The word Home brings to mind different thoughts and images. Mother seems to be a common thread in the vast subject of home. From "mother kept us cleaned and fed" too "mother kept the home fires burning".
As we grow older thoughts of home seem to appear in our minds more often. I believe these random recollections come from a gained experience and a knowledge of the importance home played in our life. I know I never valued my Mountain Momma until I was grown.
Estelle Darrow Rice is a phenomenal poet, who often writes of home and by gone days. I'd like to share one of her poems about Home and Mother with you.
The Back Porch Steps
Lilies of the Valley, their tiny bells
as white and innocent
as a child's dream, grew
beside our back porch steps,
where in the evening Mother and I
watered her rose garden.
Sometimes we sang, but mostly we talked.
We planned to decorate my playhouse curtains
with rick-rack. We'd fill a window box
with pansies and petunias.
These were the things we talked about
When I was ten.
Now my dreams transport me
to that time when she and I
sat on the back porch steps.
I still hear her gentle voice,
and her laughter.
I remember the fragrance of roses
and I am certain I hear
the tinkling of tiny white bells.
By Estelle Darrow Rice
Chatter and Chitter are back for this week's Pickin' & Grinnin' In the Kitchen Spot with My Native Home, a traditional Carter Family song. Like most songs it can be interpreted in different ways. To me-I envision someone returning home for the first time in many years and remembering just what mother and home meant. Realizing how very alone they feel due to the loss of both.
Before you start the video, go to the radio and pause it by clicking the first "button" starting on the left under the title. You need to do this-so you can hear the video. If you have dreaded dial up service (like I do)-I would suggest you click the button to start the video and then go do something else until it loads. Once it has downloaded then you can start it back to the beginning and watch it through.
Hope you enjoyed the poem and the song. Are there lofty trees around your Native Home? Or maybe something else comes to mind. Please leave me a comment-I'd love to hear your thoughts on home.
Tipper
p.s. Please visit Becky at Twisted Fence Post she is a fabulous writer-and she is having a fabulous giveaway! Go now! Also- You can find out more about Estell Darrow Rice at the North Carolina Writer's Network West Site.
I can't seem to leave your blog -- I just keep finding more to read and listen to everytime I click. I have never been to Appalachia, but your photos and stories take me there. The jam looks soooooo good, now we just need an online taste!
thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Denise L | July 14, 2008 at 09:07 PM
I love to see your girl sing! So sweet! The music from your site is often playing in the background while I browse the internet!
Posted by: Em | July 13, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Those girls are just getting better and better!!
My family moved to several different states as I was growing up but my family roots were always in Western North Carolina, and I have been here all of my adult life. Cannot imagine living any other place. I love these mountains, they are part of my soul. I feel nurtured and loved by them.
My mother loved the mountains also, she was so happy when we finally moved back here.
Posted by: Miss Cindy | July 12, 2008 at 03:59 PM
Tipper, I'll have to come back to listen to the song, for some reason it wouldn't load - first time that's happened to me. I think it's a YouTube issue, not you, so don't worry!
I love your photos and the poem. I thought about my Mom, in terms of what SHE would be thinking about her own mother. They were close and my Grandma was a wonderful, amazing lady. My mom grew up in Michigan around the woods, and she can relate to these images. --I can't, I was in the desert with no porch! :-) --Her mom was always busy but always there. I will never forget when Grandma died how much it affected my mom. She wrote her a lovely poem, which I'll have to find and post sometime.
I love reading your commenter's stories - you're doing a fabulous job of eliciting special memories from your readers - this is a gift to us all.
Posted by: Jennifer in OR | July 12, 2008 at 01:34 PM
Tipper! Dreaded dial-up we share, but today I am at our shop NOT working, so I get to listen to your music, and hear your Chitter and Chatter. Yay for me!
I'm with Amy; this post made me misty, but then again, a lot of your posts do, because I miss my grandma. *sigh*
Posted by: trisha too | July 12, 2008 at 12:34 PM
I need to come back to this post when I have a chunk of time. Your writing should never be read in a hurry.
But meanwhile, please accept an award over at Jerusalem Hills. :)
Posted by: Dina | July 12, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Yes, there are lofty tree's around my native mountain home. I think of biscuits, clotheslines and love. My momma's been gone for 10 years now. What I wouldn't give to have just one of those moments again...
Beautiful post and video!
Posted by: Paula | July 12, 2008 at 10:21 AM
SOME DAY IM GOING TO COME OVER THERE AND SIT A SPELL, JUST TO LISTEN TO ALL THAT BEAUTIFUL MUSIC
Posted by: christina | July 11, 2008 at 09:25 PM
Such a great poem! I grew up in the tall evergreen forests of Washington - we were a bunch of monkeys in those trees!
Posted by: Amy | July 11, 2008 at 04:29 PM
Hi Tipper! This post brings tears. Not of sadness, but of some of the sweetest moments a mother can offer her child. I remember how, when I couldn't sleep due to an illness or fear, she would always "streichel"
my arm; streichel meaning stroke in German, until I fell asleep. Or playing her beloved country, bluegrass music while she cleaned and cooked. She is to me the strongest woman I'd ever known. A beautiful post! Petra
Posted by: Petra Michelle | July 11, 2008 at 03:16 PM
Tipper: Loved the poem and your picture walk through past times. Wonderful rememberence of your mother.
I like to hear Chitter and Chatter sing their songs.
Posted by: Fishing Guy | July 11, 2008 at 02:56 PM
Hey Tipper. I just love to visit you. It makes me wish for dsl or satellite so I could see all the videos faster. The Indian Princesses (below) are just that"princesses". I remember how I loved to play in the woods when I was that age. Making pinestraw huts, climbing the tall skinny trees and riding them down.
I'll be back later when I can listen to those wonderful singers.
Have a great weekend.
Pam
Posted by: Gafarmwoman Pam | July 11, 2008 at 02:37 PM
Tipper, I love the poem and the girls' singing is DIVINE! You must be so very proud of them. Due to my parents' rising age and health issues, last month my 7 siblings and I moved them from the family home we had occupied for 45 years into an independent living community for seniors. It is an old saltbox farmhouse built in the late 1800s that the city grew around. It sits on a corner with a long side yard and is surrounded by aged maple and chestnut trees. Many magnificent memories have been relived in this past month as we cleared and cleaned to ready it for another family to occupy and fill with warm memories. There have been tears shed in the letting go of a time to which we cannot return, but what a glorious gift to have had so Blessed a childhood that one would even entertain its replay!! As always, thank you for the sharing.
Posted by: Sarah | July 11, 2008 at 01:40 PM
Your girls can really sing! Maybe they can start a clogging and singing sensation at tomorrows performance!
I'll add the new song to my player once I can get the problems with our sound card worked out!
Posted by: dana | July 11, 2008 at 01:29 PM
Mountains and lofty pines were my childhood home. Loved seeing Chitter and Chatter sing. Great job.
Posted by: Egghead | July 11, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Loved the poem, the video and the Indian princesses in the post below. A delightful visit, as always.
Blessings,
Mary
Posted by: Mary | July 11, 2008 at 10:57 AM
What a nice post to honor your mother. The poem is lovely. I will have to wait to listen to the singing til I get home. I can't listen to them at work.
Posted by: Shirley | July 11, 2008 at 10:20 AM
I truly enjoyed it...very nice. Thank you!
Posted by: Mark Salinas | July 11, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Love the singing! I'm gonna have to bring my banjo and join in one day!
Posted by: Debbie | July 11, 2008 at 08:51 AM
Great job Chitter and Chatter. I love the note bending mountain sound of a story put to music. Mom's are special people and worthy of praise. Pappy
Posted by: The Texican | July 11, 2008 at 07:11 AM
Bravo girls! Thanks for singing that for us. I started laughing at the shocked look on Chatter's face when she feel backwards onto the couch.
I miss my Mom, but remember she was always there when we got home from school. I loved watching her iron my Dad's clothes. She would put his pants on those wire pant stretchers to keep the crease in his khaki pants. Then she would stand them against the wall until she took them upstairs to hang in the closet. I can still remember the smell of the starch she used on his white cotton shirts too. I guess that's why I don't mind ironing. It keeps me a little closer to Mom. xxoo
Posted by: Carolyn A. | July 10, 2008 at 11:59 PM
Love the video of the girls singing!
Posted by: Christina | July 10, 2008 at 09:44 PM
What a lovely poem. Home is where the heart is.
Posted by: noble pig | July 10, 2008 at 09:20 PM
That's a great story. Thanks for this. I enjoy learning about your heritage.
Posted by: SandyCarlson | July 10, 2008 at 09:17 PM
I love it all! The song, the girls, the poem and the music.
Native home makes me think of Mom, Dad and the mountains.
Posted by: Beckynsc | July 10, 2008 at 09:15 PM