THREE, THREE...

THREE big white MANSIONS for sale in the same neighborhood IN ONE!!

I thought you may enjoy a tour of three beautiful houses for sale here in the historical district of Ennis Texas. I have had the privilege of being inside the first two. They are spectacular. If I were a few years younger and a few dollars richer, I would buy one!! 

This is the Raphael House, located at 500 W Ennis Avenue.  It is listed for $550,000.00. Built in 1906, it has 3,814 square feet with 6 bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms. The current owner is a Dallas based Interior Designer. 

The Matthews Atwood House, located at 307 N Sherman Street. It is listed for $289,000.00. Built in 1908, it has 4,483 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. 

The Moore House, located at 400 W Denton Street. It is listed for $850,000.00. Built in 1905 it has 6,956 square feet with 5 bedrooms, 4 full bathrooms, and 2 half baths.

Bouillotte Lamp

bouil·lotte lamp

  [boo-yot] 

noun French Furniture.

a table lamp of the 18th century, having two or three adjustable candlebrackets and a common shade sliding on a central shaft.

I have always had a love for the bouillotte lamp, although I never knew it had this fancy French name until this past weekend. In years past I owned one!  And even though I can only vaguely remember it, I am  certain it was not an antique, but rather a cheap imitation! 

I love lamps, period!!  But the bouillotte lamp makes me drool.  B.J. and I went antiquing over the weekend. (I know this surprises you!!) and I spotted one.  I knew he would not share my love for it, but I also knew he would see the "richness" of it and get on board. He did!

The price was $95.00. The owner let me have it for $60.00!! According to my research , I think I got a pretty good deal since some listed for several hundred dollars. 

Mine is solid brass with three candelabras. The shade is black with a good bit of damage so I haven't decided if I will try to find a replacement or hide the worst part facing a wall. 

Unfortunately, I didn't get a pic since we took it straight to storage but the picture above is very similar. 

Our goal over the next few weeks is to get as much as we possibly can into storage before the end of May.  Our closing date for the house is May 28 and the present owners have asked for the weekend to finish moving out. I will not mind "camping out" in the apartment with the bare necessities for a few days!  As a matter of fact, I can hardly wait!! 

The inspection is scheduled for Wednesday at 1:00. We are praying everything goes well. This will be the only thing holding us back from closing in May or worst yet from purchasing altogether. I will be holding my breath for the next three days!! 

Amazing, Huh?

Last year God began to lead B.J. and I on a journey.  We watched His timing as each event unfolded and still stand in amazement!  

At the end of 2012 trouble was brewing at the family owned business where B.J. was working.  He had been there for six years. One family member was in the midst of a hostile take-over.  B.J. had no idea, completely in the dark!

He was approached in October of 2012 and then again in January of 2013 with a job offer in Texas and after much talk, prayer, and consideration we decided it was what we needed to do. Still unaware of the problems at the current company, he accepted the new job offer (with a starting date of May). It was not until our first visit to the new job site in April that he received a phone call giving him a hint as to what was taking place.  As it turned out, the exact day that he planned to go in and tell them he had accepted another job was also the day they had planned to unveil their "new" plans to him, which, by the way, did not include him! 

Amazing, huh?

Moving to Texas! He came without me in May. I started a slow transition from Mississippi to Texas beginning in around July. It was hard! Every emotion that I could conjure up, I conjured up!  At one time or another for the first few months, I experienced feelings that I am not so proud of:  resentment, anger, jealousy, loneliness, self-pity, doubt, fear... and INSECURITIES, oh my goodness!  All the while knowing what God had done for us!

Amazing, huh? 

Home-sickness sent me back to Mississippi often.  I wasn't sure Ennis, Texas would ever feel like home.  I still remember the first time driving back to Ennis after a visit home and feeling like I HAD returned home! I still remember, after wondering where I might want to live since there are many surrounding areas close enough for a short commute for B.J. every day, that Ennis WAS where I needed to be.      

Amazing, huh? 

Slowly, but surely, my turbulent state had begun to settle down.  God was restoring a soothing, calmness to my soul.   

Amazing, huh? 

When I wondered why He had not sold our house in Mississippi and doubted that we would ever be able to purchase one here, he provided a way while we continue to wait for ours to sell. When I doubted why I could not find the right house, he opened a door for a dream to come true.  The dream to own a charming 110 year old historical home right in the heart of downtown. When I wondered if we could ever possibly find a church we would feel at home at, He presented it to us!

Amazing, huh?

Sometimes I catch myself wondering what happened to the doubt, fear, resentment, and all those other ugly emotions.  I even look for them but all I can find is peace. Peace!!  It did not take place overnight. It took a year. But it has happened!  

Amazing, huh?

I pray for peace, I long for peace, and I sincerely hope for peace in the lives of everyone I love and cherish! 

IT IS AMAZING!

Have an AMAZING weekend everyone!!

Estate Sale Finds

And birthday gifts!

We took our finds to storage so these pics are from the estate sale web site.

Copper tub

Barley twist candlesticks

Prints

Blue and white dishes

One Step Closer Today

Scared and excited all rolled up into one!! It is not final, but we ARE closer!!

Love at First Sight

 I practicaly ran through this house to see if the rest of the floors were as gorgeous as the ones in the first room I walked in to. Unfortunately, not all of them were! 

What I was not expecting to see were these beautiful ceilings! The first two rooms (including the one above) were popcorn ceilings so that's what I expected in the rest of the house. To say the least I was ecstatic to see the bead-board ceilings everywhere else.

Blue Willow Dishes! My favorite. I wonder if they come with the house?!

I think I could even live with the wallpaper. For a while anyway! It's really not so bad. 

1905 home that has me hook, line, and sinker! I have begun to question my sanity!!

I Cried Today

I have known from day one that when I walked into a house I wanted more than anything I would cry. Understanding that I don't always get what I want, but knowing I will see if God opens the door!!This house has been for sale ever since I started looking and even before that. I am not sure why I haven't asked to see if before now.  Is it perfect? No! It was built around 1905. Is is perfect to me? Yes!!  Now to convince B.J. He will not see perfect, he will see trees that need to be removed, a/c systems that need replacing, wood rot, electrical to be replaced....lol.  This old house!! I love it!!

On the Radio...

Purchased this table in Oxford, Miss over the weekend.

My motto is that you can never have too many chairs or small tables! Lol This one will make a perfect end table! Will I paint it? No, don't think so! I love the wood! And I am in love with the legs!

At one point in its life it held a radio. It's missing now, but can still imagine a family huddled around it in their living room being entertained or informed!! 

Boxes

I love old boxes! I really love them!! On the way to Oxford, Ms this weekend we stopped at an antique store in Canton Texas. We looked around for about thirty minutes and were about to leave when I spied a wooden box sitting on a shelf high above me. I still can't  believe I saw it since it was waaaaay above my head!! B J had to get it down. When I got a good look at it I figured it would be a lot more than I would want to spend. The tag described it as a coffer box. It is completely hand carved. The original tag was $48.00. Which was not really a bad price. But we did not have to pay that. It was 75% off. Not sure why and we certainly did not ask any questions!! Instead we paid $12.00!! $12.00!! Worth it? I think so!! 

 

Blue Bonnets