Author: Julia

I am a retired software solutions architect. I have been married to my husband, Bruce, for over forty years. We went full-time RVing for 3.5 years and saw much of the United States. After deciding to stop RVing, we bought a ranch house halfway up a hill on five acres. After Bruce and I talked about names for our five acres, we settled on Blackberry Homestead as a homage to the wild blackberries on the hill. We are working on creating our homestead. I love cooking and enjoy sharing recipes. I am also an artist, and I’ll share my current projects. Gardening and reading are my favorite hobbies.

House Buying – Counter Offer on Plumbing Repairs

September 6, 2024 After we contacted our realtor with the plumbing items we wanted repaired, the seller came back with an offer of $1000 credit for the repairs. We were good with that and have signed an addendum to the contract agreeing to it. It is starting to sink in that we really are buying […]

House Buying – Main Inspection and Radon Testing Completed

September 5, 2024 This morning, we drove to the house to meet the inspector at 10:45 AM. When computer programs work as they should, it is great! As the inspector went through the house, he filled out the report and took pictures of his findings. He went through the report with us and answered all […]

Big Bad Breakfast in Florence, Alabama

September 4, 2024 Yesterday morning (September 3), we decided to go out to breakfast after dropping off our earnest money check. We picked Big Bad Breakfast, a small chain restaurant started in Oxford, Mississippi. It is a combination of Southern and New Orleans style breakfast and lunch restaurant. The food was delicious. I ordered the […]

House Buying – Septic System Inspected Today

September 4, 2024 We hired a plumber to do a scope inspection of the septic system at the house. Today, the plumber did a scope of the septic system at the house. The septic system is in great shape, as well as the line to the septic tank. He found two problems. The newly installed […]

Nox Chatting with the Next Door Neighbors

September 3, 2024 This afternoon, the cows in the field next to the RV park came up to the fence. Nox was ecstatic!!! She could see her friends again!

Old Railroad Bridge in Sheffield, Alabama

September 3, 2024 We rode the motorcycle along Hwy 72 to the Tennessee River, turning off into a parking lot that lead to Ashe Blvd. Once we started downhill on Ashe Blvd, we could see the parking lot for the old railway bridge. We parked, took off our gear and looked around the parking lot. […]

A Visit to TVA Wheeler Dam Overlook and Colbert Alloys Park

September 1, 2024 We looked at a house just outside of Elgin, AL. Afterwards, we stopped at a seafood restaurant, Lash Seafood. I would give it 3 stars and I am not tempted to try their cooking again. They also sell fresh seafood, so that may be worth stopping in for. We crossed the Tennessee […]

What a Beautiful Sunset Over the RV Park

September 1, 2024 We were walking Nox, when we got to enjoy this beautiful sunset.

Current News – Big News – Our Offer on a House Was Accepted

August 31, 2024 Between touring the Shoals area quad cities (Tuscumbia, Sheffield, Muscle Shoals and Florence), we found a buyer’s agent (Donna Brown) to show us houses. We wanted some land with the house, with 5 acres being the minimum. This had been our dream before being bitten by the RV bug. Donna was great […]

Butterfly Weed in Grass Next to RV Park

August 31, 2024 I noticed a a plant with bright orange flowers in the grass between the woods and the RV Park. Many times, I noticed this plant had many orange butterflies sipping nectar from the flowers. The plant is commonly called butterfly weed and is a native species of milkweed. The main butterflies I […]