Hello Bravehearted Beauties! It’s a glorious sunny day in Middle Tennessee {finally!}, and I’m eager to get outside and try my once broken ankle at a gentle hike in the woods. But before I do, I want to share some beauty that I’ve been holding back on sharing for the last two years: Blackberry Farm. {Get ready for an abundance of beauty captured over three different seasons.}
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Why haven’t I shared this beauty before? Fear. Fear of what you’d think {that I’m spoiled or boasting about where I’ve been}. And fear that sharing beauty without a heart message would lead to all kinds of thoughts I don’t want you to have about yourself…or about me. But what kind of crazy is that? To let fear keep beauty in hiding…or to think that I have some kind of control over what you’d think!
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This is what a Bravehearted Beauty does: she overcomes fear not by avoiding it, but by leading with her heart and stepping right into it. Bravery in’t the absence of fear; in’s stepping right into it. Let’s all be brave today!
So why is today the day I’ve decided to be brave and share all of this hidden beauty? Because I want to honor the proprietor, Sam Beall. Just a few days ago, he died in a tragic skiing accident. I can only imagine how heartbreaking this loss is to his beautiful wife, 5 precious children, extended family, countless friends, and a staff that surely feels like family. Sam Beall was only 39 years old, but he ran Blackberry Farm like a man twice his age. He’s a man who understood the blessing of family, food and beauty like few I’ve encountered. A stay at Blackberry Farm feels like a taste of heaven. The natural beauty, the feasts, the hospitality, the attention to details…all of it is glorious!
I feel sad that out of my fear, I withheld this beauty and didn’t introduce you to this remarkable place after my first visit two years ago, but after three visits in three different seasons {yes, I’m spoiled}, I know that honoring this man and this place of beauty – this place where he was born and where he leaves a legacy – is absolutely the right thing to do.
Sam Beall, I honor you. I hope to return to Blackberry Farm someday to honor the legacy of beauty, love and hospitality you’ve left this world. Thank you for sharing your heart, home, passion and gifts so bravely and abundantly.
A visit to Blackberry Farm is unforgettable. It’s also unaffordable to most. That fear also kept me from sharing. But if you’re a farm fresh foodie, a beauty hunter, and a detail lover, a splurge at Blackberry Farm will speak so much love to you. JD and I have considered it an investment in our marriage. An expensive one, yes. And we almost ran out of cash in 2015 thanks to massive amounts of trauma therapy and an unexpected fall visit to Blackberry Farm. But in the end, every penny we’ve spent has been worth it to get to this place of hope in our marriage.
“I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly!”
J O H N 1 0 : 10
I hope you’ve enjoyed the abundance of beauty in this post. Beauty is God’s love language to me, no matter where it’s spoken. And most of the beauty God speaks is entirely free! You just have to practice having the eyes to see it.
One final word: if a visit to Blackberry Farm is beyond your wildest dreams, I’m asking God to do more than you can ask or imagine {Ephesians 3:20} in some other way. He’s wildly creative, excessively lavish, and entirely good!
Sending all my love and prayers to Sam Beall’s family today,
P.S. If there were one place other than my own farm where I’d most want to lead a Beauty Hunting Retreat, Blackberry Farm is it! Wouldn’t it be dreamy if someday I got to do that someday?!?! Dare to dream, Bravehearted Beauties! Dreaming keeps us alive!
P.P.S. A huge thanks to my parents for treating us to an extra stay there. You spoke my love language big time! I’ll gladly meet you there any season! It’s the only farm I love as much as my own. Okay…more. Because we all know I love to be spoiled!
Amy Avery - Linsey, thank you for your beautiful tribute to Sam Beall and his legacy that he has left in Blackberry Farm. His death is a tragedy beyond understanding. Although I did not know Sam personally, we share many mutual friends and I was neighbors and I am still good friends with his paternal aunt. I am thankful that the Beall family is surrounded by many who are lifting them up and prayer and carrying them in God’s love. I am also grateful for your blog post as I have never visited Blackberry Farm while i lived in Knoxville. It has always been my dream to go and I still have it on my wish list. Your photos capture it so beautifully and I am certain Sam himself would think your post a wonderful tribute to not only him but also to the beautiful retreat he lovingly ran and cared for at Blackberry Farm.
Marjorie Dineen - Dear Linsey,
I think this is my all time favorite posting of yours. The photos of this place are magnificent as are your words. You were privileged to have the opportunity to be there. This has given me a lot of inspiration. And was a sad ending for a young man who created such beauty in his surroundings and his life. I love the beautiful picture of you and your parents.
HOPE springs eternal.
Margie Dineen
Krista - Thank you for sharing the heart & beauty of this amazing place. In reading your post, the one thing that made me sad was hearing an almost apology for your being able to experience it. Had you not been able to go there, take pictures & enjoy it, you could not have brought it to life for others. I am thankful that I was able to see it through your eyes. I believe that God knew exactly what you needed to minister to your heart & soul, & in turn, you have done the same for others! Beautiful post, thank you for taking us along.
P.S. I have been praying for the family ever since reading of Sam’s passing.
Katey - I’ve always wanted to visit there as it seems like the most tranquil place. Such a sad story for the owner. Your pictures are just beautiful!
Jenn Martin - Oh, Linsey, you have indeed honored Sam Beall’s legacy! Your words make me think of the line from “Hamilton” – “What is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.” So true. I visited and fell in love with Blackberry Farm with my husband (and our lucky dog!) last summer while our girls were away at camp. Such beauty, deliciousness, and tranquility that I didn’t want to leave.
Shirley@Housepitality Designs - A friend just sent me a link about his tragic death…I had no idea he was so young
Alisha - I’m so glad that you posted this! That way we can live vicariously through you:) I think we should share beauty with each other no matter what. Should I apologize to someone who lives on the plains whenever I post photos of my mountain views? No. Or apologize to people living in a winter wonderland for my photos of sandy beaches? No! There is beauty everywhere, and if we share those beautiful moments with others I think we will all gain a more beautiful view of God and His world:)
Katie -- The Rustic Boxwood blog - So sorry to hear about his loss. Praying for his family!! And these photos are absolutely breathtaking!
Christi Flaherty - Linsey! I’m so happy to find your blog! I’ve been thinking about you and wondering if you were still blogging and then I saw your wine box garden on Kitchn and it pointed me right to you. I love your new blog and will subscribe the minute I finish this post. Glad to see you’re still at it. We moved TO Texas and it’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I still miss California so much even though we’ve now been in Texas for almost 3 years. I would love to catch up when you have the time! I was just telling my friend about Blackberry Farm and that we should go so it was even more of a serendipity that I saw this post!
Daniel Benson - Happy to find your blog…