Lynchburg: Mary's Vast Acreage

It's always fun to personify Mary as my senior high school prom date, but she's so much more. We've known each other for 30 years now, and have really never lost touch over all of this time. But this was my first visit with she and husband Mike and daughter Katherine to their homestead in Campbell County, Va.

Their place is about 35 minutes outside of Lynchburg off of Route 501 and they have five acres, complete with a cute home, rustic barn and a lake—their own lake—that Mike actually dug himself. There's a dock, boats, fish and a killer view. Read on...Above, St. Francis. Below, Mary, Mike and Katherine on the front steps of their house.The barn, down to the left of the house, which they added electricity to and hosted the wedding of Mike's daughter. The whole area was re-graded, gravel added and much landscaping. Behind the barn is the lake.Does it really get any more beautiful than this?This swing was originally on the front porch of the house that Mary grew up in. We actually have photos on this very swing from high school days. Mary is prettier than she was then, honestly. If only I was. Sigh...The back of the barn from the lake. This was taken as Mary and I tooled around in a paddle boat!Dusk, as Mike and Katherine chill on the dock.The back-side of the barn, leading down to the dock and beautiful lake.A dedication to Mary's parents. Her mother, Juanita, was my greatest ally, offering me more encouragement than anyone as I came along as a writer in college. This brought tears to my eyes.The lake—which is kept alive and moving by a stream—is filled with fish that were introduced by Mary & Mike. They're now two generations old, including catfish that measure as much as a foot long.My favorite: the sunflower!Ribbit! This poor frog is probably still blind after my camera flash. Frogs were plentiful on the grounds and as it got darker, they got louder. I think they were singing a round of "Chatannooga Choo-Choo."The gang's all here. Mary surprised me by inviting their friend Ed and Alice over. Ed is my first cousin, sharing a grandmother on my diddy's side. I haven't seen them since my grandmother's funeral in 1994. We had a fantastic time. From left: Chuck in a fat pose(?!?!), Ed & Alice's 17-year-old son Edison, Mary, Mike, Ed, Mary & Mike's 17-year-old daughter Katherine and Alice.