Roanoke Family Retreat

My oldest brother, Adam, decided to use this weekend as his family's vacation time. He is a builder, and as for most builders, times are a bit slow right now. He invited the rest of our 5 brothers, their families, me and my family, and my mother and her husband. We had the most fabulous time! First, you have to realize how amazing of a retreat his home is. He owns 4 acres that overlook an enourmous, flowing creek, complete with a small waterfall. The sound of the running water alone makes you feel as though you have left the real world. He built an amazing house with rounded sides, archways and huge windows, three balconies - not just balconies, but glamorous terraces with handmade wrought iron rails - which he made himself. My favorite part of his home is what he calls his sleeping deck. Truly, it is a room that is about 20x20, has arch ways with wrought iron rails, is open to the outside from the archways (no windows or screens) and has a king sized bed and bunk beds with mosquito netting around the beds. WOW - talk about a wonderful retreat - this sleeping area sits up three levels and overlooks the creek.

His pool, which spans about 40' and hangs over the creek, is tiled with stone and basks in the sun which sneaks through the tops of the mature trees which surround the property. Nothing in Adam's house is usual. The textures alone make you feel as though you are have stepped back in time. He has pilars built of individual rounded stones that don't match up, rounded walls that surround a stone fireplace (hanging above is his now 13 y/o son's drawing from when he was 4!), grand walkways cascade from gardened terrace to hand-made (by Adam) sculpture-lined terrace. Gardens are my SIL, Elizabeth's, domain. Our dinners were cooked with home grown herbs and spices, cut fresh each evening from her garden by the creek.

Adam and Liza hired a band, brought in Indian food, and let our family of 20+ attendees meander the grounds enjoy the serenity of their home, bask in the pool, and delight in the freedom of their daily lives instead of our own for a few days. It was simply glorious!

How was your Memorial Day weekend?