Living the "small" life

 I haven't posted in a while

Been kind of busy re-creating our lives

My last post was about our visit to a charming place

called Smithville, the small town with a Big heart

Fast forward to TODAY, we now live here!!

Folks that live here call it
THE VILLE

After searching for a house that was perfect for us

we decided on the Mill's House

(thanks to Ann & Jeannie, our realtors, for finding the right house for us

and thanks to the Mills Family for the love and care they poured into the home)

Painters arrive soon to paint house Sage Green and Trim and Garage White.  

Next I'll add planter boxes under small windows.

 We are in the process of making it

THE WILLIAMS HOUSE

"AKA" The Nest

First inside project updating the kitchen

KITCHEN - BEFORE

AFTER

It's hard to tell in this photo but

the cabinets are a very light blue/green

It really gives it a fresh look

We selected bar stools and lighting over the bar

that have a bit of the industrial look 

I think it helps give it an updated finish

As you can see this home is quite a bit smaller than our 

home in the Victoria area

However, I was able to use most of my furniture

It now has a cozy atmosphere which I think

adds to the Cottage style

We also added a farmhouse chandelier over the dining table

Sitting next to my dining table

is my Grandfather's antique desk

which I turned into a bar

(Since he ran a pub in England I think he would be

thrilled with the idea)

I left the "built in" shelves/cabinets

 in the living room natural wood

I think it has a warm feel to it

My antique sideboard sits across from my dining table

The house has 3 bedrooms and an office that Dan

is turning into his music room/office

Here are the bedrooms

My Laundry Room might be small but 

it’s loaded with vintage items for decor

And last but not least my favorite

thing about our Smithville house

The Breezeway

We love our little NEST in the Ville

We are making lots of friends and  beginning to feel a part of this wonderful community 

and we added one more golf cart to 

this "golf cart" town

We call her the "Cherry Bomb"

Dan is finding his musician friends

and I have joined the Smithville Garden Club

We feel blessed to be here!

Every Little Birdie says

Y'all come see us in the "VILLE"

A Slice of Americana

 Hubby and I recently  took a little road trip to accomplish two things:

Check out the Bastrop Area

and

Spend time with our two grown kids 

from the Dallas area

and while doing so we discovered a

Hidden Treasure!!

Smithville, Texas

This little town is truly a slice of Americana

It's charming, friendly, and a trip down memory lane

You know like the Good Old Days!!

Downtown Smithville

We stayed at Short Street Cottage in Smithville

It was delightful with plenty of space

for us and the kids

It's located in the historic area which 

surrounds downtown Smithville

This backyard spot was the perfect place for

 relaxing with a glass of wine and a good book

One day we took a little walking tour

around the neighborhood

Which is filled with charm, history and American pride

This house put Smithville on the map!

They used it in the filming of HOPE FLOATS

(a movie starring Sandra Bullock and Harry Connick Jr.)

My kids even stopped and talked to one lady

in the neighborhood

who extended an invite to all of us to tour

her remodeled historic home

It was incredible and she was so friendly

we parted as new friends!!

Over the next couple of days we explored the

town of Bastrop

Equally charming but with a slight Austin twist

Come sundown Bastrop is a happening place

Hubby and I enjoyed strolling down Main Street

taking in the music and sights

We had dinner one evening at the newest

addition to the Bastrop Main Street Scene

Storehouse Market & Eatery

It's a Farm to table restaurant

  We met the owner, Sonya Cote,

a pioneer of the East Austin Food Scene

Sonya and her husband own a five acre farm

one mile north of the restaurant

Most everything is served fresh from their garden

Head Chef Kate prepared some amazing food!

I think we tried almost everything on the menu

(If you know my son and his affinity for appetizers

this won't surprise you)

This beautiful creation is smoked Veggies

and it was smokin' good!

While my son is a bit of a foodie

my daughter's affinity has always been books

It didn't take long for her to discover this

eclectic book shop on Main Street

She was in heaven at this shop

until her brother dragged her out so

we could go to lunch at Maxine's Diner

(written up in Texas Monthly, you won't 

leave this place hungry.  Try to save room

for their homemade pies)

One afternoon we wandered 

behind Main Street to an area overlooking

the Colorado River

We popped into a bar overlooking the

river and had some delicious drinks to cool off

Then visited some of the shops 

This shop specialized in succulents

She had them planted in vintage containers

Coffee cans, tea cups, colanders,

You name it - she had it

It just goes to show you, 

you don't have to travel far 

to experience some pretty awesome

places right here in the heart of Texas

Every Little Birdie says