Who has time to rest??

Phew!! It sure has been busy Behind My Red Door. All that time to just be at home that I was planning for… well it hasn’t materialized just yet!! I am hopeful that I can find some soon though!! Week days are still filled with Lili time, magazine work and lots of trips back and forth to my folks home to care for then and get them to appointments etc. Just when I think I can breath (and stay home!) something else creeps up out of the blue. I am a planner and organizer and I have to truly learn to take one day at a time.

But despite all that, there has been some fun on the weekends too! Mr. Red Door and I and our grown kids all went to a wedding of a family friend. The groom Jeff, is a friend of both our Jay and Jen, and his folks Jim and Sandy are our friends – so it was a treat for all six of us to celebrate the special occasion. We saw so many of the ‘kids’ that were familiar faces in our kids lives during high school and college years.

The venue was right up my alley – full of antiques and history – just a wonderful setting for a wedding!

I was happy to know my ticker had been tested Mr. Red Door and I danced the night away with all the young uns and and it was a blast.

The very next day, Jay and Ang hosted an early 2nd birthday party for our sweet Lili at their home and she was so excited to see so many friends and family and just run around with her friends and cousins.

I think she looks so grown up with her curls pulled up into a pony tail!

Of course she enjoyed blowing out her candles…

…and opening presents too!

It’s hard to believe 2 years have gone by since she came into our world. She continues to be the light of our lives and a blessing to us each and every day!

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

That day was fun for me for a different reason too! Our local paper did an article on a home that was featured in Country Sampler magazine recently and I am quoted in the article. I had put the home owners in touch with Franklin and Esther Schmidt, the team that photographed our home for CS a few years ago. I had the pleasure of seeing inside this gorgeous home and Jack and Paula graciously let me take pics and I blogged about it ~here~!

To read the article, click here –> Rusty Roosta has a Reason to Crow!

Jack and Paula Fisher’s beautiful home ~ photo by Franklin and Esther Schmidt

Of course that was well before APP Magazine was even thought of – I now save my prim home connections for us!

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

On Saturday the 18th, I spent a wonderful day at the Walker Homestead’s Simple Treasures from the Past show.

If you love New England and antiques and fine quality primitives, this show is a must!! I helped my friend Lana Testa of Winterberry Primitives at her booth. Lana makes the wonderful dolls and bears for each issue of APP magazine and her home will be featured in the fall issue that is coming out this summer! She has become a dear friend and kindred spirit!

Her dear friend Linda was there to help too

as well Lana’s husband David.

We all had a wonderful time together.

My friend Judy Coffey from Country Plus in Hopkinton had the booth next door to Lana’s and she shared it with Cathy Liddell and Kathy Holland. Lots of eye candy here!

Judy’s home will be in the Holiday issue this year and Cathy’s home will also be in the fall issue this year!

I met several bloggers, and followers of my blog and saw prim friends I haven’t seen in a while and it was just a awesome show! Kris and Doreen and their families out do themselves and it just gets better and better!

I spent some of my money here at American Country Rugs and took home a darling hooked rug! You can find their website ~here~.

And here…

…at Pied Potter Hamlin Redware and Kalina Folk Art. Rick Hamlin and his wife Gariné Arakelian make all these gorgeous pieces you see here. I had ordered two jars so I took them home as well as a small plate and bowl.

You know how I ‘love me some redware’ and I already had several of their pieces and was so excited to see they would be at the show this spring. I could have taken it all home!

If you are looking for beautiful pieces to display or lead free food safe pieces you can actually use, you can see more of their work and order pieces on their website ~here~.

(I hope to have time to take pics of my new treasures this weekend and will share them the next time I am back!)

And because I know you are dying to see what I passed up (at least for now!!),here are more pictures from the show ~ be prepared to drool…

Oh LOOK! It’s Maria from Maria’s Primitives and Country Culture! Her home will be in the fall issue as well – it is going to be a great issue and Kristine has promised us all some surprises!!

Maria’s booth was hopping!

Oh look – she is having a Fall Open House on September 10th from 10 – 4 and we will be there from 10-2! Make your plans to join us now!!

This belongs booth belongs to Hometown Antiques from West Brookfield, MA. It was great to finally meet Cindy in person!

If you don’t want to miss out on all the fun, antiques and prim shopping and meeting so many great people, here is a head’s up on the next Simple Treasures show in September. Brookfield is just minutes from Sturbridge so make a weekend of it!!

I will be there shopping and I hope to see a lot of you there as well!

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

On Father’s Day, Lili’s actual birthday, she enjoyed some swimming at her other Grammy’s house…

and later in the day, my family all met at our folks home. The weather was perfect and we brought in all the fixins for a backyard cookout.

Both Bampee…

and I enjoyed some snuggle time with our sweet birthday girl!

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

And then on Tuesday the 21st, this couple…

celebrated 36 years of married life with a quiet dinner out and a long ride in the country. I have often said how much we enjoy long rides together and it was just what the Dr. ordered this week!

And speaking of weddings, our Jen has picked a venue and set the date!! 10/13/12 we will be celebrating at a gorgeous country club venue in the country. The ceremony and reception will take place inside this historic home. I am so excited she choose this as the place to celebrate her marriage. Now the planning can begin in earnest!

Today I am thankful for:

Sharing 36 years with a wonderful man

Having 4 generations together on Father’s Day

The fun and excitement of planning a wedding with my daughter

Being able to drive a well made safe vehicle with many safety features

The helpful cheerful clerk at the pharmacy

Thanks for once again making time to stop by!

Until next time – prim blessings, Linda