The Merry Beginning
Pull up a bale of hay, pour yourself a glass of
lemonade (or something) and join me in exploring all that is Merry Mount, a
quaint little farm in south-central Ohio — from the transformation of its
gardens-to-be and its big-sky country views to the exploits of Jack the Farm
Dog.
This tiny corner of the blog world is dedicated
to following the country-life adventures of my friend Rett and her husband Pat.
They just bought a farm! After 17 years in the big-city suburbs of central
Ohio, they packed it all up and realized their long-time dream of owning a
farm. A farm! And a barn! And land!
Why, you might ask, is this little farm on a lazy
country road dubbed Merry Mount? That's a story that started on their suburban
porch — a stone's throw from my house and a cozy place to chat with a glass of
wine (me) or bourbon (them) in the evenings. One warm July evening they were
excitedly talking about the farm they had found…and said they thought they
might christen it "Serenity Farm." Well, thanks to a glass or two of
Cupcake chardonnay, I bluntly panned the name. Too much like an old folks home!
Sounds like an incontinence product!
Those outbursts, however, led to a good discussion about the area, what they wanted to convey in the name, etc, etc. That night, the name Merry Mount just popped into Pat's head, and he looked it up. Turns out it's a short story by Nathanial Hawthorne, and the first paragraph deftly defines their dream for Merry Mount:
BRIGHT WERE the days at Merry Mount, when the Maypole was the banner staff of that gay colony! They who reared it, should their banner be triumphant, were to pour sunshine over New England's rugged hills, and scatter flower seeds throughout the soil. Jollity and gloom were contending for an empire. Midsummer eve had come, bringing deep verdure to the forest, and roses in her lap, of a more vivid hue than the tender buds of Spring. But May, or her mirthful spirit, dwelt all the year round at Merry Mount, sporting with the Summer months, and revelling with Autumn, and basking in the glow of Winter's fireside. Through a world of toil and care she flitted with a dreamlike smile, and came hither to find a home among the lightsome hearts of Merry Mount.
Those outbursts, however, led to a good discussion about the area, what they wanted to convey in the name, etc, etc. That night, the name Merry Mount just popped into Pat's head, and he looked it up. Turns out it's a short story by Nathanial Hawthorne, and the first paragraph deftly defines their dream for Merry Mount:
BRIGHT WERE the days at Merry Mount, when the Maypole was the banner staff of that gay colony! They who reared it, should their banner be triumphant, were to pour sunshine over New England's rugged hills, and scatter flower seeds throughout the soil. Jollity and gloom were contending for an empire. Midsummer eve had come, bringing deep verdure to the forest, and roses in her lap, of a more vivid hue than the tender buds of Spring. But May, or her mirthful spirit, dwelt all the year round at Merry Mount, sporting with the Summer months, and revelling with Autumn, and basking in the glow of Winter's fireside. Through a world of toil and care she flitted with a dreamlike smile, and came hither to find a home among the lightsome hearts of Merry Mount.
Gatherings
The Woliver Clan show their baseball allegiance |
Fun, Food, Music, Games, & Rest
Marriages, Engagements, & Births



Simon and Kris married 8/22/14 |
The Robinson Girls at the wedding |
Quentin and Courtney married 8/13/16 |
Caroline and Jess celebrate their engagement |
Kris great with children |
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Two peas in a pod (Joy & Eva) |
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Granmama with her grandbabies |
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Clara gave birth to five kids (a Madison County record) |
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Lynda cuddles a newborn
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So Many Blessings!

In
Memorium: Jackpot, Sweetie, Rio, Bess,
Lily, Ugla, Bertha, Gertie, Gilda, Eloise, Wilma, and Wanda.

Winter Solstice
Stop and Observe.
Discover the moments
between Winter and Summer.
Embrace the perpetual change.
The distance between
two points in time
is always
Now.
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Friends forever (Jackpot & Sweetie) |
Lee and Bess |
Vivi's Rio |
The Master Gardiner |
Lovers |
Fabulous sunsets |
Morning Music
In the dewy hour
before the farmhouse wakes
and the white clapboard sides
harden into view,
the trilling finches and the bickering jays
taunt and tease the slow-footed Sun,
'til roused.
he reaches West to paint again
the eave and roof and rail
a fresh vermillion.
Merry Mount 2014
Robert Bode
Great blog, great memories, great pics, great place, great people/owners!! Thanks for sharing your special place with us!!
ReplyDeleteMerry Mount-(def)... a fulcrum for unbridled faith, unfettered laughter and joy, and love. A heaven, here, on earth.
ReplyDelete