Thursday, December 10, 2015

A Texas Love Story


This is the story of a girl from the North Shore of the Chicagoland 
suburbs and how she met and fell in love with her Texan.

I met and fell in love with a Texan back in the 1980's in Houston.
It was never my intention to fall in love with a Texan because I had
every intention of going back to my hometown, but what's a girl to
do when she is she meets a guy who is determined to make her dreams
come true????

David and I were married in Houston, Texas in 1989.  But we didn't 
live there after the marriage.  Instead, we moved to northern Virginia
right after the honeymoon because David's job took him there.  After
four years of living in Virginia (the state for lovers), we then moved to
Idaho for twenty years.  In August of 2013 we moved back to Texas.
So here we are living happily ever after in the state where we met.




Come on in and visit our happy home in Texas!  Bentley, my little dog,
and I are so happy to welcome you.  Let's go out back to our patio first
because we have some Texas barbecue to share.



When we bought this house we fell in love with the yard as much as
with the inside of the house.  It's big and lush with many, many live oak
trees and lots of ginger, banana trees and an enormous magnolia too.
Here we are, have a seat and enjoy the weather.






The weather has been so very beautiful here in South Texas.  We are
loving every moment we can spend outside since it has finally cooled down.



Here is David's smoker ~ the pride and joy of every Texan!  See all that
ginger out there?  Isn't it gorgeous?



Let's relax on the back porch swing.  It's a favorite spot too.




My potting sink on the porch is ready for Christmas too.  Would you like
to go back inside and see the dollhouse miniatures in my breakfast room?






My minis in here are all on a vintage shelf.  



Next is my full size kitchen ….


Christmas tarts on the island just waiting to be eaten.




Or ready to serve up some lunch.  Let's go into the dining room next.






And into the formal living room ….



Boots?  Well it is Texas y'all know ;-)

Let's go into the family room next.  We love that cozy spot.


David made me promise not to paint the paneling, so I have not.  It's 
so cozy in here.  Just like a cozy quilt that envelops one with love.


Here is the little tree in this room all decorated with rustic fun.  The big 
tree in the formal living room is waiting to be decorated so stop by
next week when I will be joining another Christmas home tour.



And our golf loving Santa.  A tribute to my hubby's favorite sport.



Hats hung from a vintage hat rack in the back entry.



I was at a brunch last week with a large group of women, most of whom
were born and raised here in Victoria.  When I was relaying the story
of how I was from Chicago and how David and I met, one woman 
paid me the nicest compliment when she said ….

Well honey, you're a Texan now!

And I am, and I am proud to be one too.  Thanks for stopping by.
I am so pleased to welcome you into our home and to be part of the
Texas Blog Tour.  Y'all come back again soon!  Don't forget to
visit the other gals today.




Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley








53 comments:

  1. Yee haw I am coming by with my red boots on for a visit. Your house is so cozy. Love your den with your tree. I want to curl up with a Hallmark movie in there.

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    Replies
    1. Aww, thanks! I watch Hallmark movies in the family room all the time. Wish you could stop by and join me!!

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  2. Classy, elegant, beautiful and homey, just like you, dear sister!

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  3. Everything is just perfect and so very Texan!

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  4. Wonderful wonderful wonderful!
    ox

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  5. Susan we're not supposed to play favorites but....gracious golly girl you have captured the prized for a truly lovely post! You may know of my love for miniatures and I just couldn't get over that you even have a wee Bentley! I'll be featuring you on my Saturday tour roundup.
    May all the blessings of the season be yours.

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    Replies
    1. Sometimes I think I love decorating with minis more than full size furniture ;-) Thanks so much for featuring me this Saturday!

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  6. I am in love with every single thing you have done here. You and Bentley have done a FABULOUS post and I love it.
    Tell me about that beautiful little stove.......

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    1. First of all, thank you. I have two of those little stoves in the house. When we lived in Idaho they were really handy for taking the chill off on days when it was in between seasons. I don't use the heat here, but love to turn on the electric flame just for the ambience. We have a big fireplace in the living room but don't light it too often because it's usually too warm.

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  7. Susan, I have updated my post...your cottage is so awesome I would never want to forget you on purpose. If you were closer I'd give you a big hug and a cup of coffee and beg you to forgive me. ♥

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    1. No apologies necessary. I couldn't sleep last night because my hubby is out of town on business and I was missing him. I ended up falling asleep at about 2:30 am and then overslept and got my link to you late. It's really my fault not yours. You are welcome at my house for coffee anytime. I would love it!

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  8. Susan You have truly outdone yourself! Every single picture features such loveliness! Your home and decor are warm and welcoming. I know your home is the go-to place for all your family and friends!
    PS The shelf with miniatures makes my heart beat a little faster! Precious!

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  9. Hi Susan, loved this post right from the start sharing your love story. Your home is gorgeous and every little detail is beyond fabulous. Love the minis!! You created a warm and welcoming home for Christmas.
    Love the boot stockings on the mantel too. Merry Christmas. Enjoy our Texas tour today!

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  10. A beautiful love story indeed! My husband is a Texan as well, and we are now living in Idaho, so funny! Your decor in your home is gorgeous! You have an absolutely amazing home and I can almost taste that amazing Texas bbq now! Have a wonderful day :)

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    Replies
    1. We still have some property up in the mountains in New Meadows, Idaho. We are hanging on to it for two reasons. One, it's beautiful up there and two, it's cooler up there in the summer ;-)

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  11. Susan, your home is exactly what I imagined ~ full of Texas warmth and welcome! Decorated for the Christmas holidays, makes it truly festive. I smiled at the boot stockings. They definitely speak to a Texas Christmas! Your other boot details are just icing on the cake here. Yes, I think you are a Texan now! So happy you moved back, and I hope we get to meet up one day soon. Thanks for a fabulous tour. I'm ready to hang out on that porch swing and enjoy some of that yummy barbecue.
    Merry Christmas, my Texas friend!

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    Replies
    1. Getting together with you is at the top of my list for the new year!

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  12. Now THIS is a Texas Christmas!!! Your post is like looking through a Christmas issue of a magazine!!
    All the details and lovely rooms and that yard!!! I would love to know more about that ginger! That's new to me! Truly your den makes me feel as if I had just been hugged!!! I need to go back and look at everything again!! Also I am now your newest follower! I am so looking forward to seeing new posts as well as visiting past ones! Merry Christmas!

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    Replies
    1. The ginger is a tropical plant that is relatively maintenance free. I thin it out every year, but that's it. I really can't take any credit for the landscaping because it was all done beautifully by the previous owner. Magnolias, camellias, palm and banana trees, crepe myrtle and all those huge live oaks. It's a wonderland. One of these days I will have to take some pictures from looking out through the family room windows ~ 17 feet of them ~ out into the yard. The view is stunning and it's the first thing that everyone says who walks into the room. This house is 67 years old and we are only the second owners. It was on the Victoria Historical tour in April of 2013, just before we bought it. We love it!

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  13. Your house looks beautiful! Christmas is my favorite time of year. Red and twinkle lights can't be beat! Glad y'all are back in Texas.

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  14. Susan,
    Your home is truly decorated in Texan Christmas style. I loved that you included the barbecue grill. How true that it is the pride and joy of Texans. Your patio area overlooking your backyard also paints a true picture of what the weather is like in South Texas at Christmas time. Love your plaids out there. I've pinned photos onto the Christmas in Texas Pinterest board.

    Merry Christmas,
    Judith

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    Replies
    1. The barbecue is the center of the backyard in Texas!

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  15. Beautiful decor. Love the Texas touches.

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  16. Found your blog through Stacey. Lovely Texas decor throughout your home. Thanks for sharing.

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  17. What a wonderful love story, all tied up in Texas and shared at Christmas.
    You had me at the opening sentence.
    I am delighted to be sharing my home today for Day 4 too.
    This has been so much fun!

    Enjoyed visiting,
    Laura
    White Spray Paint

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  18. I think that if I lived in your house, I would never leave and we would run out of food! It is adorable and now I want to start displaying miniatures like you do....

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    1. That's why I do Costco hauls so that I don't have to leave too often. Not only do we love our home, but we love our neighbors too. We get together with our neighbors every weekend!

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  19. Lovely story of true love! You have me feeling so welcome and really right at home with Texas barbeque and your warm, inviting perfectly cozy home! I love how you have embraced Texas!
    Merry Christmas,
    Jemma

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    1. My husband "still floats my boat" and since he's a Texan, I am one now too! Merry Christmas Jemma and thanks for stopping by!

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  20. I love your style, Susan. All that red, the miniatures and the beams on that ceiling...swoon! So fun to read about your love story, too! Merry Christmas. Can't wait to see that living room...

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    1. I will be decorating the big tree in the living room next, so plan on seeing that room next week. Merry Christmas Kim.

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  21. This is my first visit to your blog, and I'm so glad I stopped by. You have a lovely home and because my bff is a Texan through and through, I love Texans! So glad you have been blessed to have entered a time of living life 'Happily Ever After'! May you enjoy the season! Blessings, Cindy

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  22. Susan,
    Love your festive and pretty home for the holidays. How sweet a love story to bring you back to live where you first met. So sweet.
    Love your cute garden hats. Have a great rest of the week.
    Kris

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  23. Love ! Love! The touch of cowboy and all your gorgeous displays! Great job!

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  24. Oh FUN! Where on earth did you get the wonderful Tis The Season plate with the woody and the tree on it? Would LOVE to own one for our Christmas goody platter this year. xox

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  25. Everythng looks so cozy and festive!! I just adore all the plaid! Your miniatures are so sweet! What fun to decorate with them!

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  26. Everythng looks so cozy and festive!! I just adore all the plaid! Your miniatures are so sweet! What fun to decorate with them!

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  27. What a cozy home you have!! And your garden is so beautiful with all that ginger!

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  28. HI Susan Everything looks great, so festive and colorful! We loveTexas. Our son and his family live there.

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  29. I have really enjoyed your Texas Christmasing. Great fun - your miniatures are sweet as well.

    Diana

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  30. Thank you Susan for opening up your home to all of us. It is so cheery and inviting with your beautiful tree and all the reds and greens. Oh, have I said how much I love your back yard especially the ginger. I live up here in North Texas where we get much colder weather than you and I have to bring my hibiscus and ferns in to keep them from dying off. It's calling for a chance of snow next week. My orange and lime trees are under cover so hopefully the freeze won't get them. Merry Christmas to you and God Bless Texas

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  31. Susan, your home is gorgeous in her Christmas decor. I love your dining tablescape and all of the plaid. Thank you for sharing. I have so enjoyed being apart of the Christmas in Texas tour and looking at everyone's lovely homes all decked out for the holidays. Feel free to share this at my Make it Pretty party. Have a lovely weekend. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  32. Hi Susan,
    Your home is fantastic, love lives there! Your colors are some of my favorite and what a great addition to the tour.
    Merry Christmas!
    Miz Helen

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  33. I enjoyed the tour. Your home looks so beautiful decked out for Christmas.
    Amalia
    xo

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Oliver and I LOVE and read every comment.

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