My Garden Retreat

My Garden Retreat
photo Gridley Graves for Country Living

Inspiration from my Texas Shopping Trip

Hi Ya'll!

I have been so... busy working on numerous projects we have going here at home...

I forgot to tell you about my Texas shopping trips!

To start with, You might not know that I lived in Texas for more than 25 years before moving here to the midwest.
My mom's family all lives there and as you know so does my daughter and her family.
But...
In all that time, I had never been shopping in either McKinney or Hico.

What is wrong with this picture?

Everything~

Before we left home,
I found a store online that I really wanted to visit. It just happens to be in the really amazing city of McKinney. About 2 and a half hours from where my daughter lives.




So load up we did and made a day of it.
After several text conversations with my dear friend Deb, we knew we were gonna "see the sights"

Gray Living was everything I had imagined and so much more!


Fabulous!


I bought several candles that ironically are made here in Indiana...
And ended up ordering a large gray washed basket then down the street we went.

The entire downtown area of McKinney is quite amazing!
It's just lined with gorgeous stores and amazing sidewalk cafés and bistro's!
I was in shopping paradise!


So much to do and see and the only thing we needed to do was pick out where we wanted to eat lunch and roam from store to store!
I found many treasures and was greatly inspired by so many of the darling little shops that completely circled the courthouse and lined several surrounding streets.

But Three more stood out in my mind as beyond amazing!
Patina Green Home and Market which Deb had mentioned by name was one that stood out in my mind the rest of my stay and even now that I'm back home.


It is my inspiration for a wall in my entry which I will share with you in a minute!

The entire store and café are amazing!
We brought home some fresh produce, cheese and an unforgettable handmade pasta!


I didn't get to eat lunch there because we were running a bit late for that but I heard it is to die for!



I have already informed my daughter, Next time.....



I loved everything about this entire store!
Everything I bought was fabulous!
I'm now a huge fan!


As the afternoon wore on....Tiny Miss Paisley was getting tired!


But there were a few more stores that took my breathe away!

My Favorite Room was the next shop that stood out.





Timeless and Elegant are the best words to describe this wonderful retreat of a store.


They Specialize in European Antiques and specialty bedding!
Bella Notte, Pom Pom Home, and Pine Cone Hill to name a few.



I loved it! Even my hubby was impressed, that's saying something!

Just the across the street, An adorable antique store called Antique Company Mall.
They had some of the coolest window displays!
And last but not least
The Smitten Flea where I bought a book I've been wanting for a while now and some gorgeous vintage lace.

McKinney, Texas.... A shoppers dream and it was only a Tuesday!

On Friday, April and I headed out to the little town of Hico.
Another road trip but again well worth it.

There was an event taking place that weekend that I didn't want to miss and I'm so glad I didn't!


Hosted by Sugar Moon Antiques

This little town was hopin'
We found so many treasures we had to make several trips to the car!
I got to meet some amazing vendors and can't wait until the next event! Well priced treasures and the displays were inspiring!
Everything I look for in a pop-up event and more!

Our lunch on this day was another one of those memorable events.
BBQ that literally fell apart in your mouth served out of a converted horse trailer~too cool!
I discovered he has a restaurant on a ranch just down the road.  Again, next time....


Okay, so there you have it...
My shop 'til ya drop days in Texas!
Now, for the inspiration.

At the uber Fabulous Patina Green Home and Market...
There is a wall of reclaimed wood siding just behind the cash register.
It's similar to this one outside of there store.

 
Well, here at home,
Right inside my front door....
Is just such a wall.


When we enclosed this section of the front porch to become our new entry, I asked that my hubby leave this intact. I would look at it and think....
" I'm going to strip it down"
But I knew how much work this involved and kept putting it off.
That is until I got back from Texas....
I undertook the mammoth project and I will show it to you very soon because...


The Entry is nearly finished.
I work on it every chance I get but mostly when it's not feasible work outside.

Very soon, I will show you!

Just today I ordered a stencil for the other walls. Once I'm done, you will be the first to know!



In other news,
Today is quite special in our family...

Miss Paisley Reyné is 7 months old!
She just happens to be wearing her Janie and Jack romper I bought while in Texas and the very one she wore to McKinney!




Time flies doesn't it?

Thank you for spending some of your time here with me today,
Blessings to you my friends!

9 comments

  1. Donna, I am just blown away...that baby is 7 months old already...see how the time flies? I loved lots of things in those shops....it would be too hard to choose. Glad you are well and still enjoying redoing your home. Blessings to all, xoxo,Susie

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  2. Great shops - I wouldn't be able to resist any of them.
    Miss Paisley - what a doll. She is so adorable.

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  3. Dearest Donnnnnnnnnnna!!!!
    I have so missed you!
    Miss Paisley Reyné is gorgeous!
    I have always said that I was meant to live in Texas.
    I wish that we had just one town with shops like you have featured here.
    Thank you so much for sharing!
    Can't wait to see what's new at your Sweet Indy home!
    withLove!

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  4. Little Paisley is beautiful Donna!!!! Could she be anything but? Texas shopping looks like the best of the best. I can only imagine the gorgeous-ness you brought home to live with you.
    I haven't been around much but I have missed you sweetie.
    Much LOVE from me!!!!!

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  5. MY gosh!!! WHAT a post! First off, That beautiful little Paisley is just darling and I can't believe she is SEVEN months old already! What a big day for her with all that shopping. I think I would have been on an emotionally overloaded high after a day of all that eye candy. Did you have a hard time "coming down"? How fun for you and thanks for sharing it with us...it was almost as good as being there with you.

    Can't wait to see that stripped and finished. That is going to be spectacular! xo Diana

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  6. HI Donna, Thank you so much for posting about these shops! I love visiting Texas and many cousins live up in Denton. I always want to go shop around there but these shops are really hard to find on searches unless you already know what they're called; there just doesn't seem to be a search category that works 100% - SO, off to map these with Bing and save! Thanks again for sharing.

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  7. Oh my goodness gracious, what a fabulous place to eat and shop. I would've died and gone to heaven over it all. Patina Green Home and Market looks like the best place ever! and I see how you were inspired by that wall. You were so smart to keep yours... you instinctively knew it was a wonderful thing waiting to happen. Miss Paisley is so totally cute with that big ole bow on her head. That's about the cutest thing i ever did see...

    Cindy

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  8. Shopping with Miss Paisley ~ you girls really know how to have fun!

    Gorgeous shops. Thank you for sharing the links for all us virtual shoppers, Donna!

    xo,
    Lin

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  9. To begin with...if you want to talk about eye candy, I've got to start with that baby's eyes! She is absolutely beautiful and that shade of blue reminds me of my daddy's. I call that color Joe Callahan blue!
    I hope you got the chance to meet Kaci and Luanne...the two Texas twisters who own Patina Green. They are as fabulous as their store. I have to mention that I think Patina Green's bathroom is the most pinned loo on Pinterest...kinda like Tinker's House is the most pinned folly.
    I hate that we didn't get to connect while you were here, but I'm pretty sure with Paisley Reyne here in Texas you'll be back and soon I hope!
    Happy belated birthday!
    XO
    Deb

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Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to leave me a comment!
I love reading them~they truly make my day!
~Donna Reyné