Is this a real farm?

Yes and no. It was much more of what you'd think of a "real farm" in the 1940s, '50s and '60s with acres of corn, strawberries and other crops, dairy cows and, of course peach orchards.

These days, my uncle Sam -- who is a retired Alabama Power exec and his wife, Nedra, a dietitian who worked with UAB and helped launch Cooking Light - farm mostly for fun (and to keep the family in tomatoes). They also grew the pumpkins you'll see at the wedding.

There aren't any animals other than the dogs - Maizy and Millie - and some moles in the front yard. And the beautiful hawks who circle in the sky, an occasional water bird flying from one side of the bend to the other. And, late at night, the coyotes.