Sunday, August 12, 2007

A Fun Saturday

Yesterday we had a "spur of the moment, trip out to the country." Phillip's mom asked us if we wanted to visit a watergarden store north of here, and I was hoping to visit a couple of antique stores afterwards. I have lots of pictures to share so make your self comfortable and come along with me!

As soon as Grace heard the word "country" she put on her prairie girl outfit and then we were off!


The watergarden store was in a little town called Aubrey. It was a nice drive with pretty scenery and lots of horses to look at.

Papa and Grace.


A relaxing waterfall.


Benjamin liked the big waterfalls the best.


Emily and I tried to stay cool. By now it was almost 100F degrees!


The waterlilies didn't mind the sun though.






We didn't find any antique stores in Aubrey so we decided to drive east to a place called Old Town McKinney. There were plenty of old-fashioned shops and restaurants to visit.


Lots of charming storefronts and...


cozy spots to rest for awhile.


If you like antique stores, then this is the place for you! Phillip took this photo from way up on the second floor balcony. I was a little nervous up there with the old creaking wood floors so I enjoyed the bottom level more. :0) I did pick up a few treasures which I will save for a later post.


By now it was past lunchtime so we went to a little cafe called Spoons. The adults had omelets and salads, which were delicious.


It had been a couple hours since snack time, but I can assure you they made it until their sandwiches arrived. ;0)


After lunch we walked around and visited some more stores. On our way home we took a drive through the historic home district. Here are just a few of my favorites. You can click on the pictures to enlarge.

A beautiful willow tree shades this cozy Victorian home.




You can tell the homeowners put a lot of love and extra touches into their homes.




We saw this beauty from a distance and had to get a closer look.


It's an old Victorian home in the middle of renovations.


The detailed woodwork below the turret has been freshly painted.


Amazing detail work!


I saved my favorite one for last. Yellow is my favorite color and I think this little cottage is perfect. There is a white wicker hanging porch swing and draped over the wicker love seat is a patchwork quilt. Sigh.


Thank you for coming along with me!!

37 comments:

Amber said...

Looks like you all had a wonderful day. I love visiting little towns like that. Those houses are beautiful. I have always imagined living in one of those. Reminds me of the movie Gone with the Wind!

Front Porch Society said...

Driving thru other towns can be fun - especially when you stumble across a place that is full of charm and beauty. So glad y'all had a fabulous Saturday day trip!

Susie said...

What a charming little town. That watergarden store sounds delightful :)
I agree: that yellow house is my favorite too, although each has a wonderful sense of "home" !
Thanks for sharing!
xo

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

Thanks for taking me on a Sunday afternoon drive! I used to love to do things like that (still do!) I love small towns like that too! Yes, I think the yellow house is my favorite too - my favorite color is also yellow!

Katherine

Karen said...

What a wonderfully peaceful, relaxing day. I love doing this with our family, too.
I'm with you, the yellow one is my favorite!

Unknown said...

What a fun day. I love unexpected fun like that.

I like your little yellow cottage a lot. I wouldn't mind living there myself. I love a simple life. That looks to fit the bill just fine.

Unknown said...

I love looking at Trad Pads and your historic and Victorian homes fill the bill. Be-yoot-i-full.

Blessings and bliss

Sonya said...

Beautiful pictures! I also love the yellow home very much! My favorite is probably the one in the middle of renovations. Imagine if it were yellow! I love Victorian homes as they have lots of charm! Thanks for sharing these beauties!

Gena said...

Kelli,

It looks as if you had a wonderful day. You took so many beautiful pictures.

I love that yellow cottage, as well. My dream is to someday have the perfect cottage with a porch swing out front.

Stay cool!

Jen said...

I love days like this. My passion is plantation homes. I could tour them in the deep south for days maybe weeks. I loved your tour....Victorian homes and all their history makes for an awesome day.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a fun day! Your daughter's prairie girl outfit is sweet! Love those Victorian homes!

Pear tree cottage! said...

Kelli, This has been a wonderful trip to be taken on with your family, antiques, gardening and beautiful homes thank you! THANK YOU! I adored every photo and cannot wait to see your "few pieces" you found at the antiques center.

hve a lovely week Lee-ann

Lori said...

Looks like you had a fun day spent with your family. What a fun and relaxing time.
I love that picture of the water fall.
Thanks for sharing all of the photos with us.

~*Marie*~ said...

Looks like it would be a great trip...minus the heat...love the prairie girl bonnet..I want one. I love going to antique shops and I love old houses... great pictures~

... said...

great pics. looks like you had a nice trip and saw some beautiful sites. sometimes those spontaneous trips are the best. thanks for sharing.

CONNIE W said...

That was a lovely tour. Thanks for taking me along. :)

Pen of Jen said...

What a wonderful getaway! My daughter loves to dress like Grace!!

I agree, my favorite is the last house, as I love simple and small!!

dot said...

Kelli, I enjoyed the photos. The one of the kids waiting for their meal is priceless!

Anonymous said...

I love those pictures.
That yellow house is darling!

Momma Roar said...

Thank you for bringing us along with you - what a wonderful trip to share with us and those houses are gorgeous!

Rebecca said...

What a wonderfully FUn excursion! I love antiquing also-but with two babies and a hubby who is blind to its great treasures, it is a rarity for me.

Look forward to seeing some of the treasures you brought home.

Those houses are beautiful and AMAZING. You just don't see things like that in the country! :-)

Amy ~ (Life's Small Treasures) said...

Looks like you all had such a great time. I LOVE Saturday's like that.

Thanks for sharing all the wonderful pictures.
~Amy

Anonymous said...

What an amaxing and quaint place!!! I would LOVE to live in a small town like that one!
Thanks for sharing the pictures!

Heather said...

Kelli,

Thank you for showing those pictures. They were great. I always wanted to make it to Mckinney, but I never did. I drove right by it on my way to my brother's in Allen. ;o)

Love, Heather

Open Roads Mama said...

What a nice trip you had! Photos are beautiful! Those houses are amazing, simply mansions! :-)

Mimi said...

I'm envious of your fun day !!!
Those houses are beautiful and the shady streets even more so...

Christie Belle said...

Oh, what a fun, cozy feeling trip and town. I love that little yellow cottage too, it's absolutely precious! I love your new blog look too, by the way!

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful trip with such wonderful homes! Watergardens are wonderful!!

Kriss said...

My husband and I usually celebrate our anniversary in Mckinney every year as it's our favorite "little" town. We always stay at the Tartan Thistle and the inn keepers are so nice and generous! If you haven't gotten to stay there before, it's definately worth checking out! We must not live to far from each other as Aubrey is north of us too. It's a very small world! Glad I found your page on line, always brings a smile to my face! -kriss

Anonymous said...

I could so use a little jaunt like this right now!! Especially since our little cold front came through... its only 94 out today!!! Thanks so much for the pictures...

Henny Penny said...

Wanna rumble for the lil yellow cottage? LOL

Anonymous said...

What charming homes! It sounds as though you all had a lovely time. I enjoy little day trips as well...especially the kind to such wonderful places.
I followed your link to your MIL's blog. Wow! What an inspiration...and what mouth-watering recipes. I will definitely be going back.
Have a blessed day.
Hugs,
Amy

Michelle said...

Lovely homes!

Heather K said...

the last one's my favourite too! I'd love to walk up onto that deck and sit down and swing with a refreshing glass of homemade lemonade in my hand!

Jenn4Him said...

What a sweet town to visit on a Saturday afternoon. My dh and I used to do that before kids. Maybe I should rethink this.
Jenn

Sweet Woodruff said...

I hope you get to see this comment even though it's a few days late. I enjoyed your sweet blog. We lived about 30 minutes north of Aubrey in a community called Lake Kiowa, but now we live in Tampa FL. I enjoyed your pictures of your day trip, especially McKinney, which used to be a small town far from Dallas, but now it's all one big city from Waxahachie to Sherman. I remember when it was a big long drive of nothing between Plano and McKinney, with the only stop being a McDonalds in Allen. *sigh* LOL I get so homesick for Texas all the time, somedays it's almost too hard to cope. Please post more pictures of Texas. I'll add you to my friends list so I can see them everyday. :) *cheesy grin* We homeschool as well. God bless bless you.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for taking an Aussie on a wonderful trip to a couple of your country towns..just wonderful. My favourite home is the one with the white picket fence...i certainly could see myself living there..lol.
luv Ann.xx