01/29/2026
15 years ago I started my life at
The Ol Girl in Wylie, TX…
My 1906 Craftsman and Collin County Lamdmark once owned by Josiah Stone (I believe to be an Ancestor) and the homestead of Dr P.F. Brooks and his family.
In the last 15 years I have experienced and shared so much laughter and joy in this place and have witnessed the love, blessings and grace of God daily.
I remember the day I drove up in front of the house and just knew she was meant for ME!!
After so many years of being afraid to “do it on my own” I stepped out in faith and He blessed me beyond measure.
I soon completed my first projects of pulling out carpet to get back to the original 4 inch pine floors, to uncovering the brick chimney and using the shiplap to restore a wall to bring back the original foot print and entry hall.
Pulling Sheetrock was a real treat as I uncovered the old shiplap in several room and remnants of the old wall paper from years past.
I’ve painted once or twice, grown a flower or two or three or 100 and enjoyed fresh vegetables out of my garden.
The best memories are the times shared with friends & family at the house but especially our Front Porch visits…they are priceless!
I’ve enjoyed life with my Sons and daughter in law while watching my grandsons Zaughn and Brennan grow into adults. We’ve taken family pictures on the porch, created pumpkin carvings, shared Thanksgivings and celebrated Christmas’ together. Sadly we’ve also mourned loss together in these 15 years.
I was blessed to be able to bring my Granny Stone’s rocking chairs, that sat at the end of her bed my whole life, into my home and get pictures of 3 generations in her rocker! I was also able to capture pics of a few of my great nieces & nephews in the rocker as well.
I’ve enjoyed time with my siblings here over the years, with my little brother Gary Stone teaching me so much and helping with the rehab. It meant a great deal to me to create a memorial garden here for our family when our sister Tammy Stone passed away in 2024. Seems like yesterday and I miss her so much. She loved coming to sit and enjoy The Porch.💜
More projects were added to the never ending list as I pulled up the old concrete sidewalks replacing them with the more than 3,000 free bricks I had collected in those first 3 years.
I’ve enjoyed visits with my great nieces and nephews with Walker, Graysen and Addie helping me welcome my second new flock of Chicks. I was able to gift 2 chicks to my great niece Ellie and 3 chicks to my great nephew Traysen and great nieces Oakie & Lockie. While I don't get to see Ellie often I know she loved on her chicks and I've been blessed to watch Traysen, Oakie and Lockie love in and enjoy theirs.
Walker & Grayson enjoyed a day in the hammock last year and Addie and I had a sleepover, enjoyed the Front Porch and walked into town for the carnival…fun times for sure!!
When I moved here in 2011 I was blessed to met Pauline Akin my neighbor who was in her 80’s. I loved when we visited and she had so many stories about her life in Wylie with her family and when she went to heaven her daughters blessed me with flowers from her yard and her garden bench for my yard. In my week here I went to an estate sale for the Frye family, another long time Wylie family, where I purchased a bookcase cabinet that was built by a woodshop teacher years ago at Wylie High School. I met a man who told me he use to sell farm milk to Dr Brooks family, another who told me he was born in the front room of my house and one who was swon up after falling from his father's truck.
So much history and wonderdul stories about the LIFE at The Ol Girl before me.
I met my best friends Mandi Heinz-Wilson and Aaron Wilson who moved in just behind me a few years after I came. I had learned that when Dr Brooks passed away in the 1950's, Mrs Brooks felt the house was to big to roam around in by herself so she built the small 800 sq ft cottage on their homestead just behind the main house. After Mrs Brooks passed her boys sivided the two properties. They are the best neighbors and friends I could ask for and we have shared and made so many memories over the years.
House Concerts at The Ol Girl began with help from Mandi and Aaron, and was something I wanted to create in an effort to keep my brother's music alive and share it with others. My oldest brother, Billy Stone was a singer/songwriter for as long as I can remember. When I was young we made lemonaid and he would play music. Growing up I remember singer on the porch with him, 500 Miles Away from Home was the song I remember us singer together and is a precious memory for me. I also wanted a place for other songwriters to share their music. Let’s hope the weather in 2026 will allow us to continue to share LIVE music at The Ol Girl.
In 2025, we made a few more changes with a new color of Hale Navy Blue on the exterior with Cedar Porch Posts and trim and the brick patio was replacement with a screened in porch in the Fall of 2025.
The yard was regraded to correct drainage and I planted a Weeping Willow, my favorite and planted a fruit tree orchard in the Fall of 2025. I also added to my Blueberry & Blackberry bushes and planted 4 Elderberry bushes too!! Last Fall I planted a boxwood hedge to border the driveway and planted Sea Green Junipers along the propery line….fingers crossed they all made it through the past week of ICE!
So much has happened in these short 15 years but I truly feel like it’s just beginning.
If I haven’t met you yet or if you haven’t yet experienced a Front Porch Visit I hope you’ll drop by in the Spring and say Hello!
Here’s to the next 15+ years at The Ol Girl and to the memories that are yet to be made. 🩷👩🏻🌾🏠🙏🏻🐥
Special shoutout to Shannon Boston-Haury, my sweet friend and realtor who helped me realize THIS dream.
