What wonderful feeling of joy and peace waking up in my Grandparent's very large home, that grew small as I grew big. The humble yellow house that my grandfather built has a tall chimney as white as the mountain tops and sits on top of one of the highest majestic Blue Ridge Mountain in the state of West Virginia.
From the squeaky front porch swing you can see the Blue Mountains touching the bright blue sky. Looking to the left you can see where we would play King of The Mountain on the dew covered hill after sunset, of course I being the smallest never won!!
Knowing if I lay in bed long enough I would soon hear my grandmother's heavy feet rushing down the hall opening the back porch door. The door made a squeal almost a wine then a slam! I was sure the door was responsible for waking me up every morning in that house. Her feet would almost stomp as she rushed back to the kitchen with apples from the freezer for the perfect breakfast.
Soon I would hear my aunts and uncles laughing, teasing and enjoying the company of one another. Although loud voices they sent a message of peace and love. My Dad, a man of few words would always say "Mother" he always called her "no one makes a biscuit like you." Normally as I child I would launch myself from my bed but not there. I wanted to bask in that atmosphere as long as possible.
The family history around the house is everywhere you look. Not to far from the front of the house you can see the hollow where my great-grandfather walked his family from Virginia and bought the property. The great aunts said "Granny never came out of that holler" they never call it a hollow in West Virginia. The aunts seemed to hate the holler. Great Granny and my Great Grandfather lived down there for years and raised 11 children down in the bottom of that holler with no electricity or water that is probably the reason.
Yes the times were different I was blessed to enjoy the fruits of my ancestors labor. I only saw the beauty in the...