~VINTAGE HOME TOUR - Guthrie Oklahoma~

Last week while I was taking pictures of the vintage brick buildings in Guthrie, Oklahoma, I also snapped a few photos of some of the sweetest old homes in the town as well! Below are a FEW of those you can find in this historic town... I love the house above but it does sorta remind me of a little church...what do you think?

While my camera clicked away my hubby walked up and grabbed one of the information sheets on this property. This house is listed for $289,000. Not a bad price unless you consider the fact that you can just about touch the neighbor's house next door!

I especially love this one! Truly magical...but...those shrubs gotta go. I'm sure the owners are keeping them because they are no doubt as old as the house. Still...they remind me B-I-G GREEN GHOSTS! :(

Now...this house is a charmer! Painted yellow brick and all. Wasn't that song in the Wizard of Oz "Follow the Yellow Brick House?" :)...

Here's another beauty! Three full levels of absolute perfection! I'm not sure if the first floor was always "glassed in". I'm thinking that it might have once been an open porch...

Now...this is one I would buy! I love everything about it. The cream with white trim and the black shutters just steal my heart away... I could absolutely live here!

I can certainly appreciate the style of this beautiful home! Not one I would probably buy, but it is gorgeous none-the-less! Reminds me of something you'd find in Beverly Hills, California!

I fell in love with the porch and railing on this pretty home! It is in lovely condition and you can tell it's been well cared for...

In this part of historic Guthrie the streets are still red brick! I just love it!

Now...the next picture is something that will make your heart skip a beat...

What in the world happened? This is truly devastating to see. Not sure how old this house was...about 100 years old...don't know what caused this fire either!!! My Mr.AGPMan and I crept up close to get a better view of the interior damage and the entire thing is charred black! Someone's dream went up in smoke! :.....(

I promise to show you more vintage homes in Guthrie before the Summer's end.

Blessings to you as you wonder with me what it would be like if these houses could talk...Rebecca

A GATHERING OF THOUGHTS...Sunday Inspiration

Today was a busy, hectic morning as I helped ready my love for a business trip to Virginia. My thoughts were on him being away and how much I detest him leaving for even a couple of days (thankfully my girl and her hubby are staying over to keep me company). My routine was disrupted by all the packing and planning and I barely had time to squeeze in a few minutes of quiet time. Can I be honest? I wanted to skip my morning devotional...just had too much going on and I felt stressed and hurried by the chaos.

When I heard the familiar sound of the shower head I decided to sit for a bit, drink my cup tea and try and meditate on the day God had placed before me. "It's going to be long and quiet..." I silently thought...

I picked up a tiny book I've enjoyed reading and out fell these words taken from Luke 12:23-28, 31-32... (From THE MESSAGE - Eugene Peterson)

"There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the Ravens, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, carefree in the care of God. And you count far more. Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can't even do that, why fuss at all? Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don't fuss with their appearance~but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don't you think He'll attend to you, take pride in you, do His best for you?

Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You'll find all your every human concerns will be met. Don't be afraid of missing out. You're my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself. Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can't go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bank robbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being..."

Blessings to you as you embrace your worth and get to know the Most High...Rebecca

BEYOND THE PINK...Shades of Vintage Cream and White

~COTTAGE DECOR~

BEYOND THE PINK

I can't help but think I'm going to really surprise some of you when I show another side to my La Chaumière de Briarwood... Can you believe it? Not everything is PINK! Say it isn't so!!! Nope...no-can-do! Is it even possible that this girly-girl has something in her home that doesn't showcase hand painted roses and her very favorite pastel color?

Since January I've poured over some of my favorite magazines in hopes of finding a fresh and romantic look for my master bedroom. This very important room is strangely small for what should be the largest bedroom in our home. It has suffered greatly as other areas in our abode have been lavished with attention.

Now~let it be said~ I move things around! I'm constantly mixing things up and I love it. It keeps my home from becoming boring and easily transforms another space without spending a dime. What one may find in my breakfast room on one day may very well be used to decorate my bedroom the next day. Keeps things new and exciting...

~VINTAGE DOORS...A MUST HAVE~

The photographs were taken of the spot just to the left of my four poster bed. Remember the vintage sewing machine I found a couple of weeks ago for a fraction of it's value? I painted it a soft cottage white (I'm lovin' this paint!) and then very lightly antiqued it (I'll be posting about this technique soon). No pretty pink roses or blooms here. Just the beauty of the old cabinet I'm now using as a fabulous nightstand!

~TIMELESS VINTAGE FINDS~

Now, I'm quite sure this romantic look will not be favored by all of you. Just like there are those who adore PINK, just as many of you who love cottage decor avoid it at all costs. Still, most of us love old linens and lace and I for one just can't seem to resist layering the gorgeous handwork to soften things up a bit. I love vintage sepia cabinet pictures and photographs and they work very well with this timeless look and feel... You can even display old frames alone by hanging them on decorative hooks~ Add a frilly sachet hanger and some vintage flowers and you're on you way to creating the perfect vignette.

If you look closely below you'll see there ARE roses in the mix. They take an understated position here and I opted to showcase them in vintage image pillows and old millinery flowers. Included are vintage glass apothecary jars filled with old shell and glass buttons...

~VINTAGE IMAGE PILLOWS ~

~VINTAGE BUTTONS and JARS~

~SWEETLY DISPLAYED~

The lamp below was once in my breakfast room. I have two matching lamps I opted to use both of them in the same room. Each one is decorated a bit differently, equally charming and covered with old laces and trims. Attach a vintage millinery rose (this one was actually a PIN) and you'll have the perfect final touch!

~VINTAGE LACE COVERED SHADE~

I continually chat away about the virtues of using vintage doors in cottage decor. I just love them and I'm constantly thinking up new ways in which to showcase them in my home. Because I have two identical doors I opted to have my Mr. AGPMan hang them on the wall on each side of our bed. Below you can see the darling old doorplates and knobs. Adding shelves midway up the door is a great way to showcase your favorite old finds without cluttering up an accent table.

~GORGEOUS VINTAGE HARDWARE~

Promise to show more soon! Also, later this month I'll be posting a short tutorial on just HOW you can "antique" your own painted pretties and keepsakes for that loving vintage look and feel!

Blessings to you as you seek and discover new ways to honor the things you love...Rebecca