Bravehearted Beauty

Peer though the window to see what really caught my eye:

So ornate for an apartment!

A Bravehearted Beauty crest?

Do they have any idea how valuable these old doors would be here?

PINIT PINIT

You could do an entire book on knobs and knockers.

The door to the apartment my parents rented…

This door looks modern compared to most…

Talk about rustic elegance…

I’m always drawn to simple iron work.

Every Italian tourist needs one of these shots…

{Can you imagine hundreds of people photographing your laundry?}

Beauty hunting takes the boredom out of waiting for a train…

And who can resist a solo red poppy hidden in the grasses?

I’m pretty sure you could take me anywhere and I’d find beauty, but in some places, it’s everywhere you turn…to the point that you can glaze over after awhile. Focusing on the details helps you take it all in a little more deeply. And where beauty is limited, looking for hidden beauty brings new perspective on what otherwise seems barren or boring. Try hunting for the details and see for yourself!

Blessings and peace to you,

Linsey signature 100pix

P.S. On the home front, I’m feeling deeply sad about what happened in Charleston. It deserves so much more than a post script, but when I’m deeply sad, I’m usually very quiet. Praying that light will shine through the darkness.

READ HIDE 3 comments

CAM - Thanks for the most amazing pictures!!! I was there long enough ago that those vivid images are fading in my memory. Love your pics. Keep them coming. The beauty is speaking to my heart!!!!ReplyCancel
Rachel - Your pictures are absolutely amazing.ReplyCancel
Catherine - Your photos of Italy are gorgeous! So much beauty that I’m sure it was an easy job to “find the beauty” Thank you for sharing your talent and words!ReplyCancel

06 • 18 • 15

A Family Trip To Italy | Day Trips From Florence

The hardest thing about beauty hunting in an extravagantly beautiful place is choosing your favorite images after the hunt. I think I’ve finally done it! I started with 1200 images and am down to 800, with about 100 of those selected for sharing. Sometimes I miss the film days. We were more selective about our shots. Kind of like an archer with limited arrows. {It may surprise you to know that even the best photographers got only one or two really great shots out of every roll. No one hits the bullseye every time.}

Today’s beauty was captured in small Tuscan villages, all day trips from Florence. I love the medieval hilltop towns that dot the Tuscan countryside. While Florence has lots to offer, I was happiest when we were rolling through green, open spaces. After 37 years of living in the heart of a big city, it turns out I’m really a country girl at heart. {Note: quaint and charming as they are, all of these tiny walled villages were packed with tourists. It’s a challenge to capture beauty with all those people and their selfie sticks!}

Cortona:

The same flag throwing festival you’ll see in “Under The Tuscan Sun.”

Monteriggioni and San Gimignano:

My favorite: a private chianti tasting, tour and lunch at Fattoria Tregole.

The chapel.

Can you believe this old beauty was once a working barn?

I hope some of today’s small town beauty inspires you right where you are. Because at the end of the day, where you are right now is what matters most. And wherever that is, I’m confident that you can find beauty just outside your window…and in the most unexpected places.

With a grateful heart,

Linsey signature 100pix

READ HIDE 4 comments

Lorri - Great photos! You really captured the place. More please! 😉ReplyCancel
Sherry - Absolutely gorgeous! I love all the architecture and wide open green countryside. So excited for you that you were able to take all of it in and experience all that beauty! Thinking of you, as my family will be driving through Nashville in a few days after visiting our daughter in Asheville for the weekend. Any fun places we should stop and check out while we are there?!? My husband has been to the area but I have not, so thought it might be fun to explore a little with our son.ReplyCancel
Layne - You take the most beautiful photos. Thanks so much for sharing-I feel like I got to go on a visual vacation!ReplyCancel
Gracia @ Gracious Offering - Linsey, beautiful photos of such a lovely country! Makes me want to hop on a plane and go to Italy again. Yes, I am a country girl too. I love to visit cities but have no desire to live there. Looking and searching for beauty today outside my door in what has been a terribly dark season of life. Thank you for your uplifting words.ReplyCancel

06 • 13 • 15

A Family Trip To Italy | Starting in Florence

Hello Bravehearted Beauties! How are you?!?! I’m back on the farm and very happy to be here! I’m happier at home than any place in the world…even though coming home means farm duties in the heat, endless piles of laundry and who knows what else. The truth is, I rarely crave a vacation and would probably stay home all year if it weren’t for more adventurous family members. I’m thankful for them…and thankful for the extravagant and abundant beauty I was able to enjoy because of their adventurous spirits!

I wasn’t planning on a trip to Italy this year. My dream for the last decade has been to return to Provence. {France captured my heart right out of high school, and Provence has inspired our way of living more than any other place.} In fact, I started my business a decade ago in hopes that we’d use the extra income to return to Provence. But there were always other things, and I’ve never been one to prioritize travel. I’m far too practical…and happy at home.

But I have an adventurous mom who loves Italy and a dad who’s great at pulling the trigger. So they planned a month-long trip and invited us to join them for a portion of it. Would you believe I said yes, then no, then yes? Long story. But who says no to Italy?!?! Like France, it’s full of beauty and inspiration. And the food! {It’s also known as Eataly. It feels like that’s all I did! And even with all the walking and beauty hunting, I still came home with 5 extra pounds. Two gelatos a day, grazie!}

Wherever I go, I’m always on the hunt for beauty. And of course, it’s not hard to find in a place like Italy. It’s an interesting combination of God’s glorious creation and man’s wondrous addition to the natural surroundings. And what I love best is that so much of the beauty is old and crumbling and imperfect. A reminder that beauty and brokenness really do go together.

I remain convinced that beauty is God’s love language all around the world. Whether you’re in a place like Italy where the beauty is abundant and visible at every turn…or in a place where the beauty seems sparse and veiled, it’s always worth the hunt. Because beauty rescues, refreshes and revives the heart like nothing else.

Beauty hunting at sunrise.

More than museums, galleries and organized tours, I love capturing the beauty of a place while roaming freely outside in all different kinds of light. Early morning light is clear and crisp, while evening light is soft and rich. {Full midday sun is harsh and shadowy, so you just have to choose your shots a little more carefully. Look for pockets of shade…or turn that aperture setting way up.}

Beauty hunting just after sunset.

Dusk is such a peaceful time of day anywhere in the world.

A few minutes after I captured those last few shots, the lights popped on.

PINIT PINIT

The desire of my heart in sharing vacation photos isn’t to show off where we’ve been, but to inspire you with beauty. Maybe there’s an element of Italian beauty that will speak straight to your heart in a particular way? Or maybe there’s a way to incorporate a slower pace into your life this very day? Maybe today you’ll notice the way the sun sets in your hometown, see the beauty in something old and broken, enjoy a glass of wine, take your time over an extra long meal with friends. If nothing else, may the beauty you see here inspire you to hunt for beauty right where you are.

At the end of the day, everyday beauty is the very best kind!

Linsey signature 100pix

P.S. If you ever find yourself in Florence, eat at one of Fabio Picchi’s restaurants. He’s the chef, owner, a local favorite and quite a character. We loved our long and lingering lunch at Cibrèo Caffè. Order whatever they recommend, but don’t miss the antipasti plate to start and whatever crostata is in season for dessert!

READ HIDE 8 comments

Niki - Hi Linsey,
That was a great way to start my day!
I hope to see you on dey in Paris, but i it sure what a great staying in italy!
Thank you for those beautiful pictures.
Love and beauty,

NikiReplyCancel
Patti - Beautiful pictures! Thanks for sharing. I’m happy that your family had this time together.ReplyCancel
katey - I was there when I was 19 and it is a beautiful city. I have wished to return but haven’t yet. Your pictures are gorgeous. Brings back many memories. I am glad you enjoyed the trip. Home is always better when returning from a trip.ReplyCancel
Julie - Wow Linsey! Such beauty… you captured it so well. I love how you write that beauty is God’s love language. That resonates deeply with what’s in my heart – I believe that too! So happy for you to have made such wonderful memories with your family. I’m sure you’ll treasure them always. Welcome home! ~julieReplyCancel
A Family Trip To Italy {Day Trips From Florence} » Bravehearted Beauty - […] beauty was captured in small Tuscan villages, all day trips from Florence. I love the medieval hilltop towns that dot the Tuscan countryside. While Florence has lots to […]ReplyCancel
Patricia - What a beautiful travel!!! Thank you for sharing!!!:)ReplyCancel
A Family Trip To Italy | Doors, Windows & Details » Bravehearted Beauty - […] engaged and present in everyday life is by noticing the details. As I walked the narrow streets of Florence and wandered through a handful of medieval hilltop villages, I paid particular attention to the […]ReplyCancel
A Family Trip To Italy | Positano & Amalfi Coast » Bravehearted Beauty - […] all the walking in Florence and the day trips in the Tuscan countryside, we said goodbye to my parents and headed south to […]ReplyCancel

05 • 26 • 15

We Have A Pony In Our Pasture!

Hello Bravehearted Beauties! I can hardly stand it! I just have to blurt it out: we have a pony in our pasture! Before you get too excited, she’s not our pony, but we get to board her and love on her as if she were one of our own.

Meet Lucy!

She’s a sweet tempered, playful young girl with the blondest ponytail on Ten 10 Farm! Can you believe her coloring…how she fits right in with our family? I already find myself looking for her first thing in the morning when I wake up. And as I sit here writing by the window, I keep looking up just to see what she’s doing. I can’t believe we get to enjoy this pretty girl right here on our own farm!

So here’s how we ended up with a pony in our pasture: a neighbor behind us has a horse farm. She boards horses, but only in stables, not in her pasture. One of the horse owners who’s boarding two rescued race horses at my neighbor’s barn needed a nearby pasture for her daughter’s pony. And guess who got the call?

Me. An experienced horse woman called me…a horse lover who hardly knows a thing about how to care for horses. And for the record: this is the first phone call I’ve ever received from this neighbor. I was worried that Aslan had escaped and was harassing horses in her barn. Honestly, I was a little nervous to call her back.

Who knew that on an ordinary Monday I’d receive a request to pasture board a beautiful pony?!?! God knew. Because friends, if you only knew the conversation I had with my husband the day before, you might begin to see that it was no accident that she called me. It literally felt like God chose me. An unlikely candidate for a boarding job, but perfect in His larger story.

Just the day before, I asked my husband if he could ever imagine having a horse on our farm. I fully expected him to say, “No way! We’re in over our heads and don’t need to add another thing to the mix.” And he would’ve been absolutely right. But to my surprise, he said, “Absolutely!”

He knows I love horses. Always have. One of the reasons I fell in love with the road we live on is because of all the horse farms with all their glorious horses. And you know, we have this barn…which of course encourages a girl to dream!

And then there’s this whole Bravehearted Beauty thing. When God called me Bravehearted Beauty, I didn’t feel like one, so I asked him for a picture. And this is what he gave me: riding a horse, wielding a sword and wearing a crown. Oh, the things God sees when He looks at us!

And one last little thing: when I started writing as Bravehearted Beauty instead of LLH Designs, what was the first photograph I shared? A horse. One of the beauties I pass down the road every day.

Welcome to Ten 10 Farm, Lucy. You are a gift to my spirit! And someday, I hope you’ll show me how to ride you bareback! We’ll be two blonde Bravehearted Beauties helping each other to feel more of who we were meant to be!

Dear friends, I hope this story inspires you to dream with God…to believe with Him. I’m asking God to show you what He see when He looks at you. I know this for sure: it’s so much MORE than what you see in yourself. I call you Bravehearted Beauty, but what name does God call you? Get ready: He has a history of calling people far better names than they call themselves. {He called Gideon a mighty warrior when Gideon called himself the runt of the litter! Talk about a drastic difference in identity and vision!}

Would you dare to receive and believe in a new name? I know God has one for you!

Believing with you!

Linsey signature 100pix

P.S. I’ll be offline for the next two weeks…enjoying an overseas adventure with my family. Thankful for this precious family who’s coming back to love on our animals while we’re away. I’m sure I’ll make up for lost time with LOTS of photos when I’m back! Until then…Happy Summer!

READ HIDE 4 comments

Gigi - Oh this is incredibly fun of the Lord to arrange for Lucy to have such a wonderful family to love and to be loved right back at her! Thank you for sharing how God redeems and restores, even with a new name, Dare to believe! So awesome! Have a great trip!ReplyCancel
Lorri - Now THAT is one beautiful horse. What a wonderful being to wake up to each morning.

And yes, she sure blends in with the whole family!ReplyCancel
Suzanne - Linsey- God works in miraculous ways and takes care of every little detail in our lives! So happy for you and your family!ReplyCancel
Three Years On Our Farm » Bravehearted Beauty - […] still feels like the craziest, bravest thing I’ve ever done. {Aside from barebacking the pony in my pasture with no saddle, no reigns, no nothing. Now, that’s a […]ReplyCancel

05 • 20 • 15

Morning Glory + Hello Summer

Hello Bravehearted Beauties! How’s your brave and beautiful heart today? Mine is bursting with joy because we’re only a day away from our family’s favorite season: S U M M E R !

YeeeeeeeeeHAW!!! {I bet my family can hear that one all the way from Tennessee to Texas!}

Call me crazy, but I love a schedule-free summer. Always have. Camps and activities have never been our thing…even when we lived in the heart of the city where jam-packed schedules were all the rage. For years, we didn’t have the money for all those extras. Down time at home was free, and we all grew to enjoy it. Yes, we drove each other crazy at times, but that’s part of doing life as a family together…going crazy and falling back in love all in the same day! {Side note: boredom and long stretches of unscheduled time sparks incredible creativity.}

We’ll enjoy some fun visits with family this summer, but our main thing each summer is hanging out at home. Longer days, later dinners and last minute s’mores with anyone who wants to come. The farm isn’t exactly a vacation when you have animals to care for and a pasture to mow, but the beauty is as life-giving to us as any place on earth. Honestly, we don’t really dream of going places unless it involves visiting family. {That’s a homebody for ya!}

Maybe that sounds old fashioned and too sticky sweet for some, but it’s who we are. For us, it feels just right. And for you, I hope you get to do whatever feels right for your family. I love hearing about all the escapades of more adventurous souls, so feel free to share your stories and discoveries!

One thing I’ll miss about the school year: the forced early morning wake up time that allows me to see God’s early morning glory. I’m not a morning person, so without school, I’m not likely to see the early morning light again until August. {Steam rising off the pond on a chilly morning is my favorite!}

How about you? Do you like summer? Any favorite traditions or rhythms? Do you like to make plans, pack as much adventure in as possible, travel and explore, or hang at home?

Wishing you so much joy in whatever you do,

Linsey signature 100pix

P.S. In celebration of summer and a friend’s new faith in Jesus, I invited the ladies in my small group out for breakfast and pedicures today. Only my third pedicure in the last three years and maybe my first ever “group of girlfriends” pedicure outing. I’m more of a one-on-one person, but I just have to say: it was such a sweet time! I highly recommend it. So BE BRAVE! Gather a few women {even if you haven’t known them long} and go get your toes painted a bright, happy, out of character color!

READ HIDE 3 comments