Monday, November 17, 2014

A New Beginning


I have been absent from Blogger for several weeks now and have an announcement to make.  O Wise One and I have been down South purchasing a new home and will be moving in the future. Hickery Holler Farm has been sold to a new owner. A young man who has grown up in the area and wishes to return to his roots with his wife and young family. O Wise One and I made this decision some time ago. We felt that we have gotten to an age where the everyday chores and upkeep of this amount of house and acreage had become a daily struggle. We no longer need 3 huge gardens as all the children have left home but Baby O and as she prepares to go off to college it is time to downsize. We no longer want to mow grass all day just to keep the grass down and do not require acres to sustain us.We once filled this 3,000 square foot home with children but alas they have all grown and married now and have homes and families of their own. We do not need to rattle around in this huge empty house and have elected to purchase a smaller home further south and with milder winters. Not so far south as to have to endure those scorching endless summers but far enough to not have to shovel snow for the entire winter. 

We have decided to move to Tennessee.  We return to my Southern roots.


We have purchased a small 1400 square foot single story brick home to downsize into.


 It has a beautiful shaded yard with towering oaks.


It also has a one acre FLAT fenced yard and is out in the country but not far from a small town. Lots of room for the dogs and some backyard chickens and a smaller garden. Closer to doctors and medical care. 


Instead of all that mowing we are going fishing! And investing in a small couples camper.


I will keep the blog but will not be posting often to give us time to move and get settled in. This seems sudden I know but we did not even get our home up for sale and it was sold. We had not one but three people offering to write us checks in the driveway. It had gotten out by word of mouth into the community and was sold within 48 hours of having it appraised and sold for the full asking price.  I will keep the Hickery Holler name because Hickery Holler is not a place but people, my people,  and a way of life.   I will still garden and can produce but on a smaller scale.  I hope to quilt more and maybe find a quilting guild that I like. 

The farm now belongs to new and younger owners, our new house has been purchased and we are simply waiting on the paperwork to be completed. We have started to go through our belongings and started giving things to the children, donating to Goodwill and packing the remaining belongings that we will be taking with us.    


Even more exciting is that I will be reuniting with my childhood friend Shelia. We have been together since third grade. I was maid of honor in her wedding and her in mine. All these years we have visited regularly and kept in touch. We will again be living near one another to share our lives and families. 


For us it is a new beginning as we approach the next chapter of our lives. We look forward to starting a new garden and learning to garden on a smaller scale. New fruit trees and asparagus and strawberry beds. We hope you will all wish us well and visit often once we are established and blogging again. I will leave all content up because I know so many refer back regularly for recipes. 

See you at the new Hickery Holler Farm!




Blessings from The Holler

The Canned Quilter



69 comments:

  1. I wish you well! I love Tennessee, especially the eastern part! It is a lot like Kentucky.

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  2. Bless y'all's hearts... I am thrilled at the new beginning you have chosen...!!

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  3. Wow. What a big change. But it sounds like a good move. Best wishes on this new chapter in your life.

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  4. Congratulations! Enjoy the new home!

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  5. You have been such an inspiration to me as my husband and I continue the transition from city to rural life. And you inspire me once again with your willingness to change as your life changes. God Bless you both. I wish you much joy and many fish! And thanks for leaving up your content. It is such a meaningful resource.

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  6. Blessings to you as you follow your hearts :-) Can't wait to follow along............

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  7. My Goodness! What a surprise ... a new adventure for you and O Wise One. I wish you all the the best and can't wait to hear about and see photos once you are settled into the new place. The couples camper sounds like fun! Ya'll take care and thank you for leaving your blog up as I use it regularly for your recipes and canning tips. Blessings to the "New Hickory Holler".

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  8. Tennessee is one of the prettiest and most friendliest states to call 'home', I think of it as my little bit of England.
    Lush and green, and four seasons to enjoy, plus we love to eat :)
    I wish you both well in your new home, it's perfect for allowing a little more porch-sitting days'
    Hugs,
    ~Jo

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  9. Oh that's great news...and yes, you will have a bunch of busy-ness ahead for a while. But I know you are at heart a home-maker, so I can't wait till you have the time again to share your talents as you transform your new home. And you're right over the other side of the Appalachians from where I live in NC. It's a great area! Congrats on changes!

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  10. Congratulations on your new adventure. Thank you for sharing your life and hints thus far. Looking forward to whatever else you decide to share with us at the new Hickery Holler Farm.

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  11. I can't wait to tag along on your new adventure, CQ!

    Fern

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  12. Blessings to you as you move to your new home! I can't wait to see how you garden in the new place.

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  13. I knew you had talked of this. It is the right thing to do or it would not have gone so smoothly. I know it's bittersweet but you know your home and land will be loved. That's makes a difference.

    Y'all have earned a rest.

    Good luck and you can bet I will be checking in with you.

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  14. Congratulations! We live in north Georgia, but I am from deeper south. I don't know if I will ever be able to leave these mountains!

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  15. Wishing you and O Wise One the very best in your new adventure! Many blessings to you all.

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  16. I couldn't be happier for you and O Wise One ~ sounds perfect. I love your new home and hope you two will have many happy years there. Will you be in Eastern Tennessee....looks kind of like it in the pics. I live in Western NC which is much the same. God Speed and Blessings for Safe Travels.

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  17. I'm thrilled for you guys! Your new adventure sounds perfect.

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  18. Good luck on your new adventure!

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  19. So Exciting! Congratulations! I look forward to see all you do to the new homestead. My parents are in exactly the same situation, and I'm lucky that they are moving near me.

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  20. Congratulations! Looking forward to reading about your new adventure when you are settled!

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  21. Wow I did not see this coming. Best wishes in your new beginnings. I am so glad you will still blog.
    I don't envy you packing and moving. Life will find you a new normal.

    Blessings!

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  22. Very exciting. Enjoy the new adventure.

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  23. Wow. I am so happy for you. You will really have a change in cooking and cleaning for 2 now. So happy for you. I anxiously look forward to when you start blogging again & am really glad you are not going to close down.You have so much information for us others. Thanks for all you have given in the past & will in the future.

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  24. How very exciting!! I have enjoyed your blog so much, so I am glad to hear you will keep it going. Starting new gardens... lifting sod, amending the soil, can't wait!!

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    1. Oh my back hurts just thinking about it but it will be fun if you are into gardening !

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  25. Welcome back to the south.I'm glad that you are keeping the blog up as I use it all the time when I have a question about canning. I have learned so much from you. God bless you and your family in the next stage of your life.

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  26. As so many have already said….I wish you many blessing in this new chapter of your life. Thank you for the knowledge and experiences you have shared with us over the years. This website has been a godsend and I am looking forward to following along in your newest adventure. Take care and happy fishing!

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  27. Wishing you every blessing. I always enjoy your abundance of knowledge and willingness to share it. Your place looks beautiful and peaceful.
    Enjoy

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  28. Congratulations CQ!!! Good Luck to you! I'm so glad that I'll be sharing my state with you!!

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  29. Welcome back to Tennessee! We love it here, having been here the past almost 10 years. Looking forward to future blog posts.

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  30. God Bless your journey and a huge thank you for this blog and being YOU!!

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  31. OMG! I can hardly believe it! Whoever bought your place is one of the luckiest people I know. I don't remember ever seeing a piece of property I coveted more than yours. To me, it is stunningly beautiful. I hope you'll be very happy in Tennessee. I still have two buckets that belong to you. I could run them up to you sometime this week if you like. I'm embarrassed that I haven't got them back to you before now. K ~

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    1. What kind words K and you are always welcome. Have the grandbabies on Friday but other than that I am open and will be in and out so give us a holler first to make sure we are home. Hugs CQ

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  32. Congratulations! You will love Tennessee. It is my home state, though from the pictures I am guessing that you are much further east than my hometown of Burlison. Our house was just 18 miles from the Mississippi River. Enjoy your new home!

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    1. I will be in more Central Tennessee on the Cumberland Plateau

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  33. Congratulations! We are just a hop over in NC. Funny how life begins to change with the youngest one is leaving home. The same thing is happening here and we're trying to decide what direction to take.

    I wish you all the best and I do hope you continue to share your life with us. I'm glad to know it is just life and not illness that has kept you away from blogging.

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  34. I do wish you all the best. Please keep in touch.

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  35. Wow. Congratulations!! I do wonder though, how will you move all your frozen food and canned goods??? Keep blogging when you get there??pleae?

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  36. Wow, exciting, for sure....I wish yall all the best in your new adventures and look forward to your blog when you get back to it..
    Brenda

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  37. How wonderful...a new chapter in your life! Good luck with your journey and I look forward to reading all about it!
    You will be closer to me in Ohio. I hope your new home is everything you want.
    Darlene

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  38. Congratulations on deciding to move on to the next chapter in your life. I've learned so much from reading your blog and have incorporated your tips and skills into my gardening and canning - I will be forever thankful. I wish you a smooth transition. Happy Holidays!

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  39. So good to know you are all well, and so happy for you, too.
    Have a safe move and a blessed Thanksgiving. ♥

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  40. Congratulations! This sounds very exciting. My mother is from Tennessee; I spent time there when I was growing up and loved it. Have a smooth move and a great Thanksgiving.

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  41. Ahh... we wish you well, hubby and I moved after 27 years, we moved the other direction - back to MY roots and left southern CA for Idaho and the mtns. It is nice to be near a town with hospitals etc. as we age. Smart thinking! Looking forward to your tips on making a new place yours - I'm still working on it and will enjoy reading your journey, prayers and best wishes for the process!

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  42. Congratulations, I'm so excited for your new adventures!

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  43. I am so happy for you for you my amazing mentor and friend!! Congratulations to you and "o wise one"!! Life is what you make it, and you will make new adventures homemade and full of life!!

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  44. Congratulations on your big move - it sounds very exciting! Camper vans are such fun, especially somewhere like the US where you have vast open spaces to discover. Wishing you both the best of luck in this new chapter in your lives. I look forward to reading about it in future posts.

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  45. Many well wishes and blessings for a long, happy and prosperous new life! Hope to hear how things are when you get settled!

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  46. CQ,

    I'm happy for you and your family. This will give you more time to spend together, to fish, relax, and not having to work as hard as you both do on the farm.

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  47. Good for you. Enjoy your new digs. - Margy

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  48. Hey CQ. Can't believe I missed this post from earlier. Congratulations on the quick sale. I do hope you continue blogging. If you need anyone to take that baking cabinet off your hands, you know who to call :-) Good luck in TN, it's a beautiful state.

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  49. I am so excited for you-sounds perfect-enjoy the move

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  50. My best wishes to you. Hope it's a very happy move.
    Angela (Devon) UK

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  51. Yes welcome back to Tennessee..I've always seen it as a price of heaven on earth..welcome neighbor..safe..enjoyable moving.

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  52. Congratulations! Looking forward to seeing how you do at the new place.

    http://caffeinatedhomestead.weebly.com/blog

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  53. Hope you have a restful and happy Christmas time. Looking forward to hearing from you on your blog about your new house adventures! -Jennifer

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  54. Any chance that is in Jamestown Tn

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  55. I just wanted to wish you and yours a happy 2015! I hope your "new beginning" is going beautifully.

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  56. I hope your move has gone well!

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  57. I hope all went well with your move! Tennessee is beautiful country! I keep checking in to see if you joined us again!! Happy new year!!!

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  58. Miss your posts, hope your move went well!!

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  59. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  60. Very beautiful place! And congratulations on your new adventure!

    http://www.roysfarm.com

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  61. Miss your posts. Your blog is one of my top 5 faves. Hope the new year is off to a great start and youre moved in and well! The best for all in the family. Had to pop in and say "miss ya"!

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  62. I wish you the best with your new beginning! Hope that will acheve all your goals.

    Spring cleaners London

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  63. CQ, you know you are just about an hour's drive from me now, if that!! We should try to meet up sometime now that you're closer to this ol' crazy gal in the South. :)

    Laura (formerly of Laura Williams' Musings)

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