A little paint makes all the difference!

Instead of moaning about how hot and humid it has been here FOREVER (or so it seems to me), and whining about how desperately we need rain because those storms danced all around us yesterday but gave us less than 10 minutes of actual raindrops, and instead of telling you how much I am sooooo ready for FALL, I thought I would show you some of the things I have been working on lately. Inside. With the A/C’s running as cool as I can set them. With the shades drawn tight. To block out the heat from the sun. And I make no apologies if I don’t make sense. Blame the heat. Or lack of sleep. But don’t blame Lili. She slept ALL night and woke refreshed and smiling and full of energy and as cute as can be. Unlike me – the one who looked at the baby monitor at couple hundred times. What?? What’s wrong with that?? You know there is nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby!!

Okay so on to the prim stuff that has been MIA for awhile. For ages now, I have played with my dining room chairs. They are sturdy comfortable maple chairs made in the 1960’s and were given to us free by my in-laws some years ago. FREE! The style is not that bad actually. They are a 60’s version reproduction of Massachusett Fanback Side Windsor Chair. This pic below is from last winter. See 2 black chairs? I painted them last year and every time I took pictures I moved them around to get in the picture. The rest remained a stained maple finish.

Now this is what my dream chairs would look like. Just a wee bit taller and more scrolled at the top. The rest is nearly identical to mine. Trust me. I know.

But at a couple of hundred $$$ a piece, I can’t see spending the money just because of that nicer detail. Even if Mr. Red Door would agree to them. Which he never would. EVER. Just because of that detail. So I did the next best thing and painted the rest of them this weekend. Some before Lili’s sleepover and some after. Don’t look closely and you will never know which are which!

I like the change – how about you??

I hope that by the next time I have a chance to post, the lower walls in the dining room will be painted in Tyler Taupe instead of the Caramel it is are now. I am sure the change will be subtle but worth the effort.

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And that is not all I have been up to. Inside. Where it is cooler than the equator. I mean outside My Red Door. In my last post I mentioned redoing my office. Here are pictures of the old office. Back when I was the Director of a preschool, and I needed a space for my own computer and all the work I brought home each night, Jen had just moved out of this room so it became my own room! WOOHO! We bought this huge Sauder assemble yourself desk and I painted the walls in two colors and used rulers (yardsticks) as the picture rail. I hung all my school related samplers and used my teacher related gifts for decor. It was much more country/prim than colonial but I really enjoyed the room.

But I have been ‘retired’ for 5 years now. Okay, truth be known, I didn’t set out to retire. I was only 50 and had no pension or benefits. I quit. But it turns out I am retired and so it was time to change this space to reflect me now. A retired Grammee. I wanted a softer look and a more colonial look and I decided to move most of my teacher/school related items to the family room downstairs. Now with that monstrosity of a desk, it will never be colonial but I still wanted to change it up a bit. So down came the picture rail and I painted the walls Benjamin Moore Powell Buff – like I did the living room and top of the hall this winter. Then I got out my stencils from way back in the late 80’s and early 90’s and decided on this one from Liberty Design. Click ~here~ to go the website. This is the Hopkinton Inn Border.

You can see in theses picture from the 90’s that I had used it in the living room back then.

This time I wanted softer colors and went with a dark red, mustard and nutmeg and I used a softer touch when applying the paint. With age comes wisdom.

I got new curtains in a nutmeg color and swapped out the TV stand from Mr. Red Door’s office with my old file drawers. I like this smaller cabinet much better.

And I am layering my linens in mustards, black, cream and tan with a little red. I got a new cotton metalasse spread to use on the daybed since I do sit there to stitch and watch TV and read. My Family Heirlooms blanket is just not soft enough for that but I love the look.

Like they did in colonial times, I am using an old quilt at the foot of the bed for when I need extra warmth. Maybe in 6 months or so. Did I tell you how HOT it has been?

But even with those changes, this thing was bugging me. I have seen colonial desks that I would love instead of this, but once again, we don’t replace things just because like that. Besides, I am waiting for a new toy – more about that in a minute.

So I decided to paint the desk! I knew that it would not be an easy task. Because of it’s size and weight, it can’t leave this room unless we dismantle it. And it has all those cubby holes – big and small. And it is not ‘real’ wood. It is a composite laminated with a paper like substance. I was pretty sure regular paint would chip and even peel off.

I had heard a lot about Caromal Colours paint in the APP forum and at Homestead Primitives from Roger and Charleen. I knew it is supposed to stick to just about anything. In fact my friend Karen use it to take her kitchen counters from THIS:

To this:

Yes, she painted her kitchen counters!!

To find out how Karen did it and to see more pictures of her gorgeous home, click ~HERE~. The instructions of how she painted the counters is on her kitchen album.

So I bought the Peppercorn Textured paint at Homestead Primitives in Fitchburg, MA. The beauty of it is there is no pre-sanding needed. I painted most of the surfaces of the desk. I used two coats then I lightly sanded a few edges – because it is not real wood I was cautious. I used the Caromal Colors wood toner (like stain) on the raw edges and I then sealed it with Minwax water based poly. I didn’t paint the writing surface because the paint is textured. Now it is a better fit for the office. Not perfect – but MUCH better!!

I am not an expert but there are so many more things you can do with this remarkable paint like layering colors and chipping the top color away to reveal the under color. So to find out all about the Caromal Colours paint, where to buy it in your area, and how to use it, you can go to the website ~here~. If you are a member of the APP forum, there is a whole section on the paint and different colors – click ~here~.

I hope to paint something in the mustard over black using their special chipping cream soon. I’ll be sure to share that with you when I do!

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Every once in awhile, even a prim gal needs to step outside her box a little and try something new. Something not so old and primitive. Something a bit shinier. No, I am not painting anything turquoise or going vintage or beachy or anything like that. However, something came on the market recently that really caught my eye. My friend Carol got one for her hubby Jerry. About that time I had been reading about them online. Then Kathy told me Stephen got one. And I researched more. I watched a number of videos too.Then Angela and Jay got one and I got to try it in person. I was hooked. I asked more questions and Stephen answered all of them and more and then I tried Angela’s once more and I knew one would be coming to live with me. From the website:

So what is it? Well one of these little guys.

Yup, an iPad. I have wanted online portability for some time now but I HATE the laptop keyboards. Not as much as I HATE the heat we have been experiencing for what seems like years now, but I hate them none the less. Besides, Mr. Red Door’s laptop is huge and heavy and loaded with all kinds of project management and financial software programs. And it isn’t MINE. So I saved my mad money and my birthday money and grocery money and the kids inheritance and ordered me one. I can use it when Lili is sleeping in her porta crib in the family room or when I am sitting on my day bed, and I can take it with me when we travel and when we go on photo shoots. OH! and I almost forgot!! It is an electronic book reader as well! Now that was the other non prim item I have been thinking about getting for awhile because I LOVE to read. This serves double duty when we travel too. No more books in my overnight bag. Actually, I can stop carrying my hand held solitaire games on overnight trips too. (gotta keep the mind sharp you know!) See, it gets better by the moment! And it won’t weigh me down. I just wish there wasn’t such a demand for them right now because I can’t hardly wait until it arrives! To see all the cool videos demonstration the different applications and to learn more about these, just click ~here~.

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I am way overdue in sharing this with you! Did you read about the fun trip Bonnie, Audrey and I took a few weekends ago? In the heat. You can read about it ~here~. When we got in my car to start out, Audrey presented me with my very own A Primitive Place tote bag that she made for me!! Isn’t it awesome?? Thanks so much Audrey! I love it!!

And this week I received something I ordered from fellow blogger Shari from Homespun and Primitives. Every time Jill came here before she moved to SC, she told me how much she loved this bonnet hanging on the early coat rack in my foyer. So on her last trip here, I took it off and gave it to her.

Since then I have been looking for one in a colonial calico print and I found just what I was looking for on Shari’s website. It looks perfect there, don’t you think?? Click ~here~ to see what else she is offering.

Well Mr. Red Door is now home from another marathon on the golf course and he is ready to grill me some dinner, so I will click publish and wish you all a wonderful week. Stay cool if you can!

Warm prim hugs, Grammee Linda

A Fourth of July hello and update!

Happy Fourth of July everyone! I wanted to pop in and say hello because I just can’t stay away too long. I miss you all too much!

I saw this on a card recently and I think it is perfect for today!

What It Means to Be an American

To believe in the promise
of a better tomorrow,
and stand united in our efforts
to give a peaceful nation
to our children.

To honor each other's differences
and cherish the richness of our history,
even as it continues to unfold
from sea to shining sea.

To love deeply
our friends and family, day by day,
and never take for granted
the privilege of calling ourselves American!

In honor of summer and our country’s birthday, I bought myself this pillow made by our friend Jennifer Gass over at Taylors*Farmhouse* Attic. It came recently while Mr. Red Door and I were out taking a drive in the country. This is the second piece I have bought from Jen and she doesn’t disappoint. I used to cross stitch my own samplers, and all kinds of other things but I find it much harder to do now with my older eyes and some arthritis in my hands. So when I saw this, I knew it would make a great addition to my summer decor.

Thanks Jen for your prompt shipping! I think it looks great in my home!

Life Behind My Red Door is moving along at a steady clip. Lili keeps us hopping 3 afternoons a week, and for an occasional sleepover, and we love it. She calls me Meemee and Mr. Red Door is now Bampee. When we hear her say those names, our hearts just melt. We also have family dinner here with all the kiddo’s (and sometimes my parents) once a week. It’s a fun relaxing time when we can catch up, and a tradition we hope to keep up throughout our lives.

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The fall issue has gone to the printer WOOHOO and we are hard at work on the Holiday issue of A Primitive Place magazine. Here in our neck of the woods, Bonnie and I are busy shooting homes, scouting for homes and setting up additional shoots for the coming months, and we have some exciting events planned at some local shops and homesteads as well. If you know of someone with a home that would be prefect for our magazine, be sure to let us know! You can email the editor Kristine at info@aprimitiveplace.org.

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Speaking of my parents, we have come to the point where something needs to be done to keep them in their home so I am busy with meetings, appointments, estate planning, paperwork and more as we explore options for in home help and care. At 81 and almost 89, it is time to take some of the burden off their backs. It is at times mind boggling trying to sort it all out but I determined to find the best way to keep them together in the home they love for as long as possible.

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And in between all that, household chores and summer gardening, I have found time to redo my office, visit with friends here and there, and Mr. Red Door and I are trying to fit in some little day trips as well.

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When Lili naps, I try to do a quiet activity and sometimes I check out my favorite blogs on Google Reader because I just can’t stay away from your blogs too long either, even if I don’t have the time to comment very often.

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And I wanted to let you know that I have made a post for A Primitive Place blog about a quaint country store Mr. Red Door and I discovered yesterday. Just click ~here~ to read all about it.

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Thanks so much for patiently waiting for my next post. I won’t be back to blogging on a frequent basis, but I hope I can make a post every once in awhile.

Until next time, warm prim hugs, Grammee Linda

On this day 35 years ago…

… on a very hot and humid Saturday evening at 5 PM, I married my best friend and the love of my life. For 35 years, David has been the best husband and Dad and now Grampee, I could ever hope for. He has always provided well for our family and never wanted anything for himself. He has been the dad who attended all the t-ball, softball, soccer and football games and practices, and more dance competitions and recitals than you can imagine - sometimes being the ONLY dad there. In addition to being a great dad, David has always supported me in every endeavor from finishing nursing school, to being a stay at home mom, going back to school, to running a school, and now, as the keeper of the home, part time care taker for Lili and my parents as well my newest endeavor with A Primitive Place magazine.

When we got engaged in December of 1974,

David's job took him all over the country and we didn't want to be apart, so we planned a wedding for the following June.

My mom and I got busy making my gown. I was a country girl at heart even back then and a frilly lacy thing was just not me. So we made a simple gown with crocheted lace and a removable train. We even had to die the lace in tea to get it just the right shade of ecru that I wanted. See I was prim before prim was in style!

I wore a country girl's garden hat simply adorned with more of the same lace and my bouquet was daisies with a few roses. My bridesmaids carried baskets of daisies - country style of course.

Even our cake had daisies!

We celebrated with our close family and friends at a reception close to home and we danced to our song "Color My World" by Chicago. Not only was it our song but it was our LUCKY song. (And still is!) It was everywhere I went in the pre-wedding days when I had to make all the decisions and do all the planning myself because David was working in Oklahoma. When my mom and I went to the florist to talk about my flowers, it was on the radio in the background. When we went to meet the cake lady, it was on the radio in the car. When I went with my bridesmaids to the mall bridal shop, it was playing in the background again. Over and over again at key moments, it was playing. And a week before our wedding, when David decided to drive home from OK without stopping, I stayed up late at night anxiously waiting for his call (remember - no cell phones back them - in fact no cordless phones either!) I was so worried about that long 22 hour drive. I had to find things to keep me busy and I remember being in the sewing/laundry room when the long version of our song came on the radio. The minute it ended, the phone rang and David told me he has just gotten to his parents house. I still get the goosebumps now when I think back to that night.

After our honey moon, we immediately went to Kansas City, Missouri where David was to work on a project for Riley Stoker, the company he had taken a job with in 1974 right out of college. I was so homesick!! He worked long days at the power plant and I was alone in the hotel room without a car. Luckily for us, he got transferred to a job outside New Orleans, so within a few weeks, we were heading for the Gulf. I was very excited because we knew he would be there several months and we could get our very first apartment together and so we did - at Windsor Arms Apartments in Harvey, LA - just over the Mississippi River from New Orleans. The only other couple I knew from Riley were living there as well so I was thrilled to have companionship during the long 18 hour shifts David and Joe worked. Joe's wife Pat and I spent our days together with their young daughter Jessica. And we always had one car between us! Pat and Joe remain our dear friends to this day.

I was still a bit homesick and I REALLY hated the heat and humidity and creepy crawlies you could not get rid of, but I loved being a wife and taking care of my husband. Coincidentally, my brother was stationed at Biloxi Air Force Base in Mississippi and when he had a few days leave, we would drive along the Gulf Coast and bring him back to our apartment. It was great to see a face from home and I practiced my cooking skills to a thrilled audience.

In the fall of 1975, David was quickly promoted to a job in the home office and we returned to MA to live. I finished nursing school in 1976 and took the state boards to become an RN,

and in 1977 we bought our first home - a small 3 bedroom ranch style home. In 1979, our son Jay was born followed in 1981 by our daughter Jen. We were truly blessed with a comfy home, 2 beautiful healthy children and we were close to our families once again.

David continued to work for Riley, still traveling at times to power plants around the country and he was working his way up the 'company ladder'. He's the kind of guy who keeps his cool in almost any situation and if he can't say a kind word, he doesn't speak. Yet in the business world, he can hold his own with anyone in any position in any field. His quiet demeanor has served him well over the years. While he worked to support our young family, I became involved in the kids schools and the community, I was thrilled to be able to stay at home and I loved keeping home and raising our family, only occasionally working as a nurse when we wanted something special for the family.

In 1986, we moved to our current home and I was working part time at the small preschool both kids had attended, eventually becoming the Director.

I never went back to nursing after that. We both went back to college at night. I earned my MA Preschool Teacher and Director certification, and David attended the prestigious WPI School of Industrial Management. He made history in 1981, being their youngest graduate ever at that time. Jen was just 2 months old. He continued to work at Riley and still traveled at times. I quickly learned how to be a DIY kind of mom out of necessity.

We settled into a comfortable home life and over the years we celebrated the typical milestones - each of the kids getting their driving licenses, first cars, proms, high school graduations, college, Jay's first house,and my 'retirement' from teaching in 2005, Jen’s first apartment, Jay’s marriage to Angela in 2008,

and Lili’s birth last year.

We continue to be blessed with great families. We have 3 great kids, our precious Lili and both sets of our parents are still with us. My parents and David’s dad are now experiencing significant health issues so we celebrate each milestone of our lives with them.

Today we will celebrate this milestone with a family dinner of a Mexican feast here Behind My Red Door. Family and good = fun and more memories. We are indeed blessed!

David, you are the best man I know, and you still Color My World!

Until next time – prim hugs, Grammee Linda

(edited from an old post)