Someone (ahem, I won’t mention any names but she loves Loretta Lynn and knows all the lyrics to ‘Satin Sheets’) had the bright idea that we should go spend Mother’s Day in the mountains with Grannie (my dear mother whom we’ve called Grannie since I was in high school).
Steve and I have a 40 acre farm in the Clinch Mountains that we (insert Steve) turned into a little slice of heaven by building a 2 acre lake on an area of wetlands that was home to 7 natural springs. We then built a cottage by the lake and spent many a weekend there when our kids were smaller. As the kids grew, we found it harder and harder to make the hours’ drive for weekends away.
Then a few years ago our slice of Eden was ransacked. Everything was taken except the ‘Count Your Blessings’ sign. We were sure we’d be forced to sell it until Grannie and Gary decided to retire and make it their home. They love it there and we are thankful that they can enjoy it and care for it. Spending the weekend back on Sweet Creek made me miss it terribly though.
This land has soul. Have you ever been on land like that? It’s just the neatest thing.
The air is cool, the wild life is fascinating and the mornings on the mountain will have you whistling dixie. Steve stocked the lake, very strategically over many months, with bluegill, small mouth bass, walleye, grass carp and koi—-so it’s a great place to fish and actually catch something! We took our kiddos and enjoyed every minute of the country life, four wheelers and all. It was a memorable Mother’s Day in the mountains.
I feel refreshed and ready to tackle the week.
The sis’ and the Grannie—-the best company in the world.
We loved watching the Eastern bluebirds fight the tree swallows for the martin house. After a very brief lesson on aperture and shutter speed, my sister turned her camera to manual and took some amazing photos. The bluebird in flight is my favorite!
Marlea caught 5 five fish!!
J.R. and Nick were our token men and were just dandy to have around. They dug the worms and took the fish off the line and just in general took perfect care of the ladies. Shea-bug is just about the cutest little thing I’ve ever laid my eyes on. And sassy with a capital SASS. I took 47 pictures of her eating a cupcake.
And see what I mean about the mornings? {Big sigh.}
Stay tuned for part 2 tomorrow and I hope you were reminded today how special you are. You are doing sacred eternal work with those babies. May God richly bless you for it.