My parents house in NC (near Murphy) holds a lot of special memories for my family over the years. They live full-time in Atlanta, but have had this house for over 20 years now and spend most of the summer up there. Our family spent so much time in NC when we were growing up, that my parents decided to build themselves a mountain house all those years ago, a place to get away from the rat-race of Atlanta, traffic, pollution, and too many people. This is the perfect spot for that. I’m so blessed to still have my parents healthy and living life to the fullest. They are gardeners and have been my whole life. I can’t remember a time when we didn’t have fresh vegetables every summer, the fruit of their labor, not mine. In restrospect, I’ve done very little in that garden over the years, but I sure have enjoyed it. I appreciate it so much more now that I’m older and realize all the work that goes into it. My parents always share their harvest with me and my sister and anyone else that they come in contact with, when there is extra to share.
It’s not a fancy house, but a cozy and warm house filled with love. Our family enjoys gathering here whenever we can, especially this time of year when the garden’s bounty is coming in full force. Since I don’t live close enough anymore to drop by and pick up vegetables whenever I want, we had a great time filling the car up with fresh veggies from their garden to bring home with us to enjoy.
These were already picked and waiting on the porch when we got there. Me and my hubby, Peter and my sister and her hubby came up for a few days and really had a great time. You might remember from my post last year about this mountain house….we eat a lot! And boy, did we!
My sweet dad’s favorite place to sit on the porch is in his swing. That and his full length lounge chair. He has taken many naps on this porch over the years. The temperatures here are usually 10 degrees less than Atlanta during the summer.
This is the scenery surrounding their house, full of mountain laurel and rhododendrun. It’s beautiful in the spring too, as well as fall.
Coming around to the porch from the driveway, these steps lead up to the porch.
Outside, this little creek runs in their frontyard. They’ve had such a drought this year that the creek is running the lowest EVER since they’ve been going up there. Hopefully the rains will increase and this little creek will be gushing again.
My dad is really a farmer and loves to raise his vegetables every year. I think this is what has kept them so active, healthy, and in shape over the years. Not to mention, it’s so healthy to raise and eat your own food. They are a testament to that. They have quite a spread and a wonderful garden spot. He had to put up a fence this year to keep out the deer. First time they’ve had such a problem with them, but he got really tired of them eating all his beans and corn, so up went the fence. I’ll show you more of the garden later.
They also have huge blueberry bushes that he planted when the house was built and they produce a ton of blueberries. It’s such a treat to go and pick them off the bushes. My hubby really enjoys picking berries.
They were afraid that the berries would be giving out by the time we got up there this year, but you can see that wasn’t a problem. They are oh-so-sweet too! These will be great on my raisin bran every morning and freeze well too.
We picked this whole pan full to bring home.
Bountiful Harvest in North Carolina
You may remember I helped my mom pick out some new things for one of the bathrooms up there and here is the finished project. New paint, shower curtain, and a mountain scene border. It turned out very nice & looks so much better than the old peach and blue that was in here.
I’ll get back to answering more of your questions later on. Some of them were more detailed and I may need some pics to illustrate, so stay tuned in the next couple of weeks for more design dilemmas. We can all get in on the action. And I’ve got a whole post on decorating mantels that will be up soon.
Excuse me while I go have another ‘mater sandwich!
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Hi Rhoda 🙂
What a wonderful place to gather… home grown food, comfy home, beauty all around you and the love of your family and that roaring fire to keep you warm. There is nothing in the world better than that 🙂
Hugs,
rue
Wow, what a place, and the food looks great!
Hi Rhoda,
I enjoyed this post. Your love for your family and the simple things in life is so evident in the photos and your writing. You all are so blessed to be able to spend time together in this beautiful setting.
The food looks so good! Has my mouth watering!
Tomorrow I’m going to post my first piece that I painted. If you have a chance, stop by and take a peek. I put a link to your directions in the post.
Have a great day,
Diane
Wow,what a great vacation home your parents have….everyhing is so beautiful! I can’t beleive all the wonderful veggies!
~Des
we have a new house in the NC Mtns. my wish is that it will in time come to mean as much to my family as your Mom and Dad’s means to yours.. you are so lucky to have such a great family.. it is clear that you love them a lot.. I have just discovered Southern Hospitality I will return
Oh,Rhoda, what a wonderful story. These are the kinds of memories I am wanting for my children. It’s the main reason we got out of the rat race and sold our nice new custom home to move to the country. My husband loves the gardening too.
Thank you for sharing your memories. I have been blessed.
I’m suddenly hungry for produce! Neat post.
That was awesome. Such a retreat!
I am so thankful for you that your parents are well and thriving.
Blessings!
Becky K.
My mother found your blog and passed it on to me. She loves your ideas and now I do too.
Just wanted you to know that I have now painted my Laundry room or I should say DH did because of your blog and I hung things up that you wouldn’t think would go in a laundry room. I also put a chandelier in there. Thanks for the inspiration.
Ahhhhhhhhh, what a wonderful post! Reminds me of my parents home here in East Tennessee. All the best.
Vanessa
Oh, have mercy! I gained 10 pounds just reading. YUMMY! Your fmaily and mine sound much alike. Love your home. You can tell through the pics and your words there is much love and good times in that home. I love stories like that!
A piece of Heaven is what that is.
and the pic of your dad on the swing, priceless.
Gosh I’m starving now, thanks! haha!! looks like a wonderful place – you’re so lucky.
JOni
A delicious post in EVERY WAY. From the glorious food to your beautiful parents to their perfect home – You ARE so blessed and I am so happy that you are. I loved the photo of your sweet dad on the swing!
xo,
Kim
Wow…what an abundant crop! just beautiful! Your parents are a marvel. How lucky you are. And boy oh boy would I love a tomato sandwich…right off the vine…on toasted wheat, a tad of butter and mayo and lots of fresh pepper. Oh!
I will live vicariously through you!
Well if this isn’t one of the lovliest tours I’ve seen. Those fesh veggies! That food!! Abodanza!
I’ve never even heard of zipper peas. Is it because I’m a Yankee? 😉
And…Your mom is 80?! I hope I look half as good.
GREAT post! Thanks for taking us all home with you!
Oh! I am all about blueberry pancakes and hash brown quiche, I will be right over! The mountain homes are beautiful. My husband and I are trying to decide where to retire and it is a toss up, in the mountains or down south near the ocean. At the moment, the mountains are winning (hurrican Gustav). Only 8 more years to go!
How do you stay so slim eating that beautiful food. Reminds me of Mom and daddys garden growing up.
How I miss those days. I saw those tomatoes and now I cannot wait until they are in season here, I will fry up a large batch first thing.