Summertime at Big Mill
Jun 27th 2007ChloeFrom the Innkeeper & In the Garden
To me, summers at Big Mill are about the night. The air is soft. Sitting in a wicker swing, for a few moments all is quiet. Then the sounds come. Bullfrogs show off with their throaty noises and then you can hear kaplop as they swim away. I am always amazed to see how big they are, or rather aren’t. The smallest frog can make the biggest noise.
Crickets will start in mid summer, when the nights are still. Maybe that is why I have always liked Tennessee Williams. Growing up, we left the windows and doors open, there was no air conditioning. I don’t remember being too hot. Now we have wonderful, energy efficient air conditioners. We wonder how we survived without them.Nights also bring the summer smells. First comes the honeysuckle, then the gardenia, or as the old folks called them, Cape jasmine. Moonflowers are next and the glorious ginger lilies, they permeate the night air with a sweet smell of jasmine.
In late July and in August the smell of tobacco curing sneaks in. None of us smoke, but the night smell of curing tobacco is comforting and reminds me of home and youth, playing with my nephew Barney. It is a good thing to remember. Barney has now come back to his roots, just as I have. We are happy.
And you cannot forget the night sights: the fireflies, the shooting stars and the imagined space ships. They are all still here and that too is good. You just might see one if you join us.
3 Comments »
Barney Conway on 28 Jun 2007 at 8:46 am #
Chloe is correct, I have returned to my roots. It is so refreshing to see that she has maintained such high standards of stewardship of the land and old homeplace. Her father, my grandfather,would be proud.
The better part of my childhood was spent on this farm exploring and learning. I’m looking forward, even at this early date, to Christmas in Martin County. I’m hoping that somewhere on that farm, now known as Big Mill Bed & Breakfast, there will be a Christmas tree. This would not be just any tree but one decorated as we did back in the 40′s and early 50′s, with silver paint-dipped pine cones, popcorn strings, paper rings and birdnests that we had saved from the previous spring.
The home is somewhat larger now, some of the walls have been moved aroud a bit, but every single memory still remains. No matter when I stop in, just as it was in my youth, you will never see a stranger at Big Mill B&B. Thank God some things never change. Whether arrives from Canada or Scotland Neck, everyone seems just like family.
Katerina Katsarka Whitley on 06 Jul 2007 at 10:03 am #
Dear Chloe:
What a lovely website. It made me homesick for your place, for your company, for the loveliness of your surroundings and your commitment to saving our beautiful earth before it became popular with others. This comes to you with appreciation and with love,
Katy
Glory on 08 Jul 2007 at 9:08 am #
Hi
I love this. It’s great
Glory