Country Threads’ Barn Story, part Three

We come to 1997 and our wedding on June 14 – Flag Day. We got married in my church where I still play the piano today. After deciding on Flag Day, we rented scaffolding to clean the upper beams and supports and ceiling in the haymow so we could have our wedding reception in the barn.

American flags were hung at every cross support, some 50 stars and some 48 stars.

White lights were strung all the way around the huge room and the night of the reception was magical. White tablecloths, fresh flowers, family and friends – perfect! The catered dinner was served in the feed bunk.

Rick’s mom, Faye, is in the middle of the picture in a navy dress.

Drinks were served in the yard.

Mary Baker made the beautiful wedding cake.

Becky and Brenda sang and wrote new words to “When I’m 64!” Perfect!

Here are a few shots of guests.

The wedding party – Rick’s brother Mike, Rick, me and Connie.

June 14, 1997 at church.

And in front of the quilt “America For Me” designed by Brannock and Patek and made as a wedding gift to us by the Country Threads staff!!!

And that was our wedding 23 years ago this Sunday. Fun in the barn continued for many years and the next part of the story features the 20 Years In Business Quilt Show and many camps and classes and family reunions held in the barn. Great memories!

73 thoughts on “Country Threads’ Barn Story, part Three

  1. Kathy Warren

    We just celebrated our 48th two days ago. Time goes by so quickly! Seems like yesterday. Love seeing your pictures.

  2. Martha Engstler Gettysburg

    Such special pictures and memories, thank you for sharing them with us.

  3. Bobbie

    Mary, you were a beautiful bride, Rick was one lucky guy.
    That barn is amazing, what a great place for a wedding . Never saw quilts in a wedding before what a very unique idea.
    Congratulations on your anniversary.
    I’m so enjoying reading your post.
    Jack, and I will celebrate 49 yrs July 24 th. Never thought we would live long enough to see this many years but my how they have flew by.

  4. Rhoda Ebersole

    Rent out the barn for future weddings. So fun to see your pics. I remember when you were shopping for your wedding dress. Just can’t believe it was 23 years ago. Seems like 5 or 6😀
    Are animals downstairs today?

    ❤️

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Rhoda Ebersole – yes, all the goats, chickens and geese live on the ground floor.

  5. Diane in Maryland

    These pictures are wonderful! You, Rick, the haymow, and everything about your reception looked beautiful! Sending wishes for a very happy anniversary on Sunday. ♥️

  6. Beryl in Owatonna

    What special story! Thanks for sharing it with us. Your home is so warm and inviting as are you and Rick and all of your furry friends! I so enjoyed m visit with you. Thank you!!

  7. Vickie Lemonds

    How grand and what a memorable, loving festivity, I’m sure that was a special day for everyone involved. You are an amazing woman, Mary! What an awesome, happy life you’ve had. Those are the memories you can always rely on to bring a smile and warm your heart. I’d have loved to have been there in 1997!
    Just so happy I know you now and can enjoy your blog, your life and all the precious animals too.

  8. Carolyn Boutilier

    Mary, Your wedding looked wonderful. Thank you for sharing. What a happy time.
    Happy Anniversary.
    Carolyn b Shenandoah Valley Va

  9. Montana Kathy

    Beautiful reception and beautiful bride! What great photos and wonderful memories. Happy anniversary!

  10. Jackie Baumhauer

    Mary.
    You two look like you are right out of high school. Just a beautiful couple. Very lucky to find love again!

  11. Susan Sundermeyer

    So enjoying your story, Mary. You were a beautiful bride and Rick was a handsome groom! Thank you for sharing this with us. 💗

  12. Diane in WI

    Wonderful pictures! Happy anniversary. I think I remember an article in the Goat Gazette about you finding your wedding dress. It was lovely. The barn was the perfect place for the wedding. Time really does seem to fly by.

  13. Kay Crandall

    Oh, I LOVE this!! What a happy event that must have been! Happy Anniversary! My husband and I will celebrate #56 this Saturday – we’re still best friends.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Kay Crandall – wow! 56! Peggy just celebrated #58! We are way behind!

  14. Carmen Montmarquet

    What a beautiful couple you made, you were exquisite in your lovely gown! How fun to have your wedding in your barn! I love reading all about how you got started and seeing all your pictures. Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful memories!!
    Carmen

  15. Dixie

    Love seeing your wedding photos! My sweetheart and I also married on Flag Day, June 14, 1980. We will soon celebrate our 40th anniversary and it was the best decision of my life. Enjoyed seeing the Storm quilt, and the basket quilt right next to it i. Your photos. I made both of them and they are treasured quilts.

  16. Holly in Two Harbors, MN

    It’s so fun reading the story of the barn and seeing all the photos, including those of your wedding. You were a beautiful bride and you both look so happy! It was a long time coming, but so worth it for your special day. Congratulations on Sunday! (And thanks again for the history.)

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Diane Bauer – we were high school sweethearts – way back in the 60’s!

  17. Peggy S

    Just celebrated 58 yrs two days ago. And like everyone else. . . . Where has the time gone?? Sure has flown by!!
    The good times have been many more than a few of the tough ones!!

    Peggy S

  18. Susan K in Texas

    What a beautiful couple! I love your dress! And fun party/reception in the barn.
    My dad inherited the home place from his parents. There is a great barn and we have barn dances whenever we can. We play dominoes, dance, play ping pong, ride a barrel train, feed donkeys, and eat. We have a great time. Your barn reception reminds me of the happy memories we’ve made in our barn.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Susan K in Texas – do you have a picture of your barn? Send to my email

      1. Susan K in Texas

        I’ll have to look. The funny thing is that we are usually having so much fun we forget to take pictures!
        One of my uncles couldn’t climb the stairs to the loft so my dad lifted him up with a front end loader! They both thought that was the best fun.

  19. Beverly Lockmiller

    Have loved seeing how the barn came to be. We will celebrate 60 Years tomorrow Think Hubby has forgotten as the have finished cutting wheat today Have been at it for nearly 2 weeks I read your blog every night don’t post very often.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Beverly LOCKMILLER – well, if he’s busy cutting wheat, I can understand him forgetting the anniversary – except that it’s such a BIG one! Congratulations!!

  20. Jo in Wyoming

    BEAUTIFUL, perfect…beautifully perfect. And it looks like everyone one had a great time.
    Congratulations Sunday.

  21. Cathy

    You can tell that was a wonderful day. Everything was beautiful. I am SO enjoying these stories. Happy early 23rd anniversary!

  22. Lisa B

    Nice photos. Great memories. What is suspended from the ceiling above the two singers heads? It looks like a baby crib with hay in it.

  23. patti leal

    totally loving reading the story of how life has unfolded for you. you were a beautiful bride and a handsome husband. i love the setting. more people should have quilts at their weddings. thanks so much for sharing so much of yourself and your life. hugs, patti in florida

  24. Charlotte Shira

    What wonderful pictures and memories!! You were a beautiful bride! Thank you for sharing and Happy Anniversary!!

  25. Sandy

    Hi Mary, you werea beautiful bride. The barn looks very well build. We will celebrate 47 years married on 23rd June, enjoying the barn story,best wishes from sandy

  26. Michelle King

    I love your wedding story!! What a great barn. I miss coming to Country Threads! Happy Anniversary to you and Rick!!

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Michelle King – how fun to hear from you! Didn’t know you were a blog reader! Those were the days, huh?

  27. Angie from Baltimore

    What wonderful pictures and such a lovely wedding thank you for sharing.
    I think some of us who see your pictures reminds us of our own wedding many years ago as well.
    Happy anniversary to you both.

  28. Marilyn

    Thank you Mary for another blog and the pictures you share.
    Happy anniversary and many more. My grandparents were married 68 years and my Grandpa called my Grandma “Dearie “.
    What an amazing wedding setting and you looked so lovely.

  29. Susan Boyd in VA

    Love, love, love all the pictures and history. Your wedding was wonderful and you both were so happy! Thank you so much for putting all this together for us. Wish I could have visited Country Threads in it’s heyday, but at least I get to enjoy you and your blog now. Thanks! By the way, I’m going to make my own version of your watermelon quilt you showed a few days back. How big are your blocks?

  30. Sandra

    Thank you for sharing your wonderful wedding pictures. It looks magical. The lucky guests that attended were given a special memory. You were a beautiful brideIIn the midst of this quarantine I needed to see some joy and normalcy in the human experience. Sandra

  31. Kathy in western NY

    It is so special you celebrated these memories with us ! Loved your dress and all the happiness each picture conveys. If you had that barn and property in NY, what a very wealthy woman you would be renting it out for weddings. It’s such a huge thing here to have barn weddings and many are booked far in advance, (Well before this pandemic hit). And all the caterers and decor each bride is doing special for these events has just skyrocketed. Party houses don’t have the atmosphere barns do and I think it’s so nice you had an event many years ago that is in demand now cause not many large barns left in good shape like yours.

  32. Gloria

    Thank you for showing us all the pictures, you were a beautiful bride! All the quilts are great. My husband and I will celebrate 60 years this month!

  33. Lois Ann Johnson

    Thanks, Mary, for sharing your wedding photos! It looked like a lovely wedding and reception. Those are treasured memories for you and Rick! Happy Anniversary on June 14–may you have many more happy years together as man and wife! God bless you!

  34. Nancy, Naperville, IL

    Love seeing the pics. Love seeing the small quilts all around the barn. Fun time.

  35. Georgia

    What beautiful pictures and memories! Thank you for sharing! My husband and I will be celebrating 65 happily married years in August. How the years have flown!!

  36. Mary

    Thank you for not only a great quilt blog , also for sharing your personal life. Quilters are the best people in so many ways. Congratulations on your anniversary.. June always is a bride month. I waited until the last day of June to marry. Unfortunately my husband is no longer living, but the memories live on in my heart.

  37. Cheryl

    What a gorgeous couple. Your dress was divine, loved all the photos. You might of had the first barn reception!

  38. Janice Ritt

    I loved the pictures and comments of your wedding! I also got married on Flag Day in 1997! We had the wedding at my church, catered by the chef at my work and had 250 guests. What a lot of love was inside that church! I even had a barbershop quartet sing “You Make Me Feel So Young” (I was a Sweet Adeline).
    It was one of the best days of my life! I am now 83 and my husband is 92.
    Jan Ritt

  39. Marilyn Miller

    Your wedding reception barn was just breathtaking. So much thought, heart, elbow grease and love obviously went into it. Beautiful memories for everyone attending, no doubt. Congratulations on your 23rd wedding anniversary! May you be blessed with many more.❤️❤️

  40. Launa

    Mary, Makes me feel like I was there! Met my husband in college. He was a Korean War veteran; been married 61 years! I always loved the Goat G. So many good memories thru the years with Country Threads.
    Launa

  41. Janice Hebert

    Great pictures and wonderful memories, I’m sure. You and Rick are adorable! What a beautiful place for a wedding. Kathy is right, barn weddings are very popular here in New England as well. I love your dress, it is perfect. I like the last picture the most – standing in front of the “America for me” quilt. Just love that quilt. I’ve got to get quilting again! Jan in MA

  42. Quilting Sister

    What a wonderful wedding and setting … barn weddings/receptions sure have become popular in recent years, but you were a real trendsetter. And you were a beautiful bride! Thanks for all the time and effort you put into your blog, it’s just great! Looking forward to hearing more about Daddio and his gal pal bunking together.

  43. karen barto

    Love seeing all the pics from your wedding and the shop.You were a beautiful bride. And the quilts hanging.That is so beautiful.Kerp the stories coming. I love reading about all of this.

  44. Beryl BC

    Happy Anniversary! Great pictures of your wedding and the barn. I’ve enjoyed the barn stories. Number 40 coming up for us in July.

  45. Kate

    What fun reading about the barn and your history. When my husband and I were vacationing and came to Country Threads, you showed us the inside of the barn. I was so jealous! You were a beautiful bride and what a wonderful place to have the reception.

  46. Mary Lu In Salem OR

    So good of you to share pics of the transition of the barn & your wedding day.
    Wishing you both a very happy anniversary.
    June 14 is a very good day for a wedding. All across the land the American flags are flying. My husband Dean and I were married June 14 1953. We had 51 years together before pancreatic cancer took him 16 years ago.
    I really enjoy your blogs and images of life on your farm. Thank you for
    the effort you put into it.

  47. Paula Philpot

    I would have loved to have been at your wedding; I remember it each year since it is on Flag Day. Love seeing these pics. You need to show us more pics of your honey! Paula in KY

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