Sunday Drive - Continued

Once we left Sugar Hill (Farmersville) we headed South on Hwy 78.  We drove along the East side of Lake Lavon down into Rockwall, through Heath and on over to Forney!

So many beautiful homes along the way...I could almost live in any of them!

Once we arrived in Forney we headed to the Jot 'em Down Antique Store and to the East Fork Mall.

The Jot 'em Down Store has massive quantities of large European furniture.  It is a huge warehouse filled with row up row of huge, oversized pieces of furniture.

I found this large "kitchen" piece...and I'm in LOVE!  I NEED to build a kitchen around this piece.

It is so massive...and all the drawers are already marked for me!

So many nooks, drawers, shelves...I need a plan!!!! (I think I need to convince Peter first!)

I didn't take too many pictures in the Jot 'em Down, but you can go to their website and check them out.  It's well worth the drive...especially if you are looking for that really special piece you won't find any where else!

The East Fork Mall is attached to the Jot 'em Down Store, so it's only a matter of wandering next door.  With it being a rainy, cold day...it was best to be inside!

I found this big stack of old luggage...again, reasonably priced for those looking for a vintage piece.

I found several stacks of plates that were this "greeny-blue color". (You can't really tell the color in this picture, but they lean toward turquoise!)  I told Peter I think I needed a whole set of these!  He rolled his eyes (what's up with that?)

But...I always gravitate back to the "real" blue dishes.  There is something so wonderful about a whole table set with blue dishes.  Maybe I need more blue?  (More eye rolling!)

Anyone need a honey pot?  This was just one area where they were displayed.  Again...there are many, many European antiques displayed throughout the mall.

Look who I found shopping! (I'm still looking for George Straight!)

We left Forney about 4:30 and headed back around the top side of Dallas.  Heading North again we ended up at Plano Antique Land.  I love the people there, they are soooo friendly!

I found these cute birdhouses made from Golden books.

How very cute and clever!

NOW, for those who ask me to specifically shop for you (you know who you are, Margritty!)

These are the only Tasmanian Devil glasses I saw!

And for those who are bargin shoppers...I saw these bowls in Plano for $89.  However, I saw them earlier in Farmersville for $35!  It's all about where you shop!!!!

Well, all in all it was a fun "Sunday Drive"!

till tomorrow...

debi

Farmersville - Sugar Hill Cafe

Occasionally, after church on Sunday, we will drive over to Farmersville, TX to eat at Sugar Hill Cafe.

It makes for a nice Sunday drive across Lake Lavon and we usually end up driving in the country along the back roads to return home.

Jean, the lady who started this restaurant used to own the Opera House in McKinney.  (It is now Rick's Chophouse and the new boutique hotel in McKinney.)  Jean moved her restaurant to Farmersville several years ago. 

I always loved the ambiance of the Opera House...so much so that I had one of my birthday parties there!

Sunday's menu is always a Buffet (you cannot order off the menu on Sunday.) 

There is usually three to four kinds of meat, vegetables and always sweet potatoes (with praline topping.)

There is a salad and fruit bar, soup and bread plus at least three to four kinds of dessert.

The food is down home...and this last Sunday I would give the food 4 stars out of 5.  (It's been hit or miss the last few times we were there.)

The dining room is large and can accommodate a lot of people.

The buffet area is not large, and I have not seen a large crowd there on any of the Sunday's we've been for lunch.  Most of the diners we in groups of four or more looked like they had just come from church to have an enjoyable lunch together.

You need to NOTE:  When the food is gone on Sunday...that's it!

There is a separate patio area, but I think it's strictly for large and/or private parties.  I've never seen anyone using this room (except a squirrel family on one occasion when I was there!  The staff were frantically trying to figure out how to evict them!) 

The large building that houses the restaurant also houses the Shops at Sugar Hill.

The shoppes appear to be run by many small shop owners housed under the one roof.

There were lots of great things to look at, and the area is quite large. I didn't feel like each vendor was right on top of their neighbor, and it was a pleasant shopping experience.

Of course, the big display of red in the middle drew me right in!  What is it about red that just makes me happy?

These great old suitcases were less than $50 each.

I loved this little egg crate filled with spring blooms.

Farmersville, as a whole, is in process of re-inventing itself.  Many of the buildings are being rehabbed and updated. 

This building has recently been brought back to it's former glory and it has been beautifully done, both front and back.

While browsing in the shoppes after lunch I met a lovely lady that told me about the Bain-Honaker House located around the corner from Sugar Hill Shoppes.  It's owned by The Farmersville Historical Society, who are dedicated to the preservation and restoration of this historic house (which is located on College Street in Farmersville, Texas.) I did not ask the ladies name, but she was very passionate about the house and the happenings there!  She must be a spokewoman...she got me to drive by.

The house looked like it was well kept and I loved the wooden sidewalk leading up to the door.

The wooden sidewalk also extended across the front of the house along the street.

There were also several historic homes nearby...

I love this one!!!

This home had a historical marker noting their historical significance to the community.  The Farmersville Historic district is not as large as McKinney's, but there were some very lovely homes that have been restored.

Of course, there was one property nearby...I thought at first they had added a screened in porch to enjoy our mild Texas Spring.  But no...it was for their chickens!  Must say, I had to laugh out loud!

So...if you're looking for a nice Sunday drive, with an enjoyable lunch to boot...you should head to Farmersville on Sunday.

Sugar Hill Cafe is also open during the week and you can order from the menu.  I have not been for a weekday lunch in awhile, so I can't speak to what's on the menu anymore.

My husband says it's a "ladies" place.  It does have the air of a Tea Room, but it's a fun destination.

There are also several antique shops on the square, but they are not all open on Sunday's.

Next weekend (May 7th) Farmersville will be hosting their Farmers and Fleas Market.  It's a combination of Farmers Market and Flea Market featuring fresh produce, plants, food, crafts and more.

It's held at the Onion Shed in downtown Farmersville.

I have not been to their Market...but you might look for me!  Maybe I'll make a Saturday drive to Farmersville!

Tomorrow...I'll take you along on our (long way) drive home.

Till then,

debi

Palestine

Last week I found myself in Palestine, Texas ((pronounced  PAL-es-teen). All was pretty quiet, considering it was mid week!

The highlight of my visit was the Star of Texas Antiques! Doesn't it just invite you in?

It's owned by Susan and Roddy Millichamp (I think you can catch a glimpse of Miss Susan in the middle of the shop.)  She was busy the day I stopped by.

The small space is full to the brim of great treasures and the prices are just right!

I know if Emily had come along with me she would have been shopping the Pyrex shelves.  I'm sure she would have found at least ONE piece she doesn't own.  

However, I'm always drawn to the vintage linens.  Each linen was beautifully cleaned and ironed.  The world is perfect when linens are ironed!  HA!

There were many old books and furniture items upstairs.  It's not an in and out kind of shop. Stopping frequently and browsing takes time.  I bought some beautiful embroidered quilt squares.  You'll see them shortly (re-purposed!)

SO...if ever in Palestine...you know where to go!

Be sure and tell Miss Susan hello.  You won't find a friendlier, kind soul!

Star of Texas

107 West Oak St

Palestine TX 75801

OPEN

Wednesday - Saturday

till tomorrow...

debi

Antiquing on the Square.

Prissy has a week of vacation, so she came up today to spend the day antiquing in downtown McKinney. The square is all torn up with the construction of new, wider sidewalks, which will be great for the downtown restaurants to offer outdoor seating. BUT, for walking...it was a mess. Workmen and torn up streets everywhere!





There are so many good places to shop - although several good antique stores have closed.

This Antique Mall has Herby's Soda Fountain as part of their attraction, but because of all the construction they have closed it for the summer.

They did sell us a coke to drink while we roamed their isles...but it was just not the same.


We ended up eating Mexican food for lunch and enjoying a vary large glass of ice tea! It was only 100 degrees today - cooler than it has been.

Prissy was on the hunt for some small items to fit on a shelf she hung this week. I tried to talk her into a collection of poodles - but she wasn't convinced. Everything seemed to have a "bird" theme today, but she wasn't biting! She did find her a nice red metal trivet for her kitchen.






My next big find for her was this herd of donkeys and elephants - but once again, she was not convinced to buy them. She just couldn't catch the vision!


All in all - we enjoyed our day and the few treasures we were able to scour from all the "junk". We caught up on all the family gossip and talked about Aaron and Shannon's big coup of an article about their business in the New York Times! It was nice to catch up and spend the day together as we leisurely strolled through all the stores. No place to be and no rush to move on.

Most of the store owners were very chatty today. Seems the destruction of the downtown has hurt every ones business. Hard to get around from one side of the street to the other with all the sidewalks missing.





I'll just be extremely happy when all the construction is completed and our small town is back to normal!