Our Christmas season has begun!

After a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner that took me days to prepare but didn’t seem to impress Lili too much…

… Christmas is truly in the air Behind My Red Door!

I’ll warn you right now, this is probably the longest and most picture heavy post I have ever made so this might take you awhile to get through. But if you like prim decor and old homes, this will be worth it.

Friday was spent decorating inside (including some goodies I got in the mail) and putting up the tree. Here is just a sneak peek…

A wonderful prim sampler I ordered from Jen of Taylor’s Farmhouse Attic. I just adore Jen’s work – check out her selling blog HERE!

Another gorgeous prim sampler~ this one is a surprise thank you gift from my friend Linda Babb – The Primitive Stitcher. If you don’t know her talented works or her gorgeous colonial home yet, you just HAVE to click HERE!

In addition to the sampler, Linda Babb also made me the most wonderful prim Christmas ornament commemoration Lili’s first Christmas.Each side is unique and special…

Even though this was a Thank You gift, I want to say Thank you again Linda for your kindness and thoughtfulness. I will treasure this always!

And Saturday was spent decorating outside…

and cooking and preparing for my Christmas Gathering of prim friends on Sunday. I put together a centerpiece, made place cards and turned the little mitten ornaments I bought at Homestead Primitives into napkin holders/favors.

Mother Nature gave us a splendid mild 50 degree day and the other 7 gals arrived at 10 AM for brunch and a Prim Christmas Ornament Exchange. Jill, Bonnie, and Audrey were the first to arrive and shortly we were joined by my friend Laurie and her 3 friends since childhood, Kathleen, Paula and Jayne.

Audrey gave me a delightful Hostess gift – one of my favorite candles in Amish Harvest – made by friend Karen, and the sweetest little wool baby booty with a teeny tag that says Liliana 2009. I was so touched that she went out of her way to not only order the only scented candle I burn but to also make such a sweet and memorable ornament just for me. Thank you Audrey – it means the world to me! I just love her creations – do check out Audrey’s selling blog HERE!

Laurie and her friend’s presented me with hostess gifts as well… in this wonderful hat box! See the star ornament tied to the bow?

Inside was yummy DD coffee that Mr. Red Door and I will enjoy this Christmas season as well as the most adorable prim napkin holder and even some Christmas napkins to use on Christmas Day!

Here is a closer look at the napkin holder and little bell ornament too. I can use the holder all winter!

And look at the adorable prim snow angel I received as well. She will join the other snowmen I use all winter long after I pack away Christmas.

What a sweet and thoughtful gifts ladies – thank you so very much!

And then it was time for the prim ornament exchange – and silly me, I was so busy being hostess, I forgot to take pictures as everyone opened their packages but here is mine… look at the clever way the bag was decorated. A star punch compliments the star ornament that was included ~ isn’t that clever? And look at these adorable prim stockings…

They already look wonderful on my tree!

And then it was time for a hearty brunch before we headed out for our shopping destinations. The menu included Overnight Monkey Bread, Peach Delight, Apple Maple Chicken Sausages and a Spinach and Cheese Strata.

After our meal and getting to know each other a little better, Laurie and her friends got into their car and Jill, Audrey and Bonnie got into mine. But before we started the journey, I had a treat bag for each of them complete with a Pumpkin Whoopie Pie and bottle of spring water…

…you know – sustenance for the shopping trip! We had 2 stops at 2 prim shops planned but we were in for a wonderful surprise!!

Our first stop was to see our friend Doreen at Walker Homestead – 19 Martin Road, Brookfield, Massachusetts 01506- which was all decked out for Christmas! Oh la la! What eye candy in here! You may remember that Jill, Bonnie, Audrey and I visited here in the fall – read all about THAT gathering and to meet Audrey, Jill and Bonnie, click HERE.

Say hi to Bonnie…

This time, more of the home was open for viewing and it was a real treat!!

Look at this Tavern Cage…

And this fireplace, mantle and surround…

And there was mulled cider and all kinds of goodies to eat…

and lots of prim goodies to temp us…

..and there was even a costumed young lady weaving baskets.

When we got to the prim shop in back, I noticed the wool hooked rug I coveted last time was gone. Humm.. maybe Santa read my blog!!

We all enjoyed our visit and we decided that Walker Homestead is a must visit in any season.

At this point we bid goodbye to Laurie, Paula, Kathleen and Jayne with plans to meet up many more times!

On the recommendation of Doreen, we headed to West Brookfield to another shop and along the way I had to pull over and let Bonnie cut some of the red ‘berries’ she spied. They looked more crabapples to me but I was happy to indulge my sweet friend.

Then it was on to the Rusty Roosta a Primitive Early American Shop in the barn behind the home of Jack and Paula Fisher. The Fisher’s own a gorgeous period Federal Colonial home across the street from the West Brookfield town common. As we drove up, I think all 4 of us started to get excited when we saw the house. Not only is their home gorgeous, but the yard and grounds are lovely. So well maintained and so much attention to detail. Really lovely!

The sign out front…

The front of their gorgeous home…

The brick side of their home…

The back el of the home…

And the back door…

As we drove up, we saw that Laurie and the other gals had decided to check it out as well and they had already purchased some goodies and were on their way to other destinations. It’s too bad because they missed some fun none of knew was coming next!

Once inside the shop, while Audrey and Jill scooted upstairs to look around, Bonnie and I started chatting with Paula and we told her that if the inside of her home (which we caught glimpses of through the windows - shh don’t tell anyone!!) was half as nice as the outside, she should have her home in Country Sampler (and I told her exactly how to contact the Editor!) And then we told her all about the online communities for primitive lovers, about our blogs, and A Primitive Place website and forum. And then she so graciously offered to show us her home! Oh My Goodness, Bonnie and I nearly wet our pants we were so excited and we hollered up to Jill and Audrey to come down quick and join us. Okay I was the one that hollered but I was just so excited. As we went outside, we met Jack – he was bringing home more pine to decorate the grounds and inside the house, and as Paula started to tell him who were were, get this… when he heard my name –he knew who I was and he reads my blog and he knows my house! How cool is that? I liked him right away when he told me to tell my hubby to “get over it and let her paint the woodwork and cabinets”. Thanks Jack , I tried and Mr. Red Door just gave me “the look”.

Once we got inside, I don’t think you could have found 4 more excited gals. We were in total awe of this lovely period home. After showing us the kitchen, Paula had to scoot back to the shop so Jack stayed inside with us and he graciously answered our many questions about their beautiful home. It has 6 fireplaces, gorgeous woodwork and moldings and wide pine floors. And with the Fisher’s collections of antiques, primitives and the beautiful pieces of furniture that Jack makes – well it all comes together into the perfect package. Definitely magazine worthy! Enjoy the pictures as they only capture a glimpse of this home…

Look at this drawer under their table!

Audrey and Bonnie

Above one door..

This next room is my favorite…

Go ahead and go back and look again, I know you want to!

After the delightful tour, we continued our shopping. In our excitement, we forgot to take pictures of the shop, but I found this one online from the fall. Let me assure you, it was decorated for Christmas and Winter just as nicely!

Of course you will have to provide your own period home and antiques, but if you liked what you saw inside the Fisher’s home, the Rusty Roosta carries many of the same prim accessories, folk art, reproduction furniture – both the amazing wooden pieces that Jack makes (and his finish is awesome!) and upholstered pieces as well. It’s a must do on my shopping trips in the future! It is just off of Rt. 9 at 14 North Main St. (Rt. 67).(508) 867-3804. The shop is open weekends from 11am-4pm. We all want to thank Jack and Paula again for the kindness at the impromptu tour. It was indeed a delightful surprise and the highlight of our day!

Next we headed east on Rt 9 to Rt 31 in Spencer to another prim shop in a another wonderful old home. Audrey and I have been there many many times but Jill and Bonnie were in for a treat. Primitive Thymes shop and Karen and Rich Boulay’s home is in a Circa 1840 two room school house. The Boulay’s opened their home up this past weekend and so it was a must see on our day out.

Rich has set up a great website so be sure to check it out. To see more of their home including pictures of the original schoolhouse, click HERE, and to see more of the shop, you can click HERE! And be sure to check out the many prim offerings they sell.

I know I speak for the other gals when I say, it was the most wonderful day together and we had so much fun! We are going to plan many more outings in the future and when Jill moves to SC, watch out, she just might find 3 prim travelers on her doorstep one day! You can see even more pictures of our day out by reading the post Bonnie made over at A Primitive Place blog by clicking HERE!

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As wonderful as my already was, day didn’t end there! Jay called and invited Mr. Red Door and I over to help Lili put her first ornament on her first tree. Because the weather was so nice, they had made an impromptu trip to get Lili’s first tree and some how they just knew both sets of grandparents would have already purchased special First Christmas ornaments for Lili.

Jim and Lori were there earlier in the afternoon to help Lili with her very first ever ornament and I think she liked it…

And then it was our turn. I think she just wanted to see if it made a good teether as she was getting tired and hungry by now.

As I look back on 2009, I am sure Sunday, November 29th will be up there on my list of very memorable days. I am truly Grateful to have this day to start the Christmas season Behind My Red Door.

Thank you as always for stopping by and making Behind My Red Door part of your day!

Until next time – hugs, Grammy Linda