I’ve got some family news to share today and wanted to keep you all in the loop too. I’ve talked about my parents mountain house many many times over the years I’ve been blogging. I’ve shared posts and activities that we have had in that mountain house as a family. Mom and Dad built the house over 30 years ago outside Murphy, NC and it’s been a summer getaway spot for them. They spent so much time up there during summer months and dad planted a huge garden up there every summer as well as his house here in Marietta. Two gardens! If you follow me on Instagram, you saw us up there a couple of Fridays ago for the last time.
It’s a house on 6 acres, with a stream in the front yard and a nice flat area below for his garden. Perfect for them. The last time he planted up there was 2016. In 2017 he was very ill as you all probably remember and his garden that year was very minimal. He planted last year at their Marietta house, but it’s been 3 years since the mountain garden was planted. He dearly loved that plot of ground and it grew some incredible vegetables over the years.
I’ve done several posts on the house and garden, but this one is a good recap on all of it. You can see the home cooked vegetable meals my mom made on this post and there are others linked off it as well.
And here’s another good post on the mountain house, with some of our relatives visiting and a fish fry we had. Such good food and fond memories of this house over the years. If you read those posts, you can really get a feel for what this mountain house has meant to my parents and our entire extended family. It was always their dream to have a house up there in the NC mountains. Our family had vacationed up there for years. My youthful memories are great of the Smoky mountains and much of our extended family spent so much time there as well. Many of our family members have gathered at this house over the years too and we have eaten some good Southern cooking.
So two or 3 years ago, we all began talking about when the time would come that mom and dad would sell the house. As I mentioned, 2016 was the last year dad gardened up there. He had two gardens and at almost 90 at the time, it was too much for him to do both. Mom was ready for him to give it up too (it was a lot of work for her too, with canning and putting up vegetables) and the next year (2017) took care of that, as that’s when he got c-diff and couldn’t do any gardening that year. Thank goodness, he has recovered enough that he grew some things last year and he’s going to plant a few things this year as well, but his strength is waning now and he just can’t do what he’s always done.
That’s his happy place, his garden. I know it’s sad for them to sell this place, but we all agree that it’s time. The time has come that he can no longer keep the house up, keep the grass and brush cut back as it should be and just overall take care of the house. You all know how much upkeep a house and grounds take, especially when you don’t live there full time.
Closing is tomorrow and we will all breathe a sigh of relief to sell the house. The good Lord smiled on them too and the new owners wanted everything in the house as well, including the contents of the basement. That was a relief to mom and really was a relief to us as well. We had talked about having to clean out that house many times and none of us were looking forward to that. So, this was an added bonus and blessing!
The house unfortunately is not worth a lot of money, but the memories left behind are priceless. It’s time to leave it behind. Keeping the house wasn’t an option for me or my sister or Lauren. We all have our own houses and live too far away to take care of another house. Plus, it wasn’t our dream place, but theirs. It took about a year and 1/2 for the house to sell and we are glad it’s finally happening. The new couple that’s buying it will love it, I’m sure.
My sister, brother-in-law, and I went up with mom and dad a couple of weeks ago to pick up their personal belongings. That swing and rocking chair came home with them. Lauren is getting the swing. It was a gift from my dad’s church congregation and it’s a good one. The rocking chair is a Brumby rocker, famous in these parts. Lauren is going to hang the swing in her backyard cabana in Louisiana.
We walked around and helped mom pack up clothes and personal items to bring home. Thank goodness we didn’t have to go through everything. She was so happy about that! They don’t need a thing from this house, as their Marietta house is full too. They have all they need here.
The welcome signs will be left behind.
Dad was feeling a little sad, I know, but he handled it well. He can’t do a lot these days as far as moving boxes and all, so we did it for him. He’s not nearly as strong as he was before he got sick.
Packing up clothes to bring home. We were just talking yesterday about how nice it will be to not have to worry about the house anymore. Mom will be glad especially as she handles most of the bills and anything to do with running the house. No more filling up the natural gas tank, worrying about upkeep on the house, or paying property taxes every year. That adds up too.
I snapped a few pics around the house as we went through, things that have been in the house for so long.
I found a Jadeite bowl and brought it home. One of mom’s longtime collection.
I snapped one more pic of mom and dad to document the last day as we locked the doors and came back home. Closing is tomorrow and that will mark the end of this chapter for the mountain house.
We met up with my cousin who lives up there for lunch and I caught dad in a laughing moment. They have spent so much time up here over the years, but I know it will be a relief as well as sad to bring this to a close.
I thought you all would like to know this news too since I’ve shared that house so much over my blogging life. Life changes and evolves and this is one of those changes for our family. It’s sad, but necessary and we all know that. It’s just another reminder that life is short and we better enjoy it while we have it. Don’t take those days and moments for granted. Every day is precious and one day we will look back and remember the good ole’ days for what they were.
Every family goes thru this process. Aging parents, selling property and figuring out what’s next. We hope our parents can just stay in their current home for the rest of their lives. That would be our wish, but of course we don’t know what the future holds. They are still doing pretty well on their own and we are close by if they need us.
Have you all gone through this too in your family? I am sure many of you have. It’s a part of life and things that we all have to deal with. Life is precious and full of good memories. Hold on to all of them! When I posted on Instagram and Facebook while were were up there that day going through this day,
I did have a couple of comments on Facebook that were rather unnecessary. Something to the effect that it’s just too bad that children take over and make their parents sell homes and do things they don’t want to do. And why isn’t this house staying in the family? Comments to that effect. I did respond back to them that we all have homes of our own, we live too far away to keep the house and besides, it’s not our dream place to have, so it was time to sell. When folks can’t take care of a house any longer, nor can family members take care of it, it’s time to go. We will have no regrets about selling the house and leaving it behind. The memories will always be in our hearts though! Can’t take that away!
Thank you for sharing…Good memories you will always have even if the house is no longer in your family.
Oh Rhoda, I so understand. And I look at it as though you helped your parents through a difficult necessary phase. Facebook users (and all on social media) can be so judgmental and say things they would never say to your face. I am so glad you have your wonderful memories, and oh so many pictures. I love the picture of your dad laughing. And I love the jadeite bowl you kept. Best to you and your beautiful family.
Sad-happy day for your family! I know you will cherish the memories!
I’m sitting here with tears rolling down my cheeks as I read your post. Your words bring back memories of my parents and grandparents as life chapters were closed in order to begin the next ones. I always enjoyed your posts from sharing your family visits there. Your memories are sweet and are held close in your hearts. I know that you and your sister cherish each moment you have with your sweet mom and dad. I’m glad that your dad has bounced back from his illness last year and is able to enjoy his gardening. That gives him great pleasure as he knows all of you enjoy the fruits of his labor. Please continue to share with us news about your mom and dad. Thx!!!
Hi, Nancy, thank you for reading along and being so supportive of my family. I promise I’ll keep you all updated with every bit of family news we have along the way. This is just another chapter closed for us, but it’s a relief in the long run.
This has to truly be so bittersweet for your family….as you all treasure your memories of beautiful times together, there will be more memories made of the new family that will love this house as much as your family has. Your parents are truly amazing…your family is so very blessed.
Rhoda, so happy that your Mom and Dad realized that it was time for them to let others enjoy what they have been blessed to enjoy for all those years. You will all have so many precious memories of your times spent in the mountains. That was such a lovely picture of your folks. No doubt this was a difficult decision for them but how nice they could go out there and enjoy it, with you gals, one last time. I’m sure that the people who purchased their place will come to love it out there, too, and will treasure all the lovely funishings your Mom and Dad left for them to enjoy.
Change is always hard! It is my prayer that God will continue to bless them and give them many happy memories of their beautiful place in the mountains!
How nice that you were able to help them with the move!
Blessings! Have a great week!
I think the negative verbal snipers forget their comments are enabling a more apt depiction of them than an actual description of you. I have loved reading your blog. And following along with news of your family. I think I’m in a ’sandwich generation’ I’m a mother and grandmother who has helped my own mother to relocate homes. It wasn’t easy for her and still not easy. And now I feel myself needing to move on.. I can only hope my children will be there for me as you and your siblings have been for your parents.
Thank you, Diane, I really don’t give the snarkers much thought at all. It was just interesting to me that when you share things like this on Facebook (it’s the worst for people feeling entitled to give their opinions) that people feel so compelled to share their outlook on any subject that might come up. I don’t let them steal my joy!
Thank you for sharing. I am going through the stage where my parents are aging, too.
You’re so right, Rhoda. My folks got to the point, some years back where they needed to sell their only home and move into assisted-living apartments. It was tough moving them out of that house, that we had loved for more than fifty years. We got them moved into a nice apartment just two blocks away from their old house, and my dad died 3 months later! Mom eventually had to be moved into a Rest Home and she died five years later. Those are always hard decisions to make, but you just know when it’s the right time. You are blessed to have your parents for such a long time. Hug and kiss them well each time you see them!
Love your post about the mountain house. I just came across this post by “accident”. I am a believer so I don’t believe there are accidents. Change truly is difficult and often gets more difficult as we get older. I lost my dad two years ago and both my boys married and moved out in the last three years as well.Some times its hard to remember that God’s not finished with us yet! Keep up the great writing. I’m from Canada but my daughter in love went to school in Georgia.
It’s a shame that some people feel it necessary to provide a negative opinion about someone else’s family situation. It is hard giving up a family home (we made that decision too) and moving on but circumstances can dictate what a family does in the end. Your family is blessed with great memories and much to be thankful for; so don’t worry about others. Just do what is best for your family. I enjoy all of your posts and look forward to hearing about more fun and exciting experiences.