Howdy! We're Randy and Helen, originally from Fort Worth, Texas, but perfectly content to have called Ashe County home for over 26 years.
 
Randy retired from teaching and coaching in high school (primarily football) and is now a happy beekeeper, etc., etc., etc. Helen hung up her special ed license many moons ago to be 'just' a mama (etc., etc., etc.) to their children, Matthew and Katie (and later, Jeffrey). Matthew and Katie somehow grew up, graduated from college, and got married, so Helen had to find other things to keep her busy. She managed. With the arrival of their first grandbaby, Clara, and her 'little' brother, James, the dust bunnies have had free reign for a little longer!
 
The Baldwin Zoo currently consists of Honey, a sweet, rowdy 'Staffy' who LOVES mountain romps, Maple, boxer granddog/Honey's BFF/unofficial adoptee, and Mitty the cat. Mitty originally hung around our house until Helen's mother decided she wanted to adopt him for her 80th birthday! They were great companions for each other until 'Nana' snagged her wings in February, 2022. So far, so good with the addition of another very spoiled furball. On the outside, the two ponds on the premises are home to goldfish/koi, catfish, blue gill,  bass, and whatever else the #$%*$#& stealth pond invaders have left. And then there are the wild critters and honey bees!