Saturday in McKinney - Part I

This morning started early, for a Saturday.  We left the house about 7ish to be at a garage sale.  Usually I would not care to be the first one there, but today's sale was all about art supplies!

Canvas, brushes, paints, colored pencils, gesso, mat gel...etc.  Not something I want to miss, because the price is right. 

Once my purchases were paid for we headed over to Cafe Malaga' for breakfast. 

It was not too hot to be outside, and the patio is just too pretty to not enjoy in the early morning hours.

Keith has come up with some wonderful breakfast items!  I tried the Bacon & Egg Biscuit (An over easy egg and maple smoked bacon served in our homemade cheddar-green onion buttermilk biscuit.)

Peter tried the Flamenco Hash (Spanish chorizo, onion, red bell peppers, garlic, and potatoes with an egg baked in the middle.) Both breakfast items were delicious.

The patio was very quiet and felt private while we finished our coffee.

By the time we left...there were about 15 - 20 men
that had gathered for a Bible Study in the cool of the morning.

What a great way to start the day!

Once we left Cafe Malaga' we headed to the Farmer's Market at Chestnut Square.  I could not believe all the people there!

It was jammed packed!  There were loads of fresh goodies (from fruit to pastries, vegetables to pies and jams!)  I picked up some fresh corn and black eyed peas.  Can hardly wait to eat them!

Our next stop was to check out the grand opening of Diggin' it!  It's located on Tennessee in the old Greyhound Bus station.

Don't you love the transformation? 

These three ladies are waiting for you to come on over and shop for your own personal funky garden items!

 I think Tracey Collins, Janet Eskridge and  Monica White were having so much fun today...they forgot they were at work!  These ladies loved showing us around and pointing out all the great finds in the store!

There were some cute, cute things for sale!

This small slipper chair covered in a vintage bark cloth really wanted to come home with me!  Just no room!!!

And who could resist these sweet bird shutters (there are two)?

I was diggin' everything I saw!

And the prices?  I should keep them a secret so that I can go back and buy all the things I really liked before you head over there and take the goodies to your homes.

Now, I happen to know who purchased this chair...and I can't believe she would come and take it from this sweet thing!  This little pup was all settled in for the day and I don't think she'll be too friendly to let this chair leave the store! (She did run out after me and jump into my car...which I found it is how Tracey found her!)

There's a large outside area that Tracey said she was planning to fill with plants and more outdoor items for sale.

If you have any time this week...you need to get on over to Diggin' It and see what is left from the weekend.

 You can find Dittin' It at

507 N TENNESSEE ST

MCKINNEY, TX

Next stop was the Salsa Shop. 

Now, I've been in this store many times and I've spent way to long taste testing everything in the store!

 

Randy Abshire and his wife Jeannine are the owners of this great shop!

Today Wyatt was helping out at the computer and making sure that Dad was toeing the line!

Randy's motto is:  IF IT AIN'T MADE IN TEXAS, WE AIN'T SELLIN' IT!!

As you can see...there is more to taste in here than you could work your way through in an hour (or longer!)

Peter had never been in the shop before, so that meant spending a little time tasting our way around the shop!

My absolute favorite are the Candied Dill Pickles and any of the Jalapeno jellies!

Be sure the check out the website for a list of all the great buys in the store, and if you need anything special give Randy a call or shoot him an email!  He would love to help you!

206 E Louisiana Street #102, McKinney, Texas 75069

972-548-0630

lococowpoke@yahoo.com

There are plenty of items to tickle your taste buds...so spend some time taste testing and I'm SURE you will find something to take home...and you couldn't meet a nicer guy than Randy!

There are three other shops I really want to share with you, but I think I will save them until Monday.

Patina Green, Heirlooms and Morning Star Antiques. 

Lots of great things to share, (and I took a ton of pictures for you to look at) so check back on Monday!

Till tomorrow...

debi

Sunday Thoughts

My Tribute

Andrea Crouch, 1971

How can I say thanks
For the things You have done for me,
Things so undeserved,
Yet You gave to prove Your love for me.
The voices of a million angels
Could not express my gratitude.
All that I am and ever hope to be,
I owe it all to Thee.

Chorus
To God be the glory,
To God be the glory,
To God be the glory,
For the things He has done.
With His blood He has saved me,
With His power He has raised me,
To God be the glory,
For the things He has done.

Just let me live my life,
Let it be pleasing, Lord, to Thee,
And if I gain any praise,
Let it go to Calvary.
With His blood He has saved me,
With His power He has raised me,
To God be the glory,
For the things He has done.

Galatians 1:4-5 (NLT)


Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.  All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.

To God Be the Glory

Frances J. Crosby, pub.1875

To God be the glory, great things He hath done,

So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.

Refrain:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice!
Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He hath done.

Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truely believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

This Sunday's song was a special request! For YOU Miss Carolyn!  Praise the Lord for you!!

Deck Project

Many moons ago we owned a hot tub.  We enjoyed it for more years than I can remember, but after replacing the motor too many times to count...we dismantled it and got rid of it! 

The tub sat on a small deck out back, which we did not dismantle.  The center of this deck is the original hot tub deck. 

We purchased a new patio set, but alas...it did NOT fit on our small deck.  Soooo...you know what that means...outdoor project!  In June!

We started this project several weeks ago, but then the heat came, then the monsoon rains, then again with the REAL heat. 

We finally got the last of the stain on the wood early Saturday morning (while it was yet cool!)

We also purchased a cover, rather than a single table umbrella.

I moved the "rug" from the patio area outside the back door (giving this a little more homey feel) and raised the tent.

We stabilized the tent onto the deck with screws (in case we get a BIG wind storm!)

Now I think I need some potted flowers around the deck for some color!

I think this will be the perfect spot to enjoy morning coffee!

Till tomorrow...
debi

Birthday Project - Bracelet

On one of my trips to Canton last fall I saw a really cute bracelet for a "sister"!  I really liked the idea...but...

cheap me! At that time I did not want to pay the money to purchase the item.  More importantly, I wanted to find my own charms for a "sister bracelet" that would have meaning to me and my sister.

I spent most of the last year looking for different charms and items I could put on my bracelet.  One of the first charms I found (while shopping in Oklahoma) was a Texas Charm and a Texas bluebonnet charm.

I found my Scrabble tiles here ins McKinney.  I made a small template from a sticky note and marked where I wanted to drill my hole.

I used my husband's Dremmel to drill the holes. I'm thinking it may have to live upstairs in my craft room. ( I'm going to need it to finish the clothespin dolls I'm also working on completing.)

It didn't take too long to get all the letters drilled and put jump rings on all the items that I wanted to place on the bracelet.

Here is the finished project.

We celebrated two birthdays last night, my sister, Sidney and my daughter, Emily! 

Son-in-law, Mike, manned the grill for steaks, baked potatoes, and add a great salad! Perfect birthday meal.

I think it fits!  It's been a fun time searching for the different charms and deciding what I would add to the bracelet.

Several of the charm had words.  Two were Believe and Remember!  We've gone through a lot together...and I know there are many more years for us to enjoy!

AND, just so you know...the blackberry cheesecake was a big hit!

Till tomorrow...

debi

Sunday Thoughts

Take Time to Be Holy

William D. Longstaff, c.1882

Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.

Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.

Leviticus 19:2

Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.

Blackberry Cheesecake

I follow The Pioneerwoman (Ree Drummond)...like probably half the world!  I love when she's cookin' up something that I NEED to make.  (Isn't that just about EVERYTHING?)

She recently whipped up a Blackberry Cheesecake.  I'm thinking this will be the perfect ending to finish off my blackberry season.  This season has been wonderful, and the blackberries were large and juicy.

I won't bore you with all the details of how to make the cheesecake...you can find the step by step directions if you click on the link below.

The Pioneerwoman Cooks - Blackberry Cheesecake

I absolutely LOVE that there are pecans in the crust. 

I know my sister also LOVES nuts...and since today is her birthday I decided I needed to make her a cheesecake for the "birthday party" tomorrow.  We'll be celebrating her birthday and my daughter's birthday, and next weekend, another daughter's birthday.  We'll just celebrate all month!

The Cheesecake is out of the oven and cooling.

Ready now for the blackberry topping...

Now, ready to eat tomorrow as part of the birthday celebration! 

Till tomorrow...

debi

McKinney Saturday

It's hot here today  No arguing 'bout that...but there are ways to stay cool!

I caught sight of these girls going through the drive through.

Nothing like a nice cool drink on a very hot day!

The white horse under the shed had his own cup of ice!

Till tomorrow...stay cool!

debi

Lake Texoma

Lake Texoma is situated on the border between Oklahoma and Texas.  This last Saturday we drove to the Oklahoma side of Texoma to check out some rental cabins, look at some lake houses, and to just generally have a good time.

While traveling the back roads of Oklahoma we stumbled on an Army Navy Surplus Store. I do believe I hit the jackpot! I found these mattress covers made from flame retardant ticking.

The covers are  twin sized and sewn with heavy duty ticking.  They have these cool snaps on the end for easy closure.  They have a gusset and have the cute little handles along the sides, which make them look like a real old fashioned mattress.

I knew immediately I needed two...to cover my outdoor mattresses on my glider.

(Emily also bought one to use on her outdoor couch.)

BUT...what was I thinking?  I should have bought them all!!!  They were $3.00 each!  I could use more to recover the cushions on my swing (with a little adjustment)!  SO...since Emily will be returning to the "area" next weekend...I can't tell you where this place is located!  (AND you Oklahoma people...don't even try to figure out where I was so you can go and snap them up!)

Till tomorrow...
debi