Rob & Amy (plus Edna, Albert, Frank & Bug)

Rob here - since my earliest days the farm known as Howard’s Pond has been “my place!” It’s where my grandparents had made their home when they were newlyweds - I rode their two horses, learned to love the smell of old buildings, hay & fresh-cut grass - ran through their rows of corn, learned what White Half Runners are and so much more. I spent my first few years going back and forth from my parents’ house at the top of the hill to this farm at the bottom.

For my dad - this was a paradise beyond belief when, at 14, he came to live with my grandparents - spending his earlier years in a Children’s home in Nashville. In 1959 - months before dad joined the family, my “Papaw” Frank Howard had the swamp at the back of their property turned into the Pond we love now.

I’m a dreamer like my mom. A few years ago, when they renovated my grandparents’ house and I was able to spend some time there with them, hosting friends from Knoxville and I rediscovered some of the joy that comes from spending time here. At that point the seeds were planted for a way to share this little place with others. I started telling mom that I would love to do something with the empty rolling hills, the under-fished Pond and hopefully bring back a little more life to a place that lived in seclusion for most of the past quarter century. Of course, she and dad have always been supportive of my flights of fancy - that’s one of the pleasures of growing up as an only child. From searching out Facebook Marketplace for Adirondack chairs (and rebuilding them from screws to paint) and helping me bring in, haul the rocks in the fire pit and constantly mowing - mom & dad (Albert & Edna) have put in countless hours helping bring the dream together when I’ve been there and when I couldn’t.

My wife Amy was so supportive as well. She didn’t seem surprised when I told her I wanted to buy my friend Terri’s brand new tiny house when her plans took her to Florida instead of living in it. She let me buy it, set it up and spend nights and weekends down there fretting and sweating - carving out something about an hour from our house and worlds away from our normal life in Knoxville.

When it came time to design and configure the space Amy was tireless in searching out the items that turn a tiny house into a tiny home. Mom and dad caught the bug and called their friend Sam to carve out the picnic area and set up an extra space right next to the pond they imagined as a parking area for the Pond. I don’t think they were really surprised when I suggested that it might be a great place for another little house … maybe … sometime in the future…

Starting with the newlywed dream of Papaw and Mamaw Howard (Franks & Bug), through the beautification and renovation of their house by mom & dad, to the new little place that Amy and brought in (where I first tasted the tart perfection of notty little crabapples) - the Pond has truly been a family affair!