It's Summer Time and the Living Is Easy

Good morning and welcome Through My Back Door. We haven't visited in a while and it really is good to see you. McDonalds coffee is on and there are few chocolate chip cookies left. Help yourself and lets go sit on the porch.

I love it when you can get up, slip into a pair of shorts and a shirt and sit on the porch to have your coffee.(In the winter time I am caught wearing my pj's half a day) I look at two fields that have horses in them and I love it. This is such a wonderful way to start your day. I also start my day with Jesus Calling. I love that book. I love my geraniums too, as you know, and I have them everywhere. They are  just beautiful this year and they came from Kroger!
Some of you know I have had another birthday. Let the record state I do not feel OLD. lol I am still in the 4th quarter and enjoying every bit of it. My sister in law and I went to Nashville to the Grand Ole Opry to celebrate  my birthday and stayed at Opryland Hotel from Friday until Sunday. We had such a good time.  Our room was by the water fall and it was so peaceful. If you remember, last year we were in Niagra Falls and went to Niagra on the Lake for the day. We both were only children and married brothers. So our families are all we have, as both the guys have passed away. We enjoy being together and travel well. We have another Opry trip scheduled. She had never been and loved it. I must admit I was surprised she did. I have a couple of other trips planned too.
I asked on the last post if I was prim. No, I don't think so. This room and the bathroom maybe.

One of the things I have been thinking about is how long it takes us to find our decorating style. It took me forever!!!!! I always had a few antiques, as they have always been a love of mine. They were family things and special.  I love looking at a piece of  furniture someone made and think, wouldn't they be surprised to see it was still being loved and appreciated. As I am sitting here doing this blog, I realize I have  no factory built furniture,except my upholstered pieces and a bench. The rest is all hand made. My German cupboards have a signature and town on them, although it is hard to see.

This last picture is an old fall picture. I have shared the story of these cupboards and they are indeed special.

My table is an old handmade two board Tn table and I love it. It is so me.

An old Pa piece that we bought to hold Watt pottery, and now it holds my Red Ware

This is my favorite piece and I have said that before. It is a North Carolina piece and so heavy it takes 3 people to move it. It was so dirty Curtis and Doug took it to a car wash and cleaned it up! Of course they used a dolly to move it around.lol When it was brought in they said it would never leave.lol
Anyway, if you are struggling to find your Decorating Love, be patient it will come. So many people decorate alike, I suggest you find your "you". Just because someone paints everything black, or mustard, you don't have to. We all have our grooves we just have to find them.
I am glad you found your way Through My Back Door where life is good.
betty
PS I told you we would take a field trip to Debs and we will. I have not had time to take pictures. That is the truth. She has some wonderful new pieces. Then we will go to Dodd's and Renda's.
PSS: Enjoy every minute you can this summer. Take time to truly smell the roses and not just a whiff as you pass by.
PSSS: Lets still remember to pray for those that are serving our country and I want to put our men and women in blue, that lay their life on the line for us everyday, and get nothing but ridicule, at the top of my prayer list. Will you?

Am I or Am I Not? Prim That Is

Good morning and come on in Through My Back Door, you know where the mugs are help yourself to coffee and a a piece of cake. If you don't eat it I will.(lol) When I started this blog, it was all about decorating. There wasn't many people I knew who decorated like I do and it was fun to connect with those of you who do through out blogs. Now so many of you have stopped blogging and so many of you don't read blogs anymore. I know everyone is busy and life gets crazy and that is okay. So many of my own friends don't read my blog anymore and I have no complaint about that. It is what it is. However, many of you have changed your decorating style and are going lighter. That too is good if that is what you want to do. I, however, haven't changed. I still love the things I did when I started this blog four years ago. My question is, Am I Prim or Am I Not? I am searching for my decorating identity.lol I don't think I am nor have I ever been prim. So, what am I? I have no idea. To me Prim is bare, colorless, and make do's. I LOVE color, especially red. I have red everywhere. I love the good antiques, I don't want doors falling off cupboards, nor do I want chippy paint. True prim might only have dull red, or as it is called today, attic finish. I never heard that definition until the last few years. I love farmhouse and so many people describe that as mostly white. The farm houses I knew growing up had wall paper on the walls and mostly oak furniture, except in the "parlor"(the farmhouses I knew, had parlors) and there was the good stuff.

Do you see anything prim about this room?

Honestly, tell me the truth. Am I prim or am I not? I posed this question on a Decorating group I belong to on FB and to tell you the truth I was surprised at the comments. Kathyanne said she was high country and I liked that. I have been referred to as high country. In fact Curtis always called our house high country.

I don't think my bedroom is prim at all. I do use coverlets but they are not especially prim.

This room could be prim. The quilt is 1800's and the great wheel late 1700's or early 1800's. I don't know. I am going to try to put a twin bed in here, but Deb doesn't think I can. We will see what happens. It is actually an old rope bed. So will it be prim or not?

A firkin full of cotton, might be prim. Is it?

But is this?I agree it doesn't matter as so many in the FB group said.The style we have is our own. I have never been trendy. I like what I like and could care less if it is in style or not. The same with clothes. I am just curious. I was described as eclectic, which I would have never thought, colonial, farmhouse, and lots of other adjectives. One lady said I had too much stuff, and I have never been told that before. I have nothing compared to so many others. That comment surprised me. BUT is also made me look and I do have a lot of stuff on my wall of love. Today I am removing some pictures and redoing that wall. One person said I was Crowe-onial and I liked that! Made me think I am me, mixed with a little Colonial. Thank you Al.It isn't important what my style is not t all. I really don't have to have a name for it. I guess I was just a curious how my look was perceived. So I still don't know if I am prim or not, But I do know I love it when you come Through My Back Door where life is good.
betty
PS: I actually have done some tweaking. Pictures to come later.
PSS: I hope everyone had a wonderful Mothers Day. I did
PSSS: Next blog will be a field trip to see Debs new pieces of furniture.
PSSS:

Mothers Day and Other Stuff

Good afternoon and come on in and have a cup of coffee. It is McDonalds! Did you know they have started selling in the grocery stores? I love their coffee and wondered why they didn't market it, and now they have. Help yourself to a cookie too. Andrew sold cookie dough for his school, so we have plenty of fresh baked cookies.We all bought so he could take a limo ride to McDonalds.lol He is a mess and I sure enjoy his antics. We can sit out here and have our coffee and cookies.

I love geraniums. Dodd and Renda brought me one and I went back and bought some more. Krogers had the prettiest ones this year. I am not a gardener but I love my potted geraniums.
I have been so busy since we came home from DC. The first week we were home Deb and I baby sat for Beth and Ryan while they took a little trip.What fun! I was worn out, but Amelia is so funny and Caroline just smiles and is contented as long as you are holding her. lol I also had my card group one night last week.
Saturday was the Clinton Antique Festival and I worked for Corner Antiques, as usual. I enjoy seeing all the people and looking at the wonderful antiques. Deb bought 2 beautiful pieces of furniture, that I will share a picture of next post. The 1700's Walnut step back cupboard is just extraordinaire. I promise I will take you on a field trip down there soon.
Mothers day is this Sunday and it is bittersweet for some. I always went to church with my Mother on that Sunday.Deb is going with me this Sunday and that makes me happy.
You remember my sister in law and I went to Niagra Falls last summer. Well we are off on a short adventure soon. We are heading to Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry. I love the Opry and country music. The old country, that is. I have old country and old Motown in my car. Anyway Margaret and I are headed for an adventure, as things just seem to happen when we are together. Another post another day.
I am missing some wonderful people this Mothers Day. I miss my Mother daily, but I am also missing some other Mothers. Ila, Judy, my Grandmothers, people who touched my life in so many ways. Who are you missing.
I wish every Mother a Happy Mothers Day. I hope it is spent with those you love.
I will leave you with some of my favorite things

I love this old dough bowl, a gift from Curtis.

The Mirror

Still miss this dog

My bird house, a gift from Deb. The dishpan was my paternal Grandmothers.

an old coverlet.
These are just a few of the things I love, that I enjoy. I love and enjoy you coming Through My Back Door where life is good.
betty
PS: Some Mothers will be missing a child this year. Let's keep them in our prayers
PSS: If you are blessed enough to have your Mother, you are truly blessed
PSSS: If you are like me you are enjoying these wonderful days. I was so ready for sunshine