The first half of July was really really hard.....

Our summer ended up being very focused on baseball... and it went on much longer than we anticipated since Mercer's team advanced to the State playoffs.

Pretty much every single night, Mercer had practice.  The coach from last year's All-Star team (coach Alan) kept the boys together throughout the school year this past year on a tournament team called the Spikes and I would say that it certainly paid off.  The majority of the All-Star team was made up of boys from the Spikes with a couple of additional players.  They really do play pretty well together and it showed.  In addition to a lot of practice, there was a lot of fundraising so that the families could get some assistance with the cost of travelling and lodging in Savannah.  They came up with a new slogan called "B"East Marietta as seen on their new t-shirt (instead of East Marietta) as a part of this effort to promote the boys' team.

Because Mercer's team was advancing to the state tournament, we had a very short window to pop up for a quick visit to North Carolina just before the 4th of July holiday - when there was a few days without practice.   I am really glad we went - as my grandpa was not doing well health-wise.  We visited him and grandma in the nursing home several times.  Unfortunately, he didn't really seem to know that we were there as he slept a lot.    












Our visits to the nursing home that trip were focused on spending time with and supporting Grandma.  The kids had activity books, Isabella played with a moth that was in the sun room, and we played matching games in the garden.  

One day while up, we took a trip to the zoo - and there was a major highlight for Isabella:  the temporary butterfly house.  She and I spent at least 30 minutes in there while mom and Mercer sat it out in the muggy heat.  (We found them later inside the cafe at least drinking a cool drink.)  Mercer was not interested in going inside the butterfly house.  Isabella was forlorn to leave.  She could have stayed in there for hours. 

The blue morpho butterflies were so impressive.  Huge.  Isabella patiently sat waiting for one to land on her, but never did.  There were others that did, but these striking blue ones just fluttered by for an occasional photo-op.

We also visited Aunt Becky.  The past two times we have been there, Uncle Tony was asleep...unfortunately, we had not seen him in quite some time.  


















The kids and I made it back to Georgia in time for our local 4th of July parade.  We missed part of it by the time we finished walking up there, but the kids seemed OK with all that we saw.  Mercer really has taken a liking to corvettes..... hmmm...

After the parade, Mercer and I stayed and "served" for the youth program at our church helping to sell parking spaces for the festivities on the square.  We walked back up for fireworks later that evening.  

Sadly, both grandpa and Uncle Tony passed away the following week.  Neither have been well for quite some time.  They took their final breaths one day apart - July 10th and July 11th.  The small town of Liberty, NC lost very very good men.  Both were funny and brought a lot of light to others around them.  Both took pride in their land (Grandpa's was much more extensive of a farm with crops, large-scale chicken houses back in the day, and acres of cattle roaming "the back 40."   Becky and Tony raised acres of peonies and other flowers to sell to florists and at a farmers market when not driving a truck.)  Both were devoted husbands and (grand)fathers.


Although both were suffering in different ways, I - with heavy heart - went up to visit with family later that week.  (Todd and the kids were in Savannah, as Mercer's tournament had just started.)  


I was not able to make it there in time for Uncle Tony's service, but went and visited Aunt Becky the next day.  My cousin Jeff and his family had already left, but I visited with my cousin Josh, Dan and their friends. We shared a meal, some hugs and some laughs.

This photograph used on his service announcement was typical Tony.  He liked to make BBQ - and - looks like he was licking his fingers....something you're never supposed to do, but likely was unapologetic about it!  :) 

Aunt Becky said that the church in town was packed with people -- many of whom told funny stories about Tony.  One even told how he asked my grandpa, Poppy, for permission to marry her... which really got to her / choked her up.  

He was a unique Uncle (he would always pick on Todd for being a Yankee and he would pick on all of the rest of us for any number of things).  Our kids thought he was funny "Crazy Uncle Tony."  (in a good way, of course!)  Becky and Tony had just moved into Grandma and Poppy's house earlier in the year - selling their little 2 story log cabin just down the road.  I am sure that she did not intend to live in this house by herself, but I do hope it brings her some comfort to be in her childhood home.

I did make it to Grandpa's service in time.  It was a small graveside service.  It was hot.  Grandma, Uncle Mel, my mom and I stayed in the van until it was time to start the service.  Perhaps because it was hot, the service was brief; but it was very nice.  It included a 21 gun salute that was administered by 7 veterans.  One of the veterans presented a flag - the one that was on Grandpa's casket - to Grandma.  

Grandpa lived 94 long years.  

There is a bit of family that I haven't seen in awhile - my cousins Tracy and Mandy as well as their kids +  my uncles' families Erika, Lauren, Emma and Michael.  (We had a chance to get together with my Uncle Eddie and his wife, Rhonda, when we were up just before the 4th of July.)  It is the first time we have all come together in several years.  Each was mourning their loss. 


Melvin Cornell Nunn was a veteran of the Navy and worked for the State of North Carolina doing inspections (like his youngest son, Uncle Eddie, does now).  Some of my fondest memories are of Grandpa, however, at his Farm and Garden store - which is still there across from their house.  

It was fun to go in there as a kid and "explore" - there was every size nut, bolt and screw there -- even ginormous ones.  There were these barrels of seeds - red ones, yellow ones, white ones. I LOVED playing with the dried seeds... it was a sensory haven!  

This picture is the "retail" part of the store.














Sometimes in the back area - the warehouse - there were animals like kittens to play with.  Grandpa always impressed me - even into his 80's - throwing a 50 lb sack of feed over his shoulder and loading into someone's truck.

This picture is the "back-of-house" part of the store.

I also remember Grandma making lunch for the "boys" every day.  Sometimes I would run it across to them.  There was a little area off of this back warehouse where they had a cooler with cold cold sodas.  

I did a search for Liberty Farm and Garden online.  I came across a local photographer to the area who took pictures of rural places.  Here's one from his blog that has a glimpse of the inside of "the store."  

In rural areas of the country, general stores and farm supply stores act as social centers as well as retail outlets. I stopped by Liberty Farm and Garden in Liberty, North Carolina on a cold winter day to pick up some farm supplies. I was greeted by old friend and classmate Mike Foust on arrival and I found owner Melvin Nunn inside close to the stove.  (Photograph by Dan Routh, 2010)

It was definitely a social hub of this farming community. Grandpa in a rocking chair answering the phone or answering a question that someone had about farming.  He was a wealth of knowledge that people would come to seek advice.  

Often, there were men huddled around a heater in other chairs "sitting for a spell" -- sometimes talking -- sometimes not.  Just sitting.  It was a different way of life that I appreciated coming from the "city."   His oldest son, Uncle Mel, ran the store as Grandpa was aging, but was sold several years ago.  I am certain some of the same layers of dust are in the store from 20 years ago!  :)    I am sure Grandpa's wisdom and spirit still carries through the walls of the old farm and garden! 

The other photos were found online.  The rest of them came from Google Maps.  It's interesting how much you can find online.  Although I never really thought to take pictures of the store, I am glad that someone did!  



We have a tiny little farm and garden store here where we live.  I would much rather patronize them than the big chain stores.  In Grandpa's honor, I will continue to get my plants for our garden there and remember the times in his store in North Carolina every time I do.  

Both Grandpa and Uncle Tony will stay close to our hearts.