When I got out my camera to take pictures of the memorable things I wanted to write about, I only took 2 pictures outside. In hindsight, I can think of several other things I could have photographed. Maybe someday I will run across pictures of the things I have in mind and I can add the photos to this blog. Otherwise, I can simply write about them.
The two photos I took were of a statue in the back yard of St. Francis of Assissi and a spiderweb. I went outside to walk around and photograph when I saw this amazing spiderweb hanging on the edge of Mom's carport. I couldn't help looking at it and finally photographing it. I have always had a fascination with the intricateness and artistry of a spiderweb.
St. Francis was a patron saint of animals and that is why so many gardens and lawns have a statue of him. I know how much I enjoy watching the birds, squirrels, and butterflies in my yard. My cat, Leo, loves watching them too!
Homer loved animals, particularly dogs, so it doesn't surprise me that he had a statue of St. Francis in the yard. It was one of those things I didn't think much about, but once I walked around the yard, I realized just how fitting this was.
Another interesting thing in Mom's home and ironically involving St. Francis, was a lovely wooden statue that she had displayed in her foyer. It was St. Francis and she loved this statue even though she isn't really an animal lover. I think depictions of St. Francis are always of a loving and kind-looking man. It is easy to be drawn to these statues. The statue in Mom's foyer was no exception. It did get a lot of comments from people coming to visit and entering through the front door.
When Martha married Bob, they moved into his house on Forest Hill Drive. It was a great house, and Martha was happy to have such a lovely home to share with her new husband. Of course, through the years, Martha made a lot of changes to the house and turned it into an even more beautiful home. I know Bob and Porter will always enjoy their home knowing that is has lovely touches of Martha all over it. She, like Mom (and me too, I think) had a flair for decorating. Whether or not others enjoyed or appreciated the taste, I know that is something these Porter women shared....our love of our homes. I always tell Jim that no matter what ever happens, what finances are, where our lives' paths take us....I just want to keep my house, my home. I love it. It is my safe haven. I know Martha and Mom felt the same way. Mom has now had to move on, and I think she is a brave woman for being willing to leave her lovely home behind. I think there just comes a time in our lives, perhaps, when moving on is the only thing that makes sense. Mom is lucky that she has been able to recreate a mini version of her lovely home in her apartment at Stratford Court. I think it is enough so that she is comfortable and feels like this has now become her home. I know it isn't the same...it never will be again...she'll never have a place to put a concrete St. Francis statue in her yard again, nor will she ever encounter a lovely web intricately designed on the eaves of her home. But I don't doubt that she realizes how fortunate she is to have had the years to experience all these simple (and some not so simple) aspects of life and home-ownership.
Anyway, when Martha moved into Bob's house, he had a lovely wooden St. Francis statue and my Mom loved it. Mom always commented on it and said it was the one thing in that house that she coveted. We all know that covetness (or greed) is one of those 7 deadly sins, and I know Mom never intended to commit this sin....I think it was truly just a form of flattery for such an exquisite piece of art. Martha and Bob, being kind and generous, gave this statue to Mom for Christmas. I have it all on video (VHS) and it is a lovely moment. It was the first Christmas after my Daddy died, so it was emotional for us all, but the best part about it was the joy on Martha and Bob's faces as they surprised Mom with this wonderful gift. It was a beautiful moment and I know it is something I will never forget.
When Mom was packing up to move to Florida, she gave that statue back to Bob. I thought it was very fitting, and I know it wasn't something Bob would have ever expected. It is just one of those kind and generous things that our family does. The person/persons who will benefit most from the bond to an object is the one who should have it. It is a simple concept, and I love the sentimentality of it all.
I never got to ask Mom where the St. Francis statue in her back yard came from, but I am making the assumption that it is one of the things Homer brought into her/their home once they were married and he left Charlotte.
Whatever the case may be, it is a lovely piece and I think of Homer whenever I see it.
Mom is in Florida now and that St. Francis statue is still in Shelby. I am thinking it is something I might want to bring down here and put in my yard as a tribute and an honor to Homer and his love of animals , but even more so his love of a garden and a beautiful yard.
Homer did so much to turn a beautiful lot into a lovely showplace. He loved gardening and making flowers come to life more than anyone I know. Homer was known to take his day off and put on his hospital scrubs (not because he wanted to think about his work in the hospital, but because he wanted to be comfortable) and work in the yard for 8 to 10 hours without stopping except for maybe a quick tomato sandwich made from one of the delicious tomatoes out of his garden.
There is a row of pine trees across the back of Mom's property. I remember my parents planting these trees thinking they would make a lovely privacy fence and a nice nature cove.
As the pine trees grew, they did just as they were intended. What was never considered was that they would become an ultimate playing field for the adventurous and creative grandchildren and their friends!
Madeline loved the area filled with pine needles that lay beneath the grove of pine trees in the back of Grandma's yard. Whenever her friends, like Leah Rose, David Royster, or Laura Hege would come over to Grandma's to play with her, they would go under the pines and make all sorts of scenarios come true. I can just picture pirates, teachers, princesses, rock stars, country music singers and dragon-slayers!
Porter, too, loved playing beneath the pines. Whenever we would come from Florida to visit, he and Madeline would enjoy lots of make-believe in this spot. Mom tells me that whenever Porter would come visit her even when we weren't there, he enjoyed playing and making believe in this nature-born play place. Who needs an arcade or McDonald's PlayPlace when you have one of God's natural creations right there waiting for your enjoyment?
Homer truly made Mom's home an outdoor wonderland. One sad thing about visiting her after he died was that the yard would slowly look a little less green and colorful. Homer's artisitic and magical touch was gone. This is not to say that one can't go in the back yard and see that St. Francis statue and also 'see' Homer as he harvested a vegetable garden behind this statue and a lovely flower garden in the yard beyond the statue.
Homer even convinced Mom to put a little trinkling fountain in an alcove in the backyard that was under the window to their breakfast room. I don't think this is something my Mom would have wanted or considered had it not been for Homer. He quietly had his own thoughts and ideas, and he was an endearing man because of that.
Homer actually got away with a lot....birdfeeders, piles of dirt and compost in the yard, spilled dirt and clippings ever-present in the trunk and backseat of his car, mud tracks into the house, and bushels of zuchinni and eggplant that Mom never intended to 'put up' or cook, no matter what. But we are all thankful that Homer plodded on. The sunshine of his life endured and respected his passions. I know the lawn at 108 Lynhurst Lane was never happier than when Homer Justis was its parent. His tender-loving care did not go unnoticed or unappreciated.
The other thing that I photographed outside Mom's was a spiderweb. Normally a spiderweb would not have made me want to grab my camera, but this web was different. It spoke to me somehow, and I not only photographed it, I went over and studied it closely. I came eye to eye with its owner, Mr. Spider. Had he not been attached to his beautifully designed web, I might not have been so quick to befriend Mr. Spider. I did not want to have him jump on me, but I loved admiring him proudly enjoying the 'home' he created.
I can't help but think of the children's literary classic book, Charlotte's Web by E.B. White, when I see such a perfectly designed spider's web complete with said spider on the web.
The book by this American author shows Charlotte as the spider who befriends a pig, Wilbur. Anyone who has read the book loves it. It is just one of those books that is hard NOT to love! This beloved classic was turned into an animated film that children in classrooms enjoy today. If they don't....they should!
The sentiment in the book, Charlotte's Web, certainly makes one have a love and an affinity for animals and all God's creations. I guess this is where I can see St. Francis becoming entangled in Charlotte's web. As we all have heard, God isn't stupid, so whatever He created must be a smart thing. God bless St. Francis for looking over and blessing all these wonderful creatures, without whom our lives would be so much duller!
Mom's house has not yet sold. I know it frustrates her. Not only is the market bad right now, but her home is in a town that is not a 'hot market' area right now. However, I know that the buyers just don't have any idea of the love and acceptance they would find if they did, in fact, become lucky enough to choose and purchase a house like Mom's in a town like Shelby, NC.
I have faith that our prayers will be answered and Mom's house will sell. I know it would bring her peace of mind and a lot of relief.
In spite of the relief, I know that I hate to let the house go....it is filled with memories and history and love. But one must realize that a house is just a facade and that the real love is held in the hearts of those who have lived there or visited there or have had an encounter there.
And memories are made of this.
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| St. Francis of Assisi |
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| Charlotte's Web |
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| St. Francis of Assisi loves the animals. |
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