"Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old." (Franz Kafka)

Well, if that quote is true, I guess I will never grow old. I always seek out beautiful places, and I’m going to tell you today about one I love.

Fearrington Village, on the outskirts of Chapel Hill, NC, used to be centuries-old farmland until a couple, RB Fitch and his wife, Jenny, saw the beauty of the land and had a vision: over the years, they turned that farmland into what is now a little village of homes, shops and elegant gardens surrounding a beautiful, award-winning Inn, which was originally the old farmhouse on the property. The silos and barns are still there on the hillsides, but now it’s an absolutely delightful place to visit. The Fitches had a vision and they have executed it with finesse.

It’s always been a place that touches my heart. First of all, it’s a bucolic haven just a few miles out, and I have such fond memories of wonderful family gatherings we’ve had there. We had my parents’ 50^th wedding anniversary at the Fearrington Inn and I’ve enjoyed many meals and celebrations with family and friends there. My parents first read about Fearringon in the New Yorker, in tiny little ads over the years that cited this as "a wonderful place to retire." Fearrington was instrumental in bringing my parents to NC in the first place.

I once did some little sketches of the Village, and RB Fitch bought 1,000 sets of notecards I did so that he could hand them out to prospective homeowners who toured the place. There are belty cows still grazing on the grounds, and a wonderful garden shop called “The Potting Shed.” There’s also a lovely gift shop called the “Dovecote” and a fabulous bookstore, "McIntyres." If you are ever in this part of North Carolina, I highly recommend that you treat yourself to a visit to Fearrington. You won’t regret it.

“If you truly love Nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” (-Vincent Van Gogh)