"Bottling" Pine Apple

Bottling Pine Apple...

If we could bottle Pine Apple, what ingredients would we choose?

You see, it is our goal to bottle up all of the good things in Pine Apple and pass them along to you.  Most of these things are intangible.  They are not things we sell, but rather things we pass along.

So, what ingredients would be chosen if we could bottle Pine Apple, AL?

Well, you know it's our neighbor Sherri's' pound cake. The one she baked especially for us the first day we moved in and was the first person that we met.  It was also my birthday that day and as tired as we were, she made it special.  I'm sure she still doesn't realize just how special because even though that pound cake was superb, taking the time to bake it and welcome us was the real gift.

What else would we include if we could bottle up Pine Apple?  How about our neighbor, Mrs. Mary Ann who took us in and is now like family.  She loves us like we are hers and we feel the same. You can never have too much family!

Or maybe the Salad Sisters who meet one Friday a month to fellowship and break bread together or when the ladies of the community get together to fold T-shirts for Hunter Appreciation Day as we did last week.  

Included is the community wide wedding shower for my friend and high school classmate's future daughter-in-law that I was honored to participate in.

It's the cows in the pasture and the beautiful sunsets that our westward drive into Pine Apple always provides.

The majestic historic homes both large and small hold the history of the town.  They tell the stories of families that lived there from days gone by. New families come in and embrace the rich heritage and make it their own by caring for these beauties and discovering their history to share with others through the Wilcox County Historical Tour.

It's sitting on the front porch swing on a Saturday morning with a good cup of coffee waving at the neighbors as they pass by and watching the mockingbirds chase the crows.  A mockingbird hates a crow.

It's the neighbors pulling off the side of road in front of the house to introduce themselves. As we talk we realize that somewhere down the line we are cousins.

It's going anywhere, and I mean anywhere, and finding people who are related to people in Pine Apple, know people in Pine Apple, went to college with people in Pine Apple, etc.  Just about everyone in Alabama has a Pine Apple connection, and I do mean everyone!

It's planting a garden, watching the flowers grow, enjoying the butterflies, the honeybees, squirrels, and the baby deer that frequent our yard.

It's neighbors and community helping others when needed.  It's our neighbor inviting us to Thanksgiving dinner.  It's feeding the chickens, dogs and cats while they are out of town. (and collecting lots of eggs, I might add!)

It's the hard work put into the town by other neighbors....Flags put out every holiday, the fire station is taken care of, the church grass cut, and leaves blown.

It's having dinner sent home with you because they know you are very busy getting your home ready for the 1200 visitors expected for the tour of homes.

It's neighbors stopping in to show you their drawings and pictures of downtown Pine Apple years ago.

It's quiet nights with family sitting by the fire in your 137 year old living room enjoying a movie night.

These are just a few of the ingredients that we would include if we could "bottle"  Pine Apple.  Our goal is to help you "find your Pine Apple".

*Picture of Downtown Pine Apple many years ago.  It is our understanding that the original Pine Apple Mercantile Company is the building in the forefront.