Idyll Thyme Homestead

"Make i.t. home with us"

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Idyll Thyme (pronounced “Idle Time”) Homestead is an assisted living residence, currently under construction. We are renovating the existing house and adding on a new wing. Nestled in the hills and mountains of New England, in Charlemont, Massachusetts, the residence sits on 115 acres. When completed, there will be a total of 6 units. There will be 2 single room units and 4 double room units, each unit with their own private bathroom. The single units are approximately 250 square feet. The double units range from approximately 415 to 510 square feet.

Looking at Idyll Thyme Homestead from the front. The homestead was originally built in the late 1700’s or early 1800’s. The homestead burned down in the 1950’s and then was rebuilt to what you see now. Don’t be deceived – the house is much bigger inside than it looks!
The barn was also built in the late 1700’s or early 1800’s. It contains a secret room that purportedly was used for the Underground Railroad.

We are excited about welcoming folks who need or want to be taken care of. All 3 meals will be provided daily by someone who loves to cook (and eat). Laundry will be done for you, as well as house cleaning. If you need some assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), that will be given. The premises will be walker and wheelchair accessible. Private bathrooms will be ADA compliant. This way, if someone needs, or ends up needing, a wheelchair to help them get around, it will be possible. Help with medications, transportation to appointments and other outings will also be available. Televisits will be facilitated when required, for doctors’ appointments and other needs. There will be activities every day. Visitors will be encouraged. We have hiking trails on our property that go up to the ridge of the mountain behind us. (Don’t worry; we are planning to make some flat walking trails next to the house, too.)

Our chickens provide a lot of color in our life! The eggs all taste the same (fresh!) even though they are different colors.
The previous owners found these rare yellow lady slippers on the property and successfully transplanted them to the front of the house over 50 years ago.
A closer look at the yellow lady slippers.
A view from the top of the mountain behind us, on our property. The Veterans War Memorial Tower on Mt. Greylock in Adams, Massachusetts is barely visible through the trees.
A brook flowing in the woods behind the residence, beside one of the hiking trails.
This rose bush is over 100 years old. We love the multi-colored roses it produces.
Good-sized wild strawberries were growing out of the front steps.
Wild blueberries growing on the property
Flowers are a bit of a passion here at Idyll Thyme
We also love our fresh fruits and vegetables that we grow
Concord grapes have grown here for over 100 years
These concord grapes are so flavorful!

Once construction is finished, we will be applying for certification with the state (commonwealth) of Massachusetts for an Assisted Living Residence. With this certification, we will be able to accept long term care insurance.

We do not have an end date yet. We are working on it as we are able, in between other jobs. We hope to be open some time in 2021. Of course, COVID-19 might affect that…

The residence will be run by husband and wife, Eric and Tina Dean. We live next door, with our 40-some sheep, chickens, guinea hens, rabbits and a dog…and our youngest daughter, Erica. Our two oldest children, Elena and Scott, live in the area. Eric is a building and excavating contractor. (How convenient is that?!) Tina is a computer programmer. We have lots of experience in the medical field. Eric has been a volunteer first-responder for our town for over 10 years. Tina is also a registered nurse who worked several years in the local hospital’s emergency department before transferring to doing computer work there. Erica is an EMT who works for our town and a private ambulance company; she is also currently in nursing school. In addition, there will be other staff to help alongside us.

Our sheep when they were pastured behind the residence.
Eric and Tina Dean on a hike nearby at Tannery Falls and Parker Brook Falls in Savoy Mountain State Forest, Massachusetts, USA in Summer 2020
Eric with one of the baby lambs

A panoramic photo of Idyll Thyme Homestead, the barn, our home on the right, and the road that goes by.

Why are we doing this? Well, because we were inspired by others who did, and are doing, this before us – Redbud Canyon in Oklahoma, Pecan Grove in Texas, and The Jackson House in Virginia. It has been a desire in the back of our minds for many years, but hasn’t been possible until now. Watching Tina’s mother in an assisted living facility for about 6 years, we longed to be able to take care of her in a place surrounded by friends and family. Now we will be able to provide that kind of atmosphere for others.

This panoramic photo was taken from behind Idyll Thyme Homestead, when we were starting construction on the addition in Summer 2020.