Lordy-mercy, are ya’ll about to die from this heat wave we’ve got going on? We are sweltering and if this isn’t dog days of summer, I don’t know what is.
No yardsales for me this weekend, but don’t worry, we’ll still have the party!
How’s your mamernem? 🙂 Mine’s just fine, thank you. 🙂 Did you interpret that one?
We spent the last 4 days up in Murphy, NC, where my parents have a 2nd home. I’ve shared this with you before here and here, but it’s always worth talking about again. If you’ve been with me on this journey before, you will know that we eat ourselves silly when we’re all together up in the mountains. All those fresh veggies and just ripe blueberries are such a treat. My sweet mama, at 82, still cooks up a storm and we all benefit from her cooking prowess, as you will see.
I am one blessed woman to have grown up with the parents I have. They truly are one of a kind, precious parents and I’m so glad we still have them. What a blessing they are to us! I took lots of pics this time, so I hope you don’t mind. It was fun documenting our few days and playing around with my camera. I’ve got so many pics, I’ll have to do another post. As much as I love decorating and DIY projects, I’m really glad that when I started this blog, I decided to add family, recipes, travel, etc. to the mix, because all of that is a big part of who I am too.
My parents have had this house for about 25 years and it’s been a fun retreat for our family. We literally eat, sleep and relax on the porch when we’re here, with an occasional walk for good measure. This year, the heat was the worst we can all remember and the house is not air conditioned, so it was a bit brutal. But, it was fun once again to be together.
It’s certainly not a fancy place, but it’s homey and well loved.
And I had fun playing camera bug, shooting lots of pretty scenery, so thank you for indulging me. 🙂
Stairs going across the creek go up to the house.
And this pretty creek runs through the frontyard.
I love the rocks in this creek.
The mountain laurel have already bloomed or this might be a wild rhododendrun, not sure. They have both.
The veggies are plentiful. My parents always grow an abundance of tomatoes and we bring home plenty. This year it was Better Boys and big fat Romas. There will be salsa in our immediate future.
Sitting on the porch is a favorite past-time for my dad. This swing is his favorite spot.
I love the wild ferns growing on their bank behind the house.
Pretty delicate lacy ferns.
Back down the stairs to the lower part of their property. Crossing the tinkling creek again.
These huge blueberry bushes sit out in the sun in the open field.
Soaking up the sun and rain and yielding plenty of blueberries this time of year. We picked about 2 gallons to bring home, so I will be making use of that blueberry cookbook real soon.
Dad had to add fencing around his garden a few years ago when the deer population got so huge. They were eating him out of his garden, so that wouldn’t do. This fence seems to do the trick.
Dad and mom have raised a garden for as long as I can remember. My sister and I took it for granted for so long, but we sure do enjoy the bounty. And bounty it is. It’s about 1/2 an acre here in NC and they have another smaller garden back home in Georgia too. How they do it, I don’t know!
The corn is just coming in and they will be putting up corn in August. Back from picking some ears of corn for our supper.
And while we’re at it, take a look at the crop of Roma tomatoes. They are beautiful and large, clustered on the vines.
Corn looking up to the blue sky.
The silk says it’s ready to pick.
My dad’s tractor equipment sitting in the field.
And the tractor that makes that garden possible.
At 83, my dad still loves his garden and I truly believe it keeps him and my mom young and in shape. They are such hard workers, I could not keep up with them if I tried.
Our 4 ears of Silver King corn ready for cooking.
Along with fried okra.
Just for fun, I did a little 30 sec. video with my mama cooking okra, so you can get a good look at it. For some reason, it is turned sideways, but you can still see what’s going on. We were talking about corn on the cob when I turned on the camera and then you can see the fried okra. WE love fried okra!
She found a new recipe in Southern Living (June, I think) and tried it out. She left out a couple of ingredients, but it was simple: Cut up the okra and pour buttermilk over it. Put out some cornmeal (with a little salt) in a bowl and roll the okra in the cornmeal and fry it up in canola oil. That’s it! It was simple and delish and the buttermilk seemed to make it crispier.
Cooking in the Mountains from Rhoda on Vimeo.
My mother could have opened a restaurant. Everyone loves her cooking!
Big fat Better Boy tomatoes ready for slicing.
Here’s what mom does with the extras.
Here’s our supper for the evening! I know, you’re probably getting hungry about now. That’s what happens to us when we visit the mountains. Eat, eat, eat. All the time. My gosh, how can you pass up food like this: corn on the cobb, black eyed peas, fried okra, tomatoes, squash, and a little bit of meat.
This was my plate. And no, I don’t eat like this all the time, just when I visit my mama and daddy. Just can’t help myself, when the food is this good, you have to eat it. We even had room for blueberry pie after all that. Are you dying yet? 🙂
My mom has this pic hanging in the hallway. Circa somewhere around 1988, my sister (back when she was still a brunette), niece (who’s about to turn 28 in Aug.), and me. Back when big-hair ruled. I didn’t have any problem pulling that one off. If it comes back again, I’ll be in business.
And since this is a yardsale party, I’ll share this little treasure from my family. My dad’s dad, my grandpa, added the cowhide seat to this chair and my dad has 2 of them. He said the squirrels got to this one, but he has another one just like it back at their Georgia house. And he said I could have them both! Now, where to put them? That’s the question. I told him how popular this color is again right now and he just laughed. They were probably painted this color back in the 1920’s, that’s how old they are. The original cane seat wore out and his daddy added on the cowhide in the 30’s. Now where in the world will I put 2 chairs like this??
Added to Sweet Shot Tuesdays with Darcy.
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The Berry Bible giveaway winner is lucky #5 Gabi with and Eye. Congrats, Gabi, I’ll send you an email on your win.
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The pictures you take at your parents’ house are always some of my favorites. They are so down home and comfortable and the food always looks scrumptious. Lucky you!
That is some big hair, girl! Beautiful, but definitely BIG! haha
What lovely memories you’ve captured. The spring looks so refreshing! If you’re gonna rock big hair in the future, I’m up for shoulder pads :).
Looks like such a fun and relaxing time! A perfect summer weekend!
xo
E + J
Boy all that food looks yummy!!! Your dad’s garden is really impressive. What a blessing to have that kind of bounty. I don’t know how you are doing with the heat down south though, here in New York it has been unbearable. We had two straight days of 98 degrees and then it cooled down to 95 degrees. Combined with the humidity YUCK!
Thanks so much for hosting and I love the chairs, can’t wait to see what you end up doing with them!
🙂 Michelle
I loved taking your tour, I felt like I was at your family home. It felt so comforting. Thank you for sharing. Also as always thanks for the party.
Just stumbled on your blog and I love it! We have family with a place at Lake Rabun so we’re up in that neck of the woods as often as possible. Love the chairs– perfect for a screen porch or a shabby chic accent in a bathroom :)… just my two cents! I’ll be back, for sure. 🙂
Ah! We live in the NC mountains. Beautiful photos. I’m glad you had a nice stay!
I love seeing the photos of real life, of people and of places. I think the photo of the fern is simply perfect.
Just popping in to say hello, taking time away from blogging to enjoy our wonderful summer…..
Loved the video of your Mamma, what a cutie. Makes me think of my grandparents they too lived out of their garden and lived well into their 90’s…..we too used to eat ourselves silly 🙂 Oh the tomato sauce my Mum (that’s what I called my grandmohter) would make out of their toms….YUMMY !!!!
Glad to hear you are enjoying your porch…you did such a nice job out there !!
My little girl is getting used to the heat in GA……it’s been brutal huh ??? Rhoda has this been an EXTRA hot year for you guys, wicked hot one for us ???
All the best,
xo Kathy 🙂
Rhoda, what wonderful pictures! I know you must enjoy visiting with your parents in their mountain haven. My mama used to cook just like yours, and the food looks so good it makes my mouth water!
I’m from the South, but I had a hard time interpreting your mamernem?
Is it something like How’s your Ma and them? I give up. Please tell us. By the way, do you know what a hose pipe is? If I told you my shirt was on wrong sidouderds, would you know what I meant?
Talk about Southern regional dialect – my Mother was country queen!
Hey, Joyce, you got it! Read Sherry’s comment below, that’s exactly what it encapsulates. We really don’t talk like that in my family, but I’m sure there are some country folks who do. We just like to make fun of our own region.
I do know what a hose pipe is (outside hose), but we never said that growing up. I know they say in in SC, cause I’ve heard some of my friends from there say that. I’m not sure I’ve heard the sidouderds, though I sure know what it means. 🙂
Southern-speak is a funny thing! 🙂
My Mama & the rest of the family is just fine, thank you!. :o) That meal makes me so hungry…I love a summer veggie dinner. My favorite is with fried corn, green beans cooked with potatoes, fried okra, sliced tomatoes, yellow squash (fried or stewed) and corn bread. Fried, fried, fried. Oh, and chess pie or peach pie for dessert. YUMMMM!! Love your blog.
ps your big hair was just great
How I loved seeing your family retreat, the crops, the stream! Your Mother cooking, A True Southern Meal! I have not seen a hide covered chair in a long time! I do have them with out there seats, Grandpa always had them on the porch! Good ole days! Loved your post today! So Much!
So hungry now! Oh.my.goodness! Makes me miss my mama too.
Hugs,
Kat
great outdoor post!!
Love that blue chair. Magical picutre!
blessings
barbara jean
While I dont care for Okra it does bring back memories of my summers spent in Little Rock. You are so very lucky to still have your parents around. Mine are both gone way too soon. This post brought back lovely reminders of summers on the porch, family gathered around and delicious food. Enjoy it all.
mamernem are fine,and yer’n? Lol- great story -reminds me of home!
I love these mountain house pictures. My grandparents had a mountain house up until about a year ago that reminded me so much of yours. It was not at all fancy, and very homey and cozy, and very rustic. It was in Unicoi, Tenn. and when you went out the back door, you were in the Cherokee National Forest. I sure do miss that place! They sold it because it got to be just too much for them at their age. Lots of good memories, though!
Rhoda, I love this post! Your parents’ home looks so warm and welcoming….and the food is to DIE for!!!!! Thanks for sharing that picture of you, your sister and your niece…..I am from Texas, honey, and LOVE BIG HAIR!!!
Rhoda, I know you feel blessed to have such a wonderful family Being an ole’ southern girl myself there is nothing that beats mama’s southern cooking. In the south, every food is comfort food when mama cooks it!
Annette
Thank you sooooo much for sharing your NC vacation with us! I am walking down memory lane!!! My Mom’s family has a small farm in south GA. (Hazelhurst to be exact) where she and 7 siblings were raised, and the summers I spent there are precious treasures to me. Our dinner plates looked exactly like that!!! All the veggies fresh picked with delicious tomatoes and a little meat!!! Fried okra, peas & butterbeans… it just doesn’t get any better than that!!!! I feel like a kindred spirit… as we vacation in the mountains ( Townsend area) every October and more if we can for the last 22 years!!! I fell in love and have not gotten over the Smokies yet!!!! (Hope I NEVER DO)!! Thank you so much for sharing those beautiful pics.. You made my day, Terri
Terri, thanks so much for leaving those notes! Nice to meet you and yes, it is a small world. I love my Southern family and we have a lot of roots in FL too.