Downsizing…the Challenge and the Freedom!

Imagine heading out to look at a property that boasts a pond, waterfall and terraced rock gardens. A lady who enjoys gardening and lovely outdoor spaces could fall in love with all that on the drive over and get enthusiastic about stepping into the next chapter of her life. “It was hard to identify these features, as time and nature had taken a toll,” relates Judy Keating. “The landscaping was installed nearly 20 years ago, and the state of disrepair included collapsed walls and abundant overgrowth. I could not see any pond or waterfall, and later I discovered a delightful swing in there.” It was obvious, however, that someone once put a tremendous amount of thought and work into the design. Judy recognized a diamond in the rough and was not deterred. She, along with Chelsea, one of her daughters, purchased the townhouse.    Country Life to Town Life Judy and her late husband, Phil, moved to the New River Valley for her to attend Virginia Tech and Radford University. The couple bought 28 acres in the quiet, pastoral Clover Hollow area of Giles County. Phil worked his entire career in plant pathology at Virginia Tech and devoted himself in the early years to building a home with reclaimed chestnut logs and local stone. Judy taught school at Giles County for 33 years. The sweeping mountain views were spectacular in every season. The property had a barn, large pond and acres of pumpkins for a long time. The deer loved the pumpkins as much as they did, which eventually led to the end of the pumpkin patch.“When my husband passed away, I knew it was time to let another family enjoy the property as much as we did. Phil took great pride in the home that he built using local rock and chestnut logs from old barns, so leaving our farm was incredibly hard. However, the large house and expansive property was something I was ready to pass on to someone who had the excitement and energy to take over.” Judy remains close friends with the family who bought the farm and enjoys watching them love the property as much as she and Phil did. Moving from their home in Clover Hollow presented a small worry for Judy leaving the deep ties within that community. “The beauty of small towns is that they become part of who you are,” she says of relocating to Christiansburg. Wonderful neighbors have welcomed them with open arms.  Downsizing ~ The Challenge and the Freedom “Downsizing was a challenge, but honestly, I found it freeing and love the smaller floor plan and ease of the townhome,” she explains. “There is a great sense of relief in letting things go and moving forward.  I was even excited for the next chapter of convenience living in town.” The townhouse has 3 bedrooms, 2 ½ bathrooms, 1,600 square feet and an expansive deck overlooking the backyard, sloped gardens and water features. Besides the downsizing challenge, Judy now faced this overgrown garden project. While perhaps overwhelming at first, she loved redesigning it with her favorite flowers, vines and plants. And “best of all, I no longer have to compete with deer.”The labor of love in the garden restoration included hours of planning, clearing and rebuilding rock walls and pathways. She and Chelsea worked hard all along the way with help from friends and professionals. “Determining which plants needed to stay or be removed while shuffling through everything provided me with many discoveries of things in the garden I did not know were there.” Her favorite tree is the hugging tree, a weeping cherry that wraps its branches around anyone passing by. She has a bald cypress, dogwood and crepe myrtle as well, along with hundreds of flowers. The pond is home to goldfish and frogs, and a variety of birds visit her backyard year-round. Judy Keating embodies the grace and courage to make tough decisions as life unfolds and move forward with confidence and fortitude. Just as she contributed to shaping young minds as a beloved teacher and a mother, she is the driving force in re-shaping her beautiful gardens and stepping boldly into this chapter of her life.  Text by Joanne M. Anderson
Photos by Christy Wallace