Mike and I have been married for 33 adventure filled years. We know there is no perfect house, but its our sweet piece of earth on this side of heaven.
We come from loving families who have encouraged us in our dreams and endeavors. I graduated from the University of Montevallo (twice) and am a high school teacher, pianist and lover of creating. Mike graduated from UAB. He is a RN and an all around creative and determined kind of guy! We have two amazing daughters, Emily and Hannah. Emily graduated from University of Alabama and is married to our "son" Ryan Guin. They have the most incredible little 1 year old son, Cannon. We love him more than life should allow! She owns Emily G. Collection and Emily's Original art.
Hannah graduated from Jeff State in Hospitality and Tourism and has graduated from UAB. She loves living in Birmingham and enjoys all the things that the city offers like theater, concerts, sporting events and she loves her church family.
We moved to Mentone when our girls were 8th and 9th graders. We built a home on the river and lived there for 7 years. Mentone was an interesting place to raise 2 teenage girls...they have both done exceedingly well. Both are very well-rounded and have hearts of gold... what more could we ask for?

I grew up on a farm in southern Alabama and my grandparents had an old white farmhouse which led me in this direction to this house plan. Seasonally, the porches were always our visiting areas; add a cup of coffee or a glass of sweet tea and moments were sweet. Mentone gets 4 seasons which are unique in its own way.
Mentone is known in summer for its camps. Children from all over the world come here in the summer for camp. If you hear a bugle call in the distance, the Boy Scout Camp is beyond our back fence. In the summer Mentone is very lush and one can always find a sweet refrain from the heat like a big porch overlooking the lake while feeling a breeze on your face!
Fall is fabulous in Mentone! The Colorfest is a 3-day festival on the mountain including The leaves are gold and scarlet, the air is cool and the smell of oak fires drift in the air. Football and fall festivals at the local schools are in full swing as many locals are, too.
In the winter you will most likely enjoy some snow especially in February If the temperature drops to 27' take a drive over to Cloudmont and watch Gary Jones and his team make snow. Tell him that Barbara and Mike Neel sent you.
Spring in Mentone...new life! The daffodils, narcissus, trillium, lady slippers, mountain laurels, oakleaf hydrangeas, trillium, lady slippers and other natural flora emerge for our enjoyment. There are also various types of fern that are interesting. The dogwood and redbuds are everywhere and just lovely! Even though it is warm during the day, it is usually cool enough for a fire in the firepit... grab your marshmallows! You might want to grab a cup of tea and enjoy the swing that my dad built on the back porch. You will see lots of birds, turkey and deer in the back area. There are native wild blueberries and they seem to win this battle!'
Enjoy the unique benefits of this retreat while you rest, relax, and rejuvenate your spirit and body. Mentone-a place like no other.