"Find Your Pine Apple"

Find Your Pine Apple

My husband, Rusty, coined this phrase — but what does it mean?

When we first began coming to Pine Apple, AL part-time, we were still living in Birmingham during the week. Mornings in the city meant coffee on the front porch while listening to traffic roar on the interstate. Weekends were our escape. We’d retreat to Pine Apple, roll up our sleeves, and work on our old house. The work was demanding, but the peace we found here was worth it.

Now, as full-time Pine Apple residents, mornings look different. Coffee is sipped in the backyard, listening to the woodpecker hunt for his breakfast while soft morning light filters through the trees.

Pine Apple remains our sanctuary, just as it is for those who come here to hunt, fish, or simply exhale. Our 138-year-old home has weathered more life than we ever will, yet it still stands — a quiet testament to craftsmanship and care. Here, we’ve reconnected with our South Alabama roots, and found the deep comfort that only home can give.

So, what does “Find Your Pine Apple” mean? It’s finding your own place of rest and renewal in this fast-paced, microwave world. It’s the spot where you can breathe, slow down, and truly live. Your Pine Apple might be a lakefront cabin, a fire pit in the backyard, a hayfield in the summer sun, or an ATV trail through the woods. Maybe it’s a fishing trip with your grandkids or a quiet beach weekend with your spouse. And if you’re blessed, like we are, it’s simply “home.”

Today, I want to encourage you: slow down, breathe deep, be thankful for each day — and find YOUR Pine Apple.