Friendship Gatherings
Friendship Gatherings
As I sit & ponder over just what to share with our primitive lovin readers, it dawned on me that I simply would love to meet every single one of you. What a blessing it is to be able to gather & meet other folks who are just as crazy as I am about the things I so love “PRIMITIVES”.
Many a times I have hopped in the truck, decided to go down a dirt road, throw dust in the air as I come to a screeching halt to find an old dilapidated barn or house plum full of treasures. Now I must admit that finding the owners is the hardest part. But once you do, oh the stories you learn along the way of days gone bye.
Throughout the years I have learned to gather with dear friends that God blesses me with along my life’s journey. Along the way it always seems laughter follows when gathering. I cant tell you all the stories for literally fill up a whole book, so you will just have to come meet me sometime and hear the stories for yourself, trust me they are good. (from a house full of smoke, to my van on fire, down to seeing a man in his birthday suit on the road side, hee hee) and I am sure we can make our own gathering tales together.
As I think back, I remember being in my early 20’s, stationed in North Carolina & one of my girlfriends invited me to set up booth at the farm expo center, (I know what was I thinking, ha ha). But that was the day I found my first primitive piece of furniture. My wonderful yuppie non primitive friends whom I love dearly, wouldn’t have been caught dead in a junk store, abandoned house, let alone a small fallen down auction shack, filled with more smoke & toothless folk than we could count.
But as my van came to a screeching halt I had to have the old blue cupboard that was sitting on the road side. It was then that we learned it was only for sale at the auction that night. After much begging & pleading for them to stay for the auction. They finally agreed. Oh the memories we made that night. My dear friends who had never been to an auction, were breathing with their shirts over their mouths & nose, but it didn’t take long before they were throwing up their hands more so than I. At the end of the night we had to bring a truck back to gather our treasures for they bought more treasures than me. I won that lovely blue original painted cupboard for $15.00. I was happy & thrilled & made wonderful memories gathering with my girlfriends.
that blue cupboard i just had to have.
Throughout the years, I try when I can to have a gathering at my home. Several years ago I was blessed to have my online friend Meryl Askew, finally came to America to gather with us prim lovers all the way from England. I tell you, I learned so much from her & laughed so hard I swear I lost weight just from laughing. With the England flag waving below the American flag on our porch we gazed out upon the countryside. Little did we know that we would make hysterical memories year after year! It was a busy tornado season one year & literally tornado after tornado came during that gathering . They literally ripped through the bluegrass state. Meryl never having heard or seen a tornado, kept referring to them as Typhoid’s & we would all burst into laughter as we were dashing to safety. (Thank you Lord for protecting us, even when Meryl was screaming “Bring it on” ) As we decided to head to Frannie’s to spend time with her, we ended up making wonderful memories, as the Typhoid followed us & we spent the night by candle light at Cabin Creek Farm. It was blissful I must admit, I believe Frannie & I stayed up half the night curled up in the lower cabin floor telling story after story, oh the memories while gathering.
Now I must share one more gathering story on Meryl with you all. I would bet that I am the only American that has a Knicker Tree. It has been in full bloom 3 yrs in a row. I swear they have the biggest blooms I have ever seen bud on a tree. (if anyone wants a starter contact Meryl
( Merylaskew@aol.com) & tell her I sent ya. Hee hee. (for those of you who don’t know, those Englanders call underwear or panties “knickers.”
Seriously now, can you believe that crazy English lady came to my house & washed her knickers out by hand every dang day. Unbeknownst to me, as I meandered out the front door & to my surprise find her undergarments sun drying in the front yard tree. Now mind you, my house is the first house you hit when you drive into town, right by the bank, church & hardware store ha ha. After that, I tried to not let her out of my site, for I swore if I misplaced her she was gonna be in the creek bed taking a bath! ha ha Honestly I have been so blessed to have Meryl as my friend & in my life, the adventures we have had together are unforgettable & a true blessing!
Our Bloomer Tree
My Friend Meryl
(Twigs n Frannie)
Though out the years I have had small gatherings to big gatherings, & even one year decided to do a traveling gathering. Was determined to meet as many primitive lovers as I could. My dear friend Gloria Suarez decided to take the adventure with me, oh the laughter that was shared that year. We hit the road traveling to KY, OH & IN for two weeks. One morning I awoke all bright eyed to look up at Gloria with her hair all frazzled & toilet paper sticking out her ears, it was the day I learned “ I SNORE”, poor thang hadn’t had a bit of sleep. ha ha.
2003 Gathering
2003 gathering again with more folk
2005 gathering
2007 gathering
The more you gather with friends the more you want to gather. So I began gathering local friends in my area to craft with me from my home, it then lead to crafting at the shop when we purchased the old 1800’s general store. Realizing that we needed to have an open house for the holidays I wanted to gather with my gathering friends & let them see the shop before hand so they can pick from the treasures first & be blessed. So we began hosting our Pajama Party Preview, for the gathering group to preview the holiday! Everyone must wear their pajama’s brings an appetizer & we gather at the shop, at night, play games, tell stories, find out the local gossip & shop. it’s a wonderful time & everyone loves it. I must admit the ladies get carried away for they love dressing up & we have begun to do the award for best dressed.
One year, had a lady come all dressed up in her night cap & gown, but got pulled over by the police the town next to us for being suspicious. Oh it was a hoot for Dorothy Lawson, didn’t know just where she was going only knew a store in Lacie, KY, the officer just let her go, but we sure had a laugh. Barbara Boyer in her Indian pigtails with reindeer antlers was a hoot. Mrs. Hallie Thomas got best dressed 2 yrs in a row, she gussied up her long johns, with monkey socks on & had a pipe in her mouth & old kerchief around her neck with Santie’s hat on. Oh I must say we really do have a wonderful time gathering!
Joyce Powell and Barbara Boyer at our Pajama Party Preview
(Halle Thomas in her Long Johns)
(My Mama in her long gown.)
I can’t tell you the joy you get from gathering with folks who love the things you do. Literally I have made lifetime friends from near & far just from getting together, laughing, sharing, crafting & shopping together. It is something I will continue to do throughout my life’s journey. Maybe some day you can come gather with me or I can come your way! Whatever the reason I am always in the mood for building & making new friends. I have learned you will for sure be blessed with you gather together with friends.
During this winter season it’s a great time to gather, invite some of your friends, family over or pick a town to meet in and go shopping for the day together. It’s a wonderful way to meet online folks too. So go on, pick a day and gather.
