Winning the Lotto

The Great Smokie Mountains National Park 8/28/2005

If I won the lotto the big jackpot this is what I would do and where I would live. I would build a huge house with four wings which would be guest houses; completly separate and fully equiped for each of my children, their spouses and their children to live there if they chose. All of them and their spouses would never have to work for someone else if they chose not to.

Morrow Mountain, NC 10/2005

There would be a farm where we would grow our own food, some livestock (if one of the guys wanted to handle that otherwise we would buy the meat at a grocery store lol). We would have horses; several. A paso fino for me to ride, a paso-arabian mix for my oldest grandson (he once told me that he would love a horse like that) and the other horses I would let my middle daughter choose as suitable for riding and gentleness. She has always shared my love of horses; it must be genetic.

Great Smokie Mountains National Park 8/28/2005
There would be a river running through the property (at least 100 acres with the house sitting in the middle of the property for privacy) that we could use to manufacture electricity if we wanted to. The house would be solar powered for the most part. It would have all modern appliances though. My oldest daughter and her husband would be the chefs as they are awesome when it comes to preparing healthy and delicious meals. I would appoint my son to washing dishes each night, groundskeeper/landscaper. He loves working outside but needs to do some indoor chores he considers women's work. Heh heh!

Great Smokies Cade's Cove 8/28/2005

This is what we would see when we woke up each day. There would be graded paths winding through the homestead where I could take my seven grandchildren out to explore nature. We would have a huge English style cottage garden surrouding the house and another meditation garden in the natural areas with wooden benches and statues of ancient goddesses around to watch over us. We would also have a geometric herbal garden for use in cooking and herbal remedies.

Up on the Blue Ridge Parkway overlooking the Biltmore Hotel 2004

This is what I envision too, the homestead surrounded by split rail fence and views like that from every part of the property; as we would live almost above the tree line to get these views.

Clingman's Dome In The Smokies 8/30/2005

There would also be a artist studio on the property with skylights in the ceiling and a portion of the walls would be of glass. It would be set up with several working areas complete with easels and supplies. I am not the only artist in this family.
My daughters and I could homeschool the kids if we wanted to. And when they graduated from college we could send them off on a Grand Tour of Europe.

The Great Smokie Mountains National Park 8/28/2005

Cade's Cove

Family means a lot to me. I sometimes fantasize about this kind of life; living close to my children and their families. Each of us having our own separate quarters with individual entrances for privacy. All the family in the main kitchen preparing meals together and eating in the dining room as much as possible. My girls and I are a hoot when we get together too cook. It has been awhile since I participated in this activity. Most of the time when they come here and are preparing meals I am sleeping in my room.

I know that if I lived close by my family I would have a lot more energy and enthusiasm for life. It is very hard to make it day to day alone now. I do it. But there is not much joy in it. I think my pain level would drop significantly; having my family and the kids around.

There would be a tree house like my oldest daughter has at her house. I love climbing up there to be with the kids. We have had some great talks in that tree house. I came out to the two oldest grandchildren up in that fort. They always feel as if they can talk with me openly ever since they were small. Some of the things they have said almost made me wet my pants on numerous occasions. Out of the mouths of babes is right on.

My oldest grandson said to me when I came out to him, "Grandma Cookie, it does not matter who you chose to love. The important thing is that you choose to love and that someone loves you." He was 9 (I think) at the time and much wiser than many so-called adults. I think he would make an excellent president.

NewFound Gap TN 8/30/2005