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Deep breath. That's what I take when I see this picture. Is it just me, or does this picture provide instant relaxation and peace?

I love this place. This is the home that my great great grandparents built way back in 18?? (I'll have to research that date.) It's located about ten minutes from my house on a farm in Jonesborough,TN. This is the farm they worked for years until my great grandfather took over, then my grandfather.

I also love this place. It's located within sight on the same farm. We call it "Pap's house." Pap was my great grandfather. I remember his shiny bald head, overalls, and Little Debbie snack cakes.
This is the home he built right after my grandfather was born. He and my great grandmother lived here the rest of their lives and raised their son there (my Pappaw.) I lived here in the summers during college.

I love the kitchen.

My great grandmother cooked on this stove. It still works.

Caroline likes this little porch that houses an old washer & dryer and a sink.

I love the sink.

I love this porch swing.

And yet, another place I love. This is the home my grandfather built when he and my grandmother married. Again, it's within sight on the same farm. My dad was raised here, and my grandparents live here still. They planted this enormous tree.

Here's Pappaw, just this afternoon. He's changing the oil in his tractor. I love watching him work.

Mammaw's watching, waiting for him to ask her to help. He does. Then she holds a funnel while he pours some oil into a can. They help one another. They're both in their 80's and healthy and happy and wonderful in just about every way. I . . . love . . . them.

I love this farm. Currently, it is home for Mammaw & Pappaw, my sister & her husband (and new baby :), my aunt & uncle, my second cousin, and one of these days . . . the Baders. I want to live on this farm (or at least near it) so very badly. I think about it a lot. I'm actually blogging about it. Oh well, someday we'll live there . . . probably . . . maybe . . . or maybe not. One can only hope.

I love the gardens.

I love my cousin's horse. (I don't love the flies all over his eye. That's just gross.)


I love the hay bales. BTW, why doesn't the sky ever look like this in my neighborhood? Neighborhood shmeiborhood, that's why.

I love the hills.

I love the cherry trees.

Caroline loves them too.

We picked these today.

I love the apple trees (and the pear tree, grape vines, and blackberry bushes. But I didn't get pictures of those.)

I love the memories I have here.

I love letting my kids run amok. They can wander away from the eyes of adults to explore. They dig for worms and look at trees. The roll down hills and get muddy. They're not held captive by constant supervision. They learn and grow without my assistance. They're free.


I love the history, the stillness, and the fact that everything is so . . . well, real. It's not perfectly manicured. It's not pristine. The homes aren't large, or perfect, or new. They were made by the sweat of the people who lived in them. They were built by my ancestors. The land was worked, tended, and cared for by the people who love me.

It's home, plain and simple . . . and until I have a heavenly home,it always will be.

Welcome Ben!!

Benjamin Clark Hall was born to my sister and her husband on May 20. He weighed 9#2oz. and was 20.5 inches long. Mom and baby are doing well. Welcome Ben!!