Mountain Cabin Envy

I’ve been going to the same mountain in North Carolina since I was born.  My mom grew up going to the same mountain.  Her parents before her, and both of their parents before them summer-ed on this same mountain.  Why?  My mom’s side of the family goes back something like 9 generations in Daytona Beach, FL.  The story I’ve been told is that the tourists came to Daytona in the summertime and with them a very feared disease: Polio.  So, husbands would drive their FL families to the safety of the NC mountains, for the entire summer, to enjoy the cooler temperatures away from all the germ-filled beach bound tourists.  So, my kids have no choice as to where their summer memories will be formed… a little mountain town in Jackson County, NC.  To prove the early presence of the Daytona population:

There is a meadow mid-way up this mountain that used to belong to Farmer Jones.  He grew corn, apples and raised cows.  I grew up feeding some of these apples to horses boarded at his barn each summer.

Right across from the meadow is the old Farmer Jones house and barn.  As happens with many old mountain farm houses, the main house, apple house and garage did not stand the test of time well.  It became sad to pass by the house as we all knew the potential it held.  Then, 5 years ago, the Culpeppers bought the house and land.  What they have done is nothing short of breathing new life into this little spot of history.

In the midst of this heat wave that won’t go away, I thought you might enjoy a quick tour of their family compound:

THE MAIN HOUSE AND THE APPLE HOUSE GUEST QUARTERS MAKE UP TWO OF THE THREE FAMILY LIVING QUARTERS ON THE COMPOUND. NOTICE THE CUTE BUNNY SCULPTURE AT THE BOTTOM RIGHT.

The main house is surrounded by hundreds of day lilies

One of the last remaining original Apple Houses in all of North Carolina, one of the three living quarters on this family compound.

The backside of the apple house. This is all part of a new addition to the original building.

An up-close of the original apple house door.

The stone path that runs through the property.

A close up of the grape vine growing up the trellis.

Further along that same stone path, scissors on hand for cutting lilies.

The lilies really are amazing.

Stairs leading to the living quarters above the garage which make up the third living quarters on the property.

It's doesn't get much better than this, does it? Kids for 5 generations in my family have dammed up this creek.

This is the old barn which is just referred to as "the barn" on the mountain.

A bench overlooking the stream which runs between the barn and the family houses.

Some examples of the apple theme being carried through the inside and outside of this special family place:

Vintage apple prints

Apple dishes

Apple fabric

Notice the lampshade with the hand painted apples on it.

This window painting was done by the home owner.

Even the screen door has apples!

Outdoor apple art

Look at these great outdoor living areas:

The outdoor craft center

Hand prints of grandchildren personalize the custom-made outdoor dining table

grab a book for this bench that stays in the shade

Down the hill from the main house is the old road which meanders through an always cool place to sit on a hot mountain day: the Spring House. A constant cold spring runs here and is captured in a trough. Clean enough to drink, this trough of spring water used to house milk for sale (a natural refrigerator) for passing neighbors.

One of my favorite parts of the whole house was this coffee table, by Sticks, and custom ordered through New Morning Gallery in Asheville, N.C.  It was their splurge piece for a house now complete.

Sticks coffee table

I think it’s so glorious that it deserves another angle:

Sticks Coffee Table

I hope you enjoyed your tour today.  This is the way out:

The driveway runs over the creek and beside the barn.

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