These are a few of my favorite things….

Happy New Year!

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope the new year has treated you well so far. It’s been quieter behind my red door the last 2 weeks than it has been for months, and in between Lili time and my folks, I have enjoyed some down time ~ a day here and there when I could stay home alone and I so enjoy those days!!  They are all too rare it seems. I have been cleaning and organizing and purging, and reading! And while I haven’t caught up with all my favorite blogs, I am trying.

Not too long ago I stopped my blogging friend Marlene’s blog ~ Stitchin by the Lake and her post was titled A Few of My Favorite Things. You can read it by clicking ~here~.  She invited her readers to do one of their own Favorite Things post, and I decided it was a great idea. 

Now you already know about my favorite people and my favorite decorating items, so this will be a bit different. I’ll start with my favorite movie of all time ~ because a song from it inspired Marlene’s post.

I saw this movie when I was 10 years old with my dad. It was a weekday and it was just my dad and me. Because my dad delivered mail on Saturdays, he had a weekday off. I  had severely sprained my wrist at school the day before and he thought it would cheer me up. I was mesmerized and loved every second of it!! My parents bought the original sound track record and I played it over and over and over. Anytime I saw it was on TV, I just had to watch it. I still do. My Favorite Things is one of my favorite songs too. And while I love the version ‘Maria’  first sang in the movie as the children gathered in her bed during a thunderstorm, my heart swells each time I hear it the second time when the children are missing her and they start to sing it and then they hear her voice in the background and realize she has returned to them. That makes me tear up every time I watch the movie. You can watch that scene ~here~.

~**~**~**~**~**~**~

There is nothing like a cheerful daisy to make me smile! When I was getting married in 1975, it was a good thing that David’s former boss was a close family friend who just happened to own a floral shop in addition to the pharmacy because when I said I wanted daisies, not roses, everyone said I was nuts! But not Ronnie… he made sure I got my daisies. In fact my wedding party colors came from the colors in daisies! I consented to a few roses mixed in with the daisies in my bouquet, but everything else was daisies. My bridesmaids carried baskets of daisies.  Even the cake was covered in daisies.

The first perennial flowers I ever planted when we bought our first home were daisies. I brought that plant with me when we moved here in 1986. They still bloom every summer.

~**~**~**~**~**~**~

Speaking of weddings, I went with my daughter Jen and her best friend while Jen tried on wedding dresses today. This was the second time we have done this and she may have found “the” dress but at the least, she really narrowed down her options. Big mistake going on a Saturday though. Despite an appointment, the gal helping us was helping someone else too and the shop was a mad house so we want to go back on a weekday and try another shop as well. It was still a lot of fun despite the crowds and I can’t wait to go again!

~**~**~**~**~**~**~

While many people dream of cruises or laying on white sand beaches as the perfect vacation,  I love a good road trip with my honey exploring more of this beautiful country!  Growing up I was blessed to see much of this country on the many camping trips my parents took with me and my other 3 siblings ~ most notably our 6 week cross country camping trip. It was a trip of a lifetime and I will always be grateful my parents made the sacrifices and did the hard work it took for that journey. Now Mr. Red Door was never interested in camping, but we have had some wonderful vacations driving through many states. My all time favorite road trip ever was one we took in the fall of 2005. I had quit my job at the preschool so it was the first time in many years that we could travel for more than a long weekend during my favorite season ~ fall. I had turned 50 and we celebrated our 30th anniversary that year and instead of a cruise or exotic location vacation, I researched areas to explore during foliage season. We took 3 road trips that fall but the one to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (the U.P.) was my favorite! I love boat rides on lakes, train rides through the wilderness, waterfalls and foliage and the UP had plenty!

We did so many cool things, but my favorite part was when we crossed the border from Sault Ste. Marie, MI into Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and took a ride on the Agawa Canyon Tour Train. This one-day wilderness excursion will takes you114 miles north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario over towering trestles, alongside pristine northern lakes and rivers and through the awesome granite rock formations and vast mixed forests of the Canadian Shield.

Of course the foliage was amazing!! You know I love me some foliage!

We also took a ride on this boat…

..through the locks separating Lake Huron and Lake Superior. It was fascinating!

Back in the U.P. another fun day was on the The Toonerville Trolley and Riverboat Tour. It was a 6 1/2 Hour Train and Riverboat Tour to Tahquamenon Falls. We rode  5 1/2 miles through the habitat of bear, deer and many other animals and birds.

The train brings passengers to the Tahquamenon River where a Riverboat waits to take you on a 21 mile narrated cruise along the pristine river to the rapids 1/2 mile above the Upper Tahquamenon Falls. The Captain gives commentary on river history, Indian lore, and points out any wildlife that is spotted along the way. The foliage that day was gorgeous too!

Then we departed the boat for a hike through virgin forest to view the mighty Falls. Passengers then board the boat for the return trip to the waiting train and the ride back to Soo Junction.

Another day we took a glass bottomed boat ride on Lake Superior. Can you see the anchor?

The Alger Underwater Preserve is located in Lake Superior near the diver-friendly city of Munising in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This area of Lake Superior's shoreline includes the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, the site of many shipwrecks.

Preserved by the cold fresh water of Lake Superior, these shipwrecks provide some of the finest sport diving in the Midwest. Each year, wrecks appear and disappear as the currents of Lake Superior cover and uncover them. The total number of shipwrecks in the Alger Preserve is unknown.

Sandstone cliffs, beaches, sand dunes, waterfalls, lakes, forest, and shoreline encompass the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The Lakeshore hugs the Lake Superior shoreline for more than 40 miles. Lake Superior is the largest, deepest, coldest, and most pristine of all the Great Lakes.

Getting to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula via the Mackinac Bridge was a sight to behold!!  It is currently the third longest suspension bridge in the world. The total length  is 26,372 feet.

On our way back home to New England, after crossing the bridge back into the lower peninsula we stayed in the picturesque town of Mackinaw City.

From the balcony of our hotel room, we could see the bridge…

and we stood outside as the sun set

and watched as the lights came on and it was a fitting ending to our trip to the UP.

Thanks for indulging me as I got out the CD of pics from that trip. It’s on my bucket list to go back.

~**~**~**~**~**~**~

Now you know I love my decaf Chai tea for a chilly afternoon or evening but I need coffee in the morning and this is my new love ~Timothy’s German Chocolate Cake K-cups

It’s all in the layering ~ first chocolate, followed by coconut, caramel and finally, more chocolate. What’s not to like??!! My only complaint is that it does not come in decaf!

~**~**~**~**~**~**~

I could probably make a list a mile long of why I love my iPad. From it’s almost instant on, and it’s portability and all the APPs for educational games and books Lili and I use together, I love how it is so convenient and easy to use. It’s a small luxury that has some practical uses as well.

~**~**~**~**~**~**~

And while I do sometimes use the eBook library on my Ipad, I love books.

A house without books is like room without windows. ~ Horace Mann

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.  ~Charles W. Eliot

~**~**~**~**~**~**~

Because I am always looking for ways to better myself, I enjoy inspirational life lessons ~ be it a quote or story or a list such as this one that has been going around in emails lately. These are from the Dalai Lama~

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
3. Follow the three R’s:
   -  Respect for self,
   -  Respect for others and
   -  Responsibility for all your actions.
4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great relationship.
7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
8. Spend some time alone every day.
9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.
10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and
    think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.
12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.
14. Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.
15. Be gentle with the earth.
16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.
17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
19. If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
20. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

Pretty good lessons don’t you think?

~**~**~**~**~**~**~

I think I have kept you long enough so I will end my list with this… my girlfriends! I love my women friends! I am blessed to have women in my life that support me and encourage me and accept me the way I am. I love spending time with each of them!

This must be going around too because several of my friends have sent me this email recently and I thought it was a fun way to end my post.

"A student just finished taking an evening class at Stanford. The last lecture was on the mind-body connection - the relationship between stress and disease. The speaker (head of psychiatry at Stanford) said, among other things, that one of the best things that a man could do for his health is to be married to a woman, whereas for a woman, one of the best things she could do for her health was to nurture her relationships with her girlfriends.
At first everyone laughed, but he was serious.

Women connect with each other differently and provide support systems that help each other to deal with stress and difficult life experiences. Physically this quality “girlfriend time" helps us to create more serotonin - a neurotransmitter that helps combat depression and can create a general feeling of well being. Women share feelings whereas men often form relationships around activities. They rarely sit down with a buddy and talk about how they feel about certain things or how their personal lives are going. Jobs? Yes. Sports? Yes. Cars? Yes. Fishing, hunting, golf? Yes. But their feelings? Rarely.

Women do it all of the time. We share from our souls with our sisters/mothers, and evidently that is very good for our health. He said that spending time with a friend is just as important to our general health as jogging or working out at a gym. There's a tendency to think that when we are "exercising" we are doing something good for our bodies, but when we are hanging out with friends, we are wasting our time and should be more productively engaged ~ not true. In fact, he said that failure to create and maintain quality personal relationships with other humans is as dangerous to our physical health as smoking!
So every time you hang out to schmooze with a gal pal, just pat yourself on the back and congratulate yourself for doing something good for your health! We are indeed very, very lucky. Sooooo let's toast to our friendship with our girlfriends. Evidently it's very good for our health."

Here’s to all my girlfriends, young and old, near and far! Thanks for being so good for me!

Thanks so much for stopping by ~ I appreciate your visit!

Prim blessings and hugs, Linda

 

Looking ahead to a wonderful New Year!

It was a wonderfully hectic, very busy but just magical Christmas weekend. We had our Swedish Christmas Eve celebration here with the Rudman side of the family, and then all four generations on my side were here on Christmas Day. When my dad made his toast, he said he doubted we would all be together at my table next Christmas, so we made it as special as we could this year. Now Christmas is all packed away, and I have had some much needed down time and some quiet time to reflect back on 2011. (I started a new album of pics, it’s on the right sidebar)

Each December  when the year draws to a close, I like to briefly look back on the blessings of the past year before I look forward to the hope of the New Year. And 2011 was filled with so many for me and my family. Sure we had some bumps and blips ~ especially with my folks health and my FIL’s health ~ but we managed to get through the year making many happy memories along the way. The year started with our daughter’s engagement to a wonderful young man and it closes with some well deserved career news for Mr. Red Door. And in between there were so many wonderful moments and simple joys. Those are what I choose to remember and here are but a few highlights…

Lili’s smile, hugs and the twinkle in her eyes every time she sees me

Meeting homeowners and seeing their joy  when sharing their home with us when we arrived for a shoot

The heartfelt comments here on my blog and the cheerful morning greetings on FB

A warm thank-you from my folks after making them lunch or bringing them dinner or helping them safely navigate yet another Drs. appointment

The joy in finding the right piece for our home or walking down the hall and smiling at what I see

So many wonderful times spent with dear friends exploring more of the NE countryside

Meeting online friends for the first time or seeing long distance friends once again

Momma duck coming back twice to use our yard as her nesting place

Our many family dinners with our kids and granddaughter all around the table

Seeing my photograph on the cover of A Primitive Place & Country Journal

Celebrating my dad’s 90th birthday will all his family in attendance

“Hi sweetie, how was your day?” greeting me every time my dear hubby walks in from a long day at the office

..as I look back I am reminded once again how much I have been blessed and how much I have to be grateful for.

And when I look forward I know I will some face some very big challenges this year as we decide how best to keep my parents best interests at heart, but I know there will be many opportunities and memorable moments as well as also plan Jen’s wedding and go about our daily lives. Every new day is a new chance to improve our lives and the lives of those around us and I hope I can achieve that in at least some small way in 2012.

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called “Opportunity” and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.” Edith L. Pierce

As I close my blog for 2011, I’d like to thank everyone who has taken the time to stop by and make Behind My Red Door part of your day.

Whatever resolutions or changes you may make, whatever new directions or paths you choose, may God bless your endeavors and guide you and fill 2012 with all that brings you happiness.

Let peace fill our hearts and our homes until it encircles our world. Wishing love, peace, health and happiness for you and those you love through all the days of the New Year!

Until 2012~ prim hugs and blessings, Linda

New goodies and a recipe or two…

In just one week from now hubby and I will be cleaning up from our Swedish Christmas Eve with his side of the family and we will be getting things lined up for Christmas Day here with my family. How can that be? It seems like just yesterday I was waiting for the heat to let  up and the leaves to turn! Then again, when I think of all that had happened in the last few months, it seems like eons ago.

So are you ready for your celebrations? For many many years Mr. Red Door saved two weeks vacation to use at Christmas but this year, the project he is working on needs him so he will only have one day off before and one day after Christmas. I will miss having him around to help with all the last minute errands and prep but our daughter Jen will take his place on our annual run to the store for Swedish cheese, sausage, breads and pastry this week. And I did tell him that after golf tomorrow, we are having a marathon wrapping session. Once those packages are under the tree, things will feel a lot more under control Behind My Red Door.

There won’t be any big presents exchanged between hubby and I this year. He truly never wants anything and anything he needed I got him for his birthday last week. On the other hand, I already brought home some goodies for me!  Back in the early fall I decided I needed a chair to relax in when I finally DO relax in the evenings. Hubby has a sofa in his office and if we want to watch TV together, that is where we park ourselves or we can go downstairs to Lili’s playroom AKA the family room.  But if I don’t want to watch what he likes (as is often the case) I come into my office. I had an old wing chair in here but it was anything but comfy. So one day when we were out prim/antique shopping, I went to Spencer Furniture store in Spencer to their Primitive Shop. Spencer Furniture is a family owned store and while I had never ordered anything large there before, I have purchased many smalls from them over the years starting way back when they had a Yield House franchise in the part of the store that now holds their Primitive Shop. Everyone has always been extremely warm, friendly and helpful and this visit was no different. They happen to be the closest store that carries Johnston Benchworks furniture and I thought I would get myself a J B recliner. But truth be told, none of them were the right fit. The sales person, Gayle,  was very helpful and she got out some catalogs for me to look at. We plopped ourselves down on some chairs in one corner and after awhile it occurred to me that the chair I was sitting in was a WONDERFUL fit for me. I loved the height, depth of the seat, the width and the comfort overall. Because I had a particular JB fabric in mind, Gayle tried to help me find one of their chairs in that size. But they didn’t make one. I tried a bunch of different JB chairs and while I loved them all, this chair needed to be one of pure comfort for me. So I decided to order one like the one I was sitting in but in a fabric more suited to my colonial inspired taste. And I got the ottoman to go with it as well. It is made by Lancer, from Star, NC. Gayle said it would take 6-8 weeks to come in but a month later it was in and ready to be delivered to my home. And it is just perfect for me. I have NEVER in my adult life fallen asleep in a chair. N.E.V.E.R. In fact, I find it hard to fall asleep in my own bed!! But I have fallen asleep in this chair several times so needless to say, I am absolutely thrilled with it! I hope this winter I will find time in the evenings to get back to making my penny rugs and needle punch now that I have a comfy seat!

This past week, I received a thank you card from Gayle and a coupon for future purchases. You can bet if I ever need upholstered pieces in the future (or if hubby agrees to to a total reorganizing of the kitchen so I can take home the awesome kitchen island they have) I will definitely give this local family owned store my business.

Oh ~ sorry! You wanted to see my chair did you?? Well here it is!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fabric!! I didn’t want the same fabric I see on chairs all over the internet and in homes I shoot and yet I definitely wanted something with a colonial flair and I think this fits the bill. It is black with dark red, mustard and sage green accents.  It also could move into the living room should I ever need it too.

Isn’t it purdy??  I think so,  but even more important, it is comfy!

~**~**~**~**~**~

Another new to me piece is this big trunk. 

A short while back, my dear friend Laurie invited Audrey, her mom Connie and me  for a Christmas lunch and to do some antique shopping. I wish I had my camera with me that day because Laurie's home looked wonderful all decorated for Christmas. And she made the most delicious and adorable individual pot pies for us!! We all felt so special! After filling our tummies, we headed out and one of the stops we made was A Bee’s Buzz in Foster, RI. Click ~here~ for the website. It is in the same building where the former Things Made Wonderful store used to be. From their website~

“Unlike your typical antique mall or craft store, we want to combine the best of both worlds to bring our guests a unique blend of handcrafted wares and vintage finds.

Anyone with a home to decorate, a unique gift to buy, or a collection to add to will enjoy browsing this friendly marketplace!”

Laurie has a booth on the second the floor and she knew the store was being stocked for a sale the next day so it was a great day to shop there. I have been looking for a bigger trunk to put under the domed trunk I bought a while back and boy did I find one and the price was right!This is about as rustic or prim as I want to go, but the size is great for storage and the price was right! We couldn’t fit it in my car that day, but Laurie and her hubby very graciously went back and got it for me the next day. Laurie even offered to drive it up to me so she could see my mural so we did that last week and I made us a nice brunch. Thank you again Laurie (and George) for your kindness in helping me get my trunk home!

That same day we made a stop at Pineapple Rose Primitives in Scituate, RI. They don’t have a website but click ~here~ to link to their FB page. Audrey spotted a pretty red cupboard that she thought would look great in my house. And she was right. I did really like it but I knew if it was to come home with me,  it would mean getting rid of something else big and then some serious reorganizing would have to take place because all pieces I own are used to store things. I thought about it and told the owner I would be in touch if I was coming back for it.  When I got home, I went on FB and found a picture of it and it was still calling out to me. During the week I did more thinking about where it could/should go and where all the dishes, glassware and serving pieces would go if I got rid of something else. And I knew even with the seats down, it wouldn’t fit in my Murano but having brought home some big pieces herself recently, Audrey knew it would fit in her van and she graciously offered to go back with me to get it if I wanted it. The scrolled front and curved shelves really spoke to me so I decided it would finally replace my 80’s jelly cupboard in my dining room.

Audrey and I went back last weekend and it came home with me. And am I ever happy that it did!! It is fairly new piece but it is made from old wood and square head nails and boy is this ever heavy!!

I still need more plates but after I gathered up most of my pewter, I was able to fill it pretty quickly. I am so happy to have one spot to display the pieces I have collected for many years. A special thank you to Audrey for going all the way back to RI with me. She found some goodies for herself on the trip back so I am happy at that! I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends!

~**~**~**~**~**~**~

I finally got Jill to share her recipes for the Pumpkin Pie in a Mug and Corn Chowder that so many of you have asked for.  Both of these are perfect for the cold winter weather facing us in the months ahead. She wanted me to let you know she she just estimates the amounts in the chowder recipe.

Pumpkin Pie in a Mug

3 cups half and half

3 cups milk

3/4 cup sugar

1 cup pureed pumpkin

2 tablespoons vanilla extract

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

whipped cream

In a large saucepan, combine half and half, milk, and sugar over medium low heat, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved. Add pumpkin, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice ~ whisking to combine well. Bring to a simmer stirring occasionally, do not boil. Simmer 15- 20 minutes Garnish with whipped cream. Makes 6 servings

 Jill’s Corn Chowder

3-4 medium sized potatoes cut into pieces (leave skins on)

1 onion about size of tennis ball cut into pieces

Boil the onion and potato until the potatoes are almost cooked.  Drain water.

Add:  2 cans of cream style corn

         1 can evaporated milk

         1 stick of butter

         Salt and pepper to taste

         dried thyme (about rounded 1/4 tsp.)

         dried basil (about rounded 1/4 tsp.)

         dried marjoram (about rounded 1/4 tsp.)

Stir and simmer on very low heat for about 1/2 hour.  If it looks too thick you can add a little cream or half and half.  It tastes best  if you make it the day before you want to eat it.  It will thicken as it sets in the refrigerator.

~**~**~**~**~**~**~

Last Sunday we had a big family party at my folks house to celebrate my dad’s 90th birthday a day early.  Last year I didn’t think my folks would be in their home for his birthday but by the grace of God we made it another year. They will be moving to assisted living or a nursing home in the near future, so it was bittersweet in some ways. But with 4 generations in attendance, we made it a special time for my dad.

BTW, another very important and special man shares the same birthday as my dad… Mr. Red Door. How cool is that?

~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~

I leave you with my Christmas wish for each of you…

“Wishing you untold blessings, unseen angels. unexpected gifts and all of God's precious love at Christmas and always.”

Until next time ~ prim hugs and blessings, Linda

Christmas Thyme Behind My Red Door

Happy December!! Here in my neck of New England we have enjoyed some really wonderful sunny, dry weather the past week or so. I love seeing the golden country side with the rusty oak leaves everywhere. I love the dried grasses and underbrush and seeing for what seems like miles when the leaves are down exposing so many hidden gems like brooks, stone walls, winterberries and even some homes that were hidden the rest of the year by foliage! The timing of this weather was perfect for two outings with friends, some scouting for the magazine, and for several extra trips back and forth to my folks house. My sister went away for 3 days so I was making the 25–30  minute trip back and forth 3 times a day. Dry roads and sunny skies certainly made it a lot nicer!  And every evening, Mr. Red Door and I would take a different route to and from just to enjoy the Christmas lights. That tradition of taking Christmas light rides never looses it’s appeal!

With this nice sunny day we were given, I finally took some time to take a few Christmas pictures for the kind folks who have asked. I will admit, I really miss having that extra time to spend on taking my own pictures just right and editing them just the way I want them. There aren’t many full room shots but I think these will do and I hope you enjoy them.

Edited: I have had two followers tell me they cannot see the slideshow so here is the actual link for anyone else having the same problem.

Click –> Christmas Thyme Behind My Red Door

Thank you for stopping by today! I know this is such a busy time of year for everyone and that you made time to come by, means a lot. If you find time to comment, thank you as I enjoy reading every single comment!  If you ask a question, I try to answer right there in the comment section. But if like me, sometimes you have just enough time to stop by but have to move on without stopping to comment, please know I understand and still appreciate the visit!!

Until next time ~ prim hugs and blessings, Linda

More, more, more ~ sneak peek of my Christmas décor, more of my SC trip and more Michelle’s gorgeous home!!

 

Happy Friday!! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Ours was a bit different this year. We took the meal to my folks house because we know in our hearts, this is their last Thanksgiving in their home. So we all worked together and made it as nice as we possibly could. We made the traditional dishes we all enjoy and having all 4 generation together made it very special! And while I really missed having my family here, there was an upside ~ my house stayed clean!!

And today you won’t find me out and about today, I will be decorating for Christmas. Before we went to my folks yesterday we took the bins out of the attic. As I went through them,  I found half the stuff I have used for years and years is just not my taste anymore, so LESS IS MORE will really be the key for me this year. Long gone are the days when I pack away my every day décor to make room for boxes of décor for each holiday or season. I like my everyday decor so for the most part, it will remain in place and my favorite Christmas pieces along with lots of greens, red berries and white tallow berries (from my dear friend Sherrie in SC) will be tucked in and around my everyday décor.  Just for you, I have a few sneak peeks of what I did already this morning…

 

And that is just the beginning so no shopping excursions today for me BUT I will be participate in Small Business Saturday tomorrow and shop locally though!! I want to do my best to support the family owned and locally owned shops as much as possible.

But now it is time to get back to the business at hand! From the moment I arrived at Jill’s home, she treated me like a queen and fed me like royalty too. In case you don’t know, when I am there, I get my own room and bathroom! No one has ever slept here but me so it makes my room doesn’t it?? Here are some pictures of MY room that Jill sent me before the trip…

She even made space for my clothes and luggage in the big closet!!

Isn’t it pretty?? I am so comfortable there!

The first night, she made the most delicious corn chowder for dinner….she knows I LOVE corn chowder!

The second day we were busy doing her photo shoot. She was such a wonderful assistant helping me with my lights and cords etc.! That night she rewarded our hard work with this ‘pumpkin pie in a cup’ hot drink. OH MY!! My intentions were to share the recipe but I misplaced it so I will get it from Jill again. Believe me, you will need to save this for another week after you have worked off the calories from Thanksgiving. It is that good and that rich!

Whenever we get together,  we love to look at books, magazines and the Internet together to talk about decorating ideas. I showed her this picture I took at the Rusty Rooster this fall of a shelf Jack made for over their door ~ he makes the best stuff! You can see more of their wonderful home and shop ~here~!

So we showed Jim the picture too and by the end of Saturday, he had done this for her….Those two are so talented! I wish I could show you lots and lots of room shots but you’ll have to wait for the fall issue next year for that. If you missed the sneak peeks, you can hop over to the APP & CJ blog for that. Just click ~here! 

And if you are smart, you will pay attention to the backgrounds in the next pictures and you just might get some more sneak peeks….

On Saturday, we went to Kathy’s gorgeous home for her photo shoot and a delicious southern meal too! You can read about that great day ~here~.

Sunday was the day Mr red Door left his parents home and headed to Jill’s to get me so we could start for home but not before we fit in a gathering with some of my southern friends! This was planned for last year but we couldn’t make the trip south because of work commitments, so I made sure we left enough time Sunday for it!!  Jill and I prepared a fall brunch of apple pie French toast, maple apple chicken sausage, pumpkin soup, pumpkin pecan muffins and some fresh pineapple. Hot coffee, tea and mulled cider were on the menu too!

Hint hint…. are you looking past the table….

Sherrie Hinson was the first to arrive! Sherrie started following my blog and we started emailing and we became fast friends!  You may have seen some of her gorgeous garden and porch photos in A Primitive Place & Country Journal magazine and in Judy Condon’s garden book. They are just amazing! Sherrie has a green thumb and then some! It was wonderful to finally meet such a kindred spirit in person!!  Sherry had hostess gifts for Jill and I ~She is always so thoughtful!!

Then Jennifer Gass and Dana Harpley arrived! Many of you know Jen from her blog Taylors Farmhouse Attic and she has a selling blog as well ~ Simple Goodes Stitched by Jennifer. She designs her own cross stitch patterns as well as selling finished pieces. She and I have followed each other’s blogs for ages!  And many of you know Dana as the gracious Hospitality Coordinator in the APP forum – her forum name is Homespun Treasures and that is where we met. She is so sweet! Her blog is Homespun Treasures by Dana. She also has a website Homespun Treasures and Dana makes hand poured candles, bowl fillers, pantry cakes and other wonderful smelling delights!!  You can reach their blogs or websites by clicking on the names!!  I was so happy to finally meet all of these sweet southern gals in person!!

Oh and we had so much fun greeting each other and comparing accents!! LOL And then while I finished some last minute meal preparations, Jill gave them a tour of her beautiful home and then we all sat down to the feast we had prepared.

Jill and I had hostess gifts for them and this is what Jill put together… she made us each a pillow and that is pumpkin spice hand gel! What a neat idea and aren't those acorns so cute!??

Then it was swap time!! Jen got this wonderful Santa!!

Dana got a pretty handmade candle mat and some fall goodies!

Sherrie got a wall candle sconce, real beeswax candle and a hand loomed towel.

Jill got an assortment of yummy goodies – a candle, candy canes, wax pineapple and more!!

And I got this adorable doll!!

Here she is setting on my Homestead settle…She doesn’t get to rest there very often. A certain little girl likes to carry her around and love on her!!

Here is a snapshot of Jen and Jill! Hi girls!!

And all too soon it was time for the girls to head out and I had to gather up my belongings so when Mr Red Door got there, we could pack up the car and start the two day drive home. But before we all left, Sherrie’s very patient hubby Ernie took our group picture with each of our cameras. He was such a good sport!

One of the treasures I brought home was this gorgeous blanket chest made by Jim. He is a carpenter by trade and he can make just about anything! He had made Jill one of these and since he is looking for work, I commissioned him to make me one as well. I paid for unfinished piece and came home and painted it myself. It is black over red with a distressed finish. I used a combo of latex paint and Caromal Colours, crackling medium and CC chipping crème and used the CC toner on top and then sealed it with a matte spray varnish. I love it! If you are within a reasonable distance of Colombia, SC and are looking for some prim pieces, I can give you Jill and Jim’s contact info. He can take a photo of something and with proper measurements, he will quote you a price and make you a custom piece too. 

Jill and did a little swap too and she sent me home some yummy Pumpkin butter, a sweet little whisk broom and this delightful little old buttocks basket.

It really was a whirlwind 6 days!  And while I love all the goodies I came home with, what I will treasure most is the time on the drive with my hubby, time spent with Jill and Jim, and meeting Kathy, Sherrie, Jen and Dana for the first time finally. Those make it truly worth all those hours driving!

~**~**~**~**~

Now I know y’all are either decorated for Christmas or like me, fixin to finish decorating so as promised here are more pics of Michelle’s gorgeous home from the Holiday 2010 issue to help get you in the Holiday spirit!!  They need no explanation ~ ENJOY!!

Thanks Michelle for the pleasure of sharing your home once again!!

And thank you all so much for stopping by.  I appreciate each of you!! Have a great weekend and until next time ~ prim hugs and blessings, Linda