Trip to Bama

I took Mom to Hayden, AL to see Aunt Mary this weekend. She wasn't sure of the route via Birmingham so we went thru Oneonta first. I couldn't believe my eyes when we drove up and saw Mom's old homestead....it had a beautifully manicured lawn, flower-boxes and white ceiling fans on the front porch, and the screened porch had been enclosed (now a sunroom). I got out of the car to take a picture and a young woman (early 30s) came out of the house. We explained to her that Mom had grown up in that house and Mom began giving her a history lesson of the house. Kelli (Wadsworth), the new owner of about 18 months, said that she was restoring the house and it would be listed with the historical society. You could tell that she LOVED the house! The back of the house was really overgrown with weeds/vines and she said they were tackling that next! They had found a lot of the old stone walls and concrete pads where buildings were but had no idea there was actually an old tennis court on the property. I took a bunch of pictures so look for Kathy to post them on shutterfly (I used her camera - my kids had confiscated mine). We left Oneonta with happy hearts, knowing that 222 State Road was in loving hands.

When I heard and saw Aunt Mary, I couldn't believe the resemblence between she and Lola. They could have been twins! Mary is still sharp as a tack mentally - I guess all those years of working on a farm kept her mind sharp! Harriett came down to visit on Sat. morning before her morning walk; she is retired after teaching for 30 years, but works 3 days a week in Birmingham with a math program. We had a wonderful visit - there's just something about being in the country that makes you feel and sleep better! Oh! We also drove around and saw where Mom spent the first years of her life - the "pink" house (the house with the fireplace she fell into), where Lola and Francis' store was (houses & trailers there now), and where all the relatives lived. Aunt Mary wants everyone to come over to visit - I could tell that she was a little lonely!