Last weekend, Motor Man and I ran an errand in neighboring Surry County. Our travels took us right through my tiny home town of Bacon’s Castle. I noticed from the main highway that a local farmer was harvesting peanuts (or we used to say: “pickin’ peanuts”) in the field beside historic Bacon’s Castle.
You might think that it would be confusing having a town as well as a historic house with the same name. Those of us who grew up in Bacon’s Castle learned from our parents: we referred to the village and surrounding vicinity as “The Castle”, and the house, of course, was “The Castle House.” Problem solved.
Of course, we stopped for some photos.
For those of you unfamiliar with peanut crops, these are the vines, which are baled and will be fed to livestock through the winter. (This post I wrote in 2012 will give you even more info on peanut farming.)
This next photo, by far, was my favorite of the pictures I took last weekend. You can see the famous triple chimneys of “The Castle House” through the trees.
And while I was there, I couldn’t help but think of my granddaddy, who once farmed those same peanut fields in the 1920’s and 30’s.
Back in those days, they “shocked” the peanuts, which means they stacked them vertically on poles to dry. Modern-day farming is so much easier.
Although my mom and her family moved from the Bacon’s Castle farm many years before I was born, I still feel such a strong connection to them every time I’m there. And Sunday was no exception.
~These Days Of Mine~
these days of mine 
Super photos……….love those old ones of your Granddad in the peanut fields……things sure have changed in the “process” haven’t they!
Pam
Love this Dianna, and the pics of your granddaddy! Brings back many memories of my dad peanut farming, the peanut shocks too and feeding the vines to the hogs:) I also remember helping chop peanuts with a hoe to get the weeds and briars out which was “not” fun.One of my fondest memories was walking in the freshly plowed fields barefoot:) Thanks again for the wonderful trip down memory lane♥
Made me smile this morning. The scene at the Castle Farm was beautiful Sunday. As we went to church we caught it with the early morning fog rising. I remember the shocked peanuts on our farm as a little girl. My first ‘chore’ involved helping pick up the peanut sticks from those shocks. Memories……………..Dad!
Thank you for the thoughtful and kind comment you made on our post about our Daddy. We know he’s an Angel smiling down on us but we are heartbroken.
The Florida Furkids and Mom Sharon
It looks like fall is coming to Bacon’s Castle..
& the Castle House ; )
Love the pics, especially the one of great granddad out in the field ….
& I’ve heard plenty about how hard that work is ..
What memories this brings back. I remember the peanut shocks well. My grandfather grew Peanuts and I remember the wonderful smell of the harvest in the fall. I used to earn money as a child by helping hoe the the weeds out of the field. Thank you for bringing back all these wonderful memories of childhood Diana.
When I was a wee child, my Dad grew peanuts. Just a small patch, but It was fun for us children.
Thanks so much for sharing special memories and your beautiful day of reminiscence. I believe your Granddaddy is looking down at you with love and joy.
Dianna, we are lucky to have been born in a place with so much history. I did not appreciate as a child but I certainly do now. Thanks for sharing these wonderful pictures <<3