by Cathy Baker | Faith |
This morning I headed to Spartanburg to visit my great-aunt, Helen, my grandmother’s sister.
Visiting Aunt Helen is always bittersweet in a sense. I obviously enjoy my time with her and I know she enjoys the company, and yet, every visit reminds me of how much I miss my sweet grandmother.
The childhood memories begin to trickle into my mind from the moment I pull into her driveway. The unmistakable scent of muscadines, the sound of laughter, and the sight of colorful impatiens that once encircled a gigantic oak at the end of the driveway all still linger in the air. The deck built many years ago now covers the old cement steps that led to the back door. The same steps where many a mud pie was created as a little girl. (Who says “onlys” have no fun?)
Perhaps today’s visit was especially poignant as I missed hearing her sing “Happy Birthday” to me over the phone this past Tuesday. That’s something she had done all my life. Sometimes I would let the recorder pick up so I could hear it more than once.
As much as I would have loved to have heard her voice once more, I find joy in knowing that she was singing on Tuesday — not to me, but to her Lord, and that’s the greatest gift I could have asked for.
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
What a trip! Never having stayed at the Boykin Cottage, we weren’t sure what to expect – but our expectations were exceeded.
The cottage is nestled in acres of woodlands, but not too far from Saluda’s quaint downtown. The original cottage is very old, but since purchasing the surrounding land, the owners added a bedroom and sunroom, updated the kitchen, and now rent it for weekend getaways.
These pictures do not do the cottage, nor the surroundings, justice — but here goes!
The screened porch on the front of the cottage was very nice. I awakened early Friday morning to the pitter-patter of rain on the tin roof, so I jumped out of bed, perked my coffee,
bundled up and rocked on the porch for over an hour.
No book necessary.
“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
Here’s the kitchen – nice, clean and updated.
It was also immune to cooking this weekend.
Now that’s my kind of kitchen. π
Here’s the den – comfy, clean and great magazines. It also has a working fireplace but we didn’t use it this time. It was chilly on Saturday, but not enough for a fire. The windows behind the couch still have the old wavy glass. Love it!
This picture doesn’t do the sunny exposure justice.
Outside the windows were cedars, oaks and other beautiful trees. Just like a treehouse!
And now to true beauty…
God’s handiwork at its best in the Carolina mountains.
(Click picture to enlarge)
The road leading to the cottage. The road less traveled.
That’s what I like.
The view just outside the cottage.
It’s the little things that matter.
These red impatiens and nandina’s lined the screened porch.
A simple but colorful greeting.
Another view just steps away from the cottage.
The owners have made several small trails throughout the property.
Look closely and you’ll see a hammock surrounded by
fallen leaves and beautiful trees.
It was one of my favorite places to be this weekend.
Here’s why. Check out the view (below) while lying in the hammock:
Looking straight up! (Click picture to enlarge)
And last, but not least, another piece of God’s handiwork… Rupert.
Some hearts skip a beat at the sound of a roaring ocean. Not mine. This heart is drawn to, comforted, and soothed by the beautiful NC mountains.
But it’s always nice to return home.
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Brian and I will be heading out soon for our annual Anniversary/Birthday weekend in NC, with Rupert of course! ha… Thankfully, he’s a good traveler. Much better than me. π
Today I called my favorite bakery – McFarlen Bakery (located in the beautiful downtown area of Hendersonville, NC) to place an order — for my birthday cake! I’ve ordered my own cake for years – not because Brian wouldn’t – but because I… well, like it a certain way: WHITE cake (not cream, light yellow or butter yellow — white!), thick white buttercream icing (no whipped junk!) and lots of piped flowers and leaves in Fall colors! Gee, I feel so transparent.
So, the real fun always begins when I place the order. Like today. After giving her all the specs, she asked if I’d like any writing on it. After a little hesitation (and I do mean little) I asked her to write “Happy Birthday Cathy” on the cake. Then came the dreaded question. And, what is your name? Umm…. Cathy. Once she finished giggling, the order was finally completed. I’ll take a picture of it and post it on a future blog.
I think the only internet access we’ll find is at Black Bear Coffee Company, also located in downtown Hendersonville, and one of my favorite places to be. Hopefully we’ll be able to catch up on emails and perhaps post a quick blog before we return.
I have lots more packing to do — can’t decide which books/magazines to take, or maybe I should say, which ones not to take. Brian and I are looking forward to rocking on the screened porch and seeing nothing but beautifully painted leaves by our Creator. The fresh cool air will be much like a welcome mat to this old soul.
NC, here we come!
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
At the cookout on Sunday, I let it slip that some women (whom shall go unnamed) have been known to occasionally tuck things in the closet for awhile so that when the husbands ask when we (I mean they) bought it, they could say “This old thing? I’ve had it my closet for awhile”. It was at this point in the conversation that Brian asked, “Is that what happened with the chair I found in our laundry room?”
Really? The one time he ventures into the laundry room and he discovers my hide-a-way?
Rewind. A week or so ago I posted a blog about my little neighbor cleaning out her garage and how she had all kind of neat old things. Well, I spotted an old solid wooden office chair and fell in love immediately! Who cares if it was missing one of the casters? Apparently Brian did. He shook his head like I had lost mine and walked away saying he didn’t think we should bother with it. So, being the submissive wife that I am, I waited until he went to work and then fetched my “new” chair! Dragging that baby through the grass on three casters was not a pretty sight.
Because I wasn’t quite sure how to break the news to Brian, the chair was stored away in the laundry room. That was the one place I knew he would never find it. How could a person find a room they didn’t even know existed? π The Lord has a strange sense of humor.
As it turns out, Brian shared with the group that he DID like it after all and that he was now willing to fix it for me! I guess he was waiting to see how much longer I was willing to crawl over the chair to get to the washing machine before sharing that little tidbit of information.
We laughed so much (and so loudly!) that people in other parts of the house stuck their heads in the door wanting in on the story. Because some of you requested a picture of the infamous chair, here goes!
Although it didn’t cost me anything, the laughter this little chair produced Sunday night was priceless.
