On Thursday morning, more than a week ago, we began the day by meeting a realtor who was going to show us two condos in the Connestee Falls development. We hopped in her car because she said the roads were winding and there was a good chance we might get lost. Good call! Once in the development, and on said roads, she kept turning around to talk to me until such time as I spoke up that she was making me a nervous wreck! Although she too is from Florida, she's been there long enough to become accustomed to that kind of driving. Mostly she stuck to my plea!
It's a lovely place with big trees along with big views. Plus lots of flowers that caught my attention. I loved them all, but for some reason I am crazy partial to dogwood blooms.
That said, the white irises were pretty great too!
The first place was plenty nice and mostly in our price range, however, it had no real view and was too dark for my liking. The second place was fantastic inside, about 100K more than we wanted to spend, and had a super ugly color combination on the door and trim that we would not be able to change.
Bruce, however, was plenty keen on the one above, but then again, there was the matter of the price. This one did not have a mountain view, but there were plenty of beautiful trees that we were seeing in their springtime glory of intense greens. The development has some great views and four beautiful lakes where you can imagine Bruce would just love to go fishing.
Alas, the tour lasted three hours because she showed us everything, even the pickleball courts and beautiful clubhouse! A fairly young and charming woman, the time passed quickly. I'm pretty sure, although not 100%, that I took the photo below while there.
Perhaps you are wondering why we are even thinking of something so daring? Blame it on Vancouver. Ever since our time there I have been longing for mountain views, as well as cooler summers. This Florida gal is just plumb sick of the relentless heat. Thanking Katie for her time, we next made our way to Ingles, a really great grocery store found in the South. As an aside, since we've been home, she's been emailing property listings from all over the area, none of which has been perfect for us. The truth is, if we do something like this, we cannot settle, instead it has to be just right, or why else do it is my thinking!
After picking up a few groceries, but mostly prepared foods, we drove the short distance to Deerwoode. One of the absolute greatest things about the place is that it is so close to downtown, yet a world away. Driving up to our cabin, look who greeted us!
Obviously I was most pleased with our welcoming committee of one! We stayed in the Meadow Cabin, one of about ten on the property. It is cute without being too much. The living area,
has a nice couch and the chairs flanking the door are good too.
The bedroom was cozy with a great air conditioner adjacent to what I claimed as my side of the bed!
A couple of years ago we stayed at another place that, while cozy, had just plain ugly furnishing so I very much appreciated the restraint shown while decorating this cabin.
A little goes a long way!There is not only a porch, but a covering beyond said porch, which was great when it finally rained one evening.
Did I tell you that it was hot? It was way hotter than I'd hoped for, but you take what you can get! They have thought of everything to make guest's visit comfortable. After unloading our bags, we immediately took to the picnic table to eat our lunch.
We spent most of the afternoon under the shade trees, except for when I went exploring the immaculate property. Scott and Dionne are from Lakeland, but while looking for some property in the Brevard area came across this beautiful place and immediately went into full-on sales mode. They sold their Lakeland home, flooring and remodeling business, along with two homes in Connestee in order to buy it from the owner who has worked the land for the past 55 years. Since the purchase they've done some renovating and continue to do so as time permits. This is just their second season receiving guests. As to Bill, the former owner, he returns each day for hours on end to work in the garden in spite of the weather. He's 84 years old.
Look carefully on the left side and you will see him in action. Apparently he has many tales to tell of his years running camps here. In addition, during his tenure he planted 40,000 trees, loads of them in straight rows.
As well, he put up bird boxes and lots of them. The 175 in total can be found all over the place with what I learned are tree swallows flitting in and out, flying acrobatically through the air and sometimes right at you!
Here's a female whereas the gorgeous teal colored one I showed before is, what else Gail???, the male.
Already you are getting the picture, right? Bird heaven, tree heaven, mountain heaven....
what more could I have asked for?? A river perhaps? Check that one off as well as the French Broad River winds around their property.
If only I'd been able to photograph the hundreds of fireflies who took to the meadow and trees once night fell! Oh my gosh, only the second time in my life seeing that magnificent display of our God's creativity!
Unfortunately, Lynn was unable to join us because she's been under the weather with Covid!
Thursday the photo shoeboxes came out again...
Looking through three packed boxes, the photos of Maureen were few and far between. Duh!! Looking in a drawer in the guest bedroom, I discovered a small brown envelope I'd put together before. Yup, you guessed it. While doing the same for Carol. Loads of great photos in that envelope, including this one I took while on a trip to NYC together many, many years ago.
Thursday night another longtime friend and his wife, David and Carol, opened their home for a memorial time to celebrate Maureen. Old and new friends, including her occupational therapist from Westminster came. He's wearing the black scrubs and Carol is seated in the coral dress.
Heretofore, Carol was a stranger to me, however, the therapist, who said he was attending the first service for a patient in all his years of practice, began working with Maureen from day one when she was trying to recover from her second hip. A wonderful man and exemplary example of someone working in healthcare who really does care. Sadly, that's a rare commodity these days.
Although we were missing Matt and Jonathan, the other cousins lined up for a photo, the first in a very long time.
Of course you know Bill and David. Laura, one of Nancy's daughters is on the left, and that would be Rich, her son, and Elizabeth, her daughter, on the end. The year 1979 was a busy one for some of the Price girls with Lara born on January, 4, Rich, February 4, and the twins on April, 1. Whew, when I think back to the family gatherings with all those little children! Rich has two sons, whereas Elizabeth has two daughters. She requested no funeral, just parties and her wish was granted. May she rest in peace now.
Speaking of peace, in spite of hearing the news of Maureen's death on Saturday morning, it was easy to find at Deerwoode Reserve.
Gail
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