The story begins in 1894 with Harrison and Sally Phillips. Harrison homesteded 150 plus acres and began our legacy here at The Homestead Hopewell Farms.

Harrison and Sally are my great great grand parents. Let’s do a little family history, shall we? As best I can tell Harrison and Sally had six children. Thomas was one of them. Thomas married Stella and they had 5 children. Mami, William, Floyd, Effie, Cressabell, and Alene. Effie is my mawmaw. If you know me personally then you know about my mawmaw. Let’s keep going. Effie married Clauda Fleming and had Morris (my daddy), Norman, and Sandra. Morris married Lavon Cantrell and had ME.

I have lived almost my entire 55 years on this land. I was blessed to marry Chris Barksdale and he loves it here just as much as I do. When we married we decided that a long commute to Huntsville for work was a sacrifice we were willing to make so we could grow our family right here. Along came and Luke and Hannah. And now Luke with his wife Sabra and Hannah with her husband AJ Crawford are continuing the legacy and loving this land.

Yes we all live close to one another and it is a blessing to have them near. We are here to help one another and help our neighbors (which most are family in one way or another). I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Like I said, Harrison and Sally homesteaded 150 plus acres in the Hopewell Community. That land has been passed down through the generations, divided, sold, repurchased, and divided some more. I live in a community of mostly my extended family. Cousins in every direction! When I was little I stayed with mawmaw almost everyday, at least for a little while, and we would go visiting. We would visit with her sisters and brothers and their kids. We would visit with other ladies from the church and their kids and grandkids. Somewhere and someone almost everyday for just a little bit. Maybe thirty minutes or maybe an hour. But we always dropped by, or someone dropped by her house. There was always a little “tada” exchanged. Something delicious that had been cooked that day, or maybe some fresh flowers from someones garden, or some extra material to make a quilt. I miss this. I miss the occassional visit from extended family and friends.

Most of the community has been farm land for a long time and we are reclaiming that way of life. We decided that on our little slice of the Hopewell Community that we would start using the land the way it was intended to be used. We have some great big ideas, not sure what exactly is going to become a reality, but we are going to give it a try. I hope you will follow our journey. I promise it will be fun.

Hannah has already made a splash with her tulips this spring. She planted about 2000 and they were beautiful. She has shared them with the town and the response was amazing. But I think the best part was the smile they put on her face. In November she will be planting around 10,000 more!!! The Tulip Lady (aka Hannah Crawford) at Selah Farm will be sharing more of her story on her social media pages.

The bees joined us in April. I currently have 2 hives of Italian bees and they are working like crazy building and storing already. I am a little obcessed with them. They are fascinating!

Jam making has taken top priority as of right now because the strawberries are in. I only use strawberries from one grower (because they are the best) for my jam. We will put up plenty for the family to have until next year and the rest we will sell locally.

Next on the list is to add a few more chickens and, if I can convince Chris, a puppy.

I am going to try my best to keep up to date here on this blog. But I will also be posting on my facebook page. Share our story, leave us comments, suggestions, and prayers.

Love you more than chocolate

Shannon

OH MY STARS! What a day! The day my new life started! A life with peace and hope and light! WOW! JUST WOW!

So, let’s start at the beginning. When I was about 10 years old (maybe 11) I decided, after a very strong Hell Fire sermon at church, that I just did not want to go to hell. So I told my mom that I wanted to be saved and go to heaven. I prayed the sinners prayer at church the next Sunday and started what I thought was a life long journey as a Christian. Over the next 20 plus or so years there were many times that I new I was not living a Godly life style. I knew there were things, people, places, etc that were not what/where I should be. In my early 30’s I made a shift into what I thought were very Christian habits and working on my Christian attitude. But still, something just wasn’t the way it should be. I struggled with peace. I struggled with a lot of things. I would tell myself that I was over analyzing it. I kept telling myself, “you said the prayer, you know that Jesus is God’s son. He came to this earth and died for our sins and cheated death to sit at the Father’s right hand.” I KNEW it but I had never really given complete control of my entire life to HIM. I knew it in my head but I didn’t have a real relationship with God.

Over the last couple of months I began to deal with something that I have never experienced in my life! ANXIETY! Whew, what a mess that stuff can be. I would stress about everything. It has been a roller coaster for sure. I just wasn’t dealing with life very well. I needed peace and I couldn’t find it. I blamed it on my dad’s passing but I think I knew that wasn’t really it. Almost on a daily basis I would question my salvation experience and I would always rationalize it away. Never really feeling whole. Pride kept me from talking to anyone about it. I just thought I was over analyzing.

Fast forward to the morning of August 6th, 2021. Our son, Luke, comes for coffee (HE COMES EARLY FOR COFFEE) and the three of us were discussing everything from investments, to politics, to scripture, etc. He and Chris were about to leave for the office and were in their own discussion. There was no audible voice, but I could feel it in my chest and in my thoughts “NOW, you have to do it NOW. Shannon, it is right NOW!” Ummmmm, I literally thought to myself, “no, I will let Luke leave and talk about this with Chris. Hannah will be mad if she isn’t here so I just need to talk to Chris.” Again, I felt the urge “NOW, it has to be NOW. It is either YES or NO.” My eyes filled with hot tears and I told Luke and Chris I said, “Ya’ll have to just stop it. I need to pray right now. I need to be saved.”

Yea, they looked a little shocked. Very unsettled and not sure of what to say. Everyone thought I was already a Christian. SURPRISE! They stood around me while I poured my heart out to the Lord. I mean really surrendered my entire life to Him. Ask Him to forgive me and heal me and make me His. Yall!!!!!! The peace I felt the moment I said Amen. The PEACE!! There it was…PEACE. Finally!

There weren’t fireworks, or marching bands. No trumpets sounding or anyone doing backflips. It was just pure PEACE. A weight lifting off my chest.

Looking back I have realized a few things. ONE, I have been living a lie that I kept trying to justify. I knew all the stuff but had never felt the pure joy of knowing 100% I am HIS. TWO, God has kept me safe from myself and my poor decisions, and sin for almost 55 years. He loves me so much that as I look back I can see His protection in so many situations and it was all so that this morning I could either Rejoice in His unyielding love and salvation or deny Him. I choose to be HIS! and THREE, it is never too late, you are never to far gone, there is no time limit on God’s love. IT IS NEVER TOO LATE! There is nothing that HE will not forgive.

If you don’t know Him personally and have questions just ask. Don’t let pride or shame or anything stand in the way of knowing Him.

I Love You More Than Chocolate!

Chickens! Whoever thought that I would have a bunch of chickens that I talk to every day? Don’t answer that!

Southern is definitely a lifestyle. Rooted deep in tradition passed from generation to generation. I am a 55 year old Southern Woman that loves everything about being Southern. I love that when I put on my “outside shoes” and my sun hat to head to the garden or to check the chickens I can not possibly do it without lip stick or a least a little gloss. In the summer, when the garden is producing at break neck speed, you share with your neighbors and friends and you freeze or can the rest. Sweet tea is a staple in almost every house hold and the only thing that will quench my thirst on a very hot summer day.

I have been reminded lately of just how lucky we Southerners are. Since joining the real estate world I have been fortunate enough to meet some very lovely people from across this great country. They are looking to join us here in the South. They are looking for friendly neighbors, beautiful landscapes, and peace. Yes, we do have a few here that need a good old fashioned tail whoopin’ every now and then, but for the most part we have just what they are looking for.

This past week I was showing houses to a couple from across the country. Picture it, We were at our 2nd house and they were checking out the tranquility of Marshall county when we came to the the end of our showing time another agent pulls up with their clients. We all say ‘Hey” and then one of the other ladies asks, “Did y’all really drive here from across country? Well, welcome to Alabama! We would love to have y’all!” The sincerity in that statement and the kindness they have experienced during their stay is what is bringing them back. They are literally uprooting from everything they have known to come HERE to our little corner of the world. JUST BECAUSE WE ARE NICE TO EACH OTHER! Let that sink in.

Ok, enough of that, back to my chickens. I am thinking about adding a few more hens. Now, I have been told that there is a certain way to do this so that they don’t end up killing each other. This makes me a little nervous. I don’t much like conflict, even out in the chicken house. So, I have been putting it off. Yes, procrastination is a hobby of mine. But, I think I may be close to pulling the trigger on this one and ordering a few new birds to join us. If you have any recommendations please let me know. I need all the help and encouragement I can get.

So, back in the summer if you heard a blood curdling scream late one afternoon. IT WAS ME! There was a SNAKE in one of the laying boxes. I had gone in to give the girls some dried worms, change their water, and collect those precious little nuggets (eggs). I started to reach in and a stinking snake drew back and hissed at me! I almost peed myself. Screams could be heard for miles. It was horrible. I ran to the house, because NO ONE came out to see what was going on, screaming and panting (because I usually DO NOT run). Luke and my brother-in-law meandered out to see what I was yelling about. They thought it was some little ole “tiny” snake. They found great humor in my nearly fatal experience. UNTIL, they went to try and get it out of the laying box. That dang snake was over 5ft long and had swallowed FOUR of my six eggs. Needless to say, it was his last meal. Thanks to Luke and Todd he won’t be back. It scared the girls so bad that they didn’t lay any eggs for a couple of days and scared this ole girl bad enough that I made Chris check the eggs for me for almost a week. Have I mentioned that I can not stand snakes? Well, let me say it now! I do not like snakes, I can not deal with snakes, I do not want snakes anywhere near me!

I LOVE people but snakes I can do without!

Hope everyone is having a blessed start to 2022 and remember to always be kind.

Love you more than chocolate,

It’s almost been a year. How fast this life flies by. In this past year there have been so many tears, so many gut punches, and so many thankful moments. It’s a process. Grief comes in so many different forms. I was never prepared for daddy to not be here. In my mind, and heart, there was just not a world without my daddy in it. Well, I missed that one didn’t I? As the dreaded one year mark approaches I am no longer angry, or so completely heart broken that I can’t breath. I am thankful! Yes, thankful. I have wanted to write this for several months, but as I would start the tears were so heavy that I couldn’t see to type and the pain was so intense that I just simply wanted it to go away. But, now I am ready and I really feel I need to put it on paper “so to speak”

God Is Good ALL The Time! Daddy had been recovering from breaking his neck in October 2019. COVID had hit and made things crazy. Dad was diabetic and with all the other crazy stuff he and mom stayed home a lot. We would visit on the porch or they would come down and sit outside with us and watch while the chicken coup was being built. We had not gotten to drink a cup of coffee on the porch since the first week in October 2019 and that was something we did several mornings every week. Daddy would call and say, “Hey girl. You on the porch yet?” I miss that so much.

It was an Alabama smothering hot June day and the blueberries need picking. Chris and I set out and when we got there mom and dad came out on the back porch to just sit and visit while we did all the work. Daddy said “Shannon I need you to come up here”. I was not keen on stopping my picking since I knew if I stopped I would not drag myself back out there in that hot sun to finish. But, mom said “he needs you right now” Daddy said his chest hurt and it was hard to breath, but he thought if he just sat there a little longer he might be ok. Being the bossy britches that I can be, I told him “No sir, you just earned yourself a trip to the ER.” He wasn’t happy but he gave in and off he and mom went with Chris and I following. I never dreamed that was the last time my daddy would be home. He was sent to Crestwood and for a week mom was the only one to see him. The rest of us got to call but it was so hard for him to talk with the oxygen mask on. Daddy had pneumonia. He had not had any symptoms until the heaviness on his chest that day. He had a heart attack once he was at the hospital and things just went south from there. But, I still never thought this was how it would end. On June 27th, mom and I went for her 1 hour visit that morning and then back to fill that day with fun stuff. I got a call that afternoon from one of daddy’s nurses. She wasn’t his nurse that day but she had daddy on her mind and decided to check in on him. He wasn’t good. She said come now and bring everyone that wants to say goodbye. WHAT???? This could not be happening! No, my daddy was going to be ok. Just like always, he was going to turn that corner and be sassy and stubborn an be ok.

Well, not that day. It was the longest/shortest ride of my life. We got there not knowing what condition he would be in. Would he be awake? Could he talk to us? Would he understand? Oh My Stars! Thank you Lord for that day! Thank you Heavenly Father for the gift of that day! We all filed into his room. Mom, me, Chris, Luke, Hannah, Haley, Stephen, and Wes. What a site we must have been to him. All trying so hard to be brave and strong. He said “Well! Look at yall.” First thing he wanted to see pictures of his boys. So I pulled out the phone and shared all that I had been taking that week. We got to love on him, tell him we loved him, laugh, and just be together. Then…he kicked us out. You did read that correctly…he kicked us out. He said “your mom is tired and you need to go home”. I was confused. The numbers on those stupid machines were telling us that he was not doing well at all. That really he shouldn’t have been talking to us. But there he was, in charge and sending us all home. Our ultimate protector. Always making sure that we were ok and being the BOSS.

We talked all the way home about what had just happened. Could he be ok? In my heart I knew the answer was NO but I just couldn’t bring myself to say it. Why did we leave? Oh yea, daddy said go home and we all obeyed. Only a few hours passed when the nurse called. She was in tears and said “Mrs. Barksdale your dad has told me I can not call you to come back but I just had to call you”. She didn’t understand. I told her we were almost an hour away. She said we wouldn’t make it there in time anyway. So she promised to tell him I loved him and stay with him until the end. Maybe 10 minutes later she called and said he passed peacefully and all the nurses were with him. It was over! It was done! Life would never be the same. EVER. She still couldn’t understand why he refused to let us come back. She didn’t get it, but I did. Morris Fleming loved his family. He protected us as best he could. ALWAYS. In every situation. This was his way of taking care of my mom and me and the whole lot of us. He hated when any of us were sad or hurt. He hated death and hard situations.

I am thankful for that last evening with him. I am thankful that the Lord did not let the situation of the world at that time take away that last sweet visit. I am thankful for a strong, protective, brave daddy who was in charge even that last day.

God’s love for us is immeasurable. I can look back over my life and see His hand on everything. I am guilty of not acknowledging that most of the time. But, His grace, mercy, and love was evident on June 27, 2020. We did not deserve the gift of that last visit but, He gave it to us anyway.

I Love You More Than Chocolate,

Shannon

OH MY STARS IT IS SO HOT THAT I MAY BURST INTO FLAMES! A common statement for me these days. I just can not understand why it needs to be this hot! Ice cold sweet tea, homemade lemonade over a FULL glass of ice, or just good ole ice water by the gallon is the only thing that might help cut this heat and humidity. That or standing inside the freezer! So why I am outside in this heat? Three little hooligans request it daily.

If you head on out to Hopewell and see me in a puddle on the driveway it is because I can not tell my grandsons NO!

The boys (Cade, Carter, and Wade) love to play outside. ALL DAY LONG if we let them. If you have never met my grandsons, well, you are missing it. They all three have these big blue eyes that will melt your heart and they can pretty much talk me into anything. They like to ride their tractors in the “jungle”aka the woods behind the chicken coop, blow bubbles in the driveway, play with their dump trucks and cars in the back yard, and they even want to eat their breakfast and lunch outside. Lawsy I am sweating just thinking about it.

I am trying to work on saying NO. It is hard when Cade says “Nonni that would make me happy”, Carter with his Nonni I love you and a big kiss and bear hug, Or Wade wiggling and saying “Outside, outside!” with those little arms raised.

I think it states in the grandparent handbook, chapter 1, section B that we are supposed to work hard at making their wants a reality. Especially when it comes to fun things like spraying them with the water hose and dancing in the rain, catching frogs and butterflies, and giving that little extra sugary treat right before they go home. Since I am a rule follower AND it is in the handbook then I HAVE to do it. Don’t I?

Back to the heat, the other day Chris was throwing the ball with Cade. When they took a break and came to sit on the porch Cade said, “Nonni, why I got water on my head?” Baby, that is called sweat and here in the South that’s how we all stay in Augst.

I’m thinking a slip and slide might be a good idea this week or even a trip to the creek.

Hope you can find a way to get through August hang on ’cause we are almost there!

Love you more than chocolate.

I have never experienced the degree of heartache that I am now. My daddy, my hero, my first protector has gained the ultimate reward. He is home with Jesus. I keep wondering how can I never hear “I love you girl” again. My front porch will never be the same. Life will never be the same. How can everyone else just keep doing everyday life?

I have cried, I have laughed, I have wondered did he know just how much I adored him? Well, of course he did!

I am done with all this morbid stuff and it is time to suck it up buttercup and move forward.

My daddy, Morris Fleming, was a gem. He was smarter than he realized, kinder and more tender hearted than he wanted people to know. He would become interested in a subject or a hobby or a collection and he would research it to death. He would learn everything he could about it and he would never forget it. He was an expert on guns, knives, pottery, dog breading, growing the most amazing blueberry bushes ever, and so much more.

He loved his family fiercely. I am 53 years old and there is not a day of my life that my daddy didn’t tell me that he loved me. He adored my mother and wanted her to feel safe and secure always.

His grandchildren and great grandchildren were, in his eyes, perfect in every way and could do nothing wrong. You didn’t have to guess what was most important to him. It was his family.

So here is a daddy story. My daddy loved to scare you. He thought it was hilarious. One night, many moons ago when I was maybe 9) mom and I were watching some show on TV and daddy decided to head on to bed (he opened the store at 5am). As we were completely engrossed in whatever show was on there was a LOUD banging on our front door. I mean tear the door down beating on it. Mom and I screamed and raced down the hall to their bedroom just rounding the corner in time to see daddy as he climbing back in the window!!! He was laughing so hard he could barely breath. He said we sounded like a herd of elephant running and screaming through the house. Mom was not amused….AT ALL. I thought it was perfect.

Daddy loved to shoot pool so one year he bought a pool table and moved it smack dab into the center of our living room. Complete with TWO velvet upholstered antique barber chairs. Again my poor mother was not amused. Bless her! But daddy and I played pool almost every night. He could shoot a mean game of pool and I am not too bad myself. I cant recall exactly when or how she convinced him to move it, but she did.

There are so many Morris stories to tell and as time goes on I know we will share many of them over and over again. But I have to say that looking back over the last several weeks without my daddy here on this earth I am thankful for every moment.

Love you more than chocolate

So, who would have ever thought that the entire world would go on lock down? Not me! But here we are in the middle of a pandemic. Occasionally I wonder if I am in a bad B rated movie. Nope just life in 2020. Social distancing for someone like me, a confirmed hugger, is painful and traumatizing. I saw a precious friend in the almost empty local grocery store and we both reached out for a hug (if you are not from the south let me explain. A hug is a commonly used form of greeting people around here) and both drew back immediately apologizing and then bursting into laughter. We just can’t help ourselves. I will say that there has been more porch sitting, more pondering what the Lord is up to, and more hollering from afar than I have experienced in the last 15 years.

I miss my church family and our time of worshiping together. It has been replaced with online Sunday School and Facebook Live preaching. But here’s the thing, God’s Word is never changing and we can count on His love no matter what or where we are. I saw a post on Instagram that said, “If a tiny virus can do this much damage, imagine what mustard seed size faith can do.” Just let that sink in for a minute.

In our small corner of the world I see neighbor helping neighbor, more people supporting mom and pop shops, creative ways of making businesses accessible, and the dishing out of encouragement at every turn. I love hearing about families that are sitting down together for meals, moms and dads being able to slow down and spend some much needed time with the kiddos doing things they can’t in the normal chaos of life. People trying their hand at gardening and baking and any other thing that they normally don’t make time for. Wonder if anyone has decided that this pace is more in line with what they want out of life? I bet there are a few.

During this pandemic I have learned to make biscuits! Oh what a glorious day! Chris is thrilled that I have been making them almost daily. I have planted some new plants (well I hired someone to plant them and to redo some landscaping) and they are thriving. But I think it is because I actually am focused on creating at routine of watering them every day. I seem to forget about them in the usual chaos.

I know that this country is resilient and that we will come back from this stronger than ever before. I pray that we will come back from this more UNITED than we have been over the last several years and that the Praises for the Lord will be stronger and louder than ever.

Now, I think I’ll have a cup of coffee and watch the cardinals argue over the best spot for a nest.

Love You More Than Chocolate

A year and a half of planning, researching, praying, and paying for one of the best vacations ever! You read that correctly, a YEAR AND A HALF! The anticipation was almost more than we could take. But September 15, 2019 finally arrived and as we stepped onto the first of two flights I was over the moon excited to share this trip with my Aunt Marcell and Uncle Norman. This was my aunts dream trip and it was actually happening.

We arrived in Rome at 7:30 am September 16th and we didn’t slow down. Day one we walked over 22,000 steps! Yep, 22 THOUSAND! We hit the major spots like the Colosseum which takes my breath every time I have been there. The Trevi Fountain is one of the most beautiful spots to sit and have a hazelnut gelato. On to the Pantheon and dinner in the Piazza della Rotonda. Night one in Rome calls for an order of gnocchi and some people watching. I love this city!

On day 3 we boarded the Norwegian Epic and because I can NOT live out of a suitcase I must unpack and set up our little nest before I can explore the ship. I know…it sounds crazy but I seriously can not relax until everything is in its place. The Epic is a HUGE ship and there were over 4000 enthusiastic vacationers on board. BUT, we never felt like it was crowded or that we had to wait for anything. The meals were over the top amazing and the service was, well, it was just WOW.

Florence is possibly one of my most favorite places in the world. We toured the Santa Maria Croce church, walked to the Piazza della Signoria where one of the three statues of David is. Yes there are three! One is Bronze and overlooks all of Florence in the middle of Piazzale Michelangelo, one is plaster and is in the Piazza della Signoria, and the original is the center piece of the Galleria dell’Accademia. A little shopping and a cappucino makes for a perfect day. Aunt Marcell drank cappuccino every chance she got.

Spain, France, and The Amalfi Coast did not disappoint either!

This truly was one of my most favorite trips and as I sit here thinking back 6 months ago who would have ever imagined that today those cities that I have loved visiting and enjoying the people and their slowed, beautiful daily life would be in so much pain. Experiencing so much loss and sickness. That this world would be living a new normal, for now. Not me! We have barely left the house in over 2 weeks and I have lived in sweat pants and no make up most every day. Working remotely as we try to service our clients and keep our employees safe. Praying that our family and friends that are most vulnerable are protected. Praying for those battling this virus on the front lines are protected. Praying for our President and Vice President as they lead our country into uncharted waters. This is a game changer, a world changer. Life as we know it will never be the same again. Things will get better and I believe that we will come back stronger and better for the struggles that we will have conquered.

I pray for America, I pray for Italy, I pray for the entire world and that those that do not have hope will find it in this. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Love you more than chocolate,

Shannon