now THIS is going on my list...

...my WISH list

...my BUCKET list

...my SHABBY CHICKS list

...my someday i REALLY, REALLY want to go here list!

i love flea markets (the antique kind...not touristy junk) and antique shows...

especially the kind that are filled with LOTS of shabby, chippy stuff.

i have wanted to visit the Round Top Texas show for a long time...

2 shows a year...I should be able to make one, right?

wouldn't you think?

well, now there is another reason to go to this show...

Rachel Ashwell...

 Ms. Shabby Chic herself...

bought a Texas guest ranch a few miles down the road.

formerly the Outpost at Cedar Creek,

i saw this on her site in December...

The Ranch by Rachel Ashwell...

Here is how she describes it...

"A bed and breakfast. Seminars on inspiration, creativity and business.  A place for events...and dreams."

oh my gosh, i'm ready to make my reservations!

She held a sale and sold everything to make room for her shabby makeover...

and to get ready for her guests (that would be me:)

yep, I'm sensing a girls road trip someday in the future...

but then, since my husband is actually a fan of hers too,

he just might crash the party.

hmmm...don't think so;)

The ranch has several different buildings...

this is one of the cottages waiting for her chic, tattered touch...

 there is a barn cottage...

 take a peek at this...the prairie cottage...

(looks like somebody was already a fan of Rachel:)

log cabins...

and there is even an airstream 

 how adorable will THIS be when she's done!

bet it will be THE place to stay...

"a house becomes a home when life happens and memories are made"...Rachel Ashwell

i bet the kitchens will get a redo in the shabby style...

 and a comfy bed 

 with her favorite, white poplin linen and as Rachel called them

in her DVD I watched the other day,

"smooshy" pillows:)

 who wouldn't appreciate a LOVELY cup of tea in this dining room...

 bet she's busy in her workroom coming up with all kinds of goodies to decorate her new ranch.

 

but you don't have to take my word for it.

visit Rachel's blog (TELL ME YOU SUBSCRIBE...PLEASE!!!)

www.rachelashwellshabbychic.blogspot.com

or you can also visit

www.cotedetexas.blogspot.com for a lady who is in the know.

Shabby Chic:  “Evidence of life.  Anything from children’s art to dog-eared magazines to fresh-cut flowers that aren’t perfect.” – Rachel Ashwell of Shabby Chic

and keep an eye out for her NEW, 7th book that is due out in October...

Inspiration & Beautiful Spaces

just in time for another LIST...

your Christmas List!

ciao!!!

The Old Red Barn...

So my daughter had to read a book for school called Animal Farm and she then had a bunch of projects to do for her grade. One was to find a picture of a farm that resembled (to her) the one in the book. She had a hard time finding the right one until we quit searching for "farms" and started searching for "barn." Bingo! The pictures started rolling in then.




Then it got me thinking about how much I love driving along and seeing barns...especially old red ones.






I especially love the old weathered barns with the chippy red paint...



A light came on in my head and I realized that THIS is where I want to live when I grow up...and I want an old red barn:-) If I believed in a "next life", I would say that this is where it would take place.

Since I don't, I can only think that maybe this is my "mansion" in heaven since I would love an old farmhouse more than a shiny new mansion anyway. Seems like a simple request, huh?:-)


Well, maybe with not so much snow...but I would like a few flurries on Christmas, thank you very much!


And if I were lucky enough to have a sweet cow too, then I would be very lucky indeed:-)



And I can tell you this, she might give us milk but I could never send her off to be a cheeseburger...no way, no how!!!





Of course, we would definitely need a few of these cuties to play with.

Notice how I already have names picked out? hahaha



And I know I am meant to go to a pretty little church like this...



My husband knows this is my dream. (well, one of them:-) He once looked at a job in horse country and to get me interested, he told me we could buy a small horse farm. I was so excited, until he told me we were NOT getting horses but at least I would have fields to run around with my dogs. Hmmm...nice, but not quite there.

Did you know there are companies that will convert an old barn into a magnificent farmhouse?

How's this for a place to enjoy your morning coffee...




Even I wouldn't mind cooking in this kitchen...




And Thanksgiving dinner around this table...

Heck, it might even get me to eat a bite of turkey...but then again, probably not:-)

Well, there you go...another of my many daydreams.

I know what you're thinking...enough with the barns already, right?
Not so fast. Check back for Part II of The Old Red Barn...or What I Want to do When I Grow Up!

Have a wonderful week...
Suzanne