The blueberries are ripe and ready up at my parents house in the mountains and they needed some extra hands to pick the berries, so they wouldn’t go to waste. So, my sister and I (and her 2 dogs) headed up for a day of blueberry picking last week. We both brought some home to freeze too and they will come in handy during the winter months when berries are not readily available. I’m so glad my dad loves to garden with veggies and fruits. All the bounty is a part of our growing up years and it’s been so nice to have all of it around. We know that this bounty will not last forever and if we want to grow our own, we will have to learn to do it ourselves.
But, for hopefully a few more seasons, we will pick blueberries and enjoy them. I’ve shared my parents mountain home several times in the last 6 years, but I’ll do another recap for you here.
My dad built this house about 30 years ago in the Murphy, NC area and they originally planned to retire up here permanently, but when their granddaughter, Lauren, came along, those plans changed. They wanted to be close to see her often and they did. She spent a lot of time with them in her young years in Marietta and up here at the mountain house.
In fact, her name made it on the name plaque outside the front door. Renee and I are missing, but not Lauren! 
 They love that girl.
We’ve been coming to this house for so many summers and it is such good memories for all of us. My dad’s imprint is all over the house and everywhere I look, he’s there.
So, this trip was just for blueberry picking, but it was raining when we got there, so we sat on the porch as we do every trip and talked and watched the rain drip off the leaves. My dad knows that they will not be able to take care of both houses for too many more years and we talked about that too. It will be a sad, sad day when the house has to be sold. It’s been such a part of our family’s lives for so long. But, we girls really do not love the mountains as much as our parents do and so wouldn’t want to take on the upkeep of this house too, which means the house will have to eventually be sold. They have done so well to still be able to take care of 2 houses all these years, but time is catching up with them.
We have enjoyed many family times on this porch over the years. Buster is a lap dog and will gladly hop in anyone’s lap who will let him.
Buster the Boston.
During the summer months, tomatoes are always bountiful. This year, the abundance of rain has kept his crops to a minimum. There is such a thing as too much rain on a garden.
I love the lacy ferns growing wild up in the North Carolina mountains.
I took my camera and did a little photoshoot while I was sitting on the porch.
Mountain laurel is abundant in these mountains and they bloom in the spring. So pretty and peaceful up here.
One of our highlights on the porch is watching the hummingbirds come to the feeder that my mom keeps filled up with sweet nectar. I always try to catch them with my camera and succeeded this time.
They are so fast with their fluttery wings but I snapped quickly too.
They are fun to watch and are so fiercely protective of their feeders, fighting among themselves.
I caught one little guy on the tip of a branch.
Dad and Buster.
Birdbath hidden among the ferns.
Dad is trendy and doesn’t even know it.
Mom fixed a completely vegetable meal for lunch. This kitchen has seen many a meal over the years and she has cooked up scrumptious food for many family members out of this kitchen too.
She still cans her tomatoes when they all start coming in.
She fried up some green tomatoes for us, cause she knows we like them.
Peas, fried okra, fresh creamed corn and tomatoes and cornbread. It was a meal!
The rain finally stopped and the sun came out, just in time for our blueberry picking.
Dad built these steps down to the creek many years ago too. It goes over the creek and into the flat area below.
The creek is as full as I’ve ever seen it with all the rain this summer.
Here’s the huge blueberries bushes that have been growing here for years. We’ve enjoyed this fruit for a long, long time too and it’s a treat when they get ripe.
Dad’s garden is winding down for this year.
Blueberries waiting for us to pick.
A few more shots of greenery around the creek.
I love the mossy lichen growing on the trees. There’s nothing like the North Carolina mountains for beauty.
The 3 of us picked, me, my dad, and sister and filled up this pan with blueberries in about an hour or so. Picking goes a lot faster with 3 people.
Our beautiful bounty of berries.
Dad is very proud of his blueberry bushes. He planted some cherry trees up there last year and is waiting for those to produce too.
In the meantime, mom likes to pick out the bad berries and stems before they go in the freezer. We freeze these berries to use later on.
I took a good amount home to use myself and here’s how we freeze them. I do not wash them first (and mom doesn’t either). I didn’t take time to de-stem mine either, but you can do that as you use them. Spread them all out single layer on a cookie sheet and freeze in the freezer. Then put them in freezer bags. They will freeze like little marbles and not stick together if you freeze them like this.
That was our day in the mountains picking blueberries. Hope you enjoyed going along with us. It’s a special family place for us.
Your folks are the best. What great memories they grow along with all the veggies and blueberries. I’m not a mountain person at heart (at NC beach right now) but I can see how peaceful it must be in all seasons.
Rhoda – What a fun time and it’s great that you got to spend it with your family. How nice to have a place like that in the mountains that you can enjoy and get away!
Judy
What a lovely vacation home! I know you will hate to see it sold. It is hard to see things change….
I just love your parents, Rhoda! What a wonderful couple. I love their mountain home, too, and can understand why they like going up there. Oh, and those blueberries!! My mouth is watering thinking about all the goodies you can make with them. I just finished making pepper jelly with my crop of jalapenos but they don’t even come close to wild blueberries!!
Hope you have a great week!
My mother was from N. Carolina and I love the mountains too-fond childhood memories are the best! Returning to Indiana from Michigan where we bought the best berries in Paw Paw at Ledic’s. #10 to freeze
It warms my heart to read posts with your parents in them. Great post. Thank you, Sara
The scenery is beautiful, and your parents continue to amaze me with all they do.
That’s so great! I just love the pics of your mom and dad and their mountain house. The blueberries look wonderful too. How great that you can spend good times like these with your folks. Keep taking lots of pictures….time goes by fast. I’m remembering my wonderful folks by seeing yours. Thanks so much! Love your Blog.
What a wonderful day!
We forget to slow down and just appreciate our family. Your parents are just the sweetest ever! Makes me want to come and sit for a spell on your porch!!!
What a beautiful post! My family’s roots are in Murphy, nc (meroney) but I have never been there! Thanks for sharing it! Blueberries look delicious.
What a great post ! You really captured some great photos. It sure looks like God’s county in the mountain’s.
Hi Rhoda, I just love reading about your Mom and Dad. It always reminds me of things from my childhood and I so admire you all for keeping to the “old” ways. It is sad that most kids today will never know the joy of picking fresh food from the vine and popping it in your mouth. I can just imagine what a girl could learn from spending a day with your parents.
Loving hearing about your adventures.
Pam
What a beautiful, serene place to escape to. Just lovely! The lunch looks divine….it’s my favorite summertime meal!
Thanks for sharing.
Curious why you don’t rinse the berries before freezing. Is it so no water will be left on them, when you freeze them? “Dad is trendy and doesn’t even know it.” I love that! Actually, he was ahead of the trend, correct, since he already had it on the wall?!
Hey, Tammie, yes normally the berries are not wet when they are picked, so washing them adds moisture. These were wet though, so I could have gone ahead and washed them, tried to dry them off and then froze them. But, it’s really easy to throw berries in a colander and rinse when you want to use them out of the freezer.
Hello Rhoda,
I really enjoyed this about your parents Mountain home. I must have missed the other posts about it. Your parents are so lovely and hard working folks. Your Mom’s cooking makes my mouth water. Thank you for sharing your lives with us. God Bless.
Lovely way to spend a day there.
Rhoda, I loved seeing your photos of the day you spent at your parents’ mountain house. Wonderful pics of the hummingbirds, and I always delight in seeing your parents.
Hi Rhoda
What a special time together as a family, enjoying each other’s company whilst enjoying God’s bounty. It is so good to see senior folk still busy with their gardens and cooking their own meals. We dont do much frying, as i dont like to clean up the mess! But I would so love to taste your mom’s cooking. Enjoy them!
What a sweet story. Rhoda! Warmed my heart.