Our Fabled Nest

Ooh, weekends are our jam! Finally, home after a weekend trip, spending some much-needed quality time with my folks and both of my grams! Their home is quite literally 10 minutes from where I grew up. Rural, quiet, undisturbed that rural country farm town so small you can drive straight through without even realizing it. But that’s what I love about Cat Square! A town that small means cow tippin’ became an art and our high school had tractor parades. A town so tiny, everyone knows you and your business – likely before you do. A town like that is hard to find. We are blessed to bring our home and park in right in their backyard. We boondock with our generator but utilize their well water – so fresh!! My folks are generous enough to let us catch up on laundry and use their shower. They have a massive, fenced yard and our fur babes love the extra space to run to their hearts content!

Since, both of my grandfathers have passed on, both Maw-maw G and Gram C (love having these nicknames for them!) live with them too – we get all the granny love! Both are amazing cooks in their own way. Maw-maw G, I learned so much from her. Her and Pop’s home was where you’d find me every weekend and most of my summer days. I have so many beautiful memories from moments with them! She is where I learned how to cook like a southern lady. While I don’t do all the “southern richness” in my dishes nowadays, I still appreciate everything she taught me! You can imagine the delicious foods they fixed…. my mom made a huge pot of stick to your rib’s gravy, while gram c and my nephew made some fresh biscuits. We enjoyed burgers, calzones and Super Bowl fun! My sweet nephew, at only five, he seems wise beyond his years. I appreciate his old soul and love spending time with him when we are in town! Inquisitive, curious and he loves to be a big help! We surprised him with griddle cakes; he couldn’t believe you can grill pancakes!

While visiting, we took my folk’s out on the town. Downtown Lincolnton is a small gem that seems to be growing with more local businesses popping up. Most of the stores were ADA friendly – my dad, being in a wheelchair, was able to check out some of the stores with us. Handicap parking was easy to find too, and quite roomy! Some of the sidewalk crossings were not -thank heavens hubs was wheeling him around! Fun fact- most of the stores are pet friendly and have signs on the doors and/or water bowls too! An absolutely beautiful day to wander around checking out all of the little local shops with them. Days like this fill my heart with so much gratitude! My mom and I are both antique thrift shop lovers. We knew Gibson Mills was too far, but she suggested Treasures on Main. A smaller version of the Mills with a large variety of vendors filling their booths with antiques, crafts and homemade goodies.

When you see OCD – Obsessive Cheesecake Disorder on the cashier’s shirt you know it’s going to be good! My mom, a huge fan of cheesecake, couldn’t wait to show me this place: Lake Norman Cheesecakery. A very small bakery, but not ADA safe (large step up into the bakery). This place had a line out the door and I can see why – variety! Fun combos from Fruity Pebble Cheesecake to Banana Pudding Cheesecake to a beautiful Blueberry Crumble and Chocolate Lovers’ Cheesecake. Lots to choose from and they were even thoughtful enough to have a small selection of gluten free and sugar free options. As true to a southern bakery, some of the offerings are in cute mason jars. Slices, Bites or Jars whatever you chose, I am sure it’s going to be delicious! Hubs and I split a gluten free strawberry cheesecake – so, so good!

As we were driving “home”, I had a weird realization of how that word sounds funny to me. Lost in my thoughts, I realize I grew up mere miles from their new homeplace, but yet it was never home. Fond memories – sure of visiting Avery’s Garage with Pop and getting a Strawberry Yoo-Hoo or running in the only convince store, at elementary age, barefoot with change for a loaf of light bread for momma. I’d even run in for my dad’s chewing tobacco. Not nowadays – no way could we do that! Catching lighten’ bugs at dusk in the summers, and cotton candy ice cream while watching fireworks. Or, when our neighbor would bring over fresh produce. We used to pick berries and momma would pull over on the side of dirt roads for us to pick a few Black-Eyed Susans and tulips. Little things bring me back and what a world it was then!

I have lived in quite a few places, but none have held me so tightly that I wanted to stay. I have loved fondly several places, drawn to them for no rhyme nor reason but none have felt rightly home. I realized home doesn’t necessarily have to be a place. Home, for me, is my person and my kiddos. Everything we own fits neatly in our RV. We are not stuck here; we have the freedom to move. There is freedom to choose only our possessions that bring us joy.

It’s rather beautiful to live so untethered.

Cheers to the next adventure!