lightbulb moment

  

I decided to use it for my purse display as I have shown you in this past post.

Remember, a collection is qualified by three or more of a like item.
But this post is not all about that. It's about refining your collection, once you have it started or even finished. You should review your collection when you feel, enough is enough. Decided on what can go and what you want to keep. If you want to keep it all, then call it done and move on to something else. But, if you can let some go and then afford better, this is your opportunity to fine-tune your collection.

I let go of the newer purses and now am focusing on only older vintage purses.  While on vacation last week in North Carolina, we went to some antique stores and I came across two beautiful and affordable vintage purses. When I got back home, I took away two and replaced them with these two better, more vintage purses. 

Sorry for the blurry pictures, but my camera operator (me) couldn't get it to focus correctly.

All tiny (petitpoint) needlepoint and a unique black pointed clasp.

So here is the rest of my vintage purse collection.

This is all individual set rhinestones purchased at auction cheaply. Inside is the original pocket mirror. My favorite in the collection.

The tag inside this black silk purse says, Made In France and has two large rhinestones for a clasp.

Even though this tapestry purse is pretty, it is slated for getting rid of since it's not vintage enough for this collection. See the gold chain? When it is too shinny, it's too new for me.

Thanks for visiting me here at Glimpse of My World! 

it's just LIFE!

Our life here at the blue cottage seems to be one big event!!  

I am recovering from Ashley's  wedding while LOML and Karly have been shopping and packing for her mission trip departure today.  

Karly, recent Aggie grad, left this am for Kajo Keji, near the border of Uganda.  She will be traveling for the next ten days with E3 on a mission trip. She is spreading her wings no doubt and listening to her heart while discovering her own personal journey. 

Keep her in your thoughts AND prayers the next 10 days! 

Hugs!

Valarie 

The Beautiful Bride

This is my daughter Ashley, my first born - this is a snapshot someone took.. I love it with her grandmother and son peeking in to where she was getting dressed!  

Ashey and her father coming around the pool- 

I wondered what he was asking or saying her to her... 

at the altar finally!!  (after a very long engagement, he had her there!) a very long love story!  No runaway bride! (seriously we were all holding our breath- that is another post!!) 

Our pastor -Our family friend for over 30 years married them- He was at the hospital when she was born- 29 years ago. It was a very special day for all of us! 

Ashley and her brother Jon-Eric 

 Thanks for stopping by and sharing our joy! It was a beautiful day- I love to see happiness within our children... more tomorrow.. 

Happy day to you! 

Valarie