Yard Art From My Childhood

Memories of Dad

Dear Readers,

Yard Art is indeed a photo meme and you may not have time to sit and read so feel free to look, comment and be on your way. I just have a little story to tell because this Yard Art is special to me. :)
This little vignette has been in the corner of the yard at my childhood home since I was a young girl. It may not be elegant or pretty; but each object is near and dear to our family.
The large bell once hung on my Dad's family farm way up in one of our West Virginia 'hollers' as most folks around here would call it. I guess in the old days it was probably rung to gather everybody to come eat. I don't remember hearing it ring but imagine it did many times. I do remember walking up that hollow to go visit and have dinner. There was no road in to the property. We walked a path along a small stream. All the way up you could smell the wood burning in the stove or fireplace. To this day the right wood burning takes me right back to those long walks with my family. Eventually we could see the barn on the left and the old corn crib on the right and we'd step across the stream about then and the yard widened out in front of the house.

Sometime during my college years the old wooden house burnt down. Everything was gone except that old bell that still hung on a tall post. My Mom told me that she told my Dad ' you ought to have it, I don't suppose you could get it?' He told her he supposed he could. She doesn't remember how he got it off the big old post but he did and brought it home. He made the metal ladder that it's attached to and concreted the whole structure into the ground. It stood until this past spring and after a severe winter and much rust at the base it fell over. My Stepfather gladly repaired it and put it back up.

When we were young my Dad didn't let us play with it but when I had kids Grandpa sure never stopped them from ringing it!! It is one of my daughter's favorite memories.
If you look closely you can see a cow bell and a little sheep bell hanging there as well. My Dad found those in the old barn and brought them home too.
The old plastic bottles and kettles in the background are another story for another post. They too are some of Dad's treasures.

It will have been fourteen years this past week that my Dad left us; but each time I go over home to see my Mom my Dad is still there too.
For more Yard Art join Mary here.

Sunday Blessings - Childhood Memories

During our entire lives we carry with us our memories - all the people, places, and events that have made up our existence. Some of the most precious ones are those of our childhood.

I wish I could say this is the church steeple on the church I grew up in. Sadly, the church that gave me sustenance as a child is no longer standing. Lightning struck the bell in the church tower and the church burnt down many years ago. The congregation got together and rebuilt the church that stands here today. On completion because of community involvement it was free of mortgage payments.

I can still imagine the inside of the church and where everything was placed. The altar, the piano, the curtain that was pulled to separate Sunday School classes. I can picture where everyone sat. We all had our own little spot every Sunday. I sat on a pew near the gas stove that heated the church in winter. When my Grandma came to church she sat in a pew that faced mine. As I write this I can see the people and friends and hear their voices. I can see us stand to sing and hear the melody of favorite hymns.

Walking on the grounds I can close my eyes and see the yearly reunion and the picnic tables filled with food. I can picture my little brother hunting Easter eggs. I relive funerals and burials of family members. Most of my grandparents and great-grandparents are buried here as well as a baby sister. I can feel the sun shining brightly on my face as I stood on the front steps of the church as guests hugged me and wished me well on my wedding day.
The church I knew is gone. The loved ones in the sacred grounds beneath these skies are in my heart as well as the childhood memories that still give me sustenance and joy each time I stop and remember.