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As a little girl, my sister and I would play on the front steps of our grandparent’s farmhouse located in the rural community of Nimblewill outside Dahlonega, GA pretending to “get married”. That was some 35 years ago and now at this same house I now host Weddings and Special Events.
My grandparents farm was always special to us. Not only was it my escape route from my parents home being that it “backed” up to their property but there was something magical about it. I can remember going into the house off the back porch and making the screen door pop as I would go directly into the kitchen and find the days culinary treats of not very sweet teacakes with a hint of orange flavoring, homemade chicken and dumplings and of course when the cucumbers where in season her specialty of cucumbers, vinegar, salt and pepper. It just didn’t get much better than this.
Life was simple at my grandparents. No frills no fuss. But it was home. And it was safe. As a child, we would play for hours riding our bikes on the roughly graveled roads and in the pine thickets not allowed to watch TV for Mama Waters would watch her “stories” in the afternoon. So we would ride our bikes and adventure.
It is from the farm I learned many ways of the Appalachian Mountains. Ways in which are foreign to my generation but a layer of my tapestry. I can remember my grandmother getting up every morning at 4am to milk the Jersey cow. She would gather her old not shiny milk bucket with a few dents for when grandfather, Daddy Guy, did not hold the cows tail very well and the bucket was kicked by the cow. She would squirt milk into the mouths of the school of cats and kittens that’s employment was to make sure no mice sufficed long around the barn. After finishing her milking core, she would carry her treasures that she had gathered with her arthritic hands and head back to the house in the very dark morning air. I can remember the sound of her coming in the back door and the same creak in the floor that warned me that Mama Waters was finished and I better stop my ‘plundering” before Mama would know I was no longer asleep. You see it was a huge honor to stay at Mama Waters and Daddy Guy’s house. Mama Waters would then take the milk and strain with an old dingy very thin worn out piece of cloth and strain the cream from the top of the milk. The cream was gold and was it ever gold. This cream made the best homemade ice-cream. I was 16 years old when I realized that milk was bought at Big Star (this is before Wal-mart) and didn’t come from your grandparents Frigidaire.
Life was much simpler then and my memories are much. I can remember every Sunday afternoon coming over to Mama Waters and Daddy Guy after church for Sunday Dinner. Lunch was sandwiches and since my grandparents were farmers they always had Dinner at noon. I can remember all the Men would eat first, then the Ladies and children. All of us kids hoped the preacher didn’t come over for they always got the good piece of fried chicken. It was a different time then…Life was simple.
Now I’m all grown up with only my memories and creating memories for others. My husband and I took my beloved Mama Waters home and remodeled the “cracker style” home built during the Great Depression. The farm was in much need of love after 32 years of only my Grandmother living there. Blackberry vines were as tall as I, buildings had a special lean to and with the encouragement, sweat and tears of my mom and husband we began the journey of creating Waters Mill. Waters Mill is personified with the memories of my childhood. Now, Waters Mill is vibrant as she provides the perfect setting for weddings and special events. The house is equipped with a state of the art commercial kitchen where we prepare all our meals using the freshest ingredients. We strive to be a table to farm establishment with all our dishes. We are very serious about our food and its presentation. Food has been used in the South for years as our comfort blanket and at Waters Mill we understand the importance of not just good food but great food. We specialize in Southern Cuisine sometimes taking you back to Mama Waters’ dinner table. We have four locations in which our brides can get married. Each area is unique but beautiful. Most of our clients are “wowed” with the openness that Waters Mill extends to her guests. There is so much green and honestly most folks these days just don’t experience that kind of serenity from nature. At Waters Mill, we pay special attention to details and make sure your guests are greeted with Southern Hospitality. Waters Mill is an extension of our home to yours. We want people to feel as though they have “come home”. In our difficult economic times, we understand the need to be safe and “go home” and that is why we do what we do. My family has always “entertained” others whether it be preachers, friends and family or very tired Camp Glisson Staffers worn out from a summer of over energetic kids.
Not only does Waters Mill host weddings but we also host special events from rehearsal dinners, bridesmaid luncheons, socials, concerts…… We invite you to come out sometime whether it be for a wedding celebration, concert on the lawn or just rock on our expansive rocking chair porch. We invite you to “come home” and see what all the fuss is about.
Recently published in the 400 Edition magazine
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