Every year at this time, my dad has planted his Fall greens garden. It’s like clockwork for him. Once the summer garden is over and done, he gets his garden prepared for Fall greens and it’s a beautiful sight to see. We know how important my dad’s garden is to him. It keeps him going and we love that he is still so passionate about his hobby that has lasted a lifetime. We do not want to discourage that, it truly does keep him going and living life. We do, however, wish that he would slow down a little and maybe stick to planting one garden instead of two. We haven’t won that argument yet either and I’m quite sure in the spring, he will once again plant his Georgia backyard garden and their NC mountain house garden. It might be time to slow down, but he is not owning it yet.
He amazes me with his stamina. I mean, I gave up trying to care for my yard and turned it over to professionals this year. Not him, he still mows his own yard and takes care of all the gardening and pruning around their house. They don’t make many men like my dad anymore, I don’t think. For his age, he keeps going and going and going. And we are happy and grateful for that.
Last week, I was over there for lunch and caught him outside doing something with the pruning shears. He’s always doing something out there.
His garden is planted with mustard greens, collards, turnips, kale, cabbage, broccoli, and maybe something else I’ve forgotten.
He knows how to grow greens, no doubt about it! And I think this is their secret for healthy living. All these greens add antioxidents into their diet, which no doubt keeps them healthy. I eat my greens every time I’m there too, with pepper sauce.
If you follow my Instagram or Facebook, you will see me posting lunch at my parents’ house pretty often. It always looks something like this. With greens on the table. I had NO idea how popular these quick phone photos would be, but they certainly are. You all go on and on about the food and what all is on the table. Southern cooking is contagious, I guess! My parents know that y’all enjoy them and get a kick out of that.
My entire life, if ever I needed a place of peace and a sense of belonging, I got it at my parents’ house and this table. I can be a little girl again and feel surrounded by their love.
We are so grateful that God has allowed our parents to still be around. They have lost many of their peers and we hope to keep them around for many more years to come. My sister and I try to eat lunch with them once a week when all our schedules permit. We have started taking them out to lunch once a month, to give mom a break from cooking. She enjoys it. Dad tolerates it. His favorite restaurant is still Iris’s Kitchen.
Thank you all for enjoying our parents too!
Such a delight to read an update about two people who have always been special to me. We have been blessed with some exceptional parents.
I enjoy your posts about decorating, but my very favorite posts are about your parents. You are indeed fortunate to still have them, and to have them healthy and active at their age is a blessing indeed. There table reminds me of how my mother filled a table with several wonderful dishes. I miss my parents, and I know exactly how you feel when you say that you can be a little girl again at home. I always had that feeling. I miss being no one’s little girl.
Gardening is keeping him “young”. I know u think it’s too much for him but he’s still having fun at it. Enjoy every moment u with them, because u will miss them terribly when their gone.
What a blessing your parents are. I always enjoy reading about them. They are remarkable!
I really enjoy your blog and look forward to your ideas about style and home. How precious your parents are!! I am happy that you are blessed to still have active and healthy parents in your life.
What an inspiration your Dad is. His hobbies sure are keeping him sprightly. You are so lucky to have the climate to grow in the Autumn. That photo of your Mum & Dad at the end is adorable. Definitely one to frame!
Your dad continues to amaze me. All the activity and good eating must be what keeps him healthy and young.
loved hearing about your dad and his love of the garden , I love gardening I get out there forget everything , I hope gardening will keep me as happy and flexible as your dear dad at such a senior age .thanks for including your family in your blog .
Your parents are such wonderful blessings. You look like your dad and you sister looks like your mom. That’s really so cool! Enjoy them!
I just love your stories about your parents, and your wonderful memories, and the great meals your mom prepares and how much your dad loves them! I’m so glad you are able to see them often and realize how blessed you are. My parents are gone, so I really enjoy seeing and hearing ab0ut yours. God Bless Them! and You.
You have your own Whole Foods produce department at your fingertips!!!! That is the secret to good health I’m convinced —and your Dad could probably teach the organic farmers a thing or two, and your Mom how to fix it 🙂 God bless them both – very fortunate to have them!!!
I adore reading about your parents! I lost my dad eight years ago and lost my mom last month. So I love reading about what your parents are up to. My dad kept very busy in his 70’s with his garden, but by the time he hit his 80’s his smoke-damaged heart finally caught up with him. I love that your parents really seem to love life, you can see it in their faces. You are blessed!
You are SO blessed! I wish you many more years together.
Rhoda, so exciting to read and see pictures featuring your Daddy and Mom again…your Dad continuing his gardens, spring and fall, and your Mom continuing to cook his crops for themselves and their daughters. The posts about your parents are amongst my favorites. Urging your Daddy to slow down…why? His doing what he enjoys most in life, his gardening, and helping his daughter with his carpentry skills seem to be his passions in life. Mom may be tired of cooking up Daddy’s harvests, but I suspect that this synergy between them is what keeps them both going. I would say, “Don’t discourage. Instead encourage.” Our passions are what keep life interesting and worth waking up for each and every day. And you, Rhoda, already know that anyway, don’t ya? What if you were asked to give up your passions? Right?
Best wishes, and always looking forward to “What’s New at Southern Hospitality.”
Patricia Wilson
Columbia, CT
Hey, Patricia, we don’t want him to stop, no way! We all love his garden too and it definitely keeps him active and busy. But keeping 2 gardens is something that he will not be able to keep up forever. We just don’t want him to overdo that part. Mom would like him to cut back on the 2 gardens too.
I agree with Roxanne, how wonderful if when your dad’s time comes, he will be in his garden. Reminds me of my mom, with all her fears and anxiety, fussing at my daddy for going fishing in his boat alone. He would respond with “I can be just as dead in the front yard”. It’s true. If your dad dies from all his hard work in his gardens, what a way to go, doing what he loves. And your comment, “My entire life, if ever I needed a place of peace and a sense of belonging, I got it at my parents’ house and this table. I can be a little girl again and feel surrounded by their love” really rang true for me! No longer being able to call “home” or go “home” and sit at the table and enjoy a meal prepared with love by mother, or my mother-in-law, is very sad for me and I miss it so. But it’s relevant change to this stage of life. So many people never had such wonderful parents and experiences, so I cherish my memories as I know you cherish your times with your sweet parents. God is good. He is the author of “family”. Love you and thanks for being real with us.
You are indeed very blessed to have your parents and have them alert and active. I know the feeling of going to make parent’s house and getting to just be their daughter. Unfortunately, mine are still alive but they became like my children about 13 years ago.
Thank you for sharing about your parents.
You are blessed to have them . My dad and father-in-law also liked
to garden and I miss that feeling of “home” and the delicious meals
prepared with love by my mother and mother-in-law.
I enjoy your posts about decorating and fashion.
Like everyone else I adored this post. I am curious how your parents put up all this bounty. Do they freeze, can, ferment or just compost what isn’t eaten at the end of the season? That is a very large garden. I presume he only has a fall garden at home, not in the mountains as well.
to think, I can barely cut my own grass these days.
Teresa, my mom does freeze some of those greens. I think she cooks them and them freezes them in freezer bags for later. They eat greens almost every day when they are in season and they pass them on to us and some friends too, so it gets shared. No fall garden in the mountains!
Hi Rhoda,
I just got in from Italy and am catching up on my blog reading before my final flight to Lexington. As I told you this summer, your parents remind me of mine. I just called my mom whom I haven’t talked to for three weeks since we were traveling, and she was so excited because she spent the day canning applesauce. It does keep them young.
I just wanted to check in to your blog because I was thinking about your dad and found this recent post. I’m now an Instagram follower so I won’t get behind again, but I wanted to say I’m so happy to see this treasure of a man still going in his fall garden. You are truly blessed with your parents and sharing them with so many people spreads the love and sweet joy. I believe God wants us to use our talents to influence our sphere of the world and the influence of your dad through your blog is profound– if we just take care of each other and appreciate the simple things, we are a good influence in our sphere. Thanks for your blog where you do that.
Thanks so much, Angela! I’m happy to share my dad, he is a treasure.