Some thoughts on this journey today..from my Facebook page:

                                                                         

So..my sweet Ralph just walked in, sat down and said (after reading what I wrote here yesterday, about moving to Tn. and the farm) "I didn't realize that getting back to a farm was a dream of yours. I'm so glad we have the opportunity to do this." I said it was a dream before that came to an end when my first marriage ended. It was a retirement dream later when I was on my own as a single mom, and it was still a retirement dream when Darian and Larry announced their intentions and we decided to help them to financially meet their goal to buy property in Tn. And now.....it's a dream come true. He said it makes him happy that we're going to share in this "dream" come true.

It IS a blessing! Although there are some personal downsides/stumbling blocks..and, for now, I have to sit here writing about it instead of participating..it is a very old dream come true. And my post was a thank you to my hubby..because this is/was never his dream but he's so looking forward to it too..for me!

Because it was mostly a dream I gave up on..becoming a daydream more or less. We loved our home on the West side of Jax. And I had tons of space for gardening..plus the luxury of an old pool..so that was our retirement..then we had to leave there and with physical debilitating issues we decided the condo was probably our best bet..and then the kids started looking for acreage..and that was fun..to go with them and look at properties. And then...THE 26 acres in Tn. and our financial investment to help them turned out to be an invitation to be part of the whole experience..and it's now a reality with the house partially built..a tight and cozy garage apt. done..and animal pastures and shelters built..wowee..I feel like...HANG ON! The ride of a lifetime!

It took accepting where we were at..then investing my own little retirement $ into the "kids" dream..with no strings. The "building a cabin" on their property morphing into helping build a nice house with a mother-in-law suite came several years later..and here we are..getting ready to move in the next 6 to 8 mos..dreams take more time and work than $..but pooling resources did make things happen faster. And this is really more personal info than I intended to share..think I'll copy part of it to the blog and delete here this afternoon..but thank you friends for applauding our good luck and hard work! We've been sharing this exciting part of our journey..but it all started 4 yrs ago..funny how the effort just seems to melt away when you begin to see the fruits of your labor...

Sept. 21, 2014

Just found this in a holding pattern and decided to go ahead and post with updated photos. 

 

Very pleasant here at Rolling Meadows Orchard and Farm.  See our FB page too!

The dry-in started..then the monsoons came!

The house!  This is as far as they got when the monsoon started.  But after tonight .. when the winter storm finishes moving through..there are at least 7 days of sun and dry weather..we should have the roof on!!! Yay! 

Raining on our "parade"!




The Pond!  After a week or more of rain the pond is full..it won't last, but it's fun to see it this way now!!!!  The house construction has come to a screeching halt but should start up again next week..after a short drying out!  It's so exciting! 

 

December 2012 Update

Finished garage apt.

Garage apt. 

House foundation

Great grand (Jr.) staying with Papa (Larry) and Neena (Darian)  for a few mos.

 

Papa and Jr. playing in the snow..

Our road into the Hollow..

 

You all know to click on a pic and they'll all show in a row..click on each one and view LARGE size.

So!  It's December 2012 and the "kids" are cozy in their garage apt. which will be the game room/music room/guest apt. in the future.  The house foundation is done..all by Larry and Darian..and the "dry in" (building of the shell of the house) will be started after Christmas.  All is well in the Hollow.

Merry Christmas! 

An October visit to Rolling Meadows Orchard and Farm 2012

Bebe needed a hoodie this visit..got a little chilly..

View from the Lake Norris home we rented...

Some random views to and from the farm...

A little color..was just really beginning..

Love these misty blue ridges!

A drive out and about Claiborne county..

Some flowers/weeds at the farm..

More blue ridges...

We couldn't wait to get up to Tennessee to see the beginnings of Autumn!  Colors were just starting..we stayed 8 days and the color was coming in big time.  The garage apartment was well under way and the foundation of the house has begun...so very exciting.  Will add updated pics of the apartment when it's done..driving these foothills of the Appalachian chain is just breathtaking..every time we come up..no matter the time of year..no matter rain or shine.  I am in love with our future home! 

Jacksonville, Fl. St. John's River/marsh

 

It's all really happening!

Rolling Meadow's Farm view

Framed in garage apt. in the metal bldg.

More garage apt. framed, wired, windows and doors

and lights..getting ready for sheet rock, bathroom,

kitchen, and floors.  Lot's of work to do yet.

Windows and back door installed..this is the garage

apt.  Soon to be the music room, guest apt. and man

  cave! The daughter and son in law will live here       

while they build the house!

 

The building site..looking down from the wooded

ridge on the back side of the farm..

The house building site..

The back meadow at night..great pic for night time!

 

 

 

The "kids" have been on the property for 2 weeks..accomplished a lot!  The apartment they're building in the pole building will be ready in another 2 weeks.  The bathroom, kitchen and flooring going in after the sheetrock this coming week.  They have been working so hard but they enjoy their mornings and evenings watching the deer in the meadows and the sun come up over the ridge to the East and the beautiful sunsets behind the West rolling hills.   I can't wait until we visit with them in Oct. It's really happening!  I also can't express how proud I am of their efforts and my daughter's capacity for learning all of the building skills she has been able to absorb.  Wiring sockets last week! I am still landscaping and gardening***virtually*** on my pages on-line. Between FB, my photo pages, and Pinterest.  It's lots of fun, but can't wait until I can physically carry out some of these ideas!  Bis spater! 

Georgia Sunrise over the Marsh....


The "kids" are on their way Northward..N.E. Florida to N.E. Tennessee..or Bust!  Just took off about an hour ago and Darian just sent this pic. from her phone..from the bridge that crosses the massive marshlands in coastal Georgia.  Some beautiful sights between here and there.  About half way through S. Caroline they head N. W. to Ashville N.C.   The Blue Ridges are so very beautiful..then a direct Eastward route to N.E. Tn. and the Cumberland Mtns. (Cumberland Gap).    

The first task at hand is to make the contruction trailer (a 30+ft. R.V. trailer) livable for the next month or so.  Just a few modifications to make my comfort prone daughter more.....comfortable!  :o)  Then Larry will finish the "guest" apartment/man cave he's already framed out in the steel building.  That's where they will stay through the Winter as they begin building their new house on the 26 acres we call Rolling Meadows Farm!  

Safe travels and lots of luck (good wishes and prayers) for my "kids"!